~A Feeling I have Yet to Grasp~
~Passage One~


Passage One:

Consumed by grief over my lost friend, I left my one and only home, I didn't even say good bye. I'm on a journey to wherever I can go where I will forget. And hopefully, start over from scratch. I wear my headband that I can't bring myself to throw away over my ears. My tail is tucked inside my pants. The only thing I have besides my headband from that village is a locket, inside it contains a picture of me on the left, and a picture of Neji on the right, hopefully he isn't to mad at me for leaving, scratch that, he'll probably use Jyuuken on me if I ever see him again (smile).

All in all… I'm keeping this journal to remind me of my sins, and so just maybe, if I ever look back on this I might laugh.

PS: In with my stuff is three other journals, all the pages are full of my life, I couldn't bare to leave them.


I sighed as I put down the pen, I closed the plain looking black journal, and shoved it in my pouch. My amber eyes seemed more darkened than they used to, rings showed under my eyes, and I hadn't said a word since just after the funeral, the last word I said was “I love you.” To Neji, then a week later I left, now a full fledged missing nin, journeying desert territory. It had had hit me that if I was in the desert, Gaara might find me, about two hours after I set camp in the middle of the desert.

I stared at my map, I was in uncharted territory near Suna Gakure. I trudged forward, and yawned with a dry throat.

`darn, when I gave a silent vow to leave everything behind, I should have excluded water.' I thought. I sighed deeply. `There has to be somewhere to go…' was the very last thought before I suddenly fainted from lack of water, my headband flew off my head in the sudden movement.


_______


Itachi Uchiha glared blankly at Deidara, Rei-Dono had switched around the partners for some reason and he was stuck with an immature idiot. Deidara grinned at Itachi. “So, thinking about how I'm an idiot huh?” He asked.

Itachi grumbled. He also had the clear ability to read people like a book. The two where in a desert in search of Suna Gakure to steal some documents, which meant they where in the desert, the blazing desert that threatened to kill them. Itachi loathed it with a passion, he burned easily, but that was something he kept from everyone, along with his crazy sweet tooth.

Deidara seemed excited for some reason, he felt like something was going to happen very, very soon. `Whatever's gonna happen, I hope it happens soo---` Deidara's thoughts where cut off when he tripped over someone. Itachi almost bumped into him. but stopped gracefully.

“What is it?” Itachi growled.

“Uhhh…” Deidara moaned. “I got sand in my mouth… Lets see…” He studied the girl he tripped over with interest. She was definitely different, but pretty soon he was sidetracked by a beetle crawling by. “Ooooo. Cool.” He smiled. “Yeah.” He added.

“darn your ADD, move out of the way.” Itachi barked. Deidara scrambled out of the way, and Itachi was mentally surprised by who he was looking at. “Erm… Anna-Kun?” His face was void from emotion, but he was really happy to see the only person he liked besides his brother.

I whimpered as I tried to get up. A warm sticky substance was flowing from my nose. I covered it with a cloth someone I didn't recognize due to the fact my vision was blurry. “Thank you…” I wiped my nose, and tilted my head up. My vision cleared and out of the corner of my eye I saw Sasuke's older brother, who I never held a grudge against for some reason or another. “Itachi!” I exclaimed. “I haven't seen you in forever! Why haven't you attacked the village since Naru-Chan was 13?” I asked.

Itachi stood up, and grabbed my hand. Much to my displeasure he started dragging me in some unknown direction. Deidara noticed he was being left behind and tore his eyes away from the beetle. “Wait for me! Yeah.”

I smiled as I realized that this was the first time I had talked in a month.

_____


Neji Hyuuga slammed his head on his desk repeatedly. His head hurt a lot, and his hand was bleeding was from repeatedly smashing everything in his path, his room was a huge mess, something that would take forever to clean, if he ever got around to it. Neji lately had been constantly going to Tsunade to find a mission that would help him find Anna.

Tsunade always just told him to go away, or would give him an irrevilant mission, other ninjas where already after Anna, half the ANBU team where trying to get the leaf village's best ninja back. About 10 percent of them where here, and the other 40 percent where being sent to every village there is to put of mission posters of Anna, hopefully they could find her.

Hopefully the Akatsuki didn't find her.

Flashback~

Itachi Uchiha had attacked, and they where after not only Naruto but Anna as well, for her excellent ninja skills. Anna was very tempted to go with them, she loves Akatsuki, the Arina blood flows within her making her instinctually evil. When Itachi was still one of the village, Anna was his best friend, even though she was only seven, and was his partner in a lot of things, the only reason she didn't go with Itachi to the Akatsuki was the fact that the ANBU got her before she could follow him.

Anna had actually turned on the village to try and get Naruto herself, but as fate would have it, a house fell on top of her, and Itachi had failed to get Naruto anyway.

During all these times, Anna had hated everyone, hated them for holding her back, hating them for not getting mad at her because of her sudden outbursts, hate filled her entire being, and no one could count the times she had run away, but usually she was brought back, by Naruto himself, she has trained so hard lately, maybe they wouldn't catch her, next time.

End Flashback~

Neji slammed his head one for time, but never hit the desk, someone caught his head. He looked up, and was brought into an embrace. He struggled, knowing it was Hinata, but it didn't stop the tears that where streaming down his face. He buried his face in her jacket. He realized that Hiashi, and Hanabi where both there as well. He wrapped his arms around Hinata, feeling like a child going to his mother.

`This is a pretty good substitute for one…' Neji thought humorously. He sighed. His family was here, whatever bad blood that was in the past settled when he became a Jounin. He still never felt comfortable around Hinata though.

Hinata peeled back, and tried in vain to dry off her now wet jacket. She smiled at the person she had always considered her brother. Neji smiled meekly back at his sister. Hanabi who was now ten years old stood behind Hinata and smiled warmly at him.

Hiashi stepped up, and handed Neji the reason they came into his room in the first place. A box with holes in it, something thumped around in it. He opened up the box, and a small kitten leaped out and landed on his head. She had distinct amber eyes, and a beautiful shade of brown, much like Anna. “We found her in the forest, we felt we should give her to you.” Hinata mumbled.

“She's one of those partners ninjas have like the Inuzuka and their dogs.” Hanabi added hopefully.

“She's uhhh…” Hiashi thought of something to add. “Yours.” He stated proudly and walked out of the room stiffly. Hanabi followed in tow, Hinata added one more reassuring smile, and walked out of the room herself.

The kitten jumped down and looked at Neji with wide eyes. It mewled, and purred hopefully, trying to give him comfort. Neji touched the cat's soft fur, and tears flew freely again. The kitten jumped on his hand, and perched on his shoulder.

“Thank you.” Neji whispered. The cat purred gently in his ear.

About an hour later, Neji finally got a mission to Suna Gakure to seek the help of the Kazekage, and hopefully find clues on Anna's where-abouts. Two where coming with him, Hinata and Naruto.


_______


”darn THAT GIRL!” Sasuke yelled, and stomped on a pink flower. “WHY'D SHE RUN AWAY?! NOW SHE'S GOING TO JOIN MY BROTHER I KNOW IT!” He shouted at absolutely no one. But of course, everyone within a mile heard him.

“You shouldn't shout, Sasuke-Kun, you don't want people to find this hideout.” Orochimaru whispered cruelly.

“I DON'T CARE.” Sasuke yelled. He turned and started running in the distinct direction of the leaf village.

“Sasuke! Where the hell are you going?” Kabuto shouted after him.

”I have to find her!” Sasuke yelled, and picked up speed, he was so far away by now, Orochimaru wouldn't even be able to catch him.

“What if he doesn't come back, Orochimaru-Sama?” Kabuto whispered.

”He'll come back.” Orochimaru shrugged. “And if he doesn't I know how and where to find him. He'll wonder back soon, the curse mark still beckons him.” He grinned.

Sasuke had gotten word that Merrick Takaido had died, and after he died, Anna Arina had run away, Sasuke knew how much she wanted to be part of the Akatsuki and be with Itachi again, so he had to catch her before hand, and if he did, maybe he could bring her to Orochimaru's side.

Sasuke was near the desert anyway, so he grabbed some water, and started towards Suna Gakure.


________



In Suna Gakure

The Takaidos have the ability to put misery behind them and always be optimistic, which is exactly what Hitomi and Anju did immediately after the funeral, Ray was back to normal, being confused on why he cried in the first place. At Gaara, Temari, and Kankouro's house is where they lived.

Hitomi traveled to Gaara's study, on the door it spelled, “Kazekage's room” there where many little signs saying things like “go away,” and “stay out.” Hitomi of course, learned to completely ignore them. She walked gently into his room.

Gaara looked at Hitomi with a glare, thinking it was one of his siblings, his eyes changed when he saw it was Hitomi. They held a degree of emotion, including love. Hitomi wrapped her arms around him, and rested her head on his chest. “Can you feel it?” She asked. “It opened…”

Gaara nodded solemnly. “Yeah. I have a fleeting feeling its going to involve us again too.” He sighed, his lips brushed Hitomi's silver hair. She snuggled into his chest.

“You know I love you right?” She asked.

Gaara smiled. “Not as much as I love you.”

Hitomi giggled, for the main reason that Gaara would never say this in public, only to her. “Aw, you rock.” Hitomi cooed.

”Listen, I have to get to work.” Gaara sighed, and gently pulled Hitomi off of him. Her eyes seemed like liquid diamond to him, they where a crystalline blue, and slitted a lot like a cat's, of course, she was never a cat, if you ever said that to her, she would kill you, she's a fox. Hitomi looked hopefully into his eyes.

They stilled for a moment, lost in each others eyes. Then Gaara leaned down and locked lips with her. A light pressure from her, allowed him to push back, deepening the kiss. Hitomi was just about to allow Gaara's tongue to slip inside her, but a loud voice caused them to rip apart.

“HITOMI-CHAAAAAAAAAAAAN.” Anju's voice came. “GAARA-KUUUUUUUUUN.” Anju called. “You have visitors!” She said happily.

“Okay!” They said in unison, their hearts beating fast, their faces red. Hitomi sighed.

“Alright. Lets go.” She smiled.

“Kay.” He mumbled, and they started down the stairs with their fingers intertwined with each other's.


___________________


Passage One (Continued):


And this is the start of my wonderful journey, with hardships, fun, happiness, sadness, its all there, but most of all, this is a story about how our broken lives are put back together with the help of a wonderful family, who also have their own problems, but that, for now, is for a different time.





…………………………



Anna (me): Aw, now THIS is a story. Do you guys like it? Its better, don't you think, it's more about Anna's life BEFORE she met the certain wonderful family, a lot will still be the same, but ideas keep popping out, and of course, it all goes here!

Kyo: This is cheesy…

Anna A: Keh.

Kyo: Whats wrong with you O.-

Anna A: You should read your own book, its called Fruits Basket.

Kyo: Why is it called Fruits Basket? -_-

Anna A: For something Tohru did when she was little, it was only mentioned once. >_>

Kyo: Uhhh… The main character's Tohru?

Anna A: Yeah…

Anna (Me): COULD YOU SHUT UP. I'm trying to do a disclaimer!! >_<

Kyo: -rolls eyes- Go on.

Anna (Me: Thank you. Please Review, and keep in touch with meif you have any ideas! Thank you Temari-Chan for my wonderful new character, who appears in the next Chapter!

Anju: You have to many originals…

Anna (Me): YOU'RE an original. -_-

Anju: Uhhh… >_>

Anna (Me): Exactly… Now! If you want to be in a skit, Uhhhh… E-mail me! xD