FEELS AHEAD!

Ch.6

The morning of my Fifteenth birthday dawned scorching hot. Hashirama had decided that we were going to celebrate, even when I kept insisting that we didn't need to do such a thing.

I groaned when I heard a knock at my door. They were here to terrorize me. Without giving it a second thought, and ignoring my sensei and sisters voices from the other side of the door. I dressed in the ugliest outfit I could find and slipped out my window, racing as fast as I could to our bushes in the garden. It was still early but I hoped he would be there. It was my birthday after all.

To my pleasant surprise Tobirama was indeed hiding in the garden. He grinned when I joined him.

"I thought you might make your way here."

"Waiting for me where you?"

"Of course. I wanted to give you your gift before the party."

"You didn't have to get me anything!"

"But I wanted to. And I made it. I know it's sort of cheating to give you the same type of gift, but I wanted to make something to go with your necklace."

"Oh?" I took a ribbon wrapped box from him. Inside was a pair of small teardrop earrings the same as the pendent he had made when we first met. I was at a loss.

"I've seen you wear earrings a few times but they never really looked right. It was hard finding a metal that looked close enough to the ninja wire that would hold. I hope you like them."

I snapped back to myself when he began to shift nervously. "I love them! Here hold the box." I shoved the box into his hand and pulled the delicate pieces out one by one and placed them in my ears. A small shiver raced down my spine when the earrings and the necklace began to pulse softly together.

Without any thought I threw my arms around him, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you so much Tobirama. I really do love them and will cherish them always as I do my pendent."

Tobirama cleared his throat as he blushed furiously. I pretended not to notice as I stepped back, a blush of my own spreading across my cheeks, now at a total loss on how to continue.

Just as the silence began to get awkward I heard my sisters voice calling from the house.

"I think I better go know," I whispered, "Mito-nee will beat me as it is for slipping out the window."

"Of course! I guess I will see you at the party. Happy Birthday Mai."

I gave him a brilliant smile before slipping out of the bushes and into my sister tender loving torture.

….

The party turned out to be a formal family dinner, which of course included all of the extended family.

Butsuma was up to his old stuff again. He kept insinuating that this would be a perfect time to formalize a contract and that a year was the perfect length for a betrothal. I kept my thoughts to myself as Tobirama kept rolling his eyes at me from across the table.

He kept on even into the dessert course until a frantic looking guard arrived stating that my sensei had been injured in an accident and was requesting my presence. Worried I gave everyone a quick bow and a thank you before almost running out the door, not even noticing my sister and the brothers hot on my heels.

Apparently there had been some sort of training accident. Hana-Oba lay behind a curtain, deathly pale and bloody beneath the sheet in the infirmary. "Hana-Oba, what happened!?"

"A miscalculation on my part, the lad didn't realize the strength behind the technique."

I eased up the sheet to get a better look and wished I had not. I knew what a wound like this ment.

"I called you here to give you the last scroll. My scroll."

"No sensei. I can fix this," I whispered, "You know I can."

"I don't think you are ready for something like this little one. This is a mortal wound. They draw much from."

"Then I won't heal it all. Just enough so you live."

"You know that's not possible. The healing continues until it is completed or you run out of chakra."

"No it is. Father knocked Mito and I apart when I first found my gift. I had not finished healing her."

Hana-Oba took a ragged, wet sounding breath and closed her eyes instead of making a reply.

"Mito!" I hollered over my shoulder. Turning to tell my sister what I needed I instead found Tobirama standing there giving me a bewildered look. "How much did you hear?" I gasped out in surprise and nerves.

"Enough." He moved to the other side of the bed. "What do you need me to do?"

"I'm going to do something a little crazy." I whispered as I began rolling up my sleeve. "This is something only a very few of us can do. I'm going to have her bite me; the wounds will begin to heal. I will not be able to move unless the healing is complete or removed from her by force. I will need you to watch her wounds, when she is no longer in danger of dying I need you to move me."

Tobirama studied me for only a moment before pulling the sheet away from Hana-Oba's wounds. I heard his quick intake of breath before he looked at me in alarm, her lungs had been compromised and fluid was beginning to build in her chest.

Without another word I gently opened my sensei's mouth and placed my wrist inside. "I need you to bite now sensei, I don't want to have to hit you as well."

At my words she briefly cracked her eyes to see the two of us leaning over before looking her gaze with mine and breaking skin.

I immediately recoiled in as I felt the healing begin.

…

Tobirama POV

….

This was, by far, the most bazar day I had ever had. That morning had gone great, I had gotten the gift to her without turning into a cherry tomato and there had not been any stuttering.

I spent the rest of the day training with father and brother until time to get ready for the dinner. While Hashirama had suggested the celebration, father had turned it into something formal. He then proceeded to ruin it when he just wouldn't shut up.

When the guard had burst in I was almost relieved, at least until I heard the news.

I followed Mito and my brother as we all raced to the infirmary. They had been stopped at the door by an overly distraught trainee, babbling about how he was a disgrace and had killed the esteemed sensei. Hashirama and Mito had stopped to console him while I moved on to where Mai had disappeared behind a curtain.

That was when he first learned of her gift. Her sensei was speaking about a scroll and how the wound was too great for her to try, but she was insisted. When she had noticed me upon turning she looked almost fearful, but steeled herself as he moved around and asked what she needed.

I studied her as she explained; a healing bite. The Uzumaki really were extraordinary.

When I got a look at the wound I looked up in surprise, could she really heal something like this?

She spoke lowly to her sensei before the older women opened her eyes. She gave me a searching look before looking at Mai and biting down hard on her wrist.

I flinched, startled as she gasped out in pain and curled over the edge of the bed. Worried I ran back around to her side and grasped her shoulder.

As soon as I made contact I went ridged in pain, feeling my own chakra being drawn upon. I found myself unable to draw away as I felt myself spiraling out of control, strange visions of fire flashed inside my head, dark headed people I had never seen before and a flash of a reflection in a blade. Long dark hair and a right eye framed my four long vertical scars, as if she had been clawed by something. As the healing continued I kept catching reflections of the dark headed women, In a still pond as she meditated, several more times in a blade, on the polished surfaces of guilt décor, and last, in a cup of tea right before I was struck and found myself sprawled on the floor of the infirmary, looking up at Mito's panicked face before blacking out.

…

Normal POV

…..

I barely registered Tobirama touching me. All I remember was feeling his calming chakra pulsing beside me and reached out, realizing my mistake almost immediately I was unable to let go and panicked. I felt my shields crumble as my past flickered to life, proceeding like a bad drama.

When I felt the connection sever suddenly I felt relieved, and then horrified before realizing what I had done. I remember sensei grabbing my shoulder and pulling me on the bed as I blacked out.

…..

When I came too again I was back in my own room, carefully tucked into my covers.

"Awake now are you?"

I looked over to see Sensei seated next to me with a steaming pot of tea.

"You've been out almost a whole day. Missed the rest of your birthday celebration, but I don't think you care about that. What happened Mai?"

"I…" I swallowed thickly and took the cup she handed me, drinking deep even though it scalded a little. "I don't know. He was supposed to move me when the time came, but he grabbed me and then….I don't know."

Hana-Oba hummed in thought.

"You are okay though?" I looked sensei over fully. "The healing worked?"

"Yes little Mai-Chan. I am perfectly all right now. Thanks to you and that boy. It sounds like your chakras connected. But that shouldn't be possible. I've only heard of things like that happening with twins and close family such as spouses." She gave me a suspicious look. "Just what have the two of you been up to in those bushes?"

"What!? NO! No, no, no…nothing of the sort! We only spend time together."

She raised an eyebrow at me.

"With our clothes ON thank you very much!"

"Hmm…"

I reached up and grabbed my pendent as my face heated at what she was insinuating. I may be older in mind but this body was still young. Even if I had already gone through the dreaded puberty again I still did not consider myself mature enough for anything more than a crush.

I felt sensei's hands as she unwrapped my grip around my pendent.

"This is his chakra," she looked me in the eye, "How long have you had this?"

"Oh…well, he gave it to me right after we first met, on my eighth birthday."

She nodded as if understanding something. "I've seen you holding this pendent before, but didn't think I would be something like a chakra stone. That was a very intimate gift for him to give Mai. You've been familiarizing yourself with his chakra for seven years. If asked, you could probably find him in a crowded room blindfolded."

I felt the blush deepen. Had we tripped into something unawares? This was not going to end well.

Hana-Oba sighed deeply. "You need to tell me what happened. The boy woke early this morning and has been by several times asking for you already, worried I might add."

I gave her a surprised look as I slowly explained the transfer that had happened after he had grasped my shoulder, how he had seen everything, SEEN me.

"I suspected he might have. He tried to ask me about it several times. I told him it is something only you can tell as it is deeply personal."

I nodded as I studied my hands. "I will speak to him."

"See that you do. The poor boy is running crazy trying to figure out what is going on. Mito is running interference and her poor husband is completely in the dark, he's been a good sport about the whole thing."

I cringed at the mention of Hashirama and my sister. Two more people I would need to speak to.

….

After dinner that night I told Hana-Oba I was ready to talk to Tobirama. I was gazing back at my lap as he shuffled in slowly and sat by my bed.

"Are you okay?" He finally asked.

I glanced up to see nothing of the scorn I was expecting, only concern.

"Yes, of course. Tired is all."

"Good…that's good…"

"Don't hate.." "What happe…" We interrupted eachother.

"Hate you? Mai how could I ever hate you?"

"What do you remember, about what you saw?"

"There was a dark haired woman. She had four scars on her face and fought with a sword. Was she you? "

"Yes," I whispered, "But was there anything else? I need to know."

He sat a pondered for a moment as he thought over all the visions that had played in his mind. It took a minute before he realized what she was after. There had been something else prominent in every vision, a clan symbol he knew as well as his own.

"Uchiha." He whispered.

I had looked back down in my lap, not wanting to see when he made the connection. Without another word I felt him rise and exit the room. Tears slipping down my face and onto the blankets; I knew, I just knew he would never speak to me again as I felt my heart break. How could I be so stupid to let him so close?

…..

Tobirama POV

…..

I closed the door softly behind me before making my way to the garden, it was late and already dark out but I did not care anymore.

An Uchiha! She had been an Uchiha. I still couldn't wrap my mind around it. I had let her close. There had been plenty of times she could have killed me.

No! No, she wouldn't, couldn't do something like that. She was Mai, wasn't she? Was she?

I was so confused as I paced under the stars. I couldn't reconcile the dark figure of the memories with the vibrant girl I had come to admire, even love if I was honest with myself. But what would this mean? What could it mean?

I turned quickly as I felt a presence invade my space, finding her sensei standing there, studying me.

"Something on you mind boy?"

Why did she call me that? It occurred to me that she wasn't surprised by what had happened.

"You knew. This whole time you knew what she was."

"She is Uzumaki Mai, my student."

"I mean what else she is, or who else she is."

"Tell me boy, did she get a chance to explain, or did you run out of there like your tail was on fire?"

I looked down a little ashamed.

"Hmm…I'm going to tell you something. A secret guarded that you must swear to never break. I only do this because I care deeply about Mai."

I looked back up just in time to see her slam her hand to the ground and set a privacy seal.

"She is not the only one. There is a reason I am her sensei; just as there was a reason for my own sensei. We are called the reincarnates. The healing bite you witnessed is our gift."

"You?"

"Me."

I looked her up and down a moment before asking. "May I ask who?"

She confused me when she laughed. "It will surprise you."

"Was it someone I knew?" I thought back to everyone I had known that called me boy but found nothing.

"No. You would not have known me. I died well before your time. Generations in fact. But you would have read my name. I would have been your many times great grandmother on your mother's side."

I looked up at her in surprise. "You were a Senju. But…she is…was an Uchiha?"

"Hmm…It depends on how you look at it. Mai herself considers it as something in the past now, even if she does continue to let it control her future. She is afraid Tobirama. I think you can understand why."

I did understand. And I had just run out on her. While I still didn't know what to think with the new information, there was one thing I knew. Mai was a good person, a caring person. I remembered when she had first listened to Hashirama's dream. She had not laughed, but encouraged it. Like she was more than ready for peace, was willing to help him. I thought of all the letters we had exchanged over the years. Her letter had been tear stained when she had relied about Itama. The grief genuine. The time we had spent together in the garden. I couldn't forget the Mai I know.

"What she must think of me." I began to make my way back to the house. "Thank you. I…I am sorry. I know I must seem so stupid to you."

She stopped me with a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Not at all boy. Now please, go make it right."

I nodded as I sprinted back into the house, an idea for an apology already forming. I would have to make a quick stop by my room first for the other gift I had made and not been brave enough to give.

…..

Normal POV

…..

I could do nothing by lay in my bed and cry. I knew I would have to rise soon and ready myself to leave. There was no way I would be allowed to stay. Now that he knew. I would leave so as not to cause pain. Return to my little island and move into the house with Hana-Oba. I just hoped I would not feel like I was breaking every day for my inevitably long life.

I didn't know how long I lay there feeling sorry for myself before I felt Tobirama come back into my room. I was facing away thankfully, but it did no good as he came around and sat facing me. I kept my eyes closed and face buried.

"Mai, please look at me."

He spoke softly, not at all with the anger I was expecting. Slowly I uncovered my puffy face and looked into his red eyes.

"Don't say anything! You don't have to. I came back to tell you how sorry I was for running out like that. I was shocked. I never thought…" He looked down. "I'm not good with my words Mai; that has always been Hashirama's gift. I have always shown things more through my actions; that is why I hope you will accept this."

He laid a small box in my lap. I ran a finger over the lid as I stared, I could feel his chakra coming from the box. Another stone.

"I want you to know that I am still coming to terms with what I have found out. But that does not change who you are, who you have always been. It does not change what you mean to me Mai. I love you Uzumaki Mai, I think I have since we first met."

I looked back up a little startled. "What?" I whispered in disbelief.

He nodded down at the box. "I made that for you before I made the earrings. I never thought I would give it to you. You were always holding back from me and now I know why. While I don't fully understand what happened to you I understand what you were afraid of. I'll not reject you for something like this. You have always been genuine with me."

Nervous, I slowly opened the little box and found the most beautiful ring. I gasped as I pulled it out. It matched the other pieces perfectly, his chakra pulsing warmly in the teardrop setting.

I looked up to see tears on his face as I felt my own come back with a vengeance. "You can't possibly mean this. You know what I am."

"I absolutely mean it. You are Mai. I love you. Will you consent to also be my wife?"

I broke down in sobs. He didn't hate me! He loved me. He really loved me. He knew and he didn't care.

It took a few moments to gain my composure enough to give an answer, but finally I was able to choke out a yes as I reached up and pulled him down for a hug.

I held me tight as I felt all the tension drain out of his body.

For once in my new life I felt like I had a future.

After a few more moments of quite hugging he pulled back and took the ring slipping it onto my figure, holding my hand in his larger one.

"If you want I can speak to father in the morning." He gave an amused snort. "He should be thrilled."

A giggle bubbled up. "I guess he's getting his contract after all."

"Indeed." He gave me a grin.

With a happy sigh I rested my forehead against his, content to just stay in this moment forever. I knew now that whatever the reason for my rebirth, I would not have to face it alone. I felt hopeful.

….

Author's Note

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Holy crap guys. This chapter.