Chapter Five

Toorima was having trouble sleeping. She was so happy that she was reunited with Kisame, but she had a feeling that something terrible was about to happen. Kisame was more important to her than anything that could possibly happen. So as long as from here on out he was with her, she could manage anything.

Unable to go back to sleep Toorima sat up on the bed and scooted back against the headboard and put her knees up in front of her. She grabbed one wrist and moved her hands to encircle her knees and placed her head back, staring at the ceiling. Her mind was racing. Constantly she looked over to make sure Kisame was really there. It all seemed like a dream.

She had told him everything from the past thirteen years. To her faith as a Jashinist, to her missions, to the number of people she had killed, all the way up to her battle with Sasuke Uchiha. Kisame didn't like that part very much. He must be tired, he fell asleep right away. Toorima thought and looked over to him again, a soft smile gracing her lips.

Toorima truly loved Kisame, from the time she was young. Now here he was, he found her again. That had to mean something. Light cascaded into the room slowly until it filled the entire room. Serenity was the first to wake up. She looked to her master, then to the large man in the corner, back to her master. Before she could ask, Toorima thought the answer and Serenity was slightly shocked, but happy for her master.

The males in the room stirred but stayed asleep. "Wanna go for a walk?" Toorima asked Serenity quietly. The large snow leopard nodded her big head and they quietly snuck from the room. Toorima didn't say anything till they were outside the village, in that forest from last night. Serenity followed in silence, but was getting more curious.

Toorima finally stopped and jumped up onto a high branch, the leopard right behind her. Serenity laid down on the thick end of the branch and Toorima stood close to the tip and looked up at the blue sky. "I'm not sure what to do…" She started. 'What do you mean?' The voice in her head was concerned. 'Kisame is back but I can't let that get in the way of my mission to kill Sasuke. But I should be so happy that he found me. I mean, I am happy….but….I have to destroy Sasuke. I can't live a peaceful life until I know he is good and dead. No matter what happens I have to sacrifice his soul to Jashin where he will be tortured for eternity and then, if I survive, maybe I could have a life with Kisame…if he wants me.' Toorima had stopped speaking aloud and was just unwinding all her thoughts.

Serenity took in everything her master said. 'Whatever you choose to do, I will remain at your side forever.' Toorima smiled and sat in front of Serenity, patting her large head. 'Thank you. I don't know what I would have done if you two haven't been with me all this time.' The white leopard chuckled and purred loudly. The two sat there thinking about a dream life where they could live at the base of a mountain with a field of flowers and a family. They giggled as they built ideas on top of each others.

Their giggles came to an abrupt halt when breaking glass and a ferocious roar sounded from the village. 'Ah shit! Chaos didn't know about Kisame!' Toorima thought and bolted in the direction of the hotel. Serenity took the lead as she leapt from tree limb to tree limb back to the inn. The leopard was frustrated and annoyed.

'What's wrong?' Toorima thought, more to herself, but of course Serenity heard it. 'If only that idiot wasn't such an idiot sometimes…only if…' She cut her thoughts off there and pushed faster. "Geez, wait up!" Toorima called after her and ran faster, passing her.

The hotel was a funny scene when they arrived. Chaos was glaring down Kisame and growling loudly while Kisame glared at the big black animal, with a strip of bacon in his left hand. "What the hell is going on?" Toorima asked allowed for Kisames benefit. 'He is trying to eat the last piece. Tell him if he does I'm taking a chunk out of his leg!' Chaos thought ferociously. It was too funny, all this commotion and a broken window over which man would get the last piece of bacon.

Toorima quieted her laughter and looked at Kisame. "He says if you eat that he is going to take a chunk from your leg and I think he is serious." She informed him and Chaos growled for emphasis. Toorima then walked over to Kisame and took the meat from his hand. Kisame didn't stop her but frowned a deep, defeated frown. She then ripped it in half and handed him a piece back and tossed the other to her teammate. Without another word she strode to the bathroom. Serenity followed and once both females were inside she shut the door softly.

Kisame heard the shower start and looked at the black leopard. The large cat shook its head and walked to the door, pushing it open, and heading outside to train or something till the girls were done. The shark-nin followed the animal outside and deep into the forest where they decided to spare.

Back in the hotel room bathroom Toorima undressed and climbed into the shower. She sat down and turned to Serenity who was sitting outside the tub patiently. 'So you're in love with Chaos?' She knew Chaos had left, and Kisames' presence was gone too, but she still wanted to speak in her mind rather than out loud. 'No use lying when you can read my mind…' The snow leopard sighed.

'I've known for a while, but didn't want to say anything.' Toorima informed her. 'And I'm grateful for that.' Serenity thought. The hot water cascaded down Toorimas back and her tail reached for the shampoo while she continued talking to her companion. 'Tell me how you do it.' She pondered squeezing some of the white gel into her hands and lathering her hair with it.

'Do what?' Serenity asked moving a little closer. 'Of the three of us, you can hide most of your thoughts. You're the hardest to read.' Toorima explained and rinsed her hair and ears, flattening them to her head to prevent water from getting in them. 'That's simple. I just don't use my voice when I'm thinking about things I'd rather not be heard.' Toorima was confused. 'You don't use your voice? What do you mean?' 'It's simple really. Have you ever realized when you think that sometimes you say it in your head, just like you would outloud? All I do is make sure to keep my minds voice quiet when I think about those things.' Her voice always sounded like a librarian more than a feline. It made it a little easier to understand though.

Toorima stood to her feet and grabbed her body wash, quickly scrubbing herself clean and cutting the flow of water. Serenity brought her a towel and she leapt out of the shower. Gladly wrapping herself in the fluffy cloth. 'I won't tell, I promise.' Toorima said looking down at her grateful teammate. She then dried herself slowly, enjoying the warmth of the towel.

Clean and fully dressed Toorima left the bathroom and continued to towel dry her hair. The room was empty like she expected it to be and the girls sat down to eat their breakfast. Trying out what Serenity had described to her, Toorima thought about Kisame and tried to keep her thoughts her own. It seemed to be working as Serenity didn't reply to anything she thought about and continued her meal, pondering what the males were doing.

Satisfied with their meal Toorima rose from the table and grabbed her things. They left the room and returned the keys to the front desk, ready to move on in their journey. It took no time at all for the girls to catch up with the guys. Not just the scent, but they were pretty loud too even a deaf person could have heard them.

Kisame was grinning down at Chaos who had a small gash at his rib cage. Chaos was snarling and Toorima couldn't count all the curse words he was thinking at Kisame. "What's he saying?" Kisame asked of Toorima when she walked into the battle made clearing. "Let's just say he is really pissed off." She said and kneeled down to bandage her male comrade. He whimpered and ceased his stream of profanities soon after.

"Kisame, I will hunt Sasuke Uchiha and I will kill him. You cannot stop me and I would appreciate if you didn't even try." Toorima couldn't look at Kisame as she said this. She stared in front of her, at a bird flying high in the blue sky. Strong blueish arms snaked around her chest and she was pulled back into a firm chest. "I'm not letting you get away from me again, I'll go with you." Kisame whispered. It was like music to her ears, just to hear him say that made her believe that killing Sasuke would be a cakewalk. She turned and buried her face into that same firm chest, her arms around his waist. This time it was Kisames turn to lift her chin, and place his lips roughly on her, hungry for more.

Serenity cleared her throat and Chaos growled. Toorima pulled away from Kisame and laughed, rubbing the back of her head. Her cat ears lowered a little in embarrassment. "Before we go anywhere, I have to report to Madara-sama." Kisame said and glared down at Chaos, who had interrupted them.

Toorima thought about it for a moment. "Fine, I have a few choice words for him anyway." Kisame raised an eyebrow. She would have to be pretty brave to do anything that would anger Madara Uchiha. He suddenly felt very protective and curious. The shark-nin wanted to see what she would say and the reaction that would follow, but he was worried about that reaction and would not let anything bad happen to her again.

'Let's go then.' Chaos thought and started walking. "Wrong way." Kisame pointed out and started walking in the opposite direction. Toorima sighed, this male bonding bull crap was really gonna get on her nerves. Toorima called for Chaos and they followed Kisame. Question after question she asked him, about everything from what he did over the last thirteen years and about the dwindling of the akatsuki.

Serenity and Chaos talked among themselves and gave the other two some space. Toorima was so happy that she was back with the love of her life, but something felt wrong, something she couldn't explain. Pushing those thoughts aside she stepped a little closer to the enormous man. He kept talking and she listened and stared up at him, taking him in again, every feature, every gesture.

They had been walking for hours, but Kisame didn't want to stop, he insisted that they would be there soon. Chaos was starting to complain about being hungry and Serenity needed to stop to go pee. Toorima convinced Kisame to give a ten minute break and pulled some food from her pack for Chaos while Serenity headed deep into the trees.

Kisame sat on the ground, against a tree and watched as Toorima pet her male companion. Her tail swished in the air and her ears twitched every so often. The light hit her hair and it glistened beautifully and when that same light touched her pale cheeks, she looked like the angel of death…with snow leopard ears and tail. He smiled at the thought and let his mind wander to more adult ideas. Like how soft her skin would feel under his, and the sound she would make as he nipped her ear. The blue man was suddenly grateful that he was sitting down and that she wasn't paying attention to him.

Serenity returned and had a large bird in her jaws and a very satisfied look on her face. Chaos ran over to her immediately and begged for a piece of it. Sure enough, Serenity obliged and the two tore at the fowl. Toorima walked over to Kisame and sat down by him. "Hungry?" She asked holding up a rice ball. He accepted it and ate it quickly. She ate much slower. Her mind was racing and she nibbled at her food like a mouse, her eyes blank.

Kisame stood to his feet a few minutes later and the others stood as well. Toorima was the last to stand and looked away from the group. So many things plagued her mind and she kept them silent from her comrades. 'Ready.' Serenity asked nudging her masters' leg. 'Yeah, sorry.' Toorima thought, her mind still elsewhere. Something was really bugging her all of a sudden.

Toorima tried to push that feeling away and dusted herself off. She pulled the cloak from her bag and pulled it around her shoulders, flattening her ears to her head in order to put the hood up. Her tail snaked around her hip and she grabbed it softly, and rubbed it as they walked asking Kisame more questions.

(~_~)

"Karin, search for Madaras' chakra." Sasuke ordered as the leapt through the trees. Sasuke was certain that he was around here somewhere and he had important matters to discuss. He was going to get what he wanted, even if it meant playing dirty.

"Found him." Karin said proudly. All three men looked over at her as she took the lead in the direction she sensed his chakra. Sasuke was pleased with the female on his team, her talents were very useful. Unfortunately for her, she had never caught Sasuke eye for anything more than how she might help him.

Not many women have ever really caught his eye. Sure he had seen plenty of beautiful girls in his travels, but none he had ever wanted. Not before that neko girl, just thinking about her stirred something deep in his abdomen.

Sasuke pushed chakra to his feet and ran faster. His team now followed behind him as he could feel Madaras presence for himself now which meant they were very close. Taka was reaching the edge of the forest, where it met with the base of the mountains. The Uchiha could see a cave up ahead and knew the akatsuki leader was there.

Outside the cave Sasuke ordered his comrade to patrol while he went inside. In truth he didn't want them to know the extent of his plan knowing that at least one of them would never stop complaining about it.

Sasuke walked into the cold, dark cave with confidence. He activated his sharingan and scanned the hollow mass till he found a chakra signature. "Ah Sasuke, what is it you're here for?" A voice said growing louder as the only other Uchiha approached.

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~Lady Toorima