Disclaimer: I am in no way, shape, or form making a profit with this story. Everything relating to Naruto--the characters, locations, jutsus, etc--rightfully belongs to Masashi Kishimoto but Hidama (and several others) belong to me and only me. I will point out what is mine though later on. The plot idea is a 'what if' from the joined story 'Guilty Until Innocent'.
Warnings: There will be yaoi/yuri/het pairings and might/might not be lemons. Read at your own discretion but don't bother writing a flame saying you don't like this pairing, the way I made the characters OOC and/or my own personal characters. It's not worth even reading such crack.
"Family Ties"
By: Beloved Shadow of Light
+ A Fallen Star +
The sky is so dark but even so there is light out. The stars glitter softly, as if vainly trying to hold the darkness back. I continue to wait, waiting until the clouds ever so slowly move on to reveal the moon in its fullness. I sigh deeply, closing my eyes as I feel the light beat down on me through the window. With my eyes close I can still imagine the dark velvet encrusted with glittering diamonds surrounding a gleaming pearl. Gods how I love the sky at night.
I can hear footsteps that are too heavy to be my sons but I refuse to open my eyes. I hear the chair across from me scrap along the floor, the wood creaking ever so softly as it accepts the weight. I can feel his eyes on me before looking away. Neither of us says anything but why should anything be said? After a while, I break the silence.
"The boys?" I ask quietly.
"Sleeping. I just came from checking on them," he replies.
"Good." Silence once more reigns between us but I don't care. I can hear him sigh however faint it is but I wait, with my eyes still close. I don't have to wait very long.
"Are you sure about this?" he finally asks. "The boys are excited as hell but, what makes you so certain they'll allow them to enter?"
"I have my ways." Slowly I open my eyes and look at him. Sighing I reach up and remove a long chain tucked into my loose shirt. I pull out a pendent that resembles a spiral taking the form of a leaf but it looked like it had been stained a dark red. "I was given this, a very long time ago from two brothers who saved my life and swore a blood oath to never harm me. With each new leader, they swear the same thing in order to keep my allegiance. Not once did I ask a favor for I never saw a reason to--until now."
I can tell he's curious, the way his hand twitches before slowly moving forward and hold the pendent in his fingers. I let him examine it silently but still my body grows tense at having such close contact. He looks up at me before letting it drop so it came to rest on the swell of my breasts. "We've come this far without looking back," he said finally. I just nod and slowly stand.
"You should know me by now, Zabuza; I always keep my promises." On silent feet I leave, making my way to the rooms where my sons sleep, just to check on them. I stop at the door and silently, push it open then close it behind me. The curtain had been drawn to block the light, the occupants sleeping peacefully. I silently walk up to the space between two beds and watch silently.
My kit lays in a tangle of bed sheets, sprawled out on the large bed. My lips quirk as I reached out and manage to tug the blankets free from his legs, straightening them as I cover him properly. He mutters something under his breathe but doesn't wake up. He was never one to sleep peacefully through the night but I still love him. My pup, though, is sleeping silently on his side, facing the wall across from his brother. Walking over I gently rest my hand on his shoulder. I feel the sand swirl under my feet and over my hand but I have come to expect it. His slumber is dreamless but I gently rub his shoulder and withdraw my hand. The golden grains feel rough against my skin as I retreat but I give a silent nod, watching as the sand shifts back into my pup's bed. I move to the third bed that is set against the far wall, watching as the figure sleeps silently. They say first impressions are the most important but people also say don't judge others by looks alone. The young adult sleeping there has the soft features of a young woman, long hair spread loose on the pillow, a white rabbit curled against her flat chest, also sleeping. People don't know it but this child is no girl but no one has ever bothered to ask. I gently pull the blanket over his shoulders before I pull back.
"I'll see you all in the morning. Sleep well," I whisper and silently head back to my room. Closing the door behind me I walk towards the small table, briefly noticing the Head-Cutter sword leaning against the chair. My partner is already sleeping so I make sure not to awaken him. I remove my sword and set it down next to the packs, remove my shoes followed by my pants and shirt which I toss into the nearby chair. I pick up a large silver comb carved into the shape of a crescent moon with an ivory fox set in the metal and sit on the edge of my bed, pulling my braid over my shoulder and set it loose. Slowly I run the comb through my hair, letting my mind drift back to the day this all started, the day I had escaped my nightmare and began a life anew.
A lone figure stumbled her way through the unfamiliar forest, tripping over upturned roots but it couldn't be helped. She was filthy with blood-caked dirt, the outfit she wore couldn't even be considered a rag, and her long mat was matted and tangled into a disgusting mess. But beneath the dirt and blood were bruises and broken bones. She clutched at her wrist wrapped in filthy bandages, hissing behind clenched teeth with every movement. They thought she was dead but she fooled them all. But, how could she get her revenge in her condition?
She tripped but she couldn't stop herself in time. She grunted in pain as she landed on her shoulder, jarring her injured wrist but she couldn't find the strength to get up anymore. She wanted to die, she wanted to just give up and rest but no. HE spared her, HE gave her a reason to continue living, HE gave her a mission. Pushing herself up she hissed and moved onto her knees, slowly rising but before she could take a step she heard a twig snap. She spun around quickly and felt her heart stop.
A man dressed in robes of a monk looked as startled as her but didn't dare move, even when she growled at him he refused to move. He looked to be middle-aged with no hair but his eyes were a deep forest green, reminding her of the lush fields she used to love running in at home or the man that stole her heart--she shook her head and stared him down.
"Go away," she hissed angrily, hoping he wouldn't see through her bluff. She wasn't sure if she could fight him off if he tried something but she was not giving up.
"Child, what has happened to you?" he asked, stepping forward but pulled back when she swiped her hand at him. He stayed where he was, studying her battered form. In the back of his mind he remembered seeing women in her condition, women who had been abused repeatedly but the only difference was her eyes were filled with a raging fire that threatened to consume everything in her path.
She had nothing left to offer, her reserves were used up and even if she had the power there was no way she would have been able to run away on three legs. She saw him moved and made to fight/flee but froze at the unexpected gesture.
The monk held out his hand to her. "I would say that I will not hurt you, child, but judging from the look on your face, I doubt that you'd believe me."
"And why should I?" she growled at him.
He removed a small knife from his sleeve and placed the sharp point just below his wrist. With a grunt of pain, the monk sent the blade between the two bones of his forearm.
"Upon the blood from this wound," he said, the pain evident in his voice, "I make my vow that I will not harm you in any way."
Her eyes widen as blood began to fall. He could have used that knife to hurt her, to make her suffer some more but instead he used it upon himself. He even swore a vow that he wouldn't harm her. No one had ever done that for her before but, could she trust him? What if this was a trick? She looked at the knife and could see the blood spreading. He was willing to shed his own blood for her.
The battered woman moved slowly, her body protesting in pain, and her mind screaming to get far away. She stopped before him, her damaged arm held tightly to her chest and wrapped in ragged cloth. "Can I trust your vow?" she asked slowly. "What happens when your wound heals?"
"The scar will remain as proof but, should I ever break my vow, then you may take my life as payment," he said with calmness. He didn't flinch when her icy eyes bore into his yet bit back a gasp of pain as she removed the knife, his eyes never leaving hers as she wrapped her injured hand around the gaping hole. Slowly, he covered her hand with his own, feeling his blood seep through their fingers and noting her hiss of pain at the contact. "I only wish to help. If you'll let me."
That seemed to seal the deal as she gave him the briefest of nods. "I don't need help... but I'd be a fool if I ignored a possible ally."
The comb went still as the memory fades from my mind. That monk had never once broken the vow, even to the day he died. I close my eyes but continue combing my hair, picking out the small tangles until it flowed from scalp to end, finding a small amount of joy as I run my fingers through the silken strands.
I had no name of my own but I remember one night the monk found me studying the stars intently when I should have in bed, resting and healing. We sat up most of the night, watching the stars shine their brilliance but I noticed how a star shot through the sky, silently falling to the ground below. I was that star. I had fallen, slowly losing my brilliance but unlike those that had fallen I had refused to give in. Pure or tainted I vowed that no one would ever take that away from me.
Hidama. 'Even when a star has fallen, it can still shine,' was what he told me. From that day on I was simply known by that name and that name alone.
I still remember the hellish pain as I sought to grow stronger. The first few months were difficult; having to retrain my body to accept food and water was one but the other was not to strike out at anyone who even so much as made a motion to come near me. To this day I'm still guarded but I've also learned to channel my emotions more effectively.
I pause and look at my sword. It's a simple katana blade on first appearance but this was specially made and had been given as a gift. Sharp enough to split a hair lengthwise and perfectly balanced to rest on the tip of my finger. The sheath could also be used as a weapon as I have proven to my enemies several times in the past with its sharp edge and its weight made it a good shield when times called. But that was not the only gift I received during my time recovering. I set my comb down beside me and gently finger the golden wrist guard adorning my right arm.
My wrist had been--ruined beyond all means. How could I extract my vengeance when I couldn't use my hand? How could I kill those bastards without being in pain? That's when the monk introduced to me to two brothers who would later, help me decide my future. Of course I did not trust them but not once did they give me a reason to kill them. They helped me, taught me all they knew, became my alias and before I knew it I gave them my trust. They knew what I truly was but never once judged me. I think my respect for them grew even more that day. When the healing and training had finished, I knew I was ready. I was afraid to go back, feeling that I would fail but they gave me courage to overcome my fear and even swore that if I didn't return, they would come find me and bring me back no matter the cost. I left--and returned back with my mission fulfilled. But, what could I do with my life? The slave ring was gone, those that had the sick joy of using me and many others were dead, but I would never be the same. That's when they asked me if I would now help them.
The two brothers wanted to create a village, a village where they and their "shinobi allies" could live in peace. A hidden village--of ninjas. I was surprised; I've heard of ninjas but like others I had assumed a great many things such as they were nothing than heartless assassins.
I was mistaken.
Ninjas are a lot like samurais, each holding their own code of honor. For samurais it was Bushido--the way of the warrior, for ninjas it was Nindo--their ninja way. Both fought not only for the sake of their clan but their people, their village, and their leader. I thought long and hard when they told me of their plans. What could I help them with? I was not about to become breeding-stock but they asked if I would help them train future generations. I ended up thinking long and hard about this for several months before agreeing.
I won't admit it, but I miss both those men. They were the closest I had to a family but even now, I feel they're still with me in more than one way. I lower my comb and reach up to grasp the stained pendent in my hand hard enough for the metal to bite into my skin before releasing it.
After I set the comb in my pack I run my fingers through my hair, purring very softly in my chest as I feel the silky strands caress my bare skin. I love my hair but I can never seem to cut it despite it getting caught a few times. Pulling the covers back I slip beneath them and shift a few times before I can find a comfortable position. Even with the curtains pulled close the moonlight is bright enough to shed some light in the room. It gives me some comfort and before I knew it, I had fallen into a light sleep but one thought continued to stay on my mind.
I wonder if seiyuukigot my message.
Author's Notes: As you may have noticed the POV of the story changes. This is only the prologue but it reflects on my character's thoughts. The flashbacks are done in third-person POV though since she's looking back. Also, when introducing characters I will be using their names in the formal setting. An example is "My name is Uzumaki Naruto" (last name then the first name). I will also be using some Japanese terms and write down what they mean in the AN's. I hope you like this story so please review (flames ARE NOT appreciated).
seiyūki: monkey