You can find the second part of this chapter after a big fat line break. Either you scroll down and continue reading or you start at the beginning. Have fun either way.
Ginny Weasley wasn't known for obedience. Being the youngest of seven children – six of them boys – she knew how to fight for something and how to never give up. Being a redhead in addition to that just fuelled her fierce temper. But running into some creepy girl in a dimly lit hallway in a gloomy old house after being hunted down by a Doxy let her seem rather tame. The girl in question just happened to be Hanabi Hyuuga – not that Ginny knew her name. A very irritated Hanabi. Being dumped here by the Captain and only having Shikamaru to talk to did this to you.
The redhead had to say she was afraid of the girl. The first look gave away her anger, blazing deep inside her white eyes.
White eyes.
The girl was blind. Ginny automatically felt guilty. At first she had wanted to shout at the girl, telling her to look were she went. Like she did with her brothers in case they ran her over. But saying that to a person that couldn't see were she walked was tactless. And stupid to boot. So Ginny was quick to apologise and introduce herself at the same time.
"I'm sorry, I didn't see ...I mean I didn't look were I wa - ...my name's Ginny."
She wanted to hit herself on the head for that stupid stuttering but decided that it wouldn't help with the situation on hand. The brunette had a grim expression, a frown marring her face and her eyebrows being scrunched together. It was weird seeing a blind girl staring at her, directly in the eye. Really weird.
"Hanabi Hyuuga, at your service.", she said, bowing to the redhead.
Ginny was stunned at the bow and the politeness of it. She tried to return it but hers looked and felt way less gracious. Her red hair fell into her face so she had to pull it back with her hands while staring at the brunette in front of her.
"What are you doing here?" Fuck. She sounded like Ron.
Hanabi clenched her jaw, already annoyed with the whole situation. She didn't want to be here and now some weird curious girl blocked the path to her room. Looking her over she noticed the deep brown eyes, like Kiba's, just without the feral look to it. The red hair remembered her of the Mizukage, Mei Terumi. The girl was related to the three adults she had met in the kitchen. Probably her parents and brother. The girl was shorter than her but seemed around the same age. Hanabi saw her curiosity and confusion. Knew exactly what the girl wanted but wasn't about to give her any of that.
"None of your business.", she snapped, not wanting to unnecessarily give anything away.
"B-but," Ginny managed to get out before Hanabi slid along the wall beside her, effectively passing her with that movement. The brunette ignored the following stuttering and continued walking down the hallway to her designated room. All she wanted was rest.
Shikamaru Nara was a notorious lazy person. Most things were just too troublesome for him. Like watching a bunch of weird wizards roam the kitchen and the house while the young Hyuuga had run off to her room. How much Shikamaru wanted to follow her. But he had to stay here, gather even more information to report to his Captain the following morning.
He was still sitting at the same table just listening to the ongoing conversion. Or he was trying to. The woman – Molly – was talking to her husband -Arthur – about the upcoming meal, some strange singing witch she liked to listen to and how much the books for school were going to cost this year. It was boring talk, mostly what he would hear once he was sitting in his living room at home, between his mother and aunt. It was the same kind of conversation as this one.
"Oh, Mr. Nara!"
Startled by the voice he looked up. Molly was standing on the other side of the table, her wand in hand. She directed her friendly smile at him, gesturing with a hand to the stove.
"You must be hungry after all that travelling. Dinner will be in an hour I'm afraid but I can cook something up for you if you want."
Thinking about food he noticed just how hungry he was. "That would be nice, Mrs. Weasley."
"It is a pleasure, dear.", she said and turned around to prepare a meal for him. But once the attention had been turned on him it stuck there. The man – Arthur – moved to sit beside him. He was obviously very interested in Shikamaru and the other Shinobi. Just the way his eyes sparkled with curiosity every time he had looked at any of them stated this.
"Mr. Nara! I know Dumbledore has already introduced me, but let me do it once more. I'm Arthur Weasley. Molly is my wife and you have already met my son Bill. While you stay here you will meet some of my other children as well."
So more than just three redheads then.
"Be aware that Fred and George – they're twins – are pranksters by heart. They might try something, not caring if we tell them otherwise."
"I know how to deal with pranksters.", he cut the man off. Arthur looked stunned for a moment before he lost a bit of his facial colour. "No, worries, Mr Weasley. They won't be harmed."
Arthur sighed, looking better after that. The idea of having his children killed because of a prank didn't sit too well with him.
"Who else will I meet?"
"Oh. Sorry. Yes.", he fumbled with his words, ripped from his previous thoughts. "My youngest son Ron and my only daughter, Ginny. She should be about Ms. Hyuuga's age. Fourteen."
"I hope they will understand each other. They could be friends.", Molly injected.
The way she had said this nearly made Shikamaru snort. Just nearly. Hanabi being friends with someone seemed impossible. It was wondrous how Fox had gotten to her so easily. He remembered his first meeting with Hinata's sister. The kid was sarcastic, behaved rudely as soon as she left her father's house and the snorting followed her everywhere. Not to forget her pride. Even though she never behaved much like a Hyuuga most of the time you could see what family she came from as soon as you insulted her, her skills or family. It was watching a female version of Neji walk around. He had never reacted either as long as you left his pride alone. Only that Neji would never snap at you, should you ask about his eyes. Unlike Hanabi. The way she had treated the Order Members had Shikamaru left wondering how long it would take for her to actually attack someone physically. Her pride ruled her ways and he didn't like what that would mean. Would students be in danger? He didn't mind if it was people from the Ministry or anyone else, he really didn't care at all. But she was here to learn about diplomacy. And snapping at someone who didn't know any better was not called diplomacy. He would have to talk with her and Fox about this later on. Her thickheadedness and rashness could ruin the best of his plans. He definitely didn't want that.
"Hanabi is a complicated person. She wasn't around people her age most of the time.", Shikamaru said, trying to get the Weasley matriarch understand. "You shouldn't hope for too much."
"Children should always smile. All she did was frowning!", Molly sighed. The girl was so young, so how could she be so sarcastic and negative all the time.
"Our world is different than yours, Mrs. Weasley.", Shikamaru told her, guessing her thoughts. "Depression is never far from a Shinobi. Death and desperation are everywhere. Many children are orphans, but those that have parents are being prepared for a hard life by them. Nobody's life is easy.. One way ore the other."
Arthur frowned, obviously not fully believing in his words.
"You're saying there is war between your countries?"
"There was war.", Shikamaru agreed. "It just ended not even a year ago. Many of us lost friends and family." He sighed, ready to take out a cigarette but hesitating to do so. "Though...This was probably the first and last war that was not between the Nations. This time we all stood side by side fighting together with former enemies. A huge aim can unite people. A goal that is above personal aims can overcome disparities."
"You say that as if there were lots of conflicts before.", a voice came from the entrance of the kitchen. It turned out to be Sirius Black who chose to sit opposite Shikamaru at the table.
"It would be a lie if I said that our countries history had been peaceful all along." He finally complied his urges and took out one of his cigarettes, lighting it with Asuma's old lighter. "The First War helped establishing the Villages. The Second War destroyed countries and forged a path of hate. The Third was a result of that. Many great Shinobi got their monikers during this time. 'Sharingan no Kakashi', 'Yellow Flash of Konoha' are some of those."
"What a history.", Arthur breathed, overwhelmed by this information. "Three wars."
"We didn't have less than that. If you look back there was the Goblin Rebellion which could've counted as a war. And all those bloody disputes between warlocks...", Sirius put in. He didn't want Arthur to forget how many bloodbaths had happened since the beginning of the magical society.
"Not three. Four.", Shikamaru corrected. "The Four Shinobi World Wars. Beside those we have minor fights between Clans, and a few battles between countries. These four though...they cost thousands their lives. Each of them. And all of that happened in less than two centuries.", he added, wanting to satisfy Arthur's curiosity. And Sirius'. "Whereas all of your wars have been stretched over many many centuries, millennia even. Our short history is paved with blood."
The wizard seemed to come to the same conclusion as all of them blanched thinking of the life the Shinobi would have to lead with this historical background.
"And the Fourth just ended?"
"Just months ago actually. The Villages are still repairing the damages they have suffered."
"And to pay for that you take missions, correct? That's why your leader was so willing to send you here, even though the last time you came didn't have a satisfying end to it.", Sirius concluded, but Shikamaru shook his head in denial.
"Missions out of our own countries enable us to build relationships that might benefit us later. We're not doing it for money only, Mr. Black.", he corrected him but not giving away too much at the same time. They didn't need to know how much information would be send home in order to apply this worlds knowledge to the Elemental Nations.
"So..there are six of you here in the country, right?", Bill asked, having just returned from somewhere inside the house. "And three of you will stay the night."
Shikamaru incline his head. "That is correct. As far as I know of Dove was the ANBU chosen to stay here. Mostly to have an eye on Hanabi as she is quite...temperamental."
"Those ANBU guys...who or what exactly are they?", Sirius questioned, leaning on the table. While a frown had marred his face during most of the previous meeting it seemed as if the presence of the Shinobi and his resulting curiosity lead him to smile and wash the worries away.
Shikamaru looked at him, ready to answer, when a voice interrupted him.
"We are basically the Assassination Squad of our village. Answering only to Lady Hokage we are assigned missions of highest priority.", Dove stated, a hand on her old teammate's shoulder. Her nails were digging deep into his shoulder, showing her ire. Not that the wizards would notice that as Shikamaru didn't present his pain to the world around him. He knew why Dove reacted the way she did. If his competence was questioned many times in just a few days he would be angered as well. They were facing a war and instead of preparing they were trying to break behind the walls that surrounded the mystery of the ANBU, the mystery of being a Shinobi. He didn't like any of that either but he was sure that he could handle that better than others. That was also the reason that Shikamaru was glad that Fox had chosen him as the mediator and nobody else. Imaging Inuzuka Kiba ripping their heads off he mentally grimaced, waiting for Dove to break into a full out rant.
She didn't.
"You should take your leave for the night, Nara. It was a long day.", she half ordered, vanishing back into the shadows without a sound to accompany her.
Shikamaru sighed, inhaling the smoke of his cigarette a last time before he pressed its tip against the saucer in front of him.
Molly hustled over to his side of the table standing beside him.
"I forgot how much all of this must have stressed you out. I'm sorry. If you are hungry I will bring the food upstairs?" She looked at him, the way her eyes darted over his lean frame and taking in all visible scars made him scowl a bit. Because she reminded him of his mother. Because she reminded him of the time before the war when his mother had looked at his father like that every time he came home, his skin showing a new welt, cut or burn. The questions clearly showing in her eyes he shook his head, getting up.
"No need to do that, Mrs. Weasley. I'm not hungry anyway."
He turned around heading for the stairs.
"Good night."
Fox felt the wind brush against his cheeks, the sun warm his skin, heard the playful laughter of his friends in his ears.
Then he woke up.
Sasuke was sitting in front of him, the mask on the table beside him, a cup of coffee in his hands. He looked tired but grim at the same time. The same look he wore during the last weeks of the war, when hope wasn't yet ready to bloom again.
"Where's Sakura?", he asked with a hoarse voice, coughing a bit afterwards.
Sasuke nodded towards another bed where a pink tuft of hair was resting in between heaps and heaps of blankets.
"She exhausted herself making those ointments and pills. Having to care for you afterwards didn't help a bit with that, idiot."
Naruto slid his hand under the mask, lifting it from his face, an invisible weight lifting itself from his shoulders. He sighed wearily, smiling to ease the tension.
"I should have asked how far London was beforehand. Following a moving target and later coming back without having one of those seals to aim for...I really should have put them on you while I was doing …" He looked to Sakura, making sure she was fast asleep but not trusting his senses too much at the moment.
"Dove's.", he finished.
Sasuke just hn'ed his displeasure with the situation obvious. He took a sip of his drink, then he passed the mug to Naruto.
"What's the news?", he asked.
"Nothing much.", the blond answered, dragging a hand through his hair, ruffling it up a bit with his action. "We gave away a bit information about ourselves, not nearly enough to upstage us or work behind our backs but enough that they can finally have a bit of trust in us."
"Finally. We didn't come here to have fun."
Naruto grinned. "Don't be so stiff." Taking a sip he continued. "We've heard a great deal about their politics and the status of their ministry for magic. This whole community is rotten as Konoha was during Danzo's regime. Too much is still laying in the shadows, no clear answers are available if you're asking for them. I don't like it. Neither does Shikamaru. From what we heard we also gathered that there are Ex-Deatheaters working for the ministry. Positions to be reckoned with as well."
Sasuke snorted. "What do you intend to do?"
The blond shook his head. "Nothing as of yet. Shika is working on it but he isn't too sure how to proceed. We'll probably have to contact baa-chan before we can act anyway."
Putting the empty cup on the table he looked over to Sakura once more.
"You still got time preparing the rest of the grounds and the castle, don't hurry too much."
"The devil is in the detail though, Naruto. You should know that. All we did the last days was making sure that enough of your seals were plastered over all the walls in the castle. That's not too much work. It's just nerve wreckingly boring."
Sasuke leaned back in the chair he occupied, brushing a stray strand of hair behind his ear.
"You know what, dobe?"
"Mh?", Naruto hummed, looking back up at his old teammate who had pushed his knees to his chest in order to position his elbows on top of them.
"I don't think that this mission will end without us having killed anyone. I don't know why, but I got this feeling we will have even more blood on our hands afterwards.", he said, his voice loud in the silent room.
Naruto nodded, having had the same feeling since he had entered Grimmauld Place.
"It's the times they live in, I believe. The calm before the storm before chaos breaks loose. Before the bloodbaths begin once more.", he murmured, eyes closed. "If it comes to this I will have to decide if we abandon this mission."
Seeing Sasuke eyes zero in on him he continued.
"This isn't about our pride as Shinobi, Sasuke. It is about your safety and Sakura's and Shika's, Hanabi's and Ino's. I don't care what will happen to me but I cannot and will not risk my teams health and safety or even my countries future for a war that is not ours.
"Dumbledore paid for protecting the student body. Protecting the school. I will not order you or anyone else to do something that has nothin' to do with this. I know where your heart would lead you to, where our instincts as Shinobi would take us..but this battle front...", he sighed a sad smile crawling over his face. "I'm not loosing any of you under this circumstances. If I see a rising threat I will send you home."
He noticed Sakura stirring in her bed, her breathing hitching a bit and slowing once more.
"You're my family, Sasuke. My brother in everything but blood. Please understand my reasoning."
The Uchiha grit his teeth, knowing exactly where his friend came from.
"I do understand you, no worries.", he breathed. "But on the other hand I want to fight. That's what we were born to do, Naruto. Our Shinobi pride, our – as Neji would have put it – destiny. The night the war ended you swore a time of peace would come. But you also accepted that battles would always be present. Because that is who we are. Who we chose to be. Don't deny it, dobe."
"I don't deny it, Sasuke!", Naruto growled. "But I cannot let you storm into a war you have no connections to!"
"We were paid to defend the school!"
"Defend, Sasuke! Not erase every enemy from the screen!"
"But that's the only possibility to protect them!"
"It is not, and you know that!"
"Maybe it is not, I give you that. But seeing how corrupt the ministry is, how rotten this society is, how long do you think just standing guard will be enough? How long until the walls crumble under their spells, how long until the school starts to fall from within? You are no stranger to these concepts, so why can't you see what I can?", Sasuke sneered, his eyebrows scrunched together.
Naruto clenched his jaw keeping himself from yelling.
"Because, Mr. High-and-Mighty-Uchiha, you always look at everything from a pessimists point of view. Because you don't think that people can change before it is too late. That they will never notice before they've already destroyed everything!"
"And I'm right with that! You only see what you want to see Naruto! You're blind to the darkness within! Do you really believe they are able to change? Show them how their society is build and all they will do is turn their eyes from it. Because they are just like every normal person. They think it is not their own fault so how do you think a change would happen? It won't! Never. Ever. Understand that, you knucklehead!", Sasuke whispered furiously, trying not to wake Sakura from her slumber.
"Both of you have valid points."
They had failed to notice how long she had been awake, how long she had listened in on their hushed conversation. She slid from her mattress and positioned herself on top of the table, right in between the two guys. Her hair looked wilder then usual but you could account that to her just recently waking up.
Suddenly she started sniggering. That caught both of them off guard.
"You know", she said "that reminds me so much of the time when we had just gotten on the team. Both of you were always fighting without giving in."
Her smile eased the tension even only by a bit.
"I'm sorry that we woke you." Naruto scratched the back of his head in a nervous fashion he hadn't done in quite a while. Sasuke exhaled a deep breath, letting his arms fall to his side. "Sorry."
"It's quite fine.", she conceded. "I had wondered how long it would take the two of you to actually start a fight. If only verbal. Seems Shikamaru won the bet."
Her eyes narrowed.
"But I can see why you did that. This world is rotten. No point denying that."
"We should stop talking about that until Shika comes up with a plan. Otherwise we're gonna start to hack off each others head.", Naruto grinned happy how the tension had diffused itself.
"Seems like it.", Sasuke agreed.
Newly inserted PART TWO of CHAPTER FIVE. [19th of Feb; 2013]
R&R
"What's happening now anyway, Naruto?", Sakura asked, catching up with the previous conversation.
"No idea.", he stated. Sighing he leaned his back against the wall. "We got a corrupt society, some Ex-Deatheaters in high positions and no plan to work with."
"Yet."
"Yet.", he agreed.
"So", she said, "are you going to send word to the Hokage about that? She might have an idea. And new orders."
Sasuke looked from Sakura to Naruto and back. There seemed to be a mutual understanding between the both of them as the blond suddenly nodded, obviously knowing what his female teammate had said in between the lines.
"Should get doing that now, ain't I?", Naruto smiled, the image of a fuming Tsunade filling his vision and he shuddered. He didn't like Sakura's idea one bit, but he knew why she wanted him to ask for new orders and the possibility of free reign over here in England and the school. Sasuke had a few points when he had argued that more blood would be on their hands but Naruto didn't want to send the troops in. Even though...
Another land destroyed by war wasn't what he wanted either. He had lost enough friends to know how the grief felt, how deep the sadness went. He didn't want anyone else to feel the same. But he also didn't want more of his friends, his soldiers dying just because of a wizards quarrel.
This was one of the reasons he hated being in a leading and commandeering position. Choices needed to be made but sometimes it was just … hard, difficult, heartbreaking.
Who wanted to give away the lives of their friends? Nobody for sure.
Who wanted to see a world end up in despair because they failed to interfere? Not Naruto.
So he just shook his head and grabbed a small sheet of paper off the table.
"I'll just write her a 'lil note. Everything else can be cleared through summons.", he muttered, ignoring the strange looks he got from Sasuke and the little smile that adorned Sakura's face.
"What is he talking about?", Sasuke whispered.
The pinkette bit her lower lip. "Asking for new orders."
"Why would he do that?"
"Because he's considering joining in. The coming war I mean.", she mumbled, whereas everybody else would be shrinking under his piercing gaze.
"He yelled at me when I suggested the idea.", Sasuke growled, not understanding how Sakura could get Naruto to do it without saying much.
"Well," she started, not smiling any more, but with a glare herself," you and Naruto might synchronize during fights and battles, being unbeaten...but you've never and will never understand what he went through when you left, when you stood on the opposing side during the war. I do. He didn't talk to Kakashi about that and didn't want to bother Iruka, so he came to me. Not all the time, mind you. But I can look at him and see who he his, behind that … smile of his. Don't think he can't do the same with me, Sasuke. Naruto and I synchronize on levels you lack knowledge of. So don't try to reason with him. Because you can't."
That left the Uchiha speechless. He had known that his betrayal and later reunion had ruined the teams dynamics but he had never felt it quite as much as now. Instead of starting an argument with his female companion he watched his blond fellow scribble something in his unreadable scrawl and summon one of his toads to pass the note on to the Hokage herself. He didn't see the need to code the message as he sealed it away with blood. The only people to have at least some sort of blood relation to him where Tsunade, Karin and Mei, even though all three went around several corners just to connect him to them. And to get some blood off them you would have to go through several armies.
The little toad that had appeared in a puff of smoke was none that Sasuke had seen before. It had a red tint to its skin and a yellow scarf wrapped around its throat.
"Sure thing, Naruto.", it said when the blond handed him the note and told it who to deliver it to.
"Be safe.", the Captain whispered when it disappeared again.
"When are you leaving again?", Sakura asked as soon as he had finished his business.
Naruto rested his arms behind his head, an ingrained motion since his childhood. One leg loosely hanging over the side of the bed while the other knee was drawn to his chest.
"How late is it?"
"An hour till midday.", noticing his incredulous look she continued. "You were out like a light as soon as you stepped over the threshold. Shouldn't push yourself that much." She finished her sentence with a smile that he just knew said that she would punch his nose into his brain should he try a stunt like this again without an emergency behind it. Somehow he could already see this happening. Then the rest caught up to him and he nearly bolted from the bed.
"I should already preparing for everything. Dove is waiting for me to return, she's probably not been sleeping at all." He held some of his hair in a tight fist, trying to concentrate on what he would need to do in the short amount of time that was left until he had to go back to London.
"What do you need to do?"
Naruto looked up to Sasuke who was leaning towards him, listening for every incoming information. Sakura didn't fare any better as she sat on the table's edge, not being able to slide towards him any more without falling off.
"Mark you with the seal. That would make it easier for me to establish a route from here to there." He grit his teeth and pursed his lips, his thoughts still wandering.
"Have you tested it already or is still a prototype?", Sakura questioned, fascinated by his re-modelled Hiraishin. It was still the same space-time travel his father had worked out, but as much as she had gathered he was able to travel way further with it. Of course he could plant it all over the place like they did in the castle but instead of only being able to plant it by using paper – like the Yondaime did – he could draw it directly onto people, making it a permanent thing. Which was an improvement as well.
Minato Namikaze was called the Yellow Flash for this seal and his ability to use it in battle.
Naruto Uzumaki didn't have a name like that for his skills with sealing or his method of travelling, even though he could cover more space in the same amount of time as his father.
Sure he was proud of the things he could do and what he had done to his father's trademark technique. But he didn't want people to just recognise him for that. It belonged to his dad. The person that gave his life to save his son, his village. And now Naruto used it to protect the people he loved. He was sure that one day he would give his life to safe...them. Maybe a family he had build by then. The people that looked up to him. Even if they didn't..what did he care? He would always safe them. His personal flaw...
"I tested it on my way to London an-"
"Wait! I thought you only applied one on Dove up till now. I saw you leaving together with her, though.", Sakura broke into his sentence, not even letting him completing it.
"Oh.", he sighed, having forgotten to mention that part of his deal with Hinata. "I got a slightly less complete version of it on Hanabi. Well not her, really, more like her clothes."
"Why?", Sasuke grunted.
Naruto let a small smile flutter across his face. "Promised to protect her, didn't I."
"Hinata asked you.", both his teammates said at the same time, understanding crossing their features.
"Yep." He bit the inside of his cheek. "So uhm..it's not the same version I planted on Dove but Hanabi's clothes are not a living thing either..so uhm.."
"And how exactly did you find your way back here?" Sakura again.
"Me creating that portal to this world created a..how do I say this...a mark, a scar in the tissue of...uh...the world. It's easy for me to trace back to it, even though I had no activated seal near it. Bit of Nature Chakra. You get the deal?", he asked, seeing if they could follow him.
Sakura nodded while Sasuke just looked at him before speaking up.
"That's why you were so exhausted."
"Yep. The tracking isn't hard but following the route back to it is. Like...well I don't have a comparison, really.", he trailed off.
Sakura had to chuckle softly when he awkwardly scratched the back of his head. Sasuke barely smirked. Seemed just like old times. Times when everything was easy and straightforward. When they were still innocent souls.
"You make yourself sound smarter than you actually are.", she smirked, knowing it would tick him off. A mock-annoyed 'Hey!' told her that she was right. He wasn't dumb, far from it actually. You just had to capture his attention hard enough and maybe you would see a spark of true ingeniousness in his eyes. Fuinjutsu had done that. Elemental Chakra Manipulation had done that.
"Anyway.", he ripped her from her musing. "I'll place those seals on you and then I should get going. Don't want to leave Dove alone with the wizards."
He moved to stand but Sasuke interrupted him. "You know, dobe, there's this rumour about Dove and how she penetrated the 'thick shell' of our dear ANBU Captain-Commander."
The smirk that was on the Uchiha's face did nothing to stop him from furrowing his brows.
"Who spread that?"
"Dunno. Could be Anko."
"Geez.", Naruto breathed. That could only come from Anko. A relationship with Ino? Really?
"So is it true?", Sakura asked, curious to hear about his possible relationships.
He shook his head. "Nah. Not really."
Sasuke frowned. "Not really? What's that supposed to mean?"
The blond rubbed the back of his head.
"Well...you know..."
"You're fuck-buddies?" Sakura's incredulous voice made him wince. Her mouth stood open as her hands fell to her sides.
"No! Where did that come from?", he cried. Did she start reading Icha Icha now?
"Stop lying, dobe.", Sasuke's voice cut in.
"I'm not lying! I mean, I might have slept with her this one time, but -"
"So you are fuck-buddies!"
"No!"
He didn't want to talk about that. It was only one time and nothing he would repeat during this mission. Or so he thought. His mind belonged to an adult Black Op's agent but at the same time he was stuck in an eighteen-year-old male body. He knew he had his needs and he knew the others did too. But Naruto didn't want to spoil the mission with being a horny teenager. He was professional. Breaking the dynamics of his team wasn't part of his plan for the future.
"Listen, Naruto." His gaze snapped to Sakura when she spoke up. "It doesn't matter if the rumour is true or not. It doesn't even matter with who you are. If you're happy, so am I. So are we.", she said, slinging an arm over Sasuke's shoulders as if to prove her point.
"You're our teammate, our brother. We trust you to do the right thing.", the Uchiha added.
Naruto didn't say anything in response to this. Instead he smiled at them. He was lucky to have them. As a team, as family.
"Thanks for your trust."
"You've never betrayed it, so why wouldn't we give it to you?", Sakura smiled.
His smile got a bit wider before an evil tint appeared in it.
"Off with the clothes then!", Naruto ordered.
"What?"
"I told you to undress."
"Why would I undress, you idiot!"
"Perv!"
He slowly shook his head. "Geez, people. I just want to add the seal. No need to sweat."
They exhaled, a furious expression in Sakura's face. Both followed his orders, shedding the unnecessary material and standing with straight backs in front of him. They didn't say anything when he brushed their own blood onto their skin or when the seal burned into the ANBU tattoos. They didn't twitch when he applied his own chakra, letting it circulate through the array.
But both did sigh when he was finished.
"You're sure it works?", both asked at the same time.
"I will tell you if I burned Dove to crisp upon arrival.", the blond joked, a smile tugging at Sakura's lips. Sasuke snorted, a hand gliding through his hair.
"I'll be going now. Don't expect me to be back before ten tonight, though.", Naruto informed them before a wave of chakra enveloped him and whisked him away with a slight golden flare filling the room.
"No matter how many times I see this, it always fascinates me.", Sakura told Sasuke before she grabbed one of her books and started reading.
Dove was bored out of her mind. She didn't have anything to do other than watching the Weasley's – and this other girl that had arrived early this morning – clean the different rooms of the house. While the girls worked quietly and only chatted from time to time the boys were annoyingly loud. Dove tried to concentrate on the book she had sitting in her lap. She had found it in the Black library and while its outside looked like someone had spilled a jar of blood over it, its inside was less creepy. At least for her. It told her of the ways to easily dispose of enemies...Dark magic. With torturing in her job description she thought the things fascinating, not sick. Sure..letting the person wear his skin inside out was...strange but she didn't mind. She had skinned enemies alive just to get some information from them. Dove certainly was no stranger to blood and gore. Not since her early teenage years.
Startled by a girlish shriek she glanced at Ginny but was surprised that it wasn't her...nor the bushy haired brunette beside her. It was one of the boys – Ron. He stood in the middle of the room, pale beyond comparison and pointed at one of the bookshelves.
"Sp-sp-sp", he sputtered. Dove didn't know what he was so afraid of but couldn't believe that it was something dangerous that hid itself behind a book. But with wizards you could never be too sure, so she craned her neck a bit and watched the scenario unfold, ready to intervene at any given time.
"Spider!", he solved the mystery. She had to smile behind her mask. Afraid of spiders? That showed her once more that these people were no Shinobi. Imagining Shino shrieking because of an insect made her snicker. Softly enough that they didn't hear her. Not that they knew that she was there anyway. They were ignorant of their surroundings.
She closed her book, setting it beside her and swiftly leaving the room with a Shunshin. She silently moved through the house, never disturbing the paintings or anything else. Well, nearly.
"You are bored."
"Out of my mind.", she answered, turning to Shikamaru, who had propped himself against one of the door frames. He smirked at her, knowing how she felt.
"Where's Hanabi?"
He shrugged, not knowing himself. "I thought she was with you and the kids."
Dove put a hand on her hip, ridiculously looking just like his mother.
"You would make a horrible father, you lazy idiot.", she chided him, but there was this amused tone to her voice that let him know she didn't mean it.
"And with that mouth of yours you won't ever find someone to be a father to your children.", he joked back but sobered up just a moment later. "Now, where is she?"
Shikamaru joined her search for the young Hyuuga. Who, in fact, turned out to be sitting at the kitchen table, staring at the far wall. Both of them slid onto the bench beside her, not even ripping her from her day dream. Or whatever it was. Shikamaru wasn't really concerned. She was fourteen, second in line to be head of a major clan and she had seen her fair share of bloodshed for her age. All in all, though, she was just a girl. He knew how Ino and Sakura had been at that time, joking and talking about boys left and right. Spacing off was nothing to worry about in general. At least not in times of peace.
"What's on your mind?" Dove spoke.
The girl didn't seem startled at all. Instead she just leaned on the table, putting her chin on her knuckles.
"Nothing much. I'm bored.", she answered slowly as if she had to think about how not to use swear words.
"I got something to do for you, if that's the case.", came a voice from behind them. When they turned around they found Fox standing a foot away from them. His arms were crossed over his chest, a single strand of blond hair hanging loosely over his mask.
Hanabi frowned at this, already filing the information away while Shikamaru helped himself to a cigarette. Dove got up, pushing it under his hood again, smiling as she did so.
"Careful, Captain. Don't want to be found out, do you?", she teased, sitting down again.
He neither answered nor moved. Instead he chose to study their appearances, taking in the tired eyes of Shikamaru and the bored expression Hanabi carried around.
"I can't order you around, Hanabi, but I'd like you to participate in the cleaning of this house. It will help you with forming bonds and connecting to their culture."
The girl probably wanted to sputter but kept that to herself. She opted to glare at him though.
"If my sister hadn't told you to look after me you wouldn't hesitate, would you?"
"He always looks after everyone, no matter what he is told.", Shikamaru corrected her, dragging on his smoke. The smell of burned tobacco soon swirled through the whole room and Dove found herself waving another cloud of smoke away from her face.
"Are you even allowed to smoke in here?"
"You're so troublesome."
Dove got up and stood beside the door, motioning Fox to follow her.
"See you later, Nara.", she nearly snarled at him, but he just smirked while closing his eyes.
"Sure."
Hanabi moved to rip the cigarette from his mouth. Shikamaru leaned back, avoiding the swipe.
"Troublesome women.", he commented, watching her frown. "Go follow your orders, kid."
Red hot anger coursed through her as she stood up, stomping her way upstairs.
Ronald Weasley could easily describe his life as chaotic. With five older brothers – all of them cool in their own way – and a hot-headed younger sister, every day presented surprises. Add to that a famous best mate and a girl that knew too much for her own good...well. Throughout the last four years of his schooling he had thought he had seen pretty much everything. From giant raging spiders, over flying cars, angry dragons and a three-headed dog up till a pet rat that turned out to be a criminal.
But when a red-faced, blind girl stomped into the room in the middle of a cleaning session, - a girl he had never seen before, mind you – mumbling incoherent sentences, staring at each one of them – no idea how she did that – before hastily turning around stomping out again, he thought the strange situations he had found himself in had been added to.
Ron looked after her as she turned the corner, not believing what had just happened.
"Wh-what?"
Nobody seemed to know an answer to this as all of them joined in on his staring. None of them said a word, so the room was filled with a stunning silence. At least until Ginny sighed from her corner, continuing to scrub the dust of a cabinet.
"She's in the same mood as yesterday.", his sister said, oblivious to their stares.
"Blimey!" Ron started. "Who is she?"
Ginny gazed at him from under her red locks. "Her name is Hanabi. Met her yesterday in the hallway. Mum said she's staying here with another guy because Dumbledore wants them to. Order business."
"Where's the bloke then?" Fred asked, collecting some strange things from a shelf and putting them in his pocket.
"If he's not here?" George added, inspecting some fluffy things in the corner of the room.
Ron looked at Hermione, hoping for her to make some sense of the situation. She was as lost as he was, rubbing a doorknob and ridding it of it's dirty taint, her eyebrows scrunched together. He rolled his eyes. She was already figuring out what their appearance could mean.
"Haven't seen him yet. But they're going to eat with us, so I guess you'd see him then.", Ginny huffed, pushing her bodyweight onto a fleck of dirt that didn't want to vanish. "I hate the muggle way of cleaning."
Hermione huffed, having grown up like this. "Just focus."
"Good that I got some help for you."
They looked to the door, seeing the strange girl again. This time, though, she had a boy around Fred and George's age standing behind her, a hand on her shoulder and a cigarette dangling from his mouth.
"She's a bit shy, excuse her running away earlier.", he added, nodding at each one of them in a way of greeting. Naturally, everyone noticed the sarcasm in his words. Even Ron. It wasn't that hard, either, since Hanabi stood in the middle of the room, fuming.
"Sure!"
Fred and George both bowed down in greeting, slinging an arm over each others shoulders.
"We will look after the little lady, that's for sure." George grinned, winking at Hanabi.
"And make sure that nothing in here will harm her." Fred smiled, gesturing to the moulding carpet.
Shikamaru put his hands in his pockets, retreating from the room.
"Be careful that she doesn't eat you."
"So?", Hermione asked as soon as he had left the room. "My name is Hermione Granger. Nice to meet you. What's yours?"
Hanabi scoffed, glaring at the wall. "I'm not sure why that's your business, but...Hanabi Hyuuga."
She slightly bowed her head with that sentence, not wanting to let them out of her sight. Her fists were still clenched at her sides. After she had stormed back into the hallway she had caught side of Fox' mask at the entrance to their room, a gloved hand shushing her back where she came from. Not a heartbeat later Shikamaru was standing in front of her, levelling his stern gaze at her.
Hanabi knew that she was their responsibility, but just giving all of her freedom into their hands seemed plain wrong. She didn't complain, since she knew that wouldn't get her anywhere.
"Hanabi, huh. Where are you coming from?"
She had no idea how to differ between one twin and the other, and she definitely didn't like the mischievous smirk that played at the corners of their mouths.
"None of your business.", she snapped, inspecting the dirty rags on the floor that were used for cleaning. Ginny felt the tension rising in the room, so she took it upon herself to ease it.
"Grab of those and just start over there." She pointed to the cabinet she had previously been engaged with. "Thanks for your help."
Ignoring the looks that Fred and George shot her, she stepped to Ginny's side, and started the cleaning process. All in all it was quiet while they worked. The occasional snicker from the twins or groan from Ron cut into the silence but Hermione chided him and he returned with another muffled curse.
"You know what? If this continues for the rest of the holidays I'll be happy to return to school.", he soon started again, breaking their concentration.
"Oh Ronniekins!" One of the twins cried in a sing-song voice. "Never thought you'd say that!"
"Yeah, is our little brother sick?" The other tried to hold his hand against Ron's forehead but the boy slapped it away.
"Shut up, the both of you!", he yelled, his face red with anger.
"Ronald! Don't swear!"
To say Hermione's intervention didn't work was an understatement. Ginny just sighed in desperation as Fred and George started to apparate around the room, annoying Ron even further.
"Fred! George! What have I told you about using your magic around the house?"
Molly's screech from downstairs seemed to stop all motion in the room. One of the twins finally broke free from his stupor and yelled back.
"Sorry Mum!"
"Don't let it happen again!"
"Sure Mum."
He then turned around, his wand in hand, pointing it at Ron.
"Getting Mum to protect you, huh?"
"Don't point your wand at me, you prick!" Ron slapped it away, not bothering to look into his brothers face as he huffed and continued to scrub on of the closet doors he had been working on for hours.
Not one word had left Hanabi as this conversation came and went. She simply watched the interaction between the siblings. She had never been like this with Hinata. The stuck-up rules of the Hyuuga household not tolerating such behaviour. Not even between children.
When she was younger she had wanted to cry, seeing how others her age interacted with each other. But as she grew older she understood the concepts behind this upbringing.
Because this world was cruel. It took your loved ones from you when you didn't watch them, when you couldn't help. The Hyuuga had been Shinobi since minute one. They had lost so many in a short amount of time. Hanabi felt, that with how her father raised her, she was prepared. For the reports and lists that came into the house and onto the breakfast table, telling who had died during the war. She hadn't been allowed to go. Her father didn't want her to. She understood now.
Every bit of his reasoning.
Somehow it made her sad to see those kids. Because they were nothing else but kids, were they? Nothing but immature idiots, standing at the borders to a full out war, but not prepared the least.
Hanabi knew how much it hurt to loose someone. The deep-sitting sadness that welled up every now and then threatening to break through. Threatening to crush you, rip you apart. How much of that would she see here? She certainly hoped, she wouldn't see any of it.
Hanabi shook herself from those thoughts. Looking at them and how they joked with each other didn't help any though. They reminded her of her classmates, before the war. All happy.
Caught back in another train of thought she didn't notice Ginny coming closer to her, leaning in.
"I'm sorry. The way I talked to yesterday. Assuming blindness just because of your eye-colour."
It startled her, to say the least.
"It's fine." Her answer was short clipped, but it didn't seem to matter to the redhead. She smiled at her, one of those friendly, accepting smiles, she had often seen on Konohamaru's face.
"That's good. Wouldn't want to make it uncomfortable for you to stay here." Ginny said. "It must be intimidating to be in a strange country, somewhere you've never been before."
"It's not like I'm fully alone."
"Oh right. That Shikamaru guy. Who is he? A friend of yours?"
Hanabi stared at the rag in her hands, not knowing how to answer that question. Not knowing if she was allowed to, either. So she gave away the basics.
"He was in a class with my sister."
"Oh. And why exactly are you here? Don't want to be nosy, sorry if I am." Ginny excused her curiosity, not wanting to push Hanabi away from her.
"I'm not sure how much I'm allowed to say. You'll probably be informed shortly."
"Ah."
Hanabi normally didn't like people who questioned her, but she could see where the girl came from.
All in all I can be glad it is her asking me and not one of the others. They seem even more annoying.
Any further conversation was stunted as Mr. Weasley came through the door, smiling at them.
"Dinner's ready. Come down, kids."
Fox looked over the information that Shikamaru had given them. Neatly written down, it didn't seem the Nara's work, but it was.
"How's the work in the castle coming along?" Dove questioned from the bed behind him. She had propped herself up against the wall, one arm resting on her knee.
"Good.", he murmured.
"You seem tired."
"That's because I am."
"You should sleep then. I recall Sakura telling you not so long ago not to exhaust yourself too much."
"I slept in. That's more than enough."
"If you say so."
Dove closed the argument, knowing he wouldn't give in. Even though she was right. Alone the fact that he had shown a lock of his hair upon arrival was enough to prove that. She fiddled with her mask, wanting to get rid of it. Shame that he denied her that right.
"Say, are we allowed to just walk in our protection gear during our guard sessions, or do we have to wear the damn cloaks the whole time? I swear I'll be pale like chalk if this continues."
"Ruins your taint, huh.", he joked, moving around to face her, the script still in his hands, his eyes on it, not on her.
"Exactly."
He hummed instead of answering, leafing through the notes.
"I requested updates from the Hokage."
Her eyes snapped to the holes in his mask. "What kind of updates?"
He looked up, tilting his head to the side a bit. "New orders...an allowance to join the wizards in their war."
"Why?", she demanded, her voice not raised.
"Because...we can help."
His voice sounded so thin, so drained in that short moment that she wanted to take her snappish attitude back, saying sorry over and over again. He sounded broken once again, reminded of the past horrors they had seen.
"That's so like you."
She slipped the hood back, showing her tousled hair to the world.
"You always want to help everybody. You're such a big softy, Captain.", she whispered, taking the paper from his hands. "Even if you know that you can't really help."
"We can help. We're strong. We don't hesitate killing.", he announced weakly, letting her guide him to the bed, taking of his cloak and pushing him into the mattress.
"You know what your other problem is? You force yourself too much. Relax a bit.", Dove told him, letting her hand glide over his back.
"Thanks.", he murmured, enjoying the feeling of her easing the stiffness of his muscles. Her massage was famous in ANBU Headquarters. Having a bit of a Medics background herself, she totally knew where to kneed, what points to press to soften everything up. He felt himself melt under her touch, she noticed that too. A smile tugged at her lips when a low moan left him.
"That hurt?", she asked while pushing down with her thumb.
"Holy...", Fox grunted, clenching his jaw. "You a Hyuuga or something?"
She chuckled at the joke, knowing full well what he meant. "Bit knotted around the shoulder blades, Captain."
"Not sitting hunched again, I understand." He turned his head a bit, looking up at the mask staring down at him. "Did you know there's a rumour about us?"
"Yeah. Anko spread it.", Dove answered nonchalantly, not seeing the big deal.
"Since when?", he groaned, her forefinger having found another knot near his spine.
She shrugged, pushing further. "I think it was when we came in together and you handed me a coffee. You never did that before, or so I heard."
"Glad she never saw me buying Kurenai lunch then. Dreading that rumour."
"Oh I'm sure there is one like this flying around. You can never be sure, you know."
Her cheeky answer made him want to groan again but he just clenched his jaw as another wave of painful pleasure rolled through him.
"Heck, Ino. Wanna break my spine?", he moaned, gritting his teeth together.
A low chuckle came from her, while she rubbed the knot away. "Not my fault your back's as bad as it is." She shifted her weight a bit, pressing one of her knees directly under his shoulder blade.
"I could ask Anko to lay it off. If it bothers you."
He muffled a grunt, shaking his head a bit.
"It's fine. Let her talk as much as she want. At least it leaves her in a good mood.", he mumbled.
"And again with pleasing everyone else but yourself.", she scolded. "One day that will get you killed, you know."
"I know."
His nonchalant answer set her on edge. Dragging one of her hands up his back, she gripped his neck, pressing hard enough for him to hiss.
"You shouldn't talk like that."
"But it's true isn't it? You know that just as well as me."
She sighed, letting him go and rolling onto her back right beside him.
"That doesn't mean you have to spread your pessimism."
"Realism."
She snorted. "Whatever." A light punch to his shoulder accompanied her statement. Silence penetrated the room, laying down on them. All she heard were his breath and her heartbeat.
"I'm not scared of dying."
He rolled to his side, studying her face. "What?"
Dove looked at him, a hand combing through his hair.
"When I was younger I always feared death. The possibility of dying during the mission always hanging around the back of my mind. I'm not scared anymore. Sure... " She inhaled, carefully thinking about her next words. "I respect death. And I know that one day I will die, but I don't fear it anymore. After Asuma died..after Dad..I looked at it differently. It's not about me. It's about -"
"The people you leave behind.", Fox completed her sentence, knowing her thoughts, having had them himself many many times.
She stopped her ministrations, turning to look at him. "Why are you putting yourself in danger everytime, then? If you know...how we would feel."
He closed his eyes beneath his mask, pushing himself off the bed and repositioning himself beside her, back to the headboard.
"Because I'm afraid. Seeing my friends die." He had said it so soft, she had to strain her ears hearing it. "I wouldn't know what to do without you."
Dove hugged him. Not one of those bone-crushing hugs but a still rather firm one. She didn't let Fox go for another minute or to, just listening in on his pulse as her head rested at his neck.
"We will always be with you, Captain.", she told him, pushing him back a bit.
He nodded, his arms laying limp at his side.
"I just want to protect you, you know. I mean...as long as I go down first, I know I will have done everything to protect you. Done everything in my power to keep you safe."
Dove took one of his hand in hers, thumb drawing circles across the back of his palm.
"I understand.", she all but whispered, his head sinking to her shoulder. "I feel the same."
He hummed in response, not knowing a verbal answer.
A soft knock resounded from the door.
"Captain?"
Fox sat up straight, his body turned away from Dove and towards the door.
"Come in, Shikamaru."
The Nara first stuck his head in, only visible till his shoulders.
"You guys busy?", he asked while mustering them, his eyes falling on the cloaks thrown to the side.
"Nah, come in."
He closed the door behind him, slowly moving to the bed. With a muffled yawn he let himself fall onto it, face first.
"Tired?", Dove teased him from the side.
"Shut up." The reply was barely audible, but Dove still snickered. Fox crossed his arms in front of his chest, sitting even straighter.
"Hanabi giving you trouble?"
"No."
"What is it, then?"
"All of this is just so troublesome!" Shikamaru muttered, pushing himself off the bed and leaning against the wall instead, his hands shoved into his pockets.
"Hey, Shika."
The brunette raised his head. "Mh?"
Fox awkwardly fingered his gloves. "I've been talking to the others and..I've send word to Tsunade asking for new orders. Asking permission to join in on this war."
Shikamaru raised one eyebrow, narrowing his eyes, and taking a step towards the Captain. Starring at him, he took another step.
"What did you do?"
Fox twiddled with his fingers. "I needed to. I can't just see all of them die because I was too cowardly and -"
A barking laugh interrupted his explanation and his head snapped to his old friend. Dove put her chin on one fist, watching the boys.
Pulling a cigarette from his breast pocket, Shikamaru smirked. "I had asked myself if I had judged you wrong this time. I've been waiting for this decision since days."
"You knew?", Fox asked incredulously. His voice was pitched slightly higher. "How?"
"You are who you are. It's easy to gauge your reaction beforehand.", he explained, taking a first drag and sighing. "We're your friends. We can read you like a book."
"Aw, man." The answer was slightly unbefitting for an ANBU operative, but Fox didn't care. He had made a decision after quite a lot of debating on his side and then it turns out your friends already knew it anyway.
"See it this way, Captain. I started thinking about a battle plan should it come that far. Ways for taking action are already planned out. We're nothing short of fully prepared."
"Mh."
"Sheesh. One would think you're more mature." Dove rolled herself out of bed, moving to pick up her overcoat. Slipping it over her arms she picked the papers off the table and threw them at Fox.
"You can pout later, Captain."
Fox sighed, scratching the back of his head. "Okay, okay. Calm down." He turned to Shikamaru. "Was there another reason you came here? Because it looked like it."
"Sure was. Dinner's ready."
"Already? Feels like lunch was just minutes ago." Dove asked, surprised by the late hour.
Shikamaru shrugged. "You were probably too focused on your paperwork."
"Might just be true. Thanks Shikamaru." She huffed. "I need a break."
Fox stood, moving towards the door. "You coming?"
Both of them followed their Captain to the stairs, where they switched positions, Shikamaru taking the lead. Dove sighed, knowing the procedure. While Hanabi and Shikamaru could join the dinner without any problems, her and Fox needed to wait until the end, watching the happy patchwork family and grab the plates that Molly would set aside for them. They weren't allowed to show themselves to the kids, as they shouldn't know about the guardians yet. And wouldn't it be very suspicious to just sit at the table with their masks and cloaks on, never showing them their faces.
So they stood side by side in the shadows, watching as one redheaded boy joked with another, Sirius joining in and laughing out loud, nearly choking on his drink. Dove could practically see the happiness that swirled through the room, clinging to each and every single one of them. Even though it avoided the Shinobi. She had seen her father act like that. Like nothing bad would or could happen. He knew that that was not the case, but giving off the impression of it made the days before the war easier to live through.
Without having to look at him, Dove knew that Fox relaxed his posture. The tension was bleeding out off his stiff shoulder blades, his breathing coming slower, his gaze softening. He was enjoying the atmosphere. It was such a huge change to home.
No widows broken down, crying about lost husbands.
No children without parents.
No families ripped apart by the war.
In this world, friendship and loyalty and bravery still had a different ring to it. A different meaning.
When they had been in the academy, it had been brave to cheat on a weekly test. It had been considered loyal not to tell the teacher who threw a paperball at him. Friendship had meant changing lunch with somebody, if you didn't like it, or borrowing a pen to a classmate.
Everything was different now.
Bravery was foolish on the battlefield, because it just got you killed faster.
Loyalty meant following the orders, stupid or not.
And friendship. Friendship didn't matter. The guy beside you might have stuck a chewing gum in your hair during the first year of academy. Now he jumped in between you and the enemy, defending you, because you had higher chances of survival anyway.
Dove grimaced under her mask. Reality and dream. Her world and their world. Two sides of the same coin.
This was before. Konoha was after.
She could see why Fox had decided to ask for new orders, could see why he didn't just want to stand back and watch them burn and die. He had seen too many being killed during the Fourth War and she certainly stood behind him in his decision to not let history repeat itself. Not if they could stop it.
And they would stop it. She was sure of it.
Until one Harry Potter was attacked by Dementors.
A/N:
I'm sorry for the long wait. I had it all in my head but it didn't want to be written down. That's why I'm stopping were I'm stopping, even though I had wanted to put a bit more in it.
At least the plot's moving on.
Next chapter we will get to meet Harry. Hopefully I'm not turning him into an OOC. Tell me if I did with the other characters. It's so hard to write the Weasleys. Never thought so.
I'll edit and correct the chapter at a given time. At the moment I'm sick and have to stay at home so maybe I'll get something done.
Thanks for the nice reviews I got till now.
Regards, Taka.