Chapter 26: A Quiet Moment

The weather only got worse as they reached the cold beach. Once they walked onto the sand Hibiki sat and rested. She held her side and tested her ankle by flexing it. Cringing when pain shot up her leg. Juugo lingers by the treeline and is quickly surrounded by local wildlife, a few birds and a squirrel. All chirping at him, telling him things.

"They are saying the storm will only get worse," Juugo announced, turning to Suigetsu who stood closer to the water.

"Well I'm not staying in this shitty place." Suigetsu said as he watched the menacing storm inch toward them. The clouds only got darker and denser as they spread further across the unsettled ocean. It would not be an easy journey, and if the storm was going to be as bad as Suigetsu felt it was going to be... He turned to Hibiki, she was sitting on the ground, hand holding her side, her eyes were half-closed. She was a sweaty bloody mess.

She needs a good place to rest.

He walked over to her and knelt beside her, caressing her face. She looked at him and smiled softly. Her skin was cold even to Suigetsu.

"The samurai are coming after us, it won't take them long to track us." Hibiki affirmed. Still holding her face, Suigetsu glanced up at Juugo, and they shared a silent conversation, ending with them both nodding.

"Come on Hibiki, I'll carry you." Suigetsu said helping her stand.

"Alright." she agreed with a tired sigh. He got her on his back, she rested her head on his shoulder, their cheeks touching.

"Sorry." she murmured. "I'm still a burden."

"Yes, but you're my burden," Suigetsu chuckled.

"I'm going to let that one slide," she smiled, securing herself on his back. He walked down the beach and stood in the surf, letting the saltwater cover his feet before slipping away again. He hated saltwater. He was quickly joined by Juugo. The two stood side by side, each gathering their energy and adrenaline. Taking a calming breath, they started their hazardous run to the Land of Fire.

The water was worse than Suigetsu was expecting, a shift in the wind brought the worst of the storm right on top of them. It was hard to stay surfaced, with the waves falling over them. Submerging them and flipping them over and over. Being the stronger swimmer, Suigetsu had to grab Juugo and bring him back to the surface with him. They were soaking in salty water. It had to be the longest and most straining two hours of Suigetsu's life. Hibiki kept herself attached to him so he could help Juugo. They surfaced and coughed up seawater, trying not to drown. Gaining their footing on the rampant water and running varying distances before the ocean dragged them back under it.

After an eternity they reached the shore, Hibiki got off Suigetsu, as he fell flat on his face in exhaustion.

"Fuck that was a rough run." Suigetsu coughed. Hibiki crawled to Suigetsu flipped him over, holding his head in her lap, helping him cough up the last of the water. She gave him a worried expression, brushing his soaked, flattened hair away from his face.

"I'm fine." he notified, touching her hand reassuringly. After a few moments, he regained control of his breath. Hibiki reached over towards Juugo's coughing and touched his arm.

"I'm good, thanks." he sighed. The rain fell harder and thunder clapped through the dark sky. Hibiki covered her ears until the noise fades away.

Suigetsu felt like jelly, he didn't think his body would allow him to stand. Only with Hibiki's aid could he get on two feet. While helping Suigetsu with his balance, she closed her eyes for a few short moments before opening them again.

"North, through the woods. Keep going straight until we find a road, we need to follow it to a nearby village." Hibiki instructed.

Suigetsu, Hibiki and Juugo trudged forward, mud-caked their feet as they stumbled through the wood. Thorns and branches snagging on their skin and clothes. It took a while to find the road, half an hour of slow progressive movement. The trio rested on the edge of the road as the wind changed the angle of the rain, hitting them hard. Not soon enough they came to a small village.

The village's main street was empty, of course, the rain kept people inside, but it felt empty too. No lights, not even streetlights were on. Suigetsu eyes the area, he didn't like how quiet it was either.

"This place is giving me the creeps." Suigetsu shuttered.

"What's wrong?" Hibiki asked feeling the intensity.

"The village seems abandoned." Juugo said eyeing the area, "but recently so."

"And the buildings are fine? No sign of a struggle anywhere?" Hibiki asked.

"None, it's like the people just walked away." Juugo answered.

"I don't like the sound of that." she frowned. The trio continued to walk through the village, knocking on doors and calling out, but no signs of life were present.

"Let's just break into a house, we need to get out of this weather." Suigetsu suggested.

"Good idea, but let's find a more secluded one, it will be safer." Hibiki added.

Juugo and Suigetsu agreed, none of them were in the mood to fight if more than one or two people showed up. A secluded house would limit the number of possible 'guests' they could receive.

They continued through the village, a little way past main street were scattered homes. Juugo spotted the most secluded, a small white house that was the last in a row of houses. It's back to the forest. They walked around back and Juugo broke the lock on the door, allowing them access inside. They tumbled in and closed the door behind them. When the door slammed shut, they waited a moment, listening to the house, but it was still.

They all sighed in unison. Juugo and Hibiki shivered violently, their clothes soaked to the bone, and the freezing ocean water still clung to their skin. Suigetsu, on the other hand, was wet, soaked like them and was cold, but he wasn't as cold as Hibiki and Juugo were. He despised seawater, could not work with it like he can with fresh water.

Hibiki took off her cloak and shoes before taking her cane out and used it to slowly explore the home. She found a bedroom, the bed was large, a good fit for Juugo. She found a dresser and rummaged through it, finding clothes inside. She pulled out the largest pair of clothing she could find, shorts, and took them with her. Next, she entered the bath, she started the hot water and left it running to fill the tub. She then went to the second room on the far side of the small house. She rummaged through some more drawers and pulled out clothing that seemed like they would fit her and Suigetsu.

Meanwhile Juugo switched on a light in the kitchen, it was small, and he had to duck a little to get inside the doorframe. He was careful of how he moved, not wanting to break anything by accident. He looked through the cabinets and draws and found some basic ingredients. He measured out the portions,

Well Omurice is fine, but it's going to be plain he thought. Then he shrugged, right now food was food. So he got to work.

Suigetsu walked in and turned on the light, it was partly a dining room, partly a living room. A tv in one corner with a couch and a chair facing it. Some decorations of pictures of the family were on the walls, it was a small family. He walked over and collapsed on the couch. His legs felt like jelly and his body lead.

But he was at a point where he was so tired, he wasn't tired.

"Suigetsu, Juugo!" Hibiki called. Suigetsu groaned as he rolled off the couch and walked to Hibiki. He and Juugo stood before her and she held out the clothing she had found.

"Change," she ordered. The two happily obliged, Juugo reached and found a larger pair of boxers and turned around and walked into the closest bedroom before Suigetsu could give him a look. Hibiki peeled off her soaked shirt and pants, feeling lighter with them off.

"Can you hang the clothes to dry please?" she asked Suigetsu.

"Yeah, I got it." he agreed yawning. She took her clothing and went to the bathroom. She finished undressing inside, taking off her bra and undies.

She slid the inner door open and entered a warm steamy room. Carefully she found soap and scrubbed at her skin. The saltwater and sand that stuck to her were getting uncomfortable. She washed her hair thoroughly then rinsed off. She finally climbed into the tub of hot water and submerged herself. She sat under the water until she needed to breathe. She resurfaced and smiled, content. Her skin warmed, and her muscles relaxed a little. She had been so tense since the escape, now she gave herself slight peace of mind. Suigetsu and Juugo were safe, she was safe, and she was clean.

She would have loved to stay in longer, but she knew the boys needed this too, probably more so. Hibiki slipped out and toweled off. Sliding the shorts on and the large t-shirt over her. She opened the door to the living room slightly.

"Suigetsu? Will you help me?" she called, and he was by her side instantly. "Help me treat the sear mark?" she asked.

"Yeah," he yawned following her inside the bathroom. He rummaged through the owner's stuff and found some basic first aid supplies.

"Good they got antibiotic cream." he sighed, eased by the sight of the small jar. Searing a wound was not the best way to treat a stab wound, but it was all they had at the time. He returned to Hibiki, she sat on a stool waiting for him. Bending next to her Suigetsu used his very limited knowledge of healing. He was more of a separator than a bonding person. She held the shirt up for him while he worked.

The cut and new burn mark was on the opposite side from her long burn scar. It was very pink, Suigetsu ran his thumb tenderly over it. The flesh was still delicate, If Hibiki moved the wrong way, it could open again. Suigetsu carefully put an antibiotic on it, smiling when Hibiki let out an eep as the cold cream touched her warm body. He then put a patch on, in the morning they would wrap her stomach, but this was fine for now.

"Thanks." she sighed standing. Suigetsu also stood, reaching out and holding Hibiki's face, her cheek was a little swollen,

"Why do you end up with the worst of it every time?" he asked as he tended to the cut.

"Just my luck? Or maybe because I'm not really trained like you guys if I could perform jutsu I probably wouldn't get hurt so much." she guessed.

He pressed his forehead to hers,

"Probably," he agreed. the two stood together, quietly like that.

"You should take a bath," she giggled.

"Do I stink?" he asked.

"Yes," she smiled. He couldn't help but smile too, god he missed her. After a few more moments, standing with their foreheads connected, they separated.

Hibiki stepped out into the living room and hobbled over to the couch. Her ankle was very swollen and probably looked bad. She grabbed her pack that she had taken off earlier and pulled out her wrappings. She carefully bandaged her foot, resting it on the side of the couch while she laid on her back. She could feel each painful throb running up her leg.

Suigetsu didn't stay in long. He wasn't all that uncomfortable, he just mostly needed to clean off a month of prison, and an adventure in the ocean. Once his skin and hair were finally clean, he felt better and changed into the clothes Hibiki had given him. A pair of loose PJ pants and a t-shirt.

"Hey Juugo, your up!" he called as he left the bathroom. Juugo carefully maneuvered himself out of the kitchen. He had on a pair of knee shorts that were, a little snug, but were better than his wet clothes. Suigetsu went to the couch and sat on the floor near Hibiki's head.

She looked really tired. He glanced at her swollen and colorful foot. Frowning mostly to himself. He looked back at Hibiki and watched her. Her eyes were closed, but she was awake.

Her clean wet hair was in disarray, he tamed it with his fingers, slowly brushing them through her hair. Hibiki smiled and turned her head to him. He stopped brushing her hair and placed his hand on her cheek. She was warm now, which gave him some relief.

"You smell better now." Hibiki told him.

"You look better, more rested. Healthier, you looked really bad before, like a living corpse." he said.

She reached out and felt his face,

"You aren't, I can feel the bags under your eyes. And your voice sounds so tired. Not like the Suigetsu I know." she joked. He smiles softly and brushes Hibiki's hair away from her face. He's been too worried about Hibiki to get much rest. That and the few dreams he did manage to have, woke him up.

What the fuck would I do if she wasn't blind?

He waits and lets her re-familiarize herself with his face. Her hands starting on his cheeks, they move up and she traced his eyelids with her thumbs. Then she slid her hands down and she touched the tooth that stuck out. It was sharp. Her left hand rested on his neck while the other gently ran through his hair. It had gotten longer.

The sound of Juugo exiting the bathroom causes both of them to pull away. Hibiki sat up.

"Were you able to find anything good in the kitchen?" She called.

"Yeah, I made omurice, it's done so you guys can sit at the table, I'll bring it out." Juugo answered.

Suigetsu helped Hibiki stand and hobble over to the table, trying to take as much pressure as she could off her foot. Once she was in a chair, Suigetsu sat across from her, and Juugo walked out with three plates of warm Omurice. Once the food was in front of them, they all started shoveling it into their mouths. It was bland but amazingly good. Prison food was never warm, and it was always mushy. Any food was better than it.

"How long has it been since we ate together like this?" Hibiki asked after swallowing her last bite.

"A month at least." Juugo replied.

Something else about prison food, was that you ate it alone, in your cell. The company felt reassuring, warm. None of them said it, but they all felt like they finally returned home after so long, but the empty places of Karin and Sasuke felt heavy. Juugo quietly stood and took the three empty plates and placed them in the kitchen sink.

"I'm going to bed," he announced as he went into the bedroom by the kitchen. He walked in and fell onto the bed, falling asleep when he hit the soft mattress.

Taking Hibiki's hand they walked to the second bedroom together. He was relieved when he saw the fluffy bed. With a long sigh Suigetsu collapses on the bed and is overjoyed. His back was hurting from sleeping on the cells floor. He had Hibiki and a soft warm bed, life was good. Hibiki sits on the bed with him, he wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his head in her lap, Hibiki patted his head, the hair was still a little damp from washing.

"Tired?" She asked.

"Yeah, you?"

"It was a long day for all of us." She sympathized.

"Let's sleep through tomorrow." Suigetsu suggested.

"We'll sleep until we wake up, how about that? We can't stay long." She reminded him.

"Yeah yeah." he agreed reluctantly.

Finding the edge of the blanket Hibiki pulled it down and crawled inside. Pulling Suigetsu along taking the covers over themselves as they did so. The two laid on their sides and facing each other. After looking at her for a moment he pulls her into his arms and hugs her close. They both sigh,

"How was prison?" she whispered.

"The worst, at least with Orochimaru my back didn't hurt." he complained

"Bad bed?"

"Yeah really bad, Juugo's was better, he could sleep in his. I opted for the floor, way more comfy… what about you?" he wondered.

"I was in the hotel the whole time, so ok?"

"Better then the floor." he chuckled.

"Yeah." she agreed.

He lets his hold loosen just enough so he could see her face. Tucking some hair behind her ear.

"Can you tell me, what happened while I was away?" he inquired.

"Aren't you tired? Shouldn't we sleep." Hibiki suggested.

"I want to know what the hell you did over the last month, it will keep me up if I don't know." After slight hesitation Hibiki gave him a small sad smile.

"Hahaha, It's kind of crazy really. First, I saw you guys in danger,"

"You passed out, didn't you? I told Juugo you would try and get us." he frowned.

"Yeah, I collapsed. When I woke up an old man was in the room with me. He said his name was Haruto, he was …" she stopped. The name still giving her anxiety.

"What?" he probed.

"An Omoikane." she whispered.

"Really? I thought you were the last one?" he marveled.

"I thought so too, but there he was. He nursed me back to health, said I almost died." she admitted.

"Hibiki I told you that I'd come back." he chided.

"Yeah but..." she started.

"No buts!" he interrupted. "It took a while but me and Juugo would have gotten ourselves out soon anyway. What if you died? What the hell would I do then?" He scolded. Hibiki frowned and takes on a guilty expression, as she thinks of the oath to herself.

"You would have lived on," she told him.

"I wouldn't want to." he admitted.

"That's sweet." she smiled.

"Seriously Hibiki,"

"I'm better ok?" she interjected "I'm smarter now too. So, don't worry about what has happened." she assured.

"Fine...I'll let it go for now, so you woke up and Haruto was there?" he asked.

"Yeah, Long story short I was never properly taught, and he came to be my teacher." she continued.

"What took him so long?" he asked.

"He was really old Suigetsu, moved really slow." she giggled...

"Alright and?" he asked.

"Well he taught me a lot. I understand my abilities better and can use them properly now, well not properly but I will be much safer." she said.

"You were busy then,"

"Yeah, and it was worth it, he gave me his cane, the one I'm carrying," she chirped.

"Yeah?" he smiled.

"It's going to help me get an idea of where I am. It's cool." she went on.

"You can move on your own now huh" he guessed.

"Yeah." she beamed.

"I happy for you." he smiled, kissing her forehead.

"I learned a lot about living as a blind person... And so much has changed, I have more options in life than I thought…" she rambled.

"What options?" he asked.

"I'll tell you later." she said, nervous about telling him.

"It's always later with you" he joked. They giggled together and slowly started to laugh louder. After a few minutes, they calmed down slowly.

"What did you do in prison?" Hibiki asked as she calmed down.

"Not much played question games with Juugo and planned each guards personalized death." he shrugged.

"You and Juugo played question games?" she exclaimed.

"That's what you ask about." he chuckled.

"I expected the second part." she admitted

"You know me well," he laughs. "Yeah, we played 20 questions and stuff. It got really boring."

"You two got a little closer at least." she said.

"Yeah, Juugo's a good guy, I still don't trust him and his rampages." he said. Pulling her closer again. They lay in silence, breathing slowly in unison. Their hearts beating together. He pulls away again and caresses her face. He kissed her forehead then pressed their foreheads together. Slowly they fell asleep.

...

Hibiki awoke with a jolt. Sweat beaded her forehead as she panted. It was so dark... then a soft sound came from next to her, a snore. She gained control of her breathing. She was on her side, and Suigetsu was behind her, almost cradling her in his arms. Hibiki focused on his snoring and began to feel better. She was returning to herself again. He mumbles in his sleep, pulling her closer. Her back touching his chest, his slow breath on her neck. Smiling Hibiki let his snores become her lullaby.