Chapter Nine
Kaede was, quite honestly, worried.
Kagome was walking right next to her, her metallic Bo staff glinting in the sun from its place on her back. Her sapphire eyes were clouded over, and Kaede swore she could see a hint of fang pointing out from under Kagome's upper lip.
While Kagome had always been an agile brat that was quick on her toes, it was only recently that she had started to take on some of the characteristics of the demons she controlled. Her temper for one thing, had definitely gotten worse, especially after being trained by the foul mouthed, lecherous, and violent Rain shinobi near her home.
Kagome's nose was twitching and Kaede prayed to whatever Kami was listening as they entered the Hokage Tower that they did not run into Sakura or Ino or else she didn't know if she could stop Kagome in time to save them.
A masculine voice said for them to come in and Kagome's face suddenly brightened in recognition. She pushed the doors open and dashed towards the blond standing next to her father by his desk. "Naruto-nii!" She cried, glomping her blue eyed brother.
He had ditched the bright orange jumpsuit and was wearing a dark green shirt and black vest with black pants and the standard shinobi footwear only in black. His forever unruly hair had been slicked back and his hitai-ate was tied around his arm instead of his forehead. Her brother looked…different.
"Please release me Kagome-san."
The raven haired girl stiffened and slowly drew back. Confused and slightly hurt sapphire met steady cerulean. "But, it's me. Your sister, Kagome." She furrowed her brow. "I know who you are Kagome. Now, please release me. My girlfriend doesn't like it when other girls touch me."
Suddenly, Kagome became aware of the room's other occupants and got off Naruto. Minato looked at her with slightly amused eyes but that wasn't what caught her eye. It was the three females sitting on the couch that made her eyes darken and an unheard growl rumble in her throat. Kaede groaned and cursed the Kami who had disregarded her wishes.
Kikyo sat in the middle draped in a short purple silk cheongsam with diamonds dripping from her head to her red toes and a cruel smirk painted on her face.
Ino sat to her right, her blue eyes glittering haughtily and she was dressed in what looked like purple bandages in Kagome's opinion. Sakura sat to Kikyo's left dressed in a red dress with her clan symbol on her back. The pink haired girl didn't dare meet Kagome's eyes. Neither did anybody notice the frosty glares between Kaede and Kikyo.
"Hello to you too Musume. I take it your training trip was successful?" Minato asked, shuffling papers around. Kaede stepped forward when she saw that Kagome wasn't going to answer and bowed slightly.
"Yes, Kagome-chan's training was more than successful. I can say with confidence that she is at least Chunin level if not Jounin level."
Ino snorted and Kagome sent her a dark look. "She doesn't even look like she knows how to hold a kunai let alone be at a Chunin level."
Kagome's lips curled. "Want to test me, Pig?" Ino bristled at the insult and Kikyo sighed. "Koishii, I don't think Kagome needs more training instead she needs to train on her manners."
Minato sent the wide eyed Kagome a sharp look. "Mind your tongue Kagome. You will not disrespect your mother's apprentice like that."
"Mother?" Both Kagome and Kaede were shell shocked. Last time they knew, Minato hated the very ground Kikyo walked on! With a smug Cheshire grin, Kikyo rose from the couch gracefully and settled herself comfortably in Minato's lap. He wrapped his tan arms around her and Kikyo pressed her red lips to his.
Kagome, Kaede, and even Kilala looked visibly sick while Naruto and Ino looked at the scene with adoration. No one noticed Sakura's face flare with guilt and shame. Kikyo licked her lips and turned to Kagome. "That's right, you must not have heard about us." Kikyo held out her hand to show off her twelve carat red diamond ring.
"We're engaged!" She said happily. Kagome's heart sunk and Kilala mewed in concern. "But Mina-kun, we should test Kagome to see what level she is. If she's as good as Kaede says, then maybe she can skip being on a Genin team and go straight to solo work."
Minato shook his head. "No matter the results, Kagome will be placed on a Genin team. She needs to learn teamwork, especially since she didn't go to the Academy. Her jounin teacher can worry about how strong she is."
Kikyo frowned but Minato wasn't changing his decision. "I'll be staying here in Konoha for a bit Minato. Just until Kagome gets settled in at least." Minato smiled, making Kikyo's frown even more pronounced. "Good! You can stay at the Estate with us."
Now Kikyo was scowling completely.
Kaede thanked him for his hospitality and ushered a frozen Kagome out the Hokage Tower. She put up a small genjutsu and pulled Kagome into her arms just as the girl burst into sobs. "What did those monsters do to my Tou-san and Nii-san?" She cried and Kaede just cradled her in her arms while her white haori caught Kagome's tears. Kilala nuzzled Kagome's arms in sadness.
"I don't know Kagome. I don't know."
By the time Kagome had calmed down, it was early afternoon and almost time for the Academy to let out. Promising not to overexert herself if she decided to go train, Kagome leapt to the rooftops with a small burst of chakra while Kaede went to the library to see if she could discover what her foolish sister had done to Minato and Naruto.
'Damn you Imouto. Why did you turn out to be so selfish?' Kaede thought sadly
Hinata and Tenten let out a whoop as the bell rang to signal the end of the day. It was also the last day of classes before the Graduation Test tomorrow when, if they passed, they would officially be Konoha shinobi. Both were confident that they would pass; the only thing they were worried about was if Kagome would be home in time to take the test with them.
Both girls entered the Academy courtyard ready to go home when a dark haired figure dropped down in front of them. Hinata instantly went into a Gentle Fist defensive position while Tenten had two kunai ready for an attack.
The figure raised its head and laughed when they were suddenly jumped on. "Kagome!"
"Nice to see you guys too even though your initial greetings leave much to be desired." The raven haired girl smirked before they all got off the ground. Kagome had changed her outfit to black bicycle shorts under a black skirt that ended mid-thigh with slits on the sides for mobility and had white bandages that came down to the tops of her knees. Her shirt was short sleeved and dark blue with fishnet arm warmers and black fingerless gloves. She also had a white sash wrapped around her waist so she could keep her Bo staff attached to her person without it hindering her hands.
"You look like a real kunoichi Kagome-chan." Hinata said admiringly and Tenten nodded her approval. Much like her brother, Kagome rubbed her head sheepishly before pulling her best friends into a hug.
"I missed you guys so much." She whispered softly and they voiced their own sentiments as well. Kagome cracked one eye open, ready to let them go when her gaze connected with the raven haired Uchiha across the courtyard staring at her.
Sasuke Uchiha looked at the girl that had humiliated him in front of his father with a mixture of amusement and admiration. His black eyes were drawn to her toned legs and as Kagome turned her back to him and left the grounds with Hinata and Tenten, he couldn't help the fleeting thought that she had filled out nicely during the time she was gone. He could sense that she had grown much stronger than before as well.
Sasuke smirked and started on his way back to the Compound. No wonder his Aniki was so drawn to the Hokage's daughter. Hopefully, now that she was back, she'd be able to kick some sense back into her family, possibly kill Kikyo and his annoying, bratty future sister-in-law Ikeike and make Itachi happy again.
As Sasuke slid the shoji door closed, his mouth immediately watered at the smell of the delicious rice balls his mother was making for an afterschool snack. His last afterschool snack.
Kicking off his shoes and setting them neatly in the foyer, Sasuke walked towards the kitchen where he was hoping to steal a rice ball or two undetected.
"Don't even think about it Sasu-chan." Mikoto's amused voice drifted from the kitchen, "Go wash up and tell Ita-chan that he should come and eat something as well."
Sasuke quietly grumbled under his breath before walking loudly, more like stomping, to the bathroom where he quickly washed his hands and walked down the hall to Itachi's room. Knowing that Itachi already knew who it was standing outside his room, Sasuke entered unannounced only to see his Aniki slowly sharpening a kunai while staring at a picture of a smiling Kagome.
"I don't remember you ever taking a picture of Kagome." Sasuke commented and Itachi smirked.
"Ne, Otouto, I merely 'borrowed' it from her home for the time being." Sasuke snorted.
"Come on Ita-chan." He said mockingly, "Okaa-san says its snack time." Itachi raised an eyebrow as he uncurled himself gracefully from off the bed. Sasuke eyed him enviously. Show off.
"Aren't you a little too old for snack time Sasu-chan?" Itachi said innocently, making sure to poke his younger brother in the forehead as he passed by. Sasuke rubbed the small red dot and resisted the urge to throw whatever was closest to him at the back of his Aniki's head.
He was going to be an official Genin in two days' time! He was practically an adult!
Almost as if Itachi had read Sasuke's mind, he looked over his shoulder and said, "You'll always be my little brother Sasuke," before continuing to the dining room. Sasuke's face broke out into a small smile and he was so caught up in the cuteness of that statement that he didn't sense Itachi stick his leg out as he tried to get to his seat.
"Sasuke! Why are you on the ground?" Mikoto asked worried, and Sasuke waved to show he was alright, glaring at his brother who was looking back at him innocently. As their mother went back into the kitchen to get the rice balls, Sasuke kicked his brother viciously under the table.
"What happened to you being on your moody im-slowly-going-insane-and-im-going-to-kill-anyone-who-pisses-me-off PMSing?" Sasuke whispered harshly. Itachi smirked. "It's no fun to be on potential serial killer mood all the time. But I can start my clan killing spree with you first."
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "If you do that, I'll lock you in your bedroom with Ikeike, your future wife."
Sasuke looked smug when he saw Itachi's nails dig into the table. "If you do that," Itachi stated coldly, "I will release your fan girls on you."
"You wouldn't."
"Try me." Sasuke's slightly hurt look morphed into pure viciousness.
"I'll rip up your picture of Kagome, you pedophile."
Itachi's cold stare turned into a frigid glare. Sasuke shivered.
"If you do that, I guaranteed-Snack time!" Mikoto interrupted, placing the tray of rice balls on the table. Itachi sent him a glare that promised that things weren't over. Sasuke sent his own that said something along the lines of 'Bring it on Ice Prick'.
Taking a break from his mental clash with his younger sibling, Itachi reached for a rice ball and inadvertently glanced at his elegant mother who was calmly sipping her tea. When she put her china down, Itachi's sharp eyes narrowed in on the dark marks on her pale neck that were shaped like fingers.
Sasuke noticed his brother's pointed look and looked at their mother as well. His on eyes saw the faint shadow of a bruise skillfully hidden under makeup around Mikoto's eye. Both sons gritted their teeth and Itachi started to say something when Fugaku strode into the room, a satisfied smirk on his face as he took his place at the head of the table.
Itachi and Sasuke hid their faces of disgust when they smelled the musty scent and obnoxious perfume that signaled that Fugaku had just come from a late afternoon romp with Kikyo. Mikoto's eyes narrowed and she stared at the contents of her cup with a look of anger and embarrassment.
"Itachi, Ikeike tells me you seem less than satisfied with her." Fugaku stated, glancing at his eldest son. Sasuke silently munched on his specially made tomato flavored rice ball in anticipation for the showdown about to happen.
"Hai. This is true." Itachi answered, staring back at his father with a bored look. Fugaku frowned. "You will be getting married to her in several months' time. So no matter what you say, she will be your wife."
"What about little Kagome-chan?" Mikoto asked quietly and Fugaku scowled at her. "I was informed from a reliable source that Kagome has already been betrothed to someone else."
"What?"
Everyone looked at Sasuke who turned slightly red from his outburst. Fugaku raised an eyebrow before continuing. "Her step mother said that Minato was in negotiations for a betrothal between Kagome and somebody else."
"Kikyo-san isn't Kagome's step mother, at least not yet." Itachi stated, "And as for this betrothal, I'll believe it when I hear from Kagome's own lips."
Itachi disappeared in a flurry of crow feathers; he had to go find something to do before he committed patricide.
Kagome was sitting on top of the Hokage Monument, absently rubbing Kilala's head as she gazed at the orange sunset.
"Kagome, Kagome, the bird in the cage." She sang softly, "don't come out! In the evening of the dawn, the crane and turtle slipped."
"Who stands right behind you now?" A dark, possessive and utterly male voice whispered in her ear. She jumped up into a defensive position while Kilala fell into a nearby bush with an angry yowl. The cat demon climbed out the vegetation and seeing who it was that frightened her mistress, stuck up her tail and trotted home snootily.
Kagome, on the other hand, couldn't believe her eyes. The small boy from her childhood had grown into the large and powerful man standing before her. His silky black hair flowed slightly with the breeze but his dark eyes were locked onto her startled blues.
"Ita-kun." She whispered breathlessly and his pupils seemed to darken at her breathy version of her nickname for him.
"I need to know something Kagome-chan." He began to slow walk towards her, his aura boxing her in like a predator closing in on his prey. Kagome felt her demons beginning to stir and she had the strangest urge to… submit to the powerful male currently stalking her.
"What is it?" She asked, finding that her knees were beginning to shake. It was suddenly getting hot and her cheeks flushed pink at the thought of her taking her clothes off, or possibly even Itachi's.
His arms pulled her in and Kagome found herself being pressed against a warm and hard chest. Itachi's long willowy digits curled around hers and she felt her mouth quiver when he slowly pressed a lingering kiss to each of her small fingers. This was just like before; things were going too fast for her but she kind of enjoyed the rush.
"Are you betrothed to another?" Itachi's chest rumbled and Kagome shook her head in disbelief.
"I've never heard about anything like that." She said truthfully and Itachi smirked as he twisted the Uchiha bracelet he had given her around her wrist.
"Good. I've missed you Kagome."
"I've missed you too… Itachi-kun."
Something she said must have been right because next thing Kagome knew; she was pressed up against a tree with warm lips claiming her own.
I would like to apologize to everyone for my long time away from this story. School has really been killing me with so many school projects and essays that I couldnt and didnt want to, type up anything for this story because I was so sick and tired of everything I had to do. I dont know when I'm going to find time to write the next chapter but I will make some time. Rest assured, I will not be giving up on this though. It just might take some time for the next chapter to get out.
Secondly, yes I know I was totally evil for this whole chapter. I love doing stuff that keeps you on edge and this cliffy certainly does. I was in the mood for some ItaxKag fluff to cheer myself up, which is why their meeting was so fats. But dotn worry for those who think I'm going at an unrealistic pace for their relationship. It'll all be explained in the next chapter when Itachi and Kagome have their first "talk". If Itachi doesnt rip Kagome's clothes off before hand hehe.
I believe that at the moment, Kagome and the rest of the respective soon to be Genin are twelve and Itachi is almost seventeen. Kagome's kinda young but then again, shes about to become a ninja who can, technially, lay her life down for her village so I feel that she deserves some male attention too! Oh and no, Sasuke doesnt have a crush on Kagome or anything like that!
But thank you again my reviewers, and I hope you havent given up on me!
Your reviews channel my immagination
-Verdant