The sun had finally risen and Daichi woke up with declaration that they were close to where they would board a boat and cross the great waters to reach the Mist village. Hibiki was, oddly, to be the last out of the cave. When he exitted the dark tunnel, Daichi sighed. "You good now?"
Hibiki smirked. "I hadn't returned something."
"Returned something? I don't even remember you taking anything."
"Not you." Hibiki said as he walked to stand in front of Minako. "You." He chuckled.
Minako tilted her head. "Me?"
Hibiki nodded firmly. "You."
'You'll just hurt her in the end, Hibiki; why start something?'
Hibiki shook his head of the thought and placed his hand on the back of Minako's neck, pulling her closer to plant his lips on hers. When he pulled back and laughed at Minako's expression, and in addition, everyone elses. "You ran away too quickly."
Minako blushed deeply as she stared at Hibiki; ignoring all those around them.
"H-Hibiki!" Daichi stuttered, slowly moving to step between them. "She'll kill you!"
Uchimii growled under his breath. 'I completely envy that guy.'
Minako just laughed at Daichi. "Does he look dead yet, idiot?"
"U-uh...well...how come now one else can get that close?" Daichi asked and stepped back.
"You can't blame a person when they push someone who they don't like away. On the other hand, me..." He pulled Minako in for another kiss. "...she's attracted to."
Minako giggled like a young girl, shocking herself. She stumbled back from the group of boys, including Hibiki and stared up at the sky with a blush. "Give up on me, Daichi."
"Please, do." Lira uttered under her breath.
"It isn't right, Minako! We all knew you before this guy, we all grew up with each other in the academy and under a week he already has you hea over heals for him! Yet we can't even simply say 'Hi' without you growling?" Daichi shook his head. "He'll be dead before he touches you again."
Minako lowered her head to meet Daichi's gaze. "You really wanna go there, Daichi?" She growled, taking a step forward. "You, and all these losers, fear me! You've all treated me like nothing more than an outcast and monster my whole life!"
"You act like one!" Daichi stammered. "We only care for you but you return that as the most disgusting thing."
Hibiki closed his eyes and shook his head with a sigh.
Minako growled as she could feel her mind slipping. "Take that back, unless you want to be in a pool of your own blood!"
"Alright I take it back, but I still don't think it's right." Daichi stated.
"Daichi..." Lira whispered with concern.
Minako turned her back and growled, slipping her kunai she had prepared back into her pouch. "Shouldn't we get moving? My love life shouldn't stop this mission now, should it... leader?" She smirked as a snicker left her lips.
"Shouldn't let it get to your head, he's no good for you." Daichi stated and then nodded to the rest of the team as he turned and began to lead the way.
Minako lowered her head as a sigh left her lips. 'I'm more worried about me not being good for him...'
Hibiki pulled on her shoulder to turn her around. "We should start moving now too." He whispered and began to walk after the rest of the team.
Minako sighed again as she caught up with Hibiki and the others.
"Why are you so focused on her, Daichi?" Lira whispered to the flustered leader.
"B-Because... I-I grew up with her and know a bit about what she has been though." He stated angerily.
"How do you know?" She asked.
Daichi ignored her question; he actually didn't know, but he needed some sort of a reason besides the truth.
"Daichi, do you remember that incident in the courtyard?" Lira looked to see Daichi's expression. "You asked her if she would like to play and all she did was push you to the ground and spit in your face; she's been doing that every single time you approach her, why is it that you think you can get to her?"
"W-well... if Hibiki can get to her... wh-why can't others?" He asked.
"There is something about him that you don't have, Daichi and you have to except that. He is good for her, and that's clear. You need to be a leader at this time, and be mature. Give up on her, and just be a friend."
Daichi sighed deeply. "Yeah." He agreed simply.
"About what Hibiki said, has it ever occured to you about me?" Lira asked, a light blush covering her cheeks and she looked away from Daichi.
Daichi laughed nervously. "Um... yeah."
"Seriously? Have you actually thought about it? Or has it simply crossed your mind?"
Daichi laughed. "I-I dunno," He answered trying to avoid the question.
Hibiki chuckled lightly as he watched ahead at Daichi and Lira; he could mostly tell what they were saying by reading their lips.
Minako looked over at Hibiki with a cute look on her face. "What's so funny?"
"Your beauty." Hibiki immediately spat out and shrugged at his own spontaneousness. "I guess that too."
Minako looked away as a blush covered her face. "W-why did you... do that anyway?" She mumbled.
"Hm?" He asked and scratched the back of his neck.
Minako sighed. "K-Kissed me...?"
"You didn't like it?" Hibiki asked innocently, already knowing the answer.
Minako shook her head instantly. "N-No! I-It's not that! I-I just... don't understand..." She mumbled quietly.
"What's there not to understand? Last night you felt the need to kiss me on the cheek, so does that not give me the go ahead to bring it a step further? You have never felt love, if I am correct, and as much as I want you to feel love as the feeling itself, I couldn't hold back the physical." Hibiki shrugged.
'This is not going to end well, Hibiki; you know that.' Hibiki tried to shake the voice from his head.
-Flashback-
"Hibiki, why haven't you kissed me yet?" Kitsune asked innocently as they waited at the usually tree for their friend.
"Why do you want me to?" Hibiki asked as he kept his eyes pealed for Akira.
"'Cause we both like each other!"
"Don't say that out loud!" Hibiki hissed as he jumped to place his hand over Kitsune's mouth.
"Why?" Her question was muffled.
Hibiki took a glance around the rock wall. He had a bad feeling suddenly, and everything fell still. He wasn't supose to be here; wasn't supose to be hanging around with either Kitsune or Akira. Hibiki could feel his heart beat and he slowly removed his hand and leaned in to kiss Kitsune when he appeared with a frown.
"I knew you would be here." He growled as he pushed Kitsune away from Hibiki and slit her throat.
"No!" Hibiki watched with widened eyes as Kitsune fell to the ground choking on her own blood. "Why?"
"You cannot let you emotions do this to you, Hibiki. Only to your advantage may you manipulate others, but you must control your own!" He shouted and pushed Hibiki up aginst the rock. "No more will you allow these feelings to get to you. They will forever be watched and trained. I will not let another one of you loose again."
-Flashback end-
Minako smiled before it faded. "H-Hibiki... I know you do not fear me... but... what if I hurt you?" She glanced at her feet as she walked.
"It will not be that way," Hibiki muttered.
'It will not...'
"What do you mean by that?" She asked him.
"If anyone were to be hurt by this, it will not be me." Hibiki looked away with a frown. "Unfortunately."
Minako now looked up at him. "A-are you going to hurt me or something?" She asked, shocked.
"No, I wouldn't dare do that..." Hibiki turned his head to look at Minako with concern.
Minako looked back at the ground. "Th-then.. what did you mean by that?"
Hibiki looked ahead at the rest of the team. When none of they were suspecting anything, Hibiki quickly pulled Minako through the bushes and pushed her up against a tree. "I do not want to tell you, I can not. I know this seems strange to you, but you need to listen to me..."
Minko blinked up at Hibiki. "K-Kay?"
"There is more to me that you can not know, that you wouldn't understand. I would love to tell you, to share with you what you should know but if anything were to slip, to reach your ears, it could get you into serious trouble, and that is why..." Hibiki closed his eyes, hating the thought of what he had to do because of his own stupidity. He knew he should have followed his plan of not getting involved with anyone specifically but he couldn't help being drawn to someone different from all the others.
Minako touched Hibiki's cheek gently. "Hibiki... what is going on? What is so bad that you can't tell me?"
Hibiki shook his head and looked deep into Minako's eyes. "I'm sorry, Minako, but-" Hibiki instantly connected his lips to hers and breathed deeply into her mouth. He shut his eyes tight, resisting from pulling back and attempted to erase all her memories of him.
Minako pulled away from Hibiki, a look of confusion in her eyes. "Wh-why were you apologizing?"
"W-what?" Hibiki breathed deeply, alook of confusion on his face.
Minako tilted her head. "Are you okay?"
"Wha...no!" Hibiki frantically looked at her while going over in his mind what might had happened to make it not work. "You...no...it has to work!" Hibiki pushed her harder against the tree and grabbed the side of her head with both hands, fiercely pushing his lips against hers once again and breathing deeply into her mouth. 'Work!' He shouted in his mind.
Minako pushed Hibiki away, still confused. From outside the bushes, their names were being called by the group. Minako moved away from Hibiki and began to head out to the trail.
"M-Minako!" Hibiki called with confusion, still processing what he did to make it not work.
Minako turned to face him. "What? We need to go..."
"I...ah..." Hibiki reached for Minako's wrist and pulled her back to him. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders as he pressed his forehead against hers. "It's a surprise to hear myself to say this, but I don't understand."
Minako looked back into his eyes. "Don't understand what? What are you talking about?"
"You're much different than a lot of people." Hibiki began to chuckle, which then lead to full out laughter.
Minako just smiled. "You're just realising this?"
Hibiki finally stopped laughing and suddenly went into thought. "Hm.." Hibiki narrowed his eyes at Minako.
"Wh-what?" She asked nervously.
He pursed his lips as he realized something about what he had been taught about the memory barrier. "Nothing to worry about, Minako." Hibiki smiled as once again he pushed his lips to her, but instead of breathing out, he sucked the breath from her.
-Flashback-
"It goes both ways, Hibiki." The man in the suit stated as he turned to the woman tied up. "She has no idea why she's here, why she's tied up, and she's terrified." The man walked in a circle around the female.
"But for certain uses, you can take it back." The man grabbed the girl by her throat and sucked her breath from her.
As soon as he pulled back and girl looked at him with longing. "I love when you do that." She breathed with dazed eyes.
-Flashback end-
Hibiki could feel the memory barrier retreating from her mind and disappearing as he pulled away. He allowed Minako to be free of his grasp and he laughed once again. "I knew it worked, but for some reason it had no effect! Oh, aren't you hilarious." Hibiki shook his head and left to join the rest of the group, followed by Minako.
Daichi wasn't happy that Hibiki and Minako had ran off; Uchimii tried to attack Hibiki but Minako kicked him before he could get that far. After about an hour the group finally made it to the boats. As the others set up their boats, Minako sat at the edge of the water; she wasn't feeling too hot, water held too many bad meanings for her.
"Hey, we're ready to go." Lira said and motioned to where all the guys were hopping onto the boat. "You ready?"
Minako ignored Lira, not moving from where she sat.
"We need to go, Minako. Please?" Lira murmured.
Minako sighed deeply as she finally pulled herself to her feet. She hopped into a boat sitting far away from the others as she stared into the waters surface, sorrow washing over her.
"Hey...socializing is good." Hibiki said to Minako as he balanced on the boats thin side.
Minako looked up and forced a weak smile before looking back down at the water.
"Seriously...try speaking with them." Hibiki lifted one foot up and focused hard on balancing.
Minako looked up at Hibiki and began laughing; he looked like an idiot trying to balance.
"What?" Hibiki asked, looking forward and lifted his foot higher.
Minako just laughed as she reached for Hibiki's hand, pulling him down to sit beside her. "Better?" She giggled.
"I don't know." Hibiki reached and began to shove her over the boats side but kept her held up from actually falling into the water. "Better?" He asked her in return.
Minako's eyes widened as her hands clung to Hibiki. "D-Don't!" She panicked.
"More?" He shouted. "Can't hear you!" He let her slip further, closer to the water.
Minako screamed in fear as she tried to hold onto him with all her might. "Stop! I-I'm afraid of water!"
Hibiki immediately pulled her up. 'Stupid!' Hibiki mentally punched himself. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't know."
Minako giggled at Hibiki. "I'm kidding! B-But... water doesn't hold good meaning for me." She admitted as she rested her head against his shoulder.
"Oh." Hibiki reached into his pocket and pulled out the pad of paper and a pen and scrawled a few things down on the paper without letting Minako see.
'You're allowing her to get to close!' The voice hissed inside his head.
Hibiki sighed and pushed Minako back with a frown. "Sorry." He murmured and sat down the edge of the front of the boat.
Minako now frowned at Hibiki as she turned back to stare at the waters surface. "By the way... why did you want me to talk to them? They think I'm a monster..."
"They care for you too. If you show them a not so killer side, they'll think less of you as a monster." Hibiki replied.
Minako hissed at him. "Lies."
"I wouldn't lie about that."
Minako sighed as she blocked out Hibiki.
-FlashBack-
Minako ran blindly through the bush; she could hear his footstep closing in on her.
"They all want me dead..." She looked down at her blood soaked hands. "Sho... please... forgive me..." Minako begged as she spotted a small lake.
She jumped into it, washing the blood from her skin as she watched her father and other Jounin run off. Hours later she was found. The Kazkage called for her and began to scold her.
"Why would you kill an innocent boy?" He asked sternly.
Tears fell down Minako's face as she fell to her knees.
"Well?" The Kazekage pressed on.
"I-I... had to..." She mumbled, choking on a sob.
Her father stood to the side of the room; she knew if she said the truth, she would be beaten to death.
"I-I'm sorry..." She mumbled.
"I'm sorry, Ituma. But your daughter must be watched."
Her father nodded. "I agree. She has been cutting herself at home, I've tried to stop her."
Minako's head darted in her fathers direction. "M-Me?"
Her father nodded. "Yes."
"Take her away." The Kazekage ordered.
"N-No!"
-FlashBackEnd-
Minako shook her head as her hand reached up to hold it; a headache now pounded through her head. "Ugh..." She mumbled weakly.
"Sit, just be calm." Hibiki said and pulled her to sit down beside him.
Minako pulled her hand from Hibiki to hold her head still. She tried to breathe calmly but it just become more ragged the more she tried.
"Hey, is she alright?" A jounin asked after noticing Minako.
"I think her head hurts." Hibiki replied and felt Minako for any fevers. "Are you alright?" He asked her.
Minako shook her head before holding it still again; man did she regret shaking it.
"Is it just a headache?" Hibiki asked and stood up to stand in front of her. Some of the other jounins came to stand by them.
"M-mhmm." She mumbled squinting her eyes from the pain; she had, had headaches before, but never this bad.
"I don't think it is!" Uchimii said with concern.
Hibiki nodded in agreement.
Suddenly, Hibiki heard the voice in his head that he regretted the most. 'You should have listened to me, Hibiki!'
Hibiki's eyes widened as and he searched the horizon. "No." Hibiki uttered under her breath. Hibiki quickly pulled Minako to the ground and placed his hands over her eyes. "Please, no! Don't do this!" He said frantically.
All the jounin on the boat now surrounded them.
"What is it, Hibiki?" Daichi asked with immense concern.
"I can't say!" Hibiki said with sorrow, desperately trying to block her mind again. 'Please, don't do this!' Hibiki pleaded as he desperately breathed into Minako's mouth.
"She doesn't need CPR!" Uchimii said.
Minako tried to push Hibiki away; all the movement was just making her head pound more.
"No, no, no!" Hibiki hissed as he tried again and again. She just kept pushing him back as she winced. Hibiki quickly stood to his feet. "I'll kill you!" He shouted out to what seemed to be no one. "If you hurt her, I will kill you!" Hibiki yelled.
"Kill who?" Daichi asked Hibiki, confused.
Minako pulled herself into a sitting position as she rocked back and forth. She wanted to ask Hibiki what he was talking about too, but she couldn't form the words.
The land came into sight and eventually the boat connected with it. Hibiki jumped out of the boat and walked out into the opening. "Come on, I know you're there!" He shouted into the fog that hid the rest of the island.
"Brace yourself, jounins. There will be an ambush." Hibiki called back to the boat. "It's the Kahsuo clan, and they have prefected mind manipulation."
Daichi looked at Hibiki with concern. "Ambush? B-But we can't fight without Minako, this is why we brought her!"
"Well, right now we have to-" A kunai landed at Hibiki's feet. Hibiki's eyes widened and he quickly jumped away before the kunai exploded. "Come out you cheap idiots!" Hibiki shouted.
"Well, well." A figure was seen through the fog.
"If it isn't Minako Uma, here on our island." The figure said with a deep voice.
A loud growl came from the west and the beast that Hibiki had summoned emerged from the fog.
"Close your eyes!" Hibiki ordered everyone on the boat.
"H-How do they know my name?" Minako asked from her spot on the boat, her eyes already closed before Hibiki had ordered it.
"Everyone, close your eyes!"
The beast cocked its head and looked towards the boat, looking at each being to see whose eyes were staring back at it.
"Now!" Hibiki ordered.
Everyone did as they were ordered. Uchimii was too curious and opened his eyes slightly to look ahead.
The beast's eyes jerked to Uchimii and let out a deep growl. With one powerful jump it lurched itself onto the boat, making almost everyone fall as it sunk it's sharp ragged teeth into Uchimii's flesh and ripped him to pieces.
Everyone on the boat covered there ears from the terrifying sound of Uchimii being ripped to shreads. The man hidden by the fog chuckled deeply. "It's becoming unstable, Hibiki."
Hibiki growled. "I know."
"You should do something about that."
"Already thought of that." Hibiki replied.
Hibiki preformed a few hand seals and suddenly the beast turned back into the scroll and it dropped in the pool of Uchimii's blood.
"Now that we can all see again, it'll be an interesting battle." The man finally emerged from the fog and Hibiki narrowed his eyes.
"I'll kill you." Hibiki hissed.