I do not own Naruto or the song 'The Innocent' by Good Charlotte
Chapter 9:
And I though needles were bad in shot form!
I screamed, my eyes popped wide open, and I sprung upright in bed. I was covered in a cold sweat; the bed sheets stuck to my skin uncomfortably. I was shaking uncontrollably. I just couldn't stop shaking. My breath came in heavy pants. My heart was pounding like crazy. I put my hand to my chest, almost as if I expected my heart to pop right out.
I heard footsteps pounding down the hall. They were getting closer, and closer, and closer... The door to my room swung open and in came Naruto and Sasuke.
"Sayuki! Are you alright!?" Naruto asked rushing to my side. Sasuke stood near the door, he was scanning the room over with his eyes.
I nodded in response to Naruto. It was all I could do at first. Finally I found my voice and was able to choke out, "I'm fine."
"What happened?" Sasuke asked not even looking at me. He was still giving the room a very thorough once over.
"I just had a nightmare is all," I said, smiling. Though my smile wasn't all that convincing.
"Just a nightmare?"
I nodded. A very vivid, gory, and detailed nightmare...
"I'm sorry I woke you guys," I said, "You should go back to sleep now. Won't be much use to Mr. Bridge Builder if you're falling asleep on the job."
Sasuke looked at me like he was trying to figure something out. Then he nodded and left the room without a word.
"You sure you're okay?" Naruto asked.
"Yeah, I'm okay. Thanks, Naruto." I gave him a smile.
"Okay. G'night Sayuki!" He called to me while walking out the door.
"Night," I called back.
The tears I had been holding in streaked down my face. I still trembled, but it wasn't the uncontrollably shaking as it was before. I took a few deep breaths to try and calm myself.
I haven't had that dream since I came to this world... I thought.... I thought maybe it had actually stopped once and for all....
I shook my head. I guess some things never changed. I took one more deep breath then laid my head down on my pillow and tried to fall back asleep.
Why is it so darn easy to get bored in this world!? I wondered irately. I sighed and began humming the tune to a song who's name I can not remember.
Inner Casey: What IS the name to that song?
I can't remember! Something about people dying? Or innocence.... Oh man this is going to drive me crazy!
Inner Casey: Wait! Was it 'The Innocent'?
Yeah yeah!!! That was it! 'The Innocent' by Good Charlotte!
Inner Casey: Ooooh, I love that song!
Well duh! Of course you do! Because I love that song and you're like, apart of me! .... Actually, this is kinda weird.... Ya know, talking to myself and all...
"W-What is this?" I heard Tazuna gasp.
I turned my attention forward. Only a few feet ahead of us all the workers of the bridge lay on the ground. The majority of them were unconscious but a few of the motionless bodies whimpered in pain.
"What happened here?" Tazuna asked, surprised and frightened at the same time.
"Can it be?" Kakashi asked noone in particular.
As realization dawned on me a shiver went up my spine.
Oh man! How could I have forgotten about what was going to happen today?! I inwardly groaned. There's no way I can possibly be of any help in this battle!
Inner Casey: But we sure aren't going to just stand around and do nothing like Sakura did! No way!
A dense fog came out of nowhere and covered the entire surrounding area, making it difficult to see.
"Sasuke, Sayuki! Here it comes!" Kakashi instructed. Me and Sasuke both instantaneously jumped in front of the Bridge Builder.
"Sorry for the wait, Kakashi," Zabuza's voice echoed from somewhere within the fog. "You're still with those brats?"
I gulped, feeling as if I was about to fall into the fetal position while sucking my thumb.
No... No, you're right. I thought, agreeing with my inner self, I'm not going to be a useless, pathetic excuse of a ninja!
"I'll show that I'm worthy of this headband!" I said out loud. I pulled out a kunai and got into a fighting stance.
I expected some rude, smart-aleck comment from Sasuke, or at least a snort. But when I turned to see Sasuke he was just standing there... shaking. But not from fear... I reminded myself. Of course not from fear because Mr. Strong and Powerful Sasuke Uchiha doesn't get scared. I gave just the slightest roll of my eyes.
"He's trembling again, poor kid." Zabuza seemed amused.
Around 5 Zabuza clones suddenly appeared, surrounding us.
A menacing smirk spread across Sasuke's face. "I'm trembling... with excitement," he said, his tone of voice matching the mischievous look on his face.
"Sasuke, do it," Kakashi said.
Sasuke raced forward and stabbed the kunai he had at hand into several of the Zabuza clones. They disappeared in a splash of water, leaving just one clone left.
This one's mine... I ran toward the clone and slashed my kunai through it before Sasuke had the chance to. I then resumed my spot in front of the Bridge Builder.
Sasuke got into position next to me. I shot him a grin, which he returned with a scowl.
"What?" As far as I knew I didn't do anything wrong.... at least not this time!
"Someone needs to be with the Bridge Builder at all times! You saw that I had things under control. Next time don't leave the Bridge Builder undefended!" He practically yelled at me.
Oh... riiiighht...
"Jeez, calm yourself. Nothing happened. The Bridge Builder's fine..." I grumbled. "Aren't ya Mr. Tazuna?"
"Oh? They saw through my water clones," Zabuza said before Tazuna had the chance to reply,
"Your brats have grown."
I frowned. Being called a brat wasn't something I particularly enjoyed.
The mist subsided right in front of us. Two figures came into vision. One being Zabuza, and the other being Haku.
"It looks like two new rivals have appeared. Eh, Haku?" Zabuza said to Haku, but loud enough for everyone to hear.
"It does indeed," Haku replied.
Even his voice sounds girly... I thought randomly.
"Well, well. It looks like I was right..." Kakashi said. "That masked one...It was all an act."
"Psh, he's no Hidden Mist Hunter-nin," I scoffed.
Tazuna gave me a confused look as if to say, "He's not?". His look changed in the matter of seconds as realization dawned on him. I mean, DUH! It's not that hard to figure out that he's not really a hunter-nin. He was standing right by Zabuza's side after all!
"So, being a Hidden Mist Hunter-nin was all a big lie?" Tazuna stated more than asked. That really annoyed me when people stated things for no reason! It's completely obvious that everyone already knows so what's the point in announcing it? There is no point! But I kinda did that too... stating things when it's not necessary. So I guess that just makes me one big hypocrite! But ya know everyone is a hypocrite really. Honest, I remember this one time- - - Oh... right... I should probably go back to reality now.
Inner Casey: You're too easily distracted
Says one of my biggest distractions!
"He's a comrade of Zabuza's... Apparently his right hand man," Kakashi said.
"He disguised himself as a hunter nin because the mask would conceal his identity," I added.
"You can take it off now. There's really no point. Hiding behind a mask like that..." Kakashi said to Haku.
Look who's talking Kakashi... I thought with a roll of my eyes.
"I.... will fight him," Sasuke announced. Haku started running in the direction of us. Sasuke whipped out a kunai and charged forward at the mask wearing teen. Haku had a needle out in his own hand. Kunai and needle clashed. They continued to clash multiple times as the two fought each-other. Haku had immense speed on his side, but Sasuke managed to keep up with him.
"Hm, so the little brat can keep up with Haku. That's almost impressive," Zabuza observed. "No matter, he'll be annihilated in no time."
I suppressed the urge to growl. I hate the way this guy thinks killing will solve everything! I'm glad his days of annihilated are soon going to be over!
I fixed Zabuza with a glare of pure hatred.
"Sayuki!" Kakashi said, causing me to slightly turn to him, but not lose my glare.
"Cover Tazuna, and stay close to me!" he ordered.
I was about to protest – I should be allowed to fight too!– but then I thought better of it. I didn't want to interfere too much with this battle. Who knows how that could change the outcome?
I repositioned myself in front of Tazuna; kunai still in hand and ready should the time come that the kunai needs to be used.
Kakashi and Zabuza exchanged some words, but I was too busy paying attention to Sasuke's and Haku's fight to really hear. I think Kakashi was bragging about how amazing we, his students are.
Inner Casey: That's just what you want to hear.
I mentally shrugged. So what?
Suddenly the surrounding area became cold. Really cold. The temperature can't just change that dramatically that fast… It's not natural. I thought. My eyes went wide when I realized the cause for the sudden change in temperature.
"Sasuke! Move!" I yelled to him. He turned his head and my direction and mouthed a "What?".
"MOVE!" I yelled again. But it was too late.
I watched in amazement (despite seeing it before) as Haku used his secret jutsu to form sheets of ice around him and Sasuke.
"This is bad," I muttered. "The idiot should have listened to me when I told him to move it!"
"Secret Jutsu," Haku muttered, while making hand signs. "Crystal Ice Mirrors!"
His jutsu now complete, Sasuke was was trapped within the perfect circle of ice mirrors. From the outside, Haku stepped right through and into one of the mirrors and I groaned inwardly. This can not be good…
"Sasuke!" Kakashi called over to his student.
"It's no use," I said. "From this distance he won't be able to hear you. And he's trapped in that. He's not going to get out on his own." Naruto. Where was that punk!?
Kakashi nodded, not questioning how I knew this. He seemed to be thinking about something. I divided my gaze between Sasuke and the ice mirrors, and the contemplating Kakashi.
"Go help Sasuke," he suddenly stated, taking me off guard.
"Huh? I thought I was supposed to guard Tazuna?"
"No, Sasuke will be needing you more. I'll take care of the Bridge Builder. You can come back and help me as soon as you can." I nodded, slightly stunned. He really trusted me to go help Sasuke? A sense of pride filled me right before nausea hit my stomach. I had to go up against Haku. And his needles. Did I ever mention how much I've always hated shots?
I took a deep breath before running at full speed toward the ice mirrors.
Inner Casey: You can just slip between two pans of the ice. You can't get out that way but you should be able to get it.
Finally you have something helpful to say. I thought before muttering an "Okay" outloud.
I approached Haku's jutsu and stepped a little to the side so I was lined up with one of the gaps in between. Still running, I managed to go straight through the gap without problem.
And I kinda, heh, ran straight into Sasuke.
"Wha!?" He yelled as he fell to the floor, me on top of him.
I scrambled off of him and to me feet. "I'm here to help you!" I grinned flashing him a thumbs up while in my 'cool guy' pose. Learned that one from Gai sensi!
"You're just going to get in the way," Sasuke mumbled. He stood back up and did a 360 within the circle.
"Looking for Haku?" I asked. "He went into that mirror." I pointed to the mirror I had seen Haku enter.
"Very good," Haku's voice called. His figured slowly appeared in the mirror I had pointed at. I swear he was grinning under that mask.
"Come out and fight like a man!" I yelled.
All of a sudden needles came flying at me and Sasuke from everywhere! They sliced our skin and make blood start pouring off of us. I covered my face with my arms and sank to my knees. There was no where to take cover- they were coming at us from every direction!
"Ahhh!" I screamed out in pain. "Stop it!" I knew it was pointless though.
I peeked open an eye that I had been squeezing shut to see Sasuke was in the same position as me; On his knees, basically curled forward into a ball, with his arms covering his head though offering little protection.
Just as suddenly as the needles came they ceased.
"Naruto Uzamaki is here!" I heard a voice call.
Now he comes!
Author's Note: *hides under desk and gets flame thrower out to defend self* Please don't hurt me guys!! Okay, no, you have every right to hurt me. It's been MONTHS and MONTHS since I've updated this.
Thing is I've had a lot of stupid crap going on. Add homework to that, friend troubles, and a lack of computer for about one months span, and you get a not really decent but it'll have to do excuse.
I am SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO sorry! I really hope you guys love me enough to still read and review. Even if it's to tell me you hate my guts.
Good news is from now on updates shouldn't take more than a month =D
*whimpers pathetically*