In the dim light that was provided from the moon above them, pale and soft, Ryuu could barely see the expressions on Hikari's face, now that he no longer had his Sharingan activated. However, all he wanted, was to hear her response, to hear her say something in reply to his question. At first, a stretch of silence was all he got, but after a moment she finally speaks up. He didn't know whether to feel relieved or something else when she told him that it wasn't his brother that was the issue at hand, as a soft lurching in his stomach formed when she agreed to his words. He was her friend. When she said it was hard for her to talk about things like this, he shakes his head softly. "Just try. I'll listen. To whatever you have to say." He'd always be there. If she ever needed someone to talk to...Ryuu would gladly be the one who was the shoulder she leaned on.<br/><br/>She begins to speak then, and he listened to everything she said, hanging onto every word that escaped her mouth. So...this was the reason she was always so hard on herself. So quiet. Why she seemed lost. Even though he'd seen her smile plenty of times, he could see past all that, and look to her real self, seeing her soul, and the pain that she was hiding. Many times he wanted to just reach out, to tell her that it was okay, that things change...but he'd always gotten cold feet, knowing, ALWAYS knowing...that even if he did...it wouldn't change how she felt. Maybe if Kuro told her, then that would be different, for her, it seemed his older brother was the key to her emotions, the one that held the special place in her heart.<br/><br/>But even so, standing there in the moonlight, listening to her tell him these things, he felt like he'd gotten one step closer, a little bit further in past her barriers, and the wall that she shut herself in no longer seemed so daunting as they'd appeared before. She was fighting the emotions she held inside, and it tore him apart seeing her in this state of mind. What could he do, to help ease her burden? How could he show her that he truly cared? He could only think of one way, and that was to be there for her, no matter what. And for now, that would have to be good enough for him.<br/><br/>He remains quiet, as she apologized. Ryuu sighs softly and shakes his head. "Please...don't be that way...it wasn't your fault. Things happen, people make mistakes...I'm alive...right?" Giving her a reassuring smile, he stands still when she reaches out to him, healing the cuts on his face and arms, that had been caused by his rush through the trees to come to her aid. Glancing down at his skin, there was no longer any wounds left behind, flawless like before. "Thank you..." He murmurs, before looking up again at her.<br/><br/>She turns, and he loosens his grip on her wrist, so she was able to pull away from his touch, the warmth leaving his fingers. Curling them, clasping onto thin air, he fought back the stone in his throat to nod and smile at her. "I agree. Let's get going." He was about to jump off the branch when she spoke up to him, and he pauses. "Yeah?" He replies, wondering what else she had to say. His eyes grow wide slightly before he just smiles a little bit. He felt that a reply was unnecessary, so kept quiet. Inside his mind, he could only think of what she'd said.<span style="font-style: italic">'If it was to protect you and to keep you safe, I'd be at your side forever. I'll always be there for you. I will live...to protect you.'</span>He thought this to himself as he jumped off the branch, following her as they began running once more.<br/><br/>The rest of the trip was quiet, nothing being said, no doubt both having thoughts on their minds, each thinking their own things. Time seemed to slip right past them, and it was almost like no time had even passed when the Village Hidden in the Leaves could be seen, and then they were passing through the gates, which had been opened for their arrival, and once they were past shut once again.<br/><br/>For a short while, they walk side by side in the quiet village, before Ryuu comes to a stop. "Hikari, wait..." He stood still, waiting for her to comply, before taking a deep breath, and began to speak. "I'm sorry that things happened the way they did...I had hoped that this mission would end on a better note, you know?" He fidgets a little as he stood before her, ruffling through his pouch, pulling out the scroll he'd copied from the original. "Lady Hokage will want to see this. I'm guessing you're going to go report in tonight?" He holds it out to her, and when she takes it, he suddenly takes her hands into his own.<br/><br/>"I know it's kind of pointless to be saying this now of all times, but...what's now then another time, you know? Better now than later, I always say." He seemed to be nervous, as he gave her a smile. He knew it was probably not going to be how he wanted, but he was tired of keeping this to himself. "Ever since I've met you..." He pauses. No...he couldn't. Not right now. "Ever since I've met you, I've known you were different. I wanted to get to know you. And...well, I hoped that we could become friends. I'm glad that we could. If you ever want to talk, then well...you know where to find me." He falls quiet, before moving close, and hugging Hikari, and even though it was a brief hug, so much caring was poured into it. He lets go, and backs away. "Good night." He turns and begins to run away, dashing away as fast as he could, in order for Hikari not to see the tears that had finally begun to fall.<br/><br/>Once he reached home, Ryuu felt something was off. He walks in through the front door and automatically comes to a halt. So...he was here. Or at least somewhere in the village. Ryuu sighs, and passes the door by, going to his room, slipping inside quietly, changing into his pajamas before falling onto his bed. Staring up at the ceiling, he raises a hand above his head, staring at the charm around his wrist, dangling from the string it was tied on. The moonlight caught it, the reflection making it almost glow. "I'm sorry...I just can't tell you...how I really feel..." He murmurs, letting his arm fall over his face, closing his eyes, and eventually falling asleep.<br/><br/>Meanwhile, back at the Hokage's office, a yelling match could almost be heard a mile away. The door was closed to the room, but the voices that were raised could still be heard echoing through the hallways, and even outside the building itself. The contenders? Lady Tsunade and Kuronotsurugi. Shizune was standing, panicking and feeling anxious, she'd never seen Kuro act like this before, or at least to this level. Kuro had recently gotten back from his own mission, after being gone for over a week, and Tsunade was starting to get tired of his attitude. Shizune tried to calm them down, but both turn to her and yell at the same time. "SHUT UP!"<br/><br/>Tsunade faces Kuro, glaring at him, and he gives her the same exact look, a heated expression of fury, his eyebrows pressed together, eyes narrows, and a scowl on his lips. "Don't you tell Shizune that!" Tsunade snaps, shaking with anger. "Don't YOU tell ME what to do!" Kuro retorts, gritting his teeth. "You know what? I don't know how Hikari does it! How she puts up with that ASSHOLE behavior of yours! She's got her own problems, and you don't even care! She cares about you, do you know how worried she's been?!?! DO YOU? YOU NEED TO GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER!" Kuro pauses. "Well, it's a good thing that it won't be for very much longer that you, or anyone else, will have to deal with me and my...<span style="font-style: italic">asshole</span>behavior then, isn't it?!" He quickly turns around, and look of confusion forms on Tsunade's face. "What the HELL do you mean?!" She demands, slamming her hands on the desk, as she stood there behind it. "You'll find out soon enough...!" He then walks across the room, with Tsunade yelling at his back. "KURONOTSURUGI UCHIHA YOU COME BACK HERE RIGHT NOW!!!" The last words were cut off behind him as Kuro exited the door. He was surprised to see Hikari standing there, but quickly gets over it, and looks away, turning swiftly to walk down the hallway. He knew she had to report her mission, and didn't have time to come running after him right now.<br/><br/>He'd already visited home, seen the gifts that Hikari had left for him, read the letters. Why? Why did she do this? He shakes his head as he walks down the dark hallways, exiting the building, and heads out into the village. Pausing, he glances back at the Hokage's mansion, before grimacing a little bit, turning once more and making his way back to the Uchiha compound, so he could get some rest before heading out again. Maybe...he'd even give Hikari a little visit before he left. Who knows? He was still struggling with what he was feeling at that very moment...so maybe it wasn't a good idea. For now though, he'd just have to think on it, and see what happened.<br/><br/>Reaching the house, he goes inside, heading straight to his room. He knew that Ryuu was back home now, no doubt the younger boy was angry with him for hurting Hikari like this. Kuro wasn't blind to the effection his younger brother had towards her, though said nothing of it. Ryuu was a hopeless cause, and Kuro wasn't about to lay on the pain even thicker than it had to be. He wasn't cruel like that, or at least, he didn't think of himself that way. Changing his clothing, he sits on the edge of his bed, sighing softly. No doubt they'd be upping surveillance on his every move from now on, after saying someting like that. But right then, when he did, Kuro didn't care. He was sick of this place. It was a cage, and he wanted to be set free. Laying on his side, he stared at the stuffed owl that sat against the wall, the plastic eyes glittering in the moonlight. Reaching out, he flicks it gently, before turning onto his back, and closes his eyes, letting sleep take over.