She let out a yip of surprise, moving partially behind her father.
Her brother stood in front of the carriage door and let out a low menacing growl. His fur rippled as he flexed his muscles and shifted like he was going to pounce.
Kakashi slowly sweeps his vision across her brother, and she wonders if they see what she sees. The large build, the snout shape, the dusty russet fur, with hints of the same golden fur that made up hers.
It was pretty! But, too bad he hated her.
"Akemi, who is this?" Her father whispered to her.
Akemi gulped.
She had told her father that all her siblings and mother had died, but hadn't mentioned her brother.
Why hadn't she?
Was it because she was so happy to finally have achieved her dream? Did she not want to ruin the happy times by bringing up her traitorous brother? Was she worried that her newfound father would rather go after him instead of being with her?
With each thought, her tail dropped lower, and her ears drooped.
"Oh thats rich. You didn't tell him." It wasn't a question. But what struck Akemi was the fact that he spoke and the humans could understand him.
Everyone shot her questioning looks after getting over their brief moment of suprise, Kakashi raising his eyebrow and Hina raised a dainty, manicured hand to rest against her chest.
Or was she worried that the story of her brother would upset him?
"She is my sister. We are from the same litter. Although it seems she never bothered to tell you that."
It was silent before her father turned to look at her.
"Is this true?" He asked softly, and Akemi couldn't bear listening to it.
"How could I tell you? He snarled at me in rage. I thought no more of him after that."
"Lies." Her brother snarled, his own dishonesty leaking off of him in waves and hitting her and the others in the snout like sour fruit.
She wanted to snarl and growl, because he had hurt her. She had been overjoyed to find her brother, only for him to turn on her in a petty jealous rage. She had been lonely, and wandering, and he had attacked her.
She didn't though, because she was a nin-dog now.
"Aka, is this the one?" Hina asked with sudden urgency.
Her brother nodded to Hina.
"Get Her!" Hina shouted along with Aka and pointer at Akemi, anger twisting her features.
Immediately, two of the nobel guards started towards her, hands gripping their spears as they zeroed in on Akemi.
She backed up. This wasn't in mission parameters.
Her father jumped in front of her growling, and Kakashi casually disarmed both guards.
Hina looked confused, before her pretty face twisted in anger.
"This, this dog attacked Aka!"
She did not!
"I did no such thing!" She barked, but Hina did not understand what she said.
Her father understood her, and so did Kakashi.
"What proof is there? The word of Aka?" Kakashi said.
"Like we have her word!?" Hina scoffed. "And yes!"
"And because he's so reputable, ordering the attack of the very nin sent to protect you from bandits." Kakashi said neutrally. It was only because of her months of work with him that she could detect the sarcasm and disdain.
Her brother snarled, and she growled back in warning, a low rumble in her chest.
Her brothers ears flattened and Hina gasped.
"See!" Hina cried, "Proof that she is violent!"
Akemi saw red. She had no idea what her brothers problem was, but she was sick of it. He was jeopardizing everything with his accusations.
She had been stabbed, starved, insulted, and beat down in order to achieve her dreams. She had traveled across an entire country, fought bandits to protect innocents, and found her father. She had trained for countless hours in order to become a full-fledged nin dog, and her jealous brother wanted to ruin it all, because he had a grudge.
She opened her mouth and snarled.
"I'm a Nin-Dog of Konoha! I have trained and dedicated myself to the mission and my village, long before I ever stepped foot in Konoha. I don't know why you are lying to me, everyone else, and yourself, but we can can smell the dishonesty on you."
"..."
It was quiet for some reason, but Akemi was too enraged to do anything other than spit out another sentence.
"Verbally attacking the very ninja sent to protect you, claiming I physically attacked you because of some unfathomable petty reason is out of line. I never attacked you, and because I'm not you, I'll refrain from doing so right now."
It was still quiet. Her brother's jaw had dropped open, and then he closed it, only to open it again and lick his teeth.
Kakashi's single eye was wide, before it closed and turned upwards into a smile.
And her father looked over his shoulder, before his tongue lolled out, and he turned full to face her, lashing his tongue across her snout in a kiss.
"I-is that really what happened?" Hina stammered. Her perfectly plucked eyebrows now twisted in confusion as she stared at Akemi.
Akemi tilted her head in confusion.
What.
Who was Hina talking too?
"Akemi, you spoke." Her father barked gently. Spoke? She then realized that Hina was still staring at her, waiting for a response.
It was funny. Just when Akemi broke the language barrier, she was speechless.
"Well, I think my nin-dog has spoken for herself. We'll be on our way now that you have arrived at your destination." Kakashi said, previous irritation washed away by warm approval.
Hina blinked, seemingly confused, before retreating into her carriage.
Aka had yet to say anything. He was confused, angry, and another emotion Akemi couldn't put her paw on.
They made eye contact, and Akemi refused to lower her snout.
His eyes were the same golden brown as hers, but lit up with different emotions. His russet fur swayed slightly in the wind. His claws dug into the dirt.
One second passed, and then another, before Aka growled, dipped his head with flat ears, and jumped into the carriage after Hina.
He was clearly still pissed off over whatever Akemi did or didn't do, but...it seemed like all the fight was drained out of him after she spoke.
She had expected yelling from him, demands she be taken into custody, Hiding behind Hina, or even a physical attack, but all he did was bow his head and leave.
She was confused.
But then again, maybe it was a good things didn't play out like she expected. Maybe there was hope for her brother yet.
She wouldn't get too ahead of herself, but Aka had just subverted her expectations. Again. That was something she couldn't overlook.
The noble guards cracked the whip, and the horses trotted onwards and into the city. They watched them go before turning and jumping away.
As they jumped through the treetops, Akemi basking in the praise of her pack and her father, she couldn't help but breath deeply, taking in the cooling air as they headed back to Konoha.
The setting sun cast her fur into a fiery bronze-pink, trailing behind her in the wind.
These past few years had changed her. She went from an excitable young dog, rolling through grassy hills and chasing butterflies, to a full fledged nin-hound. She was now the dream she had as a puppy.
It was funny to think.
She had what she had once wanted so desperately.
She looked ahead, feeling the warmth of the sunset and her mother, reassured and unworried, knowing that it would rise again, and maybe all wasn't perfect, but as they chased the sun towards Konoha's skyline, she couldn't help but feel like everything was going to be alright.
And there you have it! Another story completed.
To the readers who have made it all the way to the end of this wild ride, I have to say from the bottom of my heart, thank you. I know this story is riddled with spelling and grammar errors, and you make the trek all the way here. Gold star. You helped me choose the name for Akemi, and encouraged me to keep writing.
And it's sad that this story is over, but i had a blast writing it, and I hope you had a blast reading it. And besides, I have other stories that are completed and also in the works, so if you'e feeling down, you can always go and check them out.
Thank you, and let me know what you think!