Instant Message
By Keelah

Chapter ONE
Prying Habits

"… team consisting of police officers found dead in the public parking lot just behind the corner street of Burrard and 7th. Mysteriously, no evidence was found, nor any witnesses, despite the fact that it happened near a commercial ar-…"

Click…

"…hot day with the highs of 40, and a low of 34. Same weather will remain for the rest of the wee-…"

Another click…

"…Let's jump and slide and holler "hooray!" Sylvester, bugs and daffy; Taz and Lola too. Tweety's such a sweetie… now all… we… need… is… you!"

"And I need a life." A bored rigid girl muttered; namely, me. "I'm blaming you, got that? It's your fault I'm a loner right now."

A cranky groan was heard from the other line. "Well sorry my mom had to go to some stupid get-together with my aunt, leaving me to baby-sit my stupid cousin and run this stupid flower-shop on my own! It's so…!"

"Stupid?"

"Exactly!" my eyes rolled mechanically at Yamanaka Ino, "You should come down here and help me. It'll be fun. We can-…" just then, a loud collision, a shattering noise, a shriek, and a burst of wild laughter interrupted. An ear-piercing obscenity followed shortly afterwards. "You brat! I'm gonna kill you!"

"Hmm, sounds inviting." I muttered in sarcasm. "Forget it. I prefer TV with pizza, burger, fries..."

"Yes, anyway. You won't believe what wearing in gym last Friday. Her shorts was practically her underwear. She didn't want to shoot hoops or dribble. All she did was bend over and the stupid senior jocks would—"

A big blur of black caught the corner of my eye, and whipping my head towards the window, I saw… still, a blur of black out the window, several meters away from the house.

I rolled off the bed from my earlier prone position and still with the phone in hand- blasting with Ino's continual blab- I walked slowly towards an opened window and glanced out. I saw my typical neighborhood on a Sunday afternoon, nothing out of the ordinary- except for the mob of men in black that presently lingered casually in the sidewalk.

I tried peering closer, but it was too far to sight anything else. In a flash, I was out my room then back again on my prior spot- with the cordless phone in one hand, and this time, a pair of binoculars in the other. I was looking through the lenses with much curiosity before I even noticed it.

Across the street, a few boxes lay arbitrarily across a small portion of the front lawn or the Public Community Center, and two or three guys were moving them inside the building. Judging from the rather chaotic mess, I thought maybe they were a bunch of older teens moving in for university; there was one located within the city. That, or perhaps they were only helping old, retired seniors planning to use a room in the Rec. Center for aerobics or something.

"Hello? Earth to Sakura? Do you copy?"

The imaginary light bulb afloat over my head suddenly ignited with a thought that I undertook without thinking twice- or rather, without thinking about it at all.

"I'll call you back."

Hurriedly, I rose from the window and changed into white sweatpants and a pale russet tank top.

"Wait!" wailed Ino on the other line, "Where are you going? What could possibly be more important and interesting than moi?"

"Some guys hanging out the Rec."

I hung up; and before long, I was out and running.

I didn't head straight for the Community Center; instead I went the opposite direction into the woods. I only wanted to see what was going on, but not exactly be seen. Even though I knew nothing of what I expect to find out in this little scheme of mine, it was nevertheless better than listening to Ino's continual blabbers.

It took me a long time to get there after running the long way through and around the woods, and soon I was only yards away from my initial destination. I kept my pace in a light jog, the sight of the house and its surrounding area growing larger by the second.

The Public Community Center, also known as the Recreational Center, was made up of two vastly rectangular buildings, each with four floors, plus one more mini building that was the Human Resources, or the office. Like any typical Rec. Center- this one had endless vacant rooms with wide spaces, plus a studio and fitness center and a very relaxing lobby. Unlike any typical Rec. Center, this one had neither a gym nor a field; it had a small park across the road, and an extensive parking lot, but no sports ground, except for the small basketball court pushed up in a corner of the parking.

One of the reason I liked my neighborhood was because the Rec. was only a walking distance from my house; about a twenty minute walk, considering I walked really slow. It gave easy access to the Library- which I secretly spent a lot of time in, secretly, since Ino would never let me hear the end of it if she found out.

Though I was too far away to see their faces, it didn't take much brains to figure out that they were all guys, fairly young. And no, they were obviously not senior citizens, but they do qualify for high school seniors, if not retired ones.

I kept my cool, wanting to give out the impression that I was no one more than a mere jogger (though of course, me staring like a stalker, no-blinking-at-all did not help emit that image).

Surveying the crowd of young men, my gaze gradually fell upon one. Something about him sparked an unnamed emotion within me, but it wasn't the strange sensation that caught me off guard—it was his stance, with his head turned right in my direction.

Startled, I ducked futilely—my pathetic attempt to escape his sight—but he must've already seen me. How could he not? In the midst of a deserted sidewalk, I was the only one there, standing out quite noticeably.

Suddenly, I felt so stupid, a rush of shame slowly crawling its way up my cheeks in a form of a blush. How long was I standing there like a complete idiot?

I fled by slipping into a trail in the woods within the forests, allowing the sky-high set of pine trees to close in behind me.

I kept running until I lost track of time and direction, following nothing more than the narrow bike trail etched through the forest ground.

Soon enough (just as I started cursing Konoha for its abnormally huge percentage of woodland- hence given its name, "hidden in the leaves") the wandering trail led me out the forsaken forest, and I found myself standing in a familiar, shop-filled avenue found in the outskirts of downtown.

There weren't a lot of people this afternoon, for which I was thankful for at the moment, not having to squeeze through the crowded street like it usually is. Sighing, I started to wander, trusting my instincts to take over and lead me back home.

Even though I made a total fool of myself, I have to say it was rather fun- the feeling of being able to see yet not seen, it was exciting, in a really childlike-spying-sort-of way.

"NO!"

I sharply halted, turning my head in all directions as I tried to search for sound's source. The scream was so faint that I started to think it was merely imagination.

I remained still in attempt to hear anything more that would prove the sound wasn't only my mind; but seconds passed fruitlessly and my hearing caught only the shoppers' soft chattering as they walked by. I tried to see if anyone else heard it too, but everyone in the boulevard carried on with their own business, too busy with their own lives.

"…stop!"

My gaze landed upon a narrow alleyway, and I was almost certain that was where the screams came from.

Being the snoop I was, a particular and fairly blatant idea inevitably entered my mind. And despite it going against all protests of my conscious intellect, I proceeded nonetheless, and soon I found myself creeping through the narrow alley.

High walls of brick stood parallel on either side in a confined manner; various objects caused the sun's orange glow to cast strange, alien silhouettes, and not to mention the dark shade of the walls itself- it was like being engulfed by shadows, entering a point of no return as I did the alley.

I jumped as clamors and angered yells echoed, but it was unclear and muffled.

Anyone would've ran away and I admit a second earlier I contemplated whether or not to do the same, but the noises only gave me a greater urge to carry on. Actually, it was more of my curiosity overpowering fear. I knew that whatever commotion was going on was happening just on the other end of this alley; and my questions would not subside until I find out what commotion that was.

The path twisted on a sharp curve to the right, and a big blue dumpster was positioned just by the angle. Cautiously, I tiptoed towards the metal container and knelt beneath its dark shade. I took a deep breath in before slowly peering around the corner.

A small crowd gathered in the middle of the alley, where a third wall lay planted about five yards from my current spot, creating a dead-end.

In the midst of them, a man lay curled up on the ground in a helpless manner, ever so often grunting as a wooden baseball bat came crashing down on his body. The bat struck again and again, its brawny assailant showed no sign of stopping. As if that wasn't excruciating enough, kicks and punches all came raining down upon him at the same time by the surrounding others.

I knew that the right thing to do was call for help. But I also knew that even the tiniest movements could draw unwanted attention—especially when one wasn't supposed to be there in the first place. So I stayed still, an act that took no effort for I was already frozen in place anyway.

There were seven or eight of them, with faces unseen and enveloped by a hood's shadow. One possessed strange, uncanny markings on his face, while another had his bangs covering most of his.

I stared at one individual who'd isolated himself from the rest of them, lingering by the fringes of the brash and eager crowd. I couldn't see his face, not from where I hid, and certainly the hood over his head didn't help bring about a clearer image, but it was his halfhearted motions that caught my eye. While every strike landed upon the old man on the ground was electrified with sick pleasure and satisfaction from the others, this man, this boy, seemed… well, indifferent. Empty.

There was something about him, the calmness of his posture, the empty feeling of his fists, his hidden face… just something that didn't quite sit right in my stomach. I turned away before the shivers surfaced.

Suddenly, the old man—whom I entirely forgot about for the past few seconds- was slammed hard and loud against the wall in a sudden motion; the raucous collusion startling my inner senses.

Turning towards the ruckus, I saw him slowly slop down on the floor; his grey hair, which revealed his elderly age, was now stained with his own blood; and on the wall of which he collided on were smears of the crimson liquid- its nauseating aroma soon reached my nose.

I retched and backed up against the wall. Then, I froze. Realizing what I'd just done. Feeling shriek in my throat that longed to emit, I clasped my mouth, producing a silent, mental scream.

I stayed like that, unmoving, for the longest three seconds of my life. Then slowly, with caution, I peered once more around the corner.

No one had noticed. Good.

I took a deep breath and gulped in attempt to steady my breathing, but hearing the man's frantic pleas only worsened my panic.

"I'll be quiet, I promise. Just stop!" the old man croaked, miraculously still alive.

"Oh, shut up." One of them said mockingly, "That's exactly…" the rest of his words were blurred. All I was aware of was the sudden gleam in his hands. A metal. A blade.

A knife.

To my horror, he slit the old man's throat- who slumped down on the floor, surrounded by a pool of thick blood, his body cold and lifeless- his neck bore a deep gash from where blood leaked freely.

By the time I realized it coming, it was already too late to prevent: a gasp involuntarily escaped between my lips- loud enough to attract everyone in the alley. All heads shot to my direction, and one single plan arose in my mind.

Run.

I was already dashing for the alley's exit by the next second. I heard one of them swore, and a yell, "Get her!"

"No," hissed a voice. Then I knew their pursuit after me has ended; the footsteps had stopped.

My head turned instinctively, curious to find out who my savior was, and soon I found my gaze falling upon pale eyes, tinted somewhere between old gold and ecru, which seem to hover in the shadowed corner.

Little by little, the person's body materialized out of sheer darkness, and I frowned, realizing my ignorance of his presence until now. Though he stayed in the shadow's partial shade, one of the few visible features was a tattoo near his hand. It was some sort of a squiggle, or… a wavy line with a dot one end….or… I had no idea. It was probably only dirt.

He stared at me, a glint of determination in his eyes.

I wanted to look away, to break this trance he set me in, but no matter how hard I endeavored, I was unable to do so. I felt exposed under his observant gaze, his whitish orbs reading me like an open book.

"Let her be." The unmistakable malice in his voice made me realize he was no savior.

One of the men protested and yelled, "…she's going to grass!"

Initially, going to the police was the last thing I had in mind, the first being to get out of this filthy alley alive, then head straight home. But now, going to the station didn't seem like such a bad idea.

But the idea crumbled when his lips curled into a crooked smile and he sneered at me. It was with that single look that he sent his silent word of warning.

"No need to rush." I heard his raspy voice say, "She won't be telling anyone."

And just like that, I realized going to the cops wasn't only a bad idea, but the worst idea.

I tore my eyes away from him, but before I could will my body to turn and run, out in the edges of my vision, the shifting of a silhouette caught my attention. The inexplicable young man—he turned, slowly, slightly, but enough to capture my being with a single stare from the shadows of his hoodie.

His gaze locked onto mine, studying, analyzing, memorizing.

The older man in the shadows, the leader of the group, he was scary, intimidating, dangerous.

But this boy… —a shudder crawled up my spine— he didn't seem human.

Finally, I burst out that clogged-up, shadow-devoured alley, but I barely had time to relax until I heard voices back in the passage, sending me sprinting once again. I made sure to take the crowded routes and avoided any isolated streets; the more people to witness, the less they would possibly pursue.

As I ran, I realized that I've been doing four things routinely in the past afternoon.

One: snooping around in a business that wasn't my own…

Two: thinking that I wouldn't get caught…

Three: getting caught…

And the last one: running away.

I should really try and avoid these kinds of mishaps, but old habits die hard- at least, that's what they say.

As I fleeted farther away from the center of the city, the crowds lessened, and soon, as I neared the residents area, only about two or three persons walked by the streets. I slowed down to walk, positive now that I couldn't have been followed.

Nothing more but the typical sounds of the neighborhood filled the atmosphere; soft chatters of the occasional passers, a bark of a dog here and then, the sound of an engine as a car or two would drive by, and even the bird's chirping- as stereotypical as that may be.

Allowing the familiar serenity to calm my nerves, I stopped and bent over, rested my hands on my knees, tired from the long run. Almost as immediately as I halted, something in the corner of my eye did too. I turned around to see a vehicle just on the top of the hill; it was too dark now and too far to even distinguish whether it was a car or van, or what colour it was- something dark, like black, or dark blue or dark red or just about any dark color there is.

Seeing its immobility, I assumed it was parked, but that assumption evaporated when I turned to move forwards- and the vehicle did too. I continued walking, and the vehicle continued onwards, driving in such an abnormally slow pace. I frowned and looked back again, motioning with my hands for the far to drive ahead. Any driver with common sense would've overtaken a human walking down the street instead of waiting behind them.

I motioned the second time but the car- or van- persisted on driving slow. I shrugged, fine, suit yourself.

I was tired and my leg muscles ached and burned- so I paused to rest again. The car did too. I looked back, frowning. The little game went on. I would stop, the car would stop; I would go, and the car would go; but it always remained several yards away from me- which was a smart distance that forbid me from seeing any plate-number.

I began speed-walking…along with my heart which began speed-beating, and with a sudden rush of adrenaline, I broke in a sprint. To my horror- though not much of a surprise, the car roared its engine and drove faster.

They followed me! They followed me! The thought repeated over and over.

If it weren't for the headlights from the automobile that was on my tail, I wouldn't have seen the path before me.

Within a matter of seconds, the end of the street emerged from the shadows. I ran faster, and then took a sharp turn around the corner, instinctively diving in a bush, an act that I saw multiple times in movies. Crouching, hidden, I waited and dreaded at the same time for the vehicle to drive around the corner.

After what seemed like hours, the car finally drove around the corner in a slow speed of ten kilometers per hour- in a prying-like manner. It passed me, thankfully not noticing my lurking presence, and drove further down the block, stopping in front of an old two-story house. I waited in anxiety.

Perhaps they thought that the house was mine. A part of me was thankful that they- I presumed that they were the men from the alley. Who else?- were mistaken about my address. But another part was dying from fear that it wouldn't be long before they found out where I was hiding. One little movement would be enough to draw their attention.

The car was grey, a worn-out 90's kind. I made a face in the darkness. I expected them to have a huge slick black Expedition, or a van with no windows- perfect for a kidnapping.

The driver's door opened.

But more to my surprise, an old man stepped unsteadily out of the small car, and walked up the front porch steps, where a lady as old as he was opened the door welcomingly for him.

All the while, I thought, what the heck?

It was amazing how news traveled so fast.

It had only been about four or five hours ago when I burst in my house, panting and running out of breath. I no longer had strength to walk up the stairs, nor to take off my shoes, and merely collapsed on the nearest couch available. Somewhere between trying to catch my breath, and sorting out my thoughts, I fell asleep.

I awoke a few hours later, made myself dinner, and switched on the television. There, being telecasted on the news was a story of the man I'd seen in the alley.

They didn't give out any details; just about a man found injured in a back alley downtown. They showed places of which I recognizably ran from; the dumpster, the alley, the shadows…

I listened until I could bare the guilt no more and turned off the TV.

Injured, the newscaster had said, meaning the man wasn't dead. That was a good thing.

But they stated no names, no one they suspected who had done this.

I panicked slightly on that fact, but convinced myself, no you'll be fine, a voice inside me said. It won't be long until they catch them, and after that, you'll be safe. No one will come after you anymore.

Okay, so I might be overreacting, over-paranoid; making this a bigger deal than it was. But on the other hand, why had that car been following me? It was no gang from the alley, but a wrinkly old man coming home.

Thinking about all this caused my mind to split off in two. A part of me was overwhelmed by guilt that I should perhaps go to the cops and testify; another part of me dread for the outcome.

I glanced at the phone that was no father than a foot away. I grabbed it, my fingers hovering over its touch-screen. The phone, sensitive to my touch, dialed despite my hesitation.

9…

Then, I remembered Hatake Kakashi- he worked at the station in the weekends. I thought about him picking up on the other line, and than having to explain to him. That would be hard and awkward; plus there was no doubt that he would inform my parents about my call, leading to more explanations.

1…

The odd squiggle-shaped tattoo of that guy in the corner… the strange markings on the other guy's face… and then there was the man with the really cool eyes; but these were all just vague details. Anything else, I hadn't seen.

1…

Then I recalled how that man glanced and smiled knowingly at me; it was with that single look that he sent his silent message...something along the lines of don't tell anyone, or keep quiet and his silent warning …or else…

What? Or else what? What could he possibly do?

My thumb hovered over the TALK button, hesitating.

"No need to rush…"

My thumb, redirected by instincts, and pressed END.

"She won't be telling anyone."

To my disappointment, he was right.

Hatake Kakashi

From the time he heard the report about the stabbed man, Kakashi knew instinctively it was a gang fight. Fights have been going on and on presently in Konoha, especially just outside downtown, where all the criminals and drug-dealers and addicts hung out. He confronted some of them himself, but no matter how many times they tried to drive them away, they always kept coming back, causing trouble.

But, as Kakashi came to check out the scene himself, he was surprised to find that his prediction had been wrong.

The alley once forgotten and isolated was now filled with his fellow workers, and a strip of yellow tape edged around the crime scene, around a man sprawled on the floor.

Dead. If he wasn't, paramedics would've swiftly carried him off to the hospital. But the old man was already dead, blood still sickeningly surrounding him.

In his hand was similarly bloodied knife.

Memo: Scared yet? Don't worry, it'll get worse. lol

Read, Review and Thank You!

Yours,
Keelah