The first time anyone noticed her was when she screeched in pain after accidentally gashing her leg on a sharp branch as she was running. Even then only one had noticed her. Only he had noticed her.

His name was Itachi. Uchiha Itachi. He was thirteen, just recently a Jonin. He heard the cry and ran to investigate. He found her.

Her name was Equade Elysian. She was seven, only a Genin, but a strong person. However, even her physical strength was no match for the power of her scream.

Itachi saw the injured girl sitting curled up under a nightshade plant, whimpering over her wounded leg. Blood leaked from under her hands and between her fingers as she tried to stop the bleeding.

Elysian heard someone approach and looked up, hissing. Itachi stopped for a moment then he stepped forward. Elysian hissed again. Itachi kept coming nearer to her.

He knelt in front of the frightened girl and looked at her. His eyes were filled with worry as a small puddle of blood under Elysian's left foot caught his attention.

"You need help," he said quietly. The only response was a small whimper from Elysian. Quietly, Itachi ripped a piece of fabric from his black shirt. His mother wouldn't be happy about it, he knew, but he couldn't leave Elysian to die. "Here, let me see your wound. I'll help you."

Elysian slowly removed her hands from the deep cut on her left shin. Itachi carefully wrapped the black fabric around the girl's wounded leg and tied it. Elysian tried to stand up but lost her balance. Itachi grabbed her shoulder before she could fall.

"I'll get you to the hospital," he whispered. Elysian nodded gratefully and limped along beside Itachi. The sun was going down as they made their way to the hospital. Some of Itachi's friends were on the street and laughed when they saw him walking slowly with a girl clutching his arm. Itachi ignored them. Instead he focused on speaking with Elysian.

"You're Uchiha Itachi, aren't you?" Elysian asked.

He nodded. "Yes, I am. I'm guessing you must be Equade Elysian, am I correct?"

"You are not mistaken. I've heard so much about you from your brother. Sasuke, isn't it?" Itachi nodded. Elysian continued. "He always talks about you. He says you're the most amazing person since the Fourth Hokage. I didn't use to think so, but now I'm convinced he's right. Only you don't seem to have as many fangirls as he does. He's something different alright, I'll give him that, but he doesn't seem as gentle as you… I'm sorry… Am I talking too much?"

"Oh! N-no! O-of course not!" Elysian giggled. "Sorry, you just got me a little surprised that's all. Heh-heh…" He chuckled quietly. "I've heard a lot about you from Sasuke as well, Elysian. He says you're quiet and that you always stay back in the shadows with two other girls. He tells me that the three of you have an air of mystery about you, like you're keeping something secret." He stopped talking when they arrived at the hospital.

A kind nurse helped Elysian to an empty room and got a doctor to examine her injury. Itachi waited to hear how she was doing before heading home. As he was walking away he thought about how Elysian was hissing at him when he found her.

Yep. Itachi decided. She's definitely hiding something. I don't think I'll want to ever know what it is…

Me (Elysian): Yeah, that's what happened. Oh! BTW, CHN doesn't own Itachi or the hospital. They belong to the mind and imagination of Masashi Kishimoto. Ja!