Chapter 9

Trust is a very tricky thing to go on, either you trust those with good faith or... you trust on those who will be rude, condescending or even straight up evil.

And yet, here she was, trusting strangers.

With her life.

Why? Because she had no choice.

First, there was the tall... let's be honest, they are all taller than her, the tall man with silver blue hair and red irises that seemed almost unreal and ethereal, like a dream.

He called himself Tobirama, his last name was left unknown for now, but she would be patient. It's not like she had anything to do, anyone to see, not that she could remember.

Embarrassment was the last thing on her mind, maybe she would be after her hysterical episode once she woke up in the middle of a storm at night.

Maybe it was the roar of thunder and rain that shook her awake.

Possibly the fact that she was half naked, no underwear or shoes, with clothes that were definitely not hers.

Or even waking up in an unknown place with an unknown man staring right at her...

It was all too much...

But alas, life goes on and time will help heal the cracks in her mind. A mind that no longer screamed at her body to bolt out of there and cross the land even under the heavy rain. Her tensed muscles now hurt from the last 24 hours. The morning dew hovered on wet grassy fields and the trees trickled down droplets of last night's rain.

The air was fresh but heavy with humidity as it stuck to her hair, skin and clothing. If she had any shoes, she would step out of the protective fabric that built the tent from top to flooring.

A small chill ran up her spine, reminding her of the foreign long sleeve shirt she had, her legs had no protection against the chilled air and her hair weighted heavily down her back.

Not very comfortable, but why would she argue? She was grateful to be safe, relatively dry and even fed, if you can count on her small nibbles of food she stole from Tobirama when he wasn't paying attention - he was - and he took some of his war, tea. He took the plate and tea meant for her and ate it himself. Kindly avoiding mentioning her weird actions.

It all tastes foreign for her.

Everything she could pick up with her senses brought the same question.

"What is this place?"

- "We are less than a mile away from The Valley of the Lost." -

She almost yelped as she yerked back into the tent, the pinket had not even noticed the taller man right next to the tents opening.

Had he been there for a while?

- "That does not tell me anything." - she hesitated, not really wanting to glance at him if he was just going to be rude... like he was last night.

- "It should, since you wanted to return there. Remember?" -

- "No... I don't know that place." -

- "We found you." - he trailed off. - "In the middle of a large room made of carved stone and wilderness overpowering the outside." -

The man took a few steps and stopped right at the entrance of the tent, outside looking in and covering her view of the greenery.

His tall and strong frame covered almost all the light coming in, leaving her in his shadow as he stared right at her.

- "Ring a bell?" -

Her confusion must have been visibly obvious as he furrowed his brows in... annoyance? With men, she always found herself lost... And with women. "Every head is different".

- "What is this place?" - her whisper was louder than last night, but still hesitant. Saying or doing anything to annoy these people was not an option, not when she had no idea of the situation she was in.

Was she in danger?

Was she kidnapped?

Did she want to know what plans they had for her? "Hell no!"

But she had to be patient, collect any information she could and find a way out.

- "Do I frighten you?" - his question sounded more of a statement, he knew she was apprehensive and uncomfortable in his presence. Mostly since he did NOT look friendly.

- "I-I rather not insult you. But I do remember the way you looked at me." - her mind drifted to the first time she saw those endless pools of darkness. They say the eyes are the windows to the soul. The small specks of gold and silver she remembered floating in those eyes might just have been her imagination, but she would be lying if she said they did not remind her of the dark starry sky.

Beautiful and endless.

Filled with curiosity and wonder. Even if there was rage and anger for a few seconds directed at her. There was so much more.

But then it all went dark, after the other warrior, the one with dark brown hair and darker skin took her in his arms as the world turned on her and her body gave up.

She felt grateful in a way.

The fragmented memories only assured her she was not in a place she called home or give her any sense of familiarity. Even their accent was strange to her, the "Ring a bell?" was nothing she had ever heard before, how was she supposed to answer to that?

He cleared his voice before asking permission to enter. That really surprised her, but she quickly recovered and nodded. When he crossed the threshold, suddenly the weight of the air shifted and she could breathe in a big gulp of air and let it go, relaxing her shoulders.

There was no menace, no anger... just curiosity. Well, she was also very curious.

Maybe they can satisfy their curiosity of each other...

- "What do you remember, Sakura?" - her name rolling out of his tongue was not unpleasant, not that he had another name for her than "Flower".

She looked away, almost shyly. - "Not much." - she mumbled.

- "Then, let's go backwards." - he stated with a new strategy. - "Think about that place, where we first met." - her eyes looked for his and he could almost see right through her. The way her body shrank and her eyes lost focus.

She wanted to disappear.

Maybe her version of reality was crumbled, her ideas of what is real and what is not had been erased and no memories to hold on to or guide her.

Just thoughts.

He refused to show pity, that would not help.

- "How do you remember your name?"-

Then it happened, her eyes started to focus on him. - "I heard it." -

Well, that was not what he expected. In that room, only stone and dust surrounded them, and he heard no one speak of her. Not a single disembodied voice had echoed.

He concluded on a mental illness.

The Yamanaka's will know what to do... just in case, even if he did not feel comfortable with other families mingling in his business.

- "Who are your people?" - her sudden question was not unsurprising, he had the same question for her, but she might as well just be from the same families that have assisted the great rulers throughout history.

- "We are warriors, from the land of fire." - her smile widened at that, something in her mind ticked.

A memory.

- "We are in the land of fire?" - she almost jumped from excitement.

After his nod, she tried to peek over his shoulder, to no avail. Then tried to walk pass him, but he held her arm just as she reached the entrance.

- "We haven't finished talking." -

- "But-" - she turned at him, and those eyes pleaded. - "I want to remember." -

- "That takes time, and we haven't finished talking."- he repeated the last with more emphasis. His hold on her was firm yet harmless.

The pinket turned for one more glance of the forest before her shoulders slumped, maybe because she also wanted answers. Either way, her eyes met him, and she gave him a firm nod. He leaded her to sit on the cot as he took a small stool right in front of her.

After a few runs of questions with answers he did not like, understood or found helpful. Mostly a bunch of "I don't remember", "I can feel it" and "What do you mean?".

His questions were as simple as day!

- "Look, this isn't working. I have already told you. All I remember is hearing that voice calling for me, waking up and meeting both of you. Then being here."-

The woman's anxiety grew as she found herself confused and frustrated, was he speaking another language to her?

Was he?

Of course, he wasn't. They could hold on to a conversation easily and she spoke in a different accent but fluently. Accents could vary from the different areas of the land and with all the travels he has had, some are easier to identify.

At least her voice was very pleasing to the ears.

- "Then, we will trigger those memories." - as he rose from the stool, the pinket visibly flinched. - "I mean you no harm." - Madara felt he had to assure her, lunch time was near, and they had to leave the tent. Outside, were all his other men and Senju men who are also very well guarded, equipped with weapons and hard armour covered their clothing.

Also, as he stared her down, she had no shoes and only wore a big shirt... a Senju garment.

For now, he concluded.

- "Lunch will start soon. Those clothes will keep you warm." - he searched around the tent and found some simple sandals.

These Senju really go all out for comfort...

Uchiha like to be light and ready to move, comfort is an easy sacrifice. Even if his back was killing him from a bad sleep.

- "Wear these, they should be good for now. Don't fear my men or the Senju, we won't hurt you if you don't give them reason." -

Her feet seemed a little smaller than the sandals, it made sense to him if those had been left there for her to wear. Some Senju women must have supplied them from her own tent. Even so, most warriors had bigger built, therefore, even the smallest woman in the Senju group might have a bigger frame then a non-warrior.

It was just how things seemed to be, the diet they all had to follow to keep up with the rigorous activity gave them the strength needed.

Besides, this mission did not call for any other specialist than combat.

Madara was only grateful he kept his men and woman with both body and mind strong, all knew at least two languages and had completed their studies with great grades.

Not like the palace armies. They seemed to only care to wear fancy armour, weapons and whatever payment was good enough to keep them quiet if needed.

Loyalty can't be paid.

- "Wait!" - the pinket almost yelped as she held on to his sleeve before he stepped outside. His only answer was to turn and lift a single eyebrow in question.

Those green eyes now seem very... shy. Her fair complexion, as he could see now, was lightly masked by little freckles and dusted by a pink blush.

- "I- I don't mean to seem rude... but..." - she exhaled. - "How do I word this?" - she stumbled on her words searching for something.

Then it hit him. This woman, who now wears another man's clothing in another man's tent was about to be escorted by a completely different man out in the open.

Maybe she worried the implications of her appearance and status could be seen in a bad light.

- "The men and women outside are here to fight and protect, not to judge." - he assured her.

The small smile peaking on her face was like a small reward. - "Thank you." -

If she was nervous, she did not show it on her face. Sakura walked out with her head up high right next to him and kept her pace at par with his.

The only thing that threatened at the corner of his lips was the fact she did not let go of his sleeve the hole entire time.

He decided to allow that.

If he was the only reason she did not cower and smiled brightly at his clansmen, then he could bear with it. After all, it was his job to be a symbol of strength.

The half-shocked expression of Tobirama he was able to capture with his eyes seemed like sufficient payment for the small gesture.

Even his own brother was surprised but pleased as he gave him a firm nod from afar. The best way to get what they wanted was to keep the little flower wanting to trust them.