"What took you two so long?"
The voice is familiar yet officious.
"Deidara," Rin says.
They arrive at the mountain's base before dark. The beaming glare of sunset now hovers close to the horizon, and as it recedes into the earth, the chilling air meanders through.
"Senpai, you just got here too early," Tobi says quickly.
He adopts that odd childish demeanour Rin has come to dislike.
"How did you know to find us?" She asks.
"Tche! Weren't you two together? Tobi sent a message," Deidara says.
"I see," she replies slowly.
"We need to get going, the three tails can't wait, hm."
"Yes it can. It's darkening and you want to find a tailed beast?" she says incredulously.
"I'm not wasting the day by sitting around here doing nothing!"
"You're resting to get your strength back up! Once we're all fully rested, then we can go and capture it."
"I've been waiting here all day for you two and-"
"Adjust your plans then!" she interjects irascibly, "You're not the one who has been walking all day!"
Deidara is momentarily silent.
"Forget it," he snaps.
x
The other side of Cascades Town, demarcated by the surrounding mountainous regions, is still half a day's walk away.
A nearby village houses several restaurants and inns for guests who happen to venture across the mountains, but are yet to pull enough strength for another half day's walk.
"We only have two rooms available," the innkeeper says.
"Good enough," Rin answers.
They do not immediately disperse for the night.
Deidara bluntly complains of hunger and because he has been waiting all day for his teammates, they should have the decency to sit with him.
The inn is incredibly large for such a small village. Perhaps it is their way of stuffing as many guests in as possible? Money does not come easy for small villages competing with nearby larger towns. Rin gets that, but she cannot help but feel irritably claustrophobic.
The restaurant section is connected to an enormous square like room made up of wooden benches and antique-like couches. People sit around with trays of tea and assortment of treats, immersed in the conversation before them.
On Rin's end, her teammates are quiet, perhaps lost in their own transient thoughts.
But Deidara suddenly speaks.
"Two rooms available. This obviously works in your favour," he sneers.
"What's your point?" she says bluntly.
Deidara ignores her.
They do not speak again until he is contently lounging against the chair with a full stomach and a diffused attitude.
"Let's take a peek at the maps. We should get some planning done," Deidara says.
He takes out a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket. "Last known location is Cascades Lake."
"The terrains to get there, we will need to go through this forest," Rin says.
"Don't think that's the problem," Deidara says thoughtfully, "there is a small village that sits right here on the edge of this lake. How should we catch it without causing commotion?"
They sit in contemplative silence.
"Get some bait," Tobi suggests eagerly.
"What," Rin states in disbelief.
"You know that's actually not a bad idea. We can lure it elsewhere, perhaps away from this lake and into this adjourning one. It's just forest around here, hm.".
"Do you think that would work?" Rin asks.
"Heh! My plan always work," he answers haughtily.
Over by the front entrance, there is a sudden commotion that breaks their conversation. Two people have entered the inn carrying a third injured person between them.
"Akihiro, don't move too much," his female comrade says, and she places him gently on the chair.
She glances uncertainly at her other male comrade.
"What do we do, Sora? The nearest hospital isn't for another half day's walk," the male comrade says.
"It's fine, Naoki, I just need rest," the man named Akihiro says.
His voice is barely above a whisper.
Sora's troubled expression is stark across her pale face.
"He won't survive the night," she says.
"I don't know what else-"
Naoki's sentence is cut short by Rin's approaching voice.
"I am a medic, I can help him," she says gently.
The other two stare in bewilderment.
"Y-You can help?" Naoki asks.
As Rin begins the onerous process of internal stitching, she senses Deidara's disapproving scowl from across the room. She knows his thoughts. Her skills should only be used to benefit the Akatsuki.
But she is technically 'off-duty' so he has no damn say.
Her work is remarkably precise and incredibly efficient. Only thirty minutes in and she is already closing up the two small but deep gashes in Akihiro's abdomen.
"He will be fine. Just a couple night's rest and he should be able to journey that half day's walk to the hospital," Rin says brightly.
Naoki drops against the chair in relief.
"Thank you for saving our brother," Sora cries.
"That's quite alright, he's got stamina," Rin turns to Akihiro.
He gives her a small faltering smile of gratitude, and it is in that moment that she cannot help but notice that he is extremely handsome.
When she stands to leave, a feeble hand brushes against hers. Akihiro gives her another small smile before speaking in a faint tone.
"Can I ask your name?"
Rin hesitates, then smiles.
"My name is Rin," she says.
"You have such a gentleness about you Rin, I find that incredibly fascinating," he says quietly.
He places a reassuring hand on hers. And without thinking, she tightens her grip on his.
"Maybe once I get better, we can get to know each other a little more," he says sheepishly, "You know, I'd like to repay you for saving my life."
"Maybe," she answers quietly.
Her gaze briefly meets his. Then, the sudden urge to embrace him is so real, she turns away in embarrassment.
"You sound reluctant. I'm sorry if I made you feel that way," Akihiro says.
When she faces him, she catches Tobi gazing at her from the restaurant table. He turns away when she looks to him, and though her watch continues to linger his way, he does not look back.
"No, it's not that. I'm just on the road," she answers.
"Akihiro! We were able to get you a room so you can rest up," Sora says.
The siblings return with three sets of keys in their hands.
Akihiro is suddenly sullen, as if his siblings have interrupted an important moment.
They glance between their brother and Rin, and their hands on each other.
"Right," Sora says slowly.
Before Rin can reply, a hand rests on her shoulder. Tobi is standing behind her with perhaps a very intense look beneath that mask.
"We're leaving," he says seriously.
The deep cold tone is miles away from the pleasant sound she is used to hearing.
"Leaving? I thought we are staying at this inn," she answers in puzzlement.
"Change of plans," he replies.
He follows Deidara out the front door.
Perhaps they willingly gave up their rooms so Akihiro and his siblings could utilise them?
"Did someone give up their rooms for you?" Rin asks the siblings.
"No, we had a group of people who just checked out and left five rooms available. Did you need a room to stay in?" Naoki asks.
Rin shakes her head.
"I'm settled," she replies.
"Rin, who was that?" Akihiro asks sceptically.
He looks uneasy.
"Comrade," she answers.
"He does not look like a comrade," Akihiro answers quietly.
Rin looks troubled.
"What do you mean?"
Akihiro shakes his head. He gives her a sentimental look that is heavily laced with a passive expression of regret.
"Perhaps if we meet again and…things go well, we can properly get to know each other. I'm sorry, my repayment to you would have to wait just a bit longer," he says tentatively.
He stares vacantly out the window and refuses to elaborate on the vagueness of his sentence.
Even his siblings look confounded.
Rin does not question him, but she smiles and squeezes his hand as a sign of reassurance.