Crows and ravens in the early morning.
It had been a windy morning. A boy aged around 7, with a mop of messy, dark hair, was walking slowly towards the academy building. It was quite a way, from his family's home. He was walking somewhat sleepily, because of the early hour, and shivering slightly in the cold wind. Suddenly, with a stronger gust, the red scarf which he had draped around his neck loosened and then got blown away by the wind. The boy's reflexes were fast for a child, even for a ninja child, and his fingers caught the red fabric before it flew away. In that precise second however the boy doubled over coughing, and the scarf flew out of his hand, and got carried away by the wind. Still coughing the boy watched the material carried away. He closed his eyes and a moment later the boy's cough was gone. Like a child trying to catch a butterfly, he ran after the scarf with his arms outstretched and ready. It was bellowing before him, red and taunting, carried by the strong, December wind. The boy would stretch out his arms, and close his small fists every time the scarf seemed to drop, yet always it escaped and got blown a couple of meters away. The boy, who had minutes ago thought about school, and what Taka sensei would have them do today, now had only one goal in his life – to catch the escaped, malicious scarf.
He ran after it, away from the academy building. He ran through little streets and didn't even notice the curious glances of adults. He ran on, and reached the outskirts of the village. He ran, his hair blown back by the speed, and his eyes watering because of the wind. He ran, even though his lungs hurt.
In his pursuit of the scarf, he reached the outskirts of Konoha and finally reached an open field. He saw the scarf, a couple of meters away drop onto the ground. He wanted to speed up and catch it now that he had the chance, but for the second time this day he was stopped in his tracks by his cough. The dull, grey sound carried out through the field. At the sound, a large group of crows scattered away in a loud flutter of heavy black wings. The air now filled with their threatening, croaking. The dark-haired boy raised his head to see a mass of black shapes flapping above him, as if angry for disturbing their peace. To anybody the sound would seem foreboding, malicious and cruel even. The boy however did not hear their sarcastic laughter, in the croaking of the crows he clearly heard the words, "get up! get going! Get up! Get going!" he grit his teeth and with one hand clutching his chest he ran towards the scarf which was just starting to get picked up by the wind again. He reached it just in time, he stretched out his hand and his fingers closed firmly over the soft, red cloth. This time the boy held fast. The scarf was his once more and he draped it around his neck filled with pride. Then he coughed once more and turned to go back triumphantly. Above him the crows were still croaking.
AN: This is a new series I'm planning, short stories/drabbles on Hayate and some on the "nameless ANBU chic." I hope you enjoy the first chapter. Perhaps it is slightly pointless, but I think it is qute pretty. Anyway, I hope you liked it. And whether you did or didn't please review so I know if I should continue with this one!
DISCLAIMER: Hayate, and all other characters of Naruto, as well as the world they live in belong to, and are copyright of Masashi Kishimoto.