Don't Call Me Kitten Book 1 Of 3 *Naruto* COMPLETE

Unladylike

                    I jolt awake, the nightmare receding but leaving my body shaking and heart racing. I look around in an attempt to calm myself and find that I'm in my room at the base. That would be a semi-comforting thought, if I remembered coming back here. Last I remember, I was on my way to wherever it was with Sasori and Deidara. Did something happen? I run a hand through my hair, wincing at a very tender spot on the back of my head. I lightly touch it again and it suddenly hits me what had happened. The fight in the field, Shikamaru not coming to help... if I ever see him again I'm going to kill him for that, and Deidara knocking me out. Lovely. I suppose he hadn't ratted me out to Pein for trying to run or else I'd be dead. Unless I am dead and this is my curse, being trapped in the Akatsuki base as a ghost.
                   I glance up at the door to my room as voices seem to be arguing in front of it. They're whisper shouting, but through the door and walls I can't pick any of it up. The voices suddenly stop and the door creaks open. Through the curtain of my hair I can recognize Kisame's outline.
"Hoshigaki-sama, am I a ghost?" I ask, causing him to stop short.
His chuckle fills the room before he tells me no.
"Damn. So close." I mutter under my breath as I finally look up at him.
He sits down on the edge of my bed and asks why I'd thought I was a ghost, so I explain that I thought I'd died and I was cursed to stay here forever.
"Sorry Kid. You're still very much alive. That knot on the back of your head is pretty wicked though. Deidara and Sasori wouldn't talk about it, so what exactly happened while you were gone?"
I stare at him for a moment, trying desperately to see if I could truly trust this man or if he would one day betray me. He seems genuine enough but I've learned that I still can't trust it. I eventually avert my gaze and shake my head.
"Nothing happened."
'Nothing' as in I got dragged back to my homeland, got forced to stay behind in the place I'd met the man I was stuck with and despised but still harbored some feeling for, found out an acquaintance was nearby, fought said man that I despised, lied to him, got betrayed by the acquaintance, stabbed the man, almost got away, then got myself knocked out only to wake up a questionable amount of time later. Sounds like nothing, right?
                       I can hear Kisame go to ask something or the same question, I'm not sure, but he hesitates and eventually sighs and falls silent. I feel bad for not telling but if Sasori and Deidara didn't kill me or rat me out, then I'm not going to risk ratting myself out. Though if I died, my problems will pretty much be over. I lift my head suddenly and scan the room for my swords. I let out the breath I was holding when I notice both of them on the dresser. I'm so happy that they weren't left behind. Kisame's gaze follows mine and a second later the swords are sitting on the bed. I unsheathe one carefully and grimace at the blood dried to the blade.
"Who did you stab?" Kisame asks, sounding shocked.
"No one. Remember, nothing happened?" I answer quietly as I place the sword to the side and carefully stand.
                     Ignoring my protesting muscles, I make my way to the bathroom and wet a cloth so I can clean the swords. They're in need of maintenance anyway. As I go to sit down again I finally notice that I'm not in the clothing I was wearing that day.
"Who changed my clothes?"
"Konan must have. Pein told her to check on your wounds and stuff when they brought you back."
"There's a girl in the Akatsuki? That's different."
"I forget that you didn't bother to meet anyone really." He mutters, scratching his head. "You really only know Pein, Itachi, Deidara, Sasori, Tobi, and myself, right?"
"And Hidan and Kakuzu." I add in, wiping my sword off.
"When did you meet them?" He asks, sounding vaguely worried.
"Hidan stole my ramen cup and we started talking weapons and vulgarity. One thing led to another and he took me to Kakuzu to heal my broken ribs."
"And who broke your ribs?" He asks again but with a defeated sigh.
"Pein, of course. I forgot you weren't there when I attacked Itachi in the main room and Pein stepped in to kick my ass."
"Don't cuss, Kid. It's unladylike."
"But I don't want to be ladylike. I want to be badass and lure men to their deaths, bathing in their blood while fires rage on around me, my cruel laughter the only thing that the few survivors can hear."
I look up at him innocently, silently enjoying the look of concern and slight fear as he stares down at me.
"Maybe you do belong here..." He mutters before getting to his feet. "Pein wants to see you by the way. Try to play nice."
                    I enter Pein's office a few minutes later after having showered and he glares up at me as a senbon stabs into the wall beside my head. He's using smaller and more deadly weapons now. How pleasant. I grin and remove the needle from the wall, toying with as I make my way to his desk. A blue haired woman with a... paper flower... in her hair is standing to his right behind the desk. Well, for her to be in the Akatsuki she must've been weird. I guess paper flowers are her weird thing. I wonder what mine is... Regardless, that must be Konan. I turn away from Pein and bow in her direction, quietly thanking her for tending to my injuries. I hear her accept the apology politely and as I straighten, I notice Pein glaring at me harder. I manage to suppress most of my laughter, only letting one giggle escape.
"What is it, Pein? Mad that I can respect her and not you?"
More weapons fly toward me though I didn't notice either of his hands move. I lean backward so I can watch the weapons go past me. I straighten again and redirect my attention to Konan.
"Do you have these sort of problems with him? He likes to throw things at me. Perhaps his Mom didn't teach him that it's impolite to throw things at people."
She stifles a laugh as he snaps at me to shut up. I sigh and nod.
"What happened during your mission? I want a full report."
"Well, that all depends on what the others said."
"I want your account as it happened. Never mind what they said." He replies, barely suppressing his anger.
"I followed them out of the base, they got on my nerves, I ignored them, we made it to some trees, then a field, then Sasori left, I laid down in the field, then I woke up." I say, keeping my story vague.
"If that was what happened, then what happened to your head?" He prods.
"I tripped over a rock and you have no evidence otherwise."
He sighs and I can tell that he's given up trying to get further information from me.
"Training picks up tomorrow. Be there."
I salute him and say goodbye to Konan before walking out. As the door closes I hear her talking quietly to him.
"I kinda like her."
"Don't. You'll just encourage her." Is his reply.