Chapter Two: Of Beginnings and Bravery

The shades are drawn when I step into the Hokage's office. As my eyes slowly adjust to the darkness, his voice, aged and resonant, greets me.

"Welcome, Emiko. You wished to speak with me?"

I hesitate for a moment, my heart beating so loud I'm certain he won't he able to hear my voice over the erratic th-thump that seems to echo through the room. Appearing out of the shadows, the Hokage smiles and takes my hands, which, I don't realize until that moment, are clenched tightly together in front of me.

"There's no need for such nervousness. Come and talk with me." He leads me over to a bench that rests up against the wall. As we both sit down he releases my hands. "Now, tell me what is on your mind."

At first the words are thick and unwieldy on my tongue, but soon, as I begin to explain, they become more fluid, until I'm talking so rapidly that I'm positive he can only understand half of what I'm saying. But I can't seem to stop myself. It's over quickly and my eyes, which have been in my lap until this point, rise to meet his. They're analyzing me thoughtfully, but betray nothing else.

The Hokage nods slowly before speaking. "It sounds as though you've thought this through for quite some time."

His features are so impassive; I wish I could gauge them better. This time I allow my eyes to meet his as I reply, "I need to take care of my father, and I can't do that as a ninja."

He smiles slightly. "That didn't really answer my question, now did it? However, I do understand your situation. And you're still young…only recently turned thirteen, correct? Perhaps, once your father is well, you can join us once again?"

I can't stop the smile that spreads across my face at his words, and I resist the urge to leap up and hug him. "I'd like that; thank you very much, sir!"

It's not until I'm cleaning up after dinner that night that the immensity of the decision I've made really hits me. My knees go a little weak and I sit quickly to keep from stumbling. It's hard to believe that I won't be joining Iruka and Mizuki on any more missions; we won't spend any more time together training or making up stories about how Shikaku-sensei got his scars… I know I've made the right choice, but I'm worried about the way everyone will react when they find out, worried that they'll feel the same way Mizuki does. Although, I'm hoping he'll come around soon, and we can be friends like before…

I've just turned out the kitchen light when I hear a noise from outside. I step out the door just in time to see a dark form with silvered hair turning quickly down a nearby street. Already thinking ahead to the things I have to prepare for the store's opening tomorrow, I turn to go back inside and stare in shock at what I see. The word "COWARD", the red paint still dripping, has been haphazardly painted on the side of the house. My heart is in my stomach as I step back inside to get something to wash it off…I know now that Mizuki and I will never be friends again.

The next morning I wake up early, pushing the incident from the previous night to the back of my mind. Breakfast cooks up quickly; I make a small tray for father and carry it upstairs. There's no answer when I knock on his door, so I quietly let myself in. He's awake, sitting in a chair by the window, staring out into the rising sun.

"Father? I've brought your breakfast."

His shoulders jerk slightly at my voice, but he doesn't look my way. "Oh…Emiko…I'm sorry…I didn't hear you come in."

I force the smile to stay on my face. "That's okay…can you eat something this morning?"

"Just set it on the desk for me; I'll eat in a little while."

I do as he asks and then pause, trying to come up with a good way to tell him about my decision, but I can't, so I simply say, "You don't have to open up this morning, just stay inside and rest; I'll take care of the shop today." The words feel fake the instant I begin to speak them; we both know the shop hasn't been open even once since Daisuke's death.

"You're a good girl, Emiko," is all he says; he still won't look at me.

I leave the room quickly, tears welling in my eyes. Would he even care if I broke down crying in front of him? Probably not… "Stop it, Emiko!" I tell myself out loud, heading back downstairs. "You can't do this, not today! Just suck it up!" Scrubbing harshly at my unshed tears, I make my way to the door that separates our kitchen from the shop's storeroom. My hand hesitates only for an instant before I turn the knob and step, with determination, into a very different life.