When Shiori arrived at the entrance, she cringed. There were only the four genins there inclusive of Nanashi and herself, the whole entrance was deserted. What started off 100+ ended only with four standing. Truly, it's the survival of the fittest. Shiori thought sourly.
The other two that survived were both male, and much older than Nanashi and herself, one of them looked to be around Sensei's age while the other looked around 16 or 17. However, both of them had blood on their hands and scars that marred their faces. Shiori unconciously twisted her hands so that it was within range of her kunai. She suppose as painful her fingers were, her chakra depletion was as good as it's restoration, thus her core was nearly filled by now so she should really thank her genes.
Then the front door slammed opened, everyone stood still on their breath, eyes trained on their proctors from before. The lady brought along with her their first proctor and another woman who had ankle length black hair and icy blue eyes. "Heh, there's still 4 of you? I must have been way to lenient this time round."
Shiori scowled and glared at the cackling woman. Life and Death are things that should be valued, life ends and death prevails, and this woman was making fun of all those genin who fought with their lives on their lines.
But they were weak, weren't they?
Shiori froze. She glanced around, none of the ninjas were near her, not even Nanashi who had a fixed smile and emotionless eyes, where did that voice come from? She glanced at the other contenders, one of them, the younger contender of the two, was smirking at her. Was it him? It was, wasn't it?
"Now, now, don't be so sulky. Let me handle it." Finally, the long haired lady spoke, voice silky and seductive, her eyes trailed over all their forms and smiled, "Let's see, how about I give you two months to train?"
"Train for what?" The oldest looking of all contender demanded, hands stuffed in his pocket and mouth curving into a sneer. The lady snapped her head towards him, blue eyes staring him down, "Why? Isn't it obvious? A battle until the last man is standing."
Shiori grimaced, she really disliked Kirigakure. Soon, a large door opened and the proctors let them out, many of the teachers had stricken look when found out their students didn't make it out alive. Some looked blasé while others were disgusted. Shiori turned away from the sight to sought after her teacher.
She walked, ran perhaps, quickly towards her teacher and threw her arms around him, burying her face in his neck, and arms around his shoulders. "Sensei, I'm back."
"Welcome back, Shiori-chan." His feminine but steady voice whispered into her ears, his arms tightened slightly and nose buried in her hair. Shiori closed her eyes and allowed a tear to escape her lid.
Katawara Kazuya was worried, his heart was threatinh to burst out of his chest and finger nails bitten out of worry. When the doors opened, he swore his heart stopped beaiting when no one came out. Then, someone took the first step, out came four genins.
Katawara immediately zoomed his eyes for his student, please be here, please don't die, please live— to his relief, the familiar pink was among the four. He walked, towards a more secluded area, he knew she would find him, why wouldn't she?
He watched, as the little girl he taught —raised even, ever since she was a mere five year old, running towards him. Holding both arms out, he captured her in his embrace and hugged her tight, nose burying in her hair which smelt oddly like fire and blood. Then there was a drop of water on his neck, where her eyes had been. He pulled away a little and saw her eyes squeeze shut with tears threatening to fall.
He stroked her hair and cheeks, "Shiori-chan, what happened?"
Her face looked haunted, her eyes opened and teary green ones stared at him— they were dull, blank, lack the life they had before the exam. Katawara fear what he would hear, fear what she experienced.
"Sensei... It was horrible." She began, voice soft, "We had hundreds of us in the beginning. In the first example they cut us down to numbers we could count on both our hands. Then, the second exam, we had to see who had the most kills, or we would be killed— poisoned. And then I met someone, they had blood on their hands, and now only four of us are left. We're to fight, fight til the last man is standing, and how—?"
Katawara rubbed her back soothingly, "There, there." he sounded calm, perhaps, but his mind was whirling and sorting the information. The numbers cut down to ten percent and less in the first exam and to four in the second. Now the last exam was to cut down to one.
"We have two months," She informed, small fists clutching his vest, "Then we have to fight."
She raised her head, eyes still a little red but otherwise alright, "Help me, sensei."
"Of course." Katawara agreed easily. Then a familiar soprano voice called out, "Shiori-chan!"
Shiori stiffened and she hid behind her teacher. Katawara wondered what was on, who did the voice belong to "Sensei... Hide me. Please."
"Eh? You made a friend?" Katawara raised a brow, has his socially intept, awkward genin finally made a friend? Wait a second— all genins left were male, right?
"Sensei, please just hide me." She insisted, Katawara was about to answer before he saw an approahing figure, "Uh, a little too late for tha—"
"Shiori-chan! I found you!" A boy, perhaps two years or so, older than Shiori appeared. Katawara felt himself twitch, he glared at the approaching figure. Shiori stood up and held both hands out, "Nanashi-san, wait, stop—"
But Shiori couldn't stop, the boy reached both arms around her form and planted a firm kiss on her lips. Shiori froze, he whole body became statue and eyes wide with disbelief. Katawaea felt something in him snap, he cracked his knuckles and glared at this— this— this son of a bitch.
"Oi, you brat, you've got a lot of nerve kissing my precious student in front of me." His snarled, this boy had the nerve and the audacity to kiss her previous Shiori? Oh, someone was going down, "Who are you, ossan? And this is my fiance!"
Shiori finally snapped out of her frozen state and tried to stop the two male. "Nanashi-san! Sensei!"
"Come on! Bring it!" of course she was ignored, she watched in disbelief as her teacher argued with a boy probably younger than him by ten years.
"Come!"
They both got into a stance and Shiori quickly raise her foot and stepped on both their feet, hard.
"Enough!" She crossed her arms, "What are you, children? What are you fighting about?"
Both of them turned away from each other, Shiori stared, eyes twitching and her face died into a deadpan. This, was ridiculous.
Preview
"NANASHI-SAN!"
"Shiori-chan, don't worry."
"No, why, why?"
"Go back to your sensei, Shiori-chan."
"Shut up! I still have chakra, give me a second."
"Mah... It's alright."
A/N: I want to clarify that Nanashi is NOT Shiori's love interest, it is still undermined. Anyways, this was a short chapter, only two hundred words into the thousand word requirement I have. This chapter is quite anti climatic, but it wanted to give a little calm before storm feel. Oh and I might not be able to update as regularly, my exams would be starting soon so I need to focus (I'm on my senior year) but I promise there would be at least a chapter a week once my daily update streak stops. And no filler today :( sorry
