Part Two.

"Thank you." Tayuya said, stretching her legs.

"Oh, so you do have manners." Piper smiled. She paused a moment, realizing what she had said. She was sincerely grateful, and did not mind proving the rumors wrong. 'Don't think that this changes anything.' She thought to her self, glancing over at the food; it still had some time to go before it was ready. 'How does he cook food, being blind?' Piper was back at the fire, sitting in his relaxed position.

"Seriously. What is your name?" Tayuya asked, sitting across from him on the other side of the fire.

"I have no name." He stated in return. "But, people have referred to me as the Blind Piper, or Piper for short."

"Piper." She rolled it over her tongue, nodding. "How are you able to tell if the food is ready, being blind?" Tayuya asked out of sincere curiosity.

"It took me some time to learn how to do that effectively." Piper said after a moment's silence. "But I have learned it is in the timing. So, I construct what you can obviously see, and as soon as it collapses because of the wood being burned up, then I know the food is ready. The construction is different, according to what is being prepared of course."

"I see." Tayuya said, realizing too late about exactly what she said, and feeling a little like an arse for saying it. "Have you always been blind?"

"So far as I know, I was born blind." Piper said. "But, it is not entirely a birth defect as one would consider it to be. All the people of my tribe are blind, because; like Kimimaro; we too have a blood limit. Like Kimimaro, I am the last remnant of my kind. Or, should I say: as Kimimaro were."

"He's dead?" Tayuya asked shocked.

"I believe he died of natural causes, undoubtedly progressed by his clash with a Sand shinobi. He will be dearly missed." Piper said, fatigue from the operation setting in fast. He felt tired and mournful for his friend, longing only for rest. Why he had thought he would be able to stay for dinner, Piper did not know, but since he was here he might as well; although, to his own surprise, he would be willing to fight the fatigue only to keep Tayuya company. That thought disturbed him; he had never sought to keep any company, and even less of that from a rude person. He brushed it aside, hoping that ignorance would drive it away. Tayuya had become suddenly quiet; no doubt shocked by Kimimaro's passing.

Tayuya had not liked Kimimaro that much, only because he was Orochimaru's favorite, but his death did come as a sudden shock; she had thought he would never die, even when he fell ill it seemed to take forever. To think that some one from the Sand had killed him; or as Piper said, progressed his end; seemed unrealistic. However, Tayuya did not wish to dwell on such thoughts at the moment; she was interested in knowing more of her immediate company. She glanced at him thoughtfully, revising his last words.

"Is that what brings you to the Leaf?" Tayuya asked, driving the silence away. Piper was flushed with gratitude, hearing her voice again after the short silence. She had driven away the sorrowing thoughts of Kimimaro that plagued his mind, and for that he was grateful; if that was the only reason. He glanced in the direction of her voice, pondering quietly about the face it belonged to; he knew little in the way she appeared, except for her rumored red locks of hair, that he had perceived earlier as long and soft, but could perceive little else. Her breathing is methodically easeful and well controlled, almost as soft as her hair, which aided little in the way he perceived peoples features. Her voice was different; befitting the color of her hair; it was soft toned but always cheeky and sharp, almost as if it was made to sound perpetually offensive, but at the same time the soft tone of her voice made it seem as if she was hiding her true identity somewhere deep down. By her voice alone, Piper could tell she had not lived an easy life; but then again, no enemy of the Leaf ever did. What was it about the Leaf that always made them pick on the saddest of people? Piper's story was no different, and he was not intent on telling that to anyone, even if he liked their company. 'I wonder what her eyes look like. What color is it?' Piper thought, oblivious to the world around him. 'What does it matter, it's not like I can perceive color all the time.'

"Are you even listening!?" Tayuya snapped at him, startling him back to the present. "Would you like some tea?" He asked, feeling silly for asking. 'Well, I don't think she's the tea drinking kind.' He thought, and then added: "It's from the Land of Tea." She seemed indecisive and then nodded; Piper could hear the rustle of her hair against the collar of her robe. He jumped into action, grabbing a kettle from his back pack and then strolling to the river to fetch water; he tried to avoid her question, for the time being.

'And he said I had no manners.' Tayuya thought as Piper strolled down to the river. 'I think he heard, but did not want to talk about it; or he is just an arse like all the others.' She sighed. 'He does seem kind of different from the others, but I might just be under the wrong impression.' She glanced around the camp and saw he took his sword with him; still does not trust her, but neither would she. Her eyes landed on his flute. 'Would he mind?' She thought, yearning to pick it up and play a pointless tune, the way she practiced when alone. 'Maybe I should wait and ask first, I don't like it when people play with mine with out permission, or at all.' Her thoughts had startled her; did she really just think that, actually thinking of asking permission? She ignored herself and went ahead to play on it, but first curiously examined the contents of the cloth bag tied to the mouth piece. It had to be a coin purse, but held only a single coin; a large silver coin with Piper's face on the head, and a strange rune on the back. It seemed pointless to her; why would a blind man keep an image of himself; and she returned it to its rightful place. She placed the bag aside, and began playing a song; a slow, sorrowful song, channeling thoughts of Kimimaro. The flute sounded beautiful, rich and full; she considered taking it off his corpse later. She would miss her own; which was a special gift; but this one could easily replace it. The day's events that she did not appreciate; from the fight against that groping shadow bender, being tied up, almost dying, and the realization of being alone again; washed away as she played, achieving absolute harmony. She felt tranquil and content only when she was on her own, sitting somewhere no one could find her, and playing a pointless melody. She was caught in the moment, and did not realize Piper had returned to camp. He crept in silently, listening intently in on Tayuya's song. He was down by the river when he heard it, attempting to drown all the strange thoughts he's had recently, but the sudden appearance of her song did not help him. Instead he found himself fascinated by her skills; he played, but had not been as well practiced as she, he learned. Yet, strangely enough, the emotional tremor of losing a close friend had begun to dissipate the more he listened in on the music she produced. 'She has a natural talent.' He thought to himself, captured by the melody. As he came into camp, Piper realized he could make out the contours of her face, due to the high presence of sound in the vicinity of her vision. She had sharp, slender features; as far as he could tell; and appeared far kinder than she acted. Tayuya became aware of Piper when he placed the kettle on the stones, next to the food; her eyes had been closed so she could listen attentively to the sounds she produced. She stopped playing; to Piper's dismay; and looked at him, feeling self conscious and a little shy. She hesitated to continue, and wanted to put the flute down. "Don't stop." Piper said. "Its not often I get to hear something quite like the way you play." Tayuya did not want to continue however, and placed the flute back where she found it, despite feeling flattered. It was not exactly because she did not want to, it was that she had to maintain her image; not that he would understand. She said nothing, and took her place again by the fire side. Piper felt disappointed, but did not want to force her to do anything; except stick to her agreement. He went ahead with the tea preparations, making an entire kettle that he hoped lasted the night; if it would be a silent night, it might not last.

"Why don't you play for us?" Tayuya suggested. "It's not often that I get to meet a fellow musician. I would like to hear you play." The tea was placed on the hot stones and left to boil. 'I have never heard a blind person play before, and it might be interesting to hear.' Tayuya thought, waiting to see Piper play. He thought 'Why not, I might as well repay her in kind.'

"You should be warned though I'm not as well practiced as you." Piper said, moving to pick up his flute. He waited a moment, searching for the bag that was tied to the flute and found it resting on his back pack; he had made no notion to examine its contents. 'So, he trusts me.' Tayuya thought. Piper sat down by the fire, crossing his legs for comfort and began playing as the flute disappeared behind the blue linen of his mask. Tayuya paid close attention to his technique, and found that he was more practiced then he gave himself credit for. The song he had chosen; a hymn he had learned was native to his people and was lodged among some of his oldest memories; started amidst the lowest notes that the flute could produce and moved gradually through to the higher notes in a slow but content pace. Tayuya had her thoughts drifted away on the melody of the song, imagining that this was the kind of music that would accompany the long, but brief, existence of a patient yet energetic storm that ravaged the country sides of villages for days at end. It was ominously dark, presenting a tense atmosphere followed by days of destructive flooding and the possibility of hail; it was the kind of weather she liked, and now it was apparent also the type of music she liked. Piper had a substantial air capacity, but it was obvious to her that he did not use his flute in combat a lot; yet there was the possibility that he had a few hidden skills with his flute. The one thing that Tayuya had noticed, and came to admire, about his technique, was the clear quality of each note he produced; not a single one was produced with faults or impurities. Piper continued his song; known to him as the hymn of the scorpions; while the fire crackled and made the shadows dance against the trees, bushes, rocks and across the river's clear waters and the field's long grass, until his ears were interrupted by the low hiss of steaming water. He ignored it so he could finish the passage, feeling obligated to complete the song before he served the tea. Tayuya, whose eyes had been closed while she drifted on distant dreams, slowly opened her eyes when the sounds of Piper's flute died, the melody residing in her thoughts. She had been taken by Piper's beautiful song, and music such as the piece she just heard had been the reason she endeavored to play her self. Piper had sidled over to his back pack, rummaging for cups and plates he stored. He placed it ready and served the tea, which steamed gently in the cool, river air. Piper presented Tayuya with her cup, that she had not hesitated to take, took his own and placed the tea with in reach of either one's hands. He had put away his flute as both remained quiet, sipping on their tea while the fish simmered on the hot stones.

One thing Tayuya adored more than good music, fierce weather, and company that remained quiet when there was reason to be; such as the following moments after an enchanting song; was a good cup of tea. She preferred hers generously sweetened with added flavor of mint or lemon; Piper had just surprised her wildest expectations. His tea was much better than his music, and his music deserved several compliments; none that she could give though, she had to maintain her reputation after all. She gladly sipped her tea, savoring it as much as possible, glancing at her company in between sips. He seemed to be enjoying his tea as well, lost somewhere distant in thought. 'I might actually like him.' Tayuya thought. 'Too bad he has to die.'

It had been some time before the food was ready, by which time the kettle had been half emptied. Both of them had remained quiet through the many refills, indulging in their own private thoughts. Piper had not expected that the night would be this long, had he known he would have preferred something else to eat. He was heavily fatigued and hungry by the time they had eaten, as he had not eaten the whole day, expecting to fill up on something that the Leaf could have sold him. Tayuya was hungry, having missed out on the day's meals and chewed down eagerly. Piper's food was as well prepared as his tea, and had hit the right spot, filling her empty stomach; she had even helped her self to seconds of the bread that baked with the fish. Piper had mentioned during dinner that he was not keen on fish, and would hunt for something better in the morning, but Tayuya had seemed pleased with what he prepared. Despite a few lonely words during dinner, they had been quiet during most of the meal, their mouths too busy to really talk. Piper had thought of moving the infiltration discussing to a later time, being too tired to remain awake too late. Tayuya, despite resting for long periods during the day, had also fallen prey to fatigue; not forgetting about her plans though. After Piper had cleaned up around the camp; putting away all of the things he had used during the passage of the night; he had retired to his corner to rest, propping his head against his back pack and laying in the dust until he had fallen asleep. Tayuya had kept her eyes closely on his sword, which he had laid down an arms length from his side when he went to sleep. She crawled into the stretcher bed so she could go to sleep; or rather pretend to sleep; waiting until Piper fell asleep. The stretcher was comfortable, and it proved some task to stay awake, but Tayuya had managed. All the while it appeared that Piper had not suspected anything of her intentions, and this had served her well.

The fire had perished before they had called it a night and all that remained was ashes that produced a feint after glow of light. Tayuya knew it would require effort in order to sneak up to Piper, because of his acute hearing; of which she was not sure how sensitive it was. None the less she had made her attempt and succeeded in crawling up to him and taking his sword in the process, paying close attention to any reactions that might indicate that he was awake. He did not snore; not if heavy breathing could be considered as snoring; but seemed fast asleep, unaware of Tayuya's approach. She was hovering near his ears, paying attentive care not to produce any sound; not even taking the slightest of breaths; while moving the tip of one end of the sword's blades to his throat, intent on driving it through his skull from underneath his jaw. This method was the most effective as it not only ensured the kill, but was also easy to perform as this way provided the softest resistance and would be swiftly over; it also did not allow the victim to produce any sound, or cause too much blood spatter. She was going to enjoy this, as proven by the sly smile present on her face. The sword moved easefully; she noted the quality and lightness of the weapon that most other weapons she had tried did not have, and that was the reason she preferred her flute in combat. The tip of the blade halted millimeters from his tan skin, Tayuya hovering over him soundlessly; this was the part that she only had to thrust forward, and feel how the blade would cut through the soft skin and tissue – the part she savored. However hesitation had befallen her hand, she did not want to move despite having the will to do what she enjoyed most; killing. It felt as if she was caught again by that groping little shit's shadow jutsu, but was aware that nothing was involved but her own thoughts. The sword remained absolutely still, poised to strike but hesitant. 'Why?' She thought. 'Why can I not kill him? Sure, he had been nothing but kind, humoristic, and accepted my company with out resistance, despite what people said about me; which is all only half truths; but he did tie me up, threaten to kill me and undress me. Yet, he had saved my life, kept me from the justice of the Leaf, and had clothed me again, and fed me; with rather good food I should add…' 'What?! What was this? Arguing with my self? Really? That would be more like Sakon and Ukon, not me. I have done this so many times, what would make this any different?'

"Go ahead, what are you waiting for? Do it already." Piper's voice startled her with words that she was familiar with, that she had used earlier in the day. 'Damn it!' Tayuya thought. 'Why did I have to hesitate?' The sword remained in place, poised to strike.

"Why do you hesitate?" Piper asked in a whisper.

"Curiosity." It was all Tayuya could think to say. She felt embarrassed; now she seemed a real dirt bag for attempting to kill a kind, blind man in his sleep, and a coward for failing.

"Really, about what?" Piper asked, his hand had moved and was now clutching the sword and moving it away. His hand was positioned on the hilt just above hers, and his fingers touched hers – her heart skipped, but only slightly. "You know, you could only have asked. You certainly had no need to threaten an answer out of me." He sounded sincere; having noticed her embarrassment, he tried to brush her deeds out by the door with a little humor. He also noticed how her heart had skipped, but thought it to be only shock, alerted by him moving the blade out of a harmful position; it was close enough to shave his skin.

"I was just wondering why you have a coin with your face on it." Tayuya asked, again it was all she could think of.

"I do? You know, I've never really seen it." He said; she did not laugh, and he sighed. "That? Well, I could see why you would have needed to threaten that answer out of me. But, seeing as you did, I would have to tell you, except that it is a rather long and dark story." The sword had been placed back where it had lain before, and Tayuya had retracted her hand quickly. "Perhaps better suited for the morning." Piper suggested. "Go back to sleep, we could have a busy day ahead of us." Tayuya had said nothing and sulked back to her bed, she did not want to see him or speak to him, she felt too much of a fool, but the one thing that preoccupied; and worried; her thoughts, was her reaction when he had touched her. It was…strange; something like this had never happened to her before. She crept into bed; her back turned to Piper, and fell asleep after a few minutes of serious thinking. She was in a slight predicament; she did not want to stay, but he was under the impression she was going to keep to her agreement, and not to mention what had taken place and how it might influence everything. However, she had no other place to be; Orochimaru had left her, and all the members of the Sound shinobi five, to die this day, and would not welcome them back, assuming they are dead.

'What now?' Plagued her thoughts.

"Why did I hesitate?' Piper thought. 'It would have taken a single strike to her jugular, or the side of her head to end her life. The nerve, creeping up to a blind man while he slept. Why did I hesitate the first time I had a chance to end her life? Why did I even save someone of her kind? More importantly, how am I going to treat this? She is not going to keep to her agreement, and I don't actually need her help, even though her assistance would have been appreciated. However, one is not to judge by first deeds, correct? If Harleem had done that, would I have come this far? What is the underlying question here? What…now? How am I supposed to get the answers I seek, how would I get into the Leaf? How do I – don't even think about it – keep her from leaving?' At which point Piper had gone insane once more, and decided it would be best to sleep these thoughts out of his head.