Destiny of the Cursed
Chapter 10: Two Knights in Armor
His bone and her sword clashed together. Black and gold bore into green orbs. "You're a worthy opponent." He stated emotionlessly. "You are too." She said, just as dry. She jerked her hand quickly to slash at his chest. He dodged and more bones came up from his body. Her eyes narrowed, thinking of a way on how to put a scratch on him. Both of them were close and medium range fighters and their strength almost matched. It was hard to know who will win. The wind blew. She charged once again with a new plan in mind.
She held her sword at only one hand. He got prepared and exposed his ribcage this time. She aimed her sword at his chest again and it got stuck on the bones. Getting the wanted result she let go of the sword. Her opponent's eyes widened slightly. "Dendou Tsume!" she shouted and aimed for his stomach, the only part of his body that Katana found vulnerable.
Her arm pierced his flesh and it went out on his back. She smirked. It was successful. He coughed out blood but other than that, he had no reaction. Inside his body, Katana felt something poke her arm. Her eyes widened and she screamed in agony. She pulled her arm back, which was now covered in his and her blood. There were small holes in her arm. He could even control his bones to get in there?
He made his shoulder blade appear and pulled it out, using it as a knife. He tossed her sword to her and she caught in with ease. Now, she had to fight him single-handedly. This is going to be difficult. She told herself. He wiped the blood on his chin. "Let us continue." He said. She nodded. This guy could control his bones all over his body. He could multiply or decrease the number. Thoughts ran around her mind. But what is his weak point? "Kuroi Kago!"
Black bars sprung up from the ground.
Kimimaro only ran away from it. She gritted her teeth in frustration. "Junsei Kurayami!" Black fumes covered Kimimaro's line of vision. Katana charged. He blocked the attack and cut through her. The body went 'poof'. The real Katana attacked from behind and buried her sword within his back. She pulled it out and jumped back for some distance. Kimimaro's breath was already ragged. But despite that, he was still calm.
At least, I managed to wound him… but I need something that will throw him off. Katana gathered chakra in her hands. If this misses, I'm dead. She thought. Her veins were sore from releasing too much. A fierce growl was heard. The chakra ball formed into a tiger's head. "Dendou…Tora!" she yelled and charged. Her speed increased greatly and she managed to hit him. 1000 volts ran throughout his body and he fell on the ground. She backed away a bit. She was breathing irregularly. Both of her arms were worn out.
She had a relieved smile on her face. "I…I did it." She sighed. However, it was wiped off quickly. Kimimaro stood up, smoke radiating out of his body. Katana couldn't believe what she saw. He was perfectly fine. "H-how?" she gasped out. Her curse subsided.
He was walking towards her. She backed one step away with every step he takes. "I had my bones cover me. They are made of minerals so they are poor conductors of electricity." He explained. She was shaking. She grabbed for her sword. Not that it would be much of help in her current state. Fear crept up her spine. She knew it. She was going to die right here…right now.
With a flick of Kimimaro's wrist, he brought down his knife. She raised her own sword to block it. But instead of a blade, a hand caught the sharp bone.
It wasn't hers. The hand belonged to a boy clad in a green jumpsuit.
She sighed and smiled. Tears of relief formed at the corners of her eyes. "Lee-kun…" His back was turned to her but she was pretty sure he was smiling as well. "Katana-chan, please move somewhere far and rest for a while." He said. She nodded and took off to the nearest tree shade.
"And you are?" asked Kimimaro. Lee brought up his hands in front. "Konoha's green beast has returned. I am Rock Lee!" he introduced. They began to fight. He was faster than Katana was and Kimimaro was impressed. Everything was going quite well when, "Please wait!" he said. Kimimaro stopped. "…What is it?" he asked calmly. "I forgot to drink my medicine. Please, let me have a moment." He said. To Katana's surprise, Kimimaro lowered his weapon and waited for Lee. She sweat dropped. Doing that in the middle of the battle? Lee, you really are something…
He drank it liquid all the way. Then something weird happened to him. He began to sway uncontrollably, back and forth. A pink blush tainted his face. Katana focused on him. Is he…
Lee began to hiccup. DRUNK? Kimimaro was staring at him. Lee caught him. "Wha'sha lookin' at?" he shrieked, his words slurring. Katana paled. He IS indeed drunk. He began attacking Kimimaro. His movements were faster than before and unpredictable. Katana's eyes couldn't follow anymore. He hit the opponent several times. All of a sudden, he fell on his back against the ground and made snoring noises.
"The hell?" Katana exclaimed as Kimimaro approached the sleeping boy, dagger at hand. Katana prepared to interfere when Lee suddenly shot up from the ground and punched Kimimaro on the face. "Ahaha… you fell for it!" he yelled. Katana's eye twitched in disbelief. After several moments, he dropped on the grass again. "Tell me you're faking it…" she pleaded for no one in particular. When Kimimaro approached, once again he shot up. He kept doing this. Katana could sense that Kimimaro was losing his cool. He was losing. He couldn't land any attack and couldn't dodge anything that Lee sent on his direction.
He made bones appear in his arm. Lee watched from a distance. "I will end your drunkenness." He told Lee. "I am not drunk!" shouted Lee as an angry protest. He charged. Kimimaro managed to block this time and scratch Lee on the face. Lee stumbled backwards. Blood oozed from the wound. Lee seemed to have lost his uncontrollable mood. "Maybe I was drunk after all…" he muttered silently. He looked at Kimimaro. His ribcage was exposed. "My Kekkei Genkai (Advanced Bloodline Limit) is controlling bones. The human body has about 200 bones, but I can make bones more than that number." He explained. Lee charged. "In the end, bones are bones. And when bones are broken, it's over!"
His feet were blocked by those bones in Kimimaro's arm. Lee jumped back. Those bones were stronger than the usual ones. "In that case…" said Lee as he disappeared and reappeared behind him. But Kimimaro let out more of his steel-like bones all over his body and whirled, cutting Lee everywhere. Lee winced and fell on the ground. He stood up again this time, using the Initial Lotus. But his foot was stuck on Kimimaro's bones. "Die!" said Kimimaro, sending one of his bones towards Lee's face in high speed.
His body could take no more... Katana grit her teeth before dashing back on the battlefield and using all her strength to tackle Lee on the ground to protect him. When Lee fell on the ground, it was her who earned the large gash on her curse mark. She winced and shook. Lee wrapped a protective arm around her. Kimimaro was about to attack again when sand prevented him. Sand…
One name entered her mind: Gaara. More grainy particles surrounded the two of them and carried them away. They stopped in front of the sand-wielder.
"Who are you?" asked Kimimaro.
Gaara looked at him coldly, his arms crossed on his chest. "Konoha's ally, the Sand shinobi… Sabaku no Gaara."
Lee moved from below Katana and let her rest on the bed of sand. She was turning paler. The gash stung a lot and she didn't understand why. Her curse mark lit gold and she screamed. "Ahhhhh!" The pain was too much. Her body racked as she spat out blood. Her earlier wounds began to bleed a lot again as well. Lee panicked. He hastily wiped the cold sweat on her forehead. Her hands were turning white. She let out another sound of agony. Gaara gave her one glance before stepping in front of them protectively.
Kimimaro put on a battle stance. "So that's who you are…" He threw his fingertip bones like bullets. Gaara's sand rose up in his defense and the bones fell on the ground. "You…" said Gaara, "when we last fought, you had more agility and speed." He told Lee.
Lee nodded. "Not that I'm holding any grudge, but because of you, I've had quite a bit of trouble." He answered. "By the way, why are you here?" he asked the redhead. Gaara looked at Katana again. "I have a big debt to Konoha." He answered simply. The harsh wind blew. Katana shuddered in the cold air. Warm sand embraced her, providing more comfort. Lee stood up and got ready to fight again. Gaara turned to him. "I'll take care of this." He said. Lee shook his head hard. I need to show Katana I'm strong enough… he thought but Gaara has other plans. Lee began to charge. "Please be my back-up." He told Gaara. Sand wrapped around his leg and pulled him back, causing him to trip and fall face-forward.
He faced Gaara with an annoyed expression on his face. "Please let go!" he said. Gaara walked forward. "You are in no condition to fight. I'll do it." Sand came out of his gourd. "Take care of Katana." He ordered Lee. In that, Lee had no protests. He rushed to Katana's side. She was still shaking. "T-tell Ga-gaara… 'be c-careful'…" she whimpered, pain hitting her again. Lee hugged her close but sand punched him lightly in the arm. He flinched and glared at Gaara. He glared right back at Lee, his look saying, 'do-not-touch-her-unless-really-necessary'. More sand was wrapped around Katana to build up enough heat. The fight between Gaara and Kimimaro began. Gaara held the upper hand. Because his sand does him both defense and offense, he could attack within a distance.
Katana stared at Gaara. He wasn't even moving from his place. She smiled. Suddenly, a rush of great pain overcame her body again. Her head was throbbing. "Agghhh…" She groaned out, her throat too dry to scream. She looked at Kimimaro. Just as she thought. He activated his curse seal. When he cut her arm, his blood mixed with hers and his curse reacted with hers. The result wasn't good. The torture increased as Kimimaro fully transformed. She knew she had to stop it soon or else his blood will become a poison inside her body. Reaching for her sword, she grabbed the blade and let it touch the wound in her arm that had tiny holes in it. Lee's hand stopped her. "What are you doing?" he asked in alarm. She shook her head. "It's okay, Lee." She told him. He let go. As soon as the cool blade came in contact with her hot skin, she hissed. She pushed it in each of the wounds quickly. She bit her lip to prevent herself from screaming. If I scream…It would only distract Gaara.
As more blood oozed out, she felt the pain go away. Sighing, she wiped her forehead and sat up. "Thank goodness…" she breathed out. She looked for Gaara. He was there far away from them, his body wrapped and in front, a large Shukaku statue made of sand protecting him from Kimimaro's attacks. "I will remain in Orochimaru's heart forever…" Kimimaro said. Gaara spoke. "You've been brainwashed by Orochimaru? How pathetic." He did a jutsu. The white-haired monster slowly sunk on the sand below his feet. He thrashed wildly, attempting to escape. The sand Shukaku vanished so did the protective wall of sand.
Kimimaro was consumed fast by the big quicksand. Lee's eyes bulged. "What a huge amount of chakra…" he muttered beside Katana. "And he's almost out of it." She added. Lee turned to her. "What?"
"You'll be sinking 200 meters underground and be held there. With the sand's pressure, you will be unable to move a finger." Gaara deadpanned. Not a moment after he said that, Kimimaro was out of sight. The sinkhole hardened like a rock.
Katana gasped. "You…You got him!" she cheered with a big grin. Gaara was relieved to hear her voice once again but his eyes focused on the sand. Silence gone by. Another gush of breeze blew. "Mai…" they heard from below. All eyes widened in shock and terror. "Sawarabi no Mai." 5 meter-long, sharp bones shot up from everywhere in the ground. They were heading fast towards Lee and Katana. Panicking, they started to run away, but sand caught them with ease and lifted them up away from the deadly thorns. "Thank you…" said Lee. Though he didn't like the guy, he never forgets his manners. Katana smiled and thanked him as well. "He should be dead now, right?" asked Katana nervously. Gaara stared at her grey orbs. "I don't know…" he admitted. She and Lee shared a look and hoped that the damned guy would be already.
They now looked down at the forest of ivory bones. After waiting for a few minutes Gaara finally said, "He was stubborn. But this is the end. He will no longer come back up again." Katana sighed. Gaara flinched slightly. Her head jerked back to him. "Are you okay?" she asked worriedly. He heaved a deep breath. "I am at my limit. We need to go down." he told them.
"It's not brainwashing…" a voice hissed. Katana didn't know if she heard right. Looking behind Gaara, she saw the half of the body of Kimimaro with a huge weapon fixed in his arm. His calm expression faded and was replaced by hatred and anger. "Orochimaru-sama did everything for me! This is because of my decision! What do you know about it?" he screamed before sending down his transformed arm to Gaara. Without thinking, Katana pulled back Gaara by his shirt and placed herself in his previous position, shielding him from any harm. Her curse activated once again.
Her heart thundered inside her chest as she stared at the sharp point of his sword. What did I just do? She asked herself. Blood dripped down from Kimimaro's chin. He was no longer moving. "He's dead." Concluded Lee. Gaara stared at the back of Katana's dark brown hair. She… she saved me…she shielded me… He couldn't believe it. The sand went down. The trio rested in the nearest tree shade. Katana sat between the two boys.
"We would've been defeated…" muttered Gaara. Lee shook his head. "We were lucky. Gai-sensei always said that luck is a part of strength." He said proudly. Katana looked at him and smiled. "That busybody…" she heard Gaara say. Turning as his direction, she almost burst out laughing if not for Lee's protest. "He's not a busybody!" he sounded insulted. "That time, it was my own weakness. Please don't talk about him like that!" Lee said indignantly. Katana couldn't blame the guy. She wouldn't want anyone to insult Kakashi-sensei as well.
"You're the same…" mumbled Gaara. "If the person you adore is insulted, you get angry. To fight for that person…" he looked up the sky. "He's the same as Uzumaki Naruto… although the person important to you isn't always good." Katana's gaze softened. He's learning…that's good. Lee thought deeply. "You don't have to admire someone bad." He answered. "No." Gaara told him. "Even if you knew they were evil…no one can defeat loneliness." Katana knew he was right.
Lee remembered something. "Katana-chan!" he shouted. Katana looked at him nervously. "Eh? N-nani?" she asked. He stood up quickly. "I went out of the hospital without Tsunade-sama knowing. I need to go back." He said. She nodded and with a 'whoosh' of air, he disappeared. Gaara and Katana were left under the tree shade's comfort. Turning slightly at his direction she saw his changes. He was wearing a reddish brown shirt with longer sleeves and an upright collar this time. A white cloth draped over his outfit and a mesh shirt inside. His face had matured a bit and his eyes lost their bloodlust. He caught her staring at him. Her head jerked forward and she blushed.
"We should get you to the hospital." He said. Katana looked at him again and noticed that his eyes were fixed at her wounds. "Oh…okay then. Guess it wouldn't hurt." She stood up. He mimicked her. "Let me carry you." He stated. She turned to him with wide eyes. "Wait, wait, what?" He was dead serious. "Let me carry you on the way." He repeated. Her face reddened even more. She shook her head hard. "N-no. No, no, no. I'm fi— ahh!" She yelped as he carried her bridal style. She looked up on his face. A faint blush tainted his pale face. She sighed and smiled. "Well, if you insist this much…" she rested her head on his chest in a comfortable position and he felt his cheeks grow warm. He started to walk out of the grassy field with Katana in his arms.
As he jumped from branch to branch, he couldn't help but glance continuously at the sleeping girl in his arms. Her face gleamed in the tiny rays of sun, making her look more beautiful. Soft brown hair covered her face. Jumping down, he walked inside the village. The guards did not restrict him nor did they attack him. They let him get inside and upon seeing Katana; they immediately pointed him to the direction of the hospital. He dashed there.
End Chapter