Chapter 11: A figure of the past

'Inner thoughts'

Old language/Ethereal being


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'Sand… so much sand...' I thought dragging my feet up a dune. 'I can't wait to see a tree again...' sighing happily at the thought I shook my head and kept walking.

The dark sky above me sparkled beautifully but I couldn't stop to enjoy it. 'You need to keep going the sooner you are out of the desert the better.' I heard Yashamaru-san's advice in my head. A scream from the distance sent a shiver up my spine, stopping momentarily I listened for the next one relieved that this time it seemed further away and that it sounded like a fox's instead of a person's.

Reaching the top of the dune I took out the map and unfolded it and squinted a bit to try to see it better. 'Hmm… I think that's the star….' I thought to myself looking at the little white dots, tipping my head to the side I looked back and forth between the map and sky.

Sighing I folded the map and slipped it back into the satchel. Switching sides I put the strap on my other shoulder and kept going with the cloak dragging behind me.

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With heavy step after heavy step the girl continued to walk, she hadn't slept since she left the village earlier and it didn't help that an inexplicable drowsiness dawned over her, yawning she tried keeping her eyes open as long as she could before they closed and she fell forward on the sand.


?

Forcing my eyes open I could feel an intense heat on the back of my head, turning my head to the side I could see the bright golden color of the sand. 'It's daytime!' Sitting up I looked around for any nearby structures, finding a tilted pillar nearby I hid under its shadow.

"Wind style: wind scythe!" A female voice yelled out.

After feeling the strong gust of wind I looked around confused and didn't realize that the attack was aimed at the pillar until it started crumbling on top of me.

Crawling away from it as little pieces fell down I saw that the pillar was cut down above my head. 'That was close.' I thought relieved, brushing the dust off my head.

"Are you okay?" The same female voice called out. Looking up towards the voice I squinted a bit to see the blurry figure of a woman run towards me.

A familiar scent of iron reached my nose looking down at myself I saw that one of my hands had a scratch on it, again.

Hearing a gasp I could see the woman next to me. "I'm so sorry," she said as I felt the blood drip down my hand. "Here let me help." She said 'she seems nice…', her indigo-colored eyes meet mine as she extended her hand. Using my non-bloody hand I grasped her hand as she pulled me up.

Not letting go she pulled me over the dune, to my surprise I saw a familiar structure of a gate, the Sunagakure gate. 'I didn't even get far…' I thought disappointed slumping on the ground again forgetting that someone had a hold of my hand.

"Are you okay?." the young woman asked worried, nodding I stood up again as she turned back to the gate and continued walking.


She was somehow able to convince the guards that I was related to her, she was able to bring me back inside the village.

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As I now found myself inside of this building sitting in front of a fire, with an old lady across from me. I looked around while rubbing the bandage on my hand, turning my attention curiously as the old lady looked into the fire with such focus after I threw a bone in. 'Hm. This is new.' I thought. 'Go with her…' I heard a faint but familiar voice say.

"Yes. This is definitely the child." I heard the old woman say bringing my attention back to her.

"What should I do?" I heard the young woman who hasn't told me her name yet say.

"The only thing you can do." The old woman said standing up and straightening out the wrinkles on her dress. "Stay near her for the time being, the ordeal will happen tomorrow, after that everything will return to the way it has to be," she said walking over to the young woman. 'Wait. What's going on?'

"What about after that?" she asked glancing back at me.

"The choice will be yours." She said walking over to me as she took hold of my hands and squeezed them a bit in her bigger and wrinkled hands. "Don't worry child." was all she said to me.


"You will stay here." the young woman said expanding her hands wide to show me the gate to the manor. Shaking my head I rubbed my eyes confused, one minute I was at the old woman's and now I was standing outside again.

Following her robotically I stared in awe at the inside, smooth beautiful white marble lined the floor reflecting the light onto the walls and paintings, making everything look clean and bright.

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"This is one of the guest rooms you will be staying here." She said showing me a room with a big bed and more furniture than back at the Kazekage manor. "Don't hesitate to ask if you need anything." She said closing the door behind me.

Taking the moment to take everything in, 'This looks so pretty… NO! I need to go deliver the scrolls!' I thought shaking my head and headed back to the door.

Running down the hall I turned around the corner to only end up bumping into someone. "Sorry…" I groaned stepping away from the person. Looking up at the familiar face in shinobi gear I blinked a few times to be sure. "Yashamaru-san?"

Staring at me confused he looked around for someone. "NEE-SAN!" he called out into the huge house after hearing no response in return he bent down slightly. "Hello, who are you?" He asked with his familiar kind tone.

"It's me Yukino." I responded confused.

"Well, it's nice meeting you. Do you know where my sister is?" he asked standing up, looking around again.

"No."

Sighing he scratched his head and left calling for the young woman 'He has a sister?' I thought walking forwards I almost reached the front door only to be stopped abruptly by some invisible barrier. Spreading out my hands I felt for some kind of opening but found none. I could see the doorway right there beyond the barrier, I just couldn't get through. Leaning against I started thinking for other possible exits when suddenly I fell back. Landing on my behind I turned around and stretched my hand to feel for the barrier only to find that it was gone.


For some reason I found myself in the guest room again closing my eyes I thought back to what happened before. Karura-san, the sister, had told Yashamaru-san that I was the sister of a friend who couldn't find a babysitter in time for their mission. Simple. During her explanation, I tried speaking but my voice didn't come out, so I sat there and listened to them instead. 'At least I know her name.' tired I closed my eyes and went to sleep with just my dress on.

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Finding myself once again in another room it was big and had couches arranged across from three of the coffee table's sides, and behind them were bookcases, I looked around confused as to how I came here without knowing, "This is my mother." The young woman said bringing me back to what was happening, she motioned to an older woman bearing some resemblance to both Yashamaru-san and Karura-san. "I told her what the oracle said." She stated.

Her words started to jumble in my head again and my vision became blurry once again as things started to fade away before focusing, over and over, I could see my lips and head moving to what they said but once again I didn't hear what was happening. I was a puppet being controlled by someone but unlike the puppet, I wasn't able to see who was pulling the strings.


Finding myself still in the living room I started to walk back silently back to my room before stopping. Looking down at myself I could see that I had my shoes, cloak, and satchel back on and my hair was still tied in a braid, fast footsteps were approaching in my direction, lifting my head I was able to see from around the corner Karura-san's blurry figure run out the door. "Karura!" Her mother screamed out after her not bothering to follow after her.

At that moment Yashamaru-san entered the house and threw a questioning glance at his mother. She whispered something to him making him tense up.

"Mother..." He said shaking his head, "How could you do this without asking her!" Running out of the house he slammed the door behind him, and I somehow found myself outside as well.

"Stay here." He said pointing to the house before running off calling for his sister it was still late but not late enough since there were still people walking around.

Feeling a tug, I felt the same barrier as before pushing me in the opposite direction that he went.

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Following it, I moved around the city and avoided bumping into people before I found myself at the Suna gate wall, finding a way up I saw Karura-san sitting on top of it with her legs hanging off the side staring off into the desert.

Standing near her I tilted to the side a bit to see her deep in thought.

After a while of silence she asked, "Do you think he's nice?" still staring at the desert she sighed and shook her head.

"He who?" I asked back.

"The next Kazekage apparently." She sighed, "who do you think it might be…"

Staying silent I sat down not far from her and hanged my feet off the edge as well, the sight was nice from the there everything was quiet and dark.

"Your parents must be worried about you." She whispered breaking the silence.

"I don't have," I responded back. 'If I did they would be here… would they?' I thought once again.

Staying silent for a while she hesitated a bit before speaking. "Do you have siblings?" Shrugging in response I continued staring at the dessert ahead. "It must be lonely…"

Feeling weird at the silence a thought popped into my head and chose to ask, "How's it like to have a family?"

"A family feels… warm. At times it may be difficult you may not always agree on the same things… but they will be there for you. However, this may not always be the case… a family is not only just blood it is those that care for you."

Hearing Yashamaru-san's voice in the distance calling her name I realized something, "Yashamaru-san is both… right?" I asked turning my head in her direction.

Nodding her face flushed red and she quickly looked away before she started laughing. Feeling a bit embarrassed my face heated up as I turned and looked away. "He is..." Looking at her surprised I saw that she was holding her face in her hands as she sighed, the atmosphere started to become slightly lighter. "Even if you have no one to call family now you may end up meeting someone who will call you a part of theirs." with a smile on her face she turned and looked once again at the desert ahead, her long sandy-brown hair blew softly in the air.

Feeling the mood lift, I felt like I was becoming lighter as well "Rea-" before I could finish everything became brighter before it faded to black.

"When you grow older you may -." The young woman noticing the light turned to where the little girl was only to see that she was gone and in its place was a little puff of light that disappeared.

Standing up she looked around but couldn't find her.

"Nee-san!" Turning to the owner of the voice she smiled brightly. "Don't worry maybe there's a way out of it." the young man panted out of breath, as he pushed his legs to reach his sister.

"It's fine." Shaking her head she reassured him. For she thought that the little girl was a spirit meant to guide her to this decision, just as the oracle had said. 'Everything will be fine' she thought hopeful of the future ahead.


?

"-Anbu ... here." A voice said as I faded in and out of consciousness. "-rogate." another voice said as I was starting to wake up.

Bolting up I abruptly stopped in pain as my arms were pulled down. Looking down at my arms I saw the bindings that held them down to the hospital bed.

"She's awake. We should-" A shinobi that was near the bed informed the other guard by the door. The door slid open suddenly startling me and cutting off the person next to me.

"She's of no danger." A familiar voice said, upon saying this the people started leaving.

The sound of footsteps neared until it stopped by the divider. Pulling it open the familiar person revealed itself "It's been a while," Yashamaru-san smiled.

'Was it... real?' I thought "Umm… do you have a sister?" I asked as he was undoing the bindings.

"I did…" he responded stopping momentarily before continuing, "There's something I must give you," he said quickly after undoing the last of the bindings, "Meet me on the rooftop once you have everything." leaving as soon as he said that I was left on my own. 'What happened?'

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Climbing up the stairs leading to the roof I adjusted the satchel strap. Opening the big doors I was met with the sun already hiding behind the horizon, "Here." A voice by the doors sighed, turning around I was met with the young man holding an old envelope, wrinkled and slightly yellow with time, in his outstretched hand.

Taking it from his hand carefully, I opened it and sneezed at the dust coming out of it. Waving the dust away I reached inside the envelope and pulled out the letter inside, folded neatly into three as if it hasn't been opened since the day it was folded. I flipped it around analyzing it's weird old paper feeling and scent.

Unfolding the letter a familiar fading language grazed its page.

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Dear me, or should I say young me. This is so weird... but you will get used to it so don't worry, well to keep it short and to the point, your body will experience changes at the moment, slight insomnia, drowsiness-which is weird seeing as to how you will also experience insomnia-, frost, and of course sight. As you grow older you will experience more changes but for a completely different reason.

Enough of that, once you return home she will explain things to you and you must go with it, it will important. But that doesn't mean that you will have to listen to her all the time, make your own choices.

My time is running short. Those ey-

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And that's where it ended only leaving a trail of ink that led off the page.

"Thank you?" I thanked slightly confused by the contents in the letter.

"You also left this," Yashamaru-san said, holding an old book in his hands, that he took out of his apron and he handed it to me.

The old hardcover book had a leather and worn front. 'I'll read it once I get home.' I thought happily while gently placing the book in the satchel, I looked back at Yashamaru-san wanting to ask him more about his sister only to meet wide eyes.

Before I could ask, someone took hold of my wrist in that instant and said a faint and quick "I'll take her home," before the scenery changed from it's golden one to a green one.

Landing on my knees I stared down at the grass below me, turning my head to the side I looked at the hand holding my wrist and could see a petite gloved hand, the person however wasn't making any moves whatsoever so I followed the arm and saw the dark green cloak covering their body, looking up at figure above me I stared at the shadow within the hood, trying to make out the face, fortunately being able to see a single black hair strand peek out of the hood.

Stretching out my hand toward the figure, I reached toward the hood before the cloaked figure visibly flinched and stepped back. Standing up I stepped towards the figure.

Taking a step back slowly the figure turned around quickly and jumped into the foliage disappearing among the leaves.

Not long after, a faint bright light shined through the dark leaves, running to its source as it started to fade I stopped as I neared a clearing. A woman in a white gown was standing still, her long black hair was draping over her body like a waterfall as she was looking up at the new moon. Something about her seemed familiar, so without hesitation, I ran to her not caring about being quiet.

Hearing my steps she turned around and glanced at me, pearl colored eyes stared back. "I-it's you!" I pointed, recognizing the beauty mark underneath her visible eye as well as her roundish eyebrows. Running to stand right in front of her I took off my hood and pointed to my eyes, "Look! Look!"

Looking into my eyes she nodded, "I know. Let's go." She said motioning with her hands.

"Are we going home?" I asked following after her.

"Of course, you need to catch up on what you missed," she said, raising her hand in front of her and gathered water in her palm, with a swish motion the water spread and enveloped us in the form of a dome.

"The eyes you have now is a reward for how hard you've been studying." She said glancing back at me, the praise making me happy. "Tomorrow I will begin training you."

"What kind?" I asked skipping after her, the braid bouncing with every step.

"Your eyes, your body as well as your mind." Staring back ahead she remained silent before giving me another important bit of information, "You still do not know my name, but I would appreciate it if you could just call me Tsukiyomi."

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Okay. So there was this one episode in Shippuden (towards the end of the series) where little Gaara was having a dream and saw his mom. I'd like to believe that's how she might've looked like when she was younger (with longer hair).

Finally finished with how Yukino looks like.