In the Shadow of the Moon
Chapter 11: Loss
"Apologize!" Machiko said, glaring. Cho choked up some blood.
"Cho!" Kiba stood up. "I have to help her!"
"Wait, Kiba!" Neji said, grabbing his wrist. "Just watch."
Machiko suddenly let Cho go, backing up, slashing her kunai through the air. Cho was holding a hand sign.
"She's using genjutsu…." TenTen said.
"She is good at that!" Anari smiled.
Cho did another hand sign, and Machiko suddenly stopped slashing at the imaginary butterflies, because, to her, they had disappeared. She glared at Cho, who pulled a small green ball out of her shuriken pouch.
"A smoke bomb?" Machiko smirked.
"No way!" Cho said, tossing the little ball into the air. She ran up the wall, then leapt into the air, catching the ball in her mouth. She chewed and swallowed before attempting a drop kick, which Machiko slid backward to avoid.
"So what happens if I live through this?" Cho asked seriously.
"Then you live. But your punishment is fighting me!"
"You have to understand that what I did was to protect the world!"
"I don't really care!" Machiko ran toward her.
"What was that thing?" Kiba asked.
"A health bomb I made for her!" Anari smiled proudly. "It will help restore her chakra and health!"
Machiko slashed toward Cho with her kunai, but Cho flipped over her and jabbed her elbow into Machiko's back. Machiko was knocked to the ground, but quickly leapt back up and slashed toward Cho again, who roundhouse kicked the kunai out of Machiko's hand.
Machiko glared at her and sweep kicked, but Cho flipped over her, attempting another drop kick, and again, Machiko evaded the attack, but sent a punch at Cho, who hit her fist away, sending a punch of her own. Machiko grabbed Cho's fist and threw her against the ground. Cho winced, but stood up.
"Before, it seemed like Machiko was going to win," TenTen remarked.
"Yeah," Chouji added. "But now, I'm not so sure. Cho really made a comeback."
Machiko and Cho blocked each other's punched and kicks, neither of them actually making contact.
Suddenly, Machiko's roundhouse kick connected with Cho's chin, sending her into the air.
~Flashback~
A small, six year old Cho wearing a pink kimono stood in a field, holding a black ball.
"Cho!" A teenage boy ran up to her. He smiled. "What are you doing?"
"What is it like, Kotichi?"
"What is what like?" Kotichi asked, brushing some of his blond hair out of his blue eyes.
"What is it like outside the village?"
"It's big." Kotichi said, looking out over the rock formation that surrounded the village, beyond which was a forest.
"The people don't have a jinmenjuushin inside of them."
The wind blew and Cho sat next to him. "Do you like it outside?"
"Not as much as I like it here."
"How come?"
"Because, out there, people don't care about each other."
"Why?" Cho gave him a confused look.
"Because they don't understand, Cho. Do you know why there are ninja in this world?"
"Yeah! To protect Lady Mitsuki!"
"To protect her from what, Cho?"
"Um, I don't know…."
"To protect her from people who want to hurt her. People who are enemies of our village. The world is a harsh place."
"Is that why you quit?"
"Yes…. I guess I was just too comfortable here in the village. I grew up too sheltered." Kotichi pulled his ninja band out of his pocket and stared at it.
"Hey, look, Bota," a boy said from a passing group of three boys. "It's Kotichi, the little shinobi who couldn't!" The boys laughed. Kotichi looked away from them. Cho glared at the three.
"You're just mean!" She yelled. The boys laughed and continued on their way.
"Don't worry about them, Cho…."
"Huh? But they were so mean to you, Kotichi…."
"Yeah, well, everyone looks down on me now…."
"I don't…. You're my big brother, and I'm always going to be smaller than you…."
Kotichi smiled and rubbed Cho's head.
"Just promise me something, Cho."
"What?"
"That you won't give up…. Ever…. No matter what."
"I won't! I want to be a ninja, just like you, Kotichi!"
"No, no you don't, Cho. Not like me…."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm a quitter, Cho. Just, promise you won't quit. I'll be proud of you, I promise." He smiled at her.
Cho and Kotichi were sleeping in a small room. Cho was around eight, now. Sun filtered through the dirty curtains, onto Cho's face. She rubbed her eyes and yawned.
"Kotichi, wake up!" Cho said excitedly.
"Huh?" Kotichi yawned.
"It's morning! Hurry up! You said you'd take me to ninja school today!"
Kotichi sat up and smiled sleepily. "Yes, I will. But you have to eat first."
"Okay!" Cho ran to the little cupboard and pulled out a small bun, shoving it into her mouth.
"Don't eat too fast!" Kotichi laughed. Cho smiled.
Kotichi led Cho out of the small shack in which they lived. He held her hand as they headed toward the ninja academy of Mitsukigakure.
"Heh," The same three boys who had harassed the pair two years earlier, blocked their way.
"Step aside," Kotichi said. "I'm just trying to take her to school."
"Why?" The leader smirked. "So she can quit after a year, too?" And the boys laughed. Kotichi glared at them.
"Come on, Cho," Kotichi made his way around them, pulling Cho with him. Cho looked back at the boys, who smirked.
They got to the academy. Kotichi crouched down to look at Cho. He smiled.
"I'll be right here waiting for you when school gets out." Cho hugged him and went inside.
When the academy let out, all the little shinobi and kunoichi ran out, running, laughing, and heading home. Cho stood there, looking around. Kotichi was nowhere to be found.
"Kotichi…?" Cho looked around. She sat down in front of the school. When everyone was gone, Cho was still there.
"Cho?" Her teacher, a chuunin with brown hair and brown eyes, asked as she came out of the academy. "What are you still doing here?"
"My brother is supposed to come get me…." Cho said, hugging her knees.
"Well, I'm sure he'll be here soon…. But why don't we head back toward your house, and maybe we'll meet him on our way." She smiled. Cho didn't return the smiled, she just shook her head.
"He's going to be here…. Kotichi would never let me down…."
"I can't let you stay here alone, but the Mitsukikage needed to see me…."
"It's okay, I'll stay here and wait for Kotichi…."
"No, I can't let you stay here alone. Come with me to see the Mitsukikage."
"But what if Kotichi comes while I'm gone?" Cho looked up at her desperately.
"Seiyuki!" A man with dark hair and light eyes ran up to the chuunin.
"What is it, Taro?" Seiyuki asked.
"There's a kid, he's hurt pretty bad. He was lying in an alley. Maishi found him when he was throwing some stuff away."
"Do you know who it is?"
"Yeah, he's that kid that dropped out of the ninja program."
Cho gasped. "That's Kotichi!" She screamed. She started crying.
"Taro, this is Cho, Kotichi's sister…."
"Maybe we should take her home…." Taro said, glancing at Cho.
"I need to see Kotichi!" Cho cried.
"I don't think that's a good idea…."
"Where is my brother?"
"We'll take you to him," Seiyuki said, embracing Cho. "Everything will be fine…."
Taro led them to the alley in which Kotichi had been found. He wasn't there. A shinobi was, though.
"They took the boy to the infirmary."
"Where's Kotichi!" Cho cried. Seiyuki picked up Cho, comforting her.
"We'll take you to him…." Seiyuki said. Seiyuki and Taro took her to the infirmary, where a medic-nin directed them to Kotichi's room. Cho squirmed so that Seiyuki would put her down, and ran into the room, where Kotichi was lying in a bed, heavily bandaged.
"Kotichi!" Cho cried.
"Cho…. I'm sorry…. I wasn't there when you got out of school…." Kotichi said weakly.
"Are you gonna be okay…?"
"I don't know, Cho…. But be strong, okay? Even if I don't make it…. I'll always be here for you, little sister…." Kotichi reached over to the bedside table weakly, grabbing his ninja band. "You have to be strong, Cho…. Don't let anyone tell you that you aren't good enough…." He folded Cho's little hands around his ninja band.
"I think you should let your brother sleep," Seiyuki said, putting a hand on Cho's shoulder. She shrugged it off.
"Seiyuki…." Kotichi turned to her. "I want you to take care of her, please…."
Seiyuki stared at him. Then she nodded. "We'll love her as if she were our own." Taro nodded in agreement.
"Hey, Cho…. I don't think I'll make it. But I want you to listen to Seiyuki and Taro…. They'll be your parents, now…."
"No, Kotichi, you can't…." Cho cried.
"Don't worry, Cho. I told you, I'll always be here for you…."
"Cho…. Say good night to Kotichi," Seiyuki said gently. Taro picked her up and carried her out of the room, even though she was kicking and screaming for Kotichi, who simply smiled at her.
"I love you, Cho…."
Cho, dressed all in black, stood before Kotichi's grave, tightly holding his ninja band, tears rolling down her face. Seiyuki and Taro stood behind her, also dressed in black.
"I won't let you down, Kotichi…."
~End Flashback~
Cho landed hard on her back, coughing up blood.
~Flashback~
"Mom, Dad!" Cho, a young teenager, ran into a house excitedly. Seiyuki and Taro were in the kitchen.
"What is it, Cho?" Seiyuki asked, smiling.
"I was chosen to be on a special squad!"
"That's great!"
"I know! The Mitsukikage wants to see me tomorrow morning to meet my sensei!"
"Wow, Cho, you really are such a talented kunoichi," Taro smiled. Seiyuki hugged her.
"Kotichi is probably really proud of you," Seiyuki said.
"I know he is…. I went and told him before I came home." Cho smiled.
~End Flashback~
'I won't give up now, Kotichi….' Cho said, standing up, taking her ninja band and tying it onto her forehead, determination in her eyes. 'They all think I don't know what happened to you…. But I know those boys were the ones who killed you…. And I will never let anyone make me feel like I'm not good enough, the way those boys made you feel….'
Cho charged Machiko, only to be kicked into the wall. Cho coughed up more blood. Machiko whipped several shuriken at her, pinning her to the wall.
Machiko punched Cho in the stomach, causing her to cough up more blood.
"Cho!" Kiba and Mitsuki yelled, both standing up. "I can't let her die!"
"Wait, Kiba," Anari smiled confidently. "This is our fight." Anari nodded to Pei, and the two leapt into the arena, Mitsuki not far behind. Pei glanced at her, and then did several hand signs, putting his hands on the ground. A dome formed over Mitsuki. She pounded on it.
"It's safer for you in there!" Anari said with a smile.
"This is of no concern to you!" Machiko said, glaring at them.
"Yes it is!" Anari smiled happily. "She's from our village! You know that if you kill her, her ninja parents will come after you, seeking blood, and then it will be an all out war between our village and your Land of Shadows!"
"Well, then…. What are you going to do about it?"
Pei did some more hand signs, and the shuriken fastening Cho to the wall formed a web of light over her.
"Accept the beating as your payment!" Anari smiled. Machiko looked from Anari to Pei, then back to Anari. She sighed.
"You're right. An all out war would be much worse. I'll let her live…."
Anari smiled, nodding to Pei, who released Mitsuki as Anari freed Cho. Cho smiled weakly.
"Thank you for your understanding!" Anari smiled. He helped Cho as the Mitsukigakure squad headed for the exit.
"Besides," Machiko said quietly. "Dying yourself isn't as painful as having someone you care about die…." And she whipped a kunai toward Mitsuki. Anari noticed at the last second and jumped in front of the kunai. It sunk deep into his chest, but he just smiled.
Machiko disappeared. Mitsuki, Pei, and Cho stared.
"Anari…." Pei said quietly. "Please, tell me you have another life on reserve…."
Anari just smiled at him. "Could you take me to the infirmary….?"
Pei stared. Mitsuki and Pei took Anari and Cho to the infirmary. Pei stayed by Anari's side.
"You can't die, Anari…. What about your destiny? Healing Lady Mitsuki…."
"My heart was punctured, Pei…." Anari smiled weakly.
"Why didn't you just block it with another kunai…?"
"I don't know, Pei…." Anari coughed up blood.
"I lost you once, Anari…. I can't lose you again…."
Anari smiled, closing his eyes. Tsunade came in.
"What took you so long?" Pei asked. Tsunade ignored him and went to Anari, doing some hand signs. She put her hand on Anari's chest, but her eyes went wide. She closed her eyes and turned to Pei seriously.