Keira's POV

I smiled meekly. School was okay today.

I mean no one picked on me.

And I passed my exams.

So why do I get this feeling like, like I am walking towards a hurricane.

I sighed shakily, Its Friday and Dad was probably drunk.

I winced, my arm still ached from yesterday when I didn't cook his dinner right. He grabbed my forearm tightly and viciously shook me, letting go and ramming my leg into the counter, leaving a disgustingly huge purple and blue bruise.

I slowed my pace, if I got home late enough, maybe by them he would have already passed out from his drinking. I hid my fear as a swung my school bag over my shoulder and swallowed the butterflies in my stomach. God, life sucks.

"Ahh oouch!!" I looked around for the small voice, did someone get hurt? I dashed around and finally found an abandoned bike, it's sideways back wheel spinning halfheartedly. Oh my God, did a child get ran over? I searched for a corpse and never found one, I peeked back to the bike and it showed no signs of damage. It looked brand new. I don't get it. I looked around, why would someone just leave a bike here.

My eyebrows furrowed, kidnap maybe? "owwie!" I spun quickly and found a little boy with a little boy helmet in the ditch to the right of me and I sighed, relieved.

"Are you ok kiddo?" he looked up and I recognized him to be my neighbors son, aww! and what a cute little boy too. I laughed and he grinned up at me and pointed

"I know you! You live that way!" he turned in the deep ditch he fell in and pointed towards our two clustered houses.

I laughed at him, something bout this little one set me at ease. I stretched my hand out and he took it, with one motion I pulled him up and set him on my lap where my bottom now sat on the gravel.

I removed his helmet and set it beside us.

"I am Keira Satoshi, and yeah I do live next to you, what's you name?" I smiled and stuck out my hand and he shook it as best as he could with his little paws, he used both hands.

"I am Rin Araiya! I fell off Mike" I giggled

"Don't you mean bike?" I corrected pulling his trained pads off, they looked kinda uncomfortable.

"No" he stated "I named it Mike" He looked at 'Mike' "Mike, this is Kiki, say Hi" he turned towards me and prompted me to greet the inanimate object.

"Hello Mike the bike" I smiled at Rin's look of elation that I was playing with him.

"Mike is grumpy, he threw me away. " He pouted at the bike

"Well lets teach Mike a lesson" he looked at me curiously

"Mike doesn't get to be ridded until tomorrow" I frowned at the bike " Bad Mike, that's your ppunishment" I stuttered at the word punishment, that was a Father word, calm, deep breaths. In. Out

I checked the chipped watch mom gave me, it's only 6:14. Mom comes home from her day job at 7:30.

I sighed and checked him for injuries, I had caught the slight wince when I pulled him up. A small bruise on his elbows.

I pulled up his leg and he whimpered, I looked at his knee and gasped. It was cut up pretty bad, we needed to pull the pieces of gravel out of it. I peeked at his crunched face out of the corner of my eye, he was a tough kid for sure.

"C'mon, let's take you home. I am gonna have to borrow Mike. " I pulled him onto my back and tossed his gear in my bag, placing the helmet on his head just in case. I hopped on the bike, and started to pedal the 6 or so blocks we have to conquer to get home.

"Your mama is a nurse right?" when I met them I heard a little about his mom being a nurse and the dad running out.

"Yah but she isn't home" my eyes widened a little

"She left you alone? How old are you" Why would she just leave a kid alone by them self.

"Im 6, and mamma said she had to go to work"

I panicked a little, I had to treat this before it got infected but if Dad was still awake and drunk then he might hurt the kid. I couldn't go to his house, I doubt he had a key any way.

We reached our houses and I set him out of sight behind a huge oak tree.

"I am gonna check something, wait here until I come back ok?" He nodded and I held his cheek to soothe him and myself.

I creeped to the door, whose hinges I oiled well for sneaking in and I stepped inside. My body was shivering in anxiety ever so lightly as I went to the table covered in empty whiskey, beer and even moonshine containers, he would take any alcohol he could get his grimy hand on. He snored lightly and I noticed his skin was a little yellowish and because he slept with one eye open, I was able to see that white of his eyes were yellow. I resisted the urge to gasp, with all the intoxication he had weekly, I knew it was destined to happen.

Jaundice.

I almost hoped he died but he was daddy and I still loved him, it was just the alcohol talking, and he hurt me because I deserved it. He still loved me, he just wanted me to ache for the best.

I grabbed a thin blanket and laid it on his sickly form, his head laid on the table lazily. I tiptoed out side to meet the little boy napping on the tree. I sighed and smiled a little, picking him up like a baby, tossing my bag over my shoulder and removing his helmet and set it on his bike handle.

I carried him upstairs to my room with ease, he was light and I think I had been getting more upper body strength. I flicked the light on with my left hand and set him on my old raggedy bed gently. I shut the door and went to my bathroom to grab my emergency aid kit that I kept for when I got hurt.

I rolled up my sleeves and winced when that put pressure on my hand shaped bruise. I tied my soft brown hair up and opened the first aid manual for scrapes and road burns. I ripped out the page I needed, I mean I am only 12, I had to read about how to fix myself up when Mom wasn't home to try to protect me.

I shook Rin awake and he smiled drowsily when he saw me. Guilt panned my heart at the pain he was gonna feel.

"Hey Rin, I got to fix your booboo and you have to be as still as you can ok?" he nodded nervously. I winced.

I took the tweezers out and put some gloves on. I looked at him and he gritted his teeth and grabbed my frail bed sheet with his little hands. I pointed the tweezers down and pulled the first piece of gravel out and set it in the tray I fetched from the bathroom. I looked up and his tiny face was scrunched but he nodded. I winced for him as I had to go a bit deeper to grab the second piece. The last pebble was deep, and I had to use my fingers to grab it and he whimpered in pain as I drew it out and dropped it on the tray, whew that was easier than expected.

He loosened his hand off my bed and I laid a towel under his knee, I had to disinfect it now.

"I am gonna out some stuff to make it feel better later but it's gonna hurt ok?" he nodded and I poured it slowly.

I held his arms back so he wouldn't touch it and he squealed as it bubbled. I laid my hand over his mouth, if he woke Daddy up, I would be in for one heck of a beating. He cried and my heart shrunk at his look of betrayal on his face.

I hastily placed a pad over the peroxide and he calmed down, still sniffling.

"If anyone asks, I wasn't crying" he sniffled to me wiping his tears and rubbing his red eyes.

I laughed a little unsettled and petted his head softly. I pulled away the dirty cleaning pad and placed a dry bandage and wrapped gauze around it since it was too big for a band aid. I slipped off my gloves and threw them away and fell back on my bed with a huff.

He looked at my arm and he pointed.

"What's that?" he asked me curiously

"Umm its a bruise I got when I uh fell" I lied and smiled at him

He crawled to me on the end of my bed and I showed him my arm. He poked it and I winced, he looked back up and I smiled loosely to calm him. He laid his tiny hands in the print of my Fathers huge ones.

"It looks like a big hand!" he giggled then stopped,turning back to me confused.

"Um yah, what a coincidence. And aren't you forgetting something? I did help you get here and I fixed you up all better. " I prompted him, hurriedly changing the subject. He was too smart for his own good.

"Oh yeahh! Thanks Kara - nii!" he giggled and I smiled.

"Baka, I am not gonna be you older sister" I joked.

"Why???" He whined a bit too loudly

"Because..."

THUMP

CRASH

I stopped talking and froze in fear, turning to Rin in a heart beat.

"Get in the closet and hide yourself" I whispered to him quickly

"WWhy?" he asked, scared of the noise downstairs

"Just do it!! Noww!" I whisper yelled at him and he jumped in my closet hiding behind my dirty clothes and I slammed the door.

WHOOSH

SLAM

The door flew open, dirt stains on my bed and my med kit and manual laying beside my school bag on my comforter.

My fathers greasy lanky hair fell around his face and his dilated black eyes, ringed with yellow and red, pierced mine furiously. I tensed and gulped when I saw the whip in one hand and his beer bottle in another.

"Hello Father, I am glad to see.." he cut me off loudly

"STUPID GIRL!!! YOU ARE LATE AND LEAVE A MESS AFTER ALL I DO FOR YOU, YOU CAN'T EVEN PICK UP!!!!" He screams, making me flinch

"I am so sorry..." He slapped me and I heard a sound come from the closet. Dad threw the whip to the side and instead brandished the bottle. A lump of terror rolled over and over in my stomach.

"DID I SAY YOU COULD SPEAK! DIE! WORTHLESS" He shattered the end of the beer bottle against the wall, glass peppering the hallway tile. He held the jagged shank towards me threateningly.

Oh God.

He is gonna kill me. Oh God, I'm gonna die.

I flipped around, eyes catching the window escape path and he grabs my hair and slashes my back from shoulder to hip in one swipe. I scream loudly.

"IT'S YOUR FAULT!" I dropped to the floor as he let go and kicked my stomach mercilessly. I cried out and blood leaked from my back. He picked up a piece of the shattered glass and flipped me over.

"IT'S YOUR FAULLT!! He stabbed the glass into my shoulder and left, in a screaming rage. I heard the back door slam and his motorcycle start up. I couldn't move, this is the worst he has ever hurt me before, then again I didn't have mom here.

I heard the closet door creak open and a very terrified little boy crawl out of it.

"Rin " I said softly.

"I'm scared. Why did he hurt you Kara? He is a bad man isn't he. ?" I flopped my hand like a wet fish and I grabbed Rin's little hand in mine.

"Rin.." I swallowed sickly blood bile "grab the bottle I poured on your scrape"

He complied and set it next to me. I put my hand on the glass protruding from my shoulder and cried out as I moved the glass in my wound. I swallowed and ripped it out, letting it fall beside me with a clang, screaming in pain. Everything got a bit woozy and my mom threw open the front door downstairs.

Rin was crying and I felt bad that he had to see this.

"Please, that's only my mom, get her upstairs" I was dizzy and nasueas.

He nodded strongly, petting my forehead and bounded downstairs loudly. There was yelling and my mothers short blond hair and smeared makeup was the first thing I saw.

"Hey ma, how was work?" I smiled as much as I could, I think I am hysterical right about now.

She put her hand to her mouth and dashed to me. She put pressure on my bleeding shoulder and I cried out, tears pouring down my face almost as fast as hers.

Rin held my hand "It'll be ok Kika! I promise" he wiped his tears and smiled shakily.

I smiled back. Like a lions strength, even as a child they can hold strong.

A little Lion

TIME SKIPP (About 1 1/2 years)

I held my stance behind Tazuna between Sakura and Sasuke, guarding his back expertly, even though they don't really need it.

Zabuza kicked Sasuke back and elbowed his ribs, making him cough blood. Naruto steadied himself and made at least 80 clones with his shadow clone Justu as Sauke struggled to stand. I ran to Sasuke, helping him up and pulling us to the bridge builder. I held him up by me till he was able to stand by himself.

Naruto launched his clones on Zabuza and I held my breath. Please work, please. But my pleading failed and the clones were thrown off. Sasuke stood up a little shaky, but otherwise ok. I watched in awe of their fantastic teamwork.

Sasuke grabbed the shuriken thrown from Naruto with a surprised look. Then his face hardened and he held the weapon in front of him.

I felt Haku near. My body turned. He's up in the tree! I look at him and bow respectively, like one would to a sensei. I wanted to save Zabuza and Haku so much but they were making it difficult to stop the next fight on the bridge. I had a plan though. A darn good one too.

Haku, even through his mask, I could tell was surprised. I nodded lastly to him and turned back now to try and cover Tazuna's front.

"Evil wind shuriken, Shadow windmill!" Sasuke span and threw the two shuriken violently and they curved at the real Zabuza.

Zabuza grabbed the first expertly, almost lax at their seemingly loose attempt at an attack.

He saw the second one fly towards him and jumped over it.

"Still not enough" he pronounced confidently. Sasuke and I just smirked cooly.

Naruto poofed back and threw his kunai. Zabuza was forced away from Kakashi sensei, letting his prison Justu be released. He got away with only a scratch to the face.

"You brat!" Zabuza pulled back and turned to throw our own weapon back at Naruto.

Kakashi stopped him and peered at Zabuza dangerously.

Sakura cheered as Naruto bursted from the lake.

"Naruto great plan, you guys have grown up" I grinned proudly at Kakashi sensei. Suck on that Zabuza!

Naruto went in full detail explaining his 'plan and he grinned arrogantly.

"Heh, I got distracted and released the Justu " Zabuza denied the fact he was defeated by mere genin.

"Wrong" Kakashi said. " You were forced to release it" he glared "And I never fall for the same Justu twice" they both shot back and Kakashi mimicked every one of Momochi's moves without missing a beat.

Kakashi's Sharingan peered into Zabuza's mind and they made two huge dragons simultaneously attack and both fight with the exact same power, only for them to both lose.

Water like a tsunami blasted and I was almost swept away but Sasuke's arm flicked out and wrapped itself around my waist, saving my from the waves. He held on until the water settled enough then let go slowly.

"Thanks" I nodded and gave him a small smile

"Whatever" he scoffed but his cheeks pinked.

I snapped my head back to the battle and I felt Sasuke's eyes back on me for a second then back to the fight with me.

Zabuza and Sensei had pushed each other back and were now running. They both stopped and raised their left arms and made a Justu, both like mirror images of the other.

Kakashi made a small Genjustu with the Sharingan and was now intimidating Zabuza.

"WATER VORTEX JUTSU!" Kakashi yelled and Zabuza was sucked in and flipped around in the water.

The waves came on again and I stood my ground safely this time, yet still Sasuke held his arm around my back.

I sighed and saw Kakashi hit Zabuza with 4 kunai.

"How?..Can you see the future?" Zabuza gasped out

"Yes, this is your last battle. " Two needles flew into his neck and Haku entered. Oh thank God, if he died now my plan would be useless.

Haku's eyes met mine curiously and I nodded slight enough so no one but he could notice.

He turned to our team " Your right, that was his last. " Zabuza's body hit the ground with a resounding thud.

"No life signs" Kakashi felt for a pulse.

"Thank you very much, I have been looking for an opportunity to kill Zabuza Momochi for a long time now" he bowed lightly to us.

"That mask, your a hidden mist Tracker- nin..." Kakashi inquired

"Impressive, you are correct" Haku looks up from his bow.

"Tracker nin?" Naruto looked blankly

"Oh right, you missed class on that lesson, maybe if you can to class you would know this" Sakura snided, inwardly I was starting to dislike her attitude towards my best friend.

The explanation went on and Naruto got mad at his ability.

"WHAT THE HELL!? WHO ARE YOU!?!" Naruto shouted angrily. Kakashi explained, there is so much anger in Nrauto and it aches to see him distressed

"In this world, there are kid younger than you, yet stronger than me " he pet his head lightly.

Sasuke looked defiantly. Oh hold on, the entire 10 minutes here he had his hand around my back!?! Kami, I need to work on my observation skills.

I slid from his grip and ran goofily to Naruto. I smiled

"We will just have to get stronger!" we both fist pumped excitedly, I felt Sasuke's gaze on me again. What is with him! Is it because he thinks I should do more with the team? I will get stronger for sure!

I turned as Haku whooshed away in a flurry of wind, cool!

"Haha! Super thanks guys! Clme over to my place and relax for a while.

Sensei stumbled and I went to support him as he passed out.

"Dang! You fatty! What do you eat?" I struggled as his weight gave out and relied on me.

"Help please!" I called weakly trying to hold up a 150 pound full grown man. Sasuke tried to come but Naruto beat him to the mark. I grinned.

"Thanks, he probably used to much chakra." I smiled and we set off with Tazuna San's directions to his home.

My foolproof plan was about to be set in action.