Aka Koi

That Hateful Look

Janghoon landed with a light thud in his home village. All the time he spent traveling, he never found a place quite like Konoha. To him, nothing could truly compare. His missed this place. His heart had ached for it while he traveled. A small burden was lifted as he breathed in the air before remembering his sensei's last words to him. He needed to go back to Konoha . . . something huge was going to be happening when he did. His eyes scanned over the ninja village before he began to blend back into the crowds. He glanced around, hoping to see a certain face. He had missed it for the longest times. However, he only ended up lost. Sound-nin. His skin crawled as memories of the battles in Konoha came back to him. They were everywhere. It sent chills up his spine. So much like when they first attacked Konoha . . . in the beginning of that horrible war. They would be rude to leaf-nin and no one seemed to care. Anger boiled and confusion ebbed away at his thoughts. He bit down on his lip, remembering the lessons Setsuko had taught him. Don't draw attention to yourself. Blend in as much as you can without using Henge, that way, if you're caught, they won't know you're a ninja or your skill level. Suddenly, a metallic taste entered his mouth from the liquid seeping from his lip. Janghoon reached up and wiped away the copper liquid. Janghoon shook his head, trying to rid his sorrow. All those lessons. There was so much more she didn't teach him. She left, saying that he needed to gain them on his own. Janghoon skillfully hid his talent and still remained unnoticed. It was a good lesson she had taught him. He forgot how many times that he had the advantage in a fight because people didn't realize he was a ninja. Or a skilled one at that. He would stop momentarily to hear some local gossip, none of it explaining why the sound were there. He fought away his frustration. He had to blend in. It was the only way to figure out what the heck was going on. To his relief, the boring gossip broke.

"What did you say bitch?!" It seemed as though there would be a fight. There must have been a response. The crowd had gasped in shock from something and it wasn't from the man yelling. No, they had waited a few more seconds before responding. The crowd grew silent, letting Janghoon hear the conversation, recognizing a voice.

"Tell me, why has the leaf bowed to the slime that has evolved into the sound-nin?" Janghoon was curious as to that.

"Listen you little whore, the Hokage Orochimaru-sama will kill ya! Now, tell us yer name!" Janghoon felt his confusion peak at that. How could that ever happen? Tsunade-sama was Hokage. A crazed laughed filled the air, cutting his thoughts short. Janghoon remembered hearing Orochimaru's laugh before. It didn't terrify him as much as this one did. He knew what was coming. Enough time around her had taught him those many moods from hell. Janghoon slowly backed up.

"Well, well, well. It seems that vile creatures dare to stay in the light now. I remember when I last saw him, does he still look like that? Or perhaps now people can stand the sight of him?" Janghoon mentally nodded to himself. He knew those hidden messages. Go find out what is up with everyone and get your but back to when we last saw him in Konoha! He slowly moved away from the crowd to begin the needed eavesdropping. But he stopped short when he saw Kakashi push his way to the front. It shocked him to see Kurenai standing with him, holding his arm.

"Who are you?" Kakashi demanded, hate filling his visible eye. The crowd had begun whispering again and Janghoon missed the response but he heard everyone's reactions.

"That certifiable manic?! No, it can't be!" A sound-nin shouted, somewhat scared.

"I thought that crazed freak was dead!" Was another response.

"I can't believe it! Someone get Orochimaru-sama! He'll stop that psycho!"

"I don't think the gods themselves could!" Janghoon had flinched at every insult the people threw. He knew what would happen. All that rage would be pounded out on them.

"Run! Natural disasters follow that monster!!!" Janghoon jumped away as he saw the head of someone fall to the ground. Well, he knew something was bad when she laughed like that. Janghoon disappeared into the shadows.


Janghoon sat up in a tree, trying to stay out of the mud. The wind had brought in some storms, blanketing the village with water. His mind briefly thought over the news he gathered, causing a sorrow to course through him. He shook his head to try and rid himself of the pain. It didn't work. The man leaned back against the tree as he forced his mind to wander elsewhere. Tears did no good. She taught him that. Tears can't bring people back. They can't stop bad things from happening. They were useless. And those that spend their time crying are useless. The soft breeze alerted him to a familiar presence. He pushed himself off the tree and landed without a sound.

"You'll never catch me off guard like that." He smirked and looked over at her. It was only three months since he last saw her and she hadn't changed from his last memory. While his clothes remained the same fore the most part, she had completely changed her clothes, looking almost like an Amazon princess from Greek mythology. Her dark brown buckle up boots only went half way to her knees. Tucked into the boots were slightly baggy dirty plum pants with a short skirt over that. The dark brown skirt seemed more like it was wrapped around her to give her more room to move and barely reached her finger tips. The belt was brown and had a gray buckle with the kanji wind or 'kaze', etched into it. She wore a button up corset like top. It was tan and hugged her body perfectly before it was covered up by her skirt and belt. Two short straps held her shirt over her chest, alittle high. On the right they connected at one spot and then they went off at an angle. There was a short chained net sleeve on her right. Her right elbow was covered by a black elbow pad and her right hand had a ninja glove on it. Her left arm had a detached light tan long sleeve that seemed almost too big. She had used black leather straps to wrap around it, criss-crossing in some spots, to keep it there. She had tied them at her wrist, so just alittle bit of fabric was left free and rested on the back of her hand. The headband was in its proper place on her forehead. Her long dark hair tumbled over the headband and reached passed her shoulders. A black choker wrapped around her neck. She moved her crimson lips as she spoke to him.She had completely changed her clothes. Her dark brown buckle up boots only went half way to her knees. Tucked into the boots were slightly baggy dirty plum pants with a short skirt over that. The dark brown skirt seemed more like it was wrapped around her to give her more room to move and barely reached her finger tips. The belt was brown and had a gray buckle with the kanji wind or 'kaze', etched into it. She wore a button up corset like top. It was tan and hugged her body perfectly before it was covered up by her skirt and belt. Two short straps held her shirt over her chest, alittle high. On the right they connected at one spot and then they went off at an angle. There was a short chained net sleeve on her right. Her lower right was covered by a black leather arm band, thick enough to stop light injuries. Her left arm had a detached light tan long sleeve that seemed almost too big. She had used black leather straps to wrap around it, criss-crossing in some spots, to keep it there. She had tied them at her wrist, so just alittle bit of fabric was left free and rested on the back of her hand. The headband was in its proper place on her forehead. Her long dark hair tumbled over the headband and reached passed her shoulders. A black choker wrapped around her neck. She moved her crimson lips as she spoke to him. "What did you find?" His expression startled her. Grief was written all over it. "Janghoon?"

". . . they . . . they can't remember." She raised an eyebrow.

". . . Janghoon . . . what do you mean?"

"Everyone we knew . . . they can't remember." She was quite before trying to calm him.

"Janghoon, it has been three years." Janghoon looked up at her suddenly. Tears flew from his eyes.

"Setsuko-sensei! Didn't you find it odd that Kakashi-san didn't know you?!" He shook his head in disbelief before looking at the ground. Setsuko looked at Janghoon. His wide eyes stared at the ground as Setsuko placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. The forest seemed darker at that moment as the two fought through their horror and disbelief.

". . . Janghoon . . . I know this is painful . . ." She bit her lip in confusion. How could this happen? Her mind was a mess as she tried to come up with answers.

". . . Setsuko-sensei . . . what has happen to them?" He looked up into her eyes while voicing her thoughts. Tears overflowed and ran down his cheeks.

"I . . . I do not know . . ." She herself fought back tears. Those horrible moments flashed through her mind. His disgust. Anger. Hatred. Then that simple gesture that she shared with him. It nearly killed her. It torn her insides to shreds within the instant it happened. The leaves rustled, causing the two to swing toward them, both dropping into their respective fighting stances. Naruto landed in front of them with a kunai drawn. "No." She whispered in horror as her cousin came towards them.