Hikari woke up the next morning and laid there for some time just staring out the window at the still-dark sky as she thought about what had happened the night before. She still felt conflicted. She was happy because of all of the amazing things that had happened, but she still had a feeling she couldn't shake. Like something was off. She still couldn't explain the look in his eyes or the way he spoke before he left the night before. She didn't know what it was, why she felt this way, but she just couldn't shake the worry that plagued her thoughts.<br/><br/>She finally sighed and sat up, getting out of bed and changing into her usual outfit, putting her twin blades, kunai pouch, and other pouches in their places before pulling her cloak over her shoulders and putting her headband on. From there she slipped into the kitchen, getting herself a drink and grabbing something she could eat on her way to the Hokage's office. Part of her wanted to stop by and see if Kuro was home, to see what was going on, but she didn't. She had the feeling he wouldn't be home anyways. Instead, she decided to give him a little space to figure things out. A lot had happened and she didn't want him to feel like she was rushing him or pushing him into anything. She just had to find the line between showing that she cared and wanted to see him and spend time with him, and being pushy and overbearing.<br/><br/>She pushed the thoughts from her mind as she arrived at the Hokage's office. The sun was rising now, so Lady Tsunade was most likely awake by now. She knocked lightly and entered before the woman could answer. "Good morning, Hikari." the older woman greeted her, folding her hands in front of her. She eyed Hikari, as though she were studying her, trying to read her. Of course, Hikari was unreadable, as usual. She had a weird way of giving off a vibe like she was fine, putting on a smile that seemed real enough, and yet it was impossible to actually read her, to tell what she was thinking or feeling. She supposed that most people probably wouldn't really notice this, but she did. The last few times she'd seen her, she'd been different. Yet now she was closed off once again. She wondered why.<br/><br/>Of course, that wasn't why the girl was here, nor was it really her business, so she didn't press her for answers, but she couldn't help her lingering curiosity. "Do you have a mission for me?" Hikari asked, breaking Tsunade from her thoughts. "Hmm? Yes." she held out a scroll, which Hikari took and glanced over. "Seems easy enough." she shrugged as she rolled it back up. Tsunade chuckled lightly. "It's an S-ranked mission. Try to be careful." she warned her. Hikari nodded, "I always am." she replied before disappearing, heading off for the mission.<br/><br/>The days passed quickly and before she knew it her mission turned into several missions and the days turned into weeks. Tsunade kept her busy. She hardly ever got more than a few hours of rest before she was sent on her next mission, and never more than a day to herself. Even when she had time off, she was now training with Tsunade, or working on some new jutsu, so this took up most of her free time. She couldn't really complain. It kept her busy, kept her mind occupied and off of the fact that she hadn't seen Kuro since that night. She'd gone to visit him whenever she got the chance, but he was always gone. She would speak to his mother or Ryuu, usually, even his father once or twice, but never him.<br/><br/>After missing him the first time, she decided to leave a little note, or small letter, if you will, for him. The next time she brought a sort of care package with another letter, and that turned into a trend. She would give him something she cooked that he could take on his missions, or eat when he was home; some of the new food pills she'd created, which were similar to those Shizune made, but with her own little flare, including a little something added to make them taste good; or something she saw that she thought he'd like, or that reminded her of him, along with the short letter to say hi and let him know she was still thinking of him. It had been two months now and she was still bringing the packages, along with a letter, between missions, one each time she had a chance. She'd not gotten any sort of response, positive or negative, from him, nor had she seen him, but she continued to bring them every chance she got. It was her way of letting him know she still cared, that she hadn't forgotten him, that she wasn't giving up.<br/><br/>She couldn't help her worry, the fears that crept up when she wasn't looking, warning her of the pain she would soon feel, telling her that he was avoiding her, that she had been foolish to think that things could ever work with him, that she had been foolish to befriend him when she knew it would hurt her one day. She couldn't keep the thoughts from creeping up, but she could ignore them, at least for the most part. She hoped this wouldn't last forever, that he was just busy and had even less time than she did, or that he was just figuring things out, that she would see him again. She tried not to think about the things he'd said, about how he'd be there to provide her with surprises and a puzzle that would last, about how he had asked her to be his girlfriend and then disappeared. Was she crazy? A fool? Perhaps. But that wouldn't stop her. She wasn't going to give up that easily.<br/><br/>As she had so many times lately, she stood at his door, a small basket in her hand as she knocked lightly with the other hand, waiting for an answer. She smiled at Ryuu, who opened the door and held the basket up. "Hey, Ryuu. I'm back, again." she smiled, despite everything that bubbled beneath the surface. She wondered... Did they think she was crazy? Were they getting tired of seeing her, taking these baskets and delivering her messages? She supposed that it didn't really matter if they thought she was crazy, so long as they continued to give him the things she brought.<br/><br/>"Here you go. You'll make sure he gets it, right?" she handed the basket to Ryuu and gave a small bow. "Thank you. Ryuu." she gave an appreciative smile. "Well, I have another mission, so I have to get going. See ya later!" she waved as she spun on her heels, her cloak fluttering around her as she did. She leaped up onto the roof of the house in front of her and then headed off towards the Hokage's office to get her next mission. She'd have a partner this time, a chunin, but she didn't know who. She'd find that out, along with the mission details, and then they'd head out.