scarlet princess

Kireina vs Ruji

SHIKAMARU POV

        Her eyelids fluttered half-open, squinting from the morning rays. She shot me a passive-aggressive glare, albeit more tired than intimidating. She was then shifting her position and closing her eyes again. Muttering a raspy "go away. Don't you have anything better to attend to?"

I coxed her enough that she sat up, rubbing the tiredness from her eyes after I managed to get her a bit more awake, then handing her some tea. "Like how you like it." it would be an underestimation to say she was taking' light of the idea, just the opposite, she had suspicion written all over her face, treating it like a vial of poison.

That quickly turned into a childish amusement after a couple of minutes. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing," I saw a ghost smile flash, and if I wasn't mistaken, there was some amusement in her tone. But that was short-lived.  Wariness and distrust floated in her obsidian eyes . "What's your angle, Nara? What are you playing at?"

"My angle? Nothing," I replied truthfully, shaking my head

"Everyone always has an angle because everyone wants something," She said coldly. If a stare could kill, hers is burning me to my soul. Even without her Sharingan active, it was still a bit intimating.

That's a crazy image: a girl that looks like she belongs in grade school intimidating a full-grown man with just a single stare.

She had this spaced-out look like she was in another world of her own. I tried to say something to the girl, but she immediately cut me off before I could get a word in. Then the scene changed unexpectedly; instead of the graveyard we were once in, a sandy bay was in its spot.

Reika's eyes shined a bright red, like the color of gems; They were not as bright as they could've been, I've seen brighter, But I suppose I'm glad that her optimism hasn't faded away completely.

She went on this tyrant for a couple of minutes –I mean, it isn't strange to see her trail off, but it's evident that her self-esteem has gone down since I last saw the girl. She has tenacity, but I'm questioning her state of mind.

I promptly cut her off and told her as it is, no matter how much my bluntness hurt her. "Stop. You talk about hating others pitting you, but isn't that what you're doing now? Degrading your own self-worth." That seemed to get some reaction out of her because all I saw was shook in her saucer-wide eyes, even if the rest of her face stayed static. In turn, was a sign, so I continued, "I know you, and you are anything but stupid; you're a smart girl, not just that. You have a deep love for who you hold dear. I'll say deeper than either of your brothers could imagine, and anyone could admire that." At first, she tried to deny the words and shift the blame back onto me, tho my thought is that's cause I'm the only other one here; she has a target to lash out at.

Whatever I tried to say, she tried to deny it, and the flames rose higher until she shouted a flurry of different emotions behind it with all her might. None were directed at me, but the resentment was still there.

I won't lie and say that it hurt a bit seeing her trying to push me away, but as much of a drag it was, this pre-pubescents teen was almost like a little sister I had come to care for is worth trying.

The twig that she was mindless drawing with snapped, her knuckles turning white, so pale that I thought she was going to pierce her palm and make them bleed. Tears streamed down like floodgates to a dam. It was so intense that she visibly shook, I didn't know what else I said, and honestly not the best with pep talks, but I think I know a bit when it comes to this stubborn little girl.

I gently wrapped one of my arms around the girl's back, and with the other, I pulled her head in as the shaking and feeling of discomfort subsided to something manageable.