Azure saw a boy with parted bowl cut hairstyle peeking into the room. When he saw her, there was surprised in his eye. “Oh, sorry! I didn’t know this room was taken.” “Ah, you must be Scarlet.” The doctor said and he stood up, ushering Scarlet into the room. “We were expecting you. This is Azure, she’s helping around the hospital.” At the mention of her name, Azure gave a small bow to the boy. She had learned to show respect to people and patients after working in the hospital for a few months now. After all, she was only freelancing here out of the staff’s pity. “Nice to meet you, Azure. I’m here for a checkup.” From Azure view, the way Scarlet walked into the room held grace and nobility and she was captivated. Whoever this person was, it was obvious he was from a well-respected family. “Take a seat then, Scarlet.” As the checkup proceeds, Azure watched with hunger at every single move the two did. When Scarlet showed his arm, Azure was quick to indentify the cause and she noted down everything the doctor said. Once in a while she could see the doctor looking at her uncomfortable but Scarlet was at ease, sometimes even asking for Azure opinions. During the checkup, a nurse knocked onto the doctor. “Doctor, we have an emergency! We need your assistances.” The shrill voice of the nurse resonances through the small room and the doctor quickly gets up, not before flashing a smile at them ( mostly at Scarlet though ). “Oh dear, looks like I have to go. However, the checkup is already over.” He said gently, “I had prescribed everything to you. Just clean it regularly and everything will be fine. Well then, I’ll take my leave.” With that, the doctor quickly left and Azure wondered if the panic of the emergency really caused him to leave so hastily. “So, your name is Azure, right?” Scarlet spoke up, glance at her curiously. “Why are you working here in the hospital? You looked as if you are around my age and that’s too young to be working.” Azure wondered if she should snapped at Scarlet for his meddling attitude, a hundred and a million replies running through her head. One stood out, that was telling the truth. Anyway, what does she had to lose for telling the truth? After all, she already lost everything; nearly. “My family died from an epidemic. I’m determine to find the cause and the cure.” Azure said gently, but there’s fire in her voice before the flame dampens slightly. “Besides, I have nowhere else to go. If I stay at the orphanage, for sure I wouldn’t be able to progress anything.” Azure was expecting pity, or worst even a slightly disgusted reaction from the boy – after all, her family died from an illness and there could be a high chance she was carrying one too, although the hospital already did countless checkup on her before letting her stay here. However, all Scarlet did was listened attentively and with his one eye visible, Azure could see contemplations in them. Scarlet was thinking of something; and whatever the boy was thinking had caused something to spark inside Azure. “Want to live with me? My clan have a few amazing medical ninjas too! Although it wouldn’t be as amazing as those working in the hospital.” He smiled sheepishly; his hands that were decorated with plastered were fiddling with the hem of his shirt. “And, um- I kinda don’t like the way the doctor treats you. It gives off the whole unwelcomed kind of atmosphere. “ Azure flinches a bit, Scarlet was right. She already knows that she wasn’t welcome here but having someone literally point that out- even more someone relatively the same age was bitter to swallow. Scarlet, noticing that he might had offended his new companion, started to panic but before he could say anything else, Azure cuts him off. “Wont I also be a burden at your place?” she asked quietly. Suddenly she felt sad. It was almost as if wherever she goes, she was always rejected. “No, of course not!” Scarlet quickly said, gentle hands holding Azure’s soft hands. He gave a small squeeze and made them look at each other. “My family and I would be more than happy to welcome you. I already have a friend living with me and he’s around our age too.” Scarlet smiled brighter and Azure saw that whoever this ‘friend’ was, he and Scarlet had a strong bond with each other. I want to be a part of it too, she thought. Scarlet continued, “I want us to grow up together, to grow stronger together! So that one day, we can help each other and more. After all, we’re never alone in this world.” Never alone. Azure eyes watered. It was then she realized, she had never moved on from her family’s death. All this time, she had lived with a heavy heart, soulless, emotionless. The only thing that fueled her was her desire to find the cure. She wasn’t fulfilling her family’s final wish, which was to enjoy life to the fullest. Maybe this was her calling, in the form of a very amazing boy whose red eye was pulling people deeper than any voice can. She was just six years old, but at that age she already knows how one moment, one person could change someone’s life. “I’ll be in your care then.” Azure said while sniffling, snot in her nose. She was smiling though and so was Scarlet. So contagious he was, and it was something she didn’t mind being infected with. This post was last edited by Venn at 2017-3-14 23:14

“Alright, let’s go home now.” Ibi said cheerfully, both of his hands were occupied with the two children as they walked side by side.

Azure was still feeling shy, but Ibi-san hand was firmed in her grip, comforting as if to say she was okay now, that they weren’t going to leave her behind.

“Azure, where’s your slippers?” Ibi asked concernedly to their new family member and it was then Azure realized she had been walking barefoot and that the little pebbles were starting to irritate her feet. The hospital floors were smooth so it wasn’t really a fuss to be walking barefoot.

“Here.” Scarlet offered his and Azure was flustered.

“W-Wait, I can’t have yours. Then you will be barefoot also.” She tried to reject but the slippers were already being slipped into her – Azure cringe – battered feet by Ibi-san. Scarlet’s uncle didn’t seemed to mind that Azure was causing so much trouble to his nephew and that made Azure even more embarrassed. Such kindness, she thought.

“I’ll be fine. I have more pairs back home. Besides, you’re still recovering right? You need it more than I do.” The way Scarlet told everything so subtlety made Azure feeling light and the comfort of the slippers only adds to it.

“Beside, I learned a new trick! Watch this, uncle!”

Scarlet gently placed down the bags of supplies as he made handsigns and closed his eyes. There was a swift noise and the glow of chakra around the boy’s feet, incasing around it protectively.

“Ta-da! Feet armor.” Scarlet grins brightly and he jumps around to show that his feet were truly protected by his chakra armor. Azure was in awe.

“Oh, you’re a fast learner are you, you little!” Ibi grinned widely and circled Scarlet in a headlock, ruffling his nephew hair affectionately. Scarlet let out a squeal and tried to escape. They were laughing, Azure noted. They were happy- a family and Azure was going to be a part of this soon. She felt herself smiling.

“Alright, alright. Let’s go home now. Its already late and we all don’t want Middy to throw a tantrum.” Ibi said as he stood up and dust away the sand on his knees. He wiggled his eye brows at both of them and even though Azure had no idea what he was talking about, it made them giggle.


“I’ll go and set the supplies. Here,” Ibi hand over a roll of bandage and some plaster to Scarlet. “Use this to cover Midnight’s wounds. I’m sure you will be able to do it, and if you can’t, ask Azure for help.” Ibi smiled at her and Azure gave him a shy smile, fingers curling around Scarlet’s shirt so she wouldn’t fall behind. She felt happy that she could actually be a use to someone.

Scarlet place was huge! And it was the last place she wanted to get lost in.

“Okay, Ibi- san.” Scarlet nodded his head and lead Azure towards his room, where he knows Midnight was waiting for him. They passed by open corridors, Azure could see people out in the courtyard, either playing, lounging or even some are studying under shady tress and by the fish pond.
Everything seemed so serene.

“It’s just a normal place.” Scarlet said sheepishly. There was a hint of red on his cheeks.

“It’s beautiful.” Azure said in awe and even more when the people passing by all greet Scarlet with respect and kindness, some even called him with the honorific of sama.

“I know it will take some time, but I would like you to already consider everything here as a part of you too.”

“I will try.”

Scarlet smiled at her and she smiled back. They continued walking until they reach a room with a fire pattern large on the sliding door. Around the red fire were blue petals and white pearls dancing around it. It was fierce, yet gentle. Azure could see the symbolic of it that represent Scarlet’s room, but she noticed that the blue petals and pearls were rather new compared to the fire.

“Middy, I’m back!”

Scarlet called out as he slid the door open and entered inside. Azure was prepared to meet this ‘Middy’ person, but what she wasn’t prepared for was to stare back into her own eyes.

Thank You!
Yes, I'm taking my time with introducing the characters and it makes for quite a lengthy story ;P
The only thing ruining my muse is that word limit here :L

Argh Ninjas from the Hidden Onion Village are lurking around in the plot forum!! ... wait am I an onion ninja too?
:o:o:o
The next coming chapters will be a bit more cheerful though, slowly but surely, we also get to met our last two favs~ :loveliness:

Thank You!
Next Chapter will come soon :loveliness: