A/N: Apologies for the lateness. On the plus side, my vet school apps. are done, so the rest of the summer is stress-free. Anyway, enjoy...Read & Review

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CHAPTER 20

"SHADOWS"

"Sister?" Tsunade repeated.

Kintarou straightened, impulsively moving forward until the Hokage held out her arm.

"Wait," Tsunade hissed.

"Hokage-sama," Kintarou whispered. "Takeo does not have any siblings, let alone a sister. He must be—"

"That's enough," she replied firmly.

Kintarou moved back slightly, bowing his head in apology as he looked attentively at the Cloud nin bound and blindfolded in the chair. The man's head was slowly bobbing up and down, the effects of Ibiki's senbon needles wearing down his body. Tsunade scowled as she and the others watched his head fall.

"Damn it," she grumbled, moving forward and wrapping a hand around the man's jaw to lift his head back up.

The tips of her fingers sparkled with a faint blue aura for several seconds. When the color disappeared, the Cloud nin slowly started moving his lips, mumbling incoherently.

"We're not through, yet," Tsunade said coldly. "I've increased the blood flow to your brain temporarily, which should keep you awake a little longer. Now, who is this girl you say is Kazashi Takeo's sister? Why are you after her? What did the Sound want with the two of them?"

The burly man opened his mouth, hesitating as his clouded mind tried to respond. Finally, after several seconds, a slurred reply escaped from his lips.

"I don…d-don't know…k-kid…was part of bounty…S-Sound tell us…not…say…anything…"

Despite several violent attempts to arouse him, the Cloud nin was completely out of it now. Tsunade frustratingly let the man's head fall forward again, allowing Ibiki to move in and remove the needles from his body.

"My apologies, Hokage-sama," Ibiki said as he worked. "I should have used a lighter dose."

"No, it's fine," she responded. "How long until the sedative wears off?"

"Sedative?" Kintarou asked.

"You don't think we'd actually risk poisoning a prisoner who has information," Tsunade replied, moving towards the door. "Using a sleeping drug with similar effects to a common shinobi toxin can be a surprisingly useful interrogation tool."

Kintarou nodded, frowning beneath his mask at his ignorance.

"Transport him to a prison cell," Tsunade told the guard at the doorway. "When he regains consciousness, I want to know everything about this bounty the Sound put out on this Kazashi Takeo and his sister."

"I'll deliver the information personally, Hokage-sama," Ibiki assured her.

"Good," she nodded, turning towards Kintarou. "We're finished here, then."

Outside in the narrow hallway, Kintarou followed behind Tsunade as she led the way out of the holding cells.

"Hokage-sama," Kintarou started. "Do you think he was telling the truth?"

Tsunade sighed. "It's hard to say for certain. If he was hired by the Sound, then it's hard to take anything he says as fact. However, your friend hasn't exactly been forthcoming with information about his whereabouts during the past two years."

Kintarou nodded. "That is true, but I cannot think of a reason why the Sound would want him dead."

"Your report mentions you fought with four Sound shinobi on that mission to Earth Country," Tsunade recalled. "Assuming they returned to their village, it's fair to say that someone there knows who Takeo is, or at least enough of what he looks like to put out an accurate description in a bounty."

"I suppose so," Kintarou conceded as the two of them ascended a flight of stairs.

"In any case, you should return to your duties," Tsunade advised him. "If I hear anything of interest from Ibiki regarding that Cloud shinobi, I'll send for you."

"Thank you, Hokage-sama," Kintarou nodded. "I would appreciate that very much."

"It's not as a favor," she quickly clarified. "Depending on what he tells us, you and your team may be needed for a mission."

"Of course," Kintarou replied. "I would be honored to accept it, whatever it is."

"Good," Tsunade said. "Then you're dismissed for the moment."

"Yes, Hokage-sama."

Kintarou was gone in a flash, leaping high in the air and dashing across rooftops. Tsunade sighed, rubbing her eyes as she yawned. A sudden burst of gray smoke surprised her, as did the anxious voice of the ANBU kunoichi that appeared within it.

"Hokage-sama!"

"Again?" Tsunade muttered. "What is it?"

Before she could respond, the ANBU collapsed to her knees. Tsunade instinctively bent down to examine her and noticed several splotches of blood and dirt staining her uniform.

"What happened?" Tsunade asked hurriedly.

The kunoichi steadied herself and rose to her feet again. "We have a situation…"

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Before she had realized what she was doing, Jana found herself upstairs in her and her father's kitchen, making tea. She hadn't even collected her thoughts when the water on the stove began to boil. She poured the hot liquid into a small sapphire-colored kettle, which she carefully placed alongside a matching set of cups. Tea in hand, the girl proceeded slowly down the stairs back into the front of the apothecary. Though she kept her eyes locked to the tray in her hands, Jana could tell her father and Takeo still hadn't moved. Taking a few steps towards the empty space between them, she laid the tray atop the nearby counter. As she took a deep, nervous breath, she couldn't help but notice the fragrant odors of persimmon, honeysuckle, and jasmine persisted well after Takeo had dropped the five boxes he'd been carrying for her, releasing the aromas of the herbs within. The lingering stench of fertilizer and mulch was nearly masked by the combination of smells, making the atmosphere within the small herb shop somewhat refreshing. It also made a handy excuse for Jana to interrupt the deathly silence that had overtaken the store since Takeo and Ren had stood face-to-face for the first time in two years.

"Sheesh." she mumbled, trying to feign a smile. "I told you to be careful with my stuff…man, I'm glad I made you come along. If those are ruined, you're paying for them, you know?"

Jana quickly bent down beside Takeo and started gathering up the exposed plants, trying to rewrap the herbs in a moistened cloth. Her hands, however, were still shaking, making the menial task more difficult than it should. As her trembling hands reached for a small pile of foxglove, a second hand slowly intercepted it. Jana glanced up, seeing Takeo trying to help her pick up after his mess.

"Th-Thanks," she said quietly.

"It was my fault, anyway," Takeo replied, not lifting his eyes from the floor.

"Y-Yeah, it was," Jana laughed forcefully, moving to her feet. "Then I'll leave the rest to you. Dad, would you like some tea?"

Taking the man's silence for a yes, Jana hurriedly poured Ren and herself a cup of the warm brew. She handed a cup to her father, and the older man's soiled fingers gradually wrapped around the small ceramic container. Ren brought the edge of the cup to his lips, slurping in a tiny bit of tea.

"Just the way you like it," Jana smiled convincingly.

"Thank you, Jana," Ren said appreciatively, ending his silence.

Hearing Ren's voice, Takeo finished repackaging most of the herbs on the floor and stood back up to face the man. Their eyes met briefly, before both men looked away. Jana kept darting her eyes back and forth between them, occasionally stealing long, curious glances at Takeo. Finally, after consuming nearly most of his tea, Ren collected himself enough to step forward. The gray-haired man stopped within a foot of Takeo, and then slowly extended a hand out. Takeo looked awkwardly at the wrinkled and calloused hand before hesitantly reaching out and grasping it with his own. As the two shook hands, Ren stepped closer, placing his other hand along Takeo's shoulder.

"I-I can't believe you're alive," he said, trying to keep calm. "After what…what happened on that cliff…it's a miracle."

Takeo remained despondent, taking his hand back.

"And Kintarou-san and Kaori-san…they were so distraught," Ren continued. "As was I. All of us lost someone then, and…but now, here you are. I'm sure they're so relieved, as are your parents."

"Yeah, they were," Takeo responded.

"So it is you," Jana said excitedly, losing her nerves. "Then if you're okay, does that mean Nanami is okay, too? Is she here in Konoha with you?"

Takeo sighed, looking at the young woman with an empty expression. "What happened back then wasn't a miracle. I got lucky…Nanami didn't. I'm sorry…if I could trade places with her I would, but…"

Jana's momentary enthusiasm vanished. The young woman tried to collect herself, lowering her head to avoid showing the disappointment on her face. Through the long strands of light blonde hair that slid down over her ears and across her cheeks, Takeo saw the glistening of tears. His hands clenched into fists, smearing the bit of dirt his fingertips had collected from gathering up the herbs.

"I didn't mean to bring up painful memories," he said forcibly.

"It's okay, Takeo-san," Ren said, moving closer to Jana and rubbing a soiled hand tenderly on her head. "And you shouldn't concern yourself with feeling guilty about her…you tried to save her, right? And you did save Jana and I. The only one's who should feel responsible about Nanami are those Sound ninjas, right?"

Takeo turned his head, surprised to see an understanding smile on the old man's face. Though he also saw the hint of sadness in Ren's eyes.

"R-Right," he nodded.

"Good," Ren responded. "I think we should put that aside…we can't change the past after all. Jana, if you're feeling better, I'd really like another cup of that delicious tea."

Jana tilted her eyes up towards her father, her expression slowly brightening. "Sure thing. Um…do you want some, Takeo?"

Startled, Takeo rubbed nervously at the back of his neck. "Sure."

Jana smiled in response and went to work filling the other cups on her tray. As she set aside her father's cup, she and the others were startled by the sound of the front door sliding open, and by the sight of the kunoichi that stepped inside. Quickly noticing Jana preparing the tea at the counter, Kaori started towards her.

"Hey, Jana-chan," Kaori waved. "I just wanted to grab my—"

She stopped when she realized who else was standing around her.

"Takeo-kun?" she said with surprise. "What are you doing here?"

Takeo frowned, folding his arms across his chest. "Long story…"

"Takeo-san happened upon Jana in the streets," Ren informed her, waving a quick hello. "He was kind enough to help her with some heavy boxes that I had ordered."

"I…I see," Kaori smiled, glancing around at Jana and then back at Ren. "And everything's okay?"

"I suppose so," Ren replied. "Why do you ask?"

Kaori anxiously looked away, eyeing Takeo for a moment. "No reason…"

"So you probably want your stuff, right?" Jana said as she handed her father and Takeo a cup of tea. "It's ready whenever you want…Dad and I can put it together in a few minutes."

"That would be great," Kaori affirmed. "I'd like to have everything before I leave tomorrow."

Jana nodded in agreement. "Give us a minute, then. Dad, come on…"

Ren sipped a bit of tea from his cup, and then gently set atop one of the small shelves affixed to the wall nearby. "Okay, okay."

Ren followed his daughter to the back of the store. As their faint voices drifted in from the hallway, Takeo and Kaori glanced at one another. Picking at some lint along the end of her top, Kaori raised an eyebrow as she noticed Takeo move over near the door.

"Leaving?" she asked.

"Hopefully," Takeo sighed. "I was supposed to be home resting, remember?"

"Has it been that bad?" Kaori inquired.

"What, being here?" Takeo responded. "I'd be lying if I said I was looking forward to seeing Ren-san again."

"Because of his other daughter?" Kaori guessed.

Takeo nodded as he leaned back against the door.

"That's not your fault, you know?" Kaori said with concern.

"Yeah," he replied. "Ren-san said the same thing. And I know what happened at that plateau wasn't my fault…"

"But?" Kaori frowned.

"But after that…" Takeo started, staring intently at the ground.

Kaori inched closer, studying his face. "What happened after that?"

Though she could see the remorse in his eyes, Takeo remained steadfast and stoic in his expression, turning away from her.

"Nothing…just leave it alone," he said flatly.

"Are you sure there's nothing—"

"No," Takeo quickly said, not letting her finish.

Kaori frowned, sadly stepping away. "All right."

After a few more gloomy seconds, Jana and Ren returned from the back of the shop, each carrying a several small packages.

"Here you go," Jana smiled, handing over her stack to Kaori.

"Thank you," she replied, sliding the pack from her shoulder.

"Everything should be here," Ren said as he helped her arrange the items in her backpack. "I even threw in an extra few doses of that salve you like so much."

Kaori nodded as she zipped up her pack. "You always throw in something extra. I'm surprised you make any money."

Ren chuckled, wiping his hands. "You're my best customer and you also helped save my life remember? I think that deserves some kind of discount or special deal, don't you?"

Kaori shook her head. "Maybe. But how am I going to feel when you go out of business because of these special deals?"

"Won't happen, Kaori-chan," Jana grinned. "Dad likes to be modest, but we've got enough business with the hospital alone to make good money. Hey, that reminds me, how much do I owe you for this afternoon?"

Kaori looked away, her face growing slightly red. "Ah…um, Kintarou and I aren't sure if we still want to get together."

"What?" Jana said with surprise. "But it was your idea, remember? Did something happen with…"

Jana followed Kaori's eyes towards Takeo. "Oh…well, I'll be here if you guys change your minds."

Ren glanced over at Takeo, who looked back at him with an equally confused look.

"Well, I should be going," Kaori said anxiously moving to the door.

"So should I," Takeo quickly added.

Ren and Jana frowned.

"Are you sure you can't stay, Takeo-san," Ren inquired. "We'd really it if you'd join us for lunch. And I know Jana would appreciate it, too."

"Please," Jana smiled. "It's not like everyone gets a chance to talk to the person who saved their life."

"Sorry," Takeo said as he turned, grabbing the door handle. "I really need to get some rest."

Before Ren or Jana could reply, Takeo had opened the door and was already on his way. Kaori frowned as she followed him with her eyes.

"He's still really tired," Kaori suggested, trying to apologize for him. "I'm sure by tonight he'll be more like himself."

"Tonight?" Jana questioned.

"Oh, that's right," Kaori started. "I forgot to mention the other reason I dropped by. His family wanted to make sure you two were coming to the ceremony tonight."

"Well, we'd be honored," Ren smiled. "But may I ask why they're holding a ceremony if Takeo-san is back home and well?"

"It's not that kind of ceremony anymore," Kaori grinned. "Just come to my family's restaurant at eight, okay?"

"As you wish," Ren nodded. "Jana?"

"We'll be there," she affirmed.

"Great," Kaori said, moving to the door. "Then I'll see you two later."

Waving, Kaori stepped outside amidst the goodbyes from Ren and Jana. Securing the pack around her shoulders, she started off. As she crossed the street and began the trek towards her home, she spotted Takeo's sullen form walking in the distance. Hesitantly, she hurried over and fell in stride beside him.

"Hey," she said.

Takeo kept his eyes on the ground. "What do you want, Kaori?"

Kaori scowled. "Right now I want you to quit being such an ass. I thought you lost your attitude when you left the Hokage's office this morning."

Takeo slowed, mumbling to himself as he rubbed his eyes. "Look…no, you're right. I'm sorry, okay? I just really need to get home and get some sleep."

"First, it's not okay," Kaori replied, moving around in front of him. "I don't like seeing you act like a brooding jerk…I'd rather see you act like the cheerful and confident jerk you used to be."

Takeo glanced over, trying to suppress a grin. Kaori caught it and smiled as well.

"And second," she continued. "I think if there's something that's bothering you, you should talk to someone about it. Keigo-san, Tsunade-sama, Kintarou-kun, me…we all want to help, you know that, right?"

"I know," Takeo answered, stuffing his hands into his jacket. "But I really don't want to talk about anything else now, okay? Especially after talking with Ren-san again."

"Are you still feeling guilty about Nanami?"

Takeo cringed as that name rolled from Kaori's lips. He uneasily pulled a hand from his pocket, running it through his disheveled hair. Without thinking, he slowly lowered it to the scar below his eye.

"Does it hurt?" Kaori asked, noticing his preoccupation with it. "I can fix it if you want? Should only take a few minutes."

"No," Takeo quickly responded. "It's fine, it doesn't hurt."

Kaori frowned. "How'd you get that anyway? By the looks of it, you're lucky to still have your eye."

Any progress Kaori had made in trying to get Takeo to open up was erased, as he quickly increased his pace.

"Takeo-kun?"

"I'm going home," Takeo said sternly, not looking back. "Bye, Kaori."

Kaori watched, silently cursing at both herself and Takeo.

"Please snap out of it, Takeo-kun," she whispered, reluctantly heading home in the opposite direction.

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Startled by the chilling and agonizing cries echoing around the darkened cave, he finally regained consciousness. Dazed and slightly disoriented, he found himself lying uncomfortably on his back, the right side of his face almost adhered to the ground in a mixture of blood, dirt, and dead bits of grass. His right eye, too, was covered by the dried crimson liquid, making it even harder to discern where he was. Then he heard the screaming again. It was louder this time, filled with greater despair and sadness. He forced himself to his knees, grimacing and clutching at the deep gash along his ribs. Pulling at the bottom of his torn black shirt, he wiped away the blood from his eye and the side of his face. Much of his brown hair had been matted to his cheek, and still remained clumped together as he yanked the tangled strands away from his face. Hurriedly feeling around inside the pouch around his waist, his expression hardened as he found his last kunai. Shakily, he rose to his feet. With a silent prayer, he started forward, stumbling along the uneven surface of the cave floor, until the desperate cries from the young girl suddenly stopped. Standing in the pitch-black of the dank and dreary cavern, he could hear nothing. The silence was deafening, and made his heart stop.

"No…" he mumbled, seething and tightening his grip around the blade in his hand.

He kept his ears open, wanting to hear something that would prove there was still life left in that girl. But again he heard nothing, except the crackling sounds of his own shallow breathing. Lowering his head, he angrily threw his kunai into the shadows, hearing it clang off of the cave wall several feet away.

"No!"

"No!"

Awakened and out of breath, Takeo jumped from his bedroll. Glancing around, he quickly regained his senses. Rubbing a hand through his sweat-soaked hair, he lowered himself back onto his bed and longingly stared out the lone window in his room. As he watched the sun begin to fall towards the horizon, he found himself tracing over the scar around his eye and nose.

"I'm sorry," he whispered guiltily as he closed his eyes, trying to forget those cries from the shadows.

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From the sky, the cries of startled sparrows resonated as the sun slowly disappeared into the depths behind the trees. Illuminated by the pale glow of twilight, several black-clad figures lay motionless within the shadows of the forest underbrush. Worn shuriken, chipped kunai blades, and bloodstained katana lay scattered between them, remnants of a disastrous battle. A sharp, unsettling wind suddenly whipped through the early evening air, rustling the leaves in the forest canopy as well as the clumps of crimson-colored grass spread over the ground. From atop one of the shorter elms nearby, a tall, longhaired silhouette surveyed the carnage. Glancing down at the base of the tree, the man watched as a second, lankier body emerged from a hole in the earth. A third quickly appeared beside him, stepping out from the shade and revealing the heavy, over-sized cloak masking his appearance. The second man tapped against the trunk of the tree, looking up briefly.

"Satisfied?" he muttered.

The taller man refused to acknowledge him, keeping his emerald-colored eyes locked to the field of dead bodies below. After a few seconds of silence, the man stepped from his perch on the highest branch. A loud crunch accompanied the sound of his feet hitting the ground as he landed gracefully on the forest floor below. Looking down, the man smiled. The white, wooden mask underneath his sandals had shattered upon his landing, losing its dog-like shape. Staring at the broken pieces, the man chuckled to himself as he kicked several of the larger fragments towards the dead ANBU a few feet away. He moved slowly through the maze of corpses, entranced by the anguish and pain etched into the faces of the lifeless victims. Noticing the warm and pleasant smiles on the pair of females lying comfortably in the center of the mess, the taller man sighed. Stepping beside them, he nudged the younger of the two with his foot, causing her to groggily lift her head. The older girl awoke as well, gradually rising to her feet along with her companion. The other two men soon joined the three, and together the five calmly started out of the forest.

"That was fun," the older of the girls yawned, brushing her cherry hair from her face.

"You said it, onee-chan!" the younger replied cheerily.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it," the taller man said as the quintet emerged into a small clearing, allowing the pale moonlight to radiate off the ivory locks hanging around his scarred head. "If everything goes as we hope, we'll be having even more fun."

"Sir?" the lanky man started.

The taller man smiled, his metal-lined teeth glistening brightly. "An old acquaintance of ours has gone home. But if things fall into place, he'll soon be coming out to play…"

Eerie, earsplitting laughter sounded through the area as the five marched ahead, back into the shadows beneath the trees.