Butterflies
"Me? I'm nobody. I'm not skilled like Uchiha-san. I am not passionate like Haruno-san. I am not smart like Nara-san. I'm not as strong as Chouji-san. I'm not as collected as Aburame-san. Or as pretty as Yamanaka-san. I'm not as confident as Inuzuka-san. If anything, I'm like Hyuuga-san, socially awkward. Oh wait, no, she's just shy. The socially awkward one is me." OC! Team 7 remix!
Interlude 3 – Asami
8-8
It takes about thirty minutes for Captain Ito to discuss mission details with Hatake Kakashi. I've never worked with the man, but I've heard amazing things about him. Still, he's not the one that I focus on. It's a certain blonde and his brunette shadow. Every step they make, they make together. Which is kind of a creepy/sweet situation really. I mean, it's creepy that someone's within striking distance at all times, often flanking him. But at the same time, she's… glaring at anyone that gets too close to him.
I offer to help seal the two bodies, for processing. Neither seems to care. So I whip out a large scroll and make the proper seal, two of them side by side. As I get close enough, I see that the Demon Brothers only have a single wound, the one that detached their heads from their shoulders. Impressive. More impressive still, is that they've been stripped of their pouches, weapons, and the gauntlets these two are known to wield. Quite professional, if I say so myself.
The only thing that bugs me is that they don't seem to know or care about the bounty.
"Aya-chan, it's fine." Naruto-kun groans. It seems that Aya's glaring at our medic who's offering them a quick look over to make sure they're okay. Even though Naruto-kun says it's fine, she doesn't back down. She keeps glaring at the Medic, daring him to try something funny. No killing intent, no genjutsu, no tricks. Just a wilting glare that clearly makes him feel uncomfortable. She's wearing twin blades that are easily noticeable; I can tell what she'd do the second someone steps out of line.
A smile tugs at my lips
"What are you smiling about?" Captain Ito asks. I'm not smiling. "Yes, you're smiling, Asami-chan. Why?" I pout. I hate it when people read me like that.
"He finally has someone to watch his back." I admit, too softly for anyone to hear. That means, of course, that Captain Ito and her boy-toy both hear me. But least the healer wearing a billboard sign doesn't – he's too busy checking Naruto-kun.
"Namiki Aya. Not the... most graceful girl, but I've worked with her mother. No one will ever prove as loyal, if they're anything alike." Captain Ito says. "Anyway, Tazuna-san. Let's go."
We start our journey, just as they start theirs. I haven't spent much time with Aya, so I can't say I know her too well. However, she doesn't like people picking on anyone she likes, if that match with Uchiha Sasuke is anything to go by. Still, I can't make heads or tails with that girl. I'll just have to see if I can't… spend more time around her to study her up close and personal. It's a good thing I sealed those two bodies for him; it'll make for a good reason to look him up once we get back.
8-8
"Well, that was anticlimactic." I complain. After the mist thing, the barrage of water clones, nearly getting my head chopped off, and an idiot medic that doesn't seem to understand that he's not supposed to engage the enemy, Momochi Zabuza just got taken out by some hunter nin from Mist. Two needles to the back of the neck. Then again. Between Captain Ito, her boy-toy, and me... it's not like Momochi stood a chance, really. No matter what his ego would have him believe. I may not be one for head to head, but I'm one of the top long range support kunoichi out there!
"State your name, rank, and team you're assigned to." Captain Ito doesn't take chances. Ever. Why is that hunter nin so nervous? Ah. Clever tactic. Oh well, I guess we've got another one to take down. "Surrender, and we'll only take you back for questioning. Fight us and die. Choose. Now!"
And of course, the hunter nin gives up! Aww! I still have that new jutsu I wanted to try! Poopie!
8-8
Of course, after the fake hunter nin gave up, we tied up both of them. That means that we're, for the lack of a better word, on standby. Captain Ito had me apply retraining seals on both of them, both chakra and physical. They can barely move at all, and what little they can do, any civilian can do. They're helpless. More or less.
Still, Captain wouldn't want us to take chances. I'm posted here at the house, with our guests, and the others go to the bridge every day with Tazuna-sen. I shrug. If that's what Captain decided, I have to abide by it. Still, at least Tsunami-san is nice enough. And Haku seems to be as well. She's been helping us cook, and she's been tending to Momochi every tick of the clock. I think that's soo sweet! A bit creepy, and vaguely stalker-y, but sweet nonetheless.
Well, I've got nothing to do but kill time. "So, Haku-chan, what's your story?"
"Would it not be common courtesy to offer one's own story first?" She asks.
"Fair enough. Not much to tell, I'm afraid. I'm the youngest daughter of the Third Hokage. I don't look like either of my parents, I know, I get that a lot. I've lived a pretty good life. Private tutors, three warm meals a day, anything my heart desires. Daddy kind of spoils me, to be honest." I offer truthfully. Sure, I'm not telling the whole story, but it's enough for her to get a idea. I've had a good life so far.
"Hmm. Must be nice." She says, her voice empty, hollow. She tells me her story. How her mother ran from the bloodline purge in the Land of Water, how she fell in love with a simple farmer. How Haku used to play with the snow using chakra, something that she shouldn't be able to do. And how her father caught her doing it.
"That a man can do that to his wife and daughter." I thank Kami-sama for the life I've been given. Poor Haku watched her mother murdered by the man that should love her above all else. That's just… horrible! "I'm sorry you had to go through that." I say. I know words won't help, that the trauma inflicted won't lessen. But words are all I have for now.
"It was a long time ago." Her voice is still lifeless. She's trying to make light of it.
"Hmm. A shame I can't tempt you to join Konoha. I mean, we'd never treat you like that!"
8-8
End Interlude 3
8-8
A/N: Sorry to post two short chapters back to back, but they're kind of meant to be separate, and I really don't see a reason they can't balance each other out. Next chapter should be normal length again ^_^