Note to the Reader: Sorry this chapter took so long to come out. But I hope you'll enjoy this one. I think I've change Niiane-chan's personality and lot but she's a bit more lively and careless now instead of the overly hopefull lover. Please tell me if you like new personality. Sorry this chapter took so long to come out. But I hope you'll enjoy this one. I think I've change Niiane-chan's personality and lot but she's a bit more lively and careless now instead of the overly hopefull lover. Please tell me if you like new personality.
CHAPTER FOUR
Crossing Paths Again
The Ichiraku Ramen Bar was where Niiane decieded to spend her lunch break. She didn't particularly like ramen but it would have to do for now. It was the closest place she could think of. Niiane's stomach growled as she crossed her arms over it.
"Damn..." Niiane grunted. "I should have packed something for lunch. I would've eaten a long time ago. Ugh..."
Niiane walked into the Ramen Bar and sat down on the only seat left in the right corner of the bar. It was always packed with people at noon. Busy noises and overlapping voices flooded her ears and the smell of steaming pork, seaweed, kamaboko and other ingredients wafting on the air made her stomach growl even louder.
"Young Mistress," Teuchi said in a loud voice.
Niiane looked up. "Hi, Teuchi-san. May I—"
"One large pork, please!" someone called behind Niiane. It was an old crippled man. He was skinny and verry wrinkled. Niiane gave him one looked, pouted, and sighed. She got up and offered him her seat.
"You're leaving, Young Mistress Niiane?" Teuchi asked when she got up.
Niiane shrugged and pointed at the old man. "He needs your ramen more than I do. I'm off now. Bye Teuchi-san."
"Oh... 'kay." Teuchi said.
Niiane caught the old man giving her a smile when she passed him. For a moment she felt good about what she had just done. It wasn't like her to think of other people. But when her empty stomach called out again for food, Niiane soon regretted. Man, being nice sucks! If that old man hadn't shown up...
She looked up into the sky and cupped her hand over her forehead to block some of the rays from her sensitive eyes. It's almost past noon now. I have to get back—oh wait! Gramps told me to meet him in his office after lunch. A smile crept its way across Niiane's lips. No more grading papers for Iruka-san!
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Niiane ran through the halls of the Konoha Ninja Academy to reach her grandfather's office. When she banged opened the door, a sea of faces looked up at her standing there breathing heavily. She closed the door, ignored the stares, and went to stand next to her grandfather.
The old man cleared his throat. "You are late, Niiane, like always," he whispered to her.
"I'm sorry." Niiane panted. "I was doing... something and lost track of time."
"Humph. Well you're here now." the Hokage said in his normal voice. "Don't be late again."
"Yes sir," Niiane grumbled.
The Hokage turned back to the jounins and chuunins who had gathered in his office. While he sat at his desk and discussed their current events, Niiane almost dozed off into dream land. She was only here because her grandfather had asked her to come, not because she wanted to. It felt like pretty much a waste of her time.
She wasn't going to become a chuunin anyway. Being prohibited from her team meant that she couldn't enter the chuunin exam. You had to enter with your team. Niiane had always regretted that mistake she made a few years ago. Am I going to stay a genin forever...? Niiane had often thought to herself. But in any event, she was happy that she was allowed to watch the exams this time. She considered it a reward from the Hokage.
Only, right now, all she wanted was to be outside and maybe go back to the garden at home. Her new sleeping flower was waiting for her. But then the Hokage's words suddenly caught her interest.
"One week from now, the chuunin exams will begin."
"One week?" Iruka said. "Isn't that a little short notice?"
"We must start soon. The alliances are an important matter..."
Niiane couldn't help but wonder why the Hokage looked in her direction when he said this. All she could remember was going to Suna and meeting the Kazekage. That was all. Of course she knew that the alliances with other countries were an important matter but what relevance did they have here?
"This could explain why ninjas from other countries are already here." Kurenai said.
Asuma nodded in agreement.
Hmm... This should be interesting. Niiane said. This year I'll get to watch the exams. Anko-sensei and Ibiki-sensei already told me they'd let me. Excitement started to bubble up inside of her as she smiled to herself. While the Hokage began to finish up his speech and instructions, Niiane was getting ready to ask him for the files of those participating. She just had to know if he was coming. The moment the Hokage dismissed everyone, Niiane asked.
"Grandfather?"
"Yes?".
"May I look at the files of those participating?" Niiane gave him an innocent smile.
He looked at her in an odd way, but reached into the desk's drawer and took out a huge folder. "Here. Are you interested in the chuunin exam this year?"
"Yeah. I will be able to and watch the exams like you agreed, right?"
"You may watch, but you must either have Ibiki, Anko, Genma, or any one of the elder chuunins with you, understood? They'll be watching the exams as well."
"What...?" Niiane whined. "But why? I can watch over myself."
"Because," the Hokage said sternly. "You are only a child. I've permited you to watch the exam however you want. But you must have an adult with you."
"So that means I can even watch inside in the forest in Anko's exam? She told me I could as long as I can get out by myself and not interfere with the participants."
The Hokage looked like he seriously regretted what he had just said.
"Well I—"
"Come on, Gramps! I'm strong enough to take care of myself in there."
He sighed. "Alright, alright. But just be careful and do not interfere with the participants' exams alright? And don't get hurt during Anko's exam."
"Okay," Niiane said brightly.
The Hokage sighed and rubbed his forehead. "I can't believe you were late, again! When are you ever going to learn to be on time?"
Niiane had already taken the folder and flipped through the many pages of genins. She didn't really know anyone except for the kids in her class. She hoped that one of them would win it for Konoha. That was... until she found the Suna section.
Her eyes widened and she quickly turned to that page. The Hokage was still there watching her leaf through the files. He was coming. Niiane almost called out in shock. She wanted to see him so bad, and now her wishes were finally being answered. He looked a lot more handsome now that he was older. Niiane admired the picture on his file. She carefully looked over everything on his page, taking so long that the Hokage thought she was looking over it more than once.
"Niiane," the Hokage said softly.
"What?" She finally snapped out of her daydream. That secret fantasy of being with him again.
"That boy," he took the file and looked at it himself. He then looked back up at her. "You still remember him?"
She blushed then said, "Uh huh... Gaara-kun. I really miss him. I can't wait to see him again."
"You really seem to... like him a lot."
She only smiled. "I just hope he feels the same way."
Just then, the Hokage gave her a sad look, but then quickly erased it. "I think there's something I should tell you..."
"What is it?" Niiane said impatiently. She wanted to get out of the office so she could go find Gaara if he was here already. He had to be in Konoha so he could start preparing for the exams. Kurenai had said that many of the ninjas from other villages were already here.
"Back then, when we were at the Kazekage's office, we did finish that treaty. But, I had to give up something precious to me. I really think you have the right to know by now"
"What?" Niiane said a little scared. "What happened? What did you lose Grandfather?"
"I lost you, Niiane."
Niiane stared at him.
"The Kazekage would agree to make the treaty active if I agreed to marry you off to his son, that little boy you were with."
For a moment, she wanted to laugh, but the serious look on the Hokage's face told her he was not joking.
"You...you... you promised to marry me to Gaara-kun?" Niiane struggled. She broke into a smile. "Why that's great! So you mean when we're old enough, I'll marry Gaara-kun? For the treaty?"
"Yes, but I'm afraid that I might not be able to go through with this."
"No! You have to! I mean... how come?"
"Niiane you only knew the boy for a day!" the Hokage almost shouted. "How much do you really know about this boy? How can you think about marrying him? Especially at your age. What makes you so sure he's the right one and that hes going to treat you right?"
"Grandfather, I believe in the fact that there's one person out there for everyone and I think that one person for me is Gaara-kun." Niiane stood up. "I'm going now. I'll see you at home, Grandfather."
"Niiane," he stood up as well. "Please. I really don't want you to –"
"Don't worry. Gaara-kun and I are crossing paths again. You'll see he's the one." Niiane got up and left quickly.
"Wait! Niiane!" the Hokage said.
"Yeah?" she stopped right at the door.
"Take this with you," the Hokage held out something and Niiane went back to look at it.
"What is this?" Niiane asked as she took the charm from her grandfather. It was a small piece of metal, maybe silver, in the shape of the double "ai". A bright red string was looped and tied onto the top of the charm.
"It is" the Hokage sighed, "you're engagement charm to Gaara." His look was grim but he tried his best to hide it. He couldn't stand to see Niiane sad as he watched her admire the charm, smiling and dancing out the door.
Ending Notes from Sixthstellestial: N/A
