A Dash of Chili Powder

96

"Ne, ne, Scythe-san," Kiba mumbled sympathetically. The older man was givin off a certain scent - a miserable one. He shook his head crossed his arms behind his head. "Y'know, I ain't stupid."

He didn't quite know where he was going this. All he could think of was the smell tht was permeating the air.

"The first time I saw Yuki get beat - reallllly get 'er ass kicked - was back when she sparred with Uchiha Sasuke," he began, drawing in a quick breath. Now he knew. He frowned deeply at the memory, his lips pulling back into an angry snarl, brows furrowed. He glared into the darkening corner where two apartment walls met, his eyes cruel daggers.

"He actually meant to hurt her." He closed his eyes. "His hand fell pretty damn heavily on her bony little nose, his foot slammed right into her gut, and he shoved a few kunai into her left arm." Kiba blinked his slit eyes right open and turned his head to face Scythe, his snarl never leaving his face. "He broke her wrist and ankle, and hit her so hard in 'er eye she was almost blinded."

And he breathed a breath so shaky with anger.

"The next thing I know, she's launched right inta tree branch and she fell about twenty-feet. Know what that did? Shattered her collar bone. And I can't lift a finger to help her because she'd scream at me. She'd tell me to go away 'cos it was jus' a sparring match." His eyes drifted to the floor. "I couldn't help her. She was so broken for so long."

He shook his head and let his lips relax, his face becoming more pensive and regretful. "I let 'er get hurt... She was in the hospital for three months. She almost died." He smiled. "But she pulled through. And right when she got out, know what she did?"

And he waited for a moment or two.

"She kicked that damn Uchiha's mother fucking ass." 

[Blah. History. Ancient ancient Kiba-Yuki history.]

Kazuki blinked. He never thought it was possible. No. He would not and could not believe it. Never. Nope. No sir. Hell no. Nu-uh. No. Nay. Nah. As he focused his Wind Element at the tiny piece of paper in order to read it fully, a disgraced frown pulled at the corners of his lips.

The Hokage had requested his presence.

He didn't like her. Her boobs were too big and she was rude, had not a lick of respect for decency. She was a drunk and a gambler and her boobs were too goddamn big. And she wanted his presence. His fucking presence. Why? Why would she possible want him, of all people? He wasn't a ninja. He was blind, dammit!

Today was officially the worst day ever.

Meeting up with Rukia proved to be an awkward and frustrating experience. Having Scythe reintroduce him to Rukia proved to be embarrassing and harmful to his mental stability. Being around a pair of the Akatsuki's proved to be an irritating and painful experience. Now the leader of the village wanted to see him.

Good fucking kami.

He shook his head and cut off his Wind Element, leaning up against the solid doorframe of his bedroom. He wondered what an asset he could really be to the Hokage. "Hmph. If only I could be so important."

Gracie

Scythe listened to Kiba's story with a bewildered look throughout until Kiba's statement about Yuki's revenge on the one who'd beaten her. Then, the brown haired man laughed heartily.

"Yuki-san's so strong, ne?" he chuckled. He smiled serenely. "Naora-san wasn't so strong - not physically anyway. But she was like Yuki-san in a way. She'd never yell at me, but she looked so angry when I stepped in to save her some scars; some days she wouldn't talk to me as punishment for me interfering." His smile grew into a helpless grin. "I never was a very good listener, though. And I couldn't let him do that to her...."

"Kozue-chan."

The brown haired boy (Scythe) looked up from his seat on the small bridge to see Naora standing there, arms folded, bandaging around her neck and arm. It looked like she was having trouble standing on her right leg.

But at least her face wasn't touched. No bruises graced his cute Naora's adorable pout. She wasn't mad, as usual - just very, very upset.

"What's up?" Kozue quipped curiously.

Naora stood there looking at him for a long time. Then she came over and sat beside him. The red haired girl touched the bandages wrapped around his forehead and right eye. That one had been the eye mostly injured, though his left one was almost swelled shut. But he'd be completely unable to see if he wrapped bandaging over them both. Naora's silver eyes were taut with guilt. "You look like a mummy," she muttered.

Kozue laughed with ease. "Am I scary?" he asked amicably.

"...Yes." The twelve-year-old boy blinked at Naora, whose eyes had dropped to the stream they sat above. Her voice was tremulous. "You're scaring me," she whispered.

"So I went against her even when she begged me to stop." Scythe smiled at nothing. "And she never got her revenge for it. Rage-kun did that for us. He saved us from vengeance. I can't thank him enough for that...."

The brown haired man now turned his smile on Kiba. "You're very lucky to have Yuki-san, Kiba-kun. She's a fiery girl."

[Ancient Scythe history with a splash of Rage on the side. 9.9'' Kazu-kun! What could the Hokage want from him? OoO]