A/N: Oh hey~ We updated~
Er, not that anyone but Paigee's reading this. Oh, well. Technically the only fail here is AkiYamazaki, since this is her only story. XD Also, she'll be updating this a little bit after me. Why?
SHE FORGOT HER PASSWORD. WHAT A BITCH, RIGHT? PM HER CHAIN-MAIL.
If you don't send this to one other person, you'll be cursed with...
CANDY. I'M SO EVIL.
Disclaimer: Neither of us own Naruto! ...Or candy, so technically even if you send this to one other person you won't get any. Er, we'll reward you with virtual hugs...? ^^'
NO POV
About a month passed since the day of Akai and Amaya's… torture? We'll call it that.
Kouhei stared atthe computer screen, rubbing his temples. The new organization had grown extremely large in the small time that had passed. It had rapidly developed from six members to about seventy. He had placed scouts around the area their hideout to gather information. Apparently, it had gained the title of the 'Yuugare,' forty of the seventy members were accomplished shinobi, and the members ran around illogically muttering, 'After the Dawn falls, the Dusk will rise.' To him, it seemed like a genjutsu, but none of the scouts detected any enemy jutsu. Maybe the Yuugare only employed insane retards?
Kouhei deadpanned. It sounded more and more like the Akatsuki by the second.
He had been planning to send the spies out for another scouting mission, but they hadn't returned from their previous assignment on the set date, so they were presumed dead or captured. If lucky, the former. If they had been captured then they most likely be brought in for questioning. However, he still needed information, which meant that he would need to send a fully-fledged Akatsuki team for the mission. And if they got caught, he would need to send another team to rescue them.
He frowned thoughtfully, determining the outcomes of sending each team. Kenta and Daiki would undeniably be captured as soon as nearing the headquarters; Kenta would- since he's a moron- talk loudly and yell at any chance he got, and Daiki wouldn't be able to shut him up since he generally avoided conflict. Mizuki wasn't that fast at running, so if they got into a chase she would be apprehended, and Midori, being the motherly and caring person she is, would undoubtedly turn back and try to save her. Yutaka and Akai wouldn't be able to attack and kill anyone if they were found, considering they were more skilled with explosives and every other enemy would be notified of their location if they used them. So those deductions left one team; Amaya and Yuudai. 'They are quiet and powerful enough,' Kouhei reasoned, 'Those two are no doubt the best choice.'
He clucked his tongue quietly, the soft noise echoing loudly throughout the silent corridor. Kouhei would have thought it was creepy, had he not already become accustomed to it. He frowned thoughtfully as he was reminded of his father; so cooped up in this room that he barely remembered that he had an infant son.
He didn't mind. After all; father was a busy man. Not to mentioned he still had his mother Konan and the rest of the Akatsuki to take care of him. Tobi had seemed to be the one most willing to 'babysit' when Konan and Nagato went away, but for some reason it always ended up with Tobi hog-tied to the kitchen table and Deidara, Hidan and him watching the television. Konan wasn't always very happy with that (Tobi tried to break free by biting off the table leg he was tied to,) but didn't mind it that much. After all, the Akatsuki were just as much her sons as Kouhei was. More murderous and intimidating, but sons nonetheless.
Sasori was more than happy to become his sensei. After all, Kouhei was the 'less annoying of the two brats.' Kouhei spent most of his time watching Sasori build puppets and concoct poisons. He smiled briefly and turned his head to the shelf where a small misshapen puppet lay. It was one of his first tries. Beside the puppet were pictures, most of them Kouhei posing with one member of the old Akatsuki. Three of them stood out, however. One was of him, his mother and father, another was the entire old Akatsuki (Kouhei hoisted up onto Itachi's shoulders), and the last was a picture of him and Midori. A serene smiled splayed across his face as he looked at the pictures. Kouhei then continued to work, ignoring the blatant aching in his chest.
After all, the old Akatsuki were dead and gone.
It was now time for a new dawn.
A voice loudly called out through the halls, echoing slightly. If you listened closely, however, you would see that it was not coming from a person, but rather a small PA system connecting to the walls.
"Amaya and Yuudai. Come to the office in five minutes for debriefing."
Yuudai sighed in relief as he heard the announcement sounded. Amaya and Akai had been fighting all this time, and he was honestly sick of it. A mission would be peaceful and quiet, two things that the base were not.
The door to Amaya and his room opened to a teen with long auburn hair. She gestured for him to follow her, her eyes looking tired and angry as a loud voice exploded behind her.
"Fuck you, Amaya! I'm fucking sick of you and all this shit! Why don't you just go-"
"Shut up, Akai," growled Amaya, not turning to look at her cousin.
Akai eyes narrowed into a death glare that sent shivers down Yuudai's spine. Amaya, however, was unfazed. "I hope you don't come back from this mission," said Akai softly, her voice laced with odium and hurt. She turned and walked away from them, her head hanging slightly.
Amaya rolled her eyes and angrily muttered, "Let's go."
KOUHEI's POV
The office door opens slowly, the swinging noise inaudible. Yuudai and Amaya walk in, the first with tired bags under her eyes and the latter looking worried about the former.
"Amaya, Yuudai, I have a mission for you two," I say, my voice as harsh and stern as ever, "It is relatively easy; just a simple scouting mission. I want you to go near the Yuugare's hideout in Iwagakure and figure out what jutsu they used on their members; if we know what jutsu was used, we may be able to reverse it."
The two nodded simultaneously.
"Dismissed," I sigh, turning back to my researching.
Even though the fights still break out, the base seemed quieter.
AKAI's POV
I raise my eyebrow as Kenta and Yutaka look at me, glare at each other, and then look at me again.
Okay, this was getting creepy.
"The hell are you guys doing?" I ask, blinking bewilderedly.
"Nothing," they say at the same time before glaring darkly at each other again.
"…Okay?" I stand up and shoot them worried looks before walking into the kitchen where Midori and Mizuki are making lunch.
"What's up with Femmie and Kenta?" I ask, hoping to get answers. Those two were freaking me out as of late.
Mizuki's eyes sparkle and I know that she was watching the whole thing. She grins knowingly at me, but makes no move to answer me. Weird.
Midori smiles softly at me in her kind, motherly, way. "Why don't you ask them?" she suggests in a caring manner.
I shake my head. "I already did! The bastards just ignored me!"
Mizuki giggles behind her hand. "I don't think they can ignore you Akai~" she coos, stifling more giggles by biting her lip.
Everyone is acting weird- well, more than usual.
And it's really bothering me.
AMAYA's POV
I look around from were me and Yuudai are hiding behind the tall bushes and foliage. This was creepy. The people walking around are whispering virtually incoherent things and moving boxes around. They look like they were getting ready for something big.
Suddenly, two of the younger-looking ones talk loud enough to hear.
"What do you think of the Akatsuki?" asks one in a hushed tone.
The other shrugs his broad shoulders. "I think they're pathetic. Hey, isn't the leader's kid in the Akatsuki?"
This caught my attention, and made my blood run cold. The leader's child is in the Akatsuki?
"Yeah," said the first, looking thoughtful, "The kid's name starts with A- Aiko? Akemi? Azami?"
"Her name's Akai. It's a daughter," confirms the second.
Akai? What the hell?
…What am I going to do?
AKAI's POV
I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I feel bad for saying that I hope Amaya dies. Shit, I might have jinxed it! Damn it, damn it, damn it. Am I feeling guilt? Wow I can blow up my village and parents and have no weight on my chest, but when I wish my cousin dies, I feel guilty as hell.
I can't let anyone know I'm feeling bad. Then they'll think that I actually care about shit.
And of course as soon as I think this Yutaka walks in the room. I have a feeling that I still had a guilty look on my face. Fuck.
"What's wrong with you?" he asked, raising an eyebrow and looking genuinely worried for me. The fuck? When did that happen?
"Nothin' Femmie!" I say defiantly, "Now, if you don't mind, I'm gonna go fuck with Mizuki." I knew that that'd piss 'em off.
For some reason, Yutaka didn't seem to get angry. "…You know Mizuki is going to kill you, right?" said Yutaka, his signature smirk splaying across his face, a mischievous twinkle lighting up his grey-blue eyes.
"Not unless I push you in front of me before she tries!" I tease cheekily, grinning widely and slicking my tongue out at him.
"What if I'm not there?" asks Yutaka playfully, his eyes narrowing impishly.
I blink dumbly, realizing my misconception at his words. "…Well fuck."
DAIKI's POV
I was running around, waving my arms and probably screaming in happiness. Don't judge.
"Daiki, what the fuck are you so god damn happy about?!" snapped Kenta, grabbing onto one of my arms to keep me still and possibly wrench it out of my socket.
I take a deep breath, and- without taking a pause- exclaimed, "Guys! Guys! Guys! Guys! Guys! I was reading member profiles on Kouhei-sama's computer and-"
"Wait," asked Midori, raising her eyebrow incredulously at me, "you were reading the documents on Kouhei-sempai's computer?"
"Yes!" I cried proudly, nodding my head eagerly, "And I found out that it's almost the cousin's birthdays! We should totally do something for them!"
"That's a good idea, but what would we do?" Mizuki asked, her brow creasing thoughtfully.
"I think Amaya would want us all to shut the fuck up for a day, you know, 'cause she's a fucking depressed cutter," stated Kenta nonchalantly, smirking playfully.
Midori slapped Kenta across the face, her face flushing angrily.
"Ouch! What the fuck was that for, you cracked prostitute!" yowled Kenta, glaring at her.
Mizuki glared back just as hard. "You're such a judgemental person! Not all stereotypes are true, y'know!"
"I know I'm a judgemental person! That's just how Kenta fuckin' is!"
"We should get Akai lingerie!" shouted Yutaka over the chaos, a perverted grin spreading across his face.
Everyone stared perplexedly at him, before Kenta grinned widely and burst out, "I fucking agree with that!" The two let out happy yowls and high-fived.
It doesn't take a genius to know that Mizuki nailed them both in the face.
YUUDAI's POV
I stare worriedly at Amaya. She hadn't spoken for the entire walk back. Even before she would mutter blunt attempts at conversation. I honestly wonder what's going through her mind- I mean, we just learnt that her cousin was the daughter of our rising enemy. What if Akai is a double spy? She'd be devastated.
"Hey," I ask quietly, not bothering to hide the concern in my usually emotionless voice, "Are you alright?"
Her face twitches into something akin to a sneer, but almost immediately her features relax and her expression is blank again. "I'm fine, Yuudai," she answers stoically, "Nothing as trivial as this affects me."
I knew she was lying, but let it slide. After all, our first concern was getting to the base and relaying our gathered information. And getting out of this rain, I muse.
We're passing through one of Ame's smaller villages; only a small marketplace and several insignificant chalets. The roads weren't even paved- mud sloshing as we walked through the rain.
Suddenly, a leather baseball flew across my vision and landed at Amaya's feet. We both turned our heads to see three small kids, presumably two brothers and a sister. They only looked to be eight, the little girl seven. They seemed to want the ball back, but were hesitant at the sight of the black cloaks.
Suddenly the little girl sneers cynically. "Let's go guys," she glowers, shaking her shoulder-length reddish hair, "The big oh-so powerful Akatsuki won't let us get our ball back."
Her friend's eyes widen as they stare incredulously (and pathetically) at the girl, their mouths coming agape in shock.
Instead of attacking like I was expecting her to, Amaya smirks proudly at the girl and leans down to pick up the ball, tossing it softly to her and laughing, "I guess the oh-so powerful Akatsuki did let you get your ball back, huh?" Her misty eyes twinkled gently in an almost motherly fashion.
The girl blinks slowly, her face twisting into a soft scowl. She suddenly grinned, her big brown eyes sparkling playfully. "I guess the oh-so powerful Akatsuki isn't all that big." The girl picked up the ball and ran away, the boys following in her wake.
As soon as they left, Amaya's face became impassive again. She straitened herself up and began walking again.
I frowned. "Amaya, why… did you do that?" I ask softly.
Amaya stops. Without turning around, she simply answers, "…She reminded me of Akai."
As Amaya starts walking again, my suspicions were confirmed.
Amaya really does care.
And it's slowly killing her.
YUTAKA's POV
The entrance to the base opens.
And suddenly all of the Akatsuki rush to the door, asking questions and welcoming Yuudai and Amaya home.
Akai scowls from her place beside me, her face turning into a half-pout. "Why didn't we get welcomed home?"
I smirk playfully at her and respond, "Well, we're so sexy that they got jealous."
She scoffs and turns her head away from me. She'd probably say it was from disgust, but I think it was so she could hide the blush I knew surfaced. I grin lazily.
Eat that, Kenta!
Suddenly, Akai stands up, walks into the group, and pulls Amaya into a diffident hug, mumbling a dejected, "I'm sorry, Ama."
Amaya's face widens with shock, before she shakily replies with, "S'okay, 'Kai." She pulls back from the hug, biting her lip and looking at the ground. "Uh… I'm really tired sooo… I'll b-be in Yuudai and I's room." She stumbled ungracefully through the room and slammed the door behind her.
Akai stared after her with crestfallen eyes, her mouth in a phony-looking smirk. She laughed softly, her laugh more hurt than the usual shades of insane and glee associated with it. "You'd think this was the first time she'd even been hugged," she chuckled gently.
I looked at her worriedly. "You 'kay, Greenie?" I ask, hesitantly touching her shoulder in what I hoped was a comforting gesture.
She laughs in that unfamiliar sad way. "Don't worry 'bout me, Fem," she says, smirking forlornly, "I'm just… worried about Amaya." She turned to Yuudai and softly requests, "Can you check up on her? I… I don't think she wants to see me right now."
Akai then turned and walked through one of the doors- probably towards our room.
I suddenly feel like someone's shoved cyanide down my throat. I swallow worriedly.
I guess Kenta's not the only one eating it.
YUUDAI's POV
I watch semi-sadly as Akai walks away after asking me to check up on Amaya. She must be just as worried about her as I am, because she actually talked to me. She always seemed to ignore me or insult me. Probably because I'm a lot more intelligent than her. Suddenly I got snapped back into reality when I was hit on the shoulder (rather rudely) by Yutaka.
"You okay, man?" he asked, scowling slightly and raising one of his eyebrows. His facial features were sneering, but his eyes showed me that he was worried about the sisters, too.
My lips twitched into one of my signature barely-even-there smiles. "Yeah, I'm… fine." I started to walk towards Amaya and I's room, my eyes looking at the ground as I wonder what the hell I'm going to do.
As I walked in, I saw Amaya sitting on her bed hugging her knees into a fetal position. She didn't seem to notice I was there until I closed the door, the almost silent click rousing her from her unnerving station.
She looked up, but when our eyes met, she looked like she wanted to cry, her misty white eyes starting to fill up with tears. I couldn't blame her if she did begin to cry, but she didn't. I guess it's not in her stoic nature.
I walked over and sat down next to her, wincing as my moving creating a rustle in the bed and the quiet room.
"Amaya?" I asked softly, trying to sound calm, even though I'm really scared. I bit my lip as I stared at her in her vulnerable state.
"…hmm?" Amaya looked up, slowly, making me flinch at her sudden movement. She looked the same as when we left. Bloodshot eyes with bags under them from lack of sleep.
I bite my lip harder. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah… I'm fine, Yuudai." Don't worry about me.
"You sure?" I want to.
I frown at the words that we didn't exchange. She said nothing for a minute. I wonder what she's thinking, honestly. Sometimes, I think that she's almost as unpredictable as Akai.
She took a shaky breath, closing her eyes softly.
Suddenly, she spoke again, her tone miserable and cagy. "No." Help me.
"Is it because of-"
"...Yeah. That's one of the reasons."
"One?" I said sounding more worried than before. She had more reasons?
"Long story," she muttered, "…I'll… tell you later."
I put my arm around her shoulder in a hesitant act of comfort, she looked at me with big, teary puppy-dog eyes.
"Hey, don't worry about it now." I said trying to lighten the mood, a soft, reassuring smile on my face, "Akai's birthday is tomorrow, I don't think you'll want to be sad then."
Amaya smiled faintly. "Yeah, I guess you have a point."
I got up and smiled at her. She kind of grinned back, just as I left the room to join the others.
For once.
AMAYA's POV
Akai's birthday is tomorrow.
And I don't have anything for her.
Damn it. I sat staring at the ceiling. Then I remembered something, I grabbed my black coat and looked in the pocket. I took out the picture, the one of my parents, Akai and I.
I looked at the picture for a minute, remembering when that picture was taken. We had been at an Iwagakure firework fair. That was the day Akai had fallen in love with explosions.
I could feel something at the back of it, a thin lump irritating my finger. I carefully peeled it off, and then put the previous picture back in my coat pocket. I looked at the obstruction quizzically, before my eyes widened slightly.
It was of Akai and I. I was ten and she was nine. The picture made me burst out laughing.
I was standing there with my hands dramatically on my hips, glaring disparagingly at my cousin with my lips pursed into something pout-esque. Akai was sticking her tongue out playfully and giving the camera a peace sign. I smiled as I looked at the picture.
I think I want to give this picture to Akai. I know what you're thinking; it's just a stupid picture, right? Nope. If it makes me happy, maybe it will do the same for her. She hasn't been laughing enough lately, and that fact was screwing with my mind. I put the picture in a dull red frame, and placed it on my nightstand, just as I get up to go join the others.
For once.
Just as I walk into the 'living room' Daiki gets up and runs up to me jumping up and down and excitedly exclaiming, "It's Akai's birthday tomorrow! It's tomorrow, dammit!" his dirty blonde spike of hair flopping up and down with him as his bright azure eyes sparkled elatedly.
Then Mizuki and Midori got up and stood on either side of me.
"Amaya! So, it's 'Ravenous Red's' birthday tomorrow?" asked Mizuki almost nonchalantly, smirking self-righteously at me.
"Oh, and then in a couple of days, it's your sweet sixteen!" Midori squealed, sounding pretty much like an annoying fangirl and completely unlike her usual elegant and motherly self.
"OMG, yes! We'll have to do your hair!" prattled Mizuki, grinning happily.
"And makeup!" added Midori eagerly.
"And make you where decent clothes that don't make you look like a cross-dresser!" Mizuki gushed, throwing her hands out and almost whacking the still-bouncing Daiki in the face.
The both of them then skipped out of the room, still planning my future torture.
Damn.
I looked down the hall, then at everyone, down the hall, then at everyone again.
"See? This is why I don't want to associate with you people." I said flatly.
AKAI's POV
I screamed as I woke up to an extremely hard punch to my shoulder.
The fuck would do that? Yutaka? He is a fucking moron.
Even with that reasoning, I still wasn't right.
Who was it? It was fucking Amaya. She was standing there with that same 'I'm-emo-if-you-fuck-with-me-I'll-fuck-up-your-face' look.
"Time to get up," she said emotionlessly, even though she was still tapping her side impatiently.
"What time is it?"
"Hm? Ten."
"What the fuck, sunshine? It's ten o'clock! That's too fucking early, even for a bitchy insomniac like you."
She shrugged. "Yuudai is a douche. He woke me up at eight, be grateful I didn't come in here then."
"You better have not! That'd fucking suck shit, bitch, and you know it, too!" I gape at her, my eyes wide and angry.
I think I could see a little smile from her.
Mission accomplished.
"Get dressed Akai," muttered Amaya, a laugh peeking through her lips.
MOMENTS LATER. :D
"Get your ass out here, Akai. You're taking longer than Mizuki," said Amaya loudly, banging on the door.
"Cut me some fucking slack, sunshine! I still don't trust that Yutaka's not gonna walk in 'ere!" I yowled back.
"…True."
"Hey!" Yutaka yelled. I could almost hear his pout.
"Well, we all know it's true," muttered Amaya, rolling her eyes.
I walked out of Femmie and I's room and sighed loudly. "M'kay. The fuck did'ja want?"
"HAPPY ((MOTHERFUCKING)) BIRTHDAY RED!" they both shouted, making my ears ring.
"Birthday? …Huh?" I blinked dumbly, staring at them stupidly for a few minutes, "Oh Yeeeeeah. Forgot 'bout that."
"Come on!" said Amaya in a moderately unamused tone as she pulled me by the wrist.
"Where the fuck are we going?!"
"Your birthday party, dumbass!"
"…THE FUCK?"
We walked (I was dragged ) into the livingroom. Wait a fucking minute…? Everything's red?
HOLYFUCKOHMYGAWDTHISISFUCKIN 'AWESOMESQUEEEEEEEEEEEE
"What the hell was that?" Yutaka asked, looking terrified, his grey-blue eye twitching.
Fuck. I said that out loud.
"Everything's fucking red!" I squealed, my eyes twitching in a deranged manner.
"Wow, Amaya, you weren't kidding when you said she liked red," muttered Yutaka, not scared and looking very amused.
"Well no shit," said Amaya nonchalantly, waving her hand, "we do call her 'Red.'"
We all sat in the 'living room'. Everyone was looking at me but I didn't really notice. After all, I was too busy drooling over my favorite color.
Yeah, I said it. Fuck you.
Kouhei handed me a folder, looking unruffled but still attempting to stifle a smirk.
"What's this?" I asked curiously, blinking innocently (as if it were possible).
"Yutaka's profile," stated our crimson-haired leader nonchalantly, the smirk splaying across his usually aloof facial features.
"I hate you," Yutaka said, glaring at him coldly.
"I know."
"Read it and weep, Femmie!" I yowled cruelly, even though I have no fucking idea why I Yutaka would be so mad.
I mean, its jus' a document, right?
Mizuki smiled and happily chirruped, "KK, here!"
I opened the box and there, in its little cinnamon container, was pepper spray. Fuck yes! This'll keep away all the pedophiliac rapists!
And Yutaka. Him too.
"Sweet!" I yowled, throwing my hands up in the air in elation.
I looked at Yutaka, my eyes narrowing evilly. "Don't even!" he shouted, covering his face in fear. Then I looked at Amaya.
She looked at me then at the pepper spray. "Don't even," she said monotonously, a lot less scared then Yutaka.
I laughed at their reactions. Fuckers.
Yutaka (who just happened to be sitting next to me) tossed me a box, grinning.
"What's with the hand cuffs?" I asked unknowingly, blinking innocently and pursing my lips slightly.
He grinned suggestively. I looked around to notice everyone else facepalming.
I thought for a second, then blanched and stared at him incredulously, gaping like a fish.
"You sick bondage-loving bastard!" I yowled, blushing heatedly in embarrassment.
He just laughed. Wait, I have pepper spray.
Thank you, Mizuki~
I then sprayed him in the eyes with it, glaring darkly, the loud blush still on my face. He screamed in pain, falling backwards off the couch to writhe in pain. Hah, payback, bitch!
I opened everyone else's gift…
…And presumably got what I expected from them.
A switch-knife from Kenta (He shrugged dismissively, blushing perversely. "Just so Yutaka won't rape you in the middle o' the night,") flowers from Midori ("Aren't they pretty, Akai-chan?"), a hand drawn picture from Daiki (He pointed to the picture. "That's me… That's you… That's Kenta and Mizuki after the cloning mishap- oh, and that's Ronald my queer imaginairy pet goose!), and a few insignificant ninja stars from Yuudai (He blinked. "…")
Last was Amaya.
She smiled and blushed lightly as she handed me a picture. The frame was red. Hell fucking yes! I looked at the picture. It was Amaya and I when we were younger. I smirked at our melodramatic characteristic positions and put the picture frame down.
"Oh, and one more thing!" Yutaka said getting up, still rubbing his eyes.
"Follow us!" Kenta yelled, his massive grin widening.
We all were walking outside towards the lake. Water? Damn it!
"What's here?" I asked Kenta, blinking stupidly.
Kenta shrugged. "Since yo' Fifteen we need to hit you fifteen fuckin' times."
"Why?"
"Eh. 'Tis tradition," Yutaka awnsered.
They exchanged glances, grinned widely, and then loudly exclaimed, "LET'S PLAY THE 'Which one is Hikaru?' GAME!"
Mizuki, being the only otaku in our group, facepalmed.
When we got to the dock (still not sure why we're out here), Kenta and Yutaka whacked me fourteen times.
"We done?" I asked my partner, my head spinning lightly.
"Almost. Just one more thing…"
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FUCKER!" They both screamed just before roughly pushing me and making me fall into the icy cold lake.
I swam up feebly to catch my breath.
"You two are so fucking dead!" I screamed angrily, my face flushed.
I ended up catching them. I know from experience that it's hard to run while laughing like a fucking idiot.
AMAYA's POV
I blinked as I woke up to no explosions or a screaming Akai in my face. Turning my head to the side I saw on my alarm that it was 3:00 in the afternoon. What? Usually someone's woken me up by now.
I sigh and drag myself out of bed. Maybe someone euthanized Akai and Kenta?
Don't look at me like that. I can hope, can't I?
Forcibly pushing myself towards the kitchen, I see Akai and Yutaka staring stupidly at the flickering TV screen. I walked in front of them and tiredly asked, "Hey, what're you two doing? Shouldn't you be training?"
The two keep on staring, their eyes unfocused. Suddenly, Akai frowns sadly and turns to Yutaka. "Fem, I miss Ama-chan," she whimpered, her big brown eyes welling up with tears.
Yutaka sighed sadly, turning to Akai with comforting blue hues. "So do I, Greenie. But we gotta cope, m'kay? Amaya wouldn't want us to be sad, would she?"
Akai stared at him for a moment before shaking her head, and looking down, biting her lip so hard that blood streamed down her chin.
Yutaka looked sympathetic as he looked at her. He suddenly wrapped her into a comforting hug, whispering securities as he rubbed her back, allowing her to sob into his shoulder.
What the hell?! Yutaka, you aren't supposed to hug people. Akai, you aren't supposed to let him hug you. Yutaka, you're supposed to make some perverted or conceited comment, and Akai, you're supposed to spray him in the eyes with pepper spray.
And that's just the way it is.
…It's almost scaring me how I know them so well.
I raised my eyebrow at them. "Uh, Akai? I'm right here?" The two just stayed were they were, Akai's heart-wrenching sobs making my heart break.
"Akai?" I asked, blinking.
No one moved.
"…Yutaka?"
No one moved.
"Both of you, what the hell is going on?!"
No one moved.
I sighed in exasperation, taking in a deep breath to yell at them, when I realised something.
The past tense.
'Amaya wouldn't want us to be sad would she?'
Missing me?
'Fem, I miss Ama-chan.'
The comforting?
The sadness?
Akai is crying?!
My eyes widened in realization.
…I'm not really here, am I?
Am I dead…?
I stared blankly as Kenta and Mizuki got into a major argument, and then proceeded to run straight past me, brushing up against my stomach without reacting or stumbling.
I frown sadly and bite my lip. It's been a few hours since my realization, and honestly, it's been killing me.
Akai and Kenta destroyed Yuudai and I's bedroom. Yuudai spoke to people. Mizuki made dinner (and failed horribly, considering she could not for the life of her figure out how to work a stove), Daiki re-made dinner (since Mizuki's was hardly edible), Yutaka made Akai blush, Midori kissed Kouhei on the cheek and made him blush, Kenta was jealous of Yutaka…
And I wasn't able to participate in any of it.
Normally I wouldn't mind; I mean, I hate most people anyways, but not being able to partake… It makes me regret not doing anything before. I miss Kenta and his hilarious douchebag ways, I miss Mizuki's girly otaku-ness, I miss Yutaka and his perverted, egotistical personality, I miss Midori and how she easily replaced my mother, I miss Kouhei and how he loves everyone but chooses not to show it, I miss Daiki, his annoying-ness, and his good cooking, I miss Yuudai, because he so quickly became my best friend.
But mainly, I miss Akai.
And how she cared about me when no one else would. How she cheered me up with her childish antics. How her semi-cruel, sisterly way of love taught me how to be independent. How she was so spontaneous and unpredictable. How her smile lighted up the room.
Now she never smiled at all…
And it was my entire fault.
I sighed in exasperation as all the members walked into the kitchen, some of them laughing. I rolled my eyes and loudly asked, "What're you guys doing?" Even though I knew they wouldn't answer me. I blinked as the kitchen door closed and the lights went off. I raised my eyebrow and walked slowly towards the door, touching the knob attentively. To my surprise, I felt the metal and heard the soft scraping noise of my hand running over it. What the hell?
I gripped the door knob and opened it slowly, it coming ajar with a soft click. I frowned, my brow creasing, and walked hesitantly into the pitch black room.
Suddenly, the lights turned on.
"HAPPY SWEET SIXTEEN, AMAYA!" shouted the entire Akatsuki, their mouths in massive grins.
"Wait… w-what?" I stuttered, my eyes wide in surprise.
Kenta laughed. "We thought ignoring you would be a great fuckin' b-day present. After all; you don't like talkin' to shit."
"Then why the hell did you pretend like I was dead?!"
"We pushed Akai into the lake. We figured it wouldn't be fair if we didn't prank you," stated Yutaka, shrugging with his signature smirk splayed across his face.
"You're all douchebags!" I cried, not caring that I sounded like a third grade Akai.
"We know, Ama-chan~" chorused the entire group in between sniggers.
Akai grinned like the Cheshire Cat and threw a box at my head. "Open my pres' first, Sunshine!"
I blink and raise my eyebrow at her, then opened the small haphazardly wrapped lace black box carefully. I blinked at what she gave me. It was a gorgeously sculpted black clay crow, its wings slightly outspread and its beady, realistic eyes set in determination. The beak and claws of the bird were painted a pure white color in contrast to the rest of its body.
Akai grinned hopefully up at me. "D'you like it?"
I smirked back and sneered, "It's lovely~" She flipped the bird at me.
Kenta gave me a blunt kunai ("We wouldn't want you cutting yourself, would we?" he simpered, his eyes narrowing maliciously,) Midori gave me a set of make-up ("You're gonna look so stunning, Amaya,") Mizuki gave me her signature Dove shampoo ("Minus the red dye," muttered the albino-esque girl bitterly,) Yutaka gave me… nothing ("You should be graced with my presence, Tenderfoot~" he proclaimed, smirking smugly,) Kouhei gave me a check for 1000 ryo, Daiki baked me a cake (Chocolate with a pure vanilla drizzle of icing on top and chocolate icing around it,) and Yuudai...
He gave me a beautiful painting of the crow Akai gave me flying across the starry night sky towards a bright full moon. Huh, they must've had a joint present.
As we ate the cake, I couldn't help but wonder…
What would happen if one of us actually did die?
A/N: MUAHAHAHAHAHA! FORE-SHADOWING, BITCHES. JUST LIKE THE FIRST CHAPTER. ...Or, maybe neither are fore-shadowing? I feel confused.
...
I AM confused. Not much different from the norm', really.
It'll be a while until we update again, since we're barely done half of the next chapter. But it'll be extra long, so be happy. Also, I am officially obsessed with the comic 'Scott Pilgrim.' Expect some references from now on. :)
"Scott, if your life had a face, I would punch it." -Kim
"Scott, if your life had a face, I would punch it in the balls." -Stephen