Ladies and Boogers. Enjoy Chapter 8. It's just the little break in between the chunin exams.
Chapter 8: The Wait
"Sora wake up!" Temari said. She shook her head. Sora slept like a pig. Her covers and pillows were on the floor. The curtains had fallen down and how did the chair get ON the bed.
Gaara stood beside Temari, his hair still bed head and he was low on energy for he didn't get much sleep. But when he saw the mess he was fully awake again. Just a few days ago she was waking them up at 6am, now they were waking her up at 10.
"SORA WOULD YOU WAKE UP NOW!" Temari yelled. But Sora's foot just twitched and she farted loudly. Temari laughed and Gaara just stood. He lost sleep because of that? He sighed.
"Sora, wake up now please." He said. Suddenly Sora's eyes popped open and she leaped out of bed. A second later her room was clean and she stood in front of Gaara smiling.
"Ready!" She said. Her hat was put on messy and she was still in her PJ's. Temari laughed and went out the door.
"Come out when you're done changing!" Temari said laughing. Gaara followed her quickly and Sora was left to change.
She came out a few second later. All set and ready. They had some breakfast and Gaara, Temari and Kankuro had another meeting with the Hokage so Sora was left alone in this world. Gaara had told her to train a bit (like she needed it) so she wondered around in the forest looking for a nice place to train.
The trees were tall and you could barely see the sun, Sora thought it was quite nice and instead of training she found herself just sleeping on some tree branches. There was a soft breeze, it tickled Sora's face but she was not cold. From time to time a leaf would suddenly decide to smack Sora on the mouth.
She woke up around mid day, the sun at its peak and the wind felt still. But Sora could sense a presence; in fact he was right under her tree.
He had a wild appearance as while clearly human, he had messy brown hair, sharp black eyes, pronounced canine teeth, he also had distinct red fang markings on his cheeks. All the clothes he was wearing were also black. The boy looked Sora's age.
Beside him was a huge dog, probably able to let Sora ride on. The dog was white and Sora thought he was really cute.
The boy and the dog were playing. The boy was eating lunch and the dog running around him. When the boy smiled and patted his dog's head, Sora's heart raced. Her cheeks flushed and she felt a tingle in the back of her neck. Never has she felt this way before.
She just watched him and his dog for awhile. But then when he finished his lunch he looked straight up. "I can smell you!" he said. "Get down here!" He said. Sora didn't know what to do. Should she? Technically she wasn't spying because she was there first.
She jumped down and appeared right in front of him. Kiba's first impression: Who the heck is this weirdo? With Sora's hat and white long coat she looked pretty suspicious. "Who are you?" He asked. Sora's mouth wouldn't open.
"No one..." She said slowly. The dog barked and Sora flinched slightly. "Sora, my name is Sora!" She said. Kiba circled her.
"Never seen you around here before and you scent is weird." Sora nodded.
"Thanks, I didn't realize I smelled so bad!" She snapped. Kiba laughed and stuck his hand out.
"My name's Kiba, nice to meet you Sora!" He said. Sora blushed and shook his hand quickly.
"Likewise!" She said. The dog licked here hand when she tried to pet him and she laughed.
"That's Akamaru, he's my pal." Sora patted his head. "So who are you?"
"I told you my name is Sora." She was confused. Did he have bad memory? Like a goldfish?
He laughed. "I meant what are you?" Was it not obvious that she was human? It took her a few seconds to realize he was talking about her ninja rank.
"I'm a genin!" She said. "I am also the Kazekage's bodyguard!" She said proudly. Kiba then seemed a bit confused.
"You, a genin as a Kage's Bodyguard?" He asked skeptically. "You're Gaara's bodyguard?" He asked again. Sora nodded offended.
"Not a genin for long though! I'm going to be a chunin once I pass the exam!" She protested. "Don't underestimate me!" She said. Kiba smiled and looked at Akamaru.
"So you need help training?" He asked. Sora shook her head.
"I'm too lazy to train today..." She sighed. Kiba shook his head.
"No way! If you want to be a good ninja you must practice every day no matter how good you are!" He exclaimed. Sora blushed again.
"Fine! I will practice but I do not need your help!" She huffed. Kiba smiled.
"Don't get too cocky now! But good-luck and I'll see you 'round Sora!" he said. Then he jumped on top of Akamaru and they leapt out of sight. Sora sighed. She didn't want to train but she didn't want to disappoint the boy. So she decided to train...a bit.
First she tried to get used to have so little chakra. She sat down and concentrated. Suddenly a sphere like a blue ray appeared in front of Sora. It was her basic defence for attacks. But it wouldn't stand for really strong attacks. Yah, no sweat!
She stood, great training! Done training: CHECK! She quickly ran out the woods. She found herself once again in the market place. She got an apple for lunch and continued to wander around it.
Sora really lost her focus because she bumped into someone. It was the same girl she had bumped into leaving the Hokage's office! The girl turned around because Sora had bumped into her back.
"You again!" She said. "Be careful would you!" She snapped. Sora bowed.
"I'm truly sorry!" She said. "I was just being careless again! I hope you can forgive me!" Sora braced herself. Living with Temari, she was ready to get some serious scolding. But instead of a lecture the girl just scratched her head.
"Yah, whatever, it's okay..." The girl said. Beside her popped up another boy. He had fairly long jet black hair tied in a spiky ponytail, narrow brown eyes, and both ears had studs on them. He wore a green vest and also wore a black everything-else.
"Who's this Ino?" The boy asked. Sora blushed.
"Sorry! I just bumped into her by accident! I GOT TO RUN!" She said and ran off in the other direction. Shikamaru gave Ino a bored look.
"Who was that?" Ino shrugged. "He might've entered in the chunin exams." Shikamaru guessed. Ino shrugged again and they entered her family's flower shop.
Sora kept running until she yet again bumped into someone. This time it was a familiar face. A familiar angry face that is...
"Where have you been?" Temari asked. "I've been looking everywhere for you! I told you to come back at noon!" She yelled. She grabbed Sora by the shoulders and started to shake her. "Where have you been?" She asked.
When she finally stopped shaking Sora, her eyes were spirals and she was dizzy. She could barely speak without seeing Temari's head to a 360. "In...Forest...training...boy...shaking..." Sora said. Her head was still spinning and she was wondering why Temari suddenly had 3 heads.
When she finally came around she found herself being dragged by Temari. THE DEMON WAS TAKING SORA TO HER LAIR! Joking... "Temari! Where are we going!" Sora whined like a baby.
"I bet you were just sleeping weren't you?" Temari accused. Sora made an innocent face.
"Me? Sleep when you specifically told me not to?" She gasped. "Never!" Sora smiled innocently and Temari scowled.
"As if!" She said. Sora started to mentally cry as Temari dragged her back into the forest to train. Why was fate so cruel?
They found some space in the forest to train. The trees circled around them and the grass up to their knees. "So what are we going to do?" Sora asked.
Temari grinned and took out her fan. With a little wave of her fan she cut the grass to their ankles. Sora stuck her hand out and the wind cut all the grass except for a little circle around Sora. Temari smirked.
"First, control my wind!" Temari yelled. "Great Sickle Weasel Technique!" Violent wind then filled the forest. Some trees were cut but in an instant the wind circled around Sora. It was under her control now. Sora's face was in a pout as the wind disappeared. Temari sweat dropped. Yah, Sora could do anything...
"What's the point Temari?" Sora whined.
Temari growled. But then it turned into a laugh.
"You really are amazing Sora!' Temari laughed. Sora blushed. "Your right, I just wanted to make sure you would be fine for when you fight those people." Sora smiled.
"So in other words you were worried about me?" Temari's eyes widened. "How sweet!" Sora smirked. Temari held back a blush.
"As if!" Temari yelled. "I just wanted to make sure that you wouldn't be putting the Sand Village in shame!" She huffed. Sora laughed and they both headed back.
"You know it's true though." Sora said. Temari whacked her on the head protested against it the entire walk back.
The afternoon passed slowly. Temari made sure Sora wouldn't leave the apartment by giving her a bunch of work. To Sora's defence, she was a bodyguard, not an assistant, so she had a right to protest against it.
"NO." Temari would always say when Sora asked for a break. Lord Gaara and Kankuro came home just in time for dinner and Sora quickly raced to her room before Temari could make her do more work.
This time Sora didn't wait for Lord Gaara to go to the roof. She bounded up there on her own after all she did have her own important things to think about.
It was a lot windier that night. Her hat blew off and she caught it quickly and held it tightly. She lay down and stared at the stars.
What she thought about: Geez! Why did Temari have to give me so much work? Man! Now I have blisters on my fingers! She rubbed her swollen fingers. I'm so tired!
But today was great! I got to nap for half the day, and then I met…what was his name again? Wait…it started with a K…Oops…I think I forgot it! But he was really nice… and he had really warm eyes and his dog was so cute! His hair was pretty wild though. I wonder what it feels like… He looked really nice I hope I get to see him again…
Suddenly Sora felt her heart beating. Heat suddenly rushed to her cheeks and it was not that hot that night either. She covered her face and she felt so embarrassed.
Then something fell on her. It was a blanket? It was her purple blanket…IT'S RAINING BLANKETS! (HAHAHA no) She lifted it off her face and saw Gaara staring down on her.
"You could catch a cold it's windy." He said. Sora blushed and laughed.
"You're right, sorry!" She grinned and he sat next to her. She shared the blanket covering both his and her shoulders. He stared at her for a bit and she smiled softly. He kept staring which made Sora uncomfortable. "What?" She asked.
Gaara shrugged. "You didn't train at all did you?" He asked.
Sora gasped. "What? "You don't think I trained?" She huffed. "You don't trust that I trained as hard as I always~"
"Sora." He interrupted and looked at her more serious.
Sora pouted and stuck her tongue out. "I did a little..." She said. "I swear! Just a little!" She promised. Gaara sighed and was silent. O no! Is he mad at me now? Sora thought. She sat more tensely and was afraid she might have gotten into trouble. "I promise I'll train better tomorrow!" She looked for any reaction. Nothing... "I won't fail at the exam!" She promised. She lifted her arms up. "I swear!"
Gaara finally faced her. "I know you won't fail." He smiled. "You're a great ninja." Sora blushed. And found that she couldn't look him in the eye.
"I'll do my best for you Lord Gaara." Gaara frowned.
"Gaara, it's just Gaara." He said. Sora stomped her foot.
"How can I~"
"You already did." Gaara interrupted. Sora fainted (mentally).
"EH? When did this happen?" She asked. Gaara lifted his head up and stared at the stars.
"When you fell asleep on the roof I had to carry you back to your room. Then while you were asleep you said 'Gaara! There you happy!'" Sora blushed and hid her face between her knees.
"Sorry!' She apologized. Gaara sighed deeply.
"How can you be sorry if you were asked to call me Gaara?" He said. Sora kept her head in her knees. Her blush deepened and she suddenly wanted to give him a hug.
She fell down her head on the roof. "I'm sorry...GAARA!" She yelled. The whole village could hear her. Lights went on and dogs started barking. Sora blushed and laughed. Gaara was close to face palming but instead he just stared.
Sora was still laughing and Gaara clamped her mouth shut. "Be quiet." He said. Sora still laughed but it was muffled by his hand.
"Okay! I'm sorry!" She pulled his hand away and was trying hard not to laugh she was even trembling. Gaara smiled and patted her head. She smiled back warmly. "You're the best...ummm Gaara." She blushed. "This is so weird!" She said and covered her face.
Gaara didn't respond. He was content at the moment and he didn't want anything to ruin that moment. "Go to sleep." Of course he had to ruin his own moment. "It's already late." he said.
Sora pouted. "WHHHYYYYYY?" She whined.
"Because I said so!"
"Are you going to bed to?"
"I'm not tired."
"Then I won't go too!" Gaara sighed.
"Fine!" He said finally. Sora smiled triumphantly. That's right, who's the boss. Technically Gaara was the boss for he was Kazekage but right now...she still wasn't boss.
She giggled and watched as the stars twinkled above her. The moon was in the shape of a pie which made Sora have a new craving for pies. "Do we have any pies?" she asked.
"What?"
"Nothing." She scratched her head. She wasn't tired one bit, she really never was. She would only sleep when: she was bored, avoiding someone and/or too angry to calm down.
"So Lord...I mean Gaara... do you have another meeting tomorrow?" She asked. He didn't answer for a while which made her nervous but then he answered.
"Not tomorrow, why?" She smiled at him.
"Can you help me train tomorrow?" She asked innocently. In her head she was scream PLLLEEEAAASSSEEEE!
"Maybe, it depends if you're a good girl." Sora laughed and leaned her head on his shoulder.
"Always!" She was so dumb. She was never uncomfortable. You can't just lean on a guys shoulder! NO! But somehow she managed to always push the awkwardness and make it feel like your best friend in the world is just chilling with you. She always sees everyone as an equal.
Suddenly Gaara felt very uncomfortable and he stood quickly. "I'm going to bed now..." He said. "Good night and get some sleep!" He said and disappeared in a puff of sand. Sora was dumbfounded. What was up with Gaara?
She stood confused and went to bed. "Did I do something wrong?" Were her last words before falling into a trance of sleep.
"SORA GET YO FAT LAZY BUTT OUT HERE RIGHT NOW!" Temari yelled. Sora did budge an inch. Her shirt was lifted just above her navel and her legs were completely off the bed. She farted loudly.
"Let's just leave her like that for a little while." Kankuro said. "She looks so peaceful!" His nose started to bleed and Temari wacked him in the head.
Gaara came through groggily and still in his pjs. He didn't get that much sleep and his energy was low. When he saw Sora he would've smacked her in the face right there and then. "Sora, have some self dignity and sleep normally!" He said. Temari and Kankuro froze.
Then Temari smirked. "We finally met someone who could make Gaara mad!" Kankuro smiled. Sora woke and fell off her bed.
"OW, Ow, Ow, Ow, OWWWW!" Sora jumped around the room holding her head that had met the stone hard floor. She went too close to Temari and she punched her back on the floor.
Sora's eyes were tearing up. "Temari! It hurts!" She cried still holding her head. Gaara grabbed Sora by the shoulders and made her face him.
"You want me to train you, and then you must wake up on time!" Gaara said. Sora pouted. Gaara glared at her and the pout faded. Then she noticed that Gaara was still in his PJs and well.
"You don't look nearly as ready as I am to train..." She said. You win this time Sora, this time.
"Just hurry up and let's go to the forest and start!' He said. He released her shoulders and went to his room to get changed. Sora laughed and got changed. But not before kicking Temari and Kankuro out of her room.
She rushed to change and she cleaned the room as well. Before she walked out the door she noticed something really smelled. It was her white jacket. She took it off and sniffed it real good. She turned her head away. It smelled worse than Kankuro.
She took her hat off and wore a long sleeved light purple shirt and a dark blue knee length short. She let her hair fall and actually combed it. She looked in the small mirror in her room. Yeesh, she would have to get used to not wearing the white coat but her body felt much lighter.
She bounced off her room throwing her jacket into the laundry pile and her straw hat on her bed.
When she walked into the dining room all eyes were on her. Gaara peered over his newspaper, Temari dropped the spoon in her hand and Kankuro fell off his chair. Temari and Kankuro jumped onto her. "Why you no wearing white jacket?!" They asked. Sora pushed them off her. Girl needed some space.
"It stinks, like Kankuro stink." She eyes Gaara and Temari who nodded in agreement.
"I don't stink!" Kankuro said. He raised his arm and smelled his pit. "Yah not that bad..." He sniffed it again. "I need to take a shower." He left them and rushed into the shower.
"What about your hat?" Temari asked. Sora shook her head.
"I've decided to try something new today!" Sora said. "Besides I feel much lighter without the hat and the jacket." She lifted her arms in a stretch.
Gaara lowered his newspaper. Sora thought that Gaara looked really tired. Asking him to train her would be selfish of her wouldn't it? She turned sad. Temari sensed the aura and left the room quickly.
Sora shuffled next to Gaara who was sitting on a chair, eating breakfast on the table, barely paying any attention to her. He was about to grab his newspaper again when Sora popped in right in front of his face. She leaned in sideways so her face was perpendicular to his.
"Morning Lord Gaara!" She said. He glared at her. She sweat dropped but didn't move and inch. Her apple red hair fell to the right and her smile as wide as the blue ocean. Her green eyes sparkled as she stared at Gaara's teal blue eyes. Yah she was beautiful. "I mean...Morning G-g-g-Gaara..." She smiled but this time more wary.
He pushed her away by squishing his hand on her face and quickly pushing her back to where she came from. He picked up his paper. "Morning." She smiled. But then looking at his yawn made her feel guilty.
"Gaara are you sleepy?" She asked. He stared at her lowering his paper.
"No, why do you ask?" She placed her hands on her hips and frowned.
"Liar! I can see you yawning and coming out in your PJs is a sure sign that you are not focused and you're tired!" She glared at him. "You didn't get enough sleep!"She said.
He frowned. She was his bodyguard not his mother. He scratched his head. He couldn't say she wasn't right though. Lately he hasn't been able to sleep. For some reason Sora kept popping up in his mind. Most likely because he was worried she wouldn't be able to pass the chunnin exams is all.
"Your point is." She gave him a sad worried look. As if she did something bad.
"I asked you to train today but if I do you might be burdened because you're sleepy." She breathed deeply. "So I just want you to stay home instead so you can rest. You're always busy as Kazekage..." She gave him the look, the sad innocent looking girl look.
This girl... He glared at her. "You... you're just saying this because you don't wanna train today either right?!" She looked as if she was struck by lightning he had caught her.
"WHATTTTTTTT?" She yelled. "I TRY TO CARE FOR YOU AND IT TURNS INTO ME BEING LAZY? WHY DO YOU AWAYS ASSUME I HAVE AN ULTEREAR MOTIVE?" She breathed in. Then she mentally punched herself. She was done for, yelling at Gaara he was going to kill her!
"Sora..." He growled.
"Have mercy please!" Sora said bracing herself. "I'm sorry!" She prepared for death. But after a while when she didn't feel any pain she opened one eye. She blushed. Gaara was laughing.
She couldn't move. It was rare enough for Gaara to smile but to laugh? It was almost unthinkable. Unbelievable. Then he realized what he was doing and froze. Then he unfroze. Then he faced Sora. Sora who was in a different universe.
Her head was spinning and so were her eyes. Gaara laughed. The world must be ending. She stumbled. What was happening to the world? What next? Kankuro will smell good?
"Sora!" Gaara said.
Sora pulled herself together just barely and pointed to Gaara. "WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DID YOU DO TO GAARA?" She yelled.
He stood rolling his newspaper up and booped her on the head. "Thanks." He said and he walked quietly to his room.
Sora blushed and Temari came out from behind the couch with a shocked look on her face. "Wow, Sora you really can move mountains!"
"I asked you a question!" Sora said to Gaara who was already in his room ignoring her. She faced Temari. "I'm afraid. ARE YOU SURE THAT IS LORD GAARA? I MEAN GAARA?"
Temari nodded also amazed by the sight of Gaara laughing.
Sora smiled and sat on the couch. "Now what am I gonna do today?" Temari sat next to her.
"I don't know but you're not just gonna stay home and do nothing." Temari had to think for a while. "You can just go around the village and stuff but a pretty girl like you won't be able to go around covert..."
"Pretty girl? Why do I have to go around the village in secret?" Sora asked.
Temari ignored her and was trying to think of a way to not let people know she was Sora the Kazekage's bodyguard. If people figure her out then I won't be able to have fun letting people know that Sora is actually a girl. But if she is gonna go out how will I prevent her from revealing herself as Sora? Temari got it.
"Sora do you wanna borrow some of my clothes?" Temari figured that Sora's white coat would've covered Sora scent; the hat also shielded her face. But if Sora wore Temari's clothes her scent would be even more cloaked. Ha-ha.
Temari knew about Sora's encounter with Kiba and his dog. But she left immediately. Temari couldn't see Sora's face but she could tell; Sora had fallen head over heels. Kiba probably got a good whiff and Temari didn't wanna take any chances.
Out came 'Akira' the new 'Sora'. Akira was Sora's idea. If she was gonna have a new look, she was gonna have a new name. She wore a black shirt that went down to her elbows and showed the slightest glimpse of her stomach when she moved. She also wore red knee shorts that was lose around her thighs then tightened around her knees. She also wore regular sandals and for fun Temari gave her some stud earrings.
Akira looked HOT. Well Temari always knew that Sora was pretty but when she cleaned up she was beautiful.
Sora looked in the mirror and laughed. She looked weird. Before Sora left again Temari grabbed her arm. "Remember you are Akira, she's here for the chunin exams and this is her FIRST TIME going around the village. You can't let people know you're Sora or else my fun is over!" Temari said then pushed her out the door.
"Thanks Temari I feel so loved!" Sora yelled and kicked the door. Then she ran to the forest and disappeared as the trees encircled her.
Sora rested under a tree. It was about 10 o'clock, her day was just starting.
She almost fell asleep but then she felt a lick on her cheek she turned and there was standing a huge fluffy dog. She laughed and patted his head. Akamaru! She almost said it out loud. "Hello there doggy, aren't you cute today!" She said scratching under his chin. He wagged his tail wildly and Sora laughed. "I'm Akira! What's your name?" She smiled as the dog barked.
Then out came his owner. "Akamaru! What are you doing?" A certain brown headed boy came out. "Whoa! Hi!" Kiba started to blush like crazy. Sora just stood there staring at him. He would've had a nose bleed if Akamaru hadn't leapt unto him pushing him to the ground. "Thanks buddy."
Sora stood up and leaned on the tree. She wasn't one to get in between a dog and his master.
Kiba was finally able to get Akamaru off him and he stood facing Sora. He started to blush again but this time he stayed composed. He smiled at her and stuck his hand out. "Hey! I'm Kiba!" He smiled.
Sora blushed and took his hand. "I'm Akira." Kiba started to fidget.
"So ah...I've never seen you around the village before!" He said. "What brings you to the Leaf Village?"
Sora scrunched her nose. "I'm here for the chunin exams." She said.
"Ah so you're here to train!"
Sora shook her head. "I'm on a break man!" raised her arms as if she was stretching. "Plus I'm too lazy to train!" She said smiling as if she were proud of her laziness.
"Nah man that is not how ninja's are supposed to roll, if you wanna be a ninja you gotta train everyday and train hard! No time for breaks!" He said with a determined look on his face.
Sora considered this. Train, get slightly stronger, don't train, still stronger than every person in the village. She had no real reason to train. But...this was her chance to make some more friends...
"OK! Let's go!" She beamed at him.
Did you like it? Did you? DID YOU? HAHA. Hope ya liked it! Review!
