A Painful Life

Author's POV

Kimura fixed the folded towel on her head and sank into the water until only half of her face showed.

"Yep. Even better," she repeated, though it was hard to make out the words.

Yumi blew air bubbles in the water. She moved up to talk. "Um, don't you think Gaara is a little teensy bit too violent?"she asked, struggling to find the right words. "I mean, I feel bad for rock boy."

"Lee? Yeah, me,too. He was kind of cute. Poor guy," she huffed.

Yumi giggled hysterically. "You think he's cute? Not to be mean or anything. Maybe I should tell him. Hah hah! He likes you! You'll make a perfect couple!" She stuck her tongue out.

"I was kidding!" Kimura exclaimed, splashing water at her friend.

Yumi continued to laugh.

"But I hope he's alright. Same for Sasuke and Hinata, too. Neji hurt her pretty badly."

"Let's visit them tomorrow," Yumi suggested. "Hopefully they'll allow visitors. "

"Yeah. They better." Kimura narrowed her eyes and listened suspiciously.

"What's--."

"Ssshh!" She bit her lip, giving an evil smile. "Someone's here. Ohh, they better not be doing what I think they're doing."

Kimura's POV

I got up, wrapped the towel around my body, and motioned Yumi to follow. I counted to three and we swung open the door, kicking the peeper as hard as we could. "You damn pervert!!" we screeched.

I screamed, horrified. "L-Len??!!"

"Whoa....I did not see that coming," Yumi gaped.

But then, suddenly Len poofed into the Ebisu guy. We screamed...again. He stared up at us from head to toe, his face flustered.
Ebisu adjusted his weird shades. "Uuhh--It's not what you think, ladies!" he assured, nervously.

We heard soft laughter. I poked my finger through a hole where I thought someone was looking through and locked the door shut.

I heard a voice whine. "Itai* !"

"Huh. And stay out!" I commanded. "I'll slaughter you once I'm finished!"

I blocked everything and went back into the water, sighing, feeling secure this time.

Yumi snickered. "Bastards. Hah hah. I almost actually thought it was Len-kun!"

I couldn't help but laugh myself. "Alright, back to where I left off."

Yumi blushed.

"Make your move! You two are destined to be together!"

"Déjà vu, we went over this already!" she whined, exasperated.

"I know." I winked. "Can't you picture it though? You and Gaara..."

"Not really. It's a bit blurry," she admitted. "How about you and Len?"

"I don't like him!" I flustered, failing to hide my burning cheeks.

"Sure.. Heh heh heh. Bwahahahaha!"

Author's POV

Lukashi watched Len throw kunais and shurikens at the targets, hitting them all but one. He missed that because a question distracted him.

"Where's Shii?" Lukashi asked.

Len shrugged, not really caring. "Who in the hell knows?"

"Are you thinking about Kimura?" he drawled.

"Pfft. No. Why?" he asked uncooly.

Lukashi inspected the target. " 'Cause you hit all but one and it's not even close."

Len scowled. "Urasai* ! I know that!"

Lukashi threw him a kunai. "You are dreadful at lying, you know that?"

"Yeah, I figured," he chuckled.

"So you like her?"

"Yeah." He smiled. "I even kind of told her before you crashed in..pulling me away like that...why is it that everyone tends to do that to get my attention now? It's making me do that to Kimura, too."

"It's an old habit." Lukashi clicked his tongue. "You don't have the guys to ask her out, do you?"

"Nope." He threw the kunai. Bulls-eye." I think it's best to start as friends, ya know? We just met and all. I think...maybe...she feels the same way. I don't know. I really, really want to be her boyfriend now...but she might think I'm all too fast. So I'm starting everything nice and slow. I want to start a bond with her...a strong one. I can't ask her out yet. I'm not ready..seriously...I'm too nervous. I want to get used to her and get to know her better. She's kind of new here."

"And don't forget you need to get used to not being all King-of-the-Dorks around her."

"Hah."

"From my point of view, she's a pathetic Uchiha brat. I hate those eyes."

Len shot his kunai angrily towards Lukashi, missing him an inch from the head."Don't talk shit about her when you don't know much about her. She even told you you did well after the primarily round. So watch your mouth," Len warned, defensively."You should be thankful. She complimented you. Kimura is a really sweet girl. Give her a chance."

Lukashi rolled his eyes. " Chill out, Satori. I was testing you."

"Sure," he scoffed, not believing a word.

"She's pretty cute, eh?"

"Really cute." Len smiled, relaxing a bit."Thanks for atleast trying to be nice. You're forgiven."

Lukashi laughed. He glanced up at the trees. "I bet you can't catch that squirrel."

"Bet what? I'll get it for you. Alive so It can be your first mate."

Len snickered and Lukashi glared.

Yumi's POV

Kimura sat there in the water, trying to avoid looking at me. She looked at her crystal necklace for an excuse. "I see Sasuke is okay..sleeping," she murmured.

"Where? Let me see." I moved closer for a better look, but didn't see anything. "I can't see anything.

"Look at it! See? He's lying down and Kaka-sensei is there."

"I just see my reflection," I said.

"You really can't see anything?" she wondered.

"No. Check what's Len doing."

"He's training with Lukashi. Um, he's chasing a little thing with a bushy tail."

"A squirrel?"

"Yes. Hah hah!"

I turned a little pink. "What about Gaara?"

"I can't see where he is. It's dark. He must be training with his sister and brother."

"Can you hear anything?"

"No," Kimura sighed. "I don't know. I can only see. Ah, we should get out. I'm getting wrinkly."

"Me,too."

We wrapped our towels around us. Kimura screamed. "WHERE"RE MY CLOTHES?!"

I started to put mine on from behind a rock." Check behind things and stuff."

She checked the entire place in less than a minute. "They're not here! Waaah! I've been robbed! Who the hell steals someone's clothes?"

Kimura angrily opened the door and went to where the pain place is. "Excuse me. I think somebody stole my clothes. Can you please lend me a robe? I'll pay for it," Kimura asked in her most polite voice.

"It's alright, honey. See that room 4R there? Go inside and walk straight and go to your left. There will be a room there."

Kimura bowed. "Arigatou gozaimasu *."

"Douitashimashite* ."

Kimura palced up a finger, telling me to wait. She hurried and disappeared through the door. I waited. She returned out in a black kimono-like silky robe.

"Um. How much is it, ma'am?" she asked, quietly, grabbing the lady's attention.

"Oh! Don't worry about it! It's free!" The lady smiled.

"Thank you very much again. Have a nice day." She waved as I followed her out.

"You, too."

Once Kimura and I were out of sight, she sighed.

"They're not free," she pointed out. "The lady probably had pity on me." She stuck out her tongue.

"Hah. I figured. You were kinda funny," I laughed.

Kimura gave me a smile. "I wonder how's pervert one, two , and three?" she snickered.

"I wonder how Len would react?"

"Be quiet!"

"Speaking of Len---."

"Waaah!!!! He can't see me like this! I look so weird. Let's get out of here!"

Too late. Len already saw us. He was looking our way, smiling. Kimura tried to hide behind me.

"He's coming,"I sang. "Hi,Len!"

He waved at me as he approached, except he wasn't looking at me. He was looking at Kimura.
She turned a little pink. "Hi, Len. That's a cute squirrel."

"Hey, Kimura. That's a cute outfit."

"Thanks." They smiled like dorks.

Len grabbed her hand and started to pull her towards where Lukashi was sitting. "C'mon, let's sit. Hey, Yumi."

"Hey, Len. What's up? How's everything?" I asked happily.

"Great, you?"

"Super great."

"Great!"We laughed.

He and Kimura sat on a big rock while I sat at the bottom of it.

"Hello, Lukashi-kun," Kimura greeted.

"Hi, Kimura."

Len allowed the squirrel to land on Kimura's shoulder.

"It's adorable," she whispered.

So are you, I heard Len think. Nyahahaha!

"Yeah, his name is Sutsamaru."

"Ah, Su-kun. Aren't you cute?" she nuzzled her face against the animal's body.

I noticed Len was still holding her hand. "Here, feed it this." Len handed her a nut.

She gave it to the animal and laughed.

"Uh, yo, Izan," I said a bit akwardly.

"Sup," he drawled.

"How's life."

"Fine, you?"

"Good."

We turned silent.

I'm glad we get a break for a month," Len sighed.

"So am I. I need a break. My moves are going down," Kimura said.

"No they're not! You're good! We'll train together, okay?"

"Yeah, tomorrow."

Author's POV

The two beamed at each other.

Kimura noticed that their hands we still holding. She blushed and pulled away.

Will you stop looking at each other like that? Yumi heard Lukashi think.

"Why are you thinking that?" Yumi blurted.

"Thinking what?" Lukashi asked, suspiciously.

"Nothing. Sorry."

"Isn't that cute?" came a sneer. "Whore one and two."

"Um, sorry , Len. I'll see you tomorrow, "Kimura said urgently. "I have to go home."

"I'll walk you---- ." Len began.

"No thanks. I'm sorry. See you tomorrow," she interrupted. "Let's go, Yumi."

"It's alright. Later," Len sighed, disappointed.

After Kimura and Yumi left, Len glared at Shii.

"Why are you being so hard on them? Mostly Kimura. They didn't do anything to you," Len growled.

Shii have her usual loving, innocent look at Len."What're you talking about, Len-kun."

"Just go..."

Kimura's POV

"Sorry, Yumi-chan. It's just...I can't stand her!" I said.

"Yeah, me neither. That bastard called us a whore. I wanna give her a piece of my mind."

To be continued.....