In the Shadow of the Moon
Chapter 12: Returning Home
"What?" Pei asked, glaring. "Why aren't you healing him?"
"Um, Pei," Tsunade said. "What I am about to tell you is very difficult to handle."
"No, no, you're going to heal him."
"Pei…. I can't."
"What are you talking about? Of course you can. You're Lady Tsunade. You're supposed to be the best medic-nin ever. You have to heal him. Do you need money, or ingredients for a cure? I can get you whatever you need, you just have to heal Anari."
"Pei, even I can't bring someone back to life…."
Pei stared, shocked. "No, you're lying…. You have to be lying. Anari is going to find a cure for Lady Mitsuki. You're lying. He's alive."
"Check his pulse yourself…." Tsunade stepped aside. Pei tried to check Anari's pulse.
"No…. Anari…." Pei stared at Anari's lifeless body. "Anari…."
"I'm sorry, Pei…." Tsunade said.
"Get out…." Pei said darkly. "Just leave."
Tsunade sighed and left. After a while, Mitsuki came in, her eyes red as if she had been crying.
"Pei…."
Pei didn't say anything.
"Lady Tsunade healed all of Cho's wounds…."
Pei still didn't say anything, he just sat there, staring at Anari.
"She told me what happened…. I'm sorry…."
"He's not gone…." Pei said. "He's going to come back, I know it. He wouldn't do that to you, to the village…."
"He wouldn't do that to you, Pei…. At least, not on purpose. He didn't plan this, Pei. You know that he would never leave you…."
"He didn't. I told you, he's going to come back…."
"Pei, you need to rest…."
"Maybe you're right…. He probably can't come back with us in here, anyway…." Pei stood up, lightly touched Anari's hand, and then left hesitantly.
"Anari…." Mitsuki said. "I know that you aren't coming back to us this time…. But I also know that you can hear me…. Thank you for everything you have done for me…. I am very grateful…. Your grandmother would be so proud of you…. I will never find another medic-nin as talented as you. And Mitsukigakure will never be the same without you. I know that Pei will definitely change…. But Mitsukigakure will always seem a little sadder, now that your smile isn't there to cheer it up…. You will always be remembered for your dedication, optimism, talent, and ambition…. And for your heart." Mitsuki wiped her tears away and left.
"Lady Mitsuki," Cho was waiting outside Anari's room. "What is going to happen, now?"
"What do you mean, Cho?"
"Who is going to be your medic-nin?"
"I will ask Lady Tsunade to lend one of hers just until we return home. And then, I will find one there…."
"Poor Pei…. I've never seen him so upset…."
"He is in denial. He doesn't want to believe that Anari is really…."
"I know…." Cho sniffed, not allowing herself to cry.
"I'm sorry, Cho. I know that Anari was like a brother to you…."
"I want to ask Pei if Anari went with a smile…. That's how Kotichi went, smiling…. I'm sure Anari went that way, too, knowing Anari…."
Mitsuki nodded. "Where did Pei go?"
"I think he went to the apartment."
"I better go make sure he is okay…." Mitsuki left. Kiba ran up to Cho.
"Cho, are you okay? They wouldn't let me in before…." Kiba hugged her. She smiled sadly.
"Kiba, I think we need to talk…."
Kiba nodded and they went outside, where Akamaru was waiting. The three went to a small, park-like area of Konohagakure.
"What is it, Cho?" Kiba asked.
"Kiba…. I had been thinking about staying here with you…."
Kiba smiled excitedly. "That's great, Cho!"
"But because of what happened today…. I can't…."
"What…?" Kiba's face fell. Akamaru whimpered.
"Please understand, Kiba…. It has nothing to do with you…. Anari is…. He didn't make it…. And Pei really needs all the family he has right now…."
"No, I understand completely…. You need to stay where you are needed most…. I'm really sorry about Anari…. He was a great guy."
"Yeah, I know…. He reminded me a little of my brother…. It's going to be hard, going on without him…. He had a strange way of making everyone feel better…."
"Yeah…. Well, I think there's only one solution…."
"Hm?"
"We're going to Mitsukigakure with you."
"What?" Cho stared, a mixture of confusion and joy on her face. Kiba smiled, petting Akamaru.
"I don't want to hardly ever see you again. Akamaru, too. I love you, Cho…."
"Kiba…." Cho wrapped her arms around his neck, tears rolling down her face. "That's so sweet…."
"I won't take no for an answer…." Kiba smiled.
"I wouldn't say no to you…. Especially not at a time like this…."
"Excuse me, Lady Tsunade…." Mitsuki cautiously entered Tsunade's office.
"I'm sorry about your pupil, Lady Mitsuki…."
"It's not your fault…. But there is something important that I must ask you…."
"Yes?"
"I need a medic-nin to serve as my personal medic-nin. Of course, I am sure that no one could ever come close to replacing my Anari, but this is a necessary thing."
"I understand. Sakura!" Sakura rushed in.
"Yes, Lady Tsunade?"
"You are to be Lady Mitsuki's personal medic-nin until she returns home and is able to find one there."
"Yes, Lady Tsunade…."
"Thank you, Lady Tsunade, and thank you, Sakura. Upon returning to Mitsukigakure, you will be rewarded for your hardship."
"Um, that will not be necessary," Tsunade said. "I am lending our services to you free of charge, as a favor for your sacrifice…."
"Thank you, Lady Tsunade…." Mitsuki and Sakura left. "Tell me, Sakura, do you know a perimeter paralyzing jutsu?"
"No…."
"Do you know an immobility jutsu?"
"Yes, I do."
"That will do, then. Come with me back to my apartment, and I will explain some very important things to you…."
"Pei," Neji found the bespectacled boy sitting on the cliff in which the faces of the Hokages had been carved. Pei didn't respond.
"I heard about Anari…. I'm sorry…."
"For what? He's alive…. He'll come back…."
"Pei…." Neji sat next to him. "He's not coming back…. You know that. There is nothing you can do about it."
Pei looked away from him.
"I'm sorry…."
"You should be!" Pei glared at him. "Anari would have been fine if it wasn't for this stupid village!"
Neji stared at him.
"And you! This is all your fault! You have such special eyes that can see everything! Why didn't you see that ninja, or that katana? Why didn't you warn us?"
"I'm sorry, Pei…. It was an accident…."
Pei stood up and grabbed Neji by the front of his shirt, holding him off the edge of the cliff, glaring darkly.
"You know what else would be an accident? If I dropped you!"
"You don't want to do that, Pei…." Neji said calmly.
"Don't tell me what I don't want!"
"Pei…. I am sincerely sorry about what happened to Anari…. I never meant for anything to happen to him. He was a wonderful person and a brilliant medic-nin."
Pei just kept glaring.
"Anari said that if you take someone's life to avenge another, then blood will be sought for that life…. And a war will be started…."
Pei kept glaring. Then, he took a deep breath and put Neji back on the cliff, burying his face in his hands.
"I'm sorry…."
Neji just watched him.
"Anari was my best friend…. My brother…. I have never known anyone as great as Anari…. I love him…."
Neji didn't say anything. He just sat there, listening.
"I just…. I can't believe he's…." Pei took his glasses off and rubbed his eyes. Neji just sat there. They stayed there until the sun set.
"Lady Mitsuki is probably looking for you," Neji said.
"No…. She's probably already asleep with help of her new medic-nin…." Pei stood up. He glanced at Neji, then leapt off of the cliff, hopping on buildings to reach the apartment. Cho was still awake.
"We're leaving in the morning," she told Pei. He didn't say anything.
"Pei…. I'm really sorry…. I know how much Anari meant to you…."
"No," Pei said. "You don't."
Cho sighed as Pei lay down on his sleeping bag. Sakura came out of the bathroom, glancing at Pei. She opened her mouth to say something, but Cho shook her head, putting her finger up to her mouth to signal her to remain quiet. Cho knew that if Sakura said anything, Pei would treat her horribly, because she was taking Anari's place on the squad, even if it is temporary.
In the morning, Pei woke up and left the apartment after packing up his things. He waited by the village gates. No one else had woken up yet.
When Cho woke up, she noticed that Pei was already gone. She sighed, then woke up Sakura.
"It's time to wake up Lady Mitsuki," Cho said. Sakura yawned and stretched, nodding.
"I have something to do, I'll meet you by the gates. Pei will be there, too." And Cho left. Kiba and Akamaru were waiting in the park they had been in the day before. Cho smiled.
"Are you really going to leave your family, friends, home, and village behind?" Cho asked.
"Of course, Cho," Kiba smiled and Akamaru barked happily. "I'm just a little bit worried about how Pei will react…. I can't imagine him being too happy about my tagging along…."
"What? Why?" Cho laughed.
"Anari died the first time to save me…."
"Don't worry about Pei. He's usually very quiet, so as long as you don't look at him, you should be fine!" Cho smiled. "I can't tell you how much this means to me, Kiba…." Cho kissed him, then grabbed his hand and led both to the gates, where Pei, Mitsuki, and Sakura were waiting.
"Kiba and Akamaru are coming with us," Cho smiled. Pei wasn't looking at them, and at that comment, he didn't look, either.
"Alright, we are on a time limit, so let's get moving," Mitsuki said. And they set off.
The journey back to Mitsukigakure was rather uneventful. They arrived at the mountain range surrounding the village right on time, allowing Mitsuki to perform the hidden jutsu that allows entry into the village.
"I have to go straight to the Mistukikage," Mitsuki said. "Sakura, you come with me. The rest of you can head on home."
Cho led Kiba and Akamaru to a graveyard, to a certain gravestone. Cho knelt down in front of it, smiling.
"Hey, Kotichi…. This is Kiba Inuzuka and Akamaru…. They are really great, I know they would like you, and I know that you would like them. You know my friend Anari? Well, he had a second life. But that wasn't enough. I was taking the punishment for Lady Mitsuki, and the girl I was fighting tried to kill her, but Anari took the kunai for her. He didn't survive…. Pei's really upset.
"Kiba and Akamaru really care about me. They left their home so that they could come back here with me…. I wanted you to meet them before I took them home. I love you, Kotichi…." Cho brushed his name with her fingertips, then stood up, smiling. She took a picture out of her pocket and showed Kiba. It was a picture of Kotichi, with his ninja band around his neck. Cho was on his shoulders, only five years old.
"You were adorable as a little kid!" Kiba said. Cho laughed.
"Come on," She led them to her house. "Mom, Dad!" Cho pranced in, with Kiba and Akamaru not far behind. Seiyuki hugged her.
"Oh, hello," Seiyuki said to Kiba.
"Mom, this is Kiba and Akamaru. They're from Konohagakure."
"I didn't think I'd survive being without Cho," Kiba smiled. Taro came in right as Kiba said that and glared at him before hugging Cho.
"Welcome home, Cho…." Taro said, patting her head. She smiled.
"I'm sure that you took him to Kotichi first?" Seiyuki said to Cho.
"Yes, she did," Kiba said. "I know it was many years ago, but I am sorry for your loss. It must be very difficult, losing a child." Seiyuki and Taro laughed. Cho didn't, but she smiled.
"No, you don't understand," Seiyuki explained. "Kotichi was not our son. And Cho is not our blood daughter. We adopted her after Kotichi died."
"I was an orphan," Cho said. "Kotichi was the only family I had. He died when I was eight, and they adopted me!"
"Oh…." Kiba smiled, rubbing the back of his head.
Mitsuki and Sakura stood in the Mitsukikage's office. Mitsuki had already given him the jutsu, and it was safe and protected. "This is Sakura Haruno, from Konohagakure…. Anari was killed protecting me, so she was filling in until I got here…."
"I extend my deepest condolences to you and your squad, Lady Mitsuki…." The Mitsukikage said sadly. "I know how much Anari meant to you…."
Mitsuki just nodded sadly.
"Thank you for your services, Sakura. You are free to return to your village."
Sakura nodded. "Thank you, Lord Mitsukikage." She bowed slightly and left.
"Lord Mitsukikage, I am worried about Pei…."
"For what reason?"
"He was very close to Anari…. I don't think he is able to handle Anari's death."
"Well, then that bridge will be crossed when we reach it. Lady Mitsuki, you are not getting any younger…."
"I know. It has been taken care of. I am with child. A boy."
"Wonderful. You will not be permitted to go on anymore missions, until the heir is born."
"Yes, Lord Mitsukikage."
Pei stood on a hill, looking out over the mountain range at the surrounding forest.
"I will be Mitsukikage. And when I am…. You will rue the day you let Anari die…."
