Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Does it Hurt? ❯ An Act of Kindness ( Chapter 4 )

Chapter #3

An Act of Kindness

 

 

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and Co.

 

Hey, here is my update everyone! Hope you all enjoy.

 

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Eve was starting to really regret running out into the rain to get away from the green clad ninja. First it started raining harder than it had been to begin with so she got soaked, and then she discovered that not only her clothes were cold and wet so was everything inside her backpack - including the very last of her bread.

 

As the rain was at its worst Eve climbed into the tree with the most, thick, branches she could find and started nibbling on her last few bites of soggy bread begrudgingly. It tasted appalling and smelled like the wet fabric of her wet blanket. But it was the only food she had left, and it was very likely she wouldn't get anything else for a while since her fishing rod was broken, so she forced herself to swallow every bite. At least that way her stomach's grumbling would quite down for a little while.

 

`I'll be in some serious trouble if I don't find some more food soon…' Eve thought as she rubbed her - still unsatisfied - stomach. Her body would demand food again within the hour, and if that happened she'd have to go into town and scavenge for something to eat.

 

She wanted to avoid the village at all costs.

 

As fate out have it, the tree Eve had chosen to sit in was just off one of the paths that circled around the village, and as the sun finally started to set she saw a figure walking down the path. It was hard for her to see in the heavy rain, but there was still something about the way he or she was moving that seemed strange. It wasn't until he got closer did Eve see a familiar green jumpsuit worn by the bowl cut shinobi, whom - to her surprise - was walking on his hands.

 

There was thick mud all up his arms and his breathing was heavy enough to be heard over the roar of the rain. Eventually he fell over, a few yards away from Eve's tree.

 

“When I get up, it is one hundred more laps around the village…” he panted as he pulled himself to the shelter of the trees. He didn't get up for a long time, and eventually his loud snoring could be heard from Eve's spot in the trees.

 

`He must do this often,' Eve concluded, `This is the second time in two days I've watched him fall asleep - pass out - during his training … and both times I've been in a tree.'

 

Eve already knew the guy was a deep sleeper, so she jumped down from her tree and walked over to him yet again.

 

He was soaking wet from walking - on his hands - in the rain, and the spandex and vest he was wearing didn't look like they would keep him very warm or dry. The drenched fabric clung to his body like a second skin, showing off the muscles underneath…

 

`Ok … stopping right now.'

 

Eve wished she turned away and just left the village altogether. She could make it to a small town before it got too dark, but she just had to notice the blood seeping through the bandages on his hands and arms, and she just had to grab her own bandages from her backpack. She wished that she'd just drop the bandages and leave, but she didn't.

 

Eve knelt beside the young man on the damp grass and carefully pulled his arm onto her lap so she could begin undoing the dirty bandages. Underneath the wet bandages his hands were raw from all the strain, but it wasn't just the recent cuts and scraps that covered his hand, there were lots off old scars and healed sores that clashed against his skin. His hands were very rough from the beating they had taken over years of punishment from his `training'. By looking at the number of deep scars - the more serious healed wounds - on his hands Eve was surprised that the guy still went on with his training like he did.

 

The bowl cut ninja fidgeted in his sleep, “Mph … Sakura-chan…”

 

`He talks in his sleep?' Eve couldn't help but feel a little amused. `I wonder who Sakura is…'

 

His hand clamped around her wrist, making Eve jump out of her skin, “…I promise … Sakura-chan … I will protect you with my life…”

 

Eve tried to pry his hand off but his grip was like a vice, even in his sleep. It took most of her strength to get him to loosen his grip, and even more to worm her hand out of his.

 

“S-Sakura-chan…?” mumbled the bushy browed boy as he absently rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

 

`Oh no…' Eve panicked, falling backwards and landing in some mud. All of a sudden she was cold, wet, hungry, muddy and cornered. All in all, it was a very bad day.

 

Her thin wrist was held firmly in his large rough hands, preventing her from running away again.

 

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Lee blinked a few times to bring the world back into focus. He couldn't believe he fell asleep again, he hoped it wouldn't become a bad habit, especially if someone happened to see him sleep. After so much training he had `muscle memory' so he often moved and talked in his sleep, so it would be quite a sight for any passerby.

 

This time after waking up he was positive that he saw someone with pink hair and he took the first chance he could to grab her wrist before she could get away again.

 

“S-Sakura-chan…?” he mumbled.

 

But it definitely wasn't her. The only similarity was the pink hair and the ribbon in her hair - which was the wrong shade anyway. This girl was a little shorter and much thinner, and her dark pink-red hair was nearly mid-back length and hung in her face a lot. Her eyes were also a different colour, they were amber, and a bit wider. Her wrist was tiny in Lee's large hands; she had almost no muscle or fat on her. The girl's thin limbs shivered from a mixture of cold and the slight fear behind her amber eyes.

 

“Gomen,” mumbled Lee, “I thought you were someone else.”

 

She blinked at him, her shoulders were tense and her fists were clenched, but she didn't say a word.

 

“You were the girl at the training grounds yesterday,” Lee was thinking out loud.

 

Her eyes darted away from him. He guessed that was some kind of `yes'.

 

Lee looked down at her hand again and finally notice his own and the fact that the bandages were missing. Even Lee had to admit his hands weren't `hansom', he was more aware than anyone that his hands were crosshatched with scars and other injuries. The bandages helped protect his hands, but despite that they were still raw and bleeding from training, and when they healed his palms would be like sandpaper - a normal thing Lee dealt with.

 

The girl gave a gentle but noticeable tug to try and get her wrist back.

 

“Gomenasai,” Lee had honestly forgotten that he still had a hold on the girl. He let go quickly with his apology and scratched his head sheepishly when he saw the clean roll of bandages in her hand, “…Were you trying to help me?”

 

The shy young girl tried to get up and run away yet again but she slipped in the mud and she landing on her butt with a loud splash. In her determination to get away she nearly fell a second time and she dropped the bandages she'd intended to put on Lee's hands.

 

She disappeared into the trees before Lee was even on his feet. There wasn't much point in following her. If she wanted to hide, chances were she would stay hidden.

 

`I wonder who she is, I've never seen her anywhere around the village before, and I would remember someone like her,' thought Lee. He could still see her incredibly sad eyes in his mind, just gazing back at him.

 

Lee spotted a backpack - he assumed it belonged to the girl - sitting nearby. It too was soaked and mud covered, just like her clothes had been. Inside was a pitifully worn out jacket, a blanket, a hairbrush, a map and an empty coin purse. In the smaller front pocket there was what looked to be the last few bites of a soggy loaf of bread.

 

`Could she be homeless…?'

 

When he thought about it, her entire appearance suggested it. Her clothes were worn almost threadbare and the entire attire in question was certainly not made for cold weather. On top of all that she was soaked from head to toe, covered in mud and obviously malnourished - soggy bread obviously wasn't enough to live off of. She probably wondered into the surrounding area recently.

 

`And now she doesn't even have her backpack,' Lee bit his lip, `I'll have to find her and return this.'

 

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“I can't believe I let him see me,” Eve huffed between short raspy breaths.

 

Eve tried to keep running, she wanted to keep going, because if there was one rule Eve always kept it was not to let anyone see her. Bad things would happen if she let people see her, especially if anyone saw the horns hidden beneath her ribbon. It would not only put herself in jeopardy but, in all likeliness, any possible innocent bystanders.

 

All because a curtain someone didn't like leaving loose ends. She wouldn't tolerate witnesses and she had no problem cutting down anyone and everyone in her path.

 

The ground was slick from the rain, and coupled with the fact that Eve's movements were lethargic and careless from lack of food, she was bound to trip and fall in the rough terrain. Eve wasn't exactly the most coordinated person in history; she was actually somewhat of a klutz.

 

Her foot landed on a rock which slid due to the mud and Eve was sent tumbling to the forest floor - her head slamming rather hard against a thick tree root.

 

She just lay motionless on the ground for a long time as the heavy rain pelted her skin.

 

Eventually she stirred but as her slender hands wiped her wet pink bangs from her face a different pair of eyes looked out at the world. They were narrower, harsher and much darker. There was no sympathy or mercy in those eyes.

 

“So much like a child,” her voice was no longer soft when she spoke, “thinking you can just end conflict by hiding yourself away, Eve? Just look at how much weight we've lost, stupid brat. Now, when was the last time we've actually eaten a decent meal, really?”

 

Getting to her feet, the pinkette stared off into the distance, as though waiting for a response.

 

Eventually a smirk graced her thin lips and she almost laughed out loud, “She knocked herself out didn't she?”

 

Her fingers ran gingerly over the lump on her temple, making rain mixed blood run down her hand. She knew she would definitely be feeling that one in the morning.

 

“Poor baby,” the pinkette murmured mockingly, “Don't worry, Kira will make it all better. Why don't I start with a change of clothes and a new backpack, hm? What luck, we're even right outside Konohagakure, and all the shops will be closing up right about now…”

 

Kira set off towards Konoha, appearing to glide between trees with ease as she ran. Moving unnoticed in the dark was one of her specialties.

 

Well, a specialty right under killing that is.

 

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Kira is on the prowl! Hehe, I hope to see a lot more reviews when I update again!

 

Starchip13