The broken boy

[Sabaku]

Kouji's head spun.

Where...?

The fight. It flashed through his mind in an instant, Shirio's brutal strikes, the great dog bearing down on him, one huge paw swiping to pin him in place, and--

And what?

He tried to push himself up, but it sent everything reeling dangerously. His hand grasped for something, anything to steady himself, and found the sheet beneath him, crumpling it beneath his fingers, tightening until he could feel the bite of his nails in his palm through the fabric. The dizziness became nausea, and he sank back down, his head pounding, resonating with a sharp pain from somewhere behind his eyes. For several minutes it was all he could do to focus on his breathing, slow, steady, drawing it in and letting it out until the sensation passed and the world gradually righted itself again.

The pain remained. He pushed his fingertips into the bridge of his nose, trying to push it away as he opened his eyes...to darkness.

Kouji blinked slowly, rubbing at his eyes to no effect. There were voices, though, distant, in rooms beyond his own and the hallways outside, and...a light breeze stirred the sheet over him from somewhere at his right, tossing his hair around his face, carrying with it the sounds of voices. An open window? So why...?

“Hyuuga-kun?”

He jumped. The voice was close, a woman's voice, one he didn't know. No. He wanted to scream at her, shove her away, no, there was no time for her interruptions, something was wrong, couldn't she see that!? But his breath caught in his throat, and his heart hammered in his chest, he could feel it shuddering through his entire body.

“Calm down. It's okay. Let me look at you. How are you feeling?”

“Get away!” He ripped his arm away from her hand, drawing his legs up close, pulling himself backward until he hit the wall. It couldn't be this dark in here. The voices outside the window belonged to children, laughing and shouting in the distance; and warmth spilled in from the window, warmth where his hand lay next to his leg, warmth of sunlight. He pulled it from the spot, wrapping it around his legs. Sunlight. No, no, this was wrong. His hand went to his eyes again, searching for something obscuring his view, anything, but his fingers only met his skin, brushing the bare eyelids.

“Hyuuga-kun!” Her voice was stern this time, and she caught his hand in hers, pulling it away. “Hold still.”

“Leave me alone!” She tightened her grip against his attempt to pull away, but it only made him fight harder. His wrist stung, raked by her nails, when it finally slipped out of her grasp, but he didn't care. Just get away from me, he screamed it in his mind, drawing both legs up in front of his chest, wrapping his arms around them.

The medic didn't try again, though he could hear here there, still in the room. What she was doing, Kouji couldn't guess at, but he didn't care – let her do what she wanted, let her think what she wanted, so long as she didn't touch him. What the hell was going on...? He squeezed his eyes shut, dropping his forehead to his knees. Calm down, he told himself silently. Calm down and you'll figure this out. It became a mantra, repeated over and over, over and over, endlessly until it seemed his breathing finally steadied again, and his heart no longer jumped into his throat.

The medic was gone by then. He heard her retreating footsteps from somewhere outside, leaving him blessedly alone again. How had he gotten here...? He shoved his fingers through his hair, tracing back the memories, step by step. Flash of white fur, shock of remembered pain in his leg, blur of faces in the stands as the stadium lurched, and then...

And then what?

Nothing. He wanted to scream. Nothing! A gaping blank emptiness where he should have found answers. His throat constricted, but he swallowed the sound before it could come out, his nails digging into his knees. No, it didn't matter, no, time to remember later. One thing at a time. For now...

He lifted his head slowly, letting out a long exhale. Calm down, and you'll figure this out. The back of his head bumped the wall, and let go of his knee with one hand, lifting it slowly in front of his face, picturing how it would look in his mind, then tentatively, carefully, let his eyelids slide open again.

He couldn't see it.

Why!? The Inuzuka boy had never gone for his eyes, he was certain of that much. The fight burned in his mind, again and again, and he retraced it step for step. The blow to the boy's wrist, the dog's huge claws raking into his own leg, smell of blood and earth and sweat, tracing their every move with his byakugan--

Byakugan! Kouji's heart hammered in his chest. Byakugan. There, that was the answer, he should have known! He shifted slightly, relaxing his tense muscles, focusing inward on the steady flow of his own chakra, channeling it into his eyes, as he'd done a hundred times before, a thousand...

He would have screamed this time, but the pain stole his voice, throwing him onto his back as his hands flew to his eyes. For one brief moment he thought he would lose consciousness again, but he was given no such mercy; his body writhed, twisting onto his stomach and curling forward as he buried his face into the pillow, his legs kicking beneath him. He couldn't breathe, couldn't think, his body pulling itself into a tight ball.

Why? It was the only thing he could think as his body shuddered with agony, his palms wet, though with tears or blood he couldn't say. Why, when he'd done the same thing more times than he could count!? He was Hyuuga, wasn't he!? The same damnable blood that condemned him at every turn couldn't even give him this much now?

When the pain finally began to ebb, what seemed an eternity later, he turned slowly onto his back, not daring to open his eyes again just yet. His hands slid to his sides, wiping away the wetness on his face, and he lay there, motionless, beyond fighting, dizzied by agony.

He didn't try to move again. The needle-sharp pain still pulsed with every breath he took, though it was nothing to when it had started. He would have cried, some detached part of him realized, if he wasn't quite so weary, if he wasn't quite so certain that the movement would make him sick, and he wasn't sure why he hated himself more:

Because he would, or because he couldn't.

[Toboe]

“Inuzuka Shirio. For successfully completing both stages of the Chuunin exam within the given parameters, you are hereby promoted to the rank of Chuunin, and with it inherit all its responsibilities from this day on.”

Shirio stood there in the Hokage's office, her words seemed distant, as if they were coming from some far off land. His mind wandered between the match and Kouji, who was now incapacitated in the hospital.

“Shirio?”

Just what had happened?

“Shirio???”

Why were his eyes bloody? Why did he pass out? Neither himself or Shiromaru had gone for Kouji's eyes! Why? Just why? It wasn't really a fair win...

“Shirio!?”

The Chunnin snapped to, giving his head a small shake as his eyes fixed upon Tsunade. “Yes, Hokage-sama?”

“Shirio, if I'm not mistaken, you don't seem very happy with the outcome of your match.” She leaned back against the rear of her chair, crossing her arms. “The circumstances behind Hyuuga Kouji's loss of consciousness are still unknown, however, what is know is that you were not responsible for it.”

Shirio shifted his weight from one foot to the other, obviously not eased by her words. “It isn't that I blame myself, Hokage-sama.”

Tsunade quirked an eyebrow, leaning forward by putting an elbow on one knee. “Oh? So what is it?”

“The victory wasn't really a fair one. I mean, we didn't get to see who really was the better shinobi. Me, or Kouji-kun.”

The Hokage stood from her chair, looking away from Shirio as she stepped towards the large windows that overlooked Konoha. “When you're faced with a life or death situation, what matters at the end is if you're the last man standing. Kouji lost, he fell, you did not. You fought just as hard as he did to win. You didn't may not have landed the finishing blow, but that doesn't make your accomplishment mean any less.”

“Will he be okay?” Shirio just didn't feel like he had accomplished anything, but so far everyone has been telling him the same thing, so just maybe he was overreacting, but that didn't change the fact that Kouji was in the hospital, his condition unknown.

Tsunade turned her head so she could look towards her, giving him a considering look. “He's alive, if that is what you're asking. Why don't you go check on him, it'll give you time to think things over. Report back here tomorrow for your first assignment. Dismissed!”

Shirio nodded and gave the Hokage a bow. “Yes, Hokage-sama.”



Outside the hospital, in the shade of a large oak tree, Shirio sat there with his back against the bark, chewing on a long piece of blade grass. It had only be a few days since the Chuunin exams and Kouji still hadn't awakened since he passed out during their fight. The doctors still hadn't a clue what exactly happened. All they said they could do was wait it out, and while patience was not one of Shirio's strong points, what else be done?

“Oi, Shirio.”

Shirio was startled out of his thoughts. He looked off to the side, spotting Shiromaru coming up beside, dropping a scroll at his side.

“Eh? What's this?”

“It's from the Hokage. She had it sent over after you left her office earlier, so now it's official, you're a chuunin!” The large canine happily barked two or three times in celebration, stopping once he noticed that Shirio wasn't sharing in his enthusiasm. “What's wrong? Isn't this what you wanted?”

“Yeah, it is...” Shirio said quietly as he picked up the rolled up parchment, opening it to glance it over. “... but I dunno. Kouji just... dropped. I don't feel like I really won the match.” He rolled it back up, tossing it back to the ninken. “I'll take a better look at it later.” He stood from his spot, throwing his arms up into the air to loudly stretch.

Shiromaru sighed lightly, he too standing. “Shirio, there is more to a match than the victory itself. You trained and worked hard to make it to the tournament. You fought well, you earned that title. Whatever happened to Kouji wasn't your fault, so stop beating yourself up over it.” He trotted over to the newly appointed chuunin and gave him a big lick up the side of the face. “If it means anything, I know your brother would be proud of you.”

Shirio couldn't help but smile a little at hearing that. Only rarely did Shiromaru speak of his brother, and even more rare yet was it in praise of Shirio. “Thanks, Shiromaru.” He went over to give the ninken a one armed hug before the dog picked up the scroll and the two parted ways.

It was a weird feeling. Being promoted to Chuunin before he was fourteen was a goal he had set for himself when he graduated from the academy, so now that he had attained that, he he realized that next was Jounin. THAT however was far off in the future, he had no doubt about that.

He rubbed at his wrist. It was red and swollen. The iryou-nin had done their best to heal the injury, but Kouji had snapped it midway through their fight. Shirio couldn't stop to assess the wound, but instead kept on fighting. The iryou made sure to scold him for being so 'careless'. As if he really could've taken the time to take care of it. He almost wanted to laugh at them.

Looking around at his surroundings, Shirio was able to take in the weather for the first time since he woke up. It was a beautiful sunny day without a cloud in sight, though he had to admit a bit chilly for the time of year, however noting hat the chill could've come from the shade he was under.

Blood...

He just remembered that he DID see something strange. Blood, Kouji's eyes were bleeding after he fell. Did that have something to do with it? But what could cause THAT?! Shirio had no clue, he knew that it wasn't from any skill he or Shiromaru had used. He looked back towards the hospital. He was going to go back home, try to come back the following day to check again on his teammate, but going in one more time wouldn't hurt. Who knows, maybe Kouji was awake and in a good enough mood to yell at him for winning the match. Shirio expected a number of excuses, none of which would've been Kouji's fault. He couldn't help but roll his eyes at the thought.

“Ah, Shirio-kun!” A familiar sight approached him, appearing much more worn than just a few hours ago. “You're back to check on Kouji-kun, yes?”

Shirio gave a nod, his eyes fixed on a dumpling vendor off to the side of the lobby. “Yes' ma'am. I was here earlier...”

“Yes, I remember you. Congratulations on your exam!”

“Ahaha....” Shirio rubbed at the side of his neck, feeling a little embarrassed from the attention. “... So, how is Kouji?”

“Well....” She frowned slightly. “He's awake, but not in a very good mood...”

“Oh, so he's alright...?”

The nurse gave Shirio a short lived confused quirk of the eye, but continued. “No, not at all. He's blind, Shirio-kun. He has no vision.”

Shirio's eyes widened. “W-what?! Blind?! How!?!”

“All we've been able to find from our... brief... examinations is that the flow of chakra increased exponentially. Basically like burning out a light bulb from giving it too much electricity.” She let out a sigh. “But that is all we know. It's very unusual, Hyuuga are adept at controlling their chakra flow. I find it unlikely that Kouji-kun made a mistake, but without him willing to let anyone get close enough for a better examination, all we can do is guess. With all that said, there isn't too much more we can do for him. His vision may come back, but it may not, we can't do anything about it.”

“But there must be something! I mean, you guys healed my broken wrist!” Shirio held up his swollen wrist for emphasis.

“Mending a bone is different, very different. The eyes are much more delicate. Between the nerves, blood vessels and chakra pathways, there is no room for error. We could even make it worse! So the best course of action is observation. Kouji-kun needs to return home for some rest and check in at the end of every week so we can look for any progress. “

Shirio slowly nodded. He hated what he heard, but it turned out to not be his fault after all, so there wasn't anything he could do, not even apologize. “I'm going to go see him now, thanks.”

The nurse gave him a curt nod and went back to her duties, almost feeling bad for what was in store for him.

Shirio went up the three flights of stairs that lead up to the hall where Kouji's room was located. Room ten-nineteen. He peeked in. It was a single bed room with a great view... though he made sure not to mention that right now. On the bed laid Kouji, looking tired and worn. It felt dangerous to be there, to enter the room and close the door, shutting himself in with the teammate who'd probably rather see him dead over anything else. “K-Kouji-kun...” His voice was quiet, almost too quiet, but he knew Kouji could hear him. “I came to see how you're doing. The nurse just told me that you should be ready to go home today, so.. that's good, right?”

He wanted to kick himself, of course it wasn't. That isn't what Kouji would want to hear! He then wondered if Kouji even knew everything that the nurse told him downstairs in the lobby. Should he say something? “What have they told you about your eyes?” The question felt like he just picked up a time bomb with a very short fuse.

[Sabaku]

How long he lay flat on his back, motionless, with his eyes closed and his arms limp at his sides, Kouji couldn't say. He didn't much care. Better not to think, to let his uncertainties drain away where he didn't have to hold onto them. Better yet to sleep, though it wouldn't come; he'd slept too much already, that much he gathered from the hushed talk beyond his door, iryou-nin conversing among each other where they thought he couldn't hear.

Were they stupid? He couldn't see; what was there to do but listen?

But he wouldn't think of that. If he did, his chest would clench and the sick cold feeling would return to the pit of his stomach, spreading to tense every muscle in his body, and the pain would flare up again, as if in reprimand to his desperate attempt to bring sight back to his eyes. No. It wasn't worth that.

He clenched his fists at his sides until they hurt, turning his thoughts away from there. It had happened too many times already.

Time passed in the changing of the voices outside, the tap of footsteps beyond the door, the slow measured rise and fall of his own breathing. Minutes or hours; what did it matter to him? Nothing changed, not really, and he let himself drift away from it, back to the memories of the exam, then on to earlier times, from whence answers wouldn't come, but when they didn't yet matter.

The click of the door was loud, abrupt, immediate, jarring him back to the present. He didn't move. Perhaps if he gave them nothing, the iryou-nin would move on without pressing him with their questions; or perhaps this time they'd have something useful to say, some way to fix this.

But the voice didn't belong to an iryou-nin. Kouji tensed, flinching at the sound. Inuzuka. What could he want? He'd won, wasn't that enough, now he had to come here to shove the victory he'd never earned in his face?

No...it was worse. Kouji turned over, away from him. Home. So they were done with him, then, and should he have expected any different? Now that he was awake, they owed him nothing, not even an explanation for--

His eyes. The question bit as surely as if he'd thrown a kunai. Kouji jolted upright, the tentative calm of a moment before melting in an instant to a scathing look flung at the empty air in front of him. “Who told you about that!?” He wasn't supposed to know! Of all people, of all people, why him!? “What are you doing here, anyway? Came to gloat because you won? I know you did. I wouldn't be here otherwise. Go find Ayana if you're after some praise, I'm sure she'll be as glad as you are to see me like this.”

[Toboe]

Shirio's raised an eyebrow for a brief second, almost surprised (but not) at Kouji's reaction to his presence. He exhailed lightly, crossing his arms and leaning his back against a storage cabinet, crossing one foot over the other as he looked across the room towards his teammate. He was so cold and quick to judge, assuming the worst out of others with no reason or merit. It bewildered Shirio.

“Gloat? No, I'm not here to do that. I was truthful with what I said, I came to check on you. Far be it from me to neglect my teammates, even ones such as yourself..” He gave a bird perched out the window a sidelong glance. “.... but you sure do know how to make someone second guess their decisions.”

His eyes went back to Kouji. “But the nurse told me, if you must know. They're not sure what happened, only that from their examination that you managed overload your chakra pathways leading up to your eyes. She put it akin to burning out a light-bulb from too much power.” He let his head rest back against the cabinet door, looking up towards the ceiling. “They want to do something, but it is too dangerous to even make an attempt. In the end, the may just make things worse.”

Shirio let out a quiet sigh. He knew how much Kouji hated him, how much he despised his presence, but nevertheless, he couldn't help but feel bad for him. He'd never wish for anyone to go blind, and while he appeared to be strong, Shirio had no doubt that deep down, Kouji was scared. Anyone would be.

“And you're wrong. I'm not glad to see you like this. It upsets me, you're my teammate. Yeah, we don't get along, but that doesn't mean I hate you, or like to see you hurt... but I guess really that doesn't mean anything to you, does it? You hate me, and you always will...” He sighed, running his fingers through his hair. “Regardless, we have to get you through this. Your eyes may go back to normal, but that's all it is, a chance. As our team-leader, it's my duty to help you adjust. Once you're ready, I'll take you home, and... from there I guess help you with everything else until you can get adjusted to doing things on your own.”

[Sabaku]

Overloaded his eyes...? No, that didn't make any sense. Kouji had used Byakugan more times than he could count, in practice or in training, he knew what it took too well to push for more. He put a hand over his eyes, though it didn't so much as change the quality of the darkness. They were wrong, they had to be. And why would they tell the Inuzuka boy, but not him!? It was his eyes, his sight, his life! He gripped the sheet, too tightly, twisting his body to the side as he flung it off. The sudden rush of cool air from the window was a shock against his body, but he ignored it as he swung his legs over the edge of the bed, his toes just meeting the cold wooden floor. He pressed his feet down flat. It was a good sensation, good to feel something after being confined to the bed that had been the whole of his world for too long, without his eyes to expand beyond it.

"Second guess all you want. I didn't ask you to come here." Kouji pushed his palms into the bed on either side of his body, slowly, carefully pushing himself to his feet. It was a strange feeling, disorienting, to stand with no reference for his surroundings; his heart was racing again, but he held himself steady. He took a deep breath and exhaled it, still gripping the bed with one hand, letting himself lean back against it. Inuzuka would not see him falter, not the tension that gripped him at the prospect of stumbling along blind, and not the helplessness of groping in the empty air to find his way. "I'll find my own way home. Don't you have somewhere else to be? A dog to watch? You've seen what you came to see, you can say that 'team leader' conscience is clear. Isn't that enough for you?" The title came out with a certain bitterness, almost mocking. Leader? Had he appointed himself? And why not, when he'd won the fight; wasn't he the only one who had come through the full length of the exams? No doubt he was pleased, with so much to hold over his teammates.

The door. Where was it? Inuzuka had moved to the right after he entered, Kouji could hear his movements even now, so the click of the door closing had been...there, not quite straight forward from where he stood. He pushed himself away from the bed, taking a slow step, more confident than he felt as he forced one foot in front of the other, ignoring the darkness, how it seemed it would suffocate him if he thought too much on it. Only a chance to get his sight back. That was the worst of all of it, the thought that this could last, but he pushed it from his mind, focusing on his steps. Now a little to the right, and then--

His leg hit something. What, he couldn't say, but his legs faltered under him and he hit the floor hard, something biting into his side on the way down. Kouji bit his lip hard to keep from crying out and tasted blood. A scream of frustration and anger welled up inside him, but he held it back, reaching out desperately for something, anything, only to find a chair and shove it away so hard it slammed into something. Why!? Why now, why in front of him? His hands worked quickly, pressing into the floor to push him back to his knees, searching the floor around him to try and get his bearings, and he could feel his eyes doing the same - moving, searching, shifting uselessly.

It made him sick, and he shut them tightly to stop it.

A table. He found the leg first and traced it to the wood top, gripping the edge, pulling himself to his feet. Had someone left the chair pulled out? One of the iryou-nin, when they'd come to check on him before he woke? What did it matter? Kouji felt his way around the table until he found the chair where it had hit and skidded back and grabbed it gratefully, quickly, dragging it back to himself to drop into the seat, leaning into the hard wood back as he wrapped his arms around himself.

"Get out of here, Inuzuka." His voice was quieter now, shaken, but he made it that much harder as he went on. "Go on! You've had your laugh, so get the hell out!"

[Toboe]

Shirio watched as Kouji struggled to move around, taking half a step to help him up, but stopped himself short. He knew exactly how his offer of help would've been received, and the last thing he wanted right then was to be hit in the face, so he just stood by and observed, remaining silent until Kouji finally managed to get himself up off the floor.

“Laugh?” Shirio looked around himself. “I don't hear anyone laughing, Kouji.” The tone of Kouji's voice was hard to ignore. “I don't know about you, but I don't find any of this funny.” His voice was sharp, upset that it'd just be assumed that he'd be amused by Kouji's blindness. “Only thing I feel right now is irritation, irritation that you'd be so damn stupid to think I came here to gloat, or to laugh, or anything but what I've said. I'd really like to know where you came up with this image of me, considering I've never have given reason. All I've ever done is try to get us to work as a team. That's IT. I was looking out for US. Never was I a condescending ass who spit in the face of my teammates.” He took a loud step towards Kouji, letting out an irritated sigh.

“As for my conscience, it's clear. I'm not here out of guilt. I chose to come. I'm your teammate, and teammates look out for each other, no matter how they're treated. You want to try to go out there on your own, be my guest, but with that attitude, who else will help you? Hmmm? Who'd help you when you stumble and fall? Who'd help you find your way home?”

He groaned, walking over to the window so he could get a breath of fresh air. Kouji always managed to piss him off. “Look, I need you on the team. I'm not going to let Sensei replace you. Despite everything, you're one of us, and to me, that means something. Yeah, you can't see, but so what? I know very few who are as stubborn as you, I think we can get you through this with some hard work.”

[Sabaku]

Kouji waited for the sound of retreating footsteps, the click of the door, perhaps some callous remark at his expense flung back as the Inuzuka boy left.

It didn't come.

He stayed. Kouji drew himself back into the chair, keeping himself turned firmly away from the boy. Why would he stay? Anyone else would've left long before, the way the nurse had, left him alone to think, to figure things out...but what was there to figure out, really? He was blind and useless, and couldn't so much as cross a room on his own. Inuzuka was right, he realized, feeling like a lump of ice had settled into his stomach. He was stumbling in the dark without anything left to guide him. How would he ever find his way home like this, when he didn't even know where home was?

His fingers dug into the fabric of his sleeves, and he forced his eyes shut, his body curling forward like a child's, like a leaf. No. Inuzuka wouldn't have that. He wouldn't see him cry.

"Get through this?"

The question came at length, soft, but still clearly audible in the empty air. It almost made Kouji want to laugh, almost, bitterly, coldly, but he didn't have it in him. A Hyuuga without his eyes - did he really not understand the implications of that? The thought would certainly be comical, if nothing else.

"I can't see. Don't you get that? I can't fight." He couldn't even walk, hadn't he seen that already? So easy for an Inuzuka to say, with their enhanced senses, and their ninken to make up for their own failings, but he had none of that. "How the hell am I supposed to get through this?" His voice trembled, but at least it didn't break. He leaned forward, bent almost double over the chair; his body was shaking, he realized dimly, but he gripped his arms that much more tightly, willing it to go away, willing the Inuzuka not to see. "HOW!?"

[Toboe]

“Well it isn't going to happen overnight, now is it!?” Shirio raised his voice slightly, his irritation starting to show. He had never seen Kouji so defeated. “It's going to take time, so calm down, give yourself the chance to collect your thoughts.” He looked back towards his teammate, frowning as he saw his body shake. There was no way he was going to be able to pull himself through all this one his own. Kouji was much more scared than he initially thought. The Inuzuka bit his lip, keeping some other choice words to himself as he walked back towards Kouji.

“But we'll worry about fighting later. First we're going to have to make it so you can function on your own. That will be the first step, then we'll go from there, okay?” He gently placed a hand between Kouji's shoulder blades. “Let me take you home, Kouji-kun. There isn't much point staying here for much longer.” Shirio moved away, going over to gather up the few things Kouji had in the room: weapons and gear he had left over from the exams, all put into a bag.

“You ready?” Shirio went over to him, his hand out, waiting to help Kouji up onto his feet so he can lead the way.

[Sabaku]

Kouji jumped at the hand on his back, but there was no hostility in the touch. Home...Home would be better than here, at least. Better than being surrounded by all these people who would talk, and question, and give him no answers. He straightened, slowly, feeling his back bump against the wood of the chair. Inuzuka had moved away; he could hear him walking around the room, pausing, things being picked up and moved from what must have been tables or counters. Simple things, but he found that when he tried to picture it in his mind, the image was hazy, indistinct. He let out a slow sigh, his eyes sliding open.

He nodded once, silently, as he heard Inuzuka's footsteps stop next to him.

One hand found the table again, holding its edge as the other searched the empty air, slowly, tentatively, until his fingers met the boy's arm. He closed his hand around it, pulling himself to his feet, shoving his hair back with his other hand as he felt it fall into his face.

They left in silence. What was there to say? The door opened, clicked shut again, and then they were in the hallway, surrounded by the noise and bustle of the hospital at midday. He could imagine the stares, though, iryou-nin turning to look at the blind boy and his escort, the looks they must have given him, this boy who came to them broken for reasons they couldn't find, who fought them when he woke, turning from their examinations and questions. Let them be blind, he thought bitterly, lowering his face. Let them see how it felt, and then judge as they would.

The stairs were the worst part. He nearly stumbled as he stepped off the top, jerking backward in a panic so that he almost fell to the floor above, despite Inuzuka's warning. The second time he took it more slowly, sliding one foot down until he found the step, following with the next, but his heart seemed to jump into his throat with every movement. Halfway down he found the railing with his free hand, and at least that made things feel a little more steady. The sheer emptiness that followed each step down was almost more than he could bear.

And then they were done, and warmth broke over him as they stepped outside into the sunlight. He could feel it on his skin, the coolness of the air as it lifted his hair around his face, the solidity of the earth beneath his feet. Noise surrounded them, outside, voices raised in conversation, shouts as men and women passed each other, food vendors calling to draw in customers. The smells made him realize just how hungry he was, spice, meat, sweetness, coming from every direction, but he put that aside, following along in mute compliance. Stopping would only draw more attention, more questions, and all he really wanted was the quiet confines of home.

"Shirio-kun!" The voice was a girl's, one he didn't know, and they stopped abruptly. In shade, Kouji guessed; it was cooler here, and he could hear the rustling of leaves above them. It made him want to climb into the branches, like he always had in the training grounds, far above the close press of people who kept bumping into him, but he couldn't think of that now. "Shiromaru's told everyone in the compound, congratulations on making chuunin!"

"Chuunin!?" Kouji withdrew his hand abruptly, turning toward where he knew the Inuzuka stood. There was bitterness there, bitterness and venom and somewhere beneath it hurt. Chuunin, while he remained genin? And for what, because of his eyes? But he'd fought just as hard! When Ayana had dropped so abruptly, he had cleared their way out, hadn't he? And in the match with Shirio, he had a chance at winning, despite the ninken, despite the blood and pain in his leg, the lingering wounds from the forest. "They promoted you!?"

[Toboe]

Shirio opened his mouth to reply to his fellow clan-mate, but his words sputtered as Kouji pulled himself away, suddenly lashing out at the sudden news of his promotion. The Inuzuka was caught off guard, he took a slow step back, an eyebrow cocking slightly. He had assumed that Kouji would've been told by now, they were teammates after all.

“Yeah, I was promoted.” He replied, his voice a little uneasy despite the matter-of-face tone. “But for reasons other than me winning the match.” He felt that it was necessary to add, not wanting Kouji to feel like the loss is what kept him from attaining the rank. “I tried to tell you, Kouji, I tried to tell you that team work was the only way you'd pass. There is a reason we're all divided into groups, a reason why the exams themselves are designed to require more than one person to make it to the end.”

He let out an irritated groan, roughly grabbing at his hair out of frustration. “Do you really think I've just been saying all this to be bossy? To make things hard on you?! NO! I've only been trying to look out for my team! That's it, Kouji!” He reached out and jabbed him in the center of the chest. “Even YOU. All you've done is give me shit, talking back and questioning everything, everything I say. I don't get you, I don't understand why you're this way. We're supposed to be allies, Kouji, not enemies.”

Shirio took in a deep breath, apologizing to his clan-mate before she left to go back to her business. “Kouji, I promise you, we'll get you through the next exam and get you your promotion, but you have to trust me. That's all I'm asking of you, to trust your teammate.”

[Sabaku]

The jab at his chest made Kouji stumble back a step. The spot stung; he put a hand to it, backing away, but stopped abruptly. Around them the sounds carried on, laughter and snatches of conversation, but standing without anything to anchor him, it felt distant, disjointed, all too clear suddenly that he had no idea what was around him, no way to guide himself. His hand went out to find something to steady himself, but the tree must have been too far, and when his searching fingers finally grasped something...

It was only Inuzuka. He almost ripped his hand away again, wanting to shove away from him, to turn and run, far away from him and the village and maybe even his own damnable useless eyes.

But he knew better than that. There was nowhere for him to go, and he wouldn't make it if he tried.

Bitter remarks swelled in his throat, twisted his face, died on his tongue. There won't be a next exam if I can't see. What good would it do?

"Not like I have a choice." He closed his hand around Inuzuka's arm, swallowing his anger and his pride. What was pride to the blind? "Just take me home."

It was a long, quiet walk. The tension lingered, Kouji could feel it as certainly as the wind on his face, but neither of them spoke of it. No doubt Inuzuka would be glad to get him home and be rid of him, and for his part, he welcomed the solitude and familiarity. Around them, the village quieted as they moved further from the center, voices in the streets traded for those behind walls, the quiet domestic sounds of the side streets that led toward the Hyuuga compound. Were they within sight of the walls yet, he wondered? Impossible to say. Distance had lost all meaning, like this, with nothing but the steady thudding of his own feet against the dry earth to measure it. For a moment he wondered if Inuzuka even knew where he was going, or if he led him somewhere else entirely, wandering along as blind as he was.

But soon enough he announced that they'd arrived, and Kouji set the doubts out of his mind. He could almost feel the walls bearing down on them, high, stern and cold as those who lived beyond, walls he'd always hated in their confining finality. There was a chill in that shadow; a small shiver coursed down his back, but beyond the courtyard opened into sunlight again, and it passed.

"To the left, all the way back. It's a small house near the wall. Set back from the others." Naturally. They couldn't have the half-blood tainting their precious Hyuuga space.

"So it's true." The voice came from somewhere to the right, cutting across the courtyard before they'd made it halfway, not raised, but making no effort to mask the words. Kouji felt himself tense, willing Inuzuka to keep walking, but the words went on regardless. "Uchiha blood's bad, I always told you."

There was a noise of general assent from the others, two or three, if he had to guess. He didn't turn to hear better, not wanting to give them the satisfaction of knowing he heard, not wanting to hear at all. "Something was always bound to go wrong."

"Look at him, following like a dog. I didn't think the Inuzuka used leashes."

Kouji felt his grip tighten.

[Toboe]

The silence made Shirio uneasy, but what was there to say? He had no doubt that Kouji would've preferred the silence anyway, so instead he tried his best to enjoy the fine weather. Konoha was well within it's fall season, but anyone would be hard pressed to tell, aside from the chill in the air. He let himself take in a deep breath of fresh air, closing his eyes for just a second before going around a corner that would've taken them on the last leg of their journey.

It wasn't often that Shirio found himself in this part of the village, his clan estate wasn't near the Hyuuga, nor did he have any friends from around there, but he knew the area well enough. The Hyuuga weren't that hard to find, just sniff out the stench of arrogance and look for any crushed souls. Shirio didn't care much for the clan. Sure, they had a few kind people among their ranks, but over all his experience with them had been far from ideal. With that thought he glanced over towards Kouji. He seemed proud, overly confident in his abilities, common among Hyuuga. He couldn't help but think how well his teammate must fit right in.

He led Kouji into the Hyuuga estate, listening to him as he gave direction. “Place is bigger than I imagined it'd be” Shirio said quietly to himself, glancing around. Never before had he entered another clan's estate. It felt strange. “Hey, listen Kouji, I am going to...” His voice trailed off as the sound of another made itself known.“Bad blood...?” He quirked an eyebrow, his face twisting with slight confusion as he kept walking, hoping they'd stop.... but they kept going. He could feel Kouji tense up, his grip on his arm almost painful. Was this normal? Did they often say things like this to him? Why Those questions were soon pushed out of Shirio's mind as he then came to a sudden stop at the mentioning of his clan, his irritation almost palpable.

“So this is how the “honorable” Hyuuga treat their own, huh?” Shirio turned to face them, putting Kouji behind him. “Nice to see for myself that the common word about your kin is true. Must make you feel pretty good, to pick on someone younger than yourself not only because they're different than you, but because he was injured. The only bad blood I see here is flowing in your veins.” He pointed towards the others, his tone sharp. “Maybe the Uchiha blood has done him well....” He casually shrugged. “...the Hyuuga stench isn't as unbearable when it's just him I have to smell.” Shirio spat at their feet before turning his back to them. “You called him a dog as if it was an insult, well--, at least a dog has respect, honor and the decency to look after their own.”

[Sabaku]

The retort was so sharp and sudden it took Kouji by surprise. He felt Inuzuka jerk forward as he shouted back, but didn't dare let go again, so they wouldn't see him struggling to find his grip again. For a moment he couldn't react, startled by the vehemence. This was Hyuuga territory, not Inuzuka; whatever they said, however they provoked him, fighting back would never accomplish anything, didn't he know that? They could remove him from the grounds as easily as breathing, and then what?

Kouji pulled back on his arm, harder than necessary, but the subtle warning wasn't necessary. He heard one of the Hyuuga make a noise of disgust. "They do stick together, even if one is feral and the other a cur. But the dog who's lost his use is best put down." The sound of shifting fabric followed, the heavy garments his clan - the thought brought bile into his throat - preferred, as the man turned. Their footsteps retreated slowly, one at first, the others following in turn.

The quiet meant they'd been left alone. Kouji kept his face downturned, his fingers locked in an iron grip. His face was flushed; he could feel the heat, though with rage or shame he couldn't say, and it didn't matter, really. Inuzuka didn't need to see it either way, and he silently hoped he wouldn't turn or see. "Go on, before they decide they want to kick you out."

It didn't take long to reach home, at least. The sounds here were familiar, the tree that grew next to his house rustling off to his right, the tap of one stray branch against the roof, the soft rush of a tiny stream in the distance, leading toward the main house. The door made little sound as it swung inward. Inside was cooler, and the smooth solid wood felt reassuring under his feet, somehow, after everything else had been so strange and foreign. They were standing in the kitchen, he knew, but beyond that...he took one step forward, another, but didn't dare risk moving further just yet. How far was the table? The doorway to the small living room, the one beyond that to his bedroom? He let out a soft sigh, tentatively feeling his way forward, searching with his hand until it met the edge of the table, letting the other slide from Inuzuka's arm to land at his side.

How could somewhere so familiar feel so foreign?

"Go on, then. I'm home. If you hate the Hyuuga so much, you can leave now. You won't have to see this place again."

[Toboe]

Shirio looked around the kitchen as they entered the house. It was quaint, but not bad. It was easy to see that Kouji kept his home neat and clean, not really all that surprising, Shirio had always felt that he'd be sort of a 'neat-freak.' The Inuzuka slipped off his sandals at the door, then let go of Kouji and watched as his friend tried to move across the kitchen. Even in his own home he was having trouble. Letting out a subtle sigh, he shook his head, leaning his back against the door.

“Leave? I can't leave.” He said, crossing his arms. “You can barely make it to the table, how the heck are you going to leave the kitchen, go into your bedroom. Have you even tried to cook or get dressed?”

Shirio walked over to Kouji, gently but firmly grabbing onto his arm. “Look, we both know you won't be able to do this on your own, at least not for awhile.” He looked out the window. Off in the distance he could see some Hyuuga training, half hoping to see one fall over. “Sooo... I guess we're stuck with each other.” He pulled out a chair behind Kouji so he could sit if he wanted. “Besides, if those bastards come over looking to start trouble, I want to be here to stop it.” The chuunin couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of punching one of the bullies right in the face.

“And... I don't HATE the Hyuuga, well, not all of them. I don't hate you. I just find you irritating and about as kind as an angry wasp, but you're my teammate, so I won't abandon you, even if you do fight me every step of the way.”

[Sabaku]

The questions were simple, but they bit deep. Anger flashed across Kouji's face, and he pulled his arm from Inuzuka's grasp with a sharp jerk. Was he really so helpless? The chair scraped behind him, he felt it brush his leg, but he remained standing. "I don't need your protection." How would that go over? He could imagine it, how the Hyuuga were already laughing over an Inuzuka coming to his defense; or perhaps they were complaining of the outrage of having him within their walls. Either way, the blame would fall squarely on his shoulders, for daring to live here, for daring to take assistance, for daring to be blind.

He hated them.

"This is my life. Don't you understand that? It doesn't have anything to do with you. I can get around here, if I have to." Easy to sound more confident than he felt. Even in such a familiar space, it felt like if he moved just a little too far he would fall, or hit something he couldn't see. "I'll...I'll figure something out." He bit back a sigh, pushing his hair back with one hand, his fingers lingering for a moment against his forehead. His headband was gone. How hadn't he noticed...? In everything else, it had been the furthest thing from his mind, but he could almost feel the branch tattoo there. No doubt Inuzuka had seen; half the village must have as they walked, but at least he wouldn't know what it meant...would he? Somehow the thought was too much. He was the last person who needed to know about it, to question or judge. An Inuzuka would never understand the Hyuuga. He would only make things worse.

"I know where things are. I can get by." Somehow...right? His own uncertainly only made it that much worse, frustration welling up until it was almost palpable, until it felt like he would burst. "I never asked for your help!"