Reina let out an irritated sigh as she crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes narrowing at Kureji.
"Where's your girlfriend?" Reina asked casually.
"That's not the point." Kureji laughed. "You didn't at all stall, or destory that team in anyway. You're such a disappointment." Kureji shook his head. "And besides, I told Yua to fetch us something to eat. It seems my stomach likes to growl when I haven't eaten for a while."
Reina stared blankly at Kureji. "You're such a lost cause..."
"Me?" Kureji looked taken aback. "Lost?" He shook his head. "Alright, I guess I am a let down to my parents - who cares?"
Reina faceplamed. "That group isn't that difficult by the looks of it. Minako may be a slight issue though." Reina changed the subject to what was ahead.
"What, couldn't defeat her?" Yua chuckled as she entered into the room.
Reina hissed at Yua. "Course I could! I just stood back and watched!"
"Really?" Yua paused to look closely at Reina. "Whatever. I didn't know what you wanted today, Kureji... so I'll force it down your throat if you don't want it. Here you go." Yua gently handed over the nice warm bowl of soup with a piece of bread. "Now that's scalding hot, so you better like it." Her eyes narrowed as he took the bowl.
"I'm always thankful." As the last word left his lips, he bursted into laughter.
"Exactly." Yua rolled her eyes.
Reina sighed deeply as she watched the pair. "Hello! We have a group heading this way to kill us. Don't you think we should be planning and not eating?"
"Kill us? I thought they wanted Amino..." Kureji said as he took his first bite.
Reina shook her head. "Everyone wants Amino, but Minako will most likey go after us to kill."
"Then let her." Kureji shrugged.
"And you are going to run into this blindly?" Reina questioned him.
"Who says I'm running into this blindly?" Kureji asked, pretending to like the food Yua had brought him while she enjoyed her blissfully.
Reina sighed. "Cousin, trust me. This isn't an enemy you can go against blindly. You must be prepared and aware of what she is capable of."
"Just because she was able to defeat you, you think I'll lose against her? Have you forgotten that I have something special apart from you? I don't know what she used against you, but I refuse..." Kureji stood up angrily and whipped his bowl of soup against the wall, his bread falling to the ground. "...to allow some inadequate girl to defeat me!"
Reina groaned at her cousin as she jumped back onto her vine, lifting into the sky. "Do not get mad at me! I was just saying! And stop saying you're stronger! We've never fought yet!"
"Don't tempt me." Kureji narrowed his eyes before turning to throw a punch in Yua's direction. Being use to his spontaneous actions, she quickly moved out of the way non-chanantly.
"Girlfriend abuse... nice." Reina sighed.
"Well, at least there is light everywhere." Keiko smiled at the fact that she could see her hand clearly in front of her face.
Kazuko nodded. "It's awesome."
Yama sighed at the others as his eyes drifted around nervously. If Reina showed up again, he was going to be ready. 'No one touches Keiko and gets away with it...' He growled to himself.
"You're forgetting the fact that now we too are seen clearly." Hibiki sighed.
Minako nodded, keeping her nose in the air.
"How much further?" Kazuko asked.
"Even though we passed the most difficult part of simply trying to enter the village, it's still very intricate and hard to get around." Hibiki replied. "So, in a nut-shell, we're still fairly far. When you picture the village blue-prints in your head, this village is quite small compared to the others villages; I wouldn't actually really qualify it as one, yet the difficultly of the village in general is the highest that finding your way through it makes it seem like this village is endless." Hibiki explained. He lifted his arm to point down the street to his right. "The road goes only for about a minute, turn left, go another two, and turn right, and you're right back here, standing where we're standing."
Minako looked up at Hibiki. "Confusing. I don't get how you can remember so much."
"Shall I go into detail about my photographic memory once again?" Hibiki smirked.
Minako blushed as she turned away. "N-No..."
Hibiki chuckled lightly as he reached over Minako's shoulder to kiss her cheek. "You sure?"
Minako nodded. "Y-You already embaressed me once by telling me..."
"Didn't know it embarrassed you." Hibiki mumbled and shoved his hands in his pocket. "Sorry."
Minako frowned. "I-I didn't mean it in a bad way." She murmured.
Hibiki shrugged. "Kay."
She frowned and looked away again. "Sorry..."
Hibiki chuckled lightly and reached out to grab Minako's wrist before pulling her back to him, making her face him. "I was only kidding."
Minako blushed as a giggle escaped her. "Grr you." She said childishly.
He smirked and moved his face closer, but before his lips connected to hers a sudden laugh caused all their attention to move to the east.
"Aww, aren't you the lovey-dovey party types?" Yua smiled as she placed her hands on her hips.
Kazuko sighed. "Great, more company."
Yama growled as he pulled out a kunai. Minako turned her attention from Hibiki to the mystery girl. She hissed; something about that girl didn't feel right, she could already feel herself slipping as her nails dug into her own arm.
Hibiki grabbed Minako's arms and placed them at her sides. "Calm down." He murmured.
"You look funny." Keiko laughed.
Yua cocked her head and turned to look at Keiko. "Do I? Do you really think so?"
Kazuko nodded. "Extremely funny." He said simply, agreeing with Keiko.
"How do you even see?" Satomi asked innocently.
"Reina is ridiculous. You are riduculous." Yua laughed. "Strong?" She shook her head. "Kureji is going to get a kick out of this!"
Kazuko narrowed his eyes. "Who the hell are you?"
"I'm Mrs. Funny-looking?" Yua smiled.
Kazuko stepped forward. "You know that's not what I meant!"
"Cool it, Kazuko." Yama ordered.
"You mentioned Kureji and Reina. Are you related to them?" Hibiki asked.
Yua shook her head.
"A friend?"
Yua sighed. "Closer."
"Girlfriend?"
Yua lowered her head. "Who cares?" She shouted, suddenly sounding furious.
Minako narrowed her eyes at the girl again. She slipped her hand behind her back and into her pouch, holding a kunai tightly. This girl made her too uneasy, she needed to die.
"You must have hooked up with him after I left." Hibiki mumbled under his breath.
"How dare you talk about me under your breath! You will DIE!" Yua screamed and then sighed. "But not at my hands." she chuckled.
"Then who's?" Minako hissed, her grip on the kunai tightening.
"You'll meet him eventually." Yua chuckled.
"So, if you're not here to kill us, why are you here?" Kazuko asked simply.
"I am a citizen of this village, am I not entitled to welcome our guests?" Yua asked.
"Not if you are working with those against us!" Minako growled.
"We just want Amino for ourselves." Yua shrugged.
"Why? He is just a random leaf Jounin." Kazuko cocked his head.
Yua thought for a moment. "Iunno." She shrugged.
Minako growled again as she lurched forward slightly, stopping herself when her head began to pound.
Yua reached behind her and pulled the sword hanging from her back. "You better not come close, or else I'll have to move to offensive."
Minako shook her head furiously. "Offensive my ass! You want to hurt us!" She hissed. "I can sence it from you!"
"No, not I. I said you would not die at my hands." Yua replied sternly.
"Lies!" Minako screamed.
"LIES!" Yua screamed back, reflecting Minako's burst of behavior.
Minako shook her head as she charged forward, pulling her kunai forward. Without thinking about it, Yua's immediate response was to pull the sword forward and charge forward as well. The two blades clashed. Minako's eyes narrowed, her mind no longer stable. Minako quickly ducked and kicked at Yua's feet, knocking her to the ground. Yua quickly regained her balance and quickly jumped to her feet, about to return the blow when Kureji intervened and threw both Yua and Minako in opposite directions.
"K-Kur..." Yua's voice faded.
"Welcome!" Kureji laughed. "Why are you fighting in my village?" His voice turning dark suddenly.
Minako jumped to her feet and charged again.
"Hibiki, you had better stop her." Kureji warned. Before Hibiki could even move, Minako had already made it to Kureji, who simply moved to once again throw her in Hibiki's direction. "There's my second chance - favor for you for that one time. No others will be given, so you'd better control her."
Hibiki moved to pull Minako to her feet. "Minako..."
She growled, her eyes now narrowing at Kureji. "Screw you! I can smell the blood on you!"
"Blood? Reina's?" Kureji's face turned sour. "I don't remember killing her."
"Tainted you fool!" She hissed, trying to charge at him again.
Hibiki immediately reached out to pull her back to him, wrapping his arms tightly around her torso. "Please, calm down." Hibiki whispered. "He isn't going to fight at the moment."
Minako turned to meet Hibiki's gaze, her own eyes still filled of anger. "Why are you so sure?"
"I know him fairly well. He never starts a fight the first time he meets strangers unless he has to - and that involves you provoking him."
Minako sighed in Hibiki's hold, pushing away from him. "Fine."
"Kureji..." Yua whispered.
Kureji continued to look at Minako. "She's pretty good-looking, she yours?" Kureji asked Hibiki.
"Kureji, you can be very mean you know." Yua frowned.
"Shut up." Kureji sighed. "I mean, you can't deny it. Is she yours, Hibiki?"
"Uh...well...yeah." Hibiki replied and diverted his eyes.
"Kureji! I will make you feel a thousand times worse tomorrow!" Yua frowned.
"Yeah yeah, whatever." Kureji rolled his eyes.
Minako frowned at Hibiki before looking at Kureji again. "Get lost. You and your freaky friend are bothering me." She hissed.
Yua cleared her throat. "Actually, I'm his girlfriend."
"Even worse."
"I guess you could call it that." Yua chuckled and appeared next to Kureji. "Do you think we're worse?"
Kureji turned to look at Yua. "Get out of my face."
"See?" Yua turned to smile proudly at Minako. "It's much worse than you'd imagine. It's so...right."
Minako rolled her eyes. "I have no care toward your life, I just want you to leave mine, now!"
Kureji turned to look at Minako and smirked, motioning for Minako to come to him. Minako's eyes widened, her feet basically moving on their own. Kureji smirked, and turned to Yua. "Isn't she a pretty thing?"
Yua laughed. "I'll kill you."
"Minako!" Hibiki said.
Minako slightly began to panic as she glared at Kureji. "Whatever you're doing to me, stop!" She shouted. "I don't care how pretty you think I am! You're ugly!"
Hibiki quickly moved to attack Minako, tackling her to the ground and pinning her there.
"You're not taking her!" Hibiki shouted at Kureji.
"Shall I get her for you?" Yua asked with a sigh.
"Really?" Kurji turned to look at Yua with raised eyebrows.
"Idiot!" Yua screamed and thrusted her fist into his face. "You're unbelievable." She shook her head furiously and began to walk off. "I need to blow steam." She headed to the street to the right.
"Come on, Hibiki. Look what you did." Kureji shook his head as he rubbed his face.
Kazuko stepped in front of Hibiki and Minako as his eyes narrowed at Kureji. "If you're not out to hurt us, just step aside."
Minako struggled underneath of Hibiki, whispering, "I... need to kill him, and that other girl... th-they are just as tainted as me!"
"We're not ready yet." Hibiki whispered back. "Kazuko, don't attack."
"Wasn't going to." Kazuko stated.
"I am ready!" Minako growled back.
"Please, don't." Hibiki whispered.
Minako looked away from him. "B-But, Hibiki..."
"We're not ready." He stated.
"I am." She hissed again.
Hibiki shook his head. "Make the judgement if you wish." He hesitantly let Minako out from his grasp.
Minako pulled herself to her feet as her eyes narrowed at Kureji.
"She wants to fight me?" Kureji laughed. "Oh boy, this'll be great!"
Minako growled. "It won't be a fight! You will simply die!"
"My death shall be more complex, surely."
She shook her head. "Not if I'm the one killing you."
Kureji shrugged. "I really do hate killing my victim on the first meeting; I'm a gentlmen, I like to get to know people before they die."
Minako out right laughed. "Please! I can see the blood on you, as I said. You never care to wait." She shook her head.
"Blood?" Kureji's face twisted in confusion. "Where?" He looked down at himself and began to examine his clothing. "I don't see any!" His voice raised as he began to yell and panic.
Minako laughed at his reactions. "I still see it."
Kureji turned in a full circle, meanwhile pulling a kunai from his pocket and smoothly whipping it towards Minako. It flew past her face, leaving a clean incision on her cheek. "That blood?" He chuckled lightly.
Minako didn't even flinch. Slowly she reached her hand up to lightly touch the cut. She looked down at her hand and laughed at the sight of her own blood. "No, but now I'm mad." She let out an eerie laugh as she slipped a kunai into her hand and repeated the same actions Kureji did, a deep cut forming on his cheek.
"Thank you." Kureji smirked.
Minako nodded. "Anytime, freak."
Kureji raised his eyebrows. "Freak? If I'm a freak, then you're just a little girl."
Minako laughed. "Possible, but I'm a little girl who could kick your ass!"
"Oh, just get on with it already!" Keiko shouted and facepalmed.
Minako smirked. "On my side for once, Keiko?"
"Not particularily. He looks intimidating." Keiko shrugged.
Minako rolled her eyes. "You're useless."
"Nah, you're he useless one." Yua said as she entered in from the left side of the street. "Kureji, I'm sorry to bother you, but we have matters we must take care of elsewhere."
"Right now?" Kureji asked, looking blankly at Yua.
Yua nodded.
"Right at this very moment when this girl is about to try and defeat me?" Kureji asked, anger rising.
Yua nodded once again and quickly dodged the fist headed her way. She jumped back up and grabbed his wrist turning his arm back and pushing him forward with her body. "You're going whether you like it or not!" She stated sternly.
"Doesn't matter to me." Kureji shrugged. "See yah later girly, I'll have you later."
Minako hissed. "In your dreams!"
"He doesn't want you." Yua sounded disgusted.
Minako tilted her head slightly. "I'm confused."
As Yua and Kureji walked down the street, their appearance faded and they disappeared. Hibiki let out a sigh of relief before wrapping his arms lightly around Minako.
"Wh-what's wrong?" She asked him, shocked.
"I told you that we're not ready. Whether you think so or not." Hibiki shook his head.
Minako buried her face in Hibiki's chest. "Sorry..." She mumbled.
Keiko turned to look at Yama before throwing herself at him an wrapping her arms around his neck. "I'm ssoooo sorry~ Yama!" Keiko pretended to wail.
He hugged her back, but confusion was frozen on his face. "For what?"
Hibiki laughed. "She was mocking us."
Yama laughed. "Keiko, why must you do that?"
"What about Kazuko and I?" Satomi laughed.
Kazuko blushed. "What about us?"
"We're being left out." Satomi shrugged.
Kazuko let out a nervous laugh as he scratched his neck. "That's cause we don't have another half."
"It looks to me like I have two haves." Satomi examined herself and pointed to both sides. "One...Two."
Kazuko facepalmed. "I mean you don't have a boyfriend or anything."
Satomi laughed. "I know that." She awkwardly punched Kazuko's shoulder.
He nodded. "Suurreee you did."
"Oh just get together already." Keiko laughed.
Kazuko's blush returned as he glared at Keiko.
Keiko simply smirked.
Minako watched the two with curiosity. "They're acting weird." She whispered to Hibiki.
"Nevermind." Hibiki said and began to lead the group through the snow covered streets. "We only have so much time left."
Reina hissed at the two as they finally returned. "What took you so long!"
"None of your buisness." Kureji replied.
Reina shook her head. "We're a team, of course it's my business!"
"No, you're my cousin." Kureji replied.
Reina looked over at Amino who was trapped in one of her vines. "I will kill him, now, if you do not tell me!"
"Family issues~" Yua sang.
Reina's eyes locked on Yua. "Go burn!"
"Already have been there." Yua gasped.
Reina rolled her eyes. "Then burn again! Maybe it will knock some sense into you."
"Nah, it's only really hot."
Reina sighed and looked back at Kureji. "So, what took so long? I see you have a cut."
"Yah, that's what it is." Kureji smirked. "I went to see the opponents, and they didn't look as strong as you said they were... Oh, and Hibiki was with them! I haven't seen him in a long time, you know he's dating that girl right? Oh, so beautiful girl."
Yua turned to punched Kureji in the gut. "You're so mean."
Reina rolled her eyes again as she jumped down to their level. "Yes I am aware. And I'm still more beautiful than that pink-headed girl, alright!" She crossed her arms over her chest.
"Sorry, but I don't like cousins." Kureji shrugged.
Reina laughed. "Neither do I. However, that Kazuko boy who had been with them, I want."
"I'm sure you do." Kureji rolled his eyes. "I've already fetched me a good one." Kureji said and pulled Yua close to place his chin over top of her head.
"Oh yeah, I see the love between you two." Reina said sarcastically.
Kureji smiled and turned Yua's face to kiss her gently. "How about now?"
"It's an act." Reina shrugged.
"You know nothing about love." Kureji laughed.
Reina laughed aswell. "You're right, I don't!"
"All you know is the act as well," Yua replied. "But I know Kureji loves me, he only pretends."
Reina nodded. "That's my freak of a cousin for you."
"You're the freak, he's the knight."
Reina laughed. "Knight? Really?" She laughed even harder. "Yeah, okay! ... NOT!"