Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Glimpses of Darkness ❯ The Council's Decision ( Chapter 9 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: shattered-words 
When everything looks bleak and you start to let yourself drown in the past when there was no pain.
Anime/Manga: Naruto Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Adventure / Action | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 03.29.2008 | Pages: 3 | Words: 5.1K | Visits: 137 | Status: Work In Progress
When everything looks bleak and you start to let yourself drown in the past when there was no pain.
Anime/Manga: Naruto Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Adventure / Action | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 03.29.2008 | Pages: 3 | Words: 5.1K | Visits: 137 | Status: Work In Progress
Glimpses of Darkness
Author: shattered-words
Disclaimer: If I owned Naruto, it’d be called ‘Gaara’. So, isn’t it a shame that I don’t own it? (The verse belongs to M.e.Tello)
Summary: The Kakurezato are on the brink of war and certain events leave several lives hanging in the balance. Meanwhile, what’s the fire wielder’s fate, and who is the deadly Oto Oinin that has suddenly appeared? (AU, Sequel of “Glimpses of Fire”)
AN: There was a lot of things I wanted to say in this chapter, but I feel that not a lot came through. Sometimes I just wanted to cut this chapter shorter, but there was something stopping me. I guess I grew to like it before I realized it. I hope you enjoy. Dina, I would still be stuck on chapter one if it weren’t for you. So, thank you. Ja.
Now, her tears came for two different reasons. She was overjoyed and horrified all at the same time as she lay where she had fallen. The Hunter had released her after Orochimaru had left and she had stood but crumbled to the floor. He had peered down at her with lifeless eyes, and she could see that no expression came to his face since his mask was resting on the table, forgotten.
When she had reached out to him he had hesitated as something flickered in his features for a moment before he crouched down beside her. He took hold of her smaller hand and stared at her curiously. The deadly Hunter didn’t stop her as she removed his glove and she laid her damp face against his cold hand.
He let her sob into his hand until exhaustion had slipped her into unconsciousness. Then he leaned forward and slipped his strong arms under her frail, limp body and lifted her against him. He stood and moved toward the table where he’d left his mask, and he reached out to slip it over his handsome features. When his slack face had once more been hidden behind his covering, he disappeared from the room and only the dead Oto-nin showed that they had ever been there.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Harukaze smirked beneath his mask as he noticed the kunoichi’s glare that was directed his way. She had been doing it off and on during the last hour that they had been pouring over the reports he had “borrowed” from Suna’s archives. They were searching for any information on Arisa’s parents and more importantly, her mother’s maiden name before she had married into the Ashikaga Ichizoku.
So far they hadn’t had much success but that was because he had brought only a few reports. He couldn’t risk bringing them all in case they were missed, and they were also looking at the reports more than twenty years old so they were difficult to get. The archive room wasn’t being properly guarded because most of the ninja were taking missions to make up for the loss of profit Suna had suffered over the years.
The daimyo had started to give his missions to Konoha more than twelve years ago, and especially after the news of the Yondaime’s defeat of the Kyuubi had reached his ears. He had been certain that if a village could produce a shinobi that skilled, then surely it had more power than his own hidden village.
Now he had seen that not only was his assumption about the Sand incorrect, but his actions had caused the Suna-nin to attack the Leaf to show their might. He corrected his mistake, but the damage had been done and now they were trying to reform the tattered bonds that had linked them as allies. It was looking good, especially after they had helped the newly appointed Godaime with a mission of urgency, but most of the Leaf-nin were still wary of them.
However, that took a backseat to improving the standard of living within Suna itself and so every available Chunin, Jonin, ANBU and Oinin were taking on more missions than they normally would. Chunin were being allowed to take some A-rank missions and the Genin’s were being given B-rank missions as long as they were accompanied by a Jonin or Chunin.
Harukaze himself had been overwhelmed with taking on as many A and S-rank missions as he could handle and had come close to collapsing, so Kamikaze had given him the day off. He hadn’t been happy about it, but that was better than passing out during a mission and getting himself or his teammates killed. So, he had rested for a few hours before setting out to find the two kunoichi.
While he had been in Kaze no Dairi, he had taken advantage of the archive room being lightly guarded and had no problem sneaking in. While he knew that his actions could get him stripped of his title and trialed for treason, he was willing to risk it. Arisa was his niece and his last true living relative.
Well, that wasn’t exactly true. During his search of the records, he had found an interesting piece of information. It turns out that he had a sister at one point. Past tense. She had died during child birth a few years ago because her father had married her much too young and her small body couldn’t handle birthing a fully grown child. Her name had been Ashikaga Suzuki.
She had been six years younger then Ritsuko and four years older than him. Eizo had married her off when she had been only twelve and she had died just a short ten months later at the age of thirteen. Aiko had been nine at the time and Ritsu had been nineteen.
The Hunter had found that his half sister had married one of Ryohei’s uncles, Erizawa Shinji and her son still lived. Since the mother had died during child birth, the father had named him Erizawa Rie. At the moment if he had to estimate his age, Aiko would say he was eighteen years old.
Not only that, but Eizo had other siblings so he’d had an uncle and aunt at one point. While they had already died during missions, their children and grandchildren still lived. If the Oinin had to count, he’d have to estimate that Arisa and him had about eight more relatives besides Rie.
Aiko was overwhelmed with the idea that all of them were related to him in one way or another, but for some reason he couldn’t bring himself to care for them. They were cousins and nothing more. Rie on the other hand was his sister’s son and he might seek him out soon, but not now. For the moment recovering Arisa was the most important thing.
So far, they weren’t getting too far while the council continued to take its time deliberating the Kazekage. However, they did have an inside source in the council and they’d made sure to take advantage of it. Because another topic for discussion was whether Arisa was declared as a Nukenin or not. For the moment, they were leaning more toward yes.
He turned to glance at the kunoichi and saw that Amane was looking through the files quickly and without reading too much in them. A slender brow raised beneath his mask. The Hunter wondered if perhaps she was looking for something specific that would identify Arisa’s mother.
It would have been so much easier to look through his brother’s file, but that had been strangely out of place and he hadn’t been able to find it. In fact, he hadn’t found Eizan or Arisa’s in there either. He would look more into this, but would make sure not to arouse suspicion since whoever had removed the records had to have access to them. The only people that had that authority at the moment were the council members.
When he returned his gaze back to the kunoichi, he noticed once more that Amane was only scanning the names of the records and setting them aside. “Anything specific that you’re looking for?” he casually asked, since he didn’t want to make it obvious that he was curious, especially because of Iwane. She wasn’t too trusting of him, and while Amane was also suspicious, she at least trusted him a fraction more than the Erizawa.
“Urusei,” the earth user sighed quietly as she walked back into the room. She had stood and moved into the kitchen for something to drink and she had arrived in time to hear his question. “Mind your business, would you?”
Aiko inclined his head as if he were agreeing with her. “Of course,” he replied and straightened. “However, if you had gotten these files by yourselves I would willingly comply, but since that’s not the case I think I deserve to at least know what you’re looking for.”
Amane had paused when he said this and lifted a blank expression in his direction. The Hunter was infuriated with the fact that he could never read her face or eyes to know what she might be thinking. Of course, since she had lived in the Itagaki household, he could see why she had gotten so good at hiding her thoughts and feelings.
Now he was privileged to see her eyes narrow in thought and he could tell she was struggling with her answer. It seemed that she was debating about whether she could trust him with the information he was requesting. Aiko found it odd that she’d allow such emotion to show on her features and wondered if it had to do with anything relating to her teammates in one way or another.
“We were...I came across a request form to take the Academy graduation exam in my grandfather’s office,” she replied. She paused and then fastened black eyes on him. “I’m looking for the file to see if they were allowed to become ninja since they were twelve when the request was made.”
Harukaze didn’t miss the way she hesitated, or the fact that she didn’t mention the person’s name or gender. Perhaps it was the girl that his brother had been dating at the time, but wondered why Hiroaki would make a request for the girl to be a ninja. Although, he wasn’t even sure if this person was even a girl.
“If you give me a gender, I can bring you the files of strictly men or women,” he tried to sound casual once more. By Iwane’s scoff, he could tell that she didn’t believe anything that came out of his mouth. That was fine with him, since all he needed was for the Itagaki to trust him and he was almost certain the other would follow. He was sure of this fact since if that weren’t the case then he would have been shunned as soon as the other girl found out about his interest to help them.
Iwane leaned against the wall she had been beside and crossed her arms over her chest. “Seems to me you’re a bit too eager to help us,” she commented as she took a swig of the water bottle she had brought from the kitchen. “You haven’t told us why you’re trying to get Arisa back. She owes you money? Knows your deepest, darkest secret, or what?”
Aiko lifted a brow under his mask at the line of questioning from the girl and realized she was taunting him. He tried not to let her rile him since that’s exactly what she was trying to do. “I can tell you who I am, but how can I be certain that you won’t reveal this information that I’ve tried to keep under wraps?”
Now Amane was interested as she looked up once more from the files. When they had started to speak, she had returned to them since she hadn’t thought their bickering to be of too much importance. It seemed that his words had caught her attention. “And whom exactly have you tried to keep this from?” she asked him, speaking up for once. He had noticed that whenever she spoke, it had a rather, impacting effect.
The Hunter met her ebony orbs over the distance and sighed before answering. “From Arisa, of course.” He saw their shocked expressions and smiled ruefully, and was glad that they couldn’t see it. His eyes revealed everything about him these days, which is why he kept them wrapped especially now more then ever.
Kuroboshi Iwaki had been her name and she had been from a modest, middle-class family. She had two older brothers and one younger sister. Her father had arranged a marriage for her to a man in a more wealthy family but he was also older and a widower. She had felt that her fate was sealed because not only did she not love him, but there were rumors of his cruelty.
Her father cared nothing for the talk of other people and arranged their marriage with him, seeing the opportunity for his family to become wealthier and come into higher standing. At this time, she met one of her older brother’s friends and she fancied herself in love. She sought to run away with him and he fanned her illusions, but failed to reveal that he already had a son and daughter with his wife.
He took advantage of her situation and her naivety. She might have known of his family but she only wanted to be free of the bonds her family had on her. However, she became pregnant and the man, Ashikaga Eizo, left her destitute. Her family disowned her and she was left alone. Iwaki and her unborn child would have died if it hadn’t been for her eldest brother and her lifelong friend, Ishikawa Taiki.
She had a difficult labor but had finally birthed a beautiful baby boy. He had her dark brown hair and his father’s gray eyes. Despite that, she had named him Aiko and given him her family name even if she had been disowned by them.
Over the years, she had worked hard to give him a good life. He never cried when she had to leave him with a sitter and merely watched with those eyes that tortured her. When he had turned three, she started to wrap them with bandages. Aiko wanted his mother to be happy so he’d worn them and learned to see without his eyes.
One night Iwaki had come home half dead and bloody. The baby sitter had grown tired of waiting and had taken anything of value for her wasted time. Aiko was too small to stop her and she had locked him in his closet. He had waited until she had left to crawl into the hall through the airduct.
When his mother came in he had helped her get into bed and then had run to get Ishikawa-san. He’d been sent to his room but he had sneaked into the hallway and had heard everything she had told him. One of her “clients” had beaten and raped her. Taiki had begged her to stop what she was doing and come live with him. She had refused.
If she wasn’t strong enough to provide for her son then she was as weak as her father had said she was. Aiko had made a decision that night. He would join the Academy and give his beloved mother a better life.
However, over time she started to get sicker and soon she couldn’t work anymore. The doctors that they could afford had no explanation for her illness, and that she had simply lost her will to live. Aiko continued working hard and graduated from the Academy at the top of his class.
He took the Chunin Exam too early and came back a wreak. He’d fallen into a coma for a month in which Ishikawa had taken care of Iwaki as best as he could between missions. She became worse and when he woke, it was only to push himself harder to become a Chunin so he could get her the best medical help he could afford.
In the end, none of it had paid off. He had become Chunin at twelve and she had died two months before his thirteenth birthday.
“Why would you keep it from her?” Amane’s voice shook him from his musings. He had gone silent after he’d told them most of his past. Of course, his intended defection had been unvoiced or that it had been Taiki that had stopped him that night he had turned thirteen. “You’re the only family she had left.”
Aiko ran a hand through his long hair and smirked as he shook his head. “Because I was weak. I hated her father and blamed her for being his daughter.” He leaned back against the wall and closed his gray eyes. “Also, if I had taken her in, there’s no doubt she’d have followed my path into the Oinin corp. I didn’t want that for her.”
Iwane snorted and downed the rest of her water before setting it on the table in front of her. “Don’t give me that crap.” She turned intense emerald orbs toward him. “You abandoned her, plain and simple.”
The Hunter bit his tongue to keep from saying something that he’d regret. He knew that the Erizawa was merely lashing out at him because she felt that they had both failed the girl as well. They had lost her during the invasion when they had wanted to stay with her. Aiko understood their formation, though.
Arisa had been their unofficial “Taicho” since she had been the strongest, and they had followed her orders. She had instructed that they follow and protect Gaara, the one other person she cared more than them, and she had stayed behind. Oto had taken her when she had tried to follow them afterwards.
“I did,” he didn’t disagree with her and that seemed to throw the earth user off. He grinned slightly beneath his mask, but made sure she heard no change in his voice when he spoke again. “But I also saved her from the assassins. It doesn’t make up for my abandonment, but it was a start.”
Iwane blinked and then realized that he was the ANBU member that had saved her from those assassins which she had mentioned to them. The girl’s lips lifted into a smirk and she nodded. “Kekko desu.”
Harukaze blinked and glanced toward Amane who looked a bit surprised but then she let a rare grin spread over her features. It lit up her ebony orbs so they blazed to life. “Her name is Morisue Kiyomizu.”
Aiko blinked at the name and knew it sounded familiar. Then it hit him all at once where he had heard that name before. “Why are you looking for a Morisue?” he asked.
The girls seemed to hesitate and then Amane spoke once more. It was rare to see her saying anything for so long. “The Itagaki and Erizawa are related to them and most of our clans’ wealth comes from them. When we were younger our parents let us play together with Arisa.” The wind user stopped and glanced at her comrade and the other girl nodded and took over.
“My father and Amane’s father referred to Arisa’s mother as “cousin”. We were also told that Arisa was our distant cousin on her mother’s side.”
Aiko nodded but was troubled. “If...Arisa’s mother was Morisue, then this is more complicated then I thought. It means that any status or wealth her mother had was all inherited by her at birth.”
“What about her older brother?” Iwane asked in confusion. “Wouldn’t he have had some of it as well, since he’s first born?”
The Hunter shook his head and sighed. “Iie, he wouldn’t because Eizan was only Arisa’s half brother. They both had different mothers.”
Iwane was generally shocked by that and he realized that Arisa had probably never spoken much of her family. Aiko knew all too well that losing them would have still been a fresh wound, no matter how many years had passed.
“I only knew because her father was my brother, but I could understand why she never told you.” He scratched the back of his head and wondered what he should tell them. “I watched over her for a few nights and I know that losing her brother was more painful then anything else. She suffered the most during the night.”
They nodded after a moment as they accepted his explanation. After all, they also had siblings and in a way could understand. Iwane could sympathize better since she loved her older brother and sister and younger brother. Amane had never quite gotten along well with Motoki but he was her brother, and although they had never been close, being without him didn’t seem possible.
She had always pictured her brother as this immovable object that would always be strong and there at all times. So, how would life be with him gone? Amane didn’t think she could imagine it. She had never been taught love within the Itagaki Ichizoku because that is how Hiroaki had wanted it, but he was her brother. That’s all that mattered.
“Hai,” Iwane muttered, answering for the two of them. She plopped down besides her teammate and started to help her go over the files. Harukaze watched them with a thoughtful expression and was reminded of his own Genin teammates, Satori and Satoshi.
He had never grown close with his first team before they had died in the Chunin Exam, but against his better judgment, he had allowed the twins to get close to him. At times he regretted that he had let himself care for them, but he remembered that he might not be here if it weren’t for them. In their own way, they had saved him.
Aiko stepped forward and the girls glanced warily at him before he sat at the table and reached up without hesitation to remove the straps of his mask. Both kunoichi gasped as he removed it and laid it beside him. The gray eyes he had tried so hard to hide bore into them, pulling them in until they were sure they’d drown.
“May I help?” he asked them. Both girls glanced at one another and then back at him. Iwane grinned a bit deviously and Amane’s eyebrows lifted in what he took to be confirmation. He realized that little by little, he was starting to read and understand their mannerisms, and he wasn’t sure if he should feel pleased or worried of that fact.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The darkness started to recede and she felt a hand as it was placed on her face. She flinched but suddenly felt someone restrain her and the hand moved to where she had never been touched before. When she opened her mouth to scream, the hand on her features covered her lips. Her eyes met with cruel black and she whimpered in fear. Kabuto.
She had thought she was safe, but wondered if it had all been a dream. As she thought of that, tears formed in her eyes and started to run down her face. His hands started to slip under her clothing. “It’ll be much easier if you just give into me,” he whispered as he leaned in close to her, hot breath caressing her features as he removed his hand so she could speak.
The kunoichi turned her face away as the tears continued to spill down her cheeks. “I’d rather die,” she sobbed.
A grin spread over his features at her words. “As you wish,” he hissed as one hand cupped her breast. She cried out at the same moment the door opened.
Kabuto was gone suddenly and she heard something hit the wall and the sound of flesh connecting with flesh. She shakily lifted herself to a sitting position as she pulled her shirt down, and felt relief flood her whole body when the two figures came into focus. Hitori was currently pummeling the gray-haired ninja into the wall, and as the other hit the ground, he pulled out one deadly looking kodachi.
The Oto-nin froze and looked up along the blade pressed to his throat at the Oinin. He said nothing as he pressed enough to draw blood, and the message was clear as he shuddered. Kabuto didn’t have to see his eyes to know that they were as lifeless as always. He turned to look at the girl anxiously peering down at him from the examination table and he sneered at her.
“H-hai,” he answered when the kodachi was pressed a little harder against his neck. It was quickly removed and the Hunter flicked his head toward the door. Kabuto stood and glared murderously at them before striding out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
She glanced at the Hunter, hugging herself as she shivered and tried to keep her emotions in check. “Arigato,” she whispered as he moved closer. He reached out but she didn’t flinch as he laid a hand on her head, and ran the palm to her cheek. The girl leaned into the touch as she closed her eyes and felt only slightly at peace.
He moved forward and lifted her off the table after covering her with the cloak he had been wearing. She closed her eyes and leaned her head against his chest. It wasn’t the same, she knew this but for a moment she could imagine that it was. So, Arisa smiled as she remembered a time long ago before all her suffering had started.
Suna and her comrades faded to the back of her mind with not a bit of sadness. She had made a decision and as she thought more of it, she realized that in a way, Orochimaru had won. For now, however, she was content in the Hunter’s arms as he turned away and they faded into the shadows.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Harukaze knew something was wrong as he approached the apprentice and almost stopped in his tracks. Something told him to turn and flee, but he forced himself forward. Their meeting place this time was the old playground, and with a pang of sorrow he realized that it was the same one where he had seen Arisa for the first time almost a lifetime ago.
Ryohei glanced at him but he made no effort to stay hidden or to lower his voice. “The council has come to an agreement,” he said, and by his tone, Aiko knew he wouldn’t like the news. “In the case of Ashikaga Arisa, they’ve found her guilty of high treason.”
Aiko froze as he heard this and his gray eyes widened beneath his mask. He wanted to say so many things but nothing came to him. The other continued on. “Oinin have been informed of her status as Nukenin, S-class criminal and ordered to take her down should she be spotted or her whereabouts known.”
The Hunter clenched his hands into fists and he turned and did flee the playground this time. He doubted the kunoichi had heard the news and for some reason he wanted to be the one to tell them and lessen the blow. Although, he doubted anything he said would make it any easier.-
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Translations:
Kekko desu: All right (or: Very good.)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
End, Chapter Nine
Author: shattered-words
Disclaimer: If I owned Naruto, it’d be called ‘Gaara’. So, isn’t it a shame that I don’t own it? (The verse belongs to M.e.Tello)
Summary: The Kakurezato are on the brink of war and certain events leave several lives hanging in the balance. Meanwhile, what’s the fire wielder’s fate, and who is the deadly Oto Oinin that has suddenly appeared? (AU, Sequel of “Glimpses of Fire”)
AN: There was a lot of things I wanted to say in this chapter, but I feel that not a lot came through. Sometimes I just wanted to cut this chapter shorter, but there was something stopping me. I guess I grew to like it before I realized it. I hope you enjoy. Dina, I would still be stuck on chapter one if it weren’t for you. So, thank you. Ja.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Be not proud, your part in this tragedy;
that stripped me of my pride and dignity.
There is nothing left to speak of,
my life was lost so long ago.
As you hand down this judgment
that has made you feel like god
know that you are merely devils
in this corrupt world.
My tears aren’t meant for you,
but for a truth I’ve never known.
~*~*~*~*~*~ Chapter Nine: The Council’s Decision ~*~*~*~*~*~
She had wept for very few things in her life, and of those she remembered, she could count them on one hand. When she couldn’t leave Uchiha Mikoto’s home to go find her brother when they had been in Konoha. The second time had been when she had lost her family and everything she knew and cared for. She had shed tears when she had sat alone in her house after she’d first interacted with Gaara. The last time she had cried was when Gaara had forced her away from him with such cruel words.Be not proud, your part in this tragedy;
that stripped me of my pride and dignity.
There is nothing left to speak of,
my life was lost so long ago.
As you hand down this judgment
that has made you feel like god
know that you are merely devils
in this corrupt world.
My tears aren’t meant for you,
but for a truth I’ve never known.
~*~*~*~*~*~ Chapter Nine: The Council’s Decision ~*~*~*~*~*~
Now, her tears came for two different reasons. She was overjoyed and horrified all at the same time as she lay where she had fallen. The Hunter had released her after Orochimaru had left and she had stood but crumbled to the floor. He had peered down at her with lifeless eyes, and she could see that no expression came to his face since his mask was resting on the table, forgotten.
When she had reached out to him he had hesitated as something flickered in his features for a moment before he crouched down beside her. He took hold of her smaller hand and stared at her curiously. The deadly Hunter didn’t stop her as she removed his glove and she laid her damp face against his cold hand.
He let her sob into his hand until exhaustion had slipped her into unconsciousness. Then he leaned forward and slipped his strong arms under her frail, limp body and lifted her against him. He stood and moved toward the table where he’d left his mask, and he reached out to slip it over his handsome features. When his slack face had once more been hidden behind his covering, he disappeared from the room and only the dead Oto-nin showed that they had ever been there.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Harukaze smirked beneath his mask as he noticed the kunoichi’s glare that was directed his way. She had been doing it off and on during the last hour that they had been pouring over the reports he had “borrowed” from Suna’s archives. They were searching for any information on Arisa’s parents and more importantly, her mother’s maiden name before she had married into the Ashikaga Ichizoku.
So far they hadn’t had much success but that was because he had brought only a few reports. He couldn’t risk bringing them all in case they were missed, and they were also looking at the reports more than twenty years old so they were difficult to get. The archive room wasn’t being properly guarded because most of the ninja were taking missions to make up for the loss of profit Suna had suffered over the years.
The daimyo had started to give his missions to Konoha more than twelve years ago, and especially after the news of the Yondaime’s defeat of the Kyuubi had reached his ears. He had been certain that if a village could produce a shinobi that skilled, then surely it had more power than his own hidden village.
Now he had seen that not only was his assumption about the Sand incorrect, but his actions had caused the Suna-nin to attack the Leaf to show their might. He corrected his mistake, but the damage had been done and now they were trying to reform the tattered bonds that had linked them as allies. It was looking good, especially after they had helped the newly appointed Godaime with a mission of urgency, but most of the Leaf-nin were still wary of them.
However, that took a backseat to improving the standard of living within Suna itself and so every available Chunin, Jonin, ANBU and Oinin were taking on more missions than they normally would. Chunin were being allowed to take some A-rank missions and the Genin’s were being given B-rank missions as long as they were accompanied by a Jonin or Chunin.
Harukaze himself had been overwhelmed with taking on as many A and S-rank missions as he could handle and had come close to collapsing, so Kamikaze had given him the day off. He hadn’t been happy about it, but that was better than passing out during a mission and getting himself or his teammates killed. So, he had rested for a few hours before setting out to find the two kunoichi.
While he had been in Kaze no Dairi, he had taken advantage of the archive room being lightly guarded and had no problem sneaking in. While he knew that his actions could get him stripped of his title and trialed for treason, he was willing to risk it. Arisa was his niece and his last true living relative.
Well, that wasn’t exactly true. During his search of the records, he had found an interesting piece of information. It turns out that he had a sister at one point. Past tense. She had died during child birth a few years ago because her father had married her much too young and her small body couldn’t handle birthing a fully grown child. Her name had been Ashikaga Suzuki.
She had been six years younger then Ritsuko and four years older than him. Eizo had married her off when she had been only twelve and she had died just a short ten months later at the age of thirteen. Aiko had been nine at the time and Ritsu had been nineteen.
The Hunter had found that his half sister had married one of Ryohei’s uncles, Erizawa Shinji and her son still lived. Since the mother had died during child birth, the father had named him Erizawa Rie. At the moment if he had to estimate his age, Aiko would say he was eighteen years old.
Not only that, but Eizo had other siblings so he’d had an uncle and aunt at one point. While they had already died during missions, their children and grandchildren still lived. If the Oinin had to count, he’d have to estimate that Arisa and him had about eight more relatives besides Rie.
Aiko was overwhelmed with the idea that all of them were related to him in one way or another, but for some reason he couldn’t bring himself to care for them. They were cousins and nothing more. Rie on the other hand was his sister’s son and he might seek him out soon, but not now. For the moment recovering Arisa was the most important thing.
So far, they weren’t getting too far while the council continued to take its time deliberating the Kazekage. However, they did have an inside source in the council and they’d made sure to take advantage of it. Because another topic for discussion was whether Arisa was declared as a Nukenin or not. For the moment, they were leaning more toward yes.
He turned to glance at the kunoichi and saw that Amane was looking through the files quickly and without reading too much in them. A slender brow raised beneath his mask. The Hunter wondered if perhaps she was looking for something specific that would identify Arisa’s mother.
It would have been so much easier to look through his brother’s file, but that had been strangely out of place and he hadn’t been able to find it. In fact, he hadn’t found Eizan or Arisa’s in there either. He would look more into this, but would make sure not to arouse suspicion since whoever had removed the records had to have access to them. The only people that had that authority at the moment were the council members.
When he returned his gaze back to the kunoichi, he noticed once more that Amane was only scanning the names of the records and setting them aside. “Anything specific that you’re looking for?” he casually asked, since he didn’t want to make it obvious that he was curious, especially because of Iwane. She wasn’t too trusting of him, and while Amane was also suspicious, she at least trusted him a fraction more than the Erizawa.
“Urusei,” the earth user sighed quietly as she walked back into the room. She had stood and moved into the kitchen for something to drink and she had arrived in time to hear his question. “Mind your business, would you?”
Aiko inclined his head as if he were agreeing with her. “Of course,” he replied and straightened. “However, if you had gotten these files by yourselves I would willingly comply, but since that’s not the case I think I deserve to at least know what you’re looking for.”
Amane had paused when he said this and lifted a blank expression in his direction. The Hunter was infuriated with the fact that he could never read her face or eyes to know what she might be thinking. Of course, since she had lived in the Itagaki household, he could see why she had gotten so good at hiding her thoughts and feelings.
Now he was privileged to see her eyes narrow in thought and he could tell she was struggling with her answer. It seemed that she was debating about whether she could trust him with the information he was requesting. Aiko found it odd that she’d allow such emotion to show on her features and wondered if it had to do with anything relating to her teammates in one way or another.
“We were...I came across a request form to take the Academy graduation exam in my grandfather’s office,” she replied. She paused and then fastened black eyes on him. “I’m looking for the file to see if they were allowed to become ninja since they were twelve when the request was made.”
Harukaze didn’t miss the way she hesitated, or the fact that she didn’t mention the person’s name or gender. Perhaps it was the girl that his brother had been dating at the time, but wondered why Hiroaki would make a request for the girl to be a ninja. Although, he wasn’t even sure if this person was even a girl.
“If you give me a gender, I can bring you the files of strictly men or women,” he tried to sound casual once more. By Iwane’s scoff, he could tell that she didn’t believe anything that came out of his mouth. That was fine with him, since all he needed was for the Itagaki to trust him and he was almost certain the other would follow. He was sure of this fact since if that weren’t the case then he would have been shunned as soon as the other girl found out about his interest to help them.
Iwane leaned against the wall she had been beside and crossed her arms over her chest. “Seems to me you’re a bit too eager to help us,” she commented as she took a swig of the water bottle she had brought from the kitchen. “You haven’t told us why you’re trying to get Arisa back. She owes you money? Knows your deepest, darkest secret, or what?”
Aiko lifted a brow under his mask at the line of questioning from the girl and realized she was taunting him. He tried not to let her rile him since that’s exactly what she was trying to do. “I can tell you who I am, but how can I be certain that you won’t reveal this information that I’ve tried to keep under wraps?”
Now Amane was interested as she looked up once more from the files. When they had started to speak, she had returned to them since she hadn’t thought their bickering to be of too much importance. It seemed that his words had caught her attention. “And whom exactly have you tried to keep this from?” she asked him, speaking up for once. He had noticed that whenever she spoke, it had a rather, impacting effect.
The Hunter met her ebony orbs over the distance and sighed before answering. “From Arisa, of course.” He saw their shocked expressions and smiled ruefully, and was glad that they couldn’t see it. His eyes revealed everything about him these days, which is why he kept them wrapped especially now more then ever.
Kuroboshi Iwaki had been her name and she had been from a modest, middle-class family. She had two older brothers and one younger sister. Her father had arranged a marriage for her to a man in a more wealthy family but he was also older and a widower. She had felt that her fate was sealed because not only did she not love him, but there were rumors of his cruelty.
Her father cared nothing for the talk of other people and arranged their marriage with him, seeing the opportunity for his family to become wealthier and come into higher standing. At this time, she met one of her older brother’s friends and she fancied herself in love. She sought to run away with him and he fanned her illusions, but failed to reveal that he already had a son and daughter with his wife.
He took advantage of her situation and her naivety. She might have known of his family but she only wanted to be free of the bonds her family had on her. However, she became pregnant and the man, Ashikaga Eizo, left her destitute. Her family disowned her and she was left alone. Iwaki and her unborn child would have died if it hadn’t been for her eldest brother and her lifelong friend, Ishikawa Taiki.
She had a difficult labor but had finally birthed a beautiful baby boy. He had her dark brown hair and his father’s gray eyes. Despite that, she had named him Aiko and given him her family name even if she had been disowned by them.
Over the years, she had worked hard to give him a good life. He never cried when she had to leave him with a sitter and merely watched with those eyes that tortured her. When he had turned three, she started to wrap them with bandages. Aiko wanted his mother to be happy so he’d worn them and learned to see without his eyes.
One night Iwaki had come home half dead and bloody. The baby sitter had grown tired of waiting and had taken anything of value for her wasted time. Aiko was too small to stop her and she had locked him in his closet. He had waited until she had left to crawl into the hall through the airduct.
When his mother came in he had helped her get into bed and then had run to get Ishikawa-san. He’d been sent to his room but he had sneaked into the hallway and had heard everything she had told him. One of her “clients” had beaten and raped her. Taiki had begged her to stop what she was doing and come live with him. She had refused.
If she wasn’t strong enough to provide for her son then she was as weak as her father had said she was. Aiko had made a decision that night. He would join the Academy and give his beloved mother a better life.
However, over time she started to get sicker and soon she couldn’t work anymore. The doctors that they could afford had no explanation for her illness, and that she had simply lost her will to live. Aiko continued working hard and graduated from the Academy at the top of his class.
He took the Chunin Exam too early and came back a wreak. He’d fallen into a coma for a month in which Ishikawa had taken care of Iwaki as best as he could between missions. She became worse and when he woke, it was only to push himself harder to become a Chunin so he could get her the best medical help he could afford.
In the end, none of it had paid off. He had become Chunin at twelve and she had died two months before his thirteenth birthday.
“Why would you keep it from her?” Amane’s voice shook him from his musings. He had gone silent after he’d told them most of his past. Of course, his intended defection had been unvoiced or that it had been Taiki that had stopped him that night he had turned thirteen. “You’re the only family she had left.”
Aiko ran a hand through his long hair and smirked as he shook his head. “Because I was weak. I hated her father and blamed her for being his daughter.” He leaned back against the wall and closed his gray eyes. “Also, if I had taken her in, there’s no doubt she’d have followed my path into the Oinin corp. I didn’t want that for her.”
Iwane snorted and downed the rest of her water before setting it on the table in front of her. “Don’t give me that crap.” She turned intense emerald orbs toward him. “You abandoned her, plain and simple.”
The Hunter bit his tongue to keep from saying something that he’d regret. He knew that the Erizawa was merely lashing out at him because she felt that they had both failed the girl as well. They had lost her during the invasion when they had wanted to stay with her. Aiko understood their formation, though.
Arisa had been their unofficial “Taicho” since she had been the strongest, and they had followed her orders. She had instructed that they follow and protect Gaara, the one other person she cared more than them, and she had stayed behind. Oto had taken her when she had tried to follow them afterwards.
“I did,” he didn’t disagree with her and that seemed to throw the earth user off. He grinned slightly beneath his mask, but made sure she heard no change in his voice when he spoke again. “But I also saved her from the assassins. It doesn’t make up for my abandonment, but it was a start.”
Iwane blinked and then realized that he was the ANBU member that had saved her from those assassins which she had mentioned to them. The girl’s lips lifted into a smirk and she nodded. “Kekko desu.”
Harukaze blinked and glanced toward Amane who looked a bit surprised but then she let a rare grin spread over her features. It lit up her ebony orbs so they blazed to life. “Her name is Morisue Kiyomizu.”
Aiko blinked at the name and knew it sounded familiar. Then it hit him all at once where he had heard that name before. “Why are you looking for a Morisue?” he asked.
The girls seemed to hesitate and then Amane spoke once more. It was rare to see her saying anything for so long. “The Itagaki and Erizawa are related to them and most of our clans’ wealth comes from them. When we were younger our parents let us play together with Arisa.” The wind user stopped and glanced at her comrade and the other girl nodded and took over.
“My father and Amane’s father referred to Arisa’s mother as “cousin”. We were also told that Arisa was our distant cousin on her mother’s side.”
Aiko nodded but was troubled. “If...Arisa’s mother was Morisue, then this is more complicated then I thought. It means that any status or wealth her mother had was all inherited by her at birth.”
“What about her older brother?” Iwane asked in confusion. “Wouldn’t he have had some of it as well, since he’s first born?”
The Hunter shook his head and sighed. “Iie, he wouldn’t because Eizan was only Arisa’s half brother. They both had different mothers.”
Iwane was generally shocked by that and he realized that Arisa had probably never spoken much of her family. Aiko knew all too well that losing them would have still been a fresh wound, no matter how many years had passed.
“I only knew because her father was my brother, but I could understand why she never told you.” He scratched the back of his head and wondered what he should tell them. “I watched over her for a few nights and I know that losing her brother was more painful then anything else. She suffered the most during the night.”
They nodded after a moment as they accepted his explanation. After all, they also had siblings and in a way could understand. Iwane could sympathize better since she loved her older brother and sister and younger brother. Amane had never quite gotten along well with Motoki but he was her brother, and although they had never been close, being without him didn’t seem possible.
She had always pictured her brother as this immovable object that would always be strong and there at all times. So, how would life be with him gone? Amane didn’t think she could imagine it. She had never been taught love within the Itagaki Ichizoku because that is how Hiroaki had wanted it, but he was her brother. That’s all that mattered.
“Hai,” Iwane muttered, answering for the two of them. She plopped down besides her teammate and started to help her go over the files. Harukaze watched them with a thoughtful expression and was reminded of his own Genin teammates, Satori and Satoshi.
He had never grown close with his first team before they had died in the Chunin Exam, but against his better judgment, he had allowed the twins to get close to him. At times he regretted that he had let himself care for them, but he remembered that he might not be here if it weren’t for them. In their own way, they had saved him.
Aiko stepped forward and the girls glanced warily at him before he sat at the table and reached up without hesitation to remove the straps of his mask. Both kunoichi gasped as he removed it and laid it beside him. The gray eyes he had tried so hard to hide bore into them, pulling them in until they were sure they’d drown.
“May I help?” he asked them. Both girls glanced at one another and then back at him. Iwane grinned a bit deviously and Amane’s eyebrows lifted in what he took to be confirmation. He realized that little by little, he was starting to read and understand their mannerisms, and he wasn’t sure if he should feel pleased or worried of that fact.
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The darkness started to recede and she felt a hand as it was placed on her face. She flinched but suddenly felt someone restrain her and the hand moved to where she had never been touched before. When she opened her mouth to scream, the hand on her features covered her lips. Her eyes met with cruel black and she whimpered in fear. Kabuto.
She had thought she was safe, but wondered if it had all been a dream. As she thought of that, tears formed in her eyes and started to run down her face. His hands started to slip under her clothing. “It’ll be much easier if you just give into me,” he whispered as he leaned in close to her, hot breath caressing her features as he removed his hand so she could speak.
The kunoichi turned her face away as the tears continued to spill down her cheeks. “I’d rather die,” she sobbed.
A grin spread over his features at her words. “As you wish,” he hissed as one hand cupped her breast. She cried out at the same moment the door opened.
Kabuto was gone suddenly and she heard something hit the wall and the sound of flesh connecting with flesh. She shakily lifted herself to a sitting position as she pulled her shirt down, and felt relief flood her whole body when the two figures came into focus. Hitori was currently pummeling the gray-haired ninja into the wall, and as the other hit the ground, he pulled out one deadly looking kodachi.
The Oto-nin froze and looked up along the blade pressed to his throat at the Oinin. He said nothing as he pressed enough to draw blood, and the message was clear as he shuddered. Kabuto didn’t have to see his eyes to know that they were as lifeless as always. He turned to look at the girl anxiously peering down at him from the examination table and he sneered at her.
“H-hai,” he answered when the kodachi was pressed a little harder against his neck. It was quickly removed and the Hunter flicked his head toward the door. Kabuto stood and glared murderously at them before striding out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
She glanced at the Hunter, hugging herself as she shivered and tried to keep her emotions in check. “Arigato,” she whispered as he moved closer. He reached out but she didn’t flinch as he laid a hand on her head, and ran the palm to her cheek. The girl leaned into the touch as she closed her eyes and felt only slightly at peace.
He moved forward and lifted her off the table after covering her with the cloak he had been wearing. She closed her eyes and leaned her head against his chest. It wasn’t the same, she knew this but for a moment she could imagine that it was. So, Arisa smiled as she remembered a time long ago before all her suffering had started.
Suna and her comrades faded to the back of her mind with not a bit of sadness. She had made a decision and as she thought more of it, she realized that in a way, Orochimaru had won. For now, however, she was content in the Hunter’s arms as he turned away and they faded into the shadows.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Harukaze knew something was wrong as he approached the apprentice and almost stopped in his tracks. Something told him to turn and flee, but he forced himself forward. Their meeting place this time was the old playground, and with a pang of sorrow he realized that it was the same one where he had seen Arisa for the first time almost a lifetime ago.
Ryohei glanced at him but he made no effort to stay hidden or to lower his voice. “The council has come to an agreement,” he said, and by his tone, Aiko knew he wouldn’t like the news. “In the case of Ashikaga Arisa, they’ve found her guilty of high treason.”
Aiko froze as he heard this and his gray eyes widened beneath his mask. He wanted to say so many things but nothing came to him. The other continued on. “Oinin have been informed of her status as Nukenin, S-class criminal and ordered to take her down should she be spotted or her whereabouts known.”
The Hunter clenched his hands into fists and he turned and did flee the playground this time. He doubted the kunoichi had heard the news and for some reason he wanted to be the one to tell them and lessen the blow. Although, he doubted anything he said would make it any easier.-
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Translations:
Kekko desu: All right (or: Very good.)
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End, Chapter Nine