A/N: I haven't abandoned this! I promise! I have just been super busy with Hetalia, which sparked a plot bunny which is very very persistent. Still that is no excuse for leaving this for long.. But I have a better one for that. Severe writers block. Anyway.. This is what I have so far. Don't be afraid to leave reviews, just say hi or whatever. It's all very encouraging. :]

PS. Title change, don't be alarmed. Hahaha.

PSS. Thank you so much to my good friend Galaxy-Monarch Frosty10001 for being my diligent editor. You are amazing. :]

Ayako had had to leave early that morning on Takeshi's orders. She had told Haru to take the day to show Lee, Naruto and Sakura around the village. Since all of Takeshi's men would be away on the mission to the Moon Village with the Princess in tow, it would be a perfect opportunity to not only get a lay of the land, but a chance to meet some of the other villagers.

"This is fantastic!" Sakura commented as they wandered the streets of the small earthy village. They had ended up in a bustling street market. Villagers crowded into the spaces between many carts and stands, all glad to be rid of Takeshi and his men, even just for the day. "Everyone is so friendly here!"

"This is how it was before the takeover." Haru said quietly as he nodded to a passing family who nodded back to him. "Everyone was always happy and bright, but somewhere along the line he managed to dim the light and turn everyone against Ayako. Distrust makes everyone uneasy I suppose."

A thoughtful look passed over Lee's face. "Why was this village targeted though, if you do not mind me asking. What was there to gain from invading such a small village."

Haru shrugged. "That's something we've been asking since he invaded. It's probably for the gold in the Moon Village, but your guess is as good as ours."

"Gold?" Naruto asked.

"Haru boy is that you?" An old women sitting at a fruit stand cut him off and poked him in the ribs with her cane. "You're wasting away kid here. Eat." She shoved an apple into his hands.

He forced a smile. "That's very generous of you, thank you Miss Toki."

"And give one to the Princess when you see her will you? The poor dear could use to put some skin on her bones with the stress she's under." The elderly woman shoved a second shining piece of fruit into his hands.

"Yes I will. She will be very thankful." The smile became more genuine.

With a soft 'hm' the wispy haired woman's gaze fell on the Leaf Ninja. "And who might you be? Outsiders?"

"Oh please keep quiet Miss Toki.." Haru's voiced was urgent, but hushed. "Ayako is planning something to help everyone and-"

The woman hopped from the stool and covered the neurotic young man's mouth with a wrinkled hand. "So, the Princess finally goes to the Leaf and this is what she brings back? They don't look like much though do they."

"She's blunt.." Sakura mumbled to Lee, who nodded.

Miss Toki's eyes scrutinized each of the new arrivals before falling on Naruto. "Especially you kiddo."

"What was that?" The blonde scowled.

"You'll have to eat up, if you want to help our dear Princess that is." The old woman shoved an apple into his hands. "My apples work wonders and you'll need all the help you can get."

Naruto's shining blue eyes narrowed. "You gotta be kidding me Grandma."

"Who's next? A pretty girl?" Miss Toki moved her gaze to Sakura. "Never has this village known a more powerful kunoichi then our Princess did you know that? Her father was a master and trained her well."

Sakura cleared her throat. "No ma'am. I didn't know." She answered politely.

"Hm, two apples for you. Make Ayako proud." Miss Toki tossed the apples in Sakura's direction and finally turned on Lee. "And what's your story skinny."

"Ah.. Well, I am here to help because I made a promise to the Princess." He struggled for a moment under the elderly woman's critical gaze and finally a pale blush dusted his cheeks. "Is that a sufficient answer?"

"And three apples for this one. You've got a spark kid, and youll need double that to keep your promise." She poked him in the ribs with her cane as Haru retrieved three more apples from her cart. "It looks like the Princess chose our saviors well. Now just don't let us down, and one more thing,"

"Yes ma'am."

"What is it?"

"What now.."

First Lee, then Sakura and finally Naruto answered as Miss Toki climbed back onto her stool to tend to her stand. The old women chuckled. "Don't let the Princess put herself down. Now get out of here. All of you standing around my cart is bad for business."

Haru smiled. Faith did still exist in the village, though he shouldn't have expected any less from the old family friend. "Come on. I'll finish showing you all around. Thank you for the fruit."

Miss Toki nodded as Haru ushered the group down the road.

The relaxing time being had back in the Sun Village was a sharp contrast to what Ayako was experiencing. She had been threatened, hit, and generally disrespected for the duration of her time out with Takeshi and his men. Upon their arrival at the Moon Village Takeshi had threatened the village leaders and reminded them of their position. When they didn't comply upon the shadow ninja's arrival in order to gain access to the gold under their forests, Ayako's life had been threatened and the gold had been given up without another word.

The entirety of the negotiation had taken only take a few hours, but the men had decided to overtake a tavern along the way and though they had arrived around late afternoon, they would probably not arrive back at the Sun Village until early the next morning. The sun had set by now, Ayako was sure because there where were no windows in the bar. The members of Takeshi's band had kicked everyone out of the bar, save for enough floozy women to dance with each of the men.

The Princess sat alone in the corner of the dark bar, trying not to think about the disgusting things taking place only feet away from her. All she could think about was her friends and their safety back in the village. Her heel tapped nervously on the stone floor. She tried to think of Lee's motivational words to her, about remaining positive and believing in herself. It was hard in the bleak present however, surrounded by thugs in bad and with a bruise across her cheek from Takeshi's fist blossoming around the cut from the day before and a split eyebrow.

It was then when Takeshi strolled up to the table where she was sitting and pulled up a seat beside her at the table. He hadn't been drinking like the others, and as always he had a cocky air about him. "Not having fun Princess." He asked as he slid his chair in and rested his hands on the wooden table top.

"This isn't my idea of fun." She turned away from him.

"You would just love to be back in the village with your Haru wouldn't you. That or you would love tokill me right now. I can't tell which one exactly." He said, with a mildly amused smile.

Ayako only clenched her jaw.

The tyrant leaned towards her. "You know you can't do it, don't you? You're not strong enough."

The redhead closed her eyes, trying not to let his words sink in.

"I wouldn't kill you if you ever touched me or any of my men. I would make you suffer Princess." He hissed, then stood and grabbed her arm roughly and pulled her forward onto the table. "I will kill everyone you care about, starting with Haru. And you'll have to watch. And then I'll kill the others too. Men, let's move."

She held her arm lightly against her chest as it throbbed as he stood and marched away from the small table. There would be a bruise there no doubt in a few hours, to add to the others already decorating her skin.

"With me Princess, now." He ordered as he cut through his band of drunken men, who hesitated and then reluctantly left the various scantily clad women where they sat scattered around the bar. She followed closely and they began the journey back to the village.

Ayako was shaken. She had known how dangerous bringing outsiders into the village would be, but she wouldn't be able to live with herself if something terrible happened to Lee or the others. Now the outsiders had faces and she cared about each of them. Before it hadn't mattered what the danger was, and now she could see Lee being murdered by Lord Takeshi as she watched over and over in her head. And if Takeshi killed Haru she wouldn't be able to continue. She hadn't considered seriously the danger she had put them all in. She let out a short breath. As hard as it was to think about, they had accepted the mission risks and all and she wouldn't be able to talk them out of fighting with her.

It wasn't until after sunset that Takeshi's men stumbled through the gates of the village, still mostly drunk. By then the streets had been deserted and all the stands from the market earlier were cleared from the dirt path, leaving the night air still and calm.

Ayako turned to head towards her apartment, fists clenched tightly. Her breathing was uneven as she tried to fight the tears threatening to spill from her blue eyes. She wanted to go home and sleep.

"Don't forget what I said Princess. There is nothing empty about my threats." Takeshi called after her, earning a snicker from his men. "Sleep well."

She didn't respond except to squeeze her fingernails into her palms until the pain made her block him out. She walked a little faster as the tears leaked over her eyelids. She was able to hold her sobs in until the door of her apartment was shut safely behind her. Her knees gave out and she sank to the cold floor against the door. Tears leaked down her cheeks and her breath came in shaky sobs.

"Princess?"

Ayako jumped and looked up, but her tears didn't stop. "Lee." The young man knelt in front of her on his hands and knees with a pained look on his face at her sudden appearance.

"Why are you crying?" He studied her tearstained face with sad eyes. "Did he hit you? Your face is covered in bruises."

She set her forehead on her knees as he crawled forward to sit beside her against the door. "Why are you still awake?" She whispered, crying a little harder as she spoke.

"I wanted to see you returned safely." He whispered back. He set a hesitant hand on her shoulder.

A few more tears dripped onto her pants, leaving dark spots on the washed out orange fabric. "Thank you. And I'm crying because I've put you all in terrible danger."

"Well of course you have." He answered with a quiet laugh.

She looked up at him as anther tear slid down her face. "What..?"

"Princess you hired us for a dangerous assassination. Do not worry so much, please don't. We are trained ninja. We can handle anything Takeshi can throw at us. And I promise you, I will make sure nothing happens to you, or Haru. I will protect you with my life. He won't lay a finger on you. Not ever again-"

She threw her arms around his middle before he had the chance to finish and buried her face against his neck. "Thank you. Thank you for everything. Thank you."

"It really is nothing at all."

"It's more then you could ever imagine." She hugged him tighter. "Infinitely more."

He hesitated, and gingerly wrapped his arms around her shoulders and close his eyes against her wild curls. "Then you are welcome. I will not let you down, that is a promise. And I never break my promises Ayako. I will protect you."

They stayed like that for a long time before the fallen Princess finally stopped crying and exhaustion finally overtook the taijustu master and they fell asleep against the door together.