DISCLAIMER : I do not own any anime, or any of the characters I used that were part of the anime.
This is a ~Rewritten~ work. All reviews made before 11/13/2016 are based off the original written work. This story has constantly twirled in my mind for years, and I've finally gotten around to rewriting this arc, correcting some plot holes, details, and other matters that had bothered me from my original piece. I invite both those who have previously read through this work and those new to come and enjoy the story as it unfolds and know that I intend to bring this tale to a proper ending. As always please R&R!
PS : This is an Alternate Universe tale since the Naruto story line has expanded past when I'd been working on this and taking several characters in vastly different directions.
Chapter 1
Darkness.
Searing pain across her frame was the only reminder that she was still alive. Wary eyes peered open ever slowly, light bluish lavender orbs settling over the distinct layout of her prison. Dank stone walls surrounded her on all sides but one. The exception was the large thick metal bars that locked her within. As the haze of her exhaustion began to clear memories returned. She was HIS captive. That man, if one could truly call him such.
Footsteps echoed through the halls, the faint sound of voices growing ever louder. Knees curled back towards her chest tightly, thin and frail arms wrapping around her knees as long scraggly hair fell down around her face and covering it from view. Praying, she waited for the sounds to pass, arms tightening around her frame with each step that echoed from the halls. She was still and quiet in the darkness, hidden like a large lump of oddly shaped rocks while the two ninja passed her cell without so much as a glance.
Just as the echoing footsteps had grown in sound they faded back into darkness just as quickly. The girls' arms fell slack at her side with tears rolling down across her cheeks. She was safe. For now…
Her body fell back against the rock wall behind her, head lifting with teary eyes. It was the same cell she'd been in for the last seven months. Water dripped down from the ceiling of the prison, above covered in holes and chips in the stone from her many attempts at escape. Some of the metal bars were covered in nicks and cuts though in the end it had done her little good.
Four times she'd made her escape from those dank dirty walls, feet flying down the halls only to end up lost in the labyrinth that the structure made. Three times she'd not made it more than a few yards from her cell. Only once did she find herself in an open room that she didn't recognize. Every attempt had landed her back in that same cell, worse off than the last time.
Her arms lifted with a rattling sound, the black haired girl giving a hiss of pain as they were pulled into view. Her whole body was sore from head to toe, covered in more cuts, bruises, and healing fractured bones but nothing compared to the pain that was emanating from her wrists. Blood crusted wounds covered her fore arms, signs of her attempts to break the recent restraints that bound her.
Bracing herself back against the wet wall as comfortably as was possible, she stared up at the ceiling, her hazy mind replaying the events that had landed her into this dire mess. She had been on a mission assigned by the Hokage herself, Tsunade. The mission had only been ranked under a C class; to track down a common thief. Skilled in his profession, the thief had caused a great deal of trouble for a wealthy couple in the Fire Country, even making off with some family heirloom of substantial value.
The mission was ordinary enough, more money being spent on having Ninja from the Leaf Village deal with the matter rather than local authorities, and what was more, Shino was with her. The two tracked the thief down in a forest just outside the Fire Country's borders. The problem was that it was neither Shino nor herself who had put the thief down. The fool thought he could pick pocket the wrong guy from the looks of things, and in turn found himself on the ground gasping for air. Unfortunately for the pair, when they found the robber, they were also staring at a familiar man with light colored hair, and round glasses. Kabuto.
Footsteps returned again, chatter echoing down the halls. Quickly Hinata closed her eyes, head ducking down in hopes that she would be safe once more. As if death was hovering through the dark dungeon with a steel gaze that could pierce through the soul of the most valiant of warriors, the raven haired girl held her breath in hopes that her existence would go unseen. For the second time since she'd regained consciousness the footsteps faded back into darkness, the ninja passing by the hall and heading elsewhere into the dungeons dark depths.
With a grateful sigh of relief she tried once more to break the bonds that held her, taking advantage of the silence. The chains rattled violently in the still air, shaking and clattering, but they did not give way to her struggles. Falling back against the wall again, tears once more welled up in her eyes, mind returning to days prior.
Kabuto had been too quick and experienced, even against her and Shino. He'd been struck in his leg with a kunai shortly after being affected with some kind of poison from Shino's bugs, but his medical training was formidable. It was unusual that the effects had lasted as long as they had. Despite their moment of advantage, Kabuto continued to come at them, or specifically at her. He whirled around Hinata, chakra blade swinging with speed and efficiency that she couldn't match even with the Byakugan. His knee met with her stomach, body doubling over from the impact. Shooting pain radiated from her neck only a moment later, and then everything simply faded.
Her world went black, and when she awoke, she was for the first time investigating the same dark cell she resided in now. Kabuto assured her that Shino was dead, but she couldn't believe it. No. She wouldn't believe it. Even in her dire circumstances, with all hope fading she refused to believe Shino could have been killed by Kabuto. It was a hope that was slowly fading when she glanced at the small niches in the wall, markings that kept track of time. In seven months there hadn't been so much as an attempted rescue.
In all those months of captivity she'd endured more torture than she ever wanted to remember. Torn from her cell only to be taken to a room full of vials, tubes, burners, and other equipment that she couldn't name. Treated like a lab rat she was sedated; pumped full of drugs of many kinds, and her stray thoughts only touched the surface of her suffering. Any amount of time between when they decided to come for her again was sanctuary.
Drawing her knees back up to her chest she bowed her head once more. She was alone in that dark prison, not a soul to be found, yet she still felt the need to hide the tears that came. She wanted to cover the anguish of lost hope that laid in the depth of her eyes. Nothing would have made her happier than finding a way out. Any way out. Going back home to the village, or running as far away in any direction, she would have taken either.
She was so consumed in her anguish and wishes that she didn't see the young girl standing in the corner of her cell. A girl who looked no more than the age of ten and who should have been standing next to her mother as she walked down the street. Bubbly and cheery smile on her face as she asked for candy or pulled on her mother's arm. Despite the oddity of her appearance and the distant look on her face, she remained in the corner of the cell, a strange glow emanating from her form like something that fell out of the dreams of the raven haired girl.
The suns hung high in the afternoon sky, clouds floating across the blue sky overhead lazily while kids ran about the streets with laughter as they played near the water fountain. A bright and beautiful day like today brought out many of the townspeople, city bustling by with the market fair as lively as ever across the desert ground. The smell of fresh food filled the air, girls fawning over jewelry, chatter between neighbors, and kids begging for the newest toys or sweetest tastes were but a few of the activities across the town.
"Vash wait up!"
"These doughnuts look like they're fresh!"
"You betcha, I don't sell anything less sonny."
The bright red over jacket caught attention from the townsfolk as he passed by, some staring at the bewildered antics while others laughed at the tall blonde. He was hovering over the stand, a bright and smug smile over his face. "All right! I would like a dozen please- No, make it two dozen!"
"You're going to get fat!" The short haired girl scoffed, arms crossed over her chest as a foot tapped against the sand. The short cropped hair cut framed around her face in a way that made the glare more menacing, eyes locked onto the out of control blonde.
"But Meryl, I'm hungry!"
The woman gave a heavy sigh, already fed up with his behavior. Her shoulders fell, hand lifting up to her forehead. The tall man was giving the most pitiful of a pout he could. It was like kicking a puppy. "Alright, alright. Don't blame me though if your clothes stop fitting!"
His mood changed almost instantly, eyes sparkling as his gaze turned back to the woman behind the stand. The baker's grin was equally as bright, exchanging the sale of her products while Vash openly complained about the cost.
"I don't get why you dragged me out here for this." The rough etched voice came from the man who stood several feet back from the others, as if afraid he'd catch some sort of plague that they were both carrying. An obnoxious red shirt and black pants covered his well-built frame, though neither of which seemed of his own choosing. His hair was noticeably shorter and lighter in color than Vash's. Still, the similarities between the two were uncanny, especially in their height.
Vash gave a scowl, box in one hand and a doughnut in the other. With a wave of his hand he brought the freshly baked doughnut in front of his brother's nose. "Come on Knives, lighten up and have some fun." A flash of anger flared in his eyes, as if he had already reached his limit and had only been waiting for that last push. Knives slammed his hand down against his brother's, the round pastry hitting the dirty sand and bouncing off out of sight. Like a screeching girl, Vash chased after the lost morsel, tears swelling in his eyes. "What was that for!?"
"You're such a moron! How did I even lose to you!?"
"Vash!"
His face contorted into something that looked unnatural and inhuman, the humanoid typhoon staring at his dark and brooding twin. Again his name was called out, the blond turning his gaze towards the short black haired woman with pleading eyes. His brother, however, ignored the woman's call, taking advantage of his twin's back to him as he pinched and pulled at Vash's face. "Ow!- Ow!- Owwwoww!" Arms flailed against his twin's torment, eyes squinting to get a better angle at the insurance girl that had called for his attention.
Vash's vision cleared on the sight, his flailing coming to an end as he pushed his brother away and started towards the building. A young girl laid unconscious against a dark corner of the building just shy of the alleyway. Dark matted hair covered her tattered form. Fresh wounds and crusted blood covered areas where the torn clothes didn't conceal, with dirt across her face. As Vash moved closer, a concerned gaze wandered over the immediate area, eyes turning from one civilian to another before falling on the alley street next to the building. He was sure no one had been there earlier.
"Is she- ?"
Body knelt down next to the girl's, Vash pressed his fingers gingerly against her neck, the blonde giving a shake of his head. "She's still alive." With a gentle slip of his hands the tall blond pulled the tattered girl into his arms, lifting her frame up from the sandy ground.
"I'll get a doctor."
With a nod, Vash watched Meryl head into town for the local hospital before turning back to the direction they'd come from. Knives eyes narrowed then as he watched his brother's change of direction. "You're joking! You're not going to take her back to our place!"
"Our house is closer."
The blonde's body came to a stop as his brother's frame loomed over his own, blocking his path back to their house. Two sets of dark cast eyes glared at one another, neither making to budge while one was challenging the other. "You care too much for their kind. She'll die anyway. She's lost too much blood."
"You should try caring more." With the dark gaze broken, Vash stepped around his brother, the tall light haired man watching as Vash took the girl back towards their home despite him.
With a groan of frustration Knives followed his brother, muttering obscenities and other forms of insults to his idiot of a brother. Eyes were locked onto the mysterious human, anger directed both at his brother's concern and the woman who without even being conscious, managed to steal it away.
