When she awoke, it was early morning. The sickly gray blue of the sky and the smell of fish wafting in through the porthole was leaving much to be desired as far as wake up calls were concerned. Wiping the corners of her bleary eyes, Sakura inhaled deeply, calming her body with her breath as she stood and gathered her bearings. Peeping out cautiously from behind the crates, she could see docks as they passed by, the port city they were about to anchor in was well hidden along the backside of the tropical looking island that jutted out of the water so victoriously behind the cityscape.
Looking around, Sakura could see two smaller islands off in the distance, one on each side of the larger island in her field of view. Standing tall, the vast mountainous island before her was a large chunk of jagged rock covered in some parts with luscious jungle canopies and dotted with tall colorful buildings, most of which concentrated along the water front. It was a truly a beautiful island.
But she needed to act fast, not only did she want to avoid the crew, but also the eyes of anyone who may see her arrive in such a foul and disheveled state. Choosing to use what little cover she had left before sunrise, Sakura stretched her stiff muscles and summoned chakra to her feet, leaping over the side of the boat with remarkable agility. Skidding across the water as she landed onto the choppy sea surface, she started to sprint towards the shoreline, all too eager to be on terra firma once again.
As she made landfall, she sloshed her way through the shallow bed of coral and up the sandy coastline in her soggy sandals towards a secluded cove east of the seaside city. There, she cleaned up a bit in a small tide pool, washing the dried sweat and mud from her face and clothes, cleaning out the dirt and dried blood from under her fingernails, and tried to run her fingers through her tangled tresses.
As she sat perched on a rock, feet dangling in the swash, she closed her eyes and breathed in the fresh sea breeze. The crashing of the waves cleansed her thoughts and offered her the peace of mind she thirsted for. Watching in awe as the sun broke over the horizon, she sat and enjoyed its simple beauty. Looking around her, as if to speak to someone... a friend... anyone, Sakura realized just how utterly alone she was now.
Refusing to shed another tear for herself in this situation, the roseate refugee decided to turn her sadness into determination. Sakura was determined to make the most of her new life. It was a fresh start, a second chance, and she'd be damned if she was going to waste it.
It was time to start living for herself.
With her newfound resolution, Sakura made her way down the beach, towards what seemed like the main pier that ran straight through the middle of town. With each waning creak of the old and salt corroded planks of the boardwalk beneath her feet, she could feel the disorienting sway of the long wooden structure she followed into town. Glancing around, she took in all the quaint and vibrantly painted seaside dwellings, stacked upon each other in close proximity, all huddled around the booming port city.
She noticed the numerous balconies were riddled with everything from towels and potted plants, to fishing nets and dining tables. Clothing lines ran between the buildings with narrow alleyways, small trees and canopies offered bits of shade from the rising sun, charming two table cafe's were around every other corner. Breathtaking in its beauty, the towering backdrop of the mountainside emerged behind everything in sight. It was all very picturesque.
With the squawking of the gulls above her, Sakura grinned slightly, favoring the idea of living somewhere she could see herself wanting to frequent on vacation. It was a tropical paradise. But as she approached the center of town, the bright-eyed newcomer came to a halt beneath the sign over a large stone archway.
Welcome to Port Jichi, of Inpei Island.
Gawking, Sakura's mouth fell open at once, for she recognized the island right away. To her knowledge, Inpei Island was actually the largest of three islands that comprised the Tsubasa Island chain, recalling from one of her many field guides that a rare species of mushroom could only be found on the smallest island, Yosei. This specific indigenous species of mushroom was famous for growing in concentric circles, commonly known as "fairy circles," and are said to have exceptional healing powers.
As the stories go, fairies once inhabited Yosei Island, but vanished soon after merchants moved into the area, claiming it as their own. Initially trying to save their home, the fairy population worked together, each tying a rope down to a point on the island as they flew upwards together, pulling the island out of the water in hopes of keeping ships off its shores. But as time passed, the relentlessly invasive settlers became impatient and violent towards the fairies, until the island fell back down into the water. After that, no one knows what happened to the remaining mystic creatures.
According to legend, the mushrooms began to grow in circles around the tether points used by the fairies as a reminder of their struggle for safety and once hidden home, littering the ground as a landmark of sorts if they should ever return. They say those lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the illusive pixies were supposed to be blessed with safe keeping and good fortune. Sakura had always hoped she would see one, but now that she had ended up here, it felt almost like it was fate. The irony of it all was not lost on the runaway medic in need of a place to start life anew. Folklore or not, this was definitely where she was supposed to be, she could feel it.
But as she remembered that the smaller isle of Yosei was practically uninhabited these days (the settlers preferring the larger island of Inpei and avoiding the unstable, and highly volcanic isle of Jiyu), it had allowed a wide variety of exotic plant life to thrive. As a medic nin, it honestly made her mouth water with the vast opportunities she had at her disposal. Apparently the volcanic soil of the neighboring island was rich enough in nutrients to support an excess in botanic activity, causing most of the island to be covered in dense jungles, productive valleys, and scenic waterfalls, each having an ecosystem all their own. It was a healer's dream.
Sakura was practically beaming at the thought of calling such a similar place home. With Yosei being a short sprint across the sea, she would have so much to learn, collect, and catalog! It would truly keep her mind busy, and suffice as a distraction while settling into her new life. Since her favorite area of interest was botanical and herbal medicine, she would have any and everything at her fingertips. She could finally use her skills to help others instead of being forced to use them as guinea pigs.
Although she knew she would have to keep her runaway kunoichi status quiet in this civilian town, it didn't necessarily mean she couldn't be herself. If anything, she viewed it as a relief, having been ready to be her true self for some time now. She always said that if she could choose any path in life, it would be to have her own shop, collecting all natural ingredients and selling her own handmade remedies. With her extensive medicinal knowledge, she could make, gather, and craft everything from soaps and shampoos to medicines and spices. If it grew on the islands, she would have a thousand uses for it. Sakura smiled at the prospect of once again taking pride in her work.
Attempting to reel in her thoughts, she began to assess her situation. If she really was in the Tsubasan Islands right now, that meant she had been asleep for more than a night. Typically, an excursion to this part of the world by boat would take just under four days to arrive. What had initially seemed like a sound night of sleep, had been almost three full days worth of rest for her stressed and anxious body. Craning and rubbing her sore neck as the blazing sun crept overhead, she thanked her lucky stars that she hadn't been discovered by the cargo ferry's crew, having been practically unconscious for far longer than she had imagined.
Now that the damage had been done, Sakura just had to make it on her own from now on, unexpectedly loving the part about slipping unnoticed into the background of a town like this. What she didn't anticipate was just how much she'd actually stand out. Her exotic hair color pinpointing her as quite the unique individual in this civilian town of tradesmen and travelers.
Following the line of palm trees into town, Sakura snaked her way through the busy boardwalk of Jichi. The anxious newcomer quickly found herself bombarded by both the overwhelming amount of people out and about so early in the morning, and the abrasive cacophony of the many bazaars cluttering the path. For such a small city, Sakura was not expecting the market to be as diverse and dense as this.
There were no organization or pattern to these street vendors like in Konoha, they were scattered throughout every spare inch of the boardwalk. They were scattered so closely to each other, Sakura had to give up on her naive idea of maintaining personal space as she pressed her way through a sea of strangers, scouting the next available crack in the wall of people to squeeze through. Fishermen, shop owners, traders, farmers, children, adults... all were present in abundance, all going about their own way as if the bodily traffic was of little consequence to them.
The hospital in Konoha that she had been accustomed to was relatively quiet, granted there was always coughing, sneezing, and chatter, but on a good day, was fairly quiet and smelled mostly of disinfectant... unlike this madness, with its hoards of people and its nauseating mixture of many smells. Fish was definitely the most prominent, but it was closely followed by the aromatic smells of hazelnut and coffee beans, the strong smokiness of incense and curry, and the savory wafts of food sizzling on a grill.
Everywhere her eyes darted, there was more and more to see. The brightly colored boats littered the sides of the ocean end of the boardwalk, but as you walked towards the center of town, the boardwalk opened up into a large plaza. It was currently packed with merchant stands and food karts, but the square was surrounded by tall buildings, presumably all living spaces, businesses, and shops. There were so many shops, it was all a bit overwhelming as she tried to keep a laundry list for future reference. Produce stands next to leather stands, florist shops next to tea shops, cafes and restaurants all flourished here on the island. As she walked closer into town, the smell of food became inescapable, the mouthwatering aromas eventually setting off her grumbling stomach once again. After all, it had been a few days since her body had received any kind of sustenance.
First thing on Sakura's to-do list was to find food. Secondly, to find a place to stay. But suddenly, she was reminded of something else that found itself at the top of the list... figuring out how to move through the crowds. Taking a shoulder directly to the face, she cursed the big lug that had knocked her into someone as she grabbed her cheek in pain. Turning to apologize for her indirect clumsiness, she caught herself staring as her eyes panned up a broad torso to their face. A kind face that smiled at her warmly, the kind of smile that reached his eyes, and in a way, comforted her.
"I'm... uh, so sorry about that. Some guy just... and... you didn't spill anything did you... um?"
"It's Shima, and don't worry about it. It's no big deal, really," the man claimed as he adjusted the large crate of fish he carried in his arms.
As his deep and calm voice spoke, Sakura noticed a small tuft of beard beneath his bottom lip, but seemed to be more interested in his golden brown dreadlocks that were tucked back in a ponytail, with longer bangs framing his face and jaw, hitting just above his glistening shoulders. Shoulders which were strong, tanned and seriously doing that sleeveless white linen shirt some justice. He couldn't have been more than a year or two older than herself, 19 or 20 at the most, judging by his unmarred, sun-kissed skin.
As she caught herself staring far longer than she should've, Sakura smiled nervously, biting on her lip as she began to fidget. As coherent thought and words escaped her at this moment, she lowered her eyes, missing his scrunched brow as he looked her over.
From what he could tell, she looked... well, she looked a bit haggard and travel-worn. Washed up with the tide, apparently, as he eyed the dried stains on her strange clothing. Shima had been living in Jichi for a number of years, and had yet to see someone with her level of beauty around these parts. From her cotton candy colored tresses, to the unique diamond mark on her forehead, Shima knew this woman was special. He silently wondered where she was from, and what would bring such a fine woman to this tiny pit stop of an island in the middle of the Sakura Sea. But as his eyes followed the dainty length of her neck, he could see what looked to be dried blood from a small cut at the base of her throat.
"Are you hurt?" he finally spoke, his mouth turning down into a slight frown, eyes still glued to the stain in question along the hollow of her neck.
Following his line of sight, Sakura gulped as a hand flew up to cover the small cut that the man-handling nin had left on her that night. Mentally kicking herself for not noticing the offense any sooner, she smiled halfheartedly and shook her head.
"Oh, this? I'm fine. Just a little accident. You know how traveling can be."
Raising a brow, Shima looked at her strangely now. He wasn't a gullible person by a long shot, and knew there was something peculiar about his new friend who felt the need to lie to him for some reason. Not wanting to push the issue, the young man resigned to a nonchalant shrug and carried on with their polite conversation.
"Don't I know it," he chuckled, "I'm a fisherman, so traveling is sort of what I do. I'm usually gone for long periods of time. So it can get pretty tough."
With another shove from behind her, Sakura was sent into Shima once again, growling as she sharply turned to spot the soon-to-be-dead-man who had bumped into her so rudely. Catching her flaring temper, she forced a smile as she apologized to Shima once again, pushing her clenched fists behind her as she settled down.
"Try walking with the crowd," he offered, trying to withhold a giggle at her adorable little problem as he guided them through the crowd with ease. "Go with the flow and you won't get tossed around in the current."
Still cautious of his willingness to help a stranger, Sakura nodded as she digested his wise words. Following his lead through the crowd, she noticed that if she followed the person in front of her, and walked the same path as they did, a patterned emerged. With everyone following someone else, the movement of the crowd almost became predictable. A dance between the masses, and a much less offending one at that, as she had yet to be sideswiped by anyone. Grinning in a small victory, Sakura was once again reminded of her rattling stomach. With a growing pang in her gut, she eyed each food kart they passed with a discernible yearn.
Checking on his crowd companion over his shoulder as they made their way through the throngs of people, Shima noticed her hungry eyes. Turning on his heels, he stood and watched her stare outright at every food kart, impressed that she was able to make her way through so easily while being totally distracted. Clearing his throat, he caught her attention, leaning in closer as he spoke so only she could hear him.
"Ya know... if one of these fish just so happened to jump right out of my crate and into your hands, that would be okay," he whispered, smirking as he inched the box of red seabream closer to her so she could grab one.
"Oh, no. I couldn't... I mean, I don't have any-"
"I figured as much, but it's okay. Just take one. I promise I won't tell."
"SHIMA!" a burly voice called out from a nearby stand along the boardwalk.
At the sound of his name, the new acquaintance offered her an honest smile, readjusting the heavy box in his arms after she reluctantly grabbed her share.
"See you around, Pinky," Shima crooned over his shoulder with a wink.
Frowning at the annoying nickname she had been plagued with for years, Sakura sighed as she watched him sew through the masses and drop off his catch with gruff voiced man that had called out to him. She couldn't blame the guy, it's not like she had been forthcoming with what he could address her as... which led her to the next item on her to-do list.
She needed a name.
If this was to be her new life, everything about her had to be new as well. She needed a name and a story. On missions, it had been a creative outlet to fabricate her own alias and life story, but in the here and now, Sakura struggled with such decisions, sensing the need for a sturdy foundation as it would have to be a permanent cover. One that wouldn't raise too many questions, and one that she could remember off the top of her head just as easily as the truth. Sakura certainly had some thinking to do in terms of this new, lifelong, never-ending mission.
Eyeing her breakfast as she held the piscine perishable up by its tail, Sakura licked her lips and made her way back to the beach to make a fire in hopes of enjoying her new fishy friend. Hopefully this would give her the time and space she needed to mull over her next steps.
With the brief, yet pleasant exchange, Sakura suddenly felt a little more at ease with her transition. First, landing in a thriving and slightly incognito town off the beaten path, and now... perhaps a new friend. Things were definitely looking up for Sakura. She wasn't sure if she'd ever be okay with the stunt she had managed to pull off practically unscathed, but she at least had time for the wounds to try and heal properly now. This would definitely be a good city to grow in. Maybe now that she'd have the freedom to live her own life, she might even find out what kind of person she really was underneath it all.
But there, sitting around her simple little campfire that she had built a thousand times over during her kunoichi days, Sakura found herself torn between emotions. Equal parts loneliness and doubt started seeping into every cell in her body, yet a small smile pulled at the sides of her mouth. It was the first time she had sat around a fire cooking a meal all by herself, but in this new found independence, Sakura found the room to breath. She was someone else entirely now, she could feel it deep in her bones. But as to whom this person was, she could only look forward to finding out.
She had spent all day hiding out in the alcove of rocks along the beach she had found, having been the perfect place for her to do some serious thinking. Earlier, she had gathered enough dry wood and debris for the fire to get her through the cooler night, deciding it would be best to stay there for the evening, and find other means in the morning.
For Sakura, spending the night outside was no new feat. As a shinobi, she had spent many a night in far worse environments, all the while fending off people who wanted nothing more than to kill her, so sleeping on a beach in the middle of a tropical wonderland was a vacation for her.
Lost in her own thoughts, she missed a voice calling out to her, completely oblivious to the figure approaching.
"So this is where you scurried off to, huh?" the dusty haired man nodded as he looked around at her camp site, his hands stuffed inside the pockets of his khaki linen pants. "You're pretty outdoorsy aren'tcha? This doesn't look like your first camp fire."
"Well, I did say I traveled."
"Yeah... you did, didn't you?" he agreed in a humorous tone, sitting down beside her and admiring her fire pit construction.
There was something about Shima that Sakura found oddly comforting. His large smile and sandy blonde hair reminded her of Naruto, but the way his eye's crinkled when he smiled also reminded her of someone else as well. She just couldn't put her finger on it. But then again, maybe she was just missing her teammates and due to his unexpected generosity, she was forcing parallels to make the transition easier in her mind.
"Thanks for earlier. I hope I didn't get you in trouble this morning… ya know, the jumping fish and all," Sakura confessed during the prolonged silence between them.
She tried to force her words out with an airy lightness, despite the dark cloud of thoughts looming over her head. She wasn't sure why the man had come looking for her, or how he had found her, but as he continued their casual conversation, it struck her as odd. Sakura was a shinobi after all, trust didn't come easily, but he had helped her without having a good reason. Stuck between deciding if he was genuinely nice or had ulterior motives, she allowed the thought to slide down her back as she enjoyed his company.
"Nah, don't mention it. It was nothing really, just the decent thing to do. Besides, you looked like you had a rough night," Shima admitted with a shrug.
"Rough?" the medic scoffed with a slight eye roll, "You could say that."
"So, what do you do? I-I mean... why the rough night, if you don't mind me asking?"
Inhaling deeply, Sakura paused at the question. The time to establish her cover was now, and she just hoped she didn't blow it. She'd really hate to have to find somewhere else to flee to in the middle of nowhere like this. Not to mention, she seriously doubted she would be lucky enough to run into another person as friendly to a stranger as Shima.
"I was a doctor."
"Really?!" Shima squawked in disbelief. He hadn't pinned such a young woman as the professional type, but then again, looks could always be deceiving.
"Was?" he offered quietly in return, sensing the loaded tense of her phrasing.
"Yeah... was."
"Lemme guess, the 'was' part has something to do with why you ended up here?"
Sakura didn't need to answer this question for him to know the truth as she locked her eyes on the embers flickering in front of her. During her momentary bout of flashbacks, the medic nin hadn't even realized that she had opened her mouth, as the words just unfurled. As if they had a mind of their own and a voice that needed to be heard. She was a thousand miles away from home on a small civilian island, it's not like Shima got the Konoha Times, so he would be none the wiser.
"I was taken hostage and forced to do bad things to people. I was a doctor, a damn good one, but I was supposed to be helping them. It continued for months, and when I got the chance, I fled. I barely escaped, and I just ran. I jumped the first ship that I found, and when I awoke, I was here."
"And here I thought you were just being coy," Shima added with a touch of sarcasm, looking to the jaded orbs of the medic as he offered a sympathetic and understanding smile.
Sakura tried not to smile, she did. But as his cheesy smile widened, trying to lift her deflated mood, the kunoichi bit the inside of her cheek in dry amusement. Releasing a sigh, she noticed her mood had indeed shifted. She was sure saying it aloud would make her emotional all over again, instantly becoming a blubbering fool in the presence of a mere stranger. But after that vague confession, she felt some of her anxiety melt away, leaving her feeling relieved.
"I'm Aya, by the way" Sakura chimed in, desperately needing a change of topic. Having said her peace, she was hoping this little bit would keep the shaggy haired man from prodding further into the complicated mess that used to be her life.
"Ah ha! A name, finally," the man chuckled, his blue-gray eyes brightening as his face perked up in interest. "It suits you. But, I still like Pinky."
Her facial expressions dropped drastically at this, sending him an unpleasant sideways glance that made his spine stiffen.
"Or, Aya's fine... that's good, too."
"You are too kind," Sakura added flatly, making her distaste for the nickname more apparent.
After sharing a chuckle, the medic's hands began to play idly in the sand. Sliding her fingers beneath the surface, she gently lifted her hands, allowing the grains to slip through her digits. It was a nervous tick, but as it were, she really didn't know what else to talk about, still unsure if he was really after something.
Sensing her apprehension, Shima took the opportunity to interject, having forgotten the reason why he was sent out to her in the first place.
"Well," he started, standing and dusting himself off, "We should get going. Seems you won't last too much longer out here."
"Excuse me?" Sakura pressed from under her offended brow, "H-hey! What are you doing?!"
Ignoring her outburst, Shima continued shoving some dirt over the fire's dwindling flames with his foot before offering his hand out to her, helping the woman to her feet.
"What's your deal, you jerk?!"
"The deal is that it's against the law to start campfires on the beach. Some of the villagers asked about the strange woman disregarding the rules, and this 'jerk' volunteered to clear up the misunderstanding. Trust me, you wouldn't have liked it if Ryuu came over here instead. He can be quite... abrasive."
"Oh," Sakura mumbled sheepishly, her snarl fading into slight embarrassment.
"C'mon, you can stay at my place for now... if you like, that is. You need someplace to stay tonight, right?"
"But, I couldn't-"
"Look, I'll just take the couch tonight, it's really not that big of a deal, honestly. I have to leave tomorrow night anyway and will be gone for a few weeks. So, you can just take care of the place while I'm gone. I've been meaning to move out anyway, just waiting on my paycheck, ya know? So, maybe I can sign it over to you once you get acclimated here. Since you're a doctor, it would be a perfect place to open a clinic. It's got an open ground level with a work space and kitchen, and a tiny loft and bathroom upstairs as a living space. You'll also be the only physician around for miles, so there's no doubt you'll keep busy. The village needs somebody like you. I'm sure everyone will be more than happy you're here. I know I am."
Sakura didn't know what to say, so she just stared at the overly nice man, taken aback by his generosity. Being a kunoichi, she was used to never being able to trust anyone, but Shima was making this rather difficult for her at the moment.
"Th-thank you. But, why are you helping me? I don't understand, you don't even know me. I could be dangerous, you know."
"Doubt it. A pretty young thing like you?" Shima laughed as they made their way back up to the boardwalk towards the center of town.
"I'm gonna act like I didn't hear that," she added, clenching her fists and repressing the urge to punch him clear over to the neighboring island for underestimating her.
"I guess you could say I found myself here under similar circumstances years ago. Ryuu, my boss and one of the most respected locals, was the one who found me and extended a helping hand. I was lost at sea, and had no water or food left. I owe that man my life. I'm simply returning the favor to the universe. Ah, and here we are! Home, sweet home."
Looking around, the medic observed they were now in the main square of Jichi. With shops lining the entirety of the cobblestone plaza, it seemed to be a prime real estate spot in this town. Craning her neck, she looked up at the front of the small shop, it's warped wood exterior and chipped paint betraying the fact that the building had seen better days. It wasn't much to look at, but Shima did say he was gone often and needed to sell it.
"This is where you live?" she remarked as politely as possible, she was a beggar after all, and couldn't exactly afford to be choosy.
"Yeah, it's a bit of a fixer upper, but you have to admit, it's got potential. I'm just never around to give it the attention it needs. But I think you, and some elbow grease, could change that."
"I see," she agreed suspiciously, staring at the windows and door that were covered with kraft paper, wondering what awaited her on the other side.
"So, what do ya say? Home?" Shima smiled as he unlocked the glass door and allowed her to enter.
Looking around the empty interior, Sakura was baffled at how easily the space could be converted into a workshop and clinic. Noting the open floor plan, and the conveniently close living quarters, she could definitely see herself living here, the wheels in her head already spinning as she started making plans and organizing. Feeling her feet now firmly planted, she turned and smiled at her new friend's unbelievable generosity, nodding her head in agreement.
"Home."
Time was always a fickle notion to Sakura, having been a product of strict scheduling and dutiful obligation to her village. But, now she had all the time in the world, and didn't have to answer to anybody. She didn't expect time to stop because she was thrown off course, however, she didn't expect it to whiz by her either.
The seasons on this island paradise were nothing like she had ever experienced. There wasn't a differentiation between the seasons to distinguish the passing of time. There was no cool fall, snowy winter, and chilly morning spring. It was simply hot and humid with daily rainfall and the occasional storm. Her life now, was a never ending summer.
And before she knew it, a decade had passed...