Unrest [Private] (Finished)

[Aiko Yukina]

Hana stared in wonder, watching as Aiko shoveled food into her mouth like a ravenous tiger. Outside the rain was falling still, sounding like bullets against the windows. The sounds of raindrops and vicious consumption were the only things that the woman could hear. For two days Hana had housed and fed her niece, watching as she put away plate after plate of food with ease. How was it possible that such a small young woman could eat so very much? As the Genin finished and wiped her mouth, Hana smiled.

“Satisfactory?” she asked teasingly, gazing curiously at the three empty plates on the table. Watching her nod, her smile widened. “Good… so do you mind telling me just what’s been going on?” she asked, her eyes looking over the young woman before her. Her eyes moved over the healing scars on Aiko’s neck, moving back to her face as she remained silent. In the past two days of residing with her, Aiko had not said a word. She merely floated silently around the house like a phantom, her eyes staring blankly ahead into nothing. Even as she spoke to her, Aiko was drifting off into her world of memories.

*Begin Flashback/Memory Sequence*

The Genin stepped from the school building standing still and allowing the rain wash the blood from her kimono sleeves. It had been a full year and six months since Aiko Yukina had enrolled in the ninja academy. The training had been harsh, and the journey very difficult, but standing there, at that moment the Yukina girl could feel a sense of triumph washing over. She had finally graduated. Walking around the side of the building, the girl made her way towards the school training grounds. She could feel her elation dwindling away as her mind drifted back to the Genin exams. She had emerged victorious… but at what cost?

Aiko could still hear the sound of the instructor shouting at her as she stood over her opponent, Aki Ito. “Finish it Yukina! It’s your life or hers!” Aiko had trembled, her chain wrapped around Aki’s body, the blade resting just above her neck. Aki had glowered up at her, waiting for the finishing blow. She was a year older than Aiko and had hated her with every fiber of her being. She had spent their entire stay at the academy trying to make Aiko miserable; waiting for the day that she would finally be able to put an end to her. She had never imagined that the tables would turn, making her the one at risk. The Yukina girl had despised her through all of it as well. Despite her feelings of hatred however, she had never wanted to end her life.

With a sigh the girl straightened her kimono top, a feeling of disgust building in the pit of her stomach. That was the life of shinobi; ending life, fighting every day to ensure one’s own survival. With the continuation of the shinobi war, that life was becoming even more difficult. Shinobi were expected to be stronger and tougher. With the hunting of bloodlines like the Yukina, she was expected to be even stronger than that. Aiko stood in the center of the training grounds, her mind lost in serious thought. How long would she survive? How long would the bloodshed continue? How long…

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[Aiko Yukina]

As the Genin stood in the rain, she could hear the sound of approaching footsteps. They were very soft; only the sound of water beneath them gave her warning. Turning Aiko leaped backwards, narrowly avoiding the blade that had landed a mere inch from where she had been standing. “So, Yukina finally graduated!” Ashi teased cruelly, lifting his sword and holding it in offensive position. Aiko growled, listening to the sound of metal as she drew her whip. Did she really need to fight so quickly after the exams? “Back off, Ashi.” She replied icily, her voice much steadier than the last time that they had met. For the last year, she had grown familiar with that particular boy. He was an older student who had recently graduated the Chuunin exams. He was a ruthless piece of work who had spent most of their time together teasing her and doing his best to make her miserable. His attitude had changed since she had begun to undergo puberty however, and she didn’t like him anymore now than she did then.

She watched his eyes widen at her reply, his lips curling into a smile as she drew her weapon. ~So the little girl has finally grown up…~ He thought silently as he moved forward to strike. Aiko anticipated his movements, quickly leaping to the side and sending her chain whip soaring after him. A smile graced her lips as Ashi turned and deflected the blow before moving forward again. A year ago, she would not have been able to so much as avoid him. Her speed training was finally beginning to pay off, so long as she could keep him at a distance. The Genin watched him approach once more, waiting for the opportune moment before leaping into the air. With a somersault, Aiko jumped over him and landed behind him. She turned quickly to attack him a second time and gasped, lifting her chain just in time to block a swing of his sword. He had approached her faster than she had anticipated. The ringing sound of metal on metal echoed as the shinobi began a full assault, Ashi’s sword clashing against Aiko’s chain.

Aiko grunted, her ears ringing with the sound of metal as Ashi’s sword continued to slam against her chain. It was becoming more and more difficult to hold him off. She had let him get too close. The Genin could only defend herself at such close range, and if he continued in that manner, she wouldn’t be able to do that either. Bending her arms slightly, she allowed Ashi’s sword to penetrate her defenses, stopping it inches from her face. Aiko watched the smile form on his face, believing that he had one. With his guard down, the girl caught him by surprise, thrusting her chain forward and knocking his sword back long enough for her to make seals with her hand.

Ashi recovered quickly, stopping when he saw her hand seals. The air around him began to grow heavy as it fell under a misty haze. The temperature lowered as the fog set in, thickening and making it difficult to see and breath. Ashi’s eyes narrowed as he raised his sword into defensive position, ready for her strike. Aiko smiled and turned, taking advantage of Ashi’s distraction and making her way out of the area. The Chuunin was so focused on the risk of preemptive attack, he didn’t notice that Genin making her escape.

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[Aiko Yukina]

Aiko didn’t stop running, not until she had reached the front doorstep of her house. The rain continued to fall throughout the day, leaving the poor Genin completely soaked again. As she opened the door, she could hear her father’s voice coming from the kitchen. Her suspicions had been correct in assuming that he would be home, although she had hoped they would be wrong. As she slipped off her shoes and slid them against the wall, she listened curiously to her father’s conversation. The girl hadn’t heard her father speak much when he wasn’t verbally abusing her. She had thought for a while that he simply didn’t speak to anyone. Apparently, she had been wrong. “We will reach an agreement another time.” He replied to whoever was in the room with him.

Shaking her head, the girl made her way into the other room. If Aiko could keep out of his line of sight that evening, she would be happy. The Genin Exams and her flight had left the Genin very tired and she wanted nothing more than to lay in her bed and rest. Aiko loved her bedroom. It was her place of sanctuary, the one place where she could run whenever something went horribly wrong. It was her only shield against the world. Not even her father had ever ventured inside. Hearing her father’s voice behind her, Aiko felt her hopes drop. “You graduated.” He stated obviously, towering over her with his arms crossed across his chest. Turning to face him, the girl nodded. He had probably heard from whoever he had been speaking with. Being one of the few Yukina alive and not involved in the war, news about her normally traveled quickly.

Hisashi’s arms were in motion within moments. Aiko saw the blow coming, but couldn’t react quickly enough to stop it. His fist collided with Aiko’s stomach, forcing her into a crouch, squealing in pain. “…Your taijutsu clearly hasn’t improved.” He said rudely, giving her just enough time to return to her feet before bringing her down again with another blow. Aiko remained there that time, feeling far too weak to rise for a second time. She could her father scoffing as he turned to leave. “You do not deserve the title that you carry or the blood that runs in your veins.” He muttered, returning to the kitchen to continue his conversation. Hearing laughter from the kitchen, Aiko curled into a ball bringing her knees to her chest. She was in too much pain to return to her sanctuary. Instead, she lay on the floor allowing her tears to fall silently on the carpet.

*End Flashback/Memory Sequence*

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“Aiko… Aiko!” The sound of Hana’s voice calling her name brought the Genin back to her senses once more. Her mind had drifted into memories of the past again, leaving her staring blankly at her aunt. She had completely forgotten that she had been talking to her. Shaking her head, the woman sighed. Hana felt as though she were speaking to a brick wall. “Come on, get some rest. You look like you need it” she said quietly, reaching out to help the zombie-like shinobi to her feet. Aiko only nodded, taking her hand following Hana as she led her to her bedroom.

[Mamushi]

+30 exp.

Good writing!