So what's up people? How'd you like the last chapter? I hope you guys (and Girls) enjoyed it and are ready for more. I hope you aren't angry that I prolonged the naruhina reunion. But hasn't it been worth it. Gave you a bit to think about and digest, huh. Now the long awaited reunion. Alright on with the next installment of…

….

Aishiteru Vol.2

Chapter 12: Secrets Told!

A baby's loud wailing could be heard throughout the small secluded clearing where a small hut was located. It wasn't anything special, just a simple wooden hut with a small fenced in area for the small amount of livestock.

Inside a woman had just given birth to a beautiful baby girl. The tiny infant had a tuft of grey hair that would turn white as she got older and purple eyes. The mother of this beautiful baby girl laid with her new born cradled in her arms on a futon in the center of the room. The mother had long beautiful straw gold hair and sapphire eyes. She looked to be around her mid twenties. She was very beautiful.

"You and the young lord may come in now, shigure-dono." The doctor called out to the two others in the other room, separated by a shoji door.

The man known as shigure slid the door open and nodded to the doctor. Shigure was a man that was about 6 foot 7 inches in height, had white hair that was in a high ponytail, but had chopped bangs and deep purple eyes and was of a lean, but muscular build. He had a healed scar on his right eye that went vertically across. He was wearing deep green samurai armor with a gold insignia on the chest plate of two wolves circling each other, one was chasing an image of the sun and the other was chasing an image of a full moon. Two katana were attached to his waist, one on the left and one on the right. In addition he had two katana attached to his back in an X. His shihakusho under the armor was grey with a deep green sash.

He smiled at the woman holding the infant and looked back. With a small smile, he gently nudged a five year old boy, dressed in a simple dark blue kimono with a pin wheel design, held by white sash, into the room. The boy had waist length white hair, like shigure, and looked like a miniature version of him; the only difference was that while the man had two deep purple eyes, the boy's right eye was a golden color and his left eye was deep purple.

"Now, now Ranmaru, why don't you say hello to your baby sister, after all you're the one who she will look up to and depend on." Shigure snickered at the look his son gave him. "Go on, say hi."

The young Ranmaru grew anxious as he approached the woman and child. The woman smiled gently at the young boy as he stared in awe at the small bundle in his mother's arms.

"Would you like to name her, Ranmaru?" The woman looked to the father of her children and he nodded at the idea.

"Can I kaa-san? Tou-san?" He looked at each of them and beamed when the both nodded. "C-can I hold her?"

The woman nodded and carefully handed the crying newborn over to the five year old. She situated the baby correctly in his arms and made sure she was secure. She stopped crying and looked up at her older brother with a smile.

"Sugoi! She's so light…light…" Ranmaru looked at his mother. "Can we call her…Hikari?"

"What do you think Kagome?"

Kagome looked at the young Ranmaru with a gentle smile. "I think it's a wonderful name. Her name will be Hikari."

"And soon the three of us shall live together. Would you like that Ranmaru?" Shigure smiled at his family.

Ranmaru didn't hear his father's question all he heard was the soft breathing of his newborn sister. The young Ranmaru smiled widely and held his sister closer. He whispered softly to the dozing girl, "Hikari…you won't have to worry about anything. I'll take good care of you so that you'll smile…everyday."

…..

Ranmaru's eye's opened lazily and he glanced around the room. His eye's landed on his sword Ragnarok and the event's the day before hit him like a ton of bricks. He shot up, but immediately regretted it as pain shot through him. He grabbed his at the bandages around his abdomen. Sweat dropped down his head as he struggled to stay upright.

He tried to stand, but as soon as he was on his feet he hit the ground and couldn't get up. Hotaru, who had just walked in the door with a tray of tea, rushed to his side and helped him to his feet.

"What are you doing? You're supposed to be resting, not trying to kill yourself by reopening your wounds."

Ranmaru pushed her away and steadied himself. "I should have had more control. I should have prevented my transformation. Damn it all to hell!"

Ranmaru punched a wall next to him and made a large hole. He panted from over exertion and fell to his knees. He grimaced from the pain and his wounds reopening.

Hotaru rushed to his side and laid him on his back as she called for shizune. Shizune ran into the room and hurried to seal the bleeding injury.

"What were you thinking? You opened your wounds completely." Hotaru helped shizune to bandage the almost healed injury.

"This is penance for what I've done. I wouldn't have been able to forgive myself if something happened to any of you because of my lack of strength." Tears fell from his eyes as he lay there.

…..

(In Naruto and Hinata's room)

Naruto sat beside their bed as Hinata slept. He held her hand and had his head on her stomach. He was thinking over what had happened within the last 24 hours. His childhood friend, some one he viewed as a sister, had not lonely betrayed the village and them, but also tried to kill the woman he loved. If it wasn't for Tenjin, Hinata would not be alive. But if it wasn't for him, Hinata wouldn't have almost died because of sakura's jealousy.

"Wabiiru, Hinata-chan. I don't deserve you. How can you love me? I've caused nothing but trouble for you and still you stay by my side. Why do you love me?"

Tears fell from his eyes as he thought of the love that Hinata showed him and at the fact that if he wanted to protect her from all the dangers that came with being close to him…he would have to end his relationship with the lavender eyed Hyuuga.

As if she could feel his distress, Hinata reached out to him with her free hand and caressed the side of his face.

"Na…ru…to…" Hinata groggily called out to him.

Naruto jumped from both the hand touching his face and hinata's voice calling out to him.

"Hinata, are you alright? Do you need anything…can I get you something?"

Hinata opened her eyes and pulled on his hand. "Lay with me."

Naruto lay beside her and held her close with her head in the crook of his neck. She snuggled closer and drifted off to sleep.

"Aishiteru, Naru-kun."

Naruto sighed. "Aishiteru, hina-chan." 'So much that it will hurt to have to let you go. I want you to live a safe and happy life. Even if it's one with out me.'

(In naruto's mind)

Kyuubi scoffed, "I'll never understand you human's. Kokoa I will miss you, thank you for your sacrifice."

Kyuubi laid down and rested his paw over his eyes, falling into a deep sleep.

…..

(Back with Ranmaru)

Ranmaru was patched back up and was lying on his bed. Kakashi was sitting beside him. As was Hikari and Sasuke. As Ranmaru regained his breath, he looked to Kakashi and glared at him. Kakashi only grinned as he was glared at.

"Don't blame me, she wanted to become a shinobi and it seemed like a good idea. Besides isn't it better to have her be able to protect herself than to be a damsel in distress all the time."

Ranmaru sighed. "You're right. But you should have sent word to me that she was alive and well in konoha. I told you to take her to our relative, but instead you take her to the one place I told you not to take her."

Hikari was intrigued and remained silent. Kakashi sighed.

"As if there was any choice…I did as you asked but when I got to your cousin's home in Yuki no kuni, but when I got there, menomaru had sent men to wipe out that village. There was no one left. Your cousin, his family and their neighbors were dead."

Ranmaru closed his eyes and mourned for a moment. "I should have seen that coming…"

Kakashi cut him off. "You were scared and only 11 years old. You were only thinking of your sister. There was no way to have seen this coming."

"Wait…you're both talking like you know each other. Explain to me how you know each other." Hikari looked at Ranmaru. "And how do you know me? Am I really your sister?"

Kakashi was about to speak, but Ranmaru beat him to it. "Which do you want to know first?"

"I want to know, if I'm not from Konohagakure, then where am I from? Do I have family there or are we the only ones?"

Sasuke was interested also and wanted to know the story.

Ranmaru took a deep breath and sat up. He held his hand up when Hotaru tried to help him. He took a moment to collect his thoughts and catch his breath.

"You are originally from the rebuilt Uzugakure. After the massacre that destroyed the village twenty years ago, our family was the only survivors aside from Tsukishiro, Kishimoto, Fuuma and Kozuki. As well as many civilians that didn't belong to any living clan survived and were brought into the Batousei clan. That was the clan that we are originally from, the Batousei. I gave that name up for our mother's name, Kururugi."

"What was our mother and father's name? What did they look like?" Hikari moved closer to ranmaru's side.

Ranmaru laid back and rested his head on the pillow, only to have Hotaru move his head to her lap so he was elevated.

He smiled as he remembered his parents, "Our Okaa-san's name was Kururugi, kagome. She was very beautiful with long straw gold hair and sapphire eyes. She was a kind person and was generous. She always helped out those in need and never let people bring her down. I don't remember anything more than that. We were separated because of the council. Our Otou-san's name was Batousei, shigure. Believe it or not I look almost like him…or so I'm told. He was a man that was about 6 foot 7 inches in height, had white hair that was in a high ponytail, but had chopped bangs and deep purple eyes and was of a lean, but muscular build. He had a healed scar on his right eye that went vertically across. He was the strongest man in the village…literally. In order to become the leader of our village, you had to be the strongest."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, "So basically it's like being one of the Kage."

Ranmaru nodded, "Exactly."

"Why were we separated from our kaa-san? Why did the council not want us to be a family?"

Ranmaru was expecting her question and took a deep breath. "Our tou-san was married to another woman. It was an arranged marriage. Our parents met while he was training in the western part of uzugakure. The reason why the council forbade our parents union aside from the arranged marriage, our kaa-san was a poor woman, and her mother was a village whore. So by association, our kaa-san was thought to be one also. But she was always faithful to our tou-san ever since they met. Her father was no where to be found and we never knew him. Our tou-san was 17 at the time, he was training to succeed the current ruler…I seem to recall his name was Kisuke…Uzumaki, Kisuke. They met when he stayed near her small village for several months and fell in love. Since chichiue was married, at 16, their relationship was a secret."

Shizune, Sasuke, Hikari, were shocked by this news. Only Kakashi was unmoved by the new information.

"Did you say uzumaki?" Shizune turned to Kakashi. "Why aren't you as surprised as the rest of us?"

Kakashi merely sighed and looked at Ranmaru. "You're just as bad as back then. All you do is cause trouble for me."

Ranmaru laughed but started coughing as his wounds started hurting from the laughter.

"Well you did give me trouble to." He wheezed as he tried not to laugh.

"How do you two know each other?" Shizune asked the one eyed copy ninja.

Kakashi closed his book and sat crossed legged as he began his tale. "I met Ranmaru back when I was on my first solo ANBU mission. I was barely nineteen years old and was assigned to guard the one of the next potential heirs to the rebuilt Uzugakure. The person I was meant to guard was ran-chan here and his sister. But after the fall of the last ruler, I was forced to evacuate ran-chan and you, Hikari."

"What do you mean the fall of the last ruler? You mean…"

Ranmaru cut Hikari off. "He was our Otou-san. He was killed by our uncle, menomaru. So I changed my name and joined the army. I was able to create the Tenjin after just three years and by the time I was fifteen I was an outstanding commander of the southern forces. Our uncle seemed to understand how useful I was and all assassination attempts stopped. Instead he sent me to near suicide battles and hoped that I would die in battle and solidified his claim to the throne."

"What about me, how did I end up in konoha?" Hikari was near tears after learning that her father was killed.

"I had to evacuate you after our otou-san was killed. So, I told Kakashi to take you from the village to our cousin's, but I didn't know that he was about to be killed."

Kakashi took over from there. "So I took you to my village and gave you my surname. I knew that if he lived your brother would look for you. Although I was swamped in missions I made sure you were cared for. The third made sure that you were never alone. I guess that's how you must have met Naruto."

Ranmaru smirked, "This Uzumaki, Naruto he is interesting, as is the Hyuuga. I didn't realize that a kitsune Youkai would protect someone like her, let alone give up her life to save the Hyuuga."

Kakashi frowned underneath his mask. "What do you mean?"

"A kitsune Youkai said that a few days ago she began traveling with you, in order to protect Hinata-sama. I believe she took the name that Hinata-sama gave her…Kokoa."

"But kokoa is just a kitsune that we found during our journey. How could she have been a Youkai? Some one would have sensed the difference in chakra." Hikari was amazed that they hadn't noticed something like that.

Kakashi hummed in thought. "Maybe something was hiding it from us…suppressing the different chakra, so that kokoa could do what she was meant to do. Don't you agree ran-chan?"

A tick appeared on ranmaru's head at the nickname. "First off, when the hell are you going to stop calling me that? And second…yes, I agree. Do any of you know who Gouka is? Apparently this guy is the master that gave kokoa the assignment of protecting Hinata."

Everyone shook their heads as they all wondered who Gouka was.

"I was wondering Kakashi…" Ranmaru looked over to his old friend.

"Yes?"

"What are your opinions on naruto's abilities?"

Kakashi rubbed his chin in thought. "Well…he lacks in strategy, genjutsu, as well as chakra control, and his taijutsu is alright but he could use more discipline. He really excels in ninjutsu and chakra capacity."

Ranmaru sighed. "What are his goals? Does he hope to accomplish anything?"

Kakashi chuckled. "Actually he hopes to become Hokage one day. He wants people to recognize him and respect him. He wants to protect his precious people and his village. He doesn't know when to quit during training or during a mission to protect his friends. What he lacks in skill he makes up in determination and loyalty."

Ranmaru huffed in amusement. "I would like to train him if I may. I bet through my training I could teach him the control and discipline he needs so that one day he may become a great hokage."

Hotaru furrowed her eyebrows in thought. Then she spoke for the first time since the conversation began. "Before we finish up this little gathering, I would like to make one request."

Kakashi and Ranmaru were both surprised. Kakashi nodded. "What's your request?"

"Seeing as we'll be in Konoha and Ranmaru is going to train Naruto, I was wondering if I could train Hinata. I will ensure that she becomes strong."

Kakashi shrugged. "It's not up to me. You'll have to take that up with the Hokage, her father and her sensei. But you should ask her; see if she'll agree to the training."

Ranmaru chuckled. "Oh man I feel sorry for Hinata-sama."

Everyone looked at Ranmaru like he just grew a second head. Seeing everyone's looks he decided to elaborate.

"Okay okay, you know how there are some clans that take training to the extreme. Think of the people you know that take training to the extreme."

Everyone thought of lee and gai. "Yeah we know people."

"Now multiply that by ten and you have the conditions of training that the Tsukishiro clan has. They are the bodyguards to the strongest man in our village, so the people who guard him must be his equal or his better. Hotaru here is stronger than me and that's the result of her families training."

Everyone looked at Hotaru with respect and awe.

Hotaru nodded and laid Ranmaru correctly in his bed before standing and pushing everyone, except Shizune, out of the room so that Ranmaru could rest.

…

(In the other room/living area)

Hotaru, Ryuusei, Kakashi, Hikari and Sai were sitting drinking tea. Koyuki, Naruto and Hinata were asleep in their rooms.

Hotaru was the one who broke the silence. "So where are the guys in green, the other Hyuuga and that weapons mistress?"

Kakashi put down his cup and looked up from his book. "They are patrolling the border of this village. We have to be alert in case anymore of them show up and attack."

Hotaru nodded and drank her tea.

Hikari hesitated a moment before setting her tea down and sighed.

"Hotaru-san, how do you know my…my onii-san?" she still couldn't believe those words.

Hotaru looked at the white haired girl over the rim of her cup, before setting it down and taking a deep breath. "Ranmaru and I met when we were kids. I was introduced to the next possible heir which was Ranmaru. I was to be his bodyguard when we came of age. I was the second child of my father and was unable to become a possible heir."

Hikari was confused. "How does one become the leader?"

"They way Ranmaru explained it was very vague. They way the succession works is, there were originally six clans, now there are five. The Batousei, Tsukishiro, Fuuma, Kozuki and kishimoto clans are the five clans. Each of the clan heads put up their first born for candidacy. They are to be trained to succeed the current leader. In my clan, the second child becomes the body guard to the Batousei clan's potential heir. Seeing how Shigure-dono only had Ranmaru and no "Legitimate" heir…" She emphasize legitimate with disgust in her tone. "He was the only possible choice for becoming the next leader."

"What happens to the second children from the clans? Do they also become body guards to another clan?" Sasuke was also interested in the selection of their leaders.

"The second children usually join the military and fight in wars or they can become body guards, but that usually happens if the two families had made pacts generations before. The Batousei and Tsukishiro clan were life long friends. We even combined our clan's generation's back. My family took the role of protector, instead of ruler. In turn we become the Batousei's body guards as a token of loyalty and faith. In return we have become their equals in strength or stronger. We proudly serve our friends."

"How do you know me?" Hikari had long forgotten her tea and was enrapt in the story.

"Your brother and I would train together. We've known each other practically since our birth. We were often put together so that we would grow a life long bond and become stronger for it. So it was only natural that I would know you. Ranmaru often brought you with him when he was training. Shigure-dono would watch over you and our training. Then when you were old enough to walk and learn you joined us in our training. You probably don't remember this but…" Hotaru snickered. "You used to call me taru-chan and…"

She pulled a scroll out of her weapons pouch on her hip. Applying chakra to the seals, a violin case appeared on the table. Hotaru opened the case and pulled out a mahogany violin. She tenderly ran her fingers across its glossy surface.

"You always enjoyed when I played this violin. After training or when it was a resting day, you would find me and want to listen to me play a song."

She drew the bow and, closing her eyes, began to play a song.

(A/N: Listen to The devils trill sonata movement three: Don't own.)

As Hikari listened to the sounds of the instrument, she was reminded somewhat of her childhood. She closed her eyes and lost herself in the musical notes. Then as the final notes faded into nothing, she opened her eyes and felt tears running down her face. She wiped them away quickly and smiled at the blond haired Tenjin.

She laughed happily with a smile on her face. "I remembered. I remembered those memories from so long ago. Hotaru-chan…taru-chan, arigatou, arigatou."

Sasuke didn't want to bring down the mood, but something had been bothering him. "Ranmaru mentioned that you were wounded on your back, how did that happen?"

Hotaru sighed. "I was hoping that you wouldn't ask that. But I'll tell you anyways."

She took a drink of her tea and steeled herself. "As I said before, I am the second child from my father. I had an Onii-san, named miroku, he was one year older than me and ten times stronger. He was the prodigy of my clan and was a shoe in to become the next ruler. Funnily enough, he and Ranmaru were best friends. After Shigure-dono was killed, Ranmaru, miroku and I joined the military. They were determined to become strong together and I wanted to grow strong enough to rival my brother. But luck never favored Ranmaru, and he witnessed another precious person to him. My Onii-chan, Ranmaru and I were returning to camp where we were stationed. We were at war with a neighboring village to the west on a nearby island."

Hotaru took a deep breath and looked down as she continued the story. "We were attacked just a mile from the camp. There were twenty of them, but they were no match for the three of us. What we didn't realize was that they had hired a shinobi from the mainland. He had been hiding and attacked when our guard was down. Miroku and I were taken down with little effort and Ranmaru was holding him off. Miroku reacted with out thought when he saw Ranmaru in trouble. He took a death blow meant for Ranmaru, and died right in front of him."

A tear ran down her cheek at the memory. "In a blood fueled rage, Ranmaru transformed into the form that you saw yesterday. After the shinobi was dead, Ranmaru headed toward the camp. I tried to follow but he was faster than I was. When I arrived, I saw the aftermath of my weakness. Almost all of our troops were dead, torn apart by their very own leader. Despite my wounds, I tried to subdue him, but failed. He attacked me from my blind side and wounded me, knocking me unconscious. The wound eventually became a reminder that I need to become stronger. I found out later that all of our troops were slaughtered and Ranmaru was imprisoned for a while. I found out that the one who sealed Ranmaru was my Otou-san and I was taught the technique. I hold no grudge against Ranmaru for the death of Miroku and will protect him until the day I die."

"So this wasn't the first time he transformed. But in the end there is a method to control him. That's good to know."

Hotaru nodded as she put away the violin and stood. "I'll be going now. We have to rest before we start our journey again."

"Matte, where are you guys headed?" Hikari didn't want her renewed friend to disappear from here life again.

Hotaru saw the desperation in the younger girls' eyes and chuckled before rubbing the top of hikari's head and walking to the door. Before she walked through the door she turned back to Hikari.

"Don't worry we won't be going any where. We just need to rest so that when everyone is rested we can go with you to Konohagakure. We want a new life and we want to make one in your village."

With that she walked out the door with Ryuusei in tow. Kakashi stood as well and cleared his throat.

"We should all go to bed as well. Team Gai will be taking over our mission and transporting the Daimyo back to her country. We are to head back home. So have your gear packed and ready to head out at seven in the morning. Well, good night."

Kakashi and Sai walked out of the room and head toward where he would be staying. Sasuke and Hikari sat there for a while before heading to bed too. Tomorrow they were going to head home and they needed rest.

…..

Alright done. Hopefully you guys enjoyed it. I focused more on Hikari and Ranmaru but next its about Naruto and Hinata.

Anyway, what will happen to Naruto and Hinata? Will they stay together or will naruto's guilt tear them apart? When they return will Hinata have to marry a suitor or be able to stay with Naruto?

Tune in to the next Aishiteru Vol.2!

Next time: A New Day Dawns!