Now, before I go into this story anymore, you should realize, that from when I was three months old, to my fifth birthday, was as boring as a board. So, time skip!
The aforementioned birthday hit with a fury.
"Izumi! Come on! Kaa-san is going to be sooo mad if we're late to your own birthday party!" my older brother, Haruki, urged, frantically waving.
"Coming, coming," I grumbled, run over to him, my short legs flashing beneath the calf-length beige tunic. I, of course, was wearing black leggings under it, so I could accompany my brother on his long treks into the woods surrounding our home. We arrived home, panting, but mostly clean, and dashed inside. Kaa-san and Otou-san had invited friends, and now the house was packed with laughing adults and frisky children.
It was a house of horrors to my eyes. It was Haruki's house of dreams to his eyes.
To be honest, I was never really a people person. I was content with it being Haruki and I, or me and Kaa-san. Sure, I spoke my mind, when I felt strongly about something, but I never willingly drew attention to myself. That's why I hated big gatherings.
Now, with my appearance, it was easy to blend in with the backround. I didn't have hair like Sakura, neither was I the last survivor or a clan, like Sasuke.
I had waist length dark hair, that I absolutely loved. It had an unusual streak of Haruki's red in it, and again, I loved the color and uniqueness of it. I usually wore back in a braid, but, sometimes pinned up into a bun. I had big, dark eyes, with the same steak of color, only this time, it was a lighter blue that blended with the darkness of my eyes, and my skin was a tan color that, with my hair and eye color, fit in easily.
Haruki was another thing. He had flaming red hair, jade green eyes, like our Otou-san's, red cheeks with freckles and almost shockingly white skin, despite being in the sun for hours.
"There's the birthday girl!" I froze as I heard the shout and suddenly, I was lifted into strong arms. I peered into the green eyes of my father."Hello, Otou-san." I said softly, hugging him. He smiled back, then set me down, ruffling my hair. "Here, Little Izumi-chan, I have some one I want you to meet." he took my hand, leading me towards a young boy of about my age, maybe a bit older, was leaning against a doorframe, his light gingery-brown hair hanging over his eyes.
"Ren-kun!" my father said, stopping in front of the boy.
I wedged myself next to Father and stared at the boy, my shyness getting the best of me. " 'Zumi, sweet, this is Ren Akiyama, his parents work closely with us." he grinned, ruffled my hair again, then walked over to Kaa-san, who was talking with another woman.
"Hi," I mumbled, gripping the hem of my tunic once again.
"You do that a lot."
"Huh?" Startled, I brought my eyes up to meet his(they were a light cinnamon color, with gold flecks that glittered in the sun). His voice was warm, and quiet, but strong. "Clenching your tunic. Specifically the hem."
"Oh. Uh, sorry?" I really, really, really, honest-to-goodness, tried to keep the awkwardness out of it, but failed. Miserably.
"Oi, Ren-ren!"
"Who's that?"
Two collective shouts were aimed at us, as a pair, a boy and a girl ran up, the boy's hair, a purple-blue, with green eyes and the girl's, a deep flaming red like Haruki's, with her eyes being a dark blue.
Ren sighed. "Izumi-chan, meet my brother, Katsu and his friend, Aiko Hiyashi. Katsu, Aiko, meet Izumi Mori."
"Hai!"
"Greetings!"
The two were enthusiastic and playful, and so, when I suddenly asked if they wanted to see my tree-house, they took off. The forest was my favorite place, even in my first life. It was cool, quiet and calm, collected, but even in it's organized chaos, it was wild, free. It gave me a sense of hidden waterfalls, huge trees, and elegant draped moss, hanging lazily.
"Ren-kun?" I said, clenching my tunic, then forcibly making myself relax.
"Hmm?"
"Why, ah, why, were you staring at me?" I, however, couldn't keep the tenseness out of my words.
There was an almost embarrassed pause, pregnant with possibilities.
"Your hair."
The echoes of laughter from Aiko and Katsu sounded from up ahead, they had probably found the simple little cottage in the clearing.
"My- what?" I couldn't keep the blush off my face as I stared straight ahead, flames practically leaping from my face.
"Hair. Your hair. It looked . . . silky. In that light. Now it looks strong." I slowly resisted the urge to hide my face behind my hands, and take a peek at him.
"Ren-ren!" Katsu raced towards us, his hair streaming out behind him as he ran.
"Ah, Kitty-Kat! I thought I told you to stop calling me that!" a scowl graced Ren's face.
"Ren-kun, calm down." I lay a hand on his arm, then nodded towards the now stopped Katsu, who had propped his hands on his knees and was panting.
Aiko appeared in the shadows behind him, a ferocious grin on her face, red hair falling in waves around her shoulders. "Gotcha!" she yelled, leaping into the boy. He screamed, flailing at the unseen attacker.
"Ren, Izumi-chan! Helpppp meeee!" he yelled, clawing at the ground as Aiko dragged him into the shadows. He manged to claw at the piece of the ground and held for a moment, yelling at us.
"I'll remember this! I'll forever think of you as the brother and friend who did nothing!"
Even though his words were meant to be playful, they struck a chord in my heart.
"Izumi-chan?" Ren's concerned voice broke me from my reverie and I rubbed a hand across my eyes in a gesture too old for my age. "Are you alright, Izumi-chan?"
"Eh, fine, Ren. Just remembering some . . . things." I looked up, into the clearing Otou-san had built my little cottage in, flowers and wild grass waved in the gentle breeze. So peaceful, so serene. But it won't last long, I thought darkly, then turned to Ren.
"How about we get back?" I raised my voice to call to the two lurking children who were probably hoping to scare us. Answering groans echoed each other, as the two dragged themselves from their hiding place.
"Come on," I said, smiling gently. "They probably have cake still if we hurry." And suddenly we were running towards the house, towed by two over-enthusiastic children.
There you go! The long(hopefully,) awaited chapter two.
The name Ren I got from valxra's story, 'Guarded', which, I might add, is awesome. So, go check it out!
The rest of the names, I got from Behind the Name and Behind the Surname, those are awesome sites.
Anyway, Windy, out!
Edited-
Howdy, folks. This is Chapter two revised, so be happy.
Windy is now gone~