Return Of The Madness

Chapter 11

"Yuma," the blonde haired woman said, taking a step forward. Yuma's eyes locked onto her, and she grew tense all over again. "I'm just here for a checkup. And if you keep calm, and promise to stay that way, we can let you out of those restraints, okay?"

Yuma agreed with little hesitation, eager to be free of the biting restraints. She wanted to sit up, and move her arms. She was absolutely still, soundless as the blonde woman came toward her and looked her over. A few questions later, and the rusty eyed girl was seated upright, rubbing her raw wrists.

"Sorry about that," the woman apologized, smiling softly. "That was only to keep you from hurting yourself or anyone else- I can heal that for you, if you'd like."

Yuma looked at the woman's kind face for a moment, then looked to Shikamaru, who smiled encouragingly, and nodded.

"Okay," Yuma quietly agreed, holding out her red, sore wrists.

One at a time, the woman moved her hands over them, and soon, the aches began to ebb away.

"Thank you," Yuma said.

"Of course," the woman replied, turning and heading for the door. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to summon me."

"What's your name?"

Pausing in the doorway, the woman turned, smiling kindly at the curious girl.

"Tsunade, it's a pleasure to meet you, Yuma. I've heard so many great things about you."

And then she was gone, her heels clicking softer and softer as she grew further away.

"So," began Kakashi, pulling a chair up beside Shikamaru as calmly as he could manage. He saw Yuma staring warily at him, and sighed softly before offering her a smile. "What other adventures have the two of you been on?" He asked, looking between the Nara and his cousin casually. He hoped that if he treated this like a natural conversation, Yuma would eventually relax into the encounter.

Yuma seemed pretty hesitant, she stared at him a good while. Her rusty red eyes searched him, looking for any form of betrayal. She eventually looked to Shikamaru, who smiled softly at her, assuringly, and she relaxed.

"Actually," Shikamaru hummed, locking eyes with the silver-haired man. "Why don't you tell her about the pillow war? Remember that one?"

His eyes widened as the memory flit across his mind, a chuckle escaping as Yuma looked to him curiously. She was still wary of Kakashi- though he  didn't suspect that would change any time soon- but she looked intrigued at the least, and for now, that was enough.

"How could I forget?" The silver haired shinobi grinned, looking between the two teens as he spoke. "The whole village was covered in feathers for a months at least- and I still haven't figured out where our guilty party found all of those pillows," he teased, smiling at Yuma, whose eyes lit up with humor as a small laugh escaped her.

"Me?" She giggled curiously, and his heart soared with hope.

"Of course," he chuckled, leaning forward, and smiling more when she didn't flinch away. "I dare say you were the mastermind behind most of the liveliest days this village has ever seen."

"That sounds right," Shikamaru agreed, reaching over to her and setting his hand over hers. She relaxed under his touch, and though Kakashi wished she could trust him right off the bat as well, he was glad that there was a sure ally in her mind. That would surely speed things up a bit as they struggled to right her memories.

"So, um... Kakashi," she muttered hesitantly, looking to the man that she was so unsure about. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course," He grinned at her, but she didn't return it.

"What are you to me?"

The silver haired man hummed softly, thinking carefully about his response.

"Well..." he sighed, linking his hands together and carefully meeting her scrutinizing gaze. "We're family."

What?

Her eyes narrowed, and her lips parted to protest, but he cut her off.

"Do you remember and asylum you used to stay in?" He asked her, and her brows furrowed in thought. "You stayed in the most secure cell, you'd murdered your whole village, and then some."

"If murdered plenty since," she whispered darkly, slipping her hand from Shikamaru's and looking to her lap. "It all blends together after a while."

The masked man shook his head. "You've always remembered this village. The first day we met, you told me about it. You'd slaughtered everyone- man, woman, child. Even your parents, my aunt, and her husband."

Both men could see the gears turning, and her expression darkened further, distrust leaving a sour look on her face. "Yeah, I remember, you must hate me, huh?" She seemed to be devolving back to her initial thoughts of Kakashi  as an abusive character in the turned around world of her memories. "So you must really-"

"They'd tried to sacrifice you to a made up god," he cut her off again, almost urgently, and she flinched at the words, as though they'd stung her. "They locked you away, starved you, beat you, tortured you, and you snapped. You killed everyone, and wound up in the asylum where you and I met."

"What does this have to do with..." She trailed off doubtfully, but he could see puzzle pieces connecting vaguely in her unique gaze.

"I didn't know about our relationship when the Hokage at the time, Sarutobi Hiruzen," she winced at the name, looking like he'd slapped her, but it was a different reaction than what she gave at hearing Ibiki's, it was genuine sadness, and it seemed to confuse her, "put you in my care. But then he told me, after I'd begun to care for you, after I'd begun to see you as a daughter," he told her, his voice soft as her eyes snapped to him. Shikamaru was silent, eyes closed as he listened.

"What-"

"Yuma," he looked at her, trying to convey his sincerity through his gaze, trying to will her to understand that- "I would never, ever hurt you."

She still seemed doubtful, but hopeful tears of rare crimson rose to rim her eyes, beginning a steady fall. She wanted to believe him. Damn, did she want to believe him. Family that didn't want her head? Was that even a gift that she, being the horrible monster she was, could have?

"How can I trust you?" She sniffed, accepting the comfort Shikamaru offered as his hand found hers again.

Kakashi smiled, tears brimming in his own eyes, falling from the visible one and soaking into his mask. "I'll start from the beginning if that's what it takes," he told her. "You didn't trust me very much at first back then either. You never said so, but I could always tell. You were worried that I'd turn on you, just like everyone else. But you eventually learned to trust me." He reached forward, gently cupping her face and wiping a trail of crimson away with his thumb. She fought not to lean her head into his hand, and bit her trembling lip. "It may take some time, but I'm willing to wait as long as it takes."

Something seemed to click in her gaze, and she nodded.

No other words were said.

Silence filled the room.

But something was set in motion, and perhaps- hopefully soon- they would have their Yuma returning to them.