1- The Dream Devourer (Kakashi X OC)

Journey to the Past

Authors note: Domestic abuse and self-harm are in this chapter. Also, I wrote the past in present tense to differentiate it, so...have fun with that! XD

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"Sweetie, what are you doing? Get away from the ledge!" Her mother cries.

The girl's hand presses against the side of the open window. She turns her head to look back. Her eyes are determined as she says, "I'm waking up. I don't want to dream anymore."

"Chiisai," her mom says with tears in her eyes. She slowly extends her hand out and replies, "Honey, you're not dreaming. I promise. Now please get off the window sill before you hurt yourself."

"No! I wanna see my real mommy!" Chiisai cries before leaping off. Her mother screams as she rushes to the window, but it's too late. Chiisai's small body falls through the air, the wind whipping at her clothing and dark hair.

At the last second, as the people on the street come rushing towards her, a ninja jumps up and encircles his arms around little Chiisai. He lands on the ground and stumbles, his breath heavy as he looks down at her.

"Let me wake up!" She screams.

"It's okay," her father breathes. He tries to soothe her, and his face is distraught. "You're awake, Chiisai."

The child writhes under his grip, trying to break free. His grip on her tightens as he kicks off, and dust stirs up. He lands on the kitchen balcony of the apartment. His wife takes their daughter in her arms before he can say anything. Her long fingers press hard into Chiisai's skin, and the child gasps in pain.

"Don't you ever do that!" She screams at Chiisai. Her body shakes as she pulls Chiisai closer, holding her tight to her chest. Barely audible, she says, "Don't you ever scare me like that again, Chiisai."

Kakashi watched as another scene unfolded, and this time, it was a young Chiisai overhearing her parents.

"We have to take her to a doctor, Kuroi! She tried to kill herself!" She says. "I can't go on like this. I can't watch my child go through this."

Kuroi lays his hand on her shoulders. "Gina, if we take her in and they find out her ability, they'll take her away. Do you know how many people would be after her, after us?" He rakes his hands through his dark hair. "Goddammit," he breathes.

She shakes her head and replies, "Maybe that's a good thing! While you're gone on missions, I'm barely keeping my sanity with her! I have to explain to her every morning that she's in real life. You should hear her at breakfast talking about these dreams! A little girl shouldn't know the things she says, and pulling her out of school isn't helping! I don't see anyone, or talk to anyone, because she's a full time job!"

He shakes his head before giving his wife an exasperated look. Finally, he takes her face in his hands, his thumb wiping her tears away. She looks up at him, the anguish clearly written on her face.

"What does she say about these dreams?" He asks.

Her hands cover his and she sighs. "Gods, Kuroi, it's everything. She has memories of war, of death, she knows what sex is- and she talks about shinobi as if she knows them. You know that young Kushina woman? She says there's a monster fox trapped inside of her, and that her husband is in line to be the next Hokage."

His eyes widen, and he pulls away from her. "What else does she say?"

Gina opens her mouth, but the memory dissolves, moving on to the next one.

Another scene, with Chiisai on her bed. She's missing a front tooth, her hair is to her shoulders, and her smile is genuine. There's an open notebook beside her, filled with poor handwriting, and Kakashi instantly recognized the first journal.