*fanboy squeals* Sasuke! O_O
Tenzu dropped Fumio on the ground in front of the Akatsuki hide out, just as the portal they had just walked through closed. Soon after, Kirabi fell on the floor right next to him, though he was unconscious. Fumio groaned again as he put his elbow back, using it to prop himself up so that he could move into a sitting position.
?Weren?t you supposed to be one of the perceptive ones?? Tenzu asked tauntingly.
Fumio ignored the comment, rising up to look Tenzu in the eye, but suddenly feeling his head slightly drop, ?What were you doing over there??
?Getting the boy is my job isn?t it? And I would have him by now if I didn?t have to bring you back here; you put me behind schedule. I mean, you couldn?t tell an explosion that big was coming? You?re lucky that your target didn?t die.? Tenzu asked, again wishing to taunt Fumio instead of wishing for an actual answer.
Fumio let out an annoyed grunt, ?There wasn?t exactly a giant sign to warn me,? he said, ?Though I didn?t think you?d be the type to go around saving people.? He said, curiously raising his eyes up from the ground to look towards Tenzu.
?Call it a friendly gesture,? Tenzu replied simply, smiling.
?Tenzu? Friendly? There?s two words I never thought I?d hear together,? he said, though without offering a laugh.
Tenzu nodded, ?Same here,? he said, then decided to get back on track by indicated Kirabi, poking the unconscious body with the tip of his foot, ?Though you did pretty well getting him.?
?Gee, thanks,? Fumio replied, picking Kirabi up from the ground and slinging him over his shoulders.
Tenzu smiled at him again, but decided to leave the conversation there as both of them walked into the dark cavern, where Kirabi?s suffering would begin, and perhaps end as well.
~
?Ready yet!?? Riku called from out of Deirous?s room in the infirmary, leaning against the wall and his patience quickly fading.
?Hold on!? Deirous commanded from inside of the room, his voice followed by the sound of clothes being hastily stuffed in a bag.
?Now!?? Riku called again, this time more or less just to annoy Deirous.
Riku had asked Deirous to come with him, and before he had even had a chance to explain why he needed him to come, Deirous quickly complied, saying that they would leave tomorrow, and stating that, ?Pulling pranks has gotten a bit boring.? The Raikage, however, was quick to deny the suggestion, saying that Deirous would be too much for Riku to deal with alone, though after a bit of convincing, he eventually gave in, and in an attempt to show that he hadn?t been defeated by a child, he was quick to add, ?You could use some humor here and there.?
Deirous opened the door, a backpack hanging from one shoulder, a few minutes after Riku?s last question, ?Would it kill ya to wait??
?Probably,? Riku said casually, shrugging, ?What with Akatsuki and all.?
Deirous grinned, only slightly, trying to hide anything that might encourage Riku to continue with his overly cheerful mood.
~
The two walked out of the village, the Raikage, along with yesterday?s potential escorts for Riku, accompanying them.
?I?m still not too sure about this, but like I said, you could use a bit of humor,? the Raikage said, a small chuckle escaping him. Although, his small chuckle sounded like a full blown laugh to Riku.
?Ah, so I guess I?m supposed to be his clown then?? Deirous said, raising an eyebrow and looking curiously at the Raikage.
?Why do you think you?re here?? Riku teased.
?Shush, exploded people don?t talk,? Deirous replied, pushing Riku to the side.
Riku let out a puff of air, and both of them stopped to turn and face the Raikage, ?Well, this is as far as I go. You kids are on your own from now. Riku, find Shinru, bring him back. Deirous, try not to blow Riku to bits while you?re helping him.?
Deirous shrugged, ?You?re asking a bit much there.?
?I suppose I am,? The Raikage answered, a rare amount of happiness in his usually grim
tone, ?Well, I?ll be seeing you two. Hopefully, at least,? he added with a wink.
The Raikage, along with the other four who were silently following him, walked away, back deeper into the city and smoothly walking into the more populated area, attempting to blend with the other citizens, nearly a successful attempt, had it not been for the Raikage?s noticeable structure.
~
The two walked casually, Riku walking with his right left elbow resting comfortably on his sword?s hilt, that was sticking out of its sheathe, and his other arm casually swinging at his side. Deirous, walked with one hand in his pocket, while he tossed into the air a ball of clay, catching it as it came back down to him. They were now walking on a path, surrounded by plains on their left and right. The trail swooped down, making a hill that seemed to signify their exiting of the naturally elevated Lightning Country into the greener Fire Country. Only a while ago, while they were walking, the terrain consisted of boulders and rubble, and mountains on either side of them. Though gradually it began to change, vast plains surrounded them, and a forest could be seen further down the long trail, a few yards at most from where the large hill stopped and the area was suddenly perfectly flat. All that they could hear suddenly was a calm, steady wind.
Attempting to break the silence, Riku decided it was a good time to ask Deirous what he had been curious about before, ?Why are you... ?notorious??
Deirous caught the clay ball one more time, and then looked towards Riku, but still continuing to walk at the same pace, ?Dunno if you heard of him, but my dad?s Deidara. As in Akatsuki, exploding things for no reason Deidara. Dunno what was wrong with my mom to get together with him. But it happened.?
?Akatsuki!?? Riku blurted out incredulously. His left arm suddenly rushed off of his blade?s hilt as his right hand came around to grab the blade?s handle and unsheathe Soul Eater, as Riku himself came to an abrupt halt.
Deirous laughed, ?Chill out dude. If I was anything like my father, I would?ve left you there to die. Though a bit of his mischievous side rubbed off on me, I must admit.?
Riku sheathed his sword, ?Sorry,? he said, a mixed amount of embarrassment and shame in his voice, ?Just... instincts.?
Deirous shrugged, ?No problem.?
Riku and Deirous were beginning to enter the woods at this point, and as soon as they did, they could hear a great amount of ruffling in the trees, followed by kunai flying out of them.
Deirous, acting quickly, threw his ball of clay towards the cluster of kunai, and quickly pushed both of his hands out in opposite directions, as the clay, suspended in the air, stretched out, catching all of the kunai. Meanwhile, Riku?s hand went to Soul Eater yet again, taking it out and entering a defensive stance in one smooth motion. More kunai flew out of the trees, only to be caught yet again by a net of clay. Now stretched even more to catch them. Riku looked closely into the trees, and could clearly see a figure with one arm on the tree, right where the kunai had flown in from. He instinctively threw Soul Eater towards the figure. He saw the blade plunge deeply into the adversary, as he, or she, Riku supposed, jerked back and fell down from the tree branch. The kunai stopped coming as Riku?s blade disappeared, and then reappeared back into his grip.
?Nice throw,? Deirous complimented.
Riku smiled at him and nodded in thanks, but suddenly felt a tightness in his neck, and allowed his eyes to drift downwards to see a blade pressed against it.
?I agree,? a voice said from behind him. The voice couldn?t belong to anyone out of their twenties, perhaps even just escaping their teenage years.
Riku looked back to where he saw the dead body. It was slowly fading. Not disappearing in white smoke or an element of some sort like a clone would, but just... fading. Genjutsu was the only possible explanation Riku could offer to himself.
Deirous?s clay, which was now on the ground, quickly rose back up and rushed towards the man. From where Deirous was, he could see him pretty clearly. He wore a grey shirt, seeming to be a short sleeved kimono, with a small logo on the back of it, near the back of
the collar. That logo... he recognized it from somewhere.
The man disappeared as the clay rushed towards him in a burst of speed, and reappeared in front of the two boys.
?A clay user. It?s been a while since I faced one of those,? the man said, his voice seeming to hold no feeling in it, no emotion.
Riku seemed to recognize the man, as did Deirous. His black swept back hair with a slight bluish tint partially covered his deadly, infamous blood red eyes that were put on an uncaring face, a face that seemed to have lost all empathy long ago, empathy that had been washed away in a wave of the man?s own troubles. His shirt?s collar was partially unzipped, just a bit below his neck. The man seemed to be twenty, at most.
?Sasuke Uchiha,? Deirous and Riku said simultaneously, both knowing that a long battle was ahead of them.
Back on the Road
Tenzu dropped Fumio on the ground in front of the Akatsuki hide out, just as the portal they had just walked through closed. Soon after, Kirabi fell on the floor right next to him, though he was unconscious. Fumio groaned again as he put his elbow back, using it to prop himself up so that he could move into a sitting position.
?Weren?t you supposed to be one of the perceptive ones?? Tenzu asked tauntingly.
Fumio ignored the comment, rising up to look Tenzu in the eye, but suddenly feeling his head slightly drop, ?What were you doing over there??
?Getting the boy is my job isn?t it? And I would have him by now if I didn?t have to bring you back here; you put me behind schedule. I mean, you couldn?t tell an explosion that big was coming? You?re lucky that your target didn?t die.? Tenzu asked, again wishing to taunt Fumio instead of wishing for an actual answer.
Fumio let out an annoyed grunt, ?There wasn?t exactly a giant sign to warn me,? he said, ?Though I didn?t think you?d be the type to go around saving people.? He said, curiously raising his eyes up from the ground to look towards Tenzu.
?Call it a friendly gesture,? Tenzu replied simply, smiling.
?Tenzu? Friendly? There?s two words I never thought I?d hear together,? he said, though without offering a laugh.
Tenzu nodded, ?Same here,? he said, then decided to get back on track by indicated Kirabi, poking the unconscious body with the tip of his foot, ?Though you did pretty well getting him.?
?Gee, thanks,? Fumio replied, picking Kirabi up from the ground and slinging him over his shoulders.
Tenzu smiled at him again, but decided to leave the conversation there as both of them walked into the dark cavern, where Kirabi?s suffering would begin, and perhaps end as well.
~
?Ready yet!?? Riku called from out of Deirous?s room in the infirmary, leaning against the wall and his patience quickly fading.
?Hold on!? Deirous commanded from inside of the room, his voice followed by the sound of clothes being hastily stuffed in a bag.
?Now!?? Riku called again, this time more or less just to annoy Deirous.
Riku had asked Deirous to come with him, and before he had even had a chance to explain why he needed him to come, Deirous quickly complied, saying that they would leave tomorrow, and stating that, ?Pulling pranks has gotten a bit boring.? The Raikage, however, was quick to deny the suggestion, saying that Deirous would be too much for Riku to deal with alone, though after a bit of convincing, he eventually gave in, and in an attempt to show that he hadn?t been defeated by a child, he was quick to add, ?You could use some humor here and there.?
Deirous opened the door, a backpack hanging from one shoulder, a few minutes after Riku?s last question, ?Would it kill ya to wait??
?Probably,? Riku said casually, shrugging, ?What with Akatsuki and all.?
Deirous grinned, only slightly, trying to hide anything that might encourage Riku to continue with his overly cheerful mood.
~
The two walked out of the village, the Raikage, along with yesterday?s potential escorts for Riku, accompanying them.
?I?m still not too sure about this, but like I said, you could use a bit of humor,? the Raikage said, a small chuckle escaping him. Although, his small chuckle sounded like a full blown laugh to Riku.
?Ah, so I guess I?m supposed to be his clown then?? Deirous said, raising an eyebrow and looking curiously at the Raikage.
?Why do you think you?re here?? Riku teased.
?Shush, exploded people don?t talk,? Deirous replied, pushing Riku to the side.
Riku let out a puff of air, and both of them stopped to turn and face the Raikage, ?Well, this is as far as I go. You kids are on your own from now. Riku, find Shinru, bring him back. Deirous, try not to blow Riku to bits while you?re helping him.?
Deirous shrugged, ?You?re asking a bit much there.?
?I suppose I am,? The Raikage answered, a rare amount of happiness in his usually grim
tone, ?Well, I?ll be seeing you two. Hopefully, at least,? he added with a wink.
The Raikage, along with the other four who were silently following him, walked away, back deeper into the city and smoothly walking into the more populated area, attempting to blend with the other citizens, nearly a successful attempt, had it not been for the Raikage?s noticeable structure.
~
The two walked casually, Riku walking with his right left elbow resting comfortably on his sword?s hilt, that was sticking out of its sheathe, and his other arm casually swinging at his side. Deirous, walked with one hand in his pocket, while he tossed into the air a ball of clay, catching it as it came back down to him. They were now walking on a path, surrounded by plains on their left and right. The trail swooped down, making a hill that seemed to signify their exiting of the naturally elevated Lightning Country into the greener Fire Country. Only a while ago, while they were walking, the terrain consisted of boulders and rubble, and mountains on either side of them. Though gradually it began to change, vast plains surrounded them, and a forest could be seen further down the long trail, a few yards at most from where the large hill stopped and the area was suddenly perfectly flat. All that they could hear suddenly was a calm, steady wind.
Attempting to break the silence, Riku decided it was a good time to ask Deirous what he had been curious about before, ?Why are you... ?notorious??
Deirous caught the clay ball one more time, and then looked towards Riku, but still continuing to walk at the same pace, ?Dunno if you heard of him, but my dad?s Deidara. As in Akatsuki, exploding things for no reason Deidara. Dunno what was wrong with my mom to get together with him. But it happened.?
?Akatsuki!?? Riku blurted out incredulously. His left arm suddenly rushed off of his blade?s hilt as his right hand came around to grab the blade?s handle and unsheathe Soul Eater, as Riku himself came to an abrupt halt.
Deirous laughed, ?Chill out dude. If I was anything like my father, I would?ve left you there to die. Though a bit of his mischievous side rubbed off on me, I must admit.?
Riku sheathed his sword, ?Sorry,? he said, a mixed amount of embarrassment and shame in his voice, ?Just... instincts.?
Deirous shrugged, ?No problem.?
Riku and Deirous were beginning to enter the woods at this point, and as soon as they did, they could hear a great amount of ruffling in the trees, followed by kunai flying out of them.
Deirous, acting quickly, threw his ball of clay towards the cluster of kunai, and quickly pushed both of his hands out in opposite directions, as the clay, suspended in the air, stretched out, catching all of the kunai. Meanwhile, Riku?s hand went to Soul Eater yet again, taking it out and entering a defensive stance in one smooth motion. More kunai flew out of the trees, only to be caught yet again by a net of clay. Now stretched even more to catch them. Riku looked closely into the trees, and could clearly see a figure with one arm on the tree, right where the kunai had flown in from. He instinctively threw Soul Eater towards the figure. He saw the blade plunge deeply into the adversary, as he, or she, Riku supposed, jerked back and fell down from the tree branch. The kunai stopped coming as Riku?s blade disappeared, and then reappeared back into his grip.
?Nice throw,? Deirous complimented.
Riku smiled at him and nodded in thanks, but suddenly felt a tightness in his neck, and allowed his eyes to drift downwards to see a blade pressed against it.
?I agree,? a voice said from behind him. The voice couldn?t belong to anyone out of their twenties, perhaps even just escaping their teenage years.
Riku looked back to where he saw the dead body. It was slowly fading. Not disappearing in white smoke or an element of some sort like a clone would, but just... fading. Genjutsu was the only possible explanation Riku could offer to himself.
Deirous?s clay, which was now on the ground, quickly rose back up and rushed towards the man. From where Deirous was, he could see him pretty clearly. He wore a grey shirt, seeming to be a short sleeved kimono, with a small logo on the back of it, near the back of
the collar. That logo... he recognized it from somewhere.
The man disappeared as the clay rushed towards him in a burst of speed, and reappeared in front of the two boys.
?A clay user. It?s been a while since I faced one of those,? the man said, his voice seeming to hold no feeling in it, no emotion.
Riku seemed to recognize the man, as did Deirous. His black swept back hair with a slight bluish tint partially covered his deadly, infamous blood red eyes that were put on an uncaring face, a face that seemed to have lost all empathy long ago, empathy that had been washed away in a wave of the man?s own troubles. His shirt?s collar was partially unzipped, just a bit below his neck. The man seemed to be twenty, at most.
?Sasuke Uchiha,? Deirous and Riku said simultaneously, both knowing that a long battle was ahead of them.
