Cass POV
I walked over to Zetsu, leaving a shell of a clone behind me for Bre to practice with while I talked. I lowered my voice before talking, glancing between him and Bre. "What? I've only just started have I already messed up something?"
"No, you're doing well playing teacher. Though I think you need a bit more practice yourself." Zetsu kept his voice quiet as well, even leaning down a bit to talk to me. A small blush rose to my cheeks, more out of being called out than how close he was. "You need to get better at only reading one mind at a time. We don't think you'd enjoy all of the thoughts in our head."
"Are you saying that there are some I would?" I put my hands on my hips and looked up at him with a small grin.
"Yes, there might be a few."
I flinched slightly, whipping around to see the smoke of my clone and Bre standing in the same place with a shocked expression before she let out an excited cheer. Zetsu chuckled slightly at the two of us as I ran over, scooping her up in a tight hug. "You did it!"
"Y-yeah! But... put me down." Bre pushed firmly against my shoulders and I set her down, still grinning. "I've only done it once."
"Once is a step in the right direction. You just need to keep it up and soon you'll be able to use it whenever you need to."
"I know you're weirdly optimistic so... You need to think a bit more logically. This will take a long time. And I know we're oddities with how quickly we seem to advance and with our abilities but that won't mean we can master these things in just a few days."
"It hasn't been a few days. We've been working on these abilities for nearly a month now and we've already advanced so much in this time. Impossibly fast even. Like our bodies were already at this point but our minds still need to catch up. I know it sounds weird and crazy but just think about everything else that's already happened. Is it really such a stretch to think that anything could be possible at this point?" I was completely serious as I talked, not just spewing things to try and cheer her up. I honestly believed in what I was saying. And as I watched Bre I think she was starting to believe me too.
"I suppose it's not too far of a stretch. Weirder things have happened to us at this point." She mumbled before sighing heavily and looking up at me with new determination. "Alright! Let's do this. So you better practice too or I'm going to leave you behind."
A fire grew in my chest and I stared at her, grinning. "Like hell I'll let you leave me in the dust. We're going to train hard and become the best god damned ninja we can!" She nodded once and for a second we just stood there before it suddenly dawned on both of us that we had no clue where to even start. From the other side of the area the light side of Zetsu started busting up laughing causing both of us to blush in embarrassment.
He pushed off the wall and walked over, taking a deep breath along the way to calm himself before talking. "How about you two keep with something a bit easier than that huh? Like normal sparring. Or even trying to get better with your clones and replacement jutsus."
"Yeah... He has a point." Bre let out a sigh of defeat and I groaned softly, nodding.
"Well before you do that, it seems something has come up that I need the two of you to do?" A deep mellow voice spoke behind me, causing both Bre and I to flinch before looking over.
I bowed slightly, something that was becoming a reflex towards him, and stood there as if at attention. "Yes Sir, what is it that you need?" I glanced over at Bre who seemed to be following after me.
"I received a request from one of the villages that we used to hire members out to. Usually I would decline it but with two extra members than usual, I've decided it would work in everyone's interest if you two went."
He handed over a folder to Bre who took it and started flipping through it before speaking up. "Not to judge your opinion Sir... but are you really sure we're capable enough for this?"
"It's a simple enough mission and I want to see how you two will handle it. And with neither of you betraying us or leaving while given the chance I have no reason not to trust you." We looked between each other as he started to walk away. "Leave as soon as possible."
"Yes Sir." Bre and I spoke in unison as a reply, while awkwardly standing there watching him go.
"Oh, how exciting. It's not exciting. We finally get a few days of rest and we can't even use them to flirt anymore." Zetsu complained loudly, causing Bre to start snickering and blood to rush into my face. "I suppose we'll have to make up for it before she leaves." At this point Bre's snickering turned into laughing.
"God Zetsu! Don't say such embarrassing things!" I walked rather quickly towards the elevator which much to my disappointment had already closed and was taking Pein up to the top of the tower. Looking around I decided to take the stairs that were beside it and started walking up the several floors to the hall with my room. While on the stairs I groaned softly and tried to rub the blush from my face.
Two floors up I had calmed down enough to sort of regret how I'd acted but I was clearly too far to head back down and apologize. I muttered to myself, mostly calling myself stupid, and kept my eyes on the steps. As I was walking a shiver ran up my spine and I looked around quickly as a feeling of being watched came over me. "What a quick reaction." I yelped in surprise, lunging up the last few steps to the landing to keep myself from tripping.
"Holy shit! What the hell?" I turned around to look at him, my heart still pounding in my chest. "Why would you scare me like that?" I whined loudly, trying not to cry as I calmed down too quickly.
Zetsu walked up to me, reaching up to caress the side of my neck and brush his thumb on my cheek. "Aw, you're so cute when you're about to cry. Don't say such mean things, you'll really make her cry. Don't lie, you think it's cute too." I blushed both at what he was saying and the warmth of his hand, causing him to focus on me again. "Alright... it's pretty cute." I started to whine again, causing Zetsu's eyes to grow hungry. He pushed me up against the wall firmly, a deep growl rising up from his chest. "Are you teasing us on purpose?"
"Only a little bit." Mustering up what courage I still had with him so close I reached up, pulling him down into a kiss. When I pulled back his expression was full of surprise, a small blush becoming visible on his light side. I couldn't help but to giggle and smile making Zetsu blush a little darker before kissing me.
"Oh jesus... I should have waited for the elevator." I pushed Zetsu away quickly, very surprised to see a grossed out looking Bre walking up the stairs.
"I... we were... Uh..." Fumbling over what to say ended up just looking away from her as she walked around the bend of the steps. Glancing at Zetsu his expression went from annoyance to a complete lack of regret. As I walked past him, following Bre up the stairs, he gave a very light swat on my butt which nearly made me trip. Looking back at him all he did was stare at me like he'd done nothing wrong so I gave up and kept walking. Clearly he's not someone you can scold for these things. Letting out a small sigh I continued up the stairs to walk beside Bre as we headed to our rooms to get ready.
[Several days later]
"Are you sure we're not lost?" I complained loudly, trying to keep up with Bre as we jumped through the trees. I had no idea how she was doing this so easily while I was struggling to keep her pace without falling on my face.
"Look, like I said half an hour ago. I was given an actual map, I know where we're going." Bre snipped at me, effectively shutting down my whining with both that and a stern look. "And like I also said, we're not that far from the meeting place with the people that hired us."
I groaned slightly in reply, snapping up the collar on my cloak before looking around. Is it really safe for us to wear these? I mean I suppose we aren't at a point where the villages are looking for Akatsuki really seriously yet but they are still a criminal organization. It'd really suck if we were to get attacked by some anbu or something... Pushing off harder on a branch I caught back up to Bre, this time not getting distracted. "And what are we doing again? I want to make sure I understand everything."
"From what I understand, we're meeting with people who will give us information on an assassination they need done."
"Won't that be kinda dangerous..."
"I guess you'll just have to tough it up and do your best huh."
I frowned slightly at that and looked over at Bre. "That's sort of harsh you know."
"It's always harsh teaching a bird to fly."
"If only you could put that same logic to yourself." Bre stopped suddenly, nearly causing me to trip and fall off the branch. "What the hell?"
"We're here." I grabbed onto a branch above me and looked down at the path below us. "And just on time it seems." Before I could ask her what she meant I spotted three rather shady, yet weak, looking men walk down a path towards us. Bre grabbed her hat off her back before putting it on and jumping down in front of the men and I quickly did the same, landing beside her a bit less gracefully.
"Y-you... are you who they sent?" The man in front spoke hesitantly but it was clear he was trying to be intimidating.
I looked over at him from under my hat before standing straight and ending up taller than the man in front. My expression changed to a stern look I'd seen Kisame use towards the members who annoyed him before. He flinched visibly and the two men behind him took a step back. "Is there a problem with that?"
"Not at all. We gladly accept your help." All three men bowed their heads which caused Bre to shoot a glare over at me. I shrugged at her with a grin as she walked around me.
"Did you bring the paperwork, and part of our fee?" Bre's voice was very professional and sort of intimidating as she talked to the men. They all looked up at her and I could see what seemed to be crushes forming.
"Yes ma'am. And we will have the rest ready for you upon your return." The men beamed up at her and the center one held out a envelope to her. She took it and smiled down at them, causing all of them to blush, before opening it and looking through the pages.
"Very good. How far away is the target?"
"About a day."
"I see. Then if all goes well we will see you again here in three to four days. If we're gone longer than six inform our Leader." They all nodded at us and Bre gestured for me to follow her as she turned around, walking down the path and leaving the men to gawk at her. I kept an eye on them as I followed beside her, brushing my cloak out of the way to put my hands in my pockets and whistling slightly. Bre glanced over at me before taking out the papers to look at them, "What?"
"Damn girl you got game. How come I've never noticed you were getting this hot?" I chuckled slightly and looked over at her with a smug grin, making her blush.
"What are you talking about?" She looked away quickly, the bell on her hat jingling.
"Oh man... those guys were head over heals for you. Totally smitten."
"You shut up. There's no way!"
"You sure are blind to the affections of others aren't you?" I groaned loudly and rolled my eyes.
"Well it's not like you're really any better. I bet you wouldn't have even known Zetsu liked you if his dark side didn't just blurt things out."
"Yeah... you're right."
"Huh?"
"I said you were right. I'm much better at seeing those who love other people, just like you. But it's because I can see it that I'm telling you."
"Don't say such dumb shit." I looked over, surprised by both what she said and the tone she said it, and saw that she was blushing and smiling softly. "But I suppose it's sort of nice..." Bre looked over at me with the first soft expression I'd seen on her face since we got here and I couldn't help but smile at her. "Just don't go thinking I'll believe everything you say."
"I suppose I'll just need to keep saying it until you do."
"Do your best." She chuckled softly, focusing on the paperwork again as we walked. I followed beside her, trusting that she knew where she was going.