CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

His Sister's Keeper

~Kakashi~

"Hey! Mr. Hero!" Kakashi turned to see Team Yuma approaching, Kiyomi in the lead, and reluctantly closed his book.

"Good morning," he greeted them.

"Looks like it might rain, eh?" Sota commented pleasantly as the group came up alongside the senior shinobi. The sky had been a stubborn grey since dawn and there was a closeness in the air, static on the skin, that hinted at a thunder storm.

"It might do," Kakashi agreed.

"Do you know where Erisu-chan is?" Kiyomi asked. "We wanted to invite her to dinner to celebrate her being released from the hospital."

"A premature celebration, don't you think?" Kakashi said darkly, annoyed by everyone's compliance to her nearing demise.

"I'd throw a party just for getting out of bed in the morning," Sota said with a yawn. Kakashi believed that.

Kakashi rubbed the back of his head idly. "I haven't seen her today, but she's probably at home or in the willow tree in the third training ground."

"She's not training is she?" Yuma was sharp.

"I don't think she's quite that reckless," Kakashi replied, "more likely she's reading or doting on her cats." He wondered privately what she had in mind for her furry companions once she wasn't around to care for them. The mere thought of it made his innards fill with ice. Around them early morning shoppers were milling about in the market streets. Fresh produce displays perfumed the village with the sweet smell of late summer fruit and a low babble of heralding and bartering gradually increased as the streets filled. Kakashi let his eye wander over the crowds, his mind far from the market, back in the mist and the dark with Erisu.

"I heard you fought Kakazu the bounty hunter," Sota said and Kakashi was yanked back to the day-lit street.

"Yes," he replied, not interested in reliving the fight for Team Yuma's entertainment. "What of you? Have you been assigned your fourth member yet? Yuma-san looks mended enough to resume his missions."

The Hyūga looked at him scathingly. "Danzō is apparently keen to recommend a replacement," he told him stiffly, "but it hasn't been formalized yet."

"Is he now?" Kakashi narrowed his eye and the two men shared an understanding of foreboding. The Roots were weaselling themselves into more teams than his own, it appeared.

"There's a rumour going around," Kiyomi began randomly, drawing Yuma and Kakashi's attentions. "Word is you're seeing someone, Raiketsu-Kakashi."

"Oh yes," Sota agreed, "I heard that as well." Three sets of eyes fixed on him expectantly. He stifled a sigh.

"You're bound to hear rumours if you have working ears." He waved a hand dismissively and flipped his book back open. "...Erisu's probably still at home," he hinted, "she's not much of a morning person."

"I'm glad you brought up Erisu-chan," Kiyomi said, "if you really are seeing someone then I should kick your ass!"

He looked up with boredom. "I'm sorry, did you say something?"

Her dark red eyes flashed maliciously. "You lead her on," she accused, "treating her to meals, buying her presents, taking her out for picnics-"

"What?" Yuma demanded.

"-I warned you not to hurt her and if you're fucking around with some hoe while you could have someone like Erisu-"

"Kiyomi," Sota interrupted her before Kakashi could. "Back off." She stared at her teammate in absolute astonishment. It was clear he'd never told her what to do before.

"Erisu-san knows how to take care of herself," he told the dark haired woman, "and I don't think Kakashi-senpai would intentionally hurt her."

Kakashi regarded Sota analytically. This is the young man Erisu had comforted while I was hospitalized, he recalled, she trusts him and it would seem that he trusts her as well. He considered the group for a moment. If it wasn't for Yuma, Erisu might've made a good member of the team. If she lived that long.

"C'mon." Sota grabbed Kiyomi's hand. "Let's go see if Erisu-san wants to come to dinner." The fierce woman relented and he started leading her away. "Thanks, Senpai!" Sota called as they headed towards the library. Yuma lingered behind.

"Is it true?" He asked, voice difficult to read.

"Hm?" Kakashi glanced up, as if he'd only noticed him. "What's true?"

"Don't fuck with me," he snapped, "are you and Erisu-chan involved?"

Kakashi blinked. "Define involved."

"You know what I mean!" Yuma barked, "don't be a smart-ass!"

He was about to quip a retort when he saw Sakura wrestling her way through the throngs of people towards them.

"Kakashi-sensei!" She called as she neared, "Tsunade-shishou wants you to report to her tower."

"Thank you, Sakura," he responded. At last. Ignoring Yuma entirely, Kakashi followed his former student towards Hokage Rock.

Kakashi knocked once and was immediately admitted into the Hokage's office tower. Inoichi and Team Ebisu were assembled near Tsunade's desk. Sakura had left him in the entrance hall and he'd continued up to the round domed office that sat like a lighthouse over the village alone. Shizune closed the door behind Kakashi as he entered, suspense churning in his gut.

"Godaime-sama," he greeted the Hokage stiffly, he bowed curtly to the others in turn. "Has Hakuchō Yusha been located then?"

"He's at Headquarters," Inoichi answered, his face cold and still as marble.

"...and Erisu?" Kakashi prompted.

"She hasn't been informed yet, we wanted to brief you first." Tsunade looked more stressed than ever. "As you know, Yusha-san was going under the name Yamanaka and was soaking up the esteem that comes with the Clan. He seems to have a knack for genjutsu like his sister and, while he hasn't exhibited the Hakuchō's empathic abilities, he appears to have inherited the Yamanaka Mind Transfer. He caused Team Ebisu a lot of trouble when he possessed Udon-san."

Udon silently wiped his nose, drowsy eyes downcast while Inoichi's jaw worked. Ebisu pushed up his shades, his students speechless and slightly battered beside him. Kakashi urged her to continue with a dip of his head.

"Ebisu-sensei.." Tsunade turned to the tutor. "Would you describe the mission for him as you did for me?"

Ebisu adjusted his glasses again and nodded to the Hokage. "He wasn't as easy to capture as we thought he'd be," Gai's old teammate began, "he detected us tracking him very early on and lead us on a wild goose chase-"

"He's a total bastard!" Konohamaru said loudly, "really conniving and sly! The jerk had us running all around town chasing his stupid illusions."

"And he was very strategic," Udon added with a sniff, "he predicted our every move and stayed one step ahead of us."

"And he was really charismatic and charming," Moegi chipped in. Konohamaru glowered at her and muttered something that sounded like 'who's the pervert now?'

"-we did of course outwit him in the end," Ebisu said, ignoring the interruption, "he isn't even Chūnin rank after all. We caught him in a rather simplistic wire trap and sedated him promptly. The trip back with him was uneventful."

"But he was heavy," Konohamaru complained, "and he smelled nasty! He smokes just like Asumi-oujisan-" Konohamaru cut himself off, having turned rather pale, and fumbled with his scarf.

"So it seems Erisu wasn't the only one continuing her training on her own," Kakashi said thoughtfully, "has Yusha-san said anything yet?"

"He was still unconscious last I checked," Inoichi replied, "there are medical-nin seeing to his injuries as we speak."

"Injuries?" Kakashi queried.

"I tried out a new jutsu that Naruto-niisan taught me," Konohamaru said proudly, "it worked like a charm." Kakashi nearly asked if he'd used sexy jutsu but caught himself. Now wasn't the time for quips.

"How soon will he be interrogated?" Kakashi asked instead, "when should I inform Erisu of her brother's capture?"

"Good questions," Tsunade responded, then turned to the Head Interrogator, "Inoichi?"

"Well, seeing as he was arrested under less serious charges we have him for ten days unless we get an extension-"

"Extension granted," Tsunade said.

"Thank you, Godaime-sama." Inoichi dipped his head respectfully. "So twenty days in which we can interrogate him on my sister's location and compile a case to present to the Daimyo."

"That should be plenty of time, shouldn't it?" Tsunade narrowed her eyes. "He is only a civilian, he should break quickly."

"Forgive me, but I'm not so sure," Inoichi said, "he may not be an official shinobi but we shouldn't underestimate him. Yusha-kun is ninja trained and has always been rather strong willed, showing animosity towards authority figures. But, on top of that, his heritage has given him an even stronger mind than typical shinobi. My telepathic interrogations may not be enough to penetrate his mind."

"Perhaps Morino Ibiki could get more out of him?" Ebisu suggested.

"Yusha-kun is just a boy," Inoichi protested.

"A twenty-three year old boy who's been living outside the law for the past several years and assaulted the collection team," Ebisu pointed out, "as I understand it, Erisu-san only has a few months left to live. If you go easy on him you'll be wasting time that should be spent searching for this Aya woman. We must consider that finding and capturing Aya and then reversing the ritual to break the curse will also require time. Something we are very short on."

"He speaks the truth, Inoichi." Tsunade shook her head wearily. "You've been awfully quiet, Kakashi, what's your stance on this?"

"Ebisu-sensei is right in that we're short on time, but I don't think torture is the answer," Kakashi said carefully, "at this point we're not clear on the extent of his involvement. We don't even know if he was present when the curse was enacted. I recommend we question him first, he may be forthcoming. If not we can decide our next move accordingly."

"Yes." Inoichi nodded. "I agree."

"It's settled then." The Hokage turned her all-seeing eyes to her assistant. "Shizune, would you accompany Iniochi during the interrogation? I'd like one of my medical ninjas present."

"Yes, ma'am."

"I'd like to be there as well," Kakashi said, "I want to hear what Yusha-san has to say first hand."

"Is that okay with you?" The Fifth asked the interrogator.

"That's fine Godaime-sama," Inoichi replied. He glanced at Kakashi. "It would be a good idea to have plenty of backup in the room."

Is he really that dangerous? Kakashi wondered privately.

"Alright, you three are dismissed," Tsunade said, adding to Ebisu, "let's discuss your payment."

Kakashi lead the way into the hall, Inoichi close behind. Shizune slid the door shut and the three headed down the corridor abreast.

"Is there anything else we should know about Yusha before we meet him?" Kakashi asked the other man.

"Not really," Inoichi's voice was calm but he looked troubled. "He's arrogant, manipulative, and too clever for his own good."

Kakashi rubbed his masked face and stifled a sigh. If he was still sane by the end of this ordeal it would be a blessing. They travelled down into the dungeons beneath Hokage Rock to the Torture and Interrogation Force Headquarters, where the polished wooden floors gave way to cobbled stairs and the handsome panelled walls became cold stone. Long lights flickered in the vaulted ceiling above as if they were about to be plunged into darkness and the three shinobi headed into the bowels of the mountain. Rusted doors flanked them along the way and screams and pleads for mercy were muffled by the merciless metal. If those walls could talk the horrors they'd witnessed in the dank cells would bring even the fiercest shinobi to their knees.

They halted outside a holding cell as Shizune prepped her medkit. Inoichi knocked, the bangs echoing through the corridors and resounding off the stone. A guard in a long black interrogator cloak slid back the heavy iron door. The three shinobi stepped soundlessly inside.

It was a square, windowless box of concrete and flagstones with a smooth metal table in the centre. Lounging in the chair across from them with his feet on the table was a devilishly handsome young man with a ponytail of spun gold that hung to his hips. Slender and graceful, he looked like a dancer with the same limber frame he shared with his sister. He was dressed in a fine silk haori precisely the same shade of green as his eyes and a breezy linen blouse that was undone to show his smooth, tanned chest.

His glowing, freckled skin was bruised here and there from his capture but he looked mostly unharmed. Slightly rugged looking, with a reddish-gold shadow framing his narrow jaw and a dusty traveller's hue to his clothes, he somehow still managed to be rather pretty in appearance, with thick lashed doe eyes, high cheekbones and a charming smirk. Against the drab stone behind him he seemed to glow with colour and personality, exceptionally out of place.

He fixed a pair of silvery, sage green eyes on Inoichi and his fine features became closed and disdainful.

"Decided to grace me with your presence, Ojisan?" He slid his eyes over Kakashi and Shizune with cold analysis. "And you brought friends." His voice was mellow and almost sing-song.

"Hello, Yusha-kun," Inoichi said, "this is the Hokage's assistant Shizune-san, and-"

"Kakashi of the Sharingan," Yusha finished for him, "quite the entourage. And this room! Cozy isn't it? It could use some accent pillows or a throw rug though."

"Well, I'm glad to know you're comfortable," Inoichi said dryly.

"I am, Ojisan, thank you." Yusha ran his fingers through his jaw length bangs, his shackles clanging against the table. "The service here is terrible though, I asked for a cup of tea, you'd think I was asking to bed the Godaime the way they reacted!"

"Kakashi-san, Shizune-san, my nephew..." Inoichi waved towards the pretentious young man. "...Hakuchō Yusha."

"A pleasure I'm sure," Yusha said with thinly concealed spite, scanning them all with a mocking smile pulling at his lips. "I didn't think I'd need a full interrogation squad just for a minor offence. If this is about the fountain, in my defence the bathhouse was closed that day and-"

"You've been brought here to disclose the location of your mother," Kakashi said frankly, "we're looking for Hakuchō Aya."

"I think you mean Akaiuma Aya," Yusha corrected with another smirk, "everyone seems to forget she's married."

"No one's forgotten, Yusha-kun." Iniochi seated himself in one of the metal chairs. "Where's Aya?"

Yusha scoffed and scratched his stubbly chin. "I don't know."

"Do you want me to do a mind transfer?" Inoichi threatened.

"You won't," Yusha said, unconcerned, "if you thought you could succeed in getting the information from my head you would've done it already. Don't insult my intelligence."

Kakashi narrowed his eye and sat down beside his colleague, Shizune lowering herself silently on his other side.

Yusha cocked his head and grinned at them, his teeth surprisingly sharp. "You look very threatening," he observed in amusement, "three dangerous Jōnin here to drag the truth out of me!" He leaned forward, placing his shackled hands on the table, beaded bracelets on his narrow wrists and rings glinting on every finger. "So where is she?"

"Where's who?" Shizune asked.

"My sweet little sister." Yusha tossed his ponytail over his shoulder, still smiling. "She must've come running to the Hokage, playing her victim card and begging for justice. Am I right?"

Kakashi's eye narrowed further, a slit of dislike, but said nothing. Yusha looked from each of them then tilted his head back and laughed aloud. A strange, jingling laugh that was almost manic.

"Oh cmon," he chortled, "you don't actually believe her story do you?" His voice changed to an eerily accurate, falsetto impression of Erisu, "oh Tsunade-hime, I'm so sorry, but I'm afraid I've been cursed. Omigosh, 'tis so scary! 'Tis so unfair! Whatever shall I do?" He laughed again as Inoichi's face hardened.

"What do you think happened then?" Inoichi asked impassively.

Yusha wiped his eye with a dramatic flourish. "Only what she deserved," he said, "can I have a smoke? I'm getting antsy."

"Smoking will have to wait," Inoichi's voice was mellow but his eyes were steel. "What have you been up to these past few years?"

Yusha shook his head, grin widening further. "You're gunna try the buddy-buddy technique? Trying to play on our uncle/nephew connection?" He scoffed. "I know the game. You'll try to find common ground, make me trust you. I'll think we're friends and open up. You'll slip in a question while my guard's down." He shook his head, smile etched into his face as though it'd been carved there. "Save me the run around, Ojisan, it's not gonna work on me. I know all your tricks old man and I know my rights."

"What did Risu-chan deserve?" Kakashi asked, knowing how to trigger him. The change was instant. Yusha's smile vanished as he sized Kakashi up with icy contempt.

"Know my sis well, do you?" He asked sharply, "what's the deal? Are you sleeping with her?"

"Yusha!" Inoichi warned but Kakashi waved him off.

"Would that bother you if it were the case?" Kakashi asked Yusha placidly.

"Damn straight it would," he sneered, "but that's typical Erisu, fawning over the mysterious elite. First Itachi and now you, right?"

"Was your sister involved with Uchiha Itachi?" Kakashi had the feeling the boy liked to work his mouth and was going to use that to his advantage.

"Itachi wouldn't have stooped so low," Yusha's grin was back but it was bitter and cruel now, "a high and mighty Uchiha and the bastard daughter of a whore?"

"Watch your mouth!" Inoichi wasn't one to get worked up during an interrogation. This case was too close to him.

"Well you seem very protective of Risu-chan," Kakashi said, ignoring Yusha's crude language, "you must've been furious when Rokurou's perversion came to light."

Yusha reclined and licked his lips, contemplating. "So that's what this is about? I thought you wanted my mother. No one's bothered with Rokurou in nearly a decade."

"We're just trying to get a grasp of the situation," Kakashi said cooly, "what was it like? Learning your stepfather was making advances on your 'sweet little sister'?" Did you see the abuse? Did you confront him? Or did you stand idly by while she suffered?"

"Shut the fuck up." His voice was low, a growl. "You haven't the faintest clue what it was like."

"Enlighten me then." Kakashi held his gaze unwaveringly. "Were you angry? You must've been. You were the man of the house before Rokurou came along. What was it like having to take orders from him all of a sudden?"

"I don't take orders from anyone," Yusha spat.

"No?" Kakashi tilted his head, picking the boy apart with his eye. "I think you did. I think you hopped at his every command, bowing and scraping, so desperate to have a father."

"My father is dead," Yusha said flatly.

"Losing a father isn't easy," Kakashi went on, "a boy needs a man to look up to, a man to aspire to be. My father died when I was quite small but I had my sensei to fill the void. Is that what Rokurou was for you? Something to fill the hole where a father should be?"

"I'm not playing your game, asshole," Yusha said, lip curling, "I won't say anything to betray them."

"Loyalty is admirable." Kakashi knew no mercy. "Your sister's loyal too. Risu-chan tried to keep the curse a secret to protect your family. She's dying, Yusha, you realize that don't you? Your only full blood sibling is wasting away, refusing to say a word against you or your mother." Kakashi tugged up his headband and let Yusha gaze into the blood red Sharingan, as he picked apart every flexing muscle and every dart of the boy's eyes. "What'd you do to deserve such devotion? She seems to think she should defend you, although she knows you don't care if she dies. It astounds me to see how much you care. What brotherly love, content to do nothing while his sister wastes away."

"I care," Yusha snapped before he could stop himself.

"Do you really?" Kakashi pinned him with the Sharingan. "Then why are you just sitting here, sullen and silent? Either you couldn't care less if your sister dies or you're too much of a coward to do anything about it."

"I'm not a coward!" Yusha's eyes were green fire. "I'm a loyal son! I'll never betray my mother! Erisu's the weak one. She's the one that ran away!"

"But you ran away too, didn't you? You were making a living as a petty criminal rather than serving at your mother's side."

"I'm an entertainer and an evangelist." He was trembling with anger, his pretty face reddening. "I spread The Faith through song, uplifting the fallen and converting the broken. I'm a saviour!"

"Oh really?" Kakashi leaned forward. "Convert me then."

Yusha was taken aback. "Y-you?" He recovered himself quickly. "Anyone is welcome in Paradise if they give their soul to Izanagi-sama."

"The god of creation?" Kakashi raised his brow. "I don't think I've ever read any doctrine where he asks for one's soul."

"Then you're as uncultured as you are stupid," Yusha said with untempered malice. He turned back to Inoichi. "Have you got a smoke? I'm having a nic-fit."

"Why don't you tell us more about this faith of yours?" Inoichi suggested.

"And you'll what? Reward me with a cigarette like a kid gets a lollipop from a doctor?" Yusha snorted. "It may have escaped your notice, Ojisan, but I'm not a child anymore."

"Oh I noticed," Inoichi's voice was colder than the stagnant air of the dungeons, "and you'll be treated as such when you face the Daimyo for your crimes."

Yusha hissed and waved his uncle away. "What crimes? Sure I've sold some questionable substances and got in a couple bar fights, but I mean, who doesn't?"

"Your drug dealing and assault charges are not why you're here," Inoichi reminded him, "this is about the killing curse placed on your sister. You are being charged with aiding and abetting premeditated murder and torture of a heinous kind."

"Woah, woah!" Yusha raised his hands placatingly. "I don't know anything about torture or murder."

"You said Erisu-san got what she deserved," Shizune spoke up, "are you denying that now?"

"Mother told me about the curse but I wasn't there," Yusha said, distress in his voice now, "I thought Kakashi-san was being mellow dramatic when he said she was dying."

"Let's back up," Kakashi advised, "when did you leave your mother's household?"

"Shit..." Yusha thought for a moment. "Five-no-six years ago? I've visited a bit but it's a long journey to..." He narrowed his eyes. "Assholes."

"Where is she Yusha?" Inoichi asked, "give us Aya and Rokurou and we can make a deal to lessen your punishment. Maybe clear you of your assault and battery charges?"

Yusha, regarded them, mulling things over. At last he said, "I don't know where she is."

"You're lying!" Inoichi slammed his fist down on the table, making Shizune jump. Yusha was unfazed.

"You know, I've got this wicked little pill that'll chill you right out," he offered derisively, "I'll sell it to you cheap, you being family and all. One hundred yen for a pack of five?"

"Inoichi-san..." Shizune began softly but the Yamanaka didn't seem to hear her, his dark turquoise eyes fixed on his nephew.

"What happened to you, Yusha-kun?" Inoichi asked quietly, his eyes burning with silent fury.

"I think it's called life?" Yusha shrugged. "Shit happens and you've gotta roll with it." He leaned forwards, chains clinking noisily. "Now where is my sister?" He asked Inoichi, "it's been a while since I've seen her, I bet she's desperate to visit. Has she been asking for me?"

"Risu doesn't know you're here," Kakashi answered and was satisfied to see a flicker of unease on the boy's face. "Only a small group of specialized jōnin picked out by Tsunade-sama herself are aware you're in this cell at all."

"Ojisan," Yusha pointedly turned his face from Kakashi, "where's Erisu?"

"In the hospital." His voice betrayed no hint as to her condition. He'd caught onto Kakashi's tactic.

"Might I divert your attention to Shizune-san here?" Kakashi gestured lazily towards the dark haired woman. Yusha reluctantly looked over at her. "Not only is she Tsunade-sama's assistant but also her first student. As Tsunade's first apprentice, Shizune is a very capable jōnin and a highly talented medical-nin.

"But what I think is most interesting is her prowess with poison and her ability to imbue nearly any weapon with toxins, directly into the metal of a kunai." Kakashi could see the slightest hint of perspiration on Yusha's high forehead. "Being a medical-nin Shizune-san has extensive knowledge of the human body and knows precisely where to place her poisoned senbun to get the best effects..."

"She's not a torturer," Yusha objected hotly, "she's a healer, and a woman. She wouldn't hurt me!"

"Oh really?" Kakashi tracked every twitch in Yusha's face every palpation of chakra with his copy wheel eye. "Want to test that theory?"

"You can't scare me!" Yusha exploded suddenly, face purpling as his features contorted grotesquely. "I'm the first born son of the Prophetess Aya and future head of The Body of Izanagi! Don't evoke the wrath of a god!"

"You're a god now?" Kakashi asked in sarcastic surprise, "my apologies. Maybe Morino Ibiki would like to pay his respects to our visiting deity?"

"Morino Ibiki?" Yusha echoed incredulously, "you wouldn't! I didn't do anything!"

Kakashi turned to Inoichi and the other man nodded. The three jōnin stood together and headed for the door.

"Where are you going?!" Yusha demanded. "What are you doing?! I didn't do anything, dammit! I have rights!"

The door slammed shut, cutting off Yusha's shouts and curses. They headed up the corridor a little ways, out of the boy's earshot.

"Well?" Shizune prompted, "how long do we leave him to worry?"

"Hmm..." Kakashi scratched his jaw. "How about a nice round hour? That should have him nice and distressed, he might be more open to delay a visit from Ibiki after he's spent some time expecting one."

"He'll be so relieved it's us when we return he might spill everything right then," Shizune said with satisfaction.

"Don't underestimate him," Inoichi warned, "Yusha's as good at mind games as any of us are. He could be acting."

Kakashi thought of Erisu's facade on the Kappa Bridge and nodded. "Seems like a family trait."

"Us Yamanaka are known for our keen minds," Inoichi agreed, "you should see my Ino act."

"Well, I say we let him brood for a while and then have at him again," Kakashi said, stretching his stiff shoulders, "in the meantime I have someone to visit." He started back up the corridor when Inoichi caught his arm. Kakashi turned curiously.

"I don't know your relation to my niece and I know I'm not her father but I'm as good as..." Inoichi held Kakashi's eye solemnly. "...but whatever you two have, you have my blessing for what it's worth."

Kakashi blinked in surprise, then his eye softened into a smile. "It's worth a lot, Inoichi-san, thank you." They shook hands, firm and steady, then the three of them parted ways and Kakashi headed from the dungeons.