Arc One: Mnemosyne
Episode Two: Days Gone By

Hours upon hours, upon hours had passed. The lake had become a near sacred place to many of the shinobi in Kirigakure, if only for it’s use as a training ground. Where others might have come to train their Suiton based techniques, Aiko on the other hand had not. Given that she did not poses the element it almost seemed pointless for her to be here. However, the water served as an excellent place to practice simple techniques such as Supernatural Walking Practice. Which was exactly what she was doing. Far from the lakes shore, she stood on the surface of the water, forcing chakra through her body and to the souls of her feet. It didn’t come naturally to her like it did other shinobi, perhaps because her body was so physically weak due to her illness. Whatever the case, today she finally was getting the hang of this simple technique.

Now it was time to take things to the next level. Or at least to a technique that was far more difficult for her to accomplish, especially while it was taking so much focus just to keep herself on the surface of the water. Aiko scoffed. At this rate she was never going to graduate from the academy. It was bad enough that she was already so much older than the other younglings that attended, but to have so much trouble with these simple jutsu…

Despite, Aiko performed a short serious of hand seals. An instant later five identical clones appeared all around her. This, of course, was Bunshin no Jutsu. Thus the clones were little more than silhouette copies of the original 18 year old girl. It was the first time she’d done this technique so quickly and she couldn’t help but to jump with a little bit of joy. That jump would be her downfall…

When Aiko landed on the surface of the water again, rather than simply landing she sunk through. Her prior walking technique had been dispelled without her realizing it. This was actually why she’d come out so far though, to force herself to need that technique. Necessity was the best teacher, her mother had said. As much as Aiko hated the woman she couldn’t deny the wisdom in her words. Especially now as she found herself half drowning in the lake. To make matters worse, her five clones were just standing there doing nothing toward saving her life.

Maybe everyone was right, maybe she couldn’t cut it as a shinobi. Maybe she really was too weak. For certain she was already too exhausted to swim back to the shore and the surprise of falling into the lake had caused her to flail sapping what little energy she had to spare. Still, she attempted to manage the flow of her chakra, trying her best to pull herself out of the water — to no avail. Instead she found herself only disspelling clones as she reached for them forgetting that they were not tangible at all. Panic was setting in. She was going to drown in this damn lake for no reason at all.

Drowning. She was going to die. What’s worse she was going to die before she’d even graduated from the academy. She was going to prove the naysayers right. She was going to prove her mother right. Yet, this wasn’t the worst part about it. No, the worst bit was that she was going to fail herself. She was going to disprove the arguments she’d presented to all those that had said she couldn’t do it.

Aiko’s arms flailed about in a poor attempt to pull herself out of the water, yet it seemed what training she’d amassed over her four years in the academy was lost on her. Perhaps it was the panic setting in. Perhaps she just wasn’t as skilled as she thought she could be. Whatever the case the flailing soon ceased. She was exhausted, her body couldn’t go on any longer. This is what they’d told her would happen, that she’d not be able to keep up with other shinobi because of her frailty, because of her illness.

Yet, as her head slipped beneath the surface of the water those crimson orbs that sat against an ebony canvas saw the shape of a young man not far off. He was headed towards her. With some luck he’d seen her and was coming to help. She scoffed inwardly at the idea of needing someone to rescue her. Yet, still there was a smattering of joy somewhere in the so often melancholy girl. At least she wouldn’t die today.

He grew closer, she knew this, she could see him through the surface of the water even as she sank deeper. Once again panic struck her. What if he wasn’t coming to save her? What if he hadn’t even noticed her? What if she sunk beneath the water and he ran right past? She gritted her teeth beneath tightly sealed lips and mustered what little strength she had left. She’d ensure that he saw her.

A single arm shattered the surface of the water as he came nearer and waved about. It was all that she could do, for even now she was running out the small amount of air she’d managed to gulp down while her head was still above water. It was enough. Her savior had long since seen her and made his decision to help. He came to a stop just above her and grasped at her thin wrist. A moment later she was out of the water and in his arms gasping for air. Thusly, it would take a bit of time before she answered his first question.

“I am now.” She said fairly flatly, which might have given the impression she was not grateful which certainly was not the case; a thing she made known quickly. “Thank you, I was sure I was going to die.” She added as she tossed her arms about his neck, not that the action would have softened her weight any. She was far to weak to offer any aid in carrying her. For now she was little more than a sack of potatoes in his arms. He asked his second question and she smiled. At least he realized that she obviously was not some ridiculous fool that lacked in skill and played at being a shinobi. Nope, she was a regular fool that lacked in skill and played at being a shinobi. “Yes, fourth year actually.” She answered and immediately regretted doing so. She couldn’t bare any more judgement, she’d done enough herself.

There was a pause as Aiko set her gaze on the shoreline and subsequently the surrounding area. She wanted to be sure that no one had seen her folly. If there was someone else around, she couldn’t see them, which was comforting. “I feel like such an idiot.” She mumbled aloud without realizing it.

The trek back to the shoreline was fairly short, especially so considering Aiko didn’t have to make the journey under her own power. As she sat there in the strangers arms her mind continued to wander. Each thought garnering a bit more self pity as well as embarrassment. She could only imagine what the young man thought of her, given he’d had to rescue her from a lake so frequently used by young shinobi. Despite his silence she felt like she could almost hear him laughing at her. Aiko set her gaze on the shoreline, turning her head away so that their eyes wouldn’t meet even accidentally for the time being.

A few moments later Yasutake had set her down at the tree he’d been sitting under prior. A chill ran down Aiko’s spin causing her to shiver slightly. Whether the stranger had noticed this or not was unclear, though he did suddenly offer his cloak with the command; “Wear this.” Aiko nodded as he wrapped the garment around her shoulders. Only now did the stranger have something to say; “You would’ve died if I hadn’t come to help you,” He started. Aiko hung her head in shame and nodded in agreement with that as well. He then proceeded further to confirm her feeling of being an idiot. Despite the mean choices of words his tone told that he wasn’t intending to be so. Even his little joke at the end seemed light spirited in light of it all. Aiko forced a bit of laughter out in response. His choice of comparison was funny, but Aiko just wasn’t the jocular type. Still, she’d managed to get some semblance of appreciation for the joke out.

“I’d wanted to force the need for the technique… wanted to have to control the flow of my chakra. I suppose I could have been more careful, but careful isn’t going to help me overcome… myself.” She said finally turning her head enough to look into Yasutake’s eyes. The moment their eyes met she’d find herself falling into a typical pattern of thought. She’d wonder what other wisdoms might be held within, what power she might garner from devouring them. Yet, she’d not act on these sadistic urges. Instead, she’d turn her head to look out over the lake. “It wouldn’t have mattered if I’d died though.” She said with a nod. “…again, thank you.” There was a brief pause before she spoke again as if she were considering her next words. “I’m Fuyona Aiko.” She didn’t often introduce herself by her whole given name, but figured that the man had earned the right to know what her entire name was. He’d saved her after all. “Mind if I ask your name? I’d like to know the name of my savior.” She smiled, it was crooked and awkward but genuine all the same.