Different
~Chapter 11~
Individual Decision
I have a poll for those of you that read my other stories, and those of you that want to help me make a tough decision of my own -_-'… so much confusion both in this chapter and my own head. Please help me by checking out the poll on my profile and voting! ^.^ Lala loves you all!
I don't own Naruto.
XxX
Dead Silence.
That's what he was greeted with.
For once they were all stunned into silence.
"What proof do they have to accuse us!" Anzu snarled angrily, pulling away from Kisame to direct her anger at their Captain. The others knew of her temper and decided it would be best to stay out of the way and let her have Toshirou, though Kisame looked on with a furrowed brow.
He whipped his gaze back to her, a fierce, sharp glare reminding her why he was the leader. That he was the strongest. She widened her eyes and stopped, bowing in regret. "My apologies, Captain. I just can't believe they would so blatantly accuse us." She commented as she rose.
She noticed Toshirou's dark green eyes soften knowingly and he nodded in acceptance of her apology. "I agree. It is quite uncivil of them isn't it? That's why I have made a decision." A malicious smirk curved his lips, showing his sharpened signature swordsmen teeth, yet another reminder why he was leader.
"I have decided that in 2 days time, at the stroke of midnight, I will attack the Mizukage's building while they are in meeting." There was silence once more and everyone stared at him questioningly. It was rare that anyone in the swordsmen used the word I in the place of the word we.
He walked away flicking his hand dismissively his voice echoing through the deep dark tunnel even though he was nowhere in sight.
"You have no obligation to help me. If you wish to help me, you will show up at HQ 10 minutes before the attack. If you are not going to help me I request that you feign ignorance, the members that help me I must have gone to individually. Though in truth this is your individual decision."
XxX
Anzu sighed and snuggled closer to Kisame from where they were sitting on her couch. She was waiting for Shoda to return from the academy anxiously; yesterday's meeting burning in her mind.
Kisame had also stayed over last night, his presence offering her some comfort while she pondered the question; should I help him or not? He had obviously been thinking too, his eyes unfocused and distant, staring straight ahead.
"Anzu." He spoke her name for the first time after a whole day of troubled silence. She glanced up removing her face from his chest so she could meet his gaze with her own steel blue, silver slivered eyes.
At this point she felt like she was going to help Toshirou, but It had been back and forth all day. She always thought of Shoda soon after the thought came to mind and it crumbled any sense of decision she had.
Leaving only the ever present indecision.
Damn that Toshirou…
"I don't want you to help him." He stated bluntly, eyes boring deep into her own. She felt a twinge of anger.
"What? You don't think I can take care of myself!" He closed his eyes breathing in. Kisame had never been one to express his anger through words like her, he expressed it through actions. Though she doubted he would ever hurt her.
"It's not that Anzu-"
"Then it's because I'm a woman isn't it! You don't think I can fight as well as you can?" She didn't know why she was yelling at him, or where all these things she was yelling were coming from. They were just flowing out of her mouth and she couldn't stop them.
"Dammit, Anzu it's because you've got too much to lose!" He finally yelled, standing abruptly and glowering at her before storming out, taking Samehada with him.
Now she knew what his victims felt like before they were destroyed. That piercing glare… something she had discovered all the swordsmen had developed.
She bit her lip lowering her head, she was crying again. Only faint tears, not accompanied by sobs, just tears streaming silently down her cheeks.
She wasn't crying because he had yelled at her, because he had glared at her or even because he had left. But because he was right and she was going to ignore that fact and help Toshirou.
Just so she wouldn't lose him.
"So do you…"
XxX
It was 15 minutes before midnight; Anzu was dressed for combat. A black spandex, long sleeved shirt that only went to just above her stomach, signature black and gray, baggy camouflage pants and tight black, black combat boots with daggers in them.
Her long, wavy black hair was tied up into a high ponytail by a dark royal blue satin ribbon, two bangs framing her face. A matching ribbon was tied to Yamasota's hilt. Yamasota was strapped to her back by silver chains that crisscrossed over her chest.
"Anzu..." She turned to see Kisame standing in the open French doors that led to her balcony. She hadn't spoken to him since their argument. He was leaning up against one of them lazily, dressed in the same uniform as Anzu, minus the fact that this shirt went over his stomach. She looked away and busied herself with putting on makeup.
She didn't want to talk to him, not right now. He'd only make her feel guilty about her decision.
She felt him approach her from behind but she continued to pretend to ignore him, she couldn't really ignore him though. She couldn't help but sense everything about him. How close he was standing, how he smelled, how tall he was. She could feel her body practically screaming for him, but she denied it.
Continuing to pretend to ignore him. That's all she could do though, pretend.
She finished lining her eyes when she felt him lean close to her ear. "What are you putting on make-up for? It's an assassination, not a date." She bit her lip at his repetitive taunt.
Damn him.
He smelled so good, to her anyways, a woman who loved the smells of battle. He smelled like steel, a deep musty ash smell and even though he probably had had a shower since his last mission, there was always just the faintest hint of blood, that sharp smell that would take her frown slightly then smile.
It helped remind her how impressively strong he was.
Suddenly, she felt something cool, like metal gently press against the milky skin of her neck. She watched in the mirror in front of her as he easily put on the necklace for her. It was a beautiful gold chain and on it a golden locket the shape of a heart. Engraved on the heart was the symbol of the village hidden in the mist.
"Anzu. Look at me." He commanded softly as he met her eyes by gazing into the mirror also. She turned her hand going to the locket as she looked up at him, a single tear sliding down her cheek.
"Whether we live or die, we're never going to see each other again, are we?" Anzu asked, her voice barely a whisper as she accepted the hard truth. It was true, that thought was another thing that had troubled her mind.
Once they attacked the council there would be no going back. They would either be killed, thrown in jail or if they were lucky, escape and become missing ninja. The chances that the two would live, let alone ever see each other again were less then likely. He said nothing, only pulling her to him and hugging her.
They stayed like that for the remaining five minutes they had left, each afraid that if they said anything it would ruin this time together. Finally she pulled away, smiling up at him warmly and caressing his cheek, noting how she had to stand on her tip toes to reach it.
She gave him a quick kiss on the chin, forehead, then moved from cheek to cheek and finished with a chaste kiss on his lips.
"Are you ready?" He asked looking her in the eyes.
Was she ready to give everything up? She stared into his eyes; both had long ago accepted each other's silent apologies. That's when she made her final individual decision.
As long as she was with him in these final hours, whether they ever saw each other again or not…
"I have always been ready."
