Thank-you to mariaxxxmadara and AntivanArainaiHime for reviewing!
I do not own Naruto or any of the characters. I DO own Chikako 'Natsuki' Suzuhara and Chikakon though.
Onwards with the story!
Chapter Seven: Mission objective.
Natsuki spent the next week in the Akatsuki base repairing any weapons that the members decided to drop in their boxes. Most of the time it was just shuriken and kunai that had been bent beyond repair or were too dull to be sharpenned in time for the next mission. Hidan and Deidara, being sore losers, decided to put detonating clay in one of the boxes, Kakuzu's to be exact, but Natsuki found it before it went kaboom thankfully enough and managed to plaster it under the handles of the two nin's doors. Hearing their pained yells was amusing to say the least. During that week however, she paid special attention to how she acted around Kisame, drastically changing her behaviour to suit what she was like beforehand. Near enough anyway. She didn't talk with him as much and she was definitely more volatile when it came to her sarcasm and jokes. That was if she got in a conversation at all. Most of the time she made certain to ignore him in every way possible. But then she got called to Leader-sama's office.
"I have decided..." He huffed out in an almost begrudging way, "To send you on a mission." Natsuki smirked in the darkness. He hated this so much! "However, if you step one foot out of line, your fox will be tortured and killed, curtesy of Hidan." Her eyes darkenned at this and she bit her tongue yet again. "Your mission is to aid the team you will be going with in accomplishing their goal. They will inform you of the criteria of your mission at the base entrance."
"Okay... Who's this mission with?" She could almost feel the smirk.
"You'll see."
Natsuki finished strapping her katana on. She grabbed her walking stick, called Chikakon and they moved out. She first went to Sasori's room and asked him to mark the front entrance on her map, which he did cautiously. After thanking him, she walked off, following the map, to find the rendezvous point. Upon finding the entrance, she almost slapped herself. Of course. Traipsing over, she raised a hand in greeting. "Hey Itachi-san, Kisame-san."
"Hn."
"Let's get going then, slow-coach." Natsuki bristled a little.
"Whatever, cod-face."
"So, I just jump?"
"Yes. All you have to do is jump."
"All I have to do is jump."
"Correct."
"Right."
"As we just discussed."
"..."
"..."
"Gah! I can't do it!" Itachi slapped his forehead.
"You said that about performing jutsu." Natsuki looked over her shoulder.
"Yeah, and look how long that took me!" Kisame huffed, waiting on the other branch for the two to join him. "Just get it over with already."
"Shut-it salmon-boy!"
"For pete's sake." Kisame leapt over to them, "You're being carried, that's final."
"No way! Get off-" And she was back over Kisame's shoulder. Again. "Why the hell can't Itachi carry me?"
"Because you're heavy- Ow!" Natsuki released her grip on Kisame's hair and stuck her tongue out at him. He glared at her and she kneed him in the gut again. "Put me down." Her 'request' was met by silence. "It's not comfortable up here, put me down sushi-boy before I get my chopsticks!" Again. Silence.
Natsuki watched as the ground came closer, then further away. Closer. Further. Closer. Further. Chikakon darted along below them, keeping up with relative ease. Her head was beginning to thrum inside from all the blood rushing to it and she felt ready to puke. Complaining and threatening hadn't gotten her anywhere, so she kept quiet. Her legs had gone numb too and she could feel an onslaught of pins and needles charging down to her feet, but she didn't complain. The endless jumping gently ceased and the air tugged at her hair. The ground swooped up to meet them and her body jarred suddenly under Kisame. He stood straight and took her carefully from his shoulder. She swayed a little, staggered, then walked off muttering, "Give me a minute." Itachi watched her leave, then walked off in the opposite direction to collect firewood. Kisame grumbled at his partner's selected chore. That meant he had to go and fetch her, whatever the hell she was doing. He stalked off through the trees, following her chakra signature until he found her.
Natsuki finished washing her mouth out, finally getting rid of the awful smell and taste of bile. She hated throwing up. It was disgusting and vile. Drying the last droplets of water from her chin, she stood and turned around. "Kisame-san!" She almost fell backwards in shock, her hand latching onto a tree branch only just stopped her fall. "What the hell? Don't sneak up on people like that!" His fingers curled around the collar of her top and he yanked her closer. "What is wrong with you?" He hissed. Natsuki's eyes darkenned.
"Get off me."
"No! Why the hell are you being so damned offhand?" His yell shook her to the core and she thrashed in his grip. "Get off me!"
"Why?"
"Rgh! I won't become dependant on you!" Their eyes locked for a moment then he dropped her to the ground and left. She looked after him, straightening her collar. What the hell was that all about?
The camp was quiet that night. Natsuki kept watch in the trees whilst Itachi and Kisame slept. After all, she hadn't done anything that day but throw up and argue. Chikakon nuzzled into her stomach, his tail curling about him. She patted his head and looked back out away from their camp. The stars were bright that night and there was a half moon about. A gust of wind tousled the tops of the trees. "It's a nice night, isn't it Chikakon?" The little fox stirred and blinked up lazily at her. She smiled. She had to protect him, that was for sure. But as long as they were with the Akatsuki, he'd be in constant danger. Her eyes flicked back to look down at the two ninjas. They were fast asleep by the fire. Her gaze drifted back to Chikakon. She had to keep him safe. As quietly as she could, she got to her feet, swaying a little on the tree branch. Chikakon pressed into her shoulder and she held him firmly. Protectively. Focusing her chakra carefully to her feet, she leapt away.
Dark figures leered out in the trees, savage grins plastered to shadowed faces. Fiendish eyes gleamed devilishly and wicked blades extended from their grasp.
The wind pushed on by lazily and calmly. Natsuki darted across it, kicking off from the branch, landing and throwing herself to the next one again. Her momentum ran wild and she didn't dare stop now. Her cane, still strapped across her back with vines, her katana, her secret dagger and Chikakon. That's all she had now. Oh, and a spanner hidden in the folds of her top. Her little fox, the one she strove to protect to her dying breathe, had fallen asleep against her shoulder. She continued on through the night, branches and leaves whipping at her. Her side and abdomen ached dully compared to her leg, but she refused to stop. Stopping now wouldn't help them. Stopping now wouldn't protect Chikakon. Her foot slipped and her breathe stuck in her throat. With a heavy thud, they crashed into the ground. Natsuki groaned and pushed herself up with one hand. She cradled Chikakon in her other arm, his shocked body was stiff from instinct. "It's alright." She whispered. Her leg felt as if it were on fire. She wouldn't be able to jump for a while now. Pain flared up in her arm and cheek were she had landed. They were scraped and bleeding. Another heavy gash was on her foot, extending to her ankle. A branch had cut her. Her head spun and her back panged from where she had knocked them on the fall down. Chikakon was okay though. She struggled to her feet and limped on with her cane.
Itachi's eyes snapped open, his head whipped up. A shocked cry escaped him unintentionally and he raised a kunai in defense as something rushed down at him. The distinct sound of metal-on-mental rang out through the forest. A brutish man with an equally malicious blade took a second swing. He was sharinganned within a second. "Kisame." He called his partner who was already on his feet. The two stood back-to-back, sharingan and kunai coupled with Samehada. "Where's that little brat?" Kisame growled out, surveying the surroundings for Natsuki. "It appears she has fled." Itachi stated, "That or-" His eyes narrowed at the gang of thugs. Kisame growled at the prospect and stepped forwards an inch. "Who cares? They still need taking out." Itachi smirked and kicked dirt over the fire. They were plunged into darkness.
"You're absolutely right."
Natsuki fell to her knees. Her breathing was left ragged and torn like her clothes and she couldn't lift herself up. Three dead bandits lay behind her, appendages strewn across the undergrowth. Their faces were burnt beyond recognition. Chikakon padded up to her, licking her scarlet arm clean. The deep gouge bled more profusely still. Natsuki tore off part of her sleeve and tied it around the wound, yanking it tighter with her teeth. Chikakon danced about nervously in front of her. "We're gonna get out of here Chikakon." She told him, determination boiling in her eyes. "I won't let them hurt you." She scooped him up and took off yet again.
Kisame charged through the trees, a trail of his enemies' blood following him. Itachi scouted on ahead, equally as irritated as him. That little swine had run away! The traitorous little- Blood. Strong and heady like... Natsuki was close by. His speed increased and they flew through the trees, everything becoming a blur as he followed that scent like a hound. They lost it a few minutes later in the midst of the massacre of three bandits. Their limbs were strewn about the scorched trees, most of their skin was charred and blackened. They sniffed about for a bit, trying to grasp a weak chakra signature. A moment later, they were off again. They followed the trail of faint chakra and intoxicating blood to a river, then across it and partway up a rocky cliffside. A dark, sticky substance clung to handholds and it was obvious that Natsuki had started to scale the wall in an attempt to escape. Fury roiled within Kisame and he hauled himself up after her. Itachi was calmer about the whole situation and followed silently. The bloody prints on the rocks suddenly ceased to exist as they pulled themselves up into some sort of cave. Natsuki looked up at them. Blood caked her clothes, but she grinned anyway. Until Kisame stormed forwards and dragged her to her feet that is. He slammed her back against the wall. "So you're trying to escape, huh?" He hissed with venom dripping from his voice. Chikakon barked. "No. I was chasing down those bandits!"
"You killed them a ways back, yet you kept going! You were trying to escape!"
"Shut up! Use your head you stupid shark! One of the slimy swines escaped, I was hunting him down!"
"Prove it." Silence. Itachi stepped forwards and pulled Kisame's hand away.
"There is no way to prove her words, but it doesn't matter either way." He glanced at her meaningfully. "If she doesn't buck up her ideas however, her little fox is going to have his throat slit."
"Why you- What are you implying?"
"That next time we so much as suspect you to be trying to escape, the incident will be reported straight back to Leader-sama and after that..." He left it hanging, but Natsuki knew all too well what he meant. She looked down at Chikakon, I guess no matter what I do, I'm not going to be able to protect you as well as I'd hoped.
Natsuki went through a long lecture after that on alerting the two before she went dashing off through the forest 'after bandits'. She was also told that she wouldn't be going on watch ever again because she was quite despicably awful at it. They went back to sleep after that with Itachi on watch at the mouth of the cave. Natsuki stayed up to clean up her wounds a little and wrap them before curling up to sleep off the cold.
The next day, they were off again. Natsuki had forced them to veer a little off course, but not too much and they lost no time in getting back on track. Natsuki travelled on Kisame's shoulders this time, her ankles crossed over his chest and her arms wrapped comfortably around his head. The only reason she wasn't over his shoulder was because Itachi had reminded him she was injured. That and she told him she hadn't the strength to hold in her vomit this time. She smiled at the recent memory still fresh in her mind and looked up at the sky. The sun streamed down through the intervals in the canopy. Chikakon batted a paw over her view and she let out a small laugh, letting go with one hand to rub between his ears. He made a thick purring sound from on her head and pushed into her hand. Her tail twitched instinctively and she froze. Kisame felt the action and glanced up. With a roll of his eyes, he looked back where he was going.
"So this is our mission?"
"Hn." Itachi clarified.
"Kill and destroy." Kisame grinned cruelly and crouched on the branch for Natsuki to slip off. The second her feet touched the wood, he pulled out a scroll. Performing a few hand signs, Samehada poofed out of the paper. Natsuki stared as he took the weapon by the hilt and placed it back on his back. She had no idea that weapons could be hidden in scrolls. "Let's go." He grinned, smirking back at Natsuki. "All you have to do is tell us how to take out that big thing on his back." She nodded. The man walking by below didn't take any heed of them as they crouched in the leaves. A large metal instrument was strapped across his back, seeming to bear murderous tendencies from it's gun-like shape. "It's a gun of some sort it would seem, by the looks of it it's quite heavy so he'll probably use two hands to lift it depending on his strength. That means he won't be able to defend very well, it's a purely offensive weapon. However." She looked it over once more as their target began to disappear from view. "It probably has a lot of force behind it, capable of firing projectiles over long distances and retaining it's speed and the damage it will cause. It could probably blow a hole in a boulder. Also, it's made of good strong metal, so it can definitely take a good few blows without too much damage. Cripple the barrel however, and it'll implode on itself and your job will be done for you." The two nin nodded and stood. "Stay where you are and keep that fox of your's with you." Natsuki bit her tongue, but nodded. Kisame leapt down onto the path below and walked a few feet before stopping. Presumably taking up the rear. Itachi went on ahead. Natsuki couldn't quite see what was happening, but she heard the man yell in shock. "W- who are you?"
"You are Atsushi Yoshida, correct?" Came Itachi's cool, stoic voice.
"Who are you?"
"We'll take that as a yes then." She saw Kisame step forwards and she could hear his grin as he took hold of Samehada's hilt. "Y- you're-"
"The Akatsuki, yes. And you're valuable to Orochimaru, and for that..." He teased, bringing Samehada to his side. "We're gonna have to kill you. So sorry." Natsuki heard the gun being readied. Her fingers gripped the wood as the tension built. It fired. Kisame dodged easily enough. Yoshida shot again and again, the two shells whizzing past him on either side. Natsuki leant out of the tree to watch the battle. Kisame converged on the poor man, slamming Samehada into his gut. With one deft twist of his wrist, he had dislodged the gun from the man's grasp. As it skittered across the dirt, Samehada fell upon it's barrel, crushing it beyond recognition. The man quivered in fear, then turned to flee. Sharingan pierced his soul and a blood-curdling scream let loose.
The dead body was decapitated and then burnt to nothing more than bones. Itachi held the process as solemn and even buried the man afterwards. He gave no explanation for his actions, but Kisame kindly told her that they had to make sure Orochimaru couldn't use a reanimation jutsu on him. Immediately after that, they began the long walk back.
The camp that night was quiet. It was Kisame's turn on guard duty and Itachi didn't hold much in the conversation department as usual. Natsuki sighed inwardly and flopped down, closing her eyes. The minute she heard the soft breathing of a person sleeping, she opened her eyes again. The fire had been dowsed, but she could still make out the sleeping figure of Itachi and the stooped shadow of Kisame sitting in the trees. She bit her lip indecisively. She knew Kisame was being more aggressive towards her because she was being offhand and it was therefore her own fault, but she still didn't like it. She should- No. No, I won't bend and bow my head. I won't become dependant on him. On any of them. She rubbed her forehead and lay on her back. I won't... become dependant.
The air was cool and fresh, not too hot nor too cold. Just right for walking. Chikakon trotted by Natsuki's heels and she in turn walked behind her two superiors. They were steadily approaching the base. People arguing caught their attention and Kisame huffed, rubbing his forehead. Itachi seemed to sigh aswell. "Greedy fucking miser!" Natsuki felt like giving up on life already.
"Do you want to starve Hidan?"
"No! So stop being an arse and let me buy some fucking food!"
"Pah, when you stop worshipping that worthless religion of yours."
"I'll fucking disembowel you!" Natsuki blinked at the scene unravelling before them.
"Hidan knows a word that long?"
"Apparently so..." Kisame grumbled. "It doesn't matter anyway, let's just get into the base before-"
"Hey Fish-face!"
"Urgh... What?"
"You know what I'm fucking talking about, right!"
"Sort it out yourself Hidan!" They waded through the onslaught of curses into the base.
Itachi escaped straight away, aiming for Leader-sama's office to give a report on how it all went. Before Natsuki could lock herself up in her room though and take a shower, Kisame grabbed onto her shoulder. "Let go of me." His grip tightened.
"I know you don't want to become dependant on me, but not letting me help you and trying to isolate yourself isn't going to do the trick. Besides, letting people help you doesn't make you weak." He smiled, "Okay? I'm always gonna help you whether you like it or not, 'cos if you just have yourself, you'll end up doing something you'll regret."
"Oh yeah, like what?" He chuckled,
"Like trying to punch Leader-sama." Her lips twitched and she rolled her eyes.
"Sounds like me." A pause as she thought. "I won't become dependant on you, but... I suppose I was kinda wrong. Again."
"Damn straight you were!" He laughed, pushing her head.
"Hey! I said I was a bit wrong!"
"No, you said kinda."
"Same damn thing!"
"No it's not, for one..."
Okay, thanks for reading! Review and leave feedback/constructive criticism if you want, it'd be much appreciated. Danke-schon!
Next time on Weapons Dealer: Chapter 8, August is... Autumn?
"Is this your revenge? Make me fall on my butt?" He chuckled at her,
"No~" He suddenly got in her face with is cocky grin. His hand slowly reached behind her and her body froze in place, eyes a little wider. The rain seemed to pound down harder, dripping down their faces like little rivers...