There's no excuse for the delay. Sorry. Here's more.
Disclaimer: Don't Own Naruto. Be rather happy though because it would've turned out much more different if I did. And you wouldn't want that.
"A memory lasts forever.
Never does it die.
True friends stay together.
And never say goodbye. " -Anonymous
She found she never had to run, a contradiction to the burning anxiety she felt inside as she sprinted along the dark back roads. Her legs began to seize and she slowed down, breathing heavily as she leaned forward, her hands weakly grasping her knees. In the moments of stillness that followed her shaking worsened. Gasping in air she felt tears prick on the sides of her eyes.
Instantly she collapsed to the ground and sat on the road quietly, her hands covering her face as she tried to stifle the fear manifesting in her bones. It wasn't until she heard a car horn shriek behind her that she jerked into attention and scrambled to the side of the road.
Standing slowly to her feet she studied the car slowly. With its smooth black profile she felt a jolt of realization and stood immobile on the side of the road. It looked like their kind of car, with the dark color and clear polish that brightened in the moonlight and she feared to move.
'Please, please, not them.' She pleaded silently, on the verge of tears once again. If it was them, she'd never escape. She'd be forced to join them and she'd have to live under constant surveillance for the rest of her life. They might not even allow her out of the house. Her skin prickled in the cold air and she let out a low, shaking sigh as the car passed her quickly and continued down the road.
Such a close call seemed to have awoken her and she looked at the sky, her eyes shinning briefly in the light. Ideas and names flitted through her thoughts and she let out a shallow breath. Her fingers seemed stiff as she slowly grabbed the handle of her bag and lifted it from the ground. Her knees shook and she closed her eyes, pushing her mind to focus on the soft lullaby of the wind amongst the trees instead of the wretching pain in her heart.
'Where do I go from here?' The question resonated in her mind and her eyes snapped open, brimming with acidic fear. Breathing slowly she stepped forward, looking down at the ground as she reached a rhythmic pattern. Her eyelids half closed and she felt the atmosphere pushing into her mind, cleansing her thoughts of the insects of worry, fear and uncertainty. She could hear the wind as it clawed through the area like fingers of a giant beast and felt a small smile come to her face as her hair flew in the wind.
The growing sounds of civilization began to dominate and Emiko fully opened her eyes to see the city growing in front of her. At the sight of warm lights Emiko smiled, her tears disappearing as she relaxed. Sprinting forward she felt every nerve in her body twitching for the security of the street lights and laughter of other humans. As soon as she reached the street lamp she rested a hand on it's slim surface.
"What's she doing daddy?" Emiko lowered her head when she heard the young girl's innocent question.
"Probably homeless, honey. Come on." The father's replied in an attempted quiet voice. Thoughts of indignation flew for a second in her mind. But before she could voice anything in her defense she realized it: she was homeless. Her mind froze and she stared a tthe ground in mindless stupor. It wasn't until she felt something grab her hand that she jolted back to reality. A young girl, she assumed it was the one from before, stood before her. Her dark curls of hair were pulled into ponytails and her warm brown eyes looked upon Emiko with understanding.
"Do you need a home?" She questioned innocently and Emiko blinked. She nodded slowly. Children, she thought calmly with a sense of nostalgia and wonder, too good for society and too essential to leave it.
"I have a home. Why don't you?" The little girl continued to question. Just as Emiko opened her mouth to open a shadow crossed over the girl and she looked up to see a man standing behind the young girl. His dark, slightly curled hair and dark brown eyes mirrored the young girls but his gaze upon her did not.
"Come on Ai," he grasped the little girl's hand. Emiko hid her face as she could feel his disdain soaking into her skin.
"Bye!" The girl called out and Emiko forced herself to ignore the call.
"Hey!" The girl continued to call, a sense of childish indignantion in the light voice. "I said bye!" At this Emiko looked up and a thin smile crossed her lips as the girl was standing on her toes, waving her hand energetically. Her father seemed upset by the display but as he pulled gently to lead her away she stayed rooted in place.
"You'll find home! 'Member? 'Kay! Ai said so!" She gave an airy giggl, turned and skipped away with her father. Emiko watched her leave with a mixture of emotion swirling in her eyes. She didn't know if it was the girl's childish accent that perhaps changed her message so much but it struck a chord and she found herself continuing down the street.
She came to a stop at a pay phone and fell against it, ignoring the flecks of paint that littered her outfit. How would she find them? She looked up and found herself staring at the sky. Stars didn't seem to have enough power to burst in the velvet darkness and she watched as the glow of the buildings and street lights pushed a yellow grey tint to the sky. This is how great we are, she thought forlornly, I can't see the stars anymore.
"Jiraiya! I've told you a million times! You are not allowed here anymore!" A middle aged woman yelled and Emiko's attention was drawn to a scene stirring across the street. A slightly older man stood before the woman, trying to worm his way out the grip she had on his bright red suit. He stumbled back and his pleads continued even after the door had slammed shut in his face. He slumped over and turned around only to see Emiko staring at him.
Immediately he was in front of her, smiling widely. Emiko backed away, slightly perturbed by his clear and sudden invasion of space. Once he stepped into the light she looked him over blankly. His red suit was pin striped by black and his white hair only succeeded to remind her of a plaid skirt. Two long tattoos extended down his cheeks and she wondered if he belonged to a gang as well. Instantly she bristled at the thought and he must have noticed since he backed away.
"What's a young lady like yourself doing out here?" He questioned and Emiko watched him warily, wondering if he was sincere. Obviously I'm trying to pick radishes, she thought sarcastically but kept her mouth physically sealed.
"What's wrong? I won't hurt you." He smiled but Emiko still stayed quiet. If he's part of another gang...she shuddered at the thought of how much more complicated her life could be. He sighed. "Come on, if you tell me I might be able to help." That gave her more of a reason and she wondered how to phrase it.
"I'm run- looking for a friend." she explained, hoping to the invisible stars that he wouldn't pry and further. He leaned back and tapped his chin dramatically.
"What's her name?" He said after a short pause.
"Naruto. Uzumaki, Naruto." Saying the name seemed so weird but she was more stung by the pain it caused in her chest to realize she was asking a stranger for help to find a guy who used to be her best friend. Her gaze dropped to the ground and she waited for the inevitable apology, excuse and disappearance of the man.
"Naruto? You're looking for him?" The man seemed surprised but Emiko pushed it away and focused on the tremor of recognition in his voice.
"You know him?!" Her eyes lit up when he nodded and she smiled. "PLease can you take me to him?" He laughed.
"Of course, but first I best find out who you are." He shook a finger playfully at her and she nodded, straightening up.
"Kigurashi, Emiko." It wasn't until after she had finished that she realized her mistake and doubt began to claw its way in. What if he didn't want to see her? She wouldn't blame him of course. What if he'd told the man, Jirayo, or whatever his name is, who she was and he wouldn't take her to him? Panic set in and her thoughts became steadily more jumbled.
"Well," Her heart began to devour itself as she waited anxiously for his resply. He seemed to be thinking it over, a serious glint in his eyes. A smile broke out on his face. "Come on then!" He grabbed her bag and whistled. A sleek white car turned the corner and she thanked the stars with an upward glance and a small smile before she climbed into the back.
"Home please." He motioned to the driver before he settled down and grabbed a bright orange book from a small collection in the corner of the car. Emiko's eyes widened as she recognized the orange cover and the bright lettering. Kakashi read that, she remembered the day. Thinking of the day and all that happened she couldn't help but avert her eyes to her clenched hands in her lap.
I wish we could all go back, she restrained a sigh, it was all so much more easier then. She knew that it was a foolhardy thing to wish and she understood that it couldn't ever happen, no matter to what invisible stars she prayed to, yet she couldn't help but reserve a part of her heart for the pointless dreams.
"I forgot!" The man placed his book carefully into his lap and turned to her. "I'm Jiraiya." His bright smile reminded her of Naruto and she couldn't help but smile back. Once he saw her recognition he eagerly picked up the book and buried himself in it, giggling occasionally as he flipped through the pages.
Minutes passed and she contented to looking out the window at the steadily more impressive buildings. Each one seemed to dwarf his neighbor and the bright lights only added to the spectrum.
"Here we are, sir." She blinked as the car turned down a road between two buildings, their height causing the road they picked to be shrouded in darkness. A gut instinct of worry poked her and her stomach churned as she looked out the window only to see shadows.
What have I done? She berated herself as she reached quietly for the handle of the door. As she grapsed the sleek metal she ran through possibilities. What if he was some creep? Why had she believed him?! Her chest began to constrict and she let out a shallow breath.
Jiraiya's dark laugh brought her back and she turned, expecting to see a sight that would make her want to force her hand through a cheese grater. Instead she saw Jiraiya with his nose buried in the book, giggling evilly as he stared at the contents. The sight eased her slightly and she turned her attention ahead of her.
Her ideas of worry about kidnap were wiped away as she saw the house that appeared before them. Spanning the land with tendrils of rooms Emiko could only wonder how a man could afford this. The walls were painted a simple mahogany color and she realized it was a more traditional home. The idea gave her comfort and she relaxed slightly.
As they pulled up Emiko glimpsed a small structure in the distance, located on what she guessed was an island in the middle of a koi pond. Jiraiya surprisingly got out first and Emiko struggled to follow as she was a tangled mess of aprehension and excitement.
She followed him in through the front door and removed her shoes slowly. The inside was cleaner than she expected it to be, with hard wood floors and simple decorations throughout the space.
"Naruto!" Jiraiya bellowed and Emiko smiled weakly as the calm and impressive nature of the house was broken.
"What you stupid perv?!" His voice yelled back, the volume a rival to Jiraiya's. Breath caught in her throat and she dropped her bag. The sounds seemed hazed and she wasn't even sure if she was breathing when she heard what he said next. "I have friends over!" Jiraiya's attention turned back to her, knowingly, and Emiko's head dropped. The sounds of laughter were ones she recognized all too easily and she could barely keep herself standing, let alone keep her face dry.
Terror seized her and she hastily grabbed her bag, ignoring Jiraiya's yell for Naruto to come as she shook her head feverishly, letting out a strangled noise as she heard loud footsteps coming near. Without another thought she rushed to the door and grabbed her shoes.
"I-I'm sorry." Emiko's voice broke as she met Jiraiya's somber gaze. She knew she wasn't crying but she was sure it probably showed in some other way. She pulled on one shoe, grabbed the other and opened the door with a loud slam. At the sound other footsteps and familiar voices could be heard and she stumbled out the door. Don't, she begged inwardly but her body kept moving on autopilot as she turned to close the door. Wide blue eyes met hers.
"Emiko?"
Author Note: Thank you to people who watch/favorite my stories. I look through everyone's profiles to see what they're like and if they've written anything and it reminded me that I had readers waiting even if only one.