Chapter 8: New Faces
'Inner Thoughts'
Sunagakure- Kazekage manor
Sitting worriedly a young man keep close watch on the young girl who was sleep peacefully in the bed beside him. He sighed not knowing what to do he couldn't go to the doctors for this, her heartbeat was normal there was no fever there were actually no signs of her being ill it was if she just fell into a slumber and wouldn't wake up. A soft knock on the door broke him from his thoughts as a small figure opened the door holding a teddy bear in his arms.
"Gaara-sama." The young man said standing up.
"...Yashamaru."
"What's wrong." He cleared his throat before asking.
The small boy hesitated before speaking up "I'm going to try again."
"Why don't you try to become friends with Yukino-chan." He said and placed the chair back in its place. "She won't run like the others." Placing two fingers on her neck he sighed, no change. "I'm sure she'll be fine let's go Gaara-sama." He said more to himself than to the boy, as the small boy glanced back at the sleeping figure before leaving the room with his uncle.
Yukino's POV:
Opening my heavy eyes I slowly tried to get up but something on top of me was stopping me, so instead I felt the area around me feeling the soft and bouncy surrounding. 'What? Was I dreaming?' I wondered 'But everything seemed so real… Or am I still dreaming?'
The gray surrounding came into view as I saw that the blanket was on top of me and that the sides were tucked under the mattress. 'No…. I'm awake.' Squirming around I managed to pull myself out from one side. As I got off the bed the door creaked opened as a small figure almost tackled me to the ground.
"You're finally awake!" The spiky haired girl yelled in my ear hugging me tightly. "I'll go tell Yashamaru oji-san." She said leaving as quickly as she appeared. 'Finally awake?'
'If I've been asleep for some time… then what if Houki-done thinks I already left?!' checking my pockets for my stuff I nodded 'good everything is here.' I ran out the door and down stairs, reaching the front door I pulled it open. "I'll be back!" I yelled into the huge house before running out.
Gasping for breath I finally reached the Houki manor. I stood up straight and knocked The two guards from last time opened the doors and looked at me before looking at each other in confusion. "Hi-" I waved "-I came here last time and… c-can you please tell Houki-dono I'm still here." I smiled awkwardly.
"Oh Houki-dono told us about you." The right guard in front of me said.
"Oh yeah the bet." The left one added.
"Hm." I right one nodded. "She thought you had left. But we'll tell her you are still here." She told me before closing the door I sighed relieved.
I turned to leave but I realized that I could see more than before, my reach has expanded I realized, upon hearing faint talking coming from the left door I turned my attention to it. "I hope Houki-dono agrees to sign, it would be nice to work with the Uchiha's…." I wasn't able to hear the rest so I focused more chakra to my ears "I hear they are quite the hotties." soft giggles followed. "Shh… I think she hears us." The right side of the door said. I flinched and quickly walked away without looking to where I was heading.
Looking around I didn't recognize the area. 'Where did I come from?' "Uhm…excuse me." I tried asking the adults I saw but they walked past me. Seeing small figures I walked towards them But they ran away laughing with each other 'maybe they didn't notice me…' I chased after them and running through back alleys and streets I haven't seen before 'I know they're heading somewhere.' I thought.
The alley I was going through opened up to what I thought was a park. There were a couple of kids playing with a ball in one area and two swings in another. The kids I was following joined the ones that were already playing I looked around, reaching the edge of the park I looked up and saw a straight rock wall unlike the buildings I passed by, resembling the gate I went through when I entered. 'If I follow this it could lead to the entrance.' Smiling I started following the edge of the wall.
"Hey. Wanna play ball with us." Flinching I looked at the boy behind me and the other children behind him. "Uhm.. Do you know how to get to the Kazekage manor?" I asked.
He nodded "Hey! We need another player!" A girl behind him asked. "Yeah." other kids joined in agreeing. The boy seemed in thought before turning back. "I will tell you only if you join us."
"I don't know how to play." I responded.
He smiled before turning to the others "She said yes! Eiji-kun she's in your team!" He said pushing me lightly towards a boy. Facing the dark haired boy I stared at him.
"So you are going to be the goalie, make sure the ball doesn't pass the line." He pointed at the line carved into the ground. "If you grab it throw it to one of us." He pointed at the kids in his circle, I nodded 'seems simple.' "Good." he smiled.
Standing in front of the line I moved from side to side following the ball. The kids kicked it back and forth until one of them kicked the ball in my direction it hit my stomach but I was able to grab it before it fell to the ground. Clutching the ball I regained my composure and before I could throw it back to one of the kids. One of them screamed. "Monster!" As the kid ran away the rest started following. "W-wait what about…." I tried asking before giving up.
Hearing soft sniffles, I walked towards the sound in the direction of the swings. Walking closer to the swing set a small boy clutching a teddy bear in his arms, was crying he sat on the swing wiping his eyes with one hand.
.
Flashback:
'Five tomatoes...' Looking around the garden I looked for the round vegetable in a tall stalk only to find a small puffy creature pecking at the vegetable. "Shoo, shoo." I waved at the small creature to stop. It glanced at me then continued with its pecking.
Breathing in I moved towards the creature and scooped it up in my arms the creature however had other plans and started flapping around it's little claws dug into my arms and face as I let go dropping it. A familiar burning feeling started welling up in my eyes as my skin burned.
"Yukino-chan-" Mikoto-san exited into the house and stepped foot in the veranda to see the little girl with tears streaming down her face. The chicken neared the little girl as she backed away from it, running to the little girl she scooped up the girl in her arms. "It's fine. It will be fine." She murmured pulling me into a hug while rubbing my back. "Let's patch you up, okay?" She asked pulling away and placing me back on the ground.
Flashback End:
.
Placing the ball on the ground I chose to do the same, I got closer to the boy and hugged him. 'It feels weird...' I thought as I felt him flinch "If you keep crying you won't be able to see." I said instead of calming him down my actions had the opposite effect, his sniffling turned into sobs as he cried onto my shoulder and hugged me in return, his body shaking with every sob. I rubbed his back trying to calm him down but instead his crying got louder. 'What do I do now?' I started panicking. "Uhm… If you keep crying you will dry up." I said as his sobbing started quieting down. "Yes. Tears are water if you keep crying you will end up like a raisin." I said more confident.
He let go as his crying died down and he started laughing softly. I smiled proud of myself 'I made someone stop crying, I'll make sure to tell Mikoto-san.' Standing up I looked at the boys face more closely to memorize his features, black rings circled his eyes similar to Shakko-kun's except for it not reaching all the way to his ears, he lacked eyebrows and his hair was messy and short.
I heard him mumble something and look away before he took in a deep breath. "Umm….Will you be my friend." He spoke quietly wiping away stray tears.
"Sure." I said his face lit up in a mixture a happiness and disbelief. "You'll be my third friend, Shakko-kun is my first and the lady is my second. What about yours?" I asked.
" is my friend." he said showing me his teddy bear.
I waved at the teddy bear. "Hi, ." 'I wonder if it speaks…' Immediately remembering where I had to go I asked him. "Hey do you know where the Kazekage manor is?" He nodded in response "Can you show me?"
He got off the swing and showed me the way back, I memorized the way the streets looked and the turns we took. "Hey don't go near that monster." I heard someone whisper to a small kid paying no mind I continued focusing but I heard other adults whisper the same thing along with throwing the name 'Gaara' in their conversation. Arriving at the manor I realized that I didn't get his name I chose to asked for it first but he hesitated and stayed silent. "Um…. Will we meet again." He asked instead timidly. "Sure I'll see you again tomorrow." I replied. "Bye." I waved before going back inside the manor.
Closing the door I released my sight. Jumping up in the air I gave a silent yes, 'I have another friend!' remembering suddenly I screamed into the house "I'm back!" quick footsteps soon followed.
"Where were you?" Temari asked. Feeling a hand on my forehead I moved my head away "You don't have a fever. Do you feel dizzy or feel like puking?"
"No why?"
"Because you have been asleep for a week." 'A week?!' "Yashamaru oji-san was really worried after you didn't leave your room for the second day." Temari added.
"Where is Yashamaru-san?" I asked.
"He went looking for you... until he was called by the councilmen."
"Oh. I'm fine." I assured her "I'll be in my room, night." I said going back to my room.
"But it's just six." I heard her call after me before turning and walking away.
"Are you sure it's safe?" I said gripping the chains next to me. "Mhm." I heard the happy hum reply. "Ready." He said, nodding I loosened my hold on the chains a bit as a pair of hands pushed my back and let go. I felt the wind against my back as I swinged back and forth on the swing, I laughed as my dress whipped around legs and the feeling of lightness engulfed me.
Hearing the swing slowly creak to a stop I got off wobbly as we both switched places. Teddy bear in one hand he held onto the chain with the other, placing my hands on his back I pushed forward as much as I could and quickly let go moving to the side. His laughter echoed in the empty park.
'I wonder….' I thought looking at my hand "Hey." I called out to the boy and waved him over, as he came running to me I started focusing my chakra to my hand. I felt it move and concentrate to right index finger as the burning feeling returned. Once he was within arms reach and stopped in front of me I tapped his forehead softly as I stared at the sakura flower that I drew appear on him. 'So it was real…' dropping my hand to my side I stared in awe. 'It was all real...'
Rubbing his forehead on the spot that my hand was there he stared at me in confusion. "What's wrong." He asked.
"N-nothing." I stuttered out "I just wanted to see if your hair was soft." I lied giving off an awkward laugh. 'Now… how can I get back...' I wondered.
Several days later… (after so many nights of sleep in hopes of returning to the library)
After visiting the Houki manor first I visited the park, this time however the boy wasn't there and there were a couple of kids playing around. Looking up at the sky I noticed that it began turning into a darker shade of gray and the kids began leaving one by one. Deciding not to worry Yashamaru-san again I turned around and began walking back to the kazekage manor. The streets were unusually quiet the closer I got to the manor, it was so quiet I could hear the sand shifting underneath my feet as I walked.
"Hakuto-sama, come back quickly you will get in trouble with Houki-dono!" I heard a woman's voice yell out from not far away, I quickly walked towards the voices upon recognizing the Houki name. "Shijima-sama convince your imouto to come back." The same voice called out.
Arriving to the where the voices have come from, four figures came into view, I recognized two of them immediately the small girl with black hair I saw back at the manor and the lady that led me to Houki-dono. Arriving closer I heard the slightly taller figure with dark hair resembling the much younger girl plead to Hakuto-sama to return home, that it wasn't safe.
"Excuse me-" I said as the woman quickly turned to me.
"It's you." She walked closer towards me and kneeled down speaking in an urgent but quiet tone. "Why are you still here didn't the kazekage's right hand man fill you in on what's going on." Confused I shook my head remembering how I had left earlier to spend more time in the park. "Listen the jinjuriki might lose control tonight so this part of the village has been evacuated." I stared at her 'evacuation?!' the two girls arguing continued as the woman sighed and stood up abruptly. "Hakuto-sama we tried the nice way." Speaking loudly she turned and walked towards the small girl.
"Wait. Kaho-san don't be too rash." The other woman mentioned as Kaho-san walked up to the little girl and grabbed her and held her by her waist as if she was a sack of rice, and that's heavy.
"I don't wanna go home!" The little girl screamed while punching and flailing around in Kaho-san's arm.
"We have no choice today, Hakuto-sama but maybe tomorrow we can go out." In saying this she turned to me. "Come with us for now."
"Come on." Shijima-sama said extending her hand looking at her and them at her hand I shrugged and held it.
Kaho-san was in front of us still holding the little girl while the other lady was behind us was looking around, I looked around as well and could tell that we were nearing the Houki manor. Suddenly Kaho-san jumped back as a kunai landed where she was previously standing at that moment the lady behind me grabbed both me and Shijima-sama's arm and pulled us back. A kunai landed right in front of me at that moment. Staring at the kunai I noticed that it didn't have a paper thingy attached so I quickly grabbed it I looked around for where the kunai came from and sensed two people on top of the buildings. "There are two." I blurted out returning my sight back to what it was.
"We know." Kaho-san said taking up a defensive position in front of little Hakuto-san. Shijima-san grabbed my arm and pulled me behind her as she did so I noticed that the lady was also in the same stance. Kaho-san pushed Hakuto-sama towards the older girl, Shijima-san reached out and hugged the younger girl close to her. "Niko-san take them to the manor quickly." The lady looked at her in shock before nodding seriously.
Shijima-sama ran into the alley holding Hakuto-sama's hand, I ran after them as Niko-san followed behind as we ran away from the clashing sound of blades.
"To your right Shijima-sama." the lady called out while keeping watch behind us. Not far from where we were I could hear a loud cry/growl Hakuto-sama screamed out in fear and started crying, turning to the sound I focused in the direction and I could make out the faint silhouette of a large creature as well as the multiple chakras surrounding it. Returning my sight back I called out sensing a different chakra from earlier. "Above us."
Kunai were thrown in Niko-san's direction but she deflected them with her own. Shijima-sama led the little girl into the side of a building to get out of the attackers range as I followed after them while the older girl was trying to calm the smaller girl while healing a scratch she had on her arm.
Looking carefully around I noticed an alleyway we could fit through. Nudging the older girl I motioned to where I saw the alleyway, she looked at it and nodded understanding. I was about to run to it but she pulled me back as a strong gust of wind forced me to get even closer to the small doorway.
"Now." She ran towards the alleyway pushing the little girl forward. The little girl entered first followed by me and then her last.
Exiting the alleyway she motioned us to turn right. "Do you know how to use this?" I asked breathlessly pointing to the kunai in hand. She nodded and took it off my hand, placing it carefully in her pocket.
Hakuto-sama tripped in front of me being the closest I helped pick her up, tears welled up in her eyes as she started crying once again. "Hakuto-sama if you cry they'll hear us." I said pulling her forward as we started running again as the little girl tried quieting her cries.
"Look! Hakuto we aren't far from home." The older girl said in delight, just as she said this kunai landed in front of us, moving back I pulled the girl to my side just in case.
'Another shinobi...' Looking for a way out or another alleyway I found none, other than a staircase that led to the side where our pursuer was and back to the side where Niko-san was fighting.
"Tell me. Which one of you three is the Houki heiress." The shinobi inquired us while slowly looking over each of us. None of us responded as Hakuto-sama hid behind me as she cried out clinging to my arm.
Shijima-sama looked at me expectantly. "The bridge leads back to where Niko-san is." I whispered. Her brows furrowed together understanding the situation, we were cornered the only way out was to take a chance on the bridge or make a run for it. Another roar echoed not far followed by the sound of crumbling the shinobi turned to it, seeing the opening the older girl made a run for it as I pulled the crying girl with me.
Our pursuer noticed and followed after us, however an attack of the giant creature destroyed a couple of buildings sending its rubble into the air and back to the ground forcing our pursuer to slow down and avoid it, pushing the small girl forward towards the older girl. The giant piece of rubble landed sending small pieces scattering nearly missing me and just scratching my legs but the impact shook the ground sending all three of us to the ground. Taking this chance our pursuer grabbed a hold of Hakuto-sama.
"Onee-san!" Crying out the little girl screamed tears streamed down the little girls face as she screamed and flailed around helplessly in her captors grasp. Upon realizing what she said her captor dropped her to the ground and aimed to grab a hold of the older girl instead. Taking hold of her the captor tried to escape with her but as he was about to she took out the kunai I had given her and slashed at her captors arm. "Little brat!" Her captor hissed as she attempted to hit him this time however he ripped the kunai from her hands and threw it, crawling to the kunai I grabbed it as her captor hit her behind her neck knocking her out, as he did this I stood up and ran driving the kunai into their leg. I watched as he screamed in pain while I struggled to pull the kunai out I attempted to do it again noticing my attempt he kneed me in the stomach with his other leg knocking me back.
The little girl cried out as I struggled to gain air back into my lungs, the captor avoided her and ran off with Shijima-sama over his shoulder jumping over the buildings. Standing up slowly I staggered to the girl and pulled her towards the manor as she kept crying along the way 'Were so close…' I thought looking at how we were only a couple of blocks away we kept walking. Another roar from the distance erupted as we cowered near a building opposite of where the roar came from as rubble flew once again, noticing an alleyway I pushed her in to avoid it following after her I tried to do the same but was too slow as the pieces flew into me jabbing me in my back.
Falling on the ground I tried to stand up but pain burned in my arms and fell back down. The little girl turned to me shaking me. "Please…. stand up…." She whimpered struggling to get me back on my feet. Trying to focus on her my sight disappeared, 'I must've used it for too long... I feel tired.' I thought wanting to just lay down and sleep.
"Go… manor…" I tried to say. 'Go to the manor.' I tried to say again but my voice didn't get out. Feeling her hands leave my arm I heard her hurried steps run towards our previous destination. Laying there I let the metallic scent engulf my head until I couldn't hear her footsteps anymore. One thought entered my mind 'I maybe shouldn't have left early….' as I let the abyss of my mind take over.
'Is this it?'
Disclaimer Naruto does not belong to me it belongs to Masashi Kishimoto. Yukino belongs to me as well as other Oc characters I'll create later on.
Okay as a heads up things may get a bit confusing in the next chapter, also I'm sorry for taking so long in posting this chapter.
