After Haruo's visit to Somitto, the Hanamaru High Council decided to close the case and keep it confidential. Although Sagi had asked that Tsukinoko be given a warning for transgressing the principles of the Colony, Harue Kato had surprisingly come to her defense and the council had recognized her value, but she was now forbidden to visit the mountain country.

  At the Residence reception desk, Midareta asked the receptionist about a friend he hadn't seen for a long time, and realized he was talking about Tsukinoko.

  After resting, Kakashi went to the hospital and rested on the windowsill of Tsukinoko's room, hidden by the curtain, waiting to hear the news from the doctors. He was interrupted in his reading by a nurse chatting with a little boy in the room.

  - Is she your friend? she hesitates.

  Midareta followed suit and ran to see Tsukinoko, but stopped dead in her tracks. The numerous bandages on her head, the breathing mask on her nose and several drips in her arms connected to frightening machines, her leg in a plaster cast, all frightened her.

  - Is she sleeping? Midareta hesitates.

  - Yes," says the nurse. She was brought in this morning, injured on a mission. Come on, I'll walk you out.

  But he ignores her and climbs onto the bed, straddling her belly with a worried look on his face, and the nurse pisses and grabs him by the hand to get him out.

  - Let me go!" he snaps, pushing her away.

  He lies on top of Tsukinoko and buries his tearful face in her neck. The nurse was about to pull him off again, but a voice calmed things down.

  - Leave it, it's all right.

  - Haruo Sato," she greets.

  The Chief was with a doctor, who thanked the nurse. Midareta sobbed in panic as he hugged Tsukinoko. The Chief put his hand on his back to comfort him.

  - Did you know that your friend is a soldier? She risks her life for the good of the village.

  - It's not fair... When is she going to wake up?

  - Within a few days," replies the doctor. She has a concussion and numerous injuries, and she's very weak, but she'll be fine.

  The Chief thanks the doctor, then glances at the half-open window before leaving the room.

  - There's no point in staying here until then, your agent won't be available until then, whatever happens. You'll be informed when he wakes up, but in the meantime, take him home.

  Midareta winced, wondering who he was talking to, then nervously fiddled with Tsukinoko's blanket without knowing what to do, hoping that she would wake up at any moment. He ended up searching the whole room, curious at the age of five, before coming across a small package which suddenly sat on the bed beside her. It was a spiral notebook and crayons. Midareta climbed back onto Tsukinoko's bed and sat on her legs to draw, before falling asleep in the evening, curled up under her arm, which he clutched like a cuddly toy. In the early hours of the morning, he couldn't breathe and woke up suddenly. Tsukinoko was plugging his nose with an amused expression, her smile visible through the transparent mask.

  - Big sister! You're awake!" he shouts.

  He jumped up and down on the bed as she turned her head after sensing Kakashi outside, just before he slipped away. Tenry? had nursed his protégé, at his own expense, concerned about her condition. Midareta went back to sleep with her, before leaving in the morning, chased away by the nurses for good.

  In the afternoon, after a battery of examinations and fresh bandages, Kakashi had come to see Tsukinoko for a few minutes, accompanied by Nezumi, to explain the measures taken in the wake of this affair.

  - Well then," she sighs. Hey, who are you?" she smiled at Nezumi.

  - He's the new recruit," exclaimed Kakashi. Nezumi Karumin.

  A shiver ran through Tsukinoko's body and she hid her astonishment but kept her face before them. The two agents were there to make sure Tsukinoko hadn't given away any information about Hanamaru during his capture. Nezumi, thanks to his Negin, had to infiltrate her mind to probe her memories. Under orders from the High Council, Tsukinoko could not escape, although her manager took her word for it. The latter sits down on the bed next to hers to read while he waits. Nezumi moves towards Tsukinoko with her Negin, but she pulls the sheet up over her face like a shield and looks for a way out, distressed.

  - Nan wait!" she shouted at Kakashi.

  - What?

  - What if he sees... Embarrassing stuff...?" she grimaces.

  - What stuff?" he sighs. He'll only look at what's relevant to this case.

  Without letting on, Tsukinoko was worried sick. Especially since she had used her Negin in Somitto, which Nezumi was likely to find out. Unable to look Nezumi in the eye, she stared at her gray protective vest.

  - So, er... I arrived in Somitto the same day and then went into hiding," she told him.

  - I'll take that into account," exclaims Nezumi. Please lie down.

  She gives up and lies down, tensed to the core, and Nezumi moves forward again, but she avoids his gaze. Forcibly, she meets Nezumi's gaze as he signs with one hand, but she feels his Power enter her mind and immediately blocks it, terrified. Nezumi tries again, but she blocks it again, turning pale and trembling. He frowns at her resistance.

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  - Commander Tsukinoko, it's procedure," he insists.

  Praying he wouldn't look any further, with tears in her eyes, she lets herself succumb. A few seconds pass, then Tsukinoko shakes her head at his passing, as if to chase him away. As she calmed down, Nezumi beside her hadn't moved an inch, his eyes still riveted on her and as pale as the hospital room.

  Kakashi snapped him out of his thoughts by demanding the result, and his rookie stood to attention in front of him to announce that everything was in order. Tsukinoko sighs discreetly in relief and slumps onto the bed after all that emotion. Kakashi leaves, but Nezumi remains halfway across the room. Tsukinoko straightened up when she saw he wasn't moving.

  - Commander Tsukinoko... he said at last from behind. You... you-

  - Stop being so formal," she chuckles, "I'm not the boss.

  Nezumi doesn't answer, his head bowed, before sniffling discreetly as if he were crying. Worried, Tsukinoko fears he may have been psychologically tortured after reviewing Somitto's harsh interrogations.

  - I'll do my best to address you properly," he says. Thank you for everything.

  - Huh? All what?

  He doesn't answer and disappears. Tsukinoko, flummoxed, ignored Nezumi's shyness and scathing reserve. In the afternoon, Hina and Asuma had come to check on her, and her best friend had finally stayed the night, bringing a little warmth to the cold hospital rooms

  Tsukinoko was heading for the school exit. Ready to call Yukihyō to the rescue, leaning against the gate, a small voice called out to her, startling her.

  - Commander Kakashi has sent me to inform you that Haruo Sato requests to see you immediately after your release from hospital.

  Standing next to her was Nezumi, with his closed-mouthed expression. He wore the Colony uniform with Hanamaru's armband on his forehead behind wisps of black hair. His hair was almost as long as Tsukinoko's, tied at the back with an elastic band. Standing straight in front of her, he seemed to be awaiting her orders, or some initiative on her part.

  She held back a laugh, certain that Kakashi had found a stooge to entrust his chores to, and pitied his naiveté.

  - Nezumi, I told you to stop being so formal," she said, resuming her walk.

  - Please forgive me.

  She rolled her eyes at his confused expression. He walked beside her to his appointment. When it was over, and the Chief wanted above all to reassure himself that she was back on her feet, Tsukinoko left the office, only to be startled again when Nezumi was waiting for her in a dark corner of the corridor, staring at her blankly.

  - Need help getting home?

  - Don't worry, I'll call my friend. But I don't mind if you walk me to the exit.

  With a small smile, he complies, seeming honored to help her. Outside the Residence, Tsukinoko called Yukihyō and Nezumi remained in the background during their affectionate exchanges. Straddling the majestic panther's back, Nezumi admired her almost arrogant confidence. Tsukinoko greeted him, eager to get rid of him as his presence disturbed her, but he seemed to be searching for words before exclaiming sharply.

  - Would you like me to take you home?

  - I'm already escorted, so I'll be fine," she says.

  Nezumi looks away, uncomfortable.

  - I... I would have liked us to get to know each other a little better," he admitted gently. You're the only one with Major Kakashi who doesn't feel for me because of... the clan. I had access to your background during the Somitto affair, and I'd like to ask you something.

  He kneels before her and bows his head.

  - Make me your disciple.

  She looked at him with big eyes, then burst out laughing, surprised by his joke. But Nezumi was deadly serious.

  Tsukinoko had no interest in having a disciple, nor the motivation, let alone if it was him. Their unspeakable closeness made all her muscles tense, and she'd been involuntarily on guard since their first meeting, afraid of what they had in common.

  Nezumi, still on one knee and staring at the ground, held his breath waiting for an answer. Finally, she invited him to join her, and Nezumi climbed up behind her, his hands clutching the fawn's fur.

  In complete silence, only the exclamations of the locals as they spotted Yukihyō parading across the rooftops enlivened the journey.

  Tsukinoko finally jumps in, uncomfortable to the core, and makes sure he wasn't offended before asking the reason for the request. Nezumi looks down thoughtfully, then back up at her with a determined expression.

  - After all you've been through, and your abilities... I want you to be my master. I want to learn from you, Master Tsukinoko. You're one of Hanamaru's most gifted soldiers, and you-

  - Oh gently," she sighs, cutting him off.

  She looks him straight in the eye before giggling helplessly again, and sweeps her hand away teasingly. He immediately blushes, embarrassed, and looks away as she continues.

  - Enough with the praise," she chuckles. And stop taking me for an old-timer with your politeness, I'll end up thinking I've got wrinkles.

  - Sorry...

  - And it's nothing against you, but I'm not interested in having a disciple," she grimaced. Why don't you ask Kakashi, or... I don't know, who's your usual master, anyway?

  - My father, Masaru Karumin.

  - Isn't he enough? He's the head of the clan," she murmurs.

  - He's not the rightful leader," he exclaims seriously.

  She froze, then squinted at him, not knowing what to think. It wasn't all her. Perhaps there were conflicts or secrets within the Karumin clan.

  - What are you insinuating?" she asks seriously.

  Nezumi's face relaxes and he finally answers.

  - It was a way of saying that I don't consider him strong enough anymore.

  - Was that a joke? You know we have to laugh, in general... she grimaces. Why do you say that?

  - According to a friend, I've outgrown his skills. That's why I want you to train me from now on.

  - You think you're the leader now? she hesitates. Wait a minute, you think I'm stronger than the clan leader? I don't have your skills," she says curtly, "I can't help you.

  - If you say so..." he said, lowering his gaze. So, what's your answer, Commander Tsukinoko?

  She pouted for a few seconds, confused, as he waited impatiently for her answer.

  - Sorry Nezumi, I know I'm the classiest girl in the village, but I'm not interested.

  - Okay," he exclaims respectfully.

  Tsukinoko gives her a big smile and offers to come and train with Kakashi, Kimaru and her instead. She turns her head away to take a deep breath, then exclaims.

  - By the way, why did you thank me yesterday?

  - For your initiative at Somitto, the way you managed to settle the conflict despite what you've been through," he says respectfully. You have the makings of a leader.

  - Oh, that... I'm not interested either. So, tell me a little about yourself," she smiles. How old are you?

  - Eleven years old.

  - Hein... What?" she wonders. But you're not allowed to enter the Colony until you're thirteen.

  He shrugs. They chat the rest of the way and Nezumi shyly asks how they and Yukihyō met, then debate together the actual definition of peace for a moment.

  As Yukihyō turns into a street, Tsukinoko suddenly screams and slips to the ground. They both watch her jump into a pastry shop. She immediately emerges overexcited and asks Nezumi for her favorite pastries. Dangos

  Yukihyō growled as people kept staring at him.

  Finally arriving on her terrace, she beckons Nezumi down, tosses him the bag with the remaining dangos, then heads home.

  Tsukinoko spent the next two weeks resting, reading in the warmth. Yet Nezumi and the clan occupied her thoughts night and day. Her old demons had returned to bother her late at night.

  Hina had come to the rescue for a few days to keep her company and take her mind off things, and then even the rest of the gang to celebrate the New Year.