While Sasuke was thinking to himself, Silver Fang was watching silently. When she saw the Uchiha frown, she decided to interrupt his thoughts. "She loved you very much," she said. The young man stared at the wolf, who continued. "While you were gone, she couldn't stop thinking about you, wondering where you were and if you were okay. Yin, too kept worrying as well as the boys and Mayume. Man, Yin has grown so much over the years. Did you know that she inherited the Sharingan as well as the ability to shapeshift?"
"Really? That's great," Sasuke said. He was glad that at least one of his children had the Uchiha's keke-genkai.
"Then there's the fact that she inherited the good looks and traits from both you and Natsumi. Yin's a total guy magnet." Silver Fang laughed when she noticed Sasuke's surprised face that also looked like a protective father's gaze to keep boys at bay and away from his daughter. "She has your cool and Natsumi's friendly aura, so there are many boys who try to steal her heart, but none have succeeded. It's occasionally funny to see Yin run from fanboys, but she always manages to get away."
Sasuke thought for a moment, an important forming in his mind. "What will Yin and the boys do when they see me?"
"I don't know, but hopefully they'll hug you and welcome you back." Suddenly, Silver Fang crouched down and looked around, her blue-grey eyes serious and vicious. The other wolves seemed to have understood the alpha female's body language, for they formed a perimeter and crouched down. All were on full alert, snarling and growling low just like Silver Fang. Amaroq and Blizzard were crouched down and glancing around, observing everything around them while guarding Natsumi's body. Sasuke looked around, searching for what is causing them to be so alert. The Uchiha tried to sense any chakra level of any sort, but did not find any.
"What is it Silver Fang?" Sasuke whispered.
The she-wolf growled, "Someone is here...and he reeks of blood..." The next part happened so fast. There was a yelp, Blizzard flew into Amaroq, and then Natsumi's body diasappeared. All of this happened in only three seconds. Sasuke only had to blink in order to miss it all. He stared at he two fallen wolves while the rest of the pack looked around and sniffed the air, searching the area for what had done something so fast.
"Amaroq, Blizzard, are you alright?" Sasuke asked.
"Yes, we're fine," Amaroq said. The alpha male stood up slowly. "Whoever took Natsumi must be after the body's secrets as to how Konoha's ninja are. "Silver Fang, Blizzard, Sasuke, you three go and track the enemy. The rest of us will make a perimeter and box him in." Blizzard stood up and walked over to Silver Fang.
The two she-wolves and man nodded. "Right!" they said. Amaroq howled the hunting cry, and the wolf pack joined in. Quickly everyone dispersed and set off to their duties.
"She's this way!" Blizzard shouted. She leaped over a log, and Silver Fang and Sasuke followed close behind. The three gained speed, and then Blizzard made a right, which was followed by a left. After a while Blizzard stopped dead in her tracks.
"What's the matter Blizzard?" Silver Fang asked her comrade as she and Sasuke slowed to a stop beside her.
"Do you smell the enemy or Natsumi?" Blizzard questioned. "I just lost their scent." Sasuke and the alpha female stared at the white wolf.
"What?!" Sasuke said. "You lost the scent? How?!"
Blizzard looked at both of her companions, her blue eyes shown the confusion as did her quiet voice. "Their scent...it just vanished altogether..."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
What the...I'm back in the dark? Natsumi thought. She had been catching up with her clan members in heaven when she was suddenly pulled down and into the darkness. What is going on? She suddenly felt a sharp pain in her chest, and she gasped. What is this pain?! The pain lasted for about ten minutes, but to Natsumi it felt more like an eternity. She wanted to scream, but nothing came out. She could not feel anything except for that throbbing pain in her chest. Slowly, she regained some hearing. She heard barking somewhere in the distance. There was a loud hiss followed by the swishing sound of fast movements. What on earth is going on? Natsumi began to feel a thick liquid trickle down her side. Then she began to hear voices.
"Natsumi!" Silver Fang ran over to the young woman's body and stared down at its face. She tilted her head. "What's this?" The she-wolf sniffed the blood on Natsumi's chest. The wolf's ears perked up. "Fresh blood? If there's fresh blood, then that means..."
"That Natsumi is...alive?" Blizzard finished as she and Sasuke appeared.
"How can that be?" Sasuke asked. "She was stabbed in the heart." Silver Fang sniffed the wound again.
The wolf reported, "Her heart looks damaged...but it's..." the wolf's voice went up an octave. "The wound is healing itself! She's breathing!"
Natsumi wanted to speak, but the wound in her chest was throbbing too hard it took so much energy to just breathe. Every breath was painful, but the woman needed the air. She wanted to, att he very least, be able to open her eyes. Then she suddenly felt something touch her hand.
"Natsumi..." Sasuke said. "Can you hear me?"
Yes, but I cannot do anything to prove it. Natsumi thought. She tried to move. Come on...move Natsumi... The young woman barely squeezed the Uchiha's hand.
"Oh my God...Natsumi!" The man sounded like he was sobbing. "I thought that I lost you."
Finally, after a great effort (and pain), Natsumi opened her eyes. It was all blurry at first, but then her vision cleared. She saw Sasuke looking at her, a few tears rolling down his cheeks. She looked to her left and saw Silver Fang and Blizzard. Natsumi opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Her foster-mother, sister wolf, and husband stared at her with concern. Natsumi looked at the Uchiha and faintly whispered, "Sasuke..."
"We gotta get her to the hospital," Blizzard said.
"I agree," Sasuke replied. He carefully picked up Natsumi and began to walk, carrying her bridal style. Silver Fang and Blizzard trotted after them. "Hang on Natsumi, we'll be at the hospital soon."
Natsumi whispered, "It might...take too long...to get there..."
"Natsumi, save your strength."
"I think you're better off...taking me to Tsunade-sama..."
"But that's even farther," Sasuke argued. Natsumi frowned slightly.
"Fine...then take me to Sakura. She's closer, so don't you argue with me about it." She looked up at Sasuke in his eyes and added, "You know very well how good of a medic she is." Sasuke stared back at her.
"Very well," Sasuke sighed in defeat. He then began to make his way toward Sakura's house. "Why can't I ever win an argument with you?"
"Hm, I don't know. I guess I'm better at debates." She laughed a little before wincing in pain. Sasuke glanced down at her.
"I told you to save your strength."
"Oh come on Sasuke, I'm fine."
"You know what? I'm not going to say anything so you don't talk and waste your energy." The man looked straight ahead and was quiet. Natsumi stared at the Uchiha before reacting to his silence.
"Nooo..." she whined. "You know very well that I hate silence!" He did not reply, and Natsumi pouted. She then decided to close her eyes and rest during the silence. Sasuke and Natsumi had finally arrived at a door after around fifteen minutes. Natsumi noticed the stop and opened one eye. Sasuke looked down and spoke.
"Okay, here's the deal," he said. "If Sakura isn't home or does not answer, then you are going to the hospital."
Natsumi nodded. "Deal, now knock on the door so she knows we're here." Sasuke listened to her and lightly kicked the door. They waited for a minute before the door was answered by a man with spiky blond hair. His blue eyes stared at Sasuke with surprise.
"Sasuke, you're back," the man said. Sasuke recognized the face as Naruto. Naruto looked down and saw Natsumi, and his eyes widened. "What happened?!"
The young woman answered, "I got captured by enemy ninja." She shifted a bit, but winced from the stabbing pain in her chest. "Sasuke saved me." That was a bit off, but it had to do in this explanation. "we need to...see Sakura. Is she home?"
"Yeah, she is. Come in." Naruto stepped back and to the side to let Sasuke carry Natsumi in. "set her down on the couch. I'll be back." Naruto ran up the stairs and was gone.
Sasuke set Natsumi down on the couch and kneeled beside her. "Why'd you say that Nat? I didn't save you." Natsumi smiled at him.
"It was the best thing to say," Natsumi replied. She coughed, and she winced as the wound bled a little. Sasuke looked at her with worry, and when Natsumi noticed that she smiled to reassure him that she was alright. "I love you Sasuke," she said.
"I love you too. Now, please, hang on." He held her hand. The woman rested her head on the arm of the couch.
"Sa...suke...I'm getting dizzy..."
"Alright, then you should rest Natsumi, just don't leave me." Natsumi looked at the Uchiha and nodded slowly. She closed her eyes, and her breathing began to slow down as she fell asleep. Sasuke smiled a little, and then he looked around the house.
Where did Naruto go? Sasuke wondered. How much longer will it take until he gets Sakura down here? It better be soon. I don't want to lose Natsumi again. The Uchiha looked at Natsumi's wound. It wasn't bleeding as much as it had before, which is a good sign. Still, Sasuke didn't want the wound to get infected. He stroked his wife's hand. Just hang on Nat...don't leave me. If Sakura doesn't hurry I'll rush you to the hospital. Sasuke dared not say this promise out loud, for he might wake up Natsumi. He leaned over and lightly kissed her forehead, and then he sat back and waited for Naruto and Sakura to come downstairs.