Never Ending Cycle

Trust me

There’s no need to fear

Everyone’s here

Waiting for you to finally be one of us



Come down

You may be full of fear

But you’ll be safe here

When you finally trust me

Finally believe in me



I will let you down

I’ll let you down, I’ll

When you finally trust me

Finally believe in me

--Let You Down (Three Days Grace)



Chapter Four: Let You Down



   Chinatsu began to chatter with Sakura the instant I began to show less interest in what she was saying. The children had long since gone back to their mothers and fathers and the boat’s passengers had begun to settle down. I noticed that the commuters were all gone in fact; probably off to get some sleep. The fires were beginning to die and smolder in its ashes. Quiet settled upon the beach. Not even Chinatsu’s voice pierced it.


   I opened my attention back to Chinatsu and Sakura. They had both stopped talking. Sakura looked confused. Chinatsu had stopped in mid-sentence. A smile played across her face and she looked over to the boy named Kiyoshi we had ‘met’ earlier. She whistled loud enough to hurt my ears. Kiyoshi turned to look.


   "Oui syo damm ajanouha drao lyh cdynd huf," (1)


   Kiyoshi nodded and got up instantly. The little boy who called for Chinatsu clung to his leg and smiled at me. He pulled away from his brother and walked over, plucking a flower from a vine near him. He got close enough to me and held out the flower, smiling as he did. I took it from him and smiled back. It was awkward to say the least. He grabbed my hand as soon as I did and began to pull me. I nearly tripped over my own feet as he did. He was less than half my size and it was uncomfortable to walk hunched over. He brought me to the palm tree patch; a mini-forest if you will. He pulled me deeper and deeper into the territory when I heard drums beating, the same drums, though different rhythme, as before. A huge fire roared and two women stood across from each other. People were in a large circle around them; all of which were the caravan’s members. I didn’t see any passengers in sight.


   The women wore golden masks, again almost exactly like the ANBU’s. Spears were poised in their hands. Cuts and scrapes already adorned them, but neither of them panted in exhaustion. One of them especially caught my eye. She wore gold everywhere. Gold bells on her ankles, gold bangles, gold earrings, and a golden necklace with a rose locket around her neck. Her olive skin had a thin layer of sweat and her long platinum blonde hair stuck to her back and arms. But what really caught my eye was the mask on her face and the tattoo on her back. The mask was of a fox with high pointed ears. The tattoo… well... a nine tailed fox as red and fierce as the one I kept inside me. I couldn’t take my eyes off it. It was as red as blood and the tails were poised as if to strike. It signified something. I knew it instantly. Couldn't exactly place my finger on how I could possibly know such a thing, but I did. I wondered if she had any connection with Kyuubi at all.


   I felt a tug on my pant leg and I looked down. The boy who gave me the flower stared up at me.


   ”I’m Jiro, by the way. And that’s my aniki, Kiyoshi,” He pointed over to Kiyoshi,


   I smiled. “Uzumaki Naruto,”


   “You like the look of that lady, don’t you?”


   I blinked. A little kid had read me like a book. Damn, I must be getting worse at the ‘hide your emotions’ portion of being a ninja. After a long moment, I nodded.


   ”That’s Hotaru, The Skeleton Samurai. She’s the best fighter here. At least, she’s won this fight ever since I can remember. this fight tells us who is the one best capable of protecting us,”


   I nodded again and looked back to the fight. The two discarded their spears and fought hand to hand, foot to foot, and head to head. The one called Hotaru flipped the other girl and made her fall onto the sandy ground harshly. Her foot came down on the girl’s chest hard and she stared down at her, what seemed like to me, coldly.


   ”I don’t know why the girls try. Hotaru’ll never be beaten,” Jiro said happily next to me.


   ”Well, if she’s so good, then why not let some of the men try to beat her? You make it sound like only the girls fight,”


   ”That’s because they’re the only ones that do,” Kakashi-sensei came up behind us, “This caravan is completely run by the females. That’s why you only see them fight and perform. Males are here only as figureheads of strength. They help when the more sexist people come here," He chuckled when I gave him a look, "After all, females are the reason this whole caravan is even here,”


   I guess that made sense. I could see where he was coming from. I realized how quiet it got and I looked up. Hotaru was staring straight at me. A jolt of… stun, I guess… ran through me. I stood frozen for a moment before relief flooded the stun out of my system and I smiled, puffing out my chest, proudly. I swear I could see a smirk pass over her expression under that mask.


   Hotaru scanned the audience, stepping off her opponent to let her get up.


   ”Fru ec haqd? Fru tynac du lrymmahka sa huf?”


   The audience took a step back but I held my ground. An amused chuckle rose up and out of the woman’s throat. She stepped toward me and held her hand out; motioning me to step up. She wanted a fight then, eh?


   I saw Kakashi-sensei shake his head and cross his arms as I stepped into the crudely planted ring. Hotaru took ten steps back away from me before taking her stance. It looked like an odd form really, nothing I've ever seen before. Jiro smiled and sat down on the ground. I looked around at everyone. All were emotionless at the moment. I smiled triumphantly as I looked at them all. I hadn’t even won yet and I was still acting as though I had. I went to go pick up the spear still in the sand.


“Leave it. We won’t be using them,”


   I nodded and took a stance as well. I'm not exactly the best in Taijutsu, but I was damn sure going to try it out now. A man came between us and looked at the both of us; first Hotaru, then me. He held his hand up and swung down quickly before jumping back. Hotaru wasted no time and lunged at me. I barely had any time to block before the barrage of attacks came raining down on me. Damn, she was fast. I know this wasn’t the time to be thinking about other things other than the fight at hand, but I wondered why she was called The Skeleton Samurai. She seemed more ninja than anything.


   She had no method to her attacks that I could see. Once I found an open spot, she would completely change her tactics and cover it. It was like trying to find an invisible squirrel in the forest then catch it before it ran away. She hit me a few good times in my chest and stomach. I was backing up without realizing it. I looked around, still blocking, for a way out. I saw Sasuke standing next to Sakura with his arms crossed and watching me. What must he think of me right now.


   I stepped back and pain shot up my leg. I was by the fire, I could feel the heat on my back, and I had stepped on a smoldering piece of log. The woman immediately stopped and stepped back, giving me room to come forward.


   ”I will not fight you if you’re in a corner. It isn’t fair,”


   Glad to know she knew boundaries; good honorable fighter. I stepped forward and she began the fight again. This time, she went slower though and kept glancing at my burnt foot. She shoved me against a tree and I slid down a bit, getting bruised slightly from the rough edges of the tree. I blinked. Didn’t she just say…


   She rammed her foot against my chest and I coughed. I pushed myself up to stand straight. My clothing tore from the tree grabbed at it and pulling.


   ”You’re not trying, young Uzumaki. You’re not fit enough to carry your own name,”


   I blinked. Was she bringing family into this now? I went to say something, but was cut off by Chinatsu’s voice.


   ”Hotaru, dryd ec ahuikr. Oui haath’d vekrd res,” Hotaru backed off and I blinked, “Ybumukewa,”


   Hotaru looked directly at me. “Gomen nasai,” She paused, “N… Naruto-kun,”


   She hesitated with my name. I blinked in confusion. Why? Hotaru reached up and removed her mask. Her eyes opened and I nearly gasped. Dazzling blue eyes greeted me. They held the same shape as mine, but they were by far more brilliant. They made snow look dirty. She smiled at me and came closer. She was only about two inches shorter than me.


   She pushed herself up onto her tiptoes and gripped the back of my head to make me lean down. Her lips touched my forehead, silky and smooth. I stood unmoving as I looked down at my feet. Hotaru wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me into a hug. She was being so… friendly now. First she pulls me into a taijutsu match and now she acted as though the whole thing never happened and we were long lost friends or something. I hesitantly wrapped by arms around her torso and looked up from the ground. Everyone averted their gaze from us and began to help each other with whatever it is they were doing. I couldn't exactly see very well at the moment. Only Mai, Chinatsu, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi-sensei remained and stared at the two of us. I smiled nervously and she finally let go; she most likely sensed my nervousness and tension. I sighed in relief and turned myself to walk off.


   She grabbed my wrist to prevent me from going anywhere. “You must be hungry,” She said suddenly as she forced me down to my bottom, “Stay. Food will be served soon,”


   She sat down next to me and leaned against the tree behind us. Others soon followed her example, sitting in a long rectangle shape. I saw Kakashi-sensei take a seat next to Mai and they immediately began talking and laughing. Sakura sat next to Chinatsu and all the children gathered round; children around their mother. But… where was Sasuke? he was just there!!! I looked around frantically and almost rose to my feet to sprint off to find him. He couldn't have gotten far!


   I heard a soft thud next to me and looked over. Sasuke sat there and gave me a bored expression before rolled his eyes and shaking his head. I smiled and relaxed. So far, this trip has been full of tension and relaxation. Why can't it be like a vacation where I do nothing but sleep and eat and sleep some more?


   ”You got your ass whooped again, dobe,”


   I rolled my eyes. Challenge had come up again. I should really let it pass, but… I went to say something back to him, but I was interrupted.


   ”Shut up and don’t start,” Hotaru had spoken up next to me, “There is no fighting when food is served. See our formation?” She held her hand out to everyone eating and laughing, “We sit like this to symbolize four walls, four walls of support. If one pillar or board decides to move because he or she is bickering with his or her neighbor, the wall will fall and the others with it. If you are going to sit here, then be nice or move,”


   I shivered slightly. Maybe it was the tone of her voice that made my skin crawl. It was a bit intimidating, but I can’t truthfully say it was. Too subtle, you know? It was like a mother scolding her child without her actually realizing it was scolding. The child would shiver and squirm and nod obediently even when its mother was only telling it a warning.


   I heard Sasuke snort in disgust next to me. No, that’s not it. It was more like a ’you’re actually threatening me? Who the hell do you think you are?’ snort. A glare was shot over to Sasuke from Hotaru’s eyes. I shrank. The glare wasn’t even directed toward me, nor was the warning for that matter, and still I shrank. Sasuke went back to being silent and began to eat. Hotaru seemed to relax; as did I.




   It was early the next morning when I awoke and it was a none too peaceful awakening at that. I felt a tickle on my nose and swatted at it instinctively. The tickle persisted and crude jabs to my side, legs, arms, and chest joined in on its fun. A grunt escaped my lips and giggles echoed it. That’s when I bolted upright. Children surrounded me on all sides and began to laugh. I glared at them, only making them laugh harder, and looked around. No one else was awake. In fact, the sun was barely in the sky. Some stars still sparkled overhead dully and tall shadows stretched over the earth.


   I felt a tug on my shirt and I looked down.


   ”Ano…”


   A little girl.


   She stood there with her toes pointed toward each other and fingers poking together nervously. She reminded me of Hinata; especially her eyes, which were a light gray color. A cherry red blush formed on her nose and upper cheeks as I stared down at her. She stuttered a bit and gulped.


   ”G-g-gomen n-nasai for wa-waking you, but…”


   She cut herself off and searched for the right thing to say. I couldn’t help but smile at her introversion.


   ”But what?” I finally asked.


   She jumped and her whole face lit up in a red blaze. She immediately covered her face with her hands and blushed deeper. I chuckled as I watched the sight. The children around her coaxed her to get over it and continue, but she shook her head stubbornly. Her pigtails bounced and shook as she swayed and muttered into her hands. My hand came down onto her head gently and ruffled her dirty blonde hair.


“Go on. Finish your sentence,” I put on my best smile for her.


   A shy smile broke out on her face behind her hands.


   ”No one else is… ano…” I reached out and pulled her hands out of her face to hear her better; warranting another wave of bright red light to radiate from her, “U-up and, well, ummm….”


   ”Ah. You want to play, don’t you?” The kids smiled and nodded in unison, “Alright then. I guess I can play for a little while,”


   I stood and some of the kids latched onto my legs, Giggles and happy hums came from their throats. They began to push, shove, and pull me away from everyone else. I nearly tripped over them all as I walked.


   ”Nii-san, keep going!” One of them shouted as they pushed me.


   ”Over here, nii-san!” Another called as they ran into the patch.


   All the others followed as they pulled away from me. Some still clung to my legs and hands to make sure I actually followed.


   Thy all stopped a little ways in and pushed me into their little group. Jiro emerged from the crowd and climbed up onto the small mound of sand there to look over all of them.


   ”The name of the game is hide-n-seek,” We all nodded and Jiro’s face sported a smirk, “Onetwothree, not it!!”


   Everyone shouted ‘not it’ except for me. This wasn’t how we picked who was it back home. They all laughed and pointed.


   ”You’re it nii-san!” And with that they scattered.


   Jiro took off with a smirk and left me there.


   I sighed and chuckled slightly before sitting on the small mound. Guess it’s what I got for agreeing to something without asking first. I began to count when I covered my eyes.


   ”ichi, nii, san…”


   As soon as I hit twenty-five, I shouted that I was coming and took off. I found half of them in five minutes. Not bad, not bad, considering I wasn’t using any ninja skills to find them. I’d be called a cheater; even though I still was being called such whenever I found someone.


   I saw Jiro dart into the forests and I immediately took off after him. His giggles echoed off the trees and made it all the more easier to find him. We weaved in and out of the trees, making the chase harder and harder. I had him in my sights when he suddenly stopped. I smirked and came up behind him, being as quiet as I possibly could. But, in my silence, I heard something; a crying something. I blinked and poked my head out from between the shrubbery just above the boy’s head. There stood Chinatsu and Hotaru. Standing wasn’t the correct word. Hotaru was on her knees, holding herself, and crying her eyes out. Tears streamed down her face and onto the sand, darkening it instantly. Chinatsu stood over her with her blind eyes holding a sadness and understanding.


   I looked down at Jiro below me and his eyes were fixed on the sight. Chinatsu and Hotaru began to talk in their foreign tongue.


   ”Hotaru, oui ghaf drec fyc kuehk du rybbah cusadesa. Oui lyhhud damm sa dryd oui tet hud vuncaa drec saadehk,”


   Ragged sobs came from Hotaru and more tears spilt out of her eyes. Coughs erupted from her just shortly after.


   ”Chinatsu-kaasan, bmayca vunkeja sa,”


   ”Vunkeja oui vun fryd?! E femm hud vunkeja oui Hotaru. Oui sicd vunkeja ouincamv. Ed fyc ouin lruela hud seha. Oui sicd vyla drec mega dra fynneun oui dnimo yna,”


   Hotaru shook her head and sobbed more. I felt so terrible. Her hands grasped the locket hanging from her neck and held it tight.


   ”He won’t remember me…”


   I blinked in confusion. I couldn’t follow their conversation at all. Chinatsu continued to stare. The only way I could possibly describe this is a priest and the sinner confessing her sins to her.


   ”Ra fuh’d nasaspan sa!” She shouted.


   Her hands shot up to her face and covered it fully. Tears flooded the crevices between her fingers and she hunched over. Chinatsu bent down and pulled Hotaru into her arms.


   ”Ed femm palusa ybbynahd cusadesa. Oui lyh aedran reta drec un damm res, pid E yccina oui, ra femm veht uid. Naruto-kun femm veht uid oui yna rec sudran,”


   My eyes widened. They had said my name. I backed up and Jiro stared with his eyes wide. He wheeled around to me and his eyes widened more, if possible. He suddenly bolted away from me shouting something. Chinatsu’s gaze shot in that direction and her eyes fell on me. Her eyes widened slightly and she softened. A gravelly sigh escaped her lips.


   ”I suppose it has begun then,” She motioned for me to come over and I shook my head, “you’re not in trouble Naruto-sama. There is nothing wrong except for what Hotaru has to say. You will find out sooner or later,”


   I bolted, just like Jiro had.






(1) - This is the al bhed language from FFX and I do not take credit in the making of it, nor any profit. :P need the disclaimer sorry.



A/N: aren’t you all happy people? I finally got another chapter out. If you all want to know what they’re saying just go here: http://www.pixelscapes.com/twoflower/albhed.html. It’ll translate it for you. I’m not going to because that’ll spoil it and I really don’t advice you to spoil it for yourselves, but w/e. You can if your curious, or you can be patient people and wait a couple chapters. Well, ja ne for now. Hope you liked this one.