Author's Note: Hello dearest readers! I apologize greatly for my absence. I haven't been in the greatest place lately and with the holidays it's worse, but now I have more chapters written on paper and I just need to find time to type it all out! Thank you for your support!
"Kaa-chan?" A small voice called. A sleepy Sora stood at the start of the hall only to see his mother and his godfather on the floor surrounded by glass. Kakashi moved to push himself off of Koi only to place his hand on her breast a slight blush appeared across his cheeks He rushed to get up but it was too late. A fist hit him square in the jaw sending him backward. Koi sat up shaking her fist at the man.
"Kakashi-teme," She growled as she stood up. Koi dusted herself off.
"Kaa-chan?" Kou turned to Sora and smiled. Sora just turned around and went back to bed. It was better not to see what his mother was going to do Kakashi. However, Sora knew it wasn't going to be pretty.
Koi turned back to Kakashi. Fury raged through her. How dare he touch her there, again! She grabbed the man by his vest and dragged his dazed body to the door. She swore under her breath about the man and his perverted book. Kakashi recovered by the time she got to the door and started to open in it ready to toss the shinobi out.
"Koi-chan," He whined. "Don't throw me out into the cold night." She ignored him and started to rear back her arm. "Koi-hime." She stopped and released the man. Being called Princess still struck a raw nerve with. Leaving him to close the door, she readies herself with a broom and dustpan to clean up the glass. As mad as she may have been, Kakashi seemed to make things a bit better.
"Let me help." Kakashi sighed. She passed the broom and dustpan to him and sat on the couch. "Talk to me, Koi-chan." She was good at hiding her emotions when it came down to it, but today. Today was the anniversary and she couldn't help feeling down.
"There was nothing today." She mumbled. "Sora was excited to go the inn and he had hoped.." Her voice started to crack. She wouldn't cry over her disappointment, no it wasn't hers to cry over. It was Sora's. She recalled his face as the innkeeper shook her head. "You know, we first met he hated me."
"Really?" Kakashi as he finished cleaning the glass. Koi looked out the window on her couch.
"Mmhmm." The air was dry in Konohagakure. It was beautiful. The fall breeze brought a chill to those outside. The moon was an orange color. It was a lot different her family's compound. There is was cold and damp constantly. It was always so grey. "I found him in the river, floating among the reeds. It's funny because You-san said that he would be staying with us. I was just horrified." Kakashi dumped the glass in the trashcan and placed the broom back where it was found. "He can smell lies, you know." He moved to the couch, sitting next to the woman. His arm snuck around her shoulders and pulled her to him. Koi leaned into him enjoying the feeling of being held. She has out a sad laugh. "When he woke up the first time, I saved him, he asked me who I was."
According to her father, the boy's name was Hoshigaki Kisame and he was a guest in their house until he was healed. HEr mother told her that the boy was at least fourteen and he would bake a fine husband. Koi's face grew red at any mention of husbands.
Her face contorted in disgust as she looked at her mother, "Okaa-sama I'm only thirteen. I have no need for a husband."
"Your father and I were married when I was sixteen." her mother emphasized. She turned to the young girl and smiled. Koi knew that her mother was planning something. It wasn't every day she spoke of husbands. Koi showed her discomfort. Her mother could only laugh at her. Of course, Koi still thought boys were gross. Her hormones weren't quite raging yet.
The boy in bed stirred, slowly waking up. Koi's mother noticed and started toward the door. Koi was left to tend to the boy. So this was her plan. Leave her with the boy so they could possibly fall for each other. Koi glared at the door her mother walked out of. It's not going to happen.
"Damn you, woman." Koi cursed. The boy's eyes opened. His groans startled Koi making her turn to him. She noticed that he started to panic in unfamiliar surroundings. "Relax, Hoshigaki-san." Koi moved to him gathering a cloth from the bowl of water next to the boy. As she rung it out, she kept eye contact with the creature of a person. "I'm Uta no Koi." She placed the cloth on his forehead. "I found you in the river. Okay-same just left."
"What do you mean you found me in the river?" He grunted. Kisame adjusted himself on the futon that was laid out for him. Confusion hung in his mind as he tried to recall sparring with his master. He looked at Koi, not trusting her. Kisame watched her as she gathered her thoughts. She was young, at least she looked to be. Her hair reminded him of the very river he was sparring near. Her eyes were held a concerned look, but held a sweet honey glow even in the dim room. Something about her made his instincts flare.
"I was…" She started. Koi thought about telling him the truth. Being she was playing with the actual fish in the water rather than working on her summons. But then again it really wasn't the boy's business.
"I can smell lies," He cautioned, "Besides you are only ten. How could a tiny girl like you rescue a shinobi of the mist like me?" Koi stood up abruptly. Before Kisame knew it, she was on top of him with a senbon pointed at his neck.
"I am Uta no Koi, Princess of the Uta Clan," She growled at him, pushing the senbon closer to his neck. "I am the Ningyo. I am thirteen years old and you will do what I say. Apologize. Now!" Kisame looked at her in shock. This thirteen-year-old girl, who appeared to be ten, was not only fast but deadly or so it appeared. She dared to threaten him a Hoshigaki clan member. Not only threaten him but make him apologize. He stares turned into a grin. Soon hearty laughter could be heard throughout the house.
"You," He roared, "A ten-year-old girl wants me-"
"Thirteen! I am thirteen!" She pierced his skin with the senbon, "Stop laughing! Shut your fucking mouth, heathen!" Kisame laughed even louder bringing Koi's family to the room. Koi's father and Sota pulled Koi off of the boy as she spewed her hatred for him and the boy just laughed. She got loose of her brother's grip and spit on Kisame's face. Kisame then lunged at the girl, but was stopped by her mother. Once out in the hall, Koi's anger turned to rage. Senbon litter the hall as her chakra activated the traps she placed in her hair. Sota had ducked just in time. She ran to the dojo within the house and just collapsed.
"Imouto?" Sota called. Her sapphire hair sprawled around her in tendrils and her sobs were muffled by the matted floor.
"He didn't listen to me." She sobbed, "Am I not the ningyo?"
"What?"
"He didn't do anything. He wouldn't stop laughing. I told him to stop. He wouldn't"
"Wait. He didn't stop laughing?"
"No…" She looked up. Her eyes red with the tears. Her face a wet glob of misery. Sota ran back out the door to grab his parents. Koi sat up and wiped her face on her arm. She was the Ningyo, she should be crying the way she was.
"-Voice didn't work." Sota's voice carried. Footsteps could be heard down the hall and the rest of the family met Koi in the family dojo. Her mother looked at her, then to her husband. Having a problem is what some might say make life interesting. Sota helped Koi stand before her parents. She kept her gaze down on the ground slightly embarrassed because of her emotions.
"Well?" Her father questioned.
"He didn't stop laughing." She began. Koi's voice was nothing more than a whisper. Trembling slightly. Her father was unsure what to do. He uncrossed his arms watching his young daughter. Her mother looked into Koi's eyes and brushed her hair off of her face.
"Koi-hime," Her mother comforted. Her mother was the Uta in the family. In her clan, there was a Matriarch. Her father did not have much say about what really happens with the clan and he was fine with that. He was a retired ninja and didn't really need more responsibility other than his family. He accepted that was what his life would be when he married Misa. "Koi-chan what do you mean?"
Koi looked at her mother and being only five foot in height didn't help. It made her appear younger and a bit childish. She knew she was acting it at least. She didn't understand why he didn't stop. She used the voice. She used her only defense in anger. She was a very confrontational person and had a temper from hell. Yet here, in all her rage she can only bring her voice to a low whisper. A shy and ashamed whisper one to confess her sins to her matriarch.
"I used the voice." She watched for a reaction from her mother before continuing. After a few minutes, she continued, "He wouldn't stop laughing. I used the voice and he just wouldn't stop." Koi looked once again at her mother to be met with surprise and fear in her eyes. This caused panic to rise in Koi herself. She didn't mean to use it. She just wanted him to stop laughing.
"Shigure," Her mother' voice caught her attention due to the stern and commanding tone that ran through her ears. Her father turned and left the room. Koi began to fear the worst. This was going to be her demise. She used the voice and how she was going to suffer the highest consequence. "Koi-chan you need to go apologize to Hoshigaki-san." Now it was Koi's turn to be shocked by surprise. Her mother' wanted her to apologize to the shinobi who insulted her. She didn't understand. Koi actually thought that her mother had lost her marbles.
"What?" She croaked.
"Koi-hime-"
"No!" Koi was furious. Not only did she save his life, but he insulted her. Now SHE has to apologize. No. There was no way in hell that she was going to apologize to some arrogant shinobi who thought he was better than her. Tears welled in her eyes as her fury roared within her. "Kisame Hoshigaki is an arrogant self-centered ass who doesn't care about who helped him." Koi didn't care that she was crying. All the anger she felt for him drained her and it just all came out at once. "He doesn't react to the voice and he needs to apologize to ME, even thank me for saving him from drowning!"
"You may say that now girl," Yuki smiled as she entered the dojo. "However, fate may have another plan. Your destinies seem to be entwined." Koi stated at the old woman in shock. A smile graced Yuki's face. Oh, how she remembers the days of being young.
"Oba-sama," Misa bowed deeply, "It is a pleasure to have you in our home." Yuki patted Misa's shoulder and she stood up straight.
"Your daughter is as sharp as she is strong." The elder complemented. Koi dried her eyes and held her head down. She felt the elder's gaze on her. She was ashamed and felt that her actions had no honor. "Come, Koi. Let's take a walk." Koi only nodded and followed her out.
"I followed Oba-sama out of the house," Koi finished. She hugged her knees and Kakashi gave her a reassuring squeeze. The pair has been friends since the chunin exams before the war. Kakashi, drunk as he may be, always made sense.
"Maa.." he grunted, "You know, during the third war, all different shinobi talked about a girl who stood in front of Konoha ANBU. and told them to go away?"
"Really now?" She blushed recalling the memory.
"Yes, I should know." He paused, "I was there."
"Were you?"
"Yeah, so was Minato-sensei. He called the girl a shark or something because he felt like he was in dangerous waters." She watched him as he leaned his head back on the couch. "I remember it like it was yesterday."
"Inu, report." A command called the dog ANBU to take notice of a clan compound just a few feet ahead. Wondered shinobi of all villages were laid out left and right. Two women focused their attention on some of the wounded.
"Captain,"Inu called, "They are tending to the wounded. Fox ANBU appeared next to Dog. Their task was to eliminate a general that was supposed to be housed here. However, seeing as they were tending to the wounded gave them pause. Dog noticed his commander tense up. A young woman no more than fifteen stood at the edge of the gate. Dog couldn't believe how fast she moved from tending to a person to be at the gate.
"Come forward." She commanded. They had been compromised. Dog started to think of a way to avoid the situation, however Fox starts moving forward, approaching the girl. "Put a kunai to your neck." Dog watched in horror as his commander and sensei did what was told. The dog jumped to his side and watched the girl. Her eyes swirled with a shimmering honey color, like they held a liquid in them. Her glare was aimed with an intent to kill. The wind caught her sapphire hair and whipped it about creating the effect of tentacles. Her stance was ready to defend. Dog questions her as another ninja jumps out from the bushes. She doesn't move as the shinobi charges at her. In a blink of an eye, the man falls dead. A senbon sick out of his chest. She looked at the ANBU again as if she was questioning them. Her voice was unwavering she spoke, "Tell your superiors that the Uta compound is neutral ground."
"Who are you?" Dog questioned, "Who are you to make this neutral ground?" She turned her back to them and walked away. The wind carried her voice.
"I am the Ningyo."