Normal POV
When Tess woke up the next morning she still felt tired. The group had stayed up till midnight planning for the rescue mission and the four hours of sleep she had gotten definitely wasn't enough to make up for the events that had occurred the day before – but she'd have to live.
Sighing, Tess threw the sheets off her body and sat up, resting her forehead in the palm of her hand. The clock on the dresser read 5:00 and Tess smirked. If she had only gotten four hours of sleep and they stopped planning at midnight then that didn't add up, did it?
Well…
Tess nearly groaned as she rested her head on the wooden table in front of her. The world outside was completely dark and she knew that it must've been the middle of the night at this point.
Kakashi was standing in the center of the room, reviewing the teams and the rest of the game plan but Tess wasn't really listening. They had already decided on this earlier and she knew what she needed to.
Team 4 – Lead by Shikamaru, but also composed of Deidara, Naruto, Kakuzu and herself. The team would infiltrate from the south side of the sound village and her main priority was to provide medical attention and, if needed, play the role of the powerhouse.
The last few hours of the meeting had been focused on composing teams with people of equal strength and ability so that in battle all of the groups would have the same playing field. Not only that but once the teams had been decided Kakashi and the other highly skilled ninja rolled out a map and plotted entry points to the Sound close to bases of Orochimaru's that had previously been discovered (thanks to Jiraiya).
At daybreak the teams would set out from the leaf and start their journey towards the Sound country. Zetsu would be sent ahead (speed not being a problem thanks to his ground morphing powers) and would scout out the rest of the country looking for any hints or clues.
It would take about a day to reach the border of the Sound territory, but that was the quickest they'd be able to arrive without exhausting their chakra reserves.
"Does everyone understand the plan?" Kakashi finished, eye surveying over the ninja seated before him as he turned away from the mission notes.
"Hai!" The group readily responded and Kakashi tiredly ran a hand through his hair.
"Now, I know it's been a very long day for everyone so head home and rest up – we'll be meeting at the gate as soon as the sun peaks over the horizon."
"Right," a couple of people sighed and Tess lifted her head off the table as the ninja around her stood and lethargically shuffled towards the door. Yawning, Tess sat up and stretched out her limbs, eyes glancing towards the side of the room where Kakashi was once again talking with Pein. From what she could hear they were talking about rooming for the night.
After a moment the rest of the Akatsuki gathered around the two and Kakuzu motioned for her to come over. Sighing, Tess moved to stand but as she pushed back her chair she bumped into something and looked behind her, confused to what she had hit.
"Ah, sorry," Sakura apologized, taking a step back from her sister. Tess blinked in surprise and stared at the slightly embarrassed pinkette.
"Do you need something?" Tess questioned when Sakura didn't show any signs of walking away. The Haruno grabbed her arm almost shyly and looked Tess in the eye.
"I was hoping to walk you to your room…"
Tess glanced back to the group of Akatsuki members and noticed Kakuzu nod at her in approval, overhearing their conversation. The red head rolled her eyes at the miser, not needing his approval in the first place, and turned back to Sakura.
"Yeah, that's fine."
Smiling slightly Sakura stepped back again as Tess pushed out her chair and stood. The pinkette started towards the door and Tess trailed behind, glancing back to the Akatsuki as they neared the end of the room. Hidan met her eye and then looked to Sakura and back. Tess smiled and shrugged her shoulder slightly. The Jashinist only grinned and winked at her in return and Tess rolled her eyes once more before stepping into the hall.
As the two walked in silence Tess glanced over at her sister. Sakura still held onto her arm awkwardly as she stared down the hall in front of them.
Tess sighed, sagging her shoulders. "What's up, Sak?"
The pinkette blinked rapidly and turned her head towards the red headed female. "What?"
"Oh, c'mon," Tess said, running a hand through her hair. "You're never shy like this."
Sakura looked taken aback and after recovering crossed her arms stubbornly. "I haven't seen you in 15 years. How am I supposed to start a conversation with you after such a long time?"
Tess shrugged, smirking slightly. "To be fair I saw you a couple years ago…"
Sakura sent a glare her way and Tess grinned, holding her hands up defensively. "But that wasn't on the best terms, I know."
Sakura sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "I don't even know how to talk to you anymore…"
Face falling flat, Tess crossed her arms and glanced at Sakura from the corner of her eye. "Just because I'm your sister and we haven't seen each other in over a decade doesn't mean you have to talk to me different than anyone else, Sak."
Sakura blinked and looked back over at Tess. "You still consider us to be sisters?"
This time Tess stopped walking out of shock. She stared at her unbelievingly.
"Are you fucking kidding me, Sakura? We're fucking blood born sisters. Sure I grew up in a different world with a different family, but since the day I found out that we were related I've never not considered you to be my sister. Hell," Tess grinned and winked, "I might even love you."
Sakura stared at Tess in surprise and suddenly tears started to well in her eyes.
"I was so worried," the pinkette sniffled, wiping her eyes with her forearm, "I was worried that you'd hate me. That when I finally got to talk with you nothing would go right."
Sighing, Tess stepped forwards and wrapped her arms around Sakura lightly, attempting to comfort her.
"Well then you're silly and shouldn't think that way."
Laughing slightly Sakura pulled back and smiled at her sister, wiping away a few tears.
"Yeah…you're right."
Grinning, Tess patted Sakura on the back and the two of them continued up the hall until the pinkette stopped in front of a room.
"Well, this is your room," Sakura smiled. "See you in the morning, I guess."
Tess gripped the handle to the door as Sakura turned to leave.
"Hey Sak?"
The pinkette stopped and glanced back at her.
"When this is all taken care of and Sasuke and Naruto 've got their sisters back, we'll hang out and catch up, alright?"
Sakura smiled at hearing that and nodded happily. "Yeah, that sounds good."
Tess then pull the door to the room open and stepped inside, only to poke her head back out a moment later.
"And Sak!"
The pinkette stopped again, looking surprised. Tess grinned.
"You can have Sasuke by the way – I'm taken!"
"Bara!" Sakura screeched, cheeks turning red, and Tess laughed, quickly shutting her door. As she did a wave of tiredness rushed over her once again and she slumped over to the bed, not even bothering to change out of her dirtied clothes. Sleep was more important.
Looking down at herself Tess grumbled at the sight of her dirty and bloodied clothes. She wished she'd had asked for something clean to change into yesterday but she had been too tired to ask.
Sighing, Tess slid out of the bed and shuffled over to the bathroom. She glanced at the mirror and then frowned, not liking her messy hair or the dark bags under her eyes.
"Not much I can do about this," she grumbled and slipped a hair band from around her wrist, pulling her red locks back into a small ponytail. Tess flicked her bangs to the side and then puffed her cheeks out, eyes wandering back down to her clothes.
God, if only she had another pa—
"Oi, Bara-chan!" There was a loud knocking and Tess stepped out of the bathroom, recognizing the voice immediately. When the red head opened the door she found none other than Naruto standing there. The blonde smiled at her widely and held out a bundle of clothes.
"Sakura-chan asked me to bring these over to you," he said as Tess lightly grabbed the package from his arms. "She said that it looked like you could use some new clothes to wear."
Smiling at him Tess held the package to her chest. "Thanks Naruto. You wanna come in?"
The blonde blinked at the offer but shuffled into the room as Tess stepped back inside, closing the door behind them. "Yeah, sure!"
As Tess walked into the bathroom Naruto situated himself of the edge of the mattress.
"Aw, what?" Tess rubbed her thumb over the fabric in her hands, holding it up in front of her with a frown. "Why is it pink?"
Naruto looked up at the closed bathroom door and grinned. "What?" He laughed. "You used to love pink when we were little!"
Tess groaned. "Did I?" She laughed slightly. "Damn how things have changed…"
Naruto smirked almost sadly as his eyes trailed to the side. He could hear Tess shuffling around in the bathroom with her clothes. However, after a moment he spoke up.
"Um, Bara? Can I ask you a question…?"
Tess nodded from within the bathroom and then rolled her eyes at herself, verbally replying, "Yeah, wassup?"
Naruto's eyes shifted from the wall to the floor and he unconsciously started to twiddle his thumbs. "Can you…can you tell me what Mina is like?"
Tess blinked, caught a little off guard by the question, and then grinned slightly. "First let me ask you this Naruto," she said, pulling the clean shorts up over her legs. "What do you think she's like?"
Surprised, Naruto glanced back up to the closed bathroom door. "What?" Tess didn't respond at all so he glanced back down at his lap. "Well…as kids she was just like me – but ate less ramen. She was…happy, energetic…a little more responsible and level headed. She kept me in check…"
Naruto stopped and Tess could almost hear him finish off the statement in his head.
'Until she left…'
Quickly Tess interjected. "Well, take what you remember of her personality from your childhood and place it in a slightly taller and more mature looking version of Tay – Mina. That's what she's like now."
Naruto felt his heart pulse. He could imagine it. He had seen Mina on the battle field – if only for a brief moment – but he could still make out her features. Bright blonde hair, light brown eyes, petite frame – it was just like he had imagined her to be when they were older. But…those pretty brown eyes of hers that he had always remembered glittering joyfully were too hard and too serious when he had seen them.
Naruto clenched his fist.
He wanted those eyes to shine like he remembered them to. He wanted Mina back from that snake bastard.
"Naruto?"
The blonde looked up and blinked in surprise. Right in front of him was Tess, crouched down to his eye level. Her eyes were hard and serious but she placed a hand on his knee and gave it a squeeze comfortingly. Naruto stared at the hand with wide blue eyes and then looked back up to meet her emerald ones.
"We're gonna get her back, Naruto."
"Yeah," Naruto determinedly clenched his fist again. "I know we will."
Grinning, Tess stood and held out her hand. Naruto grasped it and she pulled him up from the bed.
"C'mon," she said, pulling him towards the door. "Let's go eat breakfast while we've got the time."
"R-right!" Naruto agreed as Tess shut the door behind them.
The blonde took the lead as he lead them towards the kitchen of the mansion and couldn't help but notice Tess picking at her clothes – specifically the chest area.
"This shit is too damn tight," Tess cursed and Naruto laughed nervously, knowing better that to make a comment on a women's chest by now.
"The pink really doesn't look that bad though," he said instead, glancing down at the pink skirt around her waist. Tess paused in picking at her shirt and looked down to the pink article of clothing, the Haruno clan symbol stamped into the bottom corner.
"Yeah, I guess," she grumbled crossing her arms. "I'm just glad it's the skirt and not this tight fucking shirt…"
Naruto nearly sweat dropped as Tess glared at the top again. She sure had changed since the last time he'd seen her…but then again that was almost 15 years ago.
Finally, after another minute or so, Naruto led Tess into the kitchen and dining area when all of the other ninja on the mission were gathered. Tess patted the blonde on the back once as I swift thanks before sliding over to where Hidan and Kakuzu were seated, wrapping her arms around the Jashinist's neck in greeting.
"Morning babe," she said, pecking his check and Hidan grinned, pulling her in so that he could kiss her back.
"Morning," he replied as she slid into an empty seat across from them, and Tess smirked, looking to Kakuzu.
"Morning, Kakuzu."
The miser glanced up at her, looking up from the plate of food in front of him. "Good morning, Tess."
With the greeting taken care of Tess realized that she needed to get something to eat still and stood, shuffling over to the table of food nearby.
Half an hour later the sky outside started to get brighter and all the ninja knew that it was time.
Tess threw out her trash before checking her hip and thigh holsters. She scowled in displeasure when she realized that she'd exhausted most of her supply of kunai and shurikin in the fighting yesterday.
"Here," Tess looked up just as Kakuzu shoved his own hip holster into her face. She looked up at him with a raised eyebrow questioningly.
"Take what you need," he continued, motioning to the weapons inside the pouch. "I rarely use them anyway."
"Thanks," Tess nodded, taking a few of each weapon from his supply and putting it into her own pouch. Kakuzu only grunted in response before securing the holster back on his waist.
"Now c'mon," he said, turning and starting out the door. "Let's get moving."
Tess followed behind him and the two exited the Hokage mansion, hoping over buildings stealthily as the sun started to peak over the horizon. A minute later the two landed in front of the gates and headed over to their squad. Shikamaru dipped his head at the two in acknowledgement and Tess did the same back, sending a small smile at Naruto when she caught his eye.
A couple seconds later Deidara appeared next to them and Tess patted his shoulder when he stepped up next to her. At that moment Kakashi gave the signal from them to start heading out and Deidara looked down at her, eyes hard and determined. Tess could understand how he felt.
"Let's do this, yeah."
Lauren understood what was going on. She understood that the situation she and Taylor were in wasn't a good one, but that didn't mean she had to be calm about it.
"God fucking dammit!" Lauren cursed and slammed the back of her heel against the ground. This was terrible!
"Lauren," Taylor said, the wall between their cells muffling her voice. "Getting angry isn't gonna help anything."
Lauren sighed and adjusted her position slightly, the rock floor beneath her proving to be quite uncomfortable. "I know Tay but I can't help it…I know you know how I feel."
The blonde tried to laugh but it came out as a type of cough. Lauren glanced over at the wall, slightly concerned.
"Tay, are you feeling alright?"
"Yeah!" she replied quickly and Lauren could imagine her forcing a smile. "It's just cold down her is all…"
Lauren frowned, dangling her loosely chained arms in front of her. In the darkness she could still spot the vein on her arm where Kabuto had injected her. She hadn't really known what to expect when he poked the needle into her skin – maybe burning or pain or something – but instead it was just like getting a shot. A little poke and then done. The vile hadn't contained much liquid either – the injection only lasted a second.
Taylor on the other hand had been injected in the upper arm. And according to her it had hurt. "It didn't burn," she had said after being return to their cells. "It just hurt. Like as he injected it into my arm the hurt just started to pool where he did…does that make sense?"
Lauren sighed and rested her head on the hard wall behind her.
"Hey Tay, how's your arm feel?"
Lauren waited for a reply but first heard muffled coughing and felt her heart pang in concern.
"Ta—"
"It still hurts," Taylor hurriedly replied. "But it doesn't really feel any worse than it did earlier."
Lauren looked a bit doubtful at the truth to that statement but didn't say anything about it.
"Alright, that's good. Hopefully it won't get worse then…"
The two fell silent and after a minute Taylor sighed and rested her head back against the wall behind her. Truthfully her arm didn't hurt anymore than it had – but at the same time she got a bad feeling. The back of her throat was scratchy and that easily could've been caused by the lack of food and water given to them but still…
Taylor shook her head. It'd just be best if she didn't think about it.
Across the wall Lauren was thinking the same. They both had between 5 and 15 days to live according to Orochimaru – depending on what poison they had picked. To Lauren it felt like it'd been nearly a day already, so if either of them had taken the fast acting poison and a rescue team hadn't been set out yet then—
'Stop it,' Lauren shook her head, squeezing her eyes shut. 'They'll find us in time. I know they will…'
Taylor felt a wave of sadness wash over her as tears stung at her eyes.
'They have to…or else…'
Lauren's knuckles turned white, her fist clenched.
'Or else we're fucking toast…'
Fucking...
SIE SIND DAS ESSEN UND WIE SIND DIE JAEGER!
There. I said it.
Jesus.
That fucking anime is so beautiful. I hope you all know what I'm talking about too because if you don't you're totes missing out on it.
(OMG LEVI IS SO HOT AAAHHHHHHHHH)
Anyway.
Hi! I updated in less than a month what a miracle this is!
But to be honest I'm not really happy with this chapter (in a sense). I was struggling to get through it because (like I said in my journal on DeviantArt) I know how I want this story to end but some chapters are just hard for me to write. This being one of them sense there's no big battle scene or anything. It's pretty much just filler for the day before things are put into motion. Which is why it's a little shorter than some of the others...
Oh, and speaking of endings...
There's only four chapters left. In this story I plan for four chapters until it's over. Four. Dat's it gaiz.
And for those who don't read the AN...
THERE'S ONLY FOUR CHAPTERS LEFT, OKAY?! IS MY BOLD FONT AND SCREAMING IN MY HEAD HELPING TO GET THIS ACROSS?!
Yep. I'm not lying or anything either. I sat down the other day and planned out this and the last four chapters. I know what's going down.
But you don't - AHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAA.
Just kidding. You'll find out soon enough. ;P
Anyway, besides that - a part of my hair is blue now! :D I dyed the underside of my hair in the back so that if it's down you can see it a little bit and so that when it's up in a pony tail or something the bottom part of my head looks blue. I really fricking like it.
Oh, and on Saturday I'm taking my driving test. I honestly think I'll do fine but man, I'm a little nervous.
And next week I'm so busy. I take my test Saturday, my mom's b-day is Sunday, Monday I'm going to Cedar Point (FUCK YEAH), and then Wednesday, Thursday and Friday I volunteered at church to help out with Vacation Bible School. Imma be occupied.
And thanks to anyone who reads my other story that wished me a happy birthday! It was a fun day.
AND OMG GUYS IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN RWBY YET LIKE HOLY SHIT WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH YOUR LIFE IT'S SO AMAZING.
AHHHHHHHH.
I'm not even sure if it's out to the public yet but since I'm a member on the RoosterTeeth site I got to see it already on holy shit I'm so exited for this series it looks so amazing. When the first episode comes out I really hope you all watch it.
*cough* anyway...WHAT ABOUT THOSE HOT SWIMMING ANIME GUYS, EH? THEY FINE GURLFRIEND.
Fucking Makoto better kiss Haruka at some point or I'm gonna blow a gasket. They are way too cute together.
Um...
Oh yeah, my dad got an MRI today and there's more cancer. Yay?
I mean, sometimes I feel bad that I don't feel so bad about the fact that I don't feel that bad sometimes. But I really don't know what else to expect anymore. I love the guy with all my heart, my dad, but brain cancer never goes away and I can't say I didn't anticipate anything else happening. I know he'll try his best to get through all of this too, so there's not much else I can do but help out with a few things and support him.
Wow, holy shit the first sentence in that last paragraph XD Ahahaaa.
Anyway, I'm gonna go now. I'm sore and tired and I kind of want to have toast now...
XD See you guys later!
PS. Please don't freak out about there only being four chapters yet. I've got some stuff planned and, well, you'll find out what that is later on, alright?
PLEASE REVIEW! :D Love you~