Disclaimer: From now on I will only post these on the first chapter. I don't want to fill up the chapters with these things and annoy you, the readers. Sound fair?
Warnings: The characters will be a bit OOC (Out Of Character) but that's to be expected. This is set just a few days before the series begins. That's it for the warnings here.
"Family Ties"
By: Beloved Shadow of Light
+ Devil of the Mist +
I have never been much of a morning person but when you live the life of a shinobi--an elite ninja--you learn to deal with such nuisances. For me it's getting up with light hitting you right in the face. I try to ignore it but it's no use. Keeping my eyes close I slowly sit up, growling softly.
Damn mornings.
Slowly I open my eyes as I sit on the edge of the bed, looking over at the other bed to find my partner still sleeping. The thin blankets hug her lithe form, her hair is loose about her, some of the strands trailing onto the floor. I can't tell if she's sleeping or not but last time I tried to see if she was awake she nearly separated my head from my shoulders.
Reaching for my pants I pull them on and reach for my wrapping when I hear a loud thumb from the room down the hall. It doesn't take me long to hear what sounds like footsteps followed by a loud pounding.
"Hurry up, I have to go to the bathroom!" came a boy's voice, sounding pissed and frustrated. I think I hear a reply but I sigh and close my eyes for the moment. Sounds like the brats are up. Leaving the rest of my clothes I get up and leave the room. By the time I reach the door I can hear two of our sons arguing.
That's right, I said sons. They aren't ours by blood but regardless they are my family. Without warning I slam the door open and glare at a teenage blonde who looks ready to kick a door down. I don't have to say anything as he looks at me with wide eyes before slowly backing away as I approach the door. Reaching up I slam my fist into the wood, making everyone jump.
"Haku, finish up already!" I yell to him and hear the water splashing. I look at the other two and notice the redhead is already getting dressed but he looks ready to kill someone. I nod and look at the blonde once more. "Naruto," the blonde stiffens but says nothing; "once he's out get in there and clean up."
"Right right," he mutters but he prepares his stuff for the bath.
"Gaara," the redhead pauses in pulling on his shirt, looking at me; "there will be no killing. Not until after breakfast." He smirks and I share it. I hear the bathroom door open followed by wet footsteps.
A tall willowy young man steps out, wearing a soft robe while his towels his hair dry. He barely has time to move out of the way before the blonde rushes past him and into the bathroom, slamming the door shut. "I heard everything, Zabuza-san," he tells me in his soft voice.
"Good." I hate repeating myself and gesture for him to get dressed. "Once you're all ready come down together. Understood?" They nod but before I can leave I hear the water splashing followed by a yell.
"Damnit Haku, you froze the water on purpose!!"
Oh it really is too early in the morning for this. "Make sure you're all downstairs in ten minutes or else," I hiss and leave, closing the door harder than usual behind me. I won't admit it but those boys never cease to at least make me grin. I head back to the room and close the door behind me.
My partner is already up but she's sitting against the headboard, eyes closed with her arms resting on her bent knees. The sheets have settled around her hips and it takes all my willpower not to stare--look at her breasts that are barely hidden by her hair. I take a few steps to finish getting dress when her eyes open. Our gazes lock and I'm reminded of the first day we meet.
When the other ninja heard the Devil was coming they made sure they were not around by any and every means necessary. A true ninja never feared anything but in the Village Hidden in the Mist, everyone feared something. Or rather, someone. But then again, not every village or country for that matter, could boast that they had their very own devil within their ranks.
Momochi Zabuza made his way to the Mizukage's office. He wasn't exactly happy to be called out but it sure beat waiting around to receive a mission. He smirked as he spotted some of the other shinobi. One look at him and they made sure to get out of his way. Well at least his day wasn't a total loss. He frowned though when he came to the heavy wooden doors with the emblem of the 'water shadow' burned into the wood. He opened the door, waltzing right in.
"What do you want?" he demanded. Leader of not he did not like this man and made no attempt at hiding it.
Toru frowned at the man. Of everyone in the entire village this man seemed to be the only one who didn't know his place but that would soon change. "Do you know why I've called you here?" he asked coolly.
He frowned. "If I did then I wouldn't be here," he growled at him. "Spit it out, you're wasting my time."
"It would seem you have nothing but time since you haven't been on a mission since--a month?" He smirked when the man before him growled, hands curling into tight fists. "The reason I haven't given you a mission is because I have a special assignment. I want you to meet your new partner."
Partner?! "What are you talking about?! Why the hell would I need a partner?!" he shouted, not caring about lowering his voice.
"With that temper I can see why you never had a partner," came an unexpected voice from the side. He turned quickly, hand going for the kunai, and stared at a figure leaning against the wall, nearly hidden in the shadows. Nothing could be seen except the figure was tall and wore a long black coat but the face was hidden in the shadows. He didn't say anything even when the Devil glared.
"I don't care who you are," he looked at the Mizukage, "or what you say, but I don't need a partner!"
"This is a mission and if you want to get paid you will take it or I will make sure you won't be getting any missions for a very long time." The jounin growled.
"Is that a threat?" The Mizukage smirked.
"Think of it more as a promise."
Zabuza's hands formed into tight fists, resisting the urge to wrap them around the leader's neck and snap it so easily but instead he stormed out of the office. He continued walking vaguely awake of footsteps following him but they were slow and unhurried. Just as he walked outside he stopped and heard his 'partner' stop as well.
"Let's get one thing straight," he began; "I don't care who you are but I don't need a partner. I was doing fine on my own. When we get missions, stay out of my way."
"... is that all?" He turned to face his partner and finally got a good look at him. He quickly noticed that he didn't wear any kind of uniform but as he slowly stepped into the light it was revealed that the man was actually a woman. She had her hands in the pockets of her long coat, revealing the loose pants and short shirt, her face was unflawed and smooth as cream with silvery white hair, long bangs trailing into icy blue eyes. She looked like something from old legends.
"First, I don't care who you are Momochi Zabuza. Or should I call you the Devil of the Mist? Yes, I have heard of you and no, I'm not the least be intimidated by you. Second, I won't be your partner forever but apparently the only way I could earn money in your village was to become a partner with one of the elites. Third, stay out of my way and we won't have any problems."
He smirked. No one ever had the gall to talk back to him so he had to give this woman credit but he still didn't trust her. "You've got quite a mouth on you, woman. You sure you can keep up?" She snorted as if trying to cover up a laugh.
"Another reason why you don't have a partner," she pointed out. Pulling her hand out of her pocket she looked at her silver watch then pocketed. "As much as I enjoy this stimulating chit-chat I have somewhere to be." She passed him, saying nothing but without warning she threw something over her shoulder. He caught it easily only to realize it was a mission scroll. He frowned.
"Where did you get a mission?" he asked angrily.
"You have a brain, use it." He just watched her walk off, her silvery braid swaying lightly with each step she took.
"The boys are awake." That simple statement was enough to shake me free from past thoughts. I simply nod as I finally grab my wrappings.
"I wasn't sure if you were awake," I answer and turn my back to her as I begin to wrap them around my neck. "They'll be ready and downstairs soon."
"Good. I want us to reach Konoha by the end of the day." I hear the soft creaking of the bed and rustle of clothes. I may be called a lot of things but I am not a hentai. No matter how tempting it is. Hidama is someone I respect: she's the only person I respect but then again, she's the only person alive to have gotten this close.
Not including my son.
Finished I turn to face her as I pull my shoes on but paused at the sight before me. She's already wearing her pants, facing the wall as she begins to wrap her hair up before securing it with a ribbon but as her arms drop to retrieve her shirt from the chair I can see a black mark at the base of her neck, near the line of her shoulders. From the distance I can tell it's a kanji but I don't know what it says since there's a thick scar going through it. I remember asking her about it once and all she said was to remind her for what she fought for. I look out the window as she turns to face me, judging the sun's position.
"We'll make it, but only if we don't stop for any meaningless break like last time," I tell her. I have nothing against her sons but there are times I want to wrap my hands around their necks and squeeze tightly. I know Hidama has gotten the same feeling as me but she manages to remain calm no matter what.
"You could always speak up but then again, it's hard to hear anything with those ridiculous wrappings hiding your mouth," she tells me.
"Maybe you should extend some more control over the brats."
"You mean use them like a lifeless tool of war?"
My hands clench and before I can stop myself the words leave my lips. "Haku knows better than to use me as his damn slave. What's your answer?"
"... What did you say?" she asks coldly.
I shouldn't have pushed her but as I whirl around to face her, intending on repeating my words right in her face, I find myself looking at the tip of my sword. I can tell she means business as I feel the sharp edge pressing into my skin, slowly cutting through the wrappings and into my skin. Yet again I have underestimated her. I can see her eyes are cold, hard, unfeeling, ready to spill my blood.
The Head-Cutter is not a normal sword by any means. Its length let's me decapitate my opponent two arm's lengths away so the weight is clearly more than other ninjas are willing to carry let alone fight with but this woman lifts it as if it were a simple kunai. Hidama has wielded my sword before and she uses it as easily as me only with more grace and style.
"If I ever hear you utter that word in my presence, I will disembowel you where you stand," she hisses at me angrily. Removing the razor edge from my throat she drives it into the floor beneath our feet, letting it sink through the wood about halfway. Slinging her own sword onto her back she heads out of the room, closing the door behind me firmly.
I am the Devil of the Mist. One of the most feared and powerful ninjas of the Water Country. Nothing stands in my way but for that moment, I knew that there was a higher force out there. When I looked into her eyes, I didn't see the icy void that threatens to swallow me whole. No, what I saw were the eyes of Death itself. The next time I saw those eyes, I knew that I would not survive.
Silently I walk to my sword and pull it free from the floor. I secure it to the specially made holster on my back and walk out of the room. As I walk down the stairs and enter the small restaurant I can see that we're not the only ones awake but I ignore the other occupants. I find my group sitting at a table, looking at menus, and talking loudly. Well, Naruto is doing most of the talking while Gaara seems to be ignoring him. Haku speaks softly but nods to whatever his brother is saying. Slowly I make my way over and sit in the empty seat next to my son. Hidama sits across from me with her sons but she doesn't say a word. Our eyes meet briefly and I can't help but swallow the small lump that has suddenly appeared in my throat. Her eyes are still cold and hard, like she's driving ice-needles into my chest.
I am the Devil of the Mist yet I fear the Angel of Death.
Author's Notes: So what do you all thing of the story so far? If it's good then please tell me in a review. If it's bad then don't bother with a review then.
I do have a question for you all, I'm sure everyone has seen the Bridge Arc so I'm wondering, should Zabuza die or should he stay alive? And before you ask no I am not killing Haku. Please review and I'll post the results in the next chapter update.
I will be updating this story as soon as I can but I am going to school full-time and work part-time. Do not expect an update from me immediately but if I am taking too long then feel free to drop me a line.