Thank you all for your input ^^ I'll tell you my plans on the bottom note.
For now, enjoy and happy new year!
Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto
Warning: Shameless fluff
No Beta
Mission 3
We had an escort mission. Thankfully no bridge builders involved.
Instead, it was a small group of merchant returning from Kirigakure to one of the other towns on the islands.
"Toki-chan~" Mangetsu whined.
"What?"
"I'm bored~"
"So entertain yourself"
"OK~!" he pounced kissing my cheek.
"Mangetsu" came a lethally calm voice from Kisame.
"Yes, Shark-kun?"
"Run" Kisame lunged.
The sad thing was Ao and I were already used to this.
"Ten ryo on Kisame" I muttered as I watched the Shark chase down the laughing Mangetsu.
"Make it twenty, and you're on".
"Deal" I agreed, thinking Ao and Kakuzu would get along nicely.
Mission 8
"Those bandits we're after are up ahead. They're attempting to ambush us" Ao scoffed. "Amateurs".
"You know sensei, it's kinda creepy when you do that" Mangetsu commented.
"Seconded" Kisame and I chorused.
"Shut it you three" Ao scowled at us. "Now, I'm going to take this chance to start teaching you some of my skills. We'll starts with some hunter-nin basics".
"What exactly are we doing?" Kisame asked.
"We're refining your stealth. And ambushing the ambushers".Ao answered. "Observe".
Sometime later
"You three show some promise" our sensei nodded as he finished the last of the bandits.
"You sure it was allowed to teach us hunter-nin stuff?" Mangetsu rubbed the back of his head.
"I am your sensei. I decide what to teach you" Ao stated flatly "Besides, you're all still too loud. A fully trained hunter would have easy pickings going after any of you".
Geez, our sensei was really comforting...
Mission 11
"So... now we're stuck here" I stared at the blocked cave entrance.
"Yep" Kisame agreed.
There had been more bandits hiding in this cave.
I swear, Mist had sprouted bandits like weeds.
These had had the smarts to rig the entrance with explosive tags.
Ao and Mangetsu had gotten out to deal with the bandits.
However... Kisame and I however were stuck inside the cave. We couldn't risk jutsu for fear of bringing down the ceiling.
So, we had to wait for rescue.
I sighed, going to find a place to sit. The Shark walked over, sitting easily beside me.
A few minutes later
"Kisame... I'm bored"
"You sound like Mangetsu, Koneko".
"Damn it. It's not like it's my fault we're trapped! And I'm still bored".
"What do you want me to do about it?"
"Tell me a story"
"A story? What story?"
"I don't care!"
"Alright. Then I'll tell you the story of The Utterly Gutsy Ninja".
Later
"They're taking forever" the Shark grumbled, having finished the story awhile ago.
"Seconded" I agreed.
Still later
"I wonder if they forgot us" I sighed.
"It's entirely possible".
"Damn it, Kisame. You're supposed to comfort me!"
He sighed, moving to hug me. "Better?"
"...Maybe"
"Then I'll just do this until you're happy again, Koneko".
Getting later
"Tired" I yawned.
"You can sleep, I'll keep an eye out for our slow companions" the Shark offered.
"Cave uncomfy" cue pouting.
Kisame gave an exasperated sigh, tugging me into his lap. He'd been growing like a weed, so I fit.
And the Shark wasn't even as large as he would be.
"Say a word and you're sleeping on the ground, like it or not".
I nodded and yawned, falling asleep. Kisame made a good pillow.
Even later – 3rdPerson POV
It had taken until well past nightfall for Ao and Mangetsu to clear away the rocks blocking the cave.
Once that was finally done and they went in they saw a curious sight.
The small kunoichi of their team was cuddled in the lap of the already larger than her and still rapidly growing Shark.
Both were asleep.
"Guess they really are together" Ao mused.
"I already knew that sensei. You're so slow to figure that out just now" Mangetsu chuckled.
"But you're constantly..."
"I like antagonizing the Shark. It's good for him to have competition. Besides, she really is cute. Plus now I can brag about knowing something about his Koneko he doesn't know" the boy grinned, showing sharp teeth.
"What's that?"
"Toki-chan cuddles in her sleep. Come on, sensei, let's wake them up. I've got just the water-jutsu".
Mission 20
"Come on Toki-chan! Run!" Mangetsu laughed.
"What does it look like I'm doing?!" I protested as the wild boars chasing us gave an angry squeal.
There was the sudden whoosh of movement behind us as Ao and Kisame dropped down on the two pigs, killing them easily.
"Not nearly as bad as that crocodile" Kisame mused, retrieving his sword from the pig.
"Nothing is as bad as that crocodile" I retorted, flopping onto my back to pant.
"Aw~ Poor Toki-chan is winded" Mangetsu grinned, teasing me, even as he was panting himself.
"Quiet you" I snapped.
"Looks like you need to be revived so you're not cranky anymore" I didn't like the look on Mangetsu's face.
"The heck are you-"
He kissed me.
My first kiss in this lifetime.
"I'm not saving you this time Mangetsu" Ao stated simply.
"Suiton: Suikōdan no Jutsu" came a snarl.
Before I could move to wail on the white-haired boy, he was sent flying off me with a spray of water.
"Slow. Painful. Death" Kisame growled.
"No, Kisame. He's mine" I got up, reaching for some senbon.
The two boys blinked at me. Then the Shark chuckled darkly. "As you wish, Koneko".
"Ehe... you know I was just playing around, right Toki-chan?" Mangetsu started to edge away.
"Still not saving you" Ao reiterated. "And if I were you... I'd start running". I launched senbon at Mangetsu as the white-haired boy followed Ao's advice and started to hightail it away.
Mission 27
"I still can't believe he kissed you" Kisame grumbled, shifting through paper.
"Are you still going on about that? I already beat him for it awhile ago" I rolled my eyes, doing the same.
"Yes, but he still flirts with you. Obviously you didn't hit him hard enough" the Shark retorted.
"Why are we even having this conversation?" I sighed.
"Because sensei and the bastard are following the guy we're background checking while we raid his things. And there's a lot of nothing here" he gestured to the stuff we'd gone through and meticulously replaced in original positions with a glare.
"I could be a female stick and Mangetsu would still flirt with me" I added "And you're right, there's nothing here. Let's go see if sensei and Mangetsu have found any reason to not let this guy move into Kirigakure".
"If his stuff is any clue, they haven't" the shark-nin grumbled as we replaced the papers and left, hitting the rooftops for faster travel.
Silence fell for a moment.
"I can hear you thinking, Kisame" I nudged him as we went from roof to roof.
"Koneko... I don't care for the bastard flirting with you" he was speaking like I was attempting to pull his teeth.
"So I've noticed from your habit of hitting him" I snickered. "It's not like I like it either. That's just how Mangetsu is".
"I know..."
"If it makes you feel better, I certainly didn't picture my first kiss being with Snowy of all people". Then again, I hadn't pictured him being on my genin team either.
"Hmph" Kisame didn't seem particularly comforted.
"Stop being so adorable when you're pouting. It's not fair" I complained.
He gave me a glare for calling him adorable.
"Aw come on Kisame! Cheer up!" I made us stop and hugged him. He gave a grumble.
"Please?" I gave him a friendly kiss on the cheek.
Kisame's cheeks turned an interesting purple color as he gaped at me. "I- I- fine".
"Thank you" I smiled before leaping off again.
Mission 34 – Kisame POV
He didn't like this.
Sitting here waiting to ambush yet more bandits was giving him too much time to think.
Koneko was there beside him, but as his thoughts were on her, she wasn't helping.
At eleven now, he knew he was beginning the change from child to adult, reinforced by the fact he was rapidly growing.
As such, his Koneko held much more of his interest than she previously had.
She was slowly hitting the change to adult as well. Not quite there, but close enough.
Still, this level of fixation was abnormal.
He blamed her slightly. It had started when she'd kissed his cheek.
And his desire to kill Mangetsu every time he got close to Koneko had subsequently shot through the roof.
Thinking back on how the white-haired male had kissed her made him viciously angry, especially now.
Though thinking Koneko deliver that beating to Mangetsu still made him smile.
He adored his Koneko's claws. He was glad he staked his claim long ago.
And he was the only one she said those certain words to.
Still, Mangetsu shouldn't have dared to begin with.
Damn it. He needed to focus.
He made peace with his inner shark, intending to circle his prey for now.
Koneko was his.
He would just have to make his claim more obvious.
Somehow.
Mission 41
"You alright, Kisame?" getting rid of rabid animals gave them a lot of time to talk.
"None of your business, Mangetsu".
"You've been a testy Shark lately" Mangetsu pouted at him.
"I still fail to see how that's your concern".
"The fact you've been constantly irritated says otherwise".
Kisame ignored him.
"You know, if you're still upset about that incident, I was just kidding around. And Toki-chan did give me a nasty beat down".
"..."
"You could always kiss her yourself".
"What?!"
"Just a suggestion".
"Personally I think he has a point" Ao joined in.
"WHAT?!"
"You're acting very skittish for a Shark" their sensei continued. "Your supposed kitten is always the one initiating touch".
"So?" Kisame growled.
"You have to wonder if she's not really a cat and you're actually just a fish" he smirked.
"...Why do I feel like you people are talking about me?" I came up, having dealt with my set of animals.
"Just about how adorable you are Toki-chan~!" Mangetsu smiled.
I sighed, not having the energy to hit him for it.
Mission 45 – Kisame POV
He didn't like admitting it, but the suggestion was stuck in his head.
He really should be focusing on escorting this merchant.
But he couldn't stop it.
It might solve this fixation.
But these missions were nonstop lately.
It was not his idea of... a nice situation.
But beggars couldn't be choosers.
Not here though.
That merchant had a horrid smell and he didn't like the looks in their eyes.
Later perhaps.
His inner shark tightened its circling.
Yes.
Later.
Mission 50
"You know. I hate escort missions" I grumbled as we headed back to Mist.
"Especially idiots like that" Ao seconded. The man we'd escorted to his home had been a major moron.
We'd been dragged through some severe brambles and all four of us were scratched up.
"Come on. Mist is just over there. Let's go back and never speak of it again" Ao picked up his pace.
Mangetsu followed after him, still picking thorns out of his clothes.
"Koneko" a hand stopped me.
"Huh? What is it Kisame?"
"... You have a branch. Hold still" he reached to pull a twig from my hair.
"Oh, thank you" I smiled at him.
"No problem" his gaze flicked down.
I turned to continue towards Kiri.
"..." Kisame was silent.
There was a moment of quiet as we walked.
"...Toki" he spoke again, catching me.
"Wha-?" I was cut off with a motion.
My mind froze.
Kisame...
kissing...
...me?
He drew back. "Come on Koneko. Let's go get clean".
I attempted a response. It was something like "dtnhg".
Kisame chuckled, with a smug look on his face, tugging me back towards Mist.
… What just happened?
Shorter chapter than usual, but I hoped you enjoyed it!
Next time - "Chuunin exams? Now?!"
So, I got a lot of mixed opinions on what I should I do with Toki.
Please note: This idea needs some editing and is not final. I did my best to make something that would not be OP
I intend to do a combination of suggestions. Toki by herself won't be a sensor-nin.
But. Contractors tend to gain something from their summons.
So my plan is this – Toki will gain access to the Cat contract. Being contracted to cats gives a person sensitivity to emotion. That's right. Not chakra, emotion. The draw back is to this is that while they can sense an emotion they can't sense reasoning. i.e. justified anger and anger at nothing would both simply register as anger. Thus using this sense attempting to gain information is faulty at best. It is also short-to mid range only. Maximum would probably be about 5, maybe seven feet. It will have to be trained to be remotely useful
The cats will be specialized in espionage and assassination. They will also be mixed, small house cats for pure spy work while black leopards are the larger cats used for assassination. Undecided on boss cat.
Cats are antisocial creatures,so Toki is going to have to work to get anything out of them.
Hope this keeps her from Mary-Sue syndrome and I don't drive people away :/