Chapter One: Trust Me

"Trust me."

She looked at him, taking in his chain clothing, so similar to her own. Looking into his eyes, she noted sincerity. She nodded numbly, still crying brokenly. He took her hand and helped her up before scooping her into his arms bridal style. He ran off in to the shadows of the dark night, blending in with his black clothing. The only sound the sound of their chains gently clinking together to create the lulling notes of wind chimes.

'She's so light! I hope she's not anorexic,' the mysterious youth thought anxiously.

Soon after, he reached his destination: a two sotry fawn colored house. A dim light flickered as he rapped twice on the door, paused, then five times. After a long moment, it opened slightly with a soft creak.

"Kinneshi? A friend of yours?"

"Sort of. I found her in Itami Alley nearly unconscious mom. She seems so familiar, like her name is right in fornt of me but I can't reach it. Can we let her stay for a little? It looks like the Hidoi Gang got her," Kinneshi said, pointing to the oddly shaped wounds.

His mother, Hatake Sakura chuckled softly at his confusion and vagueness.

"Okay Kin-kun, I'll prepare a room to clean her up," Sakura agreed as she bustled off.

"I wonder what they wanted with her. She seems innocent enough. But she seems so familiar," he muttered.

"Kinneshi! Get off your bum and bringer her here," his mom called quietly.

"Okay!" he carefully lifted her, taking care to brush her matted hair, dripping with blood and sweat, out of her eyes. He treaded cautiously by his sister Aki's room; he didn't want to invoke her wrath by waking her up. Walking into the room, he noticed his mom closing the curtains and setting the two-inch thick bar grids across the single window in the cramped room.

Catching his expression,"She may be in danger. I find her disturbingly familiar as well, my son. We must take precautions."

He nodded and set her on the clean sheets before making himself comfortable on a chair next to her bed. He leaned over and very carefully removed a kunai, taking his time as to not rip her skin more than necessary on the double barbed hook. She didn't flinch once or awake throughout the tedious process. HE sighed with relief as his mother tenderly went over the open wounds with disinfectant before bandaging them. Kinneshi, seeing this laughed to himself.

"You'd help anyone mom, relation, friend, or stranger."

Sakura smiled silently. "It's a mother's insinct," she said softly.

He grinned and settled into peaceful silence, his eyelids fluttering more and more often, until he finally dozed off.

'So much for being a night owl,'Sakura thought, shaking her head as she settled in for the night's vigil.

The sun was almost hight overhead before the girl woke up. Groggily, she rubbed the sleep out of her lavender eyes and shoved her jet black hair behind her thrice pierced ears.

"You're finally awake, that's wonderful!"

The startled girl backed against the wall, her eyes opened wide in fright. Glancing around, she nearly screamed at the sight of the barred window.

"That's protection for you. We didn't want the Hidoi gang coming to finish you off. By the way, I'm Hatake Sakura and my son Kinneshi found you last night. We won't hurt you. Anyway, he should return soon,"

As if on cue, they heard a door slam.

"Hey mom, I brought Iseki over!"

"Konnichiwa Sakura-chan!"

"Konnichiwa Iseki-kun!" Sakura called back. There was a loud noise, like a stampede, and the duo appeared.