Chapter Nine.
Shira was running next to Kakashi when she noticed a green blur appear by them. She doubled back in her glance.
"Mr. Green?" Shira questioned in shock. The last time she'd seen him was roughly two days previously, by Konoha gates, on crutches. 'Mr. Green' gave her a nice guy pose whilst in mid jump, complete with glittering teeth, winking eye and a thumbs ups before he turned to Kakashi.
"Kakashi-sensei! I shall go on ahead, and assist with further battle!" He cried jovially.
Kakashi sighed before agreeing. "Be careful, Lee." With that, Mr. Green –now known to be Lee – ran on ahead of them as nothing but a blur.
"Um…?" Shira tilted her head in confusion.
"Cleared from the hospital and lacking his weights." Kakashi stated, as if that cleared everything up. Shira was about to remark on it when she noticed that there was a greater amount of light coming up in front of them. She looked towards Kakashi in confusion once more.
"Is that a clearing? Isn't there supposed to be a lot more forest?" She questioned him.
He looked towards her with his solitary eye, a look of equal confusion hastily covered before he replied. "The team has split of for fights. It's possible it's the results of one of these fights." He faced forwards again before saying in a quieter tone. "Though, none of the team have abilities to do so."
"There's a Sand ninja up ahead, Kakashi." Pakkun informed his boss.
"Ah." Kakashi acknowledged.
As they broke through the tree line, it was not into a clearing like suspected, but into more forest with the distinct lack of tree tops. For around a miles radius either side and forwards, the trees were sliced haphazardly. Slightly further into the chaos, Shira could make out to figures resting on the tree. Both figures she instantly recognised.
Jumping a pace ahead of Kakashi and Pakkun, Shira hurried over to them.
"Shi-ka-ma-ru!" She called out, quickly followed up with; "Te-ma-ri!"
As the two figures looked towards her, she skidded to a halt in front of them. Pakkun and Kakashi not far behind. Shira beamed as Kakashi questioned them on their health.
"Are you two okay?" Kakashi inquired.
"I just had to save his hind, but we're fine." Temari grinned cheekily in reply.
"Troublesome." Shikamaru confirmed his well-being.
"Oh, hey!" Temari exclaimed. "Do either of you know what that green blur of 'Youth' was that just ran by?" She questioned. "Shika just sighed out a 'Troublesome.' when I asked him." She finished, jerking a thumb to indicate Shikamaru.
"That was Lee!" Shira piped up quickly, causing Temari to look at her. Her gaze became calculating.
"Do I … know you?" She questioned Shira suspiciously.
"Just because I haven't seen you in a while, doesn't mean you forgetting me hurts any less." Shira pouted in reply.
"Eh?" Temari exclaimed in confusion. Shira added puppy-eyes and a sniffle to further display her displeasure. As a result Temari had a look of utter lost and defeated helplessness.
After a couple of seconds of Shira standing with her arms crossed and glancing at Temari out
of the corner of her eyes and Temari's expression not changing, Shira breathed out harshly before throwing her arms down and glaring narrowed eyes at her and petulantly muttering.
"I'm a childhood friend of Gaara. We met a couple of times before I got sent to live with my aunt." Seeing the blank look on Temari's face signalling her lack of recognition, Shira shifted feeling uncomfortable. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, Kakashi spoke up from beside her.
"I'm going to head of now. Catch up if you can." Kakashi then sped off with Pakkun leading the way.
The three nin watched as Kakashi sped away as Shikamaru and Temari were swarmed by the medic-nin left on scene.
"You really don't remember me?" Shira questioned, still facing the direction Kakashi had left. Temari glanced out of the corner of her eyes to the girl, noticing the carefully blank mask covering her face.
Temari sighed looking up and then speaking up. "Look," She started, turning to face Shira. She hesitated, not knowing her name.
"Shira." Shikamaru supplied in a bored tone. Temari nodded her thanks, continuing with what she was trying to say.
"Look, Shira. I don't really remember much about things concerning Gaara from when Gaara was a kid-kid, since he is still a kid. So, just 'cause I don't remember you, doesn't mean you should be so put off. Just accept and move on. I'm assuming we're allies now, so. Hey, I'm Temari, and I can kick your butt." She finished with a bright cheerful grin.
Shira blinked before an answering grin stretched over her features, her eyes squinting shut in reaction.
Just as Shira was about to say something in return, a strong wave of paralysing shock and slight fear overtook her. Her eyes widening gained the attention of the two shinobi she had been conversing with. Shikamaru straightened thinking she had sensed another enemy and Temari readied her fan by her side and began to look around her, but didn't sense anything.
They turned their attention back towards Shira seeing her face pale. "What is it? What's wrong?" Temari questioned her.
"I've got to go." Shira whispered. "He's … I've lost him. I can't get a hold of him anymore." With that cryptic message, Shira hurried away in the direction Kakashi took not long ago, leaving behind two very confused ninja.
Shikamaru sighed. "What a drag."
As she raced along, she controlled the chakra to flow to ears to give a better hearing range. As she focused, she could hear the running feet of Kakashi and Pakkun running in front of her slightly to the right, but also in front of her and slightly to her left, she could hear a strong whistling sound. As if the wind currents were rushing through many obstacles which reached high into the sky.
She veered slightly left in her journey when she felt a slight pull from her chakra and a small tug of her mind. Gaara. He's still alive. Her pace picked up as she headed towards the pull as fast as she could.
When she broke through the tree line to the area she heard the whistling wind, she saw that whole of the clearing was filled with bones breaking up through the earth.
To the side, on the edge of the rocky hill holding the clearing, she could hear talking. She enhanced her hearing with chakra once more to listen in.
"It was sheer luck." The first voice began. "I should have been killed." Her heart skipped a beat as she recognised the voice as Gaara and realised what he had said. Shira began to make her way over to Gaara and the person he was speaking to, still listening.
"No. It was not meant to be." The second voice responded. "My sensei is often saying to be me, 'a good ninja always makes his own luck'."
"That meddlesome mother-hen." Gaara intoned. Shira snorted at his description of his companion's sensei.
The second voice was on the defensive instantly, speaking louder and faster than when he first spoke. "Gai-sensei is nothing of the sort! Yes, he stepped in." the voice allowed. "But only that once! And only because I was not yet strong enough." He explained. "I am very grateful to you for having saved my life." He informed Gaara. Shira could hear clearer now, barely using any chakra to hear what they were saying as she got closer. "But I warn you, I will not abide anyone speaking ill about my sensei!" he finished strongly.
There was a moment of silence before Gaara spoke again. This time Shira didn't need to use any chakra at all and was closing in from behind them.
"So you're another one, eh?" Gaara questioned in a monotone voice. "You have someone in your life whom you honour and revere so much, that every hurt inflicted on them, is inflicted on you as well. And the closer they are to you, the greater the pain." Gaara paused, and by now, Shira was resting her back against the tree beside them, just out of view. "To feel so strongly for someone you would fight for them … and die for them. You and Naruto Uzumaki, you have that in common."
The companion, who Shira now recognised as Lee, made a sound of surprise.
"However," Gaara started again. "What if this person you honour and would even die for, is not a virtuous person?" He questioned.
"Impossible!" Lee exclaimed loudly in protest. "Such a person would-would be unworthy of honour or respect!"
"No." Gaara contradicted. "Perhaps the companionship of even an evil person, is preferable to loneliness."
In the ensuing silence, Shira decided to make herself known. "That… That was very touching, Gaara. Lee." She said as she spun herself around the tree and into view with a gentle smile on her face.
Gaara stood up quickly and assessed her for any signs of hostility. Lee also rises, slightly slower, and with a recognition of "You're the girl from the gate that left with Kakashi-sensei. Sorry I do not know your name! How unyouthful of me not to have asked!" He exclaimed as tears began to pour from his eyes.
Shira blinked. "Umm… I'm Shira?" She replied. Lee instantly brightened before striking another nice-guy pose.
"And I am the Great Green Beast of Konoha! Rock Lee!" His teeth glittered.
"Nice to formerly meet." Shira awkwardly replied scratching the top of her head.