Going Against the Grain
Scroll 11
By Airyo
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As soon as we were dismissed, Baki insisted that we eat out after washing up, again with that business about putting up the front of a normal team. I tried to pull the "female problems" card, but he deftly parried me with a "professional kunoichi in the face of any hardship" card.
There wasn't much I could say to that. Even worse, he only gave me 5 minutes to wash up, as I was the only one who even looked relatively worn out after a week's worth of testing. Baki was no more my boss than a toad on the side of the road, but there were fronts to keep up after all, especially when I was unsure on the solidity of my position. I had only time to write a quick note to the Eagle, warning the Hokage that I needed to present him with urgent information, before I had to run out to ensure from keeping my rather dangerous comrades from waiting any longer.
We ended up at a Korean BBQ place, right at the center of the village where we were most likely seen together. It was a relaxing place, obviously used to catering to ninja given the wide set of the booths and easy surveillance of every exit in the area. Even better was the fact that it only early evening, so the majority of the usual cliental had yet to arrive. Unfortunately, even with the best of the restaurant laid out before us on a perfect autumn evening, the atmosphere was heavy. As much as Baki tried to pretend, Team Gaara simply wasn't the cohesive genin team that every other team was supposed to be. We were only a team in the barest of terms, in that we had all had the shared focus of mere survival. Not exactly the best of incentives for camaraderie.
Honestly, I wasn't even sure why Gaara bothered to show up. If my hackles were raised at the thought of some pretentious jounin bossing us around, Gaara's metaphorical hackles must have already combusted skyhigh. He was used to be being the leader of the group. It wasn't like anyone could even put up a fight for the alpha position. I could easily recount several instances where a jounin had tried to order Gaara around, only to be glared in a sniveling puddle of submission. Yet when Baki had waltzed in and announced that we were eating out, he'd simply nodded and immediately started for town. He'd even glared at me for daring to protest. Of course, I then immediately acquiesced to Baki's request. His rather brutal battle with Lee was still fresh in my mind.
Clearly, Gaara had more control over his demon that most people gave him credit for. The bloodshed throughout the exams excited him, yet he knew when to unleash the chaos and when to reign it back in under that cold exterior of his. I wasn't sure to fear him or not. It wasn't a question of logic, since I had to interact with him regardless of my personal opinion. I'd originally written him off, claiming I've seen more frightening things. But that was after only seeing him when he wasn't even trying to be intimidating. When Gaara wanted to be scary, it took everything I had just not to piss my pants. On the other hand…normally, teasing him was almost like being with just another one of my classmates (albeit a rather dangerous one). I should probably decide my exact opinion of him very quickly, lest he think I'm bipolar.
Sensing my musings over across the table, Gaara looked up and my eyes were caught by stony green eyes. Briefly, I was reminded of moss on a very sharp and hard rock. I looked away before my imagination could supply further details of my corpse being dashed upon said sharp and pointy rock into little bits of fleshy confetti.
Dammit. It happened anyway.
With a small sigh, I turned back to my food, trying to ignore the fact that Gaara was still perusing me. Kankuro and Baki weren't helping matters much, eating and chewing and not speaking and the like. Usually, I loved my meat as much as the next ninja, but the weight of Gaara's stare was really bothering me, and each bite tasted like ration bar mush.
Just let me eat in peace! What is he playing at?!
Oh.
Well, that would make sense. He did seem to enjoy the challenge after all.
I looked up and smiled at him. Since I'd already almost hugged him with little repercussion, I kicked aside my very loud voice of caution and pressed forward.
"Gaara, you did great thus far. I'm really glad that –"
"you haven't kill anyone yet." No. That wouldn't work. My mind raced and subbed in the next thing that popped up.
"- you're on my team."
While it had been quiet at our booth before, now it was dead silent. Gaara's chopsticks clattered to the table, echoing with each bounce. It felt like three years before those stupid bamboo sticks stopped their horrendous racket. Baki and Kankuro had both stopped moving, chopsticks frozen halfway to their mouths.
The entire time, Gaara didn't look away like before. His gaze was focused intently me from across the grill in the center of the table, lips thinned in intense concentration and brow furrowed deeply. I wasn't quite sure if his cheeks were colored with anger or heat from the grill. He looked like he was debating whether to Desert Coffin me or return the gesture.
Or both.
I gulped and began scooting to the edge of the seats. The sizzle and pop of the grilling meat was beginning to remind me of the sound that my bones and tendons might be producing very soon.
"Hmm," Gaara said. He picked up fallen his chopsticks and began flipping the half-done slices of beef on the grill. It didn't escape my notice that he ferried several finished pieces to my plate and then to his own, leaving none for Baki and Kankuro.
Hoping that this was a good sign and that Gaara wasn't just indulging me in one last feast before my demise, I squeaked out a small "thank you" before nibbling on the offered food.
It still tasted like chewy cardboard. Several moments later, my stomach began to protest said cardboard vehemently. The stress of the moment must be getting to me. I managed to choke down the rest of the food on my plate.
"I need to use the ladies room," I muttered before speeding away like a little coward.
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Fortunately, the first stall I picked was empty. Without even bothering to lock the door, I fell to my knees and puked. And puked. And then puked some more. I hadn't been eating much the past week, but somehow, my bowels kept finding new substances to expel.
I felt someone approach behind me, slowly, and deliberately noisily between the sounds of my gut turning itself inside out. Sounded like she had a limp too. This was someone who knew ninja. The painful coiling of my abdominal muscles prevented me from turning to see who it is, but I felt her pause above me.
"Hey, I'm going to be pulling your hair out of your way, kay?"
I managed a half nod before my stomach clenched again. I was grateful for the help, as my hands were currently occupied in preventing me from doing a direct face plant into the pot. Cool hands politely pulled my bangs and most of my ponytail away from my face.
"Thank you," I croaked, leaning against the cool surface when my stomach no longer wanted to jump out of my throat. Gross as it was, the chill helped me refocus my spinning vision. I mentally kicked myself repeatedly for not taking proper care of my body. Save that one disastrous dinner at the tower, I hadn't so much as touched normal food. I've been living on little else but ration bars the past week. Not to mention I haven't exactly been having the most relaxing of weeks. Then to gorge myself on meat? Stupid, stupid, stupid!
"Ready to get up?" I nodded, and leaned on her as she pulled to my feet. My vision swam with fuzzy black dots. I closed my eyes, willing away the renewed nausea. My helper patiently waited with me.
"Thank you, really," I reiterated, opening my eyes. "I'm sorry you ha—YOU!"
Tenten smiled slightly at me. Save the shallow cuts along her limbs, and the sheer exhaustion on her face, she looked like she was otherwise fine.
"Yeah, me."
She must be back for revenge. I gritted my teeth at the thought that she probably enjoyed seeing me like this.
"Just let me wash up real quick before we head to a training area," I hedged, reaching for the sink. To her credit, the girl didn't drop me as she guided me to the nearest sink. I immediately began to wash my hands, as well as the residue off my face.
"Training area?" she echoed quizzically. Her brown eyes lit up in understanding and she shook her head.
"Oh no! I'm just here for a quick dinner. I'm not here to try to preserve my dignity or youth. My teammates have that area covered," Tenten explained with a slight sad quirk of her lips.
Teammates…oh.
Lee.
"I'm sorry," I whispered. My hands were still under the cold stream of water, but I only faintly registered the chill.
"How is he?" I asked. Tenten shrugged, turning away as she leaned on the adjacent sink.
"He's stable. He'll live. Except…the medics are saying that he's no longer fit to be a ninja."
I bit my lip. Then I slashed my face with the icy water.
"He's lucky to alive," I told her resolutely. "Gaara...he can be very…thorough. I'm actually surprised that Gaara stopped when he did." Tenten regarded me carefully. Finally, she nodded, grudgingly accepting the sincere truth of my statement.
"Thank Kami for that much."
"Yeah."
I finished cleaning up in silence.
"Thank you, Shinrino-san."
"Huh?" I replied dumbly. She smiled and I could see the bruising circles under her eyes.
"You could have been just as brutal as your teammate when you fought me."
She said 'teammate' with a dark edge that I chose to ignore. Instead, I stared at her, wondering what the hell the Leaf was teaching their ninja. Her teammate's career hung in balance, and she herself was about to collapse…and this girl was thanking me?
"I only do what's necessary," I groused, slightly embarrassed that she was thanking me at all. "You should get back to the hospital." Tenten nodded and headed for the door.
"I hope you feel better." I smiled a little at that.
"I hope Lee-san recovers well."
There was a brief pause.
"I'll relay the message."
The door closed with a small click.
I braced myself against the sink, eyeing myself in the mirror. The bad fluorescent lighting caught every haunted shadow on my face. Swollen eyes, dark purple bruising underneath to match my violet contacts, reddened nose, and chapped lips.
I looked like shit.
A small chuckle of a sob rose in my throat and I splashed myself with ice cold water again. I smoothed back the stray hairs of my ponytail. Flicking off the remaining droplets of water from my eyes, I headed back into the restaurant.
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"What took you?" Kankuro asked curiously as I reseated myself. "You were gone for like half an hour."
Baki studied me carefully, and I wondered if I shouldn't have done such a good job cleaning myself up. Might as well come clean.
"My stomach was upset," I admitted. "BBQ was a bit much for me after a week of ration bars."
"You've survived longer on them on missions before," Baki parried back.
Yeah, but I wasn't trying to juggle duties to both villages at once!
Baki just seemed out to pick at little thing I did. It was like he was trying to bait me. Ino wouldn't rise to such dumb prodings, but unfortunately, Asahi would. This wasn't going to be pretty.
"I blow chunks when I'm stressed and I'm on my period," I snapped. "It's not like I can command my body to stop being female. If you would be so kind as to lay off for a little, I'd appreciate it."
"Shinrino-san…" Baki started with a warning tone.
"I'm going back," I continued brusquely. "Please wake me up for training tomorrow, whenever it is. Good night."
I stood up sharply, only to have my vision tilt out of balance yet again. I caught myself before I could fall flat on my face, but I knew my teammates clearly saw my fumble. Face burning, I hurried outside before I paused to right my internal equilibrium.
God DAMMIT. What was wrong with me?
I leaned against the doorway, breathing deeply, cursing the fuzzy spots that dotted my field of vision. If I had planned this little sickness, I'd be milking this for all it's worth, but this was bad. I can't be falling ill now, of all times. Come on, body, you can do this.
After a few moments of steady meditation, I felt could walk a straight line again, and I pushed off from the doorframe. A quick squint at the skyline told me that night had fallen, but it was still pretty early in the evening. I'll grab some medicine at the hospital, set up my room so it looked like I was sleeping, and then I can contact the Eagle and relay my information. And then, I really am going to sleep.
Game plan set in my mind, I stumbled down the street to the hospital.
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Unfortunately, all the Konoha hospital, organized by the most talented medic-nin ever, could offer were standard issue aspirin pills until I found a medic to properly prescribe something stronger. I quickly gave up on that idea with one look at the crowd in the lobby. Standard issue will work until I have time to brave hospital procedures.
I hurried back to the room issued for my stay in Konoha. Feeling temporarily more steady after a double dosage of pills, I set up the alarms as usual. Then I slipped in my ANBU uniform and headed for the Hokage's tower. Upon checking that the Hokage didn't have anyone in his office, I entered through the window without any flourishes.
"Hokage-sama," I began, only to be cut off by a two katana at my neck. Two ANBU stood at either side of me, ready to decapitate me at the slightest movement.
Oops. I forgot to announce my presence. I was getting careless.
"At ease," Sarutobi-sama said with a slight wave of his hand. He'd sensed me, but his guards had not. Despite my rather unprofessional slip-up, I couldn't help but smirk a little that my abilities were at a level that let me startle fellow ANBU.
"Falcon, report." The business-like tone of his voice triggered my own focus. I rapidly relayed the conversation I'd heard verbatim. The lines on his face seemed to deepen as I confirmed every one of his worst fears.
"So Sound and Sand are indeed working together," he summarized with a small sigh. "Thank you, Falcon."
Sensing the dismissal, I saluted.
"Oh, Falcon, and make sure you stop by the hospital. We need you to be at your best for the coming months," Sarutobi-sama added kindly as I paused by the window. Gritting my teeth in embarrassment that even the Hokage had to remind me to do something so basic as take care of myself, I bowed low in gratitude nonetheless. The Hokage was indeed a kind man. Pride in my village buoyed my heart as I exited.
I've done my part here and relayed the information. I could only hope it wasn't too little, nor too late.
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I checked back at the hospital, only to immediate turn a 180 at the sight of an even longer line. My head felt light and floaty, kind of like it was stuffed full of cotton candy. I wondered what color said cotton candy would before catching myself and shaking my head furiously.
I'll just take some more pills and get a good night's rest. That should fix me up right quick.
I sneaked back into my room, intent on my soft warm bed.
Too bad there was already someone there.
With a small sigh, I closed the window behind me and then slid to the floor with my back to the wall.
"Hello Gaara."
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