Burned And Bled

Chapter 2-Never A smile

No one spoke for so long that Juugo wondered if Suigetsu and Karin had killed each other while no one was paying them any attention. Peering back over his shoulder in curiosity, he found that this wasn't the case and let out a sound like a sigh of relief. The white haired man and the woman walked a considerable distance apart, yet both seemed lost in thought. It looked, from Karin's expression, that she was slightly pouting still as well. Doubtless, this was because of the 'Red Shadow' incident before. Sighing again, he turned back to stare out at the approaching coastline covered in ships; From large to small they ranged, up and down a well kept dock. There were trading galleys, lean battle ships, and even small fishing boats moored side by side. It was quite a sight to behold.

Sasuke wanted to keep their group low-profile until they found out where Najime hiding out, or if she was even here at all. So, instead of taking a boat full of passengers, they were walking straight across the stinking ocean water near the southern end. The mid-day heat bore down on their backs, and it's rays refracted back into their eyes from the water, as if trying to blind them. Though, the raven-haired boy looked unphased by it's vigorous attempts. Even the salty wind and sea spray that whipped about on the breeze didn't make him close his dark solemn eyes and look away from the forest off to the right of the sparkling dock. A white seagull called out in a shrill tone overhead, its shadow distorted on the surface, as it flew by the boy's head. His raven colored hair blown across his empty face from the wind to partially hide the growing distance in his gaze.

...:*:...

It took them only another half-hour or so to reach the sandy shore, and it took Suigetsu only minutes more to start complaining again, and Karin to start yelling. Things were back to normal for the most part. She put a hand on her hip, the other pointing at him accusingly as he smirked at her. Then he scowled and yelled something obscene at her, making her go flush a deep red and push her glasses further up her face. Sasuke, being snapped out of concentration from their raised voices, scowled slightly as well and raised his head as he stopped. Dark eyes scanning the path laid out before them. He took in the afternoon light shining down through the canopy of the dark green forest laid out ahead. Everything seemed normal; There wasn't even a sound besides the two yelling behind him and the distant thrum of the dock. Maybe they scared away the animals. Although, he hasn't heard the sound of an animal since that bird that had flown from this direction, let alone seen one. And, at this time of day, they should have passed by someone by now.

Then he felt the sensation of being watched.

Everyone had stopped by then. It was possible they were feeling the same sensation, or because Sasuke had stopped moving. It seemed he had stopped breathing as he spoke low, turning his head slightly so his left eye caught Karin's gaze. "Is it her?" It was then that the girl walked down the path towards them. She wasn't very tall, maybe somewhere around 5 feet 6 inches. Her black hair was cut short and choppy, brushing her shoulders and an ugly rusted metal color that fit snugly. Dangling from one side of it was apparently a chain of a different type of metal, but it was just as ugly and discolored by age. Her eyes were a shocking icy blue. There was something similar to arrogance in the unmistakable grace that was in her swaying steps, and with each move forward the cleavage of her intricately woven white top grew wider, then closed again. She had...a mature body to say the least, and moved like she was well aware of the fact. Full breasts, wide hips, and a thin waist with the legs of an athlete. Her clothing was done in shades of grey, snow, and ash. The edges of her thin skirt swaying with every movement.

"It can't be her; I don't feel any significant chakra levels coming off of her." Karin shook her head, the tenseness in her body relaxing as she sighed in partial relief. The Hana she had met, although she had not seen her face, had silver hair and red eyes with a devastating feeling of an everlasting rage radiating off her. Suigetsu and Juugo also seemed to visibly relax at the same realization. Only Sasuke's gaze narrowed. For a brief moment, a random memory flashed before his eyes. It was one that he had never quite been able to get close to before; One of the early days before Hana had been put into chains. "I thought you hated what Orochimaru did to you. You said you would never use the...abilities he had given you. Didn't you?"

His group stared at him for a moment, before looking back at the woman who was now only a few feet from them. The redhead opened her mouth to speak when she noticed something strange, even for a regular person who wasn't a ninja. There wasn't a single shred of chakra in or around her body; Or at least that's what it seemed like to her. At the same time that she realized what had happened, the woman chuckled, her fingers pressing to her lips slightly. Her fingers were tipped with unusually sharp, curved nails. "You caught me there, Sasuke-kun. Though, that was a long time ago that I said that. I'm surprised you still remember."

It wasn't the voice they were expecting from the woman, but it was the one Karin dreaded the most. All her hopes flew out the window when the girl shook her head, closing her eyes. And right before them, the black hair turned silver almost instantly. She looked up, the crimson gaze burning like a thousand fires just as it had so long ago. It was like a tidal wave crashed into her as the chakra suddenly became evident, and she flinched visibly. Everyone else flinched as a fiery aura flickered like sparks around the slim body. The pressure and image only lasted a moment before it lifted and returned to normal. Hana smiled wider at them, revealing two sets of K9s; A doggish looking set, and one that looked like it belonged to a fox right behind it that was much smaller. Her voice was calm, and a bit comical, as she spoke."Alot has changed, and yet you still don't come and visit with even the tiniest bit of a smile. I would have come and met you at the shore, but I was a little tied up….This visit isn't purely for the hell of it by the looks of that group with you and your expression. An interesting choice of friends, if I might say."

Sasuke just stared at her blankly; She should have known the reason why he came. He had a feeling she knew better then the rest of them. If she had still been staring back at him, he might have noticed she had been joking. Though Karin caught on just fine as the woman's vivid gaze rested on her while she issued the comment. Already her face was turning an alarming red. Sighing lightly, Sasuke looked back at her in warning as she opened her mouth to speak, and spoke himself instead. "Stop messing around, we don't have time to play games, Hana. I'll get straight to the point with you; Are you coming or not?"

"And what if I do?"

"What do you mean?" The woman placed a hand on her hip, looking perfectly content to stand there all day. She had been still smiling up until Sasuke spoke of her coming with them. It was replaced by an expression just as impassive as Sasuke's. Suigetsu tilted his head slightly as he listened. What did she want in return? Her smooth and emotionless voice held something strange beneath it. Something none of them could really grasp an understanding of. "You know the risks of what you're asking, and what could happen. As well, even without me, what lays in wait for you. Are you prepared to handle it? Are you sure you can do this, Sasuke?"

Silence. The dark haired boy stared at her, and she did likewise to him. The others felt left out, not understanding what it was passing between the silence and tension in the air between the man and woman. There was a moment where Suigetsu thought they were about to attack each other, and then Hana suddenly smiled and laughed as shook her head lightly. Such a sudden sound made Juugo and Karin jump and Suigetsu twitch. Though Sasuke only blinked at her. "Then I guess I'll tag along for awhile, just to see if you fail or not. It's pretty boring around here anyway, and I'm out of jobs. This could be a chance to have some fun."

"Then let's go."

Just like that, Sasuke turned away from her and back toward the water. If they planned to make it to the first search site before dark, they would have to get going right away. Suigetsu looked disappointed they hadn't started fighting and instead were walking again; Karin looked relieved and a little pissed that the other woman had accepted the offer. Juugo just looked a little confused as he turned and followed them as well.

Hana hesitated after they had all walked away, her eyes staring after Sasuke as he walked away. She wondered if he was ready, or was just the same cocky boy that had arrived before her at the Base those years ago. So full of himself and confident nothing could stop him or get in the way of his goal. There was a time she believed that about herself, as well. A small touched the corners of her lips as she began to walk, the light sound of clinking metal from the chain on her neck relaxing her. It didn't take her long to catch up to them, taking up a position a little behind Sasuke on his left side, with Suigetsu walking between her and Karin. As they settled into a quicker pace, Sasuke began to explain why he had called them all together. Because she already knew, Hana tuned him out and let her mind wander. There was no way this trip was going to end well, unless she could do something to stop him…