True to its name, the Village Hidden in the Rain had the stormiest sky Sakura had ever seen. The village rose out of the barren rock bed like a great mechanical beast, all steel towers and pipes and electrical wires. Its coloring seemed to imitate the sky above it: both a cold gray.

When Sakura reached its borders, it was raining heavily.

That's odd ( Read more... )

Author's Note So I'm kind of impatient to get this thing up, and am considering bumping up the update schedule to twice a week, maybe Tues and Sat. Forgive me while I tweak the timing for a couple chapters, soon the updates should be regular as clockwork. Anyway, stop reading this, go read the good part!

CONTAGIOUS

Chapter Two: Not What It Looks Like

( Read more... )

"Ino-pig!"

Sakura rapped on the door again, shifting the grocery bag onto her hip.

"Hey, open up! I've got soup and stuff for you!"

"Who is it?" a muffled voice called from inside the little apartment.

"It's Sakura of course! Who else calls you 'pig' with such affection?"

The door cracked open, revealing Ino's smiling face.

"Hi, Sakura! How are you?"

( Read more... )

CHAPTER ONE: SMILE

Two years earlier...

"Something weird is going on."

Sakura lifted her heavy head from the table, peering through half-lidded eyes. "Huh?" she articulated thickly.

"Good lord, somebody get this girl some coffee," a bossy voice commanded.

A moment later a steaming mug appeared in front of Sakura's face. "Here you are, senpai," a ( Read more... )

CHAPTER 0: PRELUDE"Another shochu, please ( Read more... )