Destiny of the Cursed
Chapter 19: Dangerous Rivalry
The 'drip-drip-drip' sound of the water bounced off the walls. The heavy scent of musk was giving her headaches. Although her eyes were wide open, she couldn't see a thing. Where am I? It was pitch black, cold and damp.
The eerie silence was broken by laughter. It was a very familiar one and she knew she's heard of it before. "You've grown so big…haven't you, Katana?" the voice addressed her. Her head jerked to the direction of the sound. There was no one there. Fear crept up her spine. Where was she and who was this person talking to her? "Over here…" whispered the voice. She turned again. Again, she saw no one. An idea went inside her mind. "Tamiko? Is that you? Show yourself!" she demanded. Whoever or whatever it was laughed darkly once more. "Tamiko… No, no. Tamiko was only a bridge. It's funny", said the stranger between chuckles, "how I've been with you for so long, yet you don't even recognize me." Footsteps echoed back and forth in the darkness.
"I am your source of strength and weakness… a thing you hate but direly need… I am your worst nightmare…A creature from born from hate and pain."
A figure slowly emerged from the dark. Her eyes widened in size. "Y-you… Y-you're…!" choked out Katana. The other person smirked. "Yes…I am you!" The other 'Katana' pushed her on an endless pit, engulfed by the shadows, with no one to help her.
Inside her room, Katana shot up straight and fell off her bed with a thud. Breathing in ragged gasps, her eyes quickly scanned her surroundings. Shakily, she let out a relieved sigh. She was about to rest her head again, when someone pounded on her door. Glancing in alarm at the door, she stood up, sword at hand, and stumbled her way over. She jerked the door open and pointed her blade. "You…!" she hissed.
She saw who was knocking and dropped the weapon. "Kankuro, what?" she whined, flopping down on the soft mattress. Kankuro's expression was near to saying 'HolyShitwhatwasthatfor?' in a very fast manner, but instead he took a deep breath and made a mental note that this was the last time he'd wake her up. "Gaara wanted to speak with you." She grimaced and stood up. "Alright. Thank you, Kankuro."
Stifling a yawn, she dragged herself towards the headquarters, thinking of possible reasons why Gaara would call her on such an early time. "Come on, Gaara-sama, you know you want it…" She froze. It was a feminine voice coming from inside. No, it wasn't Matsuri, for she had a far timid and squeaky voice. This one however, was sultry, sending goose bumps to anyone who hears it. Tentatively, she knocked. "Come in, Katana." When Katana opened the door, the first thing she noticed was the busty kunoichi that sat on Gaara's desk, her body turned in his direction, but her face on Katana. Raven locks were caught in a messy ponytail and some fell on her forehead. Her violet eyes seemed to see through anything. Plump, red lips formed an amused smirk. She wore a red vest and black shorts to match her hair color. Next to her, Katana's looks were nothing.
She was intimidated, but ignored the woman nonetheless, "Gaara-sama, you summoned me?" she inquired, wearing her best emotionless expression. Gaara nodded sharply. He handed her a letter. "It's a letter from your father." Katana took it and didn't bother to look at the label. "Is that all Gaara-sama?" she asked again.
"Yes, you're dismi—"
"Gaara-sama, so mean!" The kunoichi on the desk slapped Gaara's shoulder playfully. "Why don't you introduce me to your um…", she looked at Katana up and down and made a face of slight disgust that made the brunette's blood boil, "assistant…" She smiled sickly sweet at him. Gaara ran a hand through his messy hair and sighed.
"Katana, this is Kazumi Suzuki, a special jounin of our village. Kazumi, this is Katana Yotsuki, a friend of mine." Kazumi made her way towards the girl and stopped in front of her. "Pleasured to meet you, Katana." She offered her hand. Katana took it and shook. "The pleasure is all mine, Kazumi-san." Unlike Katana's coarse hand due to years of training, hers was soft and slender. Flashy violet and intense grey eyes clashed with each other, although smiles were present on both faces. The tension between them was thick enough for a butter knife to slice. "Yotsuki, right? In any chance are you from—"
"Konoha? Yes." Interrupted Katana. She wasn't in a particularly good mood to fake politeness or to chitchat. The other girl raised a thin eyebrow at her defensive answer. Her smirk matched that of the devil. "So, you were together with those who saved Gaara-sama…" she encircled her, like a predator waiting to pounce on the prey. Katana nodded curtly. "Indeed, I am." Her answers were short and blunt, providing little to no interest for the raven-haired girl.
Kazumi tried again. "I heard Konoha shinobi are strong…And I've been wanting to spar with one since then." Katana said nothing, but held her chin high. She wouldn't give in. Not yet. Kazumi reached out and twirled a stray brown strand around her finger.
"What do you say, sweetheart? Wanna test the theory?" Katana cleared her throat dry. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I'm kind of busy helping out Gaara-sama." She watched as Kazumi clicked her tongue against her teeth, making a 'tsk' sound. "Of course, how can I forget? Silly me." She laughed and sent Katana a sly look. "But I'd hate to see you going soft from all that office work, dearie." Katana's eyes reduced into dangerous slits, her fist clenching around the letter. "I'm not going soft." She argued, her tone changing in so many levels. Ah, dammit! She gave in. Fell on the obvious trap.
"Then why don't you prove that to me?" whispered Kazumi tauntingly in her ear. She chuckled again. "I'll meet you in the Suna training grounds. Bye!" She waved her hand at them and sent another irritatingly cunning smile. "Don't disappoint me, hon." The special jounin disappeared with a whoosh of air and left Katana fuming.
Her knuckles were white with pressure around the crumpled envelope and her shoulders stiff from standing so straight. "Is something bothering you?" She turned to the redhead. He was staring, no emotion on his face like always, but with a hint of concern flashing through his eyes once in a while. She frowned but his voice somehow relaxed her tense muscles. "Just a bad nightmare." She muttered softly. It sounded lame and childish, considering the reason came from her, the feared sword-wielder. And she was somewhat surprised when Gaara only soften his gaze. She smiled lopsidedly in appreciation. "You should rest…rather than fight Kazumi."
The appreciation faded and was replaced by a stubborn scowl. "No. I'm not backing out."
"She only means trouble, Katana. Fighting her would be a waste of time." Katana ignored him and made her way towards the door. "Backing down on a fight is a disgrace to us of the Yotsuki Clan." She replied. She opened the door.
"…Then at least, please change into something more...uh " Gaara trailed off, unable to find the right word to describe it. Confused, Katana looked down at her outfit and instantly blushed crimson. She let out a forced and embarrassed laugh as she quickly kicked herself out. Gaara smirked in amusement. 'She wants to spar while wearing pajamas?' he thought as he shook his head at the hilarity of it.
Katana locked the door of her room and hurriedly changed into a sleeveless shirt and a pair of training shorts and snatched her sword. Tying it around her hips, she noticed the wrinkled paper. In Kakashi's handwriting, the front said, "To: Katana Yotsuki". She opened it and read.
'Katana,
Hey! It's me, Sakura. And this baka beside me too! I heard from Tsunade-sama that you're spending two months there in Suna as the Kazekage's assistant. I hope you're having a good time there.
Anyway… Naruto and I wanted to apologize for our behavior towards you when our last mission failed. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. I know it wasn't anyone's fault. Sasuke chose to leave Konoha on his own. And I shouldn't have blamed you for it. I hope…I hope you'll come back as soon as possible. We miss you here. It's not Rookie 9 without you.
Love, Sakura and Naruto'
Grey orbs stared in disbelief at the written words. "Th-they're…They're not mad at me…" Along with the eased smile on her previously sour face, Katana couldn't stop the tears of relief that flowed. She looked at the paper again. There was a small message written.
'P.S. Things had changed so much around here. I've got some bad news for you. Asuma-sensei is dead. He was killed by two Akatsuki members named Hidan and Kakuzu. They're dead too. Team 10, Kakashi-sensei, Naruto and Yamato-taichou got them. Please be careful.'
"Asuma-sensei…dead?" Somehow, even to her ears, it seemed too impossible to happen.
"Ah, Katana, darling!" gushed out Kazumi in fake sweetness. "You took so long I didn't expect you to show up anymore!" She batted her eyelashes. Katana, in the contrary didn't bother to answer back or even greet her opponent. She removed the slender blade that hung loosely and set it down on a bench before proceeding to wrap bandage cloth on both hands. Kazumi can only stare dumbly as Katana prepared herself.
"Uh…What are you doing?" the black-haired girl asked, pointing to the white cloth on the brunette's arms. Katana stared back. "Let's end this quick. Both of us will be using hand to hand combat, no weapons or any kinds of jutsu are allowed." She stated, positioning herself on a battle stance. Kazumi blinked. "Wha—" She didn't get to finish her question for Katana disappeared from within her sight only to reappear behind her and send her landing on her butt with an audible 'thump'.
"Ow!" Kazumi winced and rubbed her backside. She glared viciously at Katana, her charming façade crumbling down. "You'll pay big for that!" She snarled. She stood up and charged. Punches, kicks and curses were thrown to Katana, but she dodged every attack easily.
The composed behavior Katana had made Kazumi even more frustrated and riled up. The fight between the two was intense and close, neither wanting to be overpowered by the other. Kazumi could see well that both of them were tired and Katana's movements were comparably slower than before. As Katana aimed a punch on her jaw, Kazumi fell on her knees. She panted. "I…lost." Tears glided down the sides of her face.
Katana jumped back and evened her breathing. Sweat ran down her body, the desert sun shining mercilessly at them. She turned her back on the fallen girl. "I'll be going now." She said and walked away. Kazumi's head snapped up, the glint in her eyes showing.
"Hey, Katana." The said girl turned to her, only to see a paper bomb explode in her way. Smoke covered her line of vision and made her cough violently. Several newly sharpened kunai pinned her down on the nearest wall. Eyes widening in shock, she struggled to free herself. Kazumi chuckled at the pathetic sight of her, the smoke from the explosion clearing.
"Look at you, trapped helplessly against that wall." She teased. Katana glowered. "You cheated." She spat angrily. Kazumi laughed again. "Of course I did." She trotted her way in front of the brunette. She took a strand of hair and yanked on it. Katana winced, feeling the sting on her scalp.
"Why do you think I got a high position?"
Katana snorted. "You're a fake and a liar. You don't deserve your rank." Again, the girl pulled on her hair, a little harder this time. "At least I've got enough guts for a little dirt on my hands and unlike you…I can do this!" Kazumi plunged down a poisoned knife hard into Katana's arm. A pained scream came out of Katana's mouth, feeling the venom enter her body.
Kazumi backed away and watched the injured girl's body fall down on the ground and rack uncontrollably. "I wonder what Gaara-sama sees in a useless girl like you. All he ever talks about is you, you and you…But I won't let anyone steal him from me." She sneered, kneeling down to see the pale face of Katana.
"If I can't have him, then no one can." She said. Katana's vision was blurring by the second. Something was churning inside her. What is this feeling? Her hand jerked so suddenly. What the—
"Heh." Snickered Kazumi. "Now the fun begins." Katana could only stare in horror, as her body moved on its own. She tried to fight it, the strong urge that made her want to kill. Something bad was happening to her and it was because of that poison. "K-Kazumi, what d-did you do t-to me?" she screamed in panic. So suddenly, she was beside the bench, her hands gripping her sword in a stance.
Kazumi grinned wildly. "My, my, Katana…" she challenged, "Surely you're not thinking of killing me, are you?" Her body responded fast, slashing and swiping in every direction. Katana felt helpless. She was like a puppet, completely depended on its master's strings. In her case, she let Kazumi manipulate her.
"Wouldn't Gaara-sama just be downright disappointed with you? Kami, what would he say?" The mocking tone of the kunoichi made Katana halt herself. Yes, Gaara. What would he say? How would he react? No, she couldn't let herself lose control. Her body shook. Her mind was confused and hazy. But there was nothing left that she could do when her system blacked out.
Once again, Katana was back on the exact same place in her dream. Only this time, there was a tiny hole up above and dim light was spread all over the place. Puddles of water were randomly placed on the cold and hard ground where Katana sat, hands gripping her head. "IDIOT!" she yelled in frustration. It echoed all around, sounding like a condemnatory crowd.
She shut her eyes tight, teeth clenching. She wanted to bash her head in the nearest wall for her stupidity. It's not like she'd feel the pain of it anyway, for her whole body was numb. But something made her pause. She focused, her eyes sealed. She could her faint screams of fear and panic coming from outside. She could hear the ANBU, speeding after her. And Kazumi's shouts…
"I don't know what happened, but she suddenly went on a rampage!"
The civilians…
"Please, stop her!"
Temari…
"Katana! Katana! It's me, Temari!"
And Kankuro…
"Katana, listen to us!"
"Grandma, save me!"
She bolted up with blazed eyes of pure rage. This was going too far. There are people being harmed, dammit! She wasn't going to let Kazumi do this. She was going to take control again no matter what. Gathering a massive amount of chakra in her hands she forced her curse to trigger. The pain was extremely immense, feeling her bones crack under the pressure of it. She winced but continued on gathering and pushing the chakra inside her body. Pain was a good sign. It meant she was beginning the gain consciousness again.
"Katana, drop that weapon right now." Black and gold eyes snapped back into life. Katana stared at the scene before her eyes. She was completely surrounded by the ANBU, Temari and Kankuro, who had their weapons on ready and Gaara, whose sand was halfway wrapped around the arm that held her sword. They were all giving her different looks. Confused ones, disbelieving ones and a look that pained her most… aquamarine eyes looking down in disappointment. She looked down shamefully as well, only to widen her eyes in shock. A small, fear-stricken boy was trapped within the confines of her left arm and her silver blade pointing close on his throat. She tensed and flung away her beloved weapon. The boy ran away from her, almost tripping on his two feet, and jumped into an old woman's embrace. The old woman was no other than Mrs. Shimizu; her indignant and worried look was as cold as ice.
Katana felt her hands shake. Her eyes, now in their normal color, stayed wide in shock and trauma. W-what have I done? She hardly noticed the crimson fluid that oozed out of her wounds in a rapid rate.
"I never thought you'd go as far as that just to beat me, Katana." She turned; meeting angry glares along, and met a certain violet doe-eyed female. Kazumi was slyly smirking, looking more than pleased with the result. The raven-haired girl's expression changed from amused to scared as she turned to Gaara. "I didn't know what I said or did to piss her off. We were just sparring and she was starting to lose and—" Gaara's hand cut off her little rant. He turned his back and walked away. "Katana, you and I will have a talk."
End Chapter
Sorry if I took so long before updating again! I had quite a troublesome writer's block along the way. But here it is now, chapter 19! Please review and tell me what you think of it. (Still had minor writer's block while doing this.) Thank you! XD
~KatanaSabaku