Chapter 2 Who am I?
Tsuki had rushed to the Hokage's office with such a urgency she had left Lee and Hinata behind. She practically crashed through the door and a man was sitting in front of the Hokage's desk explaining something to Lady Tsunade. Tsunade looked up and steered Tsuki to sit down. Tsuki conformed and sat down inaudibly in the adjacent chair. Tsunade took a deep breath and began to explain.
Tsuki: Lady Hokage is it true?? My Father is Here?!
Tsunade: No but your cousin is . . . .
Tsunade: I have been looking up files for the past year about you Tsuki.
Tsuki: In the Past year? Why did I do something wrong?
Tsunade: No but your father did . . . Tsuki I don't know how to put this . . . .
Tsuki: Wait what is it? What's going on and. . . Who is this man?
Tsunade: This man is your cousin, Jin, You two come from the Village Hidden in the Clouds. When you were . . . "Born" Your father did something terrible.
Tsuki: Wha??
Tsunade: Tsuki you aren't an average human being, you see the average individual has 23 chromosomes . . . you have 24. You are a fraction stronger than the rest of us and I'm afraid that you can't reproduce with any human. Your reproductive system is too sophisticated for us. It's like teaching a Genin something that only a Jounin could achieve.
Tsuki: Lady Tsunade . . . I'm only 14 I don't think of this kind of thing yet . . . .
Tsunade: Well your father was obsessed with using chakra to mess with genetic material. Tsuki you weren't even essentially born but you were produced in a machine.
Tsuki: A machine?
Tsunade: Yes your father, Makoto, took genetic material from a woman, your "mother", and fused them together into the zygote of a . . . . .
Tsuki: Of a what??
Tsunade: Of a lab animal, we think a dog but we're not sure. We would like to borrow some DNA from you to authenticate. Is that all right Tsuki?
Tsuki: uhh . . . sure . . .
Tsuki was verily confused and petrified . . . there was no way that she was part dog . . . it made no sense this is the kind of stuff that should be in a sci-fi book. Right? Tsuki began to teeter back and forth she attempted to arise but as soon as she did she felt enormously lightheaded and fell. Right before she fell she heard someone shout her name and they caught her in their arms. Her entire world went black. Tsuki had a weird dream . . . well actually she had a few. They all involved her cousin, Lee, and Tsunade . . . Tsuki suddenly became aware, she couldn't open her eyes but she could . . .hear . . . She felt a hand running through her hair and someone whispering.
Lee: Tsuki . . . wake up please . . . . I need to tell you something important.
If she could have her eyes would have widened in shock because of the events that took place next. She felt someone's lips brush against her forehead . . . She took a deep breath and suddenly she could move again. Her eyes shot open and Lee was sitting there. His own eyes were large with shock. Tsuki smiled and then everything came back and struck her making her recoil in pain. Lee jumped up instantaneously worried.
Lee: Tsuki are you alright??
Tsuki: hmm could be a lot worse. I'm alive at least . . . I think
Lee: I think you are very alive Tsuki! Your cheeks are red and your heartbeats to the rhythm of youth!
Tsuki: Oh Lee . . .
She giggled lightly on he could make her laugh in these calamitous and despondent circumstances. She looked around and realized that she didn't recognize anything around her.
Tsuki: Where are we?
Lee: Oh the infirmary . . . You fainted, most likely from shock.
Tsuki: I hope what Lady Hokage said wasn't true . . . .
Lee: What did she say? I only caught the last few words
Tsuki: Nothing Lee just . . . stuff
Lee: Ungh . . . Tsuki please tell me. We have been living under the same roof for one year I want to know what is wrong.
Tsuki: Fine but you asked . . . . I'm not human
Lee: What??
Tsuki: I have too many chromo . . . whatever
Lee: We cannot take them out??
Tsuki: No they're attached to my DNA
Lee: Oh
Tsuki looked at Lee's innocent face and decided it was best not to tell him the rest . . . about her "birth" and the experimentation. Lee suddenly jumped up.
Lee: Tsuki what were you about to tell me when Hinata came?
Tsuki: Nothing . . . Nothing at all . . .
Lee: Surely it had to have been something?
Tsuki: Nope don't . . . Remember?
Lee: Never mind
He shook his head and smiled his face grew dismal like he was thinking of something horrible. It was just at that instant that Jin walked in, he was the type of person that seemed so full of themselves it was impossible to get through to them. He abstracted the chair out from under Lee and sat down grumpily in it.
Lee: Hey!
Jin: What?
Lee: Excuse me! I was sitting there!!
Jin: So?
Lee: That is very rude!
Jin: Ehhh . . . go play with your toys or something kid . . .
Lee: Uhh . . . .
Tsuki: It's okay Lee you can sit on the bed.
Lee: hmmm all right thank you Tsuki
Tsuki smiled warmly at him and sat up allowing Lee to sit on the bed Jin rolled his eyes and started tapping his foot.
Jin: Well Tsuki now that you know what uncle did to us what do you plan to do??
Tsuki: I don't know . . . I want to find him and ask him why he'd do this to people. . . .
Jin: He did it because he was bored that's why . . . I was 6 when you were "born" I asked him that too . . . He said He needed to do something with his life and he was bored. That's it you're the product of sheer boredom. Oh yeah and when you were two years old they tried to kill you because of your freaky chakra.
Tsuki: Kill me?!
Jin: Yep but some Genin from this village saved you from the shed but you have a big scar on your back. In case you're wondering.
Tsuki: Ouch my head . . .
Tsuki was having a massive overload of information. Twenty-something hours ago she had no idea that she even had a family, disregarding the fact that her father was a psychotic incestuous pedophile (Jin's mom was her 12-year old Aunt, and He was apparently also her half-brother) Jin was a certifiable human but chakra was used to fuse him with a carrier pigeon. Tsuki was bearing in mind suicide for a while but Lee ultimately talked her out of it. To Jin this was old information and it didn't even disturb him but on the other hand Tsuki was dying ever so leisurely inside. . .
Lee: Tsuki are you all right??
Tsuki: Someone please kill me . . .
She slumped back into the pillows, obviously NOT all right but there was nothing anyone could do for her. Jin tried cheering her up with some lame babyish jokes that TenTen had told her close to 20 times.
Jin: Orange you glad I didn't say Banana?
Lee: Jin you are a comedic genius!!
Tsuki rolled her eyes as Lee rolled on the floor laughing hysterically. She smiled and his face was flushed from laughing so hard. He honestly thought these jokes were hilarious . . . That's what made him such an enjoyable person. Jin was satisfied that someone was pleased at his crèche jokes. Tsuki smiled and let her head hit the pillow she didn't quite feel up to getting up and walking around quite yet. She let her eyes wander around the room. She felt balmy and unperturbed she respired leisurely and she drifted off again.
The DreamEverything was so sinister . . . Tsuki had to run she didn't have a reason too she just did. Something . . . no someone was chasing after her at an upsetting pace. Colors were swirling everywhere. Tsuki was fighting her way through the giddy whirlpool. Someone swathed their arms around her and she was safe . . . everything composed and the world stopped spiraling.
The HospitalTsuki's eyes shot open instantly. Lee was carrying her in his arms and she was relaxed. He breathed slowly and evenly as her walked to their house. Raucous sounds formed, Jin was bawling his disapproval that they resided together in the same house. Lee was just quiet.
Jin: Do you hear me?!
Lee: Yes Jin . . . Shhh . . . she is sleeping
Jin: what have you and my cousin done be honest because I will not take it if the only remaining female in our clan is going to have a bastard child!
Lee: No! We have not made love; she is not even my girlfriend. We are just friends.
Jin: And you wish for more? Right?
Lee: Uhh . . . .
Jin: It's settled then! I give you permission to marry my cousin!
Lee's eyes widened as he looked intently at Tsuki's silent appearance. He brushed his hand on her cheek.
Lee: It is so tempting to take that offer but . . . I just want her to be happy, Even if it entails her and somebody else . . .
Jin: I see . . . Well I'm staying the night here so I can be sure my cousin isn't with child. .
Lee: All right you may sleep on the couch if you like I am probably going to watch her sleep . . . to make sure she does not have a nightmare
Jin: Yeah sure whatever lover boy.
The Next DayShino had a plan. He had heard that Jin was willing to give Tsuki away for marriage. He thought that if maybe he could entice her that Jin would offer her hand to him. He went to Lee's house and talked to Jin.
Shino: Hello Jin
Jin: Oh Hello . . . I don't know your name . . .
Shino: I am Shino of the Aburame Clan and I have a proposition for you.
Jin: I'm listening . . .
Shino: If you offer Tsuki's hand to me I can carry on your bloodline. Lee is a weak shinobi who knows only one type of jutsu, Taijutsu, and I know all three.
Jin, sadly, only took moments to consider Shino's proposal . . . Tsuki stumbled in the kitchen drowsily rubbing her eyes. She looked down and Shino was on his knees and looking up at her.
Shino: Miss Arakawa . . . Your cousin Jin Arakawa, the last surviving head of your clan, has given me your hand in marriage.
Tsuki: WHAT?!
Shino: We are to be married in two days.
Tsuki: Wait. . . WHAT!? I'm only 14!!
Jin: He had a good offer I couldn't refuse Tsuki.
Tsuki: JIN!! I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR ONE DAY AND ALREADY YOU GIVE ME TO SOMEONE!!
Lee stumbled clumsily into the overwrought scene. He was just as groggy as Tsuki was before. It took Lee about a minute to register the scene. Shino was holding Tsuki, On edge, around her waist and was slipping a ring onto her finger. Lee fell to his knees.
Lee: No. . .
Shino: Hello Lee, well I best be going I have stuff to prepare for the wedding . . .
Shino left and Tsuki fell to the floor crying Lee ran to her side. Lee held her close to him and she cried out in distress and aggravation. Lee brushed his lips against her forehead. Tsuki immediately calmed down and began to breathe slower.
Lee: Tsuki it will be all right . . . . Shino is an admirable person. He will be kindly to you, just wait and see . . .
Tsuki: I don't want to marry him I don't even have feelings for him!
Lee: He will treat you like a queen, better than I could.
Tsuki: huh?
Lee: He is in love with you Tsuki and he would give every ounce of his body just for you.
Tsuki: But Lee. . I don't want to love him . . . There's only one person I want to love . . .
Lee: Who?
Tsuki: Someone . . .
Tsuki reddened uncontrollably . . . even though she was betrothed and she would never get another chance to tell him. Lee got a distressed look on his face and Shino walked in slowly. He went over to where Lee was sitting and picked Tsuki up. She let him because she was too weak to fight and a 14-year-old Genin was no match against a 16-year-old Chunin. Tsuki let out a frail whimper and Shino carried her under the threshold.
Shino: We are going to fit her for her dress . . .
Tsuki: Noooo . . . . Lee!
Lee was stuck, Tsuki was being hauled away and there was absolutely nothing he could do about it. A fourteen-year-old girl was being forced to marry and it was his entire fault. He should have taken the offer . . .
Shino's HouseA girl was crying gently as a woman was hemming her dress. Tears fell from her dark cerulean eyes. The woman looked up and gave her a reassuring smile.
Shino's Mom: Don't cry . . . what's wrong?
Tsuki: Your son is all right and all but . . . I don't like him . . . .
Shino was listening in on the conversation with much despair. He wore a frown that said it all. His mother wiped tears off her beautiful eyes. She gave a cynical smile and shook her head.
Tsuki: thank you Mrs.Aburame, for listening.
His mother smiled and nodded she finished what she was doing and pulled the dress over Tsuki's head. Tsuki bowed her head in respect and left to her temporary room. She sat down on the bed which seemed so gentle and cozy. She shook the sleeping feeling and headed for the window. It seemed barely big enough to wield a small child. Tsuki sucked in her stomach and attempted to climb through. She smiled as she was able to pass her entire body through the space. She fell freely entirely forgetting that she was on the third floor. She was fighting the bodily need to scream when she stopped falling. Lines of black bugs surrounded her and carried her safely to the ground where Shino waited gently smiling. His face was filled with misery and yearning.
Tsuki: Shino I can explain . . . . .
Shino: No, spare me. It's really not an accident when you heave yourself out of a third story window.
Tsuki: I'm sorry. . . I just want to go home.
Shino: I know I've put you through too much and Tsuki I'm going to put you through just one more thing.
Tsuki: What?
Shino: Do you love Lee?
Tsuki: . . .
She didn't know how to answer. Lee held a special place in her heart and maybe she did.
Tsuki: I'm only 14 and well . . . I don't know much about love.
Shino: all right I understand. I'll take you home.
Tsuki: is the . . .
Shino: Wedding's off
He smiled and took off his sunglasses Tsuki smiled as his chocolate brown eyes opened. He picked her up over his shoulder and she screamed in distress.
Tsuki: I CAN WALK!
Shino: But you did fall from the third story. . .
Tsuki: Shino!!
Lee's House
Lee: Jin . . . I hope she is all right.
Jin: Yeah whatever. . .
Lee: Do you even care?
Jin: No not really
Lee: As a member of the Arakawa Clan, you should care for your own clan members!
Jin: Yeah but come three days she will not even be my problem.
Lee: . . . That is cruel!!
Jin: So?
There was a scream in the far distance.
Lee: TSUKI!!