Chapter 9
Author's Hey…. I know it's been a while…
If someone were to look to the roof of the academy, they would see a woman with sapphire hair leaning against the railing. Lost in an idea, her honey-brown eyes shone with amusement. Her gaze would then look over to the four genin who was assigned to her and her partner. A man whose hair defied gravity. The handful of students stared at the pair and began to form their questions. However, the knowledge from their jonin elite was to guide them in their early shinobi careers. Even as Kakashi suggested to introduce themselves, it was Sora who broke the silence between the group.
"So…" He trailed. Sora knew his mother and Kakashi to know that this team would be in for it.
"I believe Kakashi-sensei suggested to introduce yourselves." Koi smiled to herself. She didn't even look at the genin. To Sora, she was lost in a thought that seemed to remain on her feature. Even Naruto leaned over to question Sora if the woman he called mother was okay. Sora never really found the last piece of the puzzle called his mother. Maybe it was gone forever. Yet, it is sometimes best to leave her to her plotting.
"What do you want to know?" Sakura raised her hand.
"Your likes, dislikes, hobbies, dreams," Kakashi shrugged. Koi's smile was replaced by a playful smirk. She moved over to Kakashi and watched the emotions change on the faces of the genin. More questions formed in their eyes, as well as amusement and fear. Koi seemed to feign the elegant style as she angled her legs to the side as she sat down. Sora snorted a laugh as he watched his mother, earning him a glare from her.
"Why don't you go first, Kakashi-sensei?" suggested Koi. Once more the man shrugged and rattled on his answers, leaving the genin with only the name. The genin looked irritated at his answer but Sora knew better. It was his mother's turn.
"Alrighty," Koi beamed, "I'm Uta no Koi. I like otters and shells. Dango, too. I dislike liars and sashimi. My dream…. Well, that is none of your business."
"Well said, Koi-sensei," Kakashi patted her head as Koi gave him her best eat shit grin. Sakura whispered to herself on Koi gave the group a bit more information rather than her male counterpart. Naruto began nodding as he agreed with the girl.
"I wonder what her hobbies are." Sakura continued her wondering.
"Maiming people," Sora shrugged, " Torture, too"
"They are not, Uta no Sora." Koi pouted, partly disheartened that her son would give that as the truth. "My hobbies are mundane and once again, none of your damn business."
"And here I thought it was to harass people," Kakashi joined the jest.
"Only you, weirdo."
"So," Sakura raised her hand once more, "Koi-sensei, you're Sora's okay-sama?" Sora's cheeks flushed at the mention. Koi gave a small smile to the pink-haired girl.
"I am," she answered, "However, do not mistake that I am still a kunoichi. Our relationship can be used against us by enemies. Now, who is next?"
The next genin that went was Haruno Sakura. Koi listened half-heartedly as she only noted that girls her age were more interested in boys and fashion rather than how to survive a mission. Then again when Koi was Sakura's age, she hated Kisame and often ran away from training. Koi wasn't even in an academy like these genins and yet had plenty of jutsu memorized to keep the battle going. She was trained by the Uta clan, not in the safety of the academy. Sakura had that. Granted she was one of the top in her class, Sakura did have some prospects, however, it seemed that her obsession with Sasuke and her disinterest of Naruto and Sora would be the end of her. Sakura's voice allowed the disdain to show true. Koi picked up on that. Who was this brat to hate on her boys? Kakashi patted her knee as Sora shot her an apologetic look. Yet the memory of her trying to kill the very man she loved caused a snort of laughter.
"What is so funny?" Sora asked.
"Hee hee," she giggled to herself, "Sakura kind of reminds me of when the Ningyo was young. She tried many times to kill the Kaijin. Her anger would flare up and she would attack at any given time." Sora watched as his mother got lost in the memory for a moment before Sakura called out once more.
"Who is the Ning-go?"
"Ning-Yo." Sora corrected her, "Not go. Yo. She was- in the river goddess that protects the Uta clan."
"But wasn't the river clan killed off by the Kiri shinobi for their betrayal?" Naruto asked. Sora watched his mother. Her posture went stiff. This was a sore subject for Koi. Sora knew that. Even Kakashi shifted slightly as Sakura went on to babble about the history before Koi's chakra seeped into the air. Everyone began to notice the darkened look on Koi's face.
"Sakura-chan," Naruto placed a hand on her shoulder, "Let's not talk about it anymore."
"Why not?" Sakura asked, "It's just history."
"A massacre of one's family can be traumatic," Sasuke voiced. He silently sat there watching the Uta woman. He knew her enough to know that she had seen the massacre. But not well enough to discuss it with her. Nor did it warrant the title of a son to her, like Naruto. Koi nodded to the raven boy in acknowledgment and a thank you.
Naruto got his chance to speak, easing the tension. Eagar as always, Koi smiled at him. Training the four of them would be a daunting task, but she would handle it. At Least she could keep an eye on Sora and Naruto should anything go wrong. The two of them were close as brothers and love each other just the same. Sora maybe more. Koi hasn't figured that out yet. Yet, Koi notice that her son was becoming more sullen and quiet after the bullying all those years ago. She thought perhaps Kisame's absence was a factor. As adults, she knew that Kisame understood what could happen should he just happen to walk into the village. Koi scoffed inwardly as the idea was created in her mind. The scene played in her head. Yeah, there was no way in hell that it would ever happen. Even if she were to get special permission, she would be risking everything that she and Kisame had built.
Kakashi pointed to Sasuke. His turn next. He spoke monotonous and absent. Koi knew that pain. She knew what it was like to desire revenge. If she ever found the bastard that led the attack, Koi would rip him to shreds with her bare hands. That feeling of revenge is what was fueling Uchiha Sasuke at this point. Koi knew his mother. She was only a few years younger than the woman. She wanted to adopt the Uchiha as she did Naruto, but the Hokage had sought something different. Even after the protests of Koi's. That didn't stop her from trying to take care of him. She made sure he had food and clothes. She even sent Sora with extra bentos for both boys. She could still remember the ANBU bringing in the young boy. Broken and battered. Sasuke was almost broken beyond pieces. She did all she could do to repair him. But Sasuke was out of Koi's control.
"My turn," Sora announced as Sasuke finished. Koi watched her son. She took him in. The same dark blue hair, blue-grey skin, gill marks, pointed teeth. Yes, Uta no Sora was his father's son alright. She could imagine them standing next to each other and they could be clones. Except for the honey-brown eyes that claimed Sora's features.
"My name is Uta no Sora," he smirked showing his sharp teething, " I like dango and crabcakes. I hate when people misjudge others based on trivial things like appearances. I don't have any hobbies other than training and pulling pranks with Naruto. My dream is to be as strong as my father and mother combined." Koi couldn't help the smiles. That was her boy, her Sora. He always wanted to grow strong to protect her family and friends.
As Kakashi began to explain what was to happen next, a sneeze escaped from Koi. Naruto was the only one to comment, "Well, someone must be talking about you."
"I can only imagine who," Koi laughed. It would come to her surprised if she knew who uttered her name.
As Koi tormented her new team, two men entered the inn only to see the innkeeper and her adopted great-granddaughter. The younger girl questioned her great-grandmother about her mother's arrival only to be hushed by the women as the men walked in. One man was tall and rather bulky under his black cloak and straw paper hat, while his partner was shorter and slimmer compared to the other.
"Welcome!" The elder and child chimed together. Red clouds patterned the cloaks of the men as Yuki made a noise to announce her disapproval. Koto knew all too well that Yuki knew these men by the sound she made and the look she shot.
"Wearing that into MY inn," Yuki scolded the two men, "I'll have enemies and ANBU on my doorstep any moment now!" Koto stared amazed at how tall the man was compared to her three-foot six stature. He was a giant!
"We apologize, Yuki-sama," the tall man's voice was gruff and deep. Koto felt like she was in a tale from her mother. This man was just like the Kaijin. All though she couldn't see his face, that is what just aura gave to her. The man had to be something like that to be that tall.
A smack from the fly swatter caused that taller man to laugh, "I do apologize, Yuki-sama. I didn't expect you to have an apprentice."
"Apprentice?" Yuki smacked him with the fly swatter again, "Is that any way to great your daughter?" Koto's heart fluttered. Her father. That giant was her father. Papa. Both men took off their hats and Koto found that the taller man had the same greyish blue skin that Sora had, slightly greyer than her own. His navy blue hair matched that of her brothers as her sapphire mimicked her mother's. They all even shared the same gill marks on their cheeks. There was no doubt this man was her father. Koto beamed at him. The stories that her mother told of him, well the bijuu seemed to be true.
Kisame crouched down to the counter to meet the girl eye to eye. He gave her a good look at her. She has grown beautifully. Uta no Koto looks like her mother. Kisame reached out cautiously to touch her cheek. He was nervous as his fingers lightly touched the girl's face, studying it. It was Koto who moved into his hand, smiling. Guilt and shame crept into him as the girl beamed at him. Kisame could never acknowledge he had children or a family. There were too many risks and threats against him. He had only met them as infants. But here he was now, touching his daughter's face with no consequences. In just a brief moment, Kisame was no longer touching the child's cheek, but instead having the child embrace him.
Yuki escorted the other man to a room, leaving Kisame with his daughter in an embrace. Koto laughed as she looked up to the man she called father, "Papa, I've been waiting for you!"
"Have you know?" he smiled at her. Kisame stood up, picking up Koto in his arms. He noticed that she had the same honey eyes as her mother. The very ones he fell in love with all those years ago. Koto's bobbed sapphire hair even shown in the light much like her counterpart. "You look so much like your mother."
Koto beamed a bright smile at the man once more, however, it was replaced with a sad confused look. The loving child seemed to have a question that needed to be answered. Only did Kisame know that it would shatter his heart.
"Papa," Koto began, "Why does Kaa-chan always look so sad when I ask about you?" Within the joyous moment of meeting his five-year-old daughter again, Kisame felt as if he were dropped in the cold ocean with lead at his feet. The question indeed breaks his heart. Had Koto chosen the path of a kunoichi, she would have excelled quickly. Yet here at the inn seemed to be a better fit for her. Trying to figure out a way to answer her, Kisame moved himself and the young girl to the back room. With Koto still in his arm, he sat at the kotatsu table that Yuki kept for herself.
Thinking back, Kisame didn't have much experience with children. He never really even intended to have any of his own due to the career of both himself and Koi. But like many situations, one thing leads to another and then there are consequences to those actions. He doesn't regret having children, but the one thing that bothered him was not being able to parent them and watch them grow. As of now, Kisame had two beautiful children to call his own in private. He was forever grateful that Sora was able to grow up under the protection of Konohagakure as well as Koto here at the inn. But nothing could make up what he had missed. For now, he could cherish what he has. With that thought, Kisame looked down at the honey eyed girl. Her gaze pierced him right through his chest.
A sad smile balanced on his lips as he began his explanation, "I.." Kisame lost his words. How could he explain something as complicated as this to a five-year-old? What was something that he could use? A story? Yes! That's it! A story!
"There is no doubt that Kaa-chan told you the story of the Ningyo."
"Kaa-chan says that she protects the Uta clan," Koto answered.
"That's right," he poked her nose, earning him a sweet giggle from the girl, "Now remember when the villagers attacked the Kaijin because they were scared? The Ningyo protected him and she died."
"But her spirit was reincarnated and she must find her one true love once more!"
"You know it! Well, Kaa-chan's story is kind of the same."
"But Kaa-chan is still alive and you weren't attacked, Papa."
"This is true, but Kaa-chan was attacked, you see. We had to run away. I had to save Kaa-chan so she could be safe. Kaa-chan was betrayed and now I must keep her safe by staying away. Some are still looking for her."
"Kakashi-Jiji will protect her along with Onii-chan!" Koto announced. Kisame raised an eyebrow at Kakashi's name. Uncle Kakashi, huh?
"Yes, well" Kisame cleared his throat. He found himself a bit jealous of Kakashi. He needed to shake it off. He trusted Koi with all his heart even though he was the one to tell her to move on and forget him.
"Will you tell me a story?" Koto's question brought Kisame out of his jealous thoughts. A story would be perfect to get his mind off of the topic of this Kakashi.
"Sure… Koto-chan," Her name felt strange coming off of his tongue. Like it should be more natural rather than this foreign word that sounded false to his ears. But there was that little girl, his little girl, expecting him to tell a grand story. "Do you remember when the Ningyo first admitted her love to the Kaijin?" Koto nodded excitedly\]\[ She loved that story and was ready to absorb her father's tale
"She nearly lost him, but when she fainted, the Kaijin caught her…"
Kisame held Koi in his arms. He held her close as the realization came to him. She did love him. Uta no Koi said that she loved him.
"Kisame-san," Misa's voice registered to him as the Uta woman reached for her daughter, "Please, rest. Koi-hime has drained nearly all of her chakra helping not only you but others as well." Kisame could only nod and laid back on the blanket-covered ground. As he closed his eyes, he felt many other shinobi around him. Most were recovering, thanks to Koi and her family with the medical aid they administered. Thos awake shared a smile that Kisame caught glimpses of as sleep overtook him.
The scene before wounded and recovering shinobi was something to smile about. War was always devastating, yet, love, hope, and faith always seemed to show up to keep joy spreading. Kisame's moment with Koi was just that. Young love almost lost. Almost. Some things are worth fighting for.