Chapter 4- My Side
Every day she sent a letter to her brother.
She inquired various things such as:
Suspicious figures.
If he were ok.
If he felt funny.
If he had found a woman yet.
And each message was met with a curt response until finally he asked.
"Why do you keep bothering me with stupid stuff?"
So, she told him.
She told him all that had happen. From the threat of the fish like nin, to the fallen nin recovering, to her almost giving him the poisonous pouch but deciding at the last minute that he was trustworthy, and even dropping the Dango she had made for their trip as a small way of apologizing for wanting to kill him.
Which was delicious might she add.
Although the latest assassination attempt should've been written in the letter, she didn't. Why? She blamed it on the reaction that was sure to happen. Brother East was explosive in nature.
But her main reasoning was because He could've killed her...but he didn't
Instead he chose to abandon his mission, even after she left her mark. He still ran, knowing the consequences of his actions. Her brows furrowed each time at the memory, eventually dismissing it.. Until one day she questioned her dismissive nature that dismissed the more undismissable activities.
Was age catching up to her? 23 was young, but considering the life span of a ninja it was nearing middle age. So, although biologically she was relatively young. She wondered if she were going senile.
She shrugged dismissing it.
It wasn't like she was going to see him again anyways.
Either of them for that matter.
Her brother of the West's response was to be expected.
He asked about her safety, inquiring if he should come to her shop for a few weeks to make sure she was safe, but as she was writing a reply to promptly decline. Her brothers made their appearance .
Both brothers stayed for a month before deciding it was safe for them to leave.
In the meantime her brother from the East trained with her none stop once the shop closed down.
"You're not strong enough anymore to be out here by yourself!" He would lecture her; but to no avail did it convince her that she should return back home to the Cloud. She often rolled her eyes in their heated discussions of leaving or staying. Unfortunately, her family was a bit backwards when it came to feminine duty. Although East was younger than her he was not so little as to not constantly harass her flipptance when it came to her gender and strength.
Only brother of the West supported her joining the ranks of the cloud. He often encouraged and pushed her growth while she was part of the ranks, and when she felt her happiness begin to wane. West encouraged her out.
Brother of the East left a week after the other brother left. "Akira, you need to train everyday for at least 8 hours." Was his response once he saw he could not convince his older sister to give up her station. So, she nodded assuring her brother that she intended to take his regiment and him serious, and at first she did.
But eventually she tired of training, and decided she would take most of her training time indoors to put her mind in medicine. She trained at least 1 hour a day since the incident.
During her training, she would often find a lone black crow, red eyes watching her movements. Its head cocked in curiosity until she made faces at the creature; with that it would often crow back in response then fly away.
She hated crows.
And eventually, she forgot it. She chose to forget the assassin, instead placed sealing jutsu around her shop. She had stopped wondering if the sickly nin was ok; or if what she had made him was sufficient.
What she could remember.
What she choose to remember.
Was his word was his bond.
Her little brother was ok.
Her family was ok.
So this time she would trust him.
This time.
Her heavy eyes watched the 2nd hand of the analog clock tick, lips parted slightly feeling in oncoming yawn that wouldn't come out. The day was slow,and she had half a mind to close shop early to retire to bed. The night was rough with dreams that were filled with crimson and blue lips causing her to wake in a cold sweat. She was tired, fatigued. Her dark bags only emphasizing her troubled night. It was something she should've been used to by now.
Being alone
Panic
And lack of sleep.
Unfortunately, she had no extra hands to take over at the moment; so, she often suffered in silence during these moments. These moments she had to fake smiles and laughs in an effort to mimic peace and confidence. She learned quickly to work the room, a trait she mastered given her previous profession. But today she couldn't.. for her dreams left her mind to wander leaving a bitter taste in her mouth.
Forcing memories away was easy.
Especially after leaving the cloud village that was marked so heavily with her past mistakes.
However, every now and then the feelings would snake its way into her conscious life.
Im not sad.
On their own accord her eyes closed shut, letting her head sink slowly onto the wood counter-top beside the cash register. Her mind echoing the distant cooing of the child that plagued her nightmares and she sighed out a whimper. A lump rose in her throat feeling the familiar sting in both her eyes and heart. She clenched her fist wanting sleep, but fearing the images.
She didn't want to cry.
Not now.
Kami not now.
Please not now.
The cow bell rang clear followed by an involuntary grimace on her part. Her head slowly lifted to up to greet the customers, pushing back the tears that lined her eyes only to see ones that matched brows furrowed at the little boy, his violet eyes dark with something she'd seen too often in herself.
"Hello…" The voice beside the child called. She tore her eyes off him to meet the older man beside him. It looked to be his older sibling with violet eyes as weary as the boy. His familiar face pulled from her memory cabinet.
I remember him.
The child was dressed in a black hoodie that showed a caricature of what looked like him and the man beside him. He wore white khakis that were surprisingly clean for a child, with blue open toed shinobi sandals. The child's brother she presumed, wore all black clothing tight fitting his form well.
"Welcome." her voice was gentle "How can I help you?" she continued, eyes falling on the younger boy beside him again. Ears deaf to the mans requests as she stared heavy hearted at the child whos eyes were heavy laden with...yes thats what it was...Grief.
Her legs moved before her rounding the corners of the check out counter to crouch in front of the little boy. He looked away blond curls masking his deep mauve eyes. "Hi hun." He didn't respond, in the corner of her eyes she saw his grip tighten in the hands of the gentleman. " You have very pretty eyes love. They remind me of purple flowers." His violet eyes slowly met hers, and she beamed at him. "Whats your name? " His eyes went wide, brows furrowing in a way that shouldn't be on a childs face. He looked up to the man that held his hand, then back to her. Shyly whispering his name. "Keisuke…" Her eyes smiled. "You're cute Keisuke." a blush graced his features. "And for being cute i think i might give you a cookie, just once. " She winked at him.. A smile spread on his face . "Is it oatmeal cinnamon?" She paused, wondering if she did have the snack, and slowly nodded her head. "Yes, it is." he squirmed in his spot as she stood making her way to the snacks by the counter picking out the oatmeal cookie which was bagged in a forest green wrapping. It was a popular brand that sold in the land of Water. .
She made her way over to the excited child, crouching in front of him again, holding the cookie out to him.
He surprised her.
His arms were wrapped around her neck in an instant with a deep hug that exuded genuinity in a way that only a child could give. "I think your pretty too Miss." Burying his face deep in her neck. Slowly she brought her arms around him in, feeling the wetness gracing her cheek. Her eyes slid shut in his warmth, grip tightening around as he shook, his soft crying muffled in her neck.
Her face grew hot, feeling her vision blur she buried her face into his sweater letting him cry on her shoulder.
After all he wouldn't let go.
Or at least that's what she wanted to think.
Four months had passed since she hired help to help run the store. She had prior employees but each employee was either deeply uninterested or a thief. It seemed she was out of luck. That is until she found the holy grail of employees. The epitome of hard work and dedication that made the store easier to manage and she didn't mind the company.
They were brothers, brothers that were poor and in need when they came into her shop for a job...so they said. Their clothing told a different tale, one that stated their wealthy prominence based on the quality and stitching, but who was she to go against their word.
Even if it was a blatant lie.
The eldest turned out to be good at mandating inventory, organizing shipment dates, checking for tax mandates, and just about anything that was needed for running her store.
Where as the little one.
"Ahhh!" The scream was followed by a loud crash that shot Akiras heart into her and Yahiko rushed to the storage unit where Keisuke's scream was heard. "Keisuke! Keisuke?" She pulled the third to the left shelf straight, seeing an unharmed Keisuke on his back staring up at her. Her eyes glanced over the various bottles and boxes scattered across the floor in the tight room and her heart slowed as his safety settled in while sinking to her knees beside him
. "Didn't i tell you stop climbing on the shelves!" Her anger flared. He smiled, wincing at the pull of the bandage under his eye for his last escapade. "It cause it was high up and i needed to put the box up there!" Her already deep frown deepened at the boys lack of sense. His carefree countenance reminding her too much of her brother of the East.
"You're causing problems Keisuke." Yahiko's stated firm, annoyance prevalent in his deep tone as he began fixing the toppled store items, stepping over his younger brother to reach the top shelf, which he did with ease. Keisuke's head fell forward, quiet from the reprimand.
Yahiko was a young man at the age of 20. His thick jet black curly hair cut short in a neat undercut and was a stark contrast to his smooth pale complexion which was set with deep violet eyes that were lined with long lashes that he probably took for granted. .He had a strong jawline with full lips that were a perfect nude. At the base of his neck there was a scar, a deep keloid scar that extended from ear to ear and she wondered if it had happened when he was a ninja He as a person was quiet and reserved, face blank in expression often when he spoke to her... but his eyes swirled in hues of purple as his emotions shifted too often for her to believe he was as stoic as he presented himself. She saw this from the first day she looked into his eyes. Despite his indifferent nature, one thing was certain, Yahiko was very handsome.
Since her hiring him, he only wore her stores shirt that was over long tight fitting undergarment with black slacks which was always neatly pressed with white closed toed shoes. He was quick both in mind and body while handling handling the store. He gave her no issues more or less, save for the lack of customer service skills.
"My prior profession didnt leave room for customer service" he said once, during a reprimand Akira gave him.
Akira, helped Keisuke up taking his small hand in hers. "Thank you for cleaning up Yahiko, but I promise you. Keisuke's not causing me any issues. "With that she looked down at Keisuke and beamed. She received a small smile that brighten his deposition tremendously.
Yahiko and Keisuke resemble each other very much in appearance: Same pale skin, violet eyes, save for Keisuke's blond locs that emphasized his carefree demeanor. Their personalities were of a stark difference. Where as Yahiko was poised, reserved and took careful consideration before making a decision. Keisuke was impulsive,reckless,over the top, and mischievous.
In the beginning, she wondered briefly if his big personality was due to his small size; but later realized that his size had nothing to do with his extreme of activities. He was a 5 year old boy, and most 5 year olds were reckless. Akira ruffled his blond shaggy hair, in hopes that it would pep him up. Purple eyes looked up at her, flashing a wide smile that showed off a missing pair of incisors. .
Hes too cute.
She lead him out to the store, asking him to take care of stacking the bottles on the lower shelves of the male enhancement supplements that were doubled the price.
It had been 4 months since she'd hired the brothers ...well technically Yahiko. Keisuke needed a place to stay once he was off from school; and like clock work everyday. Yahiko would leave at 2:30 and come back at 3:00 with Keisuke in hand chattering about his day.
Keisuke wanted to be a ninja, like his parents.
Yahiko on the other hand.
Hated them.
Whether it was ninja or his parents he never specified. She had decided it was best not to ask.
She recalled her family issues from time to time when Keisuke would talk about their parents. She grew up in a relatively broken home with a father who was a menace and murdered when she was young. She barely remembered his face, and her mother choose not to speak of him or spoke negatively of him. Even uncle B chose not to mention him and avoided her questions often. She vaguely remembered B showing his approval from her stepping down from the position the Raikage had appointed her. He said he didn't want her going down the road of her father,and at the time she didn't know what that meant.
It was nearing the end of summer, so the days often went from chilly nights to warm days. During this time, she kept a heater at almost every corner as her toes got chilly often .Yahiko took to manual labor. She'd watch him carry in 5 boxes at a time, refusing aid, and even reprimanding her for trying to carry anything over 10 lbs despite knowing she was fully capable. He took to chopping wood outback in preparation for the winters; like clockwork after every shift, he could be found out back axe in hand splitting wood for about an hour before he headed home.
She'd often had to remind him that he didn't need to work so much in advance and his counter was, "I need the exercise."She'd go quite watching his toned back, wondering briefly why he never took his long sleeved undershirt off despite the heat, eventually she would get suspicious of keisuke's sudden disappearance and she'd leave in a hurry to find the child.
Today was no different.
She'd mumbled to herself if she had enough wood in preparation of winter, eyes watching the steady ticking of the clock as it hit 7:30 ,closing time. Yahiko locked the front door, flipping the sign from open to close. Akira leaned on the store counter eyes scanning the nicely sized store; smiling at the new cherry wood trimming that lined her store."it adds dimension and gives it a more rustic chic appearance."Was what the sales woman said.
She sucked her teeth at the thought of the price.
It was when Yahiko passed that her mind was taken off the trimming and onto Yahiko. Yahiko was an enigma. So much so that she decidedly trailed behind him, looking up and down his tall strong physique brows furrowing.
He reminded her of him.
Dark eyes flashed in her memory, and she was greeted again by the memory of his soft eyes. She sighed outwardly mind far in the past. It wasnt until she bumped into Yahiko that she was brought back."Sorry Kiko.." She backed up, inwardly annoyed with her lack of spatial awareness. Yahiko said nothing. Instead he turned to face her, eyes steady on her. Violent hues a swirl of purples. He opened his mouth, and paused.
Akira looked up at him brows furrowed in response to his odd behavior. "Miss. Akira...I.."It was then that she realized how close they were .She contemplated stepping back but decided against the awkward air that would be brought up if she did, instead she looked into his violet eyes feeling her self inwardly shrink at the intensity.
"lll cut the wood for you."He finally mumbled.
She tilted her head wondering briefly what he really wanted to tell her.
she hadn't noticed the pounding in her ears until he walked away.
Yahiko was taller then the nin. His soft eyes flashed in her mind again. She shook her head vigorously as if that would shake away her wandering thoughts. "Well since your cutting the wood I need you to fix the door hinge of the shed." she trailed after him again.
It was the singing of the cicadas that made her miss her homeland. The constant ringing, that , like clockwork would come inviting her to summer, as her siblings went on their summer adventures in hopes of falling into mischief. They were often found by the beach attempting to catch schools of fish that came by. Her brothers would swim out far; where as she and her sister would stay close to shore dotting on the shells and starfish that washed up. They were free for sometime, until….until they werent allowed out anymore.
It was dark.
She slowly brought herself back to reality, letting the fond memory lapses under the setting sun. Her brown complexion laced golden in the hues of it. She sat under the shade of a large willow tree, that leaned away from her store, green leaves swaying gently in the wind. Summers like these aren't like home….but.. There beautiful.
Manual labor wasn't something that came easily to her. She grew up with three boys who'd take out the trash or chop fire wood when needed. So, when Yahiko stepped to the plate she was grateful, not because she didnt know how to; but because she preferred someone else to do it.
Her book was tossed to the side, deciding she wasn't in the right headspace to read Ichi Ichi paradise. Instead she took to first watching the skies admiring the generous breeze that came to and fro, every now and then throwing Yahiko a compliment.
"Looking good handsome!"She'd flirt shamelessly. He'd always stop short at the phrase and roll his eyes, annoyance prevalent. She was grateful for Yahiko's willingness to work for her, and stopped fighting the dark haired boy that did everything in abundance for her. She wondered briefly if it was a trait he obtained from his mother.
Keisuke said Yahiko was very much like his mother. "Mama was like..she was sweet like Oatmeal Raisin cookie! I think Yako gets his sweetness from Mama. They'both like cookies." Keisuke mumbled, mouth filled with the sweet dessert that he loved so much.
Yahiko never spoke of his past, and although it was far behind them, they were very much trapped in it.
Every now and then when Keisuke was helping her prepare their meals he would open up, providing her snippets of their old life.
"Papa was scary...I remember how he'd hit Yako again and again because he was strong and wanted hims stronger." The blond pulled his legs towards him, hugging them tightly, leaning his head on her leg as she washed and dried her dishes."Yako was amazing..Yako is amazing in everything...but he hated fighting. He didn' want to be like papa...He wanted to be free."
Her eyes soften
" Keika is perceptive"" Yahiko once said while counting the tips of the day. Akira looked to her subordinate from her sweeping. "He always made an effort to understand me...its something that i wish i did more often for him..."Yahiko smiled. Akira couldn't help but smile at that too. "You know Kiko, your alot cuter when you smile."Yahiko paused, and she continued her sweeping ignoring the bright pink that took to his cheeks.
Keisuke not only loved his brother, but he made a point to understand him at such an early age. Regardless of their family drama Akira was grateful that Yahiko still took it upon himself to be there for his brother; to the best of his ability.
Her hand went up catching the flying shuriken that came at her, temper climbed at the realization that it nipped a side braid that hung loose. She gulped. When she was in the force, a half nipped braid meant nothing, but now that she was out. Her aesthetics was one of the few things that mattered to her. Keisuke ran up, hands waving frantically " ! I'm so sorry! I was tryin' aim straight bu-" Yahiko got to him before she could.
His fist was already connected to the top of his head three times before Akira could move. "I told you to watch where youre throwing that thing Keisuke!"
Keisuke groaned throwing his head forward into his hands, holding it as tears welled up. " You're always doing this Keisuke! Damn it!""
Akira was up. "Yahiko." Her voice was firm. "You cant speak to Keisuke that way!" Yahiko paused eyes searching as if trying to find a rebuttal only to turn away in an audible huff. He quickly walked over to the dropped axe placing it in the shed. "Ill organize the wood tomorrow." He mumbled, enough for her to hear if she'd strain her ears. She watched as he locked the shed and disappeared into the back door leading into her back room.
Her eyes went to the now setting sun. She had a bad habit of interfering. It was his brother and yes he can do whatever he pleased but, sometimes her heart did not match up with her thoughts. Yahiko didn't really know how impactful words could be on someone as young as Keisuke. It was like sewing. Added stitching to clothe made it look different, feel different, and if it was a bad stitch it would stay.
It was when she heard the muffled sniffles that she knew what he was going to say next.
"Why does he hate me?"
She felt the wind blow hard, they're hair scattered at the force as Akira tried to find words that didnt seem common. However, that was all she had. "He doesn't hate you." She took slow steps to him, before hugging his head to her stomach. Her fingers combed though his soft blond mane in an effort to comfort felt him stiffen a cry, feeling the wet on her stomach. She held him there.
For keisuke, their relationship was strained. In the past Keisuke would often speak about a shift that happened between them after they left home. He became distant, pensive, sad...So keisuke blamed himself, stating that. 'It was because of me everything happened.' Cryptic, but even if she didn't know the details. She knew it wasn't Keisuke.
He pushed her away after a minute, vigorously wiping his was a spark. The spark she knew. "Yako is stressed, but that doesn't mean he can take it out on me!" Keisuke's face was a mix of anger and determination. She could already imagine their walk home. A yelling Keisuke and a sullen Yahiko, they'd make up by the time they got home. She needed to speak to Yahiko about that..about Keisuke's misconceptions of their relationship. She swore an oath of silence to the boy, but for things to get better. She needed to say something to Yahiko.
I wonder what hes stressed about..
Akira made a motion for him to follow her towards the shop, which Keisuke obliged, hurriedly running to her side to chatter about telling his brother off. She smiled, taking in the soft breeze that was too common here at the cusp of three great nations. She enjoyed it here. The people. The weather. The cuisine.
Although it lacked a bit of flavor with certain dishes."I could retire here." she found herself mumbling as they stepped through the door.
Akira half listened to Keisuke whom taken a liking to threatening his brother with a shurikin being between his eyes; to satisfy him she responded with various hmms and oh reallys? That were met with a series of of courses and duhs'. She smiled all the way through, smile faltering once she noticed a couple of extra chakra patterns in the shop. Akira assumed that they customers were probably trying to get a last buy in since they saw people. She opened her door to the shop stepping through, feeling the slight shift in atmosphere. "I said were closed.." She heard Yahiko dark voice finished.
Something was off.
Her eyes went to the shop door,eyeing the lock knowing full well that Yahiko locked the door.
Yahiko was in front of the counter, squared shoulders tense with probably cause. She stepped forward towards her cherry wood counters standing on the left as to get a clear view of the customers. Hands on top, ready to perform hand seals. Keisuke stood on the right shuriken in hand.
"Gentlemen, "she started, "I understand that you'd like to look through our , we've closed shop about a an hour ago." Her features were neutral as sharp eyes took in the two nin.
The Taller one gave a crooked smile. The only eye that showed crinkled at the end. His dark hair cut short, blue eyes vivid and dark. He was a nin of the Village Hidden in the grass, with a visible mark on his slender neck that showed a half filled crescent moon with 3 diagonal lines going through.
Omutarisa.
In the time that she worked with the CAU, there where moments joint collaboration missions were in order. Often times used as a means to help solidify the relationships between nations. The grass village was a friend that the cloud took. It was a nation she did not much trust, as they were known for stealing jutsus of other nations and claiming it as their own.
During certain missions she was often paired with the Omutarisa clan.
"We are here for the cloud nin." His smile deepened, "We hear she offers more shares than what meets the eye!"
Now, Akira was not fond of the Omutarisa clan, not because of the village they were associated with, but more so with their barbaric traditions when it came to assassinations.
The one next to him was quite. His white curly hair was pulled back into a messy bun; dark skin showed scaring from his neck down every inch that was his waist he wore the symbol of the Village hidden in the cloud. He not once looked her way instead his bright blue eyes trained on Yahiko's form. His look unnerved Akira to no extent.
"Well you heard wrong." Her disposition was steel. She kicked off her sandals, light shuffle made audible. She made a gesture to the walls of supplements as well as homemade medicinal remedies shed packaged and sold. "These are all the wares i've sold and have been selling since my being here. So I assure you" Her voice went low "I have nothing else to offer." Her tone was sharp, face set in scorn to show her disdain for their appearance.
The tall one who seemed to take the role of talkative on his hips as he nonchalantly began walking around the store. He took a bottle of male enhancement pills from off the wall and pretended to read the ingredients "Well, word underground tells us that here resides a nin whose mastery of Poisons weighs heavy with some infamous characters." His voice danced up and down, smiling wide through each word.
The other nin remained quiet, eyes unblinking on Yahiko.
He took a step.. Yahiko crouched ready, but his form was flimsy. He didn't want to fight. Her brows furrowed at his hesitation.
Akira was never one to enjoy the build up to a fight. The adrenaline. The immense concentration needed. The loss of feeling in one's body as you build up to the initial throwdown. It weighed on her, and although she fought first and asked questions later often in her younger days, it still didnt stop the butterflies that so often tickled her stomach right before a clash.
It made her sick. So she liked to get things over with.
Her trained eyes saw the quick flash of the Cloud nins fist driving into Yahikos stomach, due to his unprepared form.
"Fuck" she said audibly
Her hands weaved instantly and their eyes respectively fell on her as her chakra guard encompassed her whole body. She jumped over the counter jumping towards the dark skinned nin to punch, senses picking up the nin behind her which changed her course. She decidedly twisted her form back landing a hit on the jaw of nin that came up behind her, smirking at the sure knock out that happened easily. Her hand followed his jaw down and she gracefully flipped back, hand signs formed smoothly as she landed nimbly, then charged for the Cloud nin lighting encompassing her right hand aiming her right at the base of the neck. He barely dodge her deadly right, before steadying himself to engage in hand to hand. Lighting blade still activated, she accepted the proposal . He was slow, but deliberate, falling back with each slash of her lighting blade, backing himself into the probiotics shelf.
He was open.
She aimed for his heart.
Got him.
"Delete." It was when she heard the audible snap of her wrist that she realized both her chakra guard and her lighting spear dissipated at his command. He pulled her by the wrist sending her crashing into the stand of enzymes.
He stopped her chakra flow.
How?
It was her piercing scream that sent Keisuke's kunais flying towards the nin, then keisuke himself. The nin collectively dogged the kunai easily, catching Keisuke by the throat grip tight as keisuke clawed and kicked at the arm holding him. . "Children of this region are weak" he muttered, before lifting the struggling Keisuke and slamming him through the wooden floor boards..
She jumped up towards them, wincing at the pain before readying a kick to the side of the nins head.
It was Yahiko who landed it, sending the nin flying into half off Biotin stand. Yahiko jumped high knees landing on the white haired nins chest.
Akira rushed over to Keisuke whos head was pooling blood. Through the pain she forced herself to form the hand signs. Her green hand glowed bright to her relief as she put everything she had into healing was strong and hard headed. He would be 's always fine. Always. She convinced herself.
"If ninjutsu doesn't work against you."Ill break you!" She heard Yahiko,Her eyes strained to keep steady on Keisuke, blood pumping hard in her ears. Her breath hitched when his violet eyes opened, features paling by the second from the loss of blood.
."Miss..a..ki..ra" He strained, smooth complexion marred crimson from his head wound. He had a skull fracture, but it will be ok. She felt her blood pounding louder in her ears when she looked over to where the talkative nins body used to be.
She felt the cold press of a Kunai against her throat and she felt herself mentally kick herself. She'd been out of fighting for too long. Her brother of the East would be mocking her right now if he knew that she had actually gotten injured in battle. She found it funny how during her time as a jounin she'd never suffered an injury due to her chakra guard, but now outside of the ninja life. She's was backed into a corner with a dying child in her arms. It was….Ironic.
Kami Akira..
She felt the kunai slacken against her throat, hearing the nin behind her fall backwards. She looked back to see Yahiko standing above them, wiping away a spatter of blood that stained his pale skin. Hard eyes turning into ones of anguish at the sight of his little brother.
"Keisuke.."
The authorities questions were met with a wall. As they questioned each one the answers for both Yahiko and Akira were. "We don't know why they came here."
"Thugs!" She spat out,arms crossed under her breast. Her wrist was bound with a splint to help the sprain heal properly, she'd managed to heal it that far. The nin were incapacitated when they were scooped up. The dark skinned nin in critical condition as said by one of the medic nin as he was moving him into transport. "Damn bastards.."Akira would mumble at each time while passing the criminals.
Keisuke was ok, however he was transported to the hospital as soon as they came. Akira was behind them as they moved the unconscious boy towards transport as well.
It was that greeted the pair after Keisuke was brought in for a series of tests. "He has a basal fracture."She nodded, eyes glancing over to Yahiko who was at Keisuke's bedside, arms crossed watching the rise and fall of his little brothers chest. She asked for Yahiko, " Will he be ok?"
smiled wide at Akira. "You know as much as i do that Keisuke will be fine…" He turned towards Yahiko, "Sir, A basal fracture in this case is when the base of the skull cracks due to impact. However, Keisuke will be fine as the fracture is small. The real issue was when his head split from the...incident. But that's patched up.. "Akira smiled at her old friend. "He will be kept here for some time as it is a fracture of the skull. We need to monitor for any possible pop ups like aneurysms or meningitis."The doctor smiled. "Thank you Doctor." She shook his hand, feeling the build up of tears in her eyes not in relief for herself, but in relief for Yahiko.
Yahiko did not fight her decision to be with them. He took to cleaning under the fingernails of his little brother that was caked with dirt from training and peanut butter from his earlier snack. . When finished he sat there shoulders hunched over as his eyes continued to watch over his brothers sleeping form that was covered with white blankets that did little to stop his small form from the shivers that came and left him.
This Yahiko she'd never seen.
He was a man that was stern, shoulders always straight with confidence and prestige that showed a background of wealth, but as she looked over his slumped shoulders and hunched back she saw a man that was...she couldnt quite put her finger on it. Although she couldnt name it; she knew she hated the sight. So, she took to counting the blemished that marked the light tan floor. .
"Im sorry…" Akira lifted her sleepy eyes to Yahiko; loose braids framing her face as she leaned forward to better hear him.. "Keika..Im so sorry Keika...and to you too... . " He paused for a long while before continuing. "I...after the Mist. I swore that i would never raise another hand...stupid...Keika wouldn't be.."
She sighed and sat back against the chair. Letting her head fall back to rest on the chair as she stared at the bare white ceiling. She sat there a long while mind in a swirl taking in his soft words.
He blamed himself...when it was her fault that they came in the first place. No, that wasnt right.
She closed her eyes,taking in the smell of iron that hung loose in the air, biting down hard on the inside of her cheek before before deciding that losing her best employee was ok. "There was a time when i sold wares..I concocted poisons of various kinds to make assassinations more...potent."
Yahiko didn't move. he gave no indication of whether or not he was listening. Instead, his hand wrapped tightly around Keisukes small one rubbing them between his large ones.
She continued, "One day, my older brother confronted me about it…"
Akira, I want you out of this! You will not continue dealings to mercenaries and Black market merchants. !" "But the Raikage wanted it, saying that, if our enemies somehow evade our forward strikes. He'll taste our discreet ones." Akira's eyes fell on the monitor, ears trained on the steady beep.
"You see, the Cloud did not gain its reputation in an integrous manner. The cloud became strong due to its underground workings. Specifically with the interconnected Black market. Something i took too.. Something i was good at. We were met with resistance at the same instance my brother North confronted me...a couple of fellows my brother of the East had told us about. Men from a clan called the Fuma."
You little Bitch!"
"At first, I thought it was East who'd caused some trouble, but i I found out that the man had a lover that was a hit the CAU decided to take out due to political reasons. she was also in dealings of the black market. So i knew her well. I could even say we were close. As women in those positions were rare...The Fuma clan knew that the cloud had a hand in it. The Fuma clan are a clan that is geared towards group longevity. So, when one fell all felt it...but the woman I took out was very sacred to the Fuma and this man who had attached us. He also knew my poison was connected to her death; stating that everything that was cloud needed to be eradicated, especially what was connected to the murder of his lover whos death triggered a substantial lost in both money and power for the Fuma..What he did not know was I was the one who personal snuffed her out. He'd first attacked my brother and got away. Then he came after me...My older brother was the one who took the punishment."
Please, Sonoko...Please. Stand up!
"He had taken a kunai to the base of his neck trying to protect me." She closed her eyes, not letting herself let go, not now. Not when she needed to be strong for them.
"I.." her voice cracked, silent for a long while before continuing. "I dropped the profession. After North was injured I realized everything I did there was a repercussion...there were other poison makers..other black market dealers.. There were other Kunoichi... better ones."
She cleared her throat before lifting her head off the back of the chair, eyes open to take the blame, the anger, the hate for putting his little brother in this predicament. She'd already done it to herself. Shed beaten up, resented and cried so often that she dried her eyes out. She let her greed get the best of her. Allowing her pride to take in when the Raikage wanted her leadership for the Clouds part in the market dealings, and her formula. Her cultured weapons for his personal assassination.
Some she even participated in.
Many she regretted.
Its ok if he leaves.
"Keisuke...is here...because of me." She lost her resolve, tears flowing freely now face showing the anguish that she ran away from. That she hid daily. " They were after me...because of this Keisuke ...Sonoko.." As soon as they started, it stopped. Laying cement to the crack that was hammered open revealing too much. She wiped her tears
"Youre fired."
She stood walking to the door, pushing open the door to the bright hallway.
AN:
Yes yes fillers/back story.
Itachi is coming. patience loves!.
I am late in posting this, but the good news is I passed my state board! Now onto my next accreditation then its onto Adult life. Lol
Regardless, posting this was on my mind for the whole duration of me testing/ studying. I did not forget.
Also, take a look into my newest story: Maybe One More Time?
Thank you for following Solace.