A/N: So, I think you guys are really sick of me apologizing for these delays. But anyone in high school would understand that third quarter is the worst part of the year. I've been pretty busy lately, and there's been a little tension around the home lately. So, just bear with me here. This is a short little filler chapter. Hope I didn't lose to many of my wonderful readers... hehe ^^;
Seeing as how it's spring break and I have two twelve hour train rides in store for me next week, I'm hoping to have two or three chapter for you guys. Maybe that will make up for all my delays. Also, I've made a few changes... I changed the story summary to fit the actual plot a little better. The rating was also changed from M to T becuse I decided against heavily implying/writing a lemon scene. Finally, Kiba has been added to the specific character search. Anyway, here's the disclaimer!
Disclaimer:
Kiba...? What are you doing?
Kiba: -flips a switch, and a neon sign lights up, saying "THANK YOU KISHIMOTO!"-
Me: o_O!!! What the hell?
Kiba: Well, we owe him a lot. Cause without him, we wouldn't have such a great story! ^^
Camellia: I knew I shouldn't have given him that cookie...
Me: You gave him a cookie... what was on it, meth?
Cam: No. Bacon.
Me: ... Well. Uhm, yeah. I think it's clear that I don't own Naruto, the plotline, nothing. And yeah, thank you Kishimoto for the influence. Hope you like the sign... Enjoy the chapter!
On the way to the Inuzuka compound, Kiba and I met up with many of my old friends. They were all excited that I had returned, which made me feel like I was doing the right thing. If Sasuke had come back, things would have been much different. I had asked Tsunade to explain the situation of my return to everyone after I left for my mission in the morning, so I kept my conversations short and told everyone that Tsunade would explain everything later. I was too exhausted from my trip to fully feel the effect of coming home.
I was told that Naruto was on a two year training expedition with Jiraiya and left only a few days after his fight with Sasuke. His goal was to bring me and Sasuke home; little did he know things wouldn't turn out in his favor. I laughed and said that Naruto would be disappointed that I was home already since he wouldn't get the chance to drag me back. But a little part of me felt sorry for him that he wouldn't be allowed to search for Sasuke anymore. I told Tsunade that getting Sasuke to come home was as easy as teaching Lee ninjutsu.
My stay with the Inuzuka family was wonderful. I easily made friends with Hana, Tsume, and their dogs. Tsume seemed very interested in my wolf powers and said she would love to observe them one day. I was invited to stay the night, since the Uchiha compound was closed until further notice. I gladly accepted. I was warned, however, I would have to share a room with Kiba, and that he usually slept restlessly; he sometimes even kept Akamaru up at night. That night, in my wolf form, I snuggled up close to Kiba and slept next to him. He didn't move at all during the night.
The next morning, Kiba, Akamaru, and I headed over to Tsunade's office to begin our mission…
"I still think it's too dangerous," Kiba grumbled, his hands gently resting on the back of his head.
"We have nothing to worry about. If you really didn't want to come, you could have just stayed in the village," I replied. It was halfway into our first day of traveling. I hadn't yet told Kiba I was actually a part of the Akatsuki yet. I knew he was starting to get suspicious, though.
"Hey, Camellia, who's going to get the prize?" Kiba suddenly asked.
"Prize for what?" I asked, puzzled.
"We raced, and you said the winner would get a prize. But nobody really won; it was a tie."
"Oh, right. Maybe we both get a prize then."
"What's it going to be?"
I thought about it for a moment. I was joking when I said it, but I forgot I was competing against an Inuzuka; they will do anything to claim victory. "We can each choose what we want. And the other has to comply."
"Fair enough. Oh, my kaa-san wanted me to ask you something. See, since you're a part of my team, you're also a part of my pack. Anyone in my pack is a part of my family's pack. Kaa-san likes to watch out for her packmates, specifically you. We want to offer you to stay at our home, since yours is, well, not really yours anymore. She also wants to become your sensei, and teach you to use your wolf to fight like we do."
"In other words, you want me to join your clan?" I faked a serious look, which Kiba mistook for a real one. He looked nervous. After a few tense seconds passed by, I began to giggle. One of the dog-boy's eyebrows rose and his lips vellicated.
"What's wrong with you, huh? Do you think this is funny?" he asked angrily.
"Nothing's wrong Kiba, and I'm not laughing at you. I'm just happy. I would love to join your clan and stay with your family. I would love to train with Tsume-chan. Kiba, I love you," I announced joyfully.
"Camellia, I love you too!" Kiba said before he wrapped his arms around my waist, lifting me off my feet and spinning me around in a circle. We laughed and he set me down. I half expected the rest of Konoha to materialize in front of me, but when they didn't, I knew I wasn't dreaming. I trailed a finger down one of the red triangles on Kiba's cheeks.
"Your answer was my prize. Now you need to choose yours," he said softly, tapping my nose with his finger, making me giggle.
"Kiba, I don't need a prize. Right now, you've given me everything I've been wanting since the massacre; you've given me a home, a family, and a chance. There is no better prize than that."
Kiba cupped my cheeks, smiling warmly. He began to lean in closer to my face when Akamaru barked sharply. We heard a rustling in the bushes and assumed a defensive crouch. I immediately recognized the person that came out of the bushes. My legs felt like jelly and I felt sick to my stomach.
"Hello, Camellia-chan. Looks like I finally found you."
"Sasuke!" I screeched. I lunged at him, turning wolf. He easily knocked me out the way, causing me to fly through the air and land roughly next to Kiba. Kiba charged at Sasuke with a kunai in hand. Sasuke flashed his Sharingan and caught Kiba's eye. The dog-boy fell on the ground instantly.
"Take him to safety," I barked to Akamaru. The white dog managed to shrug Kiba onto his back and dashed off. I turned my attention back to Sasuke. His Sharingan was deactivated.
"I would rather not fight you, imotou-san," Sasuke said, irritated.
"Don't call me that! I know what you plan to do; Itachi won't let you kill him. I will not be your weapon."
The raven-haired boy chuckled deeply. "You really think that bloodthirsty bastard will be of any help? He won't kill me, and you will be mine." He began to advance towards me. I quickly transformed and unsheathed my sword, holding it defensively in front of me.
I caught sight of a senbon that flew by just inches from my face. The senbon gave me an opportunity to swing my blade at Sasuke. I was able to make him stagger right into the senbon's path. It stuck right into his neck, causing him to collapse.
A wave of rage carried my legs to the unconscious Uchiha and I raised the Mekajiki with the intention of killing him. Just then, the figure on the ground exploded into a puff of smoke. I dropped my arms and looked in the now empty spot first in confusion, then in rage. I let out a yell that reached the heavens. I felt a smooth hand on my shoulder.
"It wasn't him, Camellia, it wasn't him," a voice said.
I turned my gaze to see Sasori and I relaxed. "I want to kill that bastard when I see his real face."
"This isn't your fight; don't disappoint Itachi."
"Yeah, I know. What are you doing around here with Deidara?"
He sighed. "To be honest, I'm glad I reunited with you here; I was sent to find you. Are you alone?"
"No, I have a teammate nearby. Is something wrong?"
"Oh, no. It's a bit embarrassing, actually. I was sent by Itachi. He wants to make sure you're okay. What brings you this far out of Konoha anyway?"
"I'm delivering Tsunade-sama's response letter. She doesn't want to meet you guys yet, so I was sent to give the letter to Pein."
"That's understandable. Let's go find your teammate."
"Wait, Sasori," I grabbed his sleeve so he wouldn't walk away. A few nervous butterflies flew around in my stomach. "He doesn't know I'm one of you."
"You can't hide it forever now, can you" Sasori began to walk. I hesitated, and then followed him.
I watched lazily as smoke from the small campfire billowed out of the top of a hut Sasori and I constructed. Kiba lay in his sleeping bag, still under the effect of Sasuke's genjutsu. Akamaru was lying next to me, his head in his paws, enjoying the warmth of the fire. Sasori was adjusting the joints of his arm. He didn't bother to bring Hiroku with him, since he had no intention of fighting anyone.
"Sasori," I addressed him softly.
"Hm?" he said, not looking up his work.
"If Itachi is so worried about me, why didn't he come himself?"
Sasori sighed. "Honestly it wasn't really Itachi who sent me. It was Pein. You see, Pein wanted to know Tsunade's response as soon as possible, and he wanted to prepare us incase the offer was declined. He wanted to send Itachi, but your brother was not so keen on the thought of you dead. None of us are, really, but you understand it was much harder for him. So, I was chosen in his place."
"Pein wasn't kidding when he said he would not accept his offer to be turned down. I'm glad Tsunade agrees with Itachi in the sense of my life," I chuckled once and shook my head. "I really hate how this is all centered on me."
"Just wait until a war breaks out. The attention will kill you," Sasori joked. My ears perked as I heard Kiba softly groan.
"He's awake," Akamaru and I said to each other simultaneously. I made my way over to the dog-boy and kneeled next to him.
"Kiba? Are you alright?"
He moaned again and propped himself up on his elbows. "Considering the fact I feel like I was sat on by a bear, I feel great. Where are we?"
"We're about then miles from Konoha. We're going to head back to the village in the morning."
"What about the letter?"
"Sasori is going to bring it back to Pein."
"Who's Sasori?"
"He's a member of the Akatsuki. He helped me make this hut and saved me from Sasuke, who happened to only be a clone. But it was thanks to him that Sasuke didn't get to me first," I turned to look at Sasori, who then came to sit with us. Kiba watched him carefully.
"Konnichiwa, Kiba. I'm glad to see you're feeling well," The redhead greeted.
"Uh, yeah, hi to you too. How do I know I can trust him?" Kiba asked me after greeting Sasori.
I sighed. "You can trust him the same way you can trust me." I slipped my hand under the bangs that covered the right side of my face and hooked the hair behind my ear, revealing my silver and blue earring.
Kiba sat up. "Traitor!" he yelled.
"Kiba, listen! I'm the link of peace between Konoha and the Akatsuki. I'm helping Pein achieve a plan of peace in the world, and giving our village a strong ally in the process. I'm still as loyal to Konoha as I ever was!"
"Psh, yeah, okay. I bet as soon as Konoha is in trouble, you're going to run back to that bastardly group with your tail between your legs!"
Sasori had left the hut without acknowledgement to let Kiba and I settle this fight. He wasn't one to be kept waiting, but he also wasn't comfortable being in the middle of a fight that wasn't his. Akamaru whined for us to calm down, but when we didn't, he lay on the other side of the hut to wait for us to finish.
"That's not true, Kiba! Do you honestly think I would come back at all if I didn't give a damn about Konoha?"
"Well, you sure didn't care about it enough when you abandoned us for Sasuke!"
"Maybe I was wrong, okay? I was young and stupid as a genin. I fled from him for a reason, you know. But I want to fix my mistakes and give back to Konoha what I took from it! Is that so hard for you to deal with?"
"So, by joining forces with a bunch of crooks you don't even know and claiming that you can help our village because of them and their plan, you want me to deal with that?"
"They're not crooks! I know them much better than you think I do. Once you get to know them, you will realize they're genuine people, not the monstrosities people claim them to be! With their help, Konoha will never again have to go through a destructive war! Pein will bring peace to the world!"
"And what will you do if another war does break out?"
"I'm not saying a war is completely unavoidable. Pein needs time to achieve his goal. But I will do my part to keep Konoha safe and make the process of world-wide peace faster. I will not fail the ones I care about, and I will keep my village safe. That's my nindo."
"You sure are one hell of a fighter, Koinu. No matter what the argument, I can never win."
I slapped Kiba's cheek roughly. When I realized he was making a joke, I leaned over and wrapped my arms around him. Relief filled my body and tears rolled reluctantly down my cheeks. Kiba returned my embrace.
"Oh, Camellia," he crooned. "I'm sorry. You know this situation much better than I do, and I will support you in every choice you make. I didn't mean what I said, okay?"
"Thanks, Kiba," I replied. He let go of me just as Sasori reentered the hut.
"I'm assuming everything is cleared up?" Sasori asked. We nodded and he continued to speak. "Well, I've decided that it would be best for me to leave now. The sooner I return to base, the better."
"No," Kiba interjected. "If it's alright with you, I would like to talk to you. I don't fully understand what your group wants with us, and you'll have more answers for me than Camellia will."
Sasori pondered this for a moment. The crackling fire kept my attention, and soon I started to drift into a daze. One moment I saw the fire, the next moment it was gone. I saw a young version of Sasuke standing on a pier, panting.
"Sasuke-san, you're getting better!" A seven year old redhead squealed. I soon recognized this girl as me.
Young Sasuke clicked his tongue. "Not nearly good enough," he said.
"Sasuke-san, I know you want to be like Itachi nii-san, but you're trying too hard. You're gonna hurt yourself."
"I want tou-san to be proud of me. And I want to impress you and nii-san."
My small self giggled. "Sasuke-san, you're so funny."
Sasuke rubbed the back of his head and smiled sheepishly. He then worked up an attempt at his Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu and the fireball in my memory turned back into the small fire in the hut. I heard my name and looked up.
"What do you think, Camellia?" Sasori asked me expectantly.
"What was the question?" I replied.
"Are you willing to come train with us at the base for one week out of every month?"
I turned to Kiba. I could tell what he was thinking without reading his mind. "Yes, I am. I'll be sure to pass it by Tsunade-sama. But I have one condition."
Sasori raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"When I request him to, Kiba must come with me."
"I see no problem in this, and I know you have your reasons. But now it is I who ask for one condition."
I mocked Sasori's previous response, causing him to chuckle once.
"The dog cannot come," the puppet said, pointing to a now sleeping Akamaru.
Kiba opened his mouth to protest, but I silenced him. "Three's a crowd, Kiba. This is the Akatsuki, not some other village. Once your kaa-san begins training me, you can fight with me if needed. How often do you think we'll need to fight any enemies on our trips?"
The Inuzuka looked to his dog, grumbled, then looked back to us. "Fine."
"Well," Sasori clapped his hands together. "You two get some sleep. I might as well stay the night incase you need me at all. Good night."
"Good night," Kiba and I replied, Kiba proceeded to his sleeping bag with me close behind. I turned wolf and settled my head onto Kiba's chest, his arm draped over my shoulder and across my chest. He sleepily stroked my neck until he fell asleep. I took in the smell of the fire and let the smoke clear my mind and was soon joining Kiba in a blissful slumber.
The next morning, we said goodbye to Sasori. It was agreed that the hut we made would be used as a meeting place for Konoha and the Akatsuki. I was responsible for securing the hut by setting traps around it. I had no complaints with that. I had already began to start looping wires and sharpen weapons when I opened my mind to search for Sasori. When I addressed him, he spoke.
"I have a suspicion that the clone Sasuke you saw yesterday means that the real Sasuke is getting stronger and preparing to make a move. I'm going to survey the area to check, but for now, please be careful. We don't know when he will strike. Now that he knows where you are, we should only assume he won't hesitate to attack either Konoha or Itachi in the near future."
"Arigato, Sasori," I replied. "I'm more worried about Itachi, though. Remember I'm the prize, not the target."
"Hey, Koinu, you alright?" Kiba's voice snapped me out of my concentration. "You look a little spacey. Something on your mind?"
"Oh, nothing," I smiled warmly, yet reluctantly. "Just visualizing a good trapping strategy. You and Akamaru should go train a little while I finish. You could use the exercise after that genjutsu."
"Yeah, I suppose you're right. Holler for us when you're done. Come on, Akamaru." The dog barked at his master's command and they trotted off a ways from the hut.
The whole time I spent working on the traps, I couldn't get Sasuke's voice out of my head.
"I want to impress you and nii-san."
"He won't kill me, and you will be mine."
"I will not be your weapon," I whispered to the dispassionate wind. "I will not be your weapon!" I shouted, the wind unmoved by my display of anger. Sighing, I stood, memorized the layout of my work, and walked in the direction in which the Inuzukas had gone. Putting the thoughts of Sasuke and my past with him behind me, I decided it was time to go home.
A/N: Okay. Let me just start by saying a few things. Yes, Kiba is a little out of character at some points. But, it fits with the story. And I'm not trying to change him completely, so don't flame me for that. Also, sorry if the Sasuke clone bit seemed a little..... random. I don't know how I came up with it. But Camellia needed a little reminder of what she needs to fight for and against in order to follow her nindo. In the next chapter:
I know this is a filler chapter, but if you have to remember any chapter in this story thus far, please remember this one. I can't tell you why. But you'll figure it out. Ja ne!
Camellia, Kiba, and Akamaru head back home, again. Kiba prepares to turn Camellia into an official Inuzuka, but is he ready himself? Tsume must also prepare for her newest family member and will begin to teach Camellia the ways of the Inuzuka. How does Camellia feel about all of this? Tune in next time to find out!