Hitmichi knew that the two were near. He could feel it, their chakra's all too familiar. Too strong. Too overwhelming. He ran forwards through the mist. This time, he was going to outsmart them. He ran down a particular alley and made a clone. He left the clone and hide in a small crevice of the side of the building. He'd wait until they went for the clone and jump them from behind.
Umi walked out from behind the building and peered down the ally. She could see a figure in the mist frantically looking around for an escape, but there was none. Umi narrowed her eyes and shook her head. Was he an idiot; did he think she was an idiot?
"Hey..." Umi called out.
The form turned to look at her.
"Do you think I'm an idiot? You're a jounin, I wouldn't think climbing that wall would be a problem for you."
"Pathetic... good thing I wasn't raised here." Jatsu hissed, appearing behind the figure.
Before the figure could turn, Jatsu pulled out her arms from the cloak and threw a kunai in each direction. One went through the clone, turning it to a puddle of water, while the second kunai, with poison, embedded itself into Hitmichi's arm.
Umi was by the crevice now, and she reached in to yank him out by the collar. "Pathetic." She stated.
Hitmichi had pulled a kunai from his own pocket and went to stab it into Umi's stomach. Umi's eyes flashed to a saphire blue as she spun around and launched him into the wall before the kunai could penetrate her skin; it left a small tear in the side of her cloak. She glared.
Jatsu stepped forward to the man and sighed. "Why would you even do what you did? Was it worth your death?"
Hitmichi clenched his teeth, wincing at the pain of the poison spreading through his body. "They were too naive and stupid. They followed me as if I were leading them to heaven." Hitmichi glared up at Jatsu and he laughed.
Jatsu gritted her teeth as she pulled another kunai and swiftly slashed it across his face. "Shut up, you bastard!" She screamed, anger rising within her.
Umi eyed Jatsu carefully; something was up. Hitmichi winced and a smirk appeared on his face. "You have bite." He chuckled and pushed himself up from slouching. He breathed in roughly and let it out again. "We couldn't help it. It was different. It caught us on fire like nothing we've ever thought would have." Hitmichi narrowed his eyes. "You brought them all to one spot so we didn't even have to go far to be satisfied." He chuckled.
Jatsu gritted her teeth harder as she grabbed his collar and roughly shoved him into the brick wall. "Why tiny children! People my age would have made more sense! Instead you destroy young girls lives! It's not like it is already bad enough they're stuck in Affani! Ripped from their families with no hope of a future!" She screamed before spitting in his face. "Bastard!"
He chuckled and winced again after closing his eyes. His chuckling soon became a roaring laugh and he reopened his eyes. "It's been fourteen years... and you two were our first favourites." He chuckled again and narrowed his eyes. "Jatsu... and Umi..."
Jatsu's anger rose even more as she pushed him harder to the wall. "You're sick... disgusting!" She screamed before shoving her knee hard into his groin. "How does it feel?" She screamed.
Hitmichi held his breath and winced in pain. He groaned and squinted to look at Jatsu's expression: complete anger and disgust. "You two were the cutest..." He turned to look at Umi. "And the way you reacted to all those men guards..." He chuckled.
Umi's eyes flashed to the bright red and she walked over to stand beside Jatsu.
"Your words are like puke." Umi stated and pried his jaw apart. His jaw bone broke in three places and she reached in to slice his tongue off. "This is what you derserve."
Jatsu's hands trembled as she moved back, his body dropping to the ground. She closed her eyes and stumbled into the wall as she clenched her jaw. "N-No matter h-how many we kill... i-it wont take back what they did!" She screamed, tears brimming in her eyes.
"That's why I say they're all pigs. They're all disgusting." Umi stated. Umi closed her eyes for a moment and reopened them. She noticed two forms off in the distance through the fog. She stepped around Jatsu and narrowed her eyes.
"What are you two doing here?" Umi asked.
"Mission." Haruko shrugged before glacing at Jatsu who had crumpled to the ground with her face buried against her knees, her body trembling. "What happened to her?" He asked nervously.
Umi shrugged, slightly helpless. "I think everything is starting to overwhelm her."
Haruko frowned slightly before looking at Itomi. "Just gonna stand there?"
Itomi snapped from his trance and looked at Haruko to shake his head. "No.." He murmured and switched places with Umi. He knelt down beside Jatsu and placed his hand on her shoulder.
Jatsu bit her lip to hold back sobs as her body had continued to shake. How long had it been since she screamed like that? How long since she had cried? She couldn't remember any other time besides the day she was taken. She wiped her eyes on her sleeve before looking up at Itomi, speechless. Itomi frowned at her tear streaked face and moved closer, pulling her into his arms. He stroked her hair gently and rubbed her back. Jatsu held onto Itomi tightly, not caring if Umi was glaring. She needed comfort and Itomi was offering it.
Umi watched and bit her lip. Shaking her head, she turned away slightly. Her eyes were closed and she let out a sigh. She knew that Jatsu didn't share her views, and even though she didn't like Itomi wrapping his arms around her, she knew that it was for comfort, and no secret intentions. She re-opened her eyes to meet Haruko's gaze. Her eyes turned into a darker orange tinge.
Haruko watched Itomi and Jatsu with a frown before catching Umi's orange gaze. "New colour..." He chuckled lightly.
Umi diverted her eyes and frowned slightly. She didn't know her eyes had switched a colour, but seeing as it was new, and knowing the emotions flooding her body, she had a good idea of what the colour indicated.
"You alright, Umi?" Haruko murmured, glacing at Jatsu and Itomi again. "I'd understand if you broke down like she did..."
Umi pulled up her hood and crossed her arms over chest. Tears were threatening to fall from her eyes, but she was biting them back.
Haruko glanced at Umi before sighing. "A human being can only bottle up feelings for so long... eventually their conscious breaks down and their emotions run wild... you will snap as Jatsu has, Umi..." he murmured with a sigh.
Umi shook her head. "I've managed this far." She muttered, trying to hide her emotions from her voice.
"As did Jatsu.." he whispered, frowning at Umi.
Umi bit her lip and her body shook slighty. A tear fell from her eyes.
Haruko noticed her body tremble and spotted what he believed was a tear slipping down her face. "Umi... doesn't it hurt more trying to hold back?" He whispered, reaching his hand out to touch her shoulder before pulling it back with a sigh.
Umi turned her face up to meet his. A few more tears had fallen and her lip tembled. "Emotion is the prescence of weakness and uselessness." She muttered and look at the ground.
Haruko was taken aback before shaking his head. "Emotions keep you strong, on guard, make this pathetic world worth living in.. Umi...I..." he trailed off and closed his eyes as he gritted his teeth. What was the point? She didn't care what he said. He was just wasting his breath.
"Emotions are what made..." Umi turned her head slighty away. "I'm useless." She murmured, more to herself.
"Annoying..." Haruko corrected, looking away from her. "Not useless, just annoying... and you're only annoyng because you mess with my head.." he sighed.
Umi's eyes turned green as she looked at him with confusion. "Sorry I'm so...annoying, then."
Haruko rolled his eyes. "You don't get it.. I don't care if you're messing with my - well, I do mind... but you messing with my head is better than trying to kill me..." He sighed. "I just want you to smile at me.. and mean it..." he lowered his head.
Umi's expression softened and she tried to stiffle a giggle. "You're contradicting yourself, Haruko. I mess with the minds of my enemies in order to set up the kill." Umi laughed and smiled slighty. Her eyes turned from the green to the pale yellow.
Haruko shrugged. "No one said I was smart.." he murmured, still not looking at her.
"I didn't say that you weren't smart. I mean, you've manged to begin to change my..." her voice trailed off.
Haruko turned to glance at her. "Changed your what?"
Umi bit her lip. She didn't want to finish the sentence, so she went in another direction. "My eye colour...?"
Haruko blinked at her before shrugging. "What's yellow mean then?"
Umi gasped and turned away from his questioning gaze. She didn't think these emotions would show. But her eyes didn't lie, she was beginning to feel slightly affectionately towards him, and she almost felt sick.
"Or...not?" Haruko shrugged and sighed deeply.
Umi closed her eyes and swallowed. She turned around and walked over to stand directly in front of him. She avoided eye contact and stood there with her arms at her side, face slightly pink from embarrassment and conflicting frustrations. Haruko's face twisted in confusion as he looked down at her. He considered stepping back but his body refused to respond.
"Ah, U-Umi?" He stuttered, his voice barely a whisper.
Umi kept her eyes diverted as she bit her lip. She felt like an absolute fool standing in front of him like she was, but than it occurred to her; he was confused. He wasn't thinking like so many of those other guys. She looked up to meet his gaze and smiled. Haruko's eyes widened to an impossible size. Umi, was smiling for real... at him?
"D-Did I do something wrong?" He asked nervously.
Umi looked away quickly and shrugged. "Thank you.." she murmured.
His face twisted in confusion even more as he scratched his head. "For what? I-I don't understand..."
"That's exactly it..." she smiled again.
Haruko just shook his head and looked to Jatsu and Itomi who were now on their feet. Jatsu walked to the mans body, forming seals and lighting his body on fire.
"We need to find Kazue." She murmured with a sigh.
"Where would she be then?" Haruko asked Jatsu with a sigh.
"Wandering the village in search of me with her boyfriend…" Jatsu stated.
"Then it shouldn't be too hard to find them." Umi stated and smiled.
Jatsu glanced at Umi, her face twisting in confusion at her smile and the pale yellow shade her eyes had changed to. "You feeling okay, Umi?"
Umi raised her eyebrow and nodded slowly. "Why wouldn't I be?"
Jatsu shook her head. "N-No reason…"
Haruko couldn't resist a smirk as he turned his back to everyone. "Let's go then… we bumped into her earlier…"
Umi nodded and turned to follow Haruko, along with the others.
"Should we try splitting up?" Kazue asked as she looked around the area.
Nikito shook his head. "We just need to get somewhere high… I'll be able to sense your sisters chakra.."
Kazue nodded and jumped up onto the nearest roof. She looked around carefully and turned to Nikito now standing beside her. "I feel that other girls chakra…" She murmured.
Nikito closed his eyes and nodded. "Those male's are with them… maybe I should worry…" He murmured with a laugh.
"I got your back.." Kazue laughed and smiled.
Nikito smiled and opened his eyes to glance at her. "I found her. Follow." He stated, jumping down and breaking into a run. Kazue kept right on his heels.
Jatsu sensed her sister nearing and forced the group to stop. Seconds after, Nikito was spotted running toward them, Kazue close behind. The two slowed down and stopped in front of the four.
"Didn't burn anything with my scroll I hope." Jatsu smirked.
Kazue shook her head and smiled. "But not too long previous, it was in Nikito's pocket." she laughed.
Jatsu smiled and stepped to Kazue, pulling her into her arms. "It'd suck to be your boyfriend then…" She murmured with a laugh.
Kazue laughed and rolled her eyes. "Dad was wondering about the scroll…"
Nikito rolled his eyes. "She made a lie saying it was a poem I wrote…"
Jatsu chuckled. "Sora was always curious…" She murmured, stepping back from her sisters arms.
Kazue nodded with agreement. "But you can't help it, he's lost his wife and first daughter." Kazue frowned slightly.
Jatsu frowned in return and sighed. "If this plan works, I can return home, Kazue…"
Kazue couldn't contain her grin. "That's why we will not fail."
"Easier said than done…" Haruko mumbled.
Jatsu turned to glare at Haruko and he just laughed. "It's true…" He murmured.
"Well, we better head back to the base." Umi said after a moment of silence.
Jatsu nodded before smirking. "First… Kazue… I'm not sure if you were formally introduced before, but this is Itomi." She said with a smirk, looking up at who she already considered her boyfriend.
Itomi smirked and stepped up beside Jatsu, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her against himself. "I'm the one that you don't quite trust, but I make her thoughts run wild." He chuckled.
Jatsu blushed faintly as she looked to her sister. "Think Sora would approve?" She asked with a smirk.
Kazue blinked twice and laughed. "Really? You think dad would approve?" She turned to look at Itomi and laughed again. "Good luck. He still doesn't completely trust Nikito yet."
"So you are dating him!" Jatsu laughed.
Nikito's face heated up as he looked away. Kazue's mouth gaped slightly as she tried to find the right words. She stuttered over a few at first.
"We…aren't…" Kazue's voice trailed off and she casted her eyes to the ground, a light blush taking over her cheeks.
Jatsu stepped from Itomi's arms to walk over and pull Nikito's cheek. "You like my sister or not?"
"Jatsu-chan!" Kazue's eyes widened and her face heated up even more.
"Heh, Jatsu-chan?" Haruko snickered.
Jatsu glared at Haruko before looking at Nikito again. "Do yah!"
Nikito could only nod, his face as red as it could get.
Kazue face palmed and turned her face at an attempt to hide her re face. "Jatsu…" She murmured under her breath.
"Don't have the guts to ask her?" Jatsu continued, ignoring Kazue.
Kazue gasped and turned back to Nikito and Jatsu. "N-Nikito, you don't have to answer…" She mumbled.
Nikito took in a deep breath to suppress the blush as he reached to pull Jatsu's hand from his cheek. He looked from Kazue to Jatsu before smirking at the older sibling. "You don't know the situation… I do like her, and I do have the guts, but I am willing to wait." He smirked.
Jatsu eyed Nikito for a moment before turning to Kazue and grabbing her cheek. "So… why you being such a chicken?"
Kazue glared and slapped her sisters hand away. "I'm not a chicken…" She mumbled.
"Then… what's the issue? Do you not like him in return?" She asked with a smirk.
Kazue crossed her arms and stuck up her nose. "He already knows how feel, and that's who only needs to know."
Jatsu glanced at Nikito who had a faint blush on his face. She smirked and faced Kazue again. "Good act, sis. But your boyfriend's face kinda gives it away. You like him in return, so I ask again… why are you being a chicken? You could die on this mission… you want to die with the burden of knowing you never kissed your crush?" She smirked.
Kazue's eyes widened momentarily, but then she shut them and turned her face away, choosing not to answer Jatsu's question.
Haruko sighed and looked to Jatsu. "Leave 'em be… you're just being a pest."
"Like you're not a pest to Umi." Jatsu stated with narrowed eyes.
Haruko gritted his teeth and sighed, looking away. Umi's eyes widened and she shook her head. "H…He isn't being a pest…" Umi murmured quietly and lowered the hood over her face.
Jatsu's eyes widened as she looked from Haruko who now too, was in shock. Jatsu sighed and crossed her arms over her chest. "Okay, so I'm gonna do this before we all possibly die…" Jatsu bend down a bit and twisted her head to look up at Umi's hidden face. "Do you like him?" She whispered with a raised eyebrow.
Umi lifted her head to glance at Haruko before lowering her head again. She blinked, and her eyes turned to purple, a slight blush tinting her cheeks. "They still disgust me…" She murmured.
Jatsu smirked. "But you have feelings toward him… I can see in it your eye colour…"
Umi widened her eyes and shook her head. "How?" She asked.
"A blush on your face-"
"Anger…" Umi explained.
"Anger equals black eyes." Jatsu smirked.
Umi closed her eyes and reopened them, her eyes turned to a bright red and she glared at Jatsu. But just as the colour had came, it was gone and turned back to purple.
"Bright red… kill. Sapphire… impatient… yellow, light green and purple are still unknown to me…"
"And orange…" Haruko mumbled.
"Orange?" Jatsu asked, smirking again as she looked back at Umi. "A colour only he has seen…"
Umi shrugged. "So my eye colour changes with my mood, so what?" She shrugged and sighed, lifting her head and turning it away from Jatsu, catching Haruko's gaze. Her eyes widened slightly and looked in the opposite direction. Her eyes turned to the pale yellow again. She sighed and tried to shake her head of the emotions flooding her mind. This missions took her on a toll that she hadn't imagined would happen.
Jatsu sighed and stood straight again. "We're not leaving until I figure this out, otherwise it will be bugging me and I'll become vulnerable.." She sighed. "Let's start with green… what do you feel when that happens?"
"I feel confused." Umi stated and sighed.
"Green, confusion, got it." Jatsu smirked. "So… pale yellow?"
Umi closed her eyes partly as her blush deepened. "Nothing…" She murmured.
"No." Jatsu sighed. "You cannot lie to me… especially this possibly close to our death. What do you feel, right now?"
Umi smirked and she opened her eyes to look at Jatsu, her eyes now bright red again. "Like I want to really hurt you."
Jatsu rolled her eyes. "What does the yellow mean!" She groaned in annoyance.
"Hey, what's that on Haruko's face?" Kazue asked with confusion and pointed to his face.
Everyone turned to look at Haruko's face after following where Kazue was pointing. Nothing was there. Umi inspected his face, but found nothing. Her eyes lingered on his and she turned around again, her eyes turning back to the pale yellow."
"Maybe she thinks he's cute? Affection…?" Kazue shrugged.
Jatsu smirked and ruffled Kazue's hair. "Brilliant!" She grinned. "Yellow, done."
Umi bit her lip and turned around to walk away from the group. Jatsu smirked and grabbed the hood of her cloak. "Oh no you don't…"
Umi's face was now exposed and it was red. She gasped and turned her face from the groups. "Let go." She growled.
"No." Jatsu hissed. "I told you, I go into battle with this in my head, and it will get me killed."
Umi gritted her teeth and turned to meet Jatsu's narrowed eyes. She turned to look at Haruko's gaze and her expression softened. She looked back at Jatsu and frowned. "I…just don't understand this." Umi murmured and bit her lip again. "It…hurts." She whispered and dropped to her knee's, pulling her hood up and over her head to cover her face. "He...I just-"
Jatsu dropped to her knees in front of Umi and pulled her into a hug. "Want to understand? I can help… but you have to promise not to attack Haruko…"
"W-what?" Umi asked quietly. Tears were now falling from her eyes.
"Promise…" Jatsu whispered.
"I…promise?" She said with confusion.
Jatsu shrugged and pulled back. "Good enough." She smirked, looking up at Haruko. "Hopefully you'll be okay."
"What a-are you plotting?" Haruko stuttered nervously.
Jatsu took Umi's hands and pulled her back to her feet before turning her around to face Haruko. She walked over to Haruko and whispered in his ear, his eyes widened as he looked from Umi to Jatsu. Jatsu smiled and nodded. Haruko nervously looked back to Umi and blushed faintly. Umi wasn't looking at Haruko; she was trying to hide her tears.
"Look at him…" Jatsu murmured.
Umi sniffled and shook her head, lowering the hood again. Jatsu sighed and looked to Haruko giving him a nod. Haruko bit his lip, his heart racing as he gently wrapped his arms around Umi, holding her close. Umi's eyes widened and her breathing stopped, her body going rigged. Haruko let out a sigh of relief and relaxed his shoulders a bit. He bent down to her ear and whispered, "You know I wont hurt you… don't you?"
Umi attempted to breath again and she gripped his cloak nervously, torn between wanting to shove him away and not wanting him to go. Her body began to shake slightly and she finally began to breathe slowly again. Haruko smiled softly and whispered again.
"I don't actually know why you hate men, but I promise I wont let anyone hurt you… if you don't want me, say so.. But I will still watch out for you… if you want it or not…"
Umi shut her eyes tightly and gulped, burying her face into his chest. "I…" She murmured and shook her head. She tried to push back from his embrace, but then pulled herself close again. "No." She whispered.
Jatsu smiled softly and looked up to Itomi, whispering, "Jatsu wins…"
Itomi rolled his eyes and chuckled lightly. "You're too blunt for your own good."
Jatsu smirked and moved to his side, hugging him close. "That's why you're attracted to me… my epic personality."
"Goes epically hand in hand with mine." He smirked and wrapped his arms around her.
"Indeed it does." She smirked, moving to kiss his cheek softly.
"Sh…should we start going now?" Kazue asked her sister.
Jatsu smirked and ignored Kazue, glancing at Nikito instead. Nikito raised an eyebrow and whispered to Kazue, "You're sister kinda creeps me out…"
Kazue stifled a laugh and nodded. "She gets it from dad."
Nikito stared blankly at Jatsu. "…That… explains it…" He sighed.
"H…Haruko…" Umi whispered, gripping his cloak tightly in both hands.
"Yes?" He whispered, loosening his grip on her a bit.
Umi lifted her face to look into his eyes, her cheeks were stained with tears and her face was blushing slightly, eyes now a darker purple. "Th…thank you."
Haruko blinked a few times before smiling. "N-No problem… J-Jatsu had only told me to hug you.." He murmured, his face deepening in colour as he looked away.
Umi nodded and buried her face back into his chest. "I-I know…" She mumbled into his cloak.
"S-So am I still a pig?" He smirked.
Umi shook her head slightly. "I'm sorry about that…" She mumbled.
Haruko shook his head. "I understand…"
Umi sighed and moved her hands from gripping the front of his cloak to snake her arms around his waist. His eyes widened slightly as he smiled. "You don't have to do anything you're not comfortable with…" He whispered beside her ear.
Her arms were shaking, and her body began to shake again. She shook her head and breathed in deeply. "I-I need…to." She murmured quietly.
Haruko sighed and hugged her tighter. "I'm sorry, Umi…" He whispered, biting his lip. "I'm sorry that you hate men…"
Umi shook her head. "It's..n-not your fault. I shouldn't have applied what they did to all." She murmured.
Haruko smiled slightly. "I'm glad you're opening up then…"
Umi closed her eyes. After a few moments of silence, Umi began to shake again. She gasped as the realization really began to hit her about what was happening. She pulled back and pushed herself from his arms and straightened her cloak, looking away with a reddened face. Haruko didn't question her as he rested his arms at his sides and looked to the others.
"You good now, Jatsu?" He asked with a smirk.
"Depends…" She smirked, looking up at Itomi.
Itomi raised his eyebrow as he peered down at Jatsu. "I'd say so…"
Jatsu smirked and moved around Itomi and jumped on his back. "Okay!"
"What is up with you?" Haruko asked in confusion, unused to Jatsu's odd actions.
"I'm being smart!" Jatsu stated before sighing. "If there's a chance that I'm gonna die today, I'd at least like to act like an idiot!"
"Uhm…shouldn't we catch up to Umi?" Kazue asked, pointing to Umi who had a good head start, almost disappearing into the mist.
Jatsu nodded. "Onward march!" She smirked at Itomi, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Nikito shook his head. "She's really scary now…" He stated, walking off away from Jatsu before she… rubbed off on him.
Itomi scratched his head and began to walk forward. "You're heavy." He said jokingly.
Jatsu stared blankly and jumped off his back, walking up ahead and pulling up her hood, a smirk actually plastered on her face, however she wanted to make him believe otherwise.
Itomi caught up behind her an wrapped his arms around her neck, jumping on her back. "How about this?"
Jatsu stumbled and just barely remained standing. "Itomi! You're like… fifty times taller than me! This is odd!"
Itomi laughed and placed his feet back onto the ground. "Well, if we die, I would at least like to be able to act like an idiot as well." He stated and turned her around to wrap his arms around her arms as her feet dragged under him.
Jatsu smirked as her hood fell down and she looked into Itomi's golden eyes. "Then is sneaking another kiss an option?" She chuckled.
Itomi let out a whine. "But there isn't any guards around!"
Jatsu looked around at the other three along with Umi who was still ahead. "There's my sister?" She laughed.
Itomi shook his head. "She won't do."
Jatsu pretended to pout. "B-but… Itomi…"
Itomi rolled his eyes and caught her off guard as he rolled his head and landed his lips on hers. Jatsu's eyes widened before she melted against his lips. Itomi looked up at the others and held Jatsu tighter. "Just because we may die." He chuckled lightly.
Jatsu pulled back from his lips and smirked. "So what does that mean if we don't die and defeat the Affani? Does that mean you're going to leave me?" She whispered, a frown covering her face as she looked away.
Itomi shrugged. "I guess so."
Jatsu nodded and pulled herself from his arms to walk on her own, pulling her hood back up as she looked ahead at the others. "I figured as much…" She sighed.
Itomi sighed and reached out to grab her wrist, stopping and pulling her back to his embrace. "You really are acting the part of an idiot." He muttered.
Jatsu scoffed. "How can you say that?"
Itomi moved his face closer and rested his lips on hers. He held her close and closed his eyes. Jatsu closed her eyes in return as she wrapped her arms around Itomi.
He pulled back and placed his hands on either side of her face and looked deeply into her eyes. "We've been in this organization together for fourteen years, and we hit it off basically from the start. I've grown an unending love for you, Jatsu. I wouldn't just leave like that. I can't, and I won't."
Jatsu searched his eyes and smiled softly. "B-But… what bout your family?"
"It's been fourteen years. I'm sure they're not expecting me back. Besides, I have no parents, I grew up with my grandfather, and he was pretty old when I was taken."
Jatsu lowered her head and sighed. The children in the organization usually avoided talking about their families, so this information was new to Jatsu. She sighed again and looked back up at him with a small smile. "Then when we get outta this organization, I'm taking you with me to the Mist."
Itomi shrugged. "Alright." He smiled and entwined his fingers with hers as he began to walk after the others, now quite at a distance.
Kenzu sighed as he looked out the window from his chair seated against the centre of the far wall. "I think it will be coming to an end soon…" He murmured.
"You seem so down, Kenzu." Ryomatsu sighed.
Kenzu nodded. "We're going to have to destroy our own creation…"
Haito sighed. "They've got the men involved as well."
"They'll all have to be killed…" Ryomatsu stated.
"By our hands… or their own followers?" Kenzu asked, looking to his co-leaders.
Haito shook her head. "They're too powerful, and the little ones will not understand."
"So then we must shed their blood on our own hands?' Kenzu asked, looking to Haito.
Haito nodded and sighed, sitting back in her chair that was to the left of Kenzu's. "Such a shame. All four, gone like the wind. That's what we get for allowing ourselves to allow them free will. We'll have to tighten our rules and terms."
Ryomatsu nodded and sighed as well. "It wont be long before they reach us…"
Kenzu nodded and stood up. "We should prepare…"
Haito nodded and glanced at Mikiito. "Meet them at the door when they arrive."
Mikiito bowed her head before leaving the room.
The six of them sat on the boat, nearing the island that the Affani base sat on. Jatsu bit her lip and turned to look at Kazue. "I-I don't know what abilities you have... but I really hope they're good…"
Kazue laughed and shrugged, turning to Nikito. "Are they good?" She asked.
Nikito smiled and nodded. "You don't have to worry, Jatsu. Kazue can handle herself."
Jatsu smiled softly. "When I return home, I'll have to see if I can train you up a bit." She said with a wink.
Kazue laughed and shrugged. "Nikito has been training with me a lot, and he's a pretty good fighter. He might be the next Mizukage." She grinned and glanced at Nikito for a second.
Haruko overheard and laughed. "He will be… the only other one running against him, is dead."
Nikito's eyes widened as he looked to Haruko. "D-Dead? I-I'm the… Mizukage's only other choice?"
Kazue shrugged. "I hated that girl anyways." She murmured and turned to Nikito. "See, both dreams aren't as big as a stretch as you thought. You're the hero, and you get the girl." She laughed, and blushed in embarrassment at what she had blurted out.
"I get the girl?" He chuckled and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, moving to whisper in her ear. "Do I really, get the girl, Kazue?" He smirked.
Kazue's eyes partly closed as she looked away blushing. "It…just came out…" she laughed nervously.
He chuckled. "So then not all my dreams came true…" He whispered.
"Ah…well…I mean, they could…" Kazue shrugged and looked around the area awkwardly, avoiding everyone's gaze.
Nikito smiled and kissed her cheek before pulling back and putting his arm back at his side. Kazue sighed quietly and crossed her arms. Jatsu wrapped her arm over Kazue's shoulders and pulled her close to her side. "Stop pouting… just be his princess already." She chuckled.
"I already am…" She whispered. "But nothing more…"
Jatsu laughed. "You should seal that bond with a kiss before he is dubbed Mizukage… after that, girls will swarm him if he remains single." She whispered in return.
Kazue blushed and glanced over at Nikito. She shook her head and sighed again. She leaned over and wrapped her arms around his arms, hiding her face behind his back. Nikito snapped from his thoughts as he glanced at Kazue. "Something wrong?"
Kazue didn't respond, but she hugged him tighter. Nikito sighed and moved her to pull her into his chest. "What's wrong?" He asked again with a small smile.
Kazue pulled back to glance at the people around them and leaned in to whisper in his ear, "Promise me…when you become Mizukage, that it'll only be me…"
He blinked in confusion as he glanced at her. "What will only be you?" He whispered back.
"You'll only…look at me…" She murmured.
Nikito blinked a few times before sighing, a small smile tugging at his lips. "It's always been you, Kazue… I've never wanted anyone else." He whispered, placing his hand on her cheek.
Kazue looked away and blushed with a nod. "Okay…" She whispered.
Jatsu had watched and listened the best she could. Since she didn't see a kiss, she rolled her eyes before leaning her head on Itomi's shoulder.
Kazue glanced at Jatsu and saw that she wasn't looking and turned back to Nikito, placing a quick kiss on the edge of his lips. Nikito's eyes widened as his face heated up slightly. "What was that for?" He whispered.
Kazue pulled away from him and leaned back against the side of the boat, face now completely red. "It's for you…" She stated.
Nikito rolled his eyes before glancing over at Kazue. "Thought it was meant for after we win?"
"I didn't actually kiss you yet…" She whispered and crossed her arms.
He chuckled. "True… very true point."
Kazue closed her eyes and drew her knee's up to her chest with a sigh. He smiled and pushed some hair from her eyes. "Thank you."
Kazue smiled slightly and looked out at the sea around them. "You're welcome."
"We're minutes away." Haruko stated, looking around at the others in the boat.
Umi was still standing, but her hood was drawn up and her eyes were closed. When she heard Haruko's exclamation, she opened her eyes and looked in the direction he was looking.
Her eyes instantly flashed to sapphire and she walked to the bow of the boat to stand beside Haruko. "Good."
Haruko glanced at Umi and sighed. "You ready for this then?"
Umi turned her face to look at him. "What do you think?" She smiled.
Haruko chuckled and smiled in return. "Glad someone is then…"
Umi shrugged. "I hate the leaders… Ryomatsu…then Kenzu…and Haito last. They're both…" Umi trailed off and turned her face back to look at the advancing land.
"Men?" Haruko finished with a small sigh.
Umi sighed and closed her eyes. "I'm sorry."
Haruko shrugged and sighed. "Everyone hates the leaders… but they wont make this easy… I have a feeling most of us will die today…" He whispered so only Umi could hear.
Umi bit her lip and nodded. She knew he was telling the truth. Cautiously, she reached over to grab his hand. "Be careful." She murmured, looking away.
Haruko looked down at their hands before back at her face that was turned away. He gave a soft smile before squeezing her hand, his eyes looking back out at the land. "You too… I'll be watching your back, Umi…"
Umi nodded and stepped closer to wrap her arms around his one. "Don't let your guard down in doing so, though."
Haruko chuckled. "I wont. My kekkei genkai doesn't make letting your guard down easy."
Umi nodded and closed her eyes, leaning her head against his shoulder. "Good."
Haruko smiled before looking down at Umi. "When this is over, and if you survive, are you going with Jatsu to the Mist?"
Umi shrugged. "I…don't know." She murmured. "But I have no home."
Haruko frowned slightly but sighed. "I'm sorry… I kind of know what you're saying though… my mother died when I was three and my father died trying to protect me from Affani…"
Umi frowned and looked at the ground. "My parents gave me willingly."
"They made a mistake then." He stated with a small smile. "To give up someone as precious as you? They must have been crazy."
Umi gasped and turned away. "My parents didn't care about me. I was happy they gave me up."
Haruko thought for a moment before sighing. "I'm glad then… I mean, Affani is torture, but if it's better than your home…" He tailed off and shook his head. "Can you promise me something?" He whispered, looking away again.
Umi grunted, keeping her head in the opposite direction.
"When we're fighting the leaders, don't focus on me at all…"
"W-what?" Umi turned her head to look at him.
He kept his gaze hidden from hers as he sighed. "I've seen how you fight… if your mind is clear that is. If you focus on me and if I'm alright or even alive, it will make you vulnerable. You're still getting used to even liking me… s-so… try not to think on it… if possible, forget I'm even there…"
Umi closed her eyes and nodded. "Then you better be alive when we're finished."
Haruko chuckled slightly. "I will try my best, Umi."