Smoke billowed toward the sky, prevailing as the fire burned on. Screams tore through the air, people begging and pleading for a release, a freedom they never thought they would get. No one was coming for them. Sweat poured down the back of her neck as she rushed to the scene. This was her family, her village, her home. Everything she had ever been through had happened in this once beautiful place. Fear rushed through her body as she neared the place she had once loved so dear. She couldn't let her family die. Not like this, not ever like this.
"Maia!' she heard her mother shriek from somewhere in their home. Tears streamed down her face as she punched at the wall of the building, her fists full of the chakra she always kept on reserve. Her mother was calling for her. Her mother needed her. The screams were dying slowly but surely, only a few could be heard anymore.
"Mother! I'm almost there!" she exclaimed, continuing to pummel in the wall of her old home. The screams of her younger siblings died along with their souls. Maia was too late for them, but she would save her mother. Her mother was all she had now. Maia's father had left them ages ago. The tears continued to fall as Maia punched at the wall, all of her energy going into saving her mother.
"M…Maia," her mother's voice trailed off as the smoke from the fire took her life. Maia wailed and with one last punch, gave all she had and broke the wall before her. Leaping into the room, Maia bore witness to the mass death of her family, the guests they must've had that night and the last breath her mother gave before leaving the world forever. She ran over to her and pulled her lifeless body into her arms.
"Mother… please, don't go," Maia cried, holding her mother's body to hers. The tears wracked her body as she held her now dead mother. This couldn't be happening to her. Why hadn't she been there? Why had she left to visit the Hidden Leaf? She should've stayed. The word got out to her even, that her village was going to be attacked. They had been after her, why hadn't she been there? She could've saved them. She could've saved all of them. "Please mother, I love you," she whispered into an ear that would never hear again. Taking a deep breath through her biting tears, Maia laid her mother's body down and stood up. She walked over to her little brother, who would've been so handsome growing up. Kneeling in front of his small body, Maia sobbed. She kissed his forehead and moved on to her younger sister. She was so adorable. Always finding the silliest things outside. Why? They had both been so young.
"Maia," a voice called out. Looking away from her sister, Maia stood up. She didn't look in the direction of the voice, instead ran out of the building through the hole she'd created. She needed to get out. "Maia!" Shaking her head, Maia continued to run. She needed her escape. And she needed it now. The tears came again, stronger this time, blurring her vision. Maia needed to get far away from this place. She didn't want to hear the everlasting screams of her mother as she died slowly from the smoke. The cries from her siblings as they too died alongside their mother, she couldn't bear it.
"Master," that was her voice. Maia stopped running abruptly. She didn't hear anyone following her. Instead, she let the voice inside her head speak. "I can help you. Protect you from the pain," something Maia wanted more than anything. "Just let me take control," Maia shook her head at this. She couldn't let Rubi have control. Maia would never gain control again if that happened. "It would only be for a moment and you won't remember a thing," the temptation surged through her. Maia wanted nothing more than to forget this night. Forget that it was her fault her family had perished in their own home. If she had just stayed…
"Do it Rubi," moments later, a scream tore through Maia's throat. Rubi was taking control. This was her job, to protect and defend her master. Mist shrouded her body as the beautiful disaster took over. Maia, as if in an out of body experience, saw the memories in her mind playing backward. It was as if they were being erased from her mind. Fatigue plagued her now, the sorrow and pain being wiped from her mind, the memories lost to time. Only Rubi knew where they would go. And just like that, Maia didn't remember a thing about her life. She didn't know her name, how old she was, where she came from. None of it was in her head anymore. The mist dispersed and Maia fell to the ground, allowing herself to be swallowed by the darkness that was sleep.
"Be well master, I will return when you need me most," Rubi whispered as Maia's last drop of consciousness left her.
A crack of thunder sounded throughout the region, waking Maia from her sleep. She opened her eyes, blinking through the steady rain fall. Her vision was blurry, but she could make out the outline of trees and bushes around her. Where was she? Why was she outside in the rain, she could catch a cold. In the distance she heard people yelling for someone named Maia and wondered if they were okay. Groaning, she sat up and put her hand to her forehead, cold metal met her skin and she gasped at the feeling. Feeling to the back of her head, she realized that she must have been wearing a headband. But why? Untying it, Maia took it off and brought it to her eyes to inspect it.
"Lady Yomanai!" the yells came closer and Maia got scared. It seemed as if they were talking to her. Lady Yomanai? Who was that? It seemed to her that she was important. "Over here! I found her!" Someone came running at her, thus causing Maia to flinch. "Lady Yomanai, are you okay?" blinking up at him, Maia felt confusion rush through her. She was the girl they were searching for? The man before her was dressed in black, a mask covering most of his face up to his nose. There was but one stripe of color on what seemed to be a uniform. A diagonal line of electric blue went across his chest. The color was different for the other people that came rushing. The man before her took her hand and helped her up, hugging her to his chest. She was the last of them all.
"Who, are you?" she asked them. He pushed her lightly away from him, his hands still on her shoulders.
"You mean, you don't know who we are?" he asked her. Maia lightly shook her head and looked at the other two people that had come looking for her. One of them began crying, falling into the arms of the other. The man holding her shoulders shook his head and hugged her tight again. "Do not fear my Lady, we are here to protect you," he whispered to her. Hoping to sooth her fear and confusion. He could sense her emotions and knew how terrified she was. "I am Masami. I am your guardian," and with that, he took her hand, left the embrace and lead her to the others. The one that had been crying immediately hugged her, flattening her soaked hair to her scalp.
"Do not fear my Lady, I will not let anyone harm you," the woman whispered. "My name is Katsumi." Pulling out of the hug, Katsumi kissed Maia on the cheek and let the last guardian take her hand.
"I am Tomomi, my Lady Yomanai," he kissed her hand and bowed to her. "The three of us are all that's left of your Guardian Court, and we will take any means to keep you safe." Maia looked at the three Guardians before her and felt a slight sense of relief. She was going to be protected, that was nice to know. But why on earth had she been out here? Why had she woken up to pouring rain on her face and body? And why was there a faint scent of smoke lingering in the air around her?
"Thank you," Maia began. So many questions were spinning through her mind. "But if you don't mind, who am I?" she asked them. Masami, Katsumi, and Tomomi looked at each other, a silent message passing between them. It was obvious they knew something that Maia didn't. Masami turned back to Maia and sighed.
"It seems that you don't remember anything," Katsumi smacked him on the arm, giving him a glare.
"What he means to say darling, is that, you've been through a lot tonight. And some part of you just didn't want you to remember." She explained. Maia nodded and looked about her surroundings. Everything was so surreal. There was silence aside from the rainfall and murmurs going between her Guardians.
"Your name is Maia Yomanai, and you are the sole survivor of the Yomanai clan." Yomomi stated bluntly. Maia didn't know what that meant for her, but she figured it wasn't good. Honestly, it meant that she needed three Guardians. "We've been left in charge of your safety and well-being if the situation ever called for it. And lady Yomanai, if there were ever a time, it is now." He told her. Maia looked down at the ground underneath her. She couldn't believe this.
"Lady Yomanai, it is of great necessity that we get you to safety." Masami told her. Maia nodded and took his outstretched hand. In a matter of moments, Maia was hoisted onto his back and the four of them were running away from the village that Maia used to call home. Of course, she wasn't aware that it used to be her home. All she knew was the her name was Maia Yomanai and that she, a thirteen year old girl, was the sole survivor of the Yomanai clan.
Okay well that was chapter one 3 I hope you guys liked it! Umm, read and review? It's been a super long time since I've written a fanfic, so please give me you thoughts! Seriously guys, I've got up to chapter six written, but I find myself not wanting to write without reviews. I need to know what you guys think! So please, please review! Thank you!
X0X0, Alaska