Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Shinobi: Pride of Pride ❯ Chapter Fourteen ( Chapter 14 )

[ 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

“Childhood is over the minute you know you're going to die.”

((CHAPTER FOURTEEN))

“Don't you think it's kinda weird?”

“What is?” The younger girl asked distractedly, watching her shuriken embed themselves dead center, and reached for her kunai, her hand notably smaller in comparison to the large throwing knife. For a moment, she remained silent, watching her friend's progress with a small smirk, and even if such things came naturally to the dark-haired child, she was proud nonetheless.

Sighing, Chizuko ran a hand through her short, crimson locks, a frown marring her expression and her contented smirk waning. “Well, Subaru said that most teams were made up of two boys -“ at this she made a discontented face, “ - and a girl. But Iruka-sensei placed us in a group of all girls.”

The other paused, about to throw her kunai at a nearby target, and turned, a thoughtful look crossing her features. “Hm…I suppose that is unusual. But there was and odd number of kunoichi this year, and most of the guys got promoted to a higher class…” She shrugged, not bothering to finish her sentence. Turning back to the targets, she added, "Have you seen her?”

“Who?”

“Niamoshi-san.”

Chizuko shrugged, yawning loudly, “No. We have a while till our meeting with our new sensei, though, so we'll see her then.” She drawled.

The dark-haired girl sighed, scratching her cheek in a childish and thoughtful fashion, “We've only about half an hour. We may as well head for the classroom now.”

“Do we have to? I don't want to go yet.” She frowned, looking annoyed. She was in no hurry to meet her new sensei, despite having been all too excited to achieve her hitai-ate.

Rikku put her weapons away, collecting her shuriken from the wooden targets. “It'll be better if we go now, you blockhead.”

“I'm not a blockhead!” She crossed her arms in front of her in a huff, glowing down angrily at the Hanasaki - or up, since the girl was a good inch taller than her at their age, even if she wasthe younger.

Pausing in her actions, the girl glanced up at her. “You're right,” Rikku smirked, “You're just a baka with a wide forehead.”

“Hey!” She slapped a hand over her forehead, “What the hell!”

“I'm kidding. Let's go.”

Still scowling angrily, Chizuko waited for a moment before taking off after her. “Hey, Rikku! Wait up, you stupid retard!”

She made a point to ignore the smirking girl as they entered the building, running ahead of her and hotly yanking their classroom door open, unconsciously startling the girl inside. She didn't bother with an apology, stomping her way to the back of the room, taking a seat furthest away from the door. She drew her face into a grumpy scowl, muttering under her breath.

A minute later, the doors slid open again, though this time more smoothly, and clicked as they were closed back again. She glared at Rikku, who merely flashed her a slight smirk, mumbling something to the redhead sitting towards the front.

She rested her chin on her hand, scowling down at the desk, before a cool voice broke her concentration.

“Chizuko, stop being such a baby.” She looked up to find Rikku leaning forward on the desk, grinning, the little redhead standing behind her shyly. She focused, though, on the girl in front of her, glaring into those bright, golden orbs.

“I am not being a baby!” She retorted heatedly.

“Are too.”

“Am not!” She snapped, slapping her fists on her desk.

Rikku rolled her eyes, gesturing to the girl behind her and ending the dispute with a `you are below me' sort of look. “This is Niamoshi Ayame. She's our new teammate.”

The girl, Ayame, mumbled a soft, “Ohayou,” glancing up quickly, only to look away. A small blush powdered her cheeks, her bangs shielding her eyes from view. Rikku reached back to give the girl a reassuring pat on the shoulder, narrowing her eyes at Chizuko.

It was an odd sight, for Rikku rarely bothered with anyone she thought of as `unworthy of her attention,' as Chizuko had so kindly put it once.

With another huff, she grumbled, “Hi.”

“You could at least pretend to be nice.” Rikku said warningly, giving her a meaningful glare. “I know it's hard for you.” She continued in that lazy, sarcastic drawl.

“I-it's okay.”

Chizuko turned to find it was Ayame who had spoken, her voice feeble and reserved. She glared at the girl, not taking well to her timid demeanor. She kept herself from acting on the instinctive urge to snap some derogatory comment, if only because of the meaningful glare Rikku had directed towards her.

After a moment of awkward silence, Chizuko refusing to either acknowledge the girls or make conversation, the doors slid open and revealed a cinnamon-haired individual, the man eyeing them nonchalantly as he made his way to the front of the room. He studied them for a moment, adjusting the toothpick in his mouth absentmindedly.

“Who are you?” Chizuko glowered, glancing at Rikku and Ayame as they made their way to the man. She stayed put, slightly put off. Who did Ayame think she was fooling with that `shy-girl' act? What made her think she could just come and steal her friend? Besides, Rikku wasn't supposed to be nice. She wasn't supposed to make friends with the other girl. The deal had been to make the other's life a living Hell, not…befriend them.

“I'm assuming you're Team 6,”the man greeted, drawing her from her thoughts and she cast a last glare in the redhead's direction before looking at the tall male standing before them. “Alright, I'll be your new sensei. My name is Shiranui Genma.” He said around the toothpick set at the corner of his mouth. He nodded to her, “Name.”

“…Himura Chizuko.”

He frowned. “Well, Himura, why don't you make your way up to the front and join the rest of us.” His tone left no room for argument. Reluctantly, she did so, coming to a stop a good distance from Rikku. Genma was silent for a good while, looking more or less annoyed. “I will not tolerate such childish antics while you are under my care. I expect you three to work together in an orderly fashion. So, before you are allowed to officially progress to Genin, I want to see how well you'll work together as a team.”

Chizuko bit her lip, glancing at Rikku wearily. The dark-haired girl met her gaze with a blank look. Turning back to her new sensei, she sighed dejectedly, “What do we have to do?”

He smirked, slipping the toothpick from his lips, “I want you three to spend the duration of the day to get to know each other. Meet me here again tomorrow, and I'll see if you've made any improvements.” With that, he was gone, leaving the three bewildered and alone.

She blinked, “What the…“ He had completely dismissed them. What kind of sensei did that? They weren't really stuck with him, were they? After a moment, she snorted. “Lazy bum. He just wanted to skimp out on doing any actual work.” She grumbled haughtily.

“Hn. And he's supposed to be our new sensei?” Rikku stood, stepping out from behind the desk. Since she was talking again, she took this as an apology from the Hanasaki, knowing the girl would never openly admit to regretting her actions. Said girl straightened, adjusting the hitai-ate situated around her forehead. “What do you think, Niamoshi-san?”

“Oh…um” For the first time, Ayame glanced up, her emerald eyes holding a clear uncertainty. She made a point to avoid both their gazes, and seemed to be doing her best to shrink back behind Rikku. “He seemed...nice...I guess.”

Chizuko rolled her eyes, glaring at the poor girl. Ayame, however, remained completely oblivious, staring down intently at her desk, twirling her thumbs nervously. “Nice? What a joke. Don't be an idiot. He's not nice. He was a complete asshole.”

Amber eyes locked on her, serving to immediately shut her up. Rikku was rarely angry, but was particularly abusive the few times she was. Not one to tempt fates, she didn't intend on pushing the girl into one of those fits. “Watch your mouth, Himura.”

Scowling, Chizuko nodded, mumbling, “Whatever…” At Rikku's dark look, she added, “Gomen ne, Ayame.” She was already beginning to dislike the younger redhead, and the girl had barely managed two words with her.

“Don't…worry about it, Himura-san.” Ayame mumbled in return. She really would have liked to say something about the girl's meek countenance, and if it where any other person, Rikku probably wouldn't have said anything. She didn't understand why Rikku felt so compelled to defend the younger girl, but she didn't like it.

She sighed, pushing back her anger. “Uh…Chizuko's fine. You don't have to be so formal.” She barely caught the girl's nod and forced herself to relax. Silence reined between them once again, and she fidgeted, suddenly uncomfortable. “Um…so…what do we do now?”

Leaning back, hands tucked in her pockets, Rikku was quick to answer. “We don't do anything until you two learn to get along.”

Chizuko frowned yet again, something that seemed to become an all too frequent habit. “What?”

“You heard me.” Rikku smirked at the disgruntled Himura, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. She pushed herself up, seating herself on the desk behind her. Chizuko's eyes settled on the light-haired girl, her petite framed hunched over, bangs shielding her face.

She blinked, casting Rikku a curious look. “What the hell do you want us to do?” All she received was an idle shrug, and knew not to expect anymore from the younger girl. She took this time to study the other redhead who, unlike Rikku, she'd only just now had the chance to really acquaint herself with. It was odd, because while she had known Rikku to be quiet, she'd never met anyone this shy. What the Hell did Rikku see in this brat? She looked weak. Incompetent. She was only going to slow them down, she was sure of it.

What the hell had Iruka been thinking when he stuck Niamoshi with them? The girl looked skinny and frail, and those pigtails made her look simply childish. What use would she have to their team? She couldn't even look into their eyes for a full second!

“We…could…um…go to Ichiraku's.” Ayame's diminutive voice was an unexpected change to the relentless silence. “If you want…”

She could only blink, taking a moment to register her words, before breaking into a wide grin. Ramen! Okay, so maybe she's not all that bad. “Now you're talking!”

They had only just barely walked out of the academy to be greeted by the afternoon's cool breeze when an ever-familiar face, Tamashii Kiko, ambushed them. The girl smiled, standing between them and the way out; there was little the girl wouldn't smile for, and Chizuko had once wondered if the girl's face was forever frozen into that look of complete amiability.

“Hey, Himura, Hanasaki.” She nodded to each, not seeming to notice the girl standing behind them - who would? With the redhead hiding so indomitably behind the Hanasaki girl.

Rikku merely watched the girl, expressionless if not for the faintest of smiles that had touched her lips, polite and subtle, Chizuko offering Kiko a grin. “Hey yourself. What do you want?”

Kiko simply shrugged, “Just passing by. Avoiding those idiots I've had the misfortune of teaming with.” They shared a smirked, and the newly acquainted Team 6 continued their walk to Ichiraku's Ramen Bar, Kiko falling into step with the elder girl.

“I heard that fuzz-freak passed the exam, too. They've got him with the Hyuuga prick and meatball head.” Chizuko commented offhandedly. It wasn't that she didn't like the boy, but he really had no place in the Ninja world. He couldn't even perform the simplest of genjutsu, and had no talent when it came to ninjutsu. What use was he?

“Isn't that a little harsh?” Kiko didn't seem to really mind too much, grinning despite herself. Chizuko shrugged carelessly, dismissing it as nothing. “Rock Lee, right? He's not thatbad. He's just seriously lacking in the looks department.”

Chizuko feigned a shudder, making a palling face. “He's a good guy. Determined. I've got nothing against him. But he'd make a horrible Ninja. He can't even do anything. I almost feel bad for his teammates.”

“You're one to talk. You're the one stuck with little Niamoshi. What can she do? Sure, she got top marks, but she's tiny!”

Chizuko made an effort to chuckle, hoping Ayame hadn't heard that. She really didn't know much about the girl, and she knew Kiko didn't mean anything bad by the comment, it was just playful banter. But Ayame didn't know that, and Rikku was already in a bad enough mood. As much as it bothered her, her dark-haired opposite seemed to have taken it upon herself to become the girl's own personal bodyguard. “Yeah but—”

“Keep your commentary to yourself, Tamashii. And do try not to forget that Niamoshi-san is standing behind you.” Rikku interrupted her, and Chizuko risked a glance behind them to find her eyes narrowed.

Chizuko laughed nervously, rubbing the back of her head, and opened her mouth to speak when a suddenly serious Kiko cut in. “I didn't mean anything by it. It's just... I can't picture her in the same team as you two, ya know?” And she smiled again, making it impossible for Rikku to take the argument any further. You could never stay mad at her when she pulled that smile. “Anyway, I just remembered. Your brother's waiting for you at the Eastern Gates. He wanted to congratulate you before going off on his mission.”

Rikku frowned, and Chizuko knew all thoughts of Ayame had left the girl upon mention of Tochi. If anything could distract the girl from her inner monologues, it was her brother. “Why didn't he come here himself?”

Kiko shrugged, smiling cutely, “He was talking to his captain and saw me passing. You better hurry though, it's getting late.” Reluctantly, Rikku stepped away, her gaze lingering on Ayame before hurrying off. Kiko sighed, glancing at the Himura “I've gotta go, too. Make sure the imbeciles haven't killed themselves yet, you know.” She nodded to Ayame, “No hard feelings.” And took off in the opposite direction.

Chizuko stood, staring after her, once again left with a feeling of disquiet. She couldn't quite seem to understand how she'd somehow ended up alone with the unnaturally shy girl. Weren't they supposed to go out to eat? She really didn't want to be with the Niamoshi right now. Things were awkward enough between them.

In an effort to break the utter stillness of the moment, she coughed, which only turned out to sound like something short of a gag. “So…” Was her ever-intelligent approach, but at least she seemed to have gathered the girl's attention. She smiled as reassuringly as she could, but it wasn't very convincing, “Still up for ramen?”

“I guess…”

“Great.” She had taken a single step, before she realized her unfortunate lack of money. She frowned, groaning. “Damn, I forgot Rikku had the money…” As perusal, she was broke. She'd used what little money she had to buy her weapons.

“I could…pay…” Ayame had yet to move from her position by the door.

Okay, so maybe the girl wasn't all thatbad,

Chizuko beamed, catching the girl's forearm, “That's even greater!”

It was a pointless memory, but at the moment, it seemed to be the only thing she could think of. Funny how that worked.

It had been the day she'd graduated into Genin, and she'd been thrilled to find she'd been placed in the same team as Rikku. Never before having met Ayame, however, had led her to be a total ass. She'd managed to get along with her after that. Though, of course, in a derisive sort of way. It wasn't until her death that she truly began to realize how big of a role Ayame had played in her life, as cliché as it may have sounded.

It was stupid, and selfish, and she felt horrible, but there was nothing she could do now. All that was left to do was have her revenge, for Ayame's sake. It's what she'd trained for relentlessly these past two years. Day in and day out she'd prepared for when she'd eventually meet him again. And she had, two years later. All this hard work had to have paid off. But…

But…She'd never imagined she'd find herself standing face to face with the same girl that had haunted her dreams. She'd never thought that one day she'd be able to look into those emerald orbs once more. But she wouldn't fool herself. No. Because this person, this thing, was not her former teammate. This was not Ayame, no matter what her eyes saw and her mind registered. No matter that, when she'd spoken, it had been that same soft voice that could only belong to Ayame. It didn't matter, because it wasn't - couldn't - be Ayame.

Her eyes and ears and mind may have been deceived, but her heart knew the truth. It couldn't be Ayame, because Ayame was dead. She had seen her die abruptly in her arms. She'd been at her funeral.

Ayame was dead. And even if, for some godforsaken reason, it was possible, that Ayame could be alive, this wasn't her. Because Ayame was bright and innocent. Her eyes had never been dull, lifeless; her voice had never been so flat. And never, never, once in all the time she had known Ayame, had she'd ever seen the younger girl's face contorted into such a detached look of malevolence as she attacked her.

How was it, that in her goal and dream to kill him, that fate had somehow twisted things around and left her to face her?

But it didn't matter, because this wasn't Ayame. And because this wasn't Ayame, she felt no remorse as her fist connected with the girl's jaw, her chakra pulsating around her body, and her assault on the look-alike ensued. She felt no remorse as her aian nakkuru slashed into the girl's ashen flesh and the blood of her former teammate and friend touched her skin.

Of course, it wasn't until she caught sight of Rikku, standing frozen on a nearby tree, pain coursing behind her golden orbs, that she'd truly realized what she'd done.

Everything fell into a sort of stop, like time itself had paused for them as compensation for the pain it had caused in their lives.

After all this, Team 6 stood together, but Chizuko couldn't have cared less. Ayame was nothing but a puppet, controlled by her maniacal murderer, and Rikku looked, for lack of a better word, completely lost. She was afraid the girl would double over any second now and hurl.

Unconsciously, she took a step towards her opposite, but Ayame beat her to it. With the kunai she'd used to spear the younger girl with, she dove towards Rikku, aiming to kill. It was all she could do not to cry out, and without a second thought, she raced after the light-haired girl, who was now only feet away from Rikku.

She wouldn't make it in time, not with that idiot Hanasaki standing there like some petrified dolt. Drawing what was left of her shuriken, she sent them flying at Rikku's assailant. Ayame seemed to have enough sense to dodge out of the way of the projectiles, the throwing stars falling short of their desired destination.

Ayame glanced back, blank eyes locking on her, and seemed to ponder over a thought, then sent the kunai in her hand in her direction. Chizuko easily sidestepped the knife, but didn't have enough time to react as the younger girl resumed her assault on Rikku. Now within attacking range of her, Chizuko cringed as Ayame struck her across the jaw, causing the amber-eyed girl to stumble and loose balance. She didn't stop, her movements a blur, and Rikku barely making an effort to block.

Cursing, Chizuko swiped her tongue over her bloodied lips, running to Rikku's aid and delivering a powerful blow to the back of the thing's head, knocking it to the side. She gave the girl before her a quick once-over, wearily taking in her condition. Rikku looked completely out of it, her dazed expression unnerving.

“Rikku…?” She swallowed thickly, the taste of her own blood strong in her mouth. “Are you o—” She was thrown abruptly to the side by Ayame's abnormal strength, the entire left side of her face throbbing painfully, soon joined by her right arm as she was rammed into a tree.

Her vision swam, falling out of focus as a hand encircled her neck, shoving her back into the sturdy trunk with rather agonizing strength, knocking the breath from her lungs. The next thing she knew, Ayame's fist was flying and pounding down onto every inch of her she could reach.

Strength dwindling, it seemed to take an incredible effort to catch the girl's wrist as she made to punch her, and jam her fist into the girl's face, grunting, “Bitch!” She shoved away from the base of the tree, stumbling forward, wiping the string of blood trailing down her chin. Fisting her hands, she made another attempt to punch the girl, stalking forward and preventing any offensive attempts on her part.

Forcing her back, she performed a series of set seals, mumbling a jutsu under her breath; “Katon: Karyuu Endan no Jutsu!” She made sure to aim it directly for the sutra residing on the girl's back while the puppet was turned, momentarily distracted by Rikku, who, at the moment, seemed to be the closer of her two opponents.

The spiraling flame shot from her mouth, on a straight course to the puppet's back. It was only then that she truly took notice to the fact that the `puppeteer' in charge seemed to have disappeared without a trace.

She didn't have the time to spare to take a moment and search for the silver-haired man, as she realized her attack must have missed and four kunai were heading straight for her. She dodged just in time, but hadn't expected the following blow to the chest that came after and the hand that clamped around her throat.

She certainly hadn't expected to find, not emerald, but golden orbs, almost yellow, narrowed in fury, the pupils narrowed and almost demonic.

“Don't touch her…!” That wasn't Rikku. It couldn't be. Rikku would never attack her, would she? Her eyes widened, her hands clumsily tugging at the arm holding her aloft. The fingers tightened around her throat, cutting off her air circulation; she began to choke.

“Rikku…!” She winced, having trouble breathing. She began to panic, which certainly did her no good in the position she was in. “What…? Can't….breath. Rikku….stop…..” She began to black out, slowly, her vision flickering and the bruising hand wrapped around her throat only tightened. She forced herself to remain conscious, though, fighting against the burning sensation in her lungs and the blinding pressure in her head.

She must have blanked at some point, because the next time she blinked she found Ayame standing behind Rikku, eyes void of any emotion, a kunai in one hand, raising it over her head, the blade gleaming in the light, dripping a translucent blue color.

It seemed forever, before she saw the same hand plunge downwards, driving the kunai into the dark-haired girl's shoulder to the hilt. Rikku's eyes widened in surprise and distress, a sharp in take of air, then blood spurting from her mouth in a strangled hack, the dark fabric of her ANBU uniform averting into a pitch black, the deep crimson of her blood running smoothly down her metal chest armor.

Rikku released her grip, tumbling forward onto the weakened Himura, a hand come up to clutch at the kunai embedded in her shoulder. Her arms wrapped around the other instinctively, steadying the girl, and Chizuko swallowed past the growing lump in her throat, disbelieving.

This was like a bad dream come to haunt her. Of all people, she'd never thought she'd find herself in this exact same position with Rikku, simply because of that, it was Rikku.

Her confusion lasted only a moment, anger festering inside her entire person; she saw no remorse in those emerald eyes, just an empty sort of satisfaction. Rikku was hurt, bleeding, and this thing couldn't care less! The adrenaline rush and rage did well to blind her in a heated shade of red, and with one hand still supporting the now shuddering Hanasaki, she took a kunai into her hands and thrust it forward, impaling her.

For a split second, she could have sworn she caught a glimmer of relief flash across the jaded orbs before her, but only for a second. The petite frame doubled over her, a frigid, almost black substance pooling thickly into her palm from the wound, dripping onto the ground.

Blood.

Ayame's blood.

The truth hit her at full force, and she collapsed onto her knees, both girls toppling along with her, one only half conscious, and the other dead. Again. Blood surrounded her, issuing from both girls; her friends, her teammates.

What had she done? Ayame was dead. She had killed her. Her blood was on her; seeping into her. And Rikku….Rikku was dying. They were both so cold, so pale. They were dying. Dying.

Why was this happening again? What had she done to do deserve this? It wasn't fair! Why? First Ayame and now Rikku. Damn it! She didn't want to lose her too! Wasn't she allowed friends? Why did fate insist on wrenching them from her life? She couldn't afford to lose another.

Chizuko choked back a sob, biting her lip as her gaze slid from one girl to the other. Just what the hell had she done! Rikku was going to die. Rikku was going to die because of her, because she had been too slow to react. She could already feel the tears falling, snaking trails down her cheeks and dripping off her chin.

Sniffling, she lay them each at her side, sliding her hand over the Ayame's eyes, letting them fall close. She couldn't bring herself to look into those eyes while knowing they belonged to the same girl who had once been her friend; knowing they belonged to the same girl who had done this to Rikku.

Nausea made it impossible to look at the girl any longer, and she forced herself away as bile rose in her throat without any other warning, and she heaved what little lunch she'd had to the grass. Disgusted, she wiped at her mouth, taking in a shaky breath, eyes gazing vacantly into the vomit.

Tearing her gaze away, she turned to Rikku, the girl's already pallid form now a sickly color, sweat drenching her skin. Her body was racked with constant convulsions, her features contorted into a look of anguish. It hurt to look at her, to see her in such conditions. This was nothing like the Rikku she knew.

Absently, her eyes trailed over the girl's arm, following it to the kunai protruding still from her shoulder, drenched in blood. She frowned, rubbing the tears from her eyes in frustration. What was wrong with her? Why was she reacting so badly to a stab wound? It had been on her upper right shoulder, insuring that it was nowhere near her heart or lungs. Gingerly, she tugged at the torn cloth surrounding the knife, leaning cautiously for a better look.

She gasped, biting down on the urge to simply turn around and puke again.

Poison. She had been poisoned. The wound was infected, her veins visible as a bloody red, leading to her heart. And she knew, if she didn't do something now, she really would die, and then she'd be responsible for the death of both her teammates.

She never meant for this to happen. The whole reason for her coming here was to watch over Rikku. What good was she when she couldn't even protect her from someone who was dead? She really was living up to the name the villagers made the Himura out to be.

She shook the thought as Rikku stirred, amber eyes flickering open for a second, and her body arching off the ground in a powerful shudder, a silent cry of pain escaping her parted lips, and she uttered a single word before falling unconscious.

“Ayame…”

Sometimes, life was just a bitch.

((CHAPTER END))