~One year ago

Walking down the hallways of a new school in a new spring and a new beginning. My eyes were focused on the path ahead of me, my semi-long black hair resting on my shoulders as my arms by my side as I walked.

"Look, It's her,"

"Her?"

Staring at the ground, I let out a deep sigh.

It hasn't even been half a month since school started and everyone knew me by fear. As I walk down the halls and enter classrooms, immediately, they all jump and back away in fear. Not that I care what they think of me

As I walked down the hall quietly and quickly, my shoulder collied in to another,

"Sorry," I said,

"Hey, Ryuumon!" a voice growled. I halted and turned to the owner of the voice. A class member of mine stomped up to me, coming close to my face. "Aren't you forgetting to say something?" the boy spatted. Fully turning to him, I let out a sigh,

"Sorry," I raised my voice a bit. The boy glared at me. I turned my back to him to walk away,

"Hey!" I turned back and was grabbed by the collar of my shirt, "What did you say?"

Letting out another sigh, I nodded my head once,

"I'll repeat once more, Sorry."

"Is that the attitude you give to the person you bumped into?"

"I already apologized three times."

The boys grip tighten as I gave him a stern look.

"Let go,"

Then he lifted his fist and threw it forward towards my face.

"Aoi!" I turned to my mother who came running out of the house with my lunch box. "You're forgetting your lunch," She handed me my lunch, "Here."

"Thanks, Okaa-san."

"Have a safe trip."

"I will."

"Are you going to go visit Atsushi?" she asked.

"Yeah," She sighed.

"Just be careful on your way home, don't be late."

"Okay."

"And," She pointed her finger at me, "Try not to get into fights today."

"Yeah," I bowed, "Itekimasu."

"Iterashai," he told me, "Oh- try to come home a bit early, Ojii-sama would like to talk to you when you get back."

"Got it."

I headed out the large gates and down the stone steps outside my house. Taking a left, I walked down the road alone staring down at the asphalt ground. As the warm wind blew past me, I looked up at the sky. Covering my eyes from the sun, I let out a deep sigh.

"It's so hot," Another strong breeze blew making my long hair waver and dance.

As I continued down the path to the school, I entered the class and sat in the seat in the far back separated from the rest of the class. Other classmates talked about what was on tv or new things that occurred. The laughed and enjoyed the small conversation between friends and comrades. As the day went on smoothly, I walked out of the school and headed down the usual route.

Stopping in my tracks, a person stood across from me with his arms crossed.

"Hey, Ryuu-hime."

Augh, I hate that name.

"Who are you?" I asked.

He smirked and pulled out a kusari-gama out from his jacket,

"Kawagi Ryuuhei," he introduced himself, "I want to challenge you,"

Letting out a deep sigh, I dropped my bag to the side. "Fine, come,"

The boy smirked and ran towards me and threw his weapon forward. Shifting to the side, the small scythe flew past me. Taking a step forward, I attempted to throw a punch, but the boy smirked and pulled the chain in his other hand back.

"Gotcha!"

Walking out of the doors, I turned and bowed at the nurse, "Thank you very much,"

"No problem, Aoi-chan. Just be careful,"

"Yes, thank you again," I closed the door and heavily sighed, "He's going to be asking questions," I muttered,

Walking down the hall, and up the stairs to the third floor of the hospital on the west wing. Coming to the eighth door on the right, I stood there for a moment,

"Come in," I jumped at the voice, "I know you're there, Aoi-chan," Relaxing my shoulders, I opened the door to the male sitting in the hospital bed reading a book. Walking in, I closed the door behind me.

"Hey, Atsushi-nii-sama-" He closed his book and tapped my head with the back of the book,

"Enough with formalities," He scold. He sighed and looked at my arm, "What happened to your arm?"

"O-oh, I just took a challenge and got my arm scraped,"

"The person had a weapon?"

"Yeah, but that wasn't it." I told him, "The weapon I deflected shattered on of the light poles and the glass shard scraped my arm," I explained. He stared at me with a dumbfounded face and sighed.

"Geez," He gestured me over.

"Hm?" I approached him till I was next to him, but he gestured closer. I leaned forward, "Wha-" Suddenly, he threw his hand down on my head and ruffled my hair ruffly, "Wha-!" He laughed and patted my head like Dad used to.

"There, there. You did well," He told me, "You don't have to be uptight all the time," he laughed. My shoulders relaxed and expression soften as he continued to pat my head. "I'm glad you didn't get hurt to bad," I looked down.

"I still have more to improve..." I muttered.

"No, I think your already strong enough," He told me, "Putting that aside, how's school?"

Crap... he asked...

"Eh- Yeah, it's fun..."

If you count being isolated from the classroom, eating lunch all by yourself and everyone afraid of you, Yeah, it's fun.

"Do you have friends?"

"A few..."

Correction: None

"Really, that's good," he said with a smile as he leaned back on to the headboard of the bed,

"Are you feeling okay?" I asked, "I mean, to be sitting up," I glanced at the untouched food, "You haven't been eating lately,"

"I just don't get hungry lately,"

"That's not good," He patted my head,

"I'll be fine," he told me. Then his small alarm went off, "It's already this late? Time flies," I sighed and got up,

"I'll head home now,"

"Already?"

"Yeah, Shishou wanted to talk to me about something,"

"Just call him Ojii-chan,"

"Okay," I walked to the door, "I'll come back tomorrow,"

"Okay, be careful,"

"I'll try," I waved at my brother and smiled before I left the hospital. Looking back once more, I saw him waving from the window. Giving a light smile, I waved back and headed home.

As I walked up the gray stone steps, to the large gates, I opened one side of the gates and blocked a kick to the face. Letting out a sigh, I looked up at the Asian man with his eyes closed.

"You're late, Ojou."

"Oh, Wei. You're already back? I thought you were going to back next month?"

"Yes, yes," He put his leg down, "That was at plan, but things were changed," He told me, "And it was the only way to get away from Renfa,"

"So you ran away again." He turned to me.

"Putting that aside, The master is waiting for you."

"Okay, but," I put my hand on my growling stomach, "If I'm hungry, I cannot fight a battle."

Wei let out a sigh and threw a bag at me, "Try to hold your hunger with that," he told me before walking in to the house.

"'Kay," I took a bite of spicy curry and bread, "Oh, it's good." Following after Wei, I walked in to the entrance, "I'm home," I called.

"Welcome home!" Hinata called out as she walked out of the room next to the entrance, "AH! Hina wants a bite!"

I took the bread, "It's spicy," But she took a big bite and smiled,

"Yummy!" She told me, but she immediately ran, "Mama! Water!" I sighed,

"Told you so,"

"Aoi-chan," Mamiru called, "Okaeri,"

"Tadaima," I took my sneakers off and stepped on to the wooden floors.

"How was Atsushi?"

"He hasn't been eating," I walked past him, "He's getting thinner."

"I see..." I headed to the parlor. Walking in, I saw my Grandfather talking to another man.

"Shishou," I called, "I have come home."

"Oh, welcome home, Aoi. Come sit,"

Sitting down across from him and polietly bowed to the guest, "What did you want me to talk about, Shishou?"

My grandfather brushed his long beard and nodded, "Yes," He took a big gulp from his tea, "Aoi, up remember Jinnouchi Mansuke-san?"

"Yes," I replied nonchalantly.

"The, this summer go with the Ikezawa Family to the Jinnouchi House," he ordered.

"Eh?"

"Oh, what a good idea," Wei joined in the conversation. "You don't have any plans, right."

"Y-yes... but, I have to train."

"You should take a break for once and relax."

"A true warrior does not need a break," Wei sighed.

"You really are Yamato's child," he muttered.