Declaration: Do not own Naruto, don't write fanfic to gain money from it. Do not get any kind of credit for it. I only write it because… because… I write because… I was born that way!
A/N- Thanks for your reviews. This means so much to me. It is also oh so nice to meet familiar readers, as well as new ones. I hope you would like this chapter too.
Above all, I wish you a happy and a peaceful year.
Floating worlds
.
"This way" Pein whispered and they rushed towards the room, making no sound of their own.
With Hidan on his right side and the other man at his left, Pein took a deep breath and smashed open the wooden door.
.
A key to the city
.
A cloud of dust rose, as the shattered door fell on the floor. The sound of the clash echoed in the empty hall. Pein rushed in, thinking, soon his sword will find the flesh it was craving for so much. Yet something was wrong, the shadowed figure did not resembled the Danzo he remembered. It was much smaller, more fragile, and it made him pause, letting his eyes adjust to the dark.
"Yes, at last! Our hero is here…" , an old man's voice, mocking him. If not Danzo, who could it be? "Fail to remember me, Lord Kumori? Come closer, maybe you will be helped."
Pein felt no threat coming from this old, broken figure, leaning so heavily on its walking stick. He allowed his sword down, and approached the man that was standing near a dusty thrown.
"Lord Sarutobi? Hiruzen Sarutobi?" Pein asked with amazement. No wonder he did not recognize him, what was left of him. He was only a shadow of his former self.
"Come closer." the old man insisted.
Pein kneeled at the man in front of him. The old man approached him, raised a shivering hand, and slapped Pein with all he was worth.
"Hey! Do ya wanna die?" Hidan lifted his sword and hurried some angry steps forward.
"It's all right!" Pein stopped his hasty officer with one glare. Hidan grunted but made no further advances. Pein turned back his burning face to the old man. It seems like his last act drained him completely. Pein realized that the man was going to crash to the ground so he rushed to grab him with strong arms.
"Go fetch this man some water." He commanded the soldier "Hidan, go to the entrance and secure it."
"Yes, my lord." They bowed and left.
Pein waited until he was alone with the old man. He helped him sit on the dusty thrown and kneeled at his feet again. The old man did not say a thing for a long time, and Pein said nothing as well, not to rush him.
"You came too late." Sarutobi said finally, voice drenched in despair. "They are all gone…all gone. You should have killed me when I slapped you."
"I came as soon as I could, my lord. As soon as I heard what happened. I gathered my army and marched here, only a typhoon or a tsunami could have brought me faster."
"I know… you are not the one to blame." Sarutobi sighed and Pein looked away from his tears.
"Please, sir, I need to know what happened. All I know comes from rumors and halfway truths. I am sure you can shade some light on this story. I need to know how my sister died."
Sarutobi released a nervous laughter "When was the last time we've met? Was it at your sister's wedding? When she married my Asuma? You were just a little brat back then. Never thought you'll grow up to be such a thug."
Pein did not try to hide a little smile. "They looked so happy then, your Asuma and my Kurenai."
"Yes, they truly loved each other, such a rare thing, ne?"
Pein nodded with silent agreement. "I remember Danzo there as well."
"Why yes, of course he was there. A daimyo must attend at the wedding of his most loyal warlord, ne?"
"Loyal? Senju betrayed Danzo. Asuma led your clan to rebel. He died a shameful death as a traitor. His own doing killed my sister! If he were alive, I would have taken my revenge from him as well."
"Don't say foolish things like that! You are a foreigner to this land. You have no idea how Danzo smothered it with his cruelty. How he humiliated Senju time and again, until my son had no other choice but to go against him. My son was a hero, you hear me? Go seek your revenge elsewhere!" Sarutobi was shaking with anger.
Pein's man just reentered the room, holding a glass of water. "Thank you." Pein said, "Now go wait outside, please."
"Hai."
Pein gave the water to Sarutobi "Here, old man, drink and cool down."
Sarutobi reached for the glass, one glance at him told Pein he was furies. He could not sip more than a few gulps before tossing it away. It shattered on the bare floor.
"I spoke with haste. I am sorry if I offended you."
Sarutobi nodded sharply, barely accepting the apology.
"I still need to know how my sister died."
"She died a horrible death."
"By Danzo's hand."
"By her own. She poisoned her children and committed suicide."
Pein gasped with hurt. Kurenai killed her son and baby daughter? How could she do this? Why? "She would never kill her children, she loves them so much! Don't lie to me, old man!"
"I wish I was lying! You forget that they were my grandchildren too. It all happened six months ago. Danzo met Asuma on the battlefield and killed him. After that, he offered Kurenai to marry him and she refused. A week later, she and the kids were dead."
"It makes no sense! She could have written to me to ask my help. I would have taken her and the kids back home. I don't understand…." Pein's voice was reduced to a whisper. He felt so helpless and angry. He could not figure out what went through his sister's mind. Why did she choose death over rescue? Why did she hide her distress from him? It should not have ended up like this! He could have had his family alive and safe with him. Now he will never have a chance to meet his little nephews.
The old man sighed, "I fear that I cannot help you shade light on this, Pein. The only one who can do that, who does not dwell in the land of Yomi yet, is Danzo. One thing I can tell you though, after Kurenai's death, Danso lost all interest in this land. He left with the most his of army two months ago. He placed only a small guard here, which you already butchered. That is way this stronghold is abandoned. I am the only one here, me and the hungry-ghosts of the dead."
"I promise you, we will get to the bottom of this. Danzo will pay for his acts, I swear."
Pein's determination only brought laughter to the old man.
"Oh, Kami…" He said when he was done laughing, "Revenge is for the young. I have no interest in this quest of yours. All I want now is to join my family on the other side."
Pein rose to his feet again, cleaning his black garments from the dust. "Did my sister find her death here?"
"Yes."
"Can you please show me to the room?"
"Of course, come with me."
Pein followed the old man out of the hall, were Hidan and the gourd awaited him.
"What's going on?" asked Hidan.
"Evacuate all our men from here." Said Pein, "We will be joining you soon."
"Yes, my lord."
Sarutobi led Pein in the dim corridors of the fortress. The moldy smell in the cold humid air was overwhelming. Pein felt sick to his stomach. That feeling just grew stronger and stronger and he fighting his gag reflex as they stopped in front of a door. "Here?" He asked Sarutobi, who just nodded in return.
Pein pushed the door open, earning squeals from its rusty hinges.
"I will wait outside." This was not a request; this man could not go further.
Pein entered the dark eerie room by himself. A double futon bed dominated the room. It was covered with dust and filth. Pein imagined some of the smudges to be bloodstains but he could not be sure. As his eyes grew accustomed to the dim room, he noticed a bamboo cradle, in the corner to his left. He reached there to find an old tattered rag doll, tossed on the gray sheets. He reached for it, and for the first time, as if on cue, tears filed his eyes. He did not cry when he heard the news of his father's death, when he was abroad. As he came back home and heard that his sister also died, he was left untouched. Only moments ago, when Sarutobi informed him that his nephews were dead as well, his eyes remained dry. Yet here, tears began to fall, and there was no way of stopping them.
He tried at least not to make a sound. He fought hard so no sob escapes his lips. It was such an effort; he thought his heart would burst. His hand tightened on that simple wooden object and nearly broke it. When he leaves this room, He knew, he would have to be strong again. Only now, when no one is to witness, Pein let himself fall down to his knees and shiver wildly.
More hot tears trailed down from his cold gray eyes. "I am sorry," He whispered repeatedly, begging his sister for forgiveness. He begged absolution, from children that he did not even know their names. He prayed to those souls not to hunt him. Just give me time, he assured them, I will bring you justice. "Forgive me; forgive me for coming too late…"
Hidan opened the door and all blood drained from his face. He immediately looked away "Sir? I am sorry to bother you. Just needed to tell ya, all our men left the premises, as you wanted."
"Good." Pein ran his hands over his face to eliminate any evidence of tears.
"I assume that you want to gather a cleaning party, yeah? This place's a mess."
"No Hiddan, we will burn it down."
"Say whaa?"
"This place is a grave yard. We should burn it down."
"Sir, this is crazy! This is a damn good stronghold, why…."
"Burn. It. Down." Pein used the tone that ended up all arguments. The tone that sent chills down Hiddan's spine. The silver haired man bowed deeply.
"Yes sir, as you fucking wish."
Pein nodded in content, He placed the rag doll in one of his pockets, and then left the room, not looking back.
oOOo
Angry rain poured all night and extinguished the fire. All of Pein's men were accounted for, but Sarutobi never came out with them. Pein knew that the old man deliberately stayed behind. His wish to join his loved ones on the other side, kept him within the burning fortress. Another addition to the list of Pein's dead relatives. That list was stacking up high in an alarming rate.
Pein had no time to mourn. He had too many things to do. He settled his base in a military warehouse, which Danzo left behind. His most urgent mission was to find food for his soldiers. He did not want to plunder the city, but he could not find a signal merchant, that was willing to talk to him. Everyone still hide in their houses, scared for their lives, and the heavy rain did not help at all.
A second mission that was pressing was to locate Danzo's men. He knew some were still hiding in the city. Pein put Kakuzu in charge of that. If anyone knew how to find a needle in a haystack it was this man, he was relentless.
Hidan stepped in the warehouse, soaked to the bone. Pein lifted his gaze from the maps he was studding. "Report."
"Just give me a fucking second, will ya?" The wet man said with clattered teeth. "Freaking rain and blasted wind! Feels like my dick's gonna drop off!" He drew closer to the improvised fireplace. "Such a nasty weather. We are in for a mother-fucking hell of a winter, you know. Someone must go out there, and harvest the rice or it all goes down the crapper."
Pein grunted, "If any of them was willing to talk to me. They all hide away like mice from a hungry cat."
"And a hungry cat you are, my lord."
"Don't."
"Well, my report, then. We rode to all direction and searched in every known track. No sign to tell us which direction Danzo and his army took. If there was a clue out there, I am sure this feisty rain has washed it out."
"Great, just great."
"Yeah, sorry about that."
"Not your fault. It looks like we are stuck in here for a while."
"But maybe it a good thing, sir. The men really need rest. Speaking of which… may I take a leave tonight, my lord?"
Pein could not miss the glitter in Hidan's eyes. The man was surly up to something. "Now, now, why would you need a vacation, my friend? Where would you go in this stormy weather?" Scarlet shade came upon Hidan's usually pale face. "Does your plan involve a certain famous pleasure district?" The man's blush got deeper. Pein chuckled softly. "Mah, you may go, Hidan. Go feed your desires. I wish I could feed our people with the same ease."
"Maybe I could help you both." Came a new voice, a low one, but unmistakably female.
Both Pein and Hidan turned to face the woman who just entered the hall. Two gourds and a fearsome man, who acted like her bodyguard, escorted her.
"They are not armed, sir." One of the soldiers explained, "She wanted to talk to you."
Pein studied the odd-looking woman. She wore a bright green kimono, held a yellow umbrella with red blood painted fingernails. Colorful, was Pein's first thought.
The women bowed deeply, pushing the overgrown man down with her.
"How may I help you?" Pein asked when she looked at him.
She smiled "My name is lady Fuen, and I am here to help you."
"Is that so?"
"I am so honored to meet you, my great warlord. Please let me congratulate you on your glorious victory. This city is grateful. You are our savior. I am sure the gods themselves sent you here to help us against Danzo's…"
"My lady…" as much as Pein was amused; he had enough of this hollow flattery."Time is short on my hands; may you reach your point?"
"Yes of curses" She kept her tight smile like a mask "I am Lady Fuen, of the house of Murasaki."
"A house in the pleasure district?" asked Hidan.
"Yes indeed, sir. I came to offer you our wonderful services. We have beautiful girls and boys at a very reasonable price. I am sure your men will appreciate…"
"My men will appreciate being fed."
"And I can help with this as well. You see, I know some people, very important people in this community, the ones you need to know in order to settle in."
"And what do you ask in return?"
"Well, nothing, sir, it is an honor to assist you. I would never dare asking something from you, but you will make an old woman happy, if you come to visit my humble establishment."
"I can do that, sir." Hidan offered, with suspiciously cheerful voice.
"As much as I would love having you around, sir, I'm afraid it is impolite of you to come without your master."
Now both Hidan and this lady Fuen looked at Pein with anticipation.
Pein grunted quietly, last thing on his mind was to lose himself to lust. Yet, that woman offered him the key to this city. She could spare him weeks of tedious work."
"It is decided then, I will come to Murasaki tonight." Pein eventually surrendered. "Will those important people be there tonight?"
Fuen could not hide her joy "sure thing, my lord, of course they will. You will meet everyone you need there, guaranteed." 'Ho, Fuka, you little missy…' she happily thought to herself 'you are so ruined now'. "Well, so much work ahead of me. Come Fudo, we have a festive dinner to arrange."
"Yes, my lady."
With that, they both bowed and left.
Hidan turned to Pein and smiled at him. He looked like a dog that just stumbled upon a very juicy bone.
"Don't get started." Pein mumbled and returned to his maps.
oOOo
o
OooO
"They say he killed over a thousand men," Said Neji to Hinata.
"Just where did you hear that?"
"Fuen said that she heard it from Yuki, the pub owner next door, he heard it from Akira, you know, the Messenger's kid. They said he crossed the counties with his army in less than forty days."
"That is ridicules" Hinata frowned "How can anyone cross the countries in forty days? That means that they never slept or ate along their way."
"They said that too."
Hinata dipped her cloth in the lemon juice and continued running it on the wooden staircase. Neji was two stairs below her, doing the same thing.
"Nobody can go without food for forty days, Neji-Chan, they are only human."
"Maybe they are monsters.," suggested Sasuke. He was downstairs, on his knees, adding another disk of sumac-tree wax to the bucket of hot water.
"No such things as monsters." Hinata said decisively.
"But Itachi said that there are."
"Itachi has too much of imagination, if you ask me." She answered.
Sasuke chewed on his lips and picked up the sponge he was using. He dipped it in the melted wax and continued to polish the wooden floor.
"They say, he is taller then Fudo, and has the strength of ten warriors." Neji insisted and got his cousin really mad.
"Would you stop that, please? Next thing you say is that he has three faces and a scorpion tail is coming out his ass."
"Hinata!" That was Itachi, just coming indoors from the stormy weather outside.
Hinata looked at him and pouted, "Sorry, Itachi-kun, I forgot we need to act like saints around Sasuke." She used her anger to scrub the staircase with more force.
"What is wrong with you?" Neji scolded her. She bit on her tongue not to give him a sassy answer, war was over, that was what's wrong.
"What is a saint?" Sasuke asked.
Itachi would not answer that one, because the follow-up question was going to be 'what is a sinner'. "Help me with this, will you?" The teen pointed on the canvas sacks leaning on the outer side of the entrance. They were full with rice, vegetables, fruits and other goods he just brought from the market. Although the market was still closed, he knew who to talk to into getting his supplies. He stepped outside again to pay the delivery boys their fee.
"I'll fetch Sora for help." He told Sasuke, who struggled to lift the heavy load. "Where is he?"
"In the kitchen, helping Teuchi to clean." Neji replied.
"So I'll find Ino."
Hinata and Neji exchanged smirks. That was no going to happen. Right on cue, Ino entered the room, trying her best to imitate her mistress dramatic movements. "You are spreading mud on the floor, Sasuke." She noted.
"Sorry, heavy…" He said as he dragged the muddy canvas bag on his way to the kitchen.
She shrugged "Your problem, not mine."
Itachi passed her, carrying other two packages. He glared coldly at her "We need more hands."
Ino looked at him with the smuggest glare "The twins are upstairs; you can use their hands if they are done with their chores."
"You can help too, you know." Hinata said angered.
Ino swayed her long blond hair "I am helping." She approached Neji, snooping around him "You've missed a spot right there." She pointed at the wooden surface "I am doing lady's Fuen biddings. I am supervising you."
"Such a great help you are...," mumbled Hinata.
"When you are finished on the ground floor, please go and change the sheets in all the rooms." Ino continued, "You must remember, we have a very important event tonight. Lady Fuen is expecting many important clients. Nothing can go wrong!"
Hinata glared daggers at Ino, who climbed upstairs indifferently.
"Where are you going?" grunted Neji.
"To get my beauty sleep." Ino replied, "As this new warlord will obviously pick me, I need my rest. See you later."
oOOo
By sunset, the rain was reduced to an annoying drizzle and the Ukiyo district was coming back to life. Itachi finished sweeping the dead leafs off the paved path that led to the gate, and stopped there, looking around. Everywhere were signs of things getting back to normal. Red paper lamps decorated the gates of all the houses; People strolled up and down the streets, litter carriers ran around with their customers.
"Itachi-kun, how are you?" A familiar voice came from across the street. Yuki, the pub owner waved at him. Itachi smiled and waved back.
Yuki turned his attention back to the kids who were rolling wooden barrels into the pub. "Careful with that, Shin-kun, there is some real expensive wine in there."
"Gomen, master…" Said the boy and disappeared inside.
"Well, Itachi-kun, I've heard that this new mighty warlord is coming to Murasaki tonight."
"Hai, hai, sir."
"Well, good luck then. It is about time we start getting some mons out of those foreigners, instead of getting the sharp edges of their swords, if I may say so."
"So desu ne."
"Itachi, get inside and get changed." Came the commanding voice of Fuen.
"Yes, may lady." he sighed "Well, see you later, Yuki-San."
"Hai."
All the inhabitants of the Murasaki household bathed, combed their hair and put on their make up. Even the little ones were cleaned and dressed, as they were to serve as waiters at the festive feast that Fuen organized. She had them lined up in the corridor for a last minute check. She hummed as she studied her subordinates
"Ino, you are a lovely sight." She complimented her favorite. The blonde was a true vision, with her cream-colored, silk Kimono. It was decorated with scarlet embroidery featuring autumn leaves. That was the most expensive Kimono in the house, and it fitted the blonde girl beautifully.
"Hinata!" Fuen's voice became cold as she turned towards the brunet "I expect all of you on your best behavior. If you pull that stunt on poor Yamamoto-San again, you will be banished for good, do you understand?"
Hinata grinded her teeth and said nothing,
"All of you hear me out! This is maybe the most important night for Murasaki in years! Failure is not an option!"
"Lady Fuen, our gussets start coming." Teuchi informed her while passing by. He was carrying a tray of steaming food to the main hall.
"Yes, yes… coming" she hurried to the front door "Oh, Mister Yamamoto-San!" Fuen bowed deeply "Welcome back to my humble teahouse. It has been such a long while…"
Not long enough, in the dark corridor, Hinata's eyes filled up with tears. "He is back…" She muffled, "Oh Kami, he is back!"
Neji took her into his arms, petting her hair. "Come on Hinata, everything will be all right…"
"She is spoiling her makeup." Ino mocked them "Fuen won't like that."
"Shut it." Itachi coldly replied. He watched with hidden delight, as her eyes grew big with surprise. She had no time to response as Fuen shouted for the whole house to hear "Lord Kumori! It is an honor to have you here! Welcome to my little teahouse."
"It's him." Ino sounded startled.
"The one that beat Danzo?" asked Sasuke "That so cool, I want to see him, does he have three faces and a scorpion tail?"
Itachi barely managed to grab the boy by his robe and pull him back. "You stay away from him, do you hear me?"
"But Aniki!"
"No! If you come anywhere near him, I swear by the gods, I will smack you to the bone!"
"Itachi… so unfair!"
Itachi was not impressed with his little brother tears. What if that Kumori person was a pedophile? Itachi did not want to risk it. "Stay in the kitchen all the time, help Teuchi and Ayame. Heaven helps you, if I see your little face popping out of there."
"Hn!" Sasuke answered.
"Ino-chan… Come here darling. " Fuen shouted from the main lounge room. Ino got a little paler, but she forced out a smile and followed the voice.
"You know, we must go as well." Whispered Neji to his still sobbing cousin, hugging her still.
"I'll try to take Yamamoto off your back." Itachi offered. On some rare occasions, that hideous man preferred him.
"Will you really?"
"It is not guarantied but I'll try."
"Arigto." the girl whispered, and the all hurried to the feast.
'So Sensei was right as always," Thought Itachi as he entered the main hall. That Lord Kumori of the Ame clan indeed crossed his path, coming to Murasaki.
"Keep a watchful eye on him" Sensei ordered, "Find out as much as you can."
"Hai." Itachi bowed and obeyed. He always obeyed.
oOOo
TBC
OooO
A/N- please review (am I predictable or what?). Next chapter will contain lemon. Don't we love lemons? I certainly do.