If I Could Fly
Chapter Two
"New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings."
-Lao Tzu
With a deep gasp I was forcefully pulled out of my sleep. I whirled my head around in all directions. My body was covered in sweat and my heart thudded almost painfully in my chest. I whirled my head around to see if someone had come into my room, but I was alone in the pitch blackness. My head dropped into my palm and I called out for Junko, thinking she might be in the hall. The older woman often delighted in rousy me from my bed in the early morning to get some stretching in before training. My mouth was uncomfortably dry and I fished around in the dark for my water glass. I waited to hear the familiar voice of my guard as I drank greedily. The cool liquid restored me to a more conscious state, and it was only then that I noticed something strange. There was a dark, hot mist curling up from the edges of my door. The prior atmosphere of quiet was disturbed with loud sounds coming from outside. My eyes fixed on the door and the glass slipped from my grasp, shattering into a million pieces on the floorboards. I got up and threw on a robe over my bedclothes. My long hair was heavy against my back from being unbound as I slide open the door. The handle felt hot to the touch, and I immediately began coughing. There was smoke filling the hall. Smoke...Smoke.
Fire!
Torrents of fire licked at the walls and support beams. The heat of the flames scorched my skin. I can't breath! A sickening crack came from overhead and I scrambled to clear the spot before part of the ceiling came down. The floor where I'd been standing splintering under the impact.
Without a second thought I hurried outside only to have my worst fears confirmed. The west side of the building was a blazing inferno. Servants were fleeing into the courtyard, dark figured pursued them and began cutting them down one by one. Their cries for mercy echoed in the air as my eyes were glued wide with terror at the sight. A young man, whose name I recalled as Kenji, bravely faced the shinobi by throwing his arms wide to protect his wife. The katana sliced him clean in half and his torso slid sickeningly off his hips into the ground. His wife's scream cut off with a gurgle as the enemy drove the end of his blade through her chest.
Shaking in a mix of fury and fear, I knew it was only a matter of time before he made his way here. I rounded the corner and used my arms best I could to protect myself from the fire. Blood was tracked in a revolting trail on the veranda and it took my entire concentration not to vomit at the smell. The smoke was so thick I could hardly keep my eyes open, and I fell to the ground to avoid the worst of it. Trembling, I brought myself to a kneeling position in the filth and opened the door to the dining hall with my finger tips. A pair of black pants met my vision. I had only a second to dodge the blade arcing toward me. The sword sliced through my leg causing a thick stream of blood to pool on the ground. With a cry, I stumbled back my head smashing against the support beam. The masked shinobi brought his hands up to strike me down, I squeezed my eyes tight as panic burst out of my chest in the form of a scream. There was a pause and I hesitate opened my eyes; the man released a deep grunt and sputtered, blood spewed from his mouth splattering everything in the vicinity. I screamed again and with a sh-lunk of weapon dislodging from his, he fell forward onto the ground. His lifeless body twitched next to me. I pushed myself back away from him my eyes darted forward to find Junko flicking her blade clean. She grabbed hold of me pulled me after her.
"They came too quickly for us to defend. We'll have to make a run for it!"
"Who are they? What do they want?" I choked, struggling to keep my pace with my leg throbbing from the injury.
"A mercenary clan by the name Ryuma. We can only guess why they're here. Perhaps to assassinate your father? Maybe even you or Yoima-sama."
I froze mid step, pulling against my guards firm grip. "My grandmother, we can't leave her!" I shouted. Indistinct voices were heard up ahead as we rounded the corner. Junko cursed and pressed her hand against the wall, revealing a hidden pathway. Quicky she shuffled me inside and slide the panel back in place. We made out way through the cool dampness of the secret tunnel toward the inner room. My eyes could adjust to the darkness I felt would never end. Before I could voice my concerns joko slide a door open that lead directly into my grandmother's bedroom. The old woman lay still in bed, looking more frail than I could ever remember her to be. With a soft smile she slowly turned her head before beckoning my forward.
"You are hurt." She said worriedly. I hurried over to her beside, nearly falling over as my injured leg cried out against the abuse.
"It'll be fine. We've come to take you with us." I swallowed hard feeling a familiar emotion coiling in my stomach. Fear and all its appendages wrapping themselves around my heart like a vice. A cacophony of screams unleashed itself from outside as an earth shaking explosion made the entire room quake. Dust feel down from the ceiling from the force of the blow.
My grandmother never took her eyes off me for a second. I wouldn't be surprised if she knew what I was thinking before I said a word. I met her gaze. She seemed to be deliberating back and forth in her head. She smiled upon reaching her decision. In a slow movement she unclasped her necklace from around her neck. My breath caught in my throat as I let it a sob. I pressed a hand to my mouth to stifle the sound.
"I want you to take this with this gift I give you possession of my maiden name Otetsuki and all that comes with it."
"W-what are you saying?" I took the pendant from her, her shaky hands quivering caused ripples in the long chain. She ignored my question and continued.
"Go to the Land of Fire, I sent word to your mother there. She will be more than capable of protecting you. Forget this place, forget what you are, and live." A violent cough triggered by the smoky room racked her body. She leaned forward in her bed and clutched at her chest.
Realiation surged through me, "I am not going to leave you here oba-san." I looked toward Junko who moved to help the old woman stand. But my grandmother froze her in place with an icy glare.
"You cannot run with that injury, and Junko-san cannot carry us both. I've made my peace, now go before they find you." A horrible pang swept through me. This was goodbye. She placed a kiss on my forehead. My vision was watery and distorted.
"I cannot leave you.." I cried, grasping her hand like a lifeline. Hot flames began to eat away at the door and shouting could be heard too close by for comfort.
Grandmother looked past me to my guard and gave her a firm nod, Junko grabbed me by the back of my clothing and dragged me away. I let out a scream and tried to fight her. My grandmother slowly closed her eyes and raised her hand. The sound of heavy footsteps reverberated toward the room.
Junko quickly shoved me into the servants corridor and clapped a hand over my mouth. In her swiftness to hide us she'd left the door open the smallest crack. We had no time to correct it as a burly man and several enemy nin entered the room. My grandmother, the only one to care for and raise me lay helpless in bed. I hardly dared to breathe. Any sound could alert them of our location.
"Listen here you old hag, where is the brat?"
"Yes, where's the precious princess?"
"I hope you men were well paid. A fortune for for the blood you've dared spill tonight!" Grandmother spat out. The look in her eyes was filled with disgust.
The burly man growled and lifted his sword, the velocity of his downswing was enough to splatter her blood against the wall. With a sickening laugh he turned to his comrades, "The brat's not in here, keep looking." When they finally left the room we were free to move again. But I could have been on mars for all I knew. My vision repeated the sight of the man's face as he laughed over her corpse in a room bathed in blood.
Junko hoisted me onto her back and crept quietly down the hall to the servants quarters. Where we went from there I wasn't sure, because the image of oba-san' last moment replayed like a twisted movie until stress forced my vision to darken, and eventually fade.
The tinkling of wind chimes assaulted my ears. The barest whisper of a breeze carried notes of plum and lavender my way. Mother's perfume. Her soft hand on my head, smoothing my hair in a constant rhythm, coaxed a long and content sigh out of me.
Early spring, all the trees are in bloom and we go down to the orchard to see the flowers. It's rained recently and everything is dewy and renewed. Droplets of water cling to the grass and leaves, and I try to count all of them but its hard. I'm only 6 and I can't go past 100 yet. Time slips past us, an ever moving current-always sweeping us away, it isn't long before someone joins us. My grandmother hobbles down the path and rests her ancient bones on our blanket. My hazy eyes blurry her movements. She's saying something... But I can't hear her...
My throbbing head forced me to surface back into the real world. But as consciousness took hold of me, the hollowness of my chest and stinging of my eyes threatened to chase me back to sleep. In that moment I'd rather be anything than awake.
The beautiful memory was lost, and in its place were flashes of red. Flames, blood. My stomach lurched and I rolled onto my side spilling the contents onto the floor. There was hardly anything in my system to eject which resulted in several, painful dry heaves. Someone is held my hair back. Instinctively, I flinch away from their touch.
"I'm sorry." Junko says without removing her hands. I wipe my mouth with my sleeve and groggily turned my head. My eyes darted around quickly taking in our location. It was too dark to really see anything other than the piles of crates surrounding us. The room was dank and smelled like rotted wood and other unpleasant things. In the corner of the room I saw a mouse scurrying back and forth scavenging for food. I nearly vomited again.
Junko held a cup to my lips and forced me to drink. I felt as weak as a newborn as the room seemed to sway with every breath I take. She helped me lay back down and fixed me with a troubled gaze.
"Where are we?" I ask. My voice is so hoarse, even to my own ears. Junko set the cup down and sides up next to me.
"Were in the cargo of a ship headed toward Gyoson, in the Land of Tea."
I swallowed hard. I squeezed my eyes shut as a wave of pain rolled through my chest. "Oba-san, everyone...they're really…" I couldn't finish my sentence. I opened my eyes and searched Junko's face for an answer. The woman gave me a grim look and nodded.
"Yoima-sama had a feeling something like this was going to happen. The Ryuma are a clan of mercenaries, and Lady Kiyo's family." Junko said darkly. I shook my head, not wanting to hear anything else but she continued. "Your grandmother entrusted your care to me and instructed I take you to a specific location near the border of fire."
My grandmother always had a way of knowing things before they happened, didn't she? I thought with a rueful smile. But if she knew what was going to happen why didn't we leave before the attack? We could have easily been able to escape. Then she wouldn't be.. She wouldn't have…
"How long until we reach the spot?" I mumbled, my eyes pricked with tears. Junko patted my head and sighed.
"You've been out for around two days. I reckon it'll take another day to reach Gyoson and then another two to reach the spot. We have to move carefully, Lady Kiyo's men could still be following after us."
The air grew silent around us, neither of us willing to speak anymore. I don't know how long we stayed like that until I willed myself back to sleep. When my eyes finally shut again, the smell of the storage room was replaced by plum and jasmine.
When the ship docked we waited until dark to creep above deck and make the next league of our journey Junko and I stopped briefly in town to gather supplies with our meager money. We stopped at the public bath house to clean the grime from our skin. She placed a clean bandage on my leg and handed me a new set of clothes. The short, purple kimono and back shorts were easier to move in than my robes, which were folded and placed in Junko's pack before we left. I tied my hair up into a high ponyfall. The dark, aubergine locks were still wet from the bath but I didn't care.
We started down the road heading north and didn't stop to set up camp until almost dawn. Junko and I shared the warmth of our small fire and consumed a few ration bars. The foul, dry food tasted like dirt in my mouth but any complaints were stifled by the gnawing hunger in my belly.
The next day we continued our trek. I walked solemnly beside my guard past the rice fields and small townships. The Land of Tea was a mostly domesticated land and one of the major suppliers of goods if I remembered correctly from my studies.
"Hey, Junko-san," I mumbled. The woman smiled and looked over her shoulder at me. "D-Do you think once we reach this place we can resume my training?"
"Of course. We'll get started right away." I gave her a small, timid smile. I didn't have to explain, Junko already understood. We had a lot of danger facing us...I wanted to be strong enough to protect myself. To stop any kind of repeat of what happened at the compound. I had failed miserably that day to protect someone I loved, and I will never, ever, let that happen again.
The sun was high in the sky when we stopped to have something to eat. We had made our way into a large, plush forest and settled at the base of a ginormous tree. Junko had me practice my chakra control again by summoning the energy into my hands.
"By concentrating the flow of chakra to one spot, such as your hands or feet, you can add more strength behind your hits. You lack physical strength and will need to supplement your attacks using this technique if you hope to do any damage." She explained. Junko placed a log in front of my and instructed that I try and break through it in one hit.
I brought my hand down in a chopping motion and felt my hold body shiver with pain. I clutched my at arm and sucked down the yell forming in my throat. Junko looked at me with tern eyes, "Again."
It took me several more tried before I was finally able to splinter the wood. Junko tested me three more times with wood before placing a large rock in front of me.
"There's no way I can break stone!" I shouted. I was beginning to grow tired with each passing attempt. My temper flared and I struggled to keep it in check. I'd been forced to craft a perfect shell of decorum over the years and I was slowly realizing that I no longer needed to keep up any pretenses.
Junko looked on me with zero pity. I gave a shaky laugh and rubbed my head. If there was someone I never wanted to get angry it was her. Junko was as patient as the day is long, but even she could lose that control if pushed too far. "You can and you will, if you want to eat tonight that is."
I moaned, "That's not fair." I eyed the boulder in front of me warily. Junko sighed and got up from her spot in the shade.
"Were not in the compound anymore, Sayuri-hime. There, I was only allowed to teach so certain things. Compared to regular ninja, you are severally behind. People your age that have been trained properly can lift ten times their own body weight, they can even alter the landscape with the flick of a finger."
I ground my teeth, spurned by her words. I felt myself falter as I realized just how much work it was going to take to get me up to par. Can I really do this?
I shook my head and glared at the rock. I had to do this. My choices were clear and simple: be a weak liability to other people, or suck it up and train. Fire burned inside me and I closed my eyes directing all my energy into my right hand. With a a yell I swung my arm up and crashed it down onto the stone. With a rumble the rock split in half. I smiled triumphantly at my sensei who gave me a small smile.
"Yes! I did it!" I hooted in happiness. A shuffling sound caught my ears and I saw Junko set an even larger stone in front of me. I let out a groan and began working again. Junko could be so cruel sometimes...
"We've arrived." Junko said simply, hefting our bags onto the ground before joining them for a short rest. This patch of forest didn't look any different than the rest we'd been walking through. "Now we just have to wait."
"Are you sure?" I asked warily. I went to take a sip from my canteen and grumbled when I found it empty. I'd have to refill it in the stream that ran the length of the forest.
"Yes, you see those red berries," She pointed at the thick henge of bushes lining the road. The berries gleamed in the sunlight. I reached out a hand to pick some, they looked ripe enough to be sweet.
"No! Sayuri-hime, those are poisonous! They are called doku utsugi and will kill you if you eat them."
Startled, I scuttled away from the plants and grabbed my canteen. "Alright, I got it now. Hey, I'm gonna go grab some water."
"M'kay, don't wander too far. If you're not back in ten minutes I'm coming looking for you." She warned. I had the feeling she would exact cruel punishment on me if I disobeyed.
"Not to worry!" I nodded and hurried into the trees. I reveled in the feeling of being able to run freely and without worry through the foliage. I'd never really been allowed to explore or be on my own before. For the first time in my life, I felt free.
I could hear the water before I saw it. With a satisfied smile I ran over and dunked my hands in the cool water. The temperature had been steadily declining the closer we got to fire and it was a welcome reprieve from the miggy heat. I made short work of filling my canteen and decided to splash the water onto my face. I looked into the reflection and grimaced when I saw some dirt on my cheeks. My clear, blue eyes mimicked the scowl and I huffed in exertion as I scrubbed the grime from my skin. The smooth water rippled with every drop that fell back in. I stood up and stretched the stiffness out of my muscles noticing the motion hadn't stopped, but continued to intensify. The water began to churn erratically and I pulled a knife from its place in my obi and backed away. What in the hell?
Something emerged from the water, torrents began erupting on the surface. I swallowed hard and steeled myself for impact that never came. A calm, deep voice spoke out to me.
"Found you, little mouse." The black clad ninja was massive. He was covered in eerily familiar grey armor.
Ryuma! My brain screamed and I found myself racing through the trees away from the enemy. I was nowhere near at the level to engage the opponent head on.
"Sayuri-Hime!" Junko shouted as she darted toward me. Ten minutes must have been up.
"We've got trouble!" I called out. The two of us returned to the road and gathered our bags. We turned just in time to see a dark figure appear out of the trees.
"You won't get away this time!" The ground erupted next to us. I let out a scream as Junko pushed me out of the way of the blast, sending me rolling into the ground.
Junko crouched down and turned to face the enemy nin. The man lumbered toward us with a wide grin. Junko growled and raised her kunai.
"Hand over the girl and I will ensure you a quick death." He laughed before pulling the large shuriken off his back. The crest he bore on his headband was unmistakable. Ryuma.
"Don't count on it!" Junko yelled before performing the tiger seal, pillars of earth began shooting up from the ground toward the mercenary. He hefted the hurkien up before launching it. The weapon weaved through the pillars and came toward Junko. She ducked and the weapon boomeranged, cutting down trees on its path back to the caster.
The man bared his teeth before making the ram seal, A strong gale stirred the air until a vortex surrounded Junko.
"Hurry! Go toward the border!" She yelled as she was lifted into the air. I scrambled to my feet. And took off into the underbrush. Junko was sent flying in the air. Propelled backward into the ground. The road exploded under her with impact.
"Get back here!" The mercenary yelled after me. The trees were flashed of green as i ran full speed toward the border of fire and tea. I wasn't paying enough attention to where i was walking and was sent sprawling into the ground as my foot got tangled by a root. My ankle twisted sharply and I shrieked feeling the bone snap. I dragged myself up, the sound of the enemy was coming from behind me. I quickly forced myself up into the trees hoping the foliage would be enough cover.
I leaned my back against the large trunk of a tree and tried my hardest to calm my breathing. I watched as the mercenary slowed in his approach and scanned the ground.
"I know you're in here little mouse. I can smell your perfume." The massive shinobi drawled as he crept through the vines.
Stay calm, I reminded myself. Junko would be here soon. He'd obviously left her to chase after me. She was fine. The two of us would be able to finish him off.
"I always enjoy a good game, maybe we can play one after I find you. You can use the entrails of that bitch as a jump rope." He barked with laughter. He shunshined away and i lost track of him,
I was shaking now: a combination of fear and fury. There was a whoosh to my left I yelled as I ducked and narrowly avoided the blade sunk into the tree. Right in the spot my neck had been seconds before.
I lost my footing and fell a few feet onto the ground. I rolled and got to my feet. My body screaming at the abuse. I got into defensive position as the enemy nin hopped own from the tree, blade in hand. My gripe on the snife tightened.
He charged at me and out blades clashed. I ducked under the swint of his meaty arm and pivoted, wincing at the shooting pain in my ankle. He growled and slashed at me. I countered and backed away to get some distance. He dominated in strength but I overpowered him with speed. I staggered on my feet, already feeling the effects of exhaustion creeping up on me.
"Not bad for a little mouse."He said darkly. "But not good enough." He darted forward I had just enough time to raise my kunai for a sloppy counter that sent the killing blow off its mark and into my shoulder. I screamed as blood began to pool at the wound. The hunter nin slugged me in the jaw and sent me reeling into the dirt face forward.
I couldn't move a muscle as he reached down and grabbed the back of my head by my long hair and forced me to my knees. In a last ditch effort i slammed my elbow into the juncture between his knees he loosened his grip and I forced myself up against a tree. I couldn't catch my breath and my vision was already clouding from blood loss. I knew instinctively that I could die here if I didn't put some distance between us. To my horror I couldn't move my body. Junko had mentioned briefly that some people poison their weapons and as i looked down at the purplish hue to my skin I knew he had paralyzed me.
"You bitch!" He roared, running forward with his blade at the ready to slash my throat. I shut my eyes and let out a piercing was the end. I was going to die here! I expected the blow to slice clean through my jugular. Taking my life with a single instant hit, but it never came.
I slowly opened my eyes and saw the man slumping to the ground, choking to death on his own blood. I met his gaze as the light slowly faded from his eyes. Tears began flowing down my cheeks at the sight. The ground was stained red with blood. Shakily I drew my gaze up to his attacker. I expected Junko to be standing there ready to pounce on me for being stupid enough to get poisoned. But it….wasn't her.
A figure dressed in a green flak jacket, with a mess of unruly white hair flicked his blade clean of the man's blood before sheathing the weapon. He turned suddenly and my eyes flicked to his face. I winced and lurched forward unable to breathe properly.
"She's injured, but alive." He called out in a deep smooth voice. Was this man another enemy sent out to capture me? As I caught sight of the gleam of metal wrapping his forehead I narrowed my eyes. The swirl pattern wasn't one I recognized.
"Hang in there kid, we've got you now." His warm hands steadied my shaking form. If I could move my body I would had slunk away from him. Who was this man? What did he want? Was he going to try and kidnap me?
"Wh-Who are you?" I wheezed. My glare visibly startled the man. He cleared his throat uncomfortable and smiled.
"I am a Konoha shinobi. Sent by your mother, Lady Akane."
"Where is Junko-san?" I said in panic. "Don't touch me!" I yelled as he moved to pick me up.
He flinched at my tone. "I sent my student to retrieve her. I'm sorry Yamato-san-" At the use of such a low ranking title I glared. He paled and held his hands up in defense. A figure dropped down next to him and I immediately tensed.
"Dont worry its only Hina-chan, shes our teams medic. She's here to patch you up." As soon as he said it I felt the warmth of healing chakra settling into my wounds. Feeling better, I helped myself to my feet. I was shaky but at least the poison was gone.
"Sayuri-hime!" My head snapped in the direction of the voice. Junko pushed past the man comically and grabbed me by the shoulders. "Are you hurt?"
"A little but I'll be okay." I smiled as she breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
"Hime?" Hina tilted her head, dark hair swaying with the movement. Junko bowed toward the konoha team.
"Are you the team Lady Akane has sent to bring her ladyship to the hidden leaf?"
The man righted himself and placed a hand on his students head. "Yes, although we were not told our target was of such high rank." The white haired man knelt before me and bowed his head. "Hime-sama, I apologize for being so uncouth. A rare, and beautiful flower such as yourself deserves my utmost respect." His serious tone and prostrate form made my face heat up at least three shades of red.
Junko's shoulders shook with what looked suspiciously like laughter at the ridiculous man in front of us. He acted like something straight out of a cheesy romance novel! It was enough to set my teeth on edge. Flattery had a tendency to make me uncomfortable. I wasn't used to it.
"T-That's not necessary! For the love of-" I clenched my hands trying to stave off the embarrassment. "Please get up shinobi-san!"
"Jiraiya-sensei!" A blonde boy dashed from the trees. "The rest of the escort group is here."
"Excellent!" the white haired man exclaimed and gave me a bright smile. I flinched and blushed again. "Hina-chan, help Souta set up the caravan." The young girl nodded and headed toward the road. The man turned toward me expectantly motioning me to climb on his back. I gave him a deadpan look and Junko rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. He really expected me to allow him to carry me back? Not only was this man a complete stranger, I was an unmarried noble-woman. It wasn't proper.
"Junko-san, let's go." I pointedly ignored the man who sweat dropped into the ground in despair. I put some distance between myself and this Jiraiya person. As the caravan and the rest of his team came into sight I couldn't help but wonder to myself how strange ninja the leaf shinobi were.