I do not own Naruto as a game, Manga, Anime series or a character. All original characters are mine though :P
Hi no Ishi (The will of Fire) - Ninja-tag Arc
A new class is introduced to Umino Iruka as things get tossed on their head quickly. How is it that so many exceptions are being made? And since when were so many Clan Heirs gathered in one class? How can a little support affect our favourite blond dobe?
All underlined terms are explained at the end of the chapter.
~ Tatsuko's POV ~
"Nnnn..." Hinata moaned as she started coming to. I was playing nurse, having just changed the cloth on my patient's forehead when she complained.
"If that's your way of saying thank you, it sucks." I teased, not really expecting a reply from the sleeping Hyuuga.
"Gomen. I guess I'm not good at anything at all then, am I?" Caught off guard, I had no idea how to react. Was she talking in her sleep?
Curiously, I replied to her. Mostly just to see if she was truly lucid. "I wouldn't say that. You are strong, kind and gentle. All you lack is self-confidence."
There was a long silence, which was taken as evidence of the girl's sleep-talking. "If only you were right." A pair of lavender eyes slowly peaked out, taking in the scene before them. "Where are we?" She asked semi-curiously.
"The medic tent, you passed out from chakra deprivation." Kou answered. He was in his early twenties, wearing a chuunin vest, loose fitting blue pants and the cloth of his blue forehead protector covered his hair completely. The only distinguishing trait were the lilac, almost pupil-less eyes. Still, if you were to compare him to other Hyuugas, Hinata notwithstanding, he was a ray of sunshine.
"So he can talk." I teased, causing the boy to blush. Now that I really did have the time to analyse the boy, everything about him struck me as odd somehow.
"My apologies, Senju-dono. My thoughts were... elsewhere." His eyes darted to Hinata briefly, but long enough to mean something.
"I don't believe we've been properly introduced, yet you know who I am. How embarrassing." I giggled nervously, hoping to not cast doubt on myself.
"My sincerest apologies, my name is Hyuuga Kou. I am Hinata-sama's bodyguard." Deja vu? Not for me, I knew what happened.
"I see, and how did that come to be? It is not often that you hear of a bodyguard among the Hyuuga." I asked cautiously, hoping to find out more about him before a repeat experience occurred.
"A most interesting story, that one is. I would gladly regale it as thanks for your tending to my lady." He bowed slightly. "However, I am afraid I am unable to do so at the moment. There are too many ears that may be too willing to hear of the mingled history of the clans."
"By clans, you mean..."
"The Hyuuga and the Senju clans. Surely you must know something of it?" He could never be raised by a Hyuuga. Not in a million years could one of those cold, distant brutes that call themselves noble ever raise this warm, amiable character.
"Something about it, but not too much." I blushed, trying to play my part as well as I could. "I believe we are ignoring Hinata-chan. How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine, just a bit tired." She answered calmly. She seemed to watch the exchange between her yojinboand myself a bit closer than she should. I would have to ask about that in time.
"You're not fine. You are pale, worn out and likely half starved. Please, allow me to go fetch something to sustain you until the midday meal." He bowed deeply to her, then excused himself without another word.
Some time later, after Hinata had eaten and fell back asleep, Kiba showed up. I was - unfortunately (or fortunately in this case?) - still confined to the medic tent, so it wasn't hard for him to find me.
His posture was as proud as he ever was, but his eyes held doubt and worry. 'I've turned my proud Kiba into a worry wart.' Wait, 'my' Kiba? I'm probably going to end up stealing his first kiss, before he realises the effect he has on me... Wait, I mean... Oh, forget it! Anything I think about with that boy ends up in a jumble!
"Hey." He ventured cautiously.
"Hey." I honestly couldn't tell who was more nervous.
"So listen, I uh... I uh... I'm not very good at this... I-" He paused a third time, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment.
"Hinata's doing much better now." I offered, trying to distract him from his thoughts. Kami-sama knew I needed to be distracted for a while too. "She woke up for a while, then ate and went back to sleep. I guess she just needs to rest a bit longer."
"That's good. I'm sure she'll be up and about before you know it. She's always been strong like that." He laughed. "You might wanna be careful though, she has this weird habit of only being half asleep when she's out of it like that." My eyes bugged out at his words. Kuso!
"Well, I'm sure she can keep a secret. So there's nothing to worry about." I laughed nervously. 'Right?'
"Why you looking so nervous? Don't tell me you were talking about me the whole time you were in here?" That smile made its way to his facial features again... Once again stealing the breath out of my lungs.
What was it about his damn smile that always affected me like that! I mean, sure, he was cute. And his lips looked soft and touchable... and the way his eyes sparkled reminded me of the stars reflecting off the lake on a cloudless night... and the way he seemed to stare right into my soul the way he was watching me... like right now...
My knees buckled.
"Whoa, you okay?" Kiba caught me before I could hurt myself. Unfortunately, that meant that he wrapped his arms around me to steady me. He was holding me so close... I could smell his hair, and the light sweat that had his skin glistening.
'Kami-sama, he uses Herbal Essences shampoo, but no conditioner. And he creams his skin with cacao butter. Rich in vitamins and it tastes sooooooo goooood.' Kuso! I just HAD to think that. I felt my whole face heat up. It must be the combination of salt and the sweetness of the cacao butter affecting me... yeah, that's it! It has absolutely NOTHING to do with his proximity, or the warmth of his arms on me... or the fact that I can feel my, um... my chest rubbing against him.
'The sweetest torture.' I snuggled up to him a bit more. "Can you - itee..." I limped a bit, trying to get a little closer to him, while acting like I was walking past him. "Can you help me sit down, over there?" I pointed at the cot I was laying on earlier, on the far side of the tent.
Sure, I could have simply asked to sit down on the chair that was right behind him... but I just wanted to sit on the cot, okay!
"I hear you and Yuuna were teamed up without me. How'd that go?" I asked, trying to distract my mind enough to not pass out from the seeming endless blush that would not go away.
"Preddy good, but we'll talk 'bout that later." He pulled his arm around me to support me better, which pulled me in closer to him. "Let's getcha ta lay down and rest that foot o' yours."
I didn't know how well I could act until that moment. I well and truly should have earned a Grammy or something, because I was milking the opportunity for all it was worth. What started out as me simply going weak in the knees, ended up with his arms wrapped around me. And his side rubbing against mine... and his eyes roaming all over me, trying to figure out where I was hurt... Dammit this was becoming a pattern! STOP MESSING WITH MY MIND! Stupid feelings!
"You sure you're okay? You look like you could be running a fever." He said suddenly.
"I-" Brain functions stopped completely. There was no way in hell I could ever hope to focus on anything now!
He was standing on my left, with his right arm around my waist supporting me as I limped - no I didn't hurt my leg, but I was not going to argue if he wanted to hold me so close to him! Stop missing the point here!
What truly took my breath away though, was that he took his left hand and was caressing my face. The logical part of my brain - which could go to hell any time now - was telling me that he was just checking me for a fever. Ah! Now he's caressing my neck. Who knew that his hands were so soft and gentle? You know what, don't answer that. I'm afraid I might hunt them down for knowing something like that about MY Kiba.
'Get it together, Tatsuko! He isn't yours. He isn't anybody's.' Straight to hell in a hand basket. That's where the logical part of my brain was going.
I was so focused on the internal war between my hormones (fucking emotional bullshit!) and the logical part of me (which would be dancing with the devil soon), that I completely missed this... dip?
"FUCK!" The ankle that I was pretending to favour to get closer to - no, to have Kiba aid me to sit down on a comfortable medic cot - felt like it just snapped! I hate karma. Really, I do.
Without even thinking, obviously having heard the little cracking sound coming from my ankle, Kiba picked me up. 'So this is what it feels like to be carried bridal style?' He gently placed me on the cot and turn to leave. Again came the emotions vs logic battle. Logic was telling me that he was likely going to get a medic nin to look at me and heal whatever was ailing me. Emotions were telling me that he was leaving.
"Where are you going!" I asked a little louder than I intended. I grabbed at his hand to make him turn around. I didn't care about the pain, I was used to that already. I just wanted him nearby.
"To get a medic. I ain't no good at that stuff, and you need someone to look at your foot." He reasoned. His voice was calm, soothing even.
"Please, just stay here. It doesn't even hurt that much." I told him. I'm not sure if I was lying or not, to be honest. I just knew that my heart would snap like a twig under an Akamichi's foot if I had to see him walk away.
"Tell you what, I'll leave Akamaru with you while I go get someone." He placed his pup on my stomach, patting his head lightly. "Akamaru will look after you, right boy?"
"What happened in here?" A medic ran in. I guess I shouted a little louder than I expected, seeing that he had obviously run from where ever he was at the time.
"She messed up her ankle I think, I was just going to come call you to check on her." Kiba explained, not missing a beat.
I'm glad I was too busy focusing on Kiba at the time, because with my doujutsu still active I could sense the idiot that came to my 'rescue'. He was the medic that usually tended to me, if Kenichi-sensei - who was the only medic or doctor, or anything associated with the Konoha Hospital that I ever allowed to touch me without reprisal - was unavailable.
'Fucking karma...'
"Very well, I will tend to her. However-" He held his hand out to stop Kiba from taking another step away from me. Standard procedure when a medic is tending to a patient: step away. People usually get in the way without meaning to.
'Maybe he isn't so bad after all? Hell, if he could keep Kiba close to me, or... touching me.' Kuso! I'm sure that my heels are turning pink now.
"I will need you to hold her hands, and keep her calm." Kiba looked at him like he was crazy. "This might hurt a bit, so I need you to help me calm her down." This time Kiba nodded, understanding what he was saying.
I knew he was just trying to keep me from flailing on him, but if it meant that a certain classmate was holding me, then the baka could do just about anything! 'A small price to pay.'
True to instruction, Kiba held my hands steady. Except, he was not used to this type of thing. A nurse in the hospital would have held my arms steady at my sides, placing all their weight on me to keep me from thrashing around. I liked his way better...
He laid me back comfortably - since I half sat up, ready to attack the idiot medic on sight - and placed both my hands just above my head. 'Ohh, he likes to be the dominant one.' I wasn't sure if my blush could get any deeper before, but I know better now. The combination of feeling Kiba so close to me (he decided to sit next to me so that I didn't see him upside-down) and feeling his powerful, yet delicate, touch holding me in place... and the warmth of his bare skin on mine... and the fact that his nose was about a centimetre away from mine... and the gentle warmth of his breath against my face (he didn't even have bad breath!)... and let's not forget that he just started rubbing his nose against mine, probably in an attempt to remove my shades so that he could see my eyes.
'Am I in Heaven now?' He stopped rubbing against me for a second, before holding both my forearms with one hand to remove my shades completely. He folded them neatly and stuck one of the foldable side thingies into his shirt to hold it there. Foldable side thingies? Is that what this boy is doing to my brain? 'FUCK YOU LOGIC! GO AWAY!' I just want to feel right now! I just want to focus on his touch, on his breath...
"Her ankle is badly sprained, and the tendon is bruised. I'm going to have to set the joint manually if she wants to be able to use it any time this week." He must have turned to me, wondering what I wanted him to do. However, there was nothing in this world that was going to tear my attention away from those eyes.
'Fangs... his eyes are like fangs. It's like he is the eternal predator, but am I a potential mate, or prey?'
"Tsu-chan, he needs to know what you want. He can help it heal quickly, but he would have to set it for you then. It might hurt a bit, but it will heal better that way."
Tsu-chan? Is that the best he could come up with for a nickname? Tsu-chan? Well, is you took 'tsu' to mean 'inquiring', it might fit.
"Do it." I told him. Kami-sama, I hope Kiba doesn't catch on to the possible double entendre!
"Okay, Inuzuka-san, I'm going to need you to hold her a bit better this time. The odds of her not reacting to this are slim to none." Baka-san explained.
"What do you need me to do?" Kiba asked, curious as to what the man was really saying.
"Well, this is unorthodox, but I need you to hold her leg and two arms well out of my way." He explained curiously. How in the name of Kami-sama was Kiba supposed to do that? "You see, I am going to have to pull her ankle out of its socket, to restore the normal flow of blood and chakra for it to heal properly and quickly. That is strenuous on the nervous system," Meaning that it would hurt like hell! "So, in order to ensure that her other limbs do not interfere with what I am doing, you are going to have to use a type of full body hold to keep her under control."
Full... body... hold... If he had suggested anyone else to touch me like that, my blood would have boiled over from rage. Seeing who was going to hold me like that... my blood was heating up with a totally different kind of emotion.
"That ain't really needed, doc. It's too extreme!" Kiba objected, blushing furiously. Damn it, Kiba, play along!
Kuso! How was I even supposed to react as a proper young lady? Did I really care?
Before I could figure out how I was supposed to react, my right leg (the one that was uninjured) was folded up next to me. I felt like a manikin in a clothing store, being folded up and stored for later use. My knee somehow made its way to my chest, with my left leg still held straight as an arrow. Kiba was then instructed to SIT on the back of my leg and hold both my arms in place.
So - as the logical part of my brain pointed out, clearly not in hell where it belonged - Kiba followed instructions. Really well. Really, REALLY well.
His left leg hooked around my right leg, as he leaned forward and placed my hands above my head once again. I felt his weight just below my rib cage, while his chest was placed firmly against the side of my face. It was uncomfortable, to say the least. And so warm... Kami-sama, I doubt I would want this to end any time soon. Uhh, that's not what I mean, I...
"FUCK!" Baka-teme just pulled my ankle out of its socket! What was he, part of the torture healing squad! I must have tried to pulled my leg away from him, or something, because he started instructing Kiba to slide back to help hold my other leg as well.
'Mixing pleasure and pain? Sounds good to me.' Kuso! Fucking emotions/hormones/whatever the fuck was making me think like a dog in heat!
True to his training and discipline, Kiba slid down further. What was (hopefully?) unintended, is that his chest is rubbing roughly against mine... and his hips are rubbing against mine... and... 'Is he straddling my left leg?' Yes he is! I actually feel Kiba's... um... Fuck, this is getting awkward. His... thing is now firmly pressed against the higher portion of my thigh, with his legs crossed over mine to keep it in place. And his chest was firmly against mine... Ahhhh! His left thigh just rubbed against something he should not be rubbing it against! But, the situation being what it is, it's not like I can do a whole lot about it! Even if I wanted (I do want him to stop fondling me, right?).
Suddenly I could hear brass instruments playing a lively beat. Slowly building up excitement and expectation. Then the music dips, giving way to a baritone voice accompanied by a snare drummer: 'Heaven, I'm in Heaven. And my heart beats so I can hardly speak. And I seem to find the happiness I seek. When we're ...' Why in the HELL is that song playing in my head right now! That is sooooo not helping me focus!
Focus? Focus on what? If Kiba wants (or doesn't want, it's not like it matters at this point) he could (and probably is) cop(ping) a feel of anything he (I) wanted (him) to feel.
Then this happens. What could possible send me further over the edge now? Well, he is breathing in the nape of my neck. The warmth of his breath is radiating through every inch of skin it touches, lighting a fire in me I don't know (or want) to fight back. That same warmth is worming its way South, electrocuting any resistance it finds. The hairs on the back of my neck are standing at full attention, I feel my nipples turn hard as diamonds. Which, by the way, are now slightly rubbing against his chest every time I breathe!
It's like lighting a match and just watching it burn. Slowly, that fire sinks deeper into me, lower into me. It's in my belly now, heating up so completely that I'm sure that Kiba feels it, even through our clothes. And that leg of his hasn't moved, but I can feel something vibrating (?) through it. I don't know what that is. Fuck, am I purring? Kami-sama, I hope not! Don't I know! How the hell can I know anything like this? The only part of my brain that seems to be functioning is the part I want to stop functioning!
'He's so...' So... what? What was that thought? Why do I want him to be anything! 'This is confusing, but soooooooooooo gooooooOOOOOOD!' I drawled mutely.
I hear something being said, somewhere... I am too far gone to hear, care, wonder... anything. If it is not this moment, it doesn't exist.
Something cold is being wrapped around my ankle... um area? Not that I care. I am too warm, too far gone in this sweet agony, whatever the feeling really is.
Kiba is starting to move now. My knee is being released from its prison, and is slowly being placed next to it partner, but something is wrong (way too good to be right!). Kiba's thigh feels closed to me, rubbing deeper into me... pushing me further into this haze, this blaze of emotion that is threatening to consume me entirely.
He pulls further away, unknowingly (or purposely, who's to say) giving me one last... how should I say... thrust into the abyss? In one fluent motion, my entire body is stroked and convulses with an intense sensation exploding in the pit of my stomach.
The last thing I remember, is thinking: 'Thank you, sir. May I have another?'
I woke up, only Kami-sama knows what time it was. I was also half certain I didn't care. The sun was shining, I could hear birds chirping outside. The rhythmic breathing coming from Hinata told me that she was still sleeping.
A quick glance around the room told me that I was alone with the Hyuugas once again. Apparently Kou had no intention of leaving his lady's side. Which I somehow felt grateful for. I don't know what it was, but I just felt good!
I sat up in the cot, wondering what happened. 'Maybe it's just a good day? Good days happen, right?' It had been so long since I was simply glad to wake up, was this how it felt?
Well, no sense in worrying about it, I guess. I have to go catch up on the information I missed out on. I still have to apologize to Kiba for how I acted earlier. I had to-
"Arf! Rrrrrrrr... Arf arf!" Someone was barking at me? I turned towards the sound, which came from my feet? Do feet bark at you on good days?
"Rrrrrrr. Arf!" The sound came again, followed by some panting? Huh? I was looking at my feet, but I didn't see anything that should be barking at me. I decided to chance it, and bent forward more, to look under the cot.
"Akamaru? What are you doing here?"
/ "Tell you what, I'll leave Akamaru with you while I go get someone." He placed his pup on my stomach, patting his head lightly. "Akamaru will look after you, right boy?"
/
A sole tear escaped before I could stop it. "Kiba told you to stay here, huh?" The pup barked happily at me, then he ran from where he was laying down, took a u-turn and jumped up onto my lap. I patted his head gently and stroked his back, trying to show canine how grateful I was that he was willing to stay with me.
"Hey, what do you say we go look for your master, huh?" Without even thinking, the pup barked happily and jumped off my lap. "I'll take that as a yes." I took my time testing my ankle, trying to avoid it acting up on me. After judging it was not going to hurt to walk around a bit, I got up and slowly walked after Akamaru, who was already on to Kiba's scent.
Kiba, Yuuna, Hikaru, Aoba-sensei and Hiruzen were just sitting near each other, by the fire. They all seemed to be taking it easy at the moment, chatting idly while waiting on something interesting to happen.
"Arf, arf! Arrrooooo!" Akamaru announced as he jumped at Kiba. How could you not laugh at that? Kiba was getting every inch of his face licked, after Akamaru had pounced on him and knocked him on his back.
"Well, it looks like someone is happy to see you." I teased, slowly making my way over to the group.
"Hey, sleepyhead. You finally back among the living?" Hikaru greeted. He was being his usual, charming self, I suppose.
"Good to see you too, Karu. And my favourite Imouto-chan too!" I smiled widely at them both. Hikaru was nonplussed at my greeting, but Yuuna's face lit up like she was four years old looking at a ten foot tall Christmas tree.
I carefully sat next to Yuuna, after giving the others a warm smile in greeting. "You seem to be in a better mood now, Nee-chan. Does that have anything to do with Kiba visiting you while we were gone?" Yuuna whispered her observation. I looked over at the him, careful not to draw too much attention to my gaze.
He seemed to be smiling a bit brighter now, but still with that cocky air about him. His eyes shone with life, as he and Hikaru joked about something or the other. Even Aoba-sensei and Hiru... no, Hokage-sama... Aoba-sensei and Hokage-sama were laughing along with the boys' antics.
"Yes, Imouto-chan. I think it does." I smiled at my own words. I was still careful to keep my voice low, even lower than a whisper. I knew Yuuna could still pick it up, but I didn't want anyone else to eavesdrop on our private conversation.
"Nee-chan, you can't just leave me with a bright smile, and cheery attitude and no juicy details!" She tried to keep her voice down, I know she tried. But Kami-sama, she was having a hard time with it. She was just exited, so I didn't really hold it against her.
I leaned in to whisper directly in her ear: "Later, I promise."
She turned to me, almost in shock. She knew that means there was something juicy there, and the excited look on her face spoke volumes of how much she thought really happened. I just smile and shrugged.
I could tell by the look in her eyes that she didn't want to wait till later, but there were simply too many people around to talk about it. She just kept begging me with her eyes though. 'Why do I have to give in to pouty lips and begging eyes?' No, I decided then that I was willing to give in to my little sister, not her begging me.
I started humming softly to myself, picturing the events that took place... um, I'm not really sure how long ago they took place anymore. Well, either way, I pictured the scene as clearly as I remembered it. The thoughts running through my head, the sensations that assailed me. I closed my eyes, simply drinking in the scene in its entirety.
Almost five minutes later, I slowly my humming, then stopped entirely. I turned to Yuuna, who had a huge smile plastered on her face.
"You are so lucky, Nee-chan." Yuuna's smile dimmed somewhat, obviously comparing her life to mine for a moment.
'I guess she is forgetting how much bad stuff happens to me, all the time!' Best not to go there, I really want to enjoy my good day!
"Hey, you still need to tell me what all I missed today! And what time is it!"
End Chapter 9
A/N: Kiravu, Luv Ya, girl! I also want to send out some love to my reviewers! It's good to know that people are not just opening the page and closing it after the first line -.-''
Anyhoo, I hope no one thinks that the scene with Kiba and Tatsuko was too steamy. Ah, who am I kidding, everyone is going to think that! No, I hope everyone understands that neither youth knows how to react to it, and barely understands what REALLY happened between them (well, from her perspective anyway).
Oh, and the next chapter is likely going to mark the end of this Arc. Premature, maybe. But I have too much cooking in the next Arc to keep putting it off. I am not going to hit a Filler Arc that lasts... months, like the director of the show! I really wonder about their sanity sometimes! I mean, in the Konoha History Arc, the characters in the flashback were not even 'in character'!
So, everyone who wants their voice heard, and their vote to count, had best cast their vote on my profile! Cause time is running out! I have already selected two of the girls that WILL be in the harem, and the... interesting twist I am going to give it. *smirks evilly*
"I am the last of the Uchiwa! You will respect the supreme douchbag-ness I represent!" Yuuna giggles in the background.
"Hi-chan, don't you ever get tired of picking on Sasuke?"
"Nope. Never."
"Don't they say 'never say never'?"
"'They' never met the emo, have 'they'?
"I dunno. Who are 'they' anyway?"
"Yuuna, Karu, be nice. The readers are not supposed to hear you two arguing in what was supposed to be a one-liner!"
"You want a one-liner? How 'bout a direct quote from Sasume herself? Hnn." Yuuna giggles again
"Isn't that one word?"
"Is that even a word?"
"Yuuna, Karu, stop arguing. Now please tell the readers something nice, and keep it short."
"Fine..." They both grouse.
"Well, thank you all for reading." Yuuna smiles a bit shyly, then turns to Hikaru.
"Uchiwa Sasume is a girl!"
"Karu! I said something nice!"
"What? That is the nicest thing I have ever said about the-"
"Yukikami Hikaru, say something nice TO the READERS. It doesn't have to be ABOUT Uchiha."
"Fine. Thank you all for reading what my sister is forcing me to say, which is not necessarily about Uchiwa Sasume, who is-"
"Karu!" Yuuna giggles again, obviously liking Hikaru's outbursts, or Tatsuko chastising him. Or both?