Shattered Memories

Prologue

Our Arrival

We had been traveling for days. We were completely exhausted. We had been running through the forest for hours and soon dawn's first light would shine through the canopies of the trees. I looked back behind me to see Sutaru slightly wavering and Kitsuchi forcing her eyes open. I stopped and they did the same.

"What's wrong Ayane?" Kitsuchi asked before a loud yawn crossed her lips. Her silver eyes were bloodshot and black underneath from lack of sleep.

"Nothing, but I think we should stop and get some sleep."

"No really, we're ok, let's just keep going." Sutaru added in.

"But guys look at us! We're practically falling over ourselves, our eyes are black and bloodshot, and not to mention the fact that our reflexes are also weakest when we're tired. If we keep going like this and get attacked we'll have no chance." Sutaru and Kitsuchi stared at the ground. I sighed.

"Please guys, just a couple of hours. I promise we won't stop until we get there after that." They both looked up at me and smiled.

"Alright fine, but where are we going to sleep?" Kitsuchi asked. I looked around and smiled and pointed up.

"Where better to stay then up in the trees? They're tall and are very well protected." Sutaru and Kitsuchi smiled at me and together we jumped to the top of the largest tree we could find. When we were up high enough where we couldn't be seen from below we all sat. Sutaru yawned causing a chain reaction that forced me to yawn then Kitsuchi.

"Alright, we'll take turns keeping watch. I nominate myself to take first watch."

"I want second." Sutaru quickly demanded. Kitsuchi sighed.

"Fine, then I guess I'll take third."

"Ok, we'll wake the next watch up every two hours. After all three of us have had our turn at watch, we'll start out again."

"But that's six hours! I thought you said we were only going to stay for a couple of hours!" Kitsuchi glared at me.

"Kitsuchi we need the sleep and you know it, now both of you go to sleep while I find the perfect spot to keep watch." Kitsuchi continued to glare then sighed. She pulled her bag under her head and soon you could hear her shallow breaths. She was fast asleep. Sutaru smiled at me and I smiled back.

"Don't stay up for all six hours Ayane. Come and wake us up when it's our turn."

"Don't worry Sutaru. I'll keep my promise and wake you up." Sutaru smiled at me one last time before she too drifted off to sleep. My stomach started to growl slightly. I pulled out my last piece of bread and broke a quarter off of it and stuffed it in my mouth. The taste of dry bread was becoming very sickly to my taste buds and I couldn't wait until I could have a nice piece of fruit or meat again. I went a couple of branches lower so that I could see the ground properly. Nothing was there. I leaned against the tree and waited, refusing to close my eyes for fear of falling asleep.

After my two hours were up I jumped back up to where Sutaru was sleeping peacefully. I shook her slightly and her bright green eyes opened.

"Your turn Sutaru." Sutaru yawned and nodded. Even though she only got two hours she looked completely well again. I couldn't wait to see what a full night's sleep would do for all of us. I lied down and soon, I too, was fast asleep.

-Sutaru-

I watched closely as Ayane slowly fell asleep. I smiled to myself and jumped down to the branch. The forest was so quiet and peaceful. It was hard to believe anything could happen here. I tensed as I heard a twig crack but relaxed as a small squirrel ran from under a bush, followed closely by a hungry fox. I couldn't stand not being able to help the poor thing, but I had to keep my watch.

As the minutes drove on I became quite bored. Two hours of sleep and I had so much energy that I couldn't use. I took my carrying case out of my backpack and opened it. All my kunai and shurikan were still there. I pulled one out that still had some blood on it. Living basically in the forest meant that we needed food and the only way to get that was to live off the land. I couldn't help but feel sorry for the animals I had to kill so we could eat. I pulled out a cloth from my bag and wiped the dried blood from it. Once I was done the kunai shined in the faint moonlight. I stared at the small clock that we had set up. Only half an hour left and then it would be Kitsuchi's turn.

After what felt like another hour the half an hour was finally up and I packed away my things. I jumped back up to the branch. I walked over to Kitsuchi and shook her slightly. She jumped up and pulled out a kunai. I did the same and blocked her attack.

"Kitsuchi calm down! It's only me." I whispered. Kitsuchi pulled her kunai back.

"Sorry." She whispered back. I smiled and she smiled back. We stood and stared at Ayane. She was still fast asleep. Though she never showed it, she was just as exhausted as we were.

"Your turn." Kitsuchi smiled.

"Alright, have a good sleep."

"Have a good watch." Kitsuchi chuckled and jumped down to the branch. I pulled my pack up and eagerly awaited the extra two hours of sleep.

-Kitsuchi-

I made it down to the branch. I felt bad for attacking Sutaru but, just like Ayane, they both knew how on edge I always was. Ayane was the same but she was able to let loose easier then I could. I stared down at the quiet ground. I had a feeling that this was going to be a very boring two hours. So to keep myself busy I decided it would be a good time to polish my twin crescent moon blades. I pulled them both out and began to polish them. They glowed slightly from the light falling from the crescent moon above me and I smiled. The fading moonlight always made me feel happy.

I stared at the clock after I had finished polishing my swords. I still had a good hour left before my turn would be over. I sighed. There wasn't really anything else I could think of to do. I tensed as I heard faint footsteps sound beneath me. I pulled out a kunai and prepared to strike if I had to. Out of the bushes came a small wolf. I stared at it waiting for something to happen but the wolf just continued on its way into the forest. I sighed and turned back around tensing again as I saw the one thing in this world I never wanted to see again. It was tall and was wearing a black cloak that had red clouds on it. It was also wearing a straw hat that concealed its face. I sat completely still hoping that it hadn't seen me yet. I blinked once and suddenly the figure was gone.

I looked around but it was nowhere to be found. I put my hand up to my head. I must have been seeing things. I looked over at the clock and it showed that my two hours had miraculously gone and it was time to leave. I took one quick look around. When I couldn't see anything or anyone I jumped back up to where Sutaru and Ayane were sleeping soundly.

-Ayane-

I felt a small shake on my shoulder and slowly opened my eyes. The sun was slowly coming over the horizon and Sutaru and Kitsuchi were smiling down at me.

"Morning." They both said in unison. I smiled.

"Morning. How were the watches?"

"Good." Sutaru quickly said. Kitsuchi hesitated but then answered.

"Alright." I smiled and stood up.

"Well I guess we better go then."

"Finally." Kitsuchi smiled. I laughed.

"Just let me go up and see if there's anything other then forest ahead of us." Sutaru and Kitsuchi nodded. I jumped up to the very top of the tree. I looked to the East then to the West. There was nothing there but forest. However, when I turned to the North a wide smile crossed my face in the distance my eyes caught the huge, bright red gates of the Konohagakure. I jumped back down to Kitsuchi and Sutaru as fast as I could. They stared at me worried until they saw the smile on my face.

"I saw it!" Their eyes widened.

"You did?!" Kitsuchi exclaimed.

"Yeah! It was there, the bright red gates and everything!" We all smiled and hugged each other.

"How long do you figure it will take us to get there?" Sutaru questioned. I stood back and thought about it.

"Well, if we run our fastest it will take two hours. If we run at the speed we've been going at it will take three maybe four hours tops." We looked at each other.

"I think we should go at our usual pace. If we use up all of our energy on the way there and get attacked before we can enter we won't have as much strength as needed to defend ourselves." I nodded in agreement with Sutaru.

"Sutaru does have a point but what if we get attacked because we take so long to get there? If we get there as quickly as possible we have less of a chance of being attacked." I nodded as Kitsuchi had a point as well. Kitsuchi and Sutaru started debating over how quickly we should arrive. I stood and thought for awhile.

"I've got it!" I exclaimed. Sutaru and Kitsuchi stared at me.

"If we run faster then we usually do, but slower then our fastest speed then we'll be able to make it to the village in two and a half maybe three hours." Kitsuchi and Sutaru stared at me and smiled and soon we were on our way.

Like I had said it took us a little over two hours when we finally arrived at the red gates. I turned to look at Kitsuchi and Sutaru. We smiled at each other and hugged. It was now time to make our stand.

"It's finally time for our arrival!" We exclaimed and laughed.