Disclaimer - I do NOT own Naruto. Sad day :(
The late evening breeze blew across the lake, the sunset reflecting off of the water. A single figure stood motionless along the shore, the wind gently playing with her hair. Her eyes were closed and a small smile pulled at the corner of her lips. Were it not for the movement of her hair one would think she was a statue.
Katsumi was never much of a people person. There was something about the solitude and silence of nature that allowed her to relax. Ironic, since most people in her situation would have been terrified by the fact that they couldn't hear anything.
"Katsumi -chan!" Akiyo turned to see a mass of purple hair running towards her.
"Yumi-chan," Akiyo replied.
"Gomen Katsumi-chan, but Yuri-san has asked that you come to work early. Apparently some of his regular customers are expected today and he feels that it would be best if you were there to serve them."
A single, fine eyebrow arched quizzically before Katsumi nodded and followed Yumi towards the village. Normally she wouldn't have to come in for another hour or so. Why in the world would she need to be there now? Katsumi worked as a waitress at the village tea house and nothing ever happened there. Why couldn't the other girls handle things?
As she walked through the back door she noticed that all the girls were eagerly peering through the blinds that separated the kitchen from the dining area. After a curious glance she reached for her apron hanging from a peg near the door.
"Ah, Katsumi -chan. I'm glad you could come. Sorry for the inconvenience but as you can see," Yuri said as she gestured towards the girls huddled by the door, "these particular customers tend to keep the girls from performing their duties."'
"Why? What's so special about them?"
"Are you crazy?" one of the girls asked. "Two of them look like freaks but the others," her eyes began to sparkle dreamily, "are absolute hunks, especially the dark haired one."
Katsumi listened quietly with an air of indifference. "What village are they from?" she asked while carefully pulling her hair into a bun and holding it in place with a pair of chopsticks.
"They have no village," another girl answered. "Supposedly they are S-class criminals." Katsumi's fingers tightened momentarily around the pitcher of sake in her hand. She quickly finished preparing the tray of tea and sake that Yuri said the clients always ordered.
"So in other words," she started quietly, "you are fawning over hunted men who are murderers that would sooner kill you then look at you." The girls quieted and turned to look at her as she picked up the tray and moved toward them. "Ninjas of the five great nations kill to protect the people of their villages while S-class criminals kill because they can. They like killing and won't hesitate when it comes to delivering the death blow. They are not worth fawning over and if it were not for the fact that they may kill in anger I would refuse to serve them anything. However, seeing as I am the only one capable of keeping my head on straight I guess I have no choice in the matter." And with that, Katsumi pushed past the girls, through the curtain and into the dining room.
I've just started writing fanfics so don't bite me. Reviews and constructive comments are welcomed by this writter (Please and Thank You)!