The Willow Maiden [Naruto]

{31} Don't Let Me Go

It wasn't easy getting Ruka to open up after she had entered into Naruto's apartment. The moment they stepped in, Ruka huddled herself against the wall with her face in her knees. She was still scared at the fact that she was captured and force to live in the leaf village. 

Naruto didn't want to scare her anymore than she already was, but nothing he did seem to help get the maiden out of her shell. "Ruka. . . I'm not going to hurt you, I promise. Please, eat something. I don't want you to starve." Naruto holds out a cup of ramen for the maiden to eat. 

But the maiden hugs her knees tighter as she pushes herself against the wall. "I am not hungry. . . Please, leave me alone. . ." She mutters while at the same time her stomach growls. 

"That's not what your stomach is saying. . . How about I leave it on the table. You can eat it whenever you're ready. But don't let it get too cold. Goodnight, Ruka." Naruto leaves the cup of ramen on the table and goes to his bedroom, retiring for the night. 

Once he is out of sight, Ruka slowly lifts her head from her knees and stands up, turning around to look at the full moon. 'This is not my home. . . I do not wish to be here. . . But. . . Why does this all feel so familiar? . . Even though, I am scared. . . Why?' She says within her thoughts. She sighs to herself and walks over to the table, and grabs the cup of ramen, and eats it. After taking one bite, her eyes slowly open with glee. 'Delicious. . .' She thinks once more, and then her eyes widen. 

"Yeah, right. That's the stuff you like! I say we get ramen! What do you think, Ruka?" 

"Ramen and vegetables."  

'Did I really say that to him? To that boy?' Ruka asks herself while looking at Naruto's bedroom door. 

The wind blows into the room, since the window is left wide open in the living room, brushing pass Ruka's hair with ease. "Mother. . ." She breathes out. "Why is this boy matter to me so much? I see him in my head every time I close my eyes, and I cannot shake off the feeling that I have met him somewhere before. . . Probably in this village. . . I can still hear his voice. . . What does this mean? Please, tell me. . ." A ring chimes in Ruka's ears as the wind blows again, causing Ruka to open her eyes slowly. "Song. . .of Healing? Will that regain my memory? . . . Fine. . ." 

{Play Song}

 "A song that awakens and calls...
People repeat the song in their hearts
I wish to shine, love into the sky
From which the light has disappeared 

No matter how much you pray
People keep making mistakes...
That is why...
We forgive each other
Living life dreaming over and over

On a journey, with no end
Everyone is searching for the meaning of this life 
The meaning of this life~" 

At this moment, an image of Naruto's younger self appears in her mind, and all of her memories with him were brought back to her. The fun times, the bad times, and the cherished moments. All of them came flowing back. 

"Naruto. . . !" She whispers/yells out his name as tears begin to stream down her cheeks before singing again. As she sings flowers grow from the floorboards as thorns wrap around her ankles slowly, and tightly. She remembered everything between her and Naruto. 

"The world is a gentle ship!
It sways and gets swayed~
It envelopes everything, and embraces everyone the way that they are!~ 

The world is a ship of hope
It sways and get swayed~
It carries everyone's sadness...

And it will greet the dawn one day!~" 

At the end of her song, Ruka drops to her knees and cries in her hands. How could she forget everything that she's been through with Naruto? Naruto was her world and she looked up to him. But after being reborn, she had forgotten everything. . .

"Ruka!? What's wrong?!" Naruto rushes out of his room and runs to Ruka, who's crying on the floor with her face in her hands. "What happened? Tell me!" He gently places his hand on her shoulder, and instantly, Ruka wraps her arms around his neck. 

"I remember! I remember you, Naruto!  Gomen'nasai! Hontōni iroiro to sumimasen!" {I am sorry for everything!}

"You. . .remember? You remember everything?" Naruto asks.

"H-Hai! I'm so sorry that I hurt you! I'm sorry that I forgotten about you! Watashi wa totemo samishikatta. Please forgive me!" {I was so lonely!} 

"There, there, Ruka. It's alright." Naruto frowns and slowly wraps his arms around Ruka's waist. "You're home now. It was scary out there for you, wasn't it?" 

"Mhm. . . !" Ruka nods her head. "Everything felt like back then. . . Back in the grass village. . . That is why I did not want to go outside. . ." 

"I know. When you were reborn, your memories were altered." 

"But you were always on my mind, Naruto. . . For some reason, you did not fade like the rest of my memories. . . You stayed in my memories. . . And after everything I have done to you. . . Gomen'nasai!" Ruka hugs Naruto again, burying her face in his chest. 

"It's okay, Ruka. . . Welcome home." Naruto holds the girl close to his chest and they stayed this way for the entire night. 

The next morning, Naruto took Ruka to Tsunade to inform her that her memories have returned, but not all of them. "This a surprise. I was expecting Ruka's memories to return a bit longer. How was she able to regain her memories?" Tsunade questioned. 

"The song of Healing. . . It heals the mind if the person is in a mental state. It helps anyone, really." Ruka explains herself. "Lady Tsunade. . . I am sorry for all the trouble I have caused you and the squad. . . I beg for your forgiveness. . ." 

"There's no need for apologies, Ruka. You're already forgiven." Tsunade smiles at her. "You've been through a lot and your memories were altered after being reborn by the Akatsuki. I can't imagine what it's like to have to repeat the past. As I said, no harm will be done to you as long as you remain here." 

"Arigato." {Thank you.} 

"Now, there is a possibly that more of your memories will return, but I don't want you to push yourself to remember everything all at once. Take your time." 

"I will." Ruka nods. 

"And, Naruto will continue to be by your side." 

"Arigato." 

After that, Ruka and Naruto leave the office and sight see around the village. If she was lucky, she could remember something about being in the village. "So the song of Healing restored your memory? Did you come with that on your own?" Naruto questioned her. 

"Mother told me to sing that song. She knew what I was going through, and Willow Maidens connect with each other with the wind. So, following my mother's orders was the only thing to do since I could not find the energy to sleep." Ruka answers. 

"That's pretty neat, if you ask me. What are parents for, right? To always look after you!" Naruto smiles. 

"Hai!" Ruka smiles back. "Naruto. . . Can you promise me something? . ." Ruka looks down at the ground with a soft smile as she softly grasps his hand. 

"Sure. What is it?" Naruto holds her hand as the two look at the river that they're standing in front of. 

"Promise me that you will stay by my side forever. . . That you will not let me go. Please? . . ." 

"I promise." Naruto nods and tightens his grip on the maiden's hand. "I'm not letting you go, or out of my sight ever again." 

"Good. . ." Ruka smiles and looks up at the sky as the wind blows once more. "Tadaima." {I am home.} 

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