"Tell me a story!" A young blonde hair girl demanded. I sighed placing my rolling pin down and cleaned my hands of all flour on my apron.
"And what story would you like to here Ichigo?" smiling politely as I can. "The ninja story!" she said jumping up and down excitedly.
"But Ichigo, I've already told you this story seven times today. Don't you want to hear another story?" I ask. Desperation clear in my tone.
"No!" she said, stomping her foot on the marble floor. "I WANA HEAR THE NINJA STORY!" screaming at the top of her lungs.
She ran over and started pulling on my long black hair. "Tell me the ninja story Hana!" Ichigo whined, pulling my even harder.
Sighing again I pinch the bridge of my nose and closed my eyes. 'You still haven't changed… even after all this time.'
Two Years Earlier
My cheek was still stinging as I rubbed it.
Keeping my mouth shut I listened to "father" as he told me that I had a little "sister" and a new "mother", and I was supposed to meet them when we reached the house.
'No better…' I thought while he talked. "Yes." I replied back to whatever questioned he ask. I was hardly paying much attention to him.
He started at me for a long period of time before opening his mouth.
"Yes…. What?"
"Yes… Mr. Awayuki"
He nodded his head turning to the window. "Good."
Several minutes later we arrived at a large mansion. I looked up in shock, amazed that from now on I would be living here.
My view became blocked as the driver came to my side of the door and opened it for me.
I got out of the limo gawking at the large structure before me.
"Remember what I told you in the limo. I suggest you do not forget it if you wish to survive long here."
Walking up the long stair way leading to the house, we entered the home with a few maids bowing their heads at him.
"Welcome home Master" He waved his hand and dismissed the maids. They quickly ran off in different directions of the house.
Wrinkling my nose in disgust I was mortified to see maids. 'All this wealth… it's making my skin crawl. I'll never get use to this.'
"Ah, Galina my darling. You and Ichigo have come to welcome your new daughter and sister?"
He asked with a smile on his face. I looked up to the top of yet another very long staircase and saw a young women who barely look like she was in her 20's and a young girl who's appearance was stunningly similar to the women she was clinging to.
This "Galina" seems to sneer for a split second looking in my direction before turning her head to her husband and talked in a heavy Russian accent.
"Makoto dearest. Welcome home, Ichigo and I where waiting for you."
If my cheek didn't hurt so bad I could have smiled more. I couldn't believe it. My new "mother" is a trophy wife.
My eyes fell upon the young girl who I guessed was my "little sister" now. We made eye contact and she gasped a little bit and hid behind her mother.
Well at least she's cute.
"Mama why did daddy bring home this filthy servant?" She asked her mother with a look of disgust on her face.
My right eye started to twitch, I stand corrected.
She's a spoiled BRAT. Oh boy, can my life get ANY better?
Galina smirked, it was obvious she was proud of her daughter for what she said.
Makoto sighed impatiently. "No honey, this is your older sister. I adopted her today"
Ichigo eyes lit up and started to pull on her mother's long dress trying to get her attention. "Can I play with her mommy?! Can I?!"
Galina patted her daughter's head gently smiling. "Of course sweet, just after the zhivotnoye has a bath."
I didn't have to speak Russian to know that was an insult. I felt like I was just slapped in the face. I barely know these people and I am already the enemy.
"GALINA!" Makoto yelled, his voice echoing in the halls. Making me jump and Galina gasping while taking a step back from his loud voice. Her beautiful face frowning, her lips puckering in fear.
"She is part of this family, whether you like it or NOT. I will not have you disrespect her in front of me." He narrowed his eyes at her folding his arms across his chest as if scolding a little child.
"Is that CLEAR?"
She bowed her head in defeat. "Yes Makoto…"
I smirked. 'Serves you right' My victory was short lived as I could FEEL Galina's burning gaze all over my skin. Unconsciously I shivered scratching my arm.
I knew I was going to pay dearly for that later in the future...
Makoto turned to me with his indifferent eyes. "The same goes for you Hana, when Galina talks to you address her as 'Mrs. Galina'. Failure to do so will result in a punishment. So I will ask YOU as well Hana. Is that CLEAR?"
I held back the urge to scream and run away. But what was I suppose to do? If I go back to that abomination I called home I would probably be back in the hospital within a week. Or worse…
Taking a deep breath to relax my body, I unclenched my fist looking at the floor in defeat as well. "Yes Mr. Awayuki…"
Ichigo was still tugging on my hair; she was clearly not going to give up. I sighed trying to pull my hair out of her little hands wincing from the pain.
"I'll tell you if you let go of my hair…." She smiled happily and let go. "And when you stop being a spoiled brat." Turning around reaching for my rolling pin, dinner wasn't going to cook its self.
Ichigo wasn't having any of that. She practically yanked my head off my neck causing my head to turn upwards.
"GAAAK! ICHIGO YOU BRAT LET GO!"
"NO! NOT TILL YOU TELL ME THE NINJA STORY!"
"GO BUG SOMEONE ELSE YOU BRAT!" I screamed at her.
She puffed her cheeks out which where red as raspberries from anger. "If you don't tell me the story I'm gonna tell momma on you!" she threatened.
I rolled my eyes trying to seem indifferent, but it never ended well when Galina came in the picture…
"Go a head. I don't care, call for your mommy. Have her win your battles for you." I retorted back at her. That was not the right call…
Ichigo's face had tears running down her face as she started to make small hic noises.
'Ut oh… not good not GOOD!" I thought to myself trying to rush over to her, but it was too late.
She already took a deep breath and started shouting "MOOOOOOOOOOO-"
I covered her mouth as quickly as I can taking a breath of relief when I do. "OK OK! You win! I'll tell you The Ninja Story."
"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!"
'God why did I have to have a spoiled sister….'
Rubbing my scalp trying to ease the pain that my sister's tantrum caused me, I looked down at Ichigo who was batting her eyes at me trying to look so innocent.
'This snot nose brat has a chain around my neck and it's either this or face her mother's wrath."
"Curse you Awayuki" I mumbled under my breath. He was the reason I was here, why my life has been a living nightmare in hell.
Ichigo must have heard my rant. She put her hands on her hips pouting. "HEY! Its daddy and mommy. Be grateful that MY parents took pity on you! They adopted your ill-mannered, poorly dressed self."
I snorted and rolled my eyes at her. "Seems like you've been spending way too much time with mommy dearest Ichigo."
Galina loved to make my life miserable ever since the day we first met. Apparently she wants her daughter to follow in her footsteps.
One day she made me clean the whole mansion all alone by HAND. My hands were bleeding only an hour later…
The worst part was the few maids that were here snickering, pointed fingers and laughing at me.
My pride was crushed that day.
If I fell asleep Galina gave the maids permission to throw water on me to wake me up. Boy was that fun! Cleaning several thousand pillars, paintings, and Japanese armor…
I'm just thankful she's only her at least one week out of the month. Sometimes Ichigo and I don't see her for several months.
I quickly wrapped my arm around Ichigo's stomach picking her up. She squealed and started kicking her feet and flailing her arms while giggling.
I looked down at her smiling. Sometimes this brat was just so adorable.
Quickly cleaning the counter of all the flour that littered the area making sure she wouldn't get dirty, and plopped her butt down in the clean island counter.
"Don't move" I warned her, turning around to wash my hands in the sink. "The last thing I want is for you to…"
She was already rolling around in the flower that I moved to the far corner of the counter giggling like the child she was.
Staring in disbelief I was speechless. 'How in Gods name did she get dirty so quickly?!'
"IIIIIICHIIIIGOOOOO!"
She stopped sitting up on the counter still giggling. "Yessssss?" She looked like a ghost. The only thing that stood out was her sky blue eyes.
The red velvet dress probably worth a lot of money was completely covered with flour. Her mary janes that matched her bright red dress where covered too…
"Now I'm going to have to clean this mess up before I tell the story, happy now?"
"Awwwwww! Nooooooo! Tell me The Ninja Story!" She glared at me. Her sky blue eyes met my dark ocean ones.
I sighed and picked up the towel and started to clean. "I'll tell you the story while I clean deal?"
She nodded her head smiling. "Deal!"
Once I finished wiping off the counter which she wreaked havoc upon I swiped her nose with a towel and smiles.
She smiled back giggling. I sighed looking down at the floor, it was in worse shape than the counter.
I got on my knees and started removing the flour from the floor. Even though I hated telling her the story about the Akatsuki over and over again, I loved talking about them.
The Akatsuki was my sanctuary, it was my scapegoat.
When I was younger I remembered turning it on turning the volume up loud to cover the screams that were coming from everywhere.
It helped me get through tough times when I was younger; my childhood was lost with everything that went on there…
So watching Naruto soothed my soul and gave me what little part of childhood I had left. I even use to scream Naruto's catch phrase for the longest time.
Smiling remembering the good times, I began to tell The Ninja Story. "There was a man who had a dream. His dream was to make the world a better pla-"
BAM! Click, click, click… My hand froze in mid-sweep. 'Galina…'
Hello folks!
This chapter was NOT my best chapter lol. I still hope you will read on to find out Hana's tale! And for those who reviewed…
Your question shall be answered soon… ninja, I thank you for all who read this.
Even if you don't review! I'm so happy to just get visitors!
I am really good with ideas but always have trouble following through. I plan to make this my first fic I finish even if its not popular xP.
zhivotnoye means Animal.