Disclaimer: Once again. I don't own anything but Tomoko, her family, and Nagareboshi Cafe. Kei and her family belong to Lang Noi.
The main theme song for this chapter helped inspire the name, being Miracle, as sung by Casey Lee Williams and her father, Jeff Williams in RWBY Volume 6. Kannabi is finally here, so it was fitting.
For the song that is actually played in the chapter, though? Animenz Piano Sheets' rendition of Only my railgun, the first opening to A Certain Scientific Railgun. Even if I never did get around to watching the full anime when I started writing, that doesn't mean the memory of a girl saving her friends with lightning didn't stick.
Please enjoy!
…Well, I'm trying to, when writing this, I mean. But constantly-active empathy is hard to balance.
Chapter 26: Need A Miracle
Kei spent the entirety of the first few hours away from the village feeling vaguely ill. With all the bravado she put up in front of Tomoko, it was almost funny if not for how this was the moment that would decide how things would go in the near future. Kannabi Bridge was where things fucked up back in Canon. Changing something here was vital to making sure Madara and Kaguya didn't get their way.
Kei had a lot of cards in her hand thanks to Tomoko setting things up years ago, but that did not mean she wasn't scared. Hell, it took willpower to not hug Tomoko tighter, to stay back in the village or just try to convince Sensei that this entire mission is a horrible idea. But she was walking anyways, and the boys were close to arguing again.
"Why are you asking for your Jounin present now?" Obito snapped irritably, cheeks pink. His inner flame's flicker was a telltale sign he was still thinking about someone else instead of focusing on the current conversation. "You already got a chakra blade in the form of a good luck charm from Tomo-chan!"
Yep. He has a crush on Tomo. Joy.
"That doesn't mean everything's been accounted for," Kakashi shot back, quirking an eyebrow. "And last I checked, you're the only one who hasn't given anything yet. Even Kei gave something already."
Sure, that's true, but this is Obito we're talking about. All I did was give a utility belt.
It has its uses, the Dreamer weighed in.
"Goddammit, I have no clue how you became Jounin, you ass!"
"That's my line towards you and being Chunin."
"WHY YOU—!"
Kei was very tempted to put her face in her hands. This was a nice start. Definitely.
"Calm down, both of you," Sensei cut in coolly, using an arm to separate them. "No fighting before the mission."
"But Sensei—" A single look silenced Obito almost immediately and he let out a huff. "Fine." He then tugged at the star hanging around his right hand and Kei blinked at it. "I'll give the gift later," Obito said finally to Kakashi, not meeting his eyes but not fully turning away either. "So quit asking."
Kakashi paused, his stern expression breaking to reveal the slightest bit of surprise. "I…didn't think you had one."
"Oi, this is coming from the guy who lives with Tomo-chan?" Obito snarked back, but there was a fondness in his voice that wasn't there before. "Take a cue from her, seriously."
Kakashi quickly recovered with a snarky, "It's hard not to when she hugs on a daily basis."
Obito let out a loud groan.
What the heck is this? The Dreamer interjected. Is this even an argument?
Nope. Kei let out the breath she found herself unintentionally holding. Thanks, Tomo.
Still, we may have to consider the consequences if we—
Not now.
But we may have to!
Later.
Minato shook his head, fond exasperation obvious in the exhaled breath. "Think I can go on with the debrief?"
Everyone immediately stood to attention, and once again, Kei was left feeling sick to the bottom of her stomach.
If we screw up here, we're all dead.
Without thinking, her right hand reached into her jacket pocket to grip the metal star sitting there. It wasn't exactly stress ball material, but at this point, it would do.
Yep. Fuck my life.
The land of Giant Mushrooms and Too Big To Be Oak Trees was not exactly welcoming when the team first entered. With the dim lighting, damp fungi, and grass reaching up to Kei's knees, missions were once again showing how nature could go out of control. Obito and Kakashi had long moved past arguing over whatever, leading into a foreboding silence as Sensei took the lead of the group. Sooner or later, that wasn't going to last.
The chakra signatures leading deeper into the forest was unnerving. Kei could already hazard a guess that it was Mahiru, if things went as they did in Kakashi Gaiden. The giant compost bin that was the forest did not help her mood much.
Once Kei stopped dead in the middle of the formation, Sensei and Kakashi did too. "How many, Kei?" Sensei whispered.
"One." Shadow Clones couldn't be rejected as a possibility later, though. Slimy bastard.
Kakashi ended up being the kid Jounin he was by holding an arm out to stop everyone else from advancing, specifically Obito. It took a second more for Obito to notice, but he did and then everyone was alert. Kakashi's nose twitched, probably from catching the guy's scent before considering.
The chakra didn't move, only spike in thought.
Everyone immediately got behind a fallen log to consider their next move. Even when dead, it was tall enough to hide them all, so it worked as a makeshift trench.
Once Kei focused on the guy, his troublesome chakra signature strangely jumped in fear before there were 19 more signatures popping out of normal and Kei shook her head in time with Sensei putting a finger to the grass, jolting slightly.
Just their luck.
"Not one. Make that twenty enemies now. Probably Shadow Clones," Sensei said succinctly.
"Looks like it." Kakashi's facing the clearing past the log, his eyes fierce for a single second before the fire fizzles out. "Sensei, you should lead the attack. We'll back you up."
Obito's already swiveling his head to look at Kakashi with wide eyes, and Kei blinks too. Okay. What?
He did not say what I think he said.
"That is a rational decision, but why, Kakashi?" Sensei turns his head the smallest margin to look at the team's newest Jounin, his face unreadable. "I would have thought you would want to lead, especially since you're a captain today."
"Maybe," Kakashi offered, but he still tugged at one of his sleeves and there was no mistaking the glint of metal. Silver and black metal. "But my current Lightning Jutsu attracts too much attention. If we want to get the advantage, we have to move fast so that Iwa doesn't notice us when we reach the bridge," Kakashi raised his head to look at Sensei and this time, Kei can see the confidence in his eyes. "Besides, the Yellow Flash of Konoha can move faster than anyone else here, can't he?"
Sensei blinked at him, tired lines in his face fading for clear surprise.
This was not expected.
"What is happening right now?" Obito stage-whispered to Kei, shock in his voice. "I gotta be dreaming. Kakashi did not just turn down a chance to prove himself."
"Pinch yourself, Obito, I think that'll confirm it."
"Think I should?"
"I can hear you," Kakashi snarked back to them both, making Obito jump in place. "And I can take a cue from Tomoko."
Metaphorical middle finger much?
"Your boat, Kakashi," Kei told him, but for once in this entire mission, a grin was starting to form on her lips. "Your boat. You live with her."
"Pah, tell me something I don't know," Kakashi said finally in resigned exasperation, turning back to Sensei and Minato was still staring in the time it took for the banter to settle in. "Sensei?"
A second was all it took for Minato to break out into a small smirk of his own. A deadly and proud smirk. "Sound judgement, Kakashi." A Hiraishin kunai was already clenched in his right hand as the faraway group of chakra signatures flickered. "Follow me then, Team."
Kei unsheathed her kodachi in time with Kakashi preparing a kunai with Lightning chakra.
Obito meanwhile pulled out the orange and blue Wayfinder Tomoko gave him to channel a flickering blue blade to be armed. Once the chakra was extended, Obito gave it a single look and considered. "Maybe…" he muttered, and Kei did not miss the happy look in his eye. "Could fire mix with swords?"
"Probably try that after the enemy is killed, Obito."
He still had the audacity to beam. "Got it!"
Mahiru had no clue of what hit him.
The battle went surprisingly quick for Obito's tastes. The Shadow Clones did not seem to put up as much of a fight as Judai-jichan, which was saying something, and by the time Kakashi and Sensei had gone in a puff of smoke to kill the jerk of an Iwa nin, it was over.
The star sitting in his right hand was warm from his tight grip, chakra flickering away as soon as he stopped concentrating on it.
Kei glanced at the fading blade before chuckling, lowering her kodachi. "Tomo really did give us an amazing gift."
Obito loosened his grip on the Wayfinder to bring it up to eye level, smiling. The Konoha symbol sitting in the middle of the star glinted in the dim forest lighting, reminding him of a certain smile. "Yeah. I… I love her so much."
Kei blinked, surprise clear in her black eyes. "I didn't expect you to say that so soon."
Shit.
Shit shit shit.
Goddammit, why did he have to be born with a loose mouth. "Uh, I mean, sure, uh, I love her, but it's as a friend, not—"
A hand whacked the back of his head hard and Obito yelped. "Quit standing around and help. We still have to clean up." Kakashi's voice was hard with frustration and Obito would've protested if not for turning around and seeing the clear conflict in Kakashi's eyes. And this was Bakashi. Why was he looking like—
The sight of blood on Kakashi's left hand shut Obito's mind off.
"That was fast," Kei said mildly, but she still sheathed her sword anyways, eyes darting up and down to check for any wounds. Bakashi, as usual, didn't seem like he had any, but aside from the blood—
Kakashi caught Obito's stare and shrugged. "Not mine," he said curtly, and used his other hand to reach into his pocket to pull out a cleaning cloth. The cloth went on to cover the bloody appendage, and Kakashi sighed. "Blame the enemy."
Obito felt himself sigh, stashing his good luck charm into his pocket. "We're not even close to done, are we?"
Kakashi snorted. "We won't be 'done' until that bridge is down and we can see the village gates again. So we're going to have to be faster." The unspoken for someone waiting at home rang clearly through the air, though. "Sensei is still powerful, but we won't have him once we get to our destination."
Kei paled a bit at that. "I wish you didn't remind me."
Minato-sensei decided to pop in at that very moment with his usual Hiraishin, a small smile on his face. "Good job, team," he said happily, a large contrast to the flecks of red covering his right cheek. "Your teamwork has definitely improved."
It was a simple statement, but it was enough to break the tension into pieces.
"We have a lot of people to thank for that, Minato-sensei," Obito admitted, but even he felt a bit of joy at the praise. The hard work was paying off. "And Tomo-chan."
At that moment, Obito pointedly decided to ignore Kei's knowing stare in the back of his head.
Kakashi sighed into his clean hand.
Sensei gave Obito a look too before he smiled. "Yes," he said, nodding his head. Crossing his arms, the movement was enough to expose a flash of a yellow star sitting in his right palm. "We have a lot of people to thank. But remember," his expression hardened, making everyone stand to attention, "we're still on the mission. It's not time to relax yet."
"Yes, sir!"
Obito tried not to think about how Kei's knowing stare had turned into something vaguely reading like horror after that.
Dinner was fairly quiet. After Sensei's warning, no one seemed to be up to talking and Kei wasn't really interested in entertaining a conversation. Mahiru had gone down quickly thanks to Kakashi and Sensei tag-teaming him, but it felt too easy.
Things were going too easy. This was supposed to be Kannabi. The mission where, in Canon, was the trigger that led to everything bad.
Sensei and Kushina dying, Naruto being an orphan, the Uchiha Massacre — all the way to the aliens.
This was the moment where things would fuck up if not treated.
So then why were things going so well?
Kei poked at her bedroll once the camp was set up. The fire in the middle of the grass was already starting to sputter out, and judging by the sullen looks on Kakashi and Obito's faces as they set up their own bedrolls, no one seemed to be up for restoring it.
Sensei had been pretty quiet up until that moment too, eyes darting between all three of Team Kakashi before pursuing his lips. His fingers twitched, as if considering. Then Sensei opened his mouth. "Kakashi, Kei, Obito?"
Everyone stood to attention again, raising their heads. "Sensei?" Obito prodded first, eyes wide as his goggles bat the top of his shirt from their place hanging around his neck. "What is it?"
Minato-sensei smiled wryly. "I meant to bring this out when the war was close to being over, but…" With an almost dramatic pause, he reached into his back pocket, pulling out a storage scroll of all things and Kei waited once he unrolled it. Going through a couple hand signs with his left, Sensei pressed down onto the painted fuinjutsu circle with his right, releasing a puff of smoke. "I think tonight warrants it, considering we're splitting off tomorrow. Come closer to listen."
Kei was not expecting to see a portable mini cassette player sitting where the seal had once been.
"Sensei?" Kakashi was blinking at the player too, surprised. "When did you get a cassette player?"
"Thank my fiancé," Sensei said curtly, but a wink in Kei's direction said something else entirely. "She got this for me and made sure I carried it with me today." His chakra was reading amusement and joy, so what—
Sensei then opened the player's cassette holder, taking out what looked like a pastel pink and yellow cassette from his flak jacket to insert into the machine. The holder then set itself back into the player with a satisfying click, just in time for Sensei to adjust the volume and press the PLAY button on top.
At first, there was static.
"Sensei?" Obito tried, quieter. "What did you—"
"Testing, testing!" A high-pitched voice called out suddenly. "One, two, one, two. Ahhhh, ahhhh!"
Obito's jaw dropped as soon as Kei blinked, chakra flame flickering. "T-Tomo-chan?"
"Tomoko-chan, I think it's rolling now." There was a loud laugh, barely undercut by static. "You're on record, ttebane!"
Sensei's smile grew wider. "Oh, Kushina," he said fondly.
"W-Wah! Really?"
"Really, ttebane!"
"Yep!" Kei startled as soon as Rin's voice started playing through the speakers. "Everything's set up, Tomo-chan!"
"N-Now that you've confirmed it, I'm starting to rethink this…" Tomoko's voice turned downwards, as if she had just ducked her head in embarrassment. "My voice doesn't sound bad, does it? Team Minato's going to be hearing this, so what if—"
"Tomo-chan, you dork," Obito said immediately, a barely visible blush on his cheeks. "Your voice is just fine."
Kei let out a surprised laugh, just in time for Rin's recorded voice to speak up in a happy laugh of her own.
"You're fine, Tomo-chan!" Rin went on, not even faltering with the cheery tone as there was a wave of static-y air that sounded like there was a hand gesture. "We all know you! So talk!"
"Muuuuuuu," was the embarrassed noise that echoed through the speakers. Kei could easily imagine Tomoko blushing. "A-Anyway. It is running, right?"
"No malfunctions in sight and the record button is on!" Kushina cheered, and nearby, Minato rolled his eyes. "You are ready to go, ttebane!"
"Got it," Tomoko mumbled, and then there was a deep intake of breath. "Hi, Team Minato. Tomoko — well, Tomo-chan here, at Nagareboshi Café with Ricchan and Kushina-nee."
"That girl," Kakashi said softly.
"I just wanted to record this in case you all were on a mission and feeling down… or something." There was a nervous giggle over the speakers, and Kei found herself smiling a little. "Kushina-nee's the one delivering the actual tape to you."
"Damn straight I am!"
"I love her," Minato-sensei said suddenly.
Obito barked a laugh. "Course you do, Sensei."
"I dunno how much this recording will help, but I wanted to leave at least one song with you so that you could find some kind of peace even when I'm not physically there with you." Tomoko took another shuddering breath, leaving the smallest amount of space in the cassette's recording for static to echo from the cassette player. "And to wish you luck in whatever you're doing. No matter what happens in this war, out there, I… um…"
There was a lengthy pause and then Rin chimed in with a small, "Tomo-chan?"
"…This is awkward." There was some static and shuffling.
Kakashi shook his head.
"You know what? I probably should've written a script for this," Tomoko admitted quietly, but a laugh tinkled at the end of her sentence. "It would save me the embarrassment. And stop grinning like that, Kushina-nee!" Laughter cut through the dialogue enough to make the fire putter out. "Muuu, it's hard to confess your heart out when the recipients can't even hear this until it's long after the deed has been done. Sue me for trying to do something nice."
She's still silly to the end.
Kei smiled.
"Tomo-chan, script or not, you're still recording," Rin pointed out after a pause of her own, mirth in her voice. "Should I take over?"
"Um." A crack broke through Tomoko's high-pitched voice to expose static-y uncertainty. "Maybe?"
"Alright then." Rin's voice took over the recording after those words, chipper and supportive as Rin would be. "Hi everyone! Talking from Nagareboshi Café too. I just tagged along with Tomo-chan's idea, but a few notes." Her voice took on a hard tone. "Obito, if you do something along the lines of hiding your wounds from Kei-senpai out of some kind of misplaced pride, I will kick your butt. And strap you to a hospital bed for ridiculous foolhardy ideas."
"Hey!" Obito sputtered, face now red for completely different reasons. "I'm not doing that as much now, Rin!"
"Says the guy wearing goggles," Kakashi scoffed.
"Shush, you two," Kei cut in finally, scooting closer to the mini cassette player to listen.
"Kakashi-kun, do your best at leading the team!" Rin continued, the implied threat from before fading faster than anyone could think of it. "And Kei-senpai!" Kei straightened her back, blinking at the player. "Don't be reckless!"
"No promises, Rin-chan," Kei muttered, but a fond chuckle was at the tip of her tongue anyways. "No promises."
"Okay then, I think I'm good now." There was a huffing breath. "Kushina-san, did you want to say anything?"
"Naaaaah," there was more static, this time as if Kushina had adjusted whatever device she was using to keep up the recording. "Minato knows what I'm going to say. Just one more thing. Kiiiiiiids! Be safe out there!"
Sensei laughed.
"Tomoko-chan! It's your turn now!"
"M-Meep." A huffing squeak, and then Tomoko quickly amended it with a smaller, "Aye aye, ma'am." A pause, and then there was a small shuffle. "Anyway, what I meant to say was… well, I love you, Team Minato."
Obito stiffened in time with Kakashi dropping the top half of his set-up bedroll.
"I know, I know, I say it a lot, but I mean every single word, you know. Every time." A giggle echoed through the cassette player's speakers. "Minato-san, Kashi, Obi, Kei — you four are a part of my family. I couldn't do anything but love you."
"Family, huh…" Kei did not miss how Obito's shoulders slumped a bit in his makeshift seat in the grass, but he still leaned in to listen.
"So, this is another 'good luck charm' to you, my precious people," Tomoko giggled. "It's a song I've been practicing every now and then, but I thought of you four going out and decided to play it now for you to keep. Whenever you're upset or needing a pick-me-up since I can't come with you. I hope you can listen in and feel me cheering you on." Another giggle. "Anyways, here I go!"
Shuffling. Then there was static.
"Wait for it," Minato said quietly.
Kei waited for the static to subside, shrugging as soon as Obito reached her sitting place and leaned into her space bubble.
Then there was the echo of piano music. The speakers, despite being a bit dusty, played the sound almost perfectly, reflecting inflections of that world only Kei and Tomoko knew. From the echo of lightning, of an esper with her hair standing up on end, the piano said it all. The memories reflected off the keys being played.
Yet again, she relies on anime to get her point across, the Dreamer sighed, but it wasn't a tired one. How naive indeed.
Kei smiled just as Obito put his chin in his hands, joy obvious from the look in his eyes.
By the time the song finished, Kushina was clapping in the background as Rin cheered. "That was great, Tomo-chan!"
"Th-Thankie, Ricchan," Tomoko said, trailing off after a moment. "And uh."
Sensei immediately turned up the volume dial.
"Just look to the stars, everyone. You'll find something. I'll always love you, Team Minato," Tomoko said softly over the cassette player, barely audible if not for what Sensei just did. "When you come back, when you need my help again, let me know. I'll do whatever I can. Until then…" There was shuffling. "I'll be waiting at home. Good luck with the mission."
The cassette player stopped soon after those words faded into the night sky.
Night watch wasn't particularly interesting. From checking the perimeter seals and nearly spilling her guts to Sensei, Kei felt like meditating. Even if she was barely awake, meditating was better than thinking about the potentially unpleasant future.
Kei ran a hand over her face before crossing her legs. She wasn't expecting something to poke into her side.
"Ow," she muttered, reaching for the source in her jacket pocket before pausing.
Lavender and blue colors shined back at her in the moonlight, barely visible from the night sky, but still recognizable. Kei gingerly pulled the Wayfinder star out of her pocket, holding it in the middle of her palm in consideration. The panes of each point of the star weren't made out of seashells like its original Kingdom Hearts counterpart, instead using standard shinobi metal, but the little scratches hinting at fingerprints were hard to miss.
A wry smile bloomed on Kei's face. "Look to the stars, huh."
The Konoha symbol was obvious in the middle of the charm, replacing the crown in Kairi's version. From the intricacy of the detailing and the paint applied to each point of the star, it must have taken a lot of time and care to create.
Didn't Tomoko say there's something on the back of the Leaf?
Out of curiosity, Kei turned the Wayfinder around. Sure enough, scrawled in tiny lettering to fit on the spiraling metalwork of the Konoha symbol, were words. Legible tiny words.
I know this is scary. We both do.
But you trained for this. You can do this.
I believe in you.
Come back soon.
I love you, Kei.
— Tomo
Kei inhaled sharply, reading over the message once more to let it stick. Once the words were ingrained in her head, she took the leather cord of the Wayfinder, tying it around her right arm as a makeshift armband. The star rested in the very center of the new accessory, glinting in the moonlight enough for Kei to resolve herself.
Time to get down to business.
Obito shoved a package in front of Kakashi's face before camp was even finished, leaving everyone on the team staring for a while.
"What?" Obito said loudly, pointedly looking away while still holding his hand out to press the package further into Kakashi's space. "You were asking for my 'Jounin gift,' jerk. So take it!"
Kakashi gave Obito a raised eyebrow before taking the thing gingerly. "Thanks," he said dryly, untying the shabby knot keeping the brown paper wrapping together.
Once the paper fell back, Kakashi fell silent. The metal arm guards nestled in the wrapping was light, well-designed, and overall useful. It could've come from a professional armory with how they looked.
"Wow, Obito," Kei said finally, tempted to clap. "You outdid yourself."
Obito rolled his eyes. "For the captain, I had to take a cue from Tomo-chan too. So stuff it."
Kakashi stared up at Obito in shock for a single second, his chakra buzzing with earnest surprise. Then he nodded, something grateful in his voice as he said, "Thank you, Obito."
"Yeah, yeah, don't make a big deal out of it." Obito waved the words off, but the red ears were obvious through his black spikes of a hairstyle. "Let's go, captain!"
"Fine."
Minato-sensei didn't stop smiling until they reached the bamboo forest where they would eventually scatter.
Author's Notes: Thank Pacific Rim for this fast update. Let it be said self-care was in order, I binged a Pacific Rim fanfic, and then got the inspiration to finish this, and before my last midterm of the quarter! Woo!
Lang, Os, love you both.
And to everyone else, I hope you enjoyed this. I did too, in the end, once I put my anxieties away. For now, I go back to studying. I'll see you at the next update, where drama could happen and hopefully after my finals are all done.
Edit: Changed VHS to "mini-cassette" player since the VHS I remember and what Lang remembered are significantly different.
