WELL... here it is...
Hope you like!
Tell me what you think!
To be honest, the last chapter was ... slow... is a nice way of saying it. Some people liked it - but hopefully this will be a nice change!
SO READ AND REVIEW PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE!
I always like to hear from new people - and old people! And people who haven't reviewed in a while... it doesn't matter! And I don't mind criticism as long as it's constructive! Or rants. Or raves. Or just a conversation about random things like how hot Izumo and Kotetsu are in the newest manga chapter... (drool)
Ok. Onto my reviewers!
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Fur All Over: I'm sorry about your computer! I just got a new one! Totally rad, too with a wide flat screen monitor and all... wee! I'm glad you enjoyed!
Alexis Walker: I'm glad you're enjoying the chapters I've put up. I kinda am slow updating mediaminer, so here's the best place to be, really, when it comes to GL! Hope you enjoy this chappie!
Kokis: To be honest, last chapter blowed chunks in my opinion. My off day, I guess... all writers get them, I think... I'm no exception, huh... yeah... it was slow and boring... (my words) but hopefully this picks up the plot a little! I'm glad you like the Sai and Yamato/Tenzo parts. It's kinda confusing the fact that he has two names, but then, that's ANBU for you - making all these complications. And Sai's name isn't his real name either, apparently... but to heck with the names, huh... You're right about Uzuki! HAHAHA! Good memory there. Not alot of people will pick up on that, I think...Hope this chapter is better!
mahoakitti: Yeah... the chapter was definitely introspective... hopefully more of a mood setter... Hmmm.. yeah... it's cool that I've gone back to chatting, huh? Yeah. I love talking to my reviewers, who I view as important acquaintances. Thanks for reviewing, even tho the chapter wasn't up to par!
sakura hatake kakashi'sgrl: Thanks! Hope you can rave about this one!
Prescripto13: A NEW REVIEWER! YAY! I love hearing from new people! I'm glad I was able to help you 'escape'. Escapism was one of the 3 functions of fairy tale according to Tolkien - and I'm glad I was able to successfully recreate a world that was believable! I hope you enjoy this installment!
Jemiul: You're awesome to be so encouraging! Regulars like you really drive me on to finish this massive epic! I hope you enjoy this action-packed piece... (oops! I better sign off before I spoil anything else!)
zenna: hahaha! That's awesome! It's nice to know my writings are addictive. I'm glad you liked the Yamato/Tenzo side jaunt. It was a real experimentation piece b/c it's hard (for me) to properly characterize somebody so new - and I wanted it just right! (I also wanted the same for Sai, who's getting his own fan club too!) Personally. I really ADORE Yamato. I'd like more YamaKakas... (not just YAOI... I wrote a piece for him, actually... called 'Only One Left', I think...) Anyway, on to the story!
sabireru: hahahah! Of all the people, your expections are probably spot on! Hope you enjoy this Kaka-Saku-Yukio bit coming up! I love the 3 when they interact... and of course as time passes on, there's more at stake. I'm sorry about the hectic-ness of school. I hope it goes well for you. I'm starting 2/3rd year of university - and already I'm behind on my readings... (sweatdrops) I seriously need to control my anime intake... but between fanfic, fanart, AMVs... I just have no time...
darkflameangel: I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter. It was the hardest to write to date (for some reason) and I had the worst time writing it... I think people could tell too... but I'm glad you could relate to the whole moonlight thing. I really LOVE moonlight and the moon and planets and stuff... space was always interesting to me (hence my star wars, star trek interest...) I love sci-fi etc... and yeah, the feelings of loneliness in the night is very common - and Yukio isn't the only one feeling alone too... did you ever see Loveless... well, you might not swing into the SHOUTA type of anime/manga, but there was this one episode/chapter that dealt with feelings of loneliness and the chapter was called 'sleepless'... v. interesting... glad you enjoyed my characterizations! hope you enjoy this update!
shadow dragon boss: Yep. It was a boring chapter. Even I've admitted it several times. But I'm glad that the characterizations of Yamato and Sai were cool. I hope this chapter is a welcome change! hahaha! ACK-SHUN!
lotisflower: I'm glad that it was an awesome chapter in your opinion! If you ever find anything confusing, I hope you'll PM me or put it in the review, I never get huffy about people who are confused or dissatisfied about points or anything. I love explaining myself! Alot. I love chatting too! And I find that if people tell me where it's confusing that is only a challenge for me to write better in the future and to rewrite that part...The only thing I dislike are people who say dumb or rude things... but other than that, I'm glad you enjoyed!
emerald lady: Hmmm... what part exactly did you find confusing? That way, I can go back and change it if I can! Alot of people seem to find it confusing... so I'd like to fix it if possible. I hope this chapter isn't so confusing.
I can't believe I'm not anime: ahahaha! yeah! I'm glad you're anticipating my stuff - this chapter is worthwhile 'Yaying' about... I think... (sweatdrops)... Um. Yeah. Yamato and Sai... I was worried they'd be off, but they don't seem to be too bad... so I think I'll be able to work with them some more. Hope you enjoy this chappie!
sweetassassin: Yes. Some of my chapters are quite teary aren't they? This one isn't one of those! But I'm hoping people will enjoy it just as much! It'll be a welcome change, ne?
eyeliner0tears: Thank you so much for your rant! It's encouraging to know that this fic still has the ability to make people babble even though it's huge and cumbersome! I'm glad you enjoyed ALL aspects of it - and yes, I do like to break the genre-barriers! hahaha! I want people to laugh AND cry when they read my stuff! I'm glad you like the characters and the situations I put them - I try to be as canon as I can but also be interesting and new! And as for the romance - it's going to be a slow progression - but it will happen! This chapter is just one more step in that direction! Hope you enjoy it! THANKS AGAIN!
Kasai Ame: Thanks for the suggestion re 'sweatdropping'... I don't know what to call it though... and since I emulate Naruto as much as I can, it's kinda hard to write the story without that action happening... Is it 'wincing'? Or something else? Hmmm... must think on it... As for the dark chappies - yes, they DO tend to get confusing b/c they get really 'stream-of-consciousness', don't they? That's what happens when you're an English Lit student who has to study post-modern fiction... like "The English Patient"... and stuff like that... I find though that when people find it confusing that is a challenge for me to write better - my mind is one big hodge podge of images... so I really need to learn to sort them out and take my time with each picture! I'm glad that you enjoyed the last chapter. I found it really slow... but hopefully this upcoming chapter will have the 'oomph' that was missing in the last one... Until next time!
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WARNINGS: Violence. Swearing. Angst. Hilarity. The usual.
"Ballad of Farewell" written by moi! hee!
Last chapter, the intervening poetry was a Japanese Lullaby... not written by me...
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I don't own Naruto.
Chapter 26
Masks
what did she say to you
"On days like these," Old Man Jinchiro sighed contentedly. "How can one NOT be happy?"
He slid one of his shoji pieces forward.
His opponent glared, firm lips turned down in a frown of concentration, as he tried to ignore his half-pissed fellow mates. Runing his hands through wild black hair, the young man sighed.
"Maa, maa... can't we just stop here for today?" he whined. "I swear... all this thinking wears me out..."
"What?" his close friend, Rikki choked on his mouthful of sake. "And give up a weekend of free sake? Free!"
"He's right, Raiden-san..." another man chuckled. "You are, perhaps, the closest one yet to Jinchiro's stash..."
Raiden-san slumped down.
"WAAHH! Even my friends abandon me with no shame!"
"Suck it up!"
"You can't give up now, mama's boy!"
"Remember your goal!"
"The drink, man, think of the drink!"
"And even so..." Raiden scratched his head morosely as his one remaining eye (the other one had been lost in a childhood accident) lingered over the old board."I'm not much of a drinker myself..."
His friend sighed.
Jinchiro chuckled.
"Well... young one... if you wish to rest from this battle, feel free." He smiled. "The mature know when the time has come to lay down their swords -"
"I hate fighting talk..." grumbled his opponent lazily. "Hnnn... how should I say this... it's intimidating!" Raiden pouted. "And I'm not a brat to talk down to!"
"Yes, you are, mama's boy!" A man bellowed into his ear, while slinging a big arm around the newest worker for Kuro-sama's farm.
"I'm not a mama's boy, dammit! Get your arm off me!"
"Listen, kiddo... don't think we don't know... your friend here told us all about it..." A big hairy farmer laughed and belched, rubbing his beer belly.
"RIKKI!"
His friend sighed.
"It wasn't me..."
"Nooo... it was the DRINK!"
Raiden snatched the sake bottle out of his friend's lax fingers and swigged it down with one gulp, banging it down theatrically on the creaky wooden tables.
The stained ivory tiles shifted, Jinchiro calmly slid them back into place. His watery brown eyes watched with humor as Raiden tried to swat the crooning men away.
"You're just running from a hot fiancee and an angry old man... we've heard stories like that before..."
"It's not your buisness..."
"Maybe not... but you're educated - and you're the only one to break Jinchiro's expertise. No way are you giving up for us!"
Their dark haired mate glared at them, turned his attention to the board and then, after a moment's pause, slid a piece forward. Jinchiro merely raised an bushy grey eyebrow as Raiden calmly said, "Check."
"Hmmmm..."
"You said something about a rest earlier... old man... perhaps you should take it."
"I'm THAT OLD YET! But still..." The elder shrugged. "Drinks all around - especially for friend Raiden here."
"Don't cheat, geezer!"
"Hey! You KNOW how Raiden gets..."
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what did she say to you
under that tree
the green green tree
with the pink blossoms blowing away in the wind
what did she say
"Eh, boss?" A servant asked as Kuro-sama and Jinchiro watched the workers stumble off into the night - to their - no doubt - dingy bachelor quarters in the gloomy apartment blocks several hills below.
"It's nothing," Kuro-sama murmured shifting slightly to stare morosely at the loose weave of his living room's mat.
what did she say
"You may leave for the evening, Suo."
"Hai!"
The soft sad crooning continued as the servant left swiftly, sliding the door shut. The haunting melody fell into the silence like pearlescent rain falling off green leaves. Cold. Alone. Sad.
what did she say to you
Kuro stirred, turning his dark eyes on his elderly companion - his farm's supervisor - Jinchiro. Eyes never straying from the stumbling drunks, trying to find their way home -
"Hey, hey, don' - don' throw up there 'n s-s-san'll ge-get 'ngry..."
"Shaddup... ngnnn... I'm goin' t'die, eh... Raid- Rai-kuuunnn..."
"Aw! I tol' - told you to-to shlow down on th'drinks..."
"You shou' tal'..."
"I'm walkin'! An' dr-draggin' yer sorry... ash... ass.. You're heavy..."
"It's sad."
The singing stopped.
There was a silence.
Jinchiro stirred.
"Sad? What? Their existence? Aimlessness? Hopelessness?"
"No. I meant the song. But that, too."
"You've never heard it?"
"Nnn.. no."
"It's a ballad," Jinchiro sighed watching the fireflies come out to dance - little fires in the night, the glow seemed homely. "Of love lost. Or rather, love that never was..."
"Sad."
"Hmmm... one wonders... if it never was, could love then even be missed? Would you know what you're missing?"
"I think -"
Kuro shifted again, plucking thoughtfully on his intricately decorated yukata's sleeves. A thread was coming loose...
"I think that anyone who has no love, still knows it. How can one not?"
Jinchiro nodded.
Kuro smiled.
"It's been a year for you here -"
"I know."
"And still you won't make a move -"
Jinchiro tilted his graying head thoughtfully.
"They've been here for two weeks now - have fitted in totally... it's amazing... time erases all memory. Eventually... It's like water running over a rock, wearing it away. Until it is nothing but a pebble."
"You're speaking in riddles. Again."
The elderly man shrugged.
"My time, as I have said, has come. I laid down the sword. But still... I know what must be done. And what I need has come. As I thought it would... eventually..."
"What would come?" asked the wealthy rice farmer curiously.
"A warrior with the impenetrable mask."
"WHAT? THERE'S -"
"Tch. Be quiet. It's just - a hunch..."
"A hunch?"
"It absolutely necessary to keep one's tongue during this time... but if what I think has started to happen... things might not be so bad..." The shoji champion nodded. "Mmmm... not so bad at all..."
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The melancholy whistle rang through his head irritatingly. Rikki wondered what was up with the old geezer - to look so melancholy...
Well... to be honest... in life, shit happens and we never understand all those layers of life that surround us -
His dark eyes shifting to his fellow planter beside him, standing ankle deep in the rice paddy, hands muddy, pants tied up at his knees - Rikki watched his friend's pensive face. Firm lips pursed in thought, a well-defined profile, stubborn chin -
Like him...
Take off the masks and still - what do you get? Another one - damn him...
And yet... that's what makes him so beautiful.
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It's sad. I wonder what the word's are, wondered Raiden as he took a small sprout from his partner in crime. He paused in his work to stare down at his reflection in the water.
I can hardly recognize myself...
His lips quirked up in a silent chuckle as he laughed at his mud smudged face - but it soon died away -
When has there ever been a time when I've been comfortable with who I am? Who I represent - who I look like - I've always been hiding away...
He could see them - could hear them -
-----------------
"Looks just like his father - isn't he so handsome?"
----------------
"Looks just like his father - most likely end up like him too - and good riddance, if he isn't any different..."
----------------
"White Fang!" The old lady burst out - before streaking across the bare room, killing intent flowing off her in waves. Her following apology didn't really mean anything either.
He accepted it anyway. All of it. Scene and apology.
Be he wondered.
Am I to blame, really? Logically, no. It was my father who killed this Sand elder's child... still... there's this burden I bear...
---------------
That's what I get for this white shock of hair. Even the mask...
----------------
The haunting whistle blew away in the wind over the rice paddy, most of the men just grunted, a few like Rikki glared from under their brown hats. Raiden didn't mind.
It reminds me of mother -
----------------------------
"Kashi-kun. You're my handsome little man, yes you are!"
"We're moving for you, Kashi-kun! My little handsome scarecrow!"
"Don't CALL me that mom! I'm a big boy!"
"Yes you are! My little man. You'll take care of mommy, right?"
----------------------------
It reminds me of Sakura.
----------------------------
"Kakashi. Come back. We miss you."
Her warmth under the trees in the peaceful glade...
----------------------------
His body ached for it - but with a quick shake to his head, he shoved the thought away.
I've got a mission. Missions come first... dammit...
Yukio, watching his partner, frowned.
It's that bitch...
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Three nights later, Rikki was out with a pack of men drinking, while Raiden found a quiet spot to play a hardcore game of shoji with Jinchiro. Once again on the smooth planks of Kuro-sama's veranda; Raiden wondered about that.
Perhaps... he likes to watch a good game of shoji... and then... I guess that the lord of the land can't play with a commoner. I guess that politics of a farm is a bit more complex than I can imagine. Still... it might just be Rock culture...
He mused over the board, deep in thought.
I'll lose that piece if I move it there but then... the path would be opened.
"It's beautiful," Jinchiro sighed, looking out over the town.
Raiden followed his line of sight.
The old geezer is right, he agreed.
Behind majestic mountains, the sun set casting its last rays over the kage's offices, the schools and the important official buildings (like the hospital) which lay snuggled on the mountain high above the town.
A nice vantage point really...
Tough to get at...
Below the buildings on smaller hills and the mountain's outcroppings lay the rest of the town with winding dirt streets between clustered slanting shops and dingy apartment buildings. On the some of the side hills lay the more important dojos and mansions - Kuro-sama had one of the bigger ones, with a vista probably on par with the kage's office. Below lay the all important fields and paddies and the small hamlets of the super poor labourers.
The rough houses, the barren fields, the shops, the roads, the silent people and the imposing buildings all gathered some sort of nostalgic glow under the gold.
"It's nice," Raiden said, after a moment. He turned back to the ground. "But it's so - silent..."
"Yes. War, young man, does not have a good effect on everybody."
"Hmmm... war, eh? It reached here?"
"I don't know where YOU'VE been, but yes... even here..."
"Wow... You guys don't really look it -"
"Well... we had a lot of funding from people who took interest in our status as ninja village. Our kage was able to find good contacts in the government for funding and the buildings managed to slowly get rebuilt... but... now..." The old man shrugged. "With the kage gone... who knows what will happen next..."
"What? The kage is gone?" Raiden said in a genuinely shocked voice. "How - why - where -"
"It's a secret only the uppers know... who knows really... he went to sign a treaty and never came back. It's rumored that Leaf nins killed him..."
"No way!"
Hell!
"Hmmm... well... you're Rock now... so it's okay to say it... but some say that with Sound gone, the Leaf village have nothing standing in their way - they'll take everything over!"
"Really?" asked Raiden neutrally. "I don't - that doesn't sound like their thing... I mean... I thought they were peaceful and stuff..."
"They have jinchuuriki... kami knows what else..."
"Uhhh..."
"But then... maybe it's all a lie... I think so... of course, no one cares what an old man thinks... but hey, whatever."
"You don't think Leaf did it?"
"Nah. I've been to Konoha myself."
"Really?"
"A long time ago..."
"Huh. They seemed nice?"
"Well... we DID make a treaty that time with them to never fight against each other again. I would have thought this new treaty would be another formality..."
"But they teamed up with Sound a couple of times, didn't they?"
"I don't know about that... still..."
"So if the kage's gone, who's commanding the nins around here - are the village elders choosing somebody new?"
"I'm only a farm labourer," Jinchiro huffed, folding his arms. "I'm not on the council... but... I HAVE seen some of the new leaders..."
"Ah..."
Both lapsed into a silence filled with deep thoughts. Jinchiro eventually moved another piece and the game restarted. An hour passed slowly by punctuated by a dissection of weather, sake, sakura blossoms in jam, the program for the next week at work and war's effects on shinobi.
"Men of war - yes - they have -" The older player shrugged. "How can I say this - a mask?"
"Mask?"
"Mask. Yes. That is what is best to describe it..."
"Like Rock ANBU?"
"No. Not a physical one, young one - one in the eyes."
"Oh. Really."
"It's true. And this you can learn to see - if you can see into the eyes -"
"Brr.. that sounds... creepy..."
"You think so? It's true - they have the eyes of the dead."
"All shinobi have this? Senshi doesn't -"
"Senshi-kun isn't battle hardened. He's young yet. Those have eyes - they shine like jewels."
"You're sure poetic today, oji-san."
"Well... you don't seem to have a balanced view of war..."
"Ah. That's probably because I've not yet been a war."
"That's -" Jinchiro moved a piece forward contemplatively.
"What?"
"Nevermind."
"Tell me."
"Rai-kun..." The old man closed his eyes. "Don't ever wear that mask."
"I -"
"Be open for as long as you can. Seriously."
"I don't -"
"You don't want to become the devil with black holes for eyes..."
"Black holes? What the hell -"
"Hm. Here they are..." Jinchiro said, with a grunt, cocking his eyebrows with a small jerk of his chin. "Speaking of the devils... but don't look like you're looking. They're a suspicious bunch."
Raiden, chin in his hand, cocked an eyebrow in affirmation and twisted casually around to take a look at the new management of Rock.
His black eye widened.
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This is one shitty place, Kakashi sighed, staring up at their stained apartment ceiling, from (what he considered) their cramped queen-sized bed.
"Move over..." he grunted. "You're hogging the mattress again. And the sheets!"
Yukio fake whimpered.
"It's because you won't move closer!"
"Who wants to get close with you?"
"So cold!"
"Damn right - and I'm freezing with half a sheet! Move over - dammit!"
The (now) brown-haired ANBU moved over and allowed more sheet to slip from his grasp. Instead of turning his back though, as he normally did, Kakashi just lay there on his back, shoulder to shoulder with his teammate.
"Something up?" asked Yukio, curiously. "How did the shoji match go? You win yet?"
"Hmmm... how can I say this?" Kakashi sighed. "It's not important in the scheme of things."
"What's up? What's up with you?"
"Stop hanging over me - get your hair out of my eyes."
"You're not answering me."
"I saw the new management of Rock."
"What?"
"I said. I saw the new management of Rock."
"What do you mean - NEW management?"
"The kage's disappeared."
"No way! The old geezer is gone?"
"He was old?"
"Yeah! Like... he should've retired looonnngg ago... don't you know?"
"Hmmm... I didn't think they'd keep the same guy..."
"He had smarts. He was just new when Rock and Konoha started the war - he took over the position when Rock's kage died in the war - right?"
"Yeah. It was he who actually listened to reason and surrendered and signed that piece of paper. You think I'd forget that war?" Kakashi asked.
"Uhhh..." Yukio stuttered. "W-w-well... there's THAT too..."
Damn. I forgot about Rin and Obito and all that shit...
"Well... he was around - but - you say he's gone?" Yukio rolled onto his side to watch Kakashi better.
The nin still had his eye patch on, and from the outline of his profile, appeared to be frowning.
"Hmmm... according to Jinchiro, the higher ups here blame Konoha."
"That would explain... stuff..."
"Yep. But... from Jinchiro, I feel that the average nin and civilian around here, don't think that's the case."
"How'd you figure that?"
"By who's managing it."
"Who's managing it?"
"GET AWAY! Stop grabbing my arm like that!"
"Because the suspense is killing me, you bastard."
"Stop shouting! The walls are so damn thin!"
Yukio sighed and fell back.
"Okay," he said, voice dead serious. "Who is it?"
"I saw two of the three," Kakashi said. "According to Jinchiro there are three of them."
"Three?"
"Yes."
Grey hair and glasses.
Blue-grey hair and short sharp fangs...
"Who?"
"The worst combination ever -"
Kabuto.
Kisame.
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"WHAT THE HELL?"
" I know... I know..."
"That MAKES no SENSE!"
"Yeah..."
"I thought he died in the Battle at Konoha's Gates..."
"I guess you can't trust rumors..."
"I don't know what to think... we've got to tell Tsunade-sama right away," Yukio sighed.
"Kami knows what's happening..."
"They're running Rock... shit... hey... did they ID you?"
"Hmmm..." Kakashi sighed. "Probably not - I was sitting in the shadows on the Kuro-sama's porch... I don't think they looked my way..."
"Shit." Yukio said after a pause.
Watching the moon rise up to shine weakly through the smudged glass of their tiny bedroom window, the two men were silent.
"Shit."
"I know. It's unreal."
"How are we going to get word to her?"
"What can we say?"
"Good point..."
"I'd say nothing yet," Kakashi shifted onto his side. A signal for sleep. "I think we need to get some proof and build contacts…"
"Hmmm… too true… but any moment longer here is a risk. They KNOW you. Hair dye isn't going to fool a medic."
"Yeah," Kakashi said, pushing away some foreign constriction in his chest. "I know."
"We don't –"
"Just be quiet."
Yukio watched Kakashi's back as the Copy Nin slowly let himself fall asleep.
Not like last time.
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what did she say to you
above your grave
with the green green grass
gently swaying over you - bending to the wind
what did she say
"The people are restless," a light voice noted with a sigh.
"People? Who cares?" grunted the third.
"Why else do we do what we do? To rule – or to be ruled – that is the question of this life, is it not?"
"Speaking in riddles again, huh? Idiot. Life doesn't have to be that complicated."
"That's because you are still tied to that shadow master of yours…"
"You think you live in freedom now – friend?"
"HEEYYYY!" The third voice put in, turning away from the scene spread out below him to raise a grey eyebrow at his two partners-in-crime.
Sitting there in silence, he toyed with the smallest of his many rings – a silver band on a slim ring finger. Even in the dark, the jewels on his cuffs and collar glinted.
His companions shuddered.
Creepy…
"Let's not get torn apart here by some non-issue." The young lord's cheery laugh seemed out of place.
It was enough to calm them – they took their places on either side of him to join him in his ever watchful perusal of the village which crazily blanketed the small mountains and hills below them.
"It's true that the people need to be brought into line. And then there's the village elders. They wish to vote Kuro-sama as replacement for Zurba. NOT what I want. Kuro-sama is too… how can I say this… discerning. I don't like his eyes."
"What do you think then?" asked the first, shifting a pair of glasses more firmly onto his nose. "Assassination?"
"First. Surveillance. I think that's best. And then we can tell the people he's plotting with Leaf. While I get the support of the elders to get the kage seat."
"Sounds like a good plan," growled the other, baring a toothy smile. "I'll look to our defenses in the meantime."
-------------------------------------------------
"A month's gone by now," sighed Rikki, hefting up a load of mud onto the rickety wheelbarrow beside him. "Look at my tan!"
"Only you'd think of things like that…"
"Well… it's just – you're so pale –"
"I'll tan –"
"Sure…"
"I do."
"Uh-huh – and what do you call that –"
"OW! Don't touch me!"
"You're burning yourself!" Rikki leaned forward with a frown. "I'll put lotion on it for you later!"
"I didn't ask –"
They fell into silence again as a load of men passed by – a group of ninjas stalking over the fields led by a tall, grey-haired man with glasses and a ponytail. Rikki checked the ninja out, appreciatively. Tall, muscular, wiry, light-weight – a perfect combination of speed and power –
And if the record was right – medical know-how.
Tch. It's such a pain to have them –
Why ARE they breathing over our necks like this anyway?
Kakashi… you better –
His partner, head down studiously, was staggering from cart to field with the large boxes of equipment. "Rikki" decided to join him.
In the middle of the rice paddy, the group of shinobi stood there, watching for a couple of minutes before leaving.
"You think they guessed," breathed Rikki.
"Shut up," whispered Raiden. "Just –"
Later that afternoon, another band of shinobi passed through without comment - darting black blurs across the fields.
"Is something up, Jinchiro-san?" asked Raiden carefully as he walked past the old man's supervisor's position on his way to lunch.
The old man sighed.
"Kuro-sama is being watched by the counsel. They say he's in collusion with the Leaf!"
"No way!"
The men around him murmured uneasily.
"Leaf? I heard about them –"
"Their nins are strong –"
"Jinchuuriki too, I hear…"
"No. That's only a legend –"
"Stop scaring yourselves!"
"I've been there before. Nice place. Good ramen."
"But Kuro-sama. He's good to the people!"
"There's no way he's bad."
"It must be a mistake!"
Jinchiro shrugged.
"I'm just an old man, not the uppers – who's to know what's REALLY happening."
Raiden sighed.
"It's weird having them watch us…"
As his shoji opponent walked away, Jinchiro once again started to tunelessly whistle.
What did she say –
What're you going to do –
Kakashi-kun?
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"It's only a matter of time... we just need to find two "suspects". Any ideas?"
"You got a list of his men already?"
"Hmmm... what's the use of controlling this town if you don't know the people? Here are the files."
Seated around a low table, sipping on sake the three men perused the pages, staring thoughtfully at the accompanying photos.
"That's -"
"What? You found -"
"That's -"
Glasses glinted as a mouth smirked viciously.
"That's the man we need."
A ringed finger shot out and pulled the photo towards him.
"Let's see..."
A pause.
"Now that's... interesting... 'Raiden', huh..."
--------------------------------------------------------------
Raiden was considering the sacrifice of a piece (another 'to the death duel' of shoji with Jinchiro), but he hesitated.
It's not a hundred percent chance that it'll be the path to checkmate...
"It's hard to take chances, eh?" inquired Jinchiro. "To take chances - for you or for your teammates?"
"I don't know... stop distracting me, old geezer."
"You would risk your life to save a friend?"
"Hmmm..." Raiden paused at the serious look in the man's eye. "Uh... yeah... why -"
"Look to your right -"
Jinchiro whistled brightly as Raiden moved another piece forward and then casually turned to the right. The view wasn't much different - busy dingy town, towering mountains, broad fields -
And a squadron of nins making a slow progression up the mountain. As if they were going for a walk.
Or not.
ANBU never just go out for a walk.
Raiden knew that...
Rikki, who had been chatting up a chick, moved away towards the veranda uncertainly.
"Are they coming for Kuro-sama?" he hissed. "Or -"
"Or what?" asked the old man. "Check."
Raiden shifted a tile taking out the old man's piece.
"Or not."
"Hm."
"Why would they have come so soon?" Kuro-sama rubbed his chin. "I think this is even a bit too hasty for the Council of Seven."
"You mean the Council of Three," corrected Jinchiro dryly. "The other four eat out of their hand. If they want to do away with a voice of reason, they have all the power in the world - and you're helpless against ANBU nin like that."
"Yeah... that's a lot of nin - they're either on a mission that just happens to be past this house or -"
"Sure, Raiden. You go think that," his partner retorted.
"You said that Leaf wasn't into war," Jinchiro suddenly spoke up as the nins increased their pace up the side of the mountain.
"Yeah..."
"Perhaps then, it would be good then to take Kuro-sama as a delegate to Leaf - to protect him so that he might report and get help to come back and put the rightful kage in his place. With the political support of Rock's Country, of course."
"Uh..." Rikki said, tossing a cigarette outside. "What makes you think we can do this job for you, old man?"
"Hmm... let just say I have great faith in the Copy Nin to complete his job."
There was a pause.
Raiden chuckled.
"You're one crazy old man!"
"They're coming. What's it to be?"
Raiden looked at Rikki, who shrugged.
"Sure. Whatever."
"He'll slow us down."
"One of us will have to stay behind."
"Nonsense. This is all nonsense!" Kuro-sama said harshly, standing up. "There's no way this man is -"
His voice trailed off as Kakashi lifted his eyepatch revealing a scarred eyelid and cheek - and then opening the eye - the Sharingan.
"Sharingan!"
"Yeah..."
"Rikki. You get the guy out of here... I'll follow behind. I'm going to send Pakkun ahead to warn our backup group at the border. Tsunade said she'd give us an ANBU back up team and a team of Jounin as well... Send up a flare, contact them and return to back me up when you can..."
"They're coming."
"Go through the back door and get away before they suspect you -"
"What about weaponry?" asked Kuro-sama. "I've got some in the house..."
"I'm getting it," Rikki said, disappearing into the house.
"I can't leave you here, old man!" Kuro frowned. "If they find out -"
"I'm FINE! You're not! Move!"
Kuro sighed and followed Rikki.
Kakashi turned away with a sharp frown.
He shrugged.
Whatever...
"Kakashi..."
"Eh? How did -"
"You remind me alot like your father - he was a great shoji player too."
"Tch. Now's not the time to reminisce -"
"I just wanted to say that -"
"Say that I'm like my father? Heh. I hear that every day - in my head - in my memory," Kakashi ended in a whisper, eyes staring blankly into space.
"I remember seeing him once on a mission before his death - his eyes - don't let his eyes become like yours, Hatake-san. He seemed to find so much hope in you - don't -"
"I have to go," Kakashi said, turning and jumping away.
"Farewell, young one."
Kakashi paused.
"Checkmate, old man. I get your sake when I come around."
The old man stared down at the board and chuckled - minutes later, the ANBU passed him without pause as he sat there deep in thought.
"Indeed... so it is... young one..."
Kabuto, landing on the veranda, frowned as the old man sighed.
"You were talking to them - the fugitives from Konoha -" His eyes narrowed, voice sharp with suspicion.
Jinchiro whined and bowed.
"WHAT? They were -"
"Tch..." Kabuto rolled his eyes. "Indeed. Did they drop any hints, old geezer?"
Jinchiro shivered.
"To an old man like me? I was merely his farm subordinate... I sadly have no idea. They entered the house and that's the last I've seen. Oh dear, oh dear... Kuro-sama is gone? What to do?"
"Hmph..." Kabuto turned away. "I'll have you know that you were talking to the great Copy Nin no less - you'd have been killed."
"Oh my!"
"Indeed."
"No wonder he was such a good shoji player!"
The grey-haired medic smirked, darting away without another word; Jinchiro, watching him disappear into the lightly wooded side of the mountain, wished Kakashi luck. He turned away with a soundless sigh -
A tuneless whistle sounded across the village -
What did she say
What did she say
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Ok! We split here! I'm going to ambush them - you go on ahead as fast as you can!"
Kakashi nicked his thumb and summoned Pakkun.
"Here. He'll run ahead and sniff out our mates in the forest. That way we can forgo the whole flare thing."
"Right! Keep your head, Kakashi! I don't want to have to travel to hell to kick your ass home!"
"Who's the ass?"
Yukio slung Kuro over his shoulder and unceremoniously jumped off.
"Shut up."
Turning away with a chuckle at the sight of his ex-employer's frightened face, Kakashi didn't waste time to watch Yukio disappear into the distance.
He had work to do.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
"We've been traveling now for quite a while and have met no resistance. Over and out."
"Keep your eye out. For any traps. Be careful. This is S-level resistance we're facing here!"
"Roger that!"
The two squadrons of four bounded through the trees seperated by several yards.
"Wait - there seems to be a mass of chakra up ahead... they had a backup group already?"
"Shit. Konoha has TOTALLY attacked us without reason..."
All chakra flares blinked.
"Hell... they've gone into hiding. Ambush no doubt. Let's spread out into two teams and search for them. Be careful. The Copy Nin is somewhere out there..."
"Hai!"
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Kakashi hid his kage bunshin well - three groups of three in among the bushes. Ready and waiting. Summoning five other larger dog, he spread them out in front, while hiding his bunshins in behind...
The plan was simple.
Never play against a shoji champion... all those days gaming with Shikamaru were paying off... heh. But then, this isn't really play, is it, Kakashi-kun? I'm fighting here for -
Not just Leaf.
You don't have to worry Yukio.
It will never happen again.
The eight nins appeared in the clearing, pausing to gain their bearings, suddenly two were falling over with kunai in their throats. The remaining six armed themselves, jumping into the trees in an attempt to reach higher ground. Kunai and senbon rained down from above -
Another Rock fell.
"Damn... where are they..."
"It's some sort of teleportation jutsu..."
Several kage leaped forward to engage in close combat taijutsu - Kakashi, watching from a distance, kept a Sharingan eye on his opponents. One of the Rock managed to trap his kage only to find a log in its place. The other kage bunshin lost to three kunai in the chest.
Not bad.
"He's using Kage Bunshin?"
"Only him?"
"Damn! We just might win this -"
The man fell forward, throat slit by a kage flashing behind him combined with the Shunshin no jutsu. A Rock ANBU with a lizard mask broke his wrist bringing the kage down.
Down, around, left, right, kunai and senbon whizzed, the five Rock Nins backed away and turned, in fear, as five man-sized dogs leaped out of the bush, fangs bared, growls and howls filling the air -
Salivating, eyes black with anger - a nin went down Raphe at his throat. A couple of the dogs disapparated within an Earth prison technique, Kakashi jumped down into the clearing, hand on the ground, mimicking his opponent.
Four dead. One captured temporarily. Three left to go.
And I haven't even tapped Lightning's Howl yet. Either these guys are stupid or... they've got something up their sleeve.
One of the nin's hands whirled in a blur - a summoning jutsu - Kakashi could tell by the characters spreading out over the uneven ground in a circle. Suddenly above him rose a huge earth-looking dragon -
Hmmm... some sort of a lizard-snake... geez... these people...
Kakashi followed suit - quickly finding that place inside of himself.
It's time to go -
"About time, young pup," a husky voice growled.
The Rock nins were blown back by the sudden chakra. For several meters, the trees were knocked flat by the heavy winds of white chakra - as Lightning's Howl appeared in a cloud of white smoke. Kakashi stood there on top the large white nose and smiled at the familiar kind blue eyes.
"Get him - bring him down now!"
Kakashi turned at the familiar voice.
Kabuto.
Damn.
Already the medic was running across the clearing, fearlessly leaping upward toward Kakashi - the Sharingan already noting the sharp chakra knives projecting from his hands. Lightning's Howl released a howl sound attack, bashing the medic back through several trees. Glasses cracked, Kabuto rose from the dirt, his body already regenerating the damaged skin.
"Deal with the others," Kakashi said. "I have to take him out myself."
"Very well... just call me when you need help there..."
"All we have to do is hold them off... and then we can turn and get ourselves out of here..."
"Got it."
Lightning's Howl pinned one of the injured nins down, tearing him apart - blood, skin and bone becoming a messy pile. Kabuto's eyes narrowed as he watched Kakashi's blur approach.
I can't even see him. Fuck...
Kakashi's foot found the medic's chin, as the younger man flew back, Kakashi teleported to kick him in the back. Rolling over and over, the ex-Sound nin just managed to miss a powerful rabbit punch to the neck - Kakashi's fist hit the ground - the ground split in a circle for several yards.
Kabuto's eyes widened.
Just like that hag... shit. What's this guy on? Food pills?
He smirked.
Well... we can both play this game... I'll take some myself.
Following the thought with action, Kabuto gulped down a couple pills and teleporting himself into hiding allowed them to take affect. His chakra flare was unmistakable. Kakashi teleported behind him, smacking him hard into the ground - Kabuto arched up in surprise.
Shit. Some sort of teleportation jutsu -
Without thought, he activated his chakra scalpel and cut deeply into the ANBU's chest, slicing opening the lungs and breaking ribs. Turning, he got Kakashi's blood full in the face - he kicked the Copy Nin in the stomach - off of him. He pinned the gasping man down and grinned at the gasping nin.
"Hmmm... it's been a while, Kakashi-senpai... I thought you'd died in the war..."
"Sa-same here," Kakashi gasped, blood trickling even more from his mouth.
"Can't breathe, can you? Your lungs are collapsing - soon you'll be dead..."
Kabuto looked the nin over.
"Pity really... who'd have thought under the mask was the face of an angel..."
Kakashi turned his head away. Already his vision was hazy - he shut his eyes -
What a fool... to muse over this face -
It's an irony - all these years, this has been a burden - and today... it will save my life...
As Kabuto leaned down, desire naked in his eyes.
"To taste you before you go -"
As lips met, Kakashi found it -
Healing Gate.
Kabuto never even saw Kakashi's arm - Healing Gate combined with the white chakra of Lightning's Howl - all the medic nin saw was suddenly slitted pupils, grey markings -
And fangs fastening onto the nape of his neck. Long claw-like nails ripping deep into his shoulders. Kabuto panting, tried to pry the man off, already aware that his left arm was no longer functional. The now rabid Leaf nin pulled away - leaving Kabuto to stand there in shock at the sight of his left arm now lying several yards away at the feet of his opponent.
Kami... what's he become? A Jinchuuriki?
His eyes - his sudden strength...
It's like Naruto-kun...
Except not as cute.
The Sound medic's black eyes widened as Kakashi's hands blurred in a very familiar seal. He jumped upward as the ANBU thrust his hand down - lightning spiking in every direction from the blue chakra ball in the curved hand.
Shit. I gotta get out of here...
Kabuto disappeared leaving behind a large pool of blood from his dismembered arm. Kakashi quickly darted back the way he'd come, finding the last nin.
The man died with a hand through his chest, the remaining nin, now finally freeing himself from the earth prison, took one look at the situation and escaped after Kabuto.
Kakashi didn't even try to follow, he just stood there, panting. Lightning's Howl nodded and disappeared as well, taking one long look at his master.
It's been a while - the cub is - he won't listen to reason here. Not on a battle field with his defenses up... ahh... he's so ferocious looking with all that blood -
-------------------------------
Yukio made it back in time enough to catch Kakashi as he fell forward, still coughing up blood -
"Kakashi - hey!"
Kakashi didn't answer - only focusing on his blood hands - the claws - the - the -
Blood -
All over his hands - inhuman hands - a monster -
Dragging his nails over his face, Kakashi succumbed to that urge to -
To lose that face. That face everybody turned away from -
"WHAT THE FUCK!" Yukio yelled, pinning the struggling ANBU down. "Don't - Kakashi - yo! - Kakashi! Wake up! Get a grip! Man! Back ups coming! Shit... shit..."
Burying his head into his partner's neck, Yukio pinned Kakashi's arms to his sides in a bear hug, eyes stinging at the sight of his friend.
He's like - a beast... Why can't my voice reach him?
Yukio sat there, in a calming, soothing voice, trying to calm the obviously upset ANBU.
He needs a medic... his face... gods... his face is going to be scarred if he doesn't get attention soon... Damn... where's back up... I told them to follow as fast as they could... how long do they need to talk to the guy?
-------------------------------
As if reading his mind, backup sprang into the clearing.
Sakura froze in shock at the sight.
The forest clearing was a desert of the trees splintered like matchsticks, pock marks from blasts of chakra and bombs - broken mangled bodies, earth burrowed up here and there from prison techniques -
And blood -
Especially around the two men in the middle.
One of them looked familiar -
She pushed the thought aside.
"What's the problem?" Her green eyes concerned took in the massive amount of blood on the men. "Is he injured? Dead?"
The operative, who had called himself "Rikki", shook his head.
"I don't know..."
He seemed dazed.
"Let me look. Your mate is obviously in need of care and -"
Rikki growled at her, eyes narrowed and suspicious.
"Nobody's looking at him - he's fine."
"He's not fine..."
"He just needs to calm down..."
Sakura edged around, watching with concern as the ANBU slowly stopped shaking.
Damn ANBU. Protective instincts turning on them...
"What's up?" asked Sai, arriving behind her, Sasuke at his heels.
The ex-ANBU halted uncertainly at the sight of the claw-like hands now limp on the ground, half hidden under the other man's rough coat.
"ANBU?"
Rikki sighed.
"This is a mess... just..."
He paused.
"Leave."
Sasuke shrugged.
"We need to look over the scene -" He stopped at the sight of one corpse. Carefully, he turned it over.
"Stop it!" Sakura rushed over. "You're tampering with a scene..."
"We're not going to be able to come back," Sasuke said. "First, even though it's close to Fire Country, we ARE still in Rock's domain. Secondly, we're going to have to leave soon. Better get information now... plus... this looks like -"
"What?" asked Sai, eyes never leaving the hand.
Rikki was pushing long black hair back from what looked like a pale forehead - most of the face was hidden in the crook of his shoulder.
"You know something -"
Sasuke stood up and turned back to look down at Rikki.
"You don't want him touched because that would mean Sakura would see his face."
"He's touchy about it..." Rikki said. "You don't understand."
"Hmmm... life or vanity?" Sasuke said ironically. "I wonder what's more important..."
"Sasuke?" Sakura asked. "You mean - that wound -"
"It's the Raikiri - no mistake. I've done enough killing that way to know it -"
"That means -" Sakura's voice filled with horror. "Sensei! Let me see him!"
"No! Let him go! He's fine!" Rikki pushed her hands away.
"He might be dying for all I know!"
"Get away, bitch!"
Rikki was struggling to rise - Sakura was already bending over him - she froze as the coat shifted aside, revealing the hand - gingerly, she picked it up -
"Sen-sei..." Tears filled her eyes. "What's - what's -"
"Leave. Him. ALONE!" Yukio jerked away.
"I can't!" Sakura's eyes hardened. "Put him down, dammit! I'm the MEDIC here and I'm going to see him!"
Rikki flinched at her scary eyes, but only hugged the motionless Kakashi closer.
"No."
"I'll shut my eyes and heal his face without looking."
There was a pause. Rikki nodded.
"Okay... He - he -"
"You gotta tell me the damage -"
"You should be able to tell just by your hands and senses," said the ANBU testily.
Sai raised an eyebrow.
"True. But a medic also needs to know surface damage -" He paused. "I would have thought jealousy had no place in an ANBU on the battle field..."
"SHUT THE HELL UP!" roared Rikki.
"You're hurting him more by not letting me care for him!" Sakura yelled back. "What kind of love is that, bastard!"
Rikki sighed.
"Fine... just... see what you can do... I'll tie a handkerchief around his face... the damage is to the upper half not the lower half anyway..."
"Whatever," Sakura sighed.
Inner Sakura: I was THIS close to seeing his face, dammit! I swear, this bastard pushes it and he's going down! To hell with ANBU!
"A face is a face is a face," Sai blinked. "What's the big deal?"
Rikki drew back from his place in front of Kakashi's head - the nin now lying on his back on the ground. Sakura knelt over her unconscious sensei, her breath catching at the sight of the ten jagged marks running down his forehead and temples, which disappeared under a black kerchief.
Damn... he looks like hell... Almost as if he - dragged his nails down -
She lifted his hand to check his nails -
Her stomach flip-flopped.
He inflicted those wounds on himself. Dammit, Kaka-sensei - Inner Sakura yelled. I'm so getting you out of ANBU you won't know what hit you!
"Kakashi's face is special," Rikki said. "He's very private about it."
"You sound like a stalker," Sai said bluntly. "That's your name. Stalker."
"Hentai, more like..." Sasuke said from a couple yards over, looking up from another burnt to the crisp corpse. "But then, Sai, you wouldn't understand... for years we always wanted to know what was under the mask..."
"Childish," snorted Rikki, watching Sakura like a hawk as she carefully began to close up the various flesh wounds over the Copy Nin's face, limbs and torso.
"Hm. Yes," agreed Sasuke, walking over to another corpse.
"He's sexy, right, Rikki-san?" Sakura asked, her eyes watching the ANBU's more neutral expression.
She couldn't miss the flash -
Of what?
What did I see?
Damn these ANBU masks...
Probably jealousy and maybe -
Just maybe -
Lust...
Inner Sakura: A RIVAL! DAMMIT!
The medic froze at the thought.
Rival? Where the hell did that come from? I'm not competing for anything here...
Yeah, right, said her evil inner self. Sure. You tell yourself that...
Okay. Okay. Sensei is hot. Nice. Single. Caring. Tough. Respectable... Mysterious. Powerful. Everything a girl could want... but -
Hahaha... a dream type of crush - right?
Right?
Right...
Sakura sighed.
I SO did not want this complication now... not now of all times...
And what would other people think?
Kakashi?
Tsunade?
Jiraiya?
The medic pulled up her sensei's left eyelid and froze.
"He's got slit pupils..."
"Hmmm..."
"Why?"
"I can't say..."
"It's classified?"
"Something like that... hey... you're totally breaking a thousand ANBU rules here... I'm going to have to tell Tsunade about this," Rikki snarked.
"Sure. Go ahead. I'm her top medic and I'm sometimes called into severe ANBU cases. I'm fine."
Rikki glared at her.
"What about THEM?" he asked, tilting his head toward Sai and Sasuke now in conference over the 'burnt-to-a-crisp corpse'.
-------------------------------------
"What do you think?"
"Katon no jutsu?"
"Hmmm... there'd be more -"
"Ah... yeah... chakra burns, then?"
"That's a damn lot of chakra."
"And very hot."
"Hmmm."
"Yeah..."
------------------------------------
"Sai is ex-ANBU. Sasuke is an Uchiha. Both have the honor of shinobi to keep secrets."
Rikki blinked and slowly nodded.
"Fine."
Sakura slid her hands under her sensei's shirt - up his chest, testing out the lungs and ribs. Rikki tensed. Sakura frowned.
"What? Something wrong?" Rikki leaned forward, wrinkles forming on his brow.
"Hmmm... there's been damage here, quickly healed... I'm just finishing it up - it's kinda rough... like..." Her eyes snapped open. "DAMN! He opened the Heal Gate! I'm gonna have to talk to him about this!"
"I can do that," Rikki said. "I'm his mate!"
"Hn. You better."
"Don't get snippity with me, lady," Rikki snarled. "I DO happen to care about him."
"I'm getting that LOUD and CLEAR, old man," she snarked back. "I guess I couldn't tell what with all that 'I-know-he's-hurt-but-no-medical-care-please' attitude... and obviously, you are not encouraging him to leave ANBU."
"Leave ANBU? Why would he want to do that?"
"Umm... let's see... to get a LIFE? I don't know... be able to enjoy the sunshine and relax with friends and stuff like that?"
"Hmph. That's not what he wants. This is his life now. With us. Get over it. And yourself. Bitch."
"WHAT DID YOU SAY!" Sakura bellowed, suddenly in Rikki's face, her eyes now large and white and furious.
Rikki shoved back.
"I SAID BITCH!"
"WELL - AT LEAST -"
"Guys!" barked Sasuke. "Get over it!"
Both paused and turned simultaneously to shiver at the sight of Sasuke standing over them, arms folded, dark forbidding eyes glaring.
"We need to move it now!"
"Hai, hai..." mumbled Sakura, pulling away from her sensei.
His hands were normal now - lying there, he looked peaceful.
So young.
So young.
She didn't want to let go of his fingers - but they pulled from her hand with a jerk as Rikki stood up with ANBU Wolf in his arms.
ANBU Wolf.
It's not Kakashi-sensei, really, Sakura sighed. With that mask on... who is he? He's not the man I know.
I want him back.
Watching Rikki disappear, her green eyes softened with worry.
Where have you gone, Kakashi-sensei?
I want you back.
-------------------------------------------------------
what did she say
she said i never knew you
how can i say goodbye
to an unknown face?
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NEXT EP:
The memories are dark. It's that dream he fears - his fears are what he dreams. THE MISSION.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Favorite Desert: Marble Cheesecake
Favorite Meal: Hmmm... hard to say... I LOVE to eat...
Least favorite Meal: Cabbage Rolls, Seafood
Favorite Color(s): Blue, silver (also Black, Grey and White... and Green)
Least favorite Color: Yellow.
Favorite Type of Music: Soundtracks
Least Favorite: Country Music