Faster. She had to run faster to stop terror from seizing her. She felt cold, and absolutely frightened. The short-lived bliss of feeling so free had diminished the moment she considered the consequences. Realizing that Iruka may have endangered himself, she ran towards Konoha, the origin of Fire Country's vast network of ninjas. Surely they could help her and Iruka! So, with quickened resolve, she did the only thing she could do: she ran.
Cutting air rushed into her lungs, and it was getting harder to breathe. The soles of her feet blossomed with pain with each pounding step and the joints of her legs were beginning to ache. Her entire body was burning due to the physical exertion. Years of being unable to do much of any strenuous physical activity was paying its toll on her body.
Each step she took was becoming more painful. A wave of dizziness hit her and she collapsed. Throughout the silent night, only harsh, shallow breaths could be heard. Sweat stung her eyes and her entire body burned…she could not go on. She would pass out due to exhaustion!
But Iruka…what of him. Give up now, and everything will be for nothing!
"For his gesture of kindness…I must…" she whispered, willing herself to continue.
I must…I must…It's only fair I do this in return…
She was forever indebted to him, and it was her duty to return such kindness. Grunting in pain, she struggled to get back on her feet. But gods it hurt so much to even move! Her entire body protested, but she slowly stood erect. Step by step, she made her way towards the village. It would take her a few hours by foot, but she would manage. After all, a life was on the line, and under such extraordinary circumstances, adrenaline could keep her going.
She heard her stomach growling and her blushed when she noticed the sound echo across the night. Besides fatigue, she was hungry; her situation was becoming worse and worse as time went by. Frustrated, she chanted words of motivation, desperately ignoring her body's protests.
It was almost dawn by the time she reached the village, but fatigue and hunger quickly diminished the moment she faced the large doors of the Konoha fortress. All she had to do was convince the guards that she had business to attend to. However, she did not know how she could convince anyone to let her in. Her poor condition was enough to turn anyone off!
Use your wits, girl! It's no time to give up now that you're here!
She was already at the gates. What good would all that running have been for if she turned back now?
She took a deep breath before shouting, "I desperately need to come in! Please!"
Her cries were unanswered. Frustration slowly boiled to anger. Why was no one answering her pleas? Surely she voiced them loud enough for inhabitants to hear!
"One of your men is in trouble at the moment! If you don't believe me, ask me about him! Just let me get the help I need before it's too late!" The daunting silence only answered her calls.
"Uncaring bastards!" she whispered under her breath.
"We heard that." someone murmured from the other side.
"If you did, then answer to them damn it! Someone's life is on the line!" she shouted furiously.
"We get pleas like that every day. Why should yours be any different?" the cold voice asked.
"Because…because…only those trained for these rescue missions can help! And it is your duty as a member of this village to help one of your own is it not?" Desperation tinged her voice, causing it to waver slightly.
It seemed the person on the other side was carefully considering her words. After agonizing minutes of silence, the person answered, "We will put your request into consideration. In the meantime, you may wait under security."
She breathed a sigh of relief, allowing herself to relax slightly. Without hesitation, she followed two men who securely fastened her arms in case she tried to do harm. While the stoic guards looked on ahead with purpose, her curious eyes darted across the village. She was delighted to see it smell as a village should: of clean air from the surrounding forests, various spices and scents of food mingling together, and a distinct smell that could only come from this village. The entire atmosphere of the village soothed her frayed nerves, and for the first time in her life, she felt absolute security.
She sat on a lounge chair, waiting within a modest looking room. Walls of thick, sturdy wood were lightly decorated with ornate rugs and scrolls, and a small lamp hanging midair gave the room a warm glow; overall, it was rather cozy and gave the sense of security. She realized that she no longer felt frightened or nervous. Slowly, she allowed herself to smile a little. She was safe! And soon, Iruka would be too.
It didn't take much time for her pleas to be put into consideration. Shortly, few people slipped into the room and she stifled her surprise. She knew ninjas could come in unnoticed, but she couldn't detect them at all! Her concentration was focused on much more important matters, however.
"Of whom do you speak of? Surely the individual in trouble has a name." the figure softly asked.
Judging from her voice, the figure was a woman. A cone-shaped hat covered much of the figures face, and long, loose robes made it hard to distinguish whether the person was a woman or a man.
"He does. His name is Iruka…at least, that's what he told me before I was sent away."
The small crowd broke out in murmurs. It seemed many knew of him.
"Do you know of his whereabouts?"
She steeled herself, knowing it would sound incredulous for a teacher of the Academy to be found meandering within the dark pits of the red light district. "He's stationed at the…Black Lotus."
A deafening silence reigned throughout the room as almost everyone's eyes widened in shock; some turned into slits of anger. Shouts, murmurs, and whispers then exploded, denying the possibility that Iruka could be found in such a notorious place.
"Are you trying to slander his good reputation, girl?" one of them asked.
"Iruka could never be in such a filthy place!" another voice spat. Several chorused their agreement.
They don't believe me. How can I convince them? She panicked, realizing that many regarded her as an enemy. Quickly, her sense of security vanished as she realized she was a tired, defenseless woman against skilled ninjas. Her train of thoughts disappeared when the robed figure stepped forward.
"Why would he be there? Surely there is a good explanation for this?"
Now was her chance to convince them all! Slowly, she faced the hostile room, thankful that she had enough courage to do so. Slowly, she told her story. Few left in disgust, but enough stayed behind to listen to what she had to say. By the time she was done, hostile faces became curious. However, it seemed the decision lay within the robed figure's hands. She only hoped that she was convincing enough.
"We will wait one week. By then, if he does not return, we will send aid." The figure then turned to leave.
One week. One week! By then, he could be a mere corpse…or his condition may be far worse that death may seem like mercy! One week was far too long!
"You can't! Time is of absolute importance!" she heaved out. The figure stopped and slowly turned to face her.
"Do you realize who you just talked back to?" one of the ninjas questioned menacingly.
"I don't care who you are! He's in trouble and he needs help!"
"That's the Hokage-sama you're talking to you lowlife!" someone spat.
Hokage…sama… Oh dear! Through disrespect this person might not help me at all!
"One week. Do not question my decision again."
"Y-yes…Hokage-sama." she said. She cringed when she noticed the weak inflection of her voice.
Slowly, she escaped the confinement of the room. For a moment, she had forgotten the village's main purpose: create ninjas. She had allowed herself to slip and paid for it. The village, despite its beautiful, homey façade, hid a dangerous face capable of taking lives.
One week. She prayed that he would be safe until the week was through.
Women swept into the room, curious to see who the novice would be. Many were surprised by the mere fact that it was a young man; most often times, they received adolescent girls who would later be trained. However, few complained. After all, it was rare to see such a shy man with manners within the establishment…much less a good-looking one!
Many were enthusiastic about the job of making him as presentable as possible. Despite his futile protests, they were able to drag him into the drawn bath. The warm water smelled of lavender, soothing him as he allowed himself to relax slightly. However, his anxiety quickly returned when he was dragged out. Properly dried, he was ready to be fitted into one of the many ornate robes available.
Realization slowly dawned on him. Dear gods, the women were going to make a doll out of him! Each time he crawled away, one of the women would drag him back in, a pretty robe in hand. Furthermore, his futile attempts seemed to only amuse them. They garbed him in a simple cotton shift of earthy tones that complimented his eyes. Then, they proceeded to make him more effeminate, which only enraged him. For goodness sake, he was a man! It took a good number of women to strap his unwilling body down as they plucked his brows, trimmed and styled his hair, and added light touches of make-up. By the time they were through, he had already given up.
Most of them seemed proud of their finished work. Curious, he took a quick peek at one of the many mirrors and nearly choked. What had the women done to him? He never remembered looking that effeminate in his entire life? The wonders of make-up and a haircut!
Fringes of hair framed his angular face. Like an experienced artist, touches of color brought out so much expression from his face. And his eyes…dark mascara made them look bigger and more expressive. Suddenly, he felt the urge to kill himself. The figure before him was enough to completely shatter his fragile ego.
"Do you not like what you see?" a melodious voice asked.
"Of course not! I look like a…a…a woman!" he shrieked.
Many stifled their giggles. Most had to agree that he did look like a woman. Some gave him envious glances. Who knew that such a boyish man could turn into such a stunning figure? He was still clearly a man, but one look at his face, and he transformed into androgynous beauty.
"Come on! We're supposed to go to our respective rooms."
They all knew it was their cue to wait within their golden cages and entice the potential customers. Unfortunately, Iruka didn't know what the woman meant. With a careless shrug, he attempted to follow the women, but was quickly pulled back. Surprised, he turned to face one of the many women within the establishment.
"Men are put in a different section. Wait here and someone will come to get you." she said curtly before disappearing.
A tight knot formed in his stomach as he waited, sitting on a plush chair. He didn't have to wait long as a young man came. He motioned for Iruka to follow and without another word, he turned and left. Stunned, Iruka didn't know what to do. Hoping the man didn't disappear, he followed.
In the darkness of the many halls of the building, the silky voice of the young man resonated across the walls. "The Black Lotus is shaped like a hexagon, so there are six separate walls of…cages. Five of them are for women, but the single wall on the back of the building is for us. I suppose this is because only the truly curious would venture that far."
Iruka shuddered, disliking the morbid tone of the man's voice. However, what he saw made him freeze in absolute fear. He was going to be publicly displayed like a common whore! He couldn't breathe, fear seizing him in its vice-like grip. Shaking, he felt his knees go weak. The world was spinning and he felt so queasy.
He felt himself being dragged towards the cage. Shutting his eyes tightly, he turned away. Afraid, he curled into a tight ball. The terror of slavery had finally hit him. The hard slap of reality was so stunning he couldn't move.
"Open your eyes, idiot! There's no one here yet!" someone whispered.
Hesitantly, Iruka opened his eyes. True to the stranger's word, no one was gawking at him. He sighed in relief and fear temporarily left him.
"Who…who are you?" Iruka asked tentatively.
"Ah…most call me Ichi 'cause I was the first boy dragged into this shit hole."
Iruka supposed he should have been offended by the man's brash mouth, but instead, he appreciated it. Ichi's rough edges merely reflected who he truly was, a brash youth dragged from the hard-edged streets into something far worse. Ichi reminded him a lot of Naruto. Pain seized him. He wouldn't be able to see his young charge for about a year. Lost in his thoughts, he didn't notice Ichi was speaking to him.
"You?" By staring at Iruka's blank face, he sighed. Don't tell me this novice is a complete idiot! I really don't need another one of those!
Realization dawned on his face. He could have slapped himself. "I'm Iruka."
Ichi chuckled, and then exploded into a full-blown laugh. Iruka's face reddened and he turned away. Nothing was ever going his way!
"I didn't mean to laugh…at…you…like that!" Ichi wheezed out, still trying to stifle his laughter.
"It's fine. That's the most common response anyway."
"Well, it was a fun chit-chat, but we've got company."
"We do?" Iruka turned to face eager, hungry eyes.
"Well, well…if it isn't a newcomer! And pretty, too!" the potential customer said.
Iruka tried to hide behind Ichi, fearing the intensity of the stare. His first day on the job and already he caught someone's eye! And judging from the man's elaborate apparel, the man could easily afford anyone! Rich, arrogant, and despicable…just the sort of man Iruka despised!
"Hate to say this, but he's not very gentle to the new ones." Ichi whispered.
"I really didn't need to know that."
"But a quick warning to let you know what you're in for."
Yeah…I know what I'm in for. I'm in deep shit.
It was odd for his favorite sensei to not be found in the entire village. Usually, he was in class at the Academy or at Ramen Ichiraku. Disheartened, Naruto slumped across the village. It was a strange comfort to see his past sensei, especially since he didn't get to see him as often as he would like.
He was becoming desperate and took his last chance: Iruka's home. If every other location failed, he could always depend on finding the man safe inside the apartment complex. He ignored the tight knot forming in his stomach and approached the unusually unlit room. He knew he shouldn't be surprised, but his heart sank when he noticed Iruka wasn't home.
"Did he just forget to mention something to me? Very, very strange." he mumbled to himself.
However, he couldn't shake off the chills or alleviate the tightness of his chest. Something was very wrong! He knew Iruka well enough to know this was very uncharacteristic of the man to go and disappear one day. Perhaps he had been attacked? What if he was in trouble and everyone had failed to notice? Panic seized him. He had to know for sure.
Adrenaline rushed throughout his system and the kyubi seemed to be answering to his pounding nerves. Naruto suppressed his red chakra, knowing he had to be calm and level-headed during these certain situations, especially since he didn't know any concrete details. He ran across the forests, hoping to make a direct shortcut to see the Hokage.
He stopped short atop a tree. This was one of the rare times when he was up early enough to see dawn break. Every blue-black shadowed figure shown with magnificent warmth the moment the sun rose. For a brief moment, Naruto forgot his fears and reveled in the warmth. It was such a simple thing, really, but to live another day and appreciate it was something only he, and perhaps a few others, could understand. He took in a deep breath. A new morn and all his fears of the night slowly vanished.
If no one was alarmed by Iruka's absence, then he was only becoming more paranoid. Still, he felt troubled. He resolved to ask the Hokage for answers. Happy with his decision, he continued forward.
A low sound carried with the wind. Most people would not have heard such a small sound, but Naruto's sensitive ears caught it. His ears twitched, quite like a fox, as he waited patiently for more sounds. He was thankful that much of the village was still asleep. Again! He strained to listen.
Sobbing. Someone's crying…alone…
He froze, conflicted. He was frighteningly familiar with those cries; he himself had succumbed to them many times before. How many times had he cried like that when he was a mere child, hoping someone, anyone would wipe away his tears and comfort him in the darkness? How many times had he imagined a kind face would come to keep him company during such dreadful, lonely hours? It was the sorrow and utter defeat laced within those sobs that he finally decided to turn towards the source.
He found the tragic figure sobbing against one of the many trees within the forest. She looked so heartbreakingly sad that he could relate to her. Why did she cry so fervently? Her wretched sobs died down as if her throat ached to produce any more sobs, but her shoulders shuddered and heaved with silent cries.
Carefully he trotted closer. Unfortunately, his clumsiness decided to shine so soon. He did not notice a small upturned root and fell with little grace. The commotion startled the sobbing figure.
"How long have you been here?" she demanded; her voice was hoarse from all the sobbing she had done.
"I just came by. Your loud cries were hard to ignore, lady!"
That loudmouth brat!
Her left eye began to twitch and a vein started throbbing on her forehead. Seeing the sorrowful figure make a sudden change alarmed Naruto. Unfortunately, he was too dense to notice he offended her. Instead, he continued speaking his mind, which meant, more often than not, he was unintentionally insulting her.
Aiko snapped. Never had she met someone who had the audacity to prick her nerves in such a manner. Naruto never knew her fist was coming, but by the time he opened his eyes, it was already too late. Her fist connected with his cheek. Slowly, he slumped to the ground.
Why do they always hit me? Naruto cried silently.
"Oi! Oi! Why did you punch me!" he demanded as he quickly jumped back on his feet.
"Because you're annoying!" she answered before walking away.
"Hey! Hey! I'm not done with you yet! Why were you crying?"
She froze. So the boy heard her after all. Judging from the forehead protecting he had currently tied around his head, she knew he was a ninja. No wonder she didn't detect him until he unceremoniously tripped. She gave him a critical gaze. Everything about him, from his orange attire to his shocking head full of blonde spikes, was loud. It would be rather hard to ignore him. She sighed.
"That's none of your business." she said tersely. Could the boy ever shut up and leave her alone? She didn't even speak to him for more than a few minutes and already he had grated on her nerves enough to make her snap!
"No one cries like that unless something really sad and horrible happened." he murmured.
She remained silent. The boy suddenly transformed from an annoying brat to a mature youth right before her eyes. And the statement he sprung at her was unexpected. What could she say?
The boy hides behind different masks…like me…
"An acquaintance…someone who is like a stranger to me…saved me. I don't know him well enough, but…he did more for me than anyone close to me has ever done. I don't know what happened to him, but I think…I think that I have to help him. Something bad happened to him." she said quietly.
Naruto's squinted eyes scrunched face, what she assumed to be his "serious" expression, absorbed the information. He nodded his head as if he understood her predicament. She felt herself twitching. The idiot didn't understand a single word she said at all! To think she had misjudged him! He really was an idiot!
"Who? Who? Who are you saving?" he asked excitedly. No doubt he thought this was another chance to prove himself to a complete stranger and make her acknowledge his impressive prowess.
"No one you'd know."
"Che…adults are all the same. Just because I wouldn't know doesn't mean I won't be able to do anything!" he grumbled.
She smiled at his reply. The kid's words were hard to ignore. "His name is Iruka." she said softly.
His name is Iruka…
Her eyes softened as she looked elsewhere. She didn't notice the youth in front of her freeze in complete shock.
Trouble…
Author's Note: If you've read the other alternate path of this fic, Caged Butterfly, you will notice that the chapters are exactly the same. This is because the stories don't start diverting in plot until the fourth chapter. So…uh…continue onward!
