The Last Chinoike [A NARUTO LOVE STORY]

Aimless Wandering

Hayami opened her eyes to bright sunlight, bathing her skin. Memories of her nightmare from last night immediately burrowed into her brain, refusing to leave. It was like a tsunami made of anger, hatred, confusion, heartbreak, and emptiness swept her off her feet and carried her away. Hayami woke up in a cold sweat, despite being surrounded by moderately warm sunlight. She immediately sat up and swept her hand across her glistening forehead. With her breathing quick and tachypneic, Hayami attempted to settle herself and shake her head slightly. Almost attempting to shake out the memories, hoping they would just spill from her brain and out through her ears. The bright purple eyes of the young woman were glazed over with tears. She looked up, down, behind her, to the right, and to the left. Her blazing eyes were searching for anyone around, anyone who might have taken advantage of her momentary weakness.

However, there was no one there. She let out a shaky breath as she realized she was alone. She was utterly and completely alone. Part of her had almost hoped that someone would be there when she woke up. 

"W-wait a minute, why am I out here alone..." She muttered softly, rubbing her head. Then the events of last night and the nightmare, of course, just to really set in the fact that her clan was gone forever plagued her mind again. "Oh yeah..." Hayami sighed, even quieter than the last time she spoke. She didn't frantically look around, or start screaming, or fire off jutsu after jutsu to get her anger out. She laid back down on the soft ground she was previously resting on and cried. She cried tears with sobs that only grew in volume as she looked up and watched the clouds roll by. Hayami attempted to release the hurt she was feeling through these strained sobs, but as soon as she cried out tears for her now deceased family, more pain easily replaced its place.

"It's not fair." She said at a normal volume. Her smooth voice being interrupted by more tears, making it hard to speak. More hot and salty tears were streaming down the sides of her face. "Why did it have to happen to me? Why did this happen to them- my people?" Hayami whispered to absolutely no one, as there was not a soul nearby.

After about a few hours or so, Hayami began to quiet down. She tried her best to soothe her racing heart, leaking tear ducts, and rapid breathing. There was no one there to soothe her, tell her she would be okay, or simply listen. She got up slowly, her aching muscles screaming to lay back down. Hayami gathered up her small amount of belongings that were sprawled out next to her, raised her hand to her throat and grasped at the ruby red crystal around her neck, then started out toward the nearest source of noise.

A nearby town had appeared over the horizon of the forest. On the outskirt of the town was a hot spring, dango shop, and a few stands selling miscellaneous items. It wasn't hard to enter the small village, seeing that there was no massive gate or guards to deter entrance. This put Hayami off to no end. "That doesn't seem too smart..." She noted to herself as she began to walk around through the village. Because she hailed from the infamous Hell Valley, a place with an almost natural barrier of the elements and something ominous. Hayami was not used to such an open and seemingly trusting atmosphere. 

Hayami continued to wander around the village, noting lots of happy families perusing the open restaurants and shops. She shuffled her feet along the dirt paths of the roads that made up passage ways through the village. Her black heels with a slight raise to them, kicked up wisps of dirt as she maneuvered around the passing families. Occasionally, some children would smile at her, other kids both boys and girls her ago would stare and smile in her direction. However, she couldn't pay attention to any longing, weird, or even friendly looks she received. All she could do was glue her eyes to the winding road in front of her. Wondering where her feet would carry her if she just kept walking.

All the while she was walking, the young woman felt a shadow looming over her. Although she continuously turned over her shoulder, there was no one there. The shadow that was hanging over her felt so heavy, so sad, and prohibited her from paying attention to anything else.