This village, Kirigakure was befitting for its name, hidden in the mist. The thick mist that surrounded this village covering it like a thick cloud, making the area itself damp, wet and cold. If not depressing looking and gloomy, having been used to the other villages or from what you've seen in this world feeling the sun and its warm. This place didn't seem like it, everything seem or felt cold but that didn't mean it was not lively which was slightly true. Not saying there was not people, there where residences that lived not much like the other places, but a fair amount. From what you could see after getting off the boat that brought you, Ino and Sakura here along with the supervising jonin picked to accompany the three of you for this mission.
Kakashi Hatake.
The quiet man, as you like call him. He came along, he wasn't the only one when you had arrived to meet up with the others after doing something important within the village. Another also accompanied the group, they where came from Gaara's request before he left the village after what happened. Someone who meet with everyone at the front gates. It was Baki, he was the extra man for the team. This was a surprise to you, though after the man explained everything to you, that Gaara had sent for him to assist you. Though you it seem like you didn't mind and accepted the fact he was coming along, inside just twisted with guilt and disgust with yourself. Of course you managed to play it off for those who didn't notice.
After arriving to the village the group was greeted by a shinobi of the village. It was a tall middle aged man with blue hair which is styled in a moused-up manner. His left eye was blue and his right eye was covered with an eye-patch. He wore a talisman in each ear with the kanji for a humble form of "to hear"written on them twice on each side. Dressed in standard striped, grey suit, with a green haori that had white trimmings that stop halfway down, over wore his forehead protector in the proper place. His overall presence that came from him seem of calm, prideful, stern and the epitome of a stereotypical masculine individual. He was the one who was there waiting once the group arrived. He introduced himself as Ao, and in a manner of speaking welcomed everyone to the village. After formalities he escorts you and the others to the location.
As you walked with Sakura and Ino, Kakashi couldn't help but notice the distant look in your eyes. Something seem to bothering you or making you uneasy that made you unfocused, because from what he was able to observe from his many encounters with you, he hadn't seen that look before. Besides that one time, when he 'bumped' into you back in Konohagakure, when you had been over working yourself. This though from what he saw, was different. Some sort of shift or change in you that he couldn't really put his finger on it, but one thing for sure was that it had to something to do when that attack happened in the village. Taking a mental note of this, for himself to deal with it later.
Still following Ao, Sakura began asking questions about how and what it was they found.
"We don't really know what the heck it is."he tells her."It just showed up in our village, we don't know how it got this close. The attack happened a few weeks ago, it came out blasting this weird sort of weapon and trying to take a few of the people. A weapon none of have ever seen before. There where are about three of them, along with so sort of robotic looking ninjas."
"Was there anything else?"Ino inquires."Like deformed looking humans?"
Ao thinks about it for a second."I'm not sure what you mean?"
"Back in our village, we've come across these deformed looking bodies."Sakura tells him."Their human or close to human as one can say. They have this strange liquid that oozes through them, in the veins. It seems to give them sort of strange abilities different from jutsu. Their bodies seem to be fused with wires and technology into their biology. Which allows them to morph parts of their bodies into I guess you could say some sort of energy like weapons. Something like that."
"...No, nothing like that has been seen."he tells her."What we have, sounds different from what you've just described."
The sound of his voice felt eerie to the girls, but to you it was unsettling. That your skin started to crawl, your heart started to race rapidly than before and you became short of breath. Doing your best to remain calm, the gripping fear of anxiety slowly began to overwhelm you and sped up with every step you took. To keep your nerves in check, you grip your left wrist tightly to distract your own mind and feelings. But it did little use, very little. If you had sweat glads, a cold nervous sweat would have broken out on you.
Lucky for you, you had no such thing. Each step felt like a deep drum that ruptured in your chest from your heart. Each breath became deeper and tighter than the last. Your mind began to fill up with so many thoughts and words, it became jumbled causing your head to start to throb and vision to become slightly impaired. Still, you did your best to remain calm as you could. Pushing the stress and fear that twisted inside you. The fear of what you knew or possible knew this village, toning in on every third word from Ao, about these strange creatures. With word you tuned into from his description only increased your gripping fear. That began to petrify you. Each step now felt like a ton, making you slowly stagger behind Sakura and Ino. That you bumped backwards into Kakashi, which startled you. Making you jump just a bit, stumbling over your feet, if not for Baki to grab hold of you to keep you balanced.
"May, are you alright?"he looks at you worried. His voice snapped you out of your swirling mind, but not the fixed look you had in your eyes. He notices it just seconds before you snapped out of it fully.
Slowly nodding your head, you stand upright straightening yourself out thanking him quickly and hurry off to the other two. Baki stood back for a few seconds watching you, something was bothering you because the look you just gave him and the tight trembling grip he felt from you just seconds ago. It wasn't like you at all, telling himself to watch you more closely he continues when Kakashi calls him over.
After a few more minutes of walking, Ao escorts everyone to a tallest and widest cylinder building. He lets everyone know the building was the Mizukage's office, along with where they kept the strange creatures they had captured. Which was located underground, deep underground for that matter. The first step to getting inside was through heavy thick large doors, that had some sort of sign on it. Standing guard in front four shinobis all dressed in the normal attire. Also standing there two other people, one a short shy meek looking young man with short, tufty blue hair, and dark eyes. Wearing square, black-rimmed glasses connected to ear protectors, a blue pin-striped shirt and camouflage pattern forehead protector on the front of his holster, which he used to carry a wide, flat blade with two curved indentations near its base, creating a sort of cross-guard. Two handles are connected to one another by a short length of cord, upon his back.
Standing next to him with much more confidence and a kind cheerful demeanor tall, slender woman in her thirties. With green eyes, and ankle-length, auburn hair styled into a herringbone pattern at the back, a top-knot tied with a dark blue band, and with four bangs at the front. Two bangs are short, with one covering her right eye, and two are long, crossing each other on her bust, just below her chin. Wearing a long-sleeved, dark blue dress that falls just below the knees. It seems to be closed at the front with a zipper, and is kept open on the front-right side from the waist down. The dress only covers up to the upper part of her arms and the underside of her breasts. Underneath, mesh armor that covers slightly more of her upper body than her dress. Also with a skirt in the same color as her dress and, underneath those, mesh leggings reaching down over her knees, high-heeled sandals and shin-guards reaching up over her knees, dark blue polish on her fingers and toes, and fuchsia lipstick. She greets everyone with a warm smile.
This woman had to be someone respectful, because the way Ao greeted her showed.
"Hello Lady Mizukage."Ao greets.
The woman smiles at him."Well hello everyone, you must the team the Hokage sent. I am Mei Terumi, the Mizukage of this village. This here is Chojuro." She introduces the young man by her side."Welcome, and thank you for your assistance in this strange matter."
Ino, Sakura and yourself greet her back respectfully as well."A pleasure."the three of you say together.
"Why, what fine manners."Mei comments."I was told, the three of you are the Hokage's pupils."
"Yes, we are."Sakura tells her.
Mei smiles."Well, I'm sure you three are the best. Behind these doors we put those strange creatures, as you can see by the sealing we have around the doors this threat to us is one that is serious. Please follow me."she then turns to Ao."You can unseal it now."
The man nods his head, and does a handseal, that releases the seal on the door causing it to open on its own."This way."Ao tells everyone as he starts walking off. Mei and Chojuro follow him, next with Sakura, Ino and yourself, followed lastly by Kakashi and Baki. With everyone inside, the doors shut behind. Echoing in the massive room. Still following Ao, the man makes his way down the long spiral staircase that seem to go on forever. There was minimal lighting but still just enough to see. The further down you went, the damper and darker it seem to get or it was just your imagination. But the air started to become tighter and more congested, it was either that or from the fact you knew what it was everyone was about to see. Again your breathing heaved rapidly with heavy panting, trying your best to keep it silent like a whisper. Bringing your hand up placing it upon your chest to calm yourself down.
Coming off the last step, made your heart skip a beat. Wanting to stop here and turn back around to race up the stairs, but there was no way that you could. Timidly you force yourself to move, even though you didn't want to.
Ao finally stops and reveals what it was that the village managed to capture and hold onto. Though it wasn't moving, just the sight of it was enough for you, your skin began to crawl with terror. Terror that over took you, and next thing you know everything seem to spin upside down and became disorientated, the color you saw became a grey, heavy and black.
*...Everyone...*you call out in your mind, feeling yourself floating in nothingness in the fetal position."...Sister...Master Splinter...Papa..."you cry out for them holding yourself tighter for comfort. This feeling of lost and emptiness swept over you, images of the others surrounded you fading in and out, mixing in with images of those from this world. Like being drifted in a nothing but a sea of endless loneliness and guilt. Again calling out for the others, apologizing to them all telling yourself, you would make it right. Wishing for the others back at home to be here.
Unsure what to do, lifting your head up looking around to find all the images of everyone floating around you, it pained you greatly seeing this. Opening your mouth to say something nothing but lost of breath came, feeling your body plummet downward hard. Falling fast, like a stone being dropped unable to catch yourself the words of Xever echoed in your mind, twisting with your own negative thoughts. Your heart heart began to sag down into an empty pit of darkness, just like now. Though you tired to stop yourself, nothing happen. Reaching out to the others as they faded away, replaced with burning evil greenish yellow eyes of the Kraang. That pierced you deeply, their presence was here though you knew it. Seeing made it more apparent, just as you get ready to scream. Something sharp pierces through you, the pain unbearable it shot you awake.
Natsuki suddenly stop in her tracks, an eerie feeling came over her. Turning to looking up above at the sky unsettling, she didn't know where they feeling came from, but for one thing it didn't feel right. Before her mind could even try to figure out what it was, the approach of running feet get her attention. Knowing well enough who the feet belong to, she sighs in annoyance. Trying to run away would only lead them to follow her or worse cry. Something could not stand at all, crying showed a sense of weakness, which was something else she could not tolerate.
The steps get closer and closer, and before she knew it they where right behind her. She could hear their panting from their short run, clearly stamina was not something they had.
"Natsuki."Kaito calls to her, she didn't turn around. Giving him the cold shoulder like always, normally many would find it rude and stop. But he didn't, ever since May left,this kid or maggot as she liked to call him for some reason felt the need to find her or spend time with her. Even when she would run away from him to be left alone, he some how managed to find her. It always surprised her, despite all she tired to scare him off or any threat she had towards him. It just didn't seem to work.
Kaito become immune to her tactics, she didn't understand why he wanted to be with her. Sure she understood because his father was still in his coma and not woken up, still in the ICU. Leaving all alone, if not counting May's pet hawk Onyx that he was seen with all the time. Which was good for her, because it meant less amount of work for her to do, he could take care of that stupid bird for all she cared. Still walking, Kaito makes his way to her side doing his best to keep up with her pace.
He was aware she was trying to ignore him, that didn't stop him from being by her side. Since his father was not around nor May, she was the only one really minus those from school whom he rarely talked with at times. He spent his time with, which had increased now despite her distance solitude attitude she put up with him, he didn't care and just like being around her. Because in a sense they both where alone and it made sense to him that they both stay together. Holding Onyx in his arms, looking at the girl who stuck her noise away from him. Always with her furrow on, never seeming to change unless out of a laugh at the expense of another, which would mainly be him.
It was always like this with them both, she would remain quiet trying to pretend he was not present at all. While he would either stay quiet or start to talk his little mouth off. Normally a quiet boy, only talking to those he felt comfortable about and much Natsuki's luck she was one of them.
"Did you hear, the Kazekage returned."he speaks to her. Nothing from her."May wasn't with her, he came by himself well with his bodyguard. They came in three nights ago."
"Tsk. Why should I care."she scoffs.
"Well, May wasn't with him."his words muffle in Onyx's feathers.
Hearing his voice drop, Natsuki speeds up her walk which he does as well."So, she's doing work of course she isn't going to be coming back."she harshly tells him."Are you stupid?"
"I know she still has work to...do."he looks the hawk."It's just, well...She's been gone for so long."
Irritated by his whining she growls at him."Look! I don't care, so don't get all sappy with me!"
Before Kaito would be easily startled and scared by her reaction, but having grown use to them he just remained calm and kept talking."I miss her too...Do you think we should asks the Kazekage if he could bring her back?"
"..."Natsuki gives him an irritable glaze."I don't care, read my lips."she takes out one of her kunai pointing it straight at him, keeping it just an inch from his nose. The boy looks at her weapon for a few seconds slightly frighten, his eyes slowly begin to swell up looking at her. She knew that look, he was getting ready to cry."Don't you do it!"she warns him."Don't you cry, I mean it."She holds the weapon closer to him, but Kaito was unfazed the tears started to form.
It would be easy to just do it, her hand was itching for it. She would shut him up for sure, then again it would be consider murder. Her eyes remained cold looking at him, his tears where ready to call. Sighing she drops her weapon on him, groaning. She was about to say something, when something quick moved in the shadows out of the corner of her eyes. Kaito was ready to go, but she quickly shushes him.
"What the...?"her suspicions at what she saw caused her to follow the figure. She hurries after it, telling the boy to stay back and to go home.
Her sudden action surprised him, watching her rush off like that. He heard her words, but didn't listen and follows her. Natsuki carefully trails the shadow she saw, as it tired to slip out undetected by the other villagers. Which was a slight surprise to her, whoever this person or thing was, really was good. Making sure they did not spot or sense her presence, she kept a good enough distance between them. Waiting for them to stop, but they didn't or at least not yet. After a few minutes of trailing, they stop in a secluded part of the this place was, it was deeply hidden in the corners. The figure turns and looks around making sure no one saw them. It was hard to tell, since they had their cloak on, holding her breath. Natsuki gets ready to move in closer...
"Na-"Kaito calls her name, if she did not cover his mouth they both would have had their cover blown. In one quick motion she had his mouth covered and the two of them pressed up against the wall. The boy tries to squirm from her grasp, but it tight. She hushes him harshly, using her eyes to signal to other. Following her gesture, Kaito sees the figure surprising him. He looks up at Natsuki worried, but the girl remained calm and collected. A side he had never seen before, her eyes fiercely focused on this figure slowly she crouches down into the shadows to conceal them more.
The figure stood at rocky wall, looking over their should once again and quickly do some hand seals, the ground under them caves inward, forming a descent size hole. Looking at the whole now, both children wait to see who was coming, what they saw almost made even Natsuki gasp if she didn't hold it in, but it surely made Katio gasp in shock at what he saw, he squeezes Onyx tightly. Causing the hawk to shriek, it bites at the boys finger causing the bird to be release and fly.
Thinking quickly knowing their presence had been compromised, Natsuki takes hold of Kaito and hurries off before they where seen. She didn't stop running, her heart raced wildly like a horse doing her best to make sure there was distance between them and the other. She couldn't believe either, what she saw and the bit of information she heard. Unsure what to do, if she should say something or looks up to her, wondering what it is they should do but she didn't know. Still in shock at who she saw, so many questions came into her mind as to why and what for? Her mind was lost in thought she didn't pay attention to where she was going and trips hard onto the ground with Kaito.
"Natsuki! Natsuki!?"Katio panics."What do we do!? We have to tell the Kazekage! Or someone! May's in trouble! What do we do!? Natsuki!?"
She heard his frighten cries as they fade out, she just didn't know how to respond to them. What was she going to do? Without any sort of evidence they could easily deny it, and the fact she wasn't able to hear everything just a bit of what being said. What good would that do, what good would any of it do?