Darkness. It was so dark. But, she thought, not frightening. As she became aware of the surrounding darkness, the girl was also becoming aware of a noise. It was a steady beat…like a steady drumming. It was slowly invading her every thought…until that's all she was aware of. This beating drum in this warm darkness. It was so safe and warm….such content.
But now there was another sound. Surprised, the girl moved in her contained space, trying to listen. "It is almost time to welcome your little one. Soon Kurenai!"
With a gasp, Hataru awoke. It took her a moment to realize where she was and that the darkness was in fact, just her bedroom. She was in her own apartment. With a sigh, the girl looked around. Despite the dark, Hataru could easily see that her bedroom was small yet tidy. The girl had learned from an early age that being neat made life a lot easier when rushed and looking for something. In the corner by the door was a bag already packed for her mission come morning. She sighed. Never a break for a member of the ANBU unit. A least not if you were a ninja in the Village Hidden in the Leaves.
Glancing at a clock, Hataru discovered she only had about an hour before she would need to be up anyway. Might as well get an early start, she thought to myself. Getting out of bed, She grabbed her uniform and took a nice hot shower; the last in a while. Then Hataru cooked up some breakfast, double checked her bag and decided she could head to see the Hokage for her mission.
With her bag on her shoulder, Hataru took to the streets of the village. Not many people were out yet. The sun was just making a showing and most were having a lie in since it was Saturday. The walk to the Hokage's tower gave her ample time to think about her dream.
Strange. And unnerving. And so not going to happen. She sighed. Most people would wonder about the dream and dismiss it and correctly so. After all, it is impossible for people to be born from a mother's womb a second time. But Hataru was not the average Shinobi or ninja. She was Harukian. And not just Harukian but the Heir herself; heir to Haruka's throne. And that just created a whole set of can and cannots for her. So, in the right set of circumstances, it may be entirely possible for one of such blood. It was a scary thought. I mean puberty…again?! No thanks.
She shuddered just thinking about it. She was only 12 and already in the midst of this disgusting phase. She had no desire to start again. But the dream had been so real. And so comforting. A familiar feeling rose up within Hataru. It was a feeling of such yearning that she wanted to cry. She had no memory of what it was to be loved, as all children should be. There were nothing but memories of pain and heart break. Parents died soon after her birth, pushed into one safe house and then another until coming to the village; that was 2 years ago. It was dangerous for a Harukian to be on their own for so long. They were so strong that only the parents could hope to teach and control their children. Growing up as Hataru had, she had had to teach herself and wasn't as capable of controlling herself as she should be.
"Hataru! You're here early," came a sudden voice.
She looked up in surprise. Hataru had already reached the tower while deep in thought. Shizune, the Hokage's assistant was balancing a stack of books and struggling with the door. Blinking, she hurried to open the door and then followed Shizune down the hall to the Hokage's office. She put on her ANBU mask, a wolf, before walking in to face Lady Tsunade, the fifth Hokage.
Lady Tsunade was sitting at her large wooden desk, a pile of scrolls and books piled precariously around her. Shizune walked over and set her stack of books on the desk and then stood waiting to the side. Hataru took a knee before the desk and waited to be acknowledged.
"You are here early, Wolf. I know the ANBU are supposed to be prompt but you put everyone else to shame," Tsunade said, turning her eyes upon the girl.