Sister Winter

[3/?]

As they exited the building, the two teams mingling outside the office, the air seemed to thicken betwixt the groups; an aura of distrust and conflicting personalities already showing through. The Aburame could already speculate the tension which would form, the potential arguments which might ensue among the group; it was a terrible annoyance and he only hoped they’d do such before they got on their way. He was never one for unnecessary annoyances, which he hoped the captain of the other team would notice and keep her companion in check; as he’d do the same with his own. Thankfully he had Hinata to help along the way.

The Konoha team gathered together, eyes casted towards the duo, waiting for the details which would be told along the way. The female, Murakami Tsubame, seemed to bask in the flittering sun, her milky skin glimmering as she smiled in the warmth; her companion seemed more content to staying beside her, eyes narrowed in an opposite reaction towards the bright sunlight. With a gentle sigh, the white-haired kunoichi opened her pale hues and smiled towards the Konoha team, her hands tangling together in front of her.

“I must relay my gratitude,” she spoke softly, her voice breathy and light, as she bowed her head towards the team; all three being caught off guard by her formal show of thanks, “I do hope this assignment is not keeping you from other tasks which hold more importance. I am Murakami Tsubame and my companion—“she straightened up, motioning a hand towards her cautious partner, “—is Abe Masahiko.”

It was such a strange sight to see such formality the young woman held towards strangers, the way she seemed to move with a practiced poise and grace. A sense of nobility seemed to radiate from her smile and with the sunlight bathing her in a near whiteness, she seemed almost like a statue of ice. He hadn’t realized he had been holding his breath till the cocky sound of his partner’s voice sounded from his left, “Inuzuka Kiba and this is Akamaru , pleasure is all ours. Helping beautiful girls is a shinobi’s job, right?” The large dog at his side gave a reassuring bark, causing a small laugh to exit the snow kunoichi’s lips.

Hinata was next in introducing herself, just as light and shy as always, “I’m Hyuga Hinata, it’s nice to meet you both.” There was a spark of recognition in the other female’s eyes, her smile widening as she took a few steps closer, closing the gap the two teams had created.

“I have heard much about the Hyuga Clan of the Konoha,” she stated bluntly, glacier hues swimming with curiosity and hidden enthusiasm, “I look forward to working with you, Hyuga-san.” Hinata seemed flustered, muttering a similar response back at the snow ninja and giving a faint smile. “Then that means—“Casting an icy gaze up at the taller, hooded male, the young woman gave a shy smile; before she could say anything, Shino interjected.

“Aburame Shino.” Tsubame seemed to flush slightly, her smile hiding her obvious embarrassment from the startled morning. He looked down at her through his dark shades, watching as her gaze faltered lightly before she bowed her head. “Where is the last of your three-man cell?”

“I look forward to working with you, Aburame-san.” She replied lightly, stepping back almost shyly, and regaining her straight posture; gentle features producing gentle expressions. “The third man on our team is Ito Shizuka; we will be meeting up with her at the rendezvous point three days from here at a small port. She was sent ahead to make sure the seamless transition of our cargo is transferred from rail to ship is carried out.”

“What ‘cargo’ are you transporting? Must be something important to make this a B-rank mission.” Kiba tossed out carelessly, raising his arms above and over his head nonchalantly.

Shino noticed the way the snow shinobi stiffened at the question, eyes narrowing dangerously at the Inuzuka as if warning him not to tread any further in his inquiry. Tsubame held her composure easily, hardly batting an eye at the question, “Food rations, medical supplies, and other necessary survival supplies. We have been facing a harsh winter and many of the smaller towns along the country lines have been seeking shelter in Yukigakure. It is imperative we get these supplies back as quickly and safely as we can.” She bowed her head again, “I cannot thank you enough for your help and support.”

The quick way she had responded, paired with the reaction from her companion told the Aburame she had been covering; a rehearsed lie intended to both boast their spirits and keep the team from knowing the truth of the unknown package. While he was interested, intrigued as to what the secretive snow ninja’s could be hiding, knowing had nothing to do with the mission and as such, was unimportant. “We’ll be meeting by the North gate, I assume. Why? Because that would be the quickest route to the ports.” Tsubame confirmed such with a smile, insisting that the Aburame would know the best route from Konoha to the ports than she would; which didn’t seem to sit well with her companion.

The Konoha three turned to leave, Kiba jabbering on about the possibility of them being dubbed heroes once the mission was complete while Hinata smiled softly and simply replied with her doubts. The bug prince hardly interjected in their conversation, having swayed from being heroes to the temperature and conditions which they should expect and accurately pack for; making small comments here and there as reminders that they would need to bring thicker clothing and boots. Before he could get very far, a small hum under his skin warning him about the following steps of the shorter female, he turned back towards her; he had startled her, as her eyes were wide and it seemed like an icy wind swirled around the two. Far behind her, arms crossed and eyes on the two—all the eyes along his arm narrowing and focusing on them as well—her companion simply waited; the two of his own team having noticed his prolonged silence which they turned to see.

Her hands twiddled in nervousness, her eyes darting to the side to avoid his expressionless features; though under it the Aburame was curious, brow raised and eyes focused on her. Swallowing the small lump in her throat, the ice kunoichi untangled one of her hands and slipped it into a bag at her hip, jostling a bit before she produced her closed fist. “I-I must apologize, Aburame-san,” she began softly, barely audible to the tall male, as she bowed her head and opened her palms, showing a single, rounded icy jewel; the main focus being the darker beetle which had been frozen solid. “I am so sorry. S-sometimes when I am caught off my guard, I accidently end up freezing things around me and she got caught in it; I am so sorry and I know there were others and I will take full responsibility for however much damage I caused your insects.”

He had nothing to say; not because there wasn’t, but because he didn’t know what. No one had ever apologized for harming his insects, mostly because those who faced them were opponents and hardly lived to apologize; even if some were killed during training, not a word was spoken. Hardly anyone apologized for killing or damaging bugs, whether his or not, and even less were women; most of the girls his own age having always been frightened and disgusted by them. The Aburame grabbed the small gem from her palm, flipping it over as he examined the trapped female beetle; Tsubame lowered her hands, head still shrugged betwixt her shoulders with a remorseful expression on her features. “Is it possible to unfreeze this one, and the others?”

She straightened up, only to sink lower as her eyes stayed fixed on the ground; obviously he answer had been given, “I am ashamed to admit, but I do not have control over this; I have attempted to recover the beetle, but to no avail.”

“All she managed to do was freeze it even more.” Masahiko called out playfully, teasing the white-haired girl who only seemed to shrink down even more at the comment, “I wouldn’t be surprised if the other beetles haven’t frozen over yet.”

“Masa!” The small female shot back, her hands twisting and tangling together in her nervousness. She seemed so small, almost like a child waiting to be scolded, and while he was a bit worried about such an accusation proposed by the blonde, when she glanced back up at him, pale blue hues wide with worry and regret, Shino found it hard to be annoyed. Instead, he pocketed the icy gem, figuring he could find his own way into releasing the beetle along the mission; something to keep busy while aboard the ship.

As he turned to leave, he replied in a calm, somewhat reassuring tone, “It’s not something for you to concern yourself with anymore. Thank you for returning her to me.” She muttered a reluctant acceptance; though it was obvious in her eyes she was still feeling responsible for the frozen beetle. With that, the Konoha team departed—jostling comments being tossed at the bug user and how he knew the snow ninja—leaving the duo to depart and prepare to head home; a small wind of frost rolling behind the female as she walked, the idea of leaving such a beautiful place with such flourishing flowers making her sorrow tangible in the air.