Different
~Chapter 10~
Kicking A Man When He's Down
Lala: I got swarmed by bees today while minding my own business and got stung 10 times. 3 times on my back, 2 times on my face and the rest on my arms. It hurts…on the bright side, my parents are babying me. '^.^ Therefore they aren't making me do chores and I have been given more time to write! I'm glad I'm not allergic to bees or else I'd be dead…Please enjoy this next chapter!
A/N: Just to let you know, the swordsmen is divided up into partners. Captain Toshirou Saito, the leader, has no partner. Partners are Kisame & Zabuza, Sachio & Minoru and Anzu & Raiga (used to be Anzu & Botan but he defected).
Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN NARUTO!
The 7 Swordsmen had 4 Bases in total and then an HQ.
The HQ building was across the street from the Mizukages building, though not so obvious. It was only a small building, appearing to be about the size of a tea shop. At first glance it didn't look important, unlike the Mizukage's building which had the village's symbol etched across a large colourful sign, that hung over the giant glass doors.
Base 1 was the Western base, which was closest to the mainland of the elemental countries. It was hidden in dense pine forests and surrounded by hundreds of traps.
Base 2 was the Northern base. The north of the land of waves was warm and famous for its beaches during the summer.
Base 3 was the Eastern base was the twin to Base 1.
Base 4 was an underground base located far to the south of Kirigakure, extremely close to the edge of the main island(The Land Of Water is a giant Island surrounded by mini islands that, although close, are not considered part of the country); The closest port to the base was the one that led to the Land of Snow. Kirigakure was strange in that the farther south you went the colder it got.
This was where Captain Toshirou Saito had asked (told) the swordsmen to meet.
The swordsmen stood along the walls of the damp cave each covered completely by shadow. Anzu's damp hair clung to her face and her clothes to her body. It was so damp that there were shallow little pools on the floor caused by the melting ice stalactites hanging from the stone ceiling. Normal people would be uncomfortable.
The swordsmen loved it.
However much they loved the damp, cold environment they were all growing impatient. They were waiting for Toshirou, who was over 2 hours late.
Anzu shifted anxiously, gazing at the dark tunnel entrance, as the cave was under ground or, more specifically, under a lake. Toshirou was always punctual, usually always the first one there as was expected from the leader of the seven. Had something happen to him? She frowned after a couple minutes of staring and felt a firm hand on her shoulder.
She gazed up and her well trained eyes could just barely make out the tall, well built form of Kisame. She let her worry shine through her eyes and she noticed how he twitched his mouth in agreement, observing the rest of the swordsmen, she realized they were all also showing worry in their own way.
Minoru Hozuki was leaning up against the wall silently, watching water drip off of the stalactites and to his eye level. Every now and then his arm would shoot out and he would flick a drop in mid air, watching the water explode in silence, his eyes dancing with brief amusement before returning to boredom once more.
Sachio Nakamura, Minoru's partner, stood there with hands in his pockets and had taken to glaring at a poor innocent pool of water at his feet, his glare only worsening when the surface would ripple because a drop would hit. He must have thought something imperfect about that poor puddle, Anzu had mused.
Raiga Kurosuki (He had changed his name back), her partner and the youngest and brashest of the group, was occupying himself by crushing stray pebbles under his feet.
Zabuza Momochi, Kisame's partner, was sharpening his sword, causing the odd 'shing' sound to echo through the cave.
Kisame was merely standing next to her, arm wrapped around her waist, though it was so dark no one could probably see the mild intimate scene. She laid her head on his shoulder her eyes shifting once more to the cave entrance, though no Toshirou appeared.
"Argh! I can't take it anymore! Where the hell is he!" Raiga's voice cut through the silence and the rest reacted, some with annoyance, some with agreement.
"How are we supposed to know?" Sachio retorted with a calm voice, slightly mocking the boy's impatience.
"I'm tired of waiting for him!" Raiga exclaimed, kicking one of the last stones before heading towards the entrance. She felt Kisame shift away from her watching Raiga go, really watching to see if he'd do it. Once Raiga had one foot out of the door and showed no signs of uncertainty, Kisame disappeared from her side and appeared in front of the brown haired boy forcing him up against the wall.
Anzu twitched at watching her former son being restrained roughly and viciously by her lover but she had to admit, he had it coming.
One of the rules of the seven swordsmen, part of their code, was that you were never to walk out of a meeting. As six of the members were there technically this meeting was in session and as the leader wasn't there yet that meant second in command was in charge.
Meaning Kisame was in charge.
And he had told them to wait.
"I didn't dismiss you yet Kurosuki. You'll wait here with the rest of us, even if it means you rot while doing it." The hulking, blue man growled out holding Raiga up off the ground by his shirt collar.
Anzu shifted her feet uncomfortably while the rest of the swordsmen chuckled in delight. This was a mood that Kisame had recently developed that she found she didn't like.
It was a sadistic mood that radiated danger in authority. She didn't like it when he got like that, in honesty it frightened her that he was beginning to change. Was it maybe the fact that he was stronger then most of them and it was starting to go to his head?
The other swordsmen seemed to like this sadistic mood, they found it amusing and inspiring at the same time. But they didn't know him or care about him the way she did. They didn't love him. They didn't see how dangerous this change could be. Apparently, while she was thinking Raiga had made a sharp retort and Kisame looked about ready to bury him six feet under, one hand suspending him in mid-air, the other grasping Samehada's hilt.
"Kisame." She said his name and he paused, suddenly realizing what the consequences of his actions might be. "Please put him down, I'm sure he didn't mean it…" Her voice was quiet but not timid as she watched him with cautious eyes. He sighed before carelessly tossing the brunette boy to the ground and returning to his spot beside her.
The rest of the swordsmen went back to their activities, deciding the entertainment was over.
Raiga glared in her direction and she bit her lip and looked down. Why was she letting him boss her around with his glares? She was his superior and the woman who raised him! Grow some backbone! What happened to you? She scolded herself before raising her eyes to glare at him with all she could muster. He flinched.
What's that saying?
Oh yeah, 'kicking a man when he's down'.
"Sorry I'm late. But I've got some troubling news." She looked to see Toshirou standing in the entrance. He didn't bother to come in; he just looked at them each in turn, his gaze ending on her and Kisame at the end.
Kisame had now rewrapped his arm around her waist and she felt her lover's fingers twitch with mild curiosity and anticipation. "At 2:00 this morning, the most powerful council member of Kirigakure was assassinated. They think we did it."
Talk about 'kicking the 7 swordsmen when they were down'.
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