Ayame's P.o.V.
The morning was bright and warm. Visiting hours at the hospital started at eight in the morning, so I headed over as early as possible, breakfast for Sasuke in hand. I decided it was rational to blame his . . . outburst on Orochimaru's mind control, but I hoped it wasn't that easy for him to take control over Sasuke. He has a strong will, and I hoped it was stronger than Orochimaru.
When I arrived at the hospital, I signed in and headed straight to his room. On the way, however, my ear twitched. I stopped and turned my head in the direction of the groan I heard. "Lee, Rock" the label on the door read. I remembered that kid, he was the really hyper one with bad hair, great eye brows, and an obsession with Sakura. I decided to investigate.
"Lee?" I called as I opened the door. Lee, still with his casted arm and leg, was doing diamond push ups on the floor. I heard that Sabaku no Gaara did that to him. I cringed inwardly at the thought of his cold teal eyes and that eerie, creepy voice.
"156 . . . 157 . . . 158 . . ." As he counted, large drops of sweat fell from his nose and chin. Or, maybe those drops were tears?
"Lee, what the hell?" I asked. Setting the box of food on the nearest bed before rushing over to him. I grabbed his arm, but he was so strong it was like he didn't even notice. "Lee, cut it out. You have to rest."
"169 . . . 170 . . ."
"I said stop!" I managed to rip him off the floor, so we ended up sprawled out on the hard wood ground. I got to my feet, but Lee stayed down. Tears were streaming down his face, but his mouth was set in a determined lined. I squatted down next to him. "Let's get you in bed, ne?"
No answer. He wasn't even looking at me. He was staring at the fluorescent lights above, ocassionally sniffing. I didn't know this kid very well, but he looked so broken and sad. From what I remember, he was an excellent fighter; he even pulled one over on Sasuke.
"Oh, my God, Lee!" I heard as the door opened. A thin girl with brown buns on her head, Tenten I think, rushed into the room. "What happened?"
"He was exercising," I said shortly, helping her get Lee standing and into bed. "I was just passing through."
"Lee, my little fighter!" Surprisingly, his teammates didn't say it, but his sensei did. He looked exactly like Lee, just taller and older. And he had rivers of tears flowing down his face. "Don't worry, Lee; Guy-sensei is here!"
"Hmph," a third and final voice grunted. I saw Huyga Neji, Hinata's cousin, with those critical, undoubtly Huyga-like eyes. While Hinata was extrememly sweet, shy, and quiet, Neji was cold, stern, and ultimately confident.
"Hello, Neji," I greeted. He acknowledged me with a nod. "So, I'll be seeing you in a month. For the final stage of the exams."
"Yes, it appears you will," he said, analysing me. "Nearly your entire team made it, didn't they?"
"Yes, they did." We were silent, staring at each other. He was battling out against Naruto. I wasn't sure who would win, but I knew I would definitely help Naruto train hard so he would have a chance.
"Well, thank you for being here with Lee," Tenten thanked from behind. I turned around and nodded.
"I hope he recovers well." I went and picked up Sasuke's meal and headed for the door. "It was nice seeing you all again."
"Until next time," Neji said, with a little smirk on his face as if he had me all figured out. I exited without another word.
The hall felt long as I walked to Sasuke's room. I didn't know if I wanted Naruto to win. Or if I even wanted to win. If Naruto beats Neji, and I beat Yuki, then I would have to fight Naruto. If Neji won, I would have to fight Neji. But if Yuki won . . . I would be happy for her, of course, but I want to be a Chuunin too. I think I've earned it. But with this stupid beast thing . . . even if I did win, I don't think Iruka, the Third, or Kakashi would allow me to be certified. Maybe I just needed to get it under control before then.
Sasuke's door was ajar when I arrived. I pushed it open to find him standing at his window, staring out at the bright, green courtyard. I shut the door behind me and stepped further into the room.
"Good morning," I greeted. "I brought breakfast. No tea, though. I was afraid it would get cold by the time I - "
"Kakashi told me what happened yesterday," he interrupted. "I . . . attacked you."
"It wasn't you," I reasoned, putting his food on the table next to his bed. "It was the power of the curse mark."
"It was me," he replied, turning around to reveal bruises on his stomach. "And this was what I deserved."
"I'm sorry I hurt you," I apologised, coming closer to him. Suddenly, he tensed, clenching his jaw. He raised his hand and tightly gripped his shoulder. I furrowed my brows. "It burns, doesn't it?"
"It's fine," he said. "I just wish I knew why it did that." My face relaxed into sympathy. I crawled onto his bed and patted the space next to me.
"Come here. Sit with me." He complied, and rested his head on my shoulder. "When I was younger, before I even knew Naruto, if I would ever throw a tantrum my shoulder would start to hurt. Iruka thought that the burning was caused by emotions, or maybe if they were just displayed outwardly, so he got me started on daily meditation. I think now that I know more about myself, or really what's inside me, this wolf was just trying to keep me in check. Like a parent scolding their child."
"But I don't have some creature in me," Sauske said. "We're different. I'm not like you or Naruto." I hesitated to reply.
"What else did Kakashi tell you?" I asked. "Anything about your mark? About why Orochimaru gave it to you?"
"Not really. Do you know something?"
"Well . . . " I tried to think about what to say, but I just couldn't. I started stroking Sasuke's soft raven hair without even realising it. "Kakashi told me that the mark will . . . make you want power. And from the sound of Orochimaru - "
"He's someone who can give me that power," he finished.
"But with an enormous price," I added. He sat up and gave me a look. I pointed a finger at him. "Don't do that. Don't give me that uncaring look - that look you give to all of them. You cannot submit to Orochimaru. You have to be strong."
"I'm not going to go to him, Ayame," he said.
"Promise me. Swear to me that you won't." He took hold of my hand and bore his black eyes into my grey ones.
"I promise."
"Okay." I didn't believe him. Orochimaru wanted him for something; I just wish I knew what. "Let's eat."
. . .
Yuki's P.o.V.
I packed a healthy lunch for my day of training. Momo thought it would be a good idea to have me train without her for the first day, so I can determine what I need to work on the most first. It was hard to find a proper place to train, until I stumbled upon a field surrounded by trees. I had never seen so much green - aside from the Forest of Death, I mean.
Training alone is something I'm no stranger to, when I was younger I often found myself alone in Ame. But this felt different. As I stretched my muscles in preperation, I couldn't help but think of what I saw last night.
Gaara. Who could I tell? Who would believe me? The only safe thing to do would be to keep my mouth shut and hope no one would think to ask me any questions. But the way he killed Dosu . . . just with a squeeze of his hand. Is that what happened to his opponent the other day?
There were target dummies down the way I decided to use for aim practice. I was standing about forty feet from the dummies, thinking that the distance was good enough. I needed to practice throwing my ice daggers more. Hits to the chest make my opponent lose their breath, so it is crucial I learn aim.
As I blew cold air on my finger tips to begin my practice, I thought about how my match with Ayame would go. She was definitely skilled, of that I have no doubt. I hoped I wouldn't have to use any special justu to take her out.
I shook my head. We weren't friends. We couldn't be. We're too . . . different. Grown up in different worlds. Freak of the Leaf, Ryo called her.
I lowered my raised hand. My ice was stuck in the middle of four dummies - dead-centre. I let the rest of the cold from the ice on my fingers bite my skin.
"Maybe we aren't so different after all," I muttered to myself. I forcefully threw the rest of my daggers, shattering the ones already in the dummies with a crashing sound.
"Wow," a voice said. I grabbed a kunai out of my pack and held it defensively in front of me. But I recognised the owner of the voice to be Akio. "Easy, there. I have rice." He lifted a large bento box so I could see it and he emerged from the tree line.
"Why are you here?" I asked, lowering my weapon as he approached.
"I usually come here for my lunch break," he explained, looking around. His gaze stopped at a stream in the distance. "It's peaceful here. Quiet. No city noise." He looked back at me with a smile. "Nice, don't you think?"
"Sure," I answered, walking towards where I left my lunch and canteen behind.
"So, you'll be fighting my sister in the tournament," Akio said, taking it upon himself to sit next to my bag. We weren't friends, so why is he casually chatting with me? "I assume you're training."
"It's not really your business, is it?" I said after taking a swig of my water and wiping my mouth. Akio's smile subsided and he cleared his throat. I turned my back to him, about to go back to work, but he soke before I took a step.
"Why don't you let me help you?" He asked suddenly. My eyes widened, not that he saw. I turned back to face him.
"Why should I do that?" I asked. "You're Ayame's brother. What if you're trying to sabotage me?" Akio snorted.
"Ayame can take care of herself," he said, rising to his feet. "And if you train under the same teacher, you won't learn anything new." He could read the incredulousness in my eyes and sighed. "Let me borrow a kunai."
"No," I rejected, a scoff in my voice. Akio held out his hand.
"Please." Reluctantly, I reached into my pouch and handed him a kunai. "Thank you." I don't know how he we going to try to impress me - he didn't seem like any ninja to me. But then he began to twirl the weapon between his fingers with ease. Suddenly, with the flick of his pinky, the kunai shot forward, sending itself deep into the wooden dummies.
"Wow," I breathed, staring at the kunai.
"I might not look like it," Akio said, "but I'm more than a simple ramen boy." He was looking off into the distance by the time I looked back at him. We locked eyes. It was remarkable how much he looked like Ayame. The same face, same smile, same confidence. "Let me train you. You'll need more than icicles to defeat my sister."
Maybe he was right. I did need someone new to teach me. Momo has taught me everything I know and she deserves a break. And if Akio was genuine, this could benefit me. I could learn Ayame's weaknesses too.
"Yes," I said suddenly. "I will train under you." A lop-sided smile grew on his face.
"Excellent."