The kunoichi of squad eleven were taking their lunch break. They were tired and sweaty from the morning's activities. Takeo had been pushing them harder than ever.
"Guys," Kohaku lowered her chopsticks. "Is it just me or is Takeo-sensei a little crankier than normal?"
"Definitely," Asami agreed.
"Maybe he needs a woman," Haruka shrugged.
"A woman, you say?" Kohaku tapped her chin in thought. "Hmmm…"
"Whatever it is you're thinking, stop," Haruka said.
"Phewy on you, Haruka! This is the perfect chance to play cupid," Asami's eyes sparkled.
"Quite," Kohaku nodded. "I say we undergo mission: Find Takeo-sensei Some Tail Least He Kills Us All."
Asami's eye twitched. "How about mission: Cupid?"
"That works too."
Haruka sighed. "I don't think this is a good idea…"
"Pah on your negativity," Kohaku waved a hand airily. "Now, let's come up with a plan."
"So step one is to find a woman," Kohaku said after practice that day. The three girls were walking through the center of town, as Kohaku had wanted to stop at a vendor for food.
"It can't be just any woman. She has to be beautiful and funny," Asami said.
"Takeo-sensei can't date me," Kohaku joked.
"Oh hush," Asami slapped Kohaku in the arm. "I'm being serious here."
"How about a sensei at the academy?" Haruka suggested.
"No, not skill enough," Asami said. "One of the other jounin instructors?"
"The only female one is Kurenai-sensei and she's dating Asama-sensei," Kohaku said in dismay.
The three girls slumped their shoulders in disappointment, that is, until Kohaku glanced up. Her eyes widened and she stuck her arms out, stopping the girls on either side of her.
"What?" Asami asked.
"Look," Kohaku whispered.
The two girls peered in the direction Kohaku was pointing. Standing at a vendor was the most glamorous woman they'd ever seen. She was tall but the kimono she wore only reached to mid-thigh. She had long, auburn hair that was more red than brown that hung to her hips. Emerald green eyes searched the merchandise in front of her. She laughed at something the vendor said and it sounded lyrical.
The three girls glanced at each. A sly smile found its way onto Kohaku's face.
"Even Takeo-sensei's cold heart can't resist her," Asami said.
"You really think he has a cold heart?" Haruka asked.
Asami nodded. "Colder than Sasuke's."
"Sasuke's heart is not cold!" Kohaku shouted.
"So i suppose it's warm and fuzzy?" Asami raised an eyebrow skeptically.
Kohaku grumbled something before crossing her arms over her chest.
"So how are we going to get the two to meet?" Haruka asked.
That was a very good question.
"How about I tail her and you two find Takeo-sensei. Make some excuse for him to follow you then find me," Kohaku said.
"How are we going to find you?" Asami asked.
"I'll leave behind traces of my chakra."
"Like a gingerbread trail!" Asami smiled.
Haruka rolled her eyes. "I still don't think this is a good idea."
"Good thing no one cares what you think," Kohaku said, earning a glare from Haruka.
Although the woman looked glamourous, her life seemed anything but. All she did was shop all afternoon, though rarely did she buy anything. Kohaku often found herself daydreaming as she followed the woman, almost losing her in the crowds when she fazed out. From time to time, the woman would glance about herself suspiciously, always making Kohaku afraid she'd been seen, but then the woman would relax and continue on her way.
'Come on guys,' Kohaku thought with annoyance. 'Where are you?'
Finally, Kohaku spotted her team in the distance. Asami and Haruka were urging Takeo-sensei forward, who looked confused and slightly aggrivated. This was there chance. Kohaku made herself seen, "accidentally" bumping into the woman. She cried out and went flying to the ground. Asami and Haruka stepped out of the way, leaving Takeo-sensei to catch the woman before she hit the ground.
The woman glanced up and Takeo-sensei blinked. Carefully, he helped her to her feet.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
The woman was silent for a long moment. She eyed Takeo, eyes regarding the jounin vest he wore with interest. Finally, she fluttered her beautiful eyes. "Thanks to you I am."
Takeo-sensei grew embarrassed. "It was nothing."
"No, please, I would have ruined my new kimono. Let me take you for tea," the woman said.
"Well, uh-"
"I won't take no for an answer," the woman teased.
"Well...okay..." Takeo-sensei said reluctantly.
"Wonderful. My name is Asuka."
"I'm Takeo."
"Meet me at the tea shop at three?"
"Sure."
Team eleven, who had hidden themselves around a corner, silently cheered. Asami and Kohaku high-fived.
"We did it!" Kohaku punched a fist in the air.
"I don't know you guys, I still don't think we should be meddling in this," Haruka said.
"Your concerns have been noted," Kohaku said unenthusiastically.
"They're just going for tea," Asami said. "What could go wrong?"
"This is officially the most boring mission we've been on," Kohaku whispered as they spied on Asuka and Takeo-sensei.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I agree," Asami said.
"What did you expect was going to happen?" Haruka asked, hands on her hips. "They're not going to start sucking face in the middle of the tea shop."
Kohaku's nose wrinkled at the thought of her sensei 'sucking face' with anyone.
The girls continued to watch as Takeo excused himself to use the bathroom. As soon as he was gone, Asuka pulled something out of her pocket and dropped something into Takeo's drink.
"Did you guys see that?" Kohaku whispered.
"Oh my god...she roofied Takeo-sensei!" Asami whispered back.
Kohaku gave Asami a pointed stare. "Asami, look at her. She wouldn't need a roofie to get men to...um...do things with her."
"Do you think it was poison?" Haruka asked in alarm.
"I don't know, but we need to keep Sensei from drinking it," Kohaku said.
"Well we can't very well just walk in there and take the drink away," Asami said.
"No," Kohaku agreed. "We'll have to create a distraction. One of us will have to distract Asuka while the one of us "accidentally" knocks over the drink."
"Do you think that's wise?" Asami asked. "She might be dangerous. I mean, she's obviously trying to do something to Sensei. What if she's an enemy ninja?"
Kohaku hadn't thought of that. "Well, regardless of the danger, we have to save Takeo-sensei."
"I told you guys not to meddle with this," Haruka said.
"Not now, Haruka," Kohaku glared. "I'll be the one to distract Asuka."
"Are you sure?" Asami asked, concerned for her friend's safety.
"Of course," Kohaku put on a smile. "I'm a pro."
Haruka hovered inside the shop by the door while Asami and Kohaku made their way to Asuka.
"Misa! It's so good to see you!" Kohaku said, touching Asuka on the shoulder.
Asuka turned around.
"Oh I'm sorry, I thought you were someone else," Kohaku said.
In the meantime, Asami walked by, acting like a customer and bumped into the table, effectively knocking over Takeo-sensei's drink and spilling the liquid all over the table.
Kohaku and Asuka turned to look at the spilled tea. As the tea soaked the table, it began to smoke and eat away at the wood. It was acid! Asami and Kohaku turned surprised looks to Asuka.
The lovely Asuka was gone, replaced by a glare and a scowl.
"You idiot girls. Do you think I did not see you trailing me earlier? You have spilled this on purpose to save your Sensei," she growled.
Quick as lightning, Asuka was on her feet, holding a small knife to Kohaku's abdomen. She was so subtle no one in the tea shop paid any mind. Asami's heart was racing, pondering what to do.
"I can kill you where you stand. You are nothing. Just a weak little girl pretending to be a ninja," Asuka said. She pressed the blade into Kohaku's skin, making her gasp in pain.
Suddenly, before the blade went too deep, a throwing knife came whizzing by, piercing Asuka's hand that was holding the knife. She gasped in pain, dropping the knife. Kohaku immediately stepped away. Asuka held her now bleeding hand and lifted her face, searching for the source of the knife. She found Haruka in the back of the room. She put her fingers into handsigns but was stopped as steel pressed against her neck.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Takeo-sensei said, his eyes glinting with anger. "If you come quietly, I won't have to injure you."
Asuka scowled but lowered her hands.
Haruka, Kohaku and Asami waited outside of the Hokage's office where Takeo was giving report on the day's events. Haruka stood with her perfect posture, hands clasped in front of her. Asami twiddled her thumbs and Kohaku leaned against the wall, tapping a foot against it. Finally, Takeo exited the office. He stood in front of the girls. All he did was raise an eyebrow.
The girls looked down sheepishly.
"I know you three were behind this," Takeo-sensei said evenly.
"We didn't mean to try and kill you," Asami said quickly.
"We only wanted to find you someone so you'd be happy," Kohaku added.
Takeo's face softened for a moment before it turned even again. "Well, you stopped an enemy spy from killing me while putting your lives in danger."
The girls steeled themselves for a lecture.
"That's just what a ninja would do."
The girls glanced up in surprise.
"I can't believe I'm saying this but, despite the fact you caused the situation, you handled it well," Takeo said.
Kohaku grinned.
"But to keep you out of further shenanigans, practice starts at six am tomorrow morning. Don't be late."
The girls groaned.
A/N: Sorry, no Sasuke in this chapter. But stay tuned, he may make a grand appearance next chapter :)
Once again, Asami belongs to who is writing Asami's story (NejiXOC). You should really check it out.
Thanks for reading!