A Troublesome Set of Peepers.
She's stuck inside her body which is startled awake in bed. She knows she shouldn't get up but the noise downstairs is distracting. Her body moves without her will. It walks out of the room. No, she thinks,don't go downstairs.Her body ignores her and takes her across the landing and down the stairs. Shapes are moving in the dark. She knows this place, she realises. She was happy here, once. There is no time to dwell though as her body reaches the last step. A spike of fear pierces her. Please don't watch again. Don't make me see it again. She is grovelling with herself, but she doesn't care. She knows what's coming next. What always comes next.
She is close enough to spy on the figures in the room. She registers the man and woman sat on the tatami mats with warmth. A rush of images flit through her mind: The woman sits with her when she's sick in bed with flu. The man lifts her high and spins her in his arms when he gets home. The three of them humming over various pots and pans. The man comforts her when she scrapes her knee trying to climb the wizened tree in the back yard. The woman clutches her tightly as they traverse a busy market. It's a slow realisation that these are the people she calls 'parents'.
The third person in the room is a man she doesn't recognise. She can barely see him; he uses the dark of night as a cloak. The only feature she can pick out is those awful red eyes, mirrored by the menacing light of a blood moon. They are talking as far as she can tell, but she can't make out what is being said. The stranger ends the conversation with an abrupt draw of his sword. He slashes, fluid and swift, and her parents crumple to the ground as if they were bags of flour rather than people. She screams. I need to get away, she thinks, but her body is still not obeying her. Instead, she hurtles forward into the room and grabs them, willing them to get back up.
She is content to ignore the stranger until the sword used to end her entire world is pressing against her chin. She feels the metal digging into her flesh as he manoeuvres her head with it. He is forcing her to look at him, to look into those accursed red eyes. He is peering in curiosity, and through the haze of pain and fear she wonders what he's looking at. She never gets an answer.
Aiko gasped awake. The same dream as always but she still wasn't used to it. Often she woke up kicking and screaming, this time it seemed she'd broken into fits of shivers and sweat. She practiced the breathing exercises her obaa taught her, deep breaths in and out. Going through the motions, she managed to stop shaking just as the door to her room opened.
"It's time for breakfast-" The words died in her throat as Chie caught sight of her chakra partner. "Oh Ai, that dream again?"
Not trusting words yet, Aiko nodded. Chie set the towel in her hands aside and proceeded to rub Aiko's arm. "Why don't you take the morning? We don't need to leave for a while yet."
"The mission comes first." Like hell was she going to let her problems interfere with their objective. "Let me get cleaned up and we'll set off immediately." Chie patted Aiko's arm and excused herself.
Aiko freshened up and dressed quickly. She pulled her shoulder-length black hair into a high pony, pulled on her protectors and underclothes, fastened her leather plate guards and affixed the three pins denoting her rank onto her shoulder. She gave a cursory glance in the mirror and was glad of it - she'd forgotten the brown contacts she was supposed to be wearing to cover her lavender eyes. They were already in trouble because of it and she was anxious to avoid a repeat performance. Contacts slipped in and she was ready. It didn't take long to locate Chie on the downstairs floor of the inn. No, Aiko chided, outside of the privacy of their room Chie was Ringo Midori. She was wearing matching hardened leathers, but where Aiko's pack was fastened to her back, Chie wore hers slung across her hip. She had twisted her long black hair into a tight braided bun. Also like Aiko, she wore dull contacts that hid behind them eyes of bright apple green.
"Sumire!" Chie waved her over. Aiko weaved through the morning crowd and settled into the chair beside her. The innkeeper brought them tea and rice and Aiko gave her warmest smile. "And how are we this morning, Ringo-chan, Usuiro-chan?"
"Very good, considering how well you've looked after us," Chie offered. Damn, she always made it look effortless, the innkeeper was beaming. They had tracked their target to a remote town in Hot Springs territory and checked into the cheapest inn that was still in the mercantile area.
"And still no sign of that uncle of yours? Kami's sake, what kind of man leaves two young girls behind to play at night-" The innkeeper caught herself, no doubt to stop from badmouthing a paying customer any further. A man had been hired and was waiting to check them into the inn when they'd arrived. Aiko expected their "uncle" had taken his pay and was long gone. "Never mind. You let me know if there's anything you need, y'hear?" Aiko and Chie both nodded sagely.
"He still following us?" Aiko whispered once the bustling man was out of earshot.
"He's been waiting for you all morning," Chie's voice was blasé as she inspected her tea. Aiko ate in silence. She tilted the reflective inner surface of the bowl in a show of collecting rice grains while spying her pursuer. A ninja, that much was clear. The swirled etching in his metal headband indicated allegiance to Konoha. He wore it proudly; a dark blue bandana fixed it to his forehead whilst also covering his hair. Black, circular sunglasses obscured his vision but Aiko could feel his gaze on her.
"What a creep," she dropped her bowl back onto the table in disgust. "Tell me, am I really so beautiful he felt the need to chase me over two villages?"
Chie giggled into her rice. "He did see every inch of you. Maybe it was love at first sight?"
"Don't remind me." She groaned. On their journey, the two had rested in a village with an onsen. Aiko had relaxed there and it weakened her guard - when the ninja fell out of a nearby bush she'd shrieked and frozen in surprise. It was enough for the man to get a good look. She'd fled, but not before realising in horror that she hadn't been wearing her contacts. It was something to do with her eyes, she thought. There was no other plausible reason that two fifteen year old girls apprenticed to a mercenary guild would be of interest to someone as lofty as a Konoha ninja. The girls finished their meal and headed out the exit. Behind them the ninja followed, keeping to the shadows.
"Ready?" Chie whispered, and Aiko nodded. It always felt strange when Chie released the seals in their armour. She waited until they got into the markets, where the morning crowds broke the ninja's line of sight, and activated the strong henge jutsu sealed into their clothes. Where two young girls had stood, there was now a father and holding hands with a young boy.
"Why am I always the child?" Aiko craned her neck up to catch a smirk. Chie spoke at normal volume, her vocals changed into a deep baritone.
"Akio-chan, we have to buy vegetables for Mamma! I tell you what, if you promise to eat them I'll buy some sweets as well, okay?"
"I hate you." Thankfully, they didn't have to keep up the illusion for long. They continued talking like father and son as they crossed the central plaza, where the henge ran out.
Aiko was satisfied they'd lost her tail but time was of the essence. They had not made significant efforts to lose him beforehand but the man had still managed to follow them a long distance with accuracy. Obviously he was of some skill and they wouldn't have long before they were found again. The two marched as fast as they were able without drawing attention into the seedier parts of town. Their quarry was so easy to find Aiko wondered if it was a trap. A boy their age with sunflower yellow hair, tied back with a black konoha headband, wearing a jumpsuit an obnoxious shade of orange - he fit the description perfectly. He stood outside a "teahouse"; obviously a front for something more unsavoury in nature.
"Are you Uzumaki Naruto?" Chie asked. The boy snapped to attention.
"Who's asking?" Ocean blue eyes narrowed as he took in their uniforms. "If you're here about a tab I'm cleaned out, you'll have to ask pervy sage directly."
"No, nothing like that. We've been hired to deliver something - your eyes only." Chie removed the package from her pack and handed it over to him. The boy didn't hesitate as he ripped away the brown packaging and string to reveal a scroll. He made a face of displeasure, but when he unfurled the first section and took in the words written his eyes widened.
"Who are you people?" He asked, voice low, tone something close to reverent.
"Just messengers," Chie responded. "My job was to deliver this to you, and to tell you not to let anyone take it from you. This is your heritage, Uzumaki-san."
It was clear the boy had questions, but there was no time for that.
"We have to go. It was nice to meet you, Uzumaki-san, should you ever need trustworthy contractors please consider the Ishi-hei Mercenary Group." Aiko blurted the rote phrase gave him a curt bow. Taking advantage of the fact he was still in a daze she dragged Chie away. They walked up the street, then marched, then broke into a full run. Their part of the mission was most dangerous, they had already known. Especially so, considering the Konoha ninja hovering in their radius. Had they been seen, Aiko had no doubt they wouldn't have gotten away alive.
The next step was to run. Non-stop, for at least eight hours. When Chie's father briefed them he had described Uzumaki's companion and it was made clear - anything less and they would be caught and killed. The plan was to meet their handlers in the Land of Fire and pass through the land of Rivers together, the eventual goal being the Land of Wind. The pair trained for it, but nothing they'd practiced was anything like the real thing. Even with the chakra enhancements she'd learned, four and a half hours in Aiko's limbs were burning. Panic surged through her veins and she concentrated on not stumbling, or worse lagging behind and burdening Chie. They were well into Land of Fire territory and Aiko was acutely aware the enemy had home territory advantage.
"Do you want a quick breather?" Her chakra partner knew her too well, it seemed.
"No I'm good, let's keep going,"Aiko's gasping was unconvincing, but Chie trusted her and said no more of it. They managed another hour and a half before Chie veered off their designated path.
"There's a rest point near, we should be safe if we're quick." she said. Aiko hadn't the heart to disagree, and it filled her with endless shame. Chie navigated them into forest land, to the bottom of a vast, blank cliff. Chie felt along the craggy rock and Aiko spotted what she was searchiing for in an instant - walls interlayed to hide the tiniest of cracks. She motioned Chie to follow and squeezed through. The crack led to a small, well-lit cavern. Crates of provisions were stacked in a corner where bedrolls had been laid, and there was a small pool of water constructed for bathing behind a sheet curtain. The little base was stocked so someone could hole up for a few days and if Aiko was honest, the idea was inviting.
"Your eyes never cease to impress me," Chie clapped Aiko on the back and handed her a waterskin from the top crate. "Great Kami, I was dying out there."
"You don't need to tell me." Aiko slumped against the wall and took a long drink.
"Don't sit too long, you won't want to get back up." Chie chose to fill her empty pack with an assortment of provisions and passed some to Aiko to do the same. Aiko hauled herself to her feet with a grunt, peeled off her armour and took a quick dip in the pool. The water was blessedly cool. She was tempted to soak her hot, sore muscles but they had to be on their way, and soon. Instead she stripped and wrung out her underclothes leaving them damp enough to keep her cool but not add any extra weight.
"Let's get going," she called out to Chie once she'd dressed.
"I can't let you do that."
Aiko whipped the curtain aside and sought the voice. She found it immediately - a man, blocking the entrance to the cavern. He was not Uzumaki's companion - they were told that man was old with white hair, and this man was young with straight brown hair falling around his neck. Nor was he the ninja that had been tailing them, though Aiko suspected they were related considering this one was also wearing a blue bandana. A green flack jacket, navy underclothes and a senbon in his mouth - this was a Konoha ninja. Chie was still stood against the provisions, as shocked at the intrusion as Aiko was. The ninja made the first move, and the pair had to duck out of the way of his senbon, spat from his mouth towards them.
"Ai!" Chie tossed over Aiko's whips, unsealed from whatever tag she'd hidden them in. Aiko caught them and wound them around her forearm a couple of times - in a smaller space their length would be a hindrance rather than an asset.
"Who the hell are you?" Aiko tried.
"It's none of your business,"
"Sir, may I remind you that you are currently attacking us?" Chie interjected. The ninja's lip quirked as if he was going to speak, but thought better of it and clamped his mouth shut. He tried to take advantage of their distraction and close the distance but Chie didn't allow it; Chie threw kunai with explosive tags in his direction causing him to veer across to the left. Aiko snapped her whip into the space where he would land, but he read the movement and dodged at the last moment. Greeting volleys over with, it was time for both sides to fight in earnest.
Aiko loosened the whip and cracked it at him in frustration. The spike tip would have fallen short if not for Chie loosing a single wind bullet, bending the arc to the angle needed to clip the man's arm. The ninja jumped out of range both Aiko's whips and the speedy wind bullet, he weaved hand signals at a furious pace. Aiko picked up the pattern first, and grasped for the pool behind her with her chakra. Water was her weaker elemental affinity and she prayed the justu was strong enough.
"So it was not enough for your degenerate companion to violate my partner's right to bathe in peace and security, that you wish to cause us physical harm as well?"
"He what?" The ninja stumbled in his signs, and though he hastily recovered it was enough of a delay for Aiko to gather strength. The ninja huffed out a large fireball in Aiko's direction whilst simultaneously closing the distance to fight Chie. Aiko was ready for it and slammed her cone of water into the fireball, stopping it in its' path and causing the cavern to fill with hot murky steam. Chie always was most dangerous when she chastised.
Chie had the sense to brace herself against him with Rock Skin. The earth layer Chie packed on was hastily constructed, but it kept stray senbons fired at her from piercing her skin. Still, every so often the ninja closed the distance and used a kunai to slash deep. Chie's wind gave her advantages in close combat but the difference in skill was clear. The longer they fought the more disadvantageous it was to her.
"New plan, Chi! We're doing, 'floaty hair'," Aiko called, hoping the hint was enough to let her partner understand. It was obvious the ninja didn't. Though he was trying to hide it, there was confusion and more than a little derision in his expression. Thankfully, Chie had deciphered her partner's intentions and, using the lessened visibility, she threw her kunai tags again. This time, not all were explosive - and their opponent ignored the rest as duds.
" 'Floaty hair' is exploding tags?" Despite great effort on his part, it seemed stoicism was not in the toolset of this particular nin. The mistake he'd made was welcome and one that had set the stage for them well. Aiko drew the last of the water from the pool and formed a clone, sending it through the fog. Luck was with them - the enemy thought she and Chie had attacked together and in dealing a lethal strike to Aiko's clone he had both drenched himself and missed Chie charging a nearby tag and slipping it onto his kneecap. He kicked Chie away and Aiko weaved signs as quickly as her fingers could. She called as much chakra as she dared - the aim was to disable, not kill, after all - and felt the telltale crackling at her fingertips. The last of the steam was dissipating and with it so was her attack window.
Aiko released her jutsu; a miniature Lightning Dragon in light of the cramped quarters, but a Lightning Dragon nonetheless. Her Dragon sought the special chakra tag like a homing beacon and by the time the ninja realised it, it was too late to change it's target. Lightning arced on the water droplets in the air and shocked him with enough voltage to cause every muscle in the ninja's body to tense up and lock. He seized up in place, staring at the pair with sickened surprise. There was no time to gloat over their successful strategy even as the ninja's hair was sticking up from the residual static. His eyes followed them around the room as they grabbed their packs and fled past him without so much as a second glance.
"How long will he be like that?" Chie asked sharply.
"Nowhere near long enough." Aiko shook her head. "Two hours, if he did nothing to try and break out. Somehow I highly doubt he's going to just stand there an wait for it to wear off. I'd say we have a hour head start at most."
"Well let's not hang about here then."
The sky had darkened considerably since the time they had ducked into the resting nook. Escaping their Konoha captor had taken so long that they were travelling by night, a situation that was infinitely more unfavourable than in the light of day.
This wouldn't have happened if not for me, Aiko thought bitterly. However tired, however sore, however dire, she should not have stopped in enemy territory, nor made Chie shoulder responsibility for the decision. Sensing dark clowds hanging over her partner's head, Chie spoke. "You know, we've long missed the time for the rendezvous. Ikari-san and Budo-sama will know something went wrong." That was… true. It was unthinkable that of they hadn't noticed. The pair were not Aiko and Chie's usual senior handlers, but then again it wasn't a usual mission. "They'll definitely be looking for us. In fact, there's a high probability that they are travelling somewhere in this direction."
"Let's hope so."
"This is my fault too, Ai." Chie sighed quietly. "It was my Clan Head that asked us to do this." The words jolted Aiko out of her souring mood. The people they represented were strong and proud. It was certain that she'd made a big mistake by catching the attention of Konoha ninja on such an an important mission. However, neither Aiko nor Chie had any use for her regret or self-pity.
"It was our duty. I have no grudge with your father for asking this of you or me." She said firmly. Chie quirked a grateful smile and the pair kept moving, albeit feeling a little lighter.
The feeling didn't last for long. Aiko and Chie landed in a clearing between a grouping of trees and two figures cut across them to intercept. Aiko's stomach was in knots as she registered the Konoha ninja from the cavern along with the ninja that had followed her from the onsen.
"How…?" The word slipped out without her permission and the vicious look she got in response made her flinch. Senbon-nin snarled and took a step forward, raising his hands to weave hand signs, but the peeping-nin held out his hand to stop him.
"Surrender now and neither of you will be hurt," he said.
"What do we do?" Chie whispered.
"I… the only thing we have to fight two high level ninjas is-"
"No." Chie's vehement shake of the head was all Aiko needed to dismiss the idea.
"Then I don't know."
Chie straightened up and addressed the two nin. "What are you going to do with us?"
"We will be taking you in for questioning." Peeping-nin coughed and pushed his glasses further up his face. For once, Aiko was the one who knew exactly what to say.
"Sorry, but I think we'd rather die."
"Admirable. Unfortunate, but admirable." The words came from behind her and Aiko jolted away just in time to avoid a chop to the back of the neck. In her periphery she could just about pick out Chie swinging her kusarigama to keep senbon-nin at a distance. The fact she felt the need to get the weapon out was not a good sign. She couldn't watch her partner's back though, as Aiko had her own hands full with peeping-nin. He gave her no room to think about possible manoeuvres and sent clones by the droves. At least she could swing her whips freely in the open space of the clearing. He seemed prepared for that, though, no doubt having conferred with senbon-nin about their abilities. Any time Aiko managed to get a direct hit peeping-nin vanished in a puff of smoke and was replaced by a hollow log.
Aiko slashed a clone that slipped past her guard and into her mid-range and as expected it changed into a log. She was going to ignore it, but at the last moment she spotted the explosive tag and leapt out of range of the explosion. A instinctual dodge, and one her opponent read with ease. She landed in an unnervingly close proximity to her opponent; forced to avoid peeping-nin's superior taijutsu. She reeled the whips in as short as she could comfortably make them and slashed at him with the spiked tip. He avoided one, only for her to wrap the other tight around his forearm and sent enough lightning chakra to spike pain in the muscles. He wasn't expecting that, she grinned to herself, watching her opponent's face tighten as he fled into longer range.
"This one is annoying!" Aiko hollered, having wrapped her left whip around the ninja and sent electricity through it only to find it was an earth clone, which effectively grounded her lightning attack.
"You're welcome to swap at any time!" Chie griped, using sealing jutsu to capture her opponent's fire bullets and send them back at him. The tactic was costly - Chie focused on sealing the bullets and missed the kunai that followed, and the knives embedded deep into her shoulder.
"Chie!" Aiko took one step in her partner's direction and the knives dissipated, but it was too late. She had time enough to register an unskewered Chie running in her direction before the presence of the ninja behind her made everything turn black.
