A/N: Idk how I got this chapter out so fast XD please don't think that this will be how quick I update normally..
Disclaimer : I do not own Naruto~!
Please enjoy Chapter 3.
Her eyes burned. She cried blood unknowingly and only realized it when the other man pointed it out. She wailed in agony and when cool rags were pressed to her eyes she still thrashed.
They blazed.
-:-
"You encountered Sasuke?" Hiromi asked cautiously.
She was probably the last one to hear about the new Team 7 coming across the criminal, but she still had the same reaction of the others.
Sakura nodded, "Yeah."
"Was he with.. Orochimaru?" The blonde girl asked tenderly.
The pink-haired chunin lowered her head, "Y-yeah."
"Was he," Hiromi prodded gently, "himself?"
"No.. Not really."
The golden-haired chunin smoothly stroked Sakura's back as she tried not to cry. Tenten, Hinata, and Ino sat nearby. Sometimes the girls would get together and talk. Amaterasu was absent because she was doing some paperwork for the Hokage. ( Hiromi had a feeling that the pale young lady wouldn't have known what to do anyways.)
The two decided that Kotone would help out more than everyone else to make up for all her absent years. The damsel didn't seem to mind, so Hiromi never asked about it directly.
"I'm so sorry," Hinata whispered, "I wish there was something we could do to help him."
Tenten nodded, "Me too. But Naruto's the only one who can change Sasuke's heart."
Ino and Hiromi nodded in agreement.
"I just wish," Sakura whimpered, "I could change him so he'd come back to me."
Hiromi wiped her friend's tears away, "You don't need to waste your tears. Save them for when Sasuke comes home."
The pink-haired young lady nodded in agreement before composing herself. Hiromi had a way of always saying the right thing.
"I'm sorry I'm not taking your feelings into consideration, Hiromi-chan," she whispered.
Tenten frowned, "We're not supposed to talk about it!"
Ino sighed, "Kotone's not here so does it even matter?"
"Kotone doesn't know?" Hinata murmured.
The other four girls turned to gaze upon Hiromi. She lowered her head.
"I'm not allowed to tell her. I talked to Shikamaru about it. It's not permitted."
"That's unfair! She deserves to know!" Ino pouted.
"You're totally right," Sakura agreed, "Maybe I can persuade Tsun-"
"No, don't!" Hiromi protested.
Hinata frowned, "Ino and Sakura are right.. Kotone deserves to know."
The girl with the golden braid whined, "I couldn't bear what may happen to her!"
This time it was Sakura who caressed Hiromi's back as she held back her waterworks.
-:-
Aiko and Akio followed her everywhere. Wherever she was, they shadowed. Amaterasu didn't really mind. She needed the company to tell her what to buy for groceries.
She stopped by the store where she bought her sword. The old man had been replaced by an unenthusiastic teenager who was chewing gum stereotypically.
"Where is the old man who used to run this store?" Kotone asked.
"The old geezer kicked the bucket about a year ago," the feminine boy replied, "and he left this old hut for me to take care of! Honestly, he could have at least left some money or something.."
Amaterasu felt something stirring in her stomach. She wanted to hit the adolescent. When she asked Aiko what it had been later on, she responded 'disgust' or 'anger'. It seemed accurate.
The indifferent damsel scavenged throughout the shop anyway. Everything seemed either overpriced or in bad condition, so she ended up leaving empty-handed. She could hear the young man cursing her as she left.
"Akio," she said remotely, "How does one eat cereal?"
You must have a spoon, Amaterasu-hime.
"I don't believe we have enough money to buy silverware."
The trio gathered around as Kotone counted her earnings from working with the Hokage, taking on D and C missions.
"Eh? I don't think that's enough to buy groceries to supply us a week! We should go hunting," Aiko suggested.
"I doubt that the Hokage would like us doing so."
Amaterasu-hime is right, Aiko. We shall just make do with what we have now. We went many days and nights without food during our traveling.
"But that's not the same! We were allowed to steal, hunt and fish!"
"Aiko," said the detached princess, "listen to your brother. We will survive."
The blind young lady pouted, turning around and knocking someone's basket onto the ground.
"I apologize!" She said repeatedly.
"I don't really care," Sai replied with a fake smile.
Amaterasu recognized him as the young man who was with Hiromi at the festival.
"Are you well acquainted with Hiromi Sato?"
"I suppose," the artist responded, "why do you ask?"
Kotone frowned slightly. She took a step closer to him, examining his features properly.
Before punching him directly in the face.
-:-
Hiromi waved farewell to Ino and Sakura. Hinata and Tenten stayed behind because it was about time for them to train taijutsu with one another. The golden-haired young lady had learned virtually immediately after beginning her training with Gai-sensei that she would rather train with girls. When she was nearly forced into a green spandex suite she drew the line and began practicing with Hinata and Tenten instead.
"Let's meet up in fifteen minutes," Hiromi stated, "at the park like usual."
"Sure!" Tenten grinned before disappearing alongside Hinata.
The fair-haired lass ran back into her house, scurrying to her room.
"What's wrong?" Mrs. Sato asked.
"I need to get dressed for training; that's all!"
"Alright! Have fun, sweetheart!"
"I will! Do you need anything while I'm out?"
"Hmmm," The maiden woman put a finger to her chin, "Maybe some grapes?"
"I'll grab some on my way home!"
Hiromi dove into her closet and resurfaced with a pair of periwinkle yoga pants and a light jade tank top. It wasn't quite what a ninja would look like, but it was something tight that she would not have any trouble with as she moved around. Tying her Konoha headband around her forehead, though she usually wore it around her waist or neck, Hiromi made her way to the park.
-:-
Tenten threw her scrolls up in the air.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Immediately, a storm of ninja tools rained from the sky. Hinata dove out of its path instead of blocking because of her lack of chakra. The misses had been sparing for eternity it felt like!
The weapons stabbed the ground and Hiromi laced her way through their paths. She was very glad at that moment that she had shorter hair than before, for her braid would have been sliced off. Her loose strands stuck to her perspiring face as she leapt out of the tempest and skidded in the grass.
"Don't give up so easily!" Tenten taunted.
She summoned a large shuriken and spun it towards the recovering Hiromi. The chunin jumped to her feet before doing a lean backbend, evading the weapon successfully.
Hiromi grunted as she threw her legs back over, doing an effective backflip, but let out a gasp for air, fell onto her rear, tossed her head back and groaned.
"I'm exhausted! Can we take a break?"
"Hey!" Tenten grumbled, "I haven't even got to use my newest technique!"
"I'm sorry, Tenten-san, but I think Hiromi is right," Hinata sighed, stumbling out from her hiding spot amongst the trees.
The Hyuuga came to Hiromi's side and sat down to rest. Tenten was still pouting.
"Come on, guys! Rock Lee usually lasts longer than this!"
Hiromi raised her head from the head and raised a brow, "Well, that's probably because he's Rock Lee."
"But still!" the girl with the brunette buns argued, "Don't you want to try a little harder?"
"We've already reached our limits," Hinata reasoned.
Hiromi opened her mouth to add to what the Hyuuga had said, but was pegged in the back of the skull with a Frisbee and she yelped in pain. Hinata and Tenten ran to her aid, but the blonde girl simply picked up the circular weapon and spun around.
"Kiba! Come out!" She commanded with a hint of anger in her tone.
The athletic boy appeared from behind a bush and he scratched the back of his head nervously. His monstrous mutt Akamaru padded to his side.
Hiromi smiled and shook her head, causing her unfastened blonde locks to free themselves from her sweaty visage.
"Honestly," she sighed, "did you do that on purpose?"
"No way! I threw it for Akamaru but I guess I threw it too hard…" Kiba explained, his dog barking in agreement.
Hiromi gently tossed the Frisbee back to him, "Well, watch it next time!"
Before Kiba could catch the disk, Akamaru leapt into the air and snatched it, gnawing on it cheerfully.
"Shouldn't you two be training with ninjutsu?" Tenten asked with her hand on her hip.
The boy rubbed his dog with a grin before snarling at the ninja tool specialist, "Akamaru's still a dog, you know! Sometimes he needs a break!"
"Hmph. Whatever!" The brunette grumbled, crossing her arms, "I'll see you all later; I'm heading home!"
Hiromi and Hinata bid farewell to the girl as she disappeared slowly. The Hyuga sighed.
"Kiba, I think you offended her."
"How?!" The teen argued.
Hiromi laughed lightly, "Ha-ha! Calm down; it was about time for us to leave anyways. Am I right, Hinata-chan?"
"Y-yeah," the dark-haired girl responded, "I guess we should be making our ways home."
The girls packed up their equipment and allowed Kiba to accompany them. Hinata went down a separate road, so when Hiromi went down a supposedly wrong street, the boy and his dog were confused.
"Your house is that way, right, Hiromi?" He asked.
"I'm going to the store today," she responded with a well-lit smile, "for my mom. I need to purchase some grapes. I have a feeling she's going to try and make wine, so I'll get some of that too."
"Wine? Why would your mom need that?" Kiba asked.
The Sato family didn't drink daily; it was usually just for special occasions, or festivals.
"Don't tell, but," Hiromi leaned forward to whisper, "we're surprising Kotone with a 'Welcome Home' celebration!"
"Eh? Am I not invited?!" Kiba asked.
"Well, Kotone never really met you formally! It's just going to be me, Hanako-sensei, Haru, and Hinata.."
"Why such a small party?"
"I didn't want to overwhelm her.. I'm sure she's been through a lot in the past week, working for the Hokage with all of those missions and paperwork and all."
"Well, if she doesn't know about it," Kiba reasoned, "then how do you know she'll be present when you throw your party?"
Hiromi smiled brightly, "We're throwing it tonight! Hokage-sama said that she lets Kotone off of work at around ten, so we'll catch up with her and lead her to my house and we'll celebrate!"
"Sounds pretty fun!" Kiba grinned, "Be sure not to drink too much!"
"I won't!" Hiromi tittered.
-:-
Akio and Aiko were exhausted. They had rushed around the village, doing D-rank and C-rank missions and delivering paperwork back and forth. Kotone sat in a small office that didn't belong to her while filing and organizing paperwork as well before handing it off to her 'assistants'. She left the missions to Aiko and Akio because she knew they would rather be running around than sitting in a cramped office.
Amaterasu turned off the lamp at the station she was at. Tomorrow, she would come in earlier than usual and get more done than she did today to get a head start on other work.
She stretched her limbs lithely before exiting the room, encountering her two followers immediately.
"We finished all of the missions, Amaterasu-hime!" Aiko reported, motioning towards Akio (but not quite in the right direction) who was handling a heavy-looking stack of papers.
"Good work," Kotone praised, "Let us deliver these to the Hokage and get our share of the pay.
"Alright!"
-:-
Tsunade paid the trio properly, though the amount was not as high as they had hoped.
"Thank you for your help," she said calmly, "and before you leave, I ought to mention that Hiromi was looking for you. Something about meeting you at her home?"
"A meeting?" Aiko questioned.
Kotone bowed politely, "Understood. Let us go, Aiko, Akio."
-:-
Amaterasu knocked politely upon the Sato's door. She did not remember ever visiting their home, so she studied its appearance intently.
"Come on in!" Hiromi called, "The door is unlocked!"
The supple princess gently twisted the nob and entered the household. Immediately upon entering, she was bombarded by confetti and streamers.
"Congratulations!"
Aiko gazed around, confused at the feeling of confetti and streamers, playing with them as Akio looked upon all of the color with awe. They would be occupied for quite some time.
Kotone soaked up the decorations with her milky eyes and discovered Hiromi, Hanako, Haru and Hinata (so many H's) buried in the middle, with colorful foods and a bottle of red wine. The pale damsel did not plan on drinking any.
"What is.. all of this for?"
"For you, Kimiko-san," Hinata explained politely.
"Why?" the royalty questioned.
"To congratulate you," Hiromi smiled, tucking a strand of gold behind her ear, "on your return home!"
Kotone gaped at her before looking up and seeing a large banner with 'Welcome Home, Kotone!' sprawled across it. She put a hand to her heart, and gripped her kimono tightly. In its folds laid her Leaf headband.
"Thank you," she said silently.
Hanako-sensei approached, her earlier pregnancy not maiming her image seeing as to how her maroon dress fit her attractively, "You should enjoy yourself for a little while. Tsunade-sama is working you and your subordinates to the bone, I'm sure!"
Kotone found herself in comfortable seat. Hinata offered her some strawberry cake, and she took a bite of it experimentally. It tasted.. good. She did not know how else to explain it. She decided to take a slice and saw the appreciation on Hinata's face. So she took two.
"Haru, let her eat in peace," Hanako sighed.
Her daughter sat impossibly close to the guest of honor, watching her in awe. She murmured something that sounded like 'robot from outer space' in amazement and her azure eyes sparkled with admiration.
"Would you like some chocolate truffle?" Hiromi asked sweetly, "I made it before you arrived!"
Once again, Kotone sampled the dish. It tasted a lot like the 'strawberry cake'. Good. So she took two and felt a warm feeling when she saw Hiromi smile widely.
"Thank you for letting her stay," Hanako-sensei chuckled, motioning towards the suddenly asleep toddler, who rolled strangely in her deep sleep, "I couldn't leave her with Kakashi at the hospital. He better get out of there soon! I can't keep neglecting missions."
"Would you like me to babysit her?" Hiromi asked, her considerate nature glittering, "I wouldn't mind at all!"
"Oh, Hiromi," her brunette sensei grinned, "you're too kind."
"And if Hiromi can't, I would," Hinata piped in, "I only have local missions tomorrow."
Kotone relished in the camaraderie. It felt like the first time she ever had 'girlfriends.' It was a very nice feeling that made her want to talk loudly to gain her friends' attention. She didn't, but simply sat back and listening to them speak enthusiastically.
"Kimiko-san," Hinata said suddenly, in her usual soft tone, "What is your homeland like?"
Amaterasu took a moment to think before responding, "I live to the west of Sunagakure. It's a small village that is separated for society by a thin river. It used to be lively and the people there used to be very considerate, but when my father took over the kingdom, the state of my homeland began to decline."
"Your father?" Hiromi piped in, "Do you look like him?"
This time it was Aiko who answered, suddenly aware of the conversation, "Amaterasu-hime looks nothing like the king. He's got black hair and green eyes. His brother created the Akivi people and the king made us his slaves! I never liked him."
She disappeared in the streamers and confetti as the other girls digested what had been said.
"What about your mother?" Hanako asked curiously.
Amaterasu let a small smile float on her face. Her other female friends seemed to savor it by adding their own grins.
"Arisu-sama was very kind and caring. She loved me and my father very much, no matter how badly we treated her," Kotone's smile disappeared and she lowered her head, letting her straight, white hair hide her expression somewhat, "She committed suicide when I left the village."
The room was silent except for Haru's soft snoring. Grief and pity were heavy in the air.
"I'm so sorry," Hanako whispered, "But I understand completely."
Hinata and Kotone curiously stared at the dark-haired beauty.
"You do?" the Hyuga inquired.
Hanako crossed her legs and arms, "I suppose I never told you two about it. I only told Hiromi because when Kotone disappeared and that awful thing happened, she was feeling lonely."
Before Kotone could interfere and ask about the 'awful thing', the woman continued.
"I had an older twin sister. Just by a few minutes, if my memory serves me correctly. Her name was Haruko," the eldest woman glanced at Haru before continuing, "and she was going to inherit all of the responsibilities of the clan leader. When we were vaguely around your ages, Haruko committed suicide from the stress. No one even saw it coming."
Hiromi bowed her head in grief. She imagined that she and Haruko would've gotten along if the description of her personality was accurate.
"She had so much in her favor," Hanako whispered, "I would still give anything to go back and save her."
Amaterasu nodded, "I'm sorry for your loss, sensei.. But.. what is this 'awful thing' that occurred?"
Hiromi froze nervously, and the atmosphere became mysterious and tense.
"I think it's about time for all of us ladies to get home," Hanako stated calmly, avoiding the question.
Hinata nodded hurriedly, "Y-yeah. I'm going to head home. Good-bye, everyone. I will see you tomorrow, I hope!"
She disappeared, taking whatever dishes she had brought, and Hanako followed suite, slinging Haru over her shoulder and rushing out. Hiromi kept silent, picking up the streamers.
"I'll keep them," Aiko said when she felt the tug of the 'toy' beneath her, "if you don't mind."
Hiromi nodded, dropping the supplies before moving to the table and beginning to clean up the dishes. She was stopped by a pale hand that was slammed upon the table's surface.
"Tell me."
The blonde chunin turned away, "I'm sorry. I can't."
"What is this 'awful thing'? It has to do with Maiko Arakawa, doesn't it? Tell me."
Hiromi nearly dropped a plate. She needed to tell her.. But she couldn't. She just couldn't. There was a rule.. There was rule!
"What's happened, Hiromi? What's happened to Maiko?"
The blonde girl turned away nervously.
"You should go home and get some rest. You're probably getting up early tomorrow."
Kotone insisted, "Hiromi. Please."
The chunin tucked a strand of golden locks behind her ear, "Please get out."
.
.
.
.
"I apologize for abusing my welcome," Amaterasu bowed politely, "Let us go, Aiko, Akio."
The trio packed up their things (yards of streamers and a slice of cake for Akio, who was watching over his sister the entire time) before exiting at a slow pace. There was something that needed to be said. She had to know.
"Farewell, Hiromi. I will see you tomorrow," the ashen damsel deadpanned.
Said golden-haired miss turned with a solemn expression, ".. Yeah. Bye, Kotone."
The triad strolled of the house and Aiko scoffed.
"There's some sort of secret that's being withheld from you, Amaterasu-hime."
".. I know."
Would you like us to force it out of her?
"No. If I was meant to hear the news, Hiromi would've told me by now."
"Are you sure?" Aiko asked doubtfully, "She seemed to be pretty hesitant back there."
Someone's coming from behind us!
The group spun hurriedly, but Kotone told them to stand down when it was revealed to be Hiromi, with her light strands strewn about. She must've ran to catch up with them. She rested her hands on her knees and panted.
"Kotone." She whispered.
".. Yes?" Amaterasu responded quietly.
Hiromi looked up with an emotional expression. She looked scared. She looked courageous. She looked angry. She looked nervous. She spoke.
"Maiko is dead."
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
A/N: Plot twist? Possibly?
Thanks to..
{Reviewers}
[Animefangirl95] - Thank you for your kindness v.v ... Hehehe c: I tried to make that scene cute. Thank you for understanding it XD Thank you so much! v.v I hope you will enjoy this chapter as well.
[MaoIsSleepy] - THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU? THANK YOU!
[Guest] - Welcome, Guest v.v Thank you for your kind words :) Kotone is staying! Hurray! :D ... Here is Chapter 3, Guest-san :D Thank you for reviewing v.v I hope you enjoy this chapter as well.
[Fairytale-GhostPrincess] - Ah, thank you :D You reassure me so much XD Thank you for all of your compliments! Hehehe c: I'm glad it came out funnier than when I looked at it when I was typing! v.v Thank you for reviewing and reading.
[a Wiccan] - Thank you very much v.v Everyone seems to like Kotone XD Sorry for nearly killing her off! Hahaha c:
/Followers\
{rainbowcolors214} - Thank you so very much! :D
[Favoritings]
{rainbowcolors214} - I appreciate your kindness v.v
Please be looking forward to Chapter 4! :)
Reviews are appreciated very much!