V 6 Ch 1

Idai's Nightmares

Idai tossed and turned in his bed. His brows furrowed as his body twitched in his sleep. Visions of faces were swimming in his dreams. They were purple faces that were gasping with their mouths wide open. Some were even black and had no eyes. He couldn't differentiate men from women or children. His body suddenly jerked rather violently as he whimpered in his sleep. The visions he saw were intensifying - the colors were starting to swirl together with the faces melting. Idai's eyes were wide in his nightmare - unable to close from the horrible pictures he couldn't escape. Idai started to scream in his sleep.

Idai thrashing and screaming alerted Daiya and Takeru. Both of the boys sat up looking around the room, half expecting someone else to be there - possibly an enemy. The room was completely dark except for a small light on in the hall.

Daiya immediately turned Idai over. He pinned the boy down to keep him from hitting Takeru. "Idai!" Idai's hands turned into claws as he started to fight in his sleep. He was fighting Daiya without even realizing it.

"What is wrong with him? Why isn't he waking up," Takeru said rather loudly. He watched his brother try to calm their friend down.

Daiya yelled again, "Idai!" Idai kept on screaming as his body jerked and tensed repeatedly. "He's having a nightmare. He goes through these every once in a while," Daiya tried to explain to Takeru as he gritted his teeth. "Takeru, put your arms around his neck and hold him to

you."

Takeru did as Daiya instructed him to do. Idai eased up some once his arms were around the older boy. Idai's screams even turned into whimpers after a few moments. Takeru looked up at Daiya. His brother was hanging his head as his body untensed. Daiya appeared to be worried. "How did you know to do that?"

Daiya looked at Takeru sadly. "Idai suffers from some sort of flashbacks. I know you've heard about them. He went through one a few weeks ago on Kiba's team. He's lashed out like this a few times when I was here. I didn't know what was happening either. Gai sense had to talk to me about it. Sometimes, the flashbacks happen when he's awake, Takeru. Like the one you saw at home. Other times, it is when he is asleep. If his nightmare isn't tormenting him badly, he'll wake up. I think this one was a really bad one."

Takeru absentmindedly put his hand upon Idai's chest. He could feel his heart beating out of his chest. "His heart his racing. Why can't we wake him up? We can't leave him like this," Takeru said.

"Do you assume I haven't tried? Do you think I want him to remain this way," Daiya said rather angrily with the situation. He looked away. Takeru didn't understand what was happening. Daiya closed his eyes. "I'm sorry, Takeru. It hurts for me to not know what to do for him. I've tried everything. He has no choice but to fight it."

Takeru looked back at Idai. He laid him down with his arms still around his neck. Idai was whimpering on and off from the torments he saw. Takeru pressed Idai to him as he thought. He wanted to help him, but he was like Daiya. He was unsure of what he could do. "There has to be some way to stop it."

Daiya felt helpless. He lowered his body to lay on top of Idai. He wrapped his arms around him protectively, trying to sort everything out. His head was on his best friend's chest in defeat. "I'm the stronger one. I'm supposed to know how to fix him. I have to, -" Daiya stopped. His emotions were getting out of control. He was starting to break inside a little at a time. He knew that if he didn't calm down, his heart rhythm would get out of control. Scaring Takeru was going to enhance the problem.

Takeru reached up to place his hand on top of his brother's unmanageable brown hair. Daiya's face was turned away from him. "Daiya, you take the older brother role too seriously."

"He's the only person that kept trying to get my attention, Takeru. I run everyone off with the way I am," Daiya said softly. "I've noticed how I scare you, at times. I see it in your eyes when I get angry. No one truly accepts me for who I am except Idai. He doesn't judge me."

"Older brothers are supposed to scare their younger siblings. It's kind of like your job," Takeru said as he petted his head. "Yes, your anger scares me. I'll admit it. In a way, it's worse getting into trouble with you than it is with dad. Your approval means more because you rarely give it."

"Why would you want my approval? I'm nobody," Daiya said as he clutched Idai's pajamas. He was only a foreigner that lived in Konoha. "It was only chance that someone found me, Takeru. I should have died a long time ago. I had been alone for days when Kurenai sensei found me. You don't know everything about me. I killed my mother when I erupted and got out of control. I caused it." Daiya felt he had to level with him. "Don't you understand? I'm a murderer."

Takeru kept his hand on Daiya's head although the petting had stopped. He didn't know if he wanted to believe what Daiya was telling him. "Please look at me." Daiya shook his head. Takeru laid Idai down gently as he crawled over his brother. Takeru's dark eyes searched his brother's face. "Daiya, please look at me."

"Go away," Daiya said softly. He hated himself. "Go away, Takeru," he said again. "I have too much respect for you to let you associate with me."

Takeru looked at him rather hurt. "You don't... want to be my brother anymore? You don't like me?"

Daiya looked up at him at that moment. The boy was looking at him with a hurt expression all over his face. "That's not what I meant to say, -" Daiya started out. He watched as Takeru lowered his gaze, shook his head, and moved away from him. Daiya watched him lay back down on the other side of Idai.

Idai came out of his nightmare at an awkward time. He heard some of what was going on around him. Daiya had upset Takeru. He had said something wrong. "Daiya?" His best friend looked down at him. "You didn't kill your mother. She hurt you. She didn't want you." Daiya gasped. His anxiety was showing. "Just because your mom was like mine, doesn't mean Takeru and I don't want you," he said as he reached up to touch Daiya's face.

"I know you didn't mean what you said. You're not a murderer. Takeru is younger than we are. He doesn't understand what we know. He looks up to you a lot. At least let him see the real you, instead of pushing him off," Idai said. "Please? He loves you, Daiya, or he wouldn't keep trying to get your attention."

Daiya's eyes met Idai's as he looked up at him. He bit his bottom lip. "Why is it possible for you to say what I can't and act the way I wish I could?" Daiya closed his eyes.

"Because you don't let yourself. You put too many restrictions on what you can and cannot do. I think you're afraid of what we'll think. It's all in your head. You need to be less reserved. Be spontaneous," Idai said trying to explain things to him.

Daiya took a deep breath. "Idai says to be spontaneous." Idai was watching him curiously. Daiya grabbed his face and blew a loud puff of air onto his cheek. Takeru flipped his head around in alarm.

Idai kicked his legs. "Ah, man, Daiya, I didn't mean like that!" Daiya kept blowing the puffs of air onto his face in various spots. He started laughing, not able to help himself. "Quit! You'll wake up my dad and I'll get into trouble," Idai said laughing the entire time. "I'll sick Takeru on you, I swear!" Idai tried to roll over to avoid it. "Takeru, help!"

In that instant, the misunderstanding between he and Daiya was forgotten. Daiya was actually wide open to both of them. He was letting them in to his world. Takeru grabbed his pillow, closed his eyes, and swung it at Daiya. It made contact aright. Takeru froze with his body tense.

"So the baby has a backbone," Daiya said. Takeru looked at him rather afraid. "Little brother, you're fixing to get it." Daiya tackled him. Takeru was thrown onto the futon. Daiya blew puffs of air onto his cheeks as Takeru squirmed.

Takeru brought his hands up to push Daiya. "You said you didn't like me anymore! Get off, Daiya!" He pushed at him again, harder as his anger rose. Daiya pinned him.

"Takeru," Daiya said softly. "Stop." The boy was still attempting to fight him. "I'm sorry about what I said. I... didn't think you'd take it that way."

Idai crawled over to Takeru and Daiya. He saw the tears coming out of Takeru's eyes. They were angry and sad tears. He had had those before. "Takeru, Daiya didn't mean he didn't like you. He thinks badly of himself. He thinks if you get too close to him, he'll hurt you and cause you pain. Wounds on the heart take longer to heal," Idai said as Takeru watched him. "I know you don't understand right now. You're too young to have the mind of an adult. But some of us have had to grow up sooner than we have liked."

Takeru pushed at Daiya again. "You don't want to be my brother! Ryu doesn't either! I don't need either of you! Get away from me!" Takeru was still crying as he moved back as he sat up.

Idai looked at Daiya sadly. "Takeru, do you think I'm a liar?" Takeru shook his head. "Do you not trust Daiya, Ryu, or me?" Takeru nodded slowly as he wiped his eyes. "Have we ever intentionally hurt you?"

"N-No," Takeru said as his voice cracked.

"Takeru? Look at Daiya," Idai said as he pointed. He watched Takeru look up cautiously. "Daiya, don't look away from him. He needs to know who you are."

Daiya looked back at Takeru, hurt. His stormy gray eyes met his. They were both upset. He was ashamed at how much he was revealing about himself. "You don't need me," Daiya repeated, stuttering. He felt like he did when he was a small boy and his mother cast him aside. "She didn't need me either. I'm a burden to your family. I... can't fight with my team like I'm supposed to because of my ailment. I... can't be alone anymore. Someone has to be with me most of the time. Your dad has to take me in. I only want a family! That's all! I don't want to hurt anybody! I'm not a monster," Daiya yelled.

Takeru saw all of the pain Daiya had dealt with in his eyes. He could se Daiya being shoved aside as a child; hit; and kicked. Daiya was strong on the outside because he was weak on the inside. He was trying to make up for it. "You have to accept them for their strengths, weaknesses and flaws," Sasuke said.

Idai was unsure of how Takeru was going to perceive Daiya from now on. He could see a particular look in the younger boys' eyes of shock. "Takeru, say something." Daiya was not an easy guy to accept. He was afraid that all of Takeru's efforts had crumbled before his eyes.

Takeru kept his eyes on Daiya. "I... love Daiya... and Ryu. They... don't understand. I... can't make them, -" he broke off choking on his words as he opened his arms, closing his eyes.

Daiya threw himself at Takeru. He wrapped his arms around him tightly, pressing his head to his chest, his hand on the side of his head. "Why, Takeru? Why do you keep coming back?"

"You're my brother," Takeru said hoarsely. He held onto Daiya. "I'm not supposed to let you fall."

Daiya looked at Idai. "Who told him to say that?" Idai shook his head. Daiya tried to calm down again. His heart was feeling funny.

"Takeru is innocent, Daiya. He doesn't say words that aren't meaningful. I've watched him for the longest time. He says what he feels," Idai said.

Daiya looked down at Takeru. The boy was leaning into him comfortably. "Are you going to sleep," he asked softly. Takeru shook his head slowly. Idai was smiling and pointing. "I think you are." Takeru shook his head even slower to object. Daiya felt his brother twitch as he laid him down upon the futon. Takeru rolled over. "I don't know what to do with him."

Idai yawned as he lay down next to Takeru. He reached up petting the boy's head. "Keep him," he said tiredly. "If you don't, Takeru's legs will get tired and he'll stop chasing you. He'll fall behind."

Daiya laid down gazing at Takeru's sleeping face. He put his arms around him to cradle him. Takeru moved a little, in order, to get closer to Daiya. "Idai, has anyone ever told you that you talk more sense when you're half-awake?"

"Yeah, I love you, too, Daiya. Just for that, I'll be extra hyper tomorrow," Idai said as he closed his eyes. He moved closer to Takeru. The darkness bothered him despite others being in the room. "I hate the dark."

Takeru rolled over. He yawned as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. Idai was sleeping hard next to him. What had happened last night? He turned his head to see Daiya on his other side sleeping comfortably. Takeru vaguely remembered all that had occurred.

Takeru felt Daiya move his arms. That's when he noticed his brother was holding onto him. What did I do last night? Takeru felt as if he was emotionally drained. Yet, he also felt relieved at the same time. He reached his hand up to move Daiya's bangs out of his face. His brother opened his eyes. "You need a haircut," he said to explain himself.

Daiya wondered if Takeru recalled what he had said the previous night. He watched him keep playing with his bangs. "You don't remember anything about what I said, do you?"

"I know some of what you said," Takeru answered him softly. "I was more concerned about the hurt I saw in your eyes and I how I needed to stop it." He quit playing with Daiya's hair to notice a shocked look on his face. "Huh?"

Daiya's mood changed. He was watching him with a kinder gaze. "What have we done to deserve you," he asked no one in particular. He reached forward, placed his hands on Takeru's face and leaned over to kiss him tenderly on the forehead. "I can't say the words you say so freely. If I do, something will happen and you'll slip away from me. I can only show you, Takeru." He hugged him protectively as an older brother should.

Takeru blushed a bit. Whatever had happened the previous night had had an impact on Daiya. He wasn't as closed to Takeru as he was before. No, Daiya was a little more open now. "Daiya, how am I going to get Ryu to understand what he means to me?"

"That might be a bit complicated. Ryu only hears and feels what he wants to. He's not as guarded as I am, though. I think he doesn't want to feel anything," Daiya said, not really trying to shoot down Takeru's hopes about it.

"We could just corner him and make him understand," Idai said with an evil grin.

"I don't think that would be wise, Idai. Ryu can be aggressive if he feels threatened," Daiya said. "I've seen him act that way with Dad. I wonder how he was able to confess to Saori. There had to be a reason behind it."

"Probably timing," Idai said. "What's the point of existing if you only let the trees know who you are?" Idai yawned, covering his mouth.

"I don't get it," Takeru said as he looked at Idai strangely.

"It means you're rooted in place. Instead of letting the world see who you are, you are letting it pass you by," Idai said. He looked at Takeru seriously. "I used to be like that before I had you guys. I was too wrapped up in myself."

Takeru decided to change the subject. "Do you think your dad heard all of the commotion we caused last night?" He watched Idai ponder.

"No idea, but if he's grinning at us when we come out of the room, then 'yes' he knows," Idai answered rather matter-of-factly.

They walked out of Idai's room cautiously. Where was Gai? Takeru looked out from behind Daiya. He was used to high-strung adults by now. Rock Lee was his trainer, after all.

"So did you kids sleep well," Gai asked out of nowhere. All three of the boys jumped. "It's awfully late. Almost noon, in fact. How about the three of you go take a bath and I'll treat you boys to lunch?"

"Seriously," Idai asked rather surprised. Gai nodded as he smiled big and pearly white. Oh, no. He knows. Oh, well. Dad won't embarrass us over it, At least, I don't think he will. He's being pretty thoughtful right now, even if he's laying it on a little thick.

The three of them started to change out of their pajamas. Takeru threw his t-shirt into the basket next to the door in the changing room. He tilted his head as he watched Daiya unravel his bandages. His brother had to wear them in order to protect his skin from the electrical currents he emitted. Daiya threw his shirt at Takeru in return. "Hey," he said as he took it off. "What's with you?"

Daiya started to turn around as he unraveled the bandages around his chest. He didn't like Takeru or Idai seeing how he looked. He was still self-conscious about it. Both Idai and Takeru had seen them now, but it was still uncomfortable for him.

Idai noticed how Daiya was acting. "Hey, Takeru, can you grab the shampoo? I'll show you a trick." Takeru turned around to retrieve the bottle. "Get in before he turns back around," he told Daiya softly.

Takeru handed Idai the bottle of shampoo. "What kind of trick are you going to show me?" Idai signaled for him to get in the large tub.

"Have you ever seen Daiya's hair down before," Idai asked.

"No, he always keeps his hair up," Takeru said as he watched Idai move towards Daiya. Idai got in the large tub with a splash. He started to take Daiya's hair down. Takeru watched as his brother's hair fell. It was a tangled rat's nest. "Good grief, Daiya! Have you ever heard of a brush?"

"It's always like that. I can't get a brush through it. That's just the way it grows," Daiya said trying to ease the weird looks Takeru was giving him over it.

"Watch," Idai said as he poured a ton of water onto Daiya's hair. "It still sticks up no matter what comes in contact with it," he said laughing. "Although, Ryu is still the porcupine of the group." He started to wash his best friend's hair.

"Idai, are you doing that so Takeru won't look at my back," Daiya asked softly.

"Yep," Idai said as he scrubbed Daiya's hair hard. "I figured you didn't want him to pay too much attention to it. I know how you feel about it. Takeru would be worried."

"Thanks," Daiya said as he reached up to pet the top of his best friend's head.

Takeru laughed as Daiya dried his hair. Daiya's hair went through its normal cycle of electrical currents when it came into contact with the towel. It spiked out on all ends. Daiya gave him the usual blank expression he always gave. "Okay, I'm sorry," Takeru apologized. He reached up trying to flatten his brother's hair out. "You need to cut your bangs," he said trying to part them.

"He has to be careful about that sort of thing," Idai said. He put his head through the neck hole of his shirt. "The scissors are metal, you know. It would only cause Daiya to electrocute the person attempting it."

"I have to get my hair chopped off with a special pair of scissors," Daiya said. "That's why I don't do it often. I could hurt anyone who isn't protected."

"Are you boys read to go," Gai asked as he stuck his head into the room. "Son, are you having trouble with your hair?" Takeru and Idai started laughing.

Idai's eyes got wide as he watched Takeru pour half a bottle of hot sauce onto his curry and rice. He wasn't the only one. Most of the people in the place were watching him. "Takeru, you do know that curry is hot, right? And now you're making it swim like a fish in hot sauce."

"That kid is going to be so sick he'll be delusional," some guy said from another table.

"Son, maybe you should ease up on that," Gai said amazed at how much red sauce was on the plate. He figured the plate would end up dyed that color in the end. The rice seemed to be soaking it up, too.

"I eat like this all of the time," Takeru said defensively. "I love spicy stuff." He shoved a spoonful of it into his mouth.

Daiya waited for Takeru to start screaming, but it didn't happen. He was eating it. He's not normal. Then again, I haven't met a Uchiha that was.

"It's not spicy enough," Takeru said rather disappointed. "Can I get more curry to add to it?" He watched Gai's mouth drop.

Daiya and Idai had to grab the bottle of hot sauce to keep it out of Takeru's hand. "No more," they said in unison. Takeru attempted to retrieve it. Daiya slapped his hand.

Idai reached forward with his chopsticks. He grabbed some of Takeru's food. He examined it.

"Idai, I wouldn't eat that," Daiya said alarmed. Too late. Idai twitched. His eyes were wide. "Get it out of his mouth before it makes him sick!"

Gai forced Idai's mouth open. "Well, that's not good," he said as he looked at Daiya seriously. "He already swallowed it." They stared at each other for a split second before the dinnerware was flying through the air. They scrambled to find something to put into Idai's mouth. Daiya grabbed water and poured it down his throat, but it was of no use.

Takeru tilted his head watching the commotion. Everyone in the establishment was also staring at their table. He wondered why it was such a big deal.

"We need something salty," Gai yelled to the waitress. The only thing salty in the restaurant was a can of fish. He took the can from the waitress and opened it with a clank. Gai shoved a sardine into Idai's mouth. The hotness in the boys' mouth seemed to be subsiding. "We might as well go for good measure," Gai said as he took the whole can and stuck all of the fish in the youth's mouth.

Idai whimpered as tears came out of his eyes. Small fish tails were sticking out of his mouth. He was embarrassed. He couldn't even feel his tongue from the spicy food. Idai stared at the table to avoid everyone's gaze.

Gai patted him on the back. "You're having an interesting day, Idai." Idai sniffled.

"Why did it have to be fish," Takeru asked rather baffled with his chopsticks stuck in mid-air.

"Good question," Daiya said as he too stared at the outcome.

Idai brushed the heck out of his teeth. He smelled fish all over his hands, too. He even tasted them, despite how many times he had brushed. Idai spit. "Ah, man, why did it have to be fish?" He came out of the bathroom trying to scrape his tongue off.

"Idai, sit down, son," Gai said as he sat at the small table. Idai sat down next to him. He looked up at him wondering what was up. "How bad was your nightmare last night?"

Idai looked away at the mention of it. "Oh, you heard me," he said softly. He didn't like Gai hearing how afraid he was in his sleep.

"Yeah, I did. I was up, but I stopped coming to your aid when your friends managed to get you calmed down. Do you remember what you saw?"

Idai kept his gaze averted. "I-I saw f-faces, Dad. Th-They were melting and screaming at me," he said stuttering as he remembered it. It was one of the first dreams he had that repeated constantly. Probably because it was the most terrifying to him.

"What part of the dream is scaring you, besides the faces?"

Idai closed his eyes. He took a deep breath. He bit his lip as his hands played with his shirt, clenching on the material. Idai could see the faces clearly the more he thought about it. "The faces are the problem," Idai said gently. "I don't... want them to touch me. Th-They scream at me relentlessly. Th-They know my name, Dad."

Gai moved over to Idai. He embraced the boy. Idai was being tortured by his nightmares. "I know it's difficult to go through this. We have to find out what these dreams mean. Only when we understand them, can we go through the process of handling it. I know you can't control the flashbacks, either. I need to know what makes you feel safe. The dreams are getting worse, aren't they? Normally, you only ask Daiya to come over."

"I don't like to be alone anymore at night. The darkness scares me. I hear things, too," Idai said softly. "Dad, make it stop. Tell all of them to leave me alone," he said about the flashbacks he saw and the nightmares. It was too much for him.

Gai placed his hand onto Idai's head in a protective hold. Idai was calm for the most part as he was held. "I don't know how to stop them, Idai. I'm not going to lie to you. I need to talk to a friend to gain a bit more insight on this sort of matter."

Kurenai Yuhi sat on the floor listening to Gai talk about Idai. She nodded her head as she listened. "So the nightmares are getting worse. He must have had something tragic happen to him as a child. We need to find out what. Idai is reserved about his past. It's painful for him. Has he ever expressed anything to Daiya or Ryu?"

Gai tried to reflect on things he's heard and seen. "I don't think Idai has let either of them know anything that deep. He mainly tags along after Daiya during the day. His main focus has always been to try and get Daiya's mind off of his own problems. Idai isn't as close to Ryu as he is with the other."

"That's not surprising," Kurenai agreed. "Ryu is the type of kid that doesn't let anything effect him, if he can help it. I don't know if my son is afraid of having a reaction out of someone, or if he just doesn't want to get involved. I'm happy that he has friends now, though. He has started to change in the past few months. I need to properly thank Sasuke's son for that," Kurenai said referring to Takeru.

"It seems Takeru is maturer than one would expect. Quite amazing since he is the youngest on the new teams," Gai said. "I don't think Takeru believes another person is capable of being sinister, in any regards. He's always willing to work with another person, despite where he comes from, or what he's heard. He certainly has been generous and accepting of Idai."

"I hear Idai is happier when he's with the guys. Ryu is, too. Children need their friends more than they need us right now. They are their second family. I'd hate to ask Ryu or Daiya to try and get information out of Idai. It would put us in a bad position," Kurenai said as she thought.

"Idai would only withdraw from them if they were to go that far. I don't want to undo what they have worked so hard at achieving," Gai said disappointed with the idea. "It's not easy to get into that kid's head."

"I agree. It is a difficult thing to decide. Should we take the route of asking his closest friends to find out information to aid him? Or should we simply find another alternative to help him? Is there even one?"

"His friends know him the best. He has an unsure past and right now, an unsure future. If we decide to get all of them together, it will have to be without Idai knowing. The last thing I want is to lose that boy's trust. However, his friends need to know what he really faces," Gai said.

"All right, you guys, Idai is running a few errands for me. I gave him a hard list to complete so he should be gone for a while. I need all of you to listen," Gai said as he looked at the group sitting before him.

Ryu sat with his arms crossed and eyes closed. He didn't like going behind Idai's back like this. It really bothered him. They weren't the only ones in on it, either. Gai had asked everyone that Idai was close to, to be present. He wondered how serious it was going to be. He glanced at his mother. She sat next to him patiently waiting. "I don't like doing this. It's wrong to go behind Idai's back," Ryu said speaking up for himself.

"There's a reason we're choosing to do things this way," Gai said trying to put Ryu's mind at ease. "I'll explain everything, Ryu. I know all of you are friends with Idai, or have come into contact with him. As his friends, I expect all of you to give me the chance to elaborate why we're having a meeting."

Daiya opened his mouth to say something regarding the confidentiality of his friend. He needed to be reassured. Sasuke put his hand on his head to get his attention. Daiya looked up at him. Sasuke shook his head. He was going to have to remain quiet.

Saori looked around at each person that was present. Idai's trainer and team were here. Also, all of his friend and Takeru's parents. Each one of them had come into contact with Idai at one point or another. She felt the situation was being intensified with the large gathering. Saori wasn't sure how Idai would react to everyone gathering like this. Wasn't it his opportunity to tell everyone what was wrong with him?

Onari tilted her head a few times. There were a lot of people here. Why were they all being so quiet? Her yellow eyes looked around the room constantly. She tugged on Izumi's sleeve. The woman with long white hair looked down at her. "Izumi, Onari quiet why," she asked. Izumi pointed to her ear than to her lips. Onari had to listen right now.

"Just tell them what's going on," Kiba said. "They have a right to know, but I agree that going behind Idai's back is not a good idea. We need to take extra caution. Him finding out that all of us are involved is going to be troublesome." He looked down the line at Onari. "It's also probably not a good idea to have Onari here. She's not going to comprehend what we're saying." Onari looked at him narrowing her eyes. "Sorry, sprout, it's over your head."

"Brother Kiba, Onari understand Kiba say," she said rather aggressively through her gritted teeth. She punched her fist at the floor. It cracked under her intense force.

"Firebird," Sasuke said lowly. He looked at her sternly. She looked at him with the same gaze. "You will behave, or be escorted home." Onari only stared at him with her intense eyes. "I won't tolerate you tearing up Gai's house, or showing defiance to another person. Do you understand me?" Onari didn't answer. "Onari!"

"Onari understand Sasuke," she said almost yelling at him. She looked away from him, scowling. Her fists were clenched at the thought of someone thinking her to be ignorant.

Takeru was sitting next to Daiya. They were both watching Onari get into trouble with their dad. He had stayed by Daiya's side since the other night. Their emotional explosion had only brought them closer to each other.

"Let's move on," Kurenai said. "Some of you may know this, but I will start from the beginning. Don't interrupt," she said looking at each of them. "I found out a few things from Anko about Idai. We are treating each of you as adults from here on out. All of you are to be respectful and mindful of what we tell you.

Anko found Idai when he was seven-years-old. She said his mother had abandoned Idai. Idai's mother was ashamed of him because he didn't pass the entrance exams for the Sound Village. Unlike the entrance exams that Konoha gives, these are given individually, rather than as a group.

Anko has done a lot of research on a few of the clans that have formed since Orochimaru's downfall. They do not operate the same as some of yours. They take their family bonds more seriously, with the lack of humanitarism. She told me children are thrown into a dark room, at the beginning of their entrance exams. They even go to the lengths of locking them in. The purpose of this room is to have the children overcome their fears of the unknown - to gain inner strength at a young age.

There is nothing in the room that can harm the children physically. Only sounds are emitted. Some of the sounds are pleasant, others are frightening. The sounds are used to break the children into obeying their superiors. What happens is, the students overcome what they hear by fighting back, or they end up like Idai - traumatized and afraid.

Idai was not aware that everything was an illusion in the room. He really thought people were after him and the things he heard were occurring. At least, that's what we speculate. He isn't afraid of pleasant sounds like water, or nature - those are merely guides for survival. However, sounds of war such as screaming, yelling, threats, the clash of weapons, cause him to panic.

Children, like Idai, are seen as failures to their clans. These children are not allowed to train with the rest of the students who pass. Their clans are put under some sort of suspension where they cannot participate in political debates or movements to aid their families. In short, they are demoted to worthless, hardworking jobs that require them to barely survive. It's humility of the highest form.

The sound village didn't just traumatize Idai, in my opinion. They tortured him. Unlike the other children who failed, Idai's mother forced the ones in charge to put him into the room every day for a month until he passed. She refused to let her entire clan take the downfall. The things he witnessed and experienced in that room played with his mind. Soon sounds weren't the only thing he started to fear. They started to send blasts of air at him to dramatize an enemy attack. They thought it would awaken Idai's fighting spirit and he wouldn't cower at his responsibilities.

However, Idai failed time and time again. His mother had no choice but to let her clan take the fall. Shameful of her son, she cast him aside where he wandered the Sound Village for a long time, trying to survive. Finding it best to leave, Idai wandered the forest. Anko found him some time later lying on a riverbank. He told her he had been trying to get across despite his weakness and fatigue. Idai complained to her about voices that he heard that screamed relentlessly at him. It wasn't long after he came to Konoha. Gai then took him in.

I know you guys have been with Idai when he's had flashbacks. We would like to know what he does. How do all of you feel about his situation," Kurenai asked as she looked at their faces. The kids were all concerned and horrified at what she had told them.

"If any of you kids know anything else, please tell us," Gai pleaded. They were all in thought. What they now knew about Idai was having an impact on them.

"He can't come out of his nightmares so easily anymore," Daiya said being the first one to speak up. "Idai wakes up during the day for the flashbacks, but not at night. He screams like he's being tortured."

"Calling his name doesn't work, either," Saori said.

"No, but Onari's singing helps him calm down," Takeru said softly. They all looked at him. "Idai had a flashback not long after Daiya came to live with us. Onari had just met him at the time. He was flipping out waving his arms around and moving away from everyone. His eyes were wild and he was just... screaming. Onari thought someone was in the house. I could see the look on her face. She went to Idai, not knowing what was wrong with him.

I know Onari didn't understand what she was seeing. Only Daiya had seen it happen before. At that time, no one was really close to him, but Daiya."

Izumi spoke up. "I had no idea what was wrong with that child. I thought he was in some sort of pain. He didn't know any of us were there. That boy had no idea where he was, or what was around him. Onari came at him and simply wrapped her arms around. She began to sing into his ear, a song I had taught her. It seemed to work. Idai snapped out of his flashback. I don't know how she knew to do that."

Kurenai looked at Onari. The girl was tilting her head trying to understand the words everyone was saying. "Onari, did you know how to calm Idai?"

Onari looked at Ryu's mother. "Onari sing to Daiya when Daiya heart hurt. Daiya heart stop hurt," she said softly. "Onari not know Idai. Idai hurt. Onari stop Idai hurt like Daiya."

"She understands, but then again, she doesn't," Areku said. "Maybe she thought Idai had the same problem as Daiya." That's what he figured at least. He sat next to his father watching everyone around him, too.

Yanagi leaned forward so she could see Onari. Onari was watching all of them. "Onari, what did Idai do when he saw you?"

Onari furrowed her brows. "Idai cry," Onari said gently. "Idai tears sad tears- angry tears. Idai look at Onari. Onari no understand Idai face."

"What does she mean," Masaru asked.

"She doesn't understand the expression he was giving her," Kiba said. "Sprout, can you describe what Idai's face said?" He watched her ponder.

"Idai happy like... bad day, good day," she said trying to explain.

"He was relieved," Kurenai said once she figured out the girl's meaning.

"How can we help him," Ryu asked. "We don't know fully what he sees. There has to be something else besides what the Sound Village did to him. He's had plenty of time to get over his fears."

"If there is something else, Idai is not talking," Sasuke said.

"It may be something he is not consciously aware of," Izumi said. "The nightmares he has may be a reflection of a locked past. It may not simply be just the training he endured. Children cannot handle horrified situations that they are thrown in to. His mind has pushed something so far back, that his conscious mind has forgotten about it. We need to try and, in an underhand way, get Idai to open up."

"It won't be easy," Gai said. "Idai will know if anyone pries too much. He doesn't trust anyone fully. Especially not an adult. Out of all of the kids, the only one he is a hundred percent open with is Daiya."

Daiya had a bad feeling about this. He sighed closing his eyes. "If I try to get any information out of him, he will hate me for it. And I don't mean to the point where we won't speak for a while and he'll hold a grudge. I mean he will HATE me."

Ryu thought for a moment. He waited until Daiya caught his eye. "Would you rather Idai go insane and lose his mind, or would you rather him hate you for the rest of his life, if it meant you could save him?" Daiya's eyes changed to that of shock. "Do you care about him, or not?" Daiya looked away, trying to avoid the question. "Daiya Eimino, answer me," Ryu said sternly.

"I-," Daiya felt his heart clench. He swallowed. His heart wanted to act up because he was getting emotional. Idai was his best friend. Idai meant the world to him. "I would... rather he hate me than... to lose it all." Takeru was looking at him sadly. "It is better to lose someone, than to lose the foundation you stand on." He couldn't take much more. Daiya got up and walked out of the room.

Izumi got up to go after him. "Onari, stay," she said. She walked out into the hall. Daiya had his face buried in his knees. Izumi kneeled. She put her arms around him and drew him closer to her.

Izumi held him as he cried. "Shh, it's all right. I know you love Idai like a brother. There isn't going to be an easy solution, Daiya. Sometimes when we love someone so much, it hurts us in every aspect to watch that person suffer. Everyone goes through pain for someone they care for. It's just a fact of life. Regardless of what happens, or what Idai may say, you are helping him. The greatest love a brother can give, is freedom from torment," Izumi said.

"I don't want him to hurt anymore," Daiya said through his sorrow. "I'm tired of Idai being afraid. I want him to overcome it. I want him to fight back." He coughed, choking on his own emotions. Izumi kissed the top of his head. "Mom, if he resents me, will he come back to me?"

Izumi held him tighter. She started to rock him softly. "Time heals and love overcomes, Daiya. If Idai truly loves you, he will come back to you."