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

Meow

A/N: Since I don't have a direct image for Koneko, I'm using random people that are close to her features just to keep some form of image in mind.

                      Shikamaru and I stare each other down as we circle each other, the two Akatsuki members watching in vague interest. I can tell by the look in his dark eyes that he's thinking hard, trying to figure me out and plot the movements. If he knew who I was, I'd be screwed. My strength outweighs his only slightly, but his intelligence outweighs mine slightly. His hands move suddenly, forming familiar signs and I instantly jump backward out of the shadows. I'm in the only patch of sunlight remaining in the woods. He looks up at me, his eyes widening in surprise.
"Shadow Possession Jutsu," I say quietly. "I'm very familiar with it."
"Who are you?" He asks, his eyes narrowing.
"Get the fuck on with it, Short Stack." Hidan calls out and my head automatically snaps toward him.
"Fuck off." I retort, then bring my forearms up to block Shikamaru's kick.
As I knock him off his feet, I notice a kunai in his hand and dodge it. He jumps up and launches himself at me and I let us fall to the ground. His fist quickly aims for my face and I catch it.
"You don't want to do this Shikamaru, please, just let this go." I whisper so only he can hear.
I throw a punch at him to keep up appearances and the shock from my statement seems to have delayed his reaction time.
"Who are you?" He asks again.
"Meow." I mutter and his eyes widen.
"You-"
"Shh. Don't tell on me." I swing up a second later and hit the pressure point on his neck, sending his full body weight down onto me. I roll out from underneath him and prop him against a tree, silently apologizing to him.
                          When I turn back to Hidan and Kakuzu, I can feel the disapproval in their gazes. I bark at them not to question it, then ask Hidan to take Shikamaru away from us so we can rest without interruption. He asks why he can't just sacrifice him and I threaten to rip off his genitals and throw them into the fire if he hurts him. He finally concedes and roughly tosses Shikamaru's body over his shoulder and disappears into the woods.
"Sympathy has no place among criminals." Kakuzu pipes up after Hidan is out of sight.
I sigh and take a seat by the fire and avoid his gaze.
"It's not sympathy... I refuse to kill someone who is undeserving."
"You know him, don't you?" Hidan's voice reaches me ears and I jump slightly.
"He was the only one in the village that treated me as an equal. We weren't close, but we held a mutual respect for each other..."
"You do realize that you two are on opposite sides now and that one day you may have to kill those people that you once knew?"
I scowl at Hidan across the flames and move away from the fire to settle on a tree limb.
"I'm taking watch, do whatever." I call down before staring out into the trees.
                     Seeing Shikamaru has seriously killed my somewhat pleasant mood. Every day has been a constant reminder that I'm not in Konoha anymore and my life has changed forever, but physically seeing my past has made it that much worse. I feel tears spring to my eyes and I quickly look up, willing them to stop before they fall. It's not the time for weakness. I manage to keep myself from crying and spare a glance down at the pair. They're talking in low voices and eating something, paying me no attention. I could slip away easily, just quietly get up and disappear into the trees. My chakra signature is already hidden so I won't have to worry. But it's dark and I'm not fully sure where I am and I'd have to avoid Shikamaru as well. Or not? He already knows that I'm out here. I could tell him the truth that I'd slipped away. I made a mistake letting him know who I was because he could easily turn me into the ANBU and label me a traitor and sentence me to death. Part of me deep down feels like he won't and he will keep it secret. I decide to test my chances by slowly getting to my feet and moving up a branch, my eyes trained on them. As soon as I stand, a kunai stabs into the tree trunk beside me.
"Don't think about it, Kid." Kakuzu growls.
"I was just stretching, Dick." I retort, playing it off with a long stretch.
He scoffs in response and I settle back down on the branch, suddenly ready to get this mission over with since my escape would be a futile attempt.
"When can we leave? It's not like you two can die from exhaustion if we keep going."
"You're more worthless if you're too tired." Kakuzu answers as if it were the most obvious thing.
"Hidan can carry me if I want to sleep."
Both of us turn to face him and he looks up before shrugging in agreement. I slink down from the tree as Hidan extinguishes the fire and Kakuzu gets to his feet.
                      Within ten minutes, we're on our way again, relying on Hidan and Kakuzu's sense of direction to lead us through the dark. The distance put between myself and Shikamaru both saddens and relieves me. If we were to stay, he'd likely find us again and he would be killed, but I felt slightly safer knowing he was around. I push the thoughts aside and focus on my footing as we use the trees to move us faster. Yugakure, here we come...