Love from Another
Chapter 2

"What was that strong feeling I felt back there?" Tetsumari said when she had stopped running; she panted heavily and sighed, "Moukoshi…"

She collapsed on the floor and threw punches at the ground several times with her small fists.

"I couldn't even do anything!" she yelled crying at the same time, "I'm so useless!"

"What's wrong child?" a very old lady appeared next to her that startled her. She was wearing a plain white kimono and her gray hair was tied back into a bun.

"Who are you?" Tetsumari asked politely looking at her.

"You can call me Granny," she answered with the kindest smile ever.

"Oh, okay hey Granny, I'm Tetsumari Tora." Tetsumari began to feel a little conformable around this stranger. Granny walked over to Tetsumari and wiped the tears that were rolling down her face with the long sleeves of her kimono.

"There, much better, you look a lot prettier when you're not crying. You don't want wrinkles when you're still young do you?" Granny teased looking at her dried face now, "So what's wrong? A young girl like you shouldn't be out here alone."

Tetsumari was a bit calmer and told Granny about what had just happened earlier with full details. She told Granny about her brother, the tiger eye necklace, and the two guys that were after her. Tetsumari ended the story with a long sigh.

"That is terrible, I'm sorry." Granny had a shocked expression on her face, "So you don't have anywhere to stay now?"

"No… not anymore…I have a feeling that everything blew up because just when I stopped running, I felt something weird. It was like an explosion full of chakra." Tetsumari hung her head down low.

"Well then, would you like to come live with me?"

"Can I really?" Tetsumari was surprised and happy, "But wait, what about your family?"

"I live alone; all my children and grandchildren had all grown up already."

"But do you mind?"

"Of course not, besides it would be nice to have company. Watching over you would be like watching over my own kids."

"Okay then, thanks for taking me in."

"You're welcome. Well come along, it will be very cold once it gets dark." The little five years old followed after Granny. They had a long conversation while walking with each other home. After awhile, they finally reached Tetsumari's new home. It was a nice size house; not too small and not too big, it was perfect for about two people to live in.

"Here we are! I'll fix you something to eat." Granny pulled her into the kitchen and sat her down in a seat near the table.

"Oh it's okay Granny, I don't want to be a burden. I'm not really that hungry."

"Don't be silly, I don't mine. You must be tired from everything that went on today" Granny walked around the kitchen gathering food to cook up something to eat, "Besides, you need some meat on your bones."

Granny cooked up some food that smelled really delicious. Tetsumari couldn't wait to eat whatever Granny was cooking because whatever it is, the taste must be even better than the smell. When Granny was finished she placed a variety of food down on to the table.

"Here, try it, " Granny said giving Tetsumari a bowl of rice with a few meat in it, "And don't be shy to ask for more."

Tetsumari took a small bite out of it and immediately fell in love.

"Mmm! This is the best! I've never tasted anything this great before!" Tetsumari gobbled up the rest of the food in her bowl

"Thanks," Granny was eating the food she cooked too.

"Most of the time, my brother would cook and to tell you the truth, he's not really good at it, but I don't like hurting his feelings." Tetsumari joked around. They both end up laughing and eating some more until they were too full to move.

As weeks passes by, Granny and Tetsumari's relationship grew stronger and stronger. Granny was like the mother Tetsumari never had. She took care of her, loved her, and taught her many things, including techniques. Granny was an excellent medical ninja who was admired by many. She had taught Tetsumari a few basic healing techniques which Tetsumari practiced everyday along with a few things she remembered her brother teaching her. She even tried to make up a few of her own moves based off the one she knew already.

So far she knew how to do both her clan's Kekkei Genkei (Bloodline Limit); Katsugan (Keen Tiger Eyes) and Henkei no Jutsu (Transforming beast Technique, but haven't perfected it yet. Tetsumari had also almost perfected Shōsen Jutsu (Mystical Palm Technique), a healing technique that Granny had taught her and some taijutsu with some ninjutsu she made up. She could also use her arrows to aim at targets perfectly without messing up now too.

A year had already passed by now and Tetsumari is now six. One day, Granny and her were out buying some food for tomorrow night's dinner. While strolling around with Granny, Tetsumari overheard some kids talking about academy school.

"I'm so excited, academy school is starting pretty soon!" a young girl cheered.

"Yeah I'm going to be the best shinobi there will ever be," a confident little boy said posing.

"Oh please! I will!" another kid yelled.

"Hm? Academy school? What's that?" Tetsumari wondered while watching the kids talk some more about it. When Granny and Tetsumari were done grocery shopping and was heading home, Tetsumari asked Granny about what academy school was.

"Granny what's academy school? I heard kids talking about it a lot earlier. I also recall my older brother telling me about it, but it was just about his experience mainly."

"Oh, well academy school is a school that prepares you for the life of the ninja. You learn a few basic techniques there and about the 'way of the ninja'. It basically prepares you before you become a genin rank ninja, then from there you move onto higher ranks and higher ranks." Granny explained more about academy school until they reached home.

"Wow that's amazing! I wish I could go there!" Tetsumari was overwhelmed and was daydreaming about how she would become a ninja while helping Granny put the groceries away.

"Well it's getting late, you should go to bed," Granny said when they were done putting the food away.

"Alright Granny, "Tetsumari gave Granny a hug with a kiss on the check. She was about to go to her room until Granny had stopped her.

"Tetsumari?" Granny called out.

"Yes Granny?"

"Out of curiosity, why do you hug me than give me a kiss on the cheek?"

"Oh," Tetsumari was a bit sad, but tried to smile, "Ever since I was little, my older brother would always give me a hug and kiss on the forehead instead, that's all. It just kind of reminds me of him."

"Oh, I see" Granny looked at Tetsumari's sad eyes, "Okay you may go to bed now."

"Goodnight, sweet dreams Granny."

"You too…" Tetsumari walked into her room playing back memories of her brother, "Moukoshi."

Tetsumari lied down on her futon and fell asleep.

[Dream]

"Tetsumari," a cheery voice called out. Tetsumari looked around to see who was calling her.

"Huh? Who is it?" She asked still looking around.

"You don't remember me?"

"Where are you?"

"Turn around baby sister."

"Baby sister?" Tetsumari turned around to see her brother looking at her, "Moukoshi! I missed you so much!"

She ran up to him and gave him a big hug with happy tears rolling down from her eyes.

"You've changed a lot Tetsumari, I'm sorry I wasn't able to be there for you, but I'm glad you're in the right hands. Tell Granny I said thanks." Moukoshi looked down on his little sister.

"But you can watch out for me now, right?" Tetsumari was puzzled.

"I don't have much time left; please take care of yourself…"

"What do you mean? Don't leave Moukoshi! Please don't leave me again!" Tetsumari cried.

[End Dream]

Tetsumari woke up from her dream shocked and sweating all over.

"It was just a dream? It all felt so real…" she signed sadly and lay back down to sleep.