"I'm not sure what you what did to my brother last night," Temari-san said when I reported for work the next morning. "But he was grinning like a fool when he came home."
I glared my fiercest, but I couldn't help blushing.
"You're even cuter when you're angry," Kankuro came up from behind me and planted a quick kiss on my cheek. I swatted him away and he pretended to look pained. "Aw, back to square one already? Rats." He snapped his fingers.
"Don't any of you take your work seriously?" I asked in exasperation. "We are in the middle of a war here with psychotic Father Time and yet you can laugh and joke around?"
Kankuro put me in a head lock and ruffled my hair. "All the more reason to! Why do you have to be so grim about it? We still have a bright future ahead and we're fighting to protect that. A future that includes you, me, and some kids…"
"Kankuro a father or Madara winning?" Temari-san pretended to imagine it. "I can't tell which future would be scarier."
Kankuro scowled. "I wouldn't be that bad!"
I broke free and charged ahead. "Enough of this, we're late as it is!"
Despite how annoyed I currently was, I was worried about losing them both. All three of them had really taken me into their family and I wasn't sure how I could handle it if anything were to happen to them. Gaara-sama was already out leading part of the allied forces. As it was, Temari-san and Kankuro had already seen action. They only came back to see how the new recruits were coming along. I had overseen one squadron and would continue to lead them when we went to battle. Temari-san and Kankuro were here to see if we were fit to see action.
While I didn't want to fail, in a small way I did. I didn't want to admit it, but I was scared to fight in battle. And against Akatsuki? I shivered involuntarily. Rumor had it that the enemy had resurrected the dead and was using them as part of psychological warfare. Was such a thing possible? Surely not. But if it was…would that mean that I would have to face Hoshigaki-senpai? I doubt he would recognize me anyway. I had come a long way since my gangly childhood. I looked a lot like my mother, with long amethyst hair pulled back into intricate but practical loops. But no matter how tightly I pulled it back, a few strands always came loose and fell about my face. I quickly dismissed my worry. Why should I think about senpai anyway? I haven't seen him in years.
My troops didn't fail me and passed inspection. We were ordered to move out the next day and dismissed to get ready. I had already packed so I wandered around Sunagakure, partly to get some peace, but also to avoid Kankuro. I couldn't have him distracting me and I needed to think clearly. I hated to admit it, but he was right. I was thinking too negatively. If I didn't have faith that we would win, I would be failing the troops. They looked up to me to protect them and lead them with success. I couldn't let them down, but I still couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that the worst was yet to come. Then there was also this small matter of how I felt about Kankuro. I didn't need that kind of distraction right now. I would deal with it after the war. I was surprised when he didn't come to see me that night, and strangely I missed him. I wrapped my arms around myself, remembering his words. I want to set you free. If only he could, I mused.
He came to see me in the morning, gathering me in his arms as soon I stepped out of the door and spun me around. "Good morning! I hope you don't mind me coming so early, there was a change of plans and wanted to tell you myself before Temari bores you with unnecessary details."
Impulsively I wrapped my arms around his neck and held on tight. He stiffened with surprise. "Ritsuko…are you ok?"
I trembled slightly. How could I tell him? How could I tell him how scared I was? How I didn't want me or him to leave? How I wished we could carry on like we always had before this terrible war. I just couldn't bring myself to say a word. I didn't want him to think I was weak…but I was.
He hugged me even harder. "I know. I'm scared too."
I pulled back with a start. How could he tell what I was thinking?
He brushed my hair aside so he could look into my eyes more clearly. "You won't be alone. I'll be there with you, every step of the way."
It was then that I realized how I was still in his arms and with my own around his neck. This was fair too intimidate in public. Blushing, I climbed down and smoothed out my clothes. "What are you talking about? A General knows no fear."
He looked a little sad, almost as if he was thinking; There she goes again building up her personal defenses. As we went to rejoin the others he filled me in with the changes and we didn't speak again once we all set out to the battlefield. We must have been on the outskirts because we didn't meet a single person, friend or foe the whole journey. It would be a few days before we reached the main force so we camped for the night on a mountain top. It was strangely nice to get away from all that sand and be back in the woods again.
Once everyone had turned in for the night, I wandered off on my own a ways. I sat over looking the cliff, lost in my thoughts. The brisk evening wind chilled my arms. To my surprise, a blanket was placed about my shoulders. I turned to see Kankuro standing behind me. He gave me a tender smile and gently squeezed my shoulders. "Are you feeling alright General Ritsuko?"
"You're flirting with insubordination," I growled. "You should be back with the troops."
"And so should you," he pointed out, taking a seat beside me. "So we're both breaking the rules." He looked worried. "Are you sure you're all right?"
"I'm not sure I can do this," I frankly admitted. "I'm not strong enough to lead an army. I don't know the first thing about war. Especially one that will determine the fate of this world."
"You're plenty qualified to lead," he assured me, resting a hand on mine and squeezing it. "And we're all here to back you up."
I laughed half-heartedly. "Until I make some bumbling mistake that wipes out half the troops."
He smiled tenderly. "I'd still be there for you, and one is better than none."
In spite of myself, I blushed. "Thank you Kankuro."
He leaned in to gently kiss my cheek. "Everything will be alright, so don't worry about it. I'll see you later ok?"
I nodded. "I won't be much longer. I just want to enjoy the view."
He left and I lay back on the grass looking up at the stars. I let his comforting words wash over me, and quieting my own fear and doubts. Once I felt better, I stood up and went back through the forest to retire for the night.
"Ah Ritsuko the Loner," a deep voice purred in the darkness. "You're still as lovely as ever."
That voice. Something about it struck such great fear in me that I couldn't move. A strong pair of arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me back. It took my breath away; like I had been suddenly drenched in icy cold water.
"Have you missed me?" The voice chuckled cruelly. I struggled and strained against his grip. "Ah that's right, you don't remember me do you?"
"Who are you?" I asked, though I wasn't sure I really wanted to know.
He lifted one hand to turn my chin so I could look over my shoulder and into his face. He wore a strange spiraled mask. I recognized it from the picture at the de-briefing and I sucked in my breath. It was Madara! But, but what was he doing here? And more importantly, what did he want with me? He lowered his grip on my chin to rest it on my neck. "It's a shame that you don't remember," he lamented. "We used to have such lovely times together."
"And what times were those?" I blurted out. Had he completely lost his mind?
His hand tightened around my neck, not enough to cut off air supply, but as a warning that he could at any moment. "Itachi may have erased your memory but that does not change the fact that you are still a part of Akatsuki," he snarled in my ear. "And when the time comes, you will do your part. You are my little trump card after all."
He was scaring me so badly that I started to wheeze. Why did he have this effect on me? To make me feel so utterly weak and helpless?
He chuckled again, clearly enjoying the effect he had over me. His grip on my waist lowered slightly. "Though I think you will enjoy this assignment best of all."
That definitely crossed the line. I tried harder to push him away, but it was no use. He continued on, whispering in my ear. "You've always had such spirit. I can see why he never got over you. I'd love to have you all to myself as well if I wasn't so busy."
A severe chill ran down my spine and my knees trembled. He let go and I fell to my hands and knees. When I whirled around to confront him, he had disappeared.
His voice still lingered in the darkness. "Welcome back to the team, my dear."
