Chapter I - Reminiscence
*Flashback*
The afternoon was falling behind the high mountains, the last shine of hope was vanishing behind the sad night that was about to come.
- Mom… is getting dark…
The cold started to gather the dead and the smell of putrefied bodies was shaking every sense on any alive human body.
- Let's go find your father and brother, sweetheart…
The smoke coming out of the houses was gathering its evil purposes up in the sky above the village. Innocents eyes could now testify against such an impressive vision of slaughter and evil, their tears were not symbol of afraid but of rage. Their little hands wondered day after day what could they do to change the situation, but now… they began to be too wounded to pick up a weapon and fight a battle. A group of twenty people including the wounded ninja was gathering to find the remaining survivors within the village. Mothers pick up their children and covered their eyes while they start walking and searching throughout the village. One of the women found the only survivor… now standing between the two lines of life and death. She let go the little girl's hand and started running towards the man. Soon a sword was cutting her lungs and taking her high. The little girl stayed in her spot watching the scene, her eyes were lying very far away from where she was from. Her blue eyes were turning grey, somewhat the same color as the sky….as her skin, covered in wounds and dirt, merged in thoughts and choices that she did not wanted to make… She looked at the woman now with her dress red of blood... She was shivering and coughing blood looking at the man lying on the floor with his white hair full of mud and blood, his chest with multiple scars and deep wounds… They both raised their hands at the girl mumbling…
- Asami!!
- Asami!!
*End of flashback*
- Asami…
The light was coming through the window and hitting her eyes strongly.
- Asami! – He smiled at her.
She opened her eyes forcefully to take a glimpse on who was calling her.
- It's early to play Aya-kun! Let me sleep!
She hid her face on the pillow right before her left arm started to get pushed.
- Come one! Don't be lazy!! It's a wonderful day outside!
She got up with a weird feeling crossing her mind and stomach. One she knew it was because she hasn't eaten in two days, but the other one was relaying on the dream she was waking up from. The boy held her hand for a while before sit on her bed. He was blond with beautiful green eyes shading his pale face. The only trace of black was in his clothes. The rags he was using were black with some white lines in it; he kept playing with the little hole on his shirt. How could he possibly find any fun in it…? Asami asked herself sometimes. He put her black hair behind her ear and said:
- Are you ok?
- I guess I'm fine. – She lied.
- I know when you are lying…
- And I know when you want to play... – She made the most beautiful smile she could offer while took his hand and dragged him to the outside.
- Nothing ever changes….
Ayame and Asami stood by the doorway staring at the green fields and small shops on the Hidden Village of Shades. The village was small but they found it pretty cozy when they transferred. It was a peaceful and neutral community who was able to walk away from the war. Their interests in other cities were purely commercial. They focused mainly on transactions, coin exchange, and supplies for the population… Asami and Ayame sat on the rock next to the entrance watching the travelers coming and going. Once in a while Anbu came into the city to escort traders, but nothing really used to happen in that town. The sky was clean, it blue blinding the eyes of those who were watching him. The sun was high up in the sky, brightening everyone under his warm cloak. Asami smiled to Ayame on an "I am alright" meaning, though he was biting her lie. They kept walking along the street, admiring the shops and all the goodies they were selling. People were laughing and buying all their bags could carry. They seemed happy.
- I wonder… what happiness…is
Ayame's voice fainted in the last two words. It was indeed a difficult interrogation… A question that sometimes takes a lifetime to seek the answer. Ayame's eyes glared the crowded way they had ahead. Asami looked at the mud path and said with a low voice:
- Living under ghost's shades… That's not it... for sure…
The floor started to spin madly as Asami was losing her again. Blood from those she killed were spilled in her hands; their faces were hunting Asa down. The scene flashed and in one second she was back to reality, face pale and eyes distant. Ayame looked at her waiting for a sign that she was alive, until she finally looked at him with a smile upon her face.
- Let's go to the park, shall we? - She said.
They were only 7 years old. He was blonde, she was brunette. He had green eyes, she had blue eyes. They were both tall and about the same height. She had a lovely face, with roused cheeks, while he was wearing a "Whatever" face all the time. Same background, same stories, same fears, same goals… same hopes. They met on the battle field. A long battle both Ayame and Asami remembered every day. A long journey it was…
*Flashback*
- OPEN FIRE!
The two thousand ninja army was crawling to face its enemies. With their swords full of hate, weapons thirsty of revenge, they started to run for their fate, some of them looking anxious to die. The sound of the killer kunais was heavy on the ground, making their fighters deaf, along with the screaming and shouting of those who were tasting the flavor of death itself. And she indeed was coming fast and deadly, dyeing the steel of red and dirt. The sky was pouring ashes from the burning houses, mixed with the grey and black smoke coming from the dead bodies and the fire. For some, their view turned out to be red, the blood coagulating over their eyes. After all, they wouldn't see a thing from then on.
The remaining ninja that stood on the edge of the field started to assemble the war mechanisms. Catapults were being built, so were the arrow launchers.
- BODY COMBAT!! – One shouted.
The earth shivered with all the kunais and swords being thrown at the ground. The horrified faces of those who were assisting the battle from the hospital soon would become even more horrified.
- Daddy, can I go now? – The girl asked.
- Father… it's time… - The boy said.
The parents looked at them with a frustrating expression upon their faces and soon answered:
- Off you go…
The girl put her headband on her forehead, which was too big for her. The boy picked up a sword from a dead body and went to battle. His hands were shaking not because o f fear…
- A true ninja is fearless!! – The captain said.
- Yes sir!!! – the group shouted
… But because of the weight of the sword. His fragile hands were wounded by the fragments coming from each explosion. He was counting five years old… so was she. The girl started running towards the mines, activating one at a time. Her body had cuts all over because of the flying shurikens coming from everywhere, her eyes were dry because of the smoke. The boy found her activating the mines, after seeing some bodies exploding and spilling their remains all over. He confronted her, and once they were face to face, there was not much more to be said than:
- Fight me…
Her blue eyes jumped from his trembling hands to his eyes. She smiled and said while slowly activating a mine:
- We both know we are puppets among all the issues… our villages shouldn't be fighting…
The boy raised the sword but suddenly he fell backwards because of its weight.
- Oh no… - She said looking at the boy.
She started running towards the boy while making some seals. A light came straight to her hand like a laser beam. The countdown was starting… She raised her hand…
3…
- Summon…
2…
- Cage No…
1…
- Jutsu!!
The mine exploded taking some bodies along with it. It burst into flames, it rained blood, it rained everything except pure rain. The smoke was hiding the centre of the explosion where the boy and the girl were. When the dust finally settled down, the boy opened his eyes glaring at the girl. She was summoning a chakra shield, resembling a cage that was able to protect both from the explosion. Suddenly the shield disappeared while the girl coughed blood. It was all happening so fast that his eyes couldn't keep up with the movement. She hit the floor strongly, making a deaf sound. Her hair was covering her face but showing her burnt back.
- She wasn't fast enough summoning the cage… As she couldn't finish the shield, she used her own body…
He jumped to her, leaving the sword lying on the ground. He turned her over, as she opened her eyes. Both didn't know what to say, except some useless words. The army number was decreasing, the survivors were still fighting to keep themselves alive, others were on the floor moaning, crying, and screaming their pain and deep injuries. The smoke was starting to vanish, as there was nothing more to burn. One of the warriors came running towards them. He was wearing a mask, had big white hair and he was a lot worried about the girl. He had some severe injuries across his chest and along his arms. He kneed next to the girl, staring at the boy:
- Did you do this?
Everything became tense in that moment. Enemy versus enemy… the boy was waiting for any attack from its opponent, but soon he realized it was all about the girl.
- No… - he answered – She made a chakra shield to protect me.
The eyes of the stranger became very brightening, his voice began to tremble and a tear leaked from his wounded eye.
- My little girl…
The boy kept looking at the man straight into his eyes, waiting for a sign to prove he was safe enough in there.
- We need to take her into the hospital wing. Can you carry her?
The boy nodded.
- We will have to run, ill protect you both till you enter the hospital. Go though the second door to your right… Are you ok?
The boy was breathing heavily. He carried her on his shoulders while saying:
- Whenever you wish…
*End of flashback*
**
- Asami?
A sweet breeze came from nowhere as she returned to the present.
- Sorry… I was dreaming again…
She smiled at Ayame, another fake smile it was. Her regrets and memories often consumed her into a nasty dream about her past.
- Hum… I don't wanna go to the park. Lets annoy the Kage, Asa-chan!!
- Awe… he will kill us if we put toads on his closet again.
- Let's summon Kuchiro then!
- He IS a toad!! – said Asami poking Ayame.
- He is an important and special toad! Don't put him down like that!
Ayame giggled showing the spot for the missing tooth.
- Ok… If anything goes wrong, ill report you!!
- Tattle tales… - he said with an upset expression.
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Next Chapter: Is the war over? Or something is about to start? Asami and Ayame soon will find out.