Out of the Sling!

[Haruka Kunimitsu]

Haruka took a deep breath. She tried to protest inbetween her sentences, but was unable to. They all came at a rapid fire pace.
"I'm not pretty... not even all together." she said finally when she was sure that Shizuke had finished her arguement. "I'm a... a... a mess. Inside and out." she slumped slightly, but not enought to make Yuo stir.
"And i really have no idea how a stupid tap could make that last peice slip into place. The chances are stacked against it." her eyes narrowed. "And yes, i'm pushing it. Letting myself get this close to anyone puts them in danger. As well as the fact that it increases the danger on my heart breaking... again..."

[Shizuke Tsukiyama]

"I love her like the world, she's the only person in the world who keeps me going." Yuo mumbled.
I crawled over and sat down beside Haruka, on one side of Yuo.
"That's the magic of love." I said.
"Yuo? In danger?" I laughed.
"Are you kidding me? Yuo's been through worse. Did he not tell you that he had to rely off of me?" I asked. I crawled over to Yuo and slipped one of his shirt sleeves up.
"The day my father left me and nii-san was the day that Yuo was wounded quite badly. It was one deep wound alright." I said. Yukio ran into the clearling quietly.
"It's not mental wounds that hurt Yuo, it's physical wounds." Yukio said quietly.

[Haruka Kunimitsu]

Haruka's blushed deepened at Yukio entered the clearing. "Gosh, did Saeko come too..." she grumbled sarcastically. "And Shizuke, you have no idea what my sister can do... She's always watching me. She's probably listening in right now. I wouldn't doubt it." She sighed and looked away. "She nearly killed Kuzio... with some organ constrict jutsu... he almost died from a cardiac arrest there was so much presure on his heart..." She gulped. "She was even too much for Nero when he was in his... other form..."

[Shizuke Tsukiyama]

"No, she didn't come, Saeko isn't much for love, but if you ever need a loyal friend around, just call Saeko." I said. I rubbed Haruka's back gently.
"Yuo would rather die saving you, than die being an average shinobi." I said.
"And plus, you have good friends that you know will have your back if you're ever in trouble.
"People like me, Yukio, Saeko, Yuo, Kiro, Kuzio, Santo-kun, and probably a few other people you've made friends wtih.
"Would your sister mess with a dozen shinobi of all different ranks? Highly doubtful." I said.
Yukio sat down and buried her head in her knees. She began to sob quietly.
"I've seen part of that form of Nero-kun, he..he...he terrifys me." Yukio admitted.

[Haruka Kunimitsu]

Hauka tried to restrain herself from crying. "No, you don't understand. She could probably take us all down. She has her own teammates she could easily get help from." she protested. What was it going to take to make them realize the dangers that they faced simply from being around her? "She and on of her little... companions took down a Jonin and a Chunin from the sands. Ikara Hyukari and the puppet master... Kaku... something... they've disappeared."

Haruka felt the urge to go over and comfort Yukio, but didn't want Yuo to awaken do to her movement. "Yukio... he scare me to... he nearly killed my sister... which i wouldn't wish on her by any means. But he is rather terrifying like that."

[Shizuke Tsukiyama]

"She'd have to kill me to take me down!" I exclaimed quietly.
"You've seen me fight, I can keep going as long as I must!" I said loudly.
"And I can guarantee you, that Yuo will fight until he's lost so much blod he couldn't go on." I said.
"Yuo would rather die than watch you fall, I'm pretty sure he's told you that dozens of times!" I exclaimed.
Yukio sobbed quietly still.
"I love my Nero-kun! The Nero-kun who hugs me tightly, and doesn't care how much of a jerk my brother is!" Yukio sobbed.
Yuo shifted again and sighed.
"I love her, and only she can understand that." he mumbled.

[Haruka Kunimitsu]

A few tears fell down her cheeks as she looked back up at Yuo. "And i can't let either of you do that..." she said softly. "I won't let anyone die on my account... I've told you all that i don't know how many times." She reached up to touch his face but froze and retracted it again.

"I'm sure you do Yukio. And if you need anyone to speek to your brother about something, i can be rather convincing..." she offered, the tears from before still showing on her face.

[Shizuke Tsukiyama]

"Haruka-chan, you know no matter how hard you try to stop us, that we will anyways." I said.
"Especially Yuo-san, he wouldn't rest until he knew you were safe from any type of harm." I said. I continued to rub Haruka's back softly.
"Why do you think he's trying to save you from pain? He's not doing it to take control of you." I said.
Yukio's sobs turned to whimpers. She shook her head.
"No, Yuuhi's just trying to protect me from his fate. Eventually he'll understand why I love Nero-kun." Yukio whimpered.
"I love my brother, he kjust keeps hurting the one I love." Yukio whimpered again.

[Haruka Kunimitsu]

Haruka's sadness turned quickly to frustration. "No one ever listens to me!" she said, rather loudly. She began to stand, but was being held firmly in place by Yuo. She finally managed to pry his hands from her waist. She stood, not even looking back to see if Yuo had woken up from her sudden standing or not. She began walking away with an uncaring wave of the hand. "Forget you guys, i'm going home..."

[Shizuke Tsukiyama]

Yuo awoke quickly and was quite startled.
"Haruka-chan? Haruka-chan!" he yelled as he jumped up and ran to chase after her.
"Haruka-chan! Come back! Please!" he begged. He finally gave up chasing after her and stood, staring at her as she slowly faded into the distance.
"Now what? She's walked out on me again, and I think she's finally not coming back." Yuo said to himself.
I sat and watched my brothers heart break in two.
"She'll come back, if she realizes how much you mean to her." I said under my breath.
Yukio continued to whimper. Yukio had never cried as much before, but this was different.
"Hey? Kiro? You still there?" I asked quite loudly.

[Haruka Kunimitsu]

Kiro popped out of the bushes. "Wow... they're more complicated than most loves i've seen..." he said, his hands in his pockets at he walked over to Shizuke and Yukio. "I've never seen Haru-chan so steamed." he said so that Yuo couldn't hear.

Haruka stomped down the street in the direction of her house. If she were any angrier, steam would have poured out of her ears. The streets were surprisingly empty. "Stupid Tsukiyama... I don't need anyone to take care of me..." she mumbled as she walked. "My sister has--" She was cut off as a hand flew over her mouth. She looked back terrifiedly to see Juni's malicious grin.

"Well well well..." she said in her voice, so soothing it sounded like chimes in the wind. "I finally find you alone, sister dearest..." She pulled up a kunai and held it to her throat, but not too close. "Now... where were we last time?"

[Shizuke Tsukiyama]

"Why does she have to be so hard!!?!?!?!?!!" Yuo yelled angrily. He fell to his knees and pounded the ground.
"I love her, does she not know that?!" he yelled.

"I know." I said, rubbing Yukio's back.
"It's ok Yukio-chan." I said quietly.
Yukio continued to sob quietly. A shiver ran down my back and I looked out toward the horizon. I jumped up and began to run.
"Hurry up and follow!" I yelled. I ran past Yuo and yanked on his shirt.
"Come on!" I yelled. I let go of his shirt and ran faster.
"I have a bad feeling that Haruka's going to need us now more than ever!" I exclaimed.

[Haruka Kunimitsu]

Kiro looked at them puzzled. She followed, knowing that if Haruka was in trouble, he would have to help.

Haruka stood frozen in place. "Juni... i just don't understand your intention." she managed. It was ment to sound confident and stern, but came out frighteningly squeeky. "You kill your little sister; i don't understand what remorse or balance that will bring to your life."

Juni laughed again, the chime-like tone returning to the dense air. "Oh dear sweet, insolent Haruka-chan..." she mumbled with a smirk. "I'll get much more than remorse... But don't worry. I won't be killing you just yet. I think i'll give you a few gifts first. Perhaps a little sight of your friends writhing in pain will do. Doesn't that sound nice, Haruka-chan. Oh i do hope you don't mind m calling you that. Besides, that what he calls you, isn't it?"

Haruka gulped, "You leave him out of this..."

[Shizuke Tsukiyama]

I pulled out my katana and swung it at Juni.
"You leave her alone!" I yelled at her. Right now, an average person would just say I was angry, but there was a flame of anger burning inside of me.
Yuo was right behind me. He drew his katana and stood his ground.
"Let go of Haruka-chan." he ordered.
"She doesn't deserve this, but what am I suppose to do? Leave her for the crows?" Yuo thought.
Yukio was behind me and Yuo.
"Get out and leave Haruka-chan alone!" she exclaimed angrily.

[Haruka Kunimitsu]

Again the chiming laugh rang, it was strangely cold and hollow, as if it weren't real. "I do think that you are forgetting, i hold the power to end a life right here..." her eyes flittered down to the knife held at Haruka's neck. She brought it up closer to her skin, just enough that i punctured slightly. Haruka winced. "So, drop your weapons and maybe i'll release her... or at least, not kill her." She glared at them all threateningly, a smug smile of remorce still on her face.

"NO! You all have to run!" Haruka tried to protest, but it was swiftly stopped when the knife was presured slightly more. she fell silent.

"LET HARUKA GO YOU MONSTER!!!" Kiro exclaimed, standing next to Yukio, his hands ready to preform a jutsu at any give time.