This sheer amazing artwork was drawn by Mai-Shibata-Uchiha on deviantART. 

Disclaimer: NAO IS SO MY TOY. EVERYTHING ELSE IS KISHIMOTO'S

Warning: Panic.

Beta: Kalafina94

Beta: silverseed

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"In the Moon Country, there is an island called Mikazuki Island that has an everlasting summer. The country seems very prosperous and wealthy. The island has plenty of natural resources and the beautiful beaches are popular tourist attractions. There are also plenty of gambling establishments, and the area is lively year-round. I'd like to go there sometime."

"Baa-chan, you're such a gambling addict."

"Hmph! The mission is to escort the prince home after he's been traveling around to various smaller countries. Seems that the previous escorts were treated pretty harshly, and bailed on the job."

"Sounds like a hassle."

"Well, do your best. This is an important mission, as I'd usually assign all Jounin-class shinobi to it. Proceed with caution!"

"Hai!"

As I finished recalling the mission details, I curled up on my sleeping bag next to Kakashi. The caravan had finished eating for the night and everyone was already packed and off to sleep —with the exception of us, of course. No, I had first watch and I was waiting for the others to head back in so they could sleep.

When Naruto and Sasuke arrived, I bode them goodnight and headed off. I passed Kakashi on my way out, bading him goodnight as well. Finally, I found my perch, a little higher up on a gathering of rocks.

I sat down and watched.

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A week of traveling and only a handful of bandits dared attack us, but they were weak and slightly pathetic so we defeated them with ease. After a week, we were well out of the desert and currently traveling alongside a grassy plain.

In front of me, Kakashi talked with the prince. Naruto walked on the opposite side of me on the caravan, a little further back and Sasuke brought up the rear. Hikaru, seemed adamant about playing a sort of pink gaming device and then occasionally looking up at me and blushing brightly.

Naruto landed beside me, surprising me.

"Nao," Naruto hummed. "Switch positions with me. I'm tired of watching a horse's ass."

I spluttered with laughter at the abruptness, but gave a grin. "Alright, Naruto-kun. Bye, Kakashi-sensei."

Kakashi cocked his head back. "Bye, Nao."

I kicked off from my position and jumped up and over the carriages.

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A few more hours of walking and we reached a village, and thus reached a circus.

We pulled up around the circus, each of us moving in position to secure the area. Seeing how Hikaru apparently pissed Naruto off about something, he didn't want to guard him anymore. I opted to sit near the princes to guard them and Kakashi allowed the trade.

So while Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi sat a little ways from us, I sat at a bench below Hikaru and Michiru, watching the circus perform.

I must admit that it was incredibly entertaining and I found myself enjoying the show. It was the last event, though, that captured my interest as it took a surprising turn.

"Now, the moment you've all been waiting for," the host declared, stepping into a single spotlight. "Time for the rare Siberian tiger's appearance!"

The spotlight vanished, a drum roll taking precedence as a rainbow of lights flickered around the stadium. The lights vanished and a single spotlight fell to the far upper left hand corner where a large gray Siberian tiger stood. The tiger roared, causing the audience to shout fearfully, but no one dared to leave.

I gasped and leaned forward eagerly, my eyes widened with excitement. The tiger leapt from its corner, all the way down to the floor in the center of the ring.

"Amazing," I breathed, staring at the tiger with a look of wonderment. I had always wanted a pet. I wondered if Sasuke would let me keep one in the Uchiha district? Not like we didn't have enough room. Ino didn't care too much for pets (as she knew full and well how they shed like crazy from one of her civilian friends, so having one at home would be a no-go).

"Behold! The Siberian tiger, Chamū! And Chamū's partner, Kiki!"

At the sound of the name —Kiki— a small monkey somersaulted from midair virtually out of nowhere and landed atop Chamu's head, squealing cutely.

The audience cheered.

"Now please enjoy their performance!"

I clapped and cheered along with the rest of the audience as the two of them performed impressive stunts. At the end of their performance, they had an archer shoot an apple from Kiki's hands atop of Chamū's head.

Then, to raise the stakes, Chamū stood up on its back legs. Kiki perched atop Cham's head, holding up yet another apple and spinning it around. Chamū swayed slightly and the archer poised to shoot again. The host was saying something about how it was dangerous and such.

But what surprised me most of all was when the apple was knocked out and away —that didn't surprise me. Any half decent shinobi could have done that with a kunai— but not by a pointed arrow tip, but by a suction cupped arrow. from Hikaru.

Everyone seemed to freeze from the action, turning the spotlight and their eyes to Hikaru. I stared up at him, impressed. It was impressive from a civilian.

"That was easy," he muttered to himself, not seeming to notice or care the spotlight was on him.

"That was amazing, young man," the host amended, "but what about this one?"

The host snapped his fingers and Chamū took off, running around the ring with Kiki swaying atop and holding a spinning apple, outstretched above the two of them.

"How about it? If you can hit this one, I'll give you a reward!"

Hikaru cocked another arrow and took aim, watching unblinkingly. He shot the apple off.

The audience roared with approval and I couldn't stop myself from beaming at him. He caught my gaze, his face flaring up and looking away sharply. The host approached him, smiling. "That was very good, young man."

"It was nothing," Hikaru mumbled.

"I need to give you a reward, though," the host mused, seeming to think.

"I want that."

Hikaru had pointed to Chamū.

In the end, they had to buy the whole circus.

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As the circus packed up, I opted to leave guarding to Kakashi and snuck away. It took a while, but in the end I found Chamū, sitting freely in the shade atop some boxes with Kiki beside him. I smiled at him, and he looked up, his eyes narrowing.

I held up my fingers, remembering what Shikamaru had told me when approaching wild animals. Chamū wasn't wild, of course, but better to treat him as such than get off on the wrong foot.

Chamū sniffed the air and I lowered myself, almost squatting. He sniffed it again before dropping his head back down to his paws. My smile widened and I stepped towards him, slowly. My arm remained outstretched, my hand wide and open.

He made no hostile movement, so I neared him, carefully brushing my fingers across his soft fur.

"You're so pretty," I whispered, running my fingers through his fur.

"Ne, ne, Nao?" Naruto peeked around the corner.

Chamū eyed him disdainfully.

Sasuke followed behind Naruto, raising an eyebrow. "Nao, stop playing with the cat. We have to go."

I gave a sigh, brushing my hand across the fur one last time before leaving the beautiful cat alone and returning to my guard duties.

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Much to my dismay, Chamū had to stay locked up for the rest of the trip, but I was relieved to find that Kakashi allowed me to guard his point in the train. Therefore, I sat right beside his cage, mindlessly playing with his fur through the bars of the cage and sneaking him the occasional treat.

So I was a cat person, sue me.

Another few days had passed before we reached the port city. We had a few hours before we could set sail —as more vessels had to be summoned to carry over all of this junk. Sorry, materialistic possessions. So, Hikaru and his father left on a little errand with Naruto and Kakashi guarding him. Sasuke and I stayed behind to guard the cargo.

Fine by me.

Though.

There was one tiny thing bugging me.

I huddled tightly against Chamū —I had released him from his cage and lead him a little ways from the group, along with Kiki, for some fresh air. It would be a long voyage before we reached the island.

Which was the problem.

I stared out at the vast blue sea and once more, I found an unnerving sense of fear wash over me.

Every time I looked out at the ocean, I felt physically sick by fear and horror, but I couldn't explain it. It was familiar, in a way. Not this ocean, but the ocean in general, if that made any sense. As if I had known any other ocean.

But it was the ocean and the thought of going out on it that sent me shuddering.

Instinctively, I huddled closer to Chamū. Chamū gave a rumbling purr, his tail flickering.

Suddenly, his body stiffened and he growled.

I looked up, tearing my gaze from the ocean to find Kakashi walking towards me. I placed a hand on Chamū and Kiki mimicked the action. Chamū hissed, but did not growl, choosing instead to flick his tail in annoyance and rest his massive head on his massive paws.

"There you are," Kakashi said. "We'll be taking off in half an hour."

I blanched.

Kakashi seemed to frown. "Is something wrong, Nao?"

I shifted. "I. I don't know. I just. it seems so. I'm scared. I don't know why, but I'm scared."

Kakashi's eye crinkled into a smile and he moved to ruffle my hair. "Don't worry. I won't let anyone hurt you."

It's not them I'm worried about hurting me, though.

(It's me)

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A day out on the boat, and night had fallen. Everyone danced above on the deck, enjoying themselves, but I couldn't bring myself to join the party. I sat far beneath the deck, curled up in the hammock.

Fear swelled inside my gut, unexplainably. The strongest sense of familiarity came over me, but I couldn't place it. And I didn't want to. This wasn't a welcoming familiarity. It was a horrible thing. It was a horrible memory.

I was teetering again. Hyperventilating and rocking back and forth, my eyes screwed shut.

(They told you not to go out)

I curled up in on myself, closing my eyes and willing the boat to somehow move faster.

(They told you the storm was coming. They told you. They told you. They told you)

Goosebumps crawled up and down my arms.

(But you didn't listen)

I shook my head, trying to clear out the voice.

(You ignored them, and you took them out with you and look what happened. Look at what you did to yourself. Look what you nearly did to them)

A loud sound of thunder echoed around us and I froze.

(It's happening again.)

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The boat swayed violently, forcing me out of my hammock. My entire body was stiff and frozen with fear. I could hear the pounding of footsteps above and all around me as people rushed around the boat.

The fear was bubbling inside of me. The memory (that horrible, horrible memory) bubbled with it.

My mind, a borderline between here and there. Here and there. Hereandtherehereandtherehereandthere. Flashes of memories—of faces—of names—of scenes—of it.

One moment, I was here, on the boat shaking violently as fear and adrenaline coursed through me, the next I was—

Momma! Papa! When will they be here? The Coast Guard—you sent the word for them didn't you?

A whimper escaped me.

Jaymie? Momma, where's Jaymie? Jaymie?!

The boat lurched violently again and I was moving. The lights flickered and the room was thrown into darkness. I was moving. Running. Sprinting to the door. Had to go. Had to save himlittlebrother mylittlebrother—

Rushing past Momma and Papa. The boat lurched and rain pelted harshly against me. I couldn't see. The rain was making me blind and the wind was making me deaf. It was me who ignored the warnings. It was such a beautiful day that very morning! I thought—I thought perhaps it would remain as such and I wanted a break, I only wanted to spend time with my only family. Was that so wrong? Why was this happening?

A wave crashed against the boat, climbing higher and crashing down on us. I slipped and fell, but I scrambled back up on my feet. Heart hammering, I—

A light bulb burst out in front of me, glass showering down to the ground, but I couldn't see it. I couldn't feel it. I ran across it —not noticing or caring at the way my bare feet crunched into the glass— down the darkened hallway to—

Jumping down and through. Jaymie? Jaymie, where are you!? The boat moved again and I fell to the floor, a sharp pain jabbing down my ankle.

Turn left here. Right there. Down there. Up there.

There! Jaymie. Take my hand, good boy, good boy. Shh, shh. Don't worry! Big sissy is here to help, so don't cry. Please. Please, don't cry anymore. I promise, I won't let anything happen to you.

My heart lurched and I ran, faster, bursting out into a dead sprint. The boat swayed and my balance escaped me. I tumbled to the floor.

Go. Go, Jaymie, go. I'll catch up to you later. I promise.

Frantically, I scrambled back up and sprinted again, turning and twisting down the dark tight halls. Thunder rumbled across the sky—

My ankle throbbed painfully. I couldn't see. It was too dark. Jaymie ran ahead —he was on deck now with Momma and Papa. He would be safer there. I had to make sure he was okay; it was my fault he was out here in the first place. I would only slow him down if I had went up there with him, my ankle.

The halls were slowly flooding in. The water was freezing, but I had to wade through it now. I couldn't see. I was scared. So very scared.

Up the stairs I went, two by two, nearing the deck—

I was shivering so terribly as I finally made it on deck. The boat swayed violently as a massive wave crashed against it. I could see lights, though. Red. White. I could hear a sound —not thunder— a helicopter! I could see Jaymie on a ladder, Momma behind him. Papa grabbing hold of the ladder and outstretching a hand towards me.

He was so close. So very close, I knew I could have reached him if I could jump towards him.

I smiled, my heart lurching up in my throat and I scrambled to take the hand—but—I—was—too—far—when—it—came.

A wave. So massive. So huge. So black. So DaRk.

It fell across the deck and a force unlike any I had seen swept me away, away from the hand—

TheHandWasTooFar.

I burst across the deck, shoving the chaos away and scrambling around. I couldn't see what they were doing. I ran around them, away from them towards the back end of the deck, towards the emptyemptyempty back end.

I fell back, and my fear returned. Frantically and desperately I struggled against the force—

Thunder rolled—

—Lightning flashed, right across the sky as I flew over the deck and into the dark, dark waters.

I crumpled to the ground, the sobs built up in my chest seeming to release. I curled up in myself, and I cried and I cried.

I.

Did.

Not.

Resurface.

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Question: The most kick-ass thing you have ever seen in your CHILDHOOD? YouTube videos do *not* count.

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