Chapter 21: The Dictator
Ryu landed about 30 feet in front of the southern gate of Amegakure's main city. Izuka, Gaara, Daisuke, Temari, and Kankuro all climbed off of Ryu as the dragon started to shrink herself into her miniature form. She then climbed onto Izuka's shoulders.
"Let's get this over with shall we? I'm already tired of this constant rain." asked Kankuro as he led the group to the gate's security checkpoint.
The security checkpoint was manned by four guards wearing the standard Amegakure shinobi attire. One of the guards, who had a pencil moustache, walked over to the approaching group.
"Lord Kazekage-san, Lady Sage-san, you and your friends are expected at our leader's tower. I am supposed to escort you there." said the guard.
"Very well then." answered Gaara. "Show us the way."
The guard nodded his head and led the group through the gate and into the inner workings of the city. The city was full of skyscrapers; the shortest building was only five stories tall.
"Wow! These people love to live above ground don't they?" said Kankuro as he looked around at his surroundings.
"In the past, the storms that bombarded our city were so disastrous, that we were basically a 24/7 flood zone." said the guard. "It was the city architects' idea to build these skyscrapers, but there is a rule to living in these buildings."
"What is it?" asked Temari.
"It is forbidden for anyone to live on any floor below the third one, you can only use them for businesses." answered the guard.
"I see." said Izuka.
The group walked the rest of the way to the dictator's tower in silence. When they reached the building, Ryu's and Kankuro's jaws dropped at the sight of it.
"I knew that the dictator lived in the tallest building in Amegakure, but I didn't think that the building would be this tall. It looked smaller when we were riding on Ryu." exclaimed Kankuro.
"Appearances can be deceiving." said the guard as he walked towards the large front doors of the building. The group followed after him.
The group walked through another checkpoint that was guarded by even more menacing Rain-nin as they entered the building's lobby. The lobby was about two stories tall and simple in design with portraits of Amegakure's previous leaders lining the walls. A see through elevator lined the wall opposite the group.
"My job stops here." said the guard. He turned to Daisuke and the teenagers. "All you have to do is take that elevator over there to the 50th floor. That is where you'll find our leader's office."
"Thank you." said Gaara he walked past the guard and led the group to the elevator. As soon as everybody entered the machine, Gaara pressed the button for the 50th floor. The doors closed and the platform the group was standing on started to rise up.
Izuka looked to her left to see Kankuro slightly shaking. "Kankuro, what's wrong?"
Everyone turned to look at the shaking puppeteer.
"Oh, it's nothing. I'm just not used to elevators, that's all." said Kankuro, but his voice slightly trembled at the end.
"Don't tell me you're afraid of elevators?" asked Temari as she raised an eyebrow at her brother.
"I'm not afraid of elevators. I'm just afraid of the really, really tall ones." said Kankuro as he closed his eyes.
"Don't worry Kankuro. The ride's almost over anyway." said Gaara as the sign above the elevator door indicated that the elevator has stopped on the 50th floor.
The elevator doors opened to a light blue room, which resembled a waiting area. There were a few couches along the walls and a secretary's desk in front of a large pair of mahogany doors. The woman at the desk looked to be about in her mid-thirties. She had green eyes, short raven colored hair, and was dressed in a simple kimono.
"Hello?" said Daisuke, suddenly unsure of what to say.
The woman looked up from her paperwork. "Oh hello; you are the shinobi from the Wind Country?" she asked.
"Indeed." said Gaara as he stepped forward.
Recognizing who Izuka and Gaara were, the secretary stood up from her desk. "Welcome Kazekage-san, Lady Sage-san, and friends. If you give me just a second, I'll tell my boss you're here."
"Go ahead." said Gaara.
"Thank you." answered the secretary. She walked to the mahogany doors, opened them, and went inside. A few minutes later, she walked back out.
"He will see you now, but only the Wind Daimyo's advisor, the Lady Sage, and you may enter his office. Your siblings and the dragon will have to stay out here in the waiting area." said the secretary as she took her seat at her desk.
"Understandable." Gaara concluded. He turned to Daisuke and Izuka. "Ready?"
The two nodded their heads yes. Gaara turned to his siblings and Ryu.
"Will be back in a few." said Gaara. The three nodded their heads and went to sit on the couches.
Gaara, Izuka, and Daisuke walked past the secretary and through the mahogany doors into the dictator's office.
The dictator's office was darkly lit, but the three could still see the walls decorated with bookshelves and a large mahogany desk in the center of the room. The chair at the desk was turned towards the floor-to-ceiling windows.
"Ah, you have finally made it." said a deep voice coming from the chair.
The chair began to spin around to reveal the dictator. Izuka, Gaara, and Daisuke were stunned, not because they finally got to see what the dictator looked like, but because he was so young in age.
"Didn't see this coming." whispered Izuka to Daisuke. Daisuke could only nod his head in agreement. Gaara just stared.
The dictator looked to be about the same age as Izuka and Gaara. He had raven colored hair, green eyes, and a porcelain complexion. He was wearing robes similar to what Gaara's wears when he's in his office, except the tunic underneath the white robe was a purplish-black color.
"Hello Kazekage-san, Lady Sage-san, advisor-san. Welcome to Amegakure. My name is Seiriyu Kotawashi; I am the leader of Amegakure." said Seiriyu as he stood up from his chair and shook Gaara's hand.
"Nice to finally meet you Kotowashi-san." said Gaara as he returned the gesture. Seiriyu moved on to Izuka.
"Lady Sage-san, it is an honor to meet you." said Seiriyu as he shook her hand. He then kissed it like a gentleman would.
"Likewise Seiriyu-san." said Izuka as she shot him a wayward look. Daisuke looked at Gaara, who only gave him a blank stare.
After Seiriyu shook hands with Daisuke, he went back to his desk and sat in his chair. "Now, what brings you hear to good old Amegakure?"
"Like he doesn't know already." thought Izuka, which Gaara heard with his mind.
"We are here as representatives of the Wind Daimyo. We are here to make peace with you and your country after we have heard that you are planning to wage war with the Wind country." said Gaara.
A thoughtful look crossed over the dictator's face. "Ah yes, the proclamation of war; I almost forgot about that." said Seiriyu, with honesty laced through his voice as he scratched his head.
If the situation wasn't serious, Daisuke, Gaara, and Izuka would have face palmed by now. Instead, they all settled with just giving the dictator completely blank stares.
"Sorry about that." said Seiriyu as he gave them apologetic nods.
Before either of the three could say anything, there was a sharp knock at the door.
"Come in." said Seriyu as everyone turned their heads to the door just in time to see the secretary pop her head into the room.
"Sir, your meeting with the village elders starts in 15 minutes." said the secretary with a stoic expression.
"I see. Thank you my dear." said Seiriyu. He turned to Gaara, Daisuke, and Izuka. "Sorry, duty calls."
"When are we going to speak of the matter between Amegakure and Sunagakure?" asked Izuka as she stood in the dictator's way.
"After my meeting with the elders, I'm booked throughout the day. How about we discuss this during dinner tonight, my treat." said Seiriyu as he walked passed her. He turned to Gaara and Daisuke.
"How about it? You're siblings and the dragon is invited as well. Besides, it's better to talk about things during a good occasion than a bad one." said Seiriyu.
"What do you think Gaara-san?" asked Daisuke as he walked closer to the young Kazekage.
Gaara looked over at Izuka. When she looked at him, she shrugged.
"It couldn't hurt." she said, but there was a hint of uncertainty to her voice.
Gaara let out a sigh and looked at the young dictator. "Seiriyu-san, we gladly accept your invitation to dinner."
"Excellent!" exclaimed Seiriyu. "Dinner will start in three hours. My secretary will show you where you all will be staying during your time here."
Seiriyu opened the door for Daisuke, Izuka, and Gaara to walk through. "See you all at seven." said Seiriyu as he closed the door behind them.
Gaara, Daisuke, and Izuka walked over to Ryu, Temari, and Kankuro, who met them halfway.
"Is that teenage boy with the raven hair the dictator?" asked Kankuro as he stared wide-eyed at the doors.
"Yes; his name is Seiriyu Kotowashi. He's probably the same age as me and Gaara." said Izuka as she crossed her arms.
"And he's the guy everyone says doesn't leave his office and defeats every opponent that he faced who tried to cross him?" asked Ryu, who was perched on Kankuro's shoulders.
Daisuke, Izuka, and Gaara all nodded their heads yes.
"Wow, the people of the world are getting stronger and stronger with each generation." Ryu concluded.
"You can say that again." said Daisuke as he looked at the secretary who was walking over to the group as they spoke.
"Follow me. I'll show you to your rooms." said the secretary as she led the group to the elevator.
"Thank you. By the way, what is your name?" asked Daisuke as the group entered the elevator.
"My name is Mioka, but you can call me Mio." said the secretary as she pressed the button to close the elevator. She pressed another button and the group made their way down.
Back in his office, Seiriyu sat back in his chair at his desk. After five minutes passed, a knock was heard on his door.
"Come in." he said in a cold tone.
The door opened to reveal five elderly men dressed in white robes. They were a few of the members of the Amegakure council.
"Have they arrived yet, Lord Seiriyu?" asked the tallest elder who had a long gray beard.
"The Kazekage, Lady Sage, advisor, and the rest of their travel party are already here. Right now, my secretary is showing them to their rooms." answered Seiriyu.
"Excellent and not a moment too soon." said a second elder who had a gray, bushy moustache.
"My thoughts exactly Elder Kālu." replied Seiriyu. He turned his chair away from them to face the windows.
"Soon, not only will Sunagakure fall and the Kazekage dies at my hands, but the Lady Sage will be mine. I guarantee it."
End of chapter 21
A/N: We've got our bad guy. What are Seriyu's plans for our group? Will Gaara die at his hands? Will he get Izuka? Read and review to find out. Also vote on my poll.