AN: "cries" Thank you guys so much for your reviews and encouragements! I had hoped to write a story that people would enjoy and not think, "Oh damn, here goes another bad fan fic." YAY! I'll be worker harder to produce the next few chapters! "prances around happily in underwear"

The Red Ribbon
Chapter 4 Connection

By Enkie

The blackened sky was empty except for a spectacular display of the moon. Underneath the caress of its misty light, Genma's team made camp.

The team had spent the entire first day traveling at brisk speed. The route from Country of Fire to Country of Earth was mostly forested terrain, but as one ventured further south, the temperature gradually grew warmer and vegetation sparser. They have yet to reach the tail end of Country of Earth's territory, which consisted of barren, rocky lands, with sky-soaring cliffs and dry, suffocating heat—the most difficult part of their journey. Interestingly enough, once within the border of Country of Ash, the climate turned tropical and the soil became rich with nutrients, making the Country of Ash the prime agriculture supplier to the major nations—it was the only land that was self-sustainable with enough left over to export. This is why strategically, it is so important to be on good terms with them, Genma brooded, especially with war approaching, the first thing our enemies will destroy is our farmlands, cutting off food supply. He had a natural talent for understanding warfare. Starving soldiers make weak ones.

As dusk approached, they were all exhausted and scouted for a secure spot to rest for the night. After a quick supper of dried meat and bread and some idle chitchat, Kotetsu and Izumo settled in their bedrolls by the small campfire and quickly fell asleep. Gentle snores drifted through the night air.

Genma was sitting first watch on the tree branch above. They were currently in Country of Earth's territory with which Konoha had a neutral relationship. Neutrality was an excuse to sit idly by and wait for a chance to scavenge for spoils of war, in Genma's opinion. Thus, he insisted that the team members took turns taking watch. Besides, it's better to be safe than sorry. His suggestion met little resistance, for they were all experienced nins who understood that the secret to a successful mission was constant vigilance.

Suddenly, a shadow appeared by his side and he watched calmly as it settled itself on a branch a few feet away from him; the subtle medicinal scent of fresh pine needles and herbs was all too familiar to him and gave away its owner's identity.

"Can't sleep?" He casually inquired.

"It takes me awhile." Shizune answered.

She paused uncertainly. He could see that something was bothering her by the way her brows pinched; it created a small v-shaped indent above her nose. After the time they'd spent on missions, he had learned to read her expressions like a book.

"Shizune-san…I don't mean to pry, but is there something on your mind?" He studied her with a sidelong glance.

"What's in your pocket?" Dodging the question, she shifted uncomfortably and abruptly changed the subject. "The right breast pocket. I noticed you have a habit of touching it."

"Oh, um, it's nothing…just a good luck charm." His left hand automatically went to his pocket, then awkwardly halted in mid-motion.

"Can I see?"

"Well…uh…" He hesitated; this was something private and sacred that he hadn't shared with anyone else.

"Come on, what's the big deal? We're teammates, we eat, sleep and fight together. Hey, I saved your hand from amputation once."

"I guess." He sighed, and reluctantly took out the string of red ribbon from his pocket to hand to her. What is with women and their natural talent at dishing out guilt trips?

"Oh, it's just a ribbon?" Seeing his offended expression, she quickly added, "Have you heard that old folk story about red ribbons?"

He impatiently shook his head and held out his palm, eager to have the ribbon back after the perceived insult.

Ignoring him, she softly went on, "It is said that our fates are predestined. The moon elder ties one end of a red ribbon to the ankle of each newborn babe and the other end is tied to another. The two lives are thus linked and will forever be intertwined. There is no escape. No matter how much one fights it, each choice that is made, seemingly out of free will, in actuality leads one down the path fate intended."

"That was one of my favorite bedtime stories when I was little." She sighed and smiled contentedly at the memory, the moonlight softly casting over her profile.

Captivated by the poetry in her voice, Genma swallowed hard.

She turned to regard him, mischief twinkling in her eyes, "They say that at the end of the path, the one just-for-you awaits."

Sensing that it was his turn to say something, Genma chewed on his toothpick, "I wish things worked that way. There are no fairytale-endings in life. There was no one waiting at the end of Hayate's path, was there?"

"He was…close to you?" Shizune's voice was gentle, full of sympathy. She had never met Hayate, but had heard of how he died, one of many casualties during the attack on Konoha several months ago.

"Like a brother." He said simply and looked away into the dark forest, his lips tightened into a severe line. A pang of sadness thumped against his chest. He missed his friend terribly. But, there is no use in dwelling on the past. "He was the closest thing to a family I've ever had."

This was a new side of Genma that Shizune had never seen; there was a quiet strength in his vulnerability. He endured and accepted the pain from losing a loved one with exalted nobility. Suddenly, the hard-faced arrogant jerk wasn't so arrogant as she'd thought. Somewhere deep inside they were alike, kindred spirits.

"Maybe for him, you were the one." She took his hand and carefully placed the red ribbon in his palm, closing his fingers over it. She held his hand in hers for a moment, gaze fierce in its sincerity, "Genma-san, he was lucky to have a brother like you."

She held his gaze for a brief moment longer that seemed like an eternity to him.

Lithe and quiet as a cat, she lightly hopped to the ground and busied herself with the task of settling into her bedroll.

Up above, Genma absently tucked the ribbon back to its rightful place, lost deep in his own thoughts.


To be continued...