18

                                    

                                          
Team 13 had finally made it back to the village after another week of travel. Everyone was exhausted from the trip. They had finished giving their report to the Hokage Tatsuo also giving him a written report. They were dismissed but Sora was asked to stay, now it just being her and the Hokage one on one. She looked at him unsure of what to say. 
"Tatsuo told you that I sent you there on purpose right?" The Hokage said.
Sora nodded staying silent. This was worrying the Hokage, had he ruined the small amount of trust he was gaining with her? She let out a sigh as she looked up at him her eyes serious.
"Next time just ask. You are the reason I have any form of freedom at the moment. I will be as honest with you as possible. I never told you because you never asked and I didn't want to bring it up," Sora said. 
"What was you're time like with your clan, because from Tatsuo's report you hated being there," The Hokage asked.
Sora took a deep breath preparing herself for having to relive those moments. But it was the Hokage asking, so she would have done her best. Because as she said he was the one that saved her, the one that gave her this life. She was grateful for that and would do what she could to repay him.
"I was abused to put it simply. I was a disappointment. My brother was born and by the age of three was showing signs of possessing the Hisha clan abilities, so my mother decided to have another child which was a struggle. She had hoped I would have just as much promise as my brother but she was sorely mistaken. I showed no signs of that. This made others of the clan start questioning her. So she took it out on me, declaring I wasn't her child. The only reason I wasn't left out to die was because of my brother. He promised if they did that he would leave the clan and never look back. So whenever he was around she didn't touch me, but he was often sent out on missions leaving me alone with my mother," Sora explained trying to stay blank and emotionless.
Though internally her mind was racing with memories. The Hokage looked held sadness in his eyes. She truly didn't have a good start to life. He sighed not wanting to ask anymore for the moment, knowing he had already pushed her hard enough. He pulled out the box photo and letter that Tatsuo handed him earlier. 
"these are yours. also, I will be giving you all the information we collected at a later date. I have to set it up in a seal that needs your blood to unseal. It's your clan's information and as the sole survivor you deserve to have possession of them and protect them," The Hokage explained, though he would be looking through it all himself.
She took hold of the items looking at them her eyes softening. She held the photo in her hand, glad to finally have something of her brothers. Something to remember him by. This was the best treasure she could have ever asked for. The Hokage watched never seeing that expression on her face before. it was joy. 
"thank you Sarutobi Sensei," Sora said. 
"there's one more thing Sora," The Hokage said drawing her attention back to him. 
"the second night in the compound, what happened?" He questioned. 
Sora thought back to that night, but it all seemed fuzzy like there was something there but she couldn't quite grasp it. It was frustrating, Tatsuo had asked but the same thing happened and the harder she tried the further away it got. The Hokage watched her brows frown in concentration and frustration. 
"I know something happened I just don't know," Sora admitted defeated. 
"That's alright you can go. I'm sure you're tired after that trip," He said. 
She nodded and soon left the office heading back home. She walked through the village looking down at the items in her hands. She was eager to get home and inspect it more carefully. Once she arrived home she gently smiled to herself as she placed the photo on the shrine. She sat in front of it as she opened the envelope, her hands slightly shaking in anticipation. Would it be something good, or something bad that confirmed her fear that her brother truly hated her?
dear Sora,
Happy 8th birthday, I hope I can make this a magical day for you. But we will get to all that later. 
I want you to know I am forever grateful to have a little sister like you, you are a sparking light in this world and I can't do enough to celebrate your birth. You will grow to be a beautiful and capable woman one day, I just hope I can help lead you there and watch you grow up happy and healthy. 
I promise that we will soon go somewhere better,
P.S. I hope you like your present,
Lots of love 
your elder brother
I tear splashed onto the paper as Sora read it. She quickly hugged it to her chest as she quietly cried to herself, he loved her, he truly loved her. She cried for a few minutes before she wiped her tears placing the envelope on the shrine now reaching for the box. Her hand ran over the silvery woods as she traced the engraved snowflakes. It was a beautiful box, it was made of an unusual and unfamiliar wood, something she had never come across before. She carefully opened the box. 
dozens of blue crystal flowers were in the box, them all emitting a dull glow, but in the centre of the box was a necklace. It was a teardrop-shaped pendant that held water in it, the water simmered beautifully. As Sora gazed at it the image of a water spring popped into her head confusing her. 
She also placed it on the shrine admiring its beauty.
"thank you, big brother," Sora said feeling happy for the first time in a long time.