Saa here we go :) Obviously Im not following any set schedual to update, just when I have time and feel like it. I just recently landed a summer job at an architecture firm (nothing special, just the lowly intern probably lol) so update frequancy may or may not go down. It's hard to tell, as Ive never had a job, but we'll see.
But enough with me! Onward ho! Goodness, how I do hate the --- (hyphen? dash?). My little pinky finger can't reach the darn things.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
King Kyuubi
Chapter 3
By Mirazhe1
"Ok... Once more..." Hinata fiddled her hands at Sasuke's frustrated voice. Was she not doing it right, was she messing up the character! The Uchiha had seemed irritable and ready to move on during the filming, and it was making her antsy and nervous. She took a deep, calming breath.
"Action."
Hinata pranced forward on light feet, giving a bright stage smile as her acting skills over wrote her nervousness.
"I thinks is awfully wonderful, I've n-never been on a ship before!" She exclaimed excitedly. She ignored the fact she was standing right next to her cousin Neji, whom undoubtedly tried to murder her when she was younger, so bitter he was about the clan's division. But they were actors and would play the role professionally; personal matters do not show on the big screen. Not far off, Kiba looked on, grinning lazily at how the nervous wreck of a Hyuuga quickly flipped a switch and became the ditzy happy character she was supposed to be.
"I've never been on one with a kunoichi before," Neji replied irritably. Hm.. That wasn't part of the script.
Hinata, a trained stage actress, barely blinked at the change of script before continuing.
"I guess you don't think much of women then.."
"No, they make horrible ninja and they're a nuisance."
"Well, Ill try not to be!"
Hardly paying attention behind the camera, Sasuke looked away, to the other side of the deck. Many of the crew had gathered to watch the show including the first mate, Gai. He watched intently as his student, Rock Lee, came up, looking unusually sobered and solemn. Whatever he said, to far away for the Uchiha's ears, quickly caught his sensei's attention as he looked away.
"Uh.. Cut!" Sasuke dismissed, pausing the camera. "Good, go take a break or something."
Neji soon passed by the writer hauntily, as Kiba growled lowly. Arrogant actor.
"Fucking actors..."
Hinata squeaked softly, not far away, hunching down farther into her dress. The Inuzuka glanced up lazily, sharp ears picking it up, but merely shrugged, unaccustomed to the Hyuuga's odd behavior.
The ship rocked, as if uncertain which way to tilt, swaying and ever moving. This made it rather difficult for wayward walkers in hallways, as Hinata and Kiba found out. Hinata rounded the corner, clasping at the rather thin robe covering her nightgown. Apparently with such short notice to pack, she had forgotten many articles of clothing and had to borrow costumes for casual occasions. Unfortunately, not all costumes were very... Practical.
Turning the corner, she spotted Kiba at the end of the corridor, his large jacket flung over his shoulder. Automatically her cheeks blushed pink and she tugged at the hem of her nightgown once again.
The ship took that moment to tilt uncertainly and roll, causing Kiba to stumble into the wall. However, years of practicing careful balance and surefooted-ness for the Gentle Fist style allowed the Hyuuga to easily keep her footing.
"Good legs," he commented, offering a fanged grin. Hinata's eyes widened and her cheeks positively glowed. Kiba blinked, realized what he had just said, and rubbed the back of his head nervously. "Sea legs... I mean." Hinata blinked and she offered a small, rather nervous smile as she passed. "Not that you.. Don't have good legs, but.. erm.. I mean..." For once, the successful writer was stumped at what to say. And Hinata was sure she was going to faint from all the blood to her face soon.
"Hyuuga-san," Kiba finally called, and Hinata turned, standing in her cabin's doorway. "About the scene today..."
"I-I know it wasn't what y-you wrote... But N-Neji-nii-san felt very strongly about ch-changing it..." She looked to Kiba's sceptical look. "N-no?" Once again, after many times in her life, she was ashamed of herself for backing down and letting someone else, namely Neji, take over.
"Interesting... I guess."
"I'm s-s... Sorry," she paused gathering herself.
"Well, you made it your own..." Kiba offered uncomfortably.
"I... was nervous, I g-guess... I'm really not a good actress..." She let out a small, yet nervous, laugh. "This is th-the first time I've even been casted as a w-woman."
"It was funny, actually." Hinata looked down to the floor uncertainly. Wasn't she supposed to the unfortunately sad character? If she wasn't making her audience sad... then that meant she failed, right?
"Please..." She began closing her door.
"Hinata-san." Said Hyuuga paused slowly, looking up. Kiba was rubbing the back of his head, looking away. His red markings looked even more red as his cheeks were dashed in pink. "You don't have to be nervous. Not at all." Hinata gave a small, yet grateful smile, and closed her door.
"We're close. Turn south west."
"There is no land south west." Kakashi tossed his compass on the table in a frustrated manner. "I wont sail blind in these waters." Kakashi turned, his one eye burning, to look to Sasuke.
"I'll make it worth your while."
"There's nothing out there, Sasuke-kun." Sasuke looked on, dark eyes flashing.
"Then you have nothing to loose."
"If someone were to tell you this mighty ship of youth was headed to Wave country, what would you say?" Sasuke and Sakura looked up from their work table covered in maps and papers to Gai as he entered.
"I would say we found their trump card, Gai-san," Entered Shino, tenderly letting a small insect land on his outstretched finger.
"We're not looking for a fight." Sasuke silently scoffed at his own words. On the contrary...
"No," Said Lee, as he entered, "You're looking for something else.." Sasuke looked on, weighing his chances with each of them.
"Yes... Yes we are. We're gonna find Demon Island." He watched the trio's shifty looks. "Find it, explore it, and fight whatever's on it. The ultimate training." And proof that I can beat Itachi.
"I don't think so..." Shino replied softly. "The island houses demons of all kinds, legend has it, and it's surrounded in fog and rocks." Sakura looked on fearfully. "They say there is a giant wall around it, strong today as it was a millennia ago."
"Why'd they build it..." Sakura asked fearfully.
"To keep the demons in." The air turned cold and ominous as the occupants of the room grew silent.
"Sorry, not interested," Sasuke replied, gathering up the maps.
"If we find this island of dread," Gai called out making Sakura and her boss pause. "And go on it, with your cameras and crew, and not even your flame of youth will save you."
Nevertheless, the ship plowed on, oblivious to everyone's lives ever moving. Sakura became repressed and pale, dark circles forming under eyes for fear of what was to come. It didn't seem to help that Lee took a liking to her and attempted to do his duty to every one of her whims. Kiba kept writing in his little cage below, night and day. The crew continued to love their sweet little Hinata... Though a few more than others. Saskue continued looking for the island, and Kakashi continued to be weary and skeptical. Gai didn't seem to help his stress, even being the loyal first mate, but also as the undying rival.
"You're wr-riting a stage comedy? But you only write battles and h-horror.." Hinata looked at the stack of papers in her hand curiously
"Im writing it for you," replied Kiba. Hinata blinked. For her! Rosy red blossomed on her cheeks.
"Wh-why?"
"Why would I write a play, totally out of my normal genre for you?" He watched her nod, dark hair bobbing and swaying. "Isn't it obvious?"
Hinata blinked, thinking carefully. Why would anyone do anything for her? The boyish, nervous girl that couldn't get anything right? Who couldn't even hold a smooth conversation..
"Not to me," she said.
"Well then... You'll find it in the subtext."
"D-did I not read it thoroughly enough!" She practically squirmed. Such a failure she was!
"Its not about words," Kiba answered, pacing forward to stand tall before her. She blushed, hands clasped before her as he leaned in. Her face nearly radiated heat as she took a step back.
No. She didn't deserve this. The little failure that couldn't get anything right.. She couldnt do it, no matter how much she wished to show her own love..
Good things never last... They'll get taken away..
"I-I-m S-s-s...sorry." With that, she fled. Such a failure and so undeserving.
"For you Captain," Kakashi took the slip of paper, single eye scanning it, before he looked up rather angry looking.
"Whats going on," Sasuke came rushing into the captain's deck shortly after to see Gai turning the wheel. "Gai-san, why are we changing coarse?" Kakashi entered, glaring down at the Uchiha.
"Out," the exited together, the nightly wind whipping at their clothes. "There is a warrant out for your arrest. Your a traitor, did you know that?" Sasuke frowned. "I've been ordered to divert to the nearest port in Grass country." The Uchiha's eyes gleamed as he looked up at the captain.
"Give me another week. I.. haven't got a film yet. The crew will be devastated."
"...No." Was the answer, and Kakashi ninja poofed away.
Sasuke paused, before leaving also. Kiba found him pondering, looking out to sea.
"Im finished," explained the Uchiha as Kiba examined the map. He had long since figured out Sasuke's mission. Not much he could do about it now but ride through.
"How did you think it would end?"
Meanwhile, Kakashi and Gai gazed at the compass intently as it spun in wild circles.
"Check the stars. Find were we are..."
"Hai, Captain Kakashi." Gai exited, holding a strange device in his hands. He came back shortly after though. "Captain Kakashi... There are no stars. Their will of the flame does not shine bright enough." The wind picked up quickly, whipping at ropes violently. The fog horn sounded, echoing across the water as the ship slowly plunged into mist. Cast and crew came out the woodworks to see the eerie sight. Lee entered the small room, rather confused.
"Lee, light the way with your flame of youth."
"Yes, Gai-sensei!" Lee darted away, hardly even a blur. He ran about the deck, looking for an opening in the fog, before he finally used his momentum to run up the pole leading to the crows nest and look through the sea of mist as the ship plowed on.
Kakashi leaned over the wheel, his nose nearly pressed to the glass window before him. "Find me the depths."
"Aye, Captain." He waited anxiously, peering with his one eye into the endless fog. Finally a cry of "Thirty fathoms, no bottom!" Came up.
"Reduce speed," He commanded, as Gai stepped forward and did just that. His large eyebrows furrowed.
"We should stop..." Kakashi ignored him as he turned the wheel sharply.
"We're getting out of here, and find clear conditions-"
"We have sea-bed!" Came a call. "Twenty five fathoms!" Their eyes widened.
"We're shallowing!" Cried Gai as Kakashi continued turning the wheel.. in the opposite direction. "Kakashi, we don't know where we're going! We need to stop!"
"Get me another reading," The captain commanded calmly.
"Twenty-two fathoms!" Came the reply.
"Douse the lights." It was done, and the little room dimmed as the glare on the window lessened. Silently, Kakashi lifted his headband to reveal his Sharigan eye. The hungery thing quickly took everything in, easily seeing through the foggy window, but not the mist itself. Damn.
"TEN FATHOMS!"
Meanwhile, Lee in the crows nest looked on nervously. A shadow, imposing and huge, was approaching.
"WALL! THERE'S A WALL AHEAD!" He cried loudly as he could. Everyone looked on, stunned at the huge wall blocking their path. It's high, ridged, edge at the top seemed to laugh at them and their pewny-ness against it.
"Stop all engines!" Came Kakashi's command as he violently turned the wheel. But their own momentum pushed them onward toward the wall. Lee griped at the rails of the crows nest, along with everyone else down on deck who also prepared for impact. A thundering jolt, and everyone was thrown off their feet and to the floor. Hinata burst out onto the deck, confused and wondering what was going on.
The ship rocked and rolled violently as the waves broke on the side of the boat, pushing it this way and that.
"Give me some power, we have to break through the tides," Commanded Kakashi once again. Gai thrust forward on the power, the machine obediently dinging all the way to full speed. The ship jolted again, but this time forward and split through the waves into the fog. Kiba looked about, still on deck and just gaining his bearings. Giant shadows surrounded them, daring to come closer.
"ROCKS!" He called out. Kakashi looked about, beginning to panic. He could see them also, the large boulders thrusting out of the ocean. Up above Lee was having a fit, running in circles around the crows nest.
"WATCH THE STARBOARD CAPTAIN! THE PORT! WATCH EVERYWHERE!"
"Take the wheel, Gai," Kakashi said as he staggered out of the little room. He looked about for a way out, anyway, anywhere at all.
Down below, Hinata clasped at Kiba's arm frightfully. The ship rocked to and fro as the waves pounded angrily on it's sides until a larger, massive wave just ahead of them advanced. Even the engines at full power couldn't break it and the ship was pulled backward and to the side, right onto a large rock. The ship groaned in protest as metal ground against stone. Fortunately, they were washed off as another wave forced them back into water and they were plowing forward again.
Kakashi took the wheel once again, turning everywhich way. Cries of "Watch the port!", or "No the starboard," left him confused and turning everywhich way. His seemingly lazy eyes were wide, trying to make out the rocks.
The waves seemed to grow, crashing over the deck with a splash. More waves battered the ship to go were it wanted, forcing it left right forward back, everywhich way. Finally, they were thrust onto a rock once again, the giant thing looking similar to a skull, and everyone fell to their knees, exhausted with trying to stay on their feet. The ship did not come loose.
Panting, and looking rather ruffled, Sasuke finally stood from were he was leaning on a wall. His dark eyes widened as the fog parted, revealing the jagged grey island. Demon island.
Oh! It seems they made it :) We get to meet King Kyuubi next chapter I believe. OOoohh what will happen! lol