Hello everyone! This is a start of a new journey and I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoy writing this! Please excuse any grammatical errors.

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or Naruto, and neither do I own the quote by Kait Rokowski.

A wise man once said, 'nothing ever ends poetically. It ends and we turn it into poetry. All that blood was never once beautiful. It was just red'. Likewise, her end was just as tragically poetic as it was perceived. But to her, drenched in the blood of her most loved kit, she only saw the crimson pools of her enemy's essence begging to be released. As the merciful miko that she was, she granted them their unsaid wish, seeking retribution for the damage caused.

The day of her end arrived peacefully enough. A bright day, chirping birds, no clouds staining the blue sky and the sun high up shining in all its glory. There was no room for wrong or negativity. No dark aura emitting from the corners of their peripheral vision. No youkais slithering around in the shadows like it once used to. Not even a single sniff of a pelted wolf declaring sweet nothings above everyone else. It was peaceful.

It was the day after their victory.

Not much was lost. The world was rid of the evil hanyou, the jewel safe, and curses lifted. Her sacrifices were certainly not gone without reward. She had her red-clad hanyou by her side - incarnation put back to rest - and her fellow monk and slayer companions readying impatiently for their marriage. Even the dried up magic well bowed to her wishes, opening up a portal allowing her, and only her, to cross between her birth era and her chosen era at will.

But where was her precious fox kit?

They say keep your friends close, but your enemy closer. If only she knew who her real enemy's were, then what occurred later would not have happened at all.

Half a day was gone, her focus spent on searching for her beloved kit. The inu-hanyou was away for kami knew what reason, she could not possibly ask her soon to be wed friends, and so she set out by herself. She searched high and low, from one end of the village to the other and still no sign of her kit. But then she came upon the cave that once housed the injured human part of the evil hanyou. She heard voices; two very familiar voices and the soft whimper of her kit.

Sliding closer, cloaking her presence, she came upon her inu-hanyou locked in heated passion with whom was supposed to be her rested incarnation, and her sweet kit chained and gagged at the back of the cave. Angered, and betrayed, she stepped forth in vigour. Her power raged, her body trembled, tears leaking from the corner of her eyes, but she dared not to crumble in their traitorous presence.

However, she had not accounted for their arrogance. Nor their daring action.

Not a second passed, and an ordinary sword that one transformed for her safety, was thrust through the kit before her eyes.

She saw red.

She only saw red.

Colour faded from her vision, leaving only red in the midst of grey. Her body was not her own, her mind blank, and her aching heart only yearned for reparation. She moved on instinct. Bringing down her wrath with skills unknown and unimaginable power she had never learnt to use.

Slice, duck, stab, jump, purify.

It was a pattern and a plethora of things not comprehensible. But she did not stop; she couldn't, not even after they were dead. Her body was cold despite the crackling fire burning in her veins. She felt numb.

The day remained as peaceful as it was hours ago, but she was not at peace. With her kit in her arms, her light died with him and the jewel she sacrificed her years for, hummed a lullaby for its broken mistress.

But really, there was nothing poetic at all.

. . .

. .

.

"Well…that's certainly an interesting scroll." Sakura muttered. She flicked her bubble-gum pink hair out of her eyes, sighing as the scorching heat produced more sweat on her forehead. "No names, no nothing, just a random parchment with a random tale of a woman. Though kind of sad."

"Quit wasting time. We're not here for a fairy tale. Get the forbidden scroll and let's go. Kakashi-sensei and the dobe are already waiting."

Sakura sighed. Catching a glimpse at her stoic teammate, she wondered what her younger self saw in him enough to be part of his obsessive fan girls.

"Must be the hormones." She whispered.

Sasuke glowered. "What?"

"Nothing!" Sakura squealed in triumph as she came across their target scroll. "Got it!"

"Hn." Sasuke nodded approvingly. He opened up the windows and jumped out expecting Sakura to follow right after. But she wasn't jumping behind him when he landed. Growling, he hissed for her. "Sakura…"

Said woman winced. She quickly pocketed the scroll she was reading not too long ago and jumped out the window with the forbidden scroll in hand. Waving it around to scroll, she smiled apologetically.

"Sorry, dress got caught between the cracks."

Not bothering to point out her obvious lie, Sasuke held back from rolling his eyes in annoyance. In the far distance they could hear and uproar building. Knowing that their presence was found, Sasuke quickly took to the tall buildings with Sakura following closely behind. They hid between the chimneys, jumping from roof to roof. No sooner they were out of the village and into the forests.

Sakura sighed a sigh of relief. "Mission, half-way completed." She announced with betrayed merit. The glaring sun was a major downer on her attitude. And like always, Sasuke chose to ignore her and continued his speedy pace whizzing through he forest.

By the time they both arrived at the meeting point with the rest of their team, they only found Kakashi lazing on a tree with his nose attached to his favourtite orange book.

The pervert sensei - check.

The blonde idiot – missing.

"Kakashi-sensei, where's Naruto?"

"Well, you two took your sweet time, so he went on an endeavour of his own. This also gave me the chance to read Jiraya's newest Icha Icha Paradise!"

Sakura dropped her head into her palms. Sasuke brooded by the furthest tree and she could not help but question how they all lasted together as team for the past few years. In fact, the only reason they were still a team was because she was still a chuunin. Naruto and Sasuke graduated to jounin two years ago, but since she was practicing as a medic-nin apprentice under Tsunade, their busty hokage, she saw no reason to further into jounin, or as Sasuke would blatantly like to say, her lacking in taijustu was at fault for their continued team.

Sakura, hiding under the refuge of the large trees' shade, prayed to the Kami's that whatever Naruto was doing, he didn't suddenly forget their speedy mission objective and wonder off aimlessly. It wasn't long before her prayers were answered.

"Ahhh, that felt good, I've been holding it in for a quite a while now." Naruto exclaimed, lost in his own wonder, as he walked into the clearing. His finger busied on fixing his clothes, straightening and pulling them into place.

Kakashi sighed, putting away his little erotica, whilst Sakura and Sasuke remained eerily stern.

Scratching the back of his head in confusion, Naruto titled his head and asked, "I understand the teme brooding, but why Sakura?"

Never would have anyone imagined that the famous phrase meant for a certain pervert would be directed at Naruto instead.

"You're late!" Sakura stacked, her arms thrust out angrily with a finger pointed directly at the culprit. She made sure, though, that she didn't leave the safety of the shadows, so however angry her tone was, Naruto couldn't take the kunoichi seriously enough.

"Ahhhhhhh-hahaha! Sakura, you're so funny!"

Said woman was not amused. This bastard, she thought, her inner-self growling through gnashed teeth. If only she could wrap her dangerously dainty hands round his neck and squeeze the life out of him.

"In case you have forgotten, but we are in the middle of a mission," she paused to take in a deep breath, never a good sign. "SO STOP FUCKING AROUND!"

While the adrenaline was still pumping through her veins, she desperately wanted to avert some of that towards Kakashi too, having holding some responsibility for Naruto slacking off, but out of some miraculous respect, she didn't dare string her curses towards him, but instead hurled them all to Naruto.

"Anti-shinobi villages are no joke. While Sasuke and I were risking our lives, how dare you fucking take a leak! You stupid, idiotic, shit bricking fu- HEY! Don't just walk away! HEY! WAIT!"

… And like every lecture Sakura seemed to spew often, the natural reaction from her team was to simply ignore and walk away. As far as Sakura did not know, they were currently working on another escape tactic, a tactic so crucial, they knew it without the need for words.

Tem seven continued their journey back to Konohagakure without any interruptions and fuss. The heat was still strong, but the quick and steady pace compensated with a cool breeze. However, that all changed once they crossed Konohagakure borders.

Naruto came to sudden stop when he felt an invisible pull. The others stopped, Sakura ready to start her screaming, but Kakashi beat her to it.

"What's wrong, Naruto?" He asked, perched on a different tree, his only eye uncovered showing concern.

"Tsk," Sasuke crossed his arms, "In need of another leak?"

When they got no reply from the usual jubilant and loud Naruto, the seriousness dawned in on them.

Sakura hopped onto the tree Naruto stood on. "Hey, what's wrong?" she took a tentative step forward, her hand reaching out for his shoulder, but before she could touch him, he was gone.

Alarmed, Sakura shrieked. "Kakashi-sen-"

"Follow him!" Kakashi quickly snapped. Their faces were lined with worry, even Sasuke's.

Naruto himself was fighting a losing battle.

Come

He heard it clearly. But the others could not. Why?

Come

He tried to tell them. He shouted, screamed, anything, but no one listened. They just stared at him with twisted looks of worry.

Come

No. No. No! He did not want to go. Why wasn't his body listening to him? Even Kyuubi was strangely quiet and not harping like he usually did.

Come

Where was this voice coming from? Who was this lady?

Come

He came upon a lake. Fog shadowed the area only letting bits and pieces of sunrays shine through. The luminescent only seemed to make the lake glow golden. His body moved in its own accord as it moved towards the edge of the lake. Watching his reflection, Naruto gasped, he gasped, but his physical body did not.

From a distance, he could hear the subtle movements of his teammates. Their soft shouts of his name vibrating through his flesh. In that moment, he had reached a cosmic sensation. The air cool to the touch, but heated once it seemed into his skin.

Come

By now he had accepted and come to terms with the voice. Fighting seemed to be a lost cause, so, with his mind made up, he decided to follow. But of course, the great shinobi that he was, he remained prudent, not letting his suspicion leave him. But he wasn't moving. Where was he supposed to go?

The tug he felt early pulled harder. Towards the lake- no, into the lake. Peering deeper, Nartuo reeled back in fear. But only unconsciously, his body had yet to move.

Deep into the dark waters there was a woman. She wasn't drowning, but neither was she surfacing. She was stationed in the middle, floating. Her long hair was curled around her protectively, her clothes flowing with a calm rhythm.

Save me

And like a spell broken, Naruto quickly lunged into the water. His arms stroke forward with vigil, legs motor boating behind him in earnest. He may have been confused just moments before but he wasn't now. That tug he felt earlier was so strong, so real, he felt it right into his bones and he knew he had to save her. Why? That could be answered at a latter time, but for now, he had to get to her.

Arms far and stretched, he wrapped it around her torso and with a strong kick, they both lurched upwards towards the awaiting surface.

The rest of the team seven panicked on the edge. They tried to peer through the waters, but it was too dark. The fog wasn't helping much either. Kakashi got into his stance and was about to perform a water jutsu, but Naruto broke the surface. He jumped out with heavy arms.

"Naru- who's that?"

"I…I don't know. But I had to save her. She called to me." Kakashi and Sasuke pondered on Naruto's words as Sakura fussed over the unconscious women.

Long raven hair stuck to her pale face and silk-kimono clad body. She had long lashes kissing her cheeks, a button nose and full pale pink lips. In her state she looked small- tiny. Vulnerable and unprotected. Like a damsel in distress.

Cheking her vital signs, Sakura, disturbed and quite relieved sighed as she relaxed into a seated position.

"She's breathing. Her pulse is stable; she's not showing any signs of sickness. Actually, she's not showing any signs of s drowning victim which is really weird, but it would be best if we got her out of these clothes."

Kakashi hummed.

"She's no civilian."

Sasuke commented after a moments pause. Everyone looked towards him. He had his sharingan activated and it was solely focused on the stranger. Kakashi followed suit.

"She has the same chakra channels as any other civilian, what makes you say she's not?" Kakashi questioned.

Shrugging, Sasuke deactivated the sharingan. "Just a feeling." Even thgouh Kakashi let it slide, he pondered on it. He may not give away a lot of his thoughts, but he did take into consideration his students opinion and if Sasuke believed that the woman was no civilian, so then there was a good reason why he thought so.

Naruto growled. "Whatever she is doesn't matter. I saved her, she's my responsibility. We can't leave her here!"

"Naruto, calm down. No one said we would leave her. So, just relax."

"Perhaps a near village she might be affiliated with." Kakashi said. His eyes did not remove itself from the woman, but he was quite aware of Naruto's growing ire. Not to mention the whisker he now spotted on his face. At Sakura and Sasuke's tensed bodies, it seemed they had noticed too.

"No!" Naruto snapped. "There are no villages. She has to come with us."

"Don't be stupid, dobe-"

"She comes with us."

A bit put off by the dark growl, Kakashi stepped forward with his sharingan still in place. He dropped down to Naruto's level, a safe distance away from the woman still in his arms.

"Is Kyuubi talking to you again?"

Naruto gasped, looking up. In that instant the whiskers faded and his blue eyes just blazed seconds before, blinked back into recognition.

"Wha-no. No! He's…he's quiet."

"Right." Kakashi nodded, not wanting to push the already agitated male. "Sakura, change her into dry clothes. We'll make our move right after, we've lost enough time as it is."

Instructions set out and demands met, team seven and the mysterious woman found in the lake headed towards Konohagakure.

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