Chapter Ten
"I take it we aren't in a rush to make it to Suna?" I asked Karasu as we walked into the nearest town to the Akatsuki base. It was fairly busy but we were still able to have a semi-private conversation as we were just passing through.
"Nope. I thought we'd take some time to teach you the basics of being a Reaper before we went and either killed your sister or waited for someone else to kill her." I looked at Karasu in mild concern. "Oh she does need to die in order to get her Reaper body also. I couldn't just take you guys while you were in your fragile human bodies. The portal jumping would tear you to shreds and send your souls to your afterlife. Although since it would be like suicide in a way you just may go to Reaper Society but learning the basics would hinder the tutors. So yeah, making sure you both have your proper durable bodies and some modicum of basic abilities works better."
"Okay then. Another question, are people able to see you or am I still talking to myself?" I saw the looks from a few men and women around and wasn't sure if they thought I was crazy or not.
"Oh they can see me. I mean I don't look as I do currently, I'm using a fairly handsome false cover. But you still look like yourself." Karasu explained. "I was actually fairly famous when I was alive." He smiled at a pretty girl who blushed and looked away. I simply rolled my eyes.
"Uh-huh. And won't someone report that I'm alive?" Karasu shook his head.
"The only people who know you've died are the Akatsuki. If Orochimaru has spies they'll probably come to the conclusion that you survived your fight with Kabuto."
"'Probably'?" I asked.
"It's not like they'll immediately think 'You, how are you alive?' I mean they may but you are pretty badass in taijutsu so it's no far stretch to think you could have survived. If anything they may question who I am and why you aren't with any of your regular Akatsuki boys."
"Okay. So what do I need to learn as basics?" I asked.
"We'll wait on that until we're out of town." Karasu stated. He seemed to be enjoying our walk through the town so I simply let him be. Since the town was close to the Akatsuki base it was reasonably peaceful. I doubted Leader-sama would have allowed any trouble to go on for long.
Karasu waited until we were about an hour away from the village before turning to me seriously. I patiently waited his judgement while he seemed to collect his thoughts.
"Since you're new I know you may have some questions in regards to your body and what being a Reaper means. I just want to assure you, since you were a kunoichi before you died, yes you are still able to use your jutsus. Although you may notice it is easier to use your Reaper Powers. Like that little demonstration you used on Obito back there when you unconsciously called the Hell hounds." He waited until I acknowledged he was right about that part being easier. It wasn't that I had never thought about using my Reaper abilities but using my eyes was certainly easier as the Hell hounds were more for intimidation on my part. Though I guess I could start to use them in combat.
"Now what I was to do is to make sure you are comfortable with your new body."
"Okaaay?" He smirked.
"We aren't going to be doing anything sexy so don't worry about that." I glared at him.
"You perverted turkey." He laughed.
"I had an idea that's better. We are going to go for a quick run. Just for you to be comfortable with how you move and how your reflexes have improved. And for you to experiment with your speed. No doubt you're faster now."
"Seems easy enough. Where are we running to?"
"We'll still be heading for Suna but we're going to take a sort of scenic tour." He winked. "Try and keep up." And with that he was gone. It took me a beat to see the after images of where he had gone before I followed.
I started out as a jog just to feel the differences that Karasu had pointed out. Jogging was smoother and I was able to see my next few steps so I quickened my pace until l found that comfortable and kept it up. When I finally caught up to Karasu the trees were blurring past and so were my legs.
"Your a fast learner." He complimented, slight surprise and pride colored his tone before he grinned. "Now let's test your reflexes at this speed." He veered right into my path making me land against a tree at an off angle. I was able to use my chakra to stick to the tree but the trunk cracked underneath me making me jump off it a second before it tilted and crashed to the ground. Laughter from Karasu had me growling as I ran to catch up to him.
He waited at a cliff's edge. As soon as he saw me he saluted me and fell backwards. I didn't hesitate to follow. He was jumping from stone pillar to pillar and I followed behind him. It was fun and easy to jump farther, higher or just do quick little hops like a bunny. Then he started throwing rocks at me. I hadn't noticed the first as it hit my arm and didn't really hurt until another hit my face. It still didn't hurt but the surprise of something hitting my face did shock me enough that I looked around in battle mode to see Karasu with an arm full of rocks ranging from marble sized to palm-sized.
"Try to dodge!" He called, grinning at me. He started lobbing them at me like they were kunai and I was an enemy. I yelped as my foot slipped and I went down. The rocks continued and I had to reach out and grab the nearest pillar. It held for a second before it started to tilt and crumble. I let that go to grab the one further down. It too tilted but I was able to grab some traction and landed on the last pillar that was closest to the ground. It cracked still but lasted until I had used it as a spring board before it too crumbled. The rocks rained down from above but now that I knew what Karasu was doing I was able to keep my wits about me.
Jumping from pillar to pillar I got back to a somewhat respectable height. I grabbed one of the palm-sized rocks and threw it back at Karasu trying to hit him in the chest. He dodged but the nature of our game changed. I caught the rocks I could and threw them back at him trying to knock him down. He started laughing at some point and a huge smile was on my face.
"Game over!" He called a short while later. "Come on!" We were nearing the end of the canyon and the pillars. I followed him down to the ground, making sure to use my momentum to not crack any of the pillars before we touched onto the actual ground. Forest spread out in front of us. "Good job there Akana. I didn't expect you to start throwing them back but it was fun."
"Thanks. I didn't feel that first rock you through. Was that the durability?"
"Yeah. Usually you are able to feel pressure on most things that try to hurt you but to feel an actual touch feels different." He held up his hand. I tilted my head before bringing my hand up to high five him. It didn't feel any different but I did feel his skin. There were callouses on his hand that I shared. "Our speed is faster than that of a shinobi's you'll notice but you didn't seem to have difficulty with that."
"What about sleeping? You mentioned previously that we didn't have to worry about that? What about eating?"
"Good memory is in tact." Karasu nodded. He started walking into the forest with me on his heels. "We don't need to sleep and we don't have to. Some do it but it doesn't really serve a purpose for us. As far eating, we do need to eat just not as much as we once did. A whole fruit can last you at least 2 days while a feast can sustain you for a month. If you happen to see a golden flower with black specks on it, they say that will feed you for three months. It's rare though and from what I heard can only be found in the gods garden."
"We can go to the heavens?" Karasu hummed before answering.
"Yes and no. We can visit it but we can't stay there. Our only job is to escort the souls of the death to their afterlife. We can also visit hell but we can't stay there. Which reminds me, the only other difference you'll notice are the souls of the dead."
"I could see those before." I pointed out. "I didn't want to touch them and when I tried I slipped through them."
"Correct, but now you'll be able to touch them. And once you do they'll be in your possession until you take them to their afterlife. Now for those stubborn souls that refuse to move on, you can put them back but only if their will is strong. That's how ghosts remain. Only, because they put up such a fight against their Reaper, they aren't very strong once they win their freedom. The bad souls can use negative emotions to regain their strengths but the good souls are stuck and are forced to just keep watch."
"I see. What if a human is somehow resurrected? Surely it's happened before?"
"It has. But the rules of balance are in place for a reason. In order for a soul to come back, whoever is trying to resurrect the dead has to give up their life in the process. It's rare when it happens but it has happened before. They're the rare occurrences."
"And suicides are reborn as Reapers?" Karasu smiled at me.
"Exactly. Doesn't matter if the person was good or bad, once they suicide they are reborn as Reapers and are entered into the Academy. Now if they pass the final test, they are Reapers and get their death scythe. But if they fail, they must move on to face judgement for their actions and another punishment is given. Whether that is Hell or being reborn as either human or an animal is up to the judges."
"Has any Reaper gone rouge?" I asked.
"A few. Those are the Rouge Reapers, they are stripped of their scythes and their powers and must live out their remaining days as humans."
"What about the Society?" I hesitated to ask this round of questions. "Kubo mentioned we may have family there but if Reapers are reborn how does that work out?"
"That would be due to the Original Reaper. He fell in love a long time ago with a Reaper. But since Reapers are dead our bodies are hollow. Except the OR was told by Life that he could have children if he used the Heaven Tea and gave them to the Reaper he loved every morning then her body would essentially come back to life until her children were born. And from that there came four children. All boys. The boys of course became Reapers also and when they wanted to start families they gave their Reaper wives the Heaven Tea. I believe your father was one of their children or grandchildren and had no desire to have a family at least until he met your mother. Not sure how that happened but then you and your sister came to be. And you two are the first. But we would need to confirm that with the families."
"That's a lot of information to absorb." I stated, rubbing my head.
"Yeah it was a lot when I heard it too. But you'll learn once you get there it's a lot more complex that that. I just gave you the overview."
"Thanks." I stated. "Anything else I need to know?"
"Not now but I did have a question." Karasu stopped, making me follow as well. He gave me a serious look. "I know things with the Akatsuki are going to be a bit of a shit show but I wanted to know if you had any plans if we happen to see them before we left? Do you plan to tell them who you are or do you want to pretend you're Akira?"
"I hadn't thought of that yet honestly." I answered, looking down biting my lip as I thought of nothing. No plans entered my head. "I'm confused about what to do. I don't agree that not telling them was good but, maybe it is good at least for now?"
"It's up to you ultimately but I wanted to know if you had thought of anything. Whatever you chose I'll help you go along with." I nodded seriously.
"Thanks a lot…?" He smirked,
"You're not getting my name that easily."
"I will get it eventually."
It took us a week to get to Suna. Mainly because Karasu wanted to keep working with me one on one on my abilities and my physical prowess. I didn't mind as I figured once we got to Suna he would have to start the same training with Akira.
I didn't have any back up plans in case I ran into anyone I knew as like Karasu had said, only the Akatsuki knew I had died. Of course I would need to let Akira know since she would have most likely felt me die. She was probably worrying over it and cursing me out.
When we arrived in Suna it was night time, almost midnight. With the ability to melt into the shadows it was simple to enter the village and make it to the Kazekage's mansion.
"Are you sure she's here?" Karasu asked, dubious.
'Akira, meet us on the roof.' I thought before tapping Karasu's wrist and pointed to the roof. He nodded and up we went.
'Akana?' Her thoughts seemed tangled. I realized why when she appeared on the rooftop a second later. Her hair was mussed like she was having trouble sleeping and her eyes had bags underneath them.
"Wow." Karasu coughed. "I mean look at those stars." I snorted.
"Nice save. Hey Akira." She came barreling at me. Concern hit me the same time she did as I realized Akira had tears in her eyes. "Oh crap, are you okay?"
"You bitch!" She sobbed. "I felt you, I felt everything… you died."
"I was hoping you hadn't." I sighed before hugging her back. I allowed her to release her tension and tears until she was merely hiccuping. "You okay?" I asked. She sniffled before backing up.
"Yeah, sorry about that." She eyed me up and down. I merely held out my arms and turned.
"I'm fine." I said once I was facing her.
"What happened?" Akira asked Karasu.
"She did die." I rolled my eyes.
"I'm fine."
"She was ambushed on the way out of Konoha. Her Akatsuki friends weren't able to save her despite their best efforts. I doubt anyone could have. I waited at her grave until she came back last week. We've been working on her skills since then."
"'Skills'?" Akira asked. She assessed me once again. I answered her myself.
"Yeah apparently when I died and came back, my body transitioned into that of a Reapers. I- I met dad and he told me we needed to leave. To rejoin the Reaper Society at least for 2 years. We need to embrace all of ourselves."
"'That sounds so cheesy." Akira deadpanned.
"I know," I chuckled. "Trust me I know how it sounds."
"Okay, I mean I've been thinking along the same lines for a while now. I was actually going to wait until Karasu came back to ask about how to go about that. What do I need to do to prepare?"
"Well if you're open to it. We need you to kill yourself."
"I'm sorry what?" Akira asked looking at Karasu as if he had lost his mind. I mean I would have to but I understood where he was coming from.
"Okay maybe not go that far just yet. But essentially in the end we would need you to suicide. Your body has to undergo the same transformation other wise Karasu said the portal would shred your body since you're still human. Although you may want to let Suna know you'll be gone for a while first. They may bury you."
"Or do an autopsy. And trust me you don't want to wake up mid autopsy." Karasu chimed in.
"You're serious? You want me to suicide?"
"I mean I could kill you but death apparently isn't negotiable." I offered.
"I know it's scary to think about especially since you felt Akana die a few days ago but, trust me, you will come back." Karasu didn't have any give away I saw that stated he was lying. He met Akira's gaze head on and didn't look away. She slowly nodded.
"Okay. I'll tell the siblings in the morning. I'm pretty sure Baki can get me a long-term mission or at least help me get out of Suna for a while."
"Good. While you do that, Akana and I will stay in town, nearby if you need us." Karasu stated. "Oh and if it helps, you may want to let the siblings know that Akana has lost her memories."
"I'm sorry what?" I asked the same time Akira answered,
"What?"
"Hear me out." Karasu held up his hands. "I've actually been thinking about this for a while now. Since Akana died only her superiors know she's alive, the others in her group don't know. I haven't been told if she'd found an alternative lie she's going to tell them if they happen to run into the both of you at the same time?"
"Yeah I haven't. Continue." I said. Karasu nodded.
"Why are you lying to them though?" Akira asked, confused. I sighed and groaned at the same time.
"My Leader-sama requested it as part of the condition if I wanted to leave Akatsuki and I agreed. Karasu came up with an alternative in case we happen to run into the others. Continue." I stated giving him the floor. He nodded again.
"Okay so all you have to say is I lost my memories. All you remember is crawling out of a grave a week ago and you didn't know who else to trust but your sister since you were vulnerable and had no idea how you ended up near Ame. I mean their base is hidden so if you lost your memories you had no idea where the base was to ask them."
"I'm sorry you were buried?" Akira asked.
"Eh, don't bring it up. I'm still salty about that experience."
"Noted." Akira hesitated before she asked me, "Will you stay with me in my room tonight? I need to make sure this isn't a dream." I looked at Karasu.
"Go ahead. I'll stay up here unnoticed."
"Okay." I helped Akira back to her room and laid down with her on her bed. She was silent until I turn on my side to stare at her.
"I'm really glad that you're here. That you came for me."
"Of course, if there was anyone I needed to come with me to do this, it's you." She smiled slightly before her eyes shut and she went to sleep. Since I couldn't sleep I just laid there with her until the sun started to rise. There was a soft knock at her door that had me slipping off her bed and slipping invisible from all but Akira. One of the many tricks Karasu had taught me. A blond with four pigtails poked her head in but Akira hadn't stirred, which meant she was more tired than she had let on. She blonde just watched her for a few seconds before she left.
I stayed in Akira's room until she woke up around 11am. And since this was her she woke up with a gasp and sat upright.
"About time you woke up." I commented from her desk chair. I was reading a book that I was frankly shocked she had. It was very steamy. She blinked at me once before rubbing her eyes and looking at me again.
"Your real."
"Yep." I closed the book and put it back in her bookshelf. "And you missy slept for too long. Go shower and get ready. We need to be able to leave in the next few days so you need to go check in with your siblings and Baki." She nodded before she got up. I waited until she had showered and changed before informing her. "I'm going to go check in with Karasu. You can send me a thought once you have everything wrapped up. We should try and be out of Suna by at least tomorrow morning."
"Yeah sure. I'll see you later?" I nodded before I left the room.
Karasu was on the roof top, sunning himself.
"She's on the move." I reported.
"She slept a while." He commented.
"Probably the first time she's been able to sleep all week." He hummed thoughtfully but didn't say anything else. Hopefully we would be able to continue with our plans by tomorrow. I didn't know how to get to the Reaper Society but Karasu said there was a portal on O'Uzu Island that we could take. We just needed to get to Fire Country and take boat to Nagi Island. Oh joy.
GM NASAI: So I am getting through my writings a lot faster than I thought I would. I'm slightly concerned as I haven't felt like I've been putting in any work. And yet I passed the 20k mark after chapter 6. O.O
Onto other news, I believe I am going to wrap up in the next chapter. Then I need to figure out how I'm going to start Part 2. Any ideas?