Ryu no Hana

Chapter: 8

Something to prove

(An: Sorry for the long pause in updates I will update as much as possible now that I am over my writers block.)

"Filthy demon!" Villagers chased after her hurling rocks at her, screaming at her to die. Before she realized it she was on the ground someone was striking her screaming at her, "die demon!"

-

Ryuka shot up breathing harshly, "Are you okay?" Her eyes snapped in the direction of the voice. Gaara stood there holding a glass of water she sighed, "i…its nothing j…just a dream." He handed her the glass and sat down beside her, "Temari told me it's natural for someone like you to experience nightmares." She took a drink of the water it was warm her gaze turned to Gaara, "how long were you standing there?"

"About two hours." Her gaze went to the floor, "did I wake you up?" He shook his head "I don't sleep." Her eyes widened in shock "you don't sleep! Why?" "The demon that was sealed inside of me it will slowly eat away at my being. If I sleep I become possessed by it and I will slaughter everyone around me."

He felt something shift beside him, he glanced at Ryuka she had her arms wrapped around her knees. Hugging them to her, "that's why they hate you isn't it?" He remained silent not answering her, he didn't have to. He sighed "you should go back to sleep you start at the academy today."

The alarm blared and Ryuka turned it off. She got to her feet and began making her bed, Gaara moved so that he wasn't in her way. As he was leaving her voice stopped him "Gaara?" He turned his attention to her "yeah?" She smiled, "prove them wrong!" He nodded exiting the room.

Ryuka changed into a pair of black shorts and a light blue shirt she pulled her hair back into a ponytail, she strapped on her weapons holster and headed down the stairs. As she was about to leave a voice called out, "forget something?" She turned her gaze to Gaara shaking her head, "I don't think so." He sighed, handing her a small pack, "Temari told me to give it to you before you left since I was awake." "Thanks you." She turned and headed out the door before she had taken four steps she turned around blushing, "um could you show me where the academy is?" He nodded shutting the door behind him. They headed towards the academy silently.

-

"Get that monster out of here!" Ryuka cringed slightly as the man shouted at her and Gaara. Gaara stared at the man coldly "yeah! We don't want some demon kid in our class!" Tears poured down Ryuka's cheeks, the kids were standing around them. Gaara had to remind himself he couldn't kill the little brat's. One walked up to Ryuka and started laughing at her "look the monster's crying!" Gaara glared at the boy as Ryuka stood there she had tears streaming down her cheeks. He sighed turning his attention back to the man "the council said she had to be enrolled in the academy. She is and you will teach her."

The man glared at Ryuka but remained silent, the kid that had made everyone laugh at her pulled out a kunai "let's see if the demon bleeds." Gaara's eyes widened he was about to grab the kids arm when Ryuka's hand shot up grasping his wrist. He glared at her "what the?-" She pivoted around oddly and flipped the boy he landed awkwardly on his arm. A crunch resounded in the room as the boy cried out. Gaara smirked 'she can fend for herself they won't be able to throw anything her way that she can't handle.' He disappeared in a swirl of sand.

Ryuka's gaze lingered on the boy as tears streamed down his cheeks, she sighed taking an empty seat waiting for things to calm down. The teacher put the kids arm in a splint and began the lesson.

-

They headed outside for combat practice after about a two hour long lecture on chakra and the basics of ninjutsu. A lot of the kids complained that hitting logs was a waste of time. Ryuka did as instructed striking the log with kicks and punches. Soon target practice began. Ryuka jumped out of the way as a barrage of kunai was sent flying at her. She ducked as a kunai whizzed by where her head once was. She winced when something embedded itself into her shoulder.

Soon the instructor made them run laps around the training fields. He glared at her and ordered her to do one hundred laps.

The sun was beginning to set, everyone else had gone home. Ryuka continued running laps. Gaara sighed as he entered the training grounds 'she's still running laps everyone else has gone home, even the instructor.' "Ryuka what are you doing here so late?" She stopped running bending over to catch her breath, "t…the i…instructor told me to run a hundred laps." "And you listened to him!" Ryuka nodded Gaara sighed, "I never listened to them."

He stood beside her now with a stern look on his face "Ryuka you're bleeding." She glanced back at her shoulder "Oh. This happened during target practice." He sighed "the shuriken is embedded in your shoulder." "I couldn't pull it out, so I was gonna get it taken care of when I finished my laps."

"Turn around." She did as instructed and Gaara took a kunai making the wound bigger, she flinched slightly "sorry." He pried the shuriken out and cleaned off the cut, putting a bandage over it. "You know you didn't have to run a hundred laps right." Ryuka nodded "I think I wanted to prove that whatever they threw at me I could handle." Gaara sighed "so how many laps do you have left?" She grinned "two." "Well get to it. I'll wait for you." She nodded sprinting off. 'She's so determined to prove them wrong, maybe I should too."

(An: Sorry if it's short, reviews are greatly appreciated they motivate me.)