Licking the envelope, folding down the top of the fold to secure it. Double checking that it was completely secure, you hand it off to the Aviary Shonobi. The man takes it from you, and attach it to one of the messenger hawk.
"There, it should get there within, two days or one."he tells you."But mostly, in two days."
You smile thankfully."Thank you." The hawk spreads its wings, and with one powerful push of its wings, it takes off to its designated destination. Sunagakure.
For your time, working here in the village Tsunade did pay you for your help. Which you turned around to send some to Natsuki and Kaito back in the village. So they could be supplied with some sort of income while you were out, Natsuki mainly. Though for Kaito, because his father was out of work and commission, unable to work and provide for his son. It made you worry about how the young boy. If he was going to be ok, so you took it upon yourself to care for him.
While you were here in the village, watching the hawk fly away in the distance until it was out of sight. Picking up your small stack of books, files and scrolls and leave. To head back to the lab, for another busy day. Coming outside the Aviary, looking around at the people in the village going about their day, like normal.
Quietly sighing to yourself tiredly, you walk down the path of the village in the right direction to go. The sun had just started its day, two hours ago. While you started your work much earlier, way before the sun even came to light up the sky like always. It's been your routine, the normal routine.
Doing your best to keep your tired eyes open, that ached badly. Wanting to close, and rest properly something you didn't allow. Still with no break through at all, drove you even more. With every single groggily step you took, felt like iron was attached to them. Nothing but weights seem to anchor on them, but you had to keep going despite your body sending signals to stop and rest. Not mention your mind, that slowly started to receive pounding headaches, as if on fire. Which stimulated from all the knowledge you've managed to absorb within the passed two weeks, all the many different configuration, solution, assumptions, chemical compounds, new tactics on ways to approach, the countless connecting and ordering. Hours upon hours of data digging, re-reading and re-entering old and very rarely new information.
There where documents upon documents, from the notes that you had back in the lab, some back at your living residence. Not to mention the books and shinobi reports you managed to obtain and read over and over again. To find any sort of clue that might help, to see what it was Shredder was doing or planning. Where his location might be, surely there was just something.
Your eyelids, felt so heavy but what forced you keep them open were the images of destruction that still haunted you. Those countless bodies of the injured, and...Kai. Who was still fighting for his life, all the damage that had been to Gaara's village and to everyone in the village. Their homes, and families almost ruined. Not mention the news you found out, of other places also getting hit and many people of this world no doubt being taken by Shredder and the Kraang for their own sickly purposes.
They brought their horrid ways here in this world, a world filled with so much wonder from what your eyes have taken in. All those who still had their families, who still had life. A world, that one would find in some sort of imagination of their fantasy. The people here, the ones you have come across, where happy and smiling. From the ones whom you have grown to know, thinking of their bonds they shared. Brought a tired happy smile to your face.
When you first meet everyone, you could sense right away the friendship that resonated from of them. Reminded you so much of back home, that it hurt while making you feel warm. Yet, made you feel isolated at the same time, because this place wasn't your own. It belonged to everyone here in this world. A world slowly starting to become swallowed by a darkness far greater than anything. A darkness you had to fight against for the sake of those...no all of those who lived here in this world.
Shredder and the Kraang where your problem and not the others. Which was why you had to had take on more work than Shizune, Sakura, and Ino. Why, you had bury yourself deep into it, to do the best you could to make admen for the horrible thing you brought to Gaara's village, which was why you didn't think twice to come here. Feeling ashamed for his home having to suffer, burden you greatly than anything.
From all the kindness that he offered you, only for what to happen to his village to feel like a slap in the face for him. You knew he was upset, another weight upon your back that you had to carry. There where just no words, for which you could apologize to him. He was putting his whole reputation out on the line for allowing you to stay. There was no doubt that it had already went around the village that, it was because of you they where attacked.
You remember, feeling their scoring eyes upon you. Burning loathing hatred, that pierced borrowed its way into your skin. Of course you just smiled it was easy that way. But, nothing but a foreigner to his village...to this whole world. The fact all this was happening from your accord, there was no doubt the people in Gaara's village would look at him with those same eyes, feeling distrust from the action he took with allowing you residence there.
Even though there just a few who, mainly Ebizo, Kai, Kaito, Gaara and his siblings not to mention Shira and Baki from the council who didn't cast those eyes upon you. It still didn't ease your mind, that they too held the same feelings at the villagers. Even here in, Konohakagure made you uneasy, because without knowing how or when Shredder might attack this place. Another burden which piled itself on you.
Your mind often wondered if...they knew...if Tsunade knew about you being the target. If she did, would she be just as upset when Shredder came to attack her village at you? Because you brought harm to her home. From what you gathered from her, she was a strong woman, who was fiercely protective, it burned deeply in her. A trait seemly shared by everyone here.
Just the mere thought of Shredder's presence here, swallowed you up. A huge part of you wanted to leave, to drag Shredder away so he nor the Kraang would not harm anyone and if you could get him to follow...then perhaps you could end it all...and no one would have to suffer for this.
These thoughts raced through you mind, over and over again. This was no way to repay kindness to those who, so gladly gave it to...if Master Splinter where, he would most displeased. Just like you where right now. Your grip, tightens on the stack just like your eyes did painfully. Twisting silently in agony. Your head stayed cast down, resting your forehead upon the scrolls on the top of the stack.
Letting it linger there, as you keep walking. Not paying attention really what or who was infront of you, because you over heard something that brought you out of your solemn state. From two shinobis, just hearing the jest of it when you bumped right into someone.
Making you drop what you had been carrying."...Oh..."you use your powers to pick up the books and scrolls, while picking them up manually."P-please...forgive me."your words came out slightly slurred.
Reaching for one of the scrolls, only for another hand to beat you to it. They pick it up holding it out to you, along with their the other hand. Surprised by this gesture you take their hand, letting them help you up carefully. The rest of your items floated on the side, looking to see who it was to find Kakashi. He smiles at you under his mask.
"Sorry..."he hands you the scroll.
"Oh, Sensei Kakshi...please."you bow your head respectfully."I was not watching where I was...going."
"That's alright."he looks at your books."That's a great deal of reading, busy I presume?"
Your eyes look at stack still floating, with a gesture they come back over to you and rest in your arms."Yes...for research."you tell him, placing the scroll back on top.
"I see, how is that coming along?"he asks."I heard you, along with Shizune, Sakura and Ino are doing some sort of research for Lady Tsunade."
"Yes, that is correct."you nod your head."We haven't ... found anything as of yet..."Kakashi listens to you talk, while closely pay more attention to your current exhausted state. Which, even though with your smile was clearly prominent, from the dark bags under your eyes. To the fading glow that seem to leave your eyes, leaving them looking hazy. Not to mention the way you walked, it was heavy, tired and stiff. Losing no.. Lacking energy, how you managed to still keep going amazed him.
He noticed very small, exhausted line cracks upon your brow. There was no doubt, in his mind you, were over pushing yourself. The look of pain, weariness, and low energy spread all across you. At any moment, he was sure you would fall over or pass out, maybe even black out. Which for some reason he was, kind of hoping you would do, but he saw something he could not put his finger upon that was stubbornly forbidding you, from doing so. Some sort of drive, that he never would have guessed could be inside you, it was to mixed up with other emotions he could read for him to pinpoint it.
Hearing you telling him that you needed to leave, he snaps back to you. You smile at the man."Please... Excuse me, Sensei Kakashi."even your words were tired."But... I must go back now. Thank you again, and sorry."
Playing along he puts up a hand."Sure, sorry, didn't mean to keep you."he steps aside, with that you give him a nod and continue upon your way. He watches you walk off, even by the way you walked, were heavy and tired not to mention the limp you had, that cleverly tried to hide, from your injury that was still trying to heal. He didn't know why he hadn't said anything to you about it, but something told him even if he did, that surely you would have some sort of explanation. Still...
Hastily, you hurry your way away from Kakashi. A new light seem to come into your eyes, from the small intel you had heard from the passing two shinobis was enough to put a bit of a peep back into your step. Finally, you told yourself there was somewhat a breakthrough or clue. Rushing towards the Hokage's office to tell her what you had heard, coming into the building you hurry inside stopping yourself. Before reaching her door, thinking about if you should tell her or not and if she would allow you to go. Consider, you were after all a target... then again, you didn't want to bring the others into this.
Figuring out what was considered to be the most logical choice, you choose it. Turning heel, you rush back down the hall just as Tsunade open her door, she catches a glimpse of you.
"May..."she looks on.
"Lady Tsunade!"Shizune calls to her, making the woman turn around to her assistant.
In the lab Sakura and Ino were busy at work like always, like the others. Ino sat at her station, when someone came over to her informing the focused young woman of another presence. Stopping, the blonde looks up to see behind the glass, standing there Hinata. This was a unexpected for her, placing down her clip board, Ino gets up and walks over to the door. Exiting the lab, Hinata smiles at her, greeting her kounichi.
"This is a surprise."Ino greets her."Is there something you need Hinata?"
A look of distress quickly comes to her lavender eyes, for her to dismiss it."I-I was...w-wondering."she starts to stammer just a bit."If, you've seen May? At all, today."
Ino crosses her arms thinking about it."...Hmmm...can't say I have really... now that I think of it, she wasn't in at all. Normally, she's here before anyone, strange."
Hinata began to slightly worry. Ino saw it on her face."Hey, don't worry, I'm sure she just took the day off today. Everyone knows she needs it. Maybe Lady Tsunade told her to."
She tries to ease, the worried girl. Who thinks about it."Yes, you're probably right."
"Right about what?"Sakura comes out surprised to find Hinata."Oh, hello Hinata. This is a surprise, two Hyugas in one day."
Ino and Hinata look at Sakura confused and shocked by her words."Two Hyugas, what do you mean?"Ino asks.
"Remember, Neji came by just a bit earlier before you."Sakura looks from her friend to Hinata. Who was surprised by this sudden finding. Her cousin was here? Neji, he came?
Thinking back to this morning, he didn't seem any different that she could tell."He did..."Ino thinks about it, when she snaps her fingers, remembering."Oh, yeah, you're right, he did come by."she looks to Hinata."He was looking for May too. Just like you."
"He was?!"Hinata still in shock.
Ino nods her head, smiling."Though it, I would say it was more of his action that spoke than his words. Which we had to pry from him."she sighs."I swear your cousin, is one aloof person. Can't read him at all."
Sakura giggles lightly."We told him the same thing, we hadn't seen May all day."she shrugs her shoulders."Sorry, maybe she's resting. She does need it."
Hinata knew what they said wasn't true, but she took it anyway. Smiling, she thanks them for their help, and excuses herself leaves them back to their work.
Another dead end, Hinata comes out of the lab. Looking around at the people in the village, there was no sign of May whatsoever. Though Sakura and Ino both told her, May had to be taking the day off. She knew she wasn't, why...because she went to check herself and did not find her at all. Only by using her Byakugan, she managed to see inside May's residence. It was completely empty besides a few other things, like a map and what seem to look like she as packing for something, and including her research that laid organized everywhere. But, no sign of May at all.
She wanted to find her, to talk to the girl. About her concerns and her health, that was causing her worry. But, she didn't have the courage to do so until today. The one day she couldn't find her. She began to worry that May would burn herself out, from all the work that had been done. From early morning to late and she meant late into the evening.
Back when everyone met up together a few days ago, and May didn't show a she had a feeling she wasn't going to. Even if she hoped that she might. Hearing from what Ino and Sakura told everyone about how May was. Made skeptical now, about the way things where going. Though what stuck out, from that little chat about the pinked Sunagakure girl, was the words from Ino. How she thinks May might have something personal about this whole matter, from the attack upon her village to the research. Hinata knew something seemed like it was weighing down on her, she just couldn't pinpoint it well. But, it seems like Naruto seems to know something about it, and being the way she was around him, there was no way she would get the answer out of him.
So, she had to do it herself. Or better yet, with Neji. Remembering, finding out just a few minutes ago, her stoic cousin had come before her. Seeking May, which she must admit was a bit out his character, then again remembering how he was with her back in Sunagakure, after returning her there from the rescue mission in the Land of Waves. He talked with her a bit, no doubt concerned about her and then there was mission to Kusagakure. Just before she left to accompany May and Temari. He gave her something to give to her, from him.
Though he was a stone face person, she knew he had taken a liking to her. One she enjoyed and approved of, even if May did not see it. Even back at the Dango Shop with everyone, she noticed how he would a occasionally look towards the door, seeing if it was her who walked in and when he found out, she was not coming he not pleased. Even if it was hard to read, but what stood out the most was how he listens to what Ino and Sakura told everyone. She saw the concern that came upon him.
If she was looking for May, then maybe Neji might know.
Looking around."I just, have to find Neji."she tells herself, running off down the streets of the village.
Elsewhere, Neji raced along the roads of the forest away from the village in the direction from the map he memorized back in May's place. He surprised she didn't take it, but after getting a good look at it, thankful for his eyes. He could see where she was headed, and no doubt without anyone with her. Knowing where she was going, he speeds up to close the gap set between them.