Akugin Ashura- You're right- but it's my first Naruto fic. (I know that's not really a reason) But from this point on I think I'm just going to continue it like this. In any future fics I plan to write- hopefully there'll be a better story line.
Dragon Man 180- you always ask the questions which I write about in the next chapter lol- the answer to your question- You know how when sometimes people are so busy that they tend to forget things or they tend not to notice anything else? It's like that- And the other thing, No- not all the houses have them. It was just going to be something for Neji's team (I was going to mention that in this chapter but decided against it due to the fact that something else will happen in this chapter).
ASweetKissFromPoisonedLips- Thank you for telling me!
Special thanks to all my reviewers- you keep me motivated!
Disclaimer: All I own is my own characters.
Just For You
Chapter Seventeen- Not Alone
Amaya plopped down on the couch and sighed. She looked up at the ceiling, her eyes softened slightly.
'Time passes by so fast… No more time…' she smiled slightly and ran her hand through her hair. She got up from her seat and joined her friends for breakfast.
"Sasuke-Kun!" Sakura called from the kitchen. "Breakfast is ready!"
Hinata and Naruto were busy setting up the table, trying not to look in each other's eyes- but glancing up from time-to-time. Sasuke walked into the kitchen, his hands in his pockets. He resisted the urge to yawn as he took a seat beside Sakura at the circular table. Everyone ate breakfast- glancing up at one-another from time-to-time.
"I could have sworn I had it right here…" Tenten said, looking around for her apron. She scratched her head in confusion as Lee came up to her and handed her an apron. Tenten smiled and thanked him as he went to set up the table.
Kiba lay on his bed, his thoughts running over to the person he had met not too long ago.
'Akemi,' he sighed and grinned. Akamaru barked as he watched Kiba.
Neji sat on his bed cross-legged with his hands in his lap. He tried to meditate, but found it difficult when Tenten's laughing face continuously entered his mind. He growled lightly and glared at nothing in particular.
"Neji!"
Neji looked up as he heard his name being called.
"Breakfast is ready!"
Neji sighed and got up from his bed.
"Chouji- let me finish making breakfast first!" Ino said, frustrated. Chouji walked out of the kitchen, eating from the bag of chips he was currently holding. Ino blew her hair out of her face as she went back to cooking breakfast. Shikamaru began setting the table lazily, knowing that Chouji wouldn't do it, and Shino was busy with his bugs. He glanced up at Ino from time-to-time.
Ino sighed happily and began placing the food on the plates. Shikamaru absentmindedly gazed at Ino as she called Shino and Chouji for breakfast. He snapped back to reality as Ino waved her hand in front of him, telling him to eat breakfast. He yawned and nodded as he took a seat beside Chouji.
Sakura looked up from her breakfast as someone knocked on the door. She got up from her seat and opened it to see Amaya, grinning.
"Ah…I guess you guys aren't done eating," she said, sheepishly. Sakura nodded.
"Did you need something?" she asked curiously.
"Err…I need to borrow Naruto for a few minutes, is that alright?"
Sakura looked back at Naruto who looked up at Amaya curiously, but nodded. He finished eating quickly; put his dishes away and walked up to Amaya. Amaya smiled and they both walked outside, chatting happily.
"Is there something you needed?" Naruto asked, still wondering why she had called him outside. Amaya smiled slightly and cocked her head to the side.
"If you're willing to hear it," she said, still smiling. Naruto looked at her questioningly.
"I just wanted you to know that no matter what happens- and no matter how you feel, just remember- there are people just like you too. So, you're never alone," Amaya said, smiling. Naruto looked at her strangely.
"What are you trying to say?"
Amaya continued smiling.
"Sabaku-No-Gaara… Uzamaki Naruto… And me- we all have one thing in common."
Naruto's eyes widened slightly.
"I'm not going to go into great detail. Just as long as you remember that you're never alone," she added.
Naruto grinned and nodded.
"Right!"
Amaya chuckled and messed up his hair, treating him to some ramen.
-Back in Konoha-
"Shizune!"
Shizune ran into Tsunade's office with a stack of papers in her hands.
"Did you get yesterday's reports?"
Shizune nodded and put all the papers she held on Tsunade's desk. Tsunade sighed and began looking over them.
"Hokage-Sama," Iruka bowed respectfully. Tsunade looked up and smiled.
"Yes, how can I help you?"
Iruka blushed lightly and grinned.
"May I borrow Shizune for a while?"
Tsunade grinned and looked at Shizune, who was blushing as well. She nodded and allowed the two to leave her office.
Naruto turned the doorknob and walked inside. Hinata and Sakura looked up from their seats at the table and smiled as Naruto came in.
"H- Hello, Naruto-Kun," Hinata said quietly. Naruto grinned and greeted Sakura and Hinata back.
Sasuke walked out of his room, grabbing his kunai knives. He looked at Naruto- Naruto got up from his seat and grinned, grabbing his kunai knives and walking out the door after Sasuke. Sakura and Hinata decided to take a walk outside.
Amaya walked inside and closed the door behind her. She smiled as she ran up the stairs.
"Kaka!"
"Yo," Kakashi greeted, walking out his bedroom. Amaya smiled happily as she wrapped her arms around him. Kakashi wrapped his arm around her shoulders and the two walked down the stairs, chatting, joking and laughing.
Kiba and Akamaru run out of the house happily, going out to train.
"K- Kiba! Kiba!"
Kiba and Akamaru turned to see Akemi running towards them.
Kunai knives stuck out of her shoulders and legs. Blood was trickling down her forehead as she stopped and began breathing heavily. Kiba and Akamaru ran towards her quickly. Kiba held Akemi and looked at her.
"Mi- Michiko's in trouble," Akemi said quietly, trying to stand with great difficulty.
"Y- You need help, you're hurt!"
"I'm not the one that needs help," Akemi said, slightly angry as she began pulling out the kunai from her leg. Kiba's eyes widened slightly. He nodded and looked at the houses.
"Akamaru, go get Kurenai-Sensei. Go!"
Akamaru barked and ran to where Kurenai was staying.
Akemi groaned slightly as she pulled the other kunai out.
Amaya skidded to a halt in front of Kiba and Akemi. She glanced at Akemi once and picked her up.
"Kiba, alert everyone else and tell them to meet with me and the other jounins," Amaya said quickly, running back to where she stayed. Kiba tuned around and quickly alerted everyone else.
"What's going on?" Ino asked, looking around the room. Her eyes landed on Akemi, who sat on the couch, tending to the small cuts and wounds.
Amaya sat in front of Akemi with her arms crossed.
"Take out your hitai-ate," she said clearly.
Akemi sighed and took out a hitai-ate. It had the sign of the leaf on it. Kiba looked at her curiously.
"That's what I thought," Amaya said quietly, her hands in her lap.
"How many were there?"
Akemi sighed.
"I counted 18, but there's probably more," Akemi replied, looking Amaya in her eyes.
Kurenai stood from her seat and faced everyone.
"Here's the situation, a shinobi from the leaf, such as yourselves, has been kidnapped. We don't know what anyone wants with her, or what they plan to do. So, we have to act quickly."
Everyone nodded.
"Get ready, meet back here in twenty minutes," Kurenai added.
Kiba was the first one to walk back into the room. He sat beside Akemi on the couch and looked at her, still curious. Akemi looked up at him, her eyes were slightly watery.
"I'm sorry," she whispered quietly.
"You've got nothing to be sorry about," Kiba said, grinning. Akamaru barked happily. Akemi smiled and looked up to see everyone else walking in at the same time. She got up from her seat shakily.
"Perhaps you should stay here," Kakashi suggested.
"Michiko is my best friend," Akemi said quietly, standing straight. "And a shinobi of the leaf, I refuse to stay back from a fight. I'm going whether you approve of it or not," Akemi added, still quiet. Kakashi nodded.
"Alright, let's go," Amaya said, walking towards the door.
"Um… Amaya-Sama… D- Do you even know where t- they are?" Hinata asked.
Amaya stopped walking and grinned sheepishly.
"Err… Perhaps you should lead the way, Akemi," Amaya added.
Everyone looked at her disbelievingly and followed Akemi out the door.
"Get away from me!" Michiko shouted angrily, taking the kunai knives out of her body and throwing them back with great accuracy. She put her hands together and muttered something under her breath. Immediately after, spikes began growing out from the ground. One man looked down and as a spike went through his neck. Cries of pain could be heard as Michiko hid in a tree. She began breathing heavily as she looked at the deep wound on her leg.
"Ah, kuso…"
She put her hands to the wound and began sending chakra to it.
"Come on… Come on- work!" She muttered angrily, glancing behind her a few times. She took in a quick gasp as she heard someone coming towards her. She jumped off the tree and landed with her feet rooted to the ground and her knees bent. She noticed someone standing in front of her. She raised her head slowly and quickly unsheathed the katana on her back. She stood up and her eyes widened slightly.
"Y- You're….,"
"Shino"
She smiled at him gratefully.
"Kage Bunshin No Jutsu!"
An explosion went off behind them. Michiko turned around quickly.
'Naruto and his distractions…' Shino thought.
"Come on, we have to get out of here," Shino said quietly, turning around. Michiko nodded and sheathed her katana, following him.
Amaya stood with her back against a tree. Gai stood near her, behind a tree as well. They nodded to each other and began taking out the enemy one-by-one.
They stood face-to-face and glanced behind each other.
"Watch out!"
They grabbed each other's right hands and pulled each other forward, doing a front kick to the enemies behind them. They turned and gave each other a 'thumbs up.'
"Is that all?" Amaya asked, looking around. Gai nodded.
"We should go check on everyone else," he said, turning in the other direction.
Amaya nodded and followed.
Akemi put her hands together and muttered a Jutsu under her breath. She put her hands to the ground quickly. Spikes began growing upward and curving around the enemies. The spikes went through their bodies quickly. Akemi shuddered slightly.
'I never really liked seeing that…' she thought, looking around and making sure that there were no more enemies. She sighed in relief and went back to where she and the others would meet.
Everyone stood together, some with their arms crossed- others breathing slightly quicker. Michiko and Shino emerged through the bushes at the same pace. Akemi looked up and grinned. She ran forward and gave Michiko a hug. Michiko sighed.
"Ne, Akemi-Chan- I told you to get help… Not to bother everyone in sight…" Michiko said, grinning. Akemi smiled and let go of Michiko. Michiko looked around at everyone in surprise.
"A- All of you-… I-I mean, you-…" Michiko stammered slightly at the grinning and smirking shinobis. She bowed respectfully along with Akemi. They both thanked everyone.
"Ah, no need to thank us- what're comrades for anyway," Amaya said, grinning.
Akemi and Michiko smiled as they walked back with everyone.
Michiko and Akemi allowed everyone to have some free ramen in their small shop. Naruto, Chouji, Lee and Kiba raised their bowls at the same time.
"More please!"
Akemi giggled lightly as she poured more ramen for them.
Michiko and Akemi's boss walked out from the back- about to tell them off for giving free ramen. She opened her mouth, but closed it quickly after seeing Michiko and Akemi both laughing and talking with the other shinobis. Gai noticed their boss, and he got up from his seat quickly. He walked up to their boss, and tried sweet-talking into going on a date. Amaya and Kakashi sat at their seats with Kurenai and Asuma, both began grinning at what Gai was saying.
Michiko took out her beetles and put them on the counter. Sakura glanced at them and jumped out of her seat. Ino looked down at the beetles as well and paled slightly. Ino raised her hand and grabbed Shikamaru's arm. Shikamaru looked at her curiously. He then gazed at the beetles that were on the counter, and he sighed.
'How troublesome….'
Sakura got up and ran behind Sasuke who stood up from his seat. He glanced at Sakura, and followed his gaze to the beetles on the counter. He smirked slightly.
"Again with the beetles, Sakura…?" he muttered, loud enough for only her to hear. Sakura glared at him slightly.
"Meanie…" she said quietly. Sasuke's smirk grew slightly as he sat back down at his table with Sakura, Neji and Tenten.
Shino took the seat where Sakura had previously been sitting. He and Michiko began talking about the different types of insects.
Akemi began playing with Akamaru outside. She giggled as he did tricks for her. Kiba walked out shortly after and began chatting with Akemi.
Everyone spent the rest of the day together- chatting, laughing, joking and playing.
I'm sorry for the late update! I had writers' block! Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Review please!