Polarity

Chapter Two

-Confrontation-

Beautiful jade eyes scanned over the plain where the war between the two tribes was once again being waged. Natsumi leaned back, setting her hand on her hip as she searched the gory carnage for her opponent. The wind picked up, blowing her pink tresses around her face. She gripped her weapon more tightly in her hand and rolled her neck to loosen up. She was wearing something similar to a kimono. It was white with pastel pink cherry blossom petals decorating the edges and area over her breasts, and had no sleeves, revealing her smooth, toned arms. It opened in the front, showing some of her cleavage. She had an obi tied tightly around her waist and had slits up to her thighs on the sides. She wore black flats with tight, thigh high leggings.

She glanced down to the pendent hanging around her neck and picked up the flawless sapphire stone that was cut into a crescent moon. It was lined with white gold, shimmering in the bright sunlight that was shining down on the field. She took a better hold of her weapon, a long staff that was somewhat like a spear, but with two curved blades at the end instead of one.

Finally, her gaze locked on the one she was searching for. She smirked and twisted the staff in her hand before heading down the small hill she had occupied. She stepped over a few lifeless bodies, making her way to the engaged man. And once she was close enough, she twirled her scythe expertly and shot her hand out. A white flurry and chilled mist shot out and formed sharp icicles that were headed straight for the dark haired man. He quickly took down his opponent and turned, shooting out a wall of fire to melt the ice that was being sent his way.

"Still up to your old tricks I see." He smirked, twirling his sword expertly in his hand. He wore a long sleeved crimson shirt with black, gold-trimmed armored gloves that stopped just before his elbows. The shirt was lined in black, and opened enough to reveal some of his chest and the necklace that hung there. It was made of pure gold and was shaped like the sun, a large, bright ruby making up the center. His pants were black, as well as the armor on both of his shoulders, also trimmed in gold and making them seem broader than they were. He had on a pair of dark brown boots, and a black belt where his sword's scabbard was attached, another belt around his right leg, holding a small handful of throwing knives. He had a piece of cloth made of the same material as his shirt tied around his forehead to keep his ebony locks out of his face, and beneath it his forest green eyes sparkled with the thrill of the fight.

Natsumi moved back, pointing her scythe like weapon at her enemy. "Yes, well," she smiled deviously. "You know me."

"Unfortunately." He said, before running forward to attack her. She evaded his attacked expertly, flipping out of the way.

"And you're still as quick to jump into the fight as ever." She quipped, smirking at him.

He shrugged. "You know me, besides, it's not like you have any room to talk. You were the one who sought me out after all."

She let out a laugh and sped towards him, flipping her scythe around and aiming it for his heart as she began to attack in her own, dance like, style. "What do you expect? I can't help it, you just look so stunning in red." She seethed catching his arm, nipping his bicep and tearing through the cloth.

He grit his teeth as he spun around, lashing out with his sword in an attempt to knick her. He missed, but that didn't stop him from quickly pulling out a knife and tossing it towards her, slicing her cheek just enough to cause a line of blood to appear. "Oops, look like I cut your pretty little face." He taunted, standing in a defensive position.

Her eyes widened and her hand immediately went to her face, wiping some of the blood off. She looked at her fingers and the crimson liquid that stained them. "I see how it is." She said dully, locking her angry jade gaze with his. She charged at him once more and they began their intertwining dance of the blades. She swung and stabbed, but he always managed to block the volley she sent worth. Natsumi stepped back then, shifting her body weight, feigning an opening. Seeing it, Akito thrust his sword forward into the unprotected area of her stomach. Twirling her staff, she caught his blade in between her two and twisted the rod, forcing his weapon from his hands.

She shoved the tip of her scythe into the ground and swung around it, aiming a kick for his face, which connected and sent him stumbling back. She grimaced when he didn't fall and landed on the grass. She ripped up her long range weapon and charged after him once more, becoming more lethal now that he didn't have a weapon to fully protect himself from her. Seeing her running towards him, he summoned his fire to his hands and formed long whip-like things with them, lashing out with them both in an attempt to hit her, or at least distract her enough while he made his way over to his weapon.

"Don't think I don't see you Akito!" she frothed, a chilled fog beginning to emit from her hands. She wound her hands up and cut straight through the ropes, her chilled scythe covering the flames with solid ice and creeping towards him in attempts to encase his body. He let his flames die out before making a dive for his weapon, quickly grabbing it in a roll and making a wall of fire to protect himself before splitting his sword so that he now had two.

"Don't think I didn't know you saw me Natsumi." He said as his flames died down. "Regardless though, I still got what I wanted."

She spun around, waving her scythe back and forth, and with every swing icicles shot towards him, filling the air with their icy death. He quickly began to swing his swords in wide arcs, each time sending out fire balls to counter her ice. It wasn't long until the two were face to face, their weapons pressed against the others forcefully. "And so, we are here again." Akito said, sounding almost mournful, since every time he and Natsumi fought they wound up in this same impasse.

"Yeah." She frowned. "Guess you still can't beat me." She sighed and then went wide eyed, her gaze shifting quickly to her left as a barrage of arrows was shot towards her. She broke from their lock and fell back, just narrowly avoiding the deadly blows. Akito was over her just as she hit the ground, his sword at her throat.

"And so the Moon succumbed to the Sun." he said, not letting his assurance appear on his face. It was never over until she stopped breathing. Without a moment's hesitation he moved the tip of his blade and thrust down right above her heart. Her eyes widened and pain shot across her face, but she gripped her scythe and with him now held in place, she tilted it up and ran him through with the sharp tip.

She coughed, blood splattering out as her vision began to blur. "Hopefully you'll die this time." She smirked, twisting her wrist to turn the blade inside him.

He winced at the pain, and placed his other hand on the ground next to her face to steady himself. "Same to you." He said in a slightly pained voice. "Though I wouldn't be surprised if neither of us did. I'm beginning to think the only way we will die is if one of us chops the other up into little tiny bits." He said, his arm beginning to shake as he was losing the strength to hold himself off of her.

She closed her eyes, trying to regulate her breathing. "Which will never happen. What attempt is this?"

"Seventy eight I think," he managed out.

"Sounds about right." She opened her eyes slowly and smiled, "You really do look nice in red. If we don't die, I'll make sure to cover you in it next time."

He smirked, carefully lowering his body onto her so that he didn't cause either of them any more pain than necessary as they lay there dying. More so like bleeding a lot and dying momentarily. "I think, next time we meet, we should fight one on one." He said softly into her neck, since his head was on the ground next to hers. "That way nobody gets in our way. We should keep fighting until one of us doesn't wake up, and the survivor can claim victory for their people."

"I like that idea." She mused, shutting her eyes once more. "Then I will meet you at the unfinished temple and there we will finally decide who is better."

"You're on." He sighed, that same sense of complete blackness beginning to creep upon him. "Wear something pretty, that way, in the impossible event that I lose, I have something nice to look at one last time before I die." The corner of his mouth tilted up.

She huffed, "I always wear something pretty. I'm the moon remember, I always emit the beauty of its milky glow."

"I know, but I mean something extra pretty. Don't hold out on me now." He chuckled slightly, before turning his head and coughing up blood. They may be enemies, but he was enough of a gentleman not to just let it spew all over her face. In his befuddled state, he noted how soft her body felt beneath his, and wondered, as he sometimes did, that if things had been different between their villages, what his relationship with Natsumi would have been like. But he never thought long on the subject, for there was no point in idle musings.

They both fell unconscious then from the blood loss, the fight slowly dying around them as it normally did when they 'died'. It wasn't much longer till both tribes disbanded, vowing to get revenge if their prince or princess were killed.

Natsumi groaned, trying to move but felt how sore her body was. Slowly, her eyes cracked open and she glanced out the massive window to see the sun beginning to set due to the orange sky. She looked up then, studying the ceiling and realized she was in her bedroom. She sat up and gasped, her hand instantly going to her shoulder.

She grimaced seeing the bandage and removed it slowly, seeing nothing but a thin white line where there should have been a massive scar. "Now don't you go undoing all my hard work." A voice reprimanded.

Another woman walked in then, looking eerily similar to the one in the bed, save for her emerald green eyes. She was carrying a pitcher of water, and walked over to a table and set down the jug, pouring some into a cup and then handing it to Natsumi, who drank from it gratefully. "You had me worried you know." She said softly.

She tried to stifle a cynical laugh. "Why? I haven't died yet."

"Yet being the key word. I don't like how reckless you get fighting that boy." Sakura threw her hands in the air before picking up the discarded bandage and beginning to fold it. "Besides, this one was worse than the others, you were out longer."

"So what?" she glared. "Mother, don't you think it's weird? How I just can't seem to die."

The elder woman sighed before meeting her daughter's gaze. "Yes, but I am grateful for the fact that it keeps me from losing you." She brushed some of Natsumi's hair from her face. "I believe it means you are destined for something great, though I do not know what it is."

Natsumi sighed, but took her mother's hand gratefully. "I think it might be to finally win this war. Every time I'm with him, I feel something powerful deep within my soul. It must mean victory for us."

"I hope so. I am tired of seeing you dead and hoping that you wake up again. I know you never die, but it doesn't keep a mother from worrying." She smiled and kissed her on the forehead. "Now get dressed. Your father wishes to speak to you about the battle as soon as you're up and well. As always." She rolled her eyes as she spoke of her husband, though it was in good humor.

The younger woman smiled and nodded. "I'll be ready. I assume dinner is being served? It is almost nightfall."

Sakura nodded and placed her hand on her daughter's head, running her fingers through the pink tresses. "Yes. So don't take too long, you need to eat something with all that blood you've lost."

"I know, I know." Natsumi laughed and gestured for her mother to leave. "I will join you shortly." With that her mother left. The younger girl sighed and got up from her bed making her way towards her closet. She scanned her clothing with a hard gaze. If she was alive, then most likely Akito would be recovering as well. He never died when he was supposed to. Her gaze fell on something she'd yet to wear, since it was only to be worn for a celebration. But it would be. She would finally kill him and seeing as the moon would be rising soon, she would have the upper hand.

After pulling the outfit out, she left the room to the bathroom, which was just a room with a wooden tube filled with steaming water. Her mother always had a hot bath ready for her when she woke up. She washed herself in the heated water and cleaned her hair of the remaining blood and dirt. She emerged from the water and dried herself off, towel drying her hair. She walked back into her bedroom, nude, and began to dress.

The top was like a kimono, with sleeves that were tight around her biceps and then flowed freely down to her fingertips. The fabric was a soft, almost white pink with a dark pink trim that was trimmed by purple. She crossed the kimono top over her chest and wrapped around a deep pink corset, tightening it so it fit her snuggly. In the center of the corset, just beneath her breasts was a yellow crescent moon with the opening facing up. And over a layered, ruffled white skirt the ends of the kimono cascaded the whole bottom stopping just mid-thigh in the front and only a bit lower in the back.

Finally, she sat down and pulled on matching tights that came up just above her knees, decorated in the same fashion as the top. And once they were on she slipped on the matching purple flats. By then her hair had dried and she ran a brush through her tangled locks. She went over to the vanity and examined her appearance. Seeing that something was missing, she picked up the moon necklace she always wore and fastened it around her neck before dipping her fingers in a silvery dust, running it along her eyelids and giving her an almost luminescent look.

Satisfied with what she saw, she took her salvaged weapon, and left the room to join the rest of her tribe in their evening. When she arrived at the normal common area, all the chatter died away and she went to her spot beside her mother. The two redheads at the front focused their eyes on her, both looking confused.

"Natsumi, why are you dressed that way?" Sakura asked, her voice laced with worry and suspicion.

Said girl just smirked, "Because tonight is a celebration. By tomorrow, everything will change."

The elder redhead stood, looking down at his daughter. "You are not going anywhere. You've just awoken."

"And what do you mean by celebration? Do you have some kind of head injury that I missed?" Sakura asked, trying to examine her daughter's head.

Natsumi batted her mother's prying hand away. "No. It's a celebration, because with the full moon, our victory will finally be complete."

"Do elaborate." Sakura deadpanned, unconvinced.

"Do not worry." She smiled, looking confident. "I assure you, this will all end tonight." She stepped forward and kissed her mother's cheek and then did the same to her father.

Gaara grabbed onto her upper arm and glared down at his gifted daughter. "Do not leave. This end you speak of, I fear is not what you expect."

The younger male beside him nodded. "Don't go Natsumi. I have a foreboding feeling as well."

Sakura stood. "Please stay dear. You haven't fully recovered." She begged, her brow creased with worry. "What if you don't come back to us?" she asked softly, cold fear manifesting itself in the pit of her stomach.

"I am a warrior." She frowned. "It is not fair that I am being held back when if it were Toshiro in my place he would be cheered on. I can do this." She said strongly, showing that she was not going to back down. "And I promise. I will not die."

"Why can't you at least wait until you fully heal?" the elder woman asked.

"I am fully healed!" she yelled, losing her temper and shocking all around her. "You don't understand what it's like to be denied death! I wake up, when others should have died. I heal faster than anyone in our tribe. There isn't a scratch on me anymore!" she glared, backing up and pointing her weapon at them. Gaara pulled Sakura behind him and stared his youngest down.

"Natsumi. You need to relax."

The air became suddenly cold, the scent of death filling the air. "I am calm." She seethed.

Sakura peeked out from behind her husband, resting her hands on his back for support. "Honey, can't you see that we only have your best interests at heart? What will waiting a few days more to fight Akito harm?" she asked. "After all, you've never been this quick to leave and fight him before."

She sighed, lowering the sharp tip from its threatening position. "Fine. I will wait." She frowned, taking her seat on one of the cushions and resting her scythe beside her as she began to eat. Gaara watched her, a bit suspicious that she had given in so easily. But he took his place at the head and rose his glass to assure everyone that things were fine within their royal family. Sakura sat as well, still somewhat tense from everything that had just transpired. She resumed eating, but did so slowly, glancing to the side at her daughter every once in a while as if to see if she was still there.

The meal went by smoothly after that, seeming to return to normal. And after that, everyone retired for the evening since they were all weary from the battle. "Goodnight." She smiled to her parents, "You were right, I still feel worn from my injuries. Thank you." She bowed, kissing them both on the cheek.

"Goodnight Toshiro." She said, hugging her brother and then turning to her sister-in-law. "Sleep well Minako. May you be safe this night." She hugged her as well and then crouched down to her enlarged belly. "And you too small one. I await your birth anxiously." She giggled, rubbing the woman's smooth stomach.

Minako smiled down at her best friend, placing her hands on top of her stomach. "You and me both. If I'm pregnant any longer I think I'll explode." She joked. The pink haired woman joined her in her laughter and stood.

"I hope it's a girl. She would be so sweet, just like you."

"Hey now." Toshiro huffed. "I'm sweet too."

Everyone laughed then and looked at the heir. "Well good night my children." Gaara said, placing his hand on the small of his wife's back. "See you in the morning." He nodded and led Sakura off. Toshiro helped Minako off towards their own abode as Natsumi waited till she could no longer see any of them. As quickly as she could, she dashed towards the stables and readied her white stallion. Not wanting to be stopped, she led it out from the stables and through the back of the village before mounting the horse and taking off into the woods and heading west. She had made a promise and she intended to keep it.