I have no rights to Naruto.
Enjoy.
O0o0o
She thought things had settled down, she ignored him and he ignored her, both happily maintaining a freezing chasm between them. But only a week after her liberation with Hades and her following return he had pounced. It didn't matter that she had Hades who as a trained warhorse was a weapon himself or that she could fight and defend herself, he just had to bloody rub her nose in it.
She had returned from another one of her rides with Hades, her hair tangled and completely windswept her cheeks were a healthy red colour and her eyes shined from the gallop. She had barely entered the courtyard when Hidan had confronted her. It had been quiet with only a few Guards down hear the training yards, she had taken no notice but now faced with a visibly angry Hidan she felt trepidation seep into her body. It was a strange feeling for her to admit to when facing Hidan, in none of her memories could she ever remember being afraid of him and even with their spat her anger had masked her full feelings.
But now staring at the taller man only a couple of feet away from her, his pinky purple eyes filled with anger and his hand twisting the staff of the Scythe as he looked down on her she felt afraid of this man. She had no warning. Hidan stalked towards her, her emerald eyes were so fascinated with his Scythe that she never saw his free hand rise up, the painful smack across her cheek forced her to her knees and made her drop Hades reins into the mud.
A distant part of her recognised that the pain wasn't that bad or maybe after all she had been through she now had a higher threshold for pain, but she knew it had been the unexpected force that had sent her to her knees as well as the knowledge that he had held back his full strength.
It was Hades screaming that brought her tear filled eyes up to see the large powerful war stallion up on his hind legs, his front hooves lashing out viciously to hit the man that hurt his Mistress. Hades forced Hidan back and gave a triumphant neigh when one of his hooves connected leaving a bloody gash on his cheek. Instantly he landed on all four hooves, knowing he was not allowed to do more to the silver haired man, turning he rubbed his head against his Mistress and waited for her reassuring touch, she had hardly touched him when the so called Protector bellowed out and Kira suddenly appeared grabbing his bridle and leading him away from his Mistress. Hades knew he wasn't actually allowed to really hurt the Protector, but he could follow his Mistress's request and annoy the hell out of him.
The courtyard now seemed to be completely empty, every Guard gone, slowly getting to her feet Sakura's chest heaved and her eyes narrowed in anger and accusation, striding over to Hidan she attempted to repay him in kind only to have him shackle her wrist in his strong grip.
"When the fuck will you learn Hime. This isn't a game!" his voice was heavy with anger his eyes boring into her with a stark intensity that made her squirm.
How dare he accuse her, she knew better than anyone, it was her life that had been turned upside down, all her beliefs scattered to the wind. Through gritted teeth she responded her hand numb in his grip. "I know that."
"I don't fucking think you do." He accused her, twisting her hand painfully until she gave a yelp then flung her away from him before he continued.
"You ride out of here every day like the devil is at your heels."
"And I return I know it's not a game and I've accepted it, accepted that I won't see my friends for years, accepted that I am a Hime, accepted. . ." Her angry tirade was abruptly cut off as he grabbed her roughly by the shoulders and shook her violently.
"Stupid girl don't you even fucking realise the danger. They are still out there!" His voice was full of anger at the young woman before him and the whole bloody fucking situation. The stupid girl need the sense knocked back into her.
"Who? People are always against Jashinists and It doesn't matter I can fight." Sakura defended herself her emerald eyes flashing in defiance, she was sick of being underestimated, sick of being treated like a kid, she was fucking sick of it.
"Who? You stupid fucking bitch. The ones that tried to take you, the ones we hid you from, the ones that killed your parents, you wouldn't stand a fucking chance against them!" He roared, spit flying his voice echoing throughout the courtyard sent birds in the nearby trees flying as his eyes flashed deadly purple and he tightened his grip on her arms painfully before dropping her to the ground again.
Anger overtook her; he ridiculed her, treated her like a toy, threw her around and then expected her to listen to him. She stood up and as he turned slightly she ran, fist raised towards him, the bastard was going to pay. He looked at her, a hard smirk moving his lips as he blocked her punch, he let out a angry sigh as she attempted to kick him, punch, slap him and gouge his face, she could fight but he had an unfair advantage, years of training and no restrictions. It was when she actually got him in the ribs with a strong kick that he inwardly cursed knowing instantly that at least two ribs were broken, but if he had been the enemy.
"You don't think." He growled out.
He quickly reversed their positions and swiped her legs out from under her, blocking and catching her fist he wrestled her to the ground pining her underneath his body. She struggled to free her hands to move her legs but his weight prevented her from moving, seething her emerald eyes spat fire as they clashed with pinky purple ones, a drop of blood falling on her cheek brought her gaze to his cheek and in fascination she watched the blood seeping from the wound on his cheek.
She watched the red liquid well up in the scratched and missing skin that Hades had caused, she didn't know how long she looked at it but an overwhelming urge came over her to raise her head and lick away the drops. She wanted to run her tongue over the braised skin, she wanted to taste the coppery red liquid that was now filling her nostrils. Shaking her head violently she struggled once more to get out of his grip and to remove those thoughts from her head. His next few words did that easily, stilling her completely.
"Take a Guard next time you run, fuck ask me to fucking go with you but you are the Hime, you need to start fucking thinking. If they get their hands on you they won't kill you quick, they will their have fun."
His breath was hot on her cheek, his eyes filled her vision the seriousness, anger and concern that shone in the pinky purple irises stopped her from replying, his chest on top of hers made it hard to breathe and she stopped struggling as his eyes held hers.
He suddenly got up and she could breathe again. Sitting up she watched as he walked off his eyes flashing and his chest heaving, she could feel the anger and the need for blood radiating off him, his emotions choked her and as soon as he was gone she ran from the courtyard, barreling without care past the servants and Guards, until she reached her chambers and with a wretched cry flung herself into the room and collapsed on the floor.
She gulped in the air, her dry sobs filling the room as his words hit her. The bastard, how dare he accuse her of not thinking, she spent every moment thinking and training, her rides with Hades were her only reprieve. What had really hurt was that he had so easily put her on the ground, so easily pinned her, his large body covering hers so she couldn't move. Even with all the training she had been helpless and he was right, she would be tortured, bled, most likely even raped and what could she do, the same thing she did today – stop struggling and want to cry?
Damn she was stronger this, she was a Kunoichi, a Hime, the Daughter of Jashin, she had gone through a hellish training with Shishou and had literally gone through hell with the Priests for her punishments and tests. If they hadn't .. . . . if she had . . . hanging her head in defeat she mused if wishes were horses. Before she had left would she have been able to take on Hidan of the Akatsuki, the Immortal, truthfully she admitted to herself she hadn't the faintest idea, yes she had killed Sasori with Chiyo-sama's help but now missing her . . . missing that part of her that she had relied on for so many years she wouldn't truly have been able to defeat him.
But just because she couldn't defeat him didn't mean she couldn't defeat some ordinary soldiers. Damn bastard and his condescending attitude, as if he knew every single thing, her anger taking over she stood and walking over to the coffee table grabbed a leg and with a disgruntled groan flung it across the room. The noise and destruction gave her a feeling of satisfaction as she straightened up and fixed the hem of her shirt, feeling the grime on the shirt rub onto her hand she made a face of disgust.
First things first she decided, a nice long bath was in order, smiling in anticipation Sakura walked into the bathroom looking forward to relaxing and forgetting all about her bastard of a Protector.
After an hour her skin had wrinkled and it was sheer stubbornness that kept her in the luke warm water hanging onto the vestiges of relaxation and laziness, her hair floated on top of the water around her and with a dainty hand she picked up a lock of it and scrutinized it. She hadn't really had time to think about it, her time taken up by lessons and training but it was odd to say the least that the pigment had lightened to such an extent, especially when she had not been in the sun for so many years. As a medic she knew extreme shock could turn hair white no matter the age and as a ninja she toyed with the idea that perhaps it had been a henge, but she had always had pink hair even before she had been taken away. So why had her hair turned a silvery pink? It was nice and Sakura would privately admit that she loved the ethereal exotic look it gave her but her analytical mind, honed from years of research and learning was curious.
The whispers of material announced the arrival of Nisou before she knocked on the door, hearing Sakura's hmm in response she opened the door and walked in nearly laughing at the remnants of bubbles that floated on the water, the scented candles that filled up ever available space and the water that covered the floor as a result of an extremely filled bath that could two very comfortably.
"Do you feel better?" her soothing tone filled the air in the same way the soothing calm scents of the candles did. Watching the silver haired Hime nod her head slightly Nisou looked around the room and spied a hairbrush by the sink, careful of her skirts she went over and sat at the head of the bath, taking Sakura's silver locks in her hand she squeezed out as much water as she could and began to gently untangle her long hair. The rhythmic stroked lulled Sakura to a near sleep state the cooling water the only thing preventing her from succumbing to the sandman, as Nisou put down the brush emerald eyes opened and she asked.
"Why does no one interfere?"
"He is your Protector and it is his duty to teach you, while we may disagree with his methods we are not allowed to physically interfere as he answers only to Jashin."
Sakura mulled over Nisou's answer, sarcastically muttering 'Brilliant' thinking would they interfere if he stabbed me instead of hit me. Grabbing the towel that she had laid out Sakura stood and left the bath gently rubbing the scars that adorned her body, looking at the full length mirror she could see the morbid beauty they held and now instead of being repulsed by them she admired them. She could see now how they showed off her muscle tone, highlighted her smooth stomach, her skin now a light tan seemed to shimmer the scars not a blemish but an adornment.
Nisou coming up behind her held out a robe for her after emptying the bath and blowing out the candles, looking at the blonde haired woman Sakura realised one thing Hidan said might have held some truth. Stopping the Priestess in her tracks Sakura asked the question that she should have asked weeks ago.
"Tell me everything you know about the One Power and its soldiers."
o0o
Down the corridor Hidan entered his chambers, the blood from his hands left bloody prints and the drops that fell from his Scythe left a bloody bread crumb trail. Closing the doors a sharp voice broke the welcoming silence of the room.
"You've changed."
Looking the woman up and down Hidan silently crossed the room and stripped off his shirt after carefully placing his Scythe on the headboard ignoring the blood that stained the pillows as it gathered under the blade. Turning to face her he watched her disinterested eyes roam over his bloody chest and blood soaked pants.
"And not for the better."
"Seeing what you missed out on." He goaded the striking looking woman who sat as if she owned the place on his couch.
"Hardly" she snorted.
"You've changed too red." He replied looking her up and down in return, his gaze settling on her hair.
"My natural colour is easier to maintain and unless they are you people change in eighteen years." The brunette said evenly.
"Cut the crap Kagome what do you want?"
Smiling stiffly at his words Lady Kagome stood and with a flick of her skirts gracefully walked towards him. "Ease up on the girl Hidan, that's all I have to say."
He laughed loud and hard looking at her in disbelief "That's all you have to say, come on Kagome stop hiding behind those manners and say what you really want."
"As you wish." She leaned her head to the side in acknowledgement her eyes hardening before she attacked her voice as sharp as a knife. "The last thing that girl needs is an antagonizer, too much is at stake and she needs support."
"She has you, Nisou . . ."
She waved his words away her face a stern mask. "But she needs you Hidan, a storm is gathering on the horizon and you don't need to consult the bones to feel it. Whatever about being wiser you are older, be a man Hidan and help. Be the man that soothed a little girl when she came to you in tears from a nightmare."
She searched his face meeting his eyes with her steady ones before giving a nod and turning around, she left the room without a backward glance, the door clicking shut softly as she closed it. Standing alone in the room a puddle of blood forming around his feet from his pants Hidan cursed nosy interfering women and asked Jashin loudly who would come knocking on his door next. Stripping his pants he left them on the floor for the servants to clean as he walked into the bathroom for a shower. The hot water pelting his body he watched as the water ran red on the shower basin and down the drain, closing his eyes he breathed harshly asking 'What on earth did they know?' opening them he watched the water turn from a bright red to pink to paler pink, as he let the water soothe his muscles and clean him. What did they know?
O0o0o0o0o
Dia Duit,
Sorry for any mistakes but I hoped you liked and I would really like to know what you thought so please review and leave me you opinion.
Lots of love,
The Rose and the Dagger x x xx
