The Loss of the Greatest Hero is Never Easy to Forget

It's been about a week since Ryushin and I have first come to Sora. Ryushin seems to be fitting in just fine with the other staff members as my personal assistant, but Yoko doesn't seem to be doing so well. Everyday, he seems to be getting worse and worse. I walked into his room the other day. He couldn't speak anymore, his throat was so clogged up. His face was deathly pale and he sweated constantly, although he claimed to be cold. He couldn't even turn his head to look at me, he was so weak. Greidel came up to me, but this time, with more fury than ever. "Get out of here, Filth!" she lashed out at me with her sharp tongue. "Ever since you came, all he's done is get worse and worse!"

"Are you saying that its my fault?!" I gaurded myself. "Are you suggesting that I gave him a cold?! I haven't been sick a day in my life!"

"He's got pneumonia!" She cried out at me as tears began to stream her face. She pushed me out and locked the door. I was too stunned to object. Her sobs could be heard from the hall and I just stood there, staring stupidly at the door.

Yoko has pneumonia?! That's not possible. He said he only had a cold. He was fine! He was getting better! How could this happen?! What will I do if he dies?! I can't be Sorakage without him?! He's too good! I could never live up to the peoples' expectations! I need Yoko! I can't do this alone! I can't care for the entire village alone!

As if to answer my distress, Ryushin suddenly came around the corner. "Oh, hey, Sarafu! Wha-" He stopped abruptly when he noticed the blank expression on my face. "Sarafu, what's wrong?! What happened?!" He put his hand comfortingly on my shoulder, but I barely felt, my body was so numb.

"Yoko has pneumonia," I said simply. The words felt foreign on my tongue. Strange, and unbelivable. "He's more than likely going to die soon."

"Don't say that!" Ryushin said, but didn't look too believing himself. "Have the medicale ninjas looked at him?"

"Of course!" I said as my hand slapped Ryushin away, suddenly irritated. I ran away from him, abruptly sick of all humans now. I ran out of the Main building, stopping for breath just outside the front door. People who happened to walk by the building at that time, looked at me warily, but continued on their way, seeing as how I wasn't any of their problem. I heard the voice of Ryushin calling out to me from inside the Sorakage's building. I hastily looked around for somewhere to hide. Since I could find none, I opened out my wings with my jutsu and flew up higher into the sky, and then leveled myself out to fly left, towards the edge of the city.

I finally stopped to a spot where the Sky Village experts had remade a small beach, which replicated one off of Nagasaki in Japan. The water wasn't as wide as any real ocean, but it streatched pretty far to where it almost touched the horizon. Sunset had approached and the orange light reflected off the calm waters that rippled slightly. I landed on a rock, where I sat and sighed. I stared blankly off at the calm waters as I let my mind sort things out. I would be so lost without Yoko. He had always been my best friend in Sora. Actually, my only friend. If he died, I would. . .

Time seemed to pass by slowly, until my little daydream was interrupted by a hand on my shoulder. "Ryushin! I told you, I-" I was surprised when I found that the hand belonged to a little girl about 5 or 6 years old. She had short, wavy blonde hair that sparkled golden in the sunset and came down to her ears and curled up under them. Her clear, blue eyes mirrored the ocean as they gazed curiously at me, with such pure innocence. My face softened into a smile at the little girl. Her visage a new relief.

"Sorry, ma'am, but me name's not Ryushin," She said in a country voice. "It Chu!" She smiled a goofy smile which revealed a missing tooth.

It seems she hasn't lost all her baby teeth, yet, I thought and smiled at the cute little child. "That's a nice name, Chu. My name is Sarafu."

The girl's face lit up in excitement. "Do dat mean dat I can calls you Fu?! Can we's be Chu and Fu?! Pwetty pwease! I've always wanted to 'ave an oldah sistah wid da same name!"

I smiled sympathetically at the little girl. "I don't mind it. If you want, I can pretend to be your older sister. Do you not have any other siblings, though?"

"Oh, sure!" Chu cheered as she spun in the sand with her heel. "I 'ave a little brodah, but 'e's always such a pain! He makes messes, but is too young ta clean dem up, so I has ta. Especially since mum is gone."

My heart wrenched at those last words. "You're father is. . .gone, also?"

"Yeah," she stopped her spinning to stare out to the sea, with a distant look. "He died abouts a year ago. Now it just me and brodah."

My heart hurt as I looked at the chippy girl with sympathy tugging at my eyes. I wanted to hug her tightly and give her so many things! Anything, just to make her happy! But. . .that smile. That carefree smile on her face.

"Chu, how can you smile like that?"

She stopped and looked curiously at me. "Smile like what?"

"After all that has happened to you. How can you still smile like you are the most blessed child on the Earth?"

She stood silently for a while, thinking. "Because I am."

Thos words sunk deep into my mind. I will remember them forever. I am. . .I, too, am blessed. Why have I been moping around here. He's not dead yet! I must find a way to save him! But how. . ..'

I suddenly stood up, nearly knocking Chu over. "I KNOW! Tsunade-sama! Oh, thank you, Chu!" I hugged the little girl tightly, and then left her, flying into the air.

I arrived back at the Main building, and flew in through my office window. I quickly found a brush, ink, and paper, and wrote a speedy letter to Tsunade, making sure that my urges were clearly expressed. I quickly finished the letter and flew back outside. I formed handseals, and summoned Konkichii, to deliver the letter. He simply nodded and did as he was told, flying up then diving down, straight towards Konoha. I clamped my fists together and prayed that the letter would make it in time.

My prayer worked. However, Yoko didn't make it in time. Tsunade replied to my letter, that she would examine him, but Ryushin sent word from Greidel that he had passed away. My last true friend had passed away at the age of 10. I was now all alone, and officially Sorakage. For good. But I couldn't celebrate. When I heard the news, I crumpled Tsunade-sama's reply letter.

I swear, Yoko, that I will make your dream a reality. I will ground the Sky Village.

...to be continued.