I was sore, I had a slight cold, my knees were bruised, and I had that gross feeling at the back of my throat. However, despite all this, I was feeling the best I've felt in a long time. Why? Because today, after three days of intense labor with a super hideous anbu instructor (I had yet to see under the mask, which only seemed to strengthen my super ugly theory), I was going to show off the fruits of my labour. I was going to embarrass the heck out of that dumb Hotaru. I could just imagine me wiping that smug look off his face. We'd meet at the training grounds, and he'd be his usually cruel self.
"Oh, good morning Mitsuki. Looking dumber than usual."
"Oh good morning Hotaru. Jerk." Ugh, really Mitsuki that's your comeback?
"Ready to make me lunch?"
"Ready to teach me that fireball jutsu?"
We'd have our usual glaring contest, which of course he would win because, well Fact: Uchiha know how to glare. Very, very well. I've even see the babies do it, it's just genetic. Anyways, after he'd beat me at that, I'd purposely look away, trying to maintain my dignity. I'd notice Daisuke who was sitting by a random tree watching the whole thing, not saying anything. In fact, I probably wouldn't notice him. Then me and Hotaru would ready ourselves at the foot of the tree. After running those dumb laps our dumb hungover sensei would make us run. So, then we'd brace ourselves. Daisuke would probably count down. It would go
"3, 2, 1." and then I'd be at the top and Hotaru would only make it half way and I would do that thing he does where I pretend to care, and than say something cool where I don't. Like maybe this:
"Oh. Is this too high for you Hotaru? Aww. I thought Uchiha could do anything though?" Or maybe skip that and just say something mean like, "So... about that fireball jutsu?" Yeah. That sounds good.
xXx
"What'd you mean Hotaru isn't here?" I hate him. I hate him. The one chance I had to rub it in his face and he runs away?
"Exactly that. He said he wouldn't make todays practice. I think he's still practicing that tree climbing exercise. Which is lucky for you, cause you know, it delays your failure." I don't know how Daisuke managed to say this so casually. Sometimes he felt like talking to a wall, and I didn't know if he was always a wall or just a wall with me. You know?
"Do you know where he is?"
"Huh? Oh. He's probably at the Uchiha compound. They have their own training facilities there. Well, I mean they have everything there. That place is huge. I wonder if they have their own hot springs? Or tea shop? I mean, waking up and getting Dango whenever you want..." Wow. That didn't sound very wall like. When did Daisuke get so talkative? And, why was he talking about the wrong stuff?
"How do I get to the Uchiha compound?"
"Huh?"
"The Uchiha compound. How do I get there?"
"Well... Um. It's not like you can miss it. It takes up about most of the southern side of the village. It's a bit in the outskirts." I don't want to ask, In fact, I shouldn't need to ask. I'm a ninja! I should know which direction south is in. Okay. Think. The sun rises in the west, and sets in the east. Oh. No. No. It rises in the east and sets in the west... but what does that have to do with north and south? AND, I didn't exactly pay attention to the sun today.
"So...from Ichiraku ramen... where do I go?"
"Head towards the Yamanaka Flower shop."
"Done. Thanks Daisuke. You're the best… and um…" I didn't really know what I wanted to say. The two of us rarely actually exchanged words, which I know doesn't make for the best team unit. "You're kind of okay when you're not acting like a wall," and then I took off, not sure of his reaction. Was that a cool response? Was that offensive? Why are you so weird Mitsuki?
Ugh, it doesn't matter. You have an Uchiha to beat.
xXx
I'm lost. I'm so lost, and I'm hot. Whichever direction the sun rose in today, it came to play.
I knew that when Daisuke said I couldn't miss it, that I'd miss it. How? Well, I went to the wrong flower shop. It's not like I spent time looking at flowers anyways, I am a ninja. In fact, why would Daisuke even tell me to go to the flower shop? Who was he buying flowers for?!
Hey, that little kid has that Uchiha fan thing on his back. Jackpot. Follow him and he will take me to where I want to go.
xXx
It's been about five minutes of following this boy, and I'm beginning to wonder if he's lost too. He sure is cute though. I wonder if dumb Hotaru was this cute when he was little.
"Ugh, we already went this way," this stupid dumb brat just walked in a circle, again! He was so lost, I was so lost. I didn't even know how to get home from here. Sensei was probably going to make me run extra laps for skipping practice, and it's all dumb Hotaru's fault. If he had shown up and admitted defeat instead of making me track him down with my crappy ninja stealth skills this whole thing would've never happened.
I had made up my mind, I was going to follow the boy for five more minutes and if he went the same way than I would try and figure it out on my own, or ask someone for directions. Yeah, probably that. Why didn't I just do that in the beginning?
"Is there a reason you're following my little brother?" I glanced behind me to come face to with really, really obsidian eyes. He was staring at me calmly, but his eyes unblinking.
"Um… what?" He motioned to the boy I'd been wandering behind and repeated his question.
"Well," umm.. I considered making some sort of joke, but seeing the weird combination of intensity and curiosity in his gaze, I opted for the truth.
So I said...
"Well, you see, the thing is, that I was looking for the Uchiha compound. I got lost. Now, it wasn't my fault, it was Daisuke's cause he told me it was the direction of the Yamanaka flower shop, and of course I didn't know which direction that was. Now that I think about it, he probably knew that I didn't know. You know what? Now I don't feel so bad about calling him a wall, not that I meant it in a bad way, but now I'm-"
"You're rambling."
"Yes. I'm rambling. I was going to get to that if you hadn't interrupted me you jerk." Wow. I glanced up to accentuate my point and just wow. You really, really cute jerk. I mean, gosh. That silky raven black hair, well defined cheek bones, chiseled jaw, those long lashes. Wow.
"Will you just tell me why you were following my brother?" Why your brother indeed. I mean, I should clearly have been following you. Oh crap, did I say that out loud? Oh no. I didn't. I'm safe, so why does he have this weird look on his face. Am I blushing? Is my nose bleeding? Do I have bad breath? Is there something in my teeth? I'm embarrassing myself. uh. This is why I really don't do good with cute guys. Wow. I'm getting really dizzy. Is it just me or are things starting to get dark and fuzzy? Have I drank any water today? How long had I been wandering for? The sun was really hot.
Oh crap. I think I'm going to faint.
So much of re-writing and editing this is such a weird throwback. Ah yes, the good ole days where women just fainted to keep things convenient to the plot.
