The Mysterious Child—Part 1
BAM! A terrifying boom shook the heavens as heavy rain pounded the ground. Streaks of white light illuminated the dark sky, only to be followed by another ear shattering blare.
The once busy market street was now empty. Small stall owners had hastily closed shop and returned to the safety of their homes while shop keepers had moved their signs and other items inside. The various cart vendors who had taken opportunity to make a profit by selling cheap umbrellas were also gone. Once in a while, an odd businessman would hastily splash through the wet street only to take shelter in warmer corner bar.
No one noticed the lone boy sitting at the corner of an alleyway. Small, frail looking, and wearing nothing but rags, the small boy was hunched beside the window of a bakery. From the window’s light, the boy seemed to have long blonde hair and high cheekbones. The left side of his face was marred by three long scars.
The boy sat with his knees tucked in to his chest and his arms dropped next to him. Rain drenched his body but he didn't seem to care. He didn't move but stared forward at nothing.
The cheerful ring of a bell sounded and a bed of light spilled onto the street as a tall woman and a young girl exited the shop.
The girl wore a long raincoat with its hood pulled over her head and bright colored rain boots. She held a decorative pink umbrella over her head in one hand and a large bag in the other. Smiling brightly, she waved goodbye to the store owners as she stepped outside.
Turning, she froze as her emerald eyes fixated on the curled up boy. Almost dropping her package in her haste, she tore towards the stranger, her tiny voice calling in concern. "What's wrong?"
The boy did not flinch as he felt the stranger loom over him. He continued to stare forward vaguely noticing the absence of the rain needles from his skin.
"Sakura?" A female voice called. The older woman who had also left the shop followed. "You're getting wet." She commented her golden eyes were disapproving.
Sakura looked back, she was already soaked. The moment she had reached the boy, she had disregarded herself and held out her umbrella to cover the poor child; the thin raincoat she wore was not enough to shield her from the downpour. "Tsunade-sama,” She said.
"Ah ah, what do we have here?" The indifferent voice asked and she walked closer.
Sakura stepped aside a little but still held the umbrella over the boy. Her mentor bent down, tucking the handle of her umbrella between her neck and shoulder. “Let's see." She said to the unmoving boy.
Her warm hands touched the boy's cold skin, as she tilted up the face and swept away his bangs.
The empty blue eyes shifted a little but remained dead.
Tsunade sighed. "Nothing huh? Is that body of yours just an empty shell?" She asked, not expecting an answer.
"Master!" Sakura gasped at its coldness of Tsunade’s voice.
Tsunade glanced nonchalantly at the concerned girl. "What?"
"Master, you've always told me that a doctor's purpose is to help anyone who's in need." Sakura said, her eyes begging.
Tsunade looked back at the boy. "You hear that? She's concerned about you. Do you have anything to say to that?"
The boy stayed motionless.
"Maybe he's in shock?" Sakura reasoned.
Tsunade sighed, drawing her hand back. "Ok, no use asking now. We should get him inside before it's too late, and before you catch a cold." She stared back at her idiot disciple. Before she completely withdrew her hands, she felt something cold and boney curl around her wrist. She looked back at the boy, startled.
His eyes were no longer blank. His expression was contorted and his mouth parted slightly as if he was trying to form words.
Sakura gasped, kneeing down. "W-what's your name?" She asked quickly. "Wha—"
"H-h-hel-p me..." The tiny rasp was barely audible.
Tsunade felt the hand drop. The light that had momentarily shone in the boy's eyes was gone. "Sakura!" She said authoritatively.
"Hai!"
"Take my bag, hold your umbrella properly." She gave the girl her small purse.
Tsunade dropped her umbrella as she extended both her arms to hoist the boy. He was deathly light, boney, and cold. Her heels dug into the ground as she staggered up, the boy in one of her arms, his head resting on her shoulder.
"Let's go Sakura." She commanded, leaving her umbrella lying on the ground.
Sakura nodded, quickly following the tall blonde and smiling at the mysterious boy. "You'll be alright 'kay?" She promised. "We'll get you all fixed up."
The boy didn't smile, but oddly closed his eyes instead.
"Oh! You can't do that! Don't close your eyes!" Sakura said frantically and sighed when she saw blue pupils look back at her. "I'm sorry, but you can't sleep yet okay?"
Tsunade stayed silent as she power walked, turning at a corner to her car. She had several options in front of her; one of them was to take the boy to the hospital. But the boy’s situation had made her hesitant; more than just being a stranger off the streets, the boy seemed to be running from something. His ‘help’ had been desperate and resigned. There seemed to be a deeper meaning towards the boy’s existence, and she only knew one person that might know or could find out. Her free hand found her phone and she pressed a speed dial. She lifted the phone to her ear.
'Tsunade.' A cool and calm voice answered. There was cold endearment in the words.
"Sasuke." She responded while she nodded to Sakura who opened the back door of Tsunade's black 321i BMW Convertible. Tsunade carefully dropped the boy onto the leather seat, dismissing the fact that she was ruining her car. Sakura closed the door and ran to the other side to slide in besides the boy. She quickly grabbed a spare towel Tsunade always kept in the car and stared drying off the blond.
'How unexpected for you to call me.' Sasuke said smoothly. 'I gather something happened?'
Tsunade glanced up not caring that big, fat raindrops pelted her face. "Yes." She admitted.
The line was eerily quiet.
Tsunade sighed.
Breathe, she commanded herself. "I need your help." She finally uttered. She couldn't believe that circumstances had lead to this. Sasuke was good as long as he wasn't her enemy. But he wasn't her friend either. However, he was absolutely needed this time.
There was a light pause. 'I'll be waiting.'
The call ended.
Thank you for reading!
