I'm just gonna post what I have of the story, mostly 'cause I'd like to have this up somewhere, but I don't want to get anyone's hopes up by having it as an actually story.

"You've been out late, Hana. Finally get yourself a boyfriend?"

Hana had only just closed the door behind her when her mother's rough voice reached her. She smiled slightly as she removed her Chunin vest with one expert hand, hanging it by the door so it was ready for the morning. In her other arm she cradled the frail form of the unconscious Ninken she'd been charged with treating.

Ibiki returned not long after she'd begun and, seeing she was still in the process of finishing, bluntly informed her to get lost. Indignant, she'd fought tooth and nail to continue treating the puppy. Ibiki was stony, indifferent to the matter. It mattered not to him whether the dog lived or died. He even thought he could use it as leverage against the girl, seeing as how she'd taken such great measures to protect the animal. But Hana had been persistent, steadfast in her pleadings, and eventually, Ibiki had waved his hand, indicating she was free to do what she wished.

"Hello, Mother," the young brunette smiled as she walked calmly into the living room, where Tsume, her mother was perched on a chair, long legs spread out in front of her, arms resting on the chair's back. "You know Morino-san called me out for a special case earlier."

"Ah, so that's the little thing."

Tsume leaned forward to inspect the small creature buried in Hana's arms. Small, vulnerable, easily the most pathetic Ninken the woman had yet to set eyes on. She dropped her elbow onto the table, chin resting in her open palm.

"Is the Missing Nin dead or something?"

Taking the open chair across from her mother, Hana gently set the Ninken down on the table. Its nose twitched, bombarded with unfamiliar scents. Blood still caked its midnight-black fur, still rotted between its claws. But its chest rose and fell more easily than it had before Hana offered it her medical aid. Less pain, less torment to deal with, and its breathing had turned a little easier.

"As far as I know," Hana began, skimming her fingers through the tangled black fur, "she's still alive. Morino-san didn't want me there any longer, but he let me take this Ninken back with me." Her eyes softened. "I couldn't leave it there, not like this."

"Bah, you're still too soft, Hana," Tsume snorted, turning her head away disdainfully. Her sharp hearing was filled with nothing more than the Ninken's soft breaths. Even her own Ninken's presence faded, replaced solely by the young one clinging to life on the table beside her.

Her head cocked to the side, nose turned up, twitching.

She smirked.

"Where do ya think you're going, little punk?" she barked.

The young brunette flinched, his hand, wrapped around the door handle, paused. He swore under his breath, earning a slight whimper from the dog stuffed into his jacket.

"Training," the Genin barked back, swinging around to face his mother. "Everybody's waiting, so let me go without nagging me for once!"

"Training?" Tsume sneered. "Genin, at this time? You must think I'm pretty stupid, Kiba, to fall for something as half-assed as that!"

"You're definitely not the brightest person in the room," Kiba growled beneath his breath.

Tsume's brow rose; a crooked smirk tugged at her lips.

"Think your little wise-ass remarks are gonna get ya on my good side?"

Kiba was tempted to shout something horrifically unpleasant in an effort to shut her up, but held his tongue when Akamaru, his own Ninken, suddenly leaped from his jacket and bounded over to the table, using Hana's lap as a stepping-stone of sorts to reach the tabletop. Kiba skidded after his pup, in time to see him press his nose into the black-furred Ninken's flank.

A low whimper escaped him.

"Whoa, what happened, Hana?" Kiba questioned.

He, like his mother, leaned forward to better see the unconscious pup. He placed his palms atop the table, bent down to peer through narrowed eyes at the animal's numerous wounds, some stitched up, others still fresh but free of blood.

"This ain't your dog is it?"

"No." Hana shook her head, finger still smoothing the unruly obsidian fur. Flakes of crimson rubbed off on her skin. "It's... complicated, but I'll be taking care of this dog for a while at least."

Kiba watched his sister, thoughtful as he ever was. Some sadness clouded Hana's eyes as she gazed down, almost forlornly, at the small Ninken. He shoved his hands into his pockets and turned his eyes to the ceiling. What could he say, exactly, to comfort her when he wasn't sure what the problem even was? Hana often looked after injured Ninken, and various other Summoning Animals. She was a vet, after all. What could tear at her heart so forcefully as to gain this reaction?

__________________________

Cold. Darkness. Numbed pain.

These were several of the things the girl was experiencing as she sat, hands bound behind her, in the metal chair that offered no form of warmth or comfort for her aching muscles. The colors of sunset still danced across her vision, though only when she kept her eyes closed. She yearned intensely for those colors to return, to break her from this prison of despair and loneliness.

She knew it was a fruitless and groundless wish.

Various wounds across her person stung as she subtly shifted, testing the strength of her bindings. Sturdy. So she wouldn't be breaking free, not that she cared to all that much.

"Open your eyes, kid. I think you've had enough rest."

The harsh tone caused not an ounce of fear to stir within her, yet she cracked open one eye obediently.

Curiosity was her only motivation.

She was met with a cold light, a gray room, and a man dressed in an ominous black. If she hadn't known better, she would have assumed some god of death had been sent to claim her unworthy soul.

The man stood impassively just in front of the only door she could make out. His hands clasped behind his back, feet shoulder-width apart, it was obvious he was a professional.

The girl's head dropped, chin lowered towards her chest, frosty hair obscuring her face from view.

"So... I take it... you saw the headband..." she managed to get out.

No response came.

A shaft of clouded light glinted off the man's headband, catching the girl's attention. Konohagakure. The Village Hidden in the Leaves. A friendly Village, comparitively.

"We'll start with simple questions. Your name. What is it?" the shinigami asked.

"Akiyama. Akiyama Haru."

Ibiki narrowed his eyes. His true interrogation hadn't begun, even though in most cases his captives refused to even reveal to him that much. Nonetheless, he pressed on.

"What Village are you from?"

The girl bit her lip; blood trickled down her chin as a result.

"Hinoirigakure."

That deafening wall of silence returned. She squeezed her eyes shut, lowered her head further, shook her head. The blackness wanted to claim her again.

"The Village Hidden in the Sunset, if you aren't familiar with it."

Pain wasn't enough to keep her awake.

"You're a Missing Nin from this Hinoirigakure, correct?"

"Not... by choice."

Her nails bit into her palms. She didn't want to surrender to the dark again.

"Though I doubt you'll believe me."

"I never believe the words of people I interrogate, not until I'm sure they wouldn't dare lie to me again."

The girl cracked a faint smile.

"Wise words," she murmured. "Don't you think, Kasai?"

Silence.

"Kasai?"

Her eyes flew open and she snapped her head up in alarm. Her jacket was gone, as well as Kasai's warmth. A cold weight settled in her chest; her breathing became tight and shallow. She writhed in the chair, strained forward, tried to tear through her bindings.

"Where the hell is Kasai?!" she demanded, voice lowered into a menacing growl.Ibiki noted the molten tears welling up in her eyes, how they broke apart the the glittering purple orbs, gathered on the dark lashes beneath them. Her pale cheeks flushed with rage and bitterness, confirming the level of her anger.

"Tell me what you did to her, dammit!" she snapped. "Kasai's already hurt, don't torment her further! Please, I am begging you, just leave her alone! Kasai's... Kasai's..." ...all I have left.

The words died on her lips. She couldn't admit it, not even to herself. She wrenched her head around, white hair chasing after her. Her teeth gritted with repressed fury and misery. Without Kasai, nothing mattered. If she was already dead...

The emotion in her eyes was the absolute truth, Ibiki was certain. No amount of talent could form lies as anguished as the display she was putting on now. But she was a danger to the Village, if her scratched-out headband was anything to go by. There would be no concessions in her favor made by Ibiki.

"What purpose do you have in the Leaf?" Ibiki inquired plainly, taking a few steps closer to Akiyama Haru, Missing Nin of Hinoirigakure. "What are your intentions?"

"...I have none," Haru growled, throwing her back to meet Ibiki's passive stare. "I had no business in Konoha. It's a complete accident that I'm here. Kill me, kick me out, send me back to Hinoiri I don't care. But for the love of Kami, return Kasai to me!"

Ibiki's lips curled in the slightest of smirks. A complete disregard for her own saftey, as long as her Ninken remains out of harm's way. A fool of a Ninja, but as a person...

"What was it you did to become a Missing Nin?"

Refusing to answer would only ensure that Kasai be put in even more danger than she already was. Haru understood that. But she couldn't deny how infuriating this conversation was becoming. He blatantly dodged around her questions, did not answer even when she did. If he wanted to get her riled up, he was going about it in all the right ways.

"I..." Haru stopped. Her tongue felt too heavy to continue. Trails of blistering tears snaked down her cheeks, as much as she wished she could halt their progress. The last thing she wanted to do was relive that night... "...killed... an important member of my Clan."

The Third won't find this news pleasant... Ibiki thought.

He certainly doesn't.

Ibiki managed to keep the look of surprise that threatened to flash across his face at bay.

Inoichi? he asked silently. You've connected to me?

The Third wanted to know what was going on as soon as possible. I'm sorry for not informing you sooner.

No, it's fine. If it's on the Third's orders, I have no complaints... Does he know what he wants to do with this girl?

He does. Your job is finished, Ibiki.

The connection severed as easily as it had been struck up, and Ibiki closed his eyes briefly, enjoying the silence of his own mind. He turned on his heel and strode towards the door, ignoring the girl's obvious confusion as he did so. He opened the door and closed it after stepping out into the hallway.

"Well done, as usual, Ibiki," a familiar voice greeted him.

Ibiki nodded respectfully to the Third Hokage, who stood just feet in front of him, hands clasped behind his back. Smoke puffed frequently from the pipe between his teeth, painting the air a mystifying shade of gray.

"Hokage-sama," he replied as he turned and disappeared down the hall, lost to the shadows after mere moments.

The Hokage entered the room, where Haru still sat, head drooping, eyes burning with glistening tears. She didn't look up at the old man's approach, nor did she raise her head when he stood directly before her.

"Your name is Akiyama Haru, I see," the Third mused.

Haru said not a word.

"A troubled young girl, aren't you? You're no older than the Genin of this Village. What rank are you?"

"...Chunin."

The Third nodded slowly. He'd been expecting something like this. She didn't look apt enough to be a Jonin at her age, despite how rigorous the training regimens were among other Hidden Villages. The Leaf was by far the most relaxed about training their young Shinobi, though no less fruitful with the results.

"Is Kasai the name of your Ninken?"

At this, Haru looked up eagerly.

"You know where Kasai is-?"

Her breath caught in her throat. She recognized the ceremonial robes this old man wore. They were a different color from the ones she was used to, but there was no denying this man was a Kage. Her gaze fell to the ground.

"Hai," she mumbled. "Kasai is her name."

A small smile turned up the corners of the Third's mouth. His suspicions were confirmed.

"Rest easy, Haru-san, Kasai is in no danger. She's being well-cared for by a member of the Inuzuka Clan of our Village. And I assure you you'll be able to see her soon."

A breath of pure relief was released from Haru's lips. Kasai was safe. No matter what happened to her now, she was reassured her most important companion would be fine.

Haru hadn't believed a Kage could be this generous, despite the stories she'd heard of Konoha's leader. He was often mocked for his kindness, she'd heard, even though he was considered a God of Shinobi. But sitting here, being told her beloved Kasai was safe, she found no desire to mock or degrade this man.

"I suppose I'll be allowed to say my goodbyes, then," she breathed, tilting her head back, eyes closed.

"Goodbye?" the Hokage echoed curiously.

"You'll be executing me, right?" Haru sighed. "As a Missing Nin, I was expecting that. But as long as Kasai's fine, I don't really care. I'm finished running." She chuckled weakly. "I couldn't run even if I wanted to, actually, with a body as beaten as this one."

"I'm glad to hear you've finished running, Haru-san," the Third said thoughtfully.

Haru's ears pricked; that wasn't the tone of a man ready to deliver her her death sentence.

"The Village already has its share of troubling young Shinobi. It's a relief I can count on you to behave."

"Be...have?"

The Third smiled kindly.

"Welcome to Konoha, Haru Akiyama."