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her love held no bounds.

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Morning couldn't come sooner for Haru, who was writhing in pain all night. He kept tossing and turning, it was a miracle that his companion didn't wake up.

"Alright, let me have a look at your curse mark." Kiyomi grumbled with a yawn.

Despite his pain, he still had his humour. He sat down and took off his shirt, wiggling his eyebrows. "Do you like what you see?"

"I really don't care," the brunette punched him in the face and though she would never say it to his face, he did have a nice build. She lifted his arm and inspected his curse mark, it'd gotten worse, the skin around his curse mark had began peeling and its surrounding area wasn't a good shade of red. "Try not to use your curse mark. Not unless you need to, rely on your natural strength."

He frowned, "what's wrong?"

Kiyomi gently traced over his curse mark. "As far as I know, everyone Orochimaru has given a curse mark has experienced this, even me. It varies on time and in pain for that individual. It just goes away, there isn't special ointment or treatment. Mine went away when I mastered my curse mark."

Haru frowned. "You have to master it? How long did you have your pains?"

"A year or so" She answered, ruffling his hair. "If the pain bothers you, just take some painkillers."

"Did you take painkillers..?" He asked.

She rose an eyebrow, "what do you think?"

"Probably not.." Haru sighed.

"Again, just don't use it, until you master it," she repeated and pursued her lips. "I'm going to be performing the Evil Sealing Method on your curse mark. Want me to explain how it works?"

He nodded, "please."

"It suppresses the power of a your curse mark, but the preparations needed for this are kinda taxing. I have to write several long lines of symbols in my own blood, which trail from your curse mark through the surrounding area. Once that's done and the technique is activated, the symbols converge towards and surround your curse mark, my blood acting as a chain that prevents the curse mark from spreading. It's quite painful, and you're likely to pass out after I finish," she warned him. "Its power also relies on your will. If you want it to work, then it will fight off the cursed mark's effects as much as it can, but if you would rather the curse mark activated, then Evil Sealing Method will be powerless to prevent it."

Though after receiving that information, he began to fidget nervously. "Haru. Stay still," she ordered, biting her thumb as she began to draw symbols from her blood around his curse mark. Once she was finished she began performing the jutsu. Before long, she was done.

Haru let out a loud groan, "I— I'm fine."

Kiyomi eyed the male and rolled her eyes, "you're on the verge of passing out, oroka."

A grin appeared on his face, "but I didn't."

"Rest up," she tapped his cheek. "You'll need your strength. I have a feeling that this Hatsu won't go down without a fight."

"I'll be fine, okay? Just help me for now." Haru insisted, looking up at her with his puppy eyes.

"You're so stubborn," the brunette groaned and slid her arm around his waist, slinging their bags over her shoulders before beginning to walk.

"How do you deal with the pain of the curse mark?" He asked. "Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever seen you use it.. Where's your curse mark anyways?"

Kiyomi shrugged, "I just deal with it. Orochimaru's experiments were worse, the pain the curse mark inflicts is only minor compared to what he's done," she trailed off with a sigh. "I don't use it much.. Frankly, I don't need it. I use it when I want to use it."

Haru whined, "I wanna see your curse mark.."

"One is located on the right side of my neck." she said, moving her bangs aside. "Another on my right wrist, my back, one on my left shoulder blade and the last one on the left side of my hip." 

His eyes widened and his jaw dropped, "no way, you have five? I can't even handle one, but you have to handle five? You really are amazing, Ki-Chan."

"I think you're pretty amazing too, in your own special way," she snorted, looking away.

"Ooh, a backhanded compliment, that's the Ki-Chan I know." Haru laughed. They walked in silence for a while, only because he knew how much she liked silence so he tried, but he was getting antsy. Haru hated the silence, he could only stay quiet for an hour, at most. "Ki-Chan, what do you think of Hatsu?"

"That he'll go down hard and hopefully fast. I just want this over and down with," she recalled his image they'd been given. "He looks old, older than Orochimaru, but he seems strong."

Haru pursued his lips, "he must've done something bad to upset Orochimaru-Sama."

"Probably, or he could just have a special ability that Orochimaru wants. If I remember correctly, he has crystal release. That in itself is rare," she pointed out and looked round. Before Haru could say anything else, she held her hand up.

"I sense someone kid, be alert."

"Kuro says he sense someone. Be on guard." She whispered, ready to grab a weapon.

"They're probably just merchants.." Haru trailed off. He, after all, was the more sympathetic of the two.

A shinobi slowly came into view, just as the demon wolf predicted. Kiyomi was ready to attack, but he stopped her, "he isn't doing anything wrong. Ki-Chan, relax."

"Hmph," she crossed her arms and walked faster.

"Kiyomi, you know Suna is farther than you think. Let me teleport you there."

"Hageshi says that Suna is farther than we think. He wants to teleport us there," she informed him.

A grin appeared on Haru's face. "That's the best idea I've heard so far. I mean, no objections here," she grabbed his wrist and as soon as she did, they were teleported outside the village of Suna. "It's so hot.." Haru groaned, trying to look up at the sun.

Kiyomi rolled her eyes, "then take off your jacket.."

He winked at her. "I see what you're doing Ki-Chan.."

She looked at him with a blank face and punched him in the face several times. "Oroka," she hissed and walked inside the village.

Haru held his jaw and ran after her, "Forgive meee!"

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Kiyomi shook her head. at his enthusiasm, "I suggest you keep quiet, for now at least. My clones will do all the work when the time comes but for now we'll get something to eat, alright?"

He jumped up, "finally, yatta (yay)!"

"You can choose where we eat," she looked over to the energetic male.

Haru grinned, his eyes darted around until he spotted a ramen shop. "Ramen!" He shouted, instantly running to the stall and taking a seat inside.

Kiyomi shook her head, a low chuckle escaped her lips as she followed him to the stall. She took a seat beside him and placed the money on the table. "Four bowls of miso ramen please, keep the change."

"Coming right up," the chef grinned and got cooking.

"With your plan earlier, how's it going to work exactly? There'll be who knows how many of you running around. How's that not suspicious?" He asked.

"I'll have them transform into different people and animals, so it won't cause suspicion or worse.. A riot. We're only here for a short amount of time, I don't want to cause too much trouble," she explained.

Whilst cooking the ramen, the chef overheard their conversation but chose to ignore it once he saw Haru's grinning face and Kiyomi's smiling face. "Enjoy."

They chimed in their 'thank you's before beginning to eat. Whilst Haru was eating, he couldn't help but think about two things. One, about the escape that they were planning and two, about the brunette. He found her nice, but mean at the same time. She was a mystery, wrapped in another mystery. That's how he would describe him. Even though they'd practically been raised together, even though Haru knew her for most of his life, he still didn't know much about her. Yet, he trusted her. She was a good person, but she'd been hurt and traumatised. He knew that it took time for her to open up again.

Once they'd finished, they walked around the village a few times and enjoyed the heat of Suna. Haru was busy memorising the structures, whereas Kiyomi was studying people, more specifically Hatsu.

"Where's the training grounds?" She asked.

"Back over there. You didn't notice it?" He rose an eyebrow.

"I was looking for Hatsu.. But I couldn't find him, not among the people, he must be inside," she murmured, heading towards the training ground.

Haru grinned, "that's why you use your clones to find him."

She nodded, "cast a genjutsu for a few minutes?"

"Of course, I mean, I am better at it than you," he boasted, casting a genjutsu.

"The only thing you're better than me at," she rolled her eyes. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu." Fifteen shadow clones began appearing. One by one they began to change their appearance, some were boys, some were girls, some were adults and others were animals.

"This is a little weird." Haru admitted, watching the scene unfold in front of him. He dispelled the genjutsu and watched as her clones scattered all over Suna.

Kiyomi placed a hand on his shoulder, leaning in to whisper in his ear. "You should still keep your guard up, Hageshi and I feel a strong chakra, like a tailed beast," she placed an earpiece on his hand, and she was gone.

"A tailed beast? Hey! Don't leave me!" A groan escaped from his lips, knowing she wouldn't come back. He was scared, he'd never encountered other jinchuuriki, besides than her. She heard Haru's cries for her to stay, but splitting up was the better decision. She found that, for him, when they were together, he was very distracted but alone, he worked well and he wasn't so distracted.

Kiyomi continued to look for Hatsu and for a moment, she thought she saw him, which caused her to bump into a certain jinchuuriki. She looked at the the person she'd bumped into. He had auburn hair, it looked red but it really wasn't and he had green eyes and a tattoo of love on his forehead.

Gaara didn't say anything, he just glared down at her.

"Sorry," she apologised and stood up, upon doing so she'd brushed against his shoulder. "Again, sorry," she turned to walk away but she'd barely taken three steps before something wrapped around her waist and pulled her back. A hand made out of sand.

"So troublesome," the brunette grumbled, looking towards the source of the hand, the mystery boy. She couldn't do anything, besides wriggled. Her eyes widened in realisation. "You must be the jinchuuriki.."

Gaara's eyes widened and the sand began squeezing the brunette tighter, it wasn't hurting before, but now, it was. She was about to retaliate.⠀⠀

"WAIT! Don't attack, please. I recognise this chakra... Just give me a minute.."

Kiyomi rolled her eyes, a low growl escaping her lips, but obeyed nonetheless. She could feel the hand squeezing her tighter and tighter. "Hageshi, anytime now," she groaned quietly, clenching her fists.

"It's Shukaku, his Jinchuuriki is named Gaara.. Talk to him gently."

"G— Gaara," she breathed out and the hand loosened its grip, but not enough. She clenched her jaw, hesitantly placing her left hand on his cheek. "Calm down.."

By then the auburn haired male stopped glaring and the sand dispersed, dropping her to the ground. Hard.

"I said I was sorry," she scowled at him.

"What's your name?" He asked in a gentle voice, ignoring her statement and her tone. Acting like nothing had happened.

There was no harm in telling him, but right now, she was annoyed at him. "I'll tell you the next time," she whispered and before he could say anything else she teleported by back to the ramen shop, fifteen minutes earlier than the agreed time. "Haru, can you hear me?"

Gaara stared at the spot where she once was. A fellow jinchuuriki, who'd managed to calm Shukaku. He wanted to know her name and he would never forget her face, nor her eyes.

"Perfect! I was just about to inform you, I think I may have found him," he spoke softly.

"Be there in a second," she hummed, closing her eyes to locate his chakra before flashing over to him. "Yo."

Haru jolted, placing a hand on his heart. "You scared me!" He looked at Hatsu and then back to her, "how?"

"Man up. Our chakra, everyone's chakra is unique and distinct. Yours is easy to find," she shrugged, dispelling her clones, all but one, seeing as they'd had found the target. She kept one clone as a sort of back up. "He doesn't look too harmful."

"I know he looks friendly, but looks are just looks," the male shrugged. "I mean, look at you. You look innocent, but you're deadly."

She flashed him a small smirk, before turning to watch Hatsu interact with the kids. "I almost feel bad.. Anyways, you're up."

"What? Why?" He asked, obviously confused.

"Transform into a child and lead him away, duh." Kiyomi rolled her eyes. "I'll be waiting in the training grounds," she gently pushed him forward and teleported to the training grounds. She hid behind a tree, making sure to mask her chakra.

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"Kid, where are you taking me?" Hatsu spoke, accompanied by a laugh.

"You look strong mister, I want you to train me." A younger looking Haru cooed. He led him deeper into the training grounds and she knew that was her cue.

Kiyomi jumped down from the tree and smirked over at the older male. I jumped down from the tree, smirking at the man. "Sorry to interrupt old man, but I gotta take you to the snake but we don't have to do this the hard way," she warned him, as her clone stood beside her.

Hatsu squinted his eyes and stood in front of Haru protectively. If he only knew. "Kid, get outta here."

"Sorry mister, I can't," he grinned and transformed back to his normal self, pressing a kunai to his back. "Your love of children will be your downfall."

"I don't go down that easily!" He shouted, kicking the young boy so hard that he hit a tree.

"Haru!" A stone cold expression appeared on her face, "Oh, you will." She hissed out and instantly appeared next to him, punching him into the ground before jumping back to the male to make sure he was alright.

"I'm okay, Ki-Chan. He's up again," he groaned, motioning to the shinobi who jumped out of the hole in the ground.

"Now it's my turn. Shōton: Suisho Hari (Crystal Needles)!" Hatsu shouted, thousands of green coloured crystal needles shot at the two.

"Katon: Hōsenka no Jutsu (Phoenix Flower)," the brunette countered, but unfortunately some crystals managed to get through the fire and pierce her body. "Make sure this goes unnoticed."

"Got it." Haru made his way to the front of the training grounds and made sure that everyone who glanced in the general direction of the battle, would see just the training grounds.

Pulling out the crystal needles from her arms and legs, she looked up to see her older opponent was eyeing her friend. She stood in front of him protectively, "you'll die if you even think about it." She hissed and pulled out a scroll to summon her war fan. "Katon: Hinotama (Fireball)," her clone shouted. "Fūton: Kamikaze (Divine Wind)," she said.

Kiyomi had managed to graze Hatsu, but he was fast enough to create a crystal barrier to block most of the attack. Though due to the attack, his crystal barrier was already starting to fall apart. She knew that she wouldn't be able to knock him out with ninjutsu, she'd have to resort to taijutsu. She charged at him, leaving her war fan behind.

"You're strong. I can feel it from your chakra. I won't be able to take you out, but.." Hatsu smirked, looking over at Haru. "The boy seems to be an easier solution," he appeared next to the male just before she could hit him.

She flashed in front of Haru, just before he could plunge the blade into him. She felt the cold iron pierce her stomach. "Nice try, but I'm fast."

"Ki-Chan!" He shouted, turning to look back at her.

"Focus on the genjutsu." Kiyomi told him.

"What? How?" His eyes widened, jumping back.

"Haven't you heard? I'm a demon," she smirked and for a second, her eyes glimmered red before pulling the katana from her stomach. "You already kicked him, that's unforgivable but what'd I say if you even thought about it?" She flashed next to him, pulverising him into the ground.

"Ki-Chan!" Haru yelled, getting her attention. "We gotta deliver him alive remember..?"

Kiyomi glared down at the bloody, unconscious shinobi before looking back at Haru and wrapping her arms around his neck. "Oroka.."

"What about Hatsu?" He groaned. "You over did it, he could die of blood loss."

"He'll be out for a while," the brunette lifted his shirt up.

He gasped, "Ki-Chan!"

She rolled her eyes, "I'm just checking for any broken bones that you might have, that kick was hard and you're not exactly the most—"

Haru pouted and crossed his arms. "I get it."

"It doesn't seem like any broken bones, be more careful." Kiyomi whispered, patting his head.

"Ki-Chan, you care." He teased.

"Whatever. Carry my bag," she tossed him the bag she was carrying and slung the unconscious man over her shoulder. "Lead the way back to base."

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Just as the brunette instructed, he led the way. Every so often, he would look back to check on her but also to give her a look that he wanted a break, but to no avail. A cold expression remained on her face. "Did we have to run the whole way home?" Haru groaned as the hideout came into view.

She motioned to the unconscious man slung over her shoulder. "Don't complain.. Did you want to carry this all the way?" On the way, she'd healed him so he wouldn't die but not enough for him to wake up.

"We didn't even take any breaks.." He whined.

"I swear, I'll leave you here Haru.. You should just think of it as a way to build up your stamina." Kiyomi shook her head, as they walked into the hideout. "You know last time you fainted, you really need to build up your stamina if you wanna stay here," they made their way to Orochimaru's room.

"Uh, should we knock?" Haru asked, a little hesitant.

Kiyomi could never get why he was so afraid of Orochimaru. She shrugged and kicked the door open, seeing as both her hands were occupied. "Here," she tossed Hatsu on the floor, in front of Orochimaru and grabbed the scroll from her pouch, throwing it to Kabuto, who caught it but she kept the blood for herself, "the people of the clan are in there, barely alive."

Haru bowed, while the brunette stood up straight, with her hand on her hip. "Anything else?"

"Well done, little one." Orochimaru hissed, giving her a creepy grin. "Please don't disturb Kabuto and I for a few hours.."

"Tsk, yeah.." Kiyomi waved and walked out the room.

"O— Orochimaru-Sama.." Haru said and ran after her.

Once they were out of earshot, she turned to him. "Wait outside, unless you're saying goodbye to someone.. I'll be done soon, I'm just saying goodbye."

Haru shook his head, "I don't really have anyone else. Please don't take too long Ki-Chan," he patted her head before walking off.

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▬▬▬▬▬ 𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑'𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄

you can distinguish hageshi and
kuro by the way they address ppl.
kuro addresses people informally.
hageshi will always have respec
and call them their first/ last name.
also, rough translation thingz.