They where here, what you dreaded to not be true became a reality. Though it was dead upon the examination table, it would not be able to get up and cause any one harm. Still its presence lingered and haunted you, to no end you could almost feel their tentacles wrapping around you like a snake. Your body shuttered from the phantom touch by the Kraang, a feeling that still lingered upon after all this time from being free from those evil creatures. Your body shutters again and cringes from the mere thought.
The Kraang was here, it all added up now. Shredder, his mean and the Kraang, but no one from you. No one whom you could call a friend or family came, only those opposite of them. The darkness from back home now in this world to spread it across and who knows what was to happen, once spread? Back home, it was easy to stop them with the others. With Leo leading, Donnie coming up with measures to counter or able to figure out what they would be up to, Mikey being unpredictable, Raph brought the strength, Casey a mixture of Raph and Mikey, April who's lead you followed and watched her back while she watched yours, and lastly Master Splinter who offered the wisdom needed and support for everyone task and mission all of you took to defeat the enemy. And once the enemy was defeated or crippled there was nothing to worry about. Because everyone was there, everyone covered the necessary area to complete the task. Wither it be the Kraang or the Shredder, even both at the same time.
At the end of the day, it was always a victory. There was nothing to fully worry about, everything was safe and everything was well. To stop their plans and protect those without their knowledge of what dangers and darkness hid in the shadows. No challenge was to big or small, as long as everyone was together. But, here in this world not everyone was together it was only you and you alone. To handle such a enormous task, was just too much. Too much to bare, the weight was beginning to crush you. Every fiber of your body ached with pain and soreness, even you eyes couldn't take the strain. But what could you do? As Master Splinter would say, "One is responsible for the outcome of they have caused."
A lesson you remember, a quote he spoke before the conclusion of the mission. A quote that has along be echoing in your mind endless. Causing sleepless nights, if he was here you knew he would be disappointed if you did not do anything about what has been happening in this world. You had a responsibility to fix this, despite the effect it would have on you. This world was very beautiful and kind, from what you've experience so far, it was much different from New York. One thing was it was not a concrete jungle, this place radiated with life and serenity in your eyes. It made you feel at peace whenever you could experience. Not to mention the people who lived here, all those you had come across and in a way befriended. Even if most of them didn't know who or what you where. This feeling warmed you inside, when you spent time with them, observing the way they cherished each other in their own way, how different they seem to be yet got along so well. The love and deviation emitting from each one, like a family almost. It remained of back home just a bit, maybe that was why you felt obligated to take upon everything to protect them from the horror you brought. So they would continue to keep having those times together and to not have them taken away. Because of something you did, because of the technical mishap you did. It was your punishment, you sin to do everything yourself.
Even though, those of this world where trying to understand and figure out a way to put an to this threat. It would be so easy to just disclose the massive information you knew, but you knew if you did then...NO! You couldn't do that, they've been suffering enough from what you've done already. It wouldn't right, again it was your responsibility to take care of this whole matter. Even if, even if you had to face Shredder and his men alone, the Kraang and whatever army or new Foot Clan they've been building, as long as the others where safe that's all that mattered. Even if it was with your last bit of energy. This world needed to protected from the evil, the evil in which they knew nothing about. Without the others here, it just settled it you would take upon all their roles on yourself to figure it out and stop whatever plan before it took off. There was no time for feeling petty, no time for self loathing, no time for crying and wishing the others to be here.
This wasn't back home, this was a new world. A world that was beautiful and kind, a world if wanting to be saved one had to change. Those words from Xaver still echoed in your mind. Of one having to be a certain way in order to survive this place, one had to change to do so. And if you wanted to protect this world, it only seem logic to do such a metamorphosis, it was the right thing to do. Right?
A sense of doubt laid itself in you upon this thought, you didn't understand why yourself was against it. Unsure why, why something inside you fought against this change you wish to force upon you. Something inside you telling you it wasn't logic at all, it was tearing you up inside. Against better judgement you had to follow the logic route, the most reasonable reason. Even if the doubt lingered. If this was the right way to protect everyone, then you would do it. It was the least you could do to repay their kindness, no matter what it was or the damage it would do.
At the door Mei quietly watched you, never had she seen such hidden agony in someone before. The grief upon your face weighted it down like a ton, your whole body every single muscle she read cried out, despite the tenseness it showed. Someone she wondered with such a innocent and heart warming eyes, an honest face look so guilt heavy, so sad. It just puzzled her, not to mention she had not seen you shed a single tear from all the building emotions inside. The only thing she saw was just a simple forced smile, and words on which you spoke. You would fix it, and make it right. Such cryptic words made her, made her feel suspicious. After you had passed out from attacking Chujoro she brought you, back to rest. She set you up in a nice room not to far from herself. Having checked in on you ever now and then. There was something she sensed from you, the anxiety attack you had, the first one and the second one. Told her something about you, one thing was clear that thing in there spooked you, and secondly it seem like there was some sort of relation you seem to have with it. Why?
Because on the way down to the creature she noticed your sudden nervous behavior, you had started to become frantic. She had to give you credit you didn't break a sweat from it. And once you passed out, she could tell Kakashi's words where nothing but a lie, to cover up your real reason. There was also Baki, she noticed the concern he had, the hesitation in his eyes, with a mixture of sorrow. He seem to know something, but he would not say. Though now after watching you, she managed to gather the information she needed. Despite her own suspicious she couldn't help but feel some sort of sympathy.
Feeling the presence of someone, you turn towards the door.
"Hello?"
You call to the presence, there was silence for a couple of seconds when the door opens and in steps Baki. This surprised you, as you where expecting someone else, he too seem surprised to see you up. But happy to see you well, even though the serious look on his face said otherwise. He walks over to you, stopping just on the side of your bed.
"I'm glad you're awake."he tells you, with relief in his voice."Since you're awake...we have to return back to the village."
His words where unexpected by you, he saw it gasping in your eyes. Wondering why and pleading against it, you search his eyes for some sort of reasoning. But he masked it well, masking his own apologies. But orders where orders from the Kazekage, and from what he saw with you it was the right move to do. Clearly you where not ready to do this mission. It was taking its toll on you, and causing you comfort.
"The Kazekage has summoned us back."was the only reasoning he gave you. He didn't have the heart to give you full reasoning. Even if your eyes pleaded for him to do so, he saw your lips tight for a second. Your lips drop for a second before lifting back up and give him a fake a smile. Though one could not see it as being fake. You kept your eyes shut while you smiled at him.
As you spoke your words trembled, even with you restraining them not to do so."Y-yes, I understand."your voice cracks just a bit. Xever words echoed in your mind once again, you grip the blankets tightly to release your frustration. Throwing the blankets off, and stand up away from Baki, with the bed being the divider, between you both. Almost lost your balance but you stood firm pushing yourself back up. With your to Baki, he knew you where upset and just didn't want to show him. If he was quiet enough he could hear you whimpering. Finally ready to look at him, you turn around still with the smile on."Let's go back."
It didn't take long to pack up your things, Baki had managed to get a boat to travel back. You stood at the docks with him, Sakura, Ino, Mei and Kakashi came to see you off. Both girls hug you, wishing you could stay longer and it was bummer you had to leave. Ino telling you next time back to the Hot Springs, with Sakura agreeing. Ino also telling you to rest, because she won't be there to tend to you. Mei also expressed her sadness upon you leaving, and it was a pleasure to have you for a time being here. You apologize deeply to her about Chujoro, asking if she could give him something you had for the young man. This was a surprise to her, but she would give it to him. Kakashi said it was a shame, because Guy was going to be upset that you left and he didn't come back with you. He too told you get some rest. With the heartfelt good-byes, you and Baki depart from the village. They wave to you until they couldn't see you anymore from the thick mist, behind their smiles and waves, hide their own suspicions and doubts with you.
On the way back to the village, there was little talk between you and Baki. He wasn't bothered by it, he understood why. Xever's words never became so loud now, since leaving the Mist village. You started to blame yourself, even if you didn't know Baki's reason for leaving, he was the jonin over you. And as one in charge, it one had to listen to them. Even if you didn't want to leave, because that meant you had to leave the others to handle your problem. A flame of anger heated up inside you, but you did your best to extinguish it. You would find a way to go back, and finish the job.
After three days to four, you and Baki arrived back to the some reason, when you saw it and seeing it was alright a sense of relief came over you. You couldn't help but smile to yourself, happy to see it. Another feeling came over you, it was small but it reminded you of the massive feeling you felt back home, once you finished walking through the entrance and seeing the villagers going about their days it was high noon when you both returned. To see the villagers smiling faces, despite the fact most of them still felt iffy with you and distant. It was just nice to see them, to see the village still standing and nothing was wrong. For some reason your body responding on its own felt exhausted. It was just out of the blue, your body wanted to go to your place of residence and lay upon your bed, to sleep. Even if your mind didn't want too. Your legs said otherwise, Baki saw this he smiles to himself.
Maybe it was a good thing for him to take you back, the wear and tear you had been putting yourself through was finally catching up. He knew both of you would have to check in, but seeing how you looked he gets ready to dismiss you when someone comes running over to him.
"Sensei Baki!"they address him, you stop with Baki looking at the shinobi. It was a slightly younger man in his early 20's with deep brown eyes, it was hard to see his hair because he wore the same turban as Baki did. The man salutes to Baki, before he says what he needed.
"Hold on, May why don't you go to your apartment."Baki turns to you."I can check us both in."
You nod your head, and walk away towards your apartment. Baki watches you fly off in the direction of your place, then turns back to the man who waited patiently.
It didn't take you long to reach your place, taking out the key unlocking the door. Though stop before turning the knob, the echos of everyone from back filled your mind. Hearing them just beyond this door, expecting to be greeted by them once you stepped foot inside. Once you opened the door, you would return back home and everything would be just a dream, yeah that's what it was. Just a dream, you would be returned back home to everyone, everyone you loved and cared for, see their faces and know you where not alone. To know, you didn't have to fight this on your own, they would be getting ready to finish the mission or you would be home. Back home, seeing your father and sister again. Coming home from school or the movies with April even from a night out with the guys. Or maybe you just woke up from this dream, and April was there making french toast with homemade apple cider, because you loved that meal so much. You would then join her in helping to prepare breakfast, and in just a few minutes your father would follow in yawning greeting the two of you.
Yeah, that's what will happen. It has to happen, then you didn't have to do all this and hug everyone telling them how much you missed them. Everything will go back to normal, and you wouldn't feel so isolated and alienated. You didn't fit in this world, nor did you fit in being either human or whatever things where in this place. You flew with out any use of chakra, shoot out energy like a laser canon, calculated and spoke politely and logically. Jutsu was so strange to you, mainly since you could not perform it despite taijutsu being another way. The fact was you could not do it, sure you could heal others, just in the way people here did it, you could outline yourself in a healing cocoon to keep yourself healed should you retain any sort of injuries. None of their healing jutsu worked on you when it came to injuries, which puzzled quite a few. It was true, no matter what you stood out in this world, even if you put on their clothes. Did what was the norm of this world, you where nothing but an outcast. An alien.
At that realization, how you just compared yourself as an alien like the Kraang. Never did you think to cross such a line, the word scared you yet at same time it made sense. It opened your eyes to the truth, looking at your trembling hand that shook with the truth. An agonizing scream erupts inside you, crying out for anyone if they could hear. You scream for anyone, you scream for the only person you knew who could easily comfort you.
April, you scream for your sister like an little sister would do. You wanted her here, more than anyone else, you just wanted April. She understood out of anyone what you where going through, she was the main one who stood by your side and ushered you through things that seem disarray at the moment if you seem at lost. She would come, and tell you things would be fine, no matter what the either of you where. You both where yourself.
Thinking about her, your eyes squint just a bit as if crying. What you wouldn't do have her here, or just to see her for a second. But that would be consider ungrateful, from what everyone here has done. Your desire was nothing, it had to be canceled out. To want something you couldn't have, is just plainly selfish, what mattered was those here not faded memories of your home. They didn't have to worry about the dreaded darkness anymore like this world does now.
Shaking away those dragging feelings, forcing them to be locked away. Bringing out the main and top priority, with that back instate finally place your hand on the door knob, turn it push the door open, and step inside. To find it empty, and silent. Just like you, this wasn't much a surprise even if your mind fantasized about seeing Leo and them and your heart fluttered at the mere thought of it that this fantasy to be true. To be broken, just like your dreams waking up to the fact this place was your reality.
Taking a step to go inside, stopping when you hear someone coming up the steps calling your name. Turning surprised and unable to look at them, Temari. You cast your eyes away from the young lady, looking down at the ground bowing to her deeply.
"T-Temari Sensei."you respectfully say.
She was taken back by this, because she knew before becoming your jonin she told you not to call her that at all. Normally she would chaste you for doing so, but dismissed it for now, and instead grabbed hold of your wrist pulling you with her eagerly.
Urgency in her voice made you look up at her, wondering what was going on.
"Come on, you're needed at the hospital."
Without any objection you let her take you, you could feel her heart pumping she was either excited about something or nervous. It was hard to tell, she didn't look at you, so it made it even more difficult to pinpoint what it was that caused this within her. The villagers moved out the way seeing Temari rushing through them, and you dragging behind her.
It didn't take to long to get to the hospital, Temari rushed you inside straight pass the front while telling you something, you only heard bits and pieces of what she was telling you. But the words you managed to hear made your heart and stomach do flips, that you couldn't believe it. Slowly Temari starts to slow down, and yous see two jonin guards posted outside a room, this wasn't Kai's room no, this was a regular patient room. You see two nurses come out with the doctor who was talking to, Gaara who stood half way in the room with Kankuro standing by him and surprisingly Ryouta.
Gaara noticed you and Temari coming, he address his fully attention on you once you reach him. Kankuro gives you a strange slightly unreadable look, even his smile weird. Like he seem at lost, he looks to Gaara.
Making you look to Gaara, wondering what was going on. The silent suspense was beginning to make you uncomfortable and nervous. Gaara's look wasn't making it any better, you tired searching his eyes to see what it was he was either afraid to tell you or hesitant to say. But by looking in yours, seeing the hopefulness and joy, he sighs to himself and lets you in the room. At first you where hesitant, seeing this Gaara comes over help ease your nerves.
He holds out his hand for you."Here..."
Without even looking, you take his hand firmly. He could feel your body shaking and your heavy breathing even if you tired you keep silent. Everyone remained quiet, waiting for you at least move. It's not like you didn't want to, it was just...you weren't sure if your mind was playing a trick on you or something. If it was, then you weren't sure if you would be able to recover, then again if it wasn't and it was actually true. There was some glimpse of hope just yet, so many thoughts popped into your head, your heart began to race faster than its ever done before. You squeeze Gaara's hand till his finger tips turned white, he just kept a straight face. Understanding how you felt.
If this was it? It would be...it be...
With all this thinking, you hadn't realize your legs had started to move on their own towards the bed in the room and your hold on Gaara had began to slip away. Inching your way closer and closer to the bed, blocking out the monitors and the dripping of the IV. Reaching the side of where the person laid, your eyes widen at what they saw, to turn into emotional joy. If you could shed tears you would, but a tearful smile was just as good. Sniffing, your hand rest upon theirs holding it, it had been so long since you held it. While your other hand gentle brushed their orange bangs. Though their eyes remained closed, it was alright you knew who it was. If they where up, you wouldn't waste any time hugging them. Expressing your happiness upon them being here, but you would have to wait for that. All you knew now was hope and faith, hope things where turning around and faith that maybe, just maybe the others to be here as well. Even so, if they where not, then it seem to be alright because you weren't by yourself anymore.
For as long as you could remember, an actual smile had formed. The deepest gratitude smile you had ever had, filled with such an sensation that seem to illuminate the whole room, you turn to the others with that smile.
"Thank you, thank you so much for finding my sister."