Another day in Konoha, another morning of still suspended from the research team. You stood in front of the building that held the lab with sad eyes. It ate away at you inside, unable to be apart of it. Because of your choice that you made, Tsunade reveling you the duty. Giving you another tasked instead, to be an attendant to the woman Kurenai Yuhi. A single mother of a infant girl. It was you current and permanent mission for the time being till Tsunade felt fit to allow you back on the team.
It felt so degrading, you didn't like it. But what could you do, the Hokage made it clear that you truly band. Her word was law, just as strictly she gave your punishment, enforcing it not even two minutes after she gave it to you. All your research that you took home was taken from you. Leaving you with nothing at all, she even forbid Sakura and Ino from telling you anything about what was happening in the lab. And if you where found near the building or trying to enter it, she told you in a threatening tone. You would regret it dearly.
So all you could do was comply with what she said, giving the building one last look and hurry off to meet with Kurenai and her daughter. A mission that Hinata and Shikamaru suggested to Tsunade agreed to. Hinata herself told you the day you where taken off the team, she did suggest that to Tsunade after being caught when she was trying to go after you. Expressing her apologizes for causing you such grief. Even though she tired to explain her reasoning why she did it, because she was worried greatly about you.
Though you assured her, you held no ill will towards her. Hinata still seem unsure, feeling guilty for doing what she did. Even if she knew it was right, thankful to her, for allowing you take housing on her family's compound which she assured it was alright. Her family was fairly large, all of them having the same colored eyes, like her and Neji. She had you stay not far from her room, also introducing to her personal assistant Ao, who if she was not around you could to him and he would help you. Even if you didn't need his help, he would come and check up on you anyway just to see.
Always telling you, because it was for Lady Hinata. Evening waiting for you to return back to the family compound at times. Leaving on the Hyuga compound, was different compared to living back home in New York and from the living in Sunagkaure. The air there seem a calm yet stiff and unbreathable. Seeming quiet the opposite of you and surprisingly Hinata. Still, there was no reason to complain about it. She gave you a place to stay and regain your strength, to think of the negative of her family's home would be dishonorable.
The best thing, was to make the best of it. Even if mostly those living there seem to not know of your presence if they did know it. The main thing you seem to do was stay in your room mostly, when you came back from Kurenai's. At times Hinata would come by if she was not busy training and offer you company. The two of you would sit out on the porch to talk into the late evening or she would invite you to watch her train with Neji. Which you have a few times, the style in which they use for fighting was quite interesting to you. Something that made you wonder if Master Splinter knew such a fighting style.
Clearly between the two cousins, Neji clearly was the superior one of the two. He clearly did not ease up on Hinata when it came to their sparing, and it seem Hinata did not want him to. Yet, Neji would not cross the line of harming her. Hinata's fighting was pretty solid and flexible. Compared to Neji's, straight, strong and proficient. Each of them seem to have their own style of fighting.
And after fighting, Hinata would join you on the porch and a few times include Neji to join the two of you. Which at times Neji would or not, having something to do. So it would end up being you and Hinata. That was how it mainly went.
Finally you reached Kurenai's place, stopping at her closed door. You knock announcing your arrival. Hearing approaching, listening as the door handle turns and she opens it.
She greets you like always, with a warm kind smile."Good morning, May."she steps to the side."Please, come in."
In Sunakagure, Natsuki casually walked down the streets. With a smug rough scowl look on her face, that seem to be a permit look she always had. Her stride, was intimidating and powering, she couldn't help but ravish in the way many seem to tremble from her look. Power, how she loved it. A sadistic smirk etched across her lips.
Without May being here really keep her in line. She pretty much could do as she pleased and looked as she pleased. Just to get a laugh, she would snarl like a animal at children, just to see them cry. Bringing a twisted sense of delight to her, even if she was just joking. Though her favorite victim was none other than, Kaito.
That boy, was her punching bag. In a manner of speaking, she enjoyed the way he was easily frighten by her. There was obviously a mutual dislike with the two of them. Kaito, had a habit of looking at her with weary distrusting eyes. Always on guard for her next sudden attack or prank she wanted to pull with him.
A pleasing and pleasurable sigh escapes her lips, just thinking about it made her want to do it. But, that would have to wait, she had other pressing matters to do. Looking up, finding herself where she needed to be. Picking up her feet she goes up the steps. She makes her way into the building, there where a couple of shinobis there, but none seem to notice her. Not because they didn't see her, because of skill in being stealthy. She managed to make her way to the stairs that lead to the top.
Snickering, she comments on how much a loser they all were. It took a few flights of stairs before she finally reached were she needed to go, stopping when she noticed some else there to her surprise.
Kaito.
The young boy was sitting down, holding Onyx in his arms, petting the bird soothingly. He looked like he was talking to it. The bird, she was about to say something cruel in a playfully way. Stopping when noticed the tearful gloomy look in his eyes. His eyes looked tired, and heavy. He looked tired, like he hadn't slept in some time.
It was clear something was bothering him. She knew, it would be easy to make him suffer. But, she did have some sense of morals. Sighing to herself she discards her plan. Hearing her sigh, made the boy look up. He spots her surprised to see her standing just a few inches before him, he didn't sense her at all.
His green eyes look up at her, while her eyes stare back bland yet humble. With no ill intentions.
This surprised him, it remained silent between the two of them. Neither one of them seem to speak, Onyx feeling the sudden shift looks up at them both.
"...Are you here to see the Kazekage?"Kaito speaks up lowly.
Natsuki rolls her eyes, in a matter of fact way."That's my business, not yours."she snaps at him. She looks passed him at the closed door."He isn't in, I'm guessing."
Kaito shakes his head."No, he's not. I was told...he was in a meeting again. So, it might take some time." Natsuki, slides her eyes quickly to the closed door behind the boy."Are you here, to asks about May?"The question he asked so innocently, made her head snap back to him. Her eyes widen, then quickly become hard and snarling."I am."he confesses to her, looking at the door."She's been gone for so long, I know she's been sending me money to help me..."he pets Onyx gently."It's nice of her, but I would like her back. I could use her right now."his words muffled in the hawk's feathers.
Natsuki just stares at him, taking in everything about him. From what she could see and notice, it seem he was restless and lonely. It was eating away at him, making a verbal attack on him meaningless. Because it would mean nothing to her. She sighs deeply, he looks at her. She turns her back to him, sticking her hands in her pocket.
"Crying ain't going to bring her back."she bluntly tells him."She got something important to do. So, let her do it. Obviously, the Kazekage can't force her back anytime soon. So asking him is a waste of time. All ya can do is, just keep going day by day. That's what I do."
"..."Kaito listens to her words, when he noticed something."Your voice, it's not sharp or hard."He smiles at her."Thank you."
Natsuki turns around to him, about to say something. But stops, looking at his smile. A smile she knew, meant he had not smiled in so long and he greatly was thankful for it. Sighing tiredly, she turns around giving him the cold shoulder. Waving nonchalantly to him.
"Whatever."she tells him, walking away down the steps.
The young girl makes her way out of the building, and heads back home. The empty home, that has been vacant besides herself. On her way there her mind began to wonder about many things. Though mainly her time back in Amekagure, the rough life she had after 'that' happened. Just thinking about it made her shiver and have a sudden daymare. She could still hear the screams and agony yells echo in her mind.
She never understood why what happened to her, happened. And how 'they' could do that to her. But hey, because of that she learned a lesson, a very important one.
Anyone could turn on you, even those closest to you. Her brow darkens, from those dark memories. She could feel herself becoming filled with anger and rage, balling up her fist. Flashes of those times overwhelmed her conscious, that she started to see red more than anything. Her muscles became heated with raw anger and power. Hot tears started to form, but she refused to allow them to fall. Balling her fist more, she pushes off and hurries home as fast as she could.
Each stride, left an imprint in the sand. Some how she managed to avoid running into anyone. While those dark memories haunted her like endless storm clouds that did not disperse. Just like back in the village...
Like a raging bull, she charged breathing heavily. Why did 'they' do that to her? Why, what did she ever do? It hurt just thinking about it, because of what 'they' did. Kindness was dead inside her, she believed it to be gone. It was now foreign to her...or so she thought it was. Hearing something that snapped her out of her blinded anger, only to add more.
The trouble girl hears those cruel snickers, stopping quickly. Her eyes turn to those who dare laugh like that, and talk with such harsh words. Tightening her fist more, she didn't know were it came from, but next thing she was standing over the body of a girl much older than her. A teen girl, with deep brown hair and fair skin now knocked out beneath her. With a large deep abrasion on her cheek. Hearing horrific gasps, Natsuki realized what she did, looking to her balled up fist that had the girl's blood on her knuckles.
She herself gasped, surprised and horrified. Those around look at her frighten and upset, slowly Natsuki backs away her heart already racing like a horse. Darts away quickly. Back home, were it was safe.
Speed she was grateful to have on her side. Reaching the apartment, she burst the door open and slams it shut locking it. Pressing her back up against it, bringing her knees up, burring her face deeply into them. Gripping them tightly with her fingers, digging her nails hard into the skin. She starts to rock herself back and forth, back and forth.
"It doesn't hurt. It doesn't hurt."she tells herself over and over again. Her eyes tighten more."It doesn't hurt."
There she sat alone, by herself...with no one. It felt so cold in this warm village all of sudden, it use to be warm here. She didn't know what it was that was aching inside her, scratch, she knew. But would never dare to admit it, even if...Kaito was right.
A knock came to the door. She jolts up, scrambling away from the door. The knock came again, she stayed quiet except her fast pacing heart. Swallowing hard, trying to slow down the beating, that surely gave her away. The knock came again, this time a bit more firmer. This time a voice followed behind it.
"Natsuki."she hears Gaara's voice behind the door outside.
Crap! She was in trouble now. The Kazekage was at the door now, no doubt from what happen to that girl she beat down, but in her defense she had it coming. Saying such things, still she could hear May's voice telling her nor reminding her to behave. She also heard her faint voice telling her to not react, which she did anyway, which now landed her in trouble no doubt.
Gaara calls for her again, his voice a bit more sterner, the doorknob starts to jiggle a bit. Good, she locked it. Sighing in relief fanning herself with her hand, he couldn't get in. The jiggling had stopped as well, if she stayed in for the next couple of days. At least maybe three, yeah she had enough food for that. Things would die down, and maybe he would forget about it. She had enough food for that.
Yep, she would do that. That was the plan, satisfied she turns around, coming face first into someone. Surprised by this she looks up to her terror and fear to find standing over her and looking down at her. Calmly, yet steely. Her pale silverish eyes stare up wide at the Kazekage.
Everything was quiet and still between them both, quickly Natsuki masked her own surprise. Giving Gaara a disrespectful cynical look."You know, breaking an entry it consider rude."she spits at him, crossing her arms.
Gaara could clearly see she was trying to act a certain way. He watches her go around him, towards the kitchen."Natsuki."even the way he said her name, gave her goosebumps. No doubt he was upset at her, even if didn't seem like it from the way his monotone voice. Almost made her freeze, but she pushed through. Seeing she was not going to stop, he walks over to her. She absently digs through the cabinets like he wasn't there."I was informed..."here it came, she stuffs something in her mouth, crunching hard on it to block out what he trying to tell her.
Gaara's eye slightly drops from her disrespectful attitude, but kept himself calm. He wondered how May manged to live with someone like her. Clearly, May was more patient and more welcoming than him.
He continued."...Told you wanted to see me. Kaito informed me."
Natsuki stops herself from crunching down on the cracker in her mouth, this was not what she was expecting from him. Not at all, no. Slowly she comes out of the cabinet, turning to look at him fully. He looks back at her, waiting.
Guilt quickly flashed in her eyes, but she hid it well. Crossing her arms, with a mocking expression upon her. She flips her hair rudely."That little boy can't ever keep his mouth shut."she spats."Yeah, so what of it?"
"Did you need something?"
"...If I did, than I would have stayed. Like that baby, he's such a maggot."she snickers at her insult upon Kaito."But, if ya want to know. Ya so I came by, is it a crime?"
"..."Gaara looks at her, his eyes do a quick swept around May's apartment, falling back to Natsuki."No."
Natsuki scoffs."Alright then, so guess you came here for nothing then. Ya can leave."she shoos him away rudely.
Yet again, Gaara bits his tongue with her."..." Without another word he takes his leave, walking to the door. Stopping before he touched the knob."I can't bring May back home, just yet. She's safe and doing well in Konoha."he slips out something, placing it by the door."...I'm sorry this doesn't fill like a home." With those last words, he opens the door and leaves.
Leaving the poor girl speechless, and in shock. Paying no mind to the shutting door, did Gaara just...did he just see straight through everything? Or was it Kaito who rated her out? What just happen, something felt like it was tugging on her heart, causing her pain yet this pain wasn't anger. No, it was something else that was warm and sorrowful.
Thinking about it, till she noticed what Gaara left by the door. Walking over to it, she picks it up. There was two things, one an envelope addressed to her from Konohagakure and a small stack of empty envelopes addressed to Konohagakure.
Looking at them both, much to her surprise. She walks over to the couch, placing the stack of envelopes upon the coffee table. Holding the one addressed to her in her hand, just staring at it. Unsure whether to open it or not. Her free hand hoovering over it, while her mind contemplated to open it or not. Choosing not to, her hand had a mind of its own. It opens the closed envelope, pulling out the nicely folded paper. Unfolding it, she begins to read...
Dear Natsuki...