Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Naruto characters, unless otherwise stated. In this case, I only own Kimi and her village.
Author's Note: Well, there was your twist. You can probably see how that threw me a little, trying to figure out how to work it through. Sorry if the slight jumping of scenes confuses anyone. It happens again in this one, slight time skips over portions of the mission that might be tedious/boring to write/read. I consulted a friend and fellow writer concerning how to arrange everything, and she advised me to do the scene thing. It seems to work and flow somewhat. Anyway, for those of you who have been suspecting that there's something more to Kimi, well here's your first little teaser taste as to who or what she is. Also, I hope you all enjoy my Kishimoto reference a little. I couldn't really think of a good name to use for the Lord and his son, so I named them after the creater of Naruto and his potted plant. haha. Yeah. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy these chapters! I'll do my best to get the next one up faster. Later gaters!
XXVII
Kimi whimpered in pain as Sasori's grip tightened on her upper arm. He pushed her down into a wooden chair, looming over her with emotion in his eyes for once – fury. "Explain," he snapped sharply. "What was that all about?"
The young woman averted her eyes. "Noth–"
"It was not nothing, so don't even start, girl. What was that all about?" When she did not answer, he slammed his hands onto the arm rests, making Kimi jerk and flinch in surprise. "Answer me!"
"Somebody will hear you if you keep shouting," she mumbled softly.
Sasori scoffed. "I put seals up. Not a word will be heard outside of this room. Now, answer the question before I force it out of you." His wine-colored eyes locked with hers, fiercely drilling into her head.
Kimi sighed. "We've met before – Lord Kishimoto and I."
"That much is obvious."
She frowned at him. "You asked me a question. Are you going to let me answer it?" Sasori scowled back at her but remained silent. "Thank you. It was a long time ago, and I didn't really remember until he spoke – didn't want to remember it. You see, when my parents passed when I was young, Lord Kishimoto so graciously took me in out of the kindness of his heart." Her words became slightly spiteful. "I stayed with him for a time – not here, though. He has a place in the mountains.
"Everything was fine at first. I was content. Ukki was – and still is, I guess – my age and we got along grandly. When I got older, though, Kishimoto forced me into a contract that scared me near to death. I'm actually somewhat grateful for it now, but at the time I was only a child – not even of Academy age yet. I didn't understand what was happening – much less know how to cope with it – and I didn't have anyone to help me do so. Heck, Kishimoto himself didn't know what he was doing."
Her words fell silent as she stared down at her hands. Sasori straightened up, releasing the arm rests. "What sort of contract?"
Kimi avoided his piercing gaze. "It's complicated."
"Try me."
The young woman lifted her eyes from her lap. "Let me rephrase that, then. I'm sorry. I can't tell you." She smiled apologetically. "Understand that it's not that I won't, but that I truly can't. It's part of the contract. Unless you already know certain details, I am physically unable to speak of them with you."
Sasori's lips twitched downward. There was nothing but truth in her words. "Very well. Tell me what you can, then."
"I just did."
The shinobi sighed. "Alright, go on. Kishimoto forced you into this contract. Then what?"
Kimi's eyes glazed over in thought, staring at nothing in particular. After a minute or two passed in silence, Sasori prompted her again to continue. The young woman blinked and spoke softly. "After a few years, I got tired of being used and treated as I was. I left and never looked back – or tried not to at least. I'm reminded every day of what he did to me, though I've long come to terms with it." A faint, wry smile touched her lips. "You might even say I enjoy it now that I can understand it."
"It being the contract, correct?" Sasori inquired. Kimi nodded. "And you're sure you can't tell me anything more than those annoyingly evasive riddles of yours."
The girl chuckled. "Sorry, but no. I can't."
Sasori eyed her suspiciously. "You had better not be using that as –"
"I'm not just using it as an excuse to hold back information from you, danna," Kimi laughed softly. "Honest. I really, truly can't tell you." She looked at him earnestly. "Believe me. If I could, I would. It would be nice for someone else to know, and I think you're a decent enough person not to spread the information far and wide or attempt to use me as Kishimoto did."
The puppet master's eyes narrowed. "Use you?"
"I am a Kuromira," Kimi said simply.
"And what exactly does that mean?" When Kimi shook her head, Sasori grunted. "Let me guess. It's part of the contract. You can't explain it."
The apologetic grin returned. "All I can say, danna, is that I am a Kuromira as Itachi is an Uchiha. However, it's not only who I am, but also what I am." Sorrow claimed her features suddenly. "And being what I am has made others what they are as people have tried to copy what cannot be copied."
Sasori mulled over this information. Apparently, 'Kuromira' was indeed a clan name – the name of a clan with a kekkei genkai from the sound of things. However, it also would seem that someone attempted to duplicate the Kuromira kekkei genkai – whatever that was – and from Kimi's demeanor concerning that point, the results were disastrous.
The red-head watched his charge for another long moment before speaking again. "You do understand what our mission parameters here entail, correct?" he inquired flatly, changing the subject. He had learned enough for now, filing the information away for later. There was no more time to waste. Kimi nodded and he pressed on. "They won't be a problem, will they."
Kimi's expression and voice took on a bitter edge. "Trust me. The shinobi world will be a better place without Kishimoto. I'll even save you the trouble and tell you exactly where he keeps what you're looking for."
--
Deidara watched his insect bombs crawl up into the ventilation shaft with no small sense of satisfaction and pride. The timing for this would be perfect. Once he activated the first bomb, the internal timers in the others would automatically start. The countdown would be unstoppable. The finale would be glorious.
The blonde boy chuckled softly to himself, glancing casually around before strolling off to the next location.
--
Sasori sat not-so-patiently within Hiruko – which he had kept sealed away until his part in the operation was complete – peering out from his high perch above the extensive complex at the activity below. Kishimoto had apparently spared no expenses in building this extravagant cliff-edge fortress overlooking the northern sea. The architecture was ornate and rather elegant as well, almost making the entire complex a work of art in itself. A shame it was, then, that Deidara would be blowing it up. There was no use for it now that Akatsuki had what it wanted.
Soon, the second main purpose of this mission would be carried out. An unnamed employer had paid good money to the Akatsuki to ensure that, once the organization's own goals were met, Kishimoto was disposed of. Of course, the entire operation had progressed much more quickly than expected once Kimi shared a certain tidbit of information – information that led to the acquiring of the jeweled box now resting in Sasori's lap. Within the box was a scroll. This simple little scroll held the key to achieving the Akatsuki Leader's ultimate goal. Sasori was not aware as of yet what exactly that goal was – or what the scroll contained – but it was not his place to know such things at this point in time. Pein would inform them all when he felt in necessary.
Deidara appeared at the puppet master's side just as he was about to lose the last thread of his patience. "It's ready. We've got five minutes until the grand finale, yeah," the blonde declared, making a decisive sequence of hand signs.
"Good. Let's go, brat." He turned and started to shuffle away. His partner, however, did not move. Growling in frustration, Sasori looked back. "What?"
The young man scanned their immediate vicinity. "Where's Kimi? I thought she was with you, yeah." His voice was tight – worried.
"She fell behind," Sasori answered blandly, turning back to continue on his way as his mind ran through the last time he had seen the young woman.
Kimi paused in the doorway, looking down the opposite direction that Sasori was moving. Her expression was thoughtful – almost indecisive. Sasori peered at her somewhat suspiciously. "Is something wrong?"
The girl shook her head. "Nothing's wrong. I just thought of something I need to do before we finish here."
"What's that?"
A slight smile touched Kimi's lips. "I have some unfinished business with our dear host. I just want one last word with him before this place goes up in flames." She glanced back at Sasori. "Don't worry. It won't take long and it won't disrupt your mission."
The puppet master's eyes narrowed. "Very well. You know where we're supposed to meet. If you're not there, you'll be left behind."
"I understand."
"What?!" Deidara demanded. "And you just left her, yeah?"
Sasori snorted. "Yeah."
Deidara whirled back to face the compound, plunging his hands into the pouches of clay at his hips. As the blonde worked rapidly to create his largest clay creature yet, Sasori returned his attention to the boy, watching him work furiously on the growing shape.
Should he tell his partner what he learned about Kimi – about her connection to Kishimoto? The girl had profusely expressed her desire to leave that fact behind her – to forget it. In all honesty, it was probably Sasori's duty to report his findings to the Akatsuki Leader. However, whenever he considered informing the man, his heart twisted in what he could only describe as guilt. This, of course, frustrated Sasori to no end.
For the time being, though, he would leave the matter alone and take out his frustrations on his partner. "What are you doing, brat?" he demanded sharply.
Deidara finished his quickly-made masterpiece with a flourish. "I'm going to go find her. We can't just leave her behind after she helped us get here, yeah!"
Yes we can. It'll rid us of a future headache. Sasori did not voice his thoughts, however, merely frowning at the giant clay bird. "Will that thing even fly?" he inquired critically as Deidara leapt onto the thing's back.
In a wordless response, the clay bird lunged out into the open air, catching a sea breeze and soaring over the doomed complex. Sasori growled softly before heaving a sigh and focusing on his Akatsuki ring. [You do realize that you only have about three minutes left now, right brat?]
[Shut up, danna. I'm trying to concentrate here,] came the snippy mental reply.
Deidara frantically scanned the grounds of the compound. Where could she be? Guards rushed about below, stirred into action by the theft of the scroll. Deidara's heart thundered in his chest. Had they noticed his and Sasori's absence as well? Had they drawn lines from the theft to Kimi? Had she been captured? If that was so, then rescuing her in the next precious minutes would prove near impossible. If she did not get out now, then she would be caught up in the explosion!
As if echoing his thoughts, a couple of smaller buildings exploded into flames with deafening bangs. The result among the guards was almost instantaneous. It was like watching an ant-hill in motion, but Deidara did not have time to admire his handiwork. That was one of the preliminary explosions to stir everyone else. It also served as a signal to him. There was only two minutes left until the grand finale – until the detonation that would consume the entire compound.
Where was Kimi?!
A shout rose from the cliff-side edge of the complex, and Deidara's eyes zoned in on the spot, catching a flash of gold and blue. Kimi stood with her back to the cliff, wind whipping through her golden hair – which had mostly fallen from her once-tight bun. Her arms hung limp at her sides, and the extravagant kimono appeared to be torn in several locations. To Deidara's relief, though, he spotted no blood. Her lips were moving, but from the distance, he could not make out the words.
A building almost directly below Deidara exploded, throwing smoke and debris into the air and forcing the shinobi to bank his mount to one side in order to avoid being peppered by larger chunks of broken stone- and wood-work. One minute left.
From his new angle, Deidara could see who Kimi was talking to. Lord Kishimoto. The man looked absolutely furious. As he moved to take a step toward Kimi, the girl lifted one of her arms. A kunai flashed in the fire-light, but she did not attempt to attack the man with it. Instead, she pressed the blade to her own throat. Kishimoto froze.
The wind shifted, allowing Deidara to make out the next exchange of words.
"You wouldn't."
"Try me, m'lord."
"You'd really throw it all away?"
"It's my life."
"Not anymore."
Kimi's face tightened and she turned away from Kishimoto. "You really don't know anything, do you?" Her dark eyes flicked up and locked momentarily with Deidara's before flicking to the cliff and back. "I guess this is goodbye, Kishimoto. Enjoy the art." She twisted toward the cliff, casting the kunai aside as her legs bend to spring.
Deidara's eyes widened. She was jumping! Realization clicked in his mind and he flattened himself against his clay mount. The bird tucked its wings and dove. Kishimoto gave a shout of surprise, reaching out as if to grab Kimi, even though he was too far away to actually make contact. Kimi pulled her kimono away from her legs and leapt off the edge. Behind her, the main bomb in the heart of Kishimoto's complex detonated.