Desert Flower
Chapter Two – I want to show what I can do!
A great hush had descended upon the stadium. The audience whispered amongst themselves as they continued to witness the victor - Yasu Katashi and the Hokage scowling at each other.
Shiranui glanced towards the front row where there was a single empty seat.
"It's about time you showed up, Iruka, things are getting kinda ugly if you hear what I'm saying?"
"Yes, I can see that."
It only took a few steps to reach Yasu who was practically gnashing her teeth into dust. He placed a solid hand on her shoulder and only then did she turn around.
"We need to leave the area," He said firmly. As expected the girl made to protest but he insisted. "It isn't fair on the other competitors to delay things like this. Look at them up in the stands..." His gaze settled on a group of younger ninja, their eyes were shining with frustration. They wanted to get down there and have their turn to shine.
Yasu frowned. She could only imagine how they felt watching another competitor refuse to leave the stadium. She was being selfish. "All right," She said quietly and followed him away from the crowds.
In the dim light of the backroom Yasu sat on the bench feeling completely numb. She could hear muffled shrieks from next door Guy was still receiving treatment it seemed.
"It isn't fair," She began whilst snatching off her ninja headband. "You know how hard I've worked for this. All that training and she still can't accept me."
"You did your best," Iruka sighed and sat down next to her. She was finding fault with her achievements again. "I'm proud of you! You've come a long way." His face broke into a warm smile.
She tried to smile back but it came across more as a grimace. She should be glad to have come away from the fight with little more than a couple of grazes however it just didn't feel satisfying. There was no warmth inside her heart of a job well done. The applause from the crowd was more of a courtesy than earned respect, and the one person who she wanted to take note was as dismissive as ever.
"You remember the first time we met?"
Yasu nodded, that seemed like a lifetime ago...
She collapsed against the tree feeling the rough bark biting into her back. The hours spent there became mingled, her expectation to be moved along at some point never happened. So even when the sun descended, casting weak red shadows across her face still she did not move. There was a swing to her left. Her fingers reached out for one of the rope handles and she pushed it away from her, hard. As she watched it swayed to and fro with a pathetic squeak.
Then cool evening came and with it the realisation that she really needed to make some accommodation arrangements. Sleeping rough out on the streets in winter was never going to be a smart plan.
Mother is not an option.
She bristles at the mere thought and yet no other solutions are forthcoming. Another few minutes pass by a little warmth is maintained by drawing a pair of numb knees towards her chest. Suddenly tiredness is a great weight pressing down on her whole body. Eyelids begin to droop, perhaps it would not hurt to rest a while and block out the events of the day. There is nothing else that could be done and so much she would rather forget.
"Hey..."
Blue eyes snap back open. A blurred face slowly comes into focus and it looks quite stern.
"No one is supposed to be here after dark. Are you one of the students?"
Slowly she shakes her head and stares dumbly past the man.
He scratches his head, fingers ruffling through chestnut brown hair. The hair is scrapped into a spiky ponytail it bobs about as the man speaks.
"My name is Umino Iruka, I'm an instructor at the academy here."
The academy?
"Look, I'll walk you home – your parents are probably really worried about you!"
"No." Her white breath rolls into the air, the word heavily between them.
Iruka puzzles over this and notices her body rapidly shaking in the cold. She looked ill now, face pale as chalk. Shakes becoming shudders as her muscles contract with a life of their own.
"Mr Umino," she tries to say but her teeth are chattering. "It's not the right time to go home. I can't listen without wanting to speak and I don't have the strength to forgive, not yet."
Iruka bends down to get a better look at the huddled figure. He stares haunted by what he sees. The girl could be no more than seventeen and yet her features told the story of a whole lifetime. Her words were those of someone much older and wiser than a teenager. She waits patiently and does not beg or whine. She appears consumed by something that has sucked all life and brightness from her eyes. Iruka is not entirely sure what emotion he can sense. It tugs at his heart and he becomes troubled by a familiar unease. Pain, perhaps even grief, it radiates from the youngster like a smothering invisible blanket.
Yes, grief can do that to a person, Iruka realises as his heart now identifies the sting. It lies in wait snatching moments when you are completely off guard. A scent or a careless comment catches your ears and you feel like a boxer has landed a left hook. All the air is knocked out your lungs and it takes hold of you. His pain had faded over time and been replaced with hope and happiness. This young person was just beginning the fight. He turns away and then double checks that she really is still by the tree.
"I promise not to take you home," He pauses realising that he hasn't thought this through. "But... you can't stay here."
She nods and then faintly whispers, "Where are we going?"
"It is very late. I don't feel happy about this," Iruka offers his hand. "I guess if it's only for one night, my house."
"Oh."
"Look, I don't know whether you realise this but it isn't normal for an academy instructor to take a young lady from the street back to his establishment! Some may interpret such actions as taking advantage and..."
She laughs at this seeing the tint of red slowly warming in his cheeks. "Mr Umino, I have witnessed the look of a man that wishes to do such things. I do not see such danger in your eyes."
"What's your name?" He asked pondering why she seemed to know so much about leery men.
"Katashi Yasu."
Iruka was quiet as they walked towards a small group of flats near the academy. It had been a long time since Yasu had seen Konohagure at night, there was no howl of the desert winds here only the chirping of crickets hiding in the tall grasses. It felt alien to her.
"I remember you now, Miss Katashi. " Iruka frowned as he poured the creamy milk into a cup. He brought it over to the table placing it down gently. "You were the Leaf Village Ambassador, assigned to improve relations between us and the Sunans back in the Land of Wind. I'd heard tales of great work being done there especially in regards to trade."
"You heard about me, here in the village?"
He shrugged. "Snippets, there was never anything officially published."
"I see." Yasu understood perfectly as she felt the warm liquid seep down her throat. Lady Fifth was maintaining control as usual. Of course Yasu had never expected the village to hear anything if it was negative, but she had negotiated her way through more than a few difficult moments. The long term benefits of which would be an advantage to the Leaf's economy too, yet this was not acknowledged.
"Sometimes it's hard to do your part and not be recognized isn't it?" Iruka gave a sympathetic smile which made her feel worse.
"I'm not glory hunting. I just want to be respected for doing a job well, is that too much to ask?"
"No, but your job has come to end whether you like it or not. So, where do you plan to go from here?"
Looking back she had been trying to avoid answering this simple question however it had always risen to the surface in the end. To answer felt like a frustrated child trying to solve a puzzle.
Iruka had been so kind looking out for her and arranging her first employ at the Yamanaka Flower Shop. He'd found her a place to live and offered work experience at the academy, after that things were easier. Even when Tsuande had reprimanded him and the other jonin expressed their concern he took no notice. Not once did he expect anything in return and it was a very long while before she shared anything about her circumstances. For some this may have been interpreted as ingratitude, but it didn't bother him one bit.
"You're always in such a rush to prove yourself to people but there's really no need!" He twisted her short beige cape back the right way. It had a pretty pattern running around the edges, leaves of many different colours painted on silk. Such an odd garment to wear during a fight, though Yasu often had a habit of doing things differently.
"I just feel that winning because someone broke their nose is a cop out. I haven't even started to show what I can do!"
This was the way it had always been with Miss Katashi - I want to show what I can do! Frustrated and angry, she had repeated that phrase over a hundred times especially when learning earth style jutsu. To begin with she felt that learning another chakra nature was a waste of time. She'd liked water a lot! Although sometimes in training it was as if she was holding back, not completely letting go for fear of…Iruka had never got to the bottom of it, his friend never allowed her chakra to be depleted to absolute zero. Due to this he could only guess the true limits of her endurance. Maybe she was ready for another battle, who was he to decide?
"You keep reminding me of Naruto!" He chuckled.
"Is it safe to come in?" Shiranui asked only half joking. He glanced at Yasu pleased to see her calmer and more receptive. "I've just had a meeting with the Hokage. One of the candidates has forfeited their match and we're still waiting for medical clearance on another, something about a poisoning incident. It's all very suspect if you ask me."
Instinctively Yasu offered her help yet Shiranui raised his hand and declined the offer.
"We could use your help in a different way though. We need more time to investigate what's going on and you know how you wanted another shot in the arena? Well, Lady Fifth has granted permission for you to take on another jonin."
Iruka suddenly felt sick. "Do you know who it is?"
"Yeah," the proctor couldn't hide his smirk. "Temari of the Sand!"