A salt soaked figure walked close to the group of masked ANBU. Her wet clothes were sticking unfashionably to her skin, revealing how unhealthy her frame was. She had the gaunt appearance of an underfed mouse: Bones sticking out every which way. She carried with her only three objects. In her right hand she clutched two gold coins, identical in appearance. In her left, a purple shell was hidden beneath her fingers, clenched into a tight fist. The girl's mouth was open, and, gasping like a fish, her chest heaved as if the air around her did not hold enough oxygen. Her iron-gray hair lay in two long pigtails on either side of her face. Weighed down with water, they were as straight as boards. Water seemed to be everywhere. Droplets of it were scattered across her pale brow, and beneath them, her eyes were the same gray as her hair.
The party moved slowly down the deserted street. It was a very bright morning, though by the dreary appearance of the group, it might as well have been raining.
As one might have guessed, this was not a normal scene in the village of Konoha. And as abnormal as it was, there was one thing that made it truly disturbing. Despite looking only half alive, the girl wore a chronic smile. It was faint, but present. Though it did not appear to be a smile of happiness. In fact, it looked as if she were quite insane. To add to this, even though she was out of breath, the girl was hum-singing a song. A song where there didn't seem to be any words, or even a real tune, yet it continued as flawlessly as time itself. And all the while that smile lingered.
The ANBU stopped, as did she. Gently they steered her towards a bench where she sat lightly down. One kneeled before her, and though he was wearing a mask, you would guess that he would be smiling warmly.
"What's your name?" His voice came muffled from behind the mask, and it lost much of its personality in the process.
The girl's smile widened, and she responded in a hoarse voice,
"Kinko".
Water dripped to the ground, and the silence following her answer was so complete, every drop could be heard.
