How Unfortunate

Ming Yue + Yuii:

Bright green leaves rippled across her vision on all sides, spilling living sun beams across her and her chosen path. Wildlife skittered along beside her, her keen ninja’s hearing picking up their soft foot falls of distinct calls. Twice, brightly coloured tropical birds crossed her path, one of a purple and blue hue even stopping to regard her with a vapid stare.

It was a beautiful day to travel, cloudless and warm yet not as exhaustingly warm as it had been over her day’s in Fire countries’ village hidden in the leaves. It must have been the cool rain from last night, the one she had braved the evening before in attempts to stop what had happened this morning anyways.

Ming had awoken later in the morning feeling sore, cold and exhausted. There had been light on the stone floor she had taken for a bed. Yuii had been, still, curled up asleep and she had began coughing even then, It had been a nightmare when she realized that not only had they braved the weather to watch the hot springs; Tatsuya had tricked her by having her come inside. A quick check with the hot springs operator had been all she needed to sink into a fuming rage.

And she had taken it out a little verbally on the Hokage while leaving. There had been more she had wanted to say to him, thing’s that might have harmed his opinion of Kiyo, but that Cloud mednin had arrived with good timing. It had left her even more angry and raw. There was so much pent up emotion beneath her skin she wondered if she might pop from the pressure. If self-loathing would begin to ooze from her skin while disgust and rage poured out her mouth and nose.

But being in the forest had lead to her yet older feelings that over rid the surface turmoil. She hated forests, a little known but hard wired fact about Ming. On her way to Kumo she had been high strung and nerve bared with strong company, now with only a sigh child for company she jumped at her own shadow. Those colourful birds and curious animals were fine but hidden by trees and they became monsters. Sunlight was fine but it deepened shadows where monsters might lurk.

“I think everything’s going to be alright now Yuii.” Ming spoke as she navigated over a tree trunk. The forest made her queasy and yet she had not one to hide her pale face from now. No Joji, no Renzo and Yuii slept peacefully on her shoulder. Yuii shifted and mumbled sleepily and Ming, she the supposed adult tried to remain calm in the face of her perceived dangers.

So much so, that when real danger arrived she nearly jumped right into it’s arms. Or their arms, would be the correct way of putting it. Dirt covered men in old tattered clothing led by a man she’d nearly bulled over. He was well dressed in a fashion she had come to recognize to belong to Leaf. There was hardly a moment to process the large club coming from her head; it had been so long since Ming had trained, and her last thoughts were for the ailing Yuii.

Arms slipped around her waist and she settled her weight into his familiar embrace. The breath against her was warm, each exhale tickling the fine hairs on her neck. She liked the way his hands roamed her stomach and sides but never to the edges of her dress. His lips captured her ear and she smiled as he hugged her closer. It was like being enveloped by rich, colourful memories of safer times. The rare moments when her father had taken her brother and her to swim in the strands, tea taken in the sunny parlour of her mother’s home with special friends, drinking with her first team mates. Yet it was so much more, Her body yearned to have it all.

“I was an idiot to think you were gone,” she whispered against the silence, hearing the embarrassing amount of emotion in her own voice. He kissed the back of her neck, the roughness of his lips made her shiver. “Are we dreaming together do you think? I‘ve always had a sense of you. I thought I was crazy.” His lips moved as if speaking and yet she could not heart him at all. Perhaps it was the same for him, and then she should.

Her fingers signed the simple phrase carefully, the sweet message clear. And when she turned to look at him, there was nothing.

Because Yuii began to cry and little droplets hit her face in a tiny shower. As she fought for consciousness she could hear Yuii wailing not to hurt her anymore, that she would behave if only they would leave her alone. Ming dared not move a muscle and yet she carefully peaked from behind her eyelashes to access the situation.

Yuii lay across her, one little hand curled into the fabric of Ming’s dress while a man tried to pull her away. There was a bruise on Yuii’s face too, it marked her pretty little sisters face and set her rage alight once more. There had been a club, they had hit her, but how dare they lay even a finger on Yuii. To hit a child her age was anathema in the civilized world.

In one smooth roll Ming pulled Yuii to herself, successfully breaking the brute’s hold on her sister and curled herself protectively around her. Yuii squeaked in surprise but seemed to melt against her, made meek by fear. There were more bruises on Yuii then she had originally guessed and her fever was still there. From were she crouched she could see not that they had both been moved… somewhere and had been placed in a canvas tent. It was the sort of tent used by long term squatters; people who lived in areas with only fabric to shelter them.

“Nii-chan…” Yuii sniffled against her with a voice wavering with fear. Ming chastised herself, screaming mentally for having been taken down so easily and leaving Yuii to endure this; whatever this was.

The man who had been attempting to drag Yuii away sneered and moved forward. Ming went for her concealed needles and found them missing. Another grapple for what should have been a weapon and she came up short, another; nothing. Panic struck her as she realised that her clothes were tied differently too, and there was a large absence; her bag.

Yuii whimpered and clung to her torso like a money as a large hand curled into Ming’s hair and roughly jerked her to standing.

“Do tell me, how does such a pretty little thing end up related to -him-,” The feel of his hand tracing her neck made her toes curl. There was a mark there, a mark that had always been there, and she knew of whom he spoke. She didn’t know which was worse, the fact that he held her here or the fact that he knew her brother.

“Oh, Don’t worry, I know all about that little curse. We wont even try for information, your kid there was helpful anyways.” She could her the clinking of bottles rattling together as his body shifted. Oh not good.

“I’m sorry Nii-chan…”

Water, water; Ming needed water now. Her eyes searched the room, there had to be something. Yuii needed to know to be quiet, that everything was alright. She began to flick to her signs, ‘It’s alright, be strong, we’ll be aright-’

“Stop that!“ With one strong tug he pulled her to her toes, so that finding a balance to stop the pain in her scalp was all that was left, “Where is he you stupid bitch, tell me and I’ll make it quick for you.” His fingers encircled her neck, the pressure enough to nearly cut off all breath. “If not, we’ll just have him pay for your freedom. That should take a very, very long time. I hope for your sake you know.”

She didn’t but Ming was prepared to tell him even lies for their freedom. Yuii would her mode of translation, she just needed to have her repeat what she signed. And sign she did when he lowered her to her feet.

“Nii-chan says…. Ni-chan says that he is in the north. She say’s he had set up near Kumogakure. S-she says to let us go, that she means nothing to that man.  He wont come and a price taken for her will be no loss to him.” Yuii’s voice trembled and she stuttered. She was a helpless mouse in a den of cats watching her mother being eaten.

“We’ll see about that.” A cloth pressed over her nose and mouth on then there was nothing.

---

Ming closed her eyes and was brought back to the feel of waist deep hot water and the feel of closeness. This wasn’t an odd dream, she’d had it since leaving mist and yet it felt so real now. She dared not look up at his face, she dared not breath too deeply or break the moment. The water rippled as he moved and she watched it in detached sort of amusement until the pressure of his head rested on hers and two strong arms encircled her shoulders.

And then he would whisper her name and she would know in that single word that everything was alright. Her hand traced a circle on her back and it felt like the eddies of a current. His hair tickled her forehead, it felt like teasing droplets of rain.

Ming awoke with wet trails of tears on her cheeks and an over powering feeling of sadness. Seconds later a boot hit her in the ribs and she was left only to gasp for air. Behind her she could hear Yuii struggling and yelling for her but there was nothing Ming could do for now. Her body just wouldn’t obey. Large hands hauled her by her elbows to kneeling, it was like watching through someone else’s eyes.

“Shit, boss, the imp bit me. You little bitch, that hurt! Boss, boss I think she broke skin.” Yuii fell to the ground and rolled to her feet like she had been taught. She went to Ming, curling herself against her older sister in protection and for protection alike. Now that she was up Ming could see that there were two of them, a brutish faced man and the other the man from before.

As for her paralysis, that was one of her own drugs.

“Shut the fuck up, she‘s a god damned child. Just leave her where she is.”

“Bu…Yes sir”

“We’ve sent out riders, north and east. Your ‘little sister’ says you’ll be missed in Kirigakure so maybe they’ll miss you enough to come pay.” She wished she trusted her own body to move, she wished that her mind would focus. It was hilarious, everything was so damned funny and yet she just wanted to cry. The idea of Kiyo or even worse Renzo riding in to save her from a situation she had so carelessly walked into was shameful.

Well it wouldn’t happen, she would escape before then.

“Until then, the little one will work with the other women. Oh don’t look so hopeful; you’ll stay as you are, but I think I can think of somewhere to put you.”

---

The first night was the worst. Her body would not move even to look away and Ming was forced to watch in detached horror as his hands roamed over that body that was supposed to be hers. But it betrayed her, it would not move, and so she lay and took in her own deflowering. It was a scene from her own nightmares, a testament to how right she had always been to fear and detest men.

And that morning, when she awoke, it was to another dose of her own poison being shoved down her throat.

She bled, she hurt, she wanted to die.

Pretty blue eyes swam into her view, their brow’s knitted in worry. Yuii, Yuii was seeing her in such a bad state and she couldn’t bring herself to move even to comfort her little sister. She could feel tears streaking down her face, hot and wet,

Cool little hands pressed against her cheeks and Ming forced herself to smile, if only a little, for the benefit of the little girl. Not a bit of her blamed Yuii for giving away the contents of her bag, they would have torn through her note books and found the carefully marked bottles anyways. How could she blame such a small child for being tricked? Yuii was probably told they would let her god if she told them everything they wanted, she couldn’t know the way of men.

“Have they hurt you?” Her voice sounded hoarse to her own ears, the second night had been a different sort of drug. Everything had been in stereo and so while she remembered little she remembered crawling on her hands and knees; begging.

“No, Nii-chan,” Yuii answered quietly. She brushed at Ming\s face and sniffled, tears at the corner of her eyes. The bruises were gone from her face and she looked well fed; that was a good sign. “Nii-cha, you don’t look good.”

Ming didn’t doubt that, the third night had been violent. He’d let her come off the drug just enough to fight back and fought she had. An entire night of biting, scratching, kicking had amounted to fighting except his own satisfaction, he disgusted her. And then her had drugged her again, tied her outside and… No, she wouldn’t think about then or the following nights. She was alive, all the more woe to her, and she would get herself and Yuii out.

Yuii’s hands were cracked and bandaged in places, Ming could only guess what had happened to her. A camp like this would not show kindness to a little girl. Yuii curled against her and wrapped her arms around Ming’s neck and for a long moment there was comfortable silence. Slowly the elder girl moved her arm to encircle the younger though it pained her to do so.

At first Ming had wished for Kiyo. The elder woman and Kage would save her and have the decency to never speak of what had happened. That slipped to praying for Renzo to answer; he could not hate her anymore and she longed for the strong feel of his body. So much water at her finger tips, she could do anything. She moved to wanting someone, anyone and she promised the world to that person. In her more fevered moments she thought Joji might come, or all deities forbid her brother.

But as time passed so did her bitterness, now this was the fault of all men. This was a personal slight the world had made against her and she intended to repay it in full. She would bite the hand that fed her, she would kill her saviour.

“There is a man here Nii-chan, I think he’s a ninja. He and Mr. Kin a speaking. Then they brought us here… th-”

A scream came from outside, a high pitched wail that could only belong to a woman. Ming sat up abruptly, a good sign, and regretted it immediately as pain shot through her body from head to toe. Her head swam, for a moment she thought she might pass out, but then there was another scream. A shout followed then many more after it until it seemed as if the whole camp was alive.

“Yuii, help me stand.” Ming asked quietly, and with the child’s help she slowly pushed to her feet. Still her head swam but she pushed through the fog in her head to stay alert. Without being asked, Yuii led Ming to the edge of the tent and cautiously peered out.

The brunette didn’t know the lay out of the camp well enough to know the tent nearby which now burned but she guessed, by its extravagance and colour, it had been the same she’d been held in. Bright flames licked the sky as they consumed the tend and to her wicked joy a body slammed the side of the tent form inside then dropped. Let it be him, let him be dead so she could regret nothing but not having put a knife in her throat herself.

“Grab the blankets, bring them here,” Ming ordered Yuii. Again the small child moved without complaint as she watched the flames. First Ming put one blanket over Yuii’s head, the other she wrapped over her own head and shoulders and they both cautiously ventured from the shelter of their tent with Ming leaning heavily on Yuii.

Men ran back and forth, if there had been a guard he was long gone, and no one paid them any mind. The looked like burn victims, at least she hoped so, and if only they could get past the outer ring of tents they would be free. Ten feet, five feet, and them there were out.

Relief swept over Ming as they stepped into the forest. They eased pas bushes and trees, walking for what seemed like an eternity. Eventually the sounds of the camp faded and Ming collapsed against a tree. Yuii stared up at her, eyes wide, but Ming didn’t know what to say to ease her worry. They were in a bind and if the poison didn’t wear off soon someone from the camp might find them again. For a moment there seemed to be two of Yuii, one pressed against her leg with a  worried stare and the other… disappeared.

There was noise in the trees, someone was approaching quickly. Ming’s heart sank, she wanted to scream but only managed a few choked words. “Hide Yuii, don’t let them take you back.” The blue haired child shook her head and clung harder, “RUN!” Yuii did not budge, that left only one option; to fight.

But as she turned to face her opponent her feet and mind finally gave over and Ming blacked out.

He was laughing at her, she couldn’t hear him but she knew the motion. Angrily she swiped her hand at him but her hand met only with hair. He laughed again and pressed a kiss to her forehead.  They lay on a hillside and she could watch as he stood up from her side and walked to fetch a bag, her bag, and place it next to her. It was a heart warming gesture, he knew it’s importance.

She sat up and clawed through it’s contents until she found the plant she needed. Why she needed it was not known to her but dutifully Ming still swallowed the Minty plant. His laughing had stopped but he still fixed her with a find smile and so he should. He was hers.

Ming awoke with the taste of mint in her mouth and a dry tongue. Her head and body ached, as if she had been dragged to hell and back. Her arms and legs prickled when she went to move them and the hazy light in the room made her eye’s ache.

“Ye, awake lass?”, the familiar seaman’s accent was unexpected and her green eyes flew open to stare at the captain of the vessel which had taken herself, Joji, Kiyo and the leaf child to fire country.

They were in a cabin that looked like the one she had spent her last boat trip in. The little port hole let in a stream of light and a lantern lit the rest of the room. A thick blanket had been pulled over her and if she was correct there was a heated brick in the corner of her bed. The room, otherwise, was it’s polished, wooden self.

“I… where am I?” a stupid question, but one that needed to be asked.

“On me boat, the wee one is up on deck playin’ with Jenki so you lay yourself back down.” the captain leaned forward in his chair and handed her a cup. A cautious sip told her it was water and so she sipped at it.
It was odd, last thing she could remember was the forest. Yuii had been with her, there had been someone approaching and them…

“But, how did I get here?”

The captain took for cup and settled backing his chair as if content to keep an eye on her. As if he wasn‘t needed up on deck. What a strange idea. “Ye don’t remember? Some big ol’ young man carried ye out the trees an’ paid me full to take ye to Mist. I would ‘ave done i’ for free lass but money was good. We’re a few days from dock yet.” he grinned but Ming could see some strain to it. She wondered how terrible she might look.

Tears  of relief flowed from Ming’s eyes as he pressed her back to laying. She was safe, as safe as she would ever be, and on her way home, “Thank-you, thank-you.”

“Aye, aye we’ll talk more when you be rested.”

Too exhausted to protest Ming slipped back to sleep. This time she did not dream.