I keep a closer eye on Shinku-kun ever since that day. Although nothing has happened on my watch, Shinku only appeared to be bruised whenever I didn't pay attention. I could feel the eyes and some gossiping about us. However, I think that the majority went to Shinku.

What's going on?

Lee is still talking to Shinku (When we cannot avoid him), but I didn't see anyone other than him.

Why?

.

.

.

I sit on the edge of the school, waiting patiently for Shinku-kun to get his picture book. Today is like another day. The wind blew past make me a bit sleepy. I mentally shake myself awake. I don't know how long I have waited for the boy and I begin to worry.

Why is he taking so long?

Waiting for another minute doesn't change anything, so I decided to head to the way that Shinku took.

Now that I think about it, isn't Shinku-kun's birthday is coming?

I muse silently about what should I give to him and what his reaction when receiving my present. After all, he is the only person apart from Jessica and Nathan that I cared about. Not giving him a present is kind of cruel.

I continued to walk pass the crowd of children when something catches my attention.

If it is something random, I would have walked pass as any day, but the unique color of hair I am so familiar with making me stop. My mind seems to stop working and I could only stare into the classroom.

There, lay Shinku-kun, in the middle of a gang of bullies I don't recognize. They laughed at something and nudged Shinku with their foot.

I saw red.

I instinctively bit my inner cheek and felt a taste of iron, then I awake. The anger that I didn't feel for a long time, flared up. It burns everything. My observant thought I am so proud of became blank as I look at the scene.

I didn't jump in as I thought I would. I just watch with eyes that can burn anything. Unfortunately, no one notices it.

One of the boys snatches the book Shinku-kun is holding and inspect it. The boy, then, produces an ugly smile.

I don't hear what they said. I quickly hide in one corner when I see them carrying the book out of the room, leaving Shinku in the room.

...

.

"What took you so long Shinku-kun?"

"Ah, well, I fell a sleep in the toilet. Sorry for making you wait for me, Ayumu-chan."

"...And where are your picture book?"

"I lost it."

"...Oh, is that so."

.

.

.

.

"Oi look! That weakling came to school again!"

"What a pain..."

"Maybe he is an idiot?" Another body snicker. "My mother always told me that people who don't do what other people said are idiots."

I felt a grip on my hand as we pass through the three children. They are the boys that bullied Shinku the other day. Of course, Shinku didn't know I knew. I glance that the shivering kid behind me. He does not meet my eyes, but instead, he stares at the ground, tears welling in his eyes as a sign of defeat. Not knowing what to do, I continued to tug his hand and going through the boys without giving much attention.

They are, after all, a brainless idiot.

"Oh, look like the weakling has a friend." Chuckle one of the boys while pointing at her. "Why do you hang out with that creepy eye anyway? You can be friend with us, excluding that chicken of course."

"Isn't it an obvious answer?" I rolled my eyes in bored expression. "I just don't like you guys, you are noisy."

"What did you say?!"

"Well, I mean, look at you guys, you are behaving like a squealing girl that desperately seek for attention." My finger touch my lip in a questioning manner. "Or perhaps... You guys really want Shinku-kun's attention that much?"

"We aren't a girl!" Those boys hiss.

"Didn't I just said that you guys behave like one?" I continued to mock, trying to remain as calm in the outside.

"We did not behave like one and we are stronger than you." Underling number one sneer angrily.

"Duh, everyone is stronger than me." I let out a sigh. "If you guys seriously want me to feel being offended, you should say that you are smarter than me."

Yep, some six year old children saying that they are smarter than twenty-six year old women. I will definitely be offended.

I turn to look at them from head to toe and smirk.

"It's just you didn't seem that smart to me though."

"How dare you!"

"Get her!"

"Ayumu-chan!" Shinku panic. His face shows a shock expression when his only friend (Who he assume that is mature) jumps into the action.

The punch is thrown in my face. I step back as the punch went pass me and counter with my own to the leader. I manage to punch the leader brat's face, but it doesn't have much power in it. My punch can only make him step back for one or two steps.

Maybe one on one duel, I could win, but three on one? No way.

That's was when I brawl for the first time in my life. The result?

I lose horribly.

Drip...

...?

"-Why did you do that?!"

I finally peeled my swollen eyes up to the boy and smiled a broken smile, even if it's hurting like hell. I could particularly taste iron, no doubt my own blood, in my mouth.

But what greet me isn't usual Shinku's worried face, he is crying.

Crying? Why?

"Y-you are so stupid," Shinku eyes stared at me with his angry, tear filled face. No doubt that the salty water I felt is his. I wonder slightly on how long is he crying like that. ", After all, I have endured-*hic*... -What's the point of all that?"

"Why did you have to?"

"To protect you" Shinku's reply make me speechless. He bites his lip to prevent a hiccup, but it still proves to be futile he start to talk again. "They say they are going to bully you too *hic* if I tell anyone."

I don't know what to say.

The boy follows through his promise for real when he said he wanted to protect me, and what am I doing here, follow though my choice halfheartedly?

"Shinku," I mentally wince when my voice came out like I am about to cry, "Being with you teach me something every day, you know?"

"—Huh?"

I chuckle at his adorable questioning face, then proceed to shove the picture book I stole back from the boys to his face.

"Just don't lie to me again, okay?"

At least I didn't lose entirely.

.

.

"Ayumu-chan why did you do that?"

Shit, it seems like the word got out.

"What?" My voice come out as a snap. I was in a very bad mood. My body is sore and hurt all over as a bruise and scratch were seen every part of my reveal skin. My long pony tail hair tangle and some of them were cut. The fight ended up badly. The fight lasted only a few minutes, but they have given me a nasty ass-kick.

Damn ninja training.

"Don't act innocent. You just got into a fight at school!"

Trying to avoid the bad scenario with my mother, I look away from her angry face. Heart full of unyielding. "Yes? And what do you want to know. Kaa-chan?"

Hikari hugs her chest, giving me a threaten warning. "I want to know the reason, and it must be a good one."

"Now, now Hikari, you are being too harsh." Grandpa smile as he pats Hikari shoulder. "Let me talk to her alright?"

I stare at grandpa as he lowers himself to meet my eye level. His eyes are intense, even for mentally for twenty year old women. I want to avoid his glance, but choose not to. He is my family and I have learned to trust him in the pass five years. Including mother, it's just that she has too much temper and too hot head sometimes. If I stare at her too much, it would become a challenge instead of solving the problem.

Not that I can say that to myself. I'm too, a short temper.

"You know what you are doing right, Ayumu?"

"I completely am, plus, the first one who throws the punch is that boy." I point out the truth.

"I don't have to know who start first." He stated without a smile, "I'm asking you if you know what you are doing."

Why did he sound like I was the one who is wrong? I clench my bottom lip, bitterness spreading in my mouth. His word slung deep into my old wound. I felt betrayed. This feeling that I want to forget.

.

'Do you know what you are doing?! You useless child! I give birth to you and raise you for 6 years. 6 whole years! And you betray me.'

'Mama...' The child whimper, her hand clenching to her mother's sleeve. 'I'm... I'm sorr—'

'I'm not your mother! No, not anymore!' Her whole shook, shaking the girl's hand off her then walk outside. 'Just die.'

'Mama, no, don't leave me! MAMA!'

.

'I need money for a doctor. I know that my lovely daughter will help, doesn't she?'

'...'

'Pamela, your mother really need help...'

'...'

'PAMELA! YOUR MOTHER NEED THAT MONEY.'

'...Who?'

'I'm your mother, darn it! So give it to me! That money from your dad's insurance!'

'My mother disowns me almost fifteen years ago, and I can't really recall her face.'

'Don't you dare do this to me!'

'I do what to you?' The girl glance her eyes in a cold manner. 'That money will support my brother education, there is no money to lose for some...beggar'

'YOU!'

'... Get out. I will pretend that I don't see you today.'

'

.

.

"I know what I am doing." I glare up to meet his eyes with equal intent, catching him off guard. Grandfather gave me more intense eyes as I stiffen, eyes shut close to prepare myself for harsh comment. Surely, he is going to scold me without hearing my reason and-

"Good." His unexpected soft voice makes me opened my eyes in surprised. I raised my eyes only to see his smiley face. His lip was curled into a genuine smile as his aged eye curve in to crescent moon shape. Confusion influence my mind as I open my mouth, yet unable to say anything. He laughs when he saw the astonish look I gave him. His warm, big hand guided me toward the balcony and to sit there, patting the place next to him, gesturing me to follow him.

Feeling numb and majorly confused, I refuse to sit with him, but choose to stand next to him, staring at him nervously.

"Why don't you say anything?"

He raises his left eyebrow up in question matter. "I did say 'good', didn't I?"

"You know that's not it," I sigh, finally allowed myself to sit next to him. "Oji-chan... You are acting like you are going to blame me for fighting."

He hums, dragging me to sit closer to him. "It's depend on what you fight for."

"What am I fighting for?"

"For example" He keeps himself compose. "Fighting to protect the person you care for."

I startle, turning to face my grandfather mouth agape. "How did you know, I—"

"The boy named Shinku come to our house and explain everything." He sighed . "If he didn't come to see me first, are you going to tell me the reason?"

"... I—"

"We don't get mad at you, ya'know? Isn't protecting our friend a good thing?" Grandfather smile, his winkle hand pat on my head slowly. "This was the same as Oji-chan's job, you see. Becoming a demon to help them."

"You mean by hurting other people. I kind of understand it." I cling on to grandfather's warmth as I close my eyes in comfort. Ah, his hand felt so familiar, like my father's hand. "Being a demon to the enemy, doing anything to help our allies."

"Smart isn't you, gaki?"

"I speak from experience." I puffed my cheek as a pout.

"Oh?" He smirks "Experience from five years old? How deep!"

Rolling my eyes, I sighed, "Whatever, I am telling the truth."

Of course, including twenty years in my old day.

"You know we are not mad at you, gaki. So be a good girl and apologies to your mother and father, they are really worried sick about you."

I sigh, as for blaming myself. I really hurt them, aren't I? "I know, I really am."

"...It is a quite good thing actually." I raise my brow in question manner as my grandfather glance into our home garden, currently enjoy the view. ", for you to let it out sometimes."

"Err?"

"You are always such a good girl, Ayumu-chan. You never argue or fight with your parent, but instead, you choose to go with the flow. You really anxious about being hated by your parent so much?"

Grandfather's word is like a knife snap into my own wound. It's hurt. I flinch, for the first time in many years, I just realized of how coward I am. How I still treat them with shallow relationship, link with the word 'The other family'. I still scared of losing someone dear to me, still hid behind the wall to ignore the attachment of my new family. My past life shadow still controls me, strangle me and trap me in the darkness 'she' create within my heart. 'She' is still influencing me. I feel a bitter taste in my mouth as I try to swallow it down.

But grandfather said I have changed, right?

Is this mean I'm lowering my guard, and willingly accept them as my true family? The family that will never hate you?

With long silence, I manage to choke out a shaky words, lowering my head to the ground, preventing others to see my tears swelling on my face. "I-If I have made a big mistake... Will you hate me?"

"We may be angry, yes. But we will never hate you. You are the child of freedom. Your parent named you 'Ayumu' for a reason, ya' know" He smiles down at her while lifting my chin up to face him. I blink at him confused, despite the tears streaming down my face.

"'To choose her own way, without wing tied to the ground'" My mother's voice seem to flow along the wind. I

"We never hate you, my angel. Whether you choose the wrong path or not, we still here to correct it and lets you make your own choice" My father's deep voice startle me. He was comforting mother and they are holding each other.

"..." My mouth felt so dry. I slowly approach them, and hug them with my short five years old arm.

"...Thank you"

Thank you for giving birth to me. Thank you for the patient you have endured for me. Just... Thank you.

I finally have a family that I can express myself without hiding behind the wall I built. A perfect family for me.

Thank you.

I won't run away anymore.

All thought resolved into one resolution when I approach grandfather.

I cannot continue to tell myself that 'be coming ninja' will saved anyone when I myself didn't go all out. I felt frustrated when Shinku got bullied, and I cannot do anything to them. The teacher won't help, since they thought that the weak shouldn't enter in the academy in the first place. I become more furious, when I realized that my own action is the cause.

How pathetic.

If this world cannot solve by intellectual way, then I will go with their way... their ninja way.

"Oji-chan," I clench my hand into a fist, gathering my own courage, "Please... please teach me... to fight."

Grandfather's lip turn upward into a smirk. His eyes shines, showing his hidden amusement.

"Ah, I was wondering when are you going to say that."

.

.

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"Nathan! Hey! You are going to be late! Hurry up!"

"Just a sec, okay?" The blond hair teenage shout back while he grumble to the photo fame he is holding, "Darn, Jessica, can't she see that I am not a child anymore?"

The picture in the frame seems to always smile at him. He could only smile in return and took it out of the frame.

"Sis, today will be my first day in college," Nathan mumble quietly to himself, "And I will work hard for myself and you too... So watch over me, okay?"

"Nathan! What kind of future FBI is being late for his first day of college?!"

"Geez, OKAY, okay! I'm coming! Hold your horse!"

.

A/N: Yeah, Nathan decided to become FBI ! And Jessica is... well, Jessica?

-Ayumu (Pamela) -6 years old (physically)- 26 years old (mentally)-

-Nathan is currently - 18 years old-

There are many reviews. I will answer a few.

I am really sorry for the grammar error, I guess I need to rewrite some chapters soon.

For Ayumu's development, it begins slowly because of many reasons;

1. She doesn't really have anyone she really cares for in this world. Her decision on becoming a ninja is because she was afraid of separation, just like what have happened in her previous life. If she happens to have developed a special feeling for her new friend, she could be strong enough to protect them. But her process has done halfheartedly, since she didn't hold anyone dear as her previous family. In this chapter, however, her feeling has changed. This includes the feeling toward Shinku-kun and her family. She felt like she could open up more.

2. She is lazy. She isn't a type of person that will change instantly when she know something. It needs to happen in her face first, for her to get motivated. (Hah, you are not intelligent and strong enough to protect even your friend, Shinku!)

Etc, etc.

Many more.

The first original story will truly begin in not more than one or two chapters. I already write up the scene when Ayumu meets Naruto, but I am not sure about the timing. So I still consider putting it in the next chapter. And the training will begin the next chapter :)

Look forward to it.