Disclaimer: I do not own any recognizable thing from Naruto. I just like to take the characters out of the box and play with them awhile. I promise to put them back when I am done. Everything else, story-plot and some concepts are mine though, so don't steal them.
Summary: 'Gaara.' Shikamaru warned. 'She is one of the Fell. Regulation dictates her off limits.' The shadow shifter's gaze flickered to the figure lying broken on the stone steps before returning to his lords apathetic facade. Gaara turned to him, his sea-foam eyes flashing dangerously with the veins of lightening overhead. 'Fuck regulation. She's coming with us.'
Note: Comment for a Cookie? It is rated for language and minor violence. The lyrics below are written by Within Temptation, scroll down for the chapter beginning.
Destroyed:
I did my best to please you
But my best was never good enough
Somehow you're only able to see
All I am not
Did you ever look behind
Aren't you afraid of the pieces you'll find
I have failed you
But you have failed me too
It's so easy to destroy and condemn
The ones you do not understand
Do you ever wonder if it's justified
It's so easy to destroy and condemn
The one's you do not understand
In your life why didn't you ever try
I close my eyes as I walk the thin line between love and hate
For the person with the same blood in his veins
You show no regrets
About all the things you did or said
I have failed you
But believe me you failed me too
It's so east to destroy and condemn
The ones you do not understand
Do you ever wonder if it's justified
Chapter Two:
"It is done." Hiashi turned away from the cliff edge, his colorless eyes scanning the score of Angels now walking or flying back down the mountain path. He felt the tug on his sleeve and looked down at his daughter.
'My real daughter.'
"Yes Hanabi." Eyes showing wisdom well beyond their years met his in a pensive glance.
'My eyes.'
"Father, what about H-"
"He has cast himself down." An aged voice from behind interrupted. Seiji and his circle of Branch house guards fell into step with the Leader and his daughter. Moving the ends of his ceremonial robes to the other hand, the elder took the offered arm of the newly declared heiress.
"I knew that it was only a matter of time before he followed in that traitors footsteps. Like father, like son, so the humans say." The wrinkled brow, spotted with time, drew downward in a severe frown. "His name, as well as the name of that mistake we rid ourselves of this day," Seiji spat, "Are from here on forgotten. The memories of those who disgrace us are no longer our burden. They are dead to us."
They continued down the path, lower members of all choirs parting and bowing in respect for their most revered Elder, Head, and Heiress.
"Father, what of Neji? He did not attend the Fall though it is mandated that all Angels must. Should he not be punished?" Hanabi kept her gaze forward revealing none of the emotions stirring within. Hiashi sighed, his own eyes turning to the skies in thought.
"No." Came the answer from the Elder to Hanabi's left. She faced the senior Hyuuga, opal orbs narrowing in provocation.
"I asked my Father, not you Elder Sei-""
Hanabi's face was thrown roughly to the right. The pain of the slap radiating across the whole side of her left cheek. She whipped back to the Elder just as he lowered his hand, palm slightly red from the impact. Her face did not betray the sheer anger coiling in the pit of her stomach.
"You would do well to respect your superiors child." He lifted a silver brow." You are now the heiress, it is time that you learn your place." Seiji continued walking. Hanabi lifted her eyes from the ground and glared around at the mass of faces lowered for the passing Patriarch. Her own face began to burn in embarrassment at the thought of being struck in front of those very people she had been groomed to lead since birth. She inhaled sharply before storming off as composed as possible.
"Such arrogance, for one so young." Seiji reprimanded hearing the Heiress stalk away in a huff. He and the Hyuuga clan Head continued down the winding passage.
"She will learn." Hiashi stated plainly. "I am deeply disappointed in Neji's handling of the situation. Such disregard is not acceptable."
"Disappointing but expected. The boy was betrayed by his cousin and lost his father all in one night." The Elder stated with carefully disguised levity.
"Yes, Hizashi was a man of amiable nature. His bravery could not be matched when it came to protecting those who mattered." The Leader grimaced at the thought of his twin brother. Seiji leaned closer to Hiashi.
"Some sacrifices are necessary for the betterment of the Race. Regret is futile at this point, Hiashi; what's done is done." The Elder whispered in a cold undertone, before leaning back, acting as nothing questionable had transpired between them.
--PageBreak--
"What the hell was he thinking." Kiba grumbled pulling his parka closer around his body. Decades upon decades of living in a realm where the temperature platueaud at a pleasant 140 degrees was a far cry from the icy rain that now soaked his entire being. "How does he expect us to find anything in this shit?" He leaned back against the brick wall of the narrow alleyway. The dumpster across from him made his noise twitch with the heavy smell of waterlogged vomit, alcohol, and mold. Grimacing in disgust, he pushed himself up and stepped out onto the sidewalk of the Commercial district located at the heart of Konoha.
Brown eyes flickered over the looming skyscrapers that towered over him. Banks, businesses, a small bistro caddy corner to the street sign. He hated this place. It was closed in, cold, and at the moment, wet. He let out a deep sigh before slipping the tips of his fingers passed his chapped lips and let out a high whistle.
A large white dog, roughly the size of a Volkswagen lumbered around the nearest corner, his mouth snapping about in attempts to catch the torrential rain. The monstrous beast came to stop in front of Kiba, seemingly obtuse to his drenched state which caused his ivory fur to be heavily matted down.
"Did you find anything yet, Akamaru?" The dog let out a small whine.
"Hey, that's okay buddy." Kiba comforted, scratching the dog between the ears. "I wasn't betting on it either. Even if we knew what we were looking for, this weather is fucking impossible to track something in." Akamaru let out a bark of appreciation to his master's ministrations before leaning forward and licking Kiba across a tattooed cheek.
"I knew you guys were close, but this is simply disturbing." Kiba growled at the approach of his fellow tracker.
"Shut the hell up, Bug Freak." Shino raised a slim brow, his high collar and sunglasses preventing Kiba from seeing any other form of expression.
"My apologies if I have offended, Kiba. I merely wish to remind you that the humans have certain laws against the sodomizing of animals." He stated in a flat voice, pushing the slipping sunglasses back up his nose. Both Kiba and Akamaru let out a threatening growl at the embarrassing, and completely false implication.
"Aren't you supposed to be out on the other side of town looking for-"
"No." Kiba gave the bug user a questionable look.
"Ooo-kay." He and Akamaru shared a silent but knowing glance and made move to continue their search in the opposite direction.
"Allow me to explain." Shino stopped them. "It is my theorization that we surcease this pursuit."
"..."
"..."
"Huh?"
Shino rolled his eyes in exasperation, not that Kiba could see this action.
"We can stop searching." Kiba crossed his arms, inspecting Shino suspiciously.
"Why?"
"Follow me." Shino turned in the direction of which he appeared.
End of Chapter Two:Destroyed:
A/N: Questions? Comments? More too come.