Chapter 9: Reunited

Tanomei POV~

"Oh Sissy, I'm home!" I opened the door and walked into the house that used to be my own to hear glass break and a shriek ring out, "YUTSU!"

"Y-Yes miss?" the young man standing next to me called out. After a moment of silence he rushed back to retrieve my darling sister, and at the sight of me she shrieked again, her eyes wide with fury and terror.

"Hello dear," I smiled at my younger sister sincerely. "Yutsu… Get this DEMON out of here!"

I reached out and patted her sweet little head; she recoiled. "Oh no dear. I'm not going anywhere, we have some unfinished business to handle."

"I'll kill you!" Mattakisei screamed out, there was murder in her dark eyes, look that was not reflected in my own scarlet ones. Suddenly she pulled a kunai from her leg pouch and threw it at me, I dodged, though it tore my sleeve slightly. This annoyed me, I took both of her hands and lifted them above her head, and she kicked about like a child pitching a fit. I spoke in a low, calm tone, "Now, is that any way to greet your sister? First, you stab me in the woods. Then, you send your feeble little shinobi after me. Now you throw knives at me? So rude. Did your mother not teach you any manners?"

Mattakisei screamed in fury, and it was that scream, that identical scream, that sent me reeling. Without thinking I whipped her backwards and was about to throw her when I remembered who this was, and held her still, speaking softly now, "You mustn't be so loud, Mattakisei. It is truly unladylike and rather annoying."

"HA! Like I would take etiquette advice from a she-devil! Yutsu, remove her from me!" the princess squawked. Despite her commands, Yutsu remained still. This was curious, as he seemed to be deathly afraid of the girl. I stared at him for a moment, his thoughts amused me, "I do not wish to disobey the young Lady, but I cannot interfere... This is a family matter, no business of mine."

I smiled thoughtfully, "Perhaps I underestimated you, Yutsu. It is wise to stay out family affairs that aren't your own."

His green orbs of eyes widened to the size of dinner plates, "What...?"

Mattakisei shrieked and struggled under my firm grasp, "Its her demon stare! Those eyes pierce your very soul and read your every thought!" Yutsu slowly began to back away, mumbling almost to himself, "Read...my thoughts...?" "'Baka.'" he remembered my statement and envisioned it in his mind, "She called me a moron...because of what I was thinking... Could she really be..." he looked at me in an interesting way, "human?"

I simply could not help laugh out loud, "You silly people! I see you've all caught on to my little pet name. I'm just as human as you. I am hardly demon spawn, though my mother was the wretched witch Hanatabi Uyuudei," I leaned closer to Mattakisei, "Understand, little Matta-chan? You should know the best, we've got the same blood running through our veins."

"Never!" she screamed so loudly that it sent me back a couple steps, causing me to release her. What set me off was not the volume of this scream, but the clear pain and hatred that rang through it. I knew that she hated me, I always knew. But until this moment I had purely blamed it on the parents that we shared and the wicked people of this clan, that they had brainwashed her into hating her own sister, her flesh and blood. Now I could clearly see that she did not only hate me, but she refused to acknowledge me as being related to her. I sighed and turned away from her, it was not our parents that ignored her will, that brainwashed her; It was me. I couldn't stand the thought of my own sister truly hating me...and she did. It was my own fault for not accepting this fact, I was foolish to think that my strong sisterly love for her was enough to make her love and accept me just as well. Of course, she had right to despise me. I took her mother, sister, and brother from her and left her with the foul people of the Seigin clan. She must've been lonely... I looked over my shoulder to see my beautiful sister's face flowing with tears; she screamed in sorrowful fury, "Never will you be my sister! Never will you be my family! Demon! Devil-woman!"

It seemed to me now, that my heart had been broken twice, in one day.

****Meanwhile****

Neji POV~

I ran furiously through the compound until I came face to face with a frightened looking shinobi. His large green eyes were wide and his face covered in sweat, I grabbed his collar. "Where have you taken her?"

The man lost all colour in his face, he was shaking like a leaf, "Wh-What?" Furious, I threw him to the ground. "Where. Is. Tanomei-chan."

The shaking shinobi looked as if he would faint, I hit his face and shook him until he seemed coherent, finally he replied in a tiny whisper, "She's...there..." and pointed to a little building just behind him.

I thanked him quickly, pulling the poor man to his feet, then rushed into the building. "Tanomei-chan!"

There she was, on her knees with her back to a small girl who I recognized as her younger sister, who was screaming at her, "Devil! I'll kill you! I'll stab you in the heart just as you did my mother, I will avenge her!"

"Like hell you will!" I scooped Tanomei up in my arms and was surprised to find that she was not injured. However upon further inspection I found that her eyes were clenched shut, and her front was soaked in tears. "Tanomei…" I shook her gently, "Tanomei-chan, I'm here."

Her eyes shot open, "N-Neji-sama? What are you..." suddenly her eyes went wide and she struggled until she fell from my arms onto the floor. Once out of my arms she turned from me, muttering, "Leave here."

"I won't, Tanomei-chan… I won't let you run away from me," I held her close to my chest, though she struggled in my arms, "Not again, Tanomei."

"Hey! You're the one from a few days ago! Who the hell are you? Get out of my house and my way!" her sister shouted at me, I'd never seen such a brutish child in my life.

"You won't touch Tanomei, not you or anyone else," I tightened my protective grip around her, I would never release her again.

Suddenly she turned her face to me, angry and tear-stained, "Why hold me now? You've rejected me once today now let me go and let me handle this!" My heart stopped. I remembered earlier this very day, after I had removed us from Genshi's apartment. She tried to console me but I was irritated and I brushed her off... That's why she ran. "Tanomei-chan, I didn't mean it! I'm so sorry! I-"

"I said MOVE IT!" the brat shouted and kicked my knees out.

"Shit!" I muttered, falling to the floor, still gripping Tanomei-chan. The Seigin brat moved to kick Tanomei, I grabbed her ankle and Tanomei-chan slipped from my grasp, and then took the kid's shoulder, "Stop it Mattakisei. Leave him out of this."

"No Tanomei!" I stood up and retaliated, I could not stand this child anymore. "Listen here, Mattakisei! Don't you lay a hand on Tanomei!"

She ignored my words and shook herself from Tanomei's grasp, screaming 'Demon' at her. I grabbed the little monster's shoulders, "Stop! She is your sister like it or not! There is not a second of her life that she lives for herself! Her life is you and your brother. She loves you with everything she has and you continue to send your shinobi to kill her-"

"SHE KILLED MY MOTHER! THE DEMON SHOT MY MOTHER RIGHT IN THE HEART AND SO SHE SHALL DIE AS MY MOTHER DID!" Mattakisei screamed at me, the tears flowing. Tanomei stood in shock, unable to move or it seemed to breathe. She mumbled quietly, "For Marakuno..."

"QUIET DEMO-"

"I will not, Mattakisei," Tanomei quietly stated to her sister, it seemed she was regaining strength, she looked Mattakisei in the face, tears forming in her own eyes, "She was my mother too." Mattakisei's eyes widened in shock, she froze with horror as she pictured only a demon could kill their own mother. Tanomei continued, "My mother. I had to kill my own mother, to save Marakuno. I carry that weight in my heart, but I had to do it, for my brother. For our brother."

Mattakisei turned; hiding her eyes from her sister's, "You're a demon... A horrid demon! You aren't like us, devil spawn!"

I shook her shoulders, "Not like you? Your blood is one and the same! I actually did some research on the Seigin clan, or shall I say the Seigi." Tanomei and Mattakisei both looked at me like I was insane.

Despite their confused looks, I continued, "Your clan was originally from the Cloud Village in the country of Lightning. Your clan was known for your incredible powers to read, possess and even completely take over the minds of others. These bloodline traits are only known in your family." Tanomei's eyes went wide with shock; she was highly confused.

I looked at her, "I couldn't sleep while we were hiding at my house… Hokage was kind enough to allow me access to some archives. I haven't had a chance to tell you until now. When the Lightning country went to war your family refused to take part. They would not allow their gift to be used in war. Thus, they were exiled. Your leader, Kashikoi, led your clan to the land of Fire to take property outside the Leaf Village. He changed the clan name to Seigin and as your people married and had children with people from the Leaf Village, the trait became less and less common... until Uyuudei and Shahumaru, clan leaders had their first born."

Both Mattakisei and Tanomei stared at me in total shock until Mattakisei piped up, "Impossible! Mother and Father were pure blood! They-"

"Who do you think would be more likely to carry the trait? Both of your parents had Seigi blood, both carried the trait, so Tanomei was born with it, and your brother too. Need more? I'll prove it." I took out a piece of paper with a name and address scrawled out onto it and handed it to Mattakisei, along with it I brought a copy of the deed to the Seigin land.

Mattakisei snatched them, "Let me see..." as she opened the deed her eyes went wide when she saw the name 'Kashikoi Seigi' next to that of the Hokage, granting him the land. The next paper hand the name and address of Deida Seigi, Kashikoi's youngest daughter, who stayed in the Cloud Village when they were exiled. "You're...human?" Mattakisei looked at Tanomei, who replied, "Aren't you? We're flesh and blood…" Tanomei took Mattakisei's hand, which was shaking and still resistant. She placed her sisters two fingers at her throat to feel her pulse, and then placed them at her own throat. "The same," Tanomei said quietly. She then drew a kunai and sliced open her hand, displaying it to her sister, "I bleed just as you do, we're the same."

Mattakisei quickly drew away, "I'll still never forgive you! Never!" Tanomei reached for her sister, "Matta-chan… I know I ki-"

"YOU LEFT ME!" Mattkisei shrieked and Tanomei froze in total shock. The girl looked down, shaking with fury, "You took Marakuno... You risked your life for him; you killed our mother for him! But you left me... You left me alone..."

This child... She looked up at faced Tanomei with pure anger in her eyes, "You would do all that for Marakuno! But you left me! You never cared for me!"

Tanomei stared at her for a moment, her red eyes a glow until they filled with tears, "I'm so sorry..." she fell to her knees and I ran over to her, "Tanomei!"

She was shaking with tears, muttering under her breath, she remembers the night I left... She wondered where I was going…"

"That's right. You may not be a real demon, but you're a beast! I was so small, and you left me alone! Alone with a cold father who didn't love me! He just wanted me to become the woman he had lost... I thanked God when he died! But you, you and brother, you ran off to begin a new life in Konoha and left me to suffer the one you left behind," Mattakisei's voice was now quiet, knocked down to size.

Tanomei cried and cried, I had never seen her so upset, I cradled her in my arms, I did my best to kiss away her tears, but nothing could ease her pain. Mattakisei suddenly delivered a firm kick to the back of my head, "Don't you dare comfort her! She deserves this pain... every ounce."

Suddenly Tanomei sprang up from my arms and threw her own arms around Mattakisei, crying heavily, stroking her sister's hair, "I'm so sorry...I was a selfish child. I love you so much my dear little sister, please, forgive me..."

Slowly, unexpectedly, Mattakisei patted her sister's back, "Obaa-sama... She told me family is the most important. And that no matter what... I must always forgive people, that I must see the good in people," she clenched Tanomei-chan's shirt, "She also said... that when you love someone, it doesn't matter what they do, you always love them. If you truly forgive me... after all the years I have hated you, you must..." Tanomei's eyes went wide as Mattakisei wrapped her arms around her, "You must truly love me, onne-chan."

Tanomei squeezed her sister, stroking her hair and kissing her forehead again and again, "I do... I love you so much my precious little sister, I love you so dearly."

For the first time in my life, I saw Mattakisei smile, and when she smiled it seems that it was the first time that she had ever smiled. She actually looked like the eight-year-old child she was, and she looked up at her sister brightly like they'd always been close, "So, you'll come home?"

Tanomei-chan smiled down at her little sister, "No, dear. I have a duty to the people of Konoha to protect them as one of their ninja. I also have a duty to Marakuno, and to Neji-sama, and to my friends. However you, also have a duty."

Mattakisei's face fell, "To be the family head... To-"

"To be a child. To grow and live as you want to, and if you want to live that life with me, and your brother, in Konoha, you are more than welcome," she took Mattakisei's chin in her hand and looked at her as a sister should, "I'd like it if you came with me. You're young, don't waste your youth on 'heading the family', it isn't your responsibility. Please."

Mattakisei's eyes grew wide as did her smile, "You mean... I can come, and go to ninja school in Konoha?"

Tanomei picked her up and slung her over her shoulder, "Actually, I've changd my mind. You have to come with me and go to ninja school, what's more sinister... You must have fun and be happy." Mattakisei laughed with joy. I took Tanomei around her waist and said, "All this talk about enjoying youth, you sound like Sensei!"

"Gah!" she shouted in comic disgust, "Not green-jumpsuit man!"

Mattakisei looked at us both, "Green-jumpsuit...?"

Tanomei and I laughed, and as Tanomei set her down I looked at her and said, "Oh yes. You simply must meet him, Lee too! They're like weird twins. You must meet Ten-Ten too, and Kurotsichi-sensei."

Tanomei added, "Yes! And Ino-chan, and Hanoku, and Gen-"

"Nah, you don't have to meet him," I butted in and Tanomei and her little sister both laughed. Then Tanomei smiled, "But most importantly… You must meet your brother."

We all continued chat about places to go and to eat once we arrived back and upon leaving the compound the same young nin I had approached earlier ran to us, "Lady?"

Mattakisei stood tall, "No. I'm not your Lady, Yutsu. I'm Mattakisei, and I am leaving this place. I will not be the head of this clan anymore, I am going to pursue my dreams in Konoha."

Yutsu stared at her in surprise and then smiled, patting her head, "I'm so glad for you, miss. But, who will be the head of our clan now? No one is next in line..."

Mattakisei didn't even require a moment to think, "You will, Yutsu. You've been good to me, and you're strong. This clan could use someone like you, wise and kind."

Yutsu stood up straight, "I will make you proud, miss."

Matta-chan smiled at him, "Yes, you will. Please, I will send for my things, and tell the people of this clan that we are no long divided. Things are as they should be."

Yutsu nodded and waved goodbye as we left the compound.

*****back in Konoha******
Narrated~

*ringringring* Kurotsichi opened his phone and answered quietly, as Marakuno was sleeping, "Hello?"

An unfamiliar voice said, "Onne-chan says to wake ni-chan." The request took several moments to register with Kurotsichi, and when he began to understand his eyes widened in shock, "M-Mattakisei...?

"Yes, this is Mattakisei. Onne-chan is talking privately with Neji-san. She asked me to call you, we're coming over," Mattakisei spoke into the phone, trying to sound very mature.

"Coming over...?" Kurotsichi was unaware of what had happened earlier, and was beyond confused at this point. Today had been one of the most stressful days and now he was getting a call from the one who had started this miniature war?

"Onne-chan says she'll explain later, but I want to meet my brother please, Mister Kurotsichi," the young girl replied. Kurotsichi agreed, of course, and after she had hung up he immediately woke Marakuno, saying he had someone important to see.

Shortly afterwards there was a knock on Kurotsichi's door. He opened to see Tanomei, packing a little girl almost indistinguishable from Marakuno, and Neji standing before him, all wore smiles. Marakuno rushed to the door, "Who is it? Who is-"

Suddenly Marakuno came in contact was a face identical to his own, as if he was looking in a mirror. After a few moments, Mattakisei suddenly threw her arms around him, "Ni-chan!"

Marakuno hugged her tightly, "Mattakisei... I thought I'd never meet you."

Suddenly he released his twin and shot a look at Tanomei, "Nomee-chan said you lived far away!" then his face turned to bright excitement, "Are you moving in with us?"

"Well, I-" Mattakisei was flustered but her shy words were cut off my Marakuno's excited ones, "Know what that means, onne-chan? You're taking my bed so me and Matta-chan can share your big bed!"

The children laughed with excitement, as Tanomei did with pure joy now that her family was complete, well... almost.

She looked up at Neji, and he looked back, "What are you smiling at?" he asked, wearing a smile himself.

"You," she smiled and kissed his lips softly.

"Eww!" the twins shouted and made faces and everyone laughed.

*******6 MONTHS LATER*******

"Well, here we are!" Neji opened the door to their new house and the twins rushed into the house, squealing with excitement over having their own rooms. Neji scooped up Tanomei in his arms, "Let's do this properly," he said with a smile.

Tanomei smiled at him and giggled, pulling the train of her white dress into her lap as he carried her across the threshold of their new home. She then lifted the veil from her face, "You may kiss the bride, again." She whispered and they shared a sweet kiss.

Her family was finally complete.

THE END!
This marks the end of my Naruto Fanfic!
Sequel, anyone? ;DD