Okay, it's a little late in the day (in my area, that is) and I'm hecka tired. This battle was...interesting to write. Kind of tedious. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the battle, especially in the anime where its all action-y and kick-butt, but it's pretty difficult to write, especially since I'm probably about average at battle scenes. Sorry if I didn't do all that great, but I did my best. (sweat drop and innocent grin) I obviously used a lot from the manga. A LOT. Not very original on my part, but that's my fault for picking this kind of story to write. Anyway, here's the chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Kyoko shook her head abruptly and shouted, "Hey Lee! C'mon! He's right the…re…? Why…are you looking at me like that?"
Lee had his head turned in Kyoko's direction, a goofy grin on his face. He hiccupped.
"Saaakura-saaaan…"
"What?! I'm not Sakura!"
Kimimaro raised an eyebrow silently as the green-clad genin started moving away from him and towards the girl. What was going on?
"SakuRA-san!" Lee's tone seemed undecided and ranged from high to low. "I PROmised to proTECT you wi-ITH my LIFE."
"Uh…"
"SO I ask yOU!" Lee drawled as he unsteadily got onto one knee with his arms outstretched. "Please be my WIFE."
"EEEEEEEEEEEHHH!" Kyoko screeched.
While she screamed, Kimimaro was pondering how old those kids were and if that age was correct for marriage proposal. Before he could come to a conclusion, however, he suddenly felt easiness in his body. Kimimaro experimentally moved one of his hands and shifted his weight to the side. Piece of cake. The Sound Nin started plucking the needles from his body. Once he was through, he looked over at the fretting kunoichi and the passionate boy and understood immediately. This was his chance.
"L-Lee! I don't like you like that!" Kyoko screamed with an air of terror.
Lee cocked his head to the side drunkenly and a bit of drool escaped his mouth. His eyelids dropped slightly. Before Kyoko knew it, Lee had leapt towards her and she tumbled to the ground.
"GET OFF!" she shrieked as she flailed her arms about like a caught bird.
Lee got off and turned his head. Kyoko followed his gaze and saw Kimimaro right where she had been.
"AH! I LOST CONCENTRATION!" Kyoko panicked. "Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh!" she stuttered as she held her hands out in a fruitless attempt to fix the severed chakra strings. "Dang it, Lee! I totally lost it!" She tried to whack the drunken boy upside the head, but he simply caught her hand without even looking back.
"I will protECT Sakura-SAN!" Lee declared as he targeted Kimimaro.
Kyoko sat up and adjusted her forehead protector. As long as Lee wasn't doing THINGS to her, she was good. The only problem is I won't be able to hold him still anymore.
"Here I come!" Lee bellowed.
What came next was a series off attacks made by Lee with RIVETING Bruce Lee sound effects! HOOOOAAAAHHH!
Kyoko's mind became dizzy from watching Lee move. However, the more amazing part was that Kimimaro was able to dodge and block every single blow. Once Kimimaro thought he saw an opening, he called, "Dance of the Camelia!" Quicker than the eye, Kimimaro made his move on Lee, stabbing the sharp piece of bone in the direction of the Konoha genin. Now it was Lee's turn to dodge.
Miraculously, Kimimaro wasn't able to land one hit with his "dance". Kyoko couldn't believe her eyes. He's so much better when he's drunk! She thought. If he were to battle Gaara like this…
"Hoooaaaah!"
BAM!
Lee had finally managed to connect an attack with Kimimaro. Gradually, he started pushing Kimimaro back, and forcing a look of difficulty on the Sound Nin's face. With a hefty kick, he sent the older ninja flying. Lee grinned. "Hic."
"WHOO! GO LEE!" Kyoko cheered.
Kimimaro slowly stood up and removed the other upper half of his robe. (A/N: I don't know what to call it…or how to say it without sounding slightly inappropriate O.O) Odd patterns started to advance from the center of his pale chest.
Kyoko felt her stomach lurch as she saw Kimimaro's arm in the position that would suggest it were broken. Crackling sounds filled the air and bones started to rise out of his skin.
"My abilities or morphic bones," Kimimaro said eerily. "You know that well, don't you, girl?" He started to charge toward Kyoko, but Lee barred his path. Kimimaro swung his bone sword towards Lee, but Lee ducked. Unfortunately, Lee didn't anticipate Kimimaro's ability. The boy was instantly stabbed by Kimimaro's prickly ribcage and fell to the ground.
"Unpredictable…isn't it?" Kimimaro said stonily. "This is my bloodline limit."
Lee's getting pushed back now, Kyoko thought. He's way too strong. Maybe if I call in some backup…I still have some more chakra left. She made several hand signs for the summoning and slammed her hand on the ground. "Kuchiyose no Jutsu!"
A puff of smoke rose from the ground and Kyoko leaned in closely to see what she had just conjured. A sweat drop appeared atop her head. "Eh…"
A small wolf cub sneezed as the smoke cleared. It was gray and white with big eyes and a cute demeanor. Completely and utterly worthless for fighting.
"Oh, I remember you!" Kyoko exclaimed. "You're the first complete wolf I summoned back when I sucked! Wait. That came out wrong…"
"W-Why did you summon me here?" the young wolf asked. "I-I'm no good at fighting yet!"
"It was an accident…" Kyoko admitted.
Kimimaro knocked Lee to the ground, startling the wolf that suddenly jumped into Kyoko's arms, shivering.
Kyoko caressed the wolf in a motherly way. "What's your name, little guy?"
"A-Ashi."
"Don't worry, Ashi," Kyoko smiled. "Lee's not gonna be defeated and I'll protect you." She looked back at Lee. It seemed he and Kimimaro were just about to get even more serious if it were possible. At least…I hope…
---
"So since your mission is to rescue that Uchiha guy, leave my mission to me," Kankuro said. "You go on ahead and see if you can get farther ahead to help your remaining teammates recover him. My advice is to avoid anything else going on. Temari and Gaara are more than likely to be helping out already."
Nami nodded. "Sounds like a plan. Kiba's nearby, I can sense it. Don't screw anything up."
"That's my line."
The two split up in two different directions and proceeded with the mission.
You'd better not cross the border before I get to you, Uchiha, Nami thought.
---
Lee's not drunk anymore, Kyoko thought. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? She clutched Ashi gingerly, her eyes glued to the two shinobi in front of her.
Lee started unraveling the bandages on his arms, making Kyoko gasp. What?! He's going to…!
"Omote Renge!" Lee hollered as he leaned back to kick Kimimaro skyward. Unfortunately for him, Kimimaro's ribcage contorted into a thicket of bones and clung onto Lee's leg, rendering him helpless.
"Impressive speed. But this is the end."
Before she realized what she was doing, Kyoko had jumped up and sped towards Kimimaro with a kunai in her hand. She flipped over Kimimaro and thrust the kunai towards the Kaguya's back in order to interrupt his attack on Lee. Her quick eyes noticed the bones pushing out a mile away and she leapt back with a grunt. The wound in her side still felt like a thousand needles through the side.
"So you still have some fight left in you," Kimimaro said emotionlessly, his arm out in mid-stretch targeting Lee. "Very well."
Long range…gotta use long range and keep him from hitting me or Lee, Kyoko thought as she pulled out several projectiles. She flung them in Kimimaro's direction, but he merely knocked them away with the bones sticking out of his arm. Kyoko narrowed her eyes. Weapons won't help this time around…if only I had a jutsu like Nami's or Midori's… She shook her head in frustration. No! I've gotta use my skills! Think, Kyoko, think!
"Are you simply going to stand there?" Kimimaro asked her.
"Kyoko, run away!" Lee ordered.
The least I could do is get Lee free, Kyoko thought. We obviously can't beat this guy, but at least we bought some time for Naruto. If I cut off Kimimaro's arm… She pulled out a scroll, bit her finger, and ran her blood against the parchment. A second later, a samurai's katana was grasped firmly in her hands. She dashed, aiming to cut off Kimimaro's arm and sliced down.
SHING.
Kyoko's eyes widened. "W-What?!"
"Stupid girl," Kimimaro said. "My bones cannot be broken by a mere blade." His bones swiftly started encasing her, forcing her into the same predicament as Lee.
Kyoko cursed under her breath. Great…smooth move, Kyoko… "Sorry, Lee," she muttered sadly.
"It is not your fault."
"Which one of you would like to die first?" Kimimaro asked. "It doesn't matter to me at all. Or if you'd like, I could crush both of your body and strike your hearts at the same time."
Just as he was about to crush both of them, sand erupted in his face, forcing him to shield his face and let go of the two Konoha genin. They, in turn, fell over backwards several yards away.
Sand! Kyoko thought as she found herself in a pile of sand that had softened her fall. Only one person came to mind. She turned around to see Gaara standing not too far behind. He had Aashi in one arm. "Gaara!"
"Konoha's allies, the shinobi of Suna," Gaara recited.
Lee's face was filled with shock and confusion while Kyoko's was sporting happiness and relief.
"Sabaku no Gaara…?" Lee said.
At that moment, bullets of fingertip bones fired at the three. Luckily, Gaara's sand made more than an effective shield against the projectiles. As the small bones fell from the sand, Gaara said, "You're too hasty." He glanced at Lee. "When you fought me before, you had more speed and edge to your steps."
"Like you had nothing to do with it," Lee sighed as he began to sit up. "I am not holding any grudges, but I have gone through quite a bit of a hassle because of you."
"I see…" Gaara muttered. "And you."
"Me?" Kyoko said, pointing to herself.
"What happened to your sharp and observant character? It's a strange move, charging at the enemy like that."
A dark and stormy cloud rained down over Kyoko's head. Then, a thought occurred to her. Wait…Sharp and observant? Was that partly…a compliment
"And I believe this is yours," Gaara said, as he dropped Ashi in Kyoko's arms.
"
"What are you doing here anyway?" Lee asked.
"I owe Konoha a large debt," Gaara answered.
---
Two…three chakras coming up. One's powerful but… Nami thought. Can't interfere. It can't be Uchiha. Her instincts told her to take a different route, so she turned her direction to the left and continued on. She pushed harder off a branch, trying to quicken her step. There's no way I can let that guy leave, not after everything everyone's been through…and also…
---
"I'll handle this," Gaara said.
"No!" Lee argued. "You can be the backup."
Kyoko was about to punch Lee when the boy suddenly fell to the ground. She the noticed a hand of sand grabbing onto his leg.
"Please let go!" Lee whined as he shook his leg.
"You can't do anything right now," Gaara said.
"Yeah, Lee, leave it to Gaara and m—"
"You can't d o anything either."
"WHAT?! But Gaara—" She instantly stopped talking as sand snaked around her own body.
"I'll handle this," Gaara repeated.
"O-Okay…"
"Sabaku no Gaara," Kimimaro said. "Like your alias states, you use sand."
"Careful, Gaara!" Kyoko warned. "He uses his own bones as weapons! He can make them grow out of his body and manipulate them! And it's really gross to watch…"
The bones in Kimimaro's chest started to recede and his fingers started opening up, causing Kyoko to shiver. She watched as Kimimaro attacked Gaara with the bone bullets again, but to no avail. Every attack he made seemed to sink right into Gaara's sand, and Gaara didn't have to move an inch.
He's so strong, Kyoko thought with a smile. It's true I thought we wouldn't be able to win at the beginning but… She stroked Ashi's fur softly and lowered her head. "Now I know we can win."
Gaara covered Kimimaro in pounds of sand and lifted him into the air. He outstretched his hand and closed it into a fist. As a result, the sand crushed inward, spraying blood in a few directions.
Several long seconds passed and it seemed that they had won. That is, until a hand pushed out of the bloodied sand.
Kyoko gasped as she saw the curse mark-covered Kimimaro pull himself out of the sand coffin with spots of bones visible. The Sound Nin's shoulders were heavy and his glare was full of hatred.
"Those bones…" Gaara muttered. "He's another monster."
"That is a tricky body," Lee remarked gravely.
Kyoko shuddered, and she could feel Ashi's body shaking as well. So Sabaku Sousou doesn't work against him…
"What pressure," Kimimaro commented. "If I didn't create these bone masks right under my skin, I would've been crushed. I was taking you too lightly. But this will never catch me again."
Gaara widened his stance and clapped his hands together. Sabaku Bakuryu!
The ground started to shake sand rose in a huge tidal wave over Kimimaro's being. The wave picked and carried him like the waves in an ocean. He was soon lost from sight, for it buried the Kaguya as well as many trees underneath.
"Did you get him?"
"No." He placed his hands on the ground and the sand started to move again. "How persistent."
Kyoko stared out into the sea of sand and something caught her eye. A spiked tail?!
"What…is he?" Lee muttered.
Sand started swirling around the place where Kimimaro was taking cover. Once again, it encased the figure that seemed to be attempting to get away while the pile formed. Even after the sand compressed, Kimimaro was still moving. Slowly but surely, Kimimaro's body started to escape the sand.
That's Kimimaro?! Kyoko thought as a shiver ran down her spine.
Kimimaro had jagged bones sticking out of his back and a spiked tail like a stegosaurus. He charged at Gaara, who had touched the ground firmly, creating a wall of sand that shot up from the earth. A second later, Gaara went flying. Kimimaro had broken through the barrier.
"Gaara!" Kyoko cried.
"Your absolute defense that was garnered such high praise is at its limit?" Kimimaro mocked. "What a shame…"
Kyoko clenched her fist.
"But of course…you were covered in sand to begin with…"
"Shut up/He's not your only opponent!" Kyoko shouted, not noticing she and Lee had spoken at the same time. She aimed a punch to Kimimaro's stomach while Lee targeted a kick at his head.
Kimimaro's tail whipped around and struck Lee. Luckily, Gaara's sand had appeared at just the right moment and softened the blow ever so slightly. Kyoko had been immediately stopped by a wall of sand before she could get any further than a few feet. She grimaced.
"Your sand is starting to annoy me," Kimimaro said dangerously. "You'll be the first to die…Gaara." A sickening noise sounded as he proceeded to pull out his spine. He whisked it out in one pull and glared at Gaara. "Dance of the Clematis."
Gaara created a sand defense around him and Kimimaro quickly swung his spine around the Suna shinobi. He then bent his arm as a large, drill-like bone started to grow.
"This is the thickest bone in my body," Kimimaro said. "It will easily pierce through you and your pathetic defense of sand."
"No!" Kyoko screamed. "Gaara!" She tried to run, but sand was wrapping itself around her, holding her body in place. Even like this, he still doesn't want interference?! "Gaara!"
Kimimaro coughed and blood fell from his mouth. My time is almost up…
Gaara lowered his gaze slightly and sand started to shift. It soon formed into a bulky animal with designs all over its body. The animal was standing right in Kimimaro's path, blocking him. Saikou Zettai Bougyo Shukaku no Tate!
"It's all right, Kyoko-san!" Lee called. "Even though his defense looks odd, I'm sure he'll be—" Lee stopped abruptly when Kimimaro shot his arm forward.
CRACK.
Suddenly, the bone broke into thousands of pieces. The moment it hit the sand, it shattered.
Amazing, Kyoko thought with a smile. Lee was right all along...I shouldn't be so eager to run in and save him. I guess it doesn't work that way…
Lee's gasp pulled her out of her thoughts and her eyes widened when she saw the huge sinkhole of sand that was sucking Kimimaro down. Soon, not even his head was visible.
"It's finished now, isn't it?" Lee said, relieved.
"Wait a second…" Kyoko said quietly.
"Dance…DANCE OF THE SEEDLING FERNS!"
In the blink of an eye, bones sharper than daggers started shooting up out of the ground. In next to no time, the field had now become an ocean of speared bones.
Kyoko screamed.
"What?! Are you hurt, Kyoko-san?! Did the bones hit you?!"
"THIS IS AMAZING!" Kyoko exclaimed as she held her arms out.
"Oh…"
"You saved us, Gaara!" Kyoko said, grinning ear-to-ear as Ashi clung to Kyoko for dear life. "Even Ashi! Amazing! Thank you!"
"I always use the sand to carry me," Gaara said. "It's a simple task."
Kyoko grinned again. She loved the feeling of sitting on a cloud of sand many feet above ground.
"What about that guy?" Lee asked.
"He was a stubborn person, but this is the end," Gaara said. "He won't come back out."
Kyoko suddenly frowned. A chilly feeling ran through her body and she instinctively turned around. "Behind!"
"It's not brainwashing…" Kimimaro's tone was dark. "It's all my own reasoning." His arm contorted into a bone and he hollered, "WHAT THE HELL WOULD YOU KNOW?!"
Drip. Drip.
Blood dropped slowly to the earth below. Kyoko opened her eyes.
"I'm…dying…"
FINALLY IT IS OVER. Geez. Kimimaro just won't DIE. And my computer is so pain-stakingly slow to load the manga pages...o well. Again, sorry if its kind of...boring? Stupid? Bad? I don't know, but whatever the reason, sorry. Good news is, the mission's almost over! WHOO. (gets ready to throw party) I love you guys. I don't know exactly how many more chapters are left, but I'm so happy to have everyone reading. THANK YOU.
R&R please!
Until next time!
-HM