A Startled Hello

Kirei walked along the road daydreaming near the cherry blossoms.

'Wow,' she thought, 'their scent is even more beautiful than before!'

She suddenly heard a noise behind you. She stopped and quickly turned around, but there was no one around. They vanished in thin air. She walked forward where the locals walked here and there in the markets and in the parks having their own conversations, which they have whispered so no one, but them could hear. Their laughter filled the air. She had decided later to find a spot to sit under the cherry blossoms. Then, she heard a rustle in the trees above, so she stopped again, looked up wondering that if she would catch them this time, no luck, they were not there.

Tired of this wild goose chase, Kirei took out her shuriken by her side, preparing to kill the next person who came up to you in surprise. Kirei stood there a little longer waiting for movement above, nothing moved, though, they were watching her, she knew that. Annoyed, she moved on. Kirei heard strained squealing and laughter behind her and felt the wind rush past her, two little girls were playing, chasing each other. 'That looks like fun,' she thought and she watched them for a while with a faint smile.

When she was a child, no one in her family really understood her; she was always cheerful, always playing. Her parents forced you to work or train at any chance they got. Kirei hated them, she hated her early childhood because they ruined her chances at being a great friend and fighter, and they wanted her to become a fearless fighter instead.

Now that Kirei was thinking about it, from all the harsh things that had occurred, she could not help it anymore she broke into tears instantly. She then ran and fell onto the grass under the cherry blossom trees. Up in the trees, there, someone watched her quietly. Their lavender eyes peered at her from a distance and their long black hair moved with the wind, when he saw her settled down a bit, he came down with a light thump. She turned around swiftly with the shuriken still in tight in her hands, and then he grabbed her wrist gently before she threw them at him. Watching him with her tear-stained eyes for a long time, he knelt down beside her.

"Kirei, it's all right, it's only me," Neji said, "why are you crying?"

He let go of her wrist and she dropped the weapons by his side.

"Nothing, it's nothing," she said.

"Oh, did I startle you, Kirei?" he asked, looking at her for a long time. She nodded.

"Were you the one following me?"

He blushes, "yes, that was me. I wanted to talk to you about something, but I think you have something more important if you're crying like this."

He took his hand gently on your cheek and cleaned off the tears that strolled down her beautiful deep caramel eyes. Unmei Kirei sat up and smelled the cherry blossoms deeply.

"No, it's a bit childish," she said, "I don't' want you to think I am childish, Neji, even if you are one of my closest friends. I don't want you to worry."

"It's your decision; you are not forced to tell me. I will understand," he said with a whisper, "now come, Lady Tsunade wanted me to bring you to her so she can inform you of a mission you are to be given and willing to take. Best of all, you will have company."

"What mission?"

He pulled her up, "just come with me," he said.