Pheonix: Okie dokies, this chapter may be more like a filler, but the big conflicts I have planned can only occur after a lot of character bonding takes place, and a bit of character change in Shirikima. I mean, I cant exactly jump into –
Shirikima: Hush.
Pheonix: (fumes)
Shirikima: You were about to tell them what happens!
Pheonix: argh….
Disclaimer: Nope, don't own it. Own the girl, though jabs thumb upwards at annoying muse
Review replies:
Three. You guys make me cry.
Raven: Why, thank you. But what, exactly, my dear, did you particularly enjoy in it? I am dying to know.
MizzyH: Well, your shorter name is easier to type, now, isn't it? XD Yay! Detailed review, I must say I was rather happy to see it. Yes, I threw in a bit of out of character Sasuke. Naruto… Is Naruto. JUST BECAUSE THE SHOW IS NAMED AFTER HIM DOES NOT MEAN I LOVE HIM! Maybe it does, just a little. But I didn't feel like exploring my muse in that area… Teehee. I'm doing my best to incorporate everybody, and once my parent's boating season calms down, and I get caught up with my schoolwork, it should be a snap to pull off a well rounded chappy! YAY! Ya, instant favorites, teehee :)
Marz: MY TWIX! FRIGGEN AWESOMENESS! Mwafwafwa. Yes, it slowed down thanks to that building we all know and love, Essex Aggie, but yours truly is plodding onward as resolutely as she can muster. (huggles) Yay, just yay…
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Sasuke awoke in his bed, and ran a hand through his hair before sitting up. His thoughts kept sliding to last night, to Shiri and then Sakura. Damn, now the pink haired girl wouldn't leave him alone… Then again, maybe she had learned by now and he wasn't giving her enough credit?
Whoa, wait a minute. What the hell? Man he needed coffee or something…
Getting out of bed, he shook his bangs from his eyes and went down the small flight of stairs, quickly making a cup of coffee and downing it, breathing out in relief. There, now he was thinking on a bit more of a normal note.
'She just needs your help, I think…' Man, since when did Sakura make so much sense?
Hn? Maybe another cup of coffee wouldn't hurt too much. And then a shower…
It was still way too early to go to the bridge yet, (even after a shower and more coffee), knowing Kakashi the team usually appeared at least an hour after he had suggested now, so no worries on time.
So now he walked out the door, and headed towards the park, pondering. How was he going to help his sister? What did Sakura mean?
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Naruto grumbled, walking out of his door and doing a face plant. 'Gotta, get to, training…' Of course, the boy didn't seem to realize that he would be at least two hours early if he went to the bridge…
"That stupid dream!" He growled, picking himself up and continuing on his way. Why did he keep having dreams of a giant ramen noodle eating him?
Then his mind turned to more serious thoughts. Shirikima Uchiha… She sure seemed to be a disasterpeice. (You know, masterpiece, disasterpeice? Come on, stay with me here!) After Sasuke and Sakura had left, Naruto had found himself sulking for another half an hour until Kakashi told him that he should be able to handle it from here. She left wherever she had lived before to kill him, and yet she wasn't trying to go back?
Instead she was sleeping in his sensei's apartment and coming to watch their training sessions as if she had known them her whole life. Didn't she have friends? Anything back from the dark little corner she crawled out of?
Naruto wasn't sure he liked her or not. She seemed like bad news, yet she was pretty entertaining, and didn't seem all that bad once she had stopped trying to take his head off. He stopped by the ramen stand, and happily gulped down his favorite food substance, his only food substance. Hey, he may have nightmares about it…
But heaven be damned if he was going to stop eating it!
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Kakashi felt a finger poke his jaw, and he woke up, not moving or showing any signs yet of his consciousness. Someone was fiddling with his mask now, and he could tell immediately who it was. Her breathing was harsh, and he even heard a disappointed grumble as she found his second mask. He opened his sharingan eye, knowing what she would have to do next, and mentally smirked in triumph as his hitae-ate was pulled away from it, revealing a surprised face staring right into both of his now open eyes.
"Yes?" He asked, gently pulling her hand away. She squealed, eyes wide as she back up, watching him replace his second mask and forehead protector.
"You're really too loud to expect that to work. Naruto may even have had better luck." He said, rubbing his back with his right hand in an effort to work out the muscles there. He didn't even remember falling asleep in the chair… She was staring at him.
"Your eye, it looks like Itachi's." She blinked, and looked away.
"Gomen, Kakashi. But why were you sitting there?" She continued, and he shook his head.
"Nothing, really."
"You just felt like watching me sleep? Honestly." Shirikima crossed her arms, puffing.
"Oh yes, it was extremely interesting." He chuckled until she whacked him over the head, the same place that she had hit last night. 'Ow…' He rubbed the bruised area, and went into the kitchen. Shirikima followed him, shuffling her feet and grumbling about how pointless it was to ask him anything.
As he prepared some toast and some tea, he listened to Shirikima spoil Shamrock with loving words and attention, the girl seemed to enjoy the cats meowed replies. He added some powdered medicine into Shirikima's tea, remembering the stomach ache Sakura had told her about.
Shirikima came in, followed by Shamrock, and Kakashi handed her the tea.
"Here, for your stomach ache." She nodded, smiling in thanks as she took it. Shamrock nipped at her calf muscle, and she yelped, turning around to scold him.
That when Kakashi notice that her long hair was gone. Just all cut off, from the top of her neck to her waist was now bare.
"When did you get your hair cut?" He hadn't noticed at first because the hair in the front was the same length as it had been, but now he realized how much younger it made her look.
"Huh? Oh, this," She ran a hand through her black locks carefully, "Yesterday with Sakura, she didn't tell you?" No, she hadn't. but Kakashi knew that the pink haired girl must have been too shocked by Shirikima's sleeping actions to remember something so trivial.
After they finished their breakfast, Kakashi looked back to the note that had been left for him by Iruka. He had half an hour, so he might leave in about an hour or so.
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Shirikima stopped at the door, and looked back at Kakashi, to see him reading his book quietly.
"I'm gonna take another trip to the Hot Springs… I'll meet up with you guys later." He nodded, not looking up, and she left, pulling on her other glove as she did so. Her nightmare from last night suddenly came racing back, and she gasped at the suddenness. Then, she knew why Kakashi had been sleeping in a chair by her side. He knew her weakness now… Angered, frustrated, touched… Sad. She fisted her hands and kept moving.
The hot springs proved relaxing, and Shirikima once more found herself trying to wipe away her past in the steam surrounding her.
"Hey there, mind if I join?" Expecting to note down the voice as Sakura's, Shirikima hid her disappointment. A young red head waded towards her and took a seat across from her.
"No, not at all." Shirikima muttered, though she kind of did.
"My name is Kinta, yours?" The girl asked politely, holding out her hand. Shirikima regarded it with a narrowed eye, her other closed, and said, "Shirikima." She really wasn't in the mood, until she noticed the girls expression. It was a bit giddy.
"Why are you grinning like that?" Kinta looked up at Shirikima's questioning, and giggled.
"I've been asked for my hand in marriage!" She responded. Geez, talk about a gloater. Nothing was more boring… But Shirikima decided to find out more. It was her nature to find out as much information as possible from a few questions, and this girl was the perfect type to give unwanted information.
"Really, by who…?" She carefully kept her tone level, opening her other eye and leaning forward.
Kinta giggled again, and replied eagerly. "Do you know the teacher? Iruka?" Shirikima's eyes widened. That was the guy who had called Kakashi to meet him this morning!
"I know of his name." Shirikima nodded, quickly masking her surprise.
"He asked me this morning… We've been together for a while, I'm so excited! And nervous, but mostly excited…"
"I see. Iruka asked Kakashi to a meeting this morning." Shirikima gave that much in return, nodding her head to signal her interest.
"Ah, Kakashi! He's always reading that book, ne? I think it unhealthy. He's always passing my desk at the Hospital, visiting friends…" Shirikima's disgusted look immediately caught on to Kinta, who frowned.
"What?"
"You work at the hospital?" Shirikima was inching away from the girl steadily.
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"You're engaged, eh?" Kakashi said, regarding a very excited Iruka with his coal colored eye.
"Yes, do you know Kinta Inate?"
"Ah, the hospital secretary."
"Hai. I've been with her for some time, you know." Kakashi was surprised, he definetly hadn't expected this. Had he even known Iruka was together with Kinta? Well, vaguely, now that he thought about it he had known.
"So, it made me turn to thinking, Kakashi."
"Thinking, sure that's not too difficult for you, Iruka?"
Iruka went bug eyed. "I'll ignore that." He said, sweat dropping. "But still, Kakashi, when are you going to find someone?" Hm? Well, ah… That was an unexpected question, and so Kakashi chose not to answer.
"No answer, eh?" Iruka elbowed the jounin, eyes narrowed into a smirk. Kakashi pulled out his book, sticking his nose into it in an extreme effort to ignore his friend's prodding.
Iruka sighed. There would be no complete answers now…
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"Hai, I do… Why?"
"I was in there only a few days ago, Shirikima Uchiha, if you can remember." Shirikima pointed to the huge scab on her shoulder, which she had been careful to keep out of the water. It was healing nicely, and Shirikima had decided to leave it out to dry and heal on it's own.
"Ah, it said on your profile that you went quite bonkers." The red head giggled, and at Shirikima's intense glare she waved a hand. "Well, it does! You yelled at a nurse for trying to help you."
"Help me! Ew, the thought makes me shudder!" The girl was still laughing mirthfully at her, and Shirikima sighed. "She tried to give me a shot." Shirikima's arms were once more crossed in front of her as a sort of defense. Kinta chuckled.
"Well, I'll be blunt, Shirikima, but I do not like needles anymore than you seem to. I'm merely a secretary." Shirikima visibly relaxed.
"I've decided, Shirikima, what do you say you and I be friends?" Friends. Such a touchy subject… Yet she seemed to be making plenty of them lately.
"Friends…" Shirikima pondered, this seemed like a big improvement in her attitude, to actually consider this…
"Sure, Kinta." Shirikima nodded, mentally shaking her head viciously to get her negative thoughts back into their corner. She wanted to start over, no?
"Good, I am glad." Kinta grinned happily, and got up.
"I have to go, Shirikima san, work calls!" She waved and left the springs, leaving Shirikima to her thoughts. The Uchiha woman smiled at herself… Maybe she would finally find peace in this village.
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Sakura woke up, and relished in the warmth of her comforter. Last night flooded back to her, she had practically been walked home by Sasuke! Ha, what would Ino Pig say? It's like she and him were on a date or something… But she knew somewhere that it didn't count. He had been tired, and had used her offer of comfort to help himself. But she didn't mind, in his state? She would have accepted the offer to be able to find comfort. And she had been his silent understanding. He had only stopped at her house because it was on the same route as he himself would need to travel, but he had said good night. She wondered how he would be this morning?
Probably quiet and reserved. She got out of bed and began to prepare herself for the day, smiling softly all the while. She saw a little bit of the inner Sasuke, if only a little. Who else could say that they had seen that? Sure, remembering Shirikima darkened Sakura's mood a little, the girl had been so distraught, even in sleep, when they say you should be calmest.
She walked out of her door, and once again found herself looking into an indigo colored chest. She took a surprised step back to see the Uchiha clan boy looking to the side, and watched as one of his dark eyes turned to look at her from the corner of his eyes.
"Hi, Sasuke…" Sakura stared, she couldn't help it… "What are you doing here?" Was this someone using genjutsu or something? Naruto? If it was… Oh man he'd be in trouble! She was even more surprised when he turned, grunting something about a walk and doing the very same thing in the direction of the bridge. He did know it was about an hour or so early for that, right?
Sakura caught up, and instead of watching where she was going, she watched Sasuke. He looked thoughtful, as always… She walked close to him, but not overtly close, since she wasn't paying attention to where she was walking she knew that he wasn't about to walk over a canyon anytime soon.
Then again, she could always be wrong.
She yelped as her left foot lost purchase on anything but air, and closed her eyes tightly. Well, she was done for. She turned her eyes to look down, and noticed that they had been walking the path that led to the top of the cliff, one of the more dangerous paths, and she was about to be the first fatality. But two strong hands clasped her shoulders, heaving her upwards again and throwing her, though not extremely harshly, against the wall, Sasuke leaned against it beside her, his eyes closed. He sighed, as she kind of gasped for air.
"You should really… Watch where your going…" Sasuke said, puffing slightly as he recovered from the initial shock of seeing her go down. Sakura nodded… "Thank you again, Sasuke." Man, everyone always had to save her! She even managed to stumble off of a rather wide path…
Stupid, stupid, stupid…
"Hurry up." The grunt so far ahead of her made her blink and look up. Sasuke was walking ahead, and she jogged to catch up.
"Where are we going?" Sakura asked, and was answered when Sasuke took a turn, and ended up at a dead end. She hadn't known that the path ended this soon, and quickly adjusted herself. Sasuke sat down on the edge, his feet hanging over, and she joined him.
"What did you mean?" He asked.
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Man, heart attack much, Sasuke? Maybe too much coffee, he had been a bit too worried about Sakura to seem normal. She didn't have to fall down the freaking cliff, though.
"What did you mean?" He asked, talking about last night, how she had said that Shirikima needed his help…
"What did I mean… Last night?"
He nodded. "When you said she needed my help. How can I help her, if she can't help herself?"
"Ah." Sakura looked to the sky. "See? That's where Girls and Boys begin to differ. We want the help, it makes us feel loved. But you guys, you think that doing it on your on gains you respect, and though in a way it does, to us it's just not as satisfying. As to how you can help her… Talk to her. Show her you care. Maybe show her around? Kakashi-sensei may have already taken her for a short tour, but he probably had that dirty book out the whole time." She smiled, tilting her head at him. He was thoughtful again, and she waited patiently.
'Makes sense…' Sasuke thought, nodding. But what Sakura implied was practically changing his persona completely. Then again, he seemed to be doing that himself lately.
Looking out, to the distant other countries, Sasuke gritted his teeth slightly. Tour… A walk? Shirikima, if she really was his sister, would have the whole place in her mind already, and could most likely tell him a few corner areas. But a walk? Maybe…
"Thanks." Sasuke said, getting up and beginning the walk down the path. Sakura, of course, was close behind.
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He was sitting in a tree.
She was a branch above, slinking forwards on the tips of her toes. Very silently, like a gymnast or something, she swung upside down, one leg supporting her weight as she reached down, fingers itching to see it again.
The Sharinga-
She yelped and fell out of the tree when he said, "Nice try," and swatted her hand away. Shirikima twitched, a long groan releasing itself from her lips.
'Aw man…' She pouted.
"God dammit! Just SHOW me again!"
"No."
Shirikima pouted. "Why the hell not? I bet Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke have all seen it already!"
"And?"
Okay, he really wasn't paying any attention. Shirikima crossed her arms in front of her and stalked off.
Nearly running over Naruto in the process. His eyes seemed baggy, as if he had had lack of sleep, and she prodded him warily.
"Why do you look as if you're going to fall over, Naruto?"
"Half… an hour… 'Till training…" The boy replied, leaning down and seating himself.
"Why are you so tired?" Shirikima asked, leaning down with her hands on her knees.
"Bad dreams…" The boy slurred, a haunted expression covering his face.
"Poor baby." Shirikima gave him an affectionate pat, dodging his slow moving hand. She looked up for Kakashi, to see that he had disappeared.
'Off to read more of his damn book instead of being on time…' Then again, if he tried to be on time now, that would make his students late. So what point was there for him to actually stay and allow Naruto to eventually find him?
She looked at Naruto.
Nevermind, Naruto wouldn't find Kakashi. The damn kid was sleeping.
Shirikima awoke, and yelped to find her brother's coal colored eyes staring dispassionately at her.
"You fell asleep, next to the dobe." He was being way too accusatory.
"I was tired?"
"I can tell."
Sakura was busy shaking Naruto awake, and Kakashi arrived about five minutes later, his eye swimming with some dirty thought that obviously gave him great entertainment. Shirikima pouted at him, and made a hooking motion with her finger on her cheekbone. He ignored her, and she slumped back against the tree as he gave his team directions.
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Pheonix: no cliffy, no immense angst or happiness or anything, but a filler. You hate me right now, but it's longish and I'd rather than not get some more intelligient feedback from you people, so ideas, anyone? I REALLY WANNA KNOW! COME ON! Haha. Next chapter should hold something along the lines of a party type thingyness. Ya.
Ja ne, R&R!