Orange, it is so bright and overwhelming. The color is like the sun. Then there's black. It's simple, mysterious, consuming, and dark. The two conflict with each other, yet they work together in the pattern on my kitty's back. I wonder if she knows how much of a contradiction lies on her coat. But, I guess I would be the one to talk to about contradictions because I am a living contradiction. I want to live a simple life, but I am next in line to be head of the clan. However, they don't know that I am aware that I am technically not fit to be next in line. They told me my mother died, but she is alive. Somewhere, but she isn't of my clan. I have no way to find her. I'm surprised no one has said anything about me. I grew up in my father's house hold, but I don't look like him. My eyes and my face are way different from my clan's. The only thing I inherited from my clan was the long dark hair.
I'm Aoki Torazuka… and I just want to have a simple life with some wonderful memories that I want to keep forever. I'm only sixteen I have a lot of things to experience. Passing the academy exam didn't even make my great memories list. It should, but it didn't seem very special.
I was put into Kurenai's squad. We were the only four-man genin squad. We had a weird number of graduates and they tried to be even with the squads. However, they said that our squad was slightly uneven because of me. I felt like I was left over even though I was one of the top of my class. At the same time, they told me I was pretty diverse in everything. That's why it didn't matter what squad they put me in. Still, it was weird.
My squad was different. Hinata was too shy, Shino was mysterious, and Kiba was wild and he liked to make fun of me. He mostly makes fun of me because his clan and mine aren't on the best of terms. It's mostly the older people in our clan, old people and grudges.
The past few weeks we have been doing D-rank missions. It mostly consisted of gardening, cleaning, or other daily chores. It seemed really pointless, and a waste of our skills. Yet, I didn't really care. I just want to be away from home as much as possible.
I don't know what they want from us from doing all of these D-rank missions.
"Guess what, I think you guys are ready for a C-rank mission." Kurenai said.
I just looked at her. Kiba looked excited and Hinata looked nervous. Then there was Shino… nothing came from him. Everyone was pretty much comfortable around each other at this point, but Shino… he still creeped me out.
"What's the mission?" Kiba asked.
"Over-night delivery." She simply said.
"Sounds lame." He sounded disappointed.
"Where are we supposed to deliver the package?"
"Land of rivers, not far, but it will take an overnight trip. It's in a village right outside Tanigakure. We're leaving tomorrow morning, meet at the gates at sunrise. Train for a little bit, but get a lot of rest." Kurenai started walking away.
I was heading home to train, but Kiba called me. "Wanna train together?"He asked.
It was rather unusual for him to ask me. He usually spent his time calling Kira a cat when she was a tiger cub, yet I still called her a kitty. She jumped on my shoulder. I looked around and Hinata and Shino were already heading home. Maybe he was only asking me because everyone else had plans…
"Sure." I was hesitant, but I didn't want to go home anyway.
We trained hand to hand combat mostly where he told me not to hold back. I was scared, I could never release my full strength on anybody if it wasn't for a grade or if it was just practice like this. There seemed to be no point for me.
"You're holding back." He grabbed my wrist as I was preparing to hit him.
"I don't know how to fight to my fullest like this."
"But when we are against someone, will you be there to have my back?"
I kind of got angered by that. "Of course, I'm not heartless. You're my team mate and we have a mission tomorrow, I don't want to hurt you."
"Fine… but I got to admit. You look fragile, but you pack a punch. You're also very alert."
"Thanks…" It felt awkward having compliment from him, or compliments in general. "Want to go eat? My treat."
"Do you think it's a good idea for two people from rival clans to be seen with each other?" He said with a smile.
"Oh, sorry… I don't really think about that kind of stuff." I was aware of the rivalry, but after these couple of weeks I just saw Kiba as my team mate. I didn't really judge him by his clan in the first place anyway. "So, no?"
"I don't care, why not? Who cares what the adults think. Also, I think I would be crazy to pass up free food." He laughed.
His laugh was kind of contagious. I started walking. "Steak?"
"What? Are you serious? Where do you keep this kind of money?"
"I don't really spend stuff on myself. Plus my dad gives me money sometimes because he feels like he neglects me too much. You've seen my dad, right?"
We just talked casually the whole time, like we didn't have any problems with each other before.
The next morning was pretty easy. We walked the whole way and delivered the package by the afternoon, but we stayed the night at the customer's house. They gave us another package to take back.
Now we were headed home. We took the mountain path in order to get home.
Then I could feel Kira get tense as she was on my shoulder.
"What's wrong?" I asked. I could sort of feel something.
"Akamaru senses something too." Kiba said.
"What is it?" Kurenai asked.
"Trouble…" I said. I dropped my bag at my feet and prepared myself for something to happen. I grabbed a kunai knife.
We were all on full alert.
Then a tree smashes and is thrown right in front of us. A gigantic bear comes out of the forest. He wasn't a normal bear, he was summoned. He grabbed another tree and threw it toward us.
"Kiba!" I yelled.
The tree practically flew toward him. He was hit in the stomach. He was being thrown off the cliff.
"I got this, go get him!" Kurenai said.
"Kiba!" I quicky ran toward him. I jumped off the cliff and grabbed him in mid-air.
Hinata and the others called after me. I was worried leaving them behind to fight that bear.
Akamaru was clawing on his jacket and Kira was clawing on my shoulders as well. We were just about to hit the side of the mountain. I pulled Kira away from my shoulders and I pulled Akamaru, so both of them were safely between me and Kiba. I couldn't let Kiba be more injured than he already was. I was afraid that he broke a rib or something.
I turned my body so it protected everyone and I hit the mountainside. The rocks scraped against my skin. I screamed in pain. I finally hit the ground. We were far from where we were on the mountain. I got up, I did a few hand signs and I hit the mountain side. I made a small cave on the side of the mountain. I took a few of the rocks left in the cave and I did another hand sign to cover up the clearing a bit, so we wouldn't be found easily by bandits. Shino and the others should be able to find this. Shino probably has some bugs or something he could use to track us. I only left a small entrance.
Kiba woke up.
"Aoki!" He yelled. He slightly grabbed his stomach where the tree hit him, but he seemed really concerned with me. Blood was all over my back. "Are you alright? I have some bandages, don't worry."
My shirt was completely ripped on the back and barely holding up. I didn't bring a lot of extra clothes since this was supposed to be an overnight mission. I didn't expect to be separated from my teacher and be left alone with a guy. I had to hold my shirt up myself as Kiba prepared the ointment.
I wasn't worried that Kiba was going to take advantage of this moment or something. We have been team mates for a while, and I know that he doesn't really care about me. Our relationship didn't really go past team mates.
We were in danger and we don't know what we are supposed to do. We just graduated, but we are already being put to the test.
"It looks really bad." Kiba started to say.
"Is it going to scar?" I asked. I was worried.
"Looks like it."He began putting the ointment on. "I'm sorry that this happened. You were only trying to save me."
"Are you alright? Maybe we should heal you first."
"No, I'll be alright. Your wounds look worse than mine."
We were silent for a while as he gently put the ointment on my back.
"Is it really going to scar?" I asked.
"Yeah." He said feeling sorry.
"Damn it…"
He stopped for a second. "What?" He sounded like he did something wrong.
"All I wanted in life was the simple life. I don't want to be head of a clan. I just want to get married after I retire from being a ninja and have kids. I want to take care of my family and my husband for the rest of my life." I looked up. The ointment stung as Kiba applied it to the wounds on my back.
"You should talk to Shikamaru. You guys sound exactly alike right now." Kiba cleared his throat. "I just want to marry an average looking girl and have two kids." He tried mimicking Shikamaru's voice.
I laughed. "At least he has a dream. My dreams seem to be falling in front of me. Now I don't think anyone is going to marry me with all these scars…"
"That isn't true." Kiba immediately said bluntly.
"What, so should I talk to Shikamaru? Is that why you mentioned him?" I was clearly joking, but suddenly. Kiba turned me around and hugged me, carefully placing his arms away from my wounds.
"That isn't true."
I was blushing. My shirt was barely holding up and I was trying to hold it up myself. I reminded him about it.
"I swear I won't look… I'm just really sorry." He sounded determined. He gently pushed me away and looked me straight in the eyes. "I know I am only twelve, I just graduated with you, and I barely have anything to my name. However, I-I…" He started blushing. "I probably sound really stupid right now, and I haven't been the nicest person to you. However, I will spend the rest of my life making this up to you."
"Kiba… that's absurd. It's only a scar. You can't spend the rest of your life making it up to me. I did what I had to do."
But I look into his eyes. He was completely serious.
"It's going to be alright." I said. I didn't want him to do that to himself. "Don't throw your life away carelessly. We're both still young. We have many other adventures, you'll probably save my life way more often."I turned around. "Now bandage me up."
"I'll be nicer to you, at least." He said.
"That sounds better." I look at Akamaru and Kira standing watch at the opening of our hideout. I fear that we would still be in danger. I wonder about the others in our group. They were still out there. I wonder if they were still in harm's way.
Kiba put bandages around my whole upper body in order to cover my back. I had to uncover myself in order to do that… It was completely embarrassing. Kiba quickly finished, and then he put his jacket over me.
"You need that more than I do don't you?" He said trying to look cool.
I didn't even notice how dark it was getting. It was another night we had to spend on this mission. The darker it got, the colder the cave began as well. I put on his jacket. It was so warm and comfortable.
I wonder if the others are looking for us.
I began treating Kiba's wounds. He had quite a few scars from training, I assume. It was all over his body. I'm surprised he didn't think that I was just over reacting with my scars.
It was silent in this hidden cave. I wonder how long we will be safe like this. It was dark and the situation seemed as dark as the night.
"I'm glad that we're friends, now." I said, trying to lighten up the mood. "I always thought you didn't like me."
Kiba laughed. "Sorry. I really didn't mean to make you think that."
I finished up with Kiba's wounds. "Aright, you're good." I patted his back.
"Akamaru and I will take first watch. You and Kira should rest." Kiba was taking the initiative. He was acting mature in this situation. It was surprising.
I didn't want to argue, so I respected his wishes to keep watch first. "Alright, but if you get tired you need to let me know. Just wake me up and I'll take my turn."
He smiled. "Alright. Just get some rest."
Kira curled up with me. Before I laid down I looked at Kiba one last time. He stood right next to the entrance.
"Kiba…" I said.
"Yeah." He turned around. His brown hair was messy. His eyes glowed from the little light there was. He looked really cool in that moment. And it was in that moment that I realized I wanted to keep these memories we just shared… forever.
I wanted to say a lot just now. "Thank you, for everything."
He smiled slightly. He looked cooler than before. "No problem."
When I woke up. It was already daylight. I was moving though… I opened my eyes and I was on Kiba's back.
"I'm glad to see you guys are alright." Kurenai's voice entered my head. Shino was walking with us and Hinata. It was Kurenai. We were headed back home.
He didn't wake me up at all. He must be tired… I smiled though. This better not be his life-commitment thing. I really did want to cherish these memories.
No one was aware that I was awake. I squeezed Kiba a little bit. I felt him tense up a bit, but he quickly relaxed. I wanted to walk the rest of the way because I felt sorry that he was doing this, but I didn't want to let go of this moment yet.
It seemed silly to me that I would think that this was really special.
