Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Shinobi: Pride of Pride ❯ Chapter Nine ( Chapter 9 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Shinobi: The Price of Pride

By: Hanasaki Rikku

Summary: With a clan like the Hanasaki, is it any wonder why Rikku is the way she is? She lost her brother and friend at such a young age, and things with Chizuko have seemed to only gotten worse. What does Itachi want and why does a certain Snake Sannin seem so interested in her life all of the sudden?

Rating: T/M. For violence (poorly written, but still there), language, and some other stuff I can't quite recall at the moment. Just be warned. Oh, that, and my horrible writing.

Genre: Romance/Action/Adventure/Angst

“Peace is but a shadow of death,

Desperate to forget its painful past…

Though we hope for promising years,

After shedding a thousands tears,

Yesterday's sorrow constantly nears,

And while the moon still shines blue,

By dawn, it will turn to scarlet hue.”

((CHAPTER NINE))

It had been five days and she was fully healed. However, the Hokage refused to allow her leave until the week was over, even chastising the Hanasaki head for personally healing her, reminding him of all the possible outcomes for doing such foolish things. Of course, Hanasaki Hokori had paid her no mind, blatantly dismissing her words as nonsense.

Rikku wandered the winding paths amongst the Northern District of the Hanasaki lands, nodding to the passing guards merely out of respect and nothing more. It was always so quiet, no laughing children or crying infants. It was like living in a twilight zone, with no sound and only painful memories; it was a wonder has she hadn't gone mad.

She paused as she reached the gates leading towards one of Konoha's smaller streets, jumping up and landing easily on the railing. The wooden gate didn't so much as twitch, the massive oak capable of taking on much more than her weight. Her grandfather, as well as every other Hanasaki, were simply paranoid. Why? She didn't know; didn't care to know.

As if anyone would be foolish enough to try and spy on the Hanasaki…

She perched atop the sturdy gates bordering her lands; their lands. She found it hard to relate herself to them; her supposed family. She shook the thoughts and merely crouched down on the frame, managing herself to a sitting position, dangling her feet over the edge; the twenty-foot drop didn't bother her in the least.

In all actuality, it was a fairly pleasant night, and despite her constant boredom throughout the length of the day, the cool breeze of winter's eve was a refreshing change to the warm weather earlier that day. Autumn was usually like that though, for them. Alternating between frigid winds to blistering heat until winter finally descended. It didn't rain, though; no, that was reserved for those short spring days, cool and serene as the earth prepared itself from the heat to come.

“Fancy meeting you here.”

The otherwise cheerful, but familiar voice made her cringe. She didn't have to look down to know who it was, and instead kept her gaze on the moon; it was full tonight. “What are you doing here, Hatake-san?”

Kakashi didn't bother to come up, but she heard the slight creak as he leant against the wall. Don't get too comfortable. You won't be staying for long… “Funny thing.” His voice remained its usual lazy drawl, as if nothing in the world could perturb him. “Chizuko came up to me today and asked me about Tochi.”

Rikku stiffened, “And? What did you say?”

“Nothing. I didn't think it was my place to say.”

Rikku nearly sighed, settling for rolling her eyes. I should have guessed… “I told her if she wanted to know anything, to go ask you.”

“And why would you do that?”

“Because I did not wish to speak of it,” she answered simply.

She heard him chuckle, no mirth in his tone to be heard, “And you think I did?”

Her otherwise impassive features darkened, “What? Afraid your precious Chizuko will be ashamed if she finds out?”

“Why are you bringing Chizuko into this? What does she have to do with anything?” His voice sounded oddly tight.

“Nothing. Everything.” She shrugged, though she knew he couldn't see her, “It's up to you to tell her. I don't care.”

“Obviously you do.” He sighed, pausing for a moment before, “What would you have me say to her?”

Rikku snorted, dropping down in front of him, a scowl placed firmly on her lips. If anything could ruffle her normally calm countenance, it was speaking of her late brother. You don't know he's dead. Don't say that. “Oh, I don't know. How about how you had to get your sorry ass saved by my Chuunin of a brother, then how you went around and stabbed him in the back by turning him in fornot following direct orders. How you're the reason why he…” She trailed off, spinning to face the road and avoid his gaze.

Damn it. He just had to ruin her night.

Kakashi sighed, not looking her in the eyes, “I suppose you have a right to feel that way.” He replied at last. There was a long extended pause, his single visible eye boring into hers, and she forced herself not to look away, glaring at him with as much loathing as she possessed. “But, you know, I was only going by the rules.”

“Hn. Right. You were just sore because you got your ANBU ass saved by someone three ranks under you,” Rikku retorted.

He uncrossed his arms, locking eyes with her, stern and unyielding. Whether or not her assumptions were true had stopped mattering long ago; to both of them. It didn't matter what Kakashi had done, only that it was because of him that Hokori and Meiyo had taken it upon themselves to punish Tochi in the worst possible way. “Rikku, the past is in the past, let it go.”

She scoffed, but managed to calm down some. It would not do to become angry, especially not in front of him. She wasn't about to disgrace herself and her name because of her dislike for this man. He wasn't worth it. “You're one to talk.” Her words held the venom her expression no longer featured, the only other display of her the dark abhorrence being the nearly orange hue her normally amber-gold eyes had taken. “You're preaching morals here, and yet every morning you yourself go visit Obito's grave for hours.”

Kakashi fell rigid; she knew she'd hit a nerve. It might have been a low blow, but frankly, she didn't care. “Okay, I think that's enough. I didn't come here to argue.”

Rikku's eyes hardened, and she continued to scowl, but there really was no point, and she was only wasting her energy debating the right and wrong of his past transgressions. Finally, with a sigh, she relented, frowning only slightly and still harboring a certain dislike for the man. “Is that all you came for, then?” Her words came out clipped, strained as she attempted to hold back her anger and place it under her control once more.

“Hai…” He trailed of. Silence resounded, encircling them in an awkward and unsettling way. In defiance of what she had said, she wasn't sure she really wanted to have Chizuko know. It wasn't that she was ashamed, she just didn't wish to speak of Tochi, or be questioned. And she was sure, once the Himura's curiosity of the situation was peeked, there would be no extinguishing it until she got what she wanted. Unless of course, she felt like putting up with Chizuko's stubborn attitude later on. “Hey, do you know where Chizuko lives?”

The question startled her, and she could only stare for a moment, replaying the question in her mind. He watched her expectantly, and she hesitated, not sure if she should have been giving out Chizuko's personal information out on a whim. “…Yeah.” She frowned, watching him suspiciously. “Why do you want to know?”

He shrugged, “I'll talk to her.” Was his simple answer; she refrained from showing her discontent. “You mind showing me the way?”

Rikku hesitated for a moment, her gaze flickering past him to where her clan resided. She could take him herself, or go back in there.

She really didn't have to think twice about her decision, “Fine. Follow me.”

He smiled.

The walk to the Himura residence was, to say the least, uncomfortable and stiff, and both were all too happy when they finally did reach the home. The Himura's house was much smaller than that of the Hanasaki; the Himura's were not as big of a clan, and not as wealthy. Either way, the Himura's shabby little house was more of a home to Rikku than ever the expansive lands she owned.

She raised a fist, knocking firmly on the door. Not a minute later, the door opened to reveal Chizuko's older brother, Kazihiro. He smiled warmly, “Rikku-chan! I haven't seen you in a while. You've grown!”

Rikku nodded in acknowledgement, “Aa, it has been a while, Kazi-kun.” She forced a polite smile, the corners of her lips raising in the smallest of smiles, looking so foreign and meek upon her features. Kazihiro said nothing, his grin widening in return comfortably.

Finally taking note of Kakashi, he smiled, “Hatake-san? What are you doing here?” Kakashi didn't answer, much to the girl's annoyance. She wasn't up to explaining why she'd escorted the Copy Nin to the Himura's, she didn't even want to be near him at the moment. Troublesome man…

“Is Chizuko home?” Rikku asked the unspoken question, knowing it would be awkward for the man to ask such questions, especially with Chizuko's protective older brother. It was sweet, but annoying.

He nodded, opening the door wider.

Kazihiro was about as tall as Kakashi in height, she noticed upon entering, chest broader and more muscular from working with his father in the shop. At the moment, he wore a pair of loose cargo shorts and a shirt, raven hair short and unruly, his eyes a deep violet. He was, in his own right, a handsome man.

“I believe she's in her room. I'll be right back, I have to pick up Yami from her friends house. I won't be too long. Make yourselves at home.” With that, he left, closing the door behind him.

She stood at the entrance to the little house for a moment, screening the room with bored amber eyes, doing all she could to ignore the silver-haired Jounin beside her. Somewhere in the distance, she could here the sound of running water, a thin strip of light breaking the darkness of the hallway from beneath a closed door.

“This way,” Rikku mumbled, back to her indifferent demeanor now with Kazihiro gone. Kakashi followed wordlessly behind her, taking time to examine the small, comfortable little house.

As they crossed the family room into the narrow foyer, a door to the hallway creaked, bringing her on alert as it steadily opened, and she sensed Kakashi tense behind her, when a tiny blur came her way.

“Ayah! I've got you!”

Rikku caught the young boy deftly by the scruff of his shirt, bringing him up to eye level as the boy continued to flounder about in her grasp, waving his plastic kunai aimlessly in the air like a mad kitten. She almost smirked at the adorable sight, but remembered the man behind her and refrained. “Kenji-kun…”

The boy's movements came to a halt, wide, jubilant red eyes, a shade lighter than that of his older sister, opened to take in the girl. A full-out grin broke out on his chubby face seconds later, warming her heart. See? I do have a heart… She inwardly berated the crimson-haired Himura, who, at the moment, was still yet to be seen.

“Rikku-nee-san!”

Rikku set him on the floor, ruffling his hair playfully, feeling the thick, unruly locks cluster underneath her grip. A light flush dusted his cheeks as he looked up at her, his eyes shining with bright merriment. “Hey, kiddo, where's Chizuko?”

He pointed to the far door, leading to the only bathroom. “There. But she's being a meanie! She hit me!” Animated tears began to form in his eyes, the boy adding a few sniffles for an extra effect. It was too much for her to resist, his childish antics so completely innocent, she couldn't help but give in, her expression softening.

Rikku crouched down in front of him, “Alright, alright. Let me go talk to her and then we can go in the backyard and I'll help you with your aiming. Finals are coming up, ne?” She asked almost sweetly, playing with the boy's dark red hair. She could feel the Hatake's gave boring into her back, but ignored it in favor of the child before her.

He nodded eagerly, wrapping his tiny arms around her neck in a quick hug before dashing off. She stood, taking no notice to Kakashi's amused look and walking to the bathroom door, knocking on it lightly. The response was immediate, if not a little grating.

“I `oh oo oo `eeve `ee uh `uck a-owm, `enji!”

Rikku rolled her eyes, “It's Rikku.”

There was a pause in which she could picture her older friend blinking in dumb surprise at her own reflection, and she heard the click of the lock, the door opening a short second after to reveal a scantly clothed Chizuko, in nothing but a red tank and slacks. Foam dribbled from her mouth as she spoke, the red end of her toothbrush hanging loosely at the corner of her mouth. “Wha' ah oo ooin' hee?”

Rikku only smirked, taking slow steps away from the door until she was met with wall. Chizuko frowned in confusion, following her stupidly. She could feel the bubble of excitement in her chest swell, and she only waited for…

“Yo!”

Chizuko blinked, tearing her gaze from the younger girl to see Kakashi. It took a moment to register, and Rikku couldn't really tell whether or not she was even conscious from the continuous blank look she gave the man, until she saw the impossible shade of crimson appear across the girl's cheeks, spreading down to her neck and arms.

The toothbrush dropped noisily to the floor.

“Rikkuuuuuuuuuuu!”

All that was left of the girl was a cloud of smoke.

“What was that?”

Rikku turned to face Kenji, smirking still, “Revenge. You ready?” Kenji nodded with a sort of amusement only capable for someone as young and innocent as he. His shaggy locks bobbed with the movement, his chubby cheeks stretched in a wide grin. The resemblance between the three Himura males was near identical.

Kenji led her to the yard in which he primarily used for training and such, three separate stocks of wood set up nearer to the forest, white and red bulls-eye's painted on each. They were worn, but sturdy, slits marring the dainty wood from weapons.

“Okay. So where do we start?” The boy asked eagerly, bouncing from one foot to the other. She inwardly smiled at his behavior, reaching back to strip the holster from her hip, handing it to the boy.

“Here, put this on first.” She commended, watching him closely to make sure he would not hurt himself. She figured the boy might as well have gotten started his real training if he was to become a Ninja, and what better way than to give him some real weapons to work with.

The boy practically radiated in mirth, “Wow! I can use real ones now?” He exclaimed, examining the leather straps and the rough material as if it were some new scientific discovery.

Rikku nodded, “Hai. Just be careful. They are extremely sharp, and heavier than the ones you are used to. They are not toys, either, chibi, so don't throw them about aimlessly.” She instructed, crouching down to his size and helping him adjust the straps around his belt loops.

“Aa, don't worry, nee-san! I'll be extra careful! Promise!” He laughed, struggling to contain his excitement as he waited for her to finish. With him fidgeting and squirming about, it took her longer to fasten the holster, and she scolded him with only a stern look, to which he responded to immediately.

She sighed soundlessly, shaking her head slightly and slipping her hand into the holster bag, taking out a single kunai. The metal glinted, the pale ebony glimmering in the moon's shallow illumination. She placed it gingerly in the boy's outstretched hands, and instinctively, the tiny fingers clasped around the hilt into a fist.

“No, you're holding it too close to the weight. Adjust your hand so it's closer to the blade, but not yet touching,” she directed patiently, letting him fix his own mistake while she simply sat back and watched. After a moment, the boy finally managed. “Good. That'll give you more control over the direction the blade will travel. Next is your stance. Relax and keep your legs apart; you look like a robot.”

Kenji did as told, pouting slightly when he dropped the kunai, “It's too heavy, nee-san.”

Rikku sighed and picked up the fallen blade, placing it once again in his palm. She didn't remember her first time being so difficult, weaponry and the Ninja arts had come naturally to her, but she said nothing. “Try it again, but get a little closer to the target.” He followed her directions precisely, glancing back as if to receive confirmation. Rikku nodded, “Close enough. Now aim for the target, not necessarily the center, just aim to hit.”

He continued to repeat the process until finally managing to successfully hit the board, then proceeding to go for the bulls-eye. Every time he did, no matter how long it took, Rikku would pull him further from the stock, sometimes moving him off to the side.

This continued for a while, Rikku half expecting a raging Chizuko to come out and jump her, but that never happened, and she hadn't even realized how late it had gotten until she felt the familiar presence return from earlier.

“Konban wa, Kazi-kun.” She murmured lightly, eyes never drifting from the boy in the field, continuous in his attempts to sharpen his aiming skills. He'd picked things up slower than she would have liked, but she supposed not all found it as easy as others. Her arms were crossed before her chest, frame leaning against one of the beams supporting the patio armada, and she managed to ignore the growing cold with a firm resolve not to interrupt the boy's practice.

Kazihiro stood beside her, watching the boy with a smile, “Oban desu. Where's Chizuko?”

Rikku shrugged, “Probably still inside, talking to Hatake-san.” She replied simply, biting back a yawn. It had to be past eleven at this point, and she had a meeting to attend to in the morning, one she wasn't to keen in frequenting. Not only that, but she'd managed to force herself into a new sleeping, what with having been ordered to rest up. It was surprising she'd gotten any sleep, but now she'd become too accustomed to it, and her body seemed to think eleven o'clock was the perfect time for a good nap.

“Isn't he a little old for her?”

Rikku blinked, turning to the man, a little confused by the inquiry, expecting to see some sort of amusement in his gaze, but finding his feature completely serious. “What do you mean?”

He shook his head, offering her one of his bright smiles. “Nothing. Let's head inside, it's getting cold.”

She nodded hesitantly, watching him in mild curiosity. Does he think Hatake and Chizuko… She almost shuddered at the thought, frowning despite herself. “Iie, I think I'll stay out here a little longer. You go on ahead.” He gave a quick bow and stepped inside, leaving her out to wonder just what the hell was going through his mind.

She sighed, walking the short distance to the stairs, taking a seat on the top step. She stifled yet another yawn, idly turning to the boy before her, who had, by now, become far too exhausted to hold the weapon correctly. He stumbled to her, dropping the kunai on a wooden step and taking a seat beside her. She could almost feel the shivers racking his slender frame, and her frown deepened in disapproval.

She glanced down at him as he turned to her with a broad but weary grin, “Did you see that, nee-san? I…did it…!” She nodded, the corner of her lip twitching upward in an almost smile. He shuddered involuntarily as the cool night's breeze blew past, carrying with it flakes of snow.

She wrapped an arm around his shoulders, ruffling his hair in the process and pulling him close. “It's getting cold out, chibi, why don't you go inside?” She heard him grunt at the nickname and smirked, tightening her hold on him lightly.

“Are you going--inside too?” He asked, sneezing mid-sentence.

“Mm, no, I think I'll stay out here a little longer.” She murmured, turning her amber gaze up to the moon.

He yawned, resting his head on her shoulder, “Then I'll stay out here with you, nee-san,” he mumbled sleepily, snuggling closer, unruly red tuffs of hair tickling her cheek. She hummed thoughtfully, but didn't answer; the boy was as stubborn as his sister, if not more. Besides that, she doubted she could have really said no if he had unleashed his pout/puppy-eyes look on her. He was simply too cute for his own good.

But it felt good to take care of someone, to be needed. Maybe this was how Tochi had felt all those years… before he left. She loved Kenji as if he were her own little brother, for he reminded her so much of her elder sibling. Absently, she tightened her grip around his shoulder, bringing him closer to her.

She didn't want to lose him too; she was afraid to lose him. But she couldn't just leave him; that would be heartless. Despite her fears, she had to at least stay with him. The boy had lost his mother at a tender age of two, with hardly any memories of the woman.

She remembered how insanely shy he had been when she first met him. But seeing as though she had been a frequent visitor to the Himura household, it was inevitable for him to become accustomed to her. She had grown so attached to him, the mere thought of losing him caused a tight, suffocating pain in her chest.

“Kinda cold, don't you think?” Chizuko's voice drifted out from the door, she didn't bother to look back, afraid to awaken the boy. She heard the shuffling of feet, and saw the older girl out of the corner of her eye seat herself down beside Kenji. “Little brat's gonna get sick.” She said, poking the boy softly on the cheek.

Rikku tore her gaze from the moon, metallic-hued clouds hovering listlessly above, shielding it from her view now. “He's asleep.” She watched the boy's serene features, his skin pale but cheeks flushed a light pink, the tip of his nose rosy as well, along with his parted lips. Drool could be made out barely from the corner of his mouth.

She sighed, wiping the trail of saliva with her index finger before it could reach the dark fabric of her jacket.

She wasn't fond of wearing her uniform, but the only other items she owned were her clan's attire, which usually consisted of formal robes and whatnot. She had somehow, gotten away with simply wearing a her Jounin uniform, usually with an adorning robe.

Actually, it wasn't as cold as recent nights, now that she thought of it. Even still, Chizuko should have known better than to come out in her skimpy nightclothes, with nothing but an oversized jacket to cover her. This thought only came to her after hearing the clattering of the girl's teeth.

After a moment, realizing Chizuko would be making no move to start the impending conversation, she spoke, “Is Hatake-san still here?” She murmured in a hushed tone.

“No, he went home a while ago.” Chizuko muttered in return, clutching the jacket around her tighter. Rikku said nothing, but sat up and slipped out of her robe, envelope Kenji in the light fabric, snaking her arms around the boy in order to control his shivering. “It's always the annoying ones that seem to like you.” She heard the smirk in the other's voice.

She glanced up, arching a brow, “Thanks…?” Chizuko's smirk grew into a grin, and she chuckled, her breath coming out in misty puffs of air. She shivered again. “It's getting late, and cold. Take Kenji and go inside.”

Chizuko shook her head, “No, we need to talk.”

Her jaw clenched, and she looked away. I should have seen this coming. “Can it wait till tomorrow?”

She felt her gaze, burning and intense, before a sigh escaped the girl's lips. “Yeah, fine. I suppose it'll have to.” She made to grab Kenji, pulling her jacket apart and stretching out her arms, “Here, give him to me.”

Rikku released him, gently laying him in the girl's arms, standing. Chizuko unfolded the dark robe, holding Kenji in one arm while she handed the younger girl the garment. “Arigatou…” she mumbled, swinging it over her shoulders, stretching out her back with a satisfied pop. “I'll see you tomorrow. Oyasuminasai.”

Chizuko nodded, “Aa, oyasumi,” yawned, turned around and sliding back the shoji, glanced back once before entering the quite abode.

With a final glance back up at the uncovered moon, she began the long walk back to the Hanasaki clan estates.

((CHAPTER END))