[Tenchi Kyoko]

A Diamond In The Rough

Kyoko sat quietly on the medical bed as the med-nin scanned her arm. The girl doing her best to stifle her tears though from the occasional sniffle that slipped through it was clear she wasn't fooling anyone even less herself. Her ears bright red in embarrassment and cheeks nearly the same pink as her eyes in shame as she kept her gaze averted towards the ground. 

"How did you say this happened again?" The med-nin questioned as they checked to ensure that they'd properly relocated Kyoko's shoulder before moving on the splint the girl's wrist.

"Fell training." Kyoko mumbled unwilling to admit to the attack as the med-nin clicked their tongue and finished strapping her wrist into the flexible cast. 

"Well be that as it may you're still underage. Academy Students aren't adults in the eyes of the village the way genin are so I'm afraid we'll need to report this incident to your parents Miss Tenchi-san." The Medic explained. Their suspicions only further confirmed when the girl glanced up at them wide eyed and pale with panic. 

"Do you have too? It was just training." Kyoko questions her heart clenching in panic. The last thing she wanted to do was face her parents and explain that... explained she'd been bullied of all things. Her teeth worrying her lower lip as the Med-nin guided her off the bed and out into the front lobby.

"I'm afraid so Miss Tenchi. We've already had the front desk send for them. They should arrive to pick you up shortly. Now if you'll excuse me." The Medic explained before turning on his heel leaving Kyoko alone. The only sound the distant beeps and buzz of the hospital and the pouring rain just beyond the glass door.

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[Tenchi Kyoko]

A Diamond In The Rough

Her parents were coming. A phrase that usually meant comfort instead left Kyoko's heart leaping into her throat as she swallowed and adjusted her splint. The medics had healed it, but she was supposed not use it for a day or two. Something about not wanting to cause microtears or something or another? She can't really remember. Her surroundings seemed to bleed together the sound of the raise becoming static to her ears as her thoughts spiraled until...

The sudden CRASH of a bedpan as an Orderly fumbled with an over full medical cart sent Kyoko nearly leaping out of her skin as the academy students head whipped around to stare at the man. Her rose quartz colored eyes blinking once, twice, before she drew a shaky breath. She was a good kid. Usually she'd had dutifully waited for her parents, but despite these thoughts that didn't stop her from being spurred out the hospitals front doors and into the rain as if hell was on her heels. The urge to move. To run overpowering in the face of her shame. She didn't want her Mom and Dad to see her like this. She didn't want to see their disappointment. These thoughts driving her further out into the blinding rain as Kyoko ran with no real destination in mind.

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[Tenchi Kyoko]

A Diamond In The Rough

With the sun set the only illumination came from Amegakures street lamps and various windows. The light distorted into flashes of color like smears of paint as Kyoko ran and ran and ran. Until she gradually left the sights and sounds of the village behind her and all that lay beneath her feet was sand and mud. The waters of Amegakure's great lake lapping at her sandals as she doubled over panting, head swimming all the sensations welling up within her chest as she fought down the urge to dry heave. 

It was fine. Everything was fine. If she... maybe if she did better. Trained harder her parents wouldn't ask what happened. Maybe her story would be more believable she thought. Her mind whilring like the pools of Uzu as she shook her head and slapped her good hand lightly against her cheek to try to bring some sensation back to her face cold from the night chilled rain. 

Yes. She just needed to do better. Taking a slow breath Kyoko steeled her nerves and turned towards the outline of the beach where it stretched around Amegakure. Maybe if she could complete a circuit of the village Squeaker Sensei when they realized it had been her pushed down in the dirt... wouldn't be so disappointed in her. 

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[Tenchi Kyoko]

A Diamond In The Rough

Her run started off slow. One foot in front of the other. Not quite slow enough to be a walk, but not quite fast enough to be a jog. Each step slowly growing in determination and desperation as she picked up the pace. She was supposed to go slow and steady. That had been what Squeaker Sensei had suggested, but right now Kyoko with all her heart longed for speed. The feeling of the wind whipping through her damp hear, the sand giving way beneath her feet, and the rain pelting her skin cold and stinging filled some void that had grown like a chasm within her heart. It made everything feel real and the entire world for a moment feel right. In the distance a flash of lightning illuminated the beach. Casting the entire world in stark light and long intimidating shadows as Kyoko leapt over a piece of rotting driftwood. 

For a moment she ponder mid-air if this is what it felt like to fly. Until the light passed, the world swallowed by dim-light bled darkness once more and her feet hit the sand. Her calves burning with the strain, but Kyoko ignored the pain. Too hopped up on painkiller and adrenaline to care about her bodies warning signs as she pushed her limit. Strove to eat up the miles around the village with a desperate thirst like a man dying of thirst given his first taste of water.

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[Tenchi Kyoko]

A Diamond In The Rough

It wasn't till she was nearing the half-way point that Kyoko realized she may have been foolish to try to run this path at night no matter how 'safe' it was. As her sandal slipped on a bit of slick mud across one of the few smatterings of boardwalks that had been washed over by the rain. The Academy student coming down hard on her side as she tried to fall in such a way to protect her injured arm. The impact dropping her through the weakened wood and into the briny murky water below as Kyoko struggled to swim in the darkness. Wary of the pierce pylons covered in sharp clams and other shellfish that would cut her to ribbons if she tried to cling to them. leaving her no choice, but to paddle further out into the storm tossed waters in order to swim around and reach the beach.

The azurette struggling with her injured arm tucked to her front and only one good arm to use to stay aloft as she desperately kicked against the wind churned waves. Eventually managing to crawl her way up onto the bank soaked and muddy as she lay gasping for a moment on the shore. Fresh cuts and scrapes from the wood and those bits of shell she'd not been fortunate to avoid stinging where they crisscrossed her skin. As the girl tried to blink the water from her eyes.

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[Tenchi Kyoko]

A Diamond In The Rough

For a moment as Kyoko slowly stood her hands resting on her knees and breaths coming in sharp pants she considered giving up. Of just turning back and going home empty handed and calling half-way or almost done good enough. But she wouldn't best Sadako by being good enough. She wouldn't survive as a genin by being good enough. She needed to be great or... or she'd just be under someone else's boot again and if Kyoko had learned nothing from her encounter at the academy it was that she hated that feeling. That sense of helplessness.

Gritting her teeth Kyoko started upon again on her run. This time her steps a bit weaker, more stumbling, even if her heart and mind was sure. Her teeth chattering as the cold started to sink her to her bones where she had become drenched and with the air starting to cool. The sensation a deceptively welcome change to her feverish skin until Kyoko wasn't sure if she was hot or cold or what ever truly was the difference between them as she made her way towards the three fourths mark of the journey. Just a little farther she told herself. Just a little farther.

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[Tenchi Kyoko]

A Diamond In The Rough

The finish line crept up on Kyoko faster then she had expected as in her numbness and exhaustion she finally managed to accomplish what she had yet to succeed at with an active mind running alongside Squeaker-Sensei. A runners zen. As her breath evened with each exhale turning to mist in the now chilly evening air. Goosebumps danced over her skin and her legs screamed in pain, but all of these things were distant secondary sensations. Her only reality the steady thump of her blood through her veins and her heart beating in her ears as she sped up. The nearing finish line giving her a final burst of speed and adrenaline. A shock of pride and accomplishment flaring through her chest as she realized she was going to make it. She was going to complete a full circuit around Amegakure in decent time. The exact time she wasn't certain of, but it surely had to have been faster then her miserable beginnings alongside Squeaker Sensei. 

And though her vision began to blurr her gaze zeroed in on the sing post that marked the beginning of where she'd started. Her fast splitting into a tired half frozen grin as she nearly launched past the spot in her eagerness. At least until a hand struck out from the darkness grabbing her shoulder and spinning her around. The sudden movement jostling a cry of surprise and pain out of the girl.

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[Tenchi Kyoko]

A Diamond In The Rough

The academy student lashed out on instinct at the grab to her shoulder, but her limbs felt heavy and slow after so much running. Her legs and arms not responding the way she wanted to as she tried to stumble back. Only for a second hand to grasp her other shoulder steadying her and pulling forward as she stared up at the looming figure in the darkness before her. Her ears vaguely registering that the figure was saying something over the roaring in her ears as she blinked dumbly up at it. Only to find herself given a short shake. The sudden movement jolting her out of her daze.

"Kyoko! Kyoko can you hear me?" Her Father's familiar voice laden with concern filled her ears as the face in the darkness slowly took on a familiar cadence. As she found herself staring up at the short brown hair, and dark brown eyes behind black banded glasses of her Father.

"Daaad?" Kyoko slurred shaking her head as she tried to get her bearings only to feel her Father's palm press against her cheek a her usually stoic Dad swore under his breath.

"You're cold as ice! We've been looking for you everywhere Kyoko. Let's get you home." The jounin muttered hoisting Kyoko up into his arms as though she weighed nothing. The sudden loss of weight on her legs sending pain lancing up them as Kyoko began to feel the extent of her training efforts in full.

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[Tenchi Kyoko]

A Diamond In The Rough

The journey back towards the clan compound was mostly silent as tucked against the warmth of her Father's chest Kyoko began to realize how truly cold she was. Strange. She hadn't felt cold. Her mind drifting in and out until her Dad would jostly her to keep her awake and it took three tries before she realized her Father was asking her a question. "Kyoko-chan where have you been? Your Mother and I were told we needed to pick you up from the Hospital. We've been searching for you for hours." Her Father asks his voice low and full of concern, but soft and without judgement. The gentleness of it causing Kyoko to blink her eyes welling with tears and she fights back a sniffle.

"I lost a fight against a genin..." She admits quietly knowing she doesn't need to give her Dad the details. He no doubt read the medical report as she feels him stiffen somewhat. 

I... I thought if I trained harder. Did better. Then next time I wouldn't lose. I didn't mean to worry you and Mom. I'm sorry Dad. Are you... are you mad at me for losing?" Kyoko questions struggling and failing to quite keep the worried tremble from her voice.

"I'm not mad Little Gem. The fact you sought to train yourself further shows that you recognize this failing in yourself. If anything I'm proud of you. However the when and where of training is just as important." Her Father explained his voice gentle if rough with emotion Kyoko had never quite heard from him. Thankfully whatever it was didn't at least seem directed at her.

"Thus you're grounded to supervised training till you graduate from the academy and you'll be running errands for your Mother this weekend as apology." He states firmly voice unrelenting as Kyoko bows her head.

"Yes Dad." She mumbles as they step into the bright light of their front porch.

"And I expect you to pay whoever did this two you back with two-fold the pain." Saburo states firmly her Father offering her a little wink that meant this was one of their 'don't tell Mom' conversations. Yet the steel to her Father's eyes showed that he meant his words as Kyoko despite herself smiled.

"Yes Dad."

[FIN]

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