Spies for Interrogation

Kakashi swung open the kitchen and, to his relief and annoyance, found Fury talking to Rush and Deidara. She looked up from the conversation and raised her eyebrows.

'Hi, the Hokage just called the four of us for another duty.' He said.

Fury jumped up from her chair. 'Right.' She said for the others. They hurried out of the door and into the forest. They didn't walk but leaped from tree to tree. Tsunade was in a foul mood these days and they didn't want to keep her waiting.

'Why did she call for you anyway?' Rush asked out loud to Deidara who shrugged.

Kakashi looked over his shoulder. 'She's been calling some of the Akatsuki members to help out with the village shinobi. She wanted the Akatsuki to cooperate as much in the process of preparing for the invasion.' He explained.

'Oh yeah, I saw Hidan with Center the other day.' Fury suddenly recalled. 'I bet they were discussing their mission.'

'More like surveillance duty.' Kakashi corrected her. 'Orochimaru would have planted some spies around the village border by now.'

Deidara grinned. 'Lovely, I haven't been able to use my art these few weeks.' He said, looking at his hand.

Fury let out an exasperated growl. 'Can the grin, Deidara.' She said to him. His grin changed into a smirk. Rush rolled his eyes at Kakashi who remained expressionless with difficulty.

~…~…~

Tsunade slapped a report on her desk and said snappishly to the four, 'Ok, I have an assignment for you.' She clasped her hands together in front of her face. 'I'll divide you into pairs and you'll go around each side of the village's border, checking for spies.'

Rush raised an eyebrow. Kakashi was right, as usual.

'Kakashi, Rush, you'll go round the east side while you two,' She turned her head towards Fury and Deidara. 'will take the west side. You need to go at the same time and speed so that if the other pair doesn't show up, you'll know they're in trouble. Got it? Dismiss!' She barked.

The four of them filed out hastily. They headed for the front gates of the village.

'Wonder why she didn't put you two together?' Rush said without indication but the others knew who he was talking about.

'You wonder too much.' Fury said curtly. 'She wants us to concentrate on surveying not go on a date.'

Deidara grinned and looked at the sky. 'Looks like it's my lucky day.' He said.

'Shut up.'

Kakashi put his hand of Fury's shoulder. 'Be careful.' He said, his expression serious. Fury nodded and replied, 'You too.'

They separated into their pairs and headed towards opposite directions.

Rush and Kakashi POV

'Fury told me about her past,' Kakashi said, starting the conversation first.

Rush's eyebrow twitched. 'I knew it would come to that. She would have to explain it all to you.' He said.

'She told me never to bring it up again.'

'Typical Fury.' Rush grinned. 'She knows it's your best intention to never hurt her. What was your reaction anyway?'

Kakashi glanced at the thick gorge of bushes beside him, a few feet away. He didn't detect any movement. Reluctantly, he turned back to Rush. 'I was furious, especially at the part where her father threw her out.' He answered quietly.

Rush sighed heavily. 'I have a good mind to go back and give that person a piece of my mind but I'm not that kind of person.' He grinned at Kakashi who smiled at little. It was hard to imagine Rush getting aggressive. It was like his element, air, he remained clam and forgiving.

'Hey, Rush, this is going to be a personal question. Are you up for it?' Kakashi asked hesitantly. Rush pondered for a moment then nodded. 'Do you feel annoyed at Deidara when he showed up and got along unexceptionally well?'

Rush chuckled. 'Funny, it's like you're saying what you're feeling but instead you're directing at me.' He said. Kakashi's skin tinted pink and he gave a slight cough. 'Alright, I did feel something. I was impressed at Fury. It's hard to envy how she managed to keep the both of you away from fighting over her. It's like you and Deidara are in sync of how she would feel if you guys fight.'

'Wow, I never thought you had such deep knowledge and resistance in you, Rush.' Kakashi complimented. Rush laughed good-naturedly.

'Resistance is nothing to me. I have plenty of practice wile you and Fury are in a relationship, it gets old after a while.'

'Thanks.' Kakashi said suddenly. 'For helping Fury when she was in need.'

'No problem.' The air elemental answered. 'I loved Fury that time as much as you do now.' His last words caught Kakashi off guard. He was taken aback at Rush's opened confession. Maybe Rush hadn't given up entirely on Fury after all.

Fury and Deidara POV

'Everything seems fine around here.' Deidara stated.

'That's what they want you to think.' Fury said.

Deidara eyed her warily. 'Why are you so mad? I promised not to flirt anymore.' He said.

She allowed her eyes to soften for a moment. 'I know you tried but could we just keep it as NORMAL friends. I'm engaged.' She replied.

Deidara scowled and scanned the thick trees and bushes. His speed lessened. Fury scowled at him over her shoulder but kept on walking. 'Hurry up, Deidara! If we don't make it to the end, the other two will think something happened.' She called.

He turned to face her suddenly, his face taut and he ran to catch up with her. 'Something's not right. The forest border is too quiet. There're normally birds screeching or animals running along the ground, but I hear absolutely nothing.' He muttered hastily.

Fury listened for a moment and he was right, not a single chirp. She looked down at her left palm. Deidara followed her gaze then stared in surprise when he saw small flames gathering on her fingertips. She motioned at him to be quiet then gently wriggled her fingers.

The flames peeled away from her fingertips and dropped to the ground where it was nearly invisible. Deidara watched from the corner of his eye as they slithered into the bushes.

'What are you doing?' He whispered.

She dusted her hands. 'Sensing heat. If there's someone in the bushes, my fire will pick up their temperature and stick to them.' She said. 'Then they'll engulf that person in fire which doesn't actually burn.'

'They'll come screaming from their hideout after that.' Deidara said, unable to stop a grin from escaping.

Fury grinned back. 'Exactly.'

Sure enough, a few seconds later, there was a loud terrified scream. Fury turned and pounced at their spy before Deidara registered what had happened. Quick as lightning, he flicked out his hand and his clay bomb landed on the spy before he could attack Fury back.

'Arrgh!'

The bomb exploded and the spy was enveloped behind the smoke with Fury pinning him down. Deidara waited for the smoke to clear then stepped forward. He almost reached her when something zipped from a tree, missing him by millimetres and stopping him in his tracks.

His pursuer jumped out and clashed with him clumsily. Fury sighed in relief when there was a poof and the blonde was replaced by a log.

'Don't move.' Deidara snarled from behind his pursuer, a long kunai at his throat. He caught Fury's eye and winked. She smiled then tugged at her catch of the day.

'Did Orochimaru send you?' She snapped at him. The man glared at her but didn't answer. She scowled. 'Looks like we have to bring you for interrogation. Deidara?'

'This too.' He twitched his kunai, bringing it closer to the man's throat.

Just then, they heard quick footsteps and saw Rush and Kakashi heading towards them. Rush pursed his lips when he saw the captives and reached out. Deidara felt a swish of air, disturbing his cloak.

'You two can let go of them now.'

Warily, Deidara stepped away. To his surprise, he saw the man's hands held together behind his back by some sort of force. He suddenly understood what the swish of air was. He swiveled to see the man who was attacked by Fury in the same posture.

'Nice job, we'll be hearing some news now.' Kakashi said, picking up the men easily and dragging them. Deidara controlled the urge to roll his eye. Show off, he thought irritably. He returned to Fury's side.

'Your flames didn't pick up the man hidden in the tree.' He said accusingly.

She grinned. 'Oh, it picked it up alright but that one wasn't for burning. It drained his energy.' She replied.

Deidara suddenly remembered the way the man had smashed into him as if that wasn't his intended action at all. His mouth stretched widely into a smirk. 'You're real manipulative, Fury.' He commented. She laughed, unaware of Kakashi's annoyance.

Rush laughed along with her. 'Yeah, that's her personality. Charming but evil from the core.' Instead of receiving a smack, he got Fury's appreciative grin.

'I know what you mean.' Kakashi said, speaking directly for the first time. Fury threw back her head and laughed.

'Boy, am I glad I have the three of you to keep me laughing!' She said.

Kakashi, Rush and Deidara fell silent. She didn't seem to notice that her three lovers were dying from her words.

Many thanks to Yuti-chan for being a loyal fan from the start! ^^