Chapter 13
"Dear travelers, welcome to Arane." Takeshi opened the tarp with a big white grin enhanced by the black beard. Ari was the first to jump out of the carriage. Although he hadn't complained for the whole trip, everybody had seen impatience glittering in his eyes, so when they finally arrived and the boy's energy was ultimately unleashed, it blew up in a scrambled dance around the vehicle that helped lighten the mood of the small group. This long and perilous journey that had finally arrived to an end had still had costed them two lives and one severely injured. They didn't need to say it aloud, but every single one of them wanted to forget everything for just a few seconds and savor the moment.
Takeshi carried Haru's husband on his back out of the carriage, while Haru and Fuu started gathering the bags. Voices were coming from outside, something was also rustling the tarp. A man showed up and proposed them to help get the bags out, so the bags were quickly evacuated. Haru exited with the last one, but Fuu preferred taking a couple of seconds before facing the world again. Someone else seemed to be in the same mood. The man who had lost his friend was sitting on the corner. He didn't seem like he would move from there anytime soon and Fuu was getting a little concerned. It had surely been a shock to see his friend die in such a horrible manner in front of him, and not having being able to do anything could only make him feel worst, but something in the man's behavior was bothering her. Passivity was sickening in her opinion. That's not how one should face life. You should get up and... She felt her blood boil in anger. But why? It wasn't her problem to begin with. She didn't even know who he was. Turning her head to the side in shame, she made her way towards the exit. Takeshi would handle the matter. Now that she finally reached a place where she could start her life afresh, she had a list of things to do and to think about. It was late at night and she didn't even have a place to sleep over. She could always ask Takeshi or Haru, but she preferred parting ways. The less they knew about her the better.
As she finally popped her head out of the vehicle, a dazzling light blurred her sight for a few seconds, which made her shut her eyes. When she opened them, she was greeted with a net of red lanterns that hanging over the street the carriage was. Gradually, the sound of a buzzing crowd reached her ears from beyond the stoned walls of the ancient city's buildings. A woody perfume mixed up with the smell spices and other food she couldn't name, all of which was giving an air of celebration. "It's beautiful, right? But it's nothing compared to the main road's." Takeshi was standing next to her, looking at the same direction. "Tomorrow it's the Lantern Festival and the city center is full of giant animal shaped lanterns. People come from all over the country to see it. I think you'll like Arane", he turned to face her with a smile. Fuu smiled politely in return, then went back on contemplating the crimson rooftop. If she had ever had the chance to choose her father, she would have wanted him to be Takeshi. They only knew each other for a few hours, but she already grew fond of him and his son, Ari. During the journey, she had observed them from the corner of her eye. In general, she would avoid watching families interacting. She was orphaned and that only reminded her of what she would never have. That was also why she had longed for making friend all this time. But during her trip, her unconsciousness had driven her to watch those two. She could feel tenderness coming out from every single stroke or scowl father and son would share, and that made her feel equally empathetic and envious. She secretly wished she could have become part of their family, but the logic part of her mind reminded her that she would only make their lives even worst if she stayed with them. I guess it's time to say goodbye. Fuu looked up at the huge man, but before she could speak up, Takeshi turned his head to the side to look upon his shoulders and said: "Miyu, I would like to introduce you to some people. Kaoru, Sen, this is Miyu! " He made a sign with his hand two people came forward, a tall brunette and a sand haired man. The man was short in size but from his stance and his looks he appeared to hold some important role. The woman's light olive skin and long brown hair were echoing Takeshi's features, and Fuu wondered if the two were related. As if she could read on her thought, the young woman spoke first and said: "Hi I'm Kaoru, Takeshi's sister. And this is Sen. He's a long time friend of ours and he's also..."
"Kaoru, I think he can introduce himself alone."
"Thanks God I can always count on my buddy" Sen replied, offering a fist bump to his friend, much to Kaoru's annoyance who was standing between them. "My name Sen. Nice to meet you Miyu. As she said, I'm Takeshi's friend... And I don't know why you even said that, but anyway... I'm also in charge of the migrant community here in Arane. If you have any problem, may it be of housing, work, health... anything, just come to me first, okay? I am the chief mediator here so don't hesitate to ask me, I'll do my best to help you."
Kaoru was snickering at Takeshi's imitation of Sen's oratory speech, which owed them a glare from Sen only for the three of them to explode in laughter. "Nice to meet you" Fuu answered, feeling a little unsettled by the impromptu meeting. Less than a week ago, she would have been thrilled to meet people like them, but enough happened in this short time-span to change her thirst of socialization into an utter desire of loneliness. At the moment, she didn't want deal with anyone. Time was rushing and she had to stay focused on her goal. The word had certainly spread across the neighboring countrie regarding her desertion and Takigakure's allies had certainly joined their forces to look for her. And as if it wasn't enough, she had already killed three man after one day in the only country were she had best chances to make it without getting caught.
If she had known how bitter freedom tasted, she would have treasured that boring life in the wooden hut. She wouldn't have lost Shibuki, and Chomei would still there with her.
In a poor attempt to keep her feelings under control, Fuu bit her lower lip and smiled awkwardly. Now that the presentations were done, she would bid farewell to Takeshi and Haru, then she would look for a place to hide and mourn her life and her stupid self. It was then that two gentle hands were placed on her arms, pulling her out of her thoughts. Kaoru was a few inches away from her, with a concerned look wearing on her face. "Hey, don't mash up your brain too much young girl. If you're thinking about where to spend the night, then it's already settled. You'll come with us. And you can stay for as long as you wish! Right Take?" As if he had been summoned, Takeshi passed his left arm on her shoulders. "Of course she can. Didn't I tell you that Ari has literally adopted her. You should have seen how he..." The words were fading in Fuu's ears, her mind was absorbed by the warm palms and that strong thick arm that was resting on her shoulders. In the span of a second, her world crumbled, or soared; she didn't know. A feeling both overwhelming and sad wrapped her in that instant. Is this what it feels to have a family... she thought, and before she could realize it, she found herself crying in Kaoru's arms who pulled her in a tight embrace.
"Oh dear, you must be exhausted... My brother didn't tell me everything but it had been quite a journey. Thanks God, you all arrived safe and sound. Now, let's go to my place. You'll have a shower, then eat a good meal and have have a good night sleep. Okay?" Fuu nodded her head silently and snuggled on Kaoru's armpit. She knew she was being selfish. All her previous self-speeches about how she should take distance with people in order to protect them were for naught. She couldn't keep handling this situation alone anymore. She needed support and love to keep going. She had made it until then thanks to Chomei, but for some reasons, he was now sealed away and completely out of reach. If life gave her this opportunity than she wouldn't spit on it, she but after all she went through in her life, she would enjoy every bit of happiness she was offered.
That night, Fuu lived her life-long dream. Kaoru had offered her to sleep in her bedroom, and since Ari had insisted on staying with them because "Men's talk is too boring" , the three of them ended up sleeping together on two futons laid down on the floor. After a couple of hours spent in chatting, laughing and eating snacks, they bid goodnight to each other. Not once had Kaoru asked details about her past or where she was coming from, instead she had talked about her life in Arane, the cultural differences and some anectodes about her family, to which Ari gladly joined the conversation with stories about himself. She hadn't felt so much happy in a lifetime, even the Chunin exam hadn't been so funny. Civilians life was so different from the shinobis'. Deep down, she thought it hadn't been a bad idea to leave Takigakure after all. If it wasn't for who she was, she could have settled there and lived among them. In the end, people whose home couldn't welcome them anymore, people with few left to lose but still eager to live their life in the fondest way. She wondered if Chomei could see it too.
She didn't know how, but their line of communication had been cut off. It had only been for two days, but for she who shared every single second with him, these two days lasted an eternity. Fuu felt something tugging at her side so she turned to look at the other two people sleeping next to her. The boy shifted in his sleep and put his head on Fuu's left arm and his right leg on his aunt's abdomen, to which the last replied with groan, but seemingly too tired to push it away, just turned on the other side. Both of them looked sound asleep, their bodies moving rhythmically up and down on their breathing's tempo. She may not be able to talk to Chomei like she used to but there was a way she could reach him. Fuu slipped her right hand under her shirt and laid on her belly-button. One of her former teachers had told her once that the navel was the first mouth and the Door of Life. I was both a barrier and a door that connected the body's energy with the outside. She closed her eyes and did what she had always been taught when performing Chakra work-out: focus on the region below the navel, breath in and swell the abdomen pulling down the diaphragm to fill in the lungs - channel the Chakra to the hand laying on the navel then breath out by emptying the belly, pulling up the diaphragm so it pushes the Chakra out of the hand into the navel. Once. Twice. Three times. The fizzing sensation on her hand was growing stronger, until she felt her Chakra fully released, and a soothing warmth entered in her belly-button then irradiated to the rest of the abdomen. The same thing happened during the fourth and the fifth breathing, then suddenly, something grabbed the channel of Chakra that was coming out of her hand, a familiar energy, fresh and light, like the spring breeze. This energy entered in the palm of her hand, climbed up the forearm, the elbow, the arm then the shoulder only to enter her rib-cage and pause in a point two inches under her armpit.
Her eyes snapped open. He was there. Chomei was there, and he answered her call. She wasn't alone anymore. Her hand was shivering in excitement, when she Chomei's Chakra laying on her hand once more and calm her. Chomei... His Chakra exited from the point it stopped in her rib-cage then spread into a net that wrapped her body in an invisible cocoon. All the guilt and worries disappeared as she started to drift off as she enjoyed this feeling of warmth and love. Chomei wished he could tell her with proper words how hard it had been for him to see her strive alone, but she had demonstrated to be able to handle situations like a mature person would, and he couldn't be more proud. You're growing up well little one. Fuu's breathing noise soothed and joined the chorus.
"Have you heard?" a man in red shinobi attire with a beige jacket was running, his companion just behind him.
"Yeah, four people were found dead around 10 miles outside Arane. Apparently the murder is linked to migrants traffic". Other shinobis appeared in their line f sight, either running or jumping from roof to roof. "I think there is something more... Look who the Tsuchikage summoned. It couldn't be just a matter of banditism." As they arrived in front of the Tsuchikage's office, a slim kunoichi with short black hair made her way through the crowd that formed in front of the door, Sighing, she turned the handle opened and tilted her head towards the old man who was sitting behind the desk. "What are you waiting for? Come in!"
For the last part, I got inspired by my classes of Chinese medicine. When Fuu performs "Chakra work-out" (because I didn't know how else I could call it), it's actually inspired from Qi Gong. Qi Gong in Chinese means "Working the Energy" or "Energy Exercise" (Qi = energy). Also, the points I talk about are actual acupuncture points. The navel is called ShenQue that could be translated either by the Door of the Life/Spirit or the Pivot tower of Life/The Spirit. Very important point in many traditional medicines... The other point under the armpit were Chomei's Chakra envelops Fuu is called DaBao, which means the Great Envelop because it is where the Energy comes out to indeed 'envelop' the chest and the abdomen. As you may see, I'm using fan fiction to train my Chinese Medicine knowledge :).