ok, I know the reason of the memories are sickish...
-.-"

But IDK! I had to think of something quick!

Disclaimer: I do not own the KHR characters, if I did, I would have MAJOR writers block right now.

A Little Sprinkle Won't Hurt…

It has been a little over half a year since the trauma happened. My family was being killed one by one, and the odor of fresh blood being spilled, the endless crimson sea of the lifeless, and everything growing dim as if it were a dream. But it was reality, and I needed to face it. No one will ever help me, I depressingly thought and sighed. I sat and my back leaned against the cool wall as I hugged my knees tightly against my aching chest, on my comfy carpet floor in my pink floral wallpapered room, between my bed and tall, navy blue wardrobe. I looked up towards my vanilla ceiling thinking, what should I do now? I looked down at my clothing, my sky blue T-shirt that said "Over The Rainbow, You Will Find Me", and my long coral pajama pants with printed cookies and hearts saying "I 3 Cookies!"

Around me were scattered novels, thick, textbooks, and papers filled with writing. I looked back down and stared at my thick books and sighed. I will now review what I have learned this week. " The answer for (x-6)(x+13) equals x2+7x-78… The area of this trapezoid with bases of 5 and 8, and the height of 7 is equal to 45.5 units2… And I have already written the entire book, Alice in Wonderland in English." (The whole phrase I have said is in English). I looked passed the thick, dusty Algebra and Geometry textbooks, and reached to pick up the stack of papers that I wrote, Alice in Wonderland translated to English and skimmed to proofread through one last time. I slapped the endless papers onto the floor and sighed once more.

What day is it today? I helplessly thought as I looked out my open window that sat just above my neat, bleach bed. It was cloudy and gloomy outside without any birds happily chirping across the sky, but there were dead leaves that stirred in the wind. And I looked back onto my phone, which sat right next to me when I was studying. It blinked 11:47 AM, and below, December 28. Oh, looks like I am not celebrating Christmas this year… Just when I was dazed, someone knocked on my door. I still sat, not moving an inch and boringly said aloud (in English, hey, I am studying English a bit early ok? I just need more practice) "Roses are red, violets are blue. If you were smart, what would you do?" I closed my phone and laid it onto my little, jade coffee desk in the middle of my room, and folded my arms.

If it were a human at the door, this is what I would expect they would think if they heard me: What the heck am I hearing? I guess there is just some crazy, old woman living in this house… Slowly walking away. But, if it were a ninja, that is a whole other story.

I waited a few second, still staring at my wide, open window, and sure enough, someone popped up on my window… "Hey Miki-chan! So you have read some of Shakespeare's work, huh? How have you been?" Shiori jumped into my room, still in business attire (which is black dress and tie, fake glasses, and high ponytail), and cheerfully asked. "I'm fine, Shiori-san, what's happening outside?" I said emotionless and could feel her wince with sympathy about my situation.

Soon after the incident happened, Shiori asked if I wanted to replace Kanoko (because some humans would notice is a sudden idol they loved disappeared), but refused. I simply answered that no one would replace Kanoko, if I were to, I would only be hurting myself, not the audience. Though I did agree to be a new idol, and so Shiori is working her magic to mold me to be the new-faced idol, and she thinks that later I would surpass Kanoko. Well, now, I am the-idol-in-the-making…

Going forward to now. "It's been well. Though the humans were shocked to know that Kanoko has now… Passed on," Shiori started tearing up, but quickly wiped them away, and pumped her fist into the air, "But it won't stop some fans from switching their favorite idols! And you, Miki-chan, under my wing, who knows where I will take you to go! I will make you even better than all those idols in the human world to aim for number 1 idol!" The background behind her seemed to brightly sparkle, enthusiastically, her face in triumph. I looked up at her with a slight admiration and clapped for her mini-speech.

She looked back at me with a saddened expression. I wish I could help you through all this and stay with you, but… her face told me. I nodded, understanding, though she would love to stay with me (like a second sister), but she was busy in the human world. Connecting with the N Network for me, explaining what has happened, and managing Kanoko's left over work, that is now booming.

"You know, Miki-chan, you haven't gone out much have you? You should, don't stay in this house too often, I want you to go outside. I saddens me if I don't see you happy someday…" Shiori finally said, I could hear her hesitant voice forcing each word out from her mouth, as she looked down at her black heels and shifted her weight. She didn't want to be imposing the wrong idea, but I understood her. "I understand that you don't want me to be lonely for the rest of my life," I answered monotonously, as she looked up into my blank eyes, "And I should go outside someday…" I looked past her shoulder outside of my window, without emotions.

"Miki..." I didn't hear a voice, but the words danced in front of me in the imminent blackness. There was no one else, but me in solitude. I floated, damp in the cold, but no wind blew. I couldn't move a muscle in the thick, stiff black emptiness. I couldn't see any light other than the bright white words that swayed in an imaginary whirlwind. And couldn't hear my deep breaths but only the piercing ringing noise. The only thing I could look at is the word "Miki." I tried hard to reach out, slowly my hand loosened from the emptiness, but suddenly, the words multiplied. The name was then accompanied my others like a swarm of bees. I could only make out some words: "I never knew", "Who would think...", "Why are you here?", "Solitude", "Like that would...", "voice", "death", "tears", "could it change?", and many others I tried to keep up. But it all occupied the space inside "Miki" and became muddled and murky crimson. it grew larger and larger, almost looking like it would go on forever. So dark and fearful it reminded me of that day...

I came to my senses, jerked to sit upright, and gasped a few lungfuls of cool breeze. My eyes fluttered to make sure that I was i reality this time and relaxed my body, since I was damp with sweat and somewhat jittery. Just a dream... Huh...I sighed. I had too many nightmares that would only repeat and scare me even more than the last. I shuddered and brought my knees close to my scarred heart. I never received any warmth from anyone. I wonder if humans would be the same. My mouth quirked from side to side. Once when I am calmed, I extended my feet and leaned back to look up onto the bright white sky, full of clouds.

Sigh… Though I did agree to Shiori that I should go outside, I still have no idea what I should be doing right now. A few days passed since then. I checked my phone once again staring at the numbers that read 2:58 PM, and under, January 8. I sat on the rocky edge next to a waterfall. I wasn't to far from my home, just about a 5 minute walk away. I was about halfway from my little ninja town, which is now nonexistent. The safest place, other than my second house (that I am currently occupying), that I would go to (and I actually am right now) is the forest. I looked around at my surroundings, swinging my feet above the about a good twenty feet drop to the rocky, wet ground. The tall, dead trees (it is now winter) towered over me as the cold wind blew. I shivered in my grassy colored coat and my dark blue jeans. I lowered my white cap, which was my precious treasure in an illusion and kept it with me everywhere, so it covered my eyes (since I was in no good mood to see anyone). I used the forest to practice my illusions and my ice making. And of course I would set an illusion, so that anyone without a "special ability" will not get through to disturb me.

Though I had just finished practicing my illusions and ice making so that I could get stronger. I know I am not strong enough to protect anyone, I was useless and hep less back then... I looked down onto my empty, cold palms. Then I quickly thought. My goal is to be the strongest ninja so that I could protect anything that is precious to me! I clenched my fists together and gaining my fighting spirit. Though it could only last so long, until I sighed again, looking up to the gloomy clouds that blocked the bright sun. But, the thing is… What is precious to me when I just lost everything that was dear to me? Tearing up again and not noticing as the tears kept flowing and dropped onto my knees. Once I finally noticed a few seconds later, I thought… Let's find out… I stared intensely at my surrounding scenery that seemed so calm and silent. But I am going to change that.

About a minute later, with my concentration reaching its limit. Around me, I returned the incident into reality again. The dark, harsh glow of the fire roaring with anger. The amber danced in the wind, looking like bright musical notes that will cause death wherever it went. The thick, muggy blood covered all around. And the screams of the helpless seemed to echo in the forest. And someone, in front of me being killed by the menacing "shadow". The "shadow" stabbed the person through its stomach, causing blood to splatter onto my face, with its long, muddy nails, but also scratched my right cheek. And that person was…

Thud, thud, thud. Huh, the sounds of footsteps. I quickly nullified my illusions into nothingness. Ugh… I feel a bit lightheaded because of my concentration of who would… be precious… to me… I leaned over the edge and dropped off of the mini-cliff losing my consciousness. I could see my sight blurring and dimming. But when I saw the jagged rocks below me rush forward, I lazily pulled out my right hand and suddenly made an ice cushion that saved me, about two feet away from the ground. Flop! I landed back first and saw the icicles puff up into the air when I landed.

"Eh? I thought I saw something burn… Oh! A child fell!" I heard a boy say from the corner of the clearing, after the baseball bat clanged onto he hard, cold rocks (yes, I know what item it is by the sound or pitch). And I thought you were a child, I scolded on the inside with my eyes closed, because I was too tired to do physically. Wait… I thought I put up a barrier… Well, I am too tired to check, so I hope that person will leave me alone. Meh. I spat on the inside as I was calmed by the sound of the splashing waterfall. Step, step, step. I didn't pay attention to the kid who is now walking towards me… Let's see if this is a human or not. I thought, creating an extra cold breeze, which was a reflection of how I felt towards that kid.

"Huh? Look's like it's going to be cold today… Oh well! Haha!" the little boy looked around and shivered. Winner, winner, chicken dinner! I found myself a lucky human… Now I was really annoyed. He kneeled beside me. What am I? Sleeping beauty? Don't kid around before I friggin kill you… "Hey!" he looked down at me and continued on, "Are you dead?" I snapped my eyes open and sat up immediately after he finished saying. "I am not dead! I was trying to sleep!" I hissed at him, staring intensely, straight into his dark brown eyes, as if looking into his soul. Then I noticed that he was still in his baseball uniform, face smudged with dirt. "Haha! Your funny! Thank goodness, because I would be troubled if you were dead!" He said cheerfully, taking off his baseball cap, putting an arm behind to scratch his short black hair. I twitched, keeping my anger bottled up inside. Though I was in no mood to speak to anyone, just thinking of anger made my brain hurt as I swayed and winced in pain.

The kid looked at me and blinked, "Are you alright? And your face is smudged and pale! You don't look so fine…" He looked confused and had an idea, which made him have a creepy, cheerful grin that will make me punch him (someday). "Ah! I know what would make you feel better!" He grabbed my wrist and dragged me back into the human world. I was too dazed to know what is happening.

The next thing I knew is that I stood in a sushi shop, while the kid disappeared into the kitchen. I was confused about my situation. This kid dragged me into a sushi shop and thought I would feel better? Wow… You have some guts kid… I twitched making my head spin again, and finally plopped down onto a wooden stool and sighed. I crossed my arms and closed my eyes, hoping that my mind would relax.

3… 2… 1… Observing Time! I snapped my eyes open wide to absorb all the information I could find. Scanning through the empty (because outside the door had a sign saying "Busy. Sorry, come back tomorrow!") space. Looking at the interior design from the wooden tables and stools to the variety display of sushi in front of my arms. I nodded, acknowledging their traditional Japanese design. The place seems clean, but I could still smell the fishiness lingering in the air. Other than the fish, I could smell the salty soy sauce, freshly cut cucumbers, finely cut ginger, and sake. I remembered that my dad liked to drink sake in his free time, but he wasn't that careless, I giggled. But suddenly I heard the boy cluttering through the kitchen to find something. If I remember correctly, this sushi shop is located in the middle of a shopping district, and I would guess that this store is quite popular towards humans.

Hmm… Note to self: Place to go for a ninja party, some sushi place. I let my head bob as I thought what would be good for a party. But the little boy came back with two clean, white towels and a small bowl of water, and noticed me daydreaming. He made a wide grin, "Do you like it here? My dad owns this place. Lots of people come all the time! And he has become popular for making the greatest sushi around!" And I blinked into reality and stared at the boy, who placed the items in front of me and nodded.

"Oh! I forgot to ask. I'm Yamamoto, Takeshi! What's your name?" He stood to the right of me holding his towel, looking at me cheerfully. "And I am…" I stopped to pick up my towel and dripped the edge of it in water and brushed my face. This is going to hurt me, and I know it… "Tsubaki, Kanoko." I managed out to say with a flat expression. Yamamoto quickly beamed up, "You mean Tsukimori, Kanoko? The top idol that everyone talks about in school, with many admirers? And is now… Gone?" And once he finished his sentence he started to look down. Stab! His words punctured though my heart leaving more pain for me, joy, and he looked around thinking he heard something… And I accidently pressed to hard in my cheek with the towel. And winced in pain because of the cut. "Um… no, it is Tsubaki, and if I were Tsukimori, I would not be here, right now." I looked down onto my towel, not noticing there were stains of blood and mud. My heart dropped when he reminded me of my sister. Oh how I missed her and my family so… I held the wet towel close to my heart with sorrow.

"Are you also a Tsukimori fan? I have never seen you around school though. How old are you?" He looked curiously with his beady eyes, done cleaning his face. I blinked. I never met a curious human before… And it doesn't seem like he will tell anyone about me, I guessed. Well, whatever. "Well, I don't actually go to school, but I was home schooled all my life. Tsukimori was the inspiration in my life. And I am eight years old." I didn't lie about a single word in what I just said. I thought how amazing my sister was, how she cared, and what she has done, for me. I folded and set my wet towel onto my lap. He nodded understandingly, until I said my age, he turned shocked. "Hey! I'm eight also!" And I wished that you were a kid… Though he did look a bit younger than an eight-year-old kid. My mouth quirked, on the inside, but I kept my calm mask on.

And after being surrounded by the smell of sushi. My stomach growled. Whoops, I forgot to eat again today. It reminded me of the few days after the massacre, I did not eat for about one and a half weeks, because I was to depressed to know what necessities I needed. I sighed and placed my hand on my stomach with a sly smile. Yamamoto noticed, and just kept smiling. Does he ever get tired of smiling all too often? I don't understand this human (or thing). "Hey, I can ask my dad to make you some sushi! He is just taking a nap right now. I bet he won't mind making some for us." He said joyfully. I was confused. Why would a human do this for a person he barely knew and met? Is this how humans really are? "Why would you do this for me?" I asked with a jumbled face. "Why? Because isn't it normal for people to help each other out? And aren't we already friends?" Yamomoto looked baffled at my question, and looked at me like please-tell-me-you-help-people-out-before. It must have been the first time he heard that question… Wait, then, what is considered normal for humans? "Well, it's just that no one has ever helped me before…" I looked down at my hands basically murmuring the last word, and bit my lip. Recalling that no one has ever helped me out. And to make my first friend after what happened? This is surprising new to me. "Hmm, that's interesting… Then I will be the first to help you!" He scrunched his face as he thought, and quickly changed his expression, and went onto his merry way to get his father.

Then I was left alone in the sushi shop again. I blinked in wonder, lost in thought, and soon smirked. This is a very interesting human… I placed my chin onto the palm of my left hand and crossed my legs… I stared expectantly at the kitchen doorway, open to what will happen next.

Months flew by. The summary of it, I will try to be brief.

I learned about Yamamoto and his... crackish personality. He was friendly to everyone around him, and has a girl fan club. Apparently he does not realize it but in the background (what do ninjas do? We hide in the shadows where humans don't know that they are being watched) I watched as the girls would squeal in delight and swoon over his practices. I was a bit confused in why girls do such a thing and shrugged, I guess that's what all human girls do. I never understood such a feeling.

I would visit the sushi shop, sometimes in an illusion whenever I feel like it. I always changed my appearance: from jet black haired, tall high schooler, to a punk girl with short blonde hair with red highlights, and even (when I am amused) a caramel haired American who doesn't know much Japanese (since I need to learn English since I was interested in Americans and their culture). I would usually order something new each time I visit, and also would leave a generous tip for Yamamoto's father. But whenever I came without my illusions and as an eight-year-old, a curious child that turns out to be Yamamoto's friend, his dad greets me kindly.

And whenever Yamomoto was walking home from after school baseball practice (and I coincidentally see him pass by), I would test his human skills of reaction, since humans are very interesting... So I would hide behind some tree or bush, form a tightly packed snowball (with the help of my illusion, so it looks like a baseball), and quickly chuck it at him. Every time I did so, to my satisfaction, he did have fast reflexes, almost enough to make me call him a ninja, but quite not there yet. He caught it in a blink of an eye with his right hand. I observed. He always caught things with his right, but what is with his left? I asked curiously inside. Or he can't use it. He prioritizes his right too often. I suspected his flaw. "Hehe... Oh? You actually caught it?" I grinned evilly murmuring soft enough so he couldn't hear. "Oh? Were you playing baseball?" Yamamoto curiously asked blinking. "Nope," I replied and continue on, "Just playing in general." I formed another tightly packed baseball and tossed it to myself. "Unless you want some help with your reflexes to make it just a tad bit better..." I purred and kept tossing the baseball as if it were yarn. For us ninjas, reflexes are huge on us, either you react fast, or your dead. He would give a slight chuckle and accept the offer, "Haha, sure, a game? Why not?"

And so I would learn about his abilities: fast runner, quick reflexes, serious only to baseball, and other things a Yamamoto does. I guess I learned more of the human culture and such. I have been uplifted from the hole of depression I had dug myself into after my family passed away. I hope that they have gone to a better place, watching down on me, and maybe even proud of me.

There, brief summary done. Now time skip to February.

I stared at me phone screen that kept blinking, February 13 and under, 5:48 PM. I am wearing a fuzzy, coral coat with light blue jeans and black sneakers (and on top of that, Kanoko's frilly hat, that I would always put an illusion so it would look different towards people). My feet dangled next to the same waterfall, where I met my first friend, as I looked up to the clear blue skies. It was a crisp, cool morning that the birds greeted other animals with its gleeful chirping. The trees around me recovered its emerald, lush leaves, and as a breeze swept by, the plants seem to be waving. I just finished practicing my illusions and ice making, so right now, I am taking a small break. My head bobbed as I put my phone onto my lips and thought, what should I do for Valentines Day? Oh… Well, already taken care of… I grinned and shoved my phone back into my jean pocket. And remembered…

It was only yesterday that I made the sweet treats to eat. And making chocolates wasn't that hard (as I observed Kanoko making them for her co-workers a long time ago, she told me some helpful tips on how to make them, and now it seems like a dream to me…) as I pulled out the ingredients out of my pantry, which was next to the kitchen sink. I slipped a clean, orange apron onto myself and was pumped to make chocolate. I didn't notice that my hands were at work making chocolates after I thought about my friend, Yamamoto, Takeshi. Hey, I do not like him… Did you even read the rules? If I were to, I must cut off all connections and give up my ice making and illusions…

I learned (not from my resources, but all straight from him) that he went to Namimori Elementary, is trying out for the baseball team (and the team thinks he is too young for it, but he joined anyway), takes everything as a joke, and his attitude everyday does not mean that he was on crack or something else (thank goodness!) Oh… I looked down onto past my dirtied hands at the perfect, marble milk-white chocolate shells with crispy biscuits under them, all aligned in straight diagonals. Hmm… My mouth craved for sweets. Well, I should try to see if they are good to eat. I carefully picked up one marble shell, hopefully solidified, and nibbled the top half and gasped. I never knew I put caramel in it! I helplessly left my mouth agape. The sweet chocolate melted and the soft caramel oozed, and all under it, the flaky biscuit. Oh how I want to eat more! I held back my temptations as I drooled just by looking at them as I stood behind the wall against my kitchen. I could smell the sweet milk chocolate lingering around my house, tempting me to eat more. Wah!~ Chocolate is my weakness! I ran away from the delicious sweets that are now just sitting on my kitchen table. I covered my embarrassment with my arm and ran into my room to stay away from its goodness… I quit the embarrassment act and rummaged through my drawers looking for a nice looking package to put the chocolates in. Hmm… this might work. And I never knew I had this. I twisted my face as I pulled out a pale sapphire packadge and navy blue ribbon after a few seconds of rummaging. Oh well! I perked and jumped out of my room, and skipped downstairs to the kitchen to wrap my little, special gift…

And going to the present (as in now, not the gift)… I had already placed my gift under one of the bushes near the clearing. I giggled and faced the upper left corner of the clearing, where I put my little gift. Then I heard rustle movements near the bushes towards the human world, which was to my right. I quickly placed my hand to hide my smirk.

"Haha! So you were here." Yamamoto appeared out from the lush bushes wearing his baseball uniform, holding his bat with a glove in his right, and a few baseballs with his left, and also carried a few loose leaves tangled in his black hair. "And you came right after baseball practice, huh?" I replied with a smile. "Oh? How did you know? Haha!" He brushed off most of the leaves in his hair as he approached me. All I could see was his wide grin all over his face… Well… I kinda got used to it. But not the punching part, I still wanna punch him, maybe less than last time. I sighed on the inside and shrugged.

Though I have been to some of his practices (of course using my illusions). He was pretty good, I will admit, than the other people in the baseball team. And noticed how many fans he has. I brushed off the pebbles that blew onto my feet as I slowly got to my feet. "Oh, I don't know… By the way you are dressing right now?" I gestured towards him with a wry smile. "Haha! I see." He said when he finished picking off the last leaf. "So, how was baseball practice?" I asked with my questioned mask and observed how he was now. I shifted my weight and folded my arms across my chest. "Oh, baseball practice was fine. Though personally, I think it is easy. You should come and watch sometime!" His face scrunched up and scratched his cheek, trying to remember, and then smiled. Ok, nothing new, I am guessing. And he continued on, breaking my train of thought. "Though, I just came over to practice my batting and pitching!" He brought out the equipment and plopped them down onto the space in front of me, looked up at me and smiled. I cocked my head to one side and lowered to observe the items, he crouched down also to pick up one of the two dark, wooden bats. He took a few steps back, curious and shook his bat, then pointed at me with an amused expression, "And you are going to help me!" Eh? Like heck do I know anything about baseball! My brain screamed and panicked. I truly don't know anything about baseball other than: you run, and hit a baseball with a metal stick. The metal stick was the only thing that I was interested about. AndI didn't notice that I left my mouth agape and my eyes wide. Yamamoto was pretending to take a few swings and noticed my deer-in-the-headlight expression and chuckled. "Why make such a face! You will just throw me the baseball. Don't worry! Haha!" I quickly changed my expression and sighed in relief. "Ah, I guess that is fine…" I picked up a few baseballs and followed him towards the edge of the clearing and the human world. He stood about eight yards away from me and practiced a few more swings, as I observed the baseballs. Huh, they are light, rough, and smells… Like sweat! Ew! I narrowed my eyes and held the baseballs further away from me, so that the breeze won't carry the smell towards me. "Haha! You ready?" I heard him call across from me and ignored the smell, for now, quickly got into position as how I saw in his practices. I blinked, also seeing him get serious and ready to swing his bat. Ok… I breathed in and out slowly. I squeezed my eyes shut, because the golden sun was glaring in my eyes (you know how it is when you stare at the sun too long). Then a passing cloud blocked the bright rays, only for a few seconds, and I squinted to see his silhouette. And he seemed to glow with the sun right behind him, I thought, distracted, and then saw him staring at me ready to hit. Ba-dump! Ah… I averted my gaze away from his and hesitated. What is this feeling? I want to clutch my heart… I shook my head trying to get away from this nonsense. I hope I do not suck at this. One… Two… And!

Wham! Hmm? I didn't throw the ball yet. I looked back saw Yamamoto blink in shock and slump onto the mossy rocks, losing consciousness. And behind him revealed a mean-looking teenager wearing baggy, black sweats, smudged with food T-shirt, an oversized purple jacket, and on top of that, he slung a rusty, 3-foot pipe over his shoulder and evilly chuckled. "Hey, boss, I found some kids over here. Just two of 'em. Well, I already took one of 'em down anyway. Not much harm here." He gestured towards the forest and more of "him" came out. In total, there were five of them, including the "boss". And they look like delinquents… They were all wearing baggy clothing and some were smoking. I narrowed my eyes in disgust. They friggin knocked out my only friend! My eyes twitched and inside me, boiling with anger.

"Great job, Jr." said the fat, short man wearing a thick, grey, leather jacket and a black beanie trudged to get to his side, "and I will award you later for this… And what do we have here?" His cigarette bobbed in his mouth, and his black sunglasses showed my reflection, I saw my mask filled with surprise and shock. Hah, good, that's how I want it to be. I smirked on the inside. When the "boss" finished talking he pulled out his cigar and puffed out a lungful of smoke onto my face. Which I shut my eyes. Gosh! Does this person brush his teeth or what? I gagged helplessly. "Hah! Just a little kid, aren't you!" The boss showed his crooked, yellow teeth and slipped off his dark sunglasses, revealing his squinty brown eyes. I twitched when he said I was a "kid". If I were a human, I would be freaking out and hyperventilate. But, haha, no… I am a ninja. So I could probably kick their sorry, fat butts out of here… I calculated my options. But only one kept sticking out: to kick their butts' outta here!

"Aww… Aren't you scared of death? Cause you are pretty darn close if you don't get yer ass outta here!" Jr. laughed manically and nudged his shoulder, signaling they all come and show their weapons. Jr ha the rusty pipe, the boss had a pistol, and the three other delinquents pulled out their wooden clubs. Hmm… Nothing that would be lethal, but it is the pistol you have to be careful about. I stared in amazement with my mask. That's it… I am done with this act. I pulled off my mask that concealed my annoyed, angry expression that itched to be shown to the world. Well, at least Yamamoto will never see this side of me…

"Oh? I am going to die? You do not know anything about death or even the meaning of the word 'die', do you?" My boring expression, with a monotone voice shocked them all. "And do you expect this from an eight year old. Hmm, do you?" I folded my arms across my chest and shifted my weight.

The boss seemed to be amused and burst out laughing, his whole body of fat jiggled, "Fwahaha! Yer one interesting child! But not interesting to save yer life little one." He held up his pistol and aimed it towards me. I just stared at the pistol and grinned, "Oh? And we will see about that…"

Without a signal, I disappeared into the mist, and my voice trailed away in the wind. The gang was baffled and the boss, keeping his cool, shot in random directions, hoping to hit me. "Haha, and you seem interesting also. So can't you just keep your cool and play with me?" My voice traveled and bounced around their heads as if they were in a maze. The surroundings dissolved into rainbow ooze. They all started to shudder. "What the hell is this? Boss, help us out!" All of them cried but I cut them off, so I can play with their individual minds.

First I should take out the boss. I went into his chamber, of course I was concealed by my illusion. And I saw him freaking out. He was running in place with his sweat covering his plumb body and cigar clenched in between his teeth. "Kukuku… Isn't this an interesting place isn't it?" My voice echoed. My madness and anger took over my body. I silently pulled out my favorite weapon, my 5-foot long stick, from my boot. He shivered because the temperature dropped to subzero (that is how I feel everyday). Dumbfounded he couldn't say a word. "Huhuhu, that makes it more easily for me," I retracted my mini-spyglass into a full-length metal stick. I whacked him hard enough to knock him out, not to kill him. One down, four to go.

Now to the next one, the one who whacked my only friend. "So, how are you enjoying your stay here?" I asked in an innocent voice, making the scenery extra whimsical, enough to make someone throw up. He collapsed onto his feet, but staggered to keep up. "So I don't understand anything about death, huh? You've got some nerve kid… Then you don't know what I have been though!" He kept staggering around aimlessly, holding onto himself because he was about to barf soon if he does not find the exit. "Hah! I am fine with that, because I can do whatever I want and maybe even kill you. Why? Because I already saw my family murdered in front of me without a great explanation!" I twitched and made an illusionary "shadow". Of course everyone would be freaked by it because it was fear itself. He yelped in fear and swung his metal pipe around, hoping that it would disappear. "Haha! Not good enough, bud…" I said as the illusions made random scrams of pain and had a mini clip of my past for my only audience to enjoy. He groaned because of the realistic smell, feel, sound, and graphics. I whacked him on the back of his neck, also knocking him out. "Oh, wait! You have to pay for your movie! Or I will have to kick you out…" I said, mimicking those people at the booths at the movie theater, and changed my expression to a grimace of anger. And now, only three left. I faced towards the only chamber left hearing the helpless screams of the boss's underlings.

"Well, I can certainly tell that you are enjoying your stay. But, oh, please do stay for dinner and dessert!" I came in with my illusionary clothing from those people in hotel rooms and suddenly changed the clean kimono into blood stained, goriness everywhere. They all jumped onto each other in fear and horror, while frantically shuddering. "Oh! Mah! Goodness! Get me outta here from this freak show!" they all yelled in sync. My face twitched. "You call this a freak show? And look at yourself and who you are with, freaks!" My anger burst and made an illusionary volcano in the middle of he chamber. It burst out boiling lava, which seemed to burn their skin (not in reality, they are just experiencing the pain). And I whacked them all, a bit more hard than the other I had. Well, that makes all five of them! I grinned. And at least it relieved my anger!~

I smiled and collected the unconscious delinquents and I erased their memories of what happened today. I am not telling you how I did! And after erasing the memories, I threw them into random places, as in restaurants, hotels, shopping centers, and anyplace far from here! Phew! That took a lot of energy! At least I got more practice! I smiled and returned to Yamamoto's unconscious body and kneeled down.

I gasped to find his wound from the back of his neck already dried with blood. Oh no! My mind raced and figured out. I had a secret ninja ointment inside Kanoko's frilly hat and pulled it out. The ointment is only known to water/ice ninjas only, so it would seem like we are able to heal people! I lightly dabbed the ointment onto his neck, seeing his calm face, as he was unconscious. I felt bad that I couldn't help to prevent the cause, I thought as I finished drenching his neck with the strong smelling, herbal ointment. I sat patiently next to his side. Don't worry, I looked down onto his calm face and smiled, this ninja will never leave a friend alone.

It was only a few minutes wait until I heard him wince in pain. I was about to fall asleep because of the calming splash of the waterfall in the distance. "Oh, don't get up yet! You are still hurt, Yamomoto-san!" (Ah… keeping ninja respect…) I looked down worriedly down at him as he felt his neck with a scrunched up face. Once he heard me say his name, he got confused. "Huh? I got hurt? I don't remember… And how do you know my name?" Stab! My expression dropped into nothing but confusion. That jerk must have hit him so hard that Yamomoto doesn't remember! I turned away from him to silently say and clenched my fists and teeth. I turned back to see his curious stare and him still lying on the ground. My heart dropped when I heard that he doesn't remember…

I pursed my lips and sadly managed to say with a shaky voice, "So you do not know who I am and why you are here?" I gazed down at him as he slightly shook his head and winced in pain, my expression full of sorrow and loss (seeming to be all so familiar). "Nope! And that is the funny thing! Haha!" he grinned up at me. My heart felt more stabs. "Well at least your personality didn't change…" I murmured under my breath feeling depressed already. He just stared curiously up at me with his beaming brown eyes. I looked up to the horizon, the golden sun slowly setting as the end of the day drew near. Sigh… Whatever. It was the least I could do. I looked back at Yamamoto's grin and bit the inside of my mouth and tasted the blood already. "We should get back now before it gets dark. And I will help you to your house…" My voice slowly turned into a whisper as I looked down, my dark, brown hair covering my sight. I let it cover my eyes as I helped Yamamoto up to his feet. He staggered a bit, but regained his balance in a few seconds. "Haha! Ok then!" He beamed at me, which hurt my heart. Why would you be like this towards anyone? My thoughts infested my brain making my mind foggy. I just nodded and silently helped him walk back to his house. I faced away from the lazy, golden sun and left my gift behind.

When we got back to Yamamoto's house, the shop was already closed. He knocked onto the door while I was standing behind him. I already observed that he wasn't in too much pain to walk. But it was the head movements, I calculated once more. Then the wooden door to the shop burst open to reveal his father. Still in an apron and carrying a knife with his left hand. His dad barked, "I told you already! I am not giving away free food to you kids!" He had a frustrated expression and suddenly changed when he saw Yamamoto curiously stand in front of him holding his neck and I standing behind. "Oh, it's you, Takeshi and Kanoko…" He sighed in relief and escorted us indoors. Why does his dad know my name? Because I have visited often between the break of December and February! Isn't that what friends do?

"Hmm? So you are Kanoko? Hah! I didn't know!" Yamomoto chuckled and looked at me. More stabs… I gazed down and fidgeted with my hands when I heard him say that. And his dad heard and got confused, "What? How did you forget that Kanoko was your friend? I mean she did visit us often!" He jerked around to glare at Yamamoto but met his blank eyes. Once his dad studied his curious stare, he then glanced at me and expected a better answer for him to understand. "So… What happened?" He bitterly asked. I bit my lip and scrunched up my face. I shouldn't tell him that a delinquent whacked him… Or can I? "Well… What happened was I went to his practice after it ended to see how he was doing. But he was just experimenting with his hits, as I saw. But there were some bullies roaming around the baseball area and when he didn't notice the bully behind him and aimed for his head and smacked him unconscious." I gestured at his neck his dad wide eyed, and continued, "But I called some of the teachers to come and help and so the bullies were taken out." I finished. It seems reliable and kinda true, but… I sighed on the inside, hiding my tiredness.

I finished with a wry smile and a saddened expression. "And the result was memory loss…" my mouth quirked. I observed the dad's reaction, he seemed to be a bit surprised. I would guess… What a lame excuse I made up… I sighed, the depression building up. But I saw him nod with understanding with his hand covering his mouth. "Hmm… I understand, Kanoko. At least he is still here now…" He came over to rustle Yamamoto's hair and looked at me, "And also at least you told me what happened…" Now my heart was covered in stabs. It ached and I wanted to curl up into a ball and clutch my heart in solitude. "Excuse me, but I have to go…" I turned to run out of the sushi shop. The last thing I saw was Yamamoto's always-curious stare watching me go…

It was only one day after he lost his memories that I, sure enough, returned to the sushi shop. But this time with my little present that I left protected in the forest. I knocked onto the sushi shop door (because outside it says "Sorry! Busy!") And met Yamamoto's dad in the door, his head poked out, "Hmm? What brings you here, Kanoko?" He curiously blinked at me. Ah… I see where he got his curious expressions from… I thought, observing. "I came over to visit and see how Yamomoto is feeling…" I shifted my weight onto my other foot and my mouth quirked when I finished talking. His dad just looked around, then ushered me inside towards his room. I would guess that Yamamoto was supposed to be lying on is bed, resting. As we walked nearer and nearer down the wooden hallway to Yamamoto's room, I tugged onto his fathers apron, "Wait… I don't want to go into his room. But can you hive him this?" I took out my pale blue package from my coat onto his hand. And stepped back and looked down after I finished talking. I saw him nod and walk in.

I leaned against the wall just outside of Yamomoto's room so that I could hear them talking, staring up onto the dark, wooden ceiling. "A friend came over to give you this and wish that you can get better soon…" I heard the dad say and the packet rustled in Yamamoto's hand. I could picture his face as he received his gift, curious and optimistic. I clutched my fist. And I can't give him the present myself… I looked down onto my fuzzy brown boots as I felt my heart drop. "Oh, for me? Then can you tell them, 'thanks for the gift and I feel better already!' Haha!" I heard him say and I bit my lip, brining my knees closer to my chest. I wish he could remember. But that is beyond what any ninja could do, I doubt. I sighed on the inside and closed my eyes. "Hmm… I feel like this important to me. I wonder why? Have I seen this before?" I pictured him observing the perfectly wrapped box and stop to look at a script "K" I wrote on the bottom right corner of the silk package. I saw a shadow creep out of the room and I stood up quickly, then seeing his dad with a saddened expression. He mouthed the words "This is all I can do… I'm sorry…" He came over to pat my head having sympathy for me.

I started tearing up. Oh how I always wanted someone to pat my head gently and tell me everything was all right, and that I will always have someone to be with… I let a tear fall off of my cold cheek and sniffled a bit. I quickly wiped off my warm tears with my long, lavender coat sleeve. I took one deep breath, "I guess… There can be nothing to help it…" I whispered to his father, and saw him nod. I turned away after I waved to him goodbye, and walked out of the sushi shop onto a crowded road. Voices shouted and people pushed, a bustling city I observed, but in my ears, everything was silent with the ringing. I looked up into the cloudy skies. I remembered on the news that it was going to rain today… I slowly trudged home, taking my time. I mean… There was no reason to rush. I sighed once again, then, it started to sprinkle.

In my pajamas, wearing a red T-shirt with a mini dino saying "Rawr! I Bite!" with soft, lavender pants, I sat onto the corner of my bed. I clutched a linen pillow, and was surrounded by an endless sea of plump, white pillows. It is cold… I thought, then shuddered and sniffled. Oh, wait. It is always cold… In my life. I sighed and looked at my phone blinking February 14, below, 7:48 PM. I stared at the numbers with blank eyes. The dates seem to swim in my brain, making my mind lethargic and bored.

Then, an idea popped up into my brain. That's it! My mind exclaimed when I burst out of my barricade of pillows and watching them spill in all directions. I clenched my fists and my eyes gleamed with admiration. I snatched up my phone and called Shiori on speed dial.

I waited about two set of ringing until she picked up, "Hello, Miki-chan! What makes you call at this time?" Shiori asked questionably, as I heard her cooking her dinner bubble and simmer. I grinned as I held my phone close to my ear and sat onto my chair next to my long, wooden desk filled with tax papers (hey, someone has to pay the taxes in this house!). "Oh, something that you will like…" I kept smiling and pulled out my laptop (I have two laptops if your wondering, one for ninja work, the other for anything else I wanna do) to search up Kanoko's fan site that Shiori set up. I continued after I saw the lists of concerts and the reviews that only ninjas could see, "Come here to my house tomorrow at 7 AM. This is going to be an interesting start for Hana Aoi." I said with a slight evil laugh to end the conversation. I placed my phone onto my lip and carefully closed my laptop on the reviews page and then plopped onto my bed.

Hah… I stared up onto my blank, cream-colored ceiling, as it turned dark when the sun left this side of the Earth. My excitement disappeared as fast as it appeared. I rolled onto my stomach and looked onto my pale pink wall. I heard the rain pound onto the roof of my house and looked out from my shudders. Oh… The rain is so gloomy, yet so calming. I sighed and thought… I hope this might get my mind off of… My mouth twitched, the darkness seemed to promote the depression, as my heart dropped. This feeling… Is all too familiar. And I do not like it. My mind drifted off into a sea of mixed feelings. I don't understand… My only friend... The thought echoed and scarred my brain.

Hmm?I sat up slowly scratching my tangled hair. Dazed I got out of bed and opened my window. I could slightly see the few lazy clouds floating, and a few birds flying across the blue sky that contained the golden rays of morning. Sure enough a cool breeze woke me up, Shiori was already inside when I noticed and closed the window for me. She was always in business attire because she wanted to be presentable towards humans. I turned around to see her curious gaze, "What did you need to talk about Hana Aoi?" She happily beamed. She got exited because I actually wanted to be an idol, and yes, Hana Aoi is now my stage name. I could see my room glow and sparkle with excitement. I brushed passed her to stand in the middle of my room and turned to face her. I folded my arms and evilly grinned. Just a few simple words out of my mouth shocked Shiori. But also, changed my path of life. "I want to go to America!"

But who knows how much more I can take on my already broken heart. Having lost an irreplaceable family, my only good friend that I made in hope that it would help me recover my lost hope to live, and now left with nothing in return. The only I can do now is to hide the fact that I have been broken too many times and to shed anymore tears.