Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto Masashi Kishimoto therefore he is the one raking in the mullah. I am the one that cannot afford food. Dante Alighieri owns the Inferno or he did before he died which is where I get my ideas of hell. Peter Binsfeld is the owner of the classification of demons that I use which are based on the seven deadly sins. Right Evanescence owes My Immortal because I sound like a dying cat. I feel like I should apologize for the violence but you know what I don't regret being crazy I relish it! Anyways if you're still reading I bow to your greatness. If there are mistakes they are mine as well as plot holes, those are annoying. As the drill goes the guide is below.
"Do you think I could beat box?"- Bold is Ijiwaru
"Don't even try."- Italics and bold is Daraku
"Go for it'"-Italics is Zaria's inner thoughts
(I will not allow you to beat box. Besides that sounds like work for me)-I am parentheses
****I give up-The asterisks mean change of point of view
Does anyone actually read the disclaimer? Am I really just talking to myself? Why are we alive? Oh well Happy Holidays.
Chapter 7: Ain't it Fun
****Once More Fast Forwarding: Back to the Village
I had left Naruto's house earlier than usual and even before Naruto. I knew we had a mission today, but I wanted to get in some practice. Since coming back from our mission to the Land of Waves, which the Hokage had apologized for profusely since he hadn't meant to give them such a dangerous mission. Team 7 wasn't all that upset they had gotten really nice combat experience and learned a lot while away. I had continued to practice with the help of Daraku and Ijiwaru when it came to chakra control. They had me walking on water, which made me very tempted to make a joke but thought better of it.
So what's for today? We were thinking of you fighting Minos. Daraku said and I just sat on the ground after that. You mean the monster that almost killed me in like five seconds? The very one. Cool let me think about that, how about no. Yes you must if you want to be stronger. I relented at that and took off my boots and got into a meditative pose to concentrate to bring myself into hell. Strange place to force yourself to go if you think about it.
Opening my eyes I was once more in the land of ice. Daraku and Ijiwaru were nowhere to be seen but Minos stood right in front of me and was already charging. I jumped to the left rolling back onto my feet. Minos had no problem switching directions quickly with his serpent like body, and was charging again. I moved to the left but was hit harshly in the side by Minos' tail and was flying right into the glass like walls. Oh yeah I hate winter and snow. Sliding down from the wall, I moved just in time to miss Minos' tail going straight through the wall. My eyes widened realizing my heart would have been pierced and gone right through me like butter. You will fail. Minos said and his voice rang through my entire body. I shook my head. If I fail, I won't be able to save Casey and that would be a huge failure. I turned to face him full on and reached for my shoulder with the tattoo. The tattoo slowly filled in to a red colour similar to if it was filling with blood. Once it had finished, there was pain that was so surprising that I fell to my knees gasping. I hadn't realized it would be painful to reach for my sword every time.
"It will lessen over time." Minos said aloud inside of my mind. I looked up seeing him waiting for me which I was thankful for, although I knew the enemy would never wait. Looking over to my shoulder which I had cover with my hand I saw the tattoo had opened at the shoulder. I could see the bone and muscle holding my arm together. Like last time, I reached to grab the black handle of the sword. Without my doing, the wound opened with significantly less pain than the first time. The guard was out and after that it was easy. It was just a straight pull. As soon as the sword was out of the tattoo, it closed becoming the black colour once more. There was no pain which I thanked any God that would listen.
I held the sword in front of me awkwardly never having held a sword in my life. Minos chuckled but nodded in some approval. He charged again and I swiped at his tail which opened my defences. Once more I was hitting the wall. The sword sounded as it hit the icy ground with a ring. I pushed myself up and ran towards the sword with Minos following me quickly. Racing passed, I picked it up with a roll to the right and continued on my feet once more. Stupidly, I had raced myself into a corner. I started to hate this stupid sword. I had no idea how to fight with it. It's not like anyone had taught me. What I really want, although I had never used one, was a scythe. I mean I'm training in hell that sounds like something that would fit. Minos stopped his attack once more and seemed surprised.
"We haven't had someone change their sword in a very long time." He said and I looked at him confused. Suddenly, the sword grew hot in my hands and I had to let go or it would have burnt the skin on my hands. The sword began to cover itself in a black fire like substance. Minos turned away shielding his eyes and I followed suit. The area around the sword exploded sending me to the ground. Even with my eyes covered I could feel the intense brightness coming from the area.
Once it died down, I put my hands down and looked at where the sword had been. I blinked in surprise. It was no longer a sword it was a scythe, and a scythe taller than myself at that. It was pitch black even the blade. At the bottom was a smaller blade. The top holding the blade to the handle was a blackened skull with red light coming from the eye sockets. This made it look as if it was screaming with the blade coming from its mouth. Protruding from the base of the skull were blades that went down in a row almost like vertebrae. The other noticeable feature of the skull were the ram like horns. The blade itself was insanely long as well and I was worried it would weight too much for me to handle. However, as I picked it up it seemed as if it weighed nothing. Minos still hadn't tried to attack me and just stared at the blade. There was a growl behind me and I turned to Daraku and Ijiwaru.
"It seems you are just full of surprises." Daraku said.
"The blade. What's its name?" Ijiwaru asked. I looked at the scythe as I held it beside me.
"Abaddon." I answered immediately without even having to think about it. Daraku, Ijiwaru, and Minos looked at one another. Abaddon the lord of locus, the Destroyer, the supposed angel who gathered the sand to create Adam. The angel that was eventually forced to put Lucifer in his cage, but who stayed to long and became a great demon. I turned to Minos prepared to take him on and he nodded just as Daraku and Ijiwaru disappeared.
Minos charged and I brought the scythe to par. As I did this the most surprisingly thing happened the skull screamed sending Minos flying back. I was unable to proceed in the attack stunned by the scream.
"Hn, now would be the best time to attack." Said a voice beside me. There in a ghostly like form was an auburn haired woman. Her eyes were completely black with no pupil or white. She had ram horns just as the skull on the scythe had. She was taller than me and wrapped her arms around my neck that I could feel her breast up against my back. Wings appeared from her back but they were skeletal with only a few white feathers hanging on. She was dressed in black leather pants, a black tight tee with the Sex Pistols written on it in red. She wore a leather jacket over that, and a leather collar with spikes. I flinched seeing she was hanging on me but followed her directions. "It seems you need a little help." She whispered. I was running towards Minos who was already up and slithering towards me. His tail was headed towards me when Abaddon nudged me and I swung the bottom of the scythe down right into his tail.
He winced as the knife at the bottom went right through, blood pooled around on the ice. Minos was unable to move with his tail pinned to the ground. Twisting the scythe which caused Minos to scream the knife came out of the bottom and I was able to swing the blade but Minos stopped it with a blade of his own. I growled and skidded back as I was pushed. I was moving again towards him as he struggled against the knife. I swung once more with the blade and was stopped by the sword, but that was what I was hoping for. I let go and spun kicking Minos in the face. His head snapped back and I reached for the falling scythe before spinning once more and cutting off Minos' arm. Minos bellowed in pain as his arm and sword fell to the ground and he was still unable to move.
Just as I was about to swing again for the finishing blow, Daraku wrapped his tail around me and pulled me away. Ijiwaru pulled the knife out of Minos tail, and Minos curled into himself trying to escape the pain. I felt horrible for letting myself becoming so violent when Minos was merely helping me. I dropped the scythe and moved towards him. Minos stopped and clenched his teeth together. I bowed all the way to the floor before looking up. Minos moved his one arm towards my head and ruffled my hair. I moved towards his detached arm and picked it up and moved closer. The arm was about my size so it was slow moving.
"There's healing jutsus right?" I asked and Daraku nodded. "How do you do it?" I demanded and both contracts looked surprised. Ijiwaru moved closer and placed a paw upon my head and I felt the static of his power. My hands glowed green and I moved towards Minos who had stood perfectly still. I nodded for him to lean down for me. Soon I had him on the ground right beside his severed arm and began to heal. The arm was noticeable slower than when it was first attached but now Minos wasn't one armed. He thanked me and I smiled. He disappeared to return to his job, the line of hell had been backed up because of the fight.
Daraku and Ijiwaru smiled toward one another. They really did like their contractor. She cared about the ones she hurts, most Tomos hadn't cared, as they were demons after all. They wanted to get stronger and didn't care about those they hurt. Zaria wanted to get stronger but she still cared, she was very similar to her mother. Although, she and her contract abhorred each other but that's what you get when you put a fallen angel with a human being. The scythe had them worried especially with Abaddon floating around. It was unusual for a demon to attach themselves to a Tomos' weapon, but it had happened before. However, Abaddon seemed to feed into Zaria's bloodlust, which was not good. They were going to have to train her in mediation techniques to block Abaddon from controlling her. For right now, they were glad she had beaten Minos. She would be moving on to the second circle of hell, lust. She would have to face the guardian Asmodeus, one of the so called Seven Sons, before she could move on and get stronger.
Turning to my contracts, I looked over at my scythe.
"Is that always going to happen when I use that?" I asked and Daraku blew smoke from his nose.
"It is a rare incident that a demon attaches themselves to a Tomos' weapon, but not unheard of. However, we do believe she will show up every time, so you must learn to control yourself around her." Warned Daraku and I sighed. It seems when I was taking a step forward in getting stronger something comes along and pushed me two steps back. Once more picking up the scythe I looked down at my tattoo and almost passed out just thinking about the pain of pulling the scythe out. Daraku and Ijiwaru must have noticed my anxious looks. They also didn't know how much pain the first time she pulled it would be. As my worries increased, the skull looked like it was eating the blade, and soon I only had a staff with a skull. Ijiwaru whistled in awe.
"That is super useful." Ijiwaru said and Daraku and I agreed full heartedly. Once more my tattoo changed as if filling in with blood before ripping apart. I was pushing the handle through before coming to the skull which was slightly wider than the guard of the sword I usually pulled out. With wide eyes the wound didn't widen like it had before and just as I was about to shove it in with one quick push, the skull turned into a smoky shadow which wrapped around the wound. When the smoke had settled the tattoo that had once been the simple kanji for dragon had now become a tattoo of a skull much like the Punisher's looking through ripped and broken skin. In truth, really was a badass tattoo. The left eye, if one looked at it a certain way, glowed a dimmed red colour. Daraku and Ijiwaru had a stunned look and I knew something was wrong.
"No one has ever changed their tattoo before." Daraku stuttered out.
"Is it because of Abaddon?" I asked and both of them shrugged.
"Other Tomos have had the demon infused weapons but never as strong as yours. It is possible." Daraku offered and I sighed. Seriously why was I never normal? Opening my eyes, I blinked and noticed with a gasp where the sun was in the sky. I was confused. The last time I had went to hell I didn't think time had passed, like it had frozen for me, but it seems that didn't happen this time. I most defiantly missed the mission. I wondered how much trouble I was going to be in. I headed to the meeting place we were supposed to be at earlier in the day hoping maybe someone was there.
"Yo." A voice from behind me declared and I turned to Kakashi. I bowed stuttering trying to explain myself. "Where were you?" He asked.
"Umm…" I was totally unsure if I could just say hell or not. "Training." I ended lamely. Kakashi stared at me with his one eyebrow raised. He nodded after a few moments and began to walk away, he turned to me after a couple of steps. "Coming?" He asked and I raced after him as we began to walk in sync.
"Where are we going?" I asked curious.
"Your clothes aren't proper for being a ninja." He answered and I looked down at the clothing I had worn since getting to Kohana. Still same skinny jeans, Ramones tee, and leather jacket. I could agree probably not the best fighting clothing. The jeans made it hard to get very high in kicking. Stepping in front of the clothing store I was amazed at how big it was. I continued after Kakashi when he got to the Kunoichi section and he turned to me. "Pick anything." He ordered.
"Wait, I don't have my money with me." I had received a large sum after the mission in the Land of Waves compared to when we were just saving cats. Kakashi shook his head.
"I'll pay." He said and I looked at him suspiciously, but nodded and started looking. I quickly found black tattsuke pants with a swirl pattern in a dark grey that it was barely noticeable. After that I found a haori in the same pattern and immediately picked it up, finding a red silk obi. I found a tight black undershirt that looked almost exactly like Kakashi's in that it was sleeveless and was like a turtle neck. However, running from throat down across the breast were two silver lines. On a whim I also took a face mask where it was grey only in the area that crossed my mouth and then faded into black. Looking down at the boots I was wearing I sighed. I adored my combat boots but I couldn't feel anything underneath them. To climb the tree I needed to be barefoot so I needed some kind of protection but just enough. That is when I found something called jika-tabi socks they had a divided toe area between the big toe and other toes, but they had a rubber bottom, and resemble boots. Satisfied I headed to the counter for Kakashi to shell out the money. Picking up one sock Kakashi turned to me and I shrugged.
After the clothing was bought, Kakashi ordered me once more to changing room so I could change into the new clothing, and then when that was done go find my teammates. I nodded asking for a changing room and the woman nodded and lead me to one. There I pulled of all my clothes and decided how I was going to wear everything. I donned the tattsuke pants with some trouble to where the small openings at the side were still open. I also pulled on the socks before grabbing some bandages and wrapped them around my ankle to mid shin. After that I pulled on the skin tight half shirt pulling on the mask right after. Soon the haori followed however that I only half wore so my undershirt could be seen as well as my tattoo, that why I would be able to use it whenever. The obi was tied with the help of the store clerk since I was absolutely clueless. It was in a bow with the tails hanging almost to the ground. Over the obi I tied my headband around my waist. I finished the look with putting my hair up in a messy bun. Walking out Kakashi nodded telling me he would see me on the usual bridge in the morning, and we headed different ways.
Kakashi looked at his student as she walked away in an outfit very similar to her mothers. She however, wore a skirt with black shorts underneath and the usual zori. Kakashi had figured she was stronger than her mother, maybe better ties with her contracts, since Ai always seemed to be complaining about hers. He didn't really know. There was just something about his student he couldn't put his finger on. She reminded him of her mother but another person as well. He shrugged, he better submit his report, after adding that he sent Zaria to train more, instead of saying she never came.
I continued on my way to find Naruto, or at least Sakura or Sasuke. I passed Sasuke with a nod although I still thought he was an ass. He didn't acknowledge me at all and I glared, bastard. Running a little faster, I saw pink hair headed my way and I waved. Sakura had other things on her mind when she turned around running, but then I saw her reason. She was chasing after Naruto and three young children all around Casey's age. Just thinking about her made my heart clench. Shaking my head, I followed after Naruto and Sakura. The small brown haired boy with the long blue scarf ran straight into another brown haired boy. He was however, older maybe around fifteen dressed in all black with purple face paint. On his back looked what seemed to be a mummy. Beside him was a blonde female a little older than him with a large fan on her back. Noticing the tension that happened immediately, as well as seeing that their headbands didn't have the Kohana leaf symbol, I ran faster to catch up. When the older kid in black picked up the child by his shirt I grew angry. Naruto shouted out what I guess was the little ones name.
"Konohamaru!" Offhand I noticed that was a particularly long name, before becoming increasingly worried for him.
"That hurt you little piece of shit!" The kid in black complained and I couldn't stop myself from rolling my eyes. Seriously? Did this kid think we were stupid, there was no way that hurt? The blonde looked around nervously before warning her partner.
"Don't we'll get yelled at later." She said. Sakura once more in the pathetic way she always was started to stutter out an apology. Naruto however took a different route and decided to just scream at him and call him names. Brilliant strategy Naruto. There's something nearby, it gives off an awful stench.Ijiwaru warned and I prepared myself for whatever would happen. Kid in black tightened his grip and I clenched my teeth.
"Let's have a little fun till the boss comes." He said and Naruto started to charge him. He fell as if he had tripped and I was confused. Naruto seemed to also be confused as he questioned it out loud. Puppet-master, he is using chakra strings. Daraku explained with a growl."Leaf genin are weak." Kid in black chuckled out. I was getting particularly sick of his attitude. He would not be hard to kill.Ijiwaru declared and I could just picture him licking his chops. Naruto was getting angrier and angrier by the minute with Sakura holding him back like a coward. However, Konohamaru was struggling more as well. This whole situation made my blood boil as Konohamaru's face blurred with Casey's. I was about to rush forward, looking over Naruto had the same idea after he declared he was going to kill Konohamaru, but the kid in black dropped him shaking his head.
"What are you bastards doing in our village?" A voice asked from amongst the trees. Sasuke of course the asshole. "Get lost." He continued and Sakura made me want to bash her head in with a stone with how much she was praising Sasuke. Naruto was being criticized by his followers, aka all the little people.
"Hey punk get down here!" The kid in black demanded. "I hate showoffs the most." He added releasing the bandages keeping his mummy whatever tied to his back. The blonde moved forward cautioning him.
"Hey you're even going to use Karasu?" She asked. He's here. Daraku announced and I was confused till I heard two more voice join in.
"Kankuro stop it." Said a voice from the trees while another spoke from my right side. The person in the tree had blood red hair with a kanji on his forehead, not that I knew what it read. So far I was glad I hadn't been forced to read anything yet, I was still curious on how I knew how to speak what I was guessing was Japanese. His eyes were a strange unnatural seafoam colour. He also had a tan odd shaped….gourd perhaps? The other one who spoke you couldn't see his hair colour as it was covered by a black and white keffiyeh turban His eyes were green, but were full of malice and hatred. He wore white kurta pyjama pants and over that he wore a dark red kurta shirt. His shoes were the usual zori with his headband tied in part with his keffiyeh turban. "You're an embarrassment to our village." The kid in the tree said.
"G..Gaara." Kankuro stuttered out. He turned and blinked when he saw the other. "Afzal." The other tsked at Kankuro walking closer.
"How pathetic to lose oneself in a fight. Why the fuck did we come here? Come on I know you have a brain." Afzal taunted. Kankuro seemed to try explain himself and push the blame on us.
"Shut up or I'll kill you." Gaara growled out. Kankuro started to just apologize over and over again switching between the two.
"Sorry about the morons." Afzal said but everyone could tell he didn't mean it at all. Afzal set his sights on me but I didn't back down in the staring contest we started. Everyone was talking but soon it was just him and I. There is nothing left in that boy. He just needs to be put down.Ijiwaru barked and Daraku hummed in agreement. So what you want me to just kill right here? What about the red head? I asked tense fingers itching to head towards my tattoo. Not right now. The red head smells like blood but something is off.Afzal was the first to look away as his group was leaving to where I had no idea, since I had lost a good portion of the conversation to my own in my head. Hurm, must be chunnin exam time. What is that? It's when outstanding genin from sand, leaf, and other neighbouring villages assemble to take the exam to become chunnin. We never understand why you do it together although you humans say it's to create better bonds. We think it's just an easier way to attack one another inside their own home. Daraku complained.
"Zaria? Where the hell have you been? You missed the mission." Sakura yelled and I raised an eyebrow. Had they all missed I had been here the whole time. Naruto and his small group turned to me as well.
"Woah Z you're clothes are different." Naruto said smiling and I nodded. Sasuke merely harumphed like a dick.
"I needed better clothes." I answered Naruto totally ignoring Sakura. Naruto nodded in understanding.
"Those defiantly look better for fighting in." Naruto commented and I smiled. "Want to get Ichiraku ramen?" Naruto asked. I nodded although I was worried about using those chopsticks again. I gotten away with using my fingers without anyone noticing. Naruto cheered and the three other younger children asked to come along, although they had just declared Naruto a loser. As we walked to Ichiraku the younger children started asking question about if I was Naruto's girlfriend unlike the pink haired hag. I almost couldn't stop laughing at Sakura's nickname though it did fit her well. I blushed from the actual question and shook my head and said we were just good friends. The one with glasses, Udon, asked about my tattoo in awe. I still winced when I thought about the pain I went through to get it. I told him I had to get stabbed in the shoulder to get it. His eyes widened along with Konohamaru, the girl Moegi, and Naruto.
"Really?" Moegi asked and I nodded. Naruto looked confused.
"When did you get stabbed?" He asked and I sighed.
"Training." I said vaguely. I gave Naruto a look meaning we would talk about it later, maybe. We made it and found stools side by side. The owner Teuchi smiled at us calling to Naruto, his number one customer. He turned to me with a grin.
"Are you a part of Naruto's team?" He asked and I nodded.
"I'm Tomo, Zaria." I introduced myself. He nodded and turned to his daughter Ayame.
"I hope you have the same appetite as Naruto." She said and I laughed.
"I don't think anyone has the appetite like Naruto." I said back causing Naruto to glare but for Teuchi and Ayame to laugh. As we ordered Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon got bored waiting for Naruto so they ran off with a wave. I watched them run with a fond smile thinking of Casey. Wherever she was I was going to find her even if I had to die trying. I flinched when a hand landed on my shoulder and I turned to Naruto. He looked concerned but I waved him off. After paying we headed back to his flat to get some sleep so we made it to the bridge on time the next day. Kakashi hadn't told me the time or why it had to be so early.
Unlocking the door we made it inside and I cheered about getting into my pyjamas. I headed to the bathroom while Naruto headed to his room to change. Naruto knocked on the door and I opened so we could both brush our teeth. Done with our nightly routines Naruto turned to me. I had gotten a futon for the floor after our mission to the land of Waves, so we no longer shared the bed.
"The tattoo." Naruto started and I traced the outline. There was a long silence as I had no idea how to explain what it really was to Naruto. Your mother had the same problem with those on her team. Daraku soothed. Just tell him the truth. The truth? I seem like a madwoman! I don't know what else to tell you hatchling.
"Do you know how Sasuke has the Sharingan?" I asked and Naruto nodded suspiciously. "I have something similar. I ummm train in hell." I finished awkwardly and Naruto just stared at me.
"What?" He said voicing his confusion. I looked down at my fingers.
"When I mediate I don't just close the world out I actually go to hell. I train there with my contracts. They are guardians of a certain level of hell. That's how I got the tattoo. I was in a fight with Minos. He decides which level you go to." I explained the best way I could leaving out the specifics. Naruto blinked not saying anything. He turned in his bed.
"Good night Zaria-chan." He said and I sat there completely and utterly hurt. THAT'S IT! NOTHING ELSE! I'M GOING TO EAT THE FOX! Ijiwaru bellowed. Calm yourself you stupid mutt. That is a lot to take in. Let him sleep on it. Daraku growled back and I just sat there. I blinked back the tears. I sat there watching the clock change hour by hour unable to sleep. Finally an hour before we had to leave my eyes fell closed.
"Z I'm sorry." Was the first thing I heard when I woke up. Naruto was kneeled on the floor his head touching the ground. I blinked too tired and half asleep to understand what was happening. Zaria he's apologizing. That woke me up and I finally realized what was happening. "I was rude and hurtful." Naruto continued on and I crawled over to him. I placed a hand on his shoulder and he looked up.
"It was a lot to take in Naruto. It's okay." I said and he broke into a huge grin pulling me into a hug. I pulled him tight the pain still close. "Thanks." I whispered. Naruto pulled away and helped me up.
"Better get ready." He said
I grabbed my bag and headed to the bathroom. In the mirror I poked at the extreme black rings under my eyes. Perfect. I look like the living dead girl. Pulling the new clothes from the bag I got on everything but still had a problem with the obi. Watching someone once was not enough to be able to do it by myself. I called to Naruto to come help me. I watched him in the mirror as his whole face turned a cherry red. I held in my laughter, I wasn't even naked underneath. Once we were set, Naruto with a cup of ramen, and I an apple. Naruto started dragging me in a rush. I followed willingly letting Naruto drag me. I sensed Sakura and Sasuke following along. Naruto skidded to a halt and I was unable to stop my momentum and crashed into his back. We both fell to the ground with a dull thud. Sakura giggled at the sight when Sasuke the bastard just scoffed once more. Blushing I helped Naruto off the ground who had also turned red in the face.
"Sorry." I whispered but Naruto grinned and I knew I was forgiven. I sat down on the ground knowing Kakashi was going to be late and started drawing pictures in the dust. Naruto sat down beside me and we started a game of tick-tac-toe. Sakura yelled at us to stop messing around and get ready for Kakashi-sensei. She did know he was late by like hours, right? After about half an hour even Sasuke joined in our game of hangman. I nodded off but either Sasuke or Naruto would call me for my turn. Sakura started turning a lovely chartreuse colour before screaming in anger much like a woman in a horror movie. It startled the three of us although we would never admit to it.
"How can this be allowed? Why does one person ask us to meet and make us wait?" She bellowed and I felt a headache coming on.
"Sakura why are you so surprised? He's done this with everything!" I asked. She set her sights on me. She stepped closer and I stood up ready for anything. A voice from above stopped the bridge from becoming a battle ground.
"Morning people. I got stopped on the road of life." Kakashi-sensei explained.
"Yeah right you liar, apologize!" Sakura continued to complain. Kakashi ignored her outburst which I found amusing.
"This is sudden but I've nominated you guys for the chunnin selection exam." Kakashi said. We were right! Ijiwaru screamed and I would have liked to punch him in his stupid snout. Too loud not enough sleep asswipe. He merely growled in response.
"What did you say you think that makes up for being late?" Sakura screamed and I was a second away from making her eat her own teeth. Four forms were presented to us.
"These are your application forms." Kakashi stated. I picked mine up and stared at it. This was another step on getting stronger. Getting closer to being able to find Casey and protect her. "Though this is just the application. Whether you take the exam is up to you. Those who decide to take the exam must take those forms and turn them in at room 301 by 4pm tomorrow." Kakashi continued. Who wouldn't want to take the exam? "That's all." Kakashi finished disappearing into smoke.
Team 7 started to walk back closer to the village together and I thought about all I could learn during the exam. I noticed Sakura falling back. Neither boy noticed so I slowed my roll. Sakura was staring at her application with a depressed look on her face. Although, Sakura and I fought often she was my teammate and I was worried about her.
"Sakura are you alright?" I questioned softly. Her head snapped up. I thought her entire head may break off. She stared at me in silence.
"Why do you care?" She demanded. I stepped closer.
"We may not get along always but you're my teammate Sakura." I confessed. Sakura looked surprised. "You are going to come right?" I asked and Sakura stuttered before answering. So she was doubting herself. "Good because we are a team and couldn't leave you behind." I said with a smile bumping her with my hip. "Do you want to get something to eat? I think I may stab myself if I have to eat ramen again." I joke and Sakura laughed.
"There is a restaurant that focuses on breakfast close to here." She said. In my head all I could think of was IHOP. Oh how I miss the international house of pancakes. I miss pancakes in general. Following Sakura we talked, about our likes and dislikes, and finally I talked about my sister Casey. I spent the rest of the day with Sakura and we actually had fun and we were not at each other's throats. We trained and Sakura explained some of the theories behind some of the ninjutsu since I had missed the academy. It had actually helped me immensely to understand certain concepts that I had been missing earlier. We sparred a little, with me holding back on my taijutsu but she held back on her genjutsu. With the sun setting I turned to leave but she grabbed my hand.
"Thanks Z." She said using my nickname. I nodded before running towards Naruto's flat and banging the door open seeing that Naruto was making ramen.
"Where have you been all day?" He asked. I shrugged grabbing the bowls from the cupboard and setting them down by the stove. Naruto poured us some of the ramen and we sat in a comfortable silence. After finishing dinner I help Naruto fill out his application form, wondering sometimes about Naruto's IQ. Once more we got ready for bed when Naruto turned to me. "Can you sing?" He asked nervously. I blushed. I had never sung for anyone on purpose other than Casey. I felt comfortable enough with Naruto knowing he wouldn't make fun of me, besides he liked it last time. I inhaled trying to calm my nervous. I knew one other song off the top of my head. It wasn't exactly the happiest song, but damnit.
"I'm so tired of being here/Suppressed by all my childish fears/And if you have to leave/I wish/that you would just leave/'Cause your presence still lingers here/And it won't leave me alone."
Casey stood with the man who had jet black hair. He was very pale and looked like he had purple eyeshadow which Casey thought was just funny. When she had asked where her sister was the man had put on a very sad face. He had told her that her sister had left. She didn't want to take care of her. Casey didn't want to believe him, but Zaria was nowhere to be seen.
"These wounds won't seem to heal/This pain is just too real/There just too much that time cannot erase."
Casey had no idea where she was. The pale man had introduced himself as Orochimaru and her new guardian. She wasn't sure if she wanted to believe him, but Zaria still hadn't shown up. Casey's heart hurt thinking that her sister had abandoned her like their mother. She had never meet her mother, but Zaria had always seemed so angry at her. There were other people who lived with Orochimaru. They were very strange and were able to do strange things. She swore she had seen someone make a clone of themselves.
"When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears/When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears/And I held your hand through all of these years/But you still have all of me."
Orochimaru had started Casey believing that her sister had abandoned her. He had said in his sad voice that Zaria had thought Casey too much of a burden and an annoyance. She didn't want to have to take care of dead weight. Orochimaru had started to make Casey resent Zaria. She didn't want Casey to know of their bloodline. She was afraid that Casey would be more powerful than her.
"You used to captivate me by your resonating light/Now I'm bound by the life you left behind/Your face—it haunts my once pleasant dreams/Your voice—it chased away all the sanity in me."
Casey tightened her hands into fists and punched the dummy dressed in a black wig and black jacket. She beat the thing with small fists till the stuffing laid a crossed the ground. She spat at the broken head stomping on it for good measure. Zaria that bitch thought she was so much better. Casey had been given a small kunai from Orochimaru, who she had started to look at as her father. The next dummy lost its intestines from the seven inch cut down its middle.
"These wounds won't seem to heal/This pain is just too real/There's just too much that time cannot erase"
Orochimaru was starting to get frustrated by the stupid girl. Why had she not made contact with her hell demon or whatever they were? He had seen her mother Ai actually becoming a fallen angel. That's what he needed! His spies brought him news of the other Tomo, the older one. She apparently was on the same team as the Uchiha and the kyuubi container. From what his spy knew she had not made contact with her hell demon, but the man was useless and so he had killed him.
"When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears/When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears/And I held your hand through all of these years/But you still have all of me."
Casey slit the throat of her opponent without sympathy. If he was slow enough for her to beat him there was no other reason to keep him alive. The blood flowed through her fingers. She tasted it and a shiver went down her spine at the metallic taste. She grinned in excitement for her next opponent she hoped their blood tasted as good.
"I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone/But though you're still with me/I've been alone all along."
Sometimes when Casey was mediating trying to get in touch with her demon she would think about Zaria. About when she had protected her from the male beast back home. The times she had let her sleep in her bed after Casey had had a nightmare. She would speak in a soft whisper, whispering songs. She had made sure Casey had eaten even though there would be no food for her. She had wiped away the tears that had fallen after she had scraped a knee, but then Casey would remember that she had been thrown away like yesterday's trash. Zaria didn't want her anymore. Zaria was weak. There was no reason to see her as a sister, only an enemy that needed to be destroyed. If she killed her she would gain the power she needed.
"When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears/When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears/And I held your hand through all of these years/But you still have all of me"
Orochimaru let one of his underlings take on the small girl. He had made sure she would defeat her other opponents and kill them. Now, however, was the real training. He didn't even blink when the small body was thrown into the wall. The girl's head hit the stone wall with a dull thud and blood trailed down to where she sat stunned. Orochimaru needed her ready for the invasion.
"Did you really think it would be that easy?" He demanded and she blinked surprised by his venom before shaking her head. "Try again." She forced herself up and took on her much larger enemy again.
"...me, me, me."
