A/N: Well, these next few chapters will be a little short, but that's for a reason. We've mostly passed one of the two big parts of the story (developing the characters and relationships) and now I have to set up for the big part. Thank you again to Veve for taking the time to review my little fic, and I hope you all enjoy this chapter.
Disclaimer: Do I really have to put this in? I'm sure you all know by now that I don't own Naruto.
1 Year Ago
Part 1
-Midori-
He tasted the stew, thinking carefully before deciding that it needed just a little more salt. Adding a pinch of the required ingredient, he stirred the large pot a few more times. The twelve year old didn't bother to turn when he heard his front door open; he just called out over his shoulder. "Wash up, it's ready." As he took the pot off of the stove, he smiled about the rush of sound that erupted from the dining room. "I'm not here for that" a quiet voice replied. Midori did glance back this time, his expression faintly shocked. "Rei? What are you doing here? And is that -" "Bread" the other responded, lifting the bag in his arms a little higher. "It's from yesterday, so it's not very fresh, but they were selling it at a discount and I thought of you." Midori nodded for the younger boy to follow as he carefully carried the pot into the dining room.
Setting the pot on a side table, he started filling bowls and setting them out for his 'guests'. Without being told, Reiji began adding thick slices of the bread on paper plates. Midori's smile saddened just a little as he watched his friend take in the setting. As children came up to the table, Midori checked to make sure that they had washed their faces and hands, sending the occasional youth back to rewash. If they had washed well, they were given a bowl of stew, a spoon and now a slice of bread and butter or jam. Cafeteria tables had been pushed together in the center of the room, with pitchers of water waiting to refill the cups at each chair. There were nearly twenty children crowded into the room. He could tell that Rei was amazed; there was no pushing or arguing in the line, the children all waiting patiently for their share. Little Kiri-chan glanced up at her brother, her expression nearly pleading. Reiji glanced over at Midori, and forwarded the nod he received. The four year old eagerly joined the line, and once all of the children had gotten their meals Midori and Reiji fixed themselves a bowl. The younger boy watched the tables, not taking his eyes off of them as he spoke. "Damn Dori, we knew you had suppers, but I didn't know there were so many who came." Midori just nodded, his own voice reflecting sorrow. "I know. It started out with just one, but then word spread… all of these kids either are orphans, or their caretaker is out of town for long periods of time. I do this twice a week, and for some of these little ones, it's the only real meal they get." Both boys were quiet for a long time before Reiji broke the silence between them. "You know, for a city full of people who 'protect' it, there sure are a lot of kids who suffer."
And there was really nothing one could say to that.
-Mariko-
She slipped quietly through the trees, hurrying as much as the need for silence would allow. The brunette was in tears, nearly choking on her breath as she tried to bite back her sobs. On reaching her destination, the eight year old dropped onto her knees, buried her face in her hands and sobbed. The blond boy waiting for her sat up instantly in alarm. "Mari-chan, Mari what's wrong?" he demanded, nearly panicked by her heartbroken crying. "They… they're dead!" the little girl choked out. Shiroji blinked in surprise. "What? Who's dead? Mari, what are you talking about?" Mariko lifted her face from the shelter of her hands, and leaned against the boy as he wrapped his arms around her. "The parent birds. I… I heard… heard some ninjas… from my clan. They said… they said that some… some idiot got too close and… and they attacked and… and ANBU had to come save the idiot… but, but they killed the parents!" And she promptly burst into tears again. Shiroji went quiet, just letting her sob against his shoulder as he stared towards the nest that they had been watching for the last three months.
Mariko eep-ed a little when the ten year old that she was leaning on suddenly stood. Looking up, her eyes widened as she recognized the expression on his face. It shone with the same focus and determination that he had faced down her older clan-mate with. He looked down at her, set his jaw and spoke. "You stay here" he told her. "Stay? But… where are you going?" she stammered. He just looked up at the nest again. "I'm going to save our fledglings. They're not big enough to be alone yet, and it looks like the ninjas are just going to leave them there. Maybe they can't be tamed, but that doesn't mean we can just let them die!" Mariko just stared with wide eyes as he marched off towards the tree.
-Arashi-
He glanced up through his lashes, careful not to look like he was watching. 'They're here again.' he thought, covertly observing his 'audience'. Finally, after months of being 'oblivious', he decided to speak to them. "You can come out, you know. I don't mind if you listen." he called, waiting with bated breath. And sure enough, they came slipping out of the woods like some kind of forest spirits. About eleven children, ranging from about five years old to one who looked about fourteen, all different. But all with two things in common; a cautious expression and a habit of coming to hear him play. He set his guitar gently on the ground, watching as the children found seats on the ground around him. "So," he began, "why are all of you here? Surely you have more interesting things to do than stand around and listen to me?" Some of the kids looked away and some fidgeted a little, but one boy spoke up. "We're here cause, well… you get it. What it's like to be hurt, to be alone. When you play, it's like… like you're saying all the stuff that we can't. It… makes it hurt a little less. You know?" Most of the kids nodded agreement. Arashi blinked. 'Well' he thought, 'that wasn't what I was expecting. Though… I'm not sure what I was expecting…' Arashi shook his head, sending now shoulder-length spiky red hair swinging. "Oh. Well, if it helps… Is there anything you guys want to hear?" As one little girl shyly raised her hand, he couldn't help but feel just a little depressed. 'Doesn't anyone care what they're doing to these kids?'
-Karas-
Strike-slideback-spinkick-reversepunch-upperblock-ridgehand-pause. The teenager stopped, tilting his head slightly as he tried to figure out what had nudged at his attention. And then he caught it – footsteps in the house. 'One, no… two people.' He thought. 'Even steps, light footfalls, that pace… Reiji. Soft steps, lightly, closer together and limping on the…right foot.' "Rei" he called out, "who is your friend?" "Not a friend." the other boy called back. Hearing the pair step out into the back yard, Karas turned to face them in a habit he had never been able to break, even though it was useless. He waited patiently for his younger friend to explain, and as always, Reiji didn't disappoint. "A sparring partner for Kiri. This is Yamanaka, Emi-chan. She's seven years old, has green eyes and blond hair just past her shoulders that I made her pull back in a ponytail." "Now," Karas assumed that Reiji turned and was talking to the girl now, since his voice suddenly faded a little. "You go get some water from the kitchen; it's the closest door to the front entrance. If you need the bathroom, it's the second door from the kitchen – the one between them is a closet. Okay?" Karas heard the girl's responding okay, her voice just as quiet and hesitant as her footsteps had been. He waited until he heard Reiji approach before he spoke. "Now that she's gone, what's going on? I heard her limping, and she seems like a very timid child. So why did you really bring her?" A rustle of fabric – Reiji must have shrugged. "You remember last year, that girl I told you about from the clinic?" Karas thought carefully. "The one who had her arm broken?" "That's the one. That's her. She's still got bruises; the whole left side of her face is black and blue. She's got a pulled muscle in her right leg, that's why she's limping. And two of her ribs are broken. So…" "So you want to teach her to fight back?" Karas smiled in affectionate exasperation. He didn't have to see to know that Reiji had a stubborn expression pasted on his face; he could hear it in the other's voice. "Well, why not? She needs a defense, Kiri needs a sparring partner – and it's not like either of us are strangers at teaching. We taught Midori and Kyo, we're teaching Kiri, and" Karas laughed. "Alright, calm down. I never said she couldn't come." Then he grew serious. "I don't approve of someone hitting children either. Little ones are supposed to be protected, they're not supposed to have to fight. So she can stay, and we'll do our best to make sure that she doesn't get beaten on anymore. Not that we've had a good track record…" As Karas trailed off, both boys were silent, each thinking of dark bruises under the grey eyes of a friend.
