- Pluck -
Part II
Chapter 25: Moon and Mistletoe (Part I)
Companion song: Left to Bloom by Lena Raine
He was hoping Itachi wouldn't notice.
But he did. He always did.
Older brothers must have a way of digging deep into their little brother's subconscious and pinpointing the exact thing they do not want to be discussed. It could be something as simply ordinary as that tricky topic of him coming home late, once again, last night; or . . . it could be the gigantic elephant in the room that was that Sasuke smelled nice.
"What's this about?"
Apparently, he wasn't even allowed that luxury without being questioned; it was as if he was a walking pile of garbage, because the mere idea of him taking a little longer in the shower that morning to use that body wash kept under the sink for special uses seemed to astound Itachi so much. It was a bit offensive - being regarded with such suspicion from his older better just because he (God's forbid!) smelled a little better.
But then again, Sasuke would probably be more inclined to indulge in the topic of why he hadn't come home until three in the morning than talk about . . . this.
"Is it for that girl you're seeing?"
But - again - older brothers had a way of finding the most tricky topic and tackling it with such finesse that Sasuke found himself falling right into his trap without realizing it. Or, well, no - he did realize it.
But it was already too late, however, to backtrack.
"Will you -" For whatever reason, there was a knot in one of the fingers of his glove, and Sasuke turned away from the front door and dropped it on the kitchen counter, frustrated. On the wall, his cloak hung from a bronze hook, awaiting to be taken into the blustering winds of Cloud 8 outside. But it would have to wait. He had two obstacles to deal with, first. "No. Itachi, I told you, I'm not seeing anyone."
"How sad," his brother mused on the other side of the counter. As he worked on his glove, Sasuke gave him a sharp look from the corner of his eye. "I don't know how you manage to do so well in your line of work when you can't even lie properly."
"I'm not lying."
"Is it Sakura?"
"What -" Stopping, he peered down at his brother, a bit perplexed. Surely, he's heard about Naruto and Sakura's engagement. Everyone's heard about it. "Itachi, I wouldn't -"
"Or perhaps that Hinata girl has come back."
Older brothers also have a way of looking at their little brothers as if they were reading every passing thought and memory in their head. Moving to the dining table, Itachi watched him with an ease in his face, like he was simply observing every damn thing going through Sasuke's mind.
And when Hinata's name came up - well - it was a little difficult to keep the lightning stuck in his scabbard at bay. Because Sasuke felt like he had to live in two worlds; one knew that Hinata was back and the Moon Witch, and the other didn't. Itachi was in the latter, so it was off-putting to hear her name come from him.
"What . . . do you mean?" Sasuke asked.
Itachi blinked. "Sasuke, she's been missing for over a year. Have you not heard?"
He tried to refocus on his glove. If he didn't look at Itachi, maybe he wouldn't hear his lie when he said, "No, I haven't."
The silence tensed and stretched, snapping like rubbing being pulled too far. Sasuke didn't look up when a slight squeaking approached, followed by his brother's pale hand coming across the counter top. "Here. I'll do it." He took the glove and worked on the knot, eyes staying on Sasuke, though he would not look back. "You don't seem very concerned."
"I am," Sasuke said, staring at his cloak. "I guess I don't show it."
"Your face shows it plenty." Somehow, that sounded like a line Hinata would use. But thinking about her right now wasn't helpful at all, so Sasuke pushed the thought away, hoping his brother wouldn't go digging for it. "She was a good friend of yours for almost twenty years. I remember her coming here all the time, and you would just never leave her alone."
"Itachi." Sasuke didn't beg much, but he really wanted him to stop.
"Don't you remember?"
No. He knew about it from the stories Hinata had told him, but the memories were not present in his head at all. They were wiped a while ago by Ino, and he doubted he'd be able to get them back from her.
But . . . Naruto got his back.
Wasn't it only fair he got his, as well?
But he wouldn't bother her - at least, not for a while. She needed to focus all her attention on Hinata right now.
"Of course I do," he said. "I asked you about her first, didn't I?"
Itachi stared - and it wasn't a very 'older brother' sort of stare. Those kinds of stares were wise and knowing, never all that surprised with whatever came from their little brother's mouth. This stare wasn't like that at all.
"That's true," he mused, then tossed him his glove, finger now unknotted. "So if it isn't Sakura or the missing Hinata, then why do you -"
"You're still on that?" But Sasuke was thankful for the change of conversation, so he slipped on his gloves, tugged his cloak off the hook on the wall, and said, "For a mission."
From behind, Itachi gave an understanding hum, and when Sasuke looked back, he -
He -
"Well, then." The bastard had the audacity to smirk at him! "I guess I was right. It is for a girl, isn't it?"
Tongue running against the backs of his teeth, clicking in frustration, Sasuke muttered a quick "I'm off. Don't expect me home anytime soon" before pulling his wings away from his back and shooting through the cold wind of Cloud 8.
...
To be frank, Sasuke was a bit peeved with everyone's reactions.
When it came to the Guard, there were many types of missions that he was put on. Bodyguard, assassin, undercover; but these were types of missions that almost any Guard could go on. However, there was a certain type of mission that called for a particular criteria to be met, and Sasuke just so happened to meet it. So when that particular type of mission came up, he was often the one to take it; not because he liked it - absolutely not - but because his sense of duty was such a pain in the ass that he just did it.
People knew he did.
He's taken at least a hundred of them by now.
They knew what it required, and yet, still, they had the gall to act all surprised by him.
"Sasuke, I have everything you need . . . for . . . ."
Karin was in charge of his schedule, for the sake of the Gods! She of all people knew how common of a thing this was for him. So when he entered her office to acquire the finished documents needed to confirm the mission and give him and the other two permission to go into Inuzuka territory and she gave him that look, as if she was knocked off her feet at the mere idea of it all -
"Karin," he said, frowning. "This isn't very professional."
"Ah - yes!" Her eyes snapped away, and she cleared her throat. "Yes, of course. The, um - the papers are right here for you."
Her left hand gilded towards her desk, and Sasuke walked away from the door to grab them.
"Where are the -"
"Shino should be with Hinata -" His eyes narrowed, and Karin put a hand to her mouth. "I mean . . . the Moon Witch. He should be with her at her office."
So Sasuke left, more peeved than before, and it was good that Hinata's office was a good ways away, or else he'd fear he'd fry her if he so much as stepped in the same room as her. He counted his breaths with every six of his quick steps, and by the time he saw Shino by the wall outside of Hinata's office, he was a bit more relaxed.
"Is she ready?' he asked, stepping next to him, eyes stuck on the door.
Shino's hum was buzzed and low. "Affirmative."
"It looks like we'll arrive at the base around sunset." If Sasuke were in charge of anything in regards to this mission, he would have left four hours ago. The Inuzuka were an annoying gang of bastards, but they were even more so when it became dark out. But this seemed to be a touchy mission for the Guard, and thus Orochimaru was in charge of the schedule. "I trust you are prepared."
Again, Shino buzzed. "Affirmative." But it lowered a tad as the man next to him shifted. "And I sense the same is to you."
Sasuke snapped his gaze away from the door to stare him down. Nothing was outwardly teasing about the guy, nor was he so struck about it like Karin was; but something about him still pissed Sasuke off, and he shoved his shoulder into the door to open it.
"I'll make sure she's ready," he said.
Shino didn't move an inch. "Of course."
...
Slamming doors was like cutting off the portal from one world to another.
The halls of the Guard were an irritating place.
Hinata's office, however, was like sanctuary; like a spring of life in the middle of a dead desert. Wherever she was, there was just a sort of shift in the air. He had felt it at the bar in the Hall back when they had first reunited. She just . . . made it peaceful. It was like her just being in a room gave it a sort of calming air.
But this was her office. There were no bartenders or drunks in the corner, no noise or annoyances. There were books that were touched with her warmth, parchment laid neatly to the side, awaiting to be scribed with the cursive ink of her thoughts.
When the door slammed behind him, he was locked into this world.
And he didn't mind one bit.
...
Behind her desk, Hinata stood with a rather alarmed look on her face. It almost matched Karin's expression just minutes ago. And, sure, it was exactly that expression that he was trying to avoid, that irritated him to no end, but -
"O-Oh, Sasuke," she sighed, shoulders drooping, face relaxing. "It's just you."
He walked over to her, a bit perplexed, himself.
He didn't really understand it, but there was something lodged in his chest. Thin and pointed, like the blade of her dagger.
"Are you ready?" he asked, attention turning to the duffle bag slouched on the left side of her desk.
She smiled and nodded, then leaned over to grab a folder off her desk. "About as ready as I could be."
In his own possession were the papers Karin had given them. "We need to take these to the Head," he said, "and then we will leave."
Hinata gave a hum to acknowledge his statement, but her eyes stayed on the folder as she slipped in open and glanced at the words inside. There wasn't much of a weight of nervousness upon her, so Sasuke assumed she was just rechecking the mission statement, making sure she was remembering all the important details. It was good to know at least someone had their attention on the matters at hand.
But . . . somehow, it was still a tad odd.
Everyone else noticed, yet it looked like she has yet to.
And would she ever?
Because, honestly, if Sasuke wanted anyone to notice, it would be her.
But her eyes never lifted from her reading as she rounded the desk, arm dipping to the side to grab her bag and balance the strap on her shoulder.
It was - irritating.
Because if she didn't notice, then it wasn't that huge of an issue - and yet the others made it seem as if the world was on its side. Or it could be the other case where it was that big of a thing, and Hinata only didn't notice it because she just -
Just what?
Wasn't conscious of him? Didn't care?
"Hurry up." The words came off harsher than he expected, a bit of his building frustration leaking from his mouth.
Hinata's head snapped up, face flushed. "Ah. Right. I -"
And her words stopped dead in their tracks as she looked at him. She had stepped next to him in her rush, but something stopped her from continuing towards the door - a thing Sasuke liked to believe was himself.
And based off of that startled glow in her eyes, maybe he was right.
"Moon Witch." He tipped his chin in a way so that he could regard her down the line of his nose. He's taken enough of these missions to know what kind of effect that had on people.
And Hinata didn't disappoint. Her flush turned bright, reaching the skin under the collar of her cloak, and her eyes snapped down to the floor as she skittered to the door.
"Yes," she whispered. "Yes, I'm ready."
Ready . . . .
He doubted that; but still, following behind her, lifting his arm in such a way as he opened the door for her that it almost encased her completely in his cloak, Sasuke indulged in the idea that, someday soon, she would indeed be ready.
The Inuzuka have a history of intense conflict with the Guard.
That was all Hinata could take away from the rundown report Orochimaru had given her. She's read it a million times, perhaps, but still, it was that fact that stuck with her throughout the night, prodding at the back of her subconscious. Not much information was given beyond that statement; there wasn't a paragraph that described the history between the two. From basic context, Hinata had a small understanding that, somehow, the Inuzuka played in illegal business; but beyond that, she knew nothing. Illegal went different ways, after all. Were they a group of serial killers? Or were they just tax evaders?
She doubted it was controversial to say she'd rather be in the home of a gang of tax evaders than serial killers.
But the document shared nothing.
The Guard and the Inuzuka simply did not get along, and it was her job to try to stitch up that gap between them.
"Which will not be easy," Neji told her, hovering a bit over her desk. The morning was fresh, but not young, but he did not match the new, hopeful atmosphere. "But you already understand that."
Of course, she did. Because she was now the Guard, as well, which meant whatever beef was between the two would now affect her. And even despite her training, Hinata was far from professional, so if they did not want her help, there was no way she could do so.
But . . . is that what she has to do? Help them?
It wasn't in the description of the mission provided to her. The whole reason she was going was to help her comrades get more information on the Inuzuka, not provide them with a few sessions of therapy. She didn't know why she had the idea in her head that this was the case - but she couldn't shake it, no matter how she tried.
It was a stir in her gut - the kind one gets when they look at a clear sky and somehow know it will rain later in the day. It was the smell of rain in the wind, or just the shade of blue that stretched across that large canvas above. Whatever it was, it was there, and when the rain came -
Well, in this case, the rain was the Inuzuka, and Hinata felt totally unprepared.
"Please," she whispered to herself, "let them be tax evaders. I'm not at the right level to deal with killers."
"Lady Hinata," Neji sighed, face dour. He hadn't shown a hint of joy or even satisfaction since the mission was assigned. Not that it was particularly off-putting, since he really hadn't been in a cheerful mood throughout the entirety of Hinata meeting him as the Moon Man at the bottom of the ocean. Even so, he looked about as concerned about this whole ordeal as she felt. "Just be how you normally are. If you prove yourself as unthreatening, I am sure . . . you will not be in as much danger."
As much!?
Her throat tightened, and Hinata snapped back to reading her document for the millionth and one time.
...
Shino, she already knew, had some connection with the Inuzuka.
Their clans were familiar with one another - perhaps even friendly. If it was only that fact that stood, perhaps Hinata would not feel as tense. But she understood the situation well enough. She had to help Shino because he was a Guard, no matter his family's relationship with the Inuzuka. He could be distant cousins with the leader of the clan and he'd still have a disadvantage due to his profession. And that was why she was called for. For him, it was her duty to keep the Inuzuka's trust in Shino. Her eyes would allow her to see their stresses and mistrust, and hopefully that would aid him in some way. Perhaps, if she was lucky, she'd be able to soothe those issues by plucking away those weeds of theirs.
But . . . when it came to Sasuke . . . .
Well -
The reason why he needed her help was blatantly shoved in her face the moment he pushed into her door and marched into her room, something of a scowl in his eyes as his gloved fingers flexed at his side. His annoyance was fluctuating in the air, the katana at his side snapping with electricity that flared with his mood, then died down upon her door shutting behind him with a loud and powerful force.
At first, it had scared her. At first, she was almost sure that mad had come back for revenge, ready to tear at her back once again.
But then she saw it all.
The annoyance, sure.
The dim glow of a lightning blade, of course. It was hard to ignore that.
But even despite half of his face still being covered in dark stickers, Hinata saw the difference - the effort put into how he portrayed himself. It was not that he ever looked messy or unprofessional; but, somehow, he looked more . . . clean.
His hair was combed in such a way that was less wild, his bangs sweeping more along the bone of his brow rather than simply hanging over his face. His gloves looked different - new, even. There was no flaw in their sleek, black leather, and they fit his hands so perfectly that Hinata could even see the indents of his knuckles. His cloak fell around him like a cape, wrinkless, and his shoes, while still adaptable to the wild terrain of Forest 6, still had a sort of flare to them.
Was she seeing things? Were there things there that weren't even that different?
Why did his skin look that way? It was always clean - but this - this was different.
His eyes were different. Not physically, but just the way he looked at things, like he was taking careful precaution to analyze every line in the floorboards and every inch of her face.
But he always did that?
Right?
Maybe she was seeing things. Maybe she was just tired.
But then, as she tried to pass him, there was -
It was like -
Somehow, a feeling came to her. The world was silver and glowing, sparkling. Silver danced in the wind, swaying, basking in the glow of the universe. Rain soaked the soil, tipping off of waltzing silhouettes, but it wasn't cold.
It smelled like Moon.
How did she . . . ?
She hasn't been to Moon for over a year, or so she's been told. Ino has barely given her any memories of her formal home.
Why did she remember this?
Why did Sasuke remind her of such a place?
But after her stunned surprise whisked away, realization touched the side of her skull, and it was then she remembered why she was needed to help Sasuke.
He was going to work his magic.
...
Watching Shino crank the dial of the Earth Gate to Forest 6 was a frightening experience. With all the collected memories in her head, rumbling and rolling, not one of them ever painted such a realm in a good light. It felt like breaking a set rule - Never Go To Forest 6. The thought was implanted in her brain, like instinct. Her senses told her to pull away, to step back when the dial clicked and greens and yellows spilled into the portal. It was like ice was breathing into her face. It was so cold, and she could smell cracked dirt and pine.
". . . to walk."
Shino's steady voice pulled her from the howling magic of the portal. She looked up at his face, trying to find his eyes beneath the cover of stickers.
"I'm sorry?"
"Inuzuka far to walk," he repeated. "Fine?"
Oh, she did not mind at all if she was given a little more time to come to terms with what she was about to walk into.
"I don't mind," she said.
He pulled his hand from the dial and turned to the gate. "No fear, Moon Witch." Her heart almost toppled out of her ribcage, but then she recalled they were in public. But no matter the situation, she would always prefer him calling her by her name. Just another reason to go back to her office, sat behind her desk with a new pile of books to scour through. He'd at least have the safety to call her by her name there. "The Inuzuka are good."
"Sure -" Sasuke started, then stopped, jaw clenching, mouth probably shut with great force to keep the rest of what he clearly wanted to say in his throat.
The green magic that smelled like crisp pine needles moved anxiously, impatiently, and Hinata took a small step forward before she could talk herself out of it.
"Okay," she said, "I'm ready."
Shino's antenni bowed towards her. Sometimes, she imagined them as magnets. They picked up things in the air, got a read on the mood, on the intensity of the situation; in some cases, it was as if he was absorbing the atmosphere. Whenever he did that around her, it was like he was scanning her, trying to properly understand what she was thinking. She could even see the muscles in his neck move as he tried to find words of comfort, of faith.
All she was doing was worrying them.
Really, she was probably making this out to be a lot worse than it was. If she was really in danger, they wouldn't have sent her.
It was fine.
It was fine.
...
She had the memory of Tamaki dragging her into Forest 3 still in her head.
And it wasn't so much that Forest 3 and Forest 6 were exactly similar - Forest 3 had more oak and vegetation and wild flowers sprouting about the place, while Forest 6 was almost a tundra of sorts, with frost still stuck to the bark of the surrounding trees. Rather, that sense of urgency was hanging in the air like it was in Forest 3.
When she had been on her knees, hands bleeding, trying to get away - it felt like that.
"Home," Shino announced once they all stepped out from the portal, the gate turning cold and silent behind them. She would have thought his definition of home was similar to how she viewed her home at the bottom of Ocean 11, but there was a warmth in his tone that overwhelmed the chill in the wind blowing between them.
"Is your home far?" She rubbed her hands together before hiding them under the curtain of her cloak. "I would like to meet the rest of your clan, one day."
"We Aburame stay in thick of forest, at foot of mountains." His upper-right hand raised to trace the jagged line of a mountain range in the far distance. "Near us lay the Inuzuka. They prowl the highlands."
"Paranoid bastards," Sasuke muttered to himself.
"Arrive we when sun sleeps behind the range," Shino continued, hand dropping to his side. "This best. Inuzuka most hospitable when moon leads the night."
Again, Sasuke looked very keen on rebutting that fact, but he clicked his tongue instead.
"Have they met many people from Sky before?" She understood there was a bit of a privilege the people from the Sky realms had over others. One could only reach sky with wings, which was obviously not something easily or safely obtained, and due to this, many Earth and Ocean folk had a sort of hatred towards the winged people. If the Inuzuka were a part of those people, her job would be all the more tricky.
It took a moment for Shino to answer. There was a silence around him that was pensive and . . . something else. Something that didn't match the quiet optimism he's maintained since getting word of this mission.
"Yes," he eventually said, "and terrible fate came upon them."
Hinata's face felt as cold as the air. "O-On the Sky people?"
"No." His antenni curled and flinched, like something had just jabbed into his side. "Terrible fate on the Inuzuka."
...
Maybe they had been walking for six hours.
Maybe it was longer.
All Hinata knew that when they arrived, it was pretty obvious.
On the side of a rather large mountain was the enormous mouth of a cave, daggered rocks stretching from the uneven, rocky floor to the top of the mouth. Fangs, Hinata immediately thought, which was not in the least bit a good sign. There was some sort of light source coming from within, though she was unsure if it were torches, bonfires, or some sort of magic. She looked for shadows to pass by, for figures to creep out from the cave, but nothing came.
It looked almost empty, though she wasn't about to assume as much.
About one-hundred yards away from the gaping entrance, they stopped. All four of Shino's hands were out in the open, which made Hinata instantly feel as if they were being watched. It was as if he was showing he had nothing to hide, and for the sake of being careful, Hinata pulled her own hands away from her cloak and hung them in the cold for any hidden eyes to see.
Sasuke however kept his arms crossed, not a bit of tension in the parts of his face she could see. He gave the line of trees to the east a passing look, then turned back to the cave.
"We . . . wait for them here?" She didn't know why she was whispering. It just felt right.
But Shino's voice stayed at its normal level as he replied, "Waiting is proper etiquette."
And so they waited. Hinata was glad her skin had grown accustomed to the frigid waters of Ocean 11, or standing in that horrid wind would have been almost tortuous. The wind tried to rip the cloak off her back -
Ah, or . . . wait.
That felt stronger than the wind.
Sasuke was behind her before she could turn around, and there was a low growl before a scattering of noises circled around them. She turned around again just in time to see two figures between them and the cave.
They -
They looked like -
"Aburame 480. The fuck are you doing here?"
Wild.
Their nostrils flared, irritated by whatever scent was in the air, and their dark eyes were thin and dilated. Large, pointed ears stretched from the desk of fur and hair on their skull, and at the end of every single finger was a claw that could probably rip her heart out of her chest. And when they sneered -
They sneered like Suigetsu.
Those fangs looked more like the teeth of a shark, and Hinata had to double-check their necks to make sure they didn't have gills hidden beneath their tufts of dark, rough fur.
Obviously, they were not happy for their company. On ears or in the corners of mouths, Hinata could see their weeds flex with agitation. Sasuke stayed close behind her, watching them, but his hand stayed away from his katana, and Shino didn't look concerned at all.
"Meeting. With peace."
"Peace, he says!" One of them howled. "Peace with a bunch'a fuckin' Guards. That's rich."
"You try somethin'," the other said, shoulders hunched back, "and you're dead. We've had'a nuff of your Guard shit."
The wind blew against their faces, and they yapped to themselves, raising their enormous hands to their faces to rub something out of their noses.
"Fuck, it's one of 'em."
"Here to start more shit?" When he yelled that, it sounded like he was yelling at her.
"If they want in so bad, then let 'em."
"Easier for us."
"Easier for us."
And so they stepped to the side, one to the left and the other to the right, and allowed them a clear path to the cave. It felt way too convenient, especially for a bunch of people who looked more willing to rip their heads off then let them get too close, and Hinata was suddenly very satisfied with waiting in the cold some more if need be.
But Shino already began to walk up to the cave, and Sasuke hummed behind her.
"Just walk," he told her, voice low, but despite his efforts, the Inuzukas' long ears perked and curved towards him as he spoke. "They won't do anything."
"Oh, we will," one of them barked.
"You stepped in our territory, you deal with the fuckin' consequences."
The warmth of a hand almost touched the back of her shoulder, but it stopped and fell back to Sasuke's side.
"I won't let them touch you."
Hot air wheezed from between her teeth, and she gave a small nod before following after Shino's back.
The trek up was unstable, and she had to keep her eyes on the ground to make sure she stepped on a semi-flat surface. It was difficult, however, when her head snapped up every time one of them scoffed or growled or stepped a little too close. She always felt their eyes drilling into her. Were they targeting her specifically? Was it because she looked the most scared in this situation?
Holding back a shiver, Hinata tried to straighten the line of her shoulders. In the corner of her eye, she found Neji's drifting apparition, the moon in his eyes taking in every ledge and cliff and rock that made up the mouth of the cave as they passed through it.
"Lady Hinata."
Suddenly, they were inside. There was a pit of fire near the middle of the large room, snapping and cracking with dry wood and bones. Antlers and furs decorated the walls.
That was all she could see before they were surrounded.
"An Aburame," called a deep, feminine voice from beyond the line of heads. They were all so big and bulky. Untamed. "A Thor Warrior." It was just teeth and claws and slanted, unyielding eyes. It smelled like smoke and blood. They cackled, they cracked, and they circled. "And a bitch from Moon."
Shino had told her that the Inuzuka had a leader of sorts. He gave no description, no name; only the fact that who knew this person and that if they got their approval, they would be safe with the Inuzuka.
The tall, large woman that came through the crowd with fire in her thin, black irises looked like the perfect match for an Inuzuka leader. Red paint highlighted her features. Feathers hung from her ears and decorated the end of her tangled, brown hair. There was a powerful, foreboding way she held herself, and when she moved, the crowd moved with her.
If Hinata's hunch was indeed true, then it was a sad fact to say that they were completely screwed.
Because when that woman looked down her nose at Hinata, all that came to her face was complete and utter disgust.
"They are targeting you," Neji said next to her, staring at the swarm of Inuzuka surrounding them, "and it's not because you look scared."
"You've got to be fucking with me!"
From the ceiling dropped a barbaric creature. His features were more animalistic than the others. His eyes glowed through the dim light. Heat poured from him, seeped from every iota of his form. His legs - at first, they almost looked broken. But when she looked closer, they were just bent back in the same way as the hind legs of a wolf.
When he dropped from above, he landed more inches from her, breathing smoke in her face. She yelped and jumped back, jamming her back against Sasuke.
"What is with you Moon people!?" the man continued to yell, neck craned forward, face twisted in anger. "You just keep showin'! And you - you're just like the last one, ain't ya. How the hell were you even allowed in here?"
"Kiba," Shino droned from the side.
"She'll be easier to deal with in here!" one of the men from before called.
"We'll rip her apart before you can do anything!"
"Throw her in the fire!"
"See how that makes them Moon fuckheads feel!"
Something shifted behind her, and then there was something hot and stinging to her right. The white, hot light of Sasuke's katana lay a hand's length away from Kiba's neck, and then it swept out towards the others that had been creeping in closer, dilating the circle they were stuck within. They jumped back and howled, smirking and grinning with fight.
"There ya go, hotshot!"
"That piece of shit can't save you from all of us!"
"You're next, after we tear apart this -"
"Kiba," Shino tried again, wedging an arm between her and the man that looked ready to sink his teeth into her neck to rip out her vocal cords, "she's healer."
His eyes snapped over to Shino, then to her. The corners of his mouth curled and sunk, but he pulled away and growled at the crowd, shutting them up within a couple seconds. The tall woman from before came to his side, still looking down at her, now with a bit of dour curiosity.
"You," Kiba yapped, glaring at Sasuke, "drop it before I claw your arm off."
The katana didn't lower at all. Hinata grabbed the hem of Sasuke's cloak, legs shaking.
Shino's antenni arched over his skull. "Sasuke. Down."
Steam hissed off the blade of lightning, and then, with a tug of reluctance, Sasuke sunk it back into his scabbard. His shoulders still curled around her, like a wall that kept her from the mob of bloodthirsty Inuzuka.
Relaxing a bit, Shino said to Kiba, "She heal Boss. She help."
Boss?
Did that mean this robust man before her that could silence at least seventy fierce, violence-hungry Inuzukas with one growl was not the leader?
"You think," Kiba said with a laugh, "that I'm just gonna let some Moon Guard in Boss's layer just cuz you're tellin' me she can heal him? It was her people that did it to 'im in the first place!"
"Very capable is she," Shino continued. "I've seen work. Her hands hold magic."
"Says the Aburame," the woman murmured. "Don't think we just forget what you bastards did to us last year!"
"We may be stupid," Kiba piped in, "but we remember when someone's screwed us over, and so far, all three of these ugly ass faces before me have done exactly that!"
Wait.
But Shino said -
"I-I -" She gulped upon a hoard of eyes turning on her, "I thought you . . . were friends with him."
Kiba balked. "WHAT!?"
"Friends who?" someone from the crowd yelled.
"An Aburame!? Fuck no!"
"Have you been living under a rock?" the woman asked her. "Everyone knows about the intense rivalry between the Inuzuka and Aburame gangs."
R-Rival!?
Rival gangs!?
"You blame her with no just," Shino murmured. "Her memory has vanished. She remembers nothing barely."
Kiba's shoulders curled. "Oh, that makes it so much better, huh? Let's let some freak with memory issues go in and heal our Boss! Gods, Aburame - you think we're stupid!?"
"We are stupid," someone piped.
"True. We are stupid," Kiba agreed, then frowned, "but this is just offensive."
"Tch." The warmth behind her backed away, leaving her to stand by herself. The wobble in her legs quaked, but she managed to stand upright. "Cowards."
It was a soft mutter, but those hundreds of ears stretched out the moment it hit the air.
"Huh?" Kiba gave Sasuke a look. "Who is?"
"Shall I be frank?" He tugged at the cuffs of his gloves, still flawless and perfectly fitting his hands. "If your leader is ill, but you refuse offered help because of someone that looks like her -" His head tipped her way, "then I'd be inclined to call you a coward."
"Oh, fuck off with that!" the crowd yapped.
"It was her people that did it in the first place!"
"Like we'd let the same thing happen again."
"Shut it!" Kiba snapped at everyone, then turned back to Sasuke. "So I take it you want me to just play in this little plan of yours, huh?"
Sasuke didn't even look at him, but rather turned his head towards the cave entrance. "Inuzuka, let's make a bet."
"Huh?" the woman gawked. "A bet with a Guard?"
But Kiba ignored her skepticism. "I'm listening."
Hinata was sure it wasn't reaching his mouth, but the smirk in Sasuke's eyes was as clear as day.
"Give her twenty minutes with your boss." His right shoulder rolled towards the entrance. "If she doesn't heal him completely, you can kick us out, and I'll inform the Guard to never step foot in your territory again."
The stickers on his face dipped from the gravity of his lie, and Hinata watched the faces around her to see if anyone else had noticed.
But no one else saw the weeds. Only her. And Sasuke's voice was so void, it would be impossible to tell otherwise if he was lying or not.
"Kiba." The woman put a hand on his shoulder. "I know what you're thinking."
"Don't worry, Hana." Wild eyes turned back on Hinata, and her spine went straight. "She won't do anything. I smell a lot of shit from her, and bein' some kind of miracle-worker ain't one of them."
Cold sunk into her stomach, but she kept her face up and her eyes clear. A bit of his mouth curled up, and then he looked back at Sasuke.
"Then I'll lead you there."
...
The cave was strangely complex.
There was a tunnel in the back that led to another room connected to four other tunnels, and then they ventured down the furthest one to the left until they came across a massive, wooden door. Chains hung from the top of it, and the Inuzuka grabbed them and began to pull them back. The wood groaned and lifted, and through the peek of space between the door and the ground, Hinata saw a graveyard of bones inside.
Oh Gods.
Something brushed against her left elbow, and she snapped back, yelping. Shino froze, as well, before pulling his arm back to himself.
"Apologies," he whispered. "I . . . was not . . . ."
"I-It's okay," she tried to reassure, glancing back at the door. "I'm just nervous. Shino . . . have you ever met the Boss?"
"Times too many to know," he said. "Like Aburame Queen, Boss leads with finesse. Blessed are the few to see this."
"He won't -" She looked around at the lot of people staring at her and bowed her chin, "eat me, will he?"
Shino tipped his head back in thought. "Not if you heal."
That only made the pounds of rocks on her shoulder all the heavier. Chains rattled and screeched as the Inuzuka continued to yank, the door lifted slowly and ominously.
"BOSS!" Kiba called, snickering. "We got you a friend to play with."
The shadows within the lair ebbed away as the light from the tunnel snuck in. The glow of beady eyes came first from the dark, followed by enormous, white paws that could crush her within a second. When she squinted, she could see the obsidian claws that were the size of the rocks that had protected the cave's entrance. Curled and wrinkled fur covered the snout, and dark, matteder ears were pulled back with warning. But what caught Hinata's attention the most were the piles of weeds dripping from the jowls of the gigantic beast, covering its lower jaw and getting trapped between lip and tooth.
Was . . . Was it a wolf?
Was their leader a wolf - and not even half-human, like the other Inuzuka. This was entirely canine, entirely animal!
How was she -
"Well?" The back of her hood was grabbed, and she was shoved forward. "Go ahead, mighty healer. Boss is waitin' for you magic touch."
She hunched forward, the door looming over her head. She quickly stepped inside in fear that they would drop it on top of her, but her sudden movements brought forth a ferocious growl from the beast.
"Don't think I'll just leave you alone with him," Kiba said at her side. "If you make one wrong move, you're dinner."
So it was just going to be him and her alone in this room with this monster of a creature? Her hand cradled her fingers, for she knew the moment she tried to pluck away those weeds, he'd snap them right off.
"Lower the door!"
"Someone start the countdown!"
As the door slowly descended back to the floor, the light pulled back, and the shadows took over the form of the creature once again. With her eyes, she could still see him perfectly - but something about the light made her feel less alone, less in danger.
"Oi!"
"Oi - Oi! Guard!"
Static washed over the left side of her body as Sasuke stepped next to her. Kiba snarled at him, ears pulling back.
"Fuck off! She's the only one who needs to be here."
"She's an important member of the Guard." Sasuke gave the Boss a look that barely registered anything, then looked down at her. Somehow, he still held that confidence and air of dazzling attraction that she noticed at the beginning of the day. "I will not allow her to be alone with the likes of you, Inuzuka."
"Tah," Kiba spat. "Have it your way. Nineteen minutes."
The door fell shut, rocking the cave, bits of rocks falling from the ceiling. Kiba moved to one corner, and Sasuke moved to the other, giving her room to find herself in the dark cave before the giant canine.
She tried to step forward, but it growled, teeth blinking at her.
"Hey," Neji muttered. "Slowly. Calm down. This will be easy for you to fix."
Her hands clutched at her chest as she looked at him, hoping he saw her desperation. I don't know what to do, she yelled in her head. A human and an animal are two different things!
Neji's hair swept behind him as he moved in front of her, blocking her from the beast.
"Follow my instructions," he said. "A lot of pressure is on you, so you have to listen. Do you understand?"
Its breath was heavy and hot, but Hinata couldn't help but shake.
Why did Sasuke make such a bet? she wanted to ask. I can't do this.
"He did it, Lady Hinata, because he thinks you can."
But . . . that -
"Have more faith in your abilities."
Gulping, Hinata gave her cousin a short nod.
Alright, Sasuke. Let's see what I can do.
...
"Bow to him."
Without any sudden movement, Hinata sunk onto her knees and pressed her forehead against the floor between her hands.
"Steady," Neji said. "He's watching you."
When she lifted her head a moment later, those black eyes stared back. Her heart wanted to lurch out of her body, but she kept herself steady.
"Keep your hands on the floor in front of you. Let him see you pose no threat."
She kept them there. That massive snout bent down to smell her, and though it curled, he didn't growl or make any move to attack her.
"You will have to speak to him. Let him hear your voice, but be gentle."
She lifted her chin just enough so that the Boss could see her mouth move. "I'm sorry to bother you. Um, do you sleep at night, or is this when you're the most awake?" His eyes lifted from his skull, but they didn't pull back in alarm. "I've been told you are ill. I can see it. It - it might be hard to believe, but I can see these sorts of things. Your mouth is covered in stickers. Does it hurt you?"
The Boss lifted his chin from the nook between his front legs and looked down at her, head a bit tipped.
"Good," Neji breathed. "Keep going."
"There's something I tell all my patients when I want to help them: I can only help if you let me. If you do not want me to touch you, I will not. But -" Slowly, she lifted her hands from the ground. A rumble came from the chest of the beast, but he did not snarl. "But if you will let me, I can help you not feel so ill. Would you like that?"
Her feet pushed under her legs and helped her stand. She kept her hands in front of her, always in his line of sight. His breathing was steady and balanced, and Hinata smiled up at him before peeking to the side, where Kiba was.
He had a rather puzzled look, as if he hadn't expected it to go as well as it was.
"Um," she said softly to him, "what is his name?"
His lips curled back. "Boss. You will only refer to him as Boss."
Neji drifted closer to her. "Akumaru."
"Akumaru," she said, raising a hand for that mass of stickers just a few inches away from her, "let me help you."
From the side, Kiba pushed away from the cave's wall, growling, "How'd you know that!? How do you know any of this!? What the fuck is up with you Moon people?"
The weeds snapped away from her as Akumaru's head lunged back. He snapped and growled, lips pulled back, canines rubbing against one another.
"Hinata." Neji's voice was pitched and desperate. "Hinata, back off."
Standing, towering over her, head rocking back and forth, Akumaru snarled from deep within him. His claws dug into the floor, scratching marks into the stone. His hind legs crashed down on bones, snapping them into pieces, shattering them.
"Hinata," Neji said again.
Above her, foaming, was the beast. It yapped and snapped, and leaned over her, aiming. But even in the dark, she could see them - the stickers. She saw them fizz. She saw them waver.
"Hinata!"
So instead of pulling away, she reached towards that snapping mouth, grabbed a wad of fur and stickers, and yanked it off until it was nothing but a hissing pile at her feet.
...
Her hand was trapped in a cage of yellow teeth.
But it -
It didn't hurt.
...
Those beady eyes that had regarded her with such disdain not five minutes ago now had a sort of - a sort of doggish flare to them. Her hand was in his mouth, but he didn't bite down on her - it was like he felt the difference once the stickers were off. Maybe he did.
"Akumaru," she said, putting as much force behind her voice as she could, "let go."
His ear perked at her tone, and his sweeping tail stilled.
"My hand," she said. "Let go of my hand, Akumaru."
Slowly, his lower jaw dropped, allowing her to remove it from his mouth. She wiped the saliva on the rocky floor before looking back up at him.
"Don't you feel better?" She touched her own jaw. "Your stickers are here, but they're loose. I can take them off." Then she lifted her hand up to him. "Will you let me?"
His snout came to smell her fingers, and then he pushed his wet nose into her palm. Smiling, she kept the hand there as the other one began to work on plucking off the rest of the mess.
...
"Holy shit."
By the time the last of the stickers were decaying at her feet, Akumaru had his gigantic body curled around her, snuggling the side of his face into her body as his tail wagged hard against the floor, making the entire room shake. When she looked up, she saw Kiba stare at the sight of them, completely dumbfounded.
"You . . . did it."
He ran his claws through his hair, scratching at his head.
"I dunno how, but you did it."
Yanking chains and huffing sounded behind him as light once again poured into the room. At least fifty heads popped into the room, caught sight of their mighty Boss lapping at Hinata, panting and slobbering, and filtered into the cave.
"She didn't -"
"She did!" Kiba announced, his shocked expression now replaced with absolute glee. "It's our old Boss again! She's a miracle worker!"
Howling and hoots filled the room as a group of Inuzukas hopped on the giant dog to give him belly rubs and scratch him behind the ears. Paws and legs went flying, and she almost got hit twice as she tried to sneak away from the crowd. Thankfully, a hand caught her cloak and yanked her into safety, and just as she was about to thank them, her words died when she saw it was Kiba.
"Ah, shit - don't give me that look!" he whined, lifting a leg to scratch awkwardly at the back of his neck. "Look - alright - look, I'll be the first to apologize. The last time we had someone lookin' and smellin' like you, a whole bunch'a shit happened - and we just didn't want to put Boss in danger again."
Relief was cool and calming upon her cheeks, and she smiled at him, glad to know his hatred for her no longer stood - at least not as fiercely.
"I understand, and I'm glad I was able to help him."
"It's been a long time since I've seen him so happy." Kiba grinned at her - and yes, even his grin reminded her of Suigetsu. "You really helped our asses. Had I known, I wouldn't have caused so much trouble for you."
She shook her head. "I think we got off on the wrong foot. Um, if you don't mind, you can call me -"
"Mistletoe."
Huh? "Pardon?"
He leaned in a bit to smell the collar of her cloak, then nodded to himself. "Yup. That's what you smell like. What, no one's ever told you that before."
"I . . . no." I didn't even know mistletoe had a scent. "Is it . . . bad?"
"Smells fine to me!" His eyes caught a moving figure, and he lifted a hand to them. "Oi, Shino! Get your ass over here!"
"Ah, so I am again Shino."
"Ah - quit! You know we was messin' with you. Hey, fair's fair. You came here to spare a word with us, yeah? Well, I can't speak for everyone, but I'm sure Boss won't mind hearin' you dirty Guards out for a lil bit."
"Easier the path of nonconfrontation, old friend. But suffice will this."
Kiba cocked his head. "Huh? You're talkin' riddles again. Is the meeting still on?"
". . . Yes."
...
"Sasuke."
He was still at his spot on the wall, watching the group of Inuzuka play-fighting with the enormous Akumaru. No line of stress or worry was on his face, and his posture looked relaxed and normal.
"Kiba has agreed to listen to us," she told him. "Will you come?"
Maybe he had been a statue all that time, for the moment she spoke, he came back to life. He blinked down at her, then pushed himself away from the wall.
"Lead the way, Moon Witch."
She took two steps, then stopped, then turned back to him.
"Would it be alright if I thanked you?" His jaw did not move, but his eyes narrowed in wonder. "For believing in me. Thank you."
"Keep walking."
On the other side of the cave, she saw Hana was motioning her people out of the cave so they could discuss the matter in private. Even from her spot far away, Hinata could see the disdain still in her eyes when she looked at them. But not a word escaped her as she guided the Inuzuka under the door.
"Why did you ask?"
She hadn't expected Sasuke to speak anymore, so when he did, she nearly jumped two inches into the air. "What?"
"Why did you ask if you could thank me?" He gave her a look in the corner of his eye. "You should just thank me."
Her mouth tipped up. "But whenever I do, you ignore me."
"What."
"Or you get angry."
His brows furrowed.
"Or you get embarrassed."
"No, I -"
Her smile turned teasing, and he directed his gaze onto the ceiling.
"Keep walking."
"I am walking, Sasuke."
"Then walk faster."
...
With the cave now empty save from the three of them, Kiba and Hana, and Akumaru, the cold of Forest 6 was slowly seeping back into the cave. Piles of furs were placed onto the rocky ground, giving them all a comfortable spot to sit, while Akumaru rested his head on his paws and listened intently.
"We come here at the request of Lady Sakura of Forest 3."
If this part hadn't been in the mission documents given to her, Hinata would have been a bit put off. But for the sake of her anonymity, they decided it was best that they used Sakura's name in place of her own.
"That chick who's marrying the Sun King?" Kiba dug at his right ear, huffing. "What the hell does she want from us?"
"We have reasons to believe, actually, that it is her stalker that has been interested in the Inuzuka." Sasuke's words got Hana and Kiba's attention instantly, and Hinata focused on the weeds under their eyes and along the side of their jaws. "Six months ago, a tracker beetle was found in the vicinity of Lady Sakura, and based off the the analysis provided by Shino Aburame, we understand it is in this area of Forest 6 where it can be found."
"Yeah, sure," Hana said, "but we all know the Aburame are the bug people. What points the finger at the Inuzuka."
Sasuke gives Shino a look, who leans forward in his cushion of fur. "Upon examination of comrade, found on comrade was residue of . . . it."
This, however, was not provided to Hinata at all in her documents. But based off of the wide-eyed looks of the two Inuzukas, they knew exactly what Shino was getting at.
Hana frowned to herself, cracking her knuckles together. "How -"
But she was cut off by Kiba's obnoxious bark, and he scoffed to the side. "Sure. Sorry, Shino, but I doubt this stalker has any interest in pottery."
"Pottery?" Hinata asked. "I do not understand."
Shino opened his mouth, then closed it, then opened it again. "Inuzuka have special craft in pottery -"
"Hypothetically," Sasuke cut in, folding his arms.
"Fuck off with that," Kiba snapped. "What? You think we out dealin' somethin' else than pottery? You Guards are all the same - makin' something out of nothin'."
"I apologize if the Guard is not inclined to believe that the Inuzuka of all people have both the skill and the patience to make pottery all day. In fact, I haven't seen a single working station here -"
"Ah, right, because you've just been all over the base, huh? Look, dumbass, if you haven't found anything - and I know you have - then maybe you should start, then maybe it's time to get your head out of your ass and -"
"Fact remains," Shino said, leaning forward, gaining everyone's attention. "Residue of it on comrade. This our reason to come."
Forcibly pulling himself back, Kiba hunched over, elbows resting on his knees. "Shit reason, if you ask me."
"Few days," Shino continued. "We ask few days to investigate. That all. No more."
"A bunch'a Guards playin' sleepover in our base," Hana muttered. "How thrilling."
Kiba didn't look as happy at the prospect, either. But the stickers under his chin fumbled and rolled with his skin as he pondered to himself. When he looked at her, Hinata tried to look back, though she could not help the heat coming to her face.
"Fine."
Hana looked at him. "Kiba."
"You Guards may not think us the most moral of people - but no matter the cost, we pay our debts." He gave a boyish grin her way, making his tan face look a little lopsided. "Mistletoe here saved Boss, here. I think this is the least we can do to thank her."
Above them, Akurmaru barked, pleased, and Kiba clapped his hands together.
"That's our ruling! Aburame, Guard, Mistletoe - welcome to the Inuzuka clan!"
"Inuzuka hides well the things hold dear."
The same line of thought was drifting through Hinata's mind as they were escorted to a small room on the west end of the cave. She had seen it on their face, a firmness in their weeds. There was definitely something the Inuzuka was hiding from them.
The problem was that they had to figure out how to get them to spill it.
"You don't think . . . they know who the stalker is, do you?"
"No." It was Sasuke who spoke this time as he gave the rags and furs of his bed a scrutinizing look. "I doubt they'd be able to recognize any face that's right in front of them, let alone the one of a stalker who is bent on keeping his identity hidden."
That could be very true, but Hinata was still stuck on what Kiba had told her earlier. He had said there was someone who looked and smelled like her that had caused them a lot of problems - one of which, she guessed, was putting all those stickers on poor Akumaru.
And by looking like her . . . did he mean they had been from Moon?
Was her stalker from Moon?
"Fear not," Shino said, face turned towards the door of the room - or, well, the plank of wood wedged between two boulders of which the Inuzuka called a door. "Aburame and Inuzuka have history. Secrets of one another are known to the other. I know the key to get mouths open and spilling."
He moved, as if to push against that plank of wood and leave, but he stopped himself.
"Moon Witch," he said. "Fine?"
She looked down at herself, trying to figure out if there was something about her that made him ask such a question.
"I'll watch her." But Sasuke answered before she could find anything. "Go ahead."
He hesitated for only a moment longer, then left through the doorway.
Almost instantly, Sasuke collapsed on his thin mattress of rags and fur, rubbing at his stickers and sighing into the cold air.
"Damn it."
Immediately, she went over to him, looking at his face, making sure none of his stickers were growing back or stretching out to cover his clear skin. "Sasuke, are you -"
"I'm beginning to believe you are trying to kill me."
Her panic, for a moment, subsided. "What?"
He lifted his arms to cover the majority of his upper face, but she could still get a glimpse of his eyes. "Who in their right minds brings their arm closer to an animal that looks ready to bite their head off?"
Oh, he meant that.
But . . . but he didn't look all that bothered at all back in Akumaru's lair.
"You saw that?" she asked.
He lifted his arm a bit to give her a look. "I was there."
"Y-Yes, I know. But . . ." Her words left her. What was she even trying to say?
He stared at her, watching her face like he had that morning, when they were in her office, before completely covering his gaze from view.
"I was worried."
She knew that. Somehow, it was already there in her mind.
But - still - it was nice to hear him say it out loud.
"Thank you, Sasuke."
He huffed, a bit of fog leaving his mouth.
She waited, and waited, then smiled.
"You're doing it. Ignoring me."
"I'm not ignoring you."
"I was telling the truth. You can never just take the thank you."
"Enough, Moon Witch."
Chapter 25 - End