After eating, Jasmine was literally glowing with happiness.
Literally. She thought bitterly. She was sulking but she would never admit it. Not that she had to, Tsunade was able to tell. Everyone would be able to tell.
Tsunade had explained as much as she could during her examination at the hospital. What shinobi were, what life was like in the village and that she was not in fact a sorceress. She had laughed loudly at this. Long enough that Jasmine feared for her health and her own steadily riding blood pressure. She went on to explain the differences between alphas, betas and omegas and what she would come to expect when mated or during one of her heats. And finally, that everyone could literally see her emotions. She apparently lit up when she was happy, became 'dull' when she was sad and that she could never lie ever again.
I'm being dramatic.
She could lie but everyone would know it. They could read her easier than a book, every emotion as plain as day. Jasmine put that on the backburner for now as Tsunade had found no medical explanation for her lack of memory. Her sore body? sure. Tsunade's hands had lit up with a vibrant green and she was as good as new. Her muscles no longer ached, and Tsunade shot her a concerned look when she recounted the chest pain she experienced in the forest where the gash in her dress sat. Jasmine was the picture of perfect health so why did she feel like this?
Tsunades apprentice, Shizune, who had assisted during the examination with Jasmine's approval, had estimated her to be around twenty-five. This was apparently several years' older than omegas would usually be mated. Jasmine was a rare case and in the eyes of the village, she would never be able to do any wrong so this would be overlooked. Jasmine suppressed the roll of her eye's, fearing a headache at how violent the action had tried to perform itself.
Not that I could rewind time. If I could, I would go back before the clearing and get my own answers.
Jasmine would not take her seal off for another seven months. Which meant she possibly had seven heats ahead of her or, Tsunade mused, zero. She was an odd case and showed no signs, or recollection, of experiencing a heat before. For all they knew she might not experience one until she was mated, as almost always an omega would go into heat after scenting their alpha. She knew what sex entailed; she had most likely had it before if she was twenty-five. The thought of spending one alone when explained to her, terrified her. What terrified her more was finding a man she trusted enough to see her through one if needed.
Tsunade threw her head back and laughed at Jasmine's horrified expression.
No smelling required; my face said it all... great, I'm sulking again.
Jasmine pouted. Tsunade, still laughing, ushered her into the adjoining bathroom to change into a wonderfully soft pair of pants. Sweatpants she recalled Shizune calling them and a matching long sleeved top. For the first time since arriving here, she got a good look at herself in the mirror. She was beautiful.
Unnaturally so. The thought unnerved her. Her face looked familiar so it must be hers, but something was off about it, and she could not shake the feeling.
I'll ask Tsunade if all omegas looked like me.
Her skin was pale and blemish free, she had full rosy lips and her eyes were large and a startling shade of green. Her body was slim but not as slim as Tsunade or Shizune. She had fuller hips and thighs and breast's that complimented her short stature.
Five feet tall. My neck is going to hurt terribly living here.
She looked defenseless. It would be incredibly easy for someone to pick her up and take her who knows where. Or overpower her. The wave of panic passed as quickly as it had appeared. They assured her she was safe in their care and if she could not trust in that, she was afraid she would crumble and never put herself back together again. The past few hours had been a multitude of alarming information, so she needed something, anything, to keep her grounded if she hoped to navigate her new life.
She emerged from the bathroom with a smile, hoping if either of the two women has sensed her emotions, they would not comment for now. If she was an open book, the least they could do is sometimes close it to give her some semblance of privacy. Dark had long since fallen as she shot a quick glance at the window as they made to leave the room.
"Due to the late hour, the hokage and I feel it's best for you to stay at the Senju compound with my grandfather, uncle and myself for tonight." Tsunade explained. "There's no precedent for this but we will not make you meet all the clan heads tonight for them to vie for the honor of hosting you when I know you must be exhausted." Jasmine readily agreed. She liked Tsunade. Her laugh was infectious and if she had learnt anything from the last couple of hours, she would tell her as it is which she appreciated,
I don't need to be coddled. This world is dangerous; however, they want to present it to me.
Jasmine hesitantly asked about the Senju clan, they had the time after all.
"The Senju clan only has three members" Tsunade started. "My grandfather, Hashirama Senju, was the first hokage. He founded Konoha about seventy-five years ago with his good friend Madara, head of the Uchiha clan. My great uncle, Tobirama Senju, was the second hokage. He also helped found Konoha. And then there's me. That makes three."
Confusion filled her. "They're still alive?" She asked incredulously. Tsunade nodded. "Yep" she smirked. Popping the p for emphasis. Almost as an afterthought she added that all three of the men she had just mentioned had in fact died many years ago and had been returned to life to aid in the third shinobi war that ended almost 10 years prior.
The undead.
Horror gripped her. She heard Shizune scolding Tsunade for her brashness but there was nothing but glee in the older women's eyes. "C'mon Shizune, I couldn't help myself. How often do I get to freshly tell someone that? They look as young as they did when they founded the village Jasmine, nothing to worry about."
Tsunade lied. They are sorcerers. Who else could bring someone back from the dead?
She schooled her features and carried on after the women, the compound was not far from the hospital, and no one troubled them on their journey.
I'm sure I'm being watched.
The Senju compound was surrounded by a high wall, much like the one surrounding the village. When they walked through the gate, she was confronted by what she assumed was the main house, with other smaller houses farther back. It was beautiful. There were tree's everywhere, taller even than those in the forest she had woken up in. For the first time since waking up earlier that day, it felt as though Jasmine took in her first real gulp of air. The tree's swayed softly even though the night was still and there was no wind she could feel.
It's like they're truly alive. A silly thought but maybe in her exhaustion she was hallucinating. Some of the branches seemed to move towards only her, as though they were trying to welcome her. She reached out hesitantly and let her fingers brush across the bark of the closest one to her and smiled. Being here feels right. Any reservations about the dead men surely waiting to greet her inside were washed away with the swaying leaves, surely scary undead monsters would not live in such a beautiful place.
I hope.
Tsunade explained that many houses, and every compound, were protected by invisible wards. They would not allow those not 'keyed' into them to enter. She gently pricked Jasmine's finger and instructed her to touch her bloody finger to the door, an almost unnoticeable change in air pressure washed over her and her finger was healed in an instant. "Now that's done, let's get inside". Tsundade turned to her apprentice, "Are you staying the night?" Shizune shook her head. "I better get home; I have a shift at the hospital in a couple of hours. I will see you soon Jasmine, it was an honor to meet you" and with that she bowed, smiled warmly and left in a flurry of leaves.
I don't know if I can get used to that. I wonder if I can learn how to do that.
"If you have the chakra necessary, I will teach you myself" Tsunade said, reading her thoughts. She must have been projecting wonder or yearning, hopefully not jealously. Jasmine smiled anyway and thanked her, glowing with anticipation and excitement. She stepped through the great doors and took in the lived-in house.
Cozy s he decided immediately. There were papers littering almost every available surface, words she could not make out and diagrams, so many diagrams. Soft candles lit the room as she spied a kitchen to one side, a great staircase to an upper floor and an archway leading to what she assumed was the dining area and seating area. She followed Tsunade through it and came face to face with the two other members of the Senju clan. She remembered the mountain carved with the hokages faces and knew exactly which brother was which. Hashirama Senju was a tall man, at least a head and a bit taller than herself, with long black hair almost to his waist. Her heart fluttered. He was incredibly handsome and the smile he shot her did not help with the blush appearing on her cheeks.
Wow.
His younger brother Tobirama, was also handsome. And just as tall. But he was the complete opposite to his older brother in coloring. He had silver, shaggy hair that framed his face and stopped at his shoulders and red markings on his cheeks and chin. Tobirama also offered her a smile, much less blinding than his brothers but just as welcoming.
He must be the more serious of the two.
She returned their smiles, introduced herself and thanked them graciously for allowing her to stay in their home for the night and that she hoped she was not imposing at all. This was of course brushed off as Hashirama insisted it was an honor and asked if she needed absolutely anything. Tobirama smiled again but took Hashirama by the arm, "elder brother, please tone down your enthusiasm, we don't want to make her uncomfortable"
Hashirama has literally deflated Infront of my eyes. He's melting. Tobirama has killed his spirit. No no no no.
A giggle left her mouth before she could stop it and twin pairs of dark eyes fixed themselves on her. She stepped forward and offered Hashirama her hand.
I hope this is the right way to greet someone.
Hashirama straightened instantly, lifted her hand to his mouth and pressed a gentle kiss upon it. Quickly before her courage left her, she presented her hand to Tobirama who did the same.
Pull yourself together. You're in a strange new place, with strange people who keep disappearing and reappearing from sight, and you want to let yourself become enthralled with a dead man.
It was the highlight of her day.
"All enthusiasm is welcomed. Thank you for such a warm reception." She glowed in front of them without shame and began commenting on their wonderful home and how beautiful the village was. Only stopping when Tsunade insisted on showing her to her rooms, which were of course, lavish. She practically melted into the bed as exhaustion overcame her.
The last thought on her mind was that the two brothers had not interrupted her once unless to thank her. They hung off her every word and looked at her like she was the most important thing in the world.
That's a lot of pressure.
But, according to everyone I've spoken with so far, I am.