So in response to reviews:
grifman275: I have just started reading "A Smile Like No Other," but I haven't intentionally started it like that though I see the resemblance. I hope this chapter clears up the Kurenai and Kairi relationship as Kairi sees how broken they really are with this picture she has broken. Also the events I have a kind of plan for each chapter but please let me know what you think.
Enbi: As in my first response I have started reading,"A Smile Like No Other," and I do like what I have read. I changed the summary of mine a bit as there is a similarity between the two.
I'm surprised by the rapid amount of favs and follows so I guess that means you like it. I hope this chapter impressed you as well. Enjoy!
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Let's just say I was taken on the most awkward walk in history. We didn't talk at all just glanced at each other occasionally.
What's worse is when we clearly made eye contact!
We would both stare in a kind of staring contest before both looking away. Here I thought being with my sister would be cool! So far I having second thoughts about this. Maybe I could go get a name change and move across the border into Suna then...
"Kairi where are you going?"
I turn to see my sister clearly turning right on the road while I'm still walking straight. Great, just great...Suna isn't looking so bad right now...
I put a hand behind my head and say,"Just used to walking this way."
She raises an eyebrow and says,"You shouldn't have ever come this way. The orphanage is in the completely opposite direction."
Darn it! I thought I could slide by with that...she wears that Leaf headband for a reason.
"Okay, sorry," I say while quickly returning to her side.
Yeah go ahead and call me out, I'm an idiot.
As we resume our walk people sometimes stare and point out the two of us. They're probably talking about being sisters or something like that. I don't mind it so much as I worry what Kurenai thinks of it all. She's probably so wishing she could go to Suna...wasn't there a cloud place too?
There is a small flight of stairs that we walk up and Kurenai pulls out a key to the first door we see in the apartment complex.
She opens the door and says,"After you."
I nod and step inside. Kurenai flips on the lights and I can greatly appreciate the apartment so much more.
The walls were a cream color with dark brown wooden floorboards. The kitchen was in front of us with the living room just to the right. The kitchen consisted of a round table with four chairs, a fridge, a black stove, ebony cabinets, and a window over the stove.
That's just the kitchen. The living room had a dark red couch on the wall with a window opposite, a small table with some photos, and two large bookshelves full of books.
I wanted to cry. It was beautiful and I was jealous. Plus, I no longer wanted to go to Suna, at least until I run out of books to read that is.
"Quit standing there with your mouth open Kairi." Kurenai says while strolling down the hall to the left.
I shut my mouth before opening it saying,"Where are you going?"
"To clear out the spare room so it's livable. You can sit on the couch and I'll make tea in a second."
With that she turns into the second door on the right. I follow her instructions and sit on the couch. Although, the couch is boring.
I stand and walk over to the bookshelves and finger some of the books. If being a ninja is something I want to do then I have the perfect sister. Most of the books are about chakra, ninjutsu, and all sorts of other ninja stuff. Not to mention she has some scrolls that I have a feeling are filled with ninjutsu. Kurenai took being a ninja seriously obviously with the lack of material to read for fun, but some people are like that.
I'm brought away from my thoughts with a knock on the door. Who could that be?
Kurenai calls from the spare room,"I'll get it in a second, just wait on the couch Kairi."
Well the couch was already forgotten might as well see who's at the door. Honestly, I'm in a new place and I have the urge for exploration, she should have planned a bit more for simple curiosity.
I open the door and stare up at some guy. He has tan skin with black hair and matching eyes. His outfit has some weird thing tied around his waist and he has a green vest on. I think he might be from that Naruto thing too...started with an A?
We stand there looking at each other. I give a kind of smile as he raises an eyebrow.
He says,"You're a mini Kurenai."
I shrug and say,"And you're a stranger. That means stranger danger."
With that lovely comment I shut the door on his face and take a seat at the kitchen table. As soon as I sit, Kurenai comes down the hallway.
She looks at me and says,"I thought I told you the couch."
"Well I thought if we were having tea we could sit here," I say with a smile.
Yeah, I was enjoying this just a bit.
Kurenai shrugs before turning her attention back to the door. She opens it up and sees the man standing there.
She says,"Asuma, I wasn't expecting you today. Come on in."
The man, Asuma, steps in and his eyes immediately go to me. I smile and wave at him in a friendly gesture.
He says,"Who's the kid?"
"She's my sister, Kairi. The Hokage has graciously given me the liberty of taking care of her," Kurenai says while glancing at me.
That tone of hers doesn't sound pleased but not angry. Hurray for progress on our sister relationship!
Asuma puts out a hand to me as he introduces himself,"I'm Sarutobi Asuma."
I give his open palm a fist bump as I say,"You already know who I am stranger. Name's Yūhi Kairi."
"She's an interesting one, looks like you but personality wise is such a difference. I like it."
I look at my older sister with the most pleading eyes as I say,"Your friend is a creep sis."
I couldn't resist with how he worded his phrasing. Some people should think before the speak...maybe I'm one of those people.
Kurenai sighs and turns back to Asuma as she says,"I'm sorry I won't be on missions for five months. Hokage's orders."
Whoops now it seems our progress has been slightly reversed. She doesn't seem happy.
Asuma shrugs and says,"We'll deal with it. Maybe I could help train your sister. I mean, she's at the age of starting the Academy and she might just be a prodigy like you. You graduated at the age of nine like-"
Kurenai puts a hand on his shoulder despite the slight height difference and says,"You graduated early too, Asuma. Besides, I appreciate it but this is my mission. Also, there is some stuff only I can teach her."
"Okay, I'm here for you if you need help. Okay?" The older man says.
"Okay. Thanks again, Asuma." My older sister says with a smile.
He gives her a small hug, like the smallest side embrace, and leaves. Kurenai shuts the door before cutting on the stove and grabbing a kettle.
Wait a second...that look and those smiles...were they...
SNAP! Did they like each other? Was that in that Naruto thing? Man I wish I could remember. Those two would be cute but...she's my sister despite her never being around...THAT WOULD MAKE HIM MY SIBLING! That creep would be related to me! I need to move to Suna now.
"Want anything in your tea?"
I quickly look up and say,"You like him."
Kurenai sets the kettle down and shuts off the stove while saying,"What?"
"That creep! You have a crush on him!"
She blushes and sets down a tea cup in front of me. Then she takes a seat while saying,"My relationships with my teammates and other shinobi do not concern you."
They concern me if they make me have a brother that's what's up with that.
I take a sip of the tea in front me while we both regain our composure. So this living together thing is going to be interesting. I'm excited and totally scared all at once not to mention I'm about to start training to be a ninja. Life's tough.
Kurenai prompts the conversation by saying,"So..."
"So?"
"So let's get some stuff straight. One, you're going to be living with me and I aspect you not to be too much of a handful. Two, I will begin training you before and after school starting tomorrow despite having no school. Three, you say your dream is to be a ninja."
I nod not knowing where this is going at all which scares me. First two rules easy to follow but where was she going with the third?
Kurenai leans forward and says,"You've got a long way to go kid and you better be able to go the distance. Life's tough, memorize that."
I accept her challenge with a simple,"Will do."
She raises an eyebrow as she says,"Let's go."
She grabs my cup and her own then dumps the contents into the sink. After that she pushes in her chair and checks that the stove is off.
"Where are we going?" I say while pushing in my chair.
"Shopping. There's no way you can be a ninja in those clothes and we have to pick some stuff up for the Academy which you start on Monday. We have some work to do."
Kurenai opens the door and waits on the deck outside while saying,"So you coming or what?"
I knew that this was going to be a long journey. I have this bond to repair with my sister, I'm living in a world of people capable of killing me in at least thirty ways, not to mention some creep named Asuma, and that's all with only two people in my life now. As to quote my sister,"Life's tough." Though, I'm not going to give up on this journey of mine. Yeah, I like the sound of that. I'm going to go the distance no matter what may come at me. Now it's time to see what else this world holds outside of the small portion I've seen.
I shut off the lights and step into the evening as I say,"Wouldn't miss it."
She nods and leads the way down the deck and down a flight of stairs back onto the main street. Then we head down the road a bit before turning onto another full of people in the street. People were shouting for other people to come in and see what they have. Now I have been out of the orphanage but not on this side of town. This all seems so new to me.
I just see Kurenai turn into a shop called, "Ninja Outfitters," and I hurry after her. She was ready to get this over with as quickly as possible.
Once I step inside I'm awed by the amount of clothes and different style options. I guess being a ninja doesn't always translate into stealth due to some of the brighter colors but then again I guess it's preference sometimes. Me, I would like darker tones so I don't get seen in like bright orange and get shot at with a shuriken.
My older sister turns around and says,"Find something you like and come show it to me to see if I approve. I'll look around for a few other things for you."
I nod and go on my way through the shop. I am immediately drawn to this maroon dress with a v-neck and comes down to my mid thigh. The sleeves are long and black much to my own liking. I would need something underneath not to mention some shorts and shoes.
Over on another rack is some fishnet shirts and I think that would look nice under the dress top so I take a short-sleeved one of those. I pick up a pair of black shorts that comes a little more than mid thigh but not to the knee. Last will be my shoes. I walk over to a shelf of different styled shoes and they have everything. I pick up a pair of black open toed sandals that reach the knee with armored padding on the fronts.
I look for long black hair as I carefully carry everything. I tried not to take long so I didn't seem like a burden or like some kid who can't do anything.
My older sister is at the counter talking to the cashier as I approach her and say,"Kurenai."
She turns and looks at the clothes in my arms. Slowly she takes each one and holds it up looking it over.
"I didn't think you would be the dress type."
I shrug and say,"It's more like a long shirt than a dress plus I have some shorts."
"Touché I suppose."
She smiles at the sandals and I suppose that is because I picked the same style as the ones she has on. Hey, I know we just reunited and I'm a little too attached. I blame the orphanage and a lack of being able to relate to someone.
Kurenai picks her own things off the counter which consist of a pair of sleep clothes, simple shirts, some pants, and a pair of black short ninja sandals.
The things that catch my eye are the gray gloves that would reach my elbow and are fingerless and a black belt with three pouches, two of a medium size and the last a bit smaller, that would go around my waist.
Kurenai raises an eyebrow and says,"I think you might just look the part of a shinobi with all of this."
I say,"You think?"
"Yeah, but that doesn't make you a shinobi. There's a lot for you to learn."
"But you'll help, right?" I ask her quickly.
She turns her back to me to pay the woman at the counter as she says,"Yeah..."
That was reassuring. I'm just playing too much on the word sister. As of now we are acquaintances that have been forced together. Me, a six almost seven year old, and her, a twenty-one year old. Age gap and the gap in the time we have seen each other.
Once she pays she hands me the bags and we head back out onto the street. The sun is well on the way to disappearing for the night so it's about seven in the afternoon. For January it is warm as it always is in Konoha, it doesn't really ever get cold or should I say freezing.
Kurenai turns to me and says,"Stay out here while I get something for us to eat tonight. I don't have enough time to cook."
I nod as she heads inside another shop. I stand by the door watching the people. There's so many different shinobi that pass by it's just odd and cool all at once. I see a woman with a large dog with her, a guy with a long blonde ponytail, a man with a green jumpsuit, and some person with silver hair. To think that these were all shinobi with different abilities was cool and scary once you realized they probably knew over a hundred ways to kill you.
I wonder what abilities Kurenai knows and what she will attempt to teach me. I'll just take whatever she throws at me.
"Alright then, let's head back Kairi."
I jump a bit as I didn't notice her or know how long she had been standing there. Quickly we head through the streets and back to the apartment.
Kurenai puts a bag of food on the table and says,"I'll get plates and all, just set that stuff on the couch for now."
I nod and do what is asked before taking a seat at the table. She sets a plate of barbecued meat in front of me with a side of chopped vegetables. We eat in odd silence that is comforting and scary.
After I take my last bite I quietly take my plate to the sink and wash it off taking it then to the dish rack. Kurenai does the same after she finishes and then takes my bags of clothes.
"Follow me."
I do and we go down the hallway to the second door on the right.
She points to the first door on the right and says,"That's the closest for jackets, the broom, and other stuff like that."
Then she points to the third door on the right and says,"That's the bathroom."
Lastly she points to the door at the end of the hallway and says,"My room."
I nod as she opens the door to my room and says,"If you don't like something just let me know, okay?"
The room was bare but it was fine with me. There was a bed in the corner of the room with a window on the back wall over a brown dresser with a clock on it reading the time. On the wall opposite my bed was a sliding door that I guessed led to a closet and there was a bookshelf with some books but not as many as in the living room. There was one photo on the room and I immediately walk over to it and Kurenai follows.
I pick up the picture and it's obviously old with the amount of dust but I just wipe it off. The frame contains a family, our family. It was our mom holding me with Kurenai beside her and our father behind us.
I quickly wipe away a tear as Kurenai says,"I'll leave you to finish getting settled in."
"Thank you," I call out to her retreating figure.
She nods and continues walking, closing the door behind her.
This was going to be a hard road. Well, at least I'm not alone. I've got a sister I thought I somewhat knew and a creep that I'm pretty sure likes my sister. Oi, I'm getting a headache thinking about all this and I have a feeling this is only the beginnings of my struggles.
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I was so excited to put Asuma in and you will see him pop up unexpectedly as he is going to further his relationship romantically.
Anyone guess who will pop up next?
Leave a review, fav, and follow.
See ya next time.
