A Warning

Dairuko arrived at the home he and Natsuki shared and unlocked the door only to find that Natsuki was nowhere to be found.

'Wonder where she is.' Dairuko thought to himself.

Earlier

"Natsuki," a voice said causing Natsuki to turn to investigate but before she could see who it was, her mouth and nose were covered by a strong smelling cloth, causing her to pass out. "We'll talk when you wake up."

Present

"Wake up, sleepy head." the voice crooned to Natsuki who was regaining her senses "That's it..."

"Where am I? Who are you?" Natsuki asked but before the voice could reply her memory returned and the voice -she realised- belonged to none other than Ren.

"You're up. Good, we have much to disc-" Ren was cut off by Natsuki punching him in the face.

"You have five seconds to explain why I'm here or prepare to get your ass kicked!" Natsuki snarled as she summoned her sword from a seal hidden at the small of her back.

"You're quite beautiful when you're angry you know."

"Time's up." Natsuki took her battle stance and readied herself.

"If that's the way it has to be... so be it." Ren said as he coated his hands into chakra blades.

"Fire Style: Seeker Flame jutsu." Natsuki said and fired a slow moving fireball that Ren easily avoided however, the fireball then split up into six smaller ones that seemed locked onto Ren.

Ren managed dodge most of them by jumping between trees and once he had escaped the fireballs, Natsuki was on the attack hacking away at Ren who deflected and dodged her sword strikes. Eventually Ren caught Natsuki's wrists and headbutted her causing her to drop her sword.

"It's over, Natsuki." Ren said as he stepped closer to her but suddenly felt a rumbling underground and before he could react water began sprouting from the ground like water bullets, each sprout knocking Ren higher and higher into the air and, once Ren was way above the treeline, all the water had accumulated into a water dragon.

"Water Style: Explosive Bite of the Water Dragon!" Natsuki exclaimed then the water dragon slammed Ren into the ground.

Ren began to stir but the impact disorientated him enough that his legs were still wobbling, but that didn't stop him from attacking Natsuki with his chakra blades, which she deflected with ease causing him to fall on the ground. Natsuki stomped on his chest and held her sword over his throat.

"Why did you kidnap me?" she asked then heard the sound of clapping from behind her.

"Wow... now that was impressive, truly. I'd hate to be that clone right now." Ren walked from behind Natsuki.

"You didn't answer my question."

"Would you believe me if I said I just wanted to talk?"

"No."

"Damn. I thought my relation to Dairuko would cause you to have a soft spot for me."

"I have no soft spots for your family, Ren."

"It's amazing you didn't confront Dairuko about your knowledge of me earlier... but that's not why I'm here."

"Then why are you here, Ren?"

"To warn you that Orochimaru is looking for you to be his next vessel."

"And why would I believe someone who has tried to kill me once before?"

"Because I only did that to stop Orochimaru from having you... so we have the same goal in mind, kill Orochimaru. But do whatever you want with this warning I've done my part... also, Natsuki, even if you don't believe it Dairuko would suffer without you."

"Yeah right, he has you and Tsunade now. He's made it clear that I don't mean anything to him."

"Women... always think they know us better than we know ourselves."

"Men... always making things more complicated than they have to be... how do you know all this anyway, Ren?"

"I make it my job to know things like that but you should ask yourself, if you're so afraid to lose Dairuko, why aren't you fighting for your brother? ... Goodbye, Natsuki." Ren said then used his body flicker technique to disappear.

"Bastard." Natsuki muttered then realised that she had no idea where she was.

Natsuki arrived home just before sunrise to find Jiraiya waiting at her door.

"Sensei..." Natsuki said confused by his sudden visit.

"Natsuki, come with me." Jiraiya said.

"I'm tired, sensei, please jus-"

"Walk with me, Natsuki."

"Fine." Natsuki sighed and began walking with Jiraiya.

"Natsuki, Itachi told me what happened between you and Dairuko."

"You don't know the half of it, Jiraiya-sensei."

"Then tell me about it over breakfast then."

"You always knew how to get me to open up." Natsuki -at the prospect of food- smiled for the first time since her mission to the Hidden Mist. "Wait, aren't all the shops closed? I mean, it is pretty early"

"I know a place." Jiraiya smiled as he lead Natsuki to the place where Team 0 first came together.

"Nice spot, sensei."

"Yeah this rock has one of my most treasured memories... the day you three became my students."

"Feeling nostalgic, sensei?"

"A bit."

"I hear you."

"Here's the food I promised you." Jiraiya said and presented Natsuki her food.

"You're the best, sensei... when you're not whoring around."

"I will ignore that last part and retain bragging rights over everyone else."

"You do that." Natsuki laughed then began eating.

"Now then, why don't you tell me about what got you and Dairuko so angry at one another."

"Alright," Natsuki sighed after a short pause. "Dairuko and I have always been close... really close, nothing could come between us and now Tsunade shows up and Dairuko's all 'mommy'."

"You feel like she's taking him from you."

"Yeah but it's also like I'm watching him walk away from me while I'm that stupid fangirl who just stands there crying hoping that he'll stay or remember his promise to me that we'd be brother and sister no matter what happened."

"Sounds like you should be telling Dairuko this."

"NO!" Natsuki exclaimed. "I hate how much I need him more than he needs me, how one-sided it is... Dairuko doesn't need me or want me, so fine he can take refuge with his new family... thanks for the breakfast, sensei but I have plans that need my attention."

"Alright, Natsuki remember though, sparring session tomorrow."

"Yeah yeah, I'll be there."

Ayame woke up in Dairuko's motel room. As she looked around for the latter, she realised he wasn't there but there was an empty sake bottle which made her worry that he got into trouble or was passed out in a ditch somewhere. So Ayame got out of bed, flinging the blankets off her and, as she got to the door it opened and in front of her stood Dairuko with two cups of coffee and a bag of food.

"Morning, Ayame, sorry, I went to get breakfast for us... I know it can't be easy dealing with me or my habits so... here." Dairuko said slightly embarrassed then gave Ayame the bag and put the coffee on the dressing table.

"Morning, Dairuko... are you okay?" Ayame asked.

"I'm fine and you?"

"I'm alright."

"You dropped this last night." Dairuko gave Ayame her journal "There was a dead flower in it so I was wondering if it had any significance to you."

"Yeah, it does actually..." she said with a small smile on her face, her eyes far away, "I found it on my birthday some years ago. Someone I used to know gave it to me. Whenever I felt sad or alone I looked at the flower in the hopes that person would try again."

"What changed?"

"That person isn't the same person I remembered."

"I'm sure he has his reasons."

"Breaking someone's heart is never justifiable, Dairuko."

"You don't know anything, Ayame."

"Then explain to me, Dairuko, because I waited for you for years, Dairuko, years only to see you again and not have you recognise me!"

"You wanna know what happened so badly I'll tell you what happened, I fucked up, Ayame, I fell in love and it got her killed only then did I realise that I can't have love and be a ninja!"

"You don't know that for a fact, Dairuko."

"I do... a wise person once said 'I cannot protect you unless I grip the sword but while gripping the sword I cannot embrace you.' that is the most accurate thing said in terms of my life."

"So you chose to be a ninja."

"I chose to protect those I love."

"That doesn't make sense."

"It doesn't have to make sense to you, Ayame just know..." Dairuko trailed off then gave Ayame a light kiss on the lips which caught her off guard "enjoy your breakfast." Dairuko then left Ayame in the room and left to train.

A/N: Credit to the writer of Bleach Tite Kubo who was the wise person Dairuko quoted