Chapter 1
Whimpers and loud whines were the first thing I heard, coming out of my dreamless sleep. The foul odor of smoke filled my nostrils when I took a deep breath, and I coughed loudly as it burned my lungs. My eyes slowly opened, I was forcing them to so I could see what the hell was going on. Ekitai was perched on my stomach, staring at me with her frightened blue-green eyes. She was agitated, trying to wake me up as she licked my face in urgency.
"What's up with you?" I muttered, stroking her head. She barked, then jumped off the bed and waited for me to do the same. I yawned, coughing, and my eyes were finally coming into focus. I looked at the wall of the hall, and a dark, writhing shadow was growing larger as I sat there paralyzed. There was an immense heat as I got dressed, and the flames grew quickly. Scared, I grabbed all of my things in a rush... I didn't have that much. Stuffing it all in a bag, I broke my window and jumped out of it, landing on my feet like some cat would, ignoring the glass that threatened to cut me. My dog followed, gliding with her small blue wings. I ran, in spite of my need to stay there and do something about the destruction of my home. I paused about twelve yards away, confused. Where was Miso? I suddenly felt dread and worry as I ran back to the direction of the house I once lived in. The fire hadn't reached the front door yet, and I was surprised. I was about to push it open when I discovered the note taped to it. Without thinking, I reached for it. Then I ran, instinct telling me that if I didn't get out, the fire would burn me alive. I somehow knew that my dad was no longer within those walls.
That was what happened, up 'till now. Now I'm just running around like some lost stray, blindly searching for a comfortable place to stay. The village of Konoha was all around me, enveloped in the night that would be broken by the light of the sun hours from now. The cold that was pinching my skin now would soon be replaced by the warmth of it as well. I strained to hear any sound that wasn't made by my footsteps, my heavy breathing, and Ekitai's paws against the pavement. The only friend we had right then was the moon, as it's silvery light replaced that of the fire's own yellow, and guided us to a friendly home that was oh-so familiar to me. Exhausted, I put my hands on my knees, breathing slightly hard. Ekitai insulted me, by her small figure appearing to have taken no toll at all from the workout we just experienced. I glared at her in envy, and she twitched her ears, her eyes full with pure innocence and a speck of tease. As I lifted my hand to knock on my friend's door, it opened, and a woman was revealed to let out a cat. She gasped and screamed slightly at the sight of me. Startled, I had nearly fallen over Ekitai's small figure as I took a few steps backward. But she relaxed when she recognized my face, and gave me an incredious look.
"Teima Ryuka," she scolded, hands on her hips. "Just what do you think you're doing at this time of night?" Her pretty long black hair was flipped so that it didn't remain in her face, and I lifted my head to see the defiant look of Nara Shikamaru's mother. I shrugged, not exactly knowing what to say. I came here out of ..well...I guess you could call it instinct, but I really had no idea why I dragged myself here. Shikamaru's mother sighed, and opened the door to let me in.
"Shikamaru and his father are playing Shogi in the kitchen, they're being stubborn about giving up on this game. Now if you don't mind, I'm going back to sleep. I'll talk to you in the morning." She really did seem tired, with droopy eyes she warily looked at me.
"Right..Sleep in, it looks like you need it." I bowed, showing her my respect and gratitude for allowing me into her home so late at night. I checked the clock, and my eyes widened with surprise as I realized that it was nearly midnight. Normally, Shikamaru would be sleeping. Sleeping defined him, if anyone ever asked. I wandered into the kitchen, and Shikamaru and his father were so focused they didn't even notice me as I sat down next to them.
"Shika---" He jumped, scaring me as his arms flung towards my face. I ducked, thankful for my reflexes. He whirled around, and relaxed a little when he recognized me. Sheesh, what's his issue. You'd think he'd at least be aware of my stepping into the room, or hearing his mother's voice at the door, being the Chunin that he is.
"T-Teima?! What the HELL are you doing in my kitchen!?" I glanced at his father. He was staring at me stupidly, but when he caught sight of my looking at him, he shrugged carelessly.
"Shikamaru, this is why you shouldn't have a woman for a best friend. They're such a pain," I turned, and slapped his arm. "Ow!" He glared at me dully and rubbed his sore spot.
Relaxed now, my friend sighed, then laughed at his father's pain.
"Watch what you say, she wont let you insult women like that.. troublesome as that is.." I turned and punched his arm lightly, a warning.
"Anyway, before I get insulted again, I'm here because...er..." I searched for better words, but I found none, so I bluntly said the stupid ones. "My house caught fire." Shikamaru stared, and his dad raised an eyebrow at my words. He replied smartly.
"Hmm... I wonder who could have possibly set it on fire. Maybe, just maybe, it could be someone who ... Oh, I don't know... Barged into someone's house at midnight?!" I glared at him, and Shikamaru stepped on his foot. He knew better, I was being serious.
"Teima, who did this..?" I shrugged, unaware of who could have possibly wanted to have me burn alive. Wait! The note! I dug through my pockets, and found the folded piece of paper that might give me a clue that would help me make sense of this mess. It was in scrawled handwriting...my father's, unmistakably. That was his home that was burned down, as well as mine. Why would he..?
' Teima,
I hope you find this; I don't know if you're dead or not. But if you do come across this letter..
Kabuto came for me. Most likely because Orochimaru wanted the demon that is inside of me. He told me to write this to you, as a favor to Orochimaru's wishes. He says that you have exactly a year to recover me. But don't do this, Teima, don't! I don't want you killed! I don't know what they'll do to you, because you never know, it could be YOU that they're after! Don't act rashly. I know you, Teima, and you'll want to come find me... but... before you do so, become much, much stronger. This all could be a tr'
The letter ended there. I could visibly see the water reaching my eyes, and anger creeping over my body as my hands shook. Overloaded, tear drops hit the paper. Knowing that Kabuto probably forced him to stop there, I folded it up slowly. I hate myself. Shienna... A vivid image came to my mind, Shienna's face. One of my first friends ever, besides Uchiha Sasuke and Nara Shikamaru. I always hung out with them alone, they weren't too fond of each other. It's all my fault she left. I let it slip that she had a monster inside of her. My dreams...or nightmares, rather, consisted of the same material :
Ino and Sakura were right in my face. I was on the ground, glaring with fierceness up at them, my lips pursed so that I couldn't say anything.
'Spit it out!' Ino had said, twisting my wrists and they threatened to snap. Sakura was shyly agreeing with whatever Ino said..
'Yeah, Teima, tell us what in the world Shienna is! You know better than anyone!' They knew she was different.. and Ino agreed with Sakura. I was writhing, my small body twisting in Ino's grasp. I knew I couldn't escape, and they'd find out anyway... maybe... it was okay that I told? Only two people, right?
'She...has a demon inside of her.. You know.. like Naruto..' Ino let go of me, shocked and scared. Sakura was backing away, frightened. I knew I had made a mistake. I got up as fast as I could and ran after them, shouting not to tell anyone. I knew it was useless. They spread the word, and within the next week, Shienna was gone.
This was all truth, a true story. Now my father is gone because of me as well.
"DAMNIT!" I shouted, slamming my fist on the Nara family's table, turning it over and ruining their game. Shikamaru placed his hand on my shoulder, and I turned to face him. He was faintly surprised at the crimson that my eyes now were. Ever since I was born, when I was angry... My eyes would go crimson. I really understood none of it, but by now Shikamaru was used to it.
"Teima...tell me what's wrong." He said this as a demand, but he said it carefully, choosing the right words as though I were fragile. At this point, I knew that I was on the verge of having some kind of fit, hitting myself and calling myself the worst names possible. My father. Shienna was one thing.. she was a friend. But my father. This is all going too far. What, in the seven hells, had I done to make Kabuto take him away from me? He was my security blanket. As long as he's in Konoha and safe, I would be fine. Now, he's in the unknown, with Kabuto and Orochimaru, and most likely, Uchiha Sasuke. Another friend I failed to prevent from going away. I knew he seeked power, and that I could do nothing to stop him, but that was so so so stupid of me. I could have told him something! This, is probably the reason why I was clinging to Shikamaru like a tick at the moment.
"Don't..you...leave..me...too.." I was forcing these words through my gritted teeth, then was comforted as my best friend pulled me into a hug.
"I wont, Teima, it's alright. Now can you please tell me what the hell is up? I may be somewhat smart, but I can't figure out what could possibly be---" He stopped there as I shoved the note onto his chest. I had let go, and was trying to get a grip on myself. A wave of shame and guilt swept over me as I gazed down at the mess of the Nara family's kitchen table.
"I'm...sorry about the table," I muttered, offering Shikamaru's father help in lifting the table back to it's original place. Unexpectedly, I recieved a grieving hug from Shikamaru.
"Teima, tomorrow you must report this to Tsunade-sama. We'll get your father back." He whispered this in my ear, his sweet breath on my neck. I nodded, and after a few minutes of just sitting there he let me go. "You can sleep in my room tonight, Tei," He suggested, and I nodded. He gave me the note back and told his dad goodnight. I apologized again, more coherently, for the barging in and wrecking their game of Shogi. The man of the house nodded and smiled.
"You're welcome here any time of the day, Teima. You're like family here." I smiled back, and followed Shikamaru into his room.
"Teima, you take the bed," He said as he layed out his sleeping bag on the floor. I looked at him like he was an idiot.
"What? No! It's your bed," I protested. He looked at me with tired eyes, examining my own exhausted face. Still being a rebel, I sat down onto his sleeping bag with a "PLOP OKAY THIS IS MINE NOW YOU TOUCH IT YOU DIE" manner. He sighed. "Why are you being such a pain in the ass?" It was a rhetorical question. He knew how stubborn I was. Giving in, he looked at me with a mock-put-out face.
"I'm trying to be a good host, and here you are, making me look like some kind of mean guy."
"Well, that's too bad then. Looks like you'll be the mean guy tonight. I plan on being the innocent woman." I grinned, playing his game. He scowled.
"Good night then," he rolled over in his bed, giving me the sign that he wanted to sleep.
"Night," I whispered. It was a few long minutes before I realized something, and I gasped.
"Tei..." He groaned. "What'd you forget."
"Where's Ekitai?!" I panicked, I never spent too long without my faithful companion. My eyes scanned the room, and I didn't see a small snow-white dog with a curl at the top of her head, along with a blue stripe going from her forehead and covering her tail. There's a white blotch at the tip, and she wore a green collar that beheld a blue and green feather. Small blue wings protruded from her shoulders, and were only large enough when I gave her some of my chakra and she transformed into a wolf so that she could fly, and become an awesome fighting partner. Shikamaru didn't seem to find the prospect of my dog not being here very worry-worthy at all.
"I don't know. Look, Tei, you'll see her in the morning. She always comes back, you know that. Now go to sleep. I'll let you sleep in tomorrow morning." The last words became jumbled up as he began to lose consciousness. I relaxed, knowing he was right. She would come back, she always does. Closing my icy-blue eyes, I greatly welcomed the darkness that came over me.
