Public Affection/Nostalgia
(Kelly's P.O.V.)
So, to recap, because I was too busy last chapter to do so. My name is Kelly Sturken, I'm 21, from New York and an aspiring author/forensic anthropologist.
"Your first book should be a children's book: A Child's First Book of Forensic Pathology. Avenge my death!"
That's Baldwin. He's a ghost who's standing in for my conscience. He's 800 years old and a pain in the ass but I love him dearly.
The other person I love dearly is the one, the only, Orochimaru, Lord of the Sound.
"She would've hooked up with the Lord of the Sith but it never worked out."
Right B, whatever you say.
So, it's been about three months since we officially started…well, being together. And in that time I've actually learned to control my chakra. Yup, it turns out that I actually do have some, it's really just the stuff I use for my empathic healing! And the best news is that I'm a summoner now, of cats! It's so cool, I love kitties! I've learned to summon all sorts of different jutsu cats, each with their own special powers and abilities. But, I still haven't found out where that phoenix came from. I wish I knew, she did save my boyfriend's life after all. Ah well.
Back to the present, right now we're riding to Konoha to meet with Hokage Tsunade. I've convinced her let Orochimaru and I draw up a ceasefire between Leaf and Sound. If anything, it will stop our security from being breached by ANBU and hunter nins. I swear, if that alarm goes off one more time… But I digress, it will be a great thing for both nations. However, as I ride along on my main cat summon, Kisaki, I can't help but see the virtual raincloud above his head. He's been on edge all week, Jiraiya's going to be there for the actual meeting and Anko's going to be in the village; although she could just avoid him the entire time. Still though, he's been so quiet it worries me. I can almost see him wrestling with his thoughts, like two dragons snapping at each other. I could also see Hebi, his two-headed cornsnake summon, curling around and around his arm, a reflection of his agitation.
"Sweetie?" I asked.
He looked up and I could see the worry in his sweet gold eyes.
"Sweetie, I'm worried about you."I continued, "I could barely get you to calm down last night. I didn't think that this whole ceasefire treaty would get you so worked up."
He smiled, trying to look reassuring.
"I'm fine my dear, really I am."
I gave him a skeptical look but kept my thoughts mostly to myself for the rest of the ride. A few hours later we approached the main gates of Konoha.
"Wonder where Griff is," I said, shielding my eyes to peer up at the top of the doors, "She said she'd meet us."
Suddenly, a loud whistle filled the air, like a bomb being dropped. Without much more warning than that, something large and yellow slammed into the dirt in front of us.
"Death from above!" it squawked.
I smiled as Shinobi Griffin clawed herself out of the hole she had just made.
"Nice one Griff." I laughed.
She saluted.
"How goes it eh? It's the big day right?"
"Yes," Orochimaru replied, "would you be so kind as to inform Lady Tsunade that we've arrived."
"Yes sir-e!" She said, more chipper than usual as she took to the sky.
A few moments later, the gates opened and several guards stood there, waiting to escort us.
"Shall we?" I asked, kissing my love on the cheek.
(Ochi's P.O.V.)
The last thing I had wanted to do was worry her. But already I could feel her stare as she looked on at me as we rode side by side through the streets of the village that I had once called home. I repressed several shudders as the sights, sounds and smells stirred up a deep sense of nostalgia. Sure I remembered my teammates, the things we did together, before I had begun my experiments. But now, faced with the haunting memories of what had happened when I had launched my invasion, I could barely look at the buildings without feeling like my arms were burning up again. I realized then that, in a sick sort of way, Sarutobi's curse had actually brought Kelly and I together. Kelly had always told me that seeing me in pain in the manga that was her world's window to my own had made her look at me differently; as a 'potential mate' as she had put it. She would never have considered me 'boyfriend material', another phrase I credit to her, had I somehow escaped the Third Lord's curse.
But despite that and all that had happened in the past three months, I couldn't help but feel a shudder of apprehension as we neared the building where Sarutobi and I had fought. A feline yowl snapped me out of my thoughts. Sanpo, the cat summon Kelly had called, insisting that I ride alongside her, was complaining about how I had begun to fist my hands in his fur in agitation. I mumbled an apology and noticed her looking at me.
I was worrying her.
It took me a while to actually be happy with this one but I am finally. And that's what counts.
