- Because I owe a bet to the Kazekage.
Fuuga raised an eyebrow at her words, a second before there was a knock on the door and Choujuurou stepped in. He took a quick glance at the hooded blond, then bowed at his superior and announced. – The Wind Overlord has arrived. He's waiting for you in the small conference room.
- I'm coming. – the Mizukage rose from her seat with a smile and adjusted her clothes. – Choujuurou, would you explain Fuuga's next mission to him for me, please?
She received a nod from the blue haired man and walked out of her office with Kirishichi in tow. – So... – Choujuurou cleared his throat and busied himself with looking through a stack of paper. – The Wind Overlord is the son of the Wind Daimyou*. – he fished out a photo and showed it to the blond. – Nishikaze Hatoba.
'Nishikaze? Where have I heard that name before?', Fuuga frowned at the picture.
- He might be familiar. He was there at the charity party.
The blond nodded, but he felt like he had seen him before that.
- He's, ah, a very important political figure. In the past few years he's been travelling all around the Five Nations with limited staff, strengthening his father's connections and building new ones. A few days ago as we were escorting him back to the Land of Wind, his party was ambushed and his personal guards and everyone else in his staff were all killed. Only a few of our own shinobi survived and most of the attackers got away. We barely managed to bring him back to safety, but now we need to escort him back to his home land as hidden as possible. – he wrung his hands. – Taking your abilities and working morale in consideration, the Mizukage decided to assign you as his new bodyguard. – Choujuurou put an unsteady hand onto the blond's shoulder. – I know you haven't been on a mission like this before. So...
- I just need to make sure he stays low and alive, right?
- And unscathed, yes. – Choujuurou nodded and placed both his hands on Fuuga's shoulders, opened his mouth then shut it. – If you need anything, let me know.
Fuuga pulled his brows together. It felt like he wasn't talking to the same Choujuurou that arrested him and took part in his extreme training. It wasn't the same man who subdued him on many occasion with only a few words and the right tone. It wasn't the usual strict, pitiful voice that came out of his mouth, but one filled with uncertainty and something else like...
Guilt?
Fuuga was ready to flick his blade out, just in case.
The shinobi's gaze was fixated everywhere on him but his eyes. He released his shoulders and stilled his hands by his side, pursing his lips. – Fuuga... – he took a deep breath. – I've realized that I, no, we, w-we've been treat-, we shouldn't have, I mean, we've been really... - he massaged his temples and sighed. – I just want to-
- There you are. – Kirishichi stormed into the office. – The Overlord wants to meet him now. C'mon, hurry.
Fuuga took a step towards the door, but halted and took a glance at the blue haired shinobi. Choujuurou looked away from him and nodded. – Let's go. He hates it when you keep him waiting.
Fuuga felt like a piece of ware on a marketplace.
The moment he entered the conference room, the Overlord's eyes fell on him and scanned him up and down. The blond almost saw calculations flashing through those sharp yellow eyes as they turned back to the Mizukage.
- One shinobi. – he stated on a flat voice. – You think one shinobi will be enough to get me home alive?
- I wouldn't offer him if he weren't.
The Overlord's looked back at the blond. Fuuga saw his eyes examining his hood, chest, pouches, armguards and knees again. Then, the Overlord emerged from his seat with light movements, his green and black robes falling back into their place. Back straight, shoulders wide and chin high, he took a few steady steps towards him and pierced his gaze into Fuuga's.
He wasn't in a fighting stance. He wasn't carrying any weapon. He wasn't even a shinobi, for god's sake, but his sheer presence and stare made Fuuga feel ridiculously small. He resisted the urge to gulp when the Overlord opened his mouth to speak.
- What's so special about him?
Fuuga held his gaze, unwavering. At least, he hoped it was that.
- He's one of the bests who know how to go by unnoticed.
The Overlord raised an eyebrow, eyes still locked harshly into Fuuga's, testing, no, challenging him. – What if he fails to do that?
The blond was ready for the challenge. – Then there'll be no witnesses left behind.
The Overlord's eyes slightly narrowed for a moment, then a hint of satisfaction and amusement danced in them for a second. – We'll see.
The butterflies came again.
It was noon on the Silent Island. The Magors were retreating to their houses, the families preparing for a nice lunch and some time together. None of them paid attention to the crimson cloud floating towards them, none of them noticed anything menacing.
When the first creature reached the coast, the chains on his body tensed. He kicked, reached, struggled to get free, to warn them about the danger, to save them from it, in vain, again. No one heard him. Then he shouted at the butterflies, he bit into his arm to show them his flesh and blood, to tell them he was ready to sacrifice himself in exchange for his people.
It paid out. They went right for him, ignoring the villagers and his family.
They grew bigger and bigger as they approached him. Human, bird and feline-like legs with sharp claws emerged from their bodies, their mouths rattled with a cracking snicker and they swept rotten air into his nostrils. They circled around him, seizing him up - he could see tiny hair on their distorted body. They touched his face with their filmy wings - he snapped his head away. They cut into his skin with their wicked legs - he flinched away. Scratching his trembling torso they tore down his shirt and drew a line on his stomach; to mark the spot where they would open him and eat his guts out.
He shouted, growled, tried to stand up, he tried to break those chains and smash, choke, tear those disgusting things with them. He wanted to paint his island with their blood instead of his own!
They stabbed their sharp claws into his flesh and he fell to his knees. They licked into his wounds, he felt their tongue tearing him apart from the inside, their saliva burning his veins like acid as they sucked away his energy and life. They snickered again.
He wasn't able to move, he was too weak. Too tired. It hurt so much! He didn't resist. He let them tear him open. He let them devour him. They liked his taste, all they wanted was him. He hoped that maybe, maybe, they would leave his village be.
Then he saw himself on the ground, torn into pieces. The butterflies were fed well. They licked their claws, their stained wings keeping them floating in their place. They didn't move anywhere. They were staring at his corpse and looked like they were waiting for something to happen.
Then he saw his body collect itself and turn into one of them.
Fuuga startled awake with a deep gasp. His pulse in the sky, his breathing quickened, his sweaty hands shaking. He glanced around, to see he was still in one piece, still on the ship he was supposed to be. The man he was escorting was standing in his spot. Neither of them were in danger, neither of them were hurt. There were no other people close. No butterflies floating around. He sighed in relief.
His Highness stood proud at the railing of the prow. Brown hands resting behind his back, his sharp eyes were examining the horizon, looking at the familiar contour of his homeland. The Overlord still wore his disguise, a solid white and dark green gown and head wrap which were caressed by the never ceasing wind of the Southern Sea.
- Welcome back, Fuuga. – his voice smooth and amused. – It's the fifth time you fell asleep while guarding me only this week. If you hadn't saved my life three days ago from those ill-mannered bounty hunters and two weeks ago from those rogue-ninja, I'd believe that you became quite... – he turned to the blond, and glanced at him up and down. - Slacked. Which would explain why you wash your mouth only every second day, and use the sea as your bathroom when nature calls during the night despite having a bathroom on this ship. However, the excellent state of your weapons and your remarkable ability to spot the slightest of danger along with your enthralling abilities still justify my decision of accepting you as my bodyguard.
Fuuga felt an awful warmth fill his face. He adjusted his collar. - Hatoba-sama, you're a keen observer. - not calling the Overlord by his title but his lesser known given name, as the Overlord suggested, was still strange for him; but since both of them were wary of eager ears, they sticked to it. As for eager eyes, their cover plans, improved after every attack, were working. The Overlord, however, had a hard time trying to act more common and less elevated than usual. They got a few questioning glances for it before, but everyone wrote them off as a wealthy scholar and his assistant travelling together, with all the physics and chemistry scrolls and research tools they brought with themselves as part of their most recent disguise.
- Indeed I am. – the Overlord shook his head and his voice turned annoyed. – Unlike my father. He always manages to get into some conflict when I am not there to aid him. If it wasn't for me, he would have lost his title. It's all thanks to our one and only God that I am more like my mother... You're probably wondering why I am telling these to you. After all, you could be a spy.
- I'm here to protect you, Hatoba-sama, not to spy on you.
- Excellent answer. And of course, I trust you with my life, Fuuga. I told you these because they're public secrets. - he turned back to his previous stance and stayed quiet for a few minutes. Then he smiled. – Ah! There she is! Korona, my beauty! Prepare yourself, Fuuga, we're landing soon.
The blond adjusted his head-wrap and pulled his mask over his mouth, stood up and straightened his clothes. He was in grey robes, in style and simplicity similar to the Overlord's own, but more practical with hidden weapon holsters and pouches. He liked those clothes; moving around felt free and swift in them, and they let his skin breathe in the hot climate of the Land of Wind. However, they were light and thin, providing little protection against attacks, and they rustled quietly as he walked.
His finger glided over his left forearm. His favourite blade was well concealed under his sleeves, dormant, but obedient.
His Highness stepped to him and adjusted his clothes on his shoulder and chest. – Good now. Keep your back straight.
When they reached the port, the Overlord stayed at Fuuga's side, giving space to the crew. They watched in silence as the porters boarded the ship. The Overlord whispered into his bodyguard's ear to "hold him back if he was about to give out orders", then chuckled. A minute later, he turned to Fuuga to remind him of their planned route, when the blond vanished from his sight. The Overlord glanced around and saw his guard behind his back, in the middle of dislocating one of the loaders' arms and sending him to the ground. The man yelled out in pain and a knife fell to the board between them that wasn't Fuuga's.
The leader of the porters went to flood the supposedly average travellers with his apologies when he gasped and stopped. – Y-Your Highness?
Fuuga nearly threw the man off the ship.
Instead of flying off by himself or shutting up, the man fell to his knees and bowed to the floor in front of the Overlord. – Your Highness, I'm so, so terribly sorry! I wasn't involved in his actions, please forgive me!
His Highness sighed as he watched every other man and woman in the vicinity performing the same bow and murmuring something along apologies and not recognizing him before. - Get up to your feet. All of you. – his deep voice ordered when he got fed up with their displays, then he stepped to his bodyguard. He looked up at him for orders, and the Overlord simply glanced at the man pinned down under him. Fuuga grabbed the attacker's hair and turned his head so he would face the Overlord. – I'd prefer executing you right here and right now for attempting to murder me... But wiping your filthy blood off this ship isn't worth anyone's time. You're coming with us. Restrain him.
The blond nodded and with a few half hand-seals, golden chains appeared from his body and curled around the man under him. He created a clone that pulled their new captive up, got him to walk and watched over him, while his original self accompanied the Overlord leaving the ship. Now that they were discovered, everyone was more than ready to make them way.
Fuuga noticed a small party of six Sand shinobi hurrying towards them, and his eyes immediately began scrutinizing them. First of all, they meant no harm, as his other senses whispered. Second, their looks, spacing and movements told him they were of different backgrounds and weren't used to each other. Three were wearing standard sand shinobi attires of Suna; three of them wore different uniforms, modified on their own unique way. Based on their equipment, a girl with a thick layer of makeup was a medic, a redhead preferred fighting with his twin swords, a tiny woman with the large axe on her back, two men were specialized in ninjutsu, three, if you count the one with the face-paint and three scrolls on his back. Fuuga wasn't sure about his specialty yet.
Before they could have said anything, the Overlord growled at them. - You're ten minutes late. In these ten minutes, there was an attempt to end my life. Do you prefer to give excuses to my corpse, or you have a decent reason for the deficiency in your promised services?
The shinobi kept their heads low as they bowed deeply. One regular Suna shinobi with the three scrolls on his back spoke up. – We cannot express the guilt and shame we feel for not serving you well enough, Your Highness. Such incident is not going to happen again while you are under our protection. Please, accept our humble apology.
It sounded quite forged for Fuuga's liking, but it was what the Overlord seemed to want to hear from them. He let out a deep breath. – Good. With reservations I forgive you. I'll take care of my own men, but I'll still mention this to your brother when I meet him, Kankurou. We may leave for my mansion now.
The man named Kankurou nodded and straightened himself. Four other shinobi did the same and created a formation around him, the Overlord and Fuuga. His Highness was in the middle, his bodyguard on his left. The sixth shinobi took the captive from the clone which dissipated not much later, and led him after the group. As they headed towards their destination, more and more civilian and off-duty shinobi were strolling the streets around them, some greeting and waving at the Overlord with big smiles.
- Your Highness, do you have other guards staying on your ship? - Kankurou spoke after explaining that the reason of their lateness was an investigation of a possible ambush on an alternative route.
- No, just him. Don't worry, he can protect me well. He's worth a dozen other.
Fuuga barely caught the compliment – his attention was focused on their surroundings growing more rowdy with every minute. The thickening crowd made him anxious. Too many people meant too much potential threat against his Overlord, and too many buildings meant too many hiding spots for those threats.
He couldn't explain how, but his senses were tuned on His Highness. Although Fuuga himself had never been in the focus of danger next to him - for all of the previous attacks were centred around the Overlord and he happened to be in the way as a guard -, his other senses had warned him every time. And they were doing it again, they were warning him while their little team was walking down the streets of Korona, bathing in the false belief of safety. But Fuuga knew better, Fuuga knew danger was waiting for them, the familiar whisper chewing on his insides snickered it into his mind. He was determined to find its source and eliminate it as soon as possible, before it could do any harm to the Overlord.
The Overlord. The son of the Wind Daimyou. His Highness. Hatoba-sama. However he named it, he was just a simple client. He was just another mission he had received. Another task to be done. The blond only had to escort him to his home in the Land of Wind safe and sound, then go and report in Sunagakure while secretly delivering a massive amount of chakra to the Kazekage. The Kazekage would then "recognize his abilities" and Fuuga would serve under his command, as he was told by the Mizukage a few weeks prior.
The Overlord was just another temporary mission he would fulfill, leave behind and then go on with his life. Or, maybe, he wasn't a simple mission anymore. Fuuga noticed that he had become more protective of him than he should have had. It was a protectiveness fitting and appropriate for a personal guard, but not appropriate for an unattached escort with a temporary employment.
Fuuga felt a budding loyalty which he, as a shinobi, wasn't allowed to feel towards a foreign client.
He found the Overlord a bit intimidating at first. It wasn't coming off as something repelling like with Kirishichi, but something that stemmed from inner strength and power. He expected His Highness to go on with his remarks, doubts and indifference after his mission began, but not long after the blond had saved his life for the first time, the Overlord's attitude and behaviour towards his new guard changed noticeably.
He started greeting Fuuga in the morning and wishing good night in the evening. He had personally taken care of his garments and equipment after their warm-up period, before they departed from Kirigakure and during the whole length of their journey. He had even asked him about his favourite meal and had it prepared for him. And now, the Overlord was praising him in front of other people, and not ordinary people, but other shinobi!
Fuuga felt recognized. Appreciated, even. Unlike the mist shinobi, His Highness wasn't avoiding him or treating him like the plague. After months of being tossed around, being treated like a machine, the Overlord's actions made Fuuga feel truly well. He felt that he was someone, that he was more than a shadow. He felt that his existence mattered to His Highness. And in exchange, the life and safety of the Wind Daimyou's son grew to matter to him greatly.
Something about Nishikaze still bugged him though: he didn't know why he found his face and real name familiar. But he swept this feeling away and concentrated on his task.
The Overlord was talking about the blond's exploits to Kankurou when everything suddenly slowed down. The bright sunlight dimed, the smell of muggy air disappeared, the noise of the crowd muted, and he heard only one heartbeat, only one breathing. And the unmistakeable clang of metal scraping on glass.
Behind him. On the left. Eight metres high.
The metal cut into the air, and Fuuga's limbs moved on their own as he turned and covered the Overlord with his body. The blade in his sleeve was drawn forth and raised in front of his face. He saw senbon flying towards him, he saw them collide with his own metal and rebound from it. He saw a grey robed person on the top of the building above them for just a millisecond, before some fluid hit his eyes. He blinked once, twice, then couldn't open it again. He staggered as he reached for his eyes, hissing, his face distorting from the pain flaring up in them.
The shinobi around him moved and he heard some rattling; orders were shouted, and the Overlord wasn't near him. He couldn't distinguish his footsteps in the noises, but he felt him getting away! Where was he going exactly? He had to know, but he couldn't see him! The slightest move of his eyeballs and lids, the gentlest touch of his fingers on them felt like hell; his eyes were hurting, pricking and boiling at the same time.
He raised his left arm in front of him, his hidden blade scowling threateningly at anyone daring to approach. He couldn't see, yes, but his other senses helped him, so he was nowhere near defenseless.
He had to find the Overlord.
In the middle of civilians' running and screaming, something rattling, metal clanging, pots breaking, he heard the Overlord panting as he ran to somewhere. Was he forced to do that? Was he being kidnapped but he was the only one who couldn't see it? Was he running for his life?
A few seconds later someone grabbed his arm and jerked him into running to where he heard the Overlord from. – I'm Naja from the escort team. I'll take you to safety. Are you hurt?
Her quick statements put him at relative ease. – My eyes. – he stifled a groan. – His Highness?
- With Taichou*, right ahead.
Fuuga nodded. His senses proved her, and if she was leading him after them, then it would be alright. The Overlord was safe for now. He felt relieved.
He heard all the rumbling and chaos getting away. His feet left the cobblestones, and they were running on dry but even ground. The pain in his eyes didn't cease, he kept them shut hard, his mask getting seeped with tears.
They kept on running for a few minutes, the kunoichi guiding him with her arm and her way too young voice. Not much later, he was dragged to somewhere colder. He heard a door being shut and locked behind him. He was then led deeper and was seated. His head started to hurt and he felt the world tilt. He heard Kankurou talking a bit far, but his ears were focused on others.
He opened his mouth to talk but Naja was quicker than him.
- Your Highness, are you alright?
- Not a scratch, Houki*. – Fuuga heard the Overlord panting. – What happened to Fuuga?
- His eyes were hurt. - the blond felt warm chakra on his face. – I need clean water. – the kunoichi said, the Overlord echoed her words to someone else, and Fuuga heard several footsteps hurrying away, then back to them. The warm feeling went away for a moment, then cool water smoothed over his eyelids. Then the coolness moved and the medic ninja spoke on her calm but raspy voice.
- I know it hurts badly, but I need you to open your eyes.
Fuuga tried to relax his scowl and slowly part his right eyelids. As he felt the water touching his eyeball he winced and hissed, but he did his best to not close them again. The pain decreased only a little, and he felt a hand on his shoulder.
- Your Highness, are you-?
- Don't worry about me now. Focus on her.
- Now, the other one. – the kunoichi said and the same happened to his left eye. Naja changed the water often. His vision was foggy and darkened, it still hurt, but at least it didn't feel like his eyeballs were thrown into a big bowl of needles. His breathing and heart rate returned to normal, and his muscles calmed down. He felt a strange earthly smell lingering around. He noticed the distant noise of Kankurou talking to an old woman. He heard the Overlord's breathing next to him and the medic shinobi's sigh of relief.
- Alright, the venom is out. I'll apply some painkillers and medicine now. – she spoke and Fuuga felt the sensation from the water changing on his face.
- You mean snake venom? – the Overlord asked. – How did it get into your eyes?
Fuuga slightly shook his head, implying he didn't know. It wasn't a good idea though: he suddenly felt dizzy and his stomach rolled over.
- I saw you deflect a senbon or a kunai, don't know which. – Naja spoke. - It must have been carrying some of the venom on it. And when you deflected it, the fluid flew off, right into your eyes. – her voice became playful. - Well, you could say you didn't see that coming.
He heard her chuckling and the Overlord taking a deep breath and let it out.
- And you won't for a few days either. – the kunoichi added. – Wait... You've got a seal on your eyes?
Fuuga didn't answer.
- I need to check your sclera and cornea deeper, but something is interfering with the chakra flow. Lift the seal.
- Do I have to?
- Yes.
Fuuga performed some hand-seals mutely, then touched the bridge between his eyes. The kunoichi continued her work on him, while advising him not to place the Fuuin jutsu back for at least a week. When the painkiller started to work, the blond threw up after muttering a quick warning. Naja gave him antidote for the venom she identified as one belonging to a snake species called Ringuhara*. – They're quite common around here, I always carry an antidote. Don't worry, they're not that deadly, you'll be completely fine after your eyes are healed. – the kunoichi explained, and there was silence between them for a minute as they listened to Kankurou still talking to someone. Then, the Overlord spoke.
- Fuuga, why do you keep a seal on your eyes?
The well-prepared lie rolled of his bodyguard's tongue. - I had a similar accident a few years ago and I received an eye transplant after that. Having foreign organ and chakra in my body is easily recognizable for sensor-type enemies, so I've been keeping it hidden.
The Overlord hummed in understanding. His hand disappeared from the blond's shoulder, before Naja took off his head-wrap and mask, gently held medical patches to his closed eyes, then rolled a bandage around his head to keep the patches in place.
- Why is she staring at me like that? – Nishikaze whispered.
- Who?
- That old woman who owns the house we're in.
- How is she staring at you? – Fuuga asked in suspicion.
- With admiration. – Naja chuckled. – I think she's one of your fans, Your Highness.
- Houki's right, she is. – Fuuga heard Kankurou stepping closer. – I believe Mimi-san would really appreciate it if you thanked her the hospitality in person.
- Hmm... What do you think, Fuuga?
- Well... It was really kind of her to let us in, especially in our situation. – he didn't hear any reply, which indicated the Overlord wasn't satisfied with his answer, so he added. – And of course, the support of civilians is important for a person of power like you, Your Highness.
The blond heard the Overlord humming and stroking his goatee. A few seconds later he stepped away from them. Before he could have said anything, the woman let out a small high-pitched screech, and then started jabbering about the Overlord and how honoured she was to finally meet him.
As if he felt the Overlord's uneasiness through the air, Fuuga stood up from his seat, only to be pushed back. – Easy, easy. – Naja's amused voice filled his ears. – Mimi-baachan is no threat to your, khm, Lord, hehe.
- What?
Naja snickered again, then Fuuga heard the sound of a door being opened.
The room went quiet. He felt tension rising with the warm wind coming in. A few seconds passed before a stranger's bass voice rang through the house on a foreign language. – What the hell, mama? – Fuuga translated his words in his mind. Then, they bickered so fast, he couldn't follow. Instead, his attention was drawn to the accent of their language, and realized he had heard and spoken that before. And the voice of that man was so familiar, maybe...
- Blondie?
His head turned towards the source. He could almost see his party glancing at each other at the foreign word he said.
- Who are you? – Fuuga heard Kankurou's voice and something rattling again as he stepped closer to Nishikaze.
- Kankurou, relax, he lives here. He's her son. – the Overlord stated. The stranger bickered a little more with the old woman then he left the house.
Not much later Kankurou went out to check on the other shinobi. It didn't take him ten minutes to return with good news. The threat was cleared, and they were able to continue their journey. Fuuga was led by the medic kunoichi, close to the Overlord's side, until they reached his estate.
- Look at this beauty, Fuuga! – Naja spread her arms like she wanted to hug the scenery in front of her. - Once it was a sore eye-sight, but now it's the most prosperous village in our land, thanks to our generous Overlord! – she put her hands on her hips and giggled. - Who would have known a beach resort at the southern cornea-r of our poor Land of Wind would become the most popular holiday "sight" in all of the five nations. Only in the matter of a few years! Spect-o-cular! I don't know about you, but it's a really eye-catching fact for me!
Fuuga took a deep, deep breath. – I want to remind you, that my eyes are still out of use.
- That's the point! – she moaned. - You are no fun!
- You're here for the examination, aren't you? Then do it quickly and get this bandage off my face. I have work to do.
- Oh, good god! – she stomped in anger. - Your boyfriend is guarded by his twenty personal guards. And, by the way "I want to remind you" of the fact that he ordered you to feckin' rest until I declare you completely healed! – then she growled. – Men!
- But-
- No! – she stomped again. – Now, l-eye down and close your mouthlids!
Fuuga let out a long sigh. Then his hands moved, to explore the sofa he was sitting on, found its armrest, and slowly lied down onto his back. The sofa belonged to the Overlord's mansion, which was said to be beautifully decorated and furnished. All he could perceive was the vast space, the random echo of others' footsteps and speech coming from the hallway, the salty and flowery scent that lingered, and the pleasantly cooled air which was a blessing compared to the heat outside.
The Overlord had given him a guestroom small enough to easily navigate in, but still bigger than his family's house on the Silent Island. His bed felt enormous - he got lost on it once-, his bed sheets were silky and cooling. He was dumbfounded when he touched the wallpaper and felt at least three different materials. The bathroom was within two arms' reach and had a bathtub almost the size of his bed. He had a large window with heavy curtains; it sounded to be facing the sea far from the village. The warmness occasionally caressing his skin told him he was on the mansion's south-western side. The sofa lied near the window, and he felt like it was covered with velvet, or something softer than the carpet on the floor.
It had been only one day since they arrived there, and he hadn't seen anything from his room yet. But it felt way more expensive than his family's modest house on the Silent Island. Or Ushimaru's workshop in Siplak. Or those modernized guest apartments in Kirigakure.
Or that room, where he was...
His stomach hurdled into his throat. He saw that lamp again, he felt its heat. He heard Kirishichi's whistle, it crawled its way into his head, snickering around, playing with his sanity. He felt those sadist fingers stroking his nerves, he felt the sharp point of a kunai scratching on his-
- Fuuga, hey!
He took a deep breath. The smell of cosmetic powder, mild perfume and saltwater caressed his nose. He heard the sea, the wind, and heard the candy roaming around in Naja's mouth. He felt the kunoichi's touch on his shoulder, he felt the couch under his body and felt its surface with his fingertips. And, of course, he felt the bandages on his eyes.
Oh. He wasn't there. Thank god!
- How are you feeling?
- Fine. – he swallowed. He heard Naja puffing once, then she fell in silence. The blond didn't hear her moving and didn't feel her hands hovering over his skin. – How did you say it? "My arms are crossed and I'm heavily pouting"?
- Nghhngrrargh!
- What's wrong this time?
- You know, when you feel something odd, like, something hurts or you feel uncomfortable during an examination, you are supposed to tell it to your medic. - her words became louder, faster and fiercer. - And if your medic senses something in your body, for example an acute stress response you just had right now, and she asks you if you're alright, then you stop feckin' lying and tell her what's up, do you get it?
Fuuga didn't answer.
- Your life and health is in my hands as well, not only yours! And if you dare dying or getting ill under my watch because of your stupidity, then, then, th-then, I don't know what I'll do, but you'll regret it!
The blond stayed quiet for a few seconds, then spoke. – That... doesn't make any sense.
- You are not making any sense! – she bit back a tad louder than him.
- Anyway – he sighed. – Just get it over with and take these things off.
She growled and Fuuga felt her chakra flowing around his eyes. – You still need two days or three before we can do that. But I'll make it four if you don't behave.
- Then I'll just have to take them off by myself.
- If you dare doing that I'll personally rip off your arms! – then she added, quieter. – Or at least convince someone to do that because I'm not that strong.
Fuuga snorted, then started chuckling.
The medic stopped for a moment. - What?
The blond's chuckle turned into a hearty laugh. – Stop that! You're gonna cry and the tears will–oh, great, there are tears now. Go on, make your injured eyes salty.
Naja's words didn't really help, they just added more fuel. And honestly, Fuuga didn't mind, even if he didn't exactly know the reason of it. He didn't remember the last time he laughed like that, but now, it felt good. Refreshing. Relieving.
It took him a minute or two to calm down. He was still smiling when the kunoichi took off the patches to clean his eyes and apply some medicine to them. Then, in all of a sudden, he chuckled again.
- What now? – she chuckled with him.
- You're terrible. – he shook his head.
- Why?!
- Nothing, it's just... - Fuuga grinned. – Eye have just understood your puns.
Aaaand many thanks for reading again! :)
~For those who hasn't read or watched Naruto~
* A Daimyou (literally: Great Name) is the political leader of a country, responsible for all decisions concerning their country, from alliances to the annual budget to the privileges allowed to the country's hidden village. The Daimyou are therefore one of the single most important individuals in the entire country, such that Daimyou were given special protection by the Allied Shinobi Forces during the Fourth Shinobi War. (Source: )
The title of the Overlord is something I came up with. It can be held by the Daimyou's close male relatives. An Overlord is also a feudal lord, he possesses lands and power, but his influence is defined by the Daimyou.
*Taichou: captain, squad leader.
*The Houki-clan is "a matrilineal shinobi clan (and family) of medical-nin and information gatherers from Sunagakure, who originated and moved down to the village from Konohagakure. The members of the family are also called "people who work behind the scenes" and, until the events of Gaara Hiden, were never placed in the centre of Sunagakure's government. The women of the family don't show their faces without make-up to any man, with the exception of the one they're going to marry". (Source: Naruto Wikia)
*Ringuhara snake: a fictional cobra species created by me which lives at the southern and western part of the Land of Wind. Its venom is similar in structure to the spitting cobra's venom. (By the way, cobras belong to the genus "Naja".)
You're probably wondering why Fuuga found the Overlord's name and face familiar. Well, because he has already debuted a while back, in the first half of Sequence 5! :D