Hogosha's Last Gift

A three-year-old Kurisutaru rode on the shoulders of her father Hogosha as they walked through the markets of the village. His silver hair glistened brilliantly in the daylight sun. He stopped at a shop and observed the jeweler's wares, reflection of the jewelry sparkling in his daughter's eyes. He noticed this and asked, "Do you see anything you like?"

Kurisutaru's eyes scanned over the jewelry until they stopped on a silver heart-shaped locket with beautiful engravings of roses delicately engraved around the border. She took a deep breath as she gazed at it. "That one's pretty…"

"So, you like it? Would you like to have it?"

She nodded slowly, never taking her eyes off the silver pendant. "Yes, daddy, please? Can I?"

"Maybe when you're older," he laughed as he gently lifted her off of his shoulders and onto the ground. "Let me talk for a moment. You can go play with his cat over there." Hogosha pointed to a rusty-colored tiger cat belonging to the shop owner as she ran over to play with it.

A few minutes later, the silver-haired man lifted Kurisutaru back onto his shoulders and the two walked home together.

For the longest time, Kurisutaru would sneak around the house, spying on her parents in an attempt to see if he had bought the locket for her or not. Like any child, she didn't want to wait until her birthday to receive it. One morning, when she came to the breakfast table, Hogosha and Rikka were already at the table and waiting for her.

Kurisutaru looked between them curiously as her older brother, Marugo, came downstairs for breakfast, as well. "What's going on?"

Rikka nodded at her husband and Hogosha smiled as he lifted his daughter into his arms. "I have a present for you."

The little girl's eyes lit up as she smiled. "What is it?"

"Close your eyes," he instructed.

Kurisutaru lifted her tiny hands up over her eyes and closed them, anxiously awaiting her gift.

"All right, open them," Rikka said after several moments. "We decided it would be too hard to make both of you wait for your birthday to give it to you."

When she opened her eyes, her father's hand was outstretched in front of her face, holding the silver heart-shaped locket she had seen at the market. It had her first name engraved into its front and he popped it open for her to see its contents. It had the most recent picture of Hogosha, Rikka, Marugo, and Kurisutaru that had been taken inside it.

Kurisutaru's eyes lit up in joyful surprise as she gasped. "It's beautiful!" Her arms wrapped around Hogosha's neck as she embraced him tightly. "Thank you, daddy! Thank you!"

The day went by and Kurisutaru was practically skipping around with joy at her new locket. Her parents watched her contently as she did so, glad to see her so happy. When night fell, there was a knock on their door. It was their family friends: the Bukes.

"Tomo? Gentaru? What's going on?" Hogosha asked, looking between the two adult shinobi.

"Trouble: Kyuubi's at the front gates. All licensed shinobi are to report for assistance!" the man named Tomo stated.

"There's no time to waste, we need to hurry," the man's wife, Gentaru, urged. There was a toddler in her arms. "I hope you don't mind, but could Teinei stay here until it's over?"

Rikka was standing beside her husband at the door. "No problem. Teinei is always welcome here, you know that."

The woman nodded and set her son down and he walked over to Kurisutaru and she immediately began showing off her locket to him. He reached for it, eager to see, but she pulled it away, shaking her head.

Young Marugo came running to the door with several weapons in hand. "I want to come! I want to fight, too!"

Though Kurisutaru and Teinei were young, they knew trouble when they saw it. She walked over to her father as Hogosha placed a hand on each of his children's heads.

"You two will stay here with your mother. Marugo, you are still an Academy Student. You don't need to fight. Let us handle this, all right?" His eyes were soft. If he was scared of this battle in any way, he didn't show it.

"But--!" Marugo began to protest.

"You were given two, strong legs to stand on your own, and you were given two, good arms to hold loved ones close and protect them. I'm going to make use of mine. Everything will be all right; don't worry. Tomo and Gentaru will be with me and so will the rest of Konoha." Hogosha smiled at the two and ruffled Marugo's hair. He stood up straight and gave his wife a hug and a kiss.

"Be careful," she whispered.

Hogosha nodded to his family and ran out the door with the two ninja of the Buke clan and was gone in an instant. Several hours passed as Rikka, Marugo, Kurisutaru, and Teinei awaited their return as they took the necessary precautions of attack. Rikka was careful not to alarm the children so they would not be worried or upset in the meantime. When the attack appeared to be over, there was a knock on their door and Rikka answered.

Tomo and Gentaru stood quietly in the door. Parts of their clothes were torn but they otherwise appeared unharmed. "Rikka… The Kyuubi's been sealed inside a newborn child of the village," Tomo explained quietly.

She looked around them, trying to see her husband. "Where's Hogosha? Is he all right?" As Rikka looked in between their faces, she didn't like the solemn expressions they held.

Gentaru shook her head quietly, "He didn't make it, Rikka. I'm sorry."

Her eyes widened as she looked nervously at the two. "What… Do you mean?"

"He's dead, Rikka," Tomo answered bluntly.

Rikka's world collapsed around her as she dropped to her knees with a scream. "No, he can't have! I should've had been there, too, dammit! I should've—!"

"You had to stay here with the children. It's not your fault," Gentaru reasoned. She helped her friend to her feet and into the house so she wouldn't be having a meltdown in front of any passersby. Tomo followed them into the house and scooped up Teinei in his arms as he watched Rikka curiously. Even at the age of two, he understood what death meant and he knew it was not good. "Do you want us to take the children for the night?" she asked gently.

The silver-haired woman shook her head 'no' as she wiped her eyes. "Thank you, anyway, Gentaru."

Tomo nodded. "We'll just go now. Would you like us to stop by in the morning?"

Again, Rikka simply shook her head as her two friends left with their son. She called over her own two children and explained what had just happened to Hogosha. Marugo growled angrily to himself and ran up to his room in rage at the news. Kurisutaru began sobbing and clutched her locket in her hand, holding it close to her heart.

"Daddy can't die! He said everything would be okay! He said so! You heard him, mommy!" Kurisutaru choked.

Rikka wrapped her arms around her small daughter and held her close, tears streaking down her cheeks. "I know… I know."