"Do I know you?" Hannah asked, squinting as though X-ray vision would suddenly be granted to her. "What is your name?"
"Yuri, the manager of the paint shop."
Hannah stepped out of the cold shower, sore and exhausted. Her shirt was a blue tank top with mesh fish net sleeves covering her shoulders. She wore baggy army green cargo pants with chains.
Who would have thought my boss was such a sadist? Hannah reflected, wincing at the all too fresh memory of Yuri's arduous exercise. Her muscles felt like they had run across the desert to find an oasis, only to discover it was a mirage.
The American ventured downstairs to unearth food from cupboards and the refrigerator. She discovered a variation of berries, different cheeses, fruit, vegetables, eggs, grain porridge, bread, salt, water, pepper, mustard, ketchup, soups, and chicken.
Hannah's stomach was impressed.
She ate more than a football team after the Superbowl. The American polished off a slice of toast when a preppy voice said rather loudly, "I mean no manners. She eats like a pig. It's a wonder she has a figure."
Hannah turned in her seat to see Rin Nikomedes conversing with Chika Ayame in the next room, glancing her way. Chika's lips moved but the American missed what she was saying.
"Oh poo, she isn't pretty. She's hideous. Look at those horrendous pants, if they can even be called those. Not a shred of fashion taste," Rin sniffed.
"Rin, you're so pretty," Hannah complimented sweetly.
"Why, thank you-" Rin began happily, straightening the wrinkles in her clothes.
"Pretty ugly," Hannah snorted, standing to set her dish in the sink.
Rin's light colored face blotched. "You think you're funny Anna-"
"Ha ha," she interrupted.
The blotch darkened. "But you're as funny as a pain in the ass."
"That's pretty funny," Hannah admitted, "but not as funny as your face." In America, insults and comebacks were common as cellphones, iPods, and technology. It wasn't hard for her to volley an insult.
Rin flashed Hannah the bird.
"When, where, and how hard?" The American purred.
Rin recoiled in horror and Hannah snorted. "You wish."
Chika's lips were trembling upward and she stumbled out of the room quickly to laugh in peace. Rin stood in all her towering pink glory, standing Hannah up almost nose to nose.
"All's fair in love and war," she hissed.
"Love is war, you idiot," Hannah said with disdain, taking a step away from angry Barbie. "What makes you think Gaara will love you? Seriously?"
"Absence makes the heart grow fonder," Rin sighed with hearts in her eyes.
"Fonder of what? Your absence?" Hannah muttered. Rin heard and a pulsing anger mark appeared on her forehead.
The American patted her shoulder. "Little things please little minds. Now excuse me, 'I will keep where there is wit stirring, and leave the faction of fools.'" Hannah walked away with Shakespeare as her victory card.
"You-You little disgusting bitch!" screeched Rin, beginning to go bananas.
Hannah only smiled. "If the shoe fits-"
"Don't you dare."
"Wear it," Hannah finished with deliberate slowness.
"I'm going to get you, Anna!" Rin screamed, face red.
"No time like the present," the American smirked, jumping aside as Rin charged, tripping over her outstretched foot, and careened into the table.
Blond hair sticking up everywhere and clothes wrinkled, Rin rushed again, shouting, "Don't give yourself airs!"
Hannah caught the fist to her eye and fell back. Rin was about to fall on the American with her elbow aimed for the stomach, but Hannah kicked the spoiled preppy in the shin before accidentally kicking her breast.
The two had a long row before it ended with Rin straddling Hannah while banging her head on the tile. Both had cuts, bruises, scratches, missing pieces of hair, and were bleeding slightly.
"I. Have. An. Ace. Up. My. Sleeve. For. My. Gaara!" Rin said, emphasizing each word with a downward thrust of her arm, causing Hannah's face to kiss the floor.
Hannah pinched Rin's thigh hard. The preppy shrieked and the American scrambled up. Rin fell back on the floor. Hannah delivered one last gratifying punch to Rin's nose. It crunched.
Hannah spat in the wailing wimp's face before staggering upstairs. Everything was light and hazy, tinged with blood and anger. Hime Maite materialized at the top of the staircase with a tight, concerned expression.
"Where you and Rin fighting?" she gasped, supporting Hannah. "What happened?"
"She acted in cold blood," the triumphant American coughed vaguely, feeling her ribs ache. "We have a bone to pick with each other. The bitter pill to swallow is that she lives here with us." Right now she felt like speaking with idioms.
Maite used her Chakra to lessen Hannah's tender ribs and injuries. The American thanked her and promptly went out like a light.
P-p-P-p-P-p-P-p-P
Hannah bolted up, wide awake. What time is it? She mentally panicked and whirled around to find the alarm clock, knocking it over in the process. Chewing on her bottom lip and cursing softly, Hannah saw it was 7:30.
The American suddenly realized that an ANBU member had been assigned to watch her twenty-four seven, and paused. How to lose a ninja better than you?
An epiphany smacked Hannah upside the head. Dress as Maite, lie about visiting Kankuro, dance with Obsidian Luminosity, swing by and say 'hi' to the puppet master, and come back home. It was foolproof.
But what if the hime has a personal guard?
Hannah chewed on her lip. Oh forget the personal guard, I have four days to learn how to dance! I'll just have to play my cards close to my chest.
Another scheme came to mind. "Hey, Maite," Hannah called. Hime-sama rushed up the stairs. "What?" she asked breathlessly, wide-eyed.
"Do you want to say 'hello' to your potential groom?" the sly American inquired.
The teal-haired royal's cheeks flushed. "I-I guess."
"I'll go with you. For moral support," Hannah offered. I got a royal flush! I win.
Maite dove forward and grabbed her friend's hands, shaking them vigorously. "Arigatou! Oh, arigatou, Anna-chan! I won't forget this!"
Please do, Hannah hoped silently as Maite hurried to get dressed. The American calmly slipped on black pants and onyx combat boots, wearing a green tank top as her royal friend zoomed around the room in a comical paranoia.
"Okay, enough primping," Hannah said with some annoyance. "You don't have to goose yourself up for a guy. If he doesn't like you for you, forget the jerk and move on."
"H-hai," Maite agreed. "What is the backpack for?"
"Just in case either of us gets cold, I'm bringing jackets." Hannah had her lines down cold. In truth, it was the rest of her costume. She prayed she wasn't too late.
They went to the house the Sand siblings shared without being accosted. Maite and Hannah stood before the door. The princess was glancing around nervously.
"I'll leave you two alone so you don't have to worry about saying anything awkward," Hannah reassured her. "Just get to know each other for two hours and I'll be in this vicinity. Just call my name if you need me."
Maite opened her mouth to speak but Hannah pounded on the door and dashed behind some bushes that happened to be there. The princess paled as the door opened. Then turned bright, flaming red.
Kankuro wore a deep purple and black yukata with a scarlet sash girding his waist. He was without face paint and puppets. Without either, Kankuro astonishingly resembled his dead father, the previous Kazekage. He also looked a lot more…handsome.
Despite he was the spitting image, Hannah guessed Kankuro hated seeing his father's face and hid it under paint.
The puppet master ran a hand through his brown, spiky hair, a frown on his face as he stared down at the blushing princess. Maite did the only thing a true princess would- she fainted.
Kankuro, alarmed, caught her and hoisted her up bridal style. Hannah smiled as the door closed.
The American transformed into Pallid Obscurity, bandaging her wig down because of her black eye. Pallid Obscurity stuffed the backpack under the brush and took off in the shadows carefully, expecting Obsidian Luminosity to be there.
Disclaimer: don't own Shakespeare or his quote.
Arigatou- thank you
Hai- yes
Iie- no