.The three fell back into the tower, waiting, and waiting jitters passing every now and then. Kaida leaned against the wall and looked tired; Kiba with akamaru trudged up to her and sat back down. She looked away and didn't talk to him, Kiba's heart went out to the girl who looked too tired and worn and intelligent to only be eight. "You're mad at me aren't you?" He said as his dog leaned down and gave Kaida a lick. She didn't laugh like she usually did.
"You were just doing your job," She replied icily. Kiba felt like he had just been slapped. The doors then opened up to three swaggering people inside. They all walked with an air of confidence that made you sick, look the sand shinobi were here. Kiba looked over at the grey haired girl 'Zaki' He had heard about that little scrap she had with the sand girl.
Zaki stiffened a little and excused herself from her male team mate's company. She then walked up to Kaida and Kiba, "Where are the bathrooms?"
"Down the hall over their too the right." Kiba said pointing in the general direction.
"Thanks," The girl said as she turned around crisply in that direction, not looking at the sand shinobi who were at the other side of the hall laying down their things down and looking like they owned the place.
Zaki walked quicker then normal people would, but she had to go to the bathroom. Well that was what Keiji told himself, he didn't want to think she was still upset over that skateboard. Where was Adara? That was the only thing he could think about clearly right now, Adara was out there and may be in trouble. He should be out there searching for her. He was such a horrible friend; he was here in safety not out there searching for Adara, Adara, Adara….
----- --
Zaki trudged along hand and hand with her father; He smiled a sad smile at her and walked closer. Slowly and slowly the houses became nicer the streets became cleaner and the street started to have an optimistic air to them that the little girl was not used to. She stepped closer to her father. A mother planted a garden letting her toddlers play in the dirt; elderly people were walking home with arms full of shopping bags. The street no longer smelled of alcohol and piss. It was all strange and wonderful in a way. The young 6 year old Zaki wanted to know something "Daddy Are we in a different city? Is this Suna?" The small girl asked eyes wide.
Her father gave a harsh laugh, "No honey we are just in a different section of Konoha,"
"Why are the houses, so different?"
"Well the people living in them can afford nice houses like that."
The little girl crossed her arms, eyeing the people around her suspiciously, "They seem fake." She told her father.
"I'm sure there real enough for them," her father sighed.
The two kept on walking this nice street turning only once onto a different street coming up to a big building with a wire fence around it. Inside was a nice big jungle gym with kids of all ages playing on it. "Look here Zaki, You'll be going here in a month or two." Her father said gesturing towards the building.
"What is it?" She asked backing behind her fathers legs.
"It's the academy, here is the opening to a new life for you, and it teaches you to become a shinobi."
"Like those uchiha's who used to hang around?" Zaki asked gripping onto her father tightly, she hadn't seen any of them around the dregs as of late, but they still frightened her. "What ever happened to them anyway?"
Her father gave an uncomfortable cough, "You don't have to be a shinobi, if you don't want too, other schools and apprentices will accept your education if you come here too." Her father told her voice filling with pride.
"Did you go there daddy?"
Her father lagged slightly, "No honey, but I knew a boy who worked his way through the academy, he's now a successful ninja, a Jounin I heard, might even be Anbu." His eyes were on the horizon and he was no longer paying attention to his daughter. The little girl's attention span was short and she soon wandered away.
At a ramp and stairs two older boys about twice the age of Zaki were fooling around on something. As the little one stepped closer she saw they were playing on skate boards. She had always been fascinated by those toys, but she had never had enough money for one. She stepped closer "Can I try?" She asked the older boys, not caring that she didn't know who they were. They both stopped and stared at her, one with faint amusement and the other with a sneer. "No; I don't want it to get stolen by dregs trash," The snarl one said.
Zaki's hands clenched into fist and she flushed, "I'm not trash!" She mumbled, "I just want to try to skate board."
"Year right" The mean one said, "come on Indri, Lets go somewhere else." The mean one then jumped on his skate board and skated off. The other stayed and looked at her for a moment. Zaki was frowning and had her brows furrowed in confusion.
The other boy opened his mouth to say something, "COME ON INDRI!" the other one yelled. Indri shook himself out of his stupor and pushed Zaki onto the ground.
"He's right you are trash," Zaki landed on her butt still confused about what the older boys were calling her. He started skidding away kicking dirt in her eyes. The little girl started sniffling; almost as if his daddy's senses were tingling Zak appeared.
His voice sounded relieved as he scooped up Zaki in his strong arms. "there you are squirt, I thought I'd lost you." She buried her head in the nape of his neck, "Hey Kiddo why are you crying."
Zaki hugged her father harder, "They called me trash," She mumbled into his neck. Zak pulled away so his eyes were looking at her.
"Who called you trash?" His voice was harsh as he asked. Zaki looked away from his glaring eyes.
Her voice was high and she was breathing heavy trying to calmly explain herself "these two older boys; all I wanted was to try to skateboard, and, and, and they pushed me in the dirt and and where mean and I, I don't understand." She said finally breaking into a real cry and burying her head again in her father's protective shoulder. After a good cry on his shoulder, the little girl fell asleep.
Zaki woke up on the couch of her house with a blanket over her, it was 9:30 at night, she ran into the kitchen. Her mother was out for her job, Zaki didn't know what it was. But Daddy told her that mommy needed only to go to her job once a month usually only for a day, but lately her mothers work had gotten more strenuous and she had been gone for a whole week. Zaki was starting to worry, maybe mommy was mad at daddy, they had been yelling at each other before her mother left for her job. Something about her mothers habits. Her father worked a night shift at the kunai factory, he had left all ready.
On the table was an odd shape package with a bow on it, Zaki's eyes widened, her birthday was tomorrow, but this could be an early present. She tore into the package, like the six year old she was, she gasped, and it was a skate board. A brand new skate board, just what she had wanted. Zaki then saw a note on the table.
My lovely dear Zaki
Happy early birthday, tomorrow you will get a huge present, Don't mind if other people call you names like trash just know that I love you, please no matter what happens and how you feel, I will always love you no matter.
Daddy
Zaki smiled,
-- - - - --
The next day, she woke up to find her father dead; they used his insurance money to pay for her academy days. Zaki opened her eyes; she was in a bathroom stall sitting on the toilet to calm down. It wasn't working she was still shaking violently, that skate board had meant so much to her. The last gift of her fathers, the one she used.
Maybe she should have shown up at the academy more often; that's what her father had wanted, but she didn't care how better a person she would be with that training. It wasn't worth his life, she wanted him back, she wanted her dad back, she wanted her skate board back, she wanted her old life back, she wanted she wanted… Zaki was trying not to cry.
---- -----
Adara, was she dead? Was she ok? Was she bleeding? Is her team mate's ok? Did they draw out of the exam? Where were they? They had 2 more days but still, it would be dangerous in those woods at night. "Hey there," Keiji turned around to face the sand Koniochi.
Her eyes were pretty and grey, she had a sweet smile on her face, and she was leaning towards the pole that Keiji was standing by. "uh hey," this seemed like a totally different person then the cool and ice girl that broke Zaki's skate board.
"What's ya doin?" She asked in a board tone.
"Standing here." Keiji replied, what was her motive of talking to him. The girl rolled her eyes at him.
"Well I can see that," She said her tone light and full of humor. She stood up straight; the girl was tall "Sorry I should introduce myself, my names Bes Isis," She held out her hand and Keiji shook it, her hand shake was firm her hand was soft. They let go and the pretty girl then turned towards her two team mates "the one in the sweat shirt is Sacmis Thoth and the one with the girl pants on is Nefertiti Aepep."
"I'm Keitaru Keiji." Keiji said more out of politeness then actually wanting to talk to this girl. Her head perked up a bit.
"Keitaru? Are you related to Mayuri? The big hero of the great war." Keiji tried not to role his eyes.
"Yes he is my grandfather."
"Do you know him?" She asked her eyes were a light, with curiosity. Keiji didn't want to talk about this.
"Umm, excuse me I need to go pinch the loaf," Keiji felt bad for putting it so crudely, but how else would he get away from that girl, she had broke Zaki's skate board. He wondered where Adara was. Adara, Adara, Adara
--- - - - - --- - --
Adara was sitting around the camp fire. Lee had been so worn out after trying to help save Kira that Hinabi thought it best they make camp right away so he could sleep and rest up, not knowing if they were going to have time to rest in the tower. Hinabi seemed to have the notion that right when they got into the tower they would have to start fighting others so they needed to be at their peek strength. Adara lounged about; apparently a lot of Gennin had been hurt and dropped out of the second exam because of the huge explosion.
Hearing this news, Lee had frowned, he really hated when people got hurt for no reason. Hinabi had just said that it was better for them in the long run, and even though it pained her to actually side with the ice queen. She wondered if Keiji got hurt in the explosion, he was probably still in that vicinity, they were behind them in line. Keiji, what if he was hurt real bad, she had never told him how she felt. She hated this dam test all ready, it was stinky in these woods; she wanted to take a shower and go to bed.
Adara needed to know if Keiji was ok, so what if he was hurt badly like Kira. Urgh she hated being this obsessive about him, but she cared with more heart then she wanted to admit. Hinabi came back with more fire wood, she seemed cool and collected. She sat down after she put some wood in the fire.
"What are you thinking about?" Hinabi asked wanting to make conversation.
Adara tried not to blush, "Just about the others you know? A lot of people had to drop out, and I just, I don't want any of us to fail."
Hinabi stared at her for a while eyes like steel moons bearing down on her. A grunt came from the tent and Hinabi jumped up like a lithe cat and went straight to the source of the noise. Adara followed slowly behind.
Lee was lying down on a bedroll eyes closed, sweat dripping off from his for head. He looked like crap. Hinabi bent down and poured some of her water onto his lips. "Lee, you need rests," She said voice hard as usual.
"Tower?" He replied meekly, a rare emotion crossed Hinabi's eyes, and Adara suddenly felt like an intruder.
"We will get there tomorrow, rest now." Hinabi soothed, she gently watered a cloth and dampened his for head. Lee closed his eyes and you could feel a faint smile trace his lips. Hinabi lifted his head up gently to give him more water.
"I'll go outside and keep watch," Adara said leaving the intimate scene behind. She had always known that Lee had feelings for Hinabi; half of their graduating class had feelings like that for Hinabi. It had never accrued to her before that Hinabi had feelings for Lee. Or was it just her being a tender leader for once? Adara's thoughts were gravitating towards Keiji again. He seemed never to be far from her mind. Was he ok? Where was he? Did he have to drop out cause of the explosion? Keiji, Keiji, Keiji…
--- -- - -- - - -
Kiba was sitting down and leaning against the wall; it was almost time for him to assign rooms. And in his mind it couldn't be sooner, poor Kaida was had already fallen asleep against Akamaru. Her red hair falling gently over her child's face, something told him that when she grew up she would have to beat guys off with freshly sharpened katana. A strong need to protect her rose in him, he was beginning to become…fond of her and her too intelligent eyes. But now was time for bed. Kiba picked Kaida up and hoisted her on his back; the little eyes didn't even flutter. "Ok, People follow me," I'll be assigning rooms for each team, once inside you can not leave until a chunnin comes in the morning and unlocks you. If you are caught leaving at night you will be disqualified, do you understand?" Kiba asked the 5 Gennin behind him.
The two boys from the sand were to the farthest right whispering and snickering to each other. The Sand girl seemed to be preening herself towards the male on Kaida's team, who looked extremely uncomfortable. The purple haired girl also seemed to be ignoring the murderous looks coming from Zaki who was on the left war as far away from the sand people as physically possible. It was an interesting tableau. "Sand team you got room on your left, get in there now!" He barked, in an instant the three sand kids were in there like scurrying little rabbits. "You guys get this room on the right!" He barked at the two, they didn't scurry, the grey haired girl sauntered over to the door, and the boy stopped in front of him. "What?" He asked the boy.
The gold eyes just lifted with a little surprise and held out his hands…oh he wanted Kaida, duh! Kiba gave the girl to her team mate who rested her head over his shoulder. "Good night," the boy said.
"Good night," Kiba replied tenderly. Once the boy closed the door, he locked it along with the other room's door. He sighed; a good day's work earned him a good long nap.
---- --
Yamato was counting his take; there had always been a pool for the sensei whose team arrived first. His team had not been the favorite, 550 dollars so far. He looked at the line of people waiting to pay him. A great big grin appeared on his face, before him stood Morino Ibiki there is justice in this world. "Let's see .NO" Yamato said pulling out his name. He saw the interrogator give him the glare. "You put…ouch, 200 dollars on Neji's team." Yamato gave a whistle. "So that's how much you owe me!"
"Shut up, Yamato," Ibiki growled as he pulled out his wallet "Do you take checks?"
"No," Yamato said with pleasure, "Cash only."
Ibiki started drawing out dollar bills from his wallet, "This is the first time in 9 years I have lost this pool." He muttered; every word full of contempt.
"Guess this isn't' your lucky year,"
"Hn; do you know who there sensei's will be?" Ibiki asked him.
Yamato's smile vanished, he hadn't really thought about getting each one of them a personal sensei yet. He wasn't going to admit this crucial fact to Morino though, "Y-y-yes!" He stammered. That was smooth Yamato.
"Who?"
"Well," Yamato said mouth open, "I'll tell you later, there are a number of other people who need to pay me right now."
Ibiki eyed him, "You haven't thought about it at all," He said before leaving the money on the counter.
Well crap…
---- -- - - - --- -
Max sat at the bar; Allie was serving some the guys. Gideon was at the bar, with Sodo right next to him. Gideon had short spiky leaf green hair and dark hunter green eyes; he was a mechanic with a little girl of about 5? Sodo was a junkie with coal black eyes and midnight blue hair. He was one of the many fatherless children in the dregs who where the last of the uchiha. But Sodo was trash he knew it, he was proud of it, and it was kind of endearing.
"So when's Zaki's getting back from her adventures," Sodo asked after a good swallow of scotch.
"Don't know," Max shrugged. Then being Sara and totally annoying the dead mother popped into the empty seat next to him.
"Oh I'm more nervous then when Gai went on his Chunnin exams." Sara spilled. Max ignored her.
"Believe me, if the dunderhead shinobi that I knew could pass that test, so can Zaki," Allie assured them.
"You should get us some drinks." Sara whined. "If not for you then for me!"
"Go away," Max dismissed waving his hand.
"What?" Allie turned to him and asked.
"Nothing," Max hurried, fuck you Sara, "I'm sure Zaki will pass."
"You know what you should do?!" Sara said voice lifting high; face animated. "you should wait outside the, that building…oh I don't know what it is, with signs and posters saying like 'yahoo Zaki' 'represent' that's what Zak, Allie and I did for Gai when he passed the first two tests of the chunnin exams!" God this woman could babble.
--- - - - --- -
Yamato had made up his mind on who was going to help who. He was going to ask Tenten to teach Kaida this month. Kaida was great when it came to moves and her Kekkei Genkai, but she needed more help with the basics. Accuracy was something she could approve on rather dramatically.
Keiji needed to figure out that, even though he was a barbarian, he needed to realize charging in on every situation wasn't smart. Yamato still didn't understand the workings of that Kekkei Genkai, brain malfunction thing? He thought he would ask Hinata, she was sweet and she will connect really well with Keiji, and her gentle fist style will help Keiji approve immensely.
Zaki; it took Yamato a while to figure out what to do with her. Yamato first thought he would be her sensei, and then he remembered he promised Naruto and Kakashi to help them train Naruto more on element jutsu's. SO he went through his head who he could ask, Rock Lee, hahahah not likely. Ino, definite no. Chouji, he didn't want the teddy bears feelings to get hurt. Shikimaru would probably be helping his sister, and he couldn't trust the two of them to do any work. Kiba, Shino? Yamato couldn't think of how they could help Zaki approve. In the end Yamato came to his first conclusion, he would be her sensei. Zaki would just have to get over the fact that Naruto will be there.
Now it was time for him to go to bed.
-- - - - - -
Keiji had woken up about an hour ago; a different Chunnin let them out of their rooms, and now they were in line to get there breakfast. It was eggs, maybe, it kind of resembled eggs. Kaida was behind him, wiping sleepy eyes away. Zaki was at the end of the line, being anti-social to the sand sibs. Adara wasn't here yet…Keiji heaved a great sigh.
"Hey there, don't look so down." Chirped the familure voice of Isis, her hair was done unnaturally well for the morning and her smile was genuine. "The food looks…" She scrunched up her face and stuck out her tongue. "Maybe it's poisoned?" she asked out loud. Keiji and Isis heard coughing behind them, Aepep was chocking on his fork.
"Poisoned?!" He shouted. "They taste like eggs, even if they don't look like eggs." Thoth just hits his belly and burps.
"Taste just fine to me."
Isis rolled her eyes, "I know they are my team mates, but sometimes I feel like I need to kill those two." Keiji and Isis were now out of the line he didn't know where to go, Should he sit where Isis leads him to be polite, or should he just sit where ever Kaida sits. And why is Zaki giving him the stink eye?! Isis nods her head to the left "Lets sit over here."
"Uhh, sure?" Keiji says in response. He let the purple hair Koniochi lead him to the left and sit down. She starts talking, Keiji looks over to the doors, where was Adara?
-- - - -
Adara was so relieved; her team was headed towards the tower, finally! Lee was back to his regular self and Hinabi was making sure there was no ambush waiting. They got to the doors and Hinabi opened one of them, letting Lee and Adara go in before her.
Adara scanned the room, there were six people here, in the very middle on the make shift tables were two guys she had never seen before. One had skinny girl jeans on and more gel in his hair then should be allowed. The other one took guy liner to a whole new level. Adara looked to the left Kaida was leaning on the wall toying with what was on her plate. It didn't look very edible. Zaki was no where to be seen, but if Kaida was here that meant, Adara scanned the room.
There was: WHO THE HELL IS THAT SLUT TALKING TO KEIJI! Adara's inner voice screamed.
The girl and Keiji were facing each other cross legged on the ground. Keiji was laughing sheepishly, and that skank was batting her eyelashes and flipping her hair in his direction. Adara felt a bad taste come into her mouth. Adara didn't' want to draw too much attention, so she just fallowed Hinabi's lead to put there stuff away by the wall next to Kaida. Kaida just waved, she seemed beat.
"Adara!" A surprised Keiji's voice rang out from the other side of the room; Adara turned around and tried not to glare at the purple haired ho. Keiji rushed to her and gave her a hug, it took all of Adara's will not to melt into it, he smelled so good!
"Hey Keiji," She said.
"I'm so glad you're here." His voice oozed with a truthful passion that made Adara's legs melt.
"I'm glad you are here too." Adara responded.
An overly sweet voice oozed over to them, "Keiji, who is this?" It asked. It was that purple haired bimbo, from now that Adara could see, from the Sand. That explains it Adara had met a few Sand Koniochi in her day, and they are all way too sexually expressive for their own good. Except Temari, but still this girl was a slut, and she didn't like her!
Adara extended her arm, "Hi I'm Nara Adara."
"Bes Isis," The purple haired girl replied taking Adara's hand, there hand shake was slow and deliberate. Slut, skank, Ho, easy, ugly, bitch, is what Adara's eyes said to the girl, and the girl replied in kind. They let go.
"Where's Zaki?" Adara asked.
"She's eating in the room." Keiji replied, Adara raised an eyebrow, his eyes darted to Isis. "I'll tell you about it later."
"Are Kristi and Parker here yet?"
"No."
"More friends of yours?" Isis sickly sweet voice questioned.
"Yes." Adara smiled at her.
"I guess all we can do is wait." Isis responded.
If Adara had to stand another 5 minuets with this girl, let alone wait for any period of time, she was going to punch her in the face.
Sorry it took so long, I'm going to try to really crank out chapters, cause in 25 days I'm off to Germany for 2 weeks: D hope you can RnR