Hannah ignored Rako's chatter about the ever-so-grand palace in the Village Hidden Among the Stones. The sole reason she was on a date with the Ouji-sama was because Rin, Chika, and Maite conspired against her- an unpleasant shocker- and invited Rako over.
The prince had shown up, dressed in black and gold attire and Hannah wasn't cruel enough to refuse anyone who had spent time sprucing themselves up for nothing. She hated when it was done to her. The American decided not to be a hypocrite or unnecessarily cruel.
"Am I boring you?" Rako sighed, liquid amber eyes reflecting the light strangely.
"A bit," Hannah admitted as they strode the town together.
"I have a place to show you," the northern Ouji-sama expressed with a slight smirk.
The American shot him a suspicious glance. "Not the Hot Springs," she groaned.
"No," Rako's smirk tilted to a wry smile. "But there's an idea."
"Only when hell freezes over," Hannah retorted.
"I can arrange that," the prince smiled. "I am an Ouji-sama after all."
"But of stone, not of ice," the American pointed out.
"I'll have my charming betrothed take care of that."
"By going out with me, aren't you cheating on her?" asked Hannah, arching an auburn eyebrow.
"No. We aren't married yet, but Chiharu tends to be a bit…possessive," Rako shrugged.
"So you're feeling choked and smothered. You poor thing. I'll cry for you when I'm done laughing." The competitor for Gaara burst out laughing at the dirty glare the prince of the land of earth gave her.
They arrived in an observation building dedicated to plants. Hannah inwardly raised her eyebrows, but said nothing. The Ouji-sama seemed nervous. He peered over his shoulder often. His gate was quick and agitated.
The American wondered how horrible Chiharu was to the gold-eyed prince.
"You're the only one I can trust this information with," he whispered, pulling her behind a bushy, thick plant. His tone was urgent and rushed. "I've been marked."
"Marked?" Hannah whispered.
"So have you."
"What do you mean?" the American inquired gravely.
"I know your real name is Hannah and you are from America. You are the target of the assassin, Anger. Anger is in this contest, and she sees you as a threat," Rako warned, eyes darting around.
Contestant seven paled. "Who's after you?"
"Napoleon and the Seven."
"The ones who tried to rape me!" Hannah nearly shouted, but managed a loud whisper.
Rako shot her a pained expression before his head swiveled around.
"I think Anger and Napoleon are in league," the genius murmured to herself. "If Anger wins the contest, Napoleon and the Seven benefit. They can invade Suna easily and the village will fall from the inside."
Rako gave a quick nod. "That's the plan."
"You were one of them, weren't you?" Hannah said dryly.
"How did you know!" hissed the prince.
How cliché. "I'm smart. Shut up and tell me everything."
Rako gave a long sigh, running a hand through his reddish-auburn locks with frustration. "My parents were pressuring me into being the head of the family- which I don't want to be. I ran away from the palace two months ago and came here.
"I bumped into you. You were carrying a couple bags of perishable foods and didn't look up," the Ouji-sama mentioned. The memory clicked in her brain. So he's the tall guy I almost bowled over…
"A few years back, I was approached by Napoleon and was convinced to join the Seven. I had come here specifically to resign. Napoleon wasn't pleased. I disappeared and laid low for a few days. I assume because we look alike" -Rako compared a strand of his hair and hers- "you were assaulted."
"When the Seven realized you were not me, they decided to have a little fun. Napoleon had already struck a bargain with Anger. I know not of what the bargain was. Napoleon informed Anger you were in the hospital. The assassin attempted to poison you and failed."
Rako paused as a pair of botanists chatting animatedly passed.
"Anger has decided to eliminate the weaker competition first. My every step is being dogged. I've had to use various disguises to live in! I've decided to make a stand as soon as I've settled a few matters in Suna and my home," finished the marked Ouji-sama.
Hannah gave a wane smile. "You've got nothing to loose. Give'em hell for me."
Without warning, the prince kissed her. It was fierce and hard. Rako pinned her to the wall with his mouth as his hands gently found and held her hands. His tongue slipped into her mouth. The American was too stunned to do anything, having her head bonked against the wall.
He pulled back with a smirk, eyeing the dazed maiden.
"Wha was that for?" Hannah asked, feeling strange.
"Didn't you know? A kiss from a lady means good luck," Rako grinned mischievously.
"You dirty, foul little boy, I'm going to tan your hide! There's no such means to obtain good luck!" Hannah scowled.
Rako barked a short laugh. "You're right."
The prince burst from behind the plant, laughing, knocking it over. Hannah followed in hot pursuit, screeching every epithet she could think of for 'prince' and 'male'.
P-p-P-p-P-p-P-p-P
The fire started in several places at once. It licked the tender sides of the building, caressing upwards and left black hickeys. It stroked the house with passionate abandon as it shivered helplessly. Five feminine voices trapped inside wailed pleas for help.
Citizens filed in lines, passing buckets of water and splashing it on the fire. The five ANBU members who were guarding the five inside were battling the Seven, effectively distracted.
The blond member of the seven, one of the two who had escaped Hannah's leg furies earlier, ran a hand through his glossy hair, smirking. "Here, kitty, kitty," he purred, teasing the cat-masked ANBU member before him.
In his hand was a blue cat-o'-nine-tails whip. The blonde gripped the handle, his navy glove squeaking. His outfit composed of blue bellbottoms, black boots, and a tight red undershirt with an unzipped cobalt jacket over it.
He adjusted his mask with one finger, smiling at his opponent. The cat-masked ninja remained silent, hurling several kunai. The blond sighed. ANBU were so uncreative. With a mere flick of his wrist, the long snaky whip blocked the oncoming projectiles.
"So," he began conversationally, "what's new pussycat?"
Two rooftops away, another battle was progressing heatedly.
"Suna-Shunshin!"
"Mizu-Shunshin!"
Both the sand ninja and water ninja used the body flicker technique, allowing them high speeds at an almost untraceable speed. They appeared to have teleported as they jumped back and forth, clashing kunai in a deadly dance.
They both leapt back, mirroring one another's movements. The sand ninja threw a kunai, so did the water nin. The weapons sparked, rebounding, and fell uselessly to the ground.
"We are evenly matched," mused the deep voice of Big-and-Hairy.
A burnt orange turban was wrapped around his squarish head. His beady green eyes glittered. He puffed out his bare, tanned chest. He wore burnt orange baggy pants with a deep purple sash tied around his waist. He wore dark gold genie shoes.
"Perhaps," acknowledged the raven-masked female. "Jibaku Fuda: Kassei." Exploding Tag: activate.
Their roof was covered by smoke from a large explosion.
P-p-P-p-P-p-P-p-P
Rako appeared before Napoleon, proud and tall. His golden eyes betrayed no fear.
"So, traitor, you appear," the manipulator of the Seven whispered softly in the unisex voice.
"You come from your shadows," the prince retorted calmly.
"Enough games," Napoleon snapped, hands flashing seals. "Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu!"
The Ouji-sama leapt away from the Great Fireball Technique, hands moving. He brought out a scroll, biting his finger tip, and brushed the blood against the summoning. "Tobidōgu!"
Kunai, trench knives, and other weapons were spat from the scroll and flew toward Napoleon, who did a graceful back flip, avoiding any hits. Rako immediately began another jutsu. "Sōshūha!" Manipulating Attack Blades!
The various weapons flew toward Napoleon seemingly of their own will. The prince controlled the sharp, pointy objects to attack the leader. Unfortunately, the opponent whipped out a kunai and began blocking and evading.
A shuriken sliced a black sleeve, causing a tearing sound. Napoleon grunted quietly, angry. A kunai scraped across the deep blue mask while Napoleon silently fumed.
"Suiton: Daibakufu no Jutsu!" Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!
"Jutsu Shō!" Technique Neutralize!
The two battled on, destroying the surrounding area and taking damages little by little. Napoleon was frustrated; Rako was annoyed; both were getting tired.
The Ouji-sama decided to unveil his ultimate technique. His hands began seals in a whirl of movements. Napoleon waited.
"Yamabuki Tsuki Mohou no Jutsu!" Gold Moon Magi Technique!
Rako transformed. His auburn hair became a shocking white. His tan skin translated to metallic gold as his body wasted to practically skin and bones. The pupils of his eyes mutated into hourglasses. His thin lips represented a line.
P-p-P-p-P-p-P-p-P
Hannah, who happened to be observing the battle from a safe distance after getting a kunai a bit too close for comfort, gaped as Rako transformed into a favorite character of hers from Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's series.
Why the bloody hell did he transform into Raistlin?
P-p-P-p-P-p-P-p-P
Rako thought of his jutsu as he watched his opponent through his mutated eyes- eyes that saw things as time affected them- meaning everything was dying. It was a price to pay for the power that came with the technique.
The jutsu requires I give my health, my normal sight, and my body for powerful chakra to be ingrained in every fiber of my being. The major con is I can't begin to cough.
"Denji Genma!" Electric Demonic Illusions!
The sand particles around Napoleon sparked and the opponent was unable to think or process. The rival clutched their head, falling to their knees.
Rako could feel his throat closing up. The air was too dry. He had to act quickly. "Katon: Kasumi Enbu no Jutsu!" Fire Release: Covering Mist Technique!"
The prince inhaled deeply and exhaled sharply, blowing a flammable gas in the agonized Napoleon's direction. The sparks from the electricity caught and the gas ignited into a large fireball. Napoleon screamed- a feminine cry.
Rako fell to his knees as his throat closed, hacking horribly. Blood ran through his fingers as he covered his mouth with his golden fingers. Curse the weakness of the body!
"Ayame Tori!" A new sexless voice said coolly.
Rako weakly recognized Murderous Grasp as a metal string twined itself around his body. Chakra blazed on the metal. The prince said nothing as the cord was yanked.
P-p-P-p-P-p-P-p-P
Chiharu nearly fell over, tears spilling from her normally flaming orange eyes as she witnessed her betrothed's death. She loved him…and she hadn't gotten to tell him. She had loved him ever since the first summer so long ago…
The user of Murderous Grasp vanished and Chiharu's porcelain face reddened fiercely. She hopped and landed on the roof of her beloved's macabre deathbed and his opponent's.
"You're going to pay for that in blood," the murderous hime promised, clenching her fist.
She was a jealous, possessive, headstrong woman with attitude and she knew it. Rako had been a precious person. And if anyone dared attack her precious person, she would never forgive them, even after sending them on a one way trip to hell.
The opponent stood and Chiharu arched her bright purple eyebrows.
Rin stood, placing a stray piece of black hair behind one ear. Her dark emerald eyes were narrowed. Her tan face was badly burned and slightly melted with the blue mask.
Chiharu stared at Gaara's assistant.
