Stripped

A/N: This is going to be a bit OOC and AU for Hinata. Just warning you, okay?

Eien Ryuu lit a cigarette. It was bad manners, but he could care less about what Tsunade had to say to his bad habits. She couldn't penetrate that thick crust of apathy that the Hanyou wore like a second skin. 'Like Lee's jumpsuit...' He thought, then hatefully pushed the memory out of his mind. Smoke swirled and twisted around the crest of his head like some travesty of a halo; he inhaled, his perpetually virgin lungs untainted by the nicotine. Cloves were nice.

Tsunade cleared her throat, quickly gaining Ryuu's attention. "You understand what I've called you here for, then?" The lack of sleep had decreased his interest.

"Umm...No, actually, I don't. It's been a while since you've sent me on a mission or anything like that."

"Well, you know of the Hyuuga clan, don't you?" Ryuu could acknowllege that he did.

"Yeah; I've heard about the massacre." He replied. "It was said of their own went rogue after the ordeal, threatening to find and destroy the one who brought the family's destruction."

The buxom blonde nodded affirmatively, pleased that her collegue's pupil and grandchild was well-informed about the goings-on of most of the Youkai families. Ironically, Ryuu was supposed to have an arranged marriage with a member of the Hyuuga clan; the blood was almost guaranteed to mix well, the girl's family being a race of Cat Youkai. She really wished that the mass killing hadn't taken place at all for his sake. Tsunade handed the Hanyou a photo of the girl.

"...She's cute." Ryuu placed the picture inside his shirt. "I suspect I won't be alone, will I?"

"Actually, a member of the Sand Village has offered to help."

Sand! In a sudden act of hate, Ryuu clenched his fists at the mention of such a place. He'd had enough of it and what it had brought to his life. ...Or rather what it had taken from it. Wrath had almost taken hold of him, hate almost tangibly spilling out of his pores like sweat or poison. The Hanyou was about to turn tail and leave when Tsunade reassured him:

"Relax--it's not Gaara, if that's who you were thinking." The Hanyou's expression softened...but slightly. Tsunade continued.
"You've worked with Kanurou before, haven't you? He says he wants repay you for his brother's stupidity."

"...It's not his fault."

"Goddammit. He really likes you, Ryuu. Let him help you on the assignment. Go out and party, spend a few nights in bed with the guy. And get your mind off Lee for Christ's sake..." At such a lurid statement, the Hanyou blushed. He'd remained celibate for around two months now.

Ryuu mushroom-sighed, folding his arms across his slim chest; his faceted eyes glittered. "I dunno whether I should thank you or not...Is he here?"

"Hai, hai. I told him you'd meet him around six tonight at Ichiraku's. You don't mind, do you?"

"No. Not really. I'm actually pleased to have someone other than dad to hang out with." A sad smile tugged at his lips. "...A vaction sounds pretty nice, come to think of it."

Only Ryuu would consider an assassination attempt to be a "vaction". Blah, but that was his father's influence. Amazing that the man was Gai's kid, how different the pair looked. Sure had the heavy eyebrows, though. No mistaking that resemblance.

As the Hanyou turned to leave, Tsunade smiled. It was a tragedy that Lee had to abandon him; the devoted, over-apologetic Ryuu was a perfect match for him and loved him more than anything. Still...she was one step closer to getting Ryuu back.

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