"You're mother always smiled no matter what. She always had a smile on her face. Despite everything around her. It was bright and warm. Made anyone feel special."
"Her heart was enormous. Bigger than anyone I know. Always putting others before herself. To comfort them or heal them of any infliction.
"Fearless, strong and selfless. Those words describe May all the way. Despite the darkness she was born in, she managed to shine. Though darkness was her enemy and home, she would not allow anyone else to experience it. Which is why she did all could to prevent everyone from being taken by it. Is reason why she always wanted everyone around her to feel happy. Especially you, Hikari."
Sun begin to rise, spreading its bright and warm glow across the sky. Its colors lovely and deep, shimmering with all colors of soft orange, yellows and golds. Similar to her mother's. Hikari watched the bright light push away the darkness. The cold morning chill, whisked away once the rays spread. Morning dew upon the leaves and ground. Still gazed up on the sun rise, the same sun rise Hikari would watch with her mother, with her family. All the time. It started first with just her and her mother, then came her step-father who made time to come back even if just for a little bit to watch it. Then came Yoshi and it would have been the twins. The whole family watching the sunrise.
It was what her mother loved to do, since she was young. Her mother loved watching the big bright disc in the sky. Hikari never understood why, but the feelings she did.
"...Mommy...Everyone." The young Hyuga laments with guilt and frustration. The weight of everything, burden upon her. She could feel it begin to crush her. Consuming her with darkness of sins.
Wrenching upon her heart and soul. It hurt so bad, she was sure her heart begin to bleed. The pain started to surge through her, it burned of the remnants of her choice. No matter what choice she made, it was and would always be the wrong one. Even this one to rectify all. Inside, nothing voices of disheartening echoed in her. No matter how strong she stood.
The sun, the sun and its light where the only thing that gave her a sense of peace. Her mother's spirit she could feel it through the sun. Its warmth, her mother's strong, warm and loving embrace. Letting her know everything was well and alright. She was right here. No matter what.
Her mother truly was strong. How managed to do all that she did, back then, shed a new light of amazement of respect in Hikari. All said about her mother from others, rang truth. She could see why so many admired her. Hikari came to the conclusion she was nothing like her mother, nothing like her family. A family she caused to be broken and ripped apart. A family deemed in her eyes as nothing. Only saw them as false and flawed.
"Hey?"Boruto comes to her side."Ready?"
She looks to him on her left, then to Shikadai to her right. They came with her against her orders. Stopping her as she left Konoha on her own personal mission. In fact all of them did, she was rather surprise. She was sure she hide herself well. But, she didn't do it well enough. And now, now she's dragged again her family into the mess she's made. And everyone else. Her friends. Never had guilt and shame felt so heavy before. Her pride and anger didn't want them here at all. She wanted them back in the village, at least they would be safe. She wouldn't cause anyone anymore grief. Her heart wouldn't be able to handle it. Didn't they understand? This was her own, this was all her and no one else.
Pulling her shoulder away from him, she turns to them both. With an intense and harden glare. Doing her best to push back her own feelings.
In the coldest and sharp voice she could muster speaks."I do not need you to help me."she said."Go back to the village. I have been generous to allow you to come this far with me."Turn a cold shoulder and begins to walk away."So just go back."The last word threatening them.
This was a completely 360 to both the boys. Just a few hours ago, when everyone confronted her. Their cousin was seeking assistance and was grateful for it. Even if she didn't say it. She didn't object before with them coming along with her. While the others did their work back in the village with the adults. Where did this sudden change come from all of sudden?
"You'll just slow me down."Hikari coldly tells them."None of your skills are suitable for what I am doing. So just go back...you Academy Stu-"
"What is wrong with you!?"Boruto throws a punch at her, she easily dodges with speed he'd never seen before. Before he could knew what was happening. She was behind him and hits him in the neck knocking him out. Or so she thought.
What she hit was a nothing but a shadow clone. Stun at first for a second, then quickly dodges a strike from him from above. He was using his gentle fist against her. Putting distance between them, her guard up and eyes activated. Their eyes lock intensely. Boruto was trying to read his cousin's hard rock glare. Trying to figure out why she was doing. Shikidai too. Who was ready with this jutsu. Sending his shadow at her, she moves back just in time. Taking to the trees, getting higher ground. She quickly conceals herself. Her eyes carefully watch her cousins, who look around for her. Waiting for her to strike.
Both of them back to back. Wishing he had his mother's clan's eyes right, cause they would really come in handy right now. To locate his cousin. But he didn't. And had to rely on the training he had. His guard up, his eyes sharply dart all around. To locate any sort of movement. Shikidai analyzing in his mind the possibilities of what might happen and how to counter them. Their cousin wasn't one to let their guard down. Knowing her history.
Entering the Academy at a young age, a very young age. And graduating early too. Her skills where much to be admired and that they where. Completing missions far above her, rarely did any mission she did was not successful. Known for her keen and precision, made her a deadly adversary. They could feel her eyes watching them, waiting for an opening. If they broke formation she would just pick them off one by one.
He knew, recalling that was what she use to do when they played younger. Whenever they played tag or any tag really. Especially hide n seek. Picking off players one by one. Like a predator to its prey. They knew once she had her opening she went in. Swiftly ending the game. Or taking out her enemy.
They had to stay on their toes. Hearing rustling, Boruto's eyes quickly look to see a couple of leaves gently falling. A big mistake, he let his guard down. Right as his eyes turned back around, Hikari stood over him, eyes deadly. Two fingers raised and thrust sharply and attack them both.
Back in the Konoha, there wasn't any new discovery of attacker. No one found anything yet. The search still kept going. If someone was tired they would switch out, the Hokage had broaden the search further. To the close small villages and towns. Seeing if anyone had come across or seen anyone. No information on the Kazekage's children. Word was sent across to the other nations for assistance, which they quickly gave and had their shinobis go and search. Covering ground Konoha could not get too. In Sunagakure Baka ordered the best of the best to join the search. No one would rest until someone brought information as a small a speck to him.
Word of the the Kazekage's wife's condition caused many in Sunagakure to grieve and worry. Many shed tears and sent out prayers for her to recover. Even in the other nations. The other Kages knew with May in her current state, their nations protection was dimming and fading fast. Without her protective barriers. But they could care less about that, when her life was what mattered.
The Mizukage hurried his way back to Konoha, just for her.
Slamming a fist down in frustration, Naruto nearly broke his desk. When word came there was nothing to be found, again. Not a single trace or clue. The shionbi in his office and Shizune jumped back out of fear, of their Kage's rage. If not Shikamaru who managed to calm him down and get him to refocus. Shizune timidly picks up the paper that scattered on the floor.
"What about the west?"Naruto demands.
Hesitant to open their mouth, but do so under the sharp glare Naruto shoot to them."W-We have, but there was nothing. We looked extensively. For two days straight, we haven't found anything."They quickly advert their eyes.
Clenching his fist, that his knuckles turned white. Naruto had to restrain himself from letting his rage get the best of him. Remaining himself to stay calm, for Shikamaru to place a hand on his shoulder. He calms down. But the fury in his eyes didn't leave. He stands up glaring at the three shionbi before them. He didn't want to blame them, but his anger was starting to make him. He could feel it. And had to contain himself.
Sliding his eyes to the right, the fire slowly begin to extinguish and soften. Looking at the picture of May. It was his favorite picture of her, her smile was so bright and warm. Eyes filled with endless joy and happiness. A 3/4 turn in the photo, the wind that day was perfect as it swept her hair up as if it was flowing with the wind itself. It was on the day of her baby shower, thrown for her by everyone. Only sixteen. She was glowing. He just happened to take the picture at that right moment. Calling to her, she turned around with her smile ready. The sun behind her was right, it mirrored her spirit and illuminated her all around.
Her smile warmed his heart, while his eyes filled with tears. A hush came across the room. Eyes upon the Hokage. Shikamaru knew that long look his friend had, the heavy guilt and resolve in his eyes. The same he had years ago when they had to go and rescue his sister from being lost. Plunging themselves deep into her mind. Going through the darkest part of her, no one knew. Just a certain few.
Shikamaru remembered it very vividly. It still made his skin crawl and set his anger ablaze. What he saw and heard. He could still hear her soft, broken whimpers. He could imagine her being hung by shackles and chains like a piece of meat. Both bloody and badly bruised. Dirty too. To put it in worse terms, dehumanized. He recalled all the horrible things he and the others witnessed May went through for all their sakes. When she gave herself over to the dark. To her enemy.
The more he saw, the more it disgust and angered him. He like the others couldn't get emotionally attached to the memories they where force to see in May, otherwise risk their mind being taken over. Everyone had to go through the memories with no attachment. No matter how horrid it was. No matter how many times they heard the sicking laughter of her tormentors. Inflicting pain upon pain on her. Mentally, physically and emotionally.
Shikamaru saw everything, everything they did to May. Who remained bound and restrained. Unmoved. She showed no fear. Nothing. As her tormentors forced her to endure pain, she clearly could not bare. But she did so anyway. He watched with uncaring and voided eyes, the same May reflected as they forced her to endure experiment after experiment. Lashing after lashing. Test after test. There was no doubt in his mind they where trying to break her, but could not. She wouldn't let them break her, because of the leverage had over her.
Should she dare show just an ounce of emotion. An ounce of pain. No matter how much they taunted her to shed just one tear and all of it would be over. Knowing well she couldn't. But that wasn't the worst of it. The worst came and everyone had to hold it in, their anger. Sicking feeling in stomach. Fury that burned with revenge. Guilt of the sacfrice May took and endured for them.
When they branded her. Everyone had to watch as Shredder ordered his men to restrain May tighter and branded her in the center of her back between her shoulder blades with a super hot iron. Like a livestock. He was sure he could smell her burning and melting flesh. Shredder without any remorse and slammed the iron with his clan's symbol upon her back. Pushing it deeper and deeper into her skin. Enjoying.
Shikamaru along with the others where sure May would have cracked, but she didn't. Not even a peep or flinch. It surprised them and the others. Humanity was gone from May's eyes. He could see it.
Like an animal.
It wasn't done just once, but twice. The branding iron infused with Shredder's fire chakra. Knowing well she couldn't heal from that. As it was toxic to her. He wanted her to scream, to hear her scream all her pain. But she didn't.
She didn't scream. Until they found her, found her broken and disillusioned. About to jump off the edge. Everyone had to approach her carefully, they of course thought it was actually her. Finding it was nothing but a part of her psyche. Still it was a part of May and they had to reach her some way. And find the real May. Everyone was weary and hesitant in attacking her, when lashed out at them. Lashed out her pain and anguish. It was nearly impossible to get near her. To get any sense knocked into her. Her mind as Ino's father said was damaged along with her spirit. She was new to this world and life and had to experience the cruel world of life. She wasn't sure what was right or what was wrong. She was confused if more than anything.
A raging storm. Her power unleashed, Shikamaru remembered Naruto. He was crying. Shedding tears consumed with guilt and pain. His tears didn't stop, they didn't stop.
Just like now, his eyes held the same feelings back then. He just managed to hold his tears back was the only difference. His friend felt helpless, which frustrated him. The promise he had made to her dying sensei and to Neji. And more importantly to May. When she woke up with everyone around them. Naruto was the happiest seeing her again. And that same day, before everyone and again during the wake of her Master Splinter's funeral. To always be there for her no matter what. He would be the one to protect her. Nothing would harm her, while he still had breath.
And when things like this happened, he felt as if he failed not living up to his words. His nindo way. Though Shikamaru was in a way the actual official brother of her, Naruto came close. Looking at the picture of his sister, Shikamaru shared the same feelings as his friend. His father entrusted him to care for her and her family. Everything. It was his duty and job as her brother and head of the Clan. He remembered the words his father's last words before he died.
"Shikamaru, you're now in charge of May. Look after your sister. She's going to need you more than you know. Love her. As it's a father's job to be there for their children, it is also his job to protect. Especially his daughter. Now, it's your turn."
And it has always been for the last couple of years, Shikamaru held what his father said close. Should his father be alive today, he would no doubt be ashamed of him. His sister laying in her coma with his husband by her side. Her family gone. He didn't protect anyone. When he should have. What right did he have to call himself her brother?
"Naruto!"
Hinata come rushing in a panic. Over to her husband with Himawari in her arms."Hinata?! What is it?"Naruto goes over to his wife. He could tell something horrible happened. The way she looked at him."What is it?"
His wife panting trying to collect her words, while trying to wrap her mind around it too."...I-It's...The children! Their gone!"
"Gone?!"Naruto and Shikamaru said alarmed.
"Boruto, Hikari and Shikaidai. Their gone!"