The moon was large and round, scattering the violet nightshade and bathing the land in a soft light. Clouds did not show to ruin the beauty of the many dancing stars that resided in the sky, high above the land.
Kiku walked through the village, quietly and quickly, not really knowing where she was going.
She stopped and looked up at the sky. The moon looked down at her and she let its warm glow envelope her, and she relaxed. She saw something, then. She saw her sisters' faces. She saw her family's faces, and she saw her own face, all in the moon. Her head snapped away from the moon, as the guilt filled her. She knew it was her fault; knew that it was because of her stupidity that they were all in this situation. She knew it, but she hated it. And, now the only person who really knew how she felt about it was gone.
Kiku's mind flashed to Sai. She sighed and shook the image from her mind. She had to find a different way to cope now. Why was life so hard?
"Kiku?" Kiku spun around and saw Kimiko approaching her nervously. Her sister's wavy ebon locks were lit up by the moon's light, and her pale skin was illuminated by it. Kiku couldn't help but smile slightly.
"What do you want sister?" she said, trying to keep the coldness from her voice. "I thought you didn't trust me anymore." Kimiko smiled apologetically.
"No," she said. "I've always trusted you. I just had to talk to you about…well, about this." She paused and Kiku looked confused, but then walked over to the younger Nagasani and placed her hand on the girl's shoulder.
"Sai told you, didn't she?" she asked. Kimiko went red and nodded.
"She told me the real reason that you wanted to keep the truth a secret, and I understood," she said. She looked up and brought her own slender hand to her sister's face and traced it along her sister's contours. "But I don't understand why you didn't tell us." Kiku broke away from her sister's touch and turned away from her, silent. Kimiko persisted.
"Why didn't you think to come to us?" she pleaded. "I've known and looked up to you for my entire life, and to know that you don't trust me with something like this..!" She broke off and took a breath.
"It hurts!" she shouted, and she saw Kiku flinch.
"But you already knew what I had heard," Kiku whispered. Kimiko shook her head.
"But, you never once confided in me your feelings," she said, on the verge of tears. "Why?" Kiku turned her head slightly and saw that Kimiko was on her knees. Her anguish was clear.
"I don't know," Kiku said. "My reasoning then was I didn't want you or Kyoko to feel like I was falling apart. I had to set an example for you, after all." Kiku was then forced around to face Kimiko. The younger girl's hands clasped her shoulders tightly, her eyes showed a determined spark that was only ever there on rare occasions, and her face was set. She looked Kiku right in the eye.
"If you're falling apart we, Kyoko and I need to know," she said firmly. "A false sense of security is the one thing that I know can lead to death. Please, don't feel that you need to hide something from us to keep us safe. It doesn't work that way." Kiku felt tears playing at her eyes and was about to blink them away when the full impact of what Kimiko was saying reached her. Slowly, very slowly, Kiku reached her arms up around Kimiko's back and she pulled the younger girl into her. Kimiko heard felt her sister quivering against her and comforted her silently.
They stood there, out in the moon, embracing each other softly, comforting each other warmly; two sisters, their bond renewed.
When morning came the Konoha shinobi were ready. Unfortunately, not everyone else was. Kiu and Yoshi had managed to keep some money and were out buying a meal for them and their daughters. Kyoko waited nervously with the shinobi. Kiku and Kimiko had yet to return.
Kyoko's hands were clasped within each other and her knuckles were white from the applied pressure. Naruto saw this and went over to her.
"Don't worry," he said, grinning. "They're gonna be here, believe it!" Kyoko smiled at Naruto and he blushed.
"Thank you, Naruto-kun," she said. "I'm sure you're right, but, it seems that since they're both my sisters it is my duty to worry over them." She closed her eyes and giggled, deceiving everyone except Naruto. He smiled genuinely.
"Come on," he said. "If you're so worried, then let's go look for them!" He put an arm around her shoulder and pulled the slightly red girl away from the group.
"Naruto, hold on!" Kurenai shouted. Neji followed after him.
"Naruto, if you leave and they come back, then we'll have to go looking for you," he said. Naruto turned to him.
"Shut up, Neji," he said. "It's not your sisters that are missing." Neji opened his mouth, expecting a witty retort to come out, but nothing was there. He was thoroughly surprised, but he shut his mouth as Naruto turned and went off with Kyoko. Neji stared after them and shook his head. He turned back to Kurenai.
"Don't say I didn't try," he said.
Behind Kurenai, Shino spoke up.
"They're going to find them," he said. Everyone turned to him.
"How do you know?" Neji asked, irritated. Shino looked forward.
"My bugs have already found her," he said. "Naruto only did that because I told him to. One of my insects is going to lead them to Kiku and Kimiko." Everyone stood in silent awe, except Neji, who stood in silent frustration. This day was not going so well for him so far.
Naruto walked through the village, leading Kyoko to the place that he knew her two sisters were. She followed uncertainly.
"Um…Are you sure you know where you're going?" she asked timidly. Naruto turned to her and smirked.
"You sound just like Hinata!" he laughed. "Don't worry; I know where I'm going, believe it. Just trust me." He looked at her and waited for her to respond. Kyoko looked back at him and smiled, despite herself. She couldn't help it. She seemed to find solace in those bright blue eyes. Naruto grinned and grabbed her hand.
"Come on, we're almost there!" he said loudly, making Kyoko laugh.
They continued through the village until they reached a small and secluded field just outside of the village. There Naruto stopped and Kyoko gasped. He had been right! There, before them were Kiku and Kimiko, Kimiko's head resting on Kiku's shoulder and Kiku sitting straight and cross-legged. Kyoko smiled and ran up to her sisters.
"Kiku! Kimiko!" she called. Kiku turned and Kimiko bolted up, as though she had been asleep and Kyoko's call woke her. Kiku stood and embraced her sister warmly. Kyoko looked surprised, but hugged back, and then pulled Kimiko into the embrace. Naruto watched, with a lopsided smile until the sisters pulled apart and noticed him. They walked over to him and Kiku bowed.
"Naruto-san," she said. "I apologize if I worried you about our absence. We were intending to go back soon, but I see everyone must be worried about us." Naruto smirked.
"I wasn't worried, I kinda figured you'd come back pretty soon, but everyone else was all nervous so I volunteered to take your sister and come find you," Naruto said proudly. Kiku smiled.
"Arigato, Naruto," she said. "Shall we go back, then?" Naruto nodded and strutted back to the inn, the three sisters, arms linked, following all the way.
"I found them, believe it!" Naruto shouted upon returning. Kurenai turned and saw that the three sisters were, indeed right with him. She walked up to them and surveyed them carefully, to ensure that no harm had come to them. When she was satisfied, she turned to Kiu and Yoshi.
"Your daughters are here, and safe," she said. "And, if you are ready, I believe we should get going." The parents nodded and hurried to their children, embracing them and expressing their slight worry at having been made to wait longer than usual.
As Neji observed the sight, he noticed that Kiku seemed a little less…on edge than usual. Did Naruto say something to her? It seemed likely. He had, after all, snapped the Hyuuga out of his own destiny reverie during their fight at the Chuunin Exams. The prodigy bristled slightly at the thought. It irked him a little that the blonde idiot had such an influence over people, and he found himself the subject of jealousy.
He was so wrapped up in his mixed emotions that he didn't notice Kimiko walking hesitantly towards him.
"H-Hyuuga-san?" she spluttered. Neji turned to face her. He bowed.
"Can I help you with something, Kimiko?" he asked. Kimiko reddened and looked down. She took a breath and composed herself, rather excellently, actually, before facing Neji again.
"I have to speak to you about the woman who just left with Sai," she said. "Shinju?" Neji raised an eyebrow.
"What about her?" he said, a hint of defensiveness creeping into his voice. Kimiko looked straight at him and did not falter in her answer.
"I notice she did not give you her clan name, yes?" she asked. Neji shook his head, suspicion boiling in the pit of his stomach. Kimiko continued.
"As it happens, she is a member of the Igarashi clan," she finished. Neji was silent. He processed this information at his mind. Shinju was an Igarashi? Was this truth, or was this a lie coming from Kimiko? Why would she have reason to lie to him? But, then why would Shinju have reason to lie to him? He looked at Kimiko, and ultimately decided that it had to be the Nagasani girl before him who was the liar. He felt the suspicion inside him turn to anger.
"Do you speak truth?" he asked, trying to keep his voice calm. Kimiko looked at him, and, apparently was able to tell that he did not believe her, and raised her own brow.
"Why would I have reason to lie?" she asked, doing a much better job of maintaining herself than the brunette boy. "I have no reason to suppose that she is an evil person, and I certainly am in no position to interfere with her or your own personal relations. I speak truthfully!" She looked at Neji imploringly and he still did not believe her. However, before he could make any further accusation, Kimiko held up a hand.
"Hear me," she said firmly, and Neji was surprised at this new attitude. "I am telling you the truth, but I am not accusing her of anything other than being an Igarashi. I meant to tell you that there are certain branches of the Igarashi clan, much like those of your Hyuuga clan, that have more or less power than others. Some of these branches do not believe in fighting with the Nagasani's for land. They believe in peaceful negotiations. It is not the entire Igarashi clan that means to fight, to put it simply.
"Igarashi Shinju, and her son, Hajime are of the main Igarashi branch, and were trying to escape from them. I saw them as we were leaving. She probably did not tell you this because she saw us with you and did not wish to become involved in any further affairs with the Nagasani's or Igarashi's." She stopped and waited for Neji to reply. At first the Byakugan user merely looked at her. After a moment, he asked her, "Why tell me this?" Kimiko smiled slightly and her cheeks showed faintly pink.
"You seemed to be the closest to her," she said simply. "I thought you would benefit most from this information. And…" She paused. "I thought you might be angry if you had found out about it later and in an undesirable way." She looked down, but felt the boy's hand on her shoulder and she put her hand to her mouth to hide a gasp. She looked up and he was smiling at her. It wasn't a smirk, nor a grimace, nor a grin, but a genuine smile. After a moment, she timidly returned it.
"Thank you Nagasani Kimiko," Neji said. "I appreciate knowing this." He bowed and led her to her parents and went to Kurenai and the others to receive instruction.
"Hey, Lover boy," Naruto smirked. "What were you two love birds talking about?" Neji only looked at him.
"Is that supposed to get a reaction out of me?" he asked. Naruto's smirk faltered and then changed to a pout.
"Shut up, Neji!" he shouted, his voice whiney.
"Gladly," Neji said. He shut his mouth and smirked at Naruto, who glared back at him. Shino shook his head and turned to Kurenai.
"When are we leaving?" he asked. Kurenai tore her disapproving gaze away from Naruto to look at Shino.
"As soon as everyone's ready," she replied. She turned to the Nagasani's, who were currently trying to fit everything they had bought into their pockets. Lee and Tenten were helping them, but Tenten got fed up, shouted something at Lee, who saluted and started working faster, while Tenten walked over to her sensei.
"It's impossible to get these people ready," she huffed. "I can't believe how much money they had. They just went wild! And in a run-down town like this, no less!" She sighed and put a hand to her temple. Neji sighed sympathetically.
"Well, it looks like they're almost ready," Naruto said. Tenten looked and saw that they were, indeed almost done stuffing their already bulging pockets. Kimiko, Kiku and Kyoko were standing to the side, looking thoroughly embarrassed that their parents should be behaving in such a way at such a time. Lee finally helped Yoshi push a small brown bag into his left pocket and took them over to the other Konoha shinobi. He looked seriously annoyed, which wasn't like him at all. The Nagasani's must love to shop, Neji deduced. He shook his head and went over to Kimiko. He turned around and helped her onto his back, as others did the same. Kurenai turned to them all.
"We don't have Sai with us for now, so everyone has to be ten times as careful as before!" she said firmly. "Don't let anything happen to the Nagasani's! We're about half way to the Land of Lightning." Neji conjured up a mental image of the map they had quickly scanned before leaving Konoha and swiftly estimated the number of days it should take to reach the Land of Lightning, assuming they don't have anymore run-ins with enemy shinobi and don't stop to rest more than once more for the remaining portion of the journey.
He quickly snapped back to reality as Kurenai and the others sped off and out of the village Arata and onto the Land of Lightning.