Why the hell was he doing this? Kiba felt clueless without Akamaru with him as he walked through the village towards Kurenai's home. If Shino hadn't paid him upfront and Kurenai's threats of even longer training days, then there would be no way he would actually would go through with hanging out with Kasami. Taking one more breath, he then huffed as he took a turn that led straight to Kurenai's apartment. This shouldn't be too bad anyways. Kurenai did say that Kasami was a new citizen, didn't she? So technically he was just getting to know his new teammate and learn how to fight alongside her. He paused for a moment as he put his hands in his pants pockets, but why did it feel odd to get to know her? That doubt and lack of trust rose back inside of him as he recalled the mission to take her from her village. Kiba shook the thought gently from his head as he continued on his way and walked up the stairs to Kurenai's door.
Each knock on Kurenai's door seemed to echo, was there anyone home? Kiba waited as he stood completely still until he heard footsteps. The door opened, Kasami stood with a look of surprise on her face, "Kiba? What are you doing here? Kurenai isn't here-"
"I came to get to know you since we're on the same team and all," Kiba answered casually, giving a slight shrug as he glanced away.
"Oh..well, I don't know if Kurenai wants people in her place just yet," Kasami fumbled with the handle, glancing back up to see the discomfort on Kiba's features.
Kasami bit her bottom lip before stepping out and closing the door behind her. Kiba, somewhat surprised, took a step back. He didn't expect her to willingly just go with him. Kasami turned her gaze away from Kiba as she commented, "I have to be back by sunset. Hinata and I have plans tonight."
"That won't be a problem," Kiba responded as he led the way down the stairs.
As the two walked along the dirt road, Kiba kept silent. He didn't know exactly what to say to a girl like her. She wasn't like the other girls in the village who, for the most part, had varied personalities like any other person. In his head, his thoughts went to how he could probably pick Kasami out of an entire village because of how she presented herself and how her eyes seemed to be always distant. It was just odd how different she was from the rest of the village. But she wasn't anymore. Kiba blinked a few times before asking Kasami, "So how do you like being a citizen now? Do you like the village?"
Kasami's expression disturbed him when she seemed utterly confused. She put her hands behind her back as she raised a brow towards him, "Living here for less than a week now makes me a citizen? I thought it took at least a few months, maybe even a year and we're not even bringing up the paperwork involved."
Kiba stopped in his tracks. Kurenai wasn't one to lie. Then again, he wasn't surprised. He was about to say something, but stopped himself when Kasami didn't continue walking as well. She gave a small shrug, "I wouldn't mind being one though. It's peaceful here. It's like nothing bad happens here."
Though his sensei did lie to him, Kiba was at least pleased to hear that Kasami was thinking about being a citizen. He caught up to her, not wanting to seem like some type of jerk lost in his own thoughts. His voice caught off for a second before he responded to her statement, "Yeah, Konoha is a great place to live."
The early afternoon brought them to the forest where most of Kiba's own personal training with Akamaru occurred. He didn't know actually where to take Kasami to get to know her, but he figured the training grounds were a good place to start. Kiba gingerly went to one of his hand-made targets and fixed it to stand up straight before Kasami round house kicked the dummy back onto the ground. Nearly getting his head kicked, Kiba ducked quickly and glared up at Kasami who held a playful smile on her lips. At least she was good competition. Kiba returned with a smirk as he placed the dummy back up, "I have to say, I'm surprised to see that you're a skilled fighter. You've come a long way since you first came along."
"I'm built to adapt," Kasami fixed her shirt and shorts before crossing her arms, "I knew how to fight for awhile, but I thought it was just something different. Kurenai filled me in on the details about chakra and stuff like that. This whole ninja thing is new to me. I feel like I'm so far behind you three."
Kiba, a natural leader and willing to help anyone who was a friend to him, instinctively wanted to fill her in on even more details. He enjoyed teaching Hinata how to spar and training with Shino was always entertaining. Maybe training with Kasami would teach him more than just helping her out on her own jutsu. Kiba smiled as he placed his weight on the dummy, "I can teach you a few tricks if you ever want to train with me and the others on a one to one basis."
"Or I could teach you a few things too," Kasami commented slyly.
Confused at her demeanor, Kiba then felt his weight beginning to shift as he toppled over on top of the dummy. Kiba glanced over to see a few tiny snakes had eaten through the footing on the dummy and had it collapse. His eyes went back to Kasami to see her chuckling to herself, "You think you're slick, huh?"
"I have to be," Kasami helped him up, "I could use some pointers though if you ever feel like teaching someone like me."
Her comment hit home as he recalled the day before. Basically calling her a whore was the wrong thing to do and it looked like it did hurt her feelings. Kiba pulled down his hood on his jacket as he put his hands in his pockets, "Look, I'm sorry I said that. I didn't-"
"It's okay," Kasami smiled up at him, "We're even."
The two continued to bond until the sky began to turn red. Kiba was just about to suggest they go and get some food when he noticed Kasami fiddling with her fingers. He then remembered she had other plans and approached her, "I had a good time today hanging out with you. You're not as bad as I thought you were. I think you'll make a great teammate."
For just a brief second, maybe he would have never noticed it if it were any other situation, but he saw something within her eyes when she looked up at him. The contacts hid her snake eyes. However, the contacts couldn't hide the fire within her soul. Just as fast as she revealed something within her mind, it disappeared. Kasami took a step back from Kiba before saying, "I had fun too. Lets do this again sometime."
Without much of saying goodbye or anything, Kiba watched as Kasami ran off back towards Kurenai's place. She was up to something. It wasn't any of his business, but he didn't know what that fire in her eyes meant. This was her third day in Konoha, maybe she was getting homesick. Then again, she did say she had plans with Hinata. Kiba sighed and started to head back towards his place. Whatever was about to happen, he didn't want to get in trouble with his sensei anymore than he already had.
Kasami could've punched Kiba until there was nothing left of his face. How could he just show up out of no where and act like they were anymore more than strangers? She paced angrily within the apartment before sitting on the bed and placed her hands on her knees. Hinata was too kind to her, and the girl was much too fragile for her own good. Kasami took a deep breath before standing back up. Kurenai had said she was going out with another jonin that night. Perhaps now was the best time to get things cleared up before she made her way back.
Going through Kurenai's closet, she grabbed a few articles of clothing that she could use when she returned home. There was even a secret kunai in the closet, that was a definite find. Kasami strapped the kunai to her thigh before going to the kitchen. She didn't want to leave a note or any trace that she was leaving. When she finished packing as little as she could, only wanting to bring what she could carry, Kasami sat at the kitchen table as she waited for the darkness to come. As she waited, her thoughts went to how beautiful Konoha really was. If she could stay, she would have. This village felt like a lovely dream and she never wanted to wake up. Konoha would be the place she would think of when times were bad, or when she needed a mental escape if a customer over-powered her.
Then, as the full moon began to rise, Kasami knew it was time. She left Kurenai's apartment nice and clean before leaving out the front door. To the village, it looked like she was on a stroll. Kasami walked slowly in the shadows. The last thing she wanted was to look like a runaway if she moved swiftly in the streets. Kasami felt her heart beginning to break with each step that held the intention of leaving. Was this really the right choice? It should feel like it. Then why were Hinata's soft, gentle words echoing in her mind? Why was Kurenai and the team appearing in Kasami's thoughts now? Kasami hesitated for a moment as she felt her hands go to her heart. Kurenai, Hinata, and Shino had treated her so kindly despite knowing what she was capable of doing or what her village represented. Hell, even Kiba was nice to her that day.
No. She had to return to her village. Kasami continued walking among the shadows as she refused to think of Kurenai or the others any further. They were not her family nor was Konoha her home.
"I do believe that Kasami has changed in the last three days that she's been here," Kurenai sipped her tea as she sat in front of the Hokage, "She's made so much progress with the others. I think she's really happy here."
"I'm glad to hear that," Sarutobi smiled as he smoked his pipe, "She will surely be an asset to the village when she accepts her citizenship."
"I will discuss with her about that tomorrow," Kurenai responded as she placed her cup on the table in front of her, "I even had Kiba spend time with her today. Perhaps he will grow on her and she will teach Hinata how to open up to people more."
Sarutobi nodded in agreement until he felt a flicker of chakra. He stood up slowly, his joints not allowing to jump up like he used to. When a few of the ANBU appeared from the shadows, even Kurenai stood up on edge. Sarutobi placed a hand up to calm Kurenai down as he faced the ANBU, "What news have you brought?"
"It's the girl, Lord Third," one of the masked ANBU took a step forward, "We have reason to believe that she is going to attempt an escape tonight."
"Kasami?" Kurenai gasped as she went to the Hokage's side, "She wouldn't leave!"
"Are you insinuating that we are making this up?" the speaking ANBU member presented Kurenai with photographs of Kasami heading to the main gates of the village.
Without another word, Kurenai moved to leap out the window to stop Kasami. Sarutobi watched as he nodded for the ANBU to follow. This time, when Kasami was brought back, he would have to take matters back into his own hands.
Finally, she was out of the village! Kasami ran as fast as she could through the forest hoping that it was towards her village. She was knocked out when the others brought her to Konoha, but anywhere was better than staying in that village. If she could just find another neighboring, maybe smaller, village she could find directions to her own. Kasami knew she couldn't run as fast as the other ninjas, but she could meander her way like an agile snake. Then, just when she thought she was alone, she heard other footsteps. She didn't have to turn around to know she was being followed. Kasami put on a burst of speed before hiding behind on of the trees. Trying to hide her heavy panting, Kasami covered her mouth. It seemed whoever was following her ran passed her. Thank goodness. She released a sigh of relief before feeling arms from the trees grab her from behind. Panicking, Kasami resisted as much as she could before she recognized the clothing.
"Kurenai!?" Kasami breathed, only to resist even stronger and began to thrash against Kurenai, "Get off of me!"
"Why are you leaving!?" Kurenai growled as she kept a tight hold on Kasami, "You had said everything was going well!"
"I was lying you bitch!" Kasami spat at Kurenai, then summoned her snakes.
The first long snake wrapped around Kurenai so tightly that the jonin released Kasami. Kurenai struggled before disappearing in a cloud of smoke. Kasami stood close to her snake before the snake lunged to an area behind Kasami. Kurenai disappeared in another cloud of smoke. She couldn't stay there any longer! Running in the same direction, Kasami dodged low branches and other obstacles before falling onto her behind when three masked people stood in front of her. Kasami began to crawl away from them, "Who..are you?"
They each held a weapon. Kasami's fear grew as more snakes surrounded her until her body was covered in snakes of varied sizes.
When one reached for her, the snakes that surrounded Kasami attacked all three. Kasami took the opportunity while they were fighting off her poisonous snakes to summon her giant snake. The snake came from beneath her, picking her up and rising above the tree tops. Kasami balanced herself on her hands and knees, guiding the snake through the forest. Trees fell as the giant snake plowed through the forest effortlessly. Then, Kasami felt herself pushed down and flipped onto her back. Her eyes opened to gaze revealed a disheveled Kurenai pinning her.
"Let me go, Kurenai," Kasami pleaded as she struggled against the woman's strength, "I can't stay there any longer!"
"Kasami…" Kurenai's eyes revealed such sorrow that it made Kasami wonder what was waiting for her back in Konoha, "I have my orders. Either myself or the ANBU Black-Ops will take you back."
"Why!?" Kasami kicked Kurenai's abdomen several times before she broke free from the Jonin's grasp, she stood up on her two feet to face down Kurenai as she pulled the kunai from her thigh, "Why did you take me!? Tell me why I can't go home!"
There was a long pause before Kasami saw the defeat in Kurenai's face. She waited until Kurenai then answered, "I can't tell you. It's not my-"
"Liar!" Kasami rushed at Kurenai to stab her, only to be tripped.
Kurenai caught Kasami's wrist and took the kunai, "There are some secrets that are too much for you to know right now. But you will be told one day."
Rage burned within Kasami. Venom oozed from her eyes, dissolving her contacts once again. Kasami fought against Kurenai before morphing her arms into snakes. Kurenai seemed to have noticed the change in skin texture and released Kasami. This was far from over. Using both snakes to extend closer to Kurenai, the snakes bit into Kurenai's arms as Kasami dragged herself back onto the snake's head. Kasami came closer to Kurenai, bringing the Jonin to her knees, "If you won't tell me, then you're as good as dead to me."
The venom would kill her within hours if she didn't get treatment swiftly. Kasami tossed Kurenai off the snake's head as her hands went back to normal. Then, she noticed the snake beginning to slow down. She was about to make it go faster until she felt her body beginning to weaken. Was the venom affecting her as well? Kasami watched as she felt herself acting as if she were falling asleep. The last image were the three ANBU people from before.
Kurenai woke in the infirmary, her thoughts began to collect as she put the pieces of the previous night together. Kasami tried to escape only to fail. The jonin could barely move, but managed to sit up as she realized Asuma was by her bedside. He didn't have to speak for her to know what he was thinking. She grimaced as she placed her hands in her lap, "I could have stopped her on my own. If I-"
"Stop doing that to yourself," Asuma spoke sternly, but his intentions were not to infuriate her, "That girl…well, you knew this wasn't going to be easy, did you?"
"Of course not," Kurenai coughed slightly, feeling her organs functioning without the venom inside them, "I just never thought she'd actually try to leave. I thought I was doing so well and…"
Her words trailed off. Asuma saw the pain in her eyes and reached over to brush his fingers against her cheek. Now that they were alone they didn't need to hide their relationship. He sighed as he sat back in his seat, "The girl is being held within the Hokage's manor. The Hokage wanted me to inform you that your duties to her are relieved until further notice."
Kurenai stirred for a moment. Then, Asuma stated, "It's best if you don't see her as well. The girl is under lock and key until the Hokage figures out what we should do."
Now this was what made Kurenai feel as if she could vomit.
