"You coming?" Keiko shouted from the bottom of the stairs from where Minako and Hibiki's temporary living space was.
Yama walked down the stairs and chuckled at Keiko's appearance. "Yeah, I'm coming."
"Man, you were taking forever!" Keiko groaned and rolled her eyes.
"I didn't even realize you followed me. And I was ah, just talking with them." Yama explained.
"Why so long? Someone owes me a Ramen party, remember?" Keiko pouted.
Yama reached the bottom of the stairs and stared blankly at Keiko. "I still don't even know what that is..."
"Kazuko said that it was Satomi's birthday and that a Ramen party was on you.. you know, when people as a group go to the Ramen shop and we eat ramen?"
Yama sighed deeply. "Satomi's birthday is not today. Kazuko lied to get you out of the house, but if you want Ramen I can take you to get some now, but then I have to go, I have work to do before the mission tomorrow."
"Firstly, I know that it isn't Satomi's birthday now!" Keiko stated and placed her hands on her hips. "And secondly, more paperwork?"
Yama shrugged. "There is a lot of work that comes along with being a Jounin..."
"I'd hate to have your job!" Keiko spat.
Yama stepped forward and leaned down closer to Keiko's face. "You'll have my job one day."
"...Nu-uh." Keiko said and looked away, trying to surpress a blush.
Yama kissed Keiko's cheek before standing properly. "So, you want ramen or not? 'Cause I have lots of work to do."
"You think they'll allow me in?" Keiko laughed and waved her hands at her clothing.
Yama laughed at Keiko. "Remember that Naruto is their top customer... I think they can handle the way you're dressed."
"They love Naruto...but me on the other hand..." Keiko laughed and ran her hand through her hair. "I don't think I will give them any more of a better impression."
"Do you want me to just go buy it and bring it to you then?"
"Do as you wish." Keiko shrugged.
"What's wrong? Too early for you?" Yama teased.
"No." Keiko whispered and turned around to start walking in no particular direction.
"Alright well, I guess you don't want any ramen..." Yama stated with a sigh as he turned to go back home to do paperwork.
Keiko looked back over her shoulder and frowned. "Yama!" She groaned and turned to run back. Before Yama could turn around, Keiko jumped and hung onto Yama's back.
"Ugh- Hey! Wh-what are you doing, Keiko?" Yama asked trying to stable himself.
"I do want Ramen." Keiko stated.
Yama laughed as he helped Keiko slip off of him. "Well, do you mind if you take it to my place? I seriously have a lot of work I have to do before our mission tomorrow."
"Fine...so I'm getting it then?" Keiko asked in confusion.
Yama smiled warmly. "No, I'll buy it for you."
"Alrighty?" Keiko said and sighed. "I'll meet you back at your place than?"
Yama nodded. "Yep, if you want to let yourself in, I can give you the keys."
"Okie dokie!" Keiko said and took the keys that Yama had and began to jog towards Yama's apartment building. "Don't be too long!" Keiko giggled.
Minako sat straight up in bed, just barely being able to hold back her tears. She exhaled deeply as she leaned against the bedpost. Her eyes drifted toward Hbiki and she smiled. "He looks so cute when he sleeps." She whispered out loud as she let her hand gently stroke his cheek. Hibiki stirred but remained asleep. With another deep sigh, Minako pulled off her headband and walked out into the village.
"Damn sun.." She mumbled, shielding her eyes from the light.
Suddenly Minako heard footsteps coming closer toward her at a fast pace, before she could even see who it was, the person knocked the two of them to the dirt. Minako rubbed her forehead as she looked over to see the girl named 'Keiko'.
"What the hell? You don't go knocking people over!" Minako yelled, irritated.
"Yeah, well! I'm trying to get somewhere quickly! You should be watching where you're going as well...M-Minako!" Keiko glared as she quickly got to her feet and dusted herself off.
Minako followed Keiko's actions as she stood, also dusting herself off. "I'm on the side of the road-thing! You should be on the road if you're going to run so blindly!" Minako yelled back.
"Shut up...I have a place to be." Keiko sighed. "This is my village, you should treat your host better." Keiko began to start jogging towards Yama's apartment when Minako grabbed her wrist and pulled her back throwing her to the ground.
"A host? What the hell is your definition of a host? Your dumbass boyfriend is more of a host than you are!" Minako smirked at the look that was now covering Keiko's face.
"At least Yama isn't a psycho!" Keiko growled.
Minako's eyes sparked with anger as she bent over and pulled Keiko up by her collar. "Do you even know who the hell I am!" She yelled, feeling herself slipping.
"Not really, I don't care." Keiko shrugged.
Minako growled. "Maybe you should do a little bit more caring and think before you act!"
"You think so, huh?" Keiko pushed herself away from Minako. "Maybe you should eat my dust!" Keiko laughed and began to run off to Yama's apartment.
Minako sighed deeply as a snicker left her lips. "That girl needs to look up on the Uma clan..." Minako took off after Keiko and in seconds caught up with her, quickly pushing her against a wall, pinning her with her arm. "Clearly you don't listen in history class..." Minako hissed.
"Clearly you don't listen to your mother." Keiko said and pushed Minako away from her.
Minako had enough as her hands wrapped around Keiko's neck. "Do not speak to me about my mother!" She was no longer stable as she pulled away one of her hands to grab a kunai out of her pouch.
Hibiki stirred from his sleep back at the apartment, feeling uneasy about something. When he looked to his right, Minako was no longer on the bed, nor was she anywhere in the house. He scratched his head as he moved to the apartments exit and walked out onto the balcony. He yawned as he stretched his arms behind his head, looking around at the people walking by. He noticed that a group of people had accumilated at one spot, and when he cranned his neck to see what was going on, he sighed. Without any shirt or shoes, Hibiki jumped over the railing and lightly jogged to the scene. When he pushed past the people, he noticed that Minako was shaking, kunai steady in her hand as she went to plunge it into Keiko's neck; but before it hit the girl, Hibiki reached out and grabbed Minako's wrist.
Hibiki cleared his throat. "What're you doing?" He asked casually.
Keiko's eyes were wide with fear as she tried to remain calm.
Minako's head snapped in Hibiki's direction, her mind still unstable she answered, "What does it look like!"
"Please, don't." Hibiki's eyes were filled with worry as he looked down at Minako.
Minako looked confused as her grip losened on Keiko, letting her go completely as she turned to face Hibiki. "S-she..." Minako lowered her head in shame.
"Some people will bother you, say things they shouldn't, and even provoke you; but I know that you can have self-control over your insanity." Hibiki pulled Minako in closely and wrapped his arms tightly around her.
Keiko gripped her shirt by her heart as it pounded fiercely. "She...She's a monster!" Keiko growled. "That's what you do when I'm showing you kindness?" Keiko asked and stood to her feet, her knee's shaking. 'This should make her angry! No way is she going to make me look like a fool!'
Minako buried her face against Hibiki's chest as her nails dug into his arms. 'Hibiki is crazy! I have no self-control!' She growled out loud as she tried to keep herself from going to attack Keiko once again.
Hibiki bent his face down and whispered into Minako's ear, "Take it out on me if you have to."
Minako looked up at Hibiki with widened eyes. "A-are you crazy? Y-You know I can't ever do that!"
"I'd rather you hurt me than someone else." Hibiki murmured and looked back up at Keiko. "You should watch what you say." Hibiki stated.
"Don't tell me what I can and cannot do!" Keiko crossed her arms over her chest. "And I'm definitely not letting this monster off the hook!"
Minako's nails dug deeper into Hibiki's arms. "Y-You'd think someone older than myself... would be more mature than you..." She stated, before clenching her jaw.
"I'd be able to beat you anyday!" Keiko growled angrily. "You don't even deserve Hibiki!"
Minako snapped as she pulled from Hibiki and lunged at Keiko; her eyes wide with hate as she tackled Keiko to the ground.
Hibiki moved quickly and pulled Minako off of Keiko before any serious damage could be done. "Minako! Stop." Hibiki commanded.
Minako struggled in Hibiki's hold, despretly trying to escape. "Dammit!" She screamed.
"Minako! Please." Hibiki whispered as he held her body against his, his hands clasped over Minako's eyes with his forehead to the back of her head. "Please, stop." He whispered.
Minako's breathing calmed as her body relaxed until she felt tired once again. "I'm sorry." She mumbled, feeling stupid.
Hibiki turned Minako in his arms and held her tightly once again. "See, you do have a bit of self-control." Hibiki smiled gently as his hand caressed Minako's cheek. His thumb lightly traced over her bottom lip as he stared lovingly into her eyes.
'Oh, please! ...How come Yama can't treat me like that?' Keiko frowned as she climbed to her feet once again and dusted herself off.
"I only have control if you help me... so it's not really my control..." Minako murmered shamefully.
"Of course it is. I may help, but you have a choice to allow me or not and that is the beginning to self-control." Hibiki laughed softly and replaced his thumb with his lips.
Yama who had just gotten back from the Ramen shop, noticed a group of people surounded around a wall of a building. Curiosity overwhelmed him as he pushed past to see Hibiki, shirtless and shoeless kissing Minako, while his girlfriend stood angrily by a wall.
"What's goin' on?" Yama asked awkwardly.
"I don't see how Hibiki can love that...that...I wouldn't even call her human!" Keiko shook her head in disgust.
Minako sighed deeply as she buried her head against Hibiki's chest again. "C-can we go... now?" She asked Hibiki, shame washing over her again.
"Wh-what? Keiko, what have you done this time?" Yama asked with a sigh, quickly clueing in by Keiko's tone that she started a fight.
Hibiki sighed and nodded. "I think we should." He laughed and began to lead Minako away. "And maybe I should put on a shirt, too many people are looking at me." Hibiki's eye twitched as they moved through the crowd.
"That's right! Keep walking!" Keiko called after Minako.
Minako ignored Keiko and sighed deeply; normally she would have laughed at Hibiki's comment, but something Keiko said was now bothering her.
Yama grabbed Keiko's arm and began pulling her away. "Oh man..." He mumbled with a sigh.
"I don't like...it." Keiko growled as she reluctantly followed Yama.
Yama finally got to his place and pushed Keiko down onto the couch to look over her. "Your throat has hand marks on it... what did you do to piss Minako off so bad?" He asked as he walked to the kitchen to fetch some ice.
"I was simply running here and we accidentally bumped into each other, but hen she made a big deal out of it, so I made a big deal out of it." Keiko sighed. "Did you know that Minako Uma is a very fast runner?" She asked casually.
Yama returned with some ice and placed it on Keiko's neck. "I know a lot about Minako Uma. So I know it doesn't take a lot to anger her. And the Uma clan, are the fastest shinobi in history." Yama sighed. "Knowing you, you probably used words and phrases that drove her to insanity. Did monster, mother or anything about Hibiki leave your mouth?"
Keiko looked blankly at Yama. "What kind of question is that? What do you think?" Keiko tried to play it off as she sat more comfortably on the couch with the ice to her neck.
Yama laughed. "No wonder she tried to kill you. Her mother is her everything; her mother died giving birth, and she was called a monster all her life, and well, clearly she loves Hibiki, so that reason is obvious."
"Who cares? I don't like her." Keiko looked away from Yama with sadness and leaned her head against the back of the couch. "Why do you even care who I get into a fight with?"
Yama sighed deeply. "Normally I don't but if Hibiki hadn't been there, I'm positve Minako wouldn't have thought twice about killing you. Keiko," Yama reached out to touch Keiko's cheek. "I've already lost you once, I don't ever want to lose you again."
Keiko pulled her face away. "You don't think I could've defended myself?"
Yama sighed again as he pulled himself onto the couch and began to shuffle through papers. "Yeah, you could, but not forever. Minako is already screwed up brain wise, there is a possibility that she could either escape, or be uneffected by your Genjutsu."
"My genjutsu is very strong. Have you not forgotten about my clan?" Keiko asked. "Do you not remember that my clan is one of the strongest genjutsu clan users?" Keiko let out a frustrated sigh and slumped in her seat. "Did you get the ramen?"
Without looking away from his paperwork, Yama reached over into the bag he had brought home and handed a bowl of hot ramen to Keiko. "Will yeah stop complainin' now?" He teased.
"I'm not hungry." Keiko said and stuck her nose in the air.
Yama shrugged. "Fine, more for me."
Keiko narrowed her eyes at Yama and reached over to quickly to pull the bowl from his hand. "Thank you." She muttered under her breath and slowly began to eat.
Yama chuckled as he lifted his pen. "No problem, Keiko."
"I don't mind Hibiki as much, but why does Minako have to be on our team?" Keiko pouted.
Yama shrugged. "I think it's cause Hibiki refuses to go anywhere without her after a mission they had a while ago..."
"Why does he even like her?" Keiko muttered under her breath, hoping Yama hadn't heard her.
Yama sighed. "Don't want me anymore?" He joked.
"I wish you would act like you care for me more." She whispered, really hoping he hadn't heard her this time.
Yama frowned at his paperwork, pretending he hadn't heard Keiko.
"T...This is good." Keiko whispered as she began to eat her ramen faster.
Yama nodded. "It always is there."
Keiko nodded in agreement. "Can I just not go on the mission?"
Yama put his pen down and turned to look at Keiko. "I wish I could say no, but you do. Why don't you want to? If you keep away from Minako, you wont have to worry about her."
"I-It's not that." Keiko looked away and took another bite of her ramen.
"Then what, why are you not wanting to go?"
Keiko shook her head, a light blush forming on her cheeks.
Yama leaned closer to Keiko, his eyes locking with hers. "Tell me."
"No." Keiko muttered.
"Why not?"
"You don't really care."
"If I didn't care, would I really be bothering you about it when I have paperwork sitting right over there?" He asked gesturing toward the table.
"Then why don't you do it? You're only asking because you feel you need to."
Yama shook his head. "Why do you always have to be like that, Keiko? I do care, so why do you think otherwise?"
Keiko lowered her head and brought more noodles into her mouth, hoping that her mouth shoved full would make him stop asking questions. Yama took the hint and moved away back down to his paperwork.
"Well, whatever the reason, if you really don't want to go, talk to Tsunade, not me."
"See you don't care!" Keiko shouted as she sat forwards.
Yama looked over at Keiko with confusion. "Where do you figure that? I asked, I bugged and you didn't tell me, am I supposed to bug you until you get mad at me? I don't get why you're being so up and down with your emotions today, you're rarely like this..."
Keiko sighed. "I guess...I'm..." Keiko mumbled the rest of the sentence.
Yama leaned closer as a smirk fell over his lips. "You're what?"
"Nevermind." Keiko blushed and sat back.
Yama pulled the bowl from Keiko's hands and placed it on the table beforemoving forward to press his lips to hers gently. "Tell me," he murmured.
"Jealous." She whispered an pushed Yama backwards as her face began to turn red.
"Jealous?" He echoed in confusion. "Why would you be jealous? I don't see what there is to be jealous of?"
"Everything!" Keiko murmured and shrugged.
"Like... what?" He asked again.
Keiko shrugged. "I don't know...I guess he shows his love more, and he talks a certain way to her... she's so...tamed by him it's ridiculous..." Keiko shrugged again. "I don't know.."
Yama nodded, now understanding. "I-I'm sorry..." He sighed. "I-I don't mean... to be unlike... him."
"I don't want you to be." Keiko muttered and then laughed. "I'm sorry, just forget everything." Keiko sighed and picked up her ramen bowl again to continue eating.
Yama nodded as he went back to his paperwork. 'Maybe I should take tips...'
"I'm sorry." Keiko said again and placed her bowl back down on the table. "I don't want you to think you're inadequate to him." She whispered and moved over to wrap her arms around his neck.
Minako sat down on the bed as she starred at her hands, a frown over her face. '"I don't see how Hibiki can love that...that...I wouldn't even call her human!"' Keiko's voice repeated over and over in Minako mind. 'She is right though... I don't understand it either...' Minako thought bitterly as she pulled her legs against her chest with her face hidden against her knees.
"What are you thinking?" Hibiki asked as he pulled a shirt on over his head.
"Nothing..." Minako mumbled against her knees.
Hibiki simply looked at her. "You know I'll listen."
Minako shook her head. 'He will just say that it's not true...'
"You don't have to say it if you don't want to, but you know that if you don't there will be miscommunication between the both of us. I don't want that, and I'm sure you don't either."
Minako found herself smiling from behind her knees. "No... I don't..." She told him with a small giggle.
"Then what are you thinking?" Hibiki asked and sat down beside Minako, his hand laid gently over top of hers.
Minako lifted her head to look from his hand to his eyes. "How is it you can love me? That girl had a point eariler..." She whispered shamefully.
"And that is?" Hibiki asked.
"W-well, she had said, "I don't see how Hibiki can love that...that...I wouldn't even call her human!" ... s-so... I don't understand." Minako explained, her head lowering to her knees again.
"First of all, are you human?" Hibiki asked gently.
Minako shrugged. "Sometimes I don't think so.."
"That's not what I asked. Are you physically a human?"
Minako nodded weakly.
"So that part of the statement couldn't be true." Hibiki stated. "Secondly, who puts the rules on who I can and cannot love?"
Minako shrugged. "No one."
"I do." Hibiki said and lifted Minako's chin. "So how can I love you? Love is a choice, and I choose to love you."
Minako smiled as she wrapped her arms around Hibiki. "I'm sorry..."
Hibiki laughed. "Communication is wonderful, isn't it?"
Minako nodded. "Yeah... I didn't hurt you earlier, did I?" She asked, moving her head to look at Hibiki's arms.
"I'm fine, but I would've had you do that than hurt that girl." Hibiki frowned at the thought of what would have happened if he hadn't awakened.
Minako laid down and buried her face into a pillow. "That girl makes me mad! She kept calling me a monster and saying you shouldn't be with me!" Minako exclaimed, her voice muffled from the pillow.
"Don't take her words to heart, you know they're not true. And as I said, there will always be those sorts of people that will tick you off."
Minako sighed as she nodded, rolling over to look at the ceiling. "Yeah... still stupid though..."
"Have you talked with Satomi Umino?"
Minako shook her head. "No, I avoid people as much as possible, remember?"
"Try talking with Satomi." Hibiki said. He thought about a past memory and chuckled lightly.
Minako looked up at Hibiki. "What's so funny, my leader?" She teased.
Hibiki shook his head. "I remember when my parents were alive, the Umino's were great friends of theirs. We visited them a lot and Satomi and I always played games with each other. She has a very bubbley personality, and truly is a pleasant girl. She's very determined and understanding - you should try talking with her. She's easy to get along with."
Minako flipped over onto her side to look away from Hibiki. "No. Why don't you!"
"I don't think she remembers me." Hibiki sighed. "She's strong too you know. She might actually be able to beat you in a fight."
Minako sat up and glared at Hibiki. "What are you trying to do, piss me off?" She growled.
"She's very strategic too." Hibiki rubbed his chin as he thought.
Minako's eye twitched as she suddenly pounced at Hibiki. "You confuse me." She told him before wrapping her arms around his torso.
"Aw." Hibiki chuckled. "Minako is jealous?"
Minako jumped off of Hibiki and hid her face in the pillow. "No!" She yelled instantly and much too loud.
"There is nothing to be jealous of, you know." Hibiki stated. "I never...could... love her."
Minako growled. "If you're trying to make me forget it, you're actually making it worse!"
"I could only love you, Minako. I'm just saying, I know you'd get along with Satomi."
Minako remained silent from her pillow.
"I would go as far as to say, you'd probably appreciate her as a shinobi."
Minako growled.
Hibiki chuckled and then growled back.
Minako sat up to glare at Hibiki and failed. Her face turned beat red and she hid her face again.
Hibiki growled again, holding in his laugh.
Minako sighed. "Stop mocking me!" She told him, also holding back a laugh.
"I'm not mocking." Hibiki quietly moved across the room and leaned over Minako, waiting for her to turn and look at him.
Minako peeked out from behind her pillow to see Hibiki above her. She held back a scream as she fell off the bed. "Dammit, Hibiki!"
Hibiki stood upright and laughed. "Want to go and meet Satomi now?"
Minako's head appeared over the side of the bed. "I most certainly do not!"
"Okay, let me rephrase that. Let's go and meet Satomi now."
Minako crossed her arms and looked over at the wall. "I'm not moving." She told Hibiki sternly.
"You don't have to." Hibiki shrugged and picked Minako up in his arms. "Let's go."
"No! Put me down!" She ordered, her face beat red. "Ugh, why do you have to be so tall!" Minako complained noticing how high off the ground she was.
"I know you're strong and if you were to fight me you could probably get away, but right now I sense you're comfortable and don't want to leave."
Minako pouted as she crossed her arms, looking away from Hibiki.
Hibiki left his apartment and headed in the direction of Satomi's house.
AN: Yay! :3
XxSoulNoteWritterxX