A/N: Hey everyone! You all know the drill it's officially been two weeks! Been a while since I've waited the full two weeks! The long awaited CHUNIN EXAM FINALS! I hope your all ready because I know I am! All of the reviews are at the bottom now, just to remind y'all! Happy reading!
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*Kabocha POV*
My arm…
My fucking arm….
Did I even have it anymore? I must...the pain is unbearable. However, I could be feeling the pain in my nub? Do I have a nub from the shoulder down?
My last memory hit me as hard as Gaara's sand did. The shukaku...not Gaara...tried to kill me. I noticed the shukaku immediately, and I did nothing. There wasn't anything I could have done anyway with little to no chakra. I felt something inside of me for Gaara. I wasn't even angry with him, I was pissed off that the shukaku thought I was enough of a threat to eliminate.
I opened my eyes slowly to look at, yet again, another bright foreign light. I didn't need my enhanced senses to smell that disgusting sterile smell. The white walls making everything brighter. Overall, I was disgusted with the scenery.
"Oh good...you're awake." I recognized my uncle's voice right away. I turned my head to my left, exactly where I heard his voice coming from. He was leaning against the wall, his eyes glued to my...arm…
I looked down at my wrapped arm. It was wrapped from my shoulder to every single one of my finger tips. I almost sighed in relief except the only thing I was feeling was pain, and that wasn't even the half of it. I couldn't move it at all. "Damage?" I asked hoarsely not caring that my mouth and throat were dry.
"All ribs on your left side are broken, bruised ribs on the right, lacerations filled with sand on your left leg and neck, and your arm was completely crushed." He rattled off the list of my injuries from the top of his head. Everything thing he said I felt except my arm. If it was crushed then it should be gone.
"I see you keep looking at your arm...Master Shi went to great lengths to make sure you were able to still perform hand seals. If you had lost your arm there's no way you could continue your duties." I looked away from him, staring at the bright light above my head. That sandy bastard had almost robbed me of my ninja career. My right hand clenched the stark white sheets in an iron grip.
"What did he do?" I questioned simply. "He asked the dragons to grant him a favor. It took a lot of convincing in a short amount of time, but they agreed in the end. The grand dragon, Pawa, gave you scales and bone from his own body to aid you in your healing process. Master Shi and I binded the scales to your flesh after we replaced your bone. Of course, your body fought the foreign cells. It was touch and go for the last two days, your fever wouldn't come down. Shosha, Hikari, and Kina have been in and out. That...Uchiha boy and his sensei have tried to gain entrance into the village to see you. No one else is aware of your condition." I nodded, sending a prayer to the dragons to thank them for restoring my health. They essentially gave me life...the grand dragon gave me life when he could have let me die or live without an arm.
"What happens now?" The question that I really didn't want to ask slipped right out of my mouth. "The next round of the chunin exams is in four days. You're going to use the last four days to heal. You will be received intense, round the clock healing from our top healers. You can't use your left arm, so I would recommend you sit out the next round and the invasion." Uncle told me as he turned his back to leave.
"Kabocha...I'm sorry." I heard him whisper right before he left. I grit my teeth hard enough to give myself a headache. I wanted to scream until my throat was raw. I could never just win…
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"Your really going through with this, huh?" I blatantly ignored Shosha as he stood behind me with Kina and Gin. "You don't have to do this. Kabocha...please." Now it was Kina's turn since she was always the good shinobi in every situation.
"I say let her. It'll be fun to watch her succeed through struggles….mostly the struggling. I've never seen her strug-" I didn't need to turn around to know that Kina had smacked the dragon shit out of him.
"I appreciate you three being here, but I don't need your feedback." Both Gin and Shosha made annoyed sounds while Kina remained silent.
I held in a wince as I turned around to face them. I had to forgo my armor altogether; my wrapped arm was secured tightly to my side. My summoning scroll for Aisuru Kaze took up permanent residence in my right hand for the time being. I didn't have any chakra, my strength had returned but not at full force, the seal was still in place, and I only had the use of one arm...yet I was going to war today.
I sighed looking at the three of them. "Well, let's head out." I breezed in between Shosha and Gin, and right out of uncle Gorudo's front door. We didn't have too long of a walk to the arena. The entire walk there was spent in silence; each of us thinking about the same thing, but far away from the simple chunin exams..
"This is your last chance to sit this one out." Shosha told me seriously. I glared at him from the corner of my eye; he immediately raised his hands in surrender. I watched a defeated look wash over his face making me sigh.
"I'm going to sit out this round, but when the shit hits the fan I will be the first into battle, and the last to leave." Shosha grinned at me; reaching over to hug me, I swatted him away with my summoning scroll. "Thank you Kabocha...you know we worry." Kina told me running her fingers through my hair gently. I blushed slightly at her gentle ministrations, allowing her to worry over me profusely.
"What the hell happened to your arm? I give you space for one month, and you come back being held together by bandages." My heart thumped painfully at the sound of my crush's voice. Gin nudged me on my right side, urging me to turn around and face him. I held my breath and faced the brown eyes that I constantly see in my dreams.
"Woah! How come you're still...like that!" Naruto shouted from beside him. "Way to be sensitive." Gin snorted making Shosha snicker. Kina scowled fiercely at Naruto, Naruto waved his hands around trying to placate Kina.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Just because she's like that doesn't mean she's ugly or anything!" Now it was Shikamaru's turn to glare at Naruto. I outright laughed at how familiar the situation is...I had missed this in just only a month. Three years was going to be hell..
"Are you participating in the matches like that? You only have one arm, and you're not even wearing your armor. Judging by your appearance, you also don't have any chakra to perform jutsus." Shikamaru's eyes raked up and down my form. I felt my body heat up from the inside out at his scrutinizing gaze. The bickering and embarrassed Naruto weren't the only two things I missed.
"Let me help you answer that. No." The pleasant warmth I felt was replaced by unforgiving anger. Who had the nerve to say that let alone with an attitude? Shikamaru and Naruto looked on in terror over my shoulder. I felt offended that they were scared of the unknown people over my shoulder. I turned on my heel to face...sand shinobi. I was now standing toe to toe with all three of the sand siblings. Temari stood right in front of me, Kina stood to my right in front of Kankuro, and Sosha stood to my left with Gaara right in front of him. Gin took up residence over my left shoulder. It was now my weaker side, so he felt the need to stand there.
"You've got some nerve." Kina snorted with a teasing smile that had a hint of masked malice. I felt Gaara's gaze boring holes into my wrapped arm and side. There was no way in Shi I was making eye contact with him. I wasn't afraid of him, I didn't have it in me to be scared of anything or anyone. I also knew that he wasn't the one that attacked me; we were actually having a civilized discussion until his sand plowed into me.
"Pfft. She's got some nerve, huh? Have you seen this runt? She's more wrapped up than my crow. She doesn't stand a chance." Kankuro snorted making Gin and Shosha snarled. I looked at him him blankly, he shifted slightly under my gaze.
"We're practically the same height, so I don't understand the runt insult. My wrapped arm has nothing to do with my ability to fight, sand shit. The next time you decide to answer for me pigtails, think about what I'm capable of. I was willing to kill one of my own, so realize that I wouldn't think twice about taking your life, princess." I gave her dead smirk making her falter.
"Yeah well...you definitely won't get the chance now, general." She mocked my title to my face. My mask cracked slightly, a grin touched her stupid face. Kina, Shosha, and Gin took a step forward preparing for a fight. I held out my good arm to stop them.
"Aww look. You're such good dogs! Now, sit! Roll over!" Kankuro cackled loudly after his remarks. "I know you're not mentioning dogs, dog breath." Kina said waving her hand in front of her face. I bit my lip to hold in my laughter, but Gin, Shosha, and Naruto roared with laughter.
"Why you-!"
"Enough." Gaara rasped making his siblings freeze up...as well as Naruto's laughter cease. However, my lava party didn't give a damn about his one word command as they continued to laugh.
"S-Sorry Gaara." Temari stuttered horribly, and I finally laughed.
"S-S-Sorry G-Gaar-ra." I mocked her through my laughter. "Clown face brought up obedient dogs, and the only dogs I see are you two. Especially you, ponytails, following his commands like the bitch you are." I stopped laughing to grin at her. She was practically boiling as she made a move towards me.
"I said. Enough." Gaara rasped harshly, and she stopped in her tracks. "Good girl." I said to rub salt into her wounds. I heard the announcer shouting for us to come down into the arena.
"That's our que." Gin said stretching and then putting his arm around my shoulders gently, so he wouldn't hurt my left shoulder. I appreciated how gentle he was being with me...I wouldn't tell him that though.
"Thank God." Naruto sighed running down the steps into the arena. "Everything is a drag…" Shikamaru sighed. I looked over my shoulder at my crush as the sand siblings brushed by me. Temari and Kankuro glaring at me as they went by. Gaara slowed down as he passed by me, but he didn't stop. His sand brushing me discreetly and smoothly. My body wanted so desperately to wince outwardly, but I maintained it to an inner tremble. However, I did scowl outwardly at my body's betrayal.
He continued on his way, glancing at Shikamaru as he did so. "I hate him." Shosha said with a scowl to match my own. I let my features smooth over to stare intently at my big brother.
"Come on." I said turning around fully to face the stairs. I walked the short distance to Shikamaru and smiled slightly at him. His face scrunched up in confusion with a modest blush. The blush making me want to nuzzle him which was surprising considering my bloodline trait was still sealed.
"You okay?" He asked, his hand twitching as if he wanted to touch me. "Fine, now." I told him with a flirtatious smirk. I purposely rubbed against him as I walked by, and I was pleased to see he didn't tense up but shivered. Gin, Shosha, and Kina followed behind me and into the arena.
Upon entering the arena I saw Neji immediately. "Hey." I grinned widely as Neji greeted me first, and with a small embarrassed smile for some reason! Me oh my he was precious. I felt my moderate childhood crush for him thump painfully in my chest. Naruto glared heatedly from my side at him. I nudged Naruto violently causing him to cough and choke.
"Hey, Neji." I pushed a curl behind my ear, missing the look Shikamaru was giving Neji and I. I also missed the teasing grins Gin and Shosha wore that were directed at Shikamaru.
"I hate that guy." I heard Naruto grumble, Shikamaru hummed from beside him. I cut my eyes away from Neji to the duo to my far right. When had they become buddies?
"We will now begin the second round of matches. Since Dosu is not able to compete. Gaara no Sabaku will now face Sasuke Uchiha. The first match will be between Neji Hyuga and Naruto Uzumaki." I pursed my lips wondering what happened to the previous proctor. The new referee had a senbon in his mouth much like Shosha does on occasion.
Everyone that wasn't Naruto and Neji began to make their way into the stands. I noticed a hand full of lava shinobi in the crowd. Father, uncle Hikari, and uncle Gorudo were missing as well as the elite eight of our village. The elite eight were equivalent to anbu black ops of other villages except other villages had a lot more than eight anbu black ops shinobi. Being apart of the elite eight in our village is the highest honor; a position that every single one of those eight members killed for.
My mind drifted away from my village's ranks, and back to the match happening below. Naruto's anger for Neji wasn't blinding him at all. Neji and I just became friends again, which is nice, but I would always choose Naruto. He was my honorary brother after all.
"I didn't know you were friends with that Hyuga guy again." I turned my head to look at Shikamaru's piercing gaze. I pursed my lips once again, glancing briefly at the quickly progressing match before giving him my complete, undivided attention.
"Neji came to speak with me the morning after the preliminaries. We had a discussion and apologies were said, so we're friends again. Simple as that." I shrugged nonchalantly. However, Shikamaru seemed to be wound up pretty tight. I scanned his form to continue to gauge his emotions.
"When did you and Naruto become such good friends?" I asked and my question seemed to make him tense up even further. "While you were away..Naruto and I...caught that red headed sand guy trying to kill Rock Lee." My eyes fluttered shut on their own, completely betraying how I wanted to appear. Oh Gaara...why….?
I swallowed thickly with my eyes still closed. The shukaku was really taking its toll on Gaara. I wanted to scream at Shikamaru that Gaara and I were one in the same. The only difference being was that Gaara had a demon inside of him. What was my excuse?
I opened my eyes to look down at Naruto; the brightest light in my life. The only person besides my brothers who I know would love me unconditionally...but would he? If he really knew what I do...what I did...what I'm going to do just to bring my brother back...would he still love me? I bit my lip watching Naruto deliver the finishing blow to win the match. Maybe I just wasn't made to make friends outside of my village. Shikamaru was my first friend and crush, and looked how everything was turning out…
"Bo-Bo…" Kina called me by my nickname gently. I met her soft eyes, catching both Gin and Shosha looking at me concerned. They were always going to be there for me. I was filling with so much doubt with just one statement about a boy I shared so many similarities with. A boy that I was going to be connected to forever just like Shikamaru.
Shikamaru…
I turned away from my family to look at my tamer. He was also looking at me with eyes full of concern, and for the first time I could see affection for me clear as the sky above us. I felt the effects of our bond wash over me. I felt my body heat up instead of the cold flood I would usually feel. He reassured me just with one look. I let out a shuddering breath, a smile beginning to form on my face until my name was called after that sand bitch. "I'm not going to participate, so don't be so worried." I told him. I leaned in, and kissed his cheek. It had been too long since I had touched him the way I wanted to. I pivoted on my heel and began my descent down the steps.
"Way to go, Naruto!" I grinned at him through the pain thumping in my chest. "Thanks, Kabocha! Forget about your arm because your going to win too! Believe it!" Naruto gave me a thumbs up with one of his signature grins as he continued up the stairs. I felt my eyes sting making me roll them to the sky to prevent traitorous tears. Dragon damn these tears.
"Awww, your scared enough to cry. Poor little pumpkin head." My tears dried up instantly, hearing her voice definitely erased everything I had been feeling. "Too bad for you that I'm going to forfeit." I told her blandly, and she let out an outrageous, obnoxious laugh. I twitched internally, filling to the brim with murderous intent. 'Stay focused, Kabocha, you have an army to lead.' I thought loudly to myself trying to shake the image of me slicing her head off, and dancing as her blood rained down on me while I laughed.
"Kabocha Kasai, are you ready?" The match officiator asked me with a skeptical look, his eyes were scanning my bandaged body. "Actually, sir…" I froze in my speech, my gaze catching the taunting smile on that sand bitch's face out of the corner of my eye.
"I'm ready."
*Normal POV*
Kabocha snarled looking at the blonde sand shinobi known as Temari Sabaku. She could feel herself getting angry, she could feel her left arm, back, and chest pulsing with uncontrolled pain. She chose to ignore what she initially told Shikamaru because this girl had gotten the best of her.
Kabocha slowly, but surely, raised her right arm. A loud cloud of smoke poofed into the air, and disappeared to reveal her scythe: Aisuru Kaze. She held the scythe with an ease that was almost like an extension of her very arm. One month of training had made that much of a difference to her swordsmanship. Fighting for her life every single day had made her an even better fighter regardless of her new arm.
"Your funeral, pumpkin head." Temari laughed loudly as she opened her war fan. The match officiator nodded to both girls. "Alright, well...begin." He disappeared to his spot next to the Hokage thinking the same thing as everyone else in the stands. Kabocha Kasai of the village hidden in the lava looked already beaten with one arm out of commission. However, he had seen her look go from reserved to murderous in the blink of an eye. He wouldn't fully doubt her yet considering the sound boy that went against Shino Aburame faked not having use of one of his arms. This was going to be an interesting match indeed.
"She said she wasn't going to fight, troublesome woman." Shikamaru looked down into the arena full of worry and frustration for the teenage girl he loved as Naruto cheered loudly. The three lava shinobi on Naruto's other side looked on in eerie silence. The usually talkative Shosha and Gin were both mute.
Shikamaru's eyebrows furrowed the minute the first move was made by the sand female. Kabocha was moving fast, faster than anyone had seen her, but she was almost sloppy. Her balance almost seemed to be completely off for some reason. Kina visibly winced as when Kabocha stumbled out of the way of another wind attack. She was a close range fighter when chakra wasn't involved. She was at an enormous disadvantage without her chakra. She looked to be analyzing her with every move. Everyone had heard she was a general, and she looked the part with how determined and calculating her eyes were.
Kabocha's back was now at the other side of the arena. She had no more room to jump back from the wind, and with each swing it was getting stronger and stronger. Kabocha's face remained blank as Temari started taunting her once more.
"Is this really all the great dragon of the west is worth? You really are pathetic. Just some half lizard bitch." Kabocha felt the familiar feeling of overwhelming power. 'What perfect timing.' Kabocha thought keeping her mask in place regardless of how angry she was. She had to concentrate.
"What? Nothing to say? You really are all talk." Temari laughed, swinging her fan once more. Kabocha flipped to the left, for the first time during the match she moved both fast and fluidly. The wind tore through where she was previously. Temari looked taken aback by her sudden gracefulness. Kabocha didn't appear different to her outwardly. She still had that ridiculous orange hair and strange golden eyes. She was still missing whatever made her primal. Temari made sure to keep a sharp eye on her features considering something happened to her during the preliminaries that made her look different. She wasn't sure what happened, but it changed her for the worse it seemed...except now.
Kabocha studied her and the distance she had to get close to the sand kunoichi. She had gotten quite a ways away from her. They were practically on opposite ends of the arena. Kabocha came to a decision; one she had been accustomed to making since she was used to taking damage to learn information about an opponent.
Kabocha rolled onto the balls of her feet, and used the boost she received from her singer: Gaara. He crossed her mind as she took off straight for Temari. She knew she wouldn't make it in one straight shot without taking a few hard hits, and she was ready. Temari smirked cockily at Kabocha. "You really are as stupid as you look." Temari said swinging her fan for a sixth time, her wind attack even stronger. A smirk actually touched Kabocha's face startling Temari.
Almost every single one of the wind blades hit Kabocha. However...she did not stop in her pursuit. In fact, she picked up her speed. Aisuru Kaze dragging low behind her as she neared the panicked sand kunoichi. Temari's eyes widened in astonishment as Kabocha appeared in her face with a malevolent yet charming smile as if to express she was going to kill her and enjoy every minute of it.
Kabocha tossed Aisuru Kaze into the air only a few feet, but high enough to give her time for her decoy attack. She threw her fist with quick but little effort at Temari. Temari rolled her eyes and dodged just her head to the left exposing her neck and shoulder fully. Kabocha quickly opened her hand to catch Aisuru Kaze and spin it into position. She brought her scythe down before anyone knew what was happening: especially Temari. She sliced through the side of Temari's neck and into her shoulder. Kabocha yanked Aisuru out rapidly as Temari screamed in pain. Kabocha's blank mask returned at the sound of her screams. She flexed her wrist just as Temari stumbled away from her with a tight grip on her fan. Kabocha gave chase...which really wasn't much of a chase considering how slow Temari moved backwards because of all of the bleeding.
Temari made a move to swing her fan once again. Kabocha frowned in disapproval; she spun off of her left leg and slammed her right foot into the war fan, effectively closing it. Kabocha used her same leg to kick Temari across her face and away from her precious fan. She was able to block some of the kick, but not enough of it to avoid a black eye.
Kabocha gave chase once more, excited about being the one on the offensive. She lifted her scythe making a move to slice Temari's left arm off. Temari dodged easily and countered with a shot to Kabocha's left arm except she faltered finally noticing the...scaley, pulsing arm. "What the hell is that?" Temari eyes widened, and Kabocha took advantage of her brief pause to make a clean cut in her left arm. Temari cursed again at her mistake, but that arm….it was unlike anything she had ever seen. It reminded her of Gaara, and that alone terrified her.
Blood splattered across Kabocha's half wrapped and tattered form. Kabocha took a deep breath as her fantasy came true. She needed to end the match before she passed out from blood loss; she may have dozens of cuts but at least she didn't have Temari's two nicked arteries. Kabocha also had a superior pain tolerance.
Kabocha used Aisuru Kaze as leverage, jumping into the air and using both feet to kick Temari with a force she wasn't aware of in her injured body. She planted both feet into her sternum, knees bent, and gave her a brutal kick. Temari flew back into the wall, blasting a nice, Temari sized crater in the cement wall. Kabocha landed tiredly on her feet, wobbling slightly as the adrenaline and power spike wore off. She made her way to Temari at a leisure pace, watching as she struggled to take a breath. Temari's war fan lying not too far away. Kabocha, out of spite, kicked it away.
She appeared over the blonde kunoichi with cold indifference. Temari looked at her with one eye open, the other eye swollen shut. "I withdraw." She wheezed out, and KAbocha didn't know if the match officiator had heard. She hoped he didn't hear her because she wasn't finished with her. Kabocha spun her scythe, a reflex that was all in the wrist. She raised Aisuru Kaze with no remorse making sure to look her in the eye.
"Pity...I was right all along about you." Kabocha grumbled with a grown. She brought her scythe down in a quick and concise motion. A loud, metallic clink echoed around the silent arena. Kabocha looked into the eye of the sand sibling's sensei. She didn't bother to learn it, and she didn't really care. Kabocha narrowed her eyes at the kneeling man, putting extra force down on him. The man grunted slightly, but didn't waver.
"She said..she withdraws." He said through gritted teeth. The sand sensei was more than a little angry that this girl had beaten his student so easily and mercilessly. She was supposed to be on their side, and now she had taken out one of their soldiers only moments away from the invasion.
"The proctor didn't stop the match, so I continued like I was told." Kabocha glared heatedly, growing more angry with the sand village man. "Well, now I am. Kabocha Kasai is the winner." The match officiator said strongly, but Kabocha could see him watching her warily.
Kabocha didn't say anything, she took a step back. She allowed Aisuru Kaze to return to his summoning scroll. She could see members of her village start the resounding cheering. She could definitely hear Naruto behind her. She turned her head to the left, where she knew Gaara was, and met his pretty gaze. He hadn't taken his eyes off of her the entire match, his eyes now drawn to her new left arm. The arm that he was sure should have been gone, was still there, but at the same time it wasn't because of how it looked.
Everyone seemed to unknowingly follow Gaara's lead, eyes attached to her left arm. It definitely wasn't human. The scales seemed to move with every breath that she took. The scales a deep green color that faded into a brilliant gold that matched her eyes. The claws a bit longer than her right hand. She was covered in cuts of varying degrees, but her left arm remained unharmed. Her mesh top and pants left in tatters, the side of her left breast was even exposed. A fact that almost all teenage boys, and some adults, didn't miss. Her ninja pants now shorts from the wind attack. Her hair was only a little mused, but didn't suffer much damage.
Kabocha ignored the stares, and turned back towards the stairs to return to her place at Shikamaru's side. She paused as amusement bubbled up inside of her. It spilled out of her mouth in the form of hysterical laughter. She leaned over as her stomach began to cramp up at how hard she was laughing. She started the match injured and won. The only pain she was feeling now was the pain in her left arm and chest that only worsened the more she laughed. Tears fell down her face as she continued to roar in amusement.
"I won..I won." She sobered up and looked up at Shikamaru, his eyes were also glued to her left arm, and all she could think was...figures.
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Crazy Devil Girl: Hey there Girl! Always a pleasure to hear from you! If you think this is merciless now, the training during the transition into shippuden will be way worse! I'm really going to dramatize the monster scene because of you! I hope you love reading it just as much as I enjoyed typing it! SPOILER ALERT! The suitor situation is actually a subplot that will be combining with our main plot that is outside of Naruto. I'm glad you mentioned that lol. I really fly by the seat of my pants most of the time for this story. I have points of major developments and then I take suggestions from reviews. You gave me the monster idea, and the idea to add Sasuke and Gaara last chapter. She definitely recognized the shukaku signs, and she didn't escape because she was absolutely no match for him...like at all lol. She has no chakra, she needed to be healed, and she was exhausted from training; running would have been absolutely futile and she was aware. I also love, love, love questions! All of them are fifteen going on sixteen minus Shosha, Kina, Gin, and Kankuro because the four of them are sixteen going on seventeen. Temari is seventeen going on eighteen. I can't wait to hear from you again!
Guest: Thank you so much for the review lovely guest! I'm happy you're loving Shikoba, and can't wait to see them again. It's a toss up if she tells him now or later. Let me know what you think! Stick around and keep reviewing! (;
Guest: I'm loving your detailed review; I really appreciate it! If you think this training is brutal just wait until the three year training. I hope you're not disappointed with her during this chapter during the invasion. Everyone was very shocked with the blunt attack from Gaara (shukaku). I guess she should be flattered he didn't draw it out. I made an oopsie with Gaara being in the forest. I thought in the series he met up with Sasuke during his training at one point, but I can see I made an error lol. I'm going to run with it, and give it some meaning for him (Gaara) and Kabocha. Really glad you brought that up. Thank you, thank you, thank you for the review. I loved responding! Stick around and keep reviewing please!
P.S: You don't have to make an account or anything like that, but if you could tag the end of your review, just so I can distinguish you from other guests I would really appreciate it!
Guest: I knoooow! Why Gaaraaaaa lol. I'm such an evil writer sometimes I'm sorry lol. Thank you so much for the review, and please keep reviewing!
RyuHime109: Thank you so much for the review! I love feedback, and your feedback is great! Is the story a little fast, or too slow? I know I drag things out a bit, and it means a lot that you like my plot. I know there's a lot going on, follow, and remember. I loved everything you had to say, so please keep reviewing, and let me know if anything doesn't match up or if there are a lot of errors. Thank you again for your review, and please keep reviewing! (:
Guest: Thank you so much for your review loving guest! I'm ecstatic that you're loving everything so far. Stick around for more Shikoba, and please review again!
Guest: Thank you, thank you for your perfect review! I'm happy to see that I'm keeping you on your toes with all the plots and surprises. I was hoping my story never got boring because there was too much going on, so I'm really happy to see your review. I'm swearing by the laws of ethics code that I will complete this story...hell...any story I post. I would be a hypocrite if I didn't because I get so upset when I read stories that are never going to be finished. I'm going to finish this story no matter how long it takes. Thank you so much for your review, and I can't wait to read more of your reviews! (;
Dani66: Hey there Dani, always a pleasure to hear from you! She may take him down ooor she might just...let it go. Stay tuned to find out! (;
Guest: Thank you so so much for review lovely guest! You can definitely try lol! I'm still debating how I want to handle their next real encounter. Any suggestions?
A/N: See you all in two weeks...maybe sooner! (;