Drowning Waterfalls

A/N: So I started this story like 4-5 years ago and now I’m coming back to re-edit it! I don’t remember where I was going with this so bare with me it’s been a few years. ALSO, I have NOT kept up with the anime or manga; so I will be changing things MY WAY. Please don’t hate me.

I'm going to give a little background info but not to much on my character Maya talk about where she came from and her clan lightly so you aren't left in the dark...

Maya Ikimono

Ikimono= living thing, animal

Maya is from waterfall country where she lived in a small village near the border to Waterfall and Fire country. Her family was part of a small clan of healers that lived just outside the village walls. All the children within the clan were expected to reach a certain level in healing ability before the age of fifteen.

Disowning ones child was very common within the clan and Maya was no exception. When Maya showed no talent in healing and showed no signs of improvement. At fifteen she was forced to leave her clan. She moved not that far from the clan household, in order to train her self to heal so her family could be proud of her.

Her skills were improving slowly over the next few years as she practiced on animals she started on things that were small and injured, such as birds with broken wings. Over time she moved on up into bigger animals. She conducted all her research daily with no days off so just by chance her family would take her back. She’d spent most of her days in the library studying scrolls and manuscripts of all kinds. She'd look up animals and humans body structure and heal try to access and heal accordingly.

Some of her family would come and visit her and check up on how she is doing. Mostly her mother would visit her when her father was out on missions, so he would never know of her visits with her. Mother fought so hard to get me to learn, but she always felt like something was wrong or different about her. But no matter what even though she was forced to leave the family she would always tell her how proud she was of Maya.

Maya in the story now is 18. So...that's all I'm going to say for now so I hope you like it.

I'll get into a description of what she looks like later on in the story for now use your imaginations.

A/N: It's going to take a while to actually get the story going so please be patient this is a story that's going to work slowly. I'm going to try to go with as much detail as possible but try not to rush things, for the characters.

Maya's P.O.V.

I kept running no matter how bad the pain in my chest demanded rest; I could feel the burning in my lungs with each time I inhaled. My chest felt cold and hot at the same time and dry. I went into my pack and grabbed some water and brought the bottle to my lips so fast I splashed water in my nose. I could feel the burn but didn’t care I knew I had to keep going but my body was screaming at me for rest. I knew I was past the border; maybe I could take a quick rest.

I looked around and sat down by an over grown tree root and tucked myself underneath it and leaned by trying to catch my breath. I leaned back with my back pack on my chest watching it move up and down. My breath started to slow down, I could finally get a chance to think. But once my mind was clear I could hear the screams echoing in my head I could hear the explosion and smell the scent of burning flesh and hear all the screams slowly fading as I was running into the outskirts of the village. I had no choice but to leave them. I leaned my head back and stared at the tops of the trees and watched them sway as the wind blew lightly I could see small pieces of ashes and soot flying in the wind staining pieces of leafs as they gently blew on them. Watching them with a blank mind had calmed me enough to close my eyes and just for a brief moment let my mind wander.

Flashback

While Father was out on a mission Mother would spend those days with me at my house, I would cook dinner for us and we would talk the whole night about how everyone in the family is. She would help me with my studies and we would plan on how to get me back into the family. I knew my mother never wanted me to leave, but in our clan Fathers orders are over hers and I just didn’t make the par.

For the past few years she’s been coming over I know I’ve improved, maybe not as much as everyone else in the family. If I can even still call them that, given that I’ve been self teaching myself I improved tremendously.

My father was out on a 2 day mission, so mother came over that night to have dinner with me we sat there mostly in silence. Which spoke more than what words could say, mother was always happy when she came over but in this case it seemed that something must be bothering her. But rather pestering her and asking question after question. I’ll let her open up to me and tell me.

"Does it taste bad?” I said just to snap her out of a daze she seemed to be lost in. I remember those, I used to get lost in those a lot when I was sitting here all alone. Lost I didn’t know what to do when I lost faith in everything, almost lost faith in myself. I hated feeling like I was disappointing everyone. I used to cry myself to sleep and just wish how I could be home with my mother, father and my sister. I had missed them so much, once I forced to leave the only home I’ve ever known. The only people I’ve really ever known and been closed to, I’m what you would call anti social. I usually cling to what seems natural and safe.

"No no no, Maya the food was good, it's just..." Her eyes falling from mine in what seemed like thought.

She looks paler than she did when I saw her last; her usual bronzed skin just looked like it was stained white didn’t look natural; her usual black hair that fell into soft curls at her chest seemed heavier than usual more strained and seemed to have strings of gray in each curl. Her hazel eyes seemed dim the light usually there with every smile and laugh seemed to completely diminish in a matter of one month.

What am I missing? Looking at her like this makes my heart hurt, mother never let anything bother her she would always find a way around things. Like the first night I had spent alone in my own place, that mother had got for me without father knowing. Father could’ve cared less where I was as long I was no longer in the house “disgracing the family name”. I sat there in a corner crying for what seemed like months without any direction or willingness to go on. It seemed that I haven’t even been eating the days just flew by I would cry myself to sleep; and when I woke I did the same thing. Over and over until finally after a month; mother came and saw me in the corner weeping. She rushed over and immediately and she helped me bath cooked me food the first bite I took my body rejected it and I immediately started retching and she just rubbed my back and when I was done continued trying to feed me until I had finished the whole thing without throwing up. Without saying a word she just did everything looking at me adoringly. I could tell she didn’t want me to leave but it was something that had to be done I could see it in the way she looked at me. I loved my mother and she loved me and when I saw her that day, how she came back for me and every month after that, when father went on his missions. I had something to look forward too. I had something to work toward, and it was her; to have my mother back.

"You don’t look well, would you like to lie down?" I was feeling slightly concerned. Her face did a slight smile and she looked at her hands in her lap and exhaled a deep sigh. She looked at me, she opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. It seemed like she was having an internal battle with herself. I wondered who would win and what they would they say.

"Maya… I need you to leave the village" she looked at me with serious eyes, but her voice sounded almost strained.

"Why??" I said trying to understand why the only person, who helped me back to on my feet after I was kicked out the family, would tell me to leave the village?

"It’s not going to be safe here" she said fidgeting with her thumbs while she was looking down at her hand. I could tell there’s something that she’s not telling me but I can’t pin point what or why she wouldn’t tell me.

She stood and slowly made her way over to me and knelt in front of me and placed her hand on my cheek I leaned into it feeling the closeness of her hand. I could feel the bones in her hand I don’t understand what’s going on but just her doing this makes me feel like somehow everything will be okay.

"Where would I go?" I was trying to gain control over my emotions, but I could feel it slowly slipping away. Why would I leave when I’ve been working so hard to become a family again, and just like that I’m just supposed to get up and leave?

"I need you to go to Fire country, it's not that far from here...I want you to be safe and live like you should. You need to have fun I feel like you never let yourself have a childhood, your so much into your studies your forgetting what life’s about I want you to start over and live like you should… like you deserve you never asked to be born into this harsh life. Your father has created for you. I love you Maya. I always will" Mother took a breath and closed her eyes as if she started sensing something.

“What is it?” She immediately looked at me and looked at the glass on the table, and you could see small ripples forming on the water in the glass. She looked alarmed, and rose to her feet and started to pace and look through the cabinets pulling out bread bottles of water and a small pack that was on my bed and started stuffing everything into the bag.

“Mother what’s going on?” I asked standing walking over to her side trying to get her attention. But her eyes wouldn’t meet mine she seemed like she was avoiding eye contact. But why?

“MOTHER!” I put my hands on her shoulders and forced her to face me. Although her eyes didn’t meet mine it was apparent that she had been trying to hold tears back. I immediately let go of her shoulders and hugged her and just whispered “Why?”

"We don't have that much time," she said quietly into my shoulder I could feel her shaking I hadn’t noticed it before but now that I’m holding her I could feel it slightly; it was almost non existent.

She pulled away looking like she was trying to gather her thoughts wiping her face from the few stray tears that started to fall. “Time for what?”

She searched her pocket and handed me a small scroll. The pages looked worn and old and the pages look fragile but looks like someone had been taking precious care of it for quite a while. There was our clan symbol but it looked slightly different than the one on the house and on the robes we were to wear for ceremonies. I went to unravel it and see what was inside but mother grabbed my hand.

"Don't open it until your completely safe, and out of harms way. When you see it you’ll know what to do. I wish there was time for me to tell you everything but this is what you were destined to do" Mother said getting up and walking over to the door pack in hand and she handed it to me. She opened the door and all I could hear in the distance were screams and this foul odor in the air. She turned around to say her final goodbyes; I didn’t understand what was going on. But mother was never one to steer me wrong before and I trusted her. I watched as the tears fell from my mother's cheek, "Go now Maya. Don’t stop till you get to fire country bring the scroll to the Hokage of Konoha. The protection of the scroll is important, and is the last part of our clans training."

 I put the scroll in my bag threw it around my shoulder I looked into my mothers eyes and for some reason I felt like this was going to be the last I see her this way. My heart was telling me I will see her again but I never knew which was true. I just did what felt right I put my arms around mother in a hug that we could flood our emotions out on, when it felt like it was time I whispered "I love you" then I was off without a second thought. I saw my mother standing in the doorway crying and walked into the house and close the door. I ran through the village dodging screaming people and children I wanted to help them get them to safety but my legs just wouldn’t stop running I saw the blurs of buildings on fire and people screaming covered in black smoke and blood, coughing and the sounds of people just getting slaughtered in the far distance. I strayed away from that area made a mental note to not go that way. I went through the entrance to the village and see the guards soaking wet with a kunai in each eye pinned to the wall separating us from the forest around. ‘Who would do such a thing’ it gave me more of a reason to just keep running and not turn back. When I entered the forest heading to the border to fire country; which was about a half a day away I just heard more screams and explosions; I started to run faster than I ever thought possible.

End Flashback

I opened my eyes once after a short while once I realized everything that happened; I won’t be able to see my family anymore. Not even have the chance to prove myself. I would never be able to see my fathers face once he sees that he made a mistake disowning me, the pride in my mothers face at how our efforts haven’t been for nothing. But now… there’s nothing. Why should I even continue running, I should’ve fought- or at least tried to?

I needed to regain my chakra before trying to sprint. I looked down at my legs and saw the cuts and bruises of sticks I’ve must’ve run into I hadn’t felt being cut when I was running. Mostly because of the adrenaline rushing through my veins I need to be more careful, if I’m going to try and make it Konoha.  I tried healing myself I placed my hand on my shin, I felt the slight green glow and warmth in my hand but my cuts didn’t even look I had done anything. After everything all the years of training I couldn’t even heal a stupid cut on my leg. I felt so stupid and helpless, how did I ever think I was going to get back in the family if I couldn’t even heal myself let alone someone else. 

During my rest and checked if the scroll my mother had given me was still in tact. I pulled it from my bag and looked at it. My mother’s words rang in my head like it was a voice recording. ‘Don't open it until your completely safe, and out of harms way. When you see it you’ll know what to do. I wish there was time for me to tell you everything but this is what you were destined to do’

I went to tuck it back in my pack when I sensed something was near so I started to mask my chakra. Hopefully it would hold out long enough till they pass I don’t have much left to give, considering I had to start my travels again soon.

 

I heard the voice of someone in the distance and tucked the scroll into the root of the tree and hid my pack near it. So I wouldn’t make noise putting it back in, and risk who ever hearing it. I heard the whispers getting closer to the tree. There voices were inaudible to hear what they were saying but once close enough I heard everything cease. All I heard was someone saying “Go” and next I heard complete and utter silence as if both my ears went deaf. Not even a bird chirping near by on a tree could be heard. The wind stopped blowing the tree tops I was once looking at getting lost into, looking now not one leaf bothered to twitch, as if everything was just frozen.

I immediately felt overwhelmed; I could feel that the person who is near is intensely strong the chakra is signature was increasingly larger than my almost depleted one. I closed my eyes and placed my hand over my mouth to cover any noises that may escape I dug my knees into my chest and tried so hard and wished they would just leave. I haven’t trained in any combat or even protecting myself, I couldn’t even heal myself if I had to!

I hear some rustling above me when I opened my eyes I see the trees swaying as they had just been doing moments ago. Maybe they’ve left, I sighed a small sigh of relief. As soon as I went to lower my hand from my mouth I had a sharp pain coming from my head as I was scooped from the tree root and thrown against a tree. Pain shot through my body I could hear something crack as the middle of my back smacked against the tree. It immediately became harder to breathe; I think one of my ribs broke! I fell into the dirt at the base of the tree having smaller over grown roots dig into my back and sides as I screamed in pain. The impact of my fall left the taste of soil and blood in my mouth; I can feel the small particles in my lungs every time I take in shallow breathes between strained screams I was squeezing out hoping someone who come help me.

Before I could even open my eyes I was picked up by my black curls and pushed up against the tree face into bark. I didn’t even realize that I had started crying must be a pain reflex that my body had kicked into gear once I hit the tree. Between my cries and screams and blood coming out my mouth I couldn’t even focus on what was going I’ve never been put in this position. Is this why I was never worthy, because of this moment.

FLASHBACK

“She can’t even throw a shuriken into a simple target if it’s in front of her! What do you mean give her another chance?” Father was already arguing with mother again; they do every night we have training. Father would always try to help me but he would always yell and I could never focus when he was yelling “Throw it straight Maya!” I understood why now after years of training me I still couldn’t do the simplest of things must be frustrating to have your youngest child exceed your first born; and yet she was always good at those things it seemed like it was always natural for her; Anna did everything on her first try most of the time.

Father would always argue with mother after our trainings, she was the only who ever stuck up for me. But for what I never understood anything or got that much better. They always spoke highly of my sister maybe I wasn’t meant to be part of this family. Maybe I was meant to be a farmer or something I always loved animals. I would always play with the neighborhood cats or dogs. I feel like I communicate better with animals than with any other person as if I was an animal in my past life.

If I’m just in the forest I usually just go there to read, I sit on the base of the tree leaning on against it feeling the bark on my back. While I get would read and lost into another world; any world but my own. I would eat carrots or apples which attract the animals; and I would always share, so when I started training I initially started healing with animals. Since it seemed like they were the only ones who ever understand me the best. Besides Mother, she always fought me I knew she would even if it was her dying breathe.

They would argue just hearing their raised voices and harsh tones and words that were meant to sting would just make me feel responsible if it wasn’t for me my family would be so happy Mother wouldn’t have a reason to fight. I would just need to escape while they would do that so I would always just go out my window and sit on the roof, the walls were so thin. Especially since our rooms were next to each other. I would just stare up at the stars and moon and just had those deep conversations with myself about what life has in store for me. A wise person once said “Everything happens for a reason, although we may not understand it at the time. If you hang in there eventually the pieces will fall where they belong” I never really got that it’s been 15 years of just complete failures so when is it my chance to shine, for me to be something important. I just stared at the moon and would think ‘What’s my reason for life’ I heard my parents voices ease back into my head.

“This is the final straw! Her time has already come and passed and I’ve been lineate for you. She’s should’ve been out months ago! So that I could focus on Anna, she’s strong one of the family that deserves to carry the family name and represent us.” Father yelled at mother I could hear the exasperation in his voice years and years of him trying with me. The seriousness in his tone made my heart cringe, was I really about to get put out because I can’t throw a stupid shuriken! I couldn’t even blame him I’m not upset with him it was something that had to be done; I would just have to prove him wrong.

I heard my bedroom door swing open and mother came in was a straight face even though the streaks on her face say other emotions have arose than the ones she portraying now. I peaked in the side of my window and saw she motioned for me to come in, I jumped the window and walked over to my bed and sat down not saying a word. She didn’t have to say anything that I didn’t already know, he face looked forlorn but not for herself, but for me.

She placed her hand on my head and looked like she wanted to say so much but so much to be said in so little time, the thins walls didn’t help either. If she ever said the wrong thing or even looked like she would disobey father he wouldn’t hesitate to put her out too. I would never ask her to do that for; I loved her to much to suffer for my failures. So I will take my punishment, I won’t like it but I will take it.

End Flashback

I can feel the bark grinding against my face as I was moving trying to escape; his grip held strong in my hair, if I move too much he might just break my neck. He loosened his grip just enough that I could turn to face him but as soon I was facing him, he leaned in and kissed me so hard I felt my lips instantly bruise, he tasted of blood or is was my blood I was tasting. Once he forced his tongue into my mouth passed the barrier of my teeth I had created it seems that’s when I realized exactly what was going to happen. His hands were running up my thighs I tried squirming away his hand flew up and grabbed my breast and squeezed it so hard that I felt like they were going to pop. No matter how much I squirmed and tried to get him to stop touched me, to get his tongue out my mouth. I felt like I was being tortured slowly, everything he did wasn’t pleasurable it was painful. It felt as though my body was imprinted into the tree in this mold I couldn’t break free from his vice grip. I stopped screaming in his mouth not like anyone could hear me anymore while his mouth enclosed mine.

I have to do something, I can’t just let this happen; there must be something, anything. I turn internally into the place between your eyes all the way in the back of your brain that most people don’t use most people only use 10% of their brain power. Mother used to call it my happy place when I needed to find peace and strength. I always felt like there were something there subliminally imprinting ideas and solutions I would never even think of there.

Every time I’m here I always hear water but I can’t see much but a small stream and the shine on the wet rocks along the stream and the moss on the tree roots as they create a path for the water to go. Every time I’m in this place I always follow the water, it always seemed like the safest thing to do I curved with every few steps with bare feet splashing as I went down the path. The stream is a place that I can always retrace my steps if need be, rather than wander aimlessly in the forest and risk getting lost in my own mind. Hearing the bubble and gurgles the stream makes me feel like I’ve been here like this is home. The noises take me somewhere tranquil, somewhere I would go and rest and feel peace. I never understood why this is the safe place I created why the stream where am I going, all I know is this is where no one but me can be; where no one can hurt me. I hear the hum and whispers on the wind but think nothing of it but my thoughts as they enter my mind I hear words of encouragement, tenderness, strength, motivation. “If you do not hope, you will not find what is beyond your hopes.” With every step I take I feel stronger and smarter and faster. I build it and build it until I feel a sharp pain in leg. I stop, when I go to continue on my bellowing brooks journey my leg won’t move. I look down and I see blood rolling down my leg, the only thing wrong with that.

Was that it was real he pushed a Kunai deep into my thigh almost to the point where my thigh was almost pinned to the tree. My mouth immediately opened with a silent scream as he dug and twisted it into my thigh blood spilling down my leg. I looked up and hazel eyes met red eyes, he grabbed me by my chin and forced me to look him into his eyes. Not that I wanted to look away they were hypnotizing I couldn’t help but feel lost in them, I felt numb like I was mimicking his emotions. But I can’t, I won’t, I mustn’t, I need hope I need to live if not for myself for Mother, I won’t let her down. I had been too lost in his eyes to realize he had pulled my skirt off and he was pressing his length against my thigh. It was so hot it almost felt like it was burning; the lack of blood must’ve been making my body cold. I can’t let this happen I need to somehow get away I can’t let him take this. I moved to get the Kunai out of my leg and winced at even touching it a lick. I have to do this I need some survival instincts to kick in something’s got to give. I feel his hand it was swift and precise when he moves my thong to the side and rubs a finger between my lips and onto my clit. I feel the lump near my clit immediately swell, my body betraying me. I felt his hands slide between my lips to the lump in a rapid motion that made me grind against him I tried to stop but my need kicked in I started panting out of impulse. As if he was wearing some type of pheromone coming out of his pores that controlled my thrusts and moans. Every second I got a chance I would try to scream; but was short lived by his bruising kisses and bites. I felt the tip of his finger trying to slowly ease inside, I tensed my muscles inside trying to make it harder for him to get in, but I feel like doing that I was just make him more excited.

I don’t know what made me get the nerve but the next thing I knew; I pulled the kunai out of my leg in a swift movement tried to cut him but he was too fast that I had sliced his black coat as he drew back with a slight hiss. “You Bitch!” he said; as I was falling to my knees and I tried to run but I could feel nothing, I was nothing. I peaked from under my bangs he was tall looked very skinny, black hair and those hypnotizing red eyes. I looked up at his headband the symbol looked like a leaf but I wasn’t sure, it seemed to be scratched out. It took the last of my strength to try and get away, I pushed up on my good leg but when I went to move my thigh started gushing blood but I could barely feel it let alone but weight on it to run. I was out of moves, there was nothing else I could do, I feel like I was playing a game of chess and that moment when the opponent says “checkmate” and you get that small panic looking around the board for something, anything to sacrifice for the king, but there’s nothing that’s where I am right now; I have no moves. 

I was just halfway up when he sifted in front of me and had me by my throat. I could feel the last gasp of air cut off, every ounce of my body trying to get another one through. He was looking straight into my eyes, I don’t know if I was losing so much oxygen so fast but not only was the forest around us getting blurry his eyes seemed to be spinning. As soon as I felt like I was just about to slip away I heard a growl and then I fell to the ground. I felt so weak, the lack of blood that’s spilling out of my leg the gravity of everything I just endured. I just felt like closing my eyes and waking up in my bed with mother by my side telling me “Go back to bed Maya it was just a bad dream”.

I looked of into the distance of the blurry forest and I thought I saw people, are they here to help me? Or help him? I heard noises; growling? I fell to the ground hard, I couldn’t really tell nor did I really care. I laid there on the forest floor tired, I tried to keep my eyes open but it felt like my eye lids were magnets forcing to close. I could barely talk I was still trying to catch my breath and I think even if I could talk it would just be screams. The damage on my thigh is burning my leg, it burns so bad. I felt someone scoop my head in their lap, smells like lavender with pine and metallic. I think the last two are possibly coming from me, the dirt I’ve been rolling in and the blood in my mouth and leg. I feel warm now it feels so nice but I can’t stop shivering I can’t move my leg, I feel….tired, let me just close my eyes just for a quick rest.

 Kiba's P.O.V.

Tsunade sent us on another stupid retrieval mission; she’s been giving us all the shitty missions while everyone else gets the good action packed ones. Not that I’m complaining I’m alive and well and don’t get my life put on the line as much as anyone else. But sometimes I wish I could come back to the village and just be someone’s hero. Just once I would like to be recognized for something much more than a stupid retrieval dog.

“Hmm” Akamaru whimpered quietly to me once he realized I was in another daze. I rubbed his head reassuringly, I doubt he was convinced but decided not to do anything about it right now. I heard my stomach growl really loud; sounded like it was going to eat itself for a second there. It’s been growling on and off for the past 7 hours since we left mostly quietly to myself but since I’ve been ignoring it since we left, the thought of it eating itself sounds plausible considering I didn’t eat breakfast.

Shino started lowering to the forest floor jumping lower and lower from branch to branch till we came to a clearing. Which usually means he heard it, once he stopped he turned and said “Let’s take a brief break to replenish and eat” Shino said giving me a backwards glance. He’s already used to the routine by now; I eat constantly maybe not as much as Naruto but pretty close to it. I gave him a sheepish grin rubbing the back of my head slightly embarrassed. I can’t help myself this mission was last minute I got up late I just hurried and left to meet the team. Shino gave us the mission details and we were off without a second thought, we weren’t going far we could be there and back in about a little over half a day. I grabbed my overnight back just in case you never know it’s always the simplest of missions that take a quick 180 and turn to something you never expected. I noticed I wasn’t the only one who thought of it, I noticed Hinata and Shino brought there overnight bags. I never realized how fast and in sync our team has become throughout the years. We’ve been through so much together, not just during missions but being there for each other as friends.

Especially Hinata she’s been there with me through all the trials and tribulations that come with missions, relationships and dating. Always there for me, granted she’s only been with one guy. She’s very wise when it comes to dating advice it just comes natural to her, if she wasn’t shy she probably wouldn’t be the sweet Hinata we all know.

When I landed in the clearing I went into my travel bag and grabbed a few protein bars and a bottle of water, there filling and quick to eat when we’re on the go. I opened one and gave half to Akamaru and me; tasted like peanut butter he looked very pleased by the selection. He went over and lay by a tree resting his legs while we have the chance.

I went over and sat on a tree stump and chewed my protein bar slowly while drinking water between bites. The taste of peanut butter and chocolate tastes so delicious and exactly what I need, and the cold water in between just refreshing myself to get back on course. I looked up at the sky it was a nice spring day the trees swaying in a nice breezy manner, birds chirping their song to there nest of eggs. I saw something in the sky but I didn’t know if it was something in my eye or not, it looked like little gray specs in the sky I decided to ignore it. I can’t help but think of things that have been bothering me for a while, something’s I can’t help. I can’t think of those things now, I need to focus. I hear the rustle of something nearby, I look over near Hinata and Akamaru just went off walking somewhere ‘He’ll be back’.

Something popped up into my head and I mentally slapped myself, ‘I should’ve left Hana a note before I left’, she shouldn’t be too worried considering that I’ll be back in no time. I don’t want her to feel like I’m not coming back; maybe I’m looking too much into it. I leaned back on my hands closing my eyes letting the sun peaking out through the trees hit my face it feels so warm, it would hotter if it wasn’t so windy. Feeling the breeze brush against my cheeks I felt like I heard a whisper of a scream, I opened my eyes and looked around slowly. I didn’t even realize that Hinata activated her Byakugan and was looking around the forest focused. Shino was by her side in a second and they were both talking quietly, they both acknowledged they heard the same thing and by my expression it was apparent that I did too. I stood and slowly started walking over to them and was curious about what was going on, and then as soon as I took my third step I just froze and could hear the wind carrying screams agonizing screams in pain, they didn’t sound too far away.

“Akamaru!” I turned and couldn’t find him anywhere. “AKAMARU!” I yelled into the forest hearing my voice bounce off the trees into the hollows of the forest; he shot out the bushes and ran to my side I placed my hand on his head, I knew now that he heard the screams before any of us had. He possibly went on a search of which direction the screams came from I hoped he hadn’t gotten too far before I had gotten a chance to get to him.

“I see chakra signatures north of here, about 38km” Hinata said pointing in the direction Akamaru had just come from, she started walking toward it hoisted her pack on her back and without another second we were off into the trees. We jumped to the trees running from branch to branch, my mind blank, didn’t know what to expect it could be anything. Hopefully we aren’t too late, the closer we got the more screams I could hear in the wind the ones of woman, men, and children just ringing in my ears. Some smell came into my nostrils I could hear Akamaru huff as it entered his nose to, it smelled like smoke, fire, and this distinct smell of burnt hair.

Flashback

I sat on a log off into the forest near Team Eight’s training ground, waiting for my teammates to arrive. I came kind of early just to have time to myself to think about… everything. I feel like everyone gets to a point in life that makes you choose what path you’re on, and from that moment on everything just comes natural your destiny is set in motion and you know what to do. I’ve yet to have that, but I think the real question is. Am I ever going to have that defining moment where life throws something at me and its like “Here that’s your chance take it”. I don’t know what I’m doing about life I’ve tried everything I’m no good at anything, even with women.

I’ve been slapped or bonked more times that Naruto has, and he was pretty much holding the record for that. I just don’t understand it, I do everything that guys are supposed to do for a girl the whole stupid flowers, candy, dates and sex; and yet it seems like doing everything by the book has gotten me nowhere.

I just looked up at the sky watching the clear sky and the few faint clouds rolling by. I can feel the air getting warmer around as the sun was peaking through the one cloud covering it. Feeling the full force of the sun just makes me more energized maybe it’s the whole vitamins give you energy spiel. I look down at a stream in front of me I see some ducks crossing the stream, the mother was waiting as her ducklings waddled through. The last one looked like its foot was stuck between rocks. As soon as I went to get up to help the mother plucked him right out and they waddled away in their family line. Looking at them brought back memories of my mom, when I think of her that’s when my feelings come, I miss her. I miss her just being there helping me if I needed it. Her being there made everything easier; why can’t life just be easy, it seems so easy for everyone else. I don’t really have anyone to turn to, Hana’s always working, and anyone else would just be plain embarrassing.

“What am I doing wrong?” I asked out loud hoping that by doing show would shed light into my situation. I heard someone walking toward my direction, once I sensed it was Hinata; I turned and saw her walking over with a warm smile I waved at her in greeting.

“What do you mean?” she said once she was close enough to where I was. “Huh?” I cocked my head in confusion. “You said something was wrong?” “Oh” I smacked myself on my forehead. She must’ve heard me talking to myself, “It’s nothing, don’t worry about it.” I said smiling at her; but from the look in her eyes she didn’t buy it, one bit.

“Alright if you want to talk Kiba let me know; especially if you think something’s wrong” She said smiling. I don’t know what impulse in my brain decided to ask her but it’s beyond me, “What am I doing wrong Hinata?” She cocked her head to the side and gave me the look like what?

I took in a deep breath and just finally let everything release, “I mean like… I don’t know exactly how to explain it; but I just don’t know what I’m doing anymore. I feel like I’m at a point in my life where I’m just doing the same thing all the time and I want to do more. But I just feel like it’s the same thing over and over again. Like, I’m just chasing my own tail. Especially when it comes with girls I do everything I’m supposed to I’m not the dirty dog that they always expect when they see me but I always hear the same lines when the girls break up with me. Its not you it’s me, you’re the perfect guy just not for me, I just don’t feel our spark anymore what the heck does a spark have to do with anything. I just don’t get it, I do everything I can for any and everyone and I feel like its not enough and apparently I’m doing it wrong. I just thought I would have better life and I wouldn’t feel so alone, that my whole existence has no value and I’m just sick of it.” I sighed it felt good to get everything out in the open, I was looking at Hinata the whole time I was talking and the more words that came out the sad she looked, I didn’t even think what kind of impact it would have on her. We’re friends first and for her to hear that I don’t see the value in my life must scare, but it’s honestly how I feel I’m sick of sugar coating things. I just want to feel how everyone else feels, normal, or for the very least just, happy.

She came over to my side and just sat down her expression still grim. I wanted to tell her forget the whole thing and leave it alone, I’ll be alone and miserable until I can figure it out on my own. But I value Hinata’s opinion a lot more than most and if she really feels she can give me some insight hen I’m more than willing to listen, especially since I’m at the last straw and she seems willing to help. She took a few moments and just sat there in silence, I didn’t want to interrupt if she was in thought, but every second felt like an hour, for a moment there I thought she was never going to answer.

She took a deep breath looked at the ground and started rolling a rock underneath her sandal fidgeting. “Growing up means learning what life is. When you’re little, you have a set of ideals standards, criteria, plans, outlooks, and you think that you have to sit around and wait for them to happen to you and then life will work. But life isn’t like that, for anybody; you can’t fall in love with a standard, you have to fall in love with a person. You can’t wait to watch your ideals and standards walk up to you, because you can’t know what’s yours until you have it. I always say, always take the fist chance in case you never get a second one, but growing up takes that even one step further, growing up means that you have to hold on to what you have, when you have it, because what you have that’s yours and all the ideals and criteria you have set in your head, those aren’t yours, because those haven’t happened to you. So all you have to do is make your life what you want it to be, if you’re doing what everyone wants you to do, how is that going to in turn make you happy? Be yourself, do what your instincts tell you, and then you’ll be happy.” She did a smile and leaned in put her arm around me to give me a hug, “Everything will work out Kiba, don’t worry so much.” There wasn’t much I could say, but “You’re right, Hinata. I’ll try to find what my life has in store. I’m just scared of what I’m going to find.”

End Flashback

With every step we took closer to the unknown the thicker the air got around us, and louder the screams became. The smell started making me gag as we were running I started breathing through my mouth which helped slightly, although I couldn’t smell it as bad I started tasting it which is still if not just as bad.

I look over at Hinata and Akamaru; and she’s been constantly scanning the area for any signs of people. For the past 2 hours we haven’t found a soul and for a split second I felt like we were on a wild goose chase, until this moment; time slowed for what felt like a lifetime that it was just me, alone in the world, but I wasn’t alone I heard it, I heard her, screaming. I stopped on a branch near the base of the tree lowering myself one branch at a time till I was almost at the forest floor. The scream was almost lost in the deafening sound of the screams in the wind; but this scream was different it seemed like it had hit somewhere inside me, some primal instinct that made me have to go running. It was distinct and close, I felt it, adrenaline kicked up into my body, and the blood in my veins suddenly started boiling. Akamaru stopped a few branches away and looked at me and barked. Shino and Hinata stopped a few branches from him and looked and started lowering to forest floor.

 “What’s wrong-” Hinata asked curiously; I just held up my hand and silenced her. I need to find it, my body was just waiting for the moment to just pounce; but why? There it goes again I heard it again, they all looked at me questioning, why am I the only one who hears it. “AHH!” the birds from the tree tops suddenly shot out in the sky flapping as a agonizing shriek bounced through the forest smacking us in our face.

Hinata looked around trying to locate where the scream was coming from, “I can’t find it there aren’t any chakra signatures around”. I don’t why or maybe it was just me, you ever have that moment where something bad is going to happen and your instincts take over. Like something as small as your holding a cup of water and it slips from your hand but next thing you know its back in your hand safe in sound right before it was about to hit the ground, it was a reflexive instinct. It may sound oxymoron-ish but that’s how it felt like it was natural for me and yet that I’ve learned this or have done this before. Me, running where ever my legs took me; this was my reflexive instinct.

Akamaru was right on my heels as I was running, I knew exactly where I was going; it was like a magnet drawing me in closer, faster it was almost hard for him to keep up. My heart was racing in my throat I felt like I wanted to throw up but my adrenaline was going through the roof keeping me grounded. But I also felt like I was in the air running on the clouds, I never felt like this before I’ve saved a handful of people before and it wasn’t like this, this is something different.

I kept hearing the screams they sounded more painful and strained as each one was choked out, I smell a different smell now, smells like jasmine and vanilla and blood. The closer I get the more blood I smell, I wonder if Akamaru can smell it too. “Kiba hold on” Shino and Hinata were yelling behind me I hadn’t realized how fast I was going, I look back and they’re far behind me; but I cant stop I cant slow down this is something I just need to do. I burst through the trees into a small clearing when I don’t hear the screams anymore all I see, is her with him, his hand around her neck, her face pale with blood on her face smeared on her lips and cheeks. Her long black hair looks like someone had a fistful as it was spraying everywhere, “Go Akamaru” as soon as the last syllable sounded in the command, Akamaru was already lunging at his arm, and he ‘poofed’ into a log. She started to fall to the floor and all I could do was stare at her in trepidation, I was shaking I was angry. Akamaru went running to secure the perimeter in case he was still nearby.

 

Hinata and Shino appeared behind me and Hinata searched the area quickly as her and Shino went running to her side. I started looking around not sure of what I wanted to do, but I just felt so angry. Anger mixed with adrenaline, is not the perfect combination but I just don’t understand why?

Akamaru came back empty handed, Hinata had already had head in her lap trying to see if she will come to, but it had seemed like she had lost too much blood by the pools of blood sprayed everywhere. Hinata started healing her thigh as best as she could, she wasn’t the best trained healer like Sakura and Tsunade but she does enough to get the job done. She was shivering so hard because of her lack of oxygen and blood and possibly got her wound infected around all this dirt she looked like she had been fighting for quite sometime. Hinata popped a few pain relievers and anti-biotic in her mouth hoping once they kick in she’ll wake up and tell us what she was doing here; with Itachi.

_________

I was still coming down from my adrenaline high; by the time we were finding a place to camp for the night. Her pulse went back to normal and everything seemed like she was getting better we decided to ditch the mission and bring her back to Tsunade, until she came to that is, she might have some information on what happened to her village and why Itachi looked like he was about to kill her, and for what?

We started heading back to the village once Hinata finished healing her injuries just enough that we could travel. Akamaru sniffed out some things in a nearby tree that belonged to her so I threw her bag on his back along with my overnight pack. I picked her up and had her ride on my back as we started heading back, when I hoisted her up she wasn’t that heavy she was actually pretty light for her being dead weight and all.

We were running for about another 2 hours, before Shino decided it was time to set up camp before it got dark. We had found a small clearing and set up near a little area that seemed closed enough that we could be comfortable and stay hidden. Akamaru gathered a small bunch of fire wood to start a fire so we can eat and afterward it would still be hot enough to keep up warm throughout the night. I was set out to set up traps on the north and west side, while Hinata cleaned her up and assessed her wounds further before she prepared some supper and set up our sleeping areas, Shino was setting up traps on the other sides. It took us about an hour by the time me and Shino had finished up everything, we started the fire and after about 20 minutes we were settled in eating discussing out plan of action for tomorrow, while Hinata was finishing cooking.

“We will wake at about dawn pack up everything we should be back in Konoha by the early afternoon. You and Hinata will take her to the hospital so she can get treated properly, and I’ll go report back to the Hokage. But until you hear from her or me don’t let the girl out of your sight. You never know she may be a missing-nin along with Itachi.” Shino finished talking and started talking to Hinata on what to tell the Hokage about what happened. I started to tune him out after a while, not like he was talking to me anyway, I’m not really into the politics of things.

I took another bite of the stew Hinata made, while I watched the fire flicker in the darkness, dancing its tango with the light, fighting over what covered what. Eventually the darkness will win but as we are eating, the dim light will have to do. We have to keep the fire low to not give away our position, I turn and see Shino eating and Hinata was taking small bites pacing her self, Akamaru had just finished up his bowl, I caught him licking his bowl clean by the time I picked it up to fill it back up. He had a very good day; he’s done a lot today being keen on his senses especially when we were resting, he’s really come a long way since we were younger. He’s going to need to eat a lot, especially for the day we are going to have tomorrow.

I was finishing off my second bowl before Hinata was filling her bowl again. “You seem very hungry tonight Hinata. I haven’t seen you eat so much before, Naruto must be rubbing off on you.” She did a slight blush at the mention of his name, when will she stop being giddy, or does that come with the package of being in love?

“I was just refilling my bowl to feed her, I don’t know when the last time she ate was, or how long she was with Itachi.” She said raising her face the blush fading from her pale face. “How are you going to feed her if she’s not awake?” I know how the hospital does it with the IV’s and tubes, I never new there was any other way. "Do you want to help me?" I watched her tie her hair back, I scooted over to them "What do you want me to do?" I asked curiously as to how this is going to work. "Just hold her head up at this angle and watch” she demonstrated holding her head on at the base of her neck and one on top of her hair so her face won't fall to the side. She then replaced her hands with mine, her hair although it was dirty and had some blood still, it was still silken soft. The base of her next is hot and soft; maybe she is starting to get a fever. Just feeling the heat of her skin on my hand just made feel; this urgency I haven’t felt in a long time; but why?

Hinata had one hand on her throat and the other propping her mouth open to pour the broth in. When she started pouring some in slowly her hand glowed green over her throat. "I'm relaxing the necessary muscles for swallowing, if I do the wrong one it could go in her lungs and she’ll start choking." I could see different parts of her throat moving from underneath her hand; I was watching very interested, usually this stuff l would just roll over and go to sleep. But this time I was intrigued, and wanted to help; she fed almost 2 cups worth before saying it was enough.

I decided to give her my sleeping bag since I was on first watch for the night I placed her in carefully trying not to move her leg too much; once she was in and tucked I scooted her over to the fire. Akamaru went over and curled near her so she won't be cold. I wrapped her in tightly so there won't be any surprises when she wakes up, or when someone takes her out. I looked at her face; it's different than it was earlier it’s not the same soft look it had been when we found her unconscious now she looks like she was struggling. I could hear her grunting slightly and I see a thin sheet of sweat gracing her features slightly, it could either the fever or her struggling making her sweat. 'What could be going on in that mind of hers?’

A/N: This is my first fic I hope you liked the beginning it took a lot of time to write and correct it. But I need to know what's wrong with it. Tell me your opinions please I'd love to hear them. Anyway REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!!