"You good, Yama-sensai?" Satomi called to her sensai.
Yama used his shadow to strangle the protector, when the person was unable to breathe, Yama released his justu and watched the man fall to his knees. Yama whirled around to face Satomi and smiled.
"I'm good. I'm very proud of the skills you showed today, seems you work best under pressure, Satomi." Yama said with a warm smile.
Satomi nodded with appreciation and smiled back. "I wonder how the others are doing."
Yama's face became uneasy as he looked out into the forest. "Yeah, me too."
"Watch out, Kazuko!" Keiko shouted. Without thinking she lurched forward and pushed the scrawny male away from getting a hit on Kazuko. The man went flying back and hit a tree. "Kazuko! I-I can move." Keiko laughed. "The illusion is gone!"
Kazuko grabbed his chest, tryiing to stop the blood flow. "G-Good... the otehrs succeeded then... w-we need to finish up our part." Kazuko turned to face the taller male. "Make your life easy... run, or die."
"Too late." Keiko said and grimaced. "No way am I letting either of them go, especially you!" Keiko pointed towrds the taller man before preforming a few hand seals.
The two men paused and looked around at the morphing scenery. Their eyes began to widened as they both felt as if their whole bodies were being torn apart limb by limb. They tried to scream, but no sound came out. They fell to the ground and clawed at their bodies, eyes widening more and more as the pain became unbearable. Finally, the pain had become too much and they both fainted.
"Stupid." Keiko stated as she broke the illusion. "You say you like my clan, how about now?" Keiko strolled over to the two men laying on the forest ground and pulled her kunai from her pouch. "You digust me." She casually pushed the kunai's deep into their throats and left them there.
Kazuko smiled weakly as he leaned against a tree heavily. "W-we need to get to the others..." Kazuko winced as he reached out for Keiko.
"Come on, big boy." Keiko laughed and pulled Kazuko up on her back. "You've grown too much."
Kazuko hissed at Keiko. "I'm a male! W-We're usually bigger than females!"
"Not necessarily." Keiko shook her head and sighed. She started to head back to the lcearing they were first in. When she arrived just as Satomi and Yama immerged from the other side of the clearing.
Yama caught sight of the two and rushed over, taking Kazuko from Keiko to lay him down. "Crap..." Yama mumbled as he reached into his pouch. "I-I'm sorry, Kazuko... but I don't have that much medication on me to help you..."
Kazuko pushed Yama away. "I-I'm fine, sensai.."
"Minako could smell your blood from a mile away." Hibiki stated as he helped Minako into the clearing and helped her over to the others.
Minako sat down carefully, as to not hurt herself any worse then she already was. Her body was trembling at the scent of Kazuko's blood. 'I-It's the same... as his...'
Yama smiled with relief as he looked up at Hibiki. "Minako looks better... are you a medical ninja or something?"
"I guess you could say that." Hibiki shrugged and kneeled down beside Kazuko. "It isn't fatal but it is deep." Hibiki pulled Kazuko's shirt open to get a look at the wound. He placed his hand over Kazuko's wound and concentrated his chakra to his hand. "It'll only take a few minutes."
Kazuko nodded weakly as he watched and felt his wound healing slowly.
Yama walked over to Keiko and placed his hand on her shoulder. "You alright?"
Keiko looked away and nodded firmly. "That guy was a jerk though."
"Oh? What did he do?"
"He was being an idiot." Keiko chuckled.
Yama shook his head as he pulled Keiko into a hug. "Don't worry about it, I'm just glad you're alright, Keiko."
"I'm glad you're alright, too." Keiko smiled warly at Yama before returning the hug.
"We'll have to rest for five minutes until Kazuko is fully healed." Hibiki said and stood back up. "As for the rest of you, how is your energy? That illusion had also drained a lot of our chakra."
"I'm fine still." Yama answered.
Kazuko shook his head. "I can't really tell.."
"I know Minako has been drained, and same as Kazuko... Keiko and Satomi?"
"I've lost a lot of energy." Satomi stated and smiled gently.
Keiko shook her head. "I'm good."
Hibiki loked around at the three and nodded. He first moved to Minako and placed his hand gently on her stomach before transferring his chakra over to her and then moving over to Kazuko and Satomi to do the same.
"Everyone good now?" Hibiki asked as he kneeled down to the ground and pushed his hair from his face.
Kazuko pulled himself to a standing position and brightened. "Wow! What kind of ninja are you, Hibiki? I feel awesome!"
"That... Yeah! It's incredible how much better I feel." Satomi laughed.
"It's...Ah specialty I picked up along the way from the Fernu clan." Hibiki laughed an struggled to stand back up.
Minako gripped Hibiki's pant leg as she looked up at him, her one hand resting where her wound was. "H-Hibiki..." She whispered helplessly.
"Hm?" Hibiki struggled and leaned against the rock Minako was sitting against.
"I-I think we should stop again tonight... I know of a place we can hide in... I-I hid there before... it would be good for us..."
Hibiki nodded and sighed. "Are you all ready to go?"
Yama nodded as he straigtened out his jacket. "As much as I'd like to say no, I am. Minako is right, we need to get moving, whoever those people were will be searched for."
"Are you good to go?" Satomi asked Hibiki.
"I'm getting there." Hibiki replied and stood up to help Minako up as well.
Minako took Hibiki's hand, letting him pull her to her feet. She looked over at Keiko and lowered her head. "Thank you... Keiko..." She mumbled weakly.
"Why?" Keiko asked with confusion.
Minako looked back up and smirked. "Cuase now I will have to do double the killing next time!"
Keiko rolled her eyes. "Whatever."
"Let's go!" Satomi said and began to head forwards.
Minako looked at Kazuko before shaking her head and walking off after Satomi.
After a long journey, Minako led the group to a small building like structure of tree's twisting together with an opening on one side.
"Th-this place is hidden well... m-my father never found me here..." Minako laughed nervously as she scratched her head. "Trust me..."
"Your father?" Satomi asked politely.
Minako flinched, her smile fading as she walked into the tree's opening.
"Sorry." Satomi whispered softly and the group followed Minako in.
"It is definitely cozy." Hibiki laughed.
The space was big enough for them to sleep under but they would definitely be bumping into each other.
"No one kill each other in the night, please." He laughed.
Minako cuddled against the far corner of the area. Her hand rested on her new scar created by the arrow. Her other hand gripped a tattered photo that she stared at intently.
Kazuko looked down at Minako with a frown. He nudged Hibiki and asked, "What is really wrogn with her? It's more than just... well... who she is... right?"
"Past experiences accumulating together." Hibiki replied.
Kazuko nodded. "R-Remember how she called herself a curse? W-Was she... um..." His voice trailed off as the thought entered his head again.
"I do not view her as the curse that so many others do. Her name is Minako Uma and she will forever be in my mind. You cannot be a curse if it was inflicted on you." Hibiki stted firmly but quietly.
Kazuko smiled. "I'm happy she found you, Hibiki. She seems to need a lot of attention, I don't think many people would be able to handle someone like her."
"As shown through Daichi." Hibiki laughed innerwardly.
"Daichi?" Kazuko asked, confused.
"He went to the academy in Sunagakure with Minako and had a huge crush on her, yet he just could never handle her - alway saying the wrong things, do the wrong things... He just was never good with the ladies I guess. Poor Lira." Hibiki shook his head in remorse.
Kazuko nodded. "W-well... I'm gonna get some sleep... thanks for ah, earlier though, Hibiki."
Hibiki smiled in response before moving to sit beside Minako. He reached over to hold the photo with Minako and turned it slightly to look at it.
Minako gave a weak smile as she leaned her head on Hibiki's shoulder, her eyes still locked on the photo. "H-Have I ever really shown you this?" Minako asked him.
"I caught a glance of it, but I didn't really get a full look." Hibiki replied. "Are you feeling alright?" He asked.
Minako nodded. "Yeah... K-Kazuko's blood just bothered me earlier... it has the same scent as his..."
"And it brought back memories?" Hibiki asked quietly.
Minako nodded again as she slipped the photo into her pouch. She closed her eyes as she hooked her arm around Hibiki's. "S-so, are you alright?" Minako asked calmly.
"I am." Hibiki chuckled lightly.
Kazuko was laying down, his eyes trained on the sky. He was trying to sleep when he overheard Minako and Hibiki. "Smells the same as... his?" Kazuko mumbled to himself. "I-It couldn't really...?" His eyes slowly drifted toward Minako, a shiver running up his spine. "Dammit..."
"Hey!" Keiko said, louder than a whisper as she punched Kazuko's arm. "We need our sleep, there is no need on looking like your about to throw up."
Kazuko grabbed Keiko's arm and pulled her to sit up with him. His eyes were closed as he clenched his jaw. "The Village Psycho." He whipsered in her ear as quiet as he could.
Hibiki's eyes drifted towards Kazuko and Keiko, his ear picking up on what they were talking about. Minako's head was on his shoulder with her eyes shut, so he gently reached over and covered her ear to block out his voice.
Minako slowly opened her eyes to look up at Hibiki. "Wh-what are you doing?" She asked him, confused.
Hibiki shook his head and smiled back at Minako. "Just rest." He lipped to her.
Minako shrugged as her eyes fell shut again.
"What are you talking about?" Keiko looked with confusion.
Kazuko covered Keiko's mouth. "Shh!" He sighed deeply, looking around at the others; Yama was already asleep and Satomi appeared to be as well. He knew Hibiki was awake as his eyes locked with his for a moment before he diverted his eyes. He shook his head as he looked back at Keiko, his eyes full of rage. "It was her... I know it... she killed him." He told her, still trying to keep quiet.
"She had no intentions." Hibiki stated gently, turning to look at Minako with her eyes closed.
Kazuko snapped his head back to look at Hibiki. "No intentions? Bullshit!" Kazuko could no longer hold back his rage as his voice began to raise.
Minako stirred on Hibiki's shoulder, she slowly lifted her head, at the same time catching a glare from Kazuko, "H-Huh?"
"You have no knowledge of that night, Kazuko. She had no intentions of killing Sho." Hibiki stated.
Minako began to tremble as she quikly caught on to the situation. Her breath became ragged as she looked at Kazuko.
Kazuko growled at Minako. "It's lies! She's just an attention hogger! My parents said so! They still live in Suna!"
Yama had began to stir as he heard the screaming.
Minako's eyes widened. She closed her eyes as her hand dug into her arm. She bit her lip as she tired to keep herself from poucning; she couldn't take being yelled at.
"Stop that, now!" Yama yelled, unsure what the fight was.
"I will not stop anything, Yama!" Kazuko yelled at his sensai.
"I'm actually kind of interested in where this leads to." Keiko smiled and leaned back to watch the fight. "It's not just me anymore."
Minako growled as her nails dug even deeper. "Just stop it!" She screamed.
Kazuko shook his head as he stood up, taking a step closer to the two. "You killed him, why?" He yelled at Minako, his eyes deadly.
Minako's eyes snapped open as she stood up, taking a step closer to Kazuko, looking up at him she answered, "I didn't mean to! His death has haunted my whole damn life!"
Hibiki quickly got to his feet and moved between the two to make sure nothing would happen.
Satomi sat up weakly, wondering what was happening.
"Good, you're awake!" Keiko whispered to Satomi.
"What's going on?" Satomi asked.
"Just sit and relax and watch the fight!"
"Fight?"
Keiko nodded. "It's better that you stay out of it though, Yama and Hibiki have it under control...unfortunately."
Kazuko looked right past Yama and Hibiki who had moved themselves between the two, his eyes locked on Minako. "Haunted you... really? You're pathetic!"
Minako pushed both Hibiki and Yama out of the way. She quickly pulled a kunai from her pouch and held it out toward Kazuko. "Call me something else, I dare you!"
Kazuko found himself smirking at the challege. He grabbed his kunai with his open hand and leaned closer to Minako. "Monster."
Minako's felt herself slip away as she threw herself at Kazuko, her eyes wide with fear.
"Get Kazuko!" Hibiki commanded Yama as he lurched forward to grab Minako by her arms. "Minako!" He shouted to try and get her attention.
Minako shook her head as she stuggled with all her strength. Yama pulled Kazuko back and kept a firm grip on him as they watched Minako with horror.
"She really is a monster!" Kazuko screamed as he watched her animal-like movements.
Minako hissed at Kazuko as she just managed to escape Hibiki's grasp. As he reached for her again, she took the kunai that was in her hand and sliced at him. Without even a care, she threw herself at Kazuko. Yama acted fast and used the shadows the moon casted to catch Minako, trapping her. She screamed as tears fell down her face.
Hibiki winced at the kunai cuts that Minako had inflicted but quickly regained his composure and pushed Minako up against one of the trees, pinning her arms at her sides. "Minako, please calm down." Hibiki looekd deeply into her eyes with sorrow as she fiercely fought against him and Yama's shadows.
Minako cried as she struggled under everything keeping her still. Suddenly her eyes shut and she fell motionles. Yama released his jutsu and Minako fell lifelessly in Hibiki's arms.
Hibiki dropped to his knee's as he held Minako closely to his body. "Neither of you were in the position to fight with your wounds." Hibiki sneered.
Kazuko growled at Hibiki as he sat down beside Keiko. "Like I care what happenes to that monster, she was worse off than me, if anyone would have died, it would have been her! I lied, I don't get how you canbe with that... thing!" Kazuko yelled, angrily.
"You know nothing about Minako. She was pushed to the brink of insanity, she never chose it. On the night your brother was murdered, she was being pursued by her father and thought Sho was helping her father. She realized too late that that was not the case. She never intended to - Sho was her only and best friend." Hibiki stated sternly. "You have no knowledge of Minako or her family."
Kazuko looked away from Hibiki. "She killed my brother, that's all I need to know to kill her."
"You have to go through me before you can get to her." Hibiki's voice darkened.
Kazuko felt himself shudder before he shook it off. "That would be easy..." He mumbled.
"You should never start a fight when blinded to that persons abilities and level." Hibiki replied.
Yama lightly hit Kazuko over the head. "I warned you guys about them! They are still important guests that are helping us; keep your own problems behind and keep your mind on the mission at hand!"
Kazuko stood up and glared at Yama. "She killed my brother!"
Without any warning, Hibiki pounced at Kazuko and pushed him up against the tree. "She had no intentions." Hibiki hissed, his arm pushed against Kazuko's throat. "Until this mission is over, keep your mind focused. As soon as the mission is over, go ahead. Do as you wish but know that I will not allow anything to happen to her."
Kazuko thrashed underneath Hibiki. "L-Let go!" He just barely choked out.
Hibiki's expression darkened as he let his arm fall away. "You better learn how to control yourself."
Kazuko pushed Hibiki back, further away. "Whatever... just go and tend to your monster and keep her the hell away from me!"
Hibiki was about to turn around when he turned back and thrusted his fist at Kazuko. "Better learn how to keep things to yourself as well." He stated and turned back to Minako.
"Oh this is good!" Keiko whispered under her breath.
Kazuko rubbed his now throbing cheek. He kept his mouth shut as he glared at Hibiki and Minako. Yama shook his head at his student. "Kazuko, why did you have to do that?"
Kazuko turned to look at Yama; his expression less harsh. "I-I'm sorry Yama... but... y-you don't understand..."
"Don't I? I see my parents killer everyday, yet I keep myself in control."
Kazuko's eyes widened as he found himself bowing. "I-I'm s-so sorry!" He mentally kicked himself.
"Don't bow, I'm not the Hokage..."
"S-Sorry." Kazuko whispered as he stood straight again. "I-I will try to keep... my anger away..."
Yama patted Kazuko's shoulder. "I know it's hard, but you need to at least try. I will not hesitate to stop you, and I know Hibiki will not think twice about hurting you."
Kazuko nodded. "And Minako will kill me..."
"Exactly. Maybe you should actually hear the story about it before and freak out."
Kazuko shook his head. "I will never forgive her."
"Not asking you to, Kazuko."
"So the fight is over now?" Keiko asked.
Yama sighed at Keiko. "Yes, and no new ones better start."
"Well, I'm going to bed then, night all!" Keiko said nd flopped back down to a laying position.
Satomi shook her head before returning to her sleep.
Hibiki examined Minako closely. "Come on, Minako. Wake up." Hibiki said while caressing her cheek.
Minako stirred as her eyes opened to look up at Hibiki. Her body quickly trembled as she looked at him. "D-D-Did I d-do that?" She asked nervously, pointing to the deep cuts he was covered in.
"That's not the important part, Minako. Are you alright?" Hibiki replied.
Minako dug her nails into her arm as she looked away from Hibiki; by his answer she knew she had hurt him. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry!" She repeated over and over as tears fell down her cheeks.
Hibiki pulled her chin over to look at him. "I said that isn't important, Minako. These are nothing."
"B-But I created them!" She cried.
"That doesn't matter." He hissed.
Minko tried to pull herself away from Hibiki; she wanted nothing more then to run from herself. She had hurt the one person she loved adn cared for, and she didn't even remember doing it.
Hibiki punched beside her head and kept her from moving away. "I said not to worry about me." Hibiki stated before he pulled her into his chest.
Minako shook her head as she laid motionless in his hold. "I-I told you I'd do something... I knew it! H-Hibiki... I-I'm bad for you... I'm sorry!"
"I don't care if you're good for me or not, Minako! I choose to love you and I'd wish you see that everytime you say these things. I can leave you whenever I want, but I choose to stay."
Minako wrapped her arms around Hibiki's neck as she rested her head against his chest.
"Now, are you alright?" Hibiki re-asked.
Minako gave no response as she hugged him tighter.