Flowers Bloom, Hearts Shatter

By: Li

Summary: Auron was sent from a mystic land across the sea by a spell cast wrong, ending up on a misty bridge in the Water country. After reviving the familiar Haku and casting him as herguard, they join a caravan heading toward Hidden Mist Village. Now, after leaving Haku's old home early and without further complications, the caravan moves on.

A/N: Sorry to be so late, but the computer I found on the 17th was having trouble connecting to the internet, so..

!IMPORTANT NOTE! The first five chapters are about Auron and Haku's travels and some of the people they meet (hinthint). In chapter six, she finally arrives in Konoha and meets up with Naruto yet again, turning the Hidden Village upside down. She only changes minor events that I have planned, so look forward to some things old and new in later chapters.

Warning: hinted shojo-ai/shounen-ai (if you look real close to sentence structure and peoples' actions), no yaoi or yuri (graphic); disruptive OC; Blood and fighting in this chapter.

(1) means to see the ending notes or glossary

"Foreign language."

Spirits and Gods

Flashback is like this.

--mind speach--

Chapter Four: (once in a) Blue Moon

Auron sat humming in the back of Funno's wagon, now empty of the vegetables that were once taking up space, jotting down random sentences in a worn leather notebook no one but herself had ever read. It had become a habit in her youth: that whenever bored in idle classes with droning teachers, she would take out a piece of paper and begin to write. And since she'd Spelled the bound book for unlimited pages, she never had to worry about disorder of the sort.

Two people watched her: one from afar, the other peering questioningly at his mistress, sitting across the wagon from her. The first kept turning, and had placed mirrors pointing in her direction, the secondwatching with botheyes and mind hismistress, who was such an enigma to the former. Auron wrote on, seemingly oblivious.

"Something the matter, Kuhai-kun?" the latter's mistress asked, using his shortened cover name.

"Nothing, nothing," was the guard's reply. He just wanted to know what she wrote, was all.

Auron glanced up for a moment, then to the side and directly in the caravan driver's mirrors. They both watched her intently, and the girl wondered why the older male had any interest in her at all. Her God friends had found nothing bad on the man, though he was an information spy for her Lord Kitsubi's home village of Konohagakure. Admirable, since he had limited fighting knowledge and his chosen profession was riskyat best. Then again, who would suspect the driver of a wagon train to not be a double crosser?

"You sure?" she asked just for conversation's sake.

"Yes, Shiruna-san. Just one thing, though. Will you tell me what you're writing?" he cautiously voiced his question. She'd been moody since he'd discovered her visions on the gloomy night two days ago. You could never tell how she'd react to a simple question.

A moment of uneasy silence on Funno's (who was driving and listening in on their talk) and Haku's parts, then Auron smiled. "Nope," it was simply put, filled with fake cheerfulness. The wagon's driver tuned them out as silence resumed.

--What's bothering you, Airan-sama?-- Haku asked telepathically. He was worried, for both their sakes.

A silence, then, --Something will happen; we will meet those who will help us after an unknown tragedy.-- Then the link was cut as Auron once again busied herself in the leather book and Haku was left to his thoughts.

The caravan driver, watching asthey stared into each other's eyes for a moment, then embarrassingly (it seemed to him) downcast their gazes. It seemed to him there was much more to their relationship then just being cousins. If his calculations were correct, he nodded to himself:

It was simple. They were lovers.

If Funno knew what his bosswas thinking, he would'vehad a panic attack anddenied it for them, then challenged Auron to another battle of the wills. But at the moment, he was lost in thoughts of Haku as a girl and himself skipping down flower plains and going on romantic dates, outward attention on controlling his cattle. That was the one thing he was good at: when fantasizing, he did a better job at everything than when conscious of the outside world.

Auron just sighed and continued to write, having heardboth their thoughts loud and clear. It was none of her concern what was thought of herself and her guard. She really couldn't care less. Then again, no one was that stupid in the Flordina Plains to think such things without a mind shield up. Really, didn't these people fear a nin would enter their mind at some time or another and take control?

Staring at the road once more, Auron knew something was coming. She just hoped it wasn't too serious…

Time seemed to pass so slowly, here.

At lunch break, the caravan leader announced, "We will be splitting up on the next train of road. It's too small for all the wagons to go one after another, and would take much longer to reach our destination." He handed out maps of the area; trails marketed in different colors depending on which section you were in.

For example: Funno's party, color green, forest roadway.

Auron sighed. Just what she needed, more complications. As if the reoccurring visions weren't enough; she didn't even feel all that safe with just Funno and a few of his friends. Atleast Haku was there, though…

Haku glanced at his mistress questioningly. He had a bad feeling about this, and knew Auron did too. But he couldn't protest openly; what would he say? 'I have a bad feeling. And no, it's not the dried jerky acting up.'? Yeah, and all the men would call him a sissy behind his back again.

He sighed in resignation. There was nothing he could do; they were already off.

Funno drove the wooden wagon down the rickety dirt road, the wheels jolting its passengers every small flaw in the path. How they and another wagon had gotten separated from the group and ended up here was a mystery to them all, though Auron had a nagging suspicion the something she predicted would happen soon.

It was then the shadows decided to announce their presence.

There were five of them, all shaggy looking and in need of a bath and maybe lawn mower for all their hair on head as well as body. Their clothes were patchwork rags covered in self-made leather vests, most likely for protection against minor cuts and bruises. Their stench was so terrible the oxen bucked, overturning the wagons in their desperate atempts get away from the men who smelled worse than a thousand skunks and thirty year old gym socks.

They never made it past the road's bend.

Out stepped a well-build man lugging a huge sword as if it weighed not a thing, butchering the cattle in one mighty swing. Blood and chunks of flesh flew everywhere, and the man just smiled cruelly. All stared in fear and awe, terrified but still impressed but the man's display of power.

Auron and Haku didn't bat an eyelash. 'Show off,' they thought in union.

Funno wondered if they all would die by the man's sword, as his prized drivers had.

"What have we here, fellows? Two girls and pathetic excuses for men?" The man laughed, and his lackey's joined in.

Haku's eyebrow twitched but he didn't say anything. Only on Auron's command would he attack unless either of them was harmed in anyway. For all he knew, the bandits would take their goods and leave them to their own devises.

Airan stared coldly, then sighed, expression flat and bored as if nothing major had happened. Her premonition had come true, now where were those helpful people to come save them? She knew Haku could take the men no problem, but with the deadweights around (she included herself, surprisingly), they would only get in the ex-assasain's way.

Airan yawned, which caught the leader's attention.

He smirked, getting as close as he dared to her face. For some reason, his honed instincts told him to tread carefully around this defenseless girl, and he never mistrusted his excellent sense.

"Do you find me boring, little girl? Should I get dollies and put on a show for you instead? I'll have you know I am Kushigi Hitai, former chuunin of Hidden Mist and A-class missing nin." He smiled to himself, still boasting. Ah, it felt good to capture hostages and get ransom on them. The girls he now faced seemed from well-off families; he bet they'd fetch a good enough price.

"Well, yes, I do. And dolls are not my style, thank you. I prefer books, novels, and action movies."She nodded slightly to Haku as an implication, sending mental thoughts and an order to kill.

Shinsetsu Kuhaina just smiled knowingly.

Hitai laughed, and his fellow thugs joined in again. "Action movies, huh? I'll give you act-" his voice gurgled as he trailed off, falling over dead were the other 'girl' had once lay. Needles punctured three vital points: heart, neck, and lungs.

Haku was nowhere to be seen.

The bandits glanced around nervously, not sure what to do. Their leader had fallen so easily. Who was that beautiful girl, now known as a deadly shinobi?

They settled for taking hostages, hold a knife to some life organ that would mean instant death if punctured. Haku didn't dare attack for fear a blade might shift as a dead body fell. It became silent, still, with Auron on the ground, watching.

No one had dared near her, seeing as Hitai's deceased body was right beside her.

What broke the silence and startled the bandit's into action was a crow cawing and takingflight from the trees. The men released their hostages, knives at the ready.

Funno wasn't so lucky.

As he captor dropped him to face the overhead noise, he also dropped his knife. Said blade plumaged into the annoying man's gut. Blood dripped out as well as guts, but he uttered not a sound. The bandits looked at their comrade's handy work, and would have congratulated him if the one they were searching for hadn't raced past them and to his once-suitor's side.

It was too late. Funno, the semi-annoying man that had once been a small part of their lives, was dead.

Auron saw his soul being taken away by a smiling Shunhi that waved, eyes apologetic.

Back in reality, Haku had been captured as well as the other caravan members now mourning their deceased friend. Auron was still protected by the dead body of a fallen leader beside her. She had all the luck some would say, yet she herself didn't think so.

What could she do? Airan asked herself. What else could she do than depend on Haku?

Absolutely nothing, was the unspoken answer. Nothing.

Auron wished she could cry.

Moments later, as several things happened...

"You killed him... my new friends..." The crouching girl's voice trailed off, softly dangerous. She leaned over the deceased Funno's body, eyes covered in shadow.

The bandit cackled insanely, thinking the girl no more dangerous than the man she knelt over. "Yeah, so? He deserved it, for getting in our way. What, ya gunna do somethin' 'bout it? Send your beauty here to do your dirty work?" His fellows laughed along with them, unaware that their words only shortened the girl's already snapping thread of mind.

He held Haku up in a hostage possession, crooked knife to throat, and pressed the blade closer to his chest. Her guard began to cough up blood, staining the bandit's sleeve, causing the man to smile more. That was the last straw for Auron, though.

"You killed them... You hurt him... You will pay!" Her voice turned from human quiet to dangerous and angry god within three words spoken. The stranger's eyes widened, but they had no time to act.

Fear froze them all as Auron stared with blood red eyes more demonic than any they'd ever seen. She was now anger Sukien, the one who stored all the dangerous emotions, and turned them into rage, hate, and killing intent.

"Soul redemption, ha! ... Your life has been forfeit; it belongs to me now... Go to your rightful place!" The shouted order was followed by strong wind, knocking their souls from their bodies. Only the one holding Haku was protected, and only because he was holding her friend.

Sukien-rage growled deeply, crouching as a cat might, glaring red eyes full of so much hate, pain, and anger it froze the bandit in place. A wet spot appeared near his crotch area, and the demon-like Airan persona smirked.

"Di-dunt come eh-ny clu-closer, ya 'ere? Or di-dee gal gets it!" the bandit threatened through a frightened stammer, pressing the crooked knife to Haku's throat tighter. The sharp but rusty blade drew blood, and her guard stared blankly at Sukien. There was an underlying fear, but acceptance to his fate –dieing to protect his mistress and new precious person—held strong above all else.

Sukien/Airan stopped her advance, still growling and glaring. For all it's rage and urge to kill and torcher all things around, the conscious mind's priorities were still there, directing her movements and who she let die. Haku was, to Auron, soul-family and her first close friend in a long while, which to Sukien equaled someone to protect.

The bandit smirked, thinking he had tamed the girl-turned-beast to anything he wished. "Come closer." He drawled, leering at the girl.

Sukien did. When close enough –a few feet away—she took her chance.

Howling loudly, an inhuman sound that startled all humans but told the animals only that something was getting revenge for a terrible wrong, the red-eyed girl jumped the terrified bandit. Haku's body landed softly on a pile of leaves while his enraged mistress snapped the thug's left arm like a twig. Ironic what power snapping could give you, sometimes.

The man yelled in pain, as if he had never experienced what he usually dealt. Auron just smiled, landing heavily meters away from Haku.

Gasping for breath, Sukien's red eyes sparkled in satisfaction, unwilling to become dormant again until the job she had been called out for was done. But after a break to regain enough momentum power to snap the offending man's neck…

The unnamed bandit stared at her, eyes filled with unkept rage, as he forgot his own pain and settled on the task of causing her as much as he could. Swinging his katana in an overhead killing blow, he ran at the kneeling Sukien shouting a battle cry.

Haku watched, willing his body to move as Auron created a barrier. It would be too late. He ran.

And intercepting the blow saved his mistress some unwarranted pain.

Seeing her friend fall, Sukien was filled with unrelinquishable rage once again. Charging at the shocked man, she gave him a death so painful and indescribable that it cannot be done justice with its dealt pain in real words.

She sucked out his soul and left his still living body for the forest foke she now owed for disturbing their rest.

Sukien curled up a little ways away from the dead bodies, and slept peacefully as Auron's conscious began to come back.

Auron awoke from her Sukien-influenced rage drained of vital energy and covered in fresh blood not her own. The thick red liquid stained her white outfit where dirt and mud did not, making it seem as if wood colors were it's natural dye.

The girl stared at her trembling hands, not knowing what to do. She had killed again; not really her conscious mind, but a part of her nonetheless, had done this. Peace was all she knew, and even the deaths and maiming in books didn't seem real, let alone her knew adventures in Kitsubi-sama's country.

She thought it was a dream-like reality, but now she knew it wasn't. Yuki would come… soon… and she had to stop him! Stop him from corrupting anymore of the necessary people in her path to right what shouldn't happen. Next, she knew, it would be more than just your average thugs and chuunin drop out. Uzumaki Naruto of Hidden Leaf, the one to become her Lord in his past-adult days, had enemies waiting just around the corner. Waiting for her, as well as him, now.

Struggling to stand on shaky legs, Auron took two steps before falling to the ground. Alright, then walking was a bad idea. How about crawling, then?

Gripping the ground in tight fists, gaining handfuls of dirt in the process, the Thrice Heiress pulled her knees to her stomach and began to move as an injured animal would. Stretch out the upper body, then pull in legs behind her as best she could. Auron continued until she reached the still body of Haku.

Eyes hardening, preventing the tears that wished to fall, the guard's ward fell onto his blood stained chest. A huge gash ran across its length, a token of protecting her from the idiot bandit's attack.

'No, no! I refuse to let you die again, Haku-kun! You will live!' she shouted silently to him. He didn't respond in any way, shape, or form.

Growling deep in her throat, Auron's body filled with unexpected energy. Power born of desperation and refusal to give up fueled her healing ability, maximizing its potential.

Usually it would take her ten minutes to stop all the bleeding and begin clotting the dripping gash, but as her hands glowed silvery with spiritual energy, it only took the blink of an eye. His face was still pale, and she knew the problem her knowledge wasn't able to fix.

He had lost too much blood.

It stained his clothes, it darkened his pale skin, and it would have discust anyone but a trained professional to see. Auron wasn't trained to withstand the sight, but did so anyway. She looked worse then him, as it was. While he was unconscious, she was suffering from silent hysterics and too much mental strain, but she was determined to handle it all.

For her sake as well as her friend's.

What remained of the adrenaline that had fueled her powers now helped her body stand, cradling the other teen's body in her shaky arms. Somehow -her mind was too foggy to know exactly how- Haku was riding her piggyback and she was heading down the road, the opposite way she'd come.

Shunhi and her God friends watched, but she was unaware of their silent attention. This was a trial none of them could help her with, no matter how much they wished to. It showed the Council of Gods and Mortals if she was ready for the task of taking part in a future legend's life, and shaping it to it's fullest potential.

There was one thing her Immortal brethren could do, though. They buried the bodies and took the souls to their rightful places.

Auron had decided to take Naruto, Kakashi, and all of Konoha's fireyexamples to heart: she would never leave a fellow comrade behind. It would be her new life way.

...Owari Chapter Four: (once in a) Blue Moon...

A/N: How did you like it? Interesting? And I now have five reviews! Thank you for reviewing every chapter, M –san! Sorry for such a sort chapter, too! The next will be way longer!

Next Chapter: Innocent Play (in life unjust) (Auron carries Haku to a Medic nin's fireside, passing out in the process. Who are these two young women so skilled in healing? And why do they have a pig?) (Guess who they are –sing-song voice--)

Laters, all!
Li