A/N: Hello everyone! I am back with a chapter! I tried to make it a little longer than normal since I haven't posted in a long time. I hope people enjoy this chapter since I thought long and hard about it. I hope that you guys well let me know if this is good or not. I am getting a lot of ideas and such to develop the story and getting Tooru to a point that she can hit the climax or start trying to be okay.

Please comment, question or even follow.

Chapter 43: Food for Thought

June 22nd:

I didn't go to see Kakashi yesterday at all. I glance at the clock, past noon, I slept for over 16 hours. Longer than I thought was possible. I sit up, I didn't even sleep on my bed. The room still spinning a little. I slowly blink, trying to get rid of my head spinning. My eyes settle on the clock. I keep my eyes on the clock, watching the time tick by slowly. Minutes pass by, until I feel a little dizzy. I lay back down on the floor. Too tired and too dizzy to keep sitting up.

Why am I so dizzy? I haven't really left my room. Only to use the restroom, which is the only reason why Yamato knows I am home at all. Yamato? Since when have I ever called him that?I slowly blink my eyes again. I don't even know how many times he has stopped by to do anything. Has he even been by?

A small knock.

"Tooru?"

Speaking of. Or thinking of? But I know that voice. The person who lives with me owns that voice. I should answer that, I don't want to get up because of the dizziness, but I should. I roll up and stand up. Blinking away the dizziness that follows. Does the world always tilt like this when one stands up? Had it been doing that every time I had gotten up? Which to be fair, hasn't been a whole lot. I stumble over to my door and turn the knob. I should stop ignoring people when they talk to me. But I enjoy not having to answer every person that I meet. Or that addresses me.

"Tooru?" Yamato steps into my space, "Have you eaten anything?"

Yamato puts a hand on my shoulder. Steadying me as I shake my head. I haven't eaten, "Not since… the day before yesterday?"

"That's not good. Come on, I made some food." Tenzo begins to tug me towards the door.

But the room is spinning and I can feel my weight being shifted onto Tenzo more and more. Every step that we take the more I realize I don't feel well at all. I… what is happening? Why do I feel like this? I have never felt like this in my whole life. Not even when I am being punished. Is this a punishment that Lord Sixth gave to me? I can't tell.

I don't feel well. I am putting too much weight on Tenzo. That isn't good. No.

"I don't feel…"

"I can tell. I should just take you to the hospital. You haven't eaten anything." Tenzo pulls me up onto his back and walks.

Shikamaru:

"Come on Shikamaru, you really think talking to her will help?"

I roll my eyes, "Yes Kiba. We should go and try to talk to her. She hasn't been to see Kakashi and from what we know she does a pattern. She's breaking it. We should see if Yamato has anything to say about it so we, as her friends, can help her."

We had been looking into information again. We are starting to hit a wall with the public information that we have available to us. The basics will help us in understanding the family in every means that is available to us, but the way the Kato's powers work? Nothing like that was ever made public for everyone to know. It's not like Saskue's family or Hinata's, which have a basic level of how their clans justu's work. No, the Kato's choose to keep that information on a need to know basis. At the time, I wouldn't blame them. Just getting out of a war and tensions rising with any and all nations No wonder they kept them hidden. That's only the public information we have clearance that Kakashi gave us. Though it has given more information about the Kato's and their history, we are only able to read about things. Theory and practice are two different things in the world. But I know we are missing a big thing. Who are the people who took the Kato's? Does this tie into the group Tooru got taken by?

Those are the things that aren't in any records. Even from when they found Tooru. Even then, we don't know how she was found or what date she was found. Not a single one of us know. Even Kakashi doesn't know. She has a month, she was found in December about 13 years ago. She was five at the time. But, she has a birthday recorded and that is coming up soon for her.

Records are a problem. Some of the things have been blacked out and just torn apart altogether. Which doesn't help Kiba and I.

"Her friends" Kiba snorts, "Ya right. She barely wants anything to do with us. She couldn't care less about us even if she tried."

"I think she is confused. She doesn't understand."

"Shikamaru," Kiba puts a hand on my shoulder, forcing me to stop, "is there something you're not telling me?"

I let out a long sigh, this is going to be a drag.

Tenzo:

I snicker. I'm not one for taking care of others. Normally Tooru can take care of herself. But recently she hasn't. It all started about 48 hours ago when she got back from seeing Kakashi. I had never seen her like that ever. Eyes glazed over and she seemed… upset? In all the years I have lived with Tooru she never once expressed any sort of emotion, that is until recently. First with her questioning someone and this? She hasn't left her room in a full day.

11:56 am.

No sign of her from her room. Kakashi hasn't said anything, I don't even know if she has left the house at all. Anko thinks it's weird as well. Tooru is home, but she usually comes out to say hello to Anko when she comes over. After that nothing from her, I think it has to do with the stupid rules tha I always see on the shelves in her room. I tried to clean them once but Tooru got in the way. Saying I am not allowed to touch those rules and I shouldn't even be in her room to begin with.

My main concern should be Tooru. Why hasn't she come out of her room yet? Is something wrong?

I look back at the clock, only a minute has ticked by. I haven't been getting a response from her anytime I drop off food. Nothing has been eaten. I have tried to look through her window, but she has her curtains drawn, so I can't see inside.

Something has to be wrong. She has a life filled with a regular schedule and it has to be done down to a tee, if not she gets anxious and shuts down. Of course on a mission everything seems to time out perfectly, but with moments like this? No, it isn't like her. Which is why Kakashi has never had anyone follow her, she's a clock herself. And Kakashi keeps tabs on her that way, and she is always in communication with Kakashi about reports and check ins. It really isn't a healthy relationship to go about with this, but when she was younger it must have helped Lord Third a lot since Naruto and Saskue ran around so much that others needed to keep an eye on them.

Not like I knew much about it since I was in the foundation. Just what Anko has told me about what happened. But that doesn't stop me worrying.

Tooru has habits that she isn't allowed to break, from what I understand that Kakashi has told me about. He knows about the rules and asked me for my thoughts about the rules and what they could do to her should they be… well, reversed is the word Kakashi had used. Maybe that's what this is all about, the rule reversal.

"Yamato," Kakashi leans on his desk, "What do you think would happen if I reversed the rules Tooru has?"

I turn back toward him. Tooru just got back and had to be punished according to the rules. She already knew about this coming, but Kakashi's question isn't a new topic. In fact it's been a topic of conversation every day. Nothing seems to put Kakashi's mind at ease about the rules. Especially when it comes to how closely the rules have to be followed.

"Haven't you already tired that with forcing her to be Kiba and Shikamaru's friend?"

Kakashi hums, "I have, but you see her resisting it. She isn't going against orders but she isn't breaking one of her rules."

"Those scroll rules?"

"Yes, I want to get rid of them. Reverse the rules for her."

"It would be good for her. Anyone who comes over feels like she is belittling them. Hell, I feel that sometimes."

"I think I have a plan."

Kakashi had left it at that. He said nothing more on the matter. Did he do something? Kiba and Shikamaru haven't been by. Another weird thing, she has to make time to see both of them daily, one or the other. But she didn't yesterday. Which also bugs me, both of them know they have to see her, Kakashi explained it to them enough that they need to be her friend.

Which, I don't understand why the two of them. Naruto and Ino would have been better. Maybe even Hinata. Not the Nara boy and the one who can never shut his mouth.

It's past noon, no sign of her.

I get out of my chair and walk to the hallway. Trying to sense her chakra, even when she is home, she allows me to know if she is in her room. Only when I am close enough to the door though. And today I can't feel her chakra.

I knock lightly on her door. "Tooru?"

I hear some movement. But it sounds sluggish. And not like how she normally moves. Silent and not wasting energy. She is being louder and stumbling it sounds like. When she opens that door, she looks pale. And she also looks like she could pass out, swaying from side to side like that.

I don't like where this is going.

"Tooru?" I step into her space, "Have you eaten anything?"

I put a hand on her shoulder. Steadying Tooru as she shakes her head, "Not since… the day before yesterday?"

"That's not good. Come on, I made some food." I begin to tug her towards the door.

I can feel the first few steps are hard on her. I can feel the weight being put on me. She hasn't eaten. Or drank anything. I need to get her out of her and under Sakura or Ino's care. If she hasn't eaten… she has to eat even meal and everything that is given to her.

For her to go that long without eating? Not good.

"I don't feel…"

"I can tell. I should just take you to the hospital. You haven't eaten anything." I pull her up onto my back and walk.

What's weird is that Tooru hate being picked up. And she isn't arguing with me on the matter. Which means it's something bad. No food in her system means she is going to be out of it.

I should get her to Sakura or Ino right away. I grab my keys and head out the front door.

Shikamaru:

"I see, so you had dreams about her?"

"Not that I really remember. But she had red hair. Which we both know her hair is clearly green."

Kiba has a big grin on his face, "And before you get any ideas, no." I slide my hands into my pocket.

"Wow, listen to you. Already saying no to me. And that hurts Shikamaru. You don't even know what I was thinking."

I roll my eyes. I begin walking again. Of course Kiba would take things the wrong way. If he doesn't take something the wrong way than it would be a disaster waiting to happen. Kiba follows me. Stil, anyone who heard I was dreaming of Tooru while she was missing would cause anyone to make assumptions. But she is only hanging out with us under Kakashi's orders. Not of her on will.

Which reminds me.

"Kiba, did you go and see Tooru yesterday?"

"Nope. Normally she comes to find us for an hour." I glance at Kiba. He is thinking about it now too

"But she didn't, which is weird for her to do. You have to admit that."

It annoys me that she hasn't been anywhere. Usually she goes shopping, and has to be out of her house for an hour or two depending on how long she has been working that day. But we just passed the market and nothing. It doesn't seem like anyone knows anything about where she is. Even her normal spots that she goes. She hasn't been to.

Which makes me wonder, where is she? She has to be at home if she isn't anywhere else. That is one thing I know for certain. Nowhere else for her to be. She has to be at home. Yamato let Kakashi know where she is at, and we haven't heard anything different. Logically, Tooru should be at home.

"So two birds with one stone? See what she remembers and do a check in with her? Smart."

"Anyone could have thought of-"

I look at the door and see Yamato carrying Tooru, and she looks… well… weak. Pale and not looking good at all. Causing me to stop in my tracks for a moment before walking up to him. He continues walking, as Kiba and I fall in line with him.

"Not the best time. Tooru needs medical attention."

"We can inform Kakashi, or we can take her." I look over at Kiba. He answered before I could even process Yamato's words.

Kiba never answers before me. I would have answered of just us going to see Kakashi. Yamato would be better at the hospital to explain what is going on. But he lives with Tooru, so of course he knows more information than us.

"I would rather talk to Kakashi. Let Sakura or Ino look at her. She hasn't eaten."

Yamato, being closer to me, begins to place her in my arms. I should have protested. But she isn't light either. Yamato walks off, towards Kakashi's office. Leaving Kiba and I with Tooru. I let out a sigh.

Man, what a drag

"You heard the man. Lets go."

"Since when do you talk so fast and sound somewhat intelligent?"

Kiba laughs, "Since seeing Tooru practically passed out. Come on let's move."

Kiba jumps up on a rooftop and begins to run. I follow him, keeping Tooru balanced, and myself balanced. Snickering to myself. Kiba should be the one to carry her. He is stronger between the two of us.

She hasn't eaten? She always tries, no, she always has to eat after X amount of hours. The fact that she didn't eat means that something changed. I don't like where this is going. First not seeing Kakashi, not seeking out Kiba or myself for mandatory hang out time, now passing out. Kakashi marking out those rules really did a number on her. More than any one of us care to admit.

She could make a lot of mistakes now since she isn't bound to the rules forcing her to do those things. Which might mean she has a rule about all those things. She's been acting weird since she got back, or since my team rescued her. She is way colder than she was before and she also is becoming… as though she has to answer everything we ask of her. Since she was 'punished' for messing up her mission. Which isn't Kakashi's style. But he has to go along with it. And Lady Fifth was too busy with the war and such to do much of anything to get far on Tooru's case. But now we need to focus on Tooru. She is going off the deep end.

As we can see with her… well her episode right now. She isn't fighting at all. I glance down at her… this reminds me…

"Tooru look out!" I yelled from the other side of the field.

I see something flying by Tooru. She dodges it. Damn, how did he get in here? None of us got anything about it. I am already trying to formulate a plan in my head. 1 against all 9 of us. Not good odds… wait… no. Not 9. Saskue isn't here. Kiba isn't. What is going on? I keep my eyes on the tree. Why is she seperated?

He grabs her shoulder and pulls Tooru close to him.

Time slows down. I can hear the footsteps of everyone, but the leader pulled Tooru in for a kiss. There is more shouting as more people enter the field. He did bring back up. No the ones tied up got out. He breaks the kiss and smiles to only vanish into mid-air. I move to catch Tooru.

Suddenly time speeds up and she is falling. I need to get things in order now. Not before anything else happens. I begin to communicate with the others. Ino and Choji already know the basic formation. Naruto and Sakura follow suit.

"Neji! Hinata! Take up front with Naruto, Sakura, stick close by Sai and Ino! Lee Tenten-" I dodge a kunia being thrown at me. I get up and move away with Tooru. We should be closer to the Nara property. I can be there and wait, figuring out a plan of attack.

I am sure the others will fall into formation before I can think ahead of them. We have all worked together long enough. What I need to do is get around others. I know I might not be able to fight alone with Tooru in this state.

I feel a pulling at my face. Tooru press her lips to mine and get memories from her. I am shocked by this action. An action I wouldn't have expected from Tooru. But for some reason… I don't mind the action. I welcome it is anything. So much that I feel myself wanting to pull her closer.

"Shikamaru! Tooru!" someone yells, I cannot place the voice. I keep my eyes closed, for Tooru nor I move away from each other. Our lips are still pressed together. "Shikamaru! Where are you?" The voice is closer.

I break the kiss, "We are over here Hinata!" She leans into me and fall asleep.

I shake my head. Wasn't that… a dream? Why am I remembering it so… vividly.

"Shikamaru! Why are you stopping? We're almost there!" I look and see Kiba on the next roof over.

"Sorry"

"Do you need me to carry her?"

I nod, passing her off to Kiba. Allowing me to think a little more. Didn't she have dreams as well? I barely heard what she had told Kakashi, but it sounded like she was under genjutsu. She has to be under some form of stress from that. But… even I can't shake off the feeling like..

I want that?

No way.

I can't even be her friend since she won't let me. But I trail behind Kiba. I don't like to have that kind of memory about a dream. Especially when I am already attracted to the person. But I haven't formed a solid conclusion about the person to know if I am only curious about them or I like them for them.