Chapter 10
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A/N: Sorry for being late at uploading but a bunch of chapters are going up now….This might end soon but tell me if you want it to end happily or not (e.g. my Runaway story ending) I thought it was good though.
The reason it's late is I'm back at boarding school and its GCSE year so yeh….exams….
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I was lying huffing on the ground of the compound during my small 2 minute break. My lungs felt like they were exploding and my head was pounding. I was so tired and just wanted to sleep. A rare treasure in my case, because Ichigo had taken to training me from the early morning to half way through the night. I was cut and bruised everywhere from enduring all the defensive manoeuvres I had to do to stay upright or more alive. I was allowed into town yesterday as I went on the search for new clothes because my old ones were torn and bloody. I can assure you it didn't go well for either side. Okay mainly my side.
I was walking down the streets in an old kimono I found in my closet. A long black one with a red trim. Hisoka had warned me that if I ran away that I would be killed. I think he was serious but who could blame me. He had changed. As I said before I walked down the street looking at different stores until I came to the clothes store. I walk inside and was greeted by the mindless chatter of a group of people in the women's section of the store. Slowly I wandered over there and noticed pink, blond, blue and brown hair. I turned around and rack and saw it was most of the girls standing talking and laughing. I turned to make a silent get away when Sakura must have heard me.
"Amaya-san!" she called waving her hand furiously
"Oh, hey," I replied
"Where have you been it's, you've been missing for like 3days since we last saw you," said Tenten, I nodded grimly
"I've been around, you know training," I said moving my bruised arm out of their view,
"What happened to you hand?" asked Ino
"Err, what this? Oh nothing," I replied embarrassed and nodding
"Hai, what happened?" asked Sakura
"N-nothing, training," I stuttered "Listen I have to shop then get home, I'm…….erm……expected home," I stuttered again jumbling words slightly
"Oh okay, bye." Said Hinata waving lightly, I nodded and raced around grabbing black shorts, a green shirt, 6 rolls of bandages and senbons. I paid quickly and left but as I made it out I hit a very hard wall of muscle. I fell backwards and rubbed my back.
"I-it-itai," I moaned
"Amaya?" said the person, I looked up and saw the worried face of Kiba and Akamaru
"Oh, hey, I have to go," I said standing quickly afraid of what Ichigo would say if I was late after his kunai threat. I dusted off and started walking past him I made it a few feet away before he grabbed my wrist roughly and spun me around.
"Where have you been?" he asked darkly
"Around," I said not looking at him
"They haven't been letting you out have they," he said quietly
"I have to go Kiba," I said sharply pulling on my wrist. He still wouldn't let go. Why the hell did he have to make this hard?
"You said you'd come around if they weren't being nice and treating you well," he muttered "Okaa-san if worried about you, she said her dogs could hear the training from the back yard," I sighed and fingered the note I had in my pocket that I was going to give him if I had seen him but like usual I chickened out. I then did something he didn't expect. I turned around as he tugged on my wrist and kissed him lightly on the lips. He seemed to freeze and slowly let go of my hand. Before he could react I slipped the note in his pocket and pulled away.
"Read the note," I whispered before turning and sprinting off leaving a stunned Kiba and a very red me.
Ah I still remember that day. When I had arrived home that night I was late so I got 3 more extra hours of training before I was finally released. Later tonight I'm allowed to go over to the Nara's for dinner in secret with the others. Shikaku sucked up big time to my father a few days ago and allowed me to go over to their house as a formal dinner with Shikamaru and his family. I had to lie that he was my best friend just to go so during training I was pushing myself by thinking about it.
"Eh! Ichigo nii-san, can I go I have to go for dinner," I called as my brother disappeared from sight. He kicked out hitting my back and flinging me across the arena then replied.
"Hai, go," he said sternly, I nodded and stumbled forward and stood. I was meeting Kiba by the trees outside our compounds before walking there. Once inside the safety of my room I showered quickly and hobbled out as the aches and pains from training came alive. I bandaged a particularly large cut across my stomach then put on black shorts and a white sleeveless shirt and bandages with Kiba's necklace before pulling out a long formal kimono. It was a dark red with black petals across it from sakura's and the stems winding up the sides and down the sleeves. Staring in the mirror I styled my longer, lankier hair down loosely and went for a natural and a minimal amount of make-up look. I smiled then slowly bandaged my arm under the sleeves to bind my bruises. There was a harsh knock on the door and I opened it quickly. There stood Ichigo huffing and looking angrier then ever.
"What is Inuzuka doing in front of our compound?" he yelled
"I dunno," I replied "Excuse me, I need to go, Shikaku-san won't want to wait," I said simply before walking out and away from him. I could sense he was fuming and fuming while I walked away from him. As I finally walked outside of the compound and bolted the door shut I saw Kiba sitting in the tree in smarter but still casual attire to what he usually wore. He still had a hoodie but no longer the dog smelling one that I had slowly grown to love. He seemed to be staring whilest I just carried on walking.
"Oi, wait up," he called jumping down jolting Akamaru awake.
"Nani?" I said quietly
"Where are you going?" he asked "And dressed like that?"
"Shikamaru's," I said quietly
"Nani?" he yelled
"I was invited by him," I said "Follow in 10," I added, he glared viciously then stalked off into the darkness. I sighed and carried on walking to the Nara compound. I knocked on the door and Shikaku answered.
"Hello Amaya," he said grinning "Do come in," he said shuffling me in, I finally felt the eyes of another boring into me disappear. I was glad there was a rule that no clan is permitted to spy on another.
"Thanks for getting me out of there Shikaku-san," I said smiling
"No problem, Ino's here already, you should thank her, she over heard Kiba talking to Shikamaru and mentioned it," he explained, I nodded again and followed him into the house. Inside was nice and homey. Not like my house that was cold hollow and dimly lit. This was light, warm and filled. We walked into the living room and what I saw almost tore my heart at how happy it looked. Something I lacked when I was younger. Shikamaru's mother was sitting on the sofa reading while Shikamaru was sitting on the floor with Ino on his lap and them cuddling. Shikaku sat down next to his wife as Ino looked up.
"Amaya," she cheered I guess maybe she has changed; maybe she does like me……. She came over and Shikamaru moved to accommodate the now lack of warmth. "Why are you dressed up?" she asked
"I told her father it was a formal dinner with us, so she could leave," said his father, I nodded in agreement.
"Hai, true but not as true as this," I said smiling cheekily before slowly pulling my kimono away at the bottom
"Ah! Have some decency!" screamed Ino trying to grab my hand but too late I pulled it up showing my normal casual clothes underneath.
"To late Ino," I replied smirking, she peeled her hand away from her eyes as the Nara's burst out laughing. She made a small 'Oh' sound then turned bright red. After about 5 minutes I was sitting in the living room with my kimono folded on lying lap. Ino was back sitting with Shikamaru and his mother went back to reading. There was another knock on the compound doors and once again. I smiled as he groaned and complained. There was a loud commotion and thumping was heard running through the house to the living room.
"Shikamaru! Ino!" yelled Naruto enthusiastically, Shikamaru groaned and Ino laughed loudly. Naruto stumbled in followed by everyone else smiling and chatting. Shikamaru's mother said something to him and left followed by Shikaku leaving just us bunch of hormonal teens in the room. Kiba found me and came over followed by Shino and Hinata.
"Hey Amaya-chan, good to see you changed," said Kiba grinning, I smiled softly and they sat down. Akamaru pounced onto my lap after I moved the kimono and I winced as his jagged paw hit my cut. This went un-noticed by everyone except Hinata who was watching Akamaru.
"Amaya, are you hurt?" she asked barely audible
"Iie," I said smiling
"Are you sure?" she asked louder, this time Shino and Kiba were listening,
"I'm sure," I replied
"What's the matter?" asked Shino curiously
"N-nothing," I stuttered Shit! They cannot know……
"I think she's hurt," said Hinata quietly but still louder then normal
"Are you?" asked Kiba urgently as he started lifting up my arm and checking but as he lifted my left arm I winced again and made a soft groan and whimper barely audible but of course we're talking about dog boy. Only he'd hear it. "You are aren't you?" he said angrily
"This is not time, I'm fine and I will be fine," I said stubbornly
"Pretty Words Amaya!" yelled Kiba drawing more attention to us and everyone dulled down
"We aren't in the Academy anymore, it's time to grow up Kiba," sadly and quietly
"Well maybe I don't want to grow up! Maybe I want to stay like this and maybe I don't want you to get hurt!" he shouted fiercely at me, I shied back looking down
"I'm fine, I told you already," I said quietly "It doesn't concern you what happens to me right now,"
"Yes it does! They've broken you! What happened to the old you, the person who didn't care, the person who takes no shit from people and the one who wanted to be free!" he carried on yelling. By now there was silence and everyone was staring. Hinata had shuffled back from Kiba over to where Naruto and Sakura were standing and Shino stepped into the shadows again. I stood weakly now angry at him. He is the most self centred bastard! I'd like to see him endure training……..
"The old me is history, if you don't like me now then screw you bastard! I have to do things my own way! Tomorrow I compete in the hardest exams facing the best of the best! If I have to face pain to get there then I will! I won the respect of half of you through pain so I'll do it this way!" I screamed at him storming out the back into the deer fields behind the house. It was dark and the deer could be seen lounging under the large, thick tree in the centre. I sprinted forward and up the tree. I was happy finally to be in a familiar environment. A tree. I closed my eyes and sighed happily. After about a half an hour a figure was seen lazily wandering down the hill to me in the tree. I made out the figure with a pineapple on 'its' head. Shikamaru….should have known……only guy with pineapple hair…..He sat down under the tree and looked up at the sky.
"He didn't mean it Amaya," he said
"Hn,"
"What have they been doing?" he asked "If you tell us we can get you out of there,"
"Fine," I resigned "I train from 5 in the morning till 1 in the morning; I take a break for lunch for 10 minutes and dinner at 9 for 10 minutes as well. Ichigo trains me, Hisoka is sneaking out to meet Deidara and father's making dealings with Tsuchikage-sama," I said quietly, there was silence below then moving around and Shikamaru climbed up next to me.
"That's why you were so tired wasn't it?" he asked, I nodded and he carried on "We can tell Tsunade-sama and she'll stop it,"
"No, you mustn't!" I cried begging suddenly, he backed off slightly shocked.
"Nande?" he asked
"Because I don't want to cause trouble,"
"It's because of what he said wasn't it?" asked Shikamaru
"How did you find out?" I asked loudly
"Dog treats go a long way," he said simply, I sighed and shook my head slightly smiling
"Should have known it was the treats," I muttered angrily "But hai, it was what he said, when I turn 18 in a months time, I am being sent back to Iwagakure as head ANBU medic there," I said quiet again "It will mean sacrificing everything I have for the honour of my clan, whilest there it will mean I have to marry,"
"But they can't make you do that!" he said loudly and angrily
"Of course they can, in my country it is allowed." I said sadly looking away "Why do you think I used to run away, avenge the death of my mother who was killed by the assassin my father hired, to be 'free', no Shikamaru, where ever I go, I'll never be free until I die," I said emphasizing the 'die' bit. He gulped and looked perplexed then shrugged
"Then we can only help you lighten the burden, but you'll have to tell everyone some day," he said jumping off the tree and walking a few yards away then turned slightly. "You can come back inside, Kiba cooled down and is currently eating meaty treats in the kitchen," he said waving
"Arigatou Shikamaru," I said quietly before turning and staring at the moon. I smiled then after about 15 minutes jumped off the tree and started up to the house. I noticed everyone had moved to the back yard. I vaulted over the Deer Field fence and sat down on it instead. Ino and Sakura looked a bit out of it and singing loudly. Chouji, Naruto and Lee were gambling for a packet of crisps, Neji and Tenten had disappeared, Kiba and Akamaru were feasting on meat and dog treats, Hinata was trying to calm the two girls singing and Shino, Sasuke and Shikamaru were sitting talking. I smiled and waved at Shikamaru to show I was better. Sakura and Ino started stumbling over my way and grabbed my shoulders and started singing loudly again
"Sing with us Amaya!" giggled Sakura
"Ah!" I cried as we stumbled
"Come on! I believe in miracles!" shouted Ino
"Shikamaru! Sasuke!" I cried trying to break free from their grasps but to not availability
"Oi, get off her!" yelled Kiba running over finally paying attention to the situation. He pried their hands off me while Shikamaru took Ino and Sasuke took Sakura away and took the sake bottles away as well. I sat down on the fence again with Kiba leaning against it under me and Akamaru on his lap. I smiled slightly as we sat and watched the scenes unfold in front of us. Neji and Tenten arrived back with Tenten looking slightly flustered.
"I can probably guess what happened to them," said Kiba "We can smell those 2 all over each other," he laughed darkly, I giggled slightly as Neji went to join the Emo sulkers and Tenten skip over to us with Hinata trailing behind her.
"Hey Tenten," I waved
"Had a good time," laughed Kiba wiggling his eyebrows. Tenten went bright red and whacked him on the head while Hinata his herself behind a hand.
"Hina-chan! Hina-chan!" yelled Naruto while bumbling over waving a packet of crisps "I won! I won!" he cried as Chouji looked like he was crying along with Lee, Hinata blushed bright red and nodded. Naruto plonked down next to Naruto and Hinata and Tenten joined me on the fence.
"Picture time!" yelled Ino, a wave of groans could be heard as she started running around snapping photos of us, Akamaru got one then when he tried walking he went in circles. I laughed and started to cheer up. There was a knock round the front of the compound and Shikamaru got up to get it. In hurried Shikaku and Shikamaru's mother.
"Sasaki-teme saw us," he muttered to Shikamaru "Amaya-san get changed, your fathers coming round, everyone else into the deer fields!" he yelled, people snapped out of their happy world and hurried around clearing up the evidence and shuffling into the deer fields. Ino helped me put on the kimono again and dust it off then jump off into the deer field. I sat down in the living room next to Shikamaru who looked relaxed but frowning. Shikamaru's mother started talking while Shikaku got the door.
"So Amaya, you have the jounin exams tomorrow," she started looking nervously at the door as a large chakra force was felt. Large and Angry.
"I can assure you Sasaki-san, Amaya is fine, we just went out for a walk after to help the food down," assured Shikaku
"Then where was she?" asked my father
"I wanted to give Shikamaru and Amaya time to bond," he replied
"Fine, but Amaya is required home in half an hour," said my father before his chakra presence started going away. I sighed and leaned back and closed my eyes.
"Is he gone? Asked Ino poking her head around the corner of the house, we all nodded and everyone trampled back into the house from the fields. I smiled hoping this wasn't the last happy time in a long time…..
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