Team 7 has been on a lot of missions over the years…escorted a lot of royalty to their desired destination. But to escort a princess…might stir up one member's past, for better or for worse.
Normal Text –talking-
Italics –thoughts-
Pretty basic right? This is my first fanfic so constructive criticism is welcome. :D
Thanks,
-bumblebeebre (:
Chap 1. Clawed Surprises
Sasuke awakened to the sound of his alarm, rolling out of bed with sleepy eyes and bed head. He walked into the bathroom to shower his tired body, hoping the warm water would put him in a better mood. Stepping out of the shower carefully, walking over to the mirror wiping the reflectivesurface with his hand, letting out a sigh. The silence was bothering him yet again like an itch under his pale skin. He looked at himself in the mirror and slowly let his mind wander. Maybe if he had a girlfriend she would be banging on the door, telling him to hurry up. He would walk out of the bathroom, only in his towel. Her face would grow red from his lack of clothing. Sasuke would kiss her forehead and apologize. After a moment of silence she would rush into the bathroom, slamming the door to hide her now scarlet face. Smiling at the thought he proceeded to get dressed. Dressing in the typical jounin uniform; black shirt, pants, shoes and fingerless gloves, adding his green vest. Looking at the time he grabbed his backpack, headband and keys, locking the door behind him. He took his time getting to the gate, tying his headband on his forehead as he walked. Assuming the idiot would be late.
"Hey! What took you so long teme?" the obnoxious blonde yelled.
"Quiet down idiot, people are still sleeping." Sasuke whispered back. Naruto crossed his arms and pouted.
"Not my fault Granny Tsunade made us get up so early." He complained.
"Enough bickering lets go get this bitch." Sakura yelled marching away, leaving Sasuke and Naruto at the gate.
"Someone's cranky when she's denied sex." Naruto remarked. Sasuke nodded at the comment, they both then proceeded to the Rain Village.
Later that day…
Upon arriving to the palace they came about two large gates with intricate locks opening at the summoning of water. Click, click, click! the locks turned and finally opened to reveal a huge palace, lush with vegetation. The sky beaming from the sun peaking through the storm clouds. Looking behind him the palace stood proudly over the village. The doors of the palace opened and two figures emerged. Sasuke assumed it was the king and queen.
"Welcome Leaf ninja to our village. We appreciate you taking the time to escort our daughter safely. My name is Nobuko and this is my lovely wife Hotara." The woman smiled at the ninja her face was very elegant with baby blue eyes and white hair.
"Ayamamiki will be out shortly." She said in a gentle voice. As almost on queue the doors behind them opened to uncover a girl in a silky yellow kimono with black vintage patterns. A black obi was tied around her petite waist; a moonstone was embroidered on the black fabric. She had long black wavy hair reaching her mid-back. Her face was covered with a white mask, tiger claw marks painted on her cheeks. Tigress and Royalty symbols were painted on her forehead slightly concealed by her fringed bangs.
"Ah, there you are Ayamamiki." Her mother said putting a piece of hair behind her ear.
"Where's Mamoru?" the king asked looking around the room for someone or something.
"I believe he's out in the garden, sir." A servant informed him.
"I see. Can you retrieve him for Ayamamiki? I'm sure she would enjoy his company on her journey." The king smiled down at his daughter. The servant gulped and fear crossed his face.
"Are you sure someone else couldn't get him?" the servant asked hoping the king would ask someone else.
"I gave you an order, now go." Nobuko waved away the servant. About five minutes later a scream echoed through the halls. It was the servant they saw a little while ago running through the corridors, a giant tiger chasing him. Naruto pulled out a kunai, ready to attack the beast.
"No!" the princess said sternly, putting her hands on Naruto's. The princess turned around abruptly, lifting her mask and whistled using her hand.
"Mamoru!" she yelled. The large beast stopped where he stood and ran towards the princess. Out of instinct Sasuke stepped in front of her katana ready. The tiger stopped about two feet in front of Sasuke, growling at man. Ayamamiki quickly put her hand on his shoulder, the other one on his hands gripping the katana.
"Stop, please. Mamoru is no threat to you, anyone or me. He has no intentions of harming me. Her voice gentle yet harsh. Sasuke lowered the sword, putting it away. He stepped behind the princess, next to his teammates. Ayamamiki turned back around to face the ninjas, Mamoru at her side; she scratched the tiger's large head.
"You keep that thing as a pet?" Naruto said wide-eyed.
"Yes, is there something wrong with that?" the princess asked.
"He's a cat, a giant cat that could kill you. I would think that would be considered wrong." Naruto said, not realizing who he was talking to. When Naruto said giant he meant it Mamoru in height came about three inches shorter than the princess. Sasuke and Naruto watched the large creature purr under the Ayamamiki's gentle touch.
"Mamoru's parents were killed when Ayamamiki was ten. He was going to be put down, since there was no zoo or sanctuary that could take him in. Ayamamiki begged us to not to and swore she would take care of him. He started out just as lazy yet playful cub. But when Ayamamiki needed his protection from a creepy servant we had. Mamoru attacked him, protecting Ayamamiki, hence the name, Mamoru meaning "protector". After that he just fit in, we've had him ever since." Hotara explained. Naruto leaned out to pet the creature and Mamoru growled. Naruto jumped back about five feet.
"How does he fit in? He seems to hate everyone except Ayamamiki." Naruto yelled pointing at the creature, his voice cracking.
"He doesn't prefer men. He likes women more at first; he's a good judge of character. But he of course likes Ayamamiki the most." The king said calmly. Sakura stepped forward to touch the creature.
"No, Sakura, don't." Naruto warned. The tiger stepped back and growled at the girl. Sakura pulled her hand back quickly.
"Hn. Seems like Mamoru is a very good judge of character." Sasuke remarked. Ayamamiki giggled. "Cute." He thought. "Did I just call a girl's laugh cute?" Sasuke shook off the thought.
"I have a feeling Naruto and Mamoru are going to get along quite well during this mission." Ayamamiki said laughing, everyone joined in. Naruto crossed his arms and huffed.
"Well I guess we better get going." Sakura said. The king nodded.
"Nuko will you please suit up Mamoru?" the king asked the still shaken servant. Nuko didn't move.
"I'll do it you big baby." Ayamamiki sighed. She walked to a nearby closet. She pulled out armor, a saddle and a few packs to be strapped to Mamoru's sides.
"How can such a small woman pick up such heavy equipment? Plus, she was royalty; it's not her job to do things like that by herself. Hmm...an independant woman, which means a headstrong woman." He sighed. "The servants around here need to man up." Sasuke thought.
"Would you like some help princess?" Sasuke asked. She looked up with her white mask.
"No, I'm fine thank you Sasuke." She said sweetly. Sasuke stopped for a minute. "How does she know my name?" "Probably mentioned it earlier." He told himself.
"As you wish princess." Sasuke said stepping away, watching her carefully from a distance.
"Hey Teme when your done gawking at the princess, we'll be outside." The loud-mouthed blonde yelled from the front door. Ayamamiki dropped the armor at his comment. Sasuke rushed over picking up the armor. He looked down at the girl.
"Naruto doesn't really think about what he says before he says it. I wasn't gawking at you so don't get excited or offended." He said coldly. "How rude." Ayamamiki thought.
"It's fine. Naruto didn't come off as the brightest crayon in the box." She said slightly making him smile inside at the cute saying. "And trust me I wasn't flattered or offended." She said dryly pulling the armor out his hands, placing it on Mamoru.
"Hn. No need to be rude to me princess. You may be royalty, but as soon as we leave this village. You take orders from me." Sasuke stared at the petite woman. She was tiny compared to him only reaching above his tight stomach.
"Ha!" she scoffed stepping closer to the large man. "I feel bad for that pink-haired girlfriend of yours. She must have a lot of patience to deal with you." She turned back around tightening the straps on Mamoru's belly.
"Well that just proves your intelligence. Sakura and I are not seeing each other. I don't have a girlfriend." Sasuke said raising his voice slightly.
"Really? I'm surprised... you're such a charming person." Ayamamiki said full of sarcasm.
"Feisty." he thought smiling.
"Like you're any better. I feel sorry for the prince you're marrying. What is it an arranged marriage?"
"No he chose to propose to me." She said stepping in front of him again. Sasuke gave up. He obviously wasn't going win against this girl and definitely wasn't going to fight with her.
"Are you finished?" she snapped.
"Yes are you?" He said pointing to the cat. "We do have a schedule to keep if you wish to be on time for your own wedding." He crossed his arms glaring at the girl.
"Almost." Her voice calm again. She turned to Mamoru for the last time and placed a helmet on his head. The helmet covered the cat's head leaving his mouth, ears and nose exposed, except for a piece of metal running down the bridge of Mamoru's nose. "Done. Are you ready to leave? Mr. Uchiha?" she asked crossing her arms as well, giving him an annoyed look behind her mask.
"As soon as you are princess." His face and voice emotionless. With that she walked out the front door brushing past Sasuke. He caught a whiff of her scent. She smelled like honey and rain a weird but seductive smell. The fragrance clouded his head for a minute. Once he was back to normal, he too walked out the front door. Sasuke watched as Ayamamiki hugged and kissed her parents goodbye. "I have a feeling this mission is going to be challenge. A headstrong princess, there's going to be a lot of arguments." Sasuke thought. Ayamamiki side-mounted Mamoru and they're journey to the Cloud Village began.
A/N: HAI! Super thanks to the reviewers. They gave me the push to post this first chapter, I hope of many. Special thanks to my beta : Kyoru-Sonamy Fan. You were so nice and helpful! I was kinda scatter-brained in some areas. Hopefully its better! So enjoy and do you think Sasuke and Ayamamiki are going to bump heads or what? haha. Review and maybe click that magical GO button.
Later,
~bumblebeebre
