"So… Ayama Michiko is the only person who has survived the fire that left the great Michiko building in ruin

"So… Ayama Michiko is the only person who has survived the fire that left the great Michiko building in ruin?" the Third Hokage, Sarutobi, asks Anko softly.

"Yes, my Lord. Everyone else was killed in the blaze. Her father, Sanyu Michiko. Her mother, Kamiku Michiko. And also her older sister, Mai Michiko," Anko replies, with her head bow lowly in respect.

"Hmm… I see. Where is Ayama now?" the Third questions, standing up from his chair.

"She is now being treated in the hospital," Anko states simply, staring after the Hokage as he walks over to the door, leading out of his office.

He opens it carefully, but before leaving he turns his attention once more back to Anko and smiles warmly and says to her, "You have done well, Anko."

And with that last statement, he makes his way out of the room without another word.

"Thank you, Lord Hokage," Anko says in a hushed whisper, bowing her head once more as he left.

"Mom! Dad! Where… where are you guys?!" I yell desperately, shielding my face from the blinding smoke surrounding me.

"Ayama… Ayama… in here!"

I gasp faintly, as I hear my sister call out my name.

"Where… are you, Mai?!" I screamed through heart wrenching coughs.

The smoke was becoming to unbearable, but I didn't know what to do. Tears slowly fall down my cheeks, as I find my sister in the family room. My stomach clenches tightly, and I force myself not to puke at the sight of her.

She laid sprawled out on the floor beside the now scorched couch. A big, thick piece of wood, that obviously had fell from the ceiling, had fallen on top of her legs. I could see the faint sight of red stuff that was flowing down her crushed legs: blood. Her face was somewhat misshapen, and over parts of her body I could see her flesh slowly was decaying away.

'No…' I said to myself, tears streaming more and more down my cheeks. "Mai!" I managed to scream, running over and kneeling down beside her.

"Ayama… you… you need… to get out… of here," she tells me, barely above a whisper.

"I can't. I don't… want to… leave you," I said, through hiccups and occasionally some more coughing.

"You have to. Or… you'll die. You have to go…I think… I think I have enough chakra for this. The Leaf shinobi should be outside right now… so I'll give them a sign telling them that you here… still alive…"

And with that said, Mai makes four hand signs. She takes one last deep breath, and utters emotionlessly, "Fire style: Fire Dragon jutsu!"

"Where… what… what happened?" I say weakly, opening my eyes to an unfamiliar room.

"So… your finally up, huh?" I hear a young boy, to the right of me, say.

"What…? Where… where am I?" I ask him, while still looking up half-dazed at the white ceiling above me.

"Your… in the hospital," he replies in a melancholy tone.

I cringe in pain, as I sit up, with my elbows holding me up barely enough so that I could see my surroundings and also the boy who was sitting so carelessly beside my bed. His expression was almost saddening and indescribable, like he had just lost his puppy dog in the pouring rain. He was about my age, with messy brown hair, brown eyes, and he also had two red marks on each side of his face.

"What… what are you doing here? Where's my family? Why aren't they here?" I question him, assuming he had every answer.

"You… you don't remember? You don't remember what happened? You don't remember me?" he asked back, his expression turning into perplexity.

"No… should I? I don't…" I stop and gasp out in shock, as I begin to remember everything.

Everything that he had asked me. I started to remember everything, as if a huge tidal wave had just hit with me with all the answers.

"Your that boy! The boy I saw… while I was sitting by the refrigerator. But then… then means that… this all wasn't a dream. It all really happened. Everyone is gone… my family… my home. Everything!" I screamed the last part out, as I wrapped my arms over my knees and buried my face into them; crying hysterically, not mattering if my body was screaming out in sheer pain.

At that moment, I heard the door being opened and closed, and footsteps walking ever so slowly over to my bed. I lift my head up hesitantly, and through blurry and teary eyes I see the Hokage standing with a warm smile next to the red-faced marked boy.

"Kiba…" the Hokage says calmly, looking down at the boy with impassive eyes. "Would you mind stepping out into the hall for a minute. I want to talk with Ayame. Oh… and please would you tell me when your mother gets here?"

"Yes…" the boy replies, his voice barely above a whisper. He stands up tentatively and gives me one last apologetic look, before stepping out into the hall, closing the door behind him.

I gaze out after him, noticing the look he gave me. It made me… almost… not for him to leave.

"How are you feeling, Ayame? Physically, I mean," he states genuinely.

I do not respond to his question. Yes, I knew what he was asking me, but I did not feel like answering. I didn't want to speak to anyone at that point I time. But I had to know what had happened to my mother, father, and my sister.

"So… it all wasn't a dream then…" I say in a stated sentence, and not a question.

"No, it was not. I am deeply sorry to say this Ayame… but your family is dead. I am sorry to give it to you so straight-forwardly, my girl…" he adds quickly.

"No… it's fine," I remark, not wanting to say anymore.

"You know that boy? Who was just in here a few moments ago?" he inquires, gesturing towards the closed door.

"Yeah… his name's Kiba, right? He's the one who saved my life…" I utter simply, my stomach clenching tightly as I remember the occurrence.

Then the Hokage does something I was not prepared for. He closes the small gap between us and gives me a small, but encouraging hug. I control my urge to push him away, and stiffen myself until he finally lets go of me. I avert my eyes from his sympathetic gaze, and stare out coldly at the end of the bed.

"Umm… Lord Hokage? You wanted to see me?" Kiba's mother, Tsume, opens the door slightly and asks.

"Oh, yes. I did. Would you let Kiba know that he wants to… he may come back in?" the Hokage tells her kindly.

My heart flutters faintly, at the mention of the boy's name. Why was this happening? I hadn't even knew the boy, but he did save my life. I guess I was going to find out why I was feeling this way. We were both alike somehow. I just didn't know how yet.