Hiding from Kuromaru was surprisingly easy, Easy enough that I knew that he himself was also avoiding me. Part of me knew that delaying this would make it worse, and part of me was grateful it gave me time to think. I didn't know what to do with my sister, or with the Hyuugas. I was going practically insane because there was no one to talk to about it. My mother shoots me a stern look every time I try to approach Yuki. All my mother says is "give it time." Kuromaru and Kenta already made it clear to me what they thought of the Hyuuga affair.
Speaking of which, there was snow on the ground, which meant that we must be getting close. I still had no concrete plan. It's hard to make a plan when you don't even know where exactly you need to be. I had never been around Kohona. I had never even met a Hyuuga, or really any human outside of the Inuzukas. God, when did I start distinguishing between me and the humans? Every time I start to think about how much I don't know and how many variables there are, I start to spiral. Which is where I found myself now.
I was digging on the edge of the brush, near where the forest begins, as part of my avoiding everyone and anything that can remind me of the looming deadlines. The entire area was littered with holes I had dug throughout the last few days. For some reason every time I got distracted I had to start over. At some point, I'm going to have to start filling them in. Just another problem. With that wonderful though I begin digging again at a more furious pace, so focused that I don't notice my name being called until a clod of dirt hits me on the head and breaks.
It's Akira, of course. "So… is this what Kuromaru's got you doing these days, looking for lost treasure or something?" she says, tongue rolling to the side. I snort derisively at her and haul myself out of the hole.
"What?"
"I mean, why exactly, have you been out here digging all day every day for the last few days, and Kuromaru's nowhere to be seen for the last few days either. So…. what did you do?"
"Uhhh…"
"Come on, what did Yuki and I say about honesty?" she says teasingly, and I grimace. I really don't need this now. I have way too much going on for this right now. I think she sees this in my face and switches tactics.
"Look, I get that you're being all mysterious and stuff, I do. But let's face it, you need someone to talk to, for the sake of our yard, if nothing else. You're here. I'm here. Kuromaru and Kenta aren't here. Seems like a no brainer!" She takes a breath and I open my mouth to retort but she doesn't even less me start.
"Be-sides which, let's be serious for a moment, whatever it is, this has been stressing you out for a while, and whatever you've been doing with Kuromaru and Kenta isn't solving it. Maybe I can help?" she cocks her head to the side and pierces me with her gaze. When I finally realize now I get to respond, I can't really even think of anything. She does have a point. But this is a serious problem.
"Can I have, like… thirty seconds?" I muster and she rolls her eyes and begins counting, like a child. I give her a warning bark, and she raises one eyebrow, which reminds me of all the times she has made that exact look before dragging me into mischief.
Ah, what the hell.
"Ok. Ok. shit Akira, are you sure, this is some matrix level redpill blue pill shit."
"Matrix? And yeah, of course, we are pack. I've always got your back" There's a choking feeling at the back of my throat. I never thought it would sound so good to hear that she's got my back. I realized that even with Kuromaru and Kenta, it wasn't quite the same. So I take a deep breath and begin.
"Well, the thing is… I remember my past life, kind of. I mean, I remember parts of it, but I think I'm losing my memories too? Like there's so much missing and it's important stuff too, like my name and my family, all kinds of things…" Ok spiraling, spiraling, refocus… she opens her mouth but now it's my turn to cut her off.
"Anyways, in my previous life there was a manga called Naruto… yes, like the boy. Anyways, I used to read it. It was cool, watching him grow up and use all these superpowers to defeat evil people… but it was all just a fantasy, you know? Like where I grew up, there was no chakra, and at least where I lived no child soldiers, none of this. So on one hand it's so amazing to live here, and there are so many cool things, but on the other it's terrifying because I know what's coming next, and it's horrifying to me. These kids are going to kill people by the time they're thirteen, Thirteen! So I know all this and I need to stop it… but I don't know how… and this world is so messed up so how am I supposed to fix anything…"
She takes a few steps back and turns around. Then I can see her shoulder rising and falling. Is she laughing or crying? Then she turns back to me, eyes closed and sighs deeply. Is she going to tell someone I'm crazy?
"Oh… kay… and Kuromaru and Kenta know?" she says slowly. I nod. She turns around again, and I just wait, unsure of what to do. She flops down and when I turn to face her she shushs me.
"I need to think, go back to digging or something." so I do. Soon after the sun goes down she drops another clod of dirt on me.
"So, tell me more. What exactly happens in these stories of yours?"