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UNDER THE MOONLIGHT

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[attr="class","nikki109"]It was the dark of night, when the moon hung high, bordered by a couple of illuminating stars. The village was quiet, and still, almost too quiet. The night was one of the favorite times of day for most people as there were very few people whom would walk the usually busy streets of Ame. It was because of the quiet night that many shinobi would choose to train. And so, that was what Shizuka usually did as well, preferring the stillness and the peacefulness.[break] [break]

But today was somewhat different. The girl was not out to train. She stepped out into the big street that led to the village gates, streaks of tears adorning her otherwise beautiful face as she walked. She could hear the sound of her footsteps quite audibly against the still air. The young shinobi walked on, brushing the tears from her face. This was the day that she had not wanted to come, had dreaded for its arrival. The young girl continued to walk down the main street, approaching the village gates. Her mind was completely blank and for the first time, she noted the coldness of the air that had otherwise been futile to her in any other occasion. Shizuka did not know what she was going to do nor where she was going to go, but she knew that she MUST leave Ame at once.[break] [break]

The girl could see the village gates in the distance, with the guards who usually stood by standing guard. Shizuka shifted the bundle of clothing that she had strapped on her shoulder and advanced forward. As she passed through the gates of the village, she nodded her head at the two guards but refrained from keeping eye contact. She swiftly passed through the gates. Once she was a safe distance away from it, she stopped, looking at the route that she was going to take. There were two available options. There was either the route that led to the riverbanks which was the route taken by many shinobi when they went on missions. Then there was the other route which led to the Ame capital.[break] [break]

She decided to take the first route, which would lead her to the riverbanks. Since she wanted to leave Ame, go as far away from it as possible, Shizuka needed to get away and she was going to have to take the water route. The girl ran towards the riverbank, in search of someone who could take her away. Ever since she knew that Hiroki was leaving her for someone else, she did not care where she would end up. As she reached the waters and looked at the dark waters, the girl was devastated to note that there were no sailors who would be able to take her away. And so, she would have to wait for someone, ANYONE who could do her such a favor. Traveling by herself would be difficult, but there was not much choice, at least not in her current emotional state. A tear again cascaded down her face as she looked hopelessly out to the sea. [break] [break]

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