Returning home

[rajani]

The pain was intense as a figure walked. Her body was battered and beatten. Blood still trickled from several of the wounds. She winced as she felt a twig scrape up against her wounds on her legs. She was wiery. "Where am I now? Am I close to home?" She said softly as she leaned against a tree her back feeling as if it was on fire as she did this action. She closed hehr eyes and tried to block out the pain.

They were monsters, True monsters of the human kind. I hope my family is still in the village konohagakure, I dont want to have found this place for no reason, I don't want to be without a place to stay. I will not let them turn me away! the Figure thought as she pushed herself off the tree and kept going.

She could see something up ahead. She let out a small whistle and called a companion she remembered connected to this place. "Midnight," She said when she felt the soft toung of the waist high wolf. The girl who barely remembered her home smiled for the first time in 6 years. Midnight, lead me home," She said softly ran and laced her fingers through the neck furs of her wolf. The wolf was as high as her waist. She missed her companion so much over the last 6 years.

Midnight let Rajani lean up against her as they walked through the forest surrounding Konoha. Midnight whimpered when Rajani stumbled and fell to the ground. Rajani struggled up and half laid on her companion. "Go Midnight, I don't think i can walk anymore," she said as she closed her eyes and laid into her companions fur. Soon she felt herself fall from Midnight. She hit dirt instead of forest foilage. Can i really be home? She thought as she passed out and knew Midnight would protect her.

[Haruno Sakura]

It wasn't often that Sakura went out and gathered herbs, but now she was trying to work into herbalist methods. She already had major parts of actual healing ninjutsu down, and according to Tsunade she was impeccably skilled at it. Sakura had almost squealed with glory when she had heard that; when you were complimented by the Hokage herself - even if you weren't her student - one tended to feel a large sense of pride and joy.

Sakura was about to pick a little bit of one herb when she heard a thud, as well as a female voice. She listened. Midnight? Who was Midnight? Curious, Sakura slid the herbs back into her pouch that was across the back of her hips and made her way around the trees towards the noise. She was appalled by what she saw. There was a creature, a creature known as a blood wolf - she had heard of them at one point, but didn't entirely know what was about them. Near the wolf was a girl, about the same age as Sakura, lying on the ground. The rosette's eyes widened in horror at the wounds.

"Are you all right?!" Sakura asked, sliding her black glove off one hand. She was fairly sure the wolf wouldn't understand her, but she tried to communicate anyways. "Don't worry, I can help. I'm from the Hidden Leaf; Haruno Sakura," Sakura reassured, her voice calm as a green, chakra-enveloped hand reached out towards one of the girl's wounds. Slowly, the wound began to close; Sakura's medical skills were quite beautiful, especially for a Chuunin.

"She should be all right," Sakura muttered to herself; as she was healing the girl, she was also reading her condition. She had lost a fair amount of blood, that was for sure. Sakura wondered who she was; it wasn't someone she recognized, but the girl didn't look unfamiliar, either. The thought was bothering her, and she thought it best to perhaps bring the girl back with her. She saw the brand of the Hidden Leaf's symbol on the girl's shoulder and gasped. Tsunade-sama would definitely have to hear about this. Sakura could take care of the girl's wounds, but Tsunade-sama would have to know about this. Bringing the girl back home was a priority now, at least for the time being.

[rajani]

Midnight watched Sakura closely as she got near Rajani. She could tell that Sakura ment no harm and whimpered slightly as she nudged Rajani trying to get her mistress to wake. She saw how Sakura had healed the wounds and wondered why Rajani would not wake. She whimpered again and kneeled down as if offering a way for Sakura to take her to the village.

Rajani was swimming in darkness she could tell blood was all around her but she could not escape it. She faintly saw a green glow and it softly called to her, to help her it seemed escape the blackness that surrounded her. She started to make her way towards it but when it faded she was still surrounded by blackness and blood. She felt old memories coming up to torment her, memories of her brandings were first. She wanted so despirately to awaken but it seemed that finally her strength and will were given out. She cried as the hot irons touched her skin.

Outside her mind Rajani's face was contorted in pain from the memories and she laid there silent. She didn't move at all besides her face reacting to the silent tortures of her memories and the pawings of Midnight.

[Haruno Sakura]

Sakura glanced at the wolf as it whimpered, pawing at the young girl. It was obvious to Sakura now that this girl was the wolf's mistress, but... How could she have gained the trust of a blood wolf? It puzzled her slightly, and she made a note to ask the girl about it if she ever got a chance. Sakura's attention was distracted, however, as the young female's face began to contour in pain. Thinking it to be the wounds, Sakura's hands flitted here and there, this way and that, over the girl's skin, but she could find nothing; she had taken care of all of the wounds.

The rose-haired kunoichi frowned. What could be causing the young woman pain? Whatever it was, bringing her back to the Leaf and probably home seemed like a sound idea. Carefully, Sakura tried to lift the girl, but whined to find out that she couldn't... She was glad nobody saw her, too. She was known for her 'physical' strength, even though it wasn't literally a physical strength, but was more or less a control of one's chakra... And using that would be fairly useless here. Lifting her up as best she could, she looked to the wolf, thinking.

A thought came to her mind, and her eyes lit up. She dragged the girl as gently as she could muster and lifted her onto the wolf's back; the wolf was strong, that was for sure. Sakura would stay around to make sure the girl didn't fall off, but she was sure she wouldn't.

"Okay, listen. I need to take her back to the Hidden Leaf with me. I'm going to take her to the Hokage. Is that all right?" Sakura asked, just to be on the safe side. She took a step along the path; she knew these areas of the forest fairly well, having lived here for quite a while. She gestured in the direction of the path, pointing towards the Hidden Leaf. She hoped the girl would wake up soon...

[rajani]

Midnight heard the girls words home, that was a word she knew. She gently started off her mistress on her back. As she went she watched the girl. She seemed to care for her mistress's well being. She walked at a quicker pase wanting to let her mistress be safe.

Rajani felt herself get placed upon something soft. She wondered what was happening but her mind held her trapped. She knew she would not be able to walk on her own but she wanted to make sure no trader had her now. She forced herself to open her eyes.

A moan escaped her lips as she forced herself to wake. She had to be sure she was not about to go back into that torturous living again. She would rather die by her own blades then be forced to live like a slave again. She turned her head and saw pink. "sssak..." she could get no more out for her energy was slipping and the name was leaving her mind that was still trying to remember her past.

I know the pink hair but what is her name?! What is her Name! If it is who I think it is it is not as i remember, her thoughts rambled on along that line as she forced herself to stay awake. She could tell now that she was riding upon Midnight and she was greatful for
Midnight being so strong now.

[Haruno Sakura]

Sakura's head turned as she heard a portion of her name being said. She was keeping a fairly good pace, and it seemed the wolf was able to understand what was being said. Sakura looked at the female again, and now she was sure she recognized her from somewhere. Where, though? She couldn't remember, and it puzzled her. Sea-green eyes glanced at the young girl again, a frown still present on her features.

I know I've seen this girl somewhere, when I was much younger... But I can't seem to remember! Ugh! That fact was going to bother Sakura all day; she knew it too well. She looked again, to see that the girl was conscious. Her heart leaped; this could be her chance.

"What's your name?" Sakura asked, curiosity in her voice. She knew that somehow, she recognized the girl. Perhaps from the Academy? It wouldn't have surprised her, but she was sure she should have at least been able to put a name to a face. Sakura was usually good at this sort of thing, but then again... Who could this girl be?

[rajani]

Rajani looked at the girl with dark grey eyes. She heard the question and closed her eyes for a second. She needed to center herself to be able to say her name all at once. "Ra....jani" she managed to get out as she felt weak now after saying that completely. She saw darkness clouding around her vision again. She raised a hand to her chest and slid it up to her eyes to rub them.

She was tired and weak. She hated feeling weak but there was no helping it. She felt the steps Midnight took and her world was just about to spin and make her sick. "dizy, tired." she said as she closed her eyes and her arm slid down. She could stay awake no longer she surcame to her exaustion and blood loss.

[Haruno Sakura]

Rajani! That name rang a bell! Sakura gasped. She remembered Rajani now; Rajani had gone missing six years ago! She had heard about that incident, how the case had been closed because the girl was presumed dead. So she hadn't been after all! A smile cracked across Sakura's face; she was absolutely thrilled.

Just then, however, the poor girl passed out. She was obviously exhausted, and Sakura probably shouldn't have made her talk, she knew, but that information was vital. So long as she had the girl's first name, it would help her a bit. She knew that Rajani was from a clan, but she couldn't remember the name... Ryuu, or Riyuu, or something like that. She looked at Moonlight again. The wolf was still puzzling her. Sakura shook her head and threw it off.

"Rajani, huh?" Sakura muttered. I guess it was definitely a good thing that I was where I was at the time... The girl must've been searching for her home. And I believe that brand on her arm has something to do with slave trading... I'd heard about it before. They'd wanted numbers of Konoha-nin at times, simply because we were rumored to be some of the best - that fact is certainly true. However, if she's been branded by traders... This could be a problem. Tsunade-sama won't kick her out, but... If there are traders and perhaps even bandits out looking for her, I myself could be in danger.

Sakura stopped as she heard something in the bushes, turning around with impeccable speed. She took a step forward, placing herself between Midnight, Rajani, and whatever she had heard. Sliding her hand into her glove, she assessed wherever she could see. She looked up; nothing. Left; nothing. Right; nothing either. Behind? Nobody. That left only one place...

Sakura quickly gathered an amount of chakra into her fist and slammed it into the ground. The area rocked with a shockwave, blowing a few trees away from them. The med-nin thought she heard a noise in the bushes, and she was sure that it was more than just a normal animal or something. It was too loud to be such. Sakura waited for the dust to clear to see what she might have to face.

[rajani]

A group of 5 men stood in the dust coughing. "Well boys looks like we have someone who might give us a little fight and look at that she healed up our little torture victim." said one of the men as he smirked. He had a lowlife look to him and had a sickening uneasy smile about him. He motioned for a few of them to circle around her. "Now little girl you and that run away can come back to camp with us," said the leader as he smiled that sickening smile.

Midnight kneeled down and slid Rajani off her back so that she could help Sakura. She let out a possessive protective growl and let them know they were not touching Rajani again.
Rajani hear faintly what was going on but she felt the ground on her back and was worried but as she worried she slipped further uncontious.

Midnight looked at Sakura wondering what she would do.

As Midnight looked at Sakura one of the men charged at Sakura's back. He smirked and went to kick Midnight away and wrap his arm around Sakura so that they had her pasified not thinking much about the strength like the stupid goone he was he thought he could over power her.

[Haruno Sakura]

What a goon, thinking he could overpower a woman who had just caused a miniature earthquake with her fist. If the situation hadn't been so dire, Sakura would definitely have laughed. The fact that these men were calling her a little girl was beginning to piss her off, though... And when one pissed young Sakura Haruno off, things didn't always turn out too well.

As the man tried to wrap his arms around her, Sakura ducked. She was much quicker than the man - she had been trained as a medic-nin, and evading attacks was one of her specialties - and was definitely going to use that to her advantage. Within a second, she shot upwards, landing a nice uppercut to the man's jaw. She heard a crack as her fist connected, and the man went flying. Literally. She guessed she had probably broken his jaw, not that she really cared.

"So, which of you goons wants it next?" Sakura snarled, clenching her fist as she smirked. She pointed to one. "You?" she pointed to another one. "Or perhaps you? I really wouldn't suggest trying to take me on like this, really. Would it be smart to take on a student of the Fifth herself?" Sakura was trying to scare them. Perhaps knowing that she was Tsunade's student would rattle them a little. Sakura wasn't about to go on the offensive, however. If she could get these men to run while they still had a chance, she would let them go. There was no point in beating them to a pulp if she didn't really have to. Of course, if they didn't leave, that could be her only option... An option that Sakura was entirely fine with, of course.

[rajani]

The men looked at Sakura, a few of them got the shakes and ran but three stayed. "Oh look boys the little girl has some spunk, lets how her what spunk gets her," all three charged at her at once. They were not to smart but then again kidnapping a young konoha ninja was not to bright either.

Midnight growled and hunkered down near Rajani ready to rip any of them to shreads if the girl needed help. She would let her do what she could without interfering since she could not communicate with her. Rajani was the only one who could understand them and that was because of the bond. She watched and observed what would happen next.

[Haruno Sakura]

Well, Sakura had half gotten what she had wanted. A few seemed to have gotten the shakes, but three of them were bold, courageous idiots. Kind of like Naruto, Sakura thought for a moment. No, Naruto was a lot smarter than these guys. Naruto knew for a fact - even though he didn't know Sakura possessed this kind of strength - that trying to come straight at her wouldn't be the smartest of things. Not after seeing your buddy's jaw get broken and him get thrown a good hundred feet or so.

Taking care of these three would be nothing for Sakura. She could tell by their formation that they were intending to swamp her, and Sakura was about to use that to her advantage. She heard Midnight's growl, and it seemed that the wolf was going to help her. That was a reassuring thought. However, it seemed that Midnight was more intent on keeping them away from Rajani, which would be quite helpful to Sakura. She would have to worry less about Rajani and be able to worry more about herself.

"I can't tell if you guys are absolutely retarded or just plain stupid!" Sakura crowed, slamming her fist into the ground again. Though the ground was already quite broken up, the shockwave rattled the area again, and a few of the loose rocks shot upwards towards the men. Sakura smiled in satisfaction, but she knew it wasn't over yet; as her one hand had shot towards the ground, her other had reached back... And suddenly, there were three shuriken flying towards each of them! Trying to capture a Konoha-nin, not to mention Tsunade's student - whom had been the student of the Third, and so on, and so forth - was not the smartest of ideas. Especially when you came charging at her like a bull in a china cabinet when you knew she had the ability to break every bone in your body and probably even kill you if she touched you.

[rajani]

The men got hit by all of it. One took a shuriken in the leg, another in the arm and the last got it in the back. They hit the ground each of them beaten up by the flying rocks. The three men shakily stood up. "Ok ok we give," said one of them as they each grabbed the one that had the shuriken in the leg and ran as fast as they could out of there. They didn't care about the reward for bringing Rajani back.

Midnight was surprised by what Sakura did. She was glad when the men left. She kneeled back down beside Rajani and was glad to have her safe. She nudged Rajani's arm wishing she would wake up again but knowing it was best for her to sleep.

[Haruno Sakura]

Sakura brushed off her hands, still smirking as the men ran away. Obviously they weren't going to mess with her again... At least, not without some sort of reinforcements. She turned around to see Midnight nudging at Rajani, and she walked over and slid the young woman onto the wolf's back again. It was good to know that if anything else decided to jump out at them that the wolf would probably cover Sakura's back, too.

She began walking towards Konoha, her mind pondering everything that had happened. Bandits coming after Rajani... It made sense, sort of. If bandits were after her, they were most likely sent by traders. Sakura didn't think it right to bring poor Rajani over to Tsunade yet, and pondered where she would take her. Her own home would probably be a good place, it seemed. She knew, somehow, that the girl wasn't hostile in any way. Sakura knew she remembered Rajani from somewhere, but she simply couldn't put her finger on it.

Soon, however, she reached the gates of Konoha, as they hadn't been far from them in the first place. She got a few different looks from people, but nobody said anything, really. Sakura turned a corner and walked up to an apartment building, opening the door. She held the door open for Midnight and Rajani, then led them upstairs to a fairly good-sized, three-person apartment. Her parents were both out on missions, thankfully, and Sakura was glad she wouldn't have to explain. She led Midnight and Rajani to her own room, and gestured towards the bed.

[colorf500b8]"Just let her lie there for now... I'm sure she'll wake up soon."

[/color][/blockquote]

[rajani]

After Rajani was laided on the bed Midnight seemed to sigh and laid down near the bed. She was not a happy wolf. She was really worried that Rajani would not be the same person. She had nothing against Sakura she just wanted Rajani to be alright and wake up.

Rajani rested and the day seemed to pass quickly. She eventually stirred and opened her deep grey eyes. She sat up some as she tried to figure out where she was now. She saw Midnight but she didn't recognize anything. She didn't feel like she was in danger so she didn't look hostile but she was tensed up. She knew she didn't have the strength to stand right now but if it came to freedom or not she would make herself stand.