Author's Note: I said I'd reward everyone for waiting so patiently, and here it is! Though, I do believe I would like more reviews to stimulate me to update sooner! -winks- The next one is a more important chapter and less of a filler, as the last few have been. And things are about to get hot and heavy in later chapters, if you get my drift... Heh...
Kakashi'sRubiMoon: I hope this chapter was as great as you expected, dear! I added an important meeting at the end to get people going. -winks- Enjoy!
Aniwolfgirl: Thank you for the avid reviews and support! You're a doll, really! =3 I hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoyed writing it!
XXV: A Campfire Party
KNOCK! KNOCK!
"I said I'm coming!" While trying to pull my mask around my face, knowing my usual denizens were off to their own devices, I rushed to the door and the intruder rudely banging against it.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
"I swear I'm going to…" Yanking the door open, I realized it was not Naruto obnoxiously trying to get my attention, but instead a grinning Anko and a smiling Kurenai. "Eh? What are you two doing here?"
"We thought you might need a little stress relief," Kurenai began, only to be cut off by the over-zealous Anko.
"And not to mention Kakashi asked us to- OOMPH!" The brunette had skillfully shoved an elbow into Anko's ribs, silencing her before she could give up too much information.
Unfortunately for the two kunoichi, I was a lot more intelligent than others. I caught the male Jounin's name and my eyes narrowed. "What did Kakashi ask you to do exactly?"
Kurenai, that calm smile still on her pretty features, quickly covered, "We are having an adults only campfire tonight and thought you would appreciate joining us."
"Subtle," Youko grumbled to my side, though I was not quite sure when he had joined me. He did not speak again, eyeing the women suspiciously instead.
"I suppose it wouldn't hurt," I added, still wondering just what was going on. "Yes, I will go. Give me a few moments, would you? Come in."
They followed me deeper into the house, commenting idly on the cleanliness of it. They did not know it was Sakura who had forcefully made me join in on cleaning it, considering it was a disaster a short few hours before the pink-haired kunoichi had vacated.
I changed into a pair of shorts and a blue top, one that bore the symbol of my village, and soon followed the two from the abode. Youko was with us, after being properly invited, and despite the two being startled that he spoke they did not comment on it. They had seen plenty of nin-animals in their lives to know it was a common occurrence and should have expected it from my usually-silent partner.
Kurenai and Anko led us through the woods and deeper out from civilization, making idle small-talk throughout. I did not really expect much of this 'campfire', but when they finally broke through into a small clearing, I was shocked.
It was not just the few of us, but instead most of the group from our last drinking adventure had joined in. Kakashi, Gai, Iruka, and Asuma were present, though Izumo and Kotetsu had obviously decided to skip for the night. Bottles scattered the campsite, along with a few tents erected and sleeping bags placed out in the open.
I suppose it had been the guys that had dragged heavy wooden logs from the woods to set up around the blazing fire, but had no other inclination to believe differently. Marshmallows were being roasted and the four men seemed to be laughing upon our arrival. They immediately ceased any noise when we joined them, instead welcoming us fondly.
"Wasn't that hard to get her to come after all, was it?" Asuma grinned and shook my hand. "Nice to hang out with you again, Sayomi."
"Such a beautiful woman as Sayomi would never disagree to join us!" Gai, as always, needed to shout his excitement.
"Can I go back home now?" I whispered to Anko, who immediately broke out into uproarious laughter.
"I said the same thing! We're here now, so no going back! Sit your ass down and grab a drink!"
I rubbed my forehead, though a small smile was on my lips and hidden beneath the mask. As I moved to sit beside Iruka, Anko leapt into the seat and Kurenai took one of the only two left before I could move. Ironic that the only place left was next to a certain silver-haired Jounin…
"Funny seeing you here. You don't strike me as the 'camping out for fun' type," I mumbled, feeling the cold nose of Youko near my exposed leg. "Even funnier that Anko mistakenly mentioned your name at my door, eh?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," he added, holding his hands up innocently. "And for your information, lady, I don't mind camping out."
"You're lying," I huffed, but smiled nonetheless. "So are we drinking or what?"
"Preferably not as much as last time," Iruka blushed, though I wondered it that was from his previous embarrassment or if it was how close Anko leaned towards him when plucking her charred marshmallow from the stick. "I was sick for days."
"Can't keep up, Iruka?" Asuma put out his dying cigarette, but it was obvious he was already itching to light another. A simple look from Kurenai stopped his twitching fingers and his hand found hers.
Unbeknownst to me, that smile on my face became serene, though Kakashi noticed from the look in my eyes. He was right on one account; this is exactly what I needed after my experience at the Uchiha Compound yesterday.
"Here." He handed me off a bottle of some sort of alcohol. I assumed sake, but knowing this crazy lot, an unmarked bottle could mean just about anything. "Drink up."
"What is it?" I cautiously placed the drink to my lips, trusting Kakashi's judgment, and the liquid flowed through the mask and down my throat. I sputtered and yanked it away from me, holding it out to try and distance myself from the foul substance. "What in the name of Kami-sama!"
That caused more laughter and, as I should have guessed, Asuma shoved his thumb against his chest. "My own concoction. What do you think?"
"I think Satan just spat in my throat!" I hacked again, shoving the bottle back at Kakashi. "I'll stay sober, thanks."
"Hmph," Youko growled by my feet. "Kakashi?" The beast opened his mouth and the Jounin graciously poured a massive swig down my companion's throat. Youko swallowed and rolled his blazing red eyes at me. "It tastes fine. Drink it."
"Your dog is tougher than you!" Anko received a dark glare from the creature at being called a 'dog'. "What, fox?"
"He is a fox, and a brat one at that!" I snatched up the drink and forced myself to down another shot of it. "Alright, let's do this then."
The cheers were deafening.
-( Trust Is A Sacred Vow )-
That night, I found myself in a drunken stupor in a tent, lying haphazardly next to Kakashi. Once again, I found myself completely unstable while he was blissfully sober. I wanted to strangle him for it.
"Why must I always be the one that is drunk?" I groaned, though did not realize my words had come out garbled and ridiculous.
He chuckled softly, facing me in the darkness. We were the last two awake, though we had heard Kurenai and Asuma making quite a bit of noise a tent over just a short hour ago. Since then, I had been trying to keep the world from spinning and my stomach from churning. I was losing a battle I never had a chance in.
"Go to sleep, Sayomi. You feel better in the morning," he mumbled, the sleep he wanted so desperately to come edging his voice. He did not take a tone with me, but it was obvious he was exhausted. It was well after midnight and this entire shindig had started around nine.
"Yeah, doubt that," I huffed, glaring at him and failing. The effort made me sick. "What are you grinning about?"
"How do you know I was grinning?"
"I can see it in your eyes." Accidently, a small burp escaped and I blushed. "Damn… booze."
I did not feel how his arm slipped under my head or the close proximity of our bodies, but I certainly could feel the extreme body heat. In all reality, it was not that bad, but for a woman with as much unnamed moonshine on my stomach, it was unbearable.
"I need to puke," I finally admitted, shakily standing up and making my way from the tent. "Don't wait up."
"Need some help?" he called after me, but received a single finger as a reply. I could hear that soft laughter haunting me as I scurried further into the forest.
Through brush and gnarled branches, I stumbled from the camp to a distance I thought was sufficient enough to not wake the others. As soon as I was sure, I yanked my mask down and pushed my hair over my back, the contents of my stomach emptying with a vengeance.
As I wretched, tendrils of my long locks started falling around my face, getting dangerously close to the stomach acid pouring from my mouth. In my stupor, I vaguely felt someone brush the hair away and allow me time to finish. In my mind, I knew it was Kakashi, but something felt wrong, different.
When my stomach was satisfied and I was no longer in danger of needing to wash my hair, my eyes opened and I could see a cloak out of my peripheral vision. It was not the coat itself that caused an immediate flag to be sent up, but instead the pattern of it.
I leapt away from the Akatsuki member, hoping with all my heart it was not who I expected. My hopes were dashed when I saw familiar blazing Sharingan and hair as dark as the night. Any alcohol that threatened my system was overwhelmed by adrenaline and I threw my hands up in a familiar sign, one that would make the ground my playing field.
"Itachi," I hissed, praying this was all a bad dream but knowing differently. In all honesty, this Uchiha struck fear into the deepest recesses of my heart, and for good reason. He was a monster, but I could not bring myself to believe that fully either. "What do you want? Why are you here?"
He stared for a long moment and I wondered why. It was only until I caught how his eyes roamed my face that I knew I had made a grave mistake. My mask…
I yanked the fabric up around my nose, but the damage had been done. He had seen more than I allowed even my closest allies to, and I felt it would be used against me in the future.
"I come to extend an offer," he said quietly, though it was as if he had been standing directly next to me. "The leader of our organization has long heard of your achievements, your skills. He wants you to join our cause and inherit Orochimaru's old position."
If the situation was any different, I might have laughed. I felt my stomach churn again at the mere idea, thus quenched it. "You must have truly gone made, Uchiha, if you believe I would ever do something such as become a member of the Akatsuki."
"If the offer is not taken now, it will be in the future." The way those words rolled off his lips was frightening and I knew they were true. I could not bring myself to accept this though.
"Over my dead body! I want nothing more than to take your heads," I hissed again, sounding much like a snake.
That seemed to bring Itachi a slight bit of joy, though I could tell no where but the way his eyes seemed to lighten. His expression remained passive and blank, something I could do on command, but this S-ranked criminal could easily surpass my own indifference.
"We know many things you yearn to, Sayomi," he added, his deep voice growing closer as he stepped towards me. "Those markings you carry, for example."
"I don't believe your lies, and even if it were true, I'd rather live unaware than join the Akatsuki to do so." The closer he moved, the harder my stance became. He stopped short just ten feet away, not even moving to prepare himself in case I attacked.
Of course, he did not really need to, did he? Itachi could destroy me with a mere glance, something I had experienced far more times than I cared to remember. Yet, I was still alive, though I wondered if it was so I could one day join his organization.
"I made a promise," he stated after a long period of silence. "Though you won't come now, in the future I know you will find your way to us."
"So you did say such words," I mumbled, more to myself than him. "Itachi, leave this place and never seek me out again. The next time we meet, one of us will die."
"Strong words, but we will see, Za Youma," Itachi stated, as if he knew what was to come, and his hand waved. In a flutter of crows, he was gone, and I never even knew I had fallen prey to those demon eyes. "I am watching, I am waiting, Sayomi of Kirigakure no Sato."
Incoherently, I stumbled back to the campsite on legs that would not listen to me. The Sharingan gaze had hypnotized me, and thus when I crawled in next to Kakashi and drew myself close to him, yearning for the support, I believed the entire encounter to be a bad dream.
Of course, I did not know a certain Jounin had not yet gone to sleep and sensed my discomfort.
REVIEW, I SAID!
Next in 'Trust is a Sacred Vow':
Father Oinari, the great leader of the Fox Clan, was a very revered creature in terms of nin-animals. To be summoned by him was both an honor and a privilege, though Sayomi hardly saw it as that. The old fox only called her to his own land whenever something dire was needed, and thus it was no surprise to realize a meeting was being held to discuss the recent happenings and the mystery of the Uchihas.