Akira's POV

"Don't even think about trying to run, you stupid kid." The man running after me said.

He raised a kunai as though to throw it. This drew my attention quickly away from the ground in front of me. He threw it, just as I tripped over a root. I look up to see the kunai lodged deep in a nearby tree.

'Well, that was lucky but now he's closer. I have to figure something out.'

Just as I picked myself up to keep running another man jumped down from a tree and grabbed a good fistful of my hair. He dragged me back to the other man who was standing with what looked to be a smirk. Although I couldn't really tell, I couldn't see his face. I glared in return. My head by now was pounding; the cause(s) 1)Dehydration: I haven't had anything to drink since I started running 2 days ago. 2) This guys grip on my hair was painful. I felt like every last folicle of hair was being ripped out.

"Finally, we got her. The boss will definitely be happy to see this." The man approached me as I stared at the ground.

I think I'll call him Idiot#1. It's just easier this way. Once I could see his boots I tried to kick-out but that only earned me a sore back as I was pulled by his friend or Idiot#2 in my mind. I was airborne for about 2 seconds before hitting the ground. Hard. No soft landing for me. I couldn't breathe for a second as the air was pushed from my lungs. I tried not to gasp or show pain. I refused to let these guys have the satisfaction of seeing me in pain or scared.

'My god that killed. Now I'm in even worse shape than before. That could have gone better. Okay, new plan! and... I got nothing. Great'

I lay there on the ground thinking of ways to escape and failing miserably. I decided to log what I could about these two into my memory for reference later. So, if I got away and if I met them again I would know more about them. One had a sturdy build and a deep voice. He could have been in his early 30's. He didn't seem that bright though, in fact he seemed downright stupid. The other though seemed more of a strategist, a thinker. Also in his early 30's He had the build of a runner.

'But he still didn't catch me.' I thought with a smirk.

His voice though was rough and seemed strained like he had hurt his throat permanently. Not like a cough or anything more like his throat was raw and burnt. It was during my little observations that I realized that the two idiots weren't even paying attention to me.

I raised an eyebrow. 'These guys suck at keeping a prisoner. Did they skip 'Prisoner 101' in bad guy school or what? Also when'd they let go of my hair? hmm...I guess when I was pulled, scratch that thrown back he let go of me? Yeah that's probably it.'

The two idiots then started to yell really loud about who's going to take the credit of capturing me. The Idiot#1 who's voice sounded terribly rough was yelling that if it wasn't for him they never would have found me, while Idiot#2 was shouting that he was the one who actually caught me. I couldn't believe what I was hearing two grown men were arguing like kids over a toy. To be honest I had a hard time not laughing at them. That definitely made my day or night seeing as it was like 11:00pm.

"You know what I think that you should stay here to make sure we aren't being followed." Idiot #1 tried to trick his partner into staying.

'Seriously who would fall for that.' I could practically feel the sweat drop forming on my head.

"Really because I think I should just kill you now and get the fame for myself. I mean I am handsomer." Idiot #2 stated.

It took every ounce of control I had not to burst out laughing, but I knew if I did their attention would be on me again. I had to use this to my advantage.

"Uh huh. You really think you can kill me" Idiot#1 started.

"Yeah we both know I'm stronger out of the two of us."

"I'm smarter."

"I'm stronger."

"Brains win over brawns"

"No they don't. Brawns win."

'Oh my god they won't actually..' I began to think.

"No,Brains"

"No,Brawns"

"Brains"

"Brawns"

'They actually did. They have actually sunk to the preschool level.' I just stared at them in shock. My head was going back and forth, while a sweat drop formed on it. 'Wow...Hmm...I wonder. If I could just...yeah that could work and if it does...' I smiled. 'Time to take action.'

"Alright, let's test it. Whoever wins gets to take me to your boss and gets fame and fortune, while the other stays here or dies. Either way." I shrug nonchalantly.(Means 'doesn't-really-care' or at least in this situation it does.)

They look at me, then each other. At first I thought that I had just dug my own grave. But a look of determination sweeps across them...and then they fought, and man did they fight. They pulled out all the stops. Ninjutsu and Taijutsu. Although Genjutsu seemed to be a little too complicated for them. I smirked at the thought but quickly composed myself.

'No, now is not the time. Now I have to get away.'

I began to slowly back out of the clearing, my eyes never leaving the fight,and ducked behind an oak tree as a kunai was flung my way.

'Ahh...that nearly killed me.' I stared at it a moment longer before getting an idea. 'I should probably pocket it just in case. Never know when a girl's gonna defend herself.'

I peeked around to see it lodged into the tree. I pulled it out and pocketed it. I turned around, back to the tree and walked straight into the bushes, not glancing back at the idiot captors. If I had glanced back I would have seen the two of them drenched in blood and fainting into the soft grass below.

I walked for what seemed like hours till I got to a little stream. I cupped some of the water and drank deeply. It was freezing but I needed it now. I hadn't had anything to drink in days, let alone something to eat. My stomach growled in agreement.

'I need food and soon.'

I looked back at the stream to see a girl with long, tangled brown hair with twigs sticking out of it, big brown eyes, and dirt all over her face and clothes. I nearly didn't recognize the girl from 2 days ago, she was clean and well-kept, not like this wild girl looking back at me.

'Ugh..I need to bathe, wash my clothes and I need to deal with my hair.' I sighed.

I decided that it would probably be a good idea to follow the stream and it would give me a chance to cool my feet. Following the stream got me to a small natural hot spring. Who knew? I stripped myself of my clothing and jumped in. I tried to deal with the dirt on my clothes but my hair was annoying me too much. I worked on that as soon as I realized it was worse than my clothes. I picked at least 30 twigs and leaves out, but I wasn't even close to done.

'This is not good, I've been sitting here since what 2:00am and its dawn. That's it, I give up.'

I walked over to my now only partially dirty clothes, dug through them and grabbed the kunai. I then used the spring as a mirror and cut my hair until it was boy short. It would be easier to manage while running through the forest and I wouldn't need to worry about it getting me caught on anything or by anyone.

'Besides, I don't look half bad. Now, what to do with the hair trimmings?'

I looked around not seeing any way at the moment to dispose of it so I just piled it up near a tree. I then went back to my clothes. I started with my shirt. I grimaced at the grass and dirt stains. My shirt might have been plain but until today it had been well taken care of. It was a plain black T-shirt, nothing special but I liked it. It used to be my brother's so it was a little big, but to me it was perfect. The pants too were good they didn't cling to me and they were light. They weren't attention calling either they were just plain beige pants with a pocket just above the left knee. I used to collect rocks and stick them in there. I would come home weighing 2 pounds heavier. I laughed at the memory before getting back to my clothes. I scrubbed for a while before deciding that they just needed a good soak. I threw them into the spring before throwing on my under clothes which, seeing as they were under my clothes, were un-stained. I then risked a small fire just to burn away the hair trimmings. After that I just threw my cape over top of me and sat watching the sun rise.