Encounter
With his back to me Haku began to walk away as millions on thoughts fired through my brain
"Where are you going?" Turning to give me a sickly smile he replies.
"Final prep let's meet back here in five?" Haku didn't wait for a response from me, he just turned his back on me and disappeared.
"Get it together" I quietly tell myself. Sticking to the shadows I hastily made my way to the guesthouse, climbing over the garden wall I didn't want to walk into anyone. Creeping into my room I gently plucked at the loose floorboards, picking up the dried leaves I quickly pluck the flowers from the stem, crushing them between my fingers. I didn't have a mortar or pestle so this rough job would have to do, placing the crumb in a banana leaf I tie the ends of my package and stuff it into a fold in my bandages. I take up the clean shirt bringing it to my nose and taking a big stiff, I may never own anything this clean again I stuff it into my hip bag.
Pacing as I waited for Haku the adrenaline coursed through my vein churning my anxiety into a big ball that sat on my chest, crushing me. Each second that went by was more time for those bodies to be found.
"Where have you been?" I ask finally seeing him in the distance.
"I told you last minute prep."
"Let's go." I instruct.
"You've changed your tune." Haku observed, ignoring him I stop come to a very abrupt kneel.
"Let me survey the bunker first." Closing my eyes I cast my chakra down into the basement, speed running every corner the bunker was empty apart from the Anbu guard that stood at attention in front of the door. Opening my eyes, I replay this information back to Haku.
"One guard by the door, one San dart should do" I warned.
Creeping down to into the basement through a hidden hatch, we try to be a quick and careful as possible. Staying low and taking light steps we silently make our way to our last turn, the last corner. Crouching low at the corner I give Haku a nod as he slowly takes out his flute and fits in a San dart aiming it at the opposite wall. We'll have to hope it rebounds off the wall. From memory I guide Haku aim, taking a big breath in signalling he had to push hard.
Peaking around the corner Haku fires but misses, whipping my head back around I mouthed,
"You missed." Hearing heaving footstep approaching I take my long baton from its holder waiting for the right moment to strike. Striking low at his feet he jumps as the baton sweeps under his feet. Kicking up from the low stance he counters grabbing my shin pulling me from the floor. Twisting in his grip I rotate my body to strike with my other leg, dislodging his mask – red hair. My relief was only momentary as Haku charged towards us, knocking us to the floor.
"Go on!" He demands, tussling with the guard on the floor.
Running to the door I try the handle
"Hurry!"
Bracing the baton between the floor and the door handle I break the handle and run in. Taken back I hadn't expected the inside to look so plain. Resembling a storage cupboard, the small room was filled with shelved stocked with boxes reaching the ceiling. There was dust everywhere.
Concentrating my chakra into my hands I let it guide me, walking toward the very back of the room. Feeling the vibrations in my hands get stronger and stronger I move a box out of the way, pushing my hands deeper into the shelves until my hands were pulsating. Wrapping my hand around a tub like object I knew this was it. This was it. What I've come all this way for, caressing the bindings I was brought back to reality by the grunts from Haku and the guard as they continued to fight. Throwing the scroll over my shoulder I take my baton in my hand in hopes to knock the guard out, but he dodged each of the attacks. With his attention focused on me Haku moved behind him taking out his darts before stabbing him in the neck. As the guard fell to the floor, I saw three San darts sticking
"What are you crazy?" Pulling out the darts I turn him the guard around, so he was facing up
"You got it, let's go Momoko." Haku walks off back in the direction he came, not looking back once. The guard begins to convulse in my arms as foam seeps out from the corners of his mask. Taking his mask off his eyes were wide and blood shot as his body took in the poison. I knew there was nothing that could be done for him at this point, I had seen this many times before, but I never stayed for this part. His chest that had been rapidly raising and falling a moment ago slowed as his eyes cased upwards as he stilled. Casting my hand over his eyes I close his eyelids and rest his mask slightly on his face.
Leaving him I run to catch up with Haku who was stood outside waiting for me with a big smile on his face.
"Good send off?" He asks smugly, I didn't respond.
In silence we run through the village jumping from roof top to roof top as subtly as possible.
"Through the gate." Haku says.
"The front gate. Are you crazy, they'll see us."
"It wont matter now anyway." Running of in front of my Haku climbs down from the roof top sprinting towards the gate, seeing him raise his flute for the third time tonight sent chills through my bones, which urged my legs on to catch up to him before he could fire.
"Give it." I demand, snatching the flute from his hands as he hands me four darts. As we approached Izumo and his counterparts raised from their desk, confusion clouded their faces. I fired twice hitting them both once as they slump to the floor.
"Another" Haku shouts trying to take the flute from me. In stead I take it between both hands and break it in half. Leaving the village, we run as fast as we can for as long as humanly possible. We needed to get as much distance between us as possible. The bodies at the gate would be found soon if they hadn't be discovered already, the guard body might stay that way for longer. After running for what felt like hours we slow down coming to a brisk walk, looking back Konoha was far in the distance.
"Let's have a look." Haku pants out, excitedly reaching for the scroll on my back, shrugging him off I feel the ager boiling inside of me.
"Are you intentionally trying to screw us over." I seethe, looking at him from the corner of my eye.
"One dead guard. So, what you got to spare the other two. I bet you feel good about that." Haku was all smiles and even had a pep in his step. I was mortified.
"One dead guard." I repeat.
"We've left anyway. That ain't even the best of it" He schemed; my next words flew out of my mouth before I could process what he had said.
"Yes, and you're leaving them a lovely trail to follow. Wait, what?"
As if on cue there was a loud explosion in the distance as the blaze of the explosions caught my eye as smaller explosions went off. Squinting hard the realisation that Konoha was in flames winded me. Was that what he was up to when he left, setting up bombs around the village.
"Youve lost yourself to darkness Haku." I look at him in disbelief. Yes, we had done awful thing in the past but only out of necessity. Compete the mission and leave, nothing more nothing less. But this was beyond anything I had seen and heard what Haku done in the past. He laughed at in my face.
"No, I embraced it." He continued to reach for the scroll on my back as I put distance between us, before throwing m hands in the air pointing back to the village.
"There are people there Haku, innocent people. Children! All with their own little lives. We got what we came for why do that?" I cry out. Haku lost his smile and stalked toward me, poking me in my chest.
"Who the hell do you think you are sitting on your high horse looking down at me." Looking down at me as I stood my ground.
"I know you. I've seen what you've done. How many things and people you've delivered, I know everything" With each word he jabbed at me.
"I only did it because -" I start.
"You had to." He laughs finishing my sentence.
"That's rich AND getting old now. You're the one that's changed not me so don't look at me like that. Give it to me." He fumes holding out his hand.
"Is that why you're here? To reminisce about the good ole days. The only good thing about back then is that you weren't as spineless as you are now."
"Dumb doesn't suit you." Grabbing my face, he twists me around forcing me to look back at the village where small pockets of fire burnt.
"I want you to know there is nothing there for you. Remember that." He whispers in my ear before roughly pushes me away. My rage began to build.
"You can never go back there. You lied and you stole, and you did it in the worse way possible. You pretended to be the victim. There is nothing for you there now." My rage over flowed as I spat out.
"She would have hated the man you are now." I screamed. He stops dead in his tracks and slowly turns to me, stalking back to me slowly. His predatory walk didn't deter me and I pushed on meeting him in the middle.
"Do you enjoy the pain you inflict on other Haku, just like him. Even I'm disgusted looking at you."
"If you know what good for you, you'll stop right there." He says calmly.
"Or what you'll get him to break my other arm. Or do it yourself." I now jabbed him in the chest as years of repressed emotions bubbled o the surface spilling over. Fanning away my hands he replies.
"Don't blame me for your action. You brought that ragtag team to his door. You spilled his secrets. You got them killed. You killed her."
"No, I loved her!" I screamed.
"You didn't love her like I did! If you, did you wouldn't have let her die for you. You got off lightly." He shouted just as loud as I had.
"She made me promise we -."
"We! There's no we, not after hearing about you plans behind my back. don't think I don't know your ticket is for one."
"I would have taken you with me if you didn't stab me in the back first." I yell in his face. The words we let loose now was the first time either of us acknowledged that we were walking down different paths. After my arm was burnt, he was gracious enough to let me recover in peace out of his sight in the cells. Said he couldn't stand to see my face. The cells were shared with his ever-revolving door of prisoners. The same cell Haku and I used to share, but he never came back. Haku never came to see how I was healing. Haku had been given a bed and his own room, he wasn't my cousin anymore.
"You left me, first. I needed you and you were gone."
"I've been there you! Not your mom or you dad, me!"
"Where were you when I needed you huh. What happened to our plan? You threw me away like trash."
As he opened his mouth to speak again a kunai knife with a paper tail sliced through between us. Paper bomb. Our expressions mirror each other's, wide eyes and shocked faces. We rush to get further away from each other as the paper bomb goes off, sending the both of us flying in opposite directions.
Rolling on the ground I scramble to get to my feet, hearing the leaves rattle as our attackers closing the distance between us. Hiding behind a tree I peak around it to see if I had been spotted. Suddenly another paper tailed kunai hit the tree, missing me by millimetres.
"Shi-" another explosive went off flying me into another tree, my ears ring out and I fail to determine up for down for a short moment.
Rough hands pull me to my feet, it was Haku. Blinking heavily, I try to focus on what he was saying but the ringing in my ears was persistent. Shaking my shoulders and taking the scroll from me, I only understand a few words.
"Separate... lose them...swamp...downstream... keep going..." And then he was gone. My ears stopped ringing, but I couldn't hear as well as I had before.
Seeing a light flash in the distance I take out my kunai from my holster to thwart the weapon hurling at me. I women walked into my eyesight, the same one who called Shikamaru for a mission.
"I knew ... trouble... " Tamari point her fan at me, trying to buy time until my nausea completely stopped.
"What?" I clearly out holding my ear, indicating I could not hear her. She was taken back and showed me a stern face with a heavy frown.
"I said I knew you were trouble."
"What?" I called again. I had definitely heard that time but each time I reach my ear I was able to attempt to draw the baton from its holsters.
"Enough!" she shouts opening her fan, I throw my knife at the fan piercing it before she could do any damage. Looking at me she throws her fan down and we charge at each other. She dodges as I try to hit her, countering I kick her in the stomach sending her tumbling down a steep slope. Running down straight after her she doesn't get the chance to get back onto her feet as I point my baton at her.
"Don't. Move." Huffing she says.
"What are you gonna do, kill me like that guard?" I hit her in the head with by baton and she falls back
"Tamari!" A voice shouted from above us. Taking her body by the feet I drag her into bush to conceal her. Leaves crunch behind me and I slowly rise, instantly recognising that smooth voice.
"Is she?"
"No, she's still breathing." I turning to look at him the perspiration on his brow didn't suit his calm demeanour.
"I almost didn't believe it when Tamari told me."
"You're suppose to be on a mission."
"Where's the scroll" He asked walking towards me. How did they know it was gone?
"Not with me."
"Where's Haku." I shrug each speak he took towards me I took one back.
"I don't know." I needed to leave he longer I spent here the more uncertain the outcome would be, I begin to turn on my heel but I'm unable to move. Shikamaru had performed the hand signs for his Jutsu.
"Don't do this Momo." My heart ached.
"Please Shikamaru stand aside. I don't want to hurt you."
"I can't do that."
"Well, you leave me no choice." My will was more powerful than any jutsu and I wouldn't let anyone stand in my way. I was so close. I fought and fought until I broke his jutsu and pointed my kunai at him. Shocked he took a step back. I raised my knife to ready for an attack, but it didn't come. Shikamaru throw down his kunai and walked towards me with his hands in the air in a surrender.
"You wouldn't hurt me." He assured me. How could he know that?
"Get back." He now stood right in front of me as my kunai pierced his jacket, leaning in as a stood as still as a statue. Why hadn't I just made a run for it? Was I looking for someone to talk me down?
"I know it couldn't have been you who set off the bombs. This isn't you." He holds my wrists as I stand firm. Any longer here, like this and I would be done for. He should hate me. I'd make him hate me.
"But it is." I say giving him a sad smile.
"Talk to me."
"It's what I do. It what I've been trained for."
"Where's the girl who risked her life a couple of days ago." He countered; I had lowered my kunai desperation wanting to rest my head on his chest.
"She never existed. I just needed your trust." I explained. He looked me over, searching my eyes but I kept them hard and blank. I wanted him to hate me just as much as I hated myself.
"You haven't read it. You don't know what's in it. Which means you're just a delivery runner." Pulling me into him he hugs me close as I resist the urge to wrap my arms around him.
"This kind of information needs to be kept save and away from people like your bandit."
"I need this." I whisper
"Let me help you."
"He always gets what he wants."
"Let me help you.' He repeats
"I'm so close to getting what I want, I won't let anyone interference, even if it's you" Pulling myself away I hold my kunai tight.
"I was afraid you might say that, now Ino." He calls out.
"Mind possession jutsu." I felt a rush of cakra rushing towards me almost knocking me off my feet as I feel Ino creep into my mind.
"Find out where they're heading - we'll need to deal with this from the source." Sensation began to leave my body as Ino took over, pushing my chakra out of my body I watch as my body goes limp and Shikamaru reaches out to catch me.
"That's odd." Ino
"You see Ino there is nothing here for you." Allowing my chakra to return to by body I answer her.
"I can't get anything." She complains.
"Try again." Choji demands
Before I can be controlled by that jutsu again I throw my head back, hearing a crunching sound as my skull hammers into Shikamarus tender nose. Shaking him off I continue down the slope feeling a strong breeze coming from the east, water.
"Choji get her." Choji stand in my way as I run toward him at my top speed skidding through legs as he transformed. Raising to my feet again I run towards the ledge taken back by the cliff's height. I jump off arms and legs waving in the air, I propel down into the water. Missing the jagged rocks, the water throws hurtling through the stream. Coming up for air I let the current carry me further before hauling myself onto the bankside. Seeing something move in the shadows I throw my kunai indiscriminately, Haku come out.
"You look like shit." He spoke.
"You don't look so hot either." He was holding onto his leg limping slightly.
"Where did you come from." I point to the ledge, ringing out pieces of my clothes and hair.
"You jumped that." He asked and he hobbled over.
"Yes"
"You look flustered. Do you want a break?" I had a sneaking suspicious that this break was for him and his leg than me.
"No, I want to see the scroll." I hold out my hand
"Why." He asked defensive.
"Let me see it," I repeat. Tentative he hands it to me, and we begin our brisk walk again however Haku was struggling to keep up. Unravelling it I read the scroll, transformation jutsu, reanimation jutsu. Scanning the words there was many jutsu's I didn't understand but this didn't look good.
"Fuck," I gasped Haku joins me to look at it.
"No wondering they're so hot on us," He breaths out stumbling a bit, looking down his leg the I could see his gash.
"You're hurt." I say.
"Yeah, they got me." Bending down to look at it I move his trouser leg out of the way. And exit and entry wound, straight through the muscle.
"With what?" I say poking is slightly to gauge his reaction, he jerked his leg away.
"Something sharp."
"You took it out?" This would mean excess bleeding.
"Yeah, couldn't run with it." He wipes his forehead.
"Should have left it in. That's a lot of blood" I conclude before getting up.
"But you can patch it right." Haku was nervous.
"Yes, but not out here we need to put more distance between us."
Taking out a bandage I bind his leg as tightly as possible so slow the bleeding and give us time.
"I'll stitch it as soon as I can. What do you think he'll do all this jutsu" I ask him. Haku doesn't respond and just asks me his own question.
"Will you leave" We both had answers neither of us wanted to hear.
"He'll never let you leave."
"This is priceless, and he can't have both. I'm putting my foot down"
"Check you out." He laughs.
"Why did you come Haku." I ask.
"To make sure you come back." He says.
"You knew what was in the scroll."
"I have certain privileged. You know this."
"I guess you're happy to watch his destroy everything."
"He calls it... liberating." Stopping to turn to him I say,
"He sick, you're sick if you believe that."
"Watch how you talk about him remember You're sick too. I'm ready to put this whole mess behind us and go home"
"That place isn't-"
"Enough I don't want to argue again or do you want to have another run in with more bombs"
"I guess not."
"Did I tell you, you look like shit."
"I've heard that one already." We were on the home stretch but I felt terrible.
The home stretch is here. What'll happen next?