The shadow princess

Chapter 20

[Nara Shikamaru P.O.V.]

I cross my arms in front of my chest as I listen to my parents fight. "It's been over a week Shikaku!" Mother shouts. "I know that but Kakashi, Genma ánd Asuma have been sent to get her!" Father says. "She's too valuable to Konoha" he adds. "And that's exactly why they probably have killed her already Shikaku, it would only be stupid to keep her hostage" mother says. "Well excuse me if I'm not willing to think my daughter is dead  if I haven't seen the facts yet!" It's the first time I heard my father shout at my mother. "Oh come on Shikaku you're usually so smart" I open the door. "That's enough" I say. "This has nothing to do with you Shikamaru" mother sighs as she wipes the tears from her cheeks. "Of course it does" I say, slightly offended. "We're all hurting here Kaasan" I say. "Shizuka is my twin sister" I lay my hand on my chest. "If she had died I would've felt it Kaasan" I say softly. "She's too smart. She would've made a plan of deceived those guys. We just shouldn't believe she's dead yet Kaasan" mother leans against the kitchen counter. "Then what should I do? I can't stop thinking on what they might do to her...it's going to be the death of me" mother's voice breaks and father wraps his arms around her. "Don't...don't Yoshino" he says. I look down at my feet and grab my shirt tightly. "She's fine...she has to be fine" I whisper. I grit my teeth when I hear my mother cry, again. I look up. Even though father is consoling mother, his face shows nothing but worry. But of course we all are. I rub the back of my neck. Shizuka...please be fine..

Father and I rush over to the Hokage's office and as we see Kakashi I'm not sure if I should be worried or relieved. "Where's Shizuka? Where's my daughter, is she allright?" Father asks immediately. "Shikaku.." Tsunade-sama says sternly. "Calm down. We need to say something first" she adds. Father turns pale. "I-is she..." he cant even finish his sentence. "She's alive" Kakashi says quickly. Father sighs. "But?" I ask. "But" this time Kakashi sighs. "She isn't well" he says. "What does that mean?" Father asks. Kakashi looks at Tsunade-sama who nods. "First of all we found her naked and wounded." Fathers face turns even paler. "And she was also non responsive" he adds. "What does that mean?" I ask. "It means that she didn't respond to anything, any of us said, and her eyes are blank... almost like her soul have been sucked out" Kakashi says. "It's not a genjutsu?" Father asks. "She also didn't respond after the release." Kakashi says. Father and I sigh both. "Inoichi..." father says. "We've sent someone to get Inoichi and Ino. Shizune is treating Shizuka's wounds as we speak" Tsunade-sama stands up from her desk. "Why don't you follow me to the hospital" father offers his hand to Kakashi. "Thank you. For getting my daughter" he says as Kakashi takes it. "Of course" Kakashi says, smiling. He nods at me as I nodded to him before we quickly follow Tsunade-sama. "Should we send someone to get Yoshino?" She asks as we make our way to the hospital quickly. "Please do" Father says. Father gasps softly as we see Shizuka. I do understand though. Her hair is messy, her face is pale and bruised and bandages are around her arms, chest and stomach. Now is that not the first time but the look on her eyes or should I say lack of it, lack of her usual spark. Like she's broken or as Kakashi said someone of something sucked out her soul. "Your mother shouldn't see this" he says softly. "Shouldn't see what?" I turn around and see my mother, who gasps also as she sees her daughter.

Both my father and I cross our arms and look at Ino and Inoichi. "It's like there's a cage in her mind her consciousness has been put in" Inoichi says. Ino nods. "Can she get out? Or can we get her out?" Father says. "Theoretically yes" Ino says. "But?" I ask. "She doesn't allow us" Ino says. "Excuse me?" Father asks. "She starts to panic as soon as we get close" I look at my mother who is combing Shizuka's hair. "And what if you bring me.." I look at Kiba, Genma and Asuma who are talking in the hallway. "Or Kiba with you? Maybe we can get her to come out" Ino looks at her father. "It might work, but we can't go with you. So it might get a little tricky to get to her" he says. "Can you guide us?" I ask. "Yeah. I guess we can" Ino says. Soon after Kiba and I hold hands as Inoichi and Ino lay their hands on our heads to help us into the mind of Shizuka. It takes us a little while but we find the cage they were talking about. It's like a dogs cage and she's sitting in it, her arms wrapped around her legs. She's wearing just her panties and bra and she's wet and dirty. We rush over. "Shizuka!" Kiba says as he grabs the bars. Ino looks up slowly. "Kiba?" She asks surprised. "What are you doing here stupid sister?" I ask, smiling slightly as I grab the bars too. "Shikamaru?" She asks. "Hey there" I say softly. She stands up slowly. "What are you doing here? You should go. It's dangerous there.." she says. Kiba and I look at each other. "That's why we came for you silly" he says as he stretches his hand toward her. "Why we open this so you can come with us?" I bring my hand to the lock. "No! Don't open it!" She shouts. Kiba and I look at each other. I reach my hand inside and take her arm softly. "Hey..we're here...we're not letting anything happen to you" I smile slightly again. "Look at me Shizuka" I say softly. She looks at me. "Do you trust us?" Kiba takes her other arm, smiling too. "We love you. I'll protect you. I promise" I chuckle. "But you're not someone we need to protect right?" I wink. "Now how about we open the cage huh?"