Author's Note:
Before you begin reading the next chapter, I would just like to say something so you won't get confused. A few months have passed in the story; therefore, the characters are a little older. I didn't want anyone to think that the next chapter just happened the day after the last chapter.
Once again, thank you for the reviews. The more reviews I get, the more it motivates me to type up chapters quicker (doesn't it with everyone?). I'm having so much fun with this story because I've got so many ideas floating through my head on what to do next with it. I just hope I can make the end turn out as well as the beginning.
Anyways, I'll let you get on with the next chapter. I hope you enjoy!
Chapter 19:
"Come on, Raxiel! You will not drown!"
The sunlight that hit her face was making Raxiel sweat even more than she already was. The water that was so tempting for Raxiel to dive into was making loud splashing noises as Iruka was swimming in it.
It seemed pleasing…
"But, Iruka, you don't understand! I haven't "swam" in at least five years, and I certainly cannot tread water for as long as you say," Raxiel said persistently. Sure, she trusted Iruka since they had been working together for the past four months. They had been working on getting Raxiel ready to pass the Chunin Exam (which Iruka was working on to give Raxiel her own personal exam from the Hokage). So far, she had passed every course that Iruka gave her with flying colors, but since she didn't know how to tread water for ten minutes, this was the one exercise that they had been working on the most. Raxiel had to admit that Iruka had been a great teacher all the way through her training from just a student up to a Genin.
But treading water…
That was a different story.
Standing up straight from swimming in the water, Iruka finally glanced at her. "Last time we did this, you were at seven minutes," he encouragingly said.
Raxiel choked. "Yes, and last time we did this, I almost drowned. Do you not think I wouldn't remember that?"
Iruka sighed. "Raxiel, there's nothing to be worried about. Last time, I was out of the water, and this time, I'll be in the water beside you. Come on; you've got nothing to lose."
Raxiel sighed. She knew he was right, and she had no other choice but to go through with it.
Failure was not an option to her…
Iruka smiled pleasantly as he saw her step precariously into the cold yet pleasant water. Shivers went up her spine as Raxiel felt the cold water in contact with her skin.
"Alright, now just step into the deep end of the spring, and I can start timing you. If you feel like you can't do it any longer, just tell me, and I'll stop timing."
Raxiel nodded in understanding.
She knew this wasn't going to go well…
Thoughts began to fill her head as she stepped off into the deep end of the spring…
Their spring, his and hers…
It had been four long months since she had seen him. Knowing that something was wrong, she really had the urge to ask someone… anyone how to get to Sunagakure, but every time she tried, her confidence was lost. She had heard a few weeks after he had left that a massive war had started, and now she had heard that it was just about finished…
But he hadn't even sent her a letter.
He hadn't told her if he was still alive or not.
"What if he doesn't even remember me?" she thought. The depressing thoughts of him and her falling apart began to enter her mind…
That's when she heard it…
Iruka's voice…
"That's five minutes, Raxiel! Half way done!"
With her eyes closed and her mind wandering off, she had fallen into her own world…
"Where is he? What if he's… dead?"
Until something hit her…
Something painful…
"Stomach cramp!" she thought as she jerked her legs forwards, making her body sink down into the water. Her arms encircled her stomach, hoping to soothe her pain from the cramp, and quickly she realized she couldn't breathe.
Especially since she was under water…
Just then, two strong arms encircled her waist, pulling her towards the shallow side of the spring. Her head rose above the water, making it "easier" for her to breathe. As she started to gasp for air, she finally remembered whose arms had caught her just in time.
"You okay? Take it easy."
Her eyes finally opened, looking upwards to see Iruka's eyes that were gazing at her with concernment. She had only seen them with that much concernment twice. Once, when she was deathly sick about two months ago and he came to see her, and the other time, was here, last week, when the same thing happened.
Iruka and her had become closer friends due to her training with him almost every day. They had grown a personal bond together, and Raxiel was grateful for him to allow her to hang around with him and train. His friendly attitude had caused Raxiel to sometimes forget the memories of Gaara, making her less anxious.
Sometimes…
Raxiel started to cough up more water. The cramp was almost gone, but she knew she'd be very weak for the rest of the evening.
"Darn it! I hate swimming!" Raxiel thought to herself, her mind now beginning to snap back to reality. She suddenly noticed that her hands were gripping Iruka's arms harshly. She swiftly let go of them, thinking the water was shallow enough for her short figure compared to Iruka's to rest her feet on the bottom.
Of course, she thought wrong…
"Whoa! Whoa! The water isn't that shallow. Just hold onto me."
Raxiel noticed his hands gripping her arms. With her mind now back on reality, she finally popped the question. "Iruka, how long did I stay out there?"
Iruka smiled. "Ten minutes exact. Congratulations! You're ready for the final test. Pass it, and you will become a Chunin."
Raxiel soon had a smile on her face, as well. "Just one more test," she thought, now feeling her body wanting to cough again, and she allowed it.
"Stand on my feet. It'll give you something to stand on," Iruka said kindly, and gratefully, Raxiel did.
But suddenly, Raxiel wasn't so comfortable anymore…
Raxiel looked up at Iruka to see that he was already staring at her peacefully, their bodies, way too close for Raxiel's personal space. And she noticed that Iruka's eyes were different.
"Is that… lust I see in his eyes?" she thought, somewhat shocked by what she had just thought. She knew Iruka, and she knew him well enough to know that he was a nice, polite guy. She was sure he wouldn't have… -
Suddenly, she felt something…
Something soft…
Before she knew it, Iruka's lips were pressed softly against hers...
…!
Raxiel's eyes widened with shock. "What the heck is he doing!" she thought. Sure, she and Iruka were close friends…
But this close…?
What Raxiel thought was only a friendship was soon turning into something complicating…
And it didn't feel right.
"It's got to be a mistake!" she thought, trying to calm herself down.
But soon what she thought was a mistake he'd made turned out to be the exact opposite…
Raxiel could feel his tongue brushing against her bottom lip, asking for an entrance.
And it was then that Raxiel knew she had to get away…
Far, far away…
Swiftly, her arms pushed downwards, releasing her from his grasp and pulling her under water.
And she swam…
She swam away from him.
Finally getting to the shallow end, she came up and turned to face him. "What was that?" Raxiel said loudly.
Iruka gave her a hesitant gaze. "Raxiel, I –"
"No, I don't want to know. I'm going now," she said, knowing that tears were swelling up in her eyes and not wanting him to see them.
"Raxiel –"
She'd seen and heard enough from him.
With the hotel in sight from her running a half-mile, she quickly went inside and charged into her room.
No looking back…
Red…
Hurt…
