Chapter 4
Frenzy- hey guys I know this is wayyyyy late. I'll got the next ones up soon. Thanks to my beta Kaowaul for getting this back to me quick and the 3 reviewers: heartlessRayne, forever-sweet and Storm The Albatross.
Sunday. The day of the party. Kayla wished she was doing anything but helping set up. Maybe not entertaining guest's at home with Ko, but nearly anything else. Keeping her grumbling to herself she was directed around Ino's house by Temari: putting up decorations, putting out snacks, bringing out a stack of board games, helping with menial tasks. All because she said she was bored. Never doing that again.
Ino walked into the living room with Sakura, both in flirty party clothes, purple and pink respectively. "You guys are gonna change right?" Ino asked.
Temari nodded but Kayla ignored her trying to plug in the right wires to some large speakers. Temari grabbed Kayla's sleeve and Kayla flinched, pulling away. "You brought a change of clothes for the party right?"
Kayla shook her head looking down at her hoodie and jeans, not seeing the problem.
"Well I'm sure we can find you something that fits" Ino grinned at the chance of a make-over.
Kayla felt hoodie being tugged and she pulled out of their grasps "NO. No I'm not... I'm not changing out of this. Don't... Don't make me."
They all backed off slightly confused but Kayla just turned back to setting up the music.
It wasn't long before more people started showing up. They stacked presents on one of the back tables and laughed about how surprised Shikamaru would be that they were celebrating his birthday as well.
When the loud giggling form of Kina walked through the door with Kankuro and Gaara in tow she yelled out to Kayla who looked up just in time to catch a new MP3. "Put on some music Kay!" Kina chirped.
Once the music had saturated the whole room everything seemed to fly by. Ko showed up soon after Kina and the rest of the group they had met a month ago. Choji walked in dragging Shikamaru who yawned and didn't seem surprised at all at seeing two cakes on the table. Even Sasuke showed up wishing Ino a quick happy birthday then striking up a conversation with Ko much to Sakura's, Ino's and Kayla's aggravation, for different reasons obviously.
"What's he doing here?" Kayla whispered to Ino.
"We always invite him to our birthdays but he hasn't showed up in years." Ino replied a little sour faced. She then spoke to the entire room. "Lets start up the games!"
They cut up the cake and most Agreed on a twister tournament. 4 people of the 16 would play twister on the greased mat (to make it more difficult for the ninja's in training) while the others would eat cake, play videogames or stand around the mat trying to distract the people playing. Then the winners of each group of 4 would have a final match for the champion. Kayla, Shino, Gaara and Shikamaru opted to be judges and work the spinner.
The first round was Ko, Sasuke, Naruto and Ino. Ko and Ino both managed to distract the boys into messing up while people laughed and wooped. Finally Ko ended up being more flexible than Ino and won the first round.
Second round was Choji, Kina, Kiba and Hinata. Hinata dropped out first when a move would require her to be pressed closely to Kiba. Choji was next when Shikamaru walked past with a plate of cake. Kina and Kiba looked like an even match except Akamaru sabotaged Kiba by running under his foot as he tried to move in a difficult position. After the game Kina discretely fed Akamaru snacks while no one was looking.
Third round was Kankuro, Temari, Rock Lee and Sakura. Kankuro got bashed over the head by Temari when she caught his trying to 'accidently' fall on Sakura. Shino, Shikamaru and Kayla all decided to disqualify her for physically making an opponent fall. All Sakura had to do was wink at Rock Lee and he fell all over himself leaving the bubblegum-haired girl the third winner.
In the final match everyone couldn't believe their eyes as the three girls took spots that would get in each others way and climbed over each other. Ino who was watching as Sasuke watched the match with almost visible interest started yelling insults to distract them. Sakura couldn't help but take the bait causing her to loose focus and slip. Ko won soon after as she leaned over Kina and whispered something in her ear causing the cheerful girl to jump and turn bright red effectively losing.
They finished eating cake and opening presents and when it got darker outside Ino and Sakura instructed them all to sit in a circle. It was time for truth or dare.
"No" Kayla said shaking her head and refusing to sit.
Ko dragged her to a sitting position, "aww come on Oni-chan" (1)
Kayla rolled her eyes but agreed anyways.
Ino, being the birthday-girl, started. "Hey forehead. Truth or dare!"
"Dare Ino-Pig!" Sakura retorted.
"Okay I dare you to prank call Tsunade-shishou" Ino grinned
Sakura paled but pulled out her phone as everyone tried to stiffle there giggles.
"On speaker phone~!" Ino added
They heard the phone ring twice then Tsunade picked up.
"Hello"
"Hello, how may I help you?" Sakura replied trying to make her voice deeper to disguise it.
"You just called me. What do you want?" Tsunade said sounding exasperated.
"No you just called me" Kiba had to clap a hand over Naruto's mouth to keep him from ruining it.
"What do you want?"She sounded angry now.
"Now Ma'am, your just wasting my time." Sakura said. This time Naruto couldn't help but laugh out loud and Sakura hung up quickly.
Sakura put her phone away and glared around the circle. "Ok hmm, Shino-san. Truth or Dare"
"Hmm Dare" Shino said impassively.
"I dare you to take off your jacket and glasses for a round"
Shino sighed and removed the offending articles. A few bugs flew out. "Kiba-san. T or D"
"Dare man! I ain't no wuss"
"Fine I dare you to run down the street in your boxers yelling, 'their after me'"
Kiba glared but began stripping. Almost everyone ran to the window to watch the performance and were still laughing when he got back in and put all his clothes back on. "Kankuro-san. Truth or Dare"
"Dare of course" Kankuro replied
Kiba grinned and ran into the kitchen. They heard some clattering then the blender and Kiba re-entered with a glass of grey mush. "I dare you to drink this"
"All of it?" Kankuro said looking at the slop in disgust.
Kiba nodded.
Kankuro plugged his nose and downed it in one gulp. The following colour change of Kankuro's face under the purple paint, from pale to grey to green had everyone in tears laughing. "Ugh that was disgusting man". After he had turned back the right colour and Ino had made Kiba clean up the mess he made in the Kitchen they continued. "Naruto-san, truth or dare"
"Dare, Believe it!" he said punch at the air.
Kina leaned over to Kankuro and whispered something to which Kankuro grinned evilly. "I dare you to mime everything you want to say for the next 3 rounds"
Naruto's jaw dropped and he was about to complain when Kina waved her finger at him, "ah, ah, ah. No talking." she giggled.
He glared and pointed at her, then made the letters T and D with his fingers.
"Dare Naruto-kun" Kina giggled again.
He mimed sitting then patted his lap and pointed at Kankuro. He paused after trying to think of how to finish it then grabbed paper and wrote out 'for the rest of the party'.
Kina blushed and nervously sat on the edge Kankuro's lap. Kankuro just grinned and pulled her to a more comfortable spot leaning against his chest.
After a few more rounds Ino's parents came home and broke up the party. When everyone started saying there goodbyes Kayla offered to clean up, knowing her dad's business partners would be at her home till late.
After everything was done, night had fallen and Kayla started the trek home. It was dark but she was perfectly calm. Being outside at night comforted her from her usual depression. As she walked up the path to her front door she noticed with grim satisfaction all the cars were gone including her dad's. She silently slunk into the house and up the stairs. Ko and Munasshi were probably already asleep.
Grabbing a set of light pajamas she snuck to the bathroom for a hot shower before bed. The steam helped ease her stresses away. When she dressed in the light t-shirt and sweat pants she kept her eyes away from the mirror, afraid of seeing her reflection. Afraid of seeing pale scars glaring back at her.
By no means was she inflicting these wounds on herself as most people would think but she was ashamed of them. They were the proof of her weakness. No matter how she trained she couldn't reach the full power of her clan.
She stepped out of the bathroom and began walking towards her room when she heard a shuffling. She froze as her father came into view in the hallway. "You... y-yer late. Don't you knowets past curfew?" he slurred drunkenly swinging a bottle in one hand and leaning on the wall for support.
Kayla didn't have the guts to tell him she didn't have a curfew or that he got home later than her so he couldn't know. "I'm sorry. I won't do it again" she tried placating her drunken father.
"No, no yer not" he growled, "you an yer attitude" he mumbled something else inarticulately then lunged and caught her off guard. Her pulled her forward by her neck and bared his teeth, black seeping into his eyes like ink. "You don't deserve this power" his nails elongated onto claws breaking the sensitive skin at drawing small droplet of blood.
She struggled, grasping at his arm trying to pull herself away but he only laughed dropping his liquor bottle on the carpeted floor. "S-stop" she choked out still feebly clawing at his grip.
He threw her to the ground and growled again. "Fight me damnit!"
She stood and the blackness overtook her eyes but flickered out again as he punched her across the jaw. She barely blocked the second attack and his claws ripped through the flesh on her arms. She almost fell back holding herself up with the wall and scrambling towards her room.
He tried to follow but luckily his drunkenness caught up with him and he stumbled on the carpet, just managing to claw shallow lines across her left ankle. She had enough time to run into her room and lock the door. She knew he would keep coming. She ran to her window and opened it wide climbing onto the sill. She spotted a large branch off of the oak tree that was pointing towards her window and jumped just as she heard a bang from her door. She caught the branch and swung, using the momentum to hit the ground running. She ran trying to ignore the pain in her bar feet until she was sure she was safe.
When Kayla looked around she saw she had ended up at the same abandoned park she found on Friday. She hopped onto the merry-go-round and finally let herself breathe. Her lip felt split and she knew she was losing blood. The moon was just past full and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. She stared at the stars as the carousel spun slowly. 'I could handle sleeping outside tonight.' She was just checking out the damage to her arms when she heard a gravely whisper from somewhere behind her.
"What are you doing here?"
The roundabout stopped abruptly and she sat up and stammering trying to think of an excuse. She was pretty sure he couldn't really see her scars or fresh wounds and wanted to keep it that way. But of course it began to slowly spin and stopped with her facing the swing-set where Gaara stood using his sand to move the merry-go-round. Kayla suddenly felt very vulnerable under his gaze.
Gaara walked to his usual night-spot when he saw the roundabout moving and someone lying on it. He notice a mass of unmistakable glossy black hair 'One of those annoying Lore sisters.'He stood for a few seconds and before he could stop himself spoke in a whisper, "What are you doing here?" He hoped she didn't hear.
She froze and sat up stopping the merry-go-round so it was facing away from him. 'Do I smell blood?' he thought, commanding his sand to turn the carousel around so she was facing him. It was an understatement to say he wasn't quite prepared at what he saw. Her arms were torn and dripping crimson blood on the piece of playground equipment, she had a split lip and her neck looked bruised and bloody as well. Not only that but in the light of the near full moon he saw pale scars littering her arms and legs.
"I- um- well you see" she stammered
"What happened?" he asked with a little more force.
"If I tell you, you can't tell anyone," she growled back.
"Do I look like someone that would gossip?" he asked with a strait face.
She looked to be silently arguing with herself for a moment before looking back at him. "I suggest a trade. I'm not going to say something for nothing"
This time it was Gaara's turn to think it over. He didn't need to say anything. He could always kill her to get it over with. Or he could just walk away; he didn't need to know. But his interest was caught. He nodded.
"Why did you and your siblings leave Suna?" she asked watching for a reaction.
Of course he didn't show a reaction, "disagreement with our... dad"
At first she just nodded but her serious façade broke as she started laughing, trying to stop it. "I'm sorry. I just- that's what I was going to call these," she held up her arms so the wounds were facing him. "Anytime he's finishing business negotiations. Whether he succeeds or not, he goes out drinking. And when he comes home, he's drunk and... violent. I get to be the punching bag."
"Do your sisters know?" Shit, he didn't just ask that did he? It's not like he cared. Why was he still talking with her then? That smell of blood was getting really strong.
"No they're usually asleep or away. I don't want them to have to deal him that way," She said watching the ground. She was swaying slightly. "He usually stops after I'm bleeding but I don't want to go home. It seemed serious this time"
"Why..." he didn't know how to phrase the question. Did there really need to be a reason? Did he really want to know?
"In the Lore family, strength is everything. That horn you saw when I was fighting was the proof of my 'enlightenment'. Everyone has a different one and it usually shows up around puberty. Mine showed up early and I haven't been able to control it since. He's angry at my weakness. He thinks I should be the best because I was so young when it started but I can't do it!" Kayla ran a hand through her hair. She couldn't believe she just poured out her heart for him to pick apart. Darkness crept up on her and she fell forward off of the roundabout.
Sand caught just before she hit the ground. 'Must have been blood loss. Why did it catch her! Just put her down now. Leave her in the park? What if she bleeds out? Why would I care?' the argument with himself lasted a few minutes till finally he made a decision.
Waking up the next morning wasn't unusual for Kayla, but opening her eyes and seeing a dark, sparsely decorated room that definitely wasn't her own freaked her out. She checked herself quickly. Her usual nightclothes weren't messed with. The injuries she had obtained the previous night were bandaged and her face still hurt like hell.
She got out of the comfy red comforter and looked around the room. A few potted cactuses sat on a desk with many books and a clock that told her it was 2 hours before school started. Everything looked clean and organized, even a black hoodie folded at the end of the bed with a note on it looked carefully placed. 'You can borrow this' was all that the note had on it. She flipped it over to check the back but nothing. The hoodie was plain black with a soft red material on the inside. She slipped it on to cover her bandages and was overwhelmed by a masculine scent of patchouli, earth and iron.
She snuck out the window and ran home without looking back. Today was Monday and Munasshi was going to kill her for being out all night.
She crept in her bedroom window using the same oak tree and changed into her normal hoodie and regular clothes, stuffing the borrowed one in her backpack then slipped off to the bathroom to look over the damage. There was no hiding the spilt lip or the purple bruise stretching across her chin but if she wore a black turtleneck under her sweater no one would notice the other injuries. She quickly finished her morning rituals and ran downstairs. No one was there. She grabbed her breakfast and some food for her dog and headed outside to eat with company that wouldn't judge or ask questions.
The ride to school was silent as she let the wind blow her hair around. After she got there it was her personal goal not to give anyone the chance to ask her about it. Class made it difficult but pushed off the questions by saying it wasn't as bad as it looked. Which was partially true. Lunch on the other hand was hell. Her friends cornered her and even when she refused to answer they guessed it had something to do with the Akatsuki.
"I told you to be careful around them," Temari said sounding like she knew everything in the world.
"It doesn't have anything to do with them!" Kayla growled back
"You don't need to protect them, we all know what kind of people they are." Sakura said
At this point Kayla lost all patience with them and stormed off. She was hiding out at the back of the school when she heard approaching footsteps. "I already said I don't want to talk about it so you can just fuck off and leave me alone" she growled not looking up.
"That's not a nice way to great someone trying to help you" a gravely voice said.
Kayla jumped realizing it was Gaara. "Sorry I'm just... ugh people think I got in trouble with the Akatsuki and no ones listening. You probably don't need to hear me pour my heart out... again..." she ran a hand through her hair trying to stop herself from banging her head against the wall in frustration.
"Blame Me," He said out of nowhere
"What?" she said, staring at him and not believing her ears.
"Blame Me. At least if you give them an answer they'll get over it and everyone else thinks I'm a monster so it's believable. We fight already, it's not a far stretch," He explained.
She had to think over his offer for a few minutes before closing her eyes and making the difficult decision. "Fine. Umm. Thanks, for this and this morning. If you ever need anything just ask."
He nodded and walked away leaving her to build her story. She went back to her group they waited expectantly. "You really wanna know what happened?"
They nodded.
"Fine. After the party when I was walking home I ran into Gaara. I was still a little pissed off for that cheap shot last week in gym and we fought." She motioned to her face, "I didn't want to tell you guys I had lost against him"
By the looks on their faces they were completely convinced. Temari and Kankuro even offered to give him hell but she managed to talk them down.
Her mistake happened in weapons class when she repeated the story to Deidara and Sasori after they asked.
After school she was walking to Munasshi's car she saw a group in the student parking lot. The thing that drew her attention was the cloaks the group was wearing. Black with red clouds. She jogged over and heard Kisame talking.
"You think you can mess with her sand boy?"
She panicked pushing through them, "Wait!" she yelled placing herself between them and Gaara. All of them were in fighting stances and she put out her hands as if to hold them apart.
"Get out of the way Kayla-chan, we're gonna teach him a lesson, yeah" Deidara said holding ones of his clay bombs.
"No you're not. He didn't do this. We just made up that story so people would stop asking!" she explained quickly
"So who the fuck did it?" Hidan asked.
"I can't tell you." She said pleadingly.
"Does he know?" Sasori asked pointing at Gaara.
Kayla looked at the pavement not answering. The awkward silence that followed was deafening.
"I see, un. That's how it is." Deidara shaking his head and leaving to get into their van. The rest of the Akatsuki followed after him.
Kayla kicked the gravel grinding her teeth, "fuck!" she yelled. Looking back she saw Gaara had already left. She walked home trying to relieve some of her anger at the situation. At the moment she really wished she was still home-schooled.
(1) – Onii/Onee mean older brother/sister. Oni means demon. So demon-chan is Ko's nickname for Kayla when no one will notice.
Frenzy- Hey so that's it. I think its longer than usual. I'll get the next up soon! R&R