A Dash of Chili Powder

13

[Yes! Indeed. And I added a little...awkwardness on Ami's part. >3 And awwwwwwweh. 3: I should head to bed soon. I has finals!]

"Oi...Kid."

Yuki nearly leapt through the floor above at the second disturbance. Oh, how embarrassing. She was so jumpy... She groaned inwardly and let herself relax. Nestling herself into her hospital bed, she searched for the source of the voice and found her carrier.

She smiled a big smile. And, after everyone had spoken, all their words goin in one ear and right out the other, she pushed herself up into a more comfortable sitting position. The blanket fell right off her, revealing the same mark on her forehead on larger in the middle of her chest, the bottom-most point reaching the half-way point of her sternum. This marking was thicker and darker than the rest, indicating tht it was probably where the dark energy had reached out from. Bandages wrapped tightly around her chest and abdomen, some slightly bloody, others pristine.

She flinched and gave a huffy yelp, instantly curling an arm around her side. A dull pain shot through this spot and reached up and around to other places of her body. Only, this pain wasn't dull. It was more electric, which wasn't the nicest of feelings. Yuki groaned, digging her teeth into lips from this uncomfortable feeling. 

A steady, gloved hand gently pushed her back against the pillows, combing her messy mop of purple hair out of the way. She looked up at her adopted (or is it adoptive?) father, momentarily forgetting the pain. She smiled softly, only to have the agony wash over her again. She let out yet another whimper.

"Shh, you're alright," Kakashi soothed, trying to calm her down. The more she worried about the feeling, the more it would hurt. 

"But...it hurts..." she grumbled, her hand holding onto the most pained spot.

"It'll go away soon," he told her, stepping back a little bit to give her some space. 

Amaya watches everything that had gone on and took comfort in knowing that her friend was safe and in good hands, turning around to leave. She had things she needed to do; like tend to her seals and curse mark. She couldn't risk the release of the Gobi and she certainly couldn't risk that evil chakra boost given by Orochimaru. This thought made her frown deepen.

And so did the tall, peach-eyed Rage standing in the doorway.

Gracie

[Hahahaha ohhh Amaya. XD And from this she should be able to decipher that Rage is NOT scared of her - just being polite X3. And FINALS FIGHTING! (Do your best on your finals!) >D]

Before he could walk in, Rage was beset in a big set of lavender eyes. They were creased into a frown. He halted short, blinking, not sure whether he was allowed into the room or not. Not being able to read her expressions when she was closed-up wasn't helping him at all.

Scythe noticed him before he could make a silent retreat, and them man grinned. "What took you so long, bud'? I was about to send a search party for you," he teased.

"..." Rage glanced swiftly at the short girl one more time before looking to Awaji and offering him a box. Inside were chopsticks, rice, and various meats and vegetables. If Awaji could open his eyes, they'd be too big to fit on his head.

"You're the coolest senpai ever," Awaji piped, snatching the bento and cracking it open.

Vell had been watching Kakashi's and Yuki's exchange, wincing as if he could feel Yuki's pain. Now his ear twitched backwards and he turned to glare up at his friends.

"You two are way too tall to be taking up breathing space right now," he snapped, guiding a smiling Scythe and a passive Rage out the door. He heard munching and turned his sharp eye on Awaji. "And you - you're just annoying. Out."

Scythe chuckled as the door was shut after Vell had pushed Awaji out with his foot. The tan little boy frowned around his mouthful of octopus. "Why's he so grumpy all of a sudden?"

"He just doesn't want to stress Yuki-san out all the more. You know he can't just say it so easily, though," Scythe commented. Now he stretched his arms way above his head with a serene smile. "Mmm. Well, we'd better go scouting for an apartment or something."

"We're staying here?" Awaji nearly choked on his food and Rage looked at his idol incredulously.

The wily man glanced at the door, smile sly. "Vell-kun'll wanna hang around for a while, I take it. And he's probably stalling on telling Yuki-san who he is since right now it'd make her bust a stitch. Not in the funny way. He'll need our support, so we'll stay in Konoha until he's ready to go back. Sound like a plan?"

Awaji nodded with his face stuffed with rice. Rage stared at the door through the bit of glass, pale orange eyes on the tufts of purple hair sticking up into view. After a few seconds, he turned back to Scythe and inclined his head in agreement.