"Why did we get stuck with the marshlands?" Kohaku complained, jumping over a puddle of muck onto a log. But the log was rotted and her feet sunk into the decaying wood. "Yuck!"
Asami landed on a rock beside the log, giggling over at her friend. "At least we didn't get stuck with Takeo-sensei."
"That's true," Kohaku said, distracted as she shook her foot, trying to dislodge the muck stuck in her black sandals. "Anyway, I don't think this Hachiro ran away to the marshlands. If he's here, it's not by his own choice."
"I'm inclined to agree with you," Asami said, glancing about herself.
"Look!" Kohaku pointed out into the distance. "It looks like there's a cave out there. Let's look there."
The two girls made their way over to the cave as quick as was possible in the terrain.
"It's too dark in here," Asami said when they reached the entrance of the cave. Her voice echoed off of the stone walls.
"I've got this," Kohaku said, running through handsigns.
Using tiger at the end of her seals, Kohaku used her own chakra to rub against the chakra in the environment. Fire roared to life around her. She concentrated, squeezing her eyes shut to mold the chakra into the shape of a star (her clan symbol). She hovered the star above her head.
The fire cast light on the dim surroundings. The cave was just that-a cave. Its stone walls were slick with moisture and the ground was soft and littered with puddles. The two girls moved further into the cave, glancing about themselves constantly, aware that their only exit could be blocked by theoretical enemies.
The girls were unaware of how long they had spent in the cave when Asami finally spoke. "There!"
Kohaku peered deeper into the cave to see a shadowy figure lying on the ground. Asami and Kohaku glanced at one another before sprinting towards the fallen figure. The girls fell to their knees as they reached the person, eyes scouring the body critically.
It was definitely Hachiro, those his deep blue eyes were sealed shut. There were cuts on his face and his clothes were tattered. Asami studied his body. The knuckles on his hands were bruised and swollen, indicating that he had been in a fight.
"He's in rough shape," Kohaku commented, checking for a pulse. When she found one, she sighed in relief.
Asami put the back of her hand against his forehead. It was warm and clammy. "He has a fever."
Kohaku put a hand to Hachiro's cheek to confirm this. At this moment, Hachiro's eye fluttered open, his attention focusing on Kohaku.
It was quiet for a long moment as Hachiro blinked once or twice, but did not move. Finally, he parted cracked lips and spoke in a hoarse voice. "Are you...an angel?"
Kohaku blinked and glanced over to Asami. She knew this was a serious situation but she had to hide a smile.
Kohaku glanced back to Hachiro. "Hachiro, no, my name is Kohaku. You're alive."
"Alive?" Hachiro echoed. He seemed to be confused by the meaning of the word.
Asami and Kohaku put their hands on Hachiro's back and helped to sit him up. He wobbled before falling into Kohaku, who caught him.
Kohaku turned a concerned look on Asami. "We're going to have to carry him out of here. But he's obviously run into trouble, there might be enemies around here."
Asami frowned. Her friend was right. "We'll just have to stay on guard."
The two girls helped Hachiro to his feet as he leaned heavily on Kohaku. They put Hachiro's arms around their shoulders and set out. They had made it just outside the cave when trouble arrived.
"Well, look what we have here," a man said. "Two pretty young things came to visit our dear friend."
The girls stopped walking, taking in the new comers. There were two men who looked like common thugs. One was quite short, the other tall and lean. They both carried katanas on their backs.
"Who are you?" Asami asked. "And why have you taken Hachiro."
"We work for Gatoh," one of the men replied with a sneer. "And Gatoh doesn't like it when others interfere with his business."
The girls were confused. They had no idea who Gatoh was. They had heard Takeo-sensei mention the name, but they only understood that he owned a lot of the industry in the Land of Waves. What more was there to this story?
"It's a shame we're going to have to kill you," said the short thug. "Such pretty girls you are."
Kohaku took Hachiro and carefully placed him on the soft ground. He would be wet, but he'd be out of danger. She turned her attention back to the thugs, who had both now drawn their weapons. Asami, too, had taken out a kunai. Kohaku still had her jutsu activated but drew a kunai as well.
The attack happened suddenly. There was no warning. The two men simply sped at the girls, surprising them. They barely had time to block the katans with their kunais before their faces got sliced off. Kohaku clenched her teeth together before she pushed back at her attacker. He was the tall man, much taller than her, which gave her an advantage. She used her speed to manuever around his legs to get behind him, stabbing him in the back with her kunai.
The man yelled out, twirling around to face Kohaku despite the pain he was in. His eyes were bloodshot, his face positively livid. He swung his sword at Kohaku, who dodged out of the way.
Meanwhile, Asami was facing the short man. She was parrying his attacks with her kunais, which was frustrating the man. She took a glance over at Kohaku, who was dodging the attacks of her attacker. Suddenly, Asami had a plan.
"Kohaku!" she yelled. When Kohaku glanced over, Asami looked from Kohaku's attacker to hers and nodded her head. Kohaku wasn't sure how, but she immediately understood Asami's plan.
Asami aggressively began attacking her enemy, forcing him backwards slowly. Kohaku began to purposely dodge attacks in Asami's direction. Kohaku dodged one more blow, feeling a body behind her. Just as the man swung, she jumped into the air and his sword cut deep into his partner. The man's eyes widened. As he was distracted, Kohaku concentrated and directed her star like a shuriken right into the man. He screamed out as the flames licked his body. Kohaku and Asami watched as both foes fell to the ground.
It was silent for a long moment before Kohaku and Asami glanced up at each other. Adrenalin was coursing through Kohaku's body and she let out a laugh, which made Asami smile. They had done it! Too bad Takeo-sensei wasn't here to see their handy work.
Remembering themselves, the girls quickly grabbed Hachiro, who was unconcious again and made their way to his house.
"These men, you said they worked for Gatoh?" Takeo asked that next morning as team eleven sat down for breakfast.
"Yep," Kohaku confirmed, mouth full of food. Asami, who was sitting next to Kohaku, nudged her in the ribs for her lack of manners.
"Does that mean something, Sensei?" Haruka asked, having barely touched her meal.
Takeo sighed. "Maybe. I'll have to confer with someone."
The girls nodded. Just then, Hachiro appeared in the dining room.
"Well, you're looking much better," Asami smiled at the boy.
He smiled back. "I think all I needed was some rest."
Kohaku thought this was probably true. Color had returned to his face and the cuts that had marred his face yesterday were beginning to scab. Just as Kohaku was examining the boy, he turned his blue eyes on her.
"Would you like to go for a walk?"
Kohaku blinked and pointed to herself. She was not used to being the sought after one, especially on her team. First you had Haruka, who was the embodiment of femininity. And then you had Asami with her exotic hair and eye color. Kohaku always felt plain compared to the two with her coffee-shaded eyes and mocha-colored hair.
"Me?" Kohaku asked.
Hachiro grinned. "Yes, you."
Asami gave Kohaku a sly smile before Kohaku got to her feet. "Sure."
Hachiro followed Kohaku outside. Once outside, he looped his arm in hers and they began to walk.
"I owe you and Asami my sincerest gratitude," Hachiro said.
Kohaku smiled, waving her free hand. "It's what we do."
Hachiro looked over at Kohaku. "You mean the ninja thing? Whatever made you want to become a ninja?"
Kohaku thought about it. "Well, both of my parents are ninja, I guess I was just born into it. But I love it. I love to train and see what I can do."
"That light in the cave...it was fire. Did you do that?"
"Yes," Kohaku answered. "It's my best ability."
Hachiro smiled. "I'm sure there's much more you can do. You don't give yourself a whole lot of credit, you know?"
Kohaku shrugged which onhly made Hachiro chuckle.
At that moment, Kohaku glanced up to see two familiar figures headed her way. It was none other than Naruto and Sasuke. The two were bickering about something or other, Kohaku couldn't hear, until the two caught sight of the girl.
"Naruto. Sasuke," Kohaku smiled.
"Hi, Kohaku!" Naruto grinned.
Sasuke nodded in greeting.
Hachiro glanced at Kohaku. "Do you know these two?"
"Yeah, they're friends from back home," Kohaku explained. "Here on a different mission."
"You're who they sent to protect the bridge builder," Hachiro said immediately.
"That's right!" Naruto confirmed. "And thanks to me, the bridge is almost done!"
"Don't you mean 'us'?" Sasuke glared.
"All you did was almost die on us!" Naruto pouted.
"Wait, what?" Kohaku asked in alarm.
"Oh Sasuke almost died is all. But he's fine," Naruto said.
Kohaku turned a concerned look on Sasuke. "Sasuke?"
"It was nothing," Sasuke turned his head away.
Kohaku frowned. She wanted to ask more, but knew this was not the time to be doing so.
"What are you doing, Kohaku?" Naruto asked, peering at Hachiro.
"Oh...we're just...going for a walk," Kohaku said, feeling suddenly embarrassed.
"Oh?" Naruto grinned slyly. Kohaku turned red, especially when Sasuke raised an eyebrow at their linked arms.
Hachiro saved her from further embarrassment. "Well Kohaku, we'd better get back. I don't want your sensei to kill me."
"Why would he kill you?"
"Don't want him to think we've been 'doing things'?" Hachiro winked.
The two bid Sasuke and Naruto farewell and retreated back the way they came.
"Why would my sensei care what I do in my free time?" Kohaku continued the conversation.
"I think he cares about you more than you know," Hachiro said.
"What makes you think that?"
"Oh, a guy can overhear lots of things when people think he's asleep."
"What?"
But just then, the pair reached Hachiro's house and Takeo was standing outside the door, arms crossed over his chest.
"Oh, you're in trouble," Hachiro whispered to Kohaku.
One look at Takeo's face made Kohaku believe the boy.
"Thank you so much for all that you have done," Hachiro's mother said once again as team eleven stood outside their house, ready to leave.
"It was just our job," Takeo replied with impatience.
Hachiro stepped forwards, taking one of Kohaku's hands in his. In hers, he placed a small piece of paper.
"That's my address. Write me?"
Kohaku blushed and could only nod. Hachiro grinned.
Team eleven turned their backs on the family and made their way home.
"So...Kohaku..." Asami started with a sly smile.
"I don't want to hear it, Asami," Kohaku cut her off.
Asami laughed.
"Won't Sasuke get jealous?" Haruka asked, cluelessly.
"What?"
Asami rolled her eyes. "Kohaku's still oblivious to all that. Let her figure it out on her own."
"What?"
"Nothing," Asami smiled.
Kohaku felt totally lost but finally sighed and rolled her eyes. She didn't have time for Asami's fairytales. Life wasn't a fairytale. It was a tragedy.
A small boy flashed through Kohaku's mind but she quickly shook her head to rid herself of the image.
No, life was definitely not a fairytale. Not at all.