The First Time He Killed
Among the dry rocks of the Rock country stood a boy of slights built and dark hair which fell into his eyes. He was on watch, hidden yet vigilant, paying attention to every detail. From his focused eyes and serious expression it seemed that something very serious was happening here, and indeed though this was only the second part of the exam, a stimulation, he could easily lose his life here.
It was silent. The boy was waiting for his teammates to return. They had gone scouting and left him on watch. Since his first days at the academy he had wanted to pass – he needed to do well.
For about half an hour nothing happened – silence – only the occasional flapping sound of bird's wings above his head. Yet the boy did not grow weary or bored. He remained focused. He heard it suddenly – the slightest sound – but it was too late. As he turned his head he saw a person blurred by the speed. He saw a flash of metal. He felt a sudden pain. Opposite him now stood a young girl, younger than him, with a set of metal claws each about 2 inches in length strapped onto her hands. On the claws of her left hand he saw blood. His blood.
She did not wait for him. She attacked again. Almost as if in a dance, she twirled, feinted and then suddenly swept her right hand in a vicious attack. Across his shoulder he now had a set of clean, deep wounds to match those that she had laid on his cheek just a second ago.
He pulled out two kunai. He blocked her next hit and the one after that. Then he attacked. She avoided his blow easily. She was good.
He didn't have the speed to dodge or block her next attack. It narrowly missed his throat. It could have been fatal. The hit was so hard however it knocked him back against a large rock. He lay there sprawled with his back pressed against the large yellowish boulder, staring into the eyes of the girl. She was too fast. He didn't even have the time to blink and already she was soaring towards him, hand ready for the final hit – aimed at his eyes.
On instinct and as if in a trance he blocked, and plunged the two kunai he was holding into her neck, crosswise. Then roughly, he pulled the two blades out in a scissor-like movement. Her eyes opened wide. She mouthed several words silently. Blood gushed out from her slit throat and sprayed his face and clothes. His hands were covered in it. He was breathing heavily, staring in terror into the girl's dying eyes. She dropped onto the ground. Onto him. In fear and disgust he pushed the body off of himself, and climbed to his feet. He couldn't take his gaze away from the girl. She reminded him of someone. Her dark eyes were still open and her long, black hair with a shade of purple was in a mess on the ground. The boy paled. The boy threw up. She reminded him of someone.
Above him the crows hung in the air – silently.
AN: I think this was too bloody. Next chapter is going to be more positive, I promise. Well, I hope you enjoyed this nonetheless. And thank you so much to all those who reviewed. Really!
DISCLAIMER: Hayate, all the characters of Naruto, and the world they live in, belong and are copyright of Masashi Kishimoto.