Wagons traveled the canyons of Suna. It had already been three days and still so many more to go. Going the long way was the only way possible with the wagons. Without fail, every time Eito disembarked or returned the beats of burden become upset. They would vocalize, cringe, flinch, move skittishly, and eye him with fear and suspicion.
The men hired to drive huddled together on the third night to gossip about what they had all noticed.
"He must be very powerful, and the dumb animals fear what they don't understand," said one young man.
His brother scuffed "Animals can sense evil, and they are reacting to that evil man,"
"You're assuming he's-"
"Animals can sense evil! They are terrified of him! Unless he abused them without our notice, they seem to just be deeply afraid," said the older brother.
The brothers turned to the other drivers.
The oldest man spook next as he scratched his wiry bread. "The pigs and goats aren't afraid. Some seem to be his pets and like him,"
Both brothers were about to speak when the youngest, 19 years old spoke up "That's true, and their cat clearly loves him. Rides on his shoulders. Surely, domesticated animals have a better feeling of the human heart,"
The older brother sneered as he crossed his arms "I'm not taking any chances. I'm not going near him, or taking food or drink from him," he glared at his brother and the teen, both had accepted food, water, and made idle chit chat with the little man whose very presence scared the brave horses and mules. "I'm keeping an eye on him, and I suggest you do too," he said before going into his tent.
Due to his heightened hearing, Eito heard everything said about him. A smile formed from the kind words, but a twinge of pain that the animals and the biggest man in his hired team feared him greatly. He vowed to give the man a wide birth, and not come and go as often so as not to upset the animals.
...
He kept the promise to himself to avoid the man as much as possible, and he did reduce his movements, but it was impossible to stay in the wagon at all times. On the fifth day, he came back from wandering off to relieve himself, when he returned a mule spotted him at a distance and took off with wide eyes.
The mule didn't get far, she allowed herself to have her reins grabbed and her nose rubbed, but would not return to camp until Eito put himself away.
"What did I tell you? Evil!" hissed the biggest man and looked to his brother to challenge his decree.
"She spooks at everything," the younger brother tried. Partly, because the idea of a person so evil, it gave the person an aura terrifying to animals. Were they in the presence of great evil?
Eito heard this as well, he held his favorite pet pig, Mikan, as the family cat Yoshi strung herself on his shoulders like a fur shawl. He vowed to himself to not interact with anyone outside his family, to not upset or cause any further distrust.
...
On the tenth night, they arrived at Suna. Three people awaited, one being the Kazekage himself.
Eito approached and bowed low "You honor us great Lord Kazekage," he said and felt the smug pleasure from the Kazekage.
"Allow me to make introductions. Lady Chiyo and her brother Lord Ebizō my greatest counselors," he said as he gestured lazily.
Eito bowed low, but not as low as when he bowed for the Kazekage, who approved to have the owed respect properly demonstrated. Eito had no intention that he could read emotions so well, and this was all for show. He had to control his face to not give the game away.
"Has the weather been favorable today, my Lord? We would gladly do as you wish, now that we have arrived," Eito said carful to look at Rasa's face but not in the eyes, to make his voice both honey-sweet, meek, and eggar.
The elders glanced to their Kazekage who approached the head of the M household. The Kage faked a smile "That can wait. Let's get you settled in first. We can arrange for rain tomorrow" he gestured to the village "I ask that you walk with me and let your family settle in. I won't take too much of your time,"
Eito could sense how it pained the Kazekage to be polite and keep his forceful nature in check. But he played his part and bowed low again "Anything for you my Lord," keeping a pleasant tone and eager to please.
A tall, thin teen girl emerged from the largest wagon. She bowed very low in the direction of the Kakzekage although nowhere near him. Without a word or waiting for an order, she walked to the wagon in the lead, and put herself next to the driver the oldest of the drivers.
"Welcome aboard my dear," said the old man very quietly.
She smiled and nodded but wiped her face clean. Eito had been said to be stiff and uninteresting when in front of the Kakzkage and anyone who reported directly to him.
The Kakzekage gave Eito a questioning look and waited for an answer.
"That's my sister, Souta. She is second and eldest and my second in command so to speak," Eito said and chuckled "she's in charge when I'm not around," Eito said. "Souta, I want everyone, including you in bed by 9," he said projecting his voice.
"Understood!" Souta acknowledge. To the driver next to her, she said "You know where we're going?"
He nodded "Indeed I do miss,"
She nodded and kept her head high, shoulders back and eyes locked forward.
"She is but a girl," said the Kazekage.
Neither Lady Chiyo, Lord Ebizō or Eito could know if he was commenting more on her gender or age.
"Our parents' deaths forced us to grow up fast; she is smart, strong, and capable," Eito said mildly.
The Kazekage gave him a look of grim sympathy "yes, tragedy either makes or breaks people," he said to Eito, and then he pivoted to face the caravan. "Proceed!" he called out.
The lead driver nodded, waved, and cracked the whip to get the caravan going. He privately noted, that with the patriarch of this family, the animals were far less anxious, and moved with grace and ease.
The wagons came to a stop at a plot of land, it was fenced in solid cement walls seven feet high. The mansion that was the new home stood grand, looming, and dark. Its majesty would have to be appreciated the next morning, Souta told herself, now there was a job to do. She led her family into setting up their bedrooms and personally led the livestock into their new home in the barn. It was like a mansion for animals. Massive, comfortable climate control with a mixture of technology and Jutsu, and already filled with hay beds. She filled the food and water bowls and gathered the pets from the slaughtered swine.
The three family pet pigs and Eito's personal pet followed her smarty from the barn to the house. On some level, the pigs knew they were special and privileged and the home and family were better than the barn, nice as it was. Eito's Mikan knew better than the rest how lucky they, the pigs were to be pets and not doomed to slaughter. Her higher intelligence was one reason Eito loved her the most.
Souta made sure everything was done: everything was brought into the house, including pets. She did a headcount: ten other people besides herself, four pigs, one cat, and one rabbit. Good. Still, something wasn't right. Everyone, inducing all animals was fed and now in bed. The house was clean, quiet, and seemingly in order. Was it just Eito being gone that made it feel so empty and strange? Was it new move anxiety? She suspected that must be it. In a new country and for once, citizens of a nation, no longer would they roam. She worried they were giving up freedoms, yet looked forward to stability.
...
The Kazekage strolled with his consoles flanking him if half a step behind him. Eito followed at a considerable distance. Eventually, the Kazkage came to a stop, perched at the peak of a sand dune. "I wanted to talk to you about rain and music"
Eito spoke only when he came to a stop, on the slope of the dune. "Music my Lord? You wish for us to play for you?"
"Yes, you are a world-famous band, and yet never played in Suna," although the tone was light there was a clear dig.
"We requested entrance to Suna, and were denied. But that was years ago," Eito said his tone also light, but with a dig of his own.
"Watch your tone boy," said Lord Ebizō.
"Such direct of the younger generation," Lady Chiyo agreed.
Kazekage waved their concerns way "He speaks the truth. Years ago his family requested entrance and was denied. Primarily on the grounds of how much money they wanted. Outrageous, even for excellent music," he eyed the other man, daring a bad attitude.
Eito barked with laughter "Yes, they were terribly greedy and entitled," he chuckled "We will gladly perform. Please, send a list of songs and your preferred instruments and I'll have the band ready in two weeks. We can come to you. As for the weather, what did you have in mind?"
"Can you make a light rain right now?" asked the Kazekage.
Eito nodded "I can start now, and it will take some time,"
The Kazekage folded his arms "Then begin,"
...
Souta had done as she was told; she was in bed by 9, but unable to sleep. Still, she smiled when she heard thunder in the distance. The thunderstorm advanced extremely quickly, and when the rain began to fall the thunder ceased as if it served its purpose to announce the arrival of the rain. Souta fell asleep with no further trouble.