I do not own, nor will I ever own Naruto.
Italics indicate thought.
I do not think I am sane.
REVIEWS WELCOME
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Just Ludicrous: Chapter 14
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When Sakusen hauled himself out of bed on the fourth day, he knew, right in his gut, that strange things would be happening. He was eating in the bakery of yesterday, sipping a cup of tea and picking apart an apple scone when Jiraiya sat down across form him, carrying a large pot and a bowl. the smell coming from the metal pitcher made it obvious what it contained; the unmistakable acrid smell of coffee, hot and black.
"Hey there, kid."
Sakusen grunted.
"that bad, huh?" asked Jiraiya, gulping down the coffee as though it were luke warm water.
"I guess."
Jiraiya finished off the pot of coffee, which had been full upon his arrival, and stood up. "well, see ya, Sakusen. I'm off to research some more about these sisters of Neji's."
the boy grunted again, then stood as well. "I guess I'll go too," he mumbled vaguely. life seemed strangely dull without the hyperactive blond, almost empty.
They meandered from the shop together, but split up once outside. Sakusen went to his room, and looked around. Nothing seemed of interest. He picked up the small Voodoo Sasuke doll from the place where Neji had tossed it on the bedside table, then put it back. he sat down at the window, ad stared out. he just didn't feel like doing anything, and couldn't think of anything to do. he watched the fog roll into the village, engulfing everything in its way in white wetness. he sat, watching it cascade down towards him, then engulf him and the building, marveling slightly that the fog didn't seem to enter the room much, but stayed outside. then he realized that he was cold and slightly damp. and that the fog had entered the room, and, he imagined a little, it had reached as far as his soul. he certainly felt the same uncertainness, the same white, bleached and dulled of color. He stared through the chilled fog, then rose. he perched on the sill, then stepped out. As he did so, Sasayaki landed on the windowsill of the next room over.
She nodded at him, then climbed inside. he wondered where she had been, the decided that he didn't care. he leapt, landing on the roof of the building across the alley. he continued leaping, and found himself near Tazuna's home. he hopped down to the road, and gazed around with sad, half-open eyes. It was only noon, and he wondered if Inari was in classes or something or if he was having lunch. he wished he could find the little boy. he was a reminder of a happier time, and maybe he could suggest something he could do.
He had just dozed off when someone tugged on his sleeve. "Hey, hey, wake up!"
he jerked awake, and looked over to see Inari. the boy grinned at him.
"hey there. How're you doing?" Sakusen mumbled.
the boy eyed him critically. "better than you are."
Sakusen sighed, leaning his head back so that hit collided gently with the wall behind it.
"So how's Neji?" the boy asked.
Sakusen shrugged. "Fine, as far as I can tell. She's made friends with this woman named Iruka, who's okay. In fact-" he sighed again, "everything seems okay, but I still feel awful."
Inari shrugged. what could he say. he wasn't a psychiatrist. then he thought of something. "is there anything you feel you've forgotten?"
Sakusen turned to the boy. "forgotten?"
Inari nodded. "to say, do, something you think is urgent, but hasn't been done or dealt with."
Sakusen leaned back again. "Mayb- I don- . . . but . . . " he fell silent.
Inari started to walk away. "Sorry, but I gotta go. Some of my friends are teaching me how to swim, and I gotta get ready. Bye!" he waved, then ran into the house. Sakusen smiled slightly, then started wandering around the village. he headed for another familiar spot, the place where Zabuza and Haku had been buried. the spot was devoid of people, and he knelt down before the tow graves. Zabuza's sword stuck out of the ground , where he figured it would stay for years to come.
he spoke a small prayer, then rose and left. he hoped they rested in peace..
a light rain started, and banished the fog. Sakusen trudged the rain, not particularly caring whether he got wet or not. even so, he grabbed an umbrella from the inn while passing. the clouds accentuated the coming darkness, and Sakusen wandered towards the one place he had been forcing himself to avoid, the brothel house.
he tapped on the bars. the rain had become a downpour, and he wondered if she had heard him. she hadn't, he could see her leaning against the back wall, with a sad empty look in her eyes. Iruka had noticed him, though, and she tapped on Neji's shoulder, and pointed to him.
Neji sprinted over to him, her entire mood changed, and, he suspected, she would have jumped on him if there hadn't been bars in the way. he smiled, and he began to feel happy just at the fight of her. she immediately started to babble away at him, saying how she had been so bored and lonely (well, not too lonely, because of Iruka) and how she had missed him and and and . . . and that if they weren't in this situation, she would only want to be with him. she reached a hand through the bars and toughed Sakusen's face, gently stroking his jaw line. he leaned his head into the touch, and held the hand with his own, just as gently.
Suddenly there was a commotion as three men ran out from the brothel's entrance, wielding swords and glowering menacingly. the two broke apart, Neji withdrawing her hand, Sakusen falling back a step. one of the men pointed to Sakusen and shouted, "You, there! whaddya think yer doing? you can't fraternize with the merchandise-" he chuckled- "unless you've got the money for it."
Sakusen recognized the man. he had been one of the two in the teashop.
"An' I know for a fact that you don't have the money. So why don't you scram, little brat."
Sakusen didn't move. Neji watched him nervously. Iruka bit her lip.
"What, you aren't gonna move? after we asked all nice-like, too."
Sakusen still stood his ground, watching the men silently.
"I guess I have t' convince you not to stick around any more." the other two men leered, then the three advanced on the small, younger boy.
Neji closed her eyes, but she could still hear the sickening thuds and cracks. she prayed fervently that Sakusen was the one causing the damage, but she knew better. these were three large men up against one much smaller and younger teenager. there was no contest.
when the noises stopped, she opened her eyes. there on the ground lay Sakusen's crumpled form. she panicked for a moment at the sight of him lying so still, as though dead, then she saw him move his hand. there were cuts all over him, and the blood mingled with the rainwater. the umbrella lay a few feet away, the edges cut and nicked, and a long tear reaching from the spoke tip up to the center rendered it next to useless.
Sakusen hauled himself upright, the kimono heavy with water, his head bowed. he looked over at the umbrella, then picked it up, closing it with an air of calm. then he looked over to Neji. his eyes were clear of tears, but there was a sadness in there. he tried to smile to reassure her, pulling up the bloodied corners of his mouth and wrinkling a long gash across his left cheek. his eyes shone with compassion.
He left, and Neji cried.
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REVIEWS DEMANDED FROM READERS . . . please. They help my Chemistry flogged ego.
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Uwah! I know! Samurai Champloo rip-off! 3 It's just that that anime ROCKS so much! yes, I took the scene (altered a little) from episode eleven.
AND I now announce . . . ANGST ANGST ANGSTY ANGST!