A Painful Life

Kimura stared at Naruto and Shikamaru. She put her hand on both Naruto's and Shikamaru's shoulder. "Relax you two."

Naruto looked at her with a little blush but then bursted out, " No way in hell will he escape. I bet he was going to choke Bushy Brows to death with that sand in his sleep! I'll kick his ass!"

Kimura's POV

"Calm down, Naruto," I insisted. "Hey...Nara Shikamaru, right?"

"Yeah. You're an Uchiha, aren't you. Uchiha Kimura?" he asked.

"Correct."

He looked at me. "You're a little nicer than Uchiha Sasuke."

I lifted an eyebrow. "Um, thanks. Anyway, what was that about?"

Shikamaru shrugged. "We're not sure. We got here a few minutes ago to check on Lee."

Naruto nodded.

I went over to Lee. "Ah, well, I hope he's doing well. It seems he's still asleep. Tell him Kimura and Yumi were here for me." I placed flowers in the vase beside the bed. "I have to go now. I'm going to see my brother again."

"Bye," they said.

"See you," I smiled.

I walked out of the room and found Yumi still standing there with the bucket of sand in her hands. She was glaring ahead. "Yumi?" I said, quietly.

"That idiot! Agh! He's being so hard.......and mean! He won't even take his friggen' sand!" Yumi exclaimed. "It's his!"

I sighed and leaned against the wall. "Guys can be so cold," I muttered. "And they say girls are merciless." I stretched. "Ah! Okay, anyone else to visit?"

"We have a few flowers left. How about Chouji? I don't really know him but....," Yumi's suggestion trailed off.

"Alright," I replied with a nod. "You go ahead, 'kay? Tell him I said hi and that I hope he is well. I'm seeing Sasuke again."

"Oh, okay!" Yumi grinned.

We parted our seperate ways to visit. I headed to Sasuke's room and tentively and gently knocked the door before going inside. "Sasuke?" I whispered.

He wearily opened his eyes. "Oh," he said. "It's you."

I ignored his remark . "How're you feeling."

"Fine."

"You still hate me, don't you? I can feel it, you know?"

"Not really. No." He turned his head away. "Why are you visiting me again?"

"I wanted to say hi."

"Hi."

"Nii-san*," I said.

"Don't call me that. We're twins, created the same time, same day, just born two minutes apart."

"Back then...remember how they made me give you respect?" I asked.

"No. They made me give you respect ," Sasuke corrected. " 'Cause you're a girl. The only girl in the Head House and all. You were the one that had to be protected. You were precious. A girl...women..they give birth to new Uchihas..that's what they said. I swore to protect you. I failed."

" You didn't. I'm still here, breathing right before your eyes, am I not?"

"I know..but you were gone. People thought you were killed. I thought you were dead just like how I thought Zane was."

I smiled at him. "Well, we're the last of the Uchihas, right? Just you, me, Zane, .....and Itachi-nii-sama."

"Don't treat Itachi like he's our brother. He is NOTHING. He's a disgrace to the name Uchiha," Sasuke growled.

"You sound like Father," I whispered.

"And you sound like Mother." He snorted.

I gave a little laugh. He smiled. I gave him a hug.

"D-don't hug me!" Sasuke complained. " I never liked your hugs!"

"Suuure," I said sarcastically, kissing his cheek.

"....And i don't like your hugs either."

"Yeah, yeah. Bye, love. Get plenty of rest."

"Don't tease me." Sasuke smiled at me again. "And do not come back for my sake."

"I'm coming back no matter what....for your little heart's sake. I can hear it calling for me."

-break-

I walked to the front of the building to find Yumi sitting on a bench, dipping her fingers in the sand. "Yo," she said.

"Hey. Er, you should get rid of that. It might haunt you later. It tried to killl you before, you know, " I pointed out.

She nodded. " He keeps glaring at me."

" 'Cause you glare at him back."

"Yeah, well....he glared at me first. "

"Tough love." I shook my head. "Oh! Shoot! I almost forgot I'm training with Satori today."

Yumi perked up. "Len-kun?"

"Yep." I gave my usual wink. "Oh, where's Gaara. Did he leave ?"

"He's out in the front. That's why I don't wanna go out there."

"Come on. That's the only wat we can exit."

"Na, I can wait til he's gone."

"Fine, then. I'll leave without you. I'm not going to make Len wait." I headed for the door and pushed it open. As expected, Yumi followed.

"Fine, I'm going. Yeesh."

We came outside. I saw Gaara standing around with his siblings talking. Once Gaara saw Yumi, they started their little glaring contest.

Yumi tossed her bucket at him. "Here's your sand. I'm sure it's yours. Keep it. I don't want it."

We passed him. For a moment, Yumi looked sad and so did Gaara. Why are you so mean, Gaara-kun? Are you a big jerk? Are you that cold-hearted? I heard Yumi think.

"Yumi..."

Yumi responded by looking at Gaara a little hopefully. "Yeah?"

"Th-thank you," Gaara muttered trying not to look at her.

She blushed. "Um, no problem."

Nya ha ha! Gaara said "thank you" Yumi thought.

What kind of laugh is that, Kyoro. Seriously.

"It's a happy one," she replied in a whisper.

She grabbed my arm and ran, dragging me from behind.

"Why does everyone do this to me?" I exclaimed.

"Bye, Gaara-kuuuuuun!" Yumi called. "Now let's get you to Len."

"Nyeeeh?! Noo! Hold on!"

♦♦♦♦

"Kimura! Yumi" Len said.

I blushed a little. Len took me by the arm as Yumi let me go.

"Again," I sighed but nobody heard me.

"Kimu. " Len smiled. "I'm glad you came."

"It's nothing, really." We beamed at each other.

"There's no bitch around here is there?" Yumi snarled.

I nudged her.

"Owww."

"Don't worry. I told her not to show up." Len gave us his poison covered smile.

My face turned even redder when noticed Len was awfully close to me.

"Shall we get to training?" Yumi callled.

"Eh? I thought it was just the two of us," Len said, confused.

" Guys. Nevermind. You two go ahead an do your training. I'm going for a walk."

"Um, okay," Len and I replied.

Len smiled. "Guess we are alone. Heh heh heh."

I nudged him. "Don't laugh like that. Sheesh. It's giving me a cold chill."

He chuckled. I laughed, shaking my head, pulling Len along wih me. "So what're we going to do?" I asked.

"Something what Izan taught me."

Len walked behind me and tied a piece of cloth over my eyes. He placed his hands on my shoulders. "Relax...and focuse," he said soothingly. I felt his band putting something in mine. A kunai.

"Uh---uhmm...what am I suppose to do?" I turned my head to "look" at Len.

I felt his finger poke the tip of my nose. "Just play along, Uchiha."

"Alright."

"Ready?"

"Bring it on," I challenged.

"Okay. Relax and focuse you chakra on your surroundings."

I inhaled, then let it out slowly. "Gotcha."

"There's a "target" somewhere around you. You have to hit a bullseye with it in one hit. Get the target and I'll treat you to food two days from now. Pretend you're blind and use your senses. I'll give you hints."

"Roger."

"Ready?"

"Affirmative."

"Begin."

I took a step forward.

"Oh, I forgot. You can't walk. You can only pivot."

"Nyeeh, fine," I sighed.

I listened hard, sensing, feeling (a bit stupid). I felt Len somewhere nearby. Maybe he's the target. I heard rustles, foot steps, and breathing.

"Hey, Len-kun?"

"Yeah?" he answered.

"Can I use my Sharingan?"

"That's considered cheating."

"Oh..okay."

I continued to listen. Asking Len that question was an advantage. Heh heh....if he is the target. When i was sure where he was, I threw the blade. I lifted my blindfold. "Did I hit?"

"Er..."

The kunai was in the tree, pinning sone of Len's shirt along with it. Len pulled it out and inspected his sleeve. "Ah well. You did good."

"Oh my...I'm sorry. I---I didn't mean to---."

"How'd you know I was the target?" He grinned." You're pretty good but I guess an academy student can even do it. Wanna try another."

"Did I cut you?' I asked worriedly, running towards him and talking his arm.

"Don't worry. It's just a scratch," he assured, smiling softly at me.

"But you're bleeding. I'm so sorry, Len-kun. Just let me heal it a little."

The healing technique that I do is different from every ninja. Because it was invented by Shizuka, the lady that took me in and took care of me. I can't heal as well as Yumi. Maybe I should see her this summer.
I put my hand on Len's arm and yellow-greenish chakra formed around my hand. Len look at it alertingly.

"That's strange."

I smiled. "It's something I learned. It's okay."

He smiled back, his eyes twinkling. "Thanks."

Once I finished healing him, we got up and started something else. "You have to block my moves," Len explained simply.

"Blind-folded?" I asked.

"Yeah."

"I'm not sure," I whispered.

"C'mon, you'll need this for the Chunin Exams next month. I'll help you."

"You're right...."

I pulled the blind fold back over my eyes.

Meanwhile where Yumi is...

Yumi's POV

I took a strool throuh the forest, trying to sort all this Gaara crap stuff straight in my head.
So , 1) I suspected the sand was Gaara's. 2) The sand almost killed me. 3) I put the sand in the bucket. 4) I saw Gaara next to Lee's bed at the hospital...possibly trying to kill him. 5) He glared at me. 6) He acted like I didn't exist. 7) I tried to give him the sand. 8_ He tried to lie that it wasn't his. 9) I threw him the bucket of sand, convincing myself once more that it was his. 10) He took it and thanked me.
Ten stupid possible facts. Atleast he said thank you but it doesn't explain anything why he was in my room.
Are Gaara and I a possible couple? If so, then why the hell do we keep glaring at each other? That's not what people who like each other do. I like him a lot, but he doesn't act like he likes me.

On the other hand, Kimura and Len really connect. They act really calm and happy around each other like a couple or really close friends. If Gaara and I were like them...it'd make a difference.