"Anger and intolerance are the enemies of correct understanding." ~Mohandas Gandhi
Chapter Five: Discrimination
When Yamanaka Ino entered the bedridden traitor's room, she wasn't sure what to expect. She was not expecting to see the kindly-looking young man she vaguely remembered from the chunin exams. However, upon entering, she determined that Yakushi Kabuto was relatively unchanged, although his face was a bit pale, and he seemed less inclined to converse with either her or Kiba.
Kabuto, however, was more concerned with the fact that he was hungry. Since he'd told the last pair that he wasn't hungry, he'd determined to wait until the next group arrived before asking for something to eat- it would be less embarrassing that way.
"So you're the creep who betrayed Konoha?" Kiba demanded upon entering the room.
Kabuto considered that for a moment. "It might be more accurate to say that Konoha betrayed me."
Kiba scowled. "Oh yeah?"
Kabuto ignored the kid. He wasn't concerned by the furious look the boy was giving him; Kabuto was not someone easily intimidated. Kiba huffed, glaring at Kabuto.
Kabuto smirked. "Konoha ninja are all the same. That look is identical to the one Sasuke gave me when… never mind."
"What? What?" Kiba demanded, instantly on the defensive.
"What did you do to Sasuke to make him give you that look?" Ino demanded.
Kabuto chuckled slightly, and then fell silent. Kiba huffed again and folded his arms, looking in the opposite direction of Kabuto. The next few minutes passed in silence, until Kabuto cleared his throat.
"I'm hungry," he said.
Kiba and Ino exchanged glances, and seemed to come to a decision.
"Too bad," Ino said, folding her arms.
"Yeah. Why should we give perfectly good food to a traitor?" Kiba continued.
"A traitor who stole Sasuke!" Ino added.
Kabuto rolled over and focused on the wall. Brilliant, Kabuto. Antagonize your guards. What could they ever do to you, deprive you of sustenance necessary for survival? Brilliant.
The next twenty minutes passed slowly, with small squabbles between Kiba and Ino erupting every few minutes. About half an hour into the third shift, the door swung open.
"I brought you guys some lunch," Chouji said cheerfully.
Ino and Kiba gratefully accepted their bowls. Kabuto sat up slowly, watching the two eat for a moment.
Chouji glanced at Kabuto and frowned slightly. "Is he hungry?" he asked Ino.
"No," Ino and Kiba said simultaneously.
"Yes," Kabuto said from the bed. "Is that ramen? Can I have some?"
Chouji glanced back and forth between the patient and the guards. "Did he ask you guys for something to eat?"
Ino and Kiba exchanged glances rapidly.
"He's fine," Ino asserted.
"I'm hungry," Kabuto said from the bed.
Kiba turned on Kabuto. "Shut up!"
"I am hungry," Kabuto said, looking at Chouji, recognizing him as a momentary ally.
Kiba moved towards the bed, glaring daggers at Kabuto. "He never told us that."
"I did say I was hungry," Kabuto told Chouji.
"He demanded!" Ino said, grasping at straws. "He never asked for anything."
"Correct. But I never claimed to have asked for food," Kabuto replied.
"Uh, you have to ask," Chouji said uncomfortably.
"I did just now," Kabuto said. "I actually asked two things: first, is that ramen; and second, can I have some?"
"Absolutely," Chouji said, turning to leave.
"No, he can't!" Kiba and Ino said simultaneously.
Chouji appeared confused. "Why not? He asked, didn't he?"
"He doesn't deserve food!" Kiba snapped.
Ino face palmed. "You had to go and say it…"
Chouji looked appalled. "HOW COULD YOU?" he shrieked. "Denying food to someone is the cruelest form of torture one could inflict upon… anyone! I wouldn't wish that sort of thing on my worst enemy!"
Kabuto blinked, confused. 'Cruelest form of torture'…? He thought, frowning slightly in perplexity.
Ino was shaking her head, glaring at Kiba.
"I'm telling Shikamaru!" Chouji cried, throwing the bedroom door open and stomping down the corridor.
Kiba whirled on Kabuto, fury etched into his features. "You," he snarled, "have made a really, really big mistake!"
Ino nodded in agreement, balling her fists.
Kiba marched over to the side of the bed, where Kabuto reclined, staring at him with smug satisfaction written across his face.
The smacking sound reached Kabuto's ears almost before he realized that Kiba had hit him; the sheer force of the backhand drove him from the bed and to the floor. Kabuto struggled to his knees, only to be met by a kick to the ribs that knocked him on his side. Knowing full well that he would be unable to fight back, Kabuto covered his head and braced himself for whatever blows would follow.
The next blow was an unexpected strike to his lower back, courtesy of Ino, followed by a devastating barrage of blows to his abdomen and lower chest, initiated by Kiba. Kabuto could see the next kick coming; it was aimed directly at the bridge of his nose.
Kabuto squeezed his eyes shut and waited for the strike to land, but it never did. Instead, the door burst open and someone charged in, shouting, "What the HECK is going on in here?"
Kabuto opened his eyes slowly, and realized that Kiba's foot was mere centimeters from his nose… and that the foot was not moving. Turning his eyes upward, Kabuto realized that Kiba was frozen in place, seemingly unable to move. Ino was also frozen. Kabuto tried to lower his arms, and found that he was every bit as frozen as his assailants.
Footsteps made their way into the room, and Kabuto strained his eyes to see who it was, but the frames of his glasses cut off his view.
"See, Shikamaru? They- now what are you guys doing to him?"
"Nothing," Ino spat, although the truth of the matter was debatable, as her heel was poised to smash into Kabuto's temple.
Shikamaru sighed and released the jutsu.
Kiba stepped back. "Sorry, Shikamaru. We were just… fooling around?"
Slowly, Kabuto moved his arms away from his head and rolled over, clutching his stomach with his left hand. He coughed lightly- none of his ribs seemed broken, but there would definitely be some bruising.
"Are you all right?" Nara Shikamaru asked, moving across the room to look down at Kabuto. He wondered if it would be breaking Kakashi's rule to help the guy up, and figured it was probably okay. "Here, let me help you up," he said, slipping an arm around Kabuto's shoulders. The young man stiffened slightly, but then slowly relaxed.
"Thank you," Kabuto grunted.
Shikamaru nodded and helped the young man stand. "You still hungry?"
"Quite," Kabuto replied. "If you would be so kind…"
"Here's your ramen!" Chouji sang, hopping into the room.
"Excellent," Kabuto breathed, sinking down onto the bed with a sigh.
Shikamaru stepped back and folded his arms. "You going to be okay?"
"So long as I get something to eat," Kabuto replied.
Shikamaru nodded curtly, then turned on the two who had attacked Kabuto. "As for you two;" he said, "what on earth were you thinking?"
Kiba glanced at his feet. "He was a traitor to Konoha…"
"A traitor that the Hokage had Kakashi take personal responsibility for," Shikamaru replied. "Kakashi gave us the responsibility to take care of him, not beat him up!"
"Don't place all the blame on them," Kabuto volunteered from the bed, glancing up from his ramen for a second. "I antagonized them." He then returned to his ramen, slurping politely.
Shikamaru glanced at Kabuto, then at Kiba and Ino. "Is that true?"
"Yes, but it's no excuse," Kiba said sheepishly.
"You're right, it isn't," Shikamaru said sternly. "Now you two, go back to the kitchen, Chouji and I will finish up your shift and then start ours."
Ino and Kiba slunk out of the room. Shikamaru glanced at Kabuto. "So, do you play shougi?"
"I was waiting for you to ask," Kabuto replied.
Shikamaru frowned. "No, you're supposed to ask us for stuff."
"But you're the one who wants to play," Kabuto reminded him. "I could care less."
Shikamaru scowled. "I can't do anything with you unless you ask."
Kabuto frowned. "What? Fine then. Do you want to play shougi with me?"
"Yes," Shikamaru said.
"Then will you?" Kabuto asked.
"Will I what?" Shikamaru inquired, frowning slightly.
"Play shougi with me. I asked if you wanted to, now I want to know if you will," Kabuto clarified.
Shikamaru rolled his eyes, heading for the door. "Yes, I will play shougi with you. Let me get the board."
Chouji grinned. "Kabuto, since I'm headed for the kitchen…would you like more ramen?"
Kabuto shook his head. "I'm fine, thank you."
"Okay then," Chouji said, just as Shikamaru re-entered with the shougi board. "Just let me know if you want anything else to eat."
Kabuto smiled slightly. "I will."
A/N: Yay! Shikamaru and Chouji to the rescue! Thanks so much to everyone who has reviewed, and I hope you continue to enjoy the story as it progresses. Again, this story would not be what it is without MidnightAnimeAngel!