V3 ch9
Open your ears!
Idai ran down the street as he hurried to try and catch up with Masaru. The blond haired boy on his team had given him the slip earlier. He smirked as he sped up. A woman walked in front of him slowly carrying a baby. She wasn't paying attention. Idai sped up more. People were defiantly out early this morning. He adjusted his chakra to his feet and flipped over the lady to avoid her. He skidded on his feet in the dirt. The woman had a look of shock on her face as he took off. Idai only smiled at the lady with the baby.
Ever since Masaru Uzumaki had befriended him, his whole attitude had changed. He wasn't quiet like he used to be. No, Idai was learning to speak up and be more adaptable to the situations he was involved in. Yanagi Lee was also on his team and she gave him encouragement to keep doing things. Idai thought she was a sweetheart. He closed his eyes as he smiled to himself. Suddenly, Idai felt himself slipping on water. He skidded and ended up falling onto his back.
Idai laid flat on the ground his teeth gritted. "Ow," he said painfully. Someone must have thrown water out earlier. He sat up slowly trying to feel his back for any broken bones. There weren't any. Idai turned around to see if he was bruised anywhere. Nope, he was fine. He turned back around to notice someone watching him. Idai blinked. Daiya was coming out of one of the shop carrying what appeared to be a bag containing vegetables.
Daiya only stared at the boy from the sound village. He stood still wondering why the boy was staring back at him. He tensed slightly. Why is he watching me? Do I look odd carrying food? Daiya moved back a step figuring Idai was going to lash out at him. The white haired boy smiled at him. Daiya blinked.
"Hi, lightening bug," Idai said rather happily. It was rare to see Daiya out of his dorm room. He smiled at him, waving. Daiya moved farther back. Idai stood up cracking his back. He watched as the boy from the lightening country started to walk away from him. "Huh? Where are you going?" Idai started to follow him like a lost puppy.
"Stop following me. I don't know you," Daiya said sternly. He started to walk faster. "Go away," he said harshly, but Idai was still following him as he walked down the road. What is his infatuation with me? He watches me when our team trains with Kiba sensei's. Daiya was getting annoyed. His ponytail spiked out.
"Oh, come on, Daiya, I'm not trying to get on your nerves," Idai said rather hurt. He skipped behind Daiya. He was keeping a good distance away in case the other boy decided to throw a carrot at him. He'd avoid it though. Idai smiled at the thought. Food fight.
Daiya looked over his shoulder. His gray eyes were hard and threatening. "I have nothing to say to you. Stop following me!" Daiya started to run as he carried the bag. He took off down the street running around people who were shopping.
Idai laughed as he went after Daiya. He ran around the people avoiding them nicely. Idai was a bit more graceful than Daiya and could maneuver himself due to his flexibility. "Daiya, if you want to play chase, shouldn't there be others involved?" He wanted to tease Daiya for acting ridiculous. "I just want to talk."
Daiya narrowed his eyes. "Go away!" He ran so fast he almost tripped. Daiya closed his eyes, his breathing quickening. He felt slightly threatened by Idai because he didn't know the other boy. Daiya thought Idai was making fun of him or something.
Idai whistled as he caught up to Daiya. He was running
backwards with his hands behind his back. Daiya was shocked as all get out. His eyes were wide as he looked at Idai. Idai smiled at him. "Nice weather we're having. How come you don't want to talk? I don't bite."
Daiya couldn't believe how fast Idai was. The boy was keeping pace with him as he ran backwards. He gritted his teeth, afraid at being singled out like this. Daiya closed his eyes as he clutched the bag to his chest and planted his feet firmly into the ground to suddenly stop himself. He stopped, but Idai didn't catch onto his move. The other boy ended up falling over the railing and going into the training ring. Daiya watched as Idai slid on his back and hit his head on the other side. I didn't mean for him to get hurt.
Idai grabbed his head and went into a fetal position. He gritted his teeth. He kicked his legs as he whimpered in pain. Idai wondered what Daiya's problem was. The tears came to his eyes as he sat up. He didn't dare shake his head. Idai closed his eyes and held his head in his hands.
"Idai, are you okay," Masaru said. He had seen Idai fall over the railing. He jumped over the side of the railing into the training ring. His hands went up to remove Idai's hands from his head. "I think you have a concussion." Masaru looked over his shoulder at Daiya Eimino. The boy was watching them with an expressionless face. "You can't even say you're sorry? It's your fault!"
Daiya got on the defensive. "I told him to stop following me," he shot back at Masaru. "I don't know you, or him! Get lost!" Daiya turned around and sped off. He didn't want to get in a fight with the Hokage's son. That's all he needed right now. He was a foreigner in this village. The Hokage could easily toss him. Daiya snarled as he went home.
Idai opened his eyes slowly. "It's not his fault, Masaru. I know Daiya is standoffish. I kept following him when he told me to leave him alone. I was only trying to talk to him, but he doesn't understand why I was."
Masaru kept his gaze on the direction Daiya had taken. "Why do you want to befriend someone like that? He had no concern for you falling like you did, or hitting your head. It was his fault, Idai. Stop defending him."
Idai looked at Masaru with one eye closed. He was rubbing the back of his head that had come in contact with the wooden fence around the training ring. "I think Daiya needs friends. He's a foreigner like me, isn't he? So why not talk to him? He's not a bad person. He's afraid of us. Daiya has that look in his eye that shows he's been hurt."
"Even if he has, you have no idea if he will accept your friendship. He's a difficult person, Idai. You're not the only one who has tried to get to know him. I heard that Takeru Uchiha and Ryu Yuhi have tried to talk to him, even train him a little, but Daiya runs from them. So why bother with someone like that?"
Idai looked at Masaru. "Well, if someone tries, then he might try, too. At least, that's my reasoning for it. I don't want Daiya to feel like he can't be included. I wasn't until you and Yanagi started to befriend me. If no one tries for him, who will?"
"I can't answer that, Idai. All I know is Daiya is very reserved. He has never spoken to anyone out of his own will unless it was to make a short comment. Even when Kurenai sensei tried to get him to participate in our outside training, Daiya defied her. He doesn't care if someone is trying to help him. He doesn't want to have anything to do with anyone," Masaru said a bit angrily. "If you want to waste your time with him than that's your decision. I can't stop you. I don't agree to it though."
Idai looked at Masaru, studying the boy. Masaru wasn't one to talk about others. He must really not like Daiya. I wonder why. Idai looked back at the people who were still shopping. He stood up carefully. His head spun a little, but he was alright.
"Alright, watch me first, okay? I don't want you to attempt this yet. It's rather hard to pull off and if you fall incorrectly, you could easily break your neck," Eiyu said. He placed his hands on the ground and attempted to do a handstand. He lowered his body until he was holding himself up by his shoulders and his arms were out to keep him from falling. "Do not try this, Onari. It's very dangerous. You have to learn to do it. We'll teach you, but we don't want you to try it. "
Onari tilted her head as she watched Eiyu start to spin on his head. Soon Eiyu was leaning his body back and he was rotating on his shoulders like a crooked spinning top. Eiyu's legs went out to show Onari how to deflect an opponent from attacking. She watched as Eiyu spun faster and he came up off of the ground. His hand went out to push at the ground and his body went back to let him get up quickly.
"Alright, that is a rotating spin kick," Eiyu said. He watched as Onari tilted her head. She was adjusting to the moves and the language. "We'll have to get dad to teach you a safer way to pull it off. If you move too far when you're spinning, you could easily snap your neck. That would mean lights out, Onari."
Onari tilted her head. "Eiyu, Onari outside. Onari no need lights." She watched Eiyu slap his forehead. It was true. She was outside. What was this talk of lights out? It wasn't time to sleep.
"No, Onari. I mean it would kill you. You would be dead if you broke your neck," Eiyu said shaking his head. This girl was defiantly a trial. It was fun teaching her though. She didn't complain about the moves or how long they trained. Onari just watched patiently and attempted the moves. It was amazing to him how fast her pick up was.
Onari watched as Eiyu just stood in front of her looking at her. "No more train, Eiyu?" That was a rather short training session. They normally practiced most of the day together. She had only been at the Hyuga compound for half a day.
"No, I think we'll call it quits for the day. It's been a
while since you've taken a break from all of the training we put you under, so how about we do something else," Eiyu said. His white eyes watched the expression on her face. Onari was trying to figure out what else there was to do besides train. It was basically all she did around Eiyu. "Isn't there any hobbies you have?"
Onari tilted her head trying to figure out what Eiyu was asking her. "Onari no have hobby. Onari train, sleep, eat, shower." Is that what he wanted to know? She didn't know what a hobby was. Whatever it was, she couldn't have it because there was nothing she personally owned except the clothes Izumi had bought for her.
Eiyu figured her out quicker than he thought. He had to smile at her. Onari was cute. "A hobby is something you do for fun. Such as, training, I suppose, but you only do it to enjoy yourself. It's something that makes you happy. You can have a hobby by yourself, or with others."
"Onari no understand Eiyu say to Onari," she said. "Onari do things. Onari no understand word." She watched Eiyu issue her to come closer. Onari walked closer to the Hyuga boy and tilted her head, her yellow eyes watching him.
"Alright, do you understand the concept of having fun," Eiyu asked as he watched her.
"Eiyu, you don't even understand the concept of fun," Kandai said as he sat on the porch laughing. "You're such a stick in the mud." He kept laughing as Eiyu shot a glare at him. Kandai sipped his tea. He loved to antagonize his twin. "Perhaps you should demonstrate what you want her to know? Onari's a visual learner."
Eiyu blinked. "I haven't fully woken up today," he said trying to dismiss his lack of thinking. He knew Onari didn't understand language very well. She had to be a visual learner to rely on what others were saying to her. He really was being slow today. He reached into his pocket taking out a leather band with spikes on it. He slipped the leather over his hands with the spikes facing out from his palms. "This is a tree climbing tool. Sometimes ninja use it to help them get onto high places. It can also be a weapon like a kunai or shuriken. I collect weapons. That's my hobby. It's something I enjoy."
"Onari no have hobby. Onari no own things," she said so he would understand. "Onari own clothes, not hobby." She watched as Eiyu regarded her with a confused expression.
"Well, even if you don't own anything, you can still find something you enjoy," Kandai said as he walked up beside her. "I like to read a lot. You don't have to own a book, or a scroll. You can borrow them. I also like to learn."
"Onari understand Kandai. Onari like tease Takeru," she said rather seriously. "Onari like training. Training Onari hobby. Onari enjoy learn jutsu. "The twins looked at her rather oddly. It was the only thing she did. She had to enjoy what she was able to do.
"We need to get you out to experience other things in the world besides training, Onari," Kandai said as he smiled at her. "There's more to life than protecting people and training all of the time. Oh, I have a great idea! Let's introduce Onari to some people she hasn't met! We can even invite them over for a game."
"Kandai, do you honestly think that's a good idea? Onari is afraid of others, to a certain point," Eiyu said as he lifted his hand so the girl could try to get the leather strap off of his hand. She was putting it on examining it. Eiyu blushed slightly when she went for the other one. Her hands were smooth for someone who trained all of the time like they did. Eiyu saw Onari in a new light. His head felt funny all of a sudden. She was rather beautiful even with her strange quirks and aggressive behavior.
Kandai waved his hand in front of his brother. "Eiyu, I was talking to you." His brother looked at him slowly. "How about if we just invite a few people over? We can introduce Onari to Gin and Areku. Onari, do you know Areku?" Kandai turned his attention to the girl. She was looking at Eiyu's tree climber claws.
Onari looked up. "Areku?" She shook her head. Who was that?
"Kiba sensei is your brother right?" Onari nodded. "Areku is his son. He's on my team with Gin Akimichi. She's a sweet, shy girl. Her parents are Ino and Chouji Akimichi. I don't suppose Sasuke sensei has introduced you to a lot of others since you came here." He pondered.
"Isn't Sasuke sensei best friends with the Hokage? I don't suppose you've met Masaru, have you? He's the Hokage's son. Masaru grew up with Takeru. They aren't that close anymore though," Eiyu said. "Is it alright if a few people come over? You need to familiarize yourself with others who will work with you on missions."
"Who Onari meet," she asked. She kind of stepped away from Eiyu some as if the others they were referring to would pop out of the ground and surprise her. She wasn't accustomed to meeting anyone. Normally, Onari stayed at home when she was through training with Eiyu, Neji, and Kandai. Her evenings consisted of more training with Izumi and Sasuke; some occasions she trained with Takeru. Her days were pretty booked.
"Perhaps Onari needs to meet some of the girls. All she knows is us guys," Kandai said. "What if we get Areku, Gin, Yanagi, and… Masaru? Two boys and two girls should be doable."
"Guess you're going to get them," Eiyu said. Kandai looked at him baffled. "It's payback for teasing me." Eiyu took the tree climber claws back from Onari. "You seemed so happy a moment ago, Kandai, what happened?"
Kandai smiled at his twin as he walked closer. He tilted his head to his brother and whispered softly," You may think you have me this time, but I have keen eyes. I think you like Onari." Eiyu's eyes widened. Kandai smiled and stuck his tongue out at him as Eiyu blushed. "I'll be back with our guests. You two can decide what we're going to do." He waved as he ran out of the Hyuga compound.
Eiyu looked at Onari. He was still blushing as she tilted her head at him. It didn't help matters when the foreign girl came closer looking him deeply in the eyes. Eiyu slightly gasped his body tense.
"Eiyu, sick," she said pointing at him. Onari didn't understand has Eiyu lowered his head, shaking it. She cocked her head.
Soon Kandai came back with a few people. He waved at Onari and Eiyu. He wondered why his brother was keeping a fair amount of distance from the girl. So it was what he thought. And to think, Kandai had only been teasing. Eiyu liked Onari. He walked up to his brother with Areku and Gin trailing behind him. "Yanagi is with Saori, so they'll be coming in a minute. Masaru is coming, but he got in trouble for teasing his sister. What game are we going to play?"
"Let's play 'Telephone'. It's an easy game and it will help Onari learn new words. It'll be fun and a bit distracting for her," Eiyu said. He waved at Yanagi and Saori as they showed up. Masaru came behind them in a few minutes.
"Sorry, my mom got me for teasing Niru before I left," Masaru said smiling. "She was asking for it though. She's so nosey."
"You shouldn't tease your sister, Masaru. She's still a baby," Saori said as she looked at him sternly. "Your sister isn't necessarily bad to the bone like Chame, either."
Areku tilted his head at the dark haired girl on the porch. "Is this who you wanted us to meet, Kandai?" He jerked a thumb at Onari. "Who is she?"
"Hi, Onari," Saori said as she waved her hand at the girl. "I've already met her. She lives with Takeru." Oh, that seemed to make everyone just stop and stare at Saori. "You guys are horrible. It isn't like that."
"No, it isn't," Eiyu said. "Sasuke sensei took Onari in, so she lives at the Uchiha compound with Takeru. Onari trains here about every day. She's never met any of you because she hasn't been assigned to a team yet."
"Oh, I see. So we're here to be introduced to her," Yanagi said smiling. "Hi, Onari, I'm Yanagi Lee!" She raised her hand high as she stood next to Saori and waved. The girl looked at her oddly.
Masaru crouched low as he petted the cat on the compound. "Onari? I know her; or her name rather. Takeru told me about her before we took the Academy finals. I've wanted to meet her." He stood up and held his hand up to the girl. The girl hopped off of the porch. She came closer, but not too close. She was a bit hesitant at the unknown kids. "I'm Masaru Uzumaki. I grew up with Takeru."
Onari caught onto one of the words the blond haired boy said. "Uzumaki." She pointed at the boy. "Uzumaki Hokage. Uzumaki Onari brother," she said in her fast dialect. Masaru quirked a brow at the girl.
"How does she know your father," Areku asked. He looked at Masaru. The boy shook his head. "Onari, do you know Kiba?" Onari looked at Areku. She nodded quickly, her black hair bouncing. "Kiba is my dad. I'm Areku."
"Brother Kiba boy Areku," she said trying to get the names right. She pointed to each of them in turn. "Eiyu Neji boy. Kandai Neji boy. Masaru Uzumaki boy. Saori Shikamaru girl. Yanagi Lee." There was another girl who was looking at her. Onari stopped. Who was that girl?
"Oh, sorry, Onari, that's Gin. She's on the same team as me," Kandai said. "We forgot she was there. She's kind of quiet, too."
Gin Akimichi bowed low a few times. "Nice to meet you, Onari. " She wished someone had invited Idai. It would have thrilled her to bits, but she understood that only a few kids were being introduced for the time being. Onari didn't know any of them. There was quite a group already here.
"Guys, we're going to play 'Telephone' to help Onari adjust to our language. She talks a little distorted, so bear with her. She's still learning," Eiyu said. He waved Onari closer. "We're going to play a game. The object of the game is to pass what you hear to the next person. Whatever you think you hear from the person whispering to you, pass it to the person on your right." Eiyu waved his arm showing her the direction. "Once the sentence gets to the end, the last person repeats it. Usually the sentence will be incorrect. You'll see. It's funny."
Kandai started to line people up. "Let's have… Saori first." He put her in her spot. "I'll be next. The rest of you guys can line up accordingly. Onari, why don't you stand next to Eiyu," he said smiling at her. Eiyu's eyes went slightly wide. Oh, his brother was going to kill him for sure. He was only trying to help though.
"So do I think of anything I want? Okay. Onari's language skills are a bit messed up, so let's start with a messed up sentence," Saori said. She smiled as she tried to think of something. She pounded her fist into her hand. Got it! Saori turned and whispered to Kandai, "A pink duck dances in the rain."
Kandai looked at Saori like she was crazy. "What?" He laughed. He thought he heard something, but he wasn't sure. "Nevermind, you can't repeat it. Alright." Kandai turned to Areku. He whispered into Areku's ear, "A pink duck dances in the train."
Areku looked past Kandai to Saori. "You have not been sleeping well," he said to her. She quirked a brow. "Alright," he said. He turned to Eiyu. Areku whispered into Eiyu's ear, "A pinky clucks along the lane."
Eiyu had this look of confusion on his face. "There is no way in the world that is what Saori said, but I'm passing it." Eiyu started laughing. He turned to Onari. He froze. Eiyu was going to have to lean in to whisper it to her. He swallowed hard. Eiyu leaned in and put his hand on her shoulder. He whispered, "A peanut winces its fame."
Onari looked at Eiyu. She didn't know what the words meant anyways, but they didn't seam to be correct in any form. She knew what a peanut was. She even knew what fame was. Onari shook her head. She turned to Gin and whispered in her ear, "A peanut winces its fame."
Gin blinked. She smiled at the sentence Onari told her. "I doubt that's correct, Onari." Gin had to laugh a bit at it. She turned to Masaru. She whispered in his ear, "A peanut rinses its name."
"Gin, what are you drinking lately," Masaru said. The others down the line looked at him. He had to repeat it to see how messed up the sentence had gotten. "A peanut goes insane."
They all started laughing. Onari only stood tilting her head trying to decipher the words. What was so funny? "Crazy peanut," she said seriously. That sent everyone around her laughing more when she spoke.
"How did you get 'A peanut goes insane' from 'A pink duck dances in the rain'," Saori said laughing. "Yes, that's what I told Kandai. So it got messed up the second he heard it."
TenTen came out onto the porch with Neji. They had watched the little game the kids were playing. She thought it was sweet of Kandai and Eiyu to invite some of their friends over. Onari needed to adjust to the other children before she got put on one of the teams. TenTen reached over to grab her husband's hand. She squeezed it tenderly. "Would you like to help me bring out the tea and sandwiches I made for them?"
Neji Hyuga looked at his wife. "Sure," he said smiling softly at her. It was sweet of TenTen to offer to make something to snack on for the whole group. It was rare Kandai and Eiyu had anyone over but Onari. They needed to socialize more. He went in with her to help carry the trays out.
TenTen came back out with a try stacked with rectangular sandwiches. She had even scrounged up some of her special dumplings. The ones she normally made were large in size, but these were smaller so everyone else would have one. She set the tray on the porch. Neji came out with a tray stacked with small cups of tea. He put his tray next to hers. "Kandai and Eiyu," she called with her hands cupped over her mouth. "We have some snacks for your friends."
Kandai waved at everyone to get their attention. He walked over to smile at his parents. His mother was really thoughtful. "Thanks, mom," he said as he grabbed a cup of tea first. He passed it to Gin. Kandai was a gentleman, after all. Gin took the cup and sipped on her tea. The sandwiches and tea were passed out.
Neji noticed Onari shying away from the group. She wouldn't come get her sandwich, or her tea. He stepped down the wooden steps to walk over to her. Onari was watching the other kids, slightly confused. "Onari? Why aren't you eating your snack with the rest of them?"
Onari looked up at Neji. She went to him quickly and put her arms around him, hiding her face. "Onari no know boys girls," she said softly. The game was fun, but it didn't help her know the others she had played with. She clung to Neji as she watched the group of kids who were enjoying themselves.
"You may not know them, yet, but you will. Eiyu and Kandai are in that group. You can stay close to one of them if you feel uncomfortable. None of the kids you see will harm you, Onari. They are very nice and protect each other when they are threatened by another. That is why Eiyu and Kandai invited them over. You need to get to know Yanagi, Areku, Gin, Masaru, and Saori. You might end up on a team with one of them, or work with one of them on a mission," Neji said as he petted her head gently. "We have to work well with the others around us, or our jobs become pointless and meaningless."
"Onari want work brother Neji," she said softly. She liked Neji. He spent as much time with her as Sasuke. Since she had moved to the hidden leaf village, she rarely saw Kiba and Shikamaru. Onari didn't know where Uzumaki was. Sasuke kept telling her that the blond haired man's job was very important and he was often busy.
"Maybe one day we will, but for now, you have to complete the training Sasuke wants you to do. Once you complete training under me, you'll probably take the finals from the Academy. Then you will go to a team and work with the others. But right this second," Neji stated, "You need to go make friends." He lifted Onari and carried her over to the group of children. Neji set her down. "They won't hurt you," he whispered. "Stick to Kandai or Eiyu if you get scared."
Onari looked for Kandai. He was talking to Masaru and Gin. Yanagi was talking to Saori and Areku. Eiyu was leaning up against the porch, watching the others. He wasn't very social. Onari went straight for him and attached herself to his side as she looked at the others around her.
Eiyu blushed as he felt Onari grab onto his clothes. He looked at her wondering what was going on. She was why regarding the others. Eiyu took her hand and led her away from the others to the other side of the house. He offered her the leftover sandwich. Onari took it hungrily and ate it rather fast. "Onari, you've got to get over your fear of people. You're stronger than they are. No one out here can even compare to the strength you've been hiding."
Onari tilted her head at Eiyu. "Eiyu, Onari no know boys girls. Onari feel small," she said softly. She was trying to tell him she felt unimportant compared to the other children.
Eiyu looked at her then back to the others. "You're just as important as anyone that is out here. Don't think so less of yourself. I think a lot of you," he said admitting it. Onari didn't understand what he meant though. She was confused, as usual. Even though she was, Eiyu liked how she tilted her head as she tried to figure out words and sentence structure. He raised his hand to pet her gently on the head. "You'll understand one day."
Masaru waved goodbye to everyone as he left the Hyuga compound. He soon met up with Idai. The boy from the sound village was sitting on the railing near the hospital, his legs hanging over as he rocked on the metal bar. "Hey, what did the medic-nin say about your head?"
Idai scratched his chin. He smiled at Masaru. "Slight concussion. You should be a doctor, Masaru. You were dead on the mark."
Masaru couldn't understand how Idai was so cheerful about Daiya making him fall like he did. It kind of made him upset because it was a dirty trick. "You have to get Daiya back for what he did to you."
Idai blinked. "Why do I have to get him back? He didn't know I wasn't going to pay attention and fall like I did. Why don't you like Daiya at all?"
"Daiya never talks to anyone, Idai. He's worse than
you ever were. I can understand why you were so withdrawn from us, but no one knows anything about Daiya. All we know is he comes from the lightening country and no one wanted him when he came here. My dad let him stay because he had been found on a mission that Kurenai sensei was on. She pleaded with my dad to give Daiya a chance. Don't be so surprised. I overhear a lot of things when my dad talks to others about missions and problems in the village. I'm the Hokage's son."
Idai looked away sadly. "Still, even if no one wants him, that's no reason to condemn him for it. There has to be a reason Daiya doesn't trust anyone – why he doesn't trust adults, Masaru. Something awful must have happened to him. Whatever it is, is affecting his whole outlook on life. I find that to be really sad. You and Yanagi gave me a chance, so why shouldn't I give him one?"
Masaru sighed as he leaned against the railing. "Idai, you've got to be the nicest person I've ever seen in my life to want to befriend someone like Daiya. It's like a sparrow wanting to get to know a cat." Idai looked at him with a shocked expression. "Sorry, but Daiya is a bit rough around the edges. At least, that's what I've noticed when Kiba sensei has us train with Sasuke sensei's team."
Idai hopped off of the railing... "Well, I guess it's my job to smooth out Daiya's edges then," he said smiling at Masaru. "I don't believe he's a bad person. He's just misunderstood."
"How long can a misunderstanding go on for," Masaru asked as they walked away from the small river. He watched Idai shrug. "I kind of figured you wouldn't know. You talk pretty philosophical for a kid, Idai. Too bad you confuse yourself with your own words sometimes."
Idai smiled at Masaru again. "It happens. I can't be right all of the time. I'm only human." He tugged Masaru into going into the shop he had seen Daiya come out of a few hours prior. "I want to get something in here."
Masaru stood around looking at all of the vegetables. "What are we doing in here? Did your dad ask you to pick up some things before you came home?"
"No, I'm getting a peace offering," Idai said. He
picked up a bushel of carrots, cabbage, potatoes, radishes, turnips, and mushrooms. Idai paid the man behind the counter. He walked out with Masaru. "I figured this would be a nice offering to the Lightening God."
"The Lightening God? Who is that?" Masaru had no idea what Idai was talking about. He could only wonder.
Daiya Eimino grumbled. He knew he had heard someone messing around outside near the single dorms. He opened his door cautiously. It was rather dark outside. He opened the door a bit more. Something large fell from overhead and came at his face. He yelped as he fell onto his back.
Daiya looked up to see a brown bag hanging. What the hell is that? He noted it was full of vegetables. A scroll was attached to it. He got up off of his back and stood up. Daiya lifted his hand to stop the bag from swinging. He plucked it down. There was no one outside, or around. Daiya shut the door with his foot. "Why was there a bag of vegetables swinging from my door?"
Daiya's hand touched the scroll. He yanked it off as he sat the bag of vegetables on the low table in his room. The scroll said: Hey, Daiya, sorry for scaring you earlier! I noticed you were coming out of the vegetable shop and thought I should make a peace offering. I hope you like what I bought! Please don't be mad at me, Lightening Bug. ~ Idai.
Daiya just stared at the scroll. He laid it down after some time. His hand went up to move the bag slightly away so he could peek into it. There were quite a few vegetables in it. Why is that guy so persistent? I'm not special at all. Why keep trying to get my attention, especially when I've been harsh with him since he started calling me 'Lightening Bug'. Daiya didn't really understand what was going on. Still, he took the vegetables out of the bag to wash them. He would forgive Idai for now.
