Forgotten

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Naruto (Shippuden). This is a story inspired by the original made up for entertainment purposes only. - Krystal

Chapter 41: Learning to smile again

Despite being unsure whether he could trust her or not, Omoi spent a lot of time with Yuki. She wasn't being especially talkative, but he enjoyed her input whenever she did. Yuki didn't enter Kumogakure. She remained in its outskirts as Omoi and Bee both believed that they needed to know more about her before letting her enter their village. Besides, they knew that their leader, the Fourth Raikage, would not have allowed it unless they vouched for her, something they couldn't do just yet. Omoi would often leave the village's border to come spend time with Yuki by the waterfall where they had their first fight. Bee wasn't wrong, he did learn a few things about her during that fight. He could feel that she was broken inside. There was a spark that should be there, in a girl her age, but it was absent. He didn't her whole life story. He sensed that she had lost a lot despite her young age. However, he didn't know the extent of the losses she had seen or had to deal with. He thought it was like any other orphans during this time of impending war. Omoi just wanted to be there for her. He didn't exactly know why, but seeing her made him want to get closer.

Yuki, despite not expressing, was very grateful that Omoi kept her company. She was reluctant to trust another person, but she appreciated the fact that he took the time, almost everyday, to come see her. He would talk about his mission, about his friends in the village, about how Killer Bee kept on putting on shows in the village and ended getting grounded by his own brother who the Raikage. She didn't show it in her face, but it helped her get through the days. She still couldn't forget the fact that someone she trusted tried to put an end to her life. The possibility of something like that happening again was there. She found it hard, therefore, to open up. Not just that, she forgot how to feel happiness and to exude it. Her chuckles were nothing but an act. They had no warmth. Slowly, she started forgetting all the good memories from Konohagakure. She only remembered the ones that had left her. It kept being reminded to her. She had forgotten how to take. She only knew how to let go now.

Whenever Omoi felt like Yuki was being too quite or distant, he asked her to fight him. She never denied it. For her, it was a way to not have to express anything. To him, it was a way to get her to let her emotions loose. Not just that, he also felt like he learned something new every time they sparred.

"It's so much better practicing my sword skills against you. It's so unpredictable every single time. Whenever I practice with Karui, it's like I know what her next move will be." Omoi said as he got his sword taken away from him by Yuki.

"That's because you two are friends and teammates. You already know each other so well." She replied as she threw the sword directly back into his sheath.

"Did you ever have that?"

"Is that a trick question? I was never really a shinobi." Yuki answered calmly.

"Sorry. I forgot. I babble too much, don't I? Sometimes I really worry that I make you uncomfortable. I never know if I'm bringing up bad memories or..." Omoi said as he paused to take a sip of water. "Not. I always hope that it's not triggering any bad memories."

"You worry too much." Yuki told him as she sat down with her feet dangling off the side of the mountain.

He took a seat next to her. They both gazed into the sunset.

"I love watching the sunset here. There's never anything to obstruct it." He told her. "I didn't know about this place until Bee-sama showed it to me. He told me it would help me get rid of all my worries. He's like you, always telling me I worry too much."

"I like sunsets too." Yuki said. "It reminds me of home, because it's the same sun that sets no matter where you are."

She stopped herself. She didn't know why she felt the need to share that. Omoi looked at her and smiled. It was the first time she talked about something personal. He felt like he had just gotten a little bit closer to her.

"I wonder if I can see your home, one day, Yuki." Omoi said with an even wider smile.

Yuki was wondering the same thing, about her own home. Would she one day return to Konohagakure? It represented so much pain to her. Even if she was able to make it back, she was doubting whether she would be happy there. She wasn't happy where she was right now, but at the very least, she was away from the most painful place she's ever known.

"You don't have to show me your home! That's not what I meant. Sorry, that was so insensitive of me." Omoi quickly said as he could hear her silence. "I mean, this could be your new home too. Haha, then I would've seen it."

Yuki turned her head and looked at him. He was so cheerful. She missed having that feeling.

"Oh! I almost forgot to tell you. Bee-sama mentionned your name to our Raikage. He wasn't too happy that we allowed a stranger stay so close to the village, but he still wanted to meet you. He said he was intrigued by an unknown kunoichi who could defeat the top genin in the village." Omoi said, grinning.

"Are you praising yourself right now?" Yuki asked. She smiled. It felt natural for the first time in a long time.

"I knew you would look the prettiest when you would smile." Omoi said.

He stopped himself and turned away. He felt his cheeks flushing red. He abruptly stood up and said nervously:

"I'll see you tomorrow."

He quickly climbed down the mountain and disappeared. Yuki watched him go as her smile disappeared as well. Raikage, eh? She always wondered what the Raikage was like. She heard many things about him, one being that he was extremely stern. Rules were above all for the Fourth Raikage. He was a man of his words with that being said. If he said something, he would make it happen. There was one thing she was certain. It was that he wasn't going to make it easy for her. Regardless of the trust he might have in Omoi and Bee, there was no way he trusted her. He probably wanted to test her and to figure out where she was from. She reminded herself one last time, before going to bed, never to show any skills she had learn from her time as an ANBU, as each village had its distinct techniques of assassination.

The next few days, it became much easier for her to smile while talking to Omoi. Unknowingly, he became her closest friend. It was perhaps due to the fact that she met him during her weakest time and he helped her throughout it by accompanying her. She even managed to chuckle at times. Omoi often thought a lot. Sometimes it was to the extent of over thinking. However, she found it very endearing when he would go into his monologue which was his thoughts spilled out into words. He found it funny himself how he would ramble on and on. Omoi was truly a gift from God to Yuki in her loneliest days.

It was a particularly hot day that afternoon. They were both dipping their toes in the waterfall pond to cool down a bit. Omoi was telling her how he wished she could see Kumogakure and its liveliness. Yuki also wished to see it, but the Fourth Raikage had the reputation of being extremely strict with outsiders, especially ninjas. He believed that no one could be trusted, regardless of alliances or not. Although they weren't war with each other, the mistrust between Konohagakure and Kumogakure remained due to many incidences.

"Bee-sama trained me since I was out of the Academy. He can be an air head at times, but he's the best teacher I could have had. He understands people really well. He connects with people by bumping fist with them. He says it allows him to read a person. He's always out to meet new people."

"He does sound like a great teacher."

"What about your grandfather?"

"He was very gentle, but also very decisive. He was really wise, yet preferred to keep things simple. To me, he was the perfect balance to everything."

"It sounds like he was a great man. I wish I could have met him." Omoi said.

Yuki also wished she could have seen him one last time. She never gave him a proper send off. He never told her goodbye. His death was just too sudden. It pained her to think about it. It probably showed on her face as Omoi regretted bringing it up. He decided to splash her with some water. It was refreshing and it did allow that sad train of thoughts to disappear. She splashed him back. It became a water fight between the two of them to which the music was laughter. As they played around in the pond, Yuki suddenly sensed a large amount of chakra coming really quickly in their direction. She turned around only to see this silhouette covering the sun partly flying straight towards the two of them. Yuki grabbed onto Omoi's arm and flashed themselves out of the pond and to the top of the waterfall. As they reappeared, they only saw the pond emptying of its water as someone had landed in high velocity into it.

"Raikage-sama..." Omoi said, his voice shaking.

He was a tall, dark man with massive shoulders. He had the airs of a leader. He did seem stern. His face showed his discontentment. Yuki felt drained of her chakra all of the sudden. It was the first time she teleported herself with someone else. She avoided it all this time as she knew it would require a lot chakra. However, it felt like an emergency and so she decided to risk it anyways. One of her rules for using this jutsu was that her partner, or whoever she flashed away with her, had to have the ability to fight for her to recover of her chakra loss. There was no doubt she still had to work on this technique.

"The Yellow Flash?" The Raikage said as he looked up. "No, it couldn't be."

He then saw her hair flying in the wind. It was as white as the clouds in the sky and just as straight and long as a waterfall.

"Omoi!" He yelled out. "Come down here and explain yourself!"

Omoi obeyed right away as he landed right in front of the Raikage.

"Raikage-sama... We found her attacked and lost on our way back to the village. We felt bad, so we allowed her to stay here. She has nowhere to go..."

"You and Bee sneaked in a stranger within the proximity of the village?! A shinobi at that too?!"

"She has no affiliation to any village."

"Are you both blind? She's obviously from Konoha! She uses the Flying Thunder God Technique! Only a shinobi from Konohagakure would be taught that technique."

Omoi looked at Yuki who gracefully came down from the top of the waterfall. She landed on the pond. She bowed politely to the Fourth Raikage. She looked at him in the eyes and decided it was best to tell the truth:

"Raikage-sama, you are right."

"I knew something was sketchy!" said another voice.

It was a female with the most golden eyes Yuki had ever seen and red hair. She looked fierce.

"Karui!" Omoi said pointing at her. "You told on me?!"

"You kept on disappearing. I had to report it!" Karui replied, pouting.

"You." The Raikage said, pointing at Yuki. "State your name and reason to be here."

"I'm Yuki. I'm only here because I have no place to call home."

"I've heard of you. I doubt Konoha would let such a talented kunoichi leave the village. Not to mention that you are the Third's precious grandchild." He told her.

"I'm honored that you've heard of me. I'm guessing there are spies from Kumogakure a little bit everywhere."

"Are you insinuating that we are spying on Konohagakure?" He asked angrily.

"I'm assuming a fact because no one knows of my existence other than the people in the village."

"Ha, I guess we both blew our covers." The Raikage said with a smirk on his face. "You still haven't answered one of my questions honestly though."

"I did. You simply didn't accept my answer. I should take my leave then. I'm not here to create any trouble."

"You already did, kiddo."

"I've never been good with diplomacy. If there's any way for me to clear out the misunderstanding, I'll gladly take part in it."

"I think you know how."

"You want secrets from Konohagakure?"

"That would be fair since you've trespassed our territory."

"I've found out nothing, though."

"Enough for me to justify your death."

"Perhaps to your own village, but to Konohagakure... There's been quite a few unjust deaths from Konohagakure within your village. Perhaps, Hyuga would ring a bell."

"A kid is trying to threaten me right now?"

"I'm just reminding you of the debt Kumogakure owes Konohagakure. We wouldn't want it increase, now."

"Not well versed in diplomacy, you said? For your age, you are far too bright. It's good to be a kid sometimes, especially when you still can." The Fourth Raikage said with a smile.

It reminded her of Itachi. Those exact words were spoken to her by Itachi when she was younger. He also reminded her that she had to live as a child, not as a grown-up. Her eyes started filling up with tears. She managed to hold them back. Although the Raikage scared her a little, he also had this very fatherly aura about him. He was stern, but there was some softness about him. They remained silent for a bit. Then he asked her, once again:

"Only here to find a home, eh?"

"Yes."

"Let me repay that debt to Konohagakure then, or to the Third Hokage at least."

"Thank you." Yuki replied with a smile as her eyes glistened with tears once again.

End of Chapter 41

Thank you for reading!

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xox

Krystal