Chapter Two

Makoto Waka

Location : Maki Village

Maki is a small village. If you where to stand in the center of town you could actually see both ends of the village. That's how small it is. Amaya wasn't sure why she liked the place so much. it should have reminded her of all the pain she went though elevn years ago but for some reason, it just doesn't. It's almost like this village was home, or at the very least it felt like she held a connection to the land.

Sadly, The village was named after the desaster that struck eleven years ago. It was the day that Swamp Shinobi decided to make a horrific deal with the overpowered Sky shinobi. This very deal tore apart not only the village but Amaya's family as well. She use to belong to a small clan of blood manipulators. They where the soul of this village, making it seem much larger and lively than it actually is. But then, Sky shinobi came in with their fire bombs and they drew their swords, slaying each and every family member she had. All except for her older brother, Akihiko. Instead of being killed he was taken by the enemy.

So to this day Amaya's one and only goal is to grow stronger and eventually overthrow the land of sky. She raises her head looking to the with a glare. Someday she'll be stronger than even god. Her gaze lowers and she looks toward the buildings ahead.

The remaining residents of Maki are relitivly peaceful people. Most tend to welcome new comers with open arms, in hope they stay and bring news and intresting stories along with them. Naturally there are those few residents who are untrusting toward strangers and would prefer to stick with their own kind. Otherwise saying, they'd prefer to group together with family and life long friends and glare anyone else out of existance. No one ever really bothered her though. everyone she met seemed rather comfortable in her presence.

As Amaya passes the bakery a sweetened smell lingers in the air. Ko, her neighbor must be baking sweet bread again. Such a unique thing sweet bread is. Amaya could probably eat it by the loaf. Her very spirit lightens when she spots the elderly woman, Ko removing loafs from the massive oven in her kitchen. The dark haired woman looks her direction, giving a friendly wave. Amaya waves back, smiling happily toward her.

After her parents died it was none other than Ko who took her in, hidding her and sheltering her as if she was one of her own children. Unfortantly the woman wasn't able to bare a child but that didn't stop her from treating Amaya like a daughter.

Amaya walks pass the General Supplise Store without even a second glance. She heads streight into Makoto's Bar. As they say, everything looks different in the light of day. Makoto's Bar included. She vegualy remembered a rather darkened setting last night. There was a dull thump of music playing from the speaks, and people where loud as ever. Cheering and fighting. But today it's a very calm and empty place.

She stands in the door way, looking around at the empty tables for a moment before turning her attention to the young man arranging bottles of sake. Makoto.

His spikey red hair is a real eye catcher. The way short strands flare out at the top and how two longer strands curl down pass his shoulders reminds her of a phonex's wings. The rest of him is as natural as a young man can be. He's handsome for twenty three and his eyes are to die for. Any girl would kill for such bright blue iris, and for long, thick eye lashes such as his.

Amaya grins, quietly approaching the bar behind Makoto. Swift as a kitten she lifts herself up onto the bar, clompletly unnoticed. She smirks to herself, amused by his lack of awareness.

"Hey Makoto!" She calls out suddenly. The phoneix haired bartender drops a glass in surprise. They both wince as it shatters into a million pieces. Then Makoto whips his head toward her, glaring half heartedly. Amaya rubs the back of her head, nerviously grinning back at the handsome young man in front of her.

"Your always so reckless Amaya," Makoto complians, crouching to pick up the shards of glass.

"What! Your the one who dropped it!" She snaps back at him, appalled by his imature "pass-the blame" game.

Makoto smirks up at her, amused by her reaction. Her heart throbs against her chest as heat rises to her cheeks. She pouts her lips and jerks her head away, muttering insults under her breath. Makoto stands, brushing the shards of glass off his palm and in the trash bin hidden under the bar. He then places his arms across the bar and he leans in toward her, observing her with a rather amused perk of his eye brow.

Amaya's breath catches under his stare and she springs off the bar, pulling out her mission scroll in attempt to divert his attention. She wiggles it in her hand, grinning. "I have a job to get to."

Makoto's amusement fades behind a look of worry. He streightens up and crosses his arms firmly over his chest. "A mission?" he asks, raising a brow in curiousity.

"Yep. It looks like i'll get to go to The Land of Waves this time," She states.

Makoto frowns, looking to the bar in front of him. He swipes his hand across the counter, brushing invisible pieces of dust off the wooden platform. "That's pretty far away..." He flickers her a glance. "Are you planning on comming back?"

His question would have caught her off guard or at the very least confused her, if it wheren't for the slight worry creasing Mokoto's brows. Her grin turns to a small smile and she shakes her head in disappointment. "Of course i'm comming back. This is my home," she says as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. She then smirks wickedly, leaning in toward Makoto and flicking his chest with her index finger. "Besides, who else will let me buy a drink at nineteen?"

Makoto gives a disapproving narrow of his eyes then playfully taps her on the head with a loose fist. Amaya giggles in responce catching his hand between both of hers. She smiles up at him. "I'll be back soon, Kay?" She calls out, springing away from the bar and instead heading for the door.

"You better!" He calls after her.

She gives a smirk, entering out into the empty streets of Maki. For what could be the last time she breaths in the sent of home. From the thick heat, to the smell of burnt pine. In one swift burst of energy she darts down the street, toward the jungle surrounding Maki village.