Ch. 3- Conflicts

Toboe's POV

We were on our way back to the village after hours of hunting. Kiba was in the lead of course, Tsume was behind him, Hige was behind Tsume, and I was last. We were coming out of the woods near Ayuki's house (let me tell you! She is sooo rich that she could own the whole village and then some . . . but she doesn't.) We went around to the back, to go in through her room because we don't have a key to get in, plus it would be awhile before she got back from the festival and we didn't feel like waiting that long. Anyways, we were at the edge of the trees and Kiba stopped suddenly. I went up there beside him and saw two figures on the balcony. One was short so I knew that that was Ayuki but I couldn't tell who the other person was. Then the big shape spoke.

"Maybe you should go to bed. I'll stay up." It said.

"No. I'll be fine. You can go home if you want." said Ayuki yawning.

"You look like your about to fall asleep right now standing up. Just go to bed and when they return—if I'm still here—then I will wake you up." It said, turning her around and pushing her into her room.

"Ok. I'll go to bed." She said yawning very big.

Then they disappeared into her room. The guy came back out smiling and looking out at the trees again. I then jumped onto the balcony and he jumped like ten feet in the air. I realized that it was Ryan.

"Oh! Hey Toboe! Ayuki just went to bed. Do you want me go wake her?" He said.

"Hey. No. Let her sleep. Why are you here?" I asked.

"I'm here because I didn't want to go home and to make sure you guys got home alright. And maybe I just wanted to spend sometime with Ayuki because we haven't hung out in awhile." He said looking me in the eyes.

"Ok. Well you can go home now. Hope you had fun." I said with a little jealousy in my voice.

"Ok. Well see you later." He said jumping off the balcony and headed into the woods.

Then Kiba, Tsume, and Hige jumped onto the balcony.

"You know you didn't have to get jealous. He wouldn't have done anything." Kiba said.

"I know. It's not him I'm jealous or wary of. . ." I said going into Ayuki's room.

"Oh. It's Ayuki your being wary of. . ." said Kiba, to no one in particular and a sly smile on his face.

I was downstairs watching TV; it was about midnight, when I felt arms around my shoulders.

"Why didn't you come to bed?" Ayuki asked.

"Because I didn't want to disturb you and I couldn't sleep anyways." I said.

"Oh. Well do you mind if I sit down?" she asked.

"No not at all." I said scooting over.

Instead of going around the couch, she jumped over it and landed next to me. She then gave me a kiss on the cheek and said, "I missed you! I was worried about you, Kiba, Hige, and Tsume." Then she put her head on my chest and I put my arm around her and started playing with her hair.

"I missed you too." I said kissing her forehead.

Then, a few minutes later, I heard labor breathing; I looked down and Ayuki was asleep. I grabbed the cover that was on the back of the couch and draped it over her.

I guess I must have fallen asleep, because I woke up to Tsume nudging me. I looked down and Ayuki was not there.

"Where is Ayuki?" I asked stretching and yawning.

"Upstairs getting dressed. She asked me to wake you up and for you to take a shower and get ready within an hour. It's a little passed five in the morning." Said Tsume, sitting down.

"Ok." I said getting up and going upstairs.

I knocked on Ayuki's door. Surprisingly there was an answer.

"Yes! You can come in!" she said.

I opened the door and went in. She had on a light blue tank top with light blue shorts on.

"I just came up to take a shower and to see why we are leaving so early?" I asked grinning. (I couldn't help it. She looked so cute!)

"We are leaving early because I have to get some herbs and stuff for the stores and hospital. Hige and I are going. If you want to go, you can but you don't have to. I know how tired you must be." She said brushing her hair.

I went over, wrapped my arms around her waist, and said, "If you don't mind I'll stay here and catch up on my sleep."

"I don't mind. Well I have to go, eat, and get out of here." She said turning around and kissing me on the cheek and heading out her room.

I then followed suit and sat back down on the couch. Ayuki and Hige were done eating and went to put their shoes on. Then Ayuki said, "We will try and be back before nightfall."

"Ok. But be careful." I said.

"We will!" she said going out the door.

Ayuki's POV

Hige and I were out in the woods collecting poppy seeds (which are little black seeds that numb pain and help you sleep), when all of a sudden I smelt something weird. I stopped and said to Hige, "Do you smell that?"

Hige sniffed and his eyes got wide with excitement! Then he said, "Yea! It's Blue's sent all right!"

"Ok. We will try and follow it." I said setting down the basket.

'I noticed the smell didn't appear until we went past that tree.' I thought to myself looking back.

Hige and I followed the sent to an open area. I stopped and sniffed. I smelt a mix of things. I smelt that weird smell and I also smelt roses and a hint of meadow. I did not even say a word. All my senses were on high alert. I stepped into the center of the clearing. Then I felt a presence to my left. Someone was walking out of the woods and said, "You shouldn't be here Ayuki. Please get out of here." Then the person emerged into the lighted area. It was my older brother Joseph.

"Well I can't help it my nose smells stuff. Why do we have to leave?" I said.

"Because you're not safe here. You're in their territory now and that makes you a specific and easy target." He said urgently.

I could see the plea in his eyes and hear it in his voice.

"Ok. We will leave now. Let's go Hige." I said turning around and going back the way we came.

"But what about—"

"No buts! We have to leave now or else we won't make it back to where we started!" I said sternly and still walking.

Hige just shut his mouth and followed suit. I then heard a rustling in the bushes and trees really close to my right. However, I had a deep-gut feeling that this was not the welcoming committee. Then something, no someone, dropped right in front of me.

"Well. Isn't this a surprise! Ayuki coming to us this time!" said a husky voice.

"Just let us pass, Deidera. We were just passing through when we smelled a weird smell so we followed it. We didn't know we were on your territory." I said going around him.

"Well to bad. You will have to deal with the consequences!" he said grabbing my arm and throwing me up against a tree. Then he grabbed my neck. I wanted to scream out in pain but bit my lip. I could already feel the bruises on my shoulder blades from where I slammed against the tree.

"Ayuki!" yelled Hige.

"Let them through Deidera. They meant no harm." said Itachi coming out of the woods.

"But they are on our territory!" said Deidera tightening his grip around my neck.

I was starting to see spots and I could not breathe. I was not going to take this, so I lifted my left foot and put it on his chest, then pushed. Deidera went flying and slammed into a tree; He then stood back up. I landed on my feet and got in my fighting stance. Then Deidera moved but before he could take a step, Itachi was between us.

"You can leave us now." Ordered Itachi, standing directly in front of me, and his back to me.

Deidera gave him this mean look but said nothing and stalked off into the woods.

"What was with the ordering?" I said, a confused look on my face.

"Nothing. What have you been up to lately?" Itachi asked, turning around and looking me in the eyes.

I could see compassion, worry, and anger in his eyes. But anger from what? I just shook my head and said, "Like I'm going to tell you. What's with the niceness all of a sudden?"

"I don't know. I'm just tired of what's been going on with the Akatsuki. And maybe a certain someone has had an influence on me." He said fidgeting, he sighed and continued, "I'm just trying to change my ways and maybe make up for lost time."

"Oh. Make up time for what?" I said, moving sideways to get away from him because he was leaning into my face, his lips almost brushing mine.

"For spending time with my little brother and you. I want to make up for what I put you both through." He said, his voice sounding concerned.

I whirled around, growling, anger flooding my whole body. "You want to make up for what you put us both through! You will never be able to make up that much pain and sorrow with any sort of happiness!" I said, getting in his face, then I took a deep breath in and backed away from him looking at the ground. Then I said in a low voice, almost a whisper, "There is only one apology I need and I don't think you can get it from him. I know you know who I'm talking about." Then I turned back around and walked past Hige. "We had better get going."

"Hey Ayuki." said Itachi.

"Yes?" I asked stopping and turning around.

"Be careful. Terrible stuff is going to happen real soon." Said Itachi turning and looking me in the eyes. His face showing deep concern.

I just nodded my head and turned back around and started walking back the way Hige and I came.

Hige and I were heading back to the village, carrying the herbs that we collected, and I could not stop thinking about what Itachi said. 'What kind of terrible stuff is going to happen?' I thought getting very frustrated.

"Is something bothering you Ayuki?" asked Hige.

"Yes. There is. I can't help but think of what Itachi meant when he said terrible things are going to happen." I said kicking the ground.

"You know you can't believe what he says is true. Do you?" said Hige.

"I know but something is telling me that he is telling the truth!" I said very frustrated. "And as much as I hate to say it . . . I think Itachi is actually trying to be nice . . ."

"What! That guy is nothing but evil! He attacked your village, killed your parents, your family and even his family! How could you think that?" yelled Hige.

"Look! You have no right to talk about what happened with my parents! Yes he killed my parents and his family, but someone else killed my family. Anyways, my heart has never steered me wrong! Plus, I could tell that he was telling the truth because I read his thoughts." I said.

Hige sighed then said, "I know. I was out of line with your parents. But that still doesn't mean he's telling the truth."

"Well you believe what you want to believe and I'll believe what I want to believe." I said.

"Yea. Sure. Whatever." He said rolling his eyes.

I just blew out a big lungful of air and continued walking.

It's been about two months since Hige and I had that little confrontation in the woods. I was walking around the village with Sasuke. It was about the middle of May. It was a clear beautiful day. The sun was shining bright and there wasn't a cloud in the sky! When all of a sudden, Atsuki appeared in front of me, a worried look on his face.

"Ayuki! I can't find the Hokage anywhere!" he said.

"How long has it been since you last saw him?" I asked.

"About a few hours ago, maybe." He said sounding very worried.

"Ok. And what about the last place you saw him?" I said trying to sound concerned.

"I was walking with him in town when he all of a sudden turned down this alley and when I turned into the alley he was gone!" he said frantically.

I looked at Sasuke and he had a grin on his face, which probably meant that he was thinking the same thing I was . . . that Atsuki was lying!

I continued to go with the flow, and said "Ok. Well take me to the spot. Sasuke go and get Kiba, Kiba and Akamaru, and Hige."

"Ok. See you in a minute!" said Sasuke smiling and then he disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

Atsuki and I were in an alley. I was on one side and Atsuki was at the entrance. I was sniffing to see if I could smell the Hokage anywhere when all of a sudden, I was up against the wall! Atsuki had my arms pinned, and his lips were not even a hair length from mine.

"You shouldn't have come alone." He said very softly and grinning.

I shivered. However, my voice was calm as I said, "I am never alone."

Then, as if on cue, I heard Ryan's voice.

"And she will never ever be alone."

I looked and saw Ryan, Sasuke, Kiba, Kiba and Akamaru, and Hige. I smiled. I then looked back at Atsuki and he had fear in his eyes but he was also smiling. I did not like that combination, at all. He turned his face back to me, a cold shiver ran down my spine, and the hairs on my neck stood on end. He leaned in, his lips next to my ear and said, "I'm sorry."

'No!' was all I thought as I felt a blinding pain in my left shoulder, then I was swallowed by darkness.

Ryan's POV

Ayuki's head was slumped over on Atsuki's shoulder. He brought his head up and said something to her, and then he set her feet gently on the ground and stepped away from her. I had a bad feeling about this. Ayuki stood up straight and faced us- her head was still down- then she lifted up her head and looked at us. Instead of her eyes having the usual playful green sparkle, they were a black color. A chill ran down my spine. 'Maybe I can try talking her out of it . . .' I thought.

"Ayuki! Listen to me!" I yelled. "You don't want to hurt us! We're your friends!"

She just looked at me. Then she charged straight at me! I couldn't move! Then Sasuke was in front of me. He had his fists clenched. When Ayuki came within a couple of feet, Sasuke raised his right fist and swung at her. She flew to the other end of the alley.

"Next time, move!" said Sasuke, through clenched teeth.

I just nodded my head. I peeked around Sasuke and saw Ayuki getting on her feet. She took a step then stopped. Almost like, she was trying to control herself again.

"What are you doing, Ayuki? I said kill them!" yelled Atsuki.

Ayuki shook her head then took a step back. She then disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Sasuke move and put his palm on my chest and pushed, making me fly through the air.

Sasuke's POV

I pushed Ryan out of the way. Just as soon as he was in the air, Ayuki appeared behind me. I turned to swing at her but she blocked it. She held my hand there.

"S- Sasuke . . . Please . . . You know what to do . . ." she said.

I looked at her eyes. They were their natural green color.

"But I don't know if I can . . ." I said, whispering.

"You . . . have to . . . Please. . . I don't know how much more I can fight this!" she said, through clenched teeth.

I thought about it, then nodded my head. She shook her head then swung at me again. I blocked it and hit her in the stomach, making her fly through the air, and hitting the ground. I made some hand signs and teleported right next to her. She was trying to stand back up. I located the mark on her neck—made by Atsuki—and put my hand over it. I could feel it getting hot. She screamed in pain and frustration, but then gritted her teeth. She then collapsed on the ground, breathing hard. She stood up, with her head looking at the ground, not saying a word.

"Ayuki? Is it you?" I said very concerned and stepping in front of her and putting my hand on her cheek. She leaned her head into my hand and I felt something wet on my thumb. She then looked up at me and tears were rolling down her face. I looked into her eyes and smiled. They were back to their original color.

"Sasuke . . . Thank you . . .," she said hugging me.

"You're welcome," I said sighing and hugging her back, "Even though it wasn't easy for me to do. Glad to see you back to your old self."

"Glad to be back." She said laughing a little.

She had stopped crying at this point and she was now standing beside me, facing the alley.

"Atsuki . . . Don't you have something to say?" she said.

'I totally had forgotten about him!' I thought to myself as I turned around.

"I have nothing to say to you or anyone else! I'll see you again real soon, Ayuki." Atsuki said, grinning. Then he disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

I looked back at Ayuki. She sighed and shook her head. She started walking down the street when she suddenly stopped, went through the air, rolled, and slammed into the side of the building. Before I could take a step towards her, she disappeared in a cloud of smoke and I had a deep gut feeling that wherever she went it wasn't going to be good.