..Chapter Twenty-Two..
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"What the hell was that!" Sasuke declared as he bore down on Naruto.
Sakura frowned, grit her teeth and tried to hold him back. To the avid watcher it probably looked funny as hell. She would laugh herself, but, she was the one holding her lover back. She was not the joyous avid watcher. No, Itachi was.
Bastard.
He should be helping her. Not standing there like an aloof good looking Uchiha with nothing important to do; or rather, far more important things to do besides help her keep his brother from outright murdering Naruto.
Not that he would.
But she didn't want to test that theory in this tiny hospital room. "Sasuke!" She yelled. "Quit it, you idiot!"
He wasn't listening to her. He wasn't listening to anyone. He was glaring at his friend, fists ready to strike. "Where the hell did she learn that, you asshole! She could have died!" Maybe his statement sounded stupid. Very stupid. It was the Chuunin exam. Everyone ran the risk of dying. The fact that she had made it that far proved she could handle herself.
He couldn't say he wasn't proud of her. His chest had swelled with it once he knew she was ok. He'd been dying inside as he watched that storm batter her senseless. He didn't even see her for while. It took using his Sharingan to track her chakra.
And then she'd done something he'd only seen Haku do.
She'd made hand signs. With one hand. She used both. But they had still been separated. He could read enough of her chakra signature with his eyes to see at least that much. Two individual bits moving apart from one another.
He'd had no idea what she was doing until she placed her hand on the ground. Flat. One usually only did that when summoning a creature one had a contract with. Then the fire consumed her. A fire he'd never seen before. It was laced through with the most bright red chakra. Something he would liken to Naruto's demon fox chakra.
He'd been amazed that she'd thought to use the flames to turn some of the sand to glass and stop the storm. Even more amazed and fearful as she got on the back of the mythical beast.
At least he'd thought it was mythical.
When she passed out realization had finally set in. His daughter, at the age of twelve, had summon a animal... nin of some sort. She'd made a contract. She was far too young for such a thing. And right now the only person he thought to blame was Naruto. He knew, logically, this was silly. Had he been her age he would have jumped at the chance. Naruto had done it during the battle with Gaara.
But...
Ninja usually didn't make a contract for many years. Not one of that size. Kakashi said she was so drained on chakra he thought she was dead. He'd thought he was dead when he said it.
He growled at Naruto and lunged again. Sakura was becoming annoying. "Let me go, woman!"
"Like hell! This is a hospital room and your angrier than sin. If I let you go you could hurt Naruto."
"That's the idea," he hissed.
Her face stared sternly into his back as she pulled on his belt in the ANBU uniform. "You could hurt Kei." It was then and only then she felt him go slack. He stopped pulling and his rage seemed to ebb.
"Fine," he muttered begrudgingly.
She sighed and let him go. And then gasped as he lept forward onto the man. Her eyes narrowed. "Sasuke..."
Naruto held his wrists at bay, gritting his teeth as Sasuke's face bore down impecably close to his own. Naruto's face twisted in frustration. "I didn't teach her that!"
"Bullshit!"
"I didn't! I was just as shocked as you were, prick!" He pushed him away, breathing heavily as Sasuke toppled into Sakura's arms. He watched as the man righted himself, appearing to gain some semblance of composure.
He didn't. He wasn't lying. He'd been just as dumbfounded and fearful when he saw the summoning used. Who in blazing Kami had given her the contract? Who?! He'd seen many summoning beasts before. Many animal nin. One being his own, Frog Boss; as he affectionately called him. He'd never seen something like what Kei had pulled forth. It looked like a phoenix.
"Then who did?" Sasuke breathed heavily. He was so angry he flinched as Sakura tried to comfort him. He immediately felt guilty and gave her an apologetic glance.
"She learned it herself." Itachi finally--finally--spoke up.
Three set of eyes looked to him immediately.
"What do you mean, 'she learned it herself'? You don't make a contract by yourself. Someone passes it down to you." Naruto eyed him.
Itachi didn't seem affected by his words. He leaned back into the wall, arms crossed over his chest as his legs did the same beneath him. "You can. Make a contract by yourself."
Everyone just stared at him. He rolled his eyes. "How do you think contracts were made in the first place? They started somewhere. Granted, it doesn't happen very often anymore. On rare occasions it does occur."
"How?" Sakura said. "I've read about it before. But... only experienced shinobi did it. More often than naught you had to prove your worth to the animal." She frowned. "Many died trying." She shook her head. "I don't see how she did it. She has great potential. She's my daughter and I can see it... but making a contract? It's something great shinobi only dream about doing in their career."
Itachi's lips twitched. He wasn't sure if he was amused or surprised she knew. This was Sakura after all. "Kei didn't have to prove her worth to Houou. She choose Kei because of what she saw in her." He watched their mixed expressions but went on. "Houou has the ability to see the purity and strength in others. She saw this in Kei and offered the contract to my niece."
Naruto was still unsure. "...How do you know?"
He smirked. "Believe it or not I do keep and eye on the girl when I'm around. I watched it happen the last time I was in Konoha."
Sasuke thought a moment, hands on his hips. "When you came to ask about the Kages?"
He shook his head.
Realization dawned on Sakura. "She was seven?!" Her jaw dropped as Itachi nodded. "That's ..."
"Insane?" Offered Itachi.
She nodded stupidly.
He shrugged. "As I said before. The creature saw something in her she had seen in no other."
Naruto sighed and nodded numbly. "We're going to have to talk to her about it."
"All of us," added Sakura looking up at Sasuke.
He looked down at her, taking her hand as he interlaced his fingers with her own. "Agreed. We can't have her using something she doesn't know how to."
"Feh..." Naruto began, looking at the sleeping form of his daughter. "This is almost as bad as Lee using his chakra gates."
ooo
"Kei-chan..." The voice called her softly, guiding her. "Kei..." it breathed.
She blinked, finally opening her eyes. The first thing she saw was the forest canopy above her. Leaves flitted around her eyes. Everything was dancing... it was hazy. Was she in a dream? She slowly sat up, placing her hands behind her to help prop her up.
Where was she?
She looked around the forest. The trees were tall and the area dark. Bits of light drifted through the trees as they moved with the high winds above. She heard the great oaks creak in resistance.
"Kei?"
She blinked again as she stared forward.
"Sun...Sunako?"
He smiled at her and her breath caught. He was showing emotion? Was it real? He came to her then; brilliant eyes of golden orange tugging at her insides. As he reached down and offered her a hand she took it and stood. Why was she here? Was she dreaming? What had happened to the exam? She recalled winning..
She jumped as she felt a hand on her face, touching her gently.
"Kei..." He whispered.
She felt her face heat up a little bit. What was going on here? Why was he staring at her like that? "Sunako..k-kun?"
And then he was kissing her. Her eyes went wide in shock. Why was he doing that? Didn't he hate her? Or at least dislike her? Did he feel... nothing? What was going on here? After a moment though her thoughts turned to mush as she was kissing him back. Her tongue slid into his mouth and tangled with his. He nibbled on her lips and she gasped.
"Kei..." He breathed in her ear, kissing a trail to the lobe and licking it.
"Y-yes?" She managed to get out. Her hands were pressing against his chest with no real intention of stopping him.
"I like kissing you."
Was this a dream? Was it? If not this was her first real kiss. At least with... open mouths... and tongue... Kami. What was she suppose to say to that? What? 'Gee, thanks, you're not so bad yourself!' Ha! Right.
"Do you... think you could forgive me?"
She blinked and pulled back from him, staring him in the eyes. "For what?"
He frowned. "For... saying what I did to you..."
She blinked and understood. He meant the cruel words he used under the tree that night; about people and lives. About the way of the shinobi.
"I... didn't realize how right you were until... " He sighed. "I've never lost before. Especially not to a woman."
Her eyes narrowed. "What is that suppose to mean?"
He sighed again. "I didn't mean it that way."
"In what way did you mean it then?" She was slowly becoming angry.
He took her in his arms, bringing her face incredibly close to his own. Nose to nose. Almost lips to lips. "What I mean," he began softly, "is you are a strong woman. Both inside and out. And... I admire that." There was a pause. "Kazekage-sama was right... being strong isn't all about me. You were right. It's not all about the mission."
She gasped at the emotion flooding her from those few words he spoke as he pulled her closer, pressing every inch of his body to her own. Where was she suppose to put her hands? This was... so confusing. But... he was being so nice... so.. cooperative. So... down right agreeable.
"Kei-chan!" A girl's voice called to her, laughing.
She pulled away from the Sand ninja and looked over to her right. There a small girl stood. Her hair was a long bright wave of flaming red and orange-yellow. Her eyes looked like a cat's and were just as colorful as her hair. She appeared be no more than five.
"It's time to wake up, Kei-chan." She said. "Their waiting for you."
"Who are you?" She felt... like... she knew her.
She grinned. "You do know me, Kei-chan. But, it's time to go."
She stepped towards her, releasing Sunako. "Is this real?" Her voice was soft.
The girl giggled. "As real as you want it to be, Kei-chan." She gave her a thumbs up. "I told you that day we were inseparable. I also told you our contract would not be as simple as any other."
Realization dawned on her. "Houou..."
She nodded and clapped her hands together. "I'm so glad you remember me. But we really need to go. Say goodbye to Sun-kun. You'll see him soon enough."
She nodded lamely, not really knowing what else to do. She glanced back over at Sunako. "Bye..." she whispered.
"Bye..." He smiled softly... sadly... like he knew after this... it wouldn't be quite the same. Like he knew he would go right to being his usual hard, cold self. There was hope in his eyes though. Hope that something might change... or help him.
"I'll save you..." she whispered without thinking.
He stood there a moment, looking stunned and then tried to reach out for her. But, everything faded... the darkness taking over once more...
Neither the ebony haired girl or the blond little boy heard the soft girl's giggling. Giggling over her sneaky, good intentioned, ability to make sure her contract holder remained happy...
ooo
"She's waking up," Sakura said. She watched as the soft blue orbs fluttered open, staring up at the ceiling and then over at her. She smiled down at her daughter. "Are you alight?"
It took her a moment of blinking, eye rubbing and one small yawn before he nodded, yes, she was alright. A little tired but no worse for wear. She sat up and looked around her. Her uncle, Naruto and her parents were there. She smiled softly. "I won."
Sakura smiled back. "Yes, you did." Her smiled suddenly disappeared. "But, we need to talk to you. About several things."
Oh... that didn't sound good to her small ears. Talk? To her? About what? Shouldn't they be celebrating? She won the match. She beat Sunako. Even if she hadn't made Chuunin... she was still happy about the outcome.
"You have to be more careful with that summon," Sasuke was saying as he sat down on the mattress beside her.
She frowned and looked down at her hands. She nervously played with her fingers. "I know... It's why I hardly use it." Her voice was soft.
Naruto looked down at her from the foot of the bed. "Then why did you use it in the match? Winning isn't everything Kei. You're life is more important."
She groaned. "I know. I didn't do it because I wanted to. I did it because I had to."
He blinked. "What could possibly be so important about this match that you felt you had to win?"
Her eyes narrowed and her jaw clenched. She looked determined. "I made a promise. A promise to Sunako."
"A promise?" Sasuke looked down at her.
She nodded. "Sunako doesn't believe in my way, Papa's way, of the ninja. He thinks we're just tools. He thinks the mission is more important that the lives of those in the village." She looked hurt. "You couldn't have expected me to let him go on thinking that, right? I mean, even Uncle Gaara was concerned. He trained him." Her face grew stern again. "So, I told him, promised him, I would defeat him. To prove that even those deemed weak are strong. That in loosing you learn the value of winning."
Itachi blinked. "Wise girl." A small smile was allowed as the room looked at him. He shrugged in response. "You can't blame her. Not with that Uzumaki pride and Uchiha ego running through her system."
Sakura grumbled. "Men." As if that word alone explained why her daughter acted like she did. She turned her gaze from Itachi back to Kei. "Ok, I'll accept that. Just know it's something we need to wok on with you." She watched her face light up. "Now just wait. Before you go getting excited we have some news for you."
Kei blinked. "News?"
She nodded. "We're going to be leaving soon."
"Why?" Kei felt her insides drop. "You only just got here. We've barely had time to spend with each other. I still--"
Sasuke quieted her with his finger. When he spoke, his voice was soft. "We have to go back to the Akatsuki. They have a lead on Orochimaru and Kabuto. We're going to try get them in the same location."
Kei looked up at him, but Sakura pulled her attention.
"Once we do that Kei... all the villages are going to help us. We're going to trap them both and destroy both groups in one fell swoop." She smiled. "Once that's done... we can come home... we can be happy. Together. And everyone will finally know who you are to us."
She looked unsure for a moment, looking back between her two parents. Her gaze went to Naruto. "Is it true?"
He nodded and her face lit up. Everyone smiled at her. "Ok... I suppose I can deal with you being gone for a while then."
"Good." Sasuke smirked as she hugged Sakura.
"Oh!" She began.
"What?" Sakura asked.
She grinned. "Before you go... will you treat me to some ramen?"
Everyone in the room groaned but Naruto.
She blinked. "What did I say?"
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AN: I'm really not sure how I feel about this chapter... but I hope you all liked it. Oh, and in no way is her summon gonna be a big part of this story. It was just put in there to be cute and make ya'll wonder, you ravenous readers you.
NicolerRogersXX : I dunno! ;; You tell me! Now! -bares fangs- Just kidding -grins- Seriously, I will eat you when you're not looking. -snicker-
Kattylin : I wanted to do that at first, but, opted for the summoning. And thank you. I do try to take time out and publicly reply to my readers. I find they appreciate it. After all, if you're going to take the time to write the review the least I can do is reply back.
To the rest of you who reviewed? Thanks!
--Blade