"My my you've sure grown into quite the young lady. You're 12 now,
isn't that right? Goodness It's been so long since I remember seeing
you..."
Kiku nodded quickly, a light blush painting her cheeks.
"Kiku-chan! You never told me you knew Emiko-sensei!" Aya said, a
small scowl gracing her face. "...and here I was hoping to introduce
you two myself." She let out an audible sigh.
Kiku's eyes opened wide but she said nothing. In truth, she'd recognized
the medic woman when she first entered the room...the medic who
healed her after the incident on her birthday several years
ago...after Gaara had hurt her for the first time. The woman's kind smile and
wavy brown hair Kiku remembered in an instant, but she had completely
forgotten the medic's name.
"E-Emiko-sensei...?" Kiku's voice was but a whisper, but the medic nin
tilted her head slightly in response.
"Yes, Kiku-chan?"
Embarrassed at her forgettfulness, Kiku's face became bright red.
"I...I...ummm..."
Kiku couldn't seem to find the words.
"Oh...don't be nervous Kiku-chan!" Aya pat the younger girl's back and smiled
brightly, already back to her cheerful self. "I know the first day on
the job is tough, but Emiko-sensei and I will be sure to help you out.
Everything will work out great, I'm sure of it."
"Today I'll help you learn the basics and you can practice on some
minor wounds alright?" Emiko stepped in and pat Kiku's head.
The young girl nodded in response.
Emiko smiled wide and let out a sigh.
"I never thought I'd see you again as my pupil...patient maybe...but
never my student. Your mother pretty much squashed those hopes 6 years
ago. I'm glad she changed her mind."
"About that...Emiko-sensei..." Aya mumbled quietly, her voice trailing
off.
"I didn't tell her I did any of this. She still doesn't know." Kiku
said, finishing the statement. She looked down at the floor but her head snapped up when she heard the sudden sound of laughter.
"Really?" Emiko asked as she settled down from laughing. "That woman
has no idea?"
Kiku shook her head.
"Keeping something this big from your own family...I will say, I think
I was right about you. Definitely kunoichi material."
Kiku smiled and Aya nudged her shoulder playfully.
"Ah...but enough talk. You two need to get started on work. Aya-chan,
can you see who's in today? Bring me the list and then just start on
your days work. I need to show Kiku-chan some medic basics and then
we'll join you."
"Okay, Emiko-sensei! Good luck Kiku-chan." Aya gave Kiku a quick wave
and left the room.
Emiko turned to her newest pupil.
"We're going to start with basic healing."
Emiko pulled a kunai out of her pack and ran the blade over her
finger. A thin red line started to form and she looked at Kiku.
"Now first, place your hands over my wound."
The small girl nodded and did as told.
"Next, focus your chakra into me slowly through the wound, and sort of
tell it to bind the wound back together...silently of course...that's
just to keep you focused on what you're doing."
Kiku nodded again and slowly let her chakra out through her hands,
producing a light pale glow. She concentrated on the source of the
bleeding and allowed her chakra to enter the wound, telling herself
to seal it. After what seemed like a few minutes she stopped, and
looked down at Emiko's finger.
"See, you did it. Now we just have to work on healing time for cuts. A
small wound like that can be healed in less than 30 seconds once you
know what you're doing...but good job. 5 minutes is still pretty good
for a first time." Emiko wiped the dried blood off her finger and the
door to the room opened up once again.
Aya handed Emiko the paper before turning to Kiku.
"I circled one you might be able to handle on the list. Easy healing
job...annoying guy though."
Kiku's eyes widened and Emiko cleared her throat.
"It's not polite to speak bad of patients, Aya-chan..."
"Sorry, Emiko-sensei...but it's true. Anyways I'll let you guys go
back to training...see you later!" She ran back out of the room before
either of the other two could say a word.
Emiko chuckled and shook her head.
"Kiku-chan, I think Aya-chan was right about the patient being a good
match for your training. He's had a minor burn...nothing serious...but
this should be a great way to use your element for training."
Kiku smiled and nodded energetically as Emiko led her from the room and
down the hall.
However the girl's excitement turned to nervousness when she saw who was
behind the door.
"So what did you burn yourself with this time Kankuro-san? Something
for your puppets again?" Emiko's familiar attitude made Kiku think he
must have been there rather frequently in the past, but the young girl was
afraid to ask. She hid behind her sensei.
"So Kankuro-san, I'm training our newest medic today. Would it be
alright if she healed you today? She's a water affinity as well so
treatment will be the same as last time."
Kiku heard him sigh.
"So long as she does the job without screwing up...sure... I guess."
he raised his voice slightly. "I need to be ready to leave for the
chunin exams next week so I better be alright for that, got it?"
Emiko stepped to the side and Kiku found herself face to face with Gaara's older
brother.
"She's a kid?" Kankuro's voice raised again and Kiku winced.
"She'll do a good job I promise...just calm down Kankuro-San." Emiko
said, getting the materials from a nearby table.
Kiku simply stood there while he stared at her.
"...wait...do I know you?"
Kiku's eyes opened and she nodded but said nothing.
Emiko placed a bowl of water beside Kankuro and he placed his burned
hand inside.
"Now, same thing as when healing cuts...but this should be a bit
easier with the water. Infuse your chakra into the water and slowly
add more while you allow it to heal the burns. Again, focus and tell
it what to do. You should be able to tell when to stop."
Kiku nodded and stepped closer to kankuorou, dipping the tips of her
fingers into the water. Her chakra flowed through her fingertips and
into the bowl, light beginning to glow around it. She tried to listen
to the feelings she was getting from her chakra, and when it felt
like it was building up more chakra in the water than before, Kiku
pulled her hands slowly away from the bowl.
"How do you feel now, Kankuro?" Emiko asked, handing him a towel to
dry his hand.
Kankuro lifted his hand from the bowl. He looked it over, opening and
closing his hand a few times.
"Good enough I guess..." he grumbled, casting an odd look in Kiku's
direction.
"Oh, right! Before I forget, Kankuro-San. Your sister ordered some
medicine for you guys to take with you to Konoha. I don't trust
Konoha's hospital to do you any favor if either of you were to get
sick." Emiko walked to the door.
"I'll be right back with it. Kiku-chan, stay here till I get back,
alright?"
With that, she was gone...and Kiku was left alone with Kankuro.
"Is Gaara-kun doing alright?"
Kiku spoke quickly and quietly, turning away from Kankuro. Emiko had
just left the room and the young kunoichi already couldn't help herself from asking.
She knew Gaara had hurt her but she couldn't bring herself to be mad at
Him. She needed to know he was at least alright. This could be her
one chance to know for certain. She doubted she'd see Kankuro again any time soon.
"Wait, it's you...that stupid brat with the crazy sister isn't it?"
Kiku cringed and nodded.
"I don't need a lecture or insults or anything...just tell me if he's
alright...please." She turned to look at him, eyes pleading.
Kankuro groaned.
"There is something seriously wrong with you, kid..."
"Ah...here's the medicine Kankuro-san."
The door to the room had swung open revealing Emiko holding a small bag.
Kankuro walked over to her and grabbed the bag.
"Thanks." He mumbled, walking out the door.
Kiku looked to the floor, hands balling into fists. She had lost her
chance.
"He's crazy as ever...nothing's changed..."
Kiku's head jerked up to see Kankuro leave.
Things were silent for a moment. Kiku wasn't sure what to think of
Kankuro's news. If everything was the same at least Gaara was alive
and healthy she supposed...but then she wondered if he would ever be
back to how he used to be. She really hoped so.
"I wonder what that was about..." Emiko said quietly, watching the
door. "Ah...but nevermind. Let's get back to work. You're doing great
so far."
Kiku smiled just a bit as she was led to another room. She shook her
head to clear her thoughts. She had a lot more training to do, and
she couldn't let those thoughts distract her from her current goal.
Kiku knew things would get better. She just had to hold on and wait for
that day to come.
A/N: I'm back! ^^ Been pretty busy so I wasn't able to update, but now I can update pretty regularly :) yay! Anyways...hopefully this chapter is ok. Sorry if I messed up with Kankuro...I need to rewatch Naruto again and pay closer attention to him. Comments would be super appreciated. ^^