ONE
July 12th, 1990
Lightning flashed. The rain pounded hard against the glass windows of the Hokage's residence. It had been raining for two full days now, and it didn't appear to be stopping anytime soon. Hiruzen sighed, placing his pipe down on the desk in front of him. It was getting late, and even the light from the street lamps had trouble reaching the more than a few feet.
He stood, walking slowly to the window. He could barely discern the different buildings in the darkness and rain. A sudden flash illuminated the village, but also a reflection of someone standing behind him. He turned just as the thunder echoed. From the light of the flickering candle, Hiruzen saw that the man was tall, with water dripping from his short pitch black hair. What caught Hiruzen's eyes was the small bundle in his arms.
"Who are you?" The Hokage asked.
"Sebastian Michaelis." The voice was soft, almost weary. Hiruzen observed him more carefully, before noticing that some of his clothes were darker than the rest. Sebastian Michaelis was badly injured. Although this man had a clearly foreign name, he obviously needed help.
"Pay no mind to my wounds. I can take care of myself. However..." He looked down at the small child, bound in a silken blanket. "I cannot take care of her."
"Is that why you came here?" Hiruzen inquired. "You believe we can raise and protect her?"
"Yes." Sebastian answered. "This is the safest place for her."
The Hokage hesitated. He inhaled from his pipe. He knew nothing of this stranger and child, but he felt obligated to help. Coming to a conclusion, he placed his pipe back on his desk. "Alright," he said. "I'll place her in good hands."
Sebastian sighed with relief. "Thank you..." As he handed Hiruzen the bundle, it became clear just how badly wounded he was; there was a deep cut across his entire torso.
"Are you sure you'll be alright?" The Hokage asked in a concerned manner.
"I'll be fine, now that she's safe..." The stranger replied, glancing at the child again. "Her name is Kagome."
Hiruzen looked down at the sleeping girl. She had a light tan skin tone that complimented her dark colored hair. He looked up to ask for more information the other could give, only to notice that the man was no longer there. There was no trace of him entering or leaving- just the small puddle of rain and blood from where he'd stood.