Prologue: Feathers

As if the past few weeks hadn't been hard enough, what with her aunt's passing, now Mizuki was having "those" dreams again.

Once again, she found herself standing alone in a strange room, wearing only a long silk robe: her hands dripping with blood. Suddenly, though, by now, it had become repetitive, the oak double doors burst open with a bang- several armed men barging in. She was dragged from the room, the building she was in, which was out of focus, and thrown into a wagon. "Prepare to face the consequences of your actions you monster!" spat the voice of one of her captors. Immediately following that statement a blow was struck across her face, and she was blind folded. A low growl escaped her lips, as she struggled against her shackles- only to be punched in the stomach. 'What has happened to my strength?!' she thought angrily, before a venomous voice, different from the one before, broke into her thoughts. "It's useless, bitch, they're made of silver. You can't break silver can you, you monstrosity?!" What seemed like minutes later, she was dragged from the wagon and tied to a wooden beam. Her blind fold, and gag, were removed, allowing her to see her captors. There were many humans surrounding her, she could smell the blood in their veins. Close by, however, she also smelled four of her kind.

Vampires.

Her executioner, at least she assumed him to be such- considering her... reputation, looked her dead in the eyes, his emerald eyes locked on her crimson ones, and asked her, "Any ast words before you meet the pyre wench?" She laughed at him cruelly, before spitting her blood onto him. "Congratulations, on the arrival of your new grandson... I do so hope he's healthy..."she said. The man, furious and frightened by her words, threw his torch to the ground, igniting the dried hay at her feet.

In an instant, the dried shrubbery caught, and the bright flames sprang into life- she was swiftly the fire began to lick at her skin, scorching the exposed flesh, and burning the fine satiny cover, Toshingaru Mizuki started awake from her nightmare.

A cold sweat lingered on her body, soaking her bed sheets, and chilling her, despite the temperate night air. The stress generated over the past month truly was catching up with her, wether she liked it or not. It was almost a dream, perhaps nightmare is a better term of phrase to use. The summer was not particularly easy on Mizuki, what with it being her last before college, but it only got worse four weeks ago, when she went to tell her aunt Koto she was headed to the store- only to find her aunt dead in the small bed room.

When the paramedics arrived, they determined she had died from a simple heart attack. Simple though the cause was, it completely shattered Mizuki. She went into a state of sheer depression, locking herself in her room. For nine days she stayed there, until finally she left the confines of the apartment she and her aunt had shared , for the funeral. Thankfully Koto had had enough sense to have all her funeral arrangements in order should the worst happen. Considering her family's history, that was a very good thing.

Mizuki, at the funeral, was completely emotionless, void of any life. She was used to it, however, since it wasn't the first time a loved one had died- but that's for later.

Koto had made sure that her attorney, a close friend, left every thing to Mizuki in her will. Most would consider it strange for a woman of thirty two to have a will and funeral arrangements set out, but not in this case. Koto had been fighting breast cancer for eight years- and seemed to be winning, then the heart attack.

Shortly after the funeral, the moving vans arrived to take hers, and her aunt's things from their old apartment to the old family home in Konohagakure, on Friday, which Koto had inherited from her deceased parents upon her sister's death. Mizuki followed behind them and, after they finished storing things, went to set up. It took her all of Friday evening, Saturday, and half of Sunday, but she was finally finished, the whole time she felt like she was under surveillance or something.

Thank Kami she'd had enough sense to get her paper work for school in a few weeks ago.

Considering her lack of family, Mizuki put her stuff in the master bed room, which she and her aunt had redecorated a few years back. Once the walls had been a dreary pale green, now were a deep maroon, almost blood red. An intricate thorny rose mural was scrawled on the wall nearest the large bay doors that lead out onto the spacious balcony. Her wrought iron, four poster bed was farthest from the windows, and door. A couple of red and black sheer sheets draped over the tops creating a canopy effect. Opposite the bed was a simple dark wood desk, her lap top, and printer already set up- though she had no one she had to keep in touch with any more.

Back in Moon country Mizuki had had very few, if any, friends. This was, she assumed, because of her upbringing, having bee raised by her sickly aunt.

With an exasperated sigh Mizuki looked over to her bed side table, groaning loudly when she saw the time. 5:56 a.m. Putting on an old robe, Mizuki went to the balcony door, and stepped out side. Moon gazing had always made her feel better before- why shouldn't it now? With a hopeful smile she looked into the sky- expecting at least a crescent moon- only to be sorely disappointed. The moon was no where in sight, and there were no clouds to obstruct it. 'Damn it!' she thought. Forgoing her ill fortune, Mizuki decided to star gaze instead. She was content for a few minutes before the strange sound of a light breeze ran through the large garden below her. Her senses were assaulted with the strong perfume of her grand mother's roses, and she closed her eyes. 'Hmh, even after Obaa-chan's death, they continue to live' she thought happily.

Too content with the beautiful fragrance, Mizuki was unaware of the strange abborition occurring around her. Sleek, shiny , black raven's feathers were floating downwards from oblivion- one of them touched her arm, her eyes snapped open. Immediately she realized that a cryptic cloud cover had obstructed the sky, making it black as pitch. The woods near her home had fallen utterly, completely... deathly silent. For strange reasons that she couldn't fathom Mizuki suddenly felt as if she was being smothered by a pillow, 'absurd' she thought, people couldn't be smothered while standing alone, and up right on their balcony in the middle of the night. Her eye lids began to droop, her arms hung limp at her sides, and she could barely stand.

Just as she was about to fall to the ground, a pair of strong ivory colored hands grabbed her under her arms, lifting her like an adult would a small child. The dark figure simrked, a triumphant look donning his morbidly handsome features. Using his left arm, the man held Mizuki closely to his side, while he stroked her face with his other hand. "So, I was correct," he spoke aloud in a sultry baritone, "you are her new host. Hmhm, the likeness is uncanny..." Lost in his thoughts the figure absentmindedly caressed her throat, sending waves of desire and... thirst through his body, causing his crimson eyes burn.

With a resigned sigh, he took Mizuki back into her room, laid her on her bed, and exited through the balcony doors. 'Sleep well, Mizuki-chan, soon you'll dream of blood once more...'

At 6:00 on the dot, Mizuki's alarm clock went off, waking her from her distressed slumber, with a gasp. Allowing her breathing to regulate itself she got up, changed into a tee-shirt and some sweats, snatched up her I-pod, and went for a routine walk, attempting to calm her nerves. After all she was starting her senior year of highschool in a village she hadn't lived in for over a decade, without the emotional support of her family, and, with her dismal luck, people would gawk at her like she was some kind of freak show- just for being new in town.

As she rounded the corner, down the street, she began to ponder over her first day at Senju Academy, the local highschool. Its population had been 217, but was now 218, including herself.

Thirty minutes later Mizuki returned to her home, exhausted, but with a clear head. Sighing to herself she removed her shoes, socks, and sweat pants before heading to the bathroom for a shower. She, after having removed the rest of her clothes, turned on the water, turning it to her preferred temperature, and stepped in. With a soft moan, Mizuki removed her scrunchie from her hair, and let the hot water flow down her body. The warm water drenched her ,dark, chocolate colored hair making it nearly black. Content with her higenic routines copleted, Mizuki grabbed a towel from the rack, wrapped it around her voluptuous form, and stepped out of the shower.

Once her hair was mostly dry, Mizuki set out her school uniform: a black pleated skirt with a white spiraling vine on the hem, a blazer with the same pattern and coloring, and a white short sleeve button down oxford.

'Not much for individuality, are they?' she thought sarcastically to herself. "Oh well, don't have time to complain now." she said as she grabbed her back pack, all supplies already in toe, and headed fot her grand father's old, mint green, 55' Shelby Mustang. Small tears stung the rims of her eyes when she recalled her trip to Konoha, but she pushed them back in a effort to remain calm. With a sigh she started the car, and began the drive to school.

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Mmmkay, I know it's short, and I just edited it, I don't like the way the sight messes with me, it's annoying. Any way, I'm going to keep going with this so please reveiw, and don't worry Naruto and the gang'll show up, quite soon actually, just be patient. It has a rather interesting story line, once I can get the damned thing to work for me, and I hope you'll all like it. Much love!