Advocated Wars

Chapter Twenty

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There were more than enough things that I found inexplicably, annoyingly inexcusable. Surge’s behavior just so happened to be at the top of that list.

The boy rubbed at his eye, his knuckles still red and slightly bruised. Surge hadn’t of said anything on the matter, and instead, took to glaring between Souta and the boy who had been trying to pry him off the former—who, coincidentally enough, was the same man who had asked me to take care of Surge’s drunk ass over a month ago.

“Well,” I sighed. “What’s your excuse, this time?”

“I don’t have one,” he huffed, leaning back in his chair. Souta, I believe he called himself, lowered the icepack he had been nursing to his swollen eye. It had just begun to yellow around the edges, already a dark purple just under his eyelash line. Souta’s wrists, I noticed, also had bruising around him, almost as if a thin roped had been used to restrain him.

The strange, orange-haired boy rubbed at his bruising cheek, blushing a bit when he noticed me staring. “I’m fine,” he awkwardly laughed. “Surge didn’t mean too much harm by it, I’m sure.” I couldn’t help but to raise my eyebrow at him, leaning forward to rest my elbows on the table. Surge’s friend, a performer who traveled a lot, had invited us into his trailer to sort things out.

“No,” Surge shook his head. “I did.”

The boy shifted. “He was trying to—although, I don’t know why—save your sorry ass, Surge. I’d advise you to keep your mouth shut.”

Calix, who had been quiet through most of this, focusing more on comforting Mai than anything, tilted back a bit to rest a hand on my shoulder. “Surge, you have to have a reason. You don’t just attack people. And, to use your—”

“Calix,” I interrupted, noticing Surge’s eyes non-so-discreetly dart in his friend’s direction, who I believe, was referred to as Raven. It was his stage name, no doubt. But, I didn’t  really care enough to know his real name. “I think you should be attending to—Souta, was it? Surge really did a number on our friend, didn’t he?”

Souta waved his hand, pulling a tight smile. “I’m fine, really. This is nothing.”

“Really?” I smiled, tilting my head. “So, you’ve gone through worse, then?”

“I don’t make a very good civilian, do I?”

“Well, I wouldn’t say deception is really your forte.” Souta laughed, rubbing his hand over his face.

“Champion, huh? A fine Konoha Kunoichi, no doubt.”

I shrugged, leaning further into my hand. “Surge’s jutsu was a tricky one, wasn’t it?” I let my gaze drop to the Igarashi boy, his scowl directed at the floor. Raven, however, seemed interested, perching himself on the wall. He worse an amused smirk, his gaze not leaving the squirming boy. I continued, “He uses his chakra, you see. Not to amplify his strength or anything. And, depending on how strong he wants it, Surge will use one of two methods.”

“Champion, do we have to—”

“Shh,” Raven cut him off, making Surge’s blush grow brighter. “I’m interested in hearing this.”

I ignored them, keeping my eyes on Souta. “He could either use these sort of chakra strings to pin you down—which, by judging by your wrists, that’s exactly what he did. Which, you’re lucky, by the way. Because, if he’s upset enough—”

“Champion.” Surge groaned. “C’mon, I’ll tell you.”

“He’ll sort of…push his chakra through your bloodstream, and if the attack is potent enough, it’ll stop your heartbeat.”

Souta nervously licked his lips. “How long?”

“A good minute or so. It’ll feel like an IV—cold liquid dripping through your veins until it reaches your heart. And, then you’ll feel it hit your chest. It’ll feel like you’re drowning, but you can still breathe. And, it clenches you, and it’s pure agony. Then, you’re gone, and the last thing you’ve seen is a pale kid looming over you with a grim kind of smirk on his face as he’s stolen your life. Because, in return for the chakra he’s lost, he’ll take yours.”

“Champion,” Surge hissed. His fingernails were starting to dig into the arms of the chair.

“How do you know all of that?” Souta whispered, seemingly engrossed in Surge’s technique. Surge’s jutsu was a tricky thing, and as it required no hand seals, it was hard to actually justify it as a jutsu. It was scary, to say the least. But, like most things, it did have a weakness. And, similar to a genjutsu, all one would have to do to stop him was to disrupt the chakra flow—which, was actually simpler than one would think. And, if correctly done, could leave Surge extremely vulnerable.

“We’ve been teammates for awhile,” I shrugged. “However—”

“I was jealous!” Surge blurted, seeming to almost launch from his chair. Raven, you had sometime lost feigned interest somewhere amidst the details, perked back up at Surge’s hasty confession. Surge’s thumb jerked in the direction of the dark-haired boy, keeping his guilty gaze on me. “He left me. No goodbye, no note, nothing. And, then I see him talking to Souta,” Surge spat the dimpled boy’s name. “I couldn’t help but to assume the worst. I love him.”

I couldn’t help but to cringe at Surge’s words, trying not to focus on the fact that he had just confessed to loving someone. In all the time we had been together, Surge had never said anything like that to—or about me. Granted, neither did I. But, still, it stung, nonetheless.

“He’s my boyfriend,” Surge whispered, his voice taking on a possessive tone as he turned towards Souta. "He’s mine.”

I sighed , rubbing my eyes. “Well, Souta, because you asked—I experienced both techniques firsthand. It was before it was fully developed, however. But, he did nearly kill me. Now, if you excuse me—Calix, Mai, we’ll be leaving, now.”

“Surge—” Calix started, but I cut him off with the wave of my hand.

“He’s with his boyfriend. Besides, I’m sure Souta would like to explain how he’s not gay, and was actually just looking for directions to Iwagakure.” 

Souta frowned. “How did you—”

“I’m a very smart woman, you see.” I smiled, holding up a scroll. “And, you make a terrible civilian.”

Souta rubbed the back of his neck, letting a bashful grin take over his face. “Thank God for the kind-hearted Leaf Kunoichi.”

I rolled my eyes, tossing him the scroll. “You’re also a terrible shinobi. See to it that this doesn’t happen, again.”

“Well, as long as Surge promises not to jump me, again, I don’t suppose we’ll have that problem.”

!~*~**~*~!

Aye aye aye. Sorry this chapter was boring :s and late. Like three years late. Do not fear! I have already started the next chapter. God. School started like two weeks ago and im going insane. Cute little picture on side if Souta because I love him lots.
Also, how do you feel about Surge’s boyfriend? (; huhuhuh. Sorryjessifiportrayedhimwrongilu