Chapter 26
AN: Kishimoto owns all except my characters-Kiminari, and Kimiko, and later characters. Also I'm probably not going to follow any of the story line except a few small things. I may take the characters outside their natural personalities, but that's because it's my story, and it'll add to it. Another thing: since I'm not following the story line of the series- All main (good) characters will start out the same age as they should be, but even though the Akatsuki will be around, the war will not happen until later; if it does at all. Again this is because I'm making up my own story line; it gets kinda boring when nothing has changed and, you readers would be able to guess what was going to happen all the time. So, enjoy, and please comment, review, rate, whatever you wanna do. :D
P.S. I don't like to go into detail to tell you things most of you already know, and if you don't already know them, then it's best I don't tell you.
PPS Kazuma and Haru will be based on friends from school. Others will be mentioned later. :D
PPPS I'll try to keep Tobi's dialogue structure as close to the original as possible. And I'm not going to put any suffixes after Deidara's either; it's really not that noticeable in the anime, and it takes a lot of time.
When Kakuzu returned, he had reapplied his genjutsu, but now appeared to be realated to us. He had the same dull brown eyes, and slightly darker hair; by the looks of it, he was trying to play the uncle. I rolled my eyes as he recounted the 'exact story' of what had happened, and how his 'brother' had fought them off to protect us. If anything, the Akatsuki didn't hire bad liars.
When he had been paid his money, for the bounty on them, we set out. No one really talked at all during the trip, and I was a little angry that he had decided to tag along; I had wanted to learn more about my father. After another two hours or so, we arrived at this huge cave-like thing. We walked pretty far into it, before stopping at an area, of stone on the left side of the cave, that I could sense a lot of jutsu surrounding. We were instructed by Kakuzu to look away as he opened the entrance –because my father, 'Hayato', was still only a subordinate, and I was even lower ranked than that.
We entered after he told us we could, and followed him through several tunnels until we got to another section of wall, to which he treated the same as the previous. After that, we appeared to be in a building type area with several halls leading from one main hall. (AN: Yeah, I know it's far from original, but I like the idea. :D) I made sure to pay close attention to the order in which we took turns: Right at the fourth hall, then right again on the second, left at the end of that. Then we turned left again down a hall with five doors; three on the left and two on the right. We took the last one on the right which had four more doors inside; one on each wall. He had us wait outside while he went talked to 'leader-sama', then when he returned, he sent us in the room directly ahead –the office he'd just returned from.
As soon as we entered, my father turned and locked the door. A man with bright orange hair and piercings, whom I knew to be Pein from the book my father had shown me, stood and bowed deeply to my father, mimicked by the blue haired woman behind him –Konan. My father released his genjutsu, and I followed suit. Once I had been properly introduced, and he had told us how we should act while I was around, he lead me out of the room and into the office to the right of the one we were in.
When we entered, a dark haired, masked man –Tobi or Obito- stood and bowed as Pein and Konan had. My father began to explain our plan. While I was with the Akatsuki, I would be myself, but I would go by a different name; I chose Maiko. (AN: Dancing child. LOL ) I would also be the adopted daughter of Tobi -since no one knew Kazuma was his son, this would work out perfectly XP. Once my father thought we understood, he left, telling me he would see me tonight, but to stay safe until then –well to stay out of trouble until then.
I followed 'Tobi' back out into the hall and to the left. We entered a large room with a few people in it.
"Hey! Deidara Senpai, you're here!"
Glare.
"Leader-sama wants me to introduce somebody new." He pulled me into what I assumed was supposed to look like a crushing hug, but was really only uncomfortable. "This is Maiko everybody. She's my new daughter."
8P Sweat drop XP
"Tobi, I've told you to stop lying, it gets very annoying." Said Deidara.
"Deidara senpai doesn't believe me." He said looking at me.
"Well, it's true." I said even though my face was still squished in his hug.
Everyone looked up and 'Tobi' nodded. "Follow me." He said to me. "There's someone very important for you to meet."
He drug me across the room and grabbed ahold of a young man's arm pulling him along with us. We exited the room and he let go, turning to face us. "Kazuma," He said in his normal voice. "this is Kimiko. You will call her Maiko, while she is here, though." We both glanced at each other in an awkward greeting. "Why don't you show her where her room is going to be, and where yours is in case she needs anything." Kazuma nodded, and Obito left us alone in the hall, returning to the adjoining room- and his annoying alternate persona.
"So, how long have you known about your father's arrangements?" He asked knowingly.
"Only two days. You?" I asked.
"Since I was six."
"Wow, that sucks." He nodded.
"Do you mind if a friend comes along, so it won't be so awkward?" He asked slightly nervous.
"Please." I responded relieved to know that he was as tense as I was.
He stepped partway into the room again and motioned to someone. They walked back out together, and I recognized the friend as Haru. He introduced us and then they lead me down the hall to my room. (AN: Instead of continuously describing things, I've simply created a map, which I will try to follow. :D ) It was of decent size, yet larger than mine at home. It had sandy gold walls with navy blue accents; I absolutely loved it. Then they led me to each of their rooms; Kazumas was the closest, followed by Haru's.
After showing me these, Kazuma leaned down and whispered to me, "Your father's room is across the hall between our rooms." He indicated himself and Haru. I nodded, understanding that Haru shouldn't know this. I glanced across the hall to check for a door, but as I expected, there was none; I would have to ask my father how to get in and out.
"Soooo." Kazuma said scratching the back of his head. "You guys wanna go train some?"
"Sure." Haru replied cheerfully.
I nodded my consent. I was glad that he was just as uncomfortable about this as I was.
While we continued down the hall, I noticed that Haru was continuously glancing at me. It was getting kinda weird.
"Can I help you with something?" I asked lightly.
His face pinkened a little from being caught in the act, but he simply replied, "I just don't see how or why Tobi of all people would adopt you."
I laughed. "I honestly don't either; I'm still trying to adjust to it. I'm really happy he did, though." I smiled at him.
"Why?" Questioned Kazuma, playing along, and turning slightly while he walked.
"Well, I guess because now I have a real family. He does get kinda annoying, but he's still sweet." I said using his behavior from earlier and playing on it.
Kazuma smirked a little at this. "Oh, you have no idea how annoying."
I giggled. I wonder if he'll get into trouble over that.
"So, have you trained much?" Asked Haru.
"Oh, yes. I used have a mentor that I lived with, who trained me, but he died two years ago." I said quickly fabricating a story for Haru's sake. "I continued to live in his home alone until about a month ago, when Tobi found me."
"I'm not sure whether I should say it was kind of him or cruel of him to adopt you." Joked Haru.
"Yeah, tell me about it." Agreed Kazuma. I could sense his true meaning behind it though; like most teenage boys he thought he was smart enough not to be told what to do. Cute.
"So, how old are you guys?" I asked them.
"We're both sixteen." Replied Haru.
"Well, I'm fifteen, but I'll be sixteen in about three months." I grinned.
We trained for a while, me holding way back, and them gaping at how strong I was. Appearances can be deceiving, and are generally very deceiving in women. After an hour or so of that, we returned to the common area and went through it to the kitchen.
"No one really has the time to cook, so you just kinda make your own stuff." Haru told me.
"Well, don't expect it too often, but if you want I can make the three of us something." I offered.
They both agreed enthusiastically, and I got to work making my famous Inarizushi with a side of chicken and dango for dessert; my absolute favorite meal; plain though it may be. When I had finished and they had begun to eat, I asked what they thought.
"I don't even know what to say Maiko." Said Haru. "I don't think I've ever eaten anything this good in my entire life!"
"Agreed." Was Kazuma's reply as he ate.
I laughed at them and thanked them for their complements. I think I might like it here after all.