Too long huh? Sorry! Being an art student means no time for anything but art. XD Anyways, hope I can still satisfy you with this chapter update!
"Ichimoku... Ren."
Sakura nodded. "Haruno Sakura."
"Sakura..." Ren smiled as he looked up at the dark sky. "Pretty name."
"You're not one of the villagers...?" Sakura said but it somehow came out as a question.
Ren shook his head. "No. I can say the same to you."
Sakura wasn't surprised. "Then what are you doing here?"
Ren was about to answer when their ears perked up and heard footsteps nearing them.
"It's best we talk someplace else." Ren suggested.
Sakura nodded. "I still don't trust you. I hope you understand."
Sakura gave him a hard stare and Ren simply sighed before nodding.
"Let's go up the temple." Sakura said in a commanding whisper.
The two walked in the shadows, avoiding light as much as possible (although with the storm and the little lamps, hiding from any light wasn't much of a problem). As they reached the stairs leading to the temple, the two stopped.
"You're a ninja, I presume?" Ren asked.
"Yes." Sakura answered.
"You shouldn't be here." Ren said.
Sakura looked at the person to her right. She paused before speaking. "Why not?"
"Well..."
"REN!" A voice called from the other end of the stairs.
"Who was that?!" Sakura demanded as she went to battle stance again.
"You should leave while you still can... Sakura." Ren faced her and sighed.
"No. I have a mission here and I intend to finish it." Sakura told him, still not easing up.
"It's about the missing people." Ren mentioned as he started walking up the stairs.
Sakura followed behind, not letting him off her sight.
"H-How did you know? You're a spy aren't you?! You were following me!" Sakura accused.
She took a kunai out and readied herself for sudden attacks.
"How many are you?!" She asked.
"Kyomi, Tomoko, Miroki... you're looking for them." Ren stopped walking, his back still facing Sakura.
Sakura gulped. The hairs on her body stood up and she shivered for unknown reasons. Ren's sudden cold voice seeped into her skin and made her cold.
"H-How did-" Sakura was cut off when Ren suddenly turned around and bent down to her eye level.
"Ha-ru-no-Sa-ku-ra." Ren smirked. Their faces were only inches apart.
Sakura was frozen in place but she held on to her kunai and placed it on his neck.
"Kill me." Ren told her, his black eyes piercing through Sakura's emerald orbs.
Sakura pressed her kunai harder but for some reason, she couldn't bring herself to do it. She lowered down her kunai and sighed. Ren stood up straight and looked at her.
"How did you know about the missing people?" She asked again, giving a more serious face.
"We have our... ways." He answered.
"We?" Sakura raised an eyebrow. "So you are not alone."
"Ah... well..."
The rain started pouring again. For minutes, the two stood in silence staring at each other until...
"Ren! Hurry uuuuppp!" A little girl appeared on Ren's soulders.
Sakura was surprised.
"Kikuri go down!" Ren said trying to put Kikuri down from his shoulders but he failed.
"Who's that?" Kikuri pointed at Sakura.
"Wh-who are you?" Sakura asked back.
Kikuri stared at her and she smiled. She jumped down from Ren and walked to Sakura's side. She looked up at Sakura smiling and held her hand.
"What..." Sakura didn't know what was going on anymore.
"I like her. She's prettier than Hone Onna." Kikuri said looking at Ren.
"What are you doing here?" Ren asked as he crossed his arms.
"You're taking too long. She's waiting." Kikuri answered in her small voice.
Sakura held her kunai tighter in her other hand.
"I'll take care of Pinky and you go up, up, up!" Kikuri giggled.
Ren looked annoyed and just started walking up again.
"HURRY UP EYEBALL!" Kikuri shouted.
"Okay, okay! Sheesh." Ren said as he started running.
Sakura was left with Kikuri and she was confused.
"What are you guys doing here?" Sakura asked. "And aren't you supposed to be in bed?"
"Hey Pinky-chan, let's go up!" Kikuri pulled Sakura all the way up to the temple.
As the two reached the temple, the rain had gotten worse. Sakura was expecting Ren and some other people but no one was there.
"Where is Ren?" She asked.
But as she looked down, the little girl was gone. She quickly looked around again and still found nothing. She sighed and placed her kunai back in her pouch. She stared at the cave.
"You can do this, Sakura. You can do this." She told herself as she took careful steps towards the cave.
"You can do this, Pinky-chan!" She heard Kikuri's voice echoing in the cave.
Sakura finally entered the cave but it was only five feet deep. She took her flashlight and saw human bones everywhere. Sakura was disgusted.
"These people are really sick." She whispered to herself.
Then it hit her, how could she hear Kikuri's voice echoing when the cave is not so deep enough to create such a loud echo. And one more thing, where is Kikuri?
Sakura examined the cave walls for some clues. Maybe there was a secret doorway or a passage? It was just too impossible for Kikuri to disappear like that without her feeling it.
After almost an hour of examining the cave, she went back outside. It was still raining hard. As she was heading back down, she heard a faint sound of bells. She ignored it for the time being and headed back to Hyoma's house.
"Sakura-san," Hyoma said as she lit up the lamp. Sakura came in through the window. "Did you find anything?"
"Not much... but..." Sakura was debating whether to tell Hyoma about her encounter with some weird people.
"But... what? Sakura-san?" Hyoma asked.
"Nothing. I just... never mind. I'll continue my investigation tomorrow morning. The rain's too heavy." Sakura smiled.
Hyoma was confused but gave back a smile.
Team Kakashi had to stop and build a tent for the third time since they left Konoha. The rain was just too heavy and the way to the Village of Sunset was beside a rocky mountain that may cause a landslide.
"Ka-Ka-Kashi-sensei..." Naruto called as he hugged himself shivering. "How far a-are w-we?"
"Just a couple of miles. If the weather gets better by morning, we can double our speed and arrived at the village before sunset."
"That is... if the weather gets better." Sasuke mentioned.
"Stop being so negative, teme!" Naruto said. "We need to save Sakura, fast!"
"She's not in trouble." Kakashi said.
"We're just sent as her back up in case something happens." Neji said.
"Psh... back up, back up. She needs us pronto!" Naruto pouted.
As the morning sun went up and the rain had stopped, Sakura woke up and dressed herself with the kimono Hyoma gave her last time. She prepped herself before heading out.
"Ohayou." Sakura greeted Hyoma with a smile.
"Ohayou, Sakura-san!" Hyoma greeted back as she paused doing the laundry.
"Hyoma-san!" A tall guy walked towards Hyoma.
Sakura observed him. He was really tall and has a very good body built. He had a shaved head and he was wearing a shirt and shorts.
"Ah Seigi, what brings you here so early?" Hyoma asked.
Seigi stared at Sakura for awhile before looking at Hyoma, "I just wanna ask if you have any info on Kyomi's whereabouts."
Hyoma stopped what she was doing. Sakura just watched the two, observing. As she observed Seigi, she saw a black marking on his chest. It was sort of like a tattoo.
"Nice tattoo." Sakura mentioned.
Seigi stared at her, "Huh?"
"The one on your chest? That's a tattoo, right?" Sakura asked.
"Y-Yes." Seigi looked away and went back to Hyoma.
Hyoma sighed and stood up. She wiped her hands using her kimono and looked at Kyomi.
"None." Hyoma simply answered. "I thought you hated my son."
"But he is still the father of my sister's child." Kyomi said.
"Well, I still have no news from him. I just hope he's alright... alive." Hyoma stopped her tears.
Sakura comforted her and faced Seigi.
"Please... it's hard enough that her son is missing. Just let her be." Sakura said.
Seigi nodded and walked away. Sakura led Hyoma into the house and made her some tea.
"I'll be going out, Hyoma-san." Sakura said and left the house.
Sakura walked through the village again, trying her best to blend in and act normal. She started small conversations with the villagers. She continued walking until she saw the red waters of the infamous "Hell Hole". Sakura went nearer and saw her reflection in the water.
"Hyoma's cousin...right?" Sakura gasped as she looked behind her.
Sakura faced the old woman and bowed.
"I am Haruno Sakura." She stated. "And yes, I am a cousin of Lee Hyoma."
"Odd..." the old woman said as she walked closer to Sakura. "I have never heard Hyoma or Kiyomi talk about you before."
"Well... I'm a traveller and I don't really talk about myself much even to my family." Sakura explained.
"Hm."
The elder woman had a walking cane. Her hair was all white and tied into a neat bun. She wore eyeglasses but she had a very strict face.
"You've come to stare at this water hole... why? Haven't you heard of the stories?"
Sakura nodded, "I've heard... I don't know if I believe them though."
"How old are you, young lady?" The elder woman asked while staring at the calm red water.
"Ninteen." Sakura answered.
"Ah... very young. You're at the age where the spirit is very much alive."
"I came here because my cousin's son, Kyomi, suddenly disappeared." Sakura mentioned.
"Ah yes, Kyomi. Kyomi... Kyomi... Kyomi..."
Sakura stared at the elder woman.
"Do you have any idea what happened to him?" Sakura asked.
"Some say he eloped with another woman, some say he just left the village for bringing dishonour to his family, some say he was killed and his body hidden somewhere, and some..."
The elder hesitated and Sakura saw a small grin from her wrinkled face.
"Please continue." Sakura politely asked.
"Some... say the girl from hell and her three demon servants took him to fulfil a requested revenge."
Sakura had to stay composed.
"Is it really true? The Hell girl?" She asked the elder.
"Yes." The elder answered.
"But?" Sakura said.
The elder smiled. "But there is no proof so it is still unbelievable to some."
"Then how can you-"
"I've met her." The elder cut her off. "I've spoken with her. Exchanged a few words with the devil girl herself, in the flesh."
Sakura was shocked with what she's hearing. "Wow... Is she pretty like what the others say?"
"Very. She's younger than you are, Haruno-san. Red eyes, long black hair."
Sakura couldn't ask anymore deep information. If she did, she might get caught.
"So you think she had something to do with Kiyomi missing?" Sakura asked.
"It has... a high chance."
Sakura nodded. "But if that's true... who would kill poor Kyomi?"
Sakura had to play dumb. She had to show that she knows little to nothing about Kyomi and Seigi's fight and Minkyu's pregnancy.
"It's complicated. Better to leave the past behind, Haruno-san."
With that, the elder woman turned around to leave but before she walked, she paused.
"A fair warning, Haruno-san," She said. "Leave the Village of Sunset and its problems before it drags you down as well. We are suffering enough as it is."
The elder left Sakura in front of the Hell Hole. She stared back down at the calm water and saw nothing but her reddish reflection until she gasped as she noticed something.
"Why isn't the sky..."
She looked up and looked back down a couple of times. There was no reflection of the sky or the flowers surrounding the water hole. It was just her.
"Oh my go-"
She was cut off when she saw a pregnant girl walking towards the water hole across from her.
"Minkyu." She whispered.
Sakura observed her. Minkyu was sobbing. She sat down and faced the water. In her hand, she held a piece of paper.
"I hate you! I hate you Seigi!" Minkyu sobbed. "I hope you burn in hell for killing my love!"
Minkyu suddenly threw the piece of paper into the water. She quickly stood up and ran off. Sakura quickly ran to where she was and grabbed the piece of paper from the water. Sakura was surprised; the white paper didn't have any red trace whatsoever. She unfolded the paper and read what Minkyu wrote.
"Please Jigoku Shoujo, please kill Seigi and send him to hell!"
Okay. Imma stop this for now. I hope you like this update even though only a few things happened. I'll make it up to you guys at the next one. PROMISE!