22 Chapter 22 : The Aftermath (1/2)

A YERRR YERRRRRR! So I dropped some major hints of who Rei is last chapter. They were pretty obvious. Probably so obvious that they weren't obvious at all, I guess. I hope at least somebody caught it. Anyway, Esketit.

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Kakashi, Aya, Rei, and Sasuke managed to whisk Kenji away, back to the Hidden Leaf. There were some close calls involving the Mist, but Aya showed off the prevalence of her cloak jutsu, much to the suprise of team 7. The sun began to rise as they crossed the village gate. Aya was instantly comfortable when she passed through, there was just something smitten with her about this village. She should have made this decision a long time ago.

They ushered themselves into the hospital, which was rather bright and not dreary, being this early. Kenji was admitted into the place and Kakashi lowered him from his back onto the cloud of sheets and comforters. Kenji's eyes were wide open with shock, flashing back and forth between white and red. The veins which aligned his cheek pulsated, wondering if they should remain or not. Kakashi was slighlty sickened.

”Ok.” Kakashi turned. ”Aya, I assume you'd like to stay here?”

She only nodded.

”Alright.....Hey Rei.”

”Yes, Sensei?”

”I want you to stay here with Miss Aya and keep her company. Maybe you two can get to know each other.” Kakashi eye smiled. ”Me and Sasuke will report to the Hokage in the meantime.”

Rei looked annoyed. She hated all this ninja stuff. She wondered if it was time to actually quit. She didn't want to disappoint her father, but this stuff was plain tiresome. Sleep was all she wanted. Kakashi had known Rei since birth, so he instantly remarked, ”And don't run off. We still have many things to discuss as a team.”

Kakashi and Sasuke flickered off towards the Hokage's office, leaving the two ladies in silence. Rei slouched next to Aya and sat.

”So...” Aya hesitantly asked ”Do you have any family?”

Kenji was the only person on her mind, and she would never forgive herself for her ignorance against his birth mother.

”My mother is gone, but my dad is the Hokage. That's about it.” Rei twiddled her thumbs.

”Really?? Your father's a nice man.”

”Yeah, but sometimes he's too nice to me. I guess he still feels guilty about my mother's death. It was during the Nine-tales attack eleven years ago, so I guess he lets me do whatever I want to without punishment to make me happy. I know it sounds weird, but I want him to scold me. Sometimes I never know right from wrong until it's too late.”

Aya just listened. It seemed every parent wasn't perfect. This made her feel a tad better. Even the esteemed Hokage wasn't perfect.

”Do you have any friends?” Aya asked.

Rei lowered her face. ”Not really. I don't really know how to act. Socially or even in general.”

Aya narrowed her face at Kenji. ”.....the boy's name is Kenji, If you didn't know. I'm his adoptive mother, but I've always tried to love him as a real mother. I've messed up many times, so I'm not sure if he'll ever be the same. So don't blame your dad for that, not every parent is perfect. Just let him be, eventually, I believe he'll forgive himself.” She smiled at Rei.

The girl felt a warmth fill a void in her heart. Is this what a mother does? She thought.

”Thank you.” She said with sincerity.

”As for friends, Kenji only had three I believe..... and he....was forced to kill them.” She choked up as Rei showed concern.

”But even so, our village knew Kenji didn't fit in. If it weren't for those kids, He would have been shunned by the entire Mist.”

Aya widened her eyes. He was so similar to her. The villagers of the Leaf looked at her with contempt, still.

Aya looked at her. ”I think you and Kenji could get along. To be honest..” Aya saddened. ”I think he'll need it.”

Both women stared at the catatonic boy on the bed.

After a few seconds, the door opened to reveal Kakashi, Sasuke, and Minato.

Rei's eyes lit up. ”Dad? Why are you here?”