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

Hot Springs

A/N: Warning about the song listed: It is a very raw, emotional song that contains lyrics of death, drug addiction, and abandonment. I personally love the song very dearly, but I don't want to hurt anyone, so listen at your own risk. <3

                    We reached Yugakure several days after we ran into Shikamaru and honestly, I think it's a strangely beautiful place. It's not traditionally beautiful like Konoha with the large forests and bright colors, Yugakure is mainly barren but the large waterfall dominating the landscape catches the eye so wonderfully. I tear my gaze from the water and glance up at Hidan who looks ready to murder everyone in sight. During the course of our travel, he managed to explain why he hated the village so much, though in his own way: vulgar language during random temper tantrums. I fully understand his thoughts though. I'd be really pissed if Konoha suddenly dissolved the ninja ranks and became a tourist attraction. I stay next to the fair haired man as we follow Kakuzu to one of the inn's for the night.
Once we're in a room, sadly only one room because 'You're not trustworthy enough to be on your own', I'm told that I can't go anywhere alone and I can't leave the room until nightfall. I raise an eyebrow at Kakuzu's rules and ask the point of saying I can't go anywhere alone if I can't leave the room anyway. He cuts me a glare and says he knows I'd try to go out regardless and that if I chose to, I have to take someone with me, but that he won't go. Basically, I'd have to convince Hidan, the man who loathes this place with every fiber of his being, to go out into the village with me. With a sigh I flop backward onto one of the beds and stare up at the ceiling. Of course Kakuzu would be a tight-ass about everything. I remember that we're surrounded by Hot Springs and I bolt upright, turning to Hidan.
"Can I go to the hot springs?"
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
"I'm tense from travelling for a week. Let's go relax and tonight we'll get the bounty and head back. It's the first time I can relax since I got taken."
Hidan looks ready to sacrifice me, but before I can give up, he sighs and runs a hand through his hair and growls at me to get my stuff.
                        A broad grin crosses my face and I grab my bag and weapons. Hidan tells me that I could leave behind my stuff but I shake my head. He shrugs and motions for me to walk out ahead of him. How gentlemanly. I fall into step beside him and attempt to ignore the emotion radiating off of him.
"Hey." I call out softly.
He looks down at me, eyebrow arched. "What?"
"Everything will be alright. You don't have to be so tense."
"I'm fucking fine." He retorts, but I can tell the cursing isn't out of anger, more from habit.
I nod and fall silent, following him down to the hot spring. As I go to head into the women's side, Hidan lightly grabs my shoulder and stops me.
"I obviously can't go in there with you, but just keep in mind that if you try to leave, I'll have to kill you. I'd really rather not, so behave Short Stack."
I nod and head into the hot springs.
                      Several women of various ages are lounging around in the water, talking and laughing together. I slip into the changing area and strip down, in turn covering myself in a fluffy white towel that they'd provided. I step down into the water away from everyone else and let my head tilt back onto the wooden floor. Despite knowing Hidan is right outside, I feel comfortable and relaxed. I know that if something were to happen, Hidan would kill the person without hesitation.
"You're so young, are you here with your parents?"
I lift my head at the new voice and find a woman that looked to be in her thirties or so, her long dark hair covering her chest.
"I'm here with my older brothers." I answer, quickly coming up with a title for my partners.
"Oh, that's nice. Where are your parents though? Your brothers can't be that old."
"My mother disappeared many years ago and I'm not sure of the identity of my father. It's always just been my brothers and me. They wanted to take me on a small vacation for my birthday."
"Aww, well happy birthday Sweetheart. Your brothers must be really great. What's your name?"
"Koneko, but you can call me whatever."
The woman tenses up for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly before relaxing and telling me that it's a pretty name. I thank her and ask the same.
"Koemi."
I freeze immediately and feel my jaw slack. It can't be.
"K-Koemi what?" I stutter out, taking in every detail of the woman's face, comparing it to my own.
"What do you mean?" She asks, tilting her head to the side.
"Can I see your forearm please?" I ask instead, remembering the clan mark.
She lifts one arm and shows me the smooth, untouched skin.
"The other one, please."
She hesitates before bringing her other arm up, revealing the mark of the Hanari, a bright blue lotus. I feel my hand reach out for her arm but I stop myself short and back away from her.
"What's wrong?" She asks, the concern on her face actually looking genuine.
"Y-you. You're my mother. You walked out on me in Konoha years ago and never looked back!" I growl, trying to choke back the hurt.
"I had to, Kitten. It was for your safety."
"Don't call me Kitten. And you're lying. How were you protecting me by leaving me all alone with no family?"
"I left you with your father, with the village. I never left you alone, Kitten. People were after us and I had to hide you." Her hand reaches out and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear and I flinch away from her.
"My father? I don't even know who he is! No one told me, no one owned up to my creation! The villagers hated me. I was a walking nightmare to them. You never even wrote to me. I thought you were dead." I scowl at the wetness on my cheeks and angrily wipe away the tears, keeping a glare fixed on the woman I once loved so fondly.
"He never told you...? Who was your sensei? I know you followed the ninja path."
"Kakashi Hatake, why? What does he have to do with anything? Wait- he's not, is he?"
Her gaze instantly moves away, focusing everywhere but my face.
                   "I-I I have to go... I can't deal with this..." I push past her and wrap the towel around myself as I leave the water.
"Koneko, wait. Please." She begs but I refuse to look back at her.
I grab my weapons and bag from the changing room and walk out. Hidan stands as I enter the lobby area and he quickly averts his gaze, asking what's wrong and why I'm not dressed. I ignore him and hand him my weapons before pulling a pair of underwear from my bag and putting them on while still holding the towel around myself. After that I duck behind his back and slip on a bra. I ditch the towel and throw on a t-shirt and pair of shorts.
"Let's go." I mutter, taking my weapons back and putting my swords on my back.
He doesn't argue and we head toward the main door.
"Koneko, wait! I can explain!"
I pause mid-step as the door behind us crashes open. Hidan turns to face my mother before looking at me in confusion.
"Those swords... You kept them all these years." She whispers.
"Stop talking. You had plenty of chances to correct what you'd done, but you did nothing. I have nothing to say."
I continue walking and can hear Hidan fall into step with me. She races after me as I touch the door but she never makes contact with me. I glance up at Hidan to find him holding her wrist above her head.
"Don't touch her, lady." He growls.
"Let it go, she's not worth it." I whisper and he releases her but holds a strong glare as we walk out.
                         We walk back to the inn in complete tense silence but I can feel his anger replaced with pure unbridled curiosity. His curiosity is going to have to wait, because it's almost sundown and we have to collect the bounty in an hour. I slam the door open and Kakuzu barks at me to keep it down. I ignore him and toss my bag against the wall before sitting down on the bed. He turns to Hidan for answers but I can hear him voice his own confusion on the matter. Getting no instant response from me, Hidan comes over to the bed and leans against the wall, asking what the hell that was about.
"Let's just get the bounty collected and get the hell out of here." I mutter, looking over at Kakuzu. "Who is it and where are they at?"
"His last name is Tsukimoto, that's all that was given. He hangs out in front of this hotel and targets the tourist women as they come back for the night. The report says that he has dark brown hair and typically wears dark clothes and a black cloak." He pauses and finally looks at me. "Your role tonight is simple. You'll leave the hotel through the window and come back from near a bar. Act drunk and not like a ninja, gain his attention. When you get him alone, kill him, but leave the face intact."
"Why do I have to do it? Just have Hidan go out there and sacrifice him."
"Pein's orders. You have to kill him or we can't leave."