Ai

Hotaru sat quietly on the floor early Saturday morning while most kids would still sleep in, or do the obvious thing that she couldn't do. She sipped her tea then looked up to see her parents on the couch thinking of how to explain things for the better. It was driving her crazy because she couldn't determine what they were thinking.

"I know that there is no trace of a ninja in our family dear, and for the longest we thought you wouldn't want to be one but your determination and dreams said otherwise. Now we don't mind you doing ninja things but missions are just so...complicated." Her mother spoke also giving a sign of nervousness pulling her hair behind her ear.

Hotaru wanted to say so much but she decided to wait, hopefully her thoughts wouldn't leave her head.

Clearing his throat, her father spoke, "Honey, you are excellent. You are a chuunin and we cheered you on at the exam. You're very talented and those huge eyes are a token to the Leaf. We just know that..."

Come on spill it... She wanted to hurry them up. This is something I would rather not talk about, its so depressing.

"We'd rather not see you pass in life...not mentally but on a physical point of view. I refuse to bury my daughter before she can bury me." Her father continued, voice hard and stern.

An awkward silence for what seemed for an eternity was only two minutes before the young teen broke the silence, "You're right, a ninja will die...but there just has to be more than this that's killing your spirits in me. Everyone dies but I'd rather die with a metal on my tombstone of honor and not from falling down the stairs. I don't want to preach to you guys, y'all are my parents. Y'all know what is best for me but at the same time, I have to do this."

"Young lady, that back talk has to –," Her father raised his head to cease his wife.

Hotaru knew that was hint to keep talking, "My team members are off helping and fighting. If something were to even happen to this household I would defend it alone before assistance even came. I dare not see myself falling no time soon," she expanded her already huge eyes, "What is it that you are holding back? It has to be more!"

10:07AM

Silence filled the room, the silence was killing her. She wanted to pull out her hair for all of this waiting.

"It is nothing more, nothing less. You have two loving parents that will do anything for you. You were tired of being babied I believe, I'm not sure so your independence has flourished. Do not doubt our words. When we spoke to Lady Tsunade –," Her father continued.

"Tell me everything that was said," Hotaru stood up now, she didn't like secrets.

"That is all confidential daughter, just know that we love you." Her mother spoke wearily with her fingers locked and on her lap.

She felt her eyes coming close to tears but she didn't let them drop. Maybe if she hadn't had been so straight forward her dad would of continued what he was about to say but she blew that one out the water real quick. Her soft voice didn't reflect onto her heart, it was too strong. She needed to get away, "I'm going for a walk if that's okay..."

"Don't do anything risky or dangerous."

That stern comment from her father's voice echoed in her ears as she ran into the village.

Maybe they don't want me out because I still truly don't know my own jutsu. She sat in a tree now going over the various hand signs calling out the animal names.

"Tori Saru Tora Tori Saru Tora Usagi," she started a chant that she could not stop repeating.

It was driving her crazy in her mind but it seemed so right to say. The hand signs started to become quicker though she spoke it constantly at the same pace. Her eyes were shut tight, she was concentrating. She opened them suddenly feeling something strange. A small blue light started to grow around her hands.

Is this it...

"Hotaru!"

She snapped out of the trance and as she stopped the hand signs, the glow disappeared. She looked to see Sakura waving. She leaped from the tree looking at her hands but felt the pink haired girl giving an unsure look of why she was looking at her palms.

"Hey what's up?" the dark haired girl lightly jogged and stood side by side with Sakura.

"Nothing I was trying to see if you were up for some noodles or tea, something relaxing since I'm sorta hungry." Hotaru nodded in agreement, she was hungry herself.

As the two chatted and walked to the noodle bar Hotaru wanted to ask her did she see the glow but didn't want any further questions after that if she were to ask. She wanted to figure out what was going on with herself first.

"Geez these noodles are blazing!" Hotaru yelped the moment she smelled the spices flying from the steam.

"Best noodles around though, so I have a question..."

Her large eyes glanced over, she was nervous but gave a nice gesture saying ask away.

"So what's up with you and Shikamaru? I know Lady Tsunade are making you two work together but ya know...he's not all that friendly on working with new people in such an 'excited' manner as he does with you." She exaggerated on the word excited probably meaning a happily lazily way.

"Nothing really, I'm more focused on trying to be something to the village and not to someone. Besides, I'm sure he gets often annoyed with me and he's always on creep mode on my huge eyes." The two girls shared a laugh at her response.

Hotaru started to think on what Shikamaru was doing. She noticed at times he would freeze up sometimes around her but she never knew why nor did she care. Lucky guy was on a mission, even escorting someone is a mission and she can walk a dog so why couldn't she walk a person. She let out a sigh then glanced at her hands.

"I know its plainly none of my concern or business, but you don't know a jutsu..."

Hotaru froze in pure embarrassment but continued to listen.

"I only found you because I sensed chakra near me and wanted to know what was going on. Its not strong but its sorta different. I'm curious..." The long pause of anticipation was killing Hotaru. "Show me what you know if you can."

The two girls stood up after finishing their food and paid the tab. Finding a large enough area, Hotaru began to focus.

Tori Saru Tora Tori Saru Tora Usagi Tori Saru Tora Tori Saru Tora Usagi

Instead of speaking it, she closed her eyes and said it over and over in her head making the animal signs that matched. A glow consumed her hands. Sakura focused hard, taking note in her head. She was slightly confused though, the hand signs went on for a while...where was the jutsu at.

"...now."

Sakura looked up at Hotaru as she spoke bluntly. Her eyes opened and the jet black had disappeared, there were no pupils. When she blinked, there were no eyeballs; nothing but a blank stare. The chakra aura floated around her hands and she stood up still with her bottom lip clinched.

Why wasn't she moving or doing anything. "What's wrong?" Sakura asked slowly approaching as she noticed tears floating down her cheeks.

Hotaru opened her mouth, "I feel this power...its strong...but what do I do with it? I'm not sure what is going on."

A piercing noise ran through her ears.

"Did you hear that?" She asked Sakura still looking straight.

Sakura's eyebrows lifted in confusion and she responded with a 'no'.

"Come at me, this is no joke." Hotaru said as her eyebrows buried into each other giving her a strange creepy look.

Sakura was startled but nodded. They were in an open area so it was no need to deny. She came at her full force with her fist clenched tightly. The moment she stuck out toward her, Hotaru simply leaned over and ducked missing it. She whirled around trying to give a quick uppercut but Sakura evaded smoothly. The two ran head first at each other. Blow by blow either they matched a hit or avoided it.

Hotaru was so amazed at this, she heard every tiny step and she became more agile with every second, sliding through and slipping around Sakura's moves.

THUD!

Hotaru fell to one knee and so did Sakura.

"Well...it looks like you got me..."

Her dark eyes came back and the glow left her hands. She stood up and looked at Sakura, a small drip of blood oozed from the corner of her lip. Hotaru wanted to smile but couldn't. Sakura on the other hand walked up cleaning up herself with a smile.

"You did so good! I was amazed, I dislike how you can't go on missions but I still want to know about that type of jutsu. Its not as if you focused all of your Chakra, it was some jutsu all right." Sakura congratulated then her hand landed on the other girl's shoulder.

"Sakura..."

"Yeah?" Green eyes met black ones.

"When I did that jutsu or whatever it was...I was blind."

okay :) i wanna say thanks again for everyone who is reading and reviewing! it means a lot and i'm having fun writing this. but it seems like the more i try to expand and make it longer the shorter the chapters seem. sorta depressing "/ but i'ma get better soon