Story of an Angel, Chapter 11
*Song included: Facedown- Red Jumpsuit Apparatus*
**(Shiomi POV)**
That night had been extremely needed, seeing how I hadn't been given much "me" time in a while. I woke up this morning feeling truly awesome. I had left my book open and fell asleep, whoops. I closed it and put it away on my bookshelf, then looked out my window for just a second. I was looking down at the little kids, who were already out playing. Just then, another little "vision" if you will.
I saw a little girl, not much younger than me, 8 maybe. She had blonde hair that wasn't the best looking. She had blue eyes, and the little clothing she wore was over-worn and tattered. She was holding what looked like a basket of apples, and she looked scared, almost like she stole her fruit that she now held..
Well, what could I say? She was looking at me like I could save her life, but I'd never seen her before and I doubt I would until I was at least 16. Oh well, that aside, I made my way to our team's meeting point. Everyone was there already, unfortunate as it is. They were talking, and I could hear it from where I was.
"So, you all can tell Shio that I'll be out for the day. I have to place my recommendations for you all to be included in the Chuunin Exams. You are free today to do what you wish."
"Alright, we'll tell her. I can't believe that we're gonna be in the Chuunin Exams, Soma~!"
"Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you. The dates of the exams have been moved up to next week, seeing how there are other nations with issues about the regular scheduling."
"What? You've gotta be kidding me!"
"No kidding. You all have to be ready. That's why I have to do the recommendations today. Alright, let me go. Later." And he was gone. I walked up behind the two shocked shinobi and laughed.
"Well, what are we gonna do today~?"
"I'll probably just stay home, daydream all day. What about you, Soma?"
"I'll train. Duh~."
"Well, I should go see the kids at the academy." And with that, I waved goodbye to the two of them and went on my way. As I walked to the Ninja Academy, I thought about a few students in particular who had caught my eye during my past visits at the Academy.
(*) 1) Junichi Uzumaki was a boy with blonde hair and brown eyes. He was really goofy and liked to have fun. Of course, he had his bad days, but overall he was a good kid.
(*) 2) Shilla Yunoki was a little shy, with red hair like mine and deep scarlet eyes. She kept to herself a lot and always looked away when she talked.
(*) 3) Hiroki Yaruhi had brown hair and brown eyes. He didn't speak much either, but had an obvious attraction to Shilla and wasn't hiding it.
Anyway, these three were obviously going to be teammates. Maybe they'd be mine. They had just started at the academy and looked a little too young to join. They were the youngest of the bunch, 6 maybe. They had grown on me, and I was fond of them as well. I went to go see the three of them and we decided to go to the nearby woods to train a little. Since I recently found my chakra nature to be lightning, Hiroki could maybe learn a few moves from me and Vice-Versa. We had gotten to our destination and before I could have any idea what was going on, I saw Junichi and Hiroki running away from me and after Shilla, who was grabbed by a ninja from Sunagakure. I could tell by the headband. Everything else was unable to catch my eye seeing how he was covered head to toe so that I could not see who he was. He had Shilla and was running from me and before I knew it, he had her tied to a tree with a kunai at her throat. This guy, whoever he was, wasn't messing around.
"You," he said, pointing the kunai to me.
"Forfeit from the Chuunin Exams and I'll let her go."
"Not happening. You'll just let her go, seeing how you've got two quick minded ninja at your back ready to stab into you like there's no tomorrow." He looked behind to clarify this, and there truly was a Junichi and a Hiroki standing right behind him, giving little child glares that were cute and scary at the same time.
"Alright then, well,~" What happened next was crazy, to put it in one word. The ninja right then had came at me with an obvious intent to kill. I took him down single-handedly, and when I thought I had finished him off, he vanished.
"What the..." I picked up Shilla and put her on my shoulders. She had been scared and was shaking a little from the ordeal. I held on to her tightly as the three of us made our way back to the village.
"Shiomi-sama~! You were awesome out there!" Junichi was a real fan of me, I guess. I was also getting used to being addressed as "sama" by these three, which was cute in their little kiddy voices that have still yet to fully develop. Junichi began to attempt to re-enact my fight, which made Hiroki and Shilla laugh more than a little. I smiled at the three of them getting along like there was nothing to be declared as wrong to begin with and I was overjoyed at how easy it was for them to forget things like that, I almost envied that trait that naive children always had. They reminded me of myself six years ago. Amazing I wasn't that much older than them yet I was considered a superior. That aside, we made it to the Academy and I dropped them off. As I walked home I wondered what Rei was doing right now...
**(Rei POV)**
I was sitting on my balcony, doing relatively nothing. I thought about Soma and his face came to my mind when I actually saw him walking down the street. I blushed when he stopped under me. Directly under me.
"Hey, Rei, can we talk?" His tone was serious yet oh so attractive as usual.
"Y-Yeah, sure." I jumped off the balcony, landing beside him. We walked a while until we were alone and he grabbed my hands and looked at me in a way Soma naturally wouldn't. I was getting a little suspicious.
"I want you to forfeit from the Exams." Alright. Since when did he give half a crap about me?
"I won't forfeit, Soma." Although that idea was on the tip of my tongue.
"Please, Rei, you need to, it's for your own good."
"I won't and that's it." I knew this Soma was a fake and grabbed him, throwing him into a pole. Yep. Fake. He was Sand Village, with his entire body covered. I used my Shadow Possession and threw two kunai at him, both toward his heart and he did the same. I released my jutsu just in time for me to react and for him to not be so lucky. I win~. He loses. Ha. I walked back home, feeling a little disappointed that the Soma I was with was truly not him...
**(Soma POV)**
I was out training in my favorite spot. I felt especially calm and smiled that I had actually been able to feel that way. My earphones were in and I was jamming along with the music.
"Hey girl, you know you drive me crazy, one look gets the rhythm in my hand.
Still I'll never understand why you hang around, I see what's going down.
Cover up with make-up in the mirror, tell yourself it's never gonna happen again.
You cry alone and then he swears he loves you.."
Just then there were three ninja, all from the Village hidden in the Sand. They surrounded me, and while I still had my earbuds in, I could make out what one of them said.
"Forfeit from the Chuunin exams."
"Never." "Do you feel like a man when you push her around? Do you feel better now when she falls to the ground?" Before they could say any more, I finished them. What lousy ninja they were. What a weird day this has been. I walked home, really not wanting any more twists in my day to go on.
"Facedown in the dirt, she said: 'This doesn't hurt.' She said: 'I.. I've finally had enough..!' It's comin' around again."
**(Shiomi POV)**
Man, what a day. The Chuunin Exams were a week away. They were almost here and I had almost been persuaded to back out from it. I had to make it. I had to succeed and I can't even fathom quitting now. Soma and Rei needed me, and I needed them. I was at home, thinking about this when Ayumi jumped into my window from outside.
"Heya, Shio~! I heard you, Soma, and Rei are gonna be in the Chuunin Exams~~"
"Yeah, what about your team?" I didn't know much on her team. All I remembered was their names and what they were strong with.
1) Hanataro Tsuchiura was her first teammate. He had greenish hair and dark yellow eyes. He was best with genjutsu, If I'm not mistaken. He was prominently quiet, but was nice all the same. (*)
2) Len Inuzuka was the second. He had his little dog buddy, Kagemaru, with him wherever he went. He had brown hair and dog-like eyes with triangular marks on each of his cheeks. He had his taijutsu strengths since he had his puppy friend. (*)
"We're gonna be in it for sure. And we're gonna smash your team, too~!"
"I'm not so sure about that~~."
"Well we are, and especially during the written part of it."
"You're over-confident, cocky almost."
"You're not confident enough."
"Whatever." I saw a vision of her and I charging at eachother in a huge arena, but I wasn't going to say anything to her about it, that would raise her spirits even more.
"Well, later~." And she was gone. Today just can't get any better...~! I thought to myself as sarcastic as I could.
**(Hakuma POV)**
I had just left the selection meeting with a smile. The Sand ninja who had helped prove that my students were ready came back with raving reviews. I knew that my kids would do well and they'd disappoint me if they didn't deliver. The rival team consisting of Haruno, Tsuchiura, and Inuzuka, AKA Team Kurama were really close to surpassing us.(*) We had completed more missions than they had, mostly D-rank though, and we always held grudges against one another. They were always butting heads, and I let them because it brought some sort of rivalry and determination to do better than the other team into their lives. Having team Kurama really helped our team as a whole out and we weren't gonna take it for granted. I went home and prepared for tomorrow. Amazing that for the first time I had not seen any member of my team on the way there.
As long as they're ready for the Chuunin Exams..
**(Shiomi POV)**
I read a little more of my book in my windowsill before jumping onto my bed and falling asleep as soon as my head touched the pillow.
((Well, I didn't have the best of times making this chapter. There's not much for me to write about until we finally get to the Chuunin Exams. Anyways, I hope you liked it and are waiting anxiously for Chapter 12. I'm sorry this chapter may not be as long as desired, but you can thank my sister for rushing me.
-A.W.))