..Chapter Twenty..
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Kei wanted to spend as much time as she could with her parents, but, she knew they had to keep appearances on. As far as anyone knew, all three ANBU were just that. Their duty was to keep an eye on Naruto. So, instead, she found her way to the rest of the Genin. Apparently Shin still hadn't recovered yet and was still downstairs with his parents. She winced at the memory. While she was glad he wasn't fatally wounded she still felt a tinge of guilt over doing that to him
As she'd been on her way back up her parents had stopped in a gift shop and grabbed her a pair of shades. If you wanted to call them that. It was more like a narrow one inch line across her eyes. To the rest of the world her eyes were... well... unseen. But to her, the world was in an odd shade of deep blue black. They tied in the back so they wouldn't fall off while she fought. She was glad for that. She knew she would have to fight again.
She glanced up at the sky. It was slowly getting dark.
She looked in the stadium. While she'd been gone Rei had fought Sunako. She'd lost that fight with little to no injury. Kei was thankful. Although, the girl had complained for a while about sand in her clothes. After that fight it was Jade and Sunako. Both team mates were still fighting. Now it looked as though the battle was slowly coming to an end.
The taijutsu master with wind element techniques was just not fairing well. There was only so much of a fight you could put against the sand user. She knew because of Uncle Gaara.
Rei nudged her. "What do you think of the guy from Sand?"
She arched a brow. "He seemed to be handling himself pretty well. Why?"
She frowned. "No, I mean what do you think about him. As in, his looks... actions... so on and so forth."
"Eh...?" She looked at her oddly. "Are you asking if I like him?"
She smirked. "He seemed to like you."
She blinked. "I hardly know him... He was just being... silly."
Rei looked over at her with pursed lips and lazy eyes. "Not from what I heard."
Kei narrowed her own and shoved her friend a bit. "Heard what? Spill it."
"Well," she began as if drawing it out, "I was talking to Jade before her match with him. Apparently he doesn't flirt. At all."
"That's just silly. Everyone flirts."
"Gaara doesn't."
She frowned. "You're right..." She wrinkled her nose at Rei. "Why is that?"
Rei shrugged and looked back down at the match. "Who knows? But, I did hear from her that Gaara has been training the kid personally. You ever hear about that?"
She shook her head. "No... but Uncle Gaara is pretty personal."
"True..."
Kei looked back down at the fight now that her conversation with Rei seemed to be over. The Sand ninja liked her? He wasn't that bad looking... But she still had conflicting feeling about Ryu and Shin. Well... maybe not so much Shin anymore. He'd grown up quite a bit in the past few months. Not that she hated it. Quite the contrary... but... she was starting to think those feelings she'd had for him all those years may have just been puppy love.
There was still Ryu to consider though... But, for whatever reason... she'd noticed his closeness more and more with Rei. She looked over at the red head. "Rei...?"
"Hm?" The wood nin looked at her friend curiously.
"Do you like Ryu?"
Rei felt a blush rising but pushed it down. Still, she could feel her face betraying her. Kei could always see through everyone. "Why are you asking me that?"
She did. Kei smiled. "You do don't you?"
Rei seemed to shrug it off and make a face of boredom, like always. "You like him too. I'm not going to stand in the way of that."
Kei frowned. "Is that why you were asking me about Sun-kun?"
Rei sighed. "I don't play games, Kei. It's beyond me. I asked you about Sunako because I was genuinely curious." She looked at her. "You're my friend. And Kami knows someone has to keep and eye on you and Ryu." She smiled slightly.
Kei grinned. "Well, I don't know how I feel about Ryu... but, if you like him I'll back off."
Rei seemed to think this over as she watched the match. "I can't do that you... I love you like a sister." She blinked as she felt a hand on her shoulder and looked into Kei's eyes. Well... shades.
She smiled. "I know. And that's why I'm backing off." She let go and stood up strait. "Besides, I've seen the way he looks at you. He doesn't look at me like that anymore and you know it."
There was a long pause as the two girls watched the match. All that could be heard was the cheer of the audience, the sounds of the match and the echos of people in the hallway behind them getting refreshments.
"You're a good friend, Kei." Rei finally said.
Kei looked over at her but didn't move her head. She didn't smile as she spoke. "Yeah... well, break his heart and I break your face."
There was another quiet moment and then both of them were laughing together.
"Oh! Look!" Rei said and pointed.
Kei did. It seemed Jade had passed out. She lost the match. That was the cue as Kakashi dropped in to check on her. She watched as he looked up at Naruto and nodded.
Naruto nodded back and stood up. He walked towards the railing and addressed the audience. "Ladies and gentlemen... That is the end of our third match of the day. Normally they don't last quite so long. As such, we will recess for the day and start the final match tomorrow morning at nine AM promptly." He smiled slightly. "Our final contestants for this exam will be Hyuuga Kei and Sabaku Sunako."
Kei blinked. Sabaku? He was a Sabaku? What did that mean? She didn't ponder on it long as she gazed down at her opponent for tomorrow's match. Man would she have to keep her guard up. He was good. Maybe not as good as Gaara. Even so... whatever those sand creatures were that he used... they were unbelievably effective. How did he keep so much chakra going all the time?
She scratched the back of her head.
"Kei, lets go meet up with Ryu and grab a bite to eat."
She turned and nodded at Rei, joining her on the trek down the stairs. "Should we check on Jade and Shin?"
"While you were gone I heard Tenten and Neji took him home for some much needed rest."
"Ah..."
She looked over at her. "We can go visit Jade if you'd like though."
She smiled. "Great."
They walked the long halls for a while until they reached the bottom floor. When they made it to the door it was occupied by none other than the Green Monster himself. She grinned immediately. "Gai-sensei!"
He seemed to be in a daze from his position on the bench. But, as soon as he saw her he smiled. "Ah! One of my many young pupils! How are you?"
She continued to beam up at him. "I'm alright. We came to check on Jade. Is she ok?"
Gai's face seemed to fall. "Lee is inside with her. He's worried about her condition. But, really she's just fine. Only unconscious."
Rei arched a brow. "Lee?"
He nodded. "You didn't know?" He chuckled. "Jade is his daughter. I suppose many people don't know since he's been in Suna for so many years jumping back and forth. How do you know her?"
Kei snapped her fingers as she remembered. That's right. It'd been so quick she never asked. But Jade had told them her last name was Rock. So she was Lee's daughter. Woot... well, this day was just full of surprises.
Rei replied for her, seeing Kei lost in her thoughts. "We met up with them during the second part of the exam. They helped us nab some scrolls from a group of Rock ninja."
He nodded. "Well, you can't see her now, blossoms of youth." He flashed a smile. "She should be around tomorrow though. For the second part of the exam. Ok?"
Rei arched a brow. "O...kay. See ya then, sensei." She grabbed Kei and they left down the hall. As soon as they rounded the hall she was harshly whispering in her ear. "Eash, Gai just gets weirder and weirder every day. I tell ya."
Kei laughed. "I suppose. He helped me with some taijutsu issues back in the day, though. So, I'll always be thankful to him." She looked around. "We should go find Ryu."
Rei nodded. "Agreed. After dealing with him I definitely need a burger."
Kei just laughed again as they walked down the hall.
ooo
Kei was laughing as she talked to Ryu and Rei. She had been right, Ryu only had eyes for Rei. Who knew? It made her smile as she listened to them while they took the long walk down the dirt ridden road on the main strip. She was nibbling on an ice cream cone from a stand. They'd all already eaten and were for the most part killing some time. It was nice out. And cool. Festivities had started on their own. It hadn't even been planned, but, it was fun. There were not as many people as there had been the first day of the Chuunin Exams, but there were still quite a few.
She imagined many of them had went home. After all, the only villages that made it to the final round were Leaf and Sand shinobi. And while she knew no one would ever fault her for loosing... there had to be quite a few Genin from other villages feeling the wrath of someone. Maybe their parents. She hated thinking about that. It's why she was thankful she had two loving parents...correction... FOUR loving parents and great father for Hokage.
She blew air out of her lips to brush aside a few idle strands of hair.
And then there was this Sand shinobi to think about. Sunako... She would be the first to admit she was a fickle little girl. She was not the type to go out and flirt. But, like any young girl she'd changed love interests twice in a row in a period of over a month. Not entirely true... she'd thought herself in love with Shin for years. And Ryu? Well, it's not like she'd ever loved him. She'd just felt something exciting with him. And even now that was ebbing as she allowed Rei to try.
She almost hated this. Had it ever been easy for her father to realize he loved Hinata? He'd said he liked Sakura at one point. And what of Sasuke? Her blood father. Had he ever loved anyone other than Sakura? Itachi didn't seem to love anyone. She almost felt sorry for him. She'd just have to plot some match making for her Uncle then. Yes, she thought with a determined nod. She would have to see about that indeed.
As it remained though... who did she have an interest in? So far her two love interests had panned out to be nothing more than bubbly teenage hormones in the process of going full bloom. Was love ever a 'know it' kinda thing? Did everyone work differently? And, if it was one of those 'know it' things... how did you know?!
She found herself pouting as she gazed forward. And then she blinked. Seeing none other than the dirty blond from earlier. Sunako. He was in front of a small stand selling books as he rubbed his chin. She expected to see his two hyenas with him... but, they were no where in sight. Where had all his sand gone? Were they hiding somewhere? It made sense in this crowd. Not that people would find it out of place for them to be following him around as he moved... but, they didn't exactly inspire cuddling feelings.
She was slowly starting to get use to seeing with her shades on. He wasn't a bad looking young man if you took the time to look at him. His was only slightly muscular. He was still a boy, so he wouldn't be... all toned out... but it was obvious he didn't need to reply on taijutsu to win a match. His skin was a soft honey tone. It wasn't very tanned, but made him look lovely in contrast to his messy hair. Tonight he wore a white top. It was long sleeved. The material had to made of gauze like his pants. At the chest, where the neckline dipped low, was a little V opening with strings loose and untied through a few holes.
His features were sharp and angular like Ryu's. Even so, he seemed to posses none of the rough edges of half day old stubble her comrade did. No, if anything, he seemed unbelievably... clean and smooth skinned. It was odd if you thought about it... since he spent so much time with sand... or in it.
And then as if he felt eyes on him he turned and caught her gaze. She blinked and felt something catch. She wanted to look away, feeling like a kid with her hand caught in the cookie jar... but she just couldn't. Like Gaara... he didn't really smile at her. It anything, he seemed to smirk and only slightly.
She felt something jab her ribs and yelped. She rubbed them slightly and looked over at Ryu. "What?" She hissed.
He blinked. "We just wanted to tell you were done at this stand. You coming or not?"
She paused and glanced over to see if Sunako was still there... all she could see was his retreating back. She frowned. "You know what? You guys go on ahead. I need to go see something. Catch you back at the compound later?"
"Sure..." Ryu was saying. But, she was already gone. He blinked, somewhat confused.
"Come on, hot stuff. I wanna see the weapons in the next booth." Rei was dragging him on.
He frowned, but followed. "Who you calling hot stuff, Red?"
"You."
ooo
Kei wandered through the crowds, looking for that head of dirty blond. When he'd walked off she had tried to find him with no luck whatsoever. He'd just... vanished. This bugged her somewhat. Had he avoided her? She wondered if he liked her at all. He'd flirted with her during the exam... but apparently that wasn't normal for him according to Rei and what she had heard from Jade.
She sighed as she passed through the crowd.
He had been kinda... aloof when she first saw him. He seemed more annoyed with his team mates... but he didn't seem to dislike them either. If anything he was a little cold... but then he hadn't been to her. He'd called her love hadn't he? Or had that humor just slipped on accident?
She found her head began to hurt the more she thought about it and opted to just keep walking. But no matter where she turned or what stand she wandered into he wasn't there. Was he still in the main strip or had he gone somewhere else? She decided then to just keep walking on towards a quiet area. If anything she could think by herself. The crowd was becoming stifling.
She tossed the rest of her cone in a nearby trash can and grabbed a drink before heading to the training areas. She liked the one her and her team first joined at. It was nicely nestled near the trees and had a body of water close by. She could always watch for the fish, she supposed. It might take her mind off the fact that she couldn't seem to find the blond.
Should she have and interest in him? She was going to fight him tomorrow. By technicality he was the enemy she supposed. No, that was too strong a word. If anything he was just her opponent in tomorrow's match. And everyone knew you didn't have to win the match to go Chuunin. Everything was judged based on what you did. There was a point system in place based on your tactics, choices and decisions during the fight. And really, she had no fear of loosing... Or winning for that matter.
She quickly found herself at the spot she wanted and sat down under the tree where her team had all announced who they were with Rin. She opted not to go near the water as she gazed up at the moon and clear night sky. But then... something didn't seem right.
She sensed it... there was someone near... had someone been following her? Where were they? Her eyes narrowed beneath the shades and she scanned everything in front of her. No... nothing. Had it been her nerves?
No, ninja didn't have 'nerves' like that. Ninja did not get paranoid. If they felt something was wrong then something was indeed wrong. She didn't want to turn around. That would alert whoever it was that she knew something was up. So.. she simply exhaled and tried to sense it... Her eyes closed a moment and she reached out with her five senses to see if she could feel any nearby chakra signatures...
There!
Yes, there was someone behind her by about a good twelve feet. It was faint, but there.
When she spoke her voice was low and serious. "It's rude to spy on people."
She heard rustling of a soft material and then footsteps. When she looked up and over it was the Sand ninja she saw. She arched a brow. "I wasn't expecting you."
He didn't say anything for a moment and then sat down next to her and leaned into the tree. When he did speak, it was low and soft... but not in a sad or weak way. "You were following me." It was a question.
Why was he telling her? Didn't people normally ask? She pursed her lips a bit. "I wasn't aware." Really, she hadn't been.
He didn't look at her and she sipped her drink, only at the stars above. "I don't think I've ever heard of anyone tracking anyone and not knowing it." His voice was even despite holding some curious surprise. "Why did you leave your team mates?"
"I dunno. I was getting bored and I think they needed some time alone." She chewed on the top of her straw.
"Alone?"
She nodded. "Alone. You know? Like a couple?"
He seemed to mull this over in his head. It wasn't a foreign idea to him. Many people had relationships and sought children in his village. He understood the meaning of being with someone. He understood the meaning of wanting someone and trying to get them to notice you. However, much of the time he found himself putting on a face of falsity. It just depended on the situation and he forced himself to act accordingly. In truth, he had very few things going on beneath the surface.
"You acted strangely in the woods..." She appeared to be dancing around her words. "I know you were flirting with me. Rei told me Jade-chan said that wasn't common for you. Why did you do it?"
He narrowed his eyes on the skies above. "It seemed appropriate at the time. You were nervous and needed someone to make you feel a bit more at ease. I think they call it... Team comradery."
She looked over at him then, straw halfway from her lips as they parted... "...It seemed... appropriate...? Team... comradery?" He features looked confused. "What are you, a machine?"
"Yes. I guess one might call it that."
Her face became even more scrunched. "But... I saw you look annoyed with your team... and you seemed angry at the Rock nin..."
"It's one of my many personalities I take to the field. I adjust to the situation as required and react to it with the proper emotions." He looked over at her. "Are you bothered by this?"
She just sorta stare at him and blinked a few times. She wasn't sure if it was out of shock, surprise, aggravation or annoyance that he probably didn't have an interest in her at all. What had Jade been thinking? The girl was a tad over exuberant. Maybe she'd just been mistaken. "You sound like someone I know... even if only in passing..."
"Oh?"
She nodded and looked back at the night sky. "His name is Sai. He was once a member of ANBU root before they were disbanded and Danzou went into retirement. Not many knew about them..." She shrugged. "Papa was good friends with him one time. I hear they joined a number of missions together, although, nothing ever really came of it besides friendship. He isn't around enough for me to be close with him."
He nodded and joined her gaze in the night sky.
She went back to chewing on her straw, wondering, if at all the boy next to her had any true emotions. Sai sometimes never seemed to. Though, there were those occasions when he wasn't accidentally insulting someone that you knew him to be genuine. She supposed it just took time for one person without feeling to feel. It had to be hard.
She looked over at him again. "So, why don't you..."
"Feel anything?"
She nodded.
He looked to be thinking the answer over in his mind; even as no emotions played on his face. "Emotions are complicated. They ruin the true ideal of the the shinobi. Our job is to do the best we can by the mission and carry it out accordingly. Anything else gets in the way."
"You sound like a textbook." She shook her head. "I don't believe that."
"What do you believe?"
She arched a brow at him. "You want to know?"
He nodded.
It was her turn to think it over. To consider everything she had been taught by her many senseis. Naruto had taught her the path of a shinobi was a hard one. That making sure the team was ok as well and completing the mission was the overall goal. However, if you had to choose between the mission and lives, you always should choose the lives of others.
She smiled at him, having found her answer. "The true way of the shinobi is allowing the lives of your team to come first. While the mission is equally important, the lives of your comrades are just as much. Ninja make up the villages we live in. They are the heart and soul the village stands on. If we hardly consider their lives there would be less and less of us and the village would fall. In the end, lives mean more because of the bigger picture." She paused. "Friends mean more because they make you stronger. If you have something to protect it is easier to succeed. Desperation gives you the ability to save lives."
It was his turn to blink and stare. "That's... ridiculous."
"Is it?" She watched him. "Imagine if everytime a comrade was injured we left them behind because they hindered the mission. All because someone assumed they would slow down the team and keep the mission from succeeding. More and more people would die and there would be less ninja." While this wasn't the entire reasoning behind what she thought, it was the best way she could think to explain it to him.
He watched her for a while, but no expressions passed on his features. "It would ferret out the weak and allow for more stronger, attune and better quality ninja to thrive in the village."
She balked at him. Did he really feel that way about human life? "We're not tools, Sunako. We are people. And not everyone has to be physically strong or... or... attune to be of use in a mission. Medical nin and vet nin for instance are not all physically capable of taking on a fight or feeling the area for enemies. But, if not for them many of these strong ninja you speak of would not be here. Injuries and infection are not prejudice to the weak alone. They affect strong shinobi just as easily."
He said nothing for a while. It didn't show... but had her words affected him? Changed him?
"Your idea of the shinobi is a weak one, Hyuuga Kei. All ninja, from the medical and vet nin all the way to the ANBU, should be completely capable of taking care of themselves in battle. No matter the circumstance."
"I can't believe you," she saying heatedly, her voice slightly raised, "I just don't believe that Gaara, my Uncle, trained you. I find it even harder to think you carry his last name."
Despite his expressionless face, something did seem to flash in his eyes. "The Kazekage is a great shinobi... It was an honor to take his name... his family's name."
She placed her drink aside, in insides fuming with mixed emotions. On one side, she almost felt sorry for him because of his views. It was like he had no other way to view the world for whatever reason. And on another note, she... hated him. Hated his ideals. How could Gaara tolerate such things from one of his students? "Yeah, well, I don't think you've earned it."
"You're right."
"Huh?" She looked at him. He'd agreed with her?
"Gaara is a great shinobi. He is not, nor will he ever be, weak. I aspire to his image." He was looking at the sky again.
She was a little surprised to find hope in his voice. No, he was probably just pretending again. "Why are you this way? No one just... wakes up one morning and decides to be a cold unfeeling machine..." She couldn't help it. She wanted to know. The Uzumaki curiosity was just getting the better of her.
He looked over at her and smiled. It was fake and did nothing to really calm the rage of emotions in her... but, she did her best to be kind in her features because she knew he was doing it, that smile, for her sake. That alone was enough to make something strike in her. He wasn't on a mission... nor was he in the exam. So... why would he falsely smile for her?
When he spoke, it held no emotions, but you could see in his eyes the softness his story was carrying. "When I was born I was told by my parents it was the happiest day of their lives. We lived in a small village not apart of Sand in the desert. Many of the people were traders who'd retired and no longer wished to move about. The village made money by mining and travelers who came through. No one hated me, but many were unsure of me because of Ishtar and Tasha."
"Your.. sand beasts?"
He nodded. "When I was born they appeared. I was later told in my life they were elemental spirits who'd, for some reason, bound themselves to my chakra flow. No one knew that then and no one seemed to care too much as I grew because they never did any harm and always helped when I did chores for others."
She nodded. She'd never heard of that before... but then, no one had ever heard of Gaara's ability with sand until he came along.
"One day a group of ninja came through the village. We didn't know it at the time; like everyone else we assumed they were travelers. When they caught sight of me I guess they wanted my gift. In the process the entire village was destroyed and my parents killed."
Her heart skipped a beat and her face fell. How horrible... She wanted to reach for him. She felt need to to. She just couldn't though. She was too afraid her own torrent of emotions would fail her and something stupid would happen.
He continued. "I didn't fight them because some of the villagers were alive. I agreed to go with them and do what they wished as long as they left what few people were left alone. To keep me around they constantly threatened to go back and kill the villagers if I ever disobeyed them." He paused and kept his eyes on the stars. "I was weak then... I didn't know, being a child with no strength, that I could have overpowered them and went on my own wherever I wished." He paused as if drifting in his own mess of memories. "I was sent on a number of missions by the rogue group. I was forced to kill hundreds of people for their goals. The only way I managed to do this was to become unfeeling about it all; to not care how anyone felt. I carried my duties out by pretending to care about the people until I caught them off guard."
Her mouth formed a wide 'o'. "You manipulated them?" That was worse than just killing them. He actually pretended to be their friend before stabbing them in the back. "Didn't that bother you?"
"At first," he shrugged. "I didn't have a choice. I thought I didn't."
All she could do was stare at the grass below. She didn't know why, but the urge to hold him was just that much stronger. "What happened?"
"Gaara happened." The corner of his lips quirked a bit for a moment. "We were on a mission and passed through Sand. We had no intention of hurting anyone or causing trouble because my team knew the Kazekage was very watchful of his people. However, a new member of the group got drunk at a local bar and spilled the beans. Word was sent to Gaara. That night... in the inn, it was the Kazekage, not a Jounin as we assumed at first, who showed up." His eyes rippled with some hidden admiration.
"He took out my team one by one. At that moment, it was then I knew I was free. Finally. Gaara didn't have to... but, he took me in when he noticed my technique; when he noticed Tasha and Ishtar. From them on I have been his student." He pursed his lips as his mind traveled. "Were it not for Gaara I would not be the strong shinobi I am now. It is why I must work harder everyday to live up to his image."
Kei just sorta sat there as she took it all in. Even after he finished she was still left with mixed feelings and emotions. He'd become cold and forced to pretend to survive. That much was true. He trained under Uncle Gaara and sought to be his equal if not better. Didn't he know that Gaara was not as cold and unfeeling as he use to be?
"Gaara isn't like you anymore. Don't you see that? If you aspire to his image, you should try to be more... real." She placed a hand on his shoulder.
He looked over at her hand and then to her, his eyes curious. But, his face continued to reveal nothing. "I find being myself, as I am now, is a better choice. In doing so I have succeed thus far. Loosing will never be an issue for me."
She retracted er hand as if he'd stung her. Her face hardened. did he know how arrogant he sounded? Had he ever lost to anyone? "Have you?"
"Lost to anyone?"
She nodded.
"No."
Her face became harder. "You will loose to me tomorrow, Sunako."
He arched a brow up at her. "What makes you think so?"
"Because," she stated as she walked away, "you have not learned the value of defeat just as much as you have not learned the strength of those 'weaker' than you."
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AN: That chapter wasn't easy. It took me a while to figure just what I wanted to do with Sun-kun. I wasn't sur if I wanted Kei to still feel something for Ryu or have Rei do the same. But, as kids grow they change. So do their love interests. I can see this happening in the shinobi world because of so many deaths and shifts in people around you.
Kei is a very emotional little girl at times and as equally fickle as Naruto. This made sense to me so I ran with it.
Kattylin : OMG! That sucks! Are you diabetic or something? I hope you get well soon. I'm glad my story is keeping you company. I certainly hope to get a new chapter out to you soon so you have more to read. x,X
Superme383 & NicolerrogersXX : I laughed to! I'm actually plotting a squeal to this--something I never do with fics--in which Kei hooks our little Weasel up with someone. Do you like the idea?
AmayaTaiyoukai : I hate my own mistakes. I thank you for pointing them out. I reread a chapter several times to make sure I haven't made any, but, I'm no master with grammar. Oh, poo, that rhymes! -cackles- Thank you for your review and keep reading!
Lady Rini :I know I can read it online. I plan to eventually. There's just so much of it. I've read a bit of it, but, not much.