I don't own Naruto.

Sorry in advance for any writing errors.

~O~

Two Worlds

Chapter 5 –Hold on.

~O~

I. More to life.

"Let me go!" I shrieked and continued to struggle. Their hold is bruising me; the one on my right gripped my arm and wrist tighter.

"You should obey your father."

"Just like you?" I spat.

"Where are we taking her again?" said the guy on my left. I can't believe this. How dare they do this to me? Furthermore, how stupid could they get? We are practically standing in the same spot for fifteen minutes now.

"What are you guys doing here anyway?" I asked glaring from side to side. They spaced out for a minute before one of them replied, "Boss is taking the monster to the lab for some tests."

"What?"

"They are going to pay him big time." said the other one. He grinning from ear to ear as if he has his own evil idea.

I struggled harder. Why is papa like this? He's no different than those men who were easily blinded by money.

"TenTen!" I heard mama's high–pitched shout. She came running from the front door. She looked at my situation and gasped. "What are you doing to my daughter?" She was scary enough for them to release me.

"Sorry ma'am, boss' orders."

"Where is he?" she asked. I shook my head. Mama seems to be living her life in panic and paranoia all the time.

"Where is he?" she asked again, "TenTen?"

"He's in the indoor pool."

Mama's eyes grew wide. "Tell him to stop. Quick, go!"

I stayed glued to my spot as I continued to stare at her.

"You two come with me." she said before turning to look at me again, "What are you doing? Go tell your father."

"He will never believe me." I replied.

Mama stomped her foot and pointed at the front door, "You two. I want you to deal with those people by the gate. Tell them there's no mermaid here." she angrily instructed, and then walked straight to the indoor pool.

"Mama, what's going on?" I asked, following her.

She didn't reply, only pushed the door harshly and glared straight at papa. "Those people are blaming us for the incident. You need to talk to them and settle all of this before I loose my mind!"

Papa was standing by the pool. His men were in the process of carrying Neji to the cargo truck outside. He frowned and balled his fists, "Stop. Throw him back to the pool." And they did, quite roughly.

I rushed to the poolside and saw Neji sank. His arms were tied and he made no effort to swim up.

I shifted my eyes back to papa. He was staring angrily at me. His jaw clenched.

"Come on boys, let's continue this later."

He turned around and walked out of the room with mama and his men tagging behind.

I watched their backs before shutting the door.

"Neji?"

He swam up and gripped the edge of the pool.

"Are you okay?" I asked as I removed the ties on his arms. It took me longer than I expected, but he remained silent, patiently waiting for me to finish.

"Are you okay?" I asked again, tracing the red marks the ropes left on his pale skin.

"I feel nothing." He replied.

"I'm sorry about all this."

"You do not have to be." He rubbed a hand on his wrists, "Everything is fine."

"You sound dead, Neji."

He chuckled, "A lot has been happening."

"Those people are here because of what happened to papa's boat. They probably heard about you and—"

"I do not want to talk about that." Neji cut me off.

His expression was gravely serious. I just stared at him waiting for him to say something else.

He frowned. "Can you see your world in me, TenTen?" he asked, half–jokingly.

I blinked, shocked at his question. I have the answer to that, but I'm not sure if it would satisfy Neji. His expectant eyes make it hard for me to express my thoughts properly.

"Your stare is like the summer sun. It's warm and intense. I couldn't look directly at it, but I absolutely love the feeling of it. A season that I would always long for every year. Your hair reminds me of the colors of autumn. Deep. When it's dry it'll probably dance along the wind like the fallen leaves. Your tail reminds me of winter. That mixed feeling of coldness and slight depression I get when everything's just white... But being with you feels like spring. When all the flowers bloom and when the leaves are so green. It's almost paradise."

I was looking through him all the time. I don't know if I was able to convey what I want him to see, to feel.

Then Neji slowly smiled and I found my breath again.

"Stay." I said without thinking, sounding very much like a spoiled brat.

He shook his head, "I can not do that."

"But what will happen to you when you go back?" I gripped the pearls on my neck.

He placed a hand on top of mine, "Well… you know how the story ends." Neji's voice was almost a whisper. He looked calm as usual, but I could sense the slight fear in his tone.

My lips trembled. I couldn't contain my emotions that well. I feel weak and useless. The thought of never seeing Neji again is painful. I want to know more about him. I want to share more. I don't know if he's already considering me as his wife with these pearls hanging around my neck, but if not, a friendship would surely do. It will be more than enough for me.

I heard footsteps. Papa had probably settled the commotion outside. Neji heard it too since he's gaze is now resting at the closed doors.

It grew louder and Neji moved his eyes back to mine.

"I will think of you," He placed his hands on the sides of my face and touched our foreheads, "…always."

"Neji."

He let go almost instantly as soon as the doors flew open.

"I've had enough of this." Papa roared, "Get that creature. We're throwing him back to where we caught him." He instructed his men who were at Neji's side already. "And you," he continued, pointing at me with his forefinger in warning. "you are going back to Linview."

"No."

"Go to your room and start packing. You're leaving tonight."

I looked down in defeat. My feet are heavy as I walked towards the door. I so badly want to look back, but I choose not to. After this, I will never see him again. I can't even utter the words good bye.

~O~

II. Unbelievably tragic.

I sat on my bed, feeling empty. I have packed everything in my closet like I have no intention of ever returning to this place. This is so unfair, all the worst is probably set for me. I stood up and walked over to my window. I feel numb watching the truck drive away.

Papa and I used to go along really well back then. His a good man. He travels a lot because of his business and it's always me, mama and mommy Cara. But whenever he comes home, he would always make sure to spend some quality time with me. They are not really that special, it was just simply memorable.

One day his business partners were brutally murdered. Since Linview is no longer safe for us, we bought a house here in Bright Coast. Papa was also so kind to adopt his business partner's daughter, Ino.

We were never friendly with each other. Or perhaps I simply didn't try. She was so cheerful and pretty with an easily likeable personality. I was jealous of her. Without thinking that maybe all of those were just her defense mechanism to get back on her feet after what happened to her parents.

I walked out of my room and ran to the opposite direction of where the truck headed. I need some air and maybe some rope. I reached another shoreline where big rocks are situated and sat there.

I'm not sure if papa was being rational. I'm going back to Linview for my studies anyway. Sending me back earlier wouldn't make any difference. I hugged my legs and rested my head on my knees. I miss mommy Cara. I can't remember a time in my life when she wasn't there. Why must she choose this time to leave?

~O~

I started to go back to the house. Mama is probably waiting for me already. I am still thinking of ways to convince her to leave tomorrow morning instead. Somehow I don't like traveling at night very much.

I stepped inside the house with a weird feeling in my gut.

"Mama?"

There was no answer.

"Mama I'm back, where are you?"

I went to the living room and stopped dead on my tracks at the scene before me.

Blood. The floor was covered in blood, and mama's lying on it.

"Mama!"

I shook her body, "Mama." My voice cracked.

I hugged her and wailed, too much that my cries become silent. My system forgot how to breathe again.

I suddenly felt nauseous. I can't stay in the house any longer, so I ran to the shore where papa should be. He must know about this. More importantly, I need to feel safe.

I saw the truck and picked up my speed. The first thing I saw was the broken wind shield and the dead driver. Then I began noticing splatters of blood on the sands. Papa and his men were all dead. There were multiple gun shots all over their bodies.

The sight itself was killing me. Then I saw a trail of blood from the opening of the cargo to where the waves touch the shore, until it completely disappeared in the waters.

I looked inside. The inflatable pool was still there, but Neji's gone. I went in and noticed that the trail started inside where the water in the pool was red with blood.

I sank in the dark corner and covered my ears. I screamed loudly, painfully. It was a good release, but it's not enough.

All the while it felt like I was paralyzed. I was fully aware of the faint screams as more and more people came, but I can't move. I can't speak. The smell of blood mixed with the smell of the sea is unpleasant. I commanded my body to move many times... to get out of here... to escape, but it won't follow my mind.

I'm not sure how long I stayed like this; sleep didn't even take over.

Eventually I heard sirens and loud commanding voices of policemen. One examined the cargo and aimed his flashlight directly at my face. I winced.

"Miss, can you hear me?" He said as he came closer.

I made no effort to reply. I just waited for him to find out on his own. He checked my pulse, my face, my arms and legs, looking for any gunshot. Then he carried me out to where the medics are. Out of the corner of my eye I saw them place papa in a body bag.

Everything went by so fast, the next thing I knew, I was sitting in the police office. They were asking me questions. At first it's useless because I couldn't even comprehend. I caught myself in the mirror. I was covered in blood and the buns on top of my head were in a mess. I clutched the blanket wrapped around me and began to answer what they asked of me truthfully—seriously. As it turns out they were all holding back their laughter. They thought I'm crazy and overly traumatized to be saying there was a merman involved. I remained emotionless, and continued to answer their last questions in a dead monotone.

When they were done, I told them I have family left—Ino. Then I asked them if I could go home, but they said they wanted to help me first.

I sat on the backseat as they drove to Linview. They didn't take me to the address I gave them. To my surprise, they entered the big gates of what seems to be a rehabilitation center.

~O~

End.

Thank you for spending your time with a little of my work. I am so happy that you stayed with me until this chapter. :)

Kisses to everyone!