Chapter 1
She was a wild one, but she would do. She would be the replacement.
Izumi, Yin opened her coal pools and blinked once. Where was she? Thinking back she felt her mind still blurred with sleep. Not being able to remember frustrated her and a small snarl crossed her features. Lifting herself up, Yin rubbed her head and with a strike of realization noticed her clothes were different. Not by much, a cloak was the only thing added. The black and red fabric was dotted with large clouds here and there. Akatsuki! Yin jumped to her feet, inspecting the new clothing. It was all coming back to her now, the fight with Pein, the acceptance into Akatsuki, the directions, and the parting words.
"The only way out of Akatsuki is death," Yin repeated to herself and grimaced. It wasn't like she had much to live for anyways. What had driven her to pursue this? Yin hadn't a clue but here she was now. Wait…where was she? Yin looked around at the dark, damp cavern, she had been told to come here. Somebody who would be a temporary 'partner' until another became available was supposed to meet her, right? Yin rolled her eyes at the thought of a partner and sighed. She wasn't very good at partnerships and hoped she could bring herself to not kill it. Partners were at least supposed to be matched up to best ability, right? She should be placed with someone who helps her strengths and she helps his or hers.
"Hn, I hope so."
While she waited Yin thought back to when she had gone rogue. She had been 13 and full of rage. Of course, she hadn't been S-class from the start. All she had done was burn down –or tried to- her village. Getsugakure…Hell on Earth! Stupid Moon village. Slowly Yin had made her way up the criminal ranks and she was now a 27 year old S-classed criminal. She loved taunting her village and other villages as well. Yin was wanted –dead or alive- in the villages because of it. She was a traveler and a mischief-maker that caused a lot of fun. A small purr of amusement emitted from her throat.
"You sound like a cat, un."
The voice made Yin turn to spot a young male with blonde hair and azure eyes that somewhat reminded Yin of the moon. He wore the same cloak that signaled he was an Akatsuki but his headband clearly stated he had once belonged to Iwagakure. Yin guessed them to maybe be the same height or she be a little taller.
"And you look like a girl," Yin replied with a smirk at his small frown. "Who might you be?"
Though reluctant, he seemed about to answer but a loud, obnoxious voice cut him off.
"SEMPAI! Wait for me!" In came the screaming child –oh wait, it was a grown man- as fast as he could. Miraculously he managed to trip over his own two feet –or maybe it had been a pebble- and stumbled straight into the blonde male. Yin had merely watched with the blankest expression –though she felt somewhat honored to see this- she could muster. It was rather amusing and she had to keep from bursting out into a fit of laughter. This child –grown man- was a character, Yin could tell just by looking at him. He had short, spiked black hair but this was the only physical attribute Yin could see. Covering his face was an orange-swirled mask and the rest of him covered by his cloak and what seemed like a full body black suit. On his mask, Yin realized that there was only one hole where his right eye should be. What about his other eye? Yin wondered how his depth perception was.
"Tobi!" The blonde bared his teeth at the clumsy bo- man. Yin couldn't get herself to consider him a man. "Watch where you're going!" He pushed the one called 'Tobi' away and brushed himself off.
"Sorry, sempai," Tobi seemed to sulk but his attention quickly turned to Yin. "Hello! Who are you!?"
"Izumi, Yin," Yin tried to smile at Tobi but she failed, only able to grimace. "And you're…Tobi-san?"
"Yep! Tobi is a good boy!" Yin could imagine a big, wide grin across his face and truthfully she wanted to be sick.
"Right…" Yin's grimace remained, "cute." Her attention turned back to the blonde before she could gag at Tobi. "You?"
"Deidara, un," he grumbled unwillingly, still slightly annoyed at her retort. But he found it a relief she, too, disliked Tobi. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all. She was sort of ok, for a woman.
"Nice name," Yin chuckled, "at least it sounds like a male's name."
Ok, maybe not. Deidara shot her an annoyed glare.
"At least I don't act like a cat, hm," he retorted.
"Well, what if my abilities have to do with that behavior?" Yin smiled, brushing her coal hair behind her ear.
"What if my ability has to do with…" Deidara stopped himself, realizing his mistake.
"Looking like a female?" Yin finished, arching her brow. "Yeah, I'm sure the men find that ponytail mighty sexy." She could tell he was inwardly fuming. It was actually very, very funny. "C'mon, Dei-Dei, where to?" A smirk crawled across her face.
Deidara scowled at her, and then slowly shook his head as he turned, muttering "stupid girl." Without even looking to see if the two followed he made his way out of the large cavern, muttering the whole way.
"He sure is a hot head," Yin held a look of pure amusement upon her face. "Wonder why?"
"Sempai has always been like that," Tobi replied, walking after him. "You shouldn't anger him, he'll blow you up."
"Well, this is rather boring," Yin sighed to herself as she trailed behind the pair. She had just gotten Tobi to leave her alone after nearly talking her ear off.
"So where are you from?" Tobi had asked though the headband around her neck should've stated this. Apparently, Tobi hadn't paid attention to that.
"Getsugakure no Sato," Yin replied with a small sigh.
"Oh, cool! Why are you a rogue?" Tobi's childish, high voice was so annoying. Yin really didn't want to explain herself.
"I attempted to burn my village down," Yin tried to keep her explanations short.
"How'd you manage that?" Tobi asked.
"Bombs," Yin swore she saw Deidara almost stop at that. But he kept going and pretended to not listen.
"Wow!" Tobi's voice filled with overwhelmed awe and Yin felt like gagging. How could he be so enthusiastic!?
"Yeah, sure, sure," Yin mumbled and rolled her eyes. "It wasn't hard. Watching the bombs explode and the aftermath were splendid."
"What kind of bombs did you use?" Tobi sounded like a kid who had just gotten candy.
"Shadow bombs."
"What are those?" Of course Yin had expected him to ask that. Shadows moved to form a ball in her hand and she could imagine Tobi's eyes stretching wide.
"It's my art," Yin smirked, "that fleeting moment of joy when the bombs went off…it was magic." She heard Deidara stumble but ignored to look over at him.
"You sound a lot like sempai," Tobi murmured.
"Hm," Yin merely responded and looked forward, the conversation was over.
Yin now watched as Tobi tried to converse with Deidara but was failing miserably at it. Yin figured that Deidara would get annoyed but he seemed to be in thought. She arched a brow at him, wondering what could be bothering him. Weirdo. Yin shook her head at the blonde but then a movement caught her eyes. Looking toward the bush, her pace slowed and her eyes glimmered. Now, now, who was there?
"Hm? Yin? Are you coming? Hurry up, Yin!" Tobi called as Yin crouched and prepared herself.
"Great, she crouches and hunts just like a cat, too, un," Deidara shook his head. "We should get her a leash and catnip."
Ignoring his comments, Yin crawled forward and sniffed a bit. The bushes moved again and her claws flexed. She sprang into the bushes but her target flew out instantly and she heard Tobi yell "rabbit!" Yin spat a curse and lifted onto two feet while brushing herself off. She heard Deidara chuckle a bit or maybe it was a sneer.
"Can't even catch a rabbit, Yin, hm? How'd you manage to get into Akatsuki with skills like that, hm?"
"Shut up, pretty boy," Yin snapped, watching as Tobi chased the rabbit. Watching where Tobi was going, she sniffed the air again. Her coal eyes slightly widened, "Tobi!"
"Gah!" Tobi stumbled backward as 3 shinobi jumped out of the bushes. Yin jumped forward, eyes darkening to crimson as balls of shadows formed in her hands. Thrusting them forward, she spat an unidentifiable word and the shadows exploded. It was enough to stop them in mid-ambush.
"Oi, thanks, Yin" Tobi rubbed the back of his head.
"Don't thank me," Yin bared her fangs, "I would've rather let you get hit. Don't be so stupid, think!"
With a scowl at him she turned back to face her opponents. They were from Getsugakure…joy. Her eyes rolled as she grew annoyed. These three must've been foolish enough to track and follow her. Many young Jounin seemed to just love doing so. Now here was the problem, did she kill them or make them beg for mercy?
"Seems like Miss Yin joined the Akatsuki," one of the males murmured.
"Must've decided to take refuge to protect herself. Can't watch your own back now, Yin?" The female sneered and Yin gave her a devilish smirk.
"I'd be careful, Sorreh," the third male warned the female. "To be in Akatsuki just makes them more dangerous."
"Oh Mao, quit being so overly wary," Sorreh rolled her eyes. "I'm sure Yukito agrees."
"He's right, Sorreh," Yukito watched the overconfident girl scowl. "We should be careful."
"You two are never any fun!" Sorreh huffed and crossed her arms. "Let's just get them! 3 Akatsuki at once would make us heroes."
"What a confident bunch," Yin smiled, amused.
"We've no time for them, un," Deidara made a hand sign, "katsu."
"What are yo-" Yin was cut off from a blast and head snapped in the direction of the three shinobi. "!?"
She realized bombs had gone off and a small frown came across her features. "Not fair."
Deidara rolled his azure eyes and grabbed a hold of Tobi, dragging his partner with him.
"We have places we need to go, hm."
"Right," Yin muttered and followed, annoyed at him. They hadn't even known each other a day and she wanted to just slap him. He needed a good slap to the face. In her mind she insulted him a thousand times over. He was so arrogant! Overconfident! His attitude was going to get him killed! Yin bared her fangs, but as she thought about it, she slowly calmed down. Wasn't she arrogant? Sometimes overconfident? Didn't she have an attitude? Yin just rolled her eyes and sighed. Stupid boy.
When night came to the trio and they stopped to rest, Yin took a seat in a spot where she could see the sky clearly. The sparkling stars soothed her and a small smile managed to kiss her lips. The sky was always so beautiful in the night. Darkness…night…two of Yin's favorite things.
"Tobi, cut it out, un!" Yin heard the two moving behind her. She wondered how those two ever became partners. All they ever did was argue! Those two must disrupt a lot of poor people when they stayed in a village. For once Yin felt a small ounce of pity for the village people for having to listen to their nonsense.
As all went quiet behind her, Yin felt a pair of eyes bore into her. It became obvious to her that Deidara was watching her. She didn't really care or anything but was slightly curious as to why he was staring.
"Stupid girl, un." She heard him mutter to himself and rolled her eyes. Stupid blonde, she thought in return. Her ears twitched as she heard him approach and from the corner of her eye she saw him take a seat next to her. All was silent for a few mere moments until Deidara sighed and tried to start a conversation with her.
"You're an artist, then, hm?" His azure pools -that still reminded Yin of the moon –glanced at her.
"I guess so," Yin shrugged, "I love artsy things and anything theatrical."
"And what about your ability with the shadows, un?"
"I can do art with them, yes. But I don't always. But I'm guessing you're an artist of sorts?"
"Of course I am, un," his eyes slightly narrowed, "my art is the best there is, un."
"You sound arrogant," Yin laughed. "You art is only the best when nobody can beat it." She saw him grimace and seeming to recall memories, a smirk spread across her lips. "What if it happens to be the worse?"
Oh, now that got her a death glare! Yin wanted to laugh at the look on his face. It was obvious to him by now she was trying to annoy him. At least, she hoped so.
Deidara grumbled something she couldn't catch, but she swore it had that bad 'b' word in it. With that he retreated away from her, hands twitching as he was tempted to hit her. Yin merely gave a small chuckle and laid back, watching the stars till her eyes closed and she drifted off to sleep.