We are Fighting Dreamers Takami wo mezashite
Fighting Dreamers Narifuri kamawazu
Fighting Dreamers Shinjiru ga mama ni
Oli Oli Oli Oh-! Just go my way!
Right here Right now (Bang!)
Buppanase Like a dangan LINER!
Right here Right now (Burn!)
Kewashii shura no michi no naka Hito no chizu wo hirogete doko e yuku?
Gokusaishoku no karasu ga Sore wo ubaitotte yaburisuteta
Saa kokoro no me Mihiraite Shika to ima wo mikiwamero! (Yeah!)
Ushinau mono nante nai sa Iza mairou!
We are Fighting Dreamers Takami wo mezashite
Fighting Dreamers Narifuri kamawazu
Fighting Dreamers Shinjiru ga mama ni
Oli Oli Oli Oh-! Just go my way!
Right here Right now (Bang!)
Buppanase Like a dangan LINER!
Right here Right now (Burn!)
Buttakitteku ze Get the fire!
Right here Right now (Bang!)
Buppanase Like a dangan LINER!
Right here Right now (Burn!)
Buttakitteku ze Get the fire!
Naruto
Beyond What You See
Chapter Nine
Dancing in the Rain
Rain gracefully dropped to the earth, thunder rumbling as if to announce the arrival of the shower. The small droplets of rain soon became a downpour, soaking whoever was fool enough to stay out of cover.
Kirika looked out the window, "Look, Kirari, it's begun to rain."
Kirari nodded, "I wonder if Nagataka's found Lady Chizuko just yet."
Amaterasu continued to pace. This girl was utterly infuriating. She'd never met someone of her status to refuse help from Konoha. They usually accepted whole heartedly. Chizuko worried Amaterasu. She was always good to take care of children, but this time one had actually escaped her grasp. She couldn't watch over Chizuko, and she knew that the assassins, if they saw her, would make quick work of Chizuko, even if Nagataka had found her.
Yuuha watched Amaterasu pacing. The silence in the room was nerve racking. In a corner off to the side, Asuma Sensei and Shikamaru had retired to playing a board game. Choji's incessant gnawing of chips was almost rhythmic, adding to the tension. Ino hummed a tune that almost seemed to fit the rhythm of Choji's munching. A clock ticked nearby, and the rain pattering around outside didn't help either. Yuuha couldn't see Takara either; she was exploring the apartment. Each rhythm kept going, and in her mind, grew louder and louder. Tension in the room rose, Yuuha's nerves becoming more and more alert, more and more anxious.
"Enough!" Yuuha shouted, startling everyone, "This silence is driving me insane!"
Yuuha stood from where she had been seated. She walked out onto the dry balcony that Chizuko had jumped off of previous to that.
"Watch it, Lee!" Yanagi jumped in front of the attacker, intent on saving her comrade. The attacker, a rather large male, held a sword made out of rocks, hard and heavy.
'If I try…Maybe I can see where the chakra is holding it up!' Yanagi thought, 'Oh, who am I kidding? I don't have Neji's Byakugan! But I have to do something!'
Yanagi kicked upwards, sending the blade soaring across the sky. She lunged forward, using what she knew of the human anatomy.
"Let's see…The Chakra Network is in tune with your pressure points…So, here!" Yanagi moved with fast precision, striking spots along the attackers buff arms and chest.
Panting, Yanagi paused momentarily to examine her work. 'No good.' She thought. 'I didn't miss, I know that, but this guy doesn't seem to run on just chakra! Maybe I need to close more pores!'
Yanagi continued her onslaught of attacks, but nothing seemed to be working; the behemoth man just kept going. Yanagi's temper rose, and the more sensible part of herself told her she'd do something reckless if she let that temper rise any further. However, it was becoming increasingly annoying. Finally, she burst.
"Aarrgh!" Yanagi shouted in exasperation, "Bastard!" Yanagi began to pummel her opponent, punching him in the face several times as well as the stomach. Soon, she had the Earth Ninja rolled on the ground, panting hard.
Everyone else, finished with their own opponents, stared at the furious girl.
"Next time learn to stay on the ground!" She shouted in her anger.
"Yanagi," Neji said quietly.
It took jus that one word from him to calm her down. Yanagi turned, "Sorry, Brother…I guess I lost my temper again…"
"It's fine." Neji returned, "Are you okay, though? Are you hurt?"
"No, I'm fine. Just…a little tired…" Yanagi said with a tired sigh, "But these shinobi from Iwagakure are getting a little bothersome."
"I know, but don't worry." Takumi said. "We're nearing the actually Iwagakure. I gotta hand it to you; all of you traveled a lot quicker than I expected."
"But we better keep moving." Guy commented, "This is becoming increasingly dangerous, and it would be best to not stay in one spot too long."
"Right." Tenten agreed.
"Then let us proceed." Neji stated.
"This is getting really dangerous." Marise commented to Yanagi as they began to run, "We're crossing into absolute enemy territory."
"You're not thinking of backing out, are you?" Yanagi questioned
"No! Of course not!"
"Then what's the problem?" Yanagi raised an eyebrow.
"It's nothing…" Marise said, "I'm just getting a strange feeling about this place."
"Please, don't start being like Yuuha." Yanagi said.
"These really are beautiful." Haruka commented, looking at them. They were large flowers, colorful in hues of putple and blue and pink. There were multiple blossoms as well as multiple flowers.
"So, you like flowers, huh?" Torao leaned over Haruka's shoulder.
"Well…I…" Haruka began.
"Come on you two; enough fooling around!" Kaoru called them, "I found a spring over here!"
"Coming!" Haruka shouted back. He stood swiftly, nearly knocking Torao over, and ran in the direction that Kaoru was calling.
Torao stood from where he'd been leaning, confusion written on his face. Then, he smiled as he thought of an idea.
Umika stared out at the sea. She sat with her legs hanging over the edge of the ship. 'So many things…I just wish to turn back time…Yes, that would be best. If only that could happen.'
"Funny finding you out here." Shino sat cross legged next to her.
"Hey, Shino." Umika said.
"So…" Shino said, "What's up?"
"What's up with what?" Umika raised an eyebrow.
"You were shouting at Tetsuya Sensei." Shino commented.
"It's none of your business." Umika looked away from him.
Shino sighed, "You're going to have to tell someone about it sometime. It's bad to just hold things in."
"What do you know about it!?" Umika shouted, shocked
"As of now, nothing, because you won't say a thing." Shino commented. He stood, looking down at Umika, "But if you do need someone to tell, I'm here." Shino turned.
Umika stood swiftly, jumping onto the rail. She stood straight, yelling, "I don't need anyone to tell! I'll just end it now!"
Umika let go, her feet slipping off the railing as she began to plummet downwards!
Lacaena pulled kunai into one hand, the other with shuriken. 'What do we do? Surely by now the Shukaku has taken over the boy! It would be nearly impossible of awakening the boy without getting killed by Shukaku first! And what if we end up hurting him!?'
Sand began to gather over Gaara's sleeping form. Inside, Gaara rested rather well. They were the only times he could sleep despite the damage they caused; his only chance to dream…
Gaara walked the streets of Suna alone. There were people, but only faceless shadows; they glared at him; others ran away in horror. Gaara found that he was once again six, maybe even seven. He felt as lonely as ever; the pain returned to bore into his heart, squeezing it tightly. Gaara felt that this is what it felt like to bleed, only worse.
Darkness reigned over Suna, and Gaara could only suppose that it was night, though he could not see the moon or even sun.
"Shu Yu!?" Gaara called out to her. "Shu Yu, help me! Where are you!?"
Gaara blinked once, and he suddenly found himself standing on an endless pool of black purple water. Ripples came out from under his feet as he walked silently across it. An eye gleamed out from under the water, glaring at Gaara.
"You're mine, boy!" Shukaku screeched.
Mei Lan looked at the sand in front of her in dismay. Was Gaara really in there!? She began to claw at it again, trying to pull it off of Gaara.
"Mei Lan!" Kurome wrapped his arms around his sister and tried to pull her away from Gaara.
"I have to try and help!" Mei Lan shouted.
"No, you'll only get yourself hurt!" Kurome answered.
Mei Lan closed her eyes, and her Kusabana and Shokubutsu immediately reacted. Vines from all around wrapped around Kurome, pulling him back.
"Mei Lan!" Kurome shouted at her.
Mei Lan ran forward, only to be stopped again, this time by Lacaena. "It would be wise if you listened to your brother, Mei Lan. This situation is dangerous; let Itachi, Kisame, Shu Yu, and I handle it."
Mei Lan drew back; she couldn't disobey the Mistress. On the surface she appeared calm as usual; however, internally, Mei Lan panicked.
'There has to be a way! How!? How do I help Gaara!? The Shukaku! He'll get Gaara!'
It was quiet. The loudest noises were the song of a nightingale or perhaps the chirping of the crickets. No wait, it was Naruto, snoring away in his sleep. Night, a long day's walk, and many quarrels during the day had taken its toll on the group. Kakashi slept not too far away in the clearing, as well as Ryunosuke. Across the clearing, Sakura and Kachuu slept as well. Next to Kachuu, an empty sleeping bag lay. The old man they were to be caring for slept in a fold out cot they had brought. Between Ryunosuke and Naruto, Sasuke turned in his sleep. Dreams had always been an uneasy thing for him.
Sighing without a sound, Sasuke sat up, looking across the clearing. He noticed a person missing. Sasuke slipped out of his sleeping bag, padding noiselessly across the clearing.
"Khatereh." Sasuke mouthed. She was missing.
Sasuke sighed again. Where could she possible have gone? Sasuke walked into the forest, looking around. He noticed something shine and supposed it was the large spring they'd found earlier. Sasuke walked towards it, and sure enough Khatereh was there.
Khatereh stood in the water; she was in deep enough for the water to touch the bottom of her dresses. Her head was tilted upwards, the moon's light cascading over and around her, illuminating her completely. She seemed to be staring off into space or at nothing. Khatereh closed her eyes.
Khatereh closed her eyes, shutting the light out. 'Who are you?' Khatereh thought.
Khatereh opened her eyes, and she was no longer in the forest. Well, actually, she was still in a forest and a spring, but not the one she had been in previously.
"Hello?" Khatereh said, her voice echoing into the night. "Where am I?"
Khatereh sifted through the spring, walking out onto land, completely dry.
"What is this place?" Khatereh questioned.
"Child…" A wispy voice whispered.
"Who's there!?" Khatereh reached for a kunai and gasped; her kunai clip was gone, as well as her shuriken pouch. Khatereh looked around, but she could see no one. "Show yourself!" Khatereh shouted.
The shadows suddenly molded, and once again the creature and the girl formed.
"You have forgotten…"
"What? What have I forgotten?" Khatereh questioned, "Where am I? How did I get here? Who are you!?"
"You have forgotten so much…Child."
"Stop calling me child!" Khatereh shouted angrily, "I am not a child!"
"Oh, but you are. You have forgotten who you are; you have forgotten where you came from."
"I have not!" Khatereh argued, "I know exactly where I came from and who I am! Stop making these ridiculous claims and show yourself!"
"Such anger." The creature stepped out of the shadows, changing into a woman with eagle gold eyes and long black red hair stepped into the light of the clearing. She wore a flowing red dress, short sleeved. She looked elegant, her eyes calm.
"Who are you!?" Khatereh questioned.
"Truly, you have forgotten."
"I told you, I haven't forgotten anything."
"Everyone has forgotten."
"Forgotten what?"
"Who is your sister?"
"What kind of question is that!? What does she have to do with this!?"
"You, my friend, have forgotten who you are. You do not realize it because everyone you knew has forgotten as well. It does not make sense now, but the only one who understands is your sister. Once you find her and ask her, all will become clear."
"What're you talking about!?" Khatereh shouted. She blinked and realized she was now in the original spring she'd been in.
"Khatereh, who are you shouting at?" Sasuke questioned.
Khatereh jumped, splashing in the water, gasping loudly. Eyes wide, Khatereh turned to see that it was only Sasuke. Heaving a sigh of relief, Khatereh said, "Sasuke, it's just you."
"Did…I…Actually scare you? I've never scared you before. In fact, I don't remember anyone ever being able to sneak up on you."
Khatereh shook her head, "I'm fine, don't worry. What're you doing up? It's a big day tomorrow."
"I was going to ask you the same thing."
Khatereh sighed loudly, "Damn it, Sasuke, I don't need this right now." Khatereh walked out of spring, "Please, just go back to sleep."
"Why aren't you asleep?"
"It's called insomnia, ever heard of it?"
"They have medicine for that."
"Yeah, and it'll knock me out for eight hours straight. Eight hours which we cannot afford to spend sleeping. I haven't an inkling why someone would attack this old man, but he has hired us for a reason. I'd really rather return him to his home village in one piece, not in a wooden box. Now as your jounin, I'm telling you to go back to sleep."
Sasuke glared at her, "Fine."
Sasuke turned, walking back to the clearing, looking back at Khatereh over his shoulder. Khatereh was looking at the spring with a strangely confused look. What had she been thinking about that had made her so agitated? Something had definitely occurred, but what was it?
"Gaara!" Mei Lan shouted, pulling sand away as more sand piled over her arms. "Gaara, can you hear me?"
A light shined brightly from the side, blinding both Gaara and Shukaku.
"What is that blasted thing!?" Shukaku shouted angrily.
Gaara looked, eyes squinting. His eyes widened slightly at the sight before him. In front of his eyes was Mei Lan. However, she appeared to be sleeping. Her eyes were closed lightly in slumber, her body floating in midair, light shining all around her. She wore a dark forest green dress. It flowed elegantly, short sleeved.
"M-Mei Lan?" Gaara whispered.
"Mei Lan, get away from there!" Shu Yu called to her as vines began to make a net in front of her, Lacaena, Kurome, and even Itachi.
"Itachi, we must do something!" Lacaena pleaded, "Please, the Shukaku will surely murder her!"Itachi didn't answer, only shooting forward through the creeping plants. They grabbed a hold of him, trying to keep him back. He let loose a barrage of kunai, cutting through the tendrils. He kept going, running quickly. Hacking away at the vegetation, Itachi finally reached the sand. Jumping to save time, he landed next to Mei Lan. Grabbing her around the waist, he pulled her away from the sand.
Shukaku shrank away from the light, shrieking with terror, "Oh! Ah! Get it away! Get it away!"
Where ever the light touched him, he tore away at, clawing at it madly, as if it were burning him.
"Make it stop, make it stop!!!" Shukaku screamed in pain.
Gaara stared after Shukaku in shock. What was going on!? He looked at the ground and realized that, while Suna was too dry and hot for most vegetation, the floor had suddenly overgrown with a carpet of lush green plants. However, they began to shrink away, as if pulled back. He followed where they originated and found that they were sprouting from the sleeping Mei Lan. She, too, was beginning to disappear.
Gaara suddenly felt compelled to chase after her, reaching a hand up to her as if asking her to save him. She kept shrinking away, the light emitting from her fading away as she disappeared.
A low rumbling laugh came. "Thought you could scare me with a little light, did you!?" Shukaku's sand arm wrapped tightly around Gaara, squeezing him, choking him. "It won't work, kid!" Shukaku laughed once more.
"Mei Lan…" Gaara said.
"Master, I have to help him!" Mei Lan exclaimed.
"You'll get yourself killed first." Itachi said.
Gaara's body stood, stooping over. It growled like an animal, eyes still closed. It's arms overhanging, standing in a matter similar to that of an animal.
"The Shukaku has taken over." Itachi said, "Gaara is no longer in control. Your help will only succeed in giving Shukaku his first victim."
"But…"
"Mei Lan…"
Mei Lan's eyes widened. 'Did I just hear that? That was Gaara, I know it had to be!"
"Please, Master Itachi, I'm begging you!" Mei Lan said, "I know if I get close to him now, I know I can bring him back! You have to trust me!"
Itachi simply stared down at the girl he was holding, red eyes emotionless. But Mei Lan could tell he was thinking, pondering what she'd just said. A look of conflict flickered into Itachi's eyes but disappeared the next moment.
"Master Itachi?"
Itachi closed his eyes and dropped Mei Lan. She caught herself, landing upright. She stared at him in confusion. Itachi turned around, saying, "You have 30 seconds to reverse the Shukaku's transformation. If not by then, you will pull back and allow Lacaena, Shu Yu, and I to take control."
Mei Lan bowed to her Master, "Thank you, Master."
Mei Lan quickly turned, running back to Gaara, slipping every now and then on the sand. Sand was still pouring from Gaara's gourd, flowing over her feet as she came closer to Gaara's body. It growled once more, and a foot of Shukaku made of sand formed, striking at Mei Lan, trying to keep her away. A tree sprang out of nowhere, blocking the attack. The limb went straight through the tree. Mei Lan ducked as the top part of the tree went flying behind her. Vines came up, catching the limb and throwing it back at Shukaku's arm.
Mei Lan pressed forward, dodging more blows by Shukaku. Her plants guarded her as best they could, blocking what attacks they were able to. Another arm suddenly formed, hitting Mei Lan, slamming her against the wall.
"I'm stepping in now!" Lacaena said. She made several complicated hand signs and pointed at the net of vines before her. Thunder suddenly struck, burning a hole in the vines. Lacaena ran through just as more plants sprang up, barring the way once more.
Lacaena ran forward just in time to see plants swarming over both of Shukaku's arms. They kept swarming, covering the whole area, including Mei Lan.
"Mei Lan!" Kurome shouted to her.
Itachi made hand signs as well, shouting, "Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!" The plants and sand were set ablaze. Smoke rose into the air, clouding the area.
The net of plants in front of Shu Yu and Kurome shrank away in the smoke. It was Shu Yu's turn now; making hand signs herself, she made the smoke clear away. The plants had turned into smoldering ash while the sand had turned to glass. In the midst of all this, Gaara and Mei Lan stood. She was hugging him, and Shukaku had somehow disappeared.
Rain was pouring now. Nagataka wiped at the rain as it slipped into his eyes only to have more rain pour onto his face. He looked around; the streets were empty; of course they were. It was pouring out here. Who in their right minds would be out here in a storm like this!? Lady Chizuko, that's who.
Nagataka sighed as thunder boomed and lightning struck. He was used to this. Anyone who traveled around with Chizuko would have to get used to this for Chizuko spent a lot of time in falling rain, especially the large storms. She enjoyed the falling rain; it reminded her of home. Anyone who didn't know Chizuko, like Amaterasu and Asuma and their group, would've known that Chizuko actually missed her hometown. She didn't return because of fear.
Lighting illuminated a large hill. From where he was standing, Nagataka could see Chizuko, standing and staring off in the distance. She was staring upwards at the storm clouds.
Nagataka smiled; at last, he'd found her. Nagataka walked up the hill and to Chizuko.
Before he said a word, Chizuko spoke cut in, "I'm not going back to that apartment."
"Lady Chizuko,"
"I like it in the rain."
"But –…"
"They're wrong about me."
"No matter if they are wrong about you, they are right in saying that it's dangerous out here." Nagataka argued, "There are assassins after you. If they see you out here, I don't know if I'd be able to protect you by myself."
"I'm not completely defenseless, Nagataka." Chizuko commented angrily.
"I didn't say that."
"Yeah, but everyone keeps implying it!" Chizuko shouted, turning to Nagataka, glaring at him. "Everyone keeps on saying how important it is to have bodyguards at all times! To have some sort of defense! Why!? Yuuha and Takara are children like me! Why don't they need bodyguards!? If I wanted to be under 100 percent surveillance, I could've just stayed back in the palace!"
"We just want to protect you."
"From what!?" Chizuko vented, "These assassins aren't that good, otherwise they would've at least tried to get me by now! All of you just want to protect me just because of my status, isn't it!?"
"That's quite enough, Chizuko." Nagataka stated loudly, making Chizuko pause. "First of all, Kirari and Kirika do actually care about you. Second, the only reason why your father hired bodyguards for you is because he too cares about you! I know you feel like you're being trapped like back at your village, but you could at least try to understand your father's feelings! I care about you!"
Chizuko stared up at Nagataka's angry and worried expression. She was dumbstruck; she never thought of it that way. Staring up at him, she realized he was telling the truth. Tears began to fill in her eyes, showering down her cheeks. She was grateful to the rain to conceal her tears, but she knew Nagataka would realize it sooner than later.
"I miss my father…" Chizuko said, looking at the grounds as the rain continued to pour.
Nagataka's expression softened, "By all evidence, you should."
Chizuko smiled at a memory, "Do you know why I always stand out in the rain? It's not just because it reminds me of the big waterfall back at home. Father used to come outside with me onto the porch and we'd watch the rain fall into the lake. Sometimes, Father would even let me go out to splash in puddles. And…I never truly had a mother. Father said she disappeared a long time ago. He used to take me out into the rain and dance with me. He said, mother's usually taught their daughters to dance; it was his way of making up for me not having one…"
Nagatak stared at Chizuko regrettably, "Lady Chizuko…I'm sorry for yelling at you. I…Was out of line. I apologize with the sincerest of my heart."
"I'll forgive you…On once condition."
"Really? Please, tell me how."
"Dance with me."
"W-what?"
"I want to dance in the rain, but I need a partner. It's been so long…"
"I think you should wait till home." Nagataka reasoned, "I think it would be better if you danced with your father…"
"Do you want me to forgive you or not!?"
"Well, yes, but –!"
"Then come on!" Chizuko grabbed his arms, pulling him into a closer position. Nagataka tensed. Chizuko laughed, her tears disappearing, "Relax, Nagataka. I'll lead if that's what you want."
Chizuko pulled Nagataka, spinning in the rain. All the while, Chizuko smiled as she remembered the dance steps her father had taught her when she was younger. They moved in elegant swirls, flitting across the top of the hill like the raindrops that fell from the sky. The mofe Chizuko smiled, the more Nagataka smiled. He enjoyed seeing his lady happy. For once in a long time, she was smiling a genuine smile.
She loved dancing in the rain.
To Be Continued…