Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Does it Hurt? ❯ When Angels Cry ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter #2

When Angels Cry

 

 

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and Co.

 

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“Are you looking at the rain, Eve?”

 

“R-ai-n…?”

 

“Oh yes, this is the first time you've seen rain isn't it?”

 

“Hai… Why does it rain?”

 

“Well … it rains because of the angels, it rains when they cry.”

 

“Are the angels sad?”

 

“No, today they are tears of joy. The angels get to see your face for the first time and it makes them very happy because they see you are happy.”

 

“…”

 

“Are you not happy, Eve?”

 

“…H-hai, I am very happy, Otou-san…”

 

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A cold drop of water fell from the canopy of leaves and landed on Eve's pale cheek. She was a very light sleeper to begin with so she was roused instantly.

 

She sat upright, staring blankly off into space, for a long time before wiping the sleep away from her eyes and blinking at her surroundings.

 

Eve was used to waking up cold and alone in the woods. She'd been doing for so long recently that she expected it and accepted it. Eve would, in all likelihood, wake up cold and alone for the rest of her life. She would continue running because that was the only thing she knew how to do, and she would die holding onto the only few good memories she had.

 

But there was once a day when she didn't even have any memories… So she was thankful those days when she was happier than she'd ever been that gave her good memories.

 

It was very early, possibly around five or so, but it was hard to tell because of the rain. It wasn't even raining that hard anymore, or at least not as hard as it had been for the past few weeks, and it was finally starting to get warmer.

 

Eve's outfit wasn't very compatible with the cold. The cotton it was made out of was warm enough, but years of wear and tare brought it close to the end of its life. Not that she would ever want to get rid of it, it was something that was given to her a long time ago, and it was very important to her. It was a tan cream colour with light blue trim around the collar and the cuffs of the sleeves. The body was long - the bottom fell half way to her knees - and the sleeves just barely covered the tips of her fingers.

 

“51 … 52 … 53 … 54…”

 

`…' Eve blinked and peaked over the bush that separated her hiding spot from the training grounds, `No way … that boy is back already?'

 

A familiar green clad shinobi was already in the training grounds working up a sweat on his - apparently `normal' - training routine. Eve was surprised he hadn't passed out from exhaustion the night before, so she was shocked he willing got up and submitted himself to the same torcher again.

 

`Do all shinobi put themselves through this? If they do then they really do deserve a lot of respect. Not just anyone could have the stamina for that…'

 

The bowl cut ninja continued with his training, too distracted to notice the girl watching him. There was nothing but concentration and determination in his eyes.

 

Eve went against her better judgment and leaned in closer for a better look, `I wonder who he is anyway…'

 

SNAP.

 

Eve's foot hit a dry twig as she stepped forward and she froze like a statue. She was in plain sight, and there was no way that noise wouldn't get the attention of a shinobi, even if he was in the middle of training.

 

She couldn't be seen. She wasn't wearing her ribbon yet, which meant her horns were in plain sight. She couldn't risk any sightings, especially if it was a shinobi of Konoha who could probably catch her without even trying. Besides the normal reasons for not wanting to get seen she had personal reasons, like not getting close to anyone because if they saw her they'd see a freak, and Eve didn't think she could handle it. And if she couldn't handle it herself … bad things would happen.

 

The young pinkette spun on her heal and fled, stumbling as she picked up her backpack. She ran until she broke free of the trees and tripped over a tree root on the road, and even then she kept running.

 

When she was no longer protected by the canopy of the trees she discovered that it started raining again…

 

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Lee looked up when he heard that twig snap, but all he saw was a flash of flowing pink hair out of the corner of his eye and then nothing. Whatever or whoever it was, was gone before he had a chance to take a second look.

 

`Was I so distracted that I didn't notice someone was watching me,' thought Lee as he rubbed the back of his head nervously. He blinked a few times, `Pink hair…? Was it Sakura-chan that was watching me? Did Sakura-chan come to watch me train? But … if it was her, why did she run?'

 

It wasn't as though pink was a common hair colour. Who was it then?

 

Either way, his morning warm-ups were over, it was time for Lee to head up to the Hokage tower for his assignments. Figuring out who was watching him would have to wait until later.

 

Lee took off toward the village at a fast speed so he wouldn't be completely soaked by the rain. For some reason it had gone from relatively clear skies to heavy rain with so little warning, but that was spring for you. The weather never stayed the same for too long.

 

There were few people at the tower since it was still very early in the morning. The receptionist hadn't arrived yet, she wouldn't be in until eight or so, but there were a few Chunin running around doing errands before they would have to head out to the academy. Other than that the hallways were deserted. No one coming in to request missions, no ANBU squads - they actually got their assignments earlier than Lee - around the Hokage's office, and no Genin squads coming in with the Jounin sensei to get their low ranking missions of the day.

 

Lee reached for the door handle to the office when it turned on its own. The doors swung open and none other than Sakura stepped out, carrying files for the hospital and a large mug off hot coffee.

 

“Lee-kun - yawn - you're here early - yawn - even for you.” Mumbled Sakura drowsily.

 

“I could not sleep, Sakura-chan, it is spring after all! It is the season of youth!” chirped Lee energetically, “I was out doing my early morning training and - oh - that reminds me. Were you out at the training grounds earlier, Sakura-chan?”

 

Sakura yawned once again, “No, I was here, I've been here all night. Tsunade-sama and I were going through paperwork for the hospital last night, and it took so long I haven't left the building since we got back from that mission. Why?”

 

`That is odd, if it was not Sakura-chan, then who was at the training grounds?'

 

“Anyway, Tsunade-sama is asleep at her desk … I wouldn't recommend waking her up right now. So I took the liberty of getting the mission she had planned for you today,” Sakura glumly pulled out a small scroll from her pocket, “it's about our little outing to the outer roads yesterday. Tsunade-sama wants the patrols around the village doubled. She wants as many Jounin as possible making regular rounds around the gates.”

 

“I will do my best,” assured Lee, “and I might even be able to get some training done while I am patrolling the village. One should never miss an opportunity to hone one's skills, yosh!”

 

Sakura responded with a small wave and a yawn as Lee ran off to do his duties, `Only Lee would be excited about going on patrol in such miserable weather… Damn, I need some sleep…

 

The rain was coming down in thick sheets by the time Lee exited the Hokage tower, but he took little notice. He simply went strait to the route, which was more or less just a giant circle around the entire village, through constant heavy rain and muddy trails. They were all deserted since nobody would willingly run out into roads in such lousy weather, so Lee challenged himself to whatever training he could get done, which included walking on his hands.'

 

Once in a while Lee's mind would wonder a bit during his `training', especially since his body had long since adjusted to the constant strain. He thought about Sakura, and when he imagined her beautiful pink hair he also remembered what he thought he saw at the training grounds.

 

`I wonder who that was … maybe I'm just imagining things…'

 

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Well, this is my update for the week, hope you liked it. I know in the beginning it sounded more like Elfin Lied than Naruto but it kinda switches tracks right here. There will be lots of Naruto characters and possibly some ninja battles in the future.

 

Lots of people are viewing the story but no one seems to be reviewing, that makes me sad…

 

Lil_Pix