Reunion.

The sky was a very clear light cyan blue, huge puffy cumulus clouds dotted it with a nice touch. A gentle breeze blew, rustling the emerald green blades of grass all around. Birds chirped in the area, and soon enough cicadas joined, making a mesmerizing tune together. The sun was bright, high in the mid sky, its warmth kissing a girl's face and shoulders as she walked into her old home village, her backpack strapped onto her back. She stopped right as she walked past the Konoha gates, soaking in the image of the place she had left just a year ago. It felt like years since she's been here. Since Tifa's been here.

She stood there at the gates, looking completely different from what she used to look like before her leave. Her light blonde hair that was a bit past her shoulders when she left was now down to her waist, pin straight as always. She wore a skin-fitted short white zipped up dress, the dress unzipped a little at the top. It revealed the black laced tank top she wore beneath it just by an inch. She still wore the black choker with the crystal diamond on it, the color resembling her eyes. Tifa's eyes used to be just a light blue, but they had changed, not just with emotions but colors, too. They were full of confidence, and there were variations of blues; ranging from a navy blue around the pupil to a turquoise blue then to a cyan crystal blue. The color sure stood out from the rest of the peoples' eyes before her. She wore knee high black ninja boots, charcoal gray metal shin guards covering the shins the front of the boots. On the shin guards, black wave-like swirls run up both sides of the plates; the waves being outlined in a bright blue color, contrasting against the charcoal gray of the plates. She looked more mature, her bone structure now flawless as she was older, her skin a tan creamy color and soft. Many people stopped and stared at her, smiles breaking across their faces as they realized who it was. She was a head turner now, sonething she thought she'd never be. She smiled kindly and shyly waved a hello gesture as she began to walk. It felt so good to be home at last. Being around her friends and loved ones made her feel...whole, for once. The smell of ramen cooking filled the air, and she inhaled it, remembering the days she spent there as a kid with her parents, along with her old teammates. Her arrival today was suppose to be a surprise, and she couldn't wait to show off her new moves and how much she had gotten better to her teammates, Setoshi and Zero. She missed them terribly, and she was dying on the inside to see them again. Had they changed much? Or no? Would they be mad at her for being gone for so long, or would they be happy that she returned? She then looked straight ahead, wondering on where they'd be. Her eyes scanned the crowds of innocent villagers who were scattered everywhere upon the streets, holding grocery bags, or just walking around with friends and loved ones. As she continued to walk, people greeted her with excitement, some hugging her or shaking her hand. Many commented on her beauty, others were just saying how happy they were that she was back. She ignored some of the glares she got from girls that looked around her age and older, not letting them bother her. She couldn't understand why such the mean looks she got from them. 

As she broke free from the grasps of friends and out of the gossipers' view, she continued her search for her teammates. She turned the corner fluidly and began to walk towards the academy school, looking at kids who ran to their parents, yapping about how swell they did and what they learned. The smiles on their faces couldn't even explain how much fun they had. TIfa then thought back on one of the villages she had been to for the past year of training, her smile disappearing. It was so poor and desolate there. The kids were always sick due to not having enough money to feed them, along with not having the correct medicine to treat them. She pushed the memory away, putting her attention back on the search for Zero and Setoshi. If she couldn't find them in the next ten minutes, she'd just go home and visit her mother, then try later tonight or tomorrow. She walked around the familiar streets of Konoha for the next eight minutes, finally giving up on the search. She walked sluggishly passed the ramen shop on her way to her house, and stopped. Her stomach growled lowly, and she laughed to herself, turning on her heel and walking into the ramen shop. She sat on a bar stool and took off her backpack, setting it down beside her feet on the ground. She was greeted by a man who worked there, and he joyfully took her order. She placed both of her elbows on the bar, resting her chin on the palm of her hands. She peered out the window to the side, watching many laugh with people they loved to be around. She then thought about about Setoshi, her stomach twisting. Before she left, she had promised herself that she'd confront her feelings that she had for him, but she never got the chance to do it. She was always so good at hiding the strong feelings she had for him, and she wanted to tell him how she felt before she left because to be honest, she wasn't sure when she was going to come back. But she was home again, and she decided that she once again wouldn't tell him. He probably likes someone else, there were many girls here that were far more prettier then she was, or at least that was her own opinion. Maybe he even had a girlfriend! The horrid thought made her frown. She looked away from the window as her order came, picking up chop sticks and breaking them away from eachother. The ramen bowl was placed in front of her, and she thanked the man before digging into the ramen. When she finished, she pushed it forward and he took it, Tifa placing money in his hand. She then brought her glass of water up to her soft lips and took a sip, placing it down. The ice in it clanged against the glass, and as it got quiet, she could hear many people around the ramen shop outside talking about her return. She sighed. "So much for a surprise," she said; even though she said it sarcasticly, her voice sounded so mesmerizing as she spoke softly.

Zero picked her on the shoulder. His whole body was bruised and sweating had just been training every hard and his Sharingan Tomeo Three was still active. His dark grey was over his left eye and some thing that Tifa never saw on Zero before was the cheek to above the eye scar with clash with some Missing Ninja. “Well look who’s back...” Zero says jokingly and took out a welcome back present. Zero knew about Tifa’s feeling’s for Seto and put it back in his pouch and looked down Zero was never noticed by any girl but one girl with was an Uchiha who teach him and his teammates. The smell of Ramen caught Zero’s nose and ordered spicy chicken. “I missed you Tifa” Zero said retaking out the present and placed it on her table. And looked down again hoping she liked it.

Tifa let put a breath-taking smile when she saw her old teammate, Zero. She went to hug him, but she noticed how he was sweaty from training, so she lowered her arms and placed her hands against her lap, still smiling at him. "Hey Zero!" she said, amazed by how much he has grown. He looked more mature, and much stronger, too. She saw a scar on his cheek, but she didn't ask how he got it. Training, she figured. He then brought something out then put it back away, Tifa not seeing it. She rose her eyebrow at him, but he didn't see her confusion as he ordered ramen, taking a seat beside her. She sat back down, and stared at him. She finally home, around her loved ones. The thought made her smile, then Zero said, "I missed you, Tifa." So she was missed? She thought that no one would really care. "I was only gone for a year and three weeks," she said, sarcasm lightly played in her tone. She laughed, her laugh sounding like a beautiful melody. That was another thing that changed about her--her voice. It was so dazzling and beautiful, compared to some other girls, which who had high pitched voices, deep, or sqeaky voices. She then saw Zero place a present in front of her. "W-what's t-this? Zero, you didn't have to get me anything," she stammered. She was usually the one giving gifts, not the one to receive them. She held it in her hands, staring at the beautiful wrapping. Zero did a pretty good job on wrapping it. She pinched a corner between her pointer finger and thumb, tearing it lightly. What could it be?

As Tifa teared the wrapping away a box with a locket and necklace which were silver and in the locket was the Pictures of Zero, Seto and Tifa before they split up for their training and zero saw Tifa looking at his scar. “if you’re wondering about the scar I fought some A-Ranked Missing Ninja Six months ago” Zero said as he hid his emotions towards her away and know Seto would be here so. Zero noted that she had gotten stronger by the fact of his Sharingan was reading her muscle movements. He deactivated his Blue Sharingan To reveal his Dark hazel eyes. “you have gotten beautiful Then befor...” Zero stopped speaking and looked down and remained silent for a few seconds “when Seto gets here we need to train together again to see how strong we all are” Zero explained then he was going to say some thing “...” but nothing came out she was beautiful but Seto was in love with he still.

The locket slightly swung back and forth as Tifa held the chain on her pointer finger. She didn't know what to say, but the look on her face expressed how she felt. He told her what was inside, and she opened it. And there it was, the picture if the three when they all gathered up to form a squad. Standing in the middle was Tifa, smiling hugely beside Zero and Setoshi. They all were smiling, looking happy together. Tifa felt poignant for tearing up the team because of her leave, her eyebrows forming into a worried expression. But they were a team again, finally. "You know, I wasn't suppose to come back yet, but I begged and begged. And here I am," she said with a small smile, clasping the necklace around her neck. "Thank you, Zero. It's beautiful," she commented. “if you’re wondering about the scar I fought some A-Ranked Missing Ninja Six months ago," he said, answering her question. "You idiot! You could have d-" she stopped mid sentence. Zero was very strong, and she knew that. "Well, I'm glad your alive," she meekly said, now seeing his deep, hazel colored eyes. “You have gotten more beautiful then before...” he commented before being mute. Tifa stared at him, looked down. "I guess that's what happens when you grow," she said, laughing softly. Though many told her the same thing, she didn't believe it. "I would say the same to you, but I'm going to have to say you're more handsome then before," she said, laughing. It would have been funny if she said he was beautiful. “When Seto gets here, we need to train together again. To see how strong we all are,” Zero explained. "Hell yeah! You guys better watch out," she said with a smile, clenching her hand into a tight fist infront of her. She couldn't wait! She then saw Zero hesitate, like he was going to say something. "What were you going to say? C'mon Zero, we're really close. You can tell me anything," she said with a friendly smile.

Zero just looks up at her and just said nothing then “It’s nothing Tifa it’s just good to have you back” Zero said but he could admit his emotions to her. He knew that in the past she relied on Zero and Seto and she loved him but Zero loved her but no-one but their Sensei “Tifa there is some thing i need to tell you Ryohi-Sensei is...dead” Zero said it was one of two thing he need to tell her. As he said that and his Ramen was gone before getting up and turned back to Tifa she could something was completely wrong but before she could do anything Zero was gone using his flicker jutsu to the two places he would be Training grounds or the memorial Grounds.

Tifa stared at Zero as he told her the horrid news. Sensai was...d-dead?! She could feel every muscle in her body freeze, locking up in such shock. He had passed away while she was gone...and she wasn't there for him. She clenched a fistful of her dress, still not moving. Her eyes were full of sorrow and shock, and before she could say something Zero disappeared. She swallowed, and forced herself to get up. She did hand signs, then teleported to the memorial grounds. She saw Zero standing infront of a gravestone, his back faced towards her. She slowly walked up next to him silently. She hadn't realized it, but tears were running down her cheeks. She read his name. "Ryohi..." she whispered. She felt horrible, she hadn't been there to help him because she was taking care of herself. How cruel and selfish of her...She took a step towards his grave, placing her pointer and middle finger ontop of it, tracing her fingers along it. "...How...?" she barely whispered to Zero. Her voice was full of sorrow, yet it was still soft. She closed her eyes in memory of him. I promise, I'll make it up to you, she thought in her head. A gentle breeze blew, causing her long hair to flow in its direction, the wind stirring cherry blossoms that had fallen off of their trees to flitter around in the air. It was very quiet except the rustle of the trees.