Wildflower Book 1 | Naruto Fanfiction

Chapter91: Tipping Over

"If I may ask, Mizubana-sama.", the one woman that was left behind said softly. Mizubana hummed, an indicator that she was free to speak. The woman lowered her gaze shyly and asked, "Why would you let this man follow her into the unseen realm? Isn't it unsafe for Noro (priests)? If so then aren't you putting him at risk of possibly being lost forever?"

"The unseen realm is unsafe, yes, but only for those not built for it. That is why keep from it, we Noro and Shinshoku.", Mizubana said as she slowly turned to face the younger woman. After a moment of consideration, she said, "You have noticed, haven't you? Tamakiku-hime wouldn't go into trance if she weren't called to do so. I believe that the reason she was made to serve her clan's shrine was because it was seen that she was born with a gift. She ordained as Shinshoku (priest), but that was because they could not let her leave to train as a yuta (shaman)."

"I see. Then the seal would make sure that Shisui-san is near her and thus safe.", the younger woman said. Mizubana nodded before beckoning for her to come closer.

"My old arms are tired. Please make this young man lie down next to the princess and cover them with a blanket.", she said. The woman quickly did as she was told, cheeks tainted with light fluster. After that, she dipped her head slightly and asked, "Is there a reason why Mizubana-sama wants them close? In a figurative sense, I mean."

At this, Mizubana hummed softly in response. After a long moment of thinking, she said, "Tamakiku-hime loves differently. She loves by letting go, and allowing others to exist without her. When I first saw her save Shisui, I realised that she was afraid to see someone go for the first time. I had seen her cry until she fainted befoer, and never again after that, but when this young man was pronounced dead she might as well have followed him.

She doesn't know how to show her love the way we do. So she keeps him close and never out her sight. If he's ill, she treats him, and he's never hungry because she always makes sure that he's fed before that. However, when he does the same, she pushes him away. The unseen realm is where her emotions are bare, because the soul is naked there, she cannot hide from him."

The younger woman smiled gently, before they both rose and left the room.

...

"You think you're so slick with those fancy moves of yours? Well I've seen better, Uchiha!", Kurama roared, furious, as Tama easily evaded his every attack. This time, the girl had managed to get herself and her little boyfriend out of his reach and into a little cavern.

They were pressed together, faces not a centimetre apart, and to say they weren't a blushing mess would be a blatant lie. With a childlike huff, Tama thanked every force out there that she was blind, or else she would have melted into a puddle at Shisui's feet. At this, she lowered her gaze and said nothing. Shisui, funnily enough, was thinking the same thing. He never cared to hide his feelings from Tama, but had never been in such a state that she could feel his breath on her face and feel the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed heavily. At that, he turned his gaze to look out the cavern's small opening. Then, he caught something in another cave across from theirs.

"Huh. There's other people here?", he asked. Tama looked up at him, not that she could see him, and nodded.

"I met them some time ago, though I don't remember. The mountainous woman from earlier insist that they're my parents.", she said softly. Shisui immediately heaved a sigh. If that mountainous woman was right then there might have been a great many negative connotations to the revalation.

"We can't wait to Kurama to regain his strength.", Tama suddenly said seriously. From the corner him eye, Shisui saw one person leave the cave and scale the cliff hastily. What fun, now they had to follow him. Before the thought could settle, he was rudely yanked out the cavern, but unlike the male from just now, they were falling. Panic set in very quickly at the realisation that he was being led by a blind person. What was he thinking, letting this happen?

"There you are!", the Kyuubi roared, immediately aiming a massive clawed paw at them. Tama tugged at Shisui and dove headfirst, setting him into a perfect state of pure dread. Afraid for her wellbeing, her refused to see anymore of this madness and didn't really think when he grabbed her and wrapped his arms around her.

Twisting, he immediately prepared to land on his feet, Tama neatly tucked against him. Above them, a giant dragon fireball was sent at the beast, rendering it momentarily distracted. At this, Shisui thought about making a run for it, but Tama clearly didn't agree. She produced another set of chairs, glowing bright yellow as they spewed from her gut and shoulders.

"No! Don't!", the male from before cried. He had made it to the floor and was sprinting their way. At his warning, Shisui knew that Tama was about to do something stupid, and grabbed her once again, hugging her close and locking his arms around her.

"What are you planning to do?", he asked lowly, his own heart beating like it would rip apart his chest. She easily broke an arm free and found his face with her hand. She knew that what she was doing looked suspicious, but she only planned to humble tha Kyuubi. As such, she smiled softly as she caressed his face, sending him into a miniature lockdown.

"Nothing, but you'll have to step aside so I can do it.", she whispered. By the time the other male arrived, she had easily escaped Shisui's hold and gone to face the beast head on. He could still feel her warm breath on his neck. Perhaps he shouldn't have held her like that, now he was fighting off unnecessary, unwelcome thoughts.

A heavy hand on his shoulder brought him back to himself. He slowly cast his gaze sideways to where the fellow from earlier now stood, not looking at him. Shisui squinted, both curious and suspicious, ready for a fight if need be.

"Who are you?", the fellow asked lowly. Shisui resisted the urge to leap out of his reach and draw a weapon, but the man had no qualms against that, he would find. In less than a second there was a katana— Tama's katana— against his kneck.

"Who are you, Uchiha?", he asked again, voice full of spite. He made his move, swiping at Shisui's neck. He was almost slow to react, and narrowly escaped with a gash on his kneck. Well, then, this was awkward. He drew a kunai and made to defend himself, but something much bigger than the threat before him came their way. Then, the chain on his chest was pulled painful, taking him in Tama's direction. The Kyuubi fell very slowly, and the man who cut Shisui easily leapt onto its head, breathing heavily.

There was a long moment of silence as he walked up to the youngsters, and a frown etched itself upon his face when he saw the young man step in front of Tama protectively.

"What is it?", she asked softly, frowning when the male took to long to answer. At that, she stepped in front of him protectively, taking his hand.

"What do they look like?", she asked. The man paused, taking in the question with careful consideration. It wasn't difficult to conclude that the girl couldn't see. The male behind her closed his eyes and sighed before saying, "Short male. Round, dark onyx eyes. black hair with red streaks."

Before he finished his sentence, Tama ran up to the male and embraced him like he was the last man on earth. Shisui didn't dare protest this seeing as how she was so happy. With a hand on his throat to ease the pain and stop bleeding, she cast the meaningful glance at the beast below them, and surprisingly found that it wasn't even angry anymore. It was just laying there bound in chains and staring at the exchange atop its head.

"You mean I almost killed your friend? No way! Man, I'm so sorry! I should heal him right away!", the other man said sheepishly. At this, both Shisui and the beast looked over to where he and Tama were talking. The man immediately made his way to Shisui and started healing him without another word. An awkward silence washed over them as Tama disappeared beyond the horizon of the beast's head.

"How does it feel now that I've done it?", they heard her ask. There was a puppy-like huff, then the head lifted and fell again. Shisui and the other man held on tight, not sure exactly what was going on.

"I can build a fire for us to share, if you want. Remember, I'm not your enemy.", she said softly. There was silence once again, and the two young men shared a look. Then, in the next second, something very confusing happened.