Lightning Mistress

Scene Two

The rolling grey clouds obscured the sun and blunted the warmth it should have been providing the world with. The trees were damp and the air itself seemed thick with moisture from the night before and the storm that had raged during it, lashing the ground and trees with torrents of rain while thunder rolled overhead and winds battered what was not tied down or firmly rooted into the soil.

Naruko sat perched on a tree branch, ignoring the soaked state of the bottom part of her trousers in favour of the indentations in the tree in front of her.

She had entered Grass country a little over three days ago now, and had managed to avoid any unnecessary questions or security checks that might get her thrown out or put inside one of the country's jails.

She had uncovered a job relating to a missing person who was wanted returned either dead or alive. Though it had not mentioned what the woman's crime was the bounty was hefty and Naruko had need for a good night's sleep and decent meal once again, along with some new tools and some clothes to help her get through the next couple of weeks. Her job was not getting any safer after all.

Her only concern with this particular target was the apparent lack of information on her, save for her picture and the name 'Mai'. That was all the information she had been given before being sent on her way and warned that one other was looking for the woman as well. She had asked around and discovered that 'Mai' was a researcher of some form.

However unless she was working on some military project there was no reason to post a bounty on her head. So Naruko was more than a little suspicious about the reason for the hefty bounty, so she was not exactly keen to catch up with her, however the other person chasing her was unlikely to have any such morals and part of her code demanded that she keep a innocent alive if reasonably possible. That did not include fighting if someone was well above her level and she did not have some kind of real advantage over them.

The indentations on the tree made her frown. The person could use chakra as well as she could, although he was clearly not a very highly trained ninja, if the smattering of thrown weapons and the like were anything to go by, however that did not mean he was sloppy, it could be that he was like her. Enjoying the thrill of the hunt for as long as possible. Though she did not torment a soul if she had the choice, money certainly felt more comforting and lasted longer than any sick sense of satisfaction she could draw from making some sod suffer, even if the poor bugger did deserve it.

So she sighed and leapt off to follow the obvious trail. Footprints on the ground, widely spread, indicated someone running and possibly either unable or unwilling to use chakra for one reason or another. The tracks disappeared from the mud at times to be replaced with a skid or imprint of a hand where she had stumbled, obviously growing more desperate and tired as the chase continued.

Naruko sucked her teeth and moved faster to where the target was likely to be now, seeing the distance closing gradually as the hunter grew tired of his game and moved in to take the kill...only to be fought off and forced to pause as the target carried on moving.

She raised an eyebrow but carried on going, moving faster still as fresh tracks appeared and the faint sounds of steel clashing rang through the forest. Ignoring the wet branches and the way her hood was pulled back by a stray branch to reveal her masked face to the world as she finally arrived on the edge of the scene.

The women was fighting and holding her own rather well against the stronger opponent. Her black hair was wild and more than a little dirty, her dark blue eyes glaring coldly despite the panic within them. Her once white beige outfit was marred and covered in all manner of filth from running through the forest, the symbol on her right shoulder made Naruko frown in confusing before her mind returned to the fight as she went down, left arm bleeding and a sallow wound across her chest before a sharp slap sent her flying into the mud as Naruko frowned, realising something that should have been easy to spot.

The target was not carrying any kind of bag or the like, so that meant she could not have any documents pertaining to anything of importance. If it was her knowledge then why not simply make it a kill on sight order? Too little made sense in this story, and Naruko was in no mood to screw something up and kill an innocent. Better safe than sorry and all that jazz.

She leapt down from the tree, using the branch as a spring board as she shot forwards towards the man who turned just in time to receive a knife to the shoulder as her foot crashed into his chest, fracturing the entire left side of his rib cage and sending him smashing into a tree as she flipped back without landing in the mud.

"Who the fuck're you?" he snarled, the scar on his face twisting as he growled threateningly at her. She just waited for him to move. And suddenly he shot forwards, swinging his blade and unmindful of the treacherousness of the slippery mud underfoot as she twisted away from the blow, the lack of friction on his feet causing him to go well off balance before she slammed a knife into the base of his skull and he dropped dead on the ground. A faint gurgle being the last sound he made as his life escaped him and the air in his lungs vanished.

Naruko stood up and turned to the woman who was watching her with a cold gaze despite the sweat on her forehead and the dilation of her pupils. Naruko just sucked her teeth and crouched down by the dead body, quickly searching his pockets she pulled out a bag and chuckled to herself at the weight of it. Pulling off his katana she put it on her own back before pulling her knife from the back of his skull and wiping it down.

Twirling it in her hand she sat down on a log and pulled out a cigarette, putting it in her mouth as she lit it with a match struck against the rough bark of the tree. She sighed as she exhaled the foul tasting smoke, even as she felt her muscles relax and her mind sharpen slightly, the blade in her hand still dancing to her whims as she took a moment to chill out before opening her eyes to look at the woman in front of her, still kneeling on the ground and looking at her, golden earrings glinting in the faint light as the sun struggled the force its way through the clouds.

"Who are you?" she asked in a clipped tone befitting of a doctor. Naruko just sighed and blew out another cloud of smoke. She wonder why it was that she always seemed to be either very lucky for unfortunate with nothing in-between, it wasn't like she wanted to rescue people all the time, regardless of her code and what it said.

"Hey" the woman said almost indignantly as Naruko ignored her. She sighed as she flicked away the butt of her cigarette and stood up, calmly slipping her blade into its holster on her hip in one smooth motion before walking over to her

"My name is Naruko" she said as she offered the woman a hand

"...Mai" she replied at length as she took the offered hand, standing up on shaky legs and wincing slightly, not that Naruko didn't see.

"I know" she said

"You're here for the bounty" Mai stated with a glare and Naruko shrugged

"Not anymore" she said as she stretched slightly and sighed as her points popped under the welcome strain

"Not anymore?" she asked as though not quite grasping what Naruko meant. Naruko took off her cloak to wrap Mai up; Mai nodded in thanks at the gesture, her nod as clipped and short as her speech.

"Yeah, there's no real reason for that rather generous bounty to be honest. You're not carrying papers or anything and nor are you a particularly good fighter, so there's no reason to hand you over since you're most likely not guilty of anything other than pissing someone powerful off"

"I see"

"I wonder about that. Regardless, we need to get you somewhere warm before you really start getting cold"

"There's a town..."

"Two hours walk away to the north east, yes I am aware. I can read maps"

"No need to snap"

"Hmm, well whatever, at least I didn't come out this totally empty handed so that's fine. Are you going to be able to walk?"

"What'd you mean?"

"Your ankle, you injured it a little ways back, and running on it can't of helped it out at all"

"How did you..."

"Easy enough, there were signs of someone falling and skidding a ways, though the way the imprint looked it was as though someone had gone sideways on their foot"

"...You're a hunter?"

"Used to just hunt animals, decided I needed a bit of a challenge"

Naruko crouched down in front of her and Mai climbed on, her wet clothes seeping through to Naruko's shirt and making her shiver slightly

"Damn your cold" she muttered before starting a fast pace as Mai seemed to relax in her hold and press against her a little tighter

"Your warm" she muttered, obvious exhausted from running all night. Not that it had really done her any good.

"I should be" Naruko muttered gently as she retraced her steps through the forest. The reason she had gotten so lost yesterday night had been the bloody storm, it wasn't exactly easy to get around when there was no light and the rain was so heavy that you could not see five inches in front of you, let alone see any tracks that were not obliterated by its unrelenting assault.

"What're we going to do?" Mai asked, obviously trying to stay awake by talking. Naruko just shrugged slightly

"Don't know, get a room, some new clothes and tools, and then I'll be heading on to the next target" she said and Mai was silent for a moment

"You're a bounty hunter"

"That's right"

"There aren't a lot of bounties here anymore"

"There are always bounties to collect. The fact that numerous mercenary and bandit groups have been gathering here gives me quite the selection with whom to kill next"

Mai seemed to shiver, but whether out of fear of her or the cold Naruko didn't know, so she just held onto her tighter and moved a little faster.

"Where did you come from then?" Mai then asked and Naruko sighed

"Twenty questions? Fine, I was born in Konoha, as much as I'd prefer it not to be the case. However I was brought up in Wave with my adoptive parents before I left to start hunting" she said and Mai nodded against her shoulder, where her head was resting

"Do you miss them?" she asked, though Naruko could tell there was little interest behind the words

"Sometimes. But what about you? You're a researcher for someone important, however there is a distinct lack of military positions here in Grass, so just who did you piss off?" she asked and Mai was silent for a while before replying

"The snake" she replied and Naruko looked at her in surprise

"Wow, that's impressive. Though I'm wondering exactly how you managed that"

"It's confidential" she said and Naruko scoffed

"Suit yourself then. We'll be there soon anyway so just get some rest" she said and not five minutes later Mai's breathing evened out and she fell asleep.

The sun was high in the sky, a blurry ball of white in the grey blanket that covered the sky from horizon to horizon. The wind was steadily picking back up to a gale and the scent of rain was in the air as the inhabitants of the town sought shelter from the coming storm and it's apparent fury. Like someone had royally pissed off the God of Thunder.

Naruko walked into the town with her cargo on her back, not worried that anyone would really bother her. After all there was n way they would be able to tell that it was Mai from all the mud and the like that clung to her and her clothes. She was still wrapped tightly around Naruko and apparently had no desire to let go of her source of warmth.

As such Naruko trudged over to a fairly small inn and strode through the door, shaking her hood down as she entered and walked over to the woman who looked about as bored and tired as Naruko felt

"Excuse me?" Naruko asked pleasantly, hoping the woman would not snap at her and piss Naruko off even more than she already was

"Yeah?" she responded, apparently not snapping at Naruko who sighed internally in relief

"Can I get a room for two?" she asked

"Two nights?"

"Yeah"

Naruko handed her a small bag of coins and she nodded after counting them, barely even registering the fact that Naruko was carrying someone on her back, not that she seemed either surprised or curious about it, probably came with the job. The woman handed Naruko a key and Naruko smiled warmly at her, noticing the woman's slight blush as she walked away, wondering what she could do next before her cargo woke up.

"What?" Mai suddenly muttered just as Naruko put her on the bed, careful to sit her up so she didn't ruin the bed sheets, since the last thing she wanted was to have to go and find more

"You awake?" she asked as she fished some rations out of her small bag

"Yeah?" Mai responds with a yawn before her eyes sharpen at the unfamiliar surroundings

"Are we in a hotel?" she asked and Naruko nodded

"I need some rest and so do you"

"Really?" she asked, as though Naruko held some other reason for bringing her here. Naruko frowned but kept her mouth shut, her exhaustion was making her more edgy than normal and she didn't really want to get into a verbal sparring match with someone that held that sharp a tongue.

"What now then?" the woman asked as Naruko remained standing and ate, passing some to Mai despite the annoyance bubbling within her at the woman

"Now we can either sleep or go and get you some different clothes" Naruko said and Mai looked down at her mud caked clothes, it was fairly clear what she wanted to do before she opened her mouth

"New clothes" she said and Naruko nodded, trying not to seem too weary at the woman's coolness or clipped tone.

"Alright then, can you walk now?" she asked and Mai hissed as she put her foot on the ground "fine then, looks like I'm carrying you again, let me get ready" she said as she slipped on her black shoes, feeling Mai watching her like a hawk the whole time

"What?" she asked she stood and turned to face Mai "what's so interesting?" she asked and Mai shook her head

"Nothing" she replied with a slight bite to her tone and Naruko sighed and shook her head

"Fine then" she said before picking her up so she was on her back.

She walked out into the oncoming storm and ignored the strong winds as she walked across the street to a small clothing store that no doubt sold some more dangerous merchandise as well. It wasn't exactly uncommon on the boarders, what with the numbers of mercenaries, ninja's and bounty hunters flowing through, especially in areas like Grass where large numbers of criminals often went due to the rough nature of the terrain and the people, it was easy to get lost here.

Naruko put Mai down on a chair and sat down herself with a sigh

"Aren't you going to help me?" Mai asked as though she was demanding it, Naruko looked at her and shook her head

"After everything I've just done there's no way that's happening. Just be careful with your foot" she said before standing and walking away

"Where..."

"To but some tools" Naruko called back before Mai could finish her question as she walked over to the counter

"Weapons?" the balding man asked as he noticed her katana, she nodded before passing the weapon over. He didn't ask where she had gotten it; he just paid her and then set about giving her what she asked for in terms of sharpening equipment, knives and the like.

Eventually Naruko was mostly done with her own shopping and walked back to where Mai was to find her still sitting down and looking a little lost

"What's the matter?" Naruko asked kindly as she crouched down in front of Mai who seemed to notice her and gain a little confidence back

"I-I can't stand" she muttered and Naruko nodded before lifting her in her arms, causing Mai to gasp

"Y-you could've just supported me" she said almost indignantly. Naruko just looked at her

"That would've taken forever, so stop complaining for a moment and choose what you want, I am paying after all" she said and Mai settled down with a nod before taking hold of some clothes

"Do you want to try them on?" Naruko asked and Mai nodded

"Are you..." Mai started to ask only to trail off

"Only if you want me to" Naruko replied seriously and Mai looked away for a moment

"I should be fine" she said and Naruko nodded while putting her down in front of the changing booths before sitting down and waiting for Mai to finish, the sounds of stone against metal ringing through the shop as she expertly sharpened the blades she had acquired.

She was not a fan of knives or the like, they could chip or snap if poorly made, whereas the human body could repair itself and rarely failed if kept in proper condition unlike quite a few blades she had handled in her career, that had kindly snapped or splintered when stabbed into someone or used to block a strike by someone else.

Such things irritated her to no end. But now she apparently had attained a new source of irritation, while she did not blame Mai for being distrustful or the like she found it mildly irritating to be treated like someone that should be doing something simply because Mai said so. People like that rarely survived long in this sort of world, after all, learning who to bow your head to and when to keep your mouth shut was a very important part of business down in the dark underworld. She had seen more than one slave trade going on in the Land of Fire, despite its claims to be clamping down on such illegal trades and the like.

Things like that were often run be very powerful individuals whose reach could quite easily resort in the total destruction of you and everything that you held dear. It had happened more than once, usually to some vigilantly who thought that taken on a crime lord was a good idea. She didn't like those kinds of trades, but she knew enough to keep her mouth shut about them, one had to be in a very high position of power, or at least highly respected, before they could even think about touching something as well established as that kind of trade.

After all, if you want to make enemies, try to change something.

"How's this?" Mai asked as she showed Naruko her new outfit. Naruko did wonder quite as to why Mai was showing her and asking for her approval, the woman seemed quite head strong and Naruko had now real desire to sit here and go through numerous outfits. The job she did quickly took that desire out of you until you only stayed in one place for as long as needed before quickly moving on. After all, you didn't want enemies finding you and killing you after you finished pissing them off something serious.

"It's fine" Naruko said as she looked her up and down. The gold earrings were still in place but now she was wearing a white shirt with a black dragon on the back and jeans, though she was also holding some black trousers in her hand. Naruko nodded to prove her point and stood up

"Okay then" Mai said, seemingly satisfied now that Naruko had approved her selection of clothes

"Do you want something to cover your face with?" Naruko then asked and Mai looked at her in confusion

"Huh?" she asked and Naruko smiled slightly

"A mask or something, you do still have a bounty on your head after all" she said and Mai seemed to blink at that apparent revelation that had slipped her mind somewhat. She nodded and Naruko smiled while picking up a black partial face mask that would hide the bottom half of her face from the casual observer. Also she picked up a light beige jacket with a hood just in case before paying for it all.

"Do you do this often?" Mai asked her as they walked out of the shop, she was on Naruko's back once again as Naruko turned away from their inn and instead decided to walk down to a small restaurant

"Sometimes" Naruko told her

"Really? I though all bounty hunters were the same" she muttered and Naruko hummed in thought

"Most of us are just bloodthirsty bastards with a need for riches; however others of us adhere to our own personal codes. Though many abandon those once they realise how hard it is to survive with that sort of code hanging over you all the time" she explained and Mai looked at her as she put Mai down and helped her into a seat as Naruko took the one opposite her and flagged down a waitress to order.

"And you haven't abandoned it yet?" Mai asked and Naruko smiled at her again

"If I had you wouldn't be alive right now. Your bounty would've been enough to keep me going for another few weeks" Naruko told her as she sipped at her drink

"Why didn't you take it then?" Mai asked and Naruko looked at her before sighing

"Because of my code and the fact that I cannot take innocent lives if it is possible"

"If it is possible? What'd you mean?"

"Sometimes a life will be taken accidently or in order to pull out the real target" Naruko said and Mai nodded

"I see" she muttered

"But then again, if you were working for the Snake then I suspect you'd know plenty about that" Naruko said and watched as Mai sunk in her seat a little

"...I ran off" she muttered and Naruko leant forwards a little to listen in "he was ordering us to torture children and the like in order to experiment with how to improve the bodies pain tolerance. Most of my colleges went along with it, those that didn't were killed. I ran after they started. I couldn't do anything so I ran"

"I see, and that's why he doesn't want you to escape. If you do then you can start the rumour mill started, and if someone does find one of his bases then the whole world will know that he's here and will come knocking"

"Yes"

"Well at least you didn't conform like the rest of them"

"What'd you mean?"

"When people are in a situation like that they tend to conform to the group, I'm guessing Orochimaru knew this would happen. Did he tell them not to worry? That he would take care of it?"

"Yeah, he said that they were helping everyone"

"Sounds about right. That's known as agentic shift; they see themselves as agents of another and therefore not responsible for their own actions" Naruko said before shrugging as Mai watched her east slowly

"How'd you know that?" Mai then asked her and Naruko sighed

"I was home schooled, but even a bounty hunter like me knows the value of information, whatever the reason may be"

"So you learned psychology?"

"You'd be surprised how often it crops up in a day to day life"

"I see

"I wonder. But nonetheless at least we've got everything done now"

"...They'll come after me again"

"Of course they will, you're a threat. However they can't be too obvious about it so you'll be safe once you're out of the country"

"What about you?"

"What about me? I killed another bounty hunter and you got away, that's all there is to that story"

"Do you always do this for those you rescue?"

"The whole 'hero' thing? Pretty much, though it's dulled a little lately"

"Really"

"Yes, this life is not for the faint hearted Mai, neither is working for the sannin"

"...Whatever"

"Fine then"

Naruko went back to her meal when it was clear that Mai was not in the mood for any further conversation. Then again Naruko did not really want to talk to her again anyway, her clipped tone and arrogance was beginning to grate on her already strained patience, a stress only increased from the lack of sleep and constant pressures this life was putting on her. For now she had no need for an argument, she simply wanted to have a decent meal and then go to sleep so she could leave tomorrow.

Eventually they finished their meal and went back to the inn where Naruko waited for Mai to finish her shower. She sat on the edge of the bed, slowly twirling her knife while wondering if she should have another smoke or not to ease some of the tension in her body.

She decided against it, it was not exactly productive to her health and they were not the least expensive things around anyway.

The bathroom door clicked open and Mai hobbled out, dressed in her new clothes

"Need some..."

"No thank you" Mai cut off Naruko's offer of assistance and she felt her patience nearly snap, if her long years of practice had not managed to grab them and tie them back together. But still, her annoyance was only lessened. At the very least the others she had helped had been willing to accept her help or where at least polite about it.

She sighed and shrugged on her jacket

"Where're you going?" Mai demanded and Naruko sighed as she lit up another smoke, figuring she'd need it if this was going to keep on happening

"Out" she said simply

"You're leaving"

"Not yet"

"But you will

"My code will hold me here for a while longer, but I will leave tomorrow"

"...Are you hunted?"

"Yes and no. But all the same I shall leave"

"I cannot walk"

"That's not my issue at the moment"

"So your code is a load of crap after all"

Naruko snapped. The cigarette was bitten in two and she whirled to face Mai, killing intent beating on the air like the wings of some great beast as her eyes turned cold and merciless. Mai's eyes shot wide as Naruko advanced towards her.

"I've had enough of you" she gritted out through clenched teeth "I have no obligation to be here and yet you demand of me like I'm a servant" she hissed, Mai unable to do anything but watch as Naruko advanced upon her

"N..."

"Don't speak to me" Naruko cut her off brutally as she came face to face with her, their breaths mingling with their proximity. "I am beyond irritated with you, at least the others were polite, but you...I should have left you to the wolves"

Naruko stood up and grabbed her bag, slinging it over her shoulder she flicked the ruined cigarette butt in to a nearby bin and strode over to the door, mindless of the wind and rain beginning to build in strength and ferocity outside the warmth of the inn.

Her eyes kept focused forwards as she walked out of the door and walked down the stairs to the first floor. The clerk said nothing to her as she passed, apparently realising that Naruko was in no mood for anything but getting away from the source of her irritation at that moment, lest she find herself violating her own code and delivering her dead body to Orochimaru herself.

She stepped out into the rain and raised her face to feel the cold wetness of its touch, feeling as it cooled her temper and she took a deep breath of the damp air that smelt clean and fresh. Shaking herself as she sensed someone behind her, she turned towards the gate she had come through that day only to find a pair of arms around her and a shaking body clinging to her.

"What is it?" she said, her voice nearly lost in the scream of nature all around them as Mai continued to hold onto her tightly and shake with either fear or tears.

"Stay" Mai muttered against Naruko's back "please...don't leave me to the wolves" she muttered as Naruko felt the warmness of her tears through the fabric of her back. She sighed as she felt her heart pound before crushing it with a brutal efficiency.

"I've had enough" Naruko told her and Mai nodded

"I'm sorry" she muttered "so sorry, but please, let me explain" she begged and Naruko grit her teeth before sighing and turning around to gather Mai up into her arms and carry her back inside of the inn and out of the freezing rain, noticing that she had apparently run down the stairs, if the look of pain on her face was anything to go by.

"So tell me" Naruko said as she gently rewrapped Mai's damaged ankle, taking care to not pull it any tighter than it needed to be

"I...I was frightened" Mai admitted to Naruko, her clipped and cool tone breaking for once as Naruko kept on working methodically, nodding to show she was listening as she gently checked that everything was as it should be "in the snakes home everyone is out for themselves, its filled with bandits and thieves and murderers, all trained to follow him loyally"

"Sounds about right for him" Naruko muttered as she placed Mai's ankle onto the bed

"However there aren't a lot of women there"

"So the men take what they can get. I see" Naruko said as she sighed and threw off her jacket which was damp from all of the rain once again

"I was used to them always wanting something, no matter how good they seemed or what good deed they did" Mai explained as Naruko sat on the edge of the bed, watching Mai's face as it looked away from her gaze

"So you thought I wanted something as well?" Naruko asked as she brushed some of Mai's night black hair out from her eyes

"Yes" Mai admitted simply and Naruko sighed but nodded

"Alright then, I'm sorry for snapping"

"No. I should be apologising, I...you were only trying to help and I was rude"

"Well at least you can admit it"

"Sorry"

"Enough of that. We're both a little tired, so why don't you get some sleep while I'm here

"Um..."

"I'll still be here when you wake up; I've got nothing to do at the moment anyway"

"...Thank you Naruko-chan"

"Don't worry about it"

Naruko watched as Mai fell into a dreamless slumber, stroking her silky hair as she watched her sleep before climbing onto the bed and pulling Mai to her, watching as she immediately latched onto her warmth and seemed to settle down even deeper into her slumber.

Naruko sighed as she leant back with Mai's head on her shoulder and looked up at the ceiling.

She had no love for the snake sannin or anything he wanted. He was an unknown factor, though it did explain why there were so few bandits or bounties in Grass, for all its reputation of a land of criminals and thieves. Not that Naruko was complaining, it meant less problems for her and less dark things for her to bear witness to.

She had hardened her heart to the world already. However even if that happened she found no respite from the pain when she saw another poor fool brought low by bandits and those who fancied themselves having rights to any kinds of privileges or power over others. It made little difference in the end she found, be you a king or a street sweeper, everyone dances with the grim reaper.

She shook her head of dark thoughts and shifted Mai so that she was no longer cutting of the circulation to her arm, which was the last thing she needed at the moment. After all you never knew when a ninja or some other foe could leap out unexpectedly and part your head from the company of your body.

It had happened more than one when she was sleeping, and she had no desire to ever let that happen again, it had been awkward enough without the ninja apparently being only a Chunin and therefore rather unused to opponents as skilful as her. His body had been slashed and burned to make sure, along with all the clothing and a buried headband to make doubly sure no one ever guessed that he was a ninja. It paid to be paranoid in her line of work after all.

A little while later and Mia stirred. Blinking she turned her dark blue eyes up to Naruko, blinked once and then sighed before resuming her position, body relaxing as she snuggled against her. Naruko nearly laughed out loud, the controlling and rather arrogant doctor/researcher curling up into her with an expression that made her extremely cute and more than a little difficult to resist, especially with her breath washing over the skin of her neck.

She shrugged it off

"Naruko?" Mai asked, still somewhat drowsy as she turned back up to face Naruko who nodded

"Yeah it's me" Naruko replied

"Good" Mai muttered a she yawned slightly, Naruko watching her carefully, ready to move if she took their positions the wrong way. Although it appeared that she was totally fine with it.

"You okay?" Naruko asked her and Mai nodded

"Yeah, just a little drowsy" she muttered and Naruko nodded, it was easy to see after all.

"You want something to eat?" she asked and Mai shook her head

"Not right now" she muttered as she finally sat up fully and stretched before sighing "did you get any sleep?" she asked and Naruko smiled while shaking her head

"Don't fret, I'm used to it"

"What? Waiting for other people to wake up?" Mai asked with a raised eyebrow and Naruko chuckled

"No, being in one place for a long period of time, I am a hunter after all, in case you'd forgotten that important titbit of information" she said and Mai looked slightly embarrassed

"I see" she muttered

"Hmm, I'm sure. Well whatever, now that you're awake I can get on"

"With what?"

"Sharpening my tools and making sure I have enough money to last the week" Naruko told her bluntly as she moved off to one side of the room and brought out a number of tools and began to go through each and every tool with a methodical eye and hand, so that no tool was left unsearched or unsharpened.

"You're rather intense when you're doing that" Mai admitted and Naruko shot her a smile

"I'm sure. I need to make sure they're all up to scratch otherwise it'll be a problem in the future" she told Mai who nodded at the explanation

"Your rather patient Naruko-chan" Mai said and Naruko chuckled

"Maybe, I do need it for my job after all, but I wonder how patient I actually am?"

"You're taking the time to explain this to me" Mai pointed out and Naruko smiled at her once again

"That's because I've got nothing better to do and you're a rather good audience" she said Mai raised an eyebrow but said nothing

"What're you going to do today then?" she asked and Naruko shrugged

"Clean my tools and do some book keeping like I said, I won't be leaving this room if that's what your worried about" Naruko told her and Mai nodded, looking thoughtful for quite a while as Naruko watched her with a curious expression on her face before shrugging and going back to her sharpening of her tools.

She could feel Mai watching her but did nothing to discourage it, it wasn't like she had anything else to do while they were here, at least until her ankle was healed more than it already was

"Can you use healing chakra?" Naruko asked Mai who looked at her for a moment

"Sort of" she replied and Naruko raised an eyebrow in question but said nothing

"Then can you heal your ankle?" she asked and Mai blinked and looked troubled at something

"I...can" she replied and Naruko sighed

"I won't leave because your ankles no longer a problem, I've got at least another day before I need to leave" she explained to the girl who calmed at her response

"What about yesterday then?" Mai asked and Naruko shrugged a shoulder

"I just wanted to get on and get some money, I don't like being perpetually poor you know" Naruko replied with a small smile and Mai smiled back, apparently much more relaxed than she had been yesterday, what with Naruko nearly leaving and all.

"Okay then" she muttered before beginning to heal the partially fractured bones in her ankle. Naruko watched her lazily for a few moments before turning to her kit and beginning to clean the last of her tools.

She finished up fairly quickly and turned to face Mai who was watching her once again, though the faraway look in her eyes made it seem that she was looking through, rather than at, her. Naruko sighed and sat down next to her once again

"What's wrong?" she asked softly and Mai blinked before looking up at her

"Nothing" she said after a small pause, Naruko raised an eyebrow before shrugging and moving down to bed to look at her ankle

"How is it?" she asked as she gently rotated it and watched as Mai winced a little but no more than that

"Tender" she said and Naruko

"How long?"

"Another day, no more than that. I can walk on it, just not run or anything overly strenuous"

"I see, well then you can stay in bed for the day"

"You're not going anywhere today"

"I know, but I've got enough reading material to keep me busy for a little while yet"

Naruko reached into her bag and pulled out a plain looking book with beige covers

"Bingo book" Mai said and Naruko nodded as she flipped through the pages, noting the red crosses through different profiles along with coloured tags that she had put in there herself to mark varying levels of possible targets.

"An expensive bugger, ninjas can get one for free but don't like civilians getting in the way of their business, so we have to pay a pretty penny to get it"

"All those tags are..."

"Possible targets for me in the future. With green being the easiest, amber being the ones that I'm actually going to go after, and red being the ones I should run away from"

"Run away? I thought you were strong?"

"I am, just not suicidal, so I'll run if I meet some of these guys. Especially since some of them are liable to have a veritable army with them"

"I see"

"Hmm, well then, I'm all set"

"I've got nothing to do"

"...Read it with me then"

"Fine"

Later that night Naruko was sat by the window. Mai had fallen asleep while reading the book, not that Naruko could blame her, and Naruko had finally found a chance to meditate and wonder about what she was going to do next.

So she sat next to the window, the pale moonlight streaming in through the glass illuminated everything with a faint silver outline that made everything stand out in sharp contrast. Naruko sighed as she held up a hand that was bathed in the light, turning it over as her mind ran away with itself in examining various possibilities and plans for the near future.

She supposed that she would head on to the islands off of the coast of Wave. She had a few jobs waiting for her there and had heard about several pirate bands gathering in some of the areas, she knew that it would not be hard for her to get some of the captains, and some of the islands in that area were fairly rich and slightly helpless. It seemed like a good idea but she would have to be careful of some of the authority in there, they were not above trading with said pirates to make ends meet.

She sighed and looked over at Mai whose dark eyes she suddenly found were open and watching her with an intent that made her slightly uncomfortable

"Did I wake you?" Naruko asked softly and Mai shook her head as she sat up, yawning

"I couldn't sleep any more" she said and Naruko nodded

"Worried?" she asked and Mai shook her head

"A little, but as long as I'm careful I know I'll be fine" she explained and Naruko nodded

"That's good" she said before moving over to sit on the bed next to Mai who continued to watch her carefully, as though she was waiting for something

"Could I ask you something?" Mai said and Naruko nodded

"Of course"

"Will you...make love to me?" she asked and Naruko frowned.

It was not that the request itself was strange, she was aware that Mai was indeed human under that guise of a hard, cold, calculating medical researcher working for a man that was rather famed for his lack of morals and ethics. What was confusing was the fact that Mai was asking her, who not twelve hours ago had stormed out of the room in fury.

"Why?" Naruko asked as she stroked Mai's hair. The woman shifted and put her head in Naruko's lap before looking up at her

"Because I trust you to do the right thing and because I like you" she said and Naruko raised an eyebrow, wondering why it was that so many people seemed to give her the same answer every time she asked.

"Interesting" she muttered before gently stroking her cheek as Mai closed her eyes and leaned it to the caress

"Will you?" Mai asked softly and Naruko hummed in thought for a moment

"I won't say no to a beautiful woman if she really wants it, but I need to be sure" she said and Mai nodded, as though anticipating that answer already.

"Do it" she whispered "better you than some thug, and rather you than some man" she said and Naruko raised an eyebrow with a small smirk on her face

"Someone's already thought this through" she said and Mai blushed slightly

"I knew you'd want confirmation" she muttered and Naruko nodded

"I understand" she said "but how's the ankle?" she asked and Mai looked up at her curiously

"It's fine, so long as I don't do too much with it" she said and Naruko nodded, filing away the information for what was to happen next.

Naruko shifted her so she was sitting on Naruko's lap. Mai blushed softly but did not resist as Naruko thought she might of. She gently took Mai's arms and wrapped them around her neck before putting her own arms around Mai's waist and hugging her so that their faces nearly touched

"Naruko" Mai softly whimpered and Naruko smiled warmly, causing the girl to flush

"Shh, I'll be gentle" she whispered soothingly and Mai nodded

"I know" she replied before Naruko kissed her.

The kiss was tender, Naruko brushing her lips over Mai's until she replied and they met in earnest. Naruko was patient and waited until Mai had relaxed against her while holding her close before she swiped her tongue over Mai's lips much to the woman's apparent surprise and pleasure. Naruko's own hands took up places on Mai's neck and lower back, the one on her neck gently rubbing the flesh so she moaned softly as the other held her close and stopped her from escaping her grasp.

Mai opened her mouth and Naruko's tongue darted in, caressing and playing with Mai's own while plundering her mouth as Mai moaned and held on to Naruko tighter and tighter. Naruko just continued while caressing Mai's back gently, fingertips dancing along her spine as she let Mai enjoy herself for the moment.

Eventually they both had to pull back for air. Naruko wasted no time in pulling off her own shirt while making sure to hold Mai close. Mai gasped and twisting in the embrace slightly, even as Naruko got to kissing her again, hands still gently caressing her back until one moved under her shirt and lightly traced the smooth flesh of Mai's stomach.

Mai moaned into the kiss softly, twisting to pull away to pull off her own shirt, Naruko immediately pulling her back gently, kissing her again as her hands began tracing all over Mai's torso; running down her back before moving forwards to trace the smooth toned stomach, careful to avoid her chest for now. Her fingertips gently traced her neck, the gentle action causing Mai to gasp and instinctively tilt her head back.

Naruko pulled away from the kiss to start kissing Mai's neck even as Mai gave in and let Naruko do whatever she wanted with her body for now.

"So good" she whimpered and Naruko gently pulled her head back down to kiss her as her other hand removed the wrappings that held her own breasts in place, causing Mai to moan when they touched her stomach just below her own bust.

"So beautiful" Naruko whispered when they broke for air once again, Mai whimpered again and Naruko went straight back to kissing her as she removed Mai's bra and allowed their breasts to push against one another.

Mai groaned and pushed her chest against Naruko harder as Naruko held her close with one hand as the other hands ran up and down her side, fingertips tracing her ribs and causing her to moan into their kiss as her own hands remained around Naruko's neck, holding her close as they kissed again.

"Someone likes kissing" Naruko said somewhat breathlessly as she pulled back to see Mai watching her with glassy eyes

"Huh?" she replied and Naruko purred before kissing her again as she reached down to cup Mai's ass. Growling into the kiss as she felt the firm but supple flesh in her hand, the growl causing Mai to shiver in delight as she shifted in their embrace again.

"Take them off" Naruko said softly, making sure to soften her tone so it didn't sound like an order. Mai just shivered and pulled away reluctantly to quickly pull off her trousers before climbing straight back in to Naruko's lap and kissing her again.

Naruko growled as she felt the warm flesh under her hands. Gripping it firmly she pulled Mai closer still, feeling the woman's wet heat brush against the tip of her erection as she shuddered and fought to restrain her raging hormones, taking several deep breaths before wrapping an arm around Mai's waist, placing the other on her firm ass, before she pulled her towards her and up.

She heard Mai gasp as she buried her head into the woman's bust and began to lick, kiss, and suck at the soft flesh she found herself in. Quickly locating the tips, sucking them and lavishing them with attention from her tongue she listened to Mai's moans change pitch as her pleasure suddenly flared, causing Naruko to growl into her tit and struggle to continue to hold herself back.

She reached down and released her erection from its confines, allowing herself to gently rub Mai's pussy, still covered, against it as she felt Mai shiver.

She shifted her attention when she felt Mai touch her head softly

"What is it?" she asked softly, as though the heat running through her wasn't affecting her at all.

"More" Mai hissed softly and Naruko chuckled before kissing her as she reached down and began to slowly stroke Mai through her underwear.

Naruko didn't need to ask to know this was what Mai had been after. And so she continued a slow steady pace that had Mai moaning and twisting as it continued.

"More" Mai hissed but Naruko ignored her, instead she pressed in a little harder and used her thumb to rub her clit through the fabric as well.

Mai twisted above her and Naruko growled softly at the feeling of dampness on her fingers, and Mai's scent began to saturate the air even as she leaned up and captured her lips in a searing kiss that left Mai panting and glassy eyed even as Naruko's fingers continued their relentlessly measured pace on Mai who twisted and squirmed as she grew closer and closer to the edge.

It wasn't long before Mai suddenly froze; moaning loudly as she finally went over the edge. The wetness on Naruko's fingers increasing as she gently brought her down from her orgasmic high.

"Good?" she asked and Mai nodded somewhat numbly as Naruko chuckled and tore Mai's underwear away to expose her pussy before she sucked the wetness off of her fingers, causing Mai's eyes to widen and her face to flush even deeper before Naruko reached down and deftly slipped a couple of fingers into Mai's heated depths.

Mai just moaned and jerked her hips forwards as best she could to meet Naruko's fingers as Naruko caressed and probed her insides, feeling the walls around her fingers tighten and squeeze down rhythmically as she allowed her thumb to rub across her clit, careful not to over stimulate her as she did so.

Mai threw her head back and moaned loudly as Naruko then attacked her neck while her other hand kept her close while she gyrated and rocked her hips, trying to seek more and more pleasure from the searching digits that writhed inside of her, searching and finding as many nerve centres as they could.

Naruko just growled and bit down on Mai's pulse point, sucking hard as she struggled to pull herself back from the abyss, her cock being completely rigid by this point as she fought not to simply push into Mai and satisfy herself.

Eventually she felt Mai's insides tighten dramatically as she moaned loudly once again before slumping onto Naruko who gently kissed her ear and side of her head, causing Mai to turn to engage her in another tender kiss that caused Mai to moan softly while pushed her hips down and towards Naruko, causing the lips of her pussy to rub against the head of Naruko's cock.

Naruko growled softly before pulling away and looking straight into Mai's eyes as they pressed their foreheads together.

"You sure?" Naruko asked, she wasn't entirely sure that she could stop by this point, but it was better to ask than just to go ahead, not that she was anticipating Mai to say no.

"Yeah" Mai answered softly and Naruko sighed while gently putting both her hands underneath Mai's ass before lifting Mai up so the head of her cock rested just outside of her pussy, just barely pushing in as Mai moaned above her and held onto her shoulders.

Naruko moved so Mai's head was resting on her shoulder and her arms were wrapped around her middle. Then she began to slowly drop Mai who groaned at the intrusion of Naruko's thing into her heated depths.

Naruko muted her own soft sounds of pleasure as she pushed into her unbelievably tight depths, struggling for control as she pushed in deeper and deeper until finally she was fully sheathed inside of Mai who was cooing and softly kissing her neck.

"You okay?" Naruko asked her softly while turning her head to kiss her face, Mai just gasped as Naruko kissed her cheek, jaw, eyes, nose and forehead before moving back to her lips, the action leaving Mai trembling slightly

"So good" Mai muttered, voice wavering as she obviously struggled to compose herself, well Naruko wasn't going to have that. She kissed her again before moving to her ear

"Let go" she whispered sensually and Mai shuddered in her arms before she kissed her again.

Naruko then gently lifted Mai's hips before dropping them again, listening to Mai's soft whimper as she pulled out, replaced by a loud moan as she pushed back into her. She was mindful of Mai's injury, hence why she was sat in her lap.

Eventually she felt Mai responding an moving her own hips, moaning loudly all the while as Naruko kept the pace measured, much to Mai's apparent annoyance.

"Faster" she whimpered and Naruko looked up from where she was sucking on her breast to shake her head slowly as Mai whimpered before throwing her head back as Naruko pushed back into her and sent pleasure racing through her body.

Eventually Mai came again, her pussy pulsing rhythmically around Naruko's cock as she put her head back onto Naruko's shoulder and shivered, gently biting down on the flesh there as Naruko whispered sweet nothings to her and held her close, brushing her sweaty hair and caressing her back

"Okay?" she asked and Mai moaned softly

"This is so good" she muttered "I love this" she whispered, rolling her hips forwards as Naruko sighed as pleasure raced up her spine

"Good" Naruko replied before she gently began to rock her hips, causing Mai to groan and respond by resting her head on Naruko's shoulder before starting to rock her own hips.

It wasn't long before they were back to their previous pace, though this time Naruko moved harder, the pressure in her own loins having now grown too much for her control to reign in as she thrust into Mai's pussy and held the woman as close as she physically could while kissing her.

It wasn't long before she felt herself near the edge. She growled and gently bit down on Mai's neck while pushing a single finger into her ass. She heard Mai gasp and then nothing as both of their orgasms hit them, Naruko feeling as Mai's pussy tightened up far more than it had last time, and Naruko sighed as she felt her cum flow into Mai's waiting womb.

Mai groaned as she felt warmth fill her womb, the knowledge of what it was and who it belonged to only further increased her pleasure.

Naruko pulled back and gently held Mai while kissing her sweaty face

"Good?" she asked again and Mai nodded somewhat tiredly against her

"So good" she moaned and Naruko chuckled

"You can sleep now" she whispered against Mai's ear and the woman moaned, turning to kiss Naruko again before slowly slipping off into sleep.

Naruko sighed and shuffled back until she felt the head of the bed against her back, she sighed and allowed herself to relax as she wrapped her arms around Mai, making sure she was both warm and comfortable. She took a breath and gently kissed Mai's shoulder and cheek before closing her eyes and allowing her mind to wander to plans for the future, and whether or not the butterfly effect would have anything to say about this meeting.

The following morning Naruko awoke to find Mai still asleep with her cock buried inside of her, her unusual stamina having allowed it to remain rigid the entire night. She sighed to herself and gently kissed Mai's face, doing it over and over again as Mai began to stir to full wakefulness.

She knew that she would be leaving in the evening as Mai's ankle would be healed and, therefore, her obligations would be fulfilled and she would be free to move on to other pastures and jobs that required her attention for the moment.

"Naruko-chan" Mai softly moaned, tilting her head so Naruko met her lips in a tender kiss that caused Mai to shiver slightly before slumping against her again.

"Good morning" Naruko whispered to Mai, who tilted her head to gently kiss Naruko's neck, as Naruko was whispering into Mai's ear.

"Mornin'" Mai muttered as she rolled her hips and moaned softly

"Again?" Naruko asked and Mai shuddered. Pussy fluttering as she did so

"Not right now" she muttered while resting her head back down

"Stay like this?" Naruko asked and Mai moaned softly while kissing her shoulder. Naruko took that to mean yes as she reached out and pulled her book off of the nightstand and got to reading while Mai apparently fell asleep once again.

It wasn't until later that night that Mai woke back up

"You awake?" Naruko asked and Mai nodded while softly gyrating her hips

"Now you want to do it?" Naruko asked. She was surprised that she still had feeling in her legs from how long she had had Mai resting on top of her, perhaps it was her fitness or something, she was wasn't an expert in those types of things after all.

"Yes" Mai hissed in response and Naruko growled softly as she spun Mai around and reached round of cup and begin to massage her breasts

"So horny" she said and Mai groaned

"Only because it's you" Mai said and Naruko got the unspoken message that Mai knew she'd be gone once Mai fell asleep once again.

"Fair enough" Naruko replied before gently thrusting up into Mai, causing her to moan loudly as she began to immediately move her hips, bending forwards as her eyes found Naruko's over her shoulder, smouldering with a lustful fire that Naruko had missed the first time

"Like it?" Mai asked as she leant further forwards so Naruko had a good view of her supple buttocks bouncing up and down as she moved.

Naruko growled and pulled Mai back flush against her, grabbing her breasts as she kissed her and continued to feed her short, hard thrusts that caused Mai to gasp each time Naruko thrust up into her.

"Like it?" Naruko parroted and Mai nodded before kissing her again

"More" she requested and Naruko smiled. Spinning so she could up Mai on the bed she lifted her bad leg up and put it onto her shoulder and began to thrust faster and harder into Mai whose eyes widened as she threw her head back and cried out as Naruko continued to pound away at her.

"This what you wanted?" Naruko asked, grunting slightly as Mai suddenly tightened up at her words

"Yes" Mai hissed softly as her breasts moved in time with each thrust while Naruko watched her with a warm expression, reaching down to gently caress her toned stomach even as she kissed her leg while caressing the calf.

Mai moaned at the gentle ministrations as they provided a sharp contrast to the relentless pace that Naruko was now pounding away with .Hammering her into the bed even as she cried out in her first orgasm and Naruko grunted while holding back from coming into the woman for a second time, sighing as she felt herself succeed, much to her relief.

"You didn't come" Mai muttered softly as she came down from her orgasmic high

"Nope" Naruko confirmed as she put Mai's leg down on the bed gently

"Why?" Mai asked softly and Naruko chuckled

"I prefer giving pleasure" she said before kissing Mai softly

"Then..." Mai said as she pressed her breasts together and looked cutely up at Naruko who chuckled and gently straddled her waist

"Comfortable?" she asked and Mai flushed a little before motioning for Naruko to go ahead

"Why'd you blush?" Naruko asked her as she slipped her cock in between the two mounds of soft flesh

"B-because, you're too kind" Mai muttered in response, whimpering as she pressed her breasts together, feeling the heat from Naruko's cock working its way through her breasts.

"Thank you" Naruko said, gently caressing Mai's cheek before beginning to thrust. Setting a slow steady pace as she usually did.

"So good" Naruko purred softly, gently caressing Mai as she continued to thrust, feeling herself growing closer and closer to the edge before finally coming.

She watched as Mai fixed her mouth around the head of her cock, gulping down mouthfuls of come as Naruko finally came down from her high and watched Mai clean herself up

"Okay?" Naruko asked and Mai nodded while sighing. She gasped as Naruko suddenly picked her up

"What?" she asked and Naruko chuckled

"Shower" she said and Mai shivered while tucking herself into Naruko's form, enjoying every minute of it.

The morning light streamed in through a gap in the curtains, spilling yellow light into the room as the lone occupant stirred and finally awoke from the lights insistent prodding.

She stretched and stood up slowly, testing her ankle on the floor as she stepped onto it and nodded to herself when it didn't throb in agony. She looked down to the side of the bed, a sliver of longing in her eyes which she shook off before noticing the neatly folded clothes and money sitting on the dresser, a note having been stuck to the mirror.

She walked over and examined herself while noticing, somewhat embarrassingly, that she now bore quite a prominent hickey on her neck from where her lover and got slightly overzealous, not that she had been complaining at all.

She then turned her attention to the note which contained a simply message wishing her well, that she would recover, and that she would find what she was looking for. On the back were a few inns listed; places that were apparently safe from some of the people that would still be looking to try and find her.

She sniffed but pocketed the letter; all the while wondering, even as she walked out of the inn, ignoring the faint blush on the receptionists face, whether or not she should carry on as she was, or try to repay the favour somehow.

Eventually she started walking. She decided that if they did cross paths once again she would stay, but until then she had herself to think of.

The End