I was running as fast as I could. Each passing second my breathing was becoming more rapid and hitched. My sides were becoming numb from the soreness I was feeling. This long strange forest felt like it was enclosing all around me.

I felt a strange ominous vibe surrounding me with each step I took. Was there a way out? I pushed mounds of chakra to my feet vigorously. They're after me! I can't be caught, not today at least. These strange elite bandits have the nerve to attack us?! I felt my eyes well up with tears as I stopped in the middle of this dainty forest.

The vibrant eerie sun glow cascaded over the hills. The trees danced in the brisk wind. The Taiyo clan was always a peaceful clan that was isolated and had lived in a secluded area.

The children were mostly seen learning their rightful duties quite young.

Aquila was always an isolated type. Never wanting to be around anyone. She has an anomalous position in her clan as well which also indicated she is an heir.

Black markings embossed distinctively around her eyes that symbolized the Red Phoenix. Little did she know that the nation's old mythical creature known as ; the Firs Hawk was sealed inside her.

The uprising atmosphere intensified and she knew something was not right at that very moment.

She was too young to understand what it's like to love and hate. To feel what's it like to lose someone close to you.

Upheaving roars of men clashing in the distance. The array of her clansmen defending the women and children as they brandish their swords against their opponents.

The enemy wore visible blue outfits and red attire. But all that went through Aquila's mind was asking over and over; why attack an innocent clan? Did we do something wrong?

Then the scenery struck Aquila's mind witnessing blood splattered on the grounds they stood on. Men falling to their knees. The atrocious aroma scent swarming through the air of blood scattering the dry earth.

Aquila was told to go with the other children and women to get away through an underground passage. But somehow, a strange aphonic voice said in her head to not go with them but to just run and never look back from all the calamity and grief that she grazed upon that day.

Someone was speaking to her telepathically, but she didn't know who it was. Even then, she felt light-headed from running for hours and all of this aggravation swooning around her.

Where am I anyway? My own clan's compound was invaded somehow. But who would ever want to kill off such innocent people like us? We never did anything to them. So why us?

My breathing became more rapid and unstable. I began to walk briskly to where the water stream was, which is just a little further up ahead. I then cradled my injured arm and winced once the infliction made contact with the cold frigid water current. I sighed feeling my eyelids slowly growing tired and heavy. My vision started to fade slowly as my mind felt vertiginous. At any given moment I could pass out unconscious on. What no! I can't pass out in the middle of nowhere! I am losing my consciousness.

I grunted trying to stand on my own two feet but landed in the river roughly. The enemy could finish me off quickly. I could barely move in this shallow water where I am floating like a dead fish. I began to close my eyes and let darkness swoon over my mind.

~.~

"Oi! I found her!" Someone shouted. Huh, what is going on? Why can't I open my eyes? I could feel the presence of dozens of guards and them starting to clamour around me. I couldn't make out what they were saying.

My body felt numb, but I manage to sense myself being lifted and carried against my own will.

My eyes burned in the sunlight as I fluttered my eyes open. I looked around my surroundings and my heart began to panic. Where am I?

"Ah, I see you're awake." A cold harsh tone made my heart stop completely.

"W-Where am I?" I groggily asked squinting my eyes.

The man who stood before me had dark-coloured eyes, as well as dark-coloured hair that was shaved in the back, all framing a gaunt-looking face that was further accentuated by his mouth.

"Well that doesn't matter, does it? You see, I don't want you personally. I want the thing sealed inside of you." His lips curved upwards and my body trembled. Was it fear that struck me?

"What do you mean the thing sealed inside me?" I asked confusedly.

"How wouldn't you know? How can I put it, Aquila-san." He glowered above me making me tremble slightly and had looked more confused by this? Did he know my name? Huh?!

"I couldn't believe that the Taiyo's try to keep you hidden in the dark for the last 10 years about the thing sealed inside of you for all this time. The Fire Hawk which I presume called 'Aiko', I believe the phoenix's name is, has been sealed inside you for about ten years now..." He narrowed his eyes and smirked darkly.

"That is preposterous! No way would my clan seal something as absurd as a phoenix! They're mythical creatures that don't even exist!" I choked out holding back tears that threatened to fall from my glistering eyes. I felt loneliness surround me for some odd reason. I felt nervous and scared at the same time. What are they going to do with me? Kill me off like the rest of my clan?

He huffed, "you definitely remind me of my eldest son who is not even a year older than you. He can be judicious of the following courses of actions, but he shows pride for the clan like you did for yours." He crossed his arms suspiciously as he quirked an eyebrow steadily.

"Well, you want to extract the 'Phoenix' from me and use it for your own will? Am I right?" I frowned and sat up groaning silently from the pain.

"Not exactly..." He smirked darkly as he rose his thin eyebrows upwards. He came a bit closer that made my heart jolt his terrifying this man can get.

His eyes flashed a bright vibrant ludicrous red. I dared myself not to look up at him!

"Look at me!" His demand was atrocious and meticulous. I could feel the tension in the room grow dark and belligerent.

I felt a tight tenacious grip around my slim throat causing the air to stop flowing through me. I then mentally gasped for air trying to breathe. I still kept my eyes glued shut not giving in hastily.

The minute that I reluctantly opened my eyes, I immediately regretted my decision.

My whole body felt numb. Why can't I move? What am I feeling?

He glared vehemently as his grip loosened letting air back into my lungs once again.

I heavily panted as my knees made contact with the floorboards.

I growled looking up at the strange man.

"Seems like that Phoenix is quite stubborn and very adamant..." His glare softens and was towering over me.

"What do you mean?" I asked softly looking up at the man. I was quivering in my place for some odd reason.

"I mean to say that Aiko seems like he is very despondent and isolated. Now I know why you never knew about the seal from the beginning." He answered pulling me up roughly on my feet.

"How can I communicate to him...?" I lost track of words of stupidity. He knitted his brows together and rolled his eyes.

"I don't have time for stupid and deficient questions. You're in the Uchiha compound. No one here will accept you considering you're an outsider. In the meantime, I would think it would be best to have guards around you just in case if that beast or monster lashes out or you try to run from your menacing fate." He retaliated this impetuous decision and motioned two guards into the room.

Oh, why do I have to be stuck here? I started to feel depressed and sorrowful about this idea.

One moment I felt like I was being lifted and dragged across the strange corridors by my arms.

It was no use to thrash around and beg for freedom. I am trapped in this place for good. I can never forgive these egotistical people who killed off my clan.

I was thrown into a dark room harshly condoning the pain I have been through as it is. The door then slammed shut indicating that the men had already left.

What do I do? Would I ever be able to leave this horrid place?

I grabbed the blankets due to the bitter air that filled the room. The room was made of wood and had small graving decorating the place. I then crawled over to the corner of the room and started to tremble in this dark atrocious place.

Slowing but cautiously my eyes given up to the darkness...

~.~

I was woken from the sun miraculously dancing around my room. I mostly spent the night huddled up in the blankets in the corner of the room instead of that barbaric mattress they call a bed.

I was debating whether or not to try an escape due to the lack of guards around. I don't think it would be even worth it...

But why do they need me? Or is it just the Phoenix they want? I pondered in a trail of long speculating thoughts.

The sound of my door being slammed open sensuously making me jerk back and widen my eyes to only meet the gaze of the clan leader. "So you're awake." He said musingly.

I looked down contently and held back my unwanted tears. But it was too late. They were spilling from my eyes.

Why me?

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