Shadow (book 3)

Out into the world again

          Time sure does fly by when your training and thinking, waiting for Miu to say I can leave. She was right about many things, one being she was right about me becoming more like a brother to Chi.
           I've been training her for awhile now and she's improved greatly along with Kira, although Kira tended to prefer staying off to the side in the shade. We practice chakra, jutsus, stamina, strength and I have been keeping up my training against poisons. Along with that I've also been training my sensor ability and suppressing my own chakra every night after dinner.
           Many mornings, before Chi and Kira wake up, Miu will sit with me on the balcony. Most of the time in silence, but sometimes she'll say something or I'll say something and we'll trail into a conversation until the others wake up.
          Early this week Miu told me I had done well training Chi and Kira more for the world, that I'd had enough time to get to know some of my family. That if I wanted I could leave, though she did mention I didn't have and that she'd be more then happy to keep me here.
          I look to the side as I run past Chi, "come in! Keep on running, you're almost done with your laps!" I could hear her panting and see the sweat on her face, much like my own. I was lagging behind, usually I'd be a couple laps ahead of Chi but this week my mind has been on other things, causing me to care less whether or not I was ahead as long as I finished.
          "Ok, ok... I'm done." I hear her collapse on the ground near me, in the blazing sun. I shift into a more comfortable position against a tall shady tree so that I could look up at the sky. It has been awhile since I left this circle of nature, Miu and Chi. I'm allowed to leave and want too, I just don't know how to tell Chi. Although maybe it's time for both of us to travel again, back into the world again.
         I could still feel her eyes on me, "are you going to just stare at me or do you have something to say?" I turn to look at her.
         "You've been acting weird this week."
          "How so?" I avert my eyes away from her stare, I should tell her. Or at least act more like my normal self.
            "The major difference is you haven't been pulling any real pranks this whole week, you don't even put an effort into it anymore. Also don't think I haven't noticed that you have been lessening the training a little bit everyday." She glares at me, "so tell me what's got you like this." I sigh, looking back at the sky, that is true.
              I guess I've been lessening the training out of guilt for not saying anything, the training is still hard, but I have cut down on some things.
              "I'm leaving." Her eyes widen and she stares at me speechless. I wait and soon enough the reaction I was waiting for appears,  "WHHHAAATT!?"
           "You can't leave yet! You still haven't given me some of that magic paper." She runs over to me and attaches herself to me, I smile. The magic paper was just an excuse for her to not want me to leave.            
            I pat her head and laugh, "it's not magic paper, it's Chakra Induction Paper and we already know your chakra natures."
            "So you're leaving huh?" Chi's voice and posture changes, along with her aura, Aka. She moves off of me and I internally groan, she's going to prey it out of me.
            "Hello Aka, long time no talk." She gives me a look and I scratch my cheek, "yeah, I've been thinking about it for awhile now. I need to be alone and traveling again, I've been in the same place for three years and it's driving me crazy." I sigh again and looks at the sky again, I also need to look for my father.
           "You know you could have told us you didn't like being here for so long." She states. Miu knew.
           "Yeah I know."
           "When do you plan to leave?"
           "You're not going to stop me?" She shake her head, "I leave in two days."
            "Ok, make sure to get her some of that 'magic paper'. I'm going to go back now, carry Chi to the house will you." I nod and quickly catch Chi's body as it slumps over. I lift her and myself off the ground and head inside, Miu smiles and holds the door open, she obviously knew all this was going to happen.

***

           Sitting silently on my bed in the dark I stare out at the sky, tomorrow I leave, I look over at Chi on the other side of the room. In like 7 or so hours I leave. I swing myself off the bed and head out, down to the rocky entrance of this circle.
           "Heading out?" I spin around to see Miu, my heart ready to leap out of my chest.
           "I need to somehow get Chi Chakra Induction Paper. There should be a store close enough for me to go and be back before Chi wakes up." I look at her, an almost panic in my eyes, "right?"
           "Honey, don't worry." She takes my hand, "come, I have the paper. Now I'll give you the paper if you go and rest. You don't want to be tired when you travel tomorrow." I nod tiredly and follow her back.

***

          Chi follows me around, I could clearly see that she thought I forgot.
          "Hey chi," she looks up excitedly, "make sure to take care of yourself."
         "I will, why wouldn't I?" She responds making me laugh.
         "Here's your magic paper." I hand her the paper that Miu had given me this morning.
          "Awesome! Thank you!" She instantly takes one out and tries it, getting wind and earth, of course.
          "Bye Chi, Miu, Aka. I'll write when I can." We all say goodbye and hug each other, along with Chi telling me what Aka wanted to say. I'm glad I can leave with them happy.