BFF 4

Dead silence.  The moment we left the city Hikage picked up her pace and vanished into the nearby dense forest, leaving me behind to wonder what's going on here.  I could barely make out where I was or how deep I ended up out here but I can't leave until I find her.  I kneeled and inspected a nearby shattered tree stump to see if I could find any clues that might help.  "I shouldn't expect to find anything, this is Hikage I'm chasing after all."  I honestly don't think I'll be able to find any trace of her unless I'm incredibly lucky or..."Hm?"  She intentionally leaves behind a sign, like a small bit of that red sweater I usually see her wearing.  There's no way she accidentally snagged herself on something this low.  I stood up in a rush and walked around in hopes of finding another hint she left behind.

"Too slow."

"Hika-"  I turned in the direction of her voice to see a small knife whiz past my head, close enough to where I could feel the wind it tore through, and into a tree behind me with a loud twang.  "If you wanted to fight all you had to do was ask!  Shinobi..."  Something isn't right here though, even though we fight on occasion Hikage's never accepted any of my challenges.  "...transformation!"  I immediately dashed towards the direction the knife flew from in hopes that I'd be able to catch to Hikage and unwind a bit.  The jagged rocks and uneven terrain were no problem for my greaves and any tree that got in my was splintered in an instant.  "Hyaaah!"  A nasty looking tree was in a small clearing of its own and while it wasn't directly in my way I kind of felt like knocking it down with a spinning kick, shattering it at the base horizontally and watched as it fell forward with a crash.

"Whoa."  Hikage, in her shinobi outfit, fell from the sky and gracefully landed on the dead log.  She looked around at the debris the tree caused and scratched the back of her head.   "Looks like you've gotten a little stronger.  That's good."  She licked her knife and began creeping towards me until her eyes flashed red and she vanished.  Or at least, it seemed like that but I managed to catch her soaring high to my right and bounding off a tree straight toward me with both hands holding her weapon!

I countered with a somersault kick and deflected her attack, sending her careening back towards the dead log on all fours.  "Of course I have!"  I exclaimed as I proudly stuck out my chest and pointed at her.  That clash got my blood pumping and it's just what I needed after a long day like today.  "I won't stop until I'm the best!  No, I can't stop!"  I ran forward as Hikage stood up with her knife in her mouth and I delivered the hardest leg blade kick I could with all my strength.  I may be open but with an attack like this it's either eat it or clear out of the way!

"Hm."  It was as if everything had gone into slow motion at that moment.  She let her knife drop from her mouth and tried to dodge me by ducking, but she wasn't fast enough and I made contact with her shoulder.

"Got you!"  I could feel the impact in my leg even though it was a totally clean hit and even she would've been sent flying from that.
Or so I thought.  She was completely unfazed and slithered past my attack, catching the knife in her mouth again and...and...I flinched at the last moment as her face approached mine and braced for the worst!  I didn't feel anything as I recovered and opened my eyes to see Hikage standing with her back to me, rotating her left shoulder until a sickening crunch echoed throughout the forest.  "A lot stronger."  She said as she casually tossed her knife...which had...a red stain on it...

Her cuts are clean and precise, of course I wouldn't notice until it was too late.  I finally noticed something trickling down my cheek and touched it to see...blood.  I wiped it away immediately and steeled myself; I can't let a little scratch like this bother me.  "Ha, it's going to take more than that to-"

Hikage turned and flashed a sinister smile, her eyes still glowing red, and mouthed something bolting off again.
"Quit running off like that!"  Even though I said that I ran after her with a big smile on my face like a fool.  I think she's leading me to an even more open area since the trees are beginning to thin out.  "Aha!"  After another leap I was finally free from that crowded forest and into the open...near a cliffside where Hikage stood waiting as she stared up at the moon.

She turned to me and the strange glow in her eyes, along with that crazed smile of hers, were gone and took a few steps toward me.  If this is where she wants to end our little duel then I'll be more than happy take her up on that.  Although...she's still walking towards me and she's probably expecting to charge at her.  Anyone would and that's exactly why I'm just going to stand here and smile.  Any second now.  She's still walking and I'm still waiting.  And now we're at arm's length and aaany second now she'll-"Feeling better?"

"I-wait, what?"  Did she just ask me how I was feeling?

"You look fine."  I didn't even get to properly answer before she was in my face inspecting the cut she made.

"Hikage, what's gotten into you?"  I tried to back up a little to give us some space but she followed my steps exactly and didn't miss a beat.  "I'll be fine if you're not counting this cut.  I don't think this will be going away anytime soon."

"It's my mark."  I got a little light headed and backed up again, this time into a tree.  She stroked my cheek and got so close I could feel her breath.  Her calm, short, controlled breaths that sent goosebumps down my spine for some reason.  "Why are you turning red?"

"B-because you're saying and doing weird things!"  I blurted out, trying to avoid Hikage's eyes.

"Ooh?"  There was genuine interest in the tone of her voice and that's what made the whole situation... even more awkward!  She gently placed her hands next to my shoulders preventing any escape and stared right at me.  I looked all over trying to avoid her gaze but it was no use and I finally gave in.  "I'm claiming my prey just like Haruka said I should."

Haruka.  Her name constantly repeated in my head I smirked and started laughing to myself.  I can't believe I thought Hikage was changing when it was just Haruka being her usual meddling self.  "Phew!  I was worried over nothing."  I tried to move but she wasn't budging.  "It...IS nothing right?  You're only doing this because Haruka said some funny stuff to you, right?"  My chested started to tighten as she continued to stare at me.

"I do want to claim you though.  She never said how so I gave you my mark.  Was I wrong?"

"Of course you were!  Why do you even want to do something like that?"

"Hmm."  Hikage backed up and put her hand on chin in deep thought before shrugging and getting into a weird crouching position while wiggling her fingers.  "Squuuuezy teaaaasy."  She came at me with full speed and grabbed my chest, doing her best to imitate my singing when I grope my friends!

"Aah!"  I pushed her hands away and stumbled away trying to hide my girls, tripping in the process.  "Wh-what's gotten into you!?  You're not supposed to be a pervert, that's my job!  Unless..."  I muttered.  Wait...there's no way she...

"What am I supposed to do then?  You're the only one outside of the Crimson Squad I don't mind seeing more of."  After a few seconds she put her hand on her hip and shifted her weight.  "Oh.  I see now.  You can dish it but you don't want to take it.  That's what you call a top, right?"  She turned her head to look at the moon for a few moments before she looked back at me with a smirk.  "I don't mind that."

"You..."  I sighed, shook my head, and stood up with a relieved smile.  She chose an odd way of doing things but it looks like she's figured me out.  'I don't mind that', hm?  I cracked my knuckles and took a step forward; if she doesn't mind then...  "This means I've got permission to play with you whenever I want!  I'm finally going to get my hands on Hikage's silky smooth~-"

She drew her knife in a flash and pointed it at me before twirling it around in her hand.  Still not going to make it easy for me I see.  Good, it'd be no fun if you just let me have my way with you and I'd love to pay you back for this cut and then some.  "Wanna go again?"

I nodded and this time she widened the gap between us so she could safely stretch the kinks out of her neck.  I limbered up my legs and nodded again, before we both charged at each other with new resolve.  Things are definitely going to get interesting between us and I know the second Ikaruga and our underclassmen find out they're going to flip.  I'll worry about that when the time comes, we've got an entire night to ourselves and I'm not going to let it go to waste.  "Let's dance, Hikage!"