Authors note: Hey, this is my first story and I'm super nervous about it. I encourage constructive reviews.

Things will not be sunshine and rainbows in this this story. Moreover, murder, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, self harm will be the themes this story will mostly revolve around.

I'll be using some OC characters in this fic. Also, Mei is an OC here.

Perhaps this story could be a bit long, but I won't be abandoning it. Though the updates could be a bit irregular, if real life gets on the way.

In short, if anything mentioned above isn't your slice of pie, you better stay alert.

This chapter actually takes place in the second half of the story.

Watched.

By Psycho-schlemiel.

Prologue.

62 days, the shortest count yet.

Although she had noticed it long ago, she didn't show it. That is, until she was absolutely certain about the changes in surrounding, did she finally voice her concerns.

"Where are we going Mommy?" She asked, glancing at the woman, she currently held hands with.

The woman in question gazed at the sky. It was cloudless. It was like a child began colouring it with amber and, then erased it in a way that smudged and spread it everywhere. The sky was unyielding in its determination to provide no weather at all. "Its such a lovely weather, isn't it?"

The girl followed her mother's line of sight. The hot sun glittered so blindingly, over the unbeaten track.

Absolutely not.

She, however, didn't press the issue further. She knew, her mother's replies were always incomplete and cryptic, delivered in bits and pieces. Besides, her mother wasn't in a particularly good mood since few weeks. The icing on the cake was that she strongly considered herself as docile, in such matters.

In the almighty swell of humanity, Mei took the time to let her eyes wander, feeling the panic rise in her chest. People flowed like rivers, never stopping, resembling the stampeding herds. Distantly, she could here chatter between sellers and buyers. Then came the hysterical crying, the screaming sobs only interrupted by the babies to draw breath. Mei felt as if her brain was being shredded from the inside, and what surprised her was the fact that the ladies were talking and admiring each others young ones, remaining completely unfazed by their screeching.

She looked over to her brother, who, too mirrored her expressions.

Something was totally off. It had to be since they found themselves stranded in the middle of a...crowded street! No, no, no it can't be! She needed to remind her mother, immediately. Wait, is there any need to remind her when she's the one leading them?

Screw logic!

"Mom- "

"Hold onto my hand tightly." She was certain, her mother had read her obvious train of thoughts or rather, noticed her trembling hands.

"Mother, where are we-"

"Mei, weren't you the one who asked me to go out with you guys sometimes and grab some ice cream like normal families, the other day when we had a fight?"

Mei felt as though it was some sort of a crazy joke as she awaited the punch line. She noticed, her brothers eyebrows being scrunched into a frown at that, too.

Great. Now, she wasn't the only who could feel something sinister being brewed.

They walked for a while, which relatively, felt like an eternity to Mei, in compainable silence broken by her mother asking them which ice creams they'd like in the cafe.

She needed to do something! But exactly what?

She tried to think rationally and not panic, although the persistent thought was pounding in her brain. Suddenly, a flash of orange popped up in her mind, and the panic almost subsided.

Okay. She took a deep breath to clear her mind. All she had to do was go near the Tokyo police department. Yeah, that sounded a bit realistic.

"Mother, there's this bridge overlooking the river, I've always wanted to go to. Can we go there?"

"Yes, mother. I'm curious about it too." Shirou pushed, sharing a meaningful glance with her sister.

"Ofcourse, love," Mei stared into her mother'eyes, she knew her mother was trying to hide something, determined to fool them. She could see how her lips were contorted into an awkward, toothy smile, but her cheeks were not so compromising.

"This way, mother." Mei lead them from a different route, so that her mother could not deduce their motive. Don't ask how an eight year old knew the different routes of a city, they recently shifted to. Not to mention she hardly ventured out. She always felt this extremely weird connection with Tokyo since the day she had arrived here.

True, she'd always wanted to go to the bridge but not under such circumstances.

Upon reaching their destination, Shirou rested his chin on the railing. The trio watched with awe as an orange haze casted over the moving river before them. Half of a glowing, radiant light loomed on the water horizon, the birds glinting silver as they swooped through the air, and they were so moved and entraced that they couldn't speak.

"It is a beautiful sight to behold, isn't it?"

"Indeed," Hinata said, the words just rolled off the tip of her tongue.

At the sound of the familar voice, Mei turned around, almost blinking away the tears. The way his lips lifted upward. The way his one dimple crinkled. The warm glow his happiness gave. His smile was a ray of sunshine, and they were sunburn.

Mei didn't miss how her mother visibly tensed after hearing his voice. Her suspisions were now confirmed.

"Woah. Its literally a site to see you guys here," Naruto said, scraching the back of his hair.

"Yeah, they insisted," Hinata said, brushing Mei's hair softly.

"Oh, I see. Well, evening's drawing in, if you want I can drop you guys-"

"No, there's no need of it. We're just spending some quality time together. We can go on our own," Hinata said, smiling at him.

For a moment, he remained dumbfounded but soon returned a smile of his own. "Oh great, then I guess we'll catch up later."

"No, wait!" Mei called out urgently. "I wanted to talk to you about that arrogant character you read for me yesterday." She said as she tried to keep the tears at bay.

Naruto gave her a long, calculating look and before he could formulate a reply, Hinata cut in, "Oh dear, you can deal with it on a later date. Well, if you'll excuse us." She said as she firmly held hands of the two kids and made her way past the blonde.

Mei, however, turned around, her pearl eyes locked with his cerulean eyes with concern. She saw how his eyes narrowed with confusion.

It took them almost an hour to reach their house via walking as their house was situated at the outskirts of the city. At the outline of their house coming into view, Mei sighed in relief for the second time that day. They slipped into the house and the mother made sure the gates were properly locked once they were in.

Shirou jogged lightly towards the sofa, his breathing laboured from walking for pratically hours. Mei, too, walked to sink in the couch next to her brother, facing the kitchen. Hinata, on the other hand, went straight to the kitchen and closed the door behind her.

It took her a couple of minutes to come back, but Mei paid no mind to her since she was exhausted to the bone by her mothers antics. She'd had it enough for the day.

"Mei and Shirou!" Her mother called out, "Can you guys come here for a moment?"

"Shirou, mom's calling you." Mei said, dismissively.

Shirou pouted but complied, albeit reluctantly.

"Mei you've gotta come too!"

Mei rolled her eyes as the two trotted towards the kitchen.

"Come here." Hinata said, as she beckoned the two to come next to her. Closing the door of the kitchen, she bent low to be to their level. "I'm so sorry for all the the things you guys had to endure because of me, but it will all come to an end, finally." She closed her eyes, as tears started to stream down her cheeks. "I promise. Just stick close to me, mummy will make the best decision for us."

"M-Mother whats wrong!?" Mei shriked, as her eyes became wide as saucers. Shirou, too, remained rooted to the spot. "Mother everything's fine just please, please stop acting like this!" Mei burried her face in her hands, her breathing shallow.

"I'm going to go and call Narut-" Shirou said as strange, bitter feelings burned in his bosom, at the site.

"Don't you dare let an intruder interfer in our family matters!" Hinata bit back, indignation, rage and much more crossed her face in rapid succession.

"Don't listen to her Shirou, mother isn't in her right mind today!" Mei shot back, glaring at her mother.

Hinata looked at him intently, shaking her head, lavender locks falling out of order to veil the frustation in her eyes. Shirou was torn between her sister and her mothers silent pleas.

On cue, Hinata lit a matchstick and stared at it with undisguised admiration. "Its so crazy that we are nothing but temporary candles, searching for an eternal flame. Hoping along the way, the fire won't burn us," She said laconically.

"Mother please just stop it!"

"I have had it enough, I'm going to call him and the others!" Shirou said, as he tried to reach for the bolt.

"Its so sad your height isn't enough to reach over there," Hinata said, her eyes downcast. "Trust me, this thing will end our misery for once and for all. We won't have to suffer anymore. I just want to clear one thing, mummy knows the best for you and don't worry, I'm going to accompany you, ofcourse."

A knock on the front door startled Hinata, as she covered the mouth of the two kids. "Mei? Shirou?"

"We're in here!" Mei mouthed against her mother's palm.

"Are you sure they are not asleep?" Another voice came from outside the house.

"They shouldn't be, I guess. I'll check it for myself."

The grip of her hand tightened around her kids, instinctively.

"Hinata, are you in?" This time the former voice came more softly than before.

She closed her eyes, as tears burst forth like water from a dam, spilling all over her face. Mei could see the muscles of her mother's chin tremble like a small child and Mei looked towards the window, hoping the light could soothe her mother. Perhaps it was the side effect of the constant stress her mother lived with.

"Get aside, I can open this door."

"No, no not in that way!"

"Move your ass Naruto, I ain't got no time."

Frantically, Hinata lit another matchstick, making it slip from her hands, setting the room ablaze. For Mei, the world turned into a blur, so did all the sounds. The smell. Everything was just gone. As she hit the ground, her hands unsteady as they silently claw her mothers palm.

And she was never alone...

A/N: I know this chapter can be a bit confusing to begin with. But hopefully everything will make sense as we proceed.

I hadn't been much descriptive about NaruHina relationship, so I'd love to hear your take on it.

Constructive reviews are always appreciated.