Dark Lotus | By : PeachyKeen83 Category: Naruto > General Views: 1187 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0 |
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story. |
((Sorry I haven't updated in forever, but I got a new job since the last update, and
been dealing with a lot of family and life stuff. I'll try not to go so long between
updates from now on, but I can't promise anything.
And as to pairings, I haven't decided that yet, but it's definitely NOT Naruto and
Nekomata. Heh, sorry ^^;))
I cant believe youre drinking on a mission.
Genma looked at Sakura with a slightly annoyed look, Well, Im not the only
one on this mission, am I? I can afford to be a little lax.
Theres a difference between lax and drunk, Sakura said with an eye
roll.
Why dont you go yell at Nekomata? Genma frowned, Shes
over there playing mah jong with those old men, drinking and smoking like she was at
home.
Sakura turned and looked over at the cloaked woman, watching smoke billow out from
under her hood, one of the old men sitting at the table looking around before leaning over
to talk to her, I think shes doing recon.
Probably betting for a case of sake, Genma said, giving Sakura a smooth
smile, That women can out-drink me any day. Probably even out-do Hokage.
I find it hard to believe you know anything about her, Naruto scoffed,
You help her out or something once?
The look the man shot Naruto shocked them both, Watch your mouth kid.
Naruto glanced over to the table Nekomata was at, seeing the pipe she was smoking was
held halfway to her hood, and that her head was turned towards them. The hood turned back
to the tile game, and a moment later smoke began billowing upwards, Can she hear us
or what?
Probably. Oinin have better senses than most shinobi, Genma said, looking
at the door as Kakashi walked in, Well noble leader, you get the low down?
Kakashi sat down at the table, slouching down in the chair as was his fashion, I
did. Ill brief you all on it when we get situated.
The copy-nin looked over to the other table and raised a brow, Is she at least
winning?
Who knows, Genma sighed, suddenly staring at the cieling with a serious
look on his face, How long has it been since anyone actually saw Shihasu, Kakashi?
Ten years?
More like five, maybe seven, Kakashi replied, Ive seen Nekomata
around plenty of times, but Shihasus usually scarce. I havent seen her since
Asumas funeral.
She didnt go to it, Genma frowned, She was at the memorial all
day.
Why are you all talking like shes two different people? Sakura asked,
Theyre one in the same arent they?
No, actually, they arent, Kakashi replied, They have some
similarities, but theyre different.
Its not split personalities, or any psycho bullshit like it if thats
what youre thinking, Genma added, Its simply work and personal
separation. Shihasus not crazy, and never has been, despite what that idiot Ino says
she heard.
Why Genma, I didnt know you cared so much," Nekomata's voice simply
seemed to float around them; soft, sensual, and dangerous, If I didnt know
better Id think that torch was still burning.
I hate it when you do that, Genma growled, taking a swig of sake, You
know, I liked you better when you werent so sneaky.
Aww, poor little Shiranui. You mean you liked me better when you called me names
and I beat you up for it? the chuckle following the question was nothing short of
murderous, We can go back to that if you like; Ive come to enjoy seeing how
much pain people can take before they start begging. I bet youd last a pretty long
time.
Sakura actually paled, and looked between Kakashi and Naruto, the latter looked
somewhat confused.
Its a jutsu, Kakashi said, more to Naruto, and so he could ignore
Sakura's obvious distress, She uses it in the field so you cant detect her
with sound.
I think Ill pass on that offer, Genma said, shaking his head,
Are you almost finished over there? Were waiting on you so Kakashi can brief
us.
I already know why were here. Ill see you all back at the hotel.
Ive almost won.
Typical, he growled, getting up and looking at his other teammates,
Well, I say we go. Shell be here all night.
Sit back down, Kakashi said, taking out his book, We all leave
together as a team.
Genma began muttering, sitting back down and glaring at the back of Nekomatas
head, and Sakura leaned over to Kakashi, Am I rooming with her?
You two are the only women, he said, his eye crinkling as he smiled at her,
Dont worry Sakura, you wont be safer in your life.
Ha! I find that hard to believe, Naruto said, putting his arms behind his
head, I sure as Hell wouldnt stay in the same room as her.
Really? Then maybe youd like to stay with Sakura and keep an eye on her
tonight, Kakashi suggested, his voice unusually caustic.
Sure thing, Naruto nodded, smiling broadly as he failed to notice the older
jonins tone, Hear that Sakura? Ill be there in case anything
happens.
Sakura rolled her eyes, knowing that Naruto was more likely to fall asleep than do
anything useful, and then looked at Kakashi out of the corner of her eyes. If he trusted
Nekomata, or Shihasu, or whatever she was called, she supposed she could too. Well, as
long as someone else was around.
xxxx
I was under the impression you were a boy Chibi.
Whats that supposed to mean? Naruto snapped, watching the woman begin
emptying her pack onto the table in the hotel room, the cloak still covering her.
Sakura rolled her eyes again as she laid her own things out on the bed to inventory.
Youre sharing a room with two women. Thats all, was
Nekomatas answer.
Just to make sure you dont try to do anything funny to Sakura, Naruto
snapped.
I see. Though I dont understand why you think Id intentionally harm a
teammate. Thats rather pointless, she said, laying the various supplies
shed brought in neat, even rows, Besides, youre Konoha ninja; I have no
reason to even think of fighting you.
But earlier, with Genma- Sakura said, wishing shed stayed out of it
as soon as the words left her mouth.
Thats just Genma, Nekomata said, sitting down and crossing her legs.
Yeah, but- Naruto began, wanting to point out the womans status and
supposed reputation.
Shut up and go to sleep, both of you. Im not going to slit your damn
throats, but if you keep yammering on, I may consider it to be a serious option! she
barked, effectively silencing them.
They watched her dip half the senbon shed taken out in some kind of liquid before
she put them up, and then sharpen her swords, a pair of Lungchuan broadswords. It was
interesting to watch the way she handled each piece of equipment, as if each were a sacred
artifact. Sakura glanced over at Naruto after the first half hour, and saw the young man
was fast asleep, no doubt lulled into dreamland by the soft, rhythmic sound of whetstone
on steel.
Youre still awake.
Sakura jumped slightly, sitting up and seeing the opening in the hood was facing her,
I- I just cant sleep.
I have that problem too, Nekomata said, getting up and walking over to pull
the comforter back up Narutos body where hed kicked it off before going and
opening the window, Ill see you in the morning.
Sakura watched her leave, and raised a brow, going over to the window to look out.
There was no sign of Nekomata, and she closed the window, locking it before going back to
her bed. She fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow, virtually exhausted from the
travel.
xx
Nekomata opened her eyes as a smirk pulled up her lips, Been a long time since
you spied on me in the baths. Isnt that more Jiraiya-samas style?
Ive never spied on you, Kakashi said, sitting with his back to the
shogi screen separating the changing room from the hot spring, What did you find
out?
Probably the same thing you did. Im not sure exactly what were
dealing with here. Supposedly, those samurai were from the Kinta clan. Not really a clan
known for being weak, she said, putting her arms up on the edge of the spring,
Its either more powerful samurai, ninja, or some really lucky thugs. Of
course, the vegetation is a big help with ambushes, and it doesnt take a genius to
know rice and cloth are easier to sell than pure gold ingots.
Theres something you arent telling me, he said, What is
it?
None of your concern Scarecrow, she said coolly, It has nothing to do
with this mission, or this team.
Why do you separate yourself?
The question caught her off guard, though she quickly recovered, Same reason you
do.
There was silence for a long time, and she finally spoke, Though Im sure
its harder for you.
Whys that? he asked, watching her silhouette through the thin rice
paper as she got out of the spring and dried off.
You dont go to the extreme I do to separate myself, and I dont have
much of anything left to lose, she sighed, pulling on her clothes before she wrapped
the heavy cloak around her and opened the screen. He was already standing and waiting on
her, One day Ill realize how foolish it is, but for now, Im content
knowing that Shihasus just a shadow, and Nekomata is the stuff of idle gossip when
no ones husbands are cheating.
I find it hard to believe youre content with that, he said honestly,
Considering your-
And considering yours, Im shocked that youve deviated so much from
who you were back then.
You know why, he said lowly.
Then this was a futile conversation, wasnt it? she asked, her voice
cool, Were both the way we are because of a shared pain. I dont
understand why you still feel the need to ask me why. Then again, we cant be
geniuses all the time, can we?
I was just curious.
No, you want to know if Im still grieving, she said, catching him off
guard, And its none of your damn business. Its been nearly twenty years
Kakashi, and if I have any grief, its muted by everything else. But mine was never
really fueled by guilt, was it?
Youre still a bitch, he said bluntly, That much hasnt
changed.
She sighed, And youre still that arrogant, selfish, little boy deep down
Kakashi. You keep making the same mistakes, and one day, itll get you killed.
You dont know anything about it, he snapped, finally losing his cool.
I know everything about it, she snapped back, You dont really
want forgiveness anymore, because youve wallowed in your self-pity and guilt for so
long that you just cant allow yourself to feel anything else. I may not be whole,
but at least I healed. You keep licking at the same old wound, and one day youll see
it hurts more to let it close and scar over than leave it open.
If thats the case, why do you still go to the memorial? he scowled at
her, If youre so high and mighty, and healed, why do I pass you every
morning?
She was finally silent, and he knew he had her, feeling both like hed won, and
like he was the biggest fiend in the world. She had stopped walking, and he turned around,
seeing she was apparently just standing there, until he saw the blood dripping from under
her sleeves. Her nails were obviously digging into her palms, and he saw her shoulders
begin shaking.
Shihasu . . .
I told you not to call me that, she hissed, beginning to walk again, her
anger almost palpable as she passed him, Honestly, sometimes I wish she really was
dead.
xxxx
What are we watching for again?
For the tenth time Chibi, were looking for signs of a camp, Nekomata
growled, spotting a slight disturbance in the vegetation below and stopping, You two
stay up here, and dont move until I say so.
Genma nodded, watching her drop silently to the ground and crouch, a hand moving into
her hood for a brief moment before brushing away some leaves to reveal a small firepit.
Under the hood, a pair of eyes narrowed as Nekomata stood, a slight movement from the
bushes in front of her catching her eyes. Her eyes widened as a large boomerang came at
her, her entire body tensing.
x
Naruto went to move, and Genma grabbed his arm while he shook his head, whispering,
Wait.
x
The boomerang caught the middle of the cloak before slamming into the tree, imbedding
deeply into the trunk. From the dense vegetation, a large male figure walked out and
pulled the massive weapon out of the mutilated tree, picking up the cloak with a deep
frown as he ripped it in half, Where the Hell did you run off to?!
Nekomatas voice floated around the small clearing, Now, what would be the
fun in that? Youll see me when I want you to.
A woman? Figures a woman would use such low tactics, the man said, his
voice a deep growl, Why not come out here and let me look at you. Been a while since
I had a woman.
And itll be a while longer, she said, the smirk obvious in her tone,
Tell me, to what do I owe the pleasure of your sudden company?
Enough chatter. I know why youre here, and I know who you are. Some fool
ninjas from Konoha come to ruin the racket me and my boys have got goin on. Where
are the others? Hiding out to let you take care of big, bad me?
Theyre not here, she purred, Just you and me big boy.
I like those odds, he chuckled darkly, Why dont you come out
here and fight me like the man you seem to think you are?
Arrogance is really a flaw you know, she said, dropping the jutsu and
crossing her arms.
He turned and saw her leaning against a tree on the opposite side of the clearing,
Nekomata."
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