Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Rated R for: Graphic violence, adult language, adult situations, and sexual content.
* * * * * *
Tora breathed in relief as she reentered the kitchen, flopping down on a chair. Itachi made her so antsy, but this time the bird that sat on her shoulder soothed her fear. Tora smiled appreciatively as she patted the bird's head again.
"Whoever you are, you can come out now," Tora said to a seemingly empty kitchen. Suddenly, a man leapt down from the ceiling and bowed slightly to Tora. He wore an Akatsuki cloak, exactly the same as Tora and Itachi's. Blue bangs framed his pale, smooth-skinned face, and short sapphire locks shielded the rest of his head. Vivid blue eyes, exactly the same as the bird on Tora's shoulder, stared into Tora's own green eyes. He stood roughly six feet tall and intimidating, but showed no malice towards Tora. Instead of attacking, he bowed deeply and smiled at the girl.
"Hello, Tora-sama. My name is-" the man started to introduce himself, when a cold voice interrupted.
"Aosuzu, you bastard, what are you doing here?" Itachi hissed from the kitchen doorway that led to the stairs. The teenager glared icily at the man who stood before Tora.
"Itachi-sama, long time no see," the man greeted pleasantly. Tora glared at both of them.
"Itachi, do not bother yourself with this man," Tora said placidly, trying to get Itachi to go away. "I'll take care of you later."
"Yes, you will... take care of me," Itachi smirked as he moved over behind Tora and wrapped his arms around her waist sneakily and rested his chin on her shoulder. Aosuzu seemed to be taken slightly aback, until Tora spoke again.
"Itachi-sama, go away. I'll see to our guest." Her temper seemed under control until she slipped away from a rather surprised Itachi and gave him a quick backhand. Itachi glared at her, taking only one shot and that was to reopen her scarred neck. He disappeared out of the room.
"My, you two seem friendly," Aosuzu chuckled.
"It is far more violent than it look, sir," Tora said apologetically as she held a towel to her neck. "Now, what brings you here?" Tora asked, reaching down to pet the crimson bird that perched on the table, staring at the guest.
"Firstly, I would like to thank you for retrieving my dear Houou," the man said with a smile, holding out his hand. The bird squawked happily and fluttered over into the man's callused palm.
"He is yours?" Tora asked. "I found him at my doorstep. What happened?"
"I sent him ahead to scout out the land lest I need to take shelter, and I suppose that the storm was just too much. I was headed this way to give you a message, Tora-sama." Aosuzu played absentmindedly with the bird, wrestling playfully with his hands. The bird squawked in bliss and fought back with beak and wing.
"And that is...? Something has happened?" Tora pried, but then blushed. "Oh! Please, Aosuzu-sama, have a seat!" The man smiled and sat down at the table across from Tora.
"I am just bringing a message to you from Orochimaru-sama. He has just deflected from the Akatsuki, and wished for me to deliver this," Aosuzu said, reaching inside his cloak and pulling out a small scroll.
Tora smiled and slid it into her ninja pouch, not bothering to read it immediately. "So, he had left the Akatsuki? I wonder why, he seemed plenty strong and willing when I fought him."
"Apparently, he wants to start his own hidden ninja village. He already has a small army of jounins, and has been visiting villages and recruiting little children. He has been planning for a long time, he just hasn't told anyone about it until now." Aosuzu leaned back in his chair and smiled at Tora. "You must be quite a fighter to be in the Akatsuki at such a young age. Few actually survive the tests."
"It is nothing major, I suppose that I just learned from the best," Tora said with a nostalgic little smile.
"So, Itachi is after you?" Tora nodded. "He was raised as a prodigy, so he doesn't know much about how normal people feel. I suppose that him being a sage doesn't help, he feels that he is free from moral law and conduct." Tora marveled at this man's reasoning, he was so wise it seemed. "But why did he hurt you so badly, I wonder? You must be something special, he usually just knocks someone out without leaving a mark."
"Itachi, as my superior in strength, has made me his little puppet. Somehow, I haven't quite figured it out yet, this cut holds me to him. I can't bring myself to leave this place." Tora sighed. "I don't know why he wants me so badly, and I really don't care to find out."
"Well, let's talk about it straight, Tora- you are a knockout. You are sexy, silent, and mysterious, with curves and a loyal attitude. Most guys would kill to have you stuck to them at the hip. Maybe Itachi just feels the same as most men."
"You don't... see me that way, do you?" Tora asked sheepishly. "I mean, you don't look at me like everyone else does, I can see it in your eyes."
"I don't see an attractive woman when I look at you, you are right," Aosuzu said. "I see you as a strong young woman who has a will and reason to live. I see you as a great kid." Tora was taken aback, something warm and caring shone in the man's eyes. It was something she could only remember from many years ago- it was like how a father would look at his children.
"Thanks," Tora whispered happily.
Rated R for: Graphic violence, adult language, adult situations, and sexual content.
* * * * * *
Tora breathed in relief as she reentered the kitchen, flopping down on a chair. Itachi made her so antsy, but this time the bird that sat on her shoulder soothed her fear. Tora smiled appreciatively as she patted the bird's head again.
"Whoever you are, you can come out now," Tora said to a seemingly empty kitchen. Suddenly, a man leapt down from the ceiling and bowed slightly to Tora. He wore an Akatsuki cloak, exactly the same as Tora and Itachi's. Blue bangs framed his pale, smooth-skinned face, and short sapphire locks shielded the rest of his head. Vivid blue eyes, exactly the same as the bird on Tora's shoulder, stared into Tora's own green eyes. He stood roughly six feet tall and intimidating, but showed no malice towards Tora. Instead of attacking, he bowed deeply and smiled at the girl.
"Hello, Tora-sama. My name is-" the man started to introduce himself, when a cold voice interrupted.
"Aosuzu, you bastard, what are you doing here?" Itachi hissed from the kitchen doorway that led to the stairs. The teenager glared icily at the man who stood before Tora.
"Itachi-sama, long time no see," the man greeted pleasantly. Tora glared at both of them.
"Itachi, do not bother yourself with this man," Tora said placidly, trying to get Itachi to go away. "I'll take care of you later."
"Yes, you will... take care of me," Itachi smirked as he moved over behind Tora and wrapped his arms around her waist sneakily and rested his chin on her shoulder. Aosuzu seemed to be taken slightly aback, until Tora spoke again.
"Itachi-sama, go away. I'll see to our guest." Her temper seemed under control until she slipped away from a rather surprised Itachi and gave him a quick backhand. Itachi glared at her, taking only one shot and that was to reopen her scarred neck. He disappeared out of the room.
"My, you two seem friendly," Aosuzu chuckled.
"It is far more violent than it look, sir," Tora said apologetically as she held a towel to her neck. "Now, what brings you here?" Tora asked, reaching down to pet the crimson bird that perched on the table, staring at the guest.
"Firstly, I would like to thank you for retrieving my dear Houou," the man said with a smile, holding out his hand. The bird squawked happily and fluttered over into the man's callused palm.
"He is yours?" Tora asked. "I found him at my doorstep. What happened?"
"I sent him ahead to scout out the land lest I need to take shelter, and I suppose that the storm was just too much. I was headed this way to give you a message, Tora-sama." Aosuzu played absentmindedly with the bird, wrestling playfully with his hands. The bird squawked in bliss and fought back with beak and wing.
"And that is...? Something has happened?" Tora pried, but then blushed. "Oh! Please, Aosuzu-sama, have a seat!" The man smiled and sat down at the table across from Tora.
"I am just bringing a message to you from Orochimaru-sama. He has just deflected from the Akatsuki, and wished for me to deliver this," Aosuzu said, reaching inside his cloak and pulling out a small scroll.
Tora smiled and slid it into her ninja pouch, not bothering to read it immediately. "So, he had left the Akatsuki? I wonder why, he seemed plenty strong and willing when I fought him."
"Apparently, he wants to start his own hidden ninja village. He already has a small army of jounins, and has been visiting villages and recruiting little children. He has been planning for a long time, he just hasn't told anyone about it until now." Aosuzu leaned back in his chair and smiled at Tora. "You must be quite a fighter to be in the Akatsuki at such a young age. Few actually survive the tests."
"It is nothing major, I suppose that I just learned from the best," Tora said with a nostalgic little smile.
"So, Itachi is after you?" Tora nodded. "He was raised as a prodigy, so he doesn't know much about how normal people feel. I suppose that him being a sage doesn't help, he feels that he is free from moral law and conduct." Tora marveled at this man's reasoning, he was so wise it seemed. "But why did he hurt you so badly, I wonder? You must be something special, he usually just knocks someone out without leaving a mark."
"Itachi, as my superior in strength, has made me his little puppet. Somehow, I haven't quite figured it out yet, this cut holds me to him. I can't bring myself to leave this place." Tora sighed. "I don't know why he wants me so badly, and I really don't care to find out."
"Well, let's talk about it straight, Tora- you are a knockout. You are sexy, silent, and mysterious, with curves and a loyal attitude. Most guys would kill to have you stuck to them at the hip. Maybe Itachi just feels the same as most men."
"You don't... see me that way, do you?" Tora asked sheepishly. "I mean, you don't look at me like everyone else does, I can see it in your eyes."
"I don't see an attractive woman when I look at you, you are right," Aosuzu said. "I see you as a strong young woman who has a will and reason to live. I see you as a great kid." Tora was taken aback, something warm and caring shone in the man's eyes. It was something she could only remember from many years ago- it was like how a father would look at his children.
"Thanks," Tora whispered happily.