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For What Must Be Done
Chapter 2: A Change Is Gonna Come
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-8 years ago-
Five pajama-clad young kids gathered outside of a room in their master's "castle".
They looked into the moonlight lit room at a very foreboding looking closet. Two silver-haired young boys (looking very much alike except for one being smaller, more pale, and having two red dots on his forehead) looked from around the corner and into the room from different sides. A small red-haired girl stood hesitantly behind them trying to look tough... but more than happy to let the boys be in front. And in the back, a six-armed boy hid behind the tallest and roundest of the kids.
"How... how big is the closet monster?" Sakon looked back into the hall, obviously very nervous.
The head of the six-armed boy peeked out behind the biggest one who tried to move from in front of him but to no avail. "IT'S HUGE! Scary! It has ten... BILLION TEETH! And it said that it eats kids! I'm telling you not to go in there!"
And for a moment... all of them considered it. But then like always whenever anyone's bravery seemed to be on the line... the damn girl had to butt in.
"I... I..." she took in a breath and steeled her nerves. "... I'll go in. Since you're all chicken."
The two boys in front turned her a sharp glare that froze her to the spot. "I'm not chicken.." They said in perfect unison.
"You get back," Sakon, the leader, commanded. "The little girl can't go in before the men do. I'll go in before you." He pushed the red-haired girl back and stood in the doorway. Kimimaro sniffed and stood up, braving it out to move next to their leader now that someone else was in the doorway first.
But there was the closet. Looking at them.
Both had stopped and Tayuya huffed what started to sound like a laugh. "Shut up!" Sakon barked and gulped, looking like he was about ready to cry like Kidomaru had earlier. "I just... I... KIMIMARO should go in! He's the new kid!"
"... no." And now he was hiding safely back behind the side of the door.
"Why? You're the one who's supposed to have fought a bunch of grown ups in Mist Village!"
Kimimaro looked back around the corner of the door again. "But... I've never fought with closet monsters before."
... ... ... And in the minds of children, that was PERFECT and totally logical reasoning.
"If you go in first Kimimaro... I'll go in right behind you." The young Jirobu made the first compromise.
The act prompted further bravery. Tayuya stepped up again. "Then me. I can go in there."
Sakon wasn't about to be out done. He was the leader after all. "No! I'll go in right behind him! You come in behind ME, Jirobu!"
... And Kidomaru felt himself to be the most sensible in the face of closet monsters. "... I'll stay in the back and go get help if it eats all of you. I can get out because I'm fast and it'll have to make TWO bites out of Jirobu." And as a child, that was ACTUALLY a compliment.
The marching order was established as they all moved slowly into the room so as to not make noise. In the minds of kids, even if you're all barefoot and moving on carpet you can STILL be quieter. Because closet monsters hear everything. Kimimaro had slid a really sharp and thin bone out of his arm by now, not sure of it's effectiveness against closet monsters, but he wasn't about to chicken out in front of his friends. Not when the leader was right behind him and the girl of their group was more eager than the rest of them to get in there. But now there was bravery in numbers... and that was almost enough. They stopped in front of Kidomaru's closet after walking around a bunch of comic books and plastic building blocks.
Kimimaro reached out for the closet door very slowly, the others "shhhhh"ing each other behind him, the occasional frightened sound being made from each of them. The door lightly creaked and cracked as it was slowly pulled open... though with all of them holding their breath so as to not make noise, the light cracks may have as well been as loud as fireworks.
The door inched open slowly.
They all looked to the side to see in through the crack in the door.
Darkness.
Opening a little wider... a little bit of light was shining through.
... There was a figure inside but they couldn't see what it was.
... Was it moving?
They all held their breath.
The door creeped open a little further.
Something was shuffling.
A shadow cast over the already dark room.
... It was behind them...
"Closet monster!"
All five of them screamed. And scattered in a panic around the room, likely to climb the walls if more than one of them knew how to. They ran around until they all quickly found Kidomaru's bed and dived on top of it. Sakon and Kimimaro hunkered and acted to shield the other three. And then there was the realization... their Orochimaru-sama was there. Tayuya peeked out from under Kimimaro. She called out as best as she could to him given her whisper and tears. She motioned him out.
"Shhhhh. Be quiet an... and g-go back out. He'll e-e-eat y-you..." She sobbed and Jirobu shushed her, pulling her back between her and Kidomaru with Kimimaro and Sakon on the outside. A protective dome as best as they could make one around the brash little girl.
Orochimaru simply... smiled. He reached over and turned on a light... something that none of them had thought to do. He then walked over to the closet and all of them watched intently, feeling a little bit safer and breaking apart their little protective dome of people.
"Now..." he said. "Let's see if there's really some kind of closet monster in here..."
Orochimaru reached out for the closet door, all of the kids bravely trying to look through the crack now. He pulled it open and behold! ...
A big, snarling, red-eyed, black closet monster taking up the entire closet.
The five screamed again and scooted as far to the end of the bed and together as they could as the beast let out the loudest and most terrifying sound they'd ever heard.
Orochimaru however... was undaunted. He simply reached inside the closet quickly with one hand and grabbed the damn thing by the throat. With a wave of his powerful arm, the strongest man in the world threw the monster to the ground. And without a moment's hesitation, he pointed flew through a string of handseals, inhaled, and breathed a massive plume of fire onto it, sustaining it for several seconds before stopping... leaving absolutely nothing behind but a chared ring of missing carpet.
The closet monster was gone.
Panic was gone, survival instinct was gone... and all that was left was that last overwhelming feeling of fear. The five kids began to softly weep, and then cry louder, some trying in vain not to. To be as strong as their adopted father. But he gave no harsh words, only gently shushed them as he walked over to the bed and hugged all five of them together. He told them that they never had to worry about another closet monster. Because they would be stupid now to ever try to eat HIS children again. And they believed him.
... It would be another couple of years before they would put together that it had been a genjutsu. Just an illusion used to conjure up the ritualist killing of the closet monster. It was a symbol. That they had nothing to be afraid of. No man, beast, or even a closet monster would harm HIS kids. Not while he was there to always protect and take care of them. Because he loved them so much that he would even hunt down and kill all of the world's closet monsters if they ever tried to hurt them again. And at that time he had meant every damn word of it.
She didn't know HOW she had managed to get to sleep that night, but she did. The night after that... the night after that... and the night after that.
The topic of the baby was never mentioned again. Even when she passed Kimimaro, nothing was ever mentioned. He acted no differently and surprisingly, neither did she. As if it had all been a bad dream or something, though she knew she'd have to accept that dreaded fate eventually. No one else ever said anything of it, and she was grateful that word didn't spread around the place about their... arrangement... especially since rumors rolled faster than wheels around here.
Things had changed again without her noticing. And for the first time, she welcomed it. Over those next few days, the Sound Five were more akin to how they had been years prior. Back when they still considered themselves children. Laughing, joking, cutting up. Even the small red-haired girl was somehow in more of a chipper mood around them. Jirobu, that fatass, was much less of drag than he usually was, for the first time in a long time not judging everyone around him. Sakon, wasn't his usual provocative self and even managed to be a little nice at times. She wondered if something had gotten into the water. Kidomaru was... yeah. He was Kidomaru, same old trickster and funny guy he had always been. Nothing different except that everyone seemed much more receptive to his relatively jolly attitude, laughing at his jokes and not even getting completely flaming mad at his occasional prank. For the first time in forever being accepted once again as the fun and games they were. Tayuya. Even Tayuya was forgiving after being on the receiving end a couple of times. She couldn't remember a time when she had just... frankly... had a good time. Kimimaro was a part of the surprise as well. Usually everyone went quiet when he came in the room because someone was usually about to get hurt. But he just... hung out with them. And on the rare occasion would even sort of join in on the fun and games before the big mission. But mostly a spectator, seeming as pleased as a Kimimaro could be (which didn't appear to be very much) just to sit by and watch his group.
In retrospect, she would look back on these few days and realize that they had been wonderful days. None of them really knowing, but... somehow unconsciously realizing that things would never be the same.
-The third day-
The team, all four of them: Tayuya, Sakon, Kidomaru, and Jirobu all looked at the new visitor to their campfire gathering... all equally unpleased at his sudden appearance. Because really... the only reason Kabuto ever showed up was to taunt them and rub in how much beneath them he was. Orochimaru-sama's precious pet that none of the other dogs could touch... granted this one was a VERY dangerous dog, but still...
"It's not long until you all have to go fetch Orochimaru-sama's new host. And I just wanted to check and make sure everyone was in perfect condition. Is all well?"
Kidomaru glared across the fire at Kabuto. Kidomaru could usually get along decently well with everyone, and there were very few he didn't tolerate. But he had never liked Kabuto... and held more hate for him than anyone else. This one wore the fake plastered smile of the Devil, and his glasses glinted to where you couldn't see his eyes at the most of suspicious times... as if they held every horrible secret and lie behind them.
"All was well. But then you had to show up..." Brave words from Kidomaru, considering that Kabuto was always trying to provoke them so that they would retaliate, giving him chance to break them apart and have the fun of putting them back together again. Kabuto was a sadist. The worst kind. There was no way around that.
Kabuto smiled the Devil's smile and looked over. The campfire flames flickered and reflected in his glasses where eyes should have been.
"Oh my, it sounds like my company isn't appreciated here."
"It's not," Jirobu chimed in. He sounded as threatening as the enlightened one had.
"You're all welcome to force my departure if you wish." He looked around, the faces of anger growing even more so. But he took pride in seeing everyone remain seated. "No? Of course not."
He leaned forward slowly, casually. Not a bother in the world. He slowly reached his hand into the fire without flinching, holding it there. After a few seconds, he pulled his hand out, covered in fire that began to lift from his unscorched glove and dance in the air, fleeting back and forth like a bug. His eyes followed it and that damned fake smile remained.
"Listen, I'm just here to tell you straight. There are going to be changes soon. They're coming in with the Uchiha, and you can't do anything about it. And I'm afraid that none of you will like them. They're changes to the needs of those who actually matter."
Tayuya was the first to her feet this time, wishing she could kill with a stare. "Get OUT of here you fucking four-eyed bastard..." There was no yelling in her voice, sounding more like a dangerous restrained hiss.
Kabuto's expression was unchanging as he rose to his feet. The fire twirling around his hand flickered out. "Very well. You can be the first to try to make me."
"Shit..." Tayuya hissed through clenched teeth as she took a step back. She immediately regretted her decision. And the rest of her team stood to join her. They may not be the world's closest team... but they weren't about to get their feminine member get broken apart while they stood by and watched.
Kabuto chuckled, playfully cracking his knuckles. "Too bad you're all so pathetic. Believe it or not, I'd really like to have a challenge every now and then."
"I'll be that challenge then."
Kabuto froze, no campfire reflecting in his shocked eyes this time as for a moment, he dared not to move. There was only one person in the village, perhaps in the world, who actually scared Kabuto.
Kimimaro seemed to come out of the darkness, walking briskly into the fiery shades cast by the campfire... straight for Kabuto. Kabuto saw the other four begin to give up a grin of their own. He chuckled in response. His chuckle said this was not a problem. His face said oh shit.
Kimimaro's palm fell onto Kabuto's shoulder. Kabuto merely grinned and adjusted his glasses, as if he had just been discovered.
"As if he'd come out of his basement himself and do something like this without knowing exactly where I am."
A sharp bone spike suddenly shot from the Kaguya's palm into Kabuto's shoulder, and he was gone in a puff of smoke. The Shadow Clone being quite easily dispersed. And in the next few seconds, everyone hesitantly return to sitting on the two logs on each side of the fire.
Kimimaro looked around and listened... just the sounds of a crackling fire, crickets, and a cool fall breeze whisteling lightly past them. Everyone watched him... and Tayuya swallowed. This was the part where he centered her out and gave her a couple of strikes for giving in to Kabuto's provocation and the rest of them for taking to challenge a far superior opponent who could kill them all if he wished. And the look about them... they knew better. They deserved whatever came their way, especially with such an important mission around the corner. It was no time to be fighting with their fellow Sound ninja. They all knew this.
And maybe Kimimaro noticed too as he looked around at them simply watching the campfire in total silence. Perhaps that's why he opted to say nothing, only heading over to where Kabuto had joined them at the side of the fire. He took a seat as if he had just merely come to join them.
Sakon was the first to speak up, after nudging Kidomaru and having him scoot over on the log. Sakon pecked on the empty space between them now. "Come sit over here with us, boss. Have a smore."
All eyes looked to him now and he... felt a bit uncomfortable. He then rose from the ground and everyone assumed that he was just going to give them a parting order and leave. So it was quite to their surprise when he actually dusted off the back of his pants and walked over to have a seat on the log where he had been invited.
WHILE he was taking his seat, Kidomaru decided that the air was a bit to tense at the moment. And if their arriving team leader had been invited to one bit of their "team time" then why not another?
"We were just playing Turn-a-Question. And since you're joining, I guess that makes it your turn. So... uh... what's the captain's favorite drink? Sake?"
Tayuya's grahm cracker-shuriken sailed over at Kidomaru's head. ...He simply leaned forward and caught it in his mouth, crushing it to pieces with a playful snarling sound.
"Shut up, idiot. I don't even want to play this stupid game. You know HE sure as hell doesn't want to."
Jirobu nodded sage-like and Kidomaru was ready to protest but-
"... milk."
... ... ...
All eyes slowly turned to Kimimaro and he looked as if perhaps he had given the wrong answer or something. He glanced between all of the disbelieving eyes, unsure what their problem seemed to be. Was something wrong with milk? It didn't occur to him at all that their disbelief was in that Kaguya Kimimaro was actually playing a game with them. "My favorite drink? ... It's milk, obviously."
Tayuya's mouth moved wordlessly a couple of times, like a gasping fish before she finally found words. "For... uhm... your bones, right?"
"Yes. And general health."
Jirobu was the next to speak up. "And muscles?"
"Right."
There was a pause before Sakon spoke up, looking over at the pale young man. He looked hesitant to ask, but he did so anyway. "Does it help keep away that disease that was eating at you."
It took him a second to think about that one, if he was going to answer it or not. His disease was a touchy subject that he didn't like to dwell on. "It helps."
"Eight tall glasses a day to grow up and be a big boy, right Captain?" Kidomaru grinned stupidly, diverting the questions away from his disease. He knew he didn't like to talk about it.
"Eleven gallons."
"ELEVEN GAL-"
"Yeah."
"Why the hell so much?" Tayuya thought for sure he must have been kidding. It was no damn wonder the cafeteria seldom had milk for anyone's cereal.
"My bloodline," he explained simply. "You wouldn't believe how much calcium it robs from the body. So I have to constantly replenish it."
"What is... your favorite color?" Everyone looked over at Jirobu after his question. It seemed so... random and childish almost. Surely the achiever of Nirvana had more insightful questions.
"White... or maybe light blue. I'm not too sure. Fond of earthy colors too..."
They looked at Kimimaro... then back at Jirobu who was nodding as if he had just gathered critical information. And then... the realization. Kimimaro was telling about himself. It was something that for as long as they could remember, he had never done before. But here he was, voluntarily giving information courtesy of Kidomaru's stupid little game.
And the flood gates opened.
"What's your favorite food, Boss?" Sakon.
"Cheese."
"... figures."
"Does the captain prefer porn or game shows?" ... Kidomaru.
"Porn." Stated quickly without thought and... kind of matter of factly.
That actually got a few laughs.
"Which of the twins do you like better?"
"It better be m-"
"Ukon."
"SON OF A-"
A full round of bellowing laughter that time.
"Have a favorite vacation location?"
"Nope."
"Favorite cuss word!"
"Kimimaro doesn't cuss."
"... shit."
"HE JUST DID! HA!"
"HA! Say it again!"
"... shit?"
... Yet more laughing.
"Who is the prettiest one here?" Sakon posed mockingly.
"Me. Of course."
"DAMMIT! Set up for it!"
"How obvious!"
"Oh my god, he CAN joke!"
"Do you have a favorite sport?"
"Baseball."
"What is your favorite... let's see... NAUGHTY PART OF TAYU-CHAN'S BODY?"
Whistles and hoots that time.
"WHAT THE FUCK? Don't ask such a dumbass question, Kidomaru!"
"Her chest."
"DON'T ANSWER SUCH A DUMBASS QUESTION, KIMIMARO!"
... When was the last time they had all got to laugh together so much like this?
... Why hadn't they?
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A/N: Thank you all who gave me feedback on my last chapter! Hope everyone likes this one and continues to enjoy it!
-C.A.M.E.O.1 and Only: Thank you very much! Here's to hoping that "interesting" ends up being a good thing, yeah? XD
-Mic1988: You know, I've noticed that too! Which I think the little we got to saw her, she certainly does come off that way. I think what I'm going to do is portray her that way as a "facade". And on the inside, deep insecurities that lead to such a facade.
-Kimimaro of the Rock: Gah! I failed! I missed Sunday so how about... before the Sunday after? ^_^; Thank you for your kind words!