I'll Show You Insanity

Chapter 44

Yuma was watching each fight closely, analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of each of the opponent's, as well as looking after her friends.

For her teammates, she cheered louder than any viewer in the crowd. Though worry for Sasuke's condition plagued her heart, she was pleased when he won, and relieved when Kakashi took the boy away to treat him.

For Shikamaru, and Choji, she screamed her little lungs out in encouragement, and there was a noticeable fire burning in the lazy Nara's eyes as she yelled for his victory.

There was only one fight that she had trouble keeping still for, and that was the one between Gaara, and Lee.

She had met Lee in the training field one day, and found him entertaining. From then on, the two trained vigorously together, with the aid of Gai, who spurned on the cute little 'rivalry' between the two.

She didn't want her funny friend to get hurt, or lose.

On the other hand, there was Gaara. She could feel his tainted aura, much like hers, but much worse. His gaze, though to most seemed uncaring, hid deeply repressed pain, sadness, and heartbreaking hopelessness. However, deep, deep down, she could sense his desperation for the one thing he didn't have...

Compassion.

She knew that Lee stood no chance against the ruthless redhead, but cheered him on anyway.

"Sand Coffin!" Gaara finally declared.

"LEE!" Yuma screamed in panic, scrambling over the railing and running as fast as her frantic little legs could carry her.

She was too late though, and the attack seized her friend. His cry of pain made her move forward at an impossible rate, and she tackled the bloodthirsty boy.

"Stop it! Now!" She snarled.

"Why should I?" The sand nin asked coldly, though his sand had already faltered from his shock at the pact, giving Gai the opportunity to rescue his student.

"Because, you're not the monster they think you are!" She cried out. "And if you act like that, I won't forgive you!"

"And what would it matter to me, whether or not I am forgiven by a pathetically weak girl such as yourself?" He asked, his sand slithering up to her neck and enclosing it as the spectators watched in shock as the unconscious Lee was wheeled away.

Yuma huffed slightly. "Because we're friends."

His eyes widened for the slightest of seconds, before narrowing in distrust at the girl above him. "I never claimed-"

"Then why did you save me!" She yelled, cutting him off. "That day, in the alley, with the villagers! Why would you save me, if you didn't even care?!"

A drop of red splashed onto his cheek, and Yuma blinked. She didn't realize she'd been crying.

At her tears, she saw a flash of regret flit through his gaze before it went stony once more. "That day was merely a passing whim." And then he said something  that he would regret. "You are nothing, not to me, not to anyone."

Another splash of crimson escaped before she shut her eyes tightly, small body trembling. Then, she stood, opening her eyes. The tears of blood had gone, leaving in their wake an empty gaze of nothing, no more compassion, no more sadness, nothing more for the boy laying before her.

"Fine," she said coldly, and a noticeable chill swept throughout the entire arena. Her gaze was cool, collected, a vast contrast to the war of emotions battling for control from within. "Then, since I'm nothing to you, this won't surprise you, will it. If you threaten those I care about, I will kill you."

Despite his instincts telling him not to push her any further, he scoffed. "How do you expect to kill me, when you're only insignificant scum."

A slow, icy smile spread across her lips before she turned her back on him, walking away with one last, chilling sentence.

"Dare you to try me, and find out."

It hissed through the air with a wave of killing intent, and the atmosphere only lifted once she reached Kakashi and Gai, who regarded her with expressions of concern.

"Yuma? Are you alright?" Kakashi asked, kneeling before his baby cousin, unsettled by her empty expression.

Her gaze locked onto him, and she relaxed, warmth filling her sub-zero features. "Fine," she answered, voice quiet.

He frowned worriedly, and embraced her, feeling her bottled up anger and sadness beginning to shake her body. She only stood still, trembling with the effort not to break down, but he knew who could help, who has helped her before.

"Why don't we go visit Shikamaru?" He suggested softly, scooping his baby cousin into his arms.

In moments, they were with the other examinees, and Yuma's team ran over with Shikamaru's, all concerned for the small girl as Kakashi gently sat her on her feet.

Shikamaru was the first to reach her, having full on sprinted after seeing her crumbling form, and turned her around quickly before engulfing her in a hug, holding her head to his chest as he ducked his head to whisper in her ear.

"Don't listen to him, Yuma," the boy said softly, feeling her unique tears stain his fishnet shirt and chest. "No matter what anyone says, you're our everything."

She only whimpered, burrowing further into his chest as she tried to escape from everything.

"Why don't you take her out for a bit?" Kakashi suggested. "Run her by the house and let her get changed while you clean up, then you two can go have fun. Here." He handed Shikamaru some money, and the boy nodded, sticking it into the pocket of his trousers before leading Yuma from the arena.