Chapter 49: Motherly

After I got my sight back, I was let out of the hospital. But there wasn't much I could do. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura are still on their mission in the Land of Tea. So, what can I do? I yawned to myself. "Well, I guess I could take a nap." I said to myself.

I went home and went to my room, flopping on my bed before closing my eyes and falling asleep.

3rd Person's POV

As Tsunade was looking through some papers, there was a knock at her door. "Enter." She said, staring at a sheet of paper. Tsunade looked up from the piece of paper and gasped. "It's you!" She said in shock.

"Hello, Tsunade. I'm sorry, it's Lady Hokage now, isn't it?" The mysterious woman said. "But... I thought you were dead? Does that mean..." Tsunade trailed off. "I'm sorry, but he didn't make it." The woman said, sadly. "I should tell Nue that you're-"

"No, you can't." The woman quickly interrupted Tsunade. "But... why not?" Tsunade asked. "Because she can't know I'm alive. Tsunade, I am well aware that Nue has amnesia, so there's no point in telling her." She explained

"But maybe if she looks at you, she might recognize you and her memories will return."

"No, it won't work."

"How...?"

"I've been following Nue ever since she ran off."

"So, what are you doing here?"

"I just wanted to come see her again. Tsunade, I would like you to do something for me."

"OK. What is it?"

The woman told Tsunade her plan and when she was done explaining, Tsunade gave a small nod. She was a little reluctant about the plan, but if it was that important to not tell Nue, then she would go through with it.

Nue's POV

"Nue-sama, may I come in?" I heard Maria as she knocked on my door. I sleepily opened my eyes and yawned. "Yeah, come on in, Maria." I answered as I sat up. Maria walked in and bowed her head to me. "What's up?" I asked. "Lady Tsunade would like to see you." She informed.

"What about?"  

"I'm not sure. She just said she wanted to see you."

I yawned. "Okay."

Maria put my cloak on for me and I headed out the door, walking to the Hokage House. "Lady Tsunade, it's Nue." I said, knocking on her door. "Enter." She said. I opened her door and approached her desk before bowing my head, respectfully.

"You wanted to speak with me?" I asked. "Yes." Tsunade said. I noticed a woman was standing by her desk.

"Um, who's that?" I asked. "This is... Chise." She introduced. "Chee-say?" I repeated, pronouncing the word name. "Hai. It's nice to meet you, Nue Houjuu. Tsunade has told me a lot about you." The woman said. Like what, I wonder?

"Uh... huh... Tsunade, what's this about?" I asked. "I was just about to tell you. Chise was on her way to a festival near her hometown, but she got lost and found the Leaf Village. You mission is to accompany her until she is ready to leave the village." Tsunade explained.

"Huh?" I asked, confused. "I find your village quite fascinating and the festival is not until a few days. So, I thought I'd stay here for a while. Tsunade has already provided me an apartment until I have to leave." Chi said with a kind smile.

I blushed slightly. Something about this woman... reminds me of Okaa-san. "Ne, would you mind showing me around the village?" Chise requested. "Huh? Oh, of course! Follow me." I said, leading her out of the Hokage House.

Tsunade's POV

I sighed to myself once they left. "I sure hope you know what you're doing." I murmured before returning to my work.

Nue's POV

I showed Chise around the village as she requested. "My, your village is so beautiful." Chise commented. "Thank you." I replied with a smile. "Nue, why do you wear that cloak you're wearing?" She asked.

"Oh, uh... It's a bit cold out here, so I thought I'd wear it." I lied. The villagers may know about my wings and tails, but Chise definitely didn't know about them and I didn't want her to know about them. "So, how often do you go this festival of yours?" I asked.

"I go every year. It's quite astounding, really." Chise smiled a closed eye smile. "Nue, I'd like to tell you a secret." She mentioned. "A secret?" I asked. "Yes, but you have to promise me you won't tell anyone." Chise said, taking my hands in hers.

"Sure." I said. "But..." She continued. 'There's more?' I thought. "In return, I'd like you to tell me your secret." She said. I gulped. What does she mean by that? "Um, sure." I agreed. But I should've thought about my answer first before replying. "Come with me,"

Chise dragged me to a secluded spot in the woods. "Chise, what are we doing here?" I asked. "Watch this." She said. She took out a colorful scroll and made a single hand sign. I gasped a small cabin emerged from the scroll.

"Whoa... How did you do that?" I asked in amazement. "With this scroll, I'm able to summon anything without the use of chakra." Chise explained with a closed eye smile. "That's incredible!" I said.

"Now," Chise took my hands in hers again and looked into my eyes. "It's time for you to show me your secret." She said. "Uh, okay. What do you wanna know?" I asked. "I want to know why you really where that cloak." She said in a serious voice.

I gulped. 'Crap!' I thought. "I can't..." I said.

"Why not?"

"Because... Because you'll be afraid of me."

"I don't think so."

"But you will."

"Nue, you'll never know what may happen unless you try first. You can't always assume for the worst."

In a way, she had a point. "O... Okay." I said. My hands went to the front of my cloak and undid the button on it. I let my cloak fall to the ground as I revealed my wings and tails to Chise. "How exquisite! Truly beautiful!" Chise said, happily.

"You really... aren't scared of me?" I asked. "Of course not. I find your wings and tails truly unique." She said, smiling. "Wait, how did you know these were wings and tails?" I asked, curiously. "I didn't. I just assumed. Did I get it right?" Chise asked.

"Yeah... You did." I said, smiling softly.

Later that day, I treated Chise to some ramen and then took her to my house. Iri and Maira weren't there, so I guess they went shopping. "You have a wonderful home, Nue." Chise commented. "Thank you." I said.

"Hey, let's do something together." She said. "What do you mean?" I asked. "Here," She made us sit on the floor, both of us sitting on our knees. "Here, give me your hands." She said. "Okay." I said, holding my hands out to her.

"Now, tell me. What do you most have trouble with?" Chise asked as she took my hands. "Well, sometimes, I have a hard time controlling my kekkei genkai. I mean, my eyes glow purple when I'm angered and sometimes, they just glow for whatever reason. It gets harder and harder for me to control it." I explained.

"I'm going to help you control your kekkei genkai." Chise said. She gently placed her hands on the sides of my head. "Now, let your kekkei genkai take control." Chise instructed. "Say what?!" I asked. "Trust me." She said, smiling softly.

I sighed softly, then let my eyes turn purple. "Take a deep breath and think about what's important to you. What do you value most, Nue? Who do you value most?" Chise asked. I closed my eyes as I thought about Iri, Maria, and all my friends.

I slowly opened my eyes and looked at Chise. "Your eyes are red again. Well done." She praised with a smile. I smiled back, but it quickly faded as I got curious about something. "You... remind of me someone." I mentioned. "Do I?" Chise asked.

I nodded my head and leaned towards her to get a better look at her. "Yeah... You do. But I just can't put my finger on it," My hand gently touched her hair. "Your hair is so soft." I commented as I let her hair slip through my fingers.

"Nue! We're home!" Iri called as she and Maria entered through the front door. They looked at us with a little confusion as they saw the position we were in.

"Uh... What's going on here?" Iri asked. "We were just playing a game." I lied. "Iri, Maria. This is Chise. She's staying in the Leaf Village for a few days." I explained.

"Oh, then would you like to stay for dinner, Miss Chise?" Maria asked. "Actually, I must be going home now. But thank you for the offer," Chise got up from the floor and walked over to the door. "Goodbye, Nue. I'll see you tomorrow." Chise said, smiling.

I waved to her as she left. "She seems nice." Maria commented. "Yeah. So, are you ready for dinner?" Iri asked me. "Yeah." I said, getting up from the ground.

During dinner, Chise was all I could think about. What is it about her that makes me feel drawn to her? Is it her eyes? Her soft voice? Her beautiful, soft hair? Or is it the way she smiles at me? I just don't know...

As the days went by, I began to grow more and more attached to Chise. And I began to feel more and more confident with my wings and tails being out. Whenever I was around her, she'd always want me to not wear my cloak because she said something as exquisite as my wings and tails shouldn't be kept hidden.

She said beauty should be expressed out in the open. I liked the way she never looked at me in fear and how she would always listen to any problems I had. I told her all my secrets including my ability to fly, my new Crystal Style jutsu, my ability to talk to animals, and how I could create objects using my Dark Style jutsu.

It snowed a couple of times and Chise always made sure I stayed warm, despite how I didn't want to wear a coat.

In a weird way, she felt like a mother to me. I really liked Chise and she really liked me. I felt like I wanted her to stay with me forever.

But Chise reminds me of someone I once knew before. I just can't put my finger on it. Right now, we were at the small cabin Chise made a few days ago, just drinking some tea. "I've noticed your powers are enhancing greatly, Nue. Soon, you'll have a handle on them and your kekkei genkai." Chise commented.

"Thank you, Chise." I replied before taking a sip of my tea. "Nue, there's something I have to tell you. I'm leaving the village today. The festival is tomorrow and I have to help make preparations." She explained. "Aww, do you have to leave today?" I whined.

Chise chuckled. "Yes, I do. But don't worry. I'm sure we will meet again." She said. Chise gently took one of my red wings in her hand as I hugged her.

"Don't go. Please stay a little while longer." I pleaded. "I wish I could, Nue. But I can't. However, I'd like you to do something for me, Nue." She mentioned. "Of course. Anything." I said. "Whenever you're feeling confident, I'd like you to not wear that cloak of yours. You shouldn't hide something so beautiful." Chise said.I smiled at her. "You always say that. Okay, then. I won't wear my cloak so often. I promise." I said, hugging her again.

Chise smiled softly and hugged me back. "Thank you for a wonderful time, Nue." She said. I hate having Chise leave. She is so understanding, so kind, and so beautiful. I wish she'd stay in the Leaf a little bit longer.

"Bye, Chise! Come visit again some time!" I called as I waved goodbye to her. Chise turned around and smiled a kind smile before walking out of the village. "Something about her... kind of resembles Okaa-san." I said to myself.

From that moment on, as it snowed, I sat on the roof of my apartment and watched the snow fall.

At the same time, the snow reminded me of Haku and the times Chise and I spent together. "Chise... I'll never forget you." I whispered. I pulled my scarf up slightly so I was covering my chin. I closed my eyes as I breathed into my scarf.

"I do hope we meet again in the future." I said with a small smile.

Chise's POV

As I exited the Leaf Village, I walked far away until I was out of sight. "So, how'd it go?" Tsunade asked as she stood near a tree. "It didn't work. She couldn't remember me. Her personality's different, and she's extremely shy when it comes to showing her wings and tails. However, I do believe it won't be long until she remembers everything." I said.

'Nue... You've grown up so much. It was so nice to see you again' I thought, happily.

Nue's POV

Everything was supposed to go back to the way it was. Well... At least that's how I thought it should be. But everything took a wrong turn when my team returned from their mission of the Land of Tea. I don't think anything was the same after that.

Can anyone guess who the woman really was? If you guess it right, I'll dedicate a chapter to you in the sequel. If more than one person gets it write, I will dedicate a chapter to them as well.