Chapter 1

Yori walked cheerfully along the unmarked path through the forest. She had walked this path thousands of times since she was a small child, but it always somehow made her feel at peace with herself.

"Yori! Don't get ahead of Shouta and I!" Her father, Yamasuki-san, called out to her in a deep, strong, yet kind voice.

"Hai, Otou-san!" Yori yelled back to her father and younger brother, smiling like always. However she wasn't one for listening to her fathers warning. She knew this forest better than the town she had grown up in, so she never waited for her father when they made their trips through it.

As she made her way further up this familiar path she realized that something seemed a bit off. The trees in the area were knocked down, completely broken in half. The ones left standing were burnt and cut up. Nothing seemed as peaceful as it should have. It was quite obvious a battle had gone on here, and a brutal one at that.

Horrified, Yori stood taking it all in. What had happened, she wondered. Why would a fight this intense happen in such a place?

After a deep breath to calm her nerves, she continued forward, cautiously as to not accidentally run into anyone who happened to still be there.

As she approached a large fallen tree, she heard something strange coming from behind it. It was the sound of death, the gargle you hear as you cut through someone with a sword. A sound that she had hoped she would never hear.

Dropping all hesitation, she ran to see where the noise was coming from. There, lying on the ground drenched in blood, was a young man, probably no older than 20. His only distinguishing features were his shoulder length black hair, and the tattered black robe he wore.

Yori's green eyes went wide as she knelt down beside him to see if he was still alive. He lay on his stomach, not moving, not breathing, and not making a sound. She quickly rolled him onto his back and put her ear to his chest. There she heard a relieving sound. Thump, thump. A feint heart beat rang through her ears.

"Otou-san! Hurry!" She yelled out, knowing her father couldn't be too far behind.

Yamasuki-san ran as fast as he could to her side, his son trailing behind with the medicine they were traveling to sell.

"What's wrong Yori?" Yamasuki-san called out, panting.

"He's still alive!" Yori yelled back, lifting the young mans head off the ground.

Yamasuki-san didn't hesitate. He was a doctor after all, and their priority was to heal the sick and wounded.

"Shouta!" Yamasuki yelled back to his son. "Bring me my things!"

The young boy did exactly what his father said. "Father, we don't even know this man. What if--"

Before the 13 year old boy could finish speaking, his father snatched the bag of medicinal tools out of his hand and began to rifle through it, searching for exactly what he needed.

Without even thinking, Yamasuki-san ripped the young mans cloak and shirt off, to reveal a huge bloody wound to the chest. How anyone could have possibly survived it was beyond him. But it was not his to question why a person survived, just to make sure that they did.

Yori and Shouta both watched in awe, as their father worked frantically with the limited tools he had to stop the bleeding, and to get the young man to breathe again. They had both seen their father work many times before, but it was always amazing at how calm and collected he remained throughout everything he did.

After a long, challenging ordeal, Yamasuki-san took a long deep breath followed by a swig of sake straight from the bottle. Yori smiled knowing that this meant the man would be ok.

"It looks like we will have to postpone our trip. This man needs rest. We have to get him back home." Yori's father explained as he stood up. "Shouta..."

Shouta nodded, he didn't need anymore explanation. He quickly bent down and picked up the young man, carrying him on his back. Although Shouta was still technically just a kid, he was strong and already taller than his 19 year old sister. His father had been training him in kenjutsu since he was a child, and it had paid off substantially.

"Otou-san, can we really afford to not take our trip?" Shouta asked, as the small group made their way back to their small town in the country of wind.

"We'll make do, Shouta."

Shouta didn't argue with his father's decision. The rest of the walk home, he kept quiet, simply holding the stranger they had saved and wishing things had gone a little differently.

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

His vision was hazy as the young man opened his eyes. He blinked a few times and they cleared, but not completely. Of course, they would never clear completely.

He attempted to sit up but the moment his head left the pillow the world began to spin. He grunted and quickly lay back down.

Turning his head from side to side, he examined what he could with minimal movement. The room was small and bright from the many windows that surrounded it and the pristine white walls. This was obviously the home of a middle class family, not rich, not poor, just living a simple life and getting by.

Once again he attempted to sit up, this time much slower so his head didn't begin to spin again. As soon as he reached a sitting position he felt a sharp pain shoot through his chest. Instinctively he let out a cry and clutched where the pain was coming from.

As soon as it subsided he began to realize what was going on. Some how, he had been injured and someone had brought him here to be treated. He couldn't remember anything. His mind was almost a complete blank. The only thing he could remember was his name, Uchiha Itachi.

The sliding door to the room slid open, and a young, petite girl stood there, holding a tray of bandages, ointments, and water.

Her emerald eyes stared at him for a moment, taking in exactly what she was seeing. After a moment, a pleasant smile warmed her face. "You're awake!" She said pleased.

Itachi didn't say anything. He didn't know what to say. Did he know her? Were they related somehow? Is she the one who was taking care of him? All kinds of questions ran through his head. He hoped that maybe she could answer them.

The girl entered the tiny room and knelt down beside him, placing the tray next to the futon he had been laying on. "How are you feeling?"

Itachi stared at her with confused, onyx eyes. "I…I'm sore. But ok."

"That's good. I came to change the dressing on your wounds. If you don't mind that is. I guess I couldn't really ask the other times I had done it since you were unconscious. But now I think it's only polite if I do."

Itachi simply stared at the rambling girl. She was obviously nervous around him, which made him believe that they were not related and probably didn't know each other that well. "Are you a doctor?"

The young girl looked up at him and giggled. "No no, I'm just helping my father. He's the doctor. But I'd like to be a doctor one day."

Itachi nodded and bent over to move the blankets away from him. But again, the sharp pain shot through him and he cried out in agony.

The girl immediately caught him from doubling over, putting a gentle hand on his chest. "You shouldn't move too much. You've been seriously injured, you're lucky to be alive."

Itachi regained his composure and gingerly straightened up. "What…what's your name?" He asked hestitanly.

The girl began to unwrap Itachi's old bandages as she answered him. "Yamasuki Yori. What's yours?"

"Uchiha…Itachi." He answered uncertainly. The name at this point meant nothing to him. Telling it to her was merely a formality.

"Itachi-san huh? Well, it's nice to meet you." Yori said, still smiling like always.

"Where…where am I?" Itachi asked confused.

Yori pulled back her long black hair, washed her hands in the water she had brought with her, and dipped her fingers into a bowl of green ointment. "You're in a town in the country of wind." She explained while she rubbed the strange substance on the gaping wound on his chest.

The ointment stung as it touched the open wound, making Itachi cringe. He looked down to see what she was doing, only to be shocked at the huge healing wound on his chest.

"I'm sorry if it stings. But this way you know it's working, right?" Yori said cheerfully.

"What happened?"

With those words Yori's smile washed away from her face. "You mean, you don't remember?"

Itachi simply shook his head. His memory was completely failing him. He had no idea what had happened to him.

"Well, I don't really know myself." Yori began to explain while wrapping fresh bandages around his chest. "All I know is my family and I were walking through the forest, headed over to the next town to sell medicine, when we found you laying on the ground very near death."

"I see." Itachi replied disappointedly. Somehow he knew what had happened was something he was never meant to live through. And now he couldn't even remember what it was.

"Itachi-san." Yori's smile returned to her face as she sat back, kneeling next to his bed.

Itachi looked at her with sad eyes. She was so willing to help him and she didn't even know who he was. Although he could remember nothing about his past, he knew he didn't deserve this kindness.

"Don't look so sad. I'm sure you'll remember everything eventually." She wrapped her hands around his and gave him a very warm smile.

For some reason Itachi honestly believed her at that moment. "You're right."

Yori rose to her feet, grabbing the tray she had brought in with her. "You must be hungry. I'll go get you something to eat."

Itachi hadn't thought about it before, but his stomach was growling. He felt like he hadn't eaten in days. Of courses, he may not have. He hadn't asked how long he had been unconscious.

"Wait." Itachi cried out, stopping Yori before she left.

"What is it?"

Itachi began to slowly attempt to stand up. He didn't want to be waited on hand and foot. He hated the fact this girl, who didn't even know his name before now, was treating him like he was royalty. "I'll come with you."

Yori quickly sat her tray back down and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "No! You have to rest. You're too weak to get up and walk now."

"I'll…be fine." He grunted out as he finally made it to his feet.

"You men are all alike!" Yori said jokingly. "You're not well. You need to just lie down."

Itachi glared up at her. Not so much with hatred or anger, but with annoyance from her persistence. "I told you I'll be fine."

"Fine. If you insist on getting up then at least let me get you a crutch." Yori slowly let go of the young injured man and made sure he could stand on his own. She ran out of the room, but promptly returned with a make shift crutch made out of wood and cloth.

Itachi slid the crutch under his right arm and propped himself up. It was actually helpful, but he wasn't going to admit that.

The two of them slowly walked out of the room, Itachi more hobbling than walking, and made their way down a long outdoor walkway, to another room, where the smell of steamed vegetables and rice was pouring out.

Yori slid open the door to reveal an already prepared meal waiting on a small table on the floor, and two men sitting, gorging themselves on rice.

"Otou-san! You were supposed to wait for me!" Yori hollered at the two men.

"You were taking too long!" The younger of the two men, really just a boy, with short brown hair yelled back, his speech muffled by a mouth full of rice.

"Well excuse me! I'm sorry I have to do everything around here!" Yori yelled.

Itachi hobbled up behind her, and peered down at the three people arguing with each other.

"Oh! I see our patient is awake!" Yamasuki-san said gleefully.

"Yes, and he insisted that he be able to come do things on his own." Yori placed her hands on her hips and shook her head in disapproval.

"Have a seat you two!" The older man instructed.

The two youths took a seat on the floor, Itachi gingerly lowering himself down next to the table.

"You gave us quite a scare!" Yamasuki explained.

"I'm very sorry to have caused you any trouble." Itachi answered, bowing his head.

"Nonsense, I'm a doctor! Curing people is what I do!"

Yori continued her smile, as if it were impossible for her not to. She scooped up a bowl of rice and a pair of chopsticks and placed them in front of Itachi. "We also have a very good vegetable soup if you'd like some."

"This is fine, thank you." Itachi did not want to impose on these people.

"Don't be ridiculous! Have some! That's what we made it for!" Yori's father insisted as he poured a bowl and put it in front of Itachi.

Itachi once again bowed his head as he picked up his chopsticks and the bowl of rice. For a few minutes he ate silently, not wanting to insult the family by doing, or saying anything foolish.

"So, what is your name young man?" Yamasuki-san asked.

"Uchiha Itachi."

"Uchiha…I think I've heard that name before. I'm not sure from where though." Shouta added.

"It does sound kind of familiar. Where are you from?" Yamasuki asked.

Itachi paused for a moment, dismayed that he didn't have an answer for them.

"Itachi-san can't remember anything except his name." Yori explained.

"I see. Well then, we'll just have to take care of him until he figures out where he's going!" Yori's father said, then shoved even more rice into his mouth.

"That's really not necessary. You've already done enough for me. I don't even know how I'm going to repay my debt to you."

The whole family stopped and stared at him. Here he was injured and suffering from a major case of amnesia and he was worried about repaying them.

Yamasuki-san sighed and put down his chopsticks. "You just need to be concerned with getting better."

"No, I insist you let me do something to repay you."

The family knew they were not going to win this argument, but aside from house chores there wasn't much for him to do.

"Are you any good with a weapon?" Shouta finally stepped in.

"Shouta! You can't make him do that!" Yori scolded.

"I'm just asking. Maybe once he's better he can help us with our runs. Even if he can't fight, we can always use an extra hand in carrying the cargo."

"Hmm, Shouta has a point." Yamasuki-san agreed. "Then it's settled. Once you are well enough you can help us out with our medicine runs."

Itachi bowed, it was becoming a habit of his now. "Thank you. I'll be glad to help in anyway I can."

Yamasuki san and Yori both smiled at him, amused by his over polite nature. Shouta however wasn't so sure of this man. He wasn't quite as trusting as the rest of his father and found it hard to just take the word of a stranger.