Chapter 4 - Reunion
" Here's the autopsy's report, Tsunade-sama " Shizune said, handing her the document. " We found a pattern. There were several injuries on the three bodies made by the same sword while the fatal blows were given by a different one. Moreover, the cuts and the way they were made reveal two different styles. One seemed to avoid touching his opponents' vital points while the other showed absolutely no mercy by cutting their throats. So, unless we are dealing with a schizophrenic, we can presume there were at least two attackers."
Tsunade was listening intently but Shizune noticed she hadn't opened the report, probably to avoid seeing the photos it contained. Kakashi's sinister discovery had occurred two days ago and had brought back to the Fifth a dead niece and another one in a coma. Shizune knew Tsunade wasn't one to go down easily but that was just too much in one blow. She kept on working until late at night, probably to occupy her mind, and Shizune was wondering if she was even eating. She just hoped Ayane would wake up soon for Tsunade's sake...
"The autopsy revealed one more point" she went on." Aneko was also severely injured by what seems like a chakra blade. That could mean a third attacker... Anyway, Ayane will certainly be able to fill the gaps for us. Don't worry about that Tsunade-sama."
At that moment, Shizune deeply felt that she was definitely no good at comforting people...
"Thank you, Shizune."
Shizune knew that meant she might go now. So she left the Hokage by herself just like she had been for the past two days.
In the hospital room, all that could be heard were the regular beeps of the cardiogram which suddenly began to go faster...
What is that troublesome noise? Doesn't sound like my alarm-clock... She tried to open her eyes but it was more difficult than what she had planned. When she finally succeeded, everything was blurry and blinding.
"What the..."even her voice was difficult to get out and, what's more, it was all husky. Her mouth felt very dry. What was happening to her now?
She heard footsteps entering the seemingly white room.
"Good to see you're finally awake, Ayane" a feminine voice said. "Nurse, let the Godaime know she woke up" she added, obviously to someone else.
"Nurse": so she was in a hospital plus the owner of the voice seemed to know her. She tried moving her head towards the voice to no avail. What was wrong with her? Guess it's the reason why I'm in a hospital, she concluded as a result of a brainstorm. At least, my brain is still working properly...
She tried to lift herself up but all her body was numb. Suddenly, a pink mass with what seemed to be a head just under it appeared just above her own head.
"Do you feel okay?" she asked.
"Not... really... What... happened?... Who... are... you?" She wanted to ask more questions but her voice didn't seem to be able to go any further.
"Don't you remember anything?"
"No."
"You're in Konoha's hospital."
Konoha?! Her sight was slowly coming back to normal. She could now see two green eyes. Wait, pink hair plus green eyes plus Konoha make...
"Sakura?"
"That's me! It's been a long time, Ayane... There... I think you'd do with a glass of water..."
Ayane gratefully accepted the glass along with Sakura's help to drink it. That felt so good!
"What happened?" she asked feeling her mouth coming back to life.
Sakura's smile faded. "You've been attacked while you were on a mission or so it seems. You've been in a coma for a week and we were hoping you would provide us with more information."
"What about Fujio, Zenji and Aneko?" She could feel her heart beat like mad in her chest, echoed by the frenetic beeps of the machine.
Sakura's gaze shifted to the sheets. "I'm sorry, Ayane..."
Ayane just stared at the ceiling. Her heart was pounding wildly and she hoped it would just stop. She didn't remember anything. How could she not remember? Why didn't she just die as well? She wanted to scream, to cry her eyes out but her throat was tight and her eyes were so dry.
She could feel Sakura's hand on hers and she heard other footsteps approaching the bed.
"Ayane!" another voice exclaimed, a voice mixed with joy and sadness.
The blond woman had a fond smile on her face but her eyes were red and watery. That was when the tears finally reached Ayane's eyes.
"Auntsu..." she managed to utter.
Tsunade immediately took the girl in her arms. Ayane could feel her aunt's tears mixing with hers.
Sakura silently got up and walked to the door closing it behind her, thus leaving aunt and niece mourn for their loss. What consoled her was that they could at least find comfort in one another...
There she was, in front of her sister's grave, next to her mother's and her father's. She was supported on one side by Tsunade and on the other by Usuzumi, Kanjiro who was her uncle. She had refused to remain sitted on her wheelchair during the funerals and having her aunt and her uncle next to her brought her so much comfort...
She was surprised and thankful at the amount of people attending the burial. It seemed to her that the whole ninja community of Konoha was there and almost all the Usuzumi clan had made it from the Rain village. She had been left with the choice of the place where her sister would be burried and she had naturally picked Konoha where their parents were already lying. Moreover, Konoha was the place of their childhood and Aneko as well as herself were planning to come back to the Leaf village when the opportunity would come up. Well, this wasn't really the opportunty they had been waiting for...
She was also thankful at the weather which was sunny. Back at the Rain village, her sister would often moan about the never-ending rain regretting Konoha's sun and blue sky. It was like nature was paying its respects to Aneko...
"This is Hatake, Kakashi" Tsunade said. "He's the ninja who found you and brought you back to Konoha."
"I'm very sorry for your loss" the gray-haired man sincerely told Ayane with a compassionate smile visible through his mask. "Aneko was an accomplished ninja as well as a good and loyal person."
"Thank you very much" Ayane replied with gratitude taking in the face of the man who saved her...
The ceremony was now over and people kept on coming to her to offer their condolences. So far, she had seen and talked to many of her former schoolmates except the one she was waiting for...
"Kiba!" she exclaimed, her joy to see him again plain on her face. "Long time no see..."
"Yeah, nice to see you again, Ayane" the boy answered with a shy smile. "I'm just sorry it has to happen like that... Aneko always seemed a cool and caring sister."
"She sure was..." Ayane trailed off.
"I've always wondered why you left the village so suddenly" Kiba said with a hint of bitterness in his voice. "I often wished you would come back. The other girls are not as fun as you, you know!" he tried to justify himself.
"That's quite a long story so maybe we could catch up later. How about you come to the hospital tomorrow?" Ayane asked.
"Okay then. But you'd better have a good explanation!" Kiba joked before turning away to leave.
Ayane kept gazing at his back until he disappeared out of her sight. Today is a day of reunion, she thought turning back to her parents's and her sister's graves.