I rubbed my nose; it was beginning to run again. And it was getting colder as the minutes ticked by. I shuddered as a noisy rumble of thunder sounded in the distance. As gray rain tarnished the ugly, dirt road ahead, I hoped that I wouldn't get electrocuted out here, in the woods (where no one would notice me gone).
A distant strike of lightning illuminated the street before me. I flicked off flecks of mud from my old clothes as I headed who-knows-where. I didn't even know. I didn't even know what possessed me to come out here in the first place.
Looking back on those memories of mine, I felt ridiculous. All that childish passion, all those wasted years. 'I wonder if Hitomi won, in the long run.' My fingers found something metal, slippery. I glanced up, realizing I had made myself to a convenience store nearby.
The man behind the counter frowned disparagingly at my downtrodden appearance, how I was dripping all over his dusty welcome mat. His eyes dismissed me in a moment, as he scanned a woman's merchandise and arranged them in a plastic bag.
"Ahh..." I began, then stopped, realizing I didn't have an excuse to be in here, really. I stared back behind me, at the torrent of rainfall beyond the door's safety. Walking home in the rain didn't particularly appeal to me now. Not if I couldn't run.
I strolled down the aisles, analyzing the neatly-wrapped parcels aligned on the shelves. I'd purchase something inexpensive, I surmised, so the grumpy man wouldn't have a reason to boot me. A luminescent amalgamation of decadent chocolates drew my attention instantly, begging for bodily consumption. I reached over impulsively, but stayed my hand not a second later. I couldn't indulge myself in something like that; it'd have to be a granola bar or something.
A revolted grimace snaked onto my soaked visage as I passed the cartons of unhealthy, carbonated beverages. I hadn't had a soda in ages; those things made me run like a meatball.
I sighed, enlightened by my mistake. The convenience store was full of unwholesome snacks, all tempting, in any case. That's probably why you never saw a shinobi sashay into one.
Feeling foolish, I approached the counter with empty hands. I snatched a pack of gum from the depressing display located on the glass--the thriftiest item in the store--with no later intentions of eating a single piece, and tossed it insouciantly at the cashier as his unfriendly gaze hardened on me.
"Hey," I offered lamely. How stupid of this guy not to turn on the radio. I could even hear myself breathing. It was unnerving.
"That'll be fifty-cents," he remarked without ceremony.
'Pfft. That's what I get for trying to be all friendly, neighbor.' I delved deep into my wet, unpleasant pockets. My scrawny hands emerged with a miscellaneous amassment of lint and string. My expression briefly flashed with disgust before I stuffed them back in my pockets. I rummaged around for some spare change before I discovered that I was dirt-broke.
I tore my eyes away from the little excavation party, and grinned at the cashier sheepishly. "Well, then, nevermi--"
"I got it."
I blinked in astonishment. No one was normally that kind to me, even if it was something as meager as a pack of gum.
"Thanks," I managed, an odd expression on my face.
"It was no problem, Risa."
The pleased expression faded from my face. I stood stock-still, reaching fingers hanging in mid-air. "Lee?" I tried hoarsely. My eyes found his. He grinned brightly at me, though it couldn't disguise the exhaustion I felt emanating from him.
(Out of my running uniform, I felt ugly.)
'He shouldn't be here. What kind of shinobi is he, exactly? Can't he see I'd rather bake myself in an oven than face someone--him--in this shabby state? Can't he 'sense' it?' I thought scathingly, a contemptuous snarl skittering up my face. I glared at his facetious, too-wide smile from the corner of my eyes.
Then, I saw his eyes. They were deep pools of fatigue, of utter weariness.
And I could see myself in them; I was grotesque, with that sickening, jealous look on my face. I could have hated myself.
"What are you doing here?" I mumbled, stuffing the gum in my pant's pocket quickly and turning away from him. I felt like somehow I was to blame for his current lassitude. I didn't like that feeling.
As I approached the exit, I felt Lee trot up next to me. "You don't have an umbrella," he told me.
'Oh? Is that why I'm the splitting image of drowned fish?'
"No, I don't," I answered truthfully. I emerged from the makeshift shelter, forgoing the caprice to look back at him. I instantly regretted it; the rush of chilly rain shed through my sodden clothes and crept quickly down my back. My hands clenched in my pockets; I longed for heat.
But he must have picked up on the hint, because I didn't sense him following me. I set my jaw a little bitterly and held my head up, despite the splintering rain rapidly deteriorating my available vision. I reached into my pocket, retrieving the pack of gum. I was so absorbed that I didn't even feel cold anymore, just a smidget numb, perhaps. I examined my merchandise closely; the foil wrapper was a little crumpled, but the script was still clear: "Stay fresh with 'MinterWint.'"
I snorted, loudly. "That is the most--"
"--magnificent gum in the world, right?"
He smiled invitingly as my eyes fell upon him--wide--my lips pale. I was stunned into silence. He inclined his head slightly, his umbrella partially obstructing the gales from assaulting us.
'I didn't even notice! H-he followed me?!' My thoughts clattered wildly in my head, unable to knit themselves into coherence. But, of course, I didn't notice.
I was no shinobi.
"It's how my teeth stay so bright! Of course, Gai-sensei would only recommend the best gum for our youthful chompers to indulge in, don't you think so, Risa?"
He was talking about MinterWint. I wanted to either strangle him for approaching me like that with such a brainless comment or forcibly stuff the pack up his nostrils in spite.
"Lee--"
He flashed that--well, at least, he wasn't lying--brilliant smile at me again, indicating with his subconscious body language that it was best to get going, instead of standing here gaping at him like a third eye came out of his behind.
I rerouted my words. "You kn...you can just have it, Lee." I mechanically dropped the parcel into his open palm, and assailed by particularly antisocial sentiments, I meandered further down the weathered road, leaving him behind in bewilderment.
"Wait, Risa; you don't like this kind?" Lee jogged up, holding the umbrella carefully above the both of us.
(I knew what he was doing.)
"I don't chew gum," I replied tonelessly. I frowned dryly as his face morphed with amusement.
He laughed. It was an okay laugh. "Of course, you don't even need MinterWint's miraculous dental properties, Risa. Your teeth are already shiny and bright."
'Is he trying to insult me?' I squinted down. "Yeah, well, have to smile for the cameras," I offered wryly.
He grinned, as if I had said something funny. "You must be fast, Risa," he finally coughed, eyes averted from my unfathomably entertaining deadpan expression.
After a moment, Lee realized I had stopped walking. He turned back curiously, watching the rain pound at me in alarm.
"Risa?"
"No, I'm not," I murmured, but he couldn't hear me. I didn't dare let anything else escape my cold, blue lips. The self-disdain, the unquenchable envy, the explosive rage boiled inside me, curling against my stomach. I almost wanted to brawl. I just wanted to fight. Fight against it, being a loser, knowing even if I did, I'd lose. Who was I, anyway? I was just a jealous, little loser; and he was the fastest, strongest person I had ever met. Of course, I'd lose. Of course.
I didn't want his pity, his concern. I didn't want any of it. I wanted to beat him.
He'd been taking care of me. Trying to walk me home safely, when we both knew he was sick, too. I wanted it to end. I didn't deserve it. He had no right to concern himself. I had to beat myself first.
"Stop it, Lee."
"What?"
"Just stop."
"Wait--Risa?"
"Hey, Lee! Want to walk with me?"
As I stalked off, I glanced back to catch a glimpse of pink trenchcoat and white, rubber boots. It was that Sakura person. She waved at Lee, a yellow umbrella held over her head. I looked away, watching my sneakered feet splash in the shallow puddles as they propelled me automatically forward. I wanted to get away, far away.
"Sakura!" Lee remarked in ebullient surprise. "Hello!"
"What are you doing out here, Lee?" Sakura inquired, a smile in her voice. She motioned for him to accompany her.
"I'm sorry, Sakura; I'm going to have to turn down your glorious offer. I'm walking a friend home," he declared, like the rumble of a valiant promise. There was something in voice that sounded like potential and faith and--
I froze abruptly. 'What did he just call me? A...' Fear, trepidation--I don't know what!--clenched me. I didn't know what came over me. Despite my body's wailing protests, my sneakers squeaked to life.
I bolted.
A mindless, waterlogged girl down the street in an over-sized brown sweater.
'What am I thinking...? He's...'
"RISA!" shouted Lee, stunned, as he turned around in time to catch sight of a shaking wench sprinting off like a confounded deer. "RISA!"
My eyes were dilated, my thoughts racing. 'Stop saying my name! Stop trying to be--'
"RISA!"
"Stop it!" puttered out in a wheezing breath. I couldn't run anymore. I was so tired; I was willing to give up, now. I was willing to--
"Risa..."
The umbrella graced me again underneath its presence. My cold, numb hands gripped my knees like life a patient to life support. 'D_mn it! How do I win! How do I beat this! What the h_ll are you, Lee?'
"Leave me alone, Lee," I groaned, pushing his hand away and stumbling off in the direction I assumed was north.
"Risa, please stop."
To my surprise, I complied. My feet just dropped their need to move. He had me immobilized; I didn't even know how he did it. How did he complicate a simple thing like winning?
"Lee...I don't need your help."
He blinked, bemused. "I know you don't."
'Liar.'
I wanted to believe him.
"Are you alright?"
"No," I deadpanned, trying to sound remotely like my old self--the self that even had a ghost of a chance of beating him. "I'm sick, Lee, what do you think?" I bit out poisonously.
"Then, how in the world did you take off so fast, Risa? I had to take off my leg weights to catch you," he announced, astonished.
I swiftly turned back to him. "Leg weights?" I echoed faintly, eyes seeking. In response, he held up one of his ridiculous orange leg warmers. My eyebrows knitted; to think, I'd almost felt fast when he said that to me. They didn't look so heavy.
"Can I...?" I murmured stubbornly, already reaching out to finger one.
He flinched back in surprise, jerking them to his chest. "No, Risa!"
I frowned, like a child denied of apple sauce. "What? What's wrong? I'm not allowed to see it?" I grated indignantly.
I was pouting.
Lee grinned again. Maybe I looked funny; I don't know. He shook his head. "It's nothing like that, Risa. It's just...these are really quite heavy." His eyes grew comically wide. "I wouldn't want you to get hurt."
I scoffed. "You think I'll hurt myself on a handful of weights, Lee?" I pulled on a look of disgust. 'He thinks I'm pathetic.'
He nodded slowly, carefully.
"Gosh, whatever, Lee," I replied flippantly, turning away and stalking off.
"Okay, okay, Risa! Wait!" he conceded, smoothly returning to my side. He held one to me tentatively, as I eyed him. "But, please, be care--"
"WHAAA!"
"RISA!"
I felt like my arms had just torn from their sockets. One second, I had my palm out; the next, I was on the ground, with a pitiful orange leg warmer crushing my fingers. My nerves were screaming. I was crying, or maybe it was the rain, but it hurt so much, I didn't know what to do, I wasn't strong enough to get them off--
"Are you okay? I told you to take it easy..." The feeling in the fingers slowly returned. I peeled open a wet-lined eye. Lee had the offending article on his lap; he was seated beside me on the soaked cobblestones, massaging my fingers.
My eyes dilated for an instant, before my fingers shot out from under his and back to my bosom. 'Lee!' I hissed inwardly.
"Oh? Are you alright now?" He, then, rubbed his head, like that had been the most redundant question he'd ever asked. (It wasn't, by the way. I would know.) "Of course, you're alright, to have reacted that quickly."
"Lee, what's wrong with you?" I snapped, standing up heatedly.
"Oh, yes, what is wrong with me? What would Gai-sensei say, crushing fingers like some kind of barbarian?" He knocked his forehead with the back of his palm melodramatically.
Instinctively, I clutched the victimized extremities closer to my breast, my bottom lip out in flat petulance. When his eyes landed on the red, bleeding digits, he flushed a sallow crimson. Serves him right.
"Maybe we should take you to the hospit--"
"No way! I'm not going back there again," I hissed acidly. Slowly, nurturing my injuries, I watched as he replaced his weights where they formerly belonged, around his ankles. "So," I began, curiously, "you had to take them off to catch me?"
"Yep! You're even faster than Tenten, or Neji!"
I smirked. "Yeah, I know."
He looked up at me happily, glad to have elicited some positive reaction.
'He thinks I'm fast,' I reiterated, blushing. "Thanks, Lee." He pretended he didn't hear me. I tried to be nice back. I bit my lip, trying to think of something that would make him feel...I don't know, fluffy inside or some other stupid metaphor.
"You like her, don't you?" I asked thoughtlessly.
"Who?"
"Sakura. You like Sakura," I said.
He blushed, avoiding rings of jade. "I've liked Sakura for a long time, but I'm still hoping she'll go out with me one day." He winked at me jokingly. It was the first time I'd seen him react with such cautionary reticence.
"...Well, she's lucky."
"Who...Sakura?" queried Lee, genuinely taken aback.
I shrugged, refusing to elaborate, as I rubbed my hands absently.
We neared the clan grounds in moments. I slowed down. "Hey, Lee, I can take it from here. Thanks for dropping me off."
"No problem, Risa! I was heading this way, anyway."
"Oh." So, that explained things. "Well..." I struggled for proper parting words, just something that would be able to compensate for all my shortcomings, and his gratuitous deeds: "Bye." 'Wow, Risa. You're a-freaking-mazing.'
"See you." He gave me a brief salute, and headed off in the opposite direction.
"Umm! Good luck," I blurted. What the h_ll? I wanted to slap myself. He blinked, perplexed. I noticed the umbrella kind of sagging off to one side.
"With Sakura, I mean," I amended swiftly. I managed to contort my lips into something of simper. It looked more like a twitch.
"Thanks, Risa!" he grinned, apparently taking my blessing to heart. "I will try my hardest next time!"
"...That's good," I said after a noticeable second's pause. I closed the door.
AHAHAHA. How pathetic. Assaulted by orange leg warmers.
White rubber boots.
HORMONES ARE TROUBLESOME. →
Preview:
{8}
Suddenly, he sneered and began to approach me. My palpitating heart sped up with adrenaline again; the closeness making me feel hot and cold alternately. "What?" I gasped. "Want a rematch, or something?"
He leaned forward, the bangs on his forehead touching mine. "Always so formal, Risa. We've known each other so long and I'm still just 'Tanaka' to you?"
My breath caught in my throat. I stumbled back, not knowing what to say. He chuckled, but his eyes expressed apology and hurt.
*HEADDESK*
I turned Risa into such a girl. KILL ME NOWWWW. Dx
I think I'm making things too complicated. It's stupid of me. Hopefully, it's not too repulsive to watch.
Been watching old Disney princess classics all weekend. =D It puts me in a good mood, to revive my childhood. We should all sit down and watch something with all fluff, and no plot. But, uhm, yeah, Mulan rocks either way. Yeah. "I couldn't care less what she looks like / it only matters--what she cooks like / pork, beef, chicken--yummm." Those lyrics own my butt to the moon and back. Whoo. (AHAHA, not really, but the rhyme is so awesome. I'm drawn in every time.)
AND ALADDIN. DUDE. 8'D
If I could Disney!princess, I'd wish for the ability to communicate with forest animals.
I'll stop now. You know, damaging your minds with my inane gibberish. It's amazing what goes on in there, huh?
TOODLESS~~
"Ping."
OH, YEAH, AND--
Because they pwn you.
