Yes, folks, I'm back, and quickly this time too!
By the way, this IS an interlude to peer into parts of Konohagakure with the Rookie Nine plus Two Otherworlders.
My love goes to...
Hibiki-chan - Frozen Tempest - Gaara's Pyro Raccoon - NaraYingyi - Devil-Speaker - Zero Asakura - Moogle In Paradaisu
Thanks a ton for reviewing. I love knowing what people think of this. All of us Authors know what it's like to get reviews, ne?
Chapter Twelve
Interlude
Neji asks 'Why do you keep eating those things?' about Lemon Pops.
"Why do you keep eating those things?"
Richochet looked up at Neji and blinked. Looking down at the white coloured ice pop, she looked back up at him. "You mean this lemon ice pop? It's so good."
"Tch. Too many is bad for you." He pointed out as they walked away from the shop that sold them. The only shop that sold them in Konoha. It was a quaint little thing with ivy framing the whole shop with winter green painting on the framing. The lady inside was really sweet and in her fifty's but she seemed to have a soft spot for Richochet and her somewhat borderline obsession for lemon pops.
Shrugging, Richochet replied. "They taste good though, so I really don't care what happens to my body when it goes down my oesophagus and settles in my stomach."
"This is why you're always ill." He snatched it from her hand so she wouldn't eat it.
Bad idea.
"You did not just take my lemon pop." She glared at him deeply. "Give me back the lemon pop."
"I just did." Neji smirked and bit into it.
He stilled for a moment in surprise before walking on again.
Yeah, this was good.
No wonder she was so crazy over them.
Not his preferred flavour, but hey, still good and refreshing.
"Give me back the lemon pop, and no one get's hurt."
He stared at her before walking on and taking another bite. "No."
"Grr…" She growled and tried to snatch it from him, but he held it above his head. The other worlder jumped up, but he went on his tip toes each time she jumped so the distance was still longer than she could grab for. She tried keeping him down by holding his top down with her left while reaching out with her right, but he was still taller!
Damn his tallness!
Richochet heard snickering from behind her, but as she turned around blinking, she saw no one. Then a large flash erupted twice as snickering came again before quieting down, and footsteps running away. Frowning in complete and utter confusion, she turned back to Neji to see a smirk on his lips and dry amusement in his eyes.
'I'm going crazy.'
'You already are.'
'Tch.'
"Neji. Give me my ice pop. Now."
He was having entirely too much fun at her expense.
And she was getting far too agitated and flustered for one lemon pop.
"Neeejiiii…"
His eyes darkened slightly as his thoughts took a dangerous path at her low tone. That voice was entirely too… hot for his teenage mind not to take in that way. Hey, he was coming up to fifteen next birthday. Cut his hormones some slack, will ya?
"Yes, student?"
"C'mon and give me the lemon pop… It'll melt…"
Neji scoffed. "In this weather? Don't be stupid. It's the middle of winter. Though it doesn't surprise me my idiot student would think like that." He chuckled at her angered look that had definitely softened since she first knew him.
Her glare deepened and she crossed her arms over her chest.
She was pouting again, not even knowing. Like usual. He wondered if he should ever tell her she pouted when she did that?
His hand not holding the pop twitched as one side of his lips jerked upwards as he tried not to laugh or smile at her childishness. 'Cute…Wait…No…! It's just… gah… '
Richochet was at a loss.
What could she do to get her treat back?
She'd demanded and even half implored with bad reasoning.
She'd glared but it didn't work either.
"…"
She grabbed his white top again and tugged pleadingly, acting like a child she had seen doing the exact same thing, with results.
"Ngh… Can I have it back?"
"No." He took another bite but before he could stop her, she grabbed his face and pulled them lip to lip and dug the ice in his mouth to her own with her tongue, smirking widely at him as she pulled away. They were both glad it was too cold for many people to be out, blinking again when lights flashed.
"Mm, still tastes good." She snickered at him as he scowled at her, tinting red in the face slightly. He was also annoyed even more so that those two pests got that private moment in a picture.
Turning away, the demon holder walked on ahead, a skip in her step, feeling his annoyed look on her back.
Then he smirked.
"You taste good too."
She tripped and face planted into the ground.
He got her.
She sat up and scowled at him as he passed, their roles reversed.
"Damn Hyuuga."
Neji just smirked back at her over his shoulder as he continued on.
He'd make sure to get a picture from Naruto and Sakura when they developed them and hold it over her head.
Blackmail.
Neji smirked wider.
What a wonderful concept.
And he still had her lemon pop.
He so won this one.
Naruto has a ... Crisis ... So does Itachi ... Sorta ...
Richochet raised a brow as the two sat in Ichiraku Ramen. "So…"
Neji had given her the afternoon off after successfully being able to do the animal weaves generally quick. Course, that was after he bopped her head and told her not to stray to far out of his sight. Yet, she hadn't bothered to catch up on sleep in the complex where Neji could get her at a moments notice – and going against his wishes - when Naruto started bugging her for something, demanding to meet at this restaurant.
"…You gonna tell me or what?"
Naruto fidgeted. "I, um… well…"
Richochet leaned forward as he mumbled something intelligible.
"Speak up a little. I'm not a bat already."
Naruto threw her a confused look.
"Bats have ultra-high-frequency-sound hearing." She smirked at his sudden understanding look. "Meh, what's up?" She asked again, digging into her half eaten ramen noodles.
"Well, I, uh… want to know… how to… um, do something. And I figured since you're my big sis and all… that you could… help?" He squeaked out finally, thoroughly confusing her.
"Well, um, sure… I s'ppose." Frowning in puzzlement, she cocked her head to the side and then ate some more before asking the question that had to be asked or they'd never get anywhere. "What is it?"
"Could we go somewhere more… private?"
Shrugging, the demon holder nodded. "Alright, hang on. Lemme finish these off…"
Naruto shifted a little as she finished off the food, putting down some money and standing up. He quickly hopped off the stool and grabbed her hand as soon as she bid adieu to the ramen restaurant owners, tugging her away.
"Hey…" Richochet said to catch his attention. "Is this… embarrassing or something? I mean uh…" Great. Now she was acting like him with his half complete sentences. "You sure I can help?"
He nodded, tugging her to the forest.
Once Naruto felt they were deep enough he sat down on a log, pulling her down to join him.
He and Richochet didn't notice the two people in the trees in black cloaks with red clouds, waiting to capture the Kyuubi. It was one Hoshigaki Kisame and one Uchiha Itachi.
There was a long silence as Naruto got up and started pacing.
"So what's the deal? I was about to take a nap when you rudely interrupted, demanding we go to the restaurant for you to tell me something. Then you get all antsy and fidgety and pull me outta town to a forest and ya don't even start talking." Richochet demanded. Unknowingly telling the two members of Akatsuki the whole story.
"Well, I had a dream…"
Richochet narrowed her eyes at him. "You woke me up for a dream?" She was about to stand up and walk outta there when a thought came to her suddenly. "Well, then. What kind of dream?"
"I dunno, it was just… I never had this kind of dream! And it started because of Kakashi leaving one of his many books being left behind because Jiraiya that damn Ero-sennin wanted some help with ideas. I took a peek and then closed it quickly cause it was dirty."
Her mouth dropped open. Then she dropped her head, snickering so he wouldn't see.
Not that he would.
He was currently bashing his head against a tree.
Idiot.
Up in the trees the two looked at each other, red and black eyes clashing in amusement.
Richochet ignored the fact she knew people were listening because of her bloodline limit. Also ignoring the fact they were oviously Akatsuki with those cloaks on them.
"So, what do you need my help with exactly?" Richochet questioned. "I mean, there's no way I'm touching you in that way so-"
"NO! NO NO NO NO NO!" Naruto went red. He fell to his knees and pouted at the floor. "It's just… I…."
She gave a yawn and stood up, putting hands to hips. "Listen it's completely natural to get these urges about girls and have perverted dreams about them. You're a guy. Then again, girls do to but… It won't hurt you. Unless you like that…" She raised a brow in question as she swaggered over and crouched next to him.
"But… I wasn't thinking about just girls! And it wasn't just any random girl and guy! It was…" He looked up at her and blushed, turning away. Then he attached himself to her waist and buried his head in her shoulder, making them fall back and bounce against the dry leaves. "It was HINATA-CHAN AND ME AND SASUKE-TEME!!"
Leaning her elbows on her knees, she awkwardly patted his head.
"Then I… I… AM I A BISEXUAL RICHOCHET?!"
"Do you think you'd think about them like that again?"
"…Y-Yes…"
"Do you want to?"
"Um… I dunno… No? Yes…? Both?"
"You dig Hinata and Sasuke. Yeah, I'd say you were."
Up in the trees, Kisame looked at Itachi. His own eyes were widened but Itachi eyes looked… Whoa… Was Itachi freaked or something? His eyes were whirling crazily!
"My… baby brother? A boy… Naruto… Kyuubi… HE likes my… baby brother… HE likes my baby BROTHER?!"
"Uh, Itachi…?"
"My little brother… A freaking demon digs my little brother…"
"How about we try another time?" Kisame suggested, rolling his eyes at his partner mentally.
God. Itachi could be such a big baby.
Itachi nodded as they set off back to the compound which took a couple hours at their high speed.
Leader greeted them with a frown.
"Why haven't you brought the Kyuubi juunishi?"
Itachi stared him in the eye. "…He's having an identity crisis right about now."
"…What?"
"So is Itachi." Kisame ignored Itachi's glare. "Apparently, he didn't realize bisexuals cold be attracted to his little brother at pre-teen-hood."
"…Shut up."
Leader sighed at his cohorts.
'Why do I go through this again? Oh yeah, power and world domination. Sometimes, with these guys, I wonder if it's even worth it…'
Rock Lee wants a threesome.
"Richochet-san!" Came an honest voice from behind her and she curved her head to look over her shoulder. A hand was being waved like crazy as it was attached to a person in a green spandex outfit. She sweatdropped at the ensemble but gave a small smirk in greeting.
"Rock-san?" She cocked her head to the side. "Is there something you need?" She never really talked to him, but he'd done nothing against her and he seemed honest in his intentions so she could accept him easily enough.
Lee grinned at her, blinding her momentarily as his teeth shone. "Please, call me Lee!" Then a shy look overcame him. "I was wondering if you could help me?"
She stiffened thinking back to Naruto just a couple days back. "It's not about dreams is it?"
"Well, kind of…"
"Did you dream of a guy too?" Richochet looked at him with a dry expression on her face.
"Wh-what? N-no! No!" Lee flushed red and shook his head crazily. "It's that, I need to try out some new styles and Neji had spoken once of how you had a different one."
Her eyes lit up. She'd do anything for a fight. "Well then, sure. I'll teach you. I haven't got anything to do right now."
"YOSH!" He cheered.
"Wait… Are you gonna be fine to fight?"
Lee was still banged up from Gaara's fight, hell there was still a crutch under his right arm too.
Not that she knew who Gaara was or why they fought, but he was still pretty damaged.
"Aw, it'll be okay."
"When shall we start?"
"How about the training grounds? The seventh? Now for a couple hours?"
"Sure!" Lee raised a fist and jumped and then grabbed her in a hug, spinning her around in circles. "THE YOUTHFULNESS BURNS WITHIN YOU GREATLY MY NEW-"
"Ahem."
The green wearing dude and the other worlder gal blinked at the newcomer.
Neji?
"Lee, what are you doing with my student?" Neji raised a brow, crossing his arms as he took in Lee's overjoyed expression and Richochet's slightly dishevelled one.
Lee put her down. "We're going to go out together!"
Richochet rolled her eyes at his wording and took in Neji's narrowed look. Smirking, she knew while he thought they meant dating, Rock Lee meant fighting. Even if anyone listening would think they were dating now. Including Neji. "To the training grounds."
"…Hn. Fine. I don't care."
Richochet let a playful twinkle enter her eyes. "You want to join us?"
Neji stilled.
What?
Join them on a date?
Huh?
"Yeah, Neji-san! It'll be a threesome!" Lee said excitedly.
Neji's face paled. "W-What?"
Richochet snickered, knowing what he was thinking was different to what Lee was thinking. "Why, not man enough to?"
Neji scowled. "I don't go that way."
"Pity. We really could use a hand for some pointers in what we're doing wrong." She bit her lip before letting it go, trying to make her face blank again. "I mean, we might be doing something wrong. Right Lee? And after checking out Neji, we both know how good he is, eh?"
Lee nodded. "Yes, we've checked you out many times before!"
At his somewhat tortured expression of what that could imply, Richochet snickered loudly.
"So how about it Neji?"
He gave a horrified look. "Never." He turned around and was about to leave.
"Aww, we really would be better if another person was there to see if our fighting forms were good." Lee said, somewhat depressed.
"Yeah, pity he didn't want to help us with our Taijutsu." Richochet said loudly so he'd hear.
Neji turned around slowly and scowled at both of them. "Taijutsu?"
Richochet raised a brow. "Well, yeah, Neji. What were you thinking about?"
The large smirk on her face told the Hyuuga Genius she knew what was going on in his mind.
"You really piss me off sometimes." He told her before leading them to the training grounds.
"I'm just that good."
Ha. She so got him back for the lemon pop issue.
Especially since he blackmailed her into… a certain something… with this photo he got from said time somehow.
Wait…
The girls' eyes widened.
That's what the flashes were!
Damnit.
"Thanks, Lee-kun." She smirked at him as he gave her an unsure smile back. "Really."
"N-No, problem. I guess…The powers of youth burn brightly for this!"
"Well... Something burns..."
Festivals, Blackmail and Deluded Brats
Rokubi snickered. 'You're so easy sometimes.'
'Shut up. For once. Please.'
Neji had blackmailed her into going to the Winter Solstice Festival since he had been chosen to go and protect Hinata but he had to have a partner to go with. So that's where she was going right now with Hinata and a date – funnily enough, was Kiba. Not Naruto? Had the girl finally given up on him?
Answer: Nope. Kiba was also pushed to go by his parents too and he chose the safest option after having himself beaten the crap out of by his sister for not going. And the safest option had been his own team mate who he had trusted.
Of course, he owed Hinata one now, since she had been planning on going with Naruto. Then again, that would have been only because Richochet could convince the drop out to go since that meant spending cash for a formal kimono.
So really, Kiba owed Hinata, Hinata owed Richochet and Richochet was forced to go because Neji was going as a favour to his uncle who was more worried nowadays because of Richochet pushing Hinata into more family business and having her self more involved. And why was Richochet forced to go?
Blackmail.
Damn. Photo.
Damn Sakura and Naruto!
She was going to get revenge somehow.
Oh yes she was…
Just if she could figure out how that is.
Then Kiba came up with the idea that he'd just go snooze in a tree with Akamaru and Richochet ended up asking Naruto out for Hinata anyway.
So it was all good.
Minus the blackmail.
Stupid Neji.
"Ne, Richochet?! Why are you here for? Isn't Hinata supposed to be my date? And isn't Neji yours?" Naruto exclaimed as he opened the door to his apartment.
She nodded, leaning against the door frame, uncaring of her kimono getting dirty, and glanced at his attire dark burnished red looked pretty hot on the boy actually. "Lookin' hot Naruto. Hinata will faint from your attractiveness, I'm sure."
He blushed red. Not only had he dressed up, he had also let his hair down from its spiked up gel style and had it floating down, reminding her of the picture of the Fourth Hokage she had once seen.
Heck, maybe she should snag Naruto for herself instead of Hinata?
Her nose scrunched up.
Nah.
Naruto would end up beaten. Richochet would end up loosing a teacher. Hinata would end up fighting with Neji for beating the crap out of Richochet and Neji wouldn't lose anything.
"You look nice in light purple and burning orange… Really pretty!"
She took out a lava fan from the shimmering lava coloured sash around her waist that had a large bow at the back while the ends slithered faintly along the cold and dry pavement to his door and snapped it open, hiding her face as the characters for Seishou were in kanji in lavender.
"It's lavender and lava. Apparently, Seishou colour is mainly lava and secondarily lavender." She said with a trace of sarcasm. "Like looking at my eyes wasn't a giveaway to that." Her actual kimono was three of them to keep her warm. The outer being as tight as possible around her chest to keep out the chill and was cloudy lavender to suit the sash, as if smoke rose from the sash and covering her body. An extra kimono layer served as a coat on top of it.
Instead of being held in a tight ponytail, her hair fanned down to her shoulder blades in it's naturally wild state like that of Kurenai, Hinata's very own sensei, tousled and attractive looking. She even had some very light make up on, enhancing her almond shaped eyes to stand out even more so and instead of being creepy, was intriguing.
Somehow.
God knows how these Hyuuga women did it but they did.
'Miracles do happen.'
'I'll ignore that one…'
'Ah, thank you.'
Naruto felt a foxish smile curve his lips up. "Has Neji seen you and given you a kiss yet?"
"I wish." She replied sarcastically, rolled her eyes as the thought of it clenched her chest warmly. Ignoring it, she knew a way to make sure he wouldn't say anything when she said her next words. "Hey, don't tell him, but he taste's pretty good."
"EWW!"
'Manipulation complete.' Rokubi snickered lightly as Naruto concentrated on shaking the thought out of his head, literally.
"Aw man I SO did not want to hear that!"
"Then hurry up, forget it, and come on." Richochet turned around and looked him dead in the eye over her shoulder. "If I have to go, then you have to go."
He gave her a frowning pout but nodded, stuffing his frog wallet into his pocket. "Let's go then." He grinned widely. "AND HAVE ME SOME FUN!"
"You're so glad Hiashi and Neji didn't hear that. Hyuuga are protective of their own. They'd wipe the floor with you for touching her indecently in any way."
"I didn't mean it like that!"
"Sure."
"I didn't!"
"…Pervert."
"ACK! I'M NOT A PERVERT!!"
"…"
"…"
"…Pervert."
Sigh.
"…I give up."
"HINATA-CHAN!" Naruto waved madly as Richochet put a hand to her face at his loudness.
Yeah, wake the whole neighbourhood, why don't you?
Alert every damn enemy ninja while you do so.
Brilliant going, bro.
'I thought your cynical side died a while back?'
'It revives itself now and then.' She replied back lazily. 'Just ignore it and maybe it'll go away again. And maybe it won't.'
'Hmph. I'm sure.'
Removing her hand from her forehead where it covered most of her face, she gave a smirk to Neji, who smirked back with a nod. "Not too bad, Hyuuga. You clean up well."
"And you too, spitfire."
Her eyebrows, newly plucked, rose in surprise. "Spitfire?"
"Suits you."
"I'm sure."
'Copycaaat.'
'Piss off.'
Rokubi just snickered looking out of her eyes. 'He does clean up well. It would have been nice a challenge to seduce this one.'
'Huh…? Seduce? Did I hear right?'
'All demons are bisexual. And since you're a holder of a demon…'
'No wonder Naruto was freaking out. Since Kyuubi had only agreed to start co-existing more because of us… It must have triggered that reaction in him.'
'Heh. Bingo.'
'Wait, am I bisexual too then?'
'No. You're pansexual. Meaning you will love the act of love and sex instead of just the person and don't care for their gender or connection to you. It's why you truly were in love with your sister. Not just sibling love.'
'Bloody hell. That sucks… No wonder it affected me hard with having fears and nightmares. And I don't even get the concept of love… Why are there so many types?'
'As it has been quoted, the only way to heal a heart is to break it. You just need someone to looooove you.'
'Don't EVER say that again.' She shuddered. 'Heck, I don't even properly know what love is but that was damn freaky.'
'Fine.' He huffed, insulted. 'Just know I won't help you get Neji.'
'I don't want Neji…' Richochet frowned and then peeked at Neji and noted his apparel. 'He's not wearing the hitae-ate or that bandage and has a tattoo… It's pretty cool.'
'It's a seal that all branch members get to make sure they don't give out secrets of the Hyuuga body when they die or are alive. It's a curse basically.'
'I'll say nothing then.'
'Wise choice, youngling.'
Naruto was still speaking loud and boasting to Hiashi how he would protect Hinata with his life.
Richochet rolled her eyes again, walked over and slapped him upside the head with her fan that was snapped shut. "Yo fox-boy! Shut up already!"
"Why you-!"
"Stop making Hinata wait to go and be a gentleman instead of the crazy wild boy you always are." She shrugged lightly, making his eyebrow twitch as a smug grin sat on her lips
Hinata however, had only been staring at Naruto the whole time.
Wait…
…Was that drool on her chin?
"I'm not wild!" He whined.
Neji had enough of this, wanting it to be over as soon as possible, getting some rest and then waking up to start a new day of training. "We go now." Neji gripped both Hinata and Richochet's upper arm and proceeded to leave Naruto behind.
"Hey! Dattebayo! Don't leave meeee!"
Hiashi raised a brow. 'Is my daughter really safe around this idiot boy?'
Walking around on her own, Richochet really didn't mind the alone time.
She'd already chased Naruto for flashing another photo before poofing away as a Kawarimi, making her glare at the flopping fish on the ground in anger. Neji had a similar reaction to this too.
It disappointed her that the colours had all but dimmed because of housing a full blooded demon though. Festivals were supposed to be marvelled at because of the artistic difference it had to every day life.
Stalls surrounded her as she flapped her fan slowly in her face, giving her fresh air for the overly tight kimono she had on. Not that the actual air didn't cut it seeing as it was winter, but she had always been a bit odd at times.
Children played around her while mothers and fathers kept watch over them with one eye while trying to enjoy a peaceful drink amongst friends which irritated her since sometimes they grasp her kimono to hide behind her.
"Kid, let go." She looked down at the newest kid, some five and a half year old that had been crying dressed in very rich fabrics. She frowned.
'The heck is he crying about?'
'Comfort it?'
'Should I?'
'Well why not?'
'The mother could accuse me of kidnapping. It's happened before.'
'Happened before? Oh right…' Rokubi sweatdropped, remembering that time. 'You have a point. But maybe the pup's lost?'
'Yeah.'
He tugged on her kimono again and she crouched down. Holding out his arms to her imploringly, he gave her a pleading look. "You wanna be picked up?" He nodded. God he was tiny and weightless she noted as he was settled on her hip, one arm around his back, while the others held his head cautiously. "What's your name?"
"…It's Heisoku Tai."
"Well, Tai-kun, I'm Seishou Richochet. Remember that. Where's your mother or father or caretaker?"
He eyes watered up. "I-I don't know. I was looking at a stand while they w-were on the other side of the ro-road and then they were gone!" He burst out crying on her shoulder, tears wetting her shoulder and she grimaced.
'Snotty nosed brat… I am so waiting before I have children.'
'You'll probably have twins or triplets or even quads since I'm a weasel and we birth with many from four to six.' Rokubi snickered.
'I'd dread the pregnancy, but not the amount of children. I want loads of children. Don't know why.' She replied to him, looking around for those who look similar to the boy.
'Weird one, aren't you? Though it's because of my instincts I suppose... Why not go to a stall and ask for a place that can inform others of a lost child?'
"Good idea, weasel…" She turned around and went to the nearest stall, one where you caught goldfish with some odd handled contraption that was very fragile. "Excuse me." She stated to the stall owner, who had a bandana around his forehead and a cheesy grin while wearing blue and holding a fan trying to grab people's attention to play.
"What's up Jou-chan?! You wanna play a game?"
Richochet completely uncared for his last question. Like hell she wanted a dumb arse fish for a pet. "Do you know if there's a place to inform others of a missing child? I assume there is one due to it being a festival?"
"Yer right, Jou-chan!" He grinned. "Down the street here and turn right and there should be some adults flocking the place next to a sake stall and a dango stall."
"Thanks."
Walking down the street, she felt the five year old cuddle against the shoulder he was leaning on, cold setting into his thin body. She took off the extra kimono layer on top of her and flung it around him and he sighed happily, snug and warm. "Yeah, you better be happy… while I freeze my arse off…" Richochet muttered under her breath. "You're just causing me trouble, but whatever."
'How motherly of you.'
'Meh.'
Turning right she indeed saw the three mentioned stall and the crowd of worried adults. Stopping she gave a whistle with her fingers and several red eyed mothers turned to her. One of them perked up at the bundle she was carrying.
"MY TAI!"
"Okaa-san!" Tai cried out and wriggled, wanting to be put down. He touched the ground with his feet when she did and he ran to his mother, still wearing his new coat. Her ex-kimono slash coat.
Giving a half smile, she turned away and walked down the road again, wanting to get away quickly. Hearing Naruto's obnoxious laughter, she went left, back the way she came, and bumped rather forcefully into Neji. "Ack…" She looked up and gave a smirk. "Hey Neji. Had enough fun?"
"For a lifetime." He said dryly, rolling his eyes and crossing his arms. "Where's your coat?"
"Ah…" There's no way that she was telling him she was kind to someone out of her little social group. Just her, Neji, Naruto and Hinata were in it, and that's all she needed. "…I lost it."
"…You lost it." He said in disbelief.
"Yeah, so what?" She defended herself to him. "Any normal person loses things."
"Idiot."
"N-Neji-nii, I-I'm ready t-to go." Hinata said from behind him as Naruto caught up, holding six fish for Hinata and some dango on a stick, dangling from his mouth.
"Very well then, we'll depart." Neji nodded and led them away.
The morning after next and Richochet was eyeing the paper as she sat next to a curious Hanabi, who was reading over her shoulder, on the porch to the courtyard as Neji sparred with a bunshin of his. She had to look after Hanabi as Hinata was studying in her room for some family take over business as the next head.
A little section caught her eye.
She read it out loud to Hanabi as Neji over heard too. "A five year old son of the Fire Lands Daimyo had been lost and found during a Winter Solstice Festival… his name was Heisoku Tai and had said he was found by a stranger named Seishou Richochet… A reward would have been given but she had vanished…"
…
'Tough luck idiot.'
Her eyebrow twitched as she flung the newspaper away angrily. "GOD DAMN IT! And I gave him that nice warm coat too…"
A little cough made her look up to Hinata, who was holding a package. "This is for you."
Richochet took it and opened the brown crinkled package. It was square like and small. There was now a box about half a hand high and was red velvet with a metal frame. A Konoha leaf insignia was stamped in emerald green on the top, showing the lands support to its ninjas.
Opening it slowly, she took out a small medal that was cross shaped with the outline of the Konoha forehead protector sign on top with some other fancy decorations. On the bottom of it was 'to services of The Fire Daimyo' making her raise a brow. The thing was held up by a short bold blood red ribbon that would attach to something or other.
She took out the letter from under it with a wax insignia and cracked slash opened it.
To Seishou-san.
Thank you for finding me! I wanted daddy to give you something for thanks.
I'm keeping the coat that you wrapped around me to keep me warm, it'll remind me of you and your kindness.
'This brat is deluded.'
I hope you're doing well and we'll meet again soon when I'm not crying and we can go play sometime okay?
Richochet felt herself sweatdrop.
Have fun and eat your greens even though they're yucky!
Heisoku Tai.
PS: Come see me in my family's palace, okay? It's up north some kilometres away and this letter will let you in no problem. Hope to see you soon and bring a friend too!
'He's also quite adorable.'
"The medal is cool and all but…" She sighed. "…It would have been nice to get that kimono coat back. That was one comfy kimono coat."
"I thought you lost it?" Neji raised a brow.
"Yeah well… The kid stole it from me, I swear."
Neji looked amused. "Even though you're a ninja in training and he's five years old?"
Richochet looked away, crossing her arms.
"Ah, go stuff yourself."
He snorted and bopped her on the head.
Dream Training and Insulting Naruto's Fashion Sense
Sleep.
It was strangely devastating, the complete opposite to what it usually was.
Well, in Richochet and Naruto's books it was.
They were currently in an odd void, sitting down on nothing yet feeling solid ground underneath them as they looked up at the two demons without their cells.
The two demons were menacing to behold. While fiery in its looks, Kyuubi's eyes were cold and unmerciful, yet strangely filled with acceptance of the two before them. Rokubi was static and cold, bolts randomly running around him as he looked them both up and down, contemplating, eyes rather comforting.
Richochet and Kyuubi peered at each other. While looking at Rokubi filled her with a sense of security, Kyuubi let her feel companionship of one who wouldn't turn tail and flee. She guessed Naruto felt the same, but opposite.
Naruto himself was wondering where the cage they were held in were, but soon grew conscious of the fact they were imbedded into the void, the word 'seal' floating by in black kanji in a ghost like wavy effect.
This whole thing was weird.
It was…
…Creepiness.
On a higher level than Richochet's eyes.
Though, he was used to the creepiness of her eyes and welcomed it. It was better than those eyes Sasuke always gave him or the ones Kakashi gave him. Evil and lazy as hell. Annoying all in all. Plus, if they weren't creepy, he probably wouldn't like her as much. He liked weird people.
"Did you call me weird?"
Naruto stiffened and turned to her with a cheesy grin. "Uh… maybe?"
"Pissant. I'm not the one with bad fashion sense."
Naruto gaped at her. "What?! If this is to do with colours then your jumper if overly baggy reddish orange too!"
The fox and the weasel looked at each other and then turned back to their charges.
Richochet frowned. "Tch, it goes with my 'creepy' eyes fox boy! At least I co-ordinate my colours you fashion dead idiot!"
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…Do they really look that bad?"
"…YES! IT'S LIKE THE SCUM OF THE EARTH FOR SATANS' SAKES! I think black would go better with that damn orange."
"EH?! You weren't talking about the orange part, just the blue?" Naruto said in surprise.
"Hell no. Orange is one of my favourite colours, despite not being able to eat the coloured food without getting poisoned."
"You're being odd and not you. Usually you'd take the piss out of me and then be nice... ish."
"Huh."
"Yeah."
"You're right for once."
Rokubi snickered. "Everyone gets warped in these things but demons. While Naruto is usually attention seeking and uncaring of what he looks like, he is now self conscious and worried of what even one person thinks. While Richochet is usually laid back and lazy, she is actively seeking out to help with his fashion and is also somewhat self-conscious, taking insults less easier than she would normally do."
"Whoa… he's right."
"Crazy."
"Yeah…"
"I still think your eyes are creepy though."
"And your fashion sense does suck."
Kyuubi butted in interrupting them. "Can we get back to training already? I swear… These human…"
Rokubi snickered again. "Time for defensive, movement control and speed lessons!"
"Huh?" The two demon carriers replied.
WHAM!!
Naruto and Richochet slid down the sides of the void, groaning, while Rokubi and Kyuubi's paws were in the air.
From that moment, the two had a funny feeling this could actually be worse than hell.
Hope you enjoyed!
We'll get back to the story soon. I just thought that I didn't show much of their normal lives and it needed a bit more humour to make it enjoyable.
So whatcha think?
Want more of these? Or more story?
R.