It would've taken a week to get home, but Fuuko-sensei had driven her back in her own wagon, since they were both going back to Konoha and there was room for Okami. That meant she could get home within two days! And now, she was gloriously home, back to her sister and parents and her own room...
Hikari hadn't gotten to go to the singing course. Okami smiled - Anything to edge her past Hikari, to get that deal at The Lost Princess, given to the best singer, with two runner-ups working steadily at Lonely Fox. Not that the Lonely Fox wasn't a good aspiration, but any singer who was anyone in Fire Country had at least a trial run at Lost Princess Hotel, a place where the richest of the rich, even the daimyo's wives, called home every so often. To get to Lost Princess was every singer's dream.
And Kameno Sakujna was not going to be beat out of her dream by Uta Hikari. Not now, not ever.
She traced the edge of the path home silently, hoping to surprise her family... Well, everyone but her father, who was a Jounin, and could tell she was coming from a long way away, she bet. Sneaking quietly, she hid beside the glass back door, ready to jump in. She opened it an inch.
That's when she heard something. Laughing, moaning... and a shriek.
Okami knew all three of these voices... None of whom were her mother's.
Her father's laughter. Kimiko's voice.
And Saku's scream.
Turning, she headed for the door. She saw Sakujna burst into the room, looking around for a way to escape. She took a step towards the door. Then, her father appeared in the doorway, looking like a god in his fury, a crimson sheet wrapped around his body like a robe. Picking his daughter up and holding her by her arms onto the wall, he brought his face close to hers. Okami could hear his voice clearly, as if the rest world had gone silent. Her breath was caught in her throat.
"Saku..." She could hear him through the slight opening in the door. His voice was rough, his breathing labourous, unlike anything Okami had heard from her father before. "Saku, if you tell your mother- no, if you tell ANYONE you saw me and Kimiko- what you saw, I'll have to kill you. You are my beloved daughter, but if you tell a single soul, nothing can or will keep me from snapping your neck."
Okami's eyes widened, and she did the first thing that came into her mind.
She ran.
-
Fade to Black
Chapter Five: Adultery
Alden-san
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, etc. All of the characters not belonging to Masashi Kishimoto etc., likely belong to me.
-----------------
"I stayed in a hotel since then, with some money Mum gave me to spend. I didn't want anyone to know, I needed to think... If I'd gone back, maybe I... I might have been able to save her from him!" Okami struggled to control herself, tears threatening to break free. "I haven't left my room in two days, living off room service and little bottles of soap and stuff they leave there. I couldn't call and let you know I was home, because... Because I was afraid of something, and I don't even know what! That he would find out and threaten me too? I wasn't sure! And now, Saku's dead, along with the rest of her team..."
Naruto's eyes had been wide all during her tale. "Y-y-you mean, Kaoru-san... He..."
Okami nodded. "In the same bed he and Mum share, too! That bastard..." She turned to her mother. "Mum, if we charge him, he'll go down hard! We can be free of him! He and that slut can go to hell!"
"B-b-but... I don't want to hurt anyone..." Riku's eyes were filled with tears.
A long time ago, adultery was punished with straight out beheading. If someone could prove you were sleeping with someone other than your spouse, then you would be killed. However, in many hidden villages, ninja (especially those with power) tended to stray from the faithful path, leading to a loss of life almost overtaking number of deaths during C level missions. When it was shown that some of the age's greatest warriors were being killed this way, the Kage's decided this: When a spouse in a Hidden Country was proved adulterous, the aggrieved spouse would decide the fate of his or her unfaithful partner.
Riku could save the man that had betrayed her. She didn't want anyone to die.
She could save the one who may have killed her daughter, their daughter. That would be unforgivable.
"I... I can't decide, right now..." She shook her head. "This is too much for one night... Kakashi-san, Naruto-san, Sakura-san, Sasuke-san... Is there a place we could stay?"
Kakashi stood. "If you're afraid for your safety, a safe living quarters can be arranged. Sakura, Sasuke, Naruto, you get around these two. We're escorting them to a safer place. We might not have much time."
The four surrounded the mother and daughter, and made their way to the Konoha-nin missions office.
------
"What do you mean, you aren't convinced? He gave a false alibi, and refuses to explain what he was doing at the time, refuses to give any witnesses. He threatened one of the ones killed, who knew about his adultery, and had enough strength to kill the whole team. He was smart enough to fake the target, to make itr seem as if he was after Nori. He had ablity, opportunity and motive. What more do you need, Sakura?"
Kakashi looked at Sakura, who had looked away in guilt. The group had taken the two women to the missions office, which alos worked as for interrogation and as a safehouse. Now, Naruto was staying with tghe two to calm them down, while Sasuke had gone to summon some Jounin for Kaoru's arrest.
"I just... I have a feeling there's something missing, Kakashi-sensei!" She suddenly looked up at him. He saw a frightened determination. "I think that, whatever Kameno-san has done, he didn't kill Sakujna or the rest... Wait... Kakashi-sensei, ask him why he can't explain his alibi!"
"What do you mean? No matter what it is, it will save him, Sakura! Unless, he was koilling someone else, but that... that's a ridiculous thought!" Kakashi turned, pacing lengthways down the hall.
"There's another thing worthy of death, one that would take his name off any honour role. Murder can't..." Sakura led off, and Kakashi paused.
".. Murder can't remove his honours... but adultery would be able to! So, if he gives proof that he's innocent that shows his disloyalty to his wife, it would be a trade-down, so he can't afford to... Sakura, what would I do without you?" Kakashi turned to his student.
She smiled. "Anyways, Kakashi-sensei... There's something I gotta do. Just give me free rein for one day, and I think I can figure it out...I still think Nori-san was the target still. I just need a few interviews to clear things up..."
"Alright, Sakura, you go and work out your interviews. I'll take care of the Kameno's. Naruto will probably stay with Riku-san anyways, and Sasuke will want to help me with the husband's interrogation."
"Thank you so much, sensei! I won't disappoint you!" Sakura called, running out of the building.
---
Sakura jogged down the street, to an all-too familiar flower store from her youth. Breathing a little harder as she opened the door, she worried. She and Ino hadn't been on very friendly terms for years, but Sakura hoped there was still enough friendship left between them for a favour or two.
Sakura saw Ino at the counter as she walked up to her, looking down at her hands.
"Sakura? Are you okay?" Ino's voice held a worried tone, as she leaned forwards. "Did something happen...?"
"Umm... Hi Ino..." Sakura looked down a bit. "I sort of need a favour..."
Ino said, "Ah," smiled a little, and dragged Sakura around the counter and up the stairs to her bedroom. She flung Sakura onto the bed and sat on a chair, looking into her face.
"Sakura... Are we officially friends again? I mean, I'm still going to get Sasuke, but... we might as well not fight about it so much, right? Rivals in love, but still friends... right?" Sakura saw a starved flash in Ino's eyes, before she blinked, stopped, and leaned back.
"Well... I mean, you probably came for something else... I mean, I don't see why I jumped to conclusions, Sakura, so don't worry... What did you want?" Ino seemed annoyed, suddenly. At Sakura, at herself? Sakura couldn't tell.
"Ino... I did come here for something else..." She started uncomfortably, as Ino looked away, as if to say 'Of course'.
"... But... I do want to be friends again. I mean it... I was being stupid, all that time ago, and... That doesn't mean I'm giving up Sasuke-kun, but..." Sakura stopped as Ino leapt forwards, hugging Sakura, and grinning.
After a second, she sat up. "Thanks, Sakura... I'm glad that we're friends, sort of, again... Now, what were you here for?"
"You heard about the murdered genin team, Ino?" Sakura asked.
"Mhm... that was brutal... What about it?" Ino responded, sounding curious. "Have an interest in murders now, hitai?" Ino grinned as she said her trademark 'insult'.
"Well, Ino-pig," Sakura grinned, then sobered, "Well, our team... we're supposed to investigate, find the murderer..."
"Wow, Sakura, you guys are in deep... Why are you here, though? What can I do?" Ino looked confused.
"Well, the sensei who died... One of his teammates died when he was young, and I need to talk to the teammates family..." Sakura eased into the subject slowly, trying not to shock Ino into refusing.
"Do I... know them...?" Ino was completely oblivious now.
"Ino... You're sort of... related to them..."
---
"Kaoru-san..." Riku looked away as her husband stepped into the room, biting her lip. She stood in the corner of the white room, with her eyes closed.
"Riku... Why're you here? What's happened, is everyone okay?" Kaoru looked frantic as the door closed behind him as he stepped forwards to comfort his wife. She raised a hand, and he stopped.
"What going on, Riku?" He asked again, slipping his Jounin vest off. "Is there news about Saku's death?"
"She knows, bastard."
Kaoru's eyes widened as he turned quickly. "Okami? I thought you were at school, or were coming home! Those trips take weeks!"
"She knows what you did. What you were doing with Kimiko, and what you did to Saku," Okami's voice was blank as she stared flatly into her father eyes. "Something we can never forgive."
"What? Riku..." Kaoru turned to his wife. "Riku... I love you, you know that... Come on, let's go home..."
He stepped forwards, and she shrunk back. He froze, and started shaking.
"You little slut..." he whispered, turning to Okami, his voice growing to a hostile tone. "We raise you, give you EVERYTHING a girl should have, and this is how you treat us? I take care of you like any good father does, and still you do this? Look at your mother, what this is doing to her! Okami, you're destroying this family for your own vindictive pleasure, just to get rid of me? Using Saku's death, even?"
"Don't you play innocent, you cheating- you lying- You BASTARD!" Okami screamed. "I hate you! I HATE YOU!"
"Okami, why do you do this to me? Ever since you were born, you've hated me! Why do you hate me? I'm your DAMN FATHER! I loved your sister more than I can say, and you know that! I love your mother more than anything in this world, and never- NEVER- would I hurt her like this! Yuo come home in secret, sneak around, just to spread lies about me?"
"How dare you act like this, like you aren't the one who's destroying our family? You're the one who's in bed with the maid, the one who murdered your own damn daughter! I don't care what you say, you're going to die for it!" Okami yelled.
Kaoru stepped towards is daughter, slowly...
And the doorknob turned.
---
"Yamanaka Koimaru? Kouya? I'm... I'm here about a murder case..." Sakura said, wincing as she said it.
"You mean, they have a child working on a murder case? What kind of connection could it be? I haven't heard anything about a death..." Koimaru, the older brother of Nori's former teammate, said. He was a well-off jounin. At 32, he was well on his way to an early retirement. His Jounin vest was laid on the arm of the couch, and his hand rested on it. The other rested in his older sister's.
"Hmmm... You're a friend of Ino's? She told us you needed to speak with us quickly on something very important..." Kouya, the 36-year-old jounin, was the eldest of the three siblings. She looked quite a bit like an older Ino, with her hair down and lipstick on. She smiled.
"Now... Haruno-san, why specifically did you need to speak to me and my brother?" She asked, genuinely curious. "I won't lie, you should know as much from Ino. We follow the same stingent truth code our father does."
"Okay... I wanted to ask you about your brother's death..." Sakua said slowly.
"Kentaro-chan?"
"No, Keitarou... He died over a decade ago, but I hope you can still help me. His past teammate, Mitsuko Nori, died three days ago... And I think there's some connection to what happened 16 years ago to him and his team."
"Oh... Nori-kun... We were so horrible to him and Kikyou, weren't we, after Keitarou died... After a while, we learned sense and made up with them. It's so sad to hear he's died too... What do you need to know?" She asked, leaning forwards to hear Sakura as she took a breath.
"I want to know, as much as you can tell me, about that day..." Sakura said, her hand trembling as she pushed her pen to the paper.
The siblings shared a glance, and they started to talk
---
"Riku..."
Kaoru sat in front of his wife, and slid a hand across the table to take hers into his. She trembled, but didn't pull back. Kaoru smiled weakly.
"Riku, I love you so much. You've been a faithful wife, mother to my children, keeper to my house. You've been all I've ever needed, all I ever wanted... At least, I thought so..."
She looked at the floor, and his breath caught in his throat.
"I didn't kill our daughter. I loved Sakujna more than anything, and I can only barely register that she won't ever be in my arms again. She was my precious cub, my little bird, my angel. She was the best thing in my life... I mean... I love you, but Saku was my daughter, my baby," He said, folding her hand into both of his. "I will always love you. I meant for us to be happy, because I knew divorce would leave you out on the streets alone, and neither of us would be happy. I knew, as my wife, you could have anything you could ever want. And our children, I wanted the best for them... They needed their mother. But... Well, I need your promise before we go any furthur."
She nodded, and he continued. "If they continue to investigate me for Saku's death, they'll waste time searching for evidence that could put me as the killer. Find some invent some, and I'm convicted of murder, and off goes my head. There's only one way to settle this quickly, I have to prove my innocence... But if I do, I may die. So, if the chance comes... will you save my life?" He stared at her downturned face. "If it means finding our daughter's killer, and saving the life of the man you once loved, and maybe still love... I mean, I don't deserve it after what I've done, but for Saku, would you save my life?"
She looked up, into his eyes.
"Would you?"
---
"So, Keitarou and his sensei... they were killed by mist missing-nin? I mean, that... That's what Nori-san and Kikyou-san told you?" Sakura asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Mhm... Kurama-sensei... His head was completely frozen... His brain shut down while the rest of his body was warm... It was horrible..." Koimaru said, shaking his head. "And our brother died of a sword wound in the heart... And three of the mist bastards survived, too..."
"Ummm... What about Keitarou's other teammate, Kikyou-san? Where is she?" Sakura asked, leaning forwards. "She might be able to help me, having been there."
"Sakura-san? I don't think Kikyou-san could help you... She died eight years ago, in two weeks, on a mission to Earth Country."
"Oh my... That's horrible- Wait... I think... Thank you for talking to me, Yamanaka-san, Yamanaka-san... I really have to go..."
Sakura stood, bowed politely, and rushed out of the room, muttering incoherantly under her breath. She headed towards the Missions Office, determinedly walking as fast as she could.
---
"Kameno Kaoru, age 37. Uwaki Kimiko, age 25. You are both charged with adultery against Kameno Riku. You have both pleaded guilty, acceeding family wealth to Riku in case of reprieve. Have you anything to say on the matter?"
The judge looked at the two harshly, looking down at them from their seats. The room was small, only: a large chair for the judge; a small table for the group three Jounin, overseeing the case; a chair in the corner for the recorder; a table for Riku and Okami; and a table for the accused, Kaoru and Kimiko. Kimiko stood.
"When I took this job at the Kameno house, I planned on spending my time in the pursuits of a maid, then finding a nice boyfriend and settling down. But... Kaoru-san, once in the months after my hiring, invited me to the bedchamber. Riku-san was watching Sakujna-chan in the Academy, and I was afraid of being fired if I refused my boss's requests. It was a rare, well-paying job for someone like me in this village, so it was important to keep this job. But... afterwards, I felt no regrets. Kaoru-san, he... he was like no-one I'd ever been with. He was gentle, kind... I didn't understand, I swore to myself 'He's a decade older than you are! Get a grip...' I swore I'd imagined it, and even if I hadn't, I was just a distraction for him. A powerful, wealthy Jounin with a family, with a maid? You see what I mean.
"But, as this happened more often, and more often, it didn't change. sometimes, we didn't even... Well, we pursued other things. We read, talked, drank large amounts of foreign drinks. Finally, he admitted something to me: He told me he loved me. And I told him I loved him. I know that I felt ridiculous,embarrassed, but Kaoru-san... He gave me somewhere I belonged, something I hadn't had - My parents were always either out on missions, or drunk. I spent a lot of time out of my house. With Kaoru-san, though, I just loved living, waiting until our next meeting. Riku-san, " She turned her head, addressing her, "I'm sorry about how this must feel for you, but I don't feel sorry for what I did. It was worth it, every bit of it.
"Kaoru-san talked a lot about you, and his children. He always felt like he was betraying you and your children, but he said he lived for those moments, as I did. So if you decide I need to die for this, at least spare your husband - He still loves you, even if he isnt physically in love with you. He loves you and your daughter, and loved Sakujna more than he could ever say."
Kimiko sat down, looking relieved, as if she were glad to finally get it out into the open. She nodded to Kaoru, who stood.
"Riku-san, I never meant to hurt you. I love you, and I love our family. I could never abandon you three, or even two now- give you a divorce and leave you on the street? That would be too cruel, I thought. I never expected this would happen. I wanted to give you and our daughters a nice place to live, everything you wanted. I showed you as much love as I dared, without showing too much, enough to how you my feelings weren't yours alone. If I died on a mission, than you would be wellwatched over, and you, I hoped, wouldn't fire Kimiko because you, I hoped, would never know. That way, all the ones I loved would be happy.
"Alas, it wasn't my turn to die. Saku was stolen from us, sending suspicion to all parties. Everyone distrusted eachother. I wasn't even sure about my own family - Who could do something like this? And then, the fact that Saku had seen me only a few days prior, with Kimiko... I'd tried to explain it to her, but she wouldn't listen after I threatened her, then apologised. She forgave that outburst after a few hours,however - She knew me too well to really suspect me trying to kill her. I finally explained the situation to her. She understood my feelings, and prosmised not to hurt her mother by telling her what happened. Only two days later, my beloved daughter was dead. And now we are, on the verge of saving her... I want to live to see the bastard who killed my daughter brought to justice, that's all... that's... all..." Kaoru's eyes threatened to tear, and he sat down, wiping his eyes with a handkerchief.
"Well, Kameno-san?" The judge turned to Riku. See had tears in her eyes, and shook her head.
"Let them go... I'll be fine, just to return to my maiden name... Please keep Okami's name, however. People need to know who her father was, in case... in case it might help her in the world..." Riku said, as Okami exploded.
"Mum? What do you mean? I don't want that cheating bastard's name! I refuse to keep his disgusting title" Okami yelled, shaking her mother's shoulder. "Don't do that!"
Riku sighed. "Let Okami have whatever name she wishes. I only want the best for her."
"Ruled! Charges dropped against Kameno Kaoru and Uwaki Kimiko. Divorce and maiden name given - Tsukino Riku and Tsukino Okami, you are free to go. You two, I want you to come with us - we've heard there's some important evidence you have pertaining to the Nori case...
---
Kaoru led Kakashi, and his wife to a small hotel on the edge of town.
"Hatake-san, Riku... This is Kimako Hiroshi, proprieter of the Crane of the Wandering Moon hotel. He can support my real alibi. Hiroshi-san, I know I told you to never reveal what happened, but I revoke that. Please, on my mother's grave, tell these men what happened that night. You know which one."
The old, slightly balding man in front of them opened his eyes wide. "But, young master, what will happen to you? I mean..."
"I will be fine, Hiroshi-san... Just... tell them..." Kaoru looked away. "Please..."
"Alright, young master..." Hiroshi turned, and looked up to Kakashi and Riku. "Riku-chan, I'm so sorry I couldn't tell you... Hatake-san, I was a great friend of the Kameno family, the young master's parents and kin. When he needed my help for a place for him and his woman to stay, after a scare at his home with his daughter, he came to me. I let them have my best room for no cost, for three days. I have it in my records, and hidden security camera tapes that I planned to destroy..."
The old man bumbled behind his counter, and took out a solid metal box. He dragged it out, and with some strain, lifted it to the counter.
"You'll find all you need in there..." The old man said with a tremble in hs voice. "I'm ashamed of it, but... I couldn't refuse the young master..."
The man stumbled over to Kaoru and cried into his shirt. Kaoru held his shoulders and patted his head, looking down at him. "I'm sorry, Hiroshi-san..."
Kakashi curled his fingers around the handles carved in the box's side, and led the small group away.
---
Sakura fumbled through the files, scrabbling notes down on her note pad with one hand and pulling open drawers with the other.
Ukiko Slaughter - mist nins - 16 yrs ago - three survived - missing-nins Nori's team - mist nins - 16 yrs ago - unknown survived - blamed on Mizukage's government Kikyou - Nori's teammate - died 8 years ago - killed? - mission Ukiko-Fubuki Clan War - fourty years ago - Leaf vs. Mist?
Finally stopping, she collected her files in a pile. The Ukiko slaughter - Kikyou's death report - The Clan War report - List of Mist Missing-nin in the least half-century.
She scanned the list avidly, highlighting a certain group of names every so often. The Fubuki clan had only produced 10 missing-nins. One from fifty years ago, killed. Two from thirty years ago. Three from at least twenty ago years dead, with one alive.
And a genin team from 16 years ago, almost exactly. Fubuki Sannou, sensei, dead. Fubuki Yuki, dead. Fubuki Nikkou, alive and on the run. Fubuki Koushukei, alive as well. Plus another, Fubuki Kara, also alive, from a month or so before. Father, mother, and three children.
All obsessed with revenge.
It suddenly all fit together. Why the mist vehemently denied their involvement in the Ukiko slaughter. The bloodlines used in the killing of Nori's sensei and Ukiko members. Fubuki Kara used a sword, as did her daughter Nikkou - swords had killed Keitarou, Kikyou and Nori, as well as supplied cuts on the children's bodies. Why the cavern was so freezing cold. Why Nori was the focus of the murders.
But, if they had killed Ikari...
... He might have reminded them of their original purpose.
Every Ukiko in Konoha was unsafe...
---
"Hatake!" A voice called Kakashi from across the hall, just as he was headed towards the door.
"Yeah?" he asked lazily, turning around to see a Chuunin holding a sheet of paper.
"There's been another death."
--- End Chapter Five ---