Chapter One
A Tale of Two Villages
Haruka sat up with start, rubbing her sore throat with a trembling hand. Her brows were pulled together in confusion at her odd and familiar dream.
"Where the fuck did that come from?"
She shook her head, trying to clear her mind. She hadn't had that dream, or memory, in years -- not since she was fourteen, in fact. So why now? She hadn't thought about that incident in a long while. It was a memory she had locked away, purposely forgotten, for she found it all to be completely humiliating.
Thinking back now, Haruka realized how silly and foolish she had acted that evening. Part of her felt guilty about her lack of respect, her utter stubbornness. She sighed aloud, falling deeply into thought as she wished she could apologize at least for that. To go up to that masked man and say, "I'm sorry I was such a stubborn, moody brat when I was younger! Really, I am grateful you saved my life -- look how far I've come since you stopped that kunai from impaling my skull and I refused to thank you!"
In her odd way of thinking, she was grateful towards him. Not necessarily because he saved her life, but because he provided her with another perspective: some adults had really shitty attitudes. From that, she learned a lesson that helped her separate all the people in her life into two categories. So she was grateful.
But she had to admit, the masked man had been pretty obnoxious.
Letting out a groan of impatience, she swung her legs over the side of her messy bed, massaging at her neck tiredly. Last night had been rough on her, what with her many caseloads and stupid, silly patients. Training to be a medic-nin had been a difficult decision for her to make, but she knew it was worth it in the end. She had always had excellent chakra control and she was often told she was a natural healer -- two factors that had wormed their way into her final decision. It was a lot of grunt work in the beginning, filled with the healing of slimy fish and running around like a servant, but it had all worked out in her favor. Once she had gotten past all that and had completed her apprenticeship, she found life to be quite pleasant, despite the constant work. She worked in the hospital a couple days a week, getting time off when she was required to accompany her team on missions.
At the moment though, she wasn't very happy with her decision.
"I feel like shit," she moaned, pouting childishly as she stretched out her stiff limbs. Her white tank top rose slightly, a bit of golden tummy peeking through. Gaze falling from the ceiling, she glanced towards her reflection in the mirror opposite her. Charcoal and graphite portraits stared back at her, the emotions captured within seeking her out. Her pout deepened.
"I look like shit."
Another sigh and she was up, moving swiftly towards the bathroom, kicking at piles of laundry she knew had been sitting on the floor a long while. She tugged at her black shorts as she walked, pursing her lips and scratching her scalp. Not bothering to shut the door, she turned on the faucet and set about to brushing her teeth. She brushed vigorously, eying her face all the while.
The years had been kind to her, as she wasn't really at that age where people gasped in surprise, squealing, "Oh my gosh, you look so young!" Really, at nineteen, she was the epitome of a young beauty. Well, not a beauty, perhaps. Rinsing out her mouth, she poked at her chin, dismayed at the stubborn way it jutted out. She always felt she was more plain, not as glamorous as the other girls. Like Raya-chan or Temari-san. Naw, she was -- and here she began to cringe at the word -- the cute one. She gritted her teeth. Cute! They only said that because she was so tiny. At about five one, she wasn't really close to the average mark, and this worked for that image of cuteness she sought to eradicate. Or was it her pout? Haruka pouted for a second, inspecting it, and sighed. It was the pout. It had to be.
I have to stop pouting.
But really, she wasn't all that bad looking. Her baby fat had practically melted away during her rigorous training as a genin, leaving her with a defined facial structure that she was proud to admit was rather fetching. The planes of her cheekbones were high and smooth, still blending seamlessly with a face that had angled out nicely. She still had the soft features from her childhood, but they were just more... defined. Her eyes remained the same, dark as a moonless night with a bare hint of a cinnamon brown flecked within. And her lips.. well, she never considered them too plump and luscious but they were.. nice. She wasn't sure. She felt they were uneven, with a smaller upper lip outweighed by a full lower lip.
Haruka sighed. Here she was scrutinizing herself again. She had to admit, she was rather vain. She was just good at hiding it. Biting her lip, she splashed some cold water on her face and dried it off with a towel. The purple bruises that shadowed her eyes weren't all that glamorous, she realized dully. I should take a holiday or something, she thought wistfully.
She shook her head and grabbed a brush, pulling it through her hair. In a matter of minutes, she had it braided messily, tousled bangs falling out to shade her eyes. Wisps of baby hairs curled out to frame her face, just adding to that cute factor she hated so much; she arranged her bangs to hide it. Scowling, she tossed the plait over her shoulder and stalked out the bathroom. She glanced at the clock listlessly, just barely registering the time as she strode towards the kitchen, rubbing her neck wearily.
Ten o ' clock. Did I have something -- OH SHIT.
Her eyes widened and she darted back to the bedroom, slamming her shoulder against the door frame on her way. Eyes widening, she had the briefest feeling of humiliation before she lost her footing and slipped backwards.
"SHIT!"
She lay crumpled on the hard wood floor, clutching her shoulder in pain. "Craaaap," she moaned, her face distorted from the throbbing agony.
"Gaara-sama is going to kill me."
Raya sat still, her gaze fixated upon the mahogany floor beneath her. Her eyes never wavered, never strayed from that little crack. She knew that if her gaze traveled any further... She looked up and flushed, the blood rushing to her face.
He's not looking at me... good, she thought with relief. She let her gaze fall, feeling very self-conscious as she pulled her arms tighter around her body. A curtain of luminous, violet hair fell to shield her face from... him.
Gaara looked helplessly at his brother, who merely chuckled in reply. Gaara heaved a tiny sigh, letting his eyes fall towards the doorway. He refrained from tapping his fingers impatiently, content with thinking of ways to torture Haruka-san when she finally showed up. His vibrant scarlet hair was shaggy, tousled by a light breeze that wafted through the window. His milk white face was blank, carefully guarded from the world. Pale green eyes jumped to the purple-haired girl before him and a light frown tugged at his mouth. She had been acting odd as of late, averting her gaze and talking quietly. He wished it would stop, as he found it to be rather unnerving.
Whilst Haruka had merely grown into her womanhood, Raya seemed to have blossomed over night. Tall and lean, she sat with an elegance that many girls would die for. Her eyes were as green as ever, currently avoiding Gaara at all costs. Her porcelain complexion gleamed beautifully beneath stray rays of light that beamed through the window. Gaara wouldn't deny that she was beautiful, with her long, silken hair and bright, infectious smile. It was her meekness around him exclusively that irked him. He just couldn't get it. Did the fact that he was a jinchuuriki intimidate her? He frowned as he lapsed deep into thought.
Hurried footsteps echoed in the staircase beyond the door. Gaara's head snapped up, a light glare entering his eyes as he waited. Raya glanced towards the door, her fingers clutching the armrests of her chair almost painfully. There was a distinct panting, a slight pause, and the door swung open. Haruka strode in, breathing deeply, her brow perspiring lightly. She was clad in fitted leggings that ended at her knees and a short yukata-style top of gold. Her hitaite was tied over a thigh, the silver plate shining in the light. She struggled to hide how out of breath she was and smiled a fake and bright smile, pushing her bangs out of her eyes.
"It's about time," muttered Kankuro. He was clad in his traditional outfit, his face painted as was the norm for him. His brown eyes twinkled with sick amusement. Haruka scowled, knowing he was imagining the torture Gaara had planned for her. Stupid little perv, she thought irritably. Turning her gaze back to Gaara, she resumed her false smile.
Gaara stared at her, eye twitching slightly. "Stop smiling like that. It's highly disturbing." Her smile vanished, replaced by her usual bored expression. Gaara sighed, dropping his gaze to the stack of folders and papers on his desk.
"This is your third time being late, Haruka-san," said Gaara quietly. His eyes glanced up at her, penetrating her. Haruka hid a shiver, feeling the familiar feeling of unease drift over her.
"Gomen nasai, Kazekage-sama. I worked the late shift at the hospital last night and overslept. I promise it won't happen again," she said apologetically. She raised her gaze to meet his.
Gaara nodded his head quietly. The inner Haruka sighed with relief.
"I summoned you today because I have a mission for you," he began, his immaculate fingers flipping a thin folder open. Haruka felt her heartbeat quicken in excitement. Finally, a mission! The perfect escape from that stupid hospital.
"This won't be like most missions you've been on. You will actually help to ensure the success of a new program between Konoha and Suna," Gaara's mouth twitched into a self-satisfied smile at this.
Haruka frowned. The mention of Konoha had brought that masked face to her mind. What the hell? New program?
Gaara continued on. "In my last meeting with the Hokage, there was talk of how our alliance has been extremely beneficial to both our villages. In an attempt to heighten our alliance and to ease any tensions between Suna and Konoha, Tsunada-sama proposed the idea of joint missions between our villages. Each mission would be taken by a squad of four shinobi. Hanajima will join your team for now, as Tsunade-sama is sending us a four-cell team. Two medic-nins would be good to have on these missions." Gaara nodded his head slowly, looking to Haruka pointedly. "I find the proposal to be quite beneficial, but the Council, find the idea quite pointless and possibly destructive for us." He paused here, glancing at the trio.
His gaze lingered on Haruka in a warning fashion. She pouted, unable to help feeling singled out. She suddenly remembered her vow not to pout and quickly donned a somber expression.
"I'm appointing you three with a mission to be the first team to join up with a team from Konoha. The relationship between you and them must be kept in good shape to set those who disagree with this idea straight." Gaara closed his eyes and waited for the barrage of protests.
Haruka stared at him. "What? That's our mission? To get along with Konoha?"
Gaara smiled wryly. "Yes, Hayashi Haruka. That is your mission. And I expect it to be completed successfully." He opened his eyes, smile gone. He stared at Haruka with fathomless eyes. She swallowed hard, looking down at her feet to hide her irritation.
"Any other complaints?" He asked sarcastically. Raya shook her head quickly, eyes falling to the floor again. Kankuro frowned and raised his hand cautiously.
Gaara sighed impatiently. "Yes, Kankuro?"
"When is this team arriving?" Haruka and Raya looked up simultaneously, gazing at Gaara questioningly. Gaara looked down at the folder, then glanced up at the clock hanging over the door. It read ten thirty four.
He pointed at the clock. "Is that time correct?" Haruka thought she saw something akin to amusement dancing at his mouth.
Haruka and Raya glanced behind. "Yes," they replied in unison. They exchanged dubious glances.
Gaara nodded his head, cunningly hiding the amused surprise on his face. "They should be arriving now then."
The trio deadpanned, each feeling miserable for reasons that were vastly different.
The whole trip had been utterly miserable. Dismal. Horrific. Abysmal, in fact. It was the worst three days he had ever experienced. He was sure of it. Even recuperating in the hospital for weeks was better than this.
On second thought, it wasn't that horrible. Nothing topped hospitals on his list of miserable and horrible things.
"Kakashi-sensei, are you even listening?!" cried a loud, irksome voice that sounded like sharp nails dragging down a chalkboard.
On a third thought, that voice was a good contender for first on his list.
Sighing exasperatedly, Hatake Kakashi gazed ahead, into the flat desert that seemed to go on forever.. "No, Naruto, I'm not listening. And I'm not your sensei any longer," he replied, his voice dull.
"Oh." Uzumaki Naruto walked along his right, his face scrunched up as he fell into thought. Kakashi watched him with a lazy eye, marveling at his wondrous ability to change moods like he was changing clothes. The teen's hair stood on end, a mass of golden spikes that spoke doom to the world. Kakashi never understood the kid's hair -- it looked like it had a mind of it's own.
Of course, he wasn't one to talk. Y'know, his own hair defying gravity and all.
"Gomen nasai, sen -- er, Kakashi." Naruto paused, his face scrunching up again as he wondered whether to add an honorific to his name. The kid wasn't ugly, but he sure wasn't a Sasuke. Naruto's appearance fed off hyper exuberance, all his feeling shown distinctly upon his sun-kissed face. A big no-no for a shinobi. Feelings gave one's opponent an advantage.
Kakashi rolled his eye and glanced toward the young female on his right. Haruno Sakura, sixteen years old. Her shoulder-length hair shone beneath the hot, white sun, shimmering with rosy pink hues. Her jade green eyes noticed his gaze and she flashed him an apologetic smile.
She's just as annoyed as I am, he realized with much amusement. He returned the smile with an eye-crease of his own and turned to gaze ahead once more, tuning out the hyperactive babble that resumed alongside him.
"Damn, Kakashi, how much longer?" Another voice that grated his nerves, but no one knew it, of course. He sighed again.
"Shut up, Genma."
"Now that's just rude," Shiranui Genma said, his voice filled with exaggerated hurt. Kakashi closed his eyes, wishing desperately that this was all a horrible nightmare and that he'd wake up in his comfy bed. He opened his eye hopefully and bit back an exasperated moan. Still the blistering desert.
Honestly, if he had been given a choice, he wouldn't have taken the mission. But Tsunade-sama pulled rank on him, and he'd been forced to accept. Apparently he was 'overworked'. Kakashi held back a harsh laugh. Really, he didn't work enough. If he had his way, he'd never be home. Nor would he have pointless missions like the one at hand...
"Seriously Hatake. This heat is unbearable. When will we be there?" Kakashi continued walking, ignoring his teammate's grumpy squabble. The guy was no better than Naruto. He glanced at the fair-haired ball of noise and quickly decided that Genma was worse than Naruto.
Genma glared at Kakashi's back and repositioned the senbon needle in his mouth. "I hope the women there are kinder than you... Or not... I heard the ladies there are feisty... Everyone likes a little bit of spice..."
"Save us the dirty talk, Genma, please," muttered Kakashi audibly. His voice was monotonous, free of emotion. But there was an underlying warning there that shut him up.
The group traveled on in silence, save Naruto's endless chattering, Genma's erratic groans of irritation, and Sakura's bored voice attempting to carry out a conversation with him. So, in all honesty, Kakashi was the only one who was silent, pausing in his reading only to grunt in acknowledgment. He was renowned for his focus, his intense concentration on his lovely smut-filled books, but Naruto was talking way too much for his liking He was just contemplating murder when Sakura's relieved voice pointed out Sunagakure.
Of course, he had already seen it. He was Hatake Kakashi, after all.
"Look! There's the village!" Kakashi followed her finger to the oncoming Sunagakure. Relief coursed through his body, but no one would ever be able to provide evidence that his masked had ever smiled with such a feeling. The village lay within a valley surrounded by jagged cliffs and mountains. The only entrance was a tall cleft between two long cliff faces.
He had to admit, it was a quaint village. It aimed for comfort rather than beauty, with buildings made of stucco and clay to combat the burning heat and harsh gales of the Land of Wind. It was too dry for his liking though, with little moisture clinging to the air. He much preferred the lush forest that surrounded Konoha. He didn't bother gazing around -- he had been here too many times in his youth and was quite accustomed to the large buildings. Naruto and Sakura fell behind though, looking around curiously. Genma came up on his side and gazed ahead. Kakashi, recognizing the appreciative glint in his friend's eye, followed his gaze. There was a group up ahead, watching them somberly. Two women, a young man he recognized as Kankuro, and Gaara, walking up to greet him with a respectful look in his usually expressionless eyes. He looked past the Kazekage at the two women.
One was tall and lean, and Kakashi guessed that she was probably seventeen or so. Her hair was a vivid amethyst color, her eyes a startling green. Her skin was pale, uncommon for folk in Suna, but it wasn't something that warranted suspicion. Kakashi dubbed her the Green One in his head. She appraised them with an observant eye and turned to nudge the other girl.
She was leaning against the wall, a short and petite girl that came just past the Green One's shoulder. There was a pout on her face that gave her an adorable quality. He thought she looked about seventeen, but it was hard to tell with her hair hiding most of her face. She couldn't have been much taller than five feet. She was thin and wiry, standing with her arms crossed in a haughty expression. Her hair was braided, reaching down to middle of her back. He dubbed this girl the Cute One.
The Green One nudged the Cute One again and she turned to scrutinize him and the others. He caught her gaze and in that instant he found something familiar about her. But he didn't recognize her.
She recognized him though, and her jaw dropped. Dark eyes widening, she stood straight and walked towards the Green One. The Cute One whispered something in the Green One's ear, and both turned to stare at him shock.
Kakashi was baffled as he approached the Kazekage. letting his gaze rest upon the red-haired jinchuuriki.
"Welcome to Suna, Kakashi-kun," greeted Gaara.
Holy shit.
Eyes wide, Haruka stared at the masked shinobi. "That's him!" she whispered furiously to Raya. "That's the shinobi from before!" Raya nodded, still staring at him.
Haruka frowned. "Stop staring at him. He'll think we're crazy." Raya's gaze instantly jumped towards the others in a more-than conspicuous manner. Haruka fought back the urge to groan.
Pulling Raya along with her, she walked over to greet the newcomers. Her eyes appraised them: an offensive blonde, a strong-willed girl, and a young man who ogled at pert breasts. Oh yeah, and the masked man. He was tall, a lot taller than her. She guessed the difference to be about a foot or so. His face remained elusive, hidden beneath that fitted piece of fabric, but she could make out a strong jaw and a straight nose beneath. She ventured to guess he was in his late twenties, but he looked young. He stood tall and lean, not bulky and brawny like others of his renowned strenth. He was more the sinewy type, the rippling muscles noticeable yet not. And his hair... She frowned at it, surprised at it's silken texture. It remained as silver as it was the day she met him, defying gravity. His visible eye was a dark blue, she realized, swimming with his observations. She could tell by the way he moved that he was a genius. He scrutinized them all, labeling them, judging whether or not they were a threat.
He shook Gaara's hand, greeting him politely. His voice was just as she remembered it, only free of the infuriating insult that lingered in her memory. Her heart pounded fast and she hoped he didn't recognize her. It would be so humiliating if he did...
She was vaguely aware of Gaara introducing her and Raya. He shook Raya's hand, more out of courtesy, she noticed wryly, then authentic interest in actually meeting the girl. He then turned to face her. He was so tall, so broad compared to her. The scent of sandalwood drifted over her as he held out his hand politely.
She hesitated a moment, standing still on the spot, but she quickly realized how rude she must look. Looking him in the eye, she shook his hand. It was hard and calloused, and so much bigger than hers. Haruka felt very insignificant at that moment.
"Hatake Kakashi," he said, his voice warm. His dark eye watched her and for a timeless moment, Haruka couldn't breathe for fear he'd recognize her. There was curiosity in that eye, and it unnerved her to no end. The moment passed though and she swayed, feeling dizzy from his scent.
"Hayashi Haruka," she murmured, averting her gaze.
He released her hand. She let it drop at her side, dangling uselessly. It didn't matter to her though. She was in too much shock to really care about anything.
"Nice to meet you, Haruka-san. I'm Haruno Sakura," smiled the pink-haired girl. She offered her hand to Haruka, who still felt slightly dazed.
"Likewise..." She let a wan smile wash over her lips, but she found the smile tasted too odd for her. Haruka looked Sakura over and quickly realized that she was yet again the shortest in the group.
Uzumaku Naruto and Shiranui Genma addressed her after that, but Haruka was lost to them all. With a murmured greeting, she moved back and let the group converse amongst themselves. There was much yelling from the one called Naruto; Haruka paused in her thoughts, briefly recognizing the name. The blonde-haired jinchuuriki from Konoha? Her eyes flickered towards him and assessed him as a complete ditz in two seconds. But Gaara spoke highly of the boy, so she decided she would do her best to respect the irritating child.
With that out of her head, she lapsed into a ponderous mood, vaguely aware that the group was leaving.
He hadn't recognized her. She had thought that would comfort her, but she felt far from comfortable. All his useless teasing, his saving her life, and he didn't recognize her? That pissed her off. She huffed a hotly, nostrils flaring with aggravation. Haruka-san was a very memorable person. How dare he not remember her. She had even given him a speech that she liked to remember as eloquent. And he didn't remember it! She stalked after the group, brooding, Raya cautiously trailing in her wake.
"Bastard." She scowled at the back of his green vest. He didn't seem to be partaking in the conversation.
"He can't be that bad, Ha-san," said Raya in a matter-of-fact voice. "In fact, he seems quite pleasant."
Haruka whirled around, a glare evident on her features. "Whose side are you on!?"
Raya blinked and tugged at a lock of her hair nervously. Her lips quivered anxiously. "We're already at the point of choosing sides?"
Haruka groaned loudly, turning her head to the sky. Her eyes fell briefly, checking to see if their was a sufficient gap between her and the group. Judging it suitable, she proceeded to scream.
"What did I do to deserve this!? Why me!?" she cried desperately.
Raya stared at her silently, her mouth forming a little 'o'. "Don't you think you're over-exaggerating?" she said, raising a brow. Haruka glanced at her out of the corner of her eye, blowing a thick strand of hair out of her face.
"No. He's a dirty, stinkin' bastard."
"I see. Well, I'll see you when you're feeling more mature then. Maybe you should think about why you're really mad at him," said Raya sweetly, and she turned on her heel, heading towards the others. Haruka gazed after her, open-mouthed.
Why am I mad at him?
Haruka looked away, twirling her braid around her finger as a feeling of foolishness overcame her.
Because he doesn't remember me at all.