Prologue: 5 years have passed and it's all about low profiles, Krysta, Jivana and Varundo are in hiding after the Yukusha destruction and things have changed dramatically, there's a mysterious illness plaguing Krysta and some new small faces running around. Stay tuned for the dramatic thrill ride in store! Enjoy!
Chapter 1
Leaf Us Alone
In five years the world doesn't change much, but people, circumstances and tendencies change a lot as is the way of things. A large field of yellow flowers stretches out towards the horizon slightly waving in a peaceful breeze, sitting amongst the flowers a young girl looks around her happily, enjoying the sun and breeze. She has shiny jet black hair sleekly positioned behind her ears and long to her back and she wears a short red dress with a black trim. She seems shy and quiet but much like petals protect the center of a flower her appearance protected her own secrets. As she sighed and breathed in the scent of the flowers she looked at them calmly, her eyes were a dull red almost hazel but now and as much as she could she kept her eyes half shut, her pupils were thin and slit looking and so she hid them to stop people noticing them, she also wore a thick bracelet on her left wrist, for under it lay a red scar-like birthmark, the bracelet was her mother's choice to hide and she had never been told why. Still with all her secrets the girl is content to sit quietly in the field.
"Rusuta!" came a cry in the field. The girl looked around and a young boy with spiky blonde hair with blue tips and held in place with a thin red headband, wearing a dirty yellow sleeveless top and torn brown shorts was running towards her carrying at his side his favourite toy wooden sword,
"Rusuta, what are you doing out here?" he asked her and the girl stood up, despite the boy being one year older than her they were the same height.
"Oh Koni I was just sitting with the flowers, you know I like them," she half whined.
"Yeah but you know mum and dad say I have to take care of you, how can I do that if you keep running off, your mom would kill me if anything happened," he smiled jokingly.
"Look around Koni, it's a field, the same field we've seen since we were born, what's dangerous here?" she asked.
"I don't know, I just do what dad says, he can be pretty scary you know," laughed Koni.
"At least you have a dad," she sighed and Koni stopped laughing and took her hand.
"Come on, we have to get back," he said and she nodded following him back towards the little row of cottages that the field surrounded.
They entered one of the smallest cottages in the line and into a small kitchen where an old man sat at a table drinking some tea. For such a small house the two families had enough space to live together.
"Mum, dad, we're back," called Koni and a woman with blue hair entered the kitchen.
"Hi kids, you hungry?" she smiled happily going over to the oven.
"Thank you Miss Jivana," said Rusuta as Jivana took out a trey of biscuit like cookies and put them on the table.
"Careful, they're probably hot," said Jivana giving them both one.
"You're a great cook mum," smiled Koni munching away.
"Miss Jivana, where's my mother?" asked Rusuta.
"She'll be back soon don't worry, why don't you to go play in the den," she suggested and the two children left the kitchen.
"She's wandering further and further into the fields Jivana, it doesn't normally take Koni that long to find her," said the old man, Kumico.
"She's a curious one defiantly, just like her mother I guess," sighed Jivana. The door to the porch opened again and Varundo came in with some fire wood.
"You're back," said Jivana.
"Yeah this should last for a while," he replied putting the wood down and noticing the clock, "Krysta's still hunting?" Jivana nodded sighing.
"It's getting worse again, Krysta thinks the Plasma Star isn't happy inside her any more and is trying to escape, Krysta won't let it so it's making her feed more than ever, she's been gone since dawn today," explained Jivana.
"She'll be fine," said Kumico standing up and taking a bag from beside him.
"Where are you going?" asked Jivana.
"I have something to do, I'll be back in a week or so, don't worry I'll be ok, don't let Rusuta worry ok," replied Kumico before leaving.
"What's he up to?" wondered Varundo suspiciously.
"It's always something with him, I just hope Krysta will be back soon," replied Jivana stirring a pot on the stove.
Varundo looked at her and smiled,
"Warrior to homemaker in just five years."
"Varundo, I'd rather be fighting too you know, but we have Koni now, we can't do what we used to, at least until he's strong enough to join in, you are training him right?" she asked slightly annoyed.
"Of course, you have nothing to worry about, Koni's stronger than he looks and he takes caring for Rusuta very seriously," defended Varundo.
"What of his rune power?" asked Jivana, "Krysta keeps Rusuta's suppressed but Koni's should be active soon."
"I haven't taught him that yet, I'd rather he could fight first before he tries anything else, slow and steady you know," he told her caringly.
"I guess," he replied turning the stove off and calling the children for dinner.
A little while after they began to eat the door opened and Krysta finally came home, she hadn't changed much though like Varundo and Jivana she was wearing simpler clothes than before. It had been her plan to lay low after the destruction of Yukusha, mostly for her own safety but also for fear of attacks because of her daughter. Rusuta stood up immediately and went over to her mother to greet her.
"Mother, you're home," she said quietly. Krysta stroked Rusuta's hair and went into the den without a word.
"Rusuta come finish your dinner with Koni," said Jivana and she and Varundo left too.
"Wow, Miss Krysta looks very pale tonight," said Koni.
"You know she's ill, maybe that's why she's been gone so long today, she was at the doctors again," Rusuta sighed sadly eating.
"Are you ok?" asked Jivana.
"I've stopped the pain for now but I know it will come back, animals aren't satisfying like they used to be," replied Krysta standing by a window always keeping an eye out for danger.
"And it hasn't gotten any better?" asked Varundo.
"No, worse. I see no other choice but to start feeding on humans again," she sighed.
"How, this village is very small, they'd notice immediately," said Varundo.
"And it could bring unwanted attention," worried Jivana.
"Is Koni strong enough to travel?" she asked them.
"He can fight a little, but he and Rusuta are just kids, we'd end up resting every few miles," replied Varundo.
"Let's wait for Kumico to come back, maybe whatever he's doing will bring a new option, he knows your condition's deteriorating, maybe he's found a way to calm it?" said Jivana.
"He's gone away?" she said before pausing, "You're right we should wait, I'll just hold on a little longer, Jivana can you feel what's going on inside me?" Jivana nodded sadly, it had been going on almost since Yukusha was destroyed. The Star had become a cancer to Krysta's body and was slowly killing her.
"Alana's only doing this because she wants to be free, if I let her go I'll be ok again," sighed Krysta "but then of course the Star will be unprotected."
"Is it possible to Plasma Seal the Plasma Star?" wondered Varundo and Krysta smiled.
"We would all likely to be killed in the process, we can use that power well now but Alana's too powerful it would never work against her. Unless we can find a way to contain the Star in another vessel and send it away forever so that it may never harm anyone like it did Yukusha, then we shall have to accept that, I won't be able to recreate the Blood Creed after all," she said sitting down.
"That won't happen, we've saved you from Sasuke, Orochimaru and that spirit Alana, we won't let you die now, not like this," said Varundo bravely.
"You are my most trusted friends; I care for you both greatly and thank you for your bravery," smiled Krysta, "now if she's finished can you tell Rusuta I wish to see her?"
Jivana and Varundo left and soon after Rusuta appeared and closed the door.
"It's ok," smiled Krysta kneeling on the floor for her. Rusuta smiled and ran over to hug her, despite all that seemed to be Krysta loved her daughter as she believed her mother to have loved her, she was just frightened to tell her that she was dying and so was often distant.
"Where were you mother? The doctors again? Did he help?" asked Rusuta.
"He gave me some medicine, he says I should feel better soon, you're so brave through this Rusuta," Krysta smiled proudly, "after that I went into the fields for a while, much like I believe you have been doing lately."
"Yes, I, I like it out there so much," said Rusuta worried.
"As long as Koni is close by you can go wherever to want in the village, you know that, but don't wander too far from home, it's dangerous out there," she told her.
"I know mother," she replied.
"Let me see your scar," Krysta asked and Rusuta took off the thick bracelet hiding it. Krysta looked at it and felt it with her fingers, it was a circle with a lightning shaped line through it. Rusuta had been born with this as her Blood Creed rune but for now it only seemed to become active when Rusuta was stressed or upset.
"You've managed to keep it quiet for a whole week now, it doesn't seemed to have sparked at all," she told her daughter.
"That's why I like the field; it's like my quiet place so I can't get upset. Mother, why does it hurt so much? Am I sick like you," asked Rusuta looking at her mother's scars.
"No Rusuta, you're not ill, if you look Jivana and Varundo and even Koni have these scars, it shows who we are. But there's a small complication with yours and it's trying to become active whilst you are still too young for it to be beneficial, instead it hurts you. Just remember to stay out of trouble and try not to get upset and then when your older the pain will go away," she explained.
"What are they?" asked Rusuta.
"It's a long story Rusuta but I promise to tell you when you're older, come on, let's get you to bed," she smiled picking up her small child and carrying her to the small bedroom that Kumico had converted from a long cupboard for her.
It was a tidy room with a small uncovered window, there was a simple bed opposite the window but very little to indicate it was personally Rusuta's. No toys and only a few different outfits, anyone would think they were impoverished in this place. The only thing that seemed out of place was a green sash laid upon a small box with her clothes in, Krysta had already been teaching Rusuta to dance like she could, in case she ever had to become owner of her incredible weapon. Krysta tucked Rusuta into bed and stroked her hair again before going to leave.
"Mother, where is my father?" she asked and Krysta shook her head.
"Rusuta I've told you a hundred times, your father died before you were born, why must you always ask me?" she replied sadly.
"Because I want to believe it, goodnight mother," she replied going to sleep and Krysta shut the door.
"You insist on telling her that when you yourself believe different," Krysta heard a voice say.
"Shut up Alana," Krysta snapped going down the stairs.
"I wanted to kill him, but just as you escaped so could he have and he had his will of legs, you were carried away like a child," she replied meanly.
"I can't believe I ever looked to you for comfort, you're nothing but an evil ghost, what joy does it bring you to be destroying my body like you are, Rusuta needs me, she's Blood Creed just like me but you don't care about her, just like you never cared about Yukusha," Krysta replied meanly before cringing in pain and coughing up some blood of her own.
"I cared for Yukusha when I was alive, now I just want Homaru and you are stopping me from finding him, for some reason I can't Plasma Seal you like all the others but I can rip you apart with my power. Just let me go and you and your half blood daughter can be together as long as you want," replied Alana.
"You're not alive Alana; your form is that of a powerful weapon that in the wrong hands will destroy the world, for now the world is safer with you in my heart, where you placed yourself, please stop this, maybe I can help you find Homaru, he's a spirit now himself," she asked her.
"I thought you could that's why I chose you, you look like me Krysta, born of my image I hopped Homaru would find you, but I was wrong, just an impostor! I will find someone who really can find Homaru, you're nothing but a decaying shell now Krysta, you should have died the day I ripped you apart in the shrine, but I kept you alive, think about it, I'm killing you now but I once kept you alive, if you let me go I'll heal you and let you live again," Alana replied falling silent. Varundo and Jivana found her then they'd just put Koni to bed.
"You're bleeding," worried Jivana.
"Please, please don't think me weak for this," said Krysta starting to cry into her friend's shoulder. Jivana hugged her and could feel she was in pain again, Alana meant business and was not about to stop her assault.
The next morning Jivana found Krysta out in one of the barns sleeping beside a dead and completely dry cow.
"Krysta?" she said smiling and Krysta woke up.
"Huh? Oh, I guess I got hungry in the night," she tried to joke.
"It's ok, Koni and Rusuta are up, Varundo's taken Koni into the woods for training, I thought maybe if we were going to start moving around you should do the same for Rusuta," said Jivana.
"Yes good idea, where is she?" she asked.
"She's in the field again but really close to the house because Koni's not here, she's just over there," pointed Jivana and Krysta went outside and opened her whip.
"Mother?" wondered Rusuta.
"Time for us to spend some us time Rusuta, come along," she said walking towards the courtyard. Rusuta followed and once in the courtyard Krysta slashed her whip through some water barrels.
"Wow," said Rusuta.
"This world is full of Ninja Rusuta, Varundo, Jivana and I we're all Ninja ourselves and it's time you learned how to be one too, this bladed whip has been my best friend for several years, I've had it ever since I was ten, ever since my own mother and father died. They were my village's strongest warriors and were gone a lot in my childhood whilst they completed missions for the very safety of our home. Whilst they were gone I trained myself how to use this weapon and so too now I will teach you as you will no doubt have to fight yourself one day," she explained.
"Fight? But till now you've been teaching me to dance?" asked Rusuta confused. Krysta backed up a safe distance before dancing around with her whip the way she had shown Rusuta with her sash.
"It's all merely training Rusuta, this world is dangerous and a Ninja's life is to fight to protect those they love and they're home, I used to dance with a sash and without that training I would not be able to wield this as I do," replied Krysta letting her daughter feel the weight of just the handle.
"It's really heavy," she said surprised.
"The blades are dense and sharp, that's why it's so heavy, so you see when you have a whip of your own you will need to be strong enough to lift it let alone whip it around, you won't be good right away so don't worry," Krysta smiled, "now run upstairs and get your sash ok?" Rusuta nodded and ran off to the house.
A few days passed and Rusuta had been dancing almost non stop to impress her mother, now she was back in her field but she was still dancing, there was one problem, she wasn't very good at not getting dizzy and was falling over or stumbling without meaning. She sat down for a rest and to clear her head.
"I guess this builds up endurance as well as strength," she sighed putting her hand down on something small and wet feeling. She drew her hand away in shock only to uncover a small light green snake.
"Oh my I'm sorry I didn't mean to squish you!" she cried as if she were talking to a person. However the little snake barely looked at her and lay on the rocks panting and hissing heavily as if it were in pain. Koni joined her presently.
"Eww what's that," he cried out.
"A little baby snake, I think he's hurt," said Rusuta.
"Snake… umm aren't snakes poisonous?" he worried as Rusuta picked the little snake up.
"It's ok little one, I won't hurt you," she said stroking the snake's back with the finger, as she did this she picked up some of it's blood, the little snake was bleeding from what looked like small talon marks on it's underbelly.
"A bird must have dropped him, come on let's take it home were we can bandage it, I think it would be ever so grateful," said Rusuta.
"Rusuta how are you even touching that thing, just leave it for the bird to find," replied Koni a little creeped out.
"And let the poor thing die? No way, come on," she said running back to the house, Koni sighed and followed her.
Rusuta went into the kitchen and put the snake on the table while she looked for the bandages Jivana had in the cupboards somewhere.
"Rusuta, what if our folks don't like snakes? Do you think they want one bleeding on the table?" asked Koni watching her.
"Can you get me some water?" she asked as if she hadn't heard him.
"Rusuta," he whined as she found the bandages.
"It's a living creature Koni, we can't let it die, it's so small and defenceless, it's just a kid like us, come on," she pleaded and Koni gave in and got the water.
"Don't worry little friend I'll have you feeling better in no time," she told the snake carefully washing the wounds on its belly before bandaging it up. The snake looked up at Rusuta and at least to her eyes looked thankful before settling down to sleep.
"There the little worm's fine, now what," asked Koni bored.
"He's so cute, he has to stay here while he recovers but I wonder if mother will let me keep him as a pet," she smiled going outside and picking up a rock.
"What you gonna do with that?" asked Koni.
"This and a little grass and he'll be happy on my warm window sill," she smiled taking the snake and the rock to her room.
"Oh boy, who knew Rusuta was an animal lover," sighed Koni.
"There you go little one, a nice warm place to sleep and recuperate, I don't know what you eat but I'll bring you some dead bugs, at least they'll fit in your mouth," smiled Rusuta finishing the little rock formation on her sill and leaving her room again to get the grass and bugs. For hours Koni watched Rusuta run up and down the stairs bringing grass bugs water and any other things she felt the snake needed to her room, he felt exhausted just watching her.
"How's he doing" he asked when she stopped for a moment.
"He's still sleeping but when he wakes up he'll be one happy snake," she smiled back.
"Who will?" asked Jivana coming in, the two children looked at her slightly worriedly.
"My little friend," said Rusuta.
"Friend?" asked Jivana.
"Rusuta found an injured snake in the field, now it's in her room all bandaged up and resting," said Koni.
"It's a safe snake, honest," defended Rusuta.
"You're sweet for helping it, but he's probably ok on his own you know," said Jivana.
"I just want to make sure he's ok, mother will let me keep him, I'm sure of it," she replied. Jivana smiled and left them to cook, she couldn't deny the irony in Rusuta's friend but dismissed it as a childish thing.
That evening when Krysta returned she and Rusuta stood at the front of the house still dance training with their sashes, Krysta kept her whip in sash form so not to hurt Rusuta with a stray blade, they trained for hours and Koni sat with Jivana watching.
"Rusuta told me that's like the training I do with dad, but we chop things up and they dance, how is that training?" asked Koni.
"Krysta's sash is actually a bladed whip and when in battle her dance becomes flurry of speed and soon her foes are ripped to shreds, Rusuta will learn this as well, I think it's a family thing Krysta's Mother also did this," explained Jivana smiling.
"Looks complicated," said Koni.
"Well every Ninja is different, your father may fight with a sword but I had a huge pair of chakram blades and I can throw them like Frisbees," she smiled happily.
"I'm going to be a Ninja when I grow up just like you and dad and I'll be the best," smiled Koni.
"I'm sure you will, come on, let's get you cleaned up for bed," Jivana replied picking up her son and tickling him before taking him inside.
Rusuta span a few more times and then sat down and panted, she was getting really tired, Krysta squatted beside.
"Had enough Rusuta?" she asked kindly.
"Yeah, I'm exhausted, am I getting better?" she asked.
"You're doing very well, a little training everyday and you'll be strong and fast before you know it and you won't have to pant anymore," smiled Krysta picking Rusuta up and carrying her to bed. She laid Rusuta down and tucked her in but as she turned to leave she saw the window, Rusuta had now placed a small oil lamp there to keep the snake warm.
"Rusuta, why is there a snake in your room?" she asked sternly.
"It was hurt, I took care of him, he's such a cutie," she yawned.
"You'll have to get rid of it tomorrow you know," said Krysta.
"What? Why?" worried Rusuta sitting up.
"Snakes are dangerous things, besides he can't live in your room, he'll be ok tomorrow morning I'll help you set him free, he'd rather be in the wild," Krysta tried to explain.
"I thought he could be my friend," sighed Rusuta lying back down sadly.
"Snakes, can never be a friend to us," she replied leaving.
The next day Krysta helped Rusuta unbandage the little snake and watched with her as it hissed and bowed its head gratefully before slinking away into the grass.
"By little friend," said Rusuta trying not to cry.
"He'll be ok, he's where he belongs," smiled Krysta trying to reassure her.
"I know," replied Rusuta hiding the fact she was starting to cry after all.
"Come on now, you know what will happen if you cry," worried Krysta.
"I know…" she sniffed before running off, "but I don't care!"
"Rusuta," Krysta called after her.
"What's wrong?" asked Jivana coming out of the house.
"She won't cry in front of me," sighed Krysta.
"Koni, can you run after Rusuta, make sure she's ok?" Jivana called to him.
"Ok mom," replied Koni going after Rusuta.
"I have to remember sometimes she's only a child," said Krysta sitting down.
"She'll be ok, her rune's not activated yet, usually it flares the second she's sad," Jivana tried to cheer her up.
"She's controlling it better, although I worry about how, if she's keeping all her sadness inside, when it finally flares again it could be a problem," replied Krysta then the kitchen door opened again and Kumico appeared.
"You're back," said Krysta.
"Yes and I think I have the answer to our problems," he smiled giving her a scroll.
"Rusuta! Rusuta! Where have you gone?" worried Koni looking through the field for her. After a while he found her huddled in the longer flowers trying to hide, she'd stopped crying but her wrist was bleeding.
"Rusuta, are you ok! You're bleeding!" cried Koni.
"I'm fine, my scar just, I was about to stop crying when it split open really painfully, I guess I stopped it from flaring but a little too late," she said sadly.
"You want me to help clean you up?" asked Koni.
"No it's ok," she replied.
"It's ok, there'll be other snakes," smiled Koni sitting down.
"I just, liked that one," she said when suddenly she felt something rub against her leg. She looked down and the little snake was back!
"It's you!" she cried happily picking him up onto her legs, Koni backed away in fear.
"How'd you know it's the same snake?" worried Koni.
"It's the same markings and he still has some of the bandage left," smiled Rusuta. The snake certainly seemed friendly and it rubbed it's head on her arms and Rusuta giggled happily with her little friend.
"You know I think he actually wanted to stay with me," she said finally.
"But your mom said you couldn't keep him?" said Koni.
"So he can still stay in the grass of the field next to the house, my little friend and I can play everyday, we'll be so happy won't we!" she replied happily.
"Don't you think you should name him then, I mean you can't keep calling him snake," sighed Koni defeated.
"Good idea? Hmm what to call you?" the thought to herself looking him over, "Greeney? Scaleser? Diamond? Wait I have an idea, I could call you Omo!"
"Omo? What kind of name is Omo?" asked Koni laughing.
"That's the name I hear in my dreams every night, remember I told you I keep dreaming about a forest and a burning fire and someone calling Omo, Omo," replied Rusuta.
"Still think it's an odd name," huffed Koni.
"Well you like it don't you Omo?" asked Rusuta and the snake nodded.
"Then it's decided, come on Omo, let's go home!" she smiled happily putting the snake down.
"This scroll bares the insignia of the Leaf Village," glared Krysta.
"I received a message from Kakashi, he told me that the old Hokagi had finally died and that a new female Hokagi had taken his place. I decided to go to the village and see if she would allow us to live in the old house, that way Rusuta would be safe and you could feed as you did before and hopefully we could find a way to combat the terrible damage the Star has done to you," explained Kumico opening the scroll for Krysta.
"It's a pass into the village, Kumico, you know we can never return there, they all still think of me as a monster and Rusuta will be in more danger there than here, if anyone ever found out who she was, whose daughter she was, they would kill her, and they will all guess just by looking at her, she inherited much of his looks," worried Krysta.
"Who is this new Hokagi?" asked Varundo.
"A young woman by the name of Tsunade, she hasn't been there long they say and in our favour she knows nothing of Krysta's past," replied Kumico.
"So she doesn't even know we used to be Leaf Ninja?" asked Jivana.
"To her, we are merely a large family seeking asylum in an old worthless house, we should be able to fix most of it once we are there. Krysta, every day you're getting weaker we need to get you into a safe place where you can feed freely and train with other ninja again so you can fight Alana off," Kumico explained.
"I don't like it," she said standing.
"Krysta, your pride is not helpful right now," sighed Kumico.
"Forget my pride, I have to keep Rusuta safe, I can think of too many ways for her identity to be uncovered," worried Krysta. Jivana and Varundo looked at each other, in some ways they didn't mind going home, they still had family there even if Krysta didn't.
"Krysta, even if they find out Rusuta will have us to all take care of her and Koni too, we won't let anything happen to her. Krysta we have a chance to make things right there and whoever this woman is wants to help, let's go back, until you're cured we can't do anything about the Blood Creed's resurrection, we have to find a way to exorcise Alana maybe the Leaf Villagers can help us?" said Jivana softly.
"You're right Jivana, we can't do anything hiding here, we'll leave tomorrow," nodded Krysta defeated, she knew they were doing the right thing she just couldn't help worrying.
"What do you mean leaving?" asked a small voice at the door. Rusuta and Koni had returned and overheard the last part of the conversation.
"Rusuta, are you alright?" worried Krysta going over, "you're bleeding."
"Mother what do you mean we're leaving, this is our home," continued Rusuta and Krysta knelt down looking at her wrist.
"It's not too bad, here," said Krysta relieved taking Rusuta's wrist and touching the rune scar with her hand. A small red flash flared around their hands and Rusuta's wound was healed cleanly.
"Mother tell me," she said annoyed, "why are we leaving our home!"
"Yeah mom, what's going on?" asked Koni going over to his parents.
"This village cannot provide for us any longer, you and Rusuta are growing up and need a safe home where you can train and live in peace instead of this remote location where any invasion by enemy forces will cause danger," said Kumico.
"I don't want to go, I want to stay here," said Rusuta.
"It's for your protection Rusuta, and for me, Kumico has said there is a doctor there who can cure me, you want me to get better right?" said Krysta calmly.
"Yes, but why can't the doctors here help, I thought they'd given you the medicine you needed I thought this was going to go away," worried Rusuta and Krysta hugged her to prevent her from accidentally enacting her rune.
"We should tell them," said Varundo and Jivana and Krysta looked shocked at him, "tell them what lies in the Leaf Village to bring us there." Jivana nodded, she understood what he meant.
"The Leaf Village is our home, it's where we came from," said Jivana.
"But what about the Blood Creed? Dad said we were something called Blood Creed?" asked Koni.
"We are, well now. Krysta was born in the Blood Creed village but hidden in the Leaf Village for safety, when we all teamed up years later as a Ninja Team we found out about Krysta's roots and became Blood Creed Ninja together, but it doesn't mean the Leaf Village is not our home," said Varundo.
"We'll be going to my old family mansion, room for us all and safe sturdy walls around the village to keep out enemies, you see the three of us made some rather lethal enemies and if they ever found out you children were alive, they could take you away and use you against us. It's a very unsafe world and the Leaf Village is a safe place that will take care of us," explained Krysta.
"This place is all we know, Koni and I were born here," whined Rusuta.
"Travel isn't a bad thing Rusuta, seeing new things, making new friends, there will be many people in the village to be with you, and I'll be there with you, we're not splitting up, we're staying together. Varundo, Jivana and I always have done," said Krysta calming her, "you need to be brave in these times Rusuta, can you do that for me? Trust in what we're doing I won't ever put you in danger I promise."
"I know," sighed Rusuta looking back out to the field, she was really just upset about leaving Omo but was frightened of a long trip like this seemed to be.
The next morning dawn signalled the start of the journey, the house was left barren no trace was left they had ever been there and hidden in shrouds Krysta and her friends ventured out into the field.
"Over there, I'll take you there," smiled Kumico and Varundo brought out the children. Rusuta stayed close to her mother but then as they began to walk away she lagged behind.
"Oh Omo," she sighed before suddenly feeling a rubbing at her leg, Omo had found her.
"I can't play anymore, I'm going away and I'm not coming back," she said sadly. Omo tilted his head to one side and then slithered up her leg to her small bag before disappearing inside, he popped his head out after this.
"You want to come with me?" smiled Rusuta and Omo nodded.
"Rusuta! Come on!" called her mother and Rusuta ran after her quickly.
The forests were dark and foreboding as they travelled and Krysta made sure to keep her little girl sheltered as much as possible, soon into the afternoon Krysta was carrying her, Koni was tired too.
"Perhaps we should rest?" said Varundo as they reached a clearing. They stopped and Jivana and Krysta lay their children by a log to sleep.
"It's a long way back," sighed Jivana.
"I'm going to feed," replied Krysta heavily.
"Be careful," Jivana replied watching her go into the trees.
"Jivana where'd she go?" asked Varundo.
"She'll be fine, she won't go far," replied Kumico sitting with the children, "why don't we eat too?" Jivana and Varundo smiled and set to make camp for a while.
Meanwhile Krysta had picked up the trail of what she believed to be a lone wanderer in the forest and had decided to make him her next meal. After a while she came across the man in question, he was a youth dressed in blue and seemed completely oblivious to her presence.
"My hunger is starting to hurt, he'll have to do, pity he's so thin," thought Krysta walking out of the bushes and surprising the youth. He turned and jumped in fear and shock but did not run.
"You frightened me!" he cried annoyed but Krysta merely glared at him hungrily.
"You best not think of hurting me, I'm important you know!" he said worried.
"You do not look strong, you're lunch!" sneered Krysta leaping at the defenceless youth and within a few moves draining him dry, she flicked her head up satisfied.
"Now, that's the rush this body needs," she sighed calming down and leaving before she is discovered. However the boy's body as it lies on the floor reveals a terrible secret, for out of the top of the tunic falls a damning headband.
When Krysta comes back Rusuta and Koni are awake and eating with the others.
"Mother, you're back," she says smiling.
"Do you want something to eat?" asked Koni.
"No thank you I'm fine," replied Krysta wiping the last drops of blood from her lips.
"It's funny Rusuta, but I don't think I've ever seen your mum eat," he smiled.
"Of course my mother eats, she must get hungry like us right mother?" wondered Rusuta, Krysta laughed a little.
"Yes Koni, I do eat, I just don't eat very much," she replied.
"Is that why you get ill?" asked Rusuta quietly and Krysta stroked her hair.
"You don't need to worry about me being ill ok Rusuta, I could eat everything I saw and I'd still be this way, trust me, there's nothing you can do to help me ok, except all that you do already," she smiled.
"Are we ready to get going, these woods are dangerous at night, lone ninja stalk them," said Kumico.
"Let's go," said Varundo putting out the fire they had. Krysta took Rusuta's hand and they lead the group away from the clearing. A little later some shady looking characters appeared in the clearing, they were carrying Krysta's victim.
"They were here, look a fire," said one.
"They must be going back," replied another.
"Back to camp, our leader will wish to know, these woods are ours and no intruders should be tolerated," called the first and they all disappeared into the trees.
A few days passed by the group and they were soon to arrive, Krysta had become more wary the closer they had gotten, she could sense there was something close to them, something threatening.
"You think you'll live long enough to get there?" she heard Alana's voice.
"You won't beat me Alana, once I'm back in my old home I'll find a way to seal you away and get you out of me once and for all," she replied quietly.
"You get rid of me and you'll never fight again!" growled Alana.
"Krysta wait!" called Jivana suddenly and Krysta stopped.
"You can feel them can't you," she asked.
"Feel what mother?" worried Rusuta.
"Kumico get Koni and Rusuta out of here, don't look back," said Varundo as calmly as he could.
"Come on children," nodded Kumico trying to lead them away but Rusuta refused to go.
"Mother what's happening!" she cried.
"Get out of here Rusuta before they…" shouted Krysta before suddenly they were surrounded by the shady Ninja.
"Krysta, I think they've found us!" cried Jivana.
"Mother!" screamed Rusuta in fright.
"Krysta we can't fight them here," said Varundo.
"We have no choice, no matter what protect Rusuta," replied Krysta.
"You are intruders in this forest, you are to be eliminated!" commanded one of the Ninjas, Krysta stood before them whilst Varundo and Jivana huddled round Rusuta.
"What's going on, please tell me!" cried Rusuta.
"Stand still and don't run after Krysta, no matter what do you understand!" shouted Varundo. Krysta unwrapped her sash slowly before turning it into her whip.
"I'm afraid we're not going anywhere, you've picked a fight with the wrong people! Leave now and I will spare your blood!" shouted Krysta, the ninja all laughed at her.
"You're in no position to be making demands! Attack!" cried the commander and suddenly all the Ninja jumped at Krysta.
"Mother!" screamed Rusuta afraid.
"Jivana, Varundo now!" cried Krysta and suddenly their weapons had appeared. Rusuta watched as the three of them started slicing through and apart every single one of the ninja but she refused to take her eyes off of her mother who with every kill was drinking as much as she could of their blood, Rusuta was horrified. Finally all that was left was the commander.
"What are you!" he cried.
"We are the most lethal Ninja Team ever created!" said Varundo.
"We share the power of a dominant civilisation!" said Jivana.
"We are Blood Creed!" cried Krysta slashing his body to pieces within seconds. Finally as the dust settled Kumico and Koni returned.
"Rusuta!" cried Koni coming over to her, he could see she was afraid. Jivana and Varundo looked round at them and came over slowly before suddenly hearing a thud behind them.
"Krysta!" cried Jivana looking. Krysta was clutching at her chest and panting hard, it was like she was having a heart attack.
"Mother!" cried Rusuta running over too.
"Rusuta come back," called Varundo unable to stop her. Rusuta looked at her ailing mother and she could see all of her runes flashing and flaring painfully.
"Rusuta, I, told you, to run," she panted before fainting into Jivana.
"Mother!" Rusuta screamed.
Kumico pulled Rusuta away and looked over his niece, thankfully she was just resting.
"Is she ok?" asked Varundo.
"Just a rage surge, because of Alana she's trying to control it instead of let it control her, that's the most she's fed for five years, she probably couldn't take it," replied Kumico.
"What's wrong with her, what wrong with my mother?" sobbed Rusuta. Jivana looked at her sadly.
"Rusuta, we can't tell you much, that's Krysta's job, only right now don't worry, Krysta will be ok," she told her.
"That wasn't my mother, she wouldn't do that, she's nice and kind, she wouldn't do that," she sobbed confused.
"Being a Ninja, you have to do things you don't know you are capable of," replied Varundo and Kumico hugged Rusuta.
"Come now, no more tears, your mother was merely protecting you, she wouldn't want you to cry," smiled Kumico.