..Chapter Twelve..
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The day was bright. It was early and she was only slightly tired. Once it really got going she'd be in her element. Kei yawned and stretched as she gazed up at the sun. Her lips pursed as she placed her hands on her skirted hips. She reached one hand up to shield her eyes from the bright rays that threatened to scorch her pools of endless cold blue. There was some cloud coverage and thankfully plenty of trees about in the large training area.
"Kei! Come here so we can spit into teams!" Ryu was calling her.
She turned, a bright smile on her face. "Ok!" She dashed over to the large group. Everyone was here accept Shin and Ryu's parents. Tenten, Neji, her father and mother, Ryu, Sakura, Sasuke, Itachi and Gaara. Kisho was sitting this one out. He had opted to watch in an attempt to learn by watching. He was good at that, those eyes of his seemed to absorb almost everything she did on a daily basis.
When she came up to them her Father was speaking. "Alright, so, here's the deal. There's ten of us. Since me and asshole here have a score to settle, we'll be the team captains. Ok?"
Sasuke arched a brow. "You really wanna settle that this way, dropout?" He crossed his arms over his chest.
He grinned and adjusted the forehead protector on his head. "Why not? It's better than going at it for real."
He smirked. "Fine, but, I get to pick first since you suggested it."
"Go right ahead." He waved his out at the group.
Sasuke scanned his choices and narrowed his eyes. This wasn't going to be easy. All of them were good in their own way. Then again, he didn't know how good many of them were now. He wasn't worried about not getting a Hyuuga on his team. It was bound to happen with such odds for him. But, even if he did Naruto would get one as well. So, it would have balance somehow. He knew Sakura well enough to keep in time with her like no other. She kept with his speed and she could tell what he wanted to do just by a gesture. Gaara wasn't a bad option. He was a power house and sneaky as hell. But... he still wasn't sure. He wanted his brother if he couldn't get Gaara at least.
"Pick already, dumbass!"
He grint his teeth and turned to Naruto, yelling as he did when was a child. "Would you shut up! These things take time!" And then he composed himself again.
"Feh... I wanna play before the day runs out, jackass."
"Yeah yeah..." And then his eyes slid over Kei. Cute little powerhouse Kei. Somehow, she'd managed to learn that technique last night. He didn't really understand it, but, he supposed it had to do with the fact that she knew how to control Chidori so well already. It probably made learning the more difficult technique just a bit easier. She would be the first one he chose. If for nothing else than to spend some time with her.
"Kei." He called out.
She grinned and ran towards him, grabbing onto him with a hug. "I knew you'd pick me."
It warmed his heart and he smiled at her. He pat her head and looked again. He was happy she didn't let go as he waited for Naruto.
Naruto grinned. "Sakura."
He grunted. "Jackass. You did that on purpose."
"Duh! I'm not giving you your ace. I know well enough by now you guys are probably pretty damned in sync."
"Whatever." He rubbed his chin and thought again. He smirked. "Fine, if you won't give me my ace I'll take the next best thing." He looked at his brother. "Itachi."
The dark haired man wandered over next to his brother as he spoke. "I don't even know why I'm playing. Whatever team I'm on will have a huge advantage. It's almost unfair."
Sasuke chuckled. "So you say. And I thought I had the ego."
Naruto grumbled. "Well, if you going to take Itachi them I'll match you point for point. Gaara!"
Gaara smirked and glanced over at Itachi. "Wasn't that... my line, Uchiha?"
Unnerved by his cockiness Itachi just narrowed his eyes and let it go.
"Hinata!" Called Sasuke.
"Ryu!"
"Tenten!"
"Neji!"
And then the teams were finally chosen. Team Sasuke: Sasuke, Kei, Itachi, Hinata and Tenten. Team Naruto: Naruto, Sakura, Gaara, Ryu, and Neji.
"Now that that's done, who's hiding and who's seeking? What are the ground rules?" Sasuke asked.
Gaara was the one who spoke up. "Each team carries an item. Whether it's a scarf or a bell or even a ribbon. One person from each team keeps this item. Whoever is chosen keeps it. It can't change hands. The team to get the item from the other team first, wins." He glanced around him to make sure they were listening. "Now, the rules. Just keep it clean. You don't want anyone hurt or the game to stop because someone has to go to the hospital. Other than that, just have fun."
"Sounds easy enough," Itachi commented. "What items will be used?"
Ryu pulled two different colored ropes from his belts and offered one to each of the team captains. "Those should work. Just give them back when you're done."
"How are we going to start?" Asked Sakura.
Kei pipped up then. "We should both start on opposite sides of the Main House gates and go from there. I say wait a good twenty minutes to start so we have time to formulate a plan of attack."
"I can agree to that much," Hinata said.
Naruto grinned. "We'll start over here. You guys head that way." He pointed in the opposite direction.
"Just be on your toes, dropout." Sasuke waved as he left in that direction with his team.
Naruto childishly stuck out his tongue and then went work with his group.
ooo
Sasuke sat down on a tree stump and analyzed the situation. On his team he had his daughter. She was full of surprises like Naruto and quick on her toes like he and Sakura. She would be perfect in a tight situation if he needed it. Itachi would be simple. He was fast and very skilled. He had a number of techniques besides his eyes. Hinata? Well, he was just happy to have one Byakugan user in his group. And then there was Tenten. Weapons master extraordinaire.
"We need a plan," muttered Sasuke.
"Definitely," offered Itachi. "Do you have anything in mind?"
"Just remember, Sasuke, Naruto is not the same kid you knew. He's grown up and his ability to surprise people in a tight situation has only gotten better." Hinata spoke from her position up against a tree.
He glanced over at her. "I know. He's not the Hokage for his looks."
"Whatever we do it needs to slick. We need to find out first who has the rope and then we have to take it from them." Tenten was talking now from her position on the ground sitting Indian style.
Kei seemed deep in thought and said nothing.
Sasuke eyed her for a moment. "Got something in mind, puss?"
She blinked out of her thoughts and looked up at him from her position on the ground next to his stump. She smiled. "Maybe."
"Let's hear it."
"Well," she began, "I've been thinking... whatever we do we need to keep Gaara busy. He's hell to deal with. He can easily take us on without anyone else if we're not careful. And he's also the most likely candidate to have the rope because of his absolute defense. Even if we got past the others, we still have to contend with his sand. Ryu is the type of guy to come right at you and fight, but, if he needs to he'll lay low. The most we have to worry about with him are his metal based attacks. He can use chakra to mold metal to his will. Neji? Hm, Neji is the type to face his opponent evenly on fair terms... but he is ninja so it doesn't go without saying he won't use stealth to get what he wants.
In all honestly the most we need to worry about with the group is Gaara. Papa will be depending on him. I can't be positive... but, he didn't choose him for nothing. No matter what we do, we need to get him outah the game somehow."
Sasuke was impressed. It wasn't a completely accurate breakdown, but she was right. He'd been thinking the same thing about the sand user. "So, our main plan needs to be on removing Gaara. Or at least keeping him occupied if he doesn't have the rope. If he does, we need him distracted so we can get it."
"I'll keep him busy," Itachi offered.
Sasuke arched a brow. "Are you sure?"
He nodded. "Yeah, I want to. It might actually be fun." He smirked.
Sasuke nodded. "No matter what happens, I'll keep the drop out busy if it comes down to it. There's always a chance he may be the one really holding the rope."
Hinata chuckled. "He's dumb enough to do it." At a look from the group she continued. "Naruto's not stupid. He's just dense. The only time he's great at surprising people is in a tight situation. You just need to stay one step ahead of him and you'll be fine. I've spared with him enough to know at least that much."
Sasuke nodded. "Which means we need to be careful about who we choose to hold our rope." He glanced about the group. Who would seem the least likely to be carrying the thing? Itachi or himself would be the most obvious. He wasn't afraid to leave it with one of the two women... it just didn't fit to him. And then he looked down at Kei. "You."
"Huh?" She looked up at him. "Me what?"
"You'll hold the rope for us."
She nodded with a smile. "Because I'll be the last person they think would have it. Got it." She looked over at her mother. "Mama, give me one of your discs. Actually, two of them." She stood up.
Hinata arched a brow. "What do you need two of my spares for?"
She grinned. "You'll see." She held her hands out and her mother reached into her pouch, pulling out two flat silver discs like the ones in her gloved palms. She dropped them into her open hands with a clank.
Kei reached out and took the rope offered to her by Sasuke and then walked over to Itachi. "Do you think you can get this rope in between these two discs? Closed?"
He slightly arched a brow at her and then nodded as he went to work on them.
"I get it..." Hinata started.
"Hm?" Sasuke glanced over at her.
She explained. "The discs I use in my gloves are what I use as a natural conduit for increasing the accuracy and power of my chakra when I fight. The discs also have a bit of chakra themselves. Not much to use for anything. But, enough to hide the location of the rope within two of them. Even the Byakugan users on his team won't know where it is."
Kei grinned when Itachi gave it back to her. "Exactly. And if I tie it around the center of my body where the circulatory system it the most brightest, it'll blend right in and no one will be the wiser."
Sasuke smirked as he rubbed his chin. He was vary happy he'd chosen her for his team. If not for the fact that she was his child... then for the fact alone that she was sharper than a kunai. "Ok, so, all we need to do now is figure out how we're going to go about this. We already know Itachi is going to keep Gaara busy until we figure out who has the rope. Kei will keep ours hidden. Any other suggestions, team?"
No said anything and he nodded. "Alright, well, since we don't know what to expect, we just need to be careful. I suggest leaving Hinata and Itachi here. It'll give them something to think about. The rest of us should move out and look for the rope."
The group nodded in agreement and they were off.
ooo
Gaara narrowed his pale turquoise orbs as he scanned the area from his covered position through a crack in his hallowed sand 'boulder'. From the outside it looked to be nothing more than a giant rock. He wanted to use his eye... but it would give them away. He felt a tap on his shoulder and looked over at Ryu.
"Itachi and Hinata are that way." He pointed in a direction.
"Do they have the rope?"
"I'm not sure. Do you think Itachi really has it?"
Gaara shrugged and let down his sand. He stood and it slowly curled back into the gourde after pooling around he and Ryu. "Sasuke or him--" He was interrupted as several kunai flying in Ryu's direction. He grabbed the boy by the wrist and threw him as he pulled up his sand guard. The kunai hit the moving grains and stopped. They slowly slid down and into the moving bits. Gaara allowed the sand to move towards his hand and grabbed the kunai curled there. "Ryu," he muttered.
"I'm on it." He was scanning the area with his eyes. After a moment he blinked.
"What?"
His eyes narrowed. "They were clones; Itachi and Hinata. Shadow clones. They're probably right on top of us now." He was looking again. But to no avail. And then leaping up and out of the ground both Itachi and Hinata came at them.
"Damnit!" Ryu preformed several seals and threw out the metal beads. Somehow he managed to get them up in time to use as shields against her fists. He kept watching them both with his eyes technique. "Gaara!"
Itachi smirked at him, but didn't attack right away. He watched him carefully. "What, Ryu?"
"They don't have it."
ooo
Sasuke had told Kei to go off on her own. He felt she had a much better chance of keeping the rope away from the larger adults--especially if they didn't think she had it--than sticking with him. It wasn't a perfect plan, but, if all she did was stay concealed and no one thought about her... well, the game would be Sasuke's and hers. She grinned from her position in the hole of a trunk.
She was still somewhat worried that she might be found out and opted it might be a good idea to create a shadow clone just to keep them on their toes. She preformed the seals and whispered the name. In front of her appeared her mirror image. "Go out and keep them busy." Her mirror image nodded and dashed off. This way at least the Hyuugas wouldn't be able to tell it wasn't the real her just by looking at it.
She kept her eyes on the clone until it disappeared. And then... something not so cool happened. The tree around her began to move... the crush and after a moment, was completely gone. She dove away from her spot and look up.
The pink hair woman smirked and tossed aside what was left of the trunk. "Found you."
Kei narrowed her eyes. Damn it. Did she know? No matter, she couldn't get caught. Sasuke had entrusted her with keeping the rope safe and she would do it. She preformed the seals quickly, calling on several shadow clones. And then she ran off, all of them, in varying directions.
Sakura made a noise of frustration. She supposed she shouldn't have expected the girl to just stand there. With a mutter she grabbed several kunai and threw them at every retreating form in order to find the real one. And to further her irritation, the clones made more clones that appeared behind each one in order to give the others more time. In turn, they took the blow. By the time Sakura started after one of them, they were all more than gone into the shadows of the forest.
ooo
Kei ran as fast as she could, her breathing erratic. She wasn't scared, she was overjoyed. This was great. She'd never had so much fun; not even in the Academy. She lept through trees and looked behind her, just to make sure Sakura wasn't there.
Shit!
She was. Apparently the woman had either taken out her clones despite the backup plan, or, she'd just gotten lucky. Kei kept going forward even as the older woman began to catch up with her. And then she stumbled to a halt as she came to a clearing. She blinked as she looked around. The hell? She looked up just as two male figures clashed kunai with one another and flipped away. Blond met black and cold blue clashed against coal ebony. She was so stunned by the match she barely noted everyone else around her on other sides of the clearing. Sakura came out next to her and seemed to be just as confused.
Kei called out to Gaara. "Oi! Uncle! What happened?"
Gaara was wrapped up in a conversation with Itachi while watching the fight but spotted her. They both did and came around to her side as the two lone figures fought in the center.
"Well, everyone had been fighting and somehow we made it here between it all. And by that time we all realized none of us had the rope." Gaara looked up at the two. "They told us to stay out of it."
Kei nodded, secretly not wanting to reveal that she still had the rope. They could go right on assuming Sasuke had it. It was ace she'd been hoping for. She moved her gaze back to the two fighting.
Naruto came at Sasuke and preformed several seals as he ran. In turned two shadow clones appeared on either side of him.
"Still doing that old trick," Sasuke called out as he came running at him as well. "Not gonna work! Chidori!" He drug his hand across the ground as he increased his speed. Dirt, rocks and anything beneath the surface of his blue engulfed hand came flying as he created a trench with his chakra.
"I could say the same about you," and yet his face looked just as heated as Sasuke's. There was something in the air that hadn't been before...
Sasuke immediately noted it by his expression and blanched. What was with Naruto all of a sudden? One moment he looked overjoyed and the next... he had that look in his eyes that he always did when going against all odds. Like he was actually mad at him.
"Rasengan!" Naruto cried out and what he thought was the real Naruto was a clone. The two others now could be seen with the small ball. And then the other dissipated as he held the ball coming right for Sasuke.
Sasuke knew what happened the last time the two great balls collided and it was not an experience he wanted to relive. Didn't Naruto realize this as well? This was no longer the friendly competition it had been only moments ago. Just before coming in contact with him he got rid of the technique and moved down and up at the last second, reaching for his friend's hand holding the ball and took hold of his wrist. He stared up into Naruto's eyes as he glared at him in rage. The ball died in the hand he was holding and he watched as Naruto use his other hand to try and hit his stomach. It came so fast he couldn't avoid it. As it collided with his gut he coughed. But, using his free hand before stumbling he swung the blond out and to the ground.
As Naruto hit the ground and while Sasuke still gripped his wrist he used the full momentum to bring him down next to him as well. As the raven haired man hit the ground he was right on top of him. But, he was gone. A wood log in his place. Replication? Then where? He felt a kunai around his throat and paused for only a moment as he spoke.
"You're emotions are out of control, dropout... this was suppose to be a friendly match."
Naruto narrowed his eyes and grit his teeth. "I said we had something to settle."
"Hn..." He watched the back of his head. "You also said it was better than going at it for real..."
Naruto slammed his elbow back into Sasuke's gut and reached for the other holding the kunai with his right. "You left me, remember?"
Sasuke grunted and dropped the kunai. Just where was this speed coming from? Did he actually have to use his Sharingan if this kept going on like this? He lept back and watched as Naruto faced him coming in with a solid punch. Yup. He enabled Sharingan. He just couldn't keep up with that speed like this. And then they were going toe to toe. Taijutsu. Punches and kicks were thrown at speed he was sure only his brother could follow in the crowd.
He was yelling at Naruto, bent on getting him to calm down. "I left because I had to." He blocked, kicked and returned the punches. Now his blood was boiling and on the edge of loosing his cool. He felt sweat trickling down his face and grit his teeth.
"You could have stayed. We were team. You were my friend! You could have come to me for help!" Another punch, a flip a dash and a series of quick movements only readable by the sand being swept up around their feet. To the eyes in the crowd, it looked like they were dissipating and reappearing in places.
"Wow..." Kei breathed.
Itachi narrowed his eyes slightly.
"I didn't want to hurt you!" He yelled back continuing. "I didn't want to hurt anyone! You didn't need to follow my path or stop me." He managed to get a few hits in just as Naruto did. At this point, they were evenly matched. It could last hours... days if their chakra held out. And then he felt hands reaching out, grabbing him unexpectedly by the lapels of his shirt and holding him up and cold blue eyes bore into him. He stopped trying to fight and held that gaze.
"You hurt me anyway..."
Sasuke was surprised to see tears forming in the eyes of his friend. "Naruto..."
He shook his head and kept his gaze down and darkened. "Do you know what it feels like to fail someone? To fail someone you care about more in this life than yourself? Do you!" He was looking up at him, cheeks rolling with the moisture.
Sasuke just stared. He didn't know what to say. He knew Naruto had been mad at him that day. He knew he'd wanted to 'save' him. He thought as a boy he didn't need to understand the pain Naruto felt that day. He thought he needed to block it out and move on. He wasn't counting on how that look in his eyes at this moment made him realize how much of a fool he'd been.
"I love you like a brother, you idiot. We were always more than friends but just barely less than lovers." He didn't care who heard him. "You were my drive. My force. You pushed me harder than anyone else. I loved you for that. I love you for that now." His voice was soft but harsh as he lowered Sasuke to the ground. He could no longer look at him, fists clenched at his sides as he gazed down like a boy of twelve.
All he could do was look at him. Look at him like an idiot. His mouth was only open slightly and his eyes were soft with unchecked emotion. He should have known this was going to happen. As children they'd slept in the same place during missions. They'd been through the same pains. And sometimes, they'd shared the same secrets in those moments of less ego and more kindness. He recalled the day he carried Naruto back to the hut in the Wave Country after finally reaching the top of the damned tree. Both of them had smiled the whole way home, as if, sharing a secret no one else knew about. They were their own worst enemy. Their own blood sweat and tears. Their lives were so tightly woven no matter how hard either of them tried, it would never be severed.
He hadn't been embarrassed or shocked by the comment about friends and lovers. He supposed in another place, another time and in a different path... it could have been possible. But, as it stood they both walked that line. And it made Naruto closer to him than almost anyone else he knew as a friend.
He stepped forward... slowly at first and then as he stood directly in front of him he embraced him. He embraced his friend; his strong good hearted friend who always went above and beyond for everyone because it was and would always be the right thing to do. He pulled him tightly to his chest, resting his head there. One hand wrapped about his back while the other was placed on his head, fingers barely tangling in his blond strands.
When he spoke, it was in a whisper with closed eyes. "I'm sorry." He held him tighter as he felt Naruto's arms wrap about him while he let it all out on his chest, staining his shirt with tears. "I'm sorry," he repeated. And he kept repeating it. Over and over and over until he felt tears coming himself. And once more, he didn't give a damn who was watching.
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Author's Note: -sniffle- Ok, that was sad too. And for the record, there is nothing out of the norm for cousins to marry in some countries. Incest or not, arranged marriages between families have been going on for generations. Also, Kei isn't technically blood related to Ryu or Shin, so, really it shouldn't be considered gross by any fashion. But, if you find it icky, then don't read. XP Thank you all for your reviews, it's appreciated.
Kirimixx, You cried? YOU cried? I cried it while writing it! I could barely see the screen through my helpless blubbering. This was the big reason why I made Sasuke seem so cold throughout the entire story. I wanted everyone to keep that image of him. That he was a cold unfeeling bastard. I waited for the right moment. The moment Kei hugged him for him to break. Nothing melts a father's heart like his own daughter. Especially his own daughter comforting him while he falls to pieces. It was happy and sad at the same time
I mean, here's a guy who could, to look at him, give two shits less about anyone. And because of his harsh training has to keep his emotion in check. He hasn't even told Sakura he loves her yet and she still sticks with him despite this. I could see her doing that because she is such an unconditional character with her emotions and he feelings.
But imagine, if you, had to say goodbye to you only child. You had to keep her secret. And then, to hold her for the first time in TWELVE years... To hear her voice in your ear as she wipes your tears and comforts you... To have gone so long with that single light keeping you from loosing yourself... well, I couldn't see doing it any other way.
--Blade