Night had fallen, the first day of the war was coming to an end. Injured and wounded where taken to the medical base, you stayed back with Division Two to tend to them, post where put all around to watch for the enemy. After you last fight and timing seeing your sister you remained rather somber, yet still kept a sort of smile on. You didn't really talk with others, only did your job, it was clear in the Division they knew the emotional ordeal you just went through and the way you were handling it seem quite impressive. Hinata and the others did their best to comfort you, but knew you would rather not talk about it, they could see the grief and guilt you had behind your eyes. That you had to lock away for the time being, and focus on others. Burden you had to bear. The struggle to remain strong, even though you came to peace with it.
"How are your eyes? Neji?"You look down at the Hyuga who laid in your lap, you hand over his eyes, he had fainted due to overuse of his eyes. You where told a few minutes ago by one of the shinobis.
You rushed right over to him, after you finished which of course he assured you he was fine. He would had fussed, but after what you just went through he didn't. And let you heal him. Kiba and Akumaru left you two alone to give you both some alone time, well Akumaru pretty much dragged his master who didn't want to leave.
"Neji, how are you feeling?"you asks him again, your voice rather low and demanding.
He could see through your front easily."I'm fine."he responds.
You sigh in relief silently. Smiling tearfully."That's good. Just rest, and don't talk. I'll heal you."
Slowly you began to block out the noise all around you, even the stillness of the night. Feeling yourself beginning to fall, there was nothing around you, your body felt so light and weightless, while at the same time your felt yourself beginning to drown. This crushing feeling was becoming overwhelming, all you saw, April. Your sister, she turns her back to you and leaves. It took you a few seconds to realize this. You get ready to call to her, when someone grabs your wrist firmly, bringing you back to your senses.
"I don't need my eyes to tell me-"Neji looks straight up at you, holding your trembling wrist."You can try to fool everyone here, but you should no better than to try and fool me. You did what you had to do. You protected your sister, from having to suffer. No matter how you look at it, you keep trying to replay it over and over again, try to think of other scenarios, but it was the only way. Your far from being cruel. Like you said yourself, you now have something precious to protect. If you keep dwelling on the past, you're not going to be able to focus on what's ahead."
He starts to sit up, still keeping a firm hold on your wrist. Feeling his eyes on you, wanting you to look up at him, while you looked down your eyes remaining in the past. Filling with guilt and pain. Cursing yourself that you wish you could cry right, to get it all out. But you could never express that pain, tears help to cleanse the body and soul. You didn't have that, you had to find other means to do that. Or you would just lock yourself away. Shutting tightly expression your anger over it all, clenching your fist, your energy began to surround you like a blaze. Flaring up intensely, to quickly fade. Softly you whimper, you look up at Neji ready to cry. Your eyes search his for some sort of answer anything. To blame you, anything. His eyes refused to give you what you wanted, but do soften. He knew this was hard for you. All of this was, having to end your sister again. After doing it the first time, you where put in a place where you had to choose.
A choice you wished deeply you never had to make, but did so anyway. For the sake of the others, he often overheard you talk with Hinata about April. Or with the group on missions. Expression how important she was to you. He knew you had become frustrated at her, for choosing to come after you into this world. She could have easily stayed back and none of this would have happened. But she did so anyway, because you were just as precious to her, as she was to you. It was clear you refused to see it, it would just add more guilt to you.
Not seeing what you wanted in his eyes, only the truth like his words. You give up, beating yourself up. Knowing well, if April were here she would not do the exact same thing. A heavy sigh escapes your lips, taking your wrist back from him. Smiling to yourself over how silly you just acted, shaking your head. Finding the answer yourself. Turning your eyes upward towards the sky at the stars.
"It's hard not to dwell on it,"you admit."But I know I can't anymore. If I do, than I might end up losing everyone now. And I can't have that, it would be wrong. No one can protect the past, it's in the past. They can only protect the future."you look to him."I need to protect the future. Everyone here and now. Forgive me, for my moment of weakness."
"It's not weakness."Neji tells you."If it was a one, you would be held back it. As I see it, you've turned it around into your new source of strength. It's what drives you and pushes you forward. You have your goal set, you've come to your resolve. I couldn't be more prouder."He touches his forehead to yours, smiling affectionately.
You close your eyes leaning in with your forehead doing the same thing."Thank you. Neji. When this is all over, we'll have a future together."
He pushes his forehead deeper. Taking hold of your hands securely in his, activating his eyes seeing his future in you."Yes. Yes we will."he said with a mixture of tenderness and protectiveness."All of us."
At the Headquarters, Shikaku was informed by the Communication Division, he had just gotten word May left the Second Division and was heading to the First Division. Shikaku though, upon Onoki's request he needed her to go to the Fourth Division instead. Getting word her assistance was going to be needed.
On your way to the First Division, another day in the war. Pushing yourself to go faster, when you heard Shikaku's voice in your head. You stop abruptly.
*May. Your needed in the Fourth Division.*he tells you.*Don't go to the First Division, Onoki has requested you. Hurry up over there.*
You actually wanted to go to the First Division to make sure the others mainly though Shikamaru was alright. To assist your adopted brother, make sure he was holding up just fine.
*Are you sure? I'm almos-*you respond to be cut off by Shikaku.
*May. Shikamaru's doing just fine.*he assures you.*You're needed with the Fourth Division, right now. Hurry up over there. This what Onoki needs you to do-*He tells you the plan.
*Understood. I'm going right now.*You turn around and head in the direction of the coordinates given to you.
Elsewhere on the battle field the Fourth Division, the reanimated Hokages Rasa third Kazakage from Suna, Third Raikage, Mu second Tsuchikage, and Gengetsu Second Mizukage drew closer to the Division. Who under the order and planning of Gaara and Onoki hid out of sight awaiting their signal to spring their surprise attack. Leaving only Gaara and Onoki on the front lines. Mu using his sensing was able to detect the two Kages, Gaara greeted them a enormous torrent of sand, which Rasa quickly stops the sand using his Gold Dust, the man assuming it belonged to the First Tail, Shikuku to be surprised to find Gaara his son. With this Gaara was able to capture three of the four Kages, Mu managed to escape the sand arms. Mu became engaged with Onoki, both Kages using their Particle Style: Atomic Dismantling Jutsu. Effects of which leaves a giant crater in the middle of the battlefield.
"NOW! MAY!"Onoki yells.
"May?!"Gengetsu confused by what the old man just yelled. Turning he and the other Kages see heading straight for them a rather large blast of bright light."Wh-?!"
Gaara and Onoki move out the way just in time, the blast of light shoot straight hitting its targets. Back with the lingering Fourth Division who gratefully out of the blast range, where just stun and shock at it. Covering their faces from the black lash from the upwind.
"W-What was that?!"one of the shinobis freak."That wasn't a jutsu!"
Temari knew well who it was, she would be proud if she wasn't more in shock at seeing what she saw. That devastating blast, could no doubt laid waste to the Kages caught in it. Still, this was her...May? She heard her former genin had been promoted, seeing her in the meeting the Kages had before the war giving them information about the Shredder. She heard May had become strong, but she never imagine this strong. Even after what she saw in the girl's mind, this was different. That blast was nothing like her smaller orbs and blast she used. This was one was much powerful. Could this really have from such a sweet girl, like May? Looking up seeing the girl flying over to Gaara and Onoki, her eyes not even glowing. They remained calm and focus, though with a sense of relief to see everyone was alright.
Feeling eyes on you, you look in the direction of Temari. Locking eyes with her for a second, you didn't need to go over to her, sensing everyone was alright. You just barely came in the nix of time, executing Onoki's plan well Shikaku relied to you. You where to come in behind the Kages, while Gaara and Onoki drew their fire. Since you could not be detached by normal means, since you lacked chakra. Making Mu's sensing on you useless and with the previous Kages's focus on the two of them, gave you an opening to attack from behind. You put a lot in that one blast, you didn't see any sign of the them. Meaning it hit, you hurry and fly your way over to Onoki and Gaara, who the young Kage was rather shocked by what you just displayed and surprised to see you.
You wave to Onoki."Grandpa Onoki!"You hurry over to him, with your arms out.
Annoyed by your behavior he berates you."Stop that!"he yells at you.
You simple smile, turning your eyes to Gaara."Mr. Gaara, are you okay?"Your words and voice filled with concern. Out stretching your hand towards him, calling to him.
Gaara was about to respond when Gold Dust erupted up like a geyser, right at you. Catching you by surprise, the substance quickly entangles you holding you tightly. Binding you, you try to remain calm to utilize your energy but your mind was split with being stun by this sudden attack, worried about the others, and trying to get out. The dust squeezed tighter on you, yanking you down. Turning around, shocked to find the Kages barely scathe. They began to regenerate themselves.
Gengustu smirks impressed."Well, that was a surprise."he look in your direction."Such power came from someone like her? Well this world surely has changed since my time. What a lovely looking kounichi. Please accept my apologies."
"Mu, why could not sense her?"The Third Raikage ask.
Mu eyes study you trying to figure it out himself. He didn't sense you coming at all."She has no chakra."
"What?"Gengustu shocked upon hearing that, looks to the bandage man, then back to you."What do you mean she doesn't have chakra?"
"If she had chakra, I could have sensed her."Mu tells him. Still keeping his eyes on you."This girl...this kounichi, she isn't-"
Still struggling to get out, you fight your way out. Having enough you coat your arms in metal and changes them into claws. Start to slash wildly to get free, seeing this Rasa has his dust restrict your movements even more.
"She's going to be trouble."He tells the others, having no other choice he starts to have have his dust cover you completely.
"Stop!"Gaara hollers at his father, sending his sand at the man. Who stops it with some his gold dust, breaking a bit of his hold on you.
Your hand breaks through your prison and you fire a beam at whomever. The previous Kages manage to move out the way just in time, Rasa restricts your hand. He begins to crush you in it. Seeing this Gaara sends his sand after his father rather viciously, Rasa blocks it with dust. Noticing the difference this time in his son's attack, Rasa looks to the cocoon that held you, than to his son. The look Gaara gave him ran a quick chill down his spine.
Inside, you remained restrained, with each move you made the dust became tighter on you. It wrapped around your throat, wrist, every inch of you, still you would not let this stop you. Struggling to get out, but with your mind racing like it was, you couldn't figure out a way out.
"Gaara?!"you felt something wasn't right with him. Looking around in the dark. The feeling extreme distress and grief, he was hurting. Something was hurting him. Even though you couldn't see him, you felt it. This wasn't the Gaara you knew, he was normally alright. What was wrong? Was all you could think about.
Knowing this upset and worried you. Questioning yourself, how was this consider protecting those precious to you. When one was suffering right now, and you where trapped in here. You had promised him before, he would not have worry, you would make sure that wouldn't happen. The more you felt his suffering, the more it compelled you to fight back. Pushing back you scream for the young Kazekage."Gaara!"
Your prison unable to withstand your powerful built up energy, exploded. You come bursting out like a comet."Gaara!"you look around for him, your eyes glowing bright with fury. Sensing him right behind you, you whip around to find him shielded by his sand. But it was different it looked more like a woman, her hands covering Gaara protectively. This amazed you for a second, remembering Gaara you hurry over to him.
"Gaara!Gaara!"you call to him. Your hands out stretched to him.
Protected by his Sand Shield, now having manifest itself in the form of his late mother, the young Kazekage had broken down crying over the truth his father had told him. Overwhelmed by it all, he felt healed and relieved. His tears came down like rain, the torment and cruel life he had suffered growing up, caused by his father who remorsefully apologized to his son for bringing that on him, taking blame for it all. Telling him his mother loved him very much, never hating him. Wanting to protect him, even now as seen in the sand. Touched completely by it all, Gaara lost in it, thankful for the truth. Feeling his mother's love surrounding him and protecting him, he could feel her presence even her calling his name.
A gentle touch rest on the side of Gaara's face, using their thumb wiping away his tears tenderly. Hearing them calling to him with concern and worry. Asking him what was wrong, wanting him to tell them. Telling him to open his eyes. He wasn't sure if it was his mother, but it was voice that carried just as much love for him as his mother it sounded. Their touch reminded him of what his mother might have touched him, the touch of their forehead on his the same as his mother when he was born. Begging him to open his eyes, crying out his name over and over again.
Opening his eyes, Gaara finds his eyes staring straight into eyes that were deeply worried over him, to be relieved to find him alright. The way they lite seeing his eyes open, those bright golden yellow eyes that never seem to loose their tint no matter what. Eyes that held the biggest heart he had ever know, eyes that always remained concerned about him, happy to know he was alright. Wide open to help him see another way, eyes that he had almost lost and regretted leaving. Feeling their soft touch on both sides of his face, holding it so tenderly. Using one to stroke his tears, giving him a heartwarming smile. Embracing him, holding his head close to them. Telling him not to be sad anymore. They would fix it, how they didn't like seeing this side of him. Promising to do whatever they could to make the pain go away. Promising to protect him.
Down with Rasa who was starting to be sealed away, looks up at his son with pride and acknowledgement. Leaving everything in his son's hands. Focus on you, the girl he had tried to kill, embrace his son the same way his wife had done when he was born. The great concern you had over his son, he saw how important Gaara was to you, it might have been his mind. But he was sure he for a second saw his late wife looking down on the two smiling.