Rock Bottom

It was settled. He hated work. He hated water. He hated everything.

Less than an hour into a damn mission and he'd been caught in a whirlpool, knocked unconscious, separated from his friends and washed up on some rocky outcrop that left a huge gash on his aching ribs. Somewhere along that wonderful ride, he'd lost his weapon pouch and re-breather, and now he was wandering around, lost and freezing. At least the water from his jumpsuit had dried off.

First order of business in his mind was to find a village. Size or kind didn't matter. He just needed somewhere he could sleep and eat. If he could make it to one before keeling over, that was. Too cold, too wet, too tired, hungry, thirsty, in pain...take another step. Another, and another, keep going.

And then he caught his foot and went pitching forward. The whole world seemed to blur as he went tumbling down an outcrop. His foot didn't want to move with him and there was an ungodly wrench, and the next thing he knew he was on his back, the air knocked out of him. Air and consciousness, both gone.

The first thing he realised when he came to was the warmth around him. There was a thick smell of incense and stew, which clashed horribly in the air, the kind of disgusting mix liable to make a weaker-stomached man lose his lunch. He was wrapped in thick blankets, the fleece scratching his skin. Were his clothes...?

Oboro let his eyes flicker open, finding himself in a plain wood cabin. A fireplace was beside him, flames burning away merrily.
"You're awake!" Exclaimed a cheerful and relieved voice. He turned to the voice, taking in the appearance of the redhead crouched beside him. Frowning, he sat up, gripping the blankets to ensure they hid his chest.
"Uh...yeah...I woke up..." He craned his neck to look at his ankle. Bound haphazardly to what looked like a tanto. Pains were still grating his bones, but at least she had tried to treat him.

Suddenly, the girl was on her feet, tending to the stew and getting some water together for the strange boy to drink. "I found you just a five minute walk away. I've sent for a doctor, you were in pretty bad shape, but the worst injury I found was your leg."
"Lucky." He breathed as she set some food and water down beside him. It was gone in seconds, and the girl gave a slight giggle. A giggle! She would have time to be painfully embarrassed by that later.
"My name's Sasame, by the way." She mumbled shyly. She was sat before an attractive, naked boy. She couldn't help but be a little shy and a little embarrassed.
"Oboro." He replied with a slight nod. "How did I...?"
"Your stuff's being washed, if you're wondering." A slight blush crossed her cheeks. "I, um, didn't want you to get hypothermia...sorry..."
"It's fine." He answered without thinking.
It's fine? Seriously? This girl stripped you and you just told her 'it's fine'. You're stupid.
"Did you find anyone else?" He asked after a moment.
"Did you have friends?" Sasame asked, hands flying to her mouth.
"I got separated from them ages ago." He explained, shrugging. "Hopefully they'll have had more luck than me. I'll see how they are when I get back home."
She nodded. "You're not from around here, are you?"
"Where am I?"
"The Sound village."
Silence. The name seemed familiar to him. There had been students from around there at the Chunin exams, hadn't there? "I'm from the Rain Village." He told her after she gave him a questioning look. Thinking about it, he must have walked a long way to get from those damn islands to the Sound land. Further more, to get back to Amegakure, he would have to either trek around the Fire country or cut through Konoha. Neither was a particularly appetising prospect. He'd certainly washed up somewhere unlucky.

It could be worse. Said a little voice in his head. He internally snapped at it to shut up. Looking back to Sasame, he found she looked undoubtedly concerned.
"Maybe you should get going as soon as possible." She mused, thinking it over.
"I think until I know exactly what I'm doing and where I'm going, I should stay somewhere stable."
"Well, we'll see what the doctor says about your leg and then get you home, yeah?"
Oboro had to admit he wanted nothing more than to go home right there and then. Mother and father would worry about him, especially if Kagari and Mubi managed to make it back and cheerfully reported his unfortunate disappearance.
"Thank you for the help, Sasame-chan."
Chan? Oboro, you idiot, you hardly know her. What are you, five?
She blushed slightly and turned away. "I'll go get your clothes ready for after the doctor's been."
He nodded. "Thank you." Did he normally act that stupid? Maybe it was the fact he'd been injured and sick. Maybe it was the fact that all the girls in Amegakure looked weird to him and forever acted like they had a rod shoved up their asses. Maybe he just wasn't used to a girl his age treating him so kindly. Whatever it was, part of him wanted the doctor to tell him he had to stay here a little longer.