Innocent secrets
Chapter 1: to meet, to fight, to survive
Koomahana
The first day he had seen her; she was approaching the library, she stopped at the base of the stairs and then snapped around, hurrying away as if embarrassed. The next day she got half way up the stairs before she turned tail and ran away, the next day she actually managed to touch one of the doors before she hurried away, this time not running, just walking really, really fast.
On day five he watched her approach slowly, went up the stairs as if nothing was wrong, opened the door with the slightest show of hesitation... and walked in. She stood in the door for a moment as if she was unsure if she just did something really good or committed some great sin. He couldn't help smirking when her eyes widened suddenly and she had to dive out of the way in order to avoid the rushing team of genin carrying an absurd amount of books. He watched as she hesitantly made her way towards him, eyes wide and full of wonder as she looked around herself as if she'd never been inside a library before.
"Can I help you?" the girl jumped at the sound of his voice, turning too big, too wide... green... her eyes were as green as jade in sunlight, green like Oak leaves in fire light... and they were full of fear.
"I-I'm looking for a-a book," She stuttered out, shoulders hunching together and hands rising to ring the strap of her hand made Knit bag, twisting the brown yawn between her small and bony hands as if in a nervous tick. He was preventing from stating the obvious by a loud booming voice.
"Ayame!" The girl's eyes widened further and she dived forward, without a second thought, sweeping to the side and curling up under his desk like a curled up kitten. Her bag held in her lap, one hand pressed to her mouth and her other arm wrapped around her legs tightly, bringing them to her chin. "Ayame! Where are you?!"
He could take a hint
He looked up from his desk and stared coldly at the tall brown haired man that marched through the doors, hands fisted at his sides and dark eyes glinting dangerously as he walked forward, scanning the entrance to the library with a snarl and a glare.
"Can I help you?" He asked coldly, straightening slightly in his seat and reaching for the hidden kunai on his desk, knowing that the furious looking man couldn't see it because of the raised barrier between them.
"I'm looking for my daughter," the man snarled back at him
"No one's entered in the passed," he glanced back up at the cloak as if double checking something, "Oh I'd say five or so minutes. We had a genin cell leave—"
Slam
He flinched at the hard sound, he didn't even know those doors could slam and plenty of brats have tried—himself included
"He's gone," he murmured turning in his seat to smile down at the still trembling girl reassuringly
"Th-thank you," She stuttered, not moving from her place, simply pulling her hand out of her mouth to tug at her coppery hair nervously. "Umm, I came here looking for a book... a-about chakra..."
"Sure, come with me," he smiled at her, offering her a hand up, "I'll take you to the section dedicated to the subject." She placed her hand in his gently, letting him pull her up smoothly
"There's an entire section?" She questioned with wide eyes, not noticing his slight flinch at the feel of her bony hands
"Yeah, this is a library after all," He smiled at her, gently tugging her towards the nearby stairs "you can find anything here." She was just a child, a few years younger then himself
"My name's Kotetsu, Kotetsu Hagane" he said, sweeping out an arm to show her the second level of the library, "And I'm a librarian here. If you need anything I'll help you" there was more to the offer then simply looking for a book somewhere in the library; her wide eyes and shocked face, told him that she understood his double meaning.
"Th-thank you," she stammered out, a bright blush and shy smile peaking through, "My name is A-Ayame... Ayame Haruno..."
…
…
The next time Ayame saw Kotetsu, he was standing outside the gates to her Academy, dressed in his strange gray uniform; his headband was missing this time, making her wonder if he was on a vacation.
"You found me," She whispered softly as she approached and smiled shyly at the taller boy, making him chuckle at her.
"After that one book you just kind of... disappeared," Kotetsu replied, his smirk widening as he saw that cloudy day revealed that her hair less coppery and more of a dark pink. The day they met, he had taken her directly to the tome dedicated to explaining about chakra, the five types, the various uses and styles of Chakra's and, of course, some of the more renowned and famous bloodlines that use Chakra.
She had been done with the book in ten minutes, Ayame thanked Kotetsu for taking her to the book and while his partner distracted him, she left the library. He spent the next twenty minutes trying to convince his child hood friend that he wasn't hallucinating her and that she really did exist. After that, he had been forced to wait the following week to see if she would return but it seemed that she no longer had a reason for returning to the library. When the week was over and she still didn't return, he went through the records searching for anything he could find anyone named 'Ayame Haruno'; he wasn't too happy about finding the mile long hospital records on her. There was an investigation about child abuse in Ayame's home but because no one could get close to her, they couldn't proceed with the investigation.
"I thought you might like to read something else," Kotetsu said reaching over and picking up the bag he had brought, "I didn't know what you liked so they're mostly on the uses of chakra... I hope you don't mind." Ayame's eyes widened at the sight of the books, nearly dancing in the half sunlight of the cloudy day.
"There's so many," She breathed, not moving to take hold of the bag, just staring at it as if she thought it would crumble away if she touched it
"I noticed that you read really fast," Kotetsu chuckled, "I don't know how long this'll last but I figured—"
"Oi! What do you think you're doing with Hime?"
Hime? Kotetsu thought dumbly, turning to watch a girl approach him with a glare twisting her pretty features. Long black hair swished mockingly at her hips as she marched forward, dark eyes glinting dangerously as she glared at him—he knew this girl from reputation alone.
"M-Manami," Ayame stuttered out, blushing at the approach of the older girl
"Are you trying to get her killed Ninja-boy?" Manami hissed, stopping between them with her hands on her hips, "her father hate's shinobi."
"Well her father isn't here," Kotetsu replied slightly jilted by the jab; in the distance the deep voice of Ayame's father shouted her name loudly, approaching the civilian delinquent school almost as fast as most shinobi travel.
"He will be," Manami growled at him
"Relax, I'll just say that I'm a student here," Kotetsu replied, rolling his eyes
"This is an all girls school," Manami snorted, crossing her arms
"Th-there's an all b-boy's school just up the way" Ayame suggested, "W-we're having that co-ed thing i-in a-a few days..."
"Ayame... you're a genius," Manami grinned, her black eyes glinting as she wrapped an arm around the blushing girl. "And that project is like three months long... and we're always paired up two with two."
"I take you two will be paired together?" Kotetsu asked with dancing dark eyes; he took the extra info Manami gave and filed it away for later
"Always," Manami agreed with a wicked grin, "I don't play well with anyone else." He could see her being related to Anko easily, they shared the same grin that said: 'I'll kill you, slowly, and enjoy it'.
"Ayame!" Kotetsu stiffened at the significant closer baritone voice, Ayame paled significantly and huddled just a little closer to Manami's protective side. "Ayame you're late!"
"Shut up old man," Manami hissed out, glaring at Ayame's father venomously, "We just got out not even three minutes ago."
"You," he hissed back, dark eyes glinting just as darkly as Manami's, "I told you to stay away from her."
"And I told you that I'm the only one protecting her from the bitches of this school," Manami smirked back at him, unfazed by his furious expression. "You could try to transfer her to another school but this is the only 'all-girls-academy' in the village." Kotetsu knew Manami was lying, he'd seen two other all girl schools before, but one was for specialized kunochi training and the other was a collage.
"And who the hell are you?" Ayame's father hissed out, turning to glare at Kotetsu
"I'm Gekko Hanazawa, Manami's brother," Kotetsu answered quickly, noting how Manami wasn't even fazed by the lie, yes he had stolen her surname—no way in hell was he giving the man his real name—"I'm from the all boy's school just up the block."
"Another delinquent," he said, his voice sending a frigid shiver up Kotetsu's spine
"What'd you'd expect old man?" Manami asked with a smirk, "You put her in a delinquent's academy."
"Ayame," he hissed, dark eyes glinting dangerously at the pinkette
"Th-there's a-a Co-ed project be-between o-our sc-schools," Ayame said, stepping out from behind Manami and bowing her head, her hands folding together in her lap. "He-he's o-our p-partn-ner..."
"Ayame-san needs to read these for the project," Kotetsu said holding up the bag of books, "We'll be graded as a team and the grade is worth Ninety percent of our final semester grade, so if we fail we'll be held back a year."
"You know the gist old man," Manami spoke up, "Two girls, two boys." A hint for him to get a friend involved, now that he could do
"Home, now," he hissed out, not even glancing at Manami. Ayame flinched and hurried passed the two, making sure to stay out of arm's length from her father as she hurried passed. The man continued to glare at them and they glared right back; with a low growl he turned on his heal and marched away, the crowd of girls huddled around the gate of the academy parting to let him through.
"I'm afraid of him," Manami said suddenly, crossing her arms as if she was cold and watching Ayame hurry away until she disappeared around the corner.
"The famed 'ghost' is afraid of someone?" Kotetsu asked, trying to make a joke about the girl's nickname, Manami didn't even glance at him.
"I'm afraid of what he'll do to them," Manami clarified with a sigh, turning to walk in the opposite direction
"Them?" Kotetsu asked curiously, following the black haired beauty queen
"Ayame has a little sister," Manami said, glancing up at him with a raised eyebrow, "Shizuki hates her because she killed his wife."
"What's her name?" Kotetsu asked, making a mental note to talk to a few people he knew about the name 'Shizuki Haruno'
"Sakura," Manami sighed, "She's six years old and is sweeter then honey, shy but sweet."
…
…
"A co-ed program?" her father hissed at her, when they were 'safely' out of public few
"I-it happens e-every Y-year..." Ayame agreed softly, "you r-remember l-last year..." of course he remembered, he hospitalized one of the boys for getting to close to her. Now she just had to hope that Sakura was either hiding somewhere upstairs or not home; she knew what was coming next, she didn't need the tiny child watching.
…
…
"Damn girl," Manami hissed softly, as she patted gently against Ayame's face, careful of the cuts, "You read that chakra book right?" Ayame made a soft noise of agreement that was mixed with a pained hissed, "Use the knowledge you gained from it already," Manami ordered, wincing at the new wave of blood that threatened to break through the barrier she created, "heaven knows Kami-sama gave you a beautiful brain, why don't you just use that photo-thing you have?"
"Photographic memory?" Ayame's soft voice asked, wincing when Manami dabbled a little too much foundation in a cut
"Yeah... that one..." Manami sighed and sat back, studying Ayame's face carefully, "I think you might need stitches..."
"I can't go to the hospital again," Ayame said, sounding slightly panicked, "Father will—"
"Your father will kill you at this rate," Manami hissed with a glare, "For once think of yourself child."
"If I go to the hospital he'll hurt her," Ayame said, tears pricking her eyes, "he swore it last time, he's aloud you to be so close because you're 'not a threat' to him."
"Because I'm a 'delinquent'," Manami agreed with a hiss, gently moving her sponge beneath Ayame's bruised right eye. "What about Ninja-boy? Surly he could—"
"No," Ayame nearly hissed, surprising Manami at the tone of voice she used, "He can't know, please Manami don't tell Kotetsu-kun."
"'Kun'?" Manami mimicked with a soft grin and a lifted eyebrow, "oh~ I get it," Ayame groaned and leaned back against the wall, closing her eyes. "You like him~" it was a simple tease, no malice or mockery, the two just wanted to talk about something to distract them from the pain in Ayame's body and the make up Manami had to apply to hide the marks. Neither noticed the three shinobi standing nearby, watching them closely.
"So that's Ayame Haruno," the tall man in the dark trench cloak murmured, not glancing at the boy beside him, "She's younger then I thought she was."
"That's what happens after so many years of Malnutrition," the woman to his other side murmured just as softly, "He may let her out of the house for school but he doesn't feed her regularly... I fear what her sister must look like."
"Do you know anything about that girl?" Kotetsu asked, turning his dark eyes towards the woman
"She's six years old and is extremely weak," she sighed straightening and moving away from the edge, letting the wind pull at her long auburn hair. "She was born with calcium deficiency, she's supposed to be taking Iron to help strengthen her bones but Shizuki-san doesn't let her leave the house and he sure as hell doesn't get her medicine. When he catches her in their yard he yells at her but if he were to catch her off his property?" the woman shook her head with a sigh, "There's no telling what he would do to her."
"Can't we do anything, Ninaiwa-san, Ibiki-san?" Kotetsu asked, following the woman away from the edge of the building,
"There's this horrid little thing called politics," Ibiki answered, joining them, "At least we know that the 'ghost' is a lot calmer then we all thought she was."
"Can you imagine the destruction that woman could do if she was a ninja?" Kotetsu shivered at the thought, "She'd properly slaughter Shizuki-teme," Kotetsu has seen the mess 'ghost' could do when she went off in a rampage, granted the girl hasn't had one in a few years but that was beside the point; even the Hokage had her under surveillance for a while, unsure of how to treat the girl with no loyalties.
"And no one would blame her," Ninaiwa chuckled, "I doubt charges would be pressed against her."
"No one likes that man," Ibiki agreed, remembering meeting him once long ago, "I'm sure not even his daughters would be concerned if he... disappeared..."
"Like their mother?" Ninaiwa asked with a raised eyebrow, "What?" she asked dumbly when both young men beside her looked in startled bewilderment at her, "it was in the news a six years ago, don't you remember?" at their blank looks Ninaiwa sighed and explained "Maihime Haruno, famed senor, had gone missing after giving birth to her youngest daughter. It was thought that she died because of the blood loss but no one ever found her body so they don't know."
"You mean she disappeared from the hospital?" Kotetsu asked with a frown
"Yup," Ninaiwa nodded
"Wasn't there an investigation?" Ibiki asked
"Everyone tried to search for her but because she wasn't exactly high priority and because of the Kiyobi attach a few months later" Ninaiwa shrugged, sad about the news but not entirely surprised, "She just slipped through the cracks."
…
…
"Hay, long time no see," Kotetsu greeted Ayame warmly when she walked through the library doors "how was the reading?"
"Enlightening" Ayame giggled, "Umm... I was wondering..." Ayame blushed brightly as she looked at him, trying not to make eye contact "D-do you have any books on healing? I-I read about it in one of the books... I-I thought umm..."
"Sure no problem," Kotetsu grinned, a smile dancing in his dark eyes, "I have one condition, though."
"Co-condition?" Ayame repeated softly, not sure if she should be wiry
"If you're going to practice chakra healing, then you need to practice chakra control," Kotetsu chuckled, trying to calm Ayame again. "The best way to do that is through meditation... oh s-sorry" Kotetsu stumbled to a stop, realizing what he was doing. "Um, I kind of forgot that you're a civilian, you don't know much about chakra..."
"I memorized that tomb you took me too the first time," Ayame reassured, surprising Kotetsu, "I have a photographic memory Kotetsu-san... I only need to see or read something once to memorize it."
"Heh, sounds like you should've been put in the shinobi academy," Kotetsu chuckled rising to his feet and gesturing for Ayame to follow him
"My mother wanted me too," Ayame said as she followed him, "But she died before she could admit me."
"Really?" Kotetsu asked surprised, "Why didn't your father?"
"Mama... mama was a simple genin," Ayame answered hesitantly, "Despite what little she taught me, father said that I would amount to nothing, he says that I'd have a better life as someone's wife."
"Speaking of the man," Kotetsu stopped and pulled out a book from a high shelf, "You know you're old enough to leave him... and take custody of your sister."
"How do you—"
"Manami"
"Ah" Ayame chuckled, shaking her head in amusement, "She's always looking out for me..." Ayame watched as Kotetsu chuckled and pulled down a few more books, scanning the shelves for others. "You know... civilians are little different from Shinobi, not by much but they are." Kotetsu noticed how she said 'they' instead of 'we', "For shinobi, you're an adult when you turn sixteen... or is it when you gradate?"
"For most it's when you graduate the academy," Kotetsu answered thoughtfully, "Although some kids don't leave until they're Chunin... or Jonin which some times doesn't happen until their twenties."
"I see..." Ayame sighed, "Well for civilians, you aren't an adult until you're eighteen."
"Maybe you should join the academy," Kotetsu suggested, pulling another book down and looking at the number they've gathered so far. "Shinobi rules are a lot more relaxed about that sort of thing then civilians are," Ayame knew full well what 'sort of thing' Kotetsu was hinting at, with a soft sigh Ayame understood that despite her efforts to hide it, Kotetsu still knew about the problem she had and properly more then she'd like to admit.
"I don't suppose..." Ayame started hesitantly, blushing brightly as they walked back to the front of the library "you know... anyone who could... help... with teaching me?"
"Sure I know lots of people," Kotetsu answered with a grin, "mostly anyone who enters the library here but I think you were talking about a few teachers right?" Ayame blushed but nodded all the same "Alright let me see who I can't contact then."
A week after that, Kotetsu told Ayame that a friend had told the school she was going to that she was getting transferred to another academy, this way the school wouldn't question Shizuki about her absence and he wouldn't wonder were she's been the entire day. Ayame didn't have to worry about leaving in a different direction either, she'd leave the same time every morning and arrive at her academy at the same time, where Manami and Kotetsu would sneak her out the back way and hurry to the library which was thankfully nearby. After two weeks of the changes, Ayame revealed that she was a sensor type like her mother and that she was already teaching Sakura the basics. Manami had immanently offered to get the little pinkette from her room at the house, after all she would only scream if anyone else showed up.
…
…
The day Kotetsu met Ayame's little sister, he was both horrified by her physical condition and amazed by the natural beauty she still held. She clung to Manami's long gray skirt fearfully, looking up at the group who was teaching Ayame everything she requested: Sensing and healing. Sakura's hair was actually a few shades paler then Ayame's and her eyes were a deeper green, her skin was pale like snow but ruff like the paper inside sealing scrolls.
"Hello Sakura-chan" Kotetsu greeted, crouching lowly so she wouldn't feel so threatened by him, "My name is Kotetsu Hagane."
"Nee-chan's friend," Sakura murmured softly, looking up at him through her long cheery locks shyly, "You're making her smile more..." Well that was a boost to his confidence
"Imoto!" Ayame shouted when she turned a corner and caught sight of Sakura and Manami,
"Nee-chan!" Sakura's eyes lit up and a smile bloomed on her face, she ran out from behind Manami and passed Kotetsu, barreling into Ayame's legs with loud echoing giggles.
"Sa-chan I want you to meet some friends," Ayame giggled, lifting Sakura into her arms and turning just enough to view the group that now surrounded them. "This is Ibiki Marino, he's helping with~" Ayame trailed off expectantly
"Accuracy?" Sakura guessed with a shy smile
"Right," Ayame smiled, "and this one is Anko Mitarashi,"
"She's helping with healing right?"
"Close" Ayame chuckled, "Mitarashi-san helps with my Taijutsu"
"Oh~" Sakura stared at the older girl curiously, noting her clothing style that her father hated to see on girls, "Nee-chan..."
"Ignore it," Ayame sighed, "This is Ninaiwa Nara, and she's helping me with..."
"Healing?" Sakura guessed
"Good girl" Ayame giggled, tickling Sakura's sides, "And you know Manami Hanazawa," the once renowned trouble maker grinned wolfishly at Sakura, which earned an excited giggle and wave, "and you just met Kotetsu-kun, he's helping me with reading and research"
"He's a friend," Sakura said as if she was saying the sky was blue and grass was green, it was simple fact.
"Good girl," Ayame praised with a smile, butting her head against Sakura's
The next day Ayame arrived with Kotetsu at her side, Manami having returned to her home and taking Sakura out of the house for a secret trip to the library. The group became quite used to the two pinkette's meeting with them secretly at the library, eager to learn together the ways of the shinobi. Ayame excelled in her chosen art of medicine and Sakura retained any and all information thrown at her like a sprung that never leaked. Anko thought it was both funny and a little irritating, having called Kotetsu a name one week then having Sakura question Ibiki about it the following week; Anko almost always had a new bruise after words.
After two and a half months, Ayame passed the mini examine they held for her in front of the Hokage and a few other Jonins. Hiruzen handed Ayame the headband with the look of a proud grandfather—Ayame then hugged him and cried profusely all over his white coat. Once that was done and over with, Hiruzen told Ayame that by shinobi rules and regulations she had every right to move out of her house with her father and take custody of Sakura and the best part was that her father couldn't stop her.
Kotetsu walked the Haruno sisters to their home that night, Sakura giggling on Kotetsu's shoulders until they got to the right street. Kotetsu then put Sakura into his arms and disappeared from sight, letting Ayame walk the rest of the way. When Ayame reached the gate to her home, she saw a strange man speaking softly with Shizuki on the porch. Shizuki smiled plainly at the man and shooed him away, placing a leather pouch in his hands as he did so.
Who is that? Ayame thought as she passed the strange man on the walkway, closing the gate after him and walking into her house with a bowed head. She removed her shoes and found Sakura standing at the base of the stairs with a strange look on her face, turning Ayame gasped as she felt something impact her face and sent her tumbling to the floor before her sister.
"Shinobi training?!" Shizuki hissed as he slammed the door closed behind him, glaring venomously at the sisters
"Sakura-bed—now!" Ayame ordered pushing herself up from the floor and standing protectively in front of the stairs and her sister, Sakura turned and ran right up the stairs without questioning her or even looking back.
"I had been wondering why you were so chipper lately," Shizuki said, grabbing Ayame's neck with one hand and slamming her against the wall hard enough to rattle several pictures off, "So I hired that man to follow you, he's quite famous for doing what's asked without asking questions."
Oh no, Ayame felt her eyes widen, her nails digging into her father's arms as he lifted her higher and squeezed her throat tighter.
"You broke your promise," Shizuki hissed throwing Ayame to the floor and stomping on her repeatedly, "Time for me to keep my promise."
No, Ayame gasped as she pushed herself up, staring blurrily at her father's retreating back as he went up the stairs "Don't" Ayame ordered weakly, lifting teary eyes up to her father, "Please father don't! She's Mama's last light! She's all we have left of her! Please don't take her away! Don't hurt her!"
"Last light?" Shizuki repeated softly, stilling on the stairs, eyes locked onto the broken picture at his feet, "Maihime's last light... her last... remaining essence..." Ayame paled as Shizuki turned too wide, too dark eyes on to her, "You... you are the same as her..." Ayame backed away from her father as he advanced on her, "You're the same as Maihime... the same... You are the same."
Ayame's screams went unheard
…
…
I have to hurry, Sakura thought as she snuck down the stairs, pausing at the entrance to her living room, she only moved again when she heard her sister whimper painfully. I have to hurry, Sakura reminded herself as she pulled up her little yellow coat from the floor, ignoring the strange crimson liquid running down the back of it, and hurried out the door, closing it quietly. She ran away from her house and down the street, not stopping to answer the curious questions of the few people who saw her.
"Okay you see this here, that's the library," Kotetsu murmured, pointing to the space on the map, "Now I want you to run passed it to here, at the end of the street..."
And take a left, Sakura thought, remembering the way as was explained to her, then the first right
"I want you to run into the building and strait up to the first person you see," Kotetsu said, "Don't be afraid if they're wearing a mask, they're friends and will help you immanently."
Sakura ran to the building, ignoring the group of adults who turned around and quickly followed after her with startled shouts, she forced open the doors the way she was taught, using chakra to give herself some more strength, and hurried inside.
Don't be afraid of the masks, Sakura thought as she found a nearby man with a mask, They're friends and will help you immanently
"You're not supposed—" the man started as she ran straight at him
"Please help her!" Sakura cried out, cutting off the tall boy as she ran into his legs and taking hold of his hands with teary eyes. "Daddy's hurting her more then usual and he's making weird noises and-and—"
"Whoa, whoa little one," the boy murmured, crouching to put his hands on her shoulders to calm her down. "Start from the beginning, What's going on?"
"He said... Kotetsu-nii, he said," think! Think! What did he say?! "Kotetsu-nii said to call for Sota!" Sakura shouted suddenly, finally remembering what the older boy told her, "Kotetsu-nii said to come to T&I and call for Sota!"
How the hell dose she know that anagram? The boy thought with a narrowed eye
"Sakura?!" Said girl and the Anbu in front of her turned to see Anko, Ibiki and Kotetsu walking towards them, "What the hell happened?!" when Anko saw the red trail behind Sakura and the crimson liquid dripping from her yellow rain coat, Anko dashed forward as fast as lighting with the two males close behind her.
"An-nee!" Sakura shouted parting from the Anbu to hurry into the tall brunet's arms, "An-nee he's hurting her! It's different this time! It's worse! He's making weird noises and she's crying and she's not moving and—" Anko wrapped her arms around Sakura, gritting her teeth tightly as Ibiki and Kotetsu ran ahead, as soon as she said it was different, those two tore out of the building with the gray haired Anbu right behind them.
"An-nee I'm scared," Sakura sobbed, rubbing at her face as Anko collapsed to her knees, pulling the pinkette into her lap, ignoring the blood that smeared against her arms and body in the processes "Nee-chan was crying and daddy he... he was... is-is Nee-chan g-going to b-be okay?"
"I-I" Anko stuttered, burying her face into the tiny blood soaked child in her arms, "I can't lie to you." Anko ignored the surprised silence of the night workers in the T&I building; undoubtedly, there would be rumors flying around in the morning, "I can't lie to you... but I can protect you."
Silence reined in the building, Anko swore loyalty only to the Hokage, everyone else was either trash or had a shaky kind of respect from her—Anko didn't swear to protect anyone, what made this blood stained little girl so different from the rest of the world?
…
…
"Hold on Ayame," Kotetsu said as he ran full tilt out of the house and across the roofs of his village, "Just a little longer... Please..."
"K-Kote-tsu" Ayame whispered, curling into his hold and closing her eyes
"No Ayame you have to stay awake," Kotetsu pushed himself even faster, using as much chakra as he could to get to the hospital, he was almost there, "Stay awake Ayame..." Kotetsu gritted his teeth and fought back the tears threatening his vision
"I f-forgot t-to te-tell y-you..." Ayame coughed, a smile tugging at her swollen lips
"Save it for tomorrow," Kotetsu ordered, he leaped high into the air, another bound and he'd be there...
"I-I l..."
"Stay awake," Kotetsu ordered, tears threatening his eyes
"L-Love y-you..."
"Ayame?" he landed at the steps of the hospital, rushing forward and barreling through the doors carelessly, "Someone help! She's not breathing!"
…
…
"What's going on?!" Manami asked loudly, rushing down the hall in nothing more then a long white night gown and a silk robe, a familiar looking gray haired Anbu close behind her "What happened to—"
"Mana-chan!" Sakura called out with tear eyes, waving at the black haired beauty marching towards them "Daddy was acting weird!"
"Idiots!" Manami snapped out, tears springing to her eyes as she ran forward with renewed panic, "She'll remember!" Manami shouted, wrapping her arms around Sakura and jerking her out of Anko's hold, without a second thought she pressed a pressure point on Sakura's neck, knocking her out.
"Didn't you idiots notice it?!" Manami asked cradling Sakura close as she glared at the group who's been teaching Ayame "Sakura has the same memory as Ayame! She has a photographic memory!"
"S*!t!" Ibiki cursed slamming a hand against the wall, "She walked right passed them... she saw everything." Manami collapsed to her knees, guessing what had happened to Ayame, tears freely flowing from her eyes as she cradled Sakura close, she knew what happened to children who saw that king of thing; some ended up like her—others ended up so much worse.
"Have you heard anything about Ayame-Hime?" Manami asked, trying to pull herself together, rubbing at her eyes and whipping her nose on her sleeve carelessly
"She's in surgery," Kotetsu answered from his seat, "he beat her pretty bad..." Manami flinched and rocked back and forth, burying her face into Sakura's shoulder.
…
…
He couldn't help but stare incredulously at the page presented to him by his amused teammate
Shizuki Haruno: civilian but believed to have some shinobi training
Likes: beating his children, Ayame (16) and Sakura (6)
Dislikes: Shinobi
Coast: 500,000 ryo
Crime: the rape and murder of his eldest daughter: Ayame Haruno suspected for the murder of his wife: Maihime Haruno (25) and abuse of his youngest daughter: Sakura
From: the hidden leaf
Status: preferably alive, Konoha wants to kill him themselves
"...his kid must have had connections," he murmured staring at the image of the black haired man who was smiling brightly at the camera, at the corner of the image was a lock of what looked like dull pink hair, which meant that the image had been blown up for the entrance. "For them to state that they want to kill him themselves..."
"He screwed up big time," his partner chuckled, "Still I kinda don't blame them, my niece is that age..."
"No mercy?"
"Heh, not a snow ball's chance in hell"
This man was about to regret being born
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"Well, did you get everything?" Hiruzen asked, not turning in his seat to address the group behind him,
"I did lord Hokage," Inoichi Yamanaka said, shifting slightly uncomfortably, "It was pretty bad in that house... I couldn't erase everything..."
"What did you do?" Hiruzen asked, breathing out a long breath of smoke, closing his eyes in regret and sorrow
"I sealed them," Inoichi sighed, "So long as she doesn't see a hypnotist or one of my kinsmen don't try to possess her, we don't have to worry about her remembering him."
"Ah..." Hiruzen sighed slumping in his chair in relief "And Ayame's funeral?"
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"Oto-san, Okaa-chan! I'm home!" Sakura giggled as she ran into her new home, eyes dancing as she headed into the kitchen
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"The funeral went well," Ibiki smirked, "no one is the wiser..."
"And how is Kotetsu doing?"
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"Welcome home," Sakura giggled as she ran into the young man's out stretched arms, giggling when his black spiky hair brushed against her face.
"Are you hungry?" Sakura turned to smile up at the older woman standing at the counter with a towel in hand
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"He's married to the woman he loves," Anko giggled, between the two men "he's doing great!"
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"Hi mommy!" Sakura giggled as the green-eyed woman smiled at her, patting her head affectionately, "I'm really hungry!"
"What's wrong with this picture?"
"Mana-chan!" Sakura giggled, waving cheerfully at the tall and elegant black haired girl peaking around the corner with a smile
"Oh right! My hug!" Manami chuckled as Sakura scurried down from her 'father's' arms and hurried over to her, giggling loudly
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"Let's not forget that they adopted 'ghost'" Inoichi chuckled, "They're a real family over there."
Hiruzen couldn't help but agree, yes it had been tricky and they did nearly lose her, but Ayame pulled through the surgery. When she woke Kotetsu asked for her to marry him, she said yes and they were married just a few months later.
Inoichi made sure that Sakura couldn't remember her real father and understood that her sister had to change her name for safety, so she couldn't call her 'Nee-chan' anymore. Sakura's files were doctored, saying that she had witnessed her father rape and murder her sister before escaping her house mostly intact. Manami 'Hagane' then adopted Sakura in honor of Ayame and had the pinkette move in with her and her 'brother' Kotetsu; who later married a woman named 'Ayako'. Ibiki had fun falsifying Manami's files, saying that she was Kotetsu's half sister, and had even more fun teaching her the ways of T&I much to Kotetsu's irritation. Sakura was admitted into the academy and Manami received similar special training that Ayame had gotten. Both Ayame and Manami were given Kotetsu's surname, becoming 'Hagane' in a single instant; Ayame as Kotetsu's wife (now named Ayako) and Manami as his sister.
Sakura remained as the only Haruno in Konohagakure
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I wasn't actually sure if I should continue or not... but I added this anyways
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Six years and five months later
First chunin examine for team seven
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"Alright!" Ino shouted excitedly, eyes locked onto the gray haired crouching in front of them "Let's see Sakura Haruno's stats!"
"Oi! What the hell?!" Sakura asked rounding onto the blonde in irritation, not even seeing that the glasses wearing boy, Kabuto, was doing as he was asked "Why me? Don't you have a 'Sasuke Uchiha' obsession?"
"Yeah but you've always been a-a little... oh what do they call it?" Ino asked, pretending to think for a moment before smirking as an idea came to her "Freak of nature, nothing scares you."
"Ino-pig!" Sakura snapped out, taking a swing at the blonde, ignoring the restraints that were her teammates
"Killing others is bad!" Naruto wailed loudly, tears forming in his eyes as Sakura continued to strain his hold
"She's not worth an expulsion," Sasuke grunted, Sakura stilled at the word 'expulsion' her eyes widening "Do you want to get expelled? If you touch her that'll be what happens!"
"Well this is unexpected," Kabuto interrupted before Sakura could respond to her teammates, instantly the rooky generation was paying attention to the gray haired boy crouching beside them. "It says here... that Sakura-san watched her father—" Kabuto flinched as suddenly the card in his hands was cut in half, destroying the card and making the information disappear.
"That's none of your damn concern," Sakura growled out lowly, aura dark as she glared down at Kabuto warningly, "I suggest you pick someone else to read—now "
"Y-yes ma'am" Kabuto paled and raised his hands peacefully at Sakura, one look at her pale teammates—who were still struggling to move her away from them—and Kabuto already knew that he didn't want to get into a fight with the pinkette. Later Kabuto would have Shikamaru, Sasuke and Kiba approach him for another try at Sakura's card, their other teammates distracting Sakura easily enough.
After reading her card, they understood just why Sakura smiled at even the darkest of looks and laughed at threats to her life
She had survived hell for the first six years of her life and still managed to smile as brightly as sunlight
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That's all folks! XD
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