Chapter 10

"I see that she had grown quite to be an adorable child hasn't she?"

"Ah! My lord!" Sora almost jumped in surprised. She was deep in her thoughts of her past memories while staring at the photo of her daughter that she didn't notice it was the daimyo who spoke to her. She kept the picture back on her vest as she followed him towards the window. "Has the meeting ended?"

"Hardly." He chuckled as he turned his gaze out on the busy streets. "Just took a short break. Anyway, how was it? We don't have much time left here."

"I'm afraid we still haven't found anything, even the man."

"Is that so?" He let out a sigh as he shook his head. "Don't worry, I'll try to ask the lord in here, see if we missed something. Well, I better go back in there." He tapped Sora's shoulder and even gave her an apologetic smile before he turned and leave.

Sora smiled back at him softly and gave a nod in response. 'You've already done so much to us for that child my lord.' She then resumed her attention to her guarding duty.

'I hope he comes back with good news this time.'

Sora paced worriedly in the room. It was getting darker by the minute and yet the person she had been waiting for hadn't returned. And it was even later than the usual time he comes back from his task. A knock on the door somewhat relieved her but when she opened it, her expression immediately fell back to frustration.

"No, thank you but I'm not that hungry." She pressed her back on the door as soon as she closed it and let out a sigh. And it wasn't even in her character for her to be this anxious, but when it comes to matters that involve her, she couldn't help herself. She sighed once more.

Another hour had passed. The noise on the inn had died down, even in the streets, indicating that almost everyone were now at rest or in the process of doing so. It only made her anxiousness grow even more. Sora was now lying on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. It was when she was in the brink of falling asleep that probably the knock she had been waiting for was finally heard. She quickly sat up and dashed towards the door to open it. A sigh of relief now escaped her lips. "Thank god you're here."

"Sorry."

She just smiled in response as she gave way for him to enter. She remained standing by the door as she watched him go around the room to fix his things and sit down by the bed. She only moved from her position when he looked back at her at patted the side of the bed he was sitting on. She sat down beside him.

"Itsuke."

"Hey, quit wearing that long face of yours." He smiled back at her as he took her hands on to his. "Frowning won't help us find what we're looking for."

"Well, did you find anything?"

He shook his head. "I went back to check the records today, there's nothing else that's relevant to the incident six years ago aside from the building being burned and the sudden disappearance of the man from the prison. There was hardly anyone who knows what happened to the man. He just disappeared without a trace."

"The lord said that he'll speak directly to the daimyo of this village tomorrow before we leave. He may know something."

"Might." Itsuke shrugged his shoulders a little. "I heard he was appointed four years after the incident took place. If he's from this village he may know something, but if he isn't..."

Sora cut him off before he could finish. "We can still hope that he has."

"Yes, of course we can." Itsuke placed an arm around her and kissed her on the head to comfort her. For three years, they've running about in circles trying to uncover the truth behind the changes in the eyes of Yuka. Now that they've arrived to the place from where everything started, thinking that they'll have better chances of finding more of the truth, they're faced with another dead end. It was now his turn to let out a sigh.

Personally, it doesn't matter whether they or they won't find anything about their daughter's eyes since it turned out as a natural occurrence. Aside from that, she had grown up just fine. He was even proud of her accomplishments at her young age, mastering the basic techniques even before she enrolled in the Academy and is now on the process of learning the advance ones.

But there was something that Sora couldn't seem to let pass through about their daughter's eyes. She even mentioned something as unbelievable as another possible kekkei genkai. Now that is something that's really worth to be concerned of. Even he couldn't ignore such possibility especially if it involves their Yuka.

He pushed aside all his thoughts as he watched the now sleeping figure of his wife leaning comfortably on him. He carefully adjusted her position and laid her gently on the bed, then laid down himself next to her. It had been a long week for both of them and sleep seemed just right as means to escape then tomorrow will be another gruelling day. And in a day's time, they'll be home, and he can't wait to see his little princess again. Thinking about her brought a smile on his lips and a small sense of peace as he drifted off to sleep.

One more day...

Yuka stretched lazily as she yawned and got up. She must've gotten carried away with her training yesterday that now her body felt sore. And for that she decided that she had to skip training begrudgingly unless she wanted her body to suffer and end up not showing for her sparring-fight against the Uchiha boy. She shuddered at the thought.

Her typical days usually involve training, eating, sleeping, studying and gazing at the sunset. Since she attends the Academy now, she might as well reduce the time studying and focus more of her time in training. But now that she's incapable of doing so, she suddenly became clueless of how she could make her day today a productive one.

She sighed in resignation, giving up on thinking of anything to do. But as she stared out of the window, another thought came over her.

The moment she stared out of her window and gazed at the golden light showered by the sun over the town, Yuka felt ecstatic. It's too good a day to waste sulking inside her room just because she couldn't train. And it had been quite long since she had gone out and made excursions around the town.

Sure there were still handful of people who seem to detest her eyes but majority of them seem to grow accustomed of her peculiar presence. Especially after the day she had decided to stand up against the blonde who never seem to cease hating her for a reason she doesn't know, other children began to leave her be and now she can even walk around freely.

Having no particular destination or anything to do in mind in the first place, Yuka walked and walked aimlessly. When she got tired roaming around the main streets and window shopping, she decided to make a turn and head over to the park. It was almost noon. After buying herself a decent lunch, she picked a spot in the park where she best thinks she wouldn't bother other people spending their day as languidly as her. Besides, she was used to being alone most of a time and for the stillness that it comes with, in which she was even thankful.

'I guess I was right taking on a break.'

She was laid with arms and legs sprawled on the soft patch of grass, under the shade of an old tree. Cold, gentle breeze blew, lulling her to sleep. She was about to give in to falling asleep when she heard someone sobbing and some voices shouting and laughing she was sure to be familiar with. Yuka sat up and peered from behind the tree. Blonde hair and a voice that can break glasses due to its over high-pitchness... it was definitely her... Mari, and her circle of ugly friends.

"She's really wimpy."

"Oh and look! She even has her glasses but still she falls." Another fit of laughter burst among the girls. Mari took the glasses from the girl who tried to take it back only to be kicked by one of them. The girl bowed her head down, her shoulders shaking as she tried to suppress her tears.

"What now cry-baby wimp? Gonna start crying again?" Mari threw the glasses to one of her friends, who in turn carelessly dropped it and stepped on it.

"Oops." And they laughed once more.

"Too bad your sister's not here to help you huh?"

Yuka let out a sigh as she watched the scene before her. She would've wanted to jump straight out from her position and maybe teach these girls a lesson for good but it may only worsen the condition of the girl being bullied afterwards. After all, it wouldn't guarantee that Mari and her ugly friends would stop then and there if she interfered, it may only make things worse. And so, Yuka decided to perform a summoning jutsu instead. From the puff of smoke came out a large grey cat carrying a wooden case.

"Nao."

"Oh greetings Yuka-hime!"

"Sheesh... I told you to stop calling me that. Anyway, I need your help."

"I have thought of that since you summoned me here."

"Yeah right." Yuka crossed her arms. "I need to borrow one of your treasures. And I want the biggest one."

"My treasures!" Nao exclaimed wide-eyed as he hugged the wooden case tighter and slightly turned it away from Yuka. "Oh anything but these!"

"Please Nao."

"Definitely a no-no Hime-chan."

"I'll just use it for a few seconds then I'll give it back to you."

Yuka started to advance towards Nao who jumped away from her, this time putting the wooden box on his back. "Give it back? What if you won't be able to catch it? And you even want the biggest one!"

"Nao, I don't have time for this!" Yuka glanced back to where Mari and her friends were bullying the girl. "I need to help that girl!"

The tabby pondered for a moment of the situation as Yuka flashed him a pleading look. He scratched his chin as he looked back and forth to Yuka and to the girl she wishes to help. Since he rarely saw Yuka with any friends, maybe helping that girl would increase her chances of having at least one. Finally with a sigh of resignation, he spoke.

"You have to make sure you'll bring it back to me safely."

"Nao! Thank you!" Yuka gave the cat a hug. "Thank you! Thank you! I promise I'll give it back."

"There." Yuka tied the last string to secure it properly. "That should do it. Ready Nao?"

The tabby was waving both his paws to give himself air. He felt like he was going to have a heart attack any minute now as he eyed his precious treasure on Yuka's hand. "Just get over it Hime-chan."

"Everything's gonna be fine Nao." Yuka just giggled at his reaction and then turned back to the commotion behind the tree she was hiding. "One. Two. Three..." And then she threw whatever she was holding, while Nao fell down unconscious. She hid back behind the tree as she waited.

Laughter of the girls. Thump. Silence.

"What's that?"

"Th-that's... !"

"Kyyyaaaaaah!"

Then the laughter was replaced with screaming coming from Mari and her friends. Soon as she was sure the coast is clear, she went to retrieve Nao's treasure first. She tugged the string and picked it up then let out a laugh.

"I guess there'll be more Ai-chans in the future." She turned back to the tabby. "Told you it's going to be alright."

Nao grabbed it from Yuka's hand and then carefully replaced it back to his wooden box. "This is the first and last time that'll I'll let you borrow my treasures Hime-chan."

Yuka just smiled back at him as Nao disappeared on a puff of smoke. "Thank you Nao." She returned to the girl being bullied earlier only to find her unconsciously lying on the ground. "I didn't know she was also afraid of a mouse." She whispered to herself as she helped the girl up.

"Kyyyaaaaaah!"

Yuka thanked her training for developing her reflexes hence if not, she would've fallen off the tree as she was jerked up awake by a scream coming down from where she was perched at. She stretched her arms as she looked down at the now-awake girl below her.

"Are you okay?" Yuka spoke as she jumped down the tree.

The girl gave a short nod as she hugged herself. She was still visibly shaking, probably because of that Mari and her girls, or the mouse stunt she pulled off earlier, or even because of herself.

"Don't worry, they're gone." She sat in front of the girl. "If it's about the mouse..." The said girl flinched. 'Yup. She's afraid of it too.' Yuka laughed inwardly. "Sorry. I didn't know you're scared of it too. By the way, I'm Yuka."

"Hachiko." She replied back meekly as she wiped her eyes off and let out a small smile. Yuka smiled too as she saw her relax more. "Thank you."

Yuka was about to answer her when she felt an incoming object towards her and ducked her head. A stone landed on a nearby bush.

"Get away from her!"

"Ah!" Hachiko stood up as another girl came to them. Another stone was held firmly on her right hand as she cautiously approached them. Hachiko waved both her hands defensively and moved before Yuka. "Shiori-chan, she saved me from them!"

Shock registered on Shiori's face as Hachiko's words sank themselves on her and as she recognized who she was.

"Sorry, I just thought that you were one of them."

"I'd rather die alone than be friends with someone like her."

Yuka and Shiori sat by a bench, sipping on some juice, as they watched Hachiko nearby, picking flowers. A butterfly came flying near the flowers caught Hachiko's attention, reaching out her hands to touch it, then started to run after it, but then after a few steps she tripped. Yuka made gurgling noises on the juice she was drinking while Shiori just let out a soft giggle.

"Is she really that clumsy?"

Shiori put her juice down and rested her hands on her lap, her gaze softening as she eyed Hachiko, who had just recovered and went back picking flowers as if nothing happened.

"Well, not exactly." Her fingers now played on the hem of her shirt. "Not since our dad died, she wasn't like that."

Yuka's mouth just formed into an O. "Sorry. Uhm... But why? What happened?"

Shiori took a deep breath and blinked several times, as if blinking away tears. Yuka noticed it quickly and was about to ask her to stop if she felt uncomfortable telling her but was cut off when Shiori spoke again. "He died during the war, he was a medic. Hachiko was really close to him and I think between me, her and our mother, she was the one affected the most of his death. It took some time before she was able to talk, then that. She was physically weakened all of a sudden. It can even be considered a miracle that she passed to enter the Academy, but you see, she has a very strong mind and conviction. She even wants to become like our father."

"You just have to continue supporting her then?"

"Yeah." Shiori smiled back at Yuka. She then stood up and extended her hand to her. "It was nice meeting you, Yuka-chan."

"Same here." Yuka clasped her hand. "I'll be on my way too."

Shiori nodded as she turned and walked towards Hachiko, who then suddenly bowed at her then waved her hand with a broad grin on her face.

'What a good day this really is...' Yuka thought as she walked home.