Chapter 7
Takara's Escape
Takara is running away still crying. She's not paying attention to where she is going because her eyes are closed from crying.
"I can't believe I hit someone innocent! He searched for me many years ago, and I repay him by hitting him? I'm so overwhelmed! Ugh, Why did I open up a little bit about my past? Whenever I open up, or just think about my past, I get so tense. I guess it was my instinct to hit Kakashi, but I still feel horrible. I want to apologize but I don't think I could face him right now. What if he hates me?" Takara thought to herself.
Takara opens her eyes but her vision is blurry from her tears. She wipes away her tears and takes a deep breath.
"Takara! Wait up!" Naruto calls out while chasing after her.
Takara stops running to let Naruto catch up.
"Takara, please don't run off like that!" Naruto says. "What if something bad happened? You do know you're going the wrong way right?'
Takara's eyes get teary again. "I don't know anything Naruto! My kidnappers- leaders- guards- abusers- whatever they were to me, ruined me! Ruined my life! I was beyond lucky to escape a couple years ago!"
"A couple years ago? I thought you escaped like last week!" Naruto says.
Takara sighs and sits down in front of a building. Takara pats the ground next to her for Naruto to sit next to her. Naruto sits down.
"I escaped when I was 14, with only one thing: my songbook." Takara says.
"Oh, that's what that green journal was," Naruto says.
"Yeah. Writing songs and pretending to perform them was my way to deal with my life," Takara says. "Not like my songs are any good." Takara chuckles.
"Oh, I'd love to hear the songs, well read them," Naruto says.
"No you don't," Takara says. "They're not good."
"Maybe another time," Naruto says.
"Yeah, probably not," Takara quickly says.
"Hey! If you ever want to make real music, I know someone who could help you out! He's a cool friend of mine! I call him Octopops, but he goes by Killer Bee!" Naruto says.
Takara quickly looks down and smiles shyly. "Octopops huh?"
"Yeah! We could go visit him sometime if you'd like," Naruto says.
"No, it's fine, don't worry," Takara says.
"Well, if you change your mind, let me know!" Naruto says.
"Thanks," Takara says.
"Anytime!" Naruto says with a thumbs up. Takara looks back up at Naruto and smiles. "Why are you smiling at me?"
"You're honestly the only friend I've ever had. Thanks for being here for me now," Takara says.
"Of course!" Naruto says.
Takara looks up at the sky, with the stars shining in her eyes.
"Hey," Naruto says.
"What?" Takara asks.
"If you want to, can you tell me more about your escape story, and how you got help?" Naruto asks.
"Oh, I guess I did start to tell you then stopped, huh?" Takara says. "Well like I said I was 14 and I officially escaped with the torn clothes on my dirty body and my songbook that I held onto for dear life. I remember it being late at night, past midnight I know that, and it was down pouring, lots of thunder. Then..."
Flashback:
At the age of 14, Takara was severely malnourished, pure skin and bones. Extra small clothing was too loose on her. She was extremely pale due to constantly being trapped in a dark cold basement. Takara was always shaky and weak, due to low blood sugar.
Takara would shutter every time she saw herself in a mirror, or anything with a reflection. She hated seeing how sunking in her face was. How deep her eyes were. She hated seeing her rib cage popping out of her body. She was basically a walking skeleton.
Takara has always had the leader of this horrible group change her hair up, always putting her up to their malicious plans. As of this certain day, Takara's hair was short and blonde. The leader would make her wear contacts to change her eye color too. With her short blonde hair she had light brown eyes.
Takara looks up at the clock. It had just turned 12:00 a.m. Takara had just taken a beating from the leader, Hiroshi. Hiroshi walks away to wash the blood off his fists.
There were 4 people in charge of Takara's life: Hiroshi, the leader, and the rest of his friends: Eito, Leiji, and Leitangi.
Takara wipes away her tears and rubs the blood off of her to her torn clothes. Her stomach starts throbbing. Just the day before, Takara had just her stomach cut open so her stomach is sore. Takara paid no attention to the pain. She knew it was due to just being kicked multiple times on her fresh wound with steel toe boots.
"Hey Hiroshi!" calls Eito.
"What?" asks Hiroshi.
"I got something for you, come here," Eito says.
Hiroshi groans and walks over to Eito.
"Use this on Tak," Eito says.
"Eito, is this boiling hot water?" asks Hiroshi.
"Yes," Eito says. "I also have a bucket of ice cold water with sharp ice shards in there for you to use. Use them in whichever order you'd like!"
"Oh this is perfect, thanks!" Hiroshi says. "Tak! Get in here!"
Takara whimpers to herself and slowly walks to Hiroshi and Eito while holding her songbook. "Yes sir?"
"Hey Tak, would you rather be hot, or cold?" asks Hiroshi.
"Um, I don't know. It depends on the situation," Takara says with pure innocence. "Why?"
Takara notices that Etio is talking to Leiji but she doesn't listen to what's going on because she is terrified. Then, Hiroshi and Eito look at each other and evily grin. Eito pushes Takara against the cold and hard basement wall. Then, Leiji leaves.
"Don't make me hold you here," Eito demanded.
"I won't move sir," Takara says.
Eito laughs. "Good."
Eito steps back and Hiroshi steps forward, holding a bucket of boiling hot water. Without any hesitation, he splashes the 212 degree fahrenheit water at Takara, causing her to scream the loudest she had ever screamed. Naturally Takara starts crying.
"Stop crying Tak!" yelled Hiroshi.
Hiroshi slaps Takara across the face. Takara stops crying immediately. Hiroshi takes the bucket of ice and water and splashes it at Takara. Takara screams loudly to the ice and water. The chunks of ice shards hitting Takara's face causing cuts to form.
Hiroshi and Eito laugh at Takara's pain. Leiji comes back inside.
"Now, we have a special place for you to sleep tonight," Eito says.
"W-where?" Takara asks while trying to hold back tears.
"Leitangi will show you," Hiroshi says. "Leiji! Take Tak to Leitangi!"
"On it," Leiji says and runs to Takara.
Leiji grabs Takara by her thin blistering arm and takes her to Leitangi. Leiji opens a door and they walk outside. It is very rare that Takara goes puts her songbook under her arm. She then inhales the air hoping to smell some fresh air, but is met with an unpleasant smell.
"Ew, what's that smell?" Takara asks while holding her nose with her other free hand.
"It's none of your concern," Leiji says.
Takara looks over and sees something she will never forget. Leitangi had just lit someone on fire. Takara gasps at the sight of the fire dancing in her eyes. Takara stops walking due to shock.
"I didn't tell you to stop walking, did I Tak?" Leiji asks Takara.
"No sir, I'm sorry," Takara says.
The screams of the person on fire scared Takara. Takara thought she was next. Deep down, she was hoping she was next so her suffering would end.
Leiji lets go of Takara and gives her to Leitangi. Leiji looks back at Takara and Leitangi, then walks back inside.
"Tonight, you are assigned to sleep out here," Leitangi says.
"Oh?" Takara asks.
Leitangi pulls out chains from a wooden box outside. "You're gonna be sleeping out here while being tied up. I'm gonna watch over you so you don't do anything you're not supposed to."
Takara looks down. "Yes sir."
Leitangi lifts Takara's head up. "What was that?"
Takara looks up at Leitangi. "Yes sir."
"Good," Leitangi says.
Takara stays right where she was standing. She watches Leitangi as he is getting the chains ready. Suddenly, Takara felt a raindrop. Takara looks up and sees more raindrops fall on her face. Takara can't recall the last time she has seen or felt rain. Then, the rain got heavier and faster. Takara lets the rain wash the blood off her. She then puts her songbook in her shorts so she can have her arms clean.
The person on fire stops screaming because the downpour of the rain was stopping the fire. Takara couldn't tell if the person on fire was a boy or girl due to how badly they were engulfed in flames.
The rain took out the fire rather quickly. Takara looks over and sees that the person on fire is a boy. The boy ran to Takara. She immediately thought that he was going to hurt her, but instead he did something that Takara will never forget.
"Takara, run, now! I'll hold off Leitangi. I'll die before they touch you again," the boy says.
"What?! Are you sure?" Takara asks.
"Yes!" the boy says. He pushed Takara forward. "Go!"
Takara looks back at him and nods. After her nod she starts to run as fast as her little legs could go.
"WHERE IS SHE?!" yells Leitangi.
Hearing Leitangi yell with pure anger made Takara run even faster, making her lose her breath quite fast.
"Yaketsuku! Where did that brat go?!" Leitangi yells.
"You'll never see her again!" Yaketsuku yelled back at Leitangi.
"Yaketsuku, thank you," Takara said under her breath while running.
Takara's vision gets challenged due to the downpour and the dark sky of the night. As much as Takara wanted to take a break and catch her breath, she couldn't. This is her chance to have the life she deserves. Takara thanks the rain for saving Yaketsuku, because he just saved her life. In the distance, Takara hears Yaketsuku scream in pure agony.
"Takara! Keep going!" Yaketsuku yells with the little strength he had left.
Takara keeps running and running. She has no idea where she's going. She just keeps going straight and hopes for the best.
While running, Takara occasionally hears Yaketsuku scream. His screams echo throughout the night sky. When Takara hears him scream, her heart drops. She wishes to go back and save him, but she took up on his offer to finally have a chance at life.
Hours have passed, Takara has not stopped running for any reason. Not a single second. If she stops, she won't be able to get back up. Her legs are pure jelly.
Takara isn't paying attention to her pathway. Only looking straight seeing where life takes her. Takara trips over a rock and falls face first into a huge pile of mud. Takara lays there in the mud just wishing for a miracle.
Takara sits up slowly and sees the mud drip off her. She noticed her eyes felt uncomfortable aside from being tired and crying. Takara remembered her brown contacts. When she realizes she's still wearing them, she quickly takes them out. She then destroys them as much as she can just in case Hiroshi, Eito, Leiji, or Leitangi somehow finds them and follows Takara's path.
Takara slowly tries standing up but immediately falls right back down in the mud again.
"Why was I cursed with this life?!" Takara asks herself. "I can't give up. I've already gotten this far. Don't let Yaketsuku take the pain he just endured to save you. If I can't walk to freedom, I will crawl!"
Takara gathers enough strength and courage to keep going. Takara still has her songbook, only the covers being covered in mud. Takara starts crawling with her journal in one hand, and the other one to the freedom that she craved.
Several hours have passed. The sun has risen, beaming down on Takara's pale, weak body. Takara hasn't eaten in days, or drank water properly. Takara tried to drink the rain but it was hard to do so while running.
Takara gasps as she sees buildings and an entrance gate. She can't tell what it says but she doesn't care. Through those gates may await her better life. As Takara gets closer to the gates, she cries out for help.
"Please... help me!" Takara cries out weakly.
The two guards guarding the gates see Takara and prepare themselves in case of this being a set up.
"Please...," Takara begs.
The two guards look at each other and nod. They run up to Takara. They both help her up by grabbing her arms and are letting Takara lean against one of the men. Takara's songbook falls out of her shorts without realizing it.
"Who are you?" asks the first guard.
The second guard looks more at Takara's face.
"Wait, you look very familiar," the second guard says.
Takara leans up. "I... do?"
"Hey Daisuke, isn't she the missing girl from the Leaf?" asks the second guard.
Daisuke, gasps. "A- are you Takara Uta?"
Takara looks up at Daisuke. "Yes."
The two guards gasp.
"Where did you come from?" asks Daisuke.
"We must get her to the Raikage at once!" the second guard says.
"Wait," Daisuke says. He bends over and picks up her songbook. "Takara Uta, is this yours?"
Takara barely nods. "Mm hmm."
"Daisuke, get her to Ay immediately," the second guard says.
"Okay!" Daisuke says. He lifts up Takara and carries her in his arms.
Daisuke quickly gets Takara in the Raikage's office. Ay and Killer Bee are in there.
"Sir," Daisuke says.
"Yes, what is it? Who is this filthy girl?" Ay asks.
"This is the missing Leaf girl, Takara Uta!" Daisuke says.
"Takara Uta?!" Ay asks in total shock.
Takara leans her head back about ready to pass out in Daisuke's arms. Takara loses her grip and drops her songbook on the ground. It lands open in the middle. Bee goes to the songbook and picks it up, and of course reads it a little bit before putting it on Ay's desk.
"Once I'm free, let's meet up at the oak tree, and fall in love all over again," Bee reads.
Takara slowly looks over at Bee because she recognized what he said.
"You're a song writer Takara? It's been so long since I've met a song writer! YEAAAH!" Bee says.
"Takara needs help, she's dying," Daisuke says.
"Do we send her back to the Leaf?" Ay asks.
"Absolutely not. Whoever kidnapped her will search for her and that's the first place they'll look," Daisuke says.
"Then where do we take her?" Ay asks. "I don't have time to babysit her."
Bee looks at Takara, then takes a deep breath. "If a home is what she needs, I'll do a good deed and she can live with me, fool ya fool!"
Ay and Daisuke gasp at Bee's offer.
"Bee, are you sure?" Daisuke asks.
"I didn't hesitate, did I fool, ya fool?" asks Bee.
"Do you know what you're getting yourself into, brother?" Ay asks Bee.
"I don't mind, and besides, we can bond over song writing!" Bee says.
"Well, okay then," Daisuke says. "Let's get her home."
Daisuke carries Takara out of Ay's office. Bee follows Daisuke. Aye face palms himself and goes back to what he was doing before.
Takara looks over at Bee and smiles. Takara's first true smile for a very long time.
"T- thank you Bee," Takara says.
"I'm gonna make sure that you have the best life Takara! YEAAAH!" Bee says.
Takara smiles. She can't believe she's going to a home. Here comes the life that Takara has craved for a very long time.
Present time:
"Octopops saved you? He never told me about you!" Naruto says.
"He didn't want to tell anyone about me just in case anyone bad was listening. He just wanted me safe." Takara says. "When he was in the war, I was terrified. I didn't know if he'd survive or not. And what if Hiroshi or someone somehow found my location and captured me again? Bee wouldn't be there to help me!"
"Did you ever get annoyed with him rapping all the time?" Naruto asks while laughing.
"No, actually," Takara says with a chuckle. "Bee said that we could bond over songwriting and we sure did. We even recorded songs together just for fun! We never sent them anywhere though."
"Oh man, I'd love to hear the songs that you and Octopops made!" Naruto says.
"Never in a million years!" Takara says in a teasing tone.
"Is Takara around? Taaakara!" calls out a voice. Takara's eyes get big because she thinks she recognizes the voice.
"Naruto!" Takara whispers to him in panic.
"What?" Naruto asks.
"That voice... sounds like Eito!" Takara says.
"Takara, are you sure?" Naruto asks.
"Uh, I think? I don't know! Oh man!" Takara says.
Takara continues to freak out and looks around frantically. Takara spots a trash can. Without thinking, Takara runs to the trash can and jumps inside it, putting the lid on top of her head.
"Oh no, the smell," Takara says in her head.
Naruto watches Takara literally throw herself away. Naruto doesn't question it. Instead, he goes up to the man calling for Takara.
"Hi, I'm uh, Takara's brother. She ran away earlier and I'm trying to get her back home," the man says.
Takara pokes her head up from the trash can. One, so she can see who is talking and two, to get some fresh air.
"I don't know this Takara person you speak of," Naruto says.
"Come on kid. This whole village knows Tak,- I mean Takara," the man says.
"Yeah, we've heard of her, but I've never seen her here. Now get out of here man!" Naruto says.
The man looks at Naruto annoyed. "Fine."
Naruto wants to make sure that this man is gone for good.
"Shadow clone jutsu!" Naruto calls out. Another Naruto appears next to him. "Other me, make sure that this freak leaves the Leaf!"
"Right!" says the other shadow clone.
The man starts to walk away. The shadow clone follows him.
Normal Naruto watches his clone escort the man out of the they're both out of sight, Naruto runs to Takara.
"You can come out now, it's safe," Naruto tells Takara.
Takara lifts the lid off her head and drops it on the ground. Naruto holds out his hand for Takara. Takara slowly lifts her very shaky hand out. Naruto helps her out.
"You okay?" Naruto asks.
"I don't have a brother," Takara says. "I don't have any siblings!"
"Did you recognize the voice?" Naruto asks.
"I swear it sounded like Eito, but then again my brain could be playing tricks on me," Takara says.
"Man, if Neji were here, he could have used his byakugan to look at that man's chakra and remember it," Naruto says.
"My heart is racing," Takara blurts out.
"Do you want me to get you home?" Naruto asks.
Before Takara could respond, she and Naruto hear Sakura call out his name. "Naruto!"
"Huh? Sakura?" Naruto asks.
Naruto and Takara look over and see everyone that was Ichiraku Ramen, except Kakashi, Guy, and Lee.
"Oh, hey guys!" Naruto says.
Takara takes a step back because she doesn't want anyone to smell her.
"Takara, are you okay? You look totally spooked right now!" Ino says.
Takara looks down.
"Somebody came by asking for her. Takara said that the guy sounded exactly like one of her abusers," Naruto says.
Everyone is in shock.
"O- one of Takara's kidnappers is in the village?" asks a freaked out Hinata.
"Takara, do you feel safe being alone in your apartment?" Neji asks while being behind everybody.
Everyone turns around to look at Neji.
"I thought you went home," Tenten says in confusion.
"Neji? What are you doing all the way back there?" asks Sakura.
"Naruto, what did the man look like?" Neji asks, completely ignoring Sakura and Tenten.
"Um... spiky ice blue hair, lime green eyes, why?" Naruto asks.
"I saw a guy looking like that walking with you," Neji says. "Well now I know it is a shadow clone. I knew you hadn't gotten Takara home that quickly and I knew something was off so I used my byakugan to scan the man's chakra just in case."
Takara blushes while Neji was talking to Naruto.
"Aw! Everyone here does care about me," Takara thinks to herself.
"But Takara, I need to know if you'll feel safe being alone in your apartment," Neji says.
"Aww, you care about Takara!" Ino teases Neji. Tenten rolls her eyes.
"She's our friend, isn't she?" Neji asks. "I care about all of us here."
Takara's eyes water up and she smiles really big.
"Takara, why are you crying?" Naruto asks.
"I love this feeling. You guys truly care about me. I've never felt this way before," Takara says. Everyone smiles. "But to answer you Neji, I should be fine."
"Then let's get you home," Naruto says.
"Okay," Takara says.
Takara and Naruto start to walk home.
"Wait! Takara!" yells out Sakura.
Takara turns around. "Hm?"
"Tomorrow around noon, all of us want to go to the public pool by my house. Would you like to join us?" Sakura asks Takara,
Takara's face turns red. "I would, but I don't have a bathing suit."
"Oh, that's fine. You can borrow one of mine," Sakura says.
Naruto bursts out laughing. Sakura looks at him with anger.
"What's so funny... Naruto?" Sakura asks angrily.
"Come on, there's no way Takara can fit in one of your bathing suits!" Naruto says, still laughing.
Takara gasps. "Are you calling me fat?! Look, I know I've gained a ton of weight after getting help, but you don't have to point it out! I'm healthy now!"
"No Takara, no!" Naruto says. "I'm not talking about your weight at all. You look fine!"
"Then what ARE you talking about?" Sakura asks angrily.
"Look at your chest compared to Takara's!" Naruto says. "You're as flat as a pancake while Takara-"
Sakura runs up to Naruto and punches him below the belt. Naruto yells and falls to his knees. The guys react to Naruto's pain.
"Ooouch," Choji says.
"That's gotta hurt," Shikamaru says.
Sai cringes at Naruto's pain while Neji shakes his head.
"Yikes," Kiba says. Akamaru puts his head down and whines.
Takara uses her arms to cover her chest. "You know Naruto, if guys' packages stood out like womens' chests, guys would hate it if girls made fun of their meat factory."
Everyone quietly chuckles at Takara's comment.
"You know, Takara, I can always buy you a swimsuit," Sakura says to Takara.
"No, you don't have to Sakura, really, it's okay," Takara says.
"Well, I insist!" Sakura says while lifting her pointer finger.
"Then I'll pay you back whenever I earn myself some money," Takara says.
"No, I won't accept it," Sakura says and crosses her arms.
Takara leans in closer to Sakura's face. "Then I'll leave the money at your place!"
Sakura leans her face closer to Takara's. "Then I'll come over and leave the money at your place!"
Naruto finally gets back up. Naruto chuckles and puts each arm over Sakura and Takara.
"Ladies...," Naruto starts to say. "If you don't want the money Takara, give it to me, I'll use it to get myself some ramen!"
Sakura looks over at Naruto angrily. She takes Naruto's arms off of her and Takara. Then, Sakura picks up Naruto by the collar of his jumpsuit and throws him.
Takara chuckles. "Try not to kill him yet Sakura, I need him."
"I'll pick you up tomorrow morning," Sakura says and chuckles. "Oh, these are for you."
Takara raises an eyebrow. Sakura opens her bag and gives Takara 3 items.
"What's this?" Takara asks.
"When I go on missions, I always carry some traveling shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. They've never been used yet and I have a feeling you may need them. Please, keep them," Sakura says with a smile.
"Oh, thank you Sakura!" Takara says with a smile. Takara accepts Sakura's gifts.
Naruto slowly gets up. "T- Takara... lets... let's go home."
"Oh, I'm staying the night with you," Sakura says to Takara.
"But I'm fine, plus-," Takara starts to say until Sakura cuts her off.
"No buts," Sakura says.
Naruto starts to laugh at what Sakura says while still being on the ground in pain. Sakura rolls her eyes at Naruto's immaturity.
Takara groans. "Okay fiiine."
"Good, let's get going," Sakura says. Sakura starts to walk away. Takara turns around to look at everyone.
"Bye everyone! See you all tomorrow!" Takara says and waves.
Everyone waves back and goes their way. Takara goes up to Naruto and helps him up.
"Thanks Takara," Naruto says.
"Don't mention it," Takara says.
Takara and Naruto go up to Sakura and they start walking home together. Takara is silent the whole way home because she is anxious. She's spending the night with someone she barely knows, and she just has a bad feeling that something bad will happen.
(Thanks for reading! I've had this ready for over a year but ya know, life. I have the manga form on my deviantart if you'd like to see it!)