Pins and needles baby, pins and needle! I bet that's what everybody has been on lately, I know I have. The trouble is I had two essays to do as well as a print… And now I have to study for an exam. I'll be so happy when I get next week off! Anyway, I'd like to extend a special thank you to my serial-reviewers, it is much appreciated! Sadly, I note, it will still be a long while before Kushina meets Minato. It will happen though, I assure you. Enjoy!
Kushina squinted at her hand, gingerly running a finger over her calloused palm. Finally she found the splinter and tried using her teeth to pull it out.
"He says that to get to the village we'd have to rent a boat to take us there." Said Jiro as he walked up to her. Kushina spat the splinter on the ground and wiped her mouth.
"Where is it?" She asked, rubbing her hand on her leg.
"It's still a long ways away but if we keep following the main road then we should be able to get there in a couple days." Kushina frowned.
They had been on the road now for several days, and as much as she hated admitting it, she was beginning to miss Taifu. Life in a country side was far different form life in the city and it had been a change she admittedly wasn't anticipating. For one thing, there was a severe lack of garbage cans in the area. How in the world could she feed herself if there was no source of food?
The answer to that question had been simple enough. After a sorry experience with some slightly poisonous berries, Kushina and Jiro decided they would work for their food and eat only what they could by if no garbage can was availible. Coming across a small village, the two children found some work for the day. Kushina had offered to clean out a chicken coop for a small fee, as well as any eggs she found, although the latter was really more of a self awarded bonus. Jiro on the other hand, helped an older man chop and carry firewood. Although he was much to small to actually chop the wood, he was quite eager to work and enthusiastically carried out his duties. By the end of the day, Jiro and Kushina had more money then they ever had in their entire life time. A small amount really, but enough to buy themselves a meal with enough left over for one more.
Kushina sighed as she pulled the remaining funds out of her pocket. Only about a tiny amount of change left.
"We're poor again." She said. "Not even enough for a chocolate bar. We need to work more, especially if we have to rent a boat later." Jiro sat down next to her on the bench and handed her a small bowl of rice. Quickly the two dug into their simple meal.
"We have to save up though." Said Jiro through a mouthful of rice. "Cause we have to buy food as well because there's no village until we get to the ocean."
"What's an ocean?" Asked Kushina.
Jiro shrugged. "It's like the sea only bigger. I met a kid once, who told me he once lived by the ocean." Kushina paused in thought. Bigger then the sea? She wasn't sure if that was even possible. Although she had only ever seen the sea form the shore, it was still pretty big, but like Niida had once said, just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it's not there.
"So would the village be on the other side of the ocean?"
"No." Said Jiro. "The guy at the shop said it was on a island, surrounded almost all the way around by whirlpools. There's a way you can get past them though without them sucking you in. So only people who know how to get there can get there safely."
Kushina licked her bowl clean before staring down into it's empty depths.
"If we're going to work," She said thoughtfully, "Then we'd have to work enough to make more then what we use to eat in a day as well as buying food for the road. It might be a while before we leave this village."
Truth be told, they had made the same mistake last time. When they had left the first village they walked for another two days before stumbling across this one. Kushina hadn't felt hunger like that since she had lived with Natsuko. To avoid this she planned to save what ever she could. No more spending their extra change on candies and sweets.
"It looks like it's going to rain." Mumbled Jiro, looking skywards.
"Shit." Muttered Kushina, as she wiped her mouth and returned their empty bowls. The two children darted through the streets of the town until they reached a small playground. Crawling into one of the large plastic tunnels, the two huddled together just as the first drops came down.
"Hey Jiro, where do you think we'll live when we get to the village?" Asked Kushina, peering outside. She took out the small pot from her budled and set it outside to catch some rainwater. It was rare for it to rain and with the constant heat it mean drinking water was hard to find.
"I don't know." Replied Jiro, setting out a cracked cup. "Maybe we can buy a tent or build a shack or something."
"The summer's mostly fine, I just don't want to be outside during the winter." Said Kushina.
"I don't want to either but a place to stay is gonna cost a whole lot of money. How much does a ninja make anyway?"
"Beats me." Said Kushina. "But I'd expect we'd have to learn for a long time before we can be real ninjas. You know, go to school. If that's the case then we'd have to get other jobs…" Jiro shrugged.
"If so then I'll work and you can learn to be a ninja." Kushina blinked, surprised.
"Really? You'll let me be the ninja?" She asked.
"Sure." Said Jiro, shrugging. "You're already more of a ninja then me. And I don't mind working so it makes sense." Kushina beamed at him.
"Thanks man! Just wait, if you can't be a ninja then I'll be the best ninja, for the both of us. And if you can be a ninja, well, all the better!" Jiro smiled slightly. Truth be told he had little interest in becoming a ninja, but as it stood, it wasn't a bad option, and at least it led them to act. Sure he didn't really know anything about ninjas, or even what they really did. He was also fairly certain that even Kushina didn't really know, but he saw it as a hope. Hope for a better life and he was willing to take hope in any shape or form that it came it. The rain poured down for the rest of the day and a bitter cold sunk into the village. Kushina and Jiro were quite warm though, side by side, in a blue plastic tube.
Kushina shielded her eyes from the golden rays of sunlight as they bore down upon her. Gathering up all the strength she had, she started to lift the newspapers and swiftly carried them over to the stall's owner. She placed them at his feet with a quiet thud and as he cut apart their bindings she had quickly returned with the second pile. This morning she had woken up early and had found work while allowing Jiro to sleep in. She had convinced this man who, was setting up for the day, to give her some work and he could pay her whatever was fair.
Sitting down on the ground, Kushina panted heavily in the shade of the kiosk.
"Hey." Said the man. Kushina looked up at him and saw that he was holding out a bottle of soda.
"Thank you sir." She said, as she took the orange soda and took a big gulp, coughing slightly as the fuzzies ticked her throat.
"You're a hard worker." He said admirably as he took out a roll of cash. "Anyone who knows the value of a hard days work deserves a bonus." He then gave Kushina her payment and Kushina sat back down, watching his customers as they came and went so early in the morning.
"What does that say?" Asked Kushina, pointing to the paper. The man glanced down and read out the headline.
"Famine Reaches Critical Point." He said simply.
"What does that mean?" Asked Kushina, sipping on her drink.
"It means many people are hungry and they don't have anything to eat." Kushina immediately paused, the bottle at the tip of her mouth. The man caught sight of this and smiled kindly.
"Drink it. I'm not starving but by the looks of it, you are." Kushina finished the drink quickly and thanked him, still unsure of he was telling the truth about being hungry.
"So why are people hungry anyway?" She asked the man, somewhat happy with the fact that an adult was talking to her civilly. Then again, he had grey eyes so he was Ogawa as well.
"There's not enough food. People aren't growing enough food and what they sell is sold at high prices. That's the only way they can make ends meet. That also means only the rich can afford to eat properly. Thank you." He added to a man who had just bought a paper.
"So you're rich then?" Asked Kushina.
"I do well. Rich or poor, people still like to read the papers."
"I can't read." Said Kushina frankly.
"You're still young." Said the man, "You have lots of time to learn." Kushina stared down at the empty bottle in her hands, biting her lip.
"This kid I knew," She began, "Said I was dumb. He said I couldn't because I have grey eyes." The man suddenly stopped rearranging the books behind him and stared down at her.
"And what do you think?" He asked her emotionlessly.
"I said he's wrong but, but I still can't read…" Mumbled Kushina.
"Well you're a hard and honest worker." Said the man as he placed his wares on display. "And that's good enough for me. If you want to do anything then as long as you put in the sincere effort, then you can achieve it."
"Yeah?" Said Kushina hopefully.
"Yeah." Said the man.
"Then, then why do some people say that I can't do it? Because I'm Ogawa?" The man sighed at this and walked out of his stand to take a seat next to her.
"Some people," He began softly, "Have really bad luck. And some people are just really angry at the world. Rather then trying and solve their problems though, they blame others."
"Why?" Asked Kushina.
"Because it's easy. Most people aren't willing to look at themselves and admit their faults. Even if they aren't the ones at fault, they still are unwilling to believe that sometimes bad things just happen to people, when in fact no one set them up, no one is conspiring against them. They just blame other people, and often it's the people who are different who get the blame placed on them. That's because it's easy to blame something you know nothing about."
"But they could just ask people about themselves!" Said Kushina defiantly. "I'm Kushina Uzumaki! I have grey eyes and red hair. My best friend is Jiro and we're going to the hidden village to be ninjas!" The man chuckled at this.
"Ninjas huh? You two up for the challenge?"
"Yes." Said Kushina sternly. "We'll be ninjas. We'll be great ninjas" Standing up the man dusted off his apron and returned to his booth.
"Where are your parents?" He asked seriously.
"Don't got any." Said Kushina, her eyes narrowing as though to dare this man to challenge her claim.
"Well do you have a place to stay?" He asked.
"The playground." She replied as she pocketed her earnings.
"It's dangerous for a kid to live on the streets." Said the man. "You and your friend drop by here at sundown, and I'll let you stay at my place."
"Really?" Asked Kushina, once again astounded by this man's generosity.
"Sure." Said the man, a cheerful smile on his face. "The name's Hachi Motsumori."
Moeko's face was twitching uncontrollably, almost comically really. Although she had always loved her husband's selflessness, she has to argue that there was limits. For one thing, bringing two small and smelly children home during such hard times… well, that was really pushing her.
"You'll get wrinkles honey." Said Hachi gently.
"And who do you think is responsible?" She snarled back. Hachi grinned apologetically. Although Moeko was far from a proper and prim lady, he knew she had a big heart and, as much as it annoyed her, would never turn away a child.
Kushina and Jiro kept their heads bowed low, waiting for a response from this woman. She towered over them, an intimidating figure dressed in the guise of a housewife.
"Well get in." she said impatiently, snapping her finger. Jiro and Kushina scuffled into the house, leaving their shoes in the porch. Moeko started down the hall and motioned for the children to follow.
"You might as well get supper ready." She called to Hachi. "And feed the boys as well. Don't wait up for me." She then led the two into a small bathroom and ordered them to strip. Once they were down to their skins, she proceeded to brutally wash them down with her rough, calloused hands. This was all business and when she was finished Moeko simply plopped them into the wooden bathtub and went to fetch them some clean clothes to wear for the night. Kushina glanced over to a dishevelled Jiro who was staring back at her in bewilderment. Surprisingly, after being tossed about in what seemed to be a ritualistic manner, they both felt quite clean as compared to when they washed themselves.
"Huh." Said Kushina, leaning over the edge of the tub. "Well, that was okay I guess."
"It's different," Said Jiro sagely, "When an adult gives you a bath. They know what they're doing."
"And they're not very gentle about it either." Said Kushina, blowing bubbles under the water. After being tossed and turned about like that, it felt as though she had just been a dish that needed cleaning rather then a little girl.
"Kushina." Said Jiro sternly.
"Yeah?"
"Next time you meet an adult, don't just go with them if they tell you to." Kushina frowned at this statement.
"Why? You came too." Jiro frowned at her. It was true that he had come as well, but the situation seemed okay. Had Kushina been alone and meet a strange man though, things might had turned out horrifically different. She was still, surprisingly, naive when it came to trust.
"Why!? Come on, not all people are this nice even if they act like it. They might lie to you and take something from you and hurt you. Or even kill you." Kushina resumed blowing bubbles under the water. She never really thought about it before, but she knew Jiro had a point. Going with Niida had always posed as a risk to her and she had gotten hurt quite seriously because of this. She supposed she never really suspected this of Hachi because he seemed nice, but she knew that always wasn't the case. She couldn't be stupid anymore.
"Alright." She said. "I'll be more careful."
"Good." Said Jiro.
Moeko returned a few minutes later with some fresh yukatas.
"They'll be a little large for you." She said simply. "They're for my brother's children when they come to visit." She then drained the tub and pulled Kushina out first, relentlessly towelling her down, and Kushina instinctively fighting against it, but she was trapped like a kitten caught in it's mothers paws. Jiro found this highly amusing, until it was his turn of course.
Hachi grinned as he watched the two eat their meals shortly afterwards, feeling a little sorry for them as well. He knew Moeko washed children in a similar manner to the way she washed clothes. With extreme prejudice.
The rest of the evening passed quickly, and more happily for Kushina and Jiro then it had in a long time. They amused and were amused by Hachi and Moeko's two year old twin boys while the parents talked in the kitchen. They played with them until it was the boy's bedtime, and they went off to sleep as well, curled up on a futon. In the adjacent room, Hachi and Moeko where discussing their current situation.
"You can't just bring home children." Said Moeko and she untied the bandana around her head, letting down her black locks. "What about their parents? What about us!? Even with the business you know we're just getting by as it is."
"They don't have parents and they won't be here for very long." Said Hachi as he started to undress. "Kushina said they we're heading to Arashigakure."
"The Village Hidden in the Storm?" Said Moeko. "Are they trying to become ninjas?"
"Apparently so." Said Hachi. He lay down and stared at the ceiling for the longest time before he spoke again. "They'll be in safe hands once they get to the village, but I can't let them just go on their own. The roads are dangerous enough as it is for an adult, let alone kids. It's really a miracle that they've managed to make it this far without being attacked."
Moeko silently combed her hair, gazing at her worried reflection. When she had married Hachi her parents odjected, saying he was unrelliable. She always defended him but deep in the back of her mind she knew there was some truth to it. With a family to look after now, he couldn't just drop everything to help strangers.
"You can't take anytime off of work though." She said silently. "We're living day to day on what you make."
"I don't have to." Yawned Hachi. "Some of the guys travel to the ocean village almost every week. I'm sure Tatsuhiko or even Kenji can escort them there and then the kids can pay for their fare to Arashigakure."
"Even so, how do they plan to pay for the boat fare?" Asked Moeko, her eyes narrowing suspiciously on Hachi.
"They're going to work for it." Said Hahci sternly. "I'm not just going to give them money." Moeko paused.
"Wait, you mean they're going to work for you?"
"Kushina and Jiro can help me in the mornings, and I know a few people who are looking for some help with their work as well. It's something those kids can do to earn their money. It just means I'll have to cut back a bit on some unnecessary pleasures. I promise, you and the kids aren't going to go hungry." Moeko sighed as she crawled next to Hachi and rested her head on his chest.
"Better not." She grumbled. Yet she cuddled into her husbands arms and allowed him to reassure her that everything would be okay. She hoped so, but that was only because the worst had yet to reach their tiny village. They heard stories, sure, of the treatment of the Ogawa people that had been plaguing the more densely populated areas of the Whirlpool. Although not Ogawa, Moeko feared for both her husband and her children. She hoped it would be okay. She hoped.
Kushina awoke that morning to the sounds of creaking floor boards. Opening her eyes she realized she was quite warm. Too warm. Throwing off the blankets she peered around the room. It was a simple guest room, decorated with a single painting of flowers. Heading toward a window she opened it up, not sure if by doing so she was letting the hot air escape, or allowing it to come in.
"Jiro," she muttered, walking over to the body and shaking it with her foot. "We gotta get up now. We have to work." Jiro sat up and stared at Kushina.
"You're drooling." He muttered sleepily. Kushina wiped her mouth and the two started to dress. Their clothes had been cleaned the night before and had been place inside their room, neatly folded, only an hour earlier. Once dressed, they attempted to tidy the room and leave it as they had found it when it had been prepared for them by Moeko. As soon as they finished, they took a deep breath and made their way down the hall and into the kitchen. Moeko was there already, making breakfast.
"Good morning Motsumori-san." Said Kushina and Jiro. Although they didn't really know anything about proper manners, they were quite determined to prove that they were grateful to their host and hostess.
"Do you need help with anything?" Offered Jiro.
"No." Said Moeko. "Hachi's just taking a shower right now. Here, eat your breakfast, he'll be out shortly and when he's done he'll bring you to work with him for the morning." Kushina and Jiro too their seats and enjoyed a simply breakfast of miso soup, toast, and some leftovers from last night.
Shortly afterwards little Kei and Yochiro stumbled into the room and immediately latched on to their mother's legs. Kushina watched with interest at how Moeko address the situation. Gently, with a smile of happiness, she redirected her children towards the table and fed them their meals. She talked to them sweetly, in low, soothing tones and chuckled at the silly things they spouted. Kushina didn't get it. When Kei slapped a spoon from his mothers hand she didn't hit him or slap him or make him eat the food off the floor like a dog. She only scolded him, and not even by yelling at him until he cried. Her warning was gentle yet firm. When Hachi came to eat, he and Moeko talked to each other in a friendly, albeit strained, terms. Moeko was still upset about his reckless actions, Kushina could tell that, but she didn't yell at him and he didn't yell at her for not going along easily with what he did.
That morning, as Kushina and Jiro were moving magazines, books and papers for Hachi, Kushina spoke to him in a low voice.
"What the hell man? They don't fight or hit or nothing. Shit, what's wrong with them?" Jiro wasn't really surprised by this. Although he never ever had a family before, he knew that some families where nice like this, and some families hated each other. Kushina on the other hand, had always grown up with the notion that parents hit their children and each other and that was simply the way things were. Never seeing another family in their home before, this interaction was completely alien to her.
"They're good people. Good people don't beat the ones they love." He said simply. He didn't know how else to explain it.
Kushina dwelled on the idea the entire day. She thought about it while she helped a carpenter as he built a shed. She thought about it as she help an elderly woman with her groceries. She thought about it during her supper and bath, and she thought about it long after Jiro had fallen asleep. And it pissed her off.
Since Natsuko's death she had rarely thought about the woman. Once in a while, her memory crept up on her like a lion moving in on it's prey, but Kushina had always brushed those moments off. Now however, her mother consumed her like a disease. For her entire life she had always imagined herself as the bad person and Natsuko as a good mother. For all the pain she dealt out Kushina always assumed that it was because she had done something bad and Natsuko always knew somehow.
But apparently that wasn't the case. Good parents don't beat their children. People don't beat the ones they love. For the first time in her life, Kushina had witness a parent in the simple act of loving their child, or rather what love really was, and it hurt her. She wanted that. She wanted Natsuko to have been that, to have been patient when she had done something wrong, to be tender and not just when she was drunk. But that relationship was now forever lost. She was pissed at Natsuko, she was pissed at the world but mostly she was pissed with herself. For allowing it to have happened and for being so stupid.
Well I think Kushina is losing the guilt over killing her mother. I'll get deeper into that and the story continues. So for the longest time I was wondering what to name the ninja village. Had I know what to call it then I probably would have named it chapters ago. At first I wanted it to be typhoon but then I remembered that's what Taifu was, and I didn't want whirlpool cause that was already the country. Then I thought storm and I really liked it! Of course once you think about it, it's actually kind of depressing... Ah well.