Chapter 4: Home

Shino covers her up and sighs. He hated to force her to sleep like that but she was hurting herself. Ame had grabbed his jacket sleeve. He looks down at the girl. The nurse bandages the girl's upper arm then proceeds to clip the girl's finger nails. Ayame is speaking with the jonin about what had happened. She asked that a DNA test be done on herself and Ame to see if they are in fact related.

"Poor girl."

Shino looks up at the nurse.

"She has gone through so much. The poor dear reminds me of my own daughter."

The nurse let's out a sigh then leaves the room after updating her medical chart. Shino watches Ame sleep. Ame, her name means rain. One eye the color of deep water and the other reminded him of approaching rain clouds. She had protected one of his bugs when she told of her past. She didn't even kill the one that had bit her. Shino looks up at the door at the call of his name.

"Shino, you have been given a mission along with your squad. Here is the information scroll. I'll stay and watch over her."

"If they are orders then I must follow them."

As he goes to move away from Ame's side she starts crying and grips his sleeve tighter. Shino feels a tug in his chest. He knows he has to go but he doesn't want to leave her in this state. He takes off his jacket and lays it over her. He also leaves a few of his bugs behind and orders them to watch over her. Shino uses his bugs to teleport home quickly to grab another jacket and to get ready.

He quickly reads over the mission scroll. He would be gone for a few weeks, With a tighteness in his chest he heads to meet with his teammates and sense for their mission.

The next time Ame wakes up she finds a jacket laid acrossed her. It smelled of the woods, and of spring flowers. It made her feel safe. At the clear of a throat she turns and looks at the woman at the foot of her bed. It was that really nice ramen lady. Ame couldn't remember her name at the moment.

"Im glad to see you awake. I was worried you would sleep forever."

"What happened? How long have I been out? why does my arm hurt? Where is Shino?"

The silver haired girl unconsciously gripped the jacket tighter at the mention of the boy. The woman comes around and takes the seat next to the bed. She rests her hand on top of the younger girl's hand.

"You have been asleep for three days. The guy with the shades left on a mission. Your arm hurts from you clawing it when you got upset. Shades had a bug bite you that knocked you out so you couldn't hurt yourself."

The brown haired woman grabs a cup of water off the bed side table. She passes it to the girl. She watches as she drinks about half of it. Ame didn't realize how thirst she was until she was handed the cup. The cool water seemed to sooth her dry throat. She looks around to see a bunch of flowers and stuffed animals.

"Where did these come from?"

Ayame smiles sweetly at the girl and grabs a stuffed animal. She sets it on the bed next to the girl.

"Old friends of your parents. Ame... Ame, they ran some tests on your blood. They found your family. You have a cousin, an aunt, and a grandfather that are still living here in the Leaf."

Ame perks up at the sound of family.

"I really have family here?"

The woman smiles and nods. She goes to a bag and pulls out some clothes and a pair of shoes.

"You do. They all are excited to meet you. So let's get you cleaned up and dressed."

Ame careful to not let the jacket touch the ground gets up and with the help of the older woman go into the bathroom. The older woman helps the twelve-year-old get nice and clean. She helps the girl dress since she still doesn't have a lot of strength or energy. The young girl picked to waer black cargo pants, a tank top, black ninja sandles, and Shino's jacket. The tank top was blue from the chest up, the bottom part was orange. In the center of where the two colors met is a red spirl inside a circle. Ayame carefully brushes the young girl's hair and braids it. a few strands fall out and frame her face.

Feeling that the younger girl is presentable, she slowly and carefully escorts the girl out into the hall. A silver haired man, whose face was covered except his right eye, offers to carry Ame. Ayame agrees before Ame could say anything. The three of them set out. Ame while being carried by the silver haired man starts to get lost in thought.

Mother, I don't know if you can hear me but I think I'm safe for now. I don't really know these people but you use to so I'll trust them. I feel something weird whenever Shino is around but I just met him. I never felt this way before. I have a cousin. I hope they like me. I really could use a friend right now. I don't know what I'm doing mom. I'm scared and wish you were here. What if they don't like me? What if they turn me out? Where would I go? What wopuld I do?

"Ame."

Mom, I should have stayed. You would still be alive and I with you.

"Ame. Hey. Ame, sweetheart are you alright?"

"Huh? Sorry. I was lost in thought."

Ayame checks her forehead. She feels her cheeks then looks at her as if she is trying to find some illness and will it out of the younger female's body.

"You have no reason to be scared Ame. You're going home. You'll be safe with your grandfather and aunt. Plus your cousin visits so often so you'll get to see him a lot too."

"My cousin is a boy?"

The adults smile at the young girl. The man sets her down gently in the street. Ayame wraps an arm around the girl and supports her weight. She smiles at the girl.

"Yes and it's time to meet them. But i must confess that your aunt isn't there."

"Oh."

Ayame could see the disappointment on the girl's face.

"She'll be there soon though. Come on."

Ayame leads the girl into a ramen shop. the smell of the food makes her mouth water. She recalls the ramen she never got to eat becasue of her stupid emotions. Quickly confusion sinks in as they travel through the kitchen out a door in the back to a beautiful walled in little garden. Lights hung from the tree branches above. There was a big table full of different types of food with several big pots of ramen taking center stage.

Therewas music being played from a radio as a bunch of adults and a few children about her age talk and argue. An older gentleman takes notice of the arrived guests. He goes and turns down the radio,

"Everyone."

They all turn their attention to him.

"Almost thirteen years ago, my elder son's fiance had gone missing. The next day my son had died. He set out to find his love and try to save her. He never made it outside of the village."

Someone coughs uncomfortably. The older man smiles at the crowd.

"Just yesterday I was told by my daughter and shown something that has cause for celebration. My son's fiance had been pregnant when she disappeared. Now my grandchild has found her way home. Naruto. Naruto, come on over her lad."

A blonde haired boy in an orange and blue jumpsuit goes over to the older man. The older man puts a hand on his shoulder and moves beside him.

"Friends, neighbors, and my small family, we are here to celebrate the long lost daughter of Clover Uzumaki and my son Ryoke. Ame Uzumaki."

He raises a cup in her direction with tears in his eys.

"Welcome home Ame."

Ame's breathing starts to hitch as her heart races. With no control her body removes itself from Ayame, she rushes to the old man and hugs him crying.

"Grandpa!"

Everyone cheered and clapped. Everyone had a smile but none was as big as Ame's. She had a family. They threw a party for her. They wanted her. She had a home.

Mother, I'm home. I found them. I'm home. My home."