Watching the blue haired youth in front of the awakening crystal Hinata has strange feelings in her heart. Anticipation, nervousness and belligerence. She doesn't know how take these feelings. Does she want to prove herself that she is greater than him or does she want to show him that she has become strong?
Having these feelings towards a youth who hasn't even awakened and has zero combat ability is strange for her. And even if she didn't say it loud she knows that the chance of awakening for Riko is low. Riko has always been the oddball of Akatsuki family. Even his blue hair and clear water blue eyes stands out from the rest of the Akatsuki family who are know for their bright red hair and crimson red eyes.
Hinata knew that even though her mother Karin was mocking Riko earlier she doesn't really mean it. Because she heard her mother say it many times "There is more to that kid than what meets the eye."
Whenever hinata asks what she actually meant karin would reply with a nonchalant answer "who knows" and that's it.
Even Hinata doesn't know why she feels about Riko that way because she knows that Riko isn't special.
Watching Riko countless thoughts fill Hinata's mind.
' Was it from that time? Even though I know that Riko is talentless why do I want want to prove myself to him? This determination to make him realize how strong I am, it may have started at that time 9 years ago.
I went to the hill town of Yamamoto when I was ten years old with my mother. That was when I first saw him. At that time Riko was 7 years old. I was always proud of myself. Everyone acknowledged my talent, as soon as I started learning sword all I heard were praises. My growth speed in combat was really fast that it even surprised my mother who was genius herself. When our parents were catching up with each other I was bored and took Riko to watch the festival. I was mostly at my house and it was my first time seeing the stalls and different kinds of foods, I was really excited. I dragged him along with me wherever I wanted. Riko was really scared and kept nagging me that we should go back. I thought he was such a wimp an ignored him. I was pretty confident in my abilities and seeing my hair and eyes some people were even scared. While we were walking in the street I heard some people talk about an abandoned house and ghosts and I was really curious about it.
Even though Riko kept protesting I was determined and told him to go back if he was scared but he followed me while complaining. But when we went near the house we saw a man killing someone. It was my first time seeing such a scene and it terrified me. Before I came back to my senses the man spotted us and a malicious grin appeared on his face. Seeing the man with only one eye and the blood soaked knife in his hands approaching us I couldn't even move. I was really sacred to even think of anything. My legs gave out and I fell to the ground.
At that time when I thought death was imminent I heard his voice "Run Away". Riko shouted at me and stood in front of me with a stone in his hand. " Don't come near " Riko shouted as he held the stone ready to throw at the man. Seeing this scene the man broke out into laughter and licked the blood on his knife and started running towards us. When he was only a few feet away Riko used his legs to throw soil into his eyes and threw the rock on the man's head and started to bite the man's hand so hard that he released the knife he was holding. The man screamed and started punching Riko's head with his other hand. Riko's face was sollen but he didn't let go. The man kicked him in the gut and Riko fainted and fell on the ground. With an ugly face the man picked up his knife from the ground was raised it to plunge the knife into Riko's throat. I wanted to scream, ask for help, stop him but no words came out of my mouth and my body was frozen with fear.
As I thought everything was over a fire arrow came towards the man. I recogized it. It was my mother's skill. The man started to run away and in a few seconds my mother came to me. Seeing my state and unconscious Riko on the ground she did not chase the man and took us both back. As soon as I saw my mother I started to cry and didn't stop crying the whole day. I let out my tears and emotions that I was too scared to express back then.
Riko was unconscious for two whole days. Watching him on bed I felt pathetic. I was too ashamed of myself.I called myself a genius. I thought I was strong. But I was really useless. I didn't even have the courage to enter his room. It was my fault that he ended up like that. While he was risking his life I was too scared to even move. In the end I got protected by a kid who was three years younger than me. I could not forgive myself. While I put him in danger he saved me risking his own life. Luckily his injuries were not too serious or life threatening.
My mother stayed with him the whole time he was unconscious and Riko's father searched for the one eyed killer. In the end they couldn't find him. After hearing what happened Riko's mother wanted to rush over but my mother assured that she will take care of him.
On the third day in the morning I was still near the door. I couldn't enter the room. I didn't know how to face him because it was all my fault. I knew it very well. Suddenly Riko woke up and shouted "HINATA", seeing my mother near bed he started screaming
" Aunt Karin, hinata is in danger. Help her. That man is going to kill her. Aunt Karin you have to go now or else or else.. "
My mother calmed him down and said that everything was alright and that man has been dealt with and pointed towards me and said that I was fine and told him not to worry. Seeing me at the door a small smile appeared on his lips and he muttered "That's a relief" and fainted again. I was scared and started running towards him. My mother checked his condition and said that he relaxed mentally and just went to sleep. His wounds were mostly healed and he would be normal in a few days.
Hearing that I was relived but then I felt angry. Intense anger filled me. Anger that I couldn't do anything. Anger that I got protected by someone who was weaker than me. I felt really angry at Riko that he was worrying about me in his condition even though I was the one who put him in danger.
At that movement I unknowingly clenched my fist. I promised myself that I would never be weak. I would never show him my pathetic side and always be the one who protects. I declared him my rival.
After Riko recovered I avoided him because of guilt. I didn't know how to face him. But after a few days I thought that I should atleast apologize to him and gathered my courage. But when I approached him, riko, with a bright smile on his face said that my mother used to talk about me a lot and was really excited to meet me but didn't have the chance to say it in during the festival.
As I talked to him,over the days, I slowly opened up to him. He was a nice person and he was easy to talk to.
I didn't get the chance to apologize to him but on the day before we left Yamamoto town, "Next time..., uh, if you were ever in danger I will protect you, so, un,.. , you can count on me", I blurted it out ran away with a red face because I was too embaressed.
After that we kept in touch with each other and because I never really had a friend I was kind of happy.
But after a few years he started talking to me less and started distancing himself from me. I found out from my mother about his lack of talent and I was sad that there was nothing I could do about it. Even when I tried to reach out to him he would avoid me. I know how hard he works and whenever I tried to encourage him it would backfire. It seemed that my words only made him sadder. But he never gave up even though his hardwork wielded no results. That only strengthened my resolve to grow stronger, because if one day we were to fight on on equal grounds I didn't want to look weak and show him that I am not the same person as that day. '