Kodoku {Naruto Fan-Fiction}

V: Set Sail to the Land of Fire!

[Third Person POV]

"From the personal request of the Mizukage, huh?" said the sun-kissed fisherman as he examined the scroll in his calloused hands. "Well then," he paused, rolling it up and peering up to Hikaru, "I guess I can't refuse an ANBU and his rat. However, you'll have to find a change of clothes in your quarters as well as remove that mask if ya plan to suit ya new role, boy."

Hikaru subtly nodded to the man and strode over the gangplank and boarded the medium-sized wooden ship. Byakuya sniffed the air around and nudged at Hikaru's neck. "Don't trust everyone aboard this vessel, boy; they're not all happy with your presence here."

The dark-haired, ANBU clad male glanced over at the rat atop his left shoulder. "I think it's your presence they're not so happy with," he whispered, acknowledging the way some of the ship's members were eyeing Byakuya.

The albino rat shifted his red orbs from each crew member then scurried to Hikaru's right shoulder. "Boy," he said, his voice small, "why're they looking at me like that?"

"It's probably because most rats are disgusting and tend to cause disease," informed Hikaru, emotionlessly.

Byakuya crossed his arms and scoffed, lowering his head and shaking it in disdain. "Humans always assume the worst of my kind," he said in an annoyed manner, causing Hikaru to smirk behind his mask and continue on his journey into the bowels of the vessel and search for his appointed room where he'd find himself a change of attire.

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"So that's the young face ye were hidin' behind that mask o' yers?" exclaimed a scruffy, broad-gutted man as he came to a halt in front of Hikaru and placed his large, black-hair covered hand over his shoulder. "Quite the sad face, but young nevertheless." he said, barking out a hearty laugh as he turned his back to Hikaru. "I expect ye to work just as rigorously as the rest o' the crew!"

The boy had removed his Mist ANBU uniform and was now standing on the deck, dressed in a loose green tunic-like shirt and tan bottoms that ceased an inch above his ankles, his feet were covered in flat sturdy, brown shoes that snuggly hugged his ankles and his hands covered in fingerless suede leather gloves.

The ship had already left port and was slowly drifting its way through the dense mist that shrouded the village and its outskirts. Byakuya was lying on his back atop Hikaru's right shoulder, his head touching the pale lad's neck. "You'd best find you something to do for the ship's benefit or they'll make you walk the plank, boy," he said, sighing.

Hikaru shook his head and furrowed his eyebrows as he walked over to a seemingly not busy crew member. Clearing his throat, he politely said, "Excuse me," to the brooding man, his arms as big around as watermelons leaning over the railing.

The bald, tattooed man didn't take too kindly to Hikaru's timid tone and flared his wide nostrils as he turned to face the boy. He stood roughly two feet higher than Hikaru and wreaked of a foul odor that reminded Hikaru of soured milk.

Hikaru sweat-dropped as the man towered over him---putting the boy underneath a sort of frightening shadow---and snorted like an angered bull would, separating the roots of Hikaru's hair to opposite sides of his head. "What do ya think ya doing here, ya runt?!"

Upon closer inspection . . . Hikaru realized the man's exterior wasn't the only foul scented thing: the man's teeth were browned in certain parts and his breath smelled putrid, like the manure of cows.

Byakuya leapt to his feet and covered his snout. "Someone put this gorilla back in his cage and bathe him---he's stinking up the ship!"

The atrocious fellow shifted his oval, pale blue eyes over to the white rat atop Hikaru's shoulder and narrowed them. "Why haven't they rid us of this flea-magnet yet?!"

Byakuya pinched his nostrils closed and waved his other pink hand-like paw in front of his snout. "I keep asking myself the same question when I look at you," he said, his tone shrill and serious.

Hikaru placed his hand in front of Byakuya, blocking him from the fuming man's view. "Ah heh," he chuckled. Nervously backing away from the man, he quickly bowed. "P-Please forgive my rat for offending you as well as me for intruding on you," he said, hoping that his words would reason with the man.

He crossed his arms over his overly-ample chest and sneered his nose and upper lip. "Just don't let it happen again or I'll bait 'em and hook me a few fish for supper."

"Oh I-I promise it won't happen again," said Hikaru, standing upright. Glancing over to Byakuya, he arched his eyebrow and said, "Right?"

The albino rat sighed in defeat and shifted his red eyes over to the dark-haired boy. "Right."

The man then extended his hand towards Hikaru. "The name's Goro Maruyama, not so much a pleasure. Who're ya, ya pathetic runt?"

"Mamoru Hatsuki, sir. And this here," he said, gesturing towards the snowy rat on his right shoulder, "is Byakuya."

Goro nodded his clunky head. "I see then," he said, placing his index finger and thumb over his chin, "so ya gave that rat a name, huh?"

"Well," said Hikaru, peering over to Byakuya, "not . . . really."

The rodent sighed and shrugged to the boy. "It's more or less a name the old man gave me."

"The old . . . man?" inquired Goro, his eyebrow raised as he grabbed ahold of a rope dangling down to his left side. "I don't think I can follow ya there, rat."

Byakuya crossed his arms and bowed his head. "Just forget I mentioned anything," he said, sounding irritated. "Anyways," he paused and shifted his gaze over to Hikaru, "Mamoru, here, is looking for work, know of any?"

The brooding man tugged at the rope, released, and sent it flying into the air. "Work?!" he scoffed, interlacing his arms over his chest. "A runt like ya working aboard a ship crewed with strong, hardy sailors? I don't see much a way for ya to find it!" he exclaimed, laughing loudly as he strode past Hikaru and placed his hand over the boy's shoulder. "Then again . . ." he said, leaning over to the onyx-haired lad's ear, "I overheard Takao talkin' earlier about needin' a helper; you oughta see if he's still needin' one, boy."

Hikaru glanced over at the man, his obsidian eyes examining Goro's raised messy eyebrow. "Takao, Sir?"

Goro subtly nodded as he stood upright and gestured his massive hand upward and in the direction of the crow's nest situatied in the middle of the ship, "You'll find 'em up there a searching the skies for any sign of storm clouds and seas for any threats," he said, shifting his icy blue eyes over to Hikaru.

"Thank you for informing me of him, Sir," said Hikaru, bowing respectfully to the man as he turned his back to Goro and strode towards the ladder leading up to the crow's nest. 

"Oh and, boy," shouted Goro, causing Hikaru to swivel on his heel and arch his eyebrow in curiosity, "I'd watch out for his knife, were I you---he gets a bit testy with strangers invadin'  his post!"

Hikaru looked over to Byakuya, a confused expression on his face. "What is that supposed to mean?" he asked, carrying his attention and feet back to the task at hand. 

The albino rat shrugged his tiny shoulders. "As if I'd know the crew aboard this ship; I've never met any of these guys," he answered, sincerely, to which Hikaru lowly sighed and strode towards the crow's nest of the ship----right at its center. 

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I understand that it's been a long time since I last updated, and I apologize ~ I've been so busy and distracted with life and its many mishaps and whatnot. However, I promise to upload more often for you guys! :D