Yoko hadn't been watching the remaining matches. She was still pondering who she would have to fight, narrowing down the field as each Genin took his or her turn.
"Hmm, I wonder who it will be?" She gazed around, stopping for a moment as she looked at Bushio, standing with his back to a pillar and watching the match below progress. "Hmm, well, good news is I won't have to fight Bushio or Deidara...that's a plus. I still wonder who..."
"The winner...Yamagara Washi! Well done...please go back upstairs." The Examiner pointed, sending the young kunoichi up the stairs. He began peering at his list again, smiling and looking up.
"Very well. Our next match will be between...Yoko Tazanuchi and Junio Mezanuchi. Please come to the arena and prepare for battle!" The Examiner took a step back, waiting. Yoko gripped the railing, turning her head to her left and staring at the boy standing there. He seemed to be standing there, staring at the ground in the arena. Then, suddenly, he turned, walking down the stairs and onto the arena floor.
Crap...why is it him? She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.
"Yoko...are you alright, un? Come on, it's your match!" Deidara stood on her left, tugging her sleeve to bring her back to reality. She turned, smiling lightly at him.
"I don't know, Deidara. I mean, you saw what he did to those trees, right?" Deidara stopped his frantic tugging, letting go and staring down into the arena at Junio, who was staring back up at Yoko. He had no real facial expression on...just a blank stare. Deidara didn't know what it was, but something about it gave him the creeps.
"You'll do fine. Come on, go down there and beat that guy." Bushio came, standing next to her. She smiled, looking up at him.
"Thanks, Bushio. Well, here I go!" Turning towards the stairs, she began a slow descent down, taking each step mincingly, trying to prolong the inevitable match.
"So...what do you think her chances are, un?" Deidara turned towards Bushio, who grunted.
"I don't know. I'd say that if she believes in herself, she should do just fine." Maey smiled, looking up at him.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that. Junio...he isn't like most nin." Bushio turned slightly, staring sideways at the kunoichi.
"What do you mean?" She turned back to the arena, staring down, her eyes glassy.
"Junio...sometimes gets caught up in fighting. Sometimes..." and she trailed off.
"Sometimes what? What is it, un?" Deidara walked to her, looking at her as she turned to him, finishing her sentence.
"Sometimes...he doesn't know when to stop!"
Yoko finally made it to the arena, staring across at her opponent, who stared levelly back.
"Very well...the next match will now commence!" The Examiner gave them the go-ahead, stepping back to keep watch. Yoko took a deep breath, beginning to pull a kunai from her pouch.
"Yes...yes...do it...do it...take out the kunai...do it..." She stopped, staring across at the boy, who was grinning up at her. "Take it out...throw it...see what happens...come on...what are you waiting for!" She gulped, replacing the kunai in her pouch and watching him. He laughed, throwing his head back into the midday sun. "Couldn't do it, huh? To bad." He pulled his sword out of its sheathe. He gazed into it, watching as his reflection wriggled and contorted in the smooth configuration of the blade. "You know...I've only killed maybe twelve people. Maybe thirteen. I don't really know...I've never really kept count...HAHAHAHAA!!!!!" He threw his head back once more, leveling the sword at her. "You never really stood a chance here. Why don't you just give up, huh?" Yoko, quite shaken, began taking a backwards step, watching him.
"No...No, I won't give up. Not just like that." This seemed to amuse the boy further, and he snickered.
"You just don't get it, do you? Fine." Suddenly, he disappeared, leaving Yoko staring across at nothing. "You don't truly comprehend the danger you are in. Giving up now will ease the pain that you will feel later!" She gasped, jumping sideways and facing the nin again, who had appeared behind her. He laughed, disappearing again. She turned her head, looking around for him. "You know, I haven't actually killed a girl yet...I wonder what it will be like?" Her head shot up, looking at the boy who was standing on the low part of the ceiling, directly above her. She jumped back out into the open as he dislodged himself, hitting the ground in a crouch. He stood up again, turning his head to face her as she tried to calm down. A kunai, flung faster than she could see, flew by and grazed her cheek. She clapped a hand to it, feeling the warm liquid ooze down her face. "Oops...did I open that wound of yours again? So sorry...HAHAHAHAHA!" He began to laugh once more, watching her with mad eyes as she began to ponder her situation.
"This guy is fast...I can barely watch his movements. What should I do?" She began to go for her kunai again...a weapon in her hand made her feel in more control, anyways. He smiled as her hand reached into her pouch, pulling the knife from it.
"Good...good. That's what I like to see my prey do. Fight back!" He flew, cleaving the earth in front of her as she jumped back to avoid his downward slash. He jumped again, slicing sideways. She had enough time to block the blade with hers before tumbling to the ground, rolling and coming up on her knee, breathing heavily. He stared at her, his eyes wide-open. "Come come...I haven't had enough yet!" He began to twirl his sword, slow at first, and then speeding the rotation until it became a blur in his hand.
"Sword Technique: Whirling Art of the Nine Blades Jutsu!" The sword began to glow, and a large force of wind suddenly pushed from behind, sending a crashing whirlwind of destruction flying her way. She dodged to the side, feeling the technique graze her leg slightly. It opened a wound across her calf, and she groaned as she hit the ground, feeling her blood spill from the slice.
"Yes...yes. More...MORE!"
"What do you mean he gets carried away? Doesn't he know he's fighting Yoko?" Bushio was glaring across at Maey, who shrugged.
"When he's fighting like this, he only knows two things. One, he can be killed. Two, he can kill. That's all he knows. The feeling that he can be killed is thrilling to him, and the feeling that he can kill makes him feel powerful." She turned, staring down into the arena. "He loses control over himself, and he can't help it. If your friend knows what's good for her, she'll give up, right now!"
"No way, un! Yoko can fight good. She...she just needs to figure that out for herself," Deidara argued, staring at the girl.
"Hmph...she'll die at this rate!" Deidara scowled, looking down into the arena.
"No...she can't lose! She's our teammate, un! We're going to the finals together. That's all there is to it!" Maey smirked, looking back at the fighters.
"We'll see, kid. We'll see..."
"Don't you know how to fight at all? Here, let me show you!" Junio laughed, throwing shuriken. Yoko barely dodged them, back flipping over one and coming up underneath another. She landed, throwing weapons of her own. He easily blocked them, bringing his sword up and around and smiling as the weapons pinged off. "Yes...so close. Keep trying...I'm sure you'll do it...eventually. HAAHAHAHA!" He turned, chucking his blade like a spear through the air. She jumped to the right, barely avoiding the weapon as it winged past. She averted her gaze from him for a moment, and he disappeared once more, using his speed to defy her eyes. She began searching for him, backing up until she felt the wall behind her.
"Have you tried up here?" She gasped, looking up. He smiled maniacally down at her, standing atop his sword, which was buried in the wall. He sprung, using the sword as a diving post. Flipping through the air, he snatched the sword from the wall, slicing horizontally at her as he twisted in the air. Taken aback, Yoko felt the sword slice her stomach. It was a shallow wound, but she felt every inch of it. She stumbled backwards, kneeling down and holding her free hand to the wound.
"Your blood...it makes you look much prettier. I wonder..." Junio began, and stopped, staring down at the floor.
"You wonder what?" She gasped, the pain from the wound excruciating. He smiled, throwing his head back and laughing up into the sky.
"I wonder...how you'll look...covered in blood from head to toe?" He disappeared once more, and she felt a foot lash out from behind her, kicking her over and flinging her to the ground. She coughed, feeling dust and dirt mix with her wound. "Come come...this isn't even a challenge! Get up...fight me!" He began to zigzag across the arena, and as she began to get to her feet, he punched out, catching her in the chin and sending her tumbling once more. She lay on the ground, panting into the dust.
How do I beat him? He's so much faster than me. Yoko glanced up, staring at Junio, who was grinning down at her from a few feet away.
"Does it hurt? Good...I'm glad. But I haven't had enough yet!" He began his strange laughter again. Even Maey and Aprilio cringed slightly as the beating sound echoed around the arena. Yoko smiled to herself.
I...I guess I'll have to use THAT technique...
HELLO ALL! I'm very glad so many people like this story! Only about 10 more chapters...and then it will be done! Ok, maybe more like 15...we'll see. But it will be done. Then, the next portion will continue the saga of the Blonde haired boy with the big heart! Or, something like that. OH! Next chapter posted on Saturday, the 1st of September, so check then for it! It's going to be really long, so I hope you'll all like that. Review everyone, cause I like it!