Butterflies

"Me? I'm nobody. I'm not skilled like Uchiha-san. I am not passionate like Haruno-san. I am not smart like Nara-san. I'm not as strong as Chouji-san. I'm not as collected as Aburame-san. Or as pretty as Yamanaka-san. I'm not as confident as Inuzuka-san. If anything, I'm like Hyuuga-san, socially awkward. Oh wait, no, she's just shy. The socially awkward one is me." OC! Team 7 remix!

Chapter 74 – Lies of Silence

A/N: I know that this chapter will be... different. Aya's not exactly in a good place because of how things go. I tried to keep the swearing to a minimum, but I know that Aya's character in this and likely the coming few chapters isn't going to be very likeable. She'll just have to work through it like every other human being alive.

8-8

"…" I turn on my heel, heading right back into the house. "HATAKE KAKASHI! GET YOUR ASS OUT HERE! NOW!"

In half a heartbeat five shinobi are in the front yard with me, another ten are surrounding the four outside. Not one of them looks happy at this little reunion. "N-nee-chan?" The little boy sounds –and looks– about ready to cry.

"It's alright, Ki-chan, Nee-chan will protect you, okay?" The girl sounds about ready to go on herself, but there's a steel in her eyes that lets me know she'll die before she lets anything happen to her little brother. It's almost poetic that neither turns to –who I assume are– their parents.

"Show of hands. Who here knew that Miwako and Satsuma were still alive?" I demand. The girl looks shocked. Yeah, I thought so. The boy looks confused. The two in question look hurt.

Two hands go up. Hitomi's and Kashi-nii's.

"Mitarashi-san, I need Senju-san here. Tell her I know that there'll be a council meeting soon, and explain that it'll be about exactly what you see here. I'll also need Dragon, with or without mask. I don't care. Get daddy too if you can." Mitarashi-san makes sure to give her one time friend a dark look – one promising a most painful death, that she so deserves right now.

"What are your names?" I turn to the children.

"This is Kenshin-chan, he's three." She begins, scared but determined. "I'm Hoshie, I'm five."

"You are their children?" I ask.

"Nn. Mama talks about you sometimes, Aya-nee." Hoshie says. "… I can tell you're angry. Will you hurt Ki-chan?"

"No." I don't even think about it. "No one here will hurt either of you." Tsu hands me my kodachis. I nod, stuffing them into my sleeves where they belong. I do make sure they're strapped onto my gloves, as they should be, but I don't put too much effort into it.

I walk up to the gate opening it. "You four, inside. Hoshie, you and your little brother into the house. Sakiko is there waiting for you. Isn't that right, Imouto-chan?" I turn finding the front door sliding open. Sakiko is there, in her kimono, but no makeup yet. She offers a lopsided grin to show she knows she'll get in trouble for this later. "Saki, would you mind borrowing Hoshie one of your kimonos? We still have a concert to give, and it wouldn't do to have her feeling left out."

"You can count on me, ya know!" Saki assures me. Already motioning for Hoshie and Kenshin to follow her. "Yuzuki and Katsuo are in the hall. I'll introduce you, but please don't let them freak you out. They're kinda stupid sometimes."

"NO WE'RE NOT!" I hear the two shouting from just on the other side of the door leading into the hallway.

"And don't mind my sword. I thought we were under attack, ya know?"

I wait almost a full minute, the silence around me deafening. "Mom. I need you to get the boy a kimono as well. We don't have anyone the same size he can borrow one from."

Miwako looks to mom, hurt. "Don't you give me that look! I was there for her!" Mom defends.

"Mom, no. We are not playing into her games. You are mom, daddy is daddy. These two are dead to me. Please. The kimono." She nods, leaving without another word. "You two, up against the wall. If either of you even looks funny again, I cannot promise someone here won't twitch and take your head."

8-8

"Aya? What's…? Nevermind." Senju-san rubs her forehead, already feeling a headache coming. "Shizune?"

"Right away, Tsunade-sama." Katou-san knows exactly what's needed: the official and unofficial documents on Namiki Miwako and Namiki Satsuma. There should be a reason why two legally dead individuals are currently in my compound.

"There's more, Senju-san. Other than the obvious pregnancy, there are two children. One is five, the other is three. Both upstairs with Sakiko and the others." I explain, my tone professional.

Tsume-san is here as well, and she looks ready to erupt. "CAT!"

"At once." I hate wearing foundation, I can never identify things through its scent; not as well as I can without the handicap. So, obviously Cat was just here. Note to self, no more foundation. I don't need it anyway.

"Daddy?" I ask, wondering if he knows anything. He doesn't answer, but there's a fire in his eyes that definitely isn't normally there.

"Aya, we'll need to hold a meeting in your office. This needs to be sorted out." Senju-san demands. She knows I want in, so I won't be a brat about the wording.

"As soon as Cat and Katou-san are back." I agree, fire in my tone.

"Cute scar by the way, princess." Daddy says, obviously trying to lighten the mood.

"Daddy, we have a plausible zombie apocalypse, and you're talking about that?" I shoot him down.

"Are you saying it isn't cute?"

"Don't change the subject."

"So you don't like it."

"… I know what you're doing. You know that I know what you're doing. I know that you know. So how about-"

"Aya…?" He tries again.

"Two members of my clan return from the dead, one pregnant, and dragging two pups along for the hell of it. Do you think I'm sitting this out?" I challenge.

"Then calm down, or I start pulling rank." He counters. I don't like it, but the man makes sense. I close my eyes, taking deep, soothing breaths. Tsu and Hitomi put a hand on either of my shoulders as well.

"So much for a quiet afternoon." I complain, sighing, annoyed and worn out. "Come, we might as well get comfortable in my office while we wait. Standing around in the sun is doing none of us any favours."

8-8

"No, Dragon, I'm not activating the seals until those two are back. So there'd better be no shouting to scare the kids." I say, motioning for everyone to have a seat. Parrot and Sloth are keeping Miwako and Satsuma in check, but I do offer Miwako a chair so she can rest her feet. Medics are funny like that.

"Thank you, b-"

I glare. "Finish that sentence." I dare her. She's smart enough not to. "Does anyone want a snack or something to drink while we wait? Yasu-nee's been busy all afternoon, as usual."

"We can wait." Dragon dares anyone to challenge her. No one does. I shrug, not caring. "In the meantime, I'm curious wha-"

"Dragon." I cut her off. "I trust those in this den, but you are asking for information that might well be Anbu related. I'd rather not have curious little ears picking any of it up." As if on cue, the door slides open. Sakiko comes in with Hoshie – who's wearing a peach furisode kimono with violet butterflies. I always did like that kimono, but it's really weird seeing a mini-me without glasses wearing it.

"S-sorry. Yasu-nee sent us in here with snacks, ya know." Saki says, carrying a tray with snacks. Hoshie is carrying a pot of tea.

"I'm not upset, Imouto-chan. If anything important was being discussed, I'd have sealed the room. You know that." I tell her, smiling. I help the both of them with their burdens, setting them on my desk. "You really should go into my room and put on some lipstick, you know. It wouldn't do if my cuties weren't looking their best when our guests arrive."

"… Will you help me?" Saki asks. Her eyes are begging me to get away from a situation she knows is upsetting me. "Shie-chan knows some really funny stories about you, when you were little, ya know. And Katsuo and me aren't even fighting anymore, ya know." Saki and her nicknames.

"Mom will help you pick out the best one." I say, not liking how she deflates. "For now, I want you to pick out a song for us. A duet, so for just the two of us. Nothing too sappy though, okay?" She looks a little happy about that. "And if you pick one I might like… you might be able to talk me into a second one too. Maybe a flute duet?"

"So one singing duet and one shinobue duet?" She's more than excited about that – she's almost walking on clouds.

"Only if you pick one I like." I remind her. "And the shinobue piece doesn't have to be a duet. I can always figure something out, if you find a really nice solo."

"… Alright. But then you gotta promise not to get upset." She demands. "And don't lie, Aya-nee. I can tell when you're upset, ya know."

"I can't promise that." I tell her honestly. "But I can promise that if it gets too much for me, then I'll let daddy and the others handle it. Does that sound fair?"

"… Fine, but then I want Chouji-kun in here with you. And Naru-nii!" She's being really pushy, she must be more worried than I thought.

"Fine." I cave, knowing she's going to be moping about otherwise. And I could really use the emotional support anyway. "You mind calling them for me?"

8-8

"Alright, settle down everyone!" I call out. "Katou-san, the seals if you would?" The buzzing sound and the locking mechanism announce that we're free to talk.

"Now let's get a few things straight from now. This is Namiki clan business, as such the only one with more authority than myself in this matter is Senju-san. Dragon, you are more than welcome to rip both of them a new hole to breathe from, once the investigation is complete, so long as the child in Miwako's womb is unaffected. Questions so far?" There are none.

"Good. The let's start with the Anbu records. What is known?" I demand.

"Last known mission was to locate one Namiki Satsuma who was spotted in a suspected Mist rebel camp in the Land of Water. Not surprisingly, Operatives Dog and Rabbit were present." Cat explains. "The fourth team member is noted but unavailable for questioning. On return to Konoha, Operative Dog reported to the Third instead of to the Anbu HQ. Meaning that he followed protocol should one or more members go rogue during the mission."

I thought as much. Kashi-nii was always a stickler for the rules. "Katou-san?"

"Officially, Miwako was never declared a rogue. There was no mention of what happened. The Third likely didn't want the stigma for the last Namiki. So Miwako was officially sent on a solo mission immediately after and declared dead two weeks later. No further mention of her is ever made." So that's why I was only brought to the orphanage two weeks after she was supposed to return.

"What of Satsuma?" I ask.

"His team was wiped out, his body never found. There was talk of plausible amnesia, which might explain why he never returned on his own." Katou-san explains. "That was the official briefing for their mission to the Land of Water."

"So in other words, the Third was being a sentimental, senile softie for sending Miwako in the first place." I drone. Everyone tenses, but no one disagrees with me.

"Actually, Miwako was the one that discovered the tip. Her records show an almost unhealthy obsession over anything Satsuma related." Cat counters. "The Anbu commander at the time agreed to let her go on the basis that she needed closure."

"I'll guess that person was made to step down not long after this mission." I turn to Dragon.

"Nn. I was appointed a month later." She agrees with me.

"Shocking. So, let's deal with the eyewitnesses then. Kashi-nii?" I turn my full attention to him.

"Not much to say. We found Satsuma four days into our search. She jogged his memory, but he still felt compelled to help. She refused to return without him, and he refused to return." He sounds a bit too professional. He blew up on her before leaving, knowing him.

"What, not bringing up how you threatened me?" Miwako sounds amused.

"When it's your turn to talk, I'll let you know." I tell her coldly. She doesn't look too happy, but she quiets down all the same. "Kashi-nii. You were the only one that ever said a word about Miwako after the mission. Why?"

"The Third ordered Hitomi, Itachi and myself to stay quiet. No one was to know. Especially not you." He explains. "He feared you'd either be hated for being the child of two rogues, or worse… that you'd go rogue yourself."

"… Not unfounded, considering who I was at the time…" I admit. "Satsuma, you're the root to this. I'll hear your story first."

He winces, but Miwako opens her mouth to say something. "I will warn you only once." I interrupt whatever it is she thinks she has the right to say. "Toy with me right now, and you'll be entertaining Ibiki. Pregnancy or no, you both should have been declared rogues and killed on sight. So we'll also have to discuss how you managed to get into the village without Anbu detaining you before you could even make it to my gate."

They both look really uncomfortable. They probably figured that seeing as their fates are in my hands –which is true, so long as Senju-san allows it– they'd get off with a slap on the wrist.

"I will ask one last time. Satsuma, why did you disappear?" I press.

"… My team… we were ambushed on a routine border patrol." That's a lie. Medics aren't sent on border patrols unless there's an emergency or there's suspicion of war on the horizon. "The rumours of a civil war brewing in Water made the Third almost paranoid, so all patrols were being sent out with medics at the time." Hmm. Senju-san can confirm if that's true. There's bound to be records of it.

"Two Mist teams were hashing it out. One with slashed headbands, one without. Probably one of the early rebel factions. Our team captain suggested we-" I listen to his tale, looking for holes wherever I can. I find his mysterious survival curious, but even more so that he passes out on the coast of the Land of Fire and wakes up on an island in the Land of Water. That's completely crap. Either the rebels planted him there, or he's lying. Not surprisingly, the first group that finds him is Mist rebels. One… Terumi Mei happens to be in that group. The name doesn't mean anything to me, but that's for another time.

He speaks of his time among the rebels, how they helped him recover. How he slowly started remembering his medical training, but not much else. Then a Konoha team finds them, asking for him specifically, but by the name Satsuma. He was going by Mizuma at the time, because he couldn't remember his name.

"Seeing the wolf mask… it clicked. It all clicked. Growing up in Konoha, my genin team, my sensei, Miwako… Aya…" I listen, but this isn't affecting me in the least. He remembers it all, eight years in the past. Why does it still take him another eight years to return? "But… they needed me."

"Well, that's enough of that." I cut him off. He remembers his child, and chooses another villages rogues over her. Enough for any jury, but more than enough for me. "Miwako. You find him, he remembers. Why didn't you drag him back kicking and screaming?"

"We were in the middle of a rebel base. We'd never make it out alive." She tries.

"So you stay with him instead." I intone. My face, my eyes, my tone, everything about me is completely blank, coldly neutral. "Why?"

She looks away from me. "He needed me."

"You mean you needed him." I correct. She doesn't react. "You abandoned your only child at the time. Your village. Your friends. Your post as an Anbu Operative. Your pack and your den. To chase after a piece of ass."

"Don't you dare speak of your father that way." She warns, her tone dark.

"My father?" I ask, mock curiosity in my tone. "Daddy, I don't remember you ever abandoning me. Do you?"

"Aya, this isn't the time for that." Daddy chastises me.

"You're right. So. Let's sum this up, shall we?" I fold my hands in front of my face to give no hint as to what I'm feeling, just like the Third used to. "Satsuma remembers who he is, where he belongs. He chooses to abandon that to help rebels fighting a war in a land that was never his own."

The man flinches, not liking how I word that.

"And Miwako, after discovering that he's consciously gone rogue, chooses to go rogue with him. Sides with those same rebels, and probably helped train them on top of that. And that's not even mentioning a very carefully worded threat to her Anbu team if they try to force her or Satsuma to do anything they don't want to do." She doesn't flinch. She stubbornly meets my gaze as if she has nothing to be ashamed of. "Am I missing anything?"

"Yes, you are. I returned to Konoha to get you." Miwako claims. "The Third refused to even consider the option."

"Good." I say. That throws her for a loop. She no longer looks sure of herself. "What were you expecting? A thank you?"

"Aya, I wanted you to be with us! To be with your pack!" She tries.

"My pack is here. My den is here. My territory is here." I tell her, bursting her little cotton candy cloud of fantasy from whatever the hell she's been smoking for the last eight years. "Let me remind you just what the hell you ignoring here, Miwako. You had more duties than merely the missions given to you. Or have you forgotten his legacy?"

That hits her. Hard.

"So while you were off chasing after ghosts, I was stuck here picking up your slack. Six years old, living on my own. Defending the blonde living across the hall from me, and making sure he never knew it. Making sure he always had food in his fridge. Making sure he was home by a certain time."

"That was you!?" Naru-nii sounds shocked.

"Who do you think would put a chocolate muffin in your fridge whenever you ran low on instant ramen?" I point out. He rolls his eyes. Hindsight is always twenty-twenty. "Anyway… to the matter at hand. Why return? Why now?"

"… The civil war ended." Satsuma says, but I can tell by his tone that he's holding something back.

"Oh, and when did it end?" I press. I can tell I'm not the only one noticing that he's getting more and more uncomfortable.

"… Recently." He tries.

"Obviously you prefer talking to Ibiki. I'm sure he knows how-"

"A year and four months ago." He answers. Much better.

"So, why return? Why now? I'm sure Mist has a place for you." I am not giving up. Not until I know the whole story.

"…" He and Miwako share a look, probably knowing that their answer is going to piss me off. "We were hoping to…"

"Be a family again. For me to be waiting here after all these years of thinking you were dead, pining over my long lost mama and papa. Is that it?" They don't answer. "It must have been hard. Seeing Hoshie every day. She looks just like I did at that age." They wince. I'm being petty, and I don't care. "I will ask you one last time. Why did you return now? The civil war ended over a year ago."

They don't answer once again.

"Hnn. It seems to me neither of you believe my threats hold water." I intone. "Senju-san. I believe they've said everything they are willing to. I propose we transfer them to T&I for processing. Let's see just how much of their story holds up under Ibiki's tender hand."

"… Why!?" Miwako finally loses her cool. Sloth grabs her, keeping her firmly in her seat. "What happened to you!? What happened to my baby that just wanted me to tuck her in!?"

"She grew up, Miwako." I tell her coldly. "She spent seven years alone, without her pack, without her den, without the warmth she craved. And all because you placed your mate above your pup." I stand, walking around my desk and towards the door. "You've wasted enough of my time. Daddy, you can take it from here. Hoshie, Kenshin and the unborn baby are Namikis. I will take legal custody of them."

"I da-" There's a muffled choking sound. Not too surprising seeing as I just grabbed Miwako by the throat. She tries struggling, but frankly her not being allowed to use chakra due to the pregnancy and two Anbu Operatives ready to cut her down if she attacks me…? The deck is stacked against her.

"You, what. Dare me to try?" I challenge. "Miwako. You're both legally dead, remember?" I release her.

"Aya… please…" Satsuma tries.

"Please?" I turn to him, fire in my eyes.

"Aya." Chouji wraps an arm around my middle, knowing I'm about to start lashing out again. "Enough. Please, let's go." He whispers into my ear, his tone begging.

8-8

And just imagine. After that heart-warming scene, I get to welcome people into our den, all bringing and expecting a festive mood and cheer! Yea!

No one's surprised when I take my first bottle of sake to ease the tension.

It isn't until Ikoku decides that she and I need to sing a duet that I start to really let it all fall away though. She's a horrible singer, and she obviously knows it. Still, she sings right alongside me. Off-key, scratchy and a slight slur to show she's had a few herself. Ironically, she picked 'I will survive'. Everyone loves our performance; don't ask me why. I think they're so wasted that dying alley cats could entertain them.

After that, Kin claims she deserves to sing a song with me. And Sakiko reminds me that we still need to do our two songs. I roll my eyes, but find myself smiling anyway. Hoshie eventually gets dragged into it too, even though she doesn't know any of the words. Even Yuzuki gets in on the action! Kami-sama, I love my pack so much right now!

I need this so, so bad.

8-8

"It has come to my attention that Namiki Miwako and Satsuma have been sighted in the village." Shimura Danzo begins. I don't react, not yet. "Sighted entering the Namiki compound, no less. What does Namiki-san have to say about this?"

"That you should leave Namiki matters to the Namikis." I intone, unimpressed. The room is engulfed in unhappy murmurs. "Silence!" I demand. "Shimura-san, seeing as you have a scout camped out in a tree just outside my compound, I'm sure you are well aware that Senju-san and Dragon were both called in immediately after the pair you describe entered my compound. And that is ignoring that they entered under armed guard. However, until there is a story to tell, the Namiki clan has nothing to say on the matter. You may ask Dragon for more information, if you wish."

"And wha-"

"Did I stutter, Shimura-san?" I know he wants to know about the other two. "I would advise that you mind Shimura clan business. Because if you continue to mind mine, I will kindly return the favour." I warn, glaring at him.

"What are you implying, Namiki-san?"

"I imply nothing, Shimura. I am threatening. Continue to press this and you will find one scout after another, headless and on your doorstep. I grow tired of these cat and mouse games. Either you accuse me of something that Senju-san is not aware of, or you shut the hell up."

He eyes me, wary and calculating.

"If that is all this council has to say at this time?" I demand.

"Actually, there is… another matter." Senju-san says, mutely asking me to calm down. I AM CALM! "The new Mizukage has come to address this very matter." She motions to the Anbu guards at the door – Sheep and Mouse, I'm not very close to either.

The doors open, and a tall, busty redhead walks in. She isn't wearing the Mizukage robe or hat. And she's flanked by two shinobi I've never seen before. One with light blue hair and an eyepatch, the other with funny glasses and weird gear covering both ears and two hilts peeking up over his left shoulder.

"Thank you for having us, Hokage-sama." The redhead speaks formally, bowing respectfully to Senju-san. "I am Terumi Mei, the Fifth Mizukage." And now she has my undivided attention. "I am here on behalf of Namikis Miwako and Satsuma. And to thank Konoha for allowing them to aid us these long years."

I don't react, but Kami-sama I want to laugh so hard right now. "So, Terumi-san. You claim that my clansmen were aiding you with Konoha's full knowledge and permission." I say, covering the lower part of my face. The room goes silent. They've seen just how I can be when I get like this.

"Clansmen?" She looks surprised by that.

"Namiki Aya. Head of the recently established Namiki clan." I introduce myself. "I must confess, I was never made aware of the matter of which you speak. Curious, don't you think?"

"We had an understanding with the Third Hokage." She claims.

"I see. And yet, the next of kin and clan head was not made aware. What kind of… understanding did you have with our Hokage at the time?" I smell blood. Her story is so full of holes it's bleeding in plain sight.

"… I don't see how that is your concern." She tries. Oh, really?

"Allow me to explain just how this is my concern. You had one biological Namiki and one Namiki in name only, in your service for a minimum of eight years. Without my knowledge or permission. No payments for services rendered has been made over even mentioned. As the head of the Namiki clan, I find that… unbecoming. Doubly so, given the… peculiarities of your claims."

That trips her up. She can't talk her way out of that, not without spilling the beans or implicating either herself or the two she's here to 'help'.

"My apologies. Perhaps we could discuss these matters… privately?" She offers, sizing me up completely different than before I opened my mouth. Oh yes, I noticed just how quickly she picked me out of the crowd.

"You may discuss this with Senju-san, our jounin commander and myself, yes. I'm sure your explanation will be most… enlightening." I say, my tone neutral. But she no doubt knows that I don't buy into her tale.

"I look forward to it." She claims. I fight the snort. She won't think that after the meeting.

"Was there anything else anyone wished to discuss?" Senju-san says, knowing I'm this closed to making another international incident. Just because I smoothed things over with those Sand delegates, doesn't mean it wasn't an international incident. I just love meeting new and interesting people.

No one does. So the meeting is adjourned. Not surprisingly, daddy, Senju-san and Terumi-san –and guards– don't leave with the crowd.

Senju-san signs that the Anbu guards should wait outside. "I don't believe I wish to discuss Namiki clan matters with two guards that have nothing to do with it." I say.

"I understand. Ao, Choujurou, please wait outside." Terumi-san says. They hesitate, but one glare from her and they scamper through the door. Daddy casts a privacy jutsu.

"Very well, Terumi-san. What pleasant and thought out lies have you got to tell me?" I don't beat around the bush. She looks slightly surprised. "I've already spoke to both of them. I am aware of the truth as they speak it. No, I won't tell you what I know."

"… I see." She looks saddened by that. Aww, poor widdle baby. She leans against the table, on the civilian side. "… You are aware that these are your parents?"

"You are aware that I'd conned eighty-two people to get enough money to bury two corpses I didn't have? When I was six years old?" I counter. "Don't look to play the sympathy card with me, Terumi-san. Speak the truth, or I promise you will regret starting this conversation."

She bristles, obviously not used to people speaking to her like that. Tough. She sighs. "Where are you keeping Hoshie and Kenshin?"

"Terumi-san. I do not do cat and mouse. I do wolf and prey. You've no doubt had plenty of dealings with Miwako in eight years." I warn her for the last time. "What do you have to say regarding the kidnapping, brainwashing and subjugation of Namiki Satsuma?"

"We never-"

"So, you claim that a Konoha medic passed out on the coast of the Land of Fire, drifted four hundred kilometres through shark infested waters, to an island in the Land of Water. Where he was then mysteriously found by a group being led by you personally. Is that correct?" She stares, but doesn't answer. "You were a rebel leader, fighting a losing battle. You found a medic capable of holding his own in battle and you needed his skills. Then when his wife came, you had even more ammunition against a tyrant. Don't think I can't do the math."

"Aya, you-"

"Did I give you permission to call me in such a familiar way?"

"Sweetie~eeee." Daddy warns.

"If you, or anyone in this world thinks I will bend to this woman, then you do not know me half as well as you think." I warn, my tone dark. "Terumi-san. I know why you are truly here. I know why they are here. Your consciences have been eating away at you." She winces. "You know now, just as you knew then, that there was someone dear to them struggling because of your choices. At the time, you could drown it out, because your wounded were being healed, your dying had their pain eased so they could die in peace. But after the war ended? Every time they looked at Hoshie, they saw me. That's why they tried to distance themselves from her."

All three of them look at me funny, wondering how I even know that. "It's in her eyes. It's how her little brother turns to her instead of his parents when he's scared. It's in how neither of them are even slightly scared when surrounded by complete and total strangers, most of which are drunk and loud. I've survived only because I can read people. So be smart enough not to underestimate me. I promise, you'll regret it if you do."

Silence. Always silence. Why can no one just admit they were a complete douchebag and try to make things right? Oh right, because words won't give me back my childhood. That's why.

"Now, Terumi-san. Are you going to come clean and admit you wrongdoings to the daughter of those you used abused for years? Or are you going to continue with your pretty lies and let your conscience eat away at the last bit of humanity left in you?"

More silence. "Yeah. That's what I thought. So what were you hoping to achieve, exactly?"

"… To smooth things over, so that this didn't have to happen." She admits.

"Well. That worked out splendidly." I drone sarcastically. "Well, now that it's happening. How do you intend to convince me not to have two traitors and rogues executed?"

That trips her up. Well and truly. Her eyes widen, her face is drained of colour and likely feeling.

"I buried them once. I've mourned them ever since. Do you really think I would hesitate to do it again?"

"I… I'm sorry, N-namiki-san."

"That doesn't answer my question, Terumi-san."

"What do you want?"

The truth. Closure. A chance to put this behind me and move on with my life. "Why don't you make an offer and see if you understand the depths of your crimes against my clan?" Against me!

She starts calculating, out loud, how much Ryou an A-ranked mission for those years comes up to.

I snort. "Daddy, drop the jutsu." I demand walking towards the door. He doesn't.

Snap!

The soundproofed barrier shatters. I feel daddy wince from the backlash. Don't say I didn't warn you.

"Terumi. Coming here was a mistake. They should have stayed dead."

8-8

End Chapter 74

8-8

A/N: As I said, Aya isn't a very nice person right now. She has no idea how to cope, and really, I don't blame her. How do you cope with something like this? To find out that THE defining moment in your life is a lie?