The next four days were full of growling, the insistence from my stomach that it wanted sustenance…food was on my mind a lot for the time I spent in my room and away from the others. Now I awoke to the pokes of a child, someone who was physically my age and trying to rouse me from my uncomfortable slumber.
"They could really do with replacing these futons, even new straw would be more comfortable than this old stuff."
As I contemplated this I was being led down the flights of stairs by the small child; a girl I think. She had dull brown hair and -from what I could remember- a pair of pale blue eyes. Not that it mattered much, I was more shocked that she was touching me let alone leading me towards the dining area. She quickly dropped my hand and retreated to a space between two other children, leaving me standing before an empty spot; table laid with a small bowl of rice and a single piece of fish.
"I suppose this is for me?"
Sitting down no-one protested against me so I assumed I was correct, the others already had their heads low and even the older children were still here; a day off from school maybe? Through the confusion I heard my stomach groan and quickly began devouring the breakfast before me, four days without food made me appreciate even this simple and normal meal; but I still couldn't shake the feeling of strangeness that gripped me.
"Why is everyone so well behaved?"
Glancing around I saw a shadow fall over me, towering and falling onto the low table; across my empty bowl. Gulping down the last of my rice I turned my head, looking up and coming eye to eye with the Matron.
"We need to talk, front room…NOW!" Her words lingered as I rushed to my feet, gripping hard onto the straps of my bag and being pushed forward by a hand between my shoulder blades. As soon as we passed through the screen doors and they closed she forced me to sit on the floor in front of a chair, took a brush in hand and hastily began to pull through my greasy and knotty hair. I could hear her mutter curses and distaste at my hair, me and anything in general she could find to comment on. As soon as she was done my scalp burned with pulled hair, strands lay on the floor around me and I raised my hands in shock to find that she had cut it short…shoulder length short!
"MY HAIR!"
Internally I screamed and tears streaked silently down my face, dripping onto the material of my hand-me-down shorts. Before I could gather my thoughts from grief I was hastily pulled to my feet, bag pulled off my back and stripped naked. I could hear her tut and sigh before pulling material over my head and forcing me to sit on the chair to place some pink sandals on my feet. I was repulsed by the bright color but complied, still mourning my hair more than the color she was forcing on me; still wondering why all this was happening. Quickly I as spun around, allowed to have my rucksack back and heard a simple passing comment.
"I suppose this is the best you'll ever look, now go sit somewhere out of the way and if anyone asks you like the way you look and are well cared for here!" She shooed me away and out of the back sliding doors, into the backyard where I spotted a couple of the older children swinging on some old ropes. Moving across the yard I couldn't help but raise my hands to my hair and lower my head to look at the ground, tears still marking their path across my cheeks.
"Of all the things she's ever done…my hair…my precious hair…"
Settling beneath a large tree on the far side of the backyards' small pond I pulled a book from my bag and pulled my knees to my face, resting the book on them and hiding my face away until my tears could settle into sobs then into hiccups; an anger building inside me. I studied the dress that she had put me in, a simple old smock that reached my knees; hitching up slightly at my seating position. It was a pale pink -not as bad a color as the hot pink sandals.
"I don't mind the Cherry Blossom shade but really? A dress?"
It appeared to be well worn, but in better condition than any other clothes I had been given to wear. It was thin enough to keep me cool but thick enough that I wouldn't catch a chill should the weather change; as unlikely as that would be. I could see that it was thick strapped and obviously didn't require a zip or buttons; plain and simple and cheap.
"Just like everything else here."
Still wondering as to what was going on I missed the rush of children coming out of the building, bubbling with excitement and wonder. However, I did catch snippets of the conversations that a nearby group were having amongst themselves.
"Did you hear? The Matron said it was an important person!"
"I reckon it'll be the Hokage!"
"Nah! The Hokage has better things to do then come and visit us, anyway the Matron hates Ninja's so why would she let him in here?"
"Sssh don't say that word, you know we'll get told off!"
"Yeah and it's not like she can refuse; he is THE Hokage after all!"
The snippets allowed me to deduce that, yes, we were having an important visitor or visitors; however, who I don't think I'd know till I set eyes on them. Deciding to return to pretending to read the book, when I was really mourning the loss of my hair, I kept my senses wide and waiting for the approach of whoever our visitor, or visitors, were. It didn't take long.
"I don't know two of them, they are strong energies…very strong! But the third is that bright haired man; the one who I think that lady called Mina-something?"
It struck me as odd that three ninjas, because anyone with that strength energy had to be, were visiting an orphanage; let alone one in the poorest side of town. I wasn't foolish enough to believe it had anything to do with me, I was probably just too young to participate in the last review of this place; that's what I assumed it was.
"Not worth arguing, they shouldn't approach me; but if they do I'll comply with the Matron…I'll get her back someday for all the things she's done…especially my hair!"
Lost in my thoughts I failed to pay attention as the energies moved and only came to when I heard the gasps of shock and whispers all around the outer area.
"It really is the Hokage!"
"Really! Oh and isn't that one of the Sannin?"
"Yeah I think he's the Toad sage?"
"Toad sage? Pffft, who would think he's a Sannin!"
"It's true I swear! But I don't recognize the third one, I know I've hear about him but I can't think where!"
"Yeah, he seems strangely familiar but I don't think I've heard anything at school? Maybe they don't want to tell us because Ninja are strange?"
"I think they're cool!"
"You'd think a dead goldfish was cool!"
"No I wouldn't!"
As the mutterings nearest me descended into chaos I gave a silent sigh and relaxed my legs, leaving my book resting open on my thighs. I pulled at the edges of the dress, trying to make it cover me more.
"Being mentally older has its' downfalls…"
I disliked the idea of not being covered up at-least somewhat more modestly, though in this body it probably didn't matter as much since I was only four years old; but give a girl some credit. I didn't even glance towards the orphanage for fear of being noticed, instead I settled; ready to read. Glancing down at the book I began to re-read something that I'd been practicing for a while now; the leaf exercise. It was supposed to help you control your energy better, Chakra I think it was called; but I had already succeeded in keeping it on my head in concentration so now I had begun trying to read and keep it there. So far I could manage a maximum of two minutes without it falling off, however it would then fall off or if I tried to make it stick longer it would burst into flames and turn to ash; not the greatest thing when you were trying to hide what you were doing. Thankfully the children and Matron weren't the brightest bunch and never noticed the little accidents, or the mysterious scorch marks on some of the walls where I had panicked and thrown it when it first happened.
I continued to read as the leaf held to my head, reading through the various uses and reasons that control of the energy inside me would be essential later on. Sometime whilst reading I dozed off, enjoying the combination of food, warmth and peace.
As I slept I remained unaware of how much time passed, but I didn't dream. It was a strange sleep where I floated in nothingness, silent yet peaceful and devoid of anything. I felt safe in it, safe in the darkness and away from the world.
"I wonder if I could just stay here, forever maybe?"
A childish notion, but one I'm sure many would understand if they lived how I had for the four short years of this life. It was as this thought crossed my mind that I felt the first sensations of wakefulness, beginning with a cool breeze that swept the heat of the summer day from my skin. This was followed by the reintroduction of sound, the buzz of excited children and the patter of feet on hard ground and grass; the rustle of the leaves sounded like the trees were whispering to each other. Lastly the light began to filter through my eyelids, causing me to crack open my eyes; wincing slightly and having to blink blearily. As I managed to keep my eyes open I raised my hand and shielded my view, fully aware that I'd probably have a cricked neck come later on from the way I had been sleeping against the tree. That's when I noticed it.
"The leaf!"
There, between where I knew my fingers were on my temple, I could feel it. The leaf that I had been practicing with before I fell asleep. I looked around me and tried to work out how long had passed, but all I knew was that the sun had risen to nearly its full height; that didn't help much considering I didn't pay attention when I came outside. Sighing silently, I felt a dull ache in my stomach and knew it was probably lunch, I was about to move to follow the other children inside when I caught her glare. The Matron was telling me to stay put, out of the way. Puffing my cheeks childishly I stretched my body and pulled my knees to touch my eyes, not wanting to yet disturb my leaf.
"Sulking is so childish…but I'm hungry, this is so unfair!"
Normally I wouldn't let my childish side through, but something had stirred in me since meeting the two Ninja; something that told me to let myself be whatever I wanted -when I wanted. And sometimes I just wanted to be a normal innocent child, someone who thought the glitter and confetti I'd seen only once was fairy dust; and that fairies were real. Someone who didn't know that the world wasn't all sunshine and smiles, toys and fun and school days spent in boring classrooms. Sometimes I just had to let that side through, or I swear I would go insane.
As I stayed curled, pouting about food and other nonsense, someone approached me. It was one of the stronger energies, but not the one that I recognized. Out of the three I'd say it was probably the oldest of them all, tainted slightly but unwavering and ancient in its feel. This caused me to raise my head. There, in plain view, was the Hokage.
"The Sandaime I think?"
My knowledge was spotty at best, I knew what I had been able to glean from the older kids; not a lot considering that kind of talk was forbidden here. That's when he sat down next to me, leaning against the great trunk as the effort to do so took a momentary toll on his ageing body.
"You look shocked young one?" That's when I realized he was addressing me, talking to me…acknowledging me. "I'm surprised you did not rush for your food like the others, are you not hungry?" Hearing his kind tone, I smiled and shook my head, but was betrayed by the low growl of my stomach. My cheeks burned up and I bowed my head in shame; only to be greeted by a hearty chuckle and a hand to the head. As he ruffled my hair I looked up and saw the genuine smile gracing his old features, a strange emotion flared within me; much like the one that had risen when the man had flown me over the rooftops. "I apologize, I shouldn't laugh. How about I share my lunch with you?" Out of his robes he produced a scroll and in a puff of smoke laid out two bento boxes, both were neatly tied into bundles with beautiful silken material. Staring at the fine material he gently handed me one, this one was wrapped in a red silk-like cloth patterned with little golden roses and silver vines.
"So beautiful!"
I couldn't believe how amazing the material felt, and was even more shocked at the content of said box. Inside it was partitioned. The largest partition had plain rice with some olives cut to make a panda face, to the side of this was a partition containing cherry tomatoes and the last partition held two of some kind of cake-like dessert. I'd never seen food look so beautiful, let alone smell so nice too! Picking up the chopsticks that had been wrapped with the box I checked to make sure I wasn't being rude, but the Hokage had already begun to eat his own luxurious meal and I felt no guilt in beginning on mine. Grinning I tried to savor the taste of the food; it felt like heaven had entered this realm just to rest in my mouth. Unashamedly I ate greedily, swallowing large mouthfuls of rice and eating the juicy tomatoes quickly. I stared at the desert for a long time, contemplating whether I should eat it or not.
"I don't think my body will be very happy by eating something that sweet? I've never even tried anything sweet."
As I contemplated I reached into the box and pulled out the small cake piece, raising it to my mouth and wondering what it would taste like. It looked simple enough, plain and coated with something powdery that flaked onto my fingers and downwards onto the edge of my dress. I took a tentative bite…before placing the whole thing in my mouth.
"Okay! I DEFINITELY like sweet things!"
My mouth retained the flavor even after I had swallowed and I quickly wiped my fingers against the dresses sides, raising the back of my hand to wipe away any excess from my face. I could be a messy eater at times, much to the disdain of the Matron.
"Enjoy it?" The question caught me off guard and I felt silly that I had forgotten my important guest sat beside me. Nodding affirmation, I wrapped the box and chopsticks neatly back up in the fabric before handing it to the man.
"I wish I could thank him…how does it go again?"
There had been this book I'd found hidden in the depths of the bookcase, it contained very basic Konoha sign; nothing that could be used by an enemy but enough to get the ideas across. As he looked at me I raised my hands, cautiously using them to form obvious and probably incorrect symbols. His eyes widened slightly and I worried that I had said the wrong thing.
"Dammit! I probably just made a fool of myself!"
Silently sighing I dropped my hands to my side and looked at the shocked man, trying to gauge what had gone wrong and hoping it was nothing too drastic. Imagine my shock when he spoke the next sentence.
"You are most welcome, sorry for the pause I was shocked that you could sign. It seems that your Matron appears averse to all things Shinobi related and, as such, I wasn't sure if you would be able to communicate that way. Please accept my apology for my misguidance." I looked at him and nodded, it made sense. The man as a whole made sense, even if it felt foreign for me to be interacting with a man of not only high standing but of such friendly disposition. "I see you understand me well, then I will not treat you like a child." My eyes widened to almost an impossible width and the long forgotten leaf fluttered from my forehead, how had he-?
"Of course, that sentence was too complex for a normal four-year-old; let alone an orphan! I'm so stupid!"
It wasn't like I hid my intelligence, or even tried to for that matter. But I didn't particularly fancy incurring the Matrons' wrath for drawing attention to myself when strictly told not to. I was so lost in thought that I didn't spot the aforementioned woman approach us until she had grabbed my arm and dragged me to stand beside her. The book that had been on my lap dropped to the floor and the Matron pointedly ignored it, instead doing her best to hold onto my arm as if she were wanting to break it. Pulling me further away from the Hokage she bowed and forced me into one as-well; uncomfortably bending my arm in her grip. Biting back tears I tried to tune into her words and the situation at hand, I really didn't need to miss anything that involved her…let alone the punishments I might face once she had me away from them.
"-now we must go and sort out the mess you made earlier, REMEMBER?!" The Matron pointedly spoke to me slowly and turned her back to the Hokage, stomping away and dragging me by my arm; the skin already bruising from the force. I was biting my lip so hard that I could feel the trickle of blood drip across my chin, biting back tears that threatened to spill over from embarrassment and pain. As she pulled me along I noticed us pass by the other children inside the dining area, all still enjoying their food; only pausing to stare and sneer at me. At the head of the table area, talking amongst themselves was the remaining two visitors. I watched their heads turn in my direction and let my bangs fall to cover my eyes, ashamed at myself for being so weak and unable to fight back.
"I can't speak so it's impossible for me to speak up."
I let the tears roll freely and kept my head low, allowing the older woman to pull me by my sore arm. We passed over the wood of the entrance area and began to ascend the stairs, I already knew I wouldn't be enjoying the company of the kind man any further; I'd be lucky to ever eat again after this. Anger was swelling inside me, frustration at the muteness within me; annoyance with myself. As we reached the top of the first flight she turned a key in the door straight ahead of us, quickly shoving me through it and passing into the room herself; before closing it loudly behind her. I stumbled and balanced myself on a small desk that occupied the center of the room, I'd never been taken here before. I'd only ever seen one person enter here, I never saw them leave.
"This is the LAST time you will EVER disobey me!" Her hand came down hard on my cheek and threw me to the rotting floor. "YOU WRETCHED LITTLE ANIMAL! WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU CAN ASSOCIATE WITH OTHERS?!" Her foot connected with my ribs and I felt them crack, pain lanced through me and I gasped air; coughing and noticing the tangy taste of blood inside my mouth. "YOU ARE NOTHING!" Another blow to my ribs and this time I felt another crack, panic rose inside me.
"She's going to kill me! This body is only four!"
I tried to crawl away, shielding my head with my arms and cowering against the desk.
"WEAK, PATHETIC LITTLE THING! WEAK THINGS DIE!" Her blows rained down on my small body, more cracks and I felt something give in my left side then a stamp to my left ankle caused something to crack painfully. Sobbing silently the tears wouldn't stop, and now blood dripped from between my lips. This had gone too far and I could hear the banging at the door, she had locked it tight no doubt. Daring to raise my head I heard something click.
"The lock!"
Pushing as much of my strength into my broken body I willed my body to move, the lock kept clicking as someone tried to pick it. My hand reached for the door before it was stamped on and a resounding crunch sounded. I tried to scream.
"You deserve this; it is more mercy than you will ever get!" The Matron's voice was muffled by my pain, my vision was swimming and I could feel nausea rising. Was this really it? Was I really going to die to some mean old woman who had a nasty temper?
"I don't want to die…"
As the darkness encroached I felt my chakra well up, the energy spreading and solidifying around me. A scream from the Matron this time, her foot reached for me but was batted away with little interest.
"What is this?"
My energy was more vibrant than normal and -despite the black spreading in my vision and the pain encompassing my small form- I could see the metal-like chains extending in a cocoon around me. The door burst open mere moments later, then the world was blurring and blinding; I felt my energy dissipate and could hear the faint cries of protest and fear from the Matron.
"Did I cause that?"
That was my last thought as the dark finally claimed me, maybe I had really stood up for myself and my hair this time…just maybe I was stronger than I thought.
Hey there, thank you for all the wonderful support!
I'm keeping this up and going to keep actively posting this story, any support is appreciated and if you have any questions give me a shout!
Thanks,
Wolven x