Chapter Four
The next morning began with Naruto complaining about not having a teacher to help him. He had made puppy eyes at me but I declined stating I had my own mission to attend to. I did offer to have lunch with him if he wanted which he accepted before we both went our separate ways for the morning.
With Pein-sama's new order I was just going to sight-see the village for the thirtieth time, but this time, I was going to be looking at everything with an analytical eye. Which is what I was doing when I noticed my tails again following me. I doubted the ANBU would let the other tail come out anytime soon but I was curious who that was and what his mission was.
Lunch came and went without Naruto. I figured he had finally found a teacher and was getting the training of his life so I wasn't disappointed. I did stop at a few shops in Konoha in the afternoon and chatted with the shopkeepers, if only to hear their stories about what they were like in their youth. Dinner was teriyaki pork in a different diner before I headed back to Naruto's apartment.
There was a note left for me stating Naruto would be away most of the month thanks to his new trainer, Jiraiya. I frowned, that was a complication. One Sannin coming back to Konoha was suspicious, two was a coincidence. I was just lucky that the third Sannin was a drunk who was too damaged to return. This would have been ugly. Still, looked like the apartment was mine for the month. What luck.
My days passed in such a manner until the ANBU had been called away about a week later. This was the first time I sought privacy in a training field with the new books I had bought. I didn't notice the ANBU was gone until I felt my second watcher coming closer. I didn't have long to wait as a ninja with gray hair, glasses and a Konoha headband appeared in a silent shunshin.
"I was wondering how long you were going to wait." I started the conversation idly, marking my place in my book before I shifted it to a seal on the inside of by pack.
"You knew?" He asked.
"Of course." I leaned back against the tree trunk. "Though that begs the question as to why a Genin of all shinobi would want to speak with me? If in fact, you are a Genin."
"Hmph, you are sharp I'll give you that. I am Kabuto." He gave a small bow as he introduced himself. Being in his presence was like being in the presence of a snake, you had to tread carefully otherwise the strike would kill you.
"I doubt I have to introduce myself if you've been following me around. So what do you want?" A sharp smile.
"I've come to extend a hand and offer you the deal of a lifetime."
"Oh?" An arched eyebrow from me had him continuing.
"I work for a very powerful man who is very interested in people such as you. Gifted shinobi who prove themselves far stronger than everyone gives them credit for." I snorted.
"Why do I have a feeling that man is a very well-known criminal Sannin?" Kabuto smiled wider.
"My Lord wishes to extend an offer for you to join us."
"And why would I do that?" I asked.
"My Lord has many books and quite an extensive knowledge of the Higurashi clans kekkei genkai. My Lord would like to help you achieve your fullest potential."
"You must have me confused with my sister." Kabuto cut in before I could give directions.
"Oh no, on the contrary, my Lord is very much interested in you Akana Higurashi. You are the second born and your abilities are something my Lord would like to study and help you unlock. He merely wishes to help you. After all, not many would claim to have the blood of a Grim Reaper flowing through them." My eyes narrowed dangerously. "As I said, my Lord has researched your family lines very extensively."
"And what is it he would get out of this?" I asked. "One does not offer something freely nor out of the goodness of ones heart. If he even has one."
"I assure you my Lord does have a heart. As such he is willing to give you whatever your heart desires."
"Thanks but my heart has all it desires currently." I dismissed him by hopping down to the forest floor.
"This will only be a limited time offer Akana. I am merely to ask you to cooperate once."
"And if I don't agree?" He launched a kunai at me that I caught one handed before dropping it once it started to burn my skin. I cried out as the burn continued to smoke. I glanced at my hand to see a seal blooming on my hand. I glared at Kabuto but kept my back against the tree trunk while my hand throbbed.
"Consider this a parting gift. My Lord made it especially for you."
"What is this?"
"If you happen to change your mind just let us know. I doubt it will be hard for you to find us once the seal finishes. My Lord has ways of making you see from his point of view." With that, Kabuto bowed deeply and left me in the field alone. I couldn't sense him anywhere so I took this time to look at my hand. On it was a seal that I didn't recognize but it felt dark. It was a circle now but what did he mean 'when the seal finishes'?
The chills started again all around me as the wind picked up.
'...Akana…' I growled looking all around. A kunai was in my hand in the next second but no one was there. Being out in the open wasn't good for me. I pumped chakra to my legs to jump back to the apartment.
I don't remember getting back to the apartment. In fact, I don't remember falling asleep until I woke up to the dying rays of sunset.
"Urgh…" I groaned. My body felt heavy and my head felt thick like everything was too much. I blinked outside to see it was twilight. "How?" I coughed. My throat was dry.
"I thought you would never wake up." I looked to see Akira standing in the doorway to the bedroom with what looked like a glass of water in hand.
"Kira?" She came and sat next to me, handing me the water which I gladly inhaled.
"Slow down, don't choke." Immediately after I started choking. She sighed and whacked my back until I stopped hacking. "I warned you to be careful.
"Oh shut it." I cleared my throat. "What happened? Why are you here?" She took my glass and set it on the bedside table.
"I'm here because my baby sister was in trouble and thankfully our twin telepathy is still going on otherwise I would never know someone cursed you." She grabbed my left hand showing a spiked pentagram. I glared at it in disgust before yanking my arm away. Her voice got hard. "I've been waiting patiently but now this? Tell me what's going on."
"You know shinobi aren't allowed to reveal their mission details." I grumbled.
"Akana-"
"What do you want me to say Akira?" I looked at her. "I can't tell you the details. And this," I held up my hand, "Is something I've never seen before but it's apart of my mission and I can't tell you about it."
"Is it something you're prepared to die for?" I scoffed.
"Please, like a reaper would reap us." I gave her a stink eye. "That's part of the reason we're still alive." She growled.
"FINE!" Akira got up and moved to the window. She hopped through it but hesitated on the sill. She grit her teeth before glaring outside. "For your sake Akana, I hope you're not in any trouble. And if you are, I wish you would come to me." She left before I could say anything. Not like I would.
With her gone I looked down at my hand with the seal on it. Kabuto's meeting flashed through my head causing my head to start spinning with possibility's. Would it kill me? Didn't seem likely as Orochimaru wanted me or at least my powers on his side. Would it harm me? Most likely. But how would Orochimaru harm me? Ugh, the thought was hurting my head and would only cause anxiety. Would it change me?
I channeled chakra to my hand. The seal reacted by enlarging and shifting until it was covering the back of my hand. I stopped the chakra and the seal went down but I could feel it. It was minuscule but my chakra was being absorbed by the seal. What was the point in that? I wasn't trained in seals so I had no clue what this did. But I'd been told of Orochimaru's ways when he was in Akatsuki and partnered with Sasori, maybe my family would know? I stared at the seal distrustfully before I decided to chance it. I needed answers and sending a message would take too long and wasn't very confidential. Not to mention I needed the support on this.
I did the hand signs and soon I was in the Akatsuki meeting room. The Akatsuki were all gathered. Itachi, Kisame, Sasori and Deidera were holographic while the others were in person.
'Akana.' Pein growled. I hadn't checked in for a while. Considering I was out I probably missed my check in. Crap.
"You don't know how happy I am to see you all." I stated in relief.
'What the fuck, who are you?' Hidan growled.
"Go fuck yourself Hidan." I greeted before I lost my smile.
'Yeah that's Akana.' Deidera mused.
'What's wrong Akana?' Sasori asked.
"I fucked up." I admitted bluntly.
'What?'
'What's on your hand?' Itachi asked. I held up my hand to show the seal.
"Orochimaru is interested in making me apart of his collection. His invitation wasn't exactly happy to be refused." I was glad there were no feelings in this hologram, I was guessing from the body language the KI was intense.
'Explain.' Pein demanded.
"Orochimaru's right hand man I'm guessing has been watching me this past week alongside the ANBU. The ANBU was called away and he made his move and offered me whatever my heart desires if I joined Orochimaru. Why they want me, I am not sure."
'He touched you?' Kisame asked. I shot him a look.
"As if I would allow it! He threw a kunai I thought wasn't very important. Konoha shinobi are tricky."
'He has a Konoha spy?' Sasori asked. I nodded.
"He's been posing in the Genin Exam as a genin by the name of Kabuto Yakushi. Of course he forfeited after the second exam." I stopped as my head gave a throb and everything got dizzy.
'Akana?' I waved off the concerned calls. I grit my teeth and glared at the seal that had been slowly growing to cover my hand.
"This seal," I bit out, "it's taking my chakra."
'I've memorized it.' Itachi stated. 'I will send a copy to Pein-sama for his translation on how to remove it.'
'Konan and I will work on this once we get it. Akana, I want you to limit your chakra use until we can figure out what this seal is and how to remove it.''
"Yes Pein-sama."
'This meeting is adjourned.' I ended the jutsu only to fall back, panting. The seal took more chakra the longer I used it. It had lowered my reserves down by half. Whatever it was, it was such a nuisance. My eyes opened to stare at the ceiling above. I laid there watching the sunset fade away into night. I didn't bother turning on the lights or even moving. One thought kept circling my mind.
To spend the next two weeks without chakra. Oh joy.
I spent much of the next day gathering supplies as I would be staying in Konoha for a while. As such I felt I needed to change up my outfit. Of course by this I mean I added a new top and kept everything the same. I didn't see Naruto that day or the next but I knew he was busy training so I didn't let it bother me too much. After all, once the exams were over Itachi and Kisame would be en route to take him.
The justification of this betrayal was easy to state. The feelings of betraying a friend were tricky but not impossible. After all, the Akatsuki was my family and I loved them. Well some of them anyway. Zetsu was too damn creepy. Tobi was annoying but there was a hint of a chill that made me wary of him. After all, you didn't get into Akatsuki by being a weak low-life.
The limitation of my chakra sucked balls! The accursed seal wouldn't shrink as the days past despite my limitation. I was getting tired of it. I worried I would dull my skills if I kept doing this. It caused fury to boil in my veins and rage to cloud my mind the more I thought of this thing limiting me. But Pein-sama's orders were absolute, I would refrain. Still, I noticed that my emotions were getting darker. With all the meditating I was doing in the training fields now, it was hard not to notice. To not 'be one with myself' and aware of myself without noticing my thoughts and emotions was stupid. It almost made me laugh.
No doubt the seal was having an effect I had not foreseen, but I was glad I still had the willpower to shove those negative thoughts aside. If I had been a preteen no doubt I would have fallen prey to the cloud of anger at the world and done something stupid like following the impulse to meet with Orochimaru. I knew where he was, the seal demanded I see him but I refused to let that snake touch me. One snake was enough.
Despite my willpower though, I made it one week without my chakra before I ran into Akira at a tea shop. She was drinking tea alone as I had seen her previously doing. Only this time I stopped and went inside. She didn't say anything as I sat down at the table behind her.
"Can I get you anything?" The waitress asked politely.
"Green tea with vanilla and honey." She nodded and walked away. I sighed. "My chakra is on lockdown." Akira didn't say anything. "I can't give any details on why I'm here. I have a tail."
"So I noticed."
"I've been living in Amegakure for the past few years with a group of shinobi who took pity on me and took me in."
"Good for them." The waitress placed my tea in front of me along with a pot.
"Thank you." She nodded and left me to be. I took a sip of tea before beginning. "I can't tell you everything. What I can tell you is that I have someone very dangerous and powerful wanting to… add me to his collection." I sneered in disgust. "The mark he placed on me is stealing my chakra. I don't know why. But, I have noticed I am more impulsive. Which is probably part of the reason I'm even tell you this." I took a sip of the tea. Akira I had no doubt was listening. "I don't know enough about sealing to take it off and I lack the coordination to learn at this point. Every day I get angrier and angrier." We sat in silence.
"I want to help." Akira stated. "Can you tell me who?"
"No." I snapped before I bit my tongue. "I can't just yet."
"Why does he want you?" Akira tried.
"I am the second born. Apparently my eyes are more valuable to causing chaos then your eyes are."
"This is dangerous Akana. If someone with dark intentions manages to use your eyes for evil-"
"I know!" Several people looked around but I was already slipping out a window to the roof. Akira would no doubt follow me. I had broken and used chakra. The seal throbbed like it was hungry for more chakra. I grabbed my arm and slammed against a wall, gritting my teeth in pain as the chakra I used was absorbed. The seal I saw constricted before it suddenly deflated. The chakra it had fed on came back at me but this time, it was so much more.
I shuddered as raw chakra soaked me. Warmth pooled in my chest and stomach like a good drink while my skin seemed to warm pleasantly. I gasped and the feelings settled leaving me feeling relaxed. Why was this a bad idea again?
"Akana?" Akira's hand on my shoulder didn't irritate me but I did brush her hand off. I stood up feeling better. My eyes activated to show the black scelera and golden iris' of Reaper Eyes. Akira's eyes responded.
"I don't know what happened, but I feel so much better now." I verbalized. Akira frowned, looking at my arm. I did too and noticed the seal was constricting and absorbing my chakra again. I frowned but had a thought. I fed more chakra into it until it grew 10x before it also constricted and another wave of heat and pleasure entered me. I grinned at the seal. "Well, I guess now I know what you are."
"Akana I don't think you should be using that seal." Akira warned. Irritation bubbled up and I glared at her.
"I think I would know that already." Akira's eyes were an exact replica of mine, only with her eyes, your deepest desires were revealed. Akira's eyes widened just as mine did. Our heads whipped to the side to see a figure in a black outfit race past us with a katana on his back. We watched as he seemed to fly through the air towards the hospital. Once look at each other and we were off, running after the Grim Reaper.
"We've never-" Akira began. I caught her thought and continued it before she was done with her sentence.
"Never-" I confirmed.
"Do you think-"
"We need to-"
"Agreed." We landed on the building opposite the hospital to see the man floating outside the hospital's third floor before he seemed to go right through the wall. We looked at each other before assessing. We couldn't go through the whole hospital before he could come out. So what were we to do?
"Top?"
"Bottom." Akira agreed. I jumped across the street to the top of the hospital. We would need to leave somehow and at least if I was on top while Akira watched the sides of the hospital, we could see the man leave.
'Akana, down here!' I looked over the edge of the roof to see Akira running after the man. I cursed and shot off using chakra in my legs to catch up as fast as I could. Which was pretty damn fast. He was heading to the northwest side of the towns walls. No doubt he would run through and back to where ever he had come from. I couldn't let that happen. Akira was running a head of me but with a few powerful chakra jumps I was bounding ahead and doing one more leap to land directly in front of the man.
I met his eyes with my own. His widened before he came to a stop directly in front of my katana. I huffed, not remembering when I had pulled out my sword. Before I spoke he beat me to it.
"Why are you out here unaccompanied? And what are you wearing? Where are your clothes?" He stared at Akira's outfit before looking at mine. We glanced at each other before asking.
"Who the hell are you?" I asked. He didn't respond, only pulling out some sort of thin black tech from his pocket.
"This is Kubo reporting from Sector Alpha Xi, I have 2 unaccompanied novices in the field. Two females, twins."
"Excuse me but we're not novices." I argued, cutting into his reporting. My chakra pulsed dangerously. Akira responded but her pulse was more focused and sharpened into Killing Intent while mine was a wild inferno. He stopped reporting to stare at us in shock. "We are kunoichi and you will tell us what the hell you are doing running around the whole damn village like a chicken with your head cut off."
"And why no one else seems to be able to see you." Akira put in. The clearing was silent with only the sound of the wind in the trees the only sound that broke through. Akira and I never faltered from our defensive pose when the man spoke suddenly into his black com. I think it was a communication device, it was different than the ones I'd seen and used.
"Delay that. I'm going to have to investigate this more. I'll be reporting in late with my quota. Signing off." He put the tech away before he faced us fully with a frown. "You are ninja."
"No duh," Akira snapped. "I believe my sister asked you a question, who are you?"
"I am Kubo of the Ajal clan. Who are you?"
"Akira. This is Akana. Are you a Reaper?"
"I am. What are you?"
"We are kuniochi." I stated, glaring. He met my gaze head on, merely tilting his head. "Are you the one we've been sensing?" I felt the familiar chills and tingles running along my arms and my back. They weren't dying down but I was growing more familiar with it.
"You have been sensing me?" He frowned. "Perhaps I am slipping if shinobi are able to sense me. But why haven't any others sensed me?" He assessed us. "You do seem to have exceptionally strong spiritual powers. Untamed at the moment but how that is high when you are shinobi is unusual."
"Perhaps because we're half-Reaper?" Akira asked sarcastically. That got his attention.
"Half? Who are your parents?"
"Isn't that getting a little personal?" I asked, lowering my katana. I didn't put it away just in case. Akira followed me and asked,
"What were you doing in the hospital?"
"I am collecting souls to guide on their way to the afterlife."
"Well, that's a good excuse." I stated.
"It is not an excuse." He frowned. "Why have I never seen you at the Novice Academy?"
"Um, what?" Akira asked.
"The Academy? Were you should have been trained on how to be a Reaper? How have you two remained outside the Society for so long?" He looked at me for this. I frowned at him. "I've never heard of twins being born, at least not to any of the pureblood families. Of course if you are half-bloods then it wouldn't be such a celebration."
"Rude." Akira muttered.
"I know right? Makes me wonder why we even hunted him down."
"I do not understand this situation. I apologize if I am being unreasonable but I need to know in order to understand, who are your parents?" He asked once again.
"Why do you want to know?" Akira asked.
"I have not heard of twin Reapers being lost in the last 20 years. Nor of any being born. If I knew who your parents or parent is, I would know for sure what family you belong to and that would help me notify them you are alive. If they are still active anyway."
"Why would we want that?" I asked. "I already have a family."
"I'm happy where I am." Akana stated. He frowned at both of us.
"How long have you lived among the ninja?"
"All our lives." We stated at once. He nodded.
"That explains why you don't seem to have properly developed your abilities and why your chakra and spiritual energy is more than that of a regular shinobi. But why do you not want to leave them? They are assassins with no respect for the lives they take."
"I mean you have a point, but they are our family." Akira answered. He seemed to think it over.
"I need to go. I have souls that need to be cared for. They should not be held up on their way to their afterlife."
"Will you return?" I asked. He nodded.
"If you will permit me, I have more questions for you two."
'Akira?' I asked. 'Do you think this is wise?'
'How else are we going to get information on Reapers? Besides, there's nothing for us to do for the moment.'
'Easy for you to say, I still have a seal on me remember?' Akira moved closer to me.
'I know. But who knows, maybe he knows what this is. After all, death reveals all of life's secrets.'
'You better be right about this.' Akira put away her swords.
"We will be here for about 1 more week. If you can meet us before then that will be good. We are not from this village so after a week we will leave. I don't know if you'll be able to find us again." He nodded.
"I will return in 3 days time. If I am held up I will send another trusted Reaper to gather information." With that he was jumping up and flying through the air. We watched him go and as he left, the chills did too. I stopped my use of chakra only to sway dangerously before falling. Akira caught me before I fell fully. I groaned as a headache caught me in it's grip.
"The seal takes too much and leaves you feeling worse."
"It's addictive." I mumbled. "I need to let Pein-sama know."
"Care to elaborate?" I groaned. Akira sighed and got me onto her back before she jumped off back to Naruto's apartment. Apparently I fell asleep because the next thing I knew, it was morning and I was asleep in Naruto's appt. I raised my hand to see the seal was still there but it was a dark green color now. I remembered the way I had felt using my chakra again and was tempted to do it again but I barely stopped myself.
I was a mess.
I got up and started on breakfast.
After breakfast I paced the apartment before I gave in and did the hand signs for the Akatsuki communication link. I appeared in front of the Akatsuki members who were gathered around.
'Akana I told you to not use your chakra.' Pein stated.
"I know!" I sighed.
'What happened?' Sasori asked. I plopped down on the ground.
"The seal has a negative affect that acts as a double edged sword. At least from what I've gathered if I don't use my chakra, whatever the seal takes from my normal energy turns it into dark energy that affects me mentally. I couldn't take the anger and fury at my own weakness anymore and I got so fed up with being in a public place I did a shunshin to a roof. The seal reacted to that chakra and sent a pulse of … bliss through me. When I pour more chakra into it it sends another pulse." I subconsciously sent more chakra throughout my body that was returned with a pulse. "It's so addicting." I gasped.
'Akana!' I looked at Itachi's frown. 'You need to stop using your chakra. Kisame and I will be there in a few days to help you remove that seal.' I was glaring angrily before he was done with his sentence.
"No."
'Oh shit, un.'
'The fuck did she say to Uchiha?'
'Akana.' I glared at Sasori.
"Are you taking his side?" I spat angrily. He met my glare and calmly stated,
'This seal is having negative effects on you. You are not thinking clearly.'
"So I'm insane?" I asked.
'Akana.' I looked to Pein who was frowning. 'Itachi and Kisame will be in Konoha in a few days to remove the seal. Until then I'm ordering you to stop using your chakra.' The order hurt as I knew it would. They didn't want me using my chakra for my safety. I could see that but at the same time, the chakra that the seal gave me was different than my own, it was better. I didn't want to give that up. 'If you keep using your chakra, you will be drawn to joining Orochimaru.' Ugh.
"'Fine." I sulked. "I won't use my chakra until Itachi and Kisame get here." With that I ended the jutsu and while I was still in my right frame of mind, I called to Akira to help me.
'I'm ready to talk Akira.'