Scarlet Justice - ep. 113
"A Greater Good"
[Sweet Child of Mine: Prologue]
I start writing and find myself unable to stop.
The ideas are a constant inside of my head. I sit at the kitchen table at home and write in the notebook, with the phone nearby so that I can make calls as needed. On missions, I spend at least an hour before bed scribbling notes onto scrolls, then opening them up and copying whatever is inside to the pages of the main book. Scattered plans of all kinds, just streaming from my brain to the paper. I create crude images, sketches that are messy enough they only have meaning to me. It's nearly an obsession at points. The days are much the same: Fio wishes me a good night, and I follow her lead hours later. I wake up before she does on a small amount of sleep, working continuously with a cup of tea nearby at all times.
Those rough notes and sketches change.
I visit the library and make more phone calls. Nami offers her insights on the formless project, and I take from them to continuously create, moving forward every day. The sketches become proper drawings. The loose notes are organized into paragraphs and sections labelled with letters and numbers. The frantic chain of ideas becomes something real over the space of a week. And the following week is spent refining that reality into something professional. Permanent pen and brush strokes mark the next stage. I write neatly and elegantly, just as I was taught in school so long ago. No space is wasted. A clean, flawless thing that will mark the beginning of a new age. I will not be Hokage for a while yet, but I can move the chains of this world with my own hand.
"Done."
The ink will need some time to dry, but I've completed the final page. Everything is ready. It has taken approximately two weeks, which isn't bad for my first time. These are the plans I have made for the newly acquired land in the Leaf, my birthday gift from Emi.
I have decided on multiple structures to fill it. First, a set of apartments. They will be luxurious, filled with fine appliances and furniture. The prices will be low, subsidized on my end through various means, with the money going towards utilities and the other parts of the project. These homes will be for those families that are struggling, and healing from various traumas that they have experienced. It will be a place for them to go and collect themselves in their strife. Second, a proper ecosystem to support those living in the area. Healthy food, medical facilities, recreation and education...I have made space for all of that and more, meaning that people will not have to travel far to get the vital supplies and services they need. Several proposals can be made to existing corporations and small businesses, but in the case that I get nobody on board, I am well prepared to provide these things in a different way. The third piece is a small, upscale neighbourhood close by with luxury homes. These will be for professionals, or anyone looking for a change of pace and has some extra money to spend on advanced technology. The sales of these homes will be for fundraising purposes, with money going to further subsidize the cost of living for those in the apartments across the way. Of course, different payment options for those apartments will be available, and people can choose to pay rent if they wish, or for a more stable option, pay towards ownership of their homes at a reasonable rate. I feel like giving people many options is better, since they might be scared or confused otherwise.
And last, the crown jewel. The thing driving me forward this entire time. I am going to build an orphanage. A large one, in fact. As big as is reasonable, with room for all sorts of children, from the tiny infant to the young adult who shoots upwards like a stalk of corn in summer. I want...to keep them away from the darkness that might swallow them up. I want to protect them from the pain of this world, the unnecessary hurt that rips away childhoods and laces people with deep scars they can't be rid of, no matter how much they might heal.
I think of Naruto, who spent so much of his life alone and hated. I think of Fio, who was abandoned by her family when she needed them most, after years of horrible torture. They don't know it, but they were both on my mind the entire time I was writing. This is for them, and for those like them...so that nobody has to go through what they did. I am going to make a home for those that have been thrown away by the world. I promise I will see it through.
"Dried, finally. Now...to organize these and seal them."
There is one more thing. An...indulgence, I suppose. I've made space for two lovely homes that sit side by side. One will be a surprise for Naruto. And the other will be for myself and Fio. I think we would make a wonderful set of neighbours, and the proximity to the orphanage means that we can keep an eye on the children together easily. Once things start to settle, I think that Naruto and Fio could look after some of the children in their spare time. The reason I haven't said anything yet is that I want to see how the Hokage reacts to this proposal. He has the ear of the Fire Daimyo because of his reputation among the Shinobi Countries, and because of his age and tenure. So it won't be terribly hard to swing something if the idea is approved. But this will create a very big change in the village on other levels.
Well. When we get to that point, as has been said a thousand times before. The large envelope is filled and sealed with the finished documents. I make another phone call and a fresh cup of tea afterwards, waiting for the knock on the door. As soon as it comes, I pick up the envelope and stroll over.
"Captain Kobayashi, ma'am. Good morning."
"A pleasant morning to you," I say to the fresh-faced young man. A chuunin, no doubt. He seems nervous about how to approach, so I gently pat his hand and give him the envelope. "Tamaki Kurogane's desk. Send it there for me."
"Ma'am. I'll make sure it gets there."
"Thank you kindly. Be safe, won't you?" I say with a smile.
He blushes and nods. "Thank you, ma'am. I will be. Good morning, ma'am."
"Good morning. Take care."
He salutes sharply and takes off as I close the door. I sigh and stretch my arms, yawning at the same time. I have been cutting a bit of sleep out of my schedule...now that my work is done, I suppose I can catch up before doing my other chores.
I finish my tea and then drop onto the sofa, closing my eyes and letting the warmth of my belly lull me to sleep.
Nearly a month has passed since my birthday. Life has moved ahead, as it always does.
A crisp spring morning, where the dew has gathered on the trees visible from my kitchen window. I cook a hearty breakfast in preparation for the journey that I am about to take. Two portions, at least. I can't leave Fio out.
It's still early in the morning, and as it is most of the time, I'm the first one up. A nice warm bath, maintenance on my hair and skin, and narrowing down my selection of clothing. This is an important time.
"Mornin', Lili."
"Good morning, my love. Breakfast is ready as always."
"Thanks. You're amazing, you know that?"
"I know." We kiss each other on the cheeks in greeting, and Fio sits down to eat her food. I finish my glass of milk in the meantime, excuse myself, and wash my plate properly.
"I almost forgot why you were up so early today. Gramps gave you that leave you were asking for?"
"He did, yes. I didn't want to cut it too close, even if he would have accommodated me. It's beyond time I left the village again...I want to see my Mama."
"I'm glad you're finally going. You were really glowing after that phone call with her, you know?"
"Hm." I set my plate and utensils on the drain board. "We didn't start on the best of terms, to say the least of it. Somehow...all of these things changed us both."
"Yeah. Life's strange like that sometimes."
"It certainly is. I'll be back in a moment. It's time I got myself dressed."
I head to my room and check my bag one more time, making sure that everything I need is in there. Hair is fine, skin and nails are fine, makeup is done...ah, one more thing. Some gloss on my lips to make them look a little nicer. There. I look at the clothing laid out on my bed and think for a bit. It will be warm outside, but not terribly so. Something light, but stylish.
"She won't mind if I show up in something more casual...but I have expectations that I want to maintain as well. I'll go with this set, then."
After pulling on my clothing, I check myself over in the mirror. A nice, loose red shirt beneath a blue cardigan, paired with jeans that are rolled up at my ankles. I nod and fish out those long forgotten wedge sandals Luna bought for me, making sure the straps are snug and not too tight. I will be wearing these a while, after all.
"One last check. How do I look, Fio?" I stroll out to the kitchen and pose for her.
"You look fabulous, Lili."
"Here, too?" I ask as I turn.
"There and everywhere. You're great, hon."
"Thank you. I suppose that I'm ready, then...time to start my little trip." I place my travel bag near the door as Fio finishes eating. "I'll be off. The trip will be by carriage, as I've ordered. It won't take terribly long to get to my destination, but I will be there a while. You remember where your instructions are?"
"Yep."
"Good. Talk to Tamaki and Imari if any significant trouble should arise. Of course, Shino and Hina will be watching over you, so you can also seek them out for advice before that." I shake out my hair and make sure my necklace is secure. "If things escalate too far, there's that scroll in my room...Ane-ue will be at your side in an instant. Luna will also call to check in at nights."
She nods. "Got it. I think I'll be meeting my new team while you're gone, so I won't be too bored."
"Ah, very good. Naruto and Yuno, watch over those two darlings for me, won't you?"
"I will."
"Thank you. I'll be dreaming of you while I'm away, Fio."
"I'll be thinking of you too, Lili. Since you have the old man's approval and stuff, don't rush back too quickly. Family's important, and you've been through a lot...so take as long as you need."
"I'll be sure to follow that advice."
"Great. Heh, you think your mom's gonna be okay with us possibly getting married? She must have a type in mind for you..."
I grin nervously. "We'll have to see how she handles her daughter being a lesbian first."
"Oh...oh, yeah. Right. That was what you meant the other day..."
"Mm-hm."
"Guess all I can do is keep my fingers crossed. Good luck, yeah?"
"Petitioning heaven on my behalf won't hurt," I say with a sigh. "That would be lovely, indeed. Alright, I should be off for real now."
"See you later then, Lili!"
"Yes, until the next." I rub noses with Fio and kiss her forehead. She opens the door and I nod my thanks, taking my travel bag and purse with me. A brief pause at the bottom of the stairs to put on my sunglasses, and I start my stride through the Hidden Leaf.
"Mm. Not only on time, but impeccably so."
A reliable man has arrived with my transportation. It's a well-crafted carriage, made of solid wood and iron. One healthy-looking child is pulling it today, his white coat glistening in the sun. As for the man himself...he seems to be of middle age, dressed formally in a suit with tie, and very careful with his movements.
Too careful, in fact. He might be more rigid than the iron on the carriage. It's...just a bit unsettling to see him this stiff. I understand my position in the world, but still. He very slowly adjusts his flat cap and stands at attention. The stubble on his face and the constant blinking give him away immediately.
"You. When was the last time you slept?" I demand.
"Ah...about a day or so ago, ma'am," he says politely.
"I see. Why?"
"My boss wanted me to hurry to my destination, so I-"
"Enough," I say suddenly. That is already too much for me to take. "You listen to me, and listen clearly. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Then heed my words. You will not get less than six hours sleep at any point during this trip. You will not skip any meals. You will not skip restroom breaks. If I say that it is time to rest, then we will find the first available place to rest and enter, unless you deem it unfit for human habitation. You will be at my beck and call for the duration of this trip. And if I catch you breaking any of these rules that I have set, I will happily make you go the rest of the way without sleep, or food, or any sort of chance to relieve yourself. Have I made myself clear?"
He starts to stutter. "I...I, uh...I mean yes..."
"Excuse me?" I snarl.
"Y-yes! Yes, ma'am! I understand, ma'am!"
"Open the carriage. Now."
The older man leaps into action and pulls the door open smoothly. I step forward and pull down my sunglasses to have a good look inside. The interior is luxurious...and I can see, and smell, that it's at odds with the rest of the structure. The material is far too new, and I can smell leather polish like it came out of the factory an hour ago.
"When did you install this?" I ask.
"Oh, uh..." He swipes a hand through his brown hair. "Before I left. Two days ago, ma'am."
"Did you pay out of pocket?"
"Ma'am?"
"Answer me. Did you pay for all of this yourself?"
"Yes, ma'am. To please the client, ma'am."
"Please the client...I damn well know that I asked for nothing other than a normal carriage to my destination." I let out a breath and shake my head. "I take it you will be reimbursed for this nonsense."
"No, ma'am."
I turn my head to him, exasperated. "What."
"Coachmen are responsible for everything-"
"Silence, fool." I grab him by the front of his shirt, pulling him down towards me. "I have heard enough. You listen here, I don't give a fuck what rules your boss and his useless dumpster of a company have for you. They no longer matter, they are nothing. From this point on, you belong to me, and me alone. Do you understand, driver?"
"Y-yes, ma'am."
I release his shirt and allow him to stand properly again. "I am pleased we have that understanding at last." Putting on my sunglasses, I reach into my purse with my other hand and fish out several bills. "Stop worrying about your fucking tie. Come here."
He stops fidgeting with it and comes back to me. I take his hand and slap the money into it.
"Ma'am? The trip-"
"Shut up. Get yourself a room and sleep, then eat something to fill your belly when you wake. It's still morning, so we have plenty of time left in the day. I'll watch over your child and the carriage in the meantime."
"But...but ma'am, I-"
"At this moment, you have two options," I interrupt. "You can select your next words carefully, and make sure you have no lingering regrets in this world. Or...you can close your mouth and get out of my sight."
He gulps and starts his run towards the nearby inn. I sigh and put a hand to my hip. Atrocious. Mama would have never recommended this company if she knew about any of these loathsome practices.
"House Kobayashi will not be disgraced by such treatment," I say. "Disgusting. I'm understanding more and more why Ane-ue makes the decisions she does in her world. Humans...they condone this every single day."
I head to the carriage and have a seat inside. Everything is...plush and comfortable.
"You softhearted driver..."
I lean back in my seat.
"As I said...you belong to me now. This is your way of life, so I won't tear it away from you so suddenly. You will be assigned a proper role in our family once we get home. Perhaps you are just one person in a sea of many doing the same things...but even this much is something."
It's late afternoon by now. The fool really was exhausted and slept through the morning. It takes some restraint on my part to let him away with just a scolding for apologizing to me.
As for food, he had himself a hamburger and fries, since food from the west is one of his guilty pleasures. He made sure to get a duplicate meal for me, and I can at least appreciate that much. I refuse his attempts to give me back the rest of the money.
According to the calculations made at the start of the trip, we would finish in about a day. But since I'm restricting the amount of work my driver does to reasonable levels, it will be more like two or three days. Possibly four if we run into something that delays us. The place we are going to is a small, affluent town in the northwestern part of Fire Country, with many rice fields on its doorstep. I've never been there, but it should be quite a sight. I get the driver's permission to feed a few treats I had prepared to the child who will be pulling us along. He is polite and appreciative of the small candies and fruits, so I expect us to make good time.
Once preparations are complete, the carriage heads towards the village exit. Our journey begins.
It's nice and quiet inside. The ride is smooth, no doubt due to some unspoken enhancement made by my coachman. I relax a while, occasionally turning my head towards the window so that I can look at the forest. It feels quite calming...
"..."
Even so, I am a restless soul after all. My head is filled with all sorts of ideas. I do have plenty of time, so I should oblige my muses and write down these thoughts as they pass through my mind. I take out a small notebook from my purse and a pen, then start writing. Ideas for movement, and for attacking...quite a few of them, actually. Basic techniques and enhancements on some that I already have. The ideas for new arts come easily, enough that I can strike out the ones that are impractical or become redundant as I think about them. I can't spread myself too thin or try to cover every possible angle. That's not what an ace is meant for.
A knock on the carriage door brings me out of my thoughts. I look outside and note that it's already nighttime.
"Ma'am? I was wondering if you wanted to turn in for the night."
"You can come in, you know. I'm wearing all of my clothes."
"Sorry, ma'am." He opens the door and pokes his head in.
"The ride was smooth enough that I didn't notice the time. We've stopped at an inn, yes?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Then we will turn in. Good work," I say with a smile. "Thank you for your effort. We'll have a late snack, and then we'll head off to bed."
He blushes lightly and nods before heading back out. I put away my writing tools and grab my travel bag before heading outside.
I pay for two good rooms at the inn and go to sleep soundly. Early morning comes and I take a warm shower, then clean up and get dressed. Walking across the hall, I knock on my driver's door to wake him. He looks about as I would expect from someone who wasn't used to a good night's sleep. He scratches at the waves of brown hair on his head while blinking.
"Good morning."
"Morning, ma'am. Sorry, I-"
"You didn't oversleep, idiot. It's half past six."
"That early? Huh...do you do this often?"
"Apparently, I'm an early riser even among shinobi."
"I see...I'll get myself dressed, ma'am."
"Take your time. I'll wait for you in the dining hall. We're having breakfast together today."
"Yes, ma'am."
As he comes down, I see that he's taken my advice to heart. The clean shave makes him look handsome.
"Is this really okay?"
I give him a look. "Breakfast was included in the cost, you know."
"Oh. That makes sense...thank you for the meal, ma'am."
"Think little of it." I sip at my coffee and read the local news. Sleepy little place, isn't it. Nothing of note happening.
"If it's not too-"
"It's not," I say. "Ask whatever you like. By the way, my name is Lilith Kobayashi. I realize we haven't properly introduced ourselves, which is amusing in itself. I suppose I was too focused on scolding you for your idiocy."
"So that name wasn't a coincidence, then. You're really from that Kobayashi family? The rice barons?"
"The same, yes."
"Sorry about your...father, I guess. The CEO that died suddenly."
I shrug. "I've recovered well enough from that incident. Believe me, I've long stopped shedding tears on his behalf. For many reasons."
"I see. My name's Yuma. Yuma Sakizuki."
"A pleasure meeting you, Sakizuki-san."
"Ah, likewise."
"Go on and start eating. We don't want your food to get too cold."
"Yeah. I mean, yes, ma'am."
We enjoy our breakfast quietly for a while. He really hasn't had a good meal in a while...poor thing. I wonder what would drive him towards this sort of life.
"Sakizuki."
"Yeah." His head pops up. "I-I mean, yes, ma'am."
"You're married. Where is it you and your wife live?" I ask after glancing at the ring on his finger.
"On the town outskirts...pretty affordable, I'd say. I have a daughter, too. She wants to go to a university."
"I see. Those are quite expensive, no?"
"A little on the pricey side, ma'am. But I couldn't say no to her dream without giving it a try. A friend of mine recommended this job...hours are long, and I don't see home like I used to, but the pay is good. Good enough that maybe in a year or two I'll have the money needed."
"Mm." No amount of money could cover that sort of debasing. While his goals are certainly noble, he is as much of a fool as I thought. The mansion will have use for such a workhorse, and he will be treated with the dignity he deserves. "All of your financial issues will be taken care of in time."
"Really..."
"I would not raise your hopes so high just to dash them. I might be a bit of a sadist, but even that is too far for me."
"Eh...thanks, I guess."
"And your child will be coming with you. I assume you have ownership of him?"
"Child?" He gives me a confused look before it clicks in. "Oh, you mean my horse. His name is Altair of the Turbulent Wind. But I just call him Al."
"..." So this one is an eccentric, too. He really will be a perfect fit.
"Yes, we've been together a while. If I leave, he goes with me."
"That's all I need to hear. You and...Al there will be taken care of."
"Thank you. And Al thanks you too."
"Yes, of course."
We finish breakfast and check out. I feed Al a few more treats, and he is polite enough to show his thanks. A very good child, yes. The girls at the mansion will love him. Our things are loaded up and we head onto on the road once more, travelling between massive trees and following the worn paths onward. The rich colours of the forest greet us as we pass by, and I stick my head out of the window for a few minutes to take in all of the sensations.
"Simply sublime."
I smile and slide the window back to its half open position, letting air flow through the carriage as I go back to writing. Today will have a focus on refining the previous day's ideas. It's not long before I figure out exactly what it is I want to play with. Something ambitious...something that will potentially take me beyond what I am now, and to another level entirely. But there's no rush to get it done right away. It's quite a thing now that I'm looking at all of the notes...a mess of scattered thoughts across many pages, all whittled down to one coherent theory. It still wouldn't make sense to anyone else. It might even seem insane. Subscribing to that sort of limited human logic, though...it's not something I feel like doing anymore.
The feeling of the carriage changes, and I can hear the sound of shod hooves against a paved street. It seems that we're here at last. My notes go into my purse again.
"Inaho-cho," I mumble.
A city of rice ears.
"Looks like it's time...alright."
The carriage comes to a stop, and I see the door open. I put on my sunglasses and shake out my hair, then take my first steps outside.