Enjoy
The rest of the month seemed to pass quite nicely, except for the thought of killing Hatsuharu to end his pain. Asuka was able to walk around on crutches now, but couldn't walk too far without her legs giving up on her. They were weak due to the lack of exercise and the fact they're still considered broken and wont heal completely until another month passes by. But it was time for the second preliminary round to start.
"What do you mean I can't go!?" Asuka shouted at the doctor in disbelieve. "I can walk with these damn crutches, surely I can go and watch the matches!"
"That is enough Asuka!" The doctor scolded. "Your body is simply not strong enough to carry you that far."
"What if someone were to carry me there?" She queered.
"Well… I suppose so, but if you start coughing up blood, you come straight back here, understand?" He asked sternly.
She nodded. "Yes, I do."
"Now… who do you plan on carrying you there?" The doctor asked while jotting down notes on his clipboard.
"I uh…" She clearly didn't think this through.
Knock. Knock.
"Come in." The doctor answered.
"Hey, Asuka, are you able to come to the Chunin exams?"
"Guy sensei!" Asuka cheered. "Could you carry me to the Chunin exams?"
"I would love to Asuka, if it means you'll be able to watch your comrades in win." Guy answered gleefully. "But, is it ok with you doctor?"
"If she starts coughing up blood, bring her straight back here. Other than that, it's fine by me." He answered.
"Alright Asuka my youthful student! Climb on!" Guy went over to her bed and faced his back towards her while squatting.
"Wait a second, surely you'd want something more… public appropriate then the hospital gown." The doctor pointed out.
Asuka looked down and almost forgot she was still wearing it, she's been wearing it so long it seems like nothing was there anymore. "Yah, I'd like that." Guy stood back up and leaned against the wall.
"Here, put this on." He handed her a light blue, thick robe that you'd wear indoors when it got cold. "There's still a risk of you getting sick because of the outside air, don't want you getting cold now do we?"
Asuka started easing her way off the bed and slowly walked over to the doctor. "No sir we don't!" Guy happily said while giving a strong pat on the back to Asuka.
"Gah!" Asuka hunched over and held her back, the doctor gently rubbed her back.
"Guy, you can't do that to her, especially right now." The doctor gave Guy a cold stare.
"Oops! Sorry Asuka." He embarrassingly scratched the back of his head.
Asuka sighed and took the robe then slid it on carefully. "Ok, I think I'm ready now." She finished with tying the strap around her waist.
"Alright Asuka!" Guy squatted in front of her with his back facing her. "Get on! We don't want to be late now do we?"
Asuka smiled and carefully jumped on and clung onto her sensei's back. "To the Chunin exams!" She happily cheered.
"Lets go!" Guy cheered along with her as he sped out of the hospital.
Asuka shielded her eyes from the bright sunlight as she felt the cool breeze flow through her hair, taking in the scent of the village once again. "Guy sensei… it's been so long since I've been outside, thank you."
"Anything for my youthful students!" Guy exclaimed happily as he continued to run through the village.
Asuka smile soon faded as she felt an all too familiar feeling in her throat and coughed. "Uh oh…" she whispered.
"Asuka, did you cough up blood?" Guy asked.
She sighed, "Yes…"
"I'm taking you back." Guy slowed down and was about to turn around.
"Wait! Guy please! I really want to see Neji and Lee fight, please! If I cough up blood again I'll go back, promise!" She pleaded.
Her sensei sighed, "Alight… I understand your feeling Asuka, but if your health is at risk then we'll need to turn back, understand?"
She nodded, "Yes sensei, thank you."
"I better not regret this later Asuka." Guy commented before speeding off again.
Only what seemed like a moment passed and they were at the arena. Guy sat next to Kakashi and he set Asuka down next to him while making sure to keep a close eye on her.
Kakashi tilted his head back then stared at Guy quizzically. "Did you get into a fight on the way here?"
Guy gave him the same quizzical look, "No, why?"
"There's blood on your shoulder." Kakashi pointed out.
Guy looked over and felt the liquid with his fingers. "Oh, Asuka coughed on me earlier."
Kakashi arched an eyebrow in response then looked over Guy to look at Asuka who waved at him with a guilty look on her face. "I think you need to take her back to the hospital…"
"I said the same thing…" He looked over to his wounded student, "But she wanted to see her team fight, and said if she coughed up blood again she would go back. So I'm holding her up to her word."
Kakashi just sighed and looked over the playing field. "Looks like both our students are fighting first."
"Really?" both Guy and Asuka questioned in unison as they focused on the field.
"It's Neji!" Guy pointed out.
"And Naruto!" Asuka also pointed out. They both looked at each other then looked over to Kakashi. "Who do you think will win?" Asuka questioned.
"It's hard to say…" Kakashi answered. "But I've heard that Jiraiya has been training him, so I honestly think Naruto will win."
"Wait? You mean, one of the legendary three senin Jiraiya? The toad sage?" Asuka asked in disbelief.
"Yes," He looked over to Asuka with his right eye then looked back down at the field. "Unless Neji has been training just as hard as Naruto, they're nearly evenly matched."
"Now Kakashi, don't be talking down about my students in front of me." Guy stated. "Neji trains nearly just as hard as Lee everyday, I'm positive he will win." He looked over to Asuka with a fire in his eyes. "Who do you think will win?"
"I uh…" She hesitated. "I don't know… if what Kakashi sensei says is true… then Neji will be having a hard time taking him down…" She looked up at guy and saw the disappointment in his stare. "But I still believe in him because he is my teammate." She finished off with a smile.
Guy grinned and responded by patting her shoulder. "That's the youthful student I know."
She slightly giggled and looked back down at the playing field to see that the match was about to start and smiled, knowing that this was going to be an interesting match if Naruto was really trained under one of the senins of the Leaf. Asuka took in her surroundings to see some of her friends weren't too far off from where she was sitting, then saw the booth where the competitors were. She saw Kankuro, Shino, Shikamaru, and… them. Gaara and Lee. All these thoughts started racing through her head.
What if Gaara and Lee are in the same match?! I didn't see the schedule… Lee has been acting… off lately. Always a little irritated when he visited and only took a minute or two to talk then leave as soon as he came. Unlike Gaara, he would take up a couple hours and we'd just talk, he even stayed after visiting hours were over and didn't care what the nurses said… wait a second… is Lee… Jealous?
Asuka looked over at Lee whom was watching the fight, the same with Gaara and the others. She shook her head along with her worried thoughts and focused on the match. She scanned the whole field countless times and couldn't find Naruto anywhere, more panic flooded her mind along with racing thoughts that were faster than others. Her head began to hurt all over, including her stomach, her vision was darkening and began hearing voices she didn't recognize. It seemed like the whole arena was spinning, she heard echoes of voices calling out to her but still couldn't recognize any of them. Everything went dark as her heart raced and cold sweat covered her face and clammy hands. Everything fell silent. It all ended within a flash. It was like a dark flash that left you breathless, wondering if you're even still alive…
ooOoO0OoOoo
Asuka, her sensei Guy, and Kakashi were sitting there, watching the match; but something was… off with Asuka, she was just sitting there and staring blankly at the field and her surroundings. She stared at me a few time and I smiled at her, expecting her to smile back but she didn't. It almost seemed like she was a blind person trying to see. After a moment of her doing that, she held her head and screamed while hyperventilating. I wanted to step in and help, but I had to stay here until my match started. Which made me feel…
Furious!
I looked over to Kankuro and he avoided my cold stare by focusing on the fight. I wanted to take my anger out on something… Someone. But if I were to do anything now, it would ruin everything… but what do I care if Orochimaru tried killing me because I ruined it… If Asuka ever gets hurt by that snake bastard, I will not hesitate to kill him myself.
I returned my sand eye and watched the rest of match with the two leaf nin. Surprisingly the one in the orange attire won against one of the Hyuga's. My thoughts slid back to Asuka, so I looked over to find that she was being carried off by her reckless sensei. I then heard the familiar sound of stone being broken off or moved, turning around I saw the one in the green jumpsuit, the one Asuka called Lee, he was gripping onto the stone edging and crushed it in his fists. He's much stronger than Asuka described… then again the palms of his hands were bleeding from the stone, so he must have pushed passed his limits. He must be mad that he can't do anything about her until his match is over.
Damn it!
That Lee is up next, against the shadow user. I need to see her now! I gripped my head and pulled on my hair, trying to keep what little sanity and control I have left under check. I felt a warm, light palm on my shoulder, I quickly turned to look at the culprit with daggers in my eyes.
"Hey, Gaara… try calming down alright?" Kankuro tried comforting me.
"Get the hell away from me." I threatened.
Kankuro held up his hands in defense and backed up to his spot. I finally decided to look at the match for a moment to try to calm down… If I act out of rage again, I might actually hurt Asuka… her hospital isn't too far from here… I need to calm down… for her sake.
Looking at the match, I could see that the shadow user could control Lee's shadow if he could only catch it, he's too fast for the shadow user. Then again, he had to keep his distance from Lee to make sure he didn't get hit, and Lee couldn't get close in fear of being possessed. Only after a few minutes of the match starting, it soon ended, that kid in the orange attire left a hole that Lee fell in and the shadow user had an opportunity and took it. He unexpectedly ended it by raising his hand, which raised Lee's.
"I forfeit." Shikamaru announced to the spectator.
"What?!" Lee exclaimed. "But I am in your grasp right now, no?"
"That's true, it's just I can't really do anything else to you with the amount of chakra I have left." He retracted his shadow jutsu. "All that running from you and making sure to stay in the shadow part of the arena… what a drag, you have too much energy to burn…" he folded his arms behind his head and exited the arena.
"Hey! I declare a rematch to determine the winner!" Lee yelled at Shikamaru as he ran after him.
Not soon after, Kankuro and the bug user were called, but Kankuro dropped out… so now it was my turn, and at the last minute my opponent finally showed up. I felt my heart race and my blood pump as I saw the Uchiha enter the field.
Finally! I get to take my anger out on somebody who is worth my chakra…
Well then... hope you enjoyed. Please review and tell me what you think, it makes me work more.
9/30/13 *Aftermath*