Alright, chapter XXI.
Thanks goes to ncpfan.
Let's start the show!
A hiss escaped from between his teeth as the final sliver was drawn from his flesh. As soon as it was gone she had pressed a wet cloth to the wound to clean away any blood and reached for one of the bandages nearby. Quickly switching the cloth for the bandage, she wasted no time taping it on.
"There," She said with a smile. "That should be sufficient. It will probably be a while until you fully heal, but seeing as you're on the reserves that shouldn't be too difficult."
"Uzumaki blood." He muttered in response.
"Ah, I had forgotten about that. A few days then. If they start bleeding heavily I expect you to find a trained medic."
"Will do, Yugao-Sensei."
"You're a Shinobi now," She said as she took a seat next to him on the couch, leaning back with a sigh. "I'd rather you call me Senpai."
"Alright." He paused for a moment. "You do realize that the couch is still covered in my blood, right Senpai?"
She gave him a careless shrug. "I'm doing laundry soon anyway, it will wash out."
"Really?" He quirked a brow. "How do you get it out?"
"Why's it matter? I already threw your clothes away."
"Because I'd rather not toss the couch."
"Ah, sorry, can't say; ANBU secret."
He stared at her for a few moments.
"I think you're making that up."
She gave another shrug. "Maybe, I guess you'll just have to make ANBU to find out."
"Are you really trying to influence my career choice using stain removal?"
"I figured it wouldn't hurt to try."
Giving a snort, he shook his head. This wasn't the first time she had tried to convince him to aim for ANBU. It was, however, the first time she had attempted to entice him with something so lame.
After a few minutes of comfortable silence, Naruto broke it.
"So, now that you've been dismissed for the day, any plans, Senpai?"
"Oh? Were you hoping to ask me out for the evening Kouhai?"
"No, but I'm sure I could fit that in if you'd like."
"Hayate is off today, so I'll probably spend some time with him later. Maybe some other time."
"I'll keep that in mind. You're free to go home if you'd like, Senpai. I won't tell Hokage-Sama."
"Thank you, Naruto, but I think I'll wait a bit before leaving. I have the rest of the day to spend with Hayate thanks to you, the least I can do is wait until after lunch to leave."
"Well, in that case, feel free to help yourself to my kitchen. I should have something edible for you."
She raised an inquisitive brow at him.
"You say that as if you won't be here."
"I might," He admitted. "If I take care of things quickly enough."
"What kind of things?"
"Gennin Hyuuga has asked to speak with me about some trouble they've been having."
"Which one?"
That brought him to a pause for a second.
"Ah, yes, I had forgotten that she had a cousin who is also of the Gennin rank. Hyuuga Hinata asked for my assistance."
"Wouldn't she be in a team meeting right now?"
"So?"
She looked at him for a moment before shrugging once more.
"I guess it's really not my problem whether or not you can drag her away from Kurenai. What kind of help did she need?"
"Religious."
"Religious?" She looked at him skeptically.
"Don't ask. It seems just like Shinobi, clans become more eccentric with age."
"I see." Frowned the ANBU. "Leaving soon?"
"Yeah, I'm going to wash off the rest of the blood and get some clothes but then I'll be off."
"I'll help." She said as she stood.
"It's fine, I can do it." He waved her off. Or, he tried to; she wasn't having it.
"You can't take a shower with those bandages so how do you expect to be able to wash yourself? Besides," She gestured to the towel that was laid over his lap. "So long as you keep that on it isn't anymore of you than I've seen today."
"I suppose you're right." He resigned with a sigh as he stood up and wrapped the towel around his waist.
"One of these days you'll learn that I'm always right." Her hand found its way to his shoulder and began guiding him to his bathroom.
"I'll have to remember that." He said with a smile. "And thank you for doing this, Senpai."
She smiled back. "Don't mention it, Kouhai."
She knocked tentatively at the door and tried to ignore the feeling of being watched. Cat, who appeared to be pretty close to him, and Monkey had seemed pretty fond of him. It would not surprise her if more ANBU felt the same way and had taken it upon themselves to watch over his apartment.
The door was answered quickly, not by who she'd have liked to see but by the one who would be likely to let her inside to speak with him.
"Ah, Yugao, it's been a long time," The fact that she had just seen Cat went unsaid. Personal and ANBU identities rarely crossed. Then again, with such distinctive hair people were almost guaranteed to know. "Is Naruto available?"
Her former student shook her head.
"He just left, Kushina." The tone used was reminiscent of the cold professionalism her son had been showing her just that morning and her chest tightened at the reminder of her first-born.
"Left? He was injured! You were supposed to be looking after him for the rest of the day!" Hiruzen had told her as much after she had managed to calm her daughter down. As soon as she learned she took her daughter home and rushed right over to her son's apartment.
"He's not doing anything strenuous," Yugao's eyes had narrowed slightly. "Just visiting a friend who asked for some advice."
"I see, sorry. Do you know where he went?"
"I do." She volunteered nothing else and after an awkward moment of silence Kushina realized her former student wasn't going to continue.
"Can you tell me where?"
"I can."
"Will you?"
"No." Kushina's shoulders slumped at the answer.
"I see, when will he be back?"
"He's aiming for sometime around lunch."
"I suppose I'll try again this afternoon." The crestfallen mother was about to turn away when she froze.
"Yugao, you're close to my son, right?"
"Considering I had to cut away his clothes and help him wash earlier, I would say so."
Kushina hesitated for a moment before gathering her resolve.
"Can you tell me what's wrong?"
Yugao's brow rose questioningly.
"Pardon?"
"It's Naruto. I know something must have happened while I was away, but no one is coming out and telling me what it is. I was going to ask him today over lunch after he had become my apprentice but Hiruzen told me that he'd turned my offer down."
"I can't say I blame them for not wanting to be the one to tell you." Admitted Yugao. "Is that why you've come now?"
"I was going to offer to teach him Fuinjutsu. It's not used often in combat and I'm not sure what use he'd get out of it in his career but it's always been passed down amongst the Uzumaki and I thought he might like to learn."
"And then you could ask him during one of his lessons, I understand." She spared a quick look behind her before moving to the side. "Why don't you come inside, Kushina, we can talk in the kitchen."
Kushina entered but stopped at the entryway of the living room, staring at the ruined couch in horror. Closing the front door, Yugao moved to stand next to her.
"The couch looks a lot worse than he does." She claimed in an attempt to wave off the mother's concerns. Of course, it was understandable that anyone might be concerned with how stained the piece of furniture was. "I could only get one wound at a time so the others kept bleeding until the end. I do have to say your Uzumaki blood is damn resilient, I wasn't able to get any of it out and am starting to fear for my uniform."
Kushina's eyes moved from the couch to the bloodied bandages scattered around it.
"Most of that was me trying to clean the couch, only a few were from Naruto. I was just about to give up and clear the mess away when you arrived." Offered the woman in explanation.
"I see." Mumbled Kushina as she was led away into the kitchen. As the mother took a seat Yugao set about preparing tea.
"So," Started the ANBU agent. "You said something was wrong. What do you know about Naruto in regard to the past four years?"
"H-he's been going to the academy." The shame was easy enough to see. "And the compound rejected him."
"Yes, what else?"
Kushina stared intently down at the table before her.
"That's it, that's all I know." Her choked whisper bordered on a sob and Yugao had to hold in the disappointed sigh that wanted to leave her lips.
"I can't say I know everything that happened to him, we aren't that close, but it's evident I know far more than you do." Kushina flinched at that, once again reminded that others now held a more important place in the life of her son than she did.
"Anything helps." Spoke Kushina softly. "I just need to know what's wrong so I can start setting things right."
"Very well." Yugao gave an understanding nod as she placed the tea on the table. "I'll tell you what I know. Is there anything in particular you'd like to hear about first or should I start at the beginning?"
Kushina's first thought was to ask for the whole story but Tsunade and Kurenai came to mind. Had they really helped her little boy over the years? She was going to ask about that when she remembered the meeting in the Hokage's office just that morning.
"Hiruzen addresses my son as Gennin Naruto rather than Gennin Uzumaki and I doubt it's because his sister is also Gennin Uzumaki."
"It's not, because there is only one Gennin Uzumaki."
"What? Naruko and Naruto both graduated, they're both Gennin Uzumaki."
Yugao let out a deep sigh. It was no wonder why all the others had done their damndest to not inform Kushina as to her son's life over the past few years, this was not going to be easy.
"Uzumaki Naruto doesn't exist, Gennin Naruto renounced the Uzumaki name over a year ago before clan heir witnesses."
Kushina's world crashed around her.
He couldn't help but think it was a rather pleasant morning as he strolled through the forests that bordered the training grounds. He stayed rather relaxed as he made his way to training ground eight though he stayed alert for ant stray Kunai or- rarer- Jutsu that might come his way.
Of course, being training ground eight it was located quite close to the village and the chances of passing a field in which someone was launching Jutsu was unlikely. Just about every team training in these fields were gennin and while he had seen the team with Hinata's cousin and was nearly hit by a stray Kunai thrown by his bun-haired teammate none of the other teams he passed seemed to be doing such active training at this point.
It did not normally take long to travel the distance from his apartment to training ground eight but Yugao had stressed the importance of taking it easy and it was under threat of her jamming Senbon into every wound he reopened carelessly that kept his pace painfully sedate.
He wasn't going to try the woman.
So it was a leisurely stroll he took on his way to meet with the once Hyuuga heiress and, if what he heard had been correct, the new goddess of the branch family.
It was certainly an interesting development.
Reaching his destination, he was not surprised to see three fresh gennin all sitting in the grass as their instructor spoke to them. They cold be discussing all manner of things but considering how recently the group had been formed the talk was likely geared towards training arrangements and team dynamics.
What he was surprised to see, however, was a very bored Anko trying valiantly not to fall asleep as her friend spoke. The Inuzuka seemed to be having similar trouble, not that he could really blame him. The Genjutsu had a rather nice voice and anything she said could likely relax you into the arms of slumber.
That could be quite bad, as Yuuhi Kurenai wasn't fond of being ignored.
Luckily, Naruto's appearance would save him, at least until he had left. Making his way over to the group he momentarily wished he had brought his cane. While a cane could bee seen as a sign of weakness, it brought with it nobility that would do wonders to counter the numerous bandages that could be seen despite his loose red robes.
He had been originally against the idea, despite Yugao's insistence, but she had decided he really didn't need it in the end. He really should remember that she was always right.
So, caneless, he proceeded. Anko, who was looking everywhere but her friend in an effort to find something entertaining to keep her awake, was the first to notice his presence. With a large grin she rose quickly from the grass and gave him a wave.
"Naruto!" Called the childish Tokubetsu Jounin, attracting the attention of the others who soon turned to see what had gotten the woman so excited.
"Naruto!" Hinata seconded the woman's actions, her voice filled with relief. While Hinata waited for him to make his way over, Anko had other ideas and rushed to greet him. Her hug only stopped by the bandages he pointed to, the two walked to the main group with small smiles on their faces.
"Good morning, Naruto." Spoke Kurenai with a smile of her own. It was always nice to watch the two of them interact. "What brings you here?"
"And good morning to you as well, Jounin Yuuhi. I was wondering if I might steal away Gennin Hyuuga for a moment."
"Just a moment?"
"That is correct, I needed to speak with her about something."
She thought for a moment before looking to Hinata and her pleading eyes. Evidently she had been expecting this.
"Alright, but just this once."
"You have my gratitude, Jounin Yuuhi."
Hinata's response was nowhere near as reserved.
"Thanks, Kurenai-Sensei!"
With Hinata excused for the moment, the two of them walked to the edge of the field, far enough away from the Inuzuka to avoid being overheard. Of course, they needn't worry about that as Anko had taken it upon herself to distract him with some spur of the moment evasion training. Seeing Naruto and being reminded of her freedom always had put her in a good mood.
"So you got my letter?" He gave a nod.
"I did."
"W-well? What do you think?" She asked nervously. She was really hoping this could be helpful.
"I think your family has a lot more issues than I had origionaly realized."
"But you can use this, right?"
He gave her a smirk.
"I most certainly can, Hinata. You've done well."
Shyly, she began poking her fingers together. She had been doing that a lot less after meeting with him but that particular nervous tick still showed up on occasion.
"I really didn't do anything."
"You came to me about this and that's all I needed you to do."
"O-okay."
"Now, tell me, do they know of the Wolves?" She gave a hesitant nod.
"Two of them were discovered that night and someone mentioned that the Wolves protect the goddess."
"I see, anything else?"
"Erm, the two, well, they bowed to me." She didn't know how he might feel about that, being their leader, but she hoped he wouldn't be too upset with her.
"Alright, that should make things a bit easier within the Hyuuga compound."
"Eh? Y-you mean you aren't upset?" He just quirked a brow.
"No, should I be?"
"It's just that they bowed to me as if they were mine before everyone there. I thought-"
He held out a hand to stop her.
"It's fine. They serve you; just never forget that they do so at my command."
"I won't forget." She hesitated for a moment before speaking slightly more confidently. "I'm at your command, too."
She wasn't sure if the smile she received in return for such a declaration was proud but it was the closest thing to pride she had ever seen directed at her.
"I'm glad to hear that, Hinata no Mikoto." He continued as if he hadn't seen the enormous blush that had covered her face. "Establish yourself amongst them and don't hesitate to ask for advice from one of your guards or myself. But remember, the pack is here for you and we will support you."
"I-I understand. Is there anything you want me to work towards?" He shook his head.
"Not yet, just continue to make them love you and make sure they don't learn of my involvement. Some things will have to change amongst the wolves due to this development but that's probably for the best. In time I may be able to bring some of them into the Wolves to serve as additional protection for you but right now there's too much going on."
He paused.
"On second thought, see what you can do about the Yamanaka. I've had my Wolves back off but until public opinion changes and they start getting back on their feet I won't be able to do anything else with the clans of Konoha. Make something up about wanting to aid them in your benevolence or something. You might not hold the sway of the Hyuuga heiress anymore but if enough Hyuuga are seen with friendly relations towards the Mindwalkers and nothing else happens to them it should start them on the road to recovery."
"It will be done." She seemed to debate with herself about what she uttered next but went with it in the end. "Naruto-Sama."
He gave her a wolfish grin.
"I know it will, Hinata no Mikoto, now get back to your team."
With a soft smile on her lips, she did just that.
She was sitting at her desk when her apprentice entered the room with a frown. She paid no mind, however, to the downturn of her deceased lover's niece's lips.
"Did you get it?" She could hardly hide the eagerness she felt at the prospect of being able to make things right.
"Some of the stuff is sealed but I was able to get access to his medical records." She handed the older woman a single disappointingly thin folder.
"Is this everything?" That couldn't be right. She didn't want Naruto to have filed the folder with his suffering but surely there would be more documentation. He was a Shinobi now; most of the students had at least a nice sized record from training accidents by now as most injuries, regardless of severity, were reported by the academy.
"Yes, that's everything they have. Birth certificate, vaccines, eight years of annual checkups, a few accidents at home, and what I would assume is the reason Kushina wanted you to return." She didn't bother elaborating, Tsunade held the official report- or at least a copy of it- in her and right now. It would tell her more than she could.
"Thank you Shizune. I'm sure I can use this to start fixing things."
Her apprentice didn't voice her doubts but her expression certainly spoke volumes. Luckily Tsunade had turned back to the desk and had begun going through the contents of the folder.
"I'll probably be spending the rest of the day out in the village, did you need me to pick up anything on my way back?"
"No, no, I'll be fine. Go enjoy yourself." It came out half-mumbled as she focused on the papers before her but Shizune heard it well enough. Not chancing that Tsunade might change her mind, especially after reading the most current reports, Shizune didn't waste a second departing from the Senju compound.
She'd be sure not to return until late that night.
Tsunade barely noticed when Shizune made her escape, far too busy looking through the medical records of her godson. Like she said, it started just like she would have expected for the first eight years until right before he started at the academy. A most curious report by one Yakushi Kabuto spoke of concerns he had with Naruto having been conceived to a Jinchuriki. Such had never happened before and unlike his sister he didn't have the Kyuubi within him to help his body adjust to the chakra.
She understood now why Kushina had been concerned but it was quite evident that she had overreacted. Even if the presence of the Kyuubi's chakra was detrimental to her son it would have been better for her to remain just in case it was the opposite.
The next report was from the Uzumaki compound's rejection of Naruto and she winced at the burns it described. The chakra of Biju truly was terrible and really didn't mix well with humans. He did, however, seem to recover quite fast, which the medic had attributed to his Uzumaki healing possibly having been accelerated by traces of the Kyuubi's chakra.
As dangerous as it was, no one could deny the power of a Biju's chakra. It would seem that his body, in a manner that spoke clearly of his Uzumaki blood, harnessed that energy and used it to heal his body and the damage using that energy was causing. Though, she supposed, if he had any more residual chakra within him he'd probably be causing more damage to his body than he had any chance of being able to heal on his own.
If that were the case and medics had not known he'd have likely died within the week.
Just thinking about it caused her to shudder. Her godson would be dead and being both a medic and the one who was supposed to meet him at the academy the blame would have rested solely upon her shoulders. She tried to dismiss that thought as quickly as she could.
The final report made her pause. It was over two years old and yet there was nothing else between it and the start of his academy education years previous. There should be something else here, anything else. An accident during an academy spar, a cut while handling Kunai, hell even if he had missed a day because he was sick it would have shown up. It was like none of his injuries ever got reported.
The things it could mean made her uneasy.
Nevertheless, she continued to read the last report until she dropped the page in horror. She had thought it a possibility when reading Yakushi's report, but for it to have actually been the case?
It seemed impossible, too, having occurred two years after their departure-
Unless…
Unless the reported residual chakra had stayed with him for those two years, doing nothing but delaying the inevitable withdrawal that awaited all whose bodies became reliant on foreign chakra.
And worst of all-
She had been here.
Right fucking here, in Konoha, and yet she had done nothing. Sure, she could blame it on not being informed, but no one in the medical field save Shizune knew she was the child's godmother. More than that, a lot of people didn't even know she was back and those that did knew she was retired. For what possible reason could they have sent for her?
Chakra withdrawal, while rare, was not unheard of and, while incredibly expensive, there were treatments available to get the body used to the loss of chakra and re-strengthen one's chakra system.
But she had been here.
She could have helped, she could have realized what was wrong back in the beginning before he had to go through it, she could have done something, anything.
But she hadn't.
And now it didn't look like there was anything she could use to help heal the relationship that should have been.
The one that never existed.
She hadn't been planning on returning to the compound until later that night, but Shizune found herself with one major problem.
'What on earth am I going to spend the day doing?'
She didn't have an errands to run, her friends at the hospital were working, everyone else she knew was busy, and she didn't have enough money to spend the rest of the day shopping (Nor did she have the desire to carry whatever she bought for the rest of the day).
Familiar hair, however, told her that perhaps not everyone she knew was busy today.
Naruto looked quite pleased with himself as he walked down the streets of Konoha but she did make note of his slow pace and the bandages that covered most of his torso and a good part of his upper arms. She could guess pretty confidently that he had some on his legs too.
He spotted her before she had a chance to approach him.
"Ah, Shizune, it's been a while. You've been well I hope?"
"Yes, quite well, thank you. It's good to see you again, Naruto. You seem pretty pleased."
"I am, things have been going quite well." His response made her think of Tsunade's mood when she asked for his medical records. Unlike he master's cheerfulness, however, she had a feeling his good fortune would be continuing.
"I'm glad to hear that. Were you doing anything today?"
"No, is there something you needed?"
"Ah, no, I was just hoping I might be able to join you. Tsunade-Sama needs some space at the moment so I'm trying to stay out of the compound."
"I see, in that case, I suppose I was just about to find a quiet little restraint and have an early lunch, would you care to join me?"
She gave him a smile. That was going to be at least an hour taken care of, then she'd just have to find something else to occupy her for the remainder of the day.
"I'd love to."
Fire coursed through her veins with every step but she carried on, determined to get the answers she sought. She should be at home right now, resting in her bed, it's what her mother expected her to be doing, but she couldn't wait any longer and there was only one person who could tell her what she needed to know.
Traces of molten chakra still burned within her flesh and she once again cursed herself for trying to call upon the Kyuubi's-Mito's- chakra during a spar. Not only was it wrong to use something against anyone she wasn't actually fighting but it was foolish to think the Biju would let her when all it wanted was for her to reestablish the connection for them.
She didn't know why but Mito would never harm her brother.
Naruko, on the other hand, would, apparently, and the sight of his bloodied form standing defiant refused to leave her mind. And even if he didn't hate her after that-which he should- Mito certainly did.
She had tried to contact the Biju after the fight but it was in such a rage that she had retreated immediately. She wasn't sure if Mito had noticed her in her fury but she had no desire to find out. Blocking her connection to the sentient mass of chakra had been the only way to stop the horrid, furious screams that had echoed through her head and she very much doubted it would be reopened within the next few days.
Another burst of pain shot through her body, most likely in response to the Biju's anger, and she was immensely grateful that it fell short of the pain she had suffered when first drawing on the chakra. When Mito had been actively trying to stop her using the chakra she had summoned around her it felt like her body was being ripped to shreds as it melted in the sun.
Now it was merely a burning thorough her body.
She could deal with that.
Regardless of the degree of pain, time always seemed to slow when one was in discomfort and her journey seemed to stretch for days. At long last, she reached her destination.
The Yamanaka compound had seen far better days. Everything about it seemed run down and tired, much like the Yamanaka heiress herself who came walking from a nearby street.
The blonde paused upon seeing her but continued to make her way to the compound shortly after.
"Did you need something?" Her voice was weary and defeated but there was still a spark of pride behind it, almost as if she was counting the fact that she was still holding on as some small victory.
Naruko struggled momentarily for words.
"I need to know…"
"About…?"
"Naruto." The Yamanaka seemed to flinch back as if struck upon hearing his name and quickly looked around as if ensuring he wasn't present.
"You seemed to know him, I had hoped you might be able to tell me what's happened to him." Continued Naruko.
Ino's eyes softened slightly, bordering on pitying, and she ushered her fellow Gennin into the compound.
"I suppose, since you're Uzumaki, this matter could be passed off as clan business, especially considering the subject."
Ino led her straight to the main house and up the stairs, passing various groups of Yamanaka clan members scurrying around. It reminded Naruko of some of the lower levels of the Hokage tower.
Almost as if anticipating such a thought, Ino took it upon herself to explain.
"We'll talk about why later, but right now I'm leading the Yamanaka. Mother and Father moved into a guest house and have turned the main house into an administration building of sorts."
"Is all this really necessary for one clan?" Asked the Uzumaki heiress.
"For one running properly? No. The Yamanaka clan, unfortunately, is not running properly. I've been doing my best to turn things around but at most I've managed to stall for time."
"I see."
Ino shot her a sad glance.
"No, you don't. You have no idea."
Reaching a door they were greeted by another member of the clan holding a small stack of folders and a mug of coffee. Taking both, Ino thanked the man and moved into her office. Stacking the folders neatly on the desk and taking a seat in the large armchair, Ino gestured towards one of the other seats which Naruko quickly took.
"So, what did you want to know?" Sitting in such a large chair made the young Yamanaka seem even smaller and reinforced the feeling of weary defeat that clung to her image.
"You tried to warn me about Nii-Kun, I want to know why."
"You didn't believe me before," Ino raised a brow as she began idly sorting through the papers on her desk. She had managed to get some work done that morning before her team met but she'd still be here close to midnight. Luckily she had coffee, it was one of the only luxuries she allowed herself. "What changed?"
"I sparred with Nii-Kun-"
"Gods above, are you alright?!" The immediate concern in the girl's voice was both comforting and slightly scary. Did she really think so poorly of her brother?
"I-I'm fine, I wasn't injured." Ino looked at her in disbelief.
"You must be one hell of a Kunoichi." She managed to stammer out after a time. "He would tear me to shreds."
A slight blush dusted Naruko's cheeks as she thought of that morning.
"He could have, he avoided drawing blood. My top was cut apart."
"I find it surprising that he would show such mercy ."
"I want to say it's because we're family," Naruko admitted. "But I think it's more likely because we sparred before the team meetings and he wasn't going to take me away from my team."
"That sounds more like him. All he needed to do was show you that he had the power to end you." She gave a bitter chuckle. "We Yamanaka have learned that lesson well."
"Really?"
"Right now, we are nothing. We have no money, no missions, and no support. Konoha's populace has been turned against us and fellow Shinobi have distanced themselves as much as possible."
"That's horrible."
"That's your brother. He's the one who did this, just because I couldn't keep my damn mouth shut."
"He wouldn't-!"
"He did. The people of Konoha refuse to believe us about the Wolves, they think we made them up to save face, but I assure you, they are very real."
"What does that have to do with this?"
"Your brother has some very dangerous friends. We learned that after I ended up turning him against us. And while they might have stopped, we continue to pay for my foolishness."
Naruko didn't want to believe what she was hearing but it seemed to fit too well with the person she had seen just that morning. The person who had been her brother. She didn't know what he was now, but she would find out.
With grim determination she demanded.
"Tell me everything."
And so she did.
And that concludes act XXI, I'll see you all next week.