Chapter 9- We meet again

 I groggily sat up from a bed... Wait what am I doing in a bed?

I looked at myself to find my arms and legs covered in bandages.

"Huh?" I said confused. Then I looked at my clothes, noticing how dirty it was I decided to change. I found my bag beside me and took out clothes. 

I went downstairs tiredly after getting in my new outfit, a black crop shirt that left my stomach uncovered and some white shorts. It was pretty comfortable, but it left my scars visible.... Oh well. I had also put some fishnet gloves and of course my headband, however I was too lazy so I left my hair loose.

I arrived when Inari is telling Naruto how ‘he knows nothing’. However just as Naruto was about to snap I kind of beat him to it.

"Know nothing about suffering huh?" I asked as I laughed humorlessly. "Wow Inari, saying things like that, as if you knew us. That's not right. In my eyes you're one really lucky boy you know? You have a mother who loves you, a grandfather who loves you, a place to call home; you have everything I could ever wish for."

 Everyone was looking at me confused. Of course, they don't know.

 "You don't know what it is to really suffer. You didn't grow up with two parents, who not only hated you, but abused you. Every night, dreading the moment when one of them would enter your room. Always with something sharp, hurting you little by little, laughing while you cried. But they were family. You have to love your family right? Well no, in the end they weren't even my real family. They adopted me, for their own amusement to watch me suffer. They loved it, me begging for them not to hut me. Me begging them to stop. They felt powerful when they hurt me.”

I could feel my eyes full of tears, but I wouldn’t let them fall.

“I didn't have a home. I could never call that place home. You say we smile and have fun... would you rather us being mean or bitter? Isn't it better to smile?  Your father was a hero, even if you don't believe it. He was truly a hero. You know why? So yes, he died. So what? He still died protecting what he loved. You should be happy, or at least proud. At least you had a father who loved you.”

I took a painful breath, “I don’t even know my family,” I said. My voice broke, and I met Kakashi’s eye, the fist tear fell off my eye. “And I don’t think I ever will.”

Kakashi’s eye instantly saddened, and he turned away. He knew what I meant… That’s why I can’t accept to myself I am Akira.

“I'm not being a wimp about my life; don't get me wrong, I'm lucky. I have friends and people who are important to me now. I'm just saying you shouldn't be like that to Naruto. Naruto is a hero. Inari, I don't want you to think of this as if I was scolding you, because I'm not. Just next time, don't say something like that without knowing what the other person has been through." I finished taking a deep breath. After calming myself down, I dried my cheeks.

Everyone stared at me in shock. Kakashi just looked at a loss of words. Sakura was silently crying, Sasuke just glared at the table, and Naruto had his eyes wide and mouth hanging open. Tazuna was looking at me with a hurt expression just like Tsunami.   Inari was the one who looked the worse though, he was crying while staring at me in shock. I took a breath and sat down on the table.

"I-I didn't-" he said

"Inari, I told you not to worry. I now you didn't know, nobody did," I said as I smiled warmly.

"B-But y-you-" He started crying as he went to his room.

"Oh shit," I muttered standing up. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to upset him..."

"I-It's fine," Tsunami answered.

There was a very uncomfortable silence so I started to eat. Soon, they all followed. The tension left after a while and Tsunami started a small talk.

"Oi! Alison, what are you wearing?" Sakura asked noticing my outfit for the first time.

"I was a little lazy and my wounds hurt, so I decided on this for now... What is wrong with it?" I asked confused.

"N-no, nothing… It’s just a bit… Forget it,”  Sakura said a bit uncomfortable.

Huh? What does she mean...? I noticed Naruto and Sasuke turn to see what Sakura meant and they both blushed and looked away, while Kakashi laughed.

"Alison..." Sakura muttered seriously. "Those scars on your stomach...?"

"Oh, yeah," I said shrugging as I looked to them. "They didn't exactly go easy on me, huh?"

Now everyone was looking at them in shock.

"They’re not that bad..." I muttered a little uncomfortable for the sudden attention, covering my stomach with my arms as if hugging myself.

"Not that bad?" Kakashi said, and I could tell he was really angry. "Why didn’t you tell us of this?"

"Never came up." I stated as I looked away. "It’s not something you mention while meating someone, you know? What good would it make anyway? I don't care so you shouldn't either."

I heard Naruto saying he wanted more food.

"Just don't throw up this time." I said as I remembered how they had thrown up while I wasn’t here. Ew. That’s something I didn’t mind not being a part of.

"How do you know that?" Naruto asked blushing.

"Why don't people get it? I know everything." I said joking as I finished. "I'm sleepy... night!"

I went upstairs and changed to my pj's, went to bed and cried myself to sleep. They can’t know that I really care. They won't know how much it hurts. I have to be strong.

"Alison!" someone said shaking me.

"Go away!" I said as I pushed whoever was there until a heard a little 'plup' meaning whoever it was hit the wall.

"Ow! Alison! Wake up! Why did you have to push me!" the annoying pitchy voice said as I covered myself with the covers.

"Sakura, what's taking you so long?" someone asked from the doorway.

"She won't wake up! She pushed me to the wall!" 

I heard a deep sigh as he someone got near. I’m sure it’s a him, but I’m too tired to think of just exactly who it is.

"Alison." he said as he moved me.

"Go away!" I said once again as I tried to push him, however he stopped my arms and didn't let me move them. Damn strong people.

"Wake up." he said as he chuckled at my weak attempts.

I then raised my legs and tried to push him away with them, but I kind of over did it, and since he still held on to my arms we both fell. I kind of ell on top of him, and since I didn't really want to wake up I just stayed there.

"Mm... you're comfy..." I muttered half-asleep, cuddling into whoever he was.

"ALISON! Get off Sasuke-kun!" the annoying voice yelled, making me snap my eyes open.

"What is going on here-?" Kakashi said as he entered the room. He looked over at where I was and looked surprised. "Well, this was unexpected. Didn't know you were together..."

I slowly left Kakashi as my eyes went to whoever I was on top off and I looked in shock to a smirking Sasuke, who was still holding my wrists. I then noticed this might look weird... so I tried to stand up fast, which ended in me falling back down since Sasuke was still holding me.

"Let go!" I said as I took my hands away and stood up fast as I took steps back, ending up falling in the floor in my butt. I was blushing madly since I made myself look like an idiot. Sasuke will never let me forget this.

Sasuke's smirk grew as I blushed madly, while Kakashi looked amused and Sakura was about to explode.

"So... where's Naruto?" I asked in a little voice. I didn’t meet anyone’s eyes.

"He's sleeping; he'll have a free day," Kakashi said.

So... This means today we'll fight Zabuza.

"Nice outfit," Sasuke said smirking. I looked down to find me wearing some pajamas of white bunnies with a tank-top that said 'I'm a cuddly bunny!'.

"Shut up!" I yelled as I blushed more and I pushed them out of the room to get changed.

"Stupid Sasuke..." I muttered as I changed into the same outfit as yesterday since the wounds still hurt. I walked outside and followed everyone to the bridge.

"So," Sasuke said as he walked beside me. "I'm comfy huh?"

"What?" I asked as I glared.

"You said I was comfy after you threw yourself at me... You're good hiding it, but you're just like the fan-girls aren't you?"

"WHAT! No I'm not! And I didn't throw myself at you you lying brat!" I yelled as I blushed some more.

He laughed a little making me look at him surprised.

"I know," He said after a while. ”I like it, that you're not like them. It's comforting to know not all girls are wako."

"Was that a compliment?" I asked raising an eyebrow as I smirked

"Don't let it get to your head," He said smirking.

I sighted. Why is he being nice? He's making everything more difficult...

"I won't." I said as I smiled.

"It feels weird..." He muttered.

"What does?" I asked confused.

"Having a friend... Who is a girl... and is surprisingly not annoying." He said with a confused expression. "Well... not as annoying as the others."

"Hey!"I said as I playfully smacked his arm. Huh, who knew he could actually be fun?

I saw Sakura giving me a death glare so I took one step away from Sasuke.

"What are you doing?" Sasuke asked raising an eyebrow.

"I don't want to be murdered by Sakura... She can scare even me when it comes to you..." I said quietly

We got to the bridge and I instantly took a fighting position. Sasuke was about to ask why when he noticed too, there were all the workers in the floor.

We got in a circle as Kakashi ordered, and we waited. Soon, we were surrounded by Zabuza’s clones. Zabuza mocked Sasuke for shaking as soon as he saw him, and I could feel Haku’s stare on me through that mask.

"I'm trembling... with excitement." Sasuke said as he smirked.

"Cocky." I muttered in a singsong voice as he smirked at me and then attacked all the Zabuzas and they turned to water. "Show off."

"Hm... we could destroy my water clones, he's getting better," Zabuza said as he and Haku came a bit closer."Looks like you got a worthy opponent doesn't it Haku?"

"So it seems." Haku agreed.

"Hello there!" I shouted as I smiled at Haku and Zabuza.

"So you got to them after all, huh? Remember the deal," Zabuza said as I face-palmed.

"Really? Again! They don't need to know about the deal! They'll worry!" I said as I scolded Zabuza.

"What did you tell them, that you escaped? As if," Zabuza said laughing.

"Hey! I almost escaped; I was just a little confused since he decided to make me unconscious and all weird..." I said as I pouted.

"What deal?" Kakashi asked as he glared at me. He can already tell it’s trouble… whoops.

"Heh," I said as I scratched the back of my head. "I might have made a deal for him to let me go... You see, if we lose this fight, I'll have to be with Zabuza now... You know like work for him, without any type of resistance."

"Why would you do that deal?" Kakashi asked as he glared at me. He’s actually worried about me.

"Because we won't lose. Believe it!" I said smiling softly, trying to lighten the mood with Naruto’s famous phrase.

"Not you too..." Sakura muttered.

"Don't worry Kakashi, maybe I'll die if we lose!" I said happily as everyone sweat-dropped.

"That's no better, baka," Sasuke stated.

"Anyway," I said annoyed, glaring at Sasuke. "Let's stop talking, on with the fight already!"

As soon as I said it Haku started to turn in fast circles and went straight at Sasuke.

"Sakura, cover Tazuna and stay close to me. Let Sasuke handle this. Alison, step back and I won't let him come to you," Kakashi ordered.

"Yeah sure," I said as I rolled my eyes. "Because that plan worked last time. That's no fun Kakashi! I want to fight too!" I shouted as Kakashi stepped in front of me.

"Not this time," He muttered.

I watched in annoyance as others fought, but Kakashi didn't move. Sasuke kicked Haku away as Zabuza stared shocked.

"You made a mistake calling these ninja brats. Sasuke's the best young fighter of the hidden mist village. Sakura is our sharpest mind. Alison is... quite unpredictable... and last but not least our number one hyperactive knuckle head ninja, Naruto."

"Seriously! Unpredictable? May that be because I never get to fight!? It's not fair Kakashi, I'm not some weak princess, I'm a ninja and you know it! I aced the test of the bells for a reason!" I shouted angry.

"See here Akira, I would've let you fight," Zabuza said as he smirked.

"Alison," Kakashi said surprised since I growled a little. 

"I told you," I said as I glared at Zabuza. "I'm not Princess Akira!"

With that I couldn't take it, I jumped over Kakashi and ran towards Zabuza, who seemed surprised.

I got out my kunai and started fighting, using the same maneuver I once used with Kakashi, appearing and disappearing continuously. Zabuza could of course easily keep up. I need to stp acting on rage instinct… think!

"Hm... you're strong for a little princess..." He said smirking. That made it. I snapped.

I growled very low as I stopped, and Zabuza stopped to watch me curious. I felt my teeth growing, and my eyes felt different. Kakashi and Zabuza watched in shock as I dropped to the floor in an impossible position for a human, and claws made their way to my hands.

"Don't call me a little princess!" I yelled as I jumped at Zabuza, with no kunai in hand, just the new claws that were pretty long. We fought for a while until I got distracted by Haku doing the ice mirrors and I felt myself go back to normal. "Shit!" I said as Zabuza took the opportunity to try and decapitate me.

Kakashi ran at the mirrors, but was stopped by Zabuza, who stood in front of him. My opportunity, I started to retread to get to Sasuke when-

"Alison, where are you going?" Sakura asked, making me turn to her with the coldest glare ever as Kakashi sweat-dropped.

"And she is the smartest?" I asked outraged.

Zabuza caught me before I went to kill Sakura and grabbed me, placing his gigantic sword against my neck.

"New outfit huh?" Zabuza asked lowly, so Kakashi couldn't hear as he watched in horror.

"Yeah... it was less troublesome since I'm wounded..." I muttered.

"Suits you... but I liked the other one better, this makes you look scary... it kind of distracted Haku you know?"

I blushed as he laughed a little; Kakashi took that as a menace or something because he glared.

"I really don't want to hurt her," Zabuza said now loudly. "But I will have to if you move."

"Kakashi-sensei," I muttered as he looked at me. "If I get out of this, remind me to kill Sakura."

Sakura then tried being useful for once and the kunai was caught by Haku,

"Haku, you could've let it at least touch the mirror, it's not as it it would’ve broken... It's her fist time being useful you know?" I said a little ashamed of Sakura's lame attempt..

Zabuza laughed quietly at my comment while Sakura glared at me.

"Don't you glare at me pinkette! I'm in this thanks to you!" I shouted as she looked guiltily away.

Naruto arrived then, making a scene like always.

I sighted as I looked down.

"Can we sit down?" I asked tired of being held up like this.

"No," Zabuza said as he sighted.

"Why can’t we sit down?" I whined.

"Why are you so annoying?" he said as he smirked.

"I'm so not-" I started, however Zabuza was paying attention at Naruto, and Naruto became annoying so Zabuza threw shirukken at him, and Haku stopped thm.

"Zabuza, let me fight him," Haku said.

Kakshi was thinking again of interfering but Zabuza stopped him by saying "I still have the girl you know."

He made sure to make a point of it as he pressed the blade a little harder, but still not cutting.

Kakshi stopped instantly glaring at the floor.

"What are you doing Kakashi-sensei! Jus-" I stated but Zabuza punched me in the stomach and I couldn't continue.

"Alison! Don't do anything!" Kakashi scolded worried.

I grunted as I glared at Zabuza. I then started to hum a song, until of course I heard Sasuke and Naruto scream. Then Haku said his super speech and Zabuza tensed as he listened. I sighted, poor Zabuza and Haku...

"Naruto, Sasuke, take this guy down! You can do it!" Sakura yelled.

"Don't Sakura, even if they found their way out of the mirror jutsu they'll still couldn't defeat this ninja."

"Shut uo Kakashi!" I shouted. "They will defeat him! Have some faith!"

"That's not how I meant it, th-"

"I know how you meant it," I said sadly. "They'll still win. You’ll see.”

Zabuza laughed as I glared.

"Then sensei... how are they going to do this?"

"I could take a brake and save them... but he'll kill Alison and-" Kakashi said.

"THEN GO!" I yelled, "Go save them Kakashi! Team has to make a difficult decision, well I'm making it. Go, I don't care! Just... just save them!" I guess being in this position made me loose it since I knew we'd win anyway, but maybe it would change things... Maybe Haku won't die... I don't know.

"No," Kakashi said, "I'll use the Sharingan."

"Ha, you're no fun Kakashi... Using the same old trick..."  Zabuza said.

Suddenly he threw me away as he ran to Kakashi. I landed anything but softly, and since I tried to make it better with my hands, I broke one.

"Shit!" I hissed in pain as I felt the hand.

"Alison-"

"Stay there Sakura! Guard Tazuna!" I yelled.

I took some bandages and wrapped them around my hand.

"That'll have to do for now." I muttered as I tried not to shout from pain. I then used the bandages to pick my hair in a high ponytail, and decided I had to help Sasuke and Naruto.

Just as something finally occurred to me the mist became thick. Oh great! I looked to the mirrors that I could barely see and started my plan.

 I have to make myself grow those claws again. I concentrated, and soon I felt my eyes different, and I could see past the mist, I could see everything perfectly. I concentrated harder and soon I felt my body shake. I felt the claws come out, and the teeth grow into lethal fangs, but it didn't stop there, my body continued to tremble. Soon a sudden thought came into my mind... wouldn’t it be cool if I was like the werewolves in twilight? Just then my body changed, growing bigger and fur was now covering me. 

I couldn't help it, I growled loudly. I saw as Kakashi and Sakura froze in terror. I then ran at the mirrors and scratched each of them. They all shattered to pieces as soon as my claws touched them. I saw Haku get out before I crushed the last one. 

Then I heard Sakura's high-pitched scream.