Anticipation
"Sir, I'm sorry to disturb you, but there has been some development" A tall, slim man stood just outside the door. He was completely clad in black and had a crow mask on his face. Waiting for the man behind the desk to acknowledge him, he stood completely still.
The man behind the desk finished his sentence on the paper and folded it. He took a small stick of wax and held it above the fire, waiting for the heat to melt the wax. Before it could fall he moved the wax above the paper. A big drop fell, sealing the paper close. He pressed his ring into the hot wax, leaving behind his signature. A crow before a flame.
Looking up, the man beckoned the crow-masked man to enter to room. "Speak." He said as he handed the letter to the waiting servant. The servant left the room promptly through the open patio doors left to the desk.
The crow-masked man walked to in the middle of the room and straightened up. "Word has reached us that there is a big storm brewing in the northern region," he began. "As of yet we have only one operative there, but it's come to our attention that a certain person is also in that same region and that their paths are to cross soon." He said, with emphasis on a certain person.
The man behind the desk narrowed his eyes, leaned back and stared at the wall in deep thought. "I assume the storm would be anything but natural?" He asked though he knew the answer already. A normal storm would be no problem for her.
"Indeed, sir."
He sighed deeply. There wasn't much he could do about it now, but pray that they never meet, futile as it may be. But to be sure he still asked, "is there any support in the vicinity?" The masked man shook his head. It was little to hope for, but he had hoped that would have been the case. Sending a team over there, with a storm brewing, would take significantly more time.
Drumming his fingers on the hard wooden desk he mulled the situation over. She would do fine, he knew that for sure. Being trained by him and a few others, he had all the confidence in her abilities. She could outrun the storm or defect most attacks if she couldn't. No, it was the fact that he was there too. Any meeting between the two of them was more than forbidden, it was dangerous, but he had no means to prevent it. "Around what time would their paths cross?" The storm could easily avert their crossing paths and he hoped that it would.
"As it is, before the storm hit them, sir."
Then the whole purpose of the storm was for those two to meet, but why on earth? "Damn." He muttered with a sinking feeling in his stomach.
Sakura jumped off the tree branch and landed softly in the tall grass. The sun hadn't set yet, it hung big and low above the horizon. A few clouds dotted the blue sky. Now the colors were pink, blue and yellow. Birds were singing in the trees and hunting bugs and bees zoomed past in their endless pursuit of nectar. It had all the appearance of a perfect summer evening. The wind blew through the tall grass and spoke of despair and death. Sakura shivered and pulled her coat closer. She had a long way to go and didn't feel like stopping.
After an hour she had to acknowledge her tiredness and need to rest. She stepped into a small clearing with a fast-flowing stream on one side and tall trees around her. The grass was green and lush and very inviting to sit down on. The light was all but gone. It was the night of the new moon and only the stars twinkled. With her flashlight, Sakura gathered enough wood for a small fire and when that was burning she stretched herself down on the grass. The wind had died down and even the cool water close by did nothing to cool the place. A moth landed on her leg and she brushed it softly away, the wings flickering in the light once before the darkness took it away.
Although the evening seemed still and peaceful, Sakura could feel an undercurrent of unrest. Between the trees behind her, small animals were scuttling away in the underwood, a loud shriek cut short pierced the silence and seconds later Sakura saw an owl fly over. She tried to find a comfortable position on the grass and closed her eyes. She still had a long day traveling ahead of her before she would reach the coast.
She woke with a start. It took her a full second the realize where she was. Slowly she sat up. The embers glowed orange in the sudden air movement. Sparks flew up and died immediately. Sakura looked around and tried to figure out what had woken her. When she looked up she saw the stars shining brightly, but the scent brought by the wind told her rain was coming. Without further ado, she dosed the embers, swung her rucksack over her shoulder and jumped up in the first tree. Sakura stood high in the tree and looked over the forest. Dark, low and boiling clouds pushed forward by the wind sped towards her. Lightning flared up between the clouds, giving it a greenish color and she knew enough. Sakura sped down to the forest ground and ran as fast as she could through the darkness, evading trees and jumping over the undergrowth. Progress was slower than she had hoped and the first drops of water hit her head. A loud racked beside her made her press against a tree just in time for a herd of deer to jump past. Sakura, catching a whiff of their panic, sped behind them.
It wasn't long before she exited the forest and a wide plain stretched before her. Sakura took a minute to stop and watch the oncoming storm. The storm came from three directions and closed in on her. It was no wonder that the deer fled the forest in such panic, Sakura thought as she watched lightning tear through the clouds. There were moving shadows in the clouds, but even without that hint, she knew that the storm was very bad news. Sakura turned and ran in the direction where the sky was still clear. A sudden sound made her stop dead in her tracks. She turned towards the clouds once again and again she could hear a sound over the rumble of thunder and the blowing of the wind. A howling of many, many demons. Full of excited anticipation, hinted on blood lust and hate. They came to maim and mangle all that came in their claws. And Sakura knew that the horde was aimed at her.
"Oh fuck!" She muttered and turned. This time Sakura ran at full speed.
She'd been running for quite some time with the clouds chasing her closely when she noticed a movement on her left. While she kept running the movement grew closer and turned out to be another person. "Oh double fuck!" She cursed. A distraction wasn't what she needed. From what she could see, he was a ninja. And if he was then there was a probability that he would have known her. She had to do something to hide her features before that person could recognize her.
Without missing one step, Sakura slid one shoulder strap off her shoulder and swung the backpack forward. From the side mesh pocket, she pulled a mask out. While holding the mask in one hand she swung her backpack back straight on her back. Carefully she placed the mask over her face, obscuring the upper part. Mikuzune had given her the mask a few months ago. Saying that it suited Sakura more than it did her, even with her being a true Kitsune. Made from white porcelain it was painted with pink blossoms and golden swirls.
Sakura was glad that she had bound her long pink hair in a tight high bun and she hoped that the person running in her direction wouldn't take much notice of it.
As the person came closer she could see more of his features. Male, tall, normal ninja clothes, but what shocked her was the mass of gray hair, flattened by the rain but still very distinctive.
Hatake Kakashi!
Her thoughts were racing and panic bubble up from the pit of her stomach. How could he be here? And what should she do. What could she do and what would happen if he recognized her?
It was another thunderclap that shook her out of her tumbling thoughts and shifted her focus back to now. The storm was catching up to them. Sakura noticed that she had slowed down a bit and sped up again. Kakashi soon ran close behind her and both were off in the same direction.
Sakura prayed hard that they would make it to the coast. Even if there would be no help, water would stop most of the demons…. And demons, how would she explain it to Kakashi? And why was he here!
Sakura stumbled, regained her balance and kept running. Hands clenched in fists and thoughts racing faster the she could run. One thing was for sure.
Even if Kakashi noticed her pink hair and overall features, he wouldn't connect them to her
I'm dead after all. Pain stabbed her heart at that thought. Even after five years, it still hurt.
With a deep sigh, he closed his eyes and leaned his head against the chair. It was late, very late, but sleep had to wait for a bit longer. Opening his eyes he rose to his feet and walked across the room to the low cabinet. It held a selection of different spirits and he could now use a drink. Selecting a bottle with a golden cap he poured himself a cup full of fine sake and drank it in one swing. There was a movement in the shadows by the veranda. He took the bottle, his cup and another from the cabinet and walked towards the open doors.
With nightfall, the servants had extinguished most lanterns but a few still burned. Their lights reflected on the smooth surface of the pond and he could see an elder woman sitting on one of the benches. A small table stood beside the bench. Upon it, he places the cups and filled them with sake. Handing one cup to the woman he sat down beside her and looked over the water while sipping from his sake.
"You heard?" He asked after a short silence.
"I hear everything. Especially when it concerns one of you two." The woman took a sip from her cup and closed her eyes savouring the taste. "I still remember the day you came here, Itachi. So confused but so willing to fight. And then…." She exhaled and shook her head, "nasty business and it shouldn't have happened."
"Will they meet?"
The woman drained her cup and set it beside her on the bench. Slowly she stood up, her tails swinging softly, and walked towards the house. "Oh yes they will, and nothing we can do about it now. Pandemonium will erupt."