Chapter 22: Questions and Pain

I continued to struggle to get out this guy's embrace. But damn, he was strong! "If you want me to let you go, all you have to do is ask." The guy known as Kankuro said as he continued to stroke my hair. I gritted my teeth. Damn bastard! He's toying with me!

I couldn't order Kiyoshi to sick this bastard because my face was buried in his chest. Plus, I'm sure Kiyoshi was enjoying every bit of my situation. Damn snake. "Just let her go, Kankuro." The girl said, obviously irritated.

"All she has to do is ask. What's the harm in that? Besides, I bet she's enjoying this. Aren't you kitten?" Kankuro said with a smirk. 'Like hell I am!' I thought, angrily. He lifted my chin with his finger, forcing me to look at him.

"Just say the magic words and I'll gladly let you go." He said, smirking. I turned my head as I felt my face heat up. "P-Please... let me go." I said, quietly with a frown. Why does this feel embarrassing?

"Hmm? Sorry, didn't quite catch that." He said, tauntingly. I gritted my teeth then shut my eyes. "I said, please let me go!" I said, a bit louder. "That's better." He let go of my waist and I staggered back.

The girl next to him whacked him upside the head. "You didn't have to tease her." The girl said as she frowned at him. She turned to face me. "I'm sorry about that. My name's Temari." She said, holding out her hand.

"Don't worry about it. I'm Nue Houjuu Satori." I said as I shook her hand. "Houjuu?" She repeated. "Yeah." I confirmed. "Hey! Nue-chan!" I heard Naruto call. I turned around and saw him running towards us with Konohamaru and his two companions.

They stopped when they saw me with the other ninjas. "Hey, idiot! What are you doing with them?" Sakura screamed. "Don't call my sister an idiot, asshole!" Iri screamed at her. I face palmed. "Are you alright, Nue?" Iri asked me.

"I'm fine, Iri." I said to her.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

"Are you sure because your face is red."

"I said I'm fine!"

I held the side of my head with one hand and shut my eyes as I felt a pain in my head. This is the same feeling I had back at the Land of Waves. "Nue-chan, are you alright?" Naruto asked. I gritted my teeth as the pain got worse.

"What did you do now, Kankuro?" I blinked and looked up near a tree. Who the hell is that? This guy looked pretty cute. He had short red hair, blue eyes with dark circles around them, some kind of birthmark above his left eye, and he carried a gourd on his back.

Not to mention, he was upside down. I screamed in pain as the pounding in my head got a lot worse than before. "Nue, what's wrong?" Iri asked, panicked. "Maybe she's still sick. Nue-chan did say she wasn't feeling well today." Naruto said.

Well, actually, that was lie. I only said that so I could go home and not be bothered by anyone. The atmosphere here was making me feel weird. I have to get out of here. I pushed past Iri and ran off. I didn't know where I was going. I just wanted to get away from them.

I stopped by an old swing where Naruto was when he didn't graduate. I sat down in the swing and began to... well, swing. But just a little bit.

"You seem down, Nue. Is everything alright?" I looked to my side and Lord Hokage and Okaa-san. "Hi, Hokage-sama. Hello, Okaa-san." I said, emotionlessly. "What's the matter, Nue?" Okaa-san asked me. I stayed quiet for a long time.

"If there's something troubling you, you should tell us. We can't help you unless you talk to us, Nue." Lord Hokage said. He sounds almost like Sasuke. I sighed softly. "My head's been hurting a lot lately. I don't have a fever or anything, and I don't feel sick. It just hurts." I explained.

"How long has this been happening?" Okaa-san asked me. "Ever since I came back from the Land of Waves mission." I answered before looking at the ground. "What do you think it is?" Okaa-san asked. "I don't know. But every time my head starts to hurt, I begin to see these pictures in my head." I said.

"Pictures?" Lord Hokage asked.

"Yes. It's as if they're trying to tell me something." I said.

"Hmm... Luna, how old was Nue when you adopted her?" He asked my mother. "Nue was six years old when I took her in. I asked her where she came from and she said she doesn't remember. She told me she was just wandering aimlessly through different towns." Okaa-san explained.

"Nue, what's the last thing you remember before wandering the streets?" My mother asked me. I thought really hard, but nothing came into mind. "I'm sorry, but I can't remember anything from that. I just remember walking." I said.

"Where were you trying to go?" Lord Hokage asked. "I don't know. Someplace safe, I guess." I said. I really wish I knew what these images meant and why they appear every time my head starts to hurt. "I'm going home. I'll see you later, Hokage-sama. Okaa-san." I said as I stood up.

I walked away from them, back to my apartment. "Hello?" I called. I waited for an answer. Nothing. I guess nobody's home. I hung my cloak up and went over to the couch to lie down. I unwrapped Kiyoshi from around my waist and set him on the couch.

I raised a brow when I saw him asleep. Has he been asleep the whole time? I sighed and went to my room. I locked my door, sat down on my bed, then looked out my window. When will this day end? More importantly, how long will my insomnia last?

I guess this is a permanent thing. "Nue-sama, are you home?" I heard Maria call. "I'm in my room." I called back. I went over to the door and unlocked it. "Where have you been? Were you out shopping?" I asked her.

"No, Milady. I was taking a walk through the village. I saw Luna-sama and Iri-sama in the village. I've talked to them about your sleeping problem. Nue-sama, they think what you're doing is unhealthy." She said.

"I know it's unhealthy. But I can't go back to sleep and I won't." I said. I sighed and lied back down on my bed with my arm resting over my forehead. I wish I could go back to sleep. I really do. But I can't. No matter how many times I try, all I see and will ever see is blood.

I get really cranky when I don't get my sleep. But like I said, I can't go back to sleep.

"By the way Nue-sama, Luna-sama and Iri-sama will be staying with us for a while." She informed me. "Really?" I asked as I sat up. My wings and tails began to move with excitement. "Mm-hmm." She said, giving me a closed eye smile.

Well, at least I finally have some good news.

~ ~ ~(Time skip)~ ~ ~

After Okaa-san and Iri settled in, we ate dinner with Maria. Unfortunately, Iri and I got into a food fight. Okaa-san knocked us both on the head as punishment for being childish at the dinner table. After dinner, everyone went to bed.

Well, everyone except me. I was on the roof of my apartment, gazing up at the stars. I left Kiyoshi sleeping in my room, on my pillow. I got bored and began to sing:

I remember tears streaming down your face when I said I'll never let you go

When all those shadows almost killed your light

I remember you said, "Don't leave me here alone."

But all that's dead and gone and passed tonight

Just close your eyes, the sun is going down

You'll be alright, no one can hurt you now

Come, morning light.

You and I'll be safe and sound.

Don't you dare look out your window

Darling, everything's on fire

The war outside our door keeps raging on

Hold onto this lullaby

Even when the music's gone

Just close your eyes, the sun is going down

You'll be alright, no one can hurt you now

Come, morning light

You and I'll be safe and sound

Ooh~

Ooh~

Oh~

Oh~

Ooh~

Ooh~

Oh~

Oh~

Just close your eyes

You'll be alright

Come, morning light

You and I'll be safe and sound...

Ooh~

Ooh~

Ooh~

Ooh~

Ooh~

Ooh~

Ooh~

Ooh~

"You have a nice voice." I heard someone say. I gasped in surprise, then looked to my side, spotting some boy. I blinked my eyes when I realized it was the same boy that asked Kankuro what he was doing. Oh, Jashin. How long has he been sitting there?

Did he hear me singing? Of course, he did. He wouldn't have said what he said just now if I wasn't singing. What's he doing here anyway?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Finally done! I am victorious! Or not. I thought this was a pretty crappy chapter. But I hope you guys enjoyed it. I do not own the song or the picture. This is voiced by Lizz who did a cover song on this. The original song is by Taylor Swift, which I think you all know that. Vote and Comment. Until next time, my children. Sayonara!!

Kureiji out~