Tenshi no Hoshi
A/N: Sigh, I actually finished writing/editing this chapter two days after I uploaded this story. Before uploading this story, I still didn't reach my goal of 10 reviews. No cookies! Aww, but I couldn't wait to post it up xD This story is starting to sound OCish, but trust me, it won't stray. I'm sorry for making Neji sound so OCish during the prologue, but he has his reasons xD Spoilers for the story! I'm still learning much about Naruto and the characters.
This chapter actually covers how her journey in the past began. Not the greatest, but it's a base for the rest of this fic. Please bear with it xD Enjoy!
"Memories — even important ones — don't come back to us whenever we want them to. But that doesn't mean the memories are gone. "
This all started about three years ago, when I had turned ten. I was just as clueless about who I was and where I came from back then as I am now. All I knew was that I was to be the heir to the Kiokukagure; the hidden village lost in memories. Above that, I remembered nothing else.
A hidden village near where I was found took me to shelter. That day, I was only able to picture the sounds I heard as they rang through my aching head. Tiny droplets plummeted towards the cold ground, creating a soothing melody. 'Shhh...shhh...' Footsteps creaked ever so softly as if not to disturb a creature in deep slumber. 'Crrreakk…thump.' Distant murmurs whispered, swirling endlessly around my dormant body. 'Who is she? This wretch absolutely cannot possibly be a part of our exclusive clan…'
My heartbeat wouldn't slow down as it raced against itself. My breathing accelerated, and I felt a great deal of pain in my chest. Those people…they made me feel like an outcast, as if I were dirt beneath their feet. I can still feel the rush of anger come over me.
A cold hand reached for my own. My eyes slowly opened in vain and I continued to strain. Suddenly, I jolted up from the bed and stumbled to my feet, and then falling face first to the floor. Where was I? The noises, the atmosphere, and even the smell of the village seemed so unfamiliar.
"Hey, stay still. You're in no condition to move."
I looked up from the wooden floor. A boy of my age kneeled down to meet my eye level and offered his hand to me. "C'mon, I'll help you up."
Glancing around, I noticed that no one stayed in the room but the two of us. I turned my attention to him once more. "Thanks," I answered suspiciously as he brought me up to my feet.
The boy tilted his head. "You don't look like you're part of this village. What's your name?"
I hesitated to answer. Memories of my past still lay dormant. "I-I don't have a name. Actually, I don't remember much of my past."
"Seriously? No way!" He burst out in excitement. "Did someone erase your memory? Or did you suffer from amnesia before? Or maybe –"
I glared at him with evil eyes. He seriously started getting on my nerves. "If I don't have my memory, how do you expect me to know?"
He took a step back. "Ok, ok, sorry." The boy took a seat next to me on the bed. "You said you don't have a name, right?" He smiled gently. " I'd be happy to give you one."
I laughed out loud, coughing in-between as the sound echoed through the empty room. The feeling that emitted from his smile made me feel light as air. "Alright then, give me a nice name, ok?" I smiled up at him, happy that there was someone already willing to comfort me.
"Well…to me," he started, "you look very much like a panda." He smirked. "Your name should be Tenten. It sounds like a panda name."
My eyes widened in surprise. I hadn't expected to be named after a panda, of all animals. "Wh-what's that suppose to mean!? Is that an insult?!" I tried yelling at the top of my lungs, resulting in severe coughing. Taking a peek at my hands, crimson blood stained my already dirty hands. I clenched my hands quickly, hoping he hadn't noticed what had happened.
"Are you ok?" He asked in concern, his deep eyes staring into mine.
I hastily turned away. "Y-yeah, I'm fine," I lied. "So," I began to change the subject, "you know my name, but I don't know yours."
"You don't have to know my name. Either way, I'm not allowed to say my real name to people outside the clan." He exchanged a disappointed expression with mine.
I smirked. "Then that means I get to give you a name too!" I sprang up excitedly.
His eyes were wide with shock. "Uh, I don't know about that…"
"I know the perfect name!" I took his hand into my own and traced my fingers along his palms, creating imaginary symbols. "Those characters stand for 'small' and 'wolf.' Xiao Lang. What do you think?" I stated proudly.
He gaped at his hand for a few minutes, and all he could do was smile back. "Wow, you're really something else," he said as he headed towards the door.
My heart suddenly halted for that moment in time. Xiao Lang's words had a different feel to them: as if they were mocking me, yet trying to comfort me in their own way. At that time, I wasn't so sure as to take his comments as insult, or a way of showing how he felt.
"H-hey, where are you going?" I called, stumbling after him. "P-please don't leave me here!" My cheeks blushed slightly after realizing what I had said.
Xiao Lang turned to my direction. "I can't babysit you forever, you know." He tried to hide his smirk. "If you don't want to be left behind, I suggest you try to keep up." darted out of the room with a swift breeze.
Realizing his tactics, I immediately chased after him. "Hey, get back here!"
The day was still early, as the sun didn't even reach the horizon line yet. The only sounds that were heard came from the noisily chirping baby birds, keeping their distance from any possible threats within the shelter of tree leaves. The atmosphere gave off a suspiciously dangerous aura, which meant someone must have been watching from close by.
I took a step forward. "H-hey, Xiao Lang? I wasn't kidding when I said I didn't want to be left alone," I called out into the vast emptiness of trees and bushes.
In an instant flash, a silver shuriken flew towards me, aiming at my chest. It barely hit me, tearing my sleeve in half. I gasped, trying to maintain myself before I would be caught off guard. "Who's there?"
All the tree branches along with their leaves ruffled in the wind; or so it seemed. There was no wind blowing around, and when I looked closely enough, the outline of a hidden ninja transported from one place to another. Either he was way too fast for me to catch up, or I was completely surrounded.
At least ten more shuriken came flying from all directions. Caught off guard by my yelling, I attempted to shield myself with my arms and shut my eyes, knowing that the end was near.
"NOO, WATCH OUT!" A female voice howled from within the rustling bushes. She leaped out of her hiding place like a pouncing tiger and flashed golden shuriken of her own, deflecting the mysterious attacks.
"Don't attack her! She was taken in after being injured outside the village."
Slowly, I opened my eyes to see the back of my hero. Her hair was dark like the night and shined like the stars, though it flowed down her back. I assumed her to be my age, or if not, a really, really short adult.
She turned around and winked at me. I took it as a signal that everything would be alright. " Go back to your work before I tell my uncle about all the trouble you've caused. If this gets to the leader, you know what will happen." The young girl arrogantly stuck her tongue out at the trees.
I was as confused as ever. To me, she sounded like a crazy old woman who couldn't tell the difference between dreams and reality. Who was she screaming at?
"Phew, its over," she sighed. "Hey, what were you doing out here? I saw you run after my cousin a few minutes ago. Did he tell you to follow him?"
I hesitantly shook my head, not knowing what to say from all the shock. "N-no…I don't think so anyway." I rolled my eyes. "I couldn't tell," I mumbled.
She couldn't help but let out a hearty and strong laugh loud enough for the whole village to hear. "That idiot. Don't mind him. Yeah, he can be hard to get once in a while, but you'll get used to it. From what I've heard, you're gonna be staying with us for now, right?"
I raised an eyebrow. "I…don't know yet…"I started to say.
"Aha, my apologies. I didn't introduce myself yet." She bowed her head like a noble would bow to a king and lifted her head. "I suppose you know we cannot state our names to outsiders, so just call me Belri, m'kay?" Her welcoming smile made her cheerful demeanor seem brighter.
I let out a smile of my own. "You can just call me Tenten, then." I hadn't found out what had gotten over me, using the panda name.
Belri placed her hand over her chin in a thinking manor. "Tenten, huh? That's an awfully strange name. Sounds like a panda name…"She said out loud.
"Your name is pretty weird, too," I said under my breath.
Belri chuckled slightly, just catching my words. "C'mon, I'll take you back to your room. My uncle wouldn't be too happy if he saw you running around the village."
I raised an eyebrow. "Huh? Why is that?" I got the feeling that I was reluctantly and unwillingly welcomed into this hidden village. I thank whoever let me into that village.
She placed her hands on her waist in a cocky position. " Well," she started, "from what I heard, they're holding a private meeting between you and the head of the clan. Not that you're suspicious or anything, but they want to go over some terms with you, I guess."
Belri merrily skipped towards the exit in which I came out from earlier. I shook my head in doubtful amazement. How could anybody be so cheerful?
"Hurry, let's get going. I don't wanna find out what'll happen if they see you missing," the young ninja called out, still bouncing up and down from excitement.
I sighed and shook my head once again. She really needed to know when to stop. "Yeah, yeah, I'm coming!"
I looked up at the sky one last time before heading in. A feeling of regret tugged the corner of my lips. I didn't even get the chance to thank Xiao Lang. He had been the first person I've seen in my after my memory loss, and the only person to stay with me when I was alone in a village where no one would even get near me. I really wanted to thank him.
"Oh well," I thought to myself, "I'll get that chance when I see him."
888888888888888888888888888888888888
Hours passed like seconds in my sleep. Then again, doesn't it for all of us? By the time I woke up, however, it had already been at least midnight. The everyday activities of the hidden village drowned in the sleepless night.
I glanced around to see nothing but a black abyss. My feet climbed out of the icy cold bed first, then the rest my body following. Feeling around for the exit, I positioned my hands in front of my face and started walking forwards. Luckily, remembering the room was empty the last time I had awoken, nothing could have possibly disrupted the stillness of the sleeping village.
An indent along the wood built walls lay under my fingers. "Yes," I thought to myself, "finally, the door."
Creeping along the ghostly hallways, I met familiar eyes stop in front of me. A blinding light shone in my face.
"GAHH!" I took a step back, tripping over my own foot and falling flat on my bottom.
"Hey, you ok?" The voice asked in concern as the figure kneeled before me. A hand extended out to my reach.
Looking up past the hand, the familiar voice belonged to the boy I had met when I first opened my eyes. Xiao Lang, was it? I wondered if he kept that name.
"Lookie here, its Tenten!" He remarked enthusiastically. "Where'd you go earlier? My cousin scolded me for losing you, but that wasn't MY fault." He tapped his foot impatiently; it's clicks echoing through the empty hallway.
"Hmph," I snorted, "It's not my fault YOU were going to fast. I was supposed to stay in that room anyway." I took his hand as he pulled me up from the floor.
There was an awkward moment of silence between us. I bet that if we were outside, we would have heard the footsteps of the crickets.
I spoke up first. "So…what are you doing here anyway?"
"I came to get you. My uncle wants you in the main house."
He started walking first; heading down the stairs without a sound.
"H-hey, Xiao Lang," I called out, chasing after him and catching his wrist.
He snapped upright. I guess he wasn't expecting that. "Wh-What do you want?" He retorted.
I was surprised myself. "Uh, I-I just wanted to ask you if your name was ok. You know, the one I gave you."
"Keh," he snorted, "if you kept your panda name, I guess I can go along with this one." A tiny smile formed at the corner of his lip for a split second. "Just don't tell anyone, got that?"
I saluted, mocking his words. "Yes sir," I whispered loudly as we headed outside the rest house.
Xiao Lang put his finger in front of his lips, signaling silence. "Shh, we really don't want to get caught. Follow me."
I rolled my eyes and followed without any complaints. There was a hidden lane of dirt and gravel hidden among the trees in which we traveled through. The image of a moonlit lake and silhouettes of swans in flight can be seen from where we were standing. Flowers of all awkward shapes and vivid colors stood before us as we continued onward towards the main house. I had to say; I had never seen anything so beautiful in my life. Then again, it's not like I would remember if I had seen one before.
My daydream was interrupted by a loud, jabbing whisper. "Why are you so slow? Hurry up!"
I stuck my tongue out at him once he faced front. That's when I tripped over my own legs; one over the other, and fell flat on my face. I rubbed my bruised face and moaned. "Oww…"
A familiar hand stuck out in front of me, offering assistance. "You're so clumsy. I bet I can count how many time you've done this already." His voice was steady and even a little aloof when he spoke, but his gestures always showed what he felt.
I took his hand once again. They were gentle and soft, yet calloused and rough. It must have been from his training or something. "Thanks," I gratefully thanked him and let out a smile.
He looked ahead. "We're almost there. TRY not to do anything that will wake up the village, will you?"
I raised an eyebrow. Even though he could be gentle, he still had an attitude problem in my opinion.
Up ahead, a massive stone built house stood alone, surrounded by many of the flowers we spotted along the hidden path. I looked up. One of the lights remained on. Someone really was waiting for me.
Xiao Lang cautiously opened the door and held it open for me. "After you," he said courteously.
I glared at him suspiciously, but kept my mouth shut. I thought it must have been common manners for men and woman of this village.
As I entered the stone house, a elderly man was already waiting for me inside as he sat patiently like a sitting stone. He didn't look too old, but signs of aging started to appear. He bowed down to me. "Welcome, descendant of the Kiokukagure."
I wasn't sure what to do, so I shot a quick glance at Xiao Lang, who was bowing next to me. I bowed down in return, not knowing what to do or say.
"You must be wondering what you have been called for, am I correct? " He raised his head from the floor. "I'd like to ask you the same thing."
I choked. "I-I don't know e-either, sir." My eyes kept wandering to the floor to avoid eye contact. Beads of sweat were visible as it dripped down my neck.
He had such a hearty and jolly laugh. I immediately pictured Santa Claus. "There's no need to be nervous. I heard everything from my niece, Belri."
Her name popped up in my head. She was the girl who had saved me from those invisible attackers. "Belri..."
"You've suffered from amnesia, and no matter what you say, I won't allow you to leave until we find out about your origins and until you are healthy enough to travel home. Kiokukagure isn't a village we are familiar of, so we advise you to stay here if you have nowhere to go." The clan leader folded his arms and sat up proudly. "We don't normally give off such hospitality, but we understand your case."
" Besides," he gave a meaningful look towards Xiao Lang, " I have received personal requests from my nephew and Belri."
Xiao Lang turned away, his cheeks already slightly pinkish.
"With your consent, this agreement will be settled and you will be assigned a place to stay in the branch house."
I finally looked up at the elderly man. "Yes," I said, "I'd like to stay here for the time necessary. I really do have nowhere to go anyway."
"Then it's settled. You can stay in the branch house in Belri's room. If you would, nephew," Xiao Lang's uncle insisted.
Xiao Lang stood up and started towards the door, but I wasn't ready to leave. Not yet.
"Ah, wait, please," I begged, "it's about Belri. Is…Belri her real name? You use her name openly. I was told that it's forbidden to say one's name to a foreigner."
The old man heaved a heavy Santa Claus laugh once again. "Belri isn't part of our clan. She was adopted by my brother, who was found five years ago in the same circumstances you are in now." His stern face showed a warm smile. "Now, go."
Together, Xiao Lang and I headed out the main house doors on a journey that would be engraved in my memories until the end of time.
888888888888888888888888888888888888
"And that's how our journey started."
Tenten halted her story and snuck a peek at Neji, who looked like he had fallen half asleep from the story.
"H-hey," she asked with a worried voice, "was it really that boring?"
"Yes, so much it wanted me to sleep right here," he replied calmly.
"Hmph, its hard to tell what you're thinking of sometimes," she retorted. "But I really don't have to tell anymore if you don't want me to."
Neji disregarded her comment and stood on his feet as he made his way towards the hidden village.
"Grr, what are you doing? Wait up!" Tenten called after him, already a few feet behind. She felt a tug at her left leg as her right leg got twisted along with the other. Tenten fell foward and landed face first on the grass. "Oww…"
Neji swiftly turned around to see Tenten rubbing her bruised face on the ground. He hid a smirk with his right hand. Tenten looked up to see his hand presenting assistance. "You're really clumsy when it comes down to it," he said with a hint of annoyance in his voice.
Tenten smiled, knowing what he had meant. She took his hand as he helped her up. "Heh, I'm sorry for having two left feet," she apologized as they continued walking towards the hidden village.
Neji looked over his shoulder to see if she was still following. "Did you know," he reached a vast spread of trees and bushes, then separating the limbs and branches, "there's a secret pathway here, like the one you mentioned before."
They followed one another into the moonlit glazed flower path. The lake could be seen from the dirt and gravel road as the silhouette of swans flew past the moon. The glittering water reflected the endless sky and it's hope filled light, just like Tenten's story.
Tenten stopped in her tracks as Neji turned to see what she was doing. He didn't bother asking. They've been a team for almost three years now. Both of them knew what their concerns for each other were.
"Don't worry about me," the female ninja started to say as she smiled to herself.
"I'm just taking a stroll down memory lane."
Ending Note: Ah, I'm glad the ending turned out the way it did! Xiao Lang's name is chinese, and indeed it means "little wolf." I wanted to make a twist to the names. Belri's name is unique, actually, it's Al Bhed( made up language from FFX) for Pichu (does anyone remember Pokemon?) It had a nice ring to it.
I'd like to include another note; if anyone would be interested in being my beta reader or even doing a partnership with me, just PM me. I've always wanted to try it out!
I wanted to start including previews, so everyone has something to look foward to. They're always subject to change, but I'll try to keep it to a minimum.
Tsubasa
Tenshi no Hoshi
The tiny sparrow perched on her shoulder, as it did the previous day. Tenten stroked it's head and held her palm full of seeds up to it's beak. It pecked hastily at her open palm, and flew away in an instant. It floated high into the sky with the others. Tenten sadly gazed at the flying sparrows. "Why couldn't I have been born with wings?
"It's because you don't need wings to fly."
Xiao Lang leaned against the garden's entrance gate; his arms crossed along his chest. "If you really want to fly..."
He leapt in the air and gently landed on top of the spurting fountain water placed in the center of the garden.
Tenten stared in awe. "H-How-"
"If you really want to fly... you need to find your reasons, and turn them into wings."