Chapter 6- Warm
She closed the door, the subtle click brought her back to her reality of again... she was alone with them. She gripped the door knob, knuckles paled before turning towards the two nin.
Sleep was a luxury that seemed to elude her more and more as of late. Alongside headaches that would rage throughout her day. Often the combination would send her into quite moods that Yahiko seemed to pick up on.
Saame was entranced by a show that took her attention often. It was about a dragon queen that wished to rule her original lands. She watched the large nin, mind foggy as she tried to place his pale grey skin and gill like features in her memory. These were features that she'd seen before in a clan one of which she could not place. What was it?
What was it?
Her mind pushed, only to stop short hitting a brick wall that sent a jolt of pain to her head. She felt a dizzy spell that made her press herself against the door that led to the outside, eyes shut in an effort to equilibriate her spinning head. She sighed out hearing the sound of a commercial that often made her smile, finally feeling the spinning stop.
What was that?
She'd finally open her eyes grateful for the still room that was bright despite her sour mood. She felt the pit of her stomach turn when she felt the eye of the dark haired nin on her, her brows furrowed deep with disdain as she made her way to her room in an effort to clear her head.
Their company was not something that she expected.T
The first time they stayed it was simply out of necessity. Self preservation was a matter she took very serious and pride was something she would easily throw out in the midst of death. Even her kindness was out of obligation due to her profession as a medic, which she took very serious.. As they were and are strangers whom she knew nothing about. . Yes, shes taken the necessary precautions: chakra break, reverse summoning castations around her home, chakra weakening of which she placed because she knew they would try something.
Eventually.
But they kept thier promise.
You really believe that?
Remeber what happened last time.
So weak.
They were the enemy; and it was only a matter of time until they attacked. That's what always happened.
Right Hana?
She closed the door of her bedroom behind her, leaning on the wooden door, fingers going over the ridged painted groves of the door. .
She wanted peace in her home, and that peace and comfort came with her being alone, was something she often told herself, but even she knew that was a lie.
She lied to herself often too often.
Unfortunately, a night like this was a night that she couldn't lie to herself. She needed someone. And oh how she hated the truth. She closed her eyes head pressed against the door taking in a deep breath that felt stifled from the make believe stuffiness her mind created.
She needed air.
In one swift motion the door was open.
"Ill be out." she chipped, brows furrowed at the false happiness in her voice. Lipping on her sneakers as she pushed the door open, meeting cold air and gratefully took it in as she shut the door behind her.
A slight shiver ran up her back as she took her first step on to the grassy terrain.
She was quite, arms wrapped around her in an effort to stay warm as the opening to the forest came into view. Despite the full moon that shone she saw nothing but black in the forest. She scoffed at the black forest, pushing back her old childhood fear of the dark as she allowed her heart to bear itself because she needed to breath.
So she wore her heart etched on her face. It was like a watercolor of words that connected: anger, bitterness, grief, aungrish. All there an assortment of colors that blurred together into muddy swamp. Her mind was the paintbrush and her heart was the water she used to clean that seemed to become blacker and blacker as time went on.
She was scared.
Scared because these waters filled her lungs to the brim, choking her until the deviant called depression consume her. Her hands went up and out finding the rooted tree in front of her to rest her weary head on , feeling the sting of the ridged bark against her forehead tears as the tears formed. A cry, one too real was heard by the grass came out.
"Shuuuh, its ok baby. Its ok." The memory of the child sprung out. Her hands fisted her hair in remembrance of his gentle cooing, bright eyes innocent in the arms of his gripped her hair tight heart beating hard against her chest.
"Your one of sweetest people I've met "
The image of Yahiko came to her mind.
She shook her head, pulling at the braids that fell freely in confusion of the memory as the familiar sting met her eyes again. It was strange, how he saw in her something she thought she lost long ago. Something that was sure to have died with her choices.
"Weird…"she mumbled.
"It is strange.."She jerked at the voice, turning quickly in its direction, fear mounting at her lapse of awareness. IT was the dark haired nin, she felt her heart rate climb. Why was he out here.
For years, when she reached her breaking point. She was alone. No family, friend, colleague saw her weakness. It was a want that was driven by pride. Pride that she swore she threw away, but every now and then it dared rear its ugly head.
She wanted to be the strong one. The one that was always ok.
He saw it.
he saw her weak…
A stranger.
Ninja attacked at the weakest. When their was at thier weakest.
How dare you.
She felt her grief leave her as a new familiar emotion stepped in..
Maybe in her lapse of control her actions could be justified or maybe she just didn't give a fuck.
Her hands went into fists eye fixed on the nin before her. His face barely visible despite the night must have held a smile. A smile was sure on his face because he saw his opponent at her weakest.
The audacity.
As each step neared she felt her anger climbed, because ninja wait for a weak point.
They fight; they kill; they take all that you hold dear.
Thats what she did.
Her heart rate skyrocketed when he was within a few feet her eyes narrowing at her final resolve.
She striked, hitting air as the nin tilted his head to the side dodging the hit. She breathed out, eyes wide narrowing as a snarl set on her lips..
So she striked out again, and again, the nin dodged. Punches, strikes, kicks all met with air and grazes, as they both skillfully maneuver over the fallen branches and raised roots. Movements steady as the barrage of her taijutsu was caught, redirected and missed until she was standing there breath heavy with pants, her heart screaming at the pathetic display she'd just showed the missing nin. sweat shone on her broad forehead and the cold air pricked her lungs with each breath. He stood there unfazed, face in view as the white moon shown his features driving her to defeat.
She was helpless against this stranger.
He thinks im weak.
"I'm not weak."she forced out between pants. Her eyes tearing up, glare fierce despite her broken image. She gritted her teeth, vision blurring as a mixture of dejection and indignation filling her.
"IM NOT WEAK!"she screamed, her anger once again claiming her mind. The furrow in his brows, the look of sympathy pissed her off. She striked out again, kick aimed for his head, only to have him grab her ankle before it connected with him. He gently lowed her leg to the ground, going down into a crouch to tie the laces of her shoes that loosened in their spar.
"I know your not weak." His voice was calm. She watched him, feeling her heart release vision clearing as her tears finally left. "Weakness is a title given who those who take and steal with no regard to others. You...you are a sweet person. One i could never believe to be weak ".He stood, eyes meeting hers as she felt herself give way to the wave of sadness that plagued her for the day. Her shoulders shook, eyes a stream in front of the nin that took to watching the full moon as she cried out her bitterness and self hatred, falling to her knees as she blamed herself again and again at her brothers lost life due to her selfishness, for Hana, for her mistakes..and above all else...for Yusuke.
It wasn't until her shoulders stopped trembling, and her tears stopped flowing that the nin offered his hand to her. She looked up at him, the night covering his face.. She took it, body weak form the long cry and pulled herself up. She closed her eyes for a moment feelings a shiver run down her spine.
" its cold.." Her eyes trialing to the dark forest before seeing him at the corner of her eye nodding in agreement taking the initiative to begin walking towards her shop.
With no hesitation she trailed behind him arms wrapped around herself in an effort to keep warm while, watching the back of his frame as he strolled a bit ahead of mind blank until she finally wondered why. Why did he come. She was sure it wasn't to check on her.
But then why...why comfort me..
Her foot caught on at root, reflexes took late as she fell face first onto the cold grass landing with an audible oof. She laid there for awhile , embarrassment filling her to the brim, hoping that the nin hadn't noticed her fall. She lifted her head tentatively, met with the sight of his toes and decided to place her face back into the cool grass praying to Kami she could melt into the earth.
"I dont believe its working." He mumbled. Thoroughly , she was caught off guard at the joke. She laughed against the grass, soft at first, growing harder and harder. This hard pressed shinobi told a joke; and for some reason, that lifted her spirits. She smiled , but this time, it was genuine. .
She lifted herself to her knees in an attempt to stand. It was the sudden jolt of pain that silenced her laughter. She sucked in a breath to mask the whine that almost escaped. She looked down frowning at the tree root her foot was tangled in and unraveled it. "Damn it."she she cursed. Only to see the nin in the corner of her eye crouch down beside her; his back facing her. She looked over his broad back confusion turning into embarrassment at the realization.
"I'm ok! Minor sprain something that a healing jutsu can solve." she said faster than intended, ending it with a nervous laugh. "The sooner you get on my back, the sooner were out of the cold, Miss. Mitchgake."
Her breath hitched at the forward comment, tentatively leaning over to wrap her arms around his neck.
The walk was quiet, so she took to watching the vapors of her breath. The temperature had dropped in the little time outside 20 degrees, and the impulsive decision to run out into the cold without a sweater was not helping her...but, her mind was in a swirl of questions that were kept tight between her lips. She squeezed her legs around him subconsciously to hold the shiver that took her.
She found herself nuzzling against him, her cheek pressed against his neck in an effort to warm her aching ear ignoring the amount of intimacy it held since the lowering temperature stole her comfort.
His wheezing audible to her ears and it was then that she felt a pang of regret
"Im….im sorry i attacked you. "She finally spoke.
His response was slow, but sure. "You needed to." She felt herself burrow deeper into his warmth, closing her eyes to focus, the cold sent a violent shiver down her back, raising painful goosebumps throughout her body. "I should've won that fight."She chattered out, teeth mimicking her body in its fight to stay warm. . "A Fight you say.." his response was riddled with subtle sarcasm, and she chuckled. "Yes a fight...i just need to land one hit and id win." she joked, lifting her head once she'd heard the laughter of the large man in her warm home.
"Miss Mitchgake I-"He was caught off guard from the tap to his cheek. He paused in stride, finally reaching the entrance to her small home connected to her store Herbal remadeez
"Fatality."she whispered, and for the first time she heard him laugh.
"Here.." A 3 looped necklace made of titanium and tungsten was held out to him. "Thank you, but i t-
"I meant to give that to you last time..This should help balance out the distribution of your chakra. So if there is ever a time you health wanes during your travels and you chakra levels spark you can maintain a steady flow despite the current condition." He paused eyeing the necklace. She felt herself grow hot. "I-its not the prettiest but-"
He took it.
"Its beautiful." She watched him as his unhooked and hooked it around his neck. She smiled, seeing that it fit his image. "I can promise I'll never take it off." Her stomach lepted as her mind registered the phrase.
"What is your name?"She asked him as he turned to leave. She had to ask. The waning moon illuminated his back,black hair giving off a gentle sheen. For only a moment she felt she saw all of him, even if his back was to her. He paused , making a smooth turn to face her. His eyes met hers steady and pensive she summarized due to the light furrow of his brows.
She couldn't help but make a note of his long lashes that seemed to add to the trouble stirring in his eye. She broke the contact, for she believed for a moment that it bared too much that she could not quite handle. As if him divulging his name was an act of confidence she was not quite ready to receive.
"Tachi.." It was faint, barely audible, but she caught the last part.
She nodded, leaning on the wooden door post, face smug at his response. . "You could've told me sooner you know."She was met with apologetic eyes. "Although it's not your real name, at least I can call you something instead of hey person...Tachi."
It was a gentle smile, that was befitting for someone with such kind eyes
She would never admit it… denile was something she did too often..but in that moment she felt her heart skip a beat.