Aftermath

Sakura had scram until her voice was lost. Seeing her daughter fall, watching he bleed out so much at one time was not something any mother could take. Itachi had instantly taken her in his arms and carrier her out, letting the Lady heal his daughter's major wounds before being taken to the hospital. Hei was to be transported as well, however the instant he woke, he woke fighting, refusing to let anyone near him and fighting his way over to his masters side. Sakuno had appeared then, looking into her pups sad and worried eyes before shaking her head. Itachi, no one in the room then, had any idea as to what the she had told him but within a blink of an eye he was not only calm but gone. He had left, gone back to where ever he came from before his master had summoned him. Now, now three weeks later and still Izakura had not woke. She lay asleep on her bed in her room. The day she had been allowed to go home in stable condition a barrier went up and around the entire room.

"It's been three weeks Itachi, why hasn't she woken up?" Sakura asked him, worry evident in her tone of voice. She had taken a sick leave from the hospital, her parents were still being questioned as to why they had done what they did and until Izakura woke up their punishment, their fate would not be decided. They needed her testimony to it all.

"She will wake when she's ready. Hei is by her side. She will be..."

"How do you know he is? He just suddenly disappeared after Sakuno spoke to him. Itachi what if she never wakes up....oh god...what it...what..."

"Shhh...." Itachi cooed, instantly wrapping his arms around her and bringing her into his hold. He hated it when she was so broken, the way she worried so much that she forgot to drink when she grew thirsty. Slowly he cut his wrist and allowed her drink, to take from him what he needed. The smell of blood overwhelmed the house, Itachi knew it did. However what he hadn't expected was that it would waken Izakura up as well. As soon as Sakura was done drinking Itachi's wounds suddenly healed. He knew this healing aura.

"Izakura..." both breather out, unsure as to how to approach this. Her aura was back to normal, she wasn't over flowing with power anymore.

"Itachi...." Sakura called out, wrapping her arms around him, keeping her self still in fear that by her running to her she'd go back to sleep. Itachi kept his arms wrapped around her, holding her and comforting her at the same time.

"I know." was all he said. They sat that way for several minutes, both silent and listening. The barrier was still up so they couldn't hear, sense or smell anything, all they could do was sit and wait, wait fro her to appear in the door way or call out to them.

Everything had happened so fast, I had acted without truly thinking and despite this out come, despite me having no regrets I was still sad. My body was sleeping, slowing healing its self from what I had forced it to do while Hei stayed beside me. He had suddenly appeared in the dark, the darkness I had appeared in after I had given in to unconsciousness. I had told him to leave, that he was free to live out in the real world, that he didn't have to stay by my side and yet he had. After a while my body, the aches, the wounds had all suddenly gone numb.

'You shouldn't have had to stay here with me Hei...'

'Of course I did, you are my master. Where you go I go.' He said, causing a smile to appear on my face. He would forever be my best friend. I was about to ask him what it was that had happened after I passed out when all of a sudden the power I had had access to started to surface, that over whelming need to wield it all, to use it to my hearts content came back and yet I refused to touch. If I did would I change, would I turned into a full blooded immortal, would I stop being who and what I was? Most of all would I be forced to give up my mothers heritage?

"No.." came a soft voice, causing Hei to growl and I to look around. Who the hell had the power to be in my mind?

"Who are you?" I called out, ignoring the answer she had provided and instantly going into a defensive state. To hell if I was going to let it all end here, not after everything I had done.

"I am what you want me to be.." the voice came. Okay that was confusing.

"Huh?" I asked, causing whoever it was I was speaking to to laugh.

"I am the essence of your blood, you wield me young one. I serve you much as Hei does."

"How?" I asked, confused, uncertain as to what it all mean.

"I will change, grant you great power or keep it from you. What you need, what you want is what I will provide." as soon as the words left her mouth Hei bowed. Was this all real?

"She does not lie my lady." Hei said, looking up at me from the corner of his eyes.

"Hei....I...I want to be me. I like being a half breed, half mortal and immortal." I said and then, as soon as the words left my lips a woman formed of blood appeared in front of me. She looked so much like me and yet like mom and dad at the same time. There was a kind smile on her face, one that calmed me, seemed to make my fear all but disappear.

"Are you certain?" she asked, her tone of voice calm, gentle and yet so serious there was no mistaking that the choice I was about to make wasn't something that could be taken back of changed. This was going to be permenant, no ands, ifs, of buts about it. Images of how things used to be before I found out who and what I was ran in front of my mind, then images of my mom smiling, happy to be with my dad again, that at being back in a Konoha. From the moment we had stepped foot in this place a certain weight had suddenly fallen off her shoulders. This was her home, her true home and mine. Could I chose to be anything other than what I had been born. She was nor fully immortal, I had the chance to join her and my father and yet that didn't catch my attention the least bit. Yes, I was certain, I was positive. I have my mothers mortal blood in me, my grandparents heritage in me as well as my fathers strong bloodline in me. Why, how could I ever want to be anything other than what and how I had been born into this world.

"Hai."

"Very well." and with that she was gone, she was no more. Instead there was a wave of blood gathering around her, turning into some sort of sphere and gathering.

"What the hell?" Izakura asked to no one in particular but before Hei, or anything or anyone could answer the gathering blood turned into a spear and shot into her like a lightning bold. There was no pain then, just a gentle buzz, a sense of wholeness. My power was back, my normal traits back and most of all I could feel my body again.

"Hei..."

"Hai my lady."

"Get ready." was all I said before the both of us woke in my room. A crimson barrier was wrapped tightly around the room. Downstairs I could feel my parents both sitting at the kitchen table. Dad had just given mom blood, my guess was that that had been the only way to get her to drink. With a sigh I stood up and got in the shower. I missed, then, oh god how I had missed them but first thing came first. I needed a bath, I needed to get ready to face not only my parents but my clan and my grandparents as well. Not to mention I was pretty sure that Lady Tsunade would want a word with me soon. After getting out of the bath I got into my favorite outfit, the one mom had bought me on my birthday. That day, god it seemed as if ages had passed when in reality it had only been a couple of months. Taking in a deep breath I looked down at Hei.

"Ready to face the music?" I said, he shook his head in return, thus causing me to pause.

"I'm not the one who went against rules and or common sense my lady." he taunted with a smile on his face. "The music is all for you." he said.

"Thanks. The ready to stand beside me through it all?" I said, not only rephrasing my question and sighing. I needed, I was about to tap into my power for the first time since that awful night. How long had it been?

"Hei?"

"Yes my lady?"

"How long has it been since I was last awake....since that night?" I asked. Hei instantly went still, unsure how to answer me. Had I gotten my self hurt that badly? Had I scared my family for so long? What the hell had I put my mother through? With that one thought the barrier was down and I was heading out the door. Hei followed after me quietly but ready none the less. When I got down to the kitchen I found mom wrapped in dad's arms, her face stained with tears and fresh blood on her lips.

"Mom..." I breathed out softly, my own tears building. In a flash she was out of his arms and wrapping her own around me. Her tears staining her face before wetting my hair.

"Izakura! Oh honey,....I thought.....I......oh honey..." she cried and instantly I hugged her back. Otou-san was sitting on the chair, watching us while we cried and hugged one another. He, like I, wasn't sure how to react. I had only met him, gotten him into my life and so how was a girl suppose to react to him. Once I got mom under control, and to finally sleep for the first time in a long time apparently, I put her to bed and healed her. Once done I found Otou-san standing at the doorframe of their room. He was looking over me with sharigang eyes, almost as if he was worried for my using my power.

"Otou-san....I'm sorry for putting you both through this. For hurting you..." I said, head hung low. Hei was by mothers side like I had instructed him, I wanted someone with her until she was calm, truly calm again.

"Should you have healed her and me before you woke?" he asked, catching me off guard.

"I healed you Otou-san?"

"Hn, right after I fed her."

"I wasn't aware of that, I....I was busy at the moment." I said, not sure how much I should share about my encounter with my blood. Who the hell would believe me. I could tell he was curious, that he was about to ask me about it all when all of a sudden a clan guard walked in. Instantly Otou-san was in front of me, keeping me from sight but we both knew that my scent had casted out, my healing aura felt by anyone who was close by. Kakashi-san was the one who seemed to be leading, he stood in front of everyone, his only visible eye serious.

"Lord Master Itachi, we have orders to take Izakura Haruno Uchiha-san in." he said, voice empty and plain. He didn't want to do this, he knew what we, what everyone had gone through while I was out and yet it was he who had been send.

"On who's orders?" Otou-san asked, not denying him or giving in to him.

"Lady Tsunade herself." he answered, understanding. Instantly I placed a silencing barrier around mothers room and sighed. As I did Hei appeared by my side, fangs baring and a low growl building up in his throat.

"Easy Hei,..." I said before turning to Otou-san. "Well I was expecting this to happen, I'm surprised they waited so long to do so." I said with a sad smile on my face before moving. However Otou-san stopped me.

"I will escort her in Kakashi, send word to the Lady." he said.

"My pardons my Lord but I had strict orders." he said before turning to me. "Princess, if you will." he said. I nodded and when Otou-san stopped me I sighed and shook my head.

"I'll be fine Otou-san, I promise. I just got back, I finally have a family to come home to, a real family. I'm not going to do anything, I'm not going to let anyone stop me from coming home. Not after everything I've gone through already." I said before turning to Hei. "My katana Hei, please."

"Hai." and with that my katana appeared in hand. It's glow was silent, slight and yet I knew that if I fed it with power it'd be alive, as alive as my mothers own katana was. Everyone stepped back while Kakashi kept his spot and looked at me.

"There is no need for that."

"I know that but I will not take any risks. I may have killed Orochimaru but I can still feel Kabuto, and he isn't one who should be taken lightly." I said, sounding older than what I knew I looked like. He nodded silently then and made way for me.

"Take care of her Kakashi." warned Otou-san, his voice calm but deadly. He simply nodded and soon we were on our way to the Lady's office. Everything was quiet and although I was surrounded by guards I knew that none of them were getting too close to me. My blade, my katana, whom I had not names yet, was one of the only few weapons in the world that could kill an immortal with one cut, one graze. It was pure poison. When we got to the office I could feel Kabuto locked up, he had all of his power drained form him, the cell he was in designed to keep him powerless. As soon as the door to the Lady's office opened and she saw me standing, well, healed and most of all as I had when we had first met surprise was in her eyes.

"Leave us." she said and with that they were gone. Everything was silent at first, neither of us sure as to what should be said or how to start. Finally, after a long silence I started.

"Will I be able to go back home soon? Mom needed healing and I want to get back to her, to check her." I said. That got her attention.

"I wasn't aware she was injured."

"She hasn't been to work?"

"No."

"Lady Tsunade, about what happened, what I did....I'm..."

"There's no need to apologize, you did what needed to be done. Not to mention that at the same time you got your first true kill as a hunter." she said, reminding me of the worries I had had before this whole mess happened. Yes I was an immortal, one who would take ages to age, who would take eons to die but I was also mortal and a hunter of what I was. Silence claimed the room for what felt like an eternity before Hei leaned into my hand. He knew I felt off, that the lady's last comment had effected me more than what I was showing.

"Is that all?" I finally asked, keeping my voice business like.

"Yes, your instructors had agreed to help you for the amount of time that you missed. As for your exam of being a master it has been agreed that you no longer need it. For slaying Orochimaru and having the power, the will to transform a blade into a killing, a true death sentence for the immortals was proof enough of your status." she said, I nodded silently for she looked up. "What is the name of that sword?" she asked. In truth I hadn't given any thought to it, I just thought that it got it's name over time, not after it was forged.

'My lady?'

'What do you name a weapon that you were not only not meant to have but that you have Hei?' I asked, tone of voice unsure. He took a couple of moments before smiling and leaning closer into my hand.

'The halfbreed's strength.' he replied as if it was the clearest, simplest answer in the world. I smiled before looking up at the lady. He was right, the sword showed, proved how much power I had despite my unique heritage.

"The halfbreed's strength is her name." I said, causing the Lady to smile and nod. After taking it all down I was allowed to go home. The walk back was quiet and at first everyone just started at me like I was some sort of ghost, some sort of zombie back from the dead. I smiled and shrugged it off, it didn't matter anymore. What mattered was that I was well, I was me, and most of all I had protected my home and my family. The only two things that mattered to me most in this world. As soon as I walked in through the door mom hugged me, smiling and crying out of joy instead of sorrow. I hugged her back before looking at Otou-san and smiling.

"I'm home." I said with a smile on my face while Hei joined Sakuno's side. And I was, I was home, I was where I belonged, with the people who loved me. Soon after we let go of one another mom, Otou-san, Sakuno, Hei and me all sat down and Hei and I started answering the question Otou-san and mom had for us. Of course we were more than happy to tell them what it was that had happened. And so time went on, I went to school and we lived like a family. Small but happy. I of course never forgetting, always reminding my self that one day I would be called upon by the hunters council and asked to hunt. But I wouldn't worry about that now, not when there were too many good things surrounding me.

A/N: So this is the end guys. I'm thinking about a sequel where the hunter council comes in but we'll see. If I get enough reviews encouraging me to do so I will. Thank you to all of my loyal readers, I hope you all enjoyed this read. ^^ Feel free to send in your reviews. Take care all! XD and again THANKS FOR READING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!