Don't wish me happiness - I don't expect to be happy it's gotten beyond that, somehow. Wish me courage and strength and a sense of humor, I will need them all. -Anne Morrow Lindbergh

I used to live a simple life. I was born on a snowy day in January, right after my brother Haku was born. It was a simple, peaceful life, just Onii-san, Kaa-san, Tou-san, and me. But the peaceful life changed when I was young.

I wasn't your normal child. Instead of enjoying playing outside all the time, I read inside, and if I did go out side, it would be because Haku asked me to. Haku was always cheerful, kind, and would protect me if some of the boys in town were mean to me. I had a kind elderly neighbor named Hikari who told me about her days as a kunoichi, told me about all her exciting missions, and even taught me the substitution and basic clone jutsu. She let me borrow books about all the Hidden Villages and was always kind. I loved my life, but it changed on a normal snowy day...

I was reading a book about the Village Hidden in the Leaves, Konaha, while Haku was playing with water. "Akiko!" he exclaimed. I looked up at him with curious eyes, I saw him controlling water in his hands.

"Onii-san! How did you do that?! Do you think I can do it too?" I asked. "Of course you can! When you master this, you and I can be great ninja like Hikari-san!" He said with a smile. I put my book in my lap and scooted closer to the water. I tried to get the water to do what I told it to, but all I could do was make it lift, ever so slightly.

"Ah, I can't do it..." I said. "You made it move some! With practice, you'll be able to be better than me at it! I know it!" Haku said. I gave him a smile, my big brother, he could always make me smile. Kaa-san came outside and he ran over to her.

"Look, Kaa-chan! Look at what I can do! Isn't beautiful?!" He exclaimed. I ran over too with the water barely floating over my palm in a small ball. "I can do it too, Kaa-san!" I exclaimed with glee.

"NO IT'S NOT BEAUTIFUL!" she yelled. She grabbed our hands shaking them roughly leaving a bruise on my wrist.

"Kaa-san stop it! Please what did we do?!" I yelled. I heard Haku yelling along with me. Suddenly she let me go and slapped Haku across the face. "Onii-chan!" I yelled, quickling getting up and running to him. I wanted to shield him from another possible strike.

"Oh, Haku, Akiko, I'm so sorry." Kaa-chan said pulling us towards her for a hug. I cried, but I pushed her off of me, grabbing my near by book, and running away to our small house.

I read to Haku, as he cried about an hour later. I read to him about the Land of Fire, Konoha, The Village Hidden in the Leaves. He soon fell asleep, and I fell asleep next to him.

We woke up when we heard a scream. He was about to run out when I grabbed is shirt,

"We have to be quiet, onii-chan. In scary situations, stay quiet until you know have to scream." I said. We tiptoed downstairs and looked and saw Kaa-san on the floor, blood all over her. "Kaa-san!" Haku yelled. The men inside looked at him and they gave him a look of hatred. I came out and saw the bloody bats in their hands. "Onii-san, RUN!" I yelled. "Wha-What?" he said. The men walked closer and we both began to back into the front door.

"Run as fast as you can, away from here, and don't look back. Run away." I whispered to him.

"What about you?" he asked quickly. "I'm gonna be strong, cause you said that your always your strongest when protecting your precious person. Your precious to me, so I will protect you." I said. He had tears running down his face, I had tears running down my face. We opened the door and he quickly ran to the nearby woods. I stood outside ready to serverely hurt anyone who wanted to try getting pass me.

My hands were trembling, my knee's were wanting to buckle, and I could barely breath. I can do this... I thought. They all ran at me, beating me down, I tried to get them but I couldn't land a hit. Suddenly, I couldn't take it anymore, And I felt power flurry inside of me. Suddenly, the hitting stopped, I looked up and all the men that were hitting me had ice spikes impaling them. I just saw my father, he was the last one standing. He had tears running down my face.

"My-My little girl." he sobbed. With tears running down my face I said, "I am no longer your w-w-weak little girl. You successfully killed her. I am no l-l-longer her, I a-am Aki, and y-y-you are nothing but the man I will hate for the rest off eternity." I sent an ice spike at him, and he was impaled. He looked at me with sad eyes and he fell down, dead with a single tear running down his face.

I got down on my knees, and began to openly weep out of fear. I heard movement from behind me, it was the elderly woman, Hikari. "I see, you are a descendent of the Yuki Clan..." she murmered.

She gave me a small smile. "The village is on their way in quite the large mob, and I am very scared for your safety, child. I made a small bag for you, so that you will have your best chance. Travel to Konaha, I used to live there, and they openly accept those with kekkei genkai. I have a forehead protector, and a letter along with many other things in this bag. Show those to the Hokage when you get there, he owes me a favor, and he will accept you. Now run into the woods and while running through, attempt to find Haku. If you can't, go on to Konoha. You will be safe here. I will hold the villagers off. I can buy you some time, but I am not as young as I used to be." she said.

I was weeping and ran to give her a hug. "Arigato, Obaa-san" I whispered. She hugged me back, and with tears running down her face she said, "Good bye, daughter. Now run." she said. I took off running, straight into the woods never to see Hikari, again.