The ANBU Chronicles

File #1; Chapter 3

Genma and Sasori barely spoke to each other the whole first day. Most of their communication consisted of nods to greet the other, or tilting their head or chin in whichever direction they thought they should take. Questions were answered tersely. It seemed as though each tried to forget the others presence and only paid enough attention to other to answer their questions. The silence between the two Jounin was deafening and succeeded in further irritating them, whether they knew it or not.

In fact, the most they even conversed about was the mission. They both had read the file on their cover- a husband and wife who were going to a private party held by Hirata Gensou himself- and neither of them relished the thought of even pretending to be associated with the other. It was strange for them to be so opposed to the other but since circumstance and their superiors had pushed them together, the best they could do was deal with it. Genma knew that one of Sasori's good points was that she followed her orders to the letter. However, she would still let others know what she truly felt about the mission in her own nonverbal way. So he at least could depend on her to complete the mission- but to help him, he wasn't sure.

That fact alone put him on edge and annoyed him greatly. If he found himself needing her help, would she act to complete the mission or would she save his life? He looked over the campfire at her and tried to discern an answer from her demeanor. The fire gave no warmth to her eyes as she stared into it, her blanket draped about her shoulders, an infinite look of sadness on her face. Her eyes were glazed over as if she was remembering something, something that saddened her.

Genma blinked and it was gone. The same emotionless mask that she always wore returned and her emotions were once again veiled by that impenetrable wall of stoicism. Her eyes flicked up at him and Genma mentally swore. She had caught him staring at her. Her fine brows furrowed and she turned away from him, crawling into her sleeping bag. She turned her back to him and lay very still. Genma was unnerved even moreso now. It would have been more like her to have said some snide remark about his staring but instead, she just laid down and went to sleep! 'She's unpredictable...' he thought,' I am really starting to not like this mission.'

After an hour, Genma too curled up on his side of the fire and dozed off in the light, practiced sleep of the ninja. It was a fitful sleep and although his body lay as deathly still as Sasori's, inside he was in turmoil.

On the second night, they had made it to the Great Naruto Bridge. They looked at each other again and Genma extended his arm as if to say "Ladies first." Sasori walked past him and he followed up behind her, taking larger strides to catch up to her. She looked over at him for a second and then faced forward again. Genma shoved his free hand in his pocket and adjusted his backpack by the strap. His brown eyes wandered over to the horizon, which was milky in the waning light and the hazy fog. The normally vivid colors that the setting sun gave off had been softened several degrees by the light mist. The sky was a rich portrait of creamy purples, deep blues, all fading to black and speckled with thousands of stars.

'Who'd've thought that the sky could be so beautiful outside the city,' Genma thought, the tip of his tongue running over the end of the senbon needle. 'Perhaps I should observe the sky more often...'

"Shiranui-kun," said Sasori," Do you think it to be strange that we are the only ones on this bridge?"

Genma looked around. She had a point but perhaps this bridge wasn't busy at dusk. Then again, it was whispered among the Jounin that Sasori's instincts were always dead-on and she was rarely wrong. Rumors however, were not to be believed so he relied on what his instincts said about the situation.

"You think too long," Sasori said with a sigh," We are surrounded."

Genma looked around. He saw no one but knew she was right.

A/N: Aight, I didn't put an author's note in the first few chapters because I am lazy. But umm, yeah, hi! I am Spork Warrior Kore, Navy brat and soon to be Navy chick. I don't own Naruto and ah... umm... I'm tired. Going to bed now. Please Read and Review!