Here I would like to say my apologies to Kiowen-san in making the wrong speculations on Itachi's character. So sorry to burst your bubble. But I still hope you like my version of Itachi. Does that sound harsh? Sorry again if it did. I'm not the best conversationalist in the world.
Disclaimer: Read again in the first chapter. That goes the same thing for the next chapters to come.
2
"I'm getting tired. Can we stop now?" Gaara asked the girl who stood panting a few metres away from him. "When are you going to accept that you won't be able to lay even a finger on me?"
"Urusai!" Sasuki growled.
The red-haired boy just smirked. "You know, the sooner you accept that I'm more superior to you, the sooner we could live a wonderful life together. Plus you're supposed to be a girl, so act the part. No? Very well then."
Sand poured out of the big thingy (A/N: Tsumane! I forgot the name of that jug-of-a-thing at his back. Since you know what it is so I don't think if you mind if I call it 'thingy') behind his back.
The raven-haired girl charged at her opponent with a battle cry, her hand went to her side pouch and took out her shurikens. Gaara thrust his hand forward and a wave of sand came striking at the girl. Sasuki jumped over the boy.
"Die!" Sasuki screamed. Spinning gracefully in midair she expertly threw her weapons at his exposed back.
Automatically a layer of sand swirled into a barrier to protect him.
"I don't know which one would kill me first, your weapons or your voice."
"Che. Damn those sands!" Sasuki cursed as she landed lithely on her feet.
"Give up already," Gaara turned to face her. "It'll only be a kiss."
"I'd rather die," Sasuki growled before she smiled smugly. "Are you sure you know how to kiss?"
Gaara replied with a smirk of his own. "I'm not sure. That's what I want to find out. I don't want to die unkissed like someone I know." Gaara nodded significantly at her.
"I will be kiss one day. But not by someone I don't like."
"You don't like me?" Gaara leered. "Aw, my heart breaks. Aren't you the romantic one? But it doesn't matter. A deal is a deal: If you can't manage to hit me just once I would have to claim that first kiss of yours."
Sasuki groaned. Why did she ever agree to that bet in the first place? The answer was easy. Gaara had been Sasuki's only friend and they knew each other very well. He had managed to persuade her by using her anger against her.
Sasuki closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She would have to use that.
"Giving up?" Gaara's voice rang merrily if not mischievously.
"No," Sasuki replied. She opened her eyes revealing red amber eyes.
Gaara mouth gaped open. "When did you…?"
Sasuki preformed seal with her hands.
"Katon! Hosenka no jutsu!"
Fiery balls of flame flew towards the startled boy. The sands extinguished the fire before they could even reach him. Then the boy send another wave of sand at Sasuki but it only went pass through the girl before she disappeared.
"Bushin?" he started to look around.
"Right here," came a voice beneath him.
He looked down and sure enough there was Sasuki. She propelled a fast punch. The sand was there to intercept the punch but the layer of sand exploded as Sasuki punched through it. Thankfully Gaara was so startled he jumped backwards. If he didn't, Sasuki's fist would have come in contact with his face.
Before he could react any further, Sasuki disappeared again only to reappear zipping around him in circles. Gaara's head went from side to side trying hard to keep up with Sasuki's speed.
"Hayay!" (A/N: Is that the right spelling? I would have done it in English but it sounded stupid). Gaara held his hands to his side and the sand formed a wavy ring about him.
Sasuki sped off under the ring of sand. He spun around in a complete circle before bringing her right foot up hitting Gaara squarely on the chin sending Gaara flying a few feet away. His sand cushioned his fall.
"Katta! I won!" Sasuki mumbled before landing unceremoniously on her bottom.
Gaara looked at Sasuki before chuckling. "You've may have won the battle but I'll win the next. And I will claim that kiss."
"Oh shut up! You just lost and there won't be a next time."
Sasuki glanced at the sky before she stood up. "Almost noon. I better go."
"Doing the look out again for the Red Slayer, huh?"
"Yeah. Ja."
High atop on the hills that were the natural watchtowers of Itachi's lair, the girl gazed out over the calm sea. The big sorrel stallion beneath her shifted restlessly. Her delicate hand stretched out to pat the horse's thick neck.
"Soon, Midnight," the girl soothed. "Soon."
"Still waiting I see," a silky voice came from behind her. The girl visibly jumped making the horse pranced about.
"Gaara! Don't sneak up on me like that!" the raven-haired girl scolded him.
The said boy shrugged before smirking at the girl. The he drew closer and whispering down the girl's ears.
"Why? Did I scare you? Don't worry I don't bite," he said seductively, blowing on the girl's neck sending an involuntary shiver down her spine.
Sasuki blushed before pushing the red-haired boy away.
"No stupid!" she growled, "I thought it was Orochimaru."
Gaara frowned. "Don't compare me to that perverted snake." Then his smirk returned. "I'm a much better kisser than him."
"What did you do? Chase all the boys he raped and kiss them senseless." She leered.
"Well I did kiss Kimimaru this morning while you sat on your ass here. I have to say he didn't complain when he moan and melt like putty in my arms."
"Whatever." Sasuki glanced away. "It's not that surprising; I mean he liked it when that snake kissed him."
"I see someone's jealous."
"Just keep on thinking that way." Sasuki sneered.
"Don't worry I'll kiss away your jealousy if you want me to," Gaara leaned closer.
"Hahaha! Dream on. I don't want to end up vomiting a ton of sand," she cackled evilly, pushing him away. "Anyway, I don't care if I never kiss anyone anymore."
"You may be able to fool everyone with that act of yours but I know you," he leaned closer again. "Plus I know your secret..." Then he proceeded to whisper something in her ear.
The laughter died in her throat. "Urusai!" she glared at him before checking whether anyone was about, "You should know better than to talk about that. What if someone was passing by and heard you?"
"Relax. You're so uptight."
Sasuki guffawed. "Uptight? Speak for yourself Mr. I-always-glare-at-everyone-who-passed-me-by."
"Whatever!" He glanced out to sea. Sasuki saw him frowned. "You have better eyesight than me. Is that the Red Slayer?"
"Where?" Sasuki searched the waters eagerly. Aniki!
It was a ship but it was not the one she had waited fervently for – it was not the forbidding, looming, fearsome form of Itachi's Red Slayer. It was a sleek merchantman approaching, unconcerned, straight for the mouth of Hell's Peak harbor.
She frowned, puzzled and reached up to the ragged cap of blackish bangs that formed her smooth-cheek, oval face. Who would be stupid or rather crazy enough to approach Hell's Peak, the famed island of Fujiwara Itachi and his men. Even if Itachi was away, there were enough men to capture any ship, except, perhaps the dreaded men-of-war of the Konoha's naval fleet. Her curiosity ached for satisfaction. She expertly brought Midnight to a turn before galloping down the steep side of the coral cliff towards the harbor.
On the board of the ship, Itachi's eagle-sharp eyes picked out the slender form astride the horse. He beckoned to Naruto.
"Sasuki," he told him, gesturing toward the island.
Naruto looked up from where he knelt beside the pirate. He watched the girl and horse pounded along the rocky path of the dangerous looking coral cliff.
Against the verdant backdrop of the rolling cliff, the girl's silky black hair glowed as it flapped in the wind. Naruto felt his breath caught in his throat. She looked breathtaking (literally), handling the thundering stallion with ease. Naruto could see the resemblance between the siblings. Even from afar he could make out the feature of the dark beauty.
Itachi laughed at Naruto making the younger of the two blushed with embarrassment.
"Don't worry. My sister has that effect on people, not necessarily men. It's her attitude that's hard to handle."
Naruto stared at Itachi, confused.
"She's a rare one, my Sasuki," Itachi said softly, sadly.
Naruto sat down beside him. In the past recent days, as Itachi grew visibly weaker, Naruto had come to feel a glimmer of pity for the once proud man.
"What would your sister do after you…?" Naruto trailed off.
Itachi frowned. "My sister is able to protect herself. I saw her secretly training. But I don't want her to follow my footsteps. I had hoped better for her. Our mother was a lady." He glanced askance at Naruto and nodded sagely. "Yes, I know what kind of lady you'd be expecting to wed a scurvy scourge of the sea, but she was a lady, born and bred. She died giving birth to Sasuki these seventeen years past." He leaned over his head back onto the railing. "She resembled our mother more than me. I wanted a better life for her than the life of a pirate."
They spoke no more as the ship was maneuvered through the perilously narrow inlet and into the harbor.
Hell's Peak Island was a divine haven for pirates. Its harbor was deep enough for the sleek pirate craft but was too shallow for the Konoha's men-of-war. Naruto could see that the coral reefs surrounding the island were full with lives and there were fresh water springs amongst the lush interior of the island.
As the ship's anchor was dropped through the water, the island's four hundred inhabitants began to spill out of the cottages and gathered at a two storied structure that housed the communal hall and, on the upper floor, Itachi's private quarters.
Naruto scanned the curious, swarming mob. It was surprising to see that they are cleaner than what they are portrayed to be.
"You were expecting a much filthy lot, didn't you?" Itachi asked knowingly. "Our men only looked filthy during raiding to scare the daylights of the people."
Men were working their boats and rowed towards the Sakura. They shouted threats: some waved weapons meant to frightened off the intruders. Some even started to perform hand seals. It was not until they saw that Itachi was lowered into a longboat and rowed onto shore that their anger turned to curiosity and concern.
Of the crew of the Sakura, only Naruto and Iruka accompanied Itachi and his men to shore.
"I've given you my word," he told Naruto gravely. "Your crew and your ship will be safe. "He smiled a little wanly. "And so will your brother."
Naruto caught his breath. "How did you know about…?"
Itachi laughed. "I heard one of your men talking of him. And, if I'm not mistaken, that must be him."
Naruto looked back at the ship and found Kyu standing on the deck in defiance of his direct orders. He groaned and shook his head.
Itachi laughed again. "Never try to tell teenagers what to do. They've minds of their own."
Scowling, Naruto could only agree.