Authors notes:
so this will be the first installment to the story where I hope I don't dissapoint.
Speech
Speech(flashback)
I do not own Bleach or Naruto
Rain, A world with rain is all we had to live with in Amegakure, well knowing this, Atleast it helped wash away the blood and tears that scattered its lands. but never the filth.
~Akatsuki log number 45~
Papercut
As the second shinobi war waged on. It was of no suprise, that it was Amegakure, That the war had taken place in. For it's strategic position, in the middle of the 5 great nations, it's importance in the war was high. Kunai and shurikens clashed,as jutsu of all nature's, were bombarded across its landscapes. The screams and cries could be heard from all across the battlefield. Bodies littered the landscape in droves, Keeping more than most up through the nights ahead. The land weeps constantly, as the rain continues to fall continuously. This land is scarred and broken, just as much as it's people. The ground for which they tread, was just as black as it's skies. The lack of sunlight had killed it's vegetation, leaving nothing but flooded and hazardous terrain unfit to survive in.
A young boy, roughly the age of eleven. Ran through a barren battlefield. Bodies scattered across it's landscape. Noting their decomposing flesh and stench; he was not far behind from the main battle, or so it seemed. Taking careful steps as if not to disturb the deceased, the boy tredged on, taking into consideration to hold his breath, and not look down.
The boy had shoulder length orange hair, with red highlights spread through, along with a pair of piercing amber eyes, looking too determined and weary for a child his age. His attire consisted of casual civilian clothing, a black jacket with matching black shorts which also came with a pair of dark red boots.
"have to hurry dammit!. I knew i shouldn't have gone out so far." The boy thought. Silently berating himself for his foolishness and his careless disregard for not listening, but what choice did he have?. Stealing and mugging were the only ways to survive in Amegakure, be glad he was the former, and not the latter.
"Good god!, This sack is heavy as hell!. Mom,Dad,Nagato, Please be ok." he said in a tired, saddened tone, As his face was set into a pained expression; his worry was well placed, many good friends of their's families were killed because of this war, even the children.
Setting his face into a determined scowl. He continued on, looking up at the darkening skies. Seeing flashes of red and white; he silently cursed with words his mother would likely blame his father for. Shaking away such thoughts, as this wasn't the time or place to dwell on such things, but even still, his worry was still there. seeing that the battle was too close to press on, but far enough he wont get detected. He knew he'd have to find a place to hide to wait out their battle, but that was the hard part, The waiting.
"I hate this stupid war." he muttered bitterly, glaring foward. As if trying to make sense of the idiots that in fought this god forsaken war.
"What gives them the right!.To use our home!. Hurt our people!. Steal our food!. kill ou-." pausing midway of his rant. He spotted the mouth of a cave, slightly unerving, but it was spacious, had shelter provided for him, and the best part, it looked dry.
His face made a deadpanned stare."coincidence much." he thought. looking up at the sky, wondering if there was some great deity watching over him; before his eyes drooped to a look of boredem. "yeah, like the flying pigs and the tooth fairy." he muttered quietly to himself, not believing for a second, gods were that nice.
Walking in slowly, looking around, keeping a suspicious aura around him. Too many times has he been careless, and he'd like to show that he does indeed have some skill in the careful and safe department. seconds turned into minutes, and the only sound he could hear was the heavy patter of the rain, and the shallow breaths he took to calm his nerves. taking one more quick scan through of the cave, deeming it was safe to rest in for the night. he dropped the sack of food he had borrowed, which contents branched from salted dried meats, bread, cheese, and fruits.
Sifting through the bag, making sure the goods weren't spoilt, and assessing his catch; he was actually quite proud of himself, in the matter he'd got enough to last a couple of days, maybe even a week.
Sitting himself against a wall, making sure he wouldn't be spotted from the caves entrance, but close enough if things turn sour. Deciding to relax; He shook his head slightly to get any rain water his hair might have caught during his journey, before moving his bangs out of the way of his eyes. Thoroughly assessing himself for the matter, wet clothes sticking slightly to his skin, drenched hair dripping small droplets at a time, and also being slightly cold; As he shivered every now and again, but to him; He was too tired from the running and surviving to even care at this point.
"Well, good work Ichigo uzumaki." he said in a sarcastic tone, lacking any form of praise to himself. Most kids his age were usually orphans in this land; Ichigo was grateful for having parents and a brother to go home to. but his sympathies only went to the kids who didn't have what he had; His heart clenched painfully, as his small hand grabbed at his chest, seemingly trying to ease the pain he was feeling; He learnt quickly on how this world he lived in worked, hence his attitude towards most things. Call him thickheaded and childish or even reckless, but he didnt't care, aslong as his family was safe.
His amber eyes once again looked outside to the rain that never ceased, having a new found purpose in his eyes. "Maybe one day. I can stop the rain, and cure this pain our home seem's to go through."he thought with a small smile, as his eyes slowly fluttered shut.
3hours later
Ichigo's face scrunched up in discomfort, as his weary eyes slowly opened to the sound of soft whimpering, his gaze becoming more concentrated; he silently stood, careful not to make a sound as he carefully reached into his bag, for a black sword he had found on one of his many food runs.
It was coincidentally, stabbed straight through a rock when he was chased out of one of the towns by some rain shinobi; he wouldnt have even noticed it if he didnt trip up over it. The hateful thing had nearly cost him the entire loaf of bread. The story behind it, wasnt really that amazing.
~Flashback~
"Get back here you little runt!!.". "We just wanna talk to yah!!.". "Come here, and we might even consider letting you live!!." they shouted. As they continued to search high and low for the little thief in their midst. One of the jounin, with a slightly intimidating stare and a cold attitude. turned around to his men, glaring coldly all the while.
"Search high and low for this little thief; I dont care how long it takes, or who's house you have to search. FIND HIM!!." As his tone steadily grew higher from the orders given out. there were a flurry of " yes sirs!!.", and nods before they all ran to search with more vigour, frightned of what happens if they fail...again.
Ichigo slowly poked his head from under one of the food stall's the guards trashed when looking for him. Looking around slowly, seeing all the damage done to people's property and work with a disbelieving look on his face.
"Are they seriously searching for me?. Over a loaf of bread?." he asked himself. Unsure if this was a joke, or the bread was more important than he was lead to believe. Glancing down at the apparent important bread loaf; He put it to his nose, and lightly sniffed. Then took a small crumb to taste it. Before coming to the conclusion, it was just a plain old loaf of bread??.
"I cant believe these are the people who fight for us." he said disappointedly. That these were the people who tried and failed to protect everyone here. As bitter as it is to say, no wonder they were always the battleground. The place was full of pushovers.
Shaking his head slightly, deciding he should make his way out of this place, least he catch whatever these people have. Silently making his way through the roads, and passing some guard posts on the way. It was actually really ridiculous that a eleven year old of all people, is sneaking past all these shinobi; he's not arrogant enough to think he's sneaky; he's been caught once or twice before. But the rain shinobi here, are seriously just so useless.
looking back at the small little village; He couldn't help but feel bad for them, that there isn't anyone good enough to protect them. Shaking his head slightly; He had other pressing matters to attend to. seeing that the back entrance to the village had no guards; Ichigo decided to take his chances and bolt through to the exit; he would have made it without trouble, if it wasn't for that-
~Flashback end~
"stupid sword." he muttered quietly to himself, as he sent a subtle glare its way. It was an ordinary black katana, with a black chain attached to the end of the hilt, with a silver crescent moon attached to the chain. Don't get him wrong, the sword was cool, it just had a tendency to trip him up occasionally. Always stood upright, in a pole like position everytime he woke up.
Focusing back on the task at hand; He could still hear the faint whimperings coming from the edge of the cave. Deciding to take it slowly, not overly trusting the fact that this could be a trap. but his instincts seemed to be telling him something else.
"Wait is that a-."he stood perfectly still. As he finally caught sight of the cause of the whimpering. It was, a girl. And he mentally berated himself for not trusting in his instincts.
She looked to be about a couple of centimetres smaller than himself, she also looked close to around his age, nine or ten maybe. short straight blue hair. clothing not fit for this type of weather, as it consited of a grey karate top, with a matching grey skirt.
Ichigo looked at her with a sad smile. Understanding she must be one of the many orphans he frequently thought about on his small journeys. Lightly putting his blade on the ground, so as not to frighten her. Before slowly getting close enough so he can talk.
" hey. are you okay?." he asked warmly. deciding this approach was much better than any alternatives his small mind could make up.
The blue haired girl looked up in fright, afraid those cruel people had come after her aswell. Her tear soaked eyes looking up quickly, before she bent her head down and wrapped her arms around her body. With the glimpse she took, it wasn't long enough to see her apparent 'cruel man'.But he looked small. And had orange hair?
Ichigo was kinda expecting this; He wasn't like his brother Nagato, who had a knack for making friends or being kind, due to the fact ichigo scowled alot of the time. deciding to put on a warm smile he usually reserved for his family, he continued.
"You don't have to worry. I wont hurt you." he said in a brotherly tone. As he kneeled slightly in front of her, making sure not to get too close, least she get uncomfortable.
she looked up slightly. Rubbing the remnant tears out of her eyes, and having the occasional sniffle, to see a boy her age, smiling down at her; She still felt slightly distrustworthy at first, but it all went away when she saw his hair.
And so. she laughed.
Ichigo looked slightly put off by her laughter; His father had told him one time about emotionally unstable people, and their random bouts of emotions. just never how to deal with it.
"um are you...ok?."he found himself questioning her again, this time with an unsure look on his face. To be quite honest; He was kinda freaking out now.
The girl simply lifted her finger up to his hair. clutching her stomach to try and stifle the incoming giggles she seemed to possess.
looking up to where she was pointing. All traces of warmness fled from him, as he felt rightly insulted, I mean come on, her hairs blue.
"You find my hair funny do you?." he asked with barely contained annoyance, and directed a small glare her way. Not at all amused by the fact it's about his hair.
looking down in shame, she muttered a small apology due to how rude she was, and hoped he wasn't that mad about it. Nervous amber eyes glanced up for a bit, to see his amber eyes trying to seer a hole through her. "hes kinda scary when he glares like that...but his hair..stop it!!." she thought. Trying hard to control herself.
Sighing slightly, before rubbing the back of his neck. A nervous reaction his mother usually caught on to when he was either hiding something, or didn't know what to do.
"Im konan." she said quietly, hoping to ease the uncomfortable atmosphere and get to know this boy a little bit better, and maybe even get onhis good side. since she hasn't been able to see a friendly face or a boy her age for that matter. In a long time.
Ichigo looked shocked for a few seconds, before a smile spread across his face as he offered her his hand. "well konan, names Ichigo, Ichigo uzumaki." as strange as it was, you couldn't stay mad at her for long, she just seemed to...innocent.
Konan looked at his hand hesitantly. But for some odd reason, his eyes had this odd way of immediately making you feel like your safe, and you can trust him. All of her hesitance left her, as she reached up and grasped his hand, finding it to be rather comforting and warm.
Ichigo was kinda glad that it ended this way, but he still wanted to question why she was crying, but instead decided to wait. Nagato once told him not too rush and prod, as you would come off insesitive and controlling; he'd promise himself and her he'd wait for her to talk about it, even if it is a self proclaimed promise.
"umm. can I ask you a question ichigo?." she seemed more confident now it seemed. Given she's currently trying to balance herself on her tippy toes, looking shyly away with her hands behind her back.
"sure." he said offhandedly not at all bothered by it. "at least she's talking." He thought with some sense of achievement, that she seems more comfortable around him. Maybe this will be the start of something great.
"Is strawberry named after your hair??."
Oh look she's laughing again.
Great.
Authors notes:
was It good was it bad I dont know but yeah that's the first chapter I Guess chapter 2 is currently in the works but i hope to have it out soon if any of you liked this your reviews and criticism are most welcomed thankyou for reading this.