2 Confidence
When constructing her store it was under the impression that it would be her livelihood; So, she dedicated her time, sweat and effort into the infrastructure. It was halfway in to building the store that she decided that she wouldn't want to purchase additional property for to live. It was uncle B that made the suggestion that she build a home attached to the store. He emphasized her room facing the sun due to her bodies need for vitamin D,which she immediately perked up to. "Wow Uncle B, who knew you had home modeling skills attached to your rapping skills." Her brother of the East grimaced at the statement, scratching the back of his shaved head. I don't know if you can call that 'rapping'.
Had she know this would have happened, she would have opted for buying a home a little ways up the road
She rolled her sleeves up, green glowing hand starting at the base of his neck and scanning down his body. It was a technique trained among the cloud nin specifically created to diagnose internal hemorrhaging and locating probably cause for infection. It would also check the flow of chakra points that were scattered across the body, determining blockages that would contribute to health issues. The less chakra flowing to a specific part of the body, the less health that specific area had. In fact, it was her grandfather that developed the technique, but it was stolen from the sand, taking the well deserved credit away from her grandfather. She paused in each area where there was a shift in her chakra :all nodes, stomach, lungs, and eyes.
Kami, this guy was sick.
It was decided by his large friend that the sick nin would take her bed for the time being. His sick friend barely able to contest as she aided him to her bed. Fortunately for him she had switched out her sheets earlier that morning. Unfortunately, it was her favorite ones with pink animated elephants.
She now sat beside him on the mattress, legs folded neatly under her as she examined him; taking note of his vitals that left her brows in a furrow. Blood Pressure 72/58, respiratory rate 42, Heart rate 123, Temperature 104.2. Blood Sugar 42. Diaphoresis all throughout, intercostal retractions noted, with a hint of Kussmaul breathing. She absently shook her head wondering why he allowed himself to get to this point.
He was asleep now due to fatigue she was sure he felt, and slowly came to the conclusion that he was fighting an infection. Although she's been in the field of medicine at an early age, and although she has seen this quite often;it still unnerving to see someone in such a state, and oftentimes when they were at this point it lead to increasing complications, some of which most do not come back from... but…
She felt a small surge of his own chakra, her eyes went to his face scanning his weary features that was set in a constant grimace. He gave the illusion that his guard was down to envelope some form of sleep; However, she knew better. Nin are trained to have their walls up in all circumstances, especially when asleep. But her cause for not antagonizing him was not because of the constant preparedness all ninja are trained to have, but for some odd reason she would bet money that he was stronger than her, even in the state he was currently in. Why did she believe that? She couldn't quite put her finger on it; all she knew was that he had a familiar face, one that she did not care to look into.
He was worn from whatever trip he was on, and his body agreed with it. Her hand went to the small towel on his forehead, taking a deep breath when she felt the warmth of it, and breathing out when she dipped it in a basin of cool water straining it.
Behind her stood his prick of a friend, who was analyzing each handcrafted photo, and scoffing loudly at the ones he disapproved of which seem to be all of the paintings. She felt her brows furrow at each step of his footsteps, and felt a nervous tinge at each pause.
She forced her mind back to the Nin in front of her. Pushing her annoyance to the side.
He's burning up. She focused on him, despite he want to chew out the man behind her
His hair matched his eyes, dark and bold. His dark features were a stark comparison to his pale skin which pressed paler due to his current sickness. Her hands rested on his chest side by side. Stealing a feel of his smooth skin, that was marked sporadically with light scars. Subconsciously, her fingers traced them, counting each past wound, stopping short when she saw uniform scarring on his wrist. She felt her heart twinge in hurt.
What happen to him?
"how's he doing.." the Shark nin mused, eyes now on her portrait of a woman in the night, fingers tracing the lines of her face. He didn't sound concerned, more of a question that you asked when regarding food. How's that slice of cinnamon toast? Good? I might want some.
It irked her. He Irked her. This situation irked her.
She stood up on her knees adjusting her legs underneath her rough purposefully jostling the nin as her weight slightly shifted him towards her. She mumbled her curses to the Shark Nin.
It was the sudden fluctuation of his chakra that made her bite the inside of her cheek. His blood pressure was plummeting.
"I think hes good." She lied.
She sat back on her heels, swiftly transitioning off the bed to stand and stretch.
She knew what to do, it was a matter of finding the ingredients , this nin was unstable; henomdymamiclly he had grounds to be shipped off to the hospital, but she was what they chose. She bit the inside of her cheek, mind going through the list of herbs used for infection and natural potent sedatives to calm his unsteady chakra pattern. She needed help for that. She looked over to the tall man in the corner of her bedroom, hovering over a picture of her large family back in the Cloud village. No doubt taking in each face into his probably photographic memory.
"I need your help.." She mumbled out. His response took a minute before his grated voice was heard. "What do you need?" he gruffed out, attention fully on her.
She was alone, a stranger in her bed, tea kettle burning, with a diffuser running eucalyptus and lavender that hummed in the quiet room. She'd often prefer the quiet. Quiet is what quiet was...predictable...and she now preferred the predictable. The Shinobi life gave her what she needed in her youth...but now at the age of 24 she needed stability. Her heart could take any more surprises...not after.
'Don't Akira.' She couldn't allow herself to feel that. Not now.
She sat in the wooden chair across the room from the stranger in her bed. Her eyes trailed the room absently, stopping short at the mirror attached to her dresser that sat on the far side of her small room, while glancing over her features. Akira was a woman of the cloud, so her dark features were common. Her complexion was a smooth brown. She wore her dark waist length hair in loose braids that were now pulled up in a bun, 2 lone pieces framing her slender oval face. She ruffled her small nubian nose at her tired skin . Her full lips were a bare nude, with large deep chestnut upturned shaped eyes that mimic something feline. She closed her eyes, flashes of home showed behind her lidded eyes, before slowly turning her attention to the nin.. Her eyes were trained on the rise and fall of his chest, vision glazing over as her mind replayed the remnants of the past hour.
It was quiet. Her finger absently went to her temple, giving it a gentle tap. 'But not up here''.
He had threatened her. If she were to leave he wouldn't kill her;but would go for the merchant of the West. Her brother...her youngest brother. One who was interested in travel,and fine wines that he never allowed to take him over the edge. The one who had one of the biggest merchant shop out west. The one who found fighting to be barbaric and took a pacifist route early on. One of whom she was sure that this criminal has met, as her brother West was inviting despite his standoffish aura.
Her mind came back to the scene in front of her, eyes trailing up to his calm features, features that looked soft and too gentle for a criminal; but, when did that ever stop anyone?
She knew that his body was too far gone for any Ninjutsu healing could bring. It wasn't a wound that was caused, but something that was developed. She felt in the shifts of chakra that his lungs suffered scaring. Only medication could help, and based on what she suspected he had...she could help, so long as he did not overextend himself.
Her eyes looked around her furnished room, that held an assortment of hand painted art on her walls and photos of family and friends. She'd move hundreds of miles away from home, and in the rare moments when she felt a tug for family she would reminisce by looking at the wall, allowing her mind to go back to a time when she didn't feel so barred from happiness. Her eyes went back to scanning the room, Her room was simply decorated and gave an air of a rushed cleanliness; However, she grateful that it wasn't as messy as the usual and briefly thought of doing her laundry being that the bin was piled up.
Her eyes then went to him again, noting his normal breathing. While his friend was away, she found a few herbs in her shop she'd dried out a few weeks prior, quickly making the batch into a strong serum she forced down his throat while trying to keep him awake enough to take the hard drug. He mumbled strained words through her rousing, and once he was finished taking the bitter drink he instantly fell into a deep sleep.
Its funny, anyone, any ninja, missing nin, Jinchuriki, they were all the same when posed with sickness. Rich or poor, sickness knew no difference, and took what she wanted when she wanted. Bee would often tell her, "make sure you tend to those from the pricks, to the dicks and especially the jits." He rhymed as often as he could. It was only as she grew older that she realized that she hated his rapping. Uncle B didn't care or ever notice her annoyance.
From the pricks to the dicks, huh..
One thing B always emphasized was the importance of family. He loved her and her brothers despite the lack of blood between them. It was the one time you wouldn't catch him hollering unintelligible words in the pursuit of rhythm and rhyme. " I would do anything for them.
And she would for them as well.
She closed her eyes, mind going back to that sharkmans words. She felt her temper climb.
How dare he.
She hadn't realized that she was shaking, anger getting the best of her in a fit that made her surmise that she was ready to break something. She was fighting away the impending explosion that she had to hide due to the possibility of angering her capturer.
Her eyes concentrated on him. She felt her lip curl up, vexation filling her. She looked away clenching and unclenching her hands as her mind analyzed her predicament. These bastards come into her store, her sanctuary, her livelihood, and flip it upside down due to a weak man with weak resolve.
"You have great nerves..lets see if your younger brother has great ones too." "Son of a Bitch"
She heard a shift on her bed,and her eyes quickly flew over to the stranger. He had sat up back against the headboard, leaning his head on the frame. She watched him warily as he took a deep breath with eyes closed. She felt enmity towards him especially. Yes, it didn't make sense, to blame someone for their health issues but... It is his fault West was in danger.
There was no telling how long these criminals tend to stay, and she knew better then to put up a fight. Her specialties were medicine of various kinds, fighting was something that her brother of the East took serious. It's been too long...ever since she walked away she gave up fighting. She was now weak.
Her eyes found their way to the matte tile of her bedroom floor, clenched jaw pressed hard to subdue herself, cursing herself for not taking her brother Easts' words to heart when she moved away. Make sure you train Akira..Even if you aren't a ninja anymore, that doesn't give you a reason to stop honing your body. East was right and now she suffered the repercussions for her laziness.
Although her heart pushed for a fight, her instinct told her otherwise, it was best not to indulge a natural primal state. She swore it was Kami himself that told her to not fight, lest she die at the hands of these savages.
Now poison...that was something she could easily slip. She knew all the various kinds that would either have them go quietly or seethe in pain to their grave... and if they choose to extend their stay. A dab on bare skin was all it took. So if she took down one; her eyes went to the man on her bed, she could definitely take down the other.
Stealth was her specialty after all.
Was.
She already knew which one she would need. How long it would take... how painful it would be. How hurt his friend would be to come in after a long trip of gathering the collective herbs, for him to touch that door handle and drop.
"...I wanted to apologize." Her eyes broke their focus on the bare matte tile. How long had she been lost in thought? "Please know, you will be compensated for this. As, it was never my intention to create complications of this magnitude." His words left his lips breathlessly. Her eyes stayed on the floor tracing the lines, listening to his words. Holding herself firm.
She straightened, crossing her legs voice was low, steady . She refused to look at him as she felt that it would somehow show that she respected him. " Your friend...he-"
"My friend often speaks too carelessly" She paused. "Whatever it is that he had stated in my sleep, please understand I do not intend to let that happen." The words were mumbled and forced in the midst of his weariness, but that did little to douse the fire. She uncrossed and crossed her legs, folding her arms under her breast. She felt it coming
He continued, "I can assure you you-"
"How am i to believe that!? You think my family is something that you can threaten then suddenly take it back like some fuckings children game!?." She hissed. She hadn't noticed that she'd knock the chair back in her sudden rise. "You don't threaten family!" She hadn't realized the rise in octave , or the rise in volume in her voice until all was quiet, and she was left with nothing but his soften gaze.
His eyes were too soft so gentle she was take back, and she briefly wondered if he understood.
It was when she felt a drop on her foot that she realized she was crying. And felt shame wash over her in those seconds at her sudden release of vulnerability... to a stranger nonetheless.
"Kami." She wiped her eyes vigorously, then crossed her arms over her chest, deciding that shame was not going to fix anything, so she fuled her worry and sadness into anger. And that always gave her the resolve to do anything.
He was quiet, until he saw her breathing slow, and said firmly. "I can not take back what my friend has said. But i will not let that happen." His dark eyes strained, brows furrowed in the attempt to meet her eyes. A bead of sweat formed, and fell down the side of his face, but...it wasn't enough.
No. It's not enough.
"You saved my life...so I'm indebted to yo-" he was taken by a coughing fit that ended the conversation abruptly. She was left with her thoughts walking over to the glass of water on the wooden night , his words are not concrete. Not in this day and age where ninja kill for something as silly as looking them in the eye. She needed to protect her family more than anything. "Your family will not be hurt." He promised, voice soft mimicking something of kindness. She felt her resolve wane in his voice.
His eyes were different, but she wrote it off due to his current state. However…
She took the glass of water, sitting beside him on the soft bed as he leaned forward to reach for the cup. She promptly ignored his reach, bringing the cup to his lips instead. He paused, and she watched his weary features as he decided to take the rim of the cup between his lips taking slow sips.
she's seen malice before, in the eyes of strangers she's walked by and even in the ones she took care of. She gave up being a Ninja because being apart of that lifestyle meant that you had to hold those eyes too often, and that never took to her. Her eldest brother, the brother of the North often said, despite her rough abrasive demeanor she loved more than fought. So she took to medicine, something she'd felt Kami had led her into.
But because she'd seen malice before, she knew that words meant nothing in the ninja world.
Even if this sickly man, with tired kind eyes says to trust him.
It was a lie.
Words often were, and a kind disposition was something that would never supersede her need to protect her little brother. Brother of the West was kind, and giving; although critical he was ready to be good. He was much too kind.
They would take advantage of that..
He finished the slow sips, eyes warm as he leaned back against the headboard.
But those eyes.
She heard the ringing of the shop door bell.
And made her decision.
She had made his medicine. It took a few days, but it was finally complete. She had also made the poison. Which took an extra day. She'd blame it the mixing times needed for the herbs to settle; to her relief they had let her work by herself, leaving her to run her store as well as aide the bed ridden nin who seemed to be recovering rather quickly.
The days went by fast.
The first day was tense, and quiet. The taller nin had a habit of constantly towering over her, watching the smallest of transaction whenever she was on the phone or stepped outside. She made a point not to leave, being that that would antagonize him. She was no glutton for punishment and was civil despite the itch to claw his eyes out.
The second day was met with constant laughter from the larger nin. He'd said that she took words too serious and he was joking. The larger nin laughed even more when he was met with a stern look form his bedridden friend. That day Akira couldn't hold back and dealt him a curt 'd almost clasped her hands to her mouth at the sudden disregard for her safety. His smile only widen. " Ooo, feisty."
On the third day the larger nin asked her to make him a cloud specialty, and she begrudgingly obliged so long as he stopped scouring through her draws and cupboards when he got bored. She'd asked the sickly one if he wanted anything in particular since he was able to eat solid foods again. When his eyes met hers, she saw some form of determination. "Dango." Her eyes narrowed.
The fourth day was the first time she slept since them staying. She was relieved when she woke that morning, feeling best she's felt for a long time. They took her bedroom and she took to the the storage room since it was the only room with a two way exit. She'd found that they were not hostile, asking for little and not taking much space. The sickly one had offered her bed back multiple times, and each time it was accompanied with a coughing fit. "I may not like you, but i'm not an Asshole."
It was 9PM when she had finally handed the nin his pouch of meds. Her eyes trailed up for the medication she handed off to his face, looking over his features that was bright despite the past few days. His color was back, eyes weary but strong...she could help but notice they held the same kindness she'd seen these past few days. She felt herself grimace. His neutral expression never faulted as he handed her a pouch of bills that was too generous, but too took with no hesitation.
It was then that she was met with a deep bow from the once fallen nin, his friend was already walking away. When he straightened he said loud enough for his friend to hear. "You and your family will forever have my word. We will not harm them" His face held no smile, but his eyes were kind. She felt herself resist a scoff at his polite demeanor.
His friend gruffed out loud enough for them to hear. "It was just a joke."
Again she was met with a deep bow, and this time she felt uncomfortable. " I am indebted to you . I...am better than before. And for this I am grateful.'" he straightened once more, and briefly Akira nodded, keeping her lips in a pressed line.
She felt a tinge of guilt, but pushed it to the back of her head before offering him a bowl. "Its homemade dumplings." The nin paused, eyes on the bowl almost debating if he should take the container. She opened it. "I could tell that you especially enjoyed these." As she was switching the bowl from one hand to the next to grab something in her opposing pocket ,her grip on the bow slipped dropping the sweet treats, dumplings collectively scattering collecting dirt and pebbles.
"Ugh!" She scrambled to pick up the sweets, and the nin bent over to help her retrieve them, placing them back in the clear plastic container. "Well, better luck next time?" She smiled with a shrug as they both stood up.
The nin did not answer but simply turned and began walking towards his friend . "Thank you for that.."He said low. she wondered if she had heard it at all.