Fading Light

Chapter 5: Nara's Guest

I woke up the next morning with a splitting headache. I could hear a heart rate monitor nearby, the constant, steady rhythm calmed me. 

"Hey Asuma?!" I heard someone yell from outside my room. The events of last night coming back to me. 

"Shikamaru keep your voice down, this is a hospital." Asuma stated outside. 

"What happened to Amaya?" He demanded. 

"That's none of your concern." I sighed. 

"Asuma, it's okay." I called out, my voice hoarse. The door opened, revealing both Asuma and Shikamaru. 

"Amaya..." Shikamaru muttered as he took in the condition I was in. My ribs burned with each breath. My back ached too from the bruises. I could feel my throat tightening with each gulp of air I took in. 

"Hey Shikamaru..." I smiled shyly. He walked over to me, sitting down in the chair beside me. 

"What happened?" He asked as Asuma tensed. 

"I fell down the stairs..." I lied.

"Then why did Asuma not want us to know?"He questioned suspiciously. 

"I was embarrassed. I asked him to not tell anyone." I flushed a little to keep the facade going. 

"Amaya...do you really not trust me?" He continued, I knew he was smarter than I originally gave him credit for. I had hoped he would have just believed me, but I knew deep down that wasn't going to be the case. 

"I do...but what happened...its a secret of the Uchiha Clan. I promised my father I would never tell anyone outside of out Clan." I explained. 

"I see...you were attacked by Itachi Uchiha, weren't you?" I nodded. "Are you okay?" I shook my head no. 

"My past...everything Itachi showed me last night...its like pouring salt into a deep wound. A wound that will never heal." My body shook as I remembered seeing my father murdered hundreds of times, his lifeless corpse at my feet.

"Itachi used the Sharingan on her." Asuma explained. 

"When can I leave?" I asked, suddenly wanting to be out of this room. 

"The doctors want to make sure there's nothing broken. But..." He trailed off. 

"But what?"

"Lord Hokage doesn't want you living alone anymore. Now that Itachi is after you, it would be in your best interest to stay with someone." I figured as much. 

"Do I have any say as to who I stay with?" 

"That's why I called Shikamaru here. The Hokage ordered the Nara family to protect you until further notice. We figured it would be easier to stay with one of your teammates than someone you didn't know." 

So I was being forced to stay with Shikamaru. 

"Sorry Shikamaru...I'm going to be a real drag to protect..." I chuckled. 

"You idiot." He stated, something off in his tone. It wasn't the same carefree Shikamaru I knew. It was a more serious tone. "You're my teammate and friend. I'll protect you with my life." 

"Shikamaru..." I muttered as the doctors walked in.

~

After the doctors came and cleared me to leave we walked over to the Nara household. Shikamaru's father, Shikaku was standing outside waiting for us. 

"Asuma." He said as we walked up. 

"Shikaku, I entrust Amaya to you." 

"She'll be safe in our care." He stated as Asuma started to leave. 

"Asuma!" I called out to him. He turned to look back at me. "Thank you for saving my life." I smiled. He rubbed my hair like I was a child and smiled. 

"No problem, you're my student. I'll always make sure you're alright." He disappeared and I was left with Shikamaru and his father. They showed me around the house. My room was towards the center of the house. My stuff had already been brought over from my apartment. I walked over to my dresser where the only family photo I had with my mom and dad was. It had been taken the month right before my mother died. I was too young to really remember too much about her, but we looked a lot alike. My father was always a strict man growing up, so to have a photo of him smiling was enough to bring tears to my eyes. 

"Dad..." I picked up the frames crack forming in the middle, cutting the photo in half. My small three year old self split between two parents. 

"Your father was an amazing Shinobi in his youth." Shikaku stated as I set the frame back on the dresser. "So, Itachi is after the Sharingan Ruby?" I turned sharply. 

"How do you-?!" I started. 

"Lord Hokage told me when he came. Your family protected it?" I nodded. 

"My father told me to never let Itachi have it. It was his dying wish..." Shikamaru looked between the two of us. 

"What's the Sharingan Ruby?"

"Its where the Sharingan originated. The ruby is said to hold the secrets of the Sharingan. My family was the first to inherit it, so we became the protectors of the ruby." Shikamaru grabbed my arm as I felt weak suddenly. 

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah...just tired."

"Shikamaru, we should leave her to rest." His father muttered. They left me to lay in bed. My head pounded as my Sharingan came out. 

Dad...you sealed the ruby inside me, but I don't know if I'll be able to keep it a secret much longer...