Haven; a place of comfort, a refuge, a safety.
"This is our haven."
Akiyama Fay, the child who would one day come to be known as the Blood Shinobi; one of the four founders of Konohagakure.
This is her story.
And he is her haven.
"Have...
"I cannot believe you made her fight!" Adridatha snapped at her husband.
Akiyama Adridatha. Wife to Head of their clan, Akiyama Valkar. Her beauty rumoured to hold no bounds. She had soft dark hair, a hazel tinge. It hung down in a loose plait, dangling from side-to-side as she thrust her arms about. Her usually kind sea-green eyes sharp and harsh, glaring dangerously at her husband. Donning a traditional kimono, the patterns of honey gold. Following off her body, giving an almost regal effect to her — she was the definition of beautiful.
Before the middle-aged woman stood a man just one year her senior. Valkar was broad and tall, a handsome face with nasty expression. Slick back, dark hair and the palest of skin — to match his kin before him — it contrasted with the striking emerald hue of his eyes. Suited in traditional red-armour, signalling his role as clan Head. With a sword by his side and his arms to his chest.
He sighed. "Adridatha. She is a valuable asset to our-"
She cut him off. "Valuable asset?!" She seethed. "She is a child! Our child!"
He was silenced by her words, unable to talk back. He was a man of honour, a fearless warrior. Capable of standing up to the deadliest of foe, the vilest of demons — but not his wife. His beautiful, kind, intelligent, terrifying wife.
"Fay is not a weapon for you to-" Adridatha ceased speaking. Hearing the sounds of the floor boards creak, she caught a glimpse of pink through the seemingly empty corridor.
She turned back to her husband, jabbing a finger to his armour. "This is not over." She warned him before rushing off.
Watching her go, Valkar sighed — god did he love her.
Adridatha walked out into the hall, eyes softening at the sight of her youngest daughter. Fay's head poked out from behind a pillar. Her bright hair catching the moonlight in her wake. And even then, she grinned brightly.
She walked over, smiling lovingly as she lifted her child into her arms. Fay looked nothing like her kin. Akiyama's tended to have tall and thin physiques, darker features and green eyes — Fay possessed none of these things.
Many speculated the woman's disloyalty but she silenced all rumours with a clenched fist. Valkar was foolish but Adridatha still loved her foolish husband and told the jeering crowd that she'd never betray him so. They never spoke of it again.
"My dear," Adridatha sighed, "Why are you roaming the halls so late?"
Fay's smile brightened. "I was with onee-chan when I hear you two talking 'bout me... mother, why can't I fight?"
That was the thing about Fay — she was an abnormal. Not only was she born different in looks but also in appearance.
She was born extraordinary.
The Akiyama clan was one of the three great clans of the Land of Fire. Known for their skill in assassination, infiltration and espionage — all because of their "inhuman" abilities in which they were blessed with. Like the Uzumaki and their chakra or the Uchiha and their eyes — Akiyama were natural born sensor.
There bodies were built differently. They were faster and stronger than a normal person and born with heightened senses — like eyesight or hearing. Not to the extent something like a Sharingan would grant you — nothing like that. But the slight advantage was there.
Mostly, the clan was known for their speed and sensing. But Fay went beyond that. Even for an Akiyama's standards she was different.
She was faster. She could sense further and she had unnatural amounts of chakra. However she was just a child, she couldn't even use a fraction of her chakra — nor her speed. But Adridatha knew when her daughter would grow — she would be extraordinary.
Then there was Han. This younger twin brother of Fay by a mere few minutes. Han possessed the same soft, hazel hair of his mother and the sharp emerald eyes of his father. He didn't bare any resemblance to his twin.
Han didn't have any of his clans abilities. His chakra was civilian at best. He wasn't fast nor was he strong. He couldn't sense chakra and his two main senses were ordinary. He couldn't preform ninjutsu, genjutsu or even taijutsu.
He was destined to never be a shinobi. The polar opposite to his twin. But not even the lord himself could separate the two. They were bound together.
Adridatha smiled down at her daughter. She didn't answer the little girl's question about joining the never-ending war and instead continued to walk down the halls. Soon coming to her daughter's room — which she shared with her twin. The two refused to sleep in separate rooms, the thought always warmed their mother's heart
She crept into their room, silent as can be. Careful not to disturb Fay who had drifted off. She placed her by her brother. The two instantly snuggled up to one another, like two missing puzzle pieces — she pulled the blanket over them and frowned.
Adridatha thought of her eldest and last child. Akiyama Saphira was a young kunoichi of fourteen. She dominated the battlefront — carrying out her duty as heir to their clan by commanding her father's armies. She showed great promise in becoming a shinobi of great capabilities
But Adridatha knew that no matter how much Saphira trained Fay would one day surpass her. She could only hope there would be no ill feelings.
She shook her head, freeing herself from the thought. Adridatha smiled warmly, placing a kiss atop both their heads. Her gaze lingered on Fay.
Adridatha silently prayed to whatever gods lay above them. That no matter what hardships came her daughter's way — that she would always be with the ones she loves.
Even if she couldn't be one.
::
Akiyama Adridatha
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