Let's Talk

Hotaru sat at the table trying her hardest not to play with her hands; a nervous habit. Her parents spoke on why they still didn't want her to become a ninja. She became slightly upset but her upbeat spirit decided to show more. She didn't agree nor disagree, she was silent only nodding her head. This was an awkward early morning breakfast. A question perked in her ears, it was something she had to respond to.

"His name is Nara Shikamaru, he's not a bad guy...he helps the hokage out and goes on missions too. He came over yesterday and we hung out until the weather cleared. I dare not tell them I trained. And well yeah, that's who I hang out with and who Lady Tsunade gave to me to learn the ropes," Hotaru explained as her parents cleaned up their area and got ready for work.

Simple jobs they had, her nice parents. Her dad helped chop meat to sell to stores, her mom helped hem clothes for people at a little shop. Those were nice jobs, but their only daughter wanted more. They let her in the Academy so why not let her go out. Why...its because no matter what, a ninja will die. They feared losing her.

The moment she fare-welled her parents she closed the door and started doing ninja poses. I'm not sure what's come over me but I just have to, I need to, I want to! She ran to her room and immediately started grabbing things. With hot pink knee length shorts, her kunai satchel on her right thigh, dark blue sweatshirt and ankle boots she was dressed for the day. It was 10:39AM she had time to adventure out for a while and make it back at noon.

She darted out the door and sped to the gates to leave the village. Two shinobi waved as she departed with a slow walk, but once she was out freedom grounds she ran. The wind pushed her bangs back and tickled her ears, she was free. It was her first time leaving her home like this. She frolicked through the forest, jumping over branches and cartwheeling through the the homes of animals who hurriedly ran hearing her giggles.

"I'm a ninja, this is what ninja do!" She yelped dancing around near a small lake.

Hmm.. she stopped and thought of Shikamaru's moves. She started to form the hand signs then called out "Kagemane No Jutsu!" nothing happened. "Uh...Shadow Limitation Jutsu!" nothing. Well maybe its a family thing...sucks, I think I would look cool doing that!

She sat down and started thinking, a simple shadow clone was easiest for her. She wanted to have her own jutsu. None of the members in the Ai family were ninja...but her. She was first, that's why she wanted to do something different so bad. She wanted to learn a jutsu.

"Well if I recall..." She started thinking and making hand signs.

Dog – Inu this is for Ice She created the sign

Tiger – Tora this is for Fire She created the sign

Snake – Mi this is for Earth She struggled to create this one

Rat – Ne this is for Shadow She created the sign

those are the main ones I know... All the other animals of the zodiac helped combine and make the jutsu work or make them more powerful, but she wanted to create her own. She sat down and pondered tapping her chin with her eyes shut tightly. "WHAT TIME IS IT?"

Shikamaru glanced at the clock in Lady Tsunade's office. Their conversation was done but even though his tired attributes caused him to yawn, he didn't want to not be on time. She finally added, "Shikamaru, if you give this girl anything to do, get some kids from the Academy to liven up her life. Maybe you both could watch them."

...this is becoming to much... Shikamaru just nodded but did say his thoughts as he left in his usual slow stroll his name was called out by a familiar voice. He turned to see his long childhood friend stuffing his face with a fairly large back of chips. "Choji, what's going on." he waited for the munching to slow down to a cease for an answer as they walked out the building together.

With a large swallow he finally spoke a few crumbs scattered on the edge of his lips, "Some commotion was going on at the entrance of Konoha," he started munching again and talk with a mouth full.

All Shikamaru heard was shinobi, girl, trouble, village, and some crunching. He wasn't concerned with troublesome girls at the moment, he was headed to go meet Hotaru...who seemed troublesome. He stopped, his thoughts came together. He asked Choji about the girl.

"Umm...I'm trying to remember her name," He began to tap his temple, "Oh! Remember the girl, Hotaru?"

Shikamaru sighed heavily and tossed his head back as they were finally outside. He looked at the clouds, "Troublesome..."

"This is why you can't be a ninja,"

Hearing her father's demanding voice made her sink back into the wood chair as if it were a couch. Her eyelids hung low, she held back the tears. She didn't like getting fussed at whatsoever. Her hands touched, her nervous trait began to show. The voice continued saying why this and that wouldn't work, she just decided to give up. She glanced over at the clock, it was 1:01pm.

The Nara boy wasn't here.

KNOCK KNOCK

Her dark shaky eyes glanced at the door, her mother shuffled to quickly answer it. Before their eyes could meet, Hotaru turned her head in shame and defeat. Shikamaru chewed on a toothpick as he was told to enter the household. He shoved his hands in his pockets and cleared his throat.

"Sorry about the absence on the correct time, had to talk to Lady Tsunade about some issues..." He spoke calmly and slowly trying not to make eye contact with the girl's father.

"I honestly think Hotaru shouldn't become..."

She tuned out her father's voice as he began to speak. All of this seemed like a problem; she didn't expect for her father to get off early and see her running into the village from the gates. Her curiosity got the best of her. She had to stop thinking so much, but that would mean hindering her possibilities in life. Time felt like it was slowing down just because of this small altercation.

"When I talked to the hokage sir, she suggested actually training her or trying to see her potential. Though you don't want her to fight or become a full shinobi these were words from me and I was given permission but I must ask for yours," This was the most she had ever heard the lazy ninja talk, she truly couldn't believe he even considered doing this for her. "In addition we're actually required to look over a beginning team at the Academy by Lady Tsunade. There is nothing going on right now in Konoha and I have nothing but time. Unfortunately...goodness I hope this actually works out for the better..."

There were a few more words exchanged then her parents proceeded to go back to work. Hotaru looked up before using her wrist to wipe a few tears away. Shikamaru looked down at her, his height already exceeded the five foot three marker. She stood up and slightly smiled. Wow...

as they walked to the Academy before the classes let out, conversation was little of nothing. Hotaru was trying to wrap her brain around what had just happened. She softly spoke, "Thanks back there...I'll try my best not to mess up anything anymore..."

The shinobi said nothing.

They entered the Academy and a young girl ran up to them. She had snow white hair and a small frown on her face. She lifted up her finger and pointed at Shikamaru, "You! You're the one whose gonna help us?" A pair of boys ran behind the young girl who looked all of eight and they stood on her sides smiling.

"I'm Nara Shikamaru, i'm glad you guys were already told I would be here." He spoke causing the kids to smile.

"I'm Ai Hotaru, i'm also here to help." Hotaru spoke up putting a smile on her face.

One of the boys looked Hotaru up and down then mumbled something to the girl who seemed to be the leader of the group. "Well I'm Daiki, I'm the leader of this group and I greet you with a salute!"

"Just one second! I'm the one with the main role here," The girl slightly shoved Daiki over making his thick brown locks of hair slump over. "I'm Hikara and actually, I'm the one who has all of the talent here!"

As the other two kids began to bicker, the other boy just stood quiet. He decided to whisper, "I'm Genshe sorry about those two..." he scratched the back of his head in slight embarrassment.

What have I done... Shikamaru looked over at Hotaru, she looked just as startled as him at this "mission" for them.

OKAY! happy new years, and please R&R =]]