AN: I am sorry for disappearing once again, but since I already am terribly late with this update, I won't bore you with the reasons for my delay.

First of all I'd like to point out that there will be a small cameo of NoBirdWithintheCage's character Ran Arashi from A Scarecrow in the Storm in this chapter. If you don't know her already, please read her story – it's simply amazing!

Second, I'd like to once again thank Relentless-virus for the review and creating a lovely piece of fan art for Futaba and Fuu! I've linked it on my profile and I have to say that it's been one of the reasons for me to sit down and finally finish this chapter. You're awesome :)

Lastly, a big thank you for all of you who favored and followed. Your continued support means so much to me!

Please enjoy!

Music: "Just Breathe" of Don Brownrigg

- Chapter 18 -

Bitter Pills

Why anyone would furnish a room with a set of windows that were not only too dark to see through, but in addition lacked the handles to open them, was a rather foreign concept to Fuu. It did however not deter her in the slightest from staring at them in frustration. She even spent a great deal of her time imagining what might lay hidden behind those dark squares.

After all, it wasn't like Fuu had anything better to do inside this stuffy white room — given that she was mostly just dawdling away in-between her sessions with Inoichi and the hospital staff. Ever since banned her from go outside, Fuu's options for entertainment had become quite limited.

'But Futaba promised me that she would try to arrange for me to be able to go outside again' Fuu reminded herself as she tightly gripped the ends of both her pigtails — giving them one sharp pull before focusing on the colorful cards spread on the bedsheets before her. 'The least I could do is to be patient.'

Fuu wasn't sure whether she was even supposed to know just how worried everyone was. She saw the cheerful smiles of the nurses and especially those of Kurenai. But they didn't feel happy. Just like how Hatake-sama had not felt alright that afternoon he returned from this important mission only to end up in the hospital.

And now her innocent request for a walk outside had been turned against her for some reason; keeping her locked inside with only the constant flow of shinobi to distract her from the emptiness of the room.

Selecting one of the cards before her, Fuu flipped it without actually caring whether it matched the other one. What she did care about, however, was the tight feeling in her chest that just wouldn't go away. It always got worse whenever she would even think about her other guardian — hoping that he was safe, healthy and that maybe, if he got back from the next mission, he'd come to see her.

'No matter what happens, I will still come to see you. I am your guardian, remember?'

Yes, Fuu did remember his words. She recalled them every time she woke up inside this white room; each day missing the presence of her silver haired elite ninja more and more.

'But Hatake-sama told me that he cares, so he will come. Hatake-sama keeps his promises' Fuu reminded herself as she firmly pressed both her hands to her warming cheeks.

As if privy to her inner struggle, it was only a second later the sudden weight of foreign emotions approached; immediately replacing the child's loneliness with renewed hope. The presence of the person outside pressed against her like a soft cushion and while it weren't the veiled feelings of her elite ninja, she directed her green gaze expectantly towards the door nonetheless.

After having occupied herself for the last couple of hours by matching the pairs of a flower card game that Yamanaka-san had given her, Fuu would pretty much welcome any form of distraction. Especially since the unfamiliar person outside her door promised to be at least more talkative than the weird mask-san standing in the furthest corner of her room.

As soon as the dark haired girl turned to regard the ANBU guard, she unintentionally conveyed that she was (not) so secretly unhappy with him.

More than once Fuu had contemplated asking him whether he knew her guardian — after all, he and Hatake-sama both shared the habit of wearing a mask in the presence of others. Wether or not that was actually something people bonded over, Fuu yet intended to figure out. In her head, however, it sounded quite reasonable.

It was only because of her previous failed attempts to offer the man some water — or at least a slice of her apple — that discouraged her from inquiring after her guardian; who, as Kurenai had reassured her so many times, was just too busy to answer her letters.

The gentle knock on the door finally stopped Fuu from worrying her lip and she quickly shuffled away her cards before straightening the covers of her bed. Only because there was little she could do to make the room more presentable for her visitors, didn't mean that she cared any less.

Once finished, Fuu looked up just in time to watch an older girl enter the room.

She wasn't wearing the same outfit as the nurses and was instead dressed in something more casual with a nice scarf put around her neck. Fuu could tell that she was a couple of years older than her, but the girl's face was still somewhat roundish and immediately gave a kind impression. Beneath the surface, however, Fuu was able to sense something rather gloomy. As if the girl was carrying around a small raincloud inside of her. It also showed in the shadows beneath her eyes — even if the older girl trief to at least keep her shoulders straight.

Their eyes met for a brief second before the girl's darker ones flickered sideways. The movement prompted Fuu to notice that the mask-san in the corner of the room had finally changed his posture. Yet, unlike the brown haired visitor, the four year old failed to grasp the meaning behind the guard's movement. If she had know that the ANBU had taken this offensive stance in case that she —a suspect under his watch— would move to attack, Fuu might have saved her pout for a more befitting occasion.

So still completely oblivious to the suspicions held against her, Fuu instead managed to identify her visitor as a kunoichi — just like Kurenai was. And while this fact alone did hardly guarantee for a similar disposition, it definitely earned the older girl some brownie points with the four year old.

Pushing herself to the edge of her bed, Fuu carefully allowed her legs to dangle off the side before slowly sliding down to have her feet meet the tiles.

"Hello kunoichi-san, my name is Fuu" the little girl offered pleasantly once she was able to maintain her balance long enough to properly greet her guest with a bow.

The newest addition to her visitor's list just blinked at her, before finally raising one hand to give the glasses on her nose a reflexive push, "I am Ran Arashi. I work part-time here at the hospital and the Hokage has assigned me to study your seal."

Fuu waited patiently after that announcement, watching how the white tiles of room reflected on the lenses of the girl's glasses. Obscured from her own green eyes, a pair of brown orbs assessed her in return.

To redirect Fuu's curious gaze, the kunoichi finally raised a scroll and broke the expectant silence, "I've been handed the notes of the person who previously handled your case…"

Nose crinkling in distaste, Fuu helpfully provided, "Sato-san…"

"Right" the kunoichi agreed; pausing long enough to show that she would have very much liked to inquire about the older medic. "So how about I start by telling you how I plan to continue from here on? Does that sound okay for you?"

"Of course, Ran-sama."

Having taken already one step towards the four year old, the kunoichi seemed to stumble upon the sudden use of the honorific. She was however surprisingly quick to shake it off and both girls moved to comfortably settle on the bed — the small one at the head, the other one at the foot.

Similar to how her silver haired guardian had switched to a very serious voice when explaining to her why she wasn't allowed to clean or touch any of the weapons scattered around his house, Ran Arashi switched to a calm yet authoritative voice once she had finished organizing her scrolls.

"Today we will only go through some of the basics — well, mainly a quick check whether or not there have been any changes following the recent activation of one part of your seal" Arashi explained while flipping through the notes she had hurriedly prepared in advance.

Pausing for a moment to look at Fuu's confused face, Arashi opted to simplify her plans for the child, "Ultimately, I would like to find a way to neutralize or separate the seal while keeping the parts intact. I agree with Sato-san that there's no way to simply eradicate the whole seal. But first of all I would like to start by checking your scars and CPS."

Fuu nodded readily since this was a procedure she was already familiar with. "But you won't do that weird stuff with the needles and blood?"

Already focused on the task at hand, Arashi's attempts to help the child struggle out of her shirt came to a sudden halt, "Eh… you mean taking a blood sample?"

"No. Sato-san pricked my skin here" with one arm and half of her head still caught in the holes of her shirt, Fuu managed to point in the direction of her face. "And then he stuck the needle in here" more shuffling and a frustrated huff, "and then suddenly everything was black!"

"I will have to check Sato's notes later on, but I've only received this task like… a couple of hours ago so I haven't gotten to that bit yet. Had to get through all the security checks on my way here. Since these scrolls had not been authorized, I had to get my sensei's permission before I was even allowed to enter this room" the older girl answered with an admirable poker face as she finally got Fuu out of her top.

Fuu wasn't sure if she was overly pleased with the girl's answer and apparently sensing the child's growing suspicions, Arashi decided to show some sympathy, "However it sure sounds like what Sato did with those needles was a very scary experience."

"It was!" Fuu exclaimed — relieved that finally someone understood her and did not only make light of her distress with an eye-crinkling smile. Still, after a moment of thought the little girl offered somewhat reluctantly, "… but my guardian gave me strawberries after everything was over."

Finally sensing that the girl had gotten over her initial excitement to have new visitor, Arashi took the chance to flood the child's chakra pathway system with a steady flow of her own chakra. She was met with no resistance and deciding that she might as well humor the lonely child a bit, the kunoichi followed up on the last remark, "Is that so? That's very kind of your guardian."

"Yes, Hatake-sama is the best guardian. I really hope he comes to visit soon!"

"Hatake-sama? Kakashi-san?" The kunoichi stared her square in the eye, recognition washing over her face. "That's an interesting choice for a guardian. But it would at least explain why he's been spending more time in Konoha. His signature has always been easy to notice since it's a bit cold."

Like many people before her, Ran Arashi had easily been fooled by the child's pleasant manners. Since the young medic was still busy checking the scars while at the same time constantly watching for any sign of the seal's failsafe mechanisms, she missed the moment Fuu's curiosity turned to something far more bothered.

"Hatake-sama is not cold. He jingles."

Caught off guard, Arashi blurted, "He what now?"

"He… he tingles! His presence tingles!" Fuu quickly corrected herself, failing to keep her face from reddening as she tried to cover her unfortunate slip.

It seemed as if the kunoichi secretly delighted in Fuu's mistake, even if she eventually took pity on the child. Jotting down some more thoughts, Arashi smirked at the younger girl who still appeared to be perfectly mortified by her own words, "How about I check one last thing for today while you tell me some more about what it's like living with the jingling shinobi, Fuu-chan?"

(…)

Ran-sama really is a great person. She wasn't like Sato-san at all and she is so smart. I really, really like her and she said that she wants to look into our seal. But when I asked her what will happen and if they will make it go away, she didn't say anything.

Do you know what will happen? Will we be able to meet?

I think I would really like you being you and me being me as long as we can stay together.

I am so glad that you finally woke up!

Hope you fine,

Fuu

— P.S. One of the nurses explained that our guards wear animal masks. I was afraid to ask, but I am really curious what kind of animal the shinobi-san in the corner of the room is. Do you have any idea?

Halting at Fuu's last words, Futaba chanced a quick glance at the ANBU guard to find him already staring. While it was hardly of romantic nature, it almost seemed as if he dared her to take a guess.

'Oh Fuu' Futaba sighed inwardly, stuck between having to find the appropriate words and knowing that this man was definitely one of the last people she should antagonize. 'I really can't write that his mask looks like that of a fat squirrel.'

While it didn't come as a surprise that the guards would check the exchange of letters, Futaba had not anticipated that Fuu's innocent questions would only add to the difficult issues she would have to work around.

'Horizontally challenged squirrel doesn't sound any better… But if I don't point it out that the mask is quite round, Fuu will find a rather roundabout way to do so.'

Deciding that she would try to think of a less offending description later that night, Futaba finally tore her eyes from the last lines of the letter. She had refused to put it aside ever since discovering it under her pillow; not even bothering to hide the disbelieving sob of relief when she had recognized the handwriting.

Of course the guardian spirit had tried to convince herself that Fuu was fine. After all, it was the one thing that had helped her cling to the last shreds of her sanity ever since awakening from her coma.

And it still ate at her.

Only that the reason for it should have been the way she, a suspect of numerous crimes and sensitive knowledge, was treated — not the holes in her mind or the way she sometimes felt the ground tilting beneath her feet without any apparent reason.

A part of her hoped that this state was merely a courtesy of the drugs they'd sometimes give her to gain complete access to her memories. It would at least be an explanation she could temporarily life with — if it only meant that this wouldn't be her new reality.

'I believe you.'

'That makes at least one of us' the guardian spirit admitted to herself as she remembered what the Hokage had said to her. 'If only I could say the same…'

'I will also keep my word.'

To now hold actual proof in her hands, however, outweighed any promise the Sandaime might have given her. And while it hardly warranted her decision to surrender herself and Fuu to him, it at least made swallowing the nightly dose of chakra suppressants a little easier.

— Tap, ta-tock, knock —

The familiar four raps at the door of the white room alerted the guardian spirit to her visitors even before the squirrel-masked ANBU could make a move towards the door. Their presence wasn't unfamiliar, but with her limited abilities, Futaba was unable to identify them — at least before they stepped inside.

It was the beautiful face of Yuuhi Kurenai, framed with that wavy dark hair, which Futaba recognized first. After all she had awoken right next to her on more nights than the other woman would probably feel comfortable with. Futaba was quick to detect the determination in her red eyes, before she zeroed in on the kunoichi's male companion to see if he would provide her with any indication for the reason of their visit.

'Probably shouldn't let them know that I recognize them. That might make things awkward…'

Moving to sit on the edge of her bed, Futaba chose a different approach, "I wasn't aware that there would be another questioning tonight… The nurse already administered my daily dose of chakra suppressants." To indicate that she wouldn't be able to leave this room, Futaba lifted her throbbing hand with the newly reattached cannula, "I am afraid that I might not be able to walk far."

"Oh, please don't trouble yourself, Futaba-san" the dark haired kunoichi quickly assured her before taking a few more steps towards her; sending a quick glance to the other shinobi to make sure that he would follow her lead. "We're not here to take you to another questioning. Actually… well, you could say that we are representatives of the group of people who have been looking after Fuu-chan from time to time."

The time she needed to take a breath was effectively used to send a glare towards the bearded shinobi who had dared to scoff at her use of the term 'representatives'. "And now we wanted to make sure that you know that she was properly taken care of. Still is, as a matter of fact."

"It's a pleasure to meet you both in person. I've heard so much about you both from Fuu and now I finally am able to properly express my gratitude…" swallowing down the nausea caused by her medication, Futaba tried her best to overplay her uncomfortableness with her calm voice as she lowered her bare feet on the cool tiles of the floor.

She had to rely on her IV pole to properly face them, but maybe it was the familiarity of the movement that allowed her to actually bow to them without her knees shaking beneath her. "It's been a very long time since I've witnessed Fuu this happy. And while I might not be able to see so for myself, I could tell by the vivid stories she's been retelling me in her letters."

Futaba self-consciously tucked some of the more stubborn curls behind her ear when she sensed their surprise at her gesture. Hesitating only for a moment to contemplate whether it was a wise choice, the guardian spirit searched their faces before asking with a small voice, "I take it that you are Yuuhi-san?"

Unperturbed by the fact that a complete stranger, not to mention the convict of the medical security facility, had been able to identify her, the kunoichi lowered her head in what seemed to be both affirmation as well as an attempt to maintain a similar level of civility with her. When she turned towards her companion, he ignored her silent prompt to introduce himself and instead leveled his gaze at the pale guardian spirit.

Apparently he wanted to gauge just how much she really knew and confirming with the briefest of glances that her ANBU guard would not interfere, Futaba decided to humor him.

"I somehow doubt that you're the person Fuu refers to as Maito-sama" Futaba admitted, thinking of the many adjectives her little charge had used to describe the other individual. This man wasn't wearing anything remotely similar to a 'tight green pajama-thingy'. "That leads me to the conclusion that you're the only other person who managed to convince Fuu to address him with your given name, which itself is a truly impressive feat. But you are also related to the Lord Hokage, so your full name should be Sarutobi Asuma."

It took the bearded shinobi about a second before he finally chose to acknowledge her deduction with a defeated shrug of his shoulders, "'Course you overheard that."

"Well, actually I did not overhear it. They are quite careful around here not to drop any names" Futaba mentioned with the barest hint of a smirk playing at one corner of her mouth. "It was actually my first thought when you had just entered the room. You resemble the Sandaime."

In response to her innocent observation, both Asuma as well as Kurenai openly gaped at her. While the kunoichi's level of surprise matched Futaba's own at least, the face of the Sarutobi was quick to exchange his dumbstruck expression for one of annoyance, "Excuse me?"

Finally comprehending how they could have possibly mistaken her words for an insult, Futaba face turned chalk white before it quite suddenly flooded with color.

"No! Not like this! It's— it's not because you look like him! Well… there may be some physical attributes that-"

Before Futaba could drown any further in the mess she was creating for herself, the kunoichi's shameless laughter finally bubbled over. To her credit, Kurenai had tried to bite it back as long as she could, but at some point even the sour expression on her friend's face couldn't stop her uncontrollable shaking.

"Are you quite done?" Asuma finally asked her somewhat harshly and even without her full powers Futaba was able to sense that his emotions had bundled up uncomfortably. Almost as if someone had bottled up a very small whirlwind.

That the kunoichi only succeeded to keep it in for a second or so, before turning away to snort into the palm of her hand, was regrettably enough of a reason to further darken the Sarutobi's expression.

Gripping her IV pole with a firm grip Futaba raised her head, "I am sorry that I offended you, Sarutobi-san, that was the last thing on my mind…"

"Well, could've fooled me there."

The need to explain herself was strong enough to drown the small voice that advised her to keep the following words to herself, "While I am not that well-versed with telling chakra signatures apart… I… I do understand hearts, well not understand understand —that would be incredibly pretentious— but I do catch glimpses of its values. You are just as strong as your father in will and strength… you also care just as deeply… but while you share these similarities, you have a grounded yet energetic spirit… and are maybe sometimes a little prone to temper."

It was safe to assume that the young Sarutobi had not expected such a lengthy explanation. And while it obviously wasn't designed to mock him further, it just hit too close home. Judging by the way his shoulders hunched, it might have signaled the end of this conversation, but there was something about the openness of the guardian spirit's gaze that rooted him firmly to the ground.

Finally Asuma inclined his head and deadpanned, "You are actually a hundred times worse at this than Fuu, aren't you?"

Deciding that being declared a social inapt was as bad as this conversation could possibly go, Futaba once again lowered her head and eventually met their slightly exasperated expressions with a pained smile.

"In the hopes of not having made this meeting unbearably awkward for the two of you, I would like to apologize and start again. My name is Futaba and I want you to know that I am incredibly thankful to both of you. Before I however come up with anything foolish, I think I will leave it at that."

Dear Fuu,

I can't tell you just how glad I am to hear from you and I am sorry if I worried you. From now on I will try my best to write to you as often as I can to make up for the time I missed.

Today I was able to meet Kurenai and Asuma. They are indeed very kind and patient shinobi and I can now rest assured that there's someone to take care of you during daytime. I probably don't have to tell you this but please make sure to listen to what people say to you. We're guests here and it's only polite to comply with their wishes and requests — even if they may puzzle you at times.

That brings me to our dutiful guard in the corner of the room. Somehow I am afraid that he isn't allowed to talk about his mask. But don't you agree that it looks like a squirrel? One that collected enough food that it looks perfectly well-nourished?

I will write again to you tomorrow. Have a great day, little one.

Lots of love,

Futaba

If she would end up taking the consequences for this, Futaba decided that she might as well make it worth the trouble and added a small animal drawing beneath her words — unaware that she would made the day for the guys at the decoding department.

3# Questioning Session | Yamanaka Inoichi (interrogator) | Morino Ibiki (observer)

Y: "Since we already covered the time before your departure and filled out some of the blanks concerning your background, today we would like to work on the profile of the person claiming to be your father. You called him Hiroko, I believe?"

F: "Yes, he— that's the name he gave me."

Y: "Hm, could you tell us what else you know about this man?"

F: "Hiroko… he has this goal. I don't know what it is… or how exactly it involves me and Fuu— but he doesn't care for anything else. He even said…"

Y: "What did he say, Futaba-san?"

F: "He said that I probably won't survive. That whatever he plans to do to me, the purpose he needs me for, will kill me and Fuu. Orochimaru confirmed this on multiple occasions."

Y: "So, Orochimaru knew about your background?"

F: "He knows probably more about it than I ever will… But— nnmh— he never—"

Y: "Seems like that's taboo too. Relax, Futaba-san. Your seal is showing again."

I:"Considering that right now, we're the only people standing between you and your father looming somewhere in the Land of Fire, why don't you try to make an actual effort and share something useful with us for once?"

F: "I can assure you that it's not necessary to remind me of my situation, Morino-san. It so happens that I am more than aware of the tight position I, and by extension Fuu, find ourselves in. What question can I answer for you today?"

I:"You will start chronically with the first meeting between you and your father and give us a better idea of what kind of person he is."

F: "… I don't know him. The only thing I can tell you is that when I first met him —I guess I must have been about Fuu's age— he wasn't aware of my existence. At least I remember that he was completely taken by surprise when he came to the district and found me —"

I:"So you're saying that he was inside of Konoha before?"

F: "Yes, I was already living inside the Uchiha compound at that time."

I:"How could he possibly have found you? You said he wasn't aware of your existence and I am not a person who believes in coincidences, Futaba-san."

F: "Hiroko might have found out because of my mother. He came to Konoha and once he got close enough, we sensed each other."

I:"Ah, yes. The ability to sense emotions and influence them. That sure does come in handy for an ordinary servant girl of the Uchiha Clan."

F: "I am not sure to what exactly you're implying, Morino-san. I've been born with this ability and you may believe me when I say that I would prefer to be ordinary. All it has ever done, was give me trouble and make people suspicious of me."

I: "I may believe that having such an ability has also been a great advantage to you. But tell me about the true extent of this power. And more importantly, how could your father use it against Konoha?"

F: "… He could manipulate you to kill your own family and make you enjoy it. That's the extent of Hiroko's power. I am merely able to read certain people and sometimes calm them."

I: "…"

Y: "You're memories of him are quite sharp, Futaba-san. I can see in your mind that his features resemble yours."

F: "…"

I:"Was he the one who suggested that you were related?"

F: "He… he called me his perfect child. He referred to my mother as delicious and I… "

Y: "He was the one who killed your mother."

F: "He told me that she had served her purpose."

Y: "Alright, maybe—"

I: "So, Hiroko learned about your existence from your mother. Why didn't he take you with him when he came to Konoha?"

F: "I don't remember very clearly…"

I: "Futaba-san, either you cut the crap or we'll continue this conversation once you've been properly committed to my department. And I can promise you that every piece of information you give us now, will be one less for us to get out of that head of yours. So, either you give me what I want right here, or I'll get it myself in a few days."

F: "… we fought…"

I: "Excuse me?"

F: "I said that we fought since I wanted to stay— … He left."

I: "Are you trying to tell me now, that a small child took on a fully trained shinobi who almost defeated an ANBU squad singlehandedly only weeks ago? Is that the kind of ability that you've been trying to undersell to me only moments ago?"

Y: "She's telling the truth Ibiki. She weakened him with a huge burst of accidental chakra… It's maybe hard to believe but that's what she's showing me."

I: "…"

F: "I had no idea what I was doing then. It's… I can hardly remember what exactly happened."

I: "Fine. You will now tell me everything about your abilities, Futaba-san. And I mean absolutely everything."

It was sometime during those wee hours dipped in the eerie light of the coming day that Futaba returned from the questioning to discover that someone was already awaiting for her. While her first reaction was to falter in her steps, she couldn't help but marvel at the overwhelming roar of his convictions — even before seeing the person with her own eyes.

It had been quite some time since Futaba had last met someone, who was able to align his emotions and beliefs so easily with one another; almost as if it came to him as easy as breathing. There was however the question as to why he was waiting for her and especially with this kind of mindset.

Once she rounded the last corner to find herself confronted with the true green glory of a rather tight spandex outfit, Futaba came to a sudden halt.

With a movement that appeared just as deliberately dynamic as it served to puzzle her, the shinobi turned to flash her a frighteningly toothy grin. Something, which in itself, was enough to make the guardian spirit feel terribly out of place. After having Morino Ibiki cross-examine her on Hiroko and her own jutsu for three hours straight, this overly jovial expression deeply rattled her.

"Tell me, soulful beauty, are you by any chance the sister of the youthful little flower bud?"

Futaba wasn't quite sure, if there was an actual response to such an enquiry — or, if there would ever be a time when she'd be able to readily answer him. There was something, or rather quite a number of things, about his question that left her perfectly speechless. Not to mention this strangely positive demeanor of this dark haired shinobi made her head and eyes hurt.

Yet, he finally exchanged the almost challenging posture for a less threatening one, even if he still regarded her with unwavering determination. "Don't say anything! I can tell by your youthful nose and perky feet that you most be the beloved guardian sister of my rival's precious ward!"

Without meaning to, Futaba raised one self-conscious hand to cover her nose while staring at her feet. Was there even something called 'perky feet'? Or did this man just mistake her for someone else? She almost hoped so. Because if this was a new approach to make her spill the beans she wasn't sure whether to be frightened or mildly impressed.

Since the shinobi apparently expected a response from her this time, Futaba finally offered a disbelieving "Ah".

Her eyes then flickered towards the ANBU who stood a little further down the corridor; right next to the door of the white room without windows. She briefly wondered if it was even acceptable for her to talk to anyone outside the doors of this room. So far the few visitors she had received had always waited for her inside that room and her ANBU guards had kept her out of sight whenever they took her to the interrogation room.

But…

"Are you perhaps one of the people who have been taking care of Fuu?" Futaba finally offered to break the awkward silence. Still fighting to shake off her bewilderment, she inclined her head politely, "If so then please accept my heartfelt gratitude, shinobi-san."

Her words made the chest of the spandex wearing man expand with a bundle of strong emotions and Futaba felt her tension easing.

"I was the one who showed the blossoming little flower bud the 'Voyage of the Little Butterfly'!"

And again Futaba felt her eyes widen at the sudden exclamation. But since it seemed like the safest option, she just repeated his words, "Vo-… the voyage of the butterfly?"

"Why yes! I, Maito Gai, have discovered the youthfulness of the swing" the shinobi announced with his loud voice echoing down the corridor. While Futaba was able to recognize his good intentions, the strange emphasize he put on the bit at the end somehow distorted the innocence of his words.

Futaba forcefully swallowed, "I am sure that Fuu enjoyed it as much as you did, Maito-san."

Without prior warning, the shinobi suddenly stood in front of her and grabbed her by the shoulders. If it weren't for the sudden tears in the man's eyes, Futaba would have tried to shake him off. But somehow both the sight and his literally breathtaking sympathy once again caught her completely off guard.

With a distinct sniffle in his voice, Maito Gai stared down at her tense frame still teary eyed, "So perfectly youthful… I am sure your deep affection will reach your little sister, soulful beauty, and one day you will be able to enjoy the swing together with the little flower bud. You will be free of all accusations and Konoha will welcome you as one of their own! Just believe and preserve your youthful spirit!"

Before Futaba could grasp the full meaning and kindness of his words, Maito Gai disappeared without a trace. She blinked a few times while the ANBU motioned her inside the room so that he could close the door behind her.

Alone for the first time since her surrender, Futaba quite suddenly felt heat pooling in her own eyes. Still aware that she was still being watched from behind the dark glass panes, she pushed herself to walk towards the bed with her back to them.

Talking about Orochimaru with the Hokage a few days ago had been painfully difficult; not only because the seal had gnawed at her mind. But while the Snake Sannin's involvement made her question the holes inside her memory and what horrors she might discover about herself one day, Hiroko was the face of her greatest fear.

A fear that now cursed through her veins and would crush her with its terrifying power once again with the first light of day.

Yet, while Futaba had known that she wouldn't be able to fight off the terror without her brother's assuring presence in her mind, Maito Gai had succeeded to at least loosen the tight feeling inside in her chest. Thinking about the words of the eccentric spandex-wearing shinobi, the corners of her lips twitched as she blinked away the tears.

The smile was barely there and already gone by the time Futaba turned to acknowledge the medics who had entered the room to administer her daily dose of chakra suppressants. But it was a start.

11# Questioning Session | Yamanaka Inoichi

F: "The pills Orochimaru gave me before I jumped down inside that river were actually quite poisonous. Over the years I must have been able to build up a halfway decent tolerance since for me they were merely fever inducing and would cause some problems with my circulation."

I: "It was a regular medication of yours?"

F: "No, not a regular one. It was something he'd give me after taking a look at my seal. I understand that my father's design was quite… ambitious, to say the least. Even small disturbances could cause repercussions, hence Orochimaru came up with a medication to lessen these effects and what it did to me."

I: "That sounds like a considerate move."

F: "Hm, I think it was after my chakra went haywire in his favorite lab that he resorted to find a solution for the problem."

I: "Then I take everything back."

F: "It's you job to suspect me, isn't it? And I understand that it must be difficult to believe a mentally unstable person. Especially since her memory has conveniently been whitewashed by a famous missing nin of your village."

I: "Isn't it our village?"

F: "It would be a bit presumptuous of me to call Konoha my home. Especially since this village will only suffer my presence as long as I am able to provide it with intel."

I: "So you wouldn't want to stay?"

F: "… I believe that once you are finished asking questions and I am done answering them, there is the possibility that I will be cast out. After all I very much doubt that what little Orochimaru left me with will warrant my stay. But this decision is not solely in your power and I hardly begrudge you the duty of voting on my fate."

I: "For now I am supposed to observe and conclude, Futaba-san. Like, for example, I would notice how your health has improved."

F: "The hospital staff has been very kind to look after me and Fuu."

I: "Hm?"

F: "Although I am afraid that she is starting to get a bit stir-crazy after almost two weeks locked up inside that room. It's been difficult to distract her with my letters and I am afraid that she's been bothering our ANBU guard lately."

I: "Ah yes, I've heard about their intense staring contests and her attempts to get him to eat one of her apple slices. But I assure you that it was hardly anything and maybe it's about time we move you to the T&I building. What do you think?"

F: "I—… That decision is hardly up to me, Yamanaka-san."

I: "That's true. By the way — has anyone ever told you that Fuu resembles you very much, Futaba-san? Especially whenever somebody manages to discomfit you and you go all wide-eyed."

F: "Well, that—…"

I: "Hm?"

F: "It's… I would actually like to ask a favor of you."

I: "If that's the reason why you've been eyeing the recording machine for some time, I have to tell you that I won't turn it off. Whatever you have to tell me will be recorded. You know the protocol by now."

F: "Oh, I wasn't going to ask for you to turn it off. Actually I thought about something and maybe you could help me — if it doesn't go against said protocol of course…"

How about we don't turn on the lights?

Come stand with me at the window

and watch the night outside.

The moon has built himself a telescope,

to watch over you once night falls.

Because the night dances around you,

the night circles around you alone.

She stills wants to be with you at day.

The night dances around you,

until you fall asleep.

And did you know that the starlight,

right before it sets forth for the sky,

rests on your little nose and smiles

and then leaps off into the night?

The night circles around you.

At day she can't be with you.

The night revolves around you,

and so do I.

With the guardian spirit's song carrying through the white room, it suddenly didn't feel quite as empty as before. While her voice was still a bit rough, Inoichi was able to recognize its true power. He didn't doubt for a second that Futaba could evoke emotions as easily as Fuu did just by using it.

"It really is quite sad that both sisters care about each other so much, but can't even talk face to face, let alone touch" the nurse whispered, her voice thickly laced with emotions.

Earlier, the elder woman had quickly fetched a cassette player to placate the exited child. Fuu, who had never been able to hear Futaba's voice, of course couldn't wait to play the cassette. Now the nurse seemed incapable of taking her eyes off Fuu's awestruck face for even a second.

Sharing the sentiment, the Yamanaka only nodded in response.

When Futaba had asked him earlier, Inoichi couldn't help but question her motives. Finally relenting under the condition that he'd stay during the recording, he had for the first time witnessed how deeply the guardian spirit cared for her ward. It had been as if Futaba's stoic demeanor had cracked there for a bit and now he was glad to have allowed her this favor.

Once Fuu had finished listening to Futaba's recording, he'd have take her back to the T&I building where she and Futaba would be staying from now on. After two weeks in the security wing of the hospital, the medics had finally agreed to discharge the girls — if only under the premise that they were under no circumstance to physically harm the older one during their interrogations since she was still healing.

If Inoichi didn't know it any better, he'd say that the hospital staff might have sided with the sisters — at least if they should have tried to remove them sooner. He himself wasn't as immune to such sympathies as he'd like to believe. It was one of the reasons why Ibiki had taken over during some of their interrogations. Although their game of taking different approaches had worked nicely.

Inoichi's musings were interrupted by the distinct 'click' that signaled the end of the recording.

Despite the child's longing expression, she stood from the hospital bed to remove the cassette. Showing as much care as one might with a baby bird that had fallen out of its nest, Fuu placed the cassette back in its case.

While there had been many shinobi in Inoichi's custody that had evoked his pity, he wasn't sure if there ever had been one quite so difficult.

Two sisters, hunted by a father, who would apparently kill them without hesitation, and a snake sannin who had used them both for his goals, was a fate he wouldn't wish on anyone. It made him wonder whatever could have given them both the resolve and strength to keep going — and if knowing that they had each other had really been enough.

Shifting a little, Inoichi eventually stepped closer to the small girl, who was still standing with her back turned to them. He was unable to see her face, but it wasn't that difficult to imagine the child's expression as she brushed over the neat handwriting that addressed her with lots of love.

Knowing that he was about to take her to yet another locked room, Inoichi couldn't help but feel like another culprit in their life and it didn't help that Fuu turned towards him with that trusting smile; offering him to safeguard her precious cassette on their way.

Musk360: First of all, I am so sorry that I haven't been able to answer to your amazing review, but it seems like your message system has been disabled for responses. So that's why I'll just answer you here! Anyway, I am so glad that you've liked the portrayal of the canon characters as well as my OC's. And to be honest, Sato is so much fun to write that he's definitely one of my favorites. Not that I don't absolutely love the girls, but twisted characters come to me surprisingly easy...

That part where Fuu wanted to stay with Kakashi has probably been one of the hardest scenes to write. Especially since I would've never let go of the girl and I wanted to refrain Kakashi from going OOC. So I am glad that you don't think so and I'll be sure to include lots of Fuu, Futaba and Kakashi in the future. Would be strange if I didn't :D

Thank you so much for your kind words and support. That review has been boosting my spirits!

/ ... / The text for Futaba's "lullaby" is from a German interpret called Wir sind Helden. It's a translated and slightly modified version of their song "Die Nacht". While I do imagine Futaba's voice differently it still fits since she's a bit raspy.

Also, there might be a meeting between our guardian spirit and Kakashi in the next chapter, just sayin'... Ah, who am I kidding? I am so excited! Hope you haven't given up on that yet. It's about time I guess...