Well, today is a nice lazy day for me, so I decided to post chapter three for you all! To those of you who are out of school right now, due to the one-to-two feet of snow coming down, I hope this fills in a bit of the boredom I know you are feeling at the moment :) Enjoy!
Chapter 3, An Old Friend.
"What are you doing out here?" he asked, still oblivious to my shock. "You two are going to get sick!" He glanced at my wrecked car. "Did you just crash!"
I worked my tongue in my mouth, trying to come up with an answer. One that I knew would never come. Anne pulled frantically at my arm, trying to get me to move. The crash has hurt her more than I thought. I pushed air into her head and knocked her out, easing her to the ground at my feet. I glanced up when I heard his running footsteps.
"Is she okay?" he asked, checking her pulse. "Jesus! What the hell happened?" His dark black eyes turned to me. The red stripes down his cheeks glowing in the dark. I felt like I was going to throw up. "Kira?" His hand touched my shoulder. I looked down at it, unbelieving.
How can this be? No, this isn't real! But... how? I glanced back up at the face of Jiraiya, one of the three Sannin. Jiraiya-sama, Naruto's teacher. Jiraiya-sama, the one Sakura would sometimes complain about. Tsunade-sama's old teammate. And teammate of Orochimaru, Sasuke's teacher, the evil villain. I put a hand over my heart, feeling the thumping through my skin. How is he here? What happened? What is he doing here? Am I so drunk I'm imagining things? I took a moment to slap myself hard across the face.
"Hey! Whoa!" Jiraiya grabbed put his hands up in the air with a startled expression. "No need to hit yourself! I get it, hands off, hands off!" He swore under his breath and muttered something like, "Tsuande never mentioned you being this idiotic."
I tried to take a breath, but I ended up choking on it, sputtering as I tried to regain my composure. The rain helped to calm me slightly. I switched the heat on in my body and burned off most of the alcohol that was effecting my brain. I blinked a few times, gazed back at him, and blinked a few more times.
He chuckled. "This is exactly what Tsunade said you'd do... though she never mentioned the slap." He scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Anyway, are you two alright? Why'd you crash?" He was back to the seriousness Naruto had often talked about. Laughing one moment, serious and unkind the next. He looked down at Anne. "She should get to a hospital."
I shook my head, still a little numb. "No need," I whispered. I knelt next to her and placed my hands over her stomach and started to push my energy into her. I fixed any little thing in her body that would effect the baby and healed the slight sprain she sustained in her ankle. I looked back up at him with a frown. "How..." are you here? No. That doesn't sound right. Maybe: What the hell are you doing here in the freaking rain in the road waiting for a car to hit you? Yes, that sounds better. I was about to say it when he held both of his hands up and sat on his heels next to me.
"I know you have many questions," he said. "But right now we need both of you to get a full examination. I know you are just as good as Sakura had been, but you can still overlook things." Jiraiya reached to pick up Anne, but I slapped his hands away from her.
"How do I know you are real?" I snapped. "I could just be dreaming and you are really some creepy old guy who will rape her!"
He looked affronted. "I've been accused of many... many things in my life, but never of rape." Without another word he picked up Anne and started carrying her. He stopped after about fifteen feet and looked back at me with a sheepish grin. "Which way is home?"
I stared at him, a small smile starting to form on my lips. He is real. Everything is real. The smile turned to a grin. "This way," I said and lead the way home.
– –
It wasn't until after a visit to the hospital, under mothers urges, that I got to talk privately with Jiraiya. Before we walked into the house I had made him wipe the paint off his cheeks (which I had found out are actually tattoos, which meant it couldn't be done). My parents interrogated him and asked all of the necessary questions.
Why were you on that road? What were you doing? Where were you going? Who are you? Where do you come from? What is your status? Do you hold a job? What job? How much money do you make a year?
Well... maybe not all of them were necessary. But it ended in my father asking him to stay the night. Mother called father the second Jiraiya entered the house carrying Anne with me tagging behind him. He met us at the hospital. Anne is fine, but they are keeping her over night for some testing, just to be sure the baby will be alright as well, though I know she already will be.
Mother and father went to bed, because of the stress, and I couldn't sleep, because of the stress. It was about ten o'clock in the morning when I sat down with a cup of hot chocolate on the couch next to Jiraiya. He had been watching TV, not the least bit tired. I just stared at him as I drank my hot chocolate, thinking. There is no way he could have gotten here the same way I did. No, he could have. I don't know how I came home. I just fell asleep... and woke up on the plane. How did it happen? Why is this happening now?
It has been ten years. And now, after so many years of pain and agony, things start to change? I'm proved right that it wasn't all a dream? Why after so long? Someone could have told me I wasn't deranged sooner! I scoffed into my cup. No, maybe I am deranged. Maybe this isn't who I think it is. I have never personally met Jiraiya, and he has a very good story to back up why he was on the road last night. It could really be just some creepy old guy with funny white hair that is a rapist.
And I really could be insane.
"It's started," he said in a low voice. I jumped, not expecting him to talk.
"What?" What has started? Definitely not my period, that happened last week. What's started? It's not the season for football... Baseball no one really cares about anymore... What has started?
He gave me a sad smile, his dark eyes holding the same sadness. "The war." Dread washed over me. "The Fourth Great Shinobi War has begun."
"I don't know what you are talking about," I said. What an asshole! This creep is trying to make fun of me! Obviously he has read the articles about me, the ones from ten years ago when I got home from China. They are all over the place. Easy to find. Anger boiled deep within my body. It must have showed on my face, because a look of fear washed over his.
":Look!" he said quickly, trying to explain. "I was sent to find you! I'm not a joke, I swear! Yes, I've read the stories, but only to find out where you were! Kira, you have to believe me!" My hands tightened into a fist and he covered his head. "I hope you don't hit as hard as Tsunade or Sakura..." he whimpered.
I stopped, frozen. I've never talked about their strength before. Ever. I glanced over him, trying to figure everything out. He's wearing normal clothes, jeans, long sleeve shirt. His jacket is in the dryer. But his hair... long and thick, a bright white. Just like Tsunade and Naruto described him as. Just like the pictures showed. Seeing my hesitation, he quickly reached into his pocket and pulled something out. He tossed it on my lap.
I almost dropped my cup.
A headband. Forehead protector, with Konoha's symbol. I looked up at him, my heart thudding loudly once more. "How did you...?"
His face softened. "I know you have been called crazy, Kira," he whispered. "But you aren't. Everything was real, everything. And now you are needed."
I shook my head, once more disbelieving. I'm needed? For what! "How? How did you get here? What am I needed for? Jiraiya," he seemed pleased I knew he name. I then remembered he had used the name Nick when he introduced himself to my parents. "How do I know I'm not dreaming right now?"
He shrugged, reached over and pinched my arm. I yelped, and slapped away his hand. "You aren't dreaming," amusement interlaced his words. "As for how I got here... Blame it on Tsunade. I'm not completely sure myself. You are needed to stop the war, Kira. I've come here to bring you back with me and stop the war."
I swallowed hard. I don't want to go back only to fight in a war. I want to go back to see my babies, to see the love of my life. I thought on it... I would be going back to see them! But it would be under a different reason.
I almost slapped myself again. What the hell am I thinking? Of course I want to go back! I fell awkward in this world, like I don't belong. Having lived in the world of ninja's like I have, this doesn't feel like home anymore. I miss being there. I miss it! I didn't have to hide anything there. I was who I wanted to be. Yes, I made some terrible decisions, but everything worked out in the end, didn't it? Sure, I suffered some, as did others, but everything was okay in the end! If I do this, fight this war, then I can be with them again!
It's decided. "I'll do it," I said happily. He smiled.
"Do what?" I glanced over the back of the couch to see Savannah rubbing her eyes. "Kira, are you going away again?"
I smiled sadly at her and patted my lap. She rolled her eyes and walked around the couch, climbing up in my lap. "Why would you think that, Savannah?" I hugged her tightly, putting my chin on the top of her head.
She shrugged and snuggled closer to me. "I just have a feeling you will leave again. Like when you went to China."
I frowned. "What do you mean?" My eye caught Jiraiya's.
She shrugged again. "When you left, after we dropped you off at the airport, I had this feeling of dread. Like you would never come home. I was so scared when I heard about the lightening storm that would hit you guys. I felt like I had completely lost you at one point, Kira." She wrapped her arms around my neck and held on tight. "Please don't go. Don't leave me like that again, big sister. I can't lose you and Kaleb. Please don't go."
I rubbed her back, holding her tight against me. "You'll never lose me. No matter where I am, I will always be your big sister and I will always love you. No matter what happens. Okay?"
She shook her head, her whole body started to tremble. "No, you have to promise not to leave! Promise me, Kira!" The catch in her voice made my heart sink.
I can't leave my baby sister. How can I? She looks up to me so much. What if I wasn't there for her to look up to? What would she do? I fear of her falling to the tempting lure of drugs and alcohol, hanging out with the wrong crowd and getting into a lot of trouble. No, I have to give her some credit. She is a wonderful and smart girl. But a sisters worry never goes away. "Why did you never tell me?" I will not promise. I will not break it. If it is not made, it can never be broken.
She sniffled. "Because I knew people would look at me like they did you. I didn't want Mommy and Daddy to have to deal with even more attention from the press and stuff. I didn't want you to think I was insane." Her lock on my neck lessened and she looked up into my eyes. "Please," she whimpered. "Please promise me you'll never leave me again."
I swallowed the lump in my throat and glanced at Jiraiya. He was looking at us with sad eyes, his mouth tilted down in a frown. I had to swallow again before I could smile. "Look, why don't you go upstairs and get dressed. I'll take you out to eat. How about that? Hurry, before I changed my mind!" I acted happy as I pushed her off my lap and chased her towards the stairs. She looked back at me with a smile when she reached the top.
"You need to think everything over," Jiraiya said, placing a hand on my shoulder. "I cannot promise you will come back." He walked to the front door and left, a soft click sounding when the door latched shut.
– –
Savannah and I went to visit Anne when we were done eating. She was sitting up in bed, Matt at her side. She smiled when she saw us and made Savannah climb up on the bed with her, to touch her slightly swollen stomach. I remember when mine looked like that. Before I knew I was pregnant. Just before I found out. But for how far along she is, mine had been a lot larger than that.
I sat down in a chair opposite the side Matt was on and watched the three of them interact. Savannah must be around the age of sixteen now, maybe seventeen, but she still acts like she did before I left for China. She is still my baby sister. And I love her so much. But my love for my own children, who grew within me, whom I carried for nine months, tugs at my heart. I love them too. But do I love them more? They hurt me, so so bad. They tried killing me from the inside. Are they worth losing my sister? Gaara, on the other hand, is a whole different story. I would give up anything just to see his face again. Right when we were finally able to be together, when everything was going in our favor, I had to leave. And without saying goodbye.
I would give up everything just to see his face again.
But I love my sister. I love my Mother, my brother, and Daddy. I love all of them. They are my family, too. They have put up with everything those ten years ago, everything I said and did they never, not once, called me insane or stupid. They stuck with me through everything and defended me against everyone they could. I love them.
What do I do?
I put my face in my hands and hid my tears, the only thing I could do at the moment. What do I tell Jiraiya? If he was truthfully sent to find me, to bring me back, then they must be in dire need of help. How could I make a difference? I'm one person. A person who has been out of practice. Its not like I took up Karate or anything. I never practiced like I did in the ninja world. My muscles have probably forgotten everything I used to know. All I can do now is heal and start a candle flame. No, I chided myself, I am not that out of practice with my powers. If anything I am more able to use them than I have ever been able to. I am in better control.
But how will that help?
If I don't have the stamina anymore, how will anything like that help? I need to be able to keep up with everything in order to be of any help.
"Hello, earth to Kira!" Anne laughed. A pillow hit me in the head. I looked up with a glare. "Dude, have you been crying?" She tried to get out of bed, but Matt stopped her. "Kira, why are you crying?"
I shrugged. "I was so scared that you had gotten hurt." Blame it on the trauma we suffered last night, good idea! "I'm just really glad you weren't."
She smiled sweetly at me. "I'm okay, really. Don't worry about me. Are you okay? Tell me the truth." I glanced at Savannah then back at her.
"Yes, I'm okay," I smiled.
About an hour later a nurse showed Jiraiya into the room, and he introduced himself to Matt and Anne, telling her he is the one who saved her life. I laughed and rolled my eyes. Of course he would take all of the glory. Just like Naruto. They act a lot alike, probably the result of his training when he was younger.
Jiraiya left me a card with the hotel's number he was staying at and told me I could leave a message anytime if he wasn't there. Then he left, giving his congratulations to the soon-to-be new mother.
"Do you know him?" Anne asked. "He seems awfully friendly with you." She gave me a wink and I could only imagine what was going on in her head.
I rolled my eyes, but couldn't help the smile that formed on my lips. "He's an old friend."
Now, it is only fair of me to tell you that the next chapter will be explaining everything, so your confusion will be fixed.
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