Chapter 3- Malicious Intent
Malicious intent, was the pinnacle of his sour existence. IT was a concept beaten into him thoroughly throughout the 20 years of life. He was groomed to be like this; to be sharp, calculate, cold. He did it well. It was due to this upbringing that helped him excel in all ways Shinobi; In all arts of Taijutsu and Ninjutsu. It was a gift given to him on this hell bent sphere, a gift given by Him.
So when he was given the opportunity to live a normal life his deposition became steel. One more act, just one more; and he would be granted freedom.
For both of them.
From far off into the forest the shop could be seen. It was quaint, sides planted with yellow allamandas that brought the a source of life out here in the quiet forest; and with each step closer, he saw the intricate detailed patterns that lined the outside of the little store. The edges marked with etched flowers and stars that gave way to artistry. The wall facing him was vined with purple perennials that grew wild, but fixed to effectively frame the store hiding some and emphasizes other etched markings on the edges that led up to the shop sign. Herbal Remadeez!. It wasn't like anything he'd seen in his land. Where stores were bland, relying more on the concrete appeal of masonry and bricks.
Frankly...it was.
"Beautiful.."
When he reached the bricked path he noticed the lighting on the sides of the pathways. The head of the light fixtures were doted with short phrases which spoke of love and forgiveness. One in particular catching his eye. "Beauty begins the moment you start to be yourself." he read aloud. He heard the ringing of the bell ignoring the passersby that left the store.
Young girls giggling as he felt them look him over, the smell of crisp cinnamon from the store wafted past him as the walked by, it distinctly reminded him of cinnamon raisin cookies she would bake after every harsh encounter he would have with Him.
It was his favorite.
He frowned. The store was warm and inviting even before entering the establishment , and he briefly wondered how the shop keep managed to make her way into the bad graces of such higher ups.
It seemed like everything about this store keeper was undeserving of what he was planning to do, but he knew better than to believe that silly notion. He subconsciously shrugged apathetic to whether or not it was undeserving in his eyes. He had a mission to complete.
Just one more time….then im finished.
He ran a hand through his jet black hair, hand stopping short at the knob, seeing the back of a woman that was engaging with an older gentleman and a young boy by his side through the half dome shamed window that gave customers a look into the store. He looked over her, inwardly cringing at the length of her hair; not that it mattered, but he preferred short hair on women as it showed off their features better.
He turned the knob pushing his way in, only to be met with laughter from the chattering folk that blocked out the ringing of the cow bell on top of the shop door.
She didn't acknowledge him.
The two began walking his way towards the exit, the young boy in hand chattering away about Ninjutsu he wanted his father to teach him, and his eyes lingered on the boy listening to his musing and he couldn't help but smile. He felt eyes on him, turning to look towards the shopkeep that was now facing him. He stopped.
"Hello, Welcome to Herbal Remadeez!" She smiled brightly large dark eyes twinkled as her full lips pulled back to show a set of pearly whites. His breath hitched. He blinked, finding his voice caught in his throat. She looked different from the photos.
She looked…
alive.
Her brows furrowed instantly smile falling, reading the situation well. He swallowed hard.. "Did he remind you of anyone?"
He was taken a back by the question. Did he remind him of anyone? The little boy?
He did.
He ignored the question.
"I was looking for something that would help with brain fog…" His eyes trailed away to roam the store that was neatly decorated with shelves and tables scattered around the room displaying bottles of various kinds. He saw her at the corner of his eye walk towards a wall on the far right. His eyes trailed back to her, wandering up her form.
She was pretty.
She was…
Beautiful.
Before him coming here, he was briefed thoroughly on his target. He filed through his memory;eyes watching her as his mind delved into his memories.
"She's is an Ex member of the CAU. It's been a couple of years since she's left the organization. However, I would advise caution when approaching the girl. Skill does not dissipate. It only slows." The 6 members of the council sat around the curved desk; room blacked out save for the lone light that shone from behind. Masking their faces.
He knelt in front of the council members, wolf mask hiding his features as he listened to his final mission.
"This will be your last mission, Wolf. Then you will be released of the consequences you so vehemently bestowed upon yourself through your foolish behavior."
"You really believe this boy is trustworthy, Dog. This man took our beloved Senator from us. "
"Rabbit is right. Wolf turned against Kin in a fit of rage. That is irredeemable."
"Although Wolf did take The senator from us. He is an accomplished member with no failed missions. Our grievances will be put aside if the Mizukage is swayed in favor of the council due to this mission; sure;y, that will open his ears to our political advancement."
The members were silent at Dogs conclusion.
Dog continued. "You will find the girl. And you will kill her. Lest the rest of your kin suffer the consequences."
Wolf clenched his fist.
"Yes Dog. I understand."
He understood.
She turned towards him, bottle in hand explaining the properties in such an eloquence that showed her expertise well; but of course it did. She was a medic nin of the cloud,that branched off into holistic health. Away from her village...away from her title she was given. She would understand...wouldn't she.
Because she wanted to be free too
He nodded his head absently, eyes sad for being pushed again into this a young woman whom wanted to live a normal life. How…
Sad.
She stopped, brows furrowed at his expression, large eyes filled with oddly placed concern in a stranger.. A hand was placed on his shoulder. " ...what's the matter?" He looked away, feeling his stomach churn at her kindness. Had he been lost in thought again? Is that what normal people do when they have nothing of prompt importance to do? He wasn't a normal person. He was an assassin...but is this what people do When they weren't assassins? Lately, His mind spun often, and direction was hard, So maybe that's why emotion poked through.
"How much is the bottle?" His response Icy. Now that he's looked over his target, reading her deposition was easy. Her guard was down, often. Her hands smooth, the lack of calluses showed she did little to no manual labor,, meaning her build was weak. She hadn't seen combat for years according to logs. The only thing that would be pesky is her chakra guard.
"Its 21.97 with tax." Her warmth left his shoulder.
In unison they walked towards the register, once she was behind the counter his eyes found her hands and watched them as the packaged the smooth brown bottle. Her bright pink nails gleamed against her smooth brown complexion. Her hands were..dainty. It interesting how such slender fingers slit the throats of so many,including those of his land. His eyes trailed up to meet hers, promptly reaching for his wallet and handed her a hundred dollar bill.
She took it, breaking the big bill to make change, then spoke. "When I'm having a rough day. I sing...not cause it makes it go away, but sometimes I want to cry." He clenched his jaw, feeling a wave of nausea come. "I cant help your rough day but,I can say that singing helps me to cry when i'm being stubborn...and I can give you snacks! On the house." He watched her reach over the counter grabbing a couple of pricey chip bags and candy bars placing it in the bag. His stomach turned again, feeling anxiety reel in.
I need to leave.
He reached over, grabbing the bag, turning in a brisk pace to leave the store.
The last thing he heard was. "You forgot your change!"
He stood in the cool of the night. Eyes fixed on the back door reading the atmosphere inside through the blackened windows.
All was quiet.
He was dressed in all black attire; material a mixture of spandex and cotton for easy movement. Fingers covered for the sake of prints. He secured his wolf mask one last time, lest there be combat.
He was ready.
Skill doesn't just disappear, skill gets slower.
Dogs words echoed in his ears.
Vision was not something he needed when infiltrating. He operated best in low vision field, night and specifically mist. So avoiding her furniture and items that were scattered in various places of the little home was fairly easy. His eyes adjusted well to the night, seeing the messy living room made his lip twitch but settled the urge to clean. He tore his eyes away passing a clock that shone in red.
1:12am.
This so far was relatively easy: a windy night masked his footsteps well, a new moon masked him well in the darkness,and she slept with her door open. The wolf stopped short at seeing the crack, eyes narrowing. Her soft breathing could be heard just beyond the door.
She was defenseless.
Relaxed.
Guard down.
This is too easy
He felt uneasy at the finality of this mission. One more time and he would be done. They could finally have a normal life; more than anything that's what he wanted for them.
Peace
Like what the woman thought she had.
How sad.
He needed to make this quick.
Quickly, quietly the wolf stalked towards the door, taking extra caution when opening to avoid the cracks, sliding in to see her sleeping form. His eyes easily made out her figure in the dark. She laid on her back, mouth parted slightly in the comfort of her sleep. A line of drool blessed her cheek in her state.
He felt a sort of wariness take his form when he lifted the kunai, his hand held it over her aiming at the base of her neck for the carotid artery, feeling the familiar sting to his eyes.
It would be painful.
It would be very painful.
When did I get so weak.
Did you really think you were ever strong?
His grip tightened on the kunai. Ready.
He lifted it, going down only to stop short eyes wide behind the mask. The imagine of a broken and battered woman flashing before his eyes. Her blood marred her pale skin red as she gurgled out her last words a pale hand outstretched to him. "Protect him..take him away from all of this...please."
His hands began to shake, throat closed shut unable to breath as grief overcame him.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
Now of all times, now of all times her memory would haunt him.
Don't be anything like him love. You're better than that. Her voice still in memory sounded so sweet. He swallowed the lump in his throat, staggered back heart heavy with affliction at the memory.
I ca-
He ducked, feeling the prickly of electricity graze his scalp, eyes catching the sleeping forms quick movement of hand signs. He rolled to the side, jumong up to get his bearings. In the night he saw her two forms, both her and the shadow clone stood side by side in the room. Hands a blue glow of highly concentrated surge of lighting, molecules formed close to mimic blades at her side.
He read that she was a close combat fighter. Once joining the elite it was a given, He was prepared for that. He was a close combat fighter as well, but this jutsu was not one he read in the transcripts. This was new.
He stood in the doorway of the room, feeling a pencil underneath his shoes and rolled it back, eyes never leaving her form.
She sighed heavily, and he found himself mimicking her gester.
They charged at him.
He jumped back hands forming intricate seals stopping short as he dodged a blade aimed for head, gritting his teeth as the `sharp stabs of prickling electricity screamed in his right ear,and then it went deaf.
She pointed another blade in his direction, stepping forward. It was her audible yelped that sounded as she slipped on the pencil that rolled underneath her foot that gave him the chance to bolt towards the door. He threw the door throwing himself out into a full sprint, but not before feeling the [passing of electricity slicing deep across his back.
He felt that one. He felt the pain screaming as he ran into the woods, only stopping after realizing that she wasn't following him.
It was like the realization was the final phrase that made him fall to his knees, breath heavy as he made the hand signs to summon a shadow clone that promptly worked on his still bleeding injury. The clones hands glowed green knowing little medical ninjutsu but enough to handle abrasions and deep cuts.
He fell forward, dizzy from the loss of blood;right ear pressed into the cold grass to help ease the hot canal that was buzzing fiercely.
"We'll find another way to get him out."The shadow clone mumbled, he reached over to remove the wolf mask that was pushed aside from him pressing his ear against the blades.
It wasn't supposed to go like this. It wasn't supposed to be like this. The plan was initially supposed to be kill her and free them. It was supposed to be easy ...But he knew she wouldn't want that. Her with her pretty red hair and voice that was bright and clear...that always seemed to find something good in all...that always seemed to give someone some form of love in all that she did...that listened intently...that felt so fiercely.
How appropriate.
How appropriate that the woman he loathed the most was the reason why he was lying in a forest half deaf and injured.
But…
He did not regret it.
Of all the things he's regretted in life. This would not be one...because he knew it would make her happy.
He closed his eyes finally, only now for the first time allowing himself to feel it. His mind sung a melody that she would sing everytime she stitch a wound or tended to a bruise. One that he'd often sing to him to help him sleep since her death. One that always allowed him to feel.
Like now, as the hot tears fell.
I sing...not cause it makes it go away, but sometimes I want to cry. The shop keeps voice rang so clearly in his head.
His body shook hard, teeth set in a grind as he fought tooth and nail to keep the cry that stood ready on his tongue to be heard.
I should've been there for you.
I should've been there for both of you
I should've faced him sooner
I was stronger than him
I should've…
I could have.
The best thing about the trees is..they can't repeat what they've seen, or what they've heard. They swayed to and fro lips sealed forever in remembrance of all...whether blood shed, or love and especially grief.
He believed that.
He truly believed that.
It was only them that heard him.
Only them.
AN:
Hello everyone!
Sorry about the late post. I've recently graduated, but I need to take my state board. So, my days have been riddled with studying, work and procrastination in all areas. But no worries I will be posting chapter 4 within the next 2 weeks or so.
I also apologize for any misspellings or grammatical errors that may be presented in my stories. Sometimes 2 eyes are better than one, and presently I do all the editing, writing, etc.
Regardless, please review, favorite and thank you for following Solace.