[OP: "I Have Made Mistakes"--The Oh Hellos]

Shine had hoped she'd be done with the drama for at least a few hours while they tried to find the kidnappers...

But when they'd gone farther from the Kage house--after leaving Hanabi and Eichi there and making sure Tsunade intended to check in on their well-being--Dabi was lingering around one rock pillar.

"We probably should talk," he announced.

"Now?" Wally said. "We have to get ready to go again."

"Then go. I want to talk to Shine," Dabi said.

Wally felt a bit hurt. "Well, sure, yeah."

He sped away.

"Wally is just as good as I am at helping," Shine reprimanded Dabi.

"He'd be too bothered by it, and he's too much of a hero," Dabi said darkly.

"I'm going to assume that's not a slam at me."

"Don't be coy." Dabi shrugged moodily. "You probably should know, while we were all amnesiacs and lost in that wilderness and we fought those freaks...I incinerated one of them."

Silence.

Shine had not been expecting that.

She felt heavy.

"On purpose?" she asked quietly.

"Not...well, I don't know. My mind was all mixed up anyway, but I think my anger took over. I didn't think I was going to do it, but my quirk spiraled out... He was...well, he was already bleeding out probably, but who knows? He might have lived...maybe. The other, I burned pretty bad. He was still alive, but he got hit with a rock pretty hard, could have died too."

"You hit him with a rock?"

"No, someone else did," Dabi hedged.

"Mabui did," Shine guessed. "And why was the other guy bleeding out?"

"She ran him through with his own sword." Dabi sounded mildly impressed. "Which, you know, if I was still a villain, would have been a pretty bada-- way to kill someone, but I know your rule. Figured you should know before we went any farther."

Shine had to think about it...weigh it, pray silently about it.

"It sounds as if you didn't intend to murder them," she said. "Also as if they'd have died anyway... We don't kill because it could change the fate or outcome of something too much beyond what our wisdom allows us to do safely...but if he was going to die either way, then losing control of your quirk is not necessarily murdering him...or breaking our rules."

"Yeah, but it's not good," Dabi said.

"Yes, but, Touya, the drug...it could have weakened your control, which is, admittedly not as strong as the others anyway. That doesn't mean you intended it in cold blood. We're not going to judge each other for accidents."

"But it's still a risk," Dabi said.

Shine folded her arms. "Well, don't fight then, if you're so worried... I think it was probably a fluke, from the sound of it... I'm sure you're still shaken up by it, and I understand that... Do you want to sit this out?"

"No. I can't trust myself in Cloud Village unsupervised. You know that... They don't like me anyway. And, I don't want to bail on the dangerous part like some coward... I'm sick of doing that...but, still, if I lose control again..."

"We have ways to help. I wouldn't worry about killing us," Shine said. "Stay with us if it's going to bother you. Wally is fast enough to save anyone from your fire... Thankfully it's not that fast itself... I mean, I won't lie to you and say we might not need to watch for it, but, likely, it'll be fine now. We're all back to our full power, it seems. I still wouldn't say you alone killed the guy... I'm surprised Mabui did. I thought she didn't use her power for that."

"Usually," Dabi said. "Well, it wasn't an assassination, it was self defense. They were gonna kill us or capture us. Maybe it's different then."

"I guess it would be... Still, the idea of using my own portal to kill makes me want to throw up. Shine looked green. "I suppose a ninja would feel different about it, but she never struck me as a killer."

"Is that really fair? There wasn't much choice." Dabi surprised her further.

"I guess not... I'm still surprised. I guess she does seem more reserved than that, but any of us might have to defend ourselves in a time like that. The no killing rule is an important one, but some things are out of our control, I suppose, as humans... God knows that. Death is not always avoidable... I could ask Wally--he may disagree. I don't want to send you home over this... We also knew that fighting the dangerous threats of this world might make killing harder to avoid... Not doing it deliberately is the most we've hoped for...but any of our actions could lead to death, or have, indirectly. Wally leaving that blade in the water system in Stone...us not telling Team 10 about the fathers--we didn't know what would happen, so we couldn't be sure we should interfere...but people still die. I put yours in the same category."

"Very generous," Dabi said. "But, you also just expect less of me. I'm the one who was the killer before. The little, perfect heroes weren't. This kind of slip up makes more sense."

He looked away bitterly. Some of his old crazed fury had come in his tone there.

Shine grabbed his arm, which startled him.

"That's stupid," she said. "Yes, we expect you to have different instincts than the heroes...but really not as different as you might think. They're human too. We've all had the thoughts, whether we act on them or not. You've come a long way. Don't let a moment of panic and rage set you back. If you didn't mean to do it, then you didn't regress morally... Quirk control is a smaller problem."

"Still a problem, and what if it's more out of control because of my moral compass?" Dabi shook his head.

"Touya, you scalded half your own body because of your lack of control," Shine said skeptically. "I think we can assume you could lose control without it being murderous. You were protecting someone else, too. That's not the same thing as burning people you regard as rubbish...unless you had that thought."

"The thought came into my head..." Dabi rubbed his temples. "I mean, I didn't remember changing, so...but I kept thinking I shouldn't kill them... Up till I did lose control, I was still unsure why, but I felt like it was wrong. Maybe, somewhere, I knew I'd promised not to. I can hope that means there was a change." 

"I think that guarantees it," Shine said firmly. "I know, you feel crappy about it... I would too. But it doesn't make you a monster. It just feels that way."

"I hope you're right." Dabi didn't sounds convinced.

https://youtu.be/LApkMIH0LBo

["Wanted Man"--Royal Deluxe]

* * *

When everyone had finally gotten ready, they reconvened outside the Village.

Karui had Omoi and Samui with her. They had their weapons.

Omoi eyed Shine warily like he was afraid she'd be angry that he was daring to be near them.

"You know, technically she said you couldn't come back till you apologized," Kankuro reminded him, with a simpering smile.  "So just apologize for the shark incident."

"She can't really still be mad about that. It was...a week ago," Omoi said.

"Never underestimate a woman's ability to hold a grudge," Kankuro said sagely.

He got hit with a pebble. Tenten had heard that.

"Case in point," he said.

"Oh, is that your girlfriend?" Omoi was interested. "She's cute. You know, for a Leaf."

"Omoi!" Karui said.

"What? With some makeup and stuff, she'd have real potential," Omoi said.

"Why do you disrespect women like that?" Kankuro said. 

"I'm not," Omoi said. "It's important to keep up a good appearance. It shows self respect."

"Ignore him," Karui said. "He's just referring to how Cloud usually prioritize putting effort into our appearance."

Kankuro only realized when she said that that every Cloud girl they'd seen wore makeup. Even Karui, who really didn't seem that inclined to vanity.

Mabui had always worn it, but no one thought anything of that since she worked in an office, but it was true; Samui did too.

Kankuro could support a village of people wanting to use face art to show their self respect--but was a bit puzzled as to why they'd choose makeup and not face paint. And said so.

"Looking the best is part of our Village experience also," Samui answered blankly. "Cool?"

"Oh...uh, sure," Kankuro said, not sure he got it. "In Sand it's different... The climate makes it pretty hard to keep up anything other than the war paint. It dries harder."

"Isn't that really uncomfortable though?" Omoi asked, around his lollipop. "It's pretty thick paint."

"Uh...well, but it does keep your face from getting burnt," Kankuro said.

"Oh." Omoi didn't seem that interested.

"Perhaps you should settle things with Likstar-san before we start this life-threatening mission," Samui told him. "I don't want to listen to your bickering while we're looking for kidnappers."

"Yeah, just go." Karui pushed Omoi.

"I don't wanna," he whined. "I might just make it worse. You know how they are--they're so touchy."

Touchy? Kankuro thought. Hadn't they been good sports so far?

But Omoi tended to take the negative view.

Mabui had apparently only gone to the house so she could get different clothes.

And maybe weapons (she didn't have any visible, but you never knew with ninjas).

"Girl," Camie said to her. "What's with the new look?"

[I'm not an artist, and this isn't quite what I had in mind, but I had to use what the app LOVENIKKI provides, so this is my attempt at a more stealth-based outfit for Mabui. And her show one is so impractical for a ninja...but then, so are lot of theirs. Why do so many of them wear heels? They stick to trees!]

"New?" Mabui said. "I didn't think the office outfit was practical. After running around the wilderness in it."

"Crap, why didn't you change it yesterday then?" Camie said. "Or...the day before. Ugh, my sense of time is all messed up after that genjutsu."

"I didn't realize we'd be fighting at the time," Mabui admitted. "But now I'm not sure."

"But did you...actually fight?" Camie asked.

Mabui realized that Dabi had not told them everything when she said that.

She wondered why. Was he still bothered by it? But he could have still mentioned her part in it... Perhaps he didn't want to get into it at all.

Perhaps she had better not say anything then. She couldn't figure out why he was so nervous about it, but there might be a reason. She of all people knew not to run her mouth about secrets.

"I have," she answered vaguely.

"Momo, what do you think of her new threads?" Camie asked. "Nice fit, right?"

Momo glanced at Camie and then at Mabui. "Sorry, do you mean fit as in it fits? Or...is it slang?"

"Both, sis," Camie said cheerfully.

"Oh...right... I was just wishing I had my hero costume," Momo said. "Using regular clothes has been very inconvenient."

"Girl, I'm not exactly shy, but even I'd never wear that costume," Camie said. "The things you physical-type quirk peeps have to do."

Momo reddened. "It's...combat necessary."

Mabui had no idea what they were talking about...but the use of the word "quirk" didn't escape her.

Here it was again... It was more than just their dialect, wasn't it? It meant something...

Physical-type, too... Camie said that as if there wasn't only one category, instead of just how their jutsu worked, which, so far, all of them appeared to work only physically, not with chakra.

It didn't line up.

Before she could think too much about it, Wally called everyone to attention.

"Okay, everyone, welcome to the new people, Omoi and...sorry, it's Samui, right?"

"Yes." Samui didn't seem offended that he'd forgotten her name.

Omoi had been talking to Shine.

"I guess...I apologize or whatever for the shark-fighting thing," he said.

Shine looked at him blankly for a moment, and then she said, "I can't believe that was really ...how many days now...?"

"Eight days ago," Gaara said. "I believe our probation has gone on for about 11 days. We only have 3 left. Do you think we've passed yet?"

Shine and Temari both laughed.

"Eleven or 12 days," Temari said. "I need to check our log. The day we lost in the wilderness has messed up my head."

"Well, I guess it's fine," Shine said to Omoi. "I forgot all about it, really. Too much else has been going on. You seemed like the least of our enemies in Cloud. I didn't think you'd actually apologize for it though. You all have your pride--you never admit you were wrong."

"Well, I didn't actually feel I was wrong--" Omoi began, and Temari gave him a fierce look.

"But of course, it was not fair to play a trick," he said hesitantly. "I never thought he'd do it, though."

"Well, now you know to refrain from any more tricks," Shine said finally. "I think my fiance is trying to say something though."

Wally was.

"So, we know basically where they had Hanabi and Eichi before," he said. "Shine's got...muscle memory of it, sort of."

Shine nodded.

"But it was on the high seas--I've always wanted to say that--" Wally said.

"Focus, West," Suigetsu called.

"Hey, shut up, Water Boy," Wally said huffily. "I got this. So, yeah, we can't just go to the middle of the sea. But Shine thinks she can track that one spot. Then we gotta find them again. I mean, they won't just be sailing around aimlessly, right?"

"Wait, what?" Dabi said. "Are we fighting them on the water? Because if so, kill me now."

"What's wrong with the water?" Naruto said.

"He gets motion sick," Hinata reminded him.

Ino looked a bit green. "Ugh...I kind of get seasick too..."

"Oh, don't be such a wimp, Ino." Sakura folded her arms. "We can just take the medicine for it. Both of you need to toughen up."

"Girl-who-lost-every-fight-save-for-one says what?" Dabi growled.

He didn't like his motion sickness being made fun of.

Sakura glared at him.

"Shut up, both of you," Bakugo said. "Always riff people for something they can't control, Cotton Candy."

"Didn't you used to bully Midoriya?" Shoto said.

"Perhaps we should stop bringing up the past," Momo said. "Bakugo has progressed. We should let him."

Shoto nodded. "Right...sorry."

"Yeah...whatever." Bakugo wasn't sure how to take either Momo defending him or Shoto apologizing for his comments.

"Ahem," Wally said loudly. "If you're all actually listening--"

"Aye, sir!" Naruto saluted.

"Does anyone have a way to find them once we get to the water again?" Wally asked.

They all thought.

Then Sai suddenly put his hand up.

"We're not in class, Sai," Shikamaru said.

"Yes, Sai," Shine said, with a smirk.

"Won't they be using the wind to sail?" Sai asked.

"I mean...Hanabi didn't mention the kind of boat, but you only have sailing ships, right?" Shine said.

"What other kinds are there?" Mabui asked.

"Not important," Shine said. "So yeah, I'd say so...oh..." She looked at Temari. "You mean we could follow the wind also?"

Temari snapped her fingers. "Better than that, I could probably sense where the wind current would take any ship, if we were close enough in it."

"Oh, I was thinking I could send my birds out there," Sai said.

Zoe cooed.

"Not you, Zoe, the paper ones... They could coast," Sai said.

"I don't like that thing," Karui said in a low voice to Samui. "But I guess it did help us out, so maybe it's good that he brought it again, but it'd better stay the h--- away from me."

Samui said nothing. She wasn't scared of Zoe enough to care.

"Sai, you're a genius!" Temari high-fived him excitedly. "This is the fastest way to find them. I can't believe I didn't think of it earlier!"

"Oh?" Sai smiled.

Ino and Shikamaru both frowned a little, Choji noticed.

Choji was a troll, as noted by the heroes.

"They seem to get along well," he said, in his matter of fact way that made it hard for even his friends to know if he was trolling them.

"Well, it's good that they came up with a plan," Shikamaru said. "Wish we had sooner."

"I'm sure you'll come up with one soon," Choji said, still with the same tone.

"Well, Sai is smart too, you know," Ino said. "I mean, he uses air currents for his stuff... I am surprised that Temari didn't think of it yesterday though."

"You two aren't very subtle," Choji said.

"What do you mean?" Shikamaru was confused.

Ino frowned at Choji like she had more of an idea what he meant.

"But what do we do once we find the b-----ds?" Karui asked the leaders.

"Knock their heads!" Bakugo cried.

"Well, I wouldn't put it so crudely," Shine said. "I mean, 'kick their butts, destroy them, pack them up and send them back to their scummy bosses or the ER', you know, maybe, but knocking heads is just crass. Still, I like your spirit."

"Yeah, we'll blow them up!" Camie said. "I'm still pissed about that memory loss stunt. Not that I want revenge, but...like...justice, right?"

"What's the difference?" Karui asked.

"There's a difference," Shoto said firmly.

"All right." Shine held up her sword. "I'll take us to the shoreline they were on. From there, Temari, it's all you. There's a lot of us, so you have to move fast. Ready?"

"What is she doing?" Samui asked.

A purple doorway opened, a bit bigger than usual, probably so more people could go in.

"All right, let's do this!" Bakugo was the first in.

The others rushed after him.

But the Cloud who hadn't used it before were looking at it weirdly.

"What is that thing?" Omoi asked.

"It's just a doorway," Mabui said. "Go on."

"Why don't you go on?" Omoi asked.

"Fine." Mabui walked into it.

"It's fine...I think. I went through yesterday." Karui dove in.

Omoi and Samui were still hesitant, but then Wally pushed them in. "Sorry, no time to wait for you to work up the nerve."

"Thanks." Shine was waiting. "Let's go."

Wally picked her up and sped in.

* * *

The shoreline seemed less threatening now that they were alone on it.

And in broad daylight, without the rain falling (the weather seemed to have blown eastward for now), they could see some sign of their scuffles. And of the other people being brought over it.

They found a few things in the sand, items of clothing...food scraps.

Temari got up onto rock and began to test the wind, putting her hand out and then her fan too.

"She's the only Wind Style user you got, right?" Samui asked.

"No, Naruto technically uses it also," Gaara said. "But Temari is the most versatile. Probably the best in our Village."

"Ah...wind is not a good mix for lighting," Samui stated. "I hope we don't fight in the same spot."

Sai drew some seagulls and then sent them over the water to look for the culprits.

Karin was trying to sense things.

"I'm getting something," she said. "But it's so far away... Past a certain point, I'm very hazy. They've probably sailed 100 leagues by now."

"If we get closer to them, you'll be fine," Wally said. "No big deal."

"I'm looking also." Hinata pointed at her eyes. "But water is hard--so many chakra signatures from the fish and birds... People are unique, but I have no idea if they're the bad guys or just fishermen, so even the ones I can see are human may be the wrong ones. And I have a limit too... If they're further than that..."

Jugo was talking to some gulls.

"They saw some ugly humans sail away from here the day before," he said. "They're going to put out a chain. Maybe some out at see will have seen them."

"The birds will?" Samui said.

"He talks to birds," Karui said like this was normal now.

"What?" Omoi said. "For real? Or are you messing with us?"

"Do I really do that?" Karui asked. "It's real. Somehow. Remember? He talked to the big one before."

"Her name is Zoe," Sai said primly.

Karui winced. "Right...Zoe."

Zoe was preening her feathers.

"You know, we're lucky we had her. She really saved a lot of us." Ino patted her neck feathers.

"Not us," Sasuke said.

Zoe looked at him sideways, and her feathers poofed out.

"She still doesn't like you," Sakura said unnecessarily.

"I've never even gone near her," Sasuke complained. "What is her deal?"

"Your cat energy is hostile to her bird energy," Camie said.

"That's stupid," Sasuke said.

"Isn't it just that Sai does not like Sasuke?" Momo said.

They exchanged looks.

"We did wonder before if Zoe simply reacts to Sai's emotions," Shoto said.

"But that seems so out there, like, they have a psychic link?" Camie said. "Like...how? She's real now."

"But Sai has links with all his drawings, and maybe the link stayed, even when she became real," Momo said.

"But his other birds don't hate Sasuke. They don't have feelings," Shoto said.

"It stands to reason that if Zoe is a thinking, intelligent creature but still has a link to Sai, she'd translate his emotions into her own," Momo said. "Don't pets usually have a sense for who their owners don't like?"

"I don't have a pet," Shoto mused. "Maybe."

"Should we test it?" Camie asked. "Zoe doesn't like Karui either."

"Well, who does she like?" Momo asked. "She seems fine with us."

"That tracks," Shoto said. "Sai gets along with us fine. Even Bakugo."

"The heck you mean 'even me'?" Bakugo said.

"Isn't that self explanatory?" Shoto said.

"She likes the DJs too," Camie listed. "She seems pretty neutral 'bout most of the group, but she still looks out for them...and...hmm, she really likes Ino."

They all looked at Ino.

Ino looked at them in confusion, and then she blushed.

"How can you tell?" Shoto asked blankly.

"Aww...girl, you're Iike in then?" Camie said. "That's so sweet. I wish Bakugo had an emotional support bird who could show he liked me."

"The heck?" Bakugo gave her a weird look.

"It could just be who she feels comfortable around." Ino was still blushing. "Probably shouldn't read into it."

"Why not? I love reading into stuff!" Camie said.

"That explains so much," Shoto said.

"Shoto," Momo reminded him.

"Sorry...I seem to be catching Dabi's habit of being rude." He rubbed his face.

"It's funny you think you weren't like that before we knew him," Bakugo muttered.

"Facts. Sounds more like you got Baku's habit," Camie said.

"That's true," Shoto said, like it was a relief.

"Hey!" Bakugo cried.

"Guys, I think we should be more supportive to Ino," Momo reminded them all. "Is something bothering you?" she asked.

"Oh...well, I guess Camie already knows," Ino said. "I..." She looked to make sure Sai wasn't near, but he was farther away with Temari. "I sort of...like Sai."

Pause.

"And?" Shoto said.

Ino blinked. "Oh...you all knew that already."

"Duh, like it wasn't obvious," Bakugo snorted.

"We may have an unfair advantage," Momo admitted. "But I think we could tell, just with...but not in a bad way. Just you always hang out."

"That was how people knew Momo and I liked each other before we even did," Shoto said. "I mean, I liked her, but I didn't know it was...special till later."

"Why do I always end up having to listen to people's love problems?" Bakugo sighed. "Freaking hate it."

"But why is liking Sai a problem?" Momo asked. "He's very sweet--in his way."

"At least he's honest and doesn't hate his friends." Shoto seemed to think everyone in this world should be compared to Sasuke.

"And he's cute," Camie supplied. 

"All that is true," Ino said. "But...he's not emotionally ready. I mean, he still doesn't even understand what romance is... He's literally researching it."

"That sounds like a good way to learn more about it," Shoto said.

"You can't learn that crap from a book--you have to live it," Bakugo argued.

"Wow...that's oddly romantic to hear," Camie said.

"And I didn't need no d--n bird for it." Bakugo glared at her.

Camie only looked pleased, not annoyed.

"I see your concern." Momo was apparently the only one listening to Ino for real. "He is like a child in many ways, when it comes to emotions...but he's also like us in others. I'm sure he fully understands justice and what's right. He's shown that from the start. His emotional stuntedness was not his own fault, and he's made remarkable progress. Are you sure he wouldn't be able to comprehend the concept enough to know if he liked it?"

"I don't know!" Ino sounded frustrated. "Miss Likstar thinks it's too soon. But I'm a fool. I get my hopes up--I mean, when he says nice stuffor does nice stuff. But Sai is nice to everyone...well...as nice as he knows how to be."

"I'm not sure what you would see in him," Shoto sao\id. "As a friend, I like him, but as a romantic partner, I think I'd want someone warmer."

Momo smiled at him.

"Sai is warm, as much as he knows how to be," Ino protested.

"But I could see waiting a while, to give him more time to grow." Shoto was ever practical.

"Bro, though, no one's ever entirely ready," Camie said. "Look at all of us. Like, were you totes ready for dating?"

"I..." Shoto paused. "I think I didn't expect how much harder it was to keep track of more than one person's feelings and opinions. It's made me have to pay more attention...but I've learned I'm not always good at being considerate of other people. It could be because I grew up away from my siblings so much, or I could just be like that naturally."

"Both, probably," Bakugo said.

"And you've never had struggles?" Momo looked at him firmly.

"No," Bakugo said. "I'm awesome."

Camie shot him a sideways glance.

"Well, even if some things are challenging, that's the point. Nothing worth doing is easy," Bakugo said.

"Camie is far easier on you than I think you deserve sometimes," Shoto said severely.

"Butt out, Barber Pole!" Bakugo shot back.

Ino rubbed her head. "This isn't exactly helping... So you all do have challenges being together."

"But it's way better than being apart was," Camie said. "And not just because we're all hotties. Doing life alone can really suck."

"It was lonely," Shoto agreed. "I think also Shine and Wally-sensei helped me realize that relationships can be good. My only model before that was my parents. I was always afraid of turning out like my father. I didn't want to hurt anyone the same way he did, so I didn't want to be close to anyone. But Shine has had some similar experiences to me, and she's still in a healthy relationship."

"Yeah, and they're so into each other it's awkies at times," Camie said. With a straight face.

Momo and Ino looked at her weirdly.

"You should really talk?" Ino said.

"What?" Camie shrugged nonchalantly.

"Anyway," Shoto went on, "so it can be good...but we're all teenagers still."

"A lot of people in our culture date and then get married once they graduate," Momo said. "Because that's when they have the most time to focus on finding someone... Once you start working it's harder to fit it in. My parents married young."

 "Ninjas don't really have much of a set age," Ino said. "That's not really what I'm worried about. Do you guys think it's still unfair to tell someone your feelings if you know they won't get it?"

"Unfair?" Shoto said.

"Because it might bother them," Momo said. "It could weigh on their mind."

"Oh..." Shoto was not the best at considering if sharing something was going to bother someone else.

"Man, it would kill me to keep it to myself though," Camie said. "I barely held it together for a few months with Bakugo."

Bakugo looked red. "I freaking think if you think it sounds like a bad idea, maybe that means something."

Ino tugged her hair. "I wouldn't have thought twice about it a year ago, but I've seen how Sai struggles with emotions up close. And how frustrated he is by not understanding them. I wouldn't want to add to it. And for what? I wouldn't be any happier myself. But it's hard to keep it bottled up. And it's harder when he does anything sweet. I just want to tell him then, but I know it's silly to think it would amount to anything."

"And you also don't want to keep your distance too much because it could hurt his feelings," Momo said. "Since, clearly, you are friends."

Ino nodded.

"But you either have to keep a distance, or you have to find a way to deal with it," Shoto mused.

Ino put her head in her hands.

Momo patted her shoulder. "It'll be all right... Honestly, I think you would be good together...but he does seem not ready yet."

"Shouldn't he decide?" Shoto said. "It also seems unfair to decide for him."

"Eh, if he was ready, he'd be going for it," Bakugo said.

"Idk, Sai can be kinda shy," Camie said. "Man, it sucks--I really want you two to get together. I hope we come back here whenever you do."

"You're so sure we will?" Ino said.

Camie realized her mistake.

"I feel like...I mean, why not?" she said carelessly. "Who else would be better?"

"Unless he decides not to date at all." Shoto wasn't helping.

"Shoto." Mom nudged him.

"What?" He didn't get it.

"Eh, like Suigetsu says, girls are a lot of trouble," Bakugo said. "But, trouble's what makes life interesting."

Camie smiled.

"For some people." Shoto still wasn't helping.

"Uh, thanks, I think I get it," Ino said. "But it might not help... I guess I just want to vent. There's nothing I can do to change it."

"Just keep being his friend," Momo said. "You never know when something may change, but don't be his friend just because of that."

"What if I can't tell anymore?" Ino asked.

"Eh, no one's perfect." Camie waved her hand. "As long as you're a good friend, who cares what your reason is? That kinda stuff bothers people too much."

"I'm not sure I agree." Momo knit her brows. "But, I wouldn't throw your friendship away either. Sai is a good friend. And it's not like he'd understand the reason any more than he'd understand your feelings."

"Or he might, but it would still hurt," Ino mused. "Sometimes I think Sai understands more than he really knows he does."

"What are you all talking about?" Sasuke interrupted them right then.

(They were all sitting around some of the rocks with Zoe, and the others had been more along the beach... The wind was worse there, but the ninjas didn't care about that as much.)

"Get lost, Cactus Boy!" Bakugo said.

"Yes, we weren't talking about you, for once," Shoto said.

"Boys, that's rude," Momo said.

"It was freaking rude to interrupt us," Bakugo said.

Sasuke frowned at him. "Fine. One of the stupid birds came back. None of you were paying attention."

* * *

Sai's scout bird had reported that there were a few large ships sailing northward, toward the Land of Snow.

Temari confirmed that she sensed the downdraft that was going that way.

"If we follow it, we can overtake them," she said. "But most of us aren't fast enough. I could ride the wind, but what would you all do?"

"We could run on the water," Gaara said. "We might overtake the ship if we had enough energy, but the heroes can't do that--"

"Actually--" Momo held up her hand.

"Still not in class," Bakugo said.

Momo ignored him. "While Karui and I were escaping those rouges before, I did walk on the water for a longer time. I didn't remember I could do that, but somehow...it's not as hard as I thought."

"How is that a thing?" Wally said. "Walking on water is not as hard as you thought?"

"I admit, I'd like to try it out," Shine said. "Just like Jesus. It'd be something my family would get a real kick out of....but walking isn't good enough--we couldn't run on it."

"Maybe not, but...what if you just skated along the top of it and we pulled you?" Temari suggested. "Sure, you're dead weight while we're running, but once we're at the ship all of you are useful, so we can't just leave you here."

"Thanks for that," Camie said.

"Or I could bring them, but I might need to save energy. We could end up finding a lot of people, and portaling them is the fastest way to get them to safety," Shine mused.

"Better just fly them then," Sai said.

"It's just that it's not very stealthy," Momo said. "Maybe...we'll fly part of the way and then stand on the water."

"But I'm not used to doing that yet," Camie said.

"Eh, we'll figure it out," Bakugo said, though he didn't know how he'd do it.

But that seemed to be the end of that discussion.