Midnight Hour Chapter 1

Her eyes stared out over the now destroyed town silent as her three year old sisters head was pushed against her shoulder began to cry openly into the night, “Hurry Zen take your sister and get out of here take the cellar...” The the men had pounded on the door. As Zenera had coaxed her sister silently out of the room and down the cellar stairs they had walked in.

The memory shone bright in the young six year olds mind as she continued to watch their small town burn to the ground, “Come on Haruta we have to get out of here...” She then silently turned away from her once quaint home. As her mind once again wandered to the destruction of her family she felt her sister clamp onto her arm. Looking down she smiled and pet the girls head. She had to be strong for her sister and she knew that.

“Zenie?”

Zenera looked down into her sisters bright blue orb like eyes, “Yes?”

The girl looked down and shuffled her feet, “Where are we going to go?”

Zenera saw the quiet tears then begin to fall down her young sisters face and looked away up into the star ridden skys as she thought quietly then answered, “I don’t know Haruta... I don’t know...” She then lightly pulled on her sisters arm and the two started off over the sand duned hills that had until now hidden their home from the fate that must have now been pushed upon them.

~

Her eyes slowly came open tears flowing down her face as she remembered that night. It had now been 8 years since they had retreated from their home and into the dark night which lay sleeping under the stars. Wiping away the tears she stood from the bed she lay in and quietly as she could so as not to disturb her sister Zenera walked over to the window. Looking up at the cloudy sky she let the tears fall once again. She never cried around her sister or anyone else. Only when the night had come and she was alone would she let them fall. She had promised her sister those 8 years ago she would be strong for them and she would keep that promise.

Hearing rustling she turned to see her sister awake, “Go back to bed Haruta you need your sleep...”

The young girl of eleven sat up slowly in the bed and rubbed her eyes of sleep, “But Zenie I don’t want to sleep,” She whined. The smile that slid over Zenera’s face right then showed a hint of anger, but overall she was happy.

Walking over to the bed Zenera lightly sat on it and ruffled her sisters hair, “Come on babes you need to get at least a few more hours of sleep alright?”

Smiling her sister nodded and without a word she turned over and went back to sleep. Within minutes after Zenera was sure her sister was asleep a knock came at the door and a boys head popped around the corner of it.

“Hey, “ the boy said waving and slowly walking in shut the door, “How is she?”

“Hey Naru she’s fine finally got her back to sleep a few minutes ago,” She then looked down lovingly at her sister, “So how is your sensei?”

Leaning against the door a smirk came over Naru’s face, “Hyper old man as always i’m tellin ya one of these days hes gonna give himself a heart attack from all the moving around he does...”

This produced a smile on Zenera’s face, but she didn’t respond instead she leaned over her sister planted a kiss on her forehead and stood. Walking over to the door she grabbed Naru’s hand and then the doorknob. Opening the door she pulled Naru slowly out leaving the door open just a crack and nodded for him to follow her. Walking down the hall she headed toward the sparing room.

Reaching the door to the room she lightly pushed it open, “Come in here I’ve been working on her move that I’d like to show ya...” Walking into the middle of the room she closed her eyes and did some quick hand movements, “Saigekko No Jutsu!” she yelled thenformed rocks around herself as Kunai’s flew at her.

Lowering the shield she smiled, “See I can now send a multitude attack without even throwing them myself all I have to do is say that and think where I want the attack to go and it does...”

“Impressive...” Zenera turns to the door to see a tall man standing at it, “Interesting technique Zenera...”

“Shokata...” Zenera said glaring up at the man, “I hadn’t heard you had returned...”

“Just for a short breathing i’m afraid so sorry to disappoint you...”

Giving a slight smirk Zenera pat Shokata on the shoulder, “Don’t worry your not disappointing anyone with your short visit Shokata...”

“Why I outta!”

“Thank me? Yes you should Shokata...” With that she nodded to Naru and walked out.

“Whats got her in a fit?” Shokata asked.

Smiling at the now empty doorway Naru said one word, “You...” With that he slowly followed the path out Zenera did and shut the door slowly behind him leaving a very angry Shokata. Walking down the hall his eyes twitching every so often Naru layed out in his mind the perfect way to come about what he wanted to say to Zenera. She was now 14 going on 15 and he was only a month away from turning 16. His mind though kept going back to one thing his love for her, but one thing kept wandering in his mind what about Haruta? Could Zenera love him with Haruta’s troubles always getting in the way? It was like he cared for Zenera’s sister to how couldn’t he she was the spitting image of Zenera, but yet with her mental problems from the night their town was destroyed was enough to make him wonder.

Reaching the small room that the two stayed in Naru went to lift his hand, but stopped when he heard voices from inside, “We cannot stay here Haruta... I’m sorry, but something about that boy isn’t right...”

“But Zenie I like it here I don’t want to leave...”

He could hear Zenera sigh, “I know Haruta, but I just have a feeling that he knows Kishu... and if he does... well do you want to die like mom and dad did?” There was silence then no one spoke and he could tell then that Haruta must have been thinking. As he heard someone sniffle he knocked on the door.

Hearing someone come to the door he stepped back just a bit, “Whos there?”

“Its me Naru...” He said his voice somewhat shaky.

As the knob turned Naru looked down at the ground, “Hey...” Zenera said as she held the door open, “I take it you heard what just happened...” She sighed and rubbed her forehead as Naru nodded, “I’m sorry, but we can’t take the chance of Kishu maybe finding us and we don’t need anyone here who has givin us hospitality to be hurt... and well... we leave at sunrise...” She said and then silently as the tears began to pour down her lightly tanned face she shut the door in Naru’s shocked and saddened face.