Author's note:
I do not own the
characters, world, or show which inspired this story. Those belong to
Kishimoto.
Hotaru, Hideaki,
Satoru-sensei, Chieko, Kenta, Maoko, and Reona (Mother) are all my
invention.
Alterada: spanish, feminine, panicked
Chapter
8: Alterada
Bolded
section Kishimoto's work.
A
weak later, Hotaru awoke to loud voices coming from the kitchen. It
sounded like her mother. She got out of bed and opened the door. Yup
it was her mother.
"What
do you mean you left her alone with that monster? She's just a
child!" Her mother's voice cried.
"She
was the only one willing to care for him," it was her sensei's
voice.
Her
little sister Chieko opened the adjacent door and rubbed her eyes.
"What's
all that noise about?" she asked grogily.
Understanding her mother's feelings, Hotaru had kept from telling her about the mission she was given while in the hospital. Her poor mother was already at a breaking point. After three of her nephews died in the offensive, the Kazekage's death, and Suna's swift decline of power, she was at wits end. She didn't have the heart to tell her. Now, the possibility that she could have lost her eldest daughter pushed her well beyond the edge, especially since Hotaru was now the main bread winner of the family.
"Mama
is upset," She explained.
"Why?"
Chieko asked.
"I
had to take care of Gaara after they came back. He was injured,"
Hotaru replied.
"But
I thought you were his friend," Chieko asked innocently.
"Mama
doesn't know that, remember?"
"Oh,
yeah. I didn't tell anyone," Chieko whispered.
Hotaru
smiled, despite herself. She wondered if that little lie she had fed
her sister a year ago had allowed Chieko to view Gaara as something
more than the monster.
"I
have to go comfort Mama," She told her sister.
"I'll
go with you," Chieko said.
Both
girls entered the kitchen, only to be a shocked by what they saw.
Satoru-sensei was standing amidst broken cups and plates, with a
thirty-something woman grabbing at his collar, yelling at the top of
her lungs. He stood firm against the onslaught, mustering as much
dignity as he could.
It
was a wonder she had not woken them before.
"How
dare you allow my daughter to enter such a dangerous situation! She
could have been killed. That creature is dangerous. He should have
been left to die!"
"Mother!"
Hotaru called, her voice filled with rage and shame.
"Hotaru,
my poor little Hotaru," her mother bent down and hugged her
desperately but Hotaru pushed her back in disgust.
"Mother,
I am shinobi now. I am not a child anymore. You can't expect me to
skip out of missions because they're too dangerous."
"But
your poor cousins, they left and died," she began to weep.
"And
your behavior is dishonoring their deaths," she exclaimed.
"Your
father left and died..." Her mother was on bended knees,
knuckles to the ground, and tears streamed down her face.
Chieko,
the most sensitive of the children, rushed to her.
"Mama,
don't cry. Please don't cry," her eyes became moist.
Compassion
filled her heart.
"Mother,
it's OK. He didn't try to hurt me. I think he's changed a little,"
she explained.
Everyone's
eyes fell on her.
"What
do you mean he's changed? He can't change!" her mother cried.
"Mama,
Satoru-sensei is here to take me for training. Chieko should be
getting ready for the Academy. You have to wake up Maoko for her
training. We need you to stay strong, mother," Hotaru consoled.
Her
mother nodded weakly.
"Get
ready," Sator-sensei abruptly announced.
"I'll
be back in a few minutes," she replied.
In
less than ten minutes, she was out the door with her sensei.
Their
training was hard that day. Hideaki was relentless as he fought
against both her and the tank.
"Is
that the best you can do?" He swung his bo to the right and hit
Hotaru in the face. She fell back and landed on her back. Undaunted,
she immediately began to sign.
"Fuuton:
air shuriken" her chakra manipulated the wind around her,
creating short bursts of air which she hurled at the strong one.
"Hmph,"
he exclaimed arrogantly and merely side-stepped the projectiles while
slamming the back of his fist against the charging tank.
He
jumped back and sheathed his bo staff on his back.
"I
can fight the two of without it," he taunted. Instead of his
usual, playful demeanor, his voice dripped with anger.
"Like
hell you can!" Hotaru exclaimed.
"Duuton:
earth concussion" the tank slammed his fists against the ground,
creating a controlled shock wave that headed towards the strong one.
The
strong one laughed and jumped to the side, but ran into Hotaru's
flying kick.
He
stopped her mid-air with his left palm and then used his right hand
to flip her vertically, dropping her roughly on the floor.
The
tank wasted no time and while Hideaki was busy disposing of Hotaru,
he ran to him with chinese hammers in hand, elevated and ready for
contact.
"Heh,"
the strong one sneered, his right leg landing a kick on the gut. It
was hard enough to send him reeling back a few steps, but Kenta was
not called "the tank" for nothing.
"Is
that the best you can do?" the giant boy taunted in return.
"You
forgot me!" Hotaru cried as she threw several kunai through the
air, aimed for the strong one.
He
jumped back and straight into the tank's knee.
"Ahh.."
he cried out in pain as his back doubled over with crunch. He landed
on the ground and did not move.
"Wait!"
she cried and rushed towards the comrade.
"He's
fine," Satoru said unconcerned. "It seems that you guys
beat him at last."
She
bent over him with worry.
"Are
you alright?" She asked.
Suddenly,
she felt an arm over her neck and the world became pain as the strong
one landed a hard punch to her face with his free hand. She felt
blood rush from her nose and her vision became speckled. Kenta rushed
at him but his legs were kicked under and he fell flat on his back.
Hideaki quickly went through the hand signs:
"Duuton:
Earth Tomb."
He
crouched and touched the ground with his hands, earth surrounded the
tank and encased him up to the neck.
"You
bastard!" the tank yelled indignantly.
"You
weak shit," the strong one responded coldly.
He
then unsheathed his ninja sword, which he carried across his back
with his bo staff.
"The
reason we are weak is because of shits like you. I can't believe I have to waste my
time working with you bastards!"
"Ayame
Hideaki! Stand down," Satoru commanded.
"Shut
up!" he cried. Satoru noted with alarm that his eyes were
dilated to an unnatural degree.
The
man rushed towards them but feared he was too late. Already, the
sword was raised in the air, ready to strike Hotaru, who was only
beginning to recover from the blow to the head.
He's
really going to kill her, Satoru thought with alarm.
As
he quickly made his way to them, the knife seemed to move down in
slow motion. It was about to reach its target when a burst of sand
threw him eight feet in the air. He landed heavily on his arm with
loud crack on a large slab of concrete. Hideaki yelled in pain and
grabbed at the injured arm.
"What
happened?" Satoru cried as he looked around him in alarm.
He then noted a boy dressed in black, his arms crossed, with sand
slithering from the gourd on his back. His face fell.
Gaara's
green eyes were fixed on Hideaki, who had by this time recovered
himself, but still gripped his broken arm in pain.
"We
are not weak because of her, we are weak because of idiots like you
who put themselves above others," Gaara said. "You are
pathetic."
The
strong one sniffed but looked down in fear. Satoru would not have
been more amazed if the sand dunes that surrounded Sunagakure had
suddenly burst forth with rich vegetation.
"Gaara,"
the Satoru said hurriedly, not sure of what to make of it. "I
thank you for saving my student. However, there is no need to kill
him. I am sure that the events which have transpired have upset him.
With some rest, he should be back to his senses."
"I
was not going to kill him," Gaara said. "However, he needs
to learn that true strength is found only when one protects those who
are precious to you."
Satoru
was shocked into silence, and could only stare, wide eyed.
With
a flick of his hand, Gaara dispelled the tomb and freed the tank, who
was also shocked beyond measure. Kenta did not move.
"You
need to see a medic," Gaara told Hideaki.
"I'll
take him," Satoru said.
Hideaki
was sulking on the slab but did not complain as Satoru led him out of
the practice area, followed by the fearful Kenta
Hotaru's
head still stung. But she heard every word.
"You
should go with them as well," Gaara told her. His sand was now
securely in the gourd.
"No,
I can heal myself," she replied. She placed her hands on her
head and with some concentration, the pain receded and she could see
clearly.
"You
never go to the rooftops anymore," he said.
"Oh,
well, I was scared."
"I
understand," he answered quietly. "You don't have to be
afraid anymore."
And
with that he turned and left.
After
the incident, Hotaru wasted no time and headed for the roofs. It had been so long since she had last traveled
them and she missed them terribly. But also, she needed time alone.
What her teammate had tried to do had upset her more than she would
have liked to admit.
The sun was
beginning to set, giving everything a rosy glow. The wind tossed her
hair about, making the strands dance with every jump.
A guard waved as
she passed by.
She gave a polite
nod, but could not help but think that she needed the type of
isolation that could only be found outside, beyond the protective
canyon bowl that surrounded Suna.
Minutes later, she
was at the small path had had been carved through the rock, creating
the only exit from the vale, long ago.
"Who goes there?"
one of the guards demanded.
"It's just me,"
She replied with a wave.
The guard looked at
her skeptically. He didn't know her very well, after all, and Suna
ninja were not allowed out of the city without permission. But the
rules were generally bent unless there was time of trouble. However,
he was also young, and new to the job, making him overzealous.
"You don't seem
to be on a mission," he remarked suspiciously. "State your name
and purpose."
Hotaru giggled.
"You're
so nervous, my name is Yamane Hotaru, and I have a message for one of
the guys outside."
"What message is it? I will deliver it!"
"You
can't expect me to give him an ultra private message through you!"
She replied, aghast. The performance was topped off with her covering
her blushing cheeks with her hands.
"Ah…well…you
may pass! But I warn you, this is something we don't allow every
day!"
"Yes sir!" she answered mock severity.
What's
with that guy? He's so serious, she wondered, perhaps
forgetting in her mirth that nearly everyone but her in Suna was
serious.
After
she left the canyon, it didn't take long for her to see that she
wasn't the only one who had sought solace outside the city. Gaara was
facing the sunset, his arms firmly crossed, and his brother stood
several feet behind.
She
crept by slowly, but then felt compelled to stop. There was something
very private in their manner, and she didn't want to intrude.
However, curiosity kept her from walking away all together. Straining
her ears, she could hear their discussion.
"Bonds
with others meant nothing to me," Gaara said. "Up until now, for
me that was nothing but hatred and the intent to kill. But now, I
understand everything."
"Gaara,"
Kankuro started, but could not find words to continue.
"He
knew the same suffering as I do. And so he taught me that I could
change my life forever," Gaara continued.
Who
knew? Hotaru wondered.
At
that moment, she felt overwhelming shame and quietly walked away. She
hoped that they had not noticed her presence. But in her fluster she
had forgotten again, that foolish kunoichi, there are other senses
shinobi can use.
Kankuro's
eyes narrowed, and quickly turned his head to see a
strawberry-blond-haired kunoichi creeping away. He smiled at her, but
she could not see it, and was not meant to.
"It's
OK. I don't mind if she hears," Gaara said, trying to appease his
now protective brother.
But Kankuro already knew.
That
night, she barely touched her dinner.
"My
team has been called for a mission in Wave country. Minaki-sensei
said that we have to act as though we are not weak so that other
countries won't take the opportunity to attack," Maoko said
quite smugly. "It's a level C mission. How long did it take you
to do level C missions, Hotaru?"
She
didn't look up from her plate.
"Maoko,
you are so mean," Chieko scolded.
"She
may not have been doing level C missions until six months after her
graduation, but she was made to treat Gaara when he was sick,"
her mother defended. Her tone was now one of pride and there was not
a hint of the near breakdown she had experienced that morning.
"Are
you serious? You had to take care of that monster when he came back?"
Maoko asked with awe.
Hotaru
still didn't acknowledge them.
"Well,"
Maoko asked again impatiently.
"I
helped him. The doctors treated him. I wasn't skilled enough,"
she said.
"Hah!
See? Still not such a big deal. I'll go toe to toe with him in a
little while. Minako-sensei told me I was good enough to use a battle
fan like Temari. But I don't think I'm going to use one quite so
big..."
"What's
wrong" Chieko interrupted Maoko's bombastic tirade.
"I
haven't gone to the rooftops for a while," Hotaru mumbled,
trying to find some way to deflect from what was truly weighing on
her mind.
"What?
You used to go to the rooftops!" her mother exclaimed. "Heaven
preserve me child. You will drive me to my death!"
"Why
not?" Chieko asked.
"Gaara.
But he said it was OK now," Hotaru replied.
"Does
that mean I can go up there too?" she inquired.
"Yes."
"Absolutely
not!" her mother slammed her hand on table. "You can do
whatever you want now but she's still only nine. I will not have you
take her up there with that thing."
"He's
different now, mother. I almost died in practice and he saved me,"
she explained.
Her
mother's face went pale. Maoko's chopsticks fell to the floor.
"How
did you almost die?" She asked with a dangerously calm tone.
"It
was an accident," she lied.
"Gaara
saved you?" Maoko asked incredulously.
"Well,
I will have to talk to Satoru about that..." her mother began.
"Does
that mean we can really go up on the roofs again?" the little
one enquired.
"Yes."
"Well,
you can go. I'm staying right here," Maoko declared.
"What
ever happened to you saying you'll be stronger than Gaara one day?"
Chieko taunted.
"I'm
not strong enough yet!" Maoko yelled, defending herself.
"You
are not taking her up there. And that is final," her mother
commanded.
"I
promise, nothing will happen to her. Besides, she needs to practice
and that's the best place for me to teach her," Hotaru argued.
Her
mother placed her hands on her face and Hotaru could see with alarm
that they were shaking,
Is
the whole world gone mad? she wondered.
"Fine,
take her. What do I matter anyway? I'm only your mother," she
left with a huff and then slammed the door of her room.
The
three girls sat awkwardly around the table. Finally Chieko broke the
silence,
"You're
all talk, Maoko," she sneered.
"Shut
up!"
That
morning, on the pretense that Hotaru was not good enough to train
Chieko properly, Maoko joined them on the roof. Although she acted
very calm, her eyes darted too and fro nervously while she explained
to her sister the art of the shadow clone.
"This
will put you ahead of your class, and you'll end up being the
strongest kunoichi, like me!" she bragged.
Of
course, Chieko still being quite young and not having very good
control over her chakra, made very poor clones.
"That
one looks like balloon!" Maoko scolded. "Do it again!"
"I'm
trying to do it as well as I can! Get off my back!"
Hotaru
giggled as she watched her sisters argue.
"I
see you decided to come up again," a soft voice said to her
right.
This
time, she felt no fear.
"Yes,"
she replied.
"They
are all quite animated," he said. "I could her them from
the other side of the village."
Hotaru
laughed. The girls stopped their argument abruptly.
They
were too busy looking at the boy beside them, wide eyed, to remember
what it was they were arguing about. After a bit of silence Chieko
was the first to speak.
"Hello,"
she said simply.
"Hello,"
was his reply.
"Ah..."
Maoko began but could not find the words.
"I
hope our fighting hasn't disturbed you," Hotaru apologized.
"No,
it hasn't. You should continue your practice," he replied and
then turned to leave.
"Wait,"
Hotaru called. "Why don't you stay? You can join us for
breakfast if you like."
Maoko
approached her and asked with a whisper, "What are you doing?
Mom will go crazy."
"When
she sees how much he's changed, she won't worry so much anymore.
She'll get off my back," Hotaru replied.
"But
how do you know he's changed?"
"Trust
me," she replied with a smile.
Later
on that morning, when her mother entered the kitchen, she almost died
of shock. Besides her three precious daughters, there was a redheaded
boy at the table with green eyes and a giant gourd on the floor
beside him.
The breakfast was already served, presumably made by the youngsters,
and they were all eating it with relish.
"Good
morning mother!" Chieko called. "We made breakfast so you
wouldn't have to work."
"There
is plenty left for you," Hotaru added.
"I
made most of it,"Maoko bragged.
"Good
morning, ma'am," Gaara greeted calmly.
"Oh..."
She could not find the words to reply.
