Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Life of a Kunoichi ❯ ~Together Again~ ( Chapter 15 )

Chapter 15

 

~Together Again~

 

 

 

~The following morning~

 

 

Scrunching her eyes tighter, Phoenix turned her head away from the morning light peeking into the cave. Stretching her arms high above her head she yawned and stretched her aching muscles. Looking around at her surroundings she smiled softly to herself. *Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea after all, it's so peaceful here*

 

About time you woke up, wench.

 

Rolling her eyes she let a small smile splay across her lips.

 

Hey Katour-kun, I haven't heard from you in a while.

 

Feh. I see you've gotten yourself lost.

 

I'm not lost!

 

Then where are you?

 

“Oh shut it, cat-boy!” Phoenix huffed as she packed her blanket back into her pack and pulled an apple from it. Biting into the apple she couldn't help but moan an approval at the juicy taste. “Man I must be hungry, cause this apple is the best I have ever had!” Finishing her breakfast she made her way to the small stream that ran close to the cave. After washing her hands and face she stood and made her way towards the sun. *Well if I head in this direction I should come across familiar ground, I can't be too far from home.*

 

“Hey Akamaru's got something.” Kiba yelled behind him. Everyone's eyes opened and showed signs of relief. “Alright boy, let's go!” Kiba was soon side by side to his loyal friend, catching onto the sent himself. Smiling to himself he hurried the team along in hopes of catching up to the missing konuchi. Touching down in front of the small cave Kiba's nose working overtime, “she was here. Apparently she spent the night here.” Akamaru was sniffing the air and ground making his way to the small stream. Haru was following behind the large dog, hoping to find her sister sitting somewhere nearby. “Anything Akamaru?” The large dog turned and whined, she took that as a no. Sighing she glanced around and jumped when Akamaru barked. Kiba came over and began sniffing the air, “your right boy. Hey everyone this way!” Soon the group was headed in the direction of bandit country. *I hope she knows where she's headed* Shikamaru mentally sighed *I hope this doesn't turn out to be a drag*

 

Coming to a bridge Phoenix read the warning sigh, “Caution Bridge Unstable, Cross at your own RISK!” Shaking her head she sighed, “Well, I guess I'm crossing.” She cautiously began across the bridge. Glancing over the edge she sweat dropped, “that's a long drop.” Straitening herself she began to head forward, but stopped at the scene before her, *Great* Up ahead at the end of the bridge were three men. They were smirking a very dangerous looking smirk. Mentally sighing to herself she continued on her way, and the men made their way towards her. Stopping suddenly she made the men stop as well as one of them spoke to her, “what's wrong sweetheart? We don't scare you do we?” Rolling her eyes she gritted out, “Look I'm not looking for trouble, let me pass.” The three men looked at one another and laughed. Phoenix could tell by their appearance that they were low ranking ninja, from what village she couldn't tell, maybe rouge. They all worn tattered pants that had more holes in them than a termite mound, their shirts were dirty and dingy. *Geeze do they bathe…anything?* Staring back at the laughing trio, she growled out her response, she even got a growled approval for Katouritsu, “Get out of my way, now!” “Feh, we'll move when you make us, babe.” Phoenix huffed and pulled put one of her sutra papers, “Hahhhaaahh, what are you going to do with that give us a paper cut?” Soon their laughter was cut off when Phoenix slammed her hand down on the bridge and slowly began to pull it up, coming with it her favorite weapon in her arsenal. “How did she do that?” The smaller of the three squeaked out, most unbecoming of a full grown man.

 

Smirking she twirled her scythe out with the twin blades. Holding it out in front of her she pulled it apart in the middle, now having two scythes. “Now are you going to move, or do I have to make you?” “She's mine!” The one in the middle yelled as he charged at her with his sword drawn. Phoenix took in a breath and blocked his attack without even looking at him. Moving gracefully, almost as if she was dancing, she maneuvered around him and disarmed him in one swift move. Pointing one scythe at his neck and the other at his comrades she asked again, “Will you let me pass?” He growled and made a motion to the others. Looking behind her she noticed that they moved out of the way. Standing up she put her scythe back together and carried it at her right, holding tight to it. Looking over her shoulder she threw out, “I can see you, so don't try anything you'll be dead before you make a move.” Spitting out some blood from his bleeding lip he put his hands up as a sign of submission. Phoenix made it to the center of the bridge when he made his move. She turned around just in time to see him cut the ropes to the bridge. As if in slow motion the bridge began to fall from underneath them, grabbing onto the rope she swung into the rocky wall, bouncing off like a doll. “Aarrghh.” Digging one end of her scythe into its rocky surface. Trying desperately to keep her grip she heard him yell, “Cut the ropes, let the bitch fall.” Struggling she pushed off the wall to look up, *shit* she could see the two smirk and pull out kunai. She turned around and saw that the other managed to pull himself up onto the other side. Huffing she felt the rope to the bridge slacking. *what do I do* “Damn it!” she screamed as the bridge fell past her, knocking her and her weapon out of its hold in the wall. Pulling her scythe apart she managed to dig both ends into the wall, unfortunately pulling her left shoulder out of socket. “Arghhh, Kami.”

 

“Hey did you see that?” Haru asked the others. Nodding they acknowledge that they saw the two men cut the bridge to let it fall. “Why the hell would they do that?” Naruto yelled. Coming up on the side with the one guy, Haru glanced over the edge and screamed, “ONEE-CHAN!” Phoenix looked over her shoulder to see her sister staring at her from the edge. Turning back she laid her forehead against the rock. Closing her eyes tighter shut she hissed at the throbbing and pain in her left shoulder that seemed to shot down to her toes. Sweat beginning to form on her forehead she yelled out, “I'm loosing my grip, do something!” “Multi Shadow Clone jutsu!” Phoenix's grip finally gave out, letting her weapon fall she twisted so she could face her friends. Widening her eyes she saw Naruto, or for that matter a lot of Narutos, falling toward her. Reaching out to catch his falling comrade Naruto grabbed her wrist, unfortunately, for her, it was the left. Screaming in agony as her shoulder popped back into place, Phoenix opened her eyes as she saw the concern written on his face. She reached up with her other hand and gripped his wrist, locking each other tight in their grasp. Swinging the Narutos managed to throw the two figures on the end up in the air and into the group waiting below.

 

Kankuro watched as Naruto flipped and managed to pull Phoenix into his arms and land on his feet in a crouch on the ground. Pulling her face out of his neck she glanced around her. Standing up Naruto placed Phoenix on her feet, holding a hand to the center of her back, for support. Haru and Temari rushed and squeezed her from both sides, letting go once they heard her hiss. “Onee-chan, what's wrong?” Haru asked as she pulled back and looked her sister over. She had numerous cuts and scrapes along her arms, sides, back and stomach, from slamming into the wall she assumed. Closing one eye Phoenix hissed out, “my left shoulder. It popped out, but Naruto put it back in.” Glancing at the blonde shinobi who was nervously laughing and rubbing the back of his head, “heh, sorry.” “What happened?” Shikamaru asked. Phoenix looked to see the ninja that had cut the bridge was on the ground trembling in front of Akamaru, who was growling and snarling. Pointing to the man on the ground she said, “He wouldn't let me pass, so he cut the bridge and had his buddies cut the rest of it.” Akamaru growled and snapped at the man making him inch his way further from the group. Pulling himself up to his feet he managed to turn and high tale it out of there, his buddies long gone.

 

Wrapping her arms around her older sister's waist Haru laid her head on her right shoulder, “I'm just glad your ok, onee-chan.” Placing her hands on top of her sister's Phoenix nodded. “Alright let's head home. We'll depart ways here.” Shikamaru announced. Haru hugged tighter to her sister, “I want to go to Suna, Shika, just for a little while.” Sighing he looked at his other two companions, smirking Kiba answered, “I want to go too.” “Alright let's go.” Haru released her sister as she saw Kankuro approach them. Patting him on the arm she smiled up at him, and he let go a small smirk. Haru left, leaving the two alone for a minute, before departing on their way to Suna.

 

Approaching the young woman he went to reach for her when she backed up out of his reach. Dropping his eyes to the ground he let his arms fall to the side. Finding his voice he looked back at her, “Phoenix..i'm sorry. I didn't mean what I said. Please forgive me.” Phoenix sighed, “I have forgiven you, I… just need… some time.” “Time for what?” he asked sadly as he approached her once more, this time not moving away she looked to the side and whispered, “Time to think….. about us.” Grabbing a hold of her, Phoenix turned her head to face him. Looking into his eyes she could see his emotions, hurt, confusion, pain, love, desire all these emotions passed over his features. Placing her hands on each side of his face, he closed his eyes, leaning in she tenderly kissed the side of his mouth. The sensation hit him like a bucket of cold water, never has she deliberately not kissed his lips. Opening his eyes his grip tightened on her arms, “please Phoenix, please don't do this. I love you and I want to have this baby with you, please…” his begging was cut off when she placed her fingers on his lips. Fighting the urge to whisk her away and prove how much she meant to him, what she did to him, he did the only thing he could think of. Pulling her flush up against him, her hands now on his chest, he smashed his lips to hers. Struggling against the kiss she didn't want to give in to him, not yet. Soon the passion and love she felt for him took over, and she wrapped her arms around his neck to deepen the kiss.

 

Smiling to herself, Haru couldn't help the small tears that ran down her cheeks. Kissing her temple, Shikamaru grabbed her hand and called out it that it was time to go. Pulling apart Kankuro rested his forehead against hers, “I'm sorry.” Placing a hand on her stomach he lightly rubbed it. Looking into her eyes, “I promise to be there for you both, I love you Phoenix.” Letting go the breath she was holding she closed her eyes, “I love you too Kankuro.” Leaning in he kissed her once more and holding her hand they joined back up with the group. “Here.” Gaara handed Phoenix her weapon. “How did you?” she asked as she looked at the Kazekage, he just smirked and turned, “let's go.”