Akina Chronicles: Book 2 Crimson & Clover

Author's note: So as said in the summary this is a sequel (so did that spell it out for ya or was it the BOOK 2 part?) If ya haven't read book 1, go back and do it, do it now. ^_^

O-kay. Another time-gap, another new story and another new beginning— Akina's life without Itachi. And as for you who think this story's gonna bomb with Itachi absent for a while… I swear he'll be back! The question being, is what will bring Crimson & Clover back together again… Love or Hate? And what will Akina do to the poor boy? Hmm… Yikes! Gotta read on to find out. ;-)

Chapter's song: "What I've done" by Linkin Park (Don't u just love Linkin Park!)

Chapter 1
Riches to Rags

About two and a half years later (Land of Water)
Akina's walked through the snow— to cause herself to breathe her hot breath into her hands— trying to warm them. But then her pale, plump shadowed lips smirked, "I've always said, for everything there is a season… but this season ain't for me."

The fifteen-year-old then stopped— standing on the outside of the gate of the next town she'd be staying— and with a look as well. Body and clothes wise— she was now a full figured woman, still being quite frail and thin, but a full chest that could be assumed of being most of her body weight. Her ebony hair had been grown back out as it fell to her hips in it's waves; the remnants of side-swept bangs still remaining in her eyes, and just some being held back in a red hairclip. Which matched her red obi tied in a rose, around a black leather corset that she wore a white long sleeved kimono with black trimming that fell off her shoulders, revealing her spaghetti-strap chainmail garment and long fingerless chainmail gloves. She also wore a unique pansy-purple hakama, as one leg of it was cut short— revealing Akina's total right leg, her chainmail stocking and garter, also with her boots that were oriental black-lacquered zori. There was no doubt she was beautiful.

Akina walked into a traditional tavern, sitting down at the bar. "Some warm sake, please."

The waitress poured a fresh thing of the steaming alcohol. "You're not from around here are you?"

The prior-Leaf ninja took the tea and sipped it, to then spit out, "That obvious?"

The waitress smiled and walked away to attend to the other customers. Akina just taking another sip when— SMASH! Went the pane of the window glass as a man was thrown through. Akina glanced quickly over her shoulder, "What the… no rest for the wicked." The green-eyed woman then stood to walk over to the man, when she then stopped— getting a good look at him. Wait… that's Master Jiraiya.

Akina then averted her attention to the woman outside the window with a tight red fist. "You pervert! You ever do that again and I'll throw you through a brick wall!" With that said, she marched away— while Jiraiya eyes rolled around in his head, muttering in pain, "These women are almost as cruel as the Leaf's—" tap! Was the sound of Akina's black-lacquered shoe by the sage's ear? "Huh?" Jiraiya exclaimed, only a blank expression to look up at the person standing above him?

"Oh really now… come on, am I really cruel?" Was Akina's tease to have Jiraiya shoot up to stand to greet the 'bodacious woman!'

"Whoa baby… you hail from the Leaf village, my dear? It must be fate, so do I… please, may I ask your name?"

Akina looked at the Toad Sage with an un-amused peer. More like horny toad… he doesn't recognize me. Oh well… maybe I'll have a little fun. Akina rolled her shoulders back sheepishly, to close her eyes before Jiraiya noticed their magnificent green pigment. "My name is of no meaning when I stand in the presents of you, Master Jiraiya… would you join me for tea?" She said in an innocent purr, showing off her Mochizuki kunoichi skills.

Jiraiya grinned big; oh he was such a player as he thought, $$Jackpot$$

The two sat at the table across from one another when Jiraiya still hadn't caught on who Akina really was, obviously still flirting. "So tell me, what are you doing out here, so far from the village?"

Though Akina still kept her eyes closed, her hands steepled. "Same reasons you are… I've been traveling around for some time now."

"Oh really… how long?"

"Almost three years… I left after my exit from Anbu and after my boyfriend's betrayal."

"So does that mean you're single?"

Akina raised her eyebrows over her closed eyelids. "Huh… so my ex's betrayal interest you more then my achievements?"

Jiraiya was in trouble, can't lose her now lay on the charm. "Um well, I'm sorry… so Anbu, that's impressive, at such a young, beautiful age too."

Akina had enough; this wasn't as fun as she thought it'd be. "Too young for you that is."

"Age is but a number."

"Still hitting on me. I must say your disciple would be disappointed in you, master… flirting with his daughter of all people." Akina then fluttered her emerald eyes open when her hands rested together under them at the bridge of her nose.

Jiraiya had his breath taken, "Y-you're—"

"By the way, you asked me my name… it's Mochizuki Akina-hime." Her smooth voice came— making Jiraiya shoot backwards with a nosebleed, laying his back to the floor as Akina shook her head stretching over to look at him. TWICH, TWICH.

Jiraiya blotted his nose with a handkerchief, implying, "I'm sorry for my rudeness before." Akina just shrugged, to sip her tea at the table. "I can't believe I didn't realize… you look like your mother and your father's personality and obviously his power… making it into Anbu, eh?"

"It wasn't that hard… but once I was in, all I wanted was out…"

"Itachi… I heard what happen, tragic really. So is this another reason you left? You're searching for him."

"Sadly… no. I went after him the night he killed his clan, but—" Akina sipped at her tea once again, popping her lips to then say, "I do wish to see him again someday, but I want fate and destiny to do it… not me."

Jiraiya closed his eyes and crossed his arms. "Hmph… what a shame. Is that how you really feel?" Jiraiya then chuckled, "Yep, father's daughter no doubt… I was hoping you'd be more like me." Akina keened her eyes over her steaming cup— a leery gaze that never left her cold green crystals. "Going after your comrade, even knowing they're rough… it's ironic, that I know both their locations."

Akina eyes popped slightly to set down her cup to the table, both hands placed around it. "Where… exactly?"

Jiraiya smirked; he actually had her attention now. Like dangling a string in front of a mouse. "Well… it's difficult to give an exact location, but I'm sure we could track them down."

The way he said it, it made Akina mistrustful once again. "Why would that be?"

"You see, when Orochimaru left the village he joined a organization called the Akatsuki."

"What's the organizations purpose?"

Jiraiya closed his eyes; she was indeed sharp. "…They want the Jinchuriki's."

Akina softened her eyes, saddened that the Jinchuriki's were considered monsters just like she was. "I see… so are you saying that now Itachi is involved in this organization?"

Jiraiya gave a stern nod. "Sometime when Itachi crossed with the Akatsuki, Orochimaru left. He now resigns in a place called the Sound village… but forget about him, he's easy to pin," Jiraiya paused. "Do you want to find Itachi?"

Akina forestall her sight from Jiraiya— "After the Jinchuriki's… I don't like saying this, but it's impossible. It's not the kind of fate I had in mind."

"I'm sure he wouldn't mind 'seeing' you either."

The woman smirk slightly at what Jiraiya was implying. "I wish he did… I need to keep my eyes on other goals."

"…To secede your father?" Akina stood from the table, being her only answer. "Tell me… have you developed two jutsu yet?"

"Yes and no… only one jutsu."

Jiraiya then also stood, happy to hearing it. "Well, shall we make that a total yes?" Akina then smirked; this wise old perv would actually make himself useful.

Akina and Jiraiya stood across from each other in a snow-covered field. Jiraiya was going to teach her something none the other. "You know of the Resengan… how would you like to put your own name on it."

"Sounds fun…" Akina said, standing with her arms crossed, as she was un-amused as usual.

Jiraiya let out a breath to her sarcasm. "Okay… let me see your Resengan."

Akina looked around and then headed over to face an ice-covered bolder— she built the chakra in her palm, to have it start spinning and then to slam it into the bolder! "Resengan!" CR-BAM went the sound of Akina's Resengan, leaving an impression in the granite stone.

Jiraiya looked in surprise and smiled. The strength and focus of her chakra?

Akina looked to her side, back over to Jiraiya as he had no comment yet. "Well… good enough for ya?"

He smirked. "Well, you got the basics down…"

The teenager turned to face him, straight on once again. "Then let's get to the advanced part."

She was too serious— this reminded why Jiraiya took on Minato as his star pupil. Teaching a Mochizuki, they had way too much pride. Jiraiya shrugged. "You see this isn't anything I'm going to teach you… think of something unique, put your style on the Resengan." Jiraiya now turned away, he stepped up to an iceberg. "Like so…" chakra then began to build in his palm, but it changed from the traditional Resengan— for it changed to fire, which then came, "FIRE STYLE: FIRE RESENGAN!" FLEW! Went the sound of the melting ice as it eventually just blew.

Akina watched the bright fire light fade— smoke stayed present with the blowing chakra in the bitter air currant. "…I see." Was Akina's only mention.

Jiraiya took a breath and began walking away. "Well, I'm heading back to town… you coming?"

Emerald eyes looked away— at the melted iceberg. She had to come up with something better. "I think I'll stick around here for a tad longer."

The sage shook his head, scolding and proceeded away. "Suite yourself."

"Believe me I will?" Akina's said in a murmur. Jiraiya peeked back when she rebuilt the Resengan in her palm, and then he looked to the sky as he walked away from her. She's one of a kind… just like you, Yasuo.

Next Morning (Hotel)
Jiraiya made his way down to the lobby— scratching his backside, "Ahhh-um." he shook his head, to wake him up as he went to the front desk. "Excuse me… did you ever see a young women, about fifteen with… um green eyes, black hair, come in last night?"

The man shook his head. "Not that I've seen, sir."

Jiraiya nodded in appreciation and pushed away from the desk, going outside into the streets. "She stayed out all night… well, I guess I should go see what she's doing?"

The man headed for the outskirts of the town, when "Hey there, handsome… care to get out of this cold weather?"

Jiraiya then looked to his side as a, promiscuous woman stood outside the brothel. Jiraiya blushed heavily as he grinned devilishly wide to think back, I'm sure she doesn't need me… you are your father's daughter after all. Jiraiya proceeded into the brothel. "Sure sweetie… what's your name?"

Around sunset— Akina walked back into the snow-blanketed town. She looked back and forth as she strolled the brightly lit, crowed streets. "Where did that old sage go off to?" Akina then pasted the brothel, and then backed up as she looked in from her side with suspicion. Akina sighed heavily, and made her way in— she stuck out from all the other woman that were skimpily dressed. But Akina ignored all the sex appeal around her, as she first went up to the bar to grab a drink— then she looked around for her… well, she didn't know what to call him— wasn't teaching her anything that's for sure.

Pale lips took a sip of her sake, as she looked around for Jiraiya— and then to spot him with his guffaw. He had woman surround him, including Akina when she approached him, standing and scolding, "Do you have any restraint?"

Jiraiya looked to the under aged girl as she held her drink. "Um, I could say the same thing to you?" she shouldn't had been drinking, but it wasn't the worst she could do in a place like this.

Akina just ignored him and it irritated Jiraiya when she took another bitter sip— to then to only defend, "I have it… I just choose not to use it… when it comes to beverage."

Jiraiya had enough, wasn't arguing with miss impossible. "Same here… did you come up with anything yet?"

She swerved the sake around the bottom of her glass. "Came up with…" she then took her final sip. "…Mastered."

Shock came to the Sages eyes, to have him then stand as his lady friends pouted. "Well… care to prove it?" Akina smirked, setting down her iced-drink.

Akina stood in the middle of the white covered field as Jiraiya stood waiting. She opened her green eyes, to then build the Resengan in her palm, she just kept it spinning as Jiraiya keened his stare. She's using nothing but an ordinary Resengan? But then it changed dramatically, when Akina stopped its spinning in her palm, allowing it somehow to keeps its form, to the quickly slam it to the ground! BANG-FLASH! Jiraiya just stared in amazement as he heard Akina's smooth voice shout, "MOONSHOT RESENGAN!"

Jiraiya watched the blinding light clear, as he reflected, She stopped the rotation, but it's still held its form? He looked at the deep crater and cracks the Resengan had formed. She focused her chakra to build by spinning it into the Resengan then stopping it and holding it with pure force… control and making it build it's power even more without releasing any energy causing it to blow when it hit the earths contact… to have that much control of her chakra?

Akina glanced to Jiraiya, asking only with her green eyes for a comment.

"Actually I'm speechless to tell you the truth… good job. Well, the development of two jutsu can be checked off the list… could I escort you back to the village?"

The princess thought about it and then shook her head. "You could… that is if I was heading back to the village. Please don't try to stop me, Master Jiraiya."

Jiraiya crossed his arms and shrugged. "Why would I do that… besides stopping you is practically impossible."

Akina turned away and laughed a snobby, "Hmph?"

Jiraiya gawk at Akina's back, her kimono as it had a design of a phoenix holding a rose in the ring of the moon. …The Mochizuki clan crest? Jiraiya then had to look away as Akina turned back around and bowed low in her standing form. Jiraiya smiled, he knew she was forcing herself to bow— it wasn't in her nature to bow, but she did. The wind then began picking up as Akina took this opportunity to blow away in black petals. Jiraiya sighed— as she was now gone. "Hmph… huh, one of a kind indeed?" He then focused in on her footprints in the snow— where she had stood in front of him, just one set— for there would be many left behind and many left to come.