Snow falls, sprinkling down onto the pine forest, crunching footsteps along with chatting. A beautiful tall gorgeous blond with long violet coat, black boots, scarf, and a beanie. While next to her was a pink haired with maroon coat that had a furry hood, brown boots, and earmuffs along with beanie.
"Brr... why do we have to go?! It's freezing out here." The blond, known as Ino Yamanaka, complained. The pinkette huffed out.
"Tell me about it." Pinkette, known as Sakura Yamanaka. The two fell in love when they were 18. It had happened so quickly. They were friends and then the next thing they know, their married.
Ino was the first to confess. Which completely made Sakura lose braincells for a moment. But it had worked out. They were happy. It was a healthy relationship.
Ino blew warm breaths onto her shivering hands. Her nose and ears had a rose tint. Ino shivered once again. She hated winter. Missions during winter was always a pain to do. It makes travel longer, fighting difficult, surviving was really difficult if you didn't bring enough food. It was safe to say that no shinobis enjoyed winter.
"It seems like the temperature has dropped down today..." Sakura rubbed her arms. Ino stared scowly.
"No shit." Ino muttered. Sakura sighed.
"Hold on. I need to check the map." Sakura stopped in her track to get her backpack and search for map. In the meantime, Ino was just looking around. As much as she hated winter, it did look beautiful.
Till something caught her eyes. There was a strange lump in the snow behind a bush. Out of curiosity, Ino went to go inspect.
"Alrighty we should be clo- Hey, What are you doing?" Sakura hissed. She then heard Ino gasp, making her rush toward her, already by her side.
Ino fell to her knees to pick up something. When Sakura got a better look, her eyes widen. It was a child. Probably around 4 or 5 years old. It had brown hair that reached to its neck. It barely has any clothes. Tanktop and shorts. That's it. This child was on the verge of death. All Ino can hear is its shallow breathing. Barely there. Hypothermia. Sakura immediately got to her knees.
"Give me her!" Sakura ordered. Ino nodded, giving the dying kid to Sakura. Ino reached to her backpack to get blankets out and had helped Sakura wrap the child up.
The child looked so pale and weak. It broke Ino's heart. Sakura checked for a pulse. There was barely any. She began to preform a Child CPR, pressing into her chest.
"Come on... stay with me..." Sakura mumbled. Ino knows what it's like to be a doctor. It's wonderful but horrible at the same time.
You get to watch people smile and recover. You get to watch people die. You get to watch blood pour out of them.
But Sakura and Ino agreed on one thing. The worst thing about being a doctor was witnessing a child die. Their short lives taken away. That was always the most heartbreaking moment. Ino prayed that she wouldn't see that today.
Till the child took in a large inhale from her mouth. She's alive, for now. Sakura breathed onto her neck. Trying her best to warm her up.
"You're gonna be okay..." Sakura whispered. She stood up and looked at Ino, as if they read each other's mind, they agreed and started to run towards the nearest town.
Ino got them an inn since there wasn't a hospital for some reason. There was a fireplace which was perfect. Ino started it for the kud. The first thing Sakura did was taking out all of her blankets and layed the child by the fireplace. She removed all clothings and then laid blanket on her.
The kid had let out a weak cry.
"Ino, stay with her, I'll be right back." Sakura said before disappearing. Ino sat down and watched the kid. She then noticed small movements. Which was good, meaning she's slowly recovering.
Ino wanted to know the story behind this. What had happened? Why was there a child outside almost naked in the deadly cold winter?
Ino placed her hands on the child's warm forehead. Closing her eyes, she entered her mind.
Beginning to search through her memories.
"Mah! Mah!" Ino looked through the child's perspective.
The tired weak woman smiled at her. She had taken the child into her arms. From what Ino can see, it seems like these two are homeless.
Ino time skips.
"GIVE BACK MY DAUGHTER!!!"
"MAA!!!"
"ENKI!!!!"
So her name is Enki... what an interesting name.
Enki was being taken away while her mother was being held back. From the corner of her eye, Ino saw Enki's mother was murdered. Enki was being sold off, but she had bitten the seller's hand and ran off.
To only get lost in the forest. Enki shivered. Shaking so much. It was so cold. Her barefoot was so numb. Enki cried, and cried, and cried. Wanting her mother. Wanting to feel her comfort and warmth.
Ino exit out of Enki's memories to only cry. Who could do such thing? Ino placed her palm against her eyes, wiping her tears.
"Damnit..." Ino whispered at herself. She comforted the child by petting her.
"It's gonna be okay..." Ino said. Soon enough, Sakura returns with a bag full of children winter clothing, hot bottles, and some canned chicken soup.
"How is she doi- H-Honey?" Sakura saw that Ino was crying. Sakura had feared that the child died. She sat down by her wife.
"I-I looked into her memories... her name is Enki. She was taken away from her mother to be sold. Enki escaped to only suffer in the snow. I... I saw her mother being murdered... I can't imagine, how traumatized she is." Ino sniffed along with sobs. Sakura places her arms around Ino's waist and pulled her into a quick hug before getting the hot bottle ready.
"By tomorrow, if everything goes well, she should be well enough to speak or at least be awake." Sakura said as she wrapped the bottles with towels before placing it on Enki's neck.
Enki's face wasn't so pale anymore. The blood returned to her face. She doesn't look uncomfortable. Just tired. Ino took in a deep breath. It was going to be fine. It has to.
Enki made a soft noise. Her body shifted a tiny bit, before finally, her eyes opens. She doesn't recognize the area and started to cry out of panic and fear after sitting up. Waking up the married couple. It was like 4 am in the morning. Ino got up to sit by the child. When she was sleeping, Sakura gave the child new clothes.
"Hey... hey... its okay..." Ino comforted. Enki saw Ino and froze. Ino furrowed her eyebrows.
"Trust issues..."
Sakura turned on the lamp to join Ino. The kid had a bright yellow green ish eyes. They were gorgeous.
"Enki... its okay." Ino said. Enki heard her name, and calmed down, but she was still unsure about these new people.
"How are you feeling?" Sakura questioned with a smile on her face. Enki shifts back a bit. Holding the blanket up to her mouth.
Ino lend out her hand. Wanting to show Enki she and Sakura are not threats.
Enki was afraid that she would be taken away again. She shook her head. Avoiding eye contact with Sakura and Ino.
"Ino... let's try again when it's daytime."
"I'm going to sleep next to her." Ino said as she took her pillows and blankets to join Enki. Staying a feet away to not frighten the child. Sakura decided to join Ino. They both soon fell asleep. Leaving Enki somewhat curious. Out of her desire for wanting someone to love her, Enki laid right up against Ino's back and fell asleep.
Enki stares at the two adults. She had gobbled up soup and finished it all. So she's full. Enki was no longer cold. She's quite warm now.
"I think we should. This mission isn't worth the risk. Let's leave now and hopefully we can return home before sunset." Sakura said. Ino nodded. Sakura packed up everything while Ino crouch down by Enki.
"We are going to go home. Can I help you put on winter coat?" Ino questioned. Enki is quiet. Now that Ino thinks about it, all she heard Enki say was Mama. Can she not speak but that?
Ino got closer to Enki to help her get her coat on but that completely freaked her out and she started crying.
Ino didn't want to be an asshole but she forced Enki and got her winter gear on. Enki cried so much when Ino picked her up. She had a tantrum.
"Good grief..." Ino mumbled as she's being kicked and clawed by Enki. God kid's nails were always the worst. Her bangs were being pulled.
It was like that on the travel too. Enki was just. Not having it. She wanted to be put down. She wanted nothing to do with the couple. She wanted her mother.
Halfway through the travel, Enki had cried to sleep. Giving Ino a rest.
"Kids are hard to deal with." Sakura said. Ino muttered something.
Sakura remembers when she tried to give a flu shot to a kid but it then bit her fingers. Hard.
Many kids kicked her, slapped, bit, and scratched. It was such a pain. They have the worst tantrum.
"S...sorry..."
"Huh?"
Ino looked at Enki. She's awake.
"I'm sorry..." Enki wiped her nose with her arm. Ino smiled. "It's okay."
"A-Are you going to be my new mom...?"
"E-Eh?! Nani?!" Ino exclaimed. Sakura heard this and stared at Enki. Ino felt bad. She didn't want to say no but she didn't want to say yes and have her lose hope.
"Who knows." Sakura answered. Enki hummed. Rested her head against Ino's shoulder.
"Where is mommy?"
Ino and Sakura flinched. "Well uh... she's... up there." Ino pointed at the sky. Enki stared at the clouds.
"Up... there? Why?"
"Because she's an angel. All happy there."
"Is mommy not happy with me?"
"Never! She's very happy that you exist. You were the joy of her life. You made her very happy." Ino said. She didn't know their relationship but she had to be positive about it. Enki gazes at the sky.
"Finally...!" Ino said. Sakura chuckled. Enki has never seen so many people. She hid her face up against Ino's shoulder.
"Eh? You're back. Early."
It was Ino's teammate, Shikamaru. He had noticed the kid and stared at Ino for answers.
"We found her suffering from hypothermia." Ino said.
(WORK IN PROGRESS)