The Definition of Freedom

( Italics :thought/flashbacks/dreams) (-- beginning/ end of chapter, and change of scene) ( A/N : any comments from me)

Author's note: Maybe I should say something. The name, Kikai, has a couple of significant meanings in this story. It can mean 'Wonderful', and it can also mean 'An opportunity', which Kikai is to Kaeda indeed. This has no reference to shino and his Kikai bugs. They don't mean the same thing, promise!

Disclaimer: If I owned Naruto, all the men would be required to walk around naked. (Well, the hot ones anyway...)

--(Dendai's POV)--

"Whoa. Who's Kikai and who is he to Kaeda. Seriously.", I said, watching my friend as she floated around the bar, ten minuets before opening as I gently applied make-up. I sat with the Akatsuki as I asked this question. Kisame shrugged. God, I love his shoulders, so broad. The blonde, Deidara, spoke up, interrupting my delicious train of thought..

"No idea who he is to your little friend, but he's a swordsman for hire we met on the road, yeah. he and his buddies were lookin' for a little girl with red hair and blue-", he stopped, seeming to get it, as he turned his head and openly stared at Kaeda. Any other time, he would have been given a split lip, a black eye, and a bloody nose for the way her looked at her, but today she just smiled and went about polishing the bar.

My eyebrows nearly shot through the roof (Glad they didn't. I'm not sure if we could've afforded the repair bill...). "You got a picture of this guy?" I got an, 'Are you an idiot?' look from every male at the table. I shook my head.

"No, seriously. Kaeda would have beaten you shit-less any other day for looking at her like that. Now, she just smiled. This guy must be something!"

Kisame nodded.

"You wouldn't believe how many times she's kicked my ass. She frightens me, a swordsman of bloody mist, to pissing my pants on regular occasions. He must be something' to be loved by the Hell-cat over there."

He shook he head, as if unbelieving. Lord, he has the best face, and to all the women who don't agree, well, less of you to steal him, then.

--(Kaeda's POV)--

I hummed as I poured a young man from the village a drink in time to Dendei's singing. She was happy that Kisame was back. You could tell because her songs had gone from slow and sad to upbeat rock that had brought the women in to dance and have a good time along with the men. Not that I'm complaining. Money's been getting tight, so this should really help.

"Rock this world

Read my lips and watch 'em curl

Rock this world

It don't take much to please this girl-"

It was then that three cloaked figures entered with a tingle of the door bell. I looked up and smiled a welcome. The center figure actually stoped mid-step, and I could feel their gaze acutely on my face. I tilted my head to the side and smiled again.

"Is everything alright?", one of his companions murmured, a woman, by the musical lilt to the voice.

Something about her voice pulled at the back of my mind. There was something familiar about that voice...The figures themselves were familiar, just the way they stood. The threesome aproached the bar, and they reached it at the same time as Kisame. I looked up at Kisame first, and took in his worried face. I frowned immediatly.

"What's wrong? What's the face?"

"How adverse are you to cleaning up a dead and mangled body?" My three mystery customers started, but I simply pursed my lips.

"Ano...depends on why there would be need for me to clean up that sort of mess..." Kisame sneered and jerked his thumb over his shoulder at some out of town newbie that was starting to harass Dendei, who'd just sat down for a break. The second he put his arm around her shoulders and bent down to whisper in her ear, I looked back at Kisame and nodded.

"Not adverse at all. In fact, may I help?" His grin was feral as he pushed away from the bar and started for the dead man across the room.

"Naw. I got it, Hell Cat, but thanks."

"Oi, Kisame!", he turned to look at me over his shoulder, his eyebrow raised. I jerked my chin at the door.

"We don't have enough money to be doing extensive repairs. If you're going to do any heavy damage, take it outside. Or I will take it out of your ass. Comprendo?"

He gave a chuckle as he resumed walking toward his target, his only response of compliance coming in the two finger salute he gave over his shoulder. I turned to look at my new customers, who were hanging close to the door end of the bar. Very close to the door. Not that I could blame 'em. That converastion probably would have weirded out most people.

"Hey, guys? For your own safety, I'd really advise that you move in about...ten seconds..."

But, before I could finish, an very stupid young man-turned-missile came flying towards us. The first cloaked figure was still turned towards me, and couldn't see the threat. Their female companion cried out, and reached out, but I reacted first. I jumped over the bar and tackled one of the stangers-just in time. The above mentioned idiot went sailing along the whole length of the bar table, fell off with a thump, and his momentum carried him rolling out the door and into the street. After him stalked a very pissed off Kisame. I almost felt sorry for the guy. Note: I said almost!

As the door closed after Kisame, loud sounds of crunching bones followed, along with screams of agony. I sighed as I shifted to look at who I'd just saved from an early death. I looked down at the young man, and my breath stopped as I took in black hair and brown eyes. Very familiar brown eyes. He was grining at me. That same old grin that always made you feel like you were the funniest thing in the world. I was off of him in a flash and backing away. This wasn't possible!, I thought as he, too, got up.

"Kaeda?", Dendei called, "Is everything ok?"

She got up and trotted over, then looked from me to him. Then back at me. She opened her mouth to ask a question, but she was interrupted by a black blur that tackled my illusion to the floor.

"Kikai-chan! Tobe is a good boy! He told the scary lady you'd come!!"

He was up then, and draging Kikai towards the table, then shoving him into a chair. I, on the other hand, turned to the two other figures. One was male, one was female, and in an instant, I knew them.

"Hiromu, Satara. Been a while, my fellow misfits.", I smirked, "You guys were supposed to be dead too, if my memory serves me correctly..."

The hoods were thrown back to reveal a tall, beautiful woman possesing dark skin, beautiful black hair, and gentle blue eyes. The other traveler was a skinny guy with tousled blonde hair and lively black eyes. The both smiled at me, their childhood faces reflecting their faces now in my memory. Satara stepped foward and threw her arms around me, followed swiftly by Hiromu. I giggled, so glad to have them back, and not even aware that the bar had gone still and silent. But not from us, oh no. Kisame had come back in, dripping little crimson rivers. I turned and looked at the puddle he made on the floor, then stuck my tongue out at him, as my arms were otherwise engaged. He bared his teeth in a huge grin.

"Poor bastard. I hope he had enough money to afford the proper funeral..."

"He did. But not now.", Kisame said with a smirk as he held up a very large wad of cash-which he deposited on the bar in a small puddle of blood.

"A small...donation...in return for the clean up."

I smirked. Interesting enterprise, that.

"Oh, goodness!!" Satara cried, disengaging herself from me. Then, with a few quick martial arts looking moves, she siphoned the blood off of a surprised looking Kisame, and out the still open door to land on the crumpled mess that it belonged to. I gave an admiring whistle.

"Nice form. You've been practicing."

Satara smiled, and stepped out of her stance. Kisame raised one blue eyebrow.

"Is this the water bender you said used to beat your ass?", he asked with a grin.

I glared at him.

"Mind that you take proper notice of the words 'used to', Fish boy, or I'm going to kick yours." Kisame flipped me the double bird as he walked back towards Dendei at the table, who was eyeing Kikai appreciatively. As I looked around, I noticed so were a bunch of other females.

Oh. HELL. No.

With a growl, I strode over to where Kikai was talking with Deidara, and leaned over his shoulder to whisper in his ear-

"Y'know, you have a fine way of saying hello after ten years. I guess you don't love me after all."

I smirked and straightened up.

"Well then, maybe Hiromu, or Jin have some loving they'd be willing to give me, ne?"

I made as if to walk away, but a strong hand grabed my arm and swung md back around into an unyeilding chest. I heard some of the village men groan.

"Poor guy!"

"He's a gonner..."

"Dead man walkin'."

I smirked and raised an eyebrow. Kikai cocked his head to the side for a moment for for he pressed his lips to mine in a soft and chaste kiss. I frowned, and pushed him away. The hell! Did he think I'd stayed so innocent as to think that kind of kiss was acceptable? Not an effing chance...

"What, did you think that I'd be content with that?! Gimme a break, Kikai. This is how you kiss!"

I leaned over, grabbed the back of the head of Hidan, the idiot who pissed me off earlier this morning, and lip-locked him a fierce tongue kiss that he half seemed to enjoy. There were gasps and mutters from Satara and some of the villagers as I sat down in his lap. Then I nipped sharply on his bottom lip, making it bleed, before I escaped. I turned to look at a now murderous Kikai, and crossed my arms triumphantly over my chest.

"THAT'S how you kiss, Virgin.", was my smug rejoinder that echoed slightly throughout the silent room. I tasted blood, and raised my thumb to wipe it from my lip, before placing the apendage in my mouth and licking it clean. Hidan may have made a noise, but I wasn't sure. All that mattered was the stunned look on Kikai's face.

Score one for the girls!

--

"I cannot honestly believe you did that!"

That was Satara, over the the right, a glass of water in her hand. Everyone else was drinking alcohol, but not Ms. Prissy-Ice-Shard-Up-Her-Ass. Kaeda gave a long suffering sigh over her glass of vodka.

"I can't understand why not. Satara, it's been ten fuckin' years. What did you expect, when I live in a town like this?"

Satara gave a sniff of disapproval, and Kaeda snorted, before flipping her the bird, and getting an outraged shriek in return. I giggled over my beer as I leaned into Kisame. It was near four in the morning, and we'd just closed the bar. Tomorrow was Sunday, so I'd be able to sleep as long as I liked; The store was closed on Sunday.

"I have to admit, you've really changed, Kaeda. It's just a surprise to the three of us. W've been looking for the little girl you used to be, and here you are...all grown up and filled out very nicely."

That would be Hiromu, who was nice, but a little perverted. He had a shot of whiskey in his hand, and another four empty shots next to his right arm. Kaeda simply stuck her tongue out at him.

She then turned to Kikai, who had an open beer in in his hand, and was pouting. She rolled her eyes at him.

"Good Kami, Kikai. It was a freakin' kiss. Get a grip. You brought it on your self, y'know."

He looked up at her, and as their gazes locked, silence fell around the table. Finally, Kikai sighed and looked around with a small smile.

"Still stubborn to a fault, I see."

And Kaeda did something so strange, I nearly dropped my own beer. She giggled!! Like a little girl!! Oh, wow. I had no clue she could do that.

"Of course. It's what I'm good at." , she said with a laugh.

I had to smile. I like this new side of Kaeda.

--

A/N-Okay, there ya go. No as long as my Itachi one, but it's there. I hope you enjoy it, and I promise that I'll be updating soon. After all, now I have time!! Anyway, I want to hear from you. What did you like, what could I do better? Tell me, and Review!!