a/n long time, huh? enjoy!
Chapter Five-Leave
At nine o'clock in the morning, I honestly would have still been asleep if it hadn't been for the scream. The one loud, sharp, interminable noise what was what woke me from my deep slumber and what kept me awake.
After sitting there lazily for a minute or two, trying to register what that noise was supposed to mean, I threw the covers off of me and ran, barefoot and in my nightdress, to where I heard the noise coming from.
After making sharp turns to get to the front door, I skidded to a halt and stared out the open doorway at Kaemon Oki. The woman stood in the center of the stand-area, holding her baby son close to her and crying.
I slowly stepped forward and gently touched her elbow. "Oki-san? What's wrong?" I gently inquired, hoping that it wasn't something about what I had done last night.
Noticing me after I said this, she wiped away the tears as best she could and weakly asked, "Did you do this?"
Immediately I suspected the worst and my heart began to race. Had I gotten rid of a family heirloom during my cleaning? Maybe a precious gift given to her by Natso, or a memento from another time? I prayed that it was nothing like that and finally, conjuring my inner-bravery managed to stutter, "I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to do anything wrong! I just wanted to clean up a bit for you two because you're always so busy and--"
"No, no! Kaiyo, you did nothing wrong!" Oki hurriedly cut in, not wanting me to get anxious about nothing, I assumed.
"Then...why were you crying?" I asked bluntly. I didn't get it, not one bit.
Oki laughed. "Kaiyo, these are tears of happiness. What you did...it's just so great. And I have to wonder, how long did it take you to do this? When did you find the time? This place was such a mess!"
"Last night..." I whispered, not wanting to sound self-righteous or anything.
"Last night?" Oki repeated, aghast. "You poor dear! You must be exhausted! Come here!"
I hesitantly did so and the woman pulled me into an embrace which I was sure did not only crush me, but the baby as well.
After several minutes, Oki released me and I backed a way to a comfortable distance. "So you're pleased with this?" I warily asked.
"Very!"
"Then why did you scream?"
"Out of shock! It isn't an every-day occurrence that you step out into your previously filthy stand to find it immaculately clean!"
"There was no dead mouse I overlooked or anything? Because it was so dark, and the candle I lit wasnt much assistance..."
"Nope! The stand is positively perfect! I can't wait until Natso sees...he'll also be thrilled."
"He hasn't seen it yet?"
"Oh, no! He's still asleep! He's been awfully tired for a long time, and it's just now hitting him, I guess. He'll be up soon, no doubt. So anyway, how much extra will we be owing your for doing this?"
I was appalled by the very idea. "Nothing! No, I just wanted to help you two out! You've been so wonderful to me the past few weeks, or however long I've been staying here. That's why with some of my money I went out to buy some supplies to make an advertisement for your shop yesterday. I also made that banner up there..."
"What banner?" Oki, baffled, asked; she furrowed her brows together and looked around to the front of the stand.
Another squeal escaped her. "You did that?! Oh, Kaiyo, I just must pay you for this! It was totally unnecessary and--"
"No!" I said sharply. I didn't want to be paid for that. "I enjoyed doing it and I thought that it, along with the cleaning and advertisement in the center of town, would be a good start on paying you off for your help."
A good start--paying us off?! Kaiyo, you've helped us a great deal more than we've helped you! We were practically broke when you came; we got one or fewer customers a day, and made practically nothing in a week. Now we make a good deal more, and I'm sure that we'll be making even MORE if that advertisement you've mentioned is half as good as the banner."
I blushed a considerable amount at this comment. Everyone had always complimented me on my artistic skills, but I didn't think I would ever get quite used to it.
"Thanks," I managed to mutter; I ducked my head down so that my mint green hair hung over my face, covering the noticeable tinge in my cheeks.
Oki smiled warmly at me and draped her free arm around my shoulders.
"Why did you do all of this, Kaiyo-chan?" Oki whispered into the top of my head.
I was startled by the question. Hadn't I already said? I wanted to help her and Natso out with their shop! She didn't think I had an ulterior motive, did she?
"I just wanted to help out! You two are so great, and your pottery is lovely. I just thought that you deserved more customers than you have!"
Oki seemed surprised that the act had been totally selfless. She hugged me again and then shoved me back inside saying I looked exhausted and that I should rest.
As I settled back into bed and closed my eyes to fall back asleep, I couldn't help remembering a similar scene from a few years ago, when I was still attending the Academy. I had been young and acted similarly to Oki at the incident.
Reina lifted me into the air as way of greeted and then threw me over her shoulder, leaving the difficult part of moving about so that I was sitting on her shoulders up to me.
"So how was class today?" Reina twisted her head around to ask me; I grinned.
"It was fun! We got to color!"
"Yeah? What did you color?"
"A map! It was a color-coded type thing! We got to color in Fire County and everything according to certain colors! Except we didn't get to look at what the colors were supposed to be for more than a minute. I think it was a memory test..."
Reina gave my ankle a gentle squeeze. "You were right. I'd say you're going to be a wonderful kunoichi, Kaiyo. You're smarter than I ever was!"
I blushed like mad and lowered my head, wishing my jaw-length hair was long enough to completely cover my cheeks.
"Want to go get some ramen? Mom and Dad are both out again, tonight, so we're on our own. And I'm sure you'd rather eat BEFORE you force me to help you practice, correct dear?"
I grinned again. "Yeah! Arigato, Reina-onee-chan!"
Without saying anything, Reina reached up and tweaked my nose. She carried me the rest of the way to the stand in silence. Looking around her head to see her expression, I noticed she was deep in thought and decided to leave her alone.
"Hey, Kaiyo dear?" Reina lifted me off of her shoulders and gently placed me on the ground
"Yes?"
She shook her head. "Never mind. Come on let's just get there."
She grabbed my wrist and tugged me to the nearest ramen stand. There we ordered and ate in silence. Disregarding, of course, the slurping of noodles as I ate the delicious pork ramen.
As we stood to leave, Reina pulled out her wallet and paid for both our meals. Grabbing my hand, she turned and was about to walk through the curtains. Something stopped her though. It was the man we had been eating alongside of. He, too, had finished his meal and was ready to pay, but he had discovered he hadn't enough money.
"Wait outside for me, Kaiyo, dear. I'll be right there," Reina whispered. She kissed the top of my head and then gently shoved me out of the stand.
I watched the scene patiently through the curtain of stranded beans. Reina slid back onto her stool and discreetly pull her wallet out again. Pulling out a wad of cash, she slid it across the counter to the man, all the while keeping her face concealed with her teal-colored hair.
"That should cover the meal," she whispered into his ears after standing, leaning. She then hurried out of the stand and grabbed my hand to pull me home.
"Why did you do that?" I panted; it was difficult keeping up with Reina. She had such long strides compared to my own.
"Do what?"
"Pay for that man's meal, of course!" I laughed at the fact she didn't know what I was talking about.
"Oh," Reina said blankly; she hesitated before continuing. "Well, I thought it was the right thing to do. Besides, it's a nice thing to help out fellow villagers, don't you think?" My older sister looked down at me and smiled brightly.
"I guess so," I uncomfortably replied.
Reina-onee-chan ruffled my bangs and left her hand resting there. I accidentally shoved it away when whirling my head to the side so I could look up at her.
"Reina-onee-chan?" I sang. "Why did you conceal your face?"
She laughed. "You noticed that, eh? Well, I didn't want him to see who it was giving him money! He might try to pay me back or something!"
"But don't you want him to pay you back?" I inquired curiously.
"No. I make enough money as a ninja and well, I didn't really find it necessary to be repaid for every trivial thing I do."
"But what if he saw you while we were eating?!" I sputtered. I wanted my sister to get her money back. She was so selfless and wonderful and I though that she deserved to be repaid.
Reina laughed again. "You like changing the subject, huh? I don't think he saw me, but if he did, oh well. I just won't accept it. Now come on! We should get back home so I can go help you!"
I looked up at my sister with big wondering eyes and thought to myself, Reina-onee-chan, I want to be more like you!
"I really do...
"I want to be more like you, Reina-onee-chan," I whispered to myself, snuggling deeper under the thin blanket and burying my face into the pillow. Taking one final yawn, I fell asleep.
"Kaiyo. Kaiyo, please wake up!"
The urgent whisper awoke me from my sleep. Thankfully, I didn't wake with a start like I had earlier that day. Quite to the contrary, I easily took the transition between sleep and awake.
"What is it, boss?" I groggily asked; I propped myself up on my pillow with my elbows and rubbed my glazed-over eyes with balled fists.
"Good afternoon, Kaiyo-chan," Natso whispered; the grin on his face went from ear to ear, I noticed, and I suspected that he had seen what I had done.
"Or I suppose I shouldn't call you 'Kaiyo' anymore but instead Saint Kaiyo."
"Ah, so I was right. You saw it, too?"
"I did more than just see it, Kaiyo. I felt it!"
I blinked unsurely. "What?"
"I fainted."
"Well that isn't manly! You can't admit that!" I joked and playfully hit him on the arm; Natso grinned widely at me.
"I was just joking. I nearly fainted--under the weight of Oki. She was sobbing to me, and I could feel it through her."
"Well, I guess that's a little less wimpy..."
Kaemon-san smiled again and ruffled my bangs. "Come on, kid. Get up, bathed, and dressed. Oki and I want to take you out to an early dinner."
"You mean early lunch?"
Natso shook his head and showed me a clock; I immediately shot out of bed. "Ack!! How could it already be 3:45!!!" I shrieked. I darted about the room, collecting my clothes.
"Is a bath already drawn?" I asked loudly as I headed out of the room; Natso gave a small nod. I thanked him and ran off to go get dressed.
I followed slowly behind the Kaemons as they led me to some place to eat. I self-consciously tugged at my dark gray dress as I looked around the town.
For the last time.
I had decided last night that I would be leaving. I needed to get to Konoha soon so that I could start my quest to find the murderers of my sister. I just hadn't had the guts to tell either of the Kaemons.
But I'm going to have to I thought with a sigh. I can't just leave in the middle of the night...
"Kaiyo!" Oki sang. "We're almost there! And look! Up ahead is Ima! Ima!"
The woman ordained Ima looked up, smiled, and waved right back at Kaemon Oki.
"That's the woman who will be watching sweet little Shou," Oki explained, kissing the top of her baby son's name. "It's a pity you haven't met her before now, Kaiyo. She's a wonderful girl, and she's only a few years older than you! She, too, was once a ninja--a Jounin, actually--but she quit, sadly," Oki sighed. "But you'll get to know her well from here on out, don't you think?"
"Oh! Um..." Oki's words had taken me by surprise and I didn't know to act. "Sure, I guess."
Natso cast me an inquiring look and I just smiled at him, shaking me head. Subconsciously I touched the forehead protector I had tied around my thigh. That lady was barely older than me? She was a ninja?
She didn't look like it, as far as I was concerned.
"Come on, Natso!" Oki cried, looking over her shoulder as she ran forward. Natso beckoned for me to follow after him and his wife; I quickly caught up.
"Ima, I thank you again for watching Shou! It really is wonderful of you..."Oki gushed, handing her son over to the former ninja.
"It isn't a problem, Oki!" Ima responded, holding the baby close to her. "He's such a sweet little boy..."
"Yes he is...speaking of sweet, I don't believe you've met Kaiyo! Kaiyo, this is Herutsu Ima; Ima, this is Kaiyo."
"Kaiyo? Just Kaiyo?" Ima asked suspiciously; by her narrowed eyes and her tone, I already didnt like her. She didn't seem so great.
"No! It isn't just Kaiyo!" I retorted, trying my very best not to sound nasty. "I just...don't want to say my last name!"
"And why is that?" Ima continued. I swear her eyes were becoming narrower and narrower with each passing second.
"Ima! Ima, it's okay. Kaiyo just doesn't like to say her family name--she isn't fond of them," Natso cut in
"Oh. I'm sorry! I spent too many years as a ninja!"
"Yes, Oki-san told me," I replied; the smile I wore was forced, and Ima could tell. Her smile wasn't exactly genuine, either. She actually seemed all the more suspicious of me after Natso's comment. I assumed she was now wondering why I didn't like my family.
"I'm also a ninja--from Gekkougakure."
"Gekkougakure?" Ima repeated disbelievingly. "What are you doing all the way over here if you're from Gekkougakure? That's miles away!"
"I was heading towards Konoha."
"What for? The Chuunin Exams? You know that you need a three-man team to enter, don't you?"
"Yes. I mean, yes I know that, but I wasn't heading there for the Chuunin exams..."
"Then what for?" Ima's furrowed brows suddenly relaxed and a look of realization dawned on her pinched face. "No way! You're the runaway ninja!"
"What?"
"Yeah. I just heard about a Genin who ran away in the middle of the night from that village. It was big news. They said she was some sort of prodigal ninja or whatever. Said her older sister--and the rest of her family, as well as several other villagers--said she was blessed by the Full Moon or something."
"Nani?" I, baffled, questioned. Suddenly though, I remembered.
"Why?" I inquired, sitting up and staring at her with interest.
"Because the Full Moon is always watching you..."
"You know perfectly well what it is I am talking about," Ima smugly replied. "Anyway! As soon as you went missing, people were sent after you. Whole squads, actually. I suppose they're scared you'll get killed and you won't be their hero. Or maybe they're even scared you want to leave them. I don't know--all I know is that you're being searched for."
"Well thanks for telling me," I said and turned towards Natso and Oki. "Should we go have dinner now?"
"Yes! Yes, of course!" Oki exclaimed, clapping her hands together. She was obviously flustered although she was trying to hide that face.
"Thank you again Ima-chan," Natso politely said. He draped his arm over his wife's shoulders and then put his hand on my back, guiding us both along so that we could reach the restaurant faster.
"I'm sorry about the way Ima was acting," Oki said to me after a while, leaning forward so that she could see my face. "I've never seen her that way before!"
"Oh, it's okay! But I'm really not hungry anymore--maybe we shouldn't have dinner. I wouldn't want you to waste your money..."
"Nonsense!" Oki insisted. "We don't mind wasting money on you, isn't that right Natso?"
"That's true...but I think Kaiyo's right. We shouldn't go to dinner."
"Why not?" Oki and I said at the same time; Natso didn't know me reasoning, so why did he agree with me?
"Well Kiyo said so and--"
"--and because I need to tell you two something!" I interrupted and ran in front of the two. "Last night I decided--I'm leaving. I really need to get to Konoha, and what Ima-san said just made me decide that it really was right."
"What--why?!" the two middle-aged people indignantly exclaimed.
"Because...I need to...avenge my sister, and the best place to start is Konoha."
"What happened to your sister?" Natso gently asked, placing a hand on my shoulder. I swallowed hard and forced myself to look up.
"She was murdered," I said darkly, "because she was a member of the Tomi clan."
"The...Tomi clan?"
I gave a sad nod. "Yes, the noblest clan in my entire village. Her murderers wanted money and to learn the secret of our clan, but they never learned it." The laugh I produced was hollow. "They actually intended on killing me, at first, because I guess they heard of that Moon thing, which I never really knew about, but Reina-onee-chan took it for me...in fact, she insisted. No matter what I said, she would not allow for me to be the one murdered, because there was no way out of the situation, you see. It was either her, me, or the entire village. Neither of us was willing for that to happen."
"That's horrible!" Oki balled, clutching to Natso's upper arm with her stubby nails.
I heaved a sigh and ran a newly cleansed hand through my long hair. "I don't really want to talk about it," I murmured. "Can we just...go back to the house? I am Really sorry about all of this."
"Of course," Natso said gently. He extended his free hand and grabbed my wrist, tugging me towards him. Draping that one arm over my shoulder he brought me close to him and then directed both his wife and I back to the house.
"We'll get Shou later," Natso-kun said as we approached the stand he and Oki owned. "For now..." He glanced over at me and smiled sympathetically. "For now we'll help you get ready to leave."
"Arigato," I whispered. I pried myself from Kaemon-san's arm and slipped through the open doorway of the Kaemon residence.
Oki and Natso stayed outside. I leaned against the wall right by the door and slid down to listen as they spoke.
"What kind of people do you think are after Kaiyo?" Oki whispered.
"Probably only people hoping to bring her back."
"But..."
"Oki! Do you really think she lied? Do you think she's trying to escape from the law?"
"Well she never told us anything about herself!" Oki hissed
"The whole thing upsets her! Because of her name her sister was murdered!"
"But Natso--"
"No! You should just trust her! She's a good kid. You've seen that!"
"I still wish she'd tell us more about herself."
"What more do we need to know?"
I had run back to my room after that and began throwing my few items in my bag. The only thing I handled carefully was the box of colored pencils. My finger traced over the engraving of the moon as I placed it into my bag.
Just as I slung the duffel over my shoulder, the door to my room was thrown open. Natso entered smiling at me.
"Konichiwa Kaiyo-chan," he greeted as he made his way over to me. He suddenly stopped and looked around. The room was very empty looking without all of my items draped over the corners of furniture. His eyes flickered towards me suddenly and he looked me up and down, stopping on the duffel.
"So you're already packed?"
"Yup. It wasn't that hard to get ready," I said breathlessly. Self-consciously I tugged at the hem of my dress. "I didn't bring much with me. It's easier to travel with a light load."
"I agree with you there."
Bending down I stared out the window and up at the sky. Evening was quickly closing in on us. Straightening myself, I smoothed down the front of my dress and grabbed Natso's elbow.
"I want to show you and Oki-san something," I declared. The man allowed me to drag him outside where we called for Oki who, after dealing with a customer, closed the stand and quickly followed.
I first led them to the town center and showed them the advertisement I had made. Both seemed rather pleased by it. Oki teared up again and I had to lead them away before she started balling.
Then I took the two Kaemons away from the town and to the field I had drawn the banner and ad. in the day before.
A gentle breeze tickled the tall grass as we slowed down. I let go of their elbows and turned to face them.
"Oki, I know you don't trust me anymore so I'll tell you anything you want to know."
The middle-aged woman's face flushed in embarrassment and she stared down at her feet. Natso sighed and said, "You heard that, huh?"
"Yes I did. And I guess I understand why you don't trust me. I just really thought that, during the time I've spent here, you'd learned enough about me to know that I'm not a bad person. I thought that was enough."
"Oh, Kaiyo! It is enough!" Oki burst, throwing her arms around me. "I'm sorry I doubted you for a second! It's just...Ima is so good at making people suspicious of others! She made me wonder why you didn't like your family, why you never spoke about where you were from or anything! She even made me wonder why you never showed us any of your ninja moves!"
"But she said nothing about ninja moves..." Natso--quite "helpfully"--pointed out.
"Exactly!" Oki exclaimed, She removed her arms from me and stepped back. "Please forgive me Kaiyo-chan."
I smiled at her. "Of course."
She's so different from how she used to be, I thought to myself, taking a step back and dropping my duffel bag on the ground.
"Do you two want to know why I don't like my family? My mom and my dad are both just horrible people. Barely anyone likes them and they don't even like each other. I left my village because I want to avenge my sister--that's the only reason. I'm not running from the law or anything. The people after me, I'm sure, just want me to return. My mom always Was over-protective of me. And as for ninja techniques...stand back..."
I took another few steps back myself and began quickly performing hand seals, ending in a seal that left my palms pressed against each other with fingers going in opposite directions.
"Suta-Kirameki no Jutsu!" I bellowed. Immediately a shimmering light surrounded me. It could easily blind someone even far away so, before continuing with the special attack, I called out to the Kaemons, "CLOSE YOUR EYES!!"
"Kaze Arashi no jutsu!"
Everything around me began to spin, including the blinding light of the million stars that surrounded me. Keeping my eyes lightly closed I grabbed two shurikens from out of my pouch I kept at my hips. "Ishi Tomoshibi!"
The light instantly hardened and flew away from the spinning wind and shot in all directions. I put my hand forward and placed the weapons I had pulled from my pouch into the wind; they too shot outward and I somehow managed to hear the 'thunk' as they lodged themselves into trees.
The wind ended and I stumbled forward. Natso and Oki looked extremely impressed. I smiled weakly; that moved always drained me of energy.
"That was wonderful!" Oki exclaimed.
"Thanks," I tiredly replied. I bent down and lifted one of the light stones from the grass. It was a miracle none of them had hit anyone.
"Here--have this. The light doesnt burn out ever. Or at least not for a long time. They've never burned out for me."
I handed the stone to Natso and then lifted another to give to Oki. That was when an idea struck me.
"How about you keep those two and take all the others to sell. I'm one of the only people from my village that can pull off that move, and it originated in my village. It's a very rare stone...it would be worth a lot, I'm sure!"
"Um, alright?"
I looked up at the sky again and sighed. "I really must be going. Thank you so much for everything!"
"It was no problem. We liked having you around!" Natso exclaimed.
I smiled weakly. "I liked being around. I just really have to go."
"We'll walk you to the gate," Oki offered.
I stood at the gate facing the Kaemons. Natso walked forward and hugged me.
"I'll visit!" I assured them. I had to look over Natso-kun's shoulder in order to see the misty-eyed Oki. "And tell Shou I say good-bye!"
"Will do!" Oki said. "I'm sorry I doubted you, again!"
"Don't worry about it, didn't I already say that!" I pulled away from Natso and knelt down beside my bag. From it I pulled out a pouch and tossed it at the man.
"What's this?" he questioned.
As of he didn't know.
Shaking my head I said, "Never mind. Just keep it. I really will miss you guys."
"We'll miss you, too!" Oki cried.
"I'll write you guys when I get to Konoha!"
"You better! First thing you do!"
I nodded. "Promise."
"Be safe, will you?" Natso, just like a father, ordered. He peered down at me with his tired eyes and I felt like crying.
Why couldn't they be my parents?
"I will. Sayonara! It was great! Thank you so much for all you did!"
Not waiting for them to say anything, afraid I'd cry if I did, I sprinted off into the darkening forest.
Konoha, here I come!
I felt sadder than I expected to be thinking that fact, but I ignored it. They understood my mission and I understood theirs.
Saying good-bye, no matter how permanent or temporary, was not my strong suite.
a/n please review!!! I slaved over this chapter, and I wish it was appreciated. anyway! until next time!