Here we go one more time. I've had this story in my head a long time, and have tried to get it out a couple of times. I've reworked the existing chapters, and have gotten farther this time. I hope you all enjoy it.
Cries of a Soul
Prologue
BEEP…BEEP…BEEP. The sound from the alarm clock was silenced by a small, tanned hand, as he groggily worked his way out of bed. The light slap of his bare feet against the cold, hard floor echoed through the silent house as he made his way to the bathroom. He had this routine down pat and, even with sleep still weighing him down, he was done in less than five minutes. Once done, he diligently headed to the kitchen to start preparing for the day. Pots and pans clanked as softly as the ten-year-old could manage as he began to fix breakfast for the other occupants of the house. He was used to all of this by now, but even still, a small part of him had begun longing for things to change.
The sound of footsteps descending the stairs signaled the approach of his aunt and uncle. They were early today and things weren't ready yet. The poor orphaned boy began hastily setting the table, silently praying the rushed job would be good enough for them, for her. The food just managed to hit the table as the footsteps changed from the creak of the wooden stairs to the softer slid of slippers on tile, signaling his time was up. Tensed muscles and bated breath took him over as his aunt walked in, followed shortly by his uncle.
His stomach grumbled pathetically as he watched his relatives bring the warm food to their lips. Blue eyes gazed at the scene desperately as a tiny shred of hope formed. What were the odds he would be lucky enough to at least get toast this time? He couldn't remember the last time he had been given permission to eat, having to instead sneak what meager scraps were least likely to be missed.
He lowered his head and waited in his corner while they ate. Maybe if he was extra quiet, he could have their leftovers. Maybe if he could somehow be good enough, he would earn an actual meal. Maybe if he could just figure out how to be perfect enough, he could make up for who he was, for what he had done, and his aunt and uncle would actually care for him. Maybe…..maybe he could someday figure out how to earn their love, to be worthy of it.
"OUT! Get out of here you Monster!" Kaguya spat.
He dashed out of the kitchen as fast as he could, not wanting to anger her further. Once out of site, he took a moment to sigh and lament over once again not having breakfast. With the small, hopeful prospect of eating dashed, he got to work on the rest of his daily duties, starting with cleaning the house. Halfway through, a loud crash resonated throughout the house. It was followed by an ere silence in which he didn't so much as dare to breath. Muscles shook with rigidity, and nervous sweat pricked through the skin at his temples. The silence stood for all of two seconds before the sound of fast, heavy footfalls heading in his direction filled his ears.
His aunt stormed around the corner; eyes hard with anger, voice dripping with disdain. "What did you break!" It wasn't an accusation. Not to her anyway. It had to be his fault. Everything was his fault. She wouldn't accept anything else. Still, he had to try, right? This was his aunt, his family, and surly someday she would give him a chance. Maybe today would be that day.
Though so nervous his voice shook and stuttered, he let the hope he might somehow reach his aunt guide him as he tried to calm her; tried to get her to be understanding. "N-Nothing…" Before he could utter another word, a loud crack tour through the space. Fire bloomed across his cheek, and even with his tanned skin, red sprung up. The whole left side of his face stung, and water pooled under his dimmed, shining eyes. Through the ringing in his ear, he heard what he knew was his aunt, but sounded like a twisted version of her as she shrieked "Don't you dare lie to me!"
Naruto wanted to run, to get somewhere safe and hide, but where even was that? Where was he ever safe? Would he ever actually be safe? He couldn't ever remember a time when he was. Besides, he knew running would only make what was coming worse. He relaxed his muscles, face falling into a neutral position as all hope died. He just stood there, accepting what was to come. The angry aurora coming from Kaguya intensified the longer the silence dragged on, becoming so profound that Naruto almost chocked on it when she finally snapped.
An all too familiar pain ran through his small frame. Slowly, and ever so gently, he managed to raise himself up. The heavy darkness of night greeted pain-filled, cerulean eyes. Never again. Anything else had to be better than this. Pain filled every fiber of his being as he worked on packing what few possessions he had. The last of his hope had finally died, but he refuse to die here with it. He wouldn't let her bitterness be the end of him. Thoughts filled his head as he worked, 'I'm sorry mom. Sorry I'm the reason you're gone. I know that makes me a killer. I know that makes me a monster. I know that's why they hate me; she hates me. I know I deserve her anger, but I…..I can't. I just can't do this anymore. Please forgive me.
With silent tears running down his face, he strained his ears for any sounds. The whine of the fridge, the thrum of the house's central A/C unit kicking on, and just barely audible under it all, soft snoring. Cold metal made his skin prickle as he turned the knob, and stepped out into the autumn night that was just beginning to get a chill, and never look back.
A/N: I've decided to revive and revise this FanFiction! As always, I don't own any characters, just the story itself. I hope I can do it better justice now.
