Here it is... chapter 2... AKA how Toshi gets so extremely messed up in the head...
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in Naruto, except Toshi, Riko, adn Akira (They're the only ones left by this point)
Grin & Bear It (I told you he'd come in, didn't I?): Um, Usagi...?
Me: What?
Grin & Bear It: shouldn't you put that little "warning" that you were planning on...?
Me: I'm working on it! don't rush me! Anyway, enjoy (if possible)!
Sound Ninja Aren't All Bad… Are They?
Chapter 2
Toshi woke in a hospital bed. Her major injuries had been healed by the medical ninja, and two mechanical fingers specially designed to be able to play the flute were in place where her original fingers once were. She didn't hurt anywhere, but she figured that that was about to change. Orochmaru's favorite punishment for crossing him was genjutsu torture. The very fact that she had been healed was proof that Orochimaru wanted the genjutsu to take full effect.
She was led to and underground area where Tayuya of the Sound Five awaited. As if on signal, Tayuya put her flute to her lips and began to induce her genjutsu. Orochimaru's instructions rang in Toshi's ears up until the instant the genjutsu hit. "Do not kill her, but break her. Such a talented ninja cannot be wasted."
Toshi began screaming almost immediately after Tayuya began playing. She clutched at her skull and clawed at it, as if she was trying to split open her head to expel the genjutsu.
In the village, people heard the screaming, but they thought nothing of it. After almost every mission, Orochimaru gave the order for a person to be tortured with genjutsu. They were used to the screaming.
Toshi writhed on the ground in pain, screaming until she had no breath left. Screaming turned to choking gasps as Toshi fought the pain for air.
Tayuya saw the struggle for release and allowed even more chakra to flow into her would-be deadly song.
After what seemed like several hours of Toshi's torture, Kabuto placed a hand on Tayuya's shoulder, interrupting the song. "I think she's had enough. Any more and you could kill her," he said.
Tayuya nodded and released her genjutsu hold on Toshi.
Toshi's lay unmoving on the ground, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Her body's only function now was to keep her alive. The genjutsu had permanently damaged her mind, and she made no conscious effort to move.
When the shock of the illusion began to ebb, Toshi managed to lift herself to her feet and began to walk back to her home. Her head hung limply on her neck, and her feet dragged the ground.
The villagers were seeing two sights that they had never seen before. Not only had they never seen anyone emerge alive from genjutsu torture, but they had never seen Wantonabe Toshi with her spirit broken. Some people gawked at the red-haired teenager, but a few tried to help her. One of Toshi's teammates, who was also her best friend, helped her more than anyone. When Toshi stumbled and did not get up, he carried her into his home and laid her down on his bed. He shut the door quietly and went back into the village.
When Toshi awoke, she found herself sprawled on her friend's bed. His name rose slowly from the back of her mind to her lips. "Akira-san," she murmured. With a sick kind of glee, she realized that this was the first thing she had said since the morning she had faced the genjutsu. Of course, not even a day had passed, but Toshi didn't know that. Part of her shuddered to think of that horrifying experience, but somehow, a small giggle erupted from her throat.
Then Toshi's memory fully returned. The laughter died in her throat, and her body was racked with sobs.
Akira walked into his room to find his best friend sobbing on his bed. He quietly walked to her side and laid a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't touch me!" Toshi shrieked, slapping his hand away. For an instant, hatred shone strongly in her eyes, but it faded when Toshi threw her arms around Akira's shoulders and began sobbing again. "Help me," she whispered, "I don't know what's wrong with me." She took a shuddering breath as Akira returned the embrace. She pushed herself away from her teammate. The sadness in her tearstained face had vanished, and in its place, determination shone strongly in her blue eyes. "I—have to leave," she said.
"No, Toshi-san! You can't leave! You're still valuable to the village. Please stay." Akira looked at his best friend in horror.
"Please, Akira-san," Toshi said, trying to calm him down. "I'm not doing it because I want to, I'm doing it because I have to." Her eyes darkened. "If I did stay, how many people would have to die before you were convinced that I had to leave? Twenty? What would happen if I killed you? I couldn't live with myself if something happened to you and it was my fault. You know that I don't kill for pleasure. Akira, you know that I don't kill at all if I can help it."
"Where will you go, Toshi-chan?" Akira said softly, intent on making his friend stay.
The sudden change in honorific startled Toshi. Akira hadn't called her Toshi-chan at least since they had made it through the chuunin exams together. "I—I—I—well, I don't really know, Akira-kun. If I can move faster than a message can, then I'll try at Konoha. If not, I don't know where I'll go… maybe if I tried the River Country…"
Akira knew, like almost all Sound Ninja that knew much about Orochimaru, that the village of Konoha was Orochimaru's original home. Realizing that he couldn't prevent her from leaving, he embraced his teammate for one final time.
WARNING! THE FOLLOWING CONTAINS "MUSHY" STUFF! SKIP TO THE NEXT DOUBLE LINE IF YOU DON'T WANT TO READ THE MUSHY STUFF!
Toshi returned his embrace warmly, knowing bitterly that she would never see her friend again. A thought struck her. Maybe, just maybe, she could give Akira something to remember her by. She gently linked her hands behind Akira's neck and touched her lips to his.
THERE, IT'S OVER! READ ON AND ENJOY IF YOU CAN!!
Grin & Bear It: Um... Usagi...?
Me: WHAT?!!?
Grin & Bear It: I think you forgot to turn the Bold off...
Me: (messes around on keyboard) Is that better?
Grin & Bear It: Yup...
Akira pulled away quickly, breaking the embrace. He watched as Toshi cut a lock from her long red hair with a kunai. Realizing what she was doing, Akira took his own knife and cut some of his own hair off with it, wrapping it in a small bundle. He and Toshi exchanged their bundles. "I'll never forget you, Toshi-chan," he said sadly.
"Nor I you, Akira-kun," Toshi replied. Toshi started as Akira suddenly placed her bag in her hands.
"I made sure that your flute was inside before I took it from your house. There's food in there, packaged into daily rations. I don't know how long it will last, but it'd better than nothing. If you leave now, I might be able to delay tracking ninja, if they are sent." Akira urged his friend on, willing her to be safe more than he wished for her to remain.
"Good-bye, Akira-kun!" Toshi said, giving him a quick peck on the cheek before he could back away. She jumped out his window onto the street below and ran out of the village.
Akira watched his friend disappear from view, wondering if he would ever see her again
End Chapter 2
It's OVER!! Not really, just the chapter... now I need to type up the rest of it... GRIN AND BEAR IT!
G&BI: Uh... hi...?
Me: Remember to remind me to work on typing up the rest of the story on Sammy... (Sammy is the name of my laptop...)
(Five minutes of silence)
G&BI: Usagi...
Me: what?
G&BI: Don't forget to type the rest of the story on Sammy
Me: (gives G&BI and V8 in the forehead)