It was odd to be around people other than Ran for the first time in five years. She had almost forgotten what it was like to be in the presence of someone that could hold conversations, someone who had thoughts and feelings just like her. For the longest time she had believed that Ran's company was the only thing that she would ever need, but in a matter of moments she began to think that she was wrong. Standing on the opposite end of the room stood a taller woman with light blue hair that was tied into a bun and decorated with a white paper flower. The woman's lower face was covered but Kazu could make out the shade of her eyes and the color of her makeup. It took Kazu a few moments to understand that the woman was talking to her. "Your instructions are to find members that need healing of any kind..." Kazu let her mind wonder and the familiar tug of Ran on her shoulder brought her out of her wanderings. The child-like person on her shoulder was nothing more than a tool at the end of the day. "Kazu..." The soft voice of Ran stirred her even more. 

"Do you understand?" The woman asked.

Kazu nodded although she scarcely heard a word the woman had spoken. After Kazu was excused to go about her duties as one of the newest members, Ran climbed over her shoulder and settled herself within her arms. Within their clan it had been common for children to be born as twins or sometimes even triplets. One child would be born normal but their twin or triplet would be born with no mind, emotions, and the ability to feel pain or anything that made them human in the minds of others. Of course there was a few that had managed to be born in a half-way state between being normal and being a living doll. Ran was one of these half-way beings. Although she was able to talk and had a small idea of what was going on in the world, she was still a living doll. She behaved more like a toddler; talking in simple sentences or single words. Ran had been born genderless like all of the living dolls although Kazu identified Ran as female. Looking down at the small person in her arms, Kazu sighed softly. Ran's tiny hands clutched tightly to the Akatsuki robes that Kazu wore. The young woman could see the small scars that littered Ran's fingers, they were all injures that Ran had never felt before. She was still a living doll but she was also Kazu's sister. 

It was complex trying to explain it to people when they asked but Kazu had learned to ignore them. The duo approached one of the many rooms that they had claimed for themselves and Kazu set Ran down on the bed that was pushed into the corner. "Listen Ran, you must stay here, alright? I will be back in a little while to get you again. I need to get some healing done and perhaps find some herbs to create some more medicine for you."

Ran stared at her sister blankly. She could not understand anything beyond "stay here". There were no tears like one would expect, there was no temper tantrum and demands for Kazu to stay with her. This was where Ran was more doll-like. "You...go?" Ran questioned. 

Kazu nodded, "It's only for a little while okay? I'll be back soon so why don't you take a nap?" She said before scooping Ran up into a hug and pressing a kiss to the crown of her head. Ran nodded before settling herself on top of the bed and closing her eyes. Glancing back over her shoulder at Ran, the young woman smiled. Ran was such an innocent being. It pained her to use Ran for medical uses but that was what Ran was there for. It was her duty just as much as it was Kazu's duty to protect her. As she went room to room trying to find members in need of healing or help, Kazu pushed the thoughts of Ran to the back of her mind. She did not need any distractions from her task and sadly that's what Ran was to her.