So sorry for the really long wait. I- well I don't really have an excuse. But hey, im back now! I cant exactly say I will update every couple days because that would be lying. Me being the idiot I am went and started like 3 other fics at the same time as this one. Cue the head bashing here. Well enjoy! Don't forget to R&R reviews always make me write faster.
A Circus Life for Me
I woke up to the smell of something burning. Being a trained ninja and all I immediately jumped out of bed and looked for the source. Wherever this fire was it wasn't in here.
All the other girls were sleeping, unaware of the possible danger. I was about to go investigate the rest of the house when I saw the empty bed. I mentally smacked myself for not putting two and two together.
I ran out the door and down the stairs, skidding to a stop in the kitchen. Four pairs of eyes stared back at me. Apparently people other than Temari liked to be up at this un-godly hour.
Come on people it was only like seven! I observed the scene before me. Kiba and a guy I had never seen before seemed to be having some sort of conversation while Temari was trying to cook. The key word being trying.
"Temari why are you cooking?" I asked
"Is there a problem with my cooking?" Temari said glaring.
I sweat dropped and backed away slowly. "Uh no problem you uh, you didn't have to."
She brightened immediately and went back to cooking. I let out the breath I had been holding and went to sit down next to Kiba.
He turned to me and grinned. "Moring sunshine,"
"Morning," I replied. I noticed the dark haired guy staring at me. "Do I know you?" I grumbled. Stupid ninja instincts, waking me up at this terrible hour.
A look of realization flashed over Kiba's face "Oh right. This is Sasuke." He turned to Sasuke "This I the girl that saved you. Now play nice."
I detected a slight threatening note in his tone and wondered why that was. From the short time I had known him Kiba had always seemed like a kind of easy going person, not very threatening.
Well I guess he is a ninja so he has to be dangerous so.. A voice broke me out of my little thought world.
"Hello." Sasuke's voice had an undercurrent I couldn't identify. Right now this guy was going on my really-creepy-possible-creepers list.
"Hi, my names Suki. Nice to meet you I guess."
"Are you a visitor from Suna?"
"Yes, I just came later than the others." I replied.
"So you are a close friend of the sand siblings?"
"Yes," I replied warily. What was he getting at?
"I'm sorry then. You must have had the unpleasant experience of meeting Gaara." Who did this guy think he was? He apparently forgot Temari was in the room or just didn't give a damn.
"Oh Gaara's my favorite of the siblings. We have been friends since we were super little." I said smiling a super sickly sweet smile, a sure sign the inner bitch was coming out.
"What were you saying about my baby brother?" A quiet voice came from over the stove. So Temari was going to give this guy a piece of her mind if I let her go free.
Personaly I thought he deserved it. I stiffened as hands entwined themselves around my waist. This guy had two seconds to get off of me or else.
"You know it's very rude to talk about people when they aren't in the room. Rude people always put me in a bad mood." Gaara rumbled from behind me. I relaxed into his touch. Gaara wouldn't hurt me.
"You don't seem like one to care much about manners." Sasuke sneered. Temari was openly staring at Gaara's arms wrapped around my waist. Was it really that shocking for Gaara to show any affection what so ever?
"I care about many things. Manners usually aren't one of them. That is unless you just so happen to be talking about me. That's when manners count. No manners tend to make me get a little…beastly." He growled.
I pressed against his chest and realized two very important things. 1. Gaara wasn't wearing a shirt. 2. He had the chest of a sex god. Just pressing against his back was enough for images of running my hands over said chest- no! Snap out of it Suki! Bad girl! Now is not the time! A silence so thick I could have carved it up with a knife, settled over the room.
"Breakfast is ready," Temari said breaking the silence. Everybody ate the burnt food without a word. That was one hell of an awkward silence.
I pulled on my black kimono and my shoes. I debated on whether or not to bring my swords but decided I could leave them. My chakra levels were back to normal so if I needed to I could always use a jutsu. But I didn't really think I would need it at a circus. Everybody was waiting for me as I walked into the living room. I walked over to stand next to Kankuro, Gaara, and Temari.
"Took you long enough." Kankuro muttered. A good thump in the arm shut him up fast.
"Ready to go?" Neji asked.
We all nodded and headed out. The fact that we were all ninja's really helped with the time it took to get there. Practically no time at all. I gazed up at the big top tent that was set up a ways outside of the village. Bright lights were everywhere and the smell of delicious junk food was everywhere. It was just like the circus I had performed at.
Actually now that I took a good look at it the tent was almost identical. Maybe I should go take a look around. That chance was swept away from me as Temari and Kankuro hauled me into the tent, up into the crowd, and into a seat. We had apparently got there just in time for the show to start as the lights dimmed nearly the second I sat in my seat. A spotlight light up a tall man dressed in a ringleaders costume that was achingly familiar. The second the man began to talk confirmed my suspicions.
We were at Circe Du Sol. My Circus. I watched as the first performer came out into the ring. If I remembered correctly the elephants were first so this girl must be a rider. Sure enough more performers came into the ring on the backs of elephants. I watched and cheered with the rest of the crowd as they went through their routine.
In my head I recited exactly which move came after which. The fire-breathers were on next and they amazed the crowd with their daring stunts. Next came the lion tamer, then the sword eaters, then my least favorite act. The clowns. As the rest of the audience roared around me I wondered how such a creepy bunch of people could be so funny.
The only clown that I considered normal was Pablo the head clown. I spotted him standing on the ladder near the top. Finally their act was over. Now it was time for my favorites, the trapeze and the tightrope.
Twins named Riku and Rina flew the through the air in perfect synchrony. I loved watching them work and always had. After a loud roar from the audience they ended their act and climbed down one of the poles holding up the tight rope. The lights dimmed and drum roll started.
"Now I present to you the one, the only, Night Rain! Performing tonight, as always without a net she will perform amazing stunts that will leave you shocked and awestruck!" The ringleader announced. I watched shocked as a small girl wearing a black leotard with a artfully tattered skirt covered in glitter, stood on the platform. Temari noticed my shocked expression.
"What's wrong?" She whispered. I shook my head, not taking my eyes off the little girl that I had trained. She couldn't be ready, what was she doing? I watched as she walked onto the tight rope.
She stopped at the middle and slowly took one foot off the tightrope and preformed an excellent jump that landed her a couple feet away on one of her hands. I relaxed slightly. Thank God she was only doing beginner stunts.
I hoped. Amaya was doing well, the routine I had taught her had apparently become second nature. She performed a barrel roll and I tensed up. Next was the move she had never been able to complete.
It was a triple spin tuck that landed you holding on by your hands from the wire. You had to swing your body until you wear flipping around the rope at a high speed. To end the move you threw yourself into the air and landed on one foot.
Amaya had never really perfected the landing with me. This move was tough. Heck I could barely do it and I had been doing this a lot longer than her. I watched as she flipped and grabbed onto the rope.
She spun herself around and around finally letting go. She landed on one foot and I gasped. She did it. At that moment she began to wobble and then, she fell. Her hand barely grabbed onto the rope and I was up in a flash.
Using my speed I ran as fast as I could, jumping out of the stands and hightailing it up the ladder. Gasps erupted from the crowd as I took a deep breath. Let then think this was part of the show Suki, I thought.
I quickly cart wheeled onto the rope. I continued the cartwheel until I was about a foot away from Amaya. The shock was evident in her eyes. She had thought I was gone, just like I wanted them to think.
I made sweeping hand motions, trying to look like I was looking for her. I pretended to find her and pulled her upon to the rope. I nodded at her and she understood. We turned from each other and where about to leap away from each other when I heard it.
The whistle of a kunai. I could hear it slice through the air as it headed straight for Amaya. Years of training and instinct kicked in and I dove at Amaya knocking both of us out of harm's way and off of the high wire, plunging towards certain death.
I closed my eyes and waited for the end. After a few moments it still hadn't come. I had wrapped myself around Amaya, like a human shield even though a human shield still wouldn't have saved either of us.
Beads of sand swirled on my skin and I gasped. I looked up into the shocked, silent crowd and met Gaara's gaze. For a moment I thought I saw fear but it was gone as quickly as I had seen it. I had never in my life been so grateful that Gaara was alive and that we were friends. who had thrown that kunai? i wondered but I pushed the thought ot the back of my mind. I had more pressing matters to deal with. I released my hold on Amaya and we both stood up.
"Teacher?" She whispered confused.
"Amaya do you remember my old routine? The one you assisted with?" She nodded "Good. Then let's go."
We both climbed back up the ladder and at the top I opened a compartment in the pole. I pulled out a long thick staff. Amaya grabbed a beach ball and waited for me to make my move.
I held the staff in my teeth and once again cart wheeled out onto the rope. Stopping in the middle of the rope once again I took a deep breath. Grabbing the staff out of my mouth I centered it on the wire.
I gathered chakra to my feet and daintily sprang up on top of the staff, standing on one foot. The crowd seemed to recover from their temporary paralysis and cheered loudly.
Taking another deep breath I flipped and landed back on the staff, this time on my index finger. Oh yes, I still had it. The crowd cheered even louder and I faintly heard Temari yelling "you go girl!" At what was possibly the top of her lungs.
But it was hard to tell over the rest of the audience. I slowly rotated my hand down so that my palm was on the top of the staff. I quickly glanced at Amaya and she nodded. Here we go.
I pulled up with all my might and the staff jumped of the rope with me attached. Amaya darted in and placed the ball under where the staff was about to land and hurried back out.
The staff landed square on the ball and I didn't waver or wobble. I let out the breath I had been unconsciously holding in. I hadn't done this in a while. Amaya and I preformed a few more stunts before we excited the rope.
The ringmaster regained his voice and announced, "As always a splendid performance by Night Rain. Also folks please give a hand for the mistress of the tightrope herself, The Black Swan!"
So what if the name happened to describe my inner demon? It was still cool right?
Anything describing me is cool. And please don't try to kill yourself again tonight? There's only so much I can handle.
Nahh I think I'm going to make a habit of this dangerous stuff. I like it.
Don't you dare. If you die I die remember? It's bad enough that Shikoku's boy had to save you once, one more time and I'm screwed.
Huh? What's wrong with Gaara saving me?
Nothing. But you don't have to deal with Shikoku saying you owe him and gloating and geez! It sucks.
Oh. That was pretty articulate of you. So I'm gonna go now.
Goodbye
Dozens of faces looked up in shock when I entered the dressing room.
"Suki?" someone called. Smiling I nodded a yes. Then total chaos broke out. I now know how it feels to be hugged by thirty people. I never thought I would be missed this much.
Geez. It was getting harder to breathe so I pulled away from the massive hug.
I grinned, "Nice to know somebody missed me,"
"I didnt," A passerby said in a monotone.
I turned to glare at him. I recognized him as an annoying magican whom I had thought moved on months ago. Who cares if 1 whloe person didnt miss me? I sure as hell didnt. But hey, people cared. They were my family right? I felt so happy to be home but I couldnt shake the feeling something was missing. Then it hit me.
Gaara was what was missing from my perfect life.
Yayyyy! New chapie done! Score! Now be good and Review so I update ASAP :)