Yes, Kinosaki is a real place, it was the first city I found I found in Japan that wasn't "One of Japan's largest cities" according to a travel website, and it had hot springs, and it looked pretty, so that's the name of the little village.
A special thanks to: nickule, Ivy of Midnight, Kagomaru, kisses-diana (dank u! right?), joys (I noticed that right after I posted it), Drea1284, angel897, Stunning sunset, and niki (Shinji is exactly the kind of name I was looking for!). If anyone else reviewed after I typed this, then to you as well. Everyone else, what the hell? Really? REALLY? Ok, now that that's out of my system… I feel bad, so I also want to thank everyone who reviewed before on chapters 1-3, I love you all as well. Everyone else though: tsk tsk, my friends, tsk tsk.
"You know Kakashi," I mutter to the cell next to me. "We could've taken them. It was only nine."
"Will you give it a rest already?" He growls back. "I have this under control."
I'm quiet for a moment, not really all that angry with him for letting us get caught, it was bound to happen anyways. "Why did we have to wait for them to catch us?" I ask quietly, picking at dirt under my fingernail.
"I wanted to get closer to our destination," he says with a sigh. "If we were close enough to the village we were looking for then it would be likely that they would take us there."
"You're so smart," I tease, throwing in a bit of sarcasm for good measure. "So where are we?"
"Kinosaki, by the smell of it," Kakashi says with a sigh. "It fits the profile Tsunade gave us too; this is probably the right place."
"She really couldn't have just given us a name?" I growl. I hate guess work, and everyone knows it, but that doesn't mean I won't stop complaining about it. "What if it's not?"
"We'll find out soon enough," He sighs, "She said she'd send confirmation within the month, whatever that is."
"When did she say that?" I ask sharply. Probably while I was having a heart attack over marrying my teacher.
"Before you got there, we talked for quite a bit," he sighs. I shudder to think what they were talking about.
Confirmation? "Like a bird or something?" I ask, but I have to assume he just shrugs. I decide to change the subject, utterly bored with his evasive half answers and not being able to read into them since I can't see him. "Kakashi, that man… do you really not remember him, or were you just messing with him?"
Kakashi laughs softly, and I hear his feet hit the floor of his cell. "Saito Hitoshi," he sighs heavily. "A few years back, fifteen maybe, twenty, I don't know. Hayate, Raido, and I came up here to check on a distress message Anko and Genma had sent out." He laughs dryly, as if remembering exactly how stupid the whole thing was. "We were under strict orders not to go save them, but we all had a soft spot for Anko in those days. So we took off to come rescue her, Genma too, if we could." I could hear the smile in his voice, a rare kind that he only wore when talking about the few happy moments of his past. "It was, of course, a trap, and Raido was nearly killed. But we got them back. They were being held as prisoners, they stuck their noses too far in someone else's business. Saito Tsuyoshi, his father, was the head interrogator, and had been… had been working at Anko, probably just for fun, she couldn't have known anything he needed to know." I shuddered at the words he wouldn't say, it can sometimes mean the end of a Kunoichi's career. "When we came to rescue them we took Hitoshi as our prisoner, and traded him for Anko and Genma."
"They traded two for one?" I ask quietly.
"His mother was in charge of the trade," Kakashi explains quietly. "Before we left we killed both of his parents, Anko… displayed his father's body most… artistically." I listen in quiet shock. If they did these things the man will have a grudge against Kakashi, which will mean trouble for us. Also, Anko is one sick puppy. "Anyway, they chased us down as we were leaving," Kakashi sounds bored now, as if the story is old news. "We killed a few of Hitoshi's comrades, but outran them in the end. I guess he's gotten a promotion since then."
"That's horrible," I mutter, shaking my head.
"That's the life of a ninja, Sakura," Kakashi bites back, his voice thick with annoyance. I suppose I should have expected that. Every time he told me about his past I had the same reaction, and he was always upset with me. Perhaps he thought me to be too weak. Or maybe he's just annoyed I had dragged another story out of him.
"That's no way to talk to a lady," I look up, surprised to see a new presence in the room, just in front of Kakashi's cell. He's a tall man, dressed in royal clothes, and although his words were defending me, his voice is cold. He has long black hair, coming loose from its hair tie and defined, yet almost feminine, features. He would be a pretty girl, far more so than myself, but he would also be terrifying. Too beautiful to be human. As a male… he looks like trouble. Behind him stands what seems to be a single bodyguard. "Hatake, I hear you have some information for me."
"I never expected you to come yourself," Kakashi says, with a small laugh. "Hironori, such a great honor."
"Lord Toriyama, now," Then man corrects. "Father died suddenly… five or sp years ago now."
"Oh?" Kakashi asks with faux compassion, "My deepest regrets, how?"
"Choked to death on a bit of steel, I'm afraid." I got the feeling the young lord wasn't completely caught by surprise by his father's murder.
"Ah, I can see how that would sneak up on a man," Kakashi sighs.
"You had information for me, Kakashi, what was it?" I'm slightly startled by the usage of first names among the two; they obviously know each other fairly well.
"Patience," Kakashi sighs, "If you let us out of here I might tell you."
"Ah, and I suppose you'll want to exchange you're information for free passage back to Konoha?" The Lord seems so blasé about it, as if he comes to the prisons everyday to speak with enemy ninja.
"Oh, quite the contrary," Kakashi laughs, "I'd like to exchange my information for the promise that we can stay here in Kinosaki."
The young Lord seems surprised, and takes a minute to respond, "And why would you want that?" He mutters, his cold eyes dancing over to me for a quick moment.
"You're a smart man, Hiro," Kakashi jokes. "You tell me."
Lord Toriyama scowls at Kakashi's use of a nickname, and then looks over to me once more, his gaze lingering. "Is she pregnant?"
The blood rushes to my face so quickly I have to turn away in embarrassment. Kakashi just laughs. "No, not yet anyway." Yet? I believe I've found a new occupational hazard, death by embarrassment.
"Who is she?" Lord Toriyama asks, watching me carefully.
"That's part of the information," Kakashi says with his most confident smirk.
I glance back to see Lord Toriyama watching me carefully. "Guard!" he calls, not looking away from me. "Unlock these two cells."
"That was easy," Kakashi muses as we're let out of our cells.
"The copy ninja has abandoned the hidden leaf, I'm intrigued."
Kakashi takes my hand as we walk behind Lord Toriyama with his guard following us and I struggle to keep up with the speed at which his fingers move across my skin. Watch out for this one, Sakura, he's smart and evil. I've no doubt he ordered his father's assassination. He wasn't even supposed to inherit the title; it was to pass to his y-o-u-n-g-e-r brother. But if he killed the lord before his brother was of age… I'm faintly aware of Kakashi's conversation with Lord Toriyama, something about our closeness, but I'm trying too hard to read Kakashi's poor sign language to pay attention. He won't put up with us for very long before he tries… before he gets… before he d-e-m-a-n-d-s that I give him something in return. He'll want me working for him, and he'll probably send me away, that means you have to get all the… all that we need.
Information. I sign back helpfully.
Kakashi squeezes my hand in what I assume is a thank you and I distantly hear the Lord talking again. I have to struggle to listen to his words, for he's speaking in a somewhat different dialect, as if he doesn't want me to understand. Luckily many of Tsunade's correspondents use a similar dialect in their letters to her, so I'm a little more familiar with the sound of it than I would've been ten years ago.
"You'll stay here in the castle, Kakashi, I don't want you two out of my 'sight'. Don't pick any fights." He sounds bored as he leads us through the elaborate halls of the castle. He leads us to a large room filled with pillows, and immediately throws himself into a large pile of them, waving to the ones across from him. "Sit." Kakashi and I do as he says and a woman comes in, bringing us tea. His eyes never leave my face. "Ok Kakashi, you're free, now who is this girl who has captured your heart?"
Kakashi's single eye glances over to me just before he smiles at the lord. "My fiancé," he says plainly.
"Cut the bull shit," he growls.
Kakashi sighs. "Sakura Haruno."
His eyes shoot over to me again, and then back to Kakashi. "Isn't she your-"
"Was."
"And she's the one who-"
"One and the same."
"And she's the Hoka-"
"Yes."
Lord Toriyama lets out a low whistle, looking me over. "No wonder you left, I wouldn't let you near my apprentice either, especially if she was as cute as this one. And even I've heard of how dearly the Hokage cares for her precious Haruno-chan."
The hairs on the back of my neck bristle at how carelessly he uses the title, and how he talks about me like I'm not here… the chauvinistic pig! When we're through here I think I'll rip his tongue out and feed it to Kakashi's summons. Kakashi's hand finds mine again. Easy… he warns.
"You can see why we needed to leave the leaf, then," Kakashi continues.
"You truly intend on marrying her?" Toriyama asks, drinking his tea. He has several rings on his fingers which clink against the cup.
"If you'll allow it," Kakashi mutters.
"It would offend the Hokage, might even start a war at this point, surely you know that." His words are carefully chosen, as if he's looking for the right ones to get the reaction he wants out of us.
"That's the other piece of information," Kaskashi sighs. My eyes shoot to him in shock. Had Tsunade given him orders to give away cheap pieces of information to prove or worth? "With Sakura and myself here Konoha has lost two of its best ninja, and its second best medic nin. Before we left several of its young talent was put out of commission on a recent mission, and I happen to know several of its elite jonin aren't in the city at the moment."
"Are you telling me, Kakashi," Toriyama asks slowly, "That now would be a good time to attack the leaf?"
"I'm telling you that if Iwa ninja attacked the leaf now Konoha ninja could do little to stop them." Kakashi's words chill me to the bone, because they're true.
The room goes deathly silent for a moment. And then… Toriyama laughs. "You know better, Kakashi," he sighs. "I do not involve myself with matters of war. Or perhaps that is why you told me?"
"Perhaps," Kakashi says with a smile.
"Still, it's good to know these things, now you and your little girl get out of here;" Little girl! "I'm bored of your stupid eye and your juvenile hand-holding."Kakashi gets to his feet quickly, pulling me with him. He moves us out of the room before I can even turn a proper glare on the man, much less rip his head off as I had planned, and doesn't slow until we reach the end of the hallway.
"What the hell?" I ask harshly, practically growling at Kakashi. How dare he drag me away without letting me defend myself, he knows how I hate it when men act like that.
"Oh hush, love," he sighs, pressing company into my hand.
"That chauvinistic pig! That- that bigoted freak!" I ignore Kakashi's warnings; I have every right to be angry, even if some of that is redirected from my earlier anger with Kakashi. "Scum-bag son-of-a-"
"Sakura, honey, it's probably best if you don't insult the only person who can get us what we want," Kakashi warns carefully.
"And you!" I hiss, turning on him. "You seem mighty chummy with him!" I'm suggesting much more than I have any reason to, but I can't help it. Men. "I bet you feel the same way as him!"
"Oh hush," he sighs, stuffing his hands in his pockets and going ahead of me down the hall. "Be reasonable."
I turn on my heel, heading towards a maid who has just emerged silently from a room down the hall. She drops the towels she had been carrying, probably terrified at the image of me storming towards her. "Excuse me," I apologize, softening my expressing as I help her with the towels, balancing them in her arms just so. "Do you happen to know where I might be staying during my time here?"
The girl blushes, looking from me to Kakashi. "You are Haruno-san?" I nod. She bows her head and lowers her voice to speak quietly. "I can check if you wish. I don't think a room would be ready yet but I could come get you when it is."
"That will do fine," I sigh, waving my hand dismissively. "Just point me out of here and I'll go explore the town."
She points down the hall way. "Take a right down there and you'll get to the gardens. Haruno-san?" I look at her expectantly. "Would you and Hatake-sama like different rooms?"
My heart thuds in my chest, not at her question, but at her use of titles. "One will be fine," I say roughly, trying not to be too harsh. I turn and go down the hall, turning right. "Sama," I hiss, the word feeling like acid in my mouth.
"I could have led you out of here," Kakashi notes as I pass him. He trails behind me as I continue without stopping.
"Of course you could have, Hatake-sama." Kakashi just sighs behind me. "I hate this place!"
Kakashi laughs, a real, decently loud laugh. "Kami, Sakura. Give it a chance. You've been here ten minutes." Plus countless hours in their prison. "They have good ramen."
"Oh boy," I mumble dryly. Cringing at the thought of Naruto. What the hell will he be thinking back in Konoha? His two closest friends up and leave to get married without a word to him… oh boy indeed.
"Come on," Kakashi mutters, putting his arm around my shoulder. I seriously contemplate chewing it off and beating him with it, but decide it would take too much energy and instead lean against him. "I'll show you the town."
"Show me anything ramen related and I will kill you," I warn.
"I know," he laughs, kissing the top of my head through his mask.
"Stop being so damn cute," I growl. "I'm angry with you." Kakashi laughs and apologizes jokingly.
As we stepped out of the building we came into a small rock garden, beyond which were rolling hills that seemed to go on forever. Dotting some of the closer hills were ten or twenty Konotori, their white bodies and black wings standing out against the lush green grass. I silently curse the beauty of the scene, for I know with much more of this I won't be able to hold onto my anger.
Kakashi leads me through the gardens and over the wall to the city beyond where he buys me little trinkets and some medical supplies I had left in Suna. The city, small though it may be, is absolutely beautiful, something I simply couldn't see from the prison cells on the hill. A big part of its beauty is how advanced it is for such a small town. Even though it is tiny it has all the technology the leaf does. Kakashi explains this is because of the fact that so much trade comes through the area, so they profit from what passes by before sending it onto it's destination.
It's not until later in the day, nearing four or five, that I remember why we're in the town. I'm munching on something fried Kakashi had bought us when a boy, or more probably described as a man, in his late teens waves us down. He seems fairly common, messy, chin-length, black hair, cheap clothes, and a bright smile, like the majority of the people we've passed on the street today, but a flash of gold at his neck draws my attention. It looks expensive, and it didn't fit at all with the rest of the boy's attire.
He sweeps up before us and bows to Kakashi, and then to myself, which brings a smile to my lips. Finally. "Hatake Kakashi," he half asks, more tells.
"You must be Shinji," Kakashi concludes. "Wearing your mother's jewelry on the street? Do you really think that wise?"
Shinji smiles brightly at Kakashi. "Lord Toriyama wishes to speak with you; he asked that I keep Haruno Sakura company while you talk." I started to huff at that, but Shinji turned his bright smile on me. "Sakura-sama, please don't be offended! He won't let me in on the big boy talk either."
Sama. I like this kid. "Will you be ok?" Kakashi asks, glancing down at me.
"Oh fine, fine," I say lightly, excusing him. "Shinji and I will hit the town while the two of you do your boring shop-talk." Kakashi doesn't look particularly thrilled with my response, but he doesn't argue and after a swift masked kiss he's gone.
"Sakura-sama," Shinji says with a smile. "How are you and Hatake-sama liking Kinosaki?"
"Well, the prison cells are rather cold," I joke, bringing a brighter smile to Shinji's lips. "Please, just Sakura. Sama is so formal."
"I couldn't do that!" Shinji gasps, his face overly animated at the repulsiveness of the idea. "Besides, I thought you liked the show of respect…"
"Yes, but you've already shown respect, now show friendship," my explanation doesn't make a lot of sense, even to me, but he seems to get it.
"Sakura-san, will that do?"
"Better, but beware, I will break you down to simply my name." He grins at my friendly warning, taking my hand and pulling me off to who knows where.
Big thanks to Japan-Guide(dot)com I don't know if they let you put up links yet, so to be safe that's how it's going to be). Without them I would know nothing about anything and I would have a made up city name. It makes me feel better that it's a real place.
Um… yeah. Sorry this took so long guys. Blame it on a new job (I get to play with puppies and tell people I can't help them. Best job ever.) and a certain annoying boy who doesn't know how to make my life easier. Who happens to be reading this story. Jerk. (Nah man, we're cool.)
Anyhow, go back up and read my first note at the top of this document. I'll wait. … … … ok, now you see, I would really like you to review. (You too annoying boy, if you don't have a concussion already I'll come see you tomorrow.)