Prologue
Thunder wrapped the sky, it was violent symphony of lightning and blackened skies. The rain pelted down onto the forest, lashing out against the catastrophic wind that was pelting against the high walls of the quiet village. Everything had settled into a darkened gloom that was both eerie and somehow beautiful and wondrous.
The trees sent their scattered applause over the scene as the storm grew in tempo, anger, volume, size and magnificence. Squirrels rushed through the rain to hide in their trees, rabbits shot through the grass into their burrows. The birds took flight and set of screeching towards the distant blue sky to the north. Everything was in chaos! Even the grass seemed to wilt over itself to try and hide from the storm.
But there was one person who was still.
Kyoko looked up through her blood red bangs and peered up at the thundery sky. Smiling slightly she leant her head back against the tree and simply waited for it to be over. Soggy bandages and empty wrappers were strewn carelessly at her feet. Even as she stared into the thundery depths of heaven she finished tying the bandage around her ankle. Once finished with that tasked she rummaged into her bag and pulled out a shiny apple.
A twinge of guilt shot through her as she bit into it. Not too long ago she had entered that village beyond the tree line, well she had snuck into there. It had been too hard to resist testing her age long skills of pick-pocketing and theft. Kyoko had been on her own for years now, she had to find her own way in the world.
Shrugging she tried to push the horrible feeling away. It wasn't really nice to steal from a village that had obviously just been under attack, the buildings were mostly destroyed and for some reason everyone had worn black last week. Well even she knew some ninjas had been killed, but everyone in the village had worn black last week…maybe someone important had died.
Whatever, like it actually mattered! As soon as her latest injuried healed then she would be off again. Checking herself over she smiled, it wouldn't be too long, a sprained ankle and bruises to numerous to count.
Sighing she rested her head against the tree again. Why was it she was always getting into fights? This morning some guys had jumped her out of no-where and tried to take what little possessions she owned. It was safe to say they didn't get very far in mugging her. Kyoko smirked at that, however she sobered instantly.
Why was it that what others thought was a gift, the person who wielded it always saw it as a curse? That's what her powers were, a curse. Nothing else could have brought about so much death and destruction around her. She was a good person, she really was! So why was it that everyone who got close to her always left again in some way or another.
Kyoko thought longingly of her most recent friend, Caitlynn. It had not been too long ago that Kyoko herself had buried her, using only her hands to dig up the earth. Shaking her head again she buried her face into her hands. Never again was she going to let herself get that close to someone. It was just too risky!
Something snapped ahead of her, it sounded like a branch…instantly she was alert! Crouching on her feet she whipped out one of the knifes she had stolen from the village ahead of her.
Pfft she thought savagely They don't know what it means to have a true village, a true bond with their kinsman.
It felt slightly strange to her that everyone in that village had been so happy. Kyoko had grown up in one of the wandering tribes, she was a gypsy through and through or at leas she had been…When she was little she used to love packing up the home tent and wandering on to their next encampment. Trouble was no-one ever really liked her people.
Sure there had been some really nasty people who had given Gypsies a bad name but should they all be punished for it? Those men who had attacked her earlier had only done so because they had seen the twiling ivy tattoo on her arm. They knew instantly that she was a gypsy and she had paid the price for it.
"Who is that!" Kyoko yelled, angry now from her trail of thought.
"I could ask you the same question"
Kyokos head whipped around, a young boy was stood behind her, his raven hair slightly spiked but yet still managed to fall into his eyes. One of his hands was stuck in his pocket while the other held a Kunai. A shiny leaf headband shined in the lightning.
"Oh…" Kyoko blinked, her eyes focused on his headband. "So that village is Konoha"
"Yo lady!"
Kyoko span around again. "What?"
"Whats with stealing our stuff huh?" the boy yelled.
"Sorrry" she straightened, her voice not sounding apologetic at all. "Who are you?"
"Naruto Uzumaki!" the boy said proudly.
"Naruto!" the one behind her hissed. "Don't tell her your name, she could be anyone!"
"Come on Sasuke she's just a tiny thing"
Sasuke slapped his forehead as Naruto also revealed his name. Kyoko paused again there was someone above her. Sensing the slight movement in the tree's she smiled to herself. Really, did they think she was that stupid? Did they really think she was that much of a child that she wouldn't notice the other one closing in on her?
"You can come down" she said calmly.
Sasuke glared at her as Sakura jumped agiley down from the boughs of the tree. The bright pink haired girl gave Kyoko one levelled look before she relaxed.
"And who might you be?" Kyoko asked.
"I'm Sakura. You may as well know seen as Naruto the idiot gave everything away"
"Hey!"
"Look I'm sorry for stealin' but I sort of needed to"
"Its not our problem" Sasuke continued to glare.
Naruto stepped forward. "Sorry about this but we sort of…need to…take-you-in-for-questioning"
Kyoko glared at him, briefly she wondered about making a run for it, but these were ninja, despite adolescent ones, she knew she would easily be caught. Besides, the throbbing in her twisted ankle was warning her. Sighing she swung her bag over her shoulder and nodded slightly at all three of them.
Naruto smiled brightly and led the way. Glancing at all three of them she wondered if fate had thrown them together. Haddnt she just been swearing to herself to never let herself get close to anyone again? Yet here were three ninjas only a few years younger than herself demanding to take her to Konoha.
The gods were playing a cruel game with her, she just knew it.
