Kai: the Ten-Tailed Tiger!
Chapter 1: Late
Sunlight streamed through the thin rice-paper paneled windows as Kaorin woke up with a jolt. Today was the final day of the Chunin Exams, she realized, and she and her twin sister had slept in! "Yame, Yame, wake up!" Kaorin whispered urgently, shaking her sister's shoulder gently.
Ayame's deep green eyes reluctantly opened. "What's wrong, Kai?" she mumbled sleepily.
"We slept in!" Kaorin impatiently explained as she slipped on her purple silk kimono with vibrant orange tiger lilies and tied her dark brown hair into a loose ponytail, letting her chunky bangs fall front of one eye.
Nami groaned and said, "No! Not today! The Raikage will be so mad! Do you think he'll still let us become Chunin?"
"After all my screw-ups, I doubt it," muttered Kaorin."I'm surprised he even let me graduate from the Academy."
Suddenly, Yame laid her hand on Kai's shoulder. "Kai, you know it's not your fault," Ayame said quietly. "Your gift is to blame." For a minute, Ayame and Kaorin looked like almost identical statues, heads bowed, green eyes looking into hazel.
Then, Kaorin snorted and turned around. "Gift? Huh, I'd call it a curse. I'm surprised the villagers don't call me Noroi, for the damage I've done…"
"But you're perfectly normal now," Ayame protested softly.
Kaorin whirled around, fire smoldering in her now amber eyes. "You call this normal?" she snarled, pointing to stripes resembling a tiger's running vertically from the sides of her face. "How about the fact that I have my own parents' blood on my hands?"
Ayame whispered, "Everyone knows it was an accident."
"I don't care if it was an accident or not!" roared Kaorin. "I made us orphans and I can never make it better!" She stalked out of the room swiftly and silently.
"Kai, wait!" Yame called. But it was no use. Kaorin was already outside and far away. Kai's long, lean figure cut through the morning fog easily. Her bare feet made imprints on the dewy grass. People of the Village in the Clouds rarely wore any shoes. It helped them practice moving without a sound over the steep and rocky terrain. After five minutes of running at a quick and steady pace, Kaorin reached the giant wooden gate of Kumogakure. For ninja from outside the Village Hidden in the Clouds, this was no easy task for two main reasons:
The air was thin at the top of the mountain, which made it difficult for newcomers to breathe in the decreased oxygen levels. Also, the fog that permanently shrouded the mountain on which the city of Kumogakure was situated often made visiting ninja get lost. As a result, Kumogakure rarely had to be defended from rival villages or ninja and was quite a peaceful city.
The guards at the gate acknowledged Kaorin with a brief nod. She smiled shyly at them, and they subtly cringed. Kaorin frowned for a second, and then realized that her fangs were probably still exposed after her fury earlier that morning.
The Chunin Exams were being held at the center of the city so that villagers could watch as well as the teachers. So far, Kaorin had won all of her fights. This was her final fight today. Kaorin saw her sensei and ran to greet him.
"Hello, Gaku-kun, I mean Gaku-sensei!" Kaorin corrected herself to show respect, grinning widely. Gaku was like an older brother to Kaorin since he was only one year older than her, and he was the only villager that didn't shun her.
Gaku smiled and said, "Good morning, Kai-chan." He looked around him and frowned, his light green eyes clouding with confusion. "Where is your sister?" he asked. "You two are never separated."
"Well, we had a heated argument this morning," Kai admitted. "My temper got the best of me, so I had to leave." Her head hung low like a beaten dog.
Gaku put his finger under her chin and lifted her face so she looked him directly in the eyes. "Don't be ashamed of running away," Gaku told her. "Until you can fully control the Juubi, running away is the only way to ensure everyone's safety."
"I know, but it makes me feel like….a…a coward," complained Kai quietly.
"Sometimes, the people who run away are the wisest," Gaku said. A smile tugged on the corners of Kaorin's mouth and she finally gave in.
"Thanks, Gaku," she said gratefully. "I understand."
Gaku smiled back and ran a hand through his tousled blond hair. "Anytime, Kai. Where'd you get the nice get-up from?" he said, tugging on the sleeve of Kaorin's purple kimono.
Kai beamed her stunning smile and replied, "You like it? I made it myself."
Gaku's mouth dropped open. "You made this?"
Kaorin slapped her hand to her mouth in mock horror. "Gaku, do you doubt my abilities? Do you honestly think I could afford something like this?"
"You're just so…modest about your talents," Gaku stuttered. "I just can't believe it."
Kai looked around for the Raikage but couldn't spot him anywhere. "Have you seen Hiroshi-sama today? I want to know who I'm fighting today."
"Well, I checked the roster today, and it says you're fighting Bishamon," Gaku reported reluctantly. Kai gritted her teeth together in anticipation, a low growl rumbling in her throat. Bishamon was a cruel boy who had triggered Kaorin's temper many times in the past.
A mocking voice behind Kaorin and Gaku said, "Well, well, Pussy Cat, it seems as if I will be playing cat and mouse with you today."
"Don't worry. Cats hate the taste of filthy rats like you," Kaorin snarled vehemently as she spun around to face 's touch on her shoulder soothed Kaorin slightly, and she began to relax. "Shhh, it's not worth it," Gaku warned her quietly.
"Easy tiger," Bishamon sneered. "Don't have a kitten."
Kaorin crept forward slowly until she was looking down into Bishamon's cold gray eyes. "If I were a shrimp like you, I'd watch out," she advised Bishamon icily, her amber eyes blazing. Pure fear streaked through Bishamon's gray eyes, but was soon concealed by contempt.
"Yeah, right!" Bishamon snorted. "What are you going to do, scratch me?" Kaorin bared her teeth in a snarl. Gaku pushed forward briskly.
"Calm down, both of you," he said sternly. "I'm disappointed in you, especially, Bishamon. You know better than to provoke Kaorin."
Bishamon stared hard at his silk shoes, shame written across his face. Kaorin knew that Bishamon idolized and worshipped Gaku, which was why Gaku was acting so strict. Kai giggled softly at Gaku's act.
"Sorry, Gaku-sama," mumbled Bishamon.
"I don't need your apology," Gaku scolded. "Kaorin is the one that deserves an apology."
Obediently, Bishamon turned to Kai and muttered, "I'm sorry, Kaorin-chan." Kaorin turned away imperiously, her head high in the air. Bishamon walked away sullenly. Once he was gone, Kai and Gaku giggled silently until their sides hurt.
Chapter 2: The Match!
Ayame finally arrived at the center of Kumogakure just as the final round of the Chunin Exams was scheduled to begin. Kaorin and Bishamon were in the center ring, glaring at each other. Before the match started, Gaku hopped into the ring to give her some words of advice. "Don't lose your temper," Gaku advised her seriously. "That's what he's been trying to make you do. The little fool must have a death wish." Kai laughed softly and nodded. "Okay, Gaku-sensei. I will try my hardest!"
Gaku smiled and said, "I know you will. I'll still be proud of you, even if you lose."
Kai bobbed her head. "I won't let you down!"
The gong bearer struck the gong three times. It was time for the match to begin.
"I believe in you," Gaku whispered in Kai's ear, conviction in his voice. Then he made his way out of the ring. Kai's cheeks reddened and she became flustered. She took several deep breaths to become focused again. Bishamon stood across from her and said over-confidently, "Ready to lose, kitty-cat?" Kaorin cracked her knuckles and said, "Ready to get your butt whipped by a girl?"
Bishamon gulped as the thought sank in. Kaorin beamed at him.
Kaorin caught a glimpse of movement in the crowd. Ayame was trying to get her attention. Kai looked over and Ayame mouthed, Good luck. Kaorin looked around at all the spectators of the match. Most people were murmuring to each other about who would win. Kaorin tried hard to let their opinions about her go. Towards the back of the crowd, there were two strangers dressed in black cloaks with red clouds decorating it. Kaorin squinted at them, trying to recognize their faces, but their faces were covered by straw farmer's hats. The starting bell finally rang, and Kaorin tore her gaze from them in order to focus on the match. Kai relaxed all her senses so they'd intensify. A swish of air alerted her to Bishamon's strong roundhouse kick, which she caught and twisted with her left hand and delivered a stinging punch with her right to the side of Bishamon's head. The crowd gasped as Bishamon stumbled backward, clutching the side of his face and massaging his knee. Kaorin knew it was a trick before he began charging at her. Kai focused and concentrated all the chakra in her left hand and pulled it back, so it appeared as if she were attacking with her left hand. A few seconds before Bishamon and Kaorin braced for impact, she switched the chakra to her right hand and thrust out her right hand with all her might into his lower stomach. Bishamon clearly wasn't expecting that. His mouth opened wide, and air came out of it with a loud whoosh. He staggered on his feet, hit the ground with a dull thud, and was unconscious within seconds.
The referee shinobi looked over Bishamon and deemed him unable to continue. Cheers erupted through the crowd, the loudest Ayame and Gaku. Bishamon's sensei, Mirokou, had to carry him out of the ring. After the match was over, Ayame and Gaku congratulated her. Ayame gave her a big hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"You did so well!" she gushed. "That was a really good fight."
Kaorin squirmed under all the unwanted attention. Gaku draped one of his arms across her shoulders. "Nice job, Kai. I'm glad to call you my partner."
Kai blushed slightly at Gaku's compliment. Gaku took Kai's hand and said, "C'mon. I'll treat you to sushi, Kaorin-san." Before Gaku had dragged Kaorin too far, Kaorin called to Ayame, her face flushing, "Ayame, you should come, too. I know you love sushi." Ayame chuckled quietly as she watched Gaku and Kaorin race down the street, their fingers intertwined.