As The Apple Blossoms

As We First Met

Misaki Honami trudged along the snowy path, the ground crunching underneath her boots with every step she took. She tighten the coat around her, trying to keep herself warm. As she breathed out, white puffs came out, obscuring her vision. It was cold outside, but she kept on moving.

"Misaki-san!" Turning around, Honami spotted her neighbor, Reiki.

"What is it, Takahashi-san?"

"Where are you going?! We have to evacuate!" He declared, grabbing a hold of her hand. He tried to drag her in the direction everyone else was headed to, but Honami pulled away from his grip.

"I know we have to evacuate to Konohagakure, but I have to head back home and get something important." She proclaimed, heading in the direction she was going to before her neighbor interrupted her.

"Misaki-san!" Ignoring Reiki's yell, Honami continued on her track. Luckily he didn't follow her this time.

She found her home fairly quickly and proceeded to search for her most important item. It was a simple necklace that had three apple blossom pendants. It was given to her by her now deceased grandmother. She tied it around her neck and headed back out. She tried to see if she could spot the rest of the villagers, only to hear a noise not to far away from her.

Clutching her bag, Honami trudged to where the noise was coming from. It sounded as if someone was whimpering. As she got closer, Honami could see two silhouettes. One was on the floor while the other was standing up, raising what Honami concluded to be a (butcher?) sword.

"Please don't kill me, I'm begging you! I'll do anything!" The one on the floor whimpered. It sounded like a man.

"Sorry, but you should've known what would happen to you if you messed with Suigetsu, one of the seven legendary sword men." At least that's what it sounded like he said.

Honami could only stay rooted to her spot, unable to go and help her fellow villager. How could she though, for she was just a civilian?! It was obvious that Suigetsu guy was a ninja, so if she went out there and tried to take him on, she'll surly die. What good would that do either her or her fellow villager?! Just as the sword was about to be brought down on her fellow villager, a man with the darkest eyes she had ever seen appeared, stopping Suigetsu.

"Stop, Suigetsu. This isn't the time to kill whomever you please," He had caught the large, heavy looking blade with just one hand. He must've been another ninja.

"Sasuke's right Suigetsu, we don't have time for your childish games. Leave the man be and let's go!" A woman with bright red hair declared, pushing up the rim of her glasses. Beside her was a man with spiky orange hair. Just like the man with the dark eyes, his face was expressionless.

"Che," The man Suigetsu spit out, but nevertheless he swung his butcher blade over his shoulder and turned away from the man... only to make eye contact with Honami.

He grinned at her, showing off pointy, shark-like teeth. Honami could only stare back with wide eyes, afraid that he was going after her next. She had spotted him and his group after all. She should have made a run for it, as futile as it was, but Honami was still rooted to the floor, fear running through her veins. Since the white hair man was looking in her direction, it caused all those with him to look at her as well, making Honami even more frightened.

Finally, Honami made a move to run or do something, but right as she took a step back, the snowy floor caused her to slip, making her land on the floor with a soft thud. Her sliver eyes shone with fear as the white haired man moved closer to her. She was going to die! Honami looked at her fellow villager (who was still on the floor) with pleading eyes, but he just got up and ran away, leaving Honami to her doom. She couldn't be mad at him though, for she was too afraid to help him when he needed her help.

Honami clutched at her apple blossom pendants, tears brimming her eyes as she prepared for her end. Strands of her lilac hair had escaped the braid it was in, some of them hanging in front of her face. She could hear as his footsteps got closer and closer. When he stopped right in front of her, she knew it was the end. This was it, her timely demise!

"Suigetsu," A monotonous voice deadpanned.

The blade never came. Honami opened her eyes, which she never knew she closed, and saw that Suigetsu was just looking down at her with, what she assumed was, a signature smile.

"Bye, bye!" He said, facing away from her.

The rest of his group started to walk away, so he followed. Right before they all disappeared, the man with dark hair and eyes, the one who stopped Suigetsu from killing her, caught her eyes. His eyes were blank.

He had saved her, and she did not know why. He didn't care about her, she wasn't deluded enough to think that, especially since this is the first time they've ever seen each other. So then why did he allow her to live? Was it out of pity? Honami stayed on the floor, trying to figure out why her life was spared.

It was only when Reiki came and got her, that Honami stopped thinking about the man with dark, emotionless eyes. She evacuated to Konohagakure with the rest of her fellow villagers, absentmindedly rubbing an apple blossom pendant.

Was she ever going to see the man that saved her again? Or was that the last time she was ever going to see him? She hoped she did, for she wanted to thank him for sparing her life, even if it meant nothing to him. Hopefully she'll see that man by the name Sasuke again.

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"Granny, what's a hero?" A child Honami inquired, looking up from the flower crown she was weaving.

Her grandmother on the other hand, was bustling around the kitchen. On the kitchen counters and island, were meats, vegetables and spices. Her grandmother was a chef, and world renowned one at that. Honami loved to see her grandmother work: she looked so confident. She hoped that one day she'll look like that as well.

Whatever she became in the future, Honami hoped she looked just as her grandmother did when she cooked. Her grandmother had a passion, one that helped her become someone loved. She deserved it. Her grandmother had stopped moving, putting down the knife she was holding.

"A hero... hm," She muttered, taking a seat across her granddaughter. "A hero Honami, is someone who is courageous and strong-willed. A hero doesn't have to be strong, but someone who is willing to help others without expecting a reward."

"Wow! Do you know any heroes grandmother?" Honami questioned, shaking a bit in her chair.

"I did once, long ago." Her grandmother replied, putting the flower crown Honami gave her on her granddaughter's head.

"What happened?"

"He unfortunately died."

"I hope I meet a hero one day, grandmother. It'll be really neat if I do."

"You will Honami, this world is filled with them, and when you do, remember to thank them. They deserve to be recognized even if that wasn't somethings they wanted."

"I will, grandmother. I will!" Honami proclaimed, giving her caretaker a large, blinding smile.

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To this day Honami kept what grandmother had told her close to her heart, believing that one day she would meet her very own hero, and finally she has.