Hello, fellow readers! I would like to say now that I love all of you for bearing with me while I was in the grips of a Writer's Block. You, my adored reader, are the absolute best!
I would also like to thank one of my best friends, Kaa-chan, for pretty much bearing with me as I talked about this story and poking me until I got inspiration to write this new chapter.
Disclaimers: I do not, nor ever will, own Naruto or anything created by Masashi Kishimoto. I do, however, own all of my OC(s) that may appear in this story.
Please enjoy this chapter that you've been waiting so long to read!
"You did it wrong! Do it again!" The sharp sting of sensei's fist against her cheek caused the young girl's head to snap down and betraying tears to coat her green eyes. "You're pathetic; warriors don't cry!"
The young girl's seven year old body struggled to get off the ground and slowly she was able to stand, her knees wobbling and her chest heaving with the need for breath. Her arms rose, one hand clinging to a shaking kunai and the other pulled into a fist, and with a small shout she rushed at her abuser. What she was supposed to do was duck under his arm when he countered and swipe at his jugular. There were only two problems with that.
One. Her sensei was very tall and, no matter how high she reached or how well she jumped up, her arm would only reach up to his chest.
Two. Even if she was able to swipe at his neck properly when he reached for her and when she ducked under him she was taken by surprise when his elbow came out of nowhere and connected with the back of her neck.
She let out a gurgled cry of pain as her face met the dirt again and, instead of getting back up like a good warrior, her body curls into itself and her hands grip the back of her head. The young girl felt tears run down her face as the pain overwhelmed her; choked sobbed tore at her throat and her whole body quivered with pain.
Even in my eyes I wondered what she had done to deserve such brutal pain.
I watched as fingers slide into her short black hair and suddenly her head was yanked up and she was staring into the face of evil; a face of which I could not see. Her sensei sneers down at her before his fist met her face again; and again and again.
Both, she and I, cried out in pain, hoping that someone would come to the girl's rescue.
No one did, of course.
"You're a disgrace." He stood up, spitting in my general direction before turning his back on the girl and walking away. "You are not fit to bear the title -"
I black out before he could finish the rest.
...
"She failed again?" The horrid woman screams at the man before her.
"Yes, M'Lady." Sensei said, sneering down at the cowering form of a seven year old hiding in the corner of the office. The girl, clad in dirt, was clinging to a worn looking rabbit; she had tears in her eyes but it was obvious to me that she was trying very hard not to cry.
"How many times does this make it?" The woman growls, pacing the room with irritation. She was wearing one of the most beautiful red dress that the seven year old has ever seen; the woman, herself, in the eyes of the seven year old whereas in my eyes her face remained hidden in shadows.
"Five this week." The sensei said again, turning to look at the pacing form of the woman; the look in his eyes obviously said that he'd much rather talk about her then the quivering whelp he was ordered to look after.
"Y- !" Turning around the woman stalks towards the girl before yanking her bunny out of her arms. I felt my heart constrict just like the girl could. "You horrid little monster!"
Both the girl and I watched as the woman threw the bunny into the fire place, watching as the fires licked hungrily at the worn fabric.
"S-Sammy!" The girl cried, scrambling to her feet and, on unstable legs, ran to the fireplace; it was obvious that she would reach into the fires just to save her only friend but she was suddenly yanked away, pulled away from her friend by her hair. "Sammy!"
"Sammy! Sammy!" The woman mimicked, pulling harder on the girl's hair before tossing her in the direction of the sensei. "Because you are unable to grasp even the simplest of fighting techniques your little 'Sammy' will pay the price!" I watched as the girl starts to cry, fat tears running down her dirt stained cheeks before the whole world turns dark and everything disappears.
...
The world clears and I find myself sitting on a small cot in a dingy room; the girl was lying face down, her tears still coming even after the fire had died and nothing but ash was left of her beloved 'Sammy'. I reached out to pat her head but before I could touch her the door opens and standing there, against the light, was none other than the woman who had stolen the girl's only friend.
"Are you still crying over that horrid rag doll?" She asked, her sneer obvious in her voice. The girl could do nothing but whimper, trying to hold back the tears that the woman was accusing her of. I couldn't help but sneer back at the woman; she always was the demon disguised in red dresses. The woman makes a disgusted sound in the back of her throat before stepping into the room and walking over to the girl.
"Get up." She demands, placing her perfectly manicured hands on her hips. When the girl didn't respond I watched as the woman reaches out and dig her manicured fingers into the girl's tangled hair before yanking her out of bed; I stood up quickly as I watch the girl fall onto the floor painfully. "Get out. You're going to have a training session with your sensei. If you can complete it you'll be able to have dinner."
Unable to help myself I threw a punch at the woman, completely shocked when my fist slide through her head and I toppled onto the ground soundlessly. What… the hell? I'm… invisible? I look up; the woman seemed unfazed as she looked down at the girl who struggled to stand up.
Wait… The closer I look at the girl the more she reminds me of someone. Who was she? Why does she make me feel like I know exactly how she feels? Like I lived it all before?
...
Something woke her up; it wasn't a touch but it wasn't a sound either. Opening her eyes slowly she stared at the mint green walls, unable to really focus on them before moving her eyes down to the swords that laid next to her. She remembered now; minutes after Neji had left the maid that took her away from his room had come back with pajamas. They were different from the set that Tenten had let her borrow; it was more of a champagne colored silk dress like pajama instead of the soft cotton two set. After she had changed and laid down to bed she had quickly fallen to sleep; but, now that she thought about it, she couldn't remember what she dreamed about. Slowly she sits up, tugging at the dress out from under her as she looked around the room again; it was still as ugly as it was last night.
Someone knocked on the door and her hand automatically grabbed onto Nee. A heartbeat passed, and then another before the knocking sounded again and she visibly relaxed; it wasn't an enemy. Releasing her hold on Nee she slips out of bed before moving to the door; its best to answer the door now then have whoever was knocking walk in. When she opened the door she was met with the face that she was slowly becoming use too.
"Neji." She greets, opening the door wide enough for him to slip through.
"Good morning." He greets, closing the door behind him as she walked over to the bed. "I hope you slept well?"
"I believe I did." She smiles at him, leaning against the bedframe as she watched him.
"Here." He hands her a bundle of clothing that she hadn't noticed before. Blinking slowly she reaches out and takes ahold of it, hugging it to her chest. "My uncle has told me that he took the liberty of throwing out that…" He clears his throat and looks away slightly, "dreadful thing you called clothing."
"He… threw away my clothes?" If she hadn't hated him before now she did. "That's just… Rude!"
Neji's face was carefully blank, hiding what he was truly feeling about the situation as he watched the young swordswoman grip the bundle that he had handed her like she was going to throw it across the room at any given time.
"Get dressed," He finally said, turning and reaching for the door. "I'll be waiting outside, breakfast is in twenty minutes."
He left her fuming in the middle of the room, closing the door quietly behind him; it wasn't obvious but he must have been happy to get away from an angry woman with easy access to swords. After a few moments she sighs, sitting down at the foot of her bed before looking down at the bundle of clothing that was handed to her.
"At least he gave me clothing in return…" She mused, standing up and setting down the bundle on her bed before changing.
She didn't have a mirror to see what she looked like before exiting her room so when she actually did come out she had to go on the reaction Neji gave, which, if you knew him, wasn't that well at all. The first time he had seen her in something other than her old kimono he had given an obvious gasp but, it seems that that was a once in a life time thing. Now, as she exited, he only spared her a glance, probably looking her over to make sure she didn't have her beloved swords, before walking down the hall towards the breakfast room.
Steeling her nerves she jogged after her Hyuuga companion, picking up one end of her peace and pink kimono to keep her from tripping; she was mentally preparing herself for another meal with the devil himself.
So...right... it took me a LONG TIME to write this... no. actually it took me a LONG TIME to get inspiration... it only took me two days to write this...
Again, i'm SORRY it took me soooo looonnnnggg to write this... I don't think it'll take me that long to write the next chapter...
Again. sorry =3=