The Hidden Countries;

Chapter Five

If you don't succeed at first – try and try again!

"Really man, spiders are the oddest, most revolting creatures known to mankind!"

The answer to that statement was two sighs and a curious look from the youngest male in their company. Haku's eyes just furrowed in confusion instead, as he looked at the red head boy with what Rose deemed morbid curiosity. "But, Ron-San, spiders are so small. They couldn't possibly hurt you more than you could it."

Ron groaned at the younger boy, like he didn't know anything. Really, out of all the things Ron could talk about, he chose spiders? The things that he was desperately afraid of – the boy was mental case closed. Rose sighed and shook her head, sometimes that boy made no sense to her.

"Ron spiders couldn't hurt a fly. You're just bloody crazy." Rose informed him, keeping up the pace that she had set to wherever it was that this 'Orochimaru' person lived. Really, what an odd name...

Hermione hit her head with her hand. "Rose," Hermione said dryly. "Spiders eat flies."

Rose paused mid-step before she kept on walking, mentally hitting herself over the head. "I guess they do, don't they?"

The four stopped talking after that. Rose because she had a blonde moment and decided that she couldn't talk anymore and the other three were most likely stunned quiet by her awesomeness – that had to be it. Dear Merlin, she had been spending too much time with Fred and George hadn't she?

This was until Haku broke the silence. "Rose-Sama, where are we going? ...And what will we be doing?"

Rose paused, and let the questions sink in. But all she got out of that was that he was still calling her 'Sama'. She was sure she had told the boy not half an hour ago not to call her that. Rose wasn't sure why the boy now insisted on giving her that. Rose wasn't great at Japanese but she knew that was a title given to important people. She wasn't all that important.

"Haven't I said to drop the Sama?" Rose asked Haku in a blunt voice and with an amused smile, forgetting momentarily the rest of his questions.

"I apologise, Rose-Sama- Rose-San." He amended when he saw Rose's slight glare towards his person.

Rose smiled at the younger boy. "I haven't the foggiest! But, Hermione where did you say we're going?"

Hermione sighed and took it upon herself to answer Haku's questions. "We are going to Otokare, and we are going to steal something from the Otokage."

Haku's eyes widened at the other brunette in the group. "We ...are?"

"That's it, kid." Ron said with a weary glance at Haku then another glance at Rose. Rose knew what this meant. He was asking her if they could really trust Haku. It was obvious that Ron did not trust Haku yet. Rose didn't blame him; trust was a hard thing to come by with them. Who knew who secretly wanted to kill them all because of their blood?

Rose nodded her head and gestured to Haku with a smile. She had said we can trust the kid. Rose wasn't sure why she trusted Haku so much in such a small space of time; it wasn't something that she usually did but something about this kid... Something just screamed to her that he could be trust worthy; after all, where else did he have to go?

Ron frowned and nodded his head again. The four continued on to their destination with small mindless chatter forming between the group of four. Or at least, between Rose and Ron while Hermione chimed in with factual information when the other two got too carried away or Haku when he didn't understand something, which was surprisingly often.

~5~

"Okay," Rose whispered to the other three people on her team. "We're here. Now what's the plan of attack, Ron?"

It had taken them two and a half days to get to Otokure. Rose had given Ron free reign over what the plan was when they got there. Now, it was time to put said plan into action. It couldn't be too hard... right?

Rose snorted in her head. Nothing ever went right where she was concerned, Rose was simply sure it was because she had terrible luck. Or she had very good luck that put her in horrible situations so she could get out of them. But that theory didn't make much sense to her so she stuck with the first one; Rose Potter had terrible luck.

"We all go in – unseen – we figure out where it is kept and then we take it."

Rose looked at Ron like he was the biggest idiot in the world. Considering she knew Crabbe and Goyle, this was saying something. Did Ron honestly think something that simple would work? She didn't know much of the intelligence level of her 'opponent' but she was sure that simply going in invisible and searching for what they needed would work all too well.

Rose opened her mouth to object but Hermione actually bet her too it. "Ronald... Don't you think that it's too... simplistic?"

Ron shook his head with a small grin on his face, like he was sure that he was going to convince them of his view point. "That's the beauty of it Hermione. It's so basic that no one would ever think of doing it."

"Are they expecting you?" Haku interrupted, gaining a surprised look from Ron.

"What do you mean, Haku?" Rose asked the young boy with interest. She hadn't expected him to give much input but this was welcome. Surprising yes, but welcome. Rose was sure that Haku would knew a bit more about breaking and entering in this world than Ron – they weren't after all muggles.

"Rose-Sama, this is a good idea but it is simply unwise to send in four people to obtain the object when you are unaware of its location – you may be compromised."

"Don't call me that," Rose muttered whilst thing about what he said.

Rose inclined her head; the boy did have a point. But Ron who still looked surprised was not fully over his idea. "Yes, but, how else do you suggest stealing from that place then?"

Haku looked thoughtful and Rose and Hermione shared a meaningful glance. Maybe, Rose should have made the two talk about this earlier on but she hadn't expected Haku to pick apart Ron's plan... No matter how... different that plan would be. Rose could actually see where Ron was coming from though. There wasn't much of another way to steal the scroll was there?

"Send in a scout to see where the object is hidden, only one person because multiple people would get spotted. Then the scout withdraws if getting the object is unrealistic and brings in backup after a plan is formed."

Rose had to hand it to the kid. He was sharp, smart – just like Hermione. Haku also seemed to have thought this though a little bit more than she had as well. But there was a reason that none of them never went in alone. Unless it was her – she always went in alone but, when she wasn't forced to go in alone she didn't. It was safer that way, for everyone.

"Haku," Rose began cutting off whatever Ron was going to reply with. "We don't let each other go in alone. Even if it's best for the mission or whatever, we just don't do it."

He looked confused before he masked it was a cool mask. "I see... May I ask why?"

The three ex-students of Hogwarts looked astounded. "Well, because it's not safe for them to go in alone. We have each other's backs. We look after each other – like family does."

Haku's cool mask slipped for a minute and his furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "I see... You are all related?"

Rose rubbed the back of her head and Hermione smiled gently at the young boy. "No, but we are all like family here. We care about each other. Let's compromise ne? How about we pair up instead?"

Rose nodded at Hermione, but it was Ron who responded. "Alright, Rose and Haku and me and Hermione, alright guys?"

Hermione looked confused for a second before understanding swept though her eyes, she then hide the emotion. Rose was confused for a second as well before she caught Hermione's understanding and her brief look at Haku.

Rose understood then. Ron and Hermione didn't trust Haku yet. Rose was the strongest – they all knew it. She would be the one most likely to be able to survive with him – although Rose didn't like their take on that. Haku was a sweet – misguided – but kind and sweet boy.

Rose was sure that eventually the other two would see it. They'd just have to wait for Haku to prove it. Rose wouldn't be able to change their opinion of him – that would all be on him. She wasn't Merlin.

Rose bit her lip. "We'll send one group in to scout and the other can be connected by... uh..."

"Ear pieces!" Hermione said as she grabbed her bottomless bag. She went though it for several moments before she pulled out four muggle looking ear pieces – she knew how they worked. She was surprised that Ron wasn't looking confused though. Maybe Hermione had explained it to him at some point?

"Do we all know how to use these?" Hermione asked eagerly as she handed them to the other three people. Rose instantly put hers in and nodded her head much like Haku. Ron nodded nervously and did the same thing.

Hermione beamed. "I think Ron and I should go in."

Rose wanted to hit something, but she understood. Mostly, but that did change the fact that it should be her to go in; it was her task after all. Rose opened her mouth to argue.

"I agree," Ron said quickly before Rose could begin to argue.

Rose glared at the ginger haired boy. "This isn't-"

"Nope!" Ron said with a grin, "You've been outvoted."

Rose narrowed her eyes at Ron, she hadn't been aware that this was drawing down to a vote. Well, if that was the case then... "What's Haku's vote then?"

Rose turned to Haku and he blankly nodded at Ron. He'd been corrupted – Merlin damn it.

"Fine."

~5~

Rose and Haku sat in the middle of a forest, waiting for anything on what Ron and Hermione were doing. But the other two had remained mostly silent for the entire time being. Which was generally a smart thing for them to do – they didn't want to get caught after all.

The silence though, was killing her. Even if Ron had somehow managed to get Haku to agree to him going in. Damn it.

"So Haku," Rose began trying to think of anything that she could say. "What's your favourite colour?"

Haku blinked up at Rose with surprise, before the emotion was covered by his cool mask. "I do not have one."

Rose sighed, the kid was kind and gentle but he was as emotionless as Voldemort was... How did that work? "Come on, everyone has a favourite colour! Maybe just a colour that's nicer than others?"

Haku looked at her like he was trying to figure something complicated out. Rose resisted the urge to sigh – it wasn't that hard of a question. "I do not... What of you?"

Rose thought for a second. "Red. I love the colour red. Now come on think about it."

Haku paused for a moment. "I suppose lavender."

Rose was slightly surprised by this, purple huh? Rose was about to ask the brown haired male another question before she got cut off. Not by Haku but by a talking dog. A talking dog? Well, nothing to unusual had happened lately so she should have expected it.

What next? Ron having tact? Hermione swearing off books? Rose didn't actually want to now.

"Hey you – lady!"

Rose jumped and Haku pulled out a senborn – needle thing out of nowhere. Rose looked down at what talked, it was a small pug. But that couldn't be what talked because dogs didn't talk. Rose looked around some more trying to figure out who talked.

"Hey lady, down here!"

Rose looked down at the dog again. Did the thing just talk? It didn't talk because it wasn't possible because Sirius couldn't talk as a dog then neither could this ... dog. But then, Sirius wasn't a real dog was he?

"Did you just talk?" Rose asked the dog hesitantly.

"Of course I did Lady. What never seen a talking dog before?" The dog said.

She was talking to a dog, how novel. "No, dogs do not talk. But – I guess some can then?"

The dog seemed to snort. Wow. "Of course, we have to be taught don't we?"

Rose nodded her head like this was common knowledge, even though the whole dog talking thing was creeping her out. But what could she do?

"Is there something you needed... uh?"

"Pakkun Lady, are you Potter Rose?" the dog asked of her.

Rose bit her lip and looked back at Haku who looked blank. She really needed to get him to work on that whole emotion thing. "Yes I am. Do you... uh, are you looking for me?"

The dog nodded his head and sighed. "I have a message for Potter Rose, from Hatake Kakashi."

Rose blinked; her response had come slightly quicker than she had anticipated. But... from a dog? Kakashi was either really odd or he just liked being different, really who sent a talking dog to send their messages?

"Well, I didn't except a dog... He's an odd one..." Rose muttered under her breath before she started to speak up. "What is the message?"

Pakkun sighed. "The Hokage accepts your terms. When you come to Konoha you will talk to the guards and be accosted to the Hokage."

Rose blinked. "Uh, thank you?"

The dog nodded and disappeared. How... strange.

"Rose-Sama?"

"Don't call me that, but yes?" Rose said turning around to face Haku who actually looked confused and wasn't bothering to hide it.

"What just happened?" He actually looked slightly nervous.

Rose looked at him for a measured amount of time. "Nothing you have to worry about yet, it'll be fine."

Before Haku could respond again there was a buzzing in Rose's ear.

"Rose? Rose." She heard the voice of Hermione come though the ear piece, sounding out of breath.

"Yes? What is it?"

"Our cover has been uh, blown. We are just running for our lives and... We could use some help..."

Rose didn't even let Hermione finish her sentence before she took off running, Haku not far behind her. Actually, Haku was faster than her but he had been surprised at her suddenly starting to run. Haku caught up to her in no time at all.

Rose's eyes turned the sickly green before she used a wandless tracking charm on Hermione. She had always had the means of finding her two friends like they had as well. It was completely simpler that way.

Rose gritted her teeth, those two better be okay.

~5~

By the time that Rose and Haku had managed to catch up to Ron and Hermione, they had evidently lost their chasers. The two sat side by side breathing hard as they tried to catch their breath – both of them looking like they were dying a little bit.

"Hermione what was the first insult Ron gave you?" Rose asked slowing to a stop a few feet away from the two. She didn't think anyone could be impersonating them but... Rose stopped Haku from going any more forward by grabbing his shoulder.

Hermione looked up and smiled, before she scowled and glared at Ron. "No wonder no one can stand her – she's a nightmare honestly."

Ron paled and yelled putting his hands up in a surrender position. "I was eleven! Sorry!"

Hermione huffed, Ron glared and Rose and Rose just smiled. "Okay so what happened?"

Hermione sobered up instantly. "Okay, so maybe we didn't do the best job... But we figured out the location of the scroll, it's in these chambers by what looks like a throne room or something. In this room it looked like a muggle science lab – there was bits and pieces of everything. The scroll was located on the top shelf – I am sure. But-"

This was when Ron cut in looking sorry again. "I'm sorry woman!"

Hermione glared at Ron. "You blew everything! If you could just keep your mouth shut for five minutes!"

"Guys!" Rose yelled stopping the argument before it happened. "What happened?"

"Right," Hermione said. "Well, Orochimaru came in – at least I think it was him. And he started to move around but I got the feeling that he somehow knew someone was there. He... kind of reminds me of You-Know-Who... But when trying to advoid him, Ron swore – loudly and what do you know? The cloak falls of him and we have to run!"

Rose looked at the two nervously. "Did you... lose the cloak?"

Ron shook his head, that was somewhat of a relief.

"Why didn't you just use the... Disalounment charm?" Rose asked raisng her eyebrow.

Hermione scowled at Ron again. "It was better – I didn't know if he could see though it or not."

"No one can see though them Ronald!" Hermione scolded.

Ron glared back. "We don't know that!"

Rose sighed. "Not now, you two we have more important things to do right now!"

Hermione bowed her head. "Sorry Rosie."

Rose sighed, there would only be one thing for it. She'd have to go in.

"I'll go in. Do you think he'd have moved the scroll?"

Hermione shook her head. "No... He doesn't know why we were there I'm sure. We hadn't touched anything."

Rose nodded. "We should give it a few days to cool down. Then Haku and I will go in a get it."

Ron hesitated. "And if you don't?"

Rose glanced back at him before closing her eyes. "Let's not think about that, neh?"