Disclaimer: Again, I do not own Naruto, only my twisted plot.
OMG...I am sooooo sorry everyone! Please forgive me for taking such an unholy, inordinate amount of time to actually update...clasps hands together and bows for forgiveness Gomen Nasi! I am a horrible person...I have not written in so long...so my chapters will be short...but get longer as I get back in the swing...please bear with me!
Last Time "And this was why I said you girls needed mentor." Tsunade-sama said after a long while, finally breaking the silence. Deidara's sobs had broken down to hiccups not long before so she along with her sisters' turned blank eyes to gaze as their principal. "And I think the first thing that needs doing is to separate all of you for a bit, to be alone with our mentors to start fighting your own demons. Only for a small while though, I promise." Tsunade continued, serious and stern.
"Never!" Anko hissed fiercely, clutching her twin so tightly that Sakura let out a small mew of pain although she did not't fight her twin.
"I think it for the best…" Tsunade-sama started slowly, soothingly.
"You! You don't know anything! You don't understand us!" Anko snapped bitterly.
"Then please, enlighten me." Tsunade replied calmly.
Anko stared incredulously at the buxom women and then snorted angrily and looked away with a sharp tching sound. She tightened her arms possessively around her twin and glanced at her other sisters. Hinata had just pulled Haku to her feet and was clutching the still broken looking girl to her chest protectively, and Deidara was slowly levering herself up to a sitting position.
Deidara's only visible eye was red and swollen looking and her face was streaked with tears. Her chest was heaving and her eye was still watering slightly. She looked crestfallen and ashamed. Anko's lips tightened but she didn't say anything else to the genkai.
Sakura was still slightly comatose in her arms but she had apparently heard the principle's words because her arms had raised enough to wrap quite tightly around her waist, enough to bruise. Anko ignored the pain completely. It was inconsequential.
She watched the Hyuuga part of their sisterhood out of the corner of her eye. Haku was being consoled by a frantic Hinata, and was slowly calming back down to her usual; almost emotionless state. Hinata was becoming happier while her sister calmed herself. However, as soon as Haku had regained herself Hinata hugged her again and glanced furtively at their new principle. Her face was set in a stubborn expression as only she could do, radiating her obvious refusal to remove herself from her sister's presence.
Anko set her face and turned back to Tsunade-sama; whose face had not changed a single hair since she had turned away. Anko ground her teeth and narrowed her eyes in anger. Tsunade-sama merely raised an eyebrow; clearly awaiting their answer and not taking 'no' for an acceptable answer.
"We will not be separated for any reason." Anko finally spoke. Her voice was quiet, but deadly.
"You have said that once already. But I believe you were to enlighten me as to the reason for such rash words?" Tsunade-sama said , her tone deceptively light but with a firm undertone. Anko bared her teeth in a snarl and refused to rise to the bait. She tightened her arms around Sakura even further. She would not have her twin torn from her; they would have to kill her first!
She was startled out of her angry when Sakura started stroking her cheek gently. "Ah...Anko-nee...please..please calm down..." Sakura pleaded to her, her voice wavering only slightly and her eyes bright with unshed tears.
Anko immediately wiped her twin's damp cheeks and smiled compassionately. Sakura echoed her smile sweetly.
Anko glanced to the side and saw Deidara push herself fully, albeit wearily, to her feet; and to her surprise...it was by Sasori-sama's help. Deidara seemed equally as surprised, and her face was flushed deeply. Deidara licked her lips nervously and then ducked her head and stumbled towards Haku and Hinata.
Once she had reached Haku's side Deidara's face crumpled and she threw herself to the ground in a deep apologetic bow.
"Please forgive me Haku!" Deidara wailed in despair. Haku looked down at her blankly, still held in Hinata's arms. "That was the cruelest possible thing I could have ever said to you Haku-chan...and I said it so callously...please forgive me!" Deidara continued her voice tight and broken.
Haku looked down blankly, and then to every-ones complete surprise she smiled. It was small...but an actual, sincere, loving smile. She knelt down and wiped Deidara's face free of all her tears with tender hands. Deidara's face was slack in shock, and her eyes shown with love.
Sakura and Hinata held similar expressions, and Anko was certain she looked the same as well. Tsunade-sama had a soft expression on her face, as did Shizune-sama. All their mentors had several different shades of shock on their faces. All the rest of the males present were staring with jaws agape as well. Except for well...Gaara, Shikamaru, and Shino. Those three seemed almost unphasable.
"Deidara-chan...there is no need to ask for forgiveness..." Haku said softly, her rare, soft smile on her face. "You were merely...going to find the one...precious to you." Haku concluded, her eyes closed and her face radiating purity and love. Deidara's face crumpled and she threw herself into Haku's arms and sobbed.
Haku started stroking Deidara's hair until her tears subsided, and Hinata knelt behind Deidara and stroked her back soothingly.
Tsunade-sama suddenly cleared her throat and Anko started. Her sisters jumped as well, and all five of them stared at their principle with varying degrees of annoyance on their faces. Hinata and Haku having the least of course, and Anko herself was assured that she was glaring the most. She prided herself on her death glares. However, Tsunade-sama appeared to be not intimidated in the least. She hid her fear well.
"Like I have said girls...It may be the best to have some time...away from one another...for a small time only I promise!" Tsunade-sama reiterated her earlier statement.
Anko snarled and started to lunge at the woman. Started only; because Sakura's grip on her tightened quite suddenly, and held her in place. And then her pink haired twin turned around and smiled softly at the tall statute woman.
"I am sorry ma'am...but that is simply not a possibility." Sakura said softly, politely; but quite firm as well, and Anko saw her eyes flicker a pale icy green momentarily.
Tsunade-sama pursed her lips and then spoke. "And why is this?" She prompted. Sakura grimaced and then looked over her shoulder at Anko. Their eyes met and locked. Anko stared deeply into her twins eyes...so like her own when not covered by her blood-red contacts. Covered in lies. Like the lies she was steeped in. Anko nodded, ever so slightly. Sakura worried her bottom lip for a mere moment, then firmed her jaw and nodded firmly, once. She turned and squared her shoulders as she faced Tsunade-sama -and their demons from their pasts- head on.
"Fine. I will tell you Tsunade-sama." Sakura said in a low and serious tone, her eyes alight with a green flame and her hands trembling.
AN I am sorry this update took such a effing long time! But I also have another two chapters in the work, and they should be up very soon as well. Thank you for being so loyal and patient