a/n okay! so this is the second chapter of my Kankurou story, I've Got No Strings. I know it's been a little while, but not terribly long, has it? anyway! I hope you enjoy it!! feedback mucho appreciated
I've Got No Strings
Chapter Two-Gone
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"How many days has it been?" I wondered aloud, plucking blades of grass from the earth. I was bored out of my mind. I wasn't used to the tranquility, the silence, the ease of being completely alone, but for the spirits.
You're always alone a voice whispered inside my head in a low, hissing voice that echoed.
"Not like this. This isn't painful. It's just...boring," I whispered, rolling from my side onto my back to stare at the cloudy sky.
Are you talking to yourself again? Uncle Hiroshi asked, amused.
"Hey, at least a lot of people do that. How often do you see someone talking to ghosts, huh?"
Umm, Hina? That's what you're doing right now.
I blinked. "I can't think straight right now. There's nothing to do sitting in a cemetery for...really! How many days has it been?!"
Two he lazily replied.
"Okay! Tomorrow, I'm leaving. No matter what. I can't stand it here anymore."
Fine. Just make sure you re-stock on food since you probably ate it all already
"First of all, I'm not a pig; I wouldn't have eaten all the food even if I HAD brought any, which I didn't. And secondly, why do you care? If I starve, what does it matter to you? You wanted me dead anyway." It was hard to mask up the hurt in my voice. But whether I did a bad job or a good job, I didnt know. The ghost of my uncle said nothing about it. For a moment, he remained silent.
You didn't bring food? What have you been eating?
"Nothing really." I turned back onto my side, squeezing my eyes shut in attempt to force myself to sleep even though it was still early evening.
Uncle Hiroshi said no more, at last leaving me in peace. I didn't understand why he was talking to me, giving me advice, or why he decided to come with me when I finally left. He hated me... I thought, yawning widely as I made myself comfortable in the grass behind the maintenance shed.
"I can't wait until I'm gone," I whispered to myself, half-asleep; unconsciously my hand moved towards my stomach. My fingers brushed over the cold metal of my forehead protector.
At the crack of dawn, I was awake, ready to leave. I held the suitcase handle firmly, and my hand was beginning to sweat.
"It's best to leave when no one can see me," I told myself. Despite this, or maybe because of this, I couldn't get myself to move. My muscles had locked themselves; trying to move was futile.
In the village, I saw a light go on. Like a chain on dominos, houses all over lit up and slowly, I saw the streets fill up. I watched in slight aggravation. Not at the people though, at myself. I could have left before anyone came out, before anyone could spot me. But now the risk was high that I'd be caught--and my someone I knew.
"Bye, Mom," I whispered into the nothingness, and finally took a step forward.
The sound of a gentle breeze rushing past my ears met me as my mothers voice, sending me off with well wished.
I love you she whispered.
"Love you, too," I replied just as quietly, and ran out of the cemetery soundlessly. The suitcase slapped against my side as I tried to run unnoticed through the early morning crowd.
"Hina!" someone shouted, stopping me dead in my tracks. It wasn't a very welcoming tone of voice--actually, it just wasnt a welcoming voice.
"Hina, what are you doing here? It was rumored that you ran away three days ago!"
I slowly turned around. "What do you want, Maemi?" I asked coolly, staring at the boy; he was quite a bit taller than me, had much more muscle than I, and was only half a year older. His face was kind looking, but judging him by that would just cheat you of the truth. Maemi was a cruel guy. As children, he had tortured me more than anyone else. Satoko scolded him more than anyone else for spitting at me, because had started it. No one else even would have done it if they hadn't been afraid of the guy.
"I'm wondering what you're still doing here, trash," he sneered, walking closer to me. Too soon, he was only about a foot away from me; with narrowed eyes, he stared down at me, disapproving. "Everyone's been rejoicing since you left. Or supposedly left. Where've you been hiding?"
"It's none of your business," I replied haughtily. Knowing that soon I'd be rid of him and all the others gave me courage.
"Oh it's very much my business," he said, his hand firmly gripping at my upper arm. My whole body tensed at his touch.
"Please, leave me alone," I begged quietly. I hated being around Maemi. He stirred memories, making me hurt inside.
"You know, if you run away, you can't become a great ninja, like you always bragged that you would. It would be unlikely even if you stayed here, but it will be impossible if you leave your home village. You won't be able to do missions or..."
"Oh you're one to talk, Maemi. You scored worse in the entire class! And it just so happens that many ninjas become great away from their home villages!"
"Oh yeah? If they do I bet it's after they're at least Chuunin."
"Not necessarily, no," I said, not daring to look up lest he saw through my lie. I hadn't any clue, really, how many people became great away from their village, and what stage they were at if they did. And Maemi would easily see that.
"Name one."
"Yeah, like I could really think of one off the top of my head. Honestly Maemi," I snorted, lifting my right hand and reaching over my chest to try and pry his hand off my arm.
His grip tightened; inside my mouth, I bit my tongue. I wasn't going to let him see that he was causing me physical pain. Blinking a few times before hand, I looked up at him. My pale lavender eyes were cold.
"Let go of me. I have to leave," I demanded.
"So you really are leaving?" Maemi inquired, his voice softening as he did so, strangely enough. The grip he had on my arm loosened greatly.
"Yes, I am," I whispered. All the courage that I had felt before dissipated at a rapid pace when I saw Maemi's fierce gaze, staring holes in me.
"...why?" he asked after a bit of time.
"Oh you should know better than anyone, Maemi. As children you hurt me more than anyone else did. You went out of your way to torment me."
"All I did was tease you, though. It can't be so bad that you need to leave..." Maemi sounded so weak as he spoke; with his free hand he ran his fingers through his curly locks of his strawberry-blonde hair.
"Try thinking about someone other than yourself for once. Everyone else in the village...my own uncle, and now...now my father..." I began to feel choked and I turned my head away. In the eyes of Maemi, I was weak enough. But crying in front of him at the age of twelve would push me so far over the edge on the chart of 'Pathetic and Weak' that I would be the mascot.
"Huh?"
"Nothing! It's none of your business! Jeez, why are you even talking to me?! Just leave me alone!" I snapped angrily, my eyes flashing as I looked back at him. With my right sleeve, I wiped away the oncoming tears.
"Shut up, will you?" he growled. "Jeez, you really are a weak piece of scum. I'm barely holding onto you anymore and you still struggle to get away."
"Just let go!!" I shrieked; no one bothered to look to see what was happening, however. It was just Satu Hina, the worthless daughter of the famous Satu Yasou. No one was concerned if something was happening to me.
Roughly, Maemi's free hand grabbed my chin and he jerked my head to face him; my bangs hung in my eyes. Suddenly more gently, he brushed them away and leaned down close to me. The look on his face showed weakness, hurt, want. I was confused as his nose touched mine and his lips began to close in on mine.
"No, no, stop it!" I writhed about, pulling my thin arm from his grip and then shoving him in the chest forcefully with both hands. He stumbled backwards in surprise, catching himself just before he crashed to the ground.
"Hina--" he began, coming back towards me.
Sniffling, I swallowed hard, trying to get rid of the lump in my throat without it going into my eyes, which were already little dripping faucets.
"Hina, what's wrong?" Maemi whispered, his eyes wide in confusion; he reached to grab a hold of my wrist, but, just before he did, a kunai knife came flying by.
"Hey! You stay away from her, you got that?"
A familiar voice in an unfamiliar tone said. A hand was placed on my shoulder, warm and rough.
"Haruki--?" Maemi choked.
"If you lay another hand on my sister," Haruki began; I looked up at him and was surprised to see his eyes, stone cold and narrowed as he glared daggers into my former classmate.
"--we'll kill you," someone else finished for my brother. It was Satoko, looking posotively frightening with green chakra flying around her body like little needles, her black hair for once loose and pulled upward by a secret wind that somehow also turned each individual strand into a deadly whip.
"Look, I wasn't trying to hurt her," Maemi argued.
Haruki stepped in front of me. "You don't need to try, Maemi. You just do. Now leave her alone, or I swear, Satoko and I will have to do as we promised."
"Hina..." Maemi whispered, as if trying to reach out for me with his voice; my eyes widened as I looked over at him, but not in surprise--I was far past that. In hurt. I slapped my hands over my ears and fell to my ears, shaking uncontrollably.
"GO!!" Satoko roared; Maemi ran off, not another word said.
Haruki knelt down beside me, gently holding my upper arm with one hand as he draped the other arm across my back. Unlike when Maemi did it, it felt nice. I felt like I was safe from the world and its terrors.
"Hina...what did he do?"
"This time you mean, hopefully? Because if you had her list all of the things...that would take ages"
I blinked. Maemi...hadn't really done anything. He had called me some names, yes, but, what really frightened me was when he got close to me. It was way too close for comfort.
"Come on. Let's just go," I whispered, bringing myself to my feet, laughing lightly--that was my way of brushing things away. Haruki's hand fell down, and he grabbed hold of my sleeve. I looked down at him, the shadow of a small smile finding its place on my lips.
He furrowed his eyebrows together, forming a deep frown in his forehead. I watched him carefully, curious about each movement he made. He opened and closed his mouth, looking quite like a fish, and watched me with his chocolate brown eyes.
"Haruki, stop making faces and get off the ground," Satoko said monotonously as she quickly did her hair up. Her violet eyes never left Haruki as she silently waited for him to follow her order; eventually my older brother stood and began wandering around in the immediate area.
Satoko smiled lightly at me as she brushed the dust off the lap of her kimono. "So, what was all that about, huh? And why are you still here? You told us three days ago that you were running away..."
"Thanks for being there, right then. How convenient that you were there, huh?" I changed the subject.
Satoko sighed. "Fine. You don't want to talk about it. I get it," she said irritably. "Was it really all that bad?"
"Well, no...but I didn't like it," I said sheepishly, avoiding her gaze.
"Well, I'm glad we showed up while you were there. It makes things a whole lot easier. Now Haruki, Yoshi-sensei, and I don't have to run around looking for you!"
"...Yoshi-sensei?" I asked weakly, finally looking over at my eldest sibling.
Satoko nodded. "Yup. Haruki and I just convinced him last night to come with us. Took us a while but...I guess we could go tell him now that we no longer need him to come. He should be showing up soon enough..." Satoko stood on her toes and craned her neck, looking about for our sensei.
"What? Why would you tell him that?"
"Well it seems like you've decided to stay so--"
"No, I'm still leaving. In fact I was about to leave when Maemi showed up..."
"Oh, please Hina! Please just stay here, at home, with Haruki and I!" Satoko begged; she looked desperate. In fact, she had to be desperate to be begging. That was just something that dignified Satoko didn't do.
"I would already be gone but...someone asked me to wait." I cast my eyes about as if in search for Uncle. It wasn't as if I could see him though. He was always careful to make sure that I couldn't, even if we were talking for a while, which was rare.
"Who?" Satoko asked curiously, cocking her head to the side.
"...No one important," I said passively. I was acting quite unlike myself, but I couldn't help it. The words and actions just came without warning, and I wasn't quick enough to stop them.
"Why are you being so stubborn, Hina?" Satoko sighed, shoulders slumping slightly.
"Sorry," I murmured, silently pulling a red ribbon from my sister's slender hand; Satoko looked surprised for a moment as I weaved it through her silky dark hair, but after a moment she smiled.
"Arigato," she said.
I just smiled in reply as I looked up at the sky--it was showing signs of rain, which caused me to smile. I liked the rain. It was so...calming.
"Hey Hina, Satoko! Yoshi-sensei's here!" Haruki exclaimed, waving an arm frantically over his head. Beside him was a young, smiling man that I immediately recognized as the original sensei of my siblings, and now mine as well.
"Yoshi-sensei!" Satoko beamed and ran over to greet the man. I hesitantly followed when I saw him beckoning, the smile on his face never leaving.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't little Hina," Yoshi said, smiling brightly and ruffling my bangs. "We were just about to go look for you but, you're still here."
"I was actually just about to leave," I said forcefully, trying to make sure that he didn't attempt stopping me. "I'm only still here because someone asked me to stay for a little bit. To think or something."
"I see...now, who is it that convinced you?"
I shook my head. "Never mind that," was my quiet response as I looked towards the sky again. There was almost no trace of sunlight, and the clouds were a dark gray--a sure sign of rain.
"Well, I suppose I can let you leave now," Yoshi-sensei said slowly while idly scratching at his cheek.
"Yoshi-sensei!!" Haruki shouted, wide-eyed. "How can you just--"
A hand was clamped over my brother's mouth in an instant; Yoshi's eyes glittered playfully as he smirked. "Will you let me finish, please?"
Haruki grumbled something in reply and crossed his arms over his chest, not even attempting to pry his sensei's hand from his mouth.
"Now I'll let you go, if..." he watched me carefully, waiting for a reaction to say anything more.
Why do they all care so much if I leave? Why are they trying to stop me? They must know what's been going on since I was a child...They have to know that...
"If what?" I asked weakly, my body going limp. I was sure that the 'if' would be something hard, or something I wasn't willing to do. Plus, the chance that these people didn't know...it hurt to think about.
"If we can come with you!" Yoshi-sensei said cheerfully, his smile brightening.
"That's...all?" I asked blankly.
"Yup! I think it would be a good opportunity for all of us to get away from here. We could travel places and, since it was your idea, you could tell us our destination."
"...Okay. Sure."
I don't want to be alone
Satoko smiled and threw her arms around me; my face got buried in the large sleeve of her kimono, the strong scent of lilacs going up my nose, causing me to feel dizzy.
"Well, this works out splendidly! Let's get a move on, shall we? I have plenty of money for all of us, so we shouldn't be needing too many supplies..." Yoshi exclaimed, looking truly pleased. But the look quickly fell from his face as he looked over his shoulder. Directly behind our group of four was a fairly large building with many stories--it was the building of the leader of our village, Shibuki. He was a nice man but...weak. My father was stronger than him but, then again, he was stronger than everyone else as well.
Not many people in The Hidden Village of Waterfall were strong, and many died young because they drank the forbidden water and couldn't handle it.
A thought that crossed my mind many times came by again. If everyone is weak then why am I only considered scum...?
"I'm going to go get permission from Sabuki to leave. You three stay right here, and I'll be right back, okay?"
As Satoko and I nodded, Haruki grunted a reply. Yoshi's hand had never left his face, something that irritated him greatly.
Yoshi-sensei smiled at the three of us again and then ran off to the building; Haruki opened his mouth wide, exagerrating as he stretched it out from the little movement it got while our sensei's hand had been slapped down on it.
Satoko rolled her eyes, pushing aside a short strand of her dark hair. I watched in an amused silence as we all waited for our sensei to return, as promised.
And not a moment later, he was there, smiling that bright smile of his. "Okay, we've got permission to leave! And he didn't even give us a date we have to return by!"
His gray eyes glittered brightly, and as they did so, they showed off a spark of green. I had never noticed before the many specks of different colors he had in his pale eyes. Then again, I had never bothered to make eye-contact with the man.
"Okay so...we're all ready to leave now, I suppose?" He asked, running a hand through his hair as he looked from Satoko, to Haruki, and then to me; his gaze lingered on me the longest, and then flickered to my side. Just as he did that, I felt a ripple go across my arm, and the hairs on it stood up.
Uncle Hiroshi was there, and rearing to go; I inwardly sighed, not sure if I really wanted the ghost to come along.
"Alrighty then! Let's go!"
We started off walking--I stayed with the group then. But once we began to sprint and jump from tree to tree, I lagged behind. This worked in my favor, for once, because I could talk to the ghost of my uncle in peace.
"Uncle," I began. "Is it safe for you to come? Your ghost won't disappear, will it?"
Why do you care? he sneered.
"I just do, alright? Even if you hated me, excuse me hate me, you're still...you're still family," I choked.
He didn't seem affected by what I said; that pleased me. If he was affected by it, it was sure to be no good for her.
To answer your question, no. My ghost won't disappear. Spirits wander around all the time, and nothing happens. He paused. You better catch up to them, slow-poke. Otherwise, you'll just end up getting lost.
"No I won't," I muttered, but pushed myself to the limit anyway, quickening my pace and catching up to them just in time for them all to come to an abrupt stop; I crashed right into Yoshi sensei, who stood on a rather wide branch, and stumbled backwards.
He caught my wrist and pulled me close to his side. "I'm glad you caught up," he said, head bent and looking down at me. "But you have to learn to make sudden stops, alright?"
"Yes, sensei," I murmured, shoulders sagging.
Yoshi-sensei laughed a little and turned around. "Okay. We're approaching the waterfall, just in case any of you are wondering what that roaring in your ears is. Let's get down to the ground now, okay?"
And without waiting for a response, Sensei snatched my wrist and jumped straight down to the ground. He landed perfectly on the ground, two feet in place, not trembling, not in pain from the large drop. I, on the other hand, had tingling feet and ankles, and was shaking all over from the sudden action of my Sensei. I had been prepared to jump from branch to branch until it was low enough to reach the ground, just as my older siblings were doing, but hadnt been able to even take a step before I had been pulled down.
Soon, Haruki and Satoko were on either side of Yoshi and I, crouched as they rested on the balls of their feet. They rested for a moment before they simultaneously straightened their bodies and distributed their weight to the rest of their feet again.
Yoshi smiled all around and then, without warning, dashed off. The only reason my siblings and I could follow at all was because, as he moved, he made a loud noises, like a deadly wind ripping through all things living and inanimate. None of us could see him, he was invisible. As invisible as Uncle Hiroshi was.
Satoko took the first step; Haruki and I followed right after her, all keeping close to each other as we headed towards the waterfall that hid and protected our village.
At the opening of a large cave which the waterfall covered stood our sensei, waiting patiently for us. He had made himself comfortable, waiting against the cool rock of the wall.
"How long have you been here?" Haruki panted as he wiped sweat from his forehead; Yoshi-sensei shrugged.
"I don't know. A good...fifteen minutes maybe?" he said, smirking a little. Haruki scowled--obviously he thought we had been closer than we had been to our sensei.
"Well, I want you three to sit for a minute, okay? You look tired--already. I'll make sure no one's around to see us come out."
He made a few hand seals which, to my horror, made his eyes come out of their sockets. Then, with another few hand seals, he made a small parting in the water for his eyes to go through. A moment passed in which Satoko, Haruki, and I just watched in an awestruck silence our sensei.
He turned around suddenly, eyes back in place, smiling. "Coast is clear. Let's go."
I eagerly jumped to my feet and ran to the opening which was still in the waterfall.
"Hina, there isn't much point in going through there--you're just going to get wet anyway, when you jump..."
I shrugged and slipped through anyway, falling slowly through the air and into the deep pool of water not too far below. Three other splashed followed mine, indicating that they had all also jumped.
I swam over to the swallow part near the edge and stood. My clothes were heavy with water, making it difficult to move normally. So I trudged out and then watched as the others also had trouble. Not only with getting out, but with just the water--Haruki was choking on it and ended up spitting it out on Yoshi, who growled and splashed even more on my brother.
"I'm finally gone," I giggled happily.
a/n was it good? I'm not all that sure what I'm going to be doing next, so it might take a little while for the next chapter to come out. I hope you all have enough patience to wait. in the meantime, maybe feedback will give me some inspiration? I don't know if it will but, it's worth a shot. oh, and just in case you didn't catch that, that was my lame way of asking for people to review. anyway! I'll talk to you all later! toodles!