"Ugh! Akiko!" The exasperated cry caused said girl to stop moving guiltily. "You should be in bed resting," Emi lectured sternly, almost maternally, gesturing to the barely healed gnash on her leg.
With a sigh, Akiko agreed, "I know, I know. But it's just so boring, and my leg is feeling much better." It wasn't but that was beside the point.
Not to mention, she was ridiculously eager to see Masaru. The first time she had woken up and had inquired about him, she had been told that he was being isolated for treatment. Confused and disoriented, Akiko had been terrified that his life was in jeopardy and had nearly crawled to his room in her own pathetic and injured state. Luckily, Emi and Hiromi had caught her before she could get very far, and had stopped her from making a complete ass of herself.
Akiko winced, imagining Madara or Izuna being the ones to happen upon her in that hysterical, if slightly delirious, state.
Madara would probably have stared, incredulous, before sneering at her foolishness. Izuna would have laughed himself into a coma.
Emi was wagging her finger. "You need to wait until Hiromi-san says you're all better."
"Come on, Emi!" Akiko cried, pouting a little. "You're supposed to be my friend and help me sneak out of here."
The other girl wasn't moved. "I am being your friend by making sure you don't hurt yourself," she replied, somewhat condescendingly in Akiko's opinion. Retrieving a brush, Emi changed the topic and asked, "Do you want me to do your hair?"
Brightening instantly, a little known fact was that Akiko loved having someone play with her hair. She sat up straighter and tossed her tresses over her shoulders.
They were silent for a while. Both content and relaxed. Emi was the first to speak. "Your hair's getting long," she announced after brushing it out. She pressed into Akiko's lower back to show her where the strands ended.
"Probably not as long as Madara's," Akiko remarked with a laugh. "One day he's going to get lost under all that hair."
Emi shifted anxiously behind her, a reminder that her brother made people uneasy. His power was frightening, she supposed. Akiko could never see herself becoming afraid of him. He was intimidating, not that she would ever let him know that, but he wasn't cruel. Sure, he could be a jerk, but Izuna was a bigger one. Izuna also happened to be more sociable, so despite the fact that he was nearly as strong as Madara, people weren't as afraid of him.
Admiring Emi's handiwork in the mirror, Akiko decided she wanted to try and replicate it on her friend. The two switched positions, chatting easily about nothing of importance. Moments like these were nice, and were becoming too far and few in between.
The door to her room slid open to reveal a kunoichi who was a couple years older than Akiko, Rika. Theirs was a complicated relationship. Akiko honestly had no clue as to how Rika felt about her.
There were times when the older girl was friendly and seemed genuinely interested in Akiko. But other times, her words were cruel, cutting to the bone, and expression mean.
For a time, Akiko had wondered if Rika might be jealous that, unlike her, Akiko had chosen this life. Rika's parents had begot no sons. For some reason, perhaps because she was the oldest, Rika's father had decided to train her, treating her more as the son he never had.
While other girls her age had been taking lessons in dance, sewing, flower arrangements, etc. (the majority of which Akiko had failed miserably at) Rika had been training to be a killer.
It must have been lonely. From her own experience, Akiko knew that most men and boys weren't too keen on the women becoming kunoichi. She, at least, had created friendships with the other girls in the compound beforehand. Rika hadn't been given that opportunity.
But it was practically impossible to think of Rika as anything other than a kunoichi. Imagining her in those classes was comical. Rika was lean, muscled, and tall, hair cut short. Her facial features were sharp, almost birdlike with her piercing, dark eyes. There was nothing soft about her at all. She was incredibly talented, more so than Akiko; a fact that never failed to make an appearance whenever the two spoke to one another.
"So you and your boy toy encountered some difficulties," Rika stated, making herself comfortable as she sat at the edge of the tatami mat.
Akiko scowled overdramatically before a grin split across her face. "Something like that," she answered vaguely.
After having to repeat the story a thousand times to her father, her brothers, Emi, some council members, and more, Akiko was plenty willing to let one of them fill Rika in.
Emi was still looking a little scandalized at Rika's comment, but she never corrected the older kunoichi on her mannerisms. Curious, and slightly envious of the reprieve the other girl was granted, Akiko had once asked why, and Emi said it was because Rika was a lost cause.
Waving a hand flippantly, Rika changed the subject. "How's the injury coming along?" She moved the sheet aside so Akiko's leg was in view and stared pointedly at it until Akiko adjusted her yukata to reveal the red line of raised flesh.
"It's coming."
Rika let loose a low whistle. "Good. We have an escort mission in a couple of days and I don't want you slowing me down."
Akiko said wryly, "Your concern is so touching."
"Another mission already?" Emi burst out. "She barely survived the last one!"
Smarting at the unintended insult, especially in front of Rika, Akiko glowered. "A bit of an exaggeration, Emi."
Lips twitching as she stood up, Rika directed her stare to Emi. "The world doesn't stop just because one kunoichi gets a boo-boo," she explained patronizingly. Before leaving, she nodded to Akiko. "Hurry up and get better."
Mouth pressed in a firm line, Emi stated sarcastically, "Still lovely as ever."
oOo
After declining Emi's offer to help her home, Akiko had accomplished getting there with barely any limp at all. She had changed into her training clothes, finding them to be more comfortable, and the shorts she was wearing revealed the barely sealed, angry mark that stood out vividly against the paleness of her thigh.
Izuna was lounging around the large, gated yard of the main house when she arrived. "That's going to be a nice battle scar," he said approvingly.
Akiko shook her head; she would never understand sixteen year old boys. "Oh, no. Don't worry about me. I'm fine."
Izuna gave an easy shrug. "Never doubted you wouldn't be." That was the best thing about Izuna, he trusted her to take care of herself. Madara, on the other hand, was not quite as happy to let her be independent.
Speaking of their older brother…"Where is Madara?"
If Izuna was here, Madara couldn't be too far.
"Somewhere around here."
She hummed noncommittally before lightly stepping up the steps to their house. "Oh! Heads up," she heard Izuna lazily call out, "Aunt Moriko is here."
Stopping dead in her tracks, Akiko turned around and joined Izuna in the yard, sitting next to him with a groan. "Why?" she whined.
"Probably trying to convince father to marry you off again," Izuna replied casually, peering from the corner of his eye to see her reaction. She did not disappoint.
Akiko flopped dramatically to the ground, covering her face with her hand as she lay there. After seeing to her own daughters' marriages, Moriko had turned her sights to Akiko. Moriko had been making these visits since Akiko had turned twelve.
Madara arrived a few moments later, his hair sticking out in every direction as usual. Raising an eyebrow at the sight of his siblings lying about on the grass, he made his way over to them.
Scrunching her face, Akiko despaired, "I may have to spend the night outside."
"Akiko's favorite person in the whole world stopped by for a visit," Izuna teased, filling the older brother in.
"So soon?" Madara mused, remembering the last time Moriko had dropped by.
Smiling prettily, Akiko had sweetly informed their aunt that the betrothed picked out for her better be a damned good shinobi because she wasn't above slitting his throat to garner her freedom if she were able.
Even their father had been slightly amused at that.
"It's not fair," Akiko complained. "You guys are older. Why isn't she trying to sell you to the highest bidder?"
"Our place is on the battlefield," Madara replied, crossing his arms as though daring someone to contradict him. Having a family was the last thing on his mind.
Izuna chuckled, recognizing the older brother's mistake as their sister glared, expression overcome with rage as she snapped, "Oh? And is mine at the home, existing as nothing more than a broodmare?"
Madara rolled his eyes. "You can do whatever you want. Father won't force you to marry so long as you remain useful."
Mouth dropping open, dark blue eyes widened in incredulity as she stared. Shooting to her feet with a huff, she stood on her toes to make the height difference not so vast. "So long as I remain useful?" she parroted in disbelief. "Shouldn't the fact that I don't want to marry be the reason why I don't marry?" she heatedly questioned.
Madara looked a little confused. And the fact that he didn't even realize where he went wrong made her even angrier.
Scoffing, she decided to answer for him. "Right, it's not like my feelings or wants come into the matter. Thank you so much, Madara, for clearing that up for me! How silly of me to think otherwise." And then she delivered the greatest of all insults. "If you'll excuse me, I think I'd rather deal with Aunt Moriko than suffer your presence," she hissed impulsively before stomping away.
It was only when she was out of hearing distance that Izuna allowed himself to guffaw wholeheartedly.
"Women," Madara muttered, watching his sister stalk off. Damned if he would ever understand them.
Mentally preparing herself, Akiko quietly entered her home. Sure enough, beady eyes quickly honed in on her.
"What a mess you are!" The words were laced heavily with disapproval. Though they sounded similar, Emi offered criticisms good-naturedly, whereas Moriko just wanted to condemn her. "If your mother could see you now…"
Resolutely reminding herself that she was not allowed to kill her, Akiko pasted a smile on her face. "Aunt Moriko," she greeted.
The already pinched features of the older woman's face tightened even more with displeasure as she saw the wound on Akiko's thigh. "You'll not be getting any men with those horrid scars covering your body."
Talking through her smile, which she was sure looked more akin to a baring of teeth now, Akiko ground out, "Well, it's a good thing that I don't want any."
"Such a waste," her aunt cried before storming into a lecture.
During her childhood, Akiko vividly remembered the conversations her mother and aunt used to have. The majority of the time it had been about her. Keiko would often complain of how rowdy Akiko was and her unwillingness to attend her lessons while Moriko would listen with a sympathetic ear, eagerly awaiting her turn to gleefully crow about her daughters' achievements.
Whenever her mother found her listening in, she would beckon Akiko forth, cupping her daughter's small face with a mournful sigh, "My beautiful, sparkling child. What am I to do with you?"
And Aunt Moriko would incline her head in agreement. "She is pretty, at least."
Having severely underestimated her ability to endure the suffering that was Moriko, Akiko hurriedly interrupted her aunt when the older woman paused to catch her breath. "Oh! I completely forgot I have…to go get my injury checked again," she lied. "I'll see you when I get back." Not that she was coming back. Her plan was to stay at Emi's.
Without further ado, Akiko took off, forgetting entirely to make it look as though her leg was bothering her.
She could hear Izuna snickering as she approached. "Congrats. You lasted all of five minutes."
"I'd like to see either of you last longer," she dared.
Both males glanced at each other before declining. Madara shaking his head as Izuna declared, "Not a challenge I'd like to take you up on."
"Cowards," she grinned.
Neither bothered to refute her claim.
"Good luck with all that," Izuna said, stretching his arms above his head. "We're off to have a sparring session."
Though she should be used to it, Akiko still felt a little pang in her chest when they left without even considering inviting her along.
You'd only get in our way, she could practically hear Madara telling her disinterestedly.
Izuna would smooth things over and come up with an excuse. You're not healed enough, yet. You should be taking it easy.
Glumly, she made her way to Emi's, the fire stoking in heart.
She would be as good as them one day.
oOo
Thanks to a special ointment Hiromi had concocted, the scar on her thigh was fast disappearing. Soon it would be nothing more than a faint, white line barely discernable from the rest of her skin.
Luckily, Moriko had decided to leave after the first night, well aware that her niece would go to any length to avoid her.
Staying the night at Emi's wasn't such a chore, though. Strangely enough, Emi's mother was more of a free spirit, and she adored Akiko. It was hard to imagine Emi being raised by such a woman. Akiko speculated what it would have been like to be raised by a woman who wasn't so concerned about tradition and proper etiquette, and then felt a little ashamed for the line of thought.
Her brothers had left to go face off against the Senju, again. Honestly, she half-wondered if they all agreed on a location together to go fight. It was well known that the Senju brothers Hashirama and Tobirama were one of the few shinobi able to match her brothers in battle. Being able to slash their way through any enemy must get boring for both parties, so Akiko was a little curious if they planned these meetings to give each other an actual challenge.
Packing lightly for her mission, Akiko let her mind wander. There wasn't a shinobi threat, she was pretty sure. The person they were guarding was a distant family member to an esteemed member of the Fire Lord's council, so nobody terribly important.
After meeting Rika at the gates, the two swiftly headed for the town where they would be meeting their charge.
"Sure that cut didn't cause permanent damage," Rika badgered. "You seem even slower than usual."
Akiko rolled her eyes. "Shut up and run."
The mission was surprisingly easy. Akiko marveled that Rika would be even slightly okay with being given such a small, unimportant task. There were no complications, the destination was only two days away, and their client was actually tolerable.
She honestly couldn't think of a more laid-back mission to help her get back into the swing of things. Masaru was going to be so jealous.
The day before she left, the two had been doing some light training together, recalling the battle that had led to their hospitalization. Oddly, he had probed, "Did you go into a lot of detail of when I fought the shinobi?"
He was trying to sound nonchalant about it, but Akiko could tell he was keenly focused on her. "Not really," she replied. And she hadn't. For some reason, she had skirted around the part where Masaru had his skull fried by the enemy. He seemed just fine. If he wanted them to know, then he would tell.
"Good," he had said, sounding relieved. "Good."
After escorting their charge, the two kunoichi had returned home. Rika had decided to become a complete shrew the last day, providing fantastic motivation for Akiko to rapidly make her way home.
"Next time, try not to be such a pathetic mess," she spat, referring to the mission where Akiko had been injured. "The last thing you need after such a profound failure is coddling," Rika had sneered when they made it back to the stronghold.
Akiko had given her the one-fingered salute. "It was nice working with you, too, Rika."
The next person to annoy her was getting stabbed with a kunai, the small kunoichi decided on her way to her house. She needed a bath.
A few hours later found her feeling refreshed and in a much better mood.
Masaru was off on a scouting mission, so she decided to go give Emi a visit. When she arrived, Emi's mother answered the door, her eyes red-rimmed and face puffy. It was pretty obvious she had been crying. "Akiko, dear, I hadn't been expecting you," she sniffled.
Engulfed with an absurd awkwardness, Akiko struggled to say, "I was—I just got back a little bit ago…Is Emi here?"
Shaking her head sadly, the older woman informed her, "Emi is visiting the other compound. Her father wants her to meet a young man he met over there."
Akiko felt as though something had died within her. "Oh," she murmured. "Oh." Taking a moment to collect herself, she asked, "Do you know when she'll be back?"
Will she be back? Akiko was too afraid to ask.
"Within the next few days," Emi's mother said, much to Akiko's relief. "You girls are just growing up so fast." Sensing another crying session coming on and having no idea how to deal with it, Akiko bade a quick farewell.
As she meandered around the stronghold, she was overwhelmed with sadness, but tried to shake herself out of it. This was what Emi wanted. She wanted to be a wife and mother. This was her dream.
If Emi was happy with whomever her father was attempting to set her up with then Akiko would support her a hundred percent. If Emi wasn't pleased with the choice…well...
…that man had better be a damned good shinobi.
If you didn't understand the last line, I would encourage you to read the chapter again, a little more closely this time.
And there is chapter 2! I apologize for any grammar mistakes. Hope everyone liked it!