V7 Ch 4
Break Away
Idai Tatsumaki walked through the field of wild flowers slowly. His eyes searched the area for any signs of life other than butterflies and birds frolicking about for food. His long light blue kimono passed amongst the flowers with a gentle touch. Idai's orange eyes drifted from flower to flower. His mind was searching for something peaceful in them. His life had become quite chaotic with the nightmares he had. His body was controlled by a sinister demon that lay dormant unless he was confronted by large crowds of people. It seemed to want to slaughter everything. Gai had made sure they lived away from civilization and that if approached by anyone, he was close to Idai. Idai's reactions to others was often fatal for the individual. He wanted nothing more than to be normal.
Idai felt the field was his safe haven from being cooped up inside the hut. Here he could lay in the flowers and stare at the sky. He often wondered why they had chose to live here. Gai didn't want Idai in the fire country. They had taken refuge in the earth country. Where they were exactly, Idai didn't know. His location was a mystery.
Idai took his sandals off. He ran through the field with his arms out, twirled, and fell backwards into a heap of wildflowers. He stared up at the sky with his long red hair sprawled out. A small lilac butterfly landed on his nose. Idai didn't move. "Where'd you come from? Do you want to be friends with me?" As he lifted his finger to touch it, it fluttered off and away. Idai rolled onto his stomach to watch it. He looked away as he thought about his friends. "I want to go back," he said sadly. "I miss everybody…" Idai wanted to be jumping through the trees with Masaru and Yanagi. He wanted Daiya to mess his hair up and Kiba to scold him when he smarted off. Idai laid his head on his crossed arms in the field.
Gai moved through the field searching for Idai. He knew his son came out here to get away. He wanted Idai to feel some sort of peace in his life with the way things were. Idai was showing signs of loneliness and depression since he wasn't allowed to interact with people. He saw his son laying in the field lost in thought. Idai had changed so much in the past two years. His height had finally caught up to other boys his age. He was more aware of who he was than previously. Idai was a true leader type. He saw it in his actions and how he perceived situations. His son's hair was completely red with white tips due to the demon residing in his body. It was long and down to his shoulders. Gai didn't approach him fully. He wanted Idai to have his own space, but just enough to where he could keep an eye on him. "You've been coming out here a lot lately. What's bothering you?"
Idai frowned as he turned his head away from Gai. "I want to go back to my friends," he said softly. "I have no one to talk to here." He closed his eyes tightly as he saw familiar faces drifting through his mind. "Can't I visit them?"
Gai knew it was coming. He and Idai had this discussion every week. Idai begged and pleaded to go back to Konoha for any relief Gai could give him. "You know you can't go back to Konoha. The demon inside of you would be released once you surrounded those familiar to you. I promised to keep you safe, Idai. That also means keeping everyone else safe."
Idai bit his bottom lip as his sadness increased. "You mean keep everyone safe from me," he said choking on the words. He sat up to where he was on his knees. Idai clutched his kimono. "I don't have any friends here! I want to go back to Konoha!" Idai turned around angrily to look at Gai with all of his emotions painted on his face.
Gai stared at Idai with the same blank expression he always gave him. "You can't, Idai. You know if the demon gets loose around your friends he would kill them. Who do you think the most vulnerable person would be? The person most valuable to you is what it's after."
Idai lifted his hands to his face. He covered his eyes. The demon inside of him wanted to devour chakra that belonged to a person Idai had contacts with. As Gai thought about it, it wanted to take the most important thing from Idai to gain his body. It would stop at nothing. "I don't know whose valuable to me," he said.
"Are you sure that you don't? I think you do. You value your team, your friends, and those around you," Gai stated. He put his hands on his hips. "It can't be helped, Idai. If you want to protect those you care for, you have to consider the outcomes of what will happen if you come into contact with them."
Idai looked at the wild flowers with a saddened gaze. They blew in the wind as Gai turned around to leave him be. Idai wanted so badly to run through the streets of Konoha again with Daiya. He wanted to tease Masaru and train with Yanagi. Idai wanted very much to even see Kiba again and pet Akamaru. He turned his gaze off to look at the trees getting dark. It's foolish to think Akamaru would still be alive. He was really old when I knew him. I'm sorry I couldn't be there to pet you, or play with you anymore. His heart ached.
Kakumei Eimino and his collage reported back to their Lord of the lightening country as required. They walked down the hall slowly, their feet stepping lightly. As the two guards clinked their metal staffs together to prevent access to the room, Kakumei narrowed his eyes. "I trained the both of you morons," he said with a bland voice.
"Sorry, General Kakumei, but Lord Gekido is not in at the moment. No one is allowed to go into his quarters without permission. We ask that you wait for him in your area of the house. When he comes in, we'll summon for you," the guard answered with a monotone voice.
Kakumei turned on his heels with his collage. He snorted disgust. "Summon me? Those arrogant brats don't summon the General. The General is to be called."
"They're only doing what they're told," Kakumei's collage said. "Are you going to tell Lord Gekido that we found the village where the phoenix might be?" He sat down upon the seat in the area. The man opened a case on his vest to flick a light so he could smoke.
Kakumei wondered if he should. "What would happen if we keep this information away from Gekido," he said using the man's real name. He glanced at his collage as he started to cough relentlessly.
"What are you saying? That kind of information is highly valuable! Lord Gekido would reward you for finding the man known to harbor the phoenix!" He waved the smoke in front of his face as he flicked the cigarette with his thumb.
Kakumei regarded his collage as one of the few he could say just about anything to. The rest of the men were completely loyal to Gekido and were liable to hold anything against him. They didn't approve of Kakumei being General. He was hard to understand and held no emotion in any of his actions. He was as mysterious as they came. Kakumei opened the shoji screen to the room. The breeze coming in moved his hair. It felt good to have flowing air in the old house. "He's never showed interest in anything except the whereabouts of his brother's child," Kakumei said under his breath. "He's never rewarded anyone kindly for helping him, Masasue. I doubt he would do so just because we found the village. Knowing Lord Gekido, he'd want to attack as soon as possible. What do you think would happen if we did such a thing to an unsuspecting village?"
Masasue breathed in the smoke before he blew it out of his nose. "The girl who harbors the phoenix would attack. Since Lord Gekido doesn't have a Celestial of his own, he'd be defenseless. It'd be suicide," he said blandly as he snuffed his cigarette out with his foot.
"Perhaps, we should approach this situation rather cautiously. After all, Gekido has ways of getting rid of insubordinates," Kakumei said as he glanced behind his form to make sure no one was around. "We know where the phoenix might be. Nothing more. The only person we're really supposed to be searching for is Sasuke Uchiha."
Sasuke stood watching over Ryu as Kurenai entered the room. He turned his gaze to acknowledge her. "How are you holding up," he asked softly as Kurenai kept her eyes focused on her son.
Kurenai Yuhi walked slowly over to the bed. She stood next to Sasuke, her eyes going over her son's form. Ryu's color was back to normal, but he was in a coma. "I don't know anymore," she answered truthfully. "He's all I have." Kurenai glanced at Sasuke. "A parent shouldn't watch their child suffer. I don't blame anyone for how this happened," she said. "I know he was sworn to protect Onari. She mustn't regard herself as the problem."
Sasuke kept his eyes on his student. "Onari's blaming herself for leaving him alone with Nattoku. She said she shouldn't have left him to help Shikamaru. But if she had stayed with Ryu, Shikamaru would have been instantly killed. They were up against an army of fifty men. It wasn't an easy decision."
"No, it wasn't. I think Onari is putting too much pressure on herself. Ryu is more experienced than she is. He swore to protect her. That was his mission. I don't blame him for doing his job. He's a very caring boy, even if he tends to hide it," Kurenai said. She moved her hand to touch Ryu's hand. She interlaced her fingers with his as she stared at him. He appeared to be peaceful. "I wonder what he's dreaming about," she said trying to ease the burden in her heart.
"I'd like to think it's more pranks he's going to use on me," Sasuke said with a forced smile. He looked out of the corner of his eye at Kurenai. She had to smile at that. He happened to be one of Ryu's favorite targets. He moved his hand to place it over hers and squeezed it gently. Sasuke wasn't sure what to say at that point, so he remained silent as they looked down at Ryu.
Onari sat on a branch overlooking the village. She swung her legs as her eyes searched down below for anyone that was familiar. As the wind blew her hair, Onari kept her mind focused on her purpose as of late. She was bothered by the fact that Nattoku had injured Ryu so severely. She hoped Shogai was going to be able to him. Onari was unsure how much time had passed since she had left the Uchiha compound. No one spoke to her anymore. Sasuke was also troubled by what had occurred on her mission. Takeru was avoiding her as well as Daiya. They were both worried about their friend. She felt insecure as she leaned her back against the tree. Her eyes averted to stare at the wood.
"Are you going to stay up there all day," she heard a voice ask. Onari looked around before she turned her gaze below to see Eiyu watching her. She let her long bangs fall in front of her face. Eiyu wasn't moving towards her as he usually did. He seemed to be beside himself with thoughts. Onari tried to open her mouth to say something, but she couldn't. Nothing came out. What was wrong with her? She felt funny when she was around Eiyu. He was nice to her, but not in the sense of caring. Eiyu kept himself in check all of the time. He knew who he was and where he was. He was so formal it got to her. "Why are you only staying over there," she asked softly.
Eiyu remained watching her. Something was on his mind - something heavy. "What is your relationship with Takeru," he asked. It was time he knew. They were on a team together and it was as if Onari and Takeru were secretly keeping an eye on each other. He couldn't explain it really.
"What does Eiyu mean what is Onari's relationship with Takeru?" She sat up as if she had been accused of something. "Takeru doesn't have a relationship with Onari. Not anymore," she said the last bit softly.
Eiyu thought as much. "Do you want a relationship with him," he asked. He paid very close attention to Onari's body language. Her mind was unsure, but her hands were fiddling with each other. She wanted Takeru to pay attention to her, in the very least.
"Why are you asking Onari such things? Eiyu has been watching Onari for the past few months strangely. Does Eiyu think Onari will cheat on him?"
Eiyu had to level with her. "Whether you realize it or not, Onari, you seek Takeru out for his approval when we are training, or on missions. You live with him, yet, neither of you speak unless you're on the team. I've noticed for some time that Takeru is hurt over us being together. Haven't you noticed how he feels?"
Onari tried to think about how Takeru displayed himself. He had always been the same happy, carefree boy. Yet, Takeru spent more time with Ryu and Daiya - not with her. When they had first met, she was his main friend, but they had slipped away from each other. "Takeru is only being Takeru," she said in defense.
"No, he's avoiding you. You know it and I know it," Eiyu said. "I don't like seeing others hurt because of me." He caught Onari's eye. "Do you love me?"
Onari's eye's widened. She didn't know how to react to Eiyu's question. Her facial expression changed to that of sadness and uncertainty.
"Perhaps we should both stop kidding ourselves. It's best if we remain friends, Onari. I don't think I'm the one for you. We're too different. We've noticed that time and time again in the past two years," Eiyu said. He smiled at her softly before he looked away. "Two leader types don't do well together anyway."
Onari watched Eiyu turn away from her. He waited a moment before he left. She didn't try to stop him, or say anything to counter what he said. They were too different. Eiyu Hyuuga was nice, but he wasn't sweet or tender like Takeru. Takeru. Did she love Takeru? Onari brought her knees up to her chest. Her heart fluttered when she saw his sweet smile, the way his eyes danced as he watched her mess up, and how he used to kiss her on the cheek to make her feel better. Onari was in love with Takeru. The realization of it hit her to where she felt as if she was falling off a bridge.
Jinrin sat on a rock as he watched Yanagi teach Masaru to defend himself on the water. He looked at his nails before he brushed them off on his shirt. "Not bad, Masaru. You might want to move your feet more since she's turning her body to block your offensive moves."
Masaru started to move his feet as Yanagi continued to move towards him. The pink haired girl was more confident as ever that she could get him to fall. It wasn't an easy task to keep one's focus on staying above the water while fighting. One false direction of concentration and you fell in. Masaru Uzumaki bent his body back as Yanagi came at him attempting to strike his shoulders. He bent his spine as his hands touched the surface of the water. Masaru kept concentrating as he forced both of his legs to come up.
Yanagi's eyes widened as her teammate lifted his legs. He put her in a hold then lifted her body off of the ground. Yanagi watched as Masaru smiled at her as she was thrown up and over. She flew through the air upside-down until she hit the water with a splash.
Jinrin clapped his hands as Masaru stood up. "Nice work," he commented as Yanagi's head popped above the water. "Although, I'd be on my guard. She's going to get you back eventually," he said as he started to file his nails. He made sure they were sharpened well.
"Oh, you're a big help," Masaru said as he walked off the water. Yanagi swam over. She stood up dripping wet. As she rung her hair out, Masaru threw her a towel. It was the least he could do since he was the one who sent her in the water.
Yanagi dried her hair as she wrung her clothes out. She glanced at Jinrin. Yanagi was used to the older boy's gestures and words. However, she secretly wished a certain someone was back on their team. Jinrin was great and all; he did was he was supposed to on the missions, but they had been closer to Idai. She stared at the ground as she remembered how Idai smiled when they tried new moves.
"Come on, Yanagi! Don't let Masaru get you! He's trying too hard to get near you," Idai yelled as he jumped around moving side to side on his toes with his hands waving in the air. "Masaru, don't let Yanagi get you either! Now she's determined to get you first!"
Masaru tried to block Yanagi's hit only to hit her in the shoulder with his palm open at the same time she hit him. He blinked. He turned his head to look at Idai rather strangely. "Idai, why are you cheering for both of us?"
Yanagi turned her head to look at their teammate also. "Yeah, what gives? Who are you pulling for anyway?"
Idai tilted his head as he smiled at them. "Well, I'm pulling for both of you. You're both on my team, aren't you? You shouldn't let Masaru get you and he shouldn't let you get him. Teammates aren't supposed to fight."
Yanagi and Masaru stared at each other for a moment. "But… it's a training session, Idai." Perhaps, he was right. Idai was shouting at them to do their best, but not hurt the other.
"Training is for fighting opponents. You and Masaru aren't opponents. I would never try to hurt anyone on my team," Idai said. "You guys are like my brother and sister. You two are my family," he said with a smile as his long white bangs flopped over. He blew them out of his sight.
"We're your family," Masaru asked. Idai nodded. "So… you don't have any other family besides Gai sensei?"
The question threw Idai back. He stepped back as he averted his eyes quickly. A hurt expression came over his face. "No… My father died a long time ago." He turned around to walk off into the forest. Idai leaned against a tree.
Yanagi found Idai hiding himself. "Idai, what's wrong," she asked tenderly. She was used to touching certain subject matters as if she was talking to a child. In a way, he reminded her of Daiya. They both were defensive about their pasts. Yanagi wanted to see him smile. She crouched to where she could look up into his face. "Don't be sad. We like it better when you smile at us," she said as he opened his eyes to look at her.
Idai's eyes softened. "It's no wonder Daiya loves you like he does," he said catching Yanagi off guard. "You're very caring and understanding."
Yanagi stood at the mention of the word 'love'. "He doesn't love me. At least, not that I know about. He's more than likely still getting used to me. It's only been a few months."
Idai shook his head as he smiled at her faintly. "No, he loves you. It's more in his body language than in his voice. He's less reserved, open to new suggestions, and his eyes say it all. Next time you're around him, see if you can see the dark gray hiding in the back of his eyes."
Yanagi had left the training area thinking heavily about what Idai had said. I'm supposed to look into Daiya's eyes. But I've was only close to Daiya once when we first kissed. Has he become comfortable around me? Yanagi never imagined it was possible with how tense he was around others. She turned the corner to bump into Daiya head on. Yanagi grabbed her head. As she looked up she saw him looking at her with the same expression. "Daiya? What are you doing way over here?"
Daiya rubbed the spot where he and Yanagi connected. He shook his head trying to get the stars to go away. "We finished early. I thought I'd come and get you," he said with his usual monotone voice.
"Come and get me for what," she asked as he came closer to her. Daiya averted his eyes as he walked closer to her. She lifted her eyes to see him move even closer to her. He kissed her softly on the side of her mouth as her heart flip flopped in her chest.
Daiya reached for both of Yanagi's hands to interlace his fingers with hers. He stood holding onto her as he looked into her gray eyes. "You know, to come get you," he said again knowing he wasn't being clear.
Yanagi blushed as she saw the dark gray spots in Daiya's eyes. He wasn't clear in his words, but his actions towards her were right on the nose. She smiled at him softly. "I'd like it if you come get me when you want," she said as she kissed him gently. He only wanted to be near her. Yanagi wrapped her arms around him holding him close to her. He leaned into her and gently put his hands on her hips.
"Yanagi? Yanagi, are you coming with us," Masaru asked as he turned around realizing she wasn't following them. The girl looked up at him rather dreamily. "Are you coming with us to see if Kiba sensei is back from his mission yet?"
"Hmm? Oh, yeah, sure," Yanagi said as she started to follow Jinrin and Masaru out of the training area. She looked back at the area with fondness. She could still hear Idai in her head and see his faded form bouncing all over the area.
Idai bounced around laughing as he avoided Daiya hitting him. He skidded on his feet also avoiding Masaru. "You guys take things way too seriously! Maybe the both of you should just get more acquainted," he said as he suddenly dropped to the ground. Daiya and Masaru ran into each other at full force. Idai sat up once they were on their backs. "Oops. Are you two okay?" He smiled at Yanagi as he shook the both of them.
Yanagi smiled at the spot. "I miss you, Idai," she said softly . She turned on her heels to catch up to Jinrin and Masaru who were talking about getting tougher missions.
Gekido sat on his pillow overlooking the field. They had moved several times in the past year to keep their whereabouts unknown. He didn't glance over his shoulder as he heard the General of his lightening users enter. Gekido merely kept his back to the man. "Have you found what we seek," he asked in an authoritive tone as he dipped his paintbrush into the ink. He scrolled upon the paper carefully.
"We have not found any person named Sasuke Uchiha, my Lord," Kakumei answered as he stood near the door. His eyes fell onto the table then moved to other areas of the house. He was trying to figure out Gekido's strategy. The man had been away previously and had returned some time ago. Just who was Gekido meeting with and why? Kakumei couldn't find a trace of anything that lead him to a clue. "We did not enter the village. It is heavily guarded with ninja who stand guard at the entrance. There were also ninja moving through parts of it wearing masks. We had to be careful as to not be seen."
"This Sasuke Uchiha must only leave the village when he is needed. Thus, he must be very important." Gekido narrowed his eyes for a moment before he closed his eyes to think. "I want you personally to stay close to the village. When he leaves, I want to know anything you can find out about him. I want to know what his skills are, if he has my brother's child, and how he is attached to her. Do I make myself clear?"
Kakumei bowed lowly. "I understand perfectly, Lord Gekido," he said showing no hint of agreement. Kakumei left the room quickly. I have more to do than become a nursemaid to Gekido and his fantasies. Who knows exactly when Sasuke Uchiha will leave the village? We have no clue who he is regardless of a name. He walked out of the house with heavy feet. Gekido was never satisfied. In fact, Kakumei thought the man to be quite mad with jealousy over a child having more power than him.
Gin led Areku to her room. She showed him the beautiful blue lotus flower that had remained blooming for two years. He friend stood examining it. "Areku, do you think it stays alive because it's really helping Idai?" She touched the petals tenderly as if it were a fragile thing.
"I'm not sure, Gin. This is the first time I've seen it. You've managed to keep it close and unobserved for a long time." He moved his hand to look at a particular leaf. There was kanji writing on it. Idai. Areku ran his thumb over the kanji. He felt this odd strong vibration coming through his thumb. It went up his hand and to his wrist. Is this flower for real? Areku looked at Gin. "Idai's name is on the flower. How did it get there?" His slit eyes searched Gin for an explanation.
Gin moved her finger across the petals touching each one until she went around the lotus. "When I first got the seed from the monk, I kept it until Idai left. I guess when I was told what was happening to him, I got concerned. I planted the seed in the pot and gave it a bit of water. That's about all," she answered. "It grew within a day. I woke up the next morning and the lotus was just as you see it now."
"You didn't do anything extra, did you? There had to be something to trigger it to grow like this. His name is etched upon it. What is the reasoning behind that," Areku asked as he checked the soil. There was nothing unusual about the potting soil, or the pot.
"When I knew Idai wasn't coming back, it made me upset, Areku. I wanted him to be alright. I started to understand why he acted the way he did. I just meditated and wrote his name on a piece of scroll. I placed the scroll into a plastic cylinder and put it in the soil. When the lotus grew, the plastic cylinder with Idai's name on it was gone. It vanished."
Areku turned to smile at Gin kindly. "Are you going to tell Idai how you feel if he comes back," he asked. Gin seemed to blush even with the mention of his name. "If you care about him that greatly, shouldn't he know how much he means to you?" Gin only nodded slowly as she piddled with her hands. "Gin, he left because he needs to solve his past. Isn't that right? Well, if he solves it, shouldn't you tell him his efforts weren't all for himself?"
Gin thought about Idai. She really liked him. He was silly and playful - unlike the other guys she knew. Gin wondered if he would still be the same. "Areku, could you help me get the courage to tell him," she said. "I want him to know. I don't know what he will think of me, but I'd like Idai to know."
Areku smiled at her. "Okay, we'll practice telling Idai. Pretend I'm him."
Gin only stared at Areku. "But it's not the same. I'm comfortable telling you everything. That's why you're my best friend."
Areku hooked his arm around her shoulder. "How about we get someone you're not too familiar with? That will seem more realistic. Let's see… who can we get to help us?" Areku tried to think. Ryu would be a good candidate, but he's in the hospital. Kandai is too familiar with Gin. We're on the same team. She's not too worried about Takeru. He's easy enough to talk to. Eiyu wouldn't take us seriously. He stays too himself a good bit - even though, he's supposed to be with Onari. Who would know how Idai reacts? It's a tie between Masaru and Daiya. Daiya was his best friend. However, Masaru spent as much time with Idai and was often the end of Idai's jokes. "How about we get Masaru to help? He was close to Idai. That way, your secret would still be safe. He might even be partial to your reactions if he knows."
"Masaru? The Hokage's son? I don't know, Areku. He might make fun of me for liking Idai," Gin said. She wasn't too sure. Masaru wasn't too close to anyone on the teams. He stayed at home with his family outside of his own team.
"We'll never know unless we ask," Areku said as he put his hand on her wrist. "Come on. It can't hurt. Besides, Idai's not here for Masaru to tell anyway." Gin blushed as he led her out of the room.
A blurry white ceiling was seen in his eyes. The world as he knew it, had changed somehow. His very existence felt suspended in way. Dreams of light and turtles had occupied his mind for so long, that he knew nothing else as he laid in the hospital bed. His arms felt heavy, his breathing was deep and slow. Ryu Yuhi, the jokester of Team 2, was awake. He tried to move his head to see where he was, but it was difficult.
Ryu moved his finger slowly. He was laying in a bed with metal bars. Was he in the hospital? Had Shikamaru made it here in time to help him? Ryu blinked his eyes. He looked around lazily at the ceiling as it came into focus. His ears picked up the sounds of beeping and air pumps. He started to open his mouth slowly. "Hello," he said weakly. His voice sounded foreign to him. How long had he been here?
Ryu tried to lift his legs, but they wouldn't respond. "Where… am…. I," he said as loudly as he could. Ryu wasn't able to lift his head, or his arms. His heart started to race. Not knowing where he was started to get to him. "Mmmm… ooom," he called. Ryu took a deep breath. He groaned.
The door to the room opened with a click. A nurse came in with a tray containing needles and drops for the IV bag. She set them down on the nearest table before she checked the respirator and heart monitor. To her surprise, the boy's eyes were awake. He was looking at her. She stopped in her tracks with her hand clutched to her clothing. "Oh, my. You're awake. I'll get the doctor," she said as she rushed out.
It wasn't long before a doctor came back to examine him. Ryu looked up at the old man as he shined a light into his eyes. "His pupils dilate accordingly. His pulse, respirations, and heart rate are normal. You can take these monitors off of him, Nurse. I would have to say I have never seen this type of recovery before, young man. You're very lucky to have survived."
Kurenai ran down the hall as fast as her legs could carry her. She opened the door to her son's room. Kurenai stood in the entranceway with her eyes wide. Ryu was sitting up with the help of a nurse while a doctor checked his body. "Ryu," she said as she breathed. She went to him as if she were in a daze. Her son was alright. In fact, the doctor was unraveling his bandages now to see the extent of the damage.
The doctor snipped the remaining bit of the bandages. He carefully pulled them away from the boy's body. As his eyes looked over the boy's form, he dropped the soiled bandages on the bed. The doctor's eyes widened. "There aren't any markings on his torso," he said astonished. "How is this possible? His skin and tissue were altered."
Kurenai moved closer to where she could touch her son's chest and stomach. "Ryu, how do you feel," she asked as her fingers moved down his skin. There weren't any deep grooves. He was healed.
"I… feel… strange," Ryu said as he looked at his mother tiredly. "My… body is..heavy," he breathed out. He blushed as his mother touched his face. She stroked his cheek.
Kurenai wrapped her arms around him as she leaned him towards her. She kissed the side of his head. Ryu was now taller than her. It was a bit awkward holding him. Kurenai's emotions overcame her. Her son had been gravely ill when he had arrived at the hospital. In fact, he was sure to die, but now he was fine. She was so grateful for the staff helping him. Kurenai closed her eyes as the nurse and doctor left her alone with her son. "Ryu, I know I haven't said this much, but I love you. You're the only family I have," she said as she reassured him she wasn't going to leave with the state he was in.
"Mom,… I kept… dreaming of … turtles," Ryu said as he caught her eye. She was turning him slightly to take a better look at his arm. Ryu didn't understand what was wrong. Kurenai was examining his bicep quite heavily. "What's..wrong?"
Kurenai's eyes stared at the marvelous markings that were on his son's arm. She had not known him to get a tattoo before. "Ryu, someone has helped you recover," she said as her eyes drifted over the colorful clouds. Her eyes saw a turtle at the top of the clouds who hung its head down. Falling stars were below that particular cloud. At the bottom of the picture was a red phoenix whose head was craned upwards. At that instant, Kurenai who had helped save Ryu from death. "Onari," she said. Ryu looked at her quizzically. "Onari has kindly given you a special marking just like those on her arms. Something tells me, you've inherited a friend of Akiahi."
Idai stared into the pool of water at his feet. It reflected the night sky above his head. Idai stared hard at the figure that was looking back at him. It wasn't himself. There was a man with wild red hair and black eyes watching him in the pool of water. Idai felt stiff as the figure grinned back at him. "I don't know what you want from me. If it's chakra you're after, you'll have to starve. I won't let you hurt anyone else."
Ryokuzu watched Idai quite playfully in the pool of water. "You aren't the one whose going to stop me, boy. No man upon this realm has the authority to do so." His black eyes gleamed at the sixteen-year-old. "I've waited patiently for you to mature. One can't assume as a boy that your talents will marvelously adapt to your surroundings. It takes time for mortals to be able to do that. You're at the ripe age that men often go mad," he said as he laughed heartedly.
For once, Idai didn't acknowledge Ryokuzu's accusations about his strengths and weaknesses. He only stared at the demon with the utmost hate. The demon inside of him kept him from his friends - from his life. "Nothing will keep me from returning to Konoha. Nothing," he said as he stomped the pool of water with his foot. He stood in the ripples as his head lifted to look back at the hut. Idai was going back whether Gai approved or not.
I have to see everyone again. Forgive me for what I'm going to do, Dad, but they are the foundation I stand upon. Idai reached into his kimono. He withdrew a bottle containing a powerful mind erasure. It had taken him a long time to mix the ingredients together. He held it in his hand as his eyes focused on it. Without my friends, I'm nothing. Without Konoha, the demon will overtake me. I want to live, not die in peace. Idai went inside the hut with the bottle slipped into his kimono sleeve.
Onari stared at the garden as she rolled her shirt several times. Her mind was stuck on the previous past week. Eiyu had broken up with her. She closed her eyes as she sat watching the fireflies drift through the dark garden. Onari was unsure what her heart wanted. She wanted acceptance with Takeru, she knew that. He had given up on her. He was so distant from her that each step towards her was hollow and met with no recognition of her existence.
Onari turned her gaze away as she heard Takeru and Daiya talking down the hall. Her heart felt as if it were being stabbed with icicles. She thought she was supposed to belong to Konoha when she was taken in. Yet, the one person she wanted to notice her had given up countless opportunities to look her in the face. Onari jumped slightly as the shoji screen next to her opened.
Daiya stepped out to dump something over the rail. He glanced at his sister who was sitting in the dark on the back porch. "Why are you out here this late? Is something bothering you," he asked as he walked over in nothing more than his shorts. Onari wouldn't look him straight in the eye. Daiya crouched. He turned her chin towards him. "What's got you so quiet?"
Onari went for him. She wrapped her arms around her brother before she buried her head into his chest. She felt Daiya put his hand on the back of her head gently. If she had no one in Konoha, she had him. Onari closed her eyes as he put his arms fully around her. He knew something was bothering her.
"Onari, you're usually not this attached to me," Daiya said. "In fact, ever since your vocabulary has improved, you haven't been. Tell me what's wrong," he said softly. He moved her hair out of her face.
"I don't have anyone but you," Onari said as she kept her eyes downcast. "Eiyu told me it wasn't going to work between us anymore. He said I was seeking Takeru out for attention."
"Are you seeking Takeru out? You're always watching everything he does. In the past, you two were close. No offense, but things changed when you went out with Eiyu," Daiya said. "Takeru's been hurt by it. He's not comfortable with expressing himself towards you."
"I don't seek anyone out. Takeru doesn't want to be around me and I won't force him. He's too wrapped up in himself and you two."
Daiya blinked as he leaned back to look her in the face. "What's that supposed to mean? Is it because he hangs around Ryu and I? Onari, we're his friends. Or rather, Ryu is. And I'm his brother," Daiya said starting to jumble his thoughts together.
Onari placed her finger on his lips to stop him from rambling. "Takeru does not treat me the same, Daiya. He treats me as if I'm the new girl down the road. He has known me for the past two years. We have shared everything from laughter to getting into trouble together. I have copied all of his training moves and table manners. Why is he treating me as if I am insignificant now?"
Daiya couldn't answer that. He sighed. "I don't know, Onari," he said as he touched her face. "Takeru has a stupid way of ignoring people. It makes him less aware of others, but others are more aware that he's doing it."
Onari shook her head disgusted with it all. She turned away from her brother. "I don't want to beg Takeru for attention. I don't beg, or want anything," she said as she rose. She walked down the porch to her room. Onari opened the shoji screen and closed it with a loud clack.
Daiya's eyes softened. You and Takeru are so much alike in how you approach things, Onari. Both of you try to ignore things, but your actions speak for themselves. Daiya got up. He went back to his room. As he opened the door, he noticed Takeru was already in the bed rolled over. He looked down at his younger brother. The boy was sleeping hard, his hair sprawled out on the pillow with the covers lowered to his waist. Daiya reached over to pull the covers up. I wish you two would get along. Both of you are so hardheaded. Daiya sat on his own bed before he just fell over. His mind sorted through all sorts of things that were on his mind. He stared at the wall as he thought about the past two years. Everyone had improved in their training and were successful on a majority of missions.
As Daiya laid in the bed, he felt strange as if his body was floating on a piece of driftwood. He started to close his eyes, the noises of the garden drifting to his ears. He didn't want to forget anyone when he got older. Even those that had, somehow, broken away from him. Good night, Idai…