I own nothing.
You didn't think I did, did you?
Chapter Two
Don't scream anymore, my love...
"Remember, it's all about confidence. Stand strong. The wind will not dare to blow you over. Gravity cannot pull you down. You are ninja. Force the elements to kneel at your feet."
Eien and her students stood carefully balanced on the top of ten foot poles in the middle of a lake. A breeze blew about their clothes and the light from the setting sun glinted on the surface of the water. Long strands of golden, silver, crimson, and blue-black hair danced and sparkled around their respective owners. The moment stretched on and on, glorious and breath-taking. Then...
"AAAAAHHHHH!!!!!"
The scream was cut off by a loud splash. Eien's head fell back as she sighed. Fuyu tried hard not to laugh. He failed.
"Are you okay, Chidarake?" Sakuya called down as the girl bobbed back to the surface of the water.
"Fine." Rei began swimming to shore.
Eien rubbed at her temples, trying to ease her developing headache. "Let's just call it quits for the day. I'll see all three of you in the morning." She poofed away.
The two boys dived off the poles into the water and followed Rei to shore. Rei pulled herself out of the lake and turned to watch her teammates race lazily to the shore. They were all still so distant. Sure, they went out to dinner occasionally but on missions... Still all was silence. Luckily there had been no more attacks. Though Megami-sensei still abandoned them in random places.
"Whatcha thinking about, Chidarake?" Fuyu wrung out his braid and tossed it back over his shoulder. Rei's lips twitched at the feminine gesture. She turned her head away from him. If he caught the look... Well, she didn't even think about what he'd do.
"Chidarake?" The sound of Sakuya's voice reminded Rei that she'd never answered the question.
"Just wondering if Megami-sensei is going to abandon us again soon."
Fuyu rolled his eyes. "Don't. If you think too loud, she'll somehow know."
Sakuya suddenly grabbed Rei and hugged her. "But it'll be all right," he said over her squeak, "'cause we have you to protect us from random forest ninja."
"When did she protect us before?" Fuyu asked.
Sakuya smiled brightly. "The first time. How could we have possibly survived if Chidarake hadn't done something awesome?"
"Megami-sensei showed up at the last second and saved all three of us?" Rei offered.
"Seems likely to me," Fuyu added.
"More likely than me suddenly developing super powers," agreed Rei.
Sakuya frowned, the expression on him still just too pretty. "You're thinking bad things about yourself again. Don't."
Rei blinked at his serious tone. Then she gave him a slight smile. "It's just my pity party, Mikazuki. I have them all the time. No worries."
Fuyu looked back at them. "Not to ruin your warm fuzzy moment but weren't we supposed to meet with Lord Asahi after training?"
Sakuya finally let go of Rei. "Megami-sensei must have forgotten. Should we go ahead and go?"
"It was an invite for us, not for her." Fuyu shrugged. "I don't think we need her to tag along."
"The invite was for the team," Rei pointed out. "Megami-sensei is supposed to be a member of the team."
"She can be member of the team when she stops just leaving us places." Fuyu's voice held no room for argument. Sakuya and Rei exchanged a look, Rei looking slightly worried and Sakuya smiling as always.
While they were talking, the three had began drifting toward the tower in the center of the city. Despite the conversation they had all apparently subconsciously decided to go ahead to the meeting. Within a few moments they stood before Lord Asahi's desk.
"Good morning, Team Tsubasa." The man smiled at them. They all three bowed slightly in response. "I've been wanting to see you. I've been hearing some things that disturb me."
They waited for the lord to make his point.
"Mikazuki and Namida, you know quite a bit is expected of you. Both the land of water and the land of snow are pushing for Frost to join them. Many are counting on you as the strongest of your generation. In fact, we are thinking of sending you to the Chuunin exams for the year. So far the both of you have exceeded expectations. The problem is you, Chidarake."
Sakuya was standing slightly behind Rei. At Asahi's words he leaned forward and wrapped his arms around her neck, hoping to comfort her. Over the past three months, Rei had become used to Sakuya's touchy-feely ways and his odd habit of hugging her like that. Sakuya felt a flash of hurt when she tensed up. Placing the blame on Asahi, he sent the lord a death glare over his teammate's shoulder.
The lord gave the boy a faintly surprised look but continued undaunted. "Chidarake, if your performance doesn't improve soon, we'll have to transfer you to another team."
"I thought we had to be part of a three person team to take the Chuunin exams," Fuyu said.
"You do," agreed Asahi.
"Then how are we supposed to test without Chidarake?" The tense set of the silver haired boy's shoulders gave lie to the casual tone of his voice.
Asahi shrugged. "We'd have to replace her."
Sakuya's arms tightened around Rei's neck.
"Mikazuki, I can't breath." Rei's voice was choked.
"Sorry." He let her go.
"Now, on to why I really called you here." Asahi pulled three scrolls from his desk and handed one to each team member. "I need all three of you here tomorrow morning with Megami Eien. Read the scroll I gave you. If you do not think you can handle the mission I will assign you, do not arrive." He looked each of them in the eye. "At your ages, it is unusual to be given a mission such as this. There is no dishonor in turning it down. Dismissed."
As the lord went back to his paperwork, Fuyu, Rei, and Sakuya filed out of the office. They walked in silence to the place where they split to go their separate ways.
"Bye, guys," called Sakuya. Fuyu waved back over his shoulder. Rei didn't seem to hear Sakuya or see Fuyu. She simply continued on down the street.
Rei was so focused on the ground in front of her feet, she failed to pay attention to what was happening in front of her.
"Hey there, Rei-chan." Rei felt her stomach drop to her feet and her heart lodge itself in her throat at the sound of the sarcastically sweet voice. She slowly looked up, her pale blue eyes meeting orbs of warm golden brown.
"Natsu-san," Rei returned the tiny brunette's greeting politely.
Natsu's smile turned wicked and feral. "So willing to meet my eyes now, Notmuchova?" She took a step closer to the taller girl. "Has getting a new team given you enough confidence that you're now immune to my bloodline?" Her eyes began to glow.
Rei's ice blue eyes immediately snapped away. "I'm afraid I have to go, Natsu-san. I have a meeting early in the morning." She backed away a few steps before during her back on the girl and fleeing the scene.
Natsu's laughter followed after her. "Still a coward, Rei-chan. They'll replace you soon. Then whatever will become of you?"
As soon as Rei was sure she was out of Natsu's sight, she began running. She ran until she was no longer sure what she was running from.
"If they had been been stronger, it wouldn't have happened."
"Foolish of him to split things up like that."
"That child of theirs is just as bad as they were."
"Her uncle being lord is the only thing that got her into the Academy."
"It'll be the only thing that gets her to graduate too!"
Cruel, harsh laughter echoed in Rei's head. She ran faster. Eventually, she ran out of room to run. She screamed bloody murder when she slammed into someone's chest.
"Chidarake?" Fuyu shook her slightly as she screamed, eyes sealed tightly shut. "Chidarake, it's me, Fuyu!" He grabbed the girl's hand as it flew toward her kunai pouch. "Calm down!"
Rei finally ran out of air to scream with. "Namida?" she managed to gasp out while trying to get her breath back.
"Yeah, it's me." Fuyu checked over Rei's shoulder. "Is somebody after you?"
"No, I'm fine. I just got lost and was...a little nervous." Rei looked up Fuyu. He seemed a little close.
At the same time, both of them realized that Fuyu had a hold on Rei's arms and was holding her close. They turned bright red. Rei quickly pulled away. They carefully looked away from each other.
Rei cleared her throat. "I think I've figured out where I am. I should probably go on home before it gets too late." She began to walk away.
"Chidarake?" Fuyu's voice stopped the girl in her tracks.
"Yes, Namida?"
The boy stared at the redhead's back. At some point the sun had set. The girl's burgundy hair looked black in the moonlight and she was practically invisible. He didn't want to admit it but she had startled him when she had come flying out of the shadows.
"Namida?" Fuyu watched the long curtain of hair sway as Rei looked at him over her shoulder.
"It's nothing, Chidarake. You should go get some sleep so you can go with us to get Megami-sensei in the morning."
"I'll see you in the morning then." Rei quickly disappeared into the shadows once more.
Sakuya stared with unseeing eyes at the scroll clenched in his fist. He had already read it three times but he still couldn't believe what it said.
"Mikazuki? Are you alright?"
Sakuya jumped at the sound of his teammate's voice. He turned around and smiled. "Hello, Chidarake. Have you, uh, gotten a chance to read the mission scroll?"
Rei gave him a confused look. "No, I'm afraid I haven't made it home yet. Why, what does it say?"
Sakuya handed the girl his wrinkled and wadded up scroll and then waved for her to take a seat on a nearby bench. As she began reading, he began pacing. He didn't have to read the scroll again to know what it said.
What you are about to read is a confidential reconnaissance report from Arashigakure. Do not allow any copies of this scroll to fall into the hands of anyone outside of your team. Consider the contents carefully, discuss among yourselves if you wish, then report to my office come morning.
-Asahi
"As previous reports have suggested, the Lady Abunai does indeed have the scroll we have been searching for. The scroll is kept on her person at all times. However, her security is impenetrable and on the surface she seems to have no weakness. Luckily, after many months of watching we think we have found a way in.
"Once a month, in the dark of night, two or three young boys are allowed in through the back doors of the complex. The only tricky part to this will be finding the right boys. The ones we've watched go in thus far have been unusually. We would suggest sending a request out to our allies for assistance with this project. We await your response.
Rei looked up the still pacing form of her teammate. "Are you going to go through with it?"
"Yes," he replied instantly. Then he shook his head. "No." He flopped down beside Rei. "I don't know. What do you think?"
Rei sighed. "I don't know what to tell you. This can be no one's decision but your own."
"Do you think Namida will do it?" Sakuya leaned into Rei slightly. She didn't seem to notice.
"I don't know how to answer that either." Rei smiled slightly. "I have faith in you both though."
"Faith that we'll go through with this?" Sakuya asked.
Rei shook her head. "No, faith that you'll do the right things by yourselves and by your nindo."
Sakuya smiled. "You're not exactly the fount of all confidence, are you?"
Rei blushed slightly. "Sorry, Mikazuki..."
Sakuya leaned even closer to her and tucked his head into the crook of the girl's neck. "I don't mind if you call me Sakuya, you know, Rei."
Rei was burning darker and darker red as Sakuya cuddled closer. She tried desperately to keep her mind in the conversation. "Very well, Mi-I mean, Sakuya. I think you should do whatever you feel comfortable with. Self-respect is more important than reputation."
Sakuya smiled and leaned over Rei so that he was practically hovering over her with his face inches from hers. "What you think about me means a lot to me," he whispered huskily.
Rei's glared at him as her face turned cherry red. "You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"
Sakuya chuckled. "I can't help myself. You're just so cute when you blush."
Before Rei could even blink, much less move, Sakuya had moved forward that last inch to place a quick kiss on the girl's lips. He was gone be the time she processed what had happened.
The next morning found Rei standing in front of Eien's house. She eyed the large gates uneasily. All seemed very, very quiet. Slowly she raised her hand to knock. Just before she made contact, the door swung open and Eien stepped out.
"Finally, you're here." The blond gave Rei a slightly scathing glance. "Where are Mikazuki and Namida?"
"They are awaiting us at the tower," Rei replied politely.
"If they even decide to go through with this," Eien muttered under her breath. "Those boys are skilled beyond using their looks for an advantage. They shouldn't have to sneak around."
Rei pretended that she didn't hear the last comment or notice the look her sensei gave her.
Rei saw with relief that Fuyu and Sakuya were indeed waiting in front of the tower.
"Hey, Rei." Sakuya reached out and grabbed Rei's arm. Rei tried to control her blush as he pulled her into the building. Do not encourage him...
"Fuyu and I have been waiting forever." Sakuya was chattering on and on, not seeming to care whether the rest of the team followed or not.
"I don't remember agreeing to this first name thing," Fuyu grumbled. Eien patted him on the shoulder sympathetically.
Asahi let them into the office as soon as they arrived. He had completely removed all paperwork from his desk so that he could focus all of his attention on the children.
"Are you certain you understand what this mission may entail? Mikazuki? Namida?"
Both boys nodded seriously. Sakuya's hand tightened so hard around Rei's that she winced. Asahi stared at all three of them. Finally he sighed.
"Very well. I will send a message ahead so that you are expected. You will leave within the hour."
Taking this as dismissal, Rei, Sakuya, and Fuyu turned to leave. Eien stayed after her students left.
"She needs to be removed, my lord." Eien's voice was determined. "Who knows when she could wind up doing it again."
Asahi sighed. "I think it is helping. I can't imagine Mikazuki or Namida taking kindly to us taking her away."
"They don't care about her one way or another!" snapped Eien.
"They are trained not to show such things." Asahi smiled. "What were you expecting, declarations of love? At least they go do things together now. As for Chidarake being dangerous... She hates using her bloodline. She would never use it unless it were absolutely necessary."
Eien stomped out of the office without bothering to reply.
Well that was boring. I promise I'm going somewhere with this...