Title: Identical Lies
Rating: T for language
Pairings: ?/Hyuuga Neji, ?/Hyuuga Hinata
Genre: A bit of everything.
Disclaimer:I do not own any of NARUTO or it's characters.
A/N: Please excuse any grammatical errors or spelling mistakes - the version of word I have won't detect some of the incorrect grammar ):Everything's moving at a fast pace, isn't it? I'm sorry about that too U_U;
"Are we set?" Okamoto Shou glanced around at the eight other members of their temporary team for this mission. Everyone nodded, but Shou's frown did not disappear. A frowning Shou was scary, Nagakawa Kai had learned this the hard way. He was the one closest to the always-smiling male anyway. When a smiling Shou was frowning, it meant either extreme irritation, worry, or anger.
His emerald eyes stared at the Haruno present, making sure she wouldn't speak up. The pink haired female seemed to understand and close her mouth. Kai removed his eyes from her, tilting his head slightly as if he were saying "good job" before shouldering his pack, and slipping his hands into his pockets. His eyes meeting a certain pair of soft opal ones.
Two Hyuugas, a Nara, a copy-nin, a medic, a weapon-user, a frowning sensei, an unstable sibling, and….
A sudden shout startled several people. Of course, Shou, Kai, Shikamaru, Neji and Kakashi didn't even flinch. However, in the state Reikou was in, Kai could sense the flare in her chakra before it settled to it's usual warm glow. Kai's eyes met his sister's, only to have her break the eye contact first.
Anyway, the newly arrived male waved sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "Uhm, I overslept…"
And a reckless dog-nin.
This was going to be a long mission.
Kai smirked slightly when the pink haired kunoichi whacked the top of Inuzuka Kiba's head. It was a completely normal sense of familiarity. A friendship between all the members excluding Team Shou, but they were trying. The only one that couldn't seemed to be Reikou, but the reasons were still unclear to Kai.
"Let's get a move on, we will explain the game plan on the way."
Team A was the target and ambush team.
It was all planned out perfectly between Shikamaru and Kai. Although Kai didn't prefer to plan strategies, he was good enough at it to revise the plan Shikamaru came up with before handing over the information to the three jounin to finalize - Neji, Kakashi, and Shou.
Shikamaru did not disappoint. Kai always knew that even though Shikamaru was lazy - lazier than Kai himself was. They were close enough before the three and a half year mission to know each other quite well. After all, they were only two of several shinobi who could read people easily. Of course, the fact that Kai and Shikamaru were similar made it painfully apparent to each other when one was feeling off. As if they were one person - but for obvious reasons, they were not.
"Where's Nukumi?" The Nara spoke up, as they jumped through the canopies, from one tree to another. They were towards the back of the group as they travelled - the only people behind them several feet were Hinata and Tenten, both of them engaged in a quiet conversation. The other Byakugan user was at the front along with Kiba and Akamaru, leading the way. Everyone else journeyed between them at a nice pace.
"She's not here," Kai said with a bored look, and he heard the shadow-nin scoff quietly.
"You're troublesome," Shikamaru muttered under his breath, and Kai flashed a smirk in his direction. "I don't even know why I hang around you."
"Because," Kai raised his hands into a shrug, leaping onto another branch, "Without me, you would be lying somewhere like a dead log. Bored to heck."
"I like doing that," Shikamaru rolled his eyes, jumping along beside Kai, at the same pace.
"Hurtful," Kai raised both eyebrows, feigning a look of the emotion, although he kept his eyes front. "I thought you enjoyed my company."
"Don't flatter yourself," the chunin genius chuckled, before motioning towards Shou, who nodded.
"Neji!" Kai watched his sensei speed up his pace, until he was near the front with the Hyuuga. They had a small conversation before Kai slowed down a bit, and yelling back, "He said we could rest for the night in about a mile. There's a good place with nearby water."
"Great," Kai commented softly to himself, his eyes landing on the back of a dark auburn haired female. As if she knew, Reikou turned her head slightly, meeting his stare. One that told him not to dig any further. No. The look didn't tell - it threatened. Kai forced himself to swallow a fear he never felt in a while. Not since the day Reikou burned Nukumi's left limbs.
But maybe it wasn't fear.
Maybe it was guilt.
The ten person team came to a stop. Everyone did their respected jobs - setting up tents, collecting wood, starting fires, cooking dinner and scouting for any possible enemies. The sky was a nice dark shade of blue. It wasn't completely dark yet, but the moon still shown bright.
Kai settled himself down, poking at the soup being cooked over the fire with a large ladle. The tents were up, and several people were resting first - readying to take the first shift for night watch later on. His emerald eyes watched the flames, stirring almost hypnotically. Sitting opposite of him was Shikamaru. His eyes were fixed on the dark sky, watching clouds hover, slowly moving from the slight wind.
"We need more soup than that," Shikamaru muttered, not removing his gaze from the sky.
"Hn," Kai tilted his head to the side, snapping out of his trance and leaned his cheek into a palm as he continued to stir, preferring to have nothing inside the soup be burnt.
"Kai," a sudden voice interrupted their silence. Emerald eyes flickered up to meet his sensei's. "Reikou hasn't come back yet."
The younger male swallowed, earning an unnoticed glance from the Nara. Kai slowly stopped his stirring, a restless feeling in his chest. The fire that blazed reflected off his sensei's glasses, but Kai knew well enough. He knew Shou felt the same way as well; they shared the same thoughts.
Kai slowly let go of the spoon, contemplating on what to do. He debated over going to look for her, and possibly have Reikou push him away more than he already was, or staying and not knowing whether or not she was in pain.
"She's not far," a small voice cut through the tension. Kai's head whipped quickly to the side, not noticing the sudden presence of the female Hyuuga climbing out of one of the tents. "A bit west from here, near the river."
Kai's eyes swept over the female before landing on the opal eyes, catching the faint flush. Kai smiled slightly, nodding as he stood up, brushing himself off. "Thank you Hinata-san."
Shou sat down in Kai's place, "Go, quickly."
"Yes sir," Kai nodded, and smiled once more to the female, before sprinting west.
It was mainly silent, except for the occasional whisper of leaves drifting across the forest floor.
Kai had to concentrate extremely hard to hear the slight rush of water. His steps were light, making not even a bit of sound as he walk swiftly with grace, dodging low branches, roots and stones. It all came naturally to him; as if he was one with the earth. The amount of trees grew thin, as he neared the small river. Not small enough to be call a stream, but definitely not vast rushing waters.
He forced himself to calm down, the slight worry when he couldn't sense his sister at all made him fidgety. His head turning side to side slowly, scanning. At moments like these, he wished he was capable of a dojutsu like the Byakugan.
Kai pursed his lips together, knowing well that Reikou was probably masking her chakra on purpose. He had ruled out the possible idea of Reikou being hurt, because Hinata didn't seem that worried when she told him where she was.
His steps grew slower, and soon came to a halt. Green eyes watching the water, before closing them, letting his slightly tanned skin soak in the moonlight. Searching with his eyes would be useless against Reikou - she was much better at concealing than he was. He listened closely, his left hand went up to his neck, tugging down the zipper of his flack jacket slightly, grasping the necklace with a green jewel pendant. His thumb ran over the edges of the green gem.
It wasn't something that technically helped him. In fact, it was just a small ritual he had when he dug deep into his mind, opening all his senses to their full capability. Eventually, he heard the occasional soft splash of water, and the almost inaudible exhales of a person's breathing. Slowly, the male's eyes opened, following the river downwards. He quickly masked his chakra, hoping his sister wouldn't leave when he neared.
Eventually, he spotted her sitting on the edge of the river, her bare feet dipped into the water. Kai found his sister lost in her own world. Although she was completely guarded; her mind was somewhere else. The male could see it in the way she stared into the water. Lost. Unreachable. Desperate. Sadness. Kai would kill to rid the look off her face…
When he was close enough, he dropped his hand from his neck and zipped his green vest back up. The sound startled the female in her seated position, her eyes glancing up quickly.
"Kai," She hissed, instantly pulling her shoes back on.
"You didn't return," Kai muttered, his eyes softening when he saw the fragile mask. The female before him stood up, eyes hardening, lips turning down.
"I'm fine," she assured.
Liar.
"If you say so," Kai acknowledged, but didn't accept it. He watched the eyes that were identical to his narrow, trying to cover up everything he could read. Trying to put up as many walls as she could, only to have it seem more apparent. He tensed when Reikou squeezed her eyes shut, trying to find something, anything, to pull her act together. Watching her do that hurt him, his heart itched. Why couldn't she confide in him?
He tried to reach out, a hand slipping out of his pocket but paused when Reikou stepped away from his hand. He left his arm hanging for a moment, before dropping it back down to his side, his eyes reflecting the worry and fear of losing her.
"Stop it," she choked out. "Stop reading me. Everyone-…everyone does it.."
"What are you talking about?" Kai stared at his sister's forehead protector, unable to look into her broken eyes.
"You…Nukumi, Shou - even him."
Him?
"Everyone does it."
Kai felt his breathing stop for a few seconds, forcing himself not to look away from the shaking, fragile stature of the girl who could once defeat a dozen shinobi at one time without breaking a sweat.
Instead of speaking, he allowed the female to crumble before him. Only there for silent support. A support he had difficult keeping up. It was different with Reikou. He had never seen her in such a weak state. So…vulnerable.
With Nukumi it was easy. He could support Nukumi with simple words.
But Reikou…She was one who looked further beyond. Searching for deeper meanings. She wanted understanding. Relation. Something Kai didn't have.
So he just stood.
"Why?" She was breaking and it wasn't just her voice that told him so. It was so hard to watch. So very hard for Kai to step forward and embrace her. So very hard to step away and leave her to silently fix herself. "Why am I so weak?"
A choked sound emitted from her throat. She was forcefully trying to strengthen her guard. Kai knew. She didn't want to cry. She refrained from sobbing. But the reflection of the moon onto Reikou's unshed tears made Kai close his eyes, trying to find a way to fix it. Fix everything. He couldn't handle watching her like this anymore. He wanted Reikou back. Nukumi wanted Reikou back.
"I..-" Kai stopped, what could he say? That he understood? What could he understand? Everything Reikou needed, he didn't have. He didn't know what to say. He had no idea what to do but just think. "You…aren't weak."
"Then why!" Reikou growled, her voice raising slightly. "Since when can so many people think they know how I feel? The look in their eyes…They don't understand! You don't understand!"
His hands clenched into fists at her visible pain. Kai breathed quietly, letting Reikou take out her anger at him.
"How-?" Reikou shed her first tear. "Why-?"
Questions he wouldn't be able to answer.
Unable to take it anymore, he stepped forward, arms wrapping around her shorter stature, letting her bury her face into his vest. The look on her face was unbearable. He wanted to be the person that can wipe it from her face and take away her pain. He wanted his skilled, beautiful, and strong sister back.
Tears finally fell, followed by an eruption of sobs.
The first team left at dawn.
Kai found it hard to watch them leave. Although both teams were equipped with transmitters so they were in touch twenty four seven, he felt himself unable to send off Reikou by herself. He knew their sensei, Shou, would be there, but Shou wouldn't be able to recreate a non-existent bond. Reikou would break at any second. The act she had pulled together last night was weak - but no one questioned it.
His emerald orbs settled on the back of Reikou's flak jacket and instantly dropped his gaze when Reikou moved her head to the side; he knew she saw him from her peripheral vision while chatting with Tenten.
"Hinata-sama,"
Kai turned his head towards the two Hyuuga. Witnessing Neji's concern as he stared down at the female. "Do take care of yourself."
"Don't worry Neji-niisan," Hinata managed to say with a smile, "We'll all keep in touch."
"Let's get a move on," Shikamaru muttered shifting the pack on his back slightly before jumping up into a tree and starting their journey.
The dark auburn haired male watched his sister follow suit, disappearing into the wilderness. A part of him wanted, no, needed to go after her, but he knew it was better for the team if he stayed put. No questions would be asked that he could not answer.
Shou stepped up in front of Kai and Kakashi. "I'll do my best."
Kai knew the hidden meaning behind those words.
"Good luck," Kai feigned a lazy smile. Tenten was the third to disappear, Hinata right at her tail. Shou smiled back before turning around and catching up to them, leaving Kai alone with the male Hyuuga, Kiba, Akamaru, Kakashi, and Sakura.
Kai stared at the back of the silver-haired jounin. The older male was trailing behind Kiba and Akamaru, as if he were just lazily strolling through a garden. He seemed extremely laid back. Kai wished he could feel the same.
His eyebrows furrowed together at the thought. What the hell! He shouldn't be wishing for something like that when his sister was possibly suicidal. Although he doubted Reikou would attempt something like that, it was a possibility.
Getting lost in his own train of thought, which rarely occurs, he almost ran into the body in front of him, his nose nearly touching the back of the jounin's head.
It wasn't Kakashi who was previously before him.
It was the Hyuuga.
The said male stepped forward before turning his head, staring strangely at him. Kai smiled sheepishly and took his step back, realizing that the high-class male probably needed his personal space.
"You're out of it today," Neji stated the obvious, his pale eyes scanned the entire height of Kai before settling back onto the Nagakawa's face. "You might get killed if you keep this up."
"You might get killed if you keep this up," the tall jounin stared for a moment, before leading the rest of the team onto a different route. It was calculated precisely so that both teams would eventually meet up at a certain point. The map the Hyuuga held in one of his hands had the highlighted paths marked out. Shikamaru even pointed out several other different paths, in case they were to run into trouble.
Neji saw the male raise an eyebrow from the corner of his eye. The chunin merely shrugged before sliding his hands into his pockets. A laid back expression as they continued to move at a walking pace. The paler male continued to look forward. Allowing Kiba and Akamaru to lead the way.
"Are you not affected?" A blunt question tossed at the Hyuuga, one that tossed his mind into a strange oblivion. It startled him, but he didn't show it.
Act stupid.
"I believe I don't understand what you're speaking of."
One of Kai's eyebrows were raised even higher, lips pursed into a thin line. A don't-play-around look that peeved Neji more than when the chunin almost ran into him. The knowing look turned to a smirk to hide any traces of weakness.
"Huh, don't pretend you don't know what happened near the river," Kai hummed, acting as if their conversation was carefree; not to gain any suspicion from the other teammates as Kai caught up to Neji's growing pace.
"REIKOU!" A scream of a female screeched through the transmitter in their ears - cutting Neji off before he could lie.
"Hinata-sama!" Neji sprinted forward at an insane speed; the rest of the team following close behind.
Fucking shit!
Reikou felt the air get slammed out of her as a large body tackled her through the air. Her vision blurred for a second as she tried to focus her rattled brain on the enemy. She instantly retaliated before she could hit the ground, twisting her body out of the large man's grasp before using his body to kick herself in a different direction through the air, hoping to get some distance between them. She didn't have much time to land safely; her body slamming into a trunk of a tree - her breath coming in and out in short pants.
"It's an ambush!" Shikamaru voice yelled through the earpiece. "They're coming from within the trees! Get onto the ground, now!"
Reikou tried to heave herself up, but her eyes widened when several kunai came in her direction. Disorientated, Reikou fumbled about for her defence, but she wasn't fast enough.
The sound of metal hitting metal rung through Reikou's ears - and the several kunai that were aimed at her were hit away with different aerial weapons coming from her left. Reikou rolled herself out of the way, catching her breath before glancing at Tenten, giving her a nod of thanks.
The female pulled out a scroll, ready to fight. Reikou got onto her feet, quickly scanning the area; spotting Shikamaru hiding behind a bush, Hinata with him, a yard or two away - chakras masked. They had probably gotten when Reikou and the large man landed; using the flight of weapons to quickly dodge and conceal themselves. Reikou couldn't sense Shou, but she knew he was near. It was all part of the pre-made plan.
Her eyes scanned her enemies. The large man that had tackled her towards the ground was huge. Not just enormous but extremely built as well. It was strange how none of them saw the man approach, let along tackle Reikou to the ground. Even Hinata had caught the man's presence late, screaming when the male slammed into the auburn haired kunoichi.
"Well what do we have here?" The large man erupted with a deep, husky laughter. His comrades falling to the ground near him. Reikou analyzed them. They were all average sized, besides the big fellow, and most of them had masks pulled up; covering the lower half of their faces. No trace of hitai-ates anywhere. A strange sense of familiarity prodded at the back of her conscience, but Reikou couldn't figure it out. "What happened to your teammates? Never mind, we'll finish you girls off first."
Reikou raised an eyebrow, spotting Tenten doing the same. He did not just imply girls were weaker, did he?
"Let me handle this guy," Reikou lowered her body into a fighting stance, her hand pulled out in front of her, ready to start with taijutsu. "Tenten, you take the rest."
"He's pretty big though," Tenten warned, "Taijutsu won't really work against a guy like him."
Reikou merely raised an eyebrow, "The bigger they are, the harder they fall."
A kunai came flying towards her chest, but on impact, her body combusted, the smoke disappearing to reveal a log with a kunai lodged into it. The enemies quickly got into fighting positions. The large man stumbled forward, when a heel slammed the back of his neck.
Her emerald eyes widened when a strong arm hooked around her neck, and the body she had kicked turned to rubble.
Fucking earth clones.
The whole masked army began to attack - only, not at her. They all spread, easily picking out where Shikamaru and Hinata's positions were. One person lodged a large sword into a nearby tree, causing Shou to quickly morph out of it.
Shit! The plan -!
"You can't fool us," the husky voice purred into her ear. "We're not only extremely skilled trackers - we're just as good at masking."
Masking…?
She stared in horror as Hinata was slowly getting warned down, her Byakugan unable to see or sense the chakras of the masked enemies. Tenten was easily getting beaten too; her random rain of weapons didn't work as several men attacked from above. Reikou could see Shikamaru trying to hold his shadow bind with his enemies, using the opponents he had under his ninjutsu to attack their own people; but Reikou could see the struggling chakra Shikamaru tried to keep in place.
And Shou…?
"Reikou!" The voice of her sensei emitted from the transmitter. "You have get out of there! These are the same people who attacked Sangaku - they want you!"
When the back up team heard the news, Neji instantly detected Kai's flinch, his eyes wide.
"Are any of you injured?" Kakashi's voice crackled through the device, earning Neji's attention back towards the path they sprinted across.
"We're struggling," Shikamaru muttered, as if in strain - the transmitter cutting off every few seconds. "They have Reikou in a head lock."
Neji saw it then. Kai, who was usually calm and collected. The one who observed before attacking. One of the most responsible - was speeding up at an extremely fast speed, recklessly diving into a battle he had no information on.
"Kai!" Neji yelled after him, trying to keep up. "If they have Reikou, they want you as well! Don't do something reckless!"
Kai's eyes flickered between anger, fear and confusion. "Don't tell me what to do Hyuuga. I'm sure if something happened to Hinata-sama, you'd do the same!"
The pale eyed jounin found himself unable to retort. Instead, he kept at the fast pace, jumping along side the chunin. The rest of the team were closely behind.
"You guys attacked Sangaku, huh?" Reikou said with an eerie calm. "Whatever has the Nagakawa done to you?"
The male behind her chuckled, a kunai pressed against her cheek. The female could feel the blood seeping through the cut as the weapon dug deeper. "You know, we only follow orders…"
"Is that so? Then it won't matter if you die," Reikou pulled fingers into appropriate seals at a quick speed, "Fire Release: -."
"Don't you fucking dare-!" Kai's voice through her earpiece instantly vanished when she finished the correct hand seals.
"Body ignition."
She could feel the abrupt searing heat under her skin, chakra and blood burning at a extremely high temperature. Within a nanosecond, her body burst into flames. She felt the transmitter and her clothes burn, then turn black as they dropped into ashes.
A/N: OHOHO~! Dammit, I really need to work on my pacing ._.
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