I do not own anything.
FOX TAILS AND WHIRLPOOLS
Chapter 11 - The Questions You Ask
"Are you one hundred percent sure about this?"
Hakuno couldn't blame his wife or son for the way they looked at him. Given the night they'd had, he actually found it a little surprising Tamamo wasn't yanking him out of the hospital by the arm. In a way, he supposed that was just further testament to how far she'd come. "Trust me, I'm just gonna drop in for a quick chat, that's all." For Tamamo, he gave a reassuring smile. And for Naruto, he reached down and gently rubbed the top of his blond spikes. "He's…just an old associate of mine, one I haven't seen in a while. I just have to go talk to him to make sure he's okay, that's all."
Though he nodded his head in understanding, Naruto's curiosity wasn't completely put at ease. "B-But who was that sword-guy fighting mom and Sasuke's dad? How was he moving so fast? Was he samurai? Is he stronger than mom?"
"HAH!" Several eyes turned to the Kishinami Family at the sound of Tamamo's haughty snort and her following laughter. For a hot minute, Hakuno thought her magic would be dispelled and her foxy features would be revealed to the already shaken hospital staff. "Stronger than me? My dear Naruto, that sword-wielding idiot is no more than a dog constantly howling for a bone! Why, if given the chance, I would have easily defeated him and been back here within the same breath!"
Playfully rolling his eyes, Hakuno added. "Let's just say that man's not one you wanna mess with, not unless you're prepared."
This time, the voice that rebuffed him was male, and childish. "My dad was still stronger." Taking note of the voice, the unlikely trio turned in unison to find Sasuke Uchiha standing beside his silent and somewhat shaken-looking older brother. Upon catching sight of them, Itachi immediately bowed to the husband and wife duo, in spite of the fact he was just a few years shy of Hakuno, who also somewhat outpaced him in height. "That guy may have been strong, but my dad was still stronger! There's a reason the Uchiha are the strongest clan in the Leaf!" Proclaimed the younger brother proudly, crossing his arms. It seemed the shy and scared child barely an hour earlier had been switched out for this young lad.
Naruto didn't take the challenge lying done. "Maybe, but my mom was pretty awesome too! She saved your dad were more and was about to finish him too!"
"So? My dad could have done the job!"
Their faces growing more animated by the second, the pair quickly devolved into a childish match of name calling and attempts to one-up each other. All within clear view of their elders, who watched the scene with jovial smiles. Even Itachi couldn't keep from allowing his lips to tick upwards at the sight.
"As the son of the clan head, aren't you going to speak up in defense of your father?" Tamamo innocently challenged, curious to see what the older Uchiha's reaction would be. While not exactly a threat, she sensed something off about the Anbu operative who had apparently been the talk of the Uchiha Clan.
Itachi's very well known where the conversation was heading. While keeping his main focus on Tamamo, he briefly glanced in the direction of her husband. Hakuno's honey brown eyes softened in sympathy, causing Itachi's shoulders to relax if only for a little. It appeared the two shared more than just an age range. "What you witnessed tonight was only a fraction of the Uchiha's true power, a power we don't like showing unless absolutely required. That said, from the bottom of my heart, Mrs. Kishinami, thank you for protecting my father and saving his life."
"Oh, it was nothing, just repaying the kindness offered to us." Waved off the fox. "I'm assuming Mrs. Uchiha is with her husband?"
Both parties turned to the hallway where quite a number of doctors and nurses were moving along, some with blood stains on their coats and uniforms and others with just plan old dirt. While it seemed the danger had passed, all three veterans could tell it was going to be a bit of a long night for the village's healers and doctors. Deep down, Hakuno felt a twinge of regret for being the reason some of these people wouldn't be getting home until likely past midnight.
"Luckily the injuries my father suffered aren't life-threatening. In fact, thanks to you, Mrs. Kishinami, he should be able to leave some time tonight."
"He doesn't plan on staying the night? I can sympathize." Quipped the pink-haired shrine maiden. "Since your parents will be here, I'm assuming-"
"Mom!"
"Big brother!"
Ah, here we go. Chuckled the former NPC, quietly faded into his background as his kind were meant to. In contrast, Tamamo and Itachi felt their hair stand on end as they turned in unison to find themselves the focus of their young charges, said charges looking at them with sharp and determined eyes.
Naruto went first. "That spear thing you summoned, and the water with it!"
"That jutsu that dad used!" Sasuke echoed.
"Teach it to me!" Shouted the future ninja in perfect unison, giving the Servant and Anbu sweat drops.
Hm, I wonder if while I've got the Corona in me I can record what I see?
Itachi had a good poker face, that had to be given to the Uchiha prodigy. That said, even he was finding the mood to be a little…stifling, especially since he'd come into the hospital with a racing heart filled with fear. Tamamo looked between her adoptive son and husband, hoping the latter would give her support. To her chagrin, she found a sly smile plastered over his handsome face. She both hated and loved when he looked at her that way, and the worst part was he knew she loved it more than she hated those little smiles of his. She was on her own and so was Itachi. The pair looked between each other then back to Naruto and Sasuke.
"Sasuke," Began the older sibling. "That jutsu you saw father using…it's…special, a secret technique of our clan." His words only caused the younger boy's eyes to widen in awe. Mentally wincing, the prodigy realized he should have chosen his words better.
Tamamo, on the other hand, recovered from her momentary shock. And went straight for the head of the needle. "Well, I believe it's possible one day you may be able to perform the technique I did. Or perhaps you won't use water like I did, maybe it'll be waves of scorching hot fire or moving the earth itself as if you were a musical conductor." What fear that had pulsated within her had suddenly faded away seeing the bright and wondrous glow in Naruto's blue eyes. In spite of the deep voice in the back of her head telling her to halt, Tamamo decided this little one-tail was worth pressing onward forward. Looking at Sasuke, she saw he'd grown somewhat discouraged hearing Naruto had been given a straight answer while he hadn't. Curse childhood innocence, or rather curse me for falling for it again and again. Holding out her hands, she materialized two slips of featureless paper that attracted the boys' attention. "There is a way for us to find out. Naruto, Sasuke, each of you take on slip."
The black-haired teen's eyes widen in shock while the brown-haired youth's smile grew wider. Unlike their older counterparts, Naruto and Sasuke looked to the sheets with unease. Naturally, Naruto went first followed by Sasuke.
"Now, both of you, focus chakra into those sheets." Tamamo smiled, already having a gut feeling what would happen to each sheet.
As predicted by not just her, but Hakuno as well, Sasuke's sheet became lit by a small flame while Naruto's split half-way down the middle. Naturally, both boys flew into a miniature panic until they noticed the smiling and laughing faces of their elders.
Catching a sideways glance, Itachi decided to explain. "Those sheets react to chakra natures. By focusing chakra into them, one can determine what chakra nature they possess." First, he looked to his younger brother with a soft smile. "As a Uchiha, Sasuke, you naturally possess fire nature. Naruto, the paper splitting in half means you possess wind."
"Fire?" Sasuke mouthed.
"Wind?" Naruto said, looking at his half-splint sheet then to his parents. "Is that good? Can I still do that awesome stick thing you did, mom?"
"Wait a minute, if Naruto's wind and I'm fire…that means I win!" Grinning from ear-to-ear, the black-haired boy turned to his future rival. "All wind does is make fire stronger! I've seen it!"
Just as depression began to form on Naruto's face, Hakuno decided to step in. "That's true, Sasuke, but that's not what always happens." With both boys eyeing him, Hakuno lowered himself down to one knee. "Wind can give strength to fire, but fire needs oxygen to burn, it can't exist in a vacuum. By controlling the wind, you can create a vacuum." His words reversed the moods of both boys as Sasuke looked like a cross between angry and horrified, Naruto was now practically bouncing on his feet. "Wind can do a lot of cool things, it can even allow you to fly if you know how to use it right, but most importantly-"
"-Fire and wind make for perfect partners." Itachi finished for him.
"Exactly," Standing up, he left the two to continue pestering his wife and Itachi, much to their slight embarrassment and amusement. The moment the Third Hokage revealed those chakra sheets to them, Hakuno had a feeling Tamamo was working to alter one of her talismans into something similar for Naruto's sake. Fire and wind, talk about an explosive combination. He thought, making his way down the hallway to the hospital room he knew housed his fellow Master. Standing at the sides were a pair of Anbu guards who took one glance at Hakuno then moved aside. "Um, thanks?" He said as he reached for the door and turned the knob. At the very least they're not holding any grudges for what happened on day one.
Chandler was looking better than he had when Hakuno found him. Bandages covering his body and his left arm in a sling suspended by a few straps. One thing he immediately took notice of was the sealing tag bounded to his right wrist. It wasn't physical, it was spiritual explaining how he could see it, and why it was practically the first thing he noticed. Outside his window, the rain had slacked off to a light drizzle that softly pelted the outside world. His entrance had awoken the French national from whatever light slumber he'd been having.
"Haven't you gotten cold yet?" It figured that was the first thing out of his mouth. The workout clothes he'd changed into in the morning he'd stuck with the rest of the day. Never once did the thought of changing out clothes come into his head.
Hakuno silently took note of how his former pursuer flinched as he walked towards him. As far as he could tell, the dark-haired Master was running on next to no mana meaning no magecraft, and that was without his right arm being bound along with his entire energy supply maybe. Focusing his gaze, he saw it: a crimson bind holding tight around the blue mass that was Chandler's energy. If he tried to so much as harden summon an ounce of magical energy, the seal would shock him into paralysis. And all that wasn't even accounting for Hakuno himself; odds were the image of him easily dispatching the thugs pursuing him was still fresh in his mind. Chandler recognized how deep he was in, and Hakuno was the one standing above the rope that could save him or condemn him.
"It's not like a little rain is a bother to me." Started off the teenager casually. "In case you forgot, I was stripped naked, thrown in an ice cage, laughed at, and lastly whipped. And that was just when me and Tamamo were getting started."
He tested out the seal restraint on his right arm before replying. "So, are they asking for my head yet?"
"They'd like to hear your Okada's story first." Hakuno answered. "Me and Tamamo told them no more than they needed to know. Okada's being held in prison for the time being. So far, I haven't heard anything about him busting out."
Chandler's snorted. "If he had, you'd be hearing screaming, lots and lots of screaming." Lying back in his bed, the Frenchman turned away from Hakuno, choosing instead to stare at the rain-soaked window. "Why didn't you just kill me? Or let Tamamo finish off Okada?"
"You already know the answer to that question." Answered the brown-haired teenager.
Rather than a snort, it was a chuckle, an incredibly deep and humorless one. "Still the same bleeding heart. I guess having no incident in this nice cozy little village has made you go soft."
"Think whatever you want, what matters is at the very least you're some place safe." Catching his gaze, Hakuno added, "How much debt did you guys rack up?"
"Are you planning on paying if off for me?" When his expressionless mask remained in place, he sighed in annoyance. "Maybe around two hundred to four hundred thousand ryo, I don' know." Hakuno whistled, causing Chandler's face to screw up. "Blame Okada! I turned my back for one goddamn second and that idiot's gambling away almost every bounty we'd collected! You know what he spent half of our latest hit on? Swords!"
"He is a samurai, you get what you pay for." Cracked the teenager before his face became marred in despair. Now he looked t the side, "Chandler…I'm…I'm sorry about…I'm sorry about your infection."
The French Master waited a solid minute before answering, his voice level and calm as the sea. "Kishinami, like I told you before, I don't need your pity." In spite of his words, the younger Master's gaze still drifted to Chandler's chest where the red growths had been spotted. The adult male didn't have the heart to tell him to look away, hell, he barely had the heart himself. This situation was far from how he pictured their "reunion" going down. As much as he wanted to curse Hakuno for inadvertently triggering the Fox Tail Wars, he knew fault lay elsewhere. He didn't like the boy, but that didn't mean he hated his guts like his other pursuers. "Look, shit happens, that's life, you pick up the pieces and move on. You of all people should know that better than anyone. If…if there's someone in this village who can cure the AKG Virus, then hurrah. If not…"
Thick silence hung in the space between the former enemies. Slowly, Chandler lifted his right hand and moved it over his chest, the red sealing mark around his wrist becoming visible. When the doctors cut his shirt open, they'd admittedly gone slack-jawed at the red growths progressing through his chest and up his neck. He didn't blame them for their shock and horror.
"I'm not contagious, if you're wondering." Finally, Hakuno met his eyes. "I've been around quite a few people since me and Okada ended up in stupid Kurosawa knockoff world. None of them have gotten sick."
"You think it has something to do with the fact this world is physical and not virtual?"
"I don't know, and frankly, I don't care. The bottom line is those of us infected with the AKG virus can't spread it, that is unless some mad scientist gets a hold of us and splits us open." There was a pause. "This village doesn't have any mad scientists in it, does it?"
Hakuno shrugged. "None that I know off. Have you met any while you and Okada were traveling?"
"No, but we met some weird rip off of Frankenstein's Monster." He motioned to his bandaged arm. "We…bit off more than we could chew. This ninja, this freak, he was after the same bounty as us so Okada decided to kill him. He…Hakuno, he detached parts of his body like he was a fucking straw doll! It was like fighting a living hairball, one that could spit fire, lightning, and wind!" His eyes winced shut as a wave of phantom pain washed over him. "He used some jutsu, practically burnt the entire forest we were fighting in down. If I hadn't thrown up a shield, we would have been burnt to ashes."
"And that's when you sent Okada out to get some medicine for you." Realized the younger of the Masters. "It sucks having a wild and reckless Servant, doesn't it?"
"Look who's talking!" Snapped the Frenchman before leaning back. "When's our trial?"
"You have a meeting with the Hokage tomorrow, and the Nara Clan. I'm going to speak on your behalf." Immediately, Chandler's eyes snapped to his. Hakuno's expression remained neutral. "Look, this isn't the Moon Cell, Tamamo and I are trying to start fresh and I'm willing to bury the hatchet with whoever I can. What about you?"
Stupid, that's the word that would have came to one's mind upon hearing Hakuno say those words. Here he was, sitting before a former enemy who'd tried to kill him, and close to doing so several times, offering a truce. For any hitman now would have been the prime time to take his head and be done with the entire mess he'd accidentally started.
Except there were a few things wrong with that. First off, if Hakuno died then Tamamo would rain holy hell upon whoever did the deed. Second, Chandler had no strength to carry out the deed. And finally, even if he did kill Hakuno, what in the hell would he do next?
Oh, and his days were numbered, what good would carrying on a meaningless grudge?
"Trêve."
Smiling, Hakuno offered his hand. Muttering something under his breath, but looking peacefully resigned, Chandler took it and shook on it finalizing their agreement.
"I'm gonna let you get some sleep tonight. Tomorrow, the Hokage will hear your story and we'll go from there." Spoke the Japanese male.
"That's it? No threats or promises of pain if I double cross you?" Inquired the older man with a raised eyebrow.
A second later and Chandler realized he was better off keeping his mouth shut. Hakuno's outward appearance did not change in the slightest, at first at least. The seventeen-year-old stared intently at the twenty-seven-year-old, an expressionless frown covering his face. Seconds passed, then the chill came. Chandler felt as he'd been blasted by a beam of pure arctic air as the sweat formulating on his exposed skin chilled and near froze. In his chest, his heart lurched then slowed to a crawl of its original pace. Through his nose he tried to breath out, then panicked when he found he couldn't. His skin was growing colder by the second and no air would enter his lungs no matter how hard he tried, and try he did.
Cold. Dark. Suffocating.
No longer was he in a hospital bed, he was floating through the cold vacuum of space, and Hakuno was the cause of it. His honey brown eyes watched him float, watched him claw and gasp for air, and they showed nothing - no pity or anger.
Chandler was scared, scared and helpless as if all his training and experiences had been ri[[ed away from him. Ice was eating away at his body threatening to turn him from a human being into a shriveled-up husk and he had no idea how to stop it. A part of him knew he couldn't stop it so he just prayed for it to end.
The end came, but not in the way he'd expected.
"Like I said, I'm willing to bury the hatchet, rather or not you take it is up to you. Just know that I will protect my family and the people in this village."
Gasping for air, he gripped his chest, feeling around for his heart to make sure it was still beating. Hakuno watched him with a neutral expression before turning on his heel and heading for the door.
"Gazsi's alive."
Freezing still, Hakuno slowly turned his head about to find Chandler had recovered somewhat. Still looking a little shaken, he averted his eyes to avoid meeting the teenager's. "While me and Okada were traveling about a week ago, we heard of a warlord who'd been assassinated. A bullet to the head and his castle turned into a giant tree, at the root of it was a treasure trove of jewels and tribute he'd collected from the surrounding land. Eye witnesses said they saw a pair of "hoods" snooping around the place before the hit happened. Sound familiar?"
Relief flooded Hakuno's body, nearly causing his legs to buckle. Looking up, it wouldn't have been a stretch to say he was close to tears. "Chandler, thank you."
"Just get out so I can get some sleep. In case you haven't figured it out, I really need it." Groaned the Frenchman. Listening softly for the door, he sighed when he finally heard it click shut. At last he was alone, wounded and weak, but Chandler was alive. "Chienne de vie, but it's one I love."
As Naruto predicted, there was no Ichiraku Ramen that night, both Hakuno and Tamamo promised they'd make it up to him. To the young one's credit, he brought on a brave face throughout the night as they all gathered in the kitchen. Tamamo prepared curry, beef curry to be exact. The pair had watched with silent smiles as Naruto took his first bite, then nearly fell back in his seat screaming how hot it was but also how tasty the dish was as well. Naturally, he questioned them about what he'd seen when he snuck away to watch Tamamo and Fugaku's battle with Okada. With each word, the blonde's eyes seemingly grew wide and his imagination ran ever wild. The excitement of the day actually kept him in the kitchen as he offered to help do the dishes.
That was how Hakuno and Tamamo knew something was off about their adoptive son. Almost an hour later as they were tucking him, their suspicions were confirmed.
"I'm…I'm sorry." Spoke the whisker-faced boy, looking downward with an guilty expression as corner of his eyes watering. Too ashamed to meet his adoptive parents in the eye. "I-I know I missed up, I-I know I-ooph!"
Hakuno waited a moment or two for the blond to melt into Tamamo's embrace; when he did, he wrapped his arms around him as well. Neither said a word as they allowed the young jinchūriki a few minutes of soft sobbing. To Naruto, it was still a feeling he was getting used to, warmth, the warmth of love that would remain until the rising of the sun and be there when day turned back into night. He didn't want the feeling to leave and feared his actions would drive away the kindness of the two strangers who'd taken him in. The tighter their embrace, the more distant the thought became.
"So…you're both not mad at me?" Spoke the child when they finally pulled away just enough for him to speak.
"No, Naruto, we were more scared than mad." Clarified the foxy woman, wiping the residue tears from his eyes. "I was once young and adventurous, and to a degree I still am."
"And I've gotten used to crazy situations and things going sideways thanks to this woman here." Added Hakuno, motioning to his wife causing her to blush. "Naruto, there's nothing wrong with being curious or wanting to pay people back, but you need to learn how to temper those things with caution. Besides, everything after the hospital? Nowhere near your fault. In fact, if we hadn't been there, we probably wouldn't have been able to save Sasuke's dad."
"Who was that guy anyway? You two never really answered my question at the hospital."
"He's…like me you could say." As much as she hated it, now that Naruto's curiosity had been awakened nothing short of a meteorite was going to put it down. Aside from that, sooner or later Tamamo knew they were going to have to answer these questions. "He comes from the same land as I do, but whereas I do magic, that man is assassin, a dangerous warrior who I want you to stay away from. Understand?"
Nodding his head, Naruto moved onto his next question, this one directed toward Hakuno. "What kind of language was that friend of yours speaking? It sounded like gibberish to me."
"Heh, trust me, French can sound like gibberish if you don't know the language. That's what he was speaking, French."
"Can you speak it, dad?"
Hakuno chuckled, "Très bien." Even if he didn't understand the words, Naruto showed he clearly recognized the sound and dialect.
"Dad, can you teach me, uh, French, right?"
"Sure thing, we'll talk more in the morning after you've gotten a good night sleep."
Just as he was being tucked in, Naruto decided to ask one final question. "Um, mom, dad, even thought I…sorta goofed it up, can I still make things up to Sasuke, Iruka-sensei, and the others?"
Looking between each other then back to Naruto, Hakuno was the one to answer. "Yes, you can, but this time we'll pitch in and help. How's that sound?"
Smiling, the blond nodded then turned over in his bed where Tamamo placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. Mere seconds afterwards and he was slumbering away the night while Hakuno and Tamamo stood upward. The latter plucked a lone strand of hair from her tail and breathed onto it. Seconds after being released, orange-red energy swirled around the pink-haired strand, slowly taking on a familiar shape. The newly created fox familiar briefly looked around the room before its eyes found the slumbering jinchūriki. Instantly, it knew what its purpose was and snuggled up to the boy, who responded by grasping at the beast's orange-colored fur. Now knowing their son was protected, the Master-Servant duo made for the door then softly closed it shut.
Later in the bathroom of his and wife's bedroom, the second Hakuno's body hit the water, he felt as if a lock on all his muscles had been released thus truly allowing him to unwind. He verbalized the sensation as he laid back in the bathtub, allowing his head to softly touch the back wall. Almost two months, and this is pretty much the first time I've felt something close to excitement. He was getting complacent, if Alscher were here, he'd have twice slapped Hakuno upside the head. Once would have been for slacking off, and the other would have been for not continuing his training once he made sure Naruto was alright. Speaking of his training, Hakuno knew he'd have to get together with Hiruzen to schedule another practice session. Now that they'd encountered their first Master-Servant team, his gut told him more would come and when they did, he'd have to be ready.
But that could wait until the morning, for now he was going to relax.
And so too was Tamamo.
He barely reacted when the door slid up and she walked in dressed in nothing but her towel. Calmly, she removed it then dipped herself into the tub. As the tension ebbed out of her, the Servant fell backward, allowing her Master-turned-husband to act as her human pillow. "Talk about a long day."
"Hey, a little excitement is good every now and then." Laughed the human, wrapping an arm around her slender waist.
"Eh, I'd rather the excitement didn't involve our son being bullied and placing himself in mortal danger." Groaned the fox, kicking her leg up. "So, Gazsi and that stupid druid are still alive, are they?"
"So you were listening." Hakuno stated with a dry chuckle.
A colorful blush painted her cheeks, and it wasn't just because of the humidity of the tub. "W-W-Well, I-I couldn't help it! Y-You're m-my Master and husband, n-not to mention father of my child! I-I don't care if you can handle yourself or the enemy was crippled, I still worried about you." It hadn't gone unnoticed by Tamamo the dynamics that had developed between them. She was the "fun one" while Hakuno was the grounded one, as their adventures had shown those positions could change in the blink of an eye. Now, they had so much at stake and Tamamo felt whenever trouble came around, she had to be on full guard. It was going to get exhausting fast, but she'd rather be paranoid and wrong than careless and unprepared. "I'm…it is good know they're alive, Gazsi especially."
Sitting upright, he looped both arms around her. "Tamamo, I'm sure Kiyohime's out there somewhere, her and Akihito. She wouldn't want you worrying yourself sick over her."
"I just wish she were here. She'd make the perfect aunt to Naruto, don't you think? And wouldn't Akihito make for a good uncle?"
He showed his agreement by gently kissing her shoulder, causing her to giggle. Waves were made, causing the water to spill over as Tamamo turned her body over so she was face to face with her beloved. Not missing a beat, she pressed her lips against his. The outside world faded away, leaving only the pair. Tamamo's soaked tail rose above the water, the wet appendage waving about sensually as the fox grinded against her love's firm body.
"Do…um, need a recharge?" Questioned the human with a blush on his face. He knew what they'd just done had awakened Tamamo's dormant animal instincts, she had absorbed Shark who possessed a good deal of her…sexual aggression. Taming said aggression that prove to be a challenge and if he had to do so again then…well, he was going to have to see about child-sized earmuffs. Thick ones.
"I would love to, my dearest husband." Whispered the Caster. As quickly as the fire of lust was born, it died down, transformed into something a little more…innocent. "But right now, all I want is to be reminded I've got something worth fighting for. Are you up to the task?"
He was and he showed it by coiling his arms around her, bringing the fox-eared woman's head to his chest. Just as her little one-tail had done, she shut her eyes and allowed her mind to drift away, Hakuno did likewise allowing the heat of the water to act as the sail for their ship. Where they went, they didn't know, but they'd enjoy every stretch of the journey together.
"I'd say good morning, but it's really goodnight, glad to see your sleeping habits haven't changed too much."
Kaiya Matou pushed through the fog that had obscured her mind to find herself standing at the edge of the waking realm. Her head was killing her. "Great, and your sense of humor…still sucks." One hand clawed at her head while the other moved to help push her body upright. Dull agony rocked its way through her body before settling on her stomach, which is where her hand moved to. "How long have I been out?"
"Three days."
"Very funny, Davis." Groaned the Japanese girl, rubbing her eyes.
"I'm serious."
Going dead still, Kaiya was sure she could hear her own heartbeat sounding off in her ears. Her vision cleared up in seconds, allowing her to perfectly glimpse her redheaded teammate sitting in a chair directly in front of her, his green eyes meeting hers. In that instant she knew Davis was telling the truth. "I've been…shit." Groaning, she fell back against the bed, a sudden pain and sense of nausea overtaking her weak body. "I…really don't feel so good."
"That's because you're sick." Answered the Caucasian male with sympathy on his face.
"Sick? What do you-!" Kaiya felt her left arm twitch, an involuntarily reflex of her body whenever given news that shocked or scared her. Learning she now had an even more limited lifespan did both. "I'm…I'm…" Davis closed his eyes and looked away, confirming the blue-eyed girl's fears. At the corner of her shut eyes, tears immediately began to form. "O…Okay…o…okay, t-that's…that's…" Despondent, it seemed any second the water works would come. Pulling at the sheets, Kaiya attempted to hide them by keeping her face angled downward, the last thing she wanted was for someone to walk in and see her crying. She may not have had much, but she still wanted to hold onto her pride until the bitter end. At the very least she could do that. "Where's…where's…where's Nagayoshi?"
"Master!"
Smiling beneath her current of dark hair, Kaiya reached out with her right hand and was immediately felt upon by the gloved hands of her Servant. The six foot-two samurai was gripping her hand as if any second she'd flatline on him. Given the news she'd just received, something told her that was exactly what he was scared of happening. Invigorated by his presence, Kaiya found the strength to look up. She smiled seeing the usually fierce and feral brown eyes of her Rider were now soft and filled with worry. Rather than an animalistic snarl hidden beneath a helmet, his youthful face was exposed giving a glimpse to the human side of the "Devil".
"Sorry I scared you." She whispered.
"Sorry?! Bah! If anyone's sorry, it oughta be that gnome that stuck us in a cell after we saved his short little ass! That's who oughta be sorry!" Roared the redheaded spearman, slowly reverting back to his usual self. "Gah! Where's my spear! I'm gonna go find that little midget and show him what happens when you're ungrateful to-"
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING A MIDGET, YOU LITTLE BASTARD!?"
The two humans and Servant immediately shut their mouths and looked to the door, or rather where the door used to be. In a single second, the wooden frame was blasted clean off, sending it sailing past Davis and slamming against the opposite wall where it shattered into splinters. They all blinked once in unison, then turned to the red-faced of a angry senior that had done the deed. Needlessly to say, the Third Tsuchikage was not happy. At all.
"For the record, talk to her about his attitude problem, not me." Davis commented, pointing towards the bed-ridden Kaiya, who rolled her eyes at her teammate's continued antics. Clearly the ninja world hadn't done much to change his wisecracking and smartass personality.
When the old ninja's glare fell upon her, Kaiya jumped a little seeing the angry fire raging in his eyes. Sensing the wave of aggression, Nagayoshi let out a growl that seemed like it would have came from the lips of a bear or tiger than a man. The big-nosed veteran ignored the Servant and instead focused on his sickly Master, a move that won him a tidal wave of killing intent. Sandwiched between the two, all Kaiya was able to do was look between them while attempting to formulate some measure of an explanation. One that hopefully wouldn't end with her being ordered executed and her Servant killing said executors, then everyone else sent after them.
Davis decided now was the time to step in. "Um, could we dial the murder level down a little? Old Tsuchi, you said you wanted to talk, well, it's kinda hard to do that when you're threatening my friend and her nutcase of a Servant."
"It's Lord Tsuchikage! How many times am I going to have to tell you that!" Barked Ōnoki, turning to Davis. He looked ready to continue railing against him when a resounding crack was heard throughout the room. Davis and Kaiya simultaneously winced while Nagayoshi's face merely screwed up seeing all the fight go out of the old man as his face strained and he held his backside in agony. Curses rolled off his lips as a rather portly and jovial-looking man stepped into the room and picked up the Tsuchikage then deposited him down atop a nearby bed. "Damned brats."
"Hey, I'm a grown ass man!" Snapped Nagayoshi.
"Oh, don't take that as an offense. He calls just about everyone that." Stated the round-bounded ninja in a calm and serene voice that put Kaiya somewhat at ease. " My name's Akatsuchi by the way. Nice to see you've finally woken up."
"Um, have I…really been out for three days?" Asked the young indigo-haired wizard, casting a sideways glance in Davis' direction.
"Yep, immediately after that scuffle at Rasātala Valley, we pretty much rushed you back here to the hospital. Gotta say, you were in pretty bad shape. It's a good thing we got you here just in time." Laughed the portly shinobi.
At that, Kaiya's expression turned despondent once again. "That's…good to hear, but it's…I don't have time. Not anymore."
Seeing her depressed, the Third Tsuchikage scowled in irritation. "Nah! You youngsters, always being so damn dramatic. Catch one little disease and you think it's the end of the world! It's just a flu, not some damn hybrid virus capable of wiping out a country!"
"Yes, it is!" Kaiya shouted, looking at the old Kage with teary eyes. Stretching her arm out, she pulled up the sleeve of her hospital robe. "What I've got is…huh? Uh?" During the brief window in which energy rushed through her, Kaiya's eyes caught a glimpse of her arm - her bandaged but unstained arm. Quickly looking to her other arm, she realized neither had any red growths growing on them. Joy and anger swirled about within her as she pulled up her shirt to her belly button then felt around her collar. "What the-"
"I didn't lie to you." Davis declared as Kaiya turned to her eyes at him.
"DAVIS!"
"I never lied, I said you were sick."
"Out of curiosity, on your way to the valley, you didn't happen to pass a swamp, did you?" Akatsuchi innocently questioned as his superior got back strength in his back. When he saw Kaiya nod somewhat dumbfoundedly, he couldn't help but scratch the back of his head and chuckle a little. "See, we call that Kaisan Swamp, it's home to a lot of nasty bugs and critters that if they sting or bite you, you'll catch a number of bad diseases. In your case, your body was suffering a slow but painful infection that would have killed you. Like I said, you're lucky we got you here and had the anti-biotics on hand."
Slack-jawed, the young girl stared back and forth between the ninja, the Kage, and lastly Davis himself. The redhead had remained perfectly still in his seat, twiddling his thumbs and continued to do so even as Kaiya's blue-colored fierce eyes bore into him like a pair of drills.
Calmly, he raised both his hands. "I repeat, I did not lie to you when you woke up. Like I said, you were sick, you jumped to the conclusion."
That was the final straw. "YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE!"
"Can I kill him?" Piped up Nagayoshi, glaring at the eighteen-year-old with a murderous smile.
Not a second after the words were spoken did a mass of gold particles shimmer into existence beside Davis. They came together into the form a of a shirtless-muscular man who stood at almost equal-height to the samurai. While not quite murderous, the grin the Berserker gave his comrade was one that promised pain if he attempted to carry out his threat. Great pain.
"Now, now, is that any way to treat your friends, Yoshi?" Cackled the brawler, summoning Hrunting and placing it before Davis' still-sitting body. "Much as this kid runs his mouth, he does sorta have a point."
"Not you too! How can you guys joke about this!" Kaiya cried, throwing her arms up. "I seriously thought I was infected with the AKG virus! I thought I was gonna die!"
"All of you are going to die if you don't start behaving yourselves! I'm still here, dammit!" Screeched the shortest of the assembly, recalling attention to himself. If looks could kill, the two Masters and Servants would have been dead four times over as he glared at each of them. "I'd have all of you either killed or tortured if I didn't need any of you!"
Kaiya picked up on the language and immediately forgot about her anger. "Huh?" She directed towards Davis who motioned for her to relax with his head. He was certainly look relaxed, slouching back in his chair despite being in the room with two towering muscle-heads ready to beat each other to a pulp and one hell of an agitated senior citizen.
"I told him most of the important stuff, Kaiya." He finally clarified. "He knows about Masters and Servants, I told him the whole jizz so just sit back and relax a little." His soft words were like a gentle whisper in her ear that her body answered by releasing its pent up tension.
Ōnoki was not happy about it, "Hold it right there! I may have heard the whole story, but I'm still working on believing it."
Beowulf grunted, glancing downward at the Dust-Style user with his arms crossed. "How much proof do ya' need, old timer. You saw us with your own eyes, you've been getting reports about strange beings popping up out of nowhere." He jabbed his thumb at Davis. "My Master even gave you a little light shot to demonstrate how our world's version of magecraft differs from your world's…ninja magic. Oh, Kaiya, your family's old magecraft works in this world! Isn't that great!"
The fifteen-year-old's blue eyes widened in shock hearing the Servant's words, Ōnoki's merely narrowed. "Akatsuchi, leave us, and cover the door while you're gone." Nodding his head, the portly ninja stepped through literal hole made by the door's destruction. There was a soft shudder preceding a solid slab of rock rising up and covering the doorway. Now the two pairs and Kage were completely and utterly alone, Ōnoki leered at Davis then at Kaiya, "Now then, let me see if I have this right. For over a month, you people, wizards, if I remember correctly, and these…walking bombs of yours, Servants, have been running around causing destruction and mayhem."
"That's not what we've been doing." Kaiya defended, realizing she and her compatriots were in the hot-seat. "Davis and I were-"
"Fox Catchers." Spat the old Kage. "Yes, he filled me in on the threat posed by the Tamamo Nine and the little resistance that formed to stop them. Apparently, your little band of freedom fighters were on the verge of losing when this Moon Cell decided to send you lot far away. Dumped you all here in our world thus making you our problem. Like I previously said, I could throw the four of you in jail for that trespassing you did earlier."
"Do that and if another Master-Servant pair comes through and your whole village is history. Especially if its one of the nastier pairs like Alecto and Caligula." With his arms and legs crossed, Davis coolly withstand the wave of aggression shot toward him by the old Kage. His sea-green eyes bored back into Ōnoki's dark orbs making it known leader or not, he would not be bullied, nor would he allow him to bully his comrades. "Those pairs I told you about: Comstock and Kabaiel, Stefano and B.B., Ryma and Euryale, Kenelm and Gu Yuan, and of course Scorn herself. If any of them blow through here, your village is going to be reduced to a smoking pile of rubble."
"You've obviously learned nothing during your stay here." Ōnoki snarled.
"And you hearing aid must be out. I won't deny your strong and this village has plenty of manpower, but if any of those pairs come upon this place and are given the incentive, they'll destroy everything. Trust us on this, especially Ryma and Euryale, she'll drown this entire village just out of spite and not give a damn as the bodies float downstream to the surrounding nations!" Shot back Davis with a look of cold determination on his face. Kaiya and Nagayoshi remained blissfully silent watching the redhead Master go. The Matou child couldn't help but smile a little seeing what she called her friend's "serious side" coming out, it almost made her forget how angry she was at him. "Look, we're sorry about breaking a few laws, but as I've told you, Alecto was too dangerous for us to ignore. I'm sitting here trying to explain to how much more dangerous your world just got and you're brushing me off."
"Dangerous? Hehehehe! Brat," In true arrogant fashion, he leveled a finger at Davis along with a sharp glare that could drill through solid stone. "I've lived through three shinobi wars, wars that left countries in ruins and I've risen above each and every one of them! You don't get to talk to me about danger!"
"Actually, I do, we all do." His response was frosty and an open invitation. "Even if we're young, me and Kaiya have seen what war looks like. We've both got the scars to prove it."
"Not to mention you're talking to a warrior king and professional dragon-slayer!" Barked Beowulf, mirroring the pose down by his Master.
Not one to be outdone, Nagayoshi joined in. "They called me 'Devil' for a damn good reason, you old geezer. When even the Devil King of the Sixth Heaven is willing to let you use that nickname, take the hint!"
From the looks of things, he was doing just that. Glancing between the two pairs with eyes as hard as stone and sharp as razors, Ōnoki said nothing leaving the four suspended in limbo. Based on their positions, it was obvious that if he made one "wrong move", Beowulf and Nagayoshi would act and it'd be one hell of a brawl. Though confined to a bed, Kaiya was doing her best to look threatening as well. Even if her body was recovering, she gave off the impression she'd fight tooth and nail if it came down to it. Davis had already made his position known.
Behind his mask of stoicism, Ōnoki grinned. Maybe this "invasion" could be worked to his favor.
"Kaiya, was it? You will remain here until you've fully healed. I'm willing to allow your Servant to remain with you." He finally spoke before shooting the girl a wicked smirk. "I may not be a doctor, but from what I've seen, your immune system is almost nonexistent. Quite a frail little thing, aren't you?"
His remark caused the girl to withdrew and her Servant to growl menacingly at him. "I…was born with some defects you could say."
"Are you going to stick me and Beowulf in a cell? Or perhaps a nice little hotel with armed guards watching our every move?" Inquired Davis, raising an eyebrow.
"You two have my permission to stay here, keep watch over her. If this…Alecto comes back to this village, I fully expect you two to be front and center to clean up your mess. Clear?" The two Servants grunted in annoyance, but did as their Masters' ordered them to and nodded their heads. His curiosity and anger curbed for the moment, he headed for the door. After a quick series of hand signs, he placed his palm against the door causing a knob to appear on both sides. Once aside, he came to a complete stop then floated off the ground. Emptying his mind, he listened.
First came Kaiya's voice. "I'm still plenty pissed off at you, but Davis, thanks for…thank you."
The redhead chuckled before responding. "Kaiya, while there are times you get on my nerves, you're my friend and a fellow Fox Catcher. If I'm gonna be stuck with anyone besides blond scar-face here, I'd rather it be you and hot-head Mc-Crazy."
It surprised Ōnoki when he too laughed. He was old and cynical, but even he knew how to take a second or two off and enjoy the fooling around of youth. Not to mention it provided him another tidbit of information regarding his village's newest "assets". Though he acts indifferent, he possesses a soft spot for his friends. Perhaps I can use him to find and bag these other Fox Catchers.
"Hey, try not to have any wet dreams about Hakuno while I'm here. I'd like to be able to sleep the night in peace."
"D-D-D-Davis! W-Why'd you have t-to bring t-t-that up!?"
"Because you moaned his name eight times." Chuckled the older male.
"…Y-Y-You won't tell Tamamo, will you?."
Leaving the group alone, he began to float down the hallway, Akatsuchi having joined him. How much of the conversation he'd heard Ōnoki could only guess, but his bodyguard and assistant brain was at times just as large as his body.
"So, I take it this means things are about to get crazier, huh?" He began.
"Tch! Magicians and super-powered ghosts, just what I wanted as I start thinking about looking for a successor!" As of now, succession was the least of his problems, the old Kage knew he was needed now more than ever. "Any word from Rōshi or the team I sent after him?"
"Nothing, sir." There was a grave tone in his bodyguard's voice, supplementing the fear building in Ōnoki.
With these superhumans running around, the Fence Sitter knew now was the time the village needed to consolidate its strength. Worse, what if Rōshi encountered one of these Servants and did something to antagonize them? Iwa could end up paying the price for his cousin's stupidity. That said, from what he'd seen and learned, these Servants could possible tip the balance of power that had been preserved by the Tailed Beasts. If so, many had come through then that meant besides the two in his company now there were more, Masters with Servants powerful enough to "waste countries" as Davis had described. If he couldn't have them, Ōnoki knew he had to find out where they were and what their motives were. He knew just where to start. "Any luck tracking down that woman and her overgrown pigeon?"
"We've had some, sir. As Davis instructed, we've had our trackers look for the scent of rotting flesh. Last I heard, they might have something."
"Good, I want that woman brought before me, if I can't punish those two, she'll do. What about other Masters and Servants?"
"According to our spy in the Leaf, they just got another Servant."
"Huh?! So we're tied with the Leaf?! Bah! What about the other Hidden Villages?"
"Nothing so far."
"Grr, where's Han? His report was do back-"
Upon stepping out the front doors, Ōnoki and Akatsuchi sensed a presence. Appearing before them was a an Anbu carrying a scroll he offered to the Tsuchikage. Grunting, he took it and immediately began reading.
"Han." Growled the Fence Sitter.
"Sir?" Asked Akatsuchi.
"Prepare another hospital bed, the Steam Roller will be coming home in a day or so…and he's bringing another guest."
Everything was in place for the resurrection. She'd triple checked all the instruments and outlets to ensure nothing would go wrong. It couldn't go wrong.
Alecto felt as if all the air was being siphoned out of her lungs and funneled into the tubes that connected to the pod in the center of the room. If she thought it would help, she gladly would have forfeited every cell and bodily fluid in her body for the upcoming procedure. Hitting all the required keypads on the digital pad, the capsule began to open releasing white-colored smoke as it did so. Through the colorlessly haze, Alecto laid eyes on the unmoving body of her husband, the man she was willing to sacrifice everything for.
To her great relief, the medical pod had done its job in preserving Nicodemus Galanos' body. Alecto remembered one of the first things she did upon waking up in the new world was summon the pod and check every last one of its functions to ensure it was still working and its occupant was where she'd left him. She'd thrown herself atop the metal lid and sobbed in sweet relief; that was the position her Servant had found her in, thankfully he'd said nothing and merely waited for her emotional release to end. In the time sense, she'd taken great care to salvage what she could from the surroundings. Luck had continued to be on her side as she'd found despite the primitive settings, this world possessed at least early twenty-first century technology. All of it was a far cry from her world's, but it would do.
Hopefully, in a few minutes she'd have no more use for any of it.
With tender hands, she opened the lid on the box containing the relic she'd procured from the temple hidden deep in the valley. The many corpse dolls she'd used to reach the temple were of no mind to her, as she'd learned this world offered her a ready supply of replacements.
The hand signs were performed and the chant was uttered, causing the container's prized content to rise - a crystal white snake seemingly eating its own tail. Emerald light lit up the eye sockets of the animal-like construct, it immediately uncoiled itself and flew over to the space above the opened capsule. Ethereal light began to gather around the beast as it began to encircle the male corpse beneath it. On the setup monitors, energy readings began to soar as power was built up in preparation for the miracle that was about to be performed.
Yes! Yes! Finally! Nico, you and I…we can be together again! We can do, start over here! No wizards, no Holy Grail! No wars!
Dog.
Horse.
Dragon.
Snake.
White light exploded from in-between her palms as did it from the mouth of the snake. Rearing back its entire body became a glimmering mass of sparkles and swirling blue tendrils. Its fangs were poised to strike at the body beneath it, blazing emerald light blowing from its eye sockets.
But then the light died.
Alecto cried out in alarm as fire erupted between her hands, breaking her concertation. The snake howled once as cracks appeared across its crystal-like body. Quickly growing in number, the beast held together for one split second before its body broke apart into tiny white fragments that pelted the corpse and capsule. Alecto's dark brown eyes, widen in horror, saw the shattering and she immediately screamed, "NO! NO, NO!" Rushing over to the capsule, she picked up and examined each shard, the light within each was dimming until finally they went cold and lifeless. Just like the body before her. The fire that had been roaring inside of her was swiftly extinguished. "NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NOOO!"
Her hands beat across the lid as tears burst forth from her eyes. All around her, the monitors that had been set up to record any signs of life remained as dead and lifeless as they were when turned on. The Greek woman's anguished sobbing filled up the chamber and echoed throughout the cave she'd taken refuge in. It was the sound of silence, the sound of failure.
"Alecto."
"Shut up, Caligula! I don't want to hear it!"
"Hear what? A way to save your husband?"
Though still tear-stricken, the doctor lifted up her head to meet the crimson-red eyes of her Servant. They shined like a pair of bloody torches under the lights she'd set up on the ceiling. His gold-platted body reflected the light quite well and the trinkets on it jiggled as he stepped closer to his Master. Briefly, his red eyes with black scleras drifted to the corpse then settled back on Alecto.
"Are you going to give up?"
The fire returned, searing her insides and tightening her muscles. "…No, no I'm not. I won't."
A twisted smile wormed its way onto the face of the Roman Emperor. "Then pick yourself up, my Master! This is a new world we're in, one filled with wonder and opportunity for us both! One little setback cannot and will not detour us, will it! If this is indeed a world modeled on that of the far east, then that witch's original power must have returned, or at least a portion of it! Don't you think?"
Her ears perked up upon realizing where the Mad Emperor was pointing her. While most days he was quite irritating, times like this showed Caligula's mind was still capable of working from time to time. Working quite well. "Tamamo's mirror, yes…theoretically, even if she hasn't absorbed Scorn, the mirror should have regained a portion of its original power."
"Yes, and if not so, then surely this world has its own version of the legendary treasures, the beads and mirror should be able to resurrect the dead! If that does not please you, milady, I know of another way to breath life into your husband." Cackled the brown-haired emperor with dark glee. Alecto stood firm and silently asked for him to continue. "You attempted to use a snake to bring Nicodemus back to life, an admirable but foolish plan. Alecto, you must go higher."
"A dragon?" She immediately inquired.
"Exactly! Yes, and I know just where we can find one!" Holding up his hand, he summoned a map showing the surrounding area. She noticed their position had been marked as had a village southeast of their position which Alecto focused on. "The Village Hidden in Grass it is called, a pathetic and lowly village, but one with a wealth of ancient secrets to be plundered. One of those secrets…is a technique I believe is called the Dragon Life Reincarnation. As I said, if a snake cannot breathe new life into your love, then perhaps a dragon can."
By the time he'd finished talking, Alecto had sealed up the pod and was busy shutting down all the monitors and getting them ready to be sealed and made for transportation. Now the fire in her eyes had truly returned, and it was racing through every pore of her body filling the doctor with new life.
"The technique is apparently usable only by members of the Enoshima Clan." Caligula added, further inciting his Master.
"If need be, can I leave you to subdue the entire clan?" She asked without even stopping to look at him.
"May I do what I desire with the rest of the villagers?" He responded with an innocent smile.
In her hands, Alecto held up a glass-like rectangular prism. Multi-colored light burst from the item striking almost all of the computer panels and monitors. Their solid form was transmuted into light particles which quickly and silently were absorbed by the prism. The entire process ended almost as quickly as it began, leaving only the now closed pod. Alecto ran her hand along the smooth metal surface. "Do what you please with them, but I want as many members of this Enoshima Clan intact as possible, understood?"
The innocent smile quickly morphed into murderous grin. "But of course, my Master."
"Good," Instead of rectangle, her next prism container was in the shape of a sphere. The capsule was deconstructed into particles of light that were readily absorbed by the glass-like ball. "Good, then go finish off whoever you were playing with and get ready. We leave for this Hidden Grass Village immediately."
I figure there's a good place to cut things off. Some hope missed in with some political intrigue and healthy dose of foreshadowing. The next few chapters I won't lie, are going to be a bit more action packed and dark so I tried to squeeze some fluff in.
Trêve is French for "truce"
Chienne de vie roughly means "life's a bitch"
Très bien is French for "very well"
As you can probably guess, with Chandler I'm going to try to sprinkle a little French in here and there.
In regards to Ōnoki, please remember this is him before he "picked himself up" thanks to Gaara. Meaning until someone calls out his old ass, he's going to be a talking, floating asshole. My plan here is almost every major village will have an average of two Masters/Servants thus causing the balance of power to start tipping. Obviously, some will be trying to tip it in their favor (*cough* old *cough* bastards). Speaking of bastards, in regards to Caligula, not to offend anyone, but like with Euryale I found GO's interpenetration of him wanting.
To cut a long story short, as one of the most unstable and brutal rulers in history his personality and actions will be exactly what you expect of a psychotic maniac dropped into a feudal-era world; with a Master who DOES NOT CARE so long as her goals are met. I chose the Hidden Grass village for a good reason as a very special someone lives there, and what is to come will leave quite an impact on her.
