9 Intermission: Fallen, But Not Forgotten

Interviews with the Dead – Ayumu, Goubatsu, Katsuo

We return once more to the interview table. The room is dimly lit, and Taiki sits alone with a stack of cue cards by his hands.

Kotori. (off-camera) Ready whenever you are.

Taiki. (clears throat) Right. Well, folks, welcome to another special commentary track. In light of traditions honoring those that have gone before, as well as recent plot developments, I thought it would be interesting to give some of our dead folks a chance to talk. I'll be asking most of the questions, but feel free to jump in, Tori-chan.

Kotori. (muttering) You do realize you're going to have to give them a body, right? And mine is not an option.

Taiki. Don't worry, I've got it figured out. (closes eyes, focuses, and exhales deeply) First up, a lovely lady from the Hidden Cloud Village. Mind introducing yourself?

(A dark-haired, slightly older woman fades into view next to Taiki, looking shocked and surprised to have a physical form again. She spends the next few minutes poking a dubious finger into her limbs and torso to see if this is indeed real before Taiki clears his throat again. She jumps in startlement, then grins sheepishly and looks to the camera.)

Ayumu. Oh. Hello, all – my name is Ayumu, formerly of Clan Doshaburi. Like he just said, I'm from Kumogakure. Along with my husband Kazuki, I helped raise Taiki and set him on the path to who he is now.

Kotori. What kind of impact do you think you had on him? Did you teach him anything?

Ayumu. (looks to the floor for a moment, then speaks quietly) I had an impact, all right. He killed me when he was only three years old. Where do you think he got his abilities from? I was the last of my clan to carry the Jyusshi-no-Youma bloodline – Ten Fingers of the Demon, or Shadow Hands as you call it, I guess – and we thought it died out with me. (a pause, then) But we all know it didn't, now did it?

(Taiki goes pale and looks elsewhere, obviously uncomfortable with this line of conversation. Ayumu rolls her eyes, sighs, and reaches a hand out to pat him on the shoulder.)

Ayumu. Don't be silly, Tai. It was bound to happen sooner or later, and I don't blame you for any of it.

(All is silent for a few minutes afterwards. Taiki awkwardly claps his hands and forces a smile)

Taiki. All right. Time to bring our next guest out…

(He repeats his focusing gesture of earlier, and a second form shimmers into view. He lacks arms and bears a ragged scar across his throat from an earlier wound.)

Goubatsu. Hey, man, what's the big idea? I was in the middle of a nap, you know… having a nice dream where I was watching Tori-chan in the bath. Did you know that she's got a birthmark on her – (Kotori clears her throat warningly, and Goubatsu makes an impish face at the camera) Dunno why you're so upset, Kotori. You let that other guy use you for books and movies and stuff…

Kotori. But at least I get paid for that.

(an interjectory cough from Taiki)

Taiki. There'll be plenty of time for that later. Okay, Goubatsu-san, I'm sure that anyone who's read this far has a pretty good idea of who you are. Why don't you tell us something that we don't know about you?

Goubatsu. Hmm. Well… (grins ruefully) I hate to say this, but it's kind of embarrassing to be killed by someone in your own family. That's a story for a rainy day, though… (He gives the camera a foul look) The least you could've done is left me with a hand so I could get to my flask. Some of the best booze from here to eternity, separated by a vindictive teenager with a big sword…

Kotori. (coolly) You said nasty things about my mother. Pardon me for my lack of remorse.

(Ayumu gives her ghostly compatriot an intrigued look)

Ayumu. You make moonshine, Goubatsu-san?

Goubatsu. (grins proudly) Yep. I mean, when we're not busy slaughtering innocents and otherwise causing mayhem, what else is there for us Mist folks to do? I'll tell you what, we can throw a mean party. Add some homemade rocket fuel to the mix and it's pure gold! I and my products have been responsible for salvaging more relationships than any self-help book on the shelf… (winces) and for causing a few things to happen that probably shouldn't have. (He gives Kotori a pointed look before falling silent)

Kotori. (grumbling, almost inaudible) I dare you to say that when you actually have a body, freak…

(Taiki slaps his hands down on the table in an impatient gesture, trying to return everyone's focus. It works, but only to a limited extent.)

Taiki. Okay, folks, now for the main event. It's nice to see both of you in the, um, flesh, but that wasn't my real reason for calling you here. I'd like to ask you a few questions, and you'll answer them as honestly as possible.

Ayumu. (nods) Of course.

Goubatsu. (sullenly) Like I have any other choice…

Taiki. There are worse options, trust me. (pause) First off, what are your thoughts on being dead?

Goubatsu. (disdainful snort) You ask that like we're supposed to be enjoying this. Oh well. It's inconvenient, I guess, but I'm learning to deal with it… it's like forced bed rest, you know? I want to be out there doing stuff, but it's my turn to sit back and relax. I'll live.

Ayumu. It's nice in a way not to really have to worry about what happens to you, because it's over and done with, but that doesn't stop me from worrying. It's not as peaceful as you'd think, because you're forced to watch as everyone goes through their lives making the same mistakes that you did and not learning from them.

Taiki. Anything that you wish you had or hadn't done while you were alive?

Ayumu. I wish I'd been able to warn you about your abilities, Tai. No one deserves to learn their talents the way you did.

Goubatsu. I'd have kept Emi away from the damn punch bowl.

Taiki. One last question, and then you're free to go back – any advice for those of us still living?

Goubatsu. Um, yeah. Nothing good comes from inbreeding, and I'll leave it at that…

Ayumu. Choose your words and actions carefully, because you're never guaranteed a second chance.

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(The view fades to black for a moment. When it returns, there is a third man sitting alone in front of the table. He wears the traditional black garb and green flak vest of the Konoha elite, minus the distinctive leaf-branded headband. He holds something in his hands, but it is hard to tell what.)

Taiki. (off-camera) Thank you for agreeing to this, Katsuo-san. I know you normally don't make public appearances.

(The man grins, and if one looks one might see a resemblance to his younger brother Takeshi in the set of his smile and direct gaze. There is a shadow of some darker emotion in his eyes, though, and he hesitates over his words when speaking.)

Katsuo. Damn right I don't, and even if I did, who would listen to what I had to say? Hell, the only one that does is that punk brother of mine, and that's only when he's drunk off his ass. I'm dead and gone, and everyone's moved on without me. (He looks down to the object in his hands, then tosses it on the table with a sigh. It is his missing headband, the leaf mark bisected with a horizontal slash.) Emi has, and so has Kotori. It seems I left before I could do any good. (pause) Are they going to see this?

Taiki. (hesitantly) I – I think so. Why?

(Katsuo takes a deep breath to calm himself, and the smile turns into one of quiet patience.)

Katsuo. All right. Here goes, then… Emi, I know what you did while you were gone, and I'm willing to forgive you. It's not like I've got anything else to do now. And Kotori… Kotori, you're fine just the way you are. No matter where you came from or where you go, you shouldn't have to prove yourself to anyone. Remember that and I'll be proud.

(He fades away without farewell, and there are a few seconds of silence before the camera is shut off. No further footage follows.)