Homecoming and Prank Wars

Chapter 2

Kidoumaru sat quietly for a moment, considering, before finally coming to a conclusion.

"No. I can't go back. It's too late."

Akira sighed, Kidoumaru's parents had disowned him in disgust over his actions years ago, still . . . "Do you want us to tell them anything, for you?"

Kidoumaru shook his head, "Just tell them . . . I'm sorry, and they don't have to worry about me anymore, I'm through with that life, and I'd rather die than serve something like Orochimaru again."

"I'll tell them about what you've done, how you've changed so much. I know I'd be proud, if you were my son."

Kidoumaru looked away, "You're not my father . . . It's easier for you to forgive me."

...

As Akira left, Shikamaru entered the room. "Do you really think they won't be able to forgive you?"

"No. I know they won't be able to forgive me. I've been so lucky it's miraculous, coming back from the dead, finding good friends and a kind family who accept me, despite what I've done. But not everyone is as forgiving as you are. They disowned me, even though I'm alive again, I'm still dead to them." He stood, "I don't blame them, I betrayed everything they believe in, I allowed myself to become a monster, a murderer." He turned and started up the stairs.

"Kidoumaru?"

"Please, I don't want to talk about this anymore."

Shikamaru watched sadly as Kidoumaru walked up the stairs and out of his sight.

...

"How can he be so happy?! He even sparkles in the rain!"

Yoshi was right, Guy walked smiling down the muddy path through the cold, pouring rain as if he were walking through a field of flowers in the summertime. "It's all in your point of view! If you have a Youthful mind-set, nothing will discourage you!"

Dosu just carried on quietly, he'd been through far worse conditions than this, he'd suffered in ways his teammates couldn't imagine.

"Hey, Fluffy!"

He turned to look at Kara, "Yeah?"

"I hope that fur of yours doesn't carry fleas!"

Dosu grinned, "Don't worry, I'm flea-free, we can snuggle in safety!" He made a kissing noise.

"Be careful, I could sue you for sexual harassment!"

Yoshi laughed, "You're the one hitting on him! All that talk about his pelt, you're just trying to get close!"

"I am not!"

Guy started singing a loud, happy tune as his students teased each other back and forth.

...

Tomoe looked at her husband sadly, "He's not coming, is he?"

"No. He doesn't think his parents will forgive him."

Tomoe looked away, "The sad thing is, he's probably right."

"So, we're flying to Kusa?" They turned to see Iruka and Mizuki walking up. "

Yeah, we're taking Zaku's summon to Kusagakure, then going by train."

Iruka smiled, "Does she have a name? I've only heard you guys call her 'The Summon'."

Mizuki shrugged, "Zaku said her name was Kurokaze. He's spent a lot of time with her, actually, when he's not chasing Kin."

"It seems to me Kin's not trying too hard to get away."

...

"Hey, guys!" Nawaki moved over to the Oto-Nin's table, "I wanna' show you this!"

He set a framed picture on the table, and Tayuya picked it up. "Oh, my God! Look at that little #!"

She started laughing as Kidoumaru took the picture from her hand. It was a picture of a man and three kids, the man bore a great resemblance to the Sandaime, the first kid on the left was a cute, white haired boy with a lecherous grin and two thin, red facial tattoos, clearly a young Jiraiya, the second was a pretty blonde girl whom he could only assume was Tsunade, which meant the third, the skinny, pale-skinned, black-haired, yellow eyed boy to the right was . . .

"Hey guys! Check out the Snake!"

Everyone crowded around to see.

"Man, what happened to that #!? He looks . . . Innocent . . ." Ukon snorted.

Jirobou held his face a few inches from the frame, "That can't be . . . him? Can it?"

"Look at his #! Eyes! Who the #! Else has snake eyes?!" Tayuya shook her head, "What made him turn from a cute little kid to a #! Blood-thirsty demon #!"

"He wanted power, and he wanted immortality. Even the worst trash characters start the game as innocent kids . . ."

Nawaki sat down, "Tsunade used to be on the same Genin team as Jiraiya and Orochimaru, of course, that was before I was born."

Sakon leaned forward to get a better look, "Look at Jiraiya! You can tell he's a perv just by looking at him!"

"Some people change, and some people stay the same, little brother."

"Is that Orochimaru-Sama?" They turned to see Kimimaro standing behind them, staring intently at the picture, "Wow, Tsunade-Sama really filled-out, didn't she?"

Nawaki snorted at the remark, and everyone started laughing.

...

The train station in Grass was fairly new and still held a newly polished shine. It was made of wood, a rarity in Kusagakure, with antique styled benches and wrought iron railings. The train itself was a bulky, silver and blue hunk of metal, shining in the bright sunlight. Trains, like inter-village telephone service, were rare, it was difficult to keep lasting lines and tracks between lands frequently embroiled in war. Of the group, only Akira, Tomoe and Eiji had ever ridden a train before.

"So, Kin," Zaku stepped toward his bunk, "Let's share the bed!"

Kin laughed, "You wish!"

Tomoe smiled, "Do you guys have everything you need? The train pulls out in about a half hour." Both nodded, "Good. There's a lounge car we can go to watch the scenery go by. Just be sure to lock your things in your rooms and don't forget the keys."

Mizuki placed his neatly ordered clothes into the small wooden closet.

"Excited?"

Mizuki turned, "Yeah. What about you, 'Ruka?"

"I can't believe you're about to turn twenty-seven! Man we're getting old, 'Zuki!"

"Happens to the best of us. I already turned old once . . ."

Iruka nodded, "I remember."

...

"Kidoumaru!" He turned at the sound of Sakura's voice. "Kidoumaru, I heard about what happened today . . ."

"It's not something I want to talk about, Babe." He stared into space for a moment, "I'd like to go home, I wish I could go home, I wish I could see my parents again. But I can't, they made it clear I'm not welcome back, ever. I . . . " He paused, "I have a new family now. I know everyone wondered how I could be adopted if my parents were still alive. They gave up custody. They basically said, 'You can have the brat, he's not worth our . . .'" He looked away, "They can't forgive me."

She put an arm around him, "Maybe . . ." She didn't know what to say. If they're so #! Cold as to throw away their own son because he made some mistakes, they don't deserve him! Inner Sakura growled. "I'm sorry. Whatever happens, you have us, you know that."

"Yeah, I know." Sakura leaned against him, "I just thought of something, since your birthday is actually in December, then you're still only fifteen . . . You're Zaku's age . . ."

He smiled, "Better hope nobody calls the law on you, Babe."

...

Sasuke woke slowly to find Obito shaking him, "Hey, Sasuke! Obito has a great idea!"

"What?" "We go get Sakon, Ukon, Suigetsu, Sai, everybody, and we play a big prank on the whole town!"

Sasuke started to get dressed, "This better be good . . ."

As night fell everyone headed to their bunks. Just outside of his room, Zaku turned and grinned, "Hey, Kin, sure you don't want to take me up on my offer?"

Kin smiled back, "Sure."

Zaku's eyes widened and his cheeks turned red, "W-what!?"

"I said yes, let's go." Zaku paled, "I-I-I-I-I . . ." He stuttered, a look of panic on his face, "I gotta go!"

Kin started laughing as he locked the door behind him, I thought so!

Eiji walked by and looked at Kin, "What's going on?"

"I'm just having some fun with Romeo." She giggled and walked off, leaving a very confused Eiji behind.

...

As dawn rose in Konoha, a surprise awaited the new day. Tsunade stood, shading her eyes and trying not to laugh. After all these years, he still hasn't changed. The whole town crowded around her, staring at the Hokage tower, shining bright orange against the morning sky.

To be continued...