The three sat their in silence eating their ice cream. Keiji had ordered a plain vanilla cone, Kaida the biggest Sunday they had. Zaki had ordered nothing but she did pop a cigarette in her mouth. People looked at her strangely but said nothing. They all waited for their Sensei to show up.
"Guys when he asked who thought of the watch plane please tell them Kaida did," Zakuro told her two team mates. Both of them looked confused and indignant.
"But YOU thought of it!!" Kaida whined. "I don't want to take credit for something I didn't think of!"
"It's n-n- not right z-ak-ki." Stuttered Keiji.
"Just do it ok?" ordered Zakuro.
"My momma told me not to lie, why should I lie for you?" Kaida told her.
Zakuro plastered on a fake smile, leaned down close to the little girl, "Because were a team. And were supposed to look our for each other right? Good Shinobi would lie for their team mates."
Keiji and Kaida both looked reluctant. But nodded in agreement all the same. Yamamotoe finally showed up 5 minuets later. "You guys didn't tell me which ice cream place you were going too!" He joked. His smile was big and genuine for the first time.
"May I sit down?"
"Yep!" Kaida said. Scooting to the right.
"You guys got to tell me who thought of the plane?" Inquired Yamamotoe. He was very impressed with his team. Maybe they weren't so bad after all. They figured out his weakness. And fast too. They had brains and brawn. This was going to be a great team.
"Um I did," Kaida whispered, she didn't look at Yamamotoe when she said it though, and glanced side ways at Zakuro. The rest of the team nodded with her.
"She's a little genius," Assured Zaki blowing a smoke ring in his face.
"I'm hungry I want another sundae!!" Whined Kaida.
"Y-y-you just had-d-d the b-biggest one they off-offered," Keiji said.
"Yeah but I'm still hungry!!" informed the little girl holding her stomach as though she was starving.
"Don't worries I'll pay for all of your ice cream, a celebration for the new Gennin team," their sensei suggested.
They finished their eating and said their good byes, going their separate ways. Yamamotoe noted that all of them headed towards what was known as the Dregs. The scum and low lives lived their. It was the Ghetto of Konoha lived. Most Shinobi came from the middle class, there was only one Jounin Yamamotoe knew who had come from their. And he had moved out right when he became chunnin. Gai didn't talk about his child hood, but everyone knows that one of the main reasons for him being over zealous was because he didn't ever want to go back their.
Kaida was so happy. Her mother and father would be so proud of her! She skipped all the way home with Yo swinging at her side. Yo was even more happy then her, he hadn't even asked to stop at the candy store like he always did. When she got home she saw her mother waiting for her at the door.
"Mommy, Mommy guess what?" She shouted while throwing her arms around her mother.
"What darling?"
"I am an official Gennin know, my teams an official team!"
"That's great honey, I'm so proud of you"
"Is daddy home yet? I want to tell him the good news."
"No daddy should be home soon, they got another job!"
"Really? That's amazing. He was out of work for so long. I was afraid we would have to move again."
"Now you don't worry about any of that Kaida, got it" Her mother ordered. "Now come on and help me make dinner."
"Great I'm starving"
Keiji marched home in the dark. He knew his grandparents would be in bed. So he tried to be as quit as possible. To his surprise when he entered the gate he saw his grand father sitting on the rocker. His pipe was un lit and his face was set in a grim frown. Keiji gulped.
"So?" His grandfather said, rocking back and forth. His wrinkly face never leaving his grand sons.
"I passed grandfather," Keiji bowed. He saw the old mans face light up with relief and he closed his eyes.
"What are you still doing upstairs? You should go to bed, Now!" Barked his grandfather suddenly, Keiji followed his ordered. If Keiji didn't know any better he would have thought he saw his grandfather with tears in his eyes.
Zakuro slipped into her bedroom unnoticed. She heard the T.V. blazing downstairs. Milton was still awake. She slipped down in her PJs. A t-shirt that was way too big on her and some boxers. Covering up in her blanket. She huddled her knees closer to her chest. Zakuro prayed that nothing would happen tonight. That he would just leave her alone. That he would be too drunk to do anything.
Heavy steps echoed up the stairs. He was going to his bedroom. Please pass Zakuro thought to her. Today was such a good day please don't mess it up. But nobody seemed to be listening to the girl for she heard the bedroom door creak open. She didn't need to turn around to know who was in the doorway.
"Why Zakuro, You finally decide to grace us with your presents. Do I have to punish you?" His voice oozed over to her. Zakuro stayed silent.
"I'll take that as a Yes then!" The man ripped the covers off her body. "Oh no Zakuro You is wearing a clothes that's no good. What did I tell you about wearing clothes?" Zaki stayed silent her eyes were closed shut. The sound of his belt hitting the floor rang through her ears. "I'll just have to punish you for the little Slut you are." The figure leapt on to her bed he leaned over her like a cat waiting for its prey to move. She didn't do anything. "Fine then I'll just have to do it myself" The figure started attacking her neck with his mouth. Zakuro did nothing just shut her eyes and tried to forget the drunk on top of her covering her with his saliva.
Kaida and her mother sat their waiting for somebody to return home. A heap of spaghetti in front of both of them a man stepped through the door.
"Daddy!" Squealed Kaida as she got up from her chair to go and hug him. The men kneeled down to her eye level and gladly accepted a hug.
"oh my little dragon, How was training today?" He asked holding her in his bear hug.
"Great! Come on lets eat I'm starving," Kaida told her father pulling him to his seat.
"I love you honey," He told her.
"I love you too dad! Come on lets say grace before I starve to death,"
The man laughed a full laugh at his little daughter. "I really don't know where she puts it all," Sighed her mother.
"Dear God,
bless this family as we eat and remember you. And all the things you do for us. Please be with our little dragon as she travels the path of Shinobi. We thank you for this dinner and food in front of us. Amen." Her father finished their prayer and they all started to eat.
Yamamotoe sat their drinking with Kakashi, Anko and Neji. Neji and Anko were also new Jounin their teams had also passed the test. They sat their discussing tactics and missions.
"I still think it's fishy that you got the genius Yamamotoe," Anko slurred. She had no tolerance for Alcohol.
"No it's not," He replied taking another sip from the cup. "I'm a genius also,"
"I'm glad they teach you humility," She chuckled. "Do you think yours will be ready for the Chunnin exams?"
"Um I don't know. Kaida will be ready, I'm not sure about the other two."
"Keiji going to be a handful on missions." Kakashi noted.
"Nah he's a good kid. He's kind of like Naruto and the Fox, but doesn't have a demon inside him."
"No he's a berserker, their even worse. You can seal the Nine tail fox. You can't do that with a berserker." Kakashi said, his voice was graved. It totally rained on Yamamotoe parade.
"Yeah yeah I know"
"What about the Zaki girl? She didn't seem a total loss," Neji commented.
"I don't know she lifted my watch with out me knowing. That's got to count for something. I really don't know what to make of her yet." Yamamotoe admitted.
"She seems like a real Spit fire." Anko told him. "You better watch her so she doesn't do anything stupid"
Max rolled over on his side, to see a woman he didn't recognize totally naked by him. She was rather pretty so he didn't regret what ever they did. Tapping came from the window. Max didn't have to look to know who it was.
"Hey you, Yeah you who ever you are." He yelled so the women would get up. "Take your clothes and get the fuck out of my house."
She sat up indignantly, "But we just made love!"
"We had sex lady! Gosh I don't even remember your name. Know get out of my house." Max shouted, throwing her panties at her. She looked confused for a minute then got up.
"Fine what ever!" She got up to help him pick up the discarded clothes.
"Get going now!" Max was impatient. She was finally dressed and at his door when she turned.
"You're a freaking whore max!" Then stormed out carrying her shoes by her side, a couple minuets later Zaki appeared at the door way. She headed straight to the shower. Max got out a t-shirt and pants for her. And waited for her to finish. When she got out
She didn't say anything but went straight to the Refrigerator, taking 3 things of sake out opening one out and chugging it. Tears streamed down her eyes as the liquid she drank burned her throat.
"You got the cheap stuff again Fuck tard," she mumbled whipping her face and heading towards the sofa. She lay down and turned the T.V. on. Max walked over to Zakuro and moved her head so it could rest on his lap. They watched reruns of the Beverly Hillbillies. Zaki drank the Sake until it knocked her out. When this happened max hoisted her up and put her in his bed.
Max looked at his best friend looking so peaceful in her alcohol induced coma, He wanted to hold her and tell her it was all right. But he knew from experience that she hated being touched after it happened. So he didn't do anything he just laid her down. And whispered in her ear. "Remember Zaki I'll always be here for you."