By morning Natsumi slowly sat up, gripping her head. Looking around she could see all but Minako alseep around her; Minako still at the mouth of the cave, her eyes locked on the sky. Her eyes drifted in Illua's direction as she faded her eyes to their white form. Natsumi let out a sigh of relief as she saw that Illua's illness was staying away still, though she knew it would be back.
Her eyes then drifted toward Kaizen. She was confused as to his character. Using her eyes she looked at him. She was surprised at some of the things she read, but she had seen worse, like Minako for example.
"I'm glad to see you're alright." Minako whipsered, not even glancing at Natsumi.
Natsumi weakly jumped to her feet and stumbled over to Minako as she released her jutsu. "What ah... happened?"
"You passed out from blood loss. We almost lost you, Nat." Minako explained, her aqua eyes locking with Natsumi's scarlet ones.
Natsumi's eyes windened as she looked down at her arm. The cut was healed but a thick scar remained.
"I think that guy likes you." Minako stated, a giggle escaping her lips.
Natsumi blushed at the comment, but shook her head. "Last thing I need right now is romance..."
"But it will happen." Minako laughed.
Natsumi's blush grew as s strand of hair fell into her view. She pushed it back and strolled over to Illua, kneeling down and shaking her shoulder slightly. "Wake up, Illua. We need to get moving..."
Illua seemed to wake up suddenly as Natsumi shook her shoulder. And stranger is how she woke up. It seemed like she wasn't sleeping at all, and no yawn escaped her lips. Yahasu was the first one that woke up, (Apart from Minako, only because she didn't fall asleep.) she had went for a walk outside the cave, and seemed to come back just in time. Illua pushed Gensou off, who was still fast asleep. He stood up and stretched out his long body, his sharp nails peeked out from the hairs between his toes.
She nodded to Natsumi as a thank-you for waking her up, and a hello. "We should get going." Illua said, as she walked to Kaizen, to wake him up. Putting a hand on his shoulder, Illua shook him. He stirred and opened one eye, to see Natsumi gone. Instantly after seeing she was gone, he stood straight up like he was hit by lightning. Illua was surprised, and wasn't quite sure what his problem was... Whipping around, Kaizen saw Natsumi standing on her own, he glanced at Illua, "We are going now?" He asked. Illua nodded. He chuckled sheepishly, "I overslept, didn't I?" He said, scratching his head and smiling awkwardly.
Natsumi laughed at Kaizen's actions. "Yes. And we must hurry." She sighed. "Hikaru and I... our bond is no longer broken. I can hear him in my head again." She laughed, almost joyful. "Sorry Minako, I forgot to tell you; Hibiki is fine. They are watching each other."
Minako brightened as she suddenly felt like hugging Natsumi.
"Come on!" Natsumi grinned, grabbing both Illua and Kaizen, pulling them out of the cave; she was surprising herself with the energy she had, considering how much blood she was still missing.
Illua had smiled when Natsumi had said the bond with her brother was no longer broken, and she could hear him in her head.. That was weird. It sounded like Gensou's jutsu, which was always cast on Illua. His thoughts would become yours, and yours his in return. It made it very easy to make battle plans without the enemy knowing and talking without the enemy hearing. One reason why she kept him around...
"We should hurry." Illua had said, then found herself being led out of the cave by Natsumi. Kaizen himself was surprised when Natsumi grabbed him and led him out. Gensou had noticed they were leaving and seemed to hop slowly behind them. Yahasu came up behind him and picked him up and she gained speed to a sprint.
The group quickly picked up the pace, making up for lost time. Natsumi had zoned out and forgotten that she was still dragging Kaizen and Illua along. Finally, she let go and blushed."S-sorry..." She murmured.
"We're not that far." Minako stated.
"What?" Natsumi asked, confused.
"I can smell Reina..." She hissed, pulling a kunai swiftly into her hand.
"How close?" Natsumi asked, her tone serious.
"Too close..." Minako growled
As Natsumi let go of both Illua and Kaizen, they just smiled. The three Oshue was surprised when Minako said they weren't that far, they seemed like they would take much longer to get there. But, The sooner they get there, the better. When Minako could say she could smell Reina and that she was too close. It seemed like the three Oshue all activated her eyes at the same time, preparing for a fight. Kaizen, the only one with a physical sword, had rested his hand on the handle, ready to quickly unsheathe it. Gensou had, once again, hopped on Kaizen's head, then to Illua's shoulder. He frowned at the creature again and rubbed the top of his head.
Minako stopped as her eyes darted around. Natsumi activated her eyes as well, going back to back with Minako.
"Minako! We meet again!" An older feminine voice echoed through the trees as an eriee laugh followed.
"Reina you skank! Show your face!" Minako shouted.
"Nice to see you too - I think Hibiki talked nicer to me than you are now." Reina said as she stepped from the shadows; her long orange hair blowing in the wind.
Minako narrowed her eyes, prepared to charage when Natsumi stepped in her way, her first clenched. "Give me my brother back!"
"I'd rather not. I like im... such a handsome young man - just about m age too!" Reina laughed.
Natsumi's eyes narrowed as she prepared to charge, not stoping to think.
Minako had stopped, and the three Oshue stopped as well. The woman, Reina had soon shown her face. Illua had stayed quiet, but was about to say something as Minako charged, but thankfully, Natsumi stopped her. But Illua had soon found Natsumi charging Reina. That... Was not a very smart move. Kaizen stepped forward, once, his grip tightened on his sword's handle...
Natsumi threw at kick toward Reina, which the older woman quickly dodged. She thrusted her hand outward and a vine grew from the ground, catching Natsumi's ankle and hanging her high above the ground.
"REINA!" Natsumi hissed, struggling against the vine.
Reina turned her attention to Minako who was shaking. "Scared now?" She laughed.
Minako shook her head. "I've already fought you once! There is nothing you can do that I don't already know!"
Reina shook her head. "That would be where you're wrong."
Minako shook her head and charged at Reina. A vine few in her direction that she dodged easily. The kunai she had been grasping flew threw the air and made a deep incision on Reina's cheek. The vine user hissed and jumped back onto a vine.
"Damn I hate you!" She growled at Minako.
While Reina was distracted, Natsumi was able to cut herself down and land on top of Reina, putting a kunai to her throat. "Move. I dare you!" She hissed in the olders ear.
With her hands pinned beneath her, Reina remained still and silent.
"Now," Natsumi hissed. "why have you and the twins taken my brother and Hibiki?"
Reina shook her head, careful not to slice her neck open.
"Tell me, now!' Minako growled.
Natsumi held up a free hand as a signal to order Minako to calm; it didn't work.
"If you weren't so valuable for information, I'd kill you right now!' Natsumi hissed again in Reina's ear. "Now tell me! Who else besides you and the twins are hold them captive!"
"D-Daiki... a-and... Ryo..." Reina admitted in defeat.
"Why!" Natsumi shrieked. She knew the twins, Reina, and the other two through the Akatsuki. Ryo she liked, but the others and her never got along; not to mention Reina was a bi girl who always came onto her.
"W-we have our reasons..." Reina choked out. Natsumi shook her head. "If you will say no more I will have to kill you now!"
Illua had watched the fight from afar, Though she did nothing, she learned of her jutsu, and became slightly known of her jutsu. As Natsumi held Reina captive, She explained there were two others guarding her brother and Hibiki, others form Akatsuki. Thank goodness it wasn't... Datenshi. He was someone who Illua was friends with in Akatsuki. And the one that loved her, which she had never told anyone...
Kaizen stepped forward, "Wait, Natsumi!" Kaizen said, cautiously approaching Reina and Natsumi. "Instead of killing her, As I would love to do myself, We can maybe get more information out of her." He said as he stopped about three feet away from them.
Illua smiled, "You were reading my thoughts, weren't you, Kaizen?" She said, following Kaizen, still keeping up her guard.
Natsumi raised at brow at Kaizen. "If you wanna try, be my guest." A smirk formed at her lips as she finally let her eyes return to her scarlet form.
She looked to Minako who nodded. The youngest walked over and formed several hand seals before, something that looked like a spiderweb covered Reina's wrists, cutting deeply into them.
"Wh-what the hell?" Reina's expression was shock as she glared at Minako.
"Being with Hibiki for all this time is beneficial. I learned many jutsu's from it." Minako explained.
Natsumi laughed, she knew that fact, but seeing Reina's expression made it more amusing.
Kaizen watched Minako do several hand signs, and it seemed like spiderwebs covered Reina's wrists, but soon cut deep into them. It seemed very painful... Natsumi then laughed, she seemed to enjoy seeing her in pain. Kaizen was never that spiteful, if anything, he would end up pitying them and then sparing them.
Kaizen went on, "Is there any more affiliates or lackeys we should know of? Is there just the four? I don't want any surprises when we raid the place for Natsumi's brother and Hibiki." Kaizen said, glaring at Reina, expecting the honest answer, though he could picture her lying or something.
Reina snickered at Kaizen. "You're kinda cute - he yours, Nat?"
Natsumi tried to surpress a blush and failed. "Answer the question!" She yelled at Reina, trying to aviod the whole boyfriend question.
Blush had crept up on Kaizen's face, his cheeks turning red as Reina had said he was cute, and asked Natsumi if he was hers. He quickly regained his calm demeanor as the blush faded slightly.
"I had asked you a question." He stated, trying to seem intimidating. But to Illua, he had failed miserably, only because of the caring look in his eyes.
Reina snickered. ''I'm not answering. And you still have not told me.'' Reina laughed.
''My love life is not your problem!'' Natsumi growled, supressing a blush again.
Reina had soon refused to tell Kaizen any more. "Hmm... Okay. I tried." Kaizen said, shrugging as he began to walk away. Illua had stopped him. "It is very unlike you to just give up, Kaizen..." Illua said, raising an eyebrow. Illua's gaze went from Kaizen to Reina, She had a hateful look in her eyes. "Maybe we should... Torture her." Illua said, grinning deviously.
Reina's eyes widened as she looked at Illua. "You can do nothing to me."
Natsumi laughed, her eyes changing. "Wanna bet?"
"AH!" Reina suddenly screamed in pain, falling onto her side.
As Reina's eyes widened, Illua grin grew wider. Illua, herself, had her own methods of torture, physical, or psychological, Thanks to her skill in Genjutsu and her Kekkei Genkai, but Natsumi's way seemed perfect for spilling beans. Or blood. Illua had seen Reina fall to her side.
"Now, what do you say? Or shall we continue?" Illua asked, crouching down to Reina's level.
Illua had only gone this far, because she honestly felt like she was hiding something. Just by her reply to Kaizen. Kaizen himself, had a hand behind his neck. It was worse when he heard her hit the floor. He felt bad, to see someone suffer like that. Turning around he gulped.
"Maybe she doesn't know anything. If we wait around here, more will likely come if they notice that she has not come back. We should just leave before they suspect us." Kaizen said, looking between Natsumi and Illua, and to try to convince them to keep moving forward.
"I have to say, Kaizen has a point." Yahasu said, stepping closer to the group.
Natsumi shook her head. "Sorry Kaizen, but you are wrong. These people care for each other and no one else - a lost team member means nothing to them."
Kaizen quieted as Natsumi had told him otherwise. He blinked in curiosity.
"She is right, Kaizen. It is different then how we fuction in our little... Family. They care not for anyone but themselves." Illua said, standing back up and looking at Kaizen at her side.
Natsumi nodded again. Reina screamed out in pain as Natsumi's eyes narrowed on her. "D-DAMMIT! I-I WON'T TELL Y-YOU ANYTHING!"
"Then die." Natsumi hissed - this was one of those times that the evil side that the Akatsuki created for her, showed. She looked like a muderer with the crazed look in her eyes.
Illua was disappointed when Reina still would not say anything. "Do you want the honors, Natsumi?" Illua said, offering Natsumi to kill her. Kaizen stared at Illua, mouth agape, he wanted to think that there was another way. "Kaizen, this is nothing more we can get from her. You are too soft, too kind. That is your flaw." Illua said, glaring over at the male.
Natsumi leaned her face closer to Reina's. "This is your last chance... tell... us, or else I kill you."
"There is nothing to tell!" Reina yelled. Natsumi shook her head. Her hands rested on Reina's neck. "Shall I snap it? Or just finish you with my eyes?"
Minako narrowed her eyes, waiting for the kill.
Illua had watched Natsumi, waiting for her to finish Reina, then to go rescue her brother and Hibiki. Yahasu also watched from behind with empty eyes. Kaizen was the only one that wasn't looking, he had seemed to turn around and walk a short distance away from the group. Gensou, who was beside Illua, hissed with joy.
Natsumi snickered before a loud snap echoed though the forest. Natsumi let Reina's lifeless body fall. Her eyes faded to their normal form. "I wish she had been more helpful... we were friends once..." Natsumi murmured in sorrow.
Illua was quiet when Reina's neck cracked. When Natsumi had said that were once friends, Illua didn't know how to reply. "We should get going." Illua said finally, after a moment of silence.
Natsumi nodded. "Reina being dead wont change their plans..."
Illua nodded, "You're right, but we shouldn't waste much of our time here when your brother and Hibiki are so close." Illua said, smiling slightly. "The faster we rescue them, the more secure Minako is, and she can then rest easily. And not to mention I think Hikaru will be happy to see you." Illua said, shrugging slightly with a smile.
Kaizen nodded, "Yeah, we should carry on." He agreed, looking over at Natsumi then Illua. He appeared to be back to normal.
Natsumi nodded. "I can feel Hikaru - he is close."
Minako broke out into a run. "I can smell my Hibiki!"
Natsumi chased after her quickly when Minako began laughing. "However, another friend of ours is close."
"There is?" Natsumi asked, confused.
"Oh, Illrima!" Minako giggled, coming to a stop again.
"I-Illrima is here?" Natsumi asked, confused.
As the two girls seemed to run the way to the prisoners, Illua had a bad feeling. "I would be careful, you two. For all we know, they might have some traps hidden up ahead." Illua said, running after them. Kaizen and Yahasu had also chased after them.
"What else are we expecting, Illua?" Kaizen asked in a low voice, with a worried expression. Illua didn't answer.
Minako nodded. "Does Illua know of Illrima?" Minako asked Natsumi.
"I do not belive so... do you, Illua?" Natsumi asked.
Minako and Natsumi had asked Illua if she knew a girl names Illrima. She had thought for a second, and then came to a conclusion. Illua had shook her head as an answer to Minako and Natsumi.
"No... I do not. Is she on our side?" Illua asked, looking between the two.
Natsumi nodded. "At times."
"She doesn't trust many - basically no one." Minako explained.
"She trusts me. She will fight with us." Natsumi said before calling out, "Illri!"
A girl with long black hair and spiderweb patterns covering her face and shoulders emerged from the trees.
"Minako, Natsumi." She said, walking forward.
"Illri, what are you doing here?" Natsumi asked.
"Walking... and you?"
"Saving Minako's boyfriend and my brother." Natsumi answered.
"Ah. And these are your friends?" She asked, looking over at the other three.
Natsumi nodded. "This is Illua, Kaizen and Yahasu."
Illua had stayed quiet as Natsumi explained about a girl named Illrima. Though Natsumi had said that she would fight with them. Though if Natsumi had thought she would fight, Illua would trust her word. As Natsumi cried out, what seemed to be her nickname, A dark-haired girl stepped out from the trees. Natsumi had asked Illrima what she was doing here, she simply anwered with 'walking'. As the long, dark-haired girl asked what Natsumi was doing, she said that they were rescuing Hibiki and Hikaru. Soon Illrima looked over to the three Oshue, and asked if it was her friends. Natsumi then introduced them. Kaizen waved, said a little hello and smiled.
"Hello. I am Illua." The Oshue leader said, looking at Illrima.
Yahasu was the only one that didn't greet her.
"Nice to meet you." Illrima sighed.
"Will you help us?" Natsumi asked.
"I guess... who are we against?"
"Ex-Akatsuki members." Natsumi replied, her voice harsh.
"Ah, I see." Illrima groaned. "Yeah, I will help."
The three Oshue didn't say much when Natsumi and Illrima were talking. Though when Illrima said she'd join Kaizen's smile grew, "The more help, the better. It's nice for you to join us." He said, smiling slightly.