REVISED

A/N: This chapter has been revised for a more enjoyable reading experience… Woah, I sounded like stewardess. Cool!

"Talking"

'thoughts'

Hogosha: Protector

·•㊨•·

Chapter One

Four years later…

Miyuki Kurogawa sat on the bench near her window watching a little girl her age giggling as she held on to the hands of her parents. She was different and Miyuki knew that. Her mother, Lady Hatsumi ignored her while others stared down at her with malice. Her sister, Jun and her brothers, Ren and Ryuunosuke were the only ones to give her any affection.

"Are you listening?" Miyuki sighed and looked up to see her Onee-san folding her futon, "I asked you if you'd like to visit Ren and Ryuunosuke."

The raven haired girl shrugged, the last time Miyuki tried to go there it wasn't exactly the best experience. Especially since the neighbourhood bullies caught word of her spending most her time with the red haired twins. Subconsciously reaching to touch the fading bruise on her pale cheek. Jun tucked a lock of platinum blonde hair behind her ear as she walked towards Miyuki. "I will go with you-"

"Why do people do this to me?" Miyuki interrupted.

"Do not mind them they are jealous because you are... extraordinary."

"What's ex-two-wa-or-da-nary?"

"It means you're special." Jun happily told her imouto, "However we can discuss more about it after you are dressed properly?"

Miyuki nodded, it was always the same everyday. Her aneki would speak of sweet nothings and she would believe them because that was the way her life was for Miyuki. The naive little girl looked at banged hands, 'I don't want to be special...I want to fit in.'

"Now!" The blonde woman proclaimed gliding to the oak chest, "the hardest part...pink or red," pulling out several kimonos and yukatas.

Miyuki dramatically paled when her sister's blue hues took a special glimmer, she was already regretting her decision.

·•㊨•·

After hours of color coordinating and hair styling the sisters came out. The doe eyed girl tugged at the sleeves of her red kimono with white cherry blossoms scattering the fabric and adjusted the the black obi against her still undeveloped body. "Miyuki?" Only giving a weak smile in return, the two sisters walked down the long narrow hallway of the Kurogawa household. Servants scrambled to sides and bowed, greeting the Ladies with respectful 'good afternoon'. As one of the guards slid the shoji open to reveal the Lady of the house, Hatsumi.

The older blonde woman glanced up from her paperwork, "Quickly child, what is it you want?"

The raven hair girl flinched as she met the gaze of her mother and whispered, "A-aneki I'll stay outside." Feeling she shouldn't intruded on her mother and sister's conversation, Miyuki lowered her eyes in respect and closed the door.

Jun knelt on the cushion in front of low wooden table, "Milady, I wish to bring Miyuki outside to visit her Hogosha. I think it would be best to establish-"

"Do as you wish daughter, I do not care." Hatsumi replied in a dismissing tone never looking up from the important documents she was signing.

The said woman sighed, "Yes Milady, sorry for intruding. I shall take my leave." Jun warily apologized, standing up to leave but even before she reached the shoji…

"Whatever you are trying to do Jun it will never work. You can not erase the stain of her birth."

The young lady shook her head, "I know mother. You do not have to tell me that."

·•㊨•·

Amber eyes darted anxiously around as people passing by gave her withering looks and whispered, "Look it's the child again." or "Do you remember what she did to..." and "I thought it suppose to be put out of it's misery." This would happen every time she left the safety of her, "I feel sorry for Lady Jun putting up with that thing-"

Her aneki came out and suddenly everyone quieted, "You are not paid to gossip and spread rumours. Get back to work." Jun command, her voice cold as ice.

"Now!" Sending the servants stumping over each other to get back to their posts.

The blonde heiress inwardly rolled her eyes in disappointment and mumbled under her breath about incompetent idiots. "I have Lady Hatsumi's permission, we may leave."

Immediately leaving the vicinity of the Kurogawa mansion Miyuki instantly played with the ends of her wavy hair, a nervous tic she acquired, as she felt the heated glares following her. The girl looked at her Aneki warmly greeting their clan's people. Was it so wrong to want what her older sister had? The acknowledgement of her family. Was she being selfish to crave what everyone had? The young Kurogawa studied Jun's delicate form, long straight pale hair swayed as she walked, her peach kimono accentuating every womanly curve as did the red obi hugging her waist. In truth, Miyuki was jealous they had the same blood but it still didn't matter. Her eyes burned with the feeling of unshed tears and shook her head to dispel any melancholy thoughts.

"What ails you, Miyuki?" Jun questioned concern covering her angelic face. "You mustn't force her body if you are not feeling well."

"No...aneki something was just in my eye." Her older sister's expression lit up and she beamed.

The siblings walked down the dirt road leading to the branch family's or the guardians' section of the compound. The Hogosha, protectors of the main family, giving their whole lives to ensuring the safety of the Lords and Ladies of the clan.

But the reason why her name was so controversial and why her clansmen, especially the elders held a strong distaste for her. Proving fate was a cruel mistress, the young girl attained no notable 'Kurogawa features'. The main family was known for their light hair, sadly Miyuki was not even blessed with colorings of brown or red symbolizing branch family. The worst part everyone had blue eyes not matter what the shade, however she had been cursed with amber or gold hues causing the clan to go into an uproar, thinking Miyuki was a bastard child of previous Lord, ex husband of Lady Hatsumi, and his whore.

But what most people don't know is there was a prophecy that a child will come and bring them swift justice, with hair black as dark as treacherous past of the Kurogawas. Amber eyes for the hell fire that will consume the people. To them Miyuki was their personal reminder of what evil things their ancestors did to attain power.

She had a slight inkling that maybe her family was crazy. But that didn't stop them from disrespecting her. Miyuki was by no means stupid, she saw the injustice in the way her family was treating her and it was unfair. But she learned to live with it. Humming to herself the midnight haired girl continued to walk the dirt road with slight skip in her step. It excited her to finally see the twins again without having to look behind her to see if someone was following her. Soon they reached the small traditional Japanese house, only to be greeted by piles dirty of clothes and forgotten nick knacks on the floor.

"Where's Ren and Ryuunosuke?" Miyuki pondered as she hopped over from place to place to quickly search the rooms. Trying to avoid the weapons lying around and unknown green-brown substances conveniently scattered everywhere.

Jun's nose scrunched in disgusted as the fumes of burnt food attacked her sensitive senses. "I do not know. Perhaps they are visiting the village near by... Since we are currently free of duties, how about we go visit the village ourselves? What do you think Miyuki? I am sure it would be quite an adventure."

The said girl thought for a moment until her stomach grumbled practically answering for her. However there was one more thing needed to do. Raising up her golden hues she asked in a serious tone or as serious as petit four year old child could get.

"Will there be food?" She was met with silence until a warm laugh erupted out of her blonde aneki.

"Goodness me!" Jun exclaimed in a joking manner, "You needn't worry about it, my dear. I am positively sure there will food for to eat."

Miyuki grinned, her innocent eyes sparkled with excitement, "Okay!" Giggling as she was lifted up onto the young adult's back. The little girl always liked piggy backs especially when her sister started running.

·•㊨•·

It was already mid-afternoon the Kurogawa siblings arrived at the gates of Konohagakure. The warm atmosphere instantly had Miyuki buzzing with unaltered excitement. Beautiful brightly colored paper lanterns were hanged across the streets. The little girl took in as much as she could until her aneki stopped and knelt to put her down and faced her.

"Now Miyuki there is a lot of people today so please do not let go." Jun said giving the smaller girl hand a gentle squeeze, "I don't want you to get lost in these crowds, okay."

Miyuki blinked as her older sister dropped her formal tone. She always found it odd how Jun was cold and then the next moment she was warm. Maybe it was puberty, "Aneki you're really weird... but okay!" Her cheeks flushed with embarrassed and looked away. Miyuki wasn't use to people getting worried about her.

They continued to walk as the ladies passed many carts selling festival oriented items. It wasn't long before something caught Miyuki's eyes. Ignoring what her sister just told her, she rushed to the vendors. There were rows and rows of masks. Cat masks, dog masks and some brightly colored masks. But what captured her attention was the one at the very back. A white fox mask, eyes outlined with crimson and on the cheeks lined with red stripes.

"So, little girl which one do you like?" The elderly man asked.

Miyuki, so engrossed in it, didn't even acknowledge the man until he took the mask off the shelf and hand it to her with an amused smile. "Here, you can have it. That mask could use an owner, it's been sitting there for years. I'm sure I'll take care of it, you seem like a nice girl." Patting her head afterwards.

Her eyes widen in surprise, "H-hai, thank you very much! Don't worry I'll take care of it."

Miyuki almost jumped as she heard the calm voice of her aneki, "I appreciate what you have done for my imouto." The adults continued to talk while the little girl secured the mask to her face.

The man smiled and waved as the two Kurogawa ladies walked away from his booth. He wondered if they were the village for their yearly festival. The black haired girl remind him so much of his already grown granddaughter.

·•㊨•·

Said girl was timidly walking beside her sister, she knew Jun was slightly fuming. Of course any responsible older sibling would be mad if their younger sister or brother just disappeared right after they told them to not go wandering around. Maybe she should apologize…

Growl

The rumbling of her stomach interrupted her guilty thoughts. Miyuki pouted as she patted her empty tummy. A mantra of 'Food! Food! Food!' was running through her mind, "Ano... Aneki can we eat now? My tummy wants food and I want food too!" Getting a dreamy look when she said 'food'. Imagining all things she could eat.

The little Kurogawa was so busy, her imagination running high with food that she never noticed her companion slowly getting farther away from her. "Aneki! Wait please!" Miyuki cried out in desperation, feeling the hoards of people closing in on her. Running blindly through the crowds until she saw a familiar head of blond hair.

Thinking the woman was Jun, she sprinted to her and tugged on the sleeve of Jun's kimono, "Aneki I found you!"

"Huh?" The woman replied while turning to look at Miyuki revealing her unknown face.

"Hey missy. Where's your parents?" The young girl pulled back as if she was burned and shook her head in denial. No, her sister wouldn't leave her... right? Ignoring the yells of 'stop' the stranger sent her way, she ran with all her might not caring who she bumped into. Her mind was in a jumble, 'Where was aneki? Did she leave meet? Why?' Until she crashes into a very warm sturdy wall and landed harshly on her bottom. Disoriented, Miyuki barely noticed the hand offering to help her.

Slowly the Kurogawa girl got her bearings and searched for the thing she slammed into. Right in front of Miyuki was a silver haired man, donned ninja attire consisting of a green vest and dark blue pant tucked into his ninja sandals. Oxyn gazing at her with concern. "Are you hurt? Where's your parents?" He asked.

Not knowing how to answer Miyuki just shook her head. 'Who's this man? Where's aneki?!'

"Are you lost?" The midnight haired turned to see where the new voice came from. She didn't even notice. Right beside the man was a boy, that looked to be around nine. Miyuki assumed they were father and son considering both had the same abnormal silver hair. A navy blue mask hide the bottom half of the boy's face, giving him an air of mystery. A blue shirt decorated with grey stripes in the middle of the sleeves embraced his still developing body and blue pants completed his look

"Well are you?" He said sounding a bit annoyed.

'He has silver hair. I thought only old people had silver hair.'

"Ojii-san..."

"Miyuki? Miyuki, where are you?!" She heard someone yell.

"Aneki! I'm here aneki!"'

-oOoOo-

A/N: Miyuki meets Kakashi and his dad. And the photo on the side is Miyuki's fox mask.

Ojii-san: old man