-Sorry for the hold up, I had a temporary writer's block (I get them very often eheh…) anyways; I'm making it up to you all by making this chapter longer than usual. Since there are new characters in the chapter, I claim them as my own. Which mean I have their lives in my fingers. I intend for you to cry at the end. If I fail to do so I shall hit myself repeatedly. XDD Now ENJOY! -
After my birthday Tsunade-sama felt it that I was ready enough to prepare for medical-ninjutsu training. She had told me that since my chakra control was very excellent. I'm far too lazy to have to explain everything with large detail. Let's just say now that I was 16, I was about as good as Tsunade-sama. Or at least half as good—no one could out-heal the Medical Mistress. Not even the person who's been with her for now most of her life. Tsunade-sama was now 38, and hadn't lost any of her young charm. She actually much younger. I wondered why. I wondered so much that one time I absently asked and she did not hesitate to answer. She told me why. I was shocked. And so speechless, too. "There's such a jutsu?"
"Mmhmm."
"But... that's not possible!"
"Nothing is usually possible around here, yet it happens."
She had a point there. Hehe. She said it was necessary, since she was being hunted down for the debt. Increasing debt. I always despised her gambling, but I didn't seem to mind it as much anymore. Tsunade-sama just couldn't help herself.
------
As a girl of age 16 of course I'd have friends. Tsunade-sama thought it would be good if I did; I'd have someone to spend time with while she had her free time.
It was about 2 PM; the time Tsunade-sama goes gambling, and when I go to meet up with Reiko and Aitorou. I had met Reiko at the library, where I'd every so often go to study my medical ninjutsu. Aitorou, on the other hand, was first met in a certain situation. So certain it needs a flashback.
---[Flash---
"Hey! Give that back! Nngh!" A little shout came across the street. Reiko and I had just finished eating lunch. As we finished and headed back to our usual hanging spot (her house… hehe) we spotted a little boy, about our age, on the floor with three tall boys standing. They had stolen his money. One of them was stooping after the boy waving paper money in front of his face. "Hey kid ya want it back? Why aren't you getting' it, eh?" He teasingly asked. People like this sickened me deeply. The boy was unable to snatch his belongings back, for he was jumped for his money. He had a few bad marks on his face. His black wet eyes pierced them a fierce look, of which didn't affect them, for they were at the advantage. Reiko and I hid behind the wall to see what else would happen. As the boys laughed and the other one continued to wave in his face, he became furious. "You… you all! You all are scum! You're nothing but low lives who can't even earn anything of their own!" Reiko let out a big "HA! IN YOUR FACE!" but not as loud as to grab their attention. I chuckled, for his words were true. The three became furious and had a murderous look on their faces. "That's it kid, your gunna wish youda nevah been born!" The boy tried to crawl away but was caught by the foot and picked up by the collar. The money-waver held back his arms to prepare for a big hit. As he was about to lay his hands on the boy's face, I threw a Kunai in between his fist and his face.
"Agh!" He said as a cut around his fist formed. He looked over to Reiko and I. "Oh well lookah here… it's you again… lil' stuff.
I eyes grew large as I had recognized his voice. And his name for me. It was that man… who had attempted to kill me when I was 7. I looked angrily. "Put him down." He did so.
"And what ya gunna do if I kill this kid, nm? Ya gunna cry and call ya mommy again?"
My eyes shot at him like two daggers. First of all, this creep was underestimating me. Second, Tsunade-sama wasn't my mother. My mother was dead. The man and the other two ganged up on us as they cracked their knuckles. The boy sat us up and watched fearfully, scared of our safety. Reiko turned to me and smirked. I nodded. I walked in front of Reiko and knelt down facing the three men. They looked at us confusingly and waited for our move. Reiko, standing up behind me as I knelt smirked once more. "Mm! You've chosen the wrong pair, big guys."
Reiko and I formed our hand signs. Don't be too excited, cause we never did set up a big technique. Just a technique that used a simple jutsu.
"Shadow clone Jutsu!" We called in unison.
Two more pairs appeared and surrounded the three, forming a triangle. The three went back to back. "What're these two lil' things up tah?"
"Now!" I yelled as Reiko used my back as a ramp and jumped off my shoulder to charge for them. She shifted her legs into a kick and got only two of them; the one that kept on calling me lil' stuff thoughtfully ducked. Reiko bumped into on of her clones as it disappeared. Reiko prevented herself from smashing onto the ground by front flipping her way and sliding her way down. She landed next to the boy who has previously picked on. "Howdy!" She said as she scratched the back of her head. "Hehe" The boy stared and then both their attention was drawn to me as me and my clones darted a punch towards the man. He smirked and revealed a concealed knife under his jacket.
"Oh no!" I yelled fearfully. He spun around sticking out the knife, hitting all three of me. While the clones poofed I lay hit.
"Shizune!" Reiko yelled. The man laughed triumphantly until my body turned into a piece of wood. Oh yeah. I'm good. The man looked around as he saw a kunai come crashing down to knock off the knife out of his hands. He looked up to see me smashing my foot into his face. It felt very good. Very good, indeed.
As he and his men lay beat on the floor I stood beside Reiko. I crossed my arms. "That was for being a jerk 9 years ago and now." Reiko cheered with a big "IN YO FACE, MORPHODITES! Mm!!"
I collapsed onto the floor on my butt. "Haha we never did try out this style on a real enemy."
"It's a good thing you used the replacement jutsu." Reiko said, sitting down next to me. "Or else you would have been taken out."
"Indeed."
I peeked over Reiko's shoulder to see the boy staring in amazement at us. Reiko turned around, "Oh uh sorry, we forgot about you." Reiko said again, scratching the back of her head. I scooted over in front of him. I put my hands on his face to examine the scratches, as he turned red.
"You don't seem to have any big injuries, but these cuts could get infected." I said as I let out my chakra and sealed his cuts. I put my hands down onto my lap. "Your good to go." I smiled. The boy nodded a thank you. I remained silent until I realized my social error. "Oh um, forgive me for not introducing myself. I'm Shizune, and uh, this here is Reiko." Reiko waved. "Sup."
The boy felt his face to find no marks. "Oh um, yes, my name is Aitorou. Thank you very much for helping me."
"Your welcome." I politely said. Reiko stood up and brushed the free dirt that wasn't already engraved into her cloth off her shirt and shorts. "You really shouldn't let assholes like them pick on you like that."
Aitorou's smile slanted. "I would if I could have, but I'm no fighter… eheh."
"Well I guess your gunna have to stick around with us, nm?" Reiko joked. I laughed. "That's fine by me."
"Yeah and maybe you two can be my bodyguards." Aitorou joked as well.
"Nm! We'll teach ya how to fight as well!" Reiko stated.
"Certainly." I said. "So from now on, we are… squad ShizuReiTorou!"
"Awfully long but ALRIGHT! Mm!!" Reiko said putting one fist in the air.
"Sounds fun." Aitorou smiled… but mostly at me.
---[Flash end---
"Hi Shizune-chan!" Aitorou waved as I approached them.
"Yo, mm." Reiko casually said.
I most often asked myself how ever did I get involved with these gorgeous people. They both sparkled in comparison to me.
Reiko was slender, and pretty flexible. Her "cool" expression, if not a delightful one mostly took her face. Her long brown hair was tied into a slick ponytail, as the hair that was too short to be tied waved at the sides of her face. She wore purple and white most of the time. It went well with her.
Aitorou was as tall as I was. He was pretty strong, and showed so when we tried to teach him ninjutsu. He let his sleek brown hair freely spike across his head, and his spiky bangs made his chocolate eyes look all the more charming… not that I found it charming… but I'm not saying I think he's ugly I think he's perfectly handsome—I mean—NEVER MIND.
I often wondered that but then I remembered that there was explanations that made my questions seem ever so stupid.
"Good morning, Aitorou, Reiko." I said with my common smile.
"So where to today?" I asked. My questioned was answered by our stomachs grumbling. "Oh hehe… yeah I didn't have breakfast yet." I said scratching the back of my head.
"Haha me neither." Aitorou chuckled
"Let's eat at my place, mm? Mom's a fine cook." Reiko suggested.
We walked over to Reiko's house—her house was always the base of our activities. We were alone most of the time, and had big space.
Aitorou and I sat beside each other on cushions as Reiko sat across. "I'll get the food; today's spesh is sushi, mm!" She stood up and went into the kitchen. Which left Aitorou and I alone for about a good 15 minutes. Aitorou looked at me and blushed. I looked back and turned my head, as my cheeks were dyed pink as well. This was pretty awkward, since there's never been a time when we were alone together. I faced back at him, trying to cool down the warmth built in my cheeks. I peered my eyes over to him not moving my head, though. He was looking straight at me… it wasn't creepy seeming, though. It seemed more like… mesmerizing. His light chocolate eyes were stiffened onto my face. I hid my face from him. "Uh… Aitorou..." I said, hinting my discomfort… false discomfort, really.
Aitorou shook his head. "Oh I'm sorry for staring. It's just… you just really… bring my attention." I blushed at the comment.
"It's almost up, guys! Mm!" Reiko shouted from the kitchen. I retained my face to see that Aitorou was still pink. I turned to him. "So… uh… how do I 'bring our attention'?" I asked. Aitorou turned redder. "Well… I just find you really... pretty." He didn't look away. Looking away for him showed lying. He wasn't lying. I became pink again. "Oh um… I'm really flattered. I find you… handsome… as well." I complemented. It was true. As I had said before, Aitorou was one of the most spectacular boys I have met.
"I'm glad you agree." He said. I turned over to him to find him lifting my chin with his hand and pressing his lips onto mine. It was quite soft. I closed my eyes and absently tugged on his shirt for him to come closer. After about 5 seconds I regained my senses and broke the kiss with a slap. Aitorou yelped and held his red cheek. He squinted over to me and I stood up.
"Shizune-chan, I'm sorry—" He started, signaling me to come back down. Tears formed in my eyes but before I let them fall in front of him I turned around and ran. "I hate you!"
I did not look back, but I know Aitorou's face expression. One that was full of sadness. One that I rarely saw. I didn't know why I did it. I just didn't want to. Yet it did. But I wouldn't. But If I could—NEH! I'm babbling again.
I heard Reiko in the background as I ran. "Hey I'm back with the—mm, what the shiznits happened?!"
I would have usually laughed, but now wasn't the time.
I ran back home and went into the room and locked it. I sat on my bed and continued to senselessly cry until I heard a knock. I let out a muffled cry. "Go away…" I murmured.
"Whoa there, Shizune, that was unexpected. This is my room, too you know."
Damn. She was right. After all it was a hotel. A one-rooming hotel. I through a kunai at the lock and unlocked the door. The door was not damaged, though. Tsunade opened the door to find. My head buried in my arms and hugging my legs.
"Aw Shizune what's wrong, now?" She said softly as she took off her heels and stepped onto the bed and sat beside me. I laid my head onto her lap as she pet my head.
"Everything, Tsunade-sama." I cried softly. She continued to pet my hair. "Hm?" She softly said.
"Aitorou."
"What did he do."
"He well… kissed me."
"I see."
"I'm confused, Tsunade-sama." I said, rubbing my eyes dry.
"Well. Do you love him back?" She asked. I stiffened. "Well…"
"Do you?"
"Tsunade-sama, I actually don't know. But also, you told me to prevent falling in love, didn't you?"
"Yes, I did." She said. And just laid her hand on my neck and discontinued to pet me. "But whether you follow my advice or not is your choice. It's not always mandatory with me, Shizune." I ended with a soft "alright.". I was rendered silent from the tiring tears my eyes have ceased to shed. I slowly began to fall asleep as Tsunade-sama began to pet me again. As soon as I fell asleep she lifted me straight onto the bed and put the covers over me and left the room.
------
I met up with only Reiko, for she had invited me to her father's unused dojo; where we'd always go.
Reiko sighed and sat down as I sat across her. "Mm, Aitorou-kun told me what happened."
I looked down onto the Tatami tiles. "Oh, Reiko-chan. I just.. don't know what to do."
Reiko shifted her legs to a kneel stance. "Mm, you can ask out the loser!" She stated. I glared.
"OOOH my god it'd be SO romantic; you two get together and eventually get MARRIED! Have a few kids, I wanna be a godmother! You two are SO CUTE together I mean ahh!" She yelled in her daydreaming and put the back of her wrist onto her forehead as a little strip of red came out of her nose. She was trying to be funny and cheer me up. But I just couldn't see the humor beneath my thought.
"Reiko…" I said as I traced the Tatami tiles. "I just don't know… if I feel the same way."
Reiko settled down. "I don't know about you, but Aitorou really likes you. Really really likes you."
"I know…" I murmured.
"And he's really sorry about yesterday. Really he is."
"But…" I didn't know how to argue right now. I was too deep in thought. My pile of thoughts was unfinished of clarification, for Aitorou had opened the door. He looked down at me with sorrowful eyes. "Reiko.. can I please talk privately with Shizune." Reiko nodded. She looked at me. I nodded. Reiko left the room and waited outside as Aitorou took Reiko's spot on the floor and took a seat on the tiles.
"Listen… Shizune-chan. I'm really sorry." He said with a straight face. He looked really serious. I was still silent. I had nothing to say at the moment. Nothing that could possibly have a point, that is.
"I know you're mad at me, and I know I shouldn't have done what I did, but really, if you can't accept my apology…" He stopped to look into my eyes, not to find admiration, but to find my hidden guilt. I looked down. I quickly faced back to him when he had put his hands on mine.
"But you know. Love makes us do crazy things." He smiled. I couldn't help but to smile. Instead of taking my guilt to the limit he decided to shove it all on himself.
"So are we good?" Aitorou asked. I opened my mouth to speak but then I heard a scream outside. It came from Reiko. Aitorou and I rushed to the door and opened it, to find Reiko down on the floor, bleeding around the arm.
"Reiko!" I yelled as I stooped down to her to tend to her wounds.
"Mm…" was all she could say as she pointed in front of her that directed to a group of thugs before her head and arm fell back down to the dirt. Aitorou and I looked ahead. We both had murderous expressions on our face.
"I'll handle this, Shizune. You help out Reiko." Aitorou said.
"Hai!" I put out my hands on Reiko's wound and released my chakra.
"Your gunna pay!" Aitorou said as he summoned 4 clones to assist him. His clones charged for the men but they all released their swords and poofed each in unison by inserting their swords onto their stomachs. This town wasn't safe anymore. Aitorou tried to charge a kick onto the leader. He mindfully grabbed his foot and threw him onto the grown and then charged his sword for Reiko and I. I gasped. I didn't have anytime to do anything. Reiko and I were about as good as done.
"Oh no you don't!" Aitorou fiercely yelled and stood back up. I covered my eyes and waited. I was surprised to not find myself dead. I opened my eyes to find Aitorou only a few feet in front of me. "Hehehe… it's okay now…" Aitorou croaked. I gasped to find the man's blade shoved into Aitorou's stomach. Even the man and his men were surprised. He pulled his blade out, and let Aitorou collapse on the floor.
"Aitorou!" I screamed. I was horrified. My eyes of fear quickly turned into pure anger. I stood up and gave a murderous expression to them. My heart beat fast with the thought of all of them dead struck in my head. I took a fighting stance as the men raised their weapons. I focused all my chakra into to foot and jumped up and kicked the ground. There were very rare times when I had to use this kind of Taijutsu. It was my last resort. And this was the time I needed it most. The men fell and frightened my freakish strength they all ran away dropping their weapons. I had attempted to chase them if I had not valued my friends first. I had already healed Reiko's wounds, but not all the way. But right now Aitorou needed my attention right away.
I rolled him over to face the sky and began to attempt healing. He opened his eyes slowly. "Shi… zu… ne… chan." He croaked. He was in very bad condition. His heartbeat was slowing down. I began to fret. "It'll be okay, Aitorou… don't worry." I half told myself. As Aitorou's breathing slowed down as well. I panicked as tears fell. I lost it and knew I couldn't save Aitorou on my own. "Tsunade-sama!" I yelled as hard as I could. I needed her help. Aitorou looked at me with his light brown eyes that I always seemed to like about him. It horrified me that I might never see those eyes again.
"Mm… please tell me… he's going to be okay…?" Reiko croaked. I didn't take my eyes off where I was attempting to heal. I sniffed and held back the tears. "I'm… I'm not sure…" I said. Aitorou was alive for the moment but I had no clue if I could keep that way. My main objective was to save him right now.
Aitorou looked at his hands and put his over them to stop my chakra from flowing. "Aitorou! What are you—?"
"It's no use… now. It's for the best if you… let me go…" He croaked. I shook my head furious and moved away his hands. "No! I am not letting a comrade die like this."
"Like what…? All I know is that… I saved… you… you and Reiko both. Now please… just let me be. I'm better off…" He silently ended off. Tears fell from my eyelashes as I blinked. I wiped away the blood coming out of Aitorou's mouth. He raised his hand to touch my check. "Now… don't cry…." He tried to smile. But it was crooked.
"How could I not?" I put my hands over his and tried to smile as well. It was more crooked than his. I looked at him, thinking of how to make his last moments precious. Worthwhile. You know.
Then I knew.
I grabbed his wrist down a bit and stooped over his face. I pushed my lips onto his; more gentle then how he had done with me. I released after about 5 seconds and touched his face and smiled. He closed his eyes and smiled, and this time, not crooked at all.
He sighed and that was the last of him. His wrist in my hand dropped down into dead movement. Tears fell slowly as I still smiled.
"Shizune!" I heard a voice in front of me. Tsunade-sama.
"Oh... hey there... Tsunade-sama." I said, trying to hold back the enormous amount of tears that I was about to release. Tsunade-sama looked down gravely at Aitorou and Reiko, but mostly at Aitorou. She knew a corpse when she saw one. "I'm… sorry…Shizune. I was too late… wasn't I?" She said.
"No, no." My voice shook due to the tears that were fighting at my face to come out. "It's not your fault… Tsunade-sama." I looked down.
Tsunade glared at me in confusion. She remained silent and knew I wasn't finished.
"You told me, Tsunade-sama. To never fall in love." I started off meekly. "You warned me… this kind of thing would happen if I did… you warned me…" I could feel Tsunade's eyes on me, looking as pitiful and sorrowful as ever.
I looked up at her with a fake smile. "But I just wouldn't listen, would I?" After those words I just threw my hands on my face and cried uncontrollably. Tsunade knelt down as I fell down sideways onto her lap. Tsunade-sama embraced me and rubbed my back to try to comfort me. As I cried on Tsunade-sama, all Reiko could do was rest her face on the rough dirt, was watch and silently cry. The floor beneath her face was become a puddle.
------
"Are you ready…?" Tsunade softly said. We were dressed in black, and it was almost time for Aitorou's funeral. I nodded and grabbed onto her arm as we went off for Reiko's place to pick her up. Tonton was wearing his black vest instead of his daily red one. He oinked a sad oink and walked off with us. We spotted Reiko in front her father's unused dojo—where it all happened.
"Let's go… Reiko." I said softly. Reiko looked behind to find us two and quickly turned around again to wipe away what were supposedly tears. "Okay I'm ready." She shakily said and ran off with us.
We arrived the funeral square. We stood in front of Aitorou's coffin. His face was cleaned off. His smooth sleek brown hair no longer was smooth and sleek. His smile became neutral. His eyes no longer gave off the shine it used to; one for it was closed, and second it was dead.
Reiko and I stood silent as Tsunade supervised us from behind. We happened to catch Aitorou's father pass by. "Oh... Reiko… Shizune. Hello." He sadly said. I looked down in guilt. "I'm sorry… Tohru-sama. I couldn't save him…" Teardrops formed in my eyes. They didn't fall. I held them in too back. Tohru-sama put his hand on my shoulder. "I would have done the same." He softly said as he walked away to the back.
All the same with most funerals—though this was my first, they left off their white roses that resembled their respect. Reiko and I had dropped off our roses, and an additional item. Reiko left him a small packet of money—of which was stolen from the thugs a few years ago. He never got back the money. And we regret we couldn't give it back. I had dropped off a small clay-figure of a swan. A while back he had told me his favorite animal was the swan. He didn't want anyone else to know cause he thought people would think he was femme. I asked him why he liked the swan.
He told it me it was a graceful as I was.
As the funeral was over Reiko, Tsunade-sama and I walked out to the find sunshine. I looked up and smiled. "Aitorou's reached heaven." I continued to walk. "I guess it's just the ShizuRei squad now, hm?" I said as I looked at Reiko. Reiko looked away. "Oh um. About that…"
I glared at her. I noticed she hadn't used her signature word, "mm". "What… you're not abandoning the squad, are you?"
"I wouldn't if I had the choice."
Tsunade-sama and I glared at Reiko as we all continued to walk.
Reiko stopped and looked down. "You see, my parents don't think this area is safe anymore… they want to move." I stopped walking and stood in front of her. I faked a smile. "I guess it is true…"
"I tried to argue—I said if you weren't there I would have gone to, and that if—"
"But I wasn't able to save Aitorou…" I mumbled sadly. Reiko sighed sadly. "Well…"
I smiled a confident one. "Whether you move or not, we'll still be squad ShizuReiTorou, from afar!" I stated. I began to tear up but didn't allow any tears to fall. Tsunade watched us compromise as she held Tonton sleeping in her arms.
Reiko nodded with tears in her eyes. "Mm! Still an awfully long name... but ALRIGHT!"
------
Tsunade-sama allowed me to go alone as I met up at the docks to see Reiko one last time.
Reiko's family was piling up their things in a boat.
"Mm, you made it!" She cheered.
"And why would I not?" I laughed.
"Cause if you hadn't this gift would be of waste." She dug a medium size box out of her bag. I tilted my head. "What's that?"
Reiko giggled and opened the box to reveal this black contraption. "Aitorou and I made this for you. We made it the night he bamboozled you and was his way of saying sorry. We couldn't do it all by ourselves so we had Tsunade-sama help us while you slept… hehe"
I took the device in my hands. "Aw, your guys are so nice…" I said. "So… what does it do?"
"Ahaha, glad you asked! Mm!" Reiko slipped the device onto my right arm. She faced my arm to a tree. "You pulls these strings and…" She tugged on the strings and the back of the device and needles went flying and hit the tree in a perfect line.
"Marvelous!" I said.
"Hey, mm, careful those needles are poisonous! Be careful who you aim at!" She jokingly warned.
"Haha, I will."
"Mm, and here are the refills… hehe." Reiko handed me about 3 thick containers of about 100 needles in each. "It'll do you good for a good decade or so if you use it wisely, mm!"
I took it and hugged Reiko. "I'll miss you." I said. She hugged back. "Mm! Always the same here, Shizune-chan!"
Reiko's father called from the ship. "Reiko, time to go!"
We let go of each other as Reiko settled onto the boat. I waved endlessly until the boat was out of sight.
"Mm! You better right to me, or I'll call the morphodites on ya!" She yelled waving back.
"I won't forget! Squad ShizuReiTorou's forever!"
"Still a very long squad name, but that's what I love about it! MM!" Her final words. Hehe.
------
I was eating up my lunch—I hadn't had anything to eat since this morning. Tsunade-sama seemed to have spotted my new gift. "I see your wearing it right away, huh?" She chuckled.
"I'm not ever taking it off, haha." I softly said. Tsunade-sama could still trace sadness in my voice.
She straightened her face. "I guess your not going to continue your training?"
"Of course I will." I said casually. Tsunade-sama glared at me and let me finish. "I'm not ever going to let someone close to me slip away like that again."
Tsunade-sama smiled and took a sip of her sake. "You're a very strong woman, Shizune."
"Just like you."