"I work for the Hokage you know? I'm a ninja. You wanna see my pecks?" This guy is so into himself. He isn't even a looker… I guess I should act the dumb girl part with him.
"Oh my, you're a ninja. Wow a hunk that's protecting our village, I like that! Hmm, you've got such strong arms! I wouldn't mind having those carry me anytime…" Yuck. It's a routine with guys like these. Just footsie 'em and you get them hard. Lift the leg up, stroke his shin very slowly and rest hand on knee. I could do this blind folded. Heh, I sometimes did, if you know what I mean (of course you do). The look on his face is priceless! He ordered another round of drinks. I sipped slowly on mine watching intently as he got out his wallet. Look at all that paper! They could use some help… maybe I should free them. Yeah, I should… Giggle, flutter eyelashes and grope. He literally swallowed a piece of ice! I could go on all night. And that I will until that precious paper was in my hands. This was textbook!
"You'ra friskieee one ehhh? Wanna get dow' an' dirty bitch?" He slurred. Bingo. A few more shots and I'll have him like putty in my hands. I grinned evilly at my reasoning. He gulped down more drinks, paid for them and grabbed my butt. I gasped and grabbed his hand. Directing this fucker behind the pub would be easy. We reached a dumpster. He slammed me against the wall and groped. "I haven't fucked in a while; I hope you could break me in." With that I let him kiss me roughly. You must go with the flow with these guys. Fake a moan or two in the meantime. He was hard and pressing against my hips, ravaging my neck. Look at me lecturing you on how to successfully bait a man. Kicking this idiot will be easy. He collapsed to the floor groaning, holding his crotch for dear life. I straddled him and searched his pockets for my money. They flashed happily at me, crying for their saviour. I've come for you my babies! Throwing the wallet at his head, I walked back out of the alley. A breeze blew as my dress fluttered. I walked against the flow to another bar. I still have a few more hours until I call it a night. Why not rejoice in the riches I was bestowed upon? Wouldn't you agree? No? Party-poopers. A sign flashed red. I looked up to find a flashing leg moving up and down ecstatically. Ahh…a 'gentlemen's' club. This one seems legal to be in Konoha. I walked up to the front door and entered. Light swirled round and the smell of cigarettes drifted around the room - it was intoxicating. Men were flung in booths as women walked around them, flirting with a small 'oops I didn't see you there!' Pfft, if you wanna get down, get dirty I always say, or as that poor bastard slurred at me a few minutes ago. I walked to the bar and ordered two shots of vodka, preparing for my prey. Looking around, not many men were alone. Some were glassy eyed; others just didn't want to be bugged. I guess I came in here for nothing. I sipped slowly on my drink.
Time seems to have slowed down. It was a sad scene, really. I spotted a few guys drinking solemnly. One of them was holding his head down. A scroll sprawled over their table - seems like they received one hell of a mission. I sighed and looked to the other side. A few seats down there was a man, maybe forty years old, drinking himself to death. He had dark circles under his eyes and a few scars adorned his cheeks. Tough day, neh? I returned my gaze to the drinks on show. They had a vast collection of vodkas and sakes. The barman was lazing around, stealing a few shots from under the counter. A group of young men entered the club cheerily. All adorned a white vest and some sort of weird weapon. A few had something hidden under their arms though I can't make out what it is. There were only two men who didn't seem pleased which I couldn't make out the faces. I went back to my drink in front of me. The bar wasn't one I have frequented before. I have never felt such strong emotions hanging around. Where was the care free life? Not one of them held emotions in their faces; their eyes, but the expectations upon these people were etched in their movements, in the bar itself. The atmosphere's suffocating me. I am surrounded in a pit of experience I will never get to even smell ever in my life. I noticed that a lot of them had headbands somewhere on their bodies. I felt like a fish out of water. These men were the toughest men in Konoha and I was just a flower among thorns; too weak, without tasting anything that these weeds ever had. Dear lord this is depressing me. I noticed that I downed my shot and had already gone for the other one. So no pick-ups from this joint I guess. I always believe in faith. It was a thing my mother scowled at.
"Such a stupid thing to think about! In my experience, faith is nothing but a false virtue. Hope is the same thing. Don't go on being a naïve girl! Grow up!" But, to me, faith was something I seemed to have clung to ever since I was a youngster. I always had faith in father, whoever he was, that he would come back to us. Although my mother squashed my dreams of ever finding him by deeming him dead, I had hope that my mother will find her true love. It hasn't happened yet, but I do think that everyone is just meant for someone. I have faith in people I meet every day. It's some kind of safe haven which I cling to every time I feel down. Or maybe I'm a wuss. Well, speaking of faith in love, Karma seems to over-ride faith in that department in my case. My first (and only) love was called Daisuke. We were only thirteen years old. We had grown so attached to each other, every day I used to visit him and we'd go play in the fields until a farmer comes and chases out with his pitchfork. He had to move out when we were fifteen. He had to go to another village because his father was starting a business. He had promised me that he'd come back for me.
"Wait for me, will you? I'll be back in a year." It's kinda childish, I know, but I still hope that he's thinking about me every day. That he'll remember someday to come and whisk me away to our little castle in the mountains - just a fool's paradise. Tell you the truth; I am losing faith in the last few things I had just said. Four years have passed and I'm still stuck here. It's ok. As long as he's out there alive, I'm fine with it. I took a sip from the shot, feeling it burn down my throat. Somehow I rebelled against what society wanted after just one year of his departure. Basically my grades dropped and I barely finished civilian school. So that was when I had begun my escapades. After all, I am my mother's daughter. I thought that maybe he would be hurt by it and come back to seek revenge for my behaviour, or that he'll hate me for it, anything. I wanted some emotion from him but I got nothing. I still have nothing. My mother wasn't that much of a helper either. She had always laughed at my boyfriend. She always spoke of how I was too young for love, how love was just something which will end in a flicker. The last three years she started to make some sense. I see how she used men to her advantage, but being the daughter of a whore isn't that much of a nice history is it? That was why I loved Daisuke. He never thought anything about my past or about my family's. He only thought about our well-being. Sigh, it's all in the past now. We mustn't dwell on the past when there is the future to be bothered with right? Mental note: Pay attention to how one should drink and not breathe at the same time. Whle I was wallowing in self-pity, I hadn't noticed that I took a deep breath while drinking the vodka. Was it vodka or was it acid? I coughed back some of the drink which entered my air passage. Someone slammed into my back. I almost doubled over the counter. I felt the drink start to rise from my stomach. This was bad, really bad. I felt the bile in my mouth. What to do, what to do? The only way is out, or is it? I swallowed. I feel a whole new level of disgusted. I attempted at hacking a bit to take away the taste. A glass slid under my nose. I took a sip from it then without noting the smell or taste I downed it. Of course it was vodka.
"Take it easy, I don't want you to die on me right here!" Whoa, seems like I might get lucky tonight after all! I looked to where the voice had come. He was really tall. He had scruffy black hair with a head band around his forehead. His hand was still on my back. It started to feel really hot under his hand. I looked up to his dark eyes. They had a nice flicker to them, as if humour could never leave them. He was smirking big time, his hand never leaving its designated area. He was leaning on to the bar counter, his other hand sat lazily on the edge. He was cute - very cute. I gave him a smile, to which he returned."Hey you look really pretty when you smile… reminds me of an angel you know?" So he's one of those guys. I almost slumped to the floor.
"Aw, come on Shisui-san not that lame crap again!"
"Dude, where the hell did you get that pick-up line from? It's pathetic!"
"Oh look now you scared her away with your shitty pick-ups…"
I swear that the aura around us suddenly changed drastically. It felt so cold… I saw him grasp the counter so hard that it started to crack. The barman didn't seem to mind that at all. He was too immersed in this little pantomime. Guess it was something normal, except for ninjas trying to hit on girls… I felt sorry for the guy. Who wouldn't? This could have been one of the few times he could flirt with a girl. Why not give him what he wants? But first, I need to stop him from destroying the bar so I placed a hand over his, "Shisui, was it? I'm Mara." That seemed to do it. He immediately stopped ripping the wood off and looked at my hand. Was this too forward for him? Now I see why the barman is interested in this. I guess ninjas aren't what they are painted to be. Only a few are the hot, ass-kicking shit that get all the girls and have a bunch of servants running around for them. I don't think that they truly ever went out on a normal date with a girl. It's always work, work, and work. I started inching my hand away from top of his. I think it was making him uncomfortable with the physical contact and all. His cheeks started to turn red. I gave him a giggle just to get him out of his mental conversation with his conscious.
He immediately sat next to me and started with the usual conversation, "Mara-chan eh? A pretty name for a pretty girl! It suits you well Mara-chan!"
"Why thank you Shisui-san. That's really sweet."
"You think so? I mean no problem! So what's a pretty thing like you doing in a place like this?"
"Nothing much - just drinking and talking to a handsome guy, you?"
"Oh really? Where is he? Am I taking his place? I should go…" I saw him flounder and look around. Are ninjas this pathetic at sensing flirting? I should go easy on him. He's going to be a real tough one if this is how he's playing. He started to get up whe I stopped him.
"Oh Shisui-san you're so funny! I was only talking about you, you know? That was so cute!" He stopped himself from turning into a red tomato. I heard a few hearty laughs come from a table a few yards away. They were the ninjas that had come before I almost killed myself with a shot of vodka. He seemed to know them. I think they were the ones who called his pick-up lines lame (which kind of were I must agree). I looked over his shoulder. Yup, they sure where dying over there. Some of them slammed their fists on the table, others just held their stomachs. He growled at them.
"Hey Shisui! How about we meet your new friend?"
"Yeah, don't' keep her to yourself! We're your brothers!"
I looked uneasily at him. "Don't worry, they won't bite -I hope…." That made it all the better. He directed me towards the table. I adjusted my dress and stayed behind him. Am I shy? Nope, not at all, adjusting my dress seemed like the right thing to do. I think I would throw them off if I flounced over to them with my bust almost out. Where would my manners be?
"Guys, this is Mara-chan. Mara-chan, these are…the guys…"
I gave them a small wave. "Hi! Nice to meet you!" Isn't that how you greet new people? Don't forget the bow! They didn't show any emotion. Is it really that hard for them? It suddenly became awkward. Everyone was looking at me. What did they want me to do? Strip down and dance the hula? Don't give me ideas you-that's-just-my-imagination-you. Shisui dragged two chairs and asked for his friends to move. They scooted for me to sit next to Shisui and a guy with gravity-defying grey hair. A glass appeared in front of me and it started to fill up to the top with sake. I lifted my glass and took a sip. With the glass still to my lips, I looked at the men. The one next to me had a mask covering his lower part of his face. He had his head band slung over his left eye. He hadn't touched his drink. Next to him was a guy with light brown hair, brown eyes and a needle in his mouth. There was an empty seat and after that a guy with red hair and blue eyes. Next to him was yet another guy with blue hair and green eyes. Then there was Shisui. They all looked at the drink. Hell, I'll show them I could hold my liquor. When a challenge presents itself one must confront it with the daintiness of a lady.
"That won't get me drunk you know." I told them as I wiped my mouth from any sake. They whooped and refilled my glass along with theirs. I guess I passed their test. My lady-like manners have won them over big time.
"Ah, she's one of us yeah."
"Mara-chan, you should hang out with us!"
"Hey Shisui you did a good job in getting her here."
They continued bantering about how it was one of the many few things Shisui ever did which turned out good. The accused didn't back down without a fight though. He immediately began digging deep into the crevices of their souls to say out loud their deep dark secrets. Arata (the blue haired eccentric) still sleeps with a doll. "What about you Mara-chan? What's your deep dark secret?"
Oh. Now I didn't have anything to hide except for that secret. Yeah, that. Should I tell them? Scar them a little? That would ruin my newly found friendship. Play it cool Mara-chan.
"Um, really guys you don't want to know! I'm too boring next to you men." I waved my hands about just to distract them form my failed attempt at trying to hide my red face.
"Aww! Now you really made us curious Mara-chan! Come on, it's nothing worse than Hayate's (red hair, blue eyed smooth operator) secret of being afraid of kissing a girl…" Well bucko, comparing that to mine is like comparing an ant to an elephant. Hey, since when did we start talking about secrets? And when did everyone seem so close to me? Have I mentioned that I'm claustrophobic? Maybe I should pitch in with that… Oh dear lord please let this be the end of it. Gaaaah why Karma? Could you not have refrained from throwing the proverbial shit towards the rotating fan?
"Ok…My deepest, darkest, secret…which I have never told anyone is-"
"I just came back from Hokage-sama. He gave us a few weeks off." They all slumped back to their seat groaning. The newcomer exasperatedly sighed, as if he had to deal with this every minute of his life.
"Why! Why NOW? Do you hate us god?"
"Thanks a lot Itachi-sempai, now we will never know her secret!"
"We were so close…"
I never felt so relieved in my life ever since the time I found out that I wasn't pregnant from a stupid idiot - maybe I'll disclose that story some other time. Wait a sec - did they say Itachi-sempai? Why does that name sound so familiar? Yet I just can't remember from where I must have heard it - or from whom? I'll just shrug it off. You know I tend to forget things easily but then remember them at random moments. Oh and I'm really bad with names! I can remember a face but a name? Not my forte to say the least. I looked at the new guy sitting in the empty seat. Fuck. So that's Itachi-sempai. I fidgeted in my seat. I never really did meet up again with the men I rip off and if I do, they usually don't even remember the evening – being pissed drunk usually is what I aim for in a guy. But with that weird conversation we had and the 'present' I gave him before I left, I doubt that he'll forget about me - not that I'm not flattered.
"Hey, Itachi-sempai, meet Mara-chan. She's a newbie in the gang and was - emphasis on was - going to tell us her secret."
I gulped. "Really? What a shame…" He saved my ass? THANK YOU LOOORD! Well, I don't see him as saying things out loud. I silently sent him thank you vibes. I hope that he caught those.
"Hokage-sama gave us a few weeks off until we are to be assigned for another mission. Hayate and Arata, these free weeks are not to be spent dillydallying and forgetting your duty as ninjas. I have already formed a regime for us to continue training." Ouch. That must be shit. I sipped silently as I watched them fight over it.
"But Itachi-sempai, we just came from an exhausting mission. Wouldn't it be fine if we just let loose for now?"
"Yeah, I feel like a loser when I hear Masaru and Kyou talking about drinks and chicks!" Sip, sip. This is really quality entertainment. Let me pour some sake for you too – oh you don't drink.
"Hey, Gemna, I'm glad that Kakashi is our captain." The bush of gravity-defying grey hair twitched at the sound of its master's name. "Yeah me too Shisui."
"Plus, it's summer time! We need to have fun! And… we've got Mara-chan now, right?" Wow these kids really hate training huh? Suddenly I'm really glad that my brain is stupid. I'm not stupid per se, my brain is. Oh shut up.
"Yup, yup! We won't let Mara-chan all alone this summer… isn't that right Mara-chan?" HACK! COUGH! When the hell did I become their excuse? Help me; it's the second time I nearly choked on liquor. Shisui slammed his hand on my back. I almost flopped over to the other side. I'm so feeble next to these guys though thank you Shisui-san. I coughed the little sake which ran down my air passage (really, I think that this alcohol hates me), as well as the other side effects from Shisui's hits. Swallow, drink water Mara-chan. Remember to survive firstly and kick ass secondly. The two idiots with the most flamboyant hair I have ever seen looked brightly at me. All hopes and dreams were on me for these few weeks and I could easily crush them - which I will mind you.
"Uh…I don't mind that you won't be with me-"
"She's really pleading for us inside her mind. I can see it in her eyes."
"She needs us. It would be like training … um … to protect a citizen!" Itachi sighed at their attempts at boycotting their training. He got up and waved his hand dismissively. Weak.
"We'll take that as a yes!" Remember when I told you I will crush their hopes and dreams? Yeah, let's just keepthat to ourselves okay? I looked at my wrist watch. Already one in the morning! My mother should be at her apartment right now, so there's no disturbance from her. I yawned lightly. How time flies when you're having fun.
"Starting from tomorrow, we shall be your bodyguards!"
"It's more like today you know, being one am-"
"- Oh shit mum is going to be sooo pissed at me! Damn it I told her that I'd be back before midnight-"
"-I guess we'll meet again then."
"I don't think that it would be wise not to escort Mara-chan home."
"Hey whadaya know? It actually does start today!"
They said their good byes and see you soons, not without giving me a few winks and hugs. Shisui ran out first because of his mother threatening him about being grounded. I was still under complete shock at what happened a few minutes before when Kakashi's team went out. Arata stretched his arms. His shirt rode up slowly showing off his abs. Damn ninjas and their perfected muscle structures. "Maaa - I'm sooo tired…" He started walking towards the door. The rest of us followed him. Well, it was more of Hayate using his womanizing powers and seducing me into walking before him. Don't judge me; I'm still a woman at heart! Hayate bid farewell to the barman as we stepped into the cold night. It had grown colder from before. I should have brought a cardigan with me. Arata started walking in a random direction when Hayate reminded him of their new 'training'.
"Oh yeah I forgot. Where do you live Mara-chan?" He yawned deeply.
"Oh don't worry about me. I'll find my way back-"
"A woman should not be left to wander alone in the streets, especially at night. Who knows what might happen." Arata smiled as he continued to flex his arms about. What was this charade about?
"We don't want anything to happen to you. I mean, if we left you to fend for your own, you might get lost. Then you'll panic and start running about. You might fall down and break your ankle. If you break your ankle you'll be in agony and start crying. Someone might hear you crying. What if that someone was a guy who was a serial rapist and loved S&M-"
"That's enough, Hayate." Ah, the enchanting ice block.
"But-"
Oomph… Being handled by a man just like a farmer would with a sack of potatoes does not feel as comfortable as they make it seem in movies. Damn these ninjas and their elaborate schemes.
"Mara-chan, you look pissed off. That's a really cute face." Arata formed a peace sign as he walked behind Itachi. I assume it is Itachi because a) Hayate was walking to my left and b) There is a blue haired ninja poking fun at me. Hayate was still rambling about how we might still be attacked by an S&M loving serial rapist.
"You don't even know where I live…" I innocently inhaled Itachi's hair. It's Kiwi and Mint. I know that smell because I have the same smelling conditioner - for real.
"Well then Mara-chan, where do you live?" I wasn't going to get out of this was I? I sighed. Automatically I said the address in the monotonous way the postman says it when he doesn't know whether it's your mail or your neighbours.
"I live just a few blocks away from the hospital, next to the Yamanaka flower shop."
With that they flew - literally. I mean, it was partial flying because they did step down on a few buildings, you know but still… THEY WERE FLYING. Can ninjas do normal things like walk? I screwed my eyes shut. Just enjoy the biting cold wind on your back Mara-chan. Finally my cerebellum stopped screaming as they stopped flailing about in the air and settled on the solid ground. Suddenly I was plopped down on my feet. Of course, they came to escort me, not give me piggy back rides.
"It was nice meeting you guys. I had fun and all."
"Aw shucks don't make us blush! We'll see you most likely tomorrow! Sweet dreeeeaamss!" And with that Arata left. He was swaying in the wind too. Guess he just needs some sleep. Hayate bid us good night and left as well. I went to search for my keys when I remembered; "You're still here Uchiha-san?"
He gave me the keys and glared. He seems to be good at it too. I almost peed in my pants.
"You do know that a smile can make a whole day seem better. It may even save someone's life."
"…"
"Try it! You just stretch your mouth and till it upwards. OH and as a bonus you might add a few teeth bearing too."
"…"
"…"
His eyes flashed red. I gulped. "Good night, Miss Yamato." And with that he disappeared. I was still in shock. He actually twitched his mouth up when he said my name. That's always a start to minimising that attitude of his. I walked into my apartment (after several failures at the lift, I ascended the stairs) and went straight into my bed room. I slumped on the bed, exhausted. What a rowdy bunch.
