The boundaries which divide Life from Death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends, and where the other begins?

Edgar Allan Poe

When you live in a ninja world, you can't exactly push the 'reset ' Button and go to whatever other place might exist. No, you pathetically cry like a baby. Why? Simple. Because you are just that, a baby. I don't exactly understand how I know I'm not from this world, it just snapped.

I was almost two years old, and one day, I was just playing with a dull kunai, my mom was making originis, and my father was lazing around, he had just come back last night from a mission, and as usual, he'd smoke and steal little bites of food my mother was making, while she constantly nagged at hum because of his lack of health food, and to stop smoking in front of his young daughter, and then it happened.

Like a shock. My spine went rigid like a brick, the hair behind my neck went up, my eyes bulged itself from my sockets, and the blood drained from my face. And I just knew! Perhaps, my young baby mind wasn't evolved enough to understand the complexity of the situation, and it didn't want to accept the situation. Or maybe, the confrontation between my two souls was too much for my body. I fell on my face, or I'd have fallen if my Jounin daddy hadn't been there. I heard someone calling my name, but I felt tired, so tired I couldn't open my eyes.

I woke up in a hospital, the white walls gave it away immediately, there was no one in the room. It was cold, the sheet was too thin and the window was open, the sky was filled with black clouds and there was a ominous feeling in the air. As if something awful had happened. The silence was almost painful, and my legs ached to move. Sitting up, I tested my limbs to see if everything was working alright, my tiny body was dressed in a simple t-shirt, that looked like a dress on me, but was obviously a man's shirt. Was it my father's? Where was him and my m- NO. They're not my real parents… but they had loved me like they were, and this was a new life, and they deserved to be regarded better than that, so yes, they could, kinda-like-possible-in-a-cute-way be my parents. They were pretty cool after all. Deciding to look at what was really happening I walked to the door, fortunately it was half opened, as if someone had tried to lock, but failed on his haste. I opened the door and stepped on the corridor. Again, the silence was almost painfully loud, something was wrong, but I couldn't for the life of me know what was wrong. Walking as fast as my two little feet could handle, I ran to the stairs, jumping it, my legs swayed and I fell, someone held me almost chokeing me to death by the t-neckband, I was positive my butt was showing, oh well, not like I had much anyway..

— Why the haste little one? Ain't you supposed to be in bed? — As soon as I was on my feet, I turned to look at the stranger. He was young, looked like a teenager, probably a chunin, but there was definitely a weird look on his eyes. Maybe he could tell me where my parents where!

— Sorry…uhm sir. I was looking for my parents; You see, I woke up alone in the hospital, can you tell me where they are? I don't know and… — I trailed off. If he had a weird look before, now… his look became a glare. I blinked for a second, half confused, half scared, because it didn't matter if he was supposed to be one of the good guys, he was a ninja, and he could kill me in half a second flat. The fact just wasn't an awe sparing thought. It took me a blink to be turned on my back, have both wrists tied up, and be throw on his back. Another blink and we were off in the sky, jumping like monkeys on the rooftops. A scream fought its way to my open mouth, but it was cut midway, when I felt a strong pull, and we were again, inside four walls. I tried to not vomit on the man, really, I tried. It felt like riding a rollercoaster in a super high velocity, not a good feeling I assure you. Trying to regulate my breathing, I almost missed the man's next words.

— Sir, I believe we have a spy here. — My mind stopped working for a second. Spy? Where? Wait! Me? But I am a baby! I can't be a spy. I'm barely two years old! I can't be a spy. And how would he even know I am a spy, all I did was ask him where my parents where… and… of course! Super pluis size shit of all shits! How could I be so stupid! I am barely two years old! What kind of two years old would talk like a seventeen years old! I was supposed to be babbling and stupid talking. 'Cause I was a goddamit toddler. Shit. I could only see the other man's boots, they were pretty cool and dirty as hell. He took one step forward.

— And, what would make you feel like a Konoha citizen, no, a baby, could be a spy? — His voice was pure steel; this was a no-nonsense man that commanded respect. He had an awful chilly aura around him. The chunin straightened out, his back cracked, and his feet were put together.

— She seems to be awfully capable of holding an adult conversation, I found her running in the hospital. She said she had just woken up. I suggest we at least interrogate her, I'm sure you'd think it is suspicious, commander. — OooooH! So there was bad blood between these two beings. The last part had an acid undertone to it. The other man didn't say a word, he simply turned his back and walked down the corridor. The sound of papers being exchanged filled the air, and people were shouting at each other asking for this or that. A particularly shrill cry, made me want to plug my ears, someone stole someone's else coffee. For a moment I forgot why I was on the chunin's back. Only until I could feel my heartbeat on my temples, being held by your feet like a chicken going to the slaughter, yeah not really comfortable, the blood flows to your head, and you can feel your temples troubling, and you get dizzy, a lot. The moment was over, and the fear and confusion came back. What was I supposed to do? I COULDN'T fool ninjas. I couldn't fool my own mom when I lived on the other world. SHIT! What if I just told them the truth? Maybe they… Oh hell! Who am I trying to fool? Konoha's ninjas only had the reputation of being soft, when you take a close look, the weren't that soft and cozy. They had an entire ala dedicated to Interrogatories. I could be walking to my death now, for all I knew. Should I talk? If I didn't it would definitely look suspicious, the chunin wouldn't ever let me go, if I did talk, maybe I had a chance. I should probably try to dumb it down… but then the chunin would know… oh lord! Why couldn't I be reborn in…lets say…in a cute shoujo or some shit. We suddenly stopped. A door was open, they walked to the center of the room, and the hands holding my feet, let go. The only thing that saved me from a ridiculous fall, was my hands, and even then I hit the ground like a melon, hitting my cheek in the process, there would be a purple mark there. As soon as I fell, someone grabbed me, with a little more care than the damn chunin, what didn't mean much anyway, I stared at his pants, avoiding my eyes a second later, I didn't want to see my possible torturer's crotch, thank you. The chair was way to big to me, my feet were hanging, the rope was untied, the man had pretty hands, long fingers with little scars, fingers that would probably feel my insides and…STOP! LET'S NOT GO THERE. I had to spread my arms to reach the arms of the chair; the back was way too far from me. I arranged my dress-shirt to hide my legs, and looked at the man in front of me. Oh! OH! OOO~~H! It was him! THE Nara Shikaku! Shikamaru's father and the most intelligent man in the whole… double shit.

The chunin looked at me, face expressionless. I waited a beat and wasn't disappointed when it was said.

— Troublesome. Now, little girl. Why don't we start with your name? — The sigh was there, he put his arms inside his pockets and slouched a little. Aww man! Was he ever cool.

— I'm Ume Suzuki, nice to meet you sir. — I couldn't help but look like a little kid, I was in front of the coolest man to ever walk on earth. His intellect was said to win wars. He was cooler than Naruto to me. The chunin stared me down, I coiled inside.

— Suzuki-chan eh?! — He looked to the chunin by his side, the man nodded and left the room. — Now, can you tell me how old are you? — He asked, looking every bit much bored.

— I think I'm almost two. — Excuse me if I sounded a little proud at the fact.

— And why does a two years old talk like that? — His voice lost the bored tone, and his sharp eyes were fixated on mine. And I was reminded why he was so cool, he was intelligent enough to possibly find out everything about me.

— Ah… I don't know? Its just talk… — I shrank on the sit. Truthfully, I didn't know how I was able to keep a perfect speech. I didn't want to suffer torture and die alone in an alley.

— Hmmm.. do you know what happened? — He asked leaning a little closer to me, staring me in the eyes.

— I...I was…brought here…by him… eh — His sharp eyes became sharper and he frowned. Sighing once more, he leaned back. His eyes never left mine, I swallowed.

— Does that mean you don't know that the village was just attacked? — The moment he said that my breath was cut short. My lung and heart stopped working for a while. My eyes bulged out. The next question my mind formed made my blood run cold.. please…god no! everything but that! Not now! I had just woken up. This can't happen now.

— A… beast of sorts, attacked the village, the Yondaime, our leader gave his life for the village. — Everything happened in slow motion, he looked at me, and I panicked and tried to run, I needed to find them, I needed to find mom and daddy, they could be hurt, or dying, oh lord! What if something had happened? Please god, don't let it happen. I was cut midway, when Shikaku grabbed me by the collar, I tried to get away, but to no avail, he had a steel grip on the shirt. Not thinking I pulled the shirt over my head and ran without a care to the door, probably only made it there because of the shock stamped on Shikaku's face. Had the situation been different I'd be laughing and rolling, a naked little girl outrunning the Jounin Commander, real funny, yeah. The door was suddenly opened and it almost hit me in the face, I took the chance to pass thought the man that opened it.

— Suzuki Akiko and Suzuki Haru — I frozed mid step outside the door — were killed in action. — The world shattered beneath my knees. A hot and cold feeling went through my limbs and spine, crushing my heart. I was hyperventilating, 'they weren't my real parents, I shouldn't be feeling like this… but they were there, and they loved me, and they played with me, and bought me silly dress, and dad dressed me on his clothes, and mom made us eat fruits before meal, and the smoke like smell always clinged to dad, oh lord! No!' The tears left my eyes and I was shacking and wailing like a little baby. It wasn't fair. I wanted daddy and mom. Someone put the shirt over my head, and gently pull me to an embrace. It was awkward, but I couldn't stop the tears, all I remember is we jumping over some rooftops, and stopping inside a big traditional Japanese house. I looked around me, screaming and crying like a stupid kid, a woman came running from inside, my vision was fuzzy and my head felt heavy, the arms around me were arm, the woman asked something but I gave her no answer, because I couldn't stop crying to answer her. My nose was running pathetically, the shirt was all ruined and my hair clinged to my face like it was pasted. Shikaku tried to hand me to the woman, but I held him harder, he shook his head, the woman tried to talk me into it, I looked at her, it clicked, she was a safe one. She was his wife, Shikamaru's mother. She had a warm smile on her face, she opened her arms like who says, 'Come here'. I went. She shushed me down and bounced me on her arms until I fell asleep.

I woke the next day, feeling my head light, and my eyes puffy, there was something weird above my lips… snot… yuck…

Everything that had happened went to my head, down my spine, and stopped at my feet. The ground swayed and my knees failed me. This time there was no tears, only the cold realization that I was alone. I didn't want to be alone. I needed the security of a family. Someone to guide me, and be there, like before. I didn't have it anymore. I let myself get used to that fact, and when it felt safe, I tried to get up again, in the third tried I made it. The room was traditional, the black futon I was sleeping in was big, a small desk was on the other side of the room, above it, there was a single dark crimson rose in a vase.

'Sadness, mourning, rebirth, love.' How fitting. I remember asking… my other mother… why did we give dead people, red roses, and why they were dead. She said that when Abel was slain by his brother (Cain), some of his blood got on the white rosebush that grew around his altar. His dripping blood stained the white roses and from then on red colored roses came about. It was a sing, that the other person would be missed. Deciding, I walked to the door someone had left open yet again. This time, probably in consideration to my height. I'd never reach the doorknob. The wood corridor was wide, there was a garden in front of it, I walked down the corridor, two people were speaking, the voices stopped when I stepped inside, Shikaku and his wife looked at me, she was holding a baby, probably Shikamaru, he was rolled inside a fluffy dark blue blanket, she wore a black kimono mofuku, as Shikaku wore, there was a blonde man sit on the sofa, his blue eyes looked at mine, he also wore black, suddenly, I was self aware, I looked like shit. My face became crimson, and I was turning to go away when the fact that they were wearing mofuku, means they were going to a funeral… My parents, and so many other children's parents would be. Mid step leaving I turned to them. How was I supposed to do it?!

— Uhmm… You're going to… to the… — Yoshino put me out of my misery by handing her husband the baby and walking to me, grabbing my hand and lowering herself to my size, which was, really low.

— Poor thing. Come. We need to wash you up. There is a dress for you too. Do you want to go? — I shook my head, muttering yes. We were about to go down the corridor, when I remembered something. I gave a weak pull on her hand to stop her.

— Uhmm… I…want to give a crimson rose to... mom and daddy. — The last part was high pitched and hurried. She looked to Shikaku that nodded and took me to the bathroom.

The water was warm and it smelt good. I didn't dare ask what was in it for fear of being taken away from the perfumed water. Yoshino scrubbed me down, even when I protested that she'd get water on her mofuku, she washed my hair with a shampoo that smelt like jasmine and dried me up. She combed my unruly, curly dark hair and put it in a sideways ponytail, attaching a white daffodil to it. My curly bang was shorter and impossible to lock, so I put it behind my ear. She helped me wear the mofuku, and when we went outside, Inoichi was holding a bouquet of dark crimson roses, he lowered himself for me, I took it, thanking him quietly and blushing, because he was a really handsome man and had a cute smile. We four made our way to the place where the funeral would be. Shikaku swept me up so we could walk faster.

— Thank you. — I said, hoping they'd understand, I was thankful for everything, really. Yoshino and Inoichi smiled, Shikaku pat my hair, winning himself a scolding from his wife.

The funeral was solemn and the discourse was too long. The whole village was present, I saw Chouji's father, and some people from the Uchiha clan. White hair appeared on my line of vision. Kakashi was there too, he looked lonely and he didn't have a rose like everybody else had, they all had white, I was the only one holding crimson roses. He had lost people too. I let Shikaku know I wanted to go down. He let me.

— Where are you going? — I pointed at Kakashi.

— He doesn't have a rose. I'm going to give him one. — Shikaku looked at me weirdly, but agreed.

I walked to him, it was kinda intimidating, but I wanted to give it to him, I was the only person who knew everything and I wanted to give him something, meaning how sorry I was, I could do nothing. I pulled at his pants, he stiffed and looked down to meet my eyes. His eyes were guarded and it was painful to see the hurt on his eyes. I took a rose from my bouquet and held it out for him to take, stretching my arms as far as possible. He stared me for a moment more before taking it, and nodding at me.

So much for a thanks hmm, not that I could blame him, of course. Finally it was our time to mourn our loved ones, in the silence of the moment, I prayed for happy times to come. For all of us.

To live is to fear the certainty that one day, all we held dear will be taken from our arms, and we'll be no longer alive. - Me

This was not a happy chapter, sorry. It was necessary. So, what do you think? Please, leave a review, you can criticize and give advice, remember, just be polite. Also, love you guys. Also, I have no beta, as you can see. T-T

- Michi, out.