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Chapter 3

"I told you Thaddie dearest, stop insulting my birdies." Alice snickered, holding her hand to her mouth to stifle the giggle.

Her partner was red in the face, controlling the Ringer as his puppet cleaned off the bird droppings he was assaulted with after taunting Alice's birds.

"Don't get too high and mighty, Alice. Those birds may be good in combat, but the Ringer will kick their asses any day."

The tamer scoffed, snapping her finger while whistling a tune to attract her most powerful, and prized, bird of her flock. The long crested eagle she had named Alistar stood on her shoulder, a very tall, intimidating bird. Even though drastically different, Alistar was nearly identical to the species of bird that he was classified under. The bird of prey shook his midnight black feathers that covered nearly every inch of his body, minus the speckled brown and white fluff on his chest and long, snow white legs.

"Take caution Thaddeus, you might anger my lovely little baby." Her eagle glance at the puppet master like her was a timid field mouse before leaping from Alice's shoulder to fly back into the clouds.

"As long as that thing can destroy an adversary, I don't care if he or, any other winged rat, ruins my clothes." Thaddeus crossed his arms and nodded to himself after closing his eyes. Still, he was bluffing just a little. There was no way his black tailored army coat was going to be ruined by those pests!

The bird tamer laughed once more at her partner's child like ways, enjoying the way his face contorted.

"Come on' Mr. Collins, we have a city to explore." Alice declared, holding out her arm to wait for his.

Thaddeus lightened up, untangling his arms from their position before linking one into the bird tamer's outstretched limb.

"Whatever you say, Mrs. Collins."

It must have been only an hour or two later as the duo wandered the streets when they came to a very large building. It was terracotta red, yellow-orange bands cutting it into three tiers. On each side of the building was similar structures, though half the size. Curving white bands made up the roof of all three buildings, and after a while of marveling the smooth architecture, the two realized this was the leaf's main administrative building.

"Hey Alice… you know what this means." Thaddeus sang, a little bit of eagerness shown in his bright blue eyes.

"Yup," she grinned like a Cheshire cat. "The Hokage must be in there. Maybe we'll get lucky and find the Kazekage too."

The mischievous strangers stalked their way to the building, boots crunching on gravel. Alistar circled the air, watching his master with intensity, craving the possibility of bloodshed and fear. The Collins' were almost to the steps of the magnificent structure, but before they could even hope to enter, they went face to face with two shinobi.

It just so happened to be the ninja of the Sand village, Temari and Kankuro. After getting their brother, the Kazekage, situated for his stay in the village, they reported to the administration office his whereabouts. Sure, they were running errands all day, but alas, the Kazekage was a person who would need to have an eye kept on him. And now, as the two opted to get some food after a tiring day, it seemed their plans would be prorogued.

Thaddeus stared intently at Kankuro, one of the Sand shinobi with thick lines of purple body paint on his face. His eyes widened with delight, snake like tongue flickering out of his lips.

"Well, well, well. It seems we have come face to face with the Sand shinobi. Even more so, I've been given the chance to greet the other master of my puppeteer craft. What a treat, don't you agree, Alice?' Thaddeus turned to his partner, a devious look in his eye. The Ringer had shifted from the position on its master's back, invigorated by the aspect of battle.

"Yes Thaddeus, what a treat this is indeed." Alice responded, sending a twisted smirk at the two shinobi, whom flinched when the tamer snapped her fingers. Her left arm was outstretched, and like a moth to a flame, Alistar landed on his master, stretching his gleaming feathers, the sheen of metal in them reflecting in the sky.

"Who are these two?" Kankuro asked Temari in a hushed tone.

Meanwhile, the fan bearing ninja was focused solely on the duo in front of her, paying special attention to their faces. She had noticed something strange on Alice, a white glint in the pores of her skin as it hit the sun; maybe it was just an over tired exaggeration going in her brain, but it almost seemed as if something was growing in the bird tamers flesh. There was also the odd behavior of Thaddeus; his seemly snake- like tongue bending, searching… smelling. As his neck twitched little by little, it was obvious to Temari the wooden structure hanging on his backside was moving. Even more shocking, when she looked hard at the direction Thaddeus' tongue was going, she saw it lapping up something dripping from the wood, something like… blood.

"Kankuro," Temari gasped, her eyes peeled on the duo still. "I think, I think I know who they are."

Her brother raised an eyebrow, scratching his head through the cat eared hat he was wearing.

"Really? From where?"

"The newspaper," Temari half whispered. 'It must've been a few months ago, but I know I saw their faces. It said that they came by a village… the residents didn't want them there and they challenged the two. When the two left… there were multiple… fatalities."

Temari looked at her brother who was trying not to sweat from fear so his purple make up would not get ruined.

"Don't you see Kankuro? They killed all those villagers… and because of that, they were given the title 'irridae'." The blonde stared at her brother and even she, the most vicious of all her siblings, seemed intimidated by the pair in front of them.

"Irridae," Kankuro questioned, hoping to get his mind off of Temari's chilling story. "What does that mean? Are they outcasts?"

"No one knows… irridae is the name given for those marked by death," the sister choked, looking up at Kankuro. "The taste of blood… it runs through their brains, it entices them."

Suddenly the Sand shinobi had their conversation ended as Thaddeus bellowed with laughter, stepping closer to the siblings, his puppet lifting its head.

"Come on' children," Thaddeus taunted, outstretching his arms while looking back at Alice. "Are we really that bad? Are we, love?"

The bird tamer held a crooked smile when the last question was directed towards her, new forms of bone protruding from her face like little spikes.

"I think not, Thaddie. Maybe the Sand shinobi have come to some false conclusions about our intentions. With all the rumors surrounding their innocent little ears, I couldn't blame them for misinterpreting us." Alice responded, smile growing even wider. Alistar cawed and ruffled his wings, black eyes almost looking as if they were smoldering with desire.

"Perhaps," Thaddeus questioned surreptitiously. "Otherwise, how else could they have been blinded by the fact our presence brings such… joy."

Both Sand shinobi had their mouth agape as the duo receded from their threatening position, beginning to walk past the building they endeavored to enter. "Alas fair brethren," Alice sang. "Maybe someday you can realize what gifts we have to offer."

But before dissolving into the streets once more, Thaddeus had the urge to turn around and force his gaze directly upon Kankuro.

"Oh, and by the way, you are one sexy shinobi. Keep it up… cat master. I'll be waiting!" Thaddeus turned and skipped away, shaking his hips as Alice snorted. However, a stunned Kankuro was left slightly blushing scarlet as a confused Temari scratched her scalp, trying to comprehend what in the hell had just happened moments ago.

End of chapter! I hoped you like Thaddeus' flirtatious ways with well… everything that breathes. I'll be posting soon, you count on it! Bye!

From Russia