Yes, I am quite aware of the lack in updating-ness. Forgive me, but I just seriously didn't feel like writing at all. I was also kinda... stuck. Any suggestions are welcome if you want to email me or just leave a note in a review :). Ok, won't keep you waiting.
Recap
"Well now that the gangs all here," Kitsune said breaking the silence, "Let's get to work."
The other three nodded.
"What are we doing first?" Shukaku's growled.
Kitsune's eyes sparkled mischievously, "Getting Naruto and Sasuke out of the palace."
Good Night My Knight!
Chapter Eleven: "I met the Kyuubi"
The sun shown brightly the next morning. Needless to say, Sasuke couldn't sleep. He knew he'd drifted off once or twice during the night, but he had no knowledge of his actually amount of sleep. The events of the day before had sunk deep into his thoughts. He'd always been wary of Orochimaru and didn't plan on letting Orochimaru alone with Naruto, but now he had no intention of letting Orochimaru near Naruto at all. Perhaps he'd bring it up with his brother; after all, Itachi seemed to be as uncomfortable with Orochimaru as Sasuke was. Sasuke decided he might as well give it a shot, it usually didn't hurt to try. Sasuke slipped out from beneath the covers, making sure Naruto still had plenty wrapped around himself. Sasuke's feet touched the cold floor and he made his way to the door. Maybe having a thousand stairs wasn't so brilliant, especially so early in the morning.
Eventually he reached the bottom and began to make his way to the library. It was where Itachi would usually stay before breakfast. Sure enough, when Sasuke reached his destination, he found his elder brother comfortably sitting in a rather large black chair. Itachi's eyes didn't even have to glance up.
"What is it Sasuke?"
His brother's forwardness didn't surprise him, neither did his knowledge that it was in fact Sasuke that had entered the room.
"It's Orochimaru."
Immediately Itachi closed his book. He sat up from his position and leaned forward resting his elbows on his knees.
"Not this again Sasuke," Itachi pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.
"It's different. Naruto maybe in danger and I don't want that slime going near--"
"That slime is what protects you from disease."
"I don't care. It's Naruto I'm worried about."
"How in the seven hells, Sasuke, can Naruto be involved in anyway with Orochimaru. They haven't even met."
"I..."
Itachi glanced up for the first time to look at Sasuke.
"I... I met the Kyuubi."
xoxoxoxox
"Ok!" Kitsune grabbed a scroll from her side and laid it out on a rock next to the quartette, "The battle plan!"
The other tree sweatdropped.
"Where the hell did you learn to draw?"
"Is that... a tree?"
Meanwhile, Jiraiya was dying of laughter...
"WHAT?! Don't make fun of my drawing!! I think it's pretty good compared to how some people draw.... Shu.ka.ku." Kitsune growled dangerously.
Shukaku gave a light cough and turned away, "I still think it looks stupid."
"And just wondering... why the hell do you have the kitchen marked?" Tsunade asked looking over the map.
"Don't ask! It just seemed important, you know, if you get lost or something and happen to find the kitchen then you'll know where you are. Or something like that.... anywho. The plan! Me and Shukaku will be the ones to retrieve Naruto and Sasuke, you two," Kitsune pointed towards Tsunade and a still giggling Jiraiya, "You will be the look-outs so to speak."
"Look-outs for what?" Tsunade asked.
(Tsunade (aside): You're not helping Jiraiya! Pay attention!!
Jiraiya: But!! That, -snicker- map!
Tsunade: -beats Jiraiya until he stops laughing-)
"Look-outs for any other peoples on the permitted, such as oh... Orochimaru." Kitsune said sarcastically, "Or you know, I'm sure the chefs may be dangerous maybe you should keep an eye on them."
"Ok, ok fine. Stupid question, I know." Tsunade said trying to calm down Kitsune.
"Wait, I'm still confused... Kitsune..."
"Yes, Shukaku?"
"You..."
"Me??"
"You... suck at making battle plans."
"Ah ha...ha... I know ;-;...."
xoxoxoxoxox
"Nnnn..."
Why the hell was it so bright... oh yeah... morning.
Naruto flipped over and reached to his right, trying to find something to cling onto. When he felt an empty pillow and no head he slowly opened his eyes. How could Sasuke always wake up so damn early. Naruto rubbed his eyes and stared at the ceiling for a bit. He let out a sigh and drug himself up with his elbows before he found himself leaning against the wall Sasuke's bed was against (remember, Sasuke bed is just a mat (bed thing) on the floor so, no head rest).
"It should be a sin..." Naruto thought aloud, "To wake up this early. That guy's a maniac."
He looked around the room sleepily. Eventually bits of his memory returned. He grinned. Seeing Kitsune again was great. He really felt like, she was his mom or something. She had always been there for him and everything he did she usually watched over him while he'd done it. Though, maybe the things in his life weren't much, to him, they were his only memories, his achievements, something to hold onto when everything else is taken from you. Memories were a wonderful thing... but then again... they were hated, despised. Sometimes cold were the thoughts in the back of one's mind. Thoughts of abuse, mistreatment. The thought of being alone, over and over again. That same chill that runs down your spine as you recall each word said.
Even when the words aren't remembered as well, the feelings still can be felt as strong as when first dealt. Sometimes worse. Naruto hugged his legs to his chest... the pain was flowing back into his heart.
The thing about hearts is that when memory attacks, there's nothing to stop them. No way to stop your heart from recalling the pain of being left out and looked down upon. Just because you're different... you're different and it's something you can't help. What can someone do? When you're left out, in the cold and you curse the cold, you can only curse. But does it help? There are rare chances someone will help. But in a world, where you reject anyone who opens their arms, it's hard to feel any warmth, even when in the arms of the flame.
What can a child do? What can they do when they're kicked? They're too weak to help themselves when no one else will. And verbal attacks, that pain is much deeper.
Nothing can block out the sounds.
Nothing can stop that wound from bleeding.
And nothing can be your tourniquet, when you're dying inside.
xoxoxoxoxo
"Ok, do you see him?"
"Yeah! He's in the tower where we thought."
"Ok good, what about Sasuke?"
"Erm, no... I don't see him."
"Will you hurry up Kitsune! You may look light but –thud!- ... ow..."
"Jiraiya! I'm gonna get your ass for that, and next time it'll be more than just my foot in your mouth, bakayaro!!"
"Shut up both of you, you're not on bottom, poor Shukaku here is probably dying."
"Yeah, yeah... He can take it. I'm hurrying anyways."
Kitsune's eyes darted back and forth over the giant stone slightly blocking her view from the tower window. Shukaku had suggested a cliff not far from the palace to try and see if they could get a more... accurate landscape of the palace. Luckily they were able to see the tower that Sasuke's room was rumored to be located in. When Kitsune had a better idea of how to maneuver around the palace, Shukaku helped form a better plan. When they had their 'battle strategy' down, they started off.
Kitsune's eyes were wide with anticipation; there was nothing more she loved more than a challenge. The others were slightly alert, Orochimaru could be dangerous, though so close to a populated city, they doubted he would make any moves and blow his cover, but then again... he had a way of not giving two shits about the lives of others.
They reached the castle doors without trouble. Though, they had gone over a few choices of entrances, they found that perhaps using the front door would suffice. Though they ran into some slight trouble...
"You there!" Shouted the guards on the far left of the main door.
"Who?? Us??" Kitsune asked pointing to herself and looking around nonchalantly.
"Yes you! State your business at the Uchiha Manor!"
"We're er... the new help?"
"Very funny... I suggest you all turn back and leave to where ever you came from unless you want trouble."
"Huuuh..." Kitsune sighed, "You would be quite bothersome."
She looked over to Shukaku who only rolled his eyes, somehow he knew exactly what was coming.
"What!? How dare you, wench! You will not speak to a high serving guard such as myself with such disrespect!!" He shouted.
Kitsune plugged one ear which only succeeded in pissing the guard off even more. The second guard had already taken his place beside the other. The first guard was still quite angry and hadn't stopped yelling at Kitsune about how he was 'higher than trash like her' and should get total respect.
"I'm sorry to interrupt you." Jiraiya cut it, "But any man who talks to a lady that way is lower than filth."
Before the guard could protest, Jiraiya had grabbed both guards heads and slammed them together within a matter of a second. Kitsune grinned.
"Aw, Jiraiya, I'm touched! You called me a lady!"
"Don't let it go to your head," Shukaku said with a smirk.
Kitsune grumbled as the other three walked past her, not taking her glare off of Shukaku.
"I'll forgive you this time..." She muttered, "We have business."
Kitsune reached the doors and before anyone even asked how to get the doors open, Kitsune let out a growl and pulled back with all her strength. Her arms flew from her sides and the twenty foot high, ten feet in length doors flew aside as if they were confetti in the wind.
"People... I give you... Uchiha Manor."
xoxoxoxoxox
I REALLY tried to make this one longer!! I really hope you'll forgive me but like I said, wasn't ever in the mood to write/type/whatever. I was going to make this longer but it just seemed ok to end it there. And also... I'm out of ideas....
I seriously suck at writing rescue/'battle plan' scenes... it's just not my thing I suppose. Um... there was probably something more I wanted to say but I can't remember it so, goodbye for now. Please review!
Anukis
(PS this may seem selfish and lazy... but I don't ever really read through my stories... if something really bothers you, like a typo, let me know and maybe I can fix it for you. I never find any major errors in my stories, just a few grammar and spelling mistakes but nothing like, plot errors or something. So yeah, just to put that out there.) Later My Ducklings :)
