1.
She wasn't afraid. Of course not- she may have been a newbie, but she was always ready for a challenge.
And she knew who she had to fight-Gaara, the infamous kazekage.
She took a moment to study Gaara-red hair that looked like needed cutting, bags under the eyes that looked like never slept at all. The mark on his head-wait-why did it say love?
"Are you ready, Akariu-san?" her sensei asked.
"Call me Hikaru, sensei. And yes, ready as I'll ever be." Akariu Hikaru bounced on her toes, and stretched her muscles.
"Gaara are you ready?" someone asked. Gaara grunted.
"Akariu are you ready?"
"Yes!" Akariu answered.
Both Gaara , and Akariu stepped into the circle. There was a way that Gaara walked that unsettled Akariu-just a little.
"I hope you know that you will die." Gaara said bluntly.
That cracked a smile on Akariu's face. "Sounds like a plan. I'm Akariu Hikaru-pleased to meet you."
"Hn."
"Ready? And FIGHT."
Gaara struck first, catching Hikaru by surprise. Sand covered her body everywhere, and she could feel her body be lifted by Gaara.
A quick kill, Hikaru thought, how disappointing.
An idea formed in Hikaru's head-she already felt the pressure of the sand increase in her ribs, probably crushing them-and she feigned death.
Sure enough, Gaara dropped her down, her body slamming onto the concrete.
Damn, that hurt!
Gaara stepped up to her, staring at the crowd wordlessly. Hikaru didn't move, and she felt when Gaara's foot stepped on her throat.
"You're a fool," he said, "I decide when you die. And if you think that that little trick of yours was going to work, I'm sorry to say it didn't."
With each word, Hikaru could feel Gaara put more pressure on his foot to her throat, and she thought for a split second I'm going to die.
Then the ninja star dug into the soft part of his ankle, and Gaara was screaming.
Somehow, Hikaru found the strength to pull herself up to his face, and plant a kiss on his open mouth.
And she felt it.
Gaara's chakra flowed into her, healing the wounds that Gaara had inflicted on her. She could feel her ribs crack back into place, the bruises of her body disappearing. Usually, it took time for Hikaru to heal, but once her lips had touched Gaara, only a few minutes passed while she recovered.
She pulled back, and Gaara, who looked dazed, stared at her.
Quickly, Hikaru swept his feet from out under him, and punched him open-handed in the chest. Gaara flew out of the circle, and Hikaru was at victory.
