Eskon International Military Airport

Hinata

I can tell today was not going to be a fun day.

First: Hisao-senpai and Kazuki had almost forgotten both their passports in the car. Let's just say the army people running the special little airport weren't too happy with having to delay the entire flight filled with other army men just for two slackers.

Second: We were on a plane with some pretty attractive soldiers and not one of them didn't notice the sudden three presence of females entering the plane. Then Kazuki and Hisao-senpai got all protective over us so they nearly started a fight with fifty or so guys who actually have fighting lessons.

And third: We've been flying in circles around the Eskon International Airport for about an hour because they needed to check to make sure the ground was stable enough for landing. Apparently, this is an earthquake-crazed zone and every time people come into Eskon through flight, the pilot needed some green light signal in order to land.

When we did land, however, Kazuki was so damn happy that we lost him at the airport. We were wandering, trying to find this fool before we had to meet up with the captain who never replied to my message from yesterday. I stared at my blank screen with confusion.

Did I hit a nerve or something?

I didn't mean to come off as a bitch but when I read those words once more, I kinda imagine them being said with his voice. I just got kinda angry and typed the message without a second thought.

I mentally groaned. I actually had to see this guy everyday for the next few months and I already made things awkward.

"Found him, Senpai," I didn't noticed Mina coming towards me, her hands holding Kazuki's as they walked.

Hold the mother phone!

I shut my eyes once then opened it again. I had to also narrow them in order to believe what I was seeing.

Kazuki was staring at her with some eyes I have never thought he was capable of.

No way, does he?

"He claimed he needed the bathroom," she said in her usual voice as she came up to me half dragging the willing doctor along.

I looked at the resident who just shook his head a bit, the mature he had earlier completely disappeared from his eyes. The same little ball of light is back.

"I really had to poop so I ran off," Kazuki rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Sorry if I worried you."

I shook my head, "You just have to explain to Hisao-senpai why you disappeared is all."

I did notice that their fingers were still interlocked, though.

"So how long are you two planning on standing like that?" I raised an eyebrow.

"What?" They both looked at me.

I inclined my head towards their joined fingers, "Dating now or something?"

Mina hardly had a reaction. She simply looked at their hands then looked at Kazuki who was beyond flustered. He sprang back a good few inches before stuffing his hand in his pocket, a blush creeping up on his little handsome face.

Mina flexed her fingers once then directed her blank face at me.

Well then.

My phone buzzed twice suddenly.

For a second I thought it was the captain telling me that his team have arrived to take us back to the support base.

My joy crushed when I saw Senpai's name across the top.

We found the rendevous point.

At least it means we're leaving here soon. I looked at the residents where Kazuki had already managed to break down some of Mina's cool. She still had her blank face but some annoyance was present against her features. He gently nudged her with his shoulder; causing her to glare at him.

I am going to be keeping an extra close eye on these two during the trip.

My teammates and I made our way out of the Eskon airport towards the runway that the binder told us to go to. Soldiers from all over the world kept turning to look at us since one: we weren't wearing any kind of uniform and two: it feels like we're the only females in the airport. Some of these men haven't seen a member of the female species in years.

I picked up my speed, feeling extremely uncomfortable from all the attention. The runway, of course to add to this oh so fun day, was on the opposite of this pretty big airport.

When we stepped foot outside, the extreme melting heat hit all of us like someone threw bricks directly at our faces. I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt. It's Hanako-senpai I was worried about. She was the one that insisted that the place was probably ten feet under snow.

This is why she's a doctor and not a geography teacher.

My senpais were waiting in the middle of the runway. It was Hisao-senpai who waved us over while Hanako-senpai was busy taking off her three layers of thick winter clothes.

"Any sign of Special Forces?" I asked as we walked up to them.

Hanako-senpai shook her head, "They're a lot of planes from a lot of countries but none had the Japanese flag imprinted on it."

I glanced at my watch which I made sure to change when we boarded the plane. It said it was eleven fifty-nine AM.

They should be coming soon.

That's exactly what happened.

I barely had the time to look up when the deafening sound of plane engine roars buzzed in my ears. A giant shadow casted itself over the five of us, blowing some of the four-wheeled suitcases away. Kazuki rushed to gather them up just as the plane touched ground.

The propellers slowly stopped turning but they were kicking up enough dust to blind a herd of cows. I had to cover Mina's eyes so she doesn't go blind with her emotionless and unaffected stare at the five ton plane.

The dust finally cleared a good two minutes later. When I opened my eyes, four figures stood straight; each with their hands behind their backs. As if his protective instinct kicked in, Hisao-senpai took a step forward; blocking our view from the four mysterious men standing in a straight, unmoving line.

They were a good football field away so I couldn't see any of their expressions. What I did see, however, is that all of them wore sunglasses and a more casual military uniform I guess they are required to wear when they're around base. I've seen the Japanese soldiers that wore full uniform. They're the ones needed for action right when they landed.

These guys all looked like their rankings were indeed special. The way they stood told me that much at least.

"Woah," Kazuki chuckled, clearly mesmerized with his child-like instincts taking over his senses. "T-that's our ride."

I could see Hisao-senpai move his head a bit, examining the men, "Hey, Hinata. Why don't you text the captain and ask if he's here with his team?"

Hanako-senpai clasped his shoulder, "Why don't you go up to them and ask if they're here for us?"

"I'd rather not just in case they're some gang pretending to be noble soldiers."

"You are the worst coward I have ever met!"

"Hey wanting to live past the age of thirty does not make me a coward!"

They two began to bicker on as I took Senpai's words. Taking my phone out of my shorts' butt pocket, my thumbs typed:

Hey Captain, we have landed at the airport. Are you by chance here yet to pick us up?

I stared at the words and cursed for the crappy signal this country had to offer. The Senpais were still arguing. Mina took a step around them to get a closer look; Kazuki not too far behind.

Buzz! Buzz!

Everybody's attention immediately turned to me.

We're literally right in front of you.

My friends read my expression as I looked up and nodded. Then all of our attentions returned to the four men, no, five now. I'm going to take a wild guess and say that the last shadow leaving the ship is the mysterious captain.

As his feet touched the ground and took one more step forward, the line of four men followed him; keeping in pace with their comrade right beside them.

We watched in awe; the military discipline is a real deal. But it seems like to these guys, it's natural and something they really love doi-

W-wait a minute.

I squeezed between Hanako and Hisao-senpai to get a better view of the approaching soldiers. The man in the middle, the captain, pulled ahead a bit to make it clear that he's the one that controls them.

My own feet take two slow steps forward, my pale eyes squinting to get a better view.

Something about each of them is eerie familiar.

A cloud moved over the sun suddenly, darkening the atmosphere completely but the men seemed undisturbed by the weather change. They continued marching in place, heads and body held up high. Because of their sunglasses, I could not see their full facial expression. The only thing I can really see is the straight line all their mouths were glued to.

"Hinata-senpai?" Kazuki piped. "You okay?"

I held a finger up at him, but my attention was still fully on the soldiers, "Give me a second."

The visiting cloud finally moved on, allowing the sunlight to bleed through again; lighting the entire area.

They were no more than a good thirty feet away.

And that's when my entire body couldn't move at all.

I could barely hear my friends trying to get my attention since mines is completely zeroed in on every on of the soldiers. The sunglasses covered some of their features but I know their faces anywhere.

From right to left, my memories slowly fought to the surface as they named each of the soldiers.

Sai.

Shikamaru Nara.

Sasuke Uchiha.

Kiba Inuzuka.

Am I dreaming? It's a dream, right? There's no way that the infamous Special Forces composed of noble soldiers who risk their lives every day in honor of our beloved country...

Can it really be the ones whom I learned to never trust?

"I take it you had a good flight?"

I nearly rubbed my eyes and ears the moment he spoke. I was slowly processing the identity of the four soldiers. I am most definitely not ready to process this one.

My entire mind screamed no. No don't look up. Don't meet those ocean blue eyes, don't meet them. The last time you first met them, you drowned. You drowned and you were stuck in them. You couldn't get out and in the end...

...In the end you were the one that got hurt.

While my mind was warning me, my entire chest twisted with some random anticipation and excitement. He's here; he's alive and he's more then well. He cut his blonde hair and he got a little taller; his shoulders broader. Despite being in such a dying country, he's eating well. He found a good career and it seemed like he loved every second of the glory.

A battle that ran on through my entire body. Suddenly, he was no more than a few inches from me; his sunglasses still on and his face kept the same expression as his friends.

I had to take a small step backwards because this entire reunion was getting too much for me to handle.

"It's been a while..."

No, don't take them off. I silently begged his hand which were reaching up to the glasses. I can't handle it if you do. The moment you take them off. I j-just can't!

But it was too late now.

The entire Earth stopped spinning, the idea of time completely abolished from existence. The spectators around us completely forgotten at the moment.

The moment he pulled those sunglasses off, revealing the drowning eyes he didn't look at me immediately. But then they moved from their focus on the glasses up my body; slowly, too.

For the first time in a decade.

Pale eyes met ocean-blue eyes.

And the pale eyes had to do everything in her power to not drown in them right on the spot.

"You look well," a small smile coming to his perfect face, "Hinata."