The wind whipped around me as I stood, simply staring at the thick walls that stood between me and my destination. The intimidating, metal gates seemed to warn me that I was not welcome in a place such as this. But my mind went against my instincts, allowing me to step forward with the knowledge that I was summoned to this ominously peaceful place.
I bowed heavily to the guards who were standing before me, amused by my timid actions. Reaching into my pocket I extracted an envelope that withheld the information I needed to get to the inside of the very walls that sent shivers down my spine. One of the men extended a pale hand to take the envelope from me. It was like an eternity waiting under the scrutinizing gaze of the other man as he opened and read the letter inside. With a curt nod he folded the parchment and placed it back in the envelope before handing it back to me.
I was a bit startled when the heavy gates slowly and noisily parted to allow me entrance. I bowed again, this time, to each of the men separately. They both bowed in return and I continued on my way into the inner mechanism of the compound. I could hear the metal gates clang shut behind me and found the sound eerie, as though I would never be able to pass through those doors again.
Following the rest of the directions that I was given, I found the main house easily. But there was really no need for them, the building was grand and caught my attention almost as soon as I had laid my eyes on it. Upon entering I inhaled the sweet aromas of pastries and freshly cut flowers. I closed my eyes and took it in with a deep breath.
"You must be Enkichi, Renzo." I nearly screamed in surprise as I whirled my head to the left only to stare into yet another pair of ghostly eyes. I gulped down a dry heave and nodded, quickly regaining whatever composure I had. The man was average in height and girth and he wore modest clothing. This long, dark hair was pulled back into a loose tie, and his expression was warm yet calculating. But nothing of his appearance compared to his eyes.
The deep pools of silver-white seemed to pierce my very soul and delve deep into my being. His calm voice snapped me out of my trance like state.
"I'm pleased to be able to greet you myself. It is quite a lucky coincidence that I passed through here at this time. I am the lord of this compound, Hyuuga, Hiashi." He bowed to me and I nearly smacked my face onto the floor bowing deeply back to him. He chuckled and simply began to walk away before abruptly stopping and turning back around. "Please excuse my absent mindedness; it seems I've forgotten to show you where you will live from now on." I looked down in bashful amusement. His forgetfulness was comforting, it made him seem even more human than he had already seemed.
He lead me though the main building and out a side door. I marveled at the grand design and beautiful landscaping. We passed a small garden as we walked and I could recognize and name several of the flowers it was home to. A few minutes later, we arrived at a smaller building, which was in no way less impressive than the first as far as aesthetics go.
Inside was very quaint. It smelled like a chimney-fire in wintertime. It also faintly smelled like sweat, but that didn't bother me. It reminded me of my brothers, training hard to become the pride of the Enkichi family and its' unusual bloodline. The main hallway was studded with closed doors, all accept for one towards the very end. I stood in the doorway and peeked inside.
The room looked lived in. The bed slept in and messy and clothes were strewn across the floor. A blush caught my cheeks at the sight of some nude magazines peeking back at me from under the closet door. All in all, it looked like the room of a typical teenage boy. Hiashi once again had to snap me back into reality to get my attention.
"That's my nephew's room. He's a little abrasive but I'm sure he'll warm up to you in his own way over time. Especially since you'll be occupying the room across from his own." I entered the room he had mentioned. It was small and contained a twin bed, a desk-dresser, and a sliding-door closet. It was bare, but I could spruce it up a bit.
"Thank you very much, Hiashi-sama. It is an honor to be allowed to stay with the Hyuuga family even if only for a summer." I made sure to use the exact script my father had written up for me and bowed. I had practiced it during my long journey to the village of Konohagakure and was filled with pride as I smoothly and politely executed it.
Hiashi chuckled again and put his hand on my shoulder, lifting me from my bow. "There's no need for such a formal attitude, my dear. Your father is a close friend of mine and it makes me happy to know that you'll be safe and have a good time here in Konoha. I assure you, you'll make plenty of friends and learn new things. And if you decide you really like it here, the Hyuugas can arrange for a permanent living facility for you, right here in our compound." His warm smile made me feel right at home in the unfamiliar village, and it was a relief.
When he left, I removed the backpack I had been carrying and placed it on the desk. The pack was old and worn from years of use, and had signatures and doodles on its fading fabric structure. I smiled a bit as I unzipped it and reached inside. The contents may seem odd to any normal person, but I can assure you that I am not in any was normal. The first thing I removed from my pack was a small metal case. The sight of the rectangular shape and old rusty hinges brought a sense of home to my still slightly nervous mind. It opened with little resistance to reveal a set of sketching pencils, lined up in order from lightest to darkest shade. I placed them next to the pack and unloaded my other art supplies; various paints and papers and brushes. It also contained a bright red comforter, faded red sheets, and two white pillow cases with red fire lily patterns on them
Beginning with the wall on the left of the door, I placed a rather tick brush of bright red paint to the surface and drew a straight line from the middle of the wall to the floor. After reviewing the height the line was, I nodded, content with my decision. Next I painted a horizontal brown line from the top of the red line, and circled the room until the two brown ends were connected. I thickened the brown line and then continued putting various shades and sizes of red lines from it to the floor. After I had finished and covered the walls with what I thought was a sufficient amount of color, I removed the plain white sheets from the bed and decorated it fittingly in my own bed apparel. The only thing missing was a second pillow.
I looked around the room and in the closet but there were no other pillows anywhere. Slowly I turned my head. Looking through the open doorway, I could see straight into Hiashi-sama's nephew's room. On his bed, were three pillows. I could easily walk over and just take a pillow and use it, but that would seem like thievery. However, I was very particular about my sleeping regiment, and having two pillows is almost mandatory for me. So, going against my better judgement, I walked out of my room and into the other.
His room was dimly lit, with the shades pulled down and closed, sealing away the light from the sun, which reminded me that I needed to find a place to buy some red curtains. Quietly, I slunk over to the bed and placed a hand on one of the pillows. I looked over my shoulder to make sure no one would witness my criminal act. I pulled the soft object away from the bed in one swift motion, as if it were booby-trapped. Smiling triumphantly, I turned and sauntered to the door, feeling accomplished. But just as my foot crossed the line of the wall and into the hallway, I heard a voice.
"Who are you? And what are you doing in my room?"