V 3 ch 5
The hot springs vacation pt 4
The early morning twilight crept upon the hot springs as birds started to take flight to find food for their young. Clouds overheard blanketed the sky in purples and blue hues from the late night hours. The water from the hot springs caused steam to rise in the air near the rocks. A lone figure walked past the water staring at it for a moment. He thought about getting in, but he knew it wasn't going to be long before everyone was up.
Idai needed solitude away from the other children. He was fortunate at this point that he had avoided a fight with Eiyu Hyuga. He was also reluctant that his dreams hadn't been too terrifying as of late, to wake anyone around him. It would be cowardly of him to scream in the middle of the night like he normally did. The visions he saw played on his mind constantly. He wondered if Kiba sensei knew. Idai wasn't really sure Gai had told Kiba anything. He hoped not.
He wasn't supposed to leave the hot springs. Shikamaru sensei said they were to remain on the property of the inn. Idai could care less about getting into trouble. He had to find peace for himself amongst all of the strangers that he was around. Idai walked for some time away from the inn until he found a secluded enough spot. He took out his flute – one of the only things that belonged to him. Idai placed it towards his mouth and began to play a sweet, sad song.
The boy from the sound village vaguely remembered anything regarding his parents or what it had been like to live there. He was sure at some point; he had been loved and had a home. However, now he felt like a stranger living amongst faces he had known for years.
Idai played his flute, moving his fingers over each and every hole, his lungs breathing out air at the right octaves on the flute. He didn't know where the song had come from. All he knew was that he remembered it from somewhere. He loved music. Playing the flute let him escape the environment around him. He needed desperately to find himself.
Idai closed his eyes as he played. The sounds he heard were of nature around him. As he played the flute, he tried to incorporate the birds crying overhead into his music. The sounds of the hot springs echoed up to his ears from below the hill. He let the world drown out leaving him mixed inside of himself.
Gin turned over in her bed. Yanagi was sleeping hard next to her. Saori was on Yanagi's other side comfortably wasted away in her dreams. It was fairly early in the morning. She rubbed her eyes and glanced around the room. Last night had been great. She had learned to cook a new recipe the innkeeper let her try. It was sweet of the old woman to spend time with her.
As Gin rolled over, she stretched out her limps. A beautiful melody came to her ears. The sound was intriguing and sad. She got up. As if the music was calling to her, Gin walked out of the room into the hall. Her small feet padded neatly on the wooden floor. Where is that coming from? Whoever is playing it sounds so sad.
Gin walked down the stairs quietly, her hand trailing on the rail. She stopped at the end of the stairs and looked around. She was the only one up. Everyone was fast asleep at the inn. Gin didn't bother to put on slippers as she walked out to the hot springs. The steam was rising above the water causing little clouds to form in the air.
The music kept on, its sweet melody floating to her ears. Gin started to follow it. She took one last look at the hot springs before making her way up the hill. The sounds from the flute were calling her sweetly as he bare feet touched the cold grass. As she moved closer, Gin closed her eyes. She could see pictures forming in her head. It was as if she was following a riddle that needed to be unlocked.
Gin came closer to where the flute was being played. She stopped short, peering around a tall thick bush. Her blue eyes fell onto the person playing it. Gin's hand moved up to her chest, clutching onto her pajamas. Idai was sitting calmly playing his flute, his eyes closed, and body softer than she had ever seen. He's the one playing that song? It's so sweet and sad. I wonder if he always feels alone because he is a foreigner to us.
She didn't know if it was wise of him to see her standing there. Gin ducked low in case Idai chose to open his eyes. She watched his fingers move down the flute. He was moving so flowingly with the melody he was producing. Gin blushed a little as her eyes remained focus on his face. Idai was older than her by two years. He had a boyish appearance for his age. The more Gin watched him, the more she couldn't take her eyes off of him.
Idai kept playing his melody, not opening his eyes as the sounds soothed his mind and heart. He fell away from the void he was in, into a warm place where memories flowed and time stood still. Idai saw rivers running through mountains. He wondered what place it was he was remembering.
The water flowed amongst the rocks, the noise causing him to stop and look at it. As he moved closer to the water, he saw a familiar face. Was that him? The small boy's orange eyes were looking back at him through the clear water. Idai reached his hand down to touch the cold water. His face was filthy. Even his hair was dark gray. Idai cocked his head to view himself better.
How did I get like this? Why are my clothes torn and messy? Where is my mom or dad? Do I have a mom or dad? Idai trailed his fingers in the water. A few leaves passed him. What was on the other side of the river? He had never been over there before. There was no one around.
The wind blew through the trees as he stepped into the icy water. His shoulders started to shake. Idai grimaced at the chill that was coming over his body. He wanted to know what was on the other side of the river. There was nothing behind him but trees. Maybe my parents are on that side. Idai started to wade through the icy water. His feet sunk into the bottom of the river. As he walked on the bottom, he kept his face lifted upwards, his eyes focused on the clouds above him. The birds were flying over head.
Idai was trying to follow them. It was getting harder to keep his feet on the bottom of the river. The water was coming up to his neck. Despite how deep he was going, he kept his eyes focused on the birds echoing their beautiful cries in the sky. Do I know how to swim? I don't know if I do. Idai held his breath as the water went over his head.
Idai blindly kicked his legs in the water, his arms in front of him, searching for anything to grab onto to. He wanted to hear the birds. He wanted to follow them. Idai started to kick more, his arms finding something to grab on to. A large rock was in front of him. His small hands groped at the slippery granite. Idai's head popped out of the water. He searched the skies for the birds he had seen. They were disappearing from his view. "Wait," he called.
Idai started to kick his legs more, trying to swim fast enough to see where they were going. He was getting tired. Every bone in his body was aching with his muscles. What was he thinking at his age? He was too young to be swimming across a river. Idai didn't care. He had to know where the birds were going. He wanted to be with them. He wanted to sing with them and listen to their beautiful cries.
After some time, he managed to fall on the bank of the river. Idai looked up tiredly to see the birds disappearing from his view. "No, wait," he said tiredly breathing hard. He reached his small hand up, but the birds wouldn't wait. Idai lay there for a while. He couldn't feel his legs. They were numb from the cold water flowing over them. He was weak from hunger and walking so far by himself.
Voices echoed around Idai as the day started to drift away. He looked around. "Who's calling me? Are you my mom?" Idai looked around more to see where the voices were coming from. He saw no one. He was alone in the woods. The only noises he heard were his own and the sounds of the river. "Who are you?" No one told him.
Idai saw flashes in front of his eyes. He cringed. The flashes came again. Pictures of people screaming came at him. He tried to close his eyes, but the faces were still there. Idai heard them screaming at him, calling his name. Who were they? He couldn't get away from them.
Idai dragged his cold body away from the water, placing his hands over his head. "Shut up! I don't know who you are! Leave me alone!" He continued to yell as the twilight hours came into view. The voices began to die away as he yelled at them to stop. Idai looked up to see a woman standing in front of him with purple hair. She was watching him with wide eyes. Who was she? Was she his mother?
The woman came towards him. She crouched low asking who he was. At first, he didn't say. He asked the woman who was yelling his name. She didn't understand. "The voices won't leave me alone. Can you make them stop," he asked her. She said she didn't know what voices he was referring to. Her name was Anko. Anko had heard him yelling through the forest. She thought he was injured and came to see what was wrong.
Idai looked up at her as she lifted him up, carrying him away from the river. "Where are we going? Are you taking me home," he asked her. Anko shook her head. She said that Idai would not be returning to where he came from. Anko told him he would go back with her to find a better place to flourish. Idai looked up into Anko's face. He was tired. The last thing he saw was her smiling at him thoughtfully as she carried his cold, wet body away from the river.
Idai opened his eyes slowly. Was that a memory of his? He knew the face he had seen. It was Anko's. She was a proctor at the Hidden Leaf Village. When he was younger, she had found him in the woods far from the sound village. He had left because his mother had outcaste him. Idai's eyes wavered as he took the flute away from his mouth. He didn't like the sound village. They didn't want him.
Gin was watching Idai with a fixated gaze. There was so much she didn't know about him. Idai didn't let anyone in. She wished he did. Gin gasped softly. Idai got up. He was walking towards her. She had to hide, or risk getting caught. Gin formed quick hand seals in front of her body. The bush that she was near grew towards her rapidly. It formed around her quickly, hiding her. Idai walked past her not noticing that the bush had changed shape. Gin peered out from the small thin branches as he started to walk down the hill. Her blue eyes sought after him until he disappeared from view. She had to get back quickly before everyone would wake up.
Idai got back to the hot springs just in time. He saw Kandai and Areku sitting at the table in the game room. They didn't seem to notice him already fully dressed out in the open. He glanced behind at the hill he had just walked down. Idai hid his flute back into his shirt. His orange eyes looked around. Surprisingly, he saw Kiba sensei walking beside the inn with Akamaru. He slowly turned around and walked towards them.
Gin thought Idai had seen her when he had glanced up at the hill. She had to throw herself behind a tree to avoid his gaze. As she tripped coming down, she landed on her side hard. Gin gritted her teeth. She sat up, rubbing her arm. There were cuts on it from the first dive she had taken. "Ow," she said softly, rubbing it.
"Gin, what are you doing out here so early," Rock Lee asked yawning. The girl looked up at him afraid. Did I catch her doing something she wasn't supposed to? He walked over to the girl and kneeled. "Did you hurt your arm?" She nodded. "Well, lets go put some ointment on it, okay?"
Gin got up with Lee sensei to go attend to her arm. She glanced at Idai. He was petting Akamaru and running around with the dog. Gin smiled sweetly at him when he glanced over towards the hot springs. She wondered if he saw her when she went inside.
Areku sat with his arms crossed looking out of the window to the room they stayed in. He saw his father outside with Akamaru. His gaze stopped on Idai. He wasn't happy with what had happened with Idai and Eiyu. There was something mysterious about Idai that was going on. It was more so with him than with Daiya, the other foreigner that was in their midst.
Areku watched as Akamaru chased Idai some around outside. Idai was avoiding Akamaru pretty easily. He didn't know if he trusted Idai or not. The boy from the sound village had taken to his father quite well. It was odd to Areku. Kiba was his father, not Idai's. He wondered for a moment what Kiba had said to Idai that made him trustworthy like that.
Saori peered over Areku's shoulder. "What are you looking at?" He looked back at her with a serious gaze. "Do you want to go down and eat breakfast with me? I don't know where Gin is. I've been trying to find her all morning," Saori said smiling at him.
"Sure," Areku said. He got up to walk with Saori down to eat. He glanced at Yanagi. "I can't believe she's still asleep. I guess sake will do that to you."
"Yanagi had sake? When? Last night," Saori asked. Areku nodded. "If Lee sensei finds out, she's going to be in trouble. I don't know why they put the bottles on the tables. They did that to us, too, but Kiba sensei took it away. Hire was trying to get Idai drunk."
"You don't say," Areku said as they walked down the stairs.
They walked into one of the smaller rooms. Masaru, Gin, Hire, Sasuke sensei, and Ryu were already there eating. Sasuke was drinking a cup of coffee. Hire was munching on fish as she read a book. Masaru and Ryu were yawning hard trying to wake up. Gin was calmly sitting in thought with her chopsticks in her mouth. "Gin, I looked all over for you. Where were you hiding," Saori asked as her and Areku joined the group.
Gin looked up as if she'd been caught. She looked away blushing. "Oh, I'm sorry. I got up earlier than I thought this morning. I didn't want to disturb anyone else, so I came down early."
Areku noticed her nervousness. He didn't want to say anything in front of the others. She must have done something she wasn't supposed to, or heard something. He didn't know which. Areku glanced at her. Gin was blushing badly. He watched a small smile come to her face as she looked away. He wasn't going to ask her just yet what was going on.
Yanagi came bouncing down the stairs with Kandai following her. They were going outside to play Hana Ichi Monme. Yanagi signaled to Kandai. "Hey, let's see if everyone wants to play with us. I'll go see who's eating breakfast, okay? You can go see who's awake. I think Daiya is still asleep as well as Shikamaru sensei."
Kandai smiled at her. It was the last day that they were going to be at the hot springs. He padded off to see who he could find. Outside he found Kiba sensei and Idai with Akamaru. "Hey, we're going to play Hana Ichi Monme, do you guys want in?" They both stopped to look at him. "Come on, Kiba sensei. You can be on my team."
Kiba thought a moment. "I haven't played that game since I was a little kid. Who has the other team?" He looked at Idai smiling. He wanted the boy to join in. Despite how things were, Idai needed to include himself.
"Yanagi went to see who is eating breakfast. I think Daiya and Shikamaru sensei are still sleeping. I'll wake them up in a little bit. Idai, whose team do you want to be on?" Kandai smiled at him. The reason they were playing a game was to have fun and to simply put all of the bad vibes behind everyone. Everyone needed to get along.
Idai normally stuck to Kiba. Right now, despite Gai, he was the only one Idai trusted. Kiba didn't yell at him or look at him badly like some of the adults or students. He moved closer to Kiba watching Kandai. He wasn't really sure about being on Kandai's team because of Eiyu. The events from earlier still bothered him. "I… I'll go with Kiba sensei," he said softly averting his eyes.
Kiba reached up to ruffled the boy's white hair. Kandai took off to see who else he could round up. "I think Kandai is trying to be your friend, Idai. He's a really nice kid. He doesn't hold a grudge against anyone for any reason. Give him a chance. He's nothing like Eiyu. Eiyu is sterner, for sure."
Idai slowly nodded. "What is this game we're playing anyway?" Kiba tilted his head at him. "I've… never played a game besides what we played the other day," he said rather embarrassed.
"Okay, Hana Ichi Monme is a game where you have two teams who face off parallel to each other. Each team swings their arms and sings a song. They decide which person they want to go first. You play rock, paper, scissors to see if you can beat the other person. If the other person wins, you have to go back. The person that wins has the decision to pick a member off of your team. If the other team gets more players than your team has, they win the game. After the game is over, the team that wins sings, 'We're so happy we won, Hana Ichi Monme'. The team that loses sings, 'We're so upset we lost Hana Ichi Monme'. Understand?"
Idai nodded. "That's all you do? It… doesn't seem hard." He walked with Kiba to where Yanagi was outside. She was on the other side of the inn in an open area.
"This is going to be so much fun," Yanagi said. "I love this game! We haven't played it in a very long time. You guys are on Kandai's team right? Kandai went to go wake up Shikamaru sensei and Daiya. They've been sleeping too long," she said. "Idai, you and Kiba sensei are over there with that group. My group is in front of yours."
"Alright, come on Idai. We have to hold hands with our teammates," Kiba said. Idai looked up at him shocked. "It's not that bad. Let's see… who is our team?"
Idai stood still. Their team was Hire, Gin, Eiyu, and Areku. Eiyu was on Idai's , no. I hope I don't have to hold hands with him. He'll probably crush my wrist or something for yesterday. He sighed depressingly.
"Okay, everybody line up! Shikamaru sensei is on Kandai's team and Daiya is on mine! Everybody has to hold hands now! Hire, you can wipe that smirk off of your face! Masaru, girls don't have cooties! Grow up! Sasuke sensei, I saw that," Yanagi said loudly. "Whoever has the most people on their team from the others first, wins the game! We won't take any prisoners! This is for keeps! Whoever loses has to put up all of the futons by themselves and clean the room before we leave for Konoha! Is that a deal? Alright! Let's win one for the team!"
Ryu sweat dropped. "Yanagi is too perky in the morning," he said lowly. He watched the girl instructing everyone to hold hands.
"That's not the worst of it. She picked her dad to be on our team," Masaru said. He held out his hand for Saori to take it. "All I have to say is I don't want to pick up all of the mess we made in that room. We better win."
Idai didn't know whose hand he was going to get. He knew he was going to stay as close to Kiba sensei as he could. He didn't want to take Eiyu's hand, he knew that. Areku was not a good choice. Areku didn't like him. He looked down the line. He didn't feel comfortable with Kandai and Hire was a big red flag. Idai slowly reached for Gin's hand.
Gin gasped as she looked to her right. Idai was holding her hand for the game. She started to blush so badly her face turned red. Kiba sensei was standing on the other side of Idai. Gin swallowed hard. She lifted her left hand out for Kandai to take it. She looked down the line. The order went as follows: Kiba sensei, Idai, Gin, Kandai, Shikamaru sensei, Areku, Hire, and Eiyu. She looked at the other team. The other team down the line in front of Kiba sensei was as follows: Daiya, Ryu, Takeru, Sasuke sensei, Yanagi, Lee sensei, Masaru, and Saori.
Both of the teams started to sing as they swung their arms. Once the song was over, they debated about whom to send out to duel in rock, paper, scissors. Kandai's team chose to send Hire first. Yanagi's team was still debating.
"Hey, guys who are we sending to go against Hire," Yanagi asked. "Somebody needs to beat that girl!" She looked at the guys.
"I'd say send dad, but that might be a bit wrong," Takeru said laughing.
"Oh, what the heck. I'll go up against the old mud goblin," Ryu said. "If I lose they'll just snatch one of you guys for their team." He let go of Daiya and Takeru's hands. He walked up to Hire smiling like a goofball, his hands in his pockets.
"Oh, you're first," Hire said. "Let's get this over with. I'd rather duel someone else and just quit with this foolishness." She started to move her hands around. Hire was watching Ryu. They both stopped at the same time. She had scissors. Ryu had paper. "Hah! I win! You lose!" Ryu walked back to his team shrugging. "Who are we picking from their team," she asked as she turned around.
Kandai's team debated for a moment. "We'll take Lee sensei," Kandai shouted to the other team. Lee sensei let go of the hands he was holding and walked over. Hire walked back as well. "We'll send over… um… Idai next."
Idai walked forward. He was embarrassed standing in front of everyone like he was. He wondered who he was going to go up against. He averted his eyes as he saw a pair of feet come towards him. Idai glanced up to see Daiya standing in front of him. Idai didn't know why but he smiled at Daiya. The boy was a foreigner like him. He was also the same as him, wasn't he? Daiya only looked back at him with his same expressionless face.
Daiya started to move his hands. He didn't know why Idai had smiled at him. Daiya stopped his hand. He had rock. Dammit, I lost. Idai had paper. Idai had won. Daiya walked back to his team.
Kandai talked with Kiba sensei lowly. He smiled. Kandai turned back to face Idai. Idai was looking at him shyly. "We're going to let Idai call someone over."
Idai's eyes got wide. He had to call someone over? Wasn't it supposed to be decided by everyone? His heart started to race. "I… have to… call someone over…?" He looked at the line in front of him. Idai bit his lip.
"Idai, pick someone! It's not going to matter," Yanagi said. "Why are you acting so embarrassed about it?"
Sasuke was watching Idai. Idai's eyes were moving up and down the line, but they kept stopping at a certain point. He's embarrassed. I think he wants to call Daiya over. He might be singling out Daiya because Daiya is a foreigner like he is. Sasuke was right. Idai finally managed to call Daiya over.
Yanagi looked down the line. She had already lost two members of her team to Kandai. "I'm sending… Sasuke sensei over!" She nodded. The other team sent Kiba sensei to battle Sasuke sensei. "Oh, this ought to be good. They're both competitive."
Sasuke stood smirking at Kiba. "How's it going, Kiba? Ready to battle?" He stood his ground and started to move his hand.
Kiba was smirking back at him. "Bring it on," Kiba said. He liked challenging Sasuke. It was interesting to see who was going to win, even if it was a game. Kiba's hand stopped. He had paper. He looked up. Sasuke had scissors. "Darn it," he growled.
Sasuke loved to get Kiba. He smiled at him. "I win this round," he said as he went back to his team. Yanagi's team chose to take Eiyu.
"Shikamaru sensei and Saori are up next," Yanagi shouted. This was going to be even better! Father against daughter! She wondered if Shikamaru sensei's brains were going to outmatch Saori on this round. Yanagi jumped around.
"Dad," Saori said confidently at him. She smiled. "Ready to fight me for this round?"
Shikamaru smiled at her as he stood in front of his daughter. "You think you're going to win against me huh? You're just like your mother. Alright, moment of truth you little rascal. Head's up!" Shikamaru and Saori both started to move their hands constantly. They both stared at each other and stopped. Shikamaru had rock. Saori had scissors. "Sorry, baby girl, rock crushes scissors. Who are we calling from their team?"
Saori walked back to her team as Masaru was called over to Kandai's team. She didn't feel bad about losing to her dad. He trained her well in thinking and deciphering riddles and puzzles. Her dad was a very smart man. However, this was a child's game and there was only luck involved.I'll get him next time.
Next up from Kandai's team was Areku. Yanagi's team sent Takeru up. Takeru smiled at Areku. Both of the boys started to move their hands in motion as they kept their gazes matched. Areku stopped his hand at the same moment Takeru did. "I win this round, Uchiha," he said smiling. "We pick Sasuke sensei," Areku shouted back to Yanagi. Sasuke sensei left his team to go over to Kandai's.
Yanagi swore under her breath. The teams were getting harder by the round. It was only her, Saori, Ryu, and Takeru left. They were a small bunch. "I don't know how this happened. We must not have good luck today, or something. Either that, or someone has bad vibes!" She looked at Ryu. "It has to be you!"
Ryu blinked. "I don't have bad vibes. My vibes are neither good nor bad, woman. Maybe it's Saori. She's often disgruntled and unsatisfied."
Takeru froze. "I don't think I would have said that," he said lowly to Ryu. Sure enough, he glanced over at Saori.
Saori clenched her fists. "Ryu Yuhi, I swear! You're a work of art! How dare you say something like that to me?"
"It's true isn't it? I mean, right now, at this very moment, you're disgruntled and unsatisfied," Ryu said laughing as he pointed at her.
"Yeah, but you caused it, you big turkey," Takeru said.
"Hey, you guys stop fighting. We need to finish the game," Kiba said. He saw Ryu laughing and how mad Saori was getting. Those two are impossible. If I didn't know any better, I'd say Ryu likes to get that girl's attention.
Takeru was out in the open again. Kandai's team had sent over Lee sensei. He smiled at Rock Lee, his new trainer. This was going to be interesting. Student against teacher. Lee and Takeru started to move their hands fast. Takeru was trying hard to try and figure out what Lee would pick. Takeru's hand froze on paper. Lee's hand was on rock. "Hah! Paper covers rock! I win," he said happily.
"Idiot. He would pick a symbol that was his own name," Shikamaru said under his breath. He shook his head as Idai was called over to Yanagi's team.
Kandai's team picked Gin to go next. The bashful girl stood out in the open as she waited. She bit her lip as she watched the other team debate. Gin would love to have Idai standing in front of her. She blushed at the thought. So far, it had been a wonderful morning. She had heard Idai play his beautiful music and even held his hand. Gin opened her eyes to see Ryu standing in front of her. She bowed embarrassingly. Both of them started to move their hands. Gin stopped her hand at the same time Ryu did. Gin chose scissors. Ryu chose rock. Rock beat scissors. Gin lost. She went back to her team apologizing.
Yanagi congratulated Ryu as he went back into line. "We'll take Shikamaru sensei," she shouted to the other team. As Shikamaru sensei got in line they all debated again about who to send. Yanagi figured sending Saori up again was a really good choice.
Saori and Hire walked out into the open together. She scowled at the dark haired girl standing in front of her. If she was going to beat that girl now was the chance! Saori didn't like her what-so-ever. She hated how snobbish Hire acted all of the time. "Ready, fat butt?" Hire narrowed her eyes. "Can't speak? No problem. Call it!" Saori's hand stopped at the same instant Hire's did. Saori picked paper. Hire picked rock. "Paper covers rock. You lose!" Saori walked back triumphantly. She received two high-fives from Yanagi. Neither of them liked Hire much.
"Guys, this needs to be the last round, or we'll be here all day," Shikamaru said with his hands cupped over his mouth. They all agreed. "Alright, who's up next?"
Yanagi's team chose to send Yanagi since she hadn't gone yet. She was faced with Kandai. "This is the way it should be. The two team leaders standing off in the face of battle! Ready to try and beat me," she said challenging him.
Kandai only smiled at her. It's not like we're really at war, Yanagi. It's just a game. He started to move his hands fast. They both stopped at the same exact moment. Kandai slowly looked at Yanagi's hand. She had scissors. He had paper. Yanagi had beaten him. "Well, you may have beaten me for now, Yanagi, but my team has more players than yours. You win the battle, but not the war."
"We're so happy we won Hana Ichi Monme," Kandai's team sang to the top of their lungs. Some of the kids were happier than others about winning. "We're so upset we lost Hana Ichi Monme," Yanagi's team sang back. Everything was said and done. Yanagi's team had to clean up the room in the morning.
The rest of the day was pretty uneventful. The students were already set to go back to Konoha the following day. Most of the teams were discussing training sessions and coming up with partners to pair up with for personal sessions on the weekends. Everyone seemed to be worn out from playing games and chasing each other. A few of the students had managed to get closer and to enjoy the buddies they had been set up with.
Yanagi sat outside on a bench. She was staring off at the clouds in the sky. The sky had already changed to late afternoon on her. She had enjoyed everyone she had managed to talk to while at the hot springs. The one person she wanted to get to know was someone that wasn't on her team. He was standoffish as he could be. Yet, Yanagi thought he was pretty cool. Daiya had been spending a lot of time with Ryu and Takeru lately. She thought it was sweet of them to take Daiya in under their wing. The boy needed to make friends.
Another person that she was unfortunate to have missed speaking with, was Idai. Idai stayed close to Kiba sensei the entire time they were there. She wondered if he was scared of everyone because of what occurred the other day. Yanagi wasn't really sure. Idai, like Daiya, was a foreigner. He probably feels out of place. I don't blame him. I would feel out of place, too, if I was a loner and at another village where I had to make friends and train. Idai isn't all that bad. I think he's highly misunderstood.
Masaru walked towards her. "Hey, do you think we should talk about training with Idai? He's spent more time with Kiba sensei than we have while we've been here." He sat down next to her as they looked at the water flowing in front of them in the hot springs.
"I'm not sure," Yanagi said. "Masaru, I think Idai is afraid of everyone." She looked at him sadly. Her smile faded.
"Why do you think he's afraid of everyone? He stays to himself so much no one knows anything about him," Masaru told her as he looked back at her with his white eyes. He picked up a rock and threw it at the water. It didn't even hit.
"Well, Idai is a loner. No one has given him the chance to speak, or show who he is," Yanagi said. "I think since we're his teammates, he should get to know us, but we can't force him. Do you remember when we were at the Academy and how he used to sit avoiding everyone' gaze? Kurenai sensei had a time with him and Daiya both. It was hard for her to get them to participate. Neither of them trusted anyone. In fact, we should get him to open up," she said, her smile returning.
"I agree with you, but how are we going to do that exactly? If you push someone too much, they don't appreciate it, Yanagi. Some of us have secrets to who we are and only allow certain people in on them. Maybe we aren't the ones he wants to let in," Masaru said. "I know it's hard for you to not get along with everyone here. You and Kandai don't know an enemy amongst us. You two get along with everyone here, but it's not like that with everyone. Idai may be lonely, but we can't force him to speak to us."
Gin heard some of the conversation as she stepped out towards the hot springs. It wasn't bathing time yet, so they could freely move about. "Idai isn't so bad," she said softly remembering that morning. They both looked at her. "The reason I couldn't properly answer Saori this morning was because Sasuke sensei was sitting at the table. I did get up really early, but I didn't stay at the inn to wait on everyone else to get up."
Masaru padded the seat neat to him for her to sit down. "It's not like you to go against what a trainer says, Gin. You're too nice and obedient," he said as she sat down. "If you weren't here, where did you go?"
Gin blushed as she looked at the hill. She raised her hand pointing to it. "I heard the most beautiful sad melody. It's what woke me up. Someone was playing a flute to his heart's content. I couldn't help myself. I had to know who it was; where the sound was coming from. I followed it up to that hill. At the top of the hill, I saw Idai sitting next to a tree playing his flute. He seemed to be lost in himself. I… I feel bad for watching him secretly, but if he had found me there, he would have been angry with me. I don't want Idai to dislike me. He's a very beautiful person inside. I wish he knew that."
Yanagi was watching her friend speak from her heart. "Gin, you like Idai," she said softly. Gin blushed even more, looking away. "It's noticeable in how sincere you talk about him. I won't tell anyone. I'm not cruel like that. Masaru won't either. We respect you too much to betray you like that."
Masaru nodded. "You held hands with him when we played Hana Ichi Monme. He picked you Gin. Out of everyone there, he chose to hold your hand. Why do you think that is?"
Gin swallowed. "I think he chose me because he had a quarrel with Eiyu. He wouldn't have felt comfortable holding hands with Kandai, or Areku. And no offense, but no one likes Ms. Hire. She's mean. I know Idai chose me because I was last." Gin tried to smile, but it didn't form on her face.
"Maybe he chose you because he felt more comfortable with you than the other students," Kiba sensei said from the doorframe. "Sorry, I wasn't trying to eavesdrop. You weren't the only one there, Gin. Shikamaru was also a choice. Idai didn't go to Shikamaru. He went for you. From what I've seen and what he's told me, Idai thinks you're the type of person he doesn't fear out of everyone here. He doesn't see you as a threat as he does with everyone else."
Gin didn't know how to take that. "Does he think that way because I'm like I am, or because I haven't really spoken to him before? I know Idai is not a bad person. I could never think of him that way. He's lonely and sad. I would be, too, if it was me living somewhere that I was unfamiliar with; where no one tried to get to know me."
Kiba looked down at her. He kneeled beside her looking up into her face. "I don't think Idai means he views you that way because you are weak, or nonexistent. I know he is afraid of the others here. He has had quarrels and terrible looks headed in his direction since he came to the Hidden Leaf Village. Everyone has been biased against him because he comes from the Sound Village. Everyone, but you. You've never looked at anyone with hatred, or spoke ill of another person, Gin. Whether you realize it or not, you have a good heart. Even though Idai can't see it just yet, he can hear it."
Gin blushed so badly she felt her face was on fire. Her eyes widened. Was her heart calling to him? "Kiba sensei?" He kept his eyes on her. "Thank you," she said softly. She felt better. He reached up to pet her head.
"Just try to reach out to him, alright? Idai isn't a bad person, like you say. He is lonely. The reason he hangs around me so much is because when I first met him I told him I was there as his friend, not his trainer. I don't view my students as 'students'. It's more important to have friends and companions than it is to have a good trainer," Kiba said. He got up. "I expect Masaru and Yanagi to pay more attention to their teammate. You two have been preoccupied with others up until this point, but after today, you three are a team." Kiba left the three students sitting on the bench.
Masaru walked up behind the white haired boy. Idai was sitting at a low table staring off into the night. He wondered if it was wise to ask Idai to accompany the group to the hot springs one last time. Idai had been staying away from everyone up until now. Kiba sensei was right. After today, they were a team. They had to get to know one another. It wasn't just Kiba's lecture that had made Masaru think. The thing that worried him was what if Idai was like his father? Masaru's heart sank. He had heard stories from his mother about how his father had been ignored like that and everything Naruto had gone through. Masaru felt bad that he hadn't noticed Idai's struggling until now. I'm not as smart as I think I am.
Idai felt someone behind him. He whirled around quickly. Masaru Uzumaki was standing behind him smiling. Idai's guard went up. This blond haired boy was the son of the Hokage. He was also Takeru's childhood friend and Idai's new teammate. Idai remembered what Masaru had said about him the first day they were assigned to Kiba's team. He furrowed his brows. "Why are you here," he asked lowly.
Masaru sat on his knees behind Idai. He felt bad about everything. He did. He had to admit it to Idai right here and now. "Idai, I'm really sorry for being as stupid as I am." Idai just looked at him oddly, not understanding. "I didn't mean what I said when I first met you – the day we got our teams. I… just now realized that you're like my father. My father was treated the same way you are. It wasn't up until now that I realized that."
Idai didn't understand at all. The Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village had gone through the same thing he had? Was Masaru serious? Idai was outcaste from everyone. They didn't want him. If what Masaru was telling him was true, why did it take so long for the blond haired boy to try and get to know him? "You're just saying that," Idai said as he turned around.
Masaru looked at him sadly. He placed his hand on Idai's shoulder. Idai slowly turned around. "No, I'm not actually. My father is very special to me. He had to go through a lot of things by himself, but he did manage to have a friend who challenged him all of the time – made him push more to prove himself. Do you know who that was? Sasuke Uchiha. They both needed each other, but it took them a while to realize it. My father made a few loyal friends when he was younger, but it wasn't until they learned to band together, did they all realize it. Sometimes we guys aren't as smart as we think we are. I'm no exception, Idai. I want to be your friend, but I can't force you."
Idai's gaze softened. "Did someone tell you to say that to me?" He was hurt actually. Someone must have put Masaru up to it. Since when do kids his age talk so sincere and nice? Everyone he knew kept to themselves. They never included outsiders in their cliques.
Masaru shook his head. "No, no one but maybe Takeru knows I talk like this. I just play around too much. I'm too much like my dad. You should only say something important when it's at the proper time for it to be said. Will you allow me to be your friend?"
Idai looked at Masaru differently. He weighed it out for a little while. Masaru didn't harass him, or object to Idai not responding. The blond haired boy only sat patiently waiting. "If I say 'yes', what… happens?"
Masaru already took that as a 'yes'. He grabbed Idai's hand and forced him to stand. "As my new friend, you have to be inducted into Kiba sensei's team properly. And that means we scare the pants off of Yanagi while she's changing!" Masaru tugged on Idai.
Idai had no idea what that entailed. He was led up the stairs to the bathroom. Masaru jerked a thumb. He could hear Yanagi mouthing off as the girls were changing for the last hot springs bath. "Masaru, what is that?" Idai watched as Masaru pulled a frog out of his pocket.
"Yanagi may act all cheerful and tough, but she's like any other girl that lives and breathes! She's scared of frogs!" Masaru put his finger to his lips for Idai to keep quiet. He gently opened the bathroom door. He made sure none of the girls had heard him. Just as Idai was going to object to throwing the amphibian in, Masaru threw it with sheer force. They heard the frog hit the wall with a huge thud. Within a few seconds there were screams of sheer terror. Masaru grabbed Idai's wrist again and told him to run! He laughed as they went flying down the stairs.
"Masaru Uzumaki! I know that was you, you foul loathsome boy," Yanagi said from the top of the stairs. "You wait till we get back to the Hidden Leaf Village! You are so in for it when we start training!"
Everyone was taking their last dip in the hot springs. All of the trainers and students were sitting quietly enjoying the hot bathe. Gin was calmly lifting her feet in and out of the water. Every now and again, she caught secret glances at Idai. Idai had made friends with Masaru. She was proud of him. Masaru and Idai where playing water sports – trying to squirt the other one with their hands. She sighed contently.
Saori had taken her hair down. She let it fall to her shoulders. It had gotten a lot longer in the past few months. She slid down into the water to let her hair get wet. Saori blew bubbles into the water absentmindedly. She looked up to see Ryu standing in front of her watching her. He had just gotten into the water. He was still wearing his face mask. "What…?"
"Where are your parents little girl? Do you want me to go find them for you? This time is only for the ninja students from the Hidden Leaf Village," Ryu said leaning down as he placed his hands on his legs to look at Saori. He was totally messing with her. "Children under the age of ten are supposed to be accompanied by their parents or a guardian." He smiled at her as her nostrils flared.
"Ryu, can't you leave that girl alone for ten seconds," Sasuke asked.
"If you were to ask me, I would swear that he is interested in Saori," Rock Lee said watching the pair.
"Why, Lee, that's so rash of you to make an assumption like that," Shikamaru said. "Even so, you might be right." He looked at how his daughter was getting mad. Ryu seemed to be enjoying himself.
"If he likes her, he sure is showing a strange form of expression," Daiya said out of nowhere.
Takeru looked at Daiya happily. "Well, if you liked someone, how would you tell them?" Daiya looked away.
"Girls don't respond to teasing," Areku said. "At least, not in a positive way," he said to the others. As if he knew. Areku had never been kissed before, or even hugged by a female.
"Ryu, why don't you go find something to do besides harass me," Saori said as she sat up. "I don't know what your problem is! You are always picking at me, or making me angry."
Ryu stood looking at her. He smiled more. He started to pat his legs. "Come on, little girl. Time to get out of the water. I'll be a nice guy and help you find your mommy." That did it. Saori Nara came out of the water so fast, Ryu had to slide backwards to avoid a swing at his face. He hopped out of the water in time for her to come after him.
Saori went charging at him. She had had enough. As Saori chased Ryu along the slippery foundation, she fell. Saori was equally embarrassed and hurt. She held onto her arm. Landing on it did not feel good at all.
Shikamaru got out of the water. He had to put an end to this. Even if Ryu was harmlessly teasing her, he knew his daughter. She was taking it to heart. "Ryu, stop now. I've had enough of this. Leave her alone right this second," he said forcefully. Shikamaru pointed to the water. "Get in and stay there, or go to bed early!" Ryu quietly went to the hot springs. Shikamaru kneeled. "Saori, look at me."
Saori shook her head. "I'm fine. I can take care of myself," she said at having her father defend her in front of everyone. Saori got up and left the area.
Sasuke made Ryu sit near him. "Ryu, that was uncalled for and you know it. If you actually like Saori, you need to find another way to express yourself, or me and you will have a rocky road ahead of us," he said sternly. Ryu looked away from him.
"I didn't mean for her to fall," Ryu said softly.
"Even if that is the case, she is hurt," Sasuke said. "When you tease someone excessively like that, you hurt their pride – among other things. You are about as hardheaded as Kiba." Kiba blinked.
Saori Nara went back to the room quietly. She dried her hair with a towel as she sat on the futon. I can't let Ryu get to me. I don't know what his problem is. Saori changed into her pajamas. Her hands came across the weapons summoning scroll she had won from Sasuke sensei. Rose. I forgot about her. I brought her just in case.
Saori opened the weapons summoning scroll. She formed ninja seals in front of her body to release Rose from the paper prison. The puppet popped into her view. "Let's see how Ryu likes my form of teasing." Saori hoisted Rose over her shoulder and walked back down the stairs. Everyone was still outside in the hot springs. I'm fixing to get the last laugh.
Saori crept behind the hot springs wall. She could hear everyone talking amongst themselves. They seemed to be enjoying themselves rather well without her presence. Saori got Rose ready for her opening act. No one could hear her as she stood behind the wall listening to every word. As Saori popped Rose's arms into place, she adjusted the puppet's head and body. This was going to be sweet.
Ryu was talking about her. Saori narrowed her eyes. She could understand some of what he was saying. Who was he talking to? Saori's eyes widened. Ryu was telling Takeru she was a selfish, hot headed girl. Oh, think that do you, Mr. Yuhi? She crossed her arms annoyed at him. Then she heard Takeru speaking to Ryu. Takeru was telling Ryu to not tease her so much because it upset her. Aww. Takeru is a sweet kid.
Saori went back to adjusting Rose for what she was going to do. She had to get Ryu back at his own game. It was the Nara in her. The Nara family always outwitted their opponents in battles. This was no different to thinks he's so smart because he's older than me. Well, age doesn't show everything. He's being held back and his maturity is the problem!
Saori narrowed her eyes again. Oh, that's it…. Ryu thinks he has me beat and finds it funny to upset me like that? He's sitting there telling Takeru the reason he picks on me is to show me how I need to handle my temper? You have got to be kidding me! Alright, Saori! Don't hold back! Saori placed a slip of paper with writing on Rose. She formed a few hand seals, concentrating. Quietly, Saori said, " Underwater marine jutsu!"
"Yeah, I know what you mean, but seriously, Saori needs to be taught a lesson," Ryu said. He hated to let Saori develop into an angry woman. "I'm not teasing her to be mean to her, Takeru. She needs to learn how to handle herself better, is all I'm saying."
"What is that," Idai said pointing to the water.
"Is it an otter," Gin asked. She looked at the water. A brown hairy thing was in the water.
"Maybe it's a dead rat," Masaru said.
"Masaru, don't say stupid things like that," Sasuke said looking at the boy.
"I think something's clogged in the hot springs," Areku said as the thing under the water seemed to be staying in one place.
"Whatever it is, it isn't bothering anybody," Eiyu said. "So just leave it alone. It's probably trash or something." He closed his eyes and leaned back.
"Eiyu, the trash is coming to the top of the water," Kandai said. Eiyu opened his eyes to look at where he was pointing. "It doesn't look like trash."
A large brown puppet popped up out of the water, its mouth open, arms flailing about, and eyes popping out of their sockets and twisting its face in horrible contortions. Everyone stopped and stared at the puppet as it burst above the water. It took about a split second for it to register in their brains that it wasn't supposed to be there. The guys started to jump out of the water, hailing tail. The girls screamed their heads off as the trainers jumped up unexpectedly to defend the students.
Ryu went tumbling in the water as he scrambled with Takeru behind him. Takeru fell over Ryu trying to get away from the puppet. Gin screamed her head off as Idai came at her to protect her. Eiyu and Kandai bailed quickly. Shikamaru and Sasuke stood up too fast and got dizzy from the heat of the hot springs. They both fell back down. Kiba and Lee were on their feet arms out ready to defend the students at will. Masaru and Yanagi were being crushed by Hire who had fallen on them. Areku had already slid onto the slippery foundation and hurt himself. Daiya was simply standing staring at the puppet in front of everyone.
Daiya tilted his head looking at the puppet curiously. Who did he know was a puppet master? He narrowed his eyes. Everyone around him was freaked out. He sighed. "You guys are weird," he said softly. He looked around to see all of the kids scrambling to get out of the water. Daiya waited until everyone was clear. The moment the trainers and students were out of the water, he lifted his hand at the puppet. The puppet was still spinning around, its face contorting to scare everyone. Daiya looked at it seriously, his face expressionless as always. "Lightening storm," he said softly.
The trainers and kids from Konoha watched as Daiya Eimino electrocuted the puppet that had popped out of the water. They all stared at him as the lightening erupted, flashing violently at the water and the wooden puppet that hovered. The puppet sizzled and smoked as he emitted his electrical currents onto it. Everyone watched as the puppet cocked its head. The puppet, Rose, burned in the air. It soon fell back into the water.
Shikamaru shook his head. "Saori Nara, you're in big trouble, rascal," he said to the top of his voice. He could almost see her cringe on the other side of the wall. "You have quite a bit of time on you for a while to repair Rose. Come get her and go to bed. Now!"
"Saori was the one who scared us," Gin asked. She looked to her right. Idai was sitting next to her watching Daiya. She blushed again not able to help herself.
"My guess is she was trying to get back at Ryu," Sasuke said popping Ryu so hard on the head the boy yelped. "Since you are the cause of all of this, you are going to have a hell of a time training after we leave!"
All of the students remained in the game room until it was time to go to bed. Saori looked at Rose. Rose had been electrocuted by Daiya. Her puppet looked even more misshapen than ever. Man, why is it I always end up overdoing it? She sighed. Saori curled up in the futon. Her father had meant what he said. She was definitely the first to bed, but she wasn't alone. Ryu was in his futon glaring at her. For good measure, Saori stuck her tongue out at him. "You started it," she said matter-of-factly.
Ryu rolled over. "Go to bed, Saori. I don't feel like getting in trouble with you anymore today." It was bad enough he was in trouble with Sasuke. If he got in trouble with Shikamaru again, he was majorily in for it.
Saori grumbled. She was alone with Ryu. Too bad she wasn't allowed to get up. "At least, call it a truce, you idiot. That's the smarter choice," Saori said.
"I don't need you to be telling me what I need to do," Ryu said. "Go to bed. I'm through talking with you now, little girl." He heard her slam her fist on the pillow. He smirked. I win.