Twiceborn: A Tale of Two Friends

Chapter Three: Toddler Tears

She kept it together until evening, curling up in bed before she finally dropped the fragile mask she'd been wearing ever since she'd figured everything out. Some part of her had been giddy with excitement, but the emotions lurking under the surface were anything but, and now she was alone they were creeping out. Tears rolled down her cheeks, soaking her thin sheets as she let her walls fall down, bashing her head into the pillow all the while. She was scared. Terrified. She was a goddamn Jinchuuriki in a world of demons and blood, and those like her were never treated right. Not once everyone knew what they were. Her body shook, burying her face into her pillow as hysterical giggles started escaping her lips, even as the tears continued to fall. She was in Naruto. People threw around kunai and shuriken without a care in the world. She was totally going to die. Who knew? Maybe the Akatsuki would come along and extract the ball of fluff? That was right... it was only a matter of time until something of that sort happened... especially when everyone knew she was a Jinchuuriki.

'But do they?' Inner's voice cut through her tears.

Risa thought back, biting her lip as she recalled all her memories from After. Not once had the Matron ignored her when she was hurt or upset, not that she'd been like that much. Her heart leapt, eyes narrowing as they continued to leak tears like a broken faucet. Maybe no one knew she was a Jinchuuriki... maybe the Hokage had kept it a secret. She stiffened. Did they even know themselves? They'd made no effort to socialise with her in particular, nor had they singled her out. But then again, why would they? She was supposed to be a clueless child. There were bigger things to worry about, anyway, like how the hell had Kurama gotten inside her in the first place? Still, it wasn't as if Kurama was the source of all her troubles. No. She was in an unfamiliar world, surrounded by unfamiliar people, and she had the distinct impression she wouldn't be seeing any of her old friends or family again.

She was alone.

Alone in a strange and scary world, trapped in the body of a defenceless child. She wouldn't be defenceless for long, though. Not if she had any say in it. She just needed to pick herself up from the odd slump she found herself in. Easier said than done. Risa didn't know how long she just lay there, crying, but she felt better after it – lighter. Not perfectly happy, but more... resolved and resigned. She was a child again, and she had the chance at a whole new exciting life – even if it was no doubt destined to be filled with blood and gore.

She was going to do it. She promised herself. Risa was going to become a shinobi. She'd be stronger than ever. Sure, there were downsides to everything – the blood and the killing – but, as her obnoxiously cheerful friend once told her 'every cloud has a silver lining'.

'Of course there is,' Inner chirped. 'You have me now, duh.'

A smile tugged at her lips, a small laugh echoing around the dark room. Two minds are better than one, eh?

'Yep.'

Risa grinned, teeth showing as she made another little promise to herself. One to help keep her somewhat sane, and possibly emulate the original Uzumaki Naruto. She promised to keep a smile on her face no matter what and see the best in whatever she could. She didn't know whether she'd survive the colder, harsher world than the last one she'd lived in if she couldn't see the little sparks of hope everywhere. Not to mention it was the original Naruto was the one who befriended Kurama in the first place, so she had no doubts it'd take something of a similar mentality to do it again.

She was getting a head start on that.

She was going to be best friends with Kurama before she made Genin, believe it.