A/N: I'm changing the format a little, now 'these are thoughts' and anything in italics is a either dream sequence or flashback. Enjoy chapter three!
Chapter Three
'Where am I? Am I home?' Maya sat on a couch in what appeared to be a living room. She looked at the pictures on the table beside her. A happy family smiled back at her. There was an older boy, about eleven, two younger children, a boy and a girl, twins at about four, a baby cradled in a mothers arms, and a smiling father. Suddenly Maya felt as if she was being pulled towards the stairs. She obeyed her premonition, climbing the stairs as quietly as she could. It was the dead of night as she entered a bedroom. Moonlight poured through slitted shades, casting eerie shadows across the furniture. A figure moved through Maya, entering the room. The figure walked towards the bed, and pulled the covers away from a soundly sleeping child. The child did not wake as the figure effortlessly picked it up, and opened the window. Just as suddenly as the figure had been there, it exited through the window. She was again being pulled, this time out of the bedroom and towards another one. She snuck through the halls, opening the door to the second room. The sight before her was a startling one. Sitting in the bed, was a young girl, maybe five years of age. She sat facing a large snake, thick as a man's leg. Simply being in this room made Maya uncomfortable. There was a faint whispering, "Come with me...Come to me." The snake began to slither off the bed, and out the door. The little girl followed it, and Maya caught a glimpse of her eyes. She was under a genjustu, a strange, empty look in her eyes. She exited the room through Maya, and followed the snake down the stairs. Maya heard a door opening, and ran down the stairs in time to see the girl exiting. Then suddenly, pain. Searing pain, burning pain, more pain than she could fathom.
Maya awoke with a scream. Gripping at her neck, she felt her curse seal. It had long since been dormant, but would come back to life when she dreamed of home. She cried out in pain as the mark became hot. Then, as suddenly as the pain had begun, it ceased.
She did not want to go back to sleep, she hated her dreams, and the prospect of falling back into the one she had just had frightened her. Maya stood and went to the bathroom. She had gotten out late from shuriken training, eaten some tempura from a street vendor and went straight home, to pass out on her couch.
Stumbling to the bathroom, she cursed loudly as she stubbed her toe on a chair. Maya looked in the mirror now, taking her disheveled appearance in. Her hair was still in the high pony-tail she had worn for that day of practice, and as she took it out, her hair tumbled down her back, ending just above her but. She was glad she had left it in a pony tail, her hair was layered, the shortest layer starting at her chin (after her bangs). If it had been down, she would have to spend the rest of her night combing out the knots, and taming the spiky layers.
She changed out of the clothes she had been wearing. Jeans and a tee-shirt or thermal consisted of her daily attire. 'In four days, hopefully a hitai-ate will be part of my outfit. How will i wear it? I guess I'll go with either around my neck or my arm. I need some new clothes.' She sighed as she unwrapped the bandages around her arms. 'No one will see me anyway, its Saturday, I'll just re-tie them tomorrow.' The bandages on her left arm began just above her elbow, to about two inches above her wrist. The bandages on her right, were shorter, beginning below the elbow to about three inches above her wrist. She was glad she had worn long pants that day, it meant she didn't have to deal with the bandages around her knees.
Maya tended not to wear makeup, and she was thankful for that as she flopped onto the couch and began to draw, wearing pajamas. She had already planned the next day, and it involved sitting around in said pajamas, sleeping, and homework.
She woke up the next day surrounded by pencils, one was poking out of the cushions, waiting to be sat on. Lazily cleaning up the various supplies, she considered her apartment. It was small, one bedroom, joint kitchen living room, and a small bathroom. The kitchen was small, but fully stocked, she cooked for herself, and hated having to spend money on food when she didn't need to. Naruto was almost always broke because he ate at the ramen stand so often, and Maya was determined not to end up like that.
She sat down to her homework, finished it quickly, and ate a quick lunch. Feeling restless, she decided to take a walk around the neighborhood. She pulled on a pair of jeans, a long-sleeved grey thermal, and a black and blue striped hoodie.
FOUR DAYS LATER
Maya sat next to Shiro nervously. Today was the day of exams, and she felt like her stomach was doing jumping jacks. Shiro seemed to pick up on this and said, "You worry too much, I'm sure you'll do fine." 'How can he be so calm? I don't know what I'll do if i fail!' She thought apprehensively.
He and Maya had become closer friends over the month between the first day at the academy and genin exams. They had many things in common, he loved to draw, he was good at math and science. They both hated writing, but liked to read, and were both intelligent by any standards. One thing that Maya had noticed was that he was very perceptive. He picked up on emotions of others, and was good at dealing with people. He had even notices the signs of when she was annoyed or sad, even though she masked most of her negative emotions with her glittering smile. Most remained completely oblivious to the real emotions that she felt.
Apparently Shiro had been right though, Maya had had no reason to be nervous and passed the test with flying colors, as did he. They were both told to come back the next day for team assignments.
THE NEXT DAY
Once again, Maya's stomach was doing flips. She desperately wanted to be on the team of one of her friends. Iruka-sensei entered the room holding a clip board. "I will be assigning you all to a three man team, but because the number isn't quite even, there will be one two man team. Each team will be assigned to a Jounin leader, with one leader taking a three man team and the two man team. So now I will begin reading the names, listen carefully."
The names were read off, Sakura, Naruto, and the mysterious Sasuke, were all on the same team. "And now finally, Team Nine, under Hatake Kakashi, Toraobi Maya and Toyohishi Ryuushiro. Thank you all for your effort, and I hope you all do well, its been a pleasure teaching you guys." The new shinobi cheered for Iruka as he left the room, and Maya cheered inwardly that she had ended up on a: a team with her best friend, who happened to be very good looking, along with her other two closest friends, and b: her sensei was someone she already knew and trusted.
A/N: YAY! Another chapter down! REVIEW!! PLEASE! Umm yea, sorry if this one was a tad bit boring, but I had fun writing it. Arigatou!
