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: When we live such fragile lives, sometimes keeping a dirty little secret is the only way we survive. Midori is harboring a secret other than her heroic moonlighting alter ego Saint Tanuki, and she's just as desperate to keep it.
Chapter Ten: The Magician and the Secret
Down corridors and through automatic doors, she wheeled an empty cart that was once full of flower arrangements. Some had been congratulatory gifts for births and some had wished the ill a speedy recovery. She never understood why she had to be the one to deliver the flowers to the hospital patients and those that filled the orders couldn't bring them in themselves. To give someone flowers was special and meaningful. Anyone who filled an order should want to deliver them to the recipient in person, but that wasn't always the case.
She supposed that perhaps some of them had called in their orders from neighboring towns or villages. Their excuse may have been that they were unable to make it on time to personally deliver the flowers, which was understandable. There was also a possibility that they were the types of people who couldn't tolerate hospitals, which was a relatively normal phobia.
Whatever the reasons, she had delivered each arrangement with a smile. It was important to share the joy of a new birth or to encourage those who were suffering, and to express the wishes of the sender accurately.
"Midori-chan," a familiar voice called from behind her.
She paused and turned to find Sakura Haruno. Her hair was pulled up into a short ponytail which meant that she had just finished operating on someone. Sakura had even taken Ino under her wing as of late, which was wonderful for the hospital because they now had more experienced hands. However, that had meant that Midori was forced to work longer hours at the flower shop.
Typically, she wouldn't have minded since she rarely went out on missions, but it made her more exhausted before her heroic moonlighting ventures. It had also become problematic because Ino had recently taken on a new business venture outside of the flower industry. After quite a bit of coaxing and obnoxious persistence, Ino had convinced Midori to take on the second job at the new café. Midori had initially been against the innovative idea, but the tips were generous, and she did really need the money.
"Congratulations on your big win at the design contest. I heard Mitsuki-san's dress was absolutely gorgeous, but I also heard that it wouldn't have shined nearly as much without you modeling it!" Sakura gave her a quick embrace and then pulled back to grin. Green eyes narrowed suggestively as a single eyebrow rose. "I also hear you impressed more than the judges. I never thought anyone would render Kakashi-Sensei speechless."
She wasn't sure who Sakura's sources had been, but whoever it was had been careful to include a lot of detail.
"I'm sure whoever told you over-exaggerated," Midori replied, stifling a blush as best she could. "Hatake was just reserved because the Phantom escaped again."
"I'm sure that's it," Sakura replied, but the enthused look in her eyes suggested she was only humoring her. "I wish I could wear a dress like the one you wore."
"Why don't you ask Mitsuki-chan to design you one," Midori suggested. "I'm sure she'd love to."
"I think I'll do that next time I see her." A nurse called to Sakura from a patient's room and requested her immediate attention. "I better go. It was nice seeing you," said the medic with a quick smile.
Midori waved her farewell and exited the hospital. She grunted slightly when the cart became stuck in a crevice. Placing her foot at the bottom tier of the cart, she propped it up over the crack, but paused suddenly when she overheard two familiar voices conversing nearby.
"Don't forget our bet." That was Komachi's voice, clipped and severe.
"How can I if you constantly remind me?" This voice was monotonous, almost uncaring or uninterested completely. It could only be Kakashi's.
"Let me know the instant you get the next calling card. You can't cheat your way out of this one," she threatened.
"Wouldn't dream of it," he replied, and there was no more from him. He must have walked away by this time and left Komachi alone.
Her assumption was confirmed when Komachi approached from around the bend of road without company. "Good morning. You're looking all dressed up," the ex-ANBU observed.
It had been true that Midori had paid a little more attention to her looks that morning, spending extra time on her hair and makeup. She hadn't always made such a fuss over maintenance efforts, but in light of recent events, she felt it was time to focus on looking more her age. More like a young woman.
"I thought I'd try something different," she replied a little uncomfortably. Any time she was under the scrutiny of the domineering woman before her, she felt self-conscious and apprehensive.
"Pretty confident about your big steal—I mean win at the contest, huh?"
That hadn't been very discreet.
"Not really," Midori replied and then changed the subject to avoid further passive-aggressive comments. "I hope you don't mind, but I couldn't help but overhear something. You and Kakashi have a bet going. Is it about who will take in this year's Jounin or Chunin Exams?"
"Do you really want to know?" Komachi asked haughtily. She didn't await a response from Midori. "The bet is that if I can prove you're Saint Tanuki, Kakashi will date me." Her curved lips stretched into a grin like a smug feline after swallowing a canary. The woman stepped forward suddenly, purposely brushing her shoulder stiffly into Midori's.
"I'm hardly ever wrong, and I don't give up."
Wide-eyed and fearful, Midori watched as Komachi continued down her path with arrogance in her stride. She had threatened her, but there was nothing Midori could do about it. The bitter taste suddenly present in her mouth was something she would have to swallow.
-Later that Evening-
Dirty little secrets had become a frequent affair for her. Not only did she have to protect her secret identity as Saint Tanuki, but now she had to protect a third alter ego. It had all been the fault of Ino and her bright idea of undertaking a new business venture. She'd recently dined at Chiyo's Cosplay Café in a neighboring town where the night life was grittier and more risqué.
Clad in sexually suggestive costumes, young women served their guests in character. The café had successfully raked in all sorts of clientele and business. They were tasteful mostly. Midori wouldn't call them indecent or even say they were on the verge of indecency, but their costumes did allude to sexual conduct which appealed to the patrons of the business. Even other women liked to attend brunch at the small informal restaurant to admire the cute costumes, which were even available to purchase.
Ino had been one of those women, making frequent trips to the coffee bar to gain innovative ideas for a café of her own. The new establishment was named Hello Tanuki Café, much to Midori's chagrin. She wondered if her employment there was a conflict of interest or just fate's cruel joke at her expense. Whatever the case, Midori's main concern was the nature of the business.
Cosplay wasn't in her list of preferred hobbies. She had at least hoped that Hotaru would also take on a server position at the café, but the Hyuuga was far too modest for that type of occupation.
That wasn't to say Midori was immodest—she just really could use the extra money.
Just thinking about it made Midori feel ashamed. She wasn't a fan of her new work uniforms at the café and had been initially opposed to the idea of dressing up in a variety of sexy costumes. When Ino had inquired if she'd agree to such a thing the answer had been a decisive 'no.' However, when Ino mentioned what kind of tips she would make the answer changed into a 'maybe, I'll try it out.'
After trying it out for a day, Midori had found that the tips she received were more than extremely generous. Being in debt from living on her own, she couldn't decline the job offer. With no money coming in from missions, she had no other choice but to take it on.
It was a new secret she had chosen to defend. She often executed a transformation jutsu if she had to deal with any shinobi who may know her or know of her. If they were tourists from other villages, she could remain herself and not worry as much. The customers who had become regulars weren't anyone who recognized her. The way she saw it, she had a sweet setup.
Ino had been sworn to secrecy and so had Hotaru. If asked, they would tell the customers that Midori was new to town, just an average citizen and not a shinobi. It was often left at that.
Brass in pocket, Midori quietly entered through to the back room of the café. She was eager to remove her maid costume and switch back to her normal attire, but not before taking out the trash. She hoisted a large plastic trash bag that had been set aside for her over her shoulder and carried it to the alley.
Glossy plastic slung down from her shoulder as she lifted the garbage bag and discarded it within a dumpster. She brushed her hands together out of habit and released a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
"So, you're into that line of work now."
Her entire body clenched and went rigid with alarm. She had only been performing this new job for a couple of weeks and had been careful to conceal her identity while working. Midori was aware that eventually she would be caught and possibly ridiculed, but it frustrated her to have been found out by someone so quickly.
Turning very slowly and cautiously, she faced the intruder. Injected eyes stared in mortified astonishment. Of course, it would be none other than the silver-haired jounin to discover her. She reasoned that maybe he was a slightly better choice than Naruto, who would have told every soul in the village by the next morning, but he still wasn't much better.
Kakashi looked very smug about the discovery, and that really, really bothered her. It vexed her so much her stomach began to churn in angry violent movements.
"Have you ever considered becoming a live-in maid?" There was no way he'd ever let her live this down, not even a ghost of a chance. He'd already begun with the playful teasing.
She managed to restrain and compose herself, tilting her chin upward to emphasize her defiance and lack of caring. Perhaps, if she hadn't been in costume and been in her flower shop uniform, she could have used the opportunity to inquire about the bet he had between him and Komachi. But there was no way she'd dare ask that now. She'd have to wait for another chance, a moment when she wasn't feeling completely mortified.
"Wouldn't you like to know," she replied snippily.
She turned away from him, marched to the back door of the establishment and slammed the door behind her after entering. She pressed her back and arms against the door and slowly skimmed to the floor in a fluid slide.
She just remembered that her second attempt at the bell test was the very next morning, bright and early like last time. There was no way she'd overcome the exercise because she wouldn't even make it to the training field. She was almost entirely certain that somehow she would die in her sleep, suffocated by her own humiliation.
-Konohagakure Training Field, Dawn-
As the sun ascended into the pinkish sky, her empty stomach begged for nourishment in soft, low grumbles. She had been instructed to attend their meeting without eating. The meeting was far earlier than she would have preferred. The sun seemed to still be lazily yawning from behind the mountain range. She hadn't looked forward to the survival exercise, especially when her first attempt at it had ended within a few short minutes of failure.
The sun promised her the long day she had ahead of her. She was to undergo intensive training under Kakashi, do her scheduled work hours at the flower shop, and later participate in her commitment to justice as Saint Tanuki. She didn't particularly favor that day's demanding schedule, but she'd been given no choice in the matter.
All this and she still had her humiliating fear of Kakashi mentioning what he'd seen last night. She wasn't sure how, but she had no doubts in her mind that he'd find some way to sneak not-so-subtle hints of it into their conversation or during training. She had debated with herself all night on how she'd receive the insinuations, and had come up with no real strategy to defend herself other than the fact that she was hurting for money.
She supposed there wasn't much use in ruminating over the incident more than she already had. She would cross that bridge when she got to it. There was still an important inquiry she'd yet to make.
Groggily, she stretched her limbs like a cat until most the fatigue was released from her. She felt her livelihood return to her after the extension. She sipped from a canteen of water to moisten her dry throat. She'd been advised not to eat, but that didn't mean she'd risk dehydration as well.
A shinobi was useless if her body dangerously lacked water. She'd heard several horror stories of inadequate intakes of fluids resulting in depleted chakra levels and poor functioning during the most crucial of times. Just because Kakashi felt that that particular day was ideal for over exertion and excessive loss of water didn't mean she felt the same way. She had every intention of remaining hydrated.
Her mouth expanded into a yawn as she stretched her arms once more in an attempt to loosen the tightness of her muscles. She needed to be more limber for the day's activities if she were to get through everything.
"Wow, what a big mouth you have," Kakashi's voice reached from beside her.
Startled, she whipped her head to face him. "I was wondering where you were."
"Lonely without me?" he asked slyly. She was surprised he hadn't use that opportunity to say something in relation to the maid costume he'd caught her in last night. He could have brought up how a maid was lonely without her master or several other analogies.
Still, her features crinkled into a scowl. "You asked me to be here at a certain time so I'm just following orders." She had been punctual, but he was always tardy.
"That doesn't answer my question," he grinned from beneath his mask.
He drew very close to her unexpectedly. His sudden approach caused her to stumble backward as she felt the rough surface of a tree press against her back. It made her feel trapped and vulnerable as the bark scraped her skin.
She grimaced, face flushed, as he loomed nearer. His arm outstretched overhead and she feared he may capture her in some strange sort of embrace. She wasn't accustomed to his intimate methods of training and wondered if he was this way with every kunoichi under his tutelage.
Did he always take advantage like this or had she been marked as his favorite for some undisclosed reason?
"I wasn't lonely," she mustered finally.
She shut him out of her vision by sealing her eyes closed, fearful he may steal a kiss from her, mask and all. She hadn't even had her first kiss yet. Although perhaps she would have liked it to be with him, she certainly hadn't desired it in such a forceful manner.
When she heard him chuckle, her eyes opened again to see a blurred bell dangling in her face. She nearly went cross-eyed trying to examine it until her eyes could focus again.
"You have until noon to acquire this bell from me," he said. "If you are able to get it from me, I'll buy you lunch for an entire week, but if I am successful in keeping it from you, you have to be my personal maid for a day. I'd also like an intricate flower arrangement made for me."
There it was. He had finally brought it up. Though she had expected he would, she hadn't predicted he would request her to serve him as a personal maid.
"Excuse me?" she piped.
"You heard me." Before she could even argue he added, "I suggest you begin now before you run out of time."
She didn't need further persuasion. Her body was already moving, zigzagging and disappearing into a thicket of bushes. Without her teammates to help her, the task would be exceedingly challenging and difficult.
What was most frustrating though was how Kakashi casually stood at the center of the field as he calmly read his adult novel. She couldn't concentrate on devising a halfway decent plan to obtain the bell loosely hanging at his waist. He was completely open for attack, but that lone fact didn't worry him remotely. He seemed rather smug, likely already planning a list of chores for her to take care of when she was to act as his personal maid after losing the deal.
The strangled beating of her heart reminded her that there was something even more severe than becoming Kakashi's personal maid. There was the matter of the bet he had made with the ex-ANBU.
Why would he even make such a bet? Did he mean to actually date Komachi?
"Daydreaming will get you killed on a mission." His voice was directly behind her.
She twisted around, kunai drawn. She swung the sharp weapon at him in a slashing manner but he so easily evaded the attempt. Again, she tried only to be avoided. He caught her by the wrist and pulled.
Successfully, he restrained her. He was behind her now, pressing her uncomfortably into a locked position at her back. The kunai fell from her hands and thudded against the grass by the heels of her feet. His free arm coiled around her neck in a chokehold.
She rotated her neck and her shoulders in an effort to wriggle free, but he held her in place astutely. A grunt escaped her frustrated lips and she bent at her knees. She tried to pivot this time, but it didn't work.
"You're feisty today," he whispered before disappearing.
Dazed, she stumbled backwards and fell on her rear. Dirt scattered below her from the impact. She crawled from the dirt back towards the grass, pushing her head through the bushes so she could peer toward the field. She gasped when she saw that Kakashi remained in the same spot, unperturbed.
Had he used a clone to deceive her or had he trapped her in a genjutsu?
"It seems as though you'd really like to be my personal maid for a day," he said coolly without lifting his gaze from the pages of his book. "You're not even trying."
-Late Afternoon, Hotaru's Room-
"It seems that although our plan to deceive Komachi at the contest had gone as planned, she doesn't yet believe anyone else could be the Phantom but you. We must come up with an alternative method to convince her otherwise," Hotaru said. She shifted into a meditative position as she massaged her temples in an effort to produce clearer thoughts.
The Hyuuga chastised herself. "I had a feeling it was going to take more than a simple transformation jutsu."
Midori wasn't focusing on their failed deception. She was more concerned with other matters.
"I don't understand why Hatake would make such a bet—"
She found herself standing up from the surging emotions of a new revelation. "He can forget catching me! It's never ever going to happen now!"
"Now?" Hotaru asked. "Are you insinuating that you do want to be caught at some point?"
"Of course not," Midori replied in an instant. She fought hard to keep from blushing, but could feel inklings of warmth seep through to her cheeks.
"Good because someone else needs Tanuki's help."
Hotaru always knew exactly what to say to return Midori's mind back to the more serious issues. "What is it?"
"As you know, Eiji-san's grandfather has recently passed." Matsumiya Eiji was a classmate from their graduating class. He was gentle in spirit, much like Hotaru, and very patient. His kindness was well-known throughout the village. His sweet disposition was often acknowledged by his grandfather, which made him the obvious favorite of the family.
"In his last will and testament, he left Eiji-san a scroll with powerful jutsu bestowed upon a selected member of the clan once the elder has passed. However, some of his relatives rewrote the will and made it so they inherited the scroll instead."
"How cruel," Midori murmured.
"It gets worse, I'm afraid," replied Hotaru. "They lied, saying they were going to keep it safe and make sure no one else got a hold of it, but instead put it on sale for a large profit. When Eiji-san went to his aunt and uncle to beg them to return it to him, he was ignored."
Hotaru sighed after her speech, briefly reflecting on the story and relating it to her own clan. It was a terrible thing to have disagreements arise amongst clan members. It undermined the clan, made the foundation weak and broke family values.
Midori could only imagine the thoughts which crossed her dear friend's mind. She felt just as empathetic for Matsumiya Eiji, but she was hesitant to accept the mission when she knew there was no getting around a certain ex-ANBU member. "I'd love to help, but I don't think I can with Komachi on my tail."
"Have some faith in your abilities," Hotaru smiled. "The elusive Phantom Tanuki won't be so easily captured."
"Then the bet will never be settled and Komachi will follow me to my grave," Midori replied gingerly. "I'm out of options."
"Don't worry." Hotaru looked hopeful with her brightened opalescent eyes. "I have someone who's going to help you."
Just as Midori arched an eyebrow, questioning this mysterious aide, a single Oakblue butterfly fluttered across the open air and gently landed at her lips. Midori lifted her eyes in the direction the winged insect had originated from and came across her teammate, Jhai.
"How—" She couldn't finish the thought, mostly because the butterfly which rested at her mouth began tickling her lips with its dusted wings. The blue insect hadn't left her yet, likely under instruction of Jhai.
With a finger to his lips in a silencing gesture, he grinned. "Shh, my adorable teammate whose moonlit antics, although mythical-seeming, are no myth. I know what you're thinking."
He fingered his chestnut hair and chuckled. "How does this crazy teammate, with insane animal magnetism, know anything? Was I really that obvious? When did he find out?"
Good-humored features turned into a somber expression. "I've been watching you and Hotaru for a long time, knowing what you've both been up to since you've started these vigilante shenanigans."
"Jhai, I'm so deeply sorry," Midori began. She felt several waves of guilt, knowing that she should have entrusted Jhai with her secret since the beginning. She had never meant to hurt him by keeping it from him.
"No need to apologize. Although I'm extremely offended and hurt that I was left out, I'm going to come to your rescue. Not only do I have a handy little vial of disorientation spray, courtesy my beautiful butterflies," he said, almost shedding a tear of pride at the sheer mention of his loyal creatures, "but I've got a twist to the novice substitution jutsu."
"Enlighten me," she smirked, happy to have Jhai on her side.
-Ichiraku Ramen-
Voracious and eager for seconds, Naruto lifted his bowl of ramen to his moist lips and leaned back until he swallowed the very last drop of his favorite meal.
A taped note at the bottom of the bowl caught the keen eye of Kakashi as he observed his student's less than desirable eating habits. He carefully peeled the message off without disturbing Naruto's eating while noting that his rival had a knack for cleverly, and awkwardly, placed calling cards.
I will go to the Matsumiya Residence to acquire the scroll.
-St. Tanuki
"Naruto, you'll have to beg my pardon," Kakashi said as he stood. "I have some business to tend to."
His young student's eyes narrowed in suspicion and disdain. "You're just trying to get out of paying."
"I'm trying to kill two birds with one stone," replied his Sensei before disappearing and leaving Naruto to contemplate the meaning of his words. Figurative language wasn't the whiskered boy's strong suit.
Kakashi treaded through the village in the direction of the training field. As suspected, Komachi stood at the outskirts of Konoha, just before the terrain shifted to something rougher. Without words, he flicked the calling card at her.
"Why does this note have stains?" she asked, inspecting the note closely. She could detect the scent of noodles and soup from the splotches of the note.
"Naruto is a messy eater," he replied, unwilling to explain further.
Silent for a moment, Komachi continued to study the calling card carefully. She hadn't meant to be so mistrusting, but she had to make sure Kakashi wasn't trying to wriggle out the bet they had made. "I've got an excellent idea for capturing that vermin."
"Let's hope it's better than your last one," Kakashi said off-handedly.
She spared him an eye roll and continued with her thoughts. "This time we'll play on her weakness and lure her in. Will you help?"
"Execute your plan yourself since your teamwork hasn't improved any."
"I figured you'd say as much," Komachi said, "I like working alone anyway. You just make sure to stand back and watch while I catch her. If we're to settle our bet, I don't want you interfering. Give me your word."
"Word," Kakashi replied.
There was no point in saying anything more than that. It was unnecessary, and he didn't have the endurance or patience for conversation. He debated whether he should formulate a back-up plan once Komachi's failed or if it would be best to let her struggle alone.
-Matsumiya Residence, Evening-
It wasn't often when Kakashi found himself perturbed. He was the type to rise above that, to endure it and ignore it. He was more often the instigator than the victim, but tonight Komachi was really beginning to wear on his nerves.
"I will not wait outside," he said in a severe tone.
"You promised not to interfere," Komachi replied, just as stubborn. "Leave this one up to me this time, and hurry up because we're wasting time."
If it were not for guaranteed satisfaction that her ploy would fail, Kakashi would have done as he pleased. For the sake of time and peace, he abided and went to wait outside.
"Excuse me, Sir," a guard called. Kakashi cocked his head in the direction of the Matsumiya Clan's personal sentry to show his attentiveness. "The men and I were wondering what we should do."
"I'm not in charge tonight," he responded. "Komachi has instructed us all to wait out here while she works."
The sentry nodded and returned to a small group of his men, relaying the message. He rounded the corner of the terrace to inform the others and found himself alone on the path he was treading. The night had grown strangely still and he felt uneasiness wash over him.
Swallowing thickly, the guard continued to the other side of the terrace. Before he could even reach the middle portion, he shot his neck back in reaction to a spray of liquid. He shut his eyes too late. The chemical had swept into his eyes, entered through his nostrils and was promising to invade every sense within seconds.
His movements became sluggish and difficult. He struggled to move his lips to call out to the others, but everything around him was fading into blackness.
Saint Tanuki applauded herself silently as she watched the guard's body slump to the floor. She wondered what strange illusion he would be placed in, but hoped it was a merry one.
Peering inside the home, she could make out the features of a darkened room. Her eyes were finely tuned for night vision, a perk of her kekkei genkai.
Inside was an elegant table, baring the scroll atop its polished surface.
Her fingers eagerly, but carefully, began to open the balcony window to allow herself entrance. It was strange that there was no sign of Kakashi yet, and she wondered if he was perhaps called on another, more dire, assignment.
The terrifying outline of an unmoving body jolted her into anxiety and caused her to pause her breaking and entering. Silver hair splashed across the floorboards of the room in a lifeless way. Limbs were spread apart as if the body had collapsed entirely.
Her heart cavorted in her chest as a knot embedded itself within her throat. The sour churning of her stomach made her feel like vomiting. She could scarcely breathe as she gazed upon the unconscious body, could hardly function much at all.
Thoughts filled her mind as she desperately tried to ascertain the situation before her. The heist no long mattered to her. Kakashi became her only goal as she threw the window open fully and ran to him.
Hands felt their way around him. She instinctively placed two fingers to his neck to check for a pulse as the other hand waited in hopes of detecting signs of breathing.
A small cry escaped her lips as a puff of smoke surrounded them both. The body had transformed and was no longer Kakashi's. Instead, Komachi seized her wrist forcefully.
Saint Tanuki twisted within the sharp clutch, but felt herself being yanked towards the woman as she hissed, "I've got you now Phantom. Let's see your face."
With her free hand, Saint Tanuki desperately hid her face. She spread her fingers as far apart as she could to give her visage more coverage.
The lights flashed on with Komachi's quick command. She was calling to Kakashi now whose footsteps could be heard as they trailed slowly towards the room. The door cracked open, revealing the real silver-haired Jounin.
Komachi tore her attention away from the thief she held in her grasp to display a triumphant smile in Kakashi's direction.
It was all the distraction Saint Tanuki needed. She pulled away hard and abrupt until she was free of her captor. Running forward, she felt Komachi's hand reach for hers again. Saint Tanuki was already forming the signs she needed, using Komachi's hand to act as her own second one. The Phantom counted to herself, "One, two, three!"
Grabbing at the criminal before her, Komachi reined the thief back in toward her.
"I'll be the one arresting her, not you," Kakashi asserted.
"Take a good look at her," Komachi said, grin spread from ear to ear. This was her shining moment. Not only would her success guarantee her Kakashi as a boyfriend but it would promise her a position on ANBU again. She would no longer have to live with the shame of being disbanded.
She pushed her captive in the jounin's direction. She could feel her own wild look in her eyes, but couldn't help herself. This was it.
Her expression fell entirely when she felt her fingers graze against the prickles of facial hair. Midori didn't have a mustache, yet she could feel one beneath her fingertips. "Facial hair?"
Simultaneously, Komachi and Kakashi looked at the face of Saint Tanuki. A man, clad in scanty kunoichi attire, greeted the pair. The two stared in disbelief and horror at the sight they beheld.
"A man?" They both cried.
"Phantom Tanuki isn't female," Kakashi commented aloud incredulously. He began to slowly move away from the thief, but couldn't remove his gaze.
"That's not Midori," Komachi said meekly, "that's for sure."
A deep, deep pink haze spread throughout the room, shrouding them in its pleasantly scented vapor. Their vision failed them now, but they could hear the rustling of the thief escaping.
Saint Tanuki hoisted the sentry she had spelled with Jhai's disorienting vial back to the terrace. She gently leaned him against the wall and replaced the costume with his guard clothing. She allowed herself a quick glance back inside the building.
Her two rivals appeared as disoriented as the man before her. "I hope I didn't get too carried away," she smiled, strapping a hefty scroll securely to herself.
She afforded herself a playful expression as she stuck her tongue out in the direction of Kakashi and Komachi. "I got what I came for, and now it's time to go," she murmured to no one in particular before she disappeared into the evening's darkness.
-Kakashi's Home, Late Evening-
Fumbling with the note that Saint Tanuki had left on his doorstep, he attempted to rationalize all he had been through that evening. He supposed it wasn't entirely improbable that the thief had turned out to be a man.
Haku, the young man that traveled with the outlaw Zabuza, came to mind. He had been quite feminine as well, often choosing to parade himself as a female to gain sympathy from those he tricked.
He glanced down towards the note, shuddering slightly.
I must speak to you, but only if you promise not to try and come near me or capture me. Please come to Konoha Park.
-St. Tanuki
He wondered if he was making the right decision at the moment. He reasoned with himself that it was only proper to hear him out, to try to understand the young man although Kakashi wasn't much interested in being in his presence again.
Once in the park, Kakashi knew there wasn't a point in turning back. He treaded cautiously to the center and situated himself on a bench. All there was to do now was to wait for the thief to appear and hope for a valid explanation.
Rustling leaves drew his attention to an expansive tree. A figure darted from the foliage and sat casually atop the neighboring lamppost.
Womanly legs dangled from the figure, casting a curvy shadow. Kakashi quickly reminded himself of the evening's prior shocking discovery.
"Good evening, Kakashi." The voice was undoubtedly feminine and undeniably cheerful. "You had quite a surprise this evening, didn't you?"
He could only stare in return.
"You tried to play a very mean prank on me. I didn't like it so I punished you both." She held her hand up in a mock gun, pretending to cock it and fire it at him. "Bang, take that!"
A small shuriken raced from the figure in Kakashi's direction, but he didn't move. He had already calculated its destination and knew it wasn't meant to injure him but to emphasize her point. It rested harmlessly a few inches from his feet.
"I'd appreciate it if you left my identity alone and didn't press the matter further." Her voice was light, soft, but she was unmistakably severe.
It was then that he chose to respond.
"I know it seems as though I was a part of Komachi's plan tonight, but I was not. I made a deal with her that if I was right, she'd refrain from harassing a student of mine. My pupil isn't the brightest or the strongest, but she's still my comrade. Those who don't protect their comrades are scum."
"That's all very well," came the reply, "but that's not what I came here to talk about." There was a long pause from the thief as she struggled with the next part.
She was carefully selecting her next words. After what felt like many moments, she found the words she was looking for. "I refuse to be caught by her. If I'm going to be caught by anyone I'd like it to be you."
Surprises were plenty that evening and his eyes widened in the presence of this new revealing. He made a great effort to think of a response, but found he had not an inkling of what to say.
"It's past my bed time," said the thief. "Goodbye."
She was gone in an instant.
He had been subjected to one surprise after another, but at last he could feel relieved in knowing she was female. It had been an embarrassing thought for him to have felt admittedly, at least, a mild attraction to her only for her to have been male.
He was grateful for the deception and for the truth. However, it was something he'd keep from Komachi. Smirking beneath his mask, he decided that he would enjoy her reaction to the punishment Saint Tanuki had bestowed.
-Konohagakure Square, Morning-
"Seeing as Tanuki is a man, it appears you've lost our bet." Kakashi's only visible dark grey eye crinkled into a smile. "I hope that you keep your word."
Komachi hadn't been the only one to outline the conditions of losing the bet. Since she had lost, she would have to suffer the consequences of tending to Farmer Adachi's pigs. It was a filthy job not even genin wanted to accept.
"Yeah, yeah," she responded distantly. "I'll go pick up the mission this afternoon from Lady Hokage's office."
She was lost within her own thoughts, confused as to how things transpired the way they did. She had no other choice to accept the course of events that had taken place. Still, she managed to stagger away in the direction of the Hokage's office, leaving Kakashi behind.
A hand at his shoulder gently beckoned him to turn around. He was slightly startled by the intrusion and even more surprised to see it was Niwa Midori. Noting how light-footed she was, he wondered why she never displayed such nimbleness during her training.
"What kind of bet was it?" She smiled.
For several moments, he was quiet. He could feel himself becoming flustered, an emotion which was unexplainable as it was rare for him to experience. He couldn't understand why he reacted as such and felt that there was something not quite the same between him and Midori anymore. Whatever it was, he couldn't pinpoint the exact issue.
"Don't worry about it," he replied after composing himself.
Her smile widened into a grin as her eyes brightened simultaneously. She looked so familiarly playful.
"Playing coy with me I see," she said with a light laugh and continued on her path.