Chap 2
Two years later
"I'm going to graduate from the Academy in two days, Auntie." Hikari dangled her legs from the bridge in the Kusakawa Manor. Ayame shook off crumbs from her hands and watched the huge goldfish swallow them.
"That's exciting… Are you going to be an official ninja then?" Ayame smiled back at Hikari.
"Hai! A real, genin-level ninja." Hikari swung her legs. "So is Haya." Hikari added cheerfully. "Which means that Mother and Father would be there when we get our forehead protectors…" Ayame watched as Hikari's smile widened. She sighed.
Sometimes, Ayame wondered why Hikari wasn't a girl filled with regret, hatred and anger towards her family. But she was such a forgiving child, saying that she understood why they would act that way, always making excuses for every mean behavior Haya did to her.
"But first, I have to take the ninjutsu test." Hikari's face turned and beamed. "But I think I can do it!"
"Hikari!" Hikari turned and saw Haru running towards her. She waved enthusiastically at him. Ayame smiled a little and walked away.
"Are you ready for the exam in a few days?" Haru asked, sitting next to her and dangling his legs.
"I think so, what about you?" Hikari tilted her head and smiled.
"Yep, I think I'm ready." Haru said quietly. He slipped his hand in Hikari's cold ones. They entwined their fingers and Hikari and Haru both blushed at the same time.
"Hikari, promise me something." Haru said suddenly. Hikari looked at him curiously. "Uh…" Haru cleared his throat. "Promise to stay with me forever, no matter what happens." Haru forced himself to look into Hikari's slanting purple eyes.
Hikari smiled a bit. "Of course." She murmured.
Hikari waited anxiously for Haru to come out. When the door opened, Hikari anxiously craned her neck. He came out beaming, holding onto a forehead protector.
"You did it!" Hikari exclaimed, eyeing the forehead protector in Haru's hand.
"Yeah. It was pretty easy." Hikari fidgeted, and sighed. She had found out this morning that Haya had taken her test yesterday.
Which meant that her parents weren't going to come.
Haru seemed to realize what was on her mind, and gave patted her shoulder.
"It's fine, I'm here, right? And I heard that the others were going to come too, to see if you pass." He said.
Hikari shrugged and went in the room.
A large desk was by the wall, with three ninja instructors behind it. Hikari recognized one of them; he taught her class.
"Make three Kage Bunshins." The ninja instructor at the desk told her. Hikari nodded and performed the jutsu. Three identical Hikaris appeared next to her, and her heart leaped. "Excellent." The instructor's stern face quirked a little smile. "I knew you could do it, Hikari-chan. You were one of the best in my class, if I do say so myself." He reached out and patted Hikari's head. Then he indicated the rows of forehead protectors in at the desk. Hikari's hand trembled as she reached for one of them. She would put this on, and it would represent her as the ninja of the White Village. She was going to be a ninja-
Suddenly, the door crashed open, and Ayame stood there in her traveling clothes, panting.
"Auntie…?" Hikari looked at her with her eyes open. Ayame strode across the room and grabbed Hikari.
"We must leave. Now!" Ayame whispered with urgency in her voice.
"What's going on?" The instructor asked. Ayame turned her face to the instructor with a pleading face.
"Please- our clan is under attack! Of course, the Kusakawas are doing a superb job in keeping them back, but who knows what'll happen? Please send help to them!" Ayame said urgently, and she scooped Hikari into her arms and ran out the door.
"Hikari!" Haru called in a puzzled voice as Ayame ran out.
Hikari watched numbly as the rows of forehead protectors whisked out of sight, over Ayame's shoulder. "Auntie…" Hikari whispered. Then she shook her head fiercely. The clan was under attack now, forehead protectors aren't important. I'll get it later. She thought fiercely. Ayame ran over to a secret entrance to the Kusakawa Manor, and slipped inside.
It was starting to rain.
"Hikari, go get Haya!" Ayame gave Hikari a little push on the back and disappeared somewhere else. Hikari ran as fast as her little legs allowed her, as she ran through the dark tunnel to Haya's room. Please let her be there. Hikari prayed.
Hikari burst through the wall into Haya's room. "Haya!" Hikari screamed. There was no answer. Hikari tore the door open and looked out. There were several bodies lying on the floor. Anxiously, Hikari checked them. They were faces she didn't recognize. Good.
Hikari spun around and sprinted towards her parents' room, a place she rarely went to. "Haya?" Hikari screamed, and she opened the door. She was there, along with Mother and Father. And they were cornered by several dark-clothed ninjas.
Kisho and Ayumi were both in their fighting stance, blocking Haya from the killers. Although their eyes showed courage, they were both breathing hard and Hikari could tell they were getting tired.
Hikari heard the fighting behind her too. The several other Kusakawas fighting the ninjas. To her horror, more killers climbed the wall to the Manor and joined in fighting. One of them saw Hikari.
Hikari was shaking, but not out of fear, but in anger. She pulled several kunais from a body near her, and charged toward the killer with inhuman speed. She slashed at the ninja, tearing clothing and flesh. She raised the kunai to sink it in, then stopped.
I can't… Hikari trembled. But this person will try to kill my family… Hikari instead, wounded the ninja's leg with another slash so that he wouldn't try to go after her again.
Hikari checked on her parents and Haya again. She felt a rush of admiration for her parents as they fought the ninjas, protecting Haya at the same time.
Hikari's smile faded as more ninjas came in the room.
Hikari's legs moved as if it had mind of its own, and they wove in and out through the ninjas, toward Haya.
"Come on, Haya-sama…." Hikari tugged on Haya's hand. "Come on, it's okay, Mother and Father will…" There was a cry, and Ayumi sank to the floor, with shurikens and kunais imbedded in her. Haya started crying, and Kisho let out a yell.
Hikari could feel her tears coming too, but this was not the time.
With a quick stroke with her hand, she tapped Haya behind the neck and slung the unconscious form of her sister on her back. She kicked the back door open and jumped out into the pouring rain.
A thunder clapped overhead.
"Father!" Hikari screamed. "Get out of there! There're too many-" Kisho fell to the ground noiselessly.
Oh no….
Oh no.
No…
No.
No!
NO!
NO!!!!!!!!!
Hikari just stood there, her sister sagging on her back, while her mind raced through these facts; her mother was dead. Her father was dead. Her sister was going to die. She was going to die.
The ninjas turned to her and advanced.
"Hand over your sister." Hikari recognized the forehead protector. It was from the Village of Sound.
"I WON'T!" Hikari screamed out loud, and shoved unconscious Haya into the underground tunnel. Instantly, the ninjas grabbed their weapons and flung it at her.
With her kunai, she fended off the weapons that was hurled her way. However, there were some she missed. They sunk deeply into her body. Hikari screamed in pain. She closed her eyes. This is it, Hikari thought. I'm going to die even before I become a ninja.
More weapons were flung at her…
She weakly raised her arms to fend herself.
There was a clash of metal.
Hikari's eyes widened as she saw who was in front her.
"Haru!" Hikari yelled.
Haru was standing in front of Hikari holding a kunai in each hand. He blocked all the flying weapons that were hurled in front of him.
"You're crazy! Get out of here!" Hikari screamed. Her voice was drowned by a thunderclap overhead.
"Why would I avoid such a great chance?" Haru yelled back.
"What?" Hikari pulled the weapons from her, wincing.
"If I tell you to run to safety while I fight the bad guys, later you'll like me even more!" Haru gave her a grin. Hikari stared at him, speechless.
What he said was brave and courageous, but Hikari saw a slight flicker of fear in his eyes.
"Go, Hikari. Run." Haru's smile faded replaced by a serious expression. He turned to the ninjas and flung his weapons at them.
Suddenly there was someone holding her tightly.
"Auntie Ayame…" Hikari whispered.
"Get in the hidden passageway, now." Ayame's voice sounded incredibly soft. Hikari looked under Ayame's arm to look at Haru.
He had his arms to his side, weapons embedded on his body. He was somehow still standing. Hikari opened her mouth to scream.
Haru turned slowly. "I-I'm sorry, Hikari…" Haru choked out. "I- I broke my o-own promise…" He collapsed.
Blood spurted from his wounds, and Hikari felt some hit her arms, her legs, her face.
Rain kept pouring down.
It's raining Haru's blood. Hikari thought deliriously. It's pouring Haru's blood.
Ayame pushed her and Haya into the hidden passageway.
When darkness covered her, Hikari closed her eyes.