Chapter 7: Start the mission of the sand
Mami let out a big drawn out sigh as she wondered the slightly chilly streets of Konohagakure in the early morning, she was left confused and a little bit fazed as Mami headed towards the big green gates she had first arrived though nine days ago. Nine days, that was all the rest Mami had from her six month mission before she was once again sent out on an important mission. This mission however seamed to be simple enough but then again so did many, the short version consisted of Mami going in a team of three others to deliver an important document to the Kazekage of the Sand village; in other words Gaara.
But that wasn't what left the young kunoichi confused, Lady Tsunade had apologised. In her own words 'I was being a little to hasty', since when does the Hokage of the Leaf Village apologise, she never had been known to apologise before.
"Over here" The ever cheerful Choji called as a big red fluff ball came into view, one of his hands clutching onto a bag of snacks as his other hand waved in the air. Mami was looking forward to working in a team again but when she saw Choji standing there she couldn't help but smile, this would be a fun mission.
"Hay Choji…" Mami greeted as she wondered over to the waving shinobi and close friend "…guess we're working together.
"Sure are" Choji smiled as he patted Naoki on the head, when Mami wasn't looking Choji offered some of his snacks to the waiting ninja hound who licked him in return.
"So who else is joining us?" Mami asked as she turned to look back, her long hair flipping over her shoulder as her eyes watched the two carefully.
"Not sure really…" Choji mussed as his hand rummaged round in the half empty bag "…hopefully Shino and Hinata"
"Hello ladies…" A smooth voice called as a pig headed male strolled round the corner into sight "…looks like I have the pleasure of working with you both on this wonderful mission" Isamu came over with his normal panty dropping smile and making himself look bigger swagger as he threw his arms around Mami and Choji, a lust like glint in his steel grey eyes.
"Hell no…" Mami moaned as she shrugged Isamus large arm off her, this was just what Mami needed "…just once I would like a mission where there are no pricks" Mami half screamed as she stormed around, she paced back and forth in front of Choji and Isamu who gave her a dirty look once he realised who he was with. Choji gave a small slightly inaudible snort from under Isamus other arm which made Mamis lips twitch into a smile.
Not one to be defeated easily by a girl Isamu turned to Choji with a smile.
"Oh Isamu you charmer" Choji gushed in a high pitched voice as he pretended to hide his nonexistent blush. Mami burst into tears of laughter when she noticed the look of utter shock and horror on Isamus face as he looked at the all male Choji, his arm jumped off Chojis shoulder as if he had been burned as he took a few steps back.
"Better…luck next…time" Mami gasped as she supported herself from falling onto the dusty floor.
"Was it the hair?" Choji asked as he flipped his long brown locks with a flourish, a flirty smile on his face as he fluttered his dark eyes.
"WHAT…" A shrill voice screeched as a purple headed harpy came strolling round the corner, her eyes instantly locking onto Mami who was gasping for breath; she gave Mami a piercing glare as her eyes narrowed "…why do I have to work with you?"
"Because if you don't then you can't go on another mission…" A voice called as a pair of heels clacked along the paved floor "…ever" Lady Tsunade added as an after thought, her sharp amber eyes watching the four ninja and the two ninja animals waiting by the huge village gates as she grew steadily closer, Tsunade had the important document tightly clasped in her hand and was judging who should be leader of the group and be in charge of the scroll.
Ami was standing there with a look of utter degust on her face as she glanced at a gasping Mami, she was to whiney and she complained about everything so she was out. Isamu was a flirt and winked at the Hokage as she looked his way, he made the older woman's skin crawl so he's gone. Mami was taking deep calming breaths as she clutched onto Naokis back, he pined in encouragement as Mami finally got her breath back. Choji however just stood there in the middle of the mess with a kind smile on his face, he seamed to be waiting for the others to get them self's together before moving an inch. Bingo.
"But lady Tsunade…" Ami wined as she took a step forward, a look of protest in her eyes.
"That's enough…" The Hokage snapped, her piercing eyes moving to the younger women "…I will not hear another word out of you until you have returned from the mission" Ami shut her mouth rather quickly and bowed her head in respect.
"Yes malady, sorry malady"
"Sorry to interrupt but we need to be on our way malady" Choji softly muttered as he gestured to the open gates, the Hokages eyes following Chojis hand as he pointed towards the exit of the village. The Hokage had been in charge of Konohagakure for many years now but it was well known that the Hokage herself could be distracted when it involved her temper or drink of any kind, Tsunade knew she had made the right choice.
"I Hokage of Konohagakure am appointing you Choji Akimichi to be the leader on this mission, you will be in charge of your piers and of the document so keep it with you at all times…" With a soft smile Tsunade handed the thin envelope to Choji, he happily excepted the document with a nod "…you now have a three day trip ahead of you, use this time wisely. Good luck" With the document now safely stashed in Chojis amour the four bowed to the Hokage before taking off, they quickly dashed onto the worn path that marked the start of their mission.
"I can't believe we have three days of travel before we get to Sunagakure…" Mami gushed as the padding of feet brought up a lose layer of dirt along the track"…it's been to long" Naoki barked in agreement as his paws flew across the dusty track, it had been to long since the two had seen the huge sandy walls that surrounded the sun baked village.
"It has always been three days to get the sand village, you should know that better then anyone" Ami snipped as Princess rode on her mistresses shoulder, the two quite happily running behind Isamu as he followed Mami and Naoki. Mami turned back to glare at a happy Ami at the back of the group, her smug smile annoyed Mami to no end as Amis eyes gleamed with triumph.
"I forgot you were a good friend of Temaris" Choji cut in as an uncomfortable silence descended onto the group.
"Did you now…" Mami wondered aloud as her eyes moved onto Chojis back "…or was it cut the tension?"
"Well…a little of both" The bulky man admitted with a small smile. Trust Choji to be the tension breaker.
XxX
The sliver beams of moonlight whispered though the bending tree tops; the leaves dancing in the chilly wind that night brought in the winter months, the slivery light cast a eerie glow on the temporary camp as a lone ninja and her ninja hound stood guard.
The camp was nothing special, just a pile of burning logs in the middle of a small clearing as three sleeping bags huddled around it, the fire itself provided little heat to the huddling ninja as it was used for more practical reasons; to filter the grit and muck from the river water, making it safe to drink. Not that Ami would drink it, not with the look on her face when Choji first suggested it. How did the purple haired woman become a ninja Mami would never know.
The forest which the group of ninja now resided in was located in the hottest part of fire country, it was always full with life, it didn't matter what the time of year was. It was mid October and the honey bees buzzed happily in brightly coloured flowers, birds sang in the whispering tree tops and lizards lay in the afternoon sun, absorbing the rays before night fell; soon the afternoon heat would fade and the chilly night would set in. ANBU trained ninja could run for days without any need for food or water but regular old ninja had to stop every once in a while for a rest, that was a downside to being a ninja. You would always spend ninety nine percent of the time travelling on a mission.
An tattered book lay open in Mami's lap, a pen held tightly in her grasp as her eyes looked over the empty page, this wasn't any random book that Mami had oh no, it was her memory book. This book was handed to Mami by the Sandaime Hokage when she was five, he instructed the small girl to write her memories in this book, the memories of her two years away from the village.
Not that she could forget the painful memories that were burned into her brain, refusing to leave the poor girl alone; Mami had lost count of just how many nightmares she had to witness. Over and over again the memories would replay in her mind and just as she was instructed Mami wrote very single one down in this book.
With a few strokes of her pen Mami finished writing down her latest memory, the one that refused to leave her the most.
A snap of a fallen twig alerted the young female that there was someone around, in a blur of movement Mami was on her feet with a kunai gripped tightly in her hand, her sharp eyes looked out into the darkness, she could see nothing as they moved from shadow to shadow. Every flicker of movement set Mami on edge as she flared her chakra, she could feel someone watching her, watching them.
Eyes, Mami could feel eyes all around her, they bore into every part of Mamis body sending a chill though her body like a poison. The eyes judged the women standing there with a feeble weapon in her hands as her legs started to tremble, Mami was weak and useless in their view and no amount of training could change that, Mami was the one thing they despised, female.
The watching eyes were fierce with glares as they bore into Mamis frame, making her body burn with hate as she looked around, Mami couldn't see any eyes looking back at her but she could feel their gaze. A twinge in the back of her head caused Mami to freeze, this feeling was embedded into her skin like a curse, a feeling she would never forget.
"NO…" Mami screamed into the darkness as she tightly closed her eyes "…STOP IT" The tingle at the base of Mamis head grew in intensity until it was a mild burn shooting down her spine. The gaze froze her blood with fear as their silent promises spiked all over her body, Mami couldn't take it, the feeling was to much. Her body trembled, her throat tightened and her heart shuddered as the eyes drilled into the back of her head, with a dull thud the kunai slipped from Mamis grip and tumbled onto the mossy grass below.
In her fear filled mind Mami could make out high pitched screaming and she could feel that her mouth was wide open, the noise must be coming from her but the two didn't feel connected. The eyes kept looking at Mami as her skin shivered with dread, this could not be happening, not now.
Trying to keep the eyes away Mami made herself as small as she possibly could, Mami fell to her knees and tucked herself into a ball as she threw her arms over head, she was reduced to a shivering pile on the floor but the eyes kept looking, they moved with her to the ground, following her every movement.
"Mami…" A soft voice called, it was laced with panic as a large hand rested on her shoulder "…Mami what's wrong?" With a jerk the fearful female looked up to see a pair of worried dark eyes looking back, their face was rounded with a mess of light brown hair falling around him.
"Choji" Mami whispered in relief as her eyes dared to dart around. Nothing, no one but the expected four was in sight. Mami couldn't sense the mystery person anymore, they must have moved on.
"What happened?" Chojis rough voice asked as he help the shaky shinobi off the mossy ground.
"She's crazy…" Ami informed as she shoved her belongings away "…Mami is dysfunctional that's the problem"
"That's enough…" Choji snapped, his worried eyes turning into hard glares as he looked towards the purple haired women "…Ami and Isamu once you have packed your belongings you will go on ahead, Mami and I will sort the camp out. You are to stop as soon as you have reached the boarder. Are we clear?"
"Yes" Ami and Isamu replied, within a minute the two had packed up and taken off leaving a frightened Mami and a worried Choji.
"You ok?" Choji kindly asked as Naoki rushed out of the surrounding forest panting away as he brought the first rays of morning. The ninja hound bounded up to Mami, his dark eyes were anxious as he rubbed his head on Mamis leg, giving the women some comfort.
"I think so…" Mami replied as her hand affectionately rubbed the large dogs head, he had been out on patrol so he must of heard Mamis screams "…I don't really know what happened"
"You were screaming Mami, you kept telling something to look away…" Mami knew what Choji meant even if he didn't "…I don't know what it was and I can see you don't really want to talk about it. You know where I am if you do" A hug from Choji always lifted Mamis sprits and this one lasted longer then any other, Mami wrapped herself around her good friend and refused to let go as Choji tugged her closer, his masculine smell calming her frayed nerves.
"Thank you" Mami whispered into the larger mans chest as she berried her face as far as it would go.
"Anything for you" Choji replied with a smile as he gave Mami one last squeeze.
A.N. So what did you think? I know the whole being watched thing was blown out of proportion but that was the idea, yuo will find out soonish why Mami freaked. Just to let all my readers know this will be the last chapter for a little while, don't worry I haven't given up but I have alot on my plate right now. Including this story I have 14 on the go, I'm just taking some time off so I can get the basics worked out on some and add a few more chapters to others. I just have so many ideas flying around my head that it's difficult to consentrate on just one at a time. I will be back by the summer maybe even before that, I hope you enjoy the chapters I have posted so far. kitkathampster XxX