Seeing as they weren't all that far away from Kumo in the first place the trek back to the village with two extras took only four hours where Cee rushed Sakura away to the hospital and treated the eight year old for her injuries.
"Is the brat fully treated" Ay demanded when his personal medic entered his office a couple hours later, nearing dinner time, a dirty but obviously well cared for yellow ribbon in his hand that he handed off to Karin.
Before nodding "Though I did find some untreated head trauma from some years back, a slight skull fracture, it was so slight I missed it upon my initial examination" Cee admitted, peering down at the redhead.
Who squeaked at being stared at so intently "Sakura-chan mentioned that she doesn't really know who she is or if Sakura's really her name that was just the name some lady who was teaching her how to be a medic called her as she can't remember anything else" Karin rambled nervously.
Darui scratched his head "Really you don't say, did she say anything else like what possibly happened to her" Darui questioned, Karin frowned and fidgeted with the ribbon Sakura obsessed over constantly.
Obviously concentrating really hard on trying to remember "Yeah she said that a couple weeks before she met Isha-sensei, the lady that was teaching her, something happened but she doesn't remember what exactly only that she woke up not remembering anything at all" Karin nodded.
Finally as she recalled the rest of the conversation, it was then that Cee noticed something on her arms as her sleeves had ridden up to reveal them "Those scars where did you get them" Cee barked causing the girl to cringe back away from him.
While hastily pulling her sleeves down to hide the bite mark scars from sight "Girl I suggest you answer or I'll have Darui hold you down as I pull up your sleeves myself" Ay ordered harshly not helping the child relax.
Until Cee relaxed his aggressive posture and relented with his intimidating expression, easing some of Karin's worries "Kusa-nin on the day I met Sakura-chan they killed my mom by draining her of chakra so since they couldn't use her anymore decided to use me" Karin slumped.
Whispering her answer fearfully "Okay Kid how exactly did they drain your Mother of chakra and why would they bite you in order to do it" Darui inquired a lot gentler than Cee would though there was no doubt the blonde had been about to ask that question.
Karin curled in on herself becoming impossibly rigid as she clammed up tighter than a clam, clearly whatever it was, Karin was absolutely terrified of them learning her secret, the three men shared a glance over her head.
But decided to change the subject for the time being "Tell me more about how Sakura-san got hurt" Cee asked switching topics because he wanted to gain as much information as he could before he had to go back to the hospital and check on his unwitting patient.
"Li..Like I said a ninja from Grass came and tried to take me back, Sakura rushed but he kicked her hard in the chest and she hit the side of cave that was formed out of stone" Karin rushed out, having jumped a little at the unexpected question.
It was Darui who realized something "If he was coming to take you back and he hurt the Kid then how did you get away from him, you didn't kill him did you" Darui asked very carefully not wanting the redhead to clam up on them again.
Thankfully she didn't instead her crimson orbs became slightly haunted "I…It was Sakura-chan, she took him by surprise by cutting the tendons behind the kneecap the popliteal fossa she called it then she jabbed a dagger into the back of his neck" Karin stuttered.
Still seeing that moment in her minds eye of that gruesome spray of blood as her abductor hit the ground and the way his eyes stared blankly at her when Sakura's dagger had found a home in his neck even more was how Sakura had practically puked up her insides afterwards.
From killing another person "That's enough" Cee pinched the bridge of his nose before storming from the office to put distance between him and one of the two headaches they'd brought back with them to their village.
Only to realize that he was trading one for the other, possibly bigger headache as he headed for the hospital and down the halls to the room where he'd left her, thankfully it seemed the pinkette had calmed down some.
As she was sitting propped up by a couple of pillows reading diligently from a book "How long have you had amnesia" Cee asked once the young girl had noticed him and she quietly closed her book and set it on the bedside table.
Then leveled him a look "Three years, two months, two weeks and three days, I remember pain and nothing else" Sakura answered automatically, her amnesia something of a sore point since she hadn't remembered a single thing in that time frame either.
Cee winced in slight sympathy "Karin-san mentioned someone named Isha, who was she to you or can you not remember her either" Cee questioned next, working up to the bigger and harder questions.
"I remember Isha-sensei just fine Cee-san, she was a pharmacist that could the mystical palm in a non-shinobi village, she took me in and started teaching me how to be an herbalist, but passed away a few months ago after getting really sick so I left the village" Sakura said monotonously.
Dark irises narrowed in response "Alright so what prompted you to leave, surely there were others that could care for you there" Cee prodded, not asking what he really wanted to ask just yet but he was getting there.
Viridian orbs focused on him intensely "No Cee-san there was not, that was made abundantly clear after Isha-sensei passed, when I became invisible to all even my so called friends that I'd made, they ignored me like I didn't exist or even matter anymore" Sakura frowned.
Making clear she'd been hurt more than just physically but emotionally as well "Now for a harder question how did you meet Karin-san and why did you help her run away from the Grass Village" Cee inquired.
Tone taking on a demanding edge it was clear he wasn't really giving her a choice in the matter so she sighed "Happenstance, I wandered into Grass, heard her crying the next thing I knew after I was going to leave was that she was begging me to take her with me" Sakura stated.
Steeling herself for the rest "Because Karin-chan has an ability that if one bites her and sucks out her chakra they can heal themselves, so they were abusing that gift, so much so that it caused her mother to die from it, she was terrified and I know that feeling" Sakura finished.
Daring Cee to make a comment or even suggest using Karin in any capacity as she glared at him, Cee rubbed his temples "Out there you called her your sister, but you two aren't really related are you" Cee chose to say instead of what he really wanted to say.
Even though he could be a bastard sometimes especially to people not native to their village, he wasn't keen on using a child like that it was considered torture and he would never consider it, though now he did understand why Karin had clammed up on them like that.
Sakura shook her head in response "Does blood even matter, Karin and I have bonded over our shared losses and I want to protect her no matter what and for me that's enough to call her family to myself" Sakura asked rhetorically.
Garnering a small chuckle "Get some rest Sakura-san, tomorrow you'll be released then we can figure out your situation, though I doubt Raikage-sama will let you walk out of the village so just prepare yourself" Cee warned.
Just before he exited the room Sakura called out to him "What did you do with my ribbon by the way, the one that was in my hair" Sakura pointed to her head where the yellow ribbon had been until very recently.
"I gave it to Karin-san for safe-keeping" Cee called back over his shoulder missing her sigh of relief as she lay back in the bed and closed her eyes to get some sleep like he suggested, when he returned to the Raikage's office.
He found that Ay had ordered Darui to take Karin to Samui's place and relayed all the information he'd gotten from Sakura back to his leader "Valuable assets in the future for sure but I have no intention of using already traumatized brats in a way that makes them distrust us further" Ay said.
Rubbing his chin in thought and the next morning both girls washed up and dressed in clean clothing were stood before him again "Are you going to force us to stay here Raikage-sama in your village" Sakura met his gaze head on fearlessly.
A smirk threatened to break out across his face "Force you no brats, I want it to be your choice that you stay here in Kumogakure" Ay scowled, inwardly amused at her sense of righteousness and in-dependency.
Forest orbs narrowed, prepared to play whatever game he was playing and possibly, hopefully win at it to secure a future for both herself and Karin, who looked to Sakura "Why would you want us to stay R..Raikage-sama" Karin stuttered.
Clasping hands with the pinkette "Guess the both of you are more gutsy than I thought, as to your answer I'll leave that to your imaginations, but I'm willing to make small accommodations in order for you to feel comfortable here in Cloud" Ay snorted.
Not wanting to give away the fact that he had a soft spot for brats "Your not gonna make us live in an orphanage are you" Sakura frowned, vehement refusal ready at the tip of her tongue but she held back that urge.
When he shook his head "No, it's clear that you brats are capable of caring for yourselves so there's an apartment complex with a two bedroom apartment available for any orphans of the village that are going to the academy" Ay smirked.
Knowing that he'd found one of the brats weaknesses as emerald orbs lit up at the thought of the academy then Sakura took in the way Karin shook and her excitement faded "Actually Raikage-sama could we self learn the material" Sakura sighed.
Making sacrifices herself to accommodate her skittish friend, this of course completely wiped the smirk from Ay's face "I suppose but every year you have to go in and take the tests to see where you rank in the academy system" Ay shrugged.
Deciding that was better than nothing "On to more pressing matters, you'll have access to the academy training grounds, receive a bi-weekly stipend and I think that's about all I'm willing to offer on the matter" Ay stared between the two eight year old's.
"Sounds fine with me how about you Karin-chan" Sakura glanced to her claimed sister of the heart, who still looked unsure about everything, eventually Karin did nod, assenting to the agreement of the Raikage's offer for them to become wards of his village essentially.
With that Darui and Cee took them off to their new apartment, "Wow this living room is bigger than my old house" Karin exclaimed the moment they walked into the apartment that had already been rented for the two of them.
Cee felt unease curl in his stomach at the admission "Right, anyway here is the stipend that Raikage-sama said that you were going to get, it's slightly larger than what you'll receive two weeks from now so that you can buy what you need" Cee said.
Handing over an envelope with the allotted funds for the two orphaned girls "And if you need us for anything at all Kid's, across the hall is one of our fellow Jonin, his name is Atsui, just knock and tell him to take you directly to me or Cee alright" Darui chimed in.
Then after ruffling their hair gently both males were gone "Your hair ribbon Sakura-chan, though I say you really should get a new one I know you won't…anyway what are we going to do now" Karin jumped realizing they were alone.
And quickly handed Sakura her yellow hair ribbon that was pocketed "Guess we get to go exploring though I really don't want to get lost" Sakura mused, looking around the empty apartment they were in.
Karin nodded her head in agreement but their growling stomach chose for them so reluctantly after clasping hands so they weren't separated they left their new home and headed out into the Cloud Village.
Unbeknownst to Sakura and Karin at the moment Darui and Cee hadn't truly left as they'd been assigned to watch over them until the two girls adjusted to their now permanent surroundings "Kid is really smart" Darui chuckled.
Watching how the pinkette scanned her surroundings warily, taking in the expressions of the people and paying attention to everything as she walked tugging Karin along with her by the hand "That caution will wear off once she's use to things" Cee rolled his eyes.
Practically certain of that fact "Did you ever find out what the other Kid is hiding" Darui eyed up his partner knowing that he would have gotten the information one way or another even if it hadn't been from the redhead.
The blonde schooled his face into a perfectly controlled mask of neutrality "Yes" Cee nodded tonelessly indicating whatever the secret had been it wasn't good and he really didn't want to talk about it at the moment.
As he was still processing it himself "Oh look they made it to the market" Cee pointed out, secretly amused at how well the kids could navigate themselves in foreign environments, which made him wonder why they'd wandered so far into Lightning Territory in the first place.
It was a question he'd have to ask later though for now his job was to simply observe and look out for trouble the two might run into "It just now occurs to me that they won't be able to get anything back to the apartment by themselves without help" Darui commented suddenly.
Wanting to jump down and help immediately after that small revelations but Cee held him back curious to see how the two girls would handle that unexpected problem when it came up as the duo entered the first store.
'Of course' Cee thought to himself seeing Sakura grab to scrolls with the enclosing seal on it then head for the check out counter "She's a thinker that one, you know I caught her reading a complex medical text book yesterday in the hospital, it was really advanced for her age" Cee admitted.
Vividly remembering the title of the book which was one he'd been wanting but he wouldn't dare enter Fire Country to get it, he'd burn his own hands off first before he ever willing stepped foot in another nation that he loathed.
Darui snorted his amusement, meanwhile down in the market with their first purchase made Sakura linked hands with Karin again and dragged her across the street to the furniture store "Futon mattresses, kitchen table, two chairs, and a bookshelf" Sakura ticked off her fingers.
Narrowing the list down to what they needed while forgoing things that they wanted "I get the other things but why a bookshelf Sakura-chan" Karin cocked her head to the side in confusion, allowing herself to be tugged along.
Sakura smiled "To put our books on silly so their not scattered all over the apartment" Sakura giggled and Karin blushed softly in response as they picked out a couple of futon mattresses had someone carry them to the front then did the same for a table, the chairs and the bookshelf.
"Maybe we should also get a dresser for our clothes, we can share since we don't really have all that much clothing anyway" Karin suggested not wanting to leave everything up to Sakura like she always did.
So a dresser was quickly chosen and the furniture was quickly paid for then Sakura hesitantly bit her thumb and swiped blood on the enclosing seal of her storage scroll to seal the items away before loosely wrapping a bandage around her thumb.
Because she knew that she'd have to use her blood as a medium again as they scampered off to the next shop to get thick blankets and a couple of pillows "Clothes next and yes Karin-chan you can pick me out a new hair ribbon, I won't throw the old one away though" Sakura relented.
When Karin paused and peered into a window to spy clothes "Just a weeks worth for now right" Karin asked use to how Sakura micro-managed their funds, Sakura nodded so they hesitantly split up to look for clothes that suited the both of them.
Fifteen minutes later they met back up at the front with their choices along with a sea foam colored ribbon "To match your eyes" Karin giggled when their purchases were all rang up and sealed away.
Leaving them to head to another store to get groceries "Okay seeing that we do have quite a bit left I say we get a map of the area and other things that we need but I wasn't sure we'd be able to get until now" Sakura suggested.
Above them on a roof opposite the store they'd headed into Darui sighed exhausted from just watching them around around "How can they just keep going like that, they've been shopping for hours, its almost noon" Darui groaned.
"Their use to exercise Darui, Sakura-san told me that they've been running away from Kusa for a month and a half so that means they were always on the move without staying in one place for to long" Cee scoffed.
Making him think of another question he'd like to ask unfortunately it would have to wait as they both spied trouble headed after Sakura and Karin "Torai unless you want to have Lord Raikage rain his wrath down upon your head you'll leave them be" Cee warned.
Gripping his fellow tightly by the arm as he body flickered before the man drawing Karin's attention not that Cee noticed, Darui did however "And why would the Raikage care if I take the piss out of two obnoxious brats" Torai sneered.
"Because they are under his care and Raikage-sama believes they could become valuable assets to the village in the future" Cee shot back in a scathing tone, he thought they were obnoxious to but since they entered the market they hadn't bothered anyone.
Just kept to themselves proving how jaded the two girls were to others, sufficiently reigned in Torai stalked off leaving Karin and Sakura alone as they finally finished up their shopping and scurried back to their shared apartment.
Easily finding it thanks to Sakura's analytical mind and keen observational skills "Phew I'm glad that's over, I'm starving" Karin sighed in relief as soon as the door was locked behind them, followed by her stomach rumbling in hunger.
"Do you want anything specific Karin-chan" Sakura inquired but Karin shook her head leaving that up to her so Sakura padded deftly into the roomy kitchen, unsealed all the groceries, then started cooking lunch.
In the frying pan she'd managed to get her hands on from Isha's before the pharmacy was torn down and once the food was done they sat at their new kitchen table and ate "Can I ask you something why are you always so conscientious of how much stuff you use" Karin questioned.
Curious to a fault it was something Sakura cursed herself for constantly "Isha-sensei didn't believe in wasting more ingredients than necessary for meals so only used what she needed, I wanted to make her proud of me so picked up on it as well" Sakura admitted quietly.
Probably reminiscing about the time she'd spent with Isha, eventually the two did get done eating before cleaning up after themselves so Karin figured it was time to start studying and did just that Sakura doing the same clear up to dinner and that was how their second day in Kumo went.