Chapter 1

"I think you'll really love Konaha Ayame," Kurenai said kindly as she helped me pack my things from the haunting house I use to call home. This house use to be a home. "I know you haven't seen your father in a long time, but I'm sure he'll be thrilled to see you again," she continued to try and give me confidence. I already knew what my father felt of me. He wished I was my deceased twin brother Amaya, who died when we were only babies. I knew this because that's why my parents divorced in the first place. My mother couldn't handle that my father wouldn't see me.

I just focused on packing up my things. I didn't have too much, since we didn't have much money, so I was able to fit everything in two suitcases and a backpack. I took some of my mother's things too, like her scrapbook and journal that she left to me. Once I was packed, Kurenai helped me bring my things to my new home in Konaha. "The second room in the apartment is set up like an office for now, but once we get your furniture from your old house it'll be perfect," she said cheerfully. Kurenai had been best friends with my mother when they were in school together. I thought of her as my aunt if anything. I wonder how my mom would feel if she had known that father married her.

"Thank you for your kindness Kurenai-chan," I mumbled, putting my things neatly next to the desk in the small room.

"Kakashi should be home from his mission with his students soon. I know he'll be thrilled to see you!" she grinned. Then she finally noticed that I wanted to be left alone, and she shifted awkwardly. "Well, the bathroom is down the hall, if you want to freshen up. I'll leave you to get comfortable."

I grabbed my toiletries from my bookbag and went into the bathroom. It looked like the bathroom of a bachelor, but then again he and Kurenai did just get married. She must've not gotten to making the bathroom girly yet. I looked into the mirror and cringed, thinking of what everyone would think when they saw me. I look just like my father. My silverly white hair was cut in a bob, that I tried to keep neat but usually never succeeded. My huge coal black eyes stared back at me in the mirror, showing no emotions since I was still numb from my mother's death. I looked away from the mirror and started the bath water. I could hear that my father had just come home and Kurenai was explaining the situation to him. The walls of this apartment are practically paper thin.

"Miku passed away. You know she's been really sick for a while."

"No, I didn't know that. We haven't kept in contact," my father said. His voice sounded indifferent, like he didn't care that my mother was dead.

"Well, Ayame is going to be living with us now. We'll just put her in the office."

I didn't hear any reply from my father. If he said anything, they must've been quiet mumbles. I washed up quickly in the tub and braided my hair into two pigtails. I put on a blue shirt and some jeans and quietly went into my room. I had no desire to see my father.

I pulled a blanket from my suitcase and curled up on the floor of the office. I wanted to go home, to the home before my mother passed away, when everything was good. I didn't like the thought of being in a strange place, with my father none the less. All of this was just too much. I want to go home.