''Come on Akira, just for a second I need to get my art project. Then we can head to the dojo okay?'' Ten Ten begged. AKira obliged dressed in her normal workout clothes. Large t-shirt and gi pants. School had just ended and they walked into the art room and she gasped in amazement. The paint, the charcoals the paper the canvas... everything she could and would ever need to do anything...was there.
''Rai- sensei!'' A tall man with curly black hair tied back at his neck and an intense stare. Akira's eyes widened in recognition as did his as Ten Ten found her frame.
''Akira?''
''Kirou-san!'' She exclaimed and hugged him hard. He used to be her tutor for art...when she couldn't even draw.
''I never expected to see you. Why don't you have my class young lady?'' He asked with a disapproving frown.
''Sorry, I'm taking a double science. Need to get it out of the way.'' He nodded in understanding.
''As always... well. Feel free to come in here whenever you like. I am curious to see your vast improvement I am sure.''
''Really?'' Ten Ten rolled the canvas up and stuck it into her tube as it was humid and the humidity would've ruined the painting.
'' Yes really. You should ask Akira for help Ten Ten, she can teach you a few things.'' Ten Ten nodded.
''Oh I will be putting her Thunder Nation brain to very good use. Come on before we're late. Bye Rai-sensei.'' Ten Ten said and they left waving. ''You seem to know all the really cool teachers.''
''Who knew the world was so small?'' They arrived just as the boys were trying on their gi. Ryo, Kyoshiro,Ptolemy, Gael already had their own and they watched as they struggled with trying the belt.
''You remember those days?'' Ptolemy said a sarcastic nostalgia playing in their voice. Sasuke finally thought he go it tied right but i slackened and came undone.
''You know instead of watching me struggle, you could, oh I don't know, help.'' He said his embarrassment growing as the girls came over. Everyone except Shino and Sasuke already had their own gi's. Shino sighed in defeat.
''Here let me help you.'' Kiva said wrapping her arms around Shino showing him how. Sasuke tried to mimick it but to no avail.
''Screw it.'' He said. Akira laughed and behind him.
''Don't give up, it's easy. Watch.'' She said wrapping her arms around him to grab the belt and Sasuke felt his cheeks grow hot as the others laughed at his plight. She tied it for him and he remembered every movement.
''See, not that hard...What's so funny guys?'' Akira asked as they continued to snicker and Sasuke gave them a dry look.
'''Shut it.''
''Nothing Akira... Nothing.'' Kyoshiro said causing the twelve to burst into laughter. Akira was confused and Sasuke put Kyoshiro into a headlock.
''Oh relax Sasuke, it's a harmless joke.'' Gei came over.
''Ah two newcomers. Who wants to test their gi's?'' Akira and Kiva raised their hands.
''Alright go ahead.'' He said stepping back. Shino and Sasuke looked at each other in confusion almost afraid. Kiva went first. Grabbing Shino's front and falling back placing her feet on his diaphragm. He went flying across the room.
''Kiva...why?'' SHe kissed his cheek and helped him up.
''Don't worry I was gentle.'' He looked at her like she was crazy. Sasuke sensing he was next looked down at the girl. She looked him over quickly to see that she would not be able to disrupt his balance easy, she decided to do it anyway.
She grabbed his gi and jerked him towards her jumping up so her feet were on his diaphragm and rolled back on one hand. Throwing him to the next mat with a groan. She completed the back flip and walked over. His gi was still in place.
''Nice...'' Mizu said.
''Ow...'' He whispered looking up at her, the strength in her eyes.
''You'll get used to it eventually.'' She said and helped him up. After the two got their gi's they headed to basketball practice and cheerleading. By the time it was all over, everyone was exhausted and ready for the weekend.
''I'll come get you tomorrow Sasuke, you won't know where you're going.'' Akira said.
''How about you all meet at my house? My mom's truck can hold all of us easy.'' Ryo said.
''That's a good idea. We shall see you in the morning then huh?'' AKira said. He nodded and everyone began to leave. Akira climbed in the car with Sasuke.
''Excited?'' She asked cheerily. Sasuke groaned. He had a feeling that the 5 to 5 twelve hours in combatant would be filled with tons of throws.
''Exstatic...'' He said flatly making her laugh.
''Don't worry. Gei isn't that mean to new comers.'' She said. He felt comforted at her words and slept that night with no attacks from Itachi. He ate dinner quickly saying he had to get up early.
I feel insane, every single time i'm asked to compromise.
Sasuke hit the off button on his alarm clock getting out of bed sleepily. He walked to the bathroom yawning and took a hot shower to wake him up. He packed his backpack with a spare pair of clothes and necessities such as his English assignment that he started. He pulled on his gi, pants and all. And looked himself in the mirror. His ebony hair laid flat because it was still wet. He went downstairs. Mikoto and Itachi were in the kitchen.
''You're up Sasuke? You usually sleep in on Saturdays.'' Mikoto said surprised.
''My first practice is today. It's every Saturday from 5 to 5.'' He said sitting down and taking part in the breakfast before him.
''I got a call from Mira Ryuusei, she said that it was fine that you spent the night.'' Mikoto said and Itachi and Mikoto looked at him questioningly.
'' I need Akira's help with my English, and we were going to start on a project. She ended up making it a sleep over.'' He explained drinking down the last of his coffee. He finished breakfast just when the doorbell rang.
''AH! I hardly recognize you now... you're so big.''' He heard and he stood grabbing his gym bag and walked to the door.
''It's nice to see you Uchiha-san. Is Sasuke ready to go?''Akira asked he pulled on his shoes.
''Yes I-whoa. what are you wearing?'' Her uniform happened to be in different style and color. Black and red. The character for lightning in crimson on her back. Her pants were capris and her shirt was the same style as his but red and a black belt around her waist.
''My uniform. I couldn't find the rest of my normal gi so I just wore this one.'' She said. Sasuke kissed his mother goodbye and they were on their way towards Ryo's house.
''How many do you have?'' He asked.
''Hm... one for every dojo so four. Two from japan one from Taiwan this one from China.''
''You lived there I take it.'' He said as they walked down the alley way to get to his house.
''For a while.'' They knocked on the door and Kyoshiro in a blue gi and blue belt answered the door.
''Morning, you brought Sasuke. THat's great now all we've got to do is wait for Kiva and Kira and we'll be set.'' He said and closed the door behind them. Sasuke's eyes widned he and Shino were the only ones with white gis.
''Whoa... ninja-san.''Mizu said. She and Miko had brown belts, blue gis with no sleeves and a black shirt underneath. The Blythe twins wore red gis. Ptolemy had long sleeves, Gael's sleeves had been ripped off. They both had black and red belts. Mirai, Ten Ten, and Hinata had forest green gis and blue belts.
Ryo came down stairs tying his black and red belt over a forest green gi. He looked over everyone drying his hair still.
''Glad to see everyone made it okay. Where's Kiva and Kira?'' The door rang with the sound of bickering behind it. Ryo opened the door. THe two twins looked more like twins when dressed the exact same violet gis, black and red belt, black shoes. Kiva had her hair tied up in a pony tail and Kira had a red sweatband on his forehead.
''I told you to wake up and you didn't listen.'' Kiva said.
''You didn't have to do the obandai on me though.'' Kira said. They laughed at the bickering siblings.
''Alright everyone ready to go then?'' Ryo asked. They nodded and he went back upstairs, most likely to find his mother.
''Mirai my love!'' Kira said happily and Kiva rolled her eyes as he hugged Mirai tightly and nuzzled her gently causing her to giggle.
''Stop that tickles!''
''I am not related to you.'' Kiva said shaking her head in shame that they were related, twins none the less and exact opposites. A middle aged brown hair aqua eyed woman came downstairs in front of Ryo.
''Ah well, we have some additions to the gang huh?''Ryo nodded.
''Hello.My name's Naomi. I'm Ryo's mom.'' They waved in turn, greeting the woman as she took her keys off the hook.
'' Well let's get this show on the road shall we? Don't want to hear Gei's yelling now do we?'' They all went out side as she backed the truck onto the street. It was a pickup truck. Ryo climbed in the passenger set. Kiva and Kira in the two actual seats and everyone else in the back.
''Hey... I just realized something.''' Ptolemy said taking into account Akira's attire. ''You're a black belt right? What degree?''
''Tenth.'' Akira answered everyone was silent and they scooted away from her.''What?''
''You outrank Gei...'' Ptolemy said in awe.
''You could probably kill me couldn't you?''Miko asked. She laughed.
''Yeah, I could. But I'm not going to. I never use my full strength unless I get really pissed off which isn't often.'' They sighed as the car went pass the school to the forest behind it, in the middle of the large field they could see the beginning of everyone showing up.
''Alright, be prepared for a day of fighting!'' Akira said leaping out first. They waved Ryo's mom goodbye and she said she'd come get them and take them to Akira's house.
''Good luck Sasuke.'' Akira and the other waved leaving Shino and him nearer to Gei.
''What?'' Sasuke asked.
''Welcome to Combatant. You right now are at the lowest level. Be prepared to get hurt. The only thing you'll feel by the end of today is pure pain.'' Shino's eyes widened as the higher class came over. Akira in the lead.
''These are your superiors. You'll adress them as sensei. Choose your pupils.'' Shino was chosen by Seito and Akira choose Sasuke.
''Akira... I'm surprised that you choose to take part...'' Gei said. Sasuke stood in silence, ''Don't be too mean to the poor boy.'' He shook his head as AKira turned to him.
''From this moment on, you're my pupil. And before I can teach you anything. I need to see where you stand. Attack me.'' He blinked at this sudden change, Akira stood before him and he was almost scared.'' I'll be nice and only use one hand.'' She said and he stepped back. He had take one martial arts class in his life. Karate.
He attacked with a side kick for it to be caught and his other leg swept from under him. He tried to do the same but she avoided it as he stood and aimed a punch. She barely moved to dodge and he attacked her again, she kept her arms behind her back as he punched at her and her eyes closed dodging the punches as if he wasn't even doing anything. She side stepped him tripped him, placing a foot on the small of hiss back somewhat paralyzing him.
''You're not as bad as i thought... a bit rusty...'' SHe let him stand and he gazed into her eyes. ''You've got good foot speed but your arms, strong as they may be, are slow.'' He stood perfectly still.
''Let's begin shall we?'' She asked.
Sasuke felt like his arms would fall off. Akira had forced him to jump rope on his fists instead of his feet and twirled the rope bored like. He fell over again, his knuckles bloody. And it wasn't even nine yet. He got back up and kept going. This was his how, she was his means and he'd be damned if he gave up so easily.
Pain...sweat and tears were nothing new to him. She twirled faster and he forced himself not to fall behind. After the jumping rope, it was blocking practice. She punched so fast, Sasuke ended up with bruises all over his chest, until he finally learned to block.
''Faster! You think that'll stop your enemy?'' She said evading his block with a solid kick to his chest.
Ryo noticed this as did everyone else. He was sitting on his pupil's back as he did push ups. He was on number two so far. He felt that Akira was a harsh teacher, but he wondered if she was too harsh, seeing Sasuke skid over the grass like that.
''Damn...i can't believe he can still get up after that.'' They had moved on to Kendo and Akira was kicking his ass. But Sasuke kept getting back up and trying again. By the time noon, came he was passed out on the grass during lunch.
Sasuke opened his eyes to the burning light. Akira's bright eyes hovering over him.
''Hey, Hey. You need to eat Sasuke.'' He sat up groggily and she handed him a foot long sub. He looked at her and she nodded. He tore into it. She was amused watching him scarf down the sandwich in his hunger.
''Drink this, it'll help.'' He drained the Gatorade bottle in under ten swallows.
''So...uhm sensei how am I doing?'' She smirked.
''You're determined... for the wrong reason.''
''What?''
''You're determined not give up. Because you're tired of feeling weak. You're not determined because you don't want to be weak.'' He blinked at her psychic prowess.
''...you're right. I don't know what else to do though...That's all I can feel.''
''You're tired of being in Itachi's shadow...'' He gasped and looked at her. ''You wonder how I know? Because he was the same way.'' He blinked.
''You... trained my brother?''
''Trained with him. He was always second best and he hated it. I recognize the gleam in your eyes. You're the little brother it's natural.'' She said making Sasuke quiet. ''You will never be Itachi SAsuke.'' He gasped feeling the rage, they were so far from the others that no one could hear them. ''Never. You need to accept this fact.''
''Why...not? Why can't I be Itachi? Everything I'm good at he's better. Every weakness I have, it's his strength. Why can't I protect her-'' He covered his mouth and Akira whirled on him.
''What?''
''Nothing. It's nothing.'' He said Akira tackled him pulling his arm behind his back and covering his eyes leaving him in darkness. She felt the tears from his eyes.
''Who?'' She asked.
''It's nothing. Please let me go.'' He said, in a small trembling voice. She gasped when she realized he was afraid, it was his loss of sight...
''Sasuke... are you Scotomaphobic?'' He asked still holding her hand over his eyes and his body began to shake, his tears streaming down his face.
''Aniki...p-please no...''' He whispered his shaking becoming more severe. She released him and turned him over pulling his face up to hers and gazed into his eyes, dilated with fear and his tears still streaming. He was going into shock.
''Sasuke, Sasuke listen to me. Can you hear me?'' She nearly yelled, Gei came over.
''What happened?'' He asked as Akira pressed Sasuke to her heart and stroked his hair...he clung to her like a frightened child. His breathe frantic and choppy. He was terrified.
''He's going into shock.'' Gei pulled out his cellphone to call the ambulance.'' No stop Gei, he'll be fine.'' He sighed and walked away. She held the trembling boy, pressing his head to her heart so he heard her steady heartbeat and stroked his hair to calm him. Stimuli to keep him with her.
''It's okay Sasuke...It's me... Akira...I'm here... wake up. Wake up Sasuke.'' She whispered softly. His grip began to relax, his body stopped trembling.
''A...ki...ra...'' He said groggily, softly. His skin was beginning to regain color and his eyes focused on her.
''Are you okay Sasuke?'' He sat up and rubbed his eyes , the pounding headache was enough to distract him. He felt he'd been hit by a truck, he felt like he'd been under water.
''I... I've got a headache but I'm fine. What happened?'' He asked.
''You were going into shock...'' She said and her groaned. ''Sasuke... are you scotomaphobic?''
''What? What's that?''
''The fear of blindness in the visual field... do you?'' He looked away from her, a silent yes was told as the wind blew.
''How did you find out?'' He asked softly.
''I covered your eyes when I pinned you down. You were crying.'' Sasuke wiped his face hurriedly as lunch ended. '' You said 'Aniki please no.' '' He gasped and stood up quickly.
''Let's get back to-'' She grabbed his hand and pulled him back down to sit. Gei was watching from a distance and left her to her methods.
''This is work. I can't train you properly if I don't know about you.'' She said, ''I'm not asking you to tell me your deepest darkest secrets. But I need an honest answer, and a complete one.''
''You didn't ask anything. It's obvious i have scotomaphobia-''
''Why did you join Combatant. Everyone has a reason. What's yours?'' She asked.
''What's yours?'' He countered. She smiled.
''Fair enough. you want to play twenty questions then? Fine. I joined Combatant as to keep my skills sharp in combat and because I love combat in general. Your turn.'' He looked away not expecting her to tell him everything.
''I want to be stronger...Stronger to protect her.'' Akira didn't push, the answer to her question was in his eyes. Mikoto.'' Why do you ask?''
''It helps with outlining your trainning'' She explained and paused,''Who's your favorite parent?'' She asked startling him with her light tone.
''My Mother. How do you know my brother? Can't be that you just trained with him...''
''...hm... we used to work together. Why your Mom?'' He wanted to ask what she meant but that would have to wait.
''She's the only one that treats me like I'm a human.'' Silence hung in the air a mutual understanding.''Who's your favorite family member?''
''That's a tough one. My sister definitely...What's song do you like better, 'Lip Gloss and Black' or 'Lose it.'?''
''Can't choose. You?''
''Lose it. What's your favorite type of ice cream?''
''Strawberry, you?''
''Chocolate!''She said, ''Who would you date between Sakura and Ino?'
''Neither. Between Naruto and Kiba?''
''Neither.When's your birthday?''
''July 23. You?''
''30th.Are you a good dancer?''
''I don't know. I guess we'll find out. What's the name of your band?''
''The Myth. Why do you hate Literature?''
''I don't, not really. I love to write but after Aniki majored in literature, every time I take the class I freeze up... What is your favorite subject?''
''Literature. Why do you fear being blind?'' Silence hung in the air.
''I...I...'' Akira was about to tell him not to worry about it but he sucked in a breathe a pushed forward,''when I was six years old. Itachi and his friends came over, drunk as hell... they tied me up , blindfolded me and attacked me.''
''Sasuke...'' He knew something terrible had happened to him...but she never thought he'd been abused especially not sexually.
''Why'd you pick up combat? Can't be that you just wanted to fight...'' He said changing the subject.
''More or less for the same reason you fear blindness.'' Sasuke looked at her. ''I lived in the thunder nation and learned quickly that you will be taken advantage of if you couldn't take advantage of someone else. If you weren't strong enough. My father and cousin taught me that. So I picked up combat and made sure that never happened again.''
''I... I'm sorry.'' He said softly. It was one thing for a man to be raped... it wasn't as.. violating as a woman being raped. It was something about women's kind and nurturing nature that made it so terrible. There was a sense of betrayal.
''Don't worry about it. I'm not a victim.'' She said those words seemed to his Sasuke hard.''In any case what's your favorite memory?'' She asked.
''Hm... the first competition I won. My mom had been sick and she felt terrible. She got better but was depressed , cause Fugaku was gone.I made her come to my karate competition and won it. It was the first time I had seen her smile since Fugaku left.'' He said smirking at the memory,'' you?''
''My revenge. After I had advanced so far while Denkai and Hiroto were gone. They came back expecting to get me again. At the same time. I kicked their asses so terribly they never thought of trying that shit again. And then my sister found out...it was not pretty.'' She said and laughed,''Who's Fugaku?''
''My sperm donor.''She laughed,'' Why did you get kicked out of your other school?''
''For fighting. Denkai and I went to the same school and he wanted to try and treat me like I'm his slave and I beat his ass. They expelled me because I didn't do what he said. I wasn't feeling any of that.'' He laughed in turn, '' Have you ever had a girlfriend Sasuke?''
''... A long time ago. Yeah...'' He said his eyes somber, ''Did you ever have a boyfriend?''
''Once upon a time... not anymore.'' She said her eyes still filled with pain and hope,''what type of artist are you Sasuke?''
'' A poet.'' He said simply, ''you?''
''Multi-talented.What's your favorite show?''
''... Yu Yu Hakusho. You?''
''Same. Who's your favorite character?''
''Hiei, you?''
''Yoko. Why Hiei?''
''Cause he's not the typical hero. Or he's the least typical. He was a villain with a good purpose and didn't fall into the 'everyone together now' thing. He was always aloof and didn't really care. I can relate.'' She read into it.Hiei also happened to be protecting someone as much as he could, ''Why Yoko? He got caught.''
''Because Yoko's got the coolest power, applicable anywhere. Sure everyone else got brute force but you can't use brute force if you can't move. And he was so cool... besides we have things in common.''
''Your eyes.'' She nodded.
Gei watched them in steady anticipation. No doubt knowing that Akira was leading him on until he said what she wanted to hear. He act was convincing, even to his eyes, but he knew her too well. As the field was filled with cries of pain and attacks, he smirked. Akira would beat Sasuke into the mold of her own, teach him things that he would never.
Akira smiled lightly as Sasuke had had his last question and finally she got hers.
''Why do you want to protect Mikoto?'' He looked at her and sighed, he should haave known that she would've figured it out.
''Fugaku... she deserves so much better. My mom is such a kind person...I will never understand why she stays with him. He abuses her, abuses me, cheats on her. She deserves so much better. And I know she's staying because she's afraid of him, of what he'll do. That's why. That's why I need to be stronger. That's why ... I guess that's why I want to be Itachi. When he's there, no matter how much I suffer... she's always safe. I just want to...'' He sighed Akira placed a finger to his mouth.
''I understand Sasuke...I'll give you a piece of wisdom.'' She said he nodded. ''There will always be things that make you feel inadequate, weak and try to break you and prey on that weakness, its the history of the world. But you will never be the Itachi Uchiha, even if you change your name grown your hair out. You will always be Sasuke Uchiha...'' He sighed and she continued,'' you won't have his identity. I can't give you anything beyond this. The means to get what you want.''
He looked at her questioningly as she stood up before him.''What I want...''
''You want to be enough to protect Mikoto. You want to prove to yourself more than anything that you are not will always be just Itachi's little brother.'' She said, ''You don't even realize that by thinking these thoughts. You were never anything less than Sasuke Uchiha and in being Sasuke Uchiha, you have and will have protected Mikoto more than Itachi ever could.'' He looked up at her not understanding she pulled him up.
''After I'm done with you anyway.'' He ducked falling to the ground under her punch, they were slower than he expected but fast none the less. They sparred for the rest of the day. When it was five o'clock the gong sounded and they all assembled in front of Gei.
''Not bad, for the first day. I've seen some talent... Go home. Get some sleep do your homework and party!'' Gei yelled, everyone laughed and got ready to go.
Itachi sat at his computer in his office. The girl, he never remembered her name, working at him slowly as he worked. He mouth was skilled and it did in fact feel wonderful... it wasn't enough.
''Harder.'' He commanded and she obliged a slight yelp coming from her as he raised the level on the vibrator. He had found it amusing that she was so easily controlled and as he closed his eyes, realizing he had been without taking Sasuke and seeing his tears for three days, he missed it dearly. He pulled the girl's hair so she stopped and looked up and laid her on the table entering her roughly.
No matter what he did... every time he went without Sasuke only the memory remained.