The Beginning of Friendship {Near, Yahiko}

The surroundings of the area were as noisy as ever. of course why wouldn't it be, it was crowed and full of children laughing and screaming at the top of their lungs.  Amongst the children were common citizens walking back and forth buying food, going into bars for drinks, going home or leaving home. This village seemed homely, peaceful not a care in the world. Peace was amongst all the villages yet this one seemed to be the calmest one of all.  From the distance a male could be seen walking, next to him was a tall figure that didn't seem to be wearing clothes from such a large distance. As they past by villagers they would constantly get stared at.  The male with his hands behind his head would sigh then yawn before looking up at the figure who no longer appeared naked, in fact he wasn't naked in the first place, his whole appearance was just white, the only feature of his that wasn't white was his eyes and hair everything else was all white.  The male would continue to look at him before speaking.

"Zetsu, why is it whenever I walk with you, you bring us more attention than I want, all I want to do today is be lazy and walk around the village. But I decide to take you with me and to my misfortune I get stared at.  Probably because it looks like you aren't even wearing clothes.  Honestly Zetsu you are a pain." "I can't help it if people find beauty in plants, that is what I am after all. This desolate village would know nothing of floral so they probably think that I am the greatest thing they have ever see. . ." "Tsk. . .forget I even asked Zetsu, just don't start problems."  The two would continue to walk down the villages path unkown to what may happen today, the day just started, who knows it could be the starting of a new friendship.

Near had been out and about in the village today. As he would sit amongst the crowd of people and watch them spend their money in bulk. It had been a silly act, shopping. Near Had no care for it, all the things he wanted were already in his possession. At least all but one and that needed to be taken by force. Near was in his normal attire as he wore almost nothing but his cloak and a small pair of pants. The people who would notice him sitting next to one of the shops would look at him for a second only to catch his glance and quickly look away. There was one man that would catch the sight of Near. It had been years since he had seen the man. As his eyes would spin and he would unlock yet another of his lost memories. Grabbing his head he would begin to groan.

[Flashback]
Near was a young and sweet little boy, although the things he had suffered were something no one should have went through he had still been happy. He was now 7 years of ages, four years after the death of his father. He was now living in the dark village known as the Underground Village. The village was built of large pillars and a huge cave system that lead to the upper world. It was hard to find and his up in the sky was an artificial sun. It would only last a few hours in the day, the rest of the day was filled with darkness and the faint blue lights provided by the village. Father, the man that took the child and many more in, was on his way back from a mission and the young boy had been right outside their small home. He was playing alone with a kick ball. THe ball had been one of his only toys in this empty world. As this day was one of the first sightings of the man. A man who struck a bell In the heart of the boy. As he would kick the ball it would go flying toward a man with long black hair. he would gasp as he watched it take its course.

[Present]
The male would look around still walking through the land made of sand. He would continue to sigh before he heard someone groan. He would turn around in confusion to see what was going on. He was looking at someone he thought he somewhat recognized. Before long suddenly his eyes would widen before he knew it, he started to get a rush of a memory he once had. He knew that man, many years ago. Oddly enough it was during the time he arrived in the sand village, but he remembered being in another place before the village hidden in the sands. Next to him would be the one called Zetsu, puzzled by the events that cause the young man to grab his head. "What seems to be his problem Yahiko, do you know him?" "Oddly enough I do, back when he was a child. . .and I was younger, well younger in this life at least."  The male would look at the one groaning before he knew it he began to think what be going on in his head.

[Flashback]
It was quiet, dark too a male would be walking bare footed, holding a rod. He seemed to look confused had no idea what was going on. He didn't even seem to know who he was, all he knew was he had to walk and survive. He would be found in an area overcome by darkness, an artificial sun, oddly enough he didn't even know it was fake, he didn't know what the sun was.  He would not know of hunger or thirst, in fact it was like he was an old newborn, the thing was he just randomly woke up. Everything he saw was new to him. The dry throat for thirst of water, new to him. The growling in his stomach, new to him. He knew nothing of these feelings and it probably would take awhile before he could.

It wasn't before long he found himself standing in front of a building. He would just stand there, what was he looking at, the use of eyes. . .that too was new to him. He would suddenly feel something hit him in the leg. Suddenly his eyes would widen, another new thing he felt, he would look down before seeing a ball right next to his leg, he would look around before he saw a little 7 year old boy right there on the ground. He would look confused, the boy was young, this was his first time seeing a child.  He would look down at the ball confused as to what he was supposed to do. The act of kicking, that too was new to him.

The only thing that wasn't new to him for what ever reason was the act of speech. But because he knew not what to say, he would stay quiet but he would just look at the boy staring at him. In his hand was still the rod, something he didn't even know what it was but knew he had to hold onto it no matter what.  Still not saying anything he would just stare, waiting for the child himself to move or act. . .well before he did.  While he stared an awkward noise came from his stomach, it was a growl, again he was new to this. . .he had only woken up recently and just walked forward, where he ended up was within the range of a 7 year old boy for some odd reason would link into his fate later on.

The young boy Near would look up at the man. This had been one of the only people Near had seen other than the other children in the house. Near did not know what to say as he would creep closer to the man. His white hair would slightly glow, it had been the easiest thing to see in the darkness of the village. As he would pick up the ball raising up he would stand at a height no taller then the man's hip. "Uh.. uh..." Near would stutter as he would soon hear the man's stomach growl. Near would turn around and pick up his plate of food. Near had not eaten a bite of it due to his loss of appetite. He would offer it to the man. "You must be hungry sir... here." Near would say.

The confused male would look at the boy. He would look down at the ball again before raising his eyes back at the boy. Suddenly he would notice as the boy would move towards him to pick up the ball.  He would notice the height difference between the two but would continue staring at the boy. He would notice as the boy began to make noise from his lips.  He also began to notice the sound of his stomach growling was known and heard. Watching the boy pick up the food and hand it over to the male would confuse him.  It was his first time seeing food but he felt like this was a nice gesture. He would reach his hands out as if to accept the plate after the boy would speak offering his food.  The male would look again before speaking. "Thank you. . ." What did these words mean, he didn't even know but he felt it was something that was needed to be said.

As he looked at the boy once more before looking at the food, what was he supposed to do? Eating would be new to him, he would just stand there looking at the food.  He would just continue to stare as his stomach would growl louder.  Confused still at why his stomach was making noises he would just continue to stare at the food, the growling however began to be a discomfort to him. Even though his stomach kept growling all he did was stare down at the plate in confusion as to what he was supposed to do.

Near would begin to kick around his ball once more. As he would hear in the background the mans stomach constantly growling. He would turn to the man, picking up his ball so it would not roll away from him and looking at the man with a confused face. As he would walk over to him and point to the food. "Eat mister. itll make it go away." He said as he would take a piece of the sandwich and bite it. As he chewed it he said yum. He would give the man a smile and raise the plate up to the man's face.

The male would continue to look at the boy as he kicked the ball. He then would look at the food again still confused as to what he was supposed to do with it. He would look back up as he watched the boy walk up to him and point to the food. The boy would tell him to eat, but he had no idea what the term eat meant. Suddenly he watched the boy take a bite out the sandwich as he took a piece off. Suddenly he heard the boy say yum. He would then look at the boy who would smile as he raised the plate up to him. He would pick up the sandwich himself before biting into it himself. As he began to mimic the movements the boy had. He would then even mimic the wording "Yum. . ."He would continue biting into the sandwich before completely consuming it. He would stare for a while before he felt the taste run into his mouth. It was delectable, it was new to him. He wanted more. He would look at the boy before looking at the empty plate.

Near would watch as the man began to eat the rest of the sandwich. It put a small smile on his face as he would slightly jump for joy. He would say yay constantly and then he would stop. Running to the side of the orphanage he would pick up a wooden sword and begin to attack the dummy that stood next to them. It was time for training, one of the things he did before the sun reappeared. He would then stop and look toward the man. He forgot his manors for a second. As he would slightly skip to the man and put out a hand. "M-my..." He would stutter as he had an identity crisis. Near had no idea who he was as he had been fighting with demons since birth. "My name is shinigai.... who are you?" he says.

The male would simply look at the boy as he still wish he had more of that sandwich but he dare not ask. He would notice the boy jumping up and down in glee constantly shouting in a happy manor. Suddenly he would watch the boy run over picking up a wooden sword, his eyes would widen at this point it was at the weapon, as he looked at the weapon his hand clenched on the rod would suddenly tighten. He didn't know why but the weapon triggered something in him, a thirst for attacking, suddenly his eyes would fade back to normal as he noticed the young boy stopping with the training. Watching the boy walk towards him again he would look with confusion as the boy held out his hands. His head would cock to the side as the boy would stutter before finally saying his name. The male would look at him before thinking himself, his name? He had to have a name right? What was his name. . .he would think over and over again. Then he would remember bits and pieces of things he had seen on his travels to this strange village. He heard a villager from another village that he passed by say there was a ninja named Yahiko missing. . . Surely if that ninja never existed anymore no one would mind if he stole it's name yeah?

The male would look at him before opening his mouth, he would cock his head to the right side this time as he spoke. "Yahiko. . ." He would look around, in the back of his head the words Judal would come to him in an instant. "Yahiko. . .Judal" He would look at the hand the boy held up as he too would raise his hand not exactly sure what to do with the communication through hands, still his other held the rod of gold with a rather large red jewel on top of it.

Near would laugh a little and then he would look toward the rod at the man had in his hand. It was amazing. The jewel on the end would be the most interesting thing. "oooooo." He would say as he would reach for it. He wanted to touch the huge red jewel. It was shining even in the darkness of the night. "It... so bright.." Near would say as he would smile at the man. His small teeth would all be shown, one had been missing but it would grow back soon. Or that had been what father had said. "I want one too, sir."

The male would look at the boy as he saw him reach for the red jewel. His eyes would widen, something told him not to let him touch the weapon. It wasn't because he was selfish but he felt like only he could touch it without getting hurt but he would ignore the thoughts in his head that told him no. He would notice that the weapon seemed to illuminate the night sky, it was odd that it was so dark in this village, no wonder why the boy wanted it. He would look at the boy smile with all his teeth but one showing. He would look at the boy with a cocked head before smiling back or what he thought was smiling. He was just mimicking the boy he really had no idea as to what he was doing. He would think for a second, then the boy would say he would want one too. He would then think again he would look at the boy before coming to the conclusion that handing him the weapon wouldn't be too bad right? "Would you like to. . .hold it?"

Something would scream in his head yelling no!

Near would begin to reach for the jewel. It was amazing and he would get so close it would only take an inch to touch it. Then suddenly a butterfly would fly by. Near found this more interesting then the weapon at this point. As he turned away and began to run around in circles trying to catch it. As he giggled and jumped around he would seem to have the time of his life. Then another man would appear. This tall and bulky man with long dark red hair would stand before Near. Near would stop and create a big smile. As he would run to this man and yell. "Father! !!!" jumping toward him he would be caught by the man and he would sit the boy on his shoulder. Father was very shy and did not talk to strangers who were older than 18. "That man there is Yahiko. He's really nice say hi, yahiko." NEAR would say with a smile.

The male would stand there as he let the boy reach for the jewel, suddenly he caught glimpse of a butterfly. Suddenly his mind would sigh in relief as the boy found the butterfly more interesting. That was a close one. . .Was he trying to catch the butterfly? Why? He would just stare intently at the boy cocking his head to the side as he watched the boy continuously trying to catch the butterfly as well as jump for joy as he done so. He looked so innocent, was this what it was like to be a child? Have no worries or cares in the world, it looked. . .nice. Suddenly he caught glimpse of a male with dark red hair standing before the boy. Who was he? Was he like the boy? Related somehow? They didn't look similar, who was he? Suddenly he watched the boy stop what he was doing and run to the man. 'Father'. . .That man was his father? But he looked no more than a young man? Certainly had no distinguishable appearances that would tie the two together. . .'That man is Yahiko. He's really nice say hi yahiko'. . .Say hi? He would open up his mouth mimicking what the boy told him to do "Hi Yahiko. . ."

Near would giggle a little as he heard Yahiko repeat what he had said. "Youre silly Yahiko. This is the man who saved me from death... All the children at the orphanage call him Father, because he cares for us all as my daddy did." Near would continue to smile as he sat on the man's shoulder. His feet swinging back and forth. The time of his life was only in his younger ages. This day had been the last day Near felt happiness, the last day he had met a friend without having to kill them. Father would place his hand on his chest and slightly bow as Near would hold on. "Yahiko it is nice to meet you but me and Shinigai must be going soon. Maybe we will see you again.. be safe. " Father would say as he turned around and left the area. Near would turn around and wave at the man, "Bye sir!!!"

Near would return to the present as he would release his head. Standing up he would storm off. He did not want to see this man. He did not want to interact with the past, because he feared he would ruin his future. As he would push people out of the way he would turn and look back at the man. He was far off and that was best for the both of them. Gone in the crowd of people. But he knew it had to of been fate that brought them back together again.

[Exit]