The soft afternoon light filtered through the drawn curtains, casting blurry patterns on the walls of the small room. The scent of medicinal herbs hung in the air, mingling with the aged wood of the ceiling beams. Mei blinked, trying to gather her thoughts. A sharp pain shot through her neck, making her grimace.
"Argh…" she groaned weakly.
She tried to move, but her muscles felt heavy, almost numb. Slowly turning her head, she immediately recognized the place: she was at home, lying on her futon, a light blanket covering her. Then, her eyes stopped on the silhouette sitting near the window: Aiko.
Mei opened her eyes wider, but it wasn't worry or relief that flooded her—it was anger. The memories came rushing back: the argument, the pain, then… Takeshi. That idiot. That traitor. She saw his dark eyes again, his unreadable expression, his forehead touched by her lips.
"Why did he do that?" she muttered through gritted teeth.
As if she had sensed the shift in the air, Aiko looked up. Seeing Mei awake, she stood up from her chair and walked to her bedside.
"Mei! You're awake! You scared me so badly…"
"Spare me your sweet words, Aiko," Mei growled, trying to sit up. "Why did you let Takeshi get away?!"
Aiko froze, surprised by her friend's harsh tone. Mei, eyes blazing with fury, stared her down.
"And why exactly should I have stopped him?"
"Tch… You always have an excuse, don't you?!" Mei snapped. "He played us—played me. He left me like a fool, with that look… and that kiss…! You were there! You could've stopped him!"
Aiko took a deep breath, already irritated by her friend's ranting. Not that she liked Takeshi anyway. Maybe she could have stopped him—if she'd really tried. But honestly? She couldn't be bothered. She was injured too, after all.
"You think I was going to leave you lying there just to go chasing after some thug?"
"Tss… Of course you picked the easy way. Letting him slip away… Still as lazy as ever!"
A heavy silence settled between them. Mei turned her head, clenching her fists. Then, after a few seconds, her voice softened a little, filled with frustration and doubt.
"Just tell me one thing… What happened to you? During your mission with Natsumi? You were just supposed to escort that guy from last time, right?"
Aiko sat cross-legged beside the futon. She took a deep breath, as if searching for the right words to lift a heavy burden.
"It was supposed to be simple. For the guy's safety, he was sent with another team while Natsumi and I took a different route. At first, everything was fine… until we reached the Ryokawa Pass."
Mei listened in silence, her brows furrowed.
"That's when they ambushed us. Kumo ninjas. Six, maybe seven. All masked. But it wasn't a coincidence. They were after the diplomat. And they weren't taking no for an answer."
"And Natsumi?" Mei asked, her voice lower.
"She refused, of course. She never backs down. She stood her ground… and so did I. The fight broke out. It was brutal. They were more numerous, better prepared. And… Natsumi was hit. Badly. She fought until she collapsed from exhaustion. I watched her fall right in front of me."
Mei's heart clenched. She knew how strong Natsumi was—she was a jonin of Konoha, after all.
"And you? How did you make it out?"
Aiko looked down, a little ashamed.
"I got hit in the head, thrown against a rock. The impact knocked me out. But I guess… my chakra dropped so low they thought I was dead. The Kumo ninjas left with the diplomat—and apparently Natsumi."
Mei was silent for a moment. Then, softly, she murmured:
"So… you're only alive because they thought you were dead? And that idiot went after Natsumi all by himself…"
Aiko nodded.
"I came to in the ashes of our camp."
"Shit…" Mei muttered, jaw clenched.
"You think this is fun for me?!" Aiko snapped suddenly, voice trembling. "You think I had a choice? I almost died, Mei! And now I've failed my mission… And you're yelling at me about that damn Takeshi?!"
Another silence fell. But this time, it was thick with unspoken emotions. Mei knew she was right. Aiko had carried her home despite everything. But the anger… she just needed to let it out.
"It's not fair, Aiko… I thought… I thought I could trust him, you know? I'm the one he betrayed."
Aiko let out a long sigh and reached out, placing her hand gently on Mei's forearm.
"He protected you, you know. It might not seem like much, but I think it mattered to him. That kiss wasn't just a goodbye. It was… maybe his way of saying it wasn't personal."
"You're defending him?" Mei lifted her head. "That's a first…"
"No," Aiko replied. "I just don't want you to drown in your anger. And yeah, I was trying to comfort you. But I still don't like that bastard."
Mei lowered her eyes, and for the first time, she seemed unsure.
"Alright… But promise me one thing."
"Anything."
"The next time we see him… you'll tell him all that to his face." A smile slowly appeared on Mei's lips.
"What are you going on about now?" Aiko sighed, annoyed. "I'll gladly rip him apart myself."
The tension eased a bit. They began talking about other things. Mei got up, still set on finding him, but she knew she'd only be dead weight right now. She had to get stronger.