Through Out Life

By, Tsubaki

Home Sweet Home

Chapter 1

Tsubaki's P.O.V.

For me it was just another day in my village. My name is Tsubaki, I'm 16 years old, and I have long wavy brown hair and am built just for the fields. I live in a small farming village in the Land of Fire. My dad and I were out in the field like every other day and my mom was, once again, trapped in the village medical tent. My village is a small one that is not on any of the maps so we don't have ninja like the other villages.

We had finished for the day so I told my dad that I was going over to my cousin's house. My cousin's name is Neko; she's 17 and has neck length brunette hair that waves at the bottom. Her mom, dad and sister lost their lives not even a year ago in a fire that had started during a drought. Neko is not strong enough to work in the fields but no one cares 'cause thanks to her we have someone to watch the kids as we work.

As I walked in I called to Neko "Hey Neko its Tsubaki how was your day with the kids."

Neko walked out of her room "They were fine it was a bit of work but I'm used to it" she said. "Are you staying for dinner?" Neko asked as she looked over at me.

"Sure I guess what you are making?" I asked as I headed toward the kitchen.

"What else but you favorite, Ramen, of course" she stated as we walked into the small kitchen with enough chairs the two of us.

"YES, Neko you so rock. I swear that god himself created ramen just for us." I said very cheerfully as she went to finish cooking our dinner and I set the table.

Neko finished and got two bowls down and put the servings in and set them at the table just us." I looked at her as if she was crazy but sighed after she gave me a look that said not to fight it. "I guess your right as always." After that we ate in silent and when we finished I washed and put away the dishes. After I put the dishes away I looked outside and it was getting dark "I better get going before dad sends the search party again. See you tomorrow Neko." I gave my cousin a quick hug and headed home.

When I got home dad was pacing, again, but I didn't see mom. When dad saw me he started to yell "YOU KNOW BETTER THEN TO STAY OUT TILL DARK, TSUBAKI. WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN I WAS ABOUT TO SEND THE SEARCH PARTY." I just stared at him "I told you I was going to eat dinner at Neko's house tonight. If you were so worried dad you could have come over to get me when it started to get dark out earlier." My dad sighed "yeah I know but then you would get mad at me for babying you. Since your brother died in the fire with Neko's family I've been a bit over protective. I just don't want to lose you like I did him."

Just as dad finished mom walked in still covered in blood from helping clean the children's wounds when she as at the hospital. "what's all the yelling about this time?" she asked "I came home a little late after having dinner with Neko and dad was freaking since it was dark when I got back" I said. Mom sighed and looked at dad "dear you need to have more trust in your daughter." "I do, it's the other people in the village I don't trust." I sighed and looked at my mom "I'm going to bed see you in the morning." Mom smiled at me "ok, sleep well." Then I headed for bed.

As I lay in bed I started to look back to the day of the fire one year ago. A few weeks before the fire a drought had started and it was too hot to start a flame for any reason at all. Everyone knew the rule so we don't know who set up the fire but they set my house on fire. My mom and dad were working to harvest what they could and I was with Neko out hunting. At the time I had a younger brother named Kyuu who looked very different and you couldn't tell we were related at all. He had red hair that went just passed his ears and was 7 when he died. Well now I'm off track Kyuu was home alone at the time the fire started and Neko's parents and sister ran in to save whoever they could. Although when they got in all the ways out had collapsed and they died. Neko and I had gotten back before they died and all I saw was Kyuu in his room trying to get out. If Neko hadn't held me back I would be dead myself because I would have charged in there like a bull to save Kyuu. By the time I had gotten out of her grip the house was nothing but ash and all we had was the four burnt bodies too bury.

I started to cry again as I finished thinking about that day. 'If only could have saved them' I kept thinking to myself. Soon I cried myself to sleep and when I woke it was time to go to work. I got dressed in my normal white knee length shorts and a white short sleeved shirt. When I was dressed I headed to the kitchen and started to cook eggs and toast for the three of us.

Right after I finished mom and dad walked in. "how did you sleep Tsubaki?" mom asked. "I slept well but I dreamed about the fire again." I replied. "It is getting close to that time isn't it?" my dad said. I just looked at my eggs "yeah" I gave them each a plate and we sat down to eat. When we all finished mom headed for the medical tent and my dad and I headed for the fields. Although I had a bad feeling that something was on the way and it wasn't going to turn out well.