V 2 ch 8

Nice to see you again! I think..

The two boys walked the street together. Every time Ryu suggested looking at something, Takeru would sigh. "How do you know what she'll like if you have no clue to what her interests are?"

"Dad said when I found it, that it would hit me," Takeru said.

"Gifts don't necessarily fall out of the sky. You have to know something about her, or this is going to be impossible. What is her personality type? If you know about her personality, then the gift should follow the type of person she is."

"Onari is pretty calm, unless she's challenged. She's determined and likes to learn. I know she likes games, but she's a poor loser."

"So in saying, this girl is still learning about the world around her. I see. Strange. Where is this girl from again?"

"No one knows. She was abandoned, sort of," Takeru said. "Onari talks with a thick accent that no one recognized. I wish I knew where she was from. Maybe if I did, then it would make it easier for me to get along with her."

"Hmm. Knowing what her background is could help her adjust better. I'm not saying it would help you though. The background of a person is nothing compared to how a person thinks or reacts. Sorry. I'm not really helping," Ryu said. "Why don't you get Onari something as unique as she is?"

Takeru looked up at Ryu. "Aren't unique gifts risky? There's a half-and-half chance that the person likes it, or doesn't."

"True. How's this? What is the most noticeable characteristic, or trait of hers that attracts you," Ryu asked. He was running out of suggestions.

"Her eyes," Takeru said bluntly. He was expecting Ryu to tease him again, but he only nodded. "Onari has the most unusual and exotic eyes I've ever seen."

"What do her eyes look like," Ryu asked curiously.

"They're yellow with a black circle around the iris of her eye," Takeru informed him.

"Now you've got me curious. I want to see them for myself," Ryu said laughing a bit. "Her eyes sound like targets. I bet once she gets in some training, she'll be kicking some serious butt."

That comment made Takeru laugh. "Probably. She doesn't have a problem proving a point, that's for sure." He stopped. Ryu stopped as well. "Ryu, if you never had anything of your own before, what will you want?"

"Simple." He paused. "A friend."

Takeru knew what to get Onari. The perfect gift for her wasn't found in a shop. It wasn't something you could buy, or make. He wanted her to have something that would be meaningful. "I know what to get her," Takeru said softly.

"Oh? What might that be," Ryu asked.

Takeru looked at Ryu with a serious expression. "Me," he said plainly. "Onari can have me. The thing that she has never had is a friend. Thanks, Ryu."

"I don't exactly follow, but I'll go with the flow. So how are we going to 'give' you to her? It would be amusing to see you wrapped as a gift. I'm not sure how you would walk, though," Ryu said pondering. "Hopping might be better."

Takeru shook his head. "You're a total idiot," he said as they walked back the way they came. "No wonder my dad doesn't know what to do with you. Idon't know what to do with you."

Eiyu, Kandai, and Onari breathed hard. They were all lying on their backs on the ground. A simple exercise such as touching someone was supposed to be easy. At least, Eiyu and Kandai had originally thought so. They had chased Onari all over the yard most of the day. She was eying the both of them as they were keeping their eye on her.

Kandai laid his head back on the ground once he looked up to see if their father was checking on them. "I don't know which is harder: Father's training or chasing Onari," he said smiling. "She's pretty quick, Eiyu."

Eiyu looked up at the sky, still breathing hard, his hair sprawled out. "I can't figure out if she's voiding us because we're unfamiliar, or if she thinks we're playing a game. Either way, Onari has to complete the exercise or there is no hope in training her."

"Are you afraid of us," Kandai asked her. Onari tilted her head. "Do you think Eiyu and I will hurt you?" Onari only studied the two of them. "Okay, it has to be something else."

Eiyu hated playing mind games. His father and Sasuke sensei had told him to go easy on the girl. "Onari, you can't go home until your training is finished for the day. This means, you must complete the exercise Father wants you to do. Ninja have to take direction and learn to do what they are instructed to do."

"Exercises are only another from of learning. It teaches you to grow and gives you strength in problem-solving, as well as, in ability," Kandai said. "We can see that you have strong physical ability. You've avoided us all day."

"Avoiding someone or something doesn't make the challenge go away. You're going to have to face it. Why is it hard to understand that we have no intention of hurting you? Whatever you've dealt with in the past, is being forced on me and Kandai," Eiyu said.

"Onari make Kandai Eiyu hurt," she said unsure. Was she causing them pain by avoiding them? Onari rolled over. Eiyu and Kandai both had sad expressions on their faces.

"If you keep avoiding us, you won't get to know us. We can't be friends if not given the chance," Kandai said as he tiredly watched her. Onari started to slowly crawl towards him. He didn't move a muscle.

"K-Kandai promise not hurt Onari," she said.

"I promise," Kandai told her. He doubted the energy was in him to even touch her. Kandai closed his eyes for a moment. Exhaustion was taking its toll on him. He didn't know about Eiyu.

Onari slowly kept crawling towards Kandai. She didn't think he'd actually hurt her. He was Neji's son. Wait. Kandai and Eiyu were Neji's sons. Neji was the one that saved her and watched her. He wasn't a bad person. In saying so, his children would generally be raised to have the same morals as him. Onari felt silly to have let Kandai and Eiyu chase her the entire day. It wasn't fair to them.

Kandai yawned as he opened his eyes. He looked up to see Onari looking back at him. She was watching him intently. "Hi," he said tiredly. "Are you the same girl who has been here all day?" Her facial expression was more alert, serious, and to the point. She lifted her hand and touched his nose. "I'm only half of the exercise. You still have to touch Eiyu."

Onari shifted her gaze to Eiyu. He looked at her, in return. "Eiyu up," she said issuing him to sit up with her hand. She crawled over to him without fear. He sat up then held his palm out to her. Instead of touching him with one finger, she let her hand meet his and held it. Onari looked dead into Eiyu's eyes, her gaze focused. "Onari no scared Eiyu Kandai," she said. "Onari make Sasuke, Izumi, Eiyu, Neji, Kandai, and Takeru proud now."

"Good. So now that you're serious about training, let's see how fast you are," Eiyu said. "I have an exercise for you. Kandai, do you have a second wind? Let's see if she can avoid us and how long it takes."

Kandai got up. He stretched a second. "Do you want a head start," he asked Onari. She shook her head. "Oh, so you're getting more confidence now. I want to see if she can avoid the both of us, Eiyu. It's harder than it appears when you have two people coming at you," he said smiling.

Onari stood her ground firmly. These two were more experienced than her – like Takeru. Most of her life was spent dodging and avoiding contact from others. She had the advantage over it. Every afternoon when Takeru trained with Sasuke, she watched. In the late night hours she was often copying his moves in her room. No one was the wiser. No one heard her. Eiyu's tactics were formidable. She would test what she knew on him and Kandai.

Kandai and Eiyu watched as Onari shifted her body to the side. She raised her hand and waved at them. Eiyu smiled his eyes serious. Kandai shifted his feet, leaning forward. "Come on," Onari said challenging the two twins.

"I don't get where you're coming up with this idea," Saori said. She looked at the boy who sat next to her in Kurenai sensei's class. "If we do that, Kurenai sensei will get onto us. I don't think asking is going to help us on the finals."

"There has to be some way of figuring out what is going to be on the written exam," Areku said. "I heard it's tougher ever year." He looked ahead as they walked down the road, his slit eyes squinting. "Hey, isn't that Uchiha? Who is that with him?"

Saori turned her gaze to where Areku was looking. As a few people started to part in front of them, she saw Takeru walking side by side with – Ryu. Her heart stopped. She gasped. The confrontation between her and Ryu played back in her mind. Yet, he was smiling as he talked to Takeru.

Areku looked at Saori. She was tense. He could tell something was wrong. "Saori, are you alright?" He looked to her while her eyes were focused ahead. Did she know the guy walking with Takeru? It appeared she did. Areku reached up shaking her lightly on the shoulder. "Saori?"

"I have to go," Saori said abruptly. She turned around quickly. "Sorry, Areku."

Areku wasn't buying it. He grabbed her wrist, stopping her. "Saori, something is wrong. Since when did you start running like a chicken?" She looked at him with a painful gaze. "Why won't you tell me what's bothering you?"

"Oh, hey, Saori," Takeru said from behind him. Areku turned around. He let go of Saori's wrist. Takeru was well-known because of his father. Areku's father, Kiba, often worked with Sasuke. Areku wondered if something had happened between Saori and Takeru.

Saori turned around acting all happy. It was her way of covering up her feelings. "Oh, hey, Takeru! I haven't seen you in a while. Are things going all right for you?"

Takeru blinked. The last he remembered Saori was full of herself and overly confident. Now she was cheerful, but not the good kind of cheerful – more like the overly done scary kind. "Um, I'm fine. What's up with you? You're acting rather odd."

Ryu raised a brow. "I'll say," he said calmly. Saori glanced at him. Her eyes showed shock. "What," he asked. She turned away quickly. Am I missing something? He scratched his chin, pondering.

There was a deafening silence between them. Things seemed to be uncomfortable for the group. Areku was watching Takeru so seriously that Takeru backed away some. Saori kept her eyes averted from everyone. No one really had any idea to how it started or what led to the awkwardness. It dragged on for a while until Ryu decided he had had enough. "Alright, why are we standing here staring at each other?"

"Heck if I know. I haven't done a thing," Takeru confessed. He hadn't seen Saori or Areku outside of class since around New Year's. He knew Areku didn't know Ryu.

"Well, it's not me," Areku said gruffly. "I don't know either of you. We were fine until you two showed up."

"Saori, it has to be you because we haven't seen you since the beginning of the year," Takeru said. He watched her cross her arms as she looked at the ground. "What has you acting so strangely? You're not that cheerful."

Did she dare glance at Ryu? She slowly moved her eyes to look at him. Her jaw dropped. Ryu was scratching his head not paying any of them a bit of attention. Is he really clueless or what? Does he even remember the fight we had? He looked at her lazily. Saori about fell out. The entire time she had avoided him and he didn't even remember? "You have got to be kidding me!"

"I haven't said anything," Ryu said. Saori clenched her fists. Her shoulders were shaking. Her eye was twitching. "What has you about to blow a fuse, puppet girl? Is there a sale on tea, or cake you have missed?"

Saori lifted her hand pointing at Ryu. He was completely toying with her! "You do remember! I know you do! You're trying to pass off forgetting about what you said that day!"

"I remember what I did this morning; maybe a few days ago, but that day was a few months ago," Ryu said. He watched Saori's face contort. "You might want to be careful of that. It'll stay that way," Ryu said about her face.

"What is going on," Takeru said. Ryu shrugged. "Oh, you know. I know you do. Who knows what goes on in that active mind of yours?" Ryu held up two fingers for 'victory'. He was smiling at Takeru. Oh, you're horrible. You're toying with her.

"Ryu, I swear-," Saori started to say.

"You know my name? Have we met? Oh, yes, you're the puppet girl who likes cake, tea, and using puppet strings on others," Ryu said quite coyly.

"Stop calling me 'puppet girl'. I have a name," Saori said angrily.

"Let me guess. Temper Nara, is it? Nice to see you again. I thought Uchiha was the only hothead, but it's nice to have competition, I suppose," Ryu said bitterly. Amazing how Saori made a comeback so quickly. If she thinks I'm apologizing for the wake up call I gave her, she has another thing coming.

Areku put his arm up to stop Saori from attempting a swing at Ryu. She was fuming. Ryu was coolly watching them. "I'm not sure what's going on, but anyone who taunts someone else and makes them look like a fool, is not worth my time."

"You're not the one I was talking to," Ryu said. Areku narrowed his eyes. "If you have something to say, say it. I'm a big boy. I can handle it."

Takeru understood why Ryu got in so much trouble with others. Ryu didn't know how to properly say anything. "Ryu, knock it off. I have no patience for your antics. Come on, I'm ending this before you dig a bigger hole for yourself." Takeru pushed Ryu off forcing him to walk away from Saori and Areku.

"I don't know what he's said to you, Saori, but I'll apologize because I don't want to see you upset. Ryu, keep walking!" Takeru narrowed his eyes as he caught Ryu trying to eavesdrop. For someone that was older, Ryu acted like he was Takeru's age. He sighed disgustedly.

Saori glanced at Takeru. "Don't apologize for him. He needs to learn to do it. It's sweet of you to stand up for me. Just don't turn out like him, Takeru. One Ryu is enough in this world."

Areku glanced behind them to see Ryu leaning up against a shop. His arms were crossed, eyes closed, foot on the wood, and his head tilted toward them. "He's eavesdropping again." Ryu appeared to smile under his face mask.

"I'm going to knock his head off," Saori said highly annoyed. She turned to enforce her decision on the matter. Takeru and Areku both grabbed her. "I won't hurt him much! I'll just scar him a little!"

"Saori, let it go," Areku said holding her in place. "He's only doing that to get on your nerves. You're falling for it!"

Saori un-tensed her body. She didn't want Ryu to win. "I'll get him back eventually, but not today. I'd rather see him squirm."

"Aren't we supposed to be maturing when we graduate? This isn't helping. At least acknowledge Ryu's immaturity and move on. Revenge isn't always the best option," Takeru said as he let Saori go.

"No, it isn't, but it would make me feel better," Saori said smiling slyly.

"Saori," Areku said.

"Oh, alright. I'll leave him alone. It's too nice of ad ay to waste it on Ryu. Let's go Areku. We need to go buy some study aids anyway. My dad is helping us prepare for the written exam," Saori told Takeru. "If you want, I can help you, too."

"Seriously? I may take you up on that. Hey, Saori, why don't you come over after you study with your dad? We can practice outside in the garden. Although, I need to warn you about my mom," Takeru said scratching his head embarrassed.

"What's wrong with your mother," Areku asked.

"I've never had company before. She may get excited," Takeru said forcing a smile. He didn't know how she was going to react. She might scare Saori off. Suddenly, Takeru felt nervous. He still had to ask permission about having company over.

"I've never had company before either," Saori said disappointedly. "Well, don't worry too much about it. I'll get a nice gift for your mom while we're out. See you later, Takeru!" Her and Areku waved and went off after their study materials.

Takeru walked up to Ryu. Ryu was still in the same pose, acting coolly. "You could at least acknowledge me, geez." Ryu opened his eyes to look at him. "Truthfully, what happened between you and Saori?"

"Truthfully?" Takeru nodded. "She tried to injure a girl I was having a quarrel with. I stopped her, but ended up losing my head and taking my anger out on Saori."

"So that's what it is. Whatever you said to her has had an impact on her. Ryu, I know I don't know you well, but I know of you because my dad is worried about you. Stop fighting with others," Takeru said. "You're only distancing yourself."

Ryu looked away. His eyes were focused on something unseen. "Why is Sasuke sensei worried about me," he asked softly. "He's only my trainer."

Takeru didn't know what to say. That was what Ryu had to find out for himself. "Ryu, I can only tell you that actions speak louder than words. Instead of listening to what some say, try watching."

"Try watching," Ryu repeated. "You mean how you're still standing here instead of walking away from me?" He glanced at Takeru. Takeru had a very serious expression on his face.

"I'm not going to walk away from you," Takeru informed him. "I see past the mist you hide in." Ryu coughed as he looked away again. When Takeru was hurting, he stayed to himself – much like Ryu did. "Ryu, in all truth, stop hiding who you are. I'm sure stumbling in the dark is quite bothersome."

"It is," Ryu admitted. "You should see the wounds on my face," he said smiling at Takeru. "Well, what'd you think I wore the mask for?"

Takeru smirked. "Come on, you idiot. I have to meet up with my parents. I'm pretty sure my mom has already put all of the shops in Konoha out of business."