AN: Hi peoples! Yes, it's me. Did anyone miss me? Yeah, I missed you too. I'm back in school now, and things are starting to heat up already. Good thing it can't get hotter than last year… or can it? If it does, then the world is doomed… again.
Anyways, thanks much to anyone who reviewed… let's see… did anyone review? Ooh, one person did. You can have a cookie from my school. Just to warn you, it's got crack mixed into it, so you'll be pretty addicted to it. But it's so good that you won't really care.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. If I did, I'd be rich. I'm not rich, so I don't own Naruto. At least I don't think I do… This may call for an emergency gathering of the committee inside my head… That will take a while… Please wait. And while you're waiting, you should read and review this…
Chapter 3
After the First Exam
"Tomorrow's exam is going to be pretty extreme," Jordan said as he and Niles walked back into their apartment. "That woman's crazy enough to throw us all to the wolves."
"Gee, you don't say," Niles replied sarcastically, "and here I was thinking that she was shyer than that girlfriend of yours. Hey what's her name again… Rachel, right?"
"Yeah, but she dropped me like rat," Jordan said.
"When'd that happen?" Niles asked, sitting down in one of their chairs and propping his feet on the coffee table. "You two were practically inseparable last I checked."
"It was just before we took on the assignment," Jordan explained, sitting down across from him. "She said one thing, I said another. Odd thing was that it started when she said I was too relaxed during the mission two months ago. I said she took it too seriously. We just weren't good for each other."
"You, relaxed?" Niles smirked. "Now there's a load of bull. Guess you never let her figure you out, just like the other one, Taylor. Now that's your problem, Bro. You never let them get to know you, they catch on, stop trusting you, and drop you as soon as they can find a good excuse."
"Yeah, and you should be a shrink," Jordan retorted. "I don't need to be analyzed by you, thanks."
"Sorry man," Niles raised his hands defensively. "I just call as I see. So you gonna let that new chick in a little?"
"What do you mean?" Jordan asked, throwing a puzzled look on his face. How could Niles know? He didn't even know.
"Stop playing dumb," he said. "You know who I'm talking about. Dark hair, pale eyes. You've always had a thing for the shy ones."
"Just shut up okay," Jordan waved a hand dismissively. "I'm not even sure if that's what it is. And how the hell did this go from a talk about the next exam, to one about my personal life?"
"Like I'd know," Niles laughed. "Guess that explains why you were so eager to take this job though, not mentioning this is your first real job when you're in charge. You get away from your ex, and you get to make a huge career move."
"Can we just drop it already?" Jordan asked.
"Fine, but what are we gonna talk about?"
"What else, you see what the guy in the trench-coat was talking to, aside from his finger?"
"There was a fly… but it was still pretty weird. I didn't like it."
"A guy who talks to bugs, well, that's just great. I bet they make for great company."
"Maybe. You check out that mummy?"
"No, what about him?"
"He was writing down the answers with his eyes closed. Who writes like that?"
"Like I'd know. I'm the technique guy, not the freak show expert. But I would like to know how he got that Leaf Genin to vomit like that. He didn't even touch him as far as I could tell."
"He didn't. Might have something to do with that weird gauntlet of his. Looked like swiss-cheese."
"Sound ninjas, those guys creep me like nothing else."
"Speaking of creeps," Niles said getting up, and heading for the kitchen, "you see that little red?"
"No," Jordan replied, following.
"Looks like he's from the Sand Village, works with the guy who went to take a leak," he explained pulling a bottle of soda from the refrigerator and throwing it to Jordan. "Has a big gourd on his back."
"So what about him?" Jordan asked, snapping the cap off and taking a drink.
"I managed to get a good look at him, and I wish I hadn't. Looks like we've got a killer in the group."
"You mean he's got the instinct?"
"Yep. A born killer by looks of it."
"Shit! Keep your distance from him. Last thing we need is you screwing up and getting killed."
"Fair enough."
"Catch anything else?"
"Not really, you?"
"Learned a few tricks," Jordan smirked between sips of his drink. "I think some of them were bloodlines."
"Not anymore."
"Yep. I'll have to refine them later."
"So, what's for lunch?" Niles asked, opening a bottle with a sharp crack.
"Field rations, " Jordan said, taking another sip.
"What?" Niles' face was one of shock. "C'mon, man, I'll be downin' those things for days."
"So you came to it too?" Jordan said, pulling out some of the white, tasteless cubes that they'd be eating for the next few days. "It'll be a long term thing?"
"Probably. Like you said, it'll be extreme. What's more extreme than field exercises?"
"Interrogations. But we've been through that already, I guess."
"How long should we pack for?"
"A week. I don't think it'll last any longer than that."
"Sounds good," Niles nodded his agreement. "You mind if I take along some stims?"
"I was planning to take a supply myself," Jordan said. "Just make sure not to overdose."
"Yes mother," Niles smirked. "Would you like me to polish the windows also?"
"Hmmm…" Jordan gave this serious thought. "They could use a good cleaning. You can do that after lunch. Now down the cube."
"I was joking y'know," Niles grumbled as he popped the ration into his mouth…
Meditation is the centering of ones self. To meditate, one must clear ones mind of all stray thoughts, and then focus on one thing. A petal of a flower, the sound of a person's voice, even ones own breathing. Anything can be chosen for the exercise.
But there is more to it than just focusing on one thing. Meditation also forces one to acknowledge the distractions that invade on ones focus, and then simply brush them aside after they have been acknowledged. This can be exceedingly difficult after long periods of time, but without the distractions, there is no challenge.
Inward meditation is something different. It starts the same way, clearing out the stray thoughts, but after this point, there are few similarities. Instead of focusing on something in the outside world, inward meditation (as the name implies) focuses on an aspect of ones inner self. Often involving a question, or a feature of ones personality that one struggles with, inward meditation is a chance to better understand ones self.
Jordan didn't know how late it was, he'd started sometime around twenty hundred hours, but he wasn't keeping track of time. But he also had a feeling he'd been like this for a few hours at least.
"What is the deal? Why would I be crazy enough to be falling for a girl during a mission?"
Why wouldn't you? She's cute, and it's like Niles said, you've got a thing for the shy ones. Besides it's been a long mission, when was the last time you've been on the job longer than a month?
"I suppose it's been about two years now. Damn, has it really been that long? Two years since that desert… that war."
Yeah, two years.
"Yeah… Cripes! Why do I always get off subject like that?"
Because this ain't your thing. You're the guy who likes to dissect techniques, not people, and certainly not yourself.
"Yeah! Why aren't I refining those bloodlines I picked up?"
Because you're worried more about this and what you're going to do about it.
"Yeah, but what is this?"
You're trying to figure out if you really do like that Hinata girl. You're definitely infatuated with her. Why else would you bother with this?
"Good point. So what do I do about this?"
Well, you could act on this and try to hit on her. That's always an option. Who knows, maybe you'll get a date.
"Yeah, and maybe I should just leave it alone. What if I do pursue this and the Hokage finds out about this? Or the clan leaders back home?"
If the old man finds out, he might have her plant some bugs and keep tabs on you. That wouldn't be too hard to deal with, you and Niles are pros at bug finding. If the clan leaders find out, then they'd tell you to use her. She'd probably get caught though, and if they don't kill her right away, she may give them information that could hurt both primary mission objectives.
"Yeah, the clan leaders do tend to act like politicians rather than the veteran ninja they're supposed to be. But how would they find out? Not like they're gonna just drop in and say hey."
True, it is very unlikely. You probably won't get too much trouble from it as long as it stays nonprofessional. There's probably no harm in it.
"Great, now all we need is a codename for the operation."
How about "Operation Girlfriend Number Three?"
"Oh yeah. That's really original of you. Think of something better."
Well the only other idea you've got right now is "Operation Get Hinata to Go Out With Me."
"Well then, we think of another one."
You mean you think of another one.
"Well what about you?"
I'm just the manifestation of your sharp analytical side. I'm basically just a figment of your imagination, created for the soul purpose of helping yourself so you don't have to talk with Niles about this, because he'd give you nothing but shit. Or you could also look at me as a part of yourself that you have detached from the rest of you.
"Yeah, yeah. I already know that. But you could still try.
No, I can't. I'm you. What you think, I think.
"Alright. So how about "Operation Cowboy and the Ballerina?"
Snazzy, and metaphorically correct, but do you have to rip off such a good song?
"Well there's no such thing as an original idea."
Point. Now, go to bed. You'll have hell to pay if Niles has to wake you up tomorrow, especially after getting on his ass about doing the same thing today.
"Right, right."
Jordan's eyes slid open slowly. He turned his head over to the clock on his nightstand. It was zero one hundred. If he got to sleep now, he'd be able to get just enough sleep to be in decent condition for the exam.
He fell backward, head landing on his pillow, and realized he still had his gear on. He could have gotten up, taken it all off, and gone back to bed, but he decided not to. If his suspicions about the next exam were right, he'd be sleeping one or two nights like this anyway. He may as well get used to it while he could…
AN: Well, this is as good a spot to end as any, I guess. Hope you enjoyed. And please please PLEASE review. I'm just asking for some praise, critiquing, and overall summary of whether or not you're enjoying my work. Is that really too much to ask? Oh well. Until next time, Laters!