Part A
The rain was pounding against the wooden sides of my families hut. It called out to me, but I ignored it. I ran a towel over my hair, drying it while I sat in my soft cotton nightgown. I dropped the towel and ran my finger over the small bruise on my shoulder, just beneath the band of my dress. It would heal quickly, if I was lucky my father would pass out when he got home. I raised my eyes and looked at the ceiling. If he did not pass out right away I would try to stop him… this time I would try and stop him.
My body stiffened as the stench of stale liquor hit me. I dropped my brush and turned out some of the lights. They would hurt his eyes when he walked in. The wind smashed into the sides of the hut. I shivered, listening to the wind howl and the rain pound.
The door flew open, hitting the wall. In walked my father, Zanru. He was a broad shouldered man, with jet black hair and stormy grey eyes. In his youth, I'm sure he had been handsome. Now only liquor and depression ruled his life. He stumbled forward, calling out for me.
"Tenshi, come here!" Zanru bellowed out. I ran forward, stumbling as I grabbed his coat. "Get me a beer," He yelled boisterously. He fumbled over his words as he wobbled from side to side. I scrambled to the kitchen to get him his drink.
I delivered the beer to my father and waited by his side for his next command. He took a swig of the beer and spat it out. I flinched but did nothing to stop his fist as it swung and connected with my stomach. I crumpled to the floor, tears slipping silently down my face. I gasped as painful waves washed over me. I struggled to stand up. I would defy him; show him that I was not worthless… that I could rise above the world.
"Stay down, damn you!" Zanru cursed heavily under his breath. I raised my head in defiance. My father snorted in laughter, making his large beer belly shake. "You think you can beat me?" He sneered. He spit in my face; I wiped it off. His glare caught me. I flinched again as he threw his empty bottle of beer at me. It hit me; thankfully my thick cotton nightgown saved me from too many of the shards cutting into me.
Zanru raised his hand again and grabbed my shoulder. I jerked away from him, frightened. He pulled me in closer; his beer ridden breathe riding over me. I gagged at the stench that overwhelmed me. Zanru threw me onto the ground and kicked me hard.
Blow after blow hit me, just like most nights. I soon was at the edge of unconsciousness on the floor. Tears hit the ground, but I was still silent. I had failed to do anything. I lay still until he left me alone to my pain. I could not get up. It was too painful. I pulled myself into a fetal position, closing my eyes and waiting for the pain to end completely… for the ebbing darkness to set in. Finally it did.
~Dream~
I spread my large white wings. I glanced back at my battered body but then flew straight up out of my home. I flew through the sky, stopping only to land in my haven. I was warm as angels came down beside me. They hugged me tightly, warming my body as they enveloped me. They cooed softly to me. I sighed, praying that this was where I would stay forever. I wanted to be happy forever. A soft voice whispered in my ear.
"Be strong, our concrete angel." The soft musical voice was sad. My heart broke as I realized that it would not last. "Be strong,"
~End Dream~
I pulled myself off the cold floor. It was early in the morning, the sun had not yet risen. It took me but a moment to rediscover the pain that had caused me to faint. Fresh bruises covered my body. I needed to get out of the house.
I changed out of my bloodied night gown. Apparently more glass had cut me than I had originally thought. I pulled on a white hooded kimono, covering my face with the hood so that no early birds would recognize me. I left the house, walking out of my hut in the dark morning. My bare feet hit the ground, sinking into the wet dirt.
I walked through the woods; my arms lay at my sides. It was too painful to move anything. I looked straight ahead, stretching my chakra so that I could avoid anyone who may approach me. I started to hum as I walked through the trees.
I stopped at the small waterfall. I lowered my hood and walked straight into the unusually warm water. I moved until I was directly under the water. Most would have though that the water would hurt, but it did not. I closed my eyes, letting the water sooth away my pain.
A rustle brought me from my thoughts back to the moment. I opened my eyes as a rippled floated through the water. Kakashi was standing watching me. He froze under my sad gaze. I looked straight into his black eye.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, without any emotion. Kakashi was frozen. I moved from my spot and walked forward. The cold air hit me yet I did not shiver. I stopped when I was about a foot away from Kakashi. His eyes traced my body, making me move away from him. My movement caused my kimono to fall, revealing one shoulder. I moved to pull it up, but Kakashi was faster. His warm hand traced the fading bruises. His black eye narrowed and his eye brows came together in a frown.
"What happened?"
"I fell while I was picking apples," I lied. I pulled up my kimono, before stiffly walking away.
"Why were you underneath the waterfall?" I paused.
"It has healing properties." I had told him the truth. I did not like to lie to anyone, and one lie was more than enough to tell. I did not want to hurt him, but I did not want him to know my burden for it was my burden to hold.
Part B
I dragged myself from bed, ruffling my white hair as I sat up. Outside, it was still dark. I had woken up early. I tossed aside the towel that had fallen off while I slept. After my dream, I had managed to get back to sleep.
I pulled on some clean clothes and went to my bathroom. I pulled on the black pants with a matching black shirt all over my black mask which covered my nose and mouth. I made sure that the mask was more secure than usual; I did not want anything happening. I grabbed my ninja plate, tying is extra tight of my eye before brushing my teeth and an apple for breakfast. It was not in me to sit still though and I took to walking the village.
Even the village seemed suffocating. I left town and took a well traveled path into the woods. I had needed to train. I had not heard from our sensei yet, so I did not know when we where going to train. Burning energy was my top priority at the moment. The birds started to sing as the sun threatened to peak over the horizon. I came to the ninja training course, tossing aside my apple core.
I started out with some warm-up, trying to keep warm in the cool morning air. I had not thought to bring a jack when I had left. A growl startled me. I spun, kunai at the ready, to find a fox baring its fangs at me. I couldn't help but edge closer to the frightened fox. She backed away from me slowly, closing in towards the bushes. It was the same one that Tenshi had shown to me.
"I remember you," I kept my voice calm and low. I did not want her to be frightened. She back away from me, just like Tenshi would do to me. "It's okay," The fox flipped her ears forward, listening to my voice. I squatted down and pulled out a piece jerky I kept in my pack for emergencies. She edged forward, eyeing me warily. I smiled through my mask at her.
With a nip of her head she took the jerky and disappeared into the bushes. I stood up, satisfied. My pants where already getting muddy from the rain that night before; yet I found myself not caring.
Beautiful humming filled the air. It was a song I was unfamiliar with. I had to follow it to see just who it was. I came upon a woman clad in a white hooded kimono. I could not identify her with her hood up. I followed her though, wondering if maybe she was an enemy ninja come to spy on the village.
The woman led me to a small waterfall. She lowered her hood and it was no enemy ninja. It was Tenshi. Tenshi walked through the water and stood beneath the waterfall. She closed her eyes as the water fell onto her. She looked as if she was in heaven.
I stepped out of my hiding spot and Tenshi stirred momentarily before relaxing again. I stopped out into the water, wanting to get closer to her. She jumped and pinned me with her eyes, the same sad eyes that I had seen so many times. I was unable to move, I was frozen… lost in the swirl of her mournful hazel eyes.
"What are you doing here?" Tenshi asked her voice void of emotion. I couldn't find my voice still. She came forward until she was close enough that I could feel her chakra lacing through her body. My eyes traveled over Tenshi's well formed body. She moved away, like the fox had. She looked so delicate and beautiful in the soaking wet white kimono.
The movement made her kimono fall, revealing one slender shoulder. My hand flew out to trace the old bruises that lay there. She had been hurt. I bit back a growl and frowned at them.
"What happened?" My voice was laced with anger, letting on what I was feeling. I needed to get myself under control. A good ninja always had the situation under control.
"I fell while I was picking apples." She tugged up her kimono. I couldn't help but know she was not telling me the truth. I did not push her to tell me though. If she wanted to, she would. I hoped she would at least.
"Why were you underneath the waterfall?" I prodded, hoping to get the truth from her. She paused for a moment.
"It has healing properties." She replied as though it was the simplest thing in the world. I raised my eyebrow at her retreating back.
