Later that night, as the sun began to sink below the tops of the tree's, Ryuu and Tempest decided to set up for camp. They were too far from any Inn, or any place to stay for that matter, so they settled down with sleeping bags around the fire for the night. The fire was burning brightly just in time for the sun to disappear, and Tempest was already cozy in her sleeping bag, sleeping soundlessly. Ryuu was just climbing into his when a noise from the bush caught his attention. He froze momentarily before stepping towards the sound.
He narrowed his eyes and reached into his bag for a kunai. He had a general idea of where the person was and decided whether to try a counter-ambush, or wait for him to come out. He stepped in front of Tempest and shouted out, "Hello?" Waiting for a kunai or something to fly out of the bush towards him.
Nothing. Just another noise. A human - that was unmistakable considering he could feel the chakra. Hardly feel the chakra, as if it were trying to be surpressed to remain undetected. That's when the familiar voice rang out, almost breaking Ryuu's heart.
"Tonoko?" Ryuu called out, lowering the kunai.
A sigh, and then a silhetted figure. Tonoko stepped out into the light of the fire and scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. "I really wanted to come." He said and laughed nervously.
"Tonoko..." Ryuu whispered and dropped the kunai. After reaching his son, he wrapped his arms around him. "Your mother and I told you no."
"I know..." Tonoko whispered and wrapped his arms around Ryuu's torso. "I just wanted something more challenging and adventurous. Especially since it's with you, and we can fight together!" He jumped back from Ryuu and punched his fists up into the air. "Kick some bad guy butt!"
Ryuu sighed and shook his head, bringing his hand to his head to rub his temple. "Son, this mission is dangerous. Emi and I don't want you getting hurt."
"I have to get hurt sometime! How else would I learn?" Tonoko smirked and eyed his father, trying to sound convincing.
"You got hurt just enough last night." He shook his head and tilted his head back, letting out a long breath.
Tonoko chuckled. "It's too far to turn back now. You'll lose Naomi if you bring me back now and then try to go after her again." Tonoko said and placed his hands on his hips. "So, how does it sound?" He flashed his hand across the sky. "Father and son fighting together!"
Ryuu sighed. "This doesn't mean that you're not in big trouble when we return. You've right out disobeyed us, and... you didn't tell your mother, did you?"
Tonoko whistled and innocently rolled his eyes. Ryuu's expression turned blank. "She's going to freak." He said.
Tonoko waved him off. "Nah, I left her a note."
Ryuu groaned. "She's going to be extremely upset. I hope she doesn't come after us as well."
Tonoko waved him off again. "I told her I'll be alright, and not to come after me."
Ryuu facepalmed. "I really hope she doesn't come after us. She's pregnant, what if something happens?" He turned around and headed back towards his sleeping bag. He turned back to Tonoko and waved to the spot beside him. "You're in big trouble when we get home, bigger trouble if your mother decides to follow as well."
Tonoko sighed and moved to set up beside Ryuu. Naomi stirred in her sleeping bag after hearing all the talking. She opened her eyes and looked drowzily over at Tonoko and Ryuu. Her face twisted in confusion as she sat up.
"Wh-When did he get here?" She murmured.
Ryuu sighed. "He's followed us from the village." Ryuu stated. "He's being our tag-along."
Tonoko snickered. "I'm more handsome than just a simple tag-along." He joked.
"This is no time to joke, Tonoko. You know I'm not happy with you at the moment."
"Will you be happier tomorrow morning?" Tonoko asked.
"Tonoko Airiki Inabikari..." Ryuu's voice was stern.
Tonoko slipped further into his sleeping bag. "Sorry..." He mumbled. "I just thought-"
"Tonoko, we're waking up early tomorrow. Get some sleep." Ryuu tried to push back his aggitation to replace it with a gentle voice.
Tempest laughed slightly. "You're a daredevil, Tonoko." She smirked then sighed. "All you're missing is Emi now... what's the chances she will come after Tonoko?" She asked Ryuu, talking as if Tonoko was no longer in the area.
Ryuu sighed. "Whenever he's late getting home, she usually waits a little bit longer before going out to find him. Though, considering the fact that she's pregnant, it's probably a 60 percent chance." He waited a second. "I'm really hoping she falls in the 40 percent chance of rationalizing it out. I don't want her getting into a fight with being pregnant. If someone were to..." Ryuu trailed off and shook his head.
Tempest nodded before looking down at Tonoko. "Interesting kid, I'll give yah that." She chuckled.
"A real rascal." Ryuu said, pulling a quiet snicker from Tonoko. Ryuu sighed and rolled over onto his back, staring up at the stars.
"I'm giving you ten minutes, any longer and I will be coming in." Shito stated. "And I don't think you want that." He loosened the chains between each wrist and helped her step over the chains without falling so that her hands were in front. He opened the bathroom door and waved in. "There isn't any windows, and your chakra is still blocked. Without nothing to escape with, I'd suggest you use your ten minutes wisely and effectively." He said.
Naomi shut the door and sighed. She moved to the mirror and quickly looked over her reflection before sighing. She turned on the shower and stepped into the shower. Since Shito didn't remove the chains from her wrists, she was forced to shower with her clothes on. As she washed out her hair, she searched for anything that could be used to harm Shito, however the bathroom was clear. She let out a sigh as she stepped out and moved back to the mirror. She put her hair back in place before opening the door and stepping out, staring blankly at Shito as her clothes dripped water onto the floor. "You wouldn't happen to be kind enough to let me change, would you?" She hissed.
"I can't let you out of my sight without the chain..." He stated.
Naomi stepped forward and gripped his collar. "I will not run. You can watch me for all I care, just let me change!"
"Do you even have extra clothing?"
"In my bag." She hissed.
He shrugged and walked over to her bag, opening it to look through it. After a second, he decided to just empty the bag completely. A few items, a few ninja tools, some clothing and the dagger. He pulled a few pieces of clothing towards Naomi before picking up the dagger. "This is it, huh?"
Naomi nodded. "Uh huh.."
He nodded and placed the dagger back on the bed before moving over to Naomi. "If you try anything, don't underestimate me. I'm stronger and smarter than you think, and I'll have you back in the chains before you can even blink."
Naomi nodded. "I get it. Just undo these..."
Shito eyed her carefully before grabbing the chains in one hand. The chakra faded and the chains were gone. "Hurry."
Naomi eyed him for a moment before moving to the bathroom to change. She quickly changed into her dry clothes and hung up her damp jacket before sliding down the wall into a ball. She buried her face against her knees as she sobbed quietly.
Shito moved to the bathroom door and knocked. "Out."
Naomi shook her head as she buried her head further. "I-I'm not done!" She called back, trying to hide all hints of sorrow from her voice.
Shito disagreed before kicking the door in. "It doesn't take you this long to change quickly." He said as he made more chakra chains and held them out towards her. "Come on. You need to get some rest before we leave early tomorrow morning."
Naomi shook her head and curled herself tighter. "Please... let me stay out of those things while we're here..." She whispered, her body trembling.
"As much as I want to - which isn't at all - I can't. I'm sorry, but I can't trust you at the moment. You're a prisoner. Who's to say you won't try to escape during the night or try to kill me in my sleep? As much as you say you won't, I can't run the risk." He said, slowly moving forward.
Naomi shook her head. "P-Please... I'll stay in here... you can lock me in here from the outside... I-I don't care... j-just please..." She lifted her head slowly to search his eyes. "I promise I won't run or harm you..."
Shito frowned. "I'm sorry." He said and placed them onto her wrists. "I can't."
Naomi gritted her teeth as she lowered her head, a sob escaping her throat. Shito let out a quiet sigh and gently pulled her to her feet, pulling her out into the room and attaching the chains to the second bed.
"It's much more comfortable than it looks, trust me." He said and motioned to the bed. "Go ahead. You'll need it."
Naomi gritted her teeth when he had said to trust him. She shook her head and sat on the bed, her back leaning against the wall as she lowered her head, sobbing more. Shito had already moved over to his bed and laid down. He waited a minute or so, listening to her sobs before sitting up and turning towards her.
"Alright, I'm all ears."
Slowy she lifted her head, tears and confusion on her face. "Wh-What the hell are you t-talking about?" She asked, her voice hardly a whisper.
"Talk. What's on your mind?" He explained.
Naomi scoffed and lowered her head again. "Shut up a-and leave me alone..." She muttered, using her arm to wipe her face.
"Hey, you're my prisoner." Shito said. "Keyword: my. You're mine, compeltely at the moment. I stole you, you are now my property and I say tell me."
She let out a laugh. "No, you're just pathetic." She murmured, lifting her head again with a smirk. "You really think, that you'll make me tell you what is on my mind?" SHe shook her head and chuckled again. "You're obviously more stupid than you yourself even realize."
Shito put his hands up in defence. "I'm not the one bawling my eyes out and begging for mercy." He shrugged and laid down. "Then cry all you like, don't get rest; whatever floats your boat. One thing I do know, is no matter how tired you are tomorrow, we're moving." He stated and rolled over.
Naomi shrugged and lowered her head again. "I'm already aware of that. You're not the first person to succeed in capturing me..."
"Yeah, yeah, save the talk. It's bedtime."
Naomi chuckled. "And there you go again, switching what you're saying..." She murmured.
Shito sighed, reached into his bag and moved to stand beside Naomi. He shook his head and moved to put the gag into her mouth again. "Get some sleep." He said and moved to lay back down in his bed again.
I can't sleep with this!
She thought angrily.
The next morning Shito woke up well after he would have liked to and rolled over to look at Naomi. She was still sitting with her head lowered. She wasn't crying anymore, and her breathing was deep, coming from her nose. He moved over and shook her awake. "Naomi." He murmured and shook her again.
She let out a grunt before slowly lifting her head to meet his gaze. She instantly frowned and lowered her head again.
"I'm going to take a shower myself. You better be fully awake when I'm out." He said before making his way to the washroom.
She mumbled a few things into the gag to get his attention. Shito only stopped at the door, looked at her and then disappeared into the washroom. Whatever she said could waited, he thought. After five minutes, Shito returned to the room with dripping wet hair, wearing only a pair of pants. He reached for his bag and rummaged through it for a second before moving to pull Naomi's gag off. "What?" He asked and returned to rummaging through his bag.
"I'm thirsty.." She murmured as she watched him.
Shito glanced at her and pulled on a shirt. He reached for the cantine and moved to her side, tipping the bottle to her lips again. She quickly downed the water before pulling back with a sigh.
"Hungry?" He asked.
She shook her head.
Shito sighed. "You're eating whether you like it or not." He said and moved to his bag. He pulled out a container filled with rice balls. He had bought it while he was in Sunagakure, so they were still fresh. He opened the lid on the container and pulled out a rice ball, moving to stand beside Noami, holding it out towards her mouth. "Don't make this harder than it has to be."
She frowned at him before moving forward and taking it from his hand, eating it slowly. After she was finished eating that rice ball, he held out another. She shook her head. "I don't want more..."
"Too bad, eat it." He said.
She frowned again before taking it from his hand and eating it. Once again, he held out another. "You haven't eaten for a while, your body needs some nutrition."
She narrowed her eyes before taking the one in his hand yet again. "Like I care... I'd rather drop dead." She muttered after swallowing.
"No can do for that one. I'll save the last three for a snack later." He said. "Meanwhile, we're going to stop down in the lobby and buy something for myself." He cracked his knuckles and then his neck. "Ready to go?" He asked.
Naomi shook her head. "Get my jacket from the bathroom and put it in my bag..."
"Now you're in command?" He asked, his brow rising slowly.
She narrowed her eyes. "If you want me to not fight you, I think you can do this one simple task for me." She hissed.
Shito chuckled and leaned forward. "Fight me? You mean struggle in vain, right?"
She turned her face away. "I'd get my jacket myself, but clearly I'm stuck to the bed." She hissed.
Shito undid the chain around the bed post. "There you go."
She glared at him before moving to the bathroom and grabbing her jacket that was now dry. She moved back to the room and grabbed her bag, stuffing her jacket into it before throwing the bag at Shito. "Wouldn't want me grabbing a ninja tool, would you?" She growled.
Shito chuckled and shrugged. "Ninja tools and dagger are now in my bag." He said and threw the bag back, picking up his own and slinging it over his shoulder. He made a chain around his waist and connected it to her chain. "Let's go."
Naomi shook her head. "I can't carry my bag the whole time like this... I need it on my back..."
Shito sighed. He started to work, deconnecting and reconnecting the chains until the bag was on her back. "I'm not your boyfriend who'll carry your purse." He stated and walked towards the room's door. "Now let's go."
Naomi narrowed her eyes. She quickly ran at Shito and tried to harm him in anyway she could in her current state. Shito had reached for the chains the attached to the chains around her wrist and directed her into the wall face first before pinning her there. "It's a waist to fight like that." He stated.
She growled and closed her eyes. "G-Go drop dead..."
He leaned forward towards her ear. "Not until I have what I want from the Raikage." He hissed.
She gritted her teeth. "Y-You have no idea what you're doing... I've been innocent for three years. You're about to hand me to my death, and it's a death I don't deserve!" She shouted.
Shito lowered his head and narrowed his eyes. Neither does he...
"I have my own things I need to take care of. Your "innocence" has caused a lot of problems."
She shook her head and let out an irritated sigh. "It wasn't me, dammit!"
"I don't care who it was. I have someone I need to save, and the only way to save them is by handing you over."
Naomi gritted her teeth and moved her head away from the wall before slamming it hard. "Dammit!" She screamed.
Shito immediately pulled her back from the wall and clasped his hand over her mouth, being careful of her possible biting. She narrowed her eyes at the ground. "So now you worry..." She mumbled from behind his hand.
"I told you, they want you alive."
"I don't care what they want!" She yelled from behind his hand.
He growled. "I do, now shut up."
Naomi growled. "You know what I want? I want my life back! I want to kill my friend before he got me into this mess! I want to be able to walk the streets of my village, and to be with my family!" She screamed, tears brimming in her eyes as she thought about what she did to Ryuu and his family.
Shito sighed. "Maybe then Riniki wouldn't have been roped in with your situation." He added.
Naomi screamed again from behind his hand. "It's not my fault! Why can't they just take the dagger?" She yelled, tears slipping from her eyes.
Shito shrugged. "No idea." Shito murmured and unclasped his hand.
She growled and quickly elbowed Shito in the gut before jumping back from him. "D-Don't you dare touch me again." She hissed as she glared at him.
Shito gritted his teeth and grabbed the chain, yanking on it to force her towards him. He grabbed the chain bit around her wrist and pulld her inches from his face. "Do it again, I dare yah." He said through clenched teeth.
Naomi smirked at the challenge and quickly brought her knee up into his groin. Shito eye's widened slightly and, despite the pain, rambled his forearm into her neck, forcing her against the wall and holding her there. His leg was across hers, preventing her from using them again, and the weight of his body pressed against hers. "You will pay for that." He hissed.
"Then do it!" She snapped back, eyeing him closely.
Shito looked her over once before smirking. "You don't want to see what I can do to you. I could break every rib of yours. I could shatter your pelvic, and cracked your skull in half. I can do anything, I have the strength, and I promise...it will be painful." He whipsered.
She smirked and leaned closer to his face. "Prove it." She whispered. "I don't think you have the guts to harm me." She hissed.
"It's more so the fact that a) I need you alive and b) I don't want to give you the glory of escaping the pain that waits you." He chuckled. "Was that your plan, provoke me so you can escape your pitiful life?" He leaned closer to her this time. "Try me."
She smirked as she eyed him closely. "I know you won't harm me. I can already tell that what you've done to me annoys you. To see you actually outright hurt me, seems like a stretch." She shrugged. "Besides, I think you're full of yourself with this strength thing."
Shito smirked and chuckled slightly. He moved his hand around her throat and pulled her forward, lifting her up and slamming her into the ground. He brought his knee down just below her ribs and pressed almost to the point of snapping her rib, but not quite. "Annoys me? I don't care about what happens to you personally. I'm only involved with the rules and terms that let Riniki go safely."
Naomi gasped in pain and winced as she tried not to move. "O-Okay..." She murmured weakly. "J-Just g-get off b-before you snap me i-in half!"
Shito grabbed her by the collar and lifted her up towards himself. "Do you understand me now? I'm not joking."
Naomi nodded slowly. "Provoking won't help either of us any, and next time, I won't take it easy."
"Th-That was easy?" She stuttered nervously.
Shito narrowed his eyes. "I hadn't even tapped into my doubled strength, or my tripled strength. Don't make me go further." He hissed.
She lowered her head. "Then why are we still standing here?"
"Are either of us standing, my dear?" He smirked.
She narrowed her eyes. "You know what I mean... you wanted to leave, did you not?" She hissed.
Shito stood, pulling her by her chains up and over his shoulder. "'Bout time you started listening to me."