Okay, I think I have three battles in this one? And a random ending. :'D
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO! MASASHI KISHIMOTO DOES! I also do not own any of the OCs introduced in this fan fiction, except the following:
Tsukuyomi Clan
Nero
Shichi
Chi
Yasushi
A/N: Btw, the beginning of this is in Akira's POV!
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Chapter Thirteen: A Burnt Past! SHIT, I Lost, Big Time.
"BEGIN!" Asuma yelled. Right away, Kasumi ran at me with the intent to kick my ass into the floor, but she was in for a surprise. Kasumi reached behind her and unhooked her scythe from her back, immediately bringing it around to hit me. I leapt back, just as the scythe went across my belly, slicing into my shirt as well as my belly. It stung when I landed in a crouch across the arena away from her and her weapon. Kasumi smirked.
"Where ya doin'? Are you going to back out like the kid?" She asked. I stood up straight, placing my hand over my belly lightly.
"No, I was just waiting to see where your weak points are." I replied honestly, watching her crinkle her nose. She probably just assumed I was getting over-confident because she whipped around and ran at me again. From what I could see, she was fast and good user of Taijutsu. Not so much my strong point.
She came at me again, this time I only ducked, making a hand sign with one hand and hitting my other against her gut. The tips of my fingers glowed blue and as soon as they touched her gut, she gasped and tore backwards, stumbling and holding her stomach.
"What the hell…?" She seethed. I stood up straight, showing her my hand.
"Medical ninjutsu. It's too bad we didn't meet in the forest or else you'd know what to do." I sighed, then bolted forward at her. She winced and swung her scythe at me again, but I managed to duck the weapon, skidding across the concrete on my knees. Of course, I left smears of blood and skin in my wake, but I managed to grab her hips in mine while my medical ninjutsu was at work. I pushed upwards and bit down on her wrist.
Kasumi's eyes went wide. I smirked up at her as she flung her wrist up, crying out in pain as my teeth sank into her skin. She smelled good, I noted as I jerked my head away to avoid her elbow colliding with my head.
I fell back on my back, looking up as Kasumi swung her scythe down at me. I rolled out of the way, scrambling to my feet just as she brought the scythe down again. I yelped as it hit the concrete beside me. I managed to stand upright and jump out the way as her scythe slashed at me.
It's blade cut right into my bicep, blood spurting from the wound. I winced and looked up in time for Kasumi's fist to slam into my jaw, knocking me backwards into the floor. I wiped the blood from my mouth quickly, leaping to my feet in time to dodge another slash at me. She was fast, that was for damn sure.
She went to slash at me again, but this time, being the quick guy I am, swung my hand out and… Made the mistake of hitting her right in the chest, right over her heart while my ninjutsu was still a go. Kasumi froze before she coughed up a glob of blood, letting go of her scythe and letting it clatter to the ground.
She stumbled for a second and hit the ground on her knees. I winced and caught her before she completely fell. I heard a shout or two, telling me to drop her and claim my win, but there was no way I'd do that.
I hadn't meant to hit that spot and it was a pretty bad place to hit with the jutsu I had going. From the looks of it, I tore something inside near her heart and that was really dangerous, so I quickly laid her on her back.
"Akira, what the hell are you doing?" I heard Nero back at me from above. I ignored him and the fact that Asuma claimed me the winner as I got on my knees by Kasumi, who was gasping for air.
"Calm down," I soothed, "I hit something… Let me fix it."
"But. You. Won." Kasumi breathed, looking up at me. I smiled as I held my hands over her internal wound.
"I don't really care at this point… You're hurt and I want to help you so you won't have the disability of missing your teammates' matches like my moronic sister." I replied. Kasumi stared at me, but she didn't struggle while I did my magic. They wouldn't have to send her to the hospital or even a medical squad if I could find what I tore and fixed it.
I sent my chakra in, twisting and turning around the area of her heart before I found the tissue that had torn. I concentrated hard, ignoring the sweat on my face as I slowly shut the wound inside. Kasumi breathed deeply for a while, staring up at me still.
"Thanks…" She managed. I beamed.
"No problem. By the way, you're kinda cute. Wanna hang out?" I asked. She rolled her eyes and smacked her hand in my face, probably a big fat rejection, but she was smirking at the same time, which made me smile past her hand.
So, maybe Ruriko and Hioshi knew how to make enemies, like our dad, but if there was one thing I could do, it was be friendly with an opponent, just like Kazuya and our mother.
I helped Kasumi to her feet and we went back to our places on the balcony, me beaming the entire time. Nero rolled his eyes, folding his arms on the railing as he leaned.
"Idiot. If you go around healing your enemies, you'll be dead before you can become a Jounin." He retorted. I huffed.
"Just because you're a jerk, doesn't mean I am." I mocked, earning a smack in the back of the head. I yelped and glared at him, then got a pat on the head from Kazuya, who smiled at me.
"That was good, Akira. I'm proud of you for being honorable." He replied. I blinked, surprised at first, then beamed at him.
"Thanks, sensei!"
Nero's POV
I rolled my eyes. Akira was such a suck up. I paused, staring down into the arena, ignoring the computer screen that was buzzing through names. I was watching Asuma smoke. It wavered right up to my spot and sadly, it made me want to drool. I hadn't had a cigarette since we left Sunagakure and already, I felt like I was going into withdrawal. I sighed sadly, then jumped when the computer screen dinged.
Akiyama Eiji
VS
Kamaya Mai
I frowned and glanced down the railing at Eiji. From what I gathered, he was a quiet guy and pretty much obedient. He didn't say much when we battled in the Forest of Death nor did he bother to voice his opinions.
As for Mai, she seemed pretty calm and collected for her age. She was smart, good-looking, and didn't need to say too much to show that she got annoyed with cocky brats, like Akira or Daisuke or even Ruriko. I couldn't tell if she was a good match against Eiji or not.
Both of them hopped into the arena, although, Eiji looked a bit reluctant until Kishi gave him a little nudge and a hopeful smile. For some reason, when I watched them face off at that moment, I realized something was weird about Mai. Her ice blue eyes seemed really cold and like they were hiding something.
And how close to the truth that was.
"BEGIN!" Asuma announced. Mai struck first. She bolted forward and already had a kunai out to attack. Eiji's eyes flickered behind his glasses and he dodged to the side quickly. Mai whipped around to slash at him. Eiji did mostly ducking. For a second, I was wondering what Mai was doing. She looked like she was wasting valuable time, so I guessed she was trying to tire him out, but when I looked at Eiji, he didn't look all that tired.
Mai then caught the front of Eiji's torso, jerking him up off his feet. Eiji's body jolted and that's when I saw what was happening. Mai was trying to get close enough so she could let her eyes glow bright red. I saw Eiji's body tense and his eyes widen.
"What bloodline is that?" I heard Akira demand. Before anyone could answer him, Eiji screamed. I jumped at the sound. I didn't even know he could scream. Kotori jumped too and automatically grabbed the railing so tight, her knuckles grew white. Kazuya grimaced.
From what I could see, Mai only had her eyes locked on Eiji's. That's when I started to see bruises. They just appeared out of nowhere on Eiji's jaw and the corner of his eye. The right lens of his glasses cracked and the bandages on his left arm fell away as if someone ripped them off.
I stared in shock, watching as the bandages peeled away to reveal numerous scars and bruises. I immediately recognized them and my hands went to my arms, gripping them tightly as I stared.
Those marks. I knew those marks. Because I've had them before. Those marks are what parents like to call 'I love you', depending if they lied or were honest with their kids. Those scars, those bruises, were not from a battle against another shinobi, but a battle for survival in your own household.
I gritted my teeth and clamped my hands over my ears, trying to will Eiji's cries of pain from my mind.
Thank the gods that Eiji finally flung his foot forward, kicking Mai in the stomach and making her gasp in pain, her eyes flickering back to their normal, icy blue. She dropped Eiji and skidded back. Eiji hit the floor, shaking a little and staring at the floor as if he were paralyzed.
I let go of my ears after realizing that I had dug my nails into them as I watched Eiji struggle to get to his feet. Mai grasped her stomach before bolting forward again. Eiji managed to duck to the side before swinging his foot out and kicking her in the side, knocking her back across the floor.
Mai grimaced a little, then finally spun back around. Her eyes were glowing red again and this time Eiji's eyes sparkled, like he was watching some kind of terror movie. He gasped and sounded like he was choking before his hands flew to his throat. From what I could see, it actually looked like someone was strangling him. Red marks grew on his neck, where someone's fingers might be.
In a second, Eiji gasped, a bit of spittle running down his chin before he choked out the same words Yasushi had used at the end of his battle.
"I give up." I grimaced. I probably would have done the same. There was no way in hell I was fighting her… Unless I could go blind or something. A medical team offered to help, but Eiji just shook his head, only accepting a roll of bandages for the one's he lost on his arm. I wanted to say something, anything as he went by me to meet with Kotori and Kishi, but my mouth wouldn't work. I just looked at my feet stupidly when he went by and I could also feel Akira's and Kazuya's eyes on me.
It was kind of embarrassing and, I dunno, just uncomfortable when people knew that your parents were morons. I guess that's why Eiji bandaged up his arms and legs. I sighed, leaning my elbow on the railing as I thought about it some more. All my wounds and scars were gone by now, but that didn't mean that the abuse left a mental scar…
MEANWHILE (Ruriko's POV)
Pain. Lots of it. And those damned needles. I hated hospitals. They stunk like sick and dying people, they were way too white and the doctors thought they were the smartest people on the planet. It pissed me off.
My arm was sore and I had found out that Osamu had used the kunai to dig at the joint in my shoulder. It took a lot of work to get it fixed and even now it was wrapped up and in a sling as I lay propped up with disgusting white pillows. They forced me to wear a baggy navy blue shirt and paler blue pants.
I had some stitches tied on the deeper cuts I had, some bandages tied up and a gauze pad stuck to my cheek. I was in a shitty mood because I found out who my roommate was.
In the bed beside me, Osamu was lying propped up too. His entire torso was bandaged up, having been stitched and worked on by professional medical ninja. He was pretty much like me with band aids and stitches. He was still asleep, out of it from the anesthetic, but he was bound to wake up sooner or later.
Which he did in a few seconds.
His black eyes fluttered open sleepily as he shifted under the white sheets. He grumbled, something about a rice ball or something or other. He opened his eyes wider when he realized where he was.
"No! Crap! I didn't pass out, did I?" He yelled angrily. I snorted.
"Shut the hell up, ya baby! This is a hospital!" I snapped. Osamu twitched, then glared at me.
"You? I have to share a room with you?"
"Hey! It's not the greatest birthday gift I've gotten either, jackass!" I snarled at him and jerked my head the other way. Osamu huffed.
"I'll say." He retorted. We sat in silence for a bit, fuming. He had the nerve to bark at me like that, the little snot.
"… What do you mean birthday present anyway?" Osamu asked at last, glancing at me. I rolled my eyes.
"The exams. My stupid birthday is on the day before the final rounds." I muttered. Osamu raised an eyebrow.
"You're serious?" He asked. I scowled.
"Why would I lie?"
"… Because that's my birthday too." Osamu muttered. I stared at him and for some weird reason, I started laughing. Osamu blinked, then glared at me.
"Are you on drugs or something? What's so funny?" He demanded.
"Nothing! I just think it's ironic! We're both total obnoxious loud mouths and our birthdays are on the same day!" I laughed. It was kinda weird and ironic! Osamu cocked his brow at me before smirking a little, then laughing.
"I wonder what else we have in common!" It was kinda weird. The guy I attacked in the exams is actually a lot… Well, nicer than I thought, I guess.
"What're you gonna do now that you're not gonna be a Chuunin?" Osamu asked after a while. I paused, rolling my eyes up at the ceiling as if the answer was written there before shrugging.
"Hell if I know. Probably go back to my village and find a different way to become a Chuunin. My brother, Hioshi, eventually became a Chuunin after he failed. I think he just sat on his ass and did some dirty work." I explained. Osamu smirked.
"Sounds easier said than done."
"I guess so. What about you? How's it feel to be a Chuunin?" I asked, smiling. Osamu tilted his head, smiling a little.
"Really good, actually. I feel like I got more mature. When you become a Chuunin, come back to Konoha and we'll fight it out again. See who's gonna win next time." He replied. I beamed.
"That sounds like a great idea! I'd give ya a thumbs up if my arm wasn't messed up." I added with a sigh, letting my head rest on my pillows. Osamu laughed a bit.
"Sorry…"
"It's fine…" I drawled, stretching my good arm and folding it behind my head. I could feel Osamu giving me a deadpan stare.
"Ya know, you could apologize for almost ripping out my stomach and trying to kill me." He muttered. I blinked and looked at him out the corner of my eye before laughing cockily.
"Chya right! Isn't that the point of a battle?" I asked, closing my eyes and smirking. I was surprised when I felt a jerk on the front of my shirt and my eyes flew open to find Osamu on my bed, grabbing the front of my shirt.
"You brat! I take back my apology!" He yelled in my face comically, a stream of red from anger on his face. I laughed at him and pushed on him.
"Get the hell offa me, ya dumbass! I don't need your apology!"
"Fuck this, I'm going to kick your ass as soon as we get outta this hospital!" Osamu announced, standing on my bed. I glared up at him, but I still had my smirk on.
"Che, you really wanna end up as nothing, but a pile of guts on my plate? Go right on ahead!" I boosted.
"You're so cocky!"
"You're such a hypocrite!"
"Says the one who got her butt whooped!"
"That's it! Get off me before I tear your throat out!" I barked and heaved myself to my feet to grab him. However, we were given a shock when a familiar someone came barreling into the room at top speed.
Rock Lee.
And he ran right into the bed. Osamu flailed and yelped when he lost his footing, falling forward right on top of me. Pain shot up my spine and I cried out in response, which was pretty much a fail because Osamu's face hit mine and we both yelled in pain.
"Oh! Am I interrupting something?" Lee grinned. I grimaced, then found myself staring into Osamu's eyes, both our faces going red.
"GROSS!" We both yelled at the same time. I shoved Osamu off me and onto the floor, where he scrambled to his feet.
"I'd never kiss him on purpose!" I protested, watching Lee make dramatic kissy faces. Osamu stuck his tongue out at me, folding his arms over his chest before looking at Lee with a huff.
"So why'd you even come in here?" He asked, glaring at Lee for being childish. Lee blinked, then straightened up with an almost grim expression.
"Uh, do you want to hear the news in front of someone or would you rather me just say it?" He asked hesitantly, pushing his index fingers together with a thick raised eyebrow. I frowned.
"I just embarrassed myself in front of you with Osamu and my teammates. Give it to me straight." I ordered. Lee sighed, waited a second, then glanced up at me.
"As far as everyone knows… You are not allowed to take the Chuunin Exams ever again."
That hit me hard. Before, I had been joking with Osamu and I think he knew I was joking too, but this time, Lee's joking expression was painfully serious. I felt like the wind had been knocked out of my lungs for a second.
Not allowed to take the exams? What if Akira and Nero became Chuunin and I was left behind? What if I had to stay a Genin forever?
"Ruriko, did you hear me?" Lee asked, but he was quiet about it. Osamu frowned, looking at Lee.
"Thanks for the news, Lee. It's fine…" He said softly, nodding. Lee nodded back, heading for the door before glancing back, looking a little sad.
"I am sorry. I did not want to be the one to tell you." He sighed before departing, closing the door. Osamu looked at me.
"Ruriko…" He sounded like he was struggling to say something. I really just wanted to smash something. A wall, a vase, a skull, anything, but I just gripped the sheets with my good hand.
"What? I sorta deserve it… I did try and kill you." I managed. Osamu shifted from foot to foot.
"Hey… It's fine. It's like you said, right? It's just a battle… And… Maybe you can became a Chuunin in a different way, like your brother." He added helpfully, but it wasn't working as good as either of us hoped.
"I guess," I agreed faintly, but I still felt my throat getting closed in, "It's no big deal anyway. I think I mentioned before… I could have killed anyone in that fucking room."
"Don't cry." Osamu tried.
"I'm not crying!" I yelled at him and I tore the sheets off my bed, throwing them at him so they covered his head. He sighed and pulled them off, tossing them back on the bed at my feet.
"Maybe you do deserve it," He huffed, looking away, "Acting like that." I glared at him.
"What the fuck are you talking about?" I demanded angrily. Osamu whipped around, thrusting a finger in my face.
"What's your problem? So what if they won't let you take the exams? Get that stupid look off your face! If you really wanted to become a Chuunin, you'd keep trying, no matter what anyone says! You acted strong, maybe a little bit of a sore loser during the exams, but why are you looking like that now? Pick yourself up, brat! What kind of ninja sinks to the floor so low like that?" He shouted at me. I stared at him, ignoring the fact that my eyes had slightly welled up.
What the hell…?
He was right.
What was I doing? Having a pity party? This isn't how I am… Sure, I gave up when I knew I would lose and stuff before… But maybe now that's different. Maybe I just needed to mature a little.
"Wow," I managed, "I feel stupid."
"You should!" Osamu retorted, folding his arms over his chest, wincing a little in the process and hitting his wound. I smiled slowly, then hit him in the arm.
"Shut the hell up, you dumbass! You're supposed to be all nice about it!" I snorted. Osamu rolled his eyes, smirking.
"Yea right!" He taunted.
"Che, there's something we have in common. You're a jerk." I puffed.
"Not as much as you." Osamu sang, wagging a finger at me. I twitched.
"SHUT UP!"
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A/N: Wow, three battles in one. ;D And of course, Ruriko gets some bad news… I wonder if you guys can find some hints to the future in these chapters. lol. Cuz I just noticed some that I didn't mean to drop in, but it just happened that way… Oh well. Anyway, thanks for reading, hope the OCs were in character, and your reviews are loved with a passion!