content warning: within the chapter there will be mention, during a conversation, of an incident of sexual coercion, which falls under sexual assault and more specifically rape. the description will not be graphic in nature, but as it still exists you should be informed as readers just in case. thanks.
Scarlet Justice - ep. 131
"Ascertain"
[Golden Rust: Feature]
"Man, it's been a while...these ribs? Killer."
"Super on point today. Hey, when Grams gets back from her trip, we gotta get her to make a few extra racks for you, Yuna."
"Hell yeah. Blew my mind to atoms the last time I had 'em..."
The six of us are seated comfortably around a glass table in the backyard. There are more flowers here, neatly arranged in a big square that surrounds us and marks the yard's edges. We have much in the way of side dishes; mashed potatoes, string beans, cabbage, yams, pasta...and something quite indulgent, a dish of what I recall as 'macaroni and cheese' that I had in the old country once upon a time. This version is baked in the oven and has more cheese in it than should be humanly possible. And it's delicious. I make sure to memorize the flavours so I can make it for Fio later.
"Some good timing with the ribs," Cadence says. "I was about to fry some chicken, but you saved me the time and mess."
"Hey, always happy to help out," Joshua says with a smile. "Smashed it out of the park with your cooking anyways."
"Aw, I'm just a humble student."
"Humble my ass. Shit, I'd marry you to get food like this every night," Yuna mumbles while eating.
"You go on too much, Yuna!"
"She sure does. Thought you only had men on the menu," Joshua says with a smirk.
"Shaddap. It was a compliment, nerd."
"It really is delicious," Hina says. "Thank you very much for hosting us, Miss Cadence."
"You're welcome, sweetie. Cookin' is one of the things I really worked on for a while. Mostly to make the potential hubby happy at first, but then the feeling of being able to make awesome food for yourself whenever you wanted just made it all better! I was kinda sheltered growing up, you see."
"Cadence here is from the founding family of the Port," Yuna explains after wiping her mouth.
"Yep, yep! My Pop-Pop, Marcus A. Kennedy the Second. He was the one who came over and made the big deal with the samurai all that time ago. It was during...hmm, I think the cool-down between the second and third wars. Oh, by the by, he's still kicking around, he'll be a century old next year! Lives in a big old place not super far out of town, but enough to get some peace and quiet. Nan-Nan is with him, too!" Cadence looks at me thoughtfully before smiling. "Yeah. She had a full head of pretty red hair, just like Miss Lili over here. And sounds just as regal."
"Not just a piece of work, but the whole cake," Joshua says.
"That's definitely our Lili," Hina says with a smile.
"Then you'll definitely be good trouble once you're all grown up. Keep it going, yeah?" Cadence says to me.
"I certainly will. Thank you, Cadence."
"My pleasure."
"So how did you two meet?" Shino asks. "There is a sort of disparity visible to us-"
"Man, you just go right for it, don't you?" Yuna says.
"Teaching our friend the value of added tact has been a...process, let's say. Especially when he gets comfortable like this," I say. "In the Leaf, we are more culturally homogeneous, and so to many people from our part of the world, this would be a curiosity of sorts."
"Not averse to it, but not terribly experienced either," Joshua concludes.
"Yes, to put it simply."
"That's all fair. I think the only other place close to this is...Lightning Country, I think? The various tribes and bands might have migrated from across the ocean, or just drifted towards that part of the continent and stayed there. Lots of fascinating theories to talk about...but we'd be here forever if we got into that, heh. So, how we met. Pretty simple, actually. Cadence used to come down every so often from the next town over, and she dragged me into one of her games when she saw me reading alone. I was a round fella at the time, not very suited to athletics. About nine years old, we were."
"Real cute, though," Cadence says.
"So everyone says. But yeah, that experience was pretty nice. I only used to play when she was in town, and then I had that sort of enlightenment happen after reading the stuff Gramps left around. I told her about it and she was like, 'why not get into shape so you can do the stuff he did?', so I took her up on that."
"It was...the best and the worst decision at the time for me," she says. "The best because Josh turned into a total hunk. The worst because...well, Josh turned into a total hunk, and now there were all sorts of girls chasing him around."
He shudders.
"I remember that. They woulda torn him into chunks and took 'em home if they could get away with it. It was honestly kinda crazy," Yuna says.
"So we were best friends for a long time before this," Joshua explains. "What happened next was-"
The back door to the house slides open, and we all stop to look at the new visitor.
"Father...?" a tiny voice calls out.
"Oh, if it isn't our Princess!" Joshua says with a smile.
"Is...it okay?"
"Sure is. Come on over."
The little girl closes the door behind her and then jogs towards Joshua. She reaches upwards, and he reaches down to pick her up, setting her into his lap.
"This is our daughter, Alexandra," Joshua announces with a proud smile. "But just like the wife, we call her Aria."
"Josh named her, too," Cadence says. "He's sure got a way with names, huh?"
"Certainly. Aria is a lovely name for any child," I say with my own smile. "She's precious."
Aria bows her head politely as thanks. Her blonde hair is light and fluffy, just a little wild looking, and mirroring the shape and length of her mother's. In fact, they look very much alike. Their blue eyes are the same brightness, with the difference being that Aria's are normally halfway closed. She is calm and very quiet, sitting patiently with her hands in her lap. The blue dress she wears has two pockets and thick straps over her shoulders.
"You feel comfortable talking about that part, Cadence?" Joshua asks.
"It's fine. Might as well, right? I'm sure Shino there would have more questions after seeing Aria," she replies.
"Damn. Looks like that subtlety of yours is already legendary," Yuna says with a laugh.
"I don't believe it was that bad. We were all thinking it," he says defensively.
"I wasn't," I say.
"I wasn't either," Hina says.
"..." He pushes up his glasses and says nothing else.
"Aria's my daughter, but as you can see...she doesn't look a thing like my husband. I had her when I was younger. Still a teenager, actually. It wasn't something that was supposed to happen, really," Cadence says. "But I...didn't feel like I could say no. Even if I ended up consenting to it, everything felt wrong. It was in a time and place where I thought I couldn't do anything else. My father was...he was trying to preserve the family's future, see. So he arranged a bunch of suitors and tried to keep Josh away from me. One of them, he...yeah. He took advantage of his position. It looks worse and worse the more you think about it. But ultimately, it was about Josh being from what he called a lower station, or basically being more of a commoner. I'm guessing you know about that sort of thing, Lili."
"Yes. My father was much the same. He wanted to marry me off as soon as I was of age, and actually sent me to become a shinobi so that I would be more disciplined by the time I was supposed to choose a man. My life would be spent bearing someone's children and wasting away in an empty mansion somewhere."
Cadence nods. "That's pretty much it, yeah. I know he loved me, and still does. But what he put me into, that sort of situation...it really, really hurt. It honestly broke me, and I started to spin downwards into depression. Kept it all bottled up for a while, but that just made it worse. And when I found out I was pregnant, I thought my life was over."
"But you got your happy ending," Yuna says.
"I did." Cadence smiles and takes Joshua's hand in hers, watching him smile back. "I thought this guy would drift away from me when he found out what happened. But not only did he accept me, and whatever might have happened afterwards...he accepted Aria, too. He was there when she was born, and he helped me raise her. People talked about both of us. About how damaged I was, and how weak it looked for a man to take care of someone else's child. Dad wanted to find someone to make sure that I was taken care of, so that I didn't have to endure those things that shamed us both. And then Josh turned around and said that he'd take care of me, no matter how much he had to give up. I had always loved him...but that moment was the one that made me want to be by his side forever."
"How beautiful," Hina says.
"A family built on love and hope. Coming from different places and walks of life...none of that matters in the face of pure bonds," I say. "It really is beautiful to see. I'm glad that you both came out of it okay."
"Thanks for saying that. Everything that's happened, good and bad...it came together and created all of this. As long as we love each other, we can do anything we set our minds to. I really believe that in the wake of all that darkness, that one thing will help us pull the world back together."
"An understanding of peace requires the experience of pain, you think. Not just to test the limits of the world's saviours, but to provide understanding. To show us that things are possible, no matter how hard it is to travel down those paths."
"Yeah. There's something to be said about things...born from what we once called tragedies. You know?"
"I know what you mean," I say, thinking of Rose.
"So. Did that answer why the kid doesn't look like she's his?" Yuna says to Shino smugly. "I bet you think Josh there got cu-"
"Yuna, not in front of Aria," Joshua says, frowning. "Seriously."
"What? Not like she'd know what it meant."
"Aria loves to flip through the dictionary before bed, just like her Papa used to," Cadence points out. "She'd find out before the end of the day, and then we'd have to explain too many things to her that she doesn't need to know yet. We can't have 'the talk' with her."
"Yeah. Five years old is just a bit early."
"..." Aria tilts her head back to look at Joshua.
"It's fine, sprout. Adult things."
She nods and takes a piece of broccoli to nibble on.
"Having a party over there?" a voice calls over the brick barrier.
"Close enough. Hey, Ma." Joshua sets Aria down, and she jogs over to open the door. Her tiny hands pull ropes that move the locks, and then reach up to get the door handle.
"Oh, look at Miss Muscles over here." The woman picks up Aria and kisses her gently. "Hey, kids. Sorry I wasn't at the office, long story."
"They told us you were missing some pieces."
"That's part of it, yeah." The woman who has just arrived has the same complexion as Joshua, and it's easy to tell that they're related from the other features they share. She wears a pinstriped suit, consisting of a blazer and slimming pants. A small black satchel loops over her right shoulder. Her hair is long and black, some resting on her shoulders with the rest pulled into a ponytail. She has brown eyes that are filled with the same confidence as her son's.
"Very nice to meet you, ma'am," I say to her.
"The same to you, miss." She nods to acknowledge me. "So, the famous Scarlet Viper herself. I have to admit, I was expecting you to be just a bit taller. But that's not a knock on you, it adds to the mystique."
"Right? That's what I was thinking," Joshua says.
"And of course, a pleasant afternoon to Miss Hyuuga and Mister Aburame there."
"Thank you, ma'am."
"Thank you."
"To formally introduce myself, my name is Maria Walker. I'm the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Iron Country. Joshua is my son, and Catherine is my daughter. Aria is my first grandchild, of many to come."
Joshua sighs. "Ma..."
"We're working on that last part," Cadence says, giggling.
"You can't blame me for getting hooked," Maria says as she rubs Aria's cheek.
"Have yourself a seat, Ma. We were digging into Auntie Park's ribs."
"Sounds nice...but I can't stay for too long, unfortunately."
"I'll fix a plate to take with you," Cadence says as she gets up. "Can't go leaving family hungry. Be right back."
"Thanks, sweetie. But yeah, I got the message that you took the Leaf visitors up here and figured you guys were getting them fed. Just popped by to do some simple business and deliver a little message of my own," Maria says. She hands Aria back to Joshua.
"Shall we make the exchange now, then?" I ask.
"If you're okay with it."
"More than okay. Hina, Shino."
"Ma'am," they say in unison. I bring out the main scroll while Hina and Shino provide smaller ones. Each is a different colour, mine red on the outside edges while theirs are blue and black respectively. Maria scribbles a set of codes on the outside of each scroll before putting them into her satchel. She then takes out a single scroll that is grey and has inscriptions on the outside in gold lettering.
"Here you go. Check if anything is off."
I catch the scroll as she tosses it to me, and look along the outside of it.
"This is wrong."
"Eh?" Yuna says.
"Excellent." Maria takes out another, normal looking scroll and tosses it to me next. I unroll the first scroll, sign it at the top, and then toss it back to her. She puts it into her bag and sighs. "Now this? This I like. Always nice to work with skilled people."
"I will never understand the weird bullshit you security types get up to," Yuna says, shaking her head.
"They have courses for that, you know."
"Smartass. Lucky that you're Josh's mom. And that you could probably kick my ass...that helps. A little," she mutters.
"Heh. My second message was for Miss Kobayashi. The General himself wants to hold court with you."
I raise a brow. "Really. Whatever for?"
"Wouldn't say. Hush-hush, even for him."
"Mm."
"It shouldn't be anything too serious or intrusive, but...I have a feeling that he and Lord Sarutobi had a talk about it beforehand. Whatever the reason, I'll be nearby. Just in case, of course."
"Here you go, Mom." Cadence returns and hands a plate covered with foil to Maria. "Business done already?"
"Yep. Just mentioning that Mifune wanted to see the Captain over there."
"Ooh. Mysterious."
"Yep. We'll talk one more time before you leave the country proper, just to tie down any loose ends. Until then, stay safe and enjoy the hospitality."
"We shall, Madam Walker. It was lovely meeting you," I say with a smile.
"Likewise," she says with her own smile back. She kisses her son, daughter, and granddaughter on the cheeks firmly before waving on her way out. "Take care, y'all."
"See you, Mom." Cadence locks up after her before returning to the table. "You wouldn't believe it, but she's got a pretty heavy nickname herself."
"Scary Mary," Joshua says. "I've only ever seen it come out when she's in work mode. But, uh...yeah. It's accurate."
"Names have power in this world of ours. The ability to create and shape them is crucial...whether it is to bring hope to the masses, or deliver terror to one's enemies," I say.
"Sounds pretty chunni if you ask me," Yuna says.
"You haven't seen anything yet," Shino quips. Still salty about earlier, huh.
"Truly, would you expect anything less of the woman known as the great terror of men, chosen of heaven, Crimson Nightmare and avatar of death itself?" I declare dramatically. "I stand above the children of men, and possess the power to bring forth a new, prosperous age."
"Spicy," Cadence says. Aria claps happily.
"I knew you shinobi could get weird sometimes, but this is on another level entirely. Oi," Yuna says.
"You do get used to it. And it's charming, in many ways," Hina says with a smile. "The stories some of the elders tell about Lord Hashirama suggest that he was liberated in his own manner."
Well, she's not wrong about that. The Founder might have been more chunni than me, if what I saw of him was any indication.
"And that guy pretty much changed the world," Joshua says. "There might be something to that, then. Too bad that he died before he could accomplish what he wanted to. Wonder what the world would have been like if he stuck around long enough to beat his enemies into the dirt properly."
"Bah. I dunno if I could stomach the thought of a world run by shinobi," Yuna says. "No offence meant to you guys, but their ideals have been pretty trash for a while now. Not to mention the whole jinchuuriki thing. Putting monsters into kids so that they can be used as weapons...and on top of that, not even recognizing that sacrifice, treating them like garbage. Who the hell could stand something like that?"
"It is something quite hard to take," I say.
"How's the host in your village doing?" Joshua asks me. "I mean, if that's not too much to talk about."
"That is quite fine. I'm actually close friends with that person, and they're doing quite well at the moment. Though there was a long stretch of time where it was not so."
"Good to hear. Yeah, that whole tailed beast thing is messed up. I understand why they do it, but...that among other things really sours people's views on shinobi. The way the system is held up, the lust for power and influence...not to say that the samurai are perfect. I mean, samurai did and still do leave their craft behind to become shinobi, or even just bodyguards for criminal enterprises because it pays so much more. Probably gonna need a big shock to start the ball rolling on a new world."
"..." I think on it for a moment. "What kind of person do you think would be needed? What kind of choices would they have to make, do you think?"
"Hmm..." Joshua closes his eyes and thinks. "Someone with a strong will...and one who was willing to become the enemy of the world itself. A person who would deny the dreams of others to lead everyone and everything forward into a new future. Not one void of pain and suffering, but..."
"A world of possibilities."
He opens his eyes to look at me. "Yeah. That's exactly right, Lili."
"I see."
"But that path shouldn't be walked alone, should it?" Hina asks.
"It shouldn't be. I think it would be too much for any one person to take. It's like Cadence said before, love is the power that allows us to do anything. And a strong love is what's needed to give a person the strength to change the world, without falling to pieces in the process."
Hina nods.
"Lili...where are you headed at the end of all this?" Joshua asks me.
"I want to become the flame that lights the way."
"Hokage...I see. That's all I needed to hear," Joshua says.
"We're gonna be winding up some stuff of our own," Cadence adds in. "So hopefully, we'll see you on the other side."
"I don't know what the hell any of you are talking about, but whatever. Me an' Kitsune are all in with you crazy fools, no matter what," Yuna says.
Joshua smiles and nods. "Appreciate that, partner."
"Kitsune?" Shino asks.
"That's the name of her sword!" Cadence says.
"You name your swords. Hm. Seems like you were projecting earlier." Well, he's gotten sassy all of a sudden. Covering for his earlier embarrassment, no doubt.
Yuna slaps her hand on the table. "Oi. Kitsune is a Meito. A Me-i-to. Show some goddamn respect, you plebeian. Fuckin' shinobi, don't know anything about anything..."
"Yuna gets touchy about that particular subject. But yeah, famous and well-crafted swords have names. Incidentally, the city shares a name with General Mifune's sword, Kurosawa," Joshua explains. "I wasn't carrying it on me today, but my personal sword's one of them. Its name is Shippu. Some swords may or may not have special abilities embedded in them, but all of them have fantastic sharpness and durability."
"I see."
"You were definitely right about names having power, it's been that way for a very long time. We name weapons and other tools, and in this world of chakra and all, it means we can make miracles with each movement."
"Such as the Kusanagi, you mean."
"Yeah. That one's super legendary. Heard it could cut through anything."
"Some war criminal probably has it." Yuna shrugs. "What can you do."
"..." Hm. She was right about that, at least for a time. Well, I can keep the knowledge that Midori has it to myself. For now, at least.
"You guys ate up a storm, and that makes me super happy!" Cadence says. She claps her hands and stands up. "Okay! Who's ready for dessert? I've got apple pie, cake, ice cream, yogurt, cupcakes..."
"You trying to kill us, woman?" Yuna says. "Because it just might work, dammit. I want apple pie and ice cream."
"Father...share some cake?" Aria asks.
"Sure. We'll have some ice cream to go with it, okay?"
She smiles and nods. "Okay."
"Nothing for me," Shino says. "Unless you have winter melon in stock..."
"Mm?" Cadence tilts her head sideways. "Winter...melon...? Hm..."
"What's the matter? Aren't you going to tell her it's an acquired taste?" I ask smugly.
Shino takes a glance at Cadence and clears his throat nervously.
"Tea...is fine."
Joshua snickers in the background, with Hina and I joining him.
We had planned to make our way to a hotel with Yuna, since she was heading out for the night. Cadence wouldn't hear a word of it.
"Nope. Nope nope nope. You're staying right here and getting a good night's sleep, all three of you!"
The one-sided argument involved her showing us to the available guest rooms, and offering up more space if necessary. Hina and I have decided to share one room, with Shino getting a room to himself. I realize now the reason why such a small family would have such a large home: for gatherings and to accommodate as many guests overnight as they could. It fits them perfectly, at least.
Yuna agrees to meet us again in the morning, for a freshly cooked breakfast of course. We bid her good night and get ready for bed. I'm already full thanks to a lovely dinner and delicious dessert.
"Did you want to go in together?" Hina asks me.
"Yes, I would like that. Wait a bit for me, and I'll join you."
She nods and wraps a towel around herself before heading into the bathroom. I get myself undressed and do the same before following. We sit and take turns washing each others' backs before rinsing off and finally getting into the tub together. It's comfortably warm and feels wonderful after a long day.
"Ah...that's good."
"It really is," Hina says across from me.
"Have you been okay so far?" I ask.
"Yes. What about you, Lili? Are you nervous about your meeting tomorrow?"
"A little, to be honest. Even if the old man has the best of intentions...I have to wonder what the samurai general's angle is here. What could he want from me?"
"Well...I might sound a bit out of it for saying such a thing. But you might have too low an estimation of yourself at this moment, Lili."
I give her an amused look. "Out of it, you say. It must be so. Most would call you utterly mad for saying such a thing. Lilith Kobayashi, lacking confidence. But you might be right. Perhaps tales of my legend have spread further than I realized. Not just name and deed, but something beyond that. Mifune...a man who earned his legend in a time of strife, just like many shinobi we speak of in history books."
"Looking at it another way, it might also be a good learning experience."
"Hm. I wonder how much he will give away to someone so young. I suppose the only thing to do is wait until tomorrow. Worrying about it will do me no favours." I sigh and run a wet hand through my hair. "Hina...might I ask you something?"
"Of course, Lili. What is it?"
"You followed the conversation between Joshua and I quite easily. About...becoming the world's enemy, if I should want it to change for the better."
"Yes."
"You have so much to live and strive for. You have a family that is coming together around you and someone that you love dearly, have loved dearly for such a long time, finally recognizing you for the beauty that you are."
"Yes..."
"Hina...to throw all of that away, just to follow me down a bloodstained path. It's not...I appreciate you more than anything, but I couldn't let you do that. I couldn't let you give up everything, just to support me."
"I know how you feel. I understand it, Lili," she says. "But...you must know my answer."
"..."
"And the reason, above all else...is because you gave me everything. And so, I would put everything on the line for your sake, for your dream. For the possibilities that you want to create with your own strength. Perhaps, if I let everything go, if I kept a safe distance once the struggle started, then I could live a comfortable life with everyone and everything that I've worked for. And you would never resent me for that choice. I know it."
"And still..."
"You rejected the world just to save me. You ignored everything that was said about me...you even ignored the weakness that I showed you. You changed me. It's only right, that in my heart, I give my all towards supporting you. I believe in you," she says with a smile. "I believe in the irreplaceable love that you poured into my heart. That's why, even if the world burns to nothing, and I lose everything...I will be by your side. As your sister, and precious friend."
"I see now. I did expect that answer. But it touched my heart in ways I never anticipated, Hina."
"I'm glad to hear that."
"Yes. It seems my resolve is strengthened once more...I will continue to ascend, and make it so that you won't have to suffer in this world of ours. Your dreams and your possibilities will be protected. There is no other choice than to change this world. I will make it so."
"Good."
"The first step begins tomorrow. I will hear what the samurai of legend has to impart on me."
Changing the world. Changing shinobi...what it means to be one. The concept of borders, of barriers and distance. Of enemies and of hatred. The cycles of darkness. Of what it means to heal and renew.
"World Serpent..."
"That was what Fubuki Inugami called you, wasn't it?" Hina asks.
"Yes, it was."
"I don't quite understand what it means, even now."
"On another continent, there is a legend of a serpent that grew so large it encircled the Earth, and could place its own tail in its mouth. Thus, this creature came to be known as the World Serpent. It is said that once the serpent decides to release its tail from its jaws, the end of the world will draw nigh."
"The end of the world...it's quite ominous."
"Indeed. Senpai was one who recognized my strength, far beyond what was visible on the battlefield. To call me such a name was far from an insult...it was an understanding of the chaos that I have the potential to bring, even now. I will grow, Hina. My terror will come to encircle this world of shinobi, and soon I will decide to release mine tail from mine jaws, causing untold calamity. The Earth will tremble, and those who think themselves gods of the new world will rise to try and stop me."
"What do you think will happen afterwards?"
"Something I've wondered myself...but I don't worry about it too much. The will of the heavens is not something to be immediately deciphered, certainly not by the children of men, and even the newly birthed agents of heaven such as I. As long as we move forward in earnest, towards a more perfect future...we will be provided for, my love."
Hina nods, determined. "Understood. Then I'll await your orders, Lili."
"Very good. Now, let's relax a few more minutes more before stepping out. We don't want to wrinkle up and wreak havoc on our skin."
Hina giggles at that. "Of course. We never should forget the little things."
"One more reason why I love you so much. You've learned well, Hina."
"Thank you kindly."
And with that, assured of our direction once more, we sink into a comfortable silence.