A Girl Named Green
This story has been rolling round in my head for a while. Midori is my first original character. Let me know what you think! I really need feedback to be sure people are actually reading this stuff!
Chapter 1- Goodbye, Hello
Tiresias was not prone to laughter. As the secretary to the Rock Country's feudal lord the old man had developed a reputation for being a hard ass. However, even he had to crack a smile at the scene unfolding before him. His twin sons would be the death of him. Caius, a gangly 16 year old lay sprawled at the bottom of a staircase, the contents of the box he had been carrying strewed around him. His twin brother, Laius, pointed and laughed from the top of the stairs, "Haha! That's what you get for trying to show off! Midori-Hime tried to tell you to carry one at a ---AHH!" His gloating was short lived as at that moment Laius received a swift kick in the back. After tumbling down the stairs he landed directly on top of his brother.
"I suppose that's one way to get my stuff downstairs. Good thing I don't have many breakables, huh Tiresi-san?" Tiresias fixed a look of mock disapproval on the young woman who had grown into a fine shinobi.
"Are you finished packing Midori-Hime?"
"This is the last of the boxes so yes, I guess this is it."
"Very well, boys," The twins who were wrestling on the floor snapped to attention. "Take Midori's boxes and load them for her. Princess? I'd like to talk to you before you leave." All three responded with a quick, "Yes sir!" Midori sauntered down the stairs with a grace that belied her 18 years. Looking up at her the old man was amazed at how she'd grown. As a child she had been odd and clumsy yet as she had grown up her long limbs filled out with tightly toned muscles that could be used to kill if necessary. Her green hair, quite the anomaly in the Rock Country, was cut into long choppy layers that framed her face. A face which, despite her training was always full of expressive emotions. Her eyes were the piercing gray of her father's but in every other way she resembled her late mother: the dainty nose, high cheek bones, and wide mouth that held perfect white teeth. A sprinkling of freckles was the only thing that convinced Tiresias she was the same child that had always interrupted his meetings with the feudal lord. He pushed his nostalgic thoughts to the side as the two of them began to walk towards the garden.
"Won't you reconsider Princess?"
"Tiresias-san," the girl began by using the man's full name, something she only did when completely serious. "The Shinobi Exchange Program was my idea. If I don't practice what I preach how will I ever convince anyone else it's a good idea?"
"But you are putting yourself at risk to enemies. Think of how it would devastate the village, the country, if you were assassinated!" Though looking saddened Midori replied quiet yet firm,
"This village would survive, just as it has so many times before."
"It's about more than just the program to you isn't it?"
"You know me too well. I love the stone village and it will always be my home, but I'll always be haunted here. Moving to another village is a way for there to be a fresh start for me and for the rest of the village. Maybe with me gone they can forget…"
"I understand but everyone will still miss you. And really who will I find to keep my boys in order now?!" Midori smiled at this knowing the serious part of their conversation was over.
"They are going to be great leaders some day, just like their father."
"Thank you. Have you said goodbye to your father yet?" Tiresias asked while clearing his throat.
"Yes. I should be able to see him again in a few months when he comes to observe the Chunin exams."
"Make sure you send one of the lions to let us know you've arrived."
"I will." And with that Tiresias watched as Midori took one last glance of her rocky home in the Hidden Stone Village. As she walked past the gate that enclosed what had once been her whole world she whispered to herself, "Konoha, Here I come."