"We fit together so well...it's like pieces of a puzzle, the way your hand fits the curve of my hip and the way my head rests on your shoulder, the way our hands just melt into one, and the way I feel complete when I'm with you...like the picture's finally completed and I'll never have to wonder what I'm missing."
Bunko, Mariko set her jaw tightly at the news presented to her, amber eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. The man before her clasped his fingers together behind his back, swaying on the heels of his feet in a nervous manner. He wouldn't say it out loud, there was no need to after all it was obvious enough, but the woman in front of him terrified him. Mariko's hand itched towards her Kyoketsu-Shogei, the odd weapon rested on her hip, oblivious to its master's desires to kill the man. The silence that surrounded the pair had grown heavy, acquiring a bitter taste, the man let out a nervous chuckle.
"Soo, Mariko-san, that's, uh, all I needed to tell you." One hand latched to the back of his neck, forcing out a strangled smile.
"Tell Uchiha he can talk to me personally if he has a problem with the way I do things." Mariko snapped angrily.
"H-hai. Mariko-san."
The man darted away quickly, leaving Mariko to her thoughts. To say what her comrade told her had made her mad was an understatement if ever one had been made. Mariko could feel her blood boil beneath her skin, to the point she could feel the heat, causing her stomach to tighten painfully. The bastard Uchiha had purposely made a fool of her and the way she went about her missions. Mariko couldn't have cared less what he thought, after all she was an ANBU Captain just like he was and older than him too. There was no reason the thirteen year old had to mock her, she was two years his senior and the knowledge that he had, well made her want to teach him a lesson.
Mariko continued to wear down the floor in the ANBU Office with her insistent pacing; each turn of her body grew sharper and sharper until the turn was almost lost to the human eye at the speed. Her growls and curses grew more frequent between breaths, a light pink dusting her cheeks in the heat of her anger. With one final turn of her heel she slammed a closed fist into her open palm. She had to think of a way to teach him a lesson, even if it was the last thing she would do.
A sneer spread across her lips at the ideas popping into her mind. She could easily demand a duel to defend her honor but figured that was too brash, which no doubt would lead to a second embarrassment she would have to face at his hands. That made her just as angry; the thought of her losing to the uptight Uchiha Bastard, were all Uchiha's that way? Another growl left her lips as she dropped herself on the worn down couch, propping her feet on the table.
She could always employ the help of other ninja in ANBU, but she doubted many would cross Itachi, even if it meant they were on her bad side for it, spineless cowards. Mariko took to biting her lips, trying to force herself into thinking of things she could do to get back at him, but with each idea coming up, she crossed it off the imaginary list just as quickly. Sending him on a fake mission far away would be wonderful but when he found out he would more than likely skin her alive. Anything involving sneaking up on him just wasn't worth trying, no one ever had and she doubted she'd be the lucky one to do so.
As each idea in her head was shot down, her shoulders slumped farther into the couch and she took to tapping her fingers on her knee. Marikos resolve to make the younger boy punish dwindled lower and lower, was there really no weakness to the boy? If so, Mariko couldn't think of one, maybe if she employed the help of another Uchiha, but which one? Itachi never talked about anyone in his family, Itachi never talked about anyone. Mariko sighed. How could she possibly teach Itachi a lesson if she couldn't do it on her own, or have someone help her. Mariko nodded to herself, she would give the Bastard that, he had a way of making himself distant enough to be immune to everyday problems, like being taught a lesson.
The anger Mariko felt hadn't decreased by much when a fellow ANBU appeared telling her to be ready and meet in the Hokage's Office. She sighed, pulling on her mask and clasped her white robes around her neck. When she entered the room her eyes narrowed dangerously at the other figured clocked in white, ignoring the Hokage completely. It turned towards her and she hissed, seeing the Bastard Weasel mask. The increase in tension was one sided, Mariko felt all of her anger double at seeing the Bastard, she wanted to rip this boy limb from limb.
"Bunko-senpai."
"Uchiha-teme."
The Hokage sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose tightly, whatever was with these two he wanted to be set aside. He'd heard what the Uchiha had said, but Bunko was overreacting to it. When the Uchiha had said Bunko was almost as good as he but needed to work on a few things it hadn't been meant as an insult. He honestly felt that Bunko was the closest person to his level that he had ever met, the only thing keeping her from being just as good, was her care for others.
"Mariko. Please put whatever reservations you have about Itachi aside for now. You both have been called her to complete an A-rank mission. We will need your powers as a Kunoichi for this."
Mariko bowed her head, a blush of anger and embarrassment flushing her cheeks. She could feel the Bastards gaze on the back of her head and fought the urge to turn around and beat him to a pulp.
"Hai, Hokage-sama." The old man gave her a knowing look, frowning slightly.
"Excuse me, Hokage-sama, but if you are in need of a Kunoichi for this why am I here?"
The Hokage as well as Mariko turned their eyes to the Uchiha.
"Ah. Well this mission is in need of you as well Itachi-san. Mariko-san is being used so you can get closer to the actual target, then as a team you will take him down. The rest of your mission details are on this scroll. You have no need to grab any other items, you must leave as soon as possible. It should be a fairly quick mission."
Itachi reached for the scroll and scanned through it quickly, he fought the urge to look at Mariko as he handed her the scroll to read. He could feel her anger rise and from the corner of his eyes he watched her hand tighten around the scroll, head snapping back to the Hokage. The old man wore an expression that clearly told the girl sorry, Itachi wanted to tell her to suck it up but that, he was sure, would earn him a beating he well deserved.
"Love is only a dirty trick played on us to achieve continuation of the species."
The Uchiha forced a heavy sigh back into his throat as yet another tramp was paraded in front of him, face caked in red lips and rosy cheeks. His patience was beginning to wear thin with the old man. It had been some time since his mission had started and he was finally close enough to his goal. The idiot of an A-Class criminal was showing him the depths of his power and business to which Itachi had no real interest in. The criminal could see that he no longer held the young man's interest with the unoriginal women he tried to pawn off on him.
"Hotaka-san, I can see you have no desire to be with any of these women. Have they lost your interest so soon?" His voice was nasally, it irritated the Uchiha.
"I have no intentions with any of these women, Juro-san, I know you must have a better selection, or should I take my business elsewhere, to someone who will respect me."
The old man shook his head quickly; muttering about stuck up young men feeling entitled to things but left the room in a flash. The others sitting around watched the Uchiha with mild distaste, they were all powerful men, either politically or in shinobi standards. The Uchiha felt his Mangekyou Sharingan flare for a second, before he forced it back down. His fingers idly traced patterns on his leg to distract himself.
He hoped that this was finally it, after waiting so long his nerves were starting to wear thin. In an uncharacteristic way he was excited and anxious for the biggest part of the mission to start. Something odd had wound itself in his stomach; the tension had been building far to long for his taste. Not even the tramps he had been with could easy the bundle. The Uchiha had never been one to care about anyone, not even his own little brother, but the way he felt angered him. Something was not right with him and he'd be damned if he didn't figure out what had caused the emotions that coursed through him.
A young woman was thrown at the Uchiha's feet, her long orange hair pinned back with clips and pins, spilled over her shoulders. She made a soft 'oomph' when the man who had tossed her there sent a swift kick to her side, telling her to get up and kneel. She did as told quickly, bowing her head low in front of the Uchiha, her fingers dug into the material of her kimono that covered her knees. The man continued speaking to the Uchiha, raving to him that this was the best he could offer him, there was no woman better than her, he knew from experience.
The man grabbed the woman's hair, pulling her face up to look at Itachi, amber eyes stared into his; it had been almost four months since he had seen Mariko.
When their eyes met a dark blush raced across Mariko's face and neck dusting her features a rosy red. Mariko noticed the look on the younger shinobi's face; it looked hungry as his eyes roamed over her shamelessly. Suddenly she wished her kimono had more fabric to cover her, she wanted to drown in it. She looked up through her lashes, giving him a sly smile, Itachi looked away from her to the man.
"I assure you Hotaka-san, that she is worth your money." His voice grated on Mariko's nerves.
Itachi appraised Mariko again, she could feel herself being undressed by him, it was hard to believe this boy was only thirteen, he looked older. She sat back on her heels, brushing hair away from her face, smoothing her kimono, trying in vain to cover her curves better. The man behind he had begun talking again, explaining the rules of taking out such a valuable piece, even for the night. Those who wanted to test Eri-hime out had a hefty price to pay, not only with money but with privacy as well.
Itachi looked at the old man again, "Are you saying someone will be watching?"
"Hotaka-san, I know privacy is of utmost importance to you, but Eri-hime is my prize. I cannot allow anything to happen to her." He nervously plucked at a string on his clothes.
Itachi glanced back at Mariko, "Fine, I would like her for the night. If she's as good as you say we might be making a deal you cannot refuse."
The old man's eyes sparkled with untamed glee, Itachi and him exchanged the fees all the while Mariko's stomach tightened in nerves. When the transaction finished, the old man lead them to a seemingly private room, except for the man standing in one corner. He was stalk-still facing an open window, the moon hung heavy in the sky. The old man nodded towards the man telling Itachi he would not watch, but was there in case Eri-hime needed him. Itachi gave a tight nod, lips set in a firm grimace, the man left.
Mariko watched Itachi sit on the pillows, his own kimono loosely held together by his obi. She stood there for awhile watching him, he sat there watching her, both of them kept their gazes even. Itachi raised a hand towards her and Mariko figured it would be best to follow his lead; she knelled in front of him quickly. He dropped his hand, Mariko took this as she should start things and get them moving.
Delicate fingers grabbed her obi, pulling it from around her waist, the front of her kimono opened lazily teasing the Uchiha. With a shrug of her shoulders it slipped off spilling around her waist. Mariko suddenly felt very exposed; she brought her hands in front of her to keep hidden but dropped them to her lap. She couldn't back out of this just because she knew the Uchiha, nor because she had hated the Bastard. She had to do what was intended and expected of her in all situations; her emotions would not and could not play any rule over her.
"Help me." Hotaka-san said.
The words sounded odd coming from him, he couldn't think of a time when he had said them, Mariko seemed just as at odds with the whole thing. She reached her hands forward undoing his obi, with skilled fingers she threw back the folds of his kimono leaving him just as exposed as she was. He reached out a hand to her, pulling her over him, sitting her bare body in his lap. Mariko let out a small squeak at the suddenness.
The pad of his thumb brushed across her bottom lip, effectively parting them, her breath brushed across his hand. Grabbing her under her chin he leaned her forward, capturing her lips lightly. The coil in his stomach tightened again causing his self control to slip; he mashed their lips together harshly, teeth and tongue. Mariko replied quickly, fingers lacing into long ebony locks, her hips rocked carefully into his, causing him to bite her lip, drawing blood.
Her own tongue darted out, licking it up quickly, her eyes hazed over with lust, all awkward pretenses flew out the door. Her hips rolled again, this time forcing down causing him a breathy groan. His fingers left her shoulders flipping them over so he lay atop her, a splash of crimson had crept its way between her breasts up to her neck. Itachi made no time to help Mariko feel good about what was happening.
With his left hand he shoved her thighs farther apart, a small sound escaped the girls mouth. He positioned himself to enter her and with one quick movement he was in. The heat that consumed him drove his actions quicker and faster, she could feel her muscles forcing themselves to make room for his intrusion. Mariko herself felt a searing, burning pain that with every sharp thrust dulled down. What she felt was neither bad nor good and she decided to lift her hips to meet his in an attempt to cause a delicious friction.
Mariko's attempt proved fruitless, it was just the same dull throb, a jolt of electricity coming and going just as quick. Itachi made no sounds to indicate his pleasure, or lack thereof. His hips rocked upwards again, this time the coil in his stomach tightened too tight. He felt the snap before he realized what was happening, he made to pull out but she was closed around him tightly enough for the movement to cause a painful delight.
When he finished he leaned forward, pressing the side of his cheek to hers for a moment. The overwhelming power that surged through his body both fueled him and angered him. He let a worldly pleasure from someone not worthy of him, completely control his senses. As his breathing became more labored Mariko placed her hands on his shoulders in an attempt to push him up and get a better look at him.
What she saw frightened her, his eyes spun madly, the tomes forming a formidable triangle. Before she could call out for help she was plunged into a world of black and red, she sat curled upon the floor, glancing around in every which way; to her left stood Itachi, dressed in his ANBU mask and robes. She desperately wanted to stand and beat the Bastard in front of her, for locking her in such a place. The area surrounding them grew hazy, shifting into her home complex. Through the mask she could almost see his eyes, dangerously spinning, she could almost feel the stone cold gaze.
"Why did you bring me here?" Mariko demanded, standing to her full height.
Itachi choose to ignore her, pulling a few kunai from beneath his robes. Mariko froze, finally understanding his true intentions; she bit harshly on her lip hoping the pain would release the justu, no luck. She fought the urge to turn and run, knowing there was no escape, she was in living hell. He flung the small knifes her way, reaching their targets she gasped as pain exploded though her body. Blood oozed from the wounds, dripping and gathering onto the floor around her feet.
She glared up through her bangs, a sharp cough tasting of blood, "Why are you doing this?"
Itachi removed his mask, her idea of the spinning dangerous wheel brought to life, "I'm removing all obstacles, Bunko-senpai."
Mariko hung her head, knowing she could not stop what was coming next. She allowed her body to tense at the sound of multiple katana being unsheathed, her mind raced quickly, all possible scenarios flashed quickly but the only one to come was her death. Mariko accepted that. There was no other dignified way she could die. She looked up at the multiple Itachi's, a wicked sneer planted on blood stained lips.
"Rot in hell, Uchiha-teme."
The Hokage had personally taken Uchiha, Itachi's mission report, after all the mission had taken over four months to complete. He had questioned the young teen on Mariko's death; Itachi repeatedly told him that she had died in action. The target had been taken down, and all other people of interest killed as well. The Hokage couldn't deny being impressed, but something about the whole mission did not settle right in his stomach.
Mariko had been a more than capable ninja, Itachi's excuse of dying in action seemed flawed, but if he handed over Itachi to Ibiki, the whole Uchiha Clan would be furious. He weighed his options and figured he could secretively bring Ibiki in without any of the other Uchiha's finding out. He didn't know if the whole situation would be worth it, maybe Itachi had something to hide about her death or maybe she really had died by the other ninjas hands. The Hokage couldn't even ask anyone, Itachi had killed all of the other ninja.
The young teen continued to watch the old man, before finally being dismissed to his home. Itachi knew the report seemed odd, after all he did have to bring Bunko-senpai's body back as proof she had been killed. Instead of feeling nervous or angry or anything else, a dull hollow feeling surrounded his whole being. A spark of pride and power were the only things still running in his veins. Itachi left the Hokage Tower quickly, heading towards the Uchiha Compound to meet up with Madara so they could stay on schedule.
Today they finally planned on going through with the attack on the entire Uchiha People. Madara had been annoyed with the delay of Itachi's mission but it had been essential for Itachi. He now better understood his emotions, placing them in check, so as not to be fooled by them again. He had killed Bunko-senpai with the intent of understanding his human and male instincts; he realized there was no such thing as love for anyone, especially not foolish useless women.
