A/N: Sugabee14. Darlin'. I know you're looking for things to be okay... (◕‿◕) But can I really promise that?
I hope you all enjoy this new chapter, my dear Snowflakes~!
The flames of a dying fire sustained a dim glow in the night. Travel had halted - it had been a couple of days since travel had started, and this was the first and only break they had been given throughout. Kiyowa would have been the first to admit that her stamina was lacking. Even through all the years and all of the training, it was an area that grew, but still fell behind her other areas.
She let her green eyes wander North to sneak peeks at the two teammates. She could only hope that they hadn't paused the mission on her account.
Hitsuji spoke spiritedly and frequently. Every second of downtime was the opportunity to strike up a conversation, and though Kiyowa had been urged to let her shell peel over the last fear years, she still labeled herself as a bit reserved.
Osuushi didn't speak at all. Unless he was giving orders or something of the sort, it was as if he just wasn't there. He stayed leading the group towards the front, and hardly ever turned around.
As a result, it was easy to say that Kiyowa found herself ostracized.
Even now, as she sat with her knees risen and her arms draped across them, there was silence and aimless chatter respectively. Her ears were tuning in and out here and there, and her eyes were beginning to droop. In fact, the fire was looking more like a hazy smear of paint vaguely luminescent paint. Her focus was deteriorating so fast... Faster than...
Abruptly, with a light thud of forceful skin upon skin, her head dropped into her arms.
"Oh my..." Hitsuji trailed. She let her hands rest on either sides of the log she was perched on and leaned forward like a child trying to inspect in secret. "Osuu," She said casually, to his undisplayed indifference, "Is Usa okay?"
The blonde could feel her head snap back up abruptly, shaking to the desperate tune of warding away the sleep that persistently visited her. "I'm okay..." She trailed, letting her gloved palm brush against her eye, "It... I'm okay now."
"Oh good!" The white haired girl chimed, kicking her feet in a pleasant manner, "I was a bit worried about you, you know. Ah-ah? So concerned?" Her finger rose to settle thoughtfully upon her chin whilst her rose colored eyes took to gazing above her in steady contemplation, "I must already be thinking of you as a companion...If that's the case..." Spirit sprang to her words as she widened her arms and clasped her hands together -fingers intertwined, "I must know more about you! Please! Your favorite colors, foods, and-"
"Instead of trivial information like that," Osuushi spoke up, glancing over with a riddled look of bemusement coursing through his face, "Why don't you ask her something practical. Like some of that information she has."
Yes yes. Something she wouldn't have to think too hard about. To be completely honest, she had been wrapped in a daze, staring aimlessly through Hitsuji. Had her sensory not been trained to come to her much as breathing did, she would probably be completely numb even.
"Ahh! Yes. As I know, you were teammates with this Uchiha boy," Hitsuji's fingers were brushing past her lips like she was quelling some insatiable thirst, "Were you two by chance... Involved?"
The deep, breathy sighed of Osuushi rang out. He clearly intended to let the both of them know that he was exasperated.
Kiyowa could feel her previous exhaustion waft away momentarily at the rapid feelings of surprise and anxiety hitting her at such rapid succession. Involved? Did... Did she mean something like that? Would it even be partially acceptable for her to ask something like that? Even more, would it even be acceptable for her to answer?! By Osuushi's sign of growing tired, she assumed the answer to both would be - no. Thank God.
Her hand drifted down to her upper chest as if it needed to be there for her breathing to become stable.
"It was a Sasuke Uchiha related question," Hitsuji casually informed, peering to the group leader as if to most casually plead her case. Much to her disdain, however, she received a stern look of disapproval. She responded in a most bizarre way, rather than falling into immediate obedience or frightened crumpling to authority, she placed her hand over her lips to stifle a spilling giggle.
Confusion circulated within Kiyowa, but the diffusion of the situation was leading to the return of her exhaustion, and thus, the retreat of her focus into her recesses.
"I think it's about time we turn in. Rest is essential - we may not have until morning." Osuushi turned to face them both, setting down the map all marked with circles and scribbled with texts. "I will take watch, so don't waste what sleep I'm losing." It seemed to be an oppressive reminder to Hitsuji in particular, who seemed more disappointed towards the notion of sleep.
Regardless of signs hinting to nonverbal protest, the sheep let herself recline into a comfortable spot with what little compact bedding she'd brought along, and at least attempt slumber.
Ironically, despite the difference in initial signs of tire, she fell asleep long before Kiyowa had even gotten the chance to lie down.
"You too, Usagi," The bull Anbu informed, peering up from across the flames.
From that space, just in front of and above the light from the fire, she could see his face in what seemed to be a different way. His dark red eyes looked a little lighter, glossy and reflective from the orange glow that flickered beneath him. But just below those cherry hues, she could see just what made their color stand out so much. The skin beneath his eyes were dark with the scars of a sleepless man - a sign that made Kiyowa worry about his offer to wait by as they rested.
"I could..." Speaking to him dropped writhing, anxious feelings into her chest. It always worried her as well, that she could never attain the chance to read into his thoughts or find out how to adjust herself or her speech before continuing: no socializing safety net.
She swallowed deeply, wetting her drying throat before finding the strength to continue, "I could keep watch instead..."
"No." It was an abrupt and stern answer that sent goosebumps along her skin. "You should know this, Usagi. You're our sensory ninja, and our information bank. You have to be sharp at all times." His expression never changed, piercing eyes cutting through her helpful offerings.
Her head lowered, hiding the way her lips gestured through withdrawing and twisting in the same way her nervous digits did in her lap.
"You were ready to drop a second ago."
Her head took to rise slightly, allowing her peering eye just enough space under her hanging bangs to be seen, "A passing thing, I think..." She was still tired, but her offer needed to be backed up with sincerity if it would hold any weight.
"Then if you need information to bore you to sleep, I'll oblige with mission details." He brought the map into his hands and proceeded to fold it down to its compact rectangle, which he moved to the side.
His eyes were on her once more, and she could feel her breath catching in her throat. It was like natural intimidation, or something of the sort. Her eyes never peered up, only watched her own lap, but she still could feel his gaze, and her body was locking up as a result.
"You've been alongside us for a little over two days, and you've yet to educate yourself on just what you're working with." She could hear an edge of scolding easing into his words, "Were you briefed?"
Not at all. The whole mission was a sudden surprise. Being briefed on her team would have most-likely been way too responsible for someone like Shiji to do. The thought of it caused a bead of sweat to coast down her cheek. Still, out of fear of leaving him too long without a reply, she spoke up, "I wasn't. I'm sorry for that."
"As a member of the root cell, something has to make you stand out. You don't just join - even if you're given connections." His voice sounded even, never-changing, and the strength of confidence he spoke with made it clear he knew exactly what he was talking about.
The level of expertise he displayed was intimidating, and an easy reminder that she was still just a rookie.
She listened quietly, and he took this as a sign to proceed, "Your skill as a sensory ninja proves to be a valuable asset. The ability you possess is one that has yet to be fully analyzed - though nearly each clan is gifted with individual talent, so that isn't special. What's pulling your weight is how low in supply these ninja are."
He peered to the fire, offering only a dull stare as if taking an unconscious moment to sort out his thoughts. "Another supplementary asset to this team will be joining further ahead. He will be aiding us from a second branch of Konoha Anbu. All you need to know in short, is that his medical prowess is mind-blowing...
Hitsuji. Her most unique sense of aid lies upon her powerful genjutsu know-how. Aided with her chakra control, she comes in handy for a majority of situations."
The silence after the sentiment traveled on for a while, leaving Kiyowa's eyes to lie stagnant before raising up to see if he planned on continuing. The line-up described was a jitter-inducing force by brief description, but the inner curiosity that took root inside of her begged to see these people in action. To know if thee fearsome recruits are truly as threatening as detail serves.
Her fingers coiled around a couple small stray strands of hair that poked affront her ear and tucked it back where it belonged. She couldn't ignore that of all the people he mentioned just now, the most terrifying seemed to evade listing.
"...What about you?"
Kiyowa's question left the leader speechless momentarily. His eye seemed to gain a dull film that notably glossed at the lick of their dying candlelight. "You'll know that if it's meant for you to."
She watched him contemplatively until his eyes rose up. She guided hers swiftly away to evade potential eye contact.
"For now, you need to sleep. Sasuke Uchiha is dangerous foe, as I'm sure you of all people should know."
The comment let wonder take its time in stretching across her features, "...Foe. We don't have to speak like he's really our enemy..." Rehabilitation was the aim of the game, not getting involved in some sort of battle. That was the whole point in having these kind of people tracking him, and the whole point she was to be lending her assistance.
It didn't take but a moment for Osuushi to immediately put the pieces to the problem together. He let his eyes close, but there came no signs of stress, disappointment, or even exasperation -even though he showed himself so easily prone to experiencing the latter.
"Usagi. You can't be allowed to stay innocent for too long in this line of work," He finally spoke up.
This register almost as a sort of insult to Kiyowa. Her gaze turned on him incredulously, causing her green eyes to do what was akin to narrowing, "What do you mean by that?"
"Sasuke Uchiha is a dangerous rogue shinobi. His actions reflect the Leaf, and so long as he acts as he is, it destroys the character of the village, and puts it in a great deal of social and political danger amongst other major shinobi villages. That can easily result in pointing fingers, shaky tension and potentially even a war."
"That's why we're here! To bring him back!" Her voice had risen quickly, gaining an argumentative tone. Once she realized it, her hand lowered, as did her tone and the tension of her body, which loosened and fell into a more casual seating. Her eyes briefly caught the look of a stirring Hitsuji from her peripheral. Her cheeks lit up in a color of shock and embarrassment at her own actions, and quickly, respectfully, but not in a resigned manner, did she turn her eyes away, "S-Sorry."
"You're misinformed." He paused only long enough to watch the shock cross her face. He knew it would happen, and without a moment to let her recover, he finished his sentiment, "We're here to eliminate him."
Her expression crinkled before outright tearing apart. Her eyes stared in shock and awe, trying to fathom his words or to understand even a shred of the new information he presented. What her brother had told her... Albeit, even she could see it would be a gesture to protect her if anything, but... Would it even be moral for her to mix herself up in this? Could she witness him being eliminated that way? In front of her?
Her heart pounded against the inside of her chest like a panicked drumming, causing her hand to settle there as though it could really make a difference.
"It's at times like this that the innocence comment I made before becomes... necessary." He settled the map back in his lap once more, only peering up to her once as he did so, "A pure mind can't fathom the corruption of our justice, because a pure mind searches for an answer that protects everyone and exiles every dark deed." A subtle scoff-like sound passed through his lips, and just as the reddened coals died down to the depth of dusk, he left her with one last sentiment. "That's just not possible."
"Sleep well, Usagi."
A/N: Just a check up on Kiyowa or er... "Usagi" and the gang. That was... quite a thing. ANYWAY. This story is going to be jumping perspectives quite a bit for a while, so I hope you all can keep up and understand that~!
Please Read and Review for me, darling snowflakes! And spread the word is a furious flurry - PRINCESS SANTA CLAUSE THE 45th HAS RETURNED!
P.S. The OTP Poll has come back for your voting pleasure :)