Little Girl Lost Chapter 10
Kakashi had bid Kyoko farewell two days before, he had his own mission to partake in. Kakashi had told her to stick to the roads, it may be slower but it was safer for her. Kyoko shivered, there was a cold feeling in the air. Something didn't feel right. Kyoko brushed it off as she began her trek. She couldn't cloud her minds with worries, she had to keep it clear. They thought she was strong enough to escape her father's enemies…she had to prove them right. Closing her eyes Kyoko allowed her sensing ability to take over. There was no threats nearby, not even a vengeful ghost. Opening her eyes Kyoko listened in for anything unfamiliar, still nothing.
The mission would only last a day, and she should arrive back in Konoha at least by 8pm, 10pm at the latest. She walked with a heightened sense of alert. She didn't understand why there was such a cold feeling in the air. Kyoko sped up, someone was watching her, she could feel it in her bones. Why couldn't she sense them? Kyoko ran under the tree canopy to a clearing. She couldn't hear anyone following her but something was strange. Keeping to Kakashi's word she kept to the road and by 3pm she had reached the Lord's home. She relinquished the scroll and headed back the other way. She ate while she walked to save time. She wanted to be back in the safety of the village. That nagging feeling was still churning in her stomach. If she kept a steady pace she'd be back in Konoha by 6pm. Kyoko walked at a fast pace for hours, but to her, it passed by like eons. As the sunset, Kyoko increased her speed to a jog. She needed to be back in Konoha before it was dark. Kyoko's ear twitched as she heard the slight tap of feet on wood. She came to a stop amplifying her sensing ability. They're Konoha shinobi…but I can't shake this feeling…Kyoko thought. There were 8 of them and they were quickly closing in on her location. They descended from the trees forming a circle around her. They're ANBU…but something's different, Kyoko thought. She took up a defensive stance looking at the masked men and women. She didn't like this.
"Miyana Namikaze?" one muttered. Only the Elders and Kakashi know that my real first name was placed on my adoption papers, Kyoko thought.
"Who wants to know?!" Kyoko snapped. The head agent raised his hand quickly. She heard the ninja behind her move to knock her out. She tried to move to the trees yet a hand had grabbed her by the hair yanking her back towards him. She let out a scream as she thrashed. She began to panic, why would ANBU want her. Remembering her training Kyoko used the weight of her opponent to throw him off balance. She escaped his grasp getting up into the tree canopy. Kyoko gasped as shuriken came her way. She countered them with her own. What are they doing?! They're really serious about this! Kyoko thought. Kyoko jumped through the trees trying to make a desperate attempt to get to Konoha.
"She's quick…" the masked men grumbled. I have to inform Lord Hiruzen! Kyoko thought. Kyoko halted as the men appeared ahead of her.
"You're in ANBU. What do you want from me?!" Kyoko demanded. Angrily Kyoko began to pull the water out of the nearby plants. Kyoko swarmed the agents crashing water over their heads forcing them to disperse. Sensing an agent behind her Kyoko engulfed his head in water. The man convulsed as he tried to escape his prison. "If you value your life you'll stop this!" Kyoko pulled water from the ground grabbing the agents. Tensing Kyoko allowed her symbols to spread over her body. She had learned that this was the only way for her to combine wind and water to form ice. She wanted to freeze them in place so she could run to Lord Hiruzen. There was no reason for Konoha ANBU to attack her and Lord Hiruzen was too kind to test her in such a way. Yet, if they were attacking her, then they were her enemy…and the only way to deal with the enemy was to subdue them, even if it meant death. Sensing that things were getting out of their control, they quickly subdued Kyoko with a sleeping powder bomb. I can't…inha…Kyoko thought as things became hazy. The symbols dissipated and the little bit of ice that had formed thawed rapidly. Kyoko's arms fell like dead weight. The water soon dropped to the ground freeing everyone in her grasp. Her eyes slid shut and she lost her balance falling towards the ground. She was caught quickly, they were ordered to not leave any visible marks on her.
"Lets get her to Danzo before they become suspicious." Kyoko was thrown over a shoulder as the eight returned to their base. They were to capture her without a struggle, they failed. Kyoko was brought to Root's inner chambers.
"I imagine that it didn't take too much effort," Danzo chuckled.
"No, a Genin wasn't too much trouble." Kyoko was thrown on the floor. "I don't know if this counts as a Kekki Genkai but that water ability is annoying." The girl heaved quietly completely subdued.
"You know what to do. Give her a sedative. I don't want her waking up anytime soon," Danzo snapped.
"When we return her…what if she's attacked by Minato-sama's enemies?"
"Sometimes sacrifices have to be made. It would be a necessary tragedy."
"Kyoko-hime," a voice called out. It was Shisui Uchiha. He watched her wander aimlessly for a few minutes. Itachi had asked him to look for her if she hadn't returned by 8:30pm. The younger Uchiha had to run errands with his father. "What are you doing Princess?" She rambled incoherently. Poison? Shisui thought. Her eyes were rolling around in her head not focusing on anything in particular. He tilted her head forward only to find her unable to support the weight. "Kyoko-hime, are you okay?" Shisui asked. She twitched moving her head forward. Hazily she made eye contact with Shisui.
"They came for me…" Kyoko whispered as she passed out.
She heard Itachi's voice in the background, he was talking to Lord Hiruzen. There was a strange urgency in his voice. He was worried, but about what? Kyoko's eyes opened, she still felt groggy. Looking around she saw the four walls of a hospital room. She twitched her ears, they felt free of their normal binding. She reach up towards her ears, she wanted to make sure that she wasn't imagining things.
"You're awake," Itachi gasped. He took that hand. "What happened?! Shisui found you wandering."
"Shhhh Itachi-kun. Let her readjust," Lord Hiruzen mustered. He laid a hand on the boy's shoulder to calm him.
"I…I can't remember…I was surrounded…and then…there was Shisui," Kyoko muttered.
"By who?!" Itachi demanded. Itachi stretched her hand closer to him. She let out a slight yelp. Kyoko rubbed her inner elbow. Hiruzen noticed the small red scab. A needle prick, Orochimaru… Hiruzen thought.
"I don't know…I couldn't see their faces. They wore cloaks," Kyoko muttered. Itachi helped her into a sitting position. Hiruzen closed his eyes, Danzo must have been involved as well. Itachi sat on her bed wrapping his arms around her. She was safe and that's all that mattered.
"I'm glad that Shisui found you," Itachi muttered. He placed his forehead on hers rocking her in his arms.
"I'll see to it that we find who did this to you. Itachi-kun, take care of her," Hiruzen answered placing his hand on the boy's head. He left quietly so Kyoko could get more sleep.
"What…?!" Kyoko gasped. She had been discharged from the hospital hours later and summoned by the Hokage.
"I think it would be best for you to stay unguarded on missions," Hiruzen suggested.
"But…what about what happened?!" Kyoko demanded. She didn't want to go out without her guards. Life was so fragile, she could've been killed and worst she didn't know what was done to her.
"Yes, I think we should be wary, but Kyoko-hime, you have to learn how to survive on your own. I believe that it would be in your best interest to stick with Itachi when going on missions, but you can't allow your guards to be a crutch."
"But, something happened. They either injected me with something or they took something out of me."
"Yes, but if we let that stop us then you will never progress as a Shinobi. Now take the rest of the day off," Hiruzen answered. Kyoko bowed to the Hokage before leaving his office. She walked outside meeting up with Itachi. They walked to her home in silence. She made some tea before sitting down at the table.
"Itachi-kun…I think it's about time I teach you more about me," Kyoko mustered. She looked away from him. I don't want to tell him because I know it will cause him to worry…Kyoko thought. She sighed rubbing her hands together. " My full real name is Miyana Kin, High Priestess of the Luponian Kingdom. You know that I can transform freely into a wolf. You know all of this already." Itachi moved closer to her placing his hands on her cheeks. He pulled her ribbons off tenderly.
"Yes…" Itachi whispered. Kyoko looked away from Itachi seemingly ashamed. Itachi moved her head back towards his. He smiled tenderly at Kyoko. "No matter what people think, I think you're beautiful. You shouldn't be ashamed of your body."
"Continuing on…I have unique abilities. I can sometimes foresee the future and I can look back into the past with seals. I can see ghosts, hear they cries and pleas for help. They call on me…when I was younger it was hard for me to drown out the voices. I would talk to them, ramble about what was ailing them, and in the quiet of my room, I'd help them. The reason why I can drown them out now is that I can control my level of sensing. Unlike Papa, who would sense when he needed to, I'm always sensing. Yet when I was four, I couldn't control how much chakra that I was using so I was sensing at the highest level. I can now control my chakra and my sensing level so I can only see and hear the spirits who are truly in need at the lowest level. I didn't tell Papa this at all…"
"Miyana-chan," Itachi muttered. "It's okay."
"Itachi-kun, I…"
"Let me help you," Itachi soothed. He pulled her close to him. "Let me suffer for you."
"Itachi-kun no!" Kyoko pushed him away. "No! I won't let you do that!"
"Miyana-chan…?"
"No don't do that Itachi-kun. Please don't do that. I don't want you to suffer anymore! You can't do that, please don't do that," Kyoko begged. Itachi nodded. "I just want to tell someone all the details that I remember about what happened before I get too old and forget…"
"What…?" Itachi muttered.
"I tried to see the past…about what happened the day of my 3rd birthday but it's too painfully a memory. My mind suppresses my ability to see it." Kyoko rambled. "The morning of my third birthday my father took me from my room. It was bright…I remember it being sunny. I remember his hands always being warm and a smile equally as bright…but his face…I can't remember it. I was taken to the main chamber where my grandmother was. We performed some sort of ceremony it hurt a lot but I was instantly soothed when it was done. But my grandmother didn't get back up, she was dead. It alarmed my father, I guess this ceremony shouldn't have killed her. The guards began to fall dead. It was Shinobi and the Geldani that were killing them. I'm almost positive they were from Konoha. I vividly remember the green flak jackets and the red Uzumaki swirl. My father defended me from our intruders before calling in my mother. She took me away…as she ran away with me I saw my father fall. I don't know if he's dead. My mother took us through some secret passage ways." Kyoko closed her eyes putting her hands together. "I could hear the screams of everyone in the temple. They were being slaughtered." Kyoko's eyes watered. Itachi sat next to her hollow eyed and stiff.
"I..I understand. I…I was there…during the Third Shinobi World War…there was death…death everywhere." His hands tremor on his knees. He could recall the stench, the bloodshed, the bodies, they were so vivid in his mind. Kyoko tensed, she didn't know about this part of Itachi. She looked at him in a dismayed awe. She always felt like they shared something in common but she never thought it would be this.
"Itachi-kun…let's stop here," Kyoko muttered. She got out of her chair shuffling her feet to him. From behind she wrapped her arms around him. She rubbed his cheek as she brought her head close. "We'll finish this another day."
"Okay…" he whispered.
"Well well," Megumi purred. Kyoko was stretching her legs out in ballet. "I'm improving much faster than you. It took me only six months to get in this class. How much private tutoring have you had? And it took you this long to get into this class?"
"Just leave me alone Megumi-chan," Kyoko mustered. Even though it had been three days she couldn't get the thought of Itachi's pain out of her head. He was so strongly affect by war and blood.
"Oh, sorry that I broke the princess's concentration!" Megumi teased.
"I said leave me alone," Kyoko snapped. The girl stood up angrily. "I'm not worried about your petty misgivings. Just leave me alone."
"What has your tights all in a knot?" Megumi demanded.
"Back off Megumi-chan," Kyoko growled. Her anger was boiling over. She could feel hear the water in the pipes inside the walls. It was running quickly through the tubing reacting to her emotions.
"What's wrong fake princess?" Megumi teased.
"I said….LEAVE…ME…" Kyoko growled.
"Kyoko-hime," the teacher Assistant snapped. "What are you doing to our star pupil?!" Anika had taken ill and the teaching Assistant Kotono was taking over all of the classes and Kyoko's private tutoring. Yet the woman had a rigid idea on who could be a ballet dancer. The woman thought that Megumi fit into that mold.
"I humbly disagree. Megumi-chan has been antagonizing me," Kyoko replied her anger calming down.
"Megumi-chan would not do something like that. Now someone like you needs to be careful about causing uproars."
"If I may, what do you mean someone like me?" Kyoko asked.
"I think you know," Kotono sneered. The woman placed a hand on Megumi's shoulder. Kyoko bit her tongue as her anger boiled up inside her. Kushina's spirit was rising above Minato's. Kyoko could never guarantee what would happen when her red headed mother came out of her. Yet she tried her hardest to keep a level head, she didn't like being brash, it was ill-fitting of a Shinobi.
"No I don't know," Kyoko said in a low simmer, "what do you mean 'someone like me?' Please tell me."
"Let's start class," Kotono replied clapping to gather the other girls' attention. Yet everyone was paying attention. Everyone's eyes were on the scene that was unfolding. The Flower of the Leaf Village was turning red with anger. Kyoko was breathing heavily. "Kyoko-hime, if you can't control yourself I'm going to throw you out."
"Tell me what you mean by 'someone like me?!'" Kyoko demanded. The water in the pipes began to creak in the walls. Kyoko could feel her symbols etching into her palms. She had to relax or she was going to do something that she'd regret.
"GET OUT," Kotono screamed. Kyoko closed her eyes relaxing her hands. Her face calmed down.
"Good day to you all, from a person like me," Kyoko whispered. She gathered her things leaving the studio. Megumi smirked, Kyoko was soon to be less than the star pupil. Outside Kyoko let her tears to fall. She walked through the streets not caring if anyone saw her tears. She brushed past Genma not even noticing him.
"Princess," Genma cooed grabbing her by the shoulder. "That's an ugly expression to wear on such a beautiful face."
"Good day Genma-san…Genma-sempai," Kyoko mustered.
"What's with you?"
"I think I'm unfit for being a dancer. Kotono-san…" Kyoko looked down biting her lip so she wouldn't cry.
"She's a terrible person. So don't think anything of it. I saw a flyer for your recital on my door step after I got back from my mission. I know you're good. You put your heart and soul into everything that you do. You have one of the sincerest hearts out there," Genma soothed.
"But…I love dance…I don't want to quit," Kyoko answered.
"Don't, just one up her. You're quite fiendish when you want to be. Now you be a good girl. I have to go see Lord Hiruzen, but I'll be around if you need some oneliners for the hag," Genma replied. She watched him go but that didn't make her happy.
"Kyoko-hime, why don't you show me what you've been…" Itachi began. Kyoko wasn't in the mood. She was a little too quiet. Playfully he pulled her close. Kyoko didn't budge. They were in the Uchiha District. Kyoko had convinced Itachi that it was better for her to come visit him then for him to visit her.
"Itachi-kun…I want to look like you," Kyoko whispered. It felt shameful for her to even say it. Itachi groaned, not this again. She always had such a hard time accepting herself for who she was.
"Then you won't be Kyoko-hime. Come on," Itachi soothed. He pulled her to her feet running her to a nearby water trough. "What do you see?"
"Darkness," Kyoko whined. Itachi's facial expressions soured. He splashed his hand in the water disrupting their images. They stood in silence as the images stabilized.
"What do you see?"
"A dark girl." Itachi sighed looking up at the sky. He had to try a different approach.
"What do you see when you look at me?"
"I handsome boy. Who fits in…who doesn't have to…" Itachi kissed her cheek tenderly. "DON'T DO THAT!" Kyoko stamped her feet embarrassed. Her face flushed excitedly.
"What do you see when you look at us?" Itachi asked. He gently rest her head on hers. Kyoko smiled at the image staring back at them.
"Happiness," Kyoko mumbled.
"Then, it's settled."
"I don't understand."
"You do have dark skin." Itachi compared his arm to hers. "But that doesn't mean that you're not beautiful or less than a person. I see you. I won't imagine you with no skin or as some variation of what I look like. Your white hair is as much a part of you as your dark skin. And remember Miyana-chan, Shodai Hokage had dark skin. Look what became of him. He founded this entire Village. I'm sure that he didn't allow this to bother him." Kyoko sulked.
"But Itachi-kun."
"I asked what you saw, and you said happiness. When anyone says something about your skin…just think of this happiness." Itachi smiled. His smile faded as he took her hands in his. "I know I don't know what this is like. I don't know how it feels to be discriminated against this way…but whenever you need a shoulder, a hug, anything I'll be there. I don't like seeing you like this. Let me be your armor," Itachi soothed. "You're a beautiful girl. I remember when I first met you…I was taken by your beauty, and that little sparkle in your eye. Then you began to talk and I…" He blushed looking away. "Lets head back." He pulled her away from the trough.
"And what?" Kyoko pulled her arm away from him. Itachi's face had already bounced back to the stoic look she had grown to know. He smiled looking back at Kyoko. He looked at their footsteps. Unless they were walking side by side, Kyoko would step in his footsteps as if they were one person.
"That brain," Itachi chuckled poking her forehead. "It's…well, you know." He smiled tenderly at her.
"You speak so cryptically!" Kyoko groaned.
"So do you. It's quirk of smart people," Itachi teased.
"This is why we're friends. We can insult each other without getting mad," Kyoko replied.
"Well that's not the only reason."
"What?"
"That's not the only reason why we're friends. We're breaking boundaries. Luponian and Shinobi alike," Itachi answered. He touched her cheek teasingly cocking his head to the right. Kyoko mirrored his actions with a tender smile. "There's something wrong…I can tell by how you're acting." Kyoko pursed her lips with a sigh.
"Itachi-kun, in nine years I am to be married. I'm worried…"
"Why? Are you afraid that I won't propose?" Itachi teased.
"Itachi-kun…what if…something bad happens." Kyoko's hand fell from his cheek.
"What's got you worried all of a sudden?" Itachi asked.
"I-It's nothing…"
"Miyana-tan!" Itachi cooed in a soothing voice. He placed both hands on her cheeks pulling her head close. He kissed her forehead tenderly. "We'll get through it."
"I….I don't want to get married so early! But I have to…" Kyoko mustered.
"Miyana-tan, whenever you're ready, I'm ready," Itachi pulled her close kissing the top of her head. Her ears flickered. "Now as you always tell me, stop worrying so much."
"Yes," Kyoko whispered.
"Come on Miyana-tan! First you were sad about your skin and now that you're going to get married. I think you should cherish these things. We have very fortunate lives Miyana-chan. We're fortunate to have each other," Itachi smiled at her tenderly. "Don't forget that." Kyoko blushed as he rubbed her cheek gently. Itachi blushed as well feeling something between them. He slowly moved closer to her.
"Itachi!" his mother called out. She could contain her excitement, Itachi was going to kiss her! Itachi jerked away accidentally yanking on Kyoko's hair.
"OW!" she chirped.
"Sorry," Itachi whispered he reached for her head but jerked it away as he saw his mother approaching.
"Oh, don't stop. Your first kiss is going to be so magical," Mikoto cooed.
"I was taking Kyoko-hime home," Itachi said tonelessly. He separated himself from Kyoko.
"Kiss," Mikoto cooed putting her hands together. "Come on." Mikoto's eyes were twinkling excitedly. Kyoko looked away from Itachi unwilling and unmotivated. Trying to please his mother, Itachi leaned over to kiss the girl. Without having to look, Kyoko pushing Itachi's face away. He heard her exhale quickly; Kyoko would always do this when she was angered or annoyed.
"No," Kyoko mumbled.
"Oh, I'm sorry dear! I ruined your moment!" Mikoto placed her hand on Itachi's shoulder bashfully. "Go take her home, dinner will be ready in an hour." His mother left soon after. Awkward seconds passed by. Kyoko wouldn't make eye contact with Itachi. He frowned puzzled, was she ashamed? Letting out a sigh, Kyoko held out her hand to him. She still wouldn't look at him but he knew what she wanted. He took it with a smile. She liked holding hands when he walked her home, particularly since they would see Megumi. And of course, Megumi would get upset, Kyoko would smirk slightly as Itachi would defend her honor. Yet today was slightly different. Megumi just smirked at them as they walked by. No antagonistic words or half-hearted kindness just silence. Itachi made eye contact with Megumi before closing his eyes.
"Don't worry…I'm going to kiss her. Just you wait." Itachi replied within earshot of Megumi. He let out a small laugh as Megumi grunted angrily. Kyoko smiled as she held on tighter to Itachi's hand.