Chapter Six
The lighting was dim and flickering. Again he stood before eleven very powerful men and women; again he was ready to cry out of fear. They sat in tall chairs placed in a circle around the room. A circular table was between them, with various documents scattered randomly about it. The final stages of their insidious plot were falling together. Now, all they needed was for one small and insignificant girl to be taken out of the way.
"I assume everything is going according to the plan." The long and gnarled fingers were hanging almost delicately over the edge of the chair.
Athrun shuffled nervously before him. "H-hai Shishou. Everything is according to plan." Nothing can go wrong tonight! If I screw up again then I'm history. I can't fail this mission; too many people are counting on me.
A devious smile was to be seen around the thin, cruel lines of his face. "And tonight…no mistakes. She must be taken care of. I do not tolerate mistakes." The temperature in the room dropped ten degrees. Even the sun failed to permeate the callous shell of the interior of the council room.
"Nnno Shishou. Nnno mmiistakes." He dropped to the floor in a full-out bow. As he lay prostrated on the ground he heard the swishing of their moving robes. A cold hand grasped his long brown hair and pulled his head upwards.
"Nothing can go wrong," he hissed. "If it does, it's your precious family that will pay the price for your foolishness…again." He whisper was the most threatening sound he had ever heard. He dared not look into his eyes. "You may leave now. Be ready to proceed in three hours times." Athrun ran out of the room as fast as his legs could carry him.
"Are you sure this is wise Shishou?" Otouro pushed the glasses further up his nose. He was by no means stupid, he highly doubted this plot was for the reasons the teacher had put forth. There was something else going on.
"Are you doubting me?" He spun around and gazed at Otouro with mild interest. A stupid fool. He will be dealt with later. "When have I ever given you reason to do that?" His mocking voice somewhat eased the tension. Nervous laughter soon followed.
"How can we be sure you'll give us what we need? You have never been proven trustworthy. Not once!" Otouro was on his feet now, gesturing towards the other members of the secret council angrily. "Do not double cross us!"
"You will get it, do not worry." He waved his hand dismissively. And I will have my power…I have waited so long! To think that this is the only way. He winced momentarily, a disconcerted look crossing his features. Almost as soon as it had appeared, it was gone. No, this is the only way.
"Soon Otouro, very soon indeed."
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"Tie it tighter forehead-girl!" Ino sucked in her stomach once more as Sakura pulled on the deep-blue obi. It perfectly set off Ino's eyes with the deep purple kimono. The kingfishers threaded throughout the cloth enhanced the effect. She looked stunning.
"Call me forehead-girl one more time and I'll strangle you with this thing!" Sakura grinned and slapped Ino on the back. Her obi was on so tightly that she was sure it had hurt.
Sakura turned and looked at her reflection critically. She wasn't fat, far from it. But, she would never be as thin as her best friend. Heck, a twig wouldn't be that thin. Ino had the build of a model, gorgeous long legs, big breasts, and perfectly sized hips. She had gotten shortchanged – literally. She had shorter, stubbier legs, small hips, and non-existent boobs. Her legs were very muscular after all the training with Tsunade, no longer the skinny twigs they had been in her youth. Her long pink hair was left loose, splaying about her shoulders and framing her face perfectly. Somehow the unusual colour of her hair set off her green eyes. Yes, she was pretty, beautiful by most peoples' standards, but that just wasn't enough for her.
She looked at Tenten longingly. She too was tall and gorgeous, at least in her opinion. She had the long legs and arms of a distance fighter. Limber and taught, ready for action. Her gorgeous hair was still pinned up, but in more of an elegant style, with the traditional hair sticks holding it in place. Her fiery red kimono set off her figure and face perfectly. Simply put, Sakura was jealous.
Damn it Tenten! I'm Tsunade's apprentice so how come you got the boobs! Sakura rubbed her head, it was always on nights like this that her inner self was rip roaring ready for a good fight. Even Hinata, who had refused to come tonight, was gorgeous. She had a bigger chest than Sakura's, but it seemed to suit her figure perfectly. She was curvy in all of the right places. With her long and silky black hair she was the perfect petite woman. It wasn't fair.
Sakura looked at herself again. Her crimson obi was tied around a bright green kimono that was embroidered with iris, lotus, and sakura petals on the sleeves. She loved her kimono, but she just didn't feel she was worth looking at compared to her beautiful friends. She went to the bathroom to get ready by herself.
"I'll be back soon!" Sakura flashed them a dazzling fake smile and closed the door behind her.
"Yah, okay! We can't be late though for- Sakura-chan." Ino caught herself mid sentence and smiled at her reflection. Sakura's so lucky. She has the perfect figure for wearing kimonos. She and Hinata look so nice in all of this stuff. And Tenten looks great whenever she puts on girly looking clothes. Kami, why do I have to stand out as the big and tall freak?" She shoved a hairpin in a little harder than was necessary and winced as it went in. Ugh, I wish I was smaller!
"Hey Ino!" Tenten brought her out of her little reverie. "Could you please pass me that pair of sandals beside you?" She did and stared at her friend.
"Wow…you look…" An expression of hurt crossed Tenten's face.
"Oh, I know I look stupid- I just thought that- I 'll just tak-" A red blush was fighting its way across her cheeks.
"No! It looks great on you! Seriously!" Ino caught Tenten's slow smile and sent her one back. "Hey, do you know why Hinata won't come? I mean, I know she's shy and everything but she's one who wouldn't miss a chance to dress up with all those parties the Hyuugas have, right?" Ino also caught the indifferent look coming onto Tenten's face at the mention of the word 'Hyuuga'.
"No idea." She began to struggle with her sandal.
Ino pushed. "Oh come on! I heard you and Neji going at it last night! I can only assume it was about Hinata's weirdness." Tenten's face reddened again.
"Going at what?" She stared at the ground.
"The whole flirting/fighting/trying to tell the other person that you love them thing!" Ino looked happily at Tenten, only to see her friend fighting off tears. Her smile dropped like a dead fly as she walked over and put a reassuring hand on her back. Her tone was soft, "Hey, what's wrong?"
"You didn't hear anything except fighting," she admitted unhappily. "But enough about me…you and Shikamaru seem pretty close."
Ino's face reddened. "We-we're just teammates! We've always been like that!" She spluttered out.
"Right," Tenten rolled her eyes, "well, there's nothing going on with me if there's nothing going on with you." She crossed her arms, as if challenging her.
'Well then, I guess there's nothing going on!"
"Guess so!" They both turned away and put the finishing touches on their make-up. Like hell there's nothing going on!
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Hinata paced the perimeter of her dark room silently. She was having second thoughts about tonight. I really should go…it isn't honorable for me to sit here while the rest of them go off. She smiled to herself. This mission really seems to be bringing things to the surface. Unconsciously memories of her last mission came to mind. She sat down on her bed, feeling tears course down her cheeks as thoughts of him flashed before her eyes.
"Violence against kunoichis is to be expected." Kurenai sensei was leading a class at the academy specifically for the future kunoichis. "If you aren't willing to take the risk, drop out now." She never was one for beating around the bush.
Some girl named Sora piped up. "What kind of violence is to be expected sensei?"
"Hhmm, maybe someone in your class can answer this question…" Kurenai looked around the room expectantly. "Ah Sakura, go ahead."
She thought for a moment before replying shyly. "Torture and interrogation usually focus on breaking the mind, but in the case of women, it usually takes the form of rape and other sexual assault." Her voice dropped at the last part.
Kurenai looked at every face in the classroom. "She's wrong. It doesn't usually take the form of sexual assault. That is the one and only form. Enemy ninjas will not take into account your feelings. They will do just what their hormones tell them to." Stricken faces looked back.
Ten girls had dropped out that day.
Hinata wrapped her arms around her body. The crying had subsided and little by little, the memories were getting easier to deal with. Every night Sakura and Neji had come to her room and asked if she needed anything. Ino and Tenten had come a few times. Even Shikamaru and Sasuke had come once or twice. And Naruto-kun…….he came by every few minutes. He brought food and friendly invitations which had soon changed to threatening to burst through the door at any moment. But he never did….an empty threat. Did he somehow know?
I'm so disgusting! He'll never be able to look at me now! I don't deserve any of this!"
Hinata had decided. She wasn't going tonight.
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Their proctor was waiting for them at the gates of the party. The guys had to go earlier to help set up, they were probably milling about and scowling at anybody who had the nerve to look at them. Lovely.
"Welcome girls! Come over here, let me see." Ikasu whipped her glasses out of a hidden pocked in the folds of her kimono. "Yes, yes very nice." She walked up and down their small row, picking and pulling at the fabric that adorned them. "However, wasn't there one more?"
The entire group began to fiddle or look elsewhere. "Heh, well you see…..she's sick tonight. She sends her regrets." Sakura hoped the lie didn't show on her face.
Ikasu looked disbelieving but ushered them towards the gate anyways. "Too bad, very well go on in…the party is in full swing!" The look of absolute horror on Tenten's face was lost on the rest of them.
As they walked through the gates the looked around, noticing the dull faces of the young and the animated faces of the young at heart. Some party was the only thought that came to mind.
Even though the entertainment was 'lacking' the decorations were stunning. The large outdoor tent had flowing curtains of spring green, sky blue, sunny yellow, and earthen brown. Simply put - the colors of the earth, very fitting. The traditional low tables were covered in soft silks, and the benches were decked out in plush pillows and throws.
Lots of men milled about, casting interested glances at the young women. Sakura beamed appreciatively at the décor and scowled in the direction of any suspicious male. Sasuke had definitely rubbed off on her. "Let's split up and try to find the guys ok? There are way too many perverts around here. "Ja ne!" Sakura waved and ran off to a different area.
Look at all the colours…and the decorations…and the music! It's so beautiful! I always wanted my wedding to be something like this. She cringed. I don't want to marry him though. I think Ayame would kill me. I'm worried about her…and Hinata. I'm just not sure what to do!
She walked around, grabbing a drink at the bar as she went. She hadn't seen anyone she knew as yet. Of course, Kenji was in plain sight at the head table. His councilors, Ayame included, surrounded him decked out in their absolute finest. The two of them were laughing quietly and imitating some of the poor dancers around them. She laughed too. Burraku-san didn't look very pleased; in fact he looked downright evil, staring at them menacingly from the entrance.
That is one creepy guy. I don't think I like him at all.
She turned around again, determined to stay out of his line of sight. As she turned she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure. It was only quickly but she swore she saw him. She darted quickly through the crowd, not paying any attention to their squeals of annoyance as she slightly jarred them. It was all she could do not to unleash some whoop-ass on one 'slightly' large lady who did not seem to be able to move on her own. Sakura was quickly back on track, following him out into the garden, being careful to remain undetected. She waited in the darkness until she could clearly see his face. He turned slightly, but his face remained in the shadows.
I can not believe it's him! What the hell is he doing here?
Unconsciously she formed a fist. Now isn't the time. I'm not even sure it's him. She stole after him as he moved back towards the tent. It was not an easy task considering she had a full-length formal kimono weighing her down. Then again, so did he. He glanced behind him briefly before he entered; the light from the tent illuminated his entire body to Sakura's disbelieving eyes.
It is him…oh Kami it's him! He's from this village! Kuso I have to fi-
All she felt was a dull whack to the base of her neck and Sakura's entire world went black.
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Tenten glanced around nervously. True, there was no way in hell she wanted to marry this guy but she couldn't help but be impressed by this blatant display of wealth and power. Who wouldn't be, except for maybe Sasuke, Hinata, and Neji who had this stuff at home, just sitting around. Her fist clenched.
What were those two doing? She decided to let it go. The entire group was close friends, though some of them would rather be brutally murdered than ever admit it. She chuckled and started to relax and try to enjoy the party, try being the key word.
"Oi, Tenten!" Shikamaru had found her and waved his hand in front of her face absently. "Cheh, Ino is forcing me to get drinks so….what do you want?" He stood and waited patiently.
"Just water is fine. Do you know where Neji is?" I really want to straighten this out. We've been friends for too long. He waved across the tent.
"Arigato Shikamaru!" She ran over, pausing momentarily to check her hair in the reflection of some plump women's extremely large jewelry.
She saw him trying to push some young girl off his arm while balancing a drink in the other. She smiled slightly and moved to help him when someone else grabbed her wrist.
"Tenten-san," It was Burraku Fuzen, master of horrible timing. "It is time for the formal introductions. If you will please come with me…" It wasn't so much of a request as it was a demand.
"Sure," She jerked her arm away from him and slowly followed towards the head table where Ino was already waiting. Tenten turned around, trying to catch a glimpse of Neji. She soon strained her neck but still could see no sign of him. That's odd.
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Neji had finally rid himself of that clingy glob of female that refused to leave his side. He had shown her to Sasuke and Naruto who had both immediately tickled her fancy. Baka. He smirked in amusement. Sasuke's death glare and Naruto's strained expression would probably be the high points of his evening.
He stepped outside to clear his head and avoid more clingy girls; he had to find some way to make it up to Tenten, even if she had taken it the wrong way. He sighed and brushed his hair away from his face squinting as he noticed a distant figure on the path, a fallen figure.
He walked over cautiously, suspicious of a trap. As he neared the person he recognized who it was immediately. Sakura? What's she doing out here? He raised an eyebrow in interest and made his way toward her. He started running once he noticed she wasn't moving.
Once he got to her side he started to shake her to get her to wake up. Her eyes remained firmly closed.
"Sakura! Sakura wake up!" His voice was getting louder now. If she didn't get up soon he would be forced to go and get help. Come on, wake up Sakura.
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"Haruno Sakura?" Ikasu had looked around the tent repeatedly but could find neither hide nor hair of the pink-headed girl. "Where could she be?" She scratched her head, showing her puzzlement.
"I'll look for her!" Tenten volunteered. "I'm sure I'd be able to find her faster than you could." She smiled and left the tent. She could hear Ino trying to stall for time behind her, by flirting with Shikamaru right in front of Fuzen. She'll never change will she? She smiled to herself. She could only be out here somewhere or we would have found her already. I don't blame her for hiding though. I'm actually pretty tempted to join her out here. She strolled slowly along the path, admiring the flowers and fountains that adorned the landscape. She stopped however when she saw something on the path ahead of her.
That must be Sakura! "Sakura! Sakura-chan! Everybody's looking for you, you need to come insi-" Her face became ashen as she got close enough to see what she was actually looking at. Neji was talking to Sakura, Sakura was two feet away from him, they were both on the ground, what the fuck?
He said it was just a misunderstanding and I believed him. How could I have been so stupid! She tried to leave quickly before she was sensed. No such luck. Neji and Sakura were both top-of-the-line ninjas, both sensed her and turned.
Neji's eyes widened, Sakura opened her mouth and began to babble apologies, or so she assumed. She didn't hear any of it. She drowned her out, with her own screaming.
"After everything I did to help you after Sasuke left and this is what I get in return!" She turned and rubbed her eyes furiously. She would not cry, not for him.
"It's not what i-" Sakura tried again while Neji sat there, open mouthed.
Tenten scoffed. "It's not what it looks like? I've heard that one before." She sighed. "Just do me a favor and don't talk to me."
She turned and ran back towards their house, fully intent on joining Hinata's little pity party, or whatever that was.
"Neji," Sakura snapped him out of his little reverie, "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT! Shethinkssomething'sgoingonandnowyoutwowon'tbetogetherand-"
Neji sighed. "She'll get over it." I don't think I'm going to be able to make this up.
Sakura glared. "Go after her," she commanded in a steely voice. "Can't you see why she's so upset about this?" Obviously not genius, try again! She thanked Kami that her inner self remained inside.
Neji got up, but instead of going after Tenten he started to walk back towards the party. "She's just being immature."
It was Sakura's turn to sigh. "Right, and if you walked in on her and Lee making out you'd be a-okay?" Get him where it hurts! Best friend plus lover equals Neji showing emotion! Hell yeah!
Neji simply walked calmly towards the party until screams drove him and Sakura into full out sprints.
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Ino searched blindly for someone, anyone she could trust. Soon after Tenten had left smoke bombs had been set off a dull blue glow filled the air and vanished as quickly as it had shown up, and of course, with that came the screaming and terror of those who didn't have shinobi training. Pretty much everyone present had started to shriek and run around blindly.
Someone latched onto her arm and began pulling her away from the confusion. She struggled and bit the person's hand eliciting…a sigh of annoyance? Who sighs when somebody just bit them? The hand refused to let go.
"Hey buddy I don't know who you think you are but I-"
"Enough Ino," Shikamaru let go and rubbed his hand, trying to find something to ease the bleeding with. "Did you have to bite so hard?" Mendokusai, I don't even know why I bother at all.
Ino nearly screamed before she realized who it was. "Baka! Why did you have to sneak up on me! This is all your fault!" She fumed and continued to rant. "If you hadn't pulled me out I would have been jus-"
"You would have been trampled. No one can see you when you turn sideways; let alone in three foot thick smoke." He half smiled.
She wasn't quite sure what to say. "Um, arigato..I guess." I still would have been fine! She smiled, bent over, and ripped the lower part of her kimono. "Let me see that." She gently wrapped her make-shift bandage around his hand, tying it loosely so she didn't hurt him.
Shikamaru stared and blushed slightly. This felt nice, very unlike the strangeness that seemed to be their daily routine. "I don't want you to marry him." Smooth, real smooth. He hit his forehead with his injured hand and gasped in pain. She moved to help him but he shrugged her off.
Ino blushed heavily and looked at him shyly. "Wh-why not?" She hated to admit it, but she was almost afraid of the answer.
"Be-beca-because," Clouds move faster than this! "I-I just can't let you!" He swore against the pain.
"But why not?" She was speaking quietly, very unusual for her. He knew he had her full attention.
"Beca-because I lo-"
"WHAT THE HELL!" Naruto's angry yells could be heard from a mile away. Shikamaru glanced at her apologetically, mouthed 'later', and sped off to see what the problem was. His face was still as red as a tomato.
Was he going to say what I think he was going to say? She wrapped her arms around her body, Damn Naruto. She smiled.
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Sasuke sighed, completely irritated with his best friend. He could feel his eye twitching. He swore he could feel his blood pressure rising and he swore he could see thirty years of his life going out the window. All in all, not an unusual day. But the smoke bombs…who sets of smoke bombs at a party? He had no doubt it was a diversion, a diversion used to do what though, he had no idea.
They could have used the confusion to grab something…or someone. His brow furrowed in concentration. They had yet to do a head count (which he highly doubted they would) and nothing had been stolen. Something was off. Where is Sakura? At events like this she would be begging me to dance and I haven't seen her all night! Shit!
He began searching the crowd intently and quietly until he saw her pink head. He let out a sigh of relief before his brow furrowed again. Why was I so worried?
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Kenji was pacing nervously, worriedly, angrily. He had commanded his personal guard to retain everyone who had been at the 'party'. "WHO THE HELL TOOK HER!" He grabbed a nearby rock and heaved it into the air. "WHO DID THIS!" Naruto swore he saw his face turning the colour of his eyes. Then, he froze, a puzzled look replacing his look of fury.
An aide of his, named Mikimitsu whacked him on the back. That stopped him, for all of two seconds.
"Kenji," no reply, "Kenji! Who did what?" The entire village looked at him as if he had lost it.
"Who took…" He couldn't remember, he wracked his brains but couldn't recall what he was going to say. It can't have been anything important if I forgot it right away. But the, then why am I so upset? Being a shinobi had taught him to trust his instincts implicitly and they were screaming that something wasn't right. Something important was very, very wrong. "Ugh," he laughed nervously, "Gomen nasai everyone, just go home." He turned away and stormed in the other direction.
Sasuke looked at him. He isn't the type of guy who would just scream for no reason. That's the dobe's job. He became serious once more; he had seen the look of fear in Kenji's eyes. He knows something's wrong too. What the hell happened?
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Naruto swore under his breath. This was one of the strangest days of his life. This whole damn mission was getting to damn strange for his liking. His thoughts flew to Hinata and her strange actions as of late.
"Don't touch me Naruto." Those four words had hurt him deeply, and he didn't even know why.
It those exact words had come from Sakura he would have assumed it was her time of the month. He shuddered involuntarily; Sakura was scary enough without more hormones. But Hinata? She had never been anything but kind and sweet. The kindest and sweetest person he knew.
Now she spent all her time locked up in her room or taking showers. Scalding hot showers, he judged, by the amount of steam that spread through that area of the house after she was done. He had also glimpsed her skin briefly as she bolted from bedroom to bathroom and vice versa. It was raw and red and he just couldn't understand it. So, he asked her if she needed anything, about every twenty minutes. He had even brought her ramen and flowers and anything he could think of to get her to come out. Needless to say, she never had.
Neji and Sakura know something. It's something about that other mission they went on. He glanced around and was pleased to notice those two people talking quietly nearby. He crept towards them and remained hidden but within hearing range, praying he would finally understand what he wanted to desperately to know. He had absolutely no idea what he was about to overhear.
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"You're sure?" Neji managed to hiss out. He wanted to kill something very badly. "Absolute-"
Sakura's face was very pale. "I'm sure it was him! I saw him and then someone knocked me out.." She grimaced and rubbed the large bump on her neck before continuing, "What should we do? I mean, should we tell Hinata? Should we just kill him 'cause I'm all for that." Bastard, nobody hurts my friends and gets away with it!
Neji was furious, but reason prevailed. "We can't." That was it, he had to hit something. He spotted a tree and kicked it as hard as he possibly could. Sakura was not surprised to see it fly apart. "We may be anbu, but that doesn't have any weight here."
She slammed her foot into the ground, causing a crevice to form. "Kuso, we are trying to establish an alliance. Killing one of their ninjas would shatter that." Her voice of logic soon gave way to one filled with her true emotion. "I hate that red-haired son of a bitch!" She started to tug on her hair. "Damn bastard!" She sent a large clump of dirty flying.
Neji glared, hard. "I don't care. I'm going to kill the bastard who tried to rape my cousin. I don't care wh-" He stopped abruptly as he felt a dangerous chakra begin to grow.
"I feel it too," Sakura shook for an instant. I know this chakra…it's…
"What the.." His eyes widened as he saw Naruto emerge from behind a boulder about ten feet away. He had heard everything.
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Author's note: So, what do ya think? I'm really happy with this chapter because I feel there were developments in every single storyline (except for Sasuke and Sakura, you're just gonna have to wait for that one!) So a quick recap: Tenten's horrendously pissed at Neji and Sakura, someone has gone missing from the party (golly gee I wonder who it could be…), Shikamaru almost confesses to Ino (I was debating for about twenty minutes as to whether or not he actually says it), some weird blue light fills the party (very very important for later on), and Naruto finally hears what's wrong with his favourite girl.
The beginning scenes of this chapter (where the girls are getting dressed) were some that I felt were really important because I read a lot of stories where all of them have perfect bodies and are perfectly confident about that. Nobody is like that, even if they do look like a million bucks wearing a fireman's getup. Even if they aren't real, I think that bit of insecurity makes them a bit more human.
Stay tuned for the next juicy bit of drama! What will Naruto do? Will Tenten ever forgive Neji and Sakura? Will Shikamaru finally confess to Ino? And…the biggest question of them all….who will Kenji pick to be his bride. And guess what! They'll all be answered in the next chapter. There will also be some more information as to why our bad guys are going through this elaborate scheme for. Obviously chief bad guy (who will have his identity revealed shortly) needs something before he can have his power….but what can it possibly be?
Thanks for reading and please drop a review!