Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any Naruto characters.
The sound of six kunai's each simultaneously slicing the stem of their target, echoed through the woods. The girl who threw them landed gracefully on her feet, and was pleased with her handiwork as the five apricots fell into the crowded basket. She gathered the kunai's, putting them into the holster around her hip, and grabbed the container, making her way back home.
The girl was taller than most her age. She had strong, lean legs and graceful movements. Her face was obscured by short, ink coloured hair that she refused to grow out. Short hair was much easier to maintain and though it grew past her midnight blue eyes, she learned how not to let it hinder her sight. The kunoichi also liked her face covered as it brought too much unwanted attention sometimes. With her jonin vest, she always wore long clothes to prevent sunburn on her ivory skin. They were also baggy for movement and again, sometimes her body brought too much unwanted attention.
It was a rather nice day and though the trip back home would take about an hour, she decided it was worth it for some free food. Not really free as it was stolen, but hey, the prices for fruits were escalating in Suna. When a pound of apples began costing almost the same as a small book, some measures had to be taken. She was not giving up book money.
The name was Sora. At least, that's what she thought it was. At the age of 8 (that was the general consensus), she had been found walking the streets of nighttime Suna. Not really walking as it was limping. She had no recollection of who she was, where she was from or why her eyes were so puffy. She had been crying about something. It was probably her broken leg. Why did she have a broken leg? No idea.
As she was limping somewhere (she had no idea where), Katou found her. He was 10 at the time, a mess of sand blonde hair and twinkling lavender eyes. The Julius family that consisted of a mother, father and son were on their way home from a gathering when Sora finally gave up and fell with an audible thump.
The young boy saw her fall first. Katou ran towards her, and the parents saw her next. The father, a gentle giant, picked up the frail girl into his brawny arms, and the mother, a medic nin, looked over her injuries.
"Katou, look away," shouted Yusa, the father, at the stand-stilled boy. But the boy couldn't.
"Blood," was all he could say. The girl had skin white as snow and dark liquid splattered her alabaster skin. It was dried into hectically cut black hair, stained her yellow dress and they looked like skintight gloves on her hands.
"I said look away!" This time, there was a shove and it forced violet eyes away from the gruesome sight.
Unwelcome tears welled into his eyes. He clenched his teeth, refusing it. He was going to a nin; he couldn't cry! This sort of thing with blood, injuries and people dying were things he would have to go through. He'd have to be the cause at some point. His parents were strong shinobi and he wanted to be just like them. He knew this and though he swore he never would, he cried. He felt helpless. He cried hard.
The family took her home with them and as the mother healed and washed the unconscious girl, the father looked to his son. Katou shriveled under the dark purple eyes of his father, and jolted when the man suddenly dropped to eye level. Calloused hands gently held the tiny shoulders of the frightened child and hard-set face matched his words.
"You are a nin, Katou," and the weighty voice settled into the air like lead, "what you saw today, you will see again. Are you scared?"
A frantic shake of blonde hair denied it.
"My son, it is okay to be."
After several hesitant seconds, he nodded and if not for the grave situation, Yusa would have grinned.
"That girl," Katou glanced to the door both his mother and the unknown were behind, "is she…dead?"
"No. Your mother will take care of her. She wasn't in a deadly condition; just a broken bone."
"What happened to her?"
Yusa sighed, wishing he knew. He had seen such sights before but this one was different. This one was a little girl in Suna, drenched in blood, during the middle of the night and there was no trace of pursuit on their way home. He was a teacher at the Academy, and he had never seen a face like hers before. Perhaps she was a visitor. No matter, if her condition were anything to go by, what happened would be news by tomorrow. In the morning he would have to find out who she was, and what could have happened but first thing was first. They had to take care of the young ones.
"I don't know."
Katou stayed silent. What more was there to say? He may have been a child, but he wasn't stupid. Quite the contrary, actually. He was star of the Academy and it made his parents proud. He was going to graduate and become a genin. He'd have a team of his own in a few months. He had to protect them, complete missions and become part of ANBU. Yes, it was his dream. As ANBU, he couldn't let his concentration wander. He needed a clear head.
After what felt like ages, Aika opened the door and both heads of blonde shot towards her direction. Right as Yusa was about to talk, she held a finger to her lips to shush him. He snapped his mouth shut and she came forward, gently closing the door behind.
"Her name is Sora," she said, approaching them. "It was sewed into the back of her dress. Her injuries are minor and I was able to fix the fracture in her leg, but there's a brace on it just in case. She's sleeping and I think she'll wake up tomorrow morning. " Blue eyes regarded her son, and she affectionately touched his cheek. "You did good, Katou."
He pursed his lips tight, feeling tears overcoming him once again.
"I'll report this to the officers," said Yusa. He stood, and his wife gave a single nod. He was gone the next second.
"Come," whispered Aika into her son's ear, and she tenderly held his hand, pulling him up from his seat. "Do you want to see her?"
Katou swallowed the tight knot in his throat and gave a nod. His mother smiled encouragingly and led him to the spare bedroom. She lay under green blankets and wore an overgrown white shirt, one he recalled his mother sometimes wore.
Katou didn't know what to expect but this certainly wasn't it. The only light was from the window as Aika pushed the yellow curtains apart and the moonlight shadowed her features. Sora was completely at ease, looking like an angel. He was stunned by how normal she looked; as if she wasn't wandering the streets of Suna injured and encrusted with blood having gone through what he imagined to be hell itself.
No, she looked serene. Her slight frame moved with each deep breath and he wished she'd stay asleep for a long time because if she did, he could forget that traumatic state she was in. Soon, watching turned into analyzing. She couldn't be from Suna; her skin was too pale. No matter what skin, it could not escape the desert heat unchanged. Her black hair was chopped disproportionately and it bothered him. Why? She must have cut it during whatever it was she was going through before they found her. He imagined it to be once long and silky, but now the longest layer reached the bottom of her ear. He could tell she had rather large eyes, even if they were closed. She looked peaceful, innocent. She looked…
"Pretty, isn't she?" His mother's soothing voice whispered.
He nodded.
She woke up and there was a lady beside her bed. She had long oak hair that reached mid back, kind blue eyes and had a golden hue to her skin. She grinned at her, and Sora felt the need to bow in greeting. Not knowing why but assuming it was customary, she tried to get out of bed to do so. She couldn't. There something encasing her leg, preventing her from standing. A brace?
"You shouldn't get out of bed so fast," and the lady began to put the green covers back over the girl. As she fumbled with the blankets, Sora examined her, trying to recall the woman taking care of her.
Who was she? Why was she nursing her? Now that she thought about, where was she? She didn't remember this room. In fact, she didn't remember anything at all. Panic sped her heart up and her breaths became harsher.
"Shh," the woman hushed, and a side of the bed dipped when she sat. "It's alright, don't worry. No one's going to hurt you."
Hurt? It wasn't pain that she was afraid of and she thought it strange. Perhaps she was used to pain.
"Do you remember who you are?"
A fan of black hair swayed side to side.
"Do you know what happened?"
The shake of the head was even tinier.
"Do you remember anything?"
There was no movement. She racked her brain for memories, searched deep into every crevasse for information but there was nothing. She was in a green room, a stranger by her bedside asking simple questions she couldn't answer and she was scared to the core of every bone.
She flinched beneath the soothing hand patting her hair. "You'll be alright. Just worry about getting rest, okay?"
She was a kind woman, and Sora assumed she must be a mother. Who was her mother? Father? Her family? Did she even have one? Were they looking for her? Was she alone?
Like a sword, fear stabbed her chest. The woman stood and the thought of her leaving and being alone was imminent. A tiny hand reached for her pink shirt and Aika halted, looking over her shoulder to see the girl with tears threatening to fall. Those coral lips didn't speak, but her eyes did that for her.
"There's a boy," Aika whispered, "he's going to wake up soon. He always wakes up at this time and he's going to want to see you. He's my son, Katou, and you won't be alone. I'll be back soon."
The tiny hand dropped when the woman moved again, the door shutting gently behind her. Sora didn't see why they couldn't be in the room simultaneously. Perhaps he was a shy boy. No matter, someone was coming and that's all she needed.
The room was empty, and it was creeping under her skin. She looked out the window, hoping the outside would fill some of the void inside.
Katou woke up and the first thing he thought of was the girl. How was she? Was she awake? Who is she? What happened? He shuffled out of bed and didn't bother to brush his teeth or change out of his puppy pajamas. He did a beeline to the room, and once he got to her door, he turned away from it.
What if she's awake? What do I say? Does she know I thought she was pretty? Oh god, I stared at her while she was sleeping!
"Katou?" His mother was leaning against the wall, a curious look on her face. "You wanted to see her?"
Heat flushed his cheeks and Aika smiled. Her son was so cute. He fidgeted and she knew exactly what it was he wanted to ask but was too embarrassed to.
Ah, how they grow. So cute, so cute!
After several moments of adoring the pink on his face, she decided to put him out of his misery. "She's awake and I checked on her just a little bit ago. You can go talk to her if you like."
There was a nod of sand colored hair and Aika left for a cup of coffee, knowing her son wouldn't dare approach the girl while she was around. After seeing his mother turn the corner, Katou spun, took a deep breath, and turned the door handle.
She sat upright, half of her still under covers. She was gazing out the window beside her bed. Upon hearing the click of the door open, she turned to look at whoever it was.
Ash mauve met midnight blue and his heart skipped a beat.
He was frozen in place, and just stood there staring. He didn't even blink once and she wondered who this boy was and why he wouldn't move. Her head tilted ever so slightly, tendrils of black falling in the air. He was so still… she wasn't even sure he was breathing.
"Are you alright?"
The delicate bell voice brought him back from his daze. Katou realized he had just been openly gawking at the girl… and that there was no air in lungs. He felt the heat rush over his face like a tidal wave.
There goes a good first impression. Wait. Why do I even care what she thinks of me? Idiot, idiot, idiot. Breathe. Breathe. Okay. For God's sake, say something already!
"Yeah." Real smart. In an attempt to gather up the remains of his dignity, he asked the first thing that popped into his head, "Who are you?"
Wrong question. She immediately became crest fallen. Her gaze fell down to her clasped hands, and charcoal hair curtained her face. She intently stared at those hands, as if the answer was held in the air between them. The gentle voice turned solemn and with words heavier than the world, she said, "I don't know."
…
Katou hadn't the slightest idea on what to do next. There were countless things he wanted to ask, like what happened, why she was covered in blood, how she felt, how she could be so pretty and a girl, but all thoughts disappeared when he realized she was crying. He didn't associate himself with girls; shunned them, actually. They were annoying and clingy. They talked non-stop, squealed until his ears bled and were obnoxious. They were nuisances he avoided like the plague and he sincerely believed in cooties.
So what did he do when he heard a tiny sniffle?
He panicked.
"Don't cry!"
He should've known that wouldn't work. What did he expect? She'd stop weeping, say 'thanks Katou, you're so amazing!' smile at him, go out for chocolate milkshakes and then they'd get married- wait, what?
No, instead of this, a heartbreaking whimper sliced the air and pierced his chest. The slender hands that once were intertwined now clutched at the blanket like a life line. He could see she was trying hard not to show it, but she was crying. He couldn't help but notice how petite she was. Her shoulders and arms shook, fighting back the overflowing tears he could see falling, splotching the blanket a darker shade of green.
His feet moved on his own, and by the time he realized it, his tan hand was over her quivering ivory one. She didn't look up to see him, too ashamed by the tears still dripping from the corners of her eyes.
"It's okay," he said, imitating the tone his mother used on him whenever he was scared. It worked; she stopped shaking and was taking steadier breaths. Katou waited until there were no more hitches before continuing. "I'm Katou Julius. Your name is Sora."
Large, moisture filled eyes darted back to him filled with more incredulity than tears, "Sora?"
Breathe. It was difficult when her eyes were so huge. He cleared his throat once, twice, before saying, "It was on the back of your dress."
She blinked and a second later, she smiled. She smiled. That's it. She couldn't be a girl. It was impossible! Girls weren't this cute! They were unsettling, insufferable creatures that made the most annoying sounds, smelled weird and-
"Thank you, Katou."
Yeah, he could like girls. They weren't so bad. Some of them were pretty, had a nice smile, soft skin, warm hands…
That was when he realized he was still holding her hand and as if it electrocuted him, he snapped it back to his side. She was surprised by the sudden retreat, but even more so by the strawberry color his face had turned.
"Ar-Are you hungry?" He would've face palmed. He was stuttering.
He didn't have much time to scold himself as her stomach rumbled at the mention of food. God, even her stomach sounds cute.
He turned for the door and stopped when he didn't hear her following. He remembered the brace she had and asked what she wanted to eat. She replied with a shake of the head, which he took to mean she didn't know.
"Stay here," Like she's going to go anywhere, idiot, "I'll bring you toast."
She nodded and Katou was no later out the door.
As he waited for the bread to become the most perfect shade of golden brown (he wanted to impress her with his toasting skills; he'd already gone through 4 slices), the rest of the Julius in the household gathered in the kitchen.
"Any news?" Aika asked her husband, nibbling on one of the abandoned pieces of toast her son made.
Yusa shook his head, smearing jam on his. "There was one file report of a girl having gone missing, but the picture wasn't her. Sora doesn't look to be from Suna but she couldn't have been travelling more than a day in the state we found her. The blood was also fresh, not dry."
"What are we going to do," Katou asked.
The father shrugged. "If nothing comes up in the next week, or if no one claims her, we take her to the orphanage."
Aika nodded, and Katou looked to his feet. The orphanage. He couldn't see her then, could he? She'd be gone. Heck, what did he care? He'd known her less than a day; she didn't matter. If no one took her in, where else was she supposed to go but the orphanage? It made sense. With that resolve, he nodded his head in agreement as well.
Later that day, her brace was taken off and she was able to roam freely. She mostly followed Katou around, and he didn't mind at all. Even if he said she was a bother, the tint of blush said otherwise. Aika mused that she was like a little duckling- the cutest duckling ever. Aika had taken the week off work to keep her company during her stay with them. Katou and Yusa went to the Academy for a good portion of the day. She didn't want to leave the poor girl alone and could only imagine the things that would happen to her if she did. Plus, she liked having a pretend daughter. Aika taught Sora the basics of cooking and she would help during meals. Sora wasn't a fan of dress up or dolls and that was a bit disappointing. Sora borrowed Aika's shirts and Katou's pants or if she wanted to wear a dress, Yusa's shirts did the job. They also took her for a haircut. Her hair was now only a bit longer than Katou's. Sora liked it.
Several days passed and little by little, they discovered Sora. She was a quick learner and avid reader. She had no patience for picture books and went straight to Yusa and Aika's room for her readings. She read the classics and apparently, the Julius family didn't have many good books. She ran out after the second day so Aika took her to the library. Her eyes were massive. And so, when the boys were at the Academy, the girls were at the library. She was also good at drawing and sometimes drew the landscape from the views of the windows in the house. She was courteous, neat and quiet, always enraptured in the world around her or her own thoughts.
There was a regular routine. Sora would wake up early to see Katou and Yusa off, giving a tentative wave. She would help Aika with household chores and when all of them got done, she was rewarded with a snack at a café while at the library. She liked sweets. They would go home, and she'd find things here and there to occupy her time until Katou's return. At 3pm, she sat by the door and waited. Not soon after, the boys would come through and she'd greet them with a smile. From then on, she'd be with Katou except near dinnertime, where she'd help Aika in the kitchen. There was no news of who she was or what happened.
On the fifth day of her stay, Yusa 'forgot' his lunch at home. Sora knew he didn't forget; the man hated carrots and always gave them to Katou during dinner, when Aika wasn't looking. The bento had carrots mixed with rice, and carrot soup. Aika probably knew it too and was angry her husband wouldn't eat it. Aika brought Sora on a surprise visit to the Academy during Yusa's break to spite the man. He laughed heartily on his 'mistake', taking the lunch and immediately eating it in front of his less than impressed and 'lovely' wife. The man looked like he was in pain.
"Can I see Katou?"
Yusa nodded eagerly, "I'll take you to him," he said a little too quickly, practically dropping the bento.
Aika had her mouth open to tell him to finish his lunch first, but the two were already making their way out the doors. The other staff members chuckled and Aika sighed exasperatedly.
"Phew. Thanks for saving me," Yusa said, letting go of Sora's wrist. She nodded.
They walked in comfortable silence to where Katou and his class were. As they walked, she observed her surroundings. There were a few trees that grew and she saw kids her age running around. They kicked up sand into the other's face, and the action was returned. Fascinating. She heard a thunking sound resound in the desert air and her attention turned to its source.
25 yards away from her, she spotted Katou; sweat matting his ruffled blonde hair. He was in a line with his classmates, each with a kunai in hand. It wasn't her first time seeing the weapon; they sometimes lay around Yusa's desk and she saw him put them into his hip holster every morning. But this was different. They were being put to use. Yusa stopped, not wanting to interrupt the class. She followed his example.
In front of each child was a target placed 25 yards away, and going down the line, they threw their kunai to hit the bulls-eye. No one was successful. Katou was the closest, hitting just the rim of the red circle.
The girls cheered, and the boys scoffed. Katou grinned, pleased with himself. It may not have been perfect, but it was the closest he'd ever gotten at this distance.
The next second, a kunai whizzed by his head, so close it was slicing the air he was taking. The sound of it piercing the wood silenced the entire class. It hit the center of the target. All turned to see who could've thrown it. Katou gasped.
Sora did it out of curiosity. Seeing the flying kunai's sparked a desire, and when none of them hit, she had to see if she could. It was rude, she knew, but that didn't stop her from opening one of Yusa's holster pouches, grabbing a kunai and throwing it like she were skipping a rock. She was surprised how her fingers knew exactly how to hold the weapon, her body moved of it's own accord into position and bam. It hit flawlessly, a little more than 50 yards away.
After seeing it hit Katou's target, she turned her attention back to him. Then she realized her mistake. He was angry.
Yusa let out a low whistle and it was enough to tear her gaze away from the smoldering violet.
"Nice," he said, and patted her head. It did nothing to smother that glare.
She went back home with Aika after lunch and at 3 she was waiting by the door. Like usual, she smiled upon their return but Katou didn't return the greeting. Instead, he ignored her completely and walked past her, into his room.
"Well, that was rude," Aika said, looking to the downcast Sora. "What happened?"
"Sora hit the bull's-eye mark about 50 yards away on her first try," Yusa said, stepping out of his shoes and giving his wife a kiss on the cheek.
"Really?"
"Yeah. She stole one of my kunai while I wasn't looking."
"Wow," Aika mouthed, watching the girl walk towards Katou's door.
"Katou," she said in a saddened tone, forehead against the door, "I'm sorry."
"Go away," was his muffled reply.
"But-"
"I said, go away!"
Sora was about to try again when a large hand squeezed her shoulder. She looked up to Yusa who shook his head and mouthed the words, 'a man's pride'. She had no idea what it meant or why it applied to Katou when he was a boy, but this was Yusa. He usually knew what he was doing so she let him guide her to the couch, where an unfinished book awaited.
There wasn't a response from the other side of the door and that made him feel even worse. Why was he being so moody? She didn't do anything wrong. Sure, the kunai almost hit him but he knew she wouldn't have done it if she thought it could have. She was that skilled. Skilled enough to hit a tiny circle 50 freaking yards away in one damned try when it took him a week, 25 yards away to hit the freaking rim. Screw her; he had every right to be pissed as he was!
Where did she learn to do that? Was she lying to him when she said she couldn't remember anything? Doubted that; she was a bad liar.
Sora has trouble keeping quiet when mom asks if she saw dad put carrots on my plate.
Whatever it was, it wasn't fair. She just came waltzing into his life and messed it all up. He hated girls again.
There was only one way to solve this. 75 yards away, he had to hit that target. Only then would he be able to face her again. Sadly, there was no Academy tomorrow but they kept a few targets for practice in the backyard. And once he hit it, he would redeem himself.
It was a weekend and while drawing the view from the living room window in her sketchbook, she saw Katou outside, setting up targets. She knew exactly why and it made a corner of her lip tug upwards.
She set down the pencil and paper, full attention on the blonde boy. Yusa and Aika caught her smiling out the window, and tried to see what she was looking at. What they saw made them smile too, and they joined Sora in watching Katou.
It took him awhile but he had set up all the targets: one at 25 yards, another at 50, the last at 75. He took stance, and Sora was charmed at the level of concentration in his eyes, the deep crease between his brows and the set line of his lips. He threw the kunai, and it knocked into the wood.
"Yusa," Sora smiled, turning to the blonde man beside her, "May I borrow 3 kunai's?"
YES! YES, YES, YES!
He did it! He hit the first one and he could've danced with joy. Ah, it was a beautiful day out.
There was another thump.
What?
Right next to his, was a kunai angled to hit the exact same point. Shock eradicated the glee. He whirled around to see Sora smirking a few meters away, a kunai twirling around her index.
"Easy."
Rage didn't even begin to describe how he felt. He wanted to attack her, fight, but above all he wanted to win. He grabbed another kunai from his pouch, and threw it at the 50-yard target, hitting it dead on.
Ha! Take that-
Thud. Like the first one, her kunai was angled to hit the center his was covering. She walked up beside him, a meter between them. She regarded him and he knew his face was red with annoyance.
Dammit!
He grabbed another kunai, and steadied himself for the last one. Concentrate. Absolute focus. He zoomed onto that one spot, that infinitesimal circle he had to hit. The kunai flew, and struck into one of the outer white rings.
He couldn't do it. He heard her kunai cut the air, and it would probably hit. He couldn't beat her. She was better and he was supposed to be the best. He was going to be ANBU, dammit! And he lost to her.
"Ah. I missed."
What?
His head snapped up to look at the 75 target. He was confused when he didn't see another kunai. Violet scanned the area, and found her kunai buried in the sand.
She had completely missed the target. He had hit it. He… he won.
He frowned. It didn't feel as good as he thought it would. Why?
Katou turned to see Sora and their eyes met. Those midnight blue eyes were assessing him, seeing if he was happy with her defeat. He wasn't.
In that moment, he understood. She didn't care. It didn't matter to her if he had better aim than her or if she did than him. She didn't mean to hurt his pride but he had intentionally tried to hurt her. He ignored her, was angry over something belittling while she was anxious over losing him. This is why it didn't feel good; he upset her over his own selfish reasons.
He never wanted to see her unhappy.
Katou broke the eye contact, walking towards the back door. "Come on," he said, "Lunch is soon."
He didn't need to look back to see her smiling and that warmed his heart. Yes, this was much better. This, he could get used to.
They came back in the house and Aika called for Katou to help with setting up the table. When he disappeared, Yusa nudged Sora. She turned to look at the large man, and then down to the kunai in his hand.
"Throw it."
Sora checked the hallway where Katou had gone, before taking the weapon. She stood just by the doorway, eyes narrowing at the target. The kunai glided through the open space before hitting the last mark with deadly accuracy. Aika called them for lunch and Sora barely registered Yusa's shocked face, too distracted by food.
It was at the end of the week and they sat around the dinner table. Sora was fidgeting with her thumbs under the table and Katou was even more nervous than she.
"There has been no news of Sora's identity or of her situation," Yusa's tone was unbreakable, and Katou's hand found Sora's. "It was decided during the first day that after a week, if no one claimed her, she would be put to the orphanage and this still stands."
Katou's grip crushed her hand and he yelled, "Father-"
Aika's soothing voice stopped his sentence, "Katou. Let him continue."
When he continued to glare, Sora gently squeezed his hand and that seemed to relax him enough for Yusa to continue. "She has been claimed by the Julius."
The words hung in the air. When they finally seeped in, Katou's arms were around her tightly.
"Katou, you're crushing her," Aika scolded, but there was a smile to her tone.
Sora's shoulder was getting wet and that was the first time Katou cried in her presence. She tried to peek, but he only burrowed deeper into her shoulder.
"This is if she agrees," Yusa added, and in the kindest tone a man like him could muster, he asked, "How does Sora Julius sound to you?"
The entire time, Sora had been overcome with so much emotion she was going through shock.
They were offering her a place, a home, a chance to become a part of this… this family.
"I don't mind it," was her reply and Katou clasped her tight enough to bruise.
The documents were signed and filed the next day. Sora was enrolled into Academy for a month before being promoted to genin the same time Katou was. He was obviously irritated by this but was over it the next day. They were put into the same team, Yuuta's team, along with another girl named Chisaki.
Sora hated Chisaki.
Hate is a very strong word but it still didn't suffice in encapsulating the animosity the two girls had for each other. Chisaki was messing up their missions by trying to get Katou's attention. At first, it was irritation because the girl cared more about her looks than completing a mission. Then it became hatred when she called repeatedly claimed Sora didn't belong with the Julius family. Slowly but surely, the long haired platinum blonde with stormy gray eyes had made her way up to the top of Sora's hit list. It wasn't even passionate rivalry; it was pure, unadulterated murderous intent.
Yuuta-sensei often worried that one day, Sora would just snap and kill the girl. For her, it would have been an easy task and he knew she'd thought about it more than once. He had asked the Kage that they be put in separate teams several times, but the words teamwork and patience reoccurred in every conversation. If only they knew. Katou was helpless to stop Sora or Chisaki.
As time went on, it got a bit easier. The key word was a bit and it was only because Sora excluded herself from the outside world. She kept getting sunburns instead of tans so the only times she went out was for missions, training with sensei and when Katou dragged her out.
Thank the heavens, and by a work of God, they made it to the chunin exams. Chisaki was Sora's main motive to completing it. Once she became a chunin, she'd never have to work with that insufferable blonde again. It was a dream come true. Katou also managed to graduate and Sora swore that if Chisaki did, she'd plummet the girl back to genin. Luckily, it wasn't necessary.
Sora never took on missions that required a team unless she was put into one. She worked fine with others, just not superficial girls like she-who-will-not-be-named and luckily, such creatures were a rare species in Suna. It was just her luck that as a genin, she was stuck with one.
Now at 18, she was a jonin and Katou achieved his ambition of becoming ANBU. She had been offered a position as well but decided not to take it. She had no idea what Chisaki was doing nor did she care. Yuuta-sensei had a new squad of genin this year. He was an acquaintance but not really a friend, just her sensei. They weren't a close knitted team like some were but again, no one cared. They did what they did to survive, had each other's backs and came out as successful nins. In Suna, that's all that mattered.
Sora arrived back home and threw an apricot at Katou, who caught it easily. He had grown to be 6ft tall, well built and handsome. He maintained some of his childish features, which was not something he liked being told. Despite having inherited his father's features, he resembled his mother most. Again, something he didn't like being told. No matter, Sora loved to tease.
"How's it going, pretty boy?"
His retort was throwing the fruit back and she caught it without bruising the skin. She bit into it, the sweet nectar quenching her thirst from the desert sun.
"You stole those, didn't you?" He looked up from the paper in hand, turning his head over the couch to see her setting the basket on the kitchen counter.
"Not from a farmer," she responded. "Just some fenced field in the woods."
Katou's blonde brows furrowed, and he looked disapproving at her when she sat next to him on the loveseat, "That's farmland used specifically for providing nins on missions food. I'm ANBU and I can arrest you for that."
"Blondie, you could try." Katou failed to suppress the grin.
Sora wasn't so ignorant. She knew exactly what it was before she infiltrated it. If it belonged to a farmer, she didn't touch it. If it were important in any way, she didn't go near it and although it sounded imperative for nins, she knew it wasn't. Why? Because they'd been sprouting like grass in the northern woods lately and it was that farmland used for nins that raised the prices in the market. It didn't take a genius to know that Suna was low in agriculture and with the threat of war breaking out against Akatsuki, more nins were being sent out on missions which meant of course, the need for food amplified. This increase either meant more imports or creating more farmland from Suna territory. The latter was cheaper and now a possibility with the desert soil after the recent discovery of a new jutsu from the Earth Country. Suna traded several of their military jutsus in exchange; a small price in comparison.
Sora read the newspaper whenever it came, and completely supported the Kazekage's choice in deciding farmland over imports, even with the consequence of increasing prices in the market. Once the growth in missions declined back to normal, there would be lots of fertile land and the prices would be lower than ever. Suna would also be further independent; agriculture had always been a crippling weakness due to the climate but it was now minimized.
However, this wasn't an issue of politics. It was about her books and they had more than enough fruits to spare.
"Kankuro-" And Sora knew what he was going to say.
"Do not." Katou parted his lips again to speak despite warning, and Sora was off the couch the next second, making way to her room.
Since 16, she had been pestered about joining ANBU alongside Katou. Sora refused the offer and has done so repeatedly. It wasn't because she lacked skill or tactic; it was the blood.
As a shinobi, killing was inevitable but that didn't mean blood was. Everyone thought the two came hand in hand but Sora had gone through great lengths to avoid it, or at least keep it off her. She used Katon jutsu; rather than slay, she burned. Growing up, she learned medic jutsu from Aika; rather than stab, she poisoned. Blood was her greatest fear, and it was an irrational one. The only ones that knew of it was the Julius family.
Sora and Katou sparred often and due to their clashing styles (water and fire), it was always a spectacular (and very steamy) sight. During their first real spar, Sora had thrown a kunai and it cut Katou's upper arm. She winced at the sight of blood but thought it more out of compassion, of having hurt her best friend. When one of Katou's clones disappeared from her kick, the original was right behind and jumped her. They fell unto the ground and Sora pushed him off her. Katou whooped in victory. He was jumping, merrily shouting his triumph to the heavens and Sora sat there on the ground, unmoving. Her eyes were stuck on the smear of Katou's blood on her hand. It was a smudge from grabbing his upper arm to shove him off her, on the heel of her right hand. It couldn't have been bigger than an inch.
It felt like someone poured acid down her throat, corroding her insides, coming out her eyes. She couldn't breathe. She couldn't scream. She couldn't move. All she could do was stare at that rusty red until Katou noticed and asked, "Sora?"
"…off."
He came closer, violet eyes watchful as she trembled, "Hey, are you ok?"
"Off…get it off. Get it off, get it OFF, GET IT OFF!"
She was rubbing her hand against the sand, but the grains only clung to the liquid. She frantically wiped it on her clothes, took them off, threw them on the ground and strong hands grabbed her wrists from behind. She struggled; fear still running through her veins. She could feel it all over her hand, all over her arms, shoulders, chest, legs, everywhere.
"Sora, stop!" It was Yusa, but she didn't care. She had to get it all off. "Katou, what happened?"
"I don't know!" It was like he was back to when they first found her. He was helpless to do anything for her, "We were fighting and then she-" his sentence was broken by a blood curdling scream.
The shriek lasted an impressively long time before it died down to wails, to sobs, to whimpers, and her knees slowly gave way until they hit the ground. Her entire body slumped, and the only thing keeping her up was Yusa's grip on the arms above her head.
Later that day when Aika came home, they discussed whether or not she should continue on the path of a shinobi. Despite the learnt phobia, Sora couldn't imagine herself doing anything else and it just felt…right. With time, she learned to control the anxiety of seeing it and when it got on her clothes or skin, she didn't scream. The emotions were as raw as the first time but she gained a control over it.
She could handle jonin. She couldn't handle ANBU. ANBU specialized in torture, above S-class missions and assassinations.
Too much death. Too much blood.
There was a knock on the door. Katou answered it and came to Sora's room to relay the message. He opened the door and saw her lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling, lost in her own thoughts.
"The Kazekage wants to see you."
A/N
Here's the revised and altered version of my previous fic, The Lost Uchiha. Hopefully, it was good :P
Anyways, REVIEWS REVIEWS REVIEWS!
I happen to like apricots and learned they can be grown in desert-like climates. Cool, huh? Googled that stuff.