Here's the first official chapter. I didn't feel like waiting for reviews, and there wasn't really anything to review in the Prologue, anyway.
So, here you go. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor do I own Hi no Kuni. I do, however, own Tsuketsu no Kin, Akana Isha, Maul, and Mari Isha.
Chapter One: Awakening
The brunette boy groaned as he opened his eye, wincing at the brightness of the room.
'What happened… was it a nightmare..?' he wondered to himself as he took in his surroundings.
The room was quaint, small with two large windows that allowed sunlight to spill into the room, though the one across from him was covered by a curtain. There was little furniture, only the bed he lie on, a nearby chair, and a side table next to the door.
He winced as he sat up, his senses finally returning to him.
The odd pressure on his right eye told him it was bandaged up. His chest was bandaged as well, with the bandages leading to, and encasing, his entire left arm.
'Alright… definitely not a dream…'
Seeing movement out of the corner of his eye, he turned his gaze to the open doorway. There stood a young girl, looking around the age of eight, with light brown hair that was put into a braid down her back. Her soft eyes, a chocolate brown in color, stared back at him before her cheeks took on a pinkish tint and she turned to run out of the room.
He sighed in irritation. He hadn't even gotten to ask her where he was.
'Oh well,' he thought. 'Guess I'll have to hunt for answers.'
He pulled the warm, cotton blanket off and shakily got to his feet. His legs were weak, threatening to collapse under him. He stumbled towards the door, nearly falling flat on his face. With reflexes only a shinobi could claim, he caught himself on the doorway with his uninjured arm. Only to come face to face with a giant of a man.
"You should not be up. Your muscles, they are still weak." The heavily accented, bearded man spoke.
The man was easily two heads taller than Tsuketsu. He was broad shouldered and wearing a typical brown, belted tunic with green pants underneath. He worse heavy boots, obviously meant for long hours of outdoor labor, and a woodcutter's axe was strapped to his hip.
"Wh-where…?" The boy croaked out, surprised at the difficulty he had talking.
"Mori." The man spoke once more, looking down at Tsuketsu. "We are small village. Supply lumber around country. Found you out in forest," the man grimaced, as if he had just tasted something bitter. "Bloody pulp, you were."
"H-how long-"
"No more questions!" The big man interupted. "Rest. Heal! Mari leave to get Akana. Good healer, she is. Kunoichi, once."
The boy was ushered back to the bed where he lay back down, too exhausted from his little movement to resist.
He was so tired. So weak. He could barely move. He could barely talk! How long had he been out for?
He continued to rack his brain, trying to remember what had happened before The Abyss. How had he gotten himself into that mess? It was then that he noticed it. A katana, about one-hundred and fifty centimeters long rest in the corner of the room. The hilt wrapped with a red cloth that hung loosely at the end. The sheath was black, with a golden trim to it. Was that the same one that had pierced him?
He had so many questions... questions that had no answers.
What was that abyss? Who did that chakra belong to? What did it belong to? It was ominous, he could feel the evil intent when he was falling. He could feel it attacking every cell it could reach... and that eye... It was as if evil incarnate was staring into his soul.
The brunette had no idea how long he lie there in thought before a knock came from the doorway to notify him of a new presence.
"Hm. So you are awake after all. Here I thought Mari was just imagining things." the new voice spoke, as the boy forced himself to sit up.
She was breathtaking. Her hair was light brown, just as was her daughter's, her eyes a similar chocolate brown, but held an intensity that came with age that the young girl did not possess. Her face was smudged with dirt, but the tanned skin was easy to make out. Her angular face and high cheek bones seemed out of place in a lumber village. She seemed almost regal, despite the dirt caked under her nails.
"The fact that you're even conscious is a feat in itself, but to be able to sit up, you're quite the fighter." She looked at him, her eyes showing no indication that she truly believed what she was saying.
He opened his mouth, preparing to ask his question before he was cut off by the woman. "Don't bother." She said sternly, "You've been out for a few days now, you won't be able to talk without damaging your vocal chords. Mari is mixing the herbs for the medicine. She should be done shortly." she paused, examining him shortly. "You can ask all the questions you want then... as well as answer mine."
He stared blankly at her as they sat for a few moments in an awkward silence. Soon, light footsteps indicated someone approaching.
The young girl from earlier, Mari, walked in holding a tray which held a glass, filled with a gray, milky liquid. The girl shakily made her way over to the boy, refusing to make eye contact.
He stared at the glass.
"Drink." the woman ordered. "It's not as if we have a reason to poison you."
Nodding, the boy grabbed the glass and slowly brought it to his lips. He hesitantly tilted his head back, the medicine filling his mouth. Honey. It tasted like honey, with a slightly bitter aftertaste. He quickly downed the drink, feeling his throat warm slightly before the feeling faded away. He placed the glass on the tray and the girl quickly rushed out of the room.
"She's shy."
"Thank you... for taking care of me." the boy said, quietly as he eyed the woman.
The woman snorted. "Don't thank me just yet. You have some questions to answer, and depending on your answers, I might not have Maul lob your head off like a common piece of wood."
The boy winced at this thought.
"Now then," the woman continued, "who are you? What is your name?"
The brunette thought for a moment. Racking his brain. His name. What was his name?
Finally, it came to him.
"Tsuketsu... Tsuketsu no Kin."
The woman's eyes narrowed at this, but she said nothing. "I am Isha Akana. Pleasure to meet you, Tsuketsu."
"The pleasure is mine, Isha-san."
She raised an eyebrow at the formality, but again she said nothing. "What were you doing in the forest?"
"I-I don't know..." Tsuketsu whispered. "I don't remember anything before waking up here."
"I see." Akana responded thoughtfully. "Then allow me to enlighten you to where you are."
Akana walked over to the covered window and grabbed the curtain. Slowly she pulled it away, revealing the village outside to Tsuketsu.
"Welcome to Mori Village, in Eastern Hi no Kuni."
well, there you have it. I know it's still short, but the chapters will gradually get longer as I get more and more into the story. I'm sure you know how it is ;)
Anyway, read and review, you know, all that good stuff.
Later.
