This is long I must admit I didn't know how long it would end up when I typed it. All I know was I wanted a good portion of the traveling done in one chapter. I'm trying to quicken the story because I have some juicy bits coming up in mind. Enjoy!
The departure was probably the easiest thing so far. They had been racing through the trees for hours and the sun had moved further across the sky. Her breathing stayed pretty steady thanks to the endurance training that Gai-sensei had put them through. The man was truly strange but in long term battles he was most certainly the best.
Her pack was nestled safely on her shoulders as she leaped once more into the air, higher than the one before. She wouldn't tell anyone but she loved running. It was such a simple thing but remarkable in how easy you could relax into it. A feeling of flight overcame her and she put more chakra into her feet.
Her hair was up in the buns that she usually wore while her outfit was more of the older clothes she really didn't mind getting ruined. This mission was last minute and it was hard to believe the Hokage just happened to run out of people. But it was a likely situation, many ninjas were lost in the attack Orichimaru had done years ago.
A sigh passed her lips and Tomi looked back, really that man must have really good ears. He was still decked out in Anbu wear and Tenten figured that it didn't matter. She was the star of this little show anyway. Thinking back now their plan sucked and wouldn't be fun to initiate.
She was supposed to "accidentally" stumble upon the group and "play" the damsel who needed "rescuing" from the "attacking" ninja.
This sucks hard core. I didn't want to be a ninja to pretend that I'm helpless. That's being back at square one and really not worth thinking about. Oh look tree.
Tenten ducked as the stray branch snapped back aiming straight for her face. Jump, jump, jump. He had set the pace excruciatingly fast but it was infuriatingly mind-dulling to do the same motions for hours on end. No, scratch that, Tomi all ready said they would be traveling for days.
What the hell's wrong with me? I never used to be this impatient on a mission.
Which was true, perhaps it was how uncertain this would turn out that had her on edge. She'd be the one rolling in mud and then running while Tomi threw kunai at her. Not fun, she'd say that up front so it was apparent.
"Why couldn't we think of anything better? Why do I have to be that close to him anyway? Who issued the threat and--"
"We didn't have enough time. You can't do anything from a distance. Unknown people issued the threat." Tenten stopped right there on the branch.
"You don't know who issued the threat?" Tomi stopped as well and cocked his head back at her.
"No we don't." Tenten's stomach did a lovely flip-flop that had her almost falling from the branch.
"We're going in blind." And just because it was so hard to believe the first time..."We're going in blind." Tomi up ahead was so oddly quiet. "That's why you're here. Too make sure everything goes accordingly to some plan. You have an ulterior motive?"
It wasn't suppose to come off as a question and Tenten hated that inquiring tone her voice had picked up. Tomi evaluated her and suddenly Tenten was thinking of the more pointier weapons in her arsenal.
"The leader of this village is thinking of influencing a war. I am coming to ensure he changes his mind. But do not think for a second that I'll let you get yourself killed. If something goes hay-wire we're getting out of there and fast. Got it?"
"Wow." For some reason the conviction he held was forcing her to speak one syllable words. She just wasn't expecting him to actually TELL her. "I thought Anbu members were suppose to be tight-lipped about everything."
"Yeah, I'm the oddball all right." Who knows why but Tenten just laughed. Oddball, now there's a word she knew all too well and knowing who her teammates were, he laughed right along with her. "Now come on let's get going unless of course you're tired."
"For your information I can go all night!" There was a long silence as her words sunk in. She stood proudly, her thumb jutting into her chest as she realized how misconstrued that sentence can become. "Um..I mean let's go." She took off and he joined but not without laughing his ass off at her embarrassment.
Hours flew by as they shared a companionable silence. Occasionally he would mess with her, teasing her about how she could go all night. And she would reply that eagles were scavengers with pretty faces. Then it would go back and forth leading into the early morning hours. The sun rose and Tomi decided to graciously stop and rest.
Tenten didn't care at this point, she was without sleep, meager nutrition and beginning to stink. She scouted the area as he set up a makeshift campsite. On her way back she saw three rabbits and a tiny creek.
"There's nothing out there but animals. I found a small creek so hand me your canteen will you." Without turning from the laid out map, Tomi tossed her a silver container. "Your welcome by the way." Tomi nodded once before taking out a pen and scribbling some words down. Tenten left uninterested in what he was currently doing.
Finding the creek and filling the containers was simple work. For a moment she contemplated taking a dip and washing her clothes but decided against it. She didn't care if she stunk, maybe it would add to her more 'helpless' look that she would need when they met up with the Daimyo's son.
Coming back into their deemed 'campsite' Tenten found three rabbits skewered over an open fire. Looking over her shoulder she found the man in question.
"How?" For a minute his eyes were confused before she pointed to the rabbits and then back the way she came. "I was just gone two minutes!"
"Yes, and I caught them or do you not know how to hunt?" She imagined a smirk behind that mask of his.
"I can hunt!" He motioned to the tree across from him and the fire.
"You should rest up before we head out again. Oh and by the way you have a twig in your hair."
"Leave my twig alone! It makes me seem more woodsy." Tenten mumbled that last part before she plopped down at her designated tree. Tomi shook his head at her and she fell asleep while thinking of another comment connecting him to scavengers.
--
She was back in Konoha and it seemed like a normal day. Walking down the streets she looked into buildings as she passed them. Her steps increased with every window she looked into, every building she passed by. Until she was running, her feet hit the ground loudly and she was still searching.
All the people were gone, nobody was around and Tenten was becoming more nervous. Suddenly she sensed three chakra signatures and without thinking, ran towards them. Her steps were laced with chakra and she was mere steps away when a scream ripped the air apart around her.
It was a male's voice and it was so familiar. Too familiar, this scene was becoming far too much like a memory than just a simple dream. Sure enough she passed the last building and skidded into a clearing, flipping over rubble to stop in the very middle of the place. There beneath debris was both Neji and Lee, their bodies were still and fear tightened her insides.
It dawned on her that she was powerless to stop this from happening. If she had been here they wouldn't be in this condition.
"At least I was here to stop their deaths."
"So that's all it was now? You didn't enjoy it?" Tenten didn't turn, didn't acknowledge his existence. That didn't mean she wasn't aware of him, of his power or how far away he stood.
"I didn't enj--" In an instant he was there pressing lips against lips and silencing her words. He pulled away and she couldn't remember when she had gripped his arms. "I did it to save the lives of my fri--" Once more he kissed her and her body reacted.
Her toes curled, her stomach clenched and her fingers tightened. He pulled away and she gasped for breath. Fingers gripped her chin and forced her to look into those sky blue eyes of his.
"Tell me how sweet denial is...Tenten." That got her moving, she writhed in his arms and he continued to call her name. Then without warning he struck her and she was yanked back to reality as she hit the dirt. Blinking widely up at Tomi she laid uncomprehending but just for a moment.
"Did you just hit me?" Tomi scratched his back and yawned behind the mask. Tenten sat up and waited impatiently for a response, the one she got she didn't approve of. A face full of skewered rabbit.
"Does it matter? Here eat so we can leave. I'll destroy the evidence you get ready." After a little shut eye Tenten was feeling a bit more compliant and ate the chunks of rabbit that he had cooked. He broke a twig from higher up in the trees and brought it down. Using the leaves he covered up the exposed dirt that must have served for their fire pit.
Flicking the skewer at him she stood and stretched. Jumping into the trees she flung her pack right back where it belonged. He joined her shortly and together they took off into what she thought was a north-westerly direction. The sun was sinking into the trees and Tenten pulled out a watch from her pocket.
"It's eight twenty-one. We're still quite a ways away aren't we?"
"How do you know Deidara?" Tenten felt her back snap into place at the name and suddenly she wasn't as tired as she thought. Cautiously she spoke, hoping her voice betrayed nothing. What would be in her voice as she spoke was anyone's guess though.
"Team ten had a mission to protect the Daimyo of a nearby village. We were attacked by members of Akatsuki. Deidara was one of those members." Brief and to the point, Tsunade would have been proud. She refused the urge to turn to him when he checked her expression, she refused to even return his question with one of her own.
Seemingly satisfied he looked on into the distance.
"You talked in your sleep and were thrashing about. I can only imagine what nightmare you were having. Akatsuki are fierce fighters, each and every one of them."
I wouldn't qualify making out with the enemy as a nightmare but let him think wrongly.
"Yeah, they are." She kept to herself the fact that one particular Akatsuki member wasn't just fierce at fighting. With the silence and upcoming nightfall, they trudged on.
--
"Is he old?"
"Yes."
"Ninja?"
"Yes."
"Serious?"
"Rarely."
"Famous?"
"No."
"Infamous?"
"Yes."
"Perverted?"
"Definitely."
"Jiraiya."
"Hey you got it right!" They had gotten so bored that the two mature ninjas were playing twenty questions.
"All right my turn!" A loud yawn overcame her and she let it out loudly. "I think we should rest soon."
"But we're not, here eat this. It's a soldier pill so knock yourself out." She caught the small packet and ripped it open.
"I don't think I've ever taken one of these before." He shrugged in what she nicknamed the 'Tomi' gesture. She popped the red pill in her mouth and in a burst of chakra leaped over the treetops. Breaking free from the canopy the forest hid no secrets from her position. Trees surrounded everywhere, there was no end in sight and she liked that. Seclusion was more her forte anyway.
Descending from her fall, she landed on the same branch as Tomi did. It was early morning on the second day for them and Tomi predicted that they'd meet up with their target. Their timing was accurate but Tenten couldn't help but feel something was wrong.
She had dreamt of Deidara again last night when they had made camp. The dream itself was fuzzy and it left her with a cold feeling of dread. She couldn't remember anything when she woke up sweaty and disoriented. Tomi had woken up at the sound of her moving around. She had ignored him in favor of drinking the last of her water up.
Thinking back now at the sexual encounter it didn't bother her in the least bit. Duty was the top priority in the ninja world. You had to sacrifice some things in order to save lives, missions and whatever else needed to be secured.
All though doing that with him didn't seem much like a sacrifice.
A sudden blush tinted her cheeks.
No way he's an enemy! Akatsuki you know, S-ranked criminals. Badasses all around! Still Deidara was smoking hot.
A groan escaped her lips, her feet hit yet another branch and she leapt off. Tomi turned back to regard her before flipping himself out of the pathway of a flying axe. Tenten landed on the ground and pulled a slim scroll from her pack. Two men stepped out brandishing some heavy looking weapons. Weapons that looked like they were meant for some giant's toolbox.
"Well hell it's just a girl and here I thought it was gonna be--" A dagger ripped through his throat before being tossed at the second man. This man ducked it and got a face full of kneecap. Tenten leapt forward as he stumbled back. The dagger was pulled into her fingers by the metal wire connected to it.
One good slice and this man was dead as well. His body thudded to the forest floor and Tenten twisted to avoid a giant hammer smash the place where she was. Backing up she noticed the man who stood in front of her. He was a big guy no doubt about it. Easily eight feet tall and he looked to be all muscle.
"This should be interesting they were weak but I am not. You'll die today girlie."
"Oh goody, let the fighting begin." The man slammed his hammer down and Tenten vaguely wondered where Tomi was. It didn't matter anyway the man was a member of Anbu and likely capable of taking care of himself. Her opponent charged again and Tenten fought looking for any openings. It was a deviation from the original plan and Tenten felt uneasiness curl inside her stomach.
Something told her there would be more than one deviation and that this was only going to get worse.
--
As circumstances go this sucks more than a nine hour training session with Gai-sensei. Even more than waking up in the hospital and not knowing who the hell you are. All though I can't say I've had amnesia before...but damn this sucks!
Another tree crashed into the ground behind her and Tenten swung higher into the branches. She had no idea how long she was fighting but she was fed up at this point. Soaking in sweat, blood running down her arm and some badly bruised ribs she was about ready to use the explosive tags to blast the bastard to the moon.
"Dammit, don't you ever give up!"
A crunching sound was her answer as one more tree slammed into the one she was currently on. Pissed off, tired, hungry and above all fed up, Tenten turned and parried his attack. This just wasn't her week, and maybe it wasn't her month but it certainly wasn't her fucking week! Their weapons crossed and he sneered at her.
"Ready to die?" Her fingers dug into her pouch before she smacked his weapon off balance.
"Don't be so sure of yourself!" Her fingers formed the hand seals and the stranger let out a
strangled gasp. He twisted the hammer and found an explosive tag seconds before he was blown away. The force of the explosion rocked Tenten further within the trees. Her body skidded and finally rolled to a stop as her head spun.
"That's different." The explosive tag had detonated far sooner than a regular one. She barely had enough time to jump back before the thing was activated. She had used the hand seal as a way to freak out her opponent so she wouldn't receive the complete blow. "So I must be lucky to be alive." She staggered to her feet as she clutched her ribs.
By the way these things are hurting I probably did more than bruise them. Can't be helped I suppose.
"Time to find To-mmmii!" One step was all it took for Tenten to fall down a hill that was littered with bushes and rotting tree branches. Her pack snagged on an outstretched branch as Tenten rolled further. Her hand caught a passing tree which stopped her fall momentarily before snapping off in her grip.
Ninja skills or not she figured now wasn't the best time to find out that her ankle was sprained. But jamming it into the dirt to stop ones fall was a quick way to figure it out.
"Augh!" And with two failed attempts she landed on her back at the very bottom. "Now I can add dirty to my list of complaints and grievances." An arm crossed over her eyes as a light rain started. "Just great! I guess I shouldn't ask what's next."
"Excuse me miss, are you going to be okay?" Tenten removed her arm and opened her eyes. Standing before her was a man in expensive looking clothes. Not too far behind were two men standing watch. Tenten groaned and gripped her ribs didn't matter if she was lost survival came first.
"If I'm lucky, how far to the next town?" The man looked a little surprised by her question.
"Two days if you follow the trade route." She sat up, her hand tightly gripping her ribs. Getting to her feet hurt like hell but being a ninja taught you to get use to it.
"Thank you I will head that way." On her feet and heading in the right direction she took two steps and fell flat on her ass. A gentle hand was placed on her shoulder and she looked into the mans' face. He had soft boyish features and the average mop of black hair. Nothing of the extraordinary, at least in Tenten's eyes because a certain Akatsuki member..
Note to self: stop comparing everyone to Deidara.
"Please your injured allow us to escort you to Skinagwa."
"Ah..Kagino-sama!" His two guards looked stricken at that statement.
"Yes my lord it is not wise too--" Tenten wasn't feeling at her peak right about now but those names sounded way to familiar for her liking. As Kagino argued with his foot soldiers Tenten took the time to look around. The trade route was packed not with civilians but foot soldiers. Kagino's entourage she presumed and then he turned to her smiling innocently.
"I am Kagino and the son of Skinagwa's Daimyo. Care to join us?" A bubble of laughter expanded in her chest and she would have laughed if it didn't hurt too damn much. Unknowingly she not only stumbled upon the man she was looking for but was also invited without speaking more than sixteen words. Thank God.
Let's just hope this starts getting better. But knowing my luck it'll get worse before that starts happening. Whatever, let's hope Tomi is having just as much fun as me.
