A Kind of Magic
Disclaimer:I don't own Naruto. This story is inspired by the tales of a sweet little thief, loosely based on a novel by Megumi Tachikawa.
Author's Note:Enjoy the sweet adventures of a new thief, a phantom named, Tanuki.
Summary: A regretful man confides in Hotaru. She enlists the help of Saint Tanuki to right the wrong. The thief accepts but is in for more than she bargained for when her newest rival hatches a scheme for her capture and teams up with Kakashi, Jhai and Hinata. She'll quickly learn that secrets don't make friends.
Chapter Seven: The Magician and the Sword
"Did you hear what I said? I'd like to meet Hatake Kakashi," the dishwater-blonde woman reiterated in a curt tone of voice as she turned an intimidating glare upon Midori.
Nodding, Midori began to tread toward the Konohagakure training field. Her steps felt leaded and slow as she moved. She could feel their reluctance as they struggled even more to continue when they stopped at the edge of the field.
Shadows danced across the lush grass as shinobi sparred vigorously. However, there were two shadows which stood side by side as instruction was being told from one to the other.
A glance to her direct left told Midori that Komachi had abandoned her and was already moving toward Kakashi. Her eyes fell lazily to the field, taking in all its other occupants. Her heart shook off the uneasy tremors that had been plaguing it, and she began to walk toward the friendly bounding shadows which belonged to her teammates.
Hotaru didn't divert her focus but mustered a nod toward Midori in salutation. Glowing periwinkle hands rose and blocked an attack from Jhai. He twisted around and disbanded his butterflies. Myriads of lovely blue butterflies shrouded the Hyuuga, fluttering and delicately landed on every inch of skin until the female stood as an azure pillar with two pale lavender eyes peering out.
A smile spread from underneath the cerulean blanket of insects. "Is that your way of saying you want to take a break?" Hotaru mused.
Grinning, Jhai replied, "Great idea, Hotaru-chan. We'll take a break!" The butterflies dispersed into the meadow, collecting themselves among flowers and trees in azure waves.
As her two friends took a seat under the shade of some foliage, Midori joined them and leaned her back against a tree. The bark pressed gently to her back as she gazed out to Komachi.
The blonde had wasted no time in finding Kakashi, as well as flirting with him. When Midori had been guiding her over, the disbanded ANBU member had been guarded and bitter in attitude. She had transformed herself now into an overly sociable kunoichi, touching at Kakashi's shoulder or wrist whenever an opportunity arose for her to, even if one didn't arise.
"So who's the noob you brought?" asked Jhai, taking notice to what currently held Midori's attention.
"Her name's Komachi. The Hokage wants me to show her around and introduce her to everyone," said Midori before looking to Hotaru and added in a low voice, "I'll tell you more later."
The auburn haired female's lips pursed as Komachi pretended to pluck imaginary lint from Kakashi's flak jacket. Her behavior was inappropriate for a woman her age and for an ANBU.
"Well if it isn't Sakura, my red cherry, and Tenten, my pink one." Jhai's voice caused Midori to look up as their two friends approached with warm smiles.
Very much used to Jhai's personality and humor, Tenten laughed. "We were just about to get some sparring done. How's your training been going?"
"It would go even better if I could spar with all my lovely lady friends," Jhai replied. He lowered his gaze at an angle so that his radiant blue eyes could peer from beneath his sunglasses. Flirtation was his favorite method when interacting with anyone of the opposite sex.
Turning her attention to the other members of Team Takuto, Sakura asked, "Who's that woman with Kakashi-Sensei? I don't think I've ever seen her before."
"I believe she's my next future love interest," said Jhai with a wide grin. In that moment, he calculated exactly seven different ways he could approach the woman to introduce himself. Enthusiasm filled him as he eliminated six of the possibilities and settled for what he felt would be the most charming one.
Midori, however, was not so thrilled. Without any indication, her hand formed a tight fist and successfully pounded against her teammate's shoulder with impressive force. He cried out from the impact and clutched at his injured arm. "Aburame-baka, behave more appropriately." Her voice was gritty like gravel.
The use of his surname and demotion in suffix showed just how irate she was with him.
"What did I do now?" he yelped, still nursing his injury, "is gentleness a complete myth to you?"
Sakura shook her head. "Jhai, you deserved that one. You're as bad as Naruto sometimes, I swear."
"As bad as Naruto?" Jhai grumbled, relinquishing his flirting so he could ponder how to correct the alleged atrocity.
No longer paying attention to her friends, Midori glared at Komachi. Why was it she had been burdened with the task of introducing her to everyone? Wasn't there someone more suitable for such interactions like Ino or even Hinata? What was the reason for her strong interest in Kakashi, and why did it bother her so much?
A hand fell at her shoulder, stirring her from her infuriation. Wide-eyed, she turned to face Hotaru and mumbled, "I'm sorry."
"Whoever that woman is," Tenten said, "she's really tall and very pretty."
"I can see why she has so much confidence in acting that way with Kakashi," agreed Sakura.
"She looks really tough too," surmised Tenten as she took notice of Komachi's excellent physique. She was very toned for a woman, even by shinobi standards.
"I find it a little peculiar that she carries herself in such a manor," commented Hotaru at last, "she's quite animated for a disbanded member of the ANBU. I didn't realize they were so… expressive."
"There's always a reject. Maybe that's why she got kicked out," scoffed Midori before engaging in a rant. "I'm disgusted by the sight of them, sticking so close to one another. That's embarrassing for shinobi of their level. It's just gross!"
"You're trembling, Midori-chan," Hotaru pointed out in a low tone of voice as to not draw further attention to her friend.
With inflated eyes, Midori looked to her hands to see that they had been shaking and realized just how upset she was. "Excuse me, everyone. I've got to go to work," she said with despondence, her eyes failing to meet those of her friends as she spoke. She distanced herself from the group, floating away as if lost in a thicket of her own thoughts and concerns.
"I'm going to call it a day as well," said Hotaru, "if that's okay with you Jhai-kun?"
"Perfectly fine with me," replied Jhai. The weather had been warm that afternoon which gave him a rare opportunity to wear a tank top with the Aburame Clan symbol, and he flexed proudly before Tenten and Sakura. "I'm going stay and practice a new jutsu I've been working on."
Smiling, Hotaru carried on her way. She was hoping to catch up with Midori to speak with her privately before she got to the flower shop, but wasn't sure if she could catch up with her.
Rushed footsteps placed Hotaru in the heart of Konoha. Through the crowd she weaved, careful to avoid making unnecessary contact with anyone. She was incapable of evading a young man as he stumbled forward into her.
Shock went through her body as she made impact with the hard ground. Apologetic in his expression he extended his hand for her to take. She accepted, and he pulled her back to her feet. She was met with disheveled dark hair and fretful eyes.
"I'm so sorry about that," he bowed, "please allow me to make it up to you by purchasing you some tea."
"I was on my way somewhere," she trailed off, but when she saw just how distressed the young man looked she gave her consent. "Actually, tea sounds just lovely right now."
-Hatori Teahouse-
The young man's face never lost the traces of distress which Hotaru had detected in him earlier. There was such an anxiety in him. It radiated from him. He was mostly silent after introducing himself as Takumi. He only spoke to make apologies, but she decided to be patient with him. If he so desired, he would reveal the troubles which plagued what she felt was a gentle spirit.
"I've been a mess lately," Takumi explained after ordering two cups of green tea. His fingers nervously played with a container of honey as the glided around the rim.
Hotaru placed her teacup to her lips, took a deep sip, and then smiled. "Sometimes it helps to tell someone what's going on to get it off of your chest."
Entranced by her sincere pale lavender eyes, Takumi felt free in telling her whatever it was she pleased to her. An attractive young woman didn't urge him to divulge his feelings very often, and she had been correct. It would help him to reveal what had been vexing him. Holding it in had done nothing but made his heart heavy with grief.
Takumi took a solitary deep breath and began. "I'm a sword smith from the Land of Iron. I recently crafted a copy of Captain Shio's Whirl Tide Blade per the request of a wealthy collector in this village. He promised me the sword would only be used for décor in his home, but he lied to me and put it in his museum to make money. I am so ashamed." His head drooped low, hanging as he stared at her with martyred eyes.
"That is quite the ordeal," admitted Hotaru. She held her cup of tea between her small hands and stared into the liquid in contemplation. "Perhaps you could tell the Konoha Police Department and explain?"
"I'm so afraid they'll arrest me for forging an artifact," Takumi said, casting a worried glance. "If they arrest me, I will no longer be able to work and support my family. I've been sending the money I make to my brother and sister. They won't survive on their own." His hands clutched at his tea cup. Liquid splashed over the rim of the cup from the sudden clumsy grasp.
Calmly lifting a napkin, she tenderly wiped the droplets of hot tea from his shaking hands as he lowered the cup of tea back to the table's surface. After accomplishing her goal, she set the napkin down and clasped her hands over his.
"Do not fret Takumi-san because these things have a way of working themselves out," she smiled.
His cheeks flushed as warmness fell over him. He was uncertain of her words' meaning, but felt oddly alleviated by them. He never could imagine such a woman could comfort him in one sentence. She was truly a remarkable human being, and he was fortunate to have met her.
Lavender eyes fell on the clock, and she realized that she was cutting it close on time. She rose and gave a small bow of her head. "You must excuse me, Takumi-san. I'll be late for work if I don't leave now. Thank you for the tea and please don't worry about anything," she said, and then she was out the door before he could respond.
Takumi stared after her, partly amazed, and admittedly, partly infatuated.
-Yamanaka Flower Shop-
Midori's mouth shifted from a smile to a stoic straight line as she focused on Hotaru's somber words.
"Komachi will be acting as squad leader so you must proceed cautiously. Hinata informed me that she and Jhai have been requested for the next Tanuki Caper. You must stay as far away from them as possible and be careful not to interact with them at all if possible. You must also be mindful of any telltale habits or mannerisms you have because Jhai will detect them immediately," said Hotaru as she trimmed the dead leaves from a potted tree. When satisfied with her handiwork, she drew back to look at her friend who had remained unusually quiet.
The young woman looked up suddenly. "Sorry, I was listening, I promise. I'm just thinking." She brushed back rebellious strands of hair with her forearm and plunged her gloved hands into a bag of soil. She retrieved an ample amount from the sack and placed it into an empty pot.
"Midori-chan, I want you to know that I think very highly of you and your abilities," Hotaru said, "your level of jutsu and skill far surpass your rank. You're a genius too, which gives you a great advantage over any opponent."
"I'm only a genius when I'm Tanuki though," Midori said quietly, "I can only use my bloodline limit when I'm transformed." She peeled back the gloves from her hand and placed them in the front pocket of her apron. Her hands unfastened the knot of her bandana as she shook loose her imprisoned locks.
"Don't say that," Hotaru argued, "you know it isn't true."
"It is true. When I'm Niwa Midori, I'm a terrible example of a kunoichi that only made it to my chunin-rank because of you and Jhai-kun," she said wistfully, "but when I'm Saint Tanuki, I feel strong for once like I'm titanium. I feel invincible."
Hotaru lifted her hand and placed it to Midori's shoulder. Looking at her straightly in the eyes, she said, "Just remember that without Niwa Midori, Saint Tanuki wouldn't exist. Tanuki-chan draws her strength from that brave, strong and resilient spirit which belongs only to you. You may not believe in Niwa Midori, but I have unwavering faith in her."
The two young women stood silently. Midori stared back into the encouraging eyes of her best friend until her own eyes reflected that same confidence. "I will be extra careful this time around," she promised.
She stripped her work apron off and went to hang it in the back room. When she returned, she was grinning widely. "Off to leave a calling card for Kakashi-san?" Hotaru asked.
"You know it," she replied smugly. She gave a wink and was out the door.
-Konohagakure Training Field-
Naruto Uzumaki toted two bento boxes as he trotted cheerfully across the field and toward his Sensei. The older man looked up at him, almost impatiently. Naruto observed his instructor's companion and immediately understood the reason for his discontentment. Komachi, a woman who took no heed in hints subtle or obvious, had imposed her company again. She seemed pleased in her efforts to remain close to Kakashi, but he was less enthused.
Unsure if he was a fan of the persistent woman or not, Naruto still joined them in good humor. He hadn't seen his sensei so perturbed before, and the sight was fascinating.
"I owed you one for the extra training time, Kakashi-Sensei." The orange clad shinobi grinned, chuckling as he plopped down next to the jounin. The grass beneath him was soft and comforting. He relaxed his muscles after setting down the two bento boxes. He selected one of them and held it out to his teacher.
Kakashi accepted the bento and removed the lid slowly. He gazed down at the steamed rice. A large heart-shaped uzumaki rested upon the rice, and within the heart was a message. "What a clever use of food dye and uzumaki," he murmured as he read the note.
I'm going to the Hidden Roots Museum tonight to get Captain Shio's Whirl Tide Blade.
-St. Tanuki
"She sure leaves cute little love notes for you," speculated Komachi gingerly. Her lips were pursed as she read over the message once more. If she wasn't mistaken, she could swear there was something disturbingly flirtatious about the messages Tanuki left her greatest pursuer.
"Oh, I hadn't noticed," Kakashi shrugged. Komachi couldn't tell if his mouth had formed an upward curve, but she could see that his dark grey eye had crinkled into a smile.
"Kakashi-Sensei, can I trade you bentos?" asked Naruto, reaching his hand over to snatch at the lunch. "It looks like it was prepared extra special!"
"It's not for you now, is it?" Kakashi replied, drawing the lunch out of Naruto's reach with expert evasive maneuvering. Naruto continued his struggle to reach for the box but was never successful.
-Hidden Roots Museum, Evening Time-
Hinata's eyes trailed over to the woman named Komachi as the museum's curator led their group of four toward the Whirl Tide Blade's exhibit. She had never worked with this woman before, never heard of her reputation as a shinobi, but could tell by the way that she carried herself that she was self-assured and strong. Her personality, what little traces of it that she'd seen, was overly aggressive though. It gave her anxiety.
"Don't be nervous," whispered Jhai as he sidled up alongside her.
Shyly, she smiled at the Aburame Clan member. He was an interesting guy himself, and her cousin Hotaru was very fond of him; she could see why. Below his cocky exterior was someone with a good heart, gentle in spirit and compassionate. There was untiring loyalty in his allegiance with his two teammates. It put her at an inexplicable ease, and she relaxed.
Jhai returned the smile with a grin. He projected confidence, but he was struggling within himself to feel secure about what lied ahead.
Satoshi, the museum's curator, was boasting the security of his establishment. Jhai felt himself cringe a little when he saw all the cameras with a miniscule red light threateningly shining. They were tucked within what seemed to be each corner of the museum, promising to catch sight of every movement no matter the speed.
"We need to be more aggressive this time," commented Komachi. Her voice caused Jhai to rest his gaze upon her and the man she was speaking to.
"Very well," replied Kakashi impassively, "you're in charge this time. So what's the plan?"
It was hard to believe that Kakashi would relinquish position of squad leader unless otherwise appointed to do so. Jhai suspected that working with Komachi would prove to be very interesting and not in a way he found satisfactory.
Komachi began to establish the course of action they would be taking through brief explanations.
The relic itself lied in a fascinatingly unique showroom. The room featured an expansive indoor bay, a spectacular feat for a museum. A bridge expanded toward a docked ship as it floated effortlessly, water eddying around its hull. The once proud HMUS Wave Treader, a tiny naval ship that had been famous in the Village Hidden by Whirling Tides held the Whirl Tide Blade within the captain's quarters.
Kakashi was to conceal himself within the quarters near the artifact while Komachi watched attentively from the surveillance room in another part of the museum. He and Hinata would wait outside in the hall on guard duty. He supposed that suited him fine.
Water didn't mix well with his beloved insects. Their fragile dusted wings would crinkle and fold, proving unusable, if splashed. The thought of them drowning or being sucked into the eddying whirlpools, which periodically surfaced throughout the bay, was daunting. He always thought of himself as a landlubber anyway.
He sighed, running a hand through his mass of chestnut brown hair. He wasn't sure how he was going to handle this mission, or rather, this situation. To obediently carry it out would mean jeopardizing his teammates.
Midori hadn't been conscious of his knowledge, but he'd been aware of her secret heroic moonlighting as Saint Tanuki for quite some time now. He was also aware of the part Hotaru played. He couldn't disagree with their pure intentions, but it had injured him to know that they would keep such a secret from him. Admittedly, he did understand their reasons for doing so, and it never turned him away from them. It was a fragile secret after all.
To sabotage the plans of Saint Tanuki's capture and play it off like he was incompetent could be relatively easy for him. He felt he had notably superior acting skills and could pull such a feat. The others had no reason to mistrust him and likely wouldn't be able to muster any. However, it would mean he would have to deceive his current squad and be disloyal to their mission.
The risk of defiance was enormous. If discovered, his motives would be seen as traitorous. That could place him in quite the predicament, and the betrayal could even get him sent to the infamous Hozuki Castle. He'd heard some exceedingly unpleasant rumors about the penitentiary that had caused his skin to crawl on more than one occasion. He rather disliked the idea of serving prison time for the rest of his life until either Konoha requested him back or he rotted himself to a companionless death.
He had a choice to make tonight. That choice would be a reflection of his values. It would define him. Betray his teammates or betray the system. Where would his loyalties lie?
Gazing over to the Wave Treader once more, Jhai knew where his responsibilities and priorities lied.
"Let's move out, Hinata-chan," he said stoically to his companion. Her eyes met with his briefly as she nodded. She detected his sudden shift in mood, but obediently followed him to their guard posts in the hallway.
Attentively, he waited for the thief to present herself as an odd sensation overtook him in large waves. No, she'd remain concealed and execute a discreet attack. He should have known better than to think she'd take a direct approach. He didn't fight the genjutsu she placed him under. Rather, he embraced it and walked into it with eagerness.
As Hinata's voice reached out to him in an effort to call him back to reality, he could feel himself grinning. He was satisfied with the choice he had made to protect his beloved teammates, his best friends.
Butterflies, his favorite Oakblue ones, merrily danced around him. He was no longer in the corridor of the hall, but in a breathtaking meadow that the genjutsu had bestowed upon him. He lifted his arms and legs to frolic within the lush grass of his hallucination, knowing his mad movements would force Hinata's attention to him. He cried out in glee, giggling as he pranced about.
As expected, he could hear her say, "Release," and the illusion slowly evaporated as Hinata's face emerged through.
"Why didn't you leave me where I was?" he asked, clutching at her shoulders desperately. "I was so happy there!"
She stepped back, eyeing him curiously. "Jhai-kun, you're really worrying me. Are you sure you're completely out of the genjutsu?"
She was becoming suspicious. It was time to put those 'superior' acting skills to work.
He kneeled to the floor and clasped his hands atop Hinata's. She nervously looked around, expecting an attack, but she was unable to impolitely pull away from him. She was similar to Hotaru in that regard, but even the elder of the two knew when to be assertive and alert. Hinata wasn't accustomed to practicing much beyond her passivity yet.
"The pain of reality has proven too much for me, my Hinata-hime. In reality you love Naruto, but in my dreams, I imagine you are with me," he cooed woefully. He dipped his head low, allowing his sunglasses to slide ever so slightly down the slope of his nose and reveal his big twinkling blues. No female could resist his eyes.
'Come on, Midori-chan. I'm practically handing you an opening here,' he thought as he performed his best to hold Hinata's gaze within his own.
Guard purposely lowered, Jhai watched from his peripheral view as a sleeper bomb rolled to his feet. Smoke leaked out in puffs of gas, soon swallowing both he and the young woman he held. He watched Hinata as her eyes drooped and she fought a yawn. His own eyes became leaded, and his body was shutting down slowly as he felt himself rocking into a slumber.
'About time, Midori-chan,' Jhai thought huffily before joining Hinata on the floor of the museum and drifting to a peaceful sleep.
Saint Tanuki frowned out of regret. She hated placing an attack on her own teammate and her best friend's younger cousin. It hurt her heart to do it, but at least she had only used an innocuous genjutsu and a sleeper bomb. She was ethical enough to minimize the harm.
'Forgive me, Jhai-kun and Hinata-chan,' she thought before slipping through the hall and into the exhibit room. She made quick work of the cameras, cutting their power with the precise throws of her shuriken to ensure that they wouldn't be recording her heist.
Mouth slightly ajar, she gasped at the magnificent Wave Treader. She hadn't seen it in person and was astounded by its glory for such a small naval ship. She noted that they hadn't done very much on security within the room and that relying solely on cameras was a mistake.
Lanterns fastened at the banisters of the bridge had guided her along the path. She took a few leaps, landed at the apex of the ship's mast, and slid down. She had at last reached the crown of the captain's quarters, an expansive room she noted.
Carefully lifting the latched door, she glided through to the other side.
Her silhouette was instantly visible as he waited behind an antique diving suit. The bulk of the suit had been just enough to conceal him.
Drawing closer, she cautiously stepped forward. His heart began to pound from the anticipation. He was going to catch her this time. He could feel it in his bones, feel it in the way he was so close to her. Glimpses of her identity could be gained if she took just a few more steps…
Her fingers pressed against the outer edges of the glass case which held the sword, its blade shimmering wickedly from the artificial moonlight that poured through the ceiling's latched door she had left open.
Two arms snaked around her. "I've got you."
Loose lips released a gasp, astonished at the mistake she had made. She had been overly confident in her approach when she should have been more cautious and alert. He had her within his grasp and was twisting her, turning her to face him.
Violently, she struggled. Although her shadowed eyes provided a mask, it was only effective at a distance. Up close, as intimate as she was about to become with him, the tanuki-like mask would fail decisively.
She had been wise enough to wear a hooded cloak that provided more obscurity, but she should have worn a real mask for this particular heist. She should have been more threatened by the presence of countless cameras and the amount of high-ranked shinobi participating in her capture. She should have sent a feather clone instead or used her flash bomb technique. So many things she should have done differently, but they no longer mattered.
Dwelling on what-ifs and should-haves didn't help her, only made her lose time in thinking about them. There was nothing to meditate on anymore.
'It's over,' she thought desperately as she continued to struggle in his grasp. 'I'm caught.'
Surprised for another time, she watched as several smoke bombs skidded down the floorboards. They excreted wicked-looking smog, blackish and thick. Her chest constricted within her, causing her to realize that she needed to calm down. The more she struggled within Kakashi's grasp, the more air she was forced to let into her lungs, and she couldn't risk inhaling the dangerous fast-spreading smoke.
The room became clouded with the charcoal, toxic puffs, and she felt Kakashi's grip release her. She fell to her knees and tried to get as low to the floor as possible in order to avoid breathing in the vapor. Her lungs were already filled with some of the miasma, and she tried to expel the intrusion with heavy sharp coughs.
Her form shook each time she coughed, each expulsion violently racking her. Kakashi watched somberly as she struggled through the smoke. Her entire outline seemed to quaver with anguish.
A voice collided with his attention, ringing through the room. "Piercing Showers Jutsu," he heard Komachi shout. He turned his head, saw her at the main door, aiming her jutsu callously through the smog, uncaring what target they found so long as the soaring needles did find a target.
He didn't think, only acted. He pressed himself to Saint Tanuki, snatching her protectively in his arms as he maneuvered through the smoke. His mask had saved him from the risk of inhaling the nasty substance, but his vision was still clouded by its murkiness.
Senbon slipped painfully into him. He could feel their dripping poison enter him, traveling into his bloodstream and mixing. His head lifted slightly. The petite thief's own crown was buried within his shoulder, and her arms were tangled at his chest as she clung to him in desperation and fear. He could feel her turning her face away from his as she continued to tremble, still coughing but this time softly.
'I can't move,' she thought desperately. She had thought to get away, but found that her limbs would not obey her frantic urges for them to get up and run. Tears welled within her eyes, spilling down in regretful drips. She was stunned by his impulsive rescue and unsure of how to react to it.
"Try not to breathe in," Kakashi warned as he gathered her closer to him. "This is a slow acting gas that will gradually shut down your nervous system the more you breathe it in. Did any needles hit you?"
She shivered at the sound of his voice, disbelieving of the concern and care he was showing her. She shook her head no and pressed herself further into his shoulder.
His body became less tense, less rigid. He relaxed as if relieved that she was safe. She, however, couldn't relax or bring herself to calm down from her panic. She was so close to him, her face so near his that he could easily check her identity and discover her secret. Her heart pounded in rhythm with his like rolling thunder; hers from fear and his from anticipation.
Coughs were replaced by small soft sobs as hot tears dribbled down her cheeks and into the fabric of his flak jacket. She could feel his arms at her shoulders, pulling her to face him. Horrified, she gazed to him with damp eyes.
One of his hands moved to pull up his headband to reveal his Sharingan. He stared unresponsively and drew back. "I can't see," he croaked. 'The needles are hallucinogenic. Everything's blurry and out of focus,' he thought in dismay.
Skewed vision had kept him from seeing her clearly. She was a mass of shadowed color, colors he couldn't even think of the names of at the moment. He blinked once, twice, three times, but his vision remained the same blurred chaos.
"I can't see," he repeated again, so disbelieving that the moment he had waited so agonizingly long for was taken from him, taken by Komachi's foolish and failed idea of collaboration.
Slowly, she pieced everything together, eyes widening as she realized that the needles he had selflessly taken for her were what condemned him now. She flickered through the room in her escape, taking the blade she sought with her.
Light filtered through the room from a crack in the door. Incensed brown eyes glared from the doorway. The door opened further, revealing a very enraged young woman. Komachi approached the jounin in furious quick steps.
He tried to look to her, but could only make out the blurred lines of her form as he clung to the cloak Saint Tanuki had left behind. She looked rather humorous through his hazy vision. Her face stretched oddly into weird shapes as she arched her eyebrows and began yelling.
"You ruined everything," she accused, crossing her arms indignantly.
Dropping the shroud at his feet, he staggered into a standing position. It was a rare occasion for him to lose his temper, but he found that his limit had been reached. He could no longer suppress the emotion. "No, you ruined the operation the moment you decided not to be a team player. You were too busy worrying about everyone getting in your way that you failed to see the bigger picture," he scolded, throat tight from the poison's effect, and from his anger.
"No one told you to cuddle with her," Komachi protested.
He shot her a warning glare, which was more effective because of his revealed Sharingan, but it lasted only a second because of his dizziness. "No one told you to attack your own teammate. Instead of Saint Tanuki getting hit with your senbon, I got hit. You not only jeopardized the mission but you put your teammate at risk as well," he said severely.
"You didn't follow orders. Every shinobi must abide by rules," she replied, "protecting the enemy is a flagrant disregard for them."
"Yes, those who don't follow the rules are scum, but those who don't protect their teammates are worse scum," he growled. He began to totter away in the direction he felt Saint Tanuki had gone. The chances may have been slim, but he felt there was still some probability of catching up to the thief.
Both shinobi stumbled out from the captain's quarters and out onto the bow of the ship. A hazy pink mist enveloped them slowly like a fog, dancing around them in a twisting lightly-scented vapor.
'Saltwater,' Kakashi noted, 'this pink stuff usually smells like strawberries. She's always one to be festive, I guess.'
From the farthest end of the bridge, her voice reached them. "I have to say goodbye for the evening. Kakashi, please feel better soon."
Komachi frowned, noting the lack of honorifics attached to Kakashi's name. Saint Tanuki certainly acted as if they were intimate friends, or she was just ill-mannered. As much as Komachi would have loved to believe the latter, she somehow felt that perhaps it was the first.
When they could no longer hear her cheerful giggling, they knew she had escaped for good. They'd lost this round.
Sighing, Kakashi's vision was still not fully coming to him. There would be no following or finding her now, especially in his current poisoned state. That last possibility was gone. He turned his head slowly to Komachi. Before succumbing to the toxins in his body completely, he said, "Should I notify the Hokage or should you?"
-Hidden Roots Museum, the Next Morning-
Tsunade didn't like it when people raised her voice to her. It made her feel belittled. It was demeaning for anyone to speak in a loud, angry tone of voice to a shinobi of her level. She was the Hokage after all, and one of the legendary Sanin.
Still, because she was Hokage, she had to deal with upset people, and upset people usually yelled to get their point across. She had put up with a lot of shouting while in her term as Hokage. She told herself that this instance was no different, and that it too would pass.
The curator of the Hidden Roots museum was what she would classify as upset, so it would naturally follow that he would begin to raise his voice with each syllable he pronounced. Tsunade found herself scowling. She would tune the man out for the time being, allow him to vent over the failed mission, and then respond once the tirade was over.
"We will assume responsibility for the stolen artifact, I can assure you," she squeezed into the conversation.
Kakashi glanced over at the Hokage. She was quickly losing her patience with Satoshi. That much was evident. He, on the other hand, had chosen to distance himself from the red-faced mass of shrieking man. He instead took to admiring the paintings which hung in the corridor they currently occupied.
A frown touched Kakashi's mouth as he lifted his headband and bared his Sharingan. He was grateful that his vision had returned to normal at last, but displeased with his discovery. All was as he had suspected. He returned to the Hokage and Satoshi. The man was far from done with his rebuke, but he didn't plan on waiting for him to finish.
"You have such wonderful imitations. So good in fact, that if it weren't for my Sharingan, I wouldn't have noticed. These are replicas, Mr. Satoshi. That's something you failed to mention last night. Getting Leaf shinobi involved in this was a huge mistake," he said blankly.
The man fell silent in an instant as Tsunade placed her hands to her hips. Under her glower, he shrunk. Growling, she spoke her mind at last. "You're under arrest, and now you're going to hear an earful from me!"
He watched as Kotetsu and Izumo stepped forward to escort Satoshi for booking. Tsunade had excused him and apologized for not noticing the offense first.
Now on his way to tread the path of life, Kakashi moved his hand to retrieve his favorite novel from the pocket of his clothing. He paused when a dishwater-blonde woman appeared before him.
"How did everything go?" she asked. There was a hint of remorse in her voice. She had been pondering his words. They must have taken a toll on her conscience.
"As it turns out," Kakashi said, "our museum curator has several forged artifacts. He was taken in for questioning and is going to be booked."
A grin flashed across her face. "Tanuki sure isn't very intelligent for stealing a fake," she laughed.
Shaking his head, he began to walk away. He paused briefly to say, "You still don't see the bigger picture. She knew it was a fake."
Puzzled severely, her bewilderment turned into frustration as she watched Kakashi tread toward the Konoha Bay Bridge. He had almost made his way to the small overpass when she decided things would soon be taking a more dramatic, more intense turn.
If she wanted to capture Saint Tanuki, she'd have to be even more aggressive and clever than before. She'd made the mistake of underestimating the petty thief who had remarkably earned some strange sense of admiration from Kakashi. That was a mistake she wouldn't make again. In that moment, she swore to discover the thief's identity and be the one to capture her with or without Kakashi.
The jounin was mildly relieved to have ended his conversation with Komachi so quickly. It was rare that she didn't persist in continuing their dialogue. She always liked to draw things out between them when he preferred to move along through Konoha in solitary.
Novel in hand, Kakashi smiled to himself as he read one of his favorite passages:
He began to lose his bearings, forget himself in those eyes framed by the licking flames of her tresses. Eyes that were so blue and so unearthly. It was like staring into two topaz holes ripping through the universe and swallowing everything in sight just as he was being swallowed now. He fell deep into those chasms, caught between an urge to kiss every inch of her and an urge to run as fast as he could.
He stood before her, frozen with fear of his exposed vulnerability, such an unnatural feeling for a shinobi. She had caught him, shackled him in place with her gaze. She drew her hand to capture his and a startling warmth seeped from her fingertips to his. It changed from a slow smoldering to a fierce burning, but it wasn't unpleasant. On the contrary, it was blissful. She was breathing fire and life into his soul. She engulfed him in the roaring flame, incinerated his uncertainty until it was no more. She bent forward, pressed her lips to his in a kiss, and the two melted together in the blazes of their passion.
The clacking of rickety wheels across wooden panels of the bridge's floor stirred his attention.
He looked up from the passage, almost embarrassed for not reading that particular excerpt in the privacy of his home or under a tree's shady concealment. He was somewhat exposed, reading that selection on a bridge typically occupied by at least a passersby or two.
The noise had belonged to a cart which hauled several garish flower arrangements. He could see the blue eyes of Midori Niwa peeking through the flurry of leaves and flowers as she continued to lug the cart across the bridge. He should have known he wasn't alone.
"You're moving kind of sluggishly today and your eyes-the one I can see—looks bloodshot, Hatake," she noted with a smile. "Did something in your novel make you cry?"
Astonished by her candor, his eyes both widened as he gazed into her azure orbs. Perhaps it was the bewitching way they reminded him of the eyes in the passage he had just read to himself. They were compelling enough.
"Mind your business and tend to your flower duties," he said, satisfied with his response. It hadn't revealed anything other than perhaps his slight annoyance.
Still smiling, she giggled and continued to pass him on the bridge with her cart.
Amusement filled her. It had been very fun to tease him, she noted. Turning her head to fondly glance back over her shoulder at him, she decided that his actions last night had shown that he was a very good kind of person. The kind that was dedicated to helping others in need, and the kind that knew teamwork, above anything, was most important. Those were qualities she admired.
