I was finally allowed to leave the hospital.
I staggered out of the hospital bed I had been confined to for weeks, and reached into the closet to gather my training clothes that someone had left for me.
I pulled up the flexible kunoichi skirt that could hide multiple weapons, and pulled over my top behind the curtain.
I delayed stepping out when I recognized a chakra signature, much too close to my door. Then I decided that escape wasn't an option. He was too close and would catch me on my way out.
So I adjusted my weapons properly as I waited patiently for him to walk through the door. There was hesitation, but only the slightest, before the door opened and he stepped in.
I didn't bother to look up, occupied by my task at hand. I had to resist wincing every now and then, but as soon as I was set and ready to go I walked straight past him.
"Cashile." Ibiki said, grabbing my arm gently.
"Don't touch me." I replied, withholding annoyance and keeping my tone emotionless.
He dropped my arm, unsure what to do next.
"You're not training. You can barely walk without wincing." Ibiki ordered, as if he were still my sensei.
I laughed, humorlessly. "Don't tell me what I can and can't do. You're not my teacher anymore.
I predicted silence to follow, as was the usual pattern I observed, but instead Ibiki let out an ironic laugh of his own.
"The Cashile I knew would never let her emotions get in the way of becoming stronger."
"Don't kid yourself into thinking you know me," I reply without hesitation.
Those were my last words to him before I walked away.
What he said was truth in a sense.
But Ibiki had explored in vulnerable areas, off limits to even myself at most times.
He had crossed the line.
Therefore I refused to use him as a tool of my benefit anymore. He was such a minuscule aspect in my life.
Ibiki was an easily replaceable piece in a machine I was building.
He was simply a rusty nail I'd just stepped on. It had caused a small bleed, yes, but useless nails were tossed, replaced by new nails that would fit into building the perfect machine without arguments.
I contemplated stopping by my apartment briefly for breakfast, an actual breakfast and not the crap hospital food that barely passed as edible, but my excitement led me straight to the training grounds.
"Something is wrong with Cashile." Ibiki urged Kakashi, who had also recently been released from the hospital.
"No shit, Ibiki. She was this-," Kakashi pushed his thumb and pointing finger together. "-close to death. She practically touched death before resurfacing. Of course something is off about her right now. She was just released. Give her time."
"No, it's not.. She refuses to listen to me. I can't help her and Id bet my money that she's going to confront the spiders again right now."
Kakashi's head turned at this. "What?"
"You have to stop her! She's still weak. The spiders are sure to take advantage of that. Look at what they did to her the first time! She's blinded by lust for power."
"Why won't she listen to you, Ibiki? What happened inside her mind, huh?" Kakashi pried.
Ibiki hesitated, but a response was slipping from his tongue due to the mixed emotions he was feeling. Shock, anger, guilt, worry.
"I opened a door. I saw something I wasn't supposed to see, and now Cashile has written me off for good." He tried to explain. "Now please, before she sends herself back to the hospital, or worse."
Ibiki didn't have to ask again: Kakashi was already out of sight.
I stretched each muscle, letting out the winces I had been suppressing from earlier movements. I had to get myself used to harsh or speedy movements without showing weakness.
I couldn't give the cunning creatures another excuse to erase my existence. They were more than easily capable, as they'd proven.
I'd won this round, but I wasn't idiotic enough to brag and trample all over them with their defeat.
Because they would poison me again in a heartbeat.
I wasn't sure yet what integrity meant to their species, but if they were anything reflecting my own personality, I'd be wary and guarded.
Which I planned to be.
I leaned over my knees, releasing a moan of relief as I stretched out my sore hamstrings. That spider poison had definitely done a number on me.
I rolled my eyes in annoyance, sensing his presence before seeing him.
"You're ruining my relaxation, Kakashi," I said, stretching upward, then leaning back so that my palms touched the ground and I created a bridge.
"Training already?" Kakashi asked. A rhetorical question.
"Try to stop me," I replied, expressing no interest in conversation or argument. He couldn't stop me, we both knew it.
"You just got out of the hospital. Literally. Please tell me you aren't planning on summoning the spiders."
"I'm not planning on summoning the spiders," I reassured easily, fulfilling his request.
Kakashi sighed. "And mean it."
I lifted my legs into the air and flipped myself upright. I staggered a bit and held my side, but steadied myself in a matter of seconds.
"They'll take advantage of your weak state. You aren't thinking, Cashile."
I continued to ignore Kakashi's pleas, not bothering to tell him that I had thought of those possibilities already.
"Cashile, I hate to threaten you-"
"So don't. Simple," I interrupted.
Kakashi continued, narrowing his eyes at me. "But if you continue this foolishness, as the one responsible for you, I will send you back to the hospital right now if you don't cut this act. I would rather you in the hospital and alive than you returning half dead with a 75% chance of permanent termination this time around."
Was his worry and threats supposed to touch my heart or some shit?
Because if anything at all, it was just downright annoying.
"You aren't responsible for me, my health or my safety. Now begone," I commanded, knowing full well that it was useless.
Then I hesitated. Now that Kakashi got involved and clearly told me not to go, I would be directly disobeying his orders. There would be a punishment. I considered the possibilities.
"How long would you make me wait before returning to obtain my contract?" I asked carefully, trying not to show that I was considering listening to him.
The repercussions of not obeying ninja above you... Well, certain risks could be taken and situations can always be manipulated, but I'd just disobeyed Ibiki as well. If I disobeyed Kakashi too... Well, it certainly wouldn't make a good impression on Tsunade. It wouldn't help me convince her that I still belong on the 'ANBU fast track'.
"How about forever?" Kakashi replied snappily, "They tried to kill you last time."
I roll my eyes. Wrong answer, Kakashi. I was willing to wait patiently to fulfill my task, but not give it up entirely.
I'd have to be quick with the signs when he least expected it, then.
"I know you don't believe-hey! Cashile!"
I'd already spilled my blood and was two seconds away from finishing the hand signs.
"Summoning Ju-" I choked on the last syllable as I flew through the air and landed flat on my back with a harsh thump.
I grasped my sides, wheezing in pain.
Kakashi towered over me, hands on his hips. "Obviously you're not ready to confront cunning and murderous spiders if I can take you down this easily. And what's more-"
He knelt down beside me. "It worries me that you so easily were about to go against jonin advice and orders."
I glared at him, pressing against my sides to ease the pain. A trickle of blood leaves the corner of my lips.
"You're bleeding," Kakashi said, dropping his anger in favor for worry.
"Yeah I bit my lip when you sent me flying through the air," I snapped, sitting up and wiping away the blood.
I stood and walked away, acknowledging his power over me. He was right, in a sense. I couldn't just disobey my superiors orders: I would never become a chunin, jonin, or ANBU for that matter if I didn't listen to orders.
Or at least let them think I was listening.
"Where are you going?" Kakashi called after me.
"To bake a fucking cake!"
There's a stunned silence. Then, "I never thought someone could say they were going to bake a cake and make it sound angry."
Despite everything, I couldn't help but laugh, if only in disbelief.
I did bake the cake. Red velvet with cream cheese frosting. I glanced out the window and spotted the slightest movement.
I furrow my eyebrows but turn back to my cake to continue spreading the frosting. They were still there. The ANBU were still watching me. I unconsciously licked the spatula, enjoying the sweet frosting.
The ANBU incident had been in the back of my mind for a long time. At first I thought that it was the Third, making sure I was "adjusting" to the fast track, to team seven, to the apartment. But it must be something less superficial than that for them to still be watching me.
I set the bowl and spatula in the sink and cover the cake, exiting the apartment. The ANBU was never there if I was with Kakashi or Ibiki, or the Hokage of course. So it was either they didn't trust me or they were protecting me from something.
I stood in front of Naruto and Aiden's apartment complex before realizing that neither Aidan nor Aisa would be there. I shrug and turn the other way, heading out of the busier part of town.
My feet wandered up the hill without thinking about it. I settled down against the tree, casting the cake aside. I pull out my bingo book and begin to read through it. Might as well get caught up on memorizing the information.
Hours pass as I write notes in the book, folding over the corners of pages that interested me.
When I hear footsteps I glance up and spot Aiden.
"Fancy meeting you here," I said.
"Likewise," he replied with only a moment of surprised hesitance. "What are you reading?"
"Bingo book," I mumbled, writing down another note.
"Why are you writing nonsense?"
"Code, you idiot," I rolled my eyes. He flops down, ignoring the insult.
"Ooh, cake," he grinned and helped himself without asking.
"What if that was for someone else?" I asked.
"Then I guess you'll have to bake another cake," he shrugged easily.
We fall into a comfortable silence, not bothering to talk as I continued flipping through the book. An easy hour passes.
I stretched out on the hill, feeling my shoulders relax as I soak in the sun. Aiden lay propped up on his elbows, playing with my hair as I flipped through a puzzle book.
I saw no reason to stop Aiden from twirling my hair in his hands. It wasn't hurting anybody.
My bingo book lay forgotten to the side, dog eared and severely marked pages ruffling in the slight breeze. The oak tree swayed, its leaves whispering quietly into the warm air.
"Cashile?" Aiden broke the silence for the first time, glancing up curiously.
"Still here, Aiden," I mumbled, still absorbed in the puzzle.
"What was your IQ score?"
"Hm?" I glanced up from my puzzle book, thoughts interrupted.
"Your IQ," Aiden repeated, "You're obviously smart and don't bother hiding it... What is your IQ score?"
"Oh," I nodded, not bothering to sit up, "It was inconclusive."
"Inconclusive?"
"Mhm. I was off the chart," I said casually, turning a page of the puzzle book, "And seeing that I can tie my shoelaces, I'm going to guess that my IQ was drastically higher instead of drastically lower."
He laughed quietly and I felt my mouth tilting up in response. "You're an idiot," he teased.
"I just told you I'm a certified genius," I gasped, mock affronted. I glanced down at the papers he was filling out and raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"Bills," he sighed in response, gathering them up and standing. "I've got to go. My next shift starts soon. Damn," he sighed, "I won't get to be there for Aisa's lunch break. I know I told him, but he's going to be upset still."
I blinked. "I..." I cut myself off. Why should I go and hang out with Aisa at lunch? He wasn't my brother.
But then again, I did promise him a proper meal, without ramen. I could grab the rice balls and pork from back home and take the rest of the cake...
"I can go check up on him," I heard myself saying.
"Would you?" Aiden asked, looking relieved. "Thanks. He's in Daikoku-sensei's class."
"Alright," I nod, standing.
"Thanks again," he grinned. I didn't respond and jumped out of sight.
I stopped by my apartment to grab the food before running towards the academy. I hesitated outside the door, unsure how I'm supposed to pick Aisa up. Then I shrugged and walked in as though I owned the place and slide open the classroom door.
"Daikoku," I greeted.
He stared at me for a second before recognition lights in his eyes. "Cashile!" He exclaimed.
I raised my eyebrows in surprise. "You remember," I commented.
"Well of course I do, how could I forget the kid who would either ace or fail a test?"
"Well, what can I say? Sometimes I got bored of being tested on stuff I knew. There was much more interesting stuff for me to do with my time," I shrugged.
"Now, don't be giving these kids any ideas," he wagged a finger at me.
"Wouldn't dream of it," I assured him.
"So what are you doing here Cashile?"
I glanced at the classroom full of kids, spotting Aisa sleeping in the back. I bite back a laugh. "I take that it's not lunch break yet?"
"No, we have another ten minutes. I was just explaining the basics of chakra to them. Actually, do you mind demonstrating for us?" Daikoku requested.
I shrugged. "Why not? Do you want me to do a basic transformation?"
"If you don't mind," he smiled.
Ten minutes later I was the hero of the classroom.
"So cool!"
"She turned into sensei!"
"And she made a clone!"
"My boss can make shadow clones though!"
"And she did the substitution! Wasn't that cool?!"
"Cassshhhhiiiile!"
I put a hand on Aisa's forehead and hold him at arms length to stop him from tackling me. "Woah," I said, "Calm down."
"You're here for this little guy?" The sensei asked.
"Yup," I nod.
"This guy's a little stinker. Half the time he's sleeping or playing games but he still aces the tests. I mean, he's older than the rest of the class because he started a little late, but still. I bet he'll be out of the academy in about two or three years," Daikoku commented.
"Nice work kid," I ruffled his hair, "Keep sleeping in class."
"Cashile!" Daikoku exclaimed.
"Anyways, it's lunch break now, yeah?" I asked rhetorically. "We're outta here."
Aisa giggled, and I couldn't help but laugh along.
Herro ^_^ or as my autocorrect keeps correcting, Gerri ^_^
I know, Cashile laughs a lot around those guys. Wonder whyyyyy ;)
Anyways! I'm back! I went on a lovely camping trip and had to use an outhouse for five days .
Let me tell you, indoor plumbing is a wonderful thing.
On the bright side! The mountains were beautiful (and also cold :( ) but beautiful! And the s'mores were the best.
And don't get me started on breakfasttttt. OKAY WOW SIDETRACKING!
What I meant to say was COMMENTCOMMENTCOMMENT! 3
And aren't Cashile and Aiden so cute!? IM FANGIRLING AS I WRITE.
Okay, comment. Like. Fan.
Sending baked goods is acceptable as well.
Just anything to brighten my day XD
Peace \/
~supermassiveblckhole
As supermassiveblckhole says...
Herro.
TADA. Another chapter done :3
Man, me and supermassiveblckhole just had the realization yesterday that this story is almost done T.T I mean, Tsunade's fifth Hokage, Kakashi's getting all better and Sasuke's up and at em...
So yeah.
Man, Sasuke's such a butthole for leaving Konoha for Orochimaru. I mean, the logic makes sense I suppose, but boooooooo still hate it lol (this is supermassiveblckhole IT DOESNT NOT ONLY MAKE SENSE (if that makes sense) SASUKE NEEDED DAH POWERRRR (which he wasn't getting in konoha I was rewatching it and he is seriously laaaaaaame the first time he attacks itachi trying to protect naruto)(now it's gaara119 again THAT'S SO TRUE HE WAS JUST SOME EMO WHO SUUUUUCKED no like seriously sure he seemed powerful in comparison to wimpy little genin but he was NOTHING compare to itachi (was he ever? Seriously tho even with his sickness or whatever itachi totally could've beaten him in their final battle if he wasn't hell bent on being a martyr/sacrificial lamb. Seriously.) ANYWHO.)
Meh. What else can I say?
Oh, yeah! We've posted a new story called Fan(art)(fiction) that you should check out! I'm posting all the artwork and stories about this fanfic we receive there! A lot are freaking fantastic!
*cough* the drawing of Aidan and Cashile *cough* (*cough*AGREED :') *cough* I'm tired of typing my long ass username I'm calling myself S guys -S)(now it's back to gaara119 SERIOUSLY my I got so sick of typing out your full username so I put it into shortcuts on my phone lol)
Yeah! So comment, comment, commentcommentcomment!
Byyyyyyye!
gaara119
Comment, Vote, and Fan!
Ja ne!
Insomniac_Lullabies
