Chapter 36: Unexpected Allies

" How are you feeling? Feeling stiff anywhere?" Suzumi asked.

" No, I'm feeling fine. Much better now. I suppose these aren't very good resting conditions," Hiroshi replied, being helped to a sitting position to eat. Since he has been incapacitated for a while now, he had not been cooking for a while for the group, and Sora and Mayuri have been grumbling about only feeding off his rations, while still delicious, was not close enough to compare to what he would usually cook. Still, nothing could be done about it since most of them were still recovering from their last 'mission'.

" You know, I've been doing some thinking…" Sora mused.

" A rare event…" Hibiki muttered quietly, making sure it wasn't enough for her to hear it.

" About what?" Makoto asked.

" Are we going back to the Leaf, or the Sand first?" Sora replied.

" …I don't get you…" Hibiki mused.

" No, Sora is right. Remember what we initially started to do: we were supposed to send Suzumi to the Leaf to keep her protected. Now that it is over, are we supposed to take her to the Leaf or back to the Sand. This is of course assuming with Juuzou's demise, the organization is now crumbling. If not…then it's not particularly safe to go to either village, right?" Mayuri noted.

" Well, that may be the case. But we will have to return eventually. There is so much sleeping on the ground that I can endure," Ryouta replied. " We go back to the Leaf first. It was our initial destination, and we can discuss with our Hokage in regards to what we can do."

Almost two days have passed since the incident in the Blood-nin village, and they were in the middle of neutral territory between the country and the Country of Lightning. They had been hiding from the Blood-nins, and true enough, they came across several teams out to track them. They did their best in staying hidden, and so far, managed to elude their pursuers. Their injuries were quite serious, and Hiroshi and Sora had not healed enough to even walk yet.

" Hurry up and get better already so we can leave," Sora snapped at Hiroshi.

" Look at who is talking," Hiroshi mused.

" No need to worry about me. I'll be up on my feet faster than you will," Sora replied.

For the most part of the two days was just waiting, so all of them had a good chance to talk to one another, something they missed out on ever since Ryouta and his team came to the Sand village. Mayuri was mostly keeping them occupied with her antics and humour. Strangely enough, Aya didn't appear in front of them for now, which they thought was strange, but paid it no heed.

However, she did visit him in his dreams, just like before. They had one encounter the night before.

" So, tell me, I'm curious. You mentioned the last time that you couldn't affect the rest of them with this kind of dream communication. Why?" Hiroshi asked Aya as she popped up in her dream form again. They were apparently in this very posh castle, with expensive furniture and intricate designs on the walls and windows. There was a vast lake in front of the castle which was in plain view, with whales jumping up and about in the middle of the lake, which added to the surreal feeling of the dream.

" Well, you see…I can't," Aya replied, shrugging her shoulders, apparently now dressed as a princess or lord of sorts, strolling across the courtyard.

" I'm asking for the reason why," Hiroshi replied.

" That's the reason: I cannot," Aya answered. " Try as I might, I cannot induce this kind of dream to them, where we share it in a space which I created. This kind of genjutsu isn't easy, for the fact that I am not in control of the main body now, and inducing it in this incorporeal form of a body is harder than you think."

" Then, why is it that you can do this to me so easily?" Hiroshi asked.

" Oh…I am sure you know the answer," Aya replied. Hiroshi merely kept quiet, his face impassive. " Don't want to say it, then I'll answer on your behalf. It's because you want to. Something about this is compelling you to want to enter this dream, so it's easy. I mean, if someone actively wants to fall into a genjutsu, won't you agree that it will be very easy?"

" …Why would I want to do that?" Hiroshi replied.

" I can actually think of a few reasons, actually. I am, of course, what remains of a person whom you loved. We aren't the same, but we are still Nagato Suzumi," Aya answered, smiling mischeviously. Hiroshi didn't answer, or didn't bother to. " You know, I kind of understand why you don't want to tell Suzumi about your relationship with her despite her no knowing. This incident made you remember what you had to do when you erased her memory back then. It haunted you even till now, as you argued that it was done in her best interest, but you returned to the Leaf with conflicted thoughts. The reason why you didn't tell her is because you felt this has got to be some punishment for you personally which you feel inclined to suffer."

" You didn't tell her?" Hiroshi asked.

" Hiroshi, my dear, I am, and you should know by now, am a sadist. If you want to make your life miserable on purpose, I will be here waiting to enjoy it," Aya replied, laughing to herself. " You know, we never did finish that conversation."

" Which one?" Hiroshi replied.

" The one where Sora said she didn't remember any of that which you said," Aya replied.

" Oh…well, the shock and loss of blood apparently addled her memory, so she apparently didn't remember any of it, or even wanting to go to the Sand village in the first place," Hiroshi replied.

" Oh, and how did you explain that one to her?" Aya asked.

" I told her the truth. She didn't believe me, and she argued that I took her out drinking and she got drunk enough to not remember anything. It happens, and I wasn't going to particularly argue," Hiroshi replied.

" Hahaha, that is so like her," Aya laughed loudly. She then noted that Hiroshi was looking at her, with an appraising look. " What? Something on my face?"

" …No, but talking about character traits just reminded me of something odd about your name. I remember where I had heard of the name Aya before. She was the girl Makoto used to like," Hiroshi replied.

" …And?"

" Been wondering why you picked that name," Hiroshi replied. " Did you like Makoto?"

" Well, wasn't that obvious?" Aya mused, looking annoyed.

" Not particularly, really…" Hiroshi admitted.

" …I did harbor feelings for him, before…but I suppose I had to admit to myself that Makoto would never treat me more than what I am right now. Aya was something I couldn't be myself, and it was just ironic that he didn't end up with her instead," Aya answered. " Why, are you jealous?"

" Should I be?" Hiroshi asked.

" Damn, you are no fun at all," Aya replied.

To Hiroshi's surprise, Aya didn't bother to resurface to control the main body anymore since then. He wondered if she was sated enough, having met her requirements that she was now satisfied with her bloodlust. She still acted mad in their shared dreams, but she wasn't lusting after blood or violence, for now. Hiroshi wondered if some part of the old Suzumi actually harbored this kind of thoughts. If she did, she never showed it to any of them, not even him.

ooo

Despite their injuries, they did their best to travel back. It was going to be a very long journey, considering the distance and the shape they were in. Still, since the ordeal was over, despite its flaws, they were quite positive despite their situation.

" Are you sure you should be up and about? I mean, the girls keep complaining about wanting to eat something good, but you really don't need to comply with them, you know," Ryouta replied, chuckling slightly as he helped Hiroshi with setting up a fire.

" Nah, I'm fine," Hiroshi replied, while Mayuri and Sora did a 'victory dance' of sorts behind him. " Besides, I need to move a little. Lying around all day is making my back hurt."

" You sound like an old man already," Makoto replied, chuckling.

" Maybe he is," Hibiki piped in, and all of them laughed at the joke.

By now, it was far too late for Makoto to ever repair the damage to his eyes, not that Hiroshi as actually ever seen him use them much. Makoto didn't bother to want to preserve him in the off-chance they will be able to fix them when they got proper medical facilities. He insisted that Suzumi fix him with glass eyes immediately, apparently wanting one iris red and the other purple. He still kept his forehead protector over his eyes as always, so nobody would really know the difference. Hiroshi was actually quite surprised that Makoto was quite alright with this, in fact, Makoto looked like he was more relieved to lose his eyes in the first place. Hiroshi had no idea what history Makoto had with those eyes, but Hibiki had warned them before not to pry, and Hiroshi didn't want to.

" Finally got her off your back, huh?" Hibiki replied in an off-handed manner.

Makoto merely shrugged his shoulders in response. Hibiki was referring to Mayuri, who had been for the last few days clinging on, almost literally, to Makoto. Most of the time she was grumbling on how Makoto left them and almost got himself killed. Makoto was patient enough to sit through all her complaints.

" Well, she was worried," Makoto replied.

" I'd say, I was worried too…" Ryouta joked.

" How nice. But you ain't getting no kisses from me," Makoto answered, grinning.

" What are you boys up to?" Sora asked, moving towards them as they gathered around the fire.

" Cooking dinner," Hiroshi answered quickly.

" Liar…" Sora replied, prodding Hiroshi with her foot.

" Bully me any further, and no dinner for you," Hiroshi mumbled.

" Oh, is that…"

Their light banter was interrupted by a sharp, crackling sound, and some form of energy was making Hiroshi's hair on his skin stand on its end. Hiroshi almost felt like he was paralyzed to the spot. Lightning element? An attack? He thought to himself.

Something moved out from behind Suzumi, and Makoto acted first. He launched himself towards the figure, parrying his punch, only to be repelled with a massive force backwards, electric sparks flying out from his body.

" Ow! What the…?" he groaned.

The figure moved again, but it was Sora this time who dashed at him. Sora moved in a split second, and Hiroshi could barely catch the moment when she collided into him. There was a loud bang, like an explosion, not before a shockwave exploded within the vicinity.

" Stop it!" Hiroshi shouted, suddenly realizing something.

" Enough, Sougo, they aren't your targets," a voice spoke up.

Looking to his right, all of them spotted a Cloud-nin. He apparently was not alone, as about 6-7 other formed ranks behind him where he stood. He had sharp, regal features, and a crop of jet black hair. His skin tone was slightly dark, apparently a feature for some Cloud-nins. Upon second glance, Hiroshi recognized him.

" Takeshi?" Hiroshi mused.

" Well met, Hiroshi. It's good to see you again after all this while. Although, I have to admit, you and your comrades looked like you have been through some rough waters," Takeshi replied.

" You know these people?" the figure named Sougo asked. Now that he had stopped himself, Hiroshi noticed that he was a kid, about probably 14-15 years of age, although he could be mistaken. He had a mess of blonde hair and clear blue eyes, with a look of arrogance in his face.

" Well, Hiroshi mostly. He was the one who saved Aiko the last time," Takeshi replied.

" Is that so?" Sougo exclaimed, his expression changing to shock and awe. Moving up to Hiroshi in a flash, he grabbed his hand and shook it. Hiroshi was quite surprised at the strength he had, despite his stature. " I've always regretted that I never got the chance to thank you for what you have done for her. I am in your debt."

" Erm…" Hiroshi mused, feeling a little awkward.

" You know these people?" Sora asked.

" Sorta," Hiroshi replied.

" …I wasn't aware that you participated in a mission to help a Cloud-nin before," Ryouta replied.

" Top secret stuff," Hiroshi replied sheepishly.

" For some lame ass shit like you, you seem to be holding a lot of secrets," Sora replied, grumbling.

" You all are far from home," Takeshi replied. " By any chance, are you all involved in what happened with the Blood-nin village?"

There was a collective silence between them.

" I won't ask for a confirmation, but don't take me for a fool," Takeshi replied. " Anyway, it looks like you all had it tough. How about you all take a break in our village? Allow me to show my thanks by offering you some form of hospitality."

" …I'd really hate to impose," Hiroshi replied.

" We'd love to," Ryouta replied.

" Excellent. Come, we can cut our mission short for just this once. Let's move," Takeshi replied, leading the way.