Chapter 25

Minato helping Rachel.

One month has past.

She awoke to herself screaming, the room was dark. She clawed at the strong arms that where around her, her breathing heavy all she could here was the sound of her own heart beating. Slowly her senses started to come back. Those hands were not holding her down they were protectively holding her.

"You're safe" the person was saying, as she focused on the voice she found that she knew it.

"That's it Rachel come back to me, your safe."

"M-Minato."

"Huh-huh it's me" he said

She found herself relaxing into his embrace rather than fighting it.

As she begun to calm down she noted she was not in her room again, which meant she had tried to run whilst she was asleep, she realized she was shaking badly and she still found it hard to breath.

"Focus on my voice nothing else" Minato said "Concentrate on breathing in and out, in and out that it."

Minato could feel her start to relax Inoichi had coached him on certain things like using his voice as a way of calming her and placing her in a meditative state should he need to.

She had moved back in a month ago with Inoichi permission of course.

She was doing a lot better she came to him when she wanted a release or an outlet, often he had either trained with her or let her cry.

The relapse still happened but with the seal he placed on her he was able to intervene quickly and take her mind off of her current thoughts.

Inoichi had stopped by earlier that day and told him that there may be a relapse or a nightmare he had touched a subject Rachel still refused to talk about and although Inoichi hadn't told him which subject he could guess with the nightmare she just had.

Unfortunately Tsunade could not give her the sleeping tablets her body would reject the chakra and that was bad, if she got hurt again and Tsunade was unable to use chakra then she could not be healed, and normal sleeping pills did not work on her.

Tsunade gave him a strong sedative for when she went more than three days without sleep but he could not use it all of the time. The medic said that was dangerous to do so.

Tsunade was also slowly getting her body to accept more chakra it was a slow process and a long term one.

She was still shaking but not as badly.

"I'm sorry." she mumbled out.

He frowns "For what?"

"Keeping you up."

"Its fine" he said "You need sleep too."

"I won't sleep now."

"Do you want a shot?"

She shook her head indicating no.

"Rachel" he said "You need sleep it's been four days"

"I slept a bit."

"An hour, Rachel doesn't count."

She blinked "An hour really?" She sat up and he let go of her "This is all Inoichi fault" she crossed her arms over her chest "He just had to ask then not let it go. I mean can't he just take no for an answer?"

"But then he wouldn't be doing his job" Minato said he watched her carefully, the clouds had cleared letting the light from the moon light up the room and form strange faint shadows all around and on her face. He could just see her fear that was behind her eyes, even though she was trying to hide behind her anger at the mind walker he could see she was scared, he didn't know if it was him or the dream that she was scared of.

"You can't run from if for ever." he said gently. She would not look at him and he knew why he was naked from the waist up, he was just getting changed for bed when he heard her scream.

He slipped off the bed and passed her, she kept her back to him as he pulled a blue Tee shirt over his head and sat back down, her back was still to him.

"Rachel" he said "Do you want to get past this? Do you want the dreams to stop?"

"Of course I do!" she snapped.

Minato sigh he knows it's her thorns rising up to protect her. "Then let us help you," he said pleadingly.

"I, I want to" she said "I really do but I don't-I can't it's too hard to-to talk about and I don't want to remember it." she was shaking again he wanted to reach out and touch her comfort her but he knew touching her was not the best course of action right now considering the dream she just had.

"Do you know what I asked Inoichi to do?" she asked she didn't give him chance to answer "I-I asked him to wipe my memories of that night I asked him to erase all of it, and he said no" she whirled around and grabbed a hold of his Tee shirt pulling him close.

"You're the Hokage can't you order him to do it? Please Minato order him to erase that night my death I want to start a fresh I don't want that night hanging over me." Her sea green eyes were wide and pleading, he could understand why she wanted that, he could also understand why Inoichi said no, she would just be running from it she would not remember any of it true, but her body would still remember even if her mind did not.

"Rachel" he said gently he reached up pulling her hands away from his shirt "I'm sorry I can't order that" he saw disappointment on her face, he saw anger behind her sea green eyes. He continued before she could ask. "Are you comfortable in your body?" he asked he saw surprise in her eyes "I know you're not you don't see it as your own, you see it as Chi's" he said "if you had no memories of that night you would still feel uncomfortable in that body?"

"I-I don't know maybe not because I wouldn't remember what had happened."

"You would remember being Rachel, you would remember finding yourself in someone else's body and not knowing why, that would not change things you would still feel the same, out of place."

"But I wouldn't flinch" she snapped "I would be normal." she whispered.

"I won't order Inoichi to do it, it's not the right thing for you, and you need to face your past head on, not run from it."

He saw the anger behind her eyes intensify. She pulled her hands free of his and stood from the bed "Don't you want me to be happy!?" she yelled.

"Of course I do" he said.

"Then wipe them I want a clean slate." she said there with tears glistening threatening to spill but she held them in.

"No" he said this time his voice had a bit of sternness to it and his eyes hardened he would not give in on this she had to confront her past in order to move on.

He watched as her hands balled in to fist at her side. Her hair that hung loosely swayed from side to side as she shook her head.

"Why are you denying me this? To be happy, to stop the dreams?"

"I'm not denying you happiness" he said. "I'm helping you face your demons to move on and forward."

"What if I don't want to?" She said.

"You can't run from it forever" he said again.

"Stop saying that, I will dam well run all I want!" she stomped her foot on the floor he could see her anger was blazing behind her eyes in all honesty he found it quite cute.

"You have to face it sometime" he said. "My decision is final I will not order Inoichi to do it, in fact I will make it an order for him not to, if he wiped your memory's you would not be the Rachel who stands before me, your past has shaped you in to the person you are today."

"You don't get it do you? I don't want to be this person this-this" she wrinkled her face in discussed "Weak pathetic thing who cowers at the touch of men!" she spat.

He reached out in an attempt to comfort her he saw her flinch he retracted his hand "Your not-" he didn't get to finish that sentence as her hand connected with his cheek. She wasn't ill this time or bedridden the sound of the hit echoed in the quiet room but all he could do was chuckle that one would leave a mark not a bruise but still it had stung And she calls herself weak, he thought though he knew what she was referring to.

The anger in her sea green eyes was blazing he hadn't meant to chuckle but he couldn't help himself.

Second time around he caught her hand before it connected with his face he allowed the first hit but he would not allow the second, and because he reacted she flinched violently when his larger hand wrapped itself around her small and delicate wrist.

When he looked in to her eyes the anger was gone replaced by fear, she took a step back and attempted to pull her hand free, he however tugged on her hand pulling her in to a hug she gasped in surprise as he wrapped his arms around her.

"You are not weak" he said "You are not pathetic for cowering at a man's touch and the fact that you hate the body you are in saddens me, you don't see at all how beautiful you really are."

As he spoke he made a hand sign behind her back a clone appeared, the clone went to the draw in the night stand and pulled out a pre-set syringe the clone handed him it and he placed it behind his back the clone had removed the cap beforehand.

"Stop fighting me Rachel we both know how it will end" she groaned in frustration she had been trying to free herself of his embrace.

Her anger was back "You don't get it, I'm weak like this, because of my past I hate this body and what it reminds me of every day."

"That you are strong"

"No, that I died that I lost the fight that I am weak. Damnit Minato let me go!"

"What so you can hurt yourself I don't think so."

Her struggle increased and she dug her nails in to his chest through the shirt. He hissed but did not let go.

"I will get through to you one way or another" he said "But for now its late and we both need sleep." he adjusted his hold on her and pulled the syringe from behind him and plunged it in to her upper arm, granted it would work faster through a vein but she wasn't been cooperative.

He heard her hiss and felt the sting since the seal he had placed on her was still active.

He let go knowing too long like that would trigger an episode besides it wouldn't be long before the sedative worked.

She staggered from his grip she glared at him but he could already see her eyes were dropping as she fought against it.

She turned and headed for the door.

"Where are you going?" he asked amusingly.

"My room."

"Oh, I see, you won't make though and you know it."

"Shut up" she hissed as she grabbed the door frame for support he chuckled he really did find it cute when she was mad.

He stood and followed her she made it to just outside of his door before she collapsed he caught her and lifted her up taking her back to the bed.

"I would let you sleep on your own but Tsunade said it was not recommended that you sleep on your own with the sedative"

He gently laid her on his bed her eyes were nearly closed and he pulled the cover over her before he took her hand in his and softly moved this thumb in circular motions across the back of her hand. "Stop fighting it your safe with me." he said gently softy and she finally gave up the fight her eyes closed her breathing evened out, he let go of her hand and moved to his side of the bed.

Granted it had been awkward at first the only other person he had shared a bed with was Kushina, his heart felt a guilty pang but he knew Kushina was not here anymore and it wasn't like they were doing anything other than sleeping.

He climbed in to bed and propped his head up with his hand he gazed down at her peaceful sleeping form he reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. He found it oddly relaxing watching her sleep she looked so peaceful she wasn't plagued by the nightmares. He was still concerned about how she perceived herself but he knew as long as he continued to show her that she wasn't weak, he would eventually get through to her.

Sighing he turned over on to his back and let sleep clam him he knew he would be the first one up in morning since he used the sedative.

Rachel rolled over completely forgetting that she was in Minato's bed and rolled off the bed and on to the floor she groan but did not move it took her a while to wake up once she did she got up slowly and headed for the bathroom to shower and change.

The hot water did very little to wake her but her thoughts drifted back to last night. Damn him, why can't he let me be happy? She wondered.

She got dried and dressed, double checked to make sure she hadn't put anything on back to front, it had been known when the sedative had been used.

She made her way downstairs and sat at the table without a word.

A mug of steaming hot tea was placed in front of her she glanced up at Minato's amused face.

She picked up the mug and glared at him and took a sip of the hot liquid.

"Aunt Rachel, Aunt Rachel your up, can we go now huh, can we, can we, can we?" she inwardly cringed at Naruto's hyper activeness.

"Naruto give her chance to wake up I told you she had to have her medicine last night." Minato said lightly scolding his son.

"Aww but dad."

"Go and play in the garden until Rachel is ready." he said firmly.

The youngster nodded and did as was told Rachel ruffled his hair as he went past "I won't be long kiddo" she said.

She drank more of the tea, Minato placed a plate of pancakes in front of her.

"I'm not hungry" she said

"Rachel!"

"What? I'm not hungry, I'm not avoiding food that dam sedative makes me feel yuck if I eat I will be sick" she said taking another sip of tea, it was true she wasn't avoiding food at least not in front of Minato, she wasn't developing an eating disorder she just didn't want to eat. It required to much effort not to mention her taste buds were not her own certain foods she had once loved in her old life now tasted bland and yucky, it was just a reminder that this body was not hers, so when she could she would skip out on eating. Like I care what happens to this body, she thought bitterly.

"Open"

She blinked Minato had picked up a piece of pancake with a fork and attempted to feed her.

"I am not a baby!" she yelled turning her head away from the offered food.

"Well if you're going to act like one then so be it" he said lightly grabbing her chin and facing it back towards him "Now open up" she saw his eyes were lit with amusement he was enjoying this.

She pushed his hand away "Damnit Minato leave me alone ok, I said I wasn't hungry" and at that moment her stomach decided to betray her it gave a loud rumble of protest and she glared at it, not my body not my hunger; she chanted in her head.

"If you keep thinking like that you will never accept who you are." he said placing the fork back on to the plate, she looked up at him in surprise "You can read minds now?"

He chuckled "No, it was written on your face what you were thinking and don't think I haven't noticed that you only eat when I'm around."

She puffed out her cheeks and turned her head away crossing her arms over her chest.

"Talk to me Rachel is there a reason you don't like eating?"

Oh fine it's not like he can do anything about this.

"Food doesn't taste the same as it once did" she said "Chi's tastes are different from mine."

"Oh, I see and you have always been like this?"

"Yea pretty much Jex would have to practically shove food down my throat to get me to eat, for me it just a constant reminder this" she moved her hand up and down indicating her body "is not mine."

There was silence for a few moments "I can see how that would affect you" he said "What concerns me is how you don't seem to care what happens to that body, shouldn't you honour Chi since she gave you life again?"

He saw her stiffen and wondered if he had just pushed the wrong buttons.

"I know" she said "I know she gave me life again granted I didn't really want it but I am grateful for what she had to give up so that I could live, but I feel so out of place a foreigner in a foreign country this body reacts differently from my old one hell it even feels different I don't feel like me , I don't feel pretty I don't feel like I deserve this body, I mean look at her she is beautiful a far cry from what I was" she looked down and away from him she hadn't meant to say all of that and truth be told she did feel a little better sharing it.

She jumped when two hands were placed on her shoulders. "Your beautiful" he said and I saw you remember through your eyes yes you were different from Chi but in a way the same."

"Minato I was fat" she said "well a bit on the chubby side I was never as fine as my friends were but still."

"Chi's body is your body, when are you going to accept that?"

"I don't know maybe I never will, look I said I would live I said I would not try to kill myself again but you cannot expect me to like who I am, this body is not my own and I don't know if it will ever feel like it will be."

"Rachel," he said gently, "It's true that I don't know what it's like to feel like a stranger in my own body, but the truth is your body doesn't matter. It does not make you who you are. No matter which body you have you are still Rachel. You still chose to risk everything to try to save Konoha, and you are still the strong spirited woman who has been fighting me every step of the way."

Her cheeks heated up as he spoke and she knew he was trying to make her feel better it had worked some but she still felt out of place in her own body.

"Thank you Minato for saying that." he gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze before he took his seat again.

"So are you going to eat that? Or do it tell Tsunade you still aren't eating?"

"Fine" she huffed picking up the fork. She was glad at being able to use metal knives and forks again, the plastic ones were horrid to eat with.

When she was done Minato cleaned up said good bye to his son and flashed away. Rachel collected Naruto and together they left the house and went into the main village.

"Looks like rain later." she muttered when she looked down she saw Naruto was no longer bouncing around.

"Naruto what's wrong?" she asked when he looked up she hoped she was wrong she saw sadness in his eyes.

"A-Am I a monster?" he asked.

"What? Why would you think that?" she asked as she knelt down in front of him.

He shrugged his shoulders. "Naruto talk to me please" she swept his hair aside. "What makes you think you are a monster?"

He looked up and she followed his gaze several of the village people were glaring at him, she matched every one of their stares. How dare they hate him, he was a child nothing more. When they looked away because she had stared back there was no shame on their faces.

"I have heard whispers too" he said quietly "They call me a monster."

"You are not a monster" she said turning back to him "They just don't understand is all"

"Understand what?" he asked.

"How special you are kiddo." she said "Now how about Ramon for tea once I have dropped you off at Sasuke house I'll go shopping and get the stuff."

"Really?" he had lost the sadness in his eyes to one of excitement

"Sure it's been a while since I cooked some." she stood taking his hand in hers and she made sure that anyone who looked at him the wrong way, she would stare back just as venomously.

She would be definitely be having a talk with Minato later.

She dropped him off at the gate Itachi was waiting for him with his mom Mikoto.

"Oh hey Rachel, before I forget Tsume is looking for you."

"Ok thanks."

"Are you heading in to the market place?" Itachi asked.

"Um yea do you want to tag along?"

"If you would not mind?" the boy asked.

Rachel smiled "No of course not, come on."

Minato was in his office slaving away at paperwork he had just had a meeting with the council elders, as always it was long and boring.

He had just signed an important document to have an improvement on the village orphanage when his window behind him smashed, he automatically flashed to the opposite end of the room were an arrow with a note attached just missed his head.

The room filled with Anbu and he gave the signal to pursue. He turned and pulled the arrow out of the wall, pulling the note off it he read it carefully.

Tobi and Danzo are after Rachel protect her.

There was no name attached he felt the paper out with chakra as expected there was no trace of it.

"Dog" he called knowing the faithful Anbu and student would not leave his side. "Find Rachel, tell the other Anbu who are watching her to be on alert and bring her here"

The Dog Anbu bowed and left through the window.

Minato stood the clean-up crew were already here cleaning the mess up the glass would be replaced soon hopefully by the time Rachel got there his office would look normal.

"So Itachi, how is training going?" Rachel asked as they walked down the street.

"Good" was the boys response. She had been trying to engage him in conversation but all he gave was short answers.

Why is it so hard to talk to him I know he was a loner because of what she saw in the third Shinobi war but honestly he not even a kid he so proper it's sickening. Rachel thought to herself in fact she was so preoccupied by her thoughts that she didn't see a man jump down from a roof and head straight for her. Itachi reacted quicker, pushing her out of the way. She was aware of a sharp sting In her right ankle as she fell but her eyes were on Itachi, he was still young he would not be able to fight then suddenly her Anbu guards showed up and quickly subdued the man. Itachi hurriedly came up to her.

"Are you alright?" he asked

"Err yea I'm fine I think."

Minato felt a sting in his right ankle he knew it must have been Rachel, his concern grew for her, he knew it was more of a sprain then a weapon or a kunai she did tend to wear boots maybe she had just fallen. Either way he had sent Kakashi so he knew she was in good hands.

The Dog Anbu showed up next to Rachel and bent down "You have a knack for getting into trouble Rachel" he said if she could see behind the dog mask she would bet he was smirking at her.

"Yea well lucky for me Itachi was here." she praised the boy, the Dog Anbu turned to the young boy "Well done Itachi, I will inform the Hokage of your actions, you can leave Rachel to me now."

The boy nodded and stood. Gave her once last glance and a slight tilted nod of his head before he was on his way again.

"Minato will want to see you" the dog Anbu said. He stood and offered his hand out to her, she took it pulling her to her feet she yelped and fell forward the Anbu caught her "Your hurt"

She hissed when she moved her right ankle "Sprain I think" she said as she lent on the dog Anbu's shoulder, he made sure she was steady before kneeling down "Get on my back I'll carry you to the office" he said.

She did as told and climbed on to his back. He jumped up on to the building and jumping from roof to roof, felt her hold tighten around his neck.

He landed inside the Hokage office the window was fixed, it was as if nothing had happened, Kakashi walked around to the sofa where he deposited Rachel. Minato stood.

"What?"

"A shinobi attacked her before I got there. Itachi Uchiha pushed her out of the way, she appears to have sprained her ankle though"

"I see, Kakashi can you make sure the man gets to interrogation, I am sure we have no more Anbu rogue agents but just to be on the safe side and tell Ibiki he has free rein I want to know who sent him"

"Yes sensei." Kakashi puffed away.

Minato rummaged through a draw on his desk and pulled out a small white box he knelt down in front of her and carefully took off her boot.

"I honestly don't know why you wear these" he said.

"I'm short these give me a height advantage" she said. He pulled off the boot and she hissed, he felt the pain also veer the seal. He removed her sock and gently looked it over. Deciding it was just sprain he wrapped it with gauze and gently placed her foot back on the floor. He stood and placed the box on his desk.

"We need to talk." he said. "A note arrived" he pulled it out of his pocket "It says Danzo and Tobi know of you and I need to protect you" he showed her the note if she recognised the handwriting it didn't show "Moments later you were attacked" the office lapsed in to silence.

"I need to know who Tobi is."

"You already know I won't tell you so why ask?"

He ran both of his hands through his blond locks "Rachel I am trying to protect you and this village. Tell me, what would you do with someone who was withholding information that I believe is vital to the safety of the Konoha and it citizens?"

"I can see it from your point of view, I can, but I am trying to protect you. You are not ready to know who he is yet."

"That really does not answer my question. What would you actually do with someone you felt was keeping vital information a secret?"

"I would do whatever it takes to get that information."

She had given him the answer he wanted, she fiddled with her hands as she wondered if he would go to any lengths to get what he wanted, part of her still did not trust him because of the mind walk. Would he subject her to that again?

Fear and anxiety rose up in her chest as he approached her. She was surprised to see sadness in his azure blue eyes as he knelt down in front of her.

"Then what am I supposed to do with you? Please tell me because I honestly don't have the answers."

She bit her lip "I'm sorry Minato I can't."

He closed his eyes and when he opened them again gone was the caring Minato, in his place was the Hokage.

He stood and took a step back "You're under House arrest until further notice, for your safety and so I know where you are, no visitors unless approved by me."

He saw the anger flash behind her eyes as she stood, he noted the pain in her ankle "You can't do that Minato, I was supposed to buy supplies, I promised Naruto Ramon for tea."

"I can and I will. I'm the Hokage and I will do what is necessary. If it where anyone else I would have them sent to Ibiki long before now."

She balled her fist in anger and had a look of defiance in her eyes.

"I'll take you home" he said he reached out and she stepped to the side.

"I can walk."

"This isn't negotiable." he said firmly this time his hand reached her wrist and he flashed them home, she staggered back slightly and clung to the kitchen counter.

He signalled his Anbu, two appeared "She is not to leave" with that he flashed away.

Back in his office he ordered that the Ramon stuff be delivered, he knew he would get the silent treatment for a while but to know that she was safe it was worth it.

An hello this will go up to chapter 30 then there will be a book two, however it will be a longer Waite between updates since I'm still writing and it and get it edited, this one has already been written so all I am waiting for are the edits which is why I'm updating faster.

I will try as hard as I can not to leave you waiting for too long.

Naruto is not mine Rachel is.