Ayame's P.o.V.
I got a head start for the morning. I felt like if I had overstayed my invitation it would have been an awkward awakening. I didn't mean to stir up anything bad from Akio's past and I sure wasn't expecting anything like that. I thought it was an innocent question, but man was I wrong. He was almost a father. Maybe that played a role in him listening to be and befriending me. In the long run.
So, after I left Akio's place- being sure to fold the blanket I had used and leaving a well written-note- I headed off to my own home to check on my dog. Not that he really depended on me anyway. That creature was a free agent. A loose-cannon dog. I loved my little Kage-kun.
When I arrived at my flat, I was greeted almost immediately by my small grey dog.
"Hi, there, puppy!" I said in the most feminine tone I could manage. "How are you? Is you a good boy? Yes you is!"
"Hn."
I nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard that single sound. I gasped and spun around to see a shirtless, smirking Sasuke. He was leaning against my doorframe, all nonchalant. He usually isn't here when I am not, so that's why I was caught so off guard.
"S-Sasuke-kun, what are you doing here?" I asked. He took a few strides towards me and tilted his head as he did so.
"The better question is why weren't you here." He said, brushing some hair behind my ear. "Where were you? And why did you storm off like that yesterday? Kakashi was so pissed."
"Ugh." I groaned. "Like I care what that damned Jonin thinks. I was at Akio's place. It was raining so he let me stay." Sasuke cupped my face with his hand and gently kissed my cheek. My eyes fluttered when his scent buzzed around me.
"That's one question answered." He whispered and I sighed. I backed away from him and got in my rant-ready stance. Basically, my feet were shoulder length apart and I had my hands raised and ready for making gestures when I spoke.
"I am just so sick of people. People who think they can go around judging people because of how they look and what their background is or where they come from, you know? And rumors- especially ones that have absolutely no evidence to support them- make me so angry! What gives people the right to go around spreading lies and slander and hate like that!?
"When Sakura started to say those things about Yuki- my friend- that was the final straw. It's not enough that Naruto and I got ridiculed, but now Yuki is, too. And she hasn't even done anything to deserve it! Ugh, I hate the human race. Rant. Over."
I was hyperventalating by the end of my speech. I need to breathe at certain intervals when I speak, or else I'm going to pass out when I talk. Before I knew it, I was being presented with a glass of water.
"Thanks." I muttered before taking the glass from Sasuke and downing all of its contents.
"I'm glad you got all that repressed anger out of your system," Sasuke said, guiding me to the couch. "But you can't got blowing up at your teammates. Even if it is Sakura. You have to be the bigger person and ignore her. That's what I usually do." He was smiling, but I wasn't.
"But why do I have to be the bigger person? I've been the bigger person my entire life. Taking all the crap I get from people, all the stares and whispers about me behind my back. It isn't fair!" I argued and Sasuke sighed.
"You need a wake up call, Ayame-chan." He started. He gripped my shoulders and stared at me. "Life. Isn't. Fair." He enunciated each word. I rolled my eyes and pushed his hands off of me.
"Well, gee, really? Gosh, I had no idea." My voice was just dripping with sarcasm. Kage yipped in order to get our attention.
"What? You've been fed already." Sasuke told him. He is as crazy as I am if he's talking to a dog. But, then again, I have a wolf spirit inside of me, so I have an excuse. "What's wrong? Is something the matter?"
Kage shook his body as if he had just gotten out of a bath. He strutted over to my bookshelf and barked at it before turning to Sasuke and I and barking at us. We had to have looked confused because Kage grabbed a book by the spine with his teeth. He quickly brought it over to me.
"Hey, what are you doing!?" I asked, siezing the book. "This is a library- Oh, kuso, we have to be in the library, studying aren't we?" Kage yipped and he looked like he was smiling. "Thanks for the reminder." I grumbled.
"Do you really think Kakashi will be upset if we aren't there?" Sasuke asked, leaning back in the couch. "I mean, we are the top students after all, and with all the stuff you know, you could write an encyclopedia."
"True," I sighed before leaning back with him. "However, what if Naruto needs help comprehending a subject or concept? I can't just leave him hanging like that. He's my baby brother, after all." Sasuke groaned and I saw him jut out of lower lip.
"Does this mean you don't want to hang out with me?" He sniffled pathetically. "Here I am, thinking I'm your favorite."
I laughed at him. Sasuke had so many personalities. He's a pretty good actor. He constantly feigns indifference and superiority, but I don't really know what he's feeling. I can always ask, I suppose, but he most likely wouldn't produce the truth. What bothers me most is the possibility that he could have been playing me this whole time. Though I stongly doubted that possibility, it was still there. Mocking me. Laughing in my face.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Ninja stuff." I replied instantly. It was, surprizingly enough, a reflex for me to say that. Sasuke blinked, not totally believing me, but let it go anyway.
"I don't think Kakashi is going to mind too terribly much if we're a tad late." Sasuke offered. "We could go to Tori's Tea House if you want. It's your favorite in the village, right?"
"Mm, Tori's Signature Jasmine." I moaned. I don't have a freaky tea fetish or anything, it's just really, really good. "All right, let's ditch for fifteen then go to the library and blame traffic."
"That's the spirit!" Sasuke laughed.
. . .
After Sauke got his shirt back on and I got a new change of clothes (the ones I were wearing weren't suitable after a night of soaking in the rain) we headed off the my beloved tea house. This house was cool because it was decorated with ceramic birds and there was a parrot that greeted you up front. It wasn't too birdy, but it didn't feel lacking either. It was wonderful.
"SQUAWK! Welcome to Tori's! SQUAWK!" The parrot, Yui, greeted Sasuke and I as we entered.
"Ohayo, Yui. How are you this morning?" I gently patted the bird's head and continued walking to our table.
"Ayame-chan!" The owner called out. I was a famous customer in the tea industry. "Sasuke, how wonderful of you to drop by!"
"Good morning, Hatori-san." I bowed.
"Pssh, Hatori is so formal! Call me Tori!" Hatori was a large, wide-framed man who was about six feet tall even. He had a black buzz-cut and always wore a gold pendant around his neck. To me, it just looked like a gold coin with a hole drilled through it for the chain.
"Exactly. I grew up learning to respect my elders, Hatori-san." I nodded at him. He waved his hand in dismissal.
"C'mon, sport, you're a teenager by now! Show a little rebellion!" I thought about this and snapped my fingers.
"Fine!"
"Great!"
"I'm going to go against your wishes and call you Hatori-san anyway!" I said, taking my seat in front of a quiet Sasuke. Hatori rolled his eyes.
"All right, ten points for cleverness. Now, what can I get you kids?" Hatori whipped out a small notebook to take our order.
"I would like a cup of chai, please." Sasuke said immediately. Hatori raised an eyebrow.
"I've been pestering him to try it for ages." I stage whispered. "Could I get a Signature Jasmine, please?"
"Got it and got it. I'll be back A.S.A.P.!" He promised and shot off to the back room. They also serve food here, as well as treats to dip in your hot tea, but I never get anything. The tea is sufficient on its own.
"What are you thinking about now?"
"Tea stuff."
. . .
We had our tea and loitered there for a long while- longer than fifteen minutes- before I realized we had to leave. Sasuke was reluctant, but I eventually persuaded him into going to the library. I didn't really need to go, but I just didn't want to think too much. I needed something to occupy my mind. Plus, that whole helping Naruto bit wasn't imaginary. That blondie needs all the help he can get.
"Are we there yet?" Sasuke groaned. I smirked, but it quickly faded. I can I know when he's lying to me? I really can't. He is so good at hiding his emotions and he is equally good at faking them.
"No, not quite." I responded.
We didn't talk much after that. I was thinking too much about last night. About my vision with Gaara. About Akio. My head was swimming with all these thoughts running around in my mind, crashing into each other and causing mayhem. I ran my fingers through my hair and let out a long breath. We were nearing the library, a quiet place, but my thoughts were only getting louder.
When we finally reached the library and entered, it only took a moment of scanning to place to see Naruto spazzing out in the corner. He had countless books in front of him and he was taking up the entire table that could have comfortably fit four. I exhaled through my nose.
"There's your student," Sasuke whispered. "Profesor." I elbowed him in the ribs and that shut him up.
I walked over to Naruto and silently sat in front of him. His blonde head was being cradled in his hands as he was having a mental overload. The strain on his face was clear. I took a look at some of the books on his table, all of them varying in color and sizes. A medium sized black book read: History of the Ninja. A smaller, red book read: The Way of the Ninja. And a relatively large, yellow book read: Ninjas: For Dummies. Ninja, ninja, ninja. It was everywhere. I even saw a few scrolls that were half-opened.
"All right, Onii-san," I said, cracking my knuckles. I must have caught him off gaurd because he gasped and jerked his head straight up. "Let's get our study on."
. . .
After a long while of reviewing things I already knew, and Naruto had never heard of, we were finally done. This had to have been the longest day of my entire existence.
I was headed home (after a bone-crushing hug from my grateful comrade) to get some rest for tomorrow. I can't believe the Chunin Exams are only twelve hours away! I'm excited and sick to my stomach at the same time. I didn't want to fail my team. Or Kakashi or Akio or my mother. She said I could do it and that she believed in me, but I'm not sure what I'm capable of anymore. Ever since the Zabuza Arc- I mean- the mission with Tazuna, I'm questioning if I can do greater things. But it's too late to see the extent of my strength now.
The Exams are tomorrow.
And I am not prepared.