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Chapter 8: Stolen Scrolls Stolen Kiss
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Konan wandered back to the populated area of the garden, contemplative, deciding what to do next. Observing the crowd inside, she noticed a shift in party-goers. A lot of older family members had vanished, replaced with new faces of men and woman mingling about with an audacious swagger.
"Hey."
Konan looked over, surprised to see one of the women that were hanging around the playboys earlier.
At first, she dismissed her as some sort of groupie, perhaps part of Asai's circle of mean girls. But upon closer inspection, Konan's keen shinobi brain took in her skintight dress and large gaudy jewelry. Her makeup was extremely glittery, Konan could even see sparkles in the woman's long dark hair. She looked different than all the rich girls.
The woman pursed her bee-stung lips, leaning against the railing and pulling out a cigarette. "Iki is looking for you."
Konan rolled her eyes earning a smirk from the woman. "A lot of ladies want him, you know."
"He's not my taste." Said Konan.
"Who is then?"
She stayed silent for a moment, trying to force herself to play the part. Then said, "Junichi is more my type of man if I'm being honest."
The woman laughed and took a drag of her cigarette. "He's a terrible lay."
Konan raised an eyebrow, suddenly intrigued. "Is he?"
"You can find out for yourself if you want." She said with a chuckle. "A fair warning though."
"But he has a girlfriend. That one girl with the cake face."
The woman cackled at that. "She's a jealous bitch, but that doesn't stop him from having his fun."
Konan hummed. Promising. Perhaps Obito was right in dismissing the information. The woman offered her a cigarette, Konan declined. She continued. "So were you hired too?"
"Hired?" Asked Konan with confusion. Then it dawned on her, what Iki's aunt had said. Konan sputtered. "I'm not a call girl!"
The girl shot her a sharp look. "What's wrong with call girls?"
Oh. Konan backtracked as it clicked in her mind. "There's nothing wrong with it if anything I have to give you major props. The men here seem like assholes."
"Rich assholes." She corrected Konan. She lifted her wrist, showing off a diamond bracelet with a confident smile. "They love me."
"I need your secrets." Konan purred.
"Why? You are rich aren't you?"
The tone of her voice made Konan pause. She had somehow sensed Konan was not one of them. "You think I'm not rich?"
"I don't know who you are." She shrugged. "But I can tell you're different. I can see you have a labret piercing you took out. Rich bitches don't pierce their faces. And the girls didn't recognize you. They usually at least know something about everybody at these parties."
"I'm am different," Konan said with an air of caution. "I can tell you are too. We don't belong here."
"Actually, we do." The woman flashed a dry grin. "Our job is to bring these hardworking boys fun."
"Then how do you suppose I can have some fun with a certain gentleman?"
"Determined aren't you?" She threw her cigarette butt to the ground and stomped on it with her incredibly high heels. "You are his type. I saw him making eyes at you. If you want him, just stick around until his girlfriend retires to her room."
Konan's eyes widened. "Thank you!"
"I can keep Iki distracted for you if you want."
"Really?"
Her eyes then went to Konan's hand. "Your rings are rather nice."
Ah. A solicitation. Konan plucked off one of her rings without hesitation and handed it over. A small price for a potentially massive payoff. "Please do."
The woman plucked the ring and examined it, smiling in satisfaction as she peered at the glittering gems. She slid the ring on her finger. "Consider it done."
The woman walked away, turning and winking at Konan over her shoulder. Konan's confidence had returned, having successfully gained an insured allyship with the sparkly courtesan. Her intelligent mind went to work. It did not take long to formulate a plan.
…..
"Another drink please."
She leaned against the bar arching her back, looking over to feel men's lingering eyes.
Konan had spent the past hour or so dodging the grimy men, keeping her eyes peeled on Junichi's blonde girlfriend. She spent her time casually talking with partygoers, hoping to collect more intel about the mansion, and the Hanino family. She imagined Obito was impatient in the shadows, but the time invested in talking to them paid off. She knew exactly where Obito could sneak in.
Late into the night, the paper angel caught the eye of the sparkly woman who was in Iki's lap. She cocked her head to her left. Konan followed the motion to see Asai hugging people goodbye at the doors. It was time.
Konan sauntered in plain view, deciding she needed one more cocktail.She felt a warm buzz in her body. The nervousness caused her to drink more than she had planned, however, the liquid courage was needed.
It wasn't long before He leaned against the bar. "I found you, finally."
She didn't bother looking at him, stirring her drink mindlessly. She could smell his cologne from a mile away. "I didn't see you there."
Junichi leaned in closer. "Thought you could run from me?"
She smiled flirtatiously, her amber eyes flicking up to his. "I didn't know you were chasing me."
He smirked. "You have been on my mind all night, Misune."
"And your girlfriend? Does she know that?"
He didn't look phased by the question. "We aren't really anything. Don't worry about her."
"I see."
His hand went to her waist. It didn't feel right. He held her too tightly. She inwardly recoiled but with the practiced resolve of a ninja she stood still. "Why don't we go to the garden for a bit?"
"Actually I have a different idea." She interjected. She wasn't going to entertain the idea of him trying to steal her away to the very public garden.
"How about you walk away? Because I'm not interested."
Junichi paused, his blue eyes twinkled mischievously. Obito was right, once again. Apparently, the socially inept Uchiha knew more about the nature of typical straight men than she gave him credit for. "I've caught you looking at me."
Not for the reasons you think.She thought. "You're imagining things."
"You don't think I'm handsome?"
"Handsomeness doesn't equate immediate interest." She teased. "Especially when handsome men kiss other women."
He chuckled. "Poor girl is in love with me, can you blame me for being nice?"
"I suppose I can't." What a shitty excuse!
He leaned forward towards her ear. "You are the sexiest girl here." He whispered.
She resisted rolling her eyes to the back of her skull. "I'm sure you say that to all the ladies, Hanino."
"What do you want to do? Because I'm not going to be able to leave you alone for the rest of the night."
Playing the part she let her fingertips lightly brush his chest as she considered him. "Fine. Take me somewhere private then, it's impolite to be so bold around everyone."
He gave her a toothy smile. "Follow me."
Excitement rose within Konan. She followed him through the drunk throngs of people.
She inhaled and exhaled, focusing on the flow of her chakra, the buzz of her alcohol electrifying in her system. Finally, it was money time. Finally, Obito can come in and take care of the rest.
She followed him out of the main room's doors, opening a door to a small corridor. Exactly how she imagined. They followed the servant's hall until they reached a small staircase.
"Goes right up my rooms." He explained with a smirk.
"And Asai?"
"She's in the guest rooms." He said. "Stop worrying about her. You're fine." As if reassuring her, he took her hand. He was sweaty. She wanted to rip it away.
She wondered what it was like holding hands with Obito. Then she pushed the unwelcomed thought away with distaste. She needed to focus on the mission.
He led her out into a quiet part of the mansion, walking down a narrow hall lined with wide-open windows. The family wing. Her hand subtly formed a sign. With Junichi's back turned, a paper unfolded from her skin in the form of a butterfly. As they reached the end of the hall, chakra threads shot from her fingers. They grasped a window latch, and just as the window clicked open, she stumbled.
He grasped her arm. "Are you ok?"
She let out a fake laugh. "Sorry, I'm a bit tipsy."
"Don't worry about it." He laughed.
She smiled to herself, turning her head slightly to see the butterfly floating out of the window.
"What's down that hall? It looks so different than the rest of the doors." Konan asked innocently as they passed a hallway with heavy steel doors. She tried not to glance behind her, hoping Obito was already inside.
"My parents get overprotective about their stuff." He explained. "You know, comes with the business. Protecting assets."
God, this man was an idiot. Seduction missions were easier than she thought.
"My father's safe is so secretive I still think of it as a long lost legend." She lied to dispel his suspicion.
They reached a door around the corner, he pushed it open, his blue eyes growing with hunger in the dimly lit hall. He didn't seem concerned by her curiosity. "This way gorgeous."
She followed him into, at first glance, a luxurious room. She tried not to wrinkle her nose. Empty liquor bottles and food plates littered the floor and surfaces. The bed was a mess. No wonder his girlfriend didn't sleep in there. Wasn't he rich enough that maids could clean his shit for him?
He pounced on her, making her crash to the floor, her drink spilling out of her hand all down her legs.
"What the fuck!" She cried as she tried to wriggle under his weight.
He was trained though. He pinned her down in the right places. He leaned down, she could feel his smile curling on her neck. She gasped for air, trying to move her head from his offensive face.
"Don't bother screaming, liar." He growled. "I know you aren't an heiress, I know you were conspiring about something with Twilight earlier."
Who the fuck is Twilight?
His hand reached somewhere in his pocket. She couldn't see in the darkness, but she felt cold metal against her neck. A dagger. It pressed into her flesh. She hissed at the burning contact, trying not to move so the blade wouldn't go deeper into her skin.
"Then who am I?" She said hoarsely, desperately hoping Obito's keen ninja ears would reach her. If he received her signal…
"I don't know but I don't like liars crashing our parties. You think you could fool a Hanino?" He sneered.
Enough of the damsel in distress Misune. Konan was back. Her chakra unleashed, her ninjutsu going into effect. Her body dissolved into papery sheets, his drunken violence collapsing under his large body.
He grunted as he hit the floor. "You!" He leaped up, reaching for a sword mounted above the fireplace mantle. Just as he was pulling it from the sheath, a gloved hand emerged from the wall, gripping his wrist. Junichi yelped and tried to pull away, but Obito was stronger.
Konan reassembled, her hand going to the stinging on her neck to examine the cut, looking down to find blood easily spilled onto her fingers. He wasn't just a terrible lay, Konan realized, he was an actual monster. She stumbled until she was against the opposite wall, her hand returned to the wound to apply pressure. Meanwhile, Obito lept into the room like a moving shadow, throwing Junichi across the expanse of carpet with ferocity. The gangster slammed against a window, glass shattering. "Don't you dare touch her." The Uchiha bellowed.
"Your boyfriend is in on this? Who sent you!?" Junichi yelled, writhing onto the ground. "Guards! Guards!"
Obito was already on it. In a swift flurry of taijutsu, Konan watched as loud cracks of bone rang through the air. In a matter of moments, the playboy was unconscious, crumpled to the floor.
"Let's go." Obito grabbed Konan's arm and rushed out the door. They exited with a lethal quietness. "The guards will be here any moment. They've been doing rounds around the entire estate. Surely they heard the commotion."
On cue, she could hear shouting, distantly. "To the saferoom." She confirmed, knowing he probably saw it when he snuck in.
They were at the steel doors in moments. "Press your entire body against mine." Obito ordered.
In a normal situation, she would've blushed at this, but she followed his orders, wrapping her arms tightly around his lean form. To her surprise, he gripped her and lifted her with ease as if a sack of flour. Then using his intangibility, he charged them through the steel door.
A shockwave hit her as they passed through. It felt like moving through thickened water. His power is incredible, she thought.
She gasped for air she didn't know she needed as they reached the other side. He gently set her down, keeping her cradled to his chest. "Are you alright?" He asked, his tone strained, his fingers lightly grazing her injured neck.
"He only got my neck a little bit." She said quietly. "But I'm alright."
"Konan…" He faltered, looking down at her, clutching her tightly.
Her brows drew together in confusion. He jerked his mask upwards, just enough to reveal the lower half of his face. Without hesitation his wicked mouth came crashing down on hers, pressing hard.
Now? Of all the-
Her thoughts vanished as her whole being lit up with his shadow of fire. She felt as if she was swallowed whole.
She pressed back, the alcoholic kiss numbing her pain and shock. It felt as if she floated into clouds. The relief that he brought her bloomed within. It lasted for a long moment, both of them quiet save for the delicate sounds of their chaste kissing in the darkness. At last, he drew away, carefully adjusting his mask back in place. "He injured you, so I kept my promise." His rasping voice had returned to its normal flatness as if he didn't just claim a kiss.
"Thank you." She whispered, suddenly embarrassed at how quickly she fell into him. She leaned away, noticing his body tense, and the deep breaths he drew. The amount of chakra he must have used to get them through the door, and the kiss, left him winded. She wished more than ever she could see his face, how he was looking at her.
"The scrolls." She softly reminded him.
"Right." He said quickly. For the giant door that protected it, the room looked like the average storage room, but they knew better. "Let's split up."
They quickly moved through the musty boxes and trunks. Finding a lot of old papers and frankly, junky heirlooms, Konan became exasperated as the stress of time was ticking and her pain made her lightheaded. However, she did find a case loaded with cold hard cash. She quickly stuffed bills into her dress, and then discreetly folded some into paper, using her jutsu to send it off.
As her butterfly message floated away, Konan hastily got up and started to skim the wall. She knew she hit the jackpot when she moved an old hanging art piece and found the dusty door of a safe.
"My Lord!" She whispered.
He came over, with ease his fingers sunk into the lock.
They heard banging around, and the sound of door lock's mechanisms turning. The guards were at the door.
"Hurry!" She chided.
She heard the safe's lock snap. He removed his fingers and the door swung open, revealing not two but six scrolls.
Konan pulled a bag from her small purse and dumped the scrolls within, excitement edging as they heard the doors fly open and flashlights bouncing off the walls.
In a nick of time, as a flashlight shone on their legs Obito summoned his portal and he gripped her as they tumbled through.
…..
Twilight heard a shatter of glass and then shouting and loud thuds. She sat up in the bed, linens pressed to her chest. She looked over to see Iki Hanino openly snoring.
She knew it was her time to go. Whenever one of these fools killed someone or whatever heinous violence they committed, she knew better than to stick around when they had a habit of pointing fingers at people who were not in their circle.
She quickly rose out of bed, moving her long dark hair aside to shimmy into her tight dress. She grabbed her heels and ran to the window, sliding it open. Thankfully, his room was on the ground floor and it spilled into a garden. She exited into the quiet night, finding guards had probably run to the commotion.
Twilight made her escape until she found herself at a small road in the back of the estate, lined with a few humble homes. Probably where the servants lived. She waited for her friend under a tree, a spot they'd agree to rendezvous if things got out of hand.
She hoped her friend was on her way. She admired her new ring, thinking of that pretty purple-haired girl she met with the missing labret piercing. Mizune or something? Whoever she was, she hoped she made it out too. Out of nervous habit, the young woman lighted a cigarette. As she took a drag something fluttered in the corner of her eye.
She watched, suspiciously, eyes narrowing at what looked like a butterfly.
Origami? It was flying towards her on its own accord. She stepped back. Some ninja technique, she gathered. She didn't trust shinobi. However, the butterfly harmlessly floated around her until she opened her palm.
It landed, she nearly jumped out of her skin, cigarette flying out of her grasp as it poofed into a plume of smoke. She blinked in shock. In her hand, was a huge stack of cash.
There was a note scrawled on top.
Thank you. -Labret
…..
"We're rich!" She gasped, stumbling over her heels onto the floor, her head spinning from the dimensional travel. She let out a cackle, still in disbelief that they managed to pull it off. "So fucking rich!"
"We are."
"Your plan worked!" She exclaimed, throwing the bag of scrolls to him. Obito crouched down, filtering through the bag, confirming its content.
"I knew it would."
She paused to catch her breath, noticing his mask was facing her inquisitively. "What?"
"I never have seen you excited." He said, amused. "You always keep your cool."
"It's been a while since I had a thrill like that." She admitted. And have gotten tipsy.
"I wouldn't call someone slicing your neck thrilling." He deadpanned.
Perhaps it was the alcohol. Perhaps it was seeing Obito crush Junichi single-handedly. Perhaps it was the kiss. The mere thought sent heat searing through her body. Bravely, she crawled towards his crouching form, not in a dissimilar position they were that day he was injured. He stilled as she reached up and threw her arms around his neck, pressing her upper body against his. She smiled in satisfaction when he did not pull away after a moment. He wanted her.
"Konan." He muttered, hands going to her shoulders.
"I'm rewarding you for keeping your promise." She explained, pulling away.
"Does this mean you trust me now?" He said smugly.
"Easy there." She replied in a light tone.
He stood up and extended his gloved hand. She grasped it and he helped her up with ease, his hands going to her waist to steady her. She now felt drunk on the subtle intimacy. "I never have seen such heavy drinkers until I met the Akatsuki." He said teasingly.
"I've only had a few!" She rang out defensively. She wished he could've pulled her closer but he stepped back.
"You drank too much." He chided her, amusement gone.
"I'm fine!" She said dismissively.
"Go to sleep to Konan." He sighed, opening the door to the office.
"What's your deal? You're going to kiss me and leave?!" She whined.
"It's been a long night." He said gruffly. "Heal yourself and get some sleep."
She watched in exasperation as the Uchiha fled the room, leaving her with the stolen scrolls and a stolen kiss on her lips.
…..
Obito couldn't sleep. By the time he laid down in his bed, the sky was already lightening, morning birds singing their songs. It had to be about five or six AM. He was exhausted, body drained of chakra, but his mind was still racing.
Obito was no stranger to waiting. Stakeouts were an essential part of shinobi life. He had been waiting, for years, to make moves on Madara's accord. However, on this particular mission, his patience was worn thin. He watched carefully from the shadows, grateful for the large garden and open windows of the Hanino estate to be able to keep tabs on the paper angel.
He didn't know what bothered him more, how long Konan was taking, or that men practically fell on top of one another to get a chance to speak to her, to which she was completely unaware of it happening.
One man, in particular, tried to stay close to her for the majority of the night. Iki Hanino, he recognized. Not even her target.
The fact she even came to him, threatening to blow cover, because she felt so insecure about attracting low life scum.
Konan. The most beautiful girl in the Hidden Rain...in that fucking dress was concerned about not being able to attract men. Even in his state of delirious exhaustion, he let out a dry chuckle in disbelief.
More than he'd care to admit, he felt anxious watching her so up close on an intimate mission. He wasn't used to protecting people, but he knew he was the only one fit for the job when Pein brought it up. If anything, he avoided the role of a protector of comrades at all costs. Human life was inconsequential in the pursuit of a new world crafted by the hands of his legendary ancestor. Now that the rain kunoichi had his name in her mouth, he had to make sure his secret was upheld at all costs, and if that meant protecting her-he had no choice but to feel leashed anger when she was being threatened.
When that fucker slit her neck a blackened rage seeped through Obito's veins. He succumbed to the darkness that held him in a vice grip since he was thirteen. As he held her in his arms he couldn't help feel the drops of anguish and hate run together, spilling from his Sharingan onto Rin's pale, lifeless face. He could not let Konan get hurt. Seeing the Lady Angel with shallow breath and covered in blood left him confronting ghostly devastation. As selfish as it was, he could not let her go. Akatsuki's success and his sworn loyalties were lost on him instantaneously. For once in his miserable life, he couldn't fathom another loss.
The young lavender haired woman was supposed to be nothing more than a melancholic subordinate, he reminded himself, a pawn in the great scheme of things. She had been injured before, it never bothered him to this caliber. He was not supposed to have an attachment in this lifetime. Yet as she grows closer to him, her spirit ignites his dormant heart like gasoline pouring over a small flame.
To think that I do not have her.
To feel that I have lost her.
Seeing her okay brought a reckoning through his core that made him question if it was real. He had sought out the signs that precipitated his desires: Konan's delicate features, the papered edges rising off her skin, the pleasant flush of her cheeks, the comfort of her body as she folded into him, and the glimmer of her amber eyes, revealing that she was completely relieved to see him. Kissing her, out of all the things he could've done, seemed like the most sensible thing he could do at that moment. His fingers went to his lips, remembering the rush of emotion that he poured into her soft mouth. He had not even registered until that moment that the action was technically his first kiss.
He knew he shouldn't have kissed her, especially when they were tired and she was intoxicated from her night of drinking, on top of being injured. He rubbed his face as if to rid the memory of her touch. He was disgusted with himself.
Deep within himself, he knew he would do anything to keep her close to him. To know she was safe, that she'd still be there for him. He cared about Konan.
And that scared the shit out of him.
…..
Authors Note: WHEW the angst. S/o to poet Pablo Neruda for some heart-squeezing inspiration.
BTW would like to apologize for any grammatical oopsies-I usually go back in and edit more thoroughly, been working on training my eyes better for that. The case of no beta readers over here :'(
Hope you enjoyed the latest chapter. I know I've been building a lot of back and forth, so I'm excited to make this tension crescendo!
EDIT: As I mentioned, I'm an artist. I currently have a preview for some cover art I'm working on for this fic. Follow me lavenderlightn1 on twitter to see along with some other fantarts :)
- LL
