The VENOM Squad: Nephila

The beaming sunlight through her window woke her up. Hanabi opened her eyes slowly and she felt a sharp pang of pain right through her head. She got up and drank some water. She tried remembering what happened the other day but her memories are blurry.

After washing up, Hanabi went downstairs and saw the others. Kagura walked towards her and handed her a cup.

"Here, drink some extracted lemon mixed with honey. It'll help you get over your hangover," she said.

"Thanks," Hanabi responded. She sat down and saw Hanzo sitting across her. He seems to be ignoring her which she expected since she knew that he doesn't like her that much. Her gaze met with Yukimura's and for a reason she does not know, the woman glared at her.

Hanabi drank her lemon juice and asked, "What's with this awkward silence?"

No one responded. Hanzo puts down the papers he was reading and left the dinner table. On her peripheral view, she saw Hayabusa snicker so she turned her attention to him.

"What happened?" she asked him but a simple shake of the head is the only response she got from him. The scarlet ninja faced Kagura who is currently doing the dishes.

"Did something happen while I was asleep?" she whispered.

"Can't you remember what you did yesterday?" Kagura asked with a sly smile plastered on her face.

Hanabi looked at her with confusion. She tried to recall what they did during their dinner but her mind is totally hazy. She shook her head which made Kagura giggle.

"You better ask Hanzo yourself," she said before drying her hands. Hanabi is left alone in the kitchen, trying to remember what exactly happened.

"Is it a big deal?" Yukimura asked Hanzo as she sits beside him on the patio.

"No," Hanzo replied without looking at her.

"Then, why are you avoiding her?" Yukimura pouted. She did not receive any reply from the akuma ninja. They simply sat down there covered with silence.

Yukimura could still vividly remember how Hanabi kissed him. She felt left out and it infuriates her. She clenched her fists while looking down. She does not want Hanzo to be taken away by anyone. He protected her and she has to protect him. She turned her gaze at Hanzo and attempted to kiss him on the cheek but Hanzo had his hand cover her mouth.

"Don't," he said before standing up and heads back to his room. But right beside his door, Hanabi is standing there. The scarlet ninja saw him so she walked towards him and asked, "Hanzo, what did I do yesterday? No one wants to tell me but I could feel the awkwardness around."

Hanzo ignored her as he passed by her and opened the door to his room.

He suddenly stopped on his tracks when he saw Hanabi with her bent down.

"I'm sorry if I did another mistake!" she apologized.


Hanzo once again recalled how their lips touched and it made him blush like hell. He was thankful that Hanabi hasn't raised her head yet for he does not want her to see him like that.

"Know what you did first before apologizing," he said before closing the door.

Hanabi clicked her tongue in annoyance.

"How am I supposed to know if you don't tell me? You, acting cool and all infuriates me," she mumbled.

"You should stop troubling him," Yukimura said who seemed to have witnessed what happened. Hanabi suddenly felt the urge to grab her hair and throw her out of the quarters but she controlled herself.

"I'm trying," Hanabi replied. She was about to leave but her feet were rooted on the floor upon hearing her remaining words.

"You are just a burden in your team. Isn't it better for you to leave? Looking at the situation, your mission to capture Kenshin failed because of you. I was told that this is the very first mission they failed as a team," Yukimura spouted.

Hanabi was shot right through her body. She knew all those things and she is doing her very best to pay her debts back. She clenched her fists and faced her.

"You don't have to rub it right on my face," she mumbled and started to walk away but Yukimura did not stop.

"They just accepted you because your father was their former master. They just made a consideration for you. Hanabi, if you are not strong enough then don't drag down Hanzo and the others," she added but Hanabi chose to continue walking away.

Hanzo, who is just behind the door, heard their entire conversation. A smirk formed on her lips.

"Would she believe those words?" he asked in his mind.

That afternoon, the team together with Yukimura are at the open plains of the village for their combat training. The four ninjas are paired up for a one-on-one sparring. Kagura, who wanted to tease Hanzo, chose Hayabusa as her partner.

"What the heck?!" Hanzo cursed which enraged Hanabi for he is outright rejecting her right in front of her.

"I'm sure you won't go easy on me so I do not want you to be my partner," Kagura said.

"Hey, I know you do not like me but you don't have to be that so disappointed!" Hanabi yelled as she grab his wrist which stirred up Hanzo's straight thinking. He immediately covered his mouth out of fear that she might kiss him again. This made Hanabi wonder why he's acting weird. So instead of throwing him down on the ground, she just pulled him closer to him with her hand holding his collar. The scarlet ninja felt weird for that action seems familiar. She suddenly stepped back when she noticed Hanzo's blushing cheeks.

"Ahhh!"

The four looked at Yukimura's direction and she was on the ground, holding her foot. Hanzo ran towards her and asked, "Just how clumsy are you?"

"I was just trying to walk around," she replied with a low voice as she showed a pained face when Hanzo held her sprained foot.

"Be careful next time," he reminded her. She gave him  a sweet smile and nodded.

"I know you'll be here to protect me," she added.

Kagura and Hayabusa are already sparring and Hanabi is just there standing alone. She grits her teeth and attacked the other two.

"Whoah!" Kagura said, flustered.

"Sparring with two people is much better than fighting against one," Hanabi stated. She attacked Hayabusa by throwing kunais right at him and lunged at Kagura and had her hand locked behind her.

"Ouch!! Ouch!! Ouch!!" Kagura screamed. Hanabi lets her go and this time, she lunged at Hayabusa but Hanzo suddenly appeared before her.

"I'm the one you're supposed to be going against with," he said as he swings his sword towards her. Hanabi rolled on the ground and her anger starts to get the better of her. She stood on her feet and summoned her Higanbana. She threw it right at him and disappeared. Hanzo dodged her weapon but the scarlet ninja appeared behind him with her Higanbana.

She was about to swing her Higanbana but Hanzo kicked her right on her abdomen.
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"Wow, they're fighting seriously," Kagura sneered.

"Ain't that much better than slacking off?" Hayabusa stated as they watch the two spar.