Inside Yukari's small, dimly lit house, the soft sound of Kenshin's breathing was the only thing that broke the stillness. He had fallen asleep in Kana's arms, his tear-streaked face now peaceful in the embrace of exhaustion.
Kana gently laid him down on the futon and pulled a blanket over him, brushing a lock of his hair aside before sitting back quietly.
Yukari, lying beside Kenshin, turned her head slightly to look at Kana, her frail body still resting on the floor. "You've grown into such a caring mother, Kana-sama," she said softly, her voice filled with warmth and admiration. "Quite different from the troublemaker I used to know."
Kana chuckled lightly, wiping the last traces of her tears away as she sat back against the wall. "Oh, Yukari, I'm still a troublemaker at heart," she replied with a small smile, though there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. "I just hide it better these days."
Yukari raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering across her tired face. "Is that so?"
"Mm-hm." Kana shrugged, her voice growing softer as she glanced at Kenshin sleeping soundly under the blanket. "Truth is, I'm still just a child on the inside. Ken-chan and Akane-chan, they're the ones who take care of me, not the other way around."
Yukari's smile widened, though it was tinged with sympathy. "They're lucky to have you, Kana-sama. No matter how you feel inside, you've raised them with love, and that's what matters most."
Kana shook her head gently, her gaze distant as she thought about her children. "They don't mind me acting like a kid… I think they prefer it that way. It feels more natural to them, seeing me as the playful mom instead of someone who's… supposed to be all serious."
Yukari let out a soft laugh, though it was interrupted by a slight cough. "Sometimes, being a child inside is the purest form of strength."
Kana looked down, her smile bittersweet. "I just want them to be happy, Yukari. That's all I've ever wanted."
Yukari reached out slowly, her frail hand barely able to touch Kana's. "And you've done everything you could to make sure of that, Kana-sama. You've given them your heart."
As Kana sat quietly, her thoughts swirling with memories and worries, the door slid open softly. Akane stepped inside, her expression calm yet distant, holding two bowls of steaming stew in her hands.
"Mom, Aunt Yukari," Akane said softly, her voice steady but carrying an underlying tension, "you should eat something. None of us have eaten since morning." She handed one bowl to her mother and the other to Yukari, her gaze lingering on Kenshin's sleeping form.
Kana smiled gently as she accepted the bowl. "Thank you, Akane-chan," she whispered, though her focus drifted back to Kenshin almost immediately.
Akane knelt beside her brother, her eyes scanning his swollen face. His peaceful expression was a stark contrast to the grief that had overwhelmed him earlier.
She hesitated, her heart aching as she leaned down and pressed a tender kiss on his forehead. Gently, she ran her fingers through his hair, her touch filled with a mix of love and determination.
"I love you, Kenshin," Akane whispered, her voice barely audible. "I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough… But I'll get stronger. I swear, I'll be able to hold you down if this happens again." She paused, her hand lingering in his hair for a moment longer. "I'll start training the moment we're back in the Leaf. I promise. I'll ask Kakashi-sensei to train me again."
Kana watched her daughter in silence, her heart heavy yet filled with pride. She knew Akane's words came from a place of guilt, but she also knew how deeply Akane loved her brother.
Yukari, resting beside Kenshin, gave Akane a small, tired smile. "You're both so strong, Akane-sama. But remember… strength doesn't always mean doing everything alone. Don't forget you have each other."
Akane nodded, though her eyes remained fixed on Kenshin. "I won't forget. But next time… I'll be ready."
Kana's eyes softened, watching the bond between her children, a silent vow passing between them that they would face whatever came together.
In the early morning mist, the team moved quietly through the thick woods on their journey back to the Leaf.
Their mission was officially complete, though there was an unspoken heaviness in the air that none of them could shake. Yuki led the way, her posture firm and vigilant, while Maki watched the rear, her gaze frequently darting back to ensure their safety.
In the center of their formation, Kana carried Yukari gently, careful with each step, her strength undeterred by the burden. Beside her walked Akane, her face set with quiet resolve.
Kenshin trailed the group at a distance, his eyes scanning the trees ahead and around them. He stayed close enough to be within sight, yet he kept himself apart, his expression unreadable and focused somewhere far beyond their present surroundings.
Each of his steps seemed to carry a weight, a heaviness that lingered in the shadows beneath his gaze.
Kana glanced back occasionally, her eyes softening with each look she stole at her son. She longed to call out to him, to reassure him that they were there, that he didn't have to carry his burdens alone. But she knew he needed this space, this silence, to confront the turmoil within him.
Yuki glanced over her shoulder toward Kenshin's distant figure, her face unreadable. She felt a gnawing unease, her memories of his strength and compassion at odds with the shadow she saw lingering around him now.
Maki noticed this but kept her thoughts to herself, silently matching her pace with Yuki's to maintain the formation.
After several hours of walking, they paused to rest at a small clearing. Kenshin, still distanced, settled himself against a tree trunk, closing his eyes briefly, though his senses remained on high alert.
Kana gently set Yukari down and helped her to sit comfortably, the faintest smile on her lips as she watched her old friend rest against the warmth of the sunlight.
Akane, observing the dynamic, clenched her fists momentarily before turning to help Kana with setting up their short break.
When she looked over at Kenshin, she could see the tension in his posture, and her heart ached, though she resolved to stand beside him as a source of strength when he needed her again.
As night fell, they found a quiet spot beside a small, trickling stream to set up camp. The sounds of the forest filled the air as each of them settled into their tasks. Kana carefully helped Yukari down onto a blanket, before preparing to take out dinner.
Kenshin kept himself distanced as he set up his own small area on the outskirts of the camp, his gaze often drifting to the darkened treetops rather than his teammates.
Yukari, though still frail, showed signs of recovery. Her voice, though soft, held a steadiness that had been missing in the days before.
She no longer sounded like someone caught in the shadow of death, and Kana noticed this with a relieved smile as she wrapped an extra blanket around her friend.
Yuki, who had been gathering firewood, quietly approached Yukari with a small pot of hot water, steeped with herbs she'd brought along. "This should help," she said, her voice gentle as she handed the cup to Yukari, who accepted it gratefully.
"Thank you, Yuki-sama," Yukari said, her tone stronger than before, though she sipped slowly. "I'm grateful to all of you for this… you've given me a chance I thought I'd never have."
Kana placed a hand on her shoulder, her voice soft and reassuring. "You deserve more than that, Yukari. You'll be staying with us now."
Nearby, Akane glanced over at Kenshin. He was sitting on a fallen log, the light of the fire flickering across his face, casting shadows beneath his eyes.
His expression was guarded, but his gaze softened when he noticed her looking at him. She managed a small, reassuring smile before turning back to help Kana with their evening meal.
Kenshin closed his eyes and took a slow breath, hearing the soft murmur of voices around the camp but keeping to his own thoughts. The familiar ache in his chest hadn't lessened, and his mind drifted back to the anger, the helplessness that had overtaken him.
Though Yukari was healing and Akane was safe, the memory of his own actions weighed heavily on him, a scar as raw as the blood that had stained his hands.
As the night grew deeper, the group gradually settled into quiet conversation, letting the soothing rhythm of the forest and the warmth of the fire create a brief refuge from their worries.
Yet, as each of them lay down to rest, the tension between them remained, an unspoken understanding that there were still shadows left to confront.
The camp grew silent as everyone began to drift off to sleep, exhaustion settling over them like a thick fog. Within an hour, the steady breathing of his teammates filled the camp, each of them lost in the pull of rest.
Kenshin, however, sat alone, staring into the flames of his small campfire. In his hand, he held a kunai, its metal glinting faintly in the firelight.
His gaze lingered on it, his fingers tracing its edge as his mind wavered, pulled between the unbearable weight of his guilt and the desperation for relief.
Slowly, with a shaky breath, he pressed the tip of the kunai to his throat. His grip tightened, his heart pounding as he pulled back, thrusting deep—only to be halted by a sudden, unexpected warmth spreading from his right eye.
His Mangekyo Sharingan had activated on its own, and the wounds he'd inflicted on his neck closed before they could bleed.
For a moment, he blinked, confused. But then he felt it—a faint but unmistakable presence within him, one he couldn't quite grasp but that had somehow taken control.
It was the other Kenshin, the one that had emerged in the aftermath of his berserker rage. Somehow, he had taken charge, halting his actions and healing him before he could go further.
Anger and frustration surged through him, and he tried again, pressing the kunai harder to his skin. But every time, the same thing happened. His eye would activate, and his injuries would vanish, almost as if his own body refused to let him go through with it.
Desperate, he began pressing the kunai closer to his eyes, but just as he prepared for another attempt, a forceful punch connected with his jaw, knocking him back onto the ground.
"Stupid brat! What the hell do you think you're doing?" Maki's voice was low but filled with anger, desperation edging her tone as she glared down at him.
Kenshin stared up at her, speechless. She was crouched beside him, fists clenched, her eyes blazing with a mix of fury and worry.
She took a steadying breath, glancing toward the others to make sure they hadn't been woken before she looked back at him.
"Do you have any idea how selfish that was?" Maki whispered, her tone harsh. "I'm supposed to be on guard duty, and I find you here, doing something this stupid? And I thought you were mature."
He looked away, shame clawing at him, unable to meet her gaze. "Maki… I…"
She shook her head, her voice softening but still firm. "Kenshin, I know you're hurting. But you can't… You can't just do this." She exhaled, her voice barely a whisper.
"You're not the only one who feels like they failed. You don't think Akane and I blame ourselves, too? We tried to stop you that day and couldn't. But we didn't lose hope… and neither should you."
Her words hit him harder than any punch could, and he swallowed, his chest tight. Even now, he couldn't look at her, couldn't bring himself to face the pain in her eyes.
Every time he tried, he saw flashes of her bloodied face, remembered the crater he'd thrown her into, and the rage that had overtaken him. The memories felt like thorns digging into his heart.
He took a trembling breath. "I… I need time," he murmured, his voice barely audible. "I can't… I can't look any of you in the eye, not after what I've done. I ruined the trust I'd built with sensei, and nearly killed you two. I need... time."
Maki's gaze softened, and she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Take all the time you need. But just… don't give up on us. On yourself." She gave his shoulder a small squeeze before standing, letting him be.
They sat together in silence, the quietness between them heavy yet strangely comforting. The night wore on, each of them lost in their own thoughts, but still, in that moment, Kenshin couldn't bring himself to even think about forgiving himself.
Two days later, they finally reached the Hidden Leaf Village. The gates loomed ahead, a familiar sight that brought a mixture of relief and tension to each of them.
The moment they stepped inside, Kenshin turned to his team, his face carefully blank. "I'm… going home," he said softly, already stepping back, his shoulders tense.
Akane opened her mouth, about to protest, but Maki placed a hand on her shoulder, stopping her. She gave Akane a small, knowing shake of her head, understanding Kenshin's need for solitude.
Akane watched as he walked away, her heart heavy with concern, but she bit her lip, nodding reluctantly.
She glanced back at Maki, and the two shared a silent understanding. They'd give him the space he needed—for now—but they wouldn't let him face this alone forever.
As Kenshin disappeared into the village, a quiet resolve filled Akane's eyes. Whatever happened, she'd be there for him, waiting until he was ready to come back.
After Kenshin disappeared around the corner, Maki let out a soft sigh, her gaze lingering on the path he'd taken. She felt Akane's eyes on her and turned, giving her a faint, encouraging nod.
"Let's head to the Hokage's office. We've still got a mission report to deliver," she said quietly, her tone steady despite the lingering concern in her eyes.
Akane nodded, casting one last look in the direction Kenshin had gone before following Maki and Yuki through the bustling village streets. Each step felt heavier, the weight of what had happened hanging over them. None of them spoke, the silence carrying unspoken fears and hopes as they approached the Hokage Tower.
Inside, they were met by Shizune, who offered a polite greeting before noticing Yukari, her expression shifting to one of curiosity.
"Who… might this be?" she asked, eyes darting between Yukari and the team.
Before Yuki could answer, Kana stepped forward, a calm yet resolute look on her face. "This is Yukari, my childhood friend and a member of the Uzumaki clan. She lived in the Hidden Grass Village, where she was... abused. We brought her here so that she could recover, and I want her to live with us."
Shizune's eyes widened slightly, her gaze sharpening as she processed the information. "I understand, but… you know what? Forget it. It looks like she needs medical attention, so let's take her to the hospital first."
Kana nodded, adjusting Yukari's position on her back. "Okay, Shizune-san. Let's go."
Before Shizune could respond, a voice came from the doorway.
"I've finished that task you gave me," Sakura said as she stepped into the hall. She looked over, taking in the team and Yukari with a mix of curiosity and concern.
"and you must be Kenshin-kun's mother." Sakura gave a respectful bow, recognizing Kana's resemblance to Kenshin.
Shizune nodded thoughtfully, her expression shifting as she considered the situation. "Sakura, your timing is perfect. I'd like you to assist me with Yukari's treatment. It will be excellent training for you."
Turning back to Kana, Shizune added, "If you'll accompany us, we'll ensure Yukari is comfortable and address her needs properly."
Kana, still cradling Yukari, gave the group a nod. "I'll join you. I trust Akane-chan, Maki-chan, and Yuki can manage the mission report."
With that, she followed Shizune and Sakura down the hall toward the hospital, leaving the rest of the team outside the Hokage's office.
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Once again, thank you everyone for your continued support and power stones. And as always, please give me your power stones and comment your opinions. They make a big difference and motivate me to write more.