The world went white, I didn't have any sense of where I was. I turned in a complete circle unaware of who I was as well. Simply put, I felt like a blank slate.

What was I doing here?

I finish my turn and see a person standing there. She has long blonde hair worn up in a ponytail and a black birdcage veil covering her black eyes full of sorrow. The rest of her outfit is simply a black lace dress with matching tights and boots that reach her ankles. One thing stands out which is her gloves, her right is black and her left is white.

She shakes her head as she says,"I made a terrible mistake."

I say,"What do you mean?"

The teenage girl says,"It wasn't your time and I took what was yet to be spent. There will be repercussions that even I don't know."

My head tilts to the side as I say,"What are you talking about? Where am I?"

She says,"The Lanes In Between. I should have been more careful but I can make up this mistake. That will help ease my soulless self."

This girl isn't making any sense. What happened? What mistake did she make? The most important question: How am I involved?

I sigh and say,"I have no idea of what you're talking about."

"I understand your confusion, that is also my mistake. One day I hope this will all blow over and find solace to drop this facade of mine. The blame will fall to me and I will finally be taken out, though, until then..."

She suddenly stops talking and clasps her hands together.

"Then?" I prompt.

The girl smiles and says,"Until then I can enjoy whatever time is left for me and you can be returned what I stole from you. This is the only way to fix my error and to end my grief."

Error? Grief? Was there any sense of order here?

She closes her eyes as she says,"So much to do, so little time...Take your time. Don't be afraid. There will be times you have to fight and sorrows you will have to face."

Her figure grows blurry and darkness begins to eat away at the white light.

She opens her eyes as she says,"Keep your light burning strong."

Then the world completely goes black and I lose myself to oblivion.

When I open my eyes again I let out a wail. Pure instinct driven. I was so confused and disoriented that I couldn't put things together.

I heard a soothing voice saying something and I could feel my racing heart calm somewhat. Someone picks me up and gently rocks me to sleep.

My situation was odd I knew I had a higher thinking than I should at the time. For I was only a baby just born but that didn't mean I could talk and control my body. I'm not sure how I got this thinking, all I remember was the darkness and letting out my first wail. Nothing more, nothing less.

I wake up in the arms of a person that I assume is my mother based on the affection and love that is shown. All I can make out through my blurry vision is dark black hair. She continues to rock me and I find myself back in the black of sleep.

It goes like this for a couple of days with the dark of sleep taking me every so often. The first distinct memory I have is when she walked into the room.

I was in my crib and I saw someone peering down at me. She was older about fifteen if I had to guess. Like my mother she had black hair and I could just make out red eyes. I yet to see my father so I couldn't tell any resemblance.

The girl picks me up and says,"Hello there little one! I'm your big sister and I'll always be here for you."

I make little babbling nonsense that makes her smile as I grab one of her fingers with my small hand.

She smiles and says,"I can't wait to see what kind of world you'll create Kairi."

So that's my name, Kairi. I wonder my last name and not to mention where I'm at in the world.

A flash of light captures my attention and I notice something silver on my sister's forehead. She notices my attention shift to her object as she laughs.

"You'll get to have one of these when your a ninja too, Kai, but you'll have to wait till you're older."

A world of ninjas? Sounds sort of familiar...I feel exhausted just trying to wrap my mind around it.

My sister sets me back in my crib before leaving the room.

Yes, well. Fast forward to two months after that, and suddenly my life became totally opposite to that of peace.

I remember this moment as clearly as meeting my older sister. My sister had just settled down with me to read me a story, not that I would truly understand or pay attention, and that's when a deadly chill laid down like a blanket over us. I didn't feel anything really out of place, but my sister suddenly sat up straight, eyes wide and fearful. Book forgotten, she clutched me tighter to her chest, her heart pounding at a higher rate than normal. Then I heard a deafening roar.

The lights all around us flickered off as another roar sounded through the area. I screamed as my sister stood up with me in her arms. A flash of red zoomed past our windows, as if a fire had broken out somewhere. She took off through the house until she found our parents.

"M-Mom?" my sister said with obvious fear.

Our mother narrowed her eyes even more, her hand went to my sister's shoulder.

"There is little time to talk," she said, cutting to the chase immediately. "Get Kairi out of here, take her to the nearest shelter."

"What? But I want to help."

Her hand moved away from her shoulders and instead rested gently upon my head.

She smiled slowly and sorrowfully. "You must be strong – take your sister and protect her with your life. She is all you have now."

"B-but, I don't understand!" my sister argued. "Why can't I help?"

"If you do this for me," our mother began, speaking as sincerely, "You will be doing more for me than you could ever know. I have to find your father. Stay safe."

With that, to both my sister's and my disbelief, she had just vanished, off to fight the thing that was wrecking everything in sight. I'd noticed two tears slide their way down my sister's cheeks before she suddenly hardened her expression. She flashed me a quick smile and then suddenly sped off in the opposite direction that our mother had. I recall looking back towards the destruction and seeing buildings being torn to bits. That would be the last time I would see my mother, I could feel it since she was going to fight that monstrous thing.

My sister did what she was told by our mother and took me to a shelter. A man in green vest ushered us in but my sister turned and looked over her shoulder. After knocking herself out of her thinking she took me inside.

My sister and I had probably been at the shelter for maybe half an hour or so before she finally became fed up with just sitting around. I knew she would by the way she kept glancing outside. The people watching the refugees couldn't keep track of everyone and that helped my sister do what she wanted, to leave. And, she did leave me, though not without sparing me a small smile.

She carefully set me down on the chair and kneeled down to be on my level. I stared into those red eyes of hers as she let out a sigh.

"Hey there, little one," she whispered up at me as I'd just stared at her with wide eyes. "I have to go. I can't just sit here doing nothing. Someone has to help."

Then, she ran out of the building and out of my life just like the rest of my family.

I think I'd stayed there for the next few hours until the roaring finally came to a close. I stayed silent in the middle of all those people, not moving or making a peep. In the end, I was the only one left within the bunker, though I'd chosen not to move as I was just a baby. Two men in green vests stood over me talking about something before I could finally make out the word:

"Orphanage."

That does for my situation as I for know if any of my family is alive but it's not the place I would prefer. It's odd that I know all of this...as if I experienced something like life before...

The only memories I would have of my families were simple things like smiles or eyes and the gift of my name. After the men finished their conversation one of them picked me up and rushed down the street to a building on a street full of buildings that had been knocked over.

I'd been given to orphanage in just two simple sentences exchanged between the man holding me and the woman at the door.

"Orphan from the demon attack?"

"Yes."

Like that I was taken in and given a sanctuary amongst the chaos.

Six years passed which is the easiest way to be brought to the present. I didn't do much in those six years just a lot of thinking during my time in the orphanage.

Those men from before? I know them now as shinobi of Konoha, the Village Hidden in the Leaves. There was the Hokage who ruled the village with three levels of ninja to carry out missions. I ate up any information I could find this making me a bit of a freak with my heightened knowledge. I knew after learning about these shinobi that I wanted to be one too.

But there were some hindrances I faced being in the orphanage and not in the Academy since they don't have enough money to send kids there. Train? What for? I didn't know how to do anything. Learn how to wield chakra? How? I'd been here for six years before some of my memories came spiraling back into my mind, and so living with chakra had become as old hat as breathing.

Memories? Ah, yes. I knew this place was from something I read long ago when I lived somewhere else. I don't remember much but it mainly comes to me in the form of dreams. I believe it was called Naruto but it is all a little foggy so I can't promise that to be right.

I did read though. I read everything I could get my hands on. There was nothing else to do. I didn't want to "play ninja" like the other kids, I wanted to be one. I'd learn how to be a ninja soon enough. I also enjoyed drawing in a small sketchbook I got for my fifth birthday present.

Now this would be the year I got my chance. Once every year the Hokage comes to the orphanage to ask the kids six and older if they wanted to join the Academy. I think every one of us of age said yes. It was either become an academy student, or stay in the orphanage until we were fifteen or sixteen, that wasn't an option for me.

I had to be a ninja. That was one of my first and only memories that I held as true. My sister was a ninja and she seemed pleased to think of me being one as well. I wanted that headband that recognized me as a ninja.

The Hokage looked at each of us with a proud smile until he noticed me. When he saw me, he gave me a kind of knowing and sad look. What did that mean? He looked at me like a hurt puppy. I mean, the orphanage wasn't that bad.

"So you all want to become ninja, do you?"

All of the other children shouted out their response of a "Yes." Though in comparison to my shout it was nothing as I was the loudest one of all.

The Hokage smiled and patted my head as I was the closest one to him.

"Then we must see that you all achieve that goal. Behind me I have several shinobi who will work one on one to help prepare you for entry into the Academy on Monday, in two days. Is that all right?"

The other children stared up at the several chuunin waiting behind the Hokage with wide, starry eyes. I was excited too but then I realized things were different for me when the Hokage moved his hand onto my own.

He kneeled in front of me as he said, "Are you sure you desire to become a ninja? It is a difficult path."

Pfft, as if a six-year-old to embark on a life threatening path would change the answer.

"I must become a ninja, that is my goal," I answered.

There was no need for me to say anything else. What else could I say to this man?

The Hokage stood up and beckoned that I follow him. He went to one of the nuns, spoke a few soft words, and then asked me if there was anything I wanted to take with me. I didn't have much but everything I needed was with me. The clothes on my back and the sketchbook with a small pencil in my pocket.

He walked down the street away from the orphanage towards the Hokage Tower and I looked back to see the other kids talking animatedly with the various chuunin. Was I not able to become a ninja for some reason? That would have to change.

The Hokage took me up the stairs and into his office. He left me to stand awkwardly in the middle of the room before leaving again. I stared at the closed door with a confused frown. This couldn't be good, could it?

It was about ten minutes before he came back into the room. There was a small smile on his face as he took his seat behind his desk.

"Well, isn't this a splendid day?"

I stared at him with a confused expression. How should I be taking this?

"I could not assign you a chuunin for a temporary partner, due to your odd situation."

Odd? I didn't find it odd being an orphan but everyone takes that differently.

He did not lose his smile as I continued to stay silent. "If it is truly your desire to become a ninja, I will not stand in your way. Rather, I appreciate your interest in demonstrating your Will of Fire."

I'm sure there's a point to all this confusion but I wasn't so sure where it was. Somewhere in left field it seemed.

"Under normal circumstances, orphaned academy students would be set up with low-funded apartment housing that would be paid for by the village until you either became a genin or were sent back to the orphanage upon failure to achieve that status."

Okay where is this headed? Please choose to continue quickly.

"It has come to my attention that you lost both your parents. What would you say if I told you that you have an older sister still alive? I wonder if you would even recall her? You were so young."

My eyes grew wide and I could see a twinkle in his eyes. I was told my family was all dead in that Nine-Tails attack, the people in the orphanage talked a little to loud on the anniversary of the event, and that I had no place to call home.

Then again it made me nervous. What if she hated me? Maybe that's why she stayed away.

A knock sounded at the door with a muffled, "Hokage-sama."

"Ah, that would be her now," the Hokage said before directing in a clear voice, "Enter."

The door swung open and there she was. I remember the two things about her, the red eyes and black hair but everything else was a new detail.

Her black hair was long and reached below her shoulder not pinned back at all. Her red eyes were framed with a light shade of purple eye shadow and she had a light shade of pink gloss on her lips. The outfit she had was simple of a long sleeved red shirt with a deep v-neck and a fishnet shirt underneath, black shorts that came mid-thigh, black ninja sandals that reached her knees, gray gloves with black thorns that reached underneath her sleeved shirt. She bowed her head with her Leaf headband gleaming before looking up.

"You called for me, Hokage-sama?"

I stared up at her, unsure of how to interpret my emotions. She didn't even seem to notice me standing there.

"How was your recent mission, Kurenai?"

She gives a small nod as she stands to her full height while saying,"It went well. The targets were taken out as requested."

The old man nodded his head thoughtfully before gesturing to me. "As you can see, I currently have another visitor here with me."

It was then that she turned her gaze upon me. At first there was no recognition before she blinked very fast. I think she finally recognized me. She glanced me over before turning back to the Hokage.

While I clearly remember in my mind and heart the young girl who had shown me nothing but kindness, she wasn't that person still, at least not to me. I was torn between what to feel.

I felt tears spring to my eyes and I quickly turned away towards the window catching my own dark red-purple eyes in the reflection of the glass. Yeah my eyes were different than hers. Mine were a darkn red at the top and faded into purple toward the bottom. People had odd opinions about my eyes but I liked them.

I could feel her still watching me carefully, taking in my own appearance. While the black hair and dark red eyes would have given me away, I had a shade of lighter skin and by what I heard of her voice, I seemed I guess more innocent. Then again, she has killed and seen others be killed. There was no denying the family resemblance.

"Hokage-sama?" she questioned, sounding unsure.

The Hokage leaned forward in his chair a bit, his hands clasped in front of him.

"Allow me to assign you your next mission, Kurenai."

The words had the young woman straightening up perceptibly and she promptly ignored me.

"Yes sir."

He gave me a quick smile before looking back at my sister.

"You are to care for and protect this young woman. Consider this an A-Ranked mission and treat it like one."

To say Kurenai was a bit stunned was something of an understatement, though I could hardly blame her. She was just given the responsibility of raising me.

"Why is this child so important, Hokage-sama?"

"Her name is Yūhi Kairi, your younger sister. I'm sure you understand why you're the one to take care of her."

"Me, Hokage-sama?" Her voice sounded so weak, and not at all reminiscent of the sister I remembered. I believe she might have been apart of the Naruto manga...can't remember it's all still foggy.

"Who else but you should take care of your family?" The Hokage said with a frown

"But, I..." She seemed to struggle to come up with the appropriate words. "Are you certain that I should...? I mean, I still have other missions..."

Hiruzen smiled softly at the kunoichi. "You are the only other member of the Yūhi alive so only you can pass on the techniques. She lost her family and so did you, both of you need to reunite and have a sisterly you accept or reject the mission I have assigned you?"

I chose not to meet her gaze when she sent me another quick glance. I could only imagine how troubled she was by her new plight. I felt bad and to think I was actually excited. I guess it's back to the orphanage.

"I understand and I accept," Kurenai said quickly.

I turned my gaze to her, shocked. She wanted to take me in? That's a bit crazy but I am a bit relieved. It's odd to see my sister want me but almost shut me off back to the orphanage. I guess I would have done the same in her position.

Obliviously I had no idea of what I wanted at this point. I was beyond conflicted.

"Good," the Hokage said with some finality, interrupting my thought process. "I will give you a brief period of absence of about five months from other missions while you and Kairi reacquaint yourselves with one another. You will only have missions in or very near the village after the five months until Kairi becomes a Genin which should be soon with her genetics. Ensure that she is ready to begin school on Monday."

I saw her become slightly determined and she nodded slowly. Five months off missions and how was I supposed to become a Genin quick enough so I don't become a burden. I don't want to trap her in the village.

"Very well then. You are both dismissed."

Kurenai turns to me a bit conflicted at what to do next. I simply bow to the Hokage before stepping toward the door. She reaches it first and opens it for me. I whisper a quick thanks as we step into the hall.

We both stand there awkwardly in silence. I clasp my hands together as the older woman runs a hand through her long hair.

Kurenai turned away from me to clear her throat before making eye contact once again. Her lips were turned into a forced smile.

"Shall we then, Kairi?"

I kind of felt my own forced smile fall a bit. I don't know what it was as I still believed us to be sisters and related.

Yeah I have no idea what's going to happen but I'll give it my best shot.

"Sure thing, sis."

XXXXXXXXX

I hope you like that beginning. Did you know it was Kurenai the entire time? Possibly? And this takes place at the time of Naruto as Kairi is only two moths older but the plot of Kairi will be completely separate from Naruto's adventures. I dot want to mess with the cool events that Naruto has so why not make my own?

Eh, tell me what you think in a review.

Fav, Follow, and Review until next time.