Title; Lucky
Disclaimer; Nope I don't own any of the Naruto characters.
Chapter 1-
I remember my first thoughts pretty well, incredulously wondering just how drunk I'd gotten to end up on the kitchen floor instead of in my bed. Of course that line of thought died when I realised I hadn't been out drinking the night before. I'd been working all night on my midterms.
I bolted up onto my hands and knees cringing as an ache in my back made itself known, the grimy filth covered floor made me feel distinctly nauseous as I blinked around the darkened room. I couldn't make out much past the vague dark shapes of what seemed to be a kitchen though I couldn't be sure. I groped around in the darkness for a moment feeling distinctly foolish as my hand passed over something sharp, I hissed and drew it back pressing the small wound against my jeans leg. More cautiously I reached out again and found a small bag opposite whatever had cut me.
Amongst the feel of cloth and leather I found plastic and pulled free a flashlight. With a sharp click the bags other items were revealed, a pair of boots and an old t-shirt, I tore the right sleeve off the shirt for a make shift bandage and pulled on the remains of the t-shirt and the worn boots over my bare feet.
I shone the faint light over the room lighting up a busted sink filled with sludgy water, a fridge missing its door and filled with rancid looking leftovers, some damaged cupboards, a boarded up window the glass of which was shattered and scattered across the floor and a door unadorned and undamaged.
I crept to the door over the broken glass and tried the handle. The door swung open with a small push and a rackety click click click that filled me with dread, right now I couldn't help but feel that silence was one of my few defences against something horrible that shadowed this place.
The other room was much better lit dotted with candles but it wasn't what really drew my attention, backed into one of the corners were a trio of bright featured people. At the front clutching a baseball bat in a pose the was more frightened than threatening was a well-dressed blonde with blue eyes that seemed eerily bright in the low light. Behind him was another blonde wearing a pair of no doubt fashionable spectacles and dressed in a professional manner that might have made her anything from a secretary to an accountant. The last woman was the most unique by far however with her bob cut pink hair and lab coat. In all I felt strangle underdressed in my ancient jeans and edited t-shirt.
"Who are you?" questioned the pink haired woman regaining her composer quicker than her blonde companions, she attempted to step forward but the blonde man barred her path protectively. She slapped away the arm with a stern look that seemed super effective on the man.
"He's a kid Naruto, I doubt he's responsible for this." She bit out stepping closer to me, nearer now I realised she had bright emerald eyes and was probably a few years younger than I'd originally put her at.
"Sasuke Uchiha." I answered roughly my throat dry and brittle, awkwardly I extended a hand unsure of what the polite procedure was in this scenario, there probably wasn't one.
"Sakura Haruno, and this is Naruto and Ino." She offered shaking my hand and gesturing to her still weary companions, a gentle reassuring smile ghosted her lips and I felt somewhat reassured by it.
"Do you…" I drifted off in the question unsure of how exactly to finish it.
"We all woke up in different rooms, no idea when or how we arrived in this god forsaken place." The blonde man, Naruto, answered gesturing to the three other open doors. Counting our four there were thirteen in all, seven on this floor and six more along the second floor balcony. I quickly asked if they were locked.
"Yeah, they might be like ours were, with someone inside to open it but I figure at least ones an exit. Other than that it's just these." Answered Naruto again, he tapped his bat on a large chest with an electronic lock reading zero-zero-eight on it, cluttered around the chest were small melee weapons, a crowbar, a pair of pokers, a shovel and another bat.
"There was a window back there, we could get through it." I suggested not liking the idea of following this twisted horror movie maze any further than I had to. The idea was shot down as I was led into one of the others original rooms, the wooden boards had been stripped away to reveal solid red bricks instead.
"That counter was at nine before you came out, I think it'll open once twelve of those doors do." Sakura spoke up prompting her companions to verify it.
"You think there are answers in there?" asked the blonde, Ino, speaking for the first time, she still hung near the other blondes shoulder and seemed suspicious of my presence.
"Could be." Mumbled the blonde none committedly.
"Should we make some noise then, wake the others up?" asked Ino and I feared for a second she'd begin screaming then and there. I still felt that need for absolute silence and from the expressions that the others wore I knew they felt it too.
"We should keep quiet for the moment, I don't want to do anything rash until we know more." Sakura spoke first shushing and easing the more distressed woman. As they moved to sit on the chest Naruto shot me a look and the first although severely subdued smile I'd seen from him seen our meeting.
"So what's your story then?" he asked leaning on his bat almost idly but his eyes still jumped to every little noise.
"What do you mean?" I asked picking up the second bat and checking its weight carefully. I felt a little strange though, what was I going to do with this, fend off some unknown assailant I guessed.
"Thirty two, unmarried, working as the Mayors aide. Your turn." He offer his example a noticeable tinge of pride in his voice at his occupation, that explained the snappy dressing at least.
"Nineteen, single, studying philosophy." I returned in similar fashion, there was a sudden click and one of the doors behind swung open. An unhealthy man with a greasy face a pot belly and a ponytail stepped out looking as bewildered and confused as I'm sure I had. We learned that he was Shikamaru Naru, a twenty six year old games programmer who's dress taste was vaguely akin to a homeless mans.
The next to arrive was a hefty brunette man easily clearing six foot and likely around two hundred and forty or fifty pounds neatly crammed in a robe and formal pyjamas. He was Choji, thirty seven, married and profiteer of his own barbeque restaurant. A second man followed him in close order, Kankuro the twenty two year old tattooist that looked like the bad kid pulled from some eighties after school special, the stone washed denim jacket and leather pants helped.
A woman wearing nothing but an oversized football jersey stepped out next, her long brown hair was bunched up in twin buns and her large eyes matched them. She was Teagan 'Tenten' Williams, twenty eight and she worked in the theatre coordinating stunts and costumes and prompts and…well she just trailed off when she was listing her duties.
A grey haired man came next, tall and with an air of authority about him. He was Kakashi Hatake, forty eight years of age divorced schoolteacher and spoke to everyone with a slightly patronising teasing tone, it was unsettling how relaxed he seemed in the situation and I wondered if he'd always been just a school teacher. He wore drawstring pants and an old shirt I guessed was his sleeping wear, most seemed to have been taken in their sleep.
Next came Kurenai, thirty four, unemployed and dressed in sweat soaked cotton pants and a tank top with blurry wine toned eyes and messy ebony hair. She appeared to be suffering from a hangover and just about answered the questions we put to her.
The woman that followed her caught my attention with her attire, a pale lavender dress hugged her figure and went well with her pale blue eyes and curled black locks. She was Hinata Hyuuga, twenty six year old children's book author confused as all hell why she was no longer at her cousins wedding.
Time seemed to tick by though as we waited for the last door to open the counter on the chest had set itself on one and we were all eager for the imagined answers held within, though Kankuro had speculated the it was instead a bomb. The suggestion hadn't went over particularly well. Most of the guys had grabbed the other available weapons, though despite the opportunity Shikamaru had opted not to take one instead leaving Kankuro and Choji with a poker each, Kakashi the shovel and Tenten the crowbar.
It was the armed woman who approached me first as we awaited the final doors opening, she plopped down next to me less than lady like and prodded my shoulder with her crowbar.
"What do you make of it, and the others?" she asked without much of a song and dance. I managed to avoid eying her bare legs and raised an eyebrow at her in curiosity.
"You first." I deadpanned earning a smirk from her.
"We're caught up in some sick joke, I'm sure there's cameras hidden somewhere. They've given us weapons and since they've already went as far as kidnapping I doubt they're afraid of us dying, actually that's probably their hope." She explained her own thoughts in a low whisper tightening her grip on the crowbar, quite clever for a stunt woman come prop designer.
"As for the people, obviously I think you've got a level enough head, or enough that I'd prefer you at my back. The old geezer's probably alright though he's a bit too calm all the same. Tattoo boy and lady Vodka I wouldn't trust with my garbage. Fatty would make too slow a companion. The blondes are both nervous wrecks, though her more so. Miss doctor's well enough. The brides maid is either an airhead or shell shocked. And Tech boy gives me the cowardly impression." She spoke in her low whisper keeping her eyes on my own I supposed to avoid seeming like she was talking about the others.
"Quite a mouthful." I commented impressed at how much thought she'd invested in her surroundings and a little relieved the crafty woman wanted me for a companion.
"Your turn." She hummed her chocolate eyes flashing with interest.
"They've only given half enough weapons for all of us, either there's more in the chest of they're trying to play us against each other. I considered that one of us mightn't be as ignorant as they pretend to be but there's no way to tell." I summed up some of my own thoughts and from the glint in her eyes I suspected she'd thought the same but left them out as a test.
"Unless you're a turncoat you've got my respect, Kakashi too. I wouldn't trust Kankuro or Shikamaru as one seemed too eager to have a weapon and the other not eager enough. Kurenai and Hinata might be worth more if they come to their senses but for the moment they're dead weight. Naruto seems fine if he's not on his own, Choji if it's nothing fast or tight and Ino if you don't need her to do anything. Sakura's got a strong personality and a good enough mind." I gave her my own run down of the group so far, as it were Tenten probably was my preferred support with Kakashi and Sakura trailing behind. Of course only time would tell how accurate these guesses were.
"Seems we're on the same page then, a partnership seems wise." She spoke low, I nodded my head in silent agreement. As ridiculous as the situation was I didn't give it much thought, too many of this larger group gave me a bad feeling. Ino and her shaky nerves, Shikamaru and his apathy, Kankuro's zeal, Kakashi's calmness. I could see things going to hell easily and this paranoid brunette figured the same.
She drifted away after that, investigating each of the darkened rooms with her own flashlight. Looking for something to cover her legs she claimed when the others cast their suspicions. Sakura was the next to drift over to me as I watched the others interact tensely, Choji conversed quietly with Kakashi, Naruto still seemed to be consoling Ino and Shikamaru broke words with Kankuro.
"You holding up okay?" she asked resting a hand on my shoulder, genuine concern shun in her eyes and I found myself wondering at her specialty, paediatric probably, she seemed the type.
"Fine, and you?" I returned politely, no doubt she had some motive in this approach though I doubted it would be anything like Tentens.
"Fine, considering." She responded trailing off, the hand slid from my shoulder a little dejectedly and for a moment I managed to see through her forced optimism to her underlying fear.
"Seems like people are already forming clichés, strange thing to do at a time like this." She muttered chewing on her dry lip in a trait I found strangely cute for a woman likely more than a few years my senior.
"Human instinct…I mean isn't that why you're over here?" I pushed, her eyes widened a touch at the accusation but that just confirmed my guess was an accurate one.
"I guess I am but not really for myself. If we all just pick teams and run off into whatever demented traps are outside that door…well you can guess how it'll go." She commented her eyes finding the still shocked Hinata Hyuuga, naturally if everyone decided survival of the fittest was the way to go that quiet confused girl would be left on her own.
"You're not wrong." I admitted, the group would probably remain together for a while at the very least but without a clear leadership or trust it wouldn't take much to scatter us.
"She's under some influence, we were all probably drugged but they seem to have been too generous with her dosage." Then that made her something of a wide card I thought, who knew what hidden abilities she might possess. On the other hand she could just be dead weight that would remain as much.
"Why ask me?" I voiced another thought coming quick enough. I was the youngest here, it was possible Sakura thought I needed protection too.
"I think Hatake's too pleased to be here, Choji's desperate to return to his family, Naruto's already got a weight to carry and I can guess quick enough what those other two might be looking for in trade for protection." There was something to what she said. From some of the interaction I suspected Kurenai had made the approach though I wasn't sure, at any rate now that they knew what they could get for their protection they'd probably demand the same from Sakura or Hinata.
"What if I made a similar demand?" I tested, she seemed doubtful raising an eyebrow at me.
"Are you?" she challenged back. I wondered what gave her such confidence, had my failure to gape at Tentens legs given me away as too noble to demand sex for help.
"No but I'm surprised you're not at all pessimistic." I returned, it should have impressed me and yet instead I found myself growing more suspicious of the woman, that thing about something seeming too good.
"Just a little logic, I don't think you're the type to have trouble with girls." She reasoned with a wink before she returned to her self-appointed charge. The grey haired Kakashi was quick to approach me next but only fired a single question my way.
"Does the name Obito mean anything to you?" his voice came gruffer and thicker than it had before and I blinked in confusion for a moment before shaking my head in the negative. He didn't seem to have any follow up but fixed my a significant stare before he returned to the other side of the room.
Fifteen minutes later the final click came and the last oaken door swung open, a spiky haired brunette figure stumbled from the room even more disorientated than Hinata had been, Sakura was the first to move to his aid.
She didn't scream as the man shifted his weight and lunged forward, his shoulder crashed into her chest and took them both to the grimy concrete with a dull smack. A hand raised to strike the gasping woman and probably would have connected if not for Tenten's timely intervention, she'd emerged from a search of the room that used to be Kakashi's in time to see the attack. She crossed the distance smoothly and hammered her shin into the man's side sending him tumbling unmoving toward Naruto and Ino.
I rushed to the spluttering doctors side, Tenten was already checking her over. She seemed alright if not sore as she settled more comfortably onto her side.
"He's got no pulse." Announced Naruto shooting Tenten a look that spoke of horror and amazement in equal measure. Her own expression was hard to judge as a multitude of different emotions flittered through her brown eyes, shock, horror, disbelief, a sliver of regret and then something like acceptance. If she'd killed him it had been an accident and she done it to defend someone else. Though I did question the ease with which she came to that conclusion, would I make such an easy transition.
"He's still moving though." Breathed Ino moving slightly closer to morbidly watch as the bodies hand twitched from some dying spasm, another tremble passed through a leg and I wondered at the cause.
"Get back!" The hissed warning came seconds too late as the twitching hand lashed out catching Ino's ankle and tripping her as she jumped back. Somehow the lifeless body continued to move climbing onto the blondes stocking clad legs as she tried to kick it off. There came a blood curdling scream from the woman moments before Naruto and the charging Kakashi wrestled the dead man off with a flash of crimson. The eldest man's shovel came down in a brutal arc splitting the dead man's head open with a grotesque splash.
Naruto was quick to move on his companion as she whimpered and clutched her right calf, through the gaps in her fingers blood leaked freely pooling on the floor. Most of the others hovered near Kakashi as he prodded the remains with his weapon checking that the man was truly dead this time. Hinata was the only one who seemed put off by the sight moving instead towards Sakura, Tenten and myself.
"You alright doc? I think blondie might need your help." Tenten spoke to the pink haired woman as she helped her into a sitting position.
"I doubt it, I'm a chiropractor." She muttered back making her earlier bartering suddenly much clearer. A doctor was something worth protecting in a survival scenario, a chiropractor however...
"The chest's open." Announced Shikamaru the only one to have not drifted from his original position throughout the entire encounter. He was right, the chest locked had disengaged and we now had free access to the chest contents. About a dozen envelopes and an equal number of rucksacks were the only occupants, we were all cagey as we took a bag each and an envelope. There was still one spare of each. The seal on each was of a small red 'D' bordered by a strange green snake or worm.
"Welcome dear most fortunate contestants, we are pleased to announce you have been volunteered for our most prestigious competition. Please find enclosed a goodie bag to help you avoid the angry folk like your last friend and to enjoy your stay on the island." Read Naruto perhaps because Ino was unlikely to read her own at the moment. It said the same on my own copy and I assumed all the others too.
"Angry folk like your friend." I heard Sakura whisper to me, both of our gazes drifted to the dismembered body still spilling blood onto the floor.
"Shit." Tenten swore lightly mirroring my own internal feelings, that explained the weapons to a degree. So that was it, if the letter was to be believed we were on an island trapped with an unspecified amount of lunatics.
"That asshole was more than angry, he was fucking dead!" snarled Kankuro waving his weapon angrily at the corpse. None of us offered an answer. I don't think any of us could we were all still pale and shaky, whatever that man was he'd destroyed our remaining nerves. There was a man dead now, this wasn't some elaborate joke. We could die, no in all likelihood we would die.
"What does it mean volunteered?" the Hyuuga mumbled almost to herself.
"It means we aren't here accidently, someone offered us up." Kakashi answered scrunching up his note and tossing it aside before he turned his attention to his bag instead, I decided to follow the example. I was careful not to simply pull everything out, the bags might not be standard issue and I did want anyone deciding they wanted what was in mine.
At the top of the pile was a cell phone, royal blue and expensive looking, beneath it was a coil of rope, a hunting knife, a lighter and a bottle of water. Not really a lot. I flipped open the phone, unsurprisingly most of the functions seemed to be missing. I worked my way into a contacts menu finding it surprisingly somewhat filled out, my own information and that of the other ten here was entered along with a photograph of each. There was also a twelfth, Kiba, though over his picture read first the word 'infected' and beneath it 'deceased'. There were thirty six still blank spaces.
"There may be thirty six other survivors on this island then." Offered Naruto reaching the same conclusion as most of us, the D on the envelop must have stood for a group title, that left A B and C somewhere in the game too.
"Thirty three likely less." Edited Shikamaru drawing a quick 'what' from the jumpy blonde.
"Eleven survivors and one like him." Answered the programmer throwing a pointed look towards the body.
"Do we find the rest of them then, strength in numbers?" spoke up Naruto again stepping up for position of team leader, Shikamaru was quick to speak again surprisingly. I guessed it was only physically he was lazy.
"This is a game, how do all games begin?" asked the ponytailed man, nobody seemed to eager to speak up.
"A tutorial." I ventured guessing where the older man was going with his reasoning.
"Right and this is a survival game. That's hiding cowering and crawling about through the dark, not fighting. There'll be hundreds of those things roaming out there. Troublesome." Answered the man raking a hand through his hair in understated exasperation.
"Then the quieter the better, smaller faster groups." Spoke up Kankuro, Sakura threw him a dirty look as Kurenai and Shikamaru drew close to him. They didn't appear to want to discuss any more on the topic as they made their way to the final door.
Dull morning light poured through the door as the trio disappeared through it followed shortly by Kakashi and Choji whom spared little more than a glance toward us on their way out. Ino seemed suddenly frightened and with good reason I thought.
"You're not going to leave me are you?" her frightened blue eyes darted from one person to another focusing on Naruto more than any of the rest of us.
"Of course not." Comforted the blonde man helping her to her feet, his own eyes flashed as he glanced toward us.
"We'll need to find something for her to use as support." I suggested by way of answer, Tenten seemed as conflicted by the plan as I was but Sakura turned a grateful gaze on me that soothed some of the anxiety. Hinata still seemed to be in a world of her own. A third of our too large group was dead weight, our doctor was not actually a doctor, Naruto seemed a little easily swayed and I still didn't trust Tenten unconditionally.
Together we made our way into the morning light.
New story, trying something a little different this time. Hope you guys are interested in it. Haven't really decided on the pairings yet, though I've got some leanings.
R&R