We are One
The morning sun's rays seeped through the trees shining on the morning dew drops, as the first of the clan wobbled tiredly out of their wagons. Brothers and sisters, cousins, uncles, parents, all looked alike. No matter how close they were in blood so long as they are born under the father's name of Akusho they will bear the unique appearance. As the Majo stood weakly on the footsteps of her humble wagon she peered at her burden, the people of her caravan bore the golden eyes of the dead, though only a few could truly see the passed souls, the dark black curly hair is a brand easily seen by the people of the Fire Country, though similar to their cousins of the Nara clan, they had a very light tanned skin from years of wandering the pathways waiting for the rest of the world to forget their dreadful curse…
"Good morning Majo." A hunter said and bowed slightly. "The clan will begin the preparations for the festival while you attend the meeting with the replacement Hokage."
"You do not give the Hokage the respect she deserves…" She said in a soft raspy voice. "The elders of our homeland have chosen her because she is the greatest, treat her as such."
"Yes Majo." He said bowing lower than before.
"Go and awaken Mesuko, she will accompany me to the meeting."
"Yes, would you have a hunter as well?" he asked.
"Hmmmm… no." she said sternly. "The spirits tell me that they will not be needed…"
"I understand." he left and walked to the very back of the camp to the part that was closest to the Nara clan forest, there was one medium sized wagon partially secluded from the rest of camp. "Mesuko. The Majo requires you for the consulting." Soon after the door was opened to the hunter and she stepped out in variant blue long gypsy skirt and a sky blue tank top, that blended into the color of her skirt. Her long layered, waist length spiral hair was messily loose and a single short curl hung over the inner part of her right eye.
"Good morning…" She mumbled occasionally as she passed the other wagons, she placed a hand the muzzle of large white elk with twisted white horns that joined in the center creating a narrow oval shape, the creature stared at her with big black eyes as it continues to graze. "Good morning…" she said to it and the beast returned to others of its kind.
"The Halla look well this morning, don't they?" A familiar voice called out, one she didn't want to hear this early.
"Morning Uta." Mesuko mumbled extra quietly.
"You look dreadful Mesuko. Do you think you should leave attending the meeting to someone with more… experience." Uta stated, though the sentence was a question indeed Uta never liked the thought of sounding wrong so she always said things as if it were right. Uta was the most attractive young girl in the caravan, every boy had asked her for her hand, and she was oh so proud of it. Her long hair was more relaxed and well kept, giving her beautiful large onyx curls unlike Mesuko's tight mass of curls.
"Hmmm… I have absolutely nothing to say to you." She said flatly, "Have a nice day." She laughed and walked away.
"You know Genzai said something about you the other day, what was it…" she stopped at turned slightly to meet her with a venomous gaze. "Something about being without talent or beauty." Mesuko said nothing back to her and only turned away, as she walked slowly to the Majo. A stinging sensation began to swell in her chest till she couldn't breathe.
"Mesuko…" The Majo said softly.
"Good morning, Majo, are you ready to depart?"
"Yes child." She spoke gently as they began to leave the camp together. "It is difficult…"
"What is?" she asked keeping her eyes fixed on the pathway.
"Seeing the one you love most placing their affections with someone else."
"Yes… it hurts my chest to see him happy with her… but I then feel ashamed to wish him only to be happy with me." She began to cry as the sting reached her eyes and her chest felt heavy.
"My child… Do you know why you hide your talents?" Majo asked as her old voice took a lighter tone, but Mesuko only quietly rubbed her eyes, "It is because you know deep down that Genzai would have loved your music, and not your heart." She smiled and her features softened dispersing her wrinkles to the sides of her face. Mesuko slowly stopped crying as they approached the gates of the village. "Listen to the spirits, they will help you find your path."
"Yes Majo…" She said quietly, the sun had only just finished rising, the warm golden glow had faded bringing a pure blue sky. At the entrance of Konohagakure the two of them could see several shops opening, the large buildings in the background towered over the landscape, so foreign a sight to them even the Majo was taken aback by the sight before them.
"It looks much different in the daylight…" Mesuko mumbled to herself.
"In all my years, I never get used to it…" she said, "You are thirteen now Mesuko?"
"Yes Majo… It will be my first time dancing in the festival…" she said timidly.
"Do not fret… I know you have been practicing."
"Do the spirits tell you everything about us?" she asked sarcastically.
"No. Well yes, but I can tell that you have without them."
"How?"
"You have determination…" She paused, gazing out into the streets as her expression changed into a saddened one. "Something the others need desperately…"
"Our time will come…" Mesuko said, looking at the people who glanced there way with icy stares, "One day… we will be welcome again. And our people will know the meaning of home once more." Mesuko held her head higher and more proudly, despite the looks that they received; they walked with dignity and grace.
As they walked up the high steps of the Hokage's office the Majo had to stop often, her old knees could not make the climb in a single trip.
"Perhaps we should get you a staff…"
"Hmm! I can make the climb on my own!" she said with exaggerated confidence that made Mesuko laugh, the old woman looked as old as ever the higher they climbed, at the top of the steps Mesuko entered the hallway quickly bumping into a hard chest.
"Sor- Uggh Gross!" She exclaimed quickly after seeing Shikamaru, she placed a hand in the middle of his chest and pushed him away quickly.
"Friend of yours?" Majo said playfully.
"Mmmm..Bleh." She said childishly sticking out her tongue.
"Short tempered as usual…" Shikamaru said
"You-!" she pointed her index finger at him.
"Come Child! We still have business, speak with your friend later."
"He's not my friend!" she mumbled in a low angry tone while stomping after the Majo.
"Such a drag." He mumbled, she turned to say something back but the Majo only snapped at her before she could retort. After reaching the door that Mesuko and Genzai had went to last night, the Majo had knocked twice and entered when a stern voice granted their permission. When the blonde woman looked up she was briefly surprised but her expression was soon replaced with nearly tangible seriousness.
The meeting had ended, Mesuko sat on the very top of the Hokage's office looking out to the whole village, people where busily going about their day scrambling to and fro, but she paid them no attention. The terms of their treaty where weighing down her heart and had clouded her mind.
'These terms…' She clenched the railing, "What is this feeling…"
"Hey," Someone had called out, "you're the one from the Akusho clan?"
"Yes, that is me, will you be the leader for the mission?" she asked turning to see a tall dark haired man man with an unlit cigarette in his mouth.
"Yeah, I'll brief you on what you need to do. The name's Asuma." He stuck out a big hand.
"Mesuko…" she hesitantly shook his outstretched hand. "What do you need me to do?"
"My squad and I need you to help us take control of a bandit hideout, we need you to distract everyone in the main entrance so my team can get deeper inside without wasting our chakra fighting so many men, your Majo recommended you for this mission, but… it will be dangerous."
"I understand… but the Majo has chosen me because the spirits have guided her to that answer…"
"I'm sorry Mesuko, but I'm not quite familiar with your customs, and I also don't know your abilities."
"Please do not doubt me… I will keep them distracted but my jutsu will only last for two minutes at the most, what should I do if you are not at my aid when time ends, I do not possess the skills of a ninja."
"I know..." he said scratching the back of his head. "Well… I don't have an answer for you yet, but we'll talk more about it tomorrow before we leave."
"To-tomorrow!" she shouted, 'Damn it! I knew there was something!'
"What's wrong with tomorrow?" he asked worried about her troubled expression.
"I have to be back to the camp before sunset, it's very important!"
"Don't worry there should be plenty of time for us to finish the mission."
"Oh… good…" she relaxed. "I wouldn't want them to leave without me…"
"I'm sure you could catch up with the rest of your clan."
"Uh… yeah…" she said uneasily.
"Alright get together whatever you need for tomorrow and my squad and I will be at the camp in the morning, and I'll need the details of your jutsu as well."
"I understand, do you need them now?"
"No my squad will be there tomorrow to get the details."
"Ok."
"Tonight's the night…" Mesuko told herself, "I hope you're watching mom, I want to make you proud." She smiled, holding up a ceremonial dress. It was yellow and covered in a transparent silky fabric that covered her shoulders and reached her calves, the silk was layered in accents of black, with a mix of blue and orange at the edges. Beside it lay a masquerade mask in the shape of a black butterfly who's wings complimented her curly hair by poking through it.
Outside Uta was surrounded by several of the clans younger men, she was wearing an all white strapless dress similar to Mesuko's but it had long layers attached to her wrists and when she expanded her arms she looked like a bird, her mask was full of feathers and was very extravagant. All of the clan was getting dressed for the festival, every dress and suit was different for each person, weather it belonged to their ancestors or it was a part of who they were. Genzai was dressed as a halla, his mask had twisted edges that extended up like the horns of one of the white beasts, his pants and tunic were a silvery white. Mesuko watched out of a small window in the cabin, waiting for everyone to leave, seeing the costumes and the masks as the final people began to leave she stepped carefully out of her wagon, she took the short cut to town through the Nara forest.
Shikamaru had seen someone walk through their forest again, he thought that it could be that girl again but wasn't sure, there were at least eight girls he saw that looked similar to each other. 'Hmmm…' he thought sitting under a tree, 'Do I really wanna go to that festival?' he asked himself, 'I know Choji will be there, some of the other guy's too… but do I wanna risk running into that girl?' he got up and brushed off his pants, 'I guess I could just ignore her if I see her.'
By the time Shikamaru got to the main streets of the Konoah the sun was almost ready to set, music filled the streets heavily with the sound of beating drums. Akusho members scattered here and there in groups of two or three dancing and performing or playing music, all of them dressed with masks and loose formal clothing. The main part of the party was at the North gate, lanterns hung everywhere around the crowd giving it a candle light glow. A younger girl dressed in all white sung and played a beautiful relaxing harp, that unexpectedly seemed to blend with the drums despite its sweetness.
Choji stood beside Shikamaru and together they watched the girl, the crowd was mesmerized. Her harmonious tunes captivated the listeners, and even through the feather mask it was plain to see that she was beautiful, plucking the harp effortlessly and singing perfectly in tune swaying back and forth in the enjoyment of her own music. Shikamaru noticed that occasionally she would look away from the crowd and to another girl who was playing a koto closely enough to her that her music would blend with the harp.
"She doesn't look happy about the girl playing over there…" Choji said and pointed at the girl with the koto.
"No…" Shikamaru said, "There probably like Ino and Sakura and somehow this is a stupid battle over some guy's attention…" He said uninterested.
"I don't know, lets go listen to her." Choji said walking away from the harp. As they drew closer to the koto the sweet sound of the harp faded, the girl here was almost the opposite of the other, she was dressed in yellow with thick black accents, her dress was more subtle and but still colorful and the butterfly mask blended well with her face and hair. The harp was sweet and peaceful but the koto was aggressive and powerful, strong music flowed out of her fingers and matched the rhythm of the drums and suited the occasion better with an upbeat danceable song, although Shikamaru and Choji wouldn't be dancing… many of the other villagers where dancing with one another clapping their hands occasionally.
"I guess this one isn't fighting…" Shikamaru said.
"How do you know that?"
"Because, her eyes are closed… she's more focused on her music than the other girl."
"Well that explains why it has more emotion than the harp." Shino suddenly said behind the two of them joining the conversation. "I like this girl better…" he said quietly.
"Yeah? Why's that?" Choji asked him
"She's a butterfly, more precisely she a Yellow Swallowtail, you can tell because of the blue and orange accents at the bottom of her dress, she captures the species quite well…"
"I think he's in love." Choji whispered to Shikamaru.
"No. I just admire her taste in clothing." He said shoving his hands in his pockets and walking to the other side of the crowd.
"If they didn't all look the same…" Shikamaru mumbled.
"Hmm?"
"I think I know who that is. But they all look so similar so I'm not really sure if it's the girl I met before."
"Oh, right, that girl you told me about, what was her name?" Choji asked
"I never got her name…" he said walking away quietly.
"Lets go see if we can find some food!" Choji exclaimed walking ahead of him, smelling the air. Shikamaru halted taking one last look at the girl, her eyes were cast down at her fingers, it was plain to see she was trying hard, and her song abruptly ended, as she looked out over the clapping crowd his eyes met hers. He didn't know why… but he nodded to her, and as he walked away he tried to think of a reason that he would do something like that.
'She's not my friend or anything… and it's not like I know anything about music but she played nicely I guess…' he kept thinking about it and suddenly all the music stopped immediately, the drums silenced and all the Akusho clan members began walking toward the North gate, 'Is it over?' They settled in the widest part of the opening area, drummers and several musicians stood in one spot then a circle of people stood around them, then a bigger circle around the first one.
People started crowding around at a safe distance, the sun stood half set in the trees and the sky was painted orange. The musicians in the center started to calmly beat on the drums, loudly but all in unison, as they picked up pace the inner circle tapped their foot to the beat followed by the outmost circle. The music picked up before leveling out at a steady upbeat rhythm, the second circle started to hum loudly and moments later the third would follow, the music became louder and stronger, the base of the drums could be felt through the earth sending shivers through the bodies of the crowd. They started to sing in 'oooos' and 'aaahhs' without forming actual words, and the outer circle danced left but the inner danced right. Each layer moved together but as a separate piece of the other, timed so perfectly, they threw their hands up in waves as the musicians added instruments to the piece as they sang together and the butterfly and the bird danced together as one.
Though some voices sang louder than others they blended in a powerful choir that resonated off everything around them as the music hit its peak it quieted one voice sang louder than others and they all quieted… the soft pounding of the drums turned to a quiet heart beat as everyone stood still… "Oooooooohhhhhaaaaaaaa!" They sang louder and louder and the drums picked up and the music climaxed one last time, as the very last light of the sun faded they shot their hands in the air together as one and the music silenced… from within the circle a warm golden light gleamed from them all rising through the air forming a large bear that roared powerfully as it exploded into thousands of separate animals dancing and flying through the crowd before shooting into the air bursting into thousands of tiny twinkles. As the light faded the Majo stood in the very center of everyone still glowing like a golden rod, all of the clan members sat on their knees facing away from her their heads bowed to the crowd humbly as the light slowly faded.
The crowd died down slowly and people went back to their houses, most of the Akusho had returned to camp and only a few members had stayed to explore the village. Mesuko kept on her butterfly disguise and walked up the main street of the village entrance, she didn't notice that she was being followed…
"I know it's you." A familiar voice stopped her. Shikamaru had his hands stuffed in his pockets, he was wearing a grey shirt with his Nara clan symbol on the front in blue, he stood a few feet in front of her.
"Oh yeah?" she asked playfully.
"Yeah." He said, he was watching past her though. In an alley there were two members of her clan he noticed following her suspiciously. "What are you doing here by yourself." He asked.
"What? You scared I might ruin something by being here?" she asked bitterly.
"That's not what I meant, don't be a drag."
"What does that even mean?" she asked placing her hands on her hips sassily
"It means you're being a bitch." A girl said behind her. Mesuko didn't turn around, she looked side to side for a place to hide.
"Uta…" Genzai said wearily. When Mesuko heard his voice she tensed more.
"Hey, turn around! Look at me when I talk to you." Uta said angrily. She walked away stubbornly forward.
"You don't look familiar to us." Genzai said.
"Not even to you…" she whispered, but Shikamaru heard her…
"Hey, maybe you should go home." Shikamaru told her quietly.
"No… not right now."
"Are you ignoring me!?" Uta exclaimed.
"Hey! I'm in the middle of a conversation here, why don't you be a drag queen somewhere else!" Shikamaru said loudly. Mesuko looked at him surprised.
"Why are you defending me?" She asked.
"I'm not. There just annoying me…" she laughed at him softly.
"Hmmm., don't laugh…" he blushed.
"You can be really cute when you want to…"
"I'm not being cute." He sounded bored but was still blushing lightly.
"Stop ignoring me!" Uta screamed in a high pitched annoying voice.
"I-."
"Come on Uta! It's getting late, we need to go." Genzai said pulling her away.
"Do you think he knew it was me?" she whispered sadly.
"Why don't you want him to?" Shikamaru raised an eyebrow.
"No reason…" she said after a long pause. "Well…" She said more happily, "It was nice meeting you."
"You say it like you'll never see me again." He smirked.
"I might not." She taunted. "Try not to miss me." She teased.
"It won't be hard." He walked away.
The end! Of this chapter… I hope I described it well enough it was all so fantastic in my head haha.
