Chapter 19
Takara starts to cry. "You pretend to break in, and then you will... take Takara out of her bed and you can do whatever you want with her..."
"WHAT?!" Jomei and Neji yell out.
Takara keeps crying. "Mom planned on having them kidnap me!?"
"Takara! I'm so sorry- I had no idea your mother did this!" Jomei says and starts crying. "All these years, I thought we were an innocent family that had their daughter kidnapped. Turns out your mother planned the whole thing, and lied to me all these years... Is anything in our marriage even real?"
"Dad, why did you bring me into this room?" Takara asks while crying.
"I wanted to go somewhere nice and catch up," Jomei says and wipes away his tears.
"And I ended up finding out the horrible truth. Mom planned this. She's the one who ruined my life. She caused all this!" Takara says. "Why mom? Why? Why did you do this to me? What did I do wrong? Why wasn't I good enough for you!?" Takara sits down on the ground. She puts her head in her hands and bawls her eyes out. Neji comes up to her and holds her.
Jomei sits down in a chair that's in the room and puts his head in his hands. "Who the hell did I marry and have kids with?"
Takara slowly looks up and looks at her father. She then reads more of the page. "Signed by Takako Uta, Hiroshi Emica, Eito Uzumaki, then later Leij and Leitangi Hikaru signed."
"Wait, did you just say Uzumaki?" Neji asks.
"Yeah, why?" Takara asks.
"Eito is part of the Uzumaki clan. Do you know who else is part of the Uzumaki clan?" Neji asks.
"Wait a minute...," Takara says. "Naruto! Naruto Uzumaki! Does Naruto know Eito?"
"I have no idea," Neji says.
Takara sighs then continues to read. "Dear Takako Uta, we agree to steal your daughter and we will pay you 10,000,000. Leave your front door unlocked the night of October 10th." Takara closes the binder and puts it down. "I've read enough."
"I can't believe your mother sold you," Jomei says.
Takara stares off into space. "My mom sold me... My mom threw me away, ruined my life, for some yen."
"I don't know what to think," Jomei says.
"Same," Takara says. "Mom said she couldn't handle the loss of me, but ended up having another kid. I'm starting to think that's not true. She had Jakako to replace me. And who told her I was dead?"
"She always just said they or them. She never really told me who," Jomei says.
"Because she's the one who said I died. She told you that I died so that you would stop searching for me!" Takara says. Takara gets angry. "My whole life has been a lie! I was sold! She lied to my dad for 13 years! She lied to the whole Leaf Village! She made all these shinobi risk their lives when she knew where I was the whole time! Was she writing letters to Hiroshi or any of them the whole time?!"
"She never told me who she was writing letters to, I just assumed it was to your sick grandmother," Jomei says. "She unfortunately passed away a year and a half after you were gone."
"Aw, no!" Takara says. "Wasn't she the one who would come over and always take me to get ice cream and we'd always bake a cake together?"
Jomei nods. Takara looks down with tears running down her face once again. "What the hell man."
Takara stands up and stands in front of Jomei. Neji stands behind Takara. "Father, I want to show you what mom sold me to." Takara then shows Jomei her nasty scar on her belly.
"Oh my God, my poor Takara!" Jomei says and bursts into tears.
Takara slightly lifts up her skirt and she shows Jomei the bruise that won't go away. "I've had this bruise for years and it won't go away." Takara then takes off her shoes and socks and shows her feet to her father. "Cigarette burns... They would use my feet as an ashtray. "
"Takara, you never told me that," Neji says.
"I'm sorry," Takara says. "That's why I always wear some kind of socks."
"Those sons of bitches! I will make them pay for what they did to you," Jomei says.
"Well, 2 of the 4 have been taken out," Takara says.
"What do you mean?" Jomei asks.
"Neji and I were walking and Hiroshi and Eito came out of nowhere. Neji then protected me, by killing the 2," Takara says.
"That's somewhat a relief," Jomei says.
"It's just the two brothers left," Takara says then sighs.
"How did you even escape from them?" Jomei asks.
Takara sighs again. "Thanks to someone else who was recently kidnapped. Most of my time there it was just me, and a few days before I left, they kidnapped another guy named Yaketsuku, Hiroshi's little brother. Leitangi actually set him on fire."
"On fire?!" Jomei asks.
"Yeah," Takara says. "I was hoping to be next so my suffering would end. But eventually the rain stopped the fire, and he distracted Leitangi and I was able to make my escape. I ran and crawled for so many hours, I was covered in mud. I ended up arriving at the Cloud Village and I was about to die."
"The Cloud Village helped you?" Jomei asks.
"Yeah. Killer Bee actually took me under his wing and helped me a lot," Takara says.
Jomei smiles. "I should thank Bee for saving you."
"He's truly great," Takara says.
"Takara...," Jomei says.
"Yes?" Takara asks.
"Since you're all grown up, what is it in life you would like to do?" Jomei asks.
"I wanted to return to the Leaf, which I did. I wanted to find my family, which I did and learned the horrible truth. I wanted to make friends and find love, which I did. I only have one unfulfilled wish that I have no idea if I can even achieve it," Takara says. Takara then slowly pulls out her songbook. "All my life I wrote songs. It was the only way to cope with my life. After escaping, I still wrote songs and still do to this day."
"Oh Takara," Jomei says. "I remember you as a little girl, you would always pretend to set up a stage and give me and your mother a mini concert."
Takara's face turns red. "Daaaaddd..."
"What?" Jomei asks with a laugh. "It was adorable!" Jomei then sighs. "I missed those concerts so much. At first when you were gone, I would always look over to where you would perform them and just start crying. I missed my Takara so much." A tear comes out one of Jomei's eyes.
Takara holds her father's hand. "Well, you can look over wherever that spot was and smile knowing I'm alive!"
"Yes, I know," Jomei says. "It still breaks my heart that I lost 13 years of your life. Those 13 years I was supposed to raise you to be a strong shinobi but I failed. Your mother took that away from me. I was even getting ready to enroll you to the ninja academy."
"R- Really?" Takara asks. "If mom didn't sell me, I would have been one badass shinobi. But, I guess it wasn't meant to happen. If I was never kidnapped, who knows if I would be dating Neji, and I don't know if I would have found my love for writing songs."
"I'm assuming that he is Neji," Jomei says while pointing at him.
"I am," Neji says. "It's an honor to meet you." Neji walks up to Takara.
Jomei smiles. "I like him."
"So do I," Takara says and laughs.
"Please, never hurt her," Jomei says.
"I would rather get impaled by the 10 tails again," Neji says. "That was the worst pain I've endured. But, if I lost Takara, I know that pain wouldn't be anywhere near the 10 tails."
Takara looks at Neji like she could cry. "Aww, Neji!" She grabs his hand.
Jomei stares at Takara. "My Takara is back."
Just then, Jokako runs in with her friend. Jomei turns his head to look at her.
"Daddy! Me and Kagami are hungry! Can you please make us something to eat?" Jokako says.
Jomei looks back at Takara.
"Go ahead, they need to eat," Takara says and lets go of Neji's hand. She starts to put her songbook away. "Don't let them starve, it's one of the worst feelings in the world."
"I would rather starve than let my children starve," Jomei says. "I really wish I could have helped you Takara, I really do."
Takara looks down. "It's okay. I'm alive and that's all that matters now."
Jomei stands up and walks towards Jokako.
"I probably should get going," Takara says. She goes to the paper with the computer's password and Takara writes down her address.
"Here's my address. Please come by and visit whenever you'd like, and please don't let mother see this." Takara says.
"Oh, I sure will come visit!" Jomei says.
Jomei and Takara hug.
"I love you Takara," Jomei says.
Takara's eyes start to tear up. "I've wanted to hear those words from you for so long... I love you to... dad."
Takara and Jomei let go. Neji grabs onto Takara's hand. Jomei guides Takara and Neji to the door. They all wave and Neji and Takara walk out. Takara sits on the stoop and sighs. Neji sits down next to her.
"Are you gonna be okay?" Neji asks.
"Eventually," Takara says. "My whole life... I thought I was just a random kidnap, but my mom set it up just for money. I'm worth only 10,000,000 to her. What was wrong with me? What does my little sister have that I don't? Or what if she's not good enough and my mom sends her away too? But I'm sure since my dad knows the truth he won't let that happen to her. My mom is ill, I hate to say this but I think karma might have gotten her. No sane person sells their daughter to kidnappers who... God I don't want to even list off what they said. I should have shown my dad the map where they were located. Oh, I'm rambling on again, sorry."
"It's okay princess," Neji says. "It's actually kinda cute when you ramble on." Neji smiles.
"I'm glad you like it because I tend to do it a lot," Takara says. Takara looks back at the house. "Should I tell my dad where I was hidden?"
"It wouldn't be a bad idea," Neji says.
Takara stands up and knocks on the door. Jomei quickly answers it.
"Did you forget something sweetie?" Jomei asks.
"Do you have a map of all the villages?" Takara asks.
"No, why?" Jomei asks.
"I was going to show you where I was hidden," Takara says. "Whenever you can, get a map and come over to my place and I'll show you exactly where I was just in case anything ever happens to me."
"Okay Takara," Jomei says.
"Daddy! Hurry up!" Jokako calls out from the kitchen.
"I'll let you get back, I love you father," Takara says.
"I love you too, Takara," Jomei says, then slowly shuts the door.
Takara looks at the front door being closed in her face.
"Neji, I want to go home," Takara says.
Neji nods. Neji then grabs Takara's hand and they start to walk to Takara's apartment. Takara is silent the whole time, definitely overthinking in her head. Neji grabs her hand and kisses her hand.
"Neji," Takara says in shock. "We're in public and you kissed my hand."
"Yeah?" Neji says. "Right now, I honestly don't care who knows about us. I just want to comfort you when you need me the most."
"Yeah," Takara says. "It would be nice to meet up with everyone again and hang out. I sure could go for that."
"We can arrange that," Neji says with a smile.
"I would love that," Takara says, then yawns. "I really could go for a nap right now."
"I understand," Neji says. "Let's get you home and I'll tuck you in."
Takara smiles. "Okay. You're too cute"
Takara and Neji pick up the pace and quickly get to Takara's apartment. Takara gets there and unlocks her apartment. Neji scans and sees that no one is there.
"You're safe," Neji says.
"I wish I had your byakugan," Takara says.
"A lot of people do," Neji says.
Takara goes to her room and falls into her bed without changing clothes. Neji comes up to her and gives her some blankets and makes sure she's snuggled in. He leans over and kisses Takara on the forehead.
"I love you my princess. Sweet dreams," Neji says.
Takara smiles. "Thank you Neji, I love you too." Takara yawns loudly.
Neji starts to walk out of Takara's room. He looks back at her and smiles. Takara smiles back and closes her eyes. Neji walks out and shuts the door behind her.
"Okay, while she sleeps, I'm gonna quickly go to Sakura's and plan a little get together for Takara. She deserves to be with the people she likes..." Neji says in his mind.
Neji finds a piece of paper and writes out that he's going over to Sakura's for a moment with a heart. He then scans the house one last time and reassures himself that no one is there to harm Takara. He quietly opens Takara's door and locks the bottom lock and he quickly gets to Sakura's house.
"Get ready to have a great night my princess," Neji says to himself. "Oh, that sounds dirty..."
Takara finally wakes up from her 20 minute nap. She sits up and stretches. Takara then remembers everything from earlier and sighs. "Why mom... Why?"
Takara sits up out of bed and walks out to the living room to see Neji but he isn't there. Takara looks around and sees a note.
"Going over to Sakura's for a moment. I love you princess," Takara reads. Takara then smiles. "Aww, he's probably planning a fun evening for the 3 of us."
Takara goes to her bathroom and starts the water to the shower. She then strips out of her clothes then steps in the shower and lets the water hit her body as she takes a deep breath. She then lathers her hair in good smelling shampoo. Takara closes her eyes and washes her hair.
After she rinses her hair, Takara feels something go over her mouth. She quickly looks down and sees a hand holding a rag over her mouth. Without thinking, Takara screams.
"Tak...," says a familiar voice.
Takara slowly turns around. She sees Eito standing behind her, evilly smiling.