Hooded Lies

The Setback

The velvet purple pouch fell on the wooden table with a hollow thud that seemed to reach every dark corner of the small dimly lit chamber. Beady brown eyes grew enormous eagerly feasting on the golden coins spewing out of it. Mouth watered. Fingers itched.

"Do we have a deal Mister Kuma?" A deep, calm voice rumbled the turnkey out of his greedy thoughts.

Kuma's sparkling muddy beads of eyes reluctantly left the heavy looking pouch of golden riches, dragging them up to the tall eerie figure before him. He fidgeted uncomfortably. "M-Milord?"

"Will you set the man free?" The man silhouetted by the darkness smiled wanly, patiently, down at the rotund turnkey through the scant luminance of the lantern light.

"B-But…but milord! 'E's…about ta 'ang…I…" He gulped, his gaze returning to the innocent looking little purple pouch lying oh-so temptingly on his table. "…I can't milord…" he finished mournfully. "I…can't…"

His voice shook. As if he was ready to weep. Goodbye sweet golden coins! Goodbye to your uncanny sparkling ability to make one oh-so stinking rich! Goodbye dear sweet vittles and everything that is existent and edible that can be bought by those sweet golden coins with the uncanny sparkling ability to make one oh-so stinking rich!

Goodbye!

Reaching into his silk coat, the unfamiliar visitor took out another purple pouch, one that looked just as heavy as the other. He sighed softly and the gaoler's enormous beady orbs slid over them with as much hunger as a wolf starved to death during winter. And, indeed, he was famished!

"Are you sure?"

The pouch fell with another hollow thud, followed by a distinct jingling tinkle. A tinkling sound…a sound so tempting…

So alluring…

So seductive it could rival the most enthralling maiden that could ever be at his company during one of those long winter nights…

He hesitated. Eyes glancing from the twin purple purses to the richly garbed gentleman standing serenely in front of him.

"Mister Kuma?"

The pudgy gaoler gulped, eyes returning to the offered treasures.

Under the dim lighting, the coins glowed enchantingly…

Beguilingly…

Come to me…

It seemed to whisper/

Enticingly…

Make me yours…

An amorous plea.

It beckoned to him. Like a lover would…calling him to a warm bed…for delicious warmth on a winter night…Kuma wet his dry lips anxiously, fidgeting as his eyes locked on the seduction of his unquenchable greed.

"Mister Kuma?" His visitor's silky voice pushed him gently, persuasively out of his thoughts…a peaceful—though unseen—smile evident in his calm, soft tone. There was no hint of impatience. Just a knowing pause.

The turnkey looked up at him gingerly. "An ol' man died last night Milord…" The beady pools returned to the sparkling riches on his wooden table, skimming over every curve of the visible coins with obsessed possessiveness. "Perhaps som'tin' can be 'rranged…"

The ethereal smile on his guest's lips widened in satisfaction. "Excellent."

-XxxxX-

Chouji Akamichi stared down at the narrow stilted panel displayed soberly before him. The loud swoosh of the winter wind around him and the occasional swishing of his heavy cloak that came in harmony with the cold rustling breeze were the only sounds that met his senses, his mind trying to process a logical explanation to the oddity that met him.

Really.

He didn't understand why in the world the fatter-than-he turnkey would meet him outside the prison complex with a long wooden box. Wasn't he supposed to pick up Jiro Kiyoshi? Where was he? And what was with the box all of a sudden?

Seriously, a box?

Chouji's russet orbs looked up from the inanimate object that was far from being a Kiyoshi captive to the armored men and the lone pig—er…goaler positioned in front of him, innocent confusion written evidently all over his features.

"Where…" He trailed off, unable to finish his question seeing the gaoler automatically bow his plump head down gravely, his beady, pig-like eyes downcast sorrowfully. "'M afraid we've come 'cross a little misfortune gov'na…"

Chouji stared hard at the small man with alarmed wide eyes. A straight grim line made his way to his food-loving lips waiting for the man to continue.

Why did he suddenly feel like he wasn't going to like what the man was going to say?

"'Mister Kiyoshi…'as departed ta a better place…gov'na"

It was a particular winter day where nothing seemed out of place. The sun was no where to be seen. Trees were leafless and the fields were enveloped in white. The lakes, frozen silver. Blankets and blankets of snow were all that were seen for miles and miles. Not a sign of life was in sight. Silence was the wielder of the wasteland.

That is, it was until the rattling of horse hooves broke the fragile entity into cool pieces. The perfect painting of a white wonderland, ruined by the ebony carriage trailing behind the two strong bucks.

The carriage twisted and turned along the slippery, ice sheltered road, unaware and, rather, unaffected by the blasts of cool wind.

And just as the rich ebony coach looked unaffected, the inhabitants inside were just as impassive to the cool weather. In fact, inside, the coach was far warmer and cozier. Something a certain silver haired lord was thankful for. He chuckled warmly to himself and turned his gaze to the dark haired young man he had just brought back.

"So…I assume your…ah…visit at Root had been pleasant?" The silver haired man commented lightly, his silky smooth voice laced with cheeky humor.

His companion merely grunted without even sparing him a glance. He had his soulless onyx orbs plastered on the white winter picture painted up to last for three months. He really did not want to talk about it.

"But you know, for someone who's been gone for almost a month now, you don't look too shabby though." The man speaking grinned, ignoring the other man's disinterest in the topic.

"Hn." Another grunt of disinterest.

He sighed. "Tsk. You know, it's not polite to ignore the man who can give you important information. And I thought I taught you well…"

At that said, his onyx gaze swung to his silver headed associate, an elegant dark eyebrow raised in question. "Information?"

"About Jiro Kiyoshi." He piped.

"What about him?"

"He's dead."

-XxxxX-

"De…Dead…"

The word was enough to knock the air out of her lungs. Like someone had just punched her unmercifully in the gut leaving her to wheeze for breath. Her knees felt like buckling. Her eyes wavering.

Sakura weakly looked up at her childhood friend, who had his own sad gaze down at the ground, fidgeting uncomfortably under her feeble inspection.

It wasn't a sick joke; she knew. She could see it in Chouji's distressed eyes.

But then again…she wasn't sure if what she saw was a good thing. Because if Chouji was really telling the truth then…

She glanced at the wooden panel lying silently in their wagon. Her mouth went dry.

Then…he's really dead…

"I…I think…I need to sit…down." She whispered faintly, feeling for something to hold on to behind her. She leaned against the tree trunk just as her knees buckled and gave in, plunging her down to the cool snow covered earth. "I don't believe this…" She covered her eyes with her arm in despair, tears beginning to prickle her green bejeweled eyes. "I'm doomed!"

"Sakura…" Chouji began sadly. He honestly didn't know what to say to her. He just knew that he dreaded telling her the news. And now that he's told her…well, dread hadn't been the right adjective to use.

He felt awful.

"What the hell!" An exasperated voice ground out, angry. "What do you mean he's dead?"

"He's dead. As in deceased, lifeless. Rotting!" Sakura growled out harshly. This can't be happening!

"Who would die at a time like this?!"

Chouji turned away from his pink haired friend chanting 'I'm doomed, I'm doomed' under her breath all the while repeatedly hitting the back of her head against the tree trunk kind enough to support her. He looked down at the fuming brunet. "The…The turnkey said Mister Kiyoshi got into a brawl with the guards…said he was getting cocky 'cause he was getting out. They ganged up on him, and he died from the bruises."

"And you believed the bastard?!" the brunet exploded, eyes flaring.

"The body's inside the coffin Kiba…" Chouji answered dully.

"Shit…" Kiba looked away kicking the snowy ground in obvious frustration. "I don't believe this!"

For a time silence ensued after Kiba's outburst. No one knew what to say. What to think. What to feel. Their fate had been riding on Sakura's marriage to Jiro Kiyoshi. The whole town had been depending on it.

Jiro Kiyoshi was…in simple terms, supposed to be their savior.

Well kind of.

He was their savior from Count Inari at least. His family name would be enough.

But now that he's dead…

Well, they couldn't very well expect any resurrection happening anytime soon, now could they?

Sakura sighed, dejected. Well, there was no use moping around. She could still come up with a new plan. There was still time…no matter how little it was…She stood up, feeling her butt numb from sitting on the cold ground for too long and shook out the snow from one of her very few—if not the only—presentable gowns she had. It had been her mother's. The thought made her smile.

They—Jiro and she—were supposed to get married today…but now that he was dead…well it didn't take a genius to find out that no body was going wait for her at the altar at the moment.

"Alright!" She looked at both of her best friends, her brothers with the firmness and determination she'd always exhibited in times of need. The same kind of determination that had enabled them to survive all this time. "Let's just bury the man,"

Kiba looked at her with disbelief. "Are you serious? That man—the dead man—practically took our whole month's budget! And what did he do?! Huh? Huh?! He died out on us! He didn't even wait for his hanging! Oh, hell no! Hell no! I am not burying an ungrateful, cheating corpse! He can rot away for all I care!"

Sakura stared up at her friend bleakly. "Kiba. That doesn't make any sense!"

"It does too!" was the brunet's retort, huffing in indignation. He felt crappy and frustrated.

He never liked Inari. Nobody liked Inari. And now that their only way out had just literally died he wasn't sure what to think anymore. And being unsure was one the last thing he wanted to happen right now! He hated being unsure and uneasy. For Pete's sake, why didn't we just kill the man?!

"No it doesn't." Sakura sighed. Trust Kiba to start complaining. It was his best talent. It wasn't the man's fault he died…er…really.

"Does too!" Mud brown eyes tossed a glare at the pinkette.

"Does not!"

"Does too, too make sense!" He stuck his tongue out at her.

"Does so not!" She rolled her eyes at him.

"Uh-huh!"

"Nuh-uh!"

"Ah-he-hem!" Chouji cleared his throat, trying and failing feebly to gain his friends' attention.

"Nuh-uh!"

"Uh-huh!"

"Uh…guys?"

"Nuh-uh!"

"Uh-huh!"

"GUYS!"

"What?!" Heated green and mud brown glared turned to the hulking young man standing by their trusty wagon, their growls echoing throughout the silent meadow they were in.

Chouji paused, rummaging for something inside his heavy cloak before pulling out a bottle of wine. He smiled sheepishly at the duo. "He wasted our good wine too…"

"Our wine! My wine!" A resounding gasp was heard from the brown haired young man snatching the small bottle from Chouji, cradling it in his arms with as much care and tenderness as one would hold a newborn baby. Then he turned his affectionate gaze to the lone female in the threesome, glaring at her in accusation. "What did you do?!"

Sakura pouted. "Nothing—"

"She mixed sleeping powder in it…" The biggest of the three chirped helpfully.

"Chouji!" Sakura glared at the hulking lad.

"What?" Chouji blinked.

"You what?!" Kiba exploded with disbelief and outrage.

"Oh shut up Kiba!" Sakura clucked, brushing off the brunet's outburst. Not really up for more of his 'Kiba moments'. She's had enough of it to last her a lifetime really. They did practically grow up together.

"You put sleeping powder in my precious wine?!" Said brunet, however, prodded nonetheless, not letting the subject go. He and Akamaru were supposed to share it on a cold winter night! They had been saving it since, like, forever! What were they going to have now?

Stupid, cheating Sakura!

What would she do with tainted wine anyway? She didn't even like wine!

"He wanted to sleep with me!" she explained with some exasperation, letting the words out in a swift huff.

Really! What did they want her to do? Really sleep with the man? She knew it was cheating though, but hey, didn't everyone else? I mean even Jiro cheated by dying!

"Who?!"

"Jiro." The girl answered stiffly, looking away in some shame at how low she's sunk.

Kiba blinked. "…What?"

Okay, now that stopped him.

Chouji sweat dropped watching the childish—very childish—banter between the two friends considering the fact that they were both already twenty-one years old. Seriously.

Besides, if Kiba got any louder, he could cause an avalanche…And then Sakura would be really pissed. He shuddered at the thought.

The lone female of the trio tilted her chin up defiantly at the noisy brunet. "He wanted to…to sleep with me,"

"Oh…"

"Yeah…It was their deal…" Chouji nodded with a weak sigh, making cool puffs of smoke appear. He was getting cold. He looked up at the sky and was about to say that it was starting to get dark. But before he could open his mouth and tell his friends it was time to head back home, Kiba beat him to it.

"Well that was stupid." Kiba said folding his arms in front of his chest, nodding firmly to himself.

"I know," The pinkette leaned against the tree trunk noticing that it was getting dark. Maybe we should bury the corpse in the morning… "It was a stupid deal—"

"I mean, who'd be stupid enough to sleep with you of all people!"

"…" What..? Her expression stilled, a pink eyebrow twitching.

Okay…

So…it looks like Jiro Kiyoshi wasn't the only one going six feet under today after all…

But at least now Mister Kiyoshi wouldn't be lonely down there anymore…

Knuckles cracked. Necks snapped. Skulls shattered. Bones broke. Ribs tore.

Ah, yes.

Welcome to Sakura Haruno's carnage feast.

On the menu: Kiba Inuzuka.