In Japan,

Yoshi was pacing back and forth as Saki laid boredly on his bed, watching his brother, groaning as he continued to pace. "Gah! This sucks! We've been locked in this room for days! I'm losing my mind!"

"There is nothing we can do about it, Yoshi," Saki said tiredly, sick of hearing his brother complaining. "Maybe you can't but I sure can!" Yoshi said as he went towards the window, Saki sitting up. "Where are you going?"

Yoshi stopped to answer his brother, "Saki, if I don't get out, I'm going to go nuts!"

"What do you think Father and Mother are going to do if they find out?" Saki deadpanned as Yoshi opened the window. "The only way they will find out is if you tell them! He and Ma are asleep. So, you can either come with me or stay here, either way I am going." With that, Yoshi climbed out the window while Saki debated.

He did not really want to go but if he lets Yoshi go, he gets in trouble for not telling his parents immediately and if he goes, he gets in trouble for sneaking out. Either way, he gets in trouble, so he might as well go along. "Wait for me!"

...

"Dammit! Where did that brat go?!"

"She could not have gone far!"

"First we almost get killed by that crazy ninja, and now we lose one of the orphans!"

"Boss, is going to kill us if we do not find her..."

...

Running through the city of Tokyo, panting, feet bleeding from the lack of shoes, was a little girl. She was a tiny child, filthy and so gaunt that she looked older than she was. Her oversized, dirty sweatshirt was covered in dirt and in blood. When people would ask if she was alright or try to stop her, the girl pushed right through them.

She didn't trust them. She didn't trust any adult. Adults are cruel, adults care only for themselves, and adults love to take advantage of children because they are small and naive. So, the girl kept running, refusing help from anyone and prayed that she could find somewhere safe, away from the men who took her.

However, her fever was holding her back, the violent coughs that made her whole-body shake, making her stop briefly but she could not stop completely or for long, for she knew they were looking for her and would soon find her if she did not figure something out soon.

"Alright, Yoshi, let's go back now!" She heard a voice say and the girl looked inside an alley to see two boys about her age. "Ok, ok, just a few more minutes," One of the boys replied as he was drawing something on the side of a building, using some kind of stone as his pen.

The girl's goldish-greenish eyes widened with hope. She did not trust adults, but she did trust kids, like herself. The girl takes a step and opens her mouth to call out when a hand suddenly slaps around her mouth and pulls her back. Her eyes widened in pure fear when she saw it was one of the two men she had been running from. "Found you, you brat!"

The girl immediately starts struggling, trying to scream but the man's firm strong hand was making it impossible. She could barely even breathe. The man started to drag her away as the girl looked to see the two boys, who had yet to notice them. They were her only hope. She needed to find a way to alert them somehow. Her eyes darted around the alley, until her eyes landed on a dumper that had a glass bottle on top of it. Using what little strength, she had left, the girl kicked out, hitting the dumpster as hard as she could, causing the bottle on top to fall and break with a loud crash.

The two boys jumped at the sudden sound and looked to see her, being held captive by some strange man. "HEY!" The boy with the black hair and red eyes shouted. They went to them, but the man did not run, only stood still as he smiled innocently. "Hello little boys, sorry for the interruption, my...daughter and I were just leaving."

"Daughter?" The boy with the brown hair and black eyes questioned as he studied the girl who was still unable to speak. "Yes, she is my daughter. She ran away and now I am bringing her home."

The other boy scanned over the girl as well then narrowed his eyes angrily at the man. "She ran away, huh? Why's that?"

"W-We got into a little argument earlier and she got upset but she is ready to come back now," The man explained shortly, and the girl started to struggle again, panicking because she was losing oxygen, and she was worried the boys won't be able to help her after all. "It doesn't look like she wants to go home to me," The boy said in a low tone, glaring and balling his fists.

"Yes, and judging by her appearance and how skinny she is, you are either a kidnapper or an abusive parent," The brown-haired boy noted, glaring as well. "Either way, we aren't letting her go anywhere with you," The black-haired boy growled as he took a bold step forward.

The man, losing all patience, reached to grab his gun but the girl slammed her foot, hard on the top of his, making him yelp and drop her as well as the gun. As she took greedy gasps of air, the boy with the black hair took his chance and attacked the man while the other helped her on her feet.

"Are you alright?" He asked and the girl nodded. "Y-Yes." They then watched the fight ahead and the girl was amazed at how well the boy was able to fight the grown man. It only took a few seconds before he was knocked unconscious. He then quickly went over to her. "Are there others after you or just him?!" The boy asked.

"There are others," The girl replied, her voice dry and raspy from the lack of water. The boy then picked her up bridal style and started to run, with the other quickly following. "We have to tell Mother and Father, Yoshi!"

"I know, Saki! Where do you think I'm taking her?!" The boy, Yoshi, replied annoyed. "W-Wait, who are you two?!" The girl asked.

"My name is Hamato Yoshi and this is my brother, Saki! We're the sons of the Hamato Clan! Don't worry, you're safe with us!" Yoshi promised as the girl blinked at him confused. "Hamato Clan?"

...

Atsuko and Yuuta were sleeping soundly when they started hearing screaming downstairs, "MA! DAD! COME DOWN HERE QUICK!!!"

Atsuko bolted awake at the panic voice, gasping, "Yoshi?!" before she hurried out of bed, Yuuta right behind and two were downstairs in a matter of seconds. They froze when they saw their two sons and a girl in Yoshi's arms.

"What happened?!" Yuuta demanded.

Yoshi glanced nervously at Saki then at his parents. "W-We...snuck out."

"WHAT?!" Both parents shouted but Yoshi quickly interrupted before they could scold them. "I know! We're in trouble but we found this girl, who was being kidnapped and she needs help! I think she's hurt!"

Atsuko's anger disappeared immediately as he looked at the girl more closely, gasping at the sight of her. The girl had long since passed out in Yoshi's arms, from mental and emotional exhaustion. Atsuko did not hesitate to carefully take her from Yoshi. "I will take care of her."

"Should I call Kuzunoha?" Yuuta asked as Atsuko started to go upstairs. "No. Not yet anyway. She doesn't seem badly injured but I would like Kuzunoha to look at her as soon as she comes back just in case. For now, I'll handle it from here."

Yuuta nodded and when his wife left, Yuuta turned to look sternly at his two sons. "You boys better tell me everything."

...

Water filled the tub quickly, Atsuko kneeled beside it, watching it while the girl was still sound asleep in her arms. Atsuko frowned as she gazed down at the poor girl. Her hair was knotted and filled with grime. Her skin and clothes are dirty, covered in blood...but it does not appear to be her's. So far, Atsuko saw no injury other than the splinters on her feet and the bruises on her skin. She was also very skinny and tiny, showing that the girl has not eaten in a long time. Though she was much smaller, looking at her hands, Atsuko concluded that this girl was no more than nine years old.

Rage entered Atsuko's heart, unable to imagine how someone could be so cruel to a child but took deep breaths to calm herself. That matter would be handled later, at a better time. Right now, she needs to focus on the girl.

When the tub finally filled, Atsuko ran her hand through it to make sure it was a good temperature before slowly and carefully taking the girl's dirty clothes off, cringing when she saw her rib cage and lowering her in the tub. Atsuko gently wetted the girl's hair, before scrubbing her short dark soot colored hair with shampoo. Atsuko was amazed that the girl did not even stir. She must have truly been exhausted. After cleaning the girl, Atsuko pulled her out of the bath, wrapping her in a big fluffy tale and draining the tub.

Atsuko then carried the girl to one of the spare bedrooms and laid her gently on the bed. Before dressing her, she dried her off and wrapped bandages around her feet. Afterwards, she took out a simple white nightgown and slipped it on her.

Atsuko looked over at her one last time before tucking her in, as she did, she noticed the girl's crackling breathing. Frowning, Atsuko felt her forehead and found that she had a fever which could also be why she had passed out. Acting quickly, Atsuko grabbed medicine from her bedroom and lifted the girl's head before slowly pouring it down her throat. She messaged the girl's neck to help her swallow then laid her back down, putting a cold wet cloth on the top of her head.

Atsuko took a heavy sigh as she took a seat on a stool, next to the girl's bed, gazing at her sadly. Just then, Yuuta came in. "I spoke to the boys. They said that they were playing in some alley when the girl showed up, being held captive by some strange man. They also mentioned that she said that there were others after her."

"When the girl wakes up, we'll ask her but for now, let her rest," Atsuko said, eyes refusing to leave the girl. "Are you going to stay here all night?" Yuuta asked but it was not really a question, for he already knew the answer.

"I can't leave her. I'm worried she might not wake up if I do. She has a fever, and I don't know when she has last eaten," Atsuko replied, and Yuuta nodded. "What should we do about the boys? They disobeyed us and snuck out."

Atsuko knows she should be angry at her sons. They had snuck out and went off on their own again, after she and Yuuta had just punished them for it but...as Atsuko looked at the girl, she was more thankful to her sons than angry. If they had not snuck out, who knows what could have happened to this girl.

"I will have a talk with them but as far as punishment goes...I think we can let this one slide."

"Atsuko-"

"Yuuta," Atsuko cut her husband's protest. "I know they disobeyed, and I am the one who wanted them to not go off alone but, think about what would have happened to this girl if they hadn't been there when they were. They will finish the rest of their punishment, but I don't believe we need to add anymore. They saved this girl's life; I believe that causes more of a reward than a punishment."

Yuuta gazed at the sleeping girl, his eyes shifting to her than Atsuko before sighing, "Very well but we are to have a talk with them."

"Yes."

The two sat in silence, both staring at the girl. "Are you not going to bed?" Atsuko asked her husband. "Do you not want me by your side?" Yuuta asked and Atsuko smiled at him. "You should get a chair; it's going to be a long night and your leg will start hurting if you don't sit down soon."

Yuuta nodded and went to get another stool that he sat on next to his wife, as they both watch the girl slumber. Atsuko breathed a soft breath, resting her head on his shoulder. "I do not even want to know what she has been through..."

"But we must."

"Yes...I just hope it won't hurt her to tell us."

...

In a dark tall building, in the middle of Tokyo,

"YOU IDIOTS!!" A man shouted as he threw a glass cup near one of his men's heads, but they remained perfectly still with their hands behind their backs, only wincing slightly. "How could you let those two escapes?!"

"W-We don't know how it happened, Mr Hayashi," One of them stuttered.

"I don't want to hear that nonsense!! Do you know how much those two were worth?!"

"We are sorry, Mr. Hayashi."

Mr. Hayashi only glared at them with his dark brown eyes. "Sorry? Tsk! Sorry does not make up for thousands of dollars! We lost the boy but there is still a chance the girl is still out there. None of you are to rest a wink until she is found, is that clear?!"

"Hai," With that, the two left and Mr. Hayashi fixed his white tux before sitting down on his office chair. He sighed as he stirred his drink and he was about to take a sip when- "You are a weak leader," a sudden dark voice said, making Mr. Hayashi gasp and drop his drink. He spun around, his eyes going wide when he saw Oroku Nagi. He came over to Mr. Hayashi's desk and took a photo frame off of it. "My father and brother would have chopped their limbs off for such failure."

"W-What are you doing here?! I did what you asked, and you promised to leave me alone afterwards."

"Yes, I did, and you have done well but I need another favor," Nagi said, not taking his eyes off the photo. "What now?"

"The Lotus Clan is officially no more, but the Hamato Clan is still living. If I am to take them as well as the council down, I need more men, strong men and maybe a few young ones to train. I would search for such recruits myself but as you know, I can not yet draw too much attention to myself," Nagi explained and Mr Hayashi glared. "Wasn't your vengeance towards Tang Ren? You got what you wanted and now I would just like to be at peace."

In response, Nagi snapped his hand forward and grabbed Mr. Hayashi by the front of his shirt, pulling him close as he glared. "My vengeance is towards all Clans, especially the Hamatos! I will make them all pay for defying the Foot and if you do not wish for you or your boy to be one of them!" He yelled while shoving the photo of Mr. Hayashi's son in his face. "Then I suggest you do as I say..."

Mr. Hayashi trembled, gulped, then gave a single nod. Nagi then let him go, letting him drop to the floor before he dropped the photo on his lap. "Wise man. I will be back to check on your progress in a few days, do not disappoint me."

When Mr. Hayashi turned to look at the man, he was already gone with the balcony window wide open, the winds changing at the heaviness that lured in the air.