Summary: meh…look at chapter one for that…
Disclaimer: I do not own! I hate repeating myself!
A/N: And the evil plot-eating bunnies went 'Monty Python' on my muse. Just getting her up again…sorry…I'll try harder next chapter…and I noticed that I screwed a few things up…then again it's only going to get more messed up from here on out so brace yourselves!
tefas – for someone who's mother language isn't English you did pretty good! And yeah, like shinobi would trust newcomers that quickly…when TonTon sprouts wings and flies around. Yes, brilliant deduction Shiryu; no ANBU are not used to being picked out like that.
digi-writer1392 – uh…they used a forbidden move, and got into trouble with the Greek Gods, and were banished from their world. That means they cannot return to their world, and were sent to another world. In short they are in Naruto's world because they were banished from theirs. ^ ^;
"Shinobi"
"Greek"
'Thinking'
/Telepathy/
Chapter Four: Hospital and Hospitality
'Did I say something wrong?' Shiryu thought as he noticed the looks exchanged between the ANBU, as they were called, and Neji. Had he just gotten Hyuuga-san in trouble? If so he would have to apologize later.
Neji sighed, and the ANBU in front turned his attention to Shiryu. Shiryu blinked, as the person seemed to be watching him closely as he began speaking.
"First question; how did you pick us out? Second; what are you doing here? Third; where are you from?" The ANBU asked, folding his arms and staring down at the injured boy. Sometimes it did help to have a height advantage over the person one was interror – er, questioning.
Shiryu blinked and almost laughed aloud. They really wanted to know how he had picked them out. Usually people asked the question that was nagging them the most first.
"Your cosmo, I can tell you are probably dampening something else, but I don't look for that. It's pretty hard to control, so dampening it is pretty hard, so not many do that. Second question, I have no idea how I ended up here. Last I remember I was fighting him and his friends," with that Shiryu nodded over to Neji, before continuing on. "and I overdid it. Third…well not from around here. I don't know what happened to where I came from, as it is probably in shambles by now…I don't even know what happened to my friends…" the last he muttered softly, and even the ANBU had difficulty hearing him.
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Neji blinked as he picked up the last bit of what was said, and that was because he was by the bed. He hadn't expected that, though that would explain why he attacked. If his village had been attacked, and destroyed then he was probably on the lookout for anything that was going to attack him. It did make sense…to a certain extent. Well, he really couldn't blame him, he didn't know what happened to his friends, and didn't know if he was going to be attacked…that would make anyone hair-triggered. Still…he could be acting. Neji glanced up, as he saw the ANBU leave. Well, two of them at least.
'Must have sent them to the Hokage's…' he thought, as he looked back to the boy, who was currently still answering questions from the ANBU that had remained. After a few more question they left, possibly to report what they had learned to Tsunade. Neji was wondering why the boy seemed so calm…after all, hadn't his village been attacked? He decided to ask.
"Why do you act like you don't care about you village?" Neji asked, and Shiryu looked over to him, blinking sleepily. It seemed that what energy the boy had faded quite quickly in the light of ANBU questioning.
"Mmn? Well…I trust the others to take care of it. I am one of many. They have been able to handle problems without me. Besides…it's only a place, and I trust them not to get killed." He responded, before looking back to the ceiling, and closing his eyes. Neji inclined his head, slightly, to one side. So, this person was completely sure of his comrades' powers and abilities. Neji was just settling back down, when Shiryu sat bolt - upright, and startled him.
"What is it?' Neji snapped, before he noticed that he was looking out the window.
"My…my friends! I…they are nearby!" and with that Shiryu made as if to get up from the bed, and was only halted when Neji pressed two fingers to his throat. Shiryu froze, remembering what had happened the last time that boy's hands connected with him.
"Lay back down. You are in no condition to get up, and I was charged with watching you." Neji said, in a deadly quiet voice, and Shiryu lowered himself back onto the bed.
"But…they probably think I'm dead…I can't tell them otherwise laying here in bed! I'm too drained to give them anything to track…" Shiryu pressed, from the bed.
Neji twitched, mentally. He knew one of two things would happen if he said 'no' to him. One: he gives up and leaves it alone, or Two: he continues asking. Now Neji could have gone and told them himself if it weren't for a few problems. For starters he didn't know what the hell they looked like, next was the fact that he was guarding the boy, and leaving would be considered shrieking his duty. And taking him along was not an option, as he still looked too tired to move.
"No. Stay in bed. If they are your friends they will find you. They wouldn't have given up so easily." Neji said, and blinked when the young man winced.
'Did I say something wrong?'
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"No. Stay in bed. If they are your friends they will find you. They wouldn't have given up so easily." Neji said, and Shiryu winced. It was true…they should be able to find them…but what hurt more was the fact that his friends, his brothers were in a whole different world, and would never stop looking for him or the others. They wouldn't believe they had died…not without bodies as proof. Hell…the last time it looked like he had died Shura had covered him in his own Gold Cloth and saved him…and then Hades? They traveled to the Realm of the Dead! And made it back to the Realm of the Living…all of them. Just that…he and the seven Golds had been sent to a different one.
The only proof that they were dead would be bodies. Dead, motionless, cosmo-less, bodies…that stayed that way.
Until then they would continue to look for them until they were told to stop, made to stop, or just died after the years…Had he and the other seven just sentenced the others to a life of searching for what couldn't be found? If so…if they had, then he felt terrible. He closed his eyes, and tried to stop the tears as he thought of what had been lost, and what he and the others had done to their friends back at Sanctuary…if it was still standing. While they had beaten Hades he did not know if the Greek Gods had decided to punish his brothers and the rest of the Golds for attacking a god…
That thought merely brought a new wave of depression crashing down on him. He brought his formally useless arm up, and covered his eyes, before his guard could see his tears.
What he didn't catch, with his eyes closed, was the concerned look Neji gave him.
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Neji really hadn't thought that comment would have that much of an impact. He didn't think it would make him that upset.
He had said that only to deter him from getting up again, and because if they really were friends they should still be looking for the young teen. He hadn't meant for it to hurt…now he was at a loss of what to do. What could he say now that wouldn't make matters worse? He was never known for being good in these situations…
He jumped slightly when the door opened, and Tsunade came in. And it turned out Neji had been right, as he saw the same ANBU that had been in the room behind her.
Tsunade gave Neji an odd look when she saw the patient with an arm flung over his eyes, and the few tears that had escaped trailing down his face. Neji shrugged, not really knowing what to say in this type of situation.
"Well, he should be well enough to leave tomorrow…since we can't find any family, friends, or records on him I'm assigning you to look after him. You meaning the Hyuuga. And before you ask it is not because you are in the room." Tsunade said, after a pause in which she checked over the young teen's health report again. Though at her mention of not finding any records, family, or friends of his there was a small sob from the bed, and she glanced over to see that the young teen was still awake.
"Th-they h-ha-haven't shown up yet?" Shiryu managed to ask, as they looked over to him. His eyes were uncovered, and he looked like he was still trying to hold back tears. Tsunade was doing her best to not go over there and hug him to make him stop crying, seeing as how this could all be an act, but it was damned hard.
"No. No one has come in looking for anyone with your name. You will be staying with the Hyuuga." It hurt to say that, and even more so to say it like she didn't care. The teen nodded, half-aware, and closed his eyes again, and Tsunade could tell he was going back to sleep, or at least trying to. She sighed, and signaled the ANBU to leave, and she followed them from the room. Neji remained, and was wondering what type of bond this teen had with his friends that it would make him break down at the mention that none were coming for him.
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Kakashi lead them towards the tower, to speak with Tsunade. He knew that this was definitely against protocol…but when had he ever been one for that? They were looking for their friend…but it seemed that over the journey that they were becoming less sure that he was alive. They didn't even bother to ask the guards what they meant when they muttered something about 'another bunch of weirdoes'…did that mean they had given up? He glanced behind him to see that Mu had a decidedly depressed look to him, as did a few others. The ones that didn't look upset looked spaced out. Kakashi sighed, as he knew the feeling of losing a close teammate and friend all too well.
He walked right up to the tower, and entered, and ushered the rest of the group, and his cell, into the tower. He made his way to the Hokage's room, and opened the door to find that Tsunade was up and actually doing work for a change. He blinked a few times, startled enough that he didn't hear his Hokage asking him what he was there for until she repeated her question louder, and pitched a sake bottle at him.
"Eh? Oh, right. I found these seven, and they say that they have lost their home. I think they would be of use if proven trustworthy." Kakashi said, and made a small movement that told Tsunade he wanted to talk more about this once the genin and newcomers were out of earshot. She nodded, and stood.
"Right. Naruto, show them to the apartment complex you live at. Here," she handed him a hastily scrawled note, and signed it, the note saying that the seven were under her care for now, "this should keep them off your case." She said, and shooed them out of the room.
As soon as they were gone Kakashi turned back to Tsunade, with no trace of his usual lazy attitude.
"As I was saying about them, there is more than meets the eye…" and he filled her in on the recent events and what he suspected.
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Naruto waved to his two teammates as they left, and he proceeded walking off in another direction. Though for some reason the Saints couldn't relax, no matter how chatty they were with Naruto. It was just something in the air, something that made them glance around every so often.
/Mu…do you feel that?/ Aioria asked, and Mu closed his eyes for a second.
/…yes. I feel hatred, anger, and malice. I don't know who it's coming from…but it seems to be coming from more than one person./ Mu said, as he opened his eyes, and watched Milo talking quite energetically to Naruto.
/So, more than one? But who is it directed at?/ Shaka asked, following behind the other blond, his eyes still closed. Mu paused for a second, before following a strand of malice to one of the minds. He almost reeled back as he felt what the man was thinking.
/Mu? Are you alright?/ Shaka asked, when the Aries Saint didn't respond. Mu steadied his mind before answering.
/I'm fine. But…a man, selling fruit, his anger…no his rage was all directed at our guide/ he replied, and Shaka responded with mild surprise. Even Milo paused for a second in his chatter. Mu had made sure the others could hear him. Saga turned his head slightly so he was looking back at the fruit-vendor, and glared when he caught the man glaring in their direction. He turned back around with a sour look on his face.
As they continued walking they noticed more and more glares, and it was getting under their skin, even Mu was getting irritated. When people began tossing things though…that was the last straw.
A stone flew, aimed at Naruto's head, but Milo snatched it out of the air, and crushed it. He turned to the person who tossed it, glaring fit to kill a god, and snarled.
"If you want to pick on him so badly then c'mon. I'll beat you so badly that not even your parents will recognize when I'm finished." He snarled, and was rewarded when many of the villagers moved off. Naruto turned back to Milo and placed a hand on his arm.
"It's okay. Really, it is. I've dealt with it forever, so nothing new." He said with a smile, that didn't quite reach his eyes. Milo growled.
"Well, that doesn't mean we'll let them keep it up." he snapped and crossed his arms. Naruto smiled brightly, and turned back around to leading them to the apartments.
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'They dropped me that easily? No…no they couldn't have! But why haven't they come looking, why didn't they ask? They are in this village, they entered, so…why? Do they really think I'm dead? But…they don't even have proof I am!' Shiryu's thoughts went something like this for the remainder of the day, and far into the night. He couldn't sleep, as his stomach was twisted into one too many knots to allow that. When he finally fell asleep it was anything but restful.
Morning came, and Shiryu woke to hear voices, and opened his eyes to see Tsunade, a man he didn't know, and Neji, all by the door to the room.
"Hiashi, now listen to me. Neji was assigned to watch him by his cell leader, so that should settle it. Or should I let another clan handle it because you can't?" he heard Tsunade say, baiting the man. He could tell that Hiashi knew he was being baited, but there was the reputation…
"Fine. But that means he's going to be close to the Main Branch quarters because that's where Neji lives." He stated, and Shiryu picked up an undertone of worry in the man's cosmo. So, having an unknown person close to him…or family…worried the man. Not as heartless as he sounded then.
"Hiashi…you know that precautions have been made. Besides, I doubt he'll be much of a threat in that state. He may be well enough to leave, but not enough to do any type of damage to your family." How true was that…he was sure it was going to be a few weeks before he could even think of using even his most basic attack, let alone Excalibur again. How he had pulled it off in the forest he had no idea…then again it had used up a good portion of his cosmo. As he tried to sit up, he noticed he had drawn the attention of the three in the room.
"Hyuuga-san? Is that your father?" he asked, pointing to the man that looked like some type of relative. He noticed both Neji and Hiashi winced, and a dejected cosmo suddenly flooded from the younger brunet. Even Tsunade looked uncomfortable. He had stepped on a land-mine.
"My father is dead." The brunet replied, and Shiryu blinked, before catching on to the huge mistake he had made.
"I…I'm sorry…he just looks like you somewhat." He said, sinking down into the bed. His comment only made matters worse. Neji looked down to the floor, and Hiashi looked anywhere but at Neji.
"He's my uncle…he and my father were twins…" Neji said in a soft voice. Now Shiryu winced, and lowered his head.
"I…I'm so sorry…I'll stop talking now…" he muttered, before he could say anything else to make matters worse than before.
'…idiot. Shunrie told me I was never good with words…why did I have to say that?' he thought, as he watched the others in the room try to gather back their thoughts. He began to twist the covers, fraying them as they continued talking.
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Neji sighed. The memory still hurt, and that idiot had to bring it up. Though…he really had no idea about it, so he couldn't be blamed.
Much.
He glanced over to him once or twice as his uncle and Tsunade tried to come to a decision on how he would be handled. Normally this would have been taken care of at the Hokage's Tower, but is seemed that Tsunade was…taking a day off.
Neji finally noticed that the covers were fraying, sighed, stalked over to the bed, and yanked the covers out of the boy's hands. Said dark-haired boy looked up at him in surprise.
"The hospital personnel are the last people you want to anger. Do not fray the sheets." He admonished, and received an awkward nod. What neither noticed was Tsunade and Hiashi had stopped talking long enough to see that. Tsunade smirked, and Hiashi sighed.
"Well then. It's settled. Neji will be responsible for Shiryu's actions until it is proven that he is trustworthy. That means you have to take him with you to keep track of him. That is until the Council and I feel he is no longer a threat, or likely to be one. Now, Hiashi has agreed to let him stay in one of the guest rooms, though it is closer to you. Like I said, you will be keeping an eye on him. If he causes trouble, the blame falls on you. Don't think you have been forgotten Shiryu. If you cause too much trouble, or break any laws here, you will be punished accordingly. And I hope you have enough moral to not want to get another in trouble because of your actions." Tsunade said, and gave them both a stern look before leaving the room. Hiashi sighed, again.
"Well, Neji, get him up. I still have a few things to attend to." Hiashi said, as he looked Shiryu over. Neji helped the dark-haired teen to his feet, and waited until he was sure he had his balance back. Then they began walking off towards the Hyuuga Compound.
(A/N: Done editing! Hopefully it's better…now to get back to work on the fifth chapter…and one other thing – three questions: Should I bring the cloths in? And should there be a small part for the others back in Athens? And should I make so big bad evil thing of my own and chuck it in?)