Here's today's chapter! The reason I say "today's" is for two reasons. The first reason is obviously because I'm updating today. The second reason is because this won't exactly be "this week's chapter" because I'm gonna do a multi-update in honor of my birthday in a week from Sunday! YAY for June 3rd! Who can guess how old I'm turning? Go on, guess!
Ahem, so anyway, once Sunday rolls along, I'll start the day-by-day update and we'll all count down to my birthday because I am oh so SPECIAL. XD Hey, bear with me. It's good for you too.
Now enjoy this chapter!
IMPORTANT: This chapter consists of the girls' pasts and how they met in a nutshell. A very BIG nutshell. Anyway, think of it as a sort of Kakashi Gaiden-ish type of style and the POVs switch a bit without actually switching if that makes any sense at all. You'll see when you start reading. So, I'll stop wasting your time and let you get on with the story!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
---A Few Days Later---
Knock, knock.
"Coming!" Kyoko called. "Quick, get under!" she hissed quietly as she attempted to stuff a petulant Kankuro underneath the couch.
"Watch it!" Kankuro whispered angrily as he was finally hidden from view. "Why can't I just go into one of the bedrooms like Temari and Gaara?!"
"Shut up!" Nami ordered quietly as she slid into the room from her bedroom and put a hand on the doorknob. She opened the door to see Kakashi and Marieke. Raising an eyebrow, she said, "Hello…?"
Midori walked into the room and cocked her head slightly. "Marieke-sensei? What are you doing here?"
"I just came to say hello," Marieke said pleasantly. She paused for a moment, then said, "Mind if I ask you girls something?"
"Of course not," Midori said, a bit uneasily. "Um…what do you want to ask?"
"Well…I've been training you all for such a long time," Marieke said, sitting on the couch Kankuro just so happened to be under. "And I don't remember ever hearing about your backgrounds. Sensei and subordinates must open up together to tighten the bonds between us, after all."
The girls exchanged confused glances.
"Um…okay…?" Kyoko said.
"Excellent!" Marieke said. "Now, now, don't leave out any details!"
"Well…it all started like this…" Nami started.
---
"Oh dear. What did she do now?"
"She stole eggs from the farmer and threw them against Ryosaki-san's windows," a priest said. He was holding a pouting blond girl by the wrist. She seemed to be about eleven.
"Oh dear…" the woman in the doorway groaned, holding her head.
"I advise you to control your daughter, Mariko-san, or else we will have to take drastic measures. Nami's been causing too much trouble around here."
"I will make sure of it, thank you," Mariko said, bowing and taking the girl's hand. Once she shut the door, she turned angrily to the girl who was attempting to sneak away before Mariko saw. Unfortunately for her, Mariko grabbed her wrists. "Nami! What is the matter with you?! Haven't I raised you right?! Why did you act so disgracefully?!"
"Saki was asking for it!" Nami protested. "She was acting all snobby and—"
"That is no reason at all!" Mariko shouted. "Now go to your room! NOW!"
Nami glared at Mariko and trudged to her room. "Gladly!"
Mariko sighed and slumped in her chair. Where did I go wrong? She remembered the first time she had set eyes on Nami. That was one day she would never forget.
It was late at night when she heard something that sounded like crying outside her humble home. She opened her door, letting cold air come in. It was immediately apparent to her that a baby wrapped loosely in a bundle of blankets was lying on her doorstep. Gasping, she picked the fragile baby up and looked around. Who had left the baby? How did it get there?
She held the baby closely to her chest and started rocking back and forth, shushing it quietly. After a while, the baby's cries became softer and soon it was fast asleep. It wasn't until Mariko took the baby in that she realized it was a she. The next day, she decided to name her "Kawa Nami".
But that was a long time ago. However, she remembered that as Nami grew, trouble seemed to follow her on a leash. Every single day she would either come home with scratches and bruises from being in fights or with the priest or some other adult figure dragging her by the arm telling of what mischief she'd caused. Mariko had always sent her to her room everyday.
Perhaps it's that she doesn't have a real mother, Mariko thought. Perhaps I haven't been a good mother. She doesn't know who her real parents are…so perhaps…perhaps she's hurting inside. But Nami never seemed to be hurting at all. Her emotions always seemed to be happy, cynical, comical, or angry in general. She was never sad.
Then Mariko noticed a small fox, Natsumi, making its way towards her. She noticed a piece of paper in Natsumi's mouth and opened it up. Mariko had to smile when she saw what was written. Sorry.
It seemed to be almost like a ritual everyday. Mariko sent Nami to her room then Nami would send her fox, Natsumi to Mariko with a note, always bearing the same word. When Nami was younger, Mariko had snuck into Nami's room and start tickling her from behind until the girl was out of breath and her face was purple. But today, Mariko was reminded of how long ago that was, which was five years ago. Mariko had found Nami at least eleven years ago. Nami had no birthday, so they had just gone by the years of when the two were united.
Mariko's smile faded. It's been so long and…Nami hasn't seen the world outside of Fox Country…
"Mom?" Nami asked as she walked into the room slowly. "Can I come back now?" Natsumi was at her side.
"Yes, Nami, you may," Mariko said. She hesitated for a second before saying, "Nami, you know I love you, right?"
"Yeah…" Nami said.
"And you know that…that I'd do anything to make you happy?"
"Yeah…"
"Well…just checking," Mariko said with a smile. "Now you go outside and don't cause anymore trouble, all right?"
"Okay…" Nami shrugged. "C'mon, Natsumi!"
Almost as soon as Nami started throwing a Frisbee around for Natsumi to catch, she noticed a black-haired girl walking particularly slowly among the crowds. It was usually busy in the village, everyone had something to do, but that girl seemed out of place. The girl was about Nami's age, though Nami was almost positive that she'd never seen the girl around, not to mention she had a backpack.
Midori looked around wearily. She didn't know where she was exactly, just that she was in Fox Country, a fairly new country that even she hadn't been before. Over the past few months, she had been traveling nonstop. Ever since she left the old inn near the fallen Hikari Country, she had discovered immediately the hardships of travel. Midori hadn't slept for about one and a half days and that didn't do wonders for her body. Just when she thought she was about to collapse, she heard a voice calling, "Girl! Hey, you!" Looking around cautiously, she caught sight of a blond stranger waving her hand around in the air with a small fox sitting next to her. Curiously, Midori walked over. The girl didn't seem dangerous and this wasn't a shinobi nation anyway.
When Midori made her way over to the girl who seemed to be about her own age, the girl smiled in a friendly way and waved. "Hi, I'm Kawa Nami! I don't think I've seen you around."
Midori found it strange that the girl would just come out and say her name, but answered, "I'm not from around here. My name is...Hikari Midori."
"So then you're a traveler!"
Midori stared at the girl for a while. Apparently she didn't know of the Hikari Country's being wiped off the map. How could she? She had to have been at least six years old when it happened. Good, Midori thought. She doesn't know. She smiled. "That's right."
"You kind of young to be traveling," Nami remarked. "What's up with that? Are you with your parents or something?"
Midori shook her head. "My parents…died a long time ago."
"Oh. I suppose mine did to."
Midori raised her eyebrows in slight shock.
"I mean, well…they probably did," Nami shrugged. "I didn't know my parents. Mariko's the one who's been taking care of me."
"Mariko?" Midori said.
"Yeah, she's my adopted mom!" Nami said. "From the day that I was born!" Midori thought she saw her smile fade slightly, but only for a second. "Hey, do you have a place to stay?"
"Actually, no," Midori answered.
"Then how about stay with me and mom?" Nami asked.
"I can do that?" Midori said, cocking her head to the side. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah!" Nami nodded. "Mom—I mean, Mariko's a very kind woman."
Before Midori could protest any longer, Nami grabbed her arm and dragged her inside, Natsumi following closely at their heels. A woman was sitting in a small room seemingly in deep thought. She was fairly pretty with her long, brown hair pulled up in a bun and blue eyes.
"Mom! Look who I found on the streets! Her name's Hikari Midori and she wants to stay here!"
"Hm?" Mariko seemed to finally notice the girls.
"U-Uh i-if it's not too much trouble, Mariko-san!" Midori stuttered, bowing.
"No trouble at all," Mariko smiled good-naturedly. "I'm just glad Nami made a friend."
"Mom," Nami hissed. "Don't tell people that!"
"Sorry, sorry," Mariko said, standing up. "It's getting close to dinnertime. Why don't you girls go to your room, Nami, and I'll bring something in?"
"Okay, thanks!" Nami agreed. She pulled Midori to her room and closed the door as soon as Natsumi was in. The little fox circled Midori curiously as Midori sat down on the floor, cross-legged and tired.
"That's Natsumi," Nami explained, picking up her fox. "She's my mom's fox. Of course, there are many others, but Natsumi's her favorite."
"I see."
"Were your parents kind?"
"Huh?"
"I mean, you don't have to answer but…I never really knew what a 'parent' was. I imagine that…they were the ones who took care of you and…well…"
"They were," Midori interrupted. "To me, they were the kindest in the world. And…I really miss them." Midori didn't know why, but she felt as if she had some kind of connection to the girl. Like…they're lives were closely related. "Nami-chan, do you have a dream?"
"I think so…I want to find my parents. Find out if they're alive or not."
Midori smiled. "I have a dream too. My dream is not to avenge my parents' deaths…but to become a shinobi and live up to my parents' names."
"That's so…" Nami said slowly. "COOL!"
Midori cocked her head to the side. Hadn't Nami been extremely solemn before? "Um…thank you?"
"Hey," Nami said suddenly, holding out her fist. "Let's make a pact, okay? We'll both follow our dreams and we'll both make them happen!"
Midori stared at Nami's fist until she realized that this was Nami's type of 'handshake' or something. She held out her fist and the two girls' knuckles connected. "Right," she nodded.
"Food!" Mariko called as she pushed Nami's door open with one hand. The other had a rather large tray with two dishes packed with delicious-smelling food and a few cups of tea on it. "Here you go, girls!"
"Domo arigato, Mariko-san!" Midori said gratefully as she took a plate.
When Mariko left, Nami said, "So, what's your story? How did you get here and why?"
"I was searching for a suitable shinobi country," Midori explained, digging into her food and still managing proper etiquette. "You see…I used to live in a place called 'Hikari no Kuni' in 'Dokutsugakure'. You wouldn't know if it because…well…it was wiped off the map a long time ago."
Nami's eyes widened. "Wiped off the map?"
"Yeah. Hikari no Kuni used to be a small country near Kumogakure in Kaminari no Kuni (Lightning Country). Apparently, they were getting a little greedy and decided to take over. My country unfortunately…didn't have any allies and we were small. Anyway…my clan along with my village and country were devastated by Kumogakure forces and I don't know if I'm the only one still alive or if there are anymore on this Earth. My parents sacrificed themselves for my safety." Her hand instinctively went to the crystal hanging around her neck. "This is the Hikari Suishou. It supplies me with power and…it's been passed down from generation to generation in the Hikari Clan."
"Wow…" Nami said. "So, you're like…an actual shinobi?"
Midori shook her head. "No…I don't know how to use it and I haven't exactly been able to find a good place to stay and become a shinobi."
"Now you make me wanna become a shinobi!" Nami said, crossing her arms. "Too bad they don't have any shinobi villages here…"
"Yeah…" Midori said. "Which means I leave in the morning."
"What? But you just got here!"
"I know," Midori said. "I can't rest until I find a permanent place to live. My eyes are set on Konohagakure in Hi no Kuni. It seems like the right place to start…" Midori noticed Nami's slightly forlorn face and said, "Um…Nami-chan…"
"Hm?" Nami's face brightened and she said, "Oh, Nami's fine! And don't worry about anything! I'm sure you'll kick butt as a kunoichi in Konoha! I hear it's a nice place."
Midori nodded. Is she…sad? We just met and yet she seems to act as if we've been friends for such a long time. "I have too."
---The Next Day---
"Bye, Midori," Nami said. "Get to Konoha safely, ya hear?"
"Yeah," Midori nodded. "Thanks. Thank you for allowing me to stay, Nami, Mariko-san."
"Midori," Mariko said quietly. "You wouldn't mind if…if Nami came along with you, would you?"
"Huh?" Nami said, surprised. "…Mom…?"
"Nami's been living here all her life and I want her to see the world and…to become a strong shinobi! Will you make sure of that, Midori?"
Midori was shocked. Mariko-san wants Nami to leave her home? "H-Hai!"
"Mom…?" Nami said.
"Nami, it's about time you left home," Mariko said with a smile. "I know you want to become a shinobi, and this country wouldn't do you any good with that dream. So, I think you should go with Midori to Konoha. You have no objections, do you?"
Nami shook her head with increasing speed. "N-No! Of course not! Um…thank you…mom…" Nami gave her mother a hug and Mariko pulled a backpack out to Nami and said, "Here. I packed your thing while you were asleep. And you should also take Natsumi with you."
Nami shook her head. "No, mom. I don't want to take Natsumi."
"Oh?"
"Mom, foxes are your thing," Nami said. "And I don't think Natsumi isn't the fighting type. I don't want her to get hurt and besides…I kind of don't want any help from you or Natsumi on this journey. You've helped me for too long already. Now, I want to see if I can support myself."
"…If that's what makes you happy," Mariko said.
"It really does," Nami smiled.
"We should be going now," Midori said. "Thanks again, Mariko-san."
"By, mom!" Nami waved as she and Midori started to walk away.
"…Be safe, Nami!" Mariko called. "And visit sometime, okay?"
"I will!"
---A Few Months Later---
"It'll be about five days until we reach Konoha!" Midori announced. "I can't wait…"
"We'll have to work extra hard," Nami stated. "Especially since we're gonna start the academy so late…"
"I'm sure they'll let us skip most of the lessons," Midori shrugged. "I mean, I've taught you everything I learned about the way of the shinobi from my old village…" she trailed off.
It was silent.
Suddenly, Nami heard a rustling close by. Alert, she said, "Midori! Did you hear that?"
Midori looked up and said, "Yeah. It's coming from over there." She pointed in a direction and quietly snuck toward it with Nami.
The two girls peeked from the bushes and saw a girl with dark hair seemingly tangled within a net.
Nami laughed out loud.
"Nami!" Midori hissed.
However, it seemed that the girl took notice of Nami and Midori already and her face flushed red.
"Who the hell are you guys?!"
Midori's face contorted into a painting full of infuriation and disgust. "Don't talk that way to us or else we'll leave you lying there!" Despite her threat, she walked over and took out a penknife and started cutting the net. "Nami, come help." As soon as she and Nami were done, Midori stood up and crossed her arms. "There."
The girl untangled the rest of the rope from her body and brushed herself off. "Um…thanks."
"Well, we couldn't just leave you sitting there," was Midori's reply.
"Uh…yeah we could," Nami said. "How could you let something stupid like that happen anyway?"
The girl glared at Nami and said, "That's what happens when you're attacked by rouge ninja who don't think you're good enough to kill." Her tone of voice startled Nami and Midori slightly, and the awkward silence that followed didn't do wonders for the conversation either.
"…Well…um, my name is Hikari Midori," Midori said, outstretching her hand for a handshake. "And this is Kawa Nami. We're traveling to Konohagakure."
"Why are you telling all our personal stuff," Nami whispered to Midori.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Shimizu Kyoko," Kyoko said, taking Midori's hand. It seemed that she didn't hear Nami's comment, and that was for the best. "And wouldn't you know it; I'm going to Konoha too. I wanna become a kunoichi."
"So do we," Midori said with a smile.
"You don't seem strong enough to be a kunoichi," Nami commented mockingly.
"And like you're strong?" Kyoko frowned.
"I could beat you," Nami stated.
"You looking for a fight?"
"Hey, hey," Midori said, stepping between the two. "No need to start a commotion. If what you said is true, Shimizu-san, let's just continue on our way to Konoha before they show up again."
"Call me Kyoko," Kyoko said, not taking her eyes off of Nami. "But as soon as we're out of this place, I'm gonna fight you, Kawa Nami."
"Hmph. I look forward to it," Nami answered.
---A few nights later---
"So Kyoko, what's your story?" Nami asked as she threw a small stick into the crackling fire. "We've told you ours."
Kyoko lowered her head. "Yeah…and unfortunately mine isn't very happy either."
Midori looked upon her new friend with concern. "Then we'll understand."
Kyoko nodded and stared into the fire blankly. "When I was younger, I lived in Kiba no Kuni, the Land of Fang. You know it's not a shinobi country…but it used to have a shinobi village. The village was made some years ago, and it was supposed to be named Kigakure, the Village Hidden in the Trees. I wanted to become one of the first people entering the academy in the new village, but my parents didn't like the idea. Still, my little sister still needed care and they didn't argue too much about it. So as I grew up, my parents took care of my sister, Miyoko. Weird, isn't it? Kyoko and Miyoko. I think it's weird. I mean, who would name their two daughters Kyoko and Miyoko. That's just—"
"Uh…Kyoko…" Midori coughed.
"Oh. Yeah, right. Um…let's see…oh yeah. So I waited for the day until I grew old enough to enter the academy and while I waited I helped in my parents' shop for some extra cash. I didn't have a lot of friends cuz I was kind of shy and…well…people always left me alone. But when I was six I met a girl named Sumika. She was the only real friend I ever had…until now, that is." Kyoko smiled fondly at this memory. "It was so fun to play together. She wanted to be a kunoichi too, and that's how we met which was in the academy in Kigakure. But…after barely a week training…Sumika was absent more and more…and I didn't know why. Then, I discovered that…that Sumika had a terrible disease. I can't remember the name, I was so young…but…" Kyoko's expression turned dispirited and her voice became low. "I went to her house and her mother told me that Sumika was terribly sick. So sick she couldn't get out of bed. So I asked to come into her room to visit her, to see if she was okay. Sumika could barely breathe and I held onto her hand for hours…Sumika made me make a promise. She said to forget about her, and to continue living, making more friends, become a great kunoichi, and…just to be happy. Then she died."
"Kyoko…" Midori whispered sympathetically as she noticed a tear roll down Kyoko's cheek.
"I never thought I could live up to that promise I made," Kyoko admitted, wiping her eyes. "And I tried to erase Sumika from my memory but…you just can't forget someone like that. I didn't make anymore friends and my grades in the academy were slipping…and worst of all, I wasn't happy. Some years later, my village was attacked. Since it was still new without any real experienced ninja, it was totally wiped out…along with my family who moved there just for me. I tried to escape with Miyoko, but we were separated. I don't know if Miyoko made it or not…and the village was never remade in fear of another attack. And now…here we are." She put on a sad smile and said, "That's pretty much my life."
"You…you didn't have to tell us all of that…" Midori said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "If it hurt so much…"
"No, but that's just it," Kyoko said a bit more brightly. "I told you guys because I felt like you guys are friends…friends who can help me fulfill my promise to Sumika."
"You promised a lot," Nami said, closing her eyes and leaning backwards to lay right-side up. "Think you can do it?"
"Of course," Kyoko said determinedly. "I've already fulfilled one part, and that's to make friends. Sumika would be happy."
"I'm sure she would," Midori smiled. "And don't worry, we'll help you out."
"Yeah," Nami nodded. "Cuz as of now, we're friends."
"For always…" Midori said warmly.
"And forever," Kyoko added with a grin.
And there it is! Thanks for reading, everyone! R&R please! And come back on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday...yeah, you get it. Again, R&R!
If anyone's interested in seeing my crappy pencil-drawing of a cover of Narutoverse no Jutsu just go to the link in my profile's website to my recently-made DA account. I drew it a long time ago and I forgot some details but hey, if you've got nothing else better to do. (sweatdrop) Hopefully I'll be making some more decent artwork later on...if I have the time...
Until Sunday...Farewell!
-HM