I don't own anything!
-:-
"How far should a person go in the name of true love?"
Nicholas Sparks, 'The Choice'
-:-
Maiko didn't really know what to think at this point, so when she found herself back at the Akatsuki base in the small bed that had been given to her many eons ago, she just quietly went about her day.
She crept around for a short while before she tried searching for any inhabitants, only to find that there was no one around.
"Hello?" She called out pitifully, "Itachi-nii? Kisame-san? Tobi?"
"Ah, Maiko, you're alive."
Spinning on her heels, the green-haired criminal had a look of confusion on her face before it transformed into a distorted smile.
"Tobi!" She exclaimed.
Though the newest of the Akatsuki members, besides Maiko, he was one of her closest friends. He was always cheering her up with his folly whenever she was upset. She hadn't seen him for a very long while, but as far as she was concerned, his voice had never sounded so deep.
"You're finally home," Maiko continued, "I was worried you had been killed."
She peered over Tobi's shoulder to see that there was someone following him closely.
"Who's that?" She asked, her tone taking a rapid and startling malicious turn.
"So this is what you meant when you said picking up baggage?" The lone figure deadpanned.
"Baggage? Who the (curse.) are you?! Tobi, what the (curse.)'s going on?"
"Maiko," said Tobi, in an alien voice, "Come with me. I'll be needing your eyes in the future."
The malnourished teen took a meek step forward, but froze at the sight of Sasuke Uchiha, standing as proudly and as deadly as a poison. In seconds, Maiko was being withheld by Tobi's restraints, flailing her limbs angrily and screaming horrendously.
"YOU!" She shrieked, "YOU KILLED DEIDARA-SENPAI!"
The masked man held tight to the reckless girl as she tried using her fingernails to scratch the Uchiha, though he stood yards away in safety.
"Tobi, let me go! Let me kill this son of a (curse.)!"
"Maiko, calm down. Sasuke will be working with us now."
The young lady pried herself away from her friend with a hiss. Looking back at the Uchiha, she threw him a deadly glare.
"I don't understand why you would let that filth join the Akatsuki! Tobi, he killed Deidara!"
"Be quiet and come with me. Deidara died because he wasn't strong enough."
"You take that back, (curse.)!"
"Maiko, if you follow me, you will be able to see your precious friends again."
Of course he was manipulating her. Why shouldn't he? She was a foolish girl who had been smitten with the blonde terrorist from the get-go. Why not use Kabuto's creations to his advantage? He hadn't been lying when he said he needed her eyes.
"Deidara-senpai, Sasori-san… even Hidan-san and Kakuzu-san… they'll all be back home?" she mumbled.
"That's right. Now, come."
It was like the magic words had tugged her forward because she was at Tobi's side like an obedient dog instantly, with a toxic scowl that she sent to Sasuke.
-:-
[Soundtrack suggestion – 'Road to Somewhere' from Spirited Away]
-:-
The first thing she thought she could feel in this garish nightmare was someone grabbing her hand and tugging her forward. She wasn't really sure if she was moving or not, but she kept feeling a gentle pulling on her right arm.
When she tried to open her eyes, she saw nothing but the darkest of night that she's ever seen. She couldn't see her torso or any other part of her body. The fear of not knowing who or what was towing her along overwhelmed her and so she opened her mouth and spoke.
"Where am I?"
Her own voice sounded so foreign; it was like one of those terrible old movies where an actor's mouth would move, but his words would come out a few seconds late. Or like staring at yourself in the mirror as you talk, zooming in on your moving lips without realizing it.
"Just a little further, Hiromi," a woman's soft tone responded, "You need to listen to everything I say, alright? It's direly important if you want to go back."
Go back? Go back where? Wasn't she home? Wasn't her father sweetly scooping up his daughter in his arms after she fell asleep upon the sofa and placing her in bed? Wasn't her mother tenderly brushing out her long locks?
Her surroundings were getting lighter and lighter, and now she could see her weak arms and the vague form of a beautiful lady tugging her hand. The colors of the woman's dress were blurry, but she could make out a lovely shade of purple and dark brown.
"I'm already home, right? Where am I going?"
Her own voice sounded even stranger now, like listening back upon a recording. Had she even said that?
"No questions until the end of the tour!" The lady joked, "Didn't I just tell you to listen?"
"Who are you? Please, let me go back to sleep…"
Had she been sleeping? Yes, she was sleeping, back in Konohagakure, with her fluffy blankets wrapped around her shoulders and her big pillows piled up in a fort to protect her from the monsters that lived under her bed. When she opened her eyes, she would be back at home and would look outside her window and laugh at Maiko, who had been waiting for ages for her to get her lazy bum out of b-…
...Maiko!
Hiromi was abruptly quite unaware of where she was and panicked.
"Who are you? Please, I've got to go back home to Konoha! K-… konoha is under attack!"
"Yes, yes, yes. I know, I know," the woman sighed, as though the fact was obvious and old news, "Please, just let me speak for a little while? I want to properly deliver my good-byes to you, so just shut up!"
Instantly, though the image in front of her is fuzzy, Hiromi knew who it was and was very calm and was very quiet.
"I'm going to guess that Maiko's the one who sent you here."
She opened her mouth to respond, but Hanako shook her head.
"No time for you to talk. You need to understand that I don't want you to kill Maiko, okay?"
"B-but!" Hiromi frowned, "There must be some kind of way to avenge you! I… I know killing her won't fix anything, but I can't just let you disappear and not have any sort of closure!"
The tall beauty sighed again, "Right now is my closure. Knowing you, Kotone, and Maiko are alive is my closure. You need to know this, Hiromi, there is no possible way for you alone to convince Maiko to return."
She bit her lip but didn't feel the pain of her teeth.
"Especially after your last encounter with Maiko, you must understand that you cannot achieve anything alone, got it? Now, please, I don't have much time left, we're almost there, tell Haru everything is going to be alright in the future!"
"Haru…"
Haru was back at home, with her lopsided smile and her mismatched shoes with Kakashi, happily doing whatever Hatakes did. Right?
The image of a scared toddler sobbing as a menace lifts her by her shirt flashed through Hiromi's mind and she tried to force her legs to move faster.
"H-haru is in danger!" She cried out.
Hanako once again shook her head, "No, she's not. She's okay, trust me. She's in good hands."
That's right; Hiromi left her with Kiba and he would protect Haru with his life because he's in lo-…
…KIBA!
"Hanako-sensei, I don't know where I am, but I've got to go back!"
She was running, though still behind her dead teacher's flowing kimono. She felt no wind on her face, or even the feeling of ground beneath her feet, but it seemed like the darkness had turned into a blinding light.
"Now that's more like it!" the maternal woman barked out with laughter, "Did you remember the lovesick puppy waiting for you?"
They stopped abruptly and Hiromi didn't even feel out of breath despite the fact that she had been running for quite a while. The image of Hanako was still so blurry and unclear, and she didn't know why, but all she could really think about was escaping from this strange, bright place.
"Okay, now, just because Kiba is energetic doesn't mean you have to always keep up with him; take a break from him whenever you feel the magic go away and be sure to try other guys to ensure that Kiba is or isn't the one! Also, no foolin' around until you're married, got that?"
"Yes, ma'am!"
The light was very much so glaring at this point, but the blob of colors that was Hanako wrapped her arms around Hiromi in a protective hug.
"I love you so much, Hiromi. You and your teammates were always like my own children. Please, protect Haru, but look after Kotone, too, because I know she can be kind of hardheaded sometimes. And Maiko…"
"Sensei," Hiromi declared, "There is no doubt in my mind that I'll bring her home one day!"
Hanako heartily laughed, patting the girl on the head in a motherly fashion, "But of course. Oh, and also, Hiromi, please be careful out there."
"Yes, ma'am."
The vivid lights were still there, but Hiromi could feel her body now, and felt a heavy weight on it, like her entire build was made from lead. Her eyes were squinted, but she could still see the vague frame of Hanako dissipate from her vision until all she could ascertain was a sweet brightness shining onto her somewhere else.
She tried to sit up, but found that she truly did weigh a ton, and made a slight groaning sound that was choked in her throat, which felt almost as dry as her lips. They were chapped to the point that there were likely scabs scattered about them.
"Did you hear that?! She's awake!"
That unfamiliar voice rang throughout her entire body and Hiromi wondered to herself if this is what a hangover felt like. The migraine in her brain was so severe that the sounds around her made her ill to her stomach. There was an incessant chattering and shoes making sounds against dirt floors.
Hiromi attempted to make another noise of pain, and ended up with an actual whimper, causing the noises to intensify. She was so tired, and felt the weight of bricks upon her body, but she tried once again to sit up, but only succeeding in noting that she wasn't where she had been before.
She was now in a tent, with sunlight splayed across her face from the doorway that was being frequented by a handful of foreign medical ninja. They each were talking about her, it seemed, but their mouths were moving so fast; she couldn't hear anything besides the beating of her own heart and her sluggish breathing.
There was a man with a mask leaning over her now, and she attempted to say something to him but he just kept talking.
"Sato-san," his relaxed voice slurred, "can you hear me? Please give me a sign that you can hear me."
Not knowing what kind of sign the man wanted, Hiromi strained to raise her hand but instead flinched three of her fingers. The doctor took no notice so she struggled to repeat her process until he gasped loudly and started exclaiming something to the other people there, who seemed as excited as he was.
What's going on? She wanted to ask, but her esophagus was still as dry as the desert and every noise she sought to make arose as a croak.
"I'm sure you're quite confused, Hiromi-san, but, please, don't try and speak just yet, okay?" A young woman ensured softly.
The chunin closed her eyes at a snail's pace. When she reopened them, she decided she had had enough of lying down and lifted her head using all the strength she could muster.
"Ah, good, you can control your body! Drink this."
A cold glass was pressed to her lips and tilted, pouring the sweet liquid down her throat, instantly granting her some ease. After finishing off the water, she peered up at the doorway that was screened by the doctors.
Where was Haru? Where was Maiko? Where was… Kiba?
"I-… W-…" She rasped, "Whe-… Where am I?"
The young female nurse appeared by her side and smiled, like there was an inside joke she wasn't getting, "You're at home, Hiromi-san. You've been in a comatose state for a total of two days since Naruto defeated the Akatsuki man and saved us! We're still unsure of why your revival took longer than the rest, but that mystery can wait. You probably want to see your family, am I right?"
An overload of information drenched Hiromi's brain and she lay with a dumbfounded, lost, confused, sad, happy expression. She wasn't dead? If she wasn't dead… she could see her family again!
"Y-yes!" She whimpered.
[Soundtrack suggestion – 'Family' from Howl's Moving Castle]
The woman stepped aside, unveiling the view of the doorway. Standing there with worried visages were her parents, with dark circles beneath their eyes and holding one another's hands tightly. When Mr. Sato laid his eyes on his daughter, his usually laidback eyes lit up.
"Hiromi!" He called.
The two adults rushed to her side immediately. Mrs. Sato's lip was quivering and her pupils were swimming in unshed tears as she blubbered and stammered over what to say at the blue-eyed beauty that lay tattered on the cot that was provided.
"O-oh, God, I thought you were dead! Y-you were dead, and-and-and, Kiba brought you to us and oh, Hiromi- I just… I just-! Thank God you're alive!"
Mr. Sato gently brushed some strands of soiled hair out of Hiromi's face. Her vision was still blurry, but that didn't mean she didn't see the tears her father shed and the wide grin he adorned.
"I'm so happy… you were brought back to us."
"D-dad…Mom! I-I can't believe I'm alive!"
"Waaaahhhhh!" Mrs. Sato lost it, tossed her arms around her husband, "Don't ever do that again! I swear I will kill you if you do!"
"D-don't cry, Mom, Dad!"
"I-I'm not crying…"
"WAHHHHHHH! I AM!"
"Aha-ha-ha!"
Mr. and Mrs. Sato both watched as their crippled daughter choked on her laughter. They intertwined fingers lovingly and dried their tears. Their sweet, precious princess was alive. So, so, so very alive.
"Oh, Hiromi. We love you so much," The elder blonde woman wept, "I didn't know how to act when they told us you were practically gone… I just knew that it couldn't be true!"
"M-mom, what do you mean… practically?"
"Your heartbeat had stopped for a longer period of time than the rest of us," her father explained calmly, "Kiba said he thought he knew why, but didn't share it with us. But you're alive now… And that's all that matters to me."
"Kiba knows?" Hiromi paused.
"K-kiba!" She gasped, "Where is he?"
The two senior ninja shared an expressive look.
"He's been trying to keep himself busy, waiting for you to stir," Mr. Sato tenderly laughed, "He's been saying things like, 'Don't give up, she'll wake up any day now!' and so forth."
His wife swatted him, "Darling, don't tease him. We all know how to felt to be in love for the very first time."
"W-what?!" Hiromi jolted, causing a few doctors to scold the Sato's for agitating their patient.
"Don't mind your father and me."
"Excuse me," an elder medical ninja mumbled, "Hiromi-san, would you like to sit up?"
"Yes, please. That would be wonderful."
Using materials on hand, the staff created a way for the girl to sit and face her parents properly. She received their embraces with happy tears of her own.
"When am I allowed to leave?" Hiromi asked hastily.
An older man shook his head with a frown, "Not for a while, little miss. You've suffered a great deal of injuries to your left arm there," he pointed to it with his pen, "and we don't have much manpower to provide instant gratification. You'll just have to stay here for the time being."
"I see. May I at least see what's happened to the village?"
"What do you mean-oh yes, you're right!" He exclaimed, "You've been asleep for the longest time… When you're in a more stable condition, we'll let you step outside, but you've only just awoken. Let's take things one step at a time, shall we?"
"I understand. Thank you."
"Just let them take care of you, sweetheart," Mrs. Sato reassured, "When you're released, we'll throw the grandest celebration!"
"Don't be foolish, Izanami," her husband scolded, "the rations and supplies won't allow for something so foolhardy."
"You're no fun! But, we'll find something," the elder blonde ensured, "Don't you worry."
"Mom, I don't need any fancy celebrations… I just want to be able to get back on my feet. My… friend needs my help."
Mrs. Sato sighed with a sad smile, "It seems as though you've become an adult when I wasn't looking. How could this have happened, Takumi?"
The brunette sagely responded, "She's been a grown woman for a while now, Izanami. We've just been treating her like a kid."
"Thank you both for coming to see me," Hiromi interrupted with a grin, "But… All this talking is making me feel nauseous."
"W-what?!" Her mother panicked.
"Ma'am, you and your husband can come back in a few hours," the female doctor supported, "But for now, your daughter needs some rest. She's only just awoken. All this stimuli may be overwhelming."
With those words, the two Sato's reluctantly left, promising that they would visit again and inform all of Hiromi's friends of her awakening. She laughed mellifluously at their madness, but was extremely grateful.
She needed to speak with Kotone soon, regarding Maiko, and Kiba.
"Hiromi-san, are you feeling ill? Your face has turned awfully red. Are you hot?"
"N-no! It's nothing! Nothing at all!" The teen stuttered.
She accidentally tried to wave her arms, but groaned at the pain the shot up her left arm; it was wrapped so precisely with bandages she had almost completely forgotten about her injuries… Plus there were… other things on her mind.
Did you remember the lovesick puppy waiting for you?
Darling, don't tease him. We all know how to felt to be in love for the very first time.
It's not true. You're the strongest out of us all. The only person who doesn't realize it is you.
"Are you sure you aren't feeling ill, Hiromi-san?"
"Y-YES!"
-:-
The wooden building in the pit that was once Konoha was completely foreign to Kotone. She approached it hesitantly, tightening her grip on the book she held in front of herself. This was where Akio and Aiko were being housed. This was their new home.
After finding Hiromi's dead body beneath the grieving protector that was Kiba, the white-haired queen had felt empty, but now, all was good. No, actually, it was not good, but it was getting better. Hiromi was recovering, according to the Sato's who informed her soon after their visit with their daughter, and the pale teen was about to finally be reunited with her loved ones.
Her geta were left outside of the cottage and she peered inside cautiously. Just as she suspected, Aiko was lying peacefully upon a futon on the ground and Akio was sitting up against the wall with his head tossed back in either involuntary slumber or stress.
Clearing her throat, Amaterasu spoke, "Hello."
She had nearly expected Akio to instantly awaken, but he sluggishly peered at her with ocean eyes that had lost their luster, and bored two holes into her. He made no signals to her besides raising his hand slightly.
"Akio, I would like to read Mari's book. Would you listen?"
He leaned forward and his long hair shifted behind him, pooling around on the ground. It had grown quite long.
Yes, he motioned, please begin.
She sat in between the twins, and promptly, Akio's dirty white mane fell into her lap and he looked up at her pathetically. Kotone wasn't accustomed to the action, but stiffly continued to open the book to its first page, listening carefully to the old crinkling sounds the pages made as she turned them.
The teen read the first line aloud then stopped.
"What a morbid story," she commented before continuing.
As she moved on, her own voice became a monotone recording, and each word took an effort to put forth. She slowed to a stop in her narrating, but found that her voice didn't stop. Her lips weren't moving, but she was speaking…?
[Soundtrack suggestion – 'Will to Live' from Princess Mononoke]
"The dragon was furious, with fire bursting from his lungs and his nostrils unlike any other being that has existed. As his breast was pierced and his heart was cut by the blade of the princess, whose hand was guided by her guardians who never left her side, he cried out with finality, 'I hath been slain!' Thus ended the reign of the demon that took on no name, but stole the face of a man."
Realization dawned upon Kotone and she closed the book. Her kimono was wet with Akio's tears already. She looked over at Aiko, and noted that the girl's chest was rising and falling more naturally, and her voice was silky as she continued to recite the book from memory.
"Aiko."
The Akivi sat up and turned.
"Milady, forgive me. Before you speak any more, you must allow me to apologize for my failure. I failed in protecting you and caused many inconveniences to you both."
Akio could take no more. He leapt from his position at Kotone's side and embraced his sister with silent sobs, petting her softly and marking her hands with symbols of amity. His twin laughed and cried, too, while Amaterasu sat still and observed.
"Princess?" Aiko eventually inquired, "Are you angry with me?"
"No, I am not. I am simply… overcome with relief that you have finally awoken. Please, you should be the one to forgive me. I have not expressed my true gratitude to the both of you until now. Thank you both."
She tenderly wrapped her arms around her guard and brushed through the woman's mane.
"You are my family," she explained, "and I have not truly understood that word's meaning until now. Family is not just a term used between parents and offspring, but those who love one another and would lay down their lives for one another."
"Think of me not as your leader," Kotone ended, "but as your kin."
"Yes, Amaterasu!"
Of course, Amaterasu.
So, the sun going down leisurely, the humble cottage had its door shut cautiously, and the futon was shared by all three Kimiko's, laying side by side with satisfied expressions on their faces and hands intertwined with one another.
Never before was there a family with warmth like theirs.
-:-
Hiromi was gradually being allowed outside. The first time she laid eyes upon the flattened village, her trembling hand covered her mouth in shock and she cried. Yes, she was sad that they had to start from scratch, but she was also pleased to see all of the people working together to rebuild what had been lost.
Her parents obviously visited her every day, bringing news of all sorts to her, from important news like that Danzo was the new Hokage in Tsunade's absence to the little happenings like a sweet message from an old neighbor.
Just yesterday, Hiromi received a visit from Kakashi and his daughter. He seemed to hold her closer to him now and whenever she hid away in her jacket from shyness, his eyes gleamed with love. But she could not help but be mournful; Haru was not quite the same. Her clothes matched now. Her father explained that she never picked them out anymore and forced him to choose for her.
The toddler was less talkative and in fact, barely said anything to Hiromi.
Peering up at her babysitter, the first and only thing that the girl said was, "I'm sorry I was scared."
It was like she had suddenly taken a solemn turn in her personality, and while it was Haru who was apologizing, Hiromi felt at fault for not protecting the child like she should've.
Hinata also stopped by previously, with a bouquet of Casablanca flowers.
"They mean celebration!" She had explained cheerily.
The Hyuga had dragged Shino along, too, who had kindly delivered some beautiful butterflies for Hiromi to view. He said he would've let her keep them if she weren't bedridden and they weren't so delicate, but she had laughed and told him that she'd rather just view them than endanger them in her care. She remembered him calling one of the butterflies a blue morpho and the other a peacock butterfly.
But today was a rather uneventful day. Her parents had stopped by earlier and caused a ruckus that sent the doctors into a perturbed fuss. Hiromi had simply shooed her family away after that and was sitting patiently as her wrappings for her left arm were being replaced. Each time they did so, the medical ninja insisted she didn't look, and she did just that, in fear of whatever she may see.
"All finished, Hiromi-san! Why don't you take this quiet time and sleep a little? Regardless of how awake you may feel your body needs quite a bit of rest."
"Really?" the blonde sighed, "I feel like all I've been doing is sleeping lately."
"It's what you need," Was the final response.
Resting her head back down upon a less than aptly comfortable pillow that would serve just as well as a brick, Hiromi obeyed the ninja's orders and tried to rest, but upon doing so, she heard a voice from outside the stuffy tent. Usually, there were only three people that frequented the premises, excluding visitors and Hiromi herself, but it still felt tight.
"U-um, is Hiromi Sato here?"
An elder man replied swiftly, "Why, yes. But I'm afraid she's asleep right now. Why don't you come back later, my boy?"
"Oh, I see… Thank you, I'll do tha-"
"W-wait!"
It was the pain killers that were causing this, or maybe it was the lack of fresh air, but Hiromi was now sitting up on her cot, halfway out from underneath the blankets dressed in a plain outfit that had been provided to her by the kind workers who cared for her. The shirt was awfully tight and rode up at her stomach, and the pants she practically swam in, but at the moment all she cared about was the teenage dope who was standing out there.
"I'm-uh, I'm awake!" She continued, "Please come in!"
This was a moment she had been dreading, no, the proper word was anticipating, hoping for, etc. She knew just who was entering the tent, but wasn't sure if she was truly prepared.
Hoping it would take a moment for the dog-lover to get permission to come inside, Hiromi beckoned the young female doctor, Momoko over to her side.
"What is it? Are you feeling nauseous?" She asked immediately.
"No, no, umm, please tell me, do I look presentable?"
"What in the world? Is that really what you're worried about right now?"
"Please answer Momoko-san."
"You look… decent."
"But that's not good enough-!"
"Fine, fine, fine, just stay still."
In a hurried few motions, the ninja ran a nearby brush (a gift from Izanami Sato who ordered to use it in just this kind of situation) through the girl's knotted and oily hair and was streaming her fingers through it as well when Kiba lifted the flap that was dubbed the door of the tent. Momoko instantly turned around and exited the premises, becoming preoccupied with the temperature outdoors.
[Soundtrack suggestion – 'Face it later' from Final Fantasy XIII]
The brunette stopped in the doorway, his countenance one of joy and surprise. He seemed to warily make his way to Hiromi's cot, letting the tent flap fall behind him unhurriedly.
Her heart was pounding so hard she thought she may return to her comatose state, but tried to breathe easy. The last time she had seen him was when she was dying…
Hiromi, I'm so sorry!
Please, try and hang on a little longer… Hiromi, please…
Hiromi, I love you.
Though there was a lone doctor making some notes of a blood sample from a few minutes ago nearby, the female chunin felt as though she and Kiba were the only ones there, or at least, she wished they were.
"Kiba, I-," Hiromi licked her lips before continuing cautiously, "I-… I want to thank you."
When he didn't respond, she proceeded, "If it hadn't been for you, I would've… I may've... never been revived. So, I want you to know that I am in debt to you."
"You did so much for me and I can barely repay you…"
"Hiromi," Kiba finally spoke, "I didn't save you so that I could get a bunch of favors in return. You know that… don't you."
It wasn't more of a question as it was an acknowledgement of the fact that Hiromi was in denial.
Why was she in denial? Why? Over what?
Hiromi, I love you.
She wasn't worth his love. She was always chasing after someone else, putting blinders on herself so that she could only see what she thought she wanted. She was so, so, so stupid! She was so inconsiderate of Kiba! She could only imagine what it felt like to be by her side during all of these years. It must've been like watching a poor soul beg on the streets after you've offered them a place to stay, and food to eat.
Why was it her? Why? She is despicable and she didn't deserve it at all!
"I was just blinded by my pursuit… I kept trying to find someone to like me, but I never even stopped to let myself think about someone who just liked me naturally! I thought I had to be mature and pretty and smart for Neji Hyuga o-or Sai to notice me, but the entire time when I was small and ugly and stupid, someone was already there the entire time..."
Hiromi didn't stop to think about what she was saying; it was just all pouring out of her like it had been cooped up inside all along and she was only just now opening the floodgates. She also didn't stop to think that she had possibly been saying everything aloud.
"I don't know how you were able to keep getting up after all the times I unknowingly hurt you and now, I'm even more useless and stupid than any other ninja out there, and so you shouldn't waste your time on me!"
Kiba grabbed the teen's wrist (of her good arm, mind you) with an intense gaze, "Hiromi, you aren't useless or stupid or any of those things. Being around you was never a waste of time; actually, all the times that I got to be with you were the best moments of my life!"
"But I... I was so…"
The air was so raw and real and intense; Kiba's dark eyes had never appeared so brutally bright and vivid before and his grip on her wrist turned into him grasping her hands in his. (Fortunately, the last doctor had finally gotten a hint and tiptoed out of the tent, only to be bombarded by questions by a group of onlookers who had been shamelessly yet quietly observing the two for a while.)
"Hiromi, I love you. That's a fact."
"But how do you know it isn't just-?" her voice danced out of her grasp.
"Love isn't a 'maybe' kind of thing!"
"We're only teenagers, Kiba," Hiromi's eyes went downcast; "There's no guarantee that you'll still feel that way when we're older."
Kiba lifted her chin in a tender manner, his eyes the definition of passionate. It was like he was trying to make her open her eyes and see the truth, and maybe, that was what he was attempting.
"You're right, I can't guarantee that in the future I'll marry you and we'll live happier ever after, but I can say to you right now, I don't think I'll ever stop wanting to marry you."
Hiromi opened her mouth to speak, but a strangled sob came out instead. The brunette teen who was just too (curse.) genuine for his own good pulled her tight to his chest and she was sure to wrap her arm around him in return, curling her fingers into his stupid, comforting, nice-smelling jacket and bury her face in his collar.
"Hiromi," he mumbled after a few moments of silence, "I know I'm just… tossing all of this at you, but I really want to be with you."
The thin teen leaned back and for some reason, even though her blonde hair was dirty and frizzy and spiky in certain places, and her blue eyes were surrounded by crumpled eyelashes and crust from sleep, he thought she looked angelic.
"So, will you," Kiba flashed his signature grin, with his canines as sharp as ever, "be my girlfriend?"
"Y-you dope…" She looked up at him with soft, wet eyes, a single tear streaming down from her right eye*, "What kind of question is that…?"
Inclining towards him, Hiromi beamed splendidly, "Of course I will, Kiba!"
This was the moment; the moment that she had tried before to initiate in the park, but failed because she was a weakling, but now, she leaned into him and closed her eyes haltingly, anxiously, nervously, foolishly. They were young, but they were in love, and they kissed, but it was mediocre and awkward and Hiromi's lips were chapped, but they didn't care because it was magnificent and excellent. It was, truly, platonic. In every way, this moment that only lasted a few seconds, but actually persisted a thousand years, was the definition of tenderness, admiration, affection, devotion, love.
(Outside of the tent, celebration began as bets that had been made ages ago finally were being rewarded; in fact, Hinata shyly reached out a hand towards Shino.
"S-sorry, Shino, but you owe me a lot of money…")
The chaste peck was only for an instant but it was enough for Hiromi to turn scarlet.
"Aha-ha!" Kiba whooped, "God, I'm so happy you said yes!"
His golden-haired girl smiled at him, "Ha-ha! I wouldn't even dream of saying no."
"Hey, Hiromi," the Inuzuka peered down at his girlfriend, "will you say that you like me?"
"Wh-what? Aren't I saying that by being in a relationship with you?"
"I-I don't know… I just want to hear you say it…"
"… F-fine! U-um, I r-really like you, Kiba."
The young man rubbed the back of his neck with a light blush on his cheeks that was nothing compared to Hiromi's face, which was akin to a tomato at this point.
"Thank you. I really like you, too."
Hiromi leaned in and wrapped her arm around him again; content with his leather jacket and that particular scent that he has that reminds her of the forest and Akamaru of course.
The aroma caused her to unwind and before Kiba knew it, his girlfriend was fast asleep and he was told to leave her in peace by one of the doctors who had mysteriously reappeared.
"Right, I'll be out in just a minute."
He was sure to gently place Hiromi back into her cot and considerately cover her with blankets before leaving with a grin that lit up the village.
-:-
It was only two weeks later that the horrific news arrived.
-:-
Hiromi's left arm was in a sling, now, and she was free to walk around the village some. Kiba was always there by her side for those times, telling her of how he had become a messenger for the village with Akamaru. The large white beast often accompanied the two lovebirds, whimpering for attention when the two of them held each other's hands in silence, or panting cheerfully as he watched his master laugh with a smile from afar.
The doctors never specified what the issue with her left arm was. They just told her not to look and that she was going to be okay. Momoko would have to put Hiromi to sleep sometimes for certain jutsu and procedures that would be painful, but when she woke up, she didn't feel any better.
Currently, Hiromi was resting, laying in the medical futon in the humble one story cottage that was her temporary living space. She was laid flat on her back, but her lips released a disturbed whimper and she unintentionally rolled over onto her left arm.
Blue eyes were pierced and flew open with a shriek and the doctors who had been sleeping momentarily shot up and came to her aid.
"M-my arm! My arm!" She yelled, "Please help; something's wrong with it!"
An elder man peeled away the bandages, and for once, didn't tell her to look away. The sun was gone, but the lantern in the corner was enough light for Hiromi to view her wounds.
"O-… Oh my gosh.."
From the shoulder down, the skin was a painting made from hues of green, yellow, and a bruised purple. Her hands and fingertips were wine-colored and her fingernails were forming a black color.
"What's wrong with my arm?!" Hiromi panicked.
Momoko grabbed her right hand comfortingly, but her stomach still stirred, "Hiromi-san, calm down! This is only a result of-"
The old shinobi who had unwrapped her shook his head, "No, Momoko-san. No. There's no need to hold back the truth now."
His young coworker gawked, but didn't argue, backing away from her patient until her head was bowed in what looked like shame and her hands were clasped in front of her. The man took off his glasses in a grave manner and stared down at Hiromi with a somber glare.
"Sato-san. in order to save your life… we must amputate your left arm."
-:-
"Else all that is good, all that is fine,
all that is yours, all that is mine
slowly fades away."
Cece Garrison, 'Bad Things Happen to Good People.'
-:-
*When people begin to cry and their first tear comes from their right eye, they are crying from joy.*
-:-
A/N: Hello, everyone! Sorry for the long wait D: I've been busy lately!
I had a lot of fun typing up this chapter, but I feel like I've messed up the order of things... I kind of wanted to have the Confession moment in the next chapter, but I decided to give Hiromi a little bit of a break and give her a boyfriend before learning about the true state of her arm.
It was actually a really hard decision regarding her arm. It took a lot of consideration because, well, Hiromi is a character of mine, and it's strange but when you type about someone for so long, you eventually develop an imaginary relationship with them. I've heard people say, "Gosh, I love this character! He's so cute," and "She's just so girly, I love it!" I mean, when you really put your heart into something, you give the character a piece of you sorta and you can't help but feel bad whenever you chop their limbs off.
Sorry for my weird psychological rant XD
ANYWAYS
Reviewers
Purplette237 - Thank you! :) I will definitely try to get chapters out sooner, and I know I say that a lot, but I really am trying X( Aww, what, you cried?! For real? :D I don't mean to be happy about your sadness but that is a great compliment to me as an author v.v Thank you! Lol yeah she's alive though c:
Oh, I see :O Insane Maiko definitely is mysterious :p I feel like I barely gave any time for Kotone to cope with Hiromi's death, but since I knew and most of the readers knew she'd be alive, I just tried to give lots of room for the Confession scene XD Sorry Kotone!
I hope you enjoyed this chapter! :)
ShadowBloodNinja - Lol yeah sorry for the long wait XD OMG AP CLASSES MAKE ME WANNA KILL THINGS YOU SHOULDN'T PROCRASTINATE THOUGH BECAUSE AP CLASSES WILL KICK YOUR BUTT OUT OF YOUR OWN APARTMENT I'M TELLING YA
PsychoIdiotLady - I ALREADY HAVE THE DESIGNS LAID OUT FOR THEIR BABIES ADFGLAKDFG LOLADLSKGJAKLDFJG AHAHA The other two will just have to wait a while longer XP
Yes, Maiko has yet again escaped... But apparently she will be playing a role in the war? :P Mysterious mysteryyyyyyyy XD I can't tell you anything, I'm sorry!
I have a plan to sneak Kotone into that scene ;) Dontchu worry dontchu worry child
Yeah, I'm not gunna touch that scene XD OMG THAT IS SO TRUE THOUGH LIKE I MADE SURE SHE HAS THOUSANDS OF GUARDIANS my feelings were torn apart by that scene ;-; *cries for life*
Lol I know how you feel c: but it seems as though Haru's character has taken a sharp and major turn..? ;o
THEY ARE GUNNA BE SO AWKWARD YOU HAVE NO IDEA I CANNOT WAIT FOR THEM TO BE LIKE "HOLY DGKAJDHFGKJHDFG YOU COMPLETE MEEE" MWUAHADKJHGKJLADHFG
I see what you're saying v.v It is my mistake for not giving him more time, but think of it this way, Hanako really wanted Kakashi to tie up his loose ends with his dad before stepping in. Eri is a smart kid, and positive, and if he had stayed any longer, he probably would've been upset because he wanted more time. So, he just wanted things to be short and sweet c: But I do wish I had given him a little more time to be like, "omg dad protect haru from all those dudes"
Tbh, I'm not exactly sure if I want Kotone to go with Sakura. In fact, I'm not sure if this is the best idea, but I'm thinking of sending her there without actually interacting with anyone else who was going there too? Maybe. Possibly. Because it would be a bad move for me to put Kotone with Sakura and try and figure out how to get her awake in time to interact with both Sasuke and Gaara. Lol I'm afraid there isn't quite a Sane Maiko yet XD
I'm trying not to catch up too quickly, but it seems a little unavoidable to eventually catch up to recent chapters :/ I might just have to put this story on a little break or make a vacation chapter if I do catch up and the story isn't finished. Worst-case scenario is me going off of what I think will happen :) but that is the WORST CASE scenario.
Thanks for the lovely review! :D I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
demonking - The Puppet and the Puppeteer - Ch. 19 - omg sweetie i'm afraid you're way too late i'm so sorry maybe I'll have another one of those chapters in this story in the near future but wow sorry love thanks for the review though
Rastaman3 - Yay sequel time! :D I hope you like it v.v
Followers
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Favoritings
Thanks so much to XxMusicChickxX, Stereoheart21, Nabii Shimurai, wolves134, ChibiCheshire, and Rastaman3!
Thanks again, readers, reviewers, followers, and favoriters! Please look forward to the next chapter!