Chapter 2

"Da Jie!" (Big sister in mandarin)

A pair of scrawny arms wrapped themselves around me and grabbed tight, lifting my upper body up to the air in the process. After initial pain passed, I suddenly realized that the pair of arms belonged to familiar figure going by the name, Genious.

"Ahh! I was soo scared! I thought you were going to die and I was going to be left alone in this weird place!"

Strangulation was starting to take place. Man, I swear, for someone with such scrawny arms, I would never have expect that there was enough muscles to even strangle a regular chicken but here she was, suffocating the last breath out of me.

"Coughs! Girl...coughs!...chokes!..." My feeble attempts were barely getting to her. Her hold coupled by pure relief was only empowering her with greater strength and I was not one to be befitting from it.

"Hmm? Did you say something?"

"Let...go..."

"Erm da jie, you're going to have to speak up. I can't hear you."

The daft one does not hear my plea for some air. I could feel my face changing its shade to an unhealthy colour and in my desperation, raised fingers and started to point at the random parts that indicated her monstrous strength was killing me.

She saw.

She realised.

She dropped body that is half-broken with injuries into the sand.

Person then landed cursing and swearing in one breath all the profanities that she ever heard or learnt in all her life.

Person lay gasping for breath and slowly (in pain) regains normal breathing capacities. Shit hell, it hurt a lot. Not so much from the actual landing from a height of 2 feet but more from the fact that I landed after sustaining bad cuts to the sides of my abdomen, legs and arms. Open flesh wounds that now have sand ingrained in them now - and freak, it hurt. Groaning, I touched my ribs and could feel that they are most likely cracked. The sprained ankle that I knew from my fight earlier was now stiff.

"You know, normal people don't go round strangling casualties. You nearly confirmed a one-way ticket to the other side for me." I said after spitting out some of the fine granules out of my mouth.

"Sorry….."

"Gah….. if you were one of my privates, I would have issued you with zero off-days for at least 6 months and guard duties on weekends.,"

"Wah… Is there a need to be so harsh? All I did was to hug you."

"Almost to death….."

I sighed and tried to pretend that I was fine but I was not. You see, basically, my state had worsened due to a dreaded knowledge of dehydration that was setting in alongside with the climbing height of the sun that was hanging upon a cloudless sky. Genious, my girl, confirmed that there no signs of civilisation nearby, save for now a pair of walking dark figures that were coming towards us.

At first, I took them for a mirage. You know, counting in the wounds, I thought that a temperature had set in me because of the number of factors. But the crunching of the soft sand beneath their feet echoed to my ears. Nope, I was not imagining things. First that came to my head was that we were on unfamiliar grounds and were seriously in trouble. I mean for me, being trained in the military meant that I fear not death but torture. But worry arose in me because Genious was not used to such things, my bad, I never discussed the nature of my job at home. And so she was much unprepared to expect what to happen. Analysing the situation, even if she did run, where was she suppose to run to? The terrains were all sand and no sign of greens are visible. Besides, there would stir up more problems and fast-forward my expiry-date.

I am not a mushy person. In fact, I am not even a touchy-sort of person. But I do really love my family lots. Against all the training and logically thinking that is running through my brain, my concerns only lay in her safety. I really do not wish her to suffer and indefinitely, do not want her hurt in any manner. And so, I pulled myself up and dragged her behind me. It's better if I do the talking and maybe, somewhere in my tired mind, a plan will spring up and things might get better. Seriously, I doubt it. Chances of negative outcome: 96.23456789765 percent. Shit.

"Don't panic. I'll protect you." I whispered.

"But you're in no shape-"

"Do you trust me?"

"Yes, of course! But-"

"Just do that. I am your da jie after all."

She looked at me through those reflective lenses. Her fears evident but her determination and trust were keeping her calm. I smiled before pulling out my Katana out to defend us.

All right, I know that it is 2052 AD and yes, the uses of traditional weapons are indeed rare in my time. In fact, I am one of the few that carry an outdated weapon of this sort. I got it from a guy who owned a sushi shop near one of camps in the old country called Japan. I am Asian but more of a Chinese descent rather than a Japanese one. In fact, both Genious and I are of Chinese descent, just that our bloodlines are not that pure. I digress but yeah, I happened to be craving for some hot food on a cold winter's day when I passed into this really aged and dilapidated restaurant in one of the alleys.

FLASHBACK

It was cramp, dirty and unpleasantly damp. And it had to be the only one open in the late afternoon. The rest of them were enjoying siestas, leaving me with no choice at all. I was a hungry sixteen year old, so of course I went in. Stomach rules and I was still a growing girl who needed her nutrients. The owner of the shop was an old grouchy man, fit and tall. At least that was the impression until I noticed that the tummy stood out and spilled over his pants. He and a petite lady greeted me as I took my place as sole customer at the sushi bar (fresh edible raw fish is rare and therefore expensive, so the counter's more for show than anything else since no one can afford it).

"So what do you want?"

I glanced at the worn out menu board behind his hedge of white hair. He only served chicken and egg in a rice bowl and tea.

"Oyako-don and Ochar, thanks." Putting in my bit of respect for the culture by at least ordering the food in the way the locals do.

A curt nod before he yelled the order to the kitchen. He continued to slice cucumbers into thin strips. In my boredom, I watch the shiny steel see-saw its way and cut the vegetable into the desired length and diameter.

Chop. Chop. Chop.

"Poser."

"Excuse-me?"

"I said 'Poser'."

I eyed the old man suspiciously. What's his problem?

"Young kids these days all want to act and pretend to be someone you are not and will never be."

I kept quiet. I wanted my food so I didn't want to argue.

"Kids these days are gutless. They don't even have the guts to talk back to me."

"And to what benefit does that bring me even if I did?"

"At least I can stop talking to a wall of useless filth."

I felt my blood boil.

"But it wouldn't kill you if I didn't, right?"

Now he eyed me with his lovely shiny steel pointing in my face.

"Kids these days are so rude! What happened to education and cultural upbringing? Did your parents teach you nothing?"

"They didn't. They died before I turned one."

He placed his knife down.

"So you think you're so pitiful because they weren't there?"

What's his problem? I swore he was looking for a fight. Maybe he was mental. Maybe I won't get my meal after all. My patience was at its limits. With that, I slipped off the stool and proceeded to head out of the shop. To heck with the food, at the least all that would happen is that I develop stomach ulcers or something.

Twang!

And my head turned to the left to see that a knife was stuck to the board that was a mere 2 inches from my face. Man, he is definitely mental!

"So rude! Here I am talking to you and you go turning your back towards me."

Rude! Is he out of his frigging mind?

Taking in a deep breath, I pulled out his kitchen knife and walked back to the counter. Squaring off, I looked straight into his eyes.

"What are you driving at? What is it about me that seem to be ticking you off so much that you actually threw the knife?"

"I don't like you. The knife was intended for your neck; the wind blew it off course and made me miss."

My eyes widened in disbelief. Old man is so childish!

"Old man!" The petite woman came running in her wooden clogs up to the old man.

"Stay out of this. I need to teach his kid a lesson!"

"No! You stop it! The last time a younger customer came in, you nearly killed him!"

Sweat drops ran down the back of my head and temples. I really don't think I want to know what happened and so I placed the knife back on the counter and tried to head out the place. Tried. Another knife clipped part of my hair before embedding itself into the soft wooden material of the pillar where I was standing.

Right!

"Old man, what is your problem! Will you only be satisfied when I'm dead or something?"

The woman tried to pacify the situation.

"So sorry. He's a little unstable in the mental department. He doesn't really mean you harm. He's just trying to-"

"Step behind kid. One on one. We settle it now."

"Ok."

I so felt the regret set in immediately after the words left my mouth. And oh man, did I regret it when I was lying on the ground behind his shop with the steel knife again, pointing at my face.

Die.

"I like you. You got spirit."

And with his bear-like arms, he pulled me up to stand. I stood there clueless as to what was happening. I was confused.

"What?"

"Even though you lack coordination, technique and strength, you got agility and wit. Good stuff. I like."

I really was confused and the woman sensed it.

"He deliberately insulted you earlier to test your character. No harm was really intended. It's just his way of testing someone of his or her abilities."

Huh?

"You tried to kill me and provoke my anger just to test me? For what frigging reason?"

"Watch your language. I was looking for someone to give a present to."

The wall looked tempting. I felt like ramming my head against it if it could clear up with what was happening.

"Present?" I went along. What else did I stand to lose?

"Yes. You get present." He had a weird way of speaking.

"I don't want it. I'm hungry and am expected home already."

"No, you will get present. But not now."

What?

"Not now?"

"Not now."

"Argh. Fine, whatever. I'm heading back."

"You come here starting from tomorrow morning."

I raised an eyebrow.

"You must train and improve. Then you get present."

Instrumental conditioning is not working for his guy. As if I was going to come to his frigging place and 'train'.

"If you don't come, I'll kill you."

And he smiled. Somehow the smile looked scarier than the knives he thrown and the techniques he used which almost broke bones and other stuff in the fight we just had.

And so I came. For the next 2 years, alongside with complains and lots of threat, he finally gave me the present. It turned out to be some heirloom thing and that he had been waiting for the right person who would take care of it to come through the doors. This also explained the psychotic need to slice every single person that walked the doors and the insane training that he put me through that included meditation. His kids had apparently died in one of the wars and that's why his insecurity drove him to dedicate the rest of the time to find another person he could really trust the Katana to.

He chose me.

END OF FLASHBLACK

The Katana design was unique. It was first of all longer than I ought to be handling. I am about 170 metres and the thing is around 150+ cm. A little too long really but anyway, what I really like is the intricate details that it has from the single feather engraving on the hilt to the old Japanese words that were carved on the blade itself.

Straight as this blade is the way and honour that never falters

Cool stuff. I have grown to like it really. And since it was the old man's dying wish that I took it, I decided that the least I could do was to take care of it.

It has served me well especially with my job and now too. Though I feel bad if it was to become buried with me, I am really not sure if I can survive this. Both figures had reached us and they were both donned with dark cloaks with red clouds. I recognised one of them.

"What do you want now?"

"Only one of you."

Somehow I get the feeling I'm not the attractive one that they are digging.

"Why?"

"Do I really need to answer you?" The one I was talking to looked at us with his deep crimson eyes that sent chills down my spine. Not the good type.

"Hey! He's good-looking!"

My eyes rolled.

"What? Girl, we are like not in the best situation and all you noticed is that he's good-looking?"

"Ooh! You noticed too?"

The thought of using the Katana on her was proving to be very tempting indeed.

"Now how do we find out who is the one with the advanced bloodline?" The one that resembled a shark started talking for the first time.

Advanced bloodline? What rubbish is he spurting now?

"Let's torture the injured one and find out. Maybe some provocation is needed." And the blue-ish skin one shifted his really big wrapped up whatever it is thing he was wielding. Yeeps. It looked seriously intimidating.

He let it fall downwards with the tip of the huge thing pointing directly at us. Somehow I startiing to feel really tired. Drained.

"So you feel it eh? My big blade, Samehada, eats chakra from people. Itachi-san, I might accidentally kill one."

"Be careful. After all it was only because I couldn't identify the one girl that both were brought here." The really creepy eyed-one said. Heck, they were looked weird. One looked like a human-shark hybrid and the other with long tied up hair sounds psychotic. Both were wearing weird clothing with scratched metal tags on their heads.

On the other hand, I was still in black combat clothes – consisting of button up shirt, cargo pants and boots while Genious was in her working clothes of a gypsy skirt and black camisole. Aside from clothes, the two of us looked similar. We were both on the tall side, of slim built with shoulder length dark hair that was tied up and tanned complexion. Main difference was the spectacles that Genious wore.

I got knocked down into the sand with some of my skin shaved off from a struggled that followed the direct confrontation. Sneaky bastard! Shaving is more a torturing form rather than a direct method to kill a person.

I lay there on the ground with the sword gripped tight in my hand. The other leaned over my fallen form.

"I'm really having problems trying to pick out the one with the advanced bloodline. I do not sense much chakra from either. They are getting too drained."

I glared at the guy. For someone that could feel her consciousness slipping, I was one pissed off casualty. Genious froze when realisation hit her and now she stood standing there as the weird hybrid one held her at bay from me.

What was all the nonsense about chakras and bloodlines? Genious and I were plain ordinary people. I do not fight well and Genious can't fend for herself at all. Regarding bloodlines? We know no shit about who our parents were, let alone the genes we inherited from our predecessors.

And then the boom came.

Something exploded and smoked us. When the grey bits cleared, I came face to face with four new people. All in different heights and sizes complete with weird clothing. Interesting heroes that have come to our rescue. Whee.

"Hey you two! What are you doing to those girls?"

The blonde one yelled at the two crooks in cloaks. The red-eyed one eyed him in surprised but instead chose to speak to the oldest member of the team.

"Kakashi, you sure are an irritant. But no matter, you have brought us a nice present."

"He's not for taking."

"We'll collect another day. For now, we have other places to be."

And with the fastest reflex I have ever seen, he pressured me on the wrists to release my sword and had me swung over his shoulder while his partner grabbed Genious. They were about to go when the silver-haired one garnered close and grabbed one of my arms.

I just pray that they do not intend to do tug-of-war with me. God above, please, spare me.

They fought. Rather good really, they were doing hand to hand combat whilst I hung over the red-eyed one's shoulder. The one called Kakashi then pulled down his mask to reveal, yikes! Another red eye! (What is wrong with this world?) They continued to fight but it was easy to see that the one who shoulder me now hung like a sack upon was stronger. Somehow I attribute that to his psychoticism. He had a murderous intent I do not like one single bit.

Suddenly I felt a slight loosening in grip and I gathered all my last bit of strength to dug my knuckles into his shoulder blade and get flung onto a sandy ground. The one with the tail cursed in surprised. Since I wasn't waiting for Christmas to arrive, I got up and ran for my Katana and raced over to Genious. Much to the protest of a candy-coloured haired girl, who was trailing me and tried to pull me back.

Ignoring her, I ran and stood in front of the hybrid one.

This time, I will fight serious.

Adjusting my stance, I shut my eyes and fell into an opened pose that the old man taught. And with some concentration, soon found myself fighting more confidently and accurately moving my way through his movements. I was really doing not too bad save for the fact that I have bad stamina and the fact that my skills stood way below his made things really bad. I got shaved again. But this time, on purpose. It gave me the opportunity to now sliced at his leg. Thus opening up a good chance for escape, which (thankfully) the girl took the cue and ran from his gasp.

Of course it angered the guy. Of course, I got messed up some more. But the little pink-haired one proved to be a really good fighter. Whee. Man, did she show the guy what girl power was. Yeeps. I have to make a mental note to thank her and not to provoke her.

The guys grew annoyed and decided to go (in very simplistic terms, in truth it took a lot of fighting on the strangers' part before that happened). They left in a puff, with us now in a new set of hands.

Question: Can we trust them?

Answer: Seems like we can. Or rather we had no choice. I passed out almost immediately after and during the time I blacked out, Genious and I got were brought to yet another place.

Hidden Sand Village's hospital.

Author's note:

Hey everyone,

Hope that everyone enjoyed the chapter. Especially to you gal, I'll try and tie this up asap before the assignments are due. Cheers and see ya round!

Love,
Arte

btw - bespectacled loveable crapper: my coined term for a person who wears specs, talks crap a lot but in all still, a loveable crapper. )

Special thanks:

Smile34

Loveable-M

M

Malitia