Chapter 10 (Top-Secret)

My mind was completely blank. I simply stood there, staring at Lady Tsunade for a very long time.

"We've had contact with the village he was supposed to be traveling to. He was supposed to have arrived late last night, but he did not. I have a large grouped of ninja scouring the woods for him…even the ANBU Black Opps have joined in. Now, the matter at hand is where you will stay until Kakashi returns…and he will return," she said. This last part was obviously supposed to be her way of reassuring me.

"I am fifteen years old, Lady Tsunade…I am more than capable of staying by myself," I said. Even to me my voice sounded hollow and distant. I wondered to myself why I had said that. I didn't even want to stay by myself!"

"You will not be staying alone. Kakashi wouldn't want that," Tsunade said strictly, "You will be staying with-"

"Hiashi Hyuuga," I chided at the same time she said it. There was a moment of stunned silence in which I was dimly aware of both Neji and Tsunade staring at me in amazement.

"How did you-…? Never mind that now. Yes, you will go and stay with Hiashi Hyuuga until Kakashi returns. Hiashi is already aware of this. I want you to go home and get some clothes and anything else you may need, then I want you to go straight to Hiashi's house, understand?" Tsunade asked me.

"Yes, Hokage," I said, nodding my head. She seemed surprised at my lack of resistance, but I didn't feel like waging war with her today…I was too worried about Kakashi. I did pause at the door, however, and turned to face her.

"I want to help look for him," I said tonelessly.

"That's absolutely out of the question!" she exclaimed.

"Why not?"

She thought carefully before answering and when she did answer her voice was strained with emotion.

"Kakashi was dealing with a Top Secret Mission that only a select few know about and only about a third of them fully understand. Only those who are highly qualified and who have been with this project since the beginning are out looking for him," she said quietly.

"Hiashi knows," I stated calmly, and again she stared at me in amazement, "So why isn't he out there searching?"

"Hiashi…Hiashi is working on a different part of the mission now," she replied.

"With Kakashi gone the assignment falls to him and now his life is just as much in danger as Kakashi's…and if Hiashi is killed…" my voice trailed off as I thought about the next person mentioned in my dream- Jiraiya. The super-strong, but super-perverted ninja who was sometimes Naruto's teacher. He also wrote a series of trashy 'romance' novels that, I was sad to admit, Kakashi was addicted to.

"How do you know-?" Tsunade began, but I left the office abruptly, letting the door slam shut behind me.

Halfway home I heard a voice call out my name from behind me.

"Kiko!"

I turned to see Neji running towards me and I paused to wait for him to catch up.

"What was that all about?" he inquired.

"I'll tell you later, okay? I promise," I murmured to him. He looked considerate for a moment and then nodded his head.

"Okay."

He followed me back to Kakashi's house without saying anything else or asking any questions at all. When I went inside he said he would wait outside for me and he would escort me to Hiashi's house, where he also lived.

I went to my room and grabbed my bag out of the closet. I started throwing random articles of clothing into the bag without really thinking about it. When I was finished with the clothes I looked around the room curiously. I had the feeling I was forgetting something…Isamu! I grabbed the stuffed lion quickly and put him in my bag.

I couldn't stop myself from peering into Kakashi's room in the hope that he would be there, but it was empty.

"Are you ready, Kiko?" Neji asked softly when I walked out the front door. I nodded my head numbly. We walked towards the Hyuuga household together and I could tell Neji was struggling, trying to think of something to say.

"Well at least you'll be staying at my house until Kakashi comes home," he said in an attempt to cheer me, "It'll be just like a sleepover."

A sleepover where I get to ponder the fate of my most beloved teacher…I thought miserably to myself, …but I've got to be brave. For Neji, if nothing else.

"Yeah. It'll be like a sleepover," I said, smiling at him.

As we approached the house I saw Hiashi Hyuuga standing out front, waiting for us. He had the hereditary silver eyes of the Hyuuga Clan that was dominant in both Neji and Hinata. When we reached Hiashi, Neji bowed and motioned for me to do the same. I did.

"Welcome to my home, Lady Tsukiko. Hopefully your stay here will be a pleasant one, and short in the safe return of your Sensei," Hiashi said to me, inclining his head slightly.

"Thank you, Lord Hiashi," I said quietly. Hiashi turned his attention on Neji.

"I am counting on you to help your friend feel welcome, Neji. Will you show her to her room? It will be the one across the hall from yours," Hiashi said to him.

"Of course, Lord Hiashi. Come, Kiko," Neji said, beckoning to me.

I followed Neji down a series of hallways until he stopped.

"This would be your room," he said, indicating a door to his right. He opened the door for me and I walked in to have a look around. The walls were painted black, as was the cherry wood wardrobe that was in the corner. There was a small desk, which was also made of cherry wood. The bed looked just as expensive as everything else. The bedclothes were red satin.

"Wow," was all I could say. Neji smiled slightly.

"The Hyuuga Clan does have expensive taste," he admitted. I followed him back out of the room so he could show me some other places.

"My room is there," he said, indicating the room across the hall, "and the bathroom is down that way. Lady Hinata's room is on a different hallway, but sometimes her little sister, Hanabi, can be found wandering around."

"I didn't know she had a sister," I said, surprised.

"Well she does. Hanabi is Lord Hiashi's youngest daughter," Neji replied.

"What about you? Have you got any siblings?" I asked curiously.

"No. …I'll leave you to get settled in, shall I?" he said. I nodded my head and went into my room. A moment later I heard Neji's bedroom door shut.

I set Isamu on the bed and began to put my clothes away.

"We won't be here long," I said to Isamu, "but it is always good to make sure we're comfortable."

The stuffed lion had no response to this.

"You'll have to stay out of sight, Isamu. …What sort of ninja still sleeps with a stuffed lion, after all? What would Neji say if he knew?" I said to Isamu. The lion still didn't reply, and I could only hope he wouldn't be offended.