A Broken Heart; A Shattered Soul [Private] - Done

[Aiko Yukina]

In the kitchen, the Yukina woman stood in front of a counter, slicing a carrot with a kitchen knife. It was an afternoon in the Mist Village and the rain had finally come to a temporary stop. In the last few days, she had learned that it was always a good idea to keep food available with Aiko in the house. For some reason, that girl was always hungry. “…Hana?” The woman turned her head, her eyes widening as she gazed down at the petite young lady in front of her. It was late in the evening, and Aiko finally spoken to her for the first time in three days. The knife made a quiet sound as Hana placed it against the counter, turning to face her. “What is it Aiko?” she asked worriedly, her eyes running briefly over the scars forming along the girl’s neck.

Aiko looked up at her aunt, her eyes shimmering with tears as she recalled the last few years of her life. Why had so many things gone wrong? Hana noticed the look on her niece’s face and fell silent, waiting for her to speak. The girl looked very fragile standing before her, like a porcelain doll just waiting to be broken. She remained silent for a few minutes, staring at her aunt with heartbroken eyes. Hana was about to return to slicing her vegetables when Aiko’s voice stopped her for a second time. “A lot has happened since mother died.” Aiko muttered quietly, her voice coming out as barely a whisper. Hana listened closely, her words piquing her curiosity. “Father has changed…”

Hana placed a hand on the girl’s shoulder, leading her to a chair in the corner so that she would feel more comfortable. From the sound of her voice, Hana could tell that something was very wrong with Aiko. She was quite familiar with Hisashi’s harsh methods and even more so with the violent relationship between he and her sister. Even now, seven years later, Hana had a strong suspicion that her sister’s death had been no accident. “Changed how dear?” the woman asked curiously. A sinking feeling in her gut told her that she didn’t really want to know.

“…He wants me dead.” came Aiko’s quiet reply. The corner of Hana’s mouth twitched, her blue orbs gazing into her niece’s. The Genin sighed, her hands trembling with anger as she recalled the events that had led to her attempted suicide. The kunoichi gave her aunt every detail of the past seven years; from her father’s abusive nature, to her terrible treatment at school, to the new look in Ashi’s eyes when he gazed at her. She spoke for a long while, her aunt remaining silent as she listened to every word. Aiko paused for a moment, a little unsure as she reached the events of previous year. After a deep breath, she continued.

[Aiko Yukina]

*Begin Flashback/Memory Sequence*

The clearing was silent; no rain falling from the clouds, no animals maneuvering across the tattered landscape. Only the splash of footsteps was audible as Aiko leaped around the clearing. The sound of metal could be heard as the blade of her chain whip sliced through the neck of an ice sculpture that the Yukina girl had made. She had grown stronger over her years of training, although she often felt sub-par in comparison to the few Yukina that she had come into contact with. Grunting, the Genin whipped around, sending her whip lifting from the ground and soaring towards a different sculpture. As the blade embedded itself into the sculpture’s chest, Aiko sent a kunai after her weapon, watching it land in between the eyes of the icy enemy.

Smiling, she retracted her chain, bringing the blade back to her and returning it to its hiding place within a fold in her kimono. Aiko felt a sense of pride and accomplishment, having finally managed to become somewhat competent through her training. Her fancy footwork and blinding speed had turned out to be very useful to the Genin. Her taijutsu skills were still elementary despite her years of training, so to compensate she had learned to utilize her small stature and agility. The young woman had learned that she was highly skilled in ninjutsu, even more so than many of the students in her class.

The splashing grew silent as Aiko’s footsteps came to a stop. The Genin stood in the center of the clearing, her eyes focused on a single sculpture that had remained unharmed. Moving quickly, the shinobi used her left hand to make hand seals, the other reaching to her thigh to grab a kunai. Aiko channeled her chakra into her feet, running up the side of a tree while four twelve-inch snowmen began to form on the ground below. Hiding in the leaves of the trees, Aiko watched as the snowmen hobbled cutely towards the sculpture, surrounding him with goofy smiles on their faces. The Genin couldn’t help but smile at the stupid grin on their faces as they exploded, firing icy kunai at the sculpture. The resulting explosion of ice shards as the two collided made Aiko grateful that she had chosen to hide in the cover of the trees.

Satisfied with her work, she leaped from the tree and landed on the ground with a quiet splash. The clearing was now filled with “dead” shinobi, every sculpture having been defeated in one way or another. It gave her some comfort to know that she had improved enough to defend herself on even footing with other Genin...sort of. “Not bad, Yukina… my how you’ve grown. Still a Genin I see.” Ashi taunted, stepping slowly out from behind a tree. When had he gotten there? Sighing, Aiko brushed a stubborn leaf from her kimono and glared at him.

“What do you want Ashi?” she asked rudely, trying to sound as intimidating as possible. Their previous battle had ended with her escape from the field. Since then, her close combat skills had no improved, and she did not want him to know that. To make matters worse, she wasn’t sure just how much he had grown since their last encounter either.

“I was sent by Hisashi to test your skills.” He replied innocently, drawing his sword from its sheath. Aiko winced at the sound, feeling a shiver run down her spine. He seemed a bit… different this time around; more sinister. Certainly her father wouldn’t have sent this boy to fight her… he was of a much higher skill level. After a moment, she shook her head. Perhaps he would... her father had never cared too much about her. The Genin didn’t have time to contemplate his presence any further. As Aiko leaped to the side and heard the rushing air of a swinging sword beside her, she knew that the battle had already begun.

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[Aiko Yukina]

The Genin narrowed her eyes, watching Ashi’s feet and anticipating his moments. Her eyes had been trained to watch the movements of enemy ninja and to prepare for their following movements. Ashi’s sword swung forth, flying past Aiko as she performed four back hand springs effectively dodging his attack as well as placing a good distance between the two of them. Feeling far enough away, the kunoichi raised her left hand, making seals as quickly as possible. Her legs moved quickly pushing her sideways and dodging the other shinobi as she created her final seal.

Aiko could see the confusion and intrigue on his face as the quartet of snowmen began to form around him. The twelve-inch goofballs gave goofy smiles, waving at him before exploding and sending razor sharp kunais into Ashi’s chest. Her lips curled into a smile, watching the enemy shinobi clutch his chest. The sound of footsteps alerted her to another presence. As the quiet chuckle reached her ears, Aiko gasped and pushed forward away from the source. The man before her burst out of existence, bringing her to the realization that he man had been nothing more than a clone. Turning, the kunoichi could only see the last hand seal before Ashi released a blinding flash of light.

Shrieking, Aiko backed away, closing her eyes to shield them from the jutsu. She had never seen Ashi use any form of jutsu, leading the girl to believe that he specialized in taijutsu. Seeing the light had caught her completely off guard, giving Ashi his moment to strike. As she opened her eyes, she could see another light, this one spherical. Unable to react, Aiko grunted as Ashi’s fist collided violently with her stomach, sending her backwards. She could feel the electricity coursing through her body as he made contact. ~ He’s a lightning user? ~ she thought angrily as she collided with a tree behind her.

Ashi rushed forward following up his attack with a second jutsu. He knew now that he had the upper hand. He had gotten into close range, Aiko’s weak point. An agonized scream erupted from her mouth as another blow struck her face, sending a wave of electricity and pain coursing through her body. The conflict had transformed from a heated battle into a savage beating. Ashi’s lips curled into a cruel smile, his jutsu fading as he watched the kunoichi slump to her knees before him. Grabbing her by her hair, the man lifted her to her feet. Leaning forward, the Chuunin whispered into her ear “Next time.” before slamming her against the tree for a second time. An utterance escaped from the kunoichi that sounded dangerously like a squeak. Ashi shook his head in wonder, waiting for a moment to see if she would attempt to stand and run. When she didn’t he smiled and turned, leaving the girl on the ground. He would see her later.

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[Aiko Yukina]

Aiko remained beneath the tree for some time, swimming in a pool of her own disappointment and despair. How could she have fallen prey to such an obvious diversion? The girl sat on the ground, feeling pity on herself as well as fear for her safety. Ashi could have easily ended her life had he wanted to. What had stopped him? What was to stop him from returning to finish the job later? The kunoichi pondered it for a while longer, staring blankly at the ground. She would have to return home soon. When her father learned of her defeat, her beating would be even more severe than the last.

Only the setting sun motivated the young shinobi to rise to her feet. The lands of war were dangerous enough without lying outside on the ground after nightfall. In her condition, she wouldn’t be able to fend off another Genin let alone a highly skilled, fully trained shinobi. Willing her legs to move, Aiko pressed forward. It was an ideal night to flop onto her bed, locking herself in her bedroom. She had grown used to her father’s abuse over the years, and would gratefully drift into sleep once it was over.

Stepping through the door had never felt so relieving to the young shinobi. She had run into trouble many times in her life, but she had never found herself so close to death. Not even during the Genin exams had Aiko ever felt such fear in her heart. Sighing, the kunoichi kicked off her shoes and made her way through the house. All of that was over now. From the silence in the house, it also seemed that Hisashi was out on that night. A smile graced her lips as she realized that she might finally enjoy a night of peace. Making her way into the kitchen, the girl looked around for something to eat. Finding an apple, the Genin swiped it and leaned against a counter, consuming it hungrily. Her stomach growled as she ate, sounding as though she hadn’t eaten in days.

Finishing her fruit, the girl tossed the core into a trash can and slowly made her way towards her room. The realm of sub consciousness could not welcome her fast enough. Rounding the corner to her bedroom, Aiko froze. Standing in the hallway, Ashi leaned against the wall. His expression was casual, like that of an old friend waiting for their buddy to return. “Miss me?” he asked simply, pushing his body from its leaning position and approaching Aiko. Growling, the kunoichi raised her hand, making hand seals and backing away from him. The hallway was narrow, meaning that her weapon wouldn’t really be of any use there. Trying to unleash her chain in such a confined area would only lead to the destruction of the interior of the house.

Ashi smiled, watching as Aiko made her seals. His smile widened further as her jutsu failed to take effect. What was wrong? The Genin felt her heart sink as she realized a fatal error in her judgment. The girl had spent nearly the entire day training in the hopes that her father would notice her perseverance and leave her be that evening. Her training had been followed by a surprise attack, which had left her utterly exhausted. Her chakra control was faltering. The poor Genin was far too tired to perform even the most basic of jutsu. The only way for her to fight would be at close range. Aiko was completely defenseless.

As Aiko turned to run, she could hear the sound of Ashi’s footsteps as he closed the gap between them. A hand grabbed her by the collar of her kimono, choking the girl and jerking her backwards off of her feet. As she collided with the ground, Aiko felt another hand grabbing her by her ponytail. The long red ribbon fell from her hair, landing on the carpet as its owner was dragged down the hallway and into her bedroom. The girl screamed at the top of her lungs, kicking and thrashing violently as the door slammed behind them.

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[Aiko Yukina]

Chaos filled the room, Aiko kicking and screaming as the man dragged her into the center of the floor. The girl shrieked, swinging one of her fists into his shin as he let her go. Furious, Ashi grabbed the kunoichi by her kimono top and dragged her to her feet before throwing her against a dresser. Aiko collided with the dresser, grabbing onto one of the drawers as she tried to regain her balance. The drawer was ripped from the dresser as she was thrown again, this time against her end table.

The table cracked, breaking apart under her weight as she landed against it. Aiko lay upon the broken table, groaning as a sharp pain ran along her side. “Aiko… there is no use in continuing to fight. You are tired and you are injured. There is no way you can win… Besides, My father and I paid a very nice price for you, so please be a good girl and relax.” Ashi said, his voice dripping with malice. The girl stared, gazing up at him with indescribable fear. That sadistic fuck was out of his mind. What price had they paid?

As she was lifted to her feet by her hair, Aiko’s eyes went blank. Her father had been negotiating with a shinobi in the kitchen the previous year. She remembered his words at that moment “We will reach an agreement another time” he had said. He hadn’t been negotiating the price of scrolls or weaponry. Her father had been talking about her. He had been speaking to the boy’s father. That bastard had sold her to this boy! Ashi smiled, seeing the blank look on Aiko’s face, staring off into another realm. “You okay?” he asked curiously, wondering if perhaps she had lost consciousness.

That was the final straw… she had had enough. Ashi yelped as Aiko’s fist collided with his face. “You bitch!” he shouted, retaliating with a fist of his own, his containing much more force. Aiko fell to the floor with a thump. Ashi’s weight was immediately pressing down on her, preventing her escape. She was no longer thinking clearly, no longer capable of rational thought. The Genin only screamed, thrashing about in a violent rage as tears stained her face. Her mind was lost in thoughts of fury, screaming and trying to block out the pain that she was to suffer.

~ That bastard sold me to this man as property… I’ll kill him! ~

Aiko clawed at his face, screaming at the top of her lungs. She tried to scratch him, maim him, anything that would stop what was to come. Her body twisted and writhed fighting desperately as her obi was torn. Her arms flailed violently, trying to strike as best she could. Her kimono was ripped open, revealing her pale naked body.

~ I will destroy him! I will bury him! I’ll kill them, all of them! ~

Her legs kicked violently in all directions. They twisted and turned, bent and clenched trying to keep her shorts firmly above her knees. She felt her foot connect with the man’s shoulder as her undergarments were torn. Her throat dried, her lungs tightened, her vocal cords straining as she raised the volume of her voice. No one would hear.

~ Get off of me. Leave me alone. ~

Her screams echoed through the halls of the house. Her cries fell upon an empty house as her body was violated, her purity tainted, her mind shattered, her innocence stripped away.

~ Stop… please stop…Go away… ~

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[Aiko Yukina]

Aiko lay in a crumpled heap in the center of the floor. Her battered form lay still, her eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. She remained silent, saying nothing as Ashi rose to his feet and made his way to her bedroom door. He opened the door and left as casually as a family member heading home after a family dinner. She remained in that position, listening as the front door opened and closed. Only after it opened for a second time did the Genin roll onto her stomach and slowly rise to her feet. She could feel the warm red liquid running down her thighs as she stood, mixing with other fluids as they made their way to the floor. Slowly, Aiko exited the room, trying to close what was left of her kimono. A trail of blood stained the carpet as she slowly made her way out of her bedroom, every movement of her legs setting off a sharp pain between her thighs.

The Genin stood in the hallway, watching as her father placed various items into a large bag. Aiko leaned against the wall, feeling her legs tremble beneath her weight. “Where were you…?” she muttered. Her voice dripped with malice as she watched him pack his belongings. He tossed a blade into his bag and replied casually. “You’re still alive?” Shaking his head, the man continued to fill his bag with items that he would require for his journey. Growling, Aiko spoke again, her voice rising as she shouted furiously. “Where were you!? Answer me you twisted fuck!”

Hisashi froze for a moment, shocked at her tone. Aiko had never dared to speak to him in such a fashion, not even in rage. Closing his bag, Hisashi turned to face his daughter. His eyes examined her condition: The remaining torn fabric of her kimono, held closed by her hand, her exposed lower half, blood and other fluids running freely down her thighs and onto the floor, her ribbon-less hair falling wildly past her waist. So Ashi had won the battle. Shaking his head, the man glowered at his battered child. “You’re weak.” He replied cruelly. “You are a disgrace to your village and to your bloodline. You deserve everything that has come to you.” Turning, Hisashi made his way to the front door. Aiko watched him disappear into the night, never to return. Her eyes glazed over as she watched her father leave. They were empty; the eyes of a broken woman.

*End Flashback/Memory Sequence*

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Hana’s eyes remained firmly locked on the young woman before her, a look of horror plastered upon her face. ~ Hisashi… you son of a bitch… ~ the woman thought violently to herself as she gave her best effort to remain calm. Her nails dug into her palms as her hands clasped tightly into fists, her knuckles turning white. “Aiko…” she uttered, her eyes filled with sorrow for her niece. It was no surprise that she had found the Genin in such a position. The poor girl was had no reason to living... In her mind there was nothing left to fight for.

Sighing, Hana shook her head in disbelief. “Aiko… you have suffered a great deal in these past few years… and you have lived through it all.” She said quietly. The girl looked up at her aunt, her eyes shimmering with tears. “You are in a dark place right now, Aiko. You are hurt… you are tired… you feel helpless and weak…” Aiko only nodded, listening to her words in silence. “But that is all in the past now. Had you died there in that house three days ago, they would have been victorious. This isn’t over Aiko… not unless you allow it to be.” Aiko shook her head, staring at her aunt.

“I don’t understand…” Placing her hands on her shoulders, her aunt replied. “You are still alive Aiko...” The Genin nodded slowly, her eyes regaining some form of life as she listened to her aunt’s words. “Listen to me child. Those people were trying to break you… they wanted you to give up and you survived it… all of it. You can still win Aiko.” The girl blinked, allowing the tears to roll freely down her cheeks. “How?” she asked quietly. Smiling, Hana replied with a single word. “Revenge.”

[yokata]

Tagged

[yokata]

Well, this was an insightful read. You had couple problems with keeping tense here and there. Some of the battle between you and the Chuunin seemed a little incoherent but captivating nonetheless. Still, you need to watch out for redundancy when you write.

65 EXP