Summary: They had been seeing each other in secret for a reason. They wanted something that didn't involve their family. They already had to deal with expectations and the impending uncertainty of their graduation. Sadly good things have to come to an end.
Pairing: Kagome/Sasuke
Disclaimer:Still broke but please enjoy. Any mistakes are mine, especially now because I need to go to sleep. If you see any glaring ones please tell me and I'll fix it. Because I can't see it right now. But I had to get this done now. So please enjoy.
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Sasuke held in his urge to pace back and forth. He had been waiting at the entrance of the compound for Kagome. She was usually here by now. The sun was moments from being replaced by the moon. Were she and Shisui still training? He felt something in the pit of his being burn at the notion. It wasn't like she needed to train so late. Walking her home was their only time to spend together. Time that was limited, between doing so called missions and training. Was it too much to ask? Was she hurt? That had to be the only way. He balled his fists, if one of his clansmen was the cause he'd...his hands fell limp. He'd do nothing. He wouldn't be able to do anything to defend her from them. His clansmen wouldn't be scared of his glare like he'd do to his old classmates when they made fun of her. He couldn't almost hit them with a fireball if they persisted.
"Patience, ototou," Itachi said while he leaned against the tree. Sasuke had forgotten he was even there.
"What if she's hurt?" he blurted out, "And I can't be there to defend her."
"She's more capable than you think," Itachi said even though Sasuke didn't need to be told that.
"I know that, but what if," he stopped as he felt his forehead being poked.
"You worry too much," his aniki said. His chest puffed, his aniki didn't understand. Their otou-san told him last night that he had to start proving himself as an Uchiha but also a protector. He noticed that those calm dark eyes weren't on him, but something behind him.
He turned his head away and the hand fell away. Sharingan activated, he catalogued her disheveled appearance. Hair hung freely around her face mostly concealing it. Her sweater was missing, which wasn't a surprise. Shisui had made it his mission to destroy them. But most alarming was the single leg that was bare. Her other was covered by her usual high socks and shoe. He ran towards her forgetting about the cool almost indifferent composure he was supposed to uphold.
"What happened?" he clasped one hand on her shoulder, and used to other to sweep her hair away from her face.
"I can use fire now," she said with a shrug.
"I wouldn't say it so casually. She was literally on fire," Shisui said from behind her, his hand propped on his hip.
"You were what?" Sasuke asked and he held her at a distance.
"It's not that big of a deal. It happened, it's over. Can you walk me home?" There was something in her voice. It sounded off, and her eyes were vacant. Though he didn't have to be told twice. He interlaced their hands and with a quick nod goodbye to Shisui, he led her away.
"Are you alright?" They had walked a fair distance away from the compound. He didn't mind the silence but Kagome's eyes were still vacant.
"I think," he was shocked because, it wasn't her voice. It was multiple voices layered and overlapping. Kagome grabbed her head and began to blink rapidly. "I'm sorry, they're distressed," it was her normal voice.
"Do they do this often?" He hated that he had to ask because, he should know. But again they didn't get time outside of this routine walk. And when they did walk it was light conversation.
"No," She pauses with a gasp and crouches while holding her head, "They weren't this active before this afternoon," her voice faded away as her eyes glazed over once more.
"Kagome?" the only sound she let out was a whimper, he crouched beside her and placed a hand on her back.
"We're fine," the multiple voice answered, her eyes switched between several colors before stopping on an almost blinding blue, "Give us a moment," the voice held a voice of authority but was lightness to it. It was a few moments before she gasped loudly and her eyes faded back to normal.
"What just happened?" She stared off and slowly blinked her eyes.
"I," she leaned her head against his chest. "She's silent and they were trying to coax her," He stared at her with a look of concern. He didn't know what to do. The Sharingan was infinely let's complicated then whenever she tried to explain her kekkei genkai. He was brought of his thoughts when she pressed her lips to his. "Let's not think about it," He furrowed his eyebrows, The moon is very beautiful tonight," He would agree, but he didn't want to talk about the moon. He walked to be helpful, like Shisui or even his father.
"Yes," he agreed and gave her another kiss, "Let's get you home," he said as they stood up together hands interlaced.
"Yeah, but how about we take out time? We won't be missed for a while," she tugged him on his hand to guide him towards a part "Fireflies have started to hatch." He couldn't find it in himself to turn her down. His family would question him, but he'd deal with that later. After all the moon was quite bright and fireflies were fun to watch.
The sun was still low in sky as Team Seven congregated by the gates. Kagome stifled her yawn behind her hand. Sleep did not come to her last night. Everytime she closed her eyes she had been plagued by visions of her dad. He would reach for her and his lips would move to form words. But she couldn't move, her limbs were weighed down by pressure. Whenever she opened her mouth only for it to be flooded. Water slithered down her throat to coat her lungs with an intense burn. As black edged her vision, her body sputtered for the need of air. Her dad's blurred form would pull away, she'd wake up with a start. And that happened again and again. Until the last time her dad managed to touch her, but instead of pulling her away from the pressure. He applied more and more. It was unbearable and cold. Her back markings flared. It hurt.
"What's the matter with the girl?" the drunken slurred speech drew her out of her memories. She looked up to see her team's eyes trained on her. Asking questions, wondering if she was truly able to handle this mission. The spirits gave an outcry to see if she needed her help. They knew why she was like this, but they could only to so much.
"I'm fine, we should get going," she gripped the edge of her sleeves out of habit.
"Kagome if you unable to," Kakashi started.
"I'm fine, we can go," she said while maintain eye contact with him. She wasn't losing her nerve. Whatever was wrong with her had nothing to do with this mission. The look of uncertainty she got from her sensei was not lost on her. Her turned from her and with a gesture over his shoulder they were off.
The trip was boring so far. The sun was close to cooking them alive. Her head was filled with voices that hadn't stopped talking. They had been trying to coax her water spirit to communicate with them, but she was distant. She could feel her on the edge of her conscious, she could draw power from her but there wasn't the same connection as with her other elements.
'I wish the sun was hotter, don't you mistress.' Flame sai.
'No, that would make us more miserable," before she could continue the conversation, a reflection of light hit her eye. Squinting her eyes she saw a puddle. A puddle? That couldn't be right, it was too hot for this to still be here. She looked at her teammates, they just walked by and didn't seem to notice it. But the bridge builder saw it, and there was an extra line of sweat over his brow.
It happened fast. Two heavily armoured rogue ninjas sprang from the water. Spiked chains wrapped around their sensei, his body was shredded before their horrified eyes. Before she had a moment to panic, Shisui's teaching slammed to the forefront of her thinking.
"Naruto, Sasuke guard the bridge builder," she didn't know if it was her tone or because of their own shock. But they followed her command without complaint.
"Aw, does the little genin think she could fight us?" One of them asked through his metal gas mask.
She didn't say anything as lightning danced around one arm, while a vine whip in the other. Fighting them was painfully easy compared to training with Shisui. These poor excuses for ninjas lacked any form of close range defense. Making it easy for her whip to wrap around their necks one of their neck, yanking thier body closer to wrap her legs around his neck for a satisfying other ran from her to go for the bridge maker, but her whip caught his ankle. As he fell, she pounced, her lightning charged fist speared through his armor. The body fell limp as she extracted her bloodied hand.
A silence fell over the group. Kagome pulled a rag from one of her pouches to wipe the blood from her hand. She had just killed, and it had been painfully easy. Blood still seeped from one of them as rigor mortis began to set in. They had killed rats in class, and told killing was required in most missions outside the village. Their attention snapped to the woods were they head slow clapping.
"I must admit, I didn't think you guys would be able to handle a fight," Kakashi voice said from behind them. They turned to look at him all bewildered.
"Wait, I thought those goons killed you," Naruto pointed an accusatory finger at their sensei.
"If they had, I would be a horrible jounin. I knew that they were there," he stated with a bored shrug as he walked past the blond to stand in front of Kagome, "You did good, you handled the situation the best out of your team. I must say you proved me wrong," he clapped her shoulder while he walked past. Kagome arched an eyebrow in confusion. They watched as their sensei did a series of hand signs before placing his palms on the ground to create a crater large enough for the two bodies. He piled the corpses in and with the same signs covered them with earth.
"I think that should do it," he turned his gaze onto Tazuna. "This isn't just an escort mission, is it?" Kakashi had had his suspicions because there was a tendency for those requesting a C-Rank escort to understate their importance.
"No," the man dropped his head, "I lied, but for good reason. I'm in charge of bridge that needs to be built. If not my village and everyone near will either starve or be drafted into Gato's business to survive," he spat the last part out.
"Gato?" Sasuke asked. If this man meant trouble or put them in more danger. He looked at Kagome who had her bloodied hands clenched in her sleeves. As proud as he was, he felt the familiar pit of jealousy smolder. He was just as capable as her. But he froze. His shoulders stiffened, this was not the way he wanted to start his display of being a protector. If he couldn't take control when they were attacked by a few bandits, he shook his head. He'd prove himself next time.
"He's a filthy gangster who has a monopoly over trade. I'm sorry I lied but no one would have taken a B rank for a bridge that didn't benefit Konoha," he dropped his head, "If you want to turn back, I understand."
"Are you kidding? This is our first real mission and we aren't leaving because you're in danger," Naruto stated with firmly planted feet, "Who know maybe I'll take down the next guy. Kagome's not the only one who can defend you," Tazuna let out a pitiful chuckle as he ran a hand down his face.
"You either have very competent or exceedingly insane team," he said with appreciation.
"It's a little of both," Kakashi said with a shrug as he offered another rag to Kagome.
Kagome hadn't stopped staring at her hand. Kakashi had helped wipe most of the blood off but, it was still there. Caked and browned in her the cracks of her nails, the smell of iron that assaulted her senses, and she swore her hands were still a bit sticky. The many lessons at the academy never told her about this. The pit, the odd satisfaction that she could take a life but, the fear that she could take more. She was startled out of her thoughts when her hip was bumped.
"Are you okay?" Sasuke asked. He hadn't been able to talk to her but, he had noticed that she had fallen back while they were walking.
"I'm fine, I think," she answered as he tried to interlace their hands but, she pulled her hands away. This wasn't the time. They needed to look professional. The bridge builder was already unsure of his safety. She didn't want it to decrease more because Sasuke was showing a preference for her and her wellbeing.
"I think you should flank Tazuna-san on the left, it's open for attack," she said unintentionally bruising the Uchiha's pride with her command.
"I'm keeping an eye on it. We're close enough that I can move into place if needed," Sasuke puffed his chest out in defiance. He would not be scolded. He wasn't supposed to be taking orders from his fiance, "Just because you assumed leader for one fight doesn't make your word law."
"I know it doesn't. I was just making a suggestion. It would make us look more prepared for an attack," she said.
"And I was just saying that I can handle that spot if needed," he said and straightened his spine in an effort to mimic his father's stance that made people respect his word. Though his attempt was wasted as Kagome didn't even bother to look at him. If anything she looked annoyed.
She didn't even bother to respond to her teammate as she marched forward to flank the open part of their formation. If Sasuke wasn't going to do it, she would. She didn't like to the tone he had just now. It didn't sound like Sasuke it sounded like it could have been any Uchiha man. The arrogance that berated her because she was an outsider and thus lesser than them.
An odd tension formed over the group. It wasn't awkward or stifling, it was anticipation. Naruto and Sasuke wanted another chance to prove themselves as ninja. The blond's hand twitched near his holster every time something rustled in the bushes. A single tomoe spun in the Uchiha's Sharingan as he looked for any potential threats. Kagome was getting feedback. She hoped Kakashi noticed that they were being followed by three presences. One of them she recognized as the ANBU that followed her yesterday. But the other two she wasn't sure about.
"Take this," Naruto yelled making every stand at attention as he hurled a kunai at a bush. Everyone watched tense, but it quickly eroded as a snow white bunny hopped out of the underbrush.
"Nice going, dobe," Sasuke said as he shoved his hands in his pockets.
"What's a white rabbit doing out here?" Kakashi asked as it hopped past them. It was the middle of spring.
"It could be someone's pet," Kagome said, that rabbit wasn't going to hurt anything. But there wasn't a home around for miles. Could it belong to the ANBU?
"Everyone down," Kakashi yelled, Naruto helped the bridge builder get down, and Sasuke grabbed Kagome while he fell and used his body to shield her upper half. Over head there was a whoosh of a massive blade, followed by a thunk. With cautious movements they looked up to see a tall man with greyish skin who had intimidating muscles.
"They sent children to protect you," the man's voice was muffled behind the bandages that covered the lower half his face. Kakashi's eyes widened as he recognized the man, without hesitation he lifted his headband to reveal a matured Sharingan.
"Well I'm honored the infamous Copycat Ninja is my opponent," the man stepped off the sword.
"Everyone protect the bridge maker," they followed his order forming a triangle around the man. Naruto and Sasuke had kunai drawn, crouched low ready to pounce. Kagome activated all her markings but her back flared horribly. She winced at the pain. It hadn't done that in a while.
'Close…' she heard faintly under the other voices. Her eyes widened as thick fog wisped across the ground.
"You think this little formation will stop me?" His deep voice said from behind them.
Zabuza had his sword ready to strike down the genin closest to him, which happen to be the girl. It would be a shame to cut her down, she was cute. But he needed to get paid. What he didn't expect was for her dance around his sword and use it as leverage to aim a kick at his head. He caught the ankle, but she had another surprise. Taking advantage that he still held his sword in his other hand, she twisted and punched at his head it a lightning charged fist. Not enough to kill, but enough to cause momentary confusion. The roar he gave off sufficed, the fact that he hand fell from his sword worked as well.
"Move," she ordered to her team, as she used his moment of confusion to flip so that she sat on his shoulders. Gripping his neck with her thighs, raising her arms lightning dancing between her palms. Before she could swing them down, her arms were grabbed as she was flung away. Zabuza waited for her spine to snap from the impact. Though this girl had more surprises as her body molded into the tree.
"I seem to have underestimated the quality of genin that Konoha can produce. Was she top of her class? The most lethal?" He asked, his mouth was almost salivating. To think he was going to fight and kill the Copycat Ninja but whoever this girl was as well. He dodged a punched directed at him as a fierce Sharingan stared him down.
"Leave her out of this, your fight is with me. Her's is to protect the bridge builder," Kakashi said, Kagome emerged from the tree. She only seemed to interest the rogue even more because now she held a bow in her hands.
"You're right, I'll take you out. Then the girl, then give the little worms a chance," he said and there was a flurry of fists and feet clashing.
"Are you insane?" Naruto asked while Kagome crouched in front of the Tazuna with her bow poised to shoot an arrow.
"No, I just acted," she said as she followed the fight. Their sensei was copying the man's water jutsu. Something about the fight was calling to her, but she would stay and protect the bridge builder until she was needed.
"And that could have gotten you killed," Sasuke snarled he had a kunai gripped tightly in his hand. Why was she like this today? They watched in horror as Kakashi was tricked by a water clone and encased in a Water Prison Technique.
"Well would you look at this, didn't think you'd fall for that simple trick," Kakashi glared at the man who was holding him in place, "Now to finish the other's," his eyes focused on Kagome.
"Team get Tazuna-san and run, this is a shadow clone and can't go to far from the original," Kakashi said though his eyes looked slightly panicked.
"We can't run what do we do?" Naruto asked quietly as they shuffled closer to Tazuna.
"We fight," Sasuke said as he gripped his kunai tighter.
"We all can't go at once," Kagome said as she began to stand, "I think I can feel the original," it was faint, but there was an occasional flare when the clone needed more chakra, "Naruto can you make your shadow clones so that they can surround Tazuna-san. Once you do that you and Sasuke can rush the clone to overwhelm it," it was something Shisui had taught her.
"And you?" Sasuke asked irritated that she was ordering them around again, but there was little they could do. He had his own plans, but they left the bridge builder defenseless. So he'd go with this for now.
"I'm going after the real one, try to break his concentration further to get the clone to disappear," she said.
"That's not very safe," they said in unison.
"I know, but I have the best chance to hold him off until Kakashi is freed," though her voice was confident, she knew there was a large possibility that she would die. But she didn't want to retreat. If they went back to Konoha with a failure they'd never live it down. She'd never live it down. This was her time to prove herself and she would. Once Naruto created the clones she leapt away from the group. Flitting through trees until she stopped behind the rogue.
He was on alert, but he hadn't noticed her yet. Focused she funneled her chakra into the area, each tree gave a creak before a plethora of whips and vines broke through their bark. He managed to avoid most them and sliced through the rest. The only whip that hit him was the one she lashed out as she jumped from the tree.
"You are either brave or stupid to fight me alone," he said as he raised his sword.
"I'm not alone," her hand planted to the ground her the tree bent and groaned once more to form a small army of plant monsters.
"Impressive, but I can cut down these twigs," he said while swinging his sword. It made contact and cut through. His satisfaction was short lived as the creature reformed and trapped his sword inside itself. Kagome smiled as she kept up her concentration. She had been working on making them more resilient to attacks. They could still be burned, but they only fire they would come in contact with was her's. Fire spiraled around her whip as she lashed it out, flame birds formed from the embers and flew at him. Before she could go for her lightning attack, she felt a wave of exhaustion like she hadn't felt in a long time. Not since she first got her Wood spirits.
She tried to maintain her composure, but her chakra drained out of the creatures and they reverted back to their original state. The flame evaporated, her whip crumbled and she gripped her head. Everything felt heavy and the world was spinning. She gasped as she was lifted her throat.
"I see you are out of little tricks. I must admit you had me going," he chuckled as she kicked at him and he just tightened his grip, "But I see you haven't learned your limits yet, little genin.
Kagome gripped helpless at his arm, trying to call for anything. But she couldn't, she was so tired. Was this how she died? She waited. She wouldn't cry. Because she'd never see Sota again. Or dance with Momma. Or train with Naruto and Sasuke or Shisui. Or see her father when he finally returned. She'd stay strong, she brought this on herself and she would not give the enemy the privilege of seeing her cry. Why was she moving? She could hear the faint rushing of water. Felt the pull from her back. Heard what she thought was her teammates calling her name. Finally she felt the plunge. The one her father had shown her. Water rushed down her throat, but she didn't have the energy. Water? Why didn't she come to her?
'Are you calling for me?'
'Have I not before?' she asked as her heart began to slow down.
'Only superficially, I'm much too complex to be called on a whim. Is there something you need?'
'I don't want to die,'
'I'm told that one a lot,' she felt a touch to her head, 'But maybe,' the touch moved to her back, 'Interesting, I haven't flown in so long. I only seem to fall,"
'I like flying,' her body felt like it was full of water, that she would be lulled to sleep by the thing killing her.
'I'm not killing you, I'm simply testing your body to see if you're worth commanding me. To hold me is much more extensive than the other's. I'm a part of you, of everyone and everything. I'm quite useful' the hands travel her body in a way that trace her chakra channels, or was it her circulatory system? 'Last time someone was able to command me fully was your father. If you were to give me an order right this minute what would it be?"
'I want you to let me have the freedom to escape this,'
'I could lend you a bit of my strength, just to see if you can wield me. If you can't I'll never come back and you'll never be complete. But if you can, I'll teach you my ways and all my secrets.'
'I accept,' it couldn't hurt and she'd get to live.
Kagome had never felt more aware of her body than she did at that moment. She could feel her systems the way they moved. Her body wasn't sluggish, it still felt heavy from the water. Her hand touched the arm holding her down. Blood pumped through veins and arteries, blood was the way it was because of water. At her will the blood stopped moving. The hand released her.
She emerged from the water, the gasps from her team flooded her senses. But what she could see now garnered her attention. The man that had been sent attack to them. She could feel the rush of water in his body. Raising a hand and balling her fist to pull at the flow. He fell to his knees and clutched at his chest. But before she could any further damage it stopped.
'Ah-ah-ah, that's cheating. You're pulling from my knowledge. Use me, harness me the way you know how to and I'll be yours.'
The water from her back made a move at her back, seeping out of her skin forming wings. With a push she took to the air. Her hands moved through a sequence of hand signs. Water from the river rose into the air. It created a bow.
'How elegant,'
Drawing back the string the water manifested into a spear, which she shot with alarming accuracy at the man's heart. But instead of striking and killing him. It stunned him. Before she could do another attack, her energy drained once more. She felt wind whip past her face as she fell back to the ground. Her fall is halted when she is caught. With groggy eyes she sees the familiar Sharingan that now had two tomoe spinning wildly. She tried to smile and mention it but her world went black.
Not very happy with this chapter. Don't worry she didn't kill Zabuza. I just don't like this chapter much. It took longer than it should have. Because I still wasn't sure how to flesh out the Water Spirit and I think the final result is okay. I know that there are parts I could have expanded on more. Which I might do more of next time. I've been excited for the wings for a while. And look forward to expanding them (ha!) on them in the future. Hopefully I have the final part out by the end of this month. I have it slightly structured out but we will see. Anyway thank you for the support Ja Ne~