Chapter Four:
~3rd POV
The nurse had left the room a while ago, leaving Neji alone with Tsuki. She was still sleeping, but Neji wanted to make sure she didn't run off when she woke up again. To say he was concerned would be an understatement. After the attack on the Senjo class, he thought he had lost her forever. Now, five years later, she was back, and he was determined not to lose her again.
He knew he owed his teammates an explanation. About his relationship with Tsuki. He told the truth when he told them that he and Tsuki were childhood friends. But he hid a very important detail, and he wasn't entirely sure if he was allowed to tell them. He would have to speak to his uncle.
Neji's thoughts were interrupted when he heard light shuffling. Turning around, he saw that Tsuki was beginning to wake.
~Tsuki's POV
My mind was fuzzy as I started to wake up. I opened my eyes slowly, blinking away my exhaustion. I looked around, moving my eyes around the room, taking it in.
'This is…the hospital?' I thought, remembering I was here before.
"Try not to run away this time."
I turned to my left. A boy was by the window. The same one from before. Neji Hyuga, my friend from years ago.
He walked over to stand next to my bed, my eyes following his movement. "You know who I am, don't you?" he asked, almost hopefully.
I nodded. I pushed myself to sit up carefully.
"What happened to you, Tsuki?"
I didn't look at him. I shook my head and kept my gaze on my hands. Neji didn't push it. But even if he wanted to, he couldn't. The door opened, and an elderly man walked in calmly.
I scooted back, a failed attempt at escaping. I felt a hand on my back, preventing me from moving further.
"Ah, I see you are awake," the man said. "That's good."
"She hasn't said a word," Neji told him.
"Hmm." The man watched me for a moment, making me feel very uneasy. "Neji, would you mind if I spoke with Tsuki in private?"
"Alright."
Neji went to walk away, but I grabbed his shirt, pleading silently.
He picked up on it. "It's alright. You can trust this man."
He pulled away and walked out the door. I wanted to believe him, but my mind was racing. I kept my eyes on the man in front of me, watching for any sudden movement.
"I know you must be terribly frightened after the experiences you've had over the years, Tsuki," he said. "But I assure you, I mean you no harm. You probably don't remember me, but I am Hiruzen Sarutobi. I'm the third Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village. You were rescued and brought here to the hospital by Neji and his team. Do you understand?"
His voice sounded genuine and looking in his eyes, I could feel he was sincere.
I nodded in response to his question. I understood. I understood that I was no longer in enemy hands. Somehow, I had made my way home to my village.
"Can you tell me what happened?" he asked.
My gaze turned downcast, once again finding interest in my hands.
"Can you speak?" he asked again.
I covered my ears on instinct, memories flooding back into my mind. The screaming, the crying, the laughing. All of it haunting my mind.
A hand rested on my shoulder, bringing me out of my thoughts. I hadn't realized that my breathing picked up. I must have been hyperventilating.
"You don't have to worry, you're safe here," he assured me. "I must ask you one more question, Tsuki. The one who took you five years ago. If I give you a name, can you tell me whether or not he is the man behind it all?"
I took a breath and nodded.
"Was his name Orochimaru?"
I exhaled shakily, the name sending a chill down my spine. I clutched my hands together, trying to calm my nerves.
But I didn't need to answer him. He could tell from my immediate reaction what the answer was.
"I promise, we won't let him take you again," he said. "You needn't worry about it now. For now, you must recover. Once you are able, you will be moved to stay with the Hyuga Clan. I have spoken with Hiashi and he has agreed to give you residence with his family."
I nodded, relieved.
"Rest well, Tsuki. I will send Neji back in."
Lord Hokage walked opened the door and walked out after giving me a nod. I heard him briefly speak to someone outside the room. Then Neji walked in with two others behind him. It was the two from before when they stopped me earlier.
I didn't try to retreat this time as they came to stand next to my bed. I knew I could trust Neji, so I must trust those around him as well.
~3rd POV
Neji walked out of Tsuki's hospital room, allowing Hiruzen to speak to her privately. As he stood outside the door patiently, his teammates walked up to him.
"How is she?" Lee asked.
"Awake," Neji answered. "Lord Hokage is speaking with her."
"Did she say anything?" Tenten inquired, genuinely interested.
"No, she hasn't," Neji said, folding his arms. "Thinking back, she never said anything when we caught up with her earlier. I'm wondering…"
Lee caught on to what his friend was saying. "You think whoever took her did something to her?"
"I hope not," Tenten said. "Poor girl has been through enough."
Their conversation ended as Hiruzen opened the door. He acknowledged the genin with a nod.
"It seems she is unable to speak," he said. "We can't say for sure whether something was done to her, or it simply may just be a loss of will to speak. Hopefully it's the latter, and perhaps one day she'll gain the strength to speak once more."
The three ninja nodded and watched their leader walk away. Neji led his friends into the room.
Tsuki watched them, and Neji noticed she didn't back away this time. He went to stand on the left side of her bed. Tenten and Lee stood on the right.
"Tsuki, these are my teammates," Neji told her.
"I'm Tenten," she said. "It's nice to see you're okay. We were worried."
"And I am Rock Lee. It is very nice to meet you!"
"Geez, not so loud, Lee!" Tenten groaned, elbowing him in the stomach. She turned back to Tsuki. "Gai-sensei told us that once you're feeling better and get settled in, they want to put you in the academy."
She looked up at Neji, confusion written all over her face.
"The ninja academy," Neji clarified. "The one your father told us about when we were kids."
She nodded, remembering the stories her mother and father used to tell her about their days at the academy. Neji saw the sad look come across Tsuki's face.
"We should go," he said. "We need to finish today's training before it gets too late."
"Oh, that's right!" Tenten exclaimed. "We'll come to visit tomorrow, Tsuki."
Lee nodded in agreement. "Goodnight."
She nodded and watched them walk out of her room. Neji stopped by the door to look back.
"I'll be back tomorrow. Rest easy," he said. "Remember you're safe here."
Neji left, leaving his words to run through Tsuki's mind.
'Am I really safe?' she thought.
~Tsuki's POV
Three days have passed since I was rescued. I was finally healthy enough to be discharged from the hospital. I was waiting for Neji to come retrieve me.
It was strange. Neji seemed so cold, uncaring. I remember the days before the attack, the days I spent with Neji when we were kids. After his father died, he began to hate his family, believing it was their fault. But he still tried to keep his spirits up with me. Has he really changed so much since I was taken?
I shook my head free of the thoughts, not wanting to think about it. Whatever Neji was going through, I would help him. He saved me, he and his team. His teammates, Tenten and Rock Lee, they were nice. They visited me daily, keeping true to their promise. The three of them have been taking care of me. And they never pushed me to speak, which I was grateful for. I honestly wonder if I'll ever speak again.
I folded the hospital gown and left it on the bed. Tenten was kind enough to loan me some clothes that she didn't wear anymore. It was a simple pair of Capri pants and a light pink shirt. I was thankful for the change; wearing that gown for three days straight was starting to bother me.
I heard a knock on the door. Whoever it was waited. I walked over and opened the door. It was Neji.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
I nodded and followed him out, leaving the door open for the nurses. He led me through some halls until we were walking through the hospital's main doors.
It was sunny outside. Looking up, I could see the white clouds moving steadily across the sky. I only paused for a moment, taking in the scenery, before catching up with Neji.
"We're going to the Hokage's main office," he told me. "He wants to speak to us."
I nodded.
We walked into Lord Hokage's office and found another man with him. They both looked at us.
"Ah, Neji, Tsuki," Lord Hokage greeted us. "Thank you for coming."
The second man stood up and faced us, taking a step forward. He acknowledged Neji with a curt nod, and Neji did nothing. The man turned his gaze on me.
"It's been a long time, young Tsuki," he said. "I don't expect you to remember me."
I gazed at him for a moment. He was a Hyuga, his eyes proved that much. He looked a lot like Neji, but I knew it couldn't be his father. So this must be…
"I am Hiashi Hyuga, Neji's uncle," he said, formally introducing himself. "I knew your parents."
I nodded, recognizing him.
"We have much to discuss." Lord Hokage offered me a seat in front of his desk.
I sat down next to Lord Hiashi, keeping my hands in my lap. There was a third seat, but Neji decided to stand next to my chair. It was the side opposite to that of Lord Hiashi. It was quite apparent that Neji still had hard feelings towards the main household of the Hyuga Clan.
"Now, Tsuki," Lord Hokage began. "Since you have recovered, you are no longer required to stay at the hospital. Hiashi here has agreed to allow you to stay with his family in the Hyuga compound. Do you understand?"
Once again, I nodded.
"This arrangement," Neji voiced, "it has something to do with that agreement, doesn't it?"
I knew what he was talking about. The agreement our parents made when we were kids. They thought it was in our best interests to tell us about it the moment they decided to go through with it. They said it would make us closer.
"Nothing escapes you, Neji," Lord Hokage said. "Yes. Not only is it best for Tsuki's protection to stay with the Hyuga family, but Hiashi has decided that the agreement shall remain standing. However, due to the circumstances, I am asking the two of you personally if you want this to continue. Is this something you wish to uphold?"
I glanced up at Neji, but he was looking at Lord Hiashi out of the corner of his eye. His gaze was judgmental, calculating. After a moment, he glanced down at me, meeting my eyes.
"It's up to you," he said finally.
There was a hidden meaning behind his words, and his eyes. Lord Hiashi is intent on keeping the agreement, despite whatever we decided. I wondered for a moment if this was really what Neji wanted.
I looked at Lord Hokage and nodded.
Lord Hokage hummed. "Very well. When the two of you are of age, the agreement shall come to pass."
"The Hyuga Clan and the Senjo Clan shall be joined in your marriage," Lord Hiashi said.
That's right. I would marry Neji, my childhood friend. I wanted this, I did. It was my parents last wish for me, they thought I would be happy marrying him. I believe I could be. I just hope he felt the same.
