Unbreakable (Book 1) #Wattys2015

Rekindle-Erika

The silence was depressing. Even Hibiki was quiet. The darkness within the house was appropriate to the situation though didn't help to lighten the mood in any way. Their sensei was gone. Well, one of them. But who was to say that the other would return? Who was to say that Kakashi hadn't been captured as well? Why else hadn't he returned yet?

Now the three children rushed around the house, packing bags full of what they would need for their next step. There next plan for action. Though, it was true, they had been frightened when Sasuke had broken into their house, they were still ninja. Did he think that just because they were children, they would do what they were told? No, Erika had something else planned.

"But he said he would hurt her if we followed him," Hibiki said as he slung his backpack over his shoulder.

"Then we won't follow him," Erika answered simply, slinging her own pack onto her shoulders.

"I'm uninformed," Hibiki stated, adding a few last packs of travel-ramen into his bag.

Erika sighed. "If Sasuke captured Katsu Sensei, then we can only assume that he took Kakashi Sensei." She wouldn't say the other man's name.

Tamiko lowered her eyes, watching the exchange. The red-headed girl with pigtails knew it was a difficult topic.

"How do you know?" Hibiki whispered, glancing around as if the walls had ears.

Erika raised her eyebrows to show how irked she was that he could possibly question her about something like this.

"OK, so Orochimaru has Kakashi," Hibiki said, raising his hands in surrender. "What can we do about it? Go to the Hokage?"

"No," Erika answered, glancing around the family room for a last time to assure she wasn't forgetting to pack anything important. "If I am correct, we're going to need to visit the Village Hidden in the Sand."

"What?" Tamiko asked, utterly bemused, speaking for the first time. "Why there?" Her tone showed extreme reluctance. Of course that was the last place she wanted to go. But Erika saw no other choice.

"Because that is where Sakura Haruno is receiving medical training. I heard Kakashi Sensei mention it once to Katsu Sensei. And if...Orochimaru...has taken Kakashi sensei, trust me, we'll need a lot of special medicine. Stuff that Katsu Sensei might not even be capable of whipping up. And we'll need it fast."

Hibiki and Tamiko eyed the dark-haired Erika with skeptical eyes.

Erika glared unwaveringly back at the both of them. "You have to trust me. I know what I'm doing."

Hibiki looked at her for another wary moment before nodding once. "I trust you." His voice was firm.

Tamiko also nodded. "As do I."

The corner of Erika's mouth turned upward. She knew she could count on them to assist her. If her plan were to work, she would need their help. "Let's get out of here, then."

"How are we supposed to get to the Village Hidden in the Sand?" Hibiki asked with a tinge of frustration. "On foot it will take several days. Who knows what those freaks could do to our senseis by then?"

Erika nodded. "You're right. But how else can we get there? We don't have any other form of transportation."

Tamiko suddenly glanced over to her, her grey eyes glinting brightly in eager anticipation. "The Red Deer can take us."

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1 day later