INCOMING MEGA-CHAPTER~! Seriously...12000+ word count, ladies and gents~!
-14-
Child's Eyes
More blood welled up from the cuts on her hands, and the pain caused real tears to well up in her eyes. I continued to whisper words of comfort to her. She may be calm now, but I had to wonder if even a a part of it was shock. Maybe some part of her really did care that she had just murdered her own parents.
She'd murdered her parents.
She'd done something to get all that blood on her hands and clothes...in her hair, and making a morbid mask on her face. And the blazing inferno behind us...it was hard to find find evidence you aren't looking for on crispy corpses. They wouldn't think it was a murder. Who'd kill them? And even if they did think something was off about their deaths, no one would bother investigating. The shinobi weren't involved in civilian affairs, and the civilian police...barely existed.
Machiko would get away with murder.
I wanted to know why. What had caused this? I had never told her to murder her parents. I had...thought about it. Some day. Not this soon, but I had intended to get them out of the way sooner or later. They were interfering, and trying to run Machiko's world. They hadn't realized that they weren't in her world at anymore. Machiko belonged to me. I was her world. Just as planned.
If I was a monster, feared by my own village...Then I was Zabuza and she was Haku.
She clung to me while we watched her home burn. People milled around, but to my surprise, none of them tried to pry me away from her. With narrowed amber eyes, I noticed something.
None of them would look at her. At us. Me, maybe?
When I had arrived, none of them had moved to comfort her either, they just stood there like a bunch of brain dead (desert?) penguins, shuffling in the sand.
"How sickening."
"W-what, Ai-sama?"
"These people." I replied quietly, watching each person pointedly look away from us.
"What's wrong?"
"They can't even be bothered to comfort a crying child."
"S-so?"
"And they call us the monsters." I scoffed, thinking of all the people I knew they they called monsters who were so much better than them. Gaara. Taiki. Takeo. Saki. Me. Naruto.
The people in this village, this world, made me sick.
"Don't worry, Aisako-sama...Machiko will make them see."
"See what?"
She looked up at me and beamed, "They'll see Aisako-sama is not a monster."
"You can try." I told her, but I doubted that'd ever be true.
Because in reality...I was becoming the monster they saw, wasn't I?
Eventually, my family showed up.
Saki whistled loudly at the chaos in front of her us. The fire was beginning to calm down, beginning to die. Taiki hovered, asking what had happened, all the while looking tense. His amber eyes flickered from person to person, then to the fire, back to Machiko and I, and then back to the crown, which was slowly dispersing. Takeo...was not helpful.
"Aisako, step back! You could get hit with embers!"
"I'd move, but I'm sort of comforting a friend, whose parent's were just killed in that fire." I replied, giving him a blank look.
"I-" He cut himself off, looking flustered and embarrassed.
Satoru sighed heavily, "Has anyone examined her?"
"Nope. They're all trying to ignore her existence." I replied, "They're all just standing around, trying not to look at her."
That caused Saki and Taiki to look towards us, frowns set on their faces.
My mother finally scoffed, "Satoru, carry the kid. We're visiting Kazuo."
Kazuo and his family lived in a massive building. It wasn't tall, but spread out. The beginnings of a compound. It certainly did support my theory that Kazuo and Kazuko were clan members. In a way, the building reminded me of a motel or resort of kinds. There were multiple 'front' doors leading to separate apartments.
There was no time for me to observe the building too much before I was dragged to one door in particular, not far from the gate in front of the sprawling building.
Saki wasted no time beating on the sand-smoothed door.
"Kazuo, get your ass out here! I know you ain't sleeping!"
the door slowly swung open to reveal Kazuo. The man was still in his lab-coat like jacket, which I had never seen him without.
"Saki, what a...pleasure...to see you pounding on my door yet again. Which poison did you lose the antidote for now?" He asked in a bored tone, before his eyes traveled to the rest of our group. Any amusement he might have had on his face vanished in an instant.
"I'm afraid the problem's a bit more serious than that, Kaz..." Taiki said, gesturing to Machiko, who waved a bloody hand at the doctor from her place in Satoru's hands.
"Oh my."
"The stitches in her hands can be taken out in a few days. Her chakra is doing a good job of healing it...I'm impressed a child her age has already begun exercising her pathways. Good chakra circulation is key to a fast recovery." Kazuo smiled, almost proudly, as he spoke to my parents, but then the smile died and he frowned in concern, "What bothers me is her emotional state. She hardly seems fazed at all...a strange reaction for a child who just lost their family. I've checked, but I don't think the child is in shock either."
"You're sure she'll be fine?" Taiki asked, completely ignoring Kazuo's silent question. Did she do it?
We all sat in Kazuo's living room, having been waiting as he stitched Machiko's hands in the kitchen.
Kazuo looked at each of us, one at a time before he sighed, likely learning the answer to his question on his own from the expressions on our faces. As he cleaned Machiko's blood from his hands with a rag, he spoke, "Yes...but she should probably rest soon. I imagine the events of today will catch up to her eventually, and she will be quite tired."
We nodded, just as my blond minion came running in the room. She ignored everyone else and ran straight for me. Her arms wrapped around me like a boa constrictor as she settled onto my lap, burrowing her head in my shoulder. Beside me, I noticed Takeo's eyes narrowed.
What? Did he think she'd hurt me? Of course, he didn't know she had murdered her family for me. The fool.
"Machiko's hands hurt, Aisako-sama..." Machiko's childish voice complained.
I smiled and ran a hand through her hair, looking pointedly at Takeo, daring him to speak against her.
Say a word and I'll make you pay.
"Don't worry, Machiko-chan, Aisako is sure your hands will heal real soon. But for now, how about we lay off training?"
Her head shot up, "No!"
"No?"
"If Machiko doesn't train, then Machiko won't be strong enough to protect Aisako-sama from the bad people."
Saki snickered, "Kid...one or two days won't set you back. Besides, its important to rest."
"But bad people are after Machiko's Aisako-sama!"
Taiki frowned, "What do you mean?"
"Machiko's...'parents'," she spat the word, "met up with some other adults, and they said the council wasn't going to do anything to Aiako-sama and Gaara," again, she spat the word, like it was a curse, which I found just darling, "so, they would have to do something about them."
The room became polar. Killing intent flared room the adults in the room, an even Takeo was throwing some pretty strong malice out. A grin began to crawl across my face in response to the fear that they were causing. What child wouldn't be scared with all that KI in the air?
Of course, I was grinning because oh god the fear! I had learned from Yashamaru's assassination attempt that I had a rather...odd...reaction to fear.
Machiko looked at my grin and giggled.
"I think someone's asking to get wrecked..." I whispered to her.
She gave me a smile that could rival mine in the creepy category.
Next door, a baby started screaming.
"Machiko?" I asked, whispering in the darkness of my room. She wiggled slightly from her spot beside me in my bed.
"Yes, Aisako-sama?"
"Why did you do it?"
"Machiko is an orphan now." Not an answer. Was she trying to change the conversation?
"Yes..."
In the dim light provided by the waving moon, I could see her look towards me with a warm smile.
"And now Machiko will go to an orphanage and be sent to the academy, just like Aisako-sama said. And then Machiko will test to go up to Aisako-sama's class."
I had said that...hadn't I?
Huh.
Machiko was collected from our home the next day by one of Taiki's coworkers. Machiko was upset that she couldn't stay with me longer.
I reminded her that the orphanage would be enrolling her at the academy right away, and she relaxed. I also reminded her just how lax the orphanage was, and how easy it would be for her to sneak out and stay with us for days on end.
As soon as she was gone, Takeo swooped in, "Ai-chan? Can we talk?"
"I suppose I'll give you the honour to speak to this one." I said, sticking my nose in the air.
"I...I don't trust her." Takeo told me, placing his hands on my shoulders.
the amusement stayed on my face, but my eyes narrowed, "Who?"
"Machiko, of course!"
"Why?"
"She murdered her family, Ai!"
"So?"
"WHAT?"
"So?" I repeated, sneering at him, "In case you haven't noticed, you stupid child, we live in a world where children are trained to murder people every single fucking day!"
If he noticed me calling him a child, he showed no signs. I hadn't meant to, but he was just a kid to me.
"But-"
"No! Machiko is- she..." How could I begin to explain. She was a child I was planning to manipulate into the perfect follower? A bodyguard?
"Ai...she's dangerous."
"Not to me." I said.
"You can't know that-"
"I can." I cut him off, "She won't hurt anyone."
"How do you know?"
How did i know? I knew because it was my fault. I all but told her to kill them.
"Because I won't tell her to kill again."
Dark grey eyes widened in shock. Takeo's expression melted into one of horror, "Ai...what are you talking about?"
"I told Machiko to kill them...not straight out, but I dropped enough hints."
"W-what?"
"Her parents were hurting her." I began, trying to make him believe I hadn't done it for such a selfish reason as wanting someone to serve me. An idea had struck me. It wouldn't due to lose one pawn for defending another...if I played this right, I could have Takeo wrapped tighter around my finger.
"They-"
"They didn't hurt her physically too often, but they were trying to destroy Machiko...They wouldn't accept her for who she is. They were planning to marry her off to someone she'd never met, all for the sake of her father's business. Machiko just wanted to be a kunoichi. She wanted to be with me! She- She wants to fight by my side...protect me from other people, just like I tried to protect her...why do you think I always invited her over? I couldn't let her go back to them! I'd lose Machiko...I'd lose the only friend I have left! One of the few people I can even think to trust! So...I...I knew she wasn't- isn't, quite right -And she's super devoted to me, because I'm her only friend- so I...I don't know what I thought she would do...but I told her about how orphans get sent to the academy, and that if she was an orphan, she could go to the academy with me and-"
There was a knock at the door, which was just beside me. Spinning away from Takeo, I opened the door, glad for a way to stop my rant, which I hadn't had time to fully think through.
'Sora' stood at the doorway, a charming smile on his face. I was struck, once again, by how fucking attractive he was. Totally not fair. Why couldn't I have hotties like that back in the Test Drive?
"Hello, Aisako-san! Just the girl I was looking for!" he greeted cheerfully.
I blinked, and was about to ask why he was looking for me, when Takeo's hand rested on my shoulder, trying to push me behind him.
"I don't believe we've met." He was doing his best to be intimidating, but I got the impression that 'Sora' could have it arranged for the overprotective teen to vanish without a trace.
"Ah, you must be her older brother, Takeo, correct?"
"Yes sir."
"Well, I'm a member of the Council, and I've taken an...interest in...teaching your sister. My name is Sora."
Well. This was news to me.
The teaching part at least. As for his name...I didn't really believe it. In this world, strange people had unique names. Sora was too generic for this guy. Something about him...screamed to me. Telling me something was off about him. I couldn't tell if it was a bad sort of off or not, but something wasn't right with him.
"Teach her what?" Takeo all but hissed, like a feral cat.
"How to play with politics of course." He said, smiling like a perfect gentleman at Takeo.
Man...'Sora' was channeling some serious Sebastian Michaelis.
"Why?"
"Well...I hardly see how it's any of your business...but I'm trying to keep her alive." 'Sora' said, looking down at Takeo, "You know...teach her how to get away from difficult situations without causing a massive confrontation. And how to be subtle about things...there are all sorts of things really."
"I don't think she's intere-"
My elbow smashed into Takeo's gut. Although he was a shinobi, he was still caught off-guard enough to be winded. I used this chance to step away from Takeo and go to 'Sora's' side. Without looking at my brother I said to 'Sora', "Let's talk, Sora-san."
His gentlemanly smile turned into a smirk, "Of course, Aisako-san."
And we walked away.
"Now, what do you actually want?" I asked. I knew there was something else. If he had actually wanted to teach me, he would have approached me earlier. And let's face it...The guy who arranged to have charges against me dropped shows up o my doorstep the day after my minion murders her family and burns down the house to hide the evidence?
"It's about your...friend, Machiko?"
Bingo.
"Ah, what about her?"
"I understand she murdered her parents last night?"
I snorted at the way he said it. Speaking so casually of the murder.
"Is that so?" I asked in an innocent tone, "I didn't think Machiko was capable of such a thing..."
"I'm sure you weren't aware at all." He said, humming.
His eyes locked with mine and I could see his amusement. It probably matched mine.
I knew I shouldn't be amused at this time. I should have been worried about Machiko, but I figured 'Sora' here was likely to be one of the only people in power who supported me. If he supported me...I'd make him support Machiko.
He became serious, "I must know...what is the girl to you?"
I blinked. Did I lie? Say she was...
Which on is the lie?
She was my pawn. That was all. Not a friend. She couldn't be a friend.
"She's...devoted to me." I finally said, "I train her...and in return, she intends to protect me."
"From who?"
"Anyone. Everyone. Anything that tries to harm me."
"And why is she so...devoted...?"
"She...thinks we're friends. I accept Machiko and all her quirks, and she overlooks mine. I didn't mock her."
"And do you think that you're friends?"
"I don't know what friends are, sir. Not true friends."
"You were friends with Gaara, were you not? Or were reports wrong about that?"
Phantom pain shot up what my mind believed was my left leg.
"I guess we were friends, at one point."
"And you aren't anymore?"
"No sir. He...betrayed my trust."
"And you're trust is hard to find?"
I tilted my head, curious as to what he was playing at. Thinking of Gaara stabbing me in the back as he had was making my temper flare, and I hoped he would tread lightly. I wasn't in full control of the amber in my blood.
"Yes sir."
"Does Machiko have your trust?"
Did she? Maybe. She was devoted. Willing to serve, and she'd shown that she was interested in protecting me. Hell, she'd killed her parents to be with me. I hoped it wouldn't become a trend in the future...
"Perhaps someday."
"You'll have to trust her."
"Oh?"
"If she is to become your shield, you'd have to trust her with your life."
He was correct, I supposed. Although...I didn't need to trust Machiko for that, now did I? As I said before...I wasn't trying to kill myself, but if I died, then so be it, right? I was running on borrowed time anyways. It wasn't as though I knew why I was here.
No...I was fine with trusting Machiko with my life. But...Could I trust her with...as corny as it sounded, could I trust her with my heart? Could I get attached and share my true self, the feelings of the old me, with her?
But he wanted to know if I trusted her with my life?
Well. That wasn't worth nearly as much.
"You're correct...I'm sure I'll trust her someday...once the wounds from the last time I trusted someone heal a little." I grinned while patting my left leg, which made the dull noise of plastic being hit.
'Sora' stared at me for a moment, eyes darting to my leg. There was an odd expression on his face. Some sort of curiosity, and an idea forming.
"You said you wanted to speak about Machiko...what is it?"
He shook his head to clear his mind, "I just wanted to tell you that if you believe her to be worth it, I'll make sure no one else finds out about her crime."
I narrowed my eyes at him, "And in return?"
There was a spark of something in his eyes, "Welllllll...Perhaps I would be allowed to teach you both some things..." He grinned, "You know...politics...and other things...effective assassination techniques, perhaps?"
I wondered what his angle was. Why was he helping me? He'd said there were people who wanted me to stay alive, but why? Why get charges dropped and cover up murders as well?
There was no doubt in my mind that I had to accept. While he seemed to be trying to gain my trust, I knew if I denied him, he'd have no reason not to tell on Machiko. My pawn would be no good if she was behind bars.
I supposed I'd learn the answer, along with...politics.
"Well, Sora-san...I believe we have an agreement."
"Oh good. I'll be pulling you and your...friend...from your class come next term. I may even move you up a year or so. I think you would benefit from more challenging materials."
"And Machiko?"
"I'm sure she'll learn, if she wants to stay by your side."
And I was quite sure as well.
Walking around the village with my scarf pulled up to hide my face from the sun and the people, I decided to get myself something sweet to eat. It had been a few days since 'Sora' visited, and school was coming up quickly. I was using what little free time I had left for some fun.
It was in my wandering search for a store that still sold candy for a reasonable price when i spotted a familiar head of red hair, accompanied by a blond girl with too many pigtails and another child wearing a cat-eared hoodie.
Sea foam eyes shot up to meet mine and I flinched back in shock. Again, my fake leg tried to convince me it was real.
Those were not the eyes of a child. Those weren't Gaara's eyes. Well, they were...but they weren't the eyes that belonged to the Gaara I once called a friend. They were crazed. They were angry. Terrified. Sad. Hateful. They were becoming old.
I imagined it had something to do with Shukaku's influence. I wondered what the demon was saying to the boy to make him look like that.
"Aisako!" Temari greeted. I noticed the way her eyes suddenly started jumping from me to Gaara, like she wasn't sure she wanted to see our reactions to being close to each other.
"Temari, Kankuro...Gaara-san." I greeted calmly, but keeping my eyes locked on Gaara and the small gourd on his back, knowing it was his sand. Sand that could harm me at any moment. "How are you today?"
"Alright. We were just going to have lunch." Temari explained, "What about you?"
"Looking for candy." I said, offering her a smile while my eyes flickered back to Gaara. He was still staring at me with those intense eyes. I noticed the way Temari and Kankuro were closer to each other than they were to Gaara. They still feared him.
"Oh, we saw some in the store down at the end of the street." The girl told me, gesturing towards the store.
I smiled and nodded, "Thanks!"
Turning to walk away from them, I heard the familiar sound of sand shifting, and felt the rough grains rubbing against my wrist. I snapped my head back towards Gaara, glaring at him from the corner of my eyes.
What was with him and the wrist-grabbing!?
"What?" I asked, trying not to snarl. I didn't want Kankuro and Temari to fear me. Although I didn't spend much time with them, they were only just learning to trust me. They didn't see a monster. Not yet.
He only stared, his eyes glazing like he was somewhere else for a moment, before they cleared and ever so slowly, the sand unwrapped from my arm. I let out a sigh of relief, not caring if he heard it or not.
I...I did not fear Gaara. My Gaara. This one? This one wasn't mine. He'd changed in the short time since he'd betrayed me. This Gaara wasn't one I'd trust. I never liked his sand touching me in thee first place, but now? With those eyes, which didn't belong to that child, I didn't even want to be in the same country as him and his sand, let alone standing on a street in a city surrounded by a desert.
"He...dislikes you." Gaara said quietly, almost like he was talking to himself, but his eyes were boring into mine.
He?
Shukaku.
Well, that was to be expected. There was a time when I was working to keep Gaara from falling under his influence. But I was curious why Gaara felt the need to tell me that. I already knew. Shukaku was quite obvious about that when he ripped my leg off, now wasn't he?
Maybe he was trying to warn me? Maybe Shukaku still wanted to kill me. I could believe that. The mutated sandcastle wanted to kill everyone. For shits and giggles.
Although it was cute that the little traitor still thought he had the right to worry about me.
I needed to fix that.
A deranged grin sprawled across my face, "Good. And you can tell your demented little sandcastle that he can go fuck himself. 'Kay?"
Gaara's expression went blank in shock, before he seemed to flinch, likely at whatever the voice in his head was telling him. He stared at me in horror. My grin stayed firmly in place as I turned to them, a hand tapping a cheerful tune on my prosthetic leg, "It was nice seeing all of you. Buh-bye!"
And with that I skipped away, a horrifying grin in place as I made my way to the candy shop, like the twisted version of a child that I was.
I walked to the academy after picking Machiko up from the orphanage, wondering if 'Sora' really did intend for her and I to skip grades. Beside me, tightly holding my hand in her own, Machiko babbled about how she intended to ask the teacher to be tested right away, claiming the longer she spent away from me, the more time an attacker had to come at me. It was cute.
"Don't worry Machiko, anyone comes at me, Carl-sensei will be there to protect me."
"Carl...sensei?"
"I missed his name when he introduced himself."
"And...no body's said his name since?"
"They're not worthy of me listening to their whiny little voices."
"Ah! Machiko understands now. Do not worry! Machiko will make sure no one tries to speak to Aisako-sama with their whiny little voices. Only those worthy shall even dare approach Aisako-sama!"
So cute. A little alarming that she so easily accepted that I was 'above them', but cute.
As we passed the fence around the academy, the playing children all fell silent and froze as they watched us. Whispers began to break out, and I had to tighten my grip on Machiko's hand to stop her from leaping over that fence and most likely wrecking some eight year old. I doubt even 'Sora' could arrange for that to be ignored if she murdered someone in broad daylight.
"Who is that with her?"
"It's that creepy orphan girl. They're always together."
"What ever happened to the other demon?"
"It ripped her leg off. Even if she's a monster, I doubt she could stand being around that demon after that."
"I think she did something to scare him..."
"I don't doubt it."
"Why is that girl with that monster, though?"
"Brainwash genjutsu?"
"I dunno...but I think the monster murdered her parents because they tried to protect her daughter from it."
"Why don't the adults save her?"
"Because she thinks it likes her."
Hearing that, I had to laugh. They were right. She did think we were friends, or something along those lines...but I believe that at this point, if I told her she was just a pawn, she'd probably be fine with it.
"OH GOD! They're...they're looking right at us..."
"Why is the monster laughing like that?"
I decided to fuck with them as I slowly lifted a hand and dragged a finger across my throat.
When we got inside the academy, I was still laughing my ass off as I remembered seeing a ten year old piss himself. Machiko was also giggling as she skipped down the hall beside me. I stopped at the door to the first year classroom. She'd wait in there until the rest of the class showed up before the teacher lead them to the opening ceremony, where a clone of the Kazekage would appear and give some bullshit speech about them 'becoming heroes' and 'defending our village', 'protecting innocence' and 'creating a stronger Suna'. Like I said, total bullshit. The only person I'd ever believe if they said that kind of crap would be Taiki. Or Naruto, but that was a given. He breathed that crap.
"Does Aisako-sama have to leave Machiko here? Machiko does not think the other students will like Machiko very much..." The blond girl pouted as we stood in the doorway.
I grinned at her, "Now, now, my darling Machiko-chan! You don't have to worry about them. Remember? Because i associate with you, means that you're better than them..."
"And that means they aren't important?"
"Exactly. If they're mean to you, you shouldn't care, because they're opinions don't matter to us, correct?"
"Yes, Aisako-sama!"
"Good. I'll see you in a little while." I told her, gently patting her head and giving her a smile. She wrapped her arms around me in yet another hug before letting me go and slipping into her classroom. I took a moment to notice that she specifically choose the seat in the very middle of the back row. She could watch them all from there...what a smart little cookie.
Smiling to myself, I headed down the hall and burst into my classroom. Around the room, students froze. Sea foam eyes tried to lock onto mine, but I kept looking until I found two nearly identical looking brunette girls. They both wore nondescript red t-shirts and black ninja pants with regulation children's sandals, and both had long hair, although one, Ren, had a pair of normal low pigtails while the other, Rina, wore her low pigtails in braids.
Blonde Bitch was trying to talk to them, but both of them were staring straight ahead at the board. Once they noticed me, their attention moved on to me. It was almost eerie how they both noticed me at the same time, and both turned to me at the same time.
"Ah, hello Shimizu-san!" Rina greeted.
I nodded to them, "Ladies..." before looking towards the Bitch, still wearing bright pink after two years of training. Have I ever mentioned that I hated pink? "Blondie."
Blonde Bitch stiffened before turning around to look at me as I made my way up the steps to my seat between the 'twins'. Funnily enough, they had chosen the same desk in this room that Machiko had chosen in hers. Perfect for watching.
"What do you want?" She snapped.
I pulled a page from Kakashi's book (NOT THE PORN) and gave her a U-eyed smile, "I'm taking my seat."
"No way! I want my seat back! Rina and Ren were my friends first! You can't just-"
"Exactly." The 'twins' said in sync, "You were our friend. Then you got new minions and you stopped talking to us after school. In fact, in the time we had off, you didn't even drop by our houses."
"Only because- I-"
"We don't care." Rina said.
"Besides, you're a little immature anyways. You still dress like a princess and everything." Ren added, looking at the pink clothes Blondie was decked in.
"You do realize we're being trained to kill, right? To fight? To sneak? How do you expect to do that dressed in pink? In frills?" I was amused watching the Sally-Ann ripping into their former friend. If you could even call her that. It was more like she had tried to use them. This was what happened when you didn't keep a tight enough leash on your pawns.
Although I had to wonder...if they were ripping apart their former leader, who would they be joining? There were a couple other groups that the students had gathered into. I imagine they'd to well with the other group of girls, the ones who actually thought about when it meant to be a ninja. That group reminded me of Tenten and Temari. Or they could hang out with the mixed group, but from what I'd seen of them, they were more likely to get into politics when they were older and try to become the new generation of council members. Then there were the trouble makers. In a way I could see Sally-Ann joining, but they were more the type for subtle trouble, rather than the shit those guys got into.
"B-but-"
"Kunoichi shouldn't care about their looks. Unless you want to be that kind of kunoichi."
I turned to Rina, who had a smirk on her face that really didn't suit a six year old.
"W-what kind of kunoichi?" Blondie asked.
I already had a feeling where this was going.
"The kind of kunoichi who gives her loyalty and her body to her village."
"I-I'm loyal-"
"Oh? So if you're ordered to, you'll let a man do bad things to your body?" I asked, tilting my head, "If you're ordered to, you'll give birth to the child of a man you've never met before?"
"What? Why would-"
"If you're ordered to, you'll hand over that child, never to see it again, or to know what they want with the kid? Just so they can order you to get pregnant again?"
"N-No-"
"Because those are the things a pretty kunoichi might have to do for her village." I told her sweetly, "Remember what they teach us in kunoichi classes?"
"It's so silly girls who focus more on looks than strength will be able to seduce men." Rina added.
Blondie stared at the three of us for a long moment before tears welled up in her eyes and she started sobbing. She covered her face and ran where her new 'friends' were sitting. They glared over at us like the loyal dogs they were before trying to comfort Blondie.
At the front of the room, Carl-sensei coughed awkwardly. The way his eyes focused on our desk, I knew the teacher had overheard what we were saying. i grinned, showing off my pointy canines before hopping over the desk to take my place between the two brunettes.
"Great. Your back. You've seen most of your friends again although we're down another four..." He muttered the last bit mostly to himself, "Now shut the hell up and pay attention. This year we'll be starting on chakra theory! Those of you on the higher end of the age scale are expected to learn to mold your chakra by the end of the year. The same applies to you younger students, but we'll give you a little leeway, as your chakra systems might not be fully developed."
Once again, the class was made up of a variety of ages. The youngest students were my age, six years old, while the upper end was mostly eight, although there was a nine year old who failed the end of the year exam the year before, as well as molding his chakra. Since he would have been in the eldest group of the class last year, he wasn't getting the same 'leeway' we were getting.
I wouldn't have to worry about not being able to mold my chakra. I could already do that. My trouble, however, lied in controlling the excess chakra in my system. If I let too much run free in my veins, I'd die. If I let too much out of my system, I'd either overpower the jutsu, or anyone standing near me would...face the consequences. My chakra didn't just effect the fluids in my body...it effected any liquid near me.
"But, we won't be doing that for a while, since I doubt some of you even know what chakra is." Carl-sensei yelled over the growing buzz of children talkings to each other in excitement and confusion. "So sit down and shut up while I take attendance. You remember the penalty for arriving to class late or not at all!"
Oh, that was fun! He made the children work out until the vomited. Or passed out. But he'd only let you stay out for about ten minutes before he woke you up again and made you work out more until you vomited. Then he made you clean it up. With a rag. The bastard was a little brutal.
Luckily, I showed up on time, and the only days I'd missed were the ones after my leg was ripped off by a demon. I didn't even need a doctor's note to explain that one.
I leaned back in my seat and let the day of boredly staring at the board while the teacher taught us math and language skills I'd already picked up. In the back of my mind, I wondered when Gaara was going to stop staring back at me from his spot by the window where we used to sit together. It was getting a little creepy.
The final class of the day ended and I rushed out of the room, only to be glomped by my adoring minion who was already waiting for me in the hall.
"Aisako-sama~!"
"Hello Machiko. How was your day."
"Booooooooorrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiing!"
"And why was that?" I asked her, slowly prying her arms from around my waist. It was getting more difficult now that she had been training with me for so long. I remember the days where I could fling her off in an instant. Now it was quite the struggle. The children walking down the halls and heading home all parted around us like a river around a large rock, and it amused me to see them all look so confused a wary seeing Machiko cling to me like this.
"Because Machiko already learned all that crap!"
"Language."
"Oh. Sorry."
"It's fine. So, you already knew what they'll be learning?"
"Yup. Aisako-sama and Satoru-sensei taught Machiko lots and lots already, so Machiko asked if she could test into the next grade. Machiko will be getting the test tomorrow."
"Make sure to study."
"Yes Aisako-sama." We began to walk down the hall, now that the tide of violent little children had begun to die down.
Seeing us move, the other children all picked up the pace, and the tide died down completely, in an almost comical way. It was just me and Machiko standing in the hell now. We shared a look, Machiko showing confusion in her sky blue eyes, while I tried not to look too amused by it all.
She was about to say something when a door behind us slid open. From where she was standing, Machiko could see who it was. It was my turn to be confused as her eyes suddenly narrowed and filled with malice I could hardly believe.
I had seen hints of that expression before, when she felt the need to threaten others in my place, or when her parents would try to take her away from me by force, but it was still hard to believe that a relatively sweet and somewhat innocent little brat like her could make that face.
Spinning on my heel in alarm, I nearly tripped when I saw who was on the receiving end of her glare.
I'll give you a hint, he controls sand, and it isn't the Sandman. Or Pitch. Or Crocodile.
Did you guess correctly?
That's right! It's GAARA!
The little blonde minion stepped in front of me protectively, still making that terrifyingly hateful expression. I trained my face to fall into a dead expression, not revealing a single thing. Inside, I was panicking. All I could imagine was Shukaku seeing me with Machiko, and attacking her the next time the demon gained any semblance of control. My blood started to boil.
The boy stared at Machiko for a long moment with narrowed eyes, his eyes twitching to the side lie he could hear something in his ear every once in a while. Finally, he looked up at me, and there was this...horrible sadness on his face.
My hand found it's way to Machiko's shoulder, and I pulled her closer to me. She tensed under my hand and looked up at me, although she was barely an inch shorter than me, to my annoyance, "Let me go." She whispered.
I nearly froze.
First person.
That was first-motherfucking-person!
My hand tightened instead. This was not good. I'd never heard her actually use first-person, unless she was complaining about others trying to make her use it. She hated it. So why? Was she really that angry? Why?
"No." I told her, "If I do, I don't know what you'll do."
"I'll kill him." She responded, hissing like a feral cat as she looked back at Gaara. She wasn't actively trying to escape my grasp, which I was thankful for, but the look on her face and the tone in her voice and the body language she was showing sure as hell was enough to tell me that she meant every fucking word.
Sand shifted across the floor. I wasn't surprised. There was always sand in Suna. In every fucking building, every nook and cranny. It was on everyone's clothes, in their hair, in the food. There was no escape from the tiny little particles of death.
Looking at Gaara, his eyes were once again locked onto Machiko, and there was a small amount of fear on his face. Not because she was a threat, but probably because he was just as surprised to see the hate on her face as I was. There was literally no fear on her person at all. It made Gaara, as a child, scared. And because Gaara was scared, the sand was on high alert.
"Okay Princess, calm your fucking tits!" I snapped. i wasn't sure who I was talking to. Machiko? Gaara? Myself?
Machiko flinched hearing the anger in my tone. Gaara did too, which really wasn't helping me stay calm.
"Machiko doesn't want to." She pouted. I nearly sighed in relief, seeing her calm down, if only a little. She still had that look in her eyes. That horrible, cold look in those eyes. Eyes that didn't belong to a child.
My eyes shifted to Gaara. At the moment, he looked more like a child then he had in years. But some part of me hated the look in them too. He looked hurt. I didn't understand that. And he looked angry too. I didn't understand that either. Maybe it was Shukaku's influence?
"Alright, what's the problem here?" I asked, trying to keep my tone calm. I still wasn't even sure which one I was asking.
They both responded at the same time.
"That monster hurt Aisako-sama!"
"Who is she?"
If this hadn't been a horrible situation, I would have laughed hearing Gaara use the same tone for 'she' as Machiko had for 'monster'.
They both glared at each other, and I could only stand there watching when they started arguing with each other. Speaking at the same time.
"Machiko is Aisako-sama's bestest best friend!" Machiko said, while Gaara responded, "I never hurt her!"
"Then why is Aisako-sama missing a leg!?" Machiko hissed.
Gaara responded at the same time she did, once again. He frowned, eyes darting towards me before giving Machiko a once over like a preppy teenage girl, "You're too loud to be her friend. She doesn't like little kids."
"You don't know anything about Aiako-sama! You hurt her!" "And her leg wasn't my faul- It wasn't me!"
"Even if the leg wasn't your fault, you hurt her feelings!" "I know everything about Aisako-ch- -san!"
"Oh yeah? What's her favourite colour?"
"I had to!" Gaara snapped in response to being accused of hurting my feelings, like those actually mattered, before he responded to Machiko's question. "And her favourite is blood colour."
Morbid, but correct. Such a pretty shade of red...
"Food!?"
"Fried tongue!"
Correct again.
"Parent?!"
"Taiki! Saki's terrifying!"
Yup.
"Best friend?"
"ME!"
"Wrong answer!" Machiko snapped gleefully, turning slightly so she could possessively wrap her arms around me, "Machiko is Aisako-sama's favourite. Aisako-sama hates your stinking guts."
"As amusing as this is," A voice suddenly cut in, and we all looked down the hall to see Satoru, 'Sora', Carl-sensei and a woman who I assumed was Machiko's teacher standing there. Carl-sensei continued, "We would appreciate it if you kids got your asses outside if you're going to yell. We also need to speak with you three anyways, so it would be great if you could wrap this all up?"
"Sensei!" Machiko cried, cheerfully running towards them. The woman held her arms out, only for Machiko to dart around her to hug my cousin-thing. The teacher blinked and looked at her empty arms before pouting. Looking at her, I realized she was...kinda fucking hot. Not fair.
She had long, dirty blond hair and jade green eyes. Her figure was perfect enough to turn a straight line into a circle, but I could also see muscles hidden under her deceptive clothing. I figured she was a honeypot kunoichi when she wasn't teaching easily-influenced children.
Gaara narrowed his eyes at the quartet of adults before stepping forward. I walked at a sedate pace a bit before him as we headed for a side door.
So we don't want everyone seeing us leave?
Just before I reached the door, Gaara placed his hand on my shoulder and whispered in my ear. I froze at the words for a moment, watching as he exited the building. I put a hand over my mouth and doubled over from a sudden surge of unwanted emotion. Knowing I couldn't let them run free inside me, I trained my expression and squashed down the emotions, separating them from me and putting them to the side. I would deal with them when I was safe at home.
None of us spoke until we were safely tucked away inside 'Sora's' office in the Kazekage's building. The walls were painted the oh so familiar 'blood colour' that seemed to pop up in my life almost as often as amber orange.
We sat in what as almost a circle around the desk.
'Sora' placed his hand on his hips and stood proudly before us with a cheerful smile, "Well, folks! I'm sure you all want to know why you're here?"
"That would be appreciated." Satoru said, looking like he desperately wanted to read his book.
I couldn't blame him. It was a good book, a little steamy at some parts (No where near the level of Icha Icha, mind you) , but there was a pretty decent plot too. Something about two unwilling rivals who ended up fighting about everything in their lives, including the love of their lives, until one died rather brutally. The other guy was driven to suicide from the guilt of knowing he killed his best friend. Happy story.
"I want these three moved up to the fourth year in the academy."
"SORA!" The woman cried, "You can't be serious! They wouldn't be anywhere near ready for fourth year!"
"And why wouldn't they be, Sunako?" Carl-sensei asked, with narrowed eyes, but there was a mocking smile on his face, like he knew something she didn't.
"Chakra manipulation for one-"
Satoru started laughing. I couldn't help but laugh as well. Did she think we were stupid? Machiko and I could manipulate our chakra just fine, and Gaara had tutors who probably taught him how already.
"What are you laughing about, Shimizu-san?" 'Sunako'-sensei questioned. Man, and I thought I had a bad name...Sand Child? Really? What the fuck were her parents thinking?
"The girls can already manipulate their chakra. I've had them working on that for months now."
"Well, Machiko-chan still has much to learn in other subjects, to suggest she can skip four years-"
"Machiko already knows everything Aisako-sama does."
"W-what?"
"Machiko is my disciple." I said in a bored tone of voice. My minion snickered.
"And I've been teaching Aisako since she lost her boyf- leg." Satoru added in a light tone.
I glared at him for that 'stutter', while Gaara flinched violently. If I wasn't trying so hard to ignore him, I would have laughed. For someone who claimed it wasn't his fault, he sure did act guilty.
"That isn't nearly long enough! That's only a year-"
"Sunako, Aisako-chan is what most people label a prodigy." Carl-sensei drawled.
"All three of these children are. I wouldn't have suggested we bump them up unless I was sure all three would thrive in a higher grade. The fact of the matter is that Shimizu-chan and Subaku-kun are actually rather stifled in their current grade. If we want them to reach their true potential, they need something to challenge them and keep their attention." 'Sora' preached.
"I-I'm...still not sure I fully support this decision, but it wouldn't hurt to have them attempt fourth year. If they have too difficult a time, and their grades are below average, I want them returned to their usual grades, alright?" She asked 'Sora'.
I frowned. Who did she think she was? I would understand if she taught all three of us, but she was only Machiko's teacher, and she'd only met Machiko today. She didn't know anything about Gaara and I, or what any of the three of us were capable of.
"Yeah, yeah. Sure thing, Sunako." 'Sora' said, waving her off. She turned a lovely shade of 'I'm going to strangle you' red.
"Great. Can we go now? These two need to get to their training." Satoru said, motioning to my minion and I.
"In a moment." 'Sora' said, before turning towards Carl-sensei, "You'll be replacing Saboten-sensei."
I take it back. That was a terrible name.
"What!?" Carl-sensei exploded, "Why?"
"You're the only chuunin I trust not to piss themselves in front of these three."
"Oh."
"Indeed." 'Sora' said with an amused smile.
"Can we go now?" Satoru asked again.
'Sora rolled his eyes, but grinned anyways, "Yes you may leave. Aisako-chan, I'll be pulling you and Machiko out of target practice tomorrow."
"Yes sir." I called back as Machiko dragged me from the room.
I quietly closed my bedroom door behind me before turning around to lean against it. I soundlessly slid down the door until I was sitting on the floor as I stared forward without seeing anything. Gaara's words from earlier that afternoon still rang clear in my ears.
"You replaced me." There was pain in his voice. Like he was the one who'd been betrayed.
I had. I knew I had. I had taken Machiko and molded her into what I had hoped Gaara would have become. I made her my protector. I remembered back when Gaara and I first met. I had thought to myself hat if I made Gaara my protector, I'd be safe in this world. After all...I was protected by someone who had 'the ultimate defense'. What could be better for a protector to have? At the time...I hadn't cared that I eventually slipped and let him become more than just a shield, and closer to me than anyone else in this world.
But then, he had failed me, and I moved on to the next child that came along. I suppose it was weak of me, wasn't it? To had behind a kid who was younger than me, simply because she offered? I tried...I tried not to let her get so close to me though. I learned from my mistakes, and this time, I refused to give an opening for her to stab me in the back like Gaara had.
I couldn't put all the blame on him though. I gave him that out. I let him have the option to leave me. I told him that if he called me a monster, he wouldn't be my 'friend' (what was a friend anyways?) any longer, even if he regretted it afterwards. I chose when we'd be...friends...again.
Gaara regretted it. I could tell that. It was easy to see. He kept coming after me, trying to get me to talk to him, trying to get back the...friendship?...that we had before.
It hadn't been until he'd whispered those three words that I remembered something I'd said to him ages ago. I...I had told him I'd never replace him, hadn't I? In a way, I still hadn't. I didn't think of Machiko as a friend. Not really. She was a minion. That was all she was. All she could be. I couldn't allow her to be anything more than that, because if I did, and if she betrayed me...
All I could think of was a repeat of what happened in the Test Drive. The second set of memories I had, the ones telling me of his betrayal...they did not end well.
They ended with me hurdling down the street in my beautiful, shiny red baby, me...off my meds...veering towards that Blonde Bitch and him. They ended with him shaking me with rage until the twisted metal piercing through my body ripped something important and I died.
And I'd be fucking damned if I let that shit happen again.
"ALRIGHT YOU BRATS! SHUT UP AND TAKE YOUR SEATS!" Carl-sensei hollered as he stood in front of the class. Gaara, Machiko and I stood slightly behind him and watched as all the older students scrambled to their seats in shock. I couldn't blame them. After spotting their sensei, Cactus (its what his name translated to (Who the fuck names their kid Saboten when we live in a fucking desert?! That's just asking for the kid to be beaten up.)) leaving the room with the last of his stuff, I came to the understanding that the guy was a total push over. He yelped when he spotted Gaara, and then yelped again when he saw me. He wouldn't have stood a chance teaching us. At least Carl grew a pair after the first few days. Even if they were tiny.
Scanning the room, I spotted Kankuro sitting near the back. His eyes were wide and his face was extremely pale as he stared at Gaara. I suppose he hadn't been told Gaara would be joining his class. Kankuro's eyes shifted slowly towards mine, barely even pausing on Machiko. I smirked at him and tilted my head. His eyes darted away from me and back to Gaara.
Poor kid.
I didn't spot Temari, but it was possible she was in the other class for this year, or in the grade above us. it didn't matter. She'd be on the same team as her brothers anyways.
"I'm your new sensei, starting today! Along with me, you also have three new classmates who have been bumped up from lower grades." Carl-sensei continued in his usual, loud, 'I'm your commanding officer' tone. It was true, in a way. Although none of us were actual shinobi yet.
What struck me was that he failed to introduce himself properly. As in, he didn't even give them a name to call him by.
Carl-sensei motioned to the three of us to introduce ourselves. Gaara, Machiko and I all stared back at him blankly. There was a long, awkward pause before I sighed, and like the boss I was, lifted one hand and snapped my fingers.
Machiko stepped forward with the most deceptively innocent smile in all of creation.
"Hello everyone...this one is called Machiko!" She greeted in a sweet little girl voice as she clasped her hands in front of her and shifted like she was nervous, "Machiko used to have a last name, but now Machiko does not, because something bad happened to Machiko's Mommy and Daddy, and now Machiko is living at the orphanage..."
I could hear hearts breaking. Sure a few of them probably knew how close Machiko was to me, but hey, they were only kids, and no one could really blame them for still having hearts to sympathize with a child as adorable as Machiko was.
"Machiko has only attended the academy for one day before this, but Machiko thinks she will be much better suited for this level, than what Machiko was expected to learn in the first year class." She said, grinned cutely at them all, "Machiko will now talk a bit about what Machiko likes and dislikes!"
I nearly expected her to pull a cute pose or something. Luckily, she refrained. Otherwise, I would have been cackling like the mad woman I pretend not to be.
"Machiko likes...the colour blue, candy, training, killing things, and most importantly, Machiko loves her bestest, best friend Aisako-sama!"
You could hear a pin drop as the atmosphere around my minion shifted fast enough to give a person whiplash.
"Things that Machiko doesn't like?" Machiko asked, tilting her head while giving the class a cold look, "Wellllll...Machiko didn't really like her parents. They made Machiko do things Machiko didn't like. They made her wear pink. Machiko hates pink. They made her speak in first person, and Machiko really doesn't like first-person. Annnnnd they wanted Machiko to have lots of babies. Machiko doesn't like children that much. OH! And Machiko really, really doesn't like anyone who so much as looks at Aisako-sama in a way that isn't nice."
"Aw, she's so cute." I gushed quietly. Around the room, eyes were darting from me to Machiko and back to me. The fear in the room was building until some part of me could practically smell it.
Machiko spun on her heel and skipped back to stand in between Gaara and I, like the loyal minion she was. I gave her a smile and a pat on the head before I stepped forward.
"Alright, ladies and Gentlemen!" I said with a massive predatory grin, "My name is, of course, Aisako! My family hails from the Shimizu Clan of Amegakure."
"I was approached by a strange man who offered to bump me up a year, so I accepted." I said with a shrug, "I figured my first class was getting a little small, so I figured I had better get a new one before I became the only person left in the class. I guess I'll be weeding out the weakest among you now, eh?"
Curse that stereotypical Canadian verbal tick...
"I like quite a few things! I like training, drawing, fried tongue, spending time with my father, teasing my brother, reading, spoiling the ending of books my cousin is reading and avoiding my mother's cooking. I also like moving at high speeds, scaring cowards and teaching Machiko everything I know. " I listed, trying to think if there was anything else. "Oh! And I like pandas and raccoons. They're cute. And blood colour, because its a nice shade of red, don't you agree?"
I couldn't help but glance back at Gaara as I said that. After all, he was the one that named that shade of red.
"I dislike anyone who thinks I'm a monster. Or calls other people monsters. I'm not a fan of getting sand in my eyes, or in my wounds. Or having it ripping off my limbs, but that's a story for another day. I hate people who think this life style will be a walk in the park, and I HATE people who pick fights and then don't have the balls to back it up."
Feeling the need to switch gears, just to fuck with them, I replaced my grin with a shy smile, bowed and in a softer, more childish tone, "Please take care of me."
Machiko burst into laughter.
Silent as death, Gaara moved forward to make his introduction. Man, I wished I could move that quietly. It'd be great for whenever I tried to steal the key to the sake cabinet from Saki. It still pissed me off that she was pulling a Davy Jones and keeping it around her neck. Hell, I'd have an easier time getting it from Squid Face than I would from her...
Although I'd learnt it was easier to move silently when one pushed enough chakra to their feet to muffle their footsteps.
"My name is Subaku no Gaara." Gaara spoke in a quiet voice. It amused me that he didn't need to project his voice at all, as everyone was silenced the moment he started talking. "I don't like people who run away from me...or people who try to hurt me. I also...dislike those who insult mother."
A chill ran down my spine.
"I...love mother. I...like sand." Despite the terror I was feeling at the mere mention of Gaara's 'mother', the blank expression he used to express his like for 'sand' was nearly comical. I didn't show any amusement at all as his teal eyes shifted towards me as he glanced over his shoulder for a second. He turned back to the class, "And I like the colour orange."
I could remember back to his introduction on our first day at the academy when we were four. His words had hardly changed. There was just the added mentions of 'mother', sand and a lack of 'disliking those who speak badly of those who don't deserve it'.
"Great job you three, now go scare some kids and take your seats." Carl-sensei said in a bored tone, sending the three of us to search for spots to sit.
Gaara took a seat by the window that sent one child darting to the other side of the room. Machiko and I kicked two boys from their desk, the one in the middle column-back row that gave the best view of the room, leaving the third to shift awkwardly to the far left. Machiko sat between me and him, watching him with narrow blue eyes.
"The rest of you, introduce yourselves!" Carl-sensei ordered.
'Sora' arrived the moment 'target practice' started. The older students all watched like buzzards as he walked in. The girls, who were much too young to be drooling over men, were giving him some looks as he swaggered by and stopped in front of Machiko and I. He placed his hands on our shoulders and grinned at Carl-sensei, "I'll be stealing these two ladies, is that alright?"
"Yes sir."
Sir? Hm. I knew 'Sora' was on the council, but for Carl-sensei to call him 'sir'...told me 'Sora' probably had another role to play in the system.
"We'll be back in an hour."
Learning from 'Sora' was...boring. And kinda difficult. He decided to start with politics to 'get the boring stuff' out of the way. And he was right. it was boring. He was telling us about the different 'parties' that make up the shinobi council and civilian council, and how each member held grudges against other members. And then there was how the person who called the shots was actually some sort of warlord, who funded the village. There was the whole nobility thing he had to explain to us too.
Now, I was bored. In the Test Drive, I'd never gave a damn about politics because no matter who you voted for, you still got fucked over. The feeling extended to this life too. Now, couple my disinterest on the topic with the fact that 'Sora' looked fucking hot when he ran his hands through his hair in frustration...
I may look six years old, but there was a lively, single teen in here, and she had very good tastes in men.
And 'Sora'?
Yum.
Time passed, as it's expected to.
Machiko and I trained like mad.
I avoided Gaara.
Gaara and his sand stalked me.
People acted like their usual prejudicial, cowardly selves.
I snapped and hurt more children.
'Sora' got me out of trouble.
My academy class, which had dropped by seven students was...interesting.
I struggled with the physical stuff, since they were all older than me and much stronger. Chakra was...hard too. I had to be extremely careful during the exercises. On bad days, I couldn't participate. If I did, I could lose control of the amber. Normal days weren't much better, seeing as the cause for a few of my problems was always in the room, sitting there while his sand shifted across the floor around him.
'Sora' kept teaching Machiko and I, but with each lesson, things got a little darker. General politics turned to blackmail, to how to frame a person, to how to cover up a murder, to how to murder with a flick of your hand. My senbon launcher made that quite easy.
I figured out what kind of kunoichi I planned to be. What I'd specialize in. I'd be good at it, given my lack of...morality.
When my genin days were over, I'd become ANBU, and I'd specialize in assassinations. Until then I'd try to be a mid to long range fighter, but I was fully capable of getting up in people's faces...I just liked seeing their surprised faces when they got hit with a paralytic poison dipped senbon and then collapsed before they could reach me. It was funny.
It was what 'Sora' had planned from the moment he met me.
He never flat out told me such, but I could see it in his manipulations. He pressed Machiko to become a heavy hitter, telling he that this would mean she'd take most of the opponents while I'd be in the back ground, 'safe and sound'. For me, he was less manipulative and more...suggestive? It was hard to explain. It was little things. Compliments.
'You use chakra to muffle your footsteps? Impressive. Most members of ANBU do that as well. It can be a bit difficult to constantly keep chakra flowing down there.'
'Good work with those senbon, Aisako-chan! Keep it up and you could probably drop an enemy from just about any angle.'
'How are you feeling? I know killing something can be hard, even if it is just a hare...oh? You're alright? That's great. The easier it is now, the easier it'll be later when it's a person under your kunai.'
It was stuff like that, that was making me think that line of work would be...best for me. Death didn't bother me. After all, I'd died, and I was fine. If I killed someone...then they'd just be reincarnated too.
Right?
'Sora' wasn't the only one who taught us. Saki was drilling poisons and antidotes into my head, and upping the dosage she put in my foods. she'd even started poisoning me enough that I needed the antidote to survive. To make it more educational, she made me chose the antidote according to the symptoms I had.
Once Takeo passed the chuunin exams, he and Taiki were gone a lot more often. Some weeks Takeo was around a lot, usually placed on guard duty, but he was also being deployed on longer termed missions. It was nice having a break from him. He insisted on walking around Suna with me, to make sure I was safe, he tried to make me slow down my training because he thought I was overdoing it, and really...he just...hovered.
I liked my privacy. As I got older and the events of the story started drawing closer, I realized I needed to write down and plan to figure out how the hell I was going to survive all of this. I couldn't do any of that with Takeo looking over my shoulder and treating me like I was a child.
There wasn't much of a plan. I figured they'd put Machiko and I on the same genin team, and give us a cannon fodder member. After graduation, we'd go to Konoha a year and a half later to attend the Chuunin exams, since we were graduating a year early. Sometime before that, Orochimaru would come in and convince the Kazekage to join him in an attack against the Leaf. I had to make sure Snake-pedo didn't learn about the amber in my blood. While there was no way I could know if he'd be interested or not, I didn't want to be kidnapped or anything along those lines.
Once the exams began, I figured I'd keep a low profile and find a place for Machiko and I to hide within the village so that we didn't get killed in the attack. Gaara would get his ass kicked by Naruto and we'd head back to Suna.
Gaara would calm his tits and become Kazekage...and then I had to figure out some way to deal with Deidara and Sasori. With Saki's 'lessons' the poison part should be...less life threatening...but I had no way of knowing how strong I'd be by that time. I only knew it would be better if we prevented Gaara losing the Sandcastle. That way, he could join Naruto and Killer Bee in being totally kick ass tailed beast hosts.
The war...I didn't know what I'd do. That was kinda an unholy clusterfuck I didn't even want to look at, let alone try and plan for.
Birthdays passed with the usual amount of celebration for the most part, but after a few years, the number of gifts I received dropped by one. It was a good thing...there were too many orange things in my room anyways. The cactus, robe, and most recent orange pillow were enough. And it turns out I can't kill a cactus, despite my best efforts.
We celebrated my ninth birthday more than any of the others. This was the year that determined if I lived or died, according to Satoru. If I made it through this year, then Satoru said I should be safe for the most part. Since I Awakened the Kohaku Dōkei four years previous, my control over my emotions had become much stronger.
I could still feel the amber boiling in my blood when I thought of certain things and people, but it was easier to shut it down, and to stop the rage. I figured it was because the Awakening had been over for quite some time and my body had gotten used to the effects that the Kohaku Dōkei had on my emotions.
I still wasn't looking forward to puberty.
The strength of my Kohaku Dōkei was increasing as well. I could turn my spit, my blood, sweat, and tears, among other bodily fluids, into amber. I wasn't anywhere near Satoru's level, who could create things with his. In fact, looking at how Satoru used his Kohaku Dōkei, I was reminded a bit of Haku's Ice Release, but with an added effect that every suiton jutsu he used wasn't actually water, it was liquid amber that hardened at will.
I wasn't able to use it offensively yet, but Satoru said I'd 'figure out my style' eventually.
At least I could stop myself from bleeding out when people snuck up behind me and tried to gut me.
That was a fun learning experience. For me.
He didn't turn out so well.
I was...happy. To a degree. Growing up, I was never really the child I appeared. I didn't see the world from the innocent eyes of a child who didn't yet know how things worked. I saw them through the eyes of someone who had died, and while I didn't remember what there was between my death in the Test Drive and waking up as Aisako, I knew that it...changed me. In the Test Drive, I had been so weak. So stupid. In this life, I was different. Older. Colder. Smarter. Stronger.
Growing up, I watched people try to take my life for a reason no one would explain. I'd seen people abusing their children for being different. I'd watched the homeless population grow as the economy continued to fall. I'd seen children become murderers and monsters. I'd watched insanity wrap its arms around people I cared about and drag them under, like Gaara and like Taiki, who had continued to deteriorate until he began visiting Kazuo regularly. And despite all the bad things, I was still content with this life. It wasn't pleasant, but neither was I.
I still had my parents and my brother, my cousin and my minion. My family. And with those five people, I was happy.
And for those five people, I did my best to pretend that I had the eyes of a child, and not the eyes of the dead.
I'm so, so sorry about the delay for this update! I was busy during school, life being the bitch she is, personal issues and then there was writer's block...but I finally got my inspiration back, and to make up for the delay, I made an extra long chapter! (That and I really couldn't think of a decent point to cut it in half, and i realy didn't want to either, so...tada~!) With this chapter, I think I can pretty much draw an end to the childhood arc. There will probably be some flashbacks, but I figure it's time to move on with the plot, eh?
So, Machiko's murdered her parents, Aisako appears to be ignoring the stranger danger rule all children get pounded into them, and LOOK! A wild Panda-boy has appeared! As you can see, he's starting to go a little...yeah.
I can promise that Gaara will definitely take a bigger role in the next chapter, since this one was mostly just a transition from Aisako being a child to genin days.
Thank you so much to GodOfPixies, Gremlin Jack, Wolf to the Stars, Zorua1, Gemini's Revenge, WindBear47, Alya Tinuviel, Word eclipse, KingOfWhispers, chara ate my soul, wyteeth, 4everfictional, xVentressx, bored411, PBJellyBean, SortaCore, missfites, BOSS02109, Kagh50, KillerCupcakes, NOTHINGbutADREAM, kylC, Luscil l l, Pinkbubble13, yoloforever, hachinonana, Mordred101, Alyce DreamEater, xbox432, Guest, Guest, MidnightDusk2104, BClassDemon, intata, MikoScorus, the shadow of nature, Dawn of Destruction 2.o, Lady the Warrior, Onjobnotimelogin(Guest), Lioness32, ionashank, vampireharry the 2, Luna Latanya, , Radiant Celestial Aura, Lirynn, Okumura Hikari, Heitor(Guest), Tara146, DeathlyIceMaiden, Kiki's Stories of Awesomeness, magicdownunder, and Soulinvoker for leaving reviews!
Now, I usually respond to reviews through PM, but there was one Guest review that I really feel I should respond to.
In response to Heitor's massive review: Thank you so much! I hope this chapter cleared up a few things for you. I do have a lot of things already planned out, and while I can't give any spoilers, I can say that a few of the things you suggested were already planned. As the story goes on I'll be able to answer more of your questions, like what her fighting style is, her blood limit and things like that.
Now, I want everyone who hasn't voted already to go vote on the poll to determine what chapter 20 will be about! So far the poll looks like:
Saki's POV: Raising a Monster - 20
Takeo's POV: Gaining a Sister Complex - 16
Machiko's POV: Not an Eyeball, or Ai-sama - 15
Carl-sensei's POV: Watching the Class Shrink - 9
Taiki's POV: Sanity's Lifeline - 5
Flashbacks of the Test Drive: Shiny Red Cars - 1
No matter which one is the winner, I'm really looking forward to writing chapter 20~! Just make sure to vote ON THE POLL because I don't want to have to keep track of two sets of votes (one on the poll and on from reviews), and that way no one can cheat and vote for the same thing twice.
So far Demon Eyes has 330 Reviews, 1090 Followers, 798 Favourites and is listed in 19 Communities!
Thank you so much for the support, and I hope you all continue to show it! Love you guys!