Chapter 11 (Nightmares!)
When I was finished putting my things away and had grown bored with my new accommodations, I slipped out of my room and knocked on Neji's door.
"…Yes?" he asked from within.
"It's Kiko," I said quietly, as if it would be anyone else, "Do you still want to know how I knew those things in the Hokage's office?"
"Yes. You may enter," he replied immediately. I opened the door slowly and peered inside. His room was almost identical to mine, except that his bedding was black rather than red satin. Neji himself sat on a mat in the middle of the floor. A stick on incense burned beside him.
"What are you doing?" I asked curiously.
"Meditating, obviously. It's very relaxing. Have a seat," he replied, indicating the mat. I sat down cross-legged across from him and he smiled.
"Now, I believe you wanted to tell me something?" he asked.
"Well, the other night I had a strange dream…"
When I finished recounting every detail of this strange dream, Neji looked thoughtful.
"And you have no idea who the hooded woman was?" he inquired.
"Not the faintest," I replied. There was a moment of curious silence.
"So, what do you think about the Top Secret mission?" he asked me.
"Well, I'm not sure. I think it has something to do with me…since whoever I'm staying with seems to be working on it. What do you think?"
"I think you're an idiot for not telling me sooner, and I mean that in the kindest way possible. I also think you are the Top Secret mission," he replied.
"What? Why would I be a Top Secret mission?" I asked, startled.
"How about the fact that you have a five-tailed demon inside of you? Or the fact that Orochimaru has been trying to get his hands on you again since you were two years old?"
"Oh yeah. I forgot about that," I said sheepishly, "…but wait a minute! That means…it is my fault that Kakashi was…well, whatever happened to him…and that my parents…"
"Kiko, the last thing you want to do is go blaming yourself. It is not your fault," he said sharply, "Yuki and Kakashi both knew what might happen to them and they both readily accepted it, out of love for you. Just as I am sure Lord Hiashi must know the dangers, even now. You are not to blame."
I couldn't really think of anything to say after that and I stared intently at the stick of incense.
"Thank you, Neji," I murmured softly.
"I'm merely stating fact," he said with a shrug, "but you are most welcome, Kiko. Now, how about we go find something to eat?"
"Sure," I said, smiling at him.
Later that night I found myself back in my room. I hugged Isamu as I covered myself with one of the cool satin sheets. I closed my eyes and fell asleep almost immediately. As soon as I was asleep, I started to dream…
Deep in the forest, past two rivers, near a rock shaped like an elephant, men in dark cloaks inhabited the ruins of an old castle. One of them went down to the dungeon where a gray-haired man was strung up, held by rusty chains on his hands and feet. He was bruised, dirty, and tired.
"Kakashi Hatake…how nice to see you," the cloaked man said in a chilling voice.
"Orochimaru…" Kakashi groaned.
"Yes. Now my guards tell me you are being most uncooperative. You won't tell us where the little girl is, hmm?"
"Never! I would… rather die than… betray her…" he retorted weakly.
"Die like your sister? Die like poor little Yuki? I could have spared her, you know? But it is so fun to watch them die," Orochimaru replied, smiling evilly. Kakashi struggled against the chains, trying to launch himself at Orochimaru. Orochimaru merely laughed, a cold, chilling, evil laugh.
"Let's see how well you can move after this," he said, raising a hand. The last thing I heard was the sound of Kakashi screaming…
"No!" I screamed aloud, waking myself up. I was crying and my heart was pounding in my chest. Isamu had fallen off the bed, but I wasn't looking for Isamu. The door opened and Neji walked in, looking extremely worried.
"Tsukiko what's wrong?" he asked, alarmed.
"I saw him, Neji! I saw Orochimaru! He's got Kakashi and…Neji, he's torturing him!"
I was trying to stifle my tears and keep my voice calm, but I couldn't. Neji came to sit beside me on the bed and he opened his arms to me. I fell into his embrace, sobbing madly.
He was startled and uncertain but did his best to comfort me. He patted my back awkwardly and made quiet, soothing noises.
"It's possible it was just a nightmare," he murmured quietly. I shook my head no.
"No, Neji. It was one of those psychic things…" I said, through my stream of tears.
"Well, what do you want to do? You want to go to the Hokage? We can go to the Hokage," he said softly. I nodded my head weakly and he stood up, taking me with him.
"Then let's go," he said.
It was late at night, probably midnight at the latest, and Neji and I hurried towards the Hokage's office. It was difficult for me to walk straight and I ended up leaning on Neji for support.
The Hokage's assistant wasn't at her desk so we went and knocked on her office door.
"Who is it?" Tsunade's voice asked sharply from within.
"Neji Hyuuga, Lady Hokage. Tsukiko and I wish to speak with you," he said.
"Very well," she said, surprised, "Come on in."
Lady Tsunade sat at her desk, a pile of paperwork sitting in front of her, and a glass of something that definitely wasn't tea sat beside her.
"It's a little late for a social call, isn't it Neji?" Tsunade asked, but her eyes were on me.
"Forgive me, Hokage…but Kiko had one of those dreams again. Will you tell her about it Kiko?" Neji asked me gently. I shook my head no.
"I can't," I said softly.
"Don't worry, I will. Kiko saw Kakashi in her dream…he was being tortured by Lord Orochimaru," Neji said to Tsunade. I let out a strangled sob at the way he so blatantly stated this fact.
"It is as I feared then," Tsunade said slowly, "Did you see where he is, Tsukiko?"
"Some castle ruins. In the woods. Past an elephant-shaped rock formation," I said hoarsely.
"I'll send a team of ninja in that direction immediately," she said.
"I want to go."
"Absolutely not!"
"But I can help," I insisted, "I can show them where Orochimaru is hiding."
"That's not necessary, Tsukiko. The best thing for you to do is to return to Lord Hiashi's house," Tsunade said.
"…Yes Hokage," I said meekly. I narrowed my eyes at her in a death glare before stomping out, letting the door slam behind me.
"Neji, don't let her out of your sight," I heard Tsunade say to him.
"Yes Hokage," I heard him reply.