A week later.

Andrew was stuck in his hospital room. His Doctor had just finished his observations and checked his vitals over and over. His body had seemingly healed with the assistance of chakra. His wounds weren't severe, and he was given the all clear to go home today.

The atmosphere around the village was the same as always but different at the same time. At the edge of the street there was a kid yelling "NEWSPAPER, GET YOUR NEWS FROM THE FRONTLINES HERE!" There was a crowd gossiping about the news everywhere. Apparently there had been a huge battle recently with heavy casualties. Both sides took significant losses and it was a pyrrhic victory for the hidden cloud and stone. There was also a counter attack by the hidden leaf. That was all that was mentioned.

Andrew didn't mind the crowd and made his way to the Uchiha compound. The complex was usually quiet but it was eerie today. There was something strange and he was on guard. It was midday with the sun shining bright onto his back.

He reached Granny Izuka's home and the stiff wooden door was open. He was cautious as he entered. But what he saw wasn't what he expected. Granny Izuka was clutching what seemed to be a letter in shock and disbelief, just staring at it. She was so distraught she didn't notice Andrew's arrival. Emi was in the living room and sat at the table with a solemn look. It appeared she was bewildered by Granny Izuka's reaction and didn't know what to do. She understood something was wrong but didn't know what. But Andrew had a rough idea. He recognised the thin piece of paper, he slowly walked up to her, careful not to startle Granny Izuka. He asked politely for the letter which she did and he read the first sentence.

"I'm sorry to inform you that Karasu Uchiha died valiantly in battle." Andrew's eyes widened. No…No…NO! He was just getting accustomed to life in the hidden leaf. And Karasu went and got himself killed. Andrew dropped the letter and ran. He couldn't believe it, he didn't want to believe it. Karasu couldn't be dead. This was just a sick joke! And he knew who would pay for it. He ran back to Karasu's home, his home. He desperately searched the house for signs of life. Karasu standing there to greet him. Living room. Not here. Kitchen. Not here. Bed room. Not here. He rushed out through the door to continue his desperate search. Training ground. Not here. The care home. Not here. Village gates? Not there either.

Andrew searched the village finally arriving at a small wooden bridge over a stream with vibrant fish full of life. This was where he became Karasu's student. Andrew could only watch as the fish swam upstream past him and continuing on with their lives like he didn't matter. They were just fish, but he didn't care. Everyone will eventually leave him. First his parents then Karasu. Who's next? He thought on the verge of a mental breakdown. He wanted so badly for Karasu to appear. But he never showed himself. It was dark now and the warm sun was replaced with the cold moon. Yet Andrew persisted, waiting.

Hours passed and in the corner of his eye green hair fluttered in the moonlight. It was the only colour in the darkness of the night. Andrew didn't move but continued watching out of the corner of his green hair then became a pair of hazel eyes and then pale skin and childlike features that had not yet developed.
He recognised who it was yet refused to let down his guard.
"What are you doing here?" The curious girl asked. Tilting her head to get a better look at Andrew.

"Waiting." Andrew was short and blunt with a coarse voice that didn't match his age.

The girl just watched before leaning against the bridge next to Andrew. They just stood and

watched the stream in silence before the girl spoke up.

"It's late."

"I could say the same to you." Andrew refused to let down his guard and showed his reluctance to talk in his mannerisms but the girl ignored him and continued.

"Are you okay?" The girl didn't look at Andrew and remained focused on the stream.

"What's it to you?"

"Your parents will be worried." The girl replied oblivious. Andrew took a deep breath then sighed, clicking his tongue in annoyance.

"Your family is worried." This was the last straw. Andrew was young and couldn't properly control his emotions so he exploded in an outburst of rage and frustration.

"WHAT FAMILY, EVERYONE I KNOW IS DIES! FIRST MY PARENTS, NOW MY SENSEI! WHO'S NEXT! EMI? GRANNY IZUKA? EVERYONE I KNOW DIES. I'M CURSED! FUCKING CURSED! EVERYONE I MEET DIES, SO LEAVE OR YOU MIGHT BE NEXT." Andrew yelled out in despair filling the silent night with his yells and screams of agony. Clenched fists against the wooden railings. The memories of those he watched died rang out in his mind. His breathing became more rapid and shallow, sweat dripping on his forehead. He was in pain. All this time he never got to properly mourn or express his emotions and now all his problems piled up one after another let out. Yet after this the girl still didn't leave. She seemed unfazed by the sudden outburst, she was just empathetic. All throughout Andrew hadn't shed a tear. He was in pain, and unlike any other kid who would cry out he remained stoic, not looking her in the eye.
The silence returned and Andrew asked one simple but unanswerable question.

"Why? Why does everyone leave me?" He looked back down at the stream and the luminescent fish lighting up the water in the moonlight.

The girl was calm and composed, talking in a soft voice that reverberated through Andrew's ears. Her voice was almost heavenly, angel-like and he forgot about what he was worrying about for a moment.

"Did you know these fish swim upstream when the water rises in summer to reach somewhere cooler. Many die on their journey through thin and narrow waterways and food is hard to find. Then in winter they swim back downstream to the warmer open water so they have more freedom. They can swim anywhere and everywhere."
"And?" Andrew was perplexed by this seemingly random fact and his breathing had grown more controlled. He finally looked into the girl's hazel eyes reflecting the stream. Her smile was simple and could be found anywhere, but there was a calming presence about her. Andrew couldn't describe her. But in one word he would say "You're strange."

She gave a small chuckle and replied, "I've been called worse." Her smile grew and so did Andrew's. He was enjoying this moment. In the silence of the night, it was just those two. It felt like they were alone in this world, like they owned the night. It was nice. That's the only way Andrew could describe his complicated feelings at this moment. It was nice.

"Andrew!" His name was being called out in the distance and the moment was broken by the new presence.
"Your sister is looking for you." The girl turned to leave but stopped, looking over her shoulder she gave some advice and farewells. "You should listen to her, she looked all over for you, scared. See you next time." Her smile was faint and hidden in the moonlight. This was his second encounter with her. First on the school rooftops where she followed him the rest of the day and now here. I didn't get her name, Andrew thought looking at her fading back. He turned around and met with Emi, his sister.

"Emi." Andrew turned to face her with a small smile on his face. When Emi saw him she ran, and she didn't stop running right into his chest gripping him tightly that he might run away if she didn't.

"You idiot! You made me scared."

Andrew's shirt was getting wet with her tears but he didn't mind. He wrapped his arms around her and parted her head. Reassuring her of his presence.

"That looks in your eyes. Please don't ever do that again." She clutched onto his shirt tighter, refusing to let go.

Andrew said nothing but continued to reassure with his actions.

"Please, tell me. What's wrong? You can trust me. I'm your sister after all." Emi looked up into Andrew's eyes and gave a tear streaked smile. Andrew didn't hide behind a wall now. He would talk to her as siblings.

"I'm scared. Unbelievably so." Andrew gave a quick glance at Emi to see if she was listening then averted his gaze.

"I'm scared that everyone I know will leave me. And… and…" Andrew began to stumble on his words and Emi reassured him telling him to take his time. Andrew took a deep breath and looked Emi in the eyes. Her blue ocean eyes. You could easily get lost in them. This gave Andrew confidence and he confided in his sister.

"And I don't want that, I don't want to be left alone again." Andrew admitted. He lived pushing others away but what he wanted was human connections.

"It's okay," Emi stretched her arms around Andrew's back, hugging him before continuing. "I won't ever leave you. I promise." She looked up with a smile that could melt your heart. Andrew accepted. Hugging her tighter before saying. "Let's go home, sister." That word still felt foreign on his tongue but it was a word that showed he wasn't alone anymore. But in the back of his mind Karasu's death still left its mark.

But he didn't have time to think about that as he was tugged along the way to Granny Izuka's home by Emi, talking about how worried the both of them were when he suddenly ran out.