Beautiful Monsters

Chapter 29~ Unbreakable

The hot summer months have faded into crisp autumn weather, leaves donned their vibrant colors and the Konohagakure citizens donned their warmer clothing. Shizi had just returned from a mission in the neighboring Land of Iron that had drawn out into a four-day process. She pushed open the door to her home and shuffled tiredly into the space, ears and eyelids droopy with sleeplessness.

Despite how late it was and how worn she had become, Shizi was instantly aware of the fact that her guardian was nowhere to be seen nor heard nor smelled. He always greeted her on entry, no matter how late into the night she was.

"Kika? You home?" If he was on a mission of his own, there will be a note on the kitchen table detailing how long he will be gone. There was in fact a note, and it was written that he would be home within the week. Having been gone for four days, she didn't quite know how old this note was, meaning he could have left just before she arrived. She showered and summoned Jingxiao to keep her company while Kakashi was away.

The week finished out with no return of the silver Jonin. After nearly two extra weeks had passed, Shizi began to worry for the man. By the end of the second week, Shizi was a walking bundle of worry and nightmarish imaginings. She didn't sleep at night, every small noise in the house made her instantly run for the door, and Jingxiao was starting to worry for her health.

"Shizi-chan, you need to go see the Hokage. Maybe she can tell you if his mission was extended or not." The female nods and races along the rooftops to the bright red building in the center of the village. Not bothering to knock, Shizi barges right into the office as the blonde was speaking to an ANBU Black Ops member.

"Where is Kika?" Both turned to the female as she stood in the doorway. The Black Ops member vanished and Tsunade glared at the frail neko. Seeing the girl made the elder female hurt, her bones were prominent and the bags under her eyes were dark crescent moons.

"I don't know who this 'Kika' character is, child." Her big eyes became misty with tears.

"His n-name is Kakashi Hatake. He's my friend and guardian, he was s-supposed to come home almost three weeks ago. Where is he?" She scoured the room as if the male would materialize at his own name, but found no trace of him- the exception being the very faint scent of him from his debriefing.

"Shizi, correct? Well, the truth is, we aren't sure what has happened to Kakashi. He was supposed to check in weekly but his communications ceased almost two weeks ago." As Tsunade gave her explanation, Shizi grew more and more distressed. "It's reached the point where I am sending a search-and-rescue squad."

"I-I serve as my own platoon, can I go please? I have to find him, Lady Hokage. Please." Tsunade nodded and gave her the details of his mission: he was to go to the Land of Stone and infiltrate a local crime syndicate to take down from the inside. Shizi didn't hesitate to sprint back to her home and pack for her journey to the Land of Stone. She didn't want to waste precious time that could be spent looking for Kakashi. By midday Shizi was on the road to save her guardian. It took her almost three days to reach the specified Land, and she didn't stop to search for clues to his whereabouts. Shizi turned a corner and slammed into a huge, muscled man in black.

"I'm sorry, sir." The male never said a word, just reached out and snatched the girl up by her collar like a dog and disappeared down a black alleyway. Shizi screamed and fought against his hold, a fruitless effort on her part. He marched her out all the way to an abandoned warehouse at the edge of a small town. The inky blackness of the building was suffocating as he dropped Shizi to the floor and wrapped her in thick ropes.

"What do you want with me?" Silence was her answer. "Hey! Answer me! What do you want from me?!" A deep, gravelled voice came from the darkness to her right. It was almost familiar but also foreign to her ears.