Um okay so, I hope you guys didn't feel that the wait for this chapter was too long. But here it is! It's been so long since I've written it that I don't even remember what happens, haha. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy it! And please, pardon me if this AN is boring and lame, but I'm super tired. Anyway! Enjoy!
Having not gone home last night, Maia found herself waking up to the smell of breakfast. Cracking her eyes open, Maia looked around Kiba's bedroom. It was just as she'd remembered it before she'd moved in with… shaking her head, Maia sat up. She wouldn't think of that right now. Or so she wanted to not do. Sighing, Maia held her head with her hands. She needed to get over this. She hadn't known him very well as it was. But, he was still her father. The way he always had a cigarette in his mouth, the way he grinned and nervously scratched the back of his head; Maia missed all of it. Tears brimmed at the corners of her eyes as she fought back tears thinking of her now dead father.
"Maia, are you okay?" Startled, Maia looked up to see Kiba carrying a tray of food. She managed a small smile and a nod. He would know it wasn't true, but she had to try for his sake. He half smiled to her and walked over to the bed, setting the tray down in front of her. Kiba moved to sit next to her, and pulled her into his arms.
"I miss him Kiba," she murmured into his bare chest. Normally this sight would have her flushing a brilliant shade of red, but right now all she could think of was how she and her half-brother were orphans. Kiba sighed and continued to hold Maia, smoothing her hair down. She'd been crying in her sleep most of the night, worrying him to death.
"I know you do Maia," he said softly, kissing the top of her head. "I'm so sorry this had to happen to you." Maia let everything out then, crying harder than she had in a while. He'd been her only family. The only person in her life that she could've even begun to connect with. "You were a lot like him though," Maia pulled away from Kiba and looked up at him, his beautiful onyx eyes making her feel a bit better. Kiba took the chance to caress her cheek then, wiping her tears away with the pad of his thumb. "He would have done anything for his team mates and loved ones that I know for a fact. And you would do the very same. If nothing else, you and your little brother can carry on his legacy," Kiba told her, wiping away a few more tears.
"Thank you Kiba," Maia murmured, kissing him gently on the lips. Kiba returned her kiss and then smiled, kissing her forehead.
"Now you eat up, we've got a long day ahead of us. Don't want you to faint from hunger," he joked. Maia managed to smile and stop crying. She looked at the food he'd made for her and pulled it closer. It all looked very good and she had to admit, she was starving.
A giggle was what Yuuki woke up to the next morning. Opening her bright purple eyes, the blond girl looked around and soon found the source of said giggle. Groaning, Yuuki sat up in bed, her head pounding. She rubbed her forehead and then looked over to the girl.
"Where am I?" she asked her. All she got was a giggle in response to her question. Yuuki glared at the younger girl, wanting an answer. Her look demanded more than requested however. The little girl laughed again and then did a little dance, obviously excited to be seeing Yuuki there.
"The Hyuuga compound," she said through her giggle fit. Yuuki's eyes widened and she jumped out of bed. She quickly got dizzy however and fell softly to the floor. "You were out in the rain for some time so I wouldn't do that if I were you," the girl said.
"Hanabi," a new, gentler voice scolded. "Be nice to our guest." That was when Hinata walked into the room. She walked over to Yuuki and helped her to get back up and sit down on the edge of the bed. "Go do your chores Hanabi," Hinata told the younger girl. Said girl pouted and dramatically exited the room. Laughing, Hinata grabbed a cold wash cloth and told Yuuki to lie down. The blond did as she was told and allowed Hinata to take care of her. "She's right you know, you got a cold from that little discussion you had with Neji-san last night," Hinata commented. Yuuki pouted as Hanabi had and refused to look at Hinata as she dabbed her forehead with the cold cloth. A moment of silence passed between the two before Yuuki finally spoke.
"Thank you," she murmured. Hinata smiled at her somewhat childish behavior and then set the cloth down in the bowl of water it called home.
"You remind me a lot of someone I know," Hinata said. This got Yuuki's attention. She turned her head to face the Hyuuga girl and waited for her to continue. When she didn't, Yuuki got irritated.
"Who?" she asked, holding back the irritation from her voice. Hinata blushed and then stood from the bed.
"Well, I'll just go and let Neji know that you're awake," she murmured. Yuuki propped herself up on her elbows, about to say something when the door shut behind Hinata. Sighing, Yuuki laid back down and stared up at the ceiling. Had last night really happened? Had she really told Neji she loved him? Had he really kissed her? All these different questions were running through her mind when Neji walked into the room.
"How are you feeling?" he asked her, standing in from of the window. Neji wasn't looking at her, but instead staring out at the garden. Yuuki noticed this and frowned. He didn't want to look at her. So last night had just been one big hoax.
"Do not expect such things from me, Yuuki-chan," That statement rushed through her mind and she had to shake her head to get rid of it. "Better," a total lie. Yuuki felt like crap, for more than one reason.
"No you're not," he was looking at her now and when Yuuki looked up, she was fixated on his eyes. An emotion she couldn't quite peg was showing in those white orbs, one she hoped was concern. "Something is bothering you," Neji stated, walking over to her. Yuuki felt butterflies coil up in her belly and looked away from the Hyuuga.
"No really Neji," she said. "I'm," the nervous feeling she had was getting worse the closer he got. And now, with him sitting right next to her, it was way worse. "I'm fine," that was when Yuuki began fiddling with her thumbs. Neji sighed and pushed her chin up gently so he could look at her.
"Do not lie to me Yuuki," he said quietly. Yuuki looked into his eyes and gave in. She would have to tell him some time. Better now than later.
"I was just," Yuuki tried to find the words to describe what was going through her mind. "I just thought that you wouldn't look at me earlier because last night was all just… I don't know." Yuuki looked away from him again, not wanting him to see the defeat in her eyes. She heard a sigh come from Neji and some part of her wanted to believe what she thought was true. But an even bigger part knew that he was sighing because she was being ridiculous.
"Do you remember what I told you last night Yuuki?" there was no chan suffix this time, thus catching Yuuki off guard. Her eyes shot up to look into his and she found a smirk playing at his lips. Well that was knew. He never smirked, let alone made most normal facial expressions. Nodding slowly, Yuuki couldn't form a coherent sentence or thought for that matter. "Then you should know that I would never tell you such things or do such things as this," he paused to kiss her gently. Yuuki nearly melted. "And not mean it." Yuuki smiled, holding back the cough that threatened to break through. Not able to hold back any longer, she held one finger and then turned away from him. Having finished hacking up a lung, Yuuki turned back to face her Hyuuga.
"So, are you and I," she pointed to the both of them. "Like, together now?" Yuuki asked; a puzzled expression on her face. Neji nodded, kissing her again. When he pulled away, Yuuki was smiling brightly. The feelings running through her right now allowing her to soar above and beyond anything she'd ever felt.
Removing his headband from his forehead, Hisoka Maki walked through the frozen tundra that was their lost island. Silence filled the air as he walked; all sound was gone aside from the sound of Hisoka's feet crunching the snow beneath his feet. He'd been walking for about a day now and still hadn't reached the frigid shore line of their island. No one would find them out here, of that Hisoka and his boss were sure. The assassin laughed at the thought of his boss. No one knew his real name, in fact, he called himself Raiden. As if he weren't full of himself enough, now he called himself a thunder god. The practically silent buzz of the ice fireflies surrounded Hisoka just then and he sighed. These bugs were so very annoying.
Throwing his hand up, Hisoka watched as the snow went up with it, shielding him from the freezing touch of the yuki hotaru. Ice fireflies. Anything they came into contact with froze instantly. It had been years since this island was inhabited, the assassins of the Guild being the first in decades. This island, in fact, has been home to many creatures most would not consider of this world. Large arctic wolves, fur as white as snow; they were twice the size of a normal wolf. Those among other things threatened any average human that set foot on this island. And, according to legend, a being so formidable, so terrifying that people left warning signs to stay away lived on this island. Called the White Furry. It appeared to be human, but could live forever if not fatally wounded. It was graced with the gift of eternal youth.
A wolf howled in the distance, interrupting Hisoka's solemn thoughts. There wasn't much for him to think about at this point. He was leaving the Guild to go play stalker for some eighteen year old girl who had gone off grid for two years. After she single handedly killed Zare Matsumoto, her location became a mystery to the Guild. As did her counterpart, Yuuki.
"We must find them!" Raiden shouted. The rumble from his voice echoed throughout the meeting chamber and all the assassins sighed. He was always getting so worked up over the smallest things. "I suffer without the winds, and I will not let any of you rest until we find either North or South!" his voice roared from his throne, shaking the smaller things in the chamber; vases, paintings on the walls, etc. It was quite clear that he was angry.
Hisoka sighed remembering the anger that his boss felt at the acknowledgement that he'd lost track of the Konjouteishu he needed for his plan. The whole thing was confusing to the assassin and he didn't bother to question it, knowing that his leader would never disclose his plans to his subordinates, no matter their strength. All Hisoka knew was that Raiden's plan had something to do with the Spirits of the Rose.
Standing alone in front of his grave was surreal for the raven haired girl. She still hadn't returned home to where her step mother and half-brother were sure to be waiting for her. Maia just couldn't bring herself to go back. At least not now. She needed to see her father's grave.
"Why dad?" she asked quietly. He'd been fighting the Akatsuki. S-Rank shinobi that were now on Maia's personal hate list. She couldn't believe he'd fallen to one of them. Why? Maia hung her head, holding a small bouquet of flowers that she forgot what to do with. Should she leave them? Or just hold onto them as a way to keep hold of his spirit?
"So you're Maia?" that was an unfamiliar voice. Turning to face the person, Maia recognized him as one of Asuma's students. She couldn't quite recall his name though. Nodding slowly, Maia couldn't think of what to say to him. Her mind was jumbled by all the happenings. "I wondered when you would come here," he commented. Seeming to realize that she didn't know who he was, the boy sighed and walked closer to her and the grave, his hands in his pockets. "Shikamaru Nara. I was with Asuma-Sensei when he died," Shikamaru told her. Maia nodded and turned back to face the grave.
"Maia Sarutobi, or soon to be. My given last name is Yomanai," she mumbled. Sighing, she rubbed her forehead. What was her life coming to? "I was away training in the Hidden Cloud Village when he died," Maia clarified. It was so easy for her to say that he'd died, why?
"Did you know him very well?" Shikamaru asked. Maia shook her head and turned to look at the taller boy.
"I can't say I did. I had just found out that he was my father a few weeks before I left to begin training," Maia replied. Shikamaru nodded, still looking at the grave before them. A moment of silence passed between the two as they both thought about Asuma. Who he was, what they knew, and what legacy he would leave behind. To Shikamaru, he would always be something more than a teacher. He was a friend, a best friend even. Someone who he'd trusted very much. To Maia, he was all she had left of her old life. The life she still couldn't remember some of. None of that mattered though, when she thought of her now dead father.
"He's probably glad that you came to visit him," Shikamaru said, his voice lacking any and all emotion. Maia nodded, wanting to cry. She found herself unable to however. When the thought of crying came to mind anywhere else, she could do it. She could feel tears running down her cheeks. But here, in the presence of her father's spirit, she couldn't bring herself to allow it. "Well, it was nice to meet you Maia. I've gotta go," he stated. Maia smiled and watched him leave. Walking up closer to the gravestone, Maia set the flowers down and then took a seat next to them. It may have been weird to some, her sitting on top of her father's grave. But she needed to feel something, anything, to know he was still with her.
"I got your letter dad," Maia murmured, staring up at the sky as she sat with her dad. "Man it's weird to actually say the word dad. Especially after all those years of never being able to." Maia brought her knees up to her chest and then hugged them to her chest. Sighing, she rested her head on her knees. "What did you want to tell me? Was it about mom? I feel so incomplete not knowing dad," Maia murmured again. The dark haired girl sighed again and then rested her head back on the headstone of Asuma's grave. "Well, aside from all that, Kiba proposed to me. Yep dad, I'm getting married. Not for a while, but hopefully it's not too long of a wait," Maia said smiling.
What a nice ending to this chapter. Maia doesn't get a lot of those, haha. But yes, be on the look out for chapter four coming in one week! Hope you guys liked the chapter! Until next time, stay tuned!
XOXO, Alaska