Chapter 1: Home
"We're nearly home Naoki…" A soft voice sighed as the huge green gates of Konohagakure finally came into view, welcoming the worn, tired kunoichi and her furry partner back to the only home they had known "…we're nearly home"
It had been six long and draining months since the female shinobi had last seen the Hidden Leaf Village let alone been inside it's great walls, six months since she had first set out on a wild goose chase with her faithful four legged partner Naoki. Naoki himself padded along side his mistress and barked encouragingly at the young kunoichi, only a hundred more feet and they would be home.
In her twenty one years of life Mami had never been so happy to see the huge green gates.
All the kunoichi really wanted to do was have a good long soak in a really hot bath before dragging herself into a nice comfortable bed for a well earned rest; forget the stupid report that could wait until the morning.
As the two walked painfully slow steps towards their goal the bright, golden sun was beginning to set behind the hidden village and it only served to make the place more magical to them, the suns last golden rays for the day hit the Hokage Monument just right, the light cast small shadows on their carved stone faces to bring the past Hokages to life as they watched over the village they had died to protect.
The kunoichi's dark eyes watched her sandaled feet move one in front of the other as the two tracked closer and closer to the huge wooden gates, the hundred foot now cut down to fifty.
With a creek and a moan the grand gates of the village opened as the sun cast down it's last few rays of light, now that the gates were open the kunoichi and Naoki could fully enjoy the sunset with no interference. The glowing light warmed the tired kunoichi making her smile softly as the shadows of four individuals standing in the open gateway was cast upon her, even if one shadow had changed recently she knew which shadow belonged to who.
The female shinobi looked up with her tired beast like eyes to see Rock Lee standing there in his ever present green jumpsuit with a huge smile on his eager face, the rim of the setting sun was slowly disappearing behind Hokage Monument casting the last rays of golden light before it left.
"Well well well…" The kunoichi sighed as she crept closer and closer to the village limits "…it looks like the fantastic four are going out on a mission" That was what the group was often referred to because that was what they were, when this team of four were put together there was no stopping them, every mission was a success. Another tired sigh escaped the weary ninja as she rubbed at her dark eyes, the muscles and joints in her body hurt but it was her eyes that always took a beating, no matter where she went or did.
"Well well well…" Lee jested back as he watched on. The long haired kunoichi dragged her feet along to tired to pick them up, her always faithful partner bouncing along beside her "…it looks like Mami has just got back from a mission with Naoki…" As Naoki passed the eager group Lee gave him an affectionate rub behind his floppy ears that was more fuzz then anything else "…how did it go?" Mami just looked at the pumped up man and pulled a face as she strolled past, her feet dragging the dirt along in puffs of sandy clouds.
"I would offer you some snacks Mami but…" Came the muttered words of one of the group as the voice's owner looked down at the bag in his hand "…I won't have enough for the mission if I do" This was the voice of Choji Akimichi, the only shinobi in the entire village that has a constant supply of food at hand, he may be on the chubbier side but he had a heart of gold that was just as big; He was one of Mamis closest friends since they were young so she knew the Akimichi well. Mami couldn't help the small smile that graced her lips as her eyes fell on her long time friend.
In a village like this it wasn't at all surprising that the kids would pick up their parents phases or even their mannerisms, hell even the female shinobi had inherited her own mothers fiery temper.
"You're a moron Choji…" The only female of the group moaned as she flipped her blonde hair back, her other hand clenched and ready to hit the; in her own opinion, the dumb ass "…can you ever think of other things beside food or your stomach? You better not screw this mission up"
"Calm down Ino" Shino Aburame the last of the group interjected before a fight broke out between the two. Mami just smiled a little more, it had been a long time since she had been in a squad on a mission, she missed the companionship, she missed being home.
"See ya…" Mami threw over her shoulder as she moved closer into the heart of the village, to worn out and tired to see them off properly, Mami waved over her shoulder as she found herself that closer to a nice hot bath "…and good luck"
"Thanks" Came the short reply as the hum of four voices slowly left the village with Ino and Choji still bickering between them. Mami let out a small giggle as she left, hearing the two bicker until they were to far to hear.
As Mami hurried that little bit more to the water that was calling her the tips of her light brown hair felt heavy, it was as if the long brown strands were weighing her head down. The ends of the thick hair tickled the base of Mamis back as it swayed with her movements, the bath can also wait for morning; if she didn't hurry Mami would fall asleep in the middle of the street.
Mami and Naoki walked in a almost trance like state as they moved their feet one in front of the other, soon the grand village gates were out of sight and Mami turned a corner with a huff, she still had to get to her small one bedroom flat that they called home, problem was it was on the other side of town; just their luck.
As the two tiredly made their way home many other shinobi and kunoichi in the village passed them by, they greeted the tired female with a wave as they wondered from place to place but there was a few that tried to make conversation; Mami would tiredly wave back to each greeting and would growl at the few that tried to talk, she was to tired to do anything but crawl into he waiting bed.
Mami watched as the citizens of the village left for their homes as the busy day life came to an end, but it wasn't long before the buzz of the thriving night life that many citizens and ninja alike enjoyed came to the streets. If she wasn't so tired Mami would be joining the parties that were starting up in the handful of bars that scarred the village; if she remembered correctly it was Naruto was having a birthday bash tonight.
The lids of her dark beast like eyes were just to heavy to ignore as they kept drooping closed, she felt like a child falling asleep in their food before their afternoon nap. With one last droop Mami eyelids finally won and she fell to the dusty floor in a heap, she had to make do with the hard dirt to sleep on for six months one more nap won't make a difference.
Mami wiggled around in the dirt until she found the most comfortable position she could to sleep in, with a smile she snuggled into the ground and started to drift off but it wasn't long before she was disturbed. Mami could hear the faint whispers of passers by, as they hurried from place to place, some were sympathetic of her sleeping on the floor others were outraged that Mami was in the way; Mami didn't care, all she wanted was to sleep but when the females whispers soon turned into confessions of love stuck teenagers she knew who had arrived. Isamu is in the building.
Mami was to tired to fight this prick, the prick that tried it on with anything that breathed, so the moment Mami heard his footsteps getting closer she froze hoping he wouldn't notice her body in the way. Panic rushed along her veins when the footsteps stopped right beside her, damn it Isamu had spotted her. Trying her best to keep the act up her whole body went floppy when a pair of strong arms surrounded the female shinobi.
"Nice to see you back…" A deep voice chuckled as the body that carried her swayed from side to side, Mami would know that voice anywhere but she was just to tired to answer back and besides the warmth was to nice to ignore, she snuggled up to his body heat and let out a content sigh "…I know your tired but falling asleep in the middle of the street isn't a good idea" The voice lectured as Mami out right ignored him, the veil of sleep was to heavy to ignore especially with his body heat and the safety Mami felt in his arms.
Mami could sense her big fluffy partner following them as she was being gently carried though the streets in her half sleep state, she was sure that in the morning she would feel really embarrassed from not only collapsing in the middle of the village but also when it sunk in that it was HIM that was carrying her home. Naoki sensed his mistresses embarrassment but he didn't make a sound to which Mami was grateful for, no need to make the situation any worse then it already was, she just wanted to get to bed and fast.
The males deep voice kept lecturing Mami as her head rested on his chest but she didn't care, he should try again in the morning when she was more wake or when his heartbeat didn't try to lull her to sleep.
"In the pack" The brunette sighed when she herd the familiar sound of feet echoing up hard cold steps, she was finally at her flat and so close to a comfortable bed. Mami squinted her tired eyes to look up at the face of her carrier once they came to a stop outside her door, his dark hair was pulled back into it's normal ponytail as his brown eyes searched for the key; there was a bit of shifting that was rather uncomfortable to the tired kunoichi as he tried to locate the keys but after a minute or two they were found.
The key easily slipped into place and the lock opened allowing the male to swing the door open and sweep Mami inside, with a sigh the female shinobi was gently placed on the most softest beds she could hope for, her bed.
"Sleep well Mami" The voice whispered as his strong hands tucked the tired women into bed, his gentle hand also brushed the tickling hair from her face before the males made in way towards the door. Mami was at home and safe in her bed, Naoki was snuggled up in his bed in the corner and in Mamis eyes all was well.
"Thanks Shikamaru" Was all Mami could whisper before the black veil of sleep distended upon her and she finally drifted off into a deep sleep.