Hello everyone! Here is chapter 10! I apologize if the beginning of this chapter sucks, it was one of my least favorite ones to you Jennku for reviewing! Keep the reviews coming everyone! Remember, I don't own Naruto, just Ayumi, and now, on with Chapter 10!
Chapter 10
Ayumi stared absent-mindedly out across the genin teams as the introductory proceedings for the preliminaries began. She was proud that all of Kakashi's, Asuma's, Kurenai's, and Gai's teams passed the second stage of the exams. She was also amazed at the number of genin that had survived the forest of death to get to this point. However, she was concerned because Sasuke seemed to be in pain of some sorts as he clutched his shoulder. This concern was only piqued when she noticed Sasuke preventing Sakura from saying something when given the opportunity to withdrawal from the exam.
Upon the announcement of the first match, she followed the rest of the Konoha shinobi to their side of the arena. Trying to get as far away from Kakashi as possible, she stood between Asuma and Gai, and their teams respectively. Her curiosity about Sasuke's condition was furthered when she noticed Kakashi speaking with him before joining Naruto and Sakura in the balcony. After seeing Sasuke in training, she was interested to see him in an actual fight, but noticed the lack of jutsu as the fight began.
'There must be something wrong…'
She stepped forward slightly as Sasuke's opponent was stealing his chakra by gripping Sasuke's head tightly in his hand before blinking as she heard Naruto beginning to shout taunts at him. She glanced at the blonde before looking back just in time to witness Sasuke defeat Yoroi with a powerful taijutsu attack.
"That move! Why, it's just like Lee's!" Gai exclaimed.
Ayumi glanced at Kakashi to gauge his reaction but blinked to see him down in the arena by Sasuke. Suddenly, the copy ninja whisked Sasuke away.
'There definitely has to be something wrong…if Kakashi has to do something…there must be something wrong.'
She shook her head slightly to clear her thoughts of Kakashi and turned her attention back to the beginning match between Zaku and Shino.
After several minutes of sealing, Kakashi stepped back from Sasuke, panting quietly. Sasuke's condition was poor and he'd need time in the hospital to recover. Suddenly, a feeling of dread descended upon Kakashi and he looked up and entered a defensive position as Orochimaru appeared from the shadows that surrounded them in the dimly lit, stone underbelly of the preliminary arena.
"Ahh…very good, Kakashi…You helped save his life…which is all the better for me…now…if you would kindly step away so I can take him with me…" The snake man stated menacingly.
The Copy Ninja shook his head, replying coolly, "You're not getting him."
To emphasize his point, he flashed through hand symbols and created a large chidori all while glaring at one of the Sanin.
'If he chose to engage me…It wouldn't be a match at all…but I have to do all I can…'
Orochimaru chuckled, beginning to fade back into the darkness, "Not now…but soon….soon, he'll seek me out for the power he needs…I won't even have to use force to capture him…"
After the Snake Master disappeared, Kakashi released the chidori and sighed, realizing how close he had come to death before gathering up Sasuke. However, as he travelled to the hospital, he couldn't shake the feeling of dread that had descended upon him and fearing the truth that Orochimaru's words held. Kakashi decided at that moment to train Sasuke personally.
Ayumi tensed after Temari swiftly defeated TenTen with a gut wrenching landing on her fan and grew nervous as Gai's mini, known as Rock Lee, leapt down to try to avenge her. However, she relaxed when Gai intervened to prevent what would have been a serious fight. As she glanced around, she noticed that Kakashi had returned at some point. Ayumi began to wonder when before pushing the thoughts out of her mind as it was announced that Neji and Hinata Hyuuga were to face off next.
This pairing intrigued her, as she was sure it did most, considering the history of the Hyuuga and their somewhat secretive nature. She felt very sorry for Hinata due to Neji's teasing since Kurenai had explained to her about Hinata's self-esteem issues. However, when Naruto began defending the young Hyuuga kunoichi, she held some hope that this would allow Hinata to defeat Neji.
But, as the fight progressed, her hope was lost as Neji repeatedly struck Hinata with Gentle Fists moves and out maneuvered her weakening attacks since, it appeared, that her chakra had been blocked. Ayumi couldn't help but find their fighting style incredible and almost artful in a way, but frighteningly powerful.
Suddenly, she, along with the other Konoha jonin recognized the killer strike that Neji was about to deliver and, quickly, most intervened to save Hinata and stop Neji. Ayumi stood in front of Hinata, a kunai in hand, with Hayate in front of her, his fingers on Neji's forehead. Kakashi gripped Neji's right arm while Kurenai gripped his left, leaving Gai to hold Neji back with an arm around his neck. Hayate announced that Neji was to be deemed the winner and Ayumi turned to Hinata, asking if she was okay. When Kurenai approached to comfort Hinata as well as see she was escorted to the hospital, Ayumi turned to head back to the balcony and her eyes met Kakashi's. She thought she saw a hurt look in his eyes, but she shook it off as she returned to her place.
Kakashi watched Ayumi return to the balcony and sighed, thinking, 'When can I tell her? It has to be soon…but…when…and how do I even begin?'
As the next battle proceeded with Rock Lee and Gaara, Ayumi began growing nervous. She was ominously reminded of her chunin exam battle. She looked at Gai and saw that even he was worried about his student, especially since he had resorted to releasing the Chakra Gates, which could prove deadly. As she directed her attention back to the battle, she gasped as Rock Lee's attempts to avoid the moving sand had finally failed and his left leg and arm became encased in it before being crushed. Ayumi cringed at the sickening crunch that filled the air.
'That sound….so much like that day…'
Hayate intervened along with Gai and Ayumi. She knelt beside Rock Lee and began evaluating his condition while someone sent for the medics. Attempting to ease his pain, she tried to block off chakra flow to the areas, but when he didn't respond, she took to trying to comfort him.
"Ayumi…how bad is it?" Gai questioned.
The purple-haired kunoichi gulped slightly, trying to remain calm, "B-Bad…even I can see that…v-very bad…"
She stood up on shaking legs as the medical team arrived and took Rock Lee away. Ayumi's mind was filled with the memories and the pain of her own exam and, when she touched her weak arm, she shuddered hard.
Kakashi approached her and asked softly, "Ayumi? Are you okay?"
Ayumi jumped slightly and looked up at Kakashi before quickly turning and leaving. He sighed and, upon the end of the last match, went to find her.
Kakashi walked with a steady pace through the village, searching for Ayumi. He was growing worried since he couldn't sense her chakra signature readily and knew he must not be near here.
'I have to find her. She was visibly upset…'
Finally, after searching for nearly two hours, he spotted her sitting on a bench near the river. As he approached her, he mentally commented on a few things:
'She very far from the preliminaries…she might not want to talk…and she looks like she's been crying…'
He landed several yards from her and walked towards her slowly. The steady pounding of his sandals against the ground drew Ayumi's attention to him and she quickly wiped her eyes while asking:
"What do you want?"
Kakashi sighed as he stood next to her before replying, "I wanted to make sure you were okay…and to talk…"
Ayumi nodded a bit and scooted over so he could sit next to her, which he promptly did, before she replied, "I'm fine…and, since you're here, I assume you finally figured out what you wanted to say to me."
He chuckled a bit, "Something like that…" His tone grew very serious, "Ayumi…you're intelligent…with the occasional wit…you're very kind…and…I think you're beautiful…"
She blushed heavily and began to speak before Kakashi continued.
"You have more talent than you know and use…and a mental resolve that most shinobi would kill for…you do have your weaknesses…like we all do…Mine, is being unable to truly heal from loss…but, when we were in ANBU together…I found that being around you did something to me. It allowed me to…to become close to people again. You caused me to believe I wasn't cursed…to not fear having friends that I cared for deeply…and when I lost you…it was like going back to square one…when I had no one…when I was cursed…It's taken me years to figure out what you did to me…"
Heavily confused, Ayumi questioned, "Okay…but now that I'm back?"
Kakashi chuckled a bit, mostly at his own foolishness and some from Ayumi's confusion, "At first, I didn't know how to react…then, Iruka gave me the idea to help you on the road to recovery…to help pay the debt that I felt obligated to pay…so I visited you in the hospital and let you stay with me…but then, I grew afraid that I would feel what you made me feel so long ago…and that I would lose you again…I would suffer through the pain that I felt last time. So I tried to push you away, which hurt even more to my surprise, and after your confession to me," he looked up into her sparkling, green eyes and continued, "I realized…that even back then…I was feeling the beginnings of love…I had suppressed it, but it was reawakened when you returned…when I realized this…Kami, Ayumi, I became scared….because everyone I ever loved died…but, I'm tired of seeing what so many enjoy and not having that for myself…So, despite knowing the risks…I want to be in a relationship with you, if you'll have me… I love you too Ayumi, it just took me four years to realize it."
Ayumi sat stunned for several moments before she flung her arms around Kakashi and hugged him tightly, "Oh, Kakashi! The chance to hear those very words kept me alive…and now…it's so surreal to hear them."
Kakashi smiled softly at Ayumi's happiness and wrapped his arms around her frame tightly, replying gently, "I can say them as often as you like…"
The kunoichi shook her head softly and lifted it to look into Kakashi's eye, "No…too often and they will become meaningless…I just want to see it in your eye, as I do right now…"
The stared lovingly into each other's eyes before Ayumi leaned in and kissed Kakashi through his mask. He kissed her back the best he could, his right hand lifting up and caressing her cheek softly. She shuddered from the feeling the rough fabric of his gloves against her cheek before she broke the kiss, blushing heavily.
"Imagine if someone saw us…especially you, Mister Copy Ninja," she chuckled softly.
He replied, smiling, "I imagine they would believe I'd gone soft."
They both laughed this time before Kakashi questioned, "Ayumi, would you like to move back in?"
She nodded quickly, "Yes, I'd love to."
Kakashi smiled, "Then, let's go get your stuff."
Ayumi carried in the last of the boxes of vital stuff. What she didn't need immediately, she sealed inside a storage scroll while the rest now sat in boxes that were stacked in the guest bedroom of Kakashi's apartment. Though, it would be safe to say that, it was now her bedroom. She smiled at Kakashi in the hallway before beginning to set up the room and organize her stuff again.
Kakashi's thoughts raced as he thought about Sasuke, 'He needs to begin training now. I have to show him how to be powerful without using that cursed seal. It would be the only way to prevent him from seeking out Orochimaru,' a shudder coursed through him as the words that the snake had given him echoed in his mind, 'I have a month before the finals of the chunin exams….a month to try to save Sasuke…I'll need to train with him practically every day…Ayumi won't like that…and if I choose to teach him the chidori…I'll have to do it away from the village in order to do it safely…Ayumi really won't like that…'
With a sigh, he stepped into Ayumi's room as she was finishing up making her bed.
"Ayumi…there's something I need to tell you," Kakashi stated with a sad look in his eye.
"Yes?" She asked while opening a box to pull out some clothing.
Kakashi sighed, "You know that there is a one-month training period for those that made it to the finals of the chunin exams coming up…"
Ayumi paused, "Yes…Kakashi, just tell me."
"The short version…is that Orochimaru gave Sasuke a cursed mark that could lead to Sasuke defecting from the village to seek the power Orochimaru has promised him in the form of this seal…I have to help him…So, I must train him for the whole month ahead."
"But…we just got together…and…"Ayumi stopped herself and sighed, "I'm being silly. I understand. Considering the mission Sasuke tasked himself with…I understand why you have to do this…When will you be leaving?"
Kakashi sighed again, "Tomorrow morning. The sooner, the better."
Ayumi quickly moved across the room and hugged Kakashi tightly, smiling as she felt his hand run through her hair before she released him, asking:
"Do you need to go gather some supplies?"
He nodded, "Yes. I'll let you get back to what you were doing," he kissed her forehead gently, "I love you, Ayumi."
She smiled in return, "I love you too, Kakashi."
After watching Kakashi leave her room and hearing him leave the apartment, she returned to her boxes with a sigh.