As the day went on, and several fights between Keiko and Minako were broken apart, the cold of the night began to take over and Yama annoucned that they needed to stop. Minako didn't hesitate to stop as she found a cave for them to stay in for the night. Kazuko agreed to take watch as Minako sat in the far part of the cave, accidently slipping into a deep sleep.
-Minako's Dream-
Minako wandered around; her eyes scanning the area for... something. Her eyes landed on a guy. She ran over quickly to see who it was when someone jumped in her way.
"N-No!" She shrieked.
"Yes!" The monster hissed, blood tainting it's face and hands.
"Wh-who did you kill this time?" She asked, her voice cracking.
The monster moved its bloody hand on the guy and moved his face into view.
"No!" Minako screamed as she fell to her knees, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"He tried to remove me from you... he had to die!" The monster hissed again.
"Hibiki!" She screamed again.
-Minako's Dream End-
"Hibiki!" Minako shrieked through her tears as she tried to open her eyes.
Hibiki was instantly by her side, trying to calm her down before the others were awaken. "I'm right here." He whispered gently as he held her tightly.
Minako's eyes snapped open as she clung to Hibiki; tears streamed down her cheeks as she tried to calm herself down again.
"You're awake now, it's alright." Hibiki whispered softly.
"Is she alright?" Satomi stirred from her sleep.
Minako shook her head violantly as she hugged Hibiki as close as she could.
Satomi, as tired as she was, crawled over to where Hibiki and Minako were and hugged Minako gently. "Whatever it was, I hope it's gone now."
Minako was too shaken to even push Satomi away. She tried to keep herself from hypervenilating as she buried her face in Hibiki's chest.
"Is it something I can help with?" Satomi asked, feeling saddened.
Hibiki shook his head, "I'm sorry, but it can only be done by Minako. All we can do is try to keep her stable."
"Stable?" Satomi asked quietly.
"Certain things can trigger her brain to go unstable, as some people call it insane. And that's when she can't control what she does and...well...people tend to die or get seriously injured." Hibiki replied just as quietly.
Satomi frowned and hugged Minako tightly. "I hope you find rest, Minako. Stay strong."
Minako pushed back from the two as she leaned against the wall, wiping at her tears. "Th-thanks..." She whispered.
Satomi smiled. "I hope you're better." She yawned. "I'm sorry, but I need to get back to sleep. You'll be fine, right?"
Minako nodded weakly. "I-I'm s-so sorry... for waking you... just sleep... Satomi..."
"Nah, don't worry about me, Minako." Satomi laughed weakly. "I'm more concerned about you then my sleep. But Hibiki can take care of you now." Satomi smiled once again and returned to her bed, quickly falling asleep.
"Are you okay?" Hibiki moved to sit beside Minako.
Minako rested her head on Hibiki. "N-No... it was the same... dream... but... worse... i-it talked to me..." She whispered, closing her eyes.
"What did?" Hibiki asked.
"Th-the monster... th-the... the thing that makes me... crazy... sh-she said that you tried to get rid of it... s-so it had to kill you..." She choked on a sob as her hand dug into her arm.
Hibiki noticed Minako's fingernails digging deeply into skin and he reached over to pull her hand away, placing it gently on his cheek. "Don't let that monster overwhelm you. Fear is a choice, and as much as it is hard to overcome, you can. You can control what you fear and fear not; don't let it control your mind."
Minako cried silently as she moved closer to Hibiki. "H-Hibiki... wh-why? Why do you bother... with me... I-you shouldn't love me... I-I'm going to hurt you... and I don't want to... I just don't want to hurt anymore!" She cried harder as her hand that wasn't on his cheek, curled into a fist.
Hibiki looked sorrowfully into Minako's eyes. "I bother because you're worth it!"
She looked up to search his eyes. "I-I'm sorry... I don't mean to anger you..." She whispered, thinking Hibiki was mad at her.
"I'm not angry, Minako. Angry is the moment that you wouldn't be able to handle me." Hibiki laughed at the irony of his statement. "But anger is far from my thoughts at the moment. I can only be concerned for you." Hibiki closed his eyes and breathed slowly and kissed her wrist gently. "I love you too much to not bother."
Minako choked on another sob before leaning forward and connected her lips to his. "Thank you." She murmured against his lips.
Keiko sighed quietly while listening to the two speak. She had been awakened shortly before Minako's episode and since has been awake. Yama slept beside her, and he was sound asleep on his side. His eyes were mostly closed and his breathing was deep and rhythmic. Keiko frowned and reached over to grab Yama's open hand, pulling it closer and resting her head on his palm. "Thank you, Yama." Keiko whispered quietly so neither Hibiki or Minako could hear.
By morning the group was off again. Minako kept close to Hibiki's side the whole time. Yama lead the group slowly through the forest.
"So, what happenes if we find any enimies, Yama-sensai?" Kazuko asked.
Yama shrugged. "Depends on their power; if they are out to kill, Minako we will probably send..."
"Me too." Keiko stated matter-of-factly.
Yama shook his head. "Not if Minako is fighting."
Minako suddenly stopped in her tracks. Her eyes widened as she sniffed the air like a dog. She opened her mouth to warn everyone, when suddenly an arrow flew at her, unable to dodge in time, she collapssed to her knees.
"Oh no!" Kazuko yelled as he jumped back to back with Keiko.
Yama took a stance as he pulled a kunai. "Shit..." He mumbled, his eyes searching the area.
"He's in the tree's above to your right, Yama." Hibiki whispered as he moved to protect Minako the best he could. Analyzing the area, he noticed a few odd details. "There is a genjutsu user somewhere as well." He turned his head slowly. "Two are over behind Keiko and Kazuko. Four. There are four that I know of for sure."
Yama nodded as he turned, throwing a kunai in the tree's above. There was a grunt before a loud 'thump' could be heard. Kazuko closed his eyes as he created five shadow clones. Minako sat up weakly, pulling the arrow from her chest; her eyes widened at the blood that surrounded her. "Ugh..." She hissed, gripping where the wound was.
Hibiki moved in front of Minako quickly, immediately deflecting another offense weapon. "Where does it hurt?" He asked and bent down, quickly removing her shoulder cloth and removing her hand from the wound.
Minako tried to push Hibiki back ."I-I'm fine..." She stated weakly.
"You're not." Hibiki stated and held her hand from the wound. He pulled her shirt down slightly to get a better look. "It's pretty bad." Hibiki said and stood back up to take a quick look around the premises. "Kazuko and Keiko, there are two in the bush behind you - you take care of them using teamwork. Satomi, there is a genjutsu user somewhere in the area - I know ou can find him." Satomi nodded firmly. "Usually in a group with one genjutsu user, there is a protector, Yama... you go wih Satomi and get the protector while she attacks the offender. I'll take Minako to safety."
Yama nodded. "Got it."
Kazuko and his clones ran toward the bush along side Keiko.
Minako winced as she continued to try and convince Hibiki she was alright, however she knew she wasn't, the arrow struck her deeply, just above her heart.
"I'll take one and you take the other." Keiko said. 'Teamwork my butt. Kazuko and I are good one on one by ourselves!'
One of Kazuko's clones shook their head. "I told you, Hibiki is smart, we should follow his plan."
"Fine, whatever. He's brainwashing you too now, huh?" Keiko shook her head. "Let's take care of one an get rid of the other." Keiko sighed and before Kazuko could say anything she launched herself at one of the figures, plowing him over and crushing him against the tree.
Kazuko sighed deeply as he took a kunai into his hand and sliced the mans throat. "Pretty easy, aren't they?"
Kazuko's clones slowly started to disapear. He turned toward the other man and jumped at him, kicking at his knees.
A deep laughter came from the bushes. Two figure came into view as they watched Keiko and Kazuko's expressions. "Apparentally they can't tell!" The more scrawny man laughed.
"Really?" Keiko said pathetically.
Kazuko laughed nervously as he watched the man he was attacking disappear. "I hope Yama and Satomi are having better luck..."
"Whoever is going after Kaede will have no luck. If she can mess up your senses from this far away, it'll be more difficult for them..." The taller man laughed menacingly before forcing his body forward, thrusting his arms out in front of him towards Keiko. A force much like a brick wall hit her, and she was sent flying backwards.
Yama growled under his breath. "Shadows are usless in here... everything is a shadow..." He whispered to Satomi.
Satomi slowed to a stop as she concentrated closely. "Whoever it is, they're good with screwing the senses up." Satomi stated plainly. She turned in a full circle, narrowing her eyes. She was being called further into the forest, but she knew that wasn't it. She turned and started to head in the direction her gut was telling her. The fake pull in the wrong direction was strengthening as the real pull was beginning to surface, counteracting the fake pull. "This way!" Satomi said and began to quietly, bu quickly, move forward. Yama took Satomi's word and followed.
A woman squating with her fingers to her temples came into view, but Satomi turned her direction slightly and ran quietly past the squating illusion. "Don't touch her." She told Yama quietly.
Yama nodded; he was shocked at the intellegence Satomi was showing him.
Once again, another illusion came into view, but this time in a different position and different appearance. Satomi paused for a secon by the image and laughed. "Really?" Satomi sighed and reached down to take a piece of paper sticking out of the woman's coat pocket. 'Well, aren't you a smart one, huh? You really think you can find me?' The note was written neatly. Satomi threw it to the ground and proceeded on. "She's not going to make this easy."
We should be safe here." Hibiki said and sat Minako gently onto the forest floor.
Minako bit her lip as Hibiki placed her down; she felt so useless and vulnerable.
Hibiki bent down beside Minako and slipped her strap down her arm, pulling the corner of her shirt down slightly. "I'm so glad it wasn't any further down." Hibiki sighed with relief.
Minako winced as she gabbed Hibiki's arm tightly in an attempt to relieve some of the pain.
Hibiki moved Minako so that she was laying on her back and brought his first aid out of his pouch being quick to clean the wound the best he could. "You'll be alright." Hibiki assured.
Minako clenched her jaw as Hibiki cleaned her wound. She held onto Hibiki with her one hand as she mumbled, "D-Did I worry... you?" She teased weakly.
Hibiki ignored Minako's question until he finished cleaning her wound and then nervously laughed, "When you went down, I didn't know what to do. I was terrified that he had struck your heart. I guess my mind got ahead of me and I didn't analyze it well. I imagined the arrow further down in your heart."
Minako smiled weakly as she pulled herself into a sitting position. "I-I smell no blood but my own... the others aren't doing all that well it seems..."
"And you're in no position to help." Hibiki stated and pushed Minako back down into a lying position. "Patience, I'm not done." Hibiki said and placed his hand over her wound.
"Ah!" She hissed. "I-I said I'm fine!" She told him, irritated that he was stopping her.
"Minako!" Hibiki said firmly and placed his free hand on her stomach, preventing her from moving. "You're not going anywhere until I can heal this wound. Be patient; it's deep and there is a lot of damage. It takes a while to repair the tiny muscle and veins..."
Minako growled. "I-I've taken worse and been fine... stop..." She pleaded even though she knew he wouldn't listen to her.
Hibiki ignored her as he concentrated mainly on healing her wound. "I don't care if you've taken worse." He said after a while. "I care about whether you'll be fine later and ready for this mission."
Minako gave up struggling for a short while, suddenly she sniffed the air, her eyes widening as she pushed herself back up. "H-Hibiki... Kazuko's blood... I smell it..." She whispered before wincing. "Dammit..." She hissed, grabbing at her wound.
"I can't let you go just yet." Hibiki said as his eyes closed and he listened carfully.
Keiko gasped as he watched the scrawny man push a kunai slowly into Kazuko's stomach.
"No!" She shouted, being held where she stood from some invisible force. "Let him go!"
"I'm sorry, but we only do what Kaede tell us too, and she's giving us permission to go ahead." The taller man said as he walked over to Keiko. His hand traced Keiko cheek, and he laughed. "Keiko Nanami." He said and chuckled deeply. "Oh do I love the Nanami clan."
Keiko growled and snapped her head away. "Just kill me now, no need to torture us."
"Oh, but of course there is." The man replied and traced the purple and teal wave marked on her right arm.
Kazuko growled as he pushed against the man hurting him; he was mad. With inhuman speed, he stole the kunai from his torturer's hand, and put it to his throat. "Let her go, or else I will kill you!" He demanded, his eyes filled of anger.
The man dissipated from thin air and appeared behind Kazuko. "I am not holding her, she is free to move but her body thinks it's being held." The man replied.
Kazuko kicked the man in the gut, actually get a hit. "I don't care what the hell you are doing! Die already!" He screamed.
Satomi shook her head as she walked past the dozenth illusion, each having a note somewhere hidden. When they past the illusion partly, Satomi immediately stopped. "I think we're finally in her area." Satomi stated silently. She took another step forward and felt the ground bend like rubber and quickly backed off. She narrowed her eyes an quickly grabbed Yama's wrist before pulling him forward, both of them suddenly being pulled through the rubbery ground.
When they were pulled through the ground and appeared on the other side, Satomi laughed. "Of course." She walked forward through the thick darkness, still holding onto Yama's wrist so as not to lose him.
"Wh-what?" He asked, confused. He had never been good with illusions; you could thank Keiko for that.
"There isn't anything really here." Satomi sighed. "Things like this is a 50-50 percent chance and it seemed to be negative. We'll find out exit soo-" Satomi stopped when she hit a wall. "Ow." She laughed. "A box illusion? Creative~"
"Ahhh...?"
"The worst." Satomi shook her head. "I guess I was wrong." Satomi turned and began to walk in the opposite direction from whre the wall was. The further they walked the more Satomi could feel the prescense of the true genjutsu user. "Are you prepared?" She asked Yama.
"I'm confused about this whole illusion thing, but I am ready." He told her honestly.
Satomi laughed. "We're close to where she is. But I know as soon as we ge there, we'll be attacked. I can faintly hear her talking with her protector."
Yama nodded. "That's fine."
As Satomi approached where she felt the genjutsu user was, they were suddenly pulled into thin air and appeared in the middle of the forest.
Yama quickly knelt down. He could feel the presence of a male and used his shadows to catch the guy. "Easy." Yama mumbled, watching as the man growled.
Satomi turned around to see a a faint image of a woman in the distance, squating behind a tree in concentration. "I'll be over there." Satomi left in a hurry and charged at the woman. When the woman turned to look, Satomi quietly ducked behind the bushes and came out the other side before the woman. She gasped and quickly jumped up and dodged Satomi's attack. "Aren't you a know-it-all?" The woman laughed. She went to preform a hand seal as she jumped back but her body stopped dead in place. Satomi laughed and crossed her arms over her chest. "Game over."
The woman turned her head slowly to look over her shoulder at a clonce of Satomi's who smirked back. The Satomi clone snickered as she pulled her hand out of the woman's body and disappeared. "No more illusions; your team is done."