Mother was dead, at least where it mattered, in her heart. I lay there in the hospital with her for days, two of the most silent and dreadful days in either of my existences. She didn't move or speak, actions I rarely preformed while in her presence. What was worse though was the insufferable sinking of loneliness. I was next to my mother, my family's beautiful pride and yet silence had never seemed so deafening as it did at her bedside. My thoughts only added to the infuriating and disorienting noise of silence; my mind was constantly racing at my mother's bedside.
'How did I let this happen to her?' 'What's going to happen now?' 'Will she live?' 'What's going to happen to Konohamaru and I if she doesn't?' Were a few of my most reoccurring questions in the tangled web of thoughts in my mind.
Of course the web wouldn't be complete without thinking of Neji. I grew more anxious with each passing day of not seeing Grandfather, and continuously hoped that with the days passing something positive would happen. I prayed, to whom I don't know, maybe a better version of myself, that Hizashi would not leave Neji behind, that my small warning was enough. Which also made me wonder where Grandfather was, where was he? Would I ever see him again?
According to the rising of the sun, I had spent three days in the hospital with Mother, when it happened. As I was rubbing soothing circles with a warm washcloth on my mother's fatigued face, I heard the door slide once more, but thought nothing of it, Momo the nurse from before took extra special care of me and my mother. She spoiled me, I knew it, but how could I turn down homemade dango and pork buns from the only nurse that ever stopped by. Why did the nurses never stop by? I made sure to convey my gratitude in the form of hugs, toothy grins and even a bow or two. I would make sure to acknowledge her as soon as I was finished wiping my mother's face.
"I see you're hard at work," the deep voice of my grandfather drawled, I snapped my attention to Grandfather in an instant, almost giving myself whiplash.
"Grandfather!" I shouted in glee, dropping the washcloth and running over to hug my only responsive family member. I had never in my life been so happy to see someone. "Grandfather, I worry!"
My grandfather picked me up before sitting us down in a chair to my mother's side, taking a moment to frown at her unexpressive form, "Mayu, my intelligent little girl, I owe you the deepest of apologies," Grandfather began, a sincere look of pleading was etched into his elderly features, "I am very sorry I couldn't be here for you. You are unbelievably intelligent and mature for your age, which sometimes makes me forget that you are in fact only three years old. It was not fair to leave you here to attend to your Mother, I hope you can forgive me."
He paused, placing a kiss on my forehead, "But I'm here now, and I will continue to be here, even if those bickering old people ask me not to be. I promise I will be here for you."
My eyes got watery, as I flung myself from my perch on his knees to intertwine my pale limbs around his neck. I could do this, because I wasn't alone.
After a moment or two, I released him and returned to staring intently at his wrinkled face, "Grandfather, did the Cloud Ninja go bad?"
He smiled warmly at me, before tugging my chin upwards, "You were right about those dastardly Cloud Ninja, Mayu," Grandfather paused, "I'm glad I listened to you."
My eyes went wide, did that mean… "What happened?" I practically begged, wanting everything to be okay for my best friend. Neji didn't deserve to have his father die, not my friend, no.
"Well, a ninja always sticks with his, or in your case her, gut. When you warned me about not trusting the Cloud Ninja I got a dubious feeling in the pit of my stomach, worse than a stomach ache from eating too much dango," Grandfather whispered, prodding my belly as he reminded me of my rather gluttonous sweet tooth. "I gave a warning to all of the Clans in the leaf, so the Cloud Ninja didn't stand a chance."
I was shaking in anticipation, did this mean Hizashi lived? "Grandfather, who did they try to hurt?"
Grandfather frowned, "They attempted to harm the Hyuga girl, the one whose birthday was the other day. That is why it took me so long to get back to you," he then allowed a smile to stretch his weathered features, "They captured the responsible Cloud Ninja, no one was hurt and we still have a treaty. Peace is the future for our beloved Konoha."
My smile practically split my face into two; Neji was going to be okay, he didn't have to lose his father like I did. I hugged my grandfather again; "Thank you, I'm happy."
My grandfather hugged me back; we were going to be okay.
I was foolish to think that everything was okay, utterly foolish, and no amount of hugs from my grandfather or pitying looks would change that.
I fell asleep, and could only be jolted from the gentle reverie of violet eyes and circles around the village by a moan of agony from reality. Jumping up in a daze, I saw my mother howling in pain, as my Grandfather held her hand looking slightly uncomfortable. Momo was at the foot of the bed standing between my mother's legs, her hands under her long hospital gown assisting with the birth of my brother.
For a moment I was relieved, she was trying, she was fighting, but I couldn't get my hopes up. I felt hollow, staring dazedly at my mother as she groaned like a wounded animal, pleading to be put out of its misery.
Snapping myself to my senses, I ran to the bathroom adjoined to her room and wet a cold washcloth in the sink, praying that the coolness would bring her some sense of comfort.
I quickly maneuvered myself to my mother's right patting her pale hand that was still cuffed to the bed and began to wipe my mother's face as she continued to groan to the drill commands of push.
For the first time she looked at me, I could see her resolve and desperation, but I could also see a glimmer of something hidden in the depth of her normally vacant eyes.
Mother grasped the bars tightly, shrieking in agony as she was commanded to push once more, never once looking away from me. "Mayu," she exhaled in a harsh, strangled whisper as she winced in pain, "I am so proud of you. You're going to be an excellent woman and sister…"
Mother paused, her once vacant face screwed up as she began to sob in agony as she desperately pushed, before letting out a heavy wail and falling against the pillows as a very high-pitched screeching filled the room. I turned my gaze from my mother to Momo being followed by my grandfather, who was shuffling off a bloody, screeching bundle to the table to cut the cut the umbilical cord and clean the hopefully, healthy Konohamaru.
The frenzy of the monitors drew my attention back to my mother who was grimacing, an almost maniacal smile set on her pallid features that weren't used to expression.
"My little genius…" she whimpered, before closing her eyes for a final time.
I don't remember what happened next, everything was a blur as I was in shock. I had watched my mother, my sweet mother die of blood loss. Nurses, ninja and even Sarutobi clan members darted in and out of the room.
I didn't care.
My mother, she had a spark in her eye, just before she had died and she threw it all away. I had to have been crying now, but I couldn't detach my gaze from her, I was so lonely and betrayed.
I don't know how long I stood in a silent vigil, or mostly silent vigil as Konohamaru's wailing never ceased, at my mother's bedside, staring at her lifeless former self.
I held her cuffed, colder hand in both of my tiny hands that weren't quite as pale in disbelief. She was just here, just a moment ago. How could this be real?
There was no life in her body, or in the dreadful hospital room. 'Was this karma for my past? Would everyone I love die before my eyes?' I whimpered internally.
I was a mess, I knew it, and that's why I was shocked when two arms wrapped around me from behind, a face nuzzling into my shoulder.
I turned and saw him, tears trailing down his own gentle eyes before hugging me again. Neji, my darling, best friend, had come. He was here, crying with me. Shaking like a leaf in his arms, I looked up to see a rather somber but alive Hizashi Hyuga being gripped on the shoulder by my grandfather, who held the babe in his right arm bundled in yellow.
I let out a broken sob as I saw him, Konohamaru in my grandfather's arms before turning to Neji and wiping his face with my hands. I broke from the much-needed embrace, before taking one last look at my mother, who would have looked like she was sleeping had it not been for the massive amount of dried blood pooled under her body.
I moved, towards to blood and the end of the bed as I grabbed the sheet, that had been pushed back in order to give Momo access to the birthing canal, and draped the curtain of death over my regal queen, letting her rest in peace.
I was still crying, but I felt at least something. Grandfather, Konohamaru, Neji, Hizashi and I were going to make it.
I grabbed Neji's hand, tugging us to our respective guardians, before releasing him and flinging myself at my grandfather's knees.
My Grandfather was busy speaking to Momo inside the hospital with Konohamaru as to how to move forward without a nursing mother, while Neji and I sat with Hizashi outside, silent in the beautiful sunset of Konoha.
Hizashi was staring at the birds in the cloud, while I was struggling to come to terms with what happened as I brushed my hand through Neji's locks. I had acquired a new brother, whom Grandfather ended up naming Konohamaru at my behest rather then his foolish proposition of Hidomaru. Konohamaru was born, but only after the price of losing our mother.
What am I supposed to do? I am a reincarnation in the body of a three year old. I have no experience with children, or families for that matter. How could I help him when I'm unsure of how to help myself?
These thoughts ran rampantly through my mind, as I played with Neji's hair, which if it were a normal day I would have complained about being softer and more glamorous than my own thick bush of light brown. I was at least happy that Hizashi was alive. Neji could remain the sweet yet pragmatic genius of the Byakugan with entirely less hate in his veins now.
'I lost a mother, but I kept my friend and gained a brother. Just keep breathing, keep fighting,' I internally chanted, trying but failing to think positively.
"Mayu," Hizashi broke my train of thought with a gentle whisper and smile that actually met his eyes, "Everything will be okay."
I nodded, it had to be, I had a brother to raise, I had skills to learn and a family to protect.
Just keep breathing.
Author's Note: Thank you for all of the support and constructive criticism, I really do appreciate it as this is my first full length story.
If you have time and/or inclination, I would love to ask for you to participate in a poll on my profile. As I've roughly outlined Rebirth in two direction dependent on which genin team Mayu is assigned. Thank you again!
