As Shade, Aana, and the four ANBU warriors, Hiro, Takeshi, Shin, and Kiri, walked on, something in the trees caught Shade's attention.

"What is it?" Kiri asked quietly.

"I heard something moving," Shade answered.

Then, he saw it leap to another tree, closer to the gates. Be activated his Sharingan and looked closer, studying the trees for anything that didn't blow in the wind. After a second, he saw it, a ninja from Cloud Village carrying a young girl who was unconscious. Shade knew something was very wrong, and darted after him.

"Shade!" Aana called, but he didn't listen, he was determined that nothing would happen to the child as long as he was around.

The Cloud Ninja darted for the exit, but Shade followed closely behind. Each ninja jumped the wail and Shade landed on its edge.

"Very good!" the Cloud Ninja praised, "But I'm afraid you're going to be 'cut' short!" The ninja raised a kunai up to the girl's throat, threatening to end it if Shade moved.

Shade just looked at him and activated his Mangekyo Sharingan at its highest level, with the blink of an eye, Shade disintegrated the kunai and lifted the ninja up in the air, causing him to panic. Shade jumped down from his perch, took the girl, and let the man back down. As the shadowy ninja walked back toward the village, he used the Mangekyo to open the wail like a door. As he walked through, the Cloud Ninja tried to dive after him, but he was too late and hit a once-again solid wall.

Shade kept walking until he reached his friends. "Shade?" Aana asked.

"A Cloud Ninja. No doubt after the Byakugan again." "Hmm..."

They continued to walk to the Hyuga estate and Shade went in. He stealthily took the girl in and laid her on the closest piece of furniture that could serve as a bed. Then, the girl awoke. Shade tried to leave but the girl's Byakugan trait allowed her to see who it was, and she stopped him.

"Shade?" she asked.

"Hinata," Shade answered, "You remember me."

"How could I forget?"

"I have to go."

Just then, Hinata's father, Hiashi, walked in.

For what seemed like hours but was really mere minutes, they argued. Hiashi wanted Shade to stay for rescuing his daughter, but Shade calmly refused.

"I don't want a reward for doing the right thing," he said, "knowing I saved Hinata's life is enough."

Hinata hugged his arm as he walked away, trying to ger him to stay.

"Please?" she said, "Please stay with us. I want you to. Not because you saved me, but because, for one thing, I haven't seen you in over a year. Please?"

As if by some miracle, Shade's heart softened. All it took was the touch and words of a child to convince him.

"Ai right," he submitted, "for you."

"I'd like your friends to stay here as well," Hiashi said, "Hinata, take our guests to their rooms."

Hinata nodded excitedly and dragged Shade upstairs by his hand. First, she showed Aana to her room, which was straight across from her own, then came Shade's room, which was adjacent to her own.

Shade went in, close the door, and sat on the futon. He removed his vest and shirt and entered a meditative state similar to sleep.

A faint "thump" came from the closet.

"You can come out now," Shade said, moving nothing but his mouth.

A young girl around Shade's own age came out. She had glossy raven hair and pale violet, almost white, eyes. Violet eyes, strange for a Hyuga. She hung her head in despair, knowing she had been caught.

"I know you're going to tell Hiashi-sama, so please, just get it over with," she said, slight tears developing in her eyes.

"I won't," Shade replied, hearing her pain. He still hadn't moved from his meditative position.

"You...won't?" she asked, looking up at him, noticing he never moved.

"I promise," Shade reassured, now opening his eyes.

Unfortunately, the reason he opened his eyes was not to look at the girl, but because he nearci footsteps.

"Shade," came a voice outside the door, "I came to see if you needed anything." It was Hiasni.

"Oh my God," the girl quietly prayed, "don't let him see me."

Before she could reenter the closet, Hiashi opened the door and saw her. A look of pure terror leii over her now- pale face.

"Aii" Hiashi scolded, "what are you doing here past curfew?"

The girl fell on her hands and knees and started crying, knowing her life was over.

"Answer me!" he demanded.

"Fine," he said when he got no answer, "then your fate is sealed."

Hiashi performed a hand-seal and Ai buckled over in agony. Shade got up and turned around, looking at her without so much as a hint of emotion.

"Take me instead,"' he insisted.

"Nani?" Hiashi asked, which meant "What?"

"I said I will take her place. Give me her punishment, no matter how horrid."

"No, you saved my daughter."

"Then do it as a request from the person who did so."

"All right. I will forgive. This time. But this is the third time this has happened and I will not tolerate another time. ™

Hiashi released his hand from its position and began to walk out when Shade spoke up.

"From now on," he said.

"What?" Hiashi asked.

"From now on I wish her to be made my responsibility. I will take full punishment for her actions and discipline hex as I see fit."

"So be it. I will punish you as I would any other short of death, and you will be responsible for her in every aspect."

"I thank you," Shade said.

Hiashi walked out and shut the door behind him, leaving the two together.

Shade reentered his meditative stance, leaving Ai to the bed.

Ai began to leave.

"Where are you going?" Shade asked, again, not moving.

''To bed, of course," the girl said, looking back at him curious.

"No, I would rather you stay in here."

"Why?"

"Because Hiashi said you were my responsibility now, and I feel safer with you in here so i may protect you it need be."

"Thank you," Ai said sadly, "I've never met anyone willing to risk their life for me. Thank you."

Ai tried to hold back the tears as she entered bed. She really had never met anyone who was this kind to her. And she wasn't about to go to sleep and not return the favor. She got up and walked over to Shade.

'Yes?" he asked monotoneiy.

"You take the bed," she said, "I'll sleep on the floor."

"No, this is comfortable for me," he replied, "and I know the bed is more so for you."

"I don't care what's comfortable for me, you saved me, it's the very least I can do."

Shade looked at her, moving only his eyes as she was standing right next to him. In this one night, he had learned something about these Hyuga clan members. He learned that it was far better to accept their gifts than to argue about it.

"Thank you," he said.

Ai, smiled and nodded as Shade got up and walked over to the futon. He laid down and pulled the covers over him and Ai laid down on the hardwood floor.

Shade noticed she was shifting and shivering, she was cold and uncomfortable.

Ai," he said, turning onto his left side to face her, "I can hear you over there, do not deny it."

Ai looked at him, curious. "Nani?" she asked.

Shade lifted the blanket to invite her under, making her blush a deep red. "I can't let you sit over there and freeze," he said.

Ai, blushing, smiled sweetly and nodded. She crawled over to him and climbed under the blanker he was holding for her. He let it down and she rested her head on his shoulder. "Thank you," she said, pressing close to him, only her nightgown and right arm between them. Shade wrapped his free arm around her and held her close, making sure nothing could happen.

"What is this I'm doing?" he thought to himself, "There's something about her."

Ai, completely oblivious and uncaring of what he was thinking, merely settled into his gentle embrace, knowing only that she was safe from all danger in it.