Kiyoshi threw herself onto the floor and sat half asleep with her long brown hair hanging from an undone ponytail. It was about 10 in the morning, and she still wasn't ready to open her beautiful blue eyes. The night earlier, she had argued with Sasuke a bit and then passed out screaming and crying into her pillow. A lot of people wouldn't understand her tears. But how she hated Sasuke. She didn't want to feel what she did. She honestly, truly, was deeply in love with that disdain boy. And she hated it, she just wished she could hate him half as much as she hated herself, before he hurt her, or she hurt herself. This love was pure suicide. And it was slowly killing her. Kiyoshi slowly rose to her feet, and took a few precious moments to gain her balance, and then slowly paced out into the kitchen of the small hut. Keiko, Naruto, Hinata, Neji, Sasuke and Kiyoshi were staying in this small pigsty of a hut, in the middle of nowhere, as some sort of training. It had been two weeks already, and she already wanted to give up for all the wrong reasons. The kitchen was a mess. There was a broken cup on the floor, empty instant ramen bowls all over the counters. Kiyoshi tip toed over the glass and placed her feet in front of a cupboard, and took out some breakfast cereal. Pouring milk in her bowl, she realized Sasuke was asleep on the futon. He was probably waiting for her to come wake him up and tell him she loved him, but like every other morning, she resisted the urge.
"Kiyoshi!" Keiko yelled grabbing Kiyoshi's shoulders from behind, nearly causing Kiyoshi to drop the milk.
"Be quiet Keiko! If you wake him up, we'll have to talk."
"Oh don't be so stupid. You should stop lying to yourself and give in."
"That's like telling me to go jump off a cliff." Kiyoshi rolled her eyes and began on her cereal, "This, is better then those lips. He's poison."
"No, he's sexy. You're a stubborn idiot." Keiko laughed and walked out the hut with her pajamas on. Keiko and Kiyoshi had been best friends immediately since they were grouped together. They argued more then they had normal conversations, but it was all okay. Because the two of them were just like that. Kiyoshi gulped down the last of her cereal, (amazing how fast she eats isn't it?) and sunk down to the floor. She was so confused. She honestly didn't know what to do. But she knew she shouldn't sulk. She had to get ready for the day, and go fishing in the lake for tonight's dinner. Kiyoshi ran into her room and slipped on a light blue tank and her many arms bands, then her oh so famous leather belly jacket. Noticed she couldn't go out in her shorts, she put on some black sweatpants and equipped her black spring studded belt with some kunai and shurikun. With her chin up, she started her way out the room, checking the hallway first. When the coast was clear she continued. Sasuke was thankfully still asleep and she ran the rest of the way out to the lake. Thankfully it was sunny out, and the water was warm. Kiyoshi focused her chakra and gliding along the water to the center of the lake. She took a moment to take in the beauty of the environment she was surrounded by, before she took her hand, and swung a blast of her own chakra into the water making a slit through a small part of the lake for a few minutes, shooting about a dozen fish from the bottom of the lake. Running rapidly past the slit Kiyoshi grabbed 5 fish and flung them to the beach. That's when she noticed Neji. He was peacefully sitting in a tree his eyes locked on her. As her eyes met his he turned his head and she almost lost concentration. Quickly gaining her balance the sped up over to her fish.
"This should be good!" she said out loud, proud of her accomplishments.
"Next time you should throw a kunai out instead of wasting your energy. You might catch more fish that way too." Neji butt in making his way over to her side.
"Well I was trying to have fun and get some exercise." Kiyoshi stuck her tongue out and picked up the fish by the tails. "I have my own technique take it or leave it." Kiyoshi laughed. Neji scanned her and then took another step towards her.
"I'd love to take it but…" Neji stopped himself and Kiyoshi turned the color of the blood dripping from the fish. "Seems like somebody has already branded your heart." Kiyoshi shook her head and laughed off the tension. Neji simply sighed and shifted his weight so his shoulder pressed against hers. Kiyoshi quickly got to her feet and gave a nervous wave to him and jogged back to the hut with thoughts running through her head. Her head felt so heavy, she felt as if it was weighing her down, threatening to bring her to the ground. Knowing Sasuke was by the front door she went around and climbed through her window onto her small bed. It was simply a mattress, enough to fit her on it, and maybe a teddy bear, if she even owned one. The room was poorly light and it didn't smell so nice either. When they first came here, she got stuck with the room without a light bulb because she was the only girl who didn't mind the dark, and the only one of them all that didn't think the smell would bother her. She figured it was some sort of hidden mold. It didn't bother her anyways. But what did bother her was the cold wet sensation creepy up, or should I say, down her right leg. She peered down and ripped a piece of shattered glass from her leg. Oh yes, she had forgotten last weeks drama. Kiyoshi was so desperate to escape Sasuke, that she kicked the window out and ran down to the creek to hide in a tree. Pathetic much? She knew she would have to deal with him sooner or later, just not now. Not at this time in her life. Her cut began to sting so she tiptoed out of her room to the back door and dumped a bottle of cold water on it grabbing her backpack on the way. Well, humid water. Light footsteps echoed behind her.
"Kiyoshi? Is that you?" Hinata called out from inside.
"Yeah it's me. Just cleaning up my leg." Kiyoshi explained. Hinata walked out and sat down beside her.
"How'd you get that one? Fighting with Sasuke again?"
"No, I've been avoiding him pretty well lately. I cut myself on my window." Kiyoshi sighed. Hinata gave her a puzzled look. "Don't ask." Hinata laughed and shook her head.
"You know, you should check out the lake down about 4 kilometers from here. South. It's beautiful, and warm. You look like you could use a little relaxation."
"You know, I could! You want to join me?"
"Nah. I have to go and show Naruto how to make homemade ramen, he's being really optimistic about it too! I'm so happy around him." Hinata blushed and gave Kiyoshi a huge smile.
"I'm so glad to seen you so happy Hinata. Just watch yourself, because Keiko's a feisty one. If she thinks she's loosing him, you'll need a knife or two by your side to save yourself!" Kiyoshi laughed with Hinata and waved her off as she picked up speed and made her way through the brush on her way to this lake Hinata was explaining to her. Branches and Twigs smacked her in the face, but she kept going. Eventually it started to hurt so she went up to the tree tops and bounced from tree branch to tree branch. The wind blew her brunette hair back and spread a smile across her face. She felt free. About 5 minutes later, the sun beamed off the water and nearly blinded her as she planted her feet on the edge of a rocky cliff. About 50 feet below her was a beautifully blue lake. And Hinata was right. Kiyoshi already felt relaxed just staring at it. Without thinking she threw on a pair of maroon, stretchy cotton short shorts and a black bikini top. And with that she threw herself off the edge of the cliff and went straight down at an incredible speed. As she hit the glimmering water. She spread out and opened her eyes to view the underwater world. The water was clear and clean, and there were fish all over. Kiyoshi floated to the top and laughed at the top of her lungs. It was like the water had soothed her thoughts and hidden her mistakes. All she could think about was the comforting feeling of the water on the back. And that's all she wanted to think about.
It was starting to get fairly dark outside when she had finally gotten out of the water and gotten to the top of the cliff. Kiyoshi stared out at the moon as she slipped on her clothes and brushed her hair up into a ponytail. She was starting to get tired, so on her way back to the hut she decided to walk. Damn! I hope Neji picked up those fish I left at the lake. Kiyoshi remembered the words Neji had said to her that morning. "Seems like somebody has already branded your heart." Remembering it almost stung. She hated to think that she was stuck loving a boy she hated for the rest of her life. She'd have to end this nonsense somehow, sooner or later. "Why do I always think about this?" Kiyoshi screamed in frustration. She picked a foreign fruit from a random tree and whipped it through the forest. "I can't do this anymore!" She picked up her pace, still walking, but now almost steaming with anger. When the hut was finally in sight she hung her suit on a branch and breathed in and out to hide her previous temper tantrum.
"Glad to see you're alive." Neji greeted her from the couch. Kiyoshi was glad to see Sasuke wasn't still there. Hinata seemed to still be attempting to teach Naruto how to make homemade ramen.
"Yeah! I thought you had drowned or something!" Keiko yelled throwing a slipper at Kiyoshi's head. She blew hair out of her face and laughed.
"Then why didn't you come for me?" Kiyoshi asked still laughing. Keiko joined her and shook her head.
"I was being sarcastic stupid."
"I should have known!" Kiyoshi said sarcastically as well, as she took of her sandals and stepped in. "I'll start join you guys in a few seconds. I'm just going to go put my bag away."
"Don't trip and die!" Keiko yelled at Kiyoshi as she made her way down the hallway. She cautiously stuck her head around the corner to check for Sasuke, but all the doors seemed to be closed except for her own. Kiyoshi sighed and quietly made it down to her door. But before she could make another check a familiar hand pushed into the room across the hall and closed the door she was now pushed against. The worst thing that could have happened to her stood barely 2 inches from her face.
"Sasuke, what are you doing…?" Kiyoshi turned her head to the side as he curled his free arm around her shaking body.
"What does it look like? I'm getting you back." Sasuke whispered soothing words into her ear and kissed her gently on the neck. She gripped his shirt tightly and bit her lip, What kind of game am I playing… Kiyoshi let go of the grip and let herself into his arms. Who am I kidding, I need him too. "You seem so happy to see me." Sasuke took a step back and looked her in the eyes, with something that looked like anger.
"Well you didn't exactly greet me in a subtle and gentle way like normal people!" Kiyoshi slid herself off the wall and made her way to the doorknob where he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back. He brought her face close to his and closed his eyes for a moment facing their feet.
"I'm not normal. Were not normal Kiyoshi…" Sasuke's voice seemed pinned Kiyoshi to the wall more then his arm was. She almost fell to the floor as those eyes stared her down, and he seemed to enjoy watching her breath heavily as if he could see the butterflies in her stomach. Kiyoshi saw him sigh and tighten his grip on her hand. Kiyoshi wish she hadn't, but she decided she might as well give up. Ignoring him didn't seem to be working what so ever the past three weeks she had been trying it. She'd have to find another way to get over him, and the time to do that wasn't now. Kiyoshi pulled him close and held his head on her shoulder. Soon they were swaying side to side holding each other in a dark room. The hand she had longed to hold for so long caressed her cheek, and the lips, the ones that would be the death or her, kissed her on lips and made her melt in her shoes. Sasukes hand slid into hers and held it up against the cold wall, and all she could tell, was that she was making a huge mistake, one that made her unreasonably happy.