"Whaa...?" Hibiki narrowed his eyes as he watched the glow fade. 'I just left them, no way they could've killed him that quickly.' Hibiki reached for the doorknob and pushed open the door, quickly moving back down the hall as the door swang open.
"...Minako?" Hibiki asked, reaching into his pouch for a kunai to protect himself.
Minako sat behind the door with a kunai tightly in her hand. She tried to stand but fell over onto her side. ''Ugh...'' she groaned feeling even weaker.
Hibiki heard Minako groan. "Minako?" He asked gently and walked forward.
"Are you alright?" Hibiki walked through the door to see Minako down on her side; she didn't look the best.
Minako looked up weakly at Hibiki. ''D-Don't you dare touch me... liar!'' she coughed up more blood.
"Liar? Minako, you have no idea what you're saying; don't fall for their petty tricks!" Hibiki stepped closer, but the look in Minako's eyes made Hibiki think again.
Minako let her eyes fall shut. ''S-sorry... you came back for me... th-thank you, Hibiki.'' She smiled weakly as she finally passed out from blood loss.
Hibiki acted fast and pulled Minako up onto his back. Just as he turned to head out the door, Hotaka stepped in with a smirk on his face.
"I knew you would fall for the trick." Hotaka laughed and then narrowed his eyes at Hibiki. "You think you can just leave? Just suddenly break free like nothing has happened? You think...that you can escape me?" Hotaka shook his head with anger.
Hibiki narrowed his eyes at Hotaka, ad then bega to chuckle. "You think that I'm stupid." He stated matter of factly.
Hotaka smirked."Sometimes I wonder."
"I'm not stupid, Hotaka. You made me train with the Kahsuo's. You think that just because you're above me, that you're stronger and I'm worthless."
Hotaka shook his head and laughed. "You always have been worthless."
"Then how come you kept me and didn't just kill me off?" Hibiki stepped closer to Hotaka.
"I figured that someday one of the villages would kill you off - so I left it to them; meanwhile I would get the information I wanted."
"That's not like you. If I was worthless, you would have killed me immediately after torturing me endlessly." Hibiki took another step forwards.
"Hibiki, you're stepping out of line. You cannot and will not break that barrier - no matter how hard you try." Hotaka snickered.
"There is one thing different about you and I; I'm not blinded by my own pride." Hibiki walked forward and passed through Hotaka and exitted the door.
Hotaka turned around as he began to fade. He grinned his teeth together and sneered as he diappeared.
'He thinks he can use someone elses tricks on me?' Hibiki shook his head in anger.
Hibiki stepped outside the cell and began to walk down the hall, but suddenly Hotaka stepped out from behind the corner with a smirk on his face.
"I knew I should have disposed of that girl immediately." He snarled.
Hibiki bit his lip. "I'm taking Minako."
"I see that." Hotaka laughed.
"You are not going to hurt her anymore. The others will kill you after I leave."
"Oh, so the worthless mut thinks he's going to surpass the boss?"
"Not me; and I can realize that. But the others aren't binded by your tricks." Hibiki replied as he held back a growl.
Minako shifted slightly on Hibiki's back, still remaining out cold.
From around the corner, Lira, Daichi, Aichi, and Tamichi were listening closely.
"W-we need to move, now." Lira whispered nervously.
"If we attack now that'll give Hibii time to escape and get Minako to safety." Tamichi murmured.
Daichi nodded. "Yeah..."
Lira grabbed Daichi's sleeve. "Then why are you hesitating?"
"I-I'm not!" He yelled back, still trying to keep his voice a whisper.
Hotaka was led down the hall and Hibiki slipped by with Minako on his back.
"Your dead, Hibiki!" Hotaka yelled.
Hibiki ignored the comment and ran out of the tunnel. When he reached the surface he quickly ran ahead into the darkness of the buildings shadow, waiting as three people walked by chatting quietly. When they were far enough, Hibiki ran out and headed down the street hiding whenever there was a possibility of being spotted. Eventually he reached his living quarters and entered, locking the door behind him. He took Minako over to his bed and layed her down gently, making quick of first aid to cover her wounds. He placed a semi-cold wash cloth over her forehead and took off the cloth drapped around her shoulders.
"You're going to be fine." Hibiki murmured and went to the kitchen to fetch a glass of water for when Minako woke up. When he returned he placed the water on the table beside the bed and pulled the bottom of her tank top up to her middle before placing his hands on her stomach. "Here you go... come on." Hibiki whispered as he transfered his chakra into her system, hoping he wasn't too late to help her.
Minako's body jerked slightly as her eyes opened. She appeared confused until she looked at Hibiki. Dispite how much pain she was in, her mind was still in offesive. She quickly pulled away from Hibiki and pulled a kunai from her pocket, her eyes deadly.
"You!" She hissed, only swaying slightly as she stood opposite Hibiki; she looked weak dispite the stance she was putting on.
"Minako, it's alright now!" Hibiki stated quietly, his eyes narrowing at her hand with the kunai in it.
Minako shook her head. "Y-You lied to me! Y-You're no different than everyone else!" She screamed, wincing at the pain in her chest. "Y-You think I'm a monster too... bastard!"
"I do not think you're a monster." He said.
Minako shook her head violently. "Stop lying! I-I can't take anymore lies!"
"If I thought you were a monster, I would have left you to die!" Hibiki shouted and stood up.
Minako backed away further from him. "Th-then why didn't you?" She yelled again.
"Since I don't believe you're a monster!" Hibiki stepped closer to Minako.
Tears stung Minako's eyes as she backed away until her back hit a wall. "N-No..." She whispered shaking her head. "No..."
"I don't believe- I refuse to believe you're a monster." Hibiki said calmly as he advanced quickly to Minako.
Minako noticed his quick movement and held up her arm, the kunai out straight. "D-don't you dare come near me!"
"I will come near to you." Hibiki responded and slowed down.
Minako shook her head. "No!" Without a second thought, her weakened body charged toward Hibiki; her eyes deadly with hate and fear.
"You have to go through us first!" Tamichi hissed. He tried to hit Hotaka with a kunai but Hotaka effortlessly blocked it.
Hotaka growled as he concentrated on all four.
"Remember what Hibiki said about him using the Kahsuo's mind tricks!" Lia warned. As she concentrated she could feel what Hibiki explained as Hotaka warping the mind. She concentrated on it while difficultly defending herself from Hotaka and helping in defending the others.
"He always says too much! should have permanately shut his mouth in order to keep him from saying anything!" Hotaka snapped. He shoved his hand at the wall and laughed as the wall closed in on Tamichi and crushed his body. Blood splatter everywhere and the battle paused. When the wall returned to normal, what was left of Tamichi fell to the ground; Lira tried not to throw up.
Aichi growled and turned back to Hotaka, using all his strength and might to attack Hotaka. Daichi chipped in as the two of them worked together to try and kill Hotaka. Just as they had thought they had him, Hotaka bursted into a puddle of water and appeared by Lira.
"All woman are useless!" He shouted and went to attack Lira.
Lira jumped out of the way and lurched at Hotaka with a look of vengeance. "No body says that and gets away with it!"
"Lira!" Daichi shouted as he ran as fast as he could towards the clone that was behind Lira, about to attack. Daichi quickly moved and knocked the clones feet out from underneath him. The clone went to brace himself but Daichi made some hands seals and placed his hands on the clones back. The clones eyes widened as he bursted into water.
Hotaka simply laughed. "Aparentally Hibiki didn't teach you well."
Daichi's eyes widened in dismay as he looked down at Lira, blood spilling from her mouth. "Whaa...? I...no!" Daichi stepped back as his heart beat increased. "No...it was a clone!"
"You let your guard down. The Kahsuo clan has a wonderful ability. All about the mind, that's their specialty. One of the advantages is making others hallucinate." Hotaka smirked.
"You should've had Hibiki study the Ryuu clan." Aichi whispered fiercely as he emerged from the ground behind Hotaka's back. Before Hotaka could respond Aichi shoved one of his swords deep into Hotaka's back.
Hotaka gasped and stumbled past Daichi. Aichi helped Daichi to his feet and stepped in front of him to protect him.
"Our clan been considered a worthless clan, as if we had nothing special about us, but you learn a lot about a clan when you truly look deep into their history." Aichi made a seal with his hands and held it against his chest. "Ryuu Taiki." He whispered gently.
Hotaka narrowed his eyes at Aichi as his vision began to blur. Just as he was about to lunge forwards, a dragon came out of a blurred fog and ran furiously at Hotaka. When he tried to escape, the dragon caught Hotaka by the leg and pulled him back. Without mercy, the dragon began to rip and tear Hotaka's limbs from his body. After Hotaka laid in pieces in the hallway, Aichi led Daichi out of the tunnel and back up to ground level.
Hibiki moved quickly and pulled her arms behind her back, holding her body tightly against his chest. His mouth was close to her ear as he whispered, "I will not allow you to do to me what you did to Sho. I want there to be no mistake between you and I because I love you."
Minako froze in Hibiki's hold. "L-Love?" She echoed, her voice barely audible.
"I love you." He murmured, slightly confused himself. He could feel himself being overwhelmed with emotions, voices, and memories. "I-I..." Hibiki lowered his head on Minako's shoulder. "Love...you?"
'How...why?' Hibiki's heart began to pound as he started to realize what had happened.
"Minako..." Hibiki turned Minako around in his arms and held her chin up to look deep into her eyes.
Minako's eyes widened as she slumped in Hibiki's hold. "I-I'm sorry!" She cried as she dropped the kunai and wrapped her arms around him. Her insanity had left and only her true self remained. "I-I'm so sorry..." She whispered again as tears fell down her cheeks.
"M...Minako..." Hibiki whispered and placed his hand on the back of her head. "I actually love you." He laughed gently and forcefully pressed his lips against hers.
"I love you!" He laughed again and returned to the kiss.
Minako laughed weakly as she kissed him back. She finally pulled away to stare into his eyes. "I-I..." She lowered her head. "I-I love you too Hibiki..." She told him, now looking up with a small blush over her face.
Hibiki laughed gently and wrapped his arms around Minako's neck and held her head under his chin. "Back at the cave near Kokoro's house you were pointing towards that drawing that Kitsune ha made. Well...there was a time; we were suppose to meet, Her, Akira and I. It was only Kitsune and I at our meeting place and we were waiting for Akira and she asked me when I was finally going to kiss her. She begged and begged and I had finally given up, I thought if I just gave her a small kiss she'd quite begging. I remember looking into her eyes, seeing her house I have always viewed all the others, a weakling whom I needed to protect. I tried to push past the thought, I tried to force myself but it was if there was an actual wall between us. I couldn't even say that I loved her. Those words just couldn't form in my thought, but I feel them now. I know Hotaka is dead. Your mission was a success. I can kiss you and mean it now. I can kiss you and feel your flesh warm against mine. I can kiss you without Hotaka's voice mocking me." Hibiki laughed again with pure joy.
Minako giggled as she hugged Hibiki tighter. "I'm glad...Hibiki Hiroshimo."
Hibiki finally remembered that this was a foreign town to all the others so he acted fast. He quickly retrieved Minako's shoulder cloth and placed it over her shoulders, pulling her tank top down and handing her, her stuff. He collected all of his stuff and quickly directed Minako out of the house. "We have to go get them."
Minako nodded. "Follow me, Hibiki!" She told him brightly, taking his hand in her own.
Minako and Hibiki silently slipped through the errie town. Minako could smell blood and was following her nose when Hibiki suddenly pulled her back behind a wall. Minako froze and smelt.
"We're going to have to fight." She whispered to Hibiki before smirking. "Leave it to me!"
Surprisingly, even with all the damage Minako had taken earlier, she still managed to run and fight; whatever Hibiki had done to her before, made her feel almost back to normal. With quick movements, Minako pounced at the men, however, instead of her normal animal-like attacks she would make, she formed several hand signs before calling out several differnt jutsu's.
'Odd... my instanity doesn't seem to be kicking in...' Minako thought to herself as she watched the men drown in their own blood.
Once it seemed they were free of enemies, Minako turned to smile at Hibiki. "Ready to find the others?" She asked brightly before leaning against a wall, panting. "O-Okay... m-maybe I over did it..." She mumbled with a small laugh.