V7 ch 3
Saori's Heartache
Saori lifted her shaking hand towards the door. Her heart was beating so hard in her chest that she felt as if she couldn't breathe. Ryu was behind this particular door. She knew he was injured simply because he hadn't sought her out since his return. She wasn't sure how bad it was. Her father had told her Ryu had had complications dealing with Nattoku. Saori was afraid to open the door and see how injured Ryu was. Their last moments together had left them feeling apart from each other.
Ryu was three years older than her. He was at the age now where he took missions with the adults and was treated as a Shinobi. His missions were tougher than the ones she took. Saori had never told him she loved him. Her hand shook as she held onto the doorknob. It rattled. How badly is he hurt? What kind of mission was he on? Saori took a deep breath. Open the door, Saori. You'll never know if you keep standing here.
Saori closed her eyes as she forced the door to open. She shut the door behind her before she opened her eyes. She kept her eyes at the floor thinking Ryu was still punishing her. He was probably watching her wondering what was wrong with her. "Sorry, I heard you got yourself into a scrape and,-" Saori looked up smiling. She froze. Her smile died. Ryu wasn't watching her as she thought.
Saori's eyes fell onto the machines in front of her. Her heart stopped. She couldn't feel it as she figured out what was happening before her eyes. Saori gasped as she clutched the doorframe behind her. Her nails dug into the wood. "R-Ryu…?" There was no answer. "R-Ryu, this isn't funny. I know you like to tease, but…" Saori approached the bed slowly. "Stop teasing me, Ryu. I did what you asked." The machine in front of her beeped.
Saori came as close as she dared. She wasn't prepared for any of this. The machine that beeped was hooked up to Ryu's chest. It was monitoring his heart rate. Another machine containing pumps was attached to the plastic mask over his face. It was helping him breathe. Saori's eyes soon fell onto the IV bag that was going to his arm. She inhaled sharply.
Saori approached more until she was right beside the bed looking down over him. Ryu's entire thoracic and abdomen pelvic regions were wrapped in bandages. His skin was pale, as he lay unconscious. "Ryu," Saori said as her voice cracked. He was badly injured. She lifted her hand to stroke his cheek. "Ryu, look at me. Please."
Ryu breathed slowly, his breath fogging the mask over his nose and mouth. He wasn't moving. He didn't know she was there. Saori kept stroking his cheek. She bent closer to stare at his handsome face. Saori held the side of his face in her hand as if he was as delicate as china. Her eyes welled up. Her heart was breaking.
Saori closed her eyes as she moved to kiss his forehead tenderly. He felt hot to the touch. "I… love you, Ryu," she said more afraid to utter those words now than before. She placed the side of her cheek against his forehead as she looked out of the window. Saori's tears were blinding her view. She gasped heard; her throat clenched causing her to choke on her grief. Ryu was hanging by a thread. She wasn't ignorant concerning it.
Saori's eyes moved to the vase of flowers near Ryu's bed. Did they think I wouldn't notice? Those flowers have been here for a while. Ryu's been here for a day or two. Were they waiting to see if he died before they told me what had happened? Saori's crying increased. She couldn't help it. Her eyes closed and she cried just as hard as she used to as a child.
It hurt so much for her to see Ryu in this state. Saori let her tears fall onto the pillow. "Whoever is watching over him, please protect him," she said as her voice cracked. The tears in her eyes were hot and burning. "Please, Mr. Hatake, protect Ryu. I love your son. I need him. Please," Saori begged. She gasped harder, her mouth opening so she could breathe as the tears cascaded down her cheeks.
Shikamaru Nara leaned against the door frame with his shoulders. He had overheard every word Saori had spoken. He felt saddened that his daughter had to find out this way. It wasn't fair to her. The mission he had been on with Ryu and Onari had been successful, but at what cost?
Naruto, the Hokage, had decided to place Onari in the field due to her impressive taijutsu and Ninjutsu skills. Onari had undergone extensive training with Neji and Sasuke in the past two years. She was now on Lee's team with Takeru and Eiyu. Shikamaru had to know if Onari could take serious direction from someone other than Neji, or Sasuke. The girl regarded what everyone wanted from her, but she only fully listened to Sasuke without hesitation. He figured it was because Sasuke had been the first one to reach out to her.
Shikamaru sighed depressingly. He couldn't let Saori stay in the room any long with Ryu. They were only allowed minimal visitation. He took a deep breath. Shikamaru opened the door slowly. "Saori, we have to go."
Saori looked up at her father, still crying, with her head lying on top of Ryu's. Her arm was lightly touching his neck. She didn't want to let him go. "I can't leave him," she said as she shook her head. Her father began to walk towards her. She clung to Ryu more.
"Saori, we're not allowed to stay longer due to the condition he's in. You have to let go, Rascal," Shikamaru said as he reached towards her. She put his arms around her waist to tug her back. He hated to pry her off Ryu like this. Saori was emotionally distraught. She started to cry harder as Shikamaru forced her hands to detach. He picked her up and walked out of the room with her.
Saori buried her face in her pillow as she let all of her sorrow out. She hated being parted from Ryu. He could get worse and die. She wrapped her arms around the pillow as she practically screamed into it.
Her mind kept focusing on Ryu. The way he glanced at her, his red eyes watching her as she spoke to him was burned into her brain. She loved how he acted coy when he was on the verge of being caught. Saori liked how Ryu had a pleasant laugh. She absolutely loved the way he touched her face as he kissed her and how he always spoke softly when it was something meaningful for her to hear.
Saori liked Ryu's pranks and how he seemed to enjoy making Sasuke's eye twitch. She could see him leaning against a tree with his eyes closed, arms crossed as Sasuke instructed them. Ryu always acted as if he wasn't listening, but she knew he was – he just didn't like seeming to be too eager. Her lungs heaved for air as her tears finally subsided. She had been crying for several minutes. Her eyes were red and her nose was stuffy.
Saori wiped her eyes on her arms. Ryu please wake up. Please. I need you to smile at me. I need to hear your laugh. Saori sat up. She opened the drawer from the nightstand next to her bed. A small red scroll lay in it. Saori cautiously stroked it as if it would deteriorate under her touch. She picked it up. It was her first present from Ryu. She unrolled it. Saori laid the scroll on the bed as she formed quick hand seals to unlock the genjutsu written on the scroll.
The writing on the scroll began to glow as the genjutsu was activated. Saori's room disappeared entirely. Her walls turned into trees. The bed she had been sitting on changed to a small mound of grass enveloped in red roses. To her left where the door was originally appeared a flowing, waterfall. She blinked as yellow butterflies fluttered around her head.
Saori reached her hand up to one. It landed on her finger, its wings still moving. It was only an illusion, but it was part of Ryu's soul. She was in a secret place he had imagined. She looked up at the clouds overhead. In this world, the stars shown at all hours. This place was made for me. He knew I'd come here to get away. Saori brought her hand to her face to shield her eyes. "Ryu, I wish you would have put yourself here. Even if it wasn't real. Even if you had only stood not saying a word."
Saori lay down in the roses. The genjutsu was so strong that she could smell the scent of the flowers. The waterfall had noise and the wind blew her bangs. Ryu was a highly skilled genjutsu user like his mother, Kurenai. He hid his talents because he didn't want the attention that came with it. She just wanted to stay in this world for a while. Saori closed her eyes.
"Ryu isn't getting better. His body is slowly dying," Daiya said as he stared at the village below. He heard Takeru punch the tree behind him. "How in the hell did this happen? Shikamaru sensei was with them," he said angrily.
Takeru slumped to the branch they were on. He was completely beside himself. He looked off, his eyes not seeing what was there, but looking past it. "Ryu was protecting Onari and Shikamaru," he said gently. "Onari is inexperienced with A-rank missions and opponents. He was watching over her as if we would, Daiya. I regret not putting up a fight with dad for letting Onari go."
"Takeru, it wasn't dad's decision. It was the Hokage's. We can't blame anyone for what happened to Ryu," Daiya said. "I'm just as close to him as you are. At least you can let your emotions out without fear of your heart acting up," he said depressingly.
Takeru smiled sadly. He missed having Ryu around. He was attached to those around him. "Daiya, come here," he said. Daiya turned around slowly to walk towards him. Takeru was surprised his brother wasn't hesitant. Daiya crouched and Takeru pulled him towards him. He hugged his brother hard. "I don't want to lose either of you," he said softly referring to Daiya and Ryu.
"I want to know how to fix Ryu. There has to be something they haven't done to help him," Daiya said frustrated. "He's lost a lot of blood. Why haven't they given him a transfusion?"
Takeru placed his hand on the back of Daiya's head to calm him. "Dad said Ryu had a fever when he was taken in by the medic-nin. They can't administer blood to him until the fever is gone. It could cause an infection. The wound he received was drastic, Daiya. Nattoku tore him open and mutilated his abdomen and chest."
Daiya gritted his teeth, his anger surging. His hair spiked on all ends with the electricity moving through his hair follicles. "I'll kill the bastard," Daiya said as he got up with Takeru holding onto him. "Let go, Takeru! I have to avenge him for protecting my sister!"
"No, Daiya! You can't take off! The man that did this to Ryu is dead. Akaihi went after him!"
"I can't sit around and wait for him to die," he said angrily. "I already lost Idai and he never came back! I can't lose Ryu, too, Takeru. He's not just my teammate!"
In that instant, Takeru realized he wasn't the only one who viewed Ryu as a brother. Daiya had adopted the guy as his own family. Takeru made his brother look at him. "Calm down, Daiya. I don't want you getting too upset. I'm not familiar with doing the chakra push mom and Ryu know how to perform on you."
Daiya looked at his younger brother sadly. "I don't like feeling helpless," he said with his voice low. He averted his eyes.
"Neither do I. we need to check on, Ri. She's been spending too much time alone since it happened," Takeru said. Onari had seen everything unfold. He didn't know what was going on in her head. She had started to avoid all of them – even Eiyu.
Onari stood overlooking the Hidden Leaf Village. The monument of the past Hokages was below her. Onari's yellow eyes narrowed. It's my fault Ryu is injured. I have trained hard to defend everyone around me from bad people. I shouldn't have left him. I'm still weak in the head. Ryu tried to stop that man. Onari clenched her fists. I should have known better!
"Onari, why are you up here? You're spending too much time alone," Daiya said from behind her. She had her hands balled into fists. "You can't keep avoiding us. You've stopped talking. You won't eat. You won't let anyone know what is going on."
"Ryu's hurt because of Onari," she said fiercely. "Onari is not strong enough to protect anyone. Onari has to protect everyone around her!"
"Ri, it wasn't your fault," Takeru said softly. "It's our job to protect each other. That's why we're the closest out of everyone on the teams. It wouldn't have been any different if it was me or Daiya in his place," he said trying to make her understand.
"No, Takeru! Onari is supposed to protect Ryu like she does brother Daiya and Takeru," she screamed as she turned around to look at him. Tears were flowing, as her anger was unleashed. "That stupid brother of Hire's hurt Ryu for protecting her," she said as she grabbed her head trying to get a hold of herself.
Takeru ran at her. He grabbed her and held her tightly against him. Onari was blaming herself entirely for the mission. He had never seen her cry. Onari never got upset. She always kept her emotions in check unless she was frustrated. She tried to push him away, but Takeru pressed her to his body harder. "Stop fighting me, Ri. I'm not trying to hurt you."
Daiya walked over. "She has to know how badly Ryu's hurt. If you don't tell her, I'll have to." Daiya hated for things to be this way. He knew it wasn't going to be easy for her to hear.
Takeru ran his fingers through her long hair. He sighed heavily. Onari's tears were enough to cause an action out of him. He didn't want to increase her sadness. "Ri, Ryu hasn't woken up. He's still unconscious. He's lost a lot of blood." Takeru swallowed difficultly. "The medic-nin is helping him breathe with a machine, but he's sick." He gritted his teeth as he lowered his head. He felt Daiya move closer to him. "Ryu is… Ryu is… d-dying, Onari. The wounds he sustained are extensive."
Onari's heart sank. Her eyes opened wide. Her breathing quickened. Ryu was going to disappear like her parents who had protected her. He was not longer going to teach her language or reading. Ryu was no longer going to look at her as if she was lost in the head when she tried to explain things. Onari swallowed. She had no other choice. She was going to have to bond Ryu to her. "Takeru and Daiya will take Onari to Ryu."
Takeru breathed hard as he stood in the room with Daiya and Onari. It had taken a lot of pleading with the medic-nin to allow all three of them to see Ryu at one time. The respirator was making noise with the machine that was beeping. Takeru whimpered slightly. Ryu was paler than he had been when Shikamaru brought him in. he didn't know if he could bear to see his best friend like this. Death wasn't a pretty sight.
Daiya was closer to Ryu than Takeru. He looked at Onari. In the past few hours, her mood had changed to sheer determination. His sister was contemplating Ryu's existence and importance. "Onari, there isn't anything we can do. Ryu's body is weak from fighting the fever he has. We have… we have to let him go," he said as he started to choke on his words.
"Daiya must trust Onari," she said as she looked at her brother, her yellow eyes stern. Daiya slowly nodded. She could tell he was unsure. "Onari must protect those around her. Onari promised to do so. Onari will not let Ryu go so easily" She turned around quickly to throw seven kunai at the frame of the door with a fierce chakra push.
Takeru's eyes went wide as his head turned to look at the kunai lodged in the frame of the door. Onari had forced it shut. "Ri, why did you do that? The medic-nin will break the door down to get in here," he shouted as he turned back to look at her. Onari was unrolling the bandages around her arms. The netting she wore was pushed up to expose them.
Daiya's eyes fell onto the tattoo markings all over his sister's arms. He had never seen them before. What was all of the strange writing and pictures? Various birds were beautifully etched into her skin. "What is all of that," he breathed.
"You've never seen the tattoos on her body? She's covered in them," Takeru said as Daiya looked at him with wide eyes. He blushed as he realized what he had owned up to.
Daiya moved closer to Takeru. "So exactly how do you know about them? Have you been peeping at my sister?"
Takeru put his hands up in front of his body to ward Daiya off. "I wasn't trying to! She was in there by herself and I thought I'd go ahead and take a bath! It's the truth, Daiya," he said in his defense as his brother put him in a headlock.
"Onari, what exactly are you doing," Daiya demanded.
"Onari is going to bond Ryu to her. Onari will give Ryu, Shogai. Shogai won't hurt Ryu. Takeru and Daiya must trust her to do this," she said softly. "There is no other way. Sasuke said chances don't hurt."
"Ri, I don't know what you're doing, but you don't know if his body can handle it! This isn't the same thing Dad said! It could kill him," Takeru said.
"What is Shogai? What do you mean you're bonding Ryu to you? What is she doing," Daiya said alarmed as Onari bit both of her thumbs. He watched as she smeared blood onto her arms moving down the tattoos. His sister was forming hand seals so fast; his eyes weren't able to follow.
"Onari," Takeru said as her hands continued. What she was fixing to do was unlock some type of jutsu. He wasn't sure exactly how this was going to help Ryu. Was she attempting something dangerous?
Onari took Ryu's breathing mask off. She detached the wires on his chest. The machine started to beep loudly with a warning. Onari went over to cut it off. She left the IV bag attached to his arm for the time being. What she was attempting would only affect a machine.
"Onari, answer me. What are you doing," Daiya demanded as he approached the machines trying to flip them back on. His sister grabbed his wrist to stop him instantly.
"Onari will give Ryu Shogai. Shogai is a celestial just like Akaihi," she said trying to make him back off. "Onari does not want Daiya or Takeru to get in the way. Only Onari can open the Northern gate."
Takeru's heart started to flop in his chest. His anxiety was increasing. "That kind of power must require a lot of chakra." He watched Onari look at him as if he was just now catching on to something so obvious. "She's going to drain her chakra. I don't want to lose you, either, Ri!"
Daiya knew at that moment that his sister was doing something dangerous. He grabbed her around the waist as he tried to move her away from Ryu. Onari's hand seal sequence was complete. He thought by moving her away it would stop her. Takeru was running at them. Onari closed her eyes. Daiya felt his sister's body tense.
"That's not going to stop her! She already finished the hand seal for it," Takeru said as he tried to cover Onari's mouth from saying the words to unlock it.
Onari had no choice but to fight Takeru. She had already made the decision to save Ryu. She elbowed Daiya in the ribs as hard as she dared with both of her elbows. He immediately let go of her and fell to the floor. Onari turned around to face Takeru with her serious gaze. He was afraid. His eyes were shaking as he stared back at her. She brought her hand up quickly as a warning to him.
Takeru breathed hard as his hands fell away. "Ri, I don't want to fight you. I don't want to lose you. I know what you're trying to do!"
"Takeru Uchiha will listen to Onari," she said softly. "Onari makes her own decisions – not Takeru or Daiya. Onari is going to fight for Ryu as he fought for her. Onari is not sure how she gained knowledge of how to help Ryu properly. Maybe something in the past is triggering her body to react. Onari will fight anyone who tries to stop her." She meant it. She was serious. If he stepped near her again, she would have to push him back with force. Onari didn't want to hurt him.
"Takeru, we can't force her to obey us," Daiya said as he grunted as he felt his ribs. "I don't fully understand what is going on, but she is physically stronger than both of us. If you go near her, she may hurt you." He looked at Onari's facial expression. "She doesn't want to attack you. It's written all over her face."
Takeru stepped back with difficulty. His legs felt heavy. Onari still had her hand raised as a warning. His heart ached. Even now, she had no clue he was in love with her. Takeru didn't think Onari understood any of his actions towards her. His eyes averted. He had to let her do it.
Onari turned back around. She approached Ryu's bed for a second time. Gently, she placed her hand over Ryu's heart. She took Ryu's right hand and placed it over her heart.
Daiya watched Takeru. His brother was watching Onari intensely. "Takeru, is it that hard for you to make her own decisions? You fight her around every corner." Onari didn't stop them from making their own decisions.
Takeru looked away as he lowered his head. "I'm in love with her, Daiya," Takeru said as he saw Onari close her eyes to concentrate. "She doesn't understand. She never has. I've tried to tell her; to show her, but nothing works. She remains to stay with Eiyu. I don't see how they have anything in common."
"Celestial Shogai transfer," Onari said. The marking son her arms started to glow. The floor was radiated in light as strange markings appeared. Onari kept her focus. The light intensified blinding all in the room. She grimaced as she felt her chakra being pulled up and away from her body.
Daiya and Takeru watched as the symbols on the floor began to move towards Ryu's hospital bed. The symbols were glowing and making their way to where Onari's right hand was over Ryu's heart. A strange mist started to appear in the room. Daiya looked around the room as it soon began to transform itself. The walls and floors disappeared. It became pitch black with only the glowing light of the symbols around Ryu's bed.
The room began to shake as a sound like thunder came to their ears. Takeru noticed Onari's body was shaking. It was taking most of her chakra to hold the connection. He gasped as he looked up at the ceiling. A huge turtle was staring down at them. Its gaze was serious, its skin and shell radiating in light. Is that Shogai?
Daiya also saw it. He grabbed onto Takeru's wrist hard. What was that? A turtle? It was massive. "Is that Shogai? Is that what Onari is bonding to Ryu?"
Onari looked up at the reptile who was watching them passively. "Lord Shogai, please protect Ryu. Ryu is hurt because of Onari. Ryu guarded Onari and Shikamaru with his life. Please keep Ryu from dying," she said softly. The connection between her and Shogai was going to end soon. She couldn't hold onto it long. It would drain her entirely.
Takeru swallowed hard. "Please, Lord Shogai, Ryu is our brother. He protects us as we protect each other. Please help him." The turtle turned its full attention to Takeru. He froze.
"You are the one who Akaihi protects. I will gladly assist the Lord of the Southern Gate. It is my duty," he said in a heavenly low and high-pitched voice that seemed to echo.
Onari gasped hard. Her chakra was running out. She fell over onto the bed, her hands still in their places. If her hands became detached, it would cause her chakra to detach from her body completely.
Shogai, the Celestial God of the Southern Gate, vanished into a brush of mist that swirled in the heavens. The mist came down in a spiral at Ryu's heart. The force of it blew Takeru's hair back. He watched as the darkness subsided. The hospital room was back. Shogai had completely transferred to Ryu. As expected, the same strange markings that were on Onari's arm appeared on Ryu's right arm, right on his bicep. Takeru wondered if that was what would link Ryu to Shogai.
Daiya expected the medic-nin to be beating the door down with all of the commotion, but everything was silent. He heard people walking up and down the hall outside. Didn't they hear the noises that occurred? His eyes fell on the kunai. "Why has no one noticed we're here?"
Takeru watched Onari give out. She fell over unconscious onto Ryu. He ran to her quickly. "Ri? Ri?" He checked her pulse. Onari was alive, but she was weak. He lifted her off Ryu. Takeru held her tightly against him. "Celestial Gods don't come onto our plane to converse. Instead, we go to theirs." He stroked Onari's cheek fondly. "Onari's out cold. I don't know when she's going to wake up."
Daiya forced the kunai out of the doorframe. He put them inside Takeru's case. As Takeru held Onari, he re-attached the heart monitor and respirator to Ryu. He looked at the boy studying him. Ryu's skin color was already improving. He wasn't as pale as before.
Takeru watched the heart monitor with wide eyes. Ryu's heart was picking up. His breathing wasn't shallow, either. "Daiya, look," he said as he jerked his head to the machines.
"That's impossible. His heart is getting stronger. Even his breathing is deep," Daiya said bewildered. "Is this what happens when someone gets a Celestial?" He turned his head to look at Takeru.
Takeru picked Onari up fully to where her head was against his shoulder. "I hate to say this, but we need to bail. We can't let them find Onari like this. It's going to be hard to explain. Hopefully, Ryu will pull through since Shogai helped even out his chances."
"Out the window," Daiya asked as he opened it. Takeru nodded. They were out of the window in a flash. It was up to Ryu now to pull through. They decided to take another route home to avoid running into anyone they knew. It wouldn't favor their outcome if they got too much attention.
Daiya and Takeru sat on a high branch in the garden overlooking the Uchiha compound. His brother was guarding Onari. "Takeru, perhaps you are not doing something right when it comes to expressing yourself to her."
"I don't know what I could be doing wrong. I've tried to show her. I've even asked Saori for help. Nothing suggested has worked," Takeru said rather disappointed. "I have to face the fact that she doesn't feel the same way about me." He stroked her long hair.
"I know Onari is hard to understand, Takeru, but she's not ignorant. She might be like me in a way, who knows. She may not understand what love is. I didn't. I had never experienced it before, until I had a family and friends. Yanagi was the one who opened my eyes to it. It's a confusing feeling," Daiya admitted as he looked off into the sunset.
"I'll never know what she's thinking or feeling," Takeru said. "If Onari knows how I feel, she isn't saying anything. It's best for me to move on," he said as he stared at her sleeping face.
Onari breathed silently. She turned a little. Where was she? Slowly, she opened her eyes. Onari was in her room looking up at the ceiling. The last thing she remembered was mist going into Ryu. Ryu. She sat up quickly. Her head swam with dizziness. Onari's eyes rolled into the back of her head. She was down for the count again as she hit the futon with a thud.
Two days passed without any knowledge concerning Ryu's situation. No one knew if he was dead or still hanging on. They were down to four out of the original six in their group. Saori was sitting on the bridge with her legs through the bars. She was staring at the water hard as if she had the ability to manipulate it.
Takeru was leaned against a rail with his arms on top of it. He was beside Saori staring off into space. His mind was on so much. He wanted to know if Ryu was all right. Takeru had no clue to Idai's whereabouts and his advances towards Onari had been met with a wall. He sighed disgustedly.
Saori turned her head to look at him. She reached up to pull his long hair. He turned around to look at her. She could tell he wasn't himself. "Be positive. I'm trying to be," she said as her voice started to break. Saori had to turn away. She hid her face in her hands.
Takeru knew she was crying. Saori was emotionally strong and confident – except for now. Everyone had a breaking point. This was hers. She had been in love with Ryu the first time she met him. Takeru wrapped his arms around her to hold her. He closed his eyes, too. There was nothing that could be said right now. All he could do was be here for Saori, even when he was unable to be there for Ryu.
Saori cried hard on Takeru's shoulder. She wrapped her arms around him. Saori could feel Takeru's body shaking. She wasn't the only one upset about Ryu. He was a best friend and older brother to Takeru. She reached up to press his head to her shoulder. He was a year younger than her, but they were the same height. "Takeru, you know Ryu loves you a lot, right? He may not show it like he should, but he cares for you greatly," she said through her tears.
Takeru nodded slowly as he held onto Saori. "I know Ryu does. He scolds me worse than Daiya. Saori, Onari tried to save Ryu by bonding him to her a few days ago." He felt Saori freeze.
"What do you mean she bonded Ryu to her?" Saori didn't like the sound of that. Onari was a mysterious girl from a foreign land. The knowledge she held inside of her was untouched by anyone in Konoha. Onari had never spoken of the rituals concerning her family, or how she inherited Akaihi, her Celestial.
"Ri bonded Ryu to her with a Celestial like Akaihi," Takeru answered as he wiped the tears from Saori's eyes. "Onari summoned a turtle named Shogai to watch over Ryu and protect him. It agreed to help her on the grounds that she has Akaihi. I begged Shogai to help Ryu, too, Saori. I couldn't stop Onari from performing the transfer. I was selfish to think she could help him."
Saori looked at Takeru. "You really aren't aware of how she feels, do you?" Takeru's eyes were hollow as he spoke. He had given up on Onari in his heart. "Takeru, you don't know how she reacts when you get hurt, or how you and Eiyu fight. Onari has cried over you. You're not just someone she lives with."
Takeru wasn't understanding. "I don't know what I am to her. She's never told me anything. I'm only her teammate, Saori. Nothing more. I gave up on her. I'll admit it. I've decided to move on. It doesn't matter anymore." He let go of her and looked away. "I'll check on Ryu for you," he said as he walked down the bridge.
Saori had to say it. She couldn't let him go through the rest of his life assuming he was worthless to Onari. She knew why Onari acted the way she did. She had watched the other girl's actions and facial expressions strongly. Saori's heart pounded as Takeru reached the other side of the bridge. "Onari's in love with you, Takeru," she shouted. He froze. "Onari has access to all of the celestials of the four gates! She is waiting to see who would be better matched to the dragon. That's probably why she gave Ryu the turtle! When the dragon and phoenix are combined and two people are in love, it sanctifies marriage! Don't you understand?" He turned around to look at her with his hollow gaze.
"Why do you think Onari has Lee sensei, your dad, and Ms. Izumi train her until she drops? She's trying to surpass everyone to protect you. Onari chooses who is worthy and who isn't when it comes to being friends with her, or getting a celestial." He was standing merely watching her.
"She's in love with you, Takeru Uchiha," Saori said softly. The shock of everything she had said was all over his face. "She doesn't know how to tell you. In a way, she's afraid to like Ryu. Onari thinks if she says the words she feels, something will happen to you. You're the first person who has spent countless hours teaching her, training with her, and being with her. Do you honestly think you don't hold a special place in her heart? Onari is one of the smartest and fiercest ninja out of everyone on the teams. She isn't unaware, Takeru," Saori said. "Please don't give up on her. If you have to, ask her. She can tell you."
Takeru looked away. He nodded gently. "Thank you, Saori. I'll check on Ryu for you," he said gently. Takeru turned around. He walked away.
Saori didn't know if she had helped, or hindered the distance between Takeru and Onari. Takeru had already walked away from Onari in his heart. She clutched to her shirt. Saori felt sad for her friends. Onari had been trying so hard to get stronger and to be smarter than Takeru. She wasn't sure if he saw it.
Yanagi sat on the blanket with Saori and Daiya. She and Daiya were trying to draw Saori's attention away from her sadness. The last thing they heard about Ryu was he was now stable –which was good, but he was in a coma. Ryu had been in ICU for over a week. The stress on them had all taken its toll.
Daiya opened the basket Yanagi had brought. "Saori, do you want anything to eat," he asked as he held the basket open. She looked at it as if he was foreign to her. "You can't always have your mind focused on Ryu."
Saori took a small dumpling slowly. She stared at it as she held it. Saori's eyes wanted to well up. She gasped. Her eyes closed. The sadness she felt over Ryu plagued her.
Yanagi put her food down. She moved to Saori quickly. She pressed her best friend against her shoulder, petting her head softly. If Daiya had been in Ryu's place, she would be acting the same. "Saori, I love you," she said gently as her friend cried.
Daiya's heart ached. Ryu had a huge impact on all of them. He missed his adopted brother and teammate greatly. He wasn't in the mood to eat either. Daiya turned away.
Yanagi kept petting Saori's head. She looked over at her boyfriend. He had his face turned away. "Oh, no, Daiya, come here," she said softly as she reached her arm out to put her hand on his vest. She tugged him over. She and Saori put their arms around him. He was upset, too.
Daiya was ashamed at getting emotional in front of the girls. He had been strong for everyone up until this point. He didn't like others knowing how he perceived things. Daiya closed his eyes. "I just want Ryu to piss me off," he said reflecting on the past times with the Genin.
Yanagi leaned towards him to kiss his forehead. She was pressing him against her chest while Saori had her head on her shoulder. "Guys, if you don't stop crying, I'll cry. I don't want to," she said sadly. "I don't like being unhappy. It throws off my personality."
Daiya coughed as he sat up. He wanted to be left alone. Normally, he dealt with situations on his own. He didn't like to be weak in front of Yanagi. It was bad enough Saori was seeing him like this. "I need to go for a walk," he said. He excused himself. He had to get away.
"He's still not able to show his emotions around me," Yanagi said. "I know he's upset. I just wish he'd let me comfort him."
Daiya walked the road slowly, his eyes watching the people who passed him. Everything seemed so distant to him. Idai had left two years ago to atone to the problems he had been having. There hadn't been any word from him. Daiya didn't know where he was, or what he was going through. Why is it that everyone I'm close to is… suffering?
Daiya watched a gray puppy run out in front of him. He abruptly stopped. The slobbering canine cocked its head at him and wagged its tail. "Go away, you stupid mutt," he said lowly. He didn't like animals at all.
"She isn't going to hurt you," a familiar voice said. Daiya looked up to see Kiba walking towards him. He only looked at the man with a blank expression.
Kiba crouched to retrieve the small puppy. It was a gift for Areku. He stood up, his eyes searching Daiya for a reaction. "I'm sorry about Ryu. I know all of you are close and that it's not easy going through all of this mess," Kiba said sincerely. He watched the boy look away. Things weren't the same for anyone right now. His team was split in how they dealt with each other. Idai was still missing. Ryu was badly injured and in a state of suspended realization.
"K-Kiba sensei, h-has Idai ever gotten in contact with you," Daiya asked sadly, as he stared at the ground.
Kiba walked closer to Daiya until he was standing in front of him. He had never imagined Idai and Daiya to be as close as they were. They were bonded to each other. "No, Daiya, I'm really sorry. I haven't heard a word from him, or Gai since they left. I don't know what he's going through. It may be difficult for both of them at this point. If I hear anything from him, I'll come running to you – no matter when or where, okay?"
Daiya nodded slowly. "Th-Thank you," he said not able to look at the man standing before him. He walked away with is head downcast. Kiba wouldn't lie to him – at least, he hoped not.
Kiba stood in Daiya's wake with an impatient puppy. That poor kid is completely lost without Idai. Hell, I'm a bit off my feet, too. I'm used to seeing that sound village boy jumping around laughing. I can't blame Daiya for how he feels. He's lost his best friend. The one person who understood him. The puppy in his arms whined as she wagged her tail. Kiba looked down. "Alright, I'll take you home now. I wonder what Areku will think about you, little girl." Kiba smiled at the gray puppy. "Let's see what kind of name he gives you."