• Chapter Six •
.
.
She seemed so unusual. Immersed in the games that the younger females played. Her long hair playing with the air, the viciousness that Sakura felt whenever Aiko was around seemed to vanish as she watched her laugh and chase the younger girls. Laughing freely.
The pink-haired girl sat with her knees crossed in the floor. Tilting her head as she thought and thought. Analyzed everything that Aiko did. No matter how hard she convinced her mind to accept the fact that Aiko was evil by poisoning the food of the young women and God who knows what else she might do behind closed doors. There was no indications of any more vile acts.
Still, something lingered. A small piece that they yet had to discover.
The soft whisper of a voice calling her name provoked her to snap quick. Flickering her eyes lashes quickly as she rapidly became aware of the presence of Neji.
"Sakura."
She felt it in the tune of his voice. Concern.
"Hey, Neji. What's up?"
She saludated with a fake smile. Trying to create a comfortable atmosphere. No like it worked when Neji's orbs seemed to shine with doubt.
"We need to talk about, Shikamaru."
Like a a thread snapping into two she looked down. She gave Shikamaru many chances of handling the mission. The way he always fought against Aiko with verbal insults. His insufficient tactics reduced to a play of egos. A personal game for him. Not a mission.
She looked straight at Neji, with a silent nod of agreement. Not needing words as to what Neji had in mind.
"Then I shall inform Head Quarters."
.
.
.
Her body tensed. The struggle and trembling as she vomited blood under the grass, morbidly restraining all his muscles. She felt saliva running down her chin, disgust on her mouth. She coughed.
Aiko approached the young girl.
When Ayame turned her head she felt herself immersed in the deep-green emeralds. Her firm breasts accompanied by a light-red mane. The air playing with each strand of hair, almost looking like a goodness.
Ayame blinked hard. Cleaning clumsily the saliva with her dirty sleeve.
"A-Aiko-San?"
Aiko's eyes softened. This made Ayame unsure of what to say, instead she decided to rely in silence.
"Is horrid, isn't it?"
Ayame went cold. Aiko began to walk. Her shadow minimizing her own. She crawled with her knees bleeding.A young adult turn into an infant.
"D-dont you touch me!" Eager to escape, but paralyzed by the fear. The young woman closed her orbs. Then she paused, the warmth skin of Aiko made her sense a light feeling inside of her. Soft, the touch of a mother comforting their child.
"He hurt you. He took something that belonged to you. But, he paid. I made sure of it." Aiko's hand formed a fist and slowly opened like a petal. In the center of her hand a bracelet. "Your father's isn't it?"
The corruption of a false kind gesture immersed Ayame. A comfort in a mother whom demonstrated care. Providing all those needs that life have never granted her.
"I know too well. It isn't the punches, it isn't even the abuse..." Aiko looked down, her palms caressing her stomach. Gently rubbing it. "Is the thing that they rip apart of you. A part of you taken by the violence of men."
Blinking lazily,Aiko turned her gaze towards Ayame. The black pupils glazed with sorrow and understanding.
"I knew of your loss, my dear." Ayame sighed. "Men are beasts. They give you the moon and destroy it at the same time."
At her own words a man came to mind. The gentle sacrifice of the Nara who didn't hesitate to jump on guard sometimes made her think twice. But, the past always caged her with the sorrow.
Aiko offered her hand. Ayame blinked and took it. Accepting the new family.
.
.
.
He was in deep waters.
The liberating sound of owls singing didn't help that tightness on his chest to vanish. He had deceived his team, but mostly himself. The sentiments of protection always overcoming his mind and heart. His mind had became the duplicity of revenge and overprotection.
Aiko's deceitfulness provoked his mind to go into paranoid mode. Deducted from all his moronic actions to get even with Aiko after what she had given to Neji in the dinner, his own fury had taken control.
There wasn't any repentance of her part. Something else flashed in his head, pale orbs shinning. Across his face a red flush decorated both cheekbones after the memory invaded his train of thought. Shaking his head he tried to direct a plan to convince both teammates that he was in control of the himself.
The tender touches of Neji remained like burning flames in his skin.
"Damn, he knows how to play."
And apparently Neji knew how significantly impossible it was to escape from his presence. He noticed. Hormones kicking in without warning. Like love and abuser he was addicted to the presence. But, restriction was his priority. The Hyūga was steps ahead of keeping him in line.
The figure of the Hyūga became clearer as he came closer and closer. Shikamaru felt his left shoulder flinch either in excitement or anger. The Hyūga had hell to play with the cards he had used in him. The card of failure.
"Nara."
He became lost in thought. For a mere moment his gaze was too occupied watching nervously the body language of the Hyūga. Obviously the other was rigid as a rock. Almost forcing his body to remain like a statue ."I informed Head Quarters of your ineptitude as team lead. They will be responding in few days with a messenger."
Shikamaru's emotions went from zero to a hundred.
"What?"
Pissed, he walked close to the Hyūga. Personal ground invaded and ready to protect his actions.
"So now I'm the incompetent?"
Pearl orbs judged.
"You aren't?"
"Tsk, says the bastard who couldn't contain his anger in the past."
Neji's face appeared centimeters near Shikamaru.
"What I did in my past with Hinata in the Chūnin exams differs from what you're doing now. I suffered the consequences of my acts. Now you are paying for what you failed to do: To separate sentiments and duty."
Shikamaru got closer. Mocking the Hyūga as he slowly, but surely mimicked a lustful whisper just like the Hyūga had used against him.
"Ah, but you just looove opening my old scars." His breathing crawled around Neji's skin. "Freaks like Aiko took something important from me. Freaks like your so called clan took your father from you-"
Shikamaru felt the punch. Inside out it hurt. Fury of the deceptive behavior. A consequent flame Neji had pushed back in the past.
"You can't keep lookin in the past Nara. And just like many closer too us they're dead."
That hit harder than the physical punch. But, he laughed. Viciously, sank in his knees laughing harder and harder.
"So we play it cool? ha." His tongue deliberated the last stroke , "I didn't know you liked to play the pet of your clan."
Neji never withdrew from the sentiment that those vicious words awoken inside of him. Luring the loss of control. Making a old wound bleed so deep that his composure broke. The angles of his face sharper.
"I'm not playing with these ridiculous play of words with you Nara. I ordered for a more capable strategist that doesn't break duty from the mission." Firm and harsh he simply gave what looked like a old bag. "Go pack. You're not needed anymore."
Any further conflicts were interrupted by a young pink-haired woman whom came running. Both turning their puzzled gazes towards the Haruno. She could barely regain her air.
"G-guys. There is something bad going on."
Both men shared a silent truce. Diverting their attention to Sakura.
"I went near the town. You remember,Ayame?"
Shikamaru nodded. A gut feeling warning him that the next words out of Sakura might no be as pleasant as anything they had discovered.
Sakura's orbs glazed, pupils dilated. She bit hard her bottom lip. She took a long breath. Finally standing firm and informed of her collected data. Her eyes determinant to continue.
"She was found with many scars made by her own father. The villagers said that not long before that. Aiko was the one to inform of the incident. Not familiars claimed did she have a social life."
The sharp gaze of the lazy-nin was all Sakura needed.
"What happened to the father?"
Sakura felt a nauseous sensation rising up.
"Officers nearby never found the body. Either he escaped or-"
"The crazy bitch of Aiko did silent murder."
Sakura paused. Giving Shikamaru a confused look.
"Yeah...Or Aiko did something. How else would she manage to bring Ayame into this crazy camp? Ayame was easy prey for her."
Neji shook his head.
"That matter is important. But, we also need to address what Nara has being doing."
Sakura closed her eyes.
"You know he is right Shikamaru. You are always pissing off Aiko every opportunity you get. Why? I understand the fury of what she does with these girls, but you act as if she had done something so wrong to you that she must pay at all costs."
No escape. The silence hung heavy.
He rested his heart in the middle of anxiety. How could they ask this much of him? To retreat worry over duty. He had played the strategist years back when Asuma had time he played the part of soldier the same failure became present. He payed the price of losing a close one.
Sakura broke the silence. Sighed tired.
"We will receive information by tomorrow morning. Just pray that Head Quarters won't put you out of this mission." Sakura gave an apologetic smile. "I still want you around. Shikamaru whatever triggers you about Aiko you must understand. Use brain over emotions."
Her glare of belief made the Nara cringe a little inside. Yet, there was a slight warm in his chest. He nodded.
"Okay."
Sakura gave Neji a harsh glance. Like a mother forcing both kids to make truce.
"I'm waiting Hyūga."
Neji rolled his eyes. The awkwardness in his voice echoing in the silent night.
"As you wish Haruno..." he said almost mocking her. But a hint of honesty was all she needed.
Her ferocious face transfixed into a joyful girl who took hold of both man. Grasping their wrists.
"Hey, let go. Haruno I am not-"
Shikamaru annoyed voice interrupted Neji.
"Just don't."
He knew it. It was better to play the nice pet around Sakura rather than the antagonist.
.
.
.
It was around one am. Shikamaru tried real hard to fall sleep only to be awakened by the cows moans. Walking thru the dark and using the light of the moon to find a free-cow-zone he noticed a perfect spot. In a corner many wooden buckets covered was a pile of dry flowers. He smiled inside. Finally some rest.
"Troublesome. Damn Aiko making me fall sleep in-"
"Argh!"
His body went rigid at the sound. A loud scream was heard. Then he noticed a dark figure bending near a bucket. A petite figure, her long and blond hair cascaded and covered her face. Confused the Nara walked with precaution.
He noticed the girl drinking, using her hands desperately to drink the containment of the buckets. She groaned and cringed her nose when the liquid passed thru her throat.
"More...more... I need more..." her crazed talk seemed out of horror story. The desperate laments of fulfillment as she drank the milk more and more. "Mother will feed me...just like she always does...more..."
Then something else made the scene more crazy. two more young girls appeared and pulled the blonde one away from the milk buckets. They walked back to their camp.
"Shhhh, it's okay."
"Mother will feed us tomorrow."
"Be patient sister."
The blonde girl coughed and coughed blood. They just carried her away from the milk containers. Shikamaru's sleep was over.
"Feed her? With what?"
"Nara..."
Like the whisper of a ghost Shikamaru startled at the sound of his name hitting something straight in the face. Neji groaned at the hit.
Shikamaru blinked twice making sure he wasn't hallucinating. Shikamaru's shoulders tensed.
"Dammit Hyūga you got the worst times. Didn't you just see what I saw?"
Apparently no. Neji only had a blank expression.
"That matter can be discussed later ahead Quarters send us a response..."
Shikamaru rolled his eyes.
"That's it? Just tell me."
Neji looked to his left.
"They sent another companion to our team."
At those words Shikamaru had small dots in his eyes. Had he heard right?
The more he spent time in the girly camp the more he wished to spent his days cleaning the Nara compounds with her mother complaints.
"No- I mean. This is like going to square one. I told you that this was gonna bite you back in the ass for sending a note of my inadequacy as team lead? Now I have to baby sit someone else?"
Neji frowned.
"Serves you right Nara. You were and still are incompetent. This person's capacity is more eloquent than the sentiments you have towards Aiko."
"Hey guys!"
A new voice joined. Sakura pulled what looked like a young woman with a medical robe tied by white knot. She wore ridiculous glasses that covered almost all her face. Shikamaru felt a stomachache as soon as she saw her.
Neji deeply stared at him.
"You know her?"
Shikamaru whispered low.
"Oh damn. No this. Fucking troublesome Hyūga what have you done?" He let a lethal tune in his voice. "She is a pain to deal with-"
Sakura interrupted.
"Head Quarters sent her. She works as medical and scientific research in Konoha's Unit number two. Come on Shiho don't be shy!"
Shiho walked towards Shikamaru. The Nara raising up an eyebrow. The young medic took grasp of his hands.
"You rememberer right, Shikamaru? We help decode the message of Jiraya ."
The blush of Shiho didn't went unnoticed. Sakura smiled viciously. Neji remained confused for mere seconds until he finally understood.
Neji blinked in curiosity. A dark humor dancing in the pearl orbs when the Nara tried to get his arms free from Shiho's grasp.
.
.
.
Shiho is a character that seemed to have a crush I. Shikamaru. You can find her in Wikipedia or google sounds as lot like Shino, but it's Shiho. Sorry for grammar or spelling mistakes.