The next morning Mei woke up and got ready for the day. She went to check on the boy she brought into her home from the night before and to her surprise the boy was still sleeping. Mei went to him and sat on the bed and the boy opened his eyes and saw her and smiled.

"Good morning."

Mei felt her brow twitch then she placed a hand at his neck.

"Your fever has gone down but you still need to sleep."

She looked at him noticing that he didn't seem to be paying any attention to what she was saying.

"Kid, what are you looking at?"

The boy blushed.

"You're very pretty. I like your hair."

Mei frowned at him she didn't get why this child liked her then she looked away. This wasn't something she was used to then she felt her hair being played with and looked at the boy who was feeling her hair.

"Do you like my hair that much?"

He nodded and Mei stood up and the boy was amazed to see how long it was. Mei was about to turn around but saw that the boy had been playing with her hair so much that he was hugging it to him. Mei looked at him in confusion.

"Kid what's with you? You ran from me yesterday."

He looked at her.

"I did? I don't remember that."

"Okay is there anything you remember from yesterday?"

The boy just stared at her then Mei realized why he wasn't afraid of her then she smiled.

"In that case, do you have a name?"

"What's a name?"

"Something to be called by."

"What's your name?"

"Mei."

Mei looked away then left to get a fruit. She sat on the bed and began to eat a pear. While her head was turned to think of something the boy came to her and bit the pear. Mei looked at the pear then back at the boy.

"How I call you Chojuro?"

The boy smiled and hugged her tightly.

"My very own name, thank you."

Mei just looked at him then looked away.

'I guess I have to keep him here just to keep him safe and alive.'

While Mei's head was turned she looked at the time.

'I don't know if I have a mission today but in case if I don't I should get this kid some clothes.'

"Chojuro?"

"Yes?"

"Let me measure you because you'll be staying here and I need to get you clothes."

"Okay."

After measuring him Mei left out of the house but she did tell him to stay inside.

Mei went to a store and began to search for clothes. She was looking through the boys clothes and soon saw some blue outfits that looked just right so then she got them. After leaving the store she stored the clothes into a scroll and went home.

On her way home she stopped to see Yagura coming her way.

"Mei I want to have a word with you."

"Yes sir."

"I want to talk to you in your home."

"Yes sir."

They went to Mei's home.

Chojuro on the other hand was in the living room but then he peeked out the window then he spotted Mei coming but saw a man with her. Chojuro got scared and ran to her room and hid in her closet but left it a crack open to watch what was going on.

Mei and Yagura came into the room and Mei sat on her bed. Yagura looked at her.

"Mei I was just informed that there was a boy that came here last night and he was a member of the bloodline that I just had you get rid of. Where is the child?"

"I don't know."

"If that's the case I will search your home."

With that Yagura began to search every room and Mei just sat on the bed. When Yagura came back to Mei he folded his arms.

"Alright Mei I'll take you word that he's not here but in the mean time I will assign you three genin."

"Sir please not that I honestly would rather have low rank missions."

"Alright then. Don't get soft on anything because you're my only student that's still alive."

"Yes sir."

Yagura left and when he was gone Mei wondered where Chojuro went then she turned her head to see Chojuro poking his head out of her closet.

"So that's where you were?"

"Is it safe?"

"Yes come here."

He ran to her and clung to her as if he was hanging on for dear life. Mei just looked at him in surprise.

"Were you scared or something?"

He nodded then Mei looked away.

"Well you did a good job hiding from him."

She looked at him then saw that he was looking up at her.

"What is it?"

"Will you pet my head?"

Mei just looked at him.

"You're joking right?"

He just looked at her.

"You don't like me?"

He looked like he was about to cry and Mei really didn't want to hear it then she sighed as she placed a hand on his head and began to rub it.

Mei watched as Chojuro closed his eyes and smiled getting his head petted.

"You like that don't you, I guess doing this isn't so bad."

"Am I good boy?"

"We just met."

Mei looked away annoyed and she could feel Chojuro climbing on her but she pushed him back down.

Chojuro laid his head on her lap and Mei looked at him.

It had been a week since Mei brought Chojuro into her home. Now that he was feeling better he had been following her like a little duckling around her home. Mei was aware of him following her and it didn't bother her because she knew that he would stop if she told him to.

She sat down on the couch and Chojuro ran up to her and climbed onto the couch. Mei was simply reading a book but then she stopped to look behind her only to see that Chojuro was playing with her hair again. That was something she will never get used to. All her life everyone hated how she looked and that would explain why she would call herself a monster but Chojuro didn't know that.

"You know Chojuro at some point you won't like my hair."

Chojuro looked at her.

"Why? I like your hair it looks great on you."

Mei looked at him then to her surprise Chojuro leaned closer and kissed her on the cheek. Mei looked at him then Chojuro looked at her.

"Ms. Mei?"

"Yes?"

"Do you ever smile?"

"Do I look like I smile?"

"Um no but it would be nice if you did."

Mei looked away from him then Chojuro smiled at her. Mei looked at the time then picked him up.

"Ms. Mei?"

"It's time for you to go to bed."

Mei tucked him into the bed and turned to leave but Chojuro looked at her.

"Ms. Mei?"

"Yes?"

"Will you tell me a story?"

"I don't know any stories."

"Make one up."

Mei sat on the bed clearly annoyed.

"Okay there was a kid."

"Boy or girl?"

"I don't know, you pick."

"Boy."

"Okay then the boy went to the market and bought some wood. He wanted to build something."

"Was it a boat?"

"Fine, he made a bought and sailed down the river, the end."

Mei stood up and left out of the room and turned the light off.

"Good night Mommy."

Mei stopped in the doorway and looked at Chojuro who was sleeping then she left to her room and went to sleep.

In the middle of the night Mei woke up feeling movement on her bed. She saw Chojuro looking at her.

"What's wrong?"

"I had a nightmare, may I sleep with you?"

Mei just looked at him but nodded. He laid next to her and she closed her eyes.

"Stay on your side though."

After a while Mei felt Chojuro snuggle up to her and she looked at him.

"I'm too tired to argue with you."

They were both sleeping peacefully that night.