Here's the next chapter!

Is Hikari's character okay so far? Please let me know!

please review, and i hope you all like it!

Chapter 14

Three weeks passed in which Sasuke and I observed and assisted the small village of Takamoto in making sure their village was well protected against the snow and ice that coated everything. It snowed almost constantly, and so the job of continuously shoveling out the small gardens that stood in front of the houses arose.

Sasuke was more involved in the politics of the small government – the political system involved not only the village of Takamoto, but also the bordering villages of Maneha and Gotan. They all had leaders of the individual villages which met once a week to make decisions concerning domestic policies and trade conditions with other communities. Orochimaru's commands also were discussed, and Sasuke was there to represent Orochimaru in his master's place.

I was left to help the people of Takamoto, and found – instead of a sad, depressed village – a peaceful community, all content with their lot in life. Orochimaru was too far away to have complete control over what went on, and as a result Takamoto was much less affected by his cruelty, and was so small that Orochimaru sent only a few ninja out there to exercise his power over their movements.

But his evil still tainted some of the people here. And the ninja that Orochimaru sent were the cause of that evil. Every now and then I would see one of the ninja that used to serve for Sound yelling at one of the women passing by, his fists raised in anger. I would see children getting pushed around by the guards that stood by the gates, grinning at the terror that filled their large innocent eyes.

I didn't expect Sasuke to care, so I took matters into my own hands.

I taught those kids how to fight. Every day, they would meet me in someone's cellar – the location changed every night, in case one of Orochimaru's guards tried to find out – and I would show them simple ways to defend themselves. Even some adults attended, and although at times I felt a bit silly trying to take all of it on by myself, I felt incredibly proud as I watched them improve.

I have to say, the best part was witnessing their growth out in a real situation. The most memorable one occurred only yesterday:

I was walking down the street with a bundle of firewood in my arms – for an elderly couple, both of whom were crippled to the extent that they couldn't handle the weight of the wood – when I saw one of the guards teasing a little girl, dangling her toy doll above her head, and then kicking snow into her face when she tried to grab for it.

A young boy was standing next to her, trying to shield her from the snow. His eyes were flaming, and I was about to run over and kick that guy's ass when he suddenly threw himself at the man, throwing his knee violently into the place between the ninja's legs, you know, "where the sun don't shine" or something along those lines.

The ninja was so surprised and full of pain that he crumpled into the snow, only to have the young boy grab handfuls of snow and shove them into his face.

"Stop bullying us, you big meanie! I'll kick your butt!"

I started laughing so hard that I dropped my pile of wood. That ninja, who was at least thirty, just got immobilized by a ten year old. Oh dear…this was a moment that would change history.

I think that scared the ninja more than making him angry, because he made a point of avoiding every single kid for the rest of the day.

I leaned against the trunk of one of the large oak trees, my feet carefully gripping the icy branch with chakra. I watched as some of the younger children – the oldest of them looked to be about eight – played cheerfully in the snow, and let my head lean against the smooth wood with a sigh.

I hadn't spoken to Sasuke since that day in his room. He had given me orders since then, but I had made a point of not answering, avoiding his gaze almost religiously.

I didn't want to get sucked into his game anymore, this game of hot and cold. I just wanted to free myself from his grasp, that grasp that seemed to pull everyone into his orbit around the core of revenge and cold indifference. He didn't care about me; I understood that, I understood completely.

There was nothing more to say.

Right?

I was still sad though, even though I tried to busy myself with the children in order to block those feelings out. I missed those days by the lake where I would talk to him and he would just listen, that patient curiosity that he would give me as he watched me train, as he listened to me talk about life back home. I missed being able to predict exactly what he was going to say – I could still do that, to an extent, but it wasn't the same anymore – and being able to read his expression. Both of which were acquired skills, let me tell you. You couldn't just spare him a glance and know everything. You had to be around him almost constantly, not even asking about his mood but just acquiring information by observing his postures and expressions, and putting it all away in your mind to mull over later.

I was pulled from my thoughts by one of the children running too close to one of the ninja guards, accidentally kicking snow up onto his pants. The ninja growled in annoyance, and grabbed the boy by his arm, swinging him around so that he was facing him. The boy screamed as the ninja twisted his arm and the boy fell limp as something snapped. The other children screamed as the ninja turned towards them, but I was already running.

I was by the ninja's side in an instant, and I sent my fist into the side of his head, fury making the blood roar in my ears. The ninja was sent flying, and I was running to deliver another blow. The ninja got to his feet, but he was so beneath my level that beating him up was almost easy. I let my foot swing around to smash into his leg, making the thick bone crack dangerously.

"Does that hurt?" I hissed, letting my fist collide with his jaw. His head snapped back, but I yanked it back so I could punch him again, speaking as harshly as I could.

"Good! Don't ever touch these kids again, do you hear me? I swear to God, I will kill you!" I snarled, grabbing him by the shoulders and shaking him. His nose was bleeding, and he was almost unconscious. I waited until he nodded, and then pushed him back so he was lying facedown in the snow. He didn't move from where he fell, and I got up, my breath heavy from restrained anger. Something tingled at the back of my head, but before I could turn, something solid and sharp sliced the side of my head, making me cry out. The metal sliced a few inches above my right ear, and though it wasn't very deep, it began bleeding profusely, as all head wounds did.

It was a kunai, thrown by the fallen ninja's companion, and it had merely grazed my head. If the other ninja had had better aim, I would be dead. I whirled around to see the other one running at me, but I quickly knocked him out with a blow to the head, and kicked him solidly out of my way. I was so stupid, to let that kunai get under my guard.

I felt pain pounding in my head as blood trickled in between my fingers, and I gritted my teeth, as the snow beneath my feet was slowly stained red from the blood that gushed from the wound. The children were crowding around me, crying at the sight of blood and at the sight of the unconscious boy to my right. I went to the boy, and knelt beside him, quickly examining him as gently as I could. He whimpered as my hands brushed over his left arm, and I knew from just glancing at its awkward angle that it was broken.

I quickly tore a long strip from my thin jacket as wide as my hand, and wrapped it around his shoulder and broken arm, gently moving the broken arm so that it was cradled against the boy's stomach, and securely tying the makeshift sling with a loose knot. The children were gone; most of them had run home to their parents. But the older ones were still beside me, their eyes wide and shocked. I smiled, and their expressions grew panicked. I realized that my face was covered in blood, and that me smiling at them probably wasn't the most comforting image.

"Okay, you guys, we need to get him back to his house, alright? I'll go call the local doctor and he'll set his arm."

The three kids who were left nodded slowly, and went to support the boy as I gently lifted him so his other arm was draped across one of the kid's shoulder. The other kid – a somber boy – quickly went to help the girl as the two of them managed to hold him up. I stood up to help them, but dizziness suddenly swam in my eyes, and black spots dotted across my vision, making me sway.

"Hikari-sama, are you alright?" One of the children not carrying the boy tugged on my shirt, and I struggled to answer, but the blood that was rushing down my face distracted me, and stared at my blood covered fingers, shining and vibrant against the icy snow that surrounded me.

Why was everything spinning?

I felt myself falling, and I hit the ground with a slow thud that seemed to echo. I couldn't feel the coldness of the snow against the side of my face, as I lay on my side. I heard the voices of the children growing frantic as I didn't respond, but it was all so far away…I couldn't wrap my mind around anything with any urgency.

It was all blurring into nothing.

I heard a different voice, and it was so sudden and familiar that everything snapped back into awareness. It was deep and emotionless, and I opened my eyes to see his dark sandals near my elbow. He was speaking to the children.

"Go, take him. I will take care of her."

The children bit their lips as they stared up at him, and one of the older girls stepped forward, her eyes wary.

"You promise?"

"Yes."

"Cross your heart and hope to die?"

"…Yes…"

The girl seemed satisfied; for she smiled at him and turned to help the others get the boy back to his house. I watched them walk away, and felt the drowsiness filling my body once more, and didn't want to have to use up any energy trying to speak with the teenage boy who was kneeling beside me.

"Can you hear me?"

I didn't answer him, though my eyes were open and I could see glimpses of his pale hands as they rested on his knees. I could've answered, but I felt as though something large was blocking my throat.

Sasuke sighed, and reached out to ease his arms under my form. But before he could touch me, I managed to get the strength to get up onto my elbows, and rolled myself away from him. The movement made my head spin and fresh blood trickle down my face. I groaned as pain throbbed in my head, and began to try and stand.

"Don't…just…don't."

I didn't turn around to see his reaction, trying to get to my feet. I felt my vision blurring suddenly, and swayed precariously. I felt his arms catch me, and I struggled against him, but he was like stone. I tried to punch him, but instead managed to weakly smack my hand against his chest, almost a playful shove. I tried to push him away, but the action made my head hurt even more, and I felt my knees folding under me, making me go limp. Sasuke's strong arms came under me, and I was in his arms, and we were walking towards the small house that the villagers had offered us when we arrived nearly a month earlier.

The snow began to fall once more, and the sway of his walk made my head go fuzzy.

It was early morning when I woke up in the hut of a woman I was quite familiar with. Her name was Uzumi, and she had twins: an eleven-year-old girl and boy. Uzumi was in her late thirties, and she had short black hair and dark eyes that were kindly and caring. Her husband, Toshi, was similarly colored, with dark hair and eyes, and he was just as affectionate and gentle as his wife. I couldn't think of a better-suited couple, and I always felt at peace whenever I was in the same room with them.

Now, their faces were drawn and worried, as if they had been up for nights at a time. There was a determination in Uzumi's eyes, and her husband seemed close to tears. I sat up, rubbing the side of my head tenderly. There was a thick bandage around it, and I was relieved to find that it didn't hurt nearly as much as before.

I looked to see the two twins still asleep; their innocent faces glowing in the light of dawn. I smiled at the sight, and Uzumi smiled slightly.

"I'm happy to see you awake, Hikari. You've been asleep for quite a while. Uchiha-sama has been by your side for most of it, he actually just left to go get some rest."

I gaped at her, and she smiled slightly. "We were surprised too, don't worry. Anyway, we can discuss his intentions later." Uzumi glanced at her husband with sad eyes. Toshi squeezed her hand, and she bit her lip. "Toshi and I have been talking…and we think that this village is no longer safe for our children. It never has been safe, really, but it has come to a point where the children are old enough to travel to another place. A safer place."

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

"You saw what that ninja did to that boy. You've seen how the ninja – you and Uchiha-sama excluded of course – treat children here. You know how this will only get worse."

I let my gaze drop to my hands as Uzumi continued.

"And I know that you have tried so hard to ensure our safety, my dear, I really appreciate your kindness. It has given our people hope to see a ninja who is finally on our side. But you are only a fifteen-year-old ninja. No matter how proficient, one ninja cannot defend an entire village from harm. Especially when the threat comes from multiple sources."

I nodded, and something twisted in my gut as the couple glanced at each other once more.

"Hikari…have you ever heard of Konohagakure?"

I shook my head, though the name sent thrills of recognition down my spine. Where had I heard that name before? I could've sworn that I had heard it at some point. But no matter how hard I tried, the source kept slipping away.

"Well, I used to live there when I was a girl, with my family. I have an older sister named Shizune who became a ninja there, and specialized in the medical field. She has sent me numerous letters when I moved out of my parents' house and moved to one of the smaller towns close to Konohagakure, but I never answered them. I was too independent, I didn't want my sister mothering me and trying to take care of me. That's why I moved away after meeting Toshi, because I was sick and tired of her kindness. It was almost smothering me, and I was almost pleased when her letters stopped. We moved here, before it was taken over by Orochimaru.

But then…after having my children and watching them grow up in this village Orochimaru runs…I realized that my sister was just trying to protect me from all of this. She was just trying to love me as any family member would…and I had pushed her away. I have regretted moving away ever since that realization, and I know now that I will not let my children suffer for my foolishness."

I stared at Uzumi, and I swallowed loudly.

"What are you planning, Uzumi?"

"Hikari…I knew that when you came to this village, that you were the person that I could trust. You're not like the others that come from Orochimaru's cult; you're not like any of the ninja in Sound. You are good…and you are the only person that can help me."

I blinked away the tears that sprung up at her passionate words, and spoke once more.

"How?"

"Tonight, I want you to run away from this village, and take my children with you. I want you to take my children to my sister in Konohagakure, and in a few months, my husband and I will travel to join them there."

I swallowed, and stared at the two children. "Do they know?"

"Yes…they have their bags packed and we have said our goodbyes. We need to act normal this entire day, so no one will be suspicious. I trust you, Hikari, to find a way to leave without alerting Uchiha-sama. If he finds out, Orochimaru will have all of us killed."

"Yes…I can say that I'm going to spend all day helping in the village…it shouldn't be that hard. How long is it to Konohagakure?"

"It will take at least three days."

I looked up at the desperate woman. How could I refuse? She had done so much for me, and I could see the sadness tearing her apart. Who knows what these kids could face in the next few years…they couldn't be left here to suffer.

I smiled. "Alright…we'll leave tonight."

Uzumi smiled, a single tear running down her cheek.

"My children will meet you under the bridge just beyond the last house on the street. If you follow the river, and keep heading east, you will find Konohagakure. Tell Shizune that Uzu sends her love, and tell her…tell her that I'm sorry for all those things I said the night I left the village. Tell her…that I love her."

I reached forward to hug the woman as she cried.

"I will."

The air was icy and cold as three figures made their way through the snow, the taller girl half carrying the two children as she darted across the ice like a deer, her glowing feet barely touching the ground.

The wind blew as they disappeared into the swirling snow, and they were gone for a few moments…and then the sight of another figure darting after them was seen before all was swept away into the darkness of night.