This chapter is a bit shorter than my normal, and so I apologize for that. I don't know, I intended for it to be longer, but the way it came out, it just wound up being short lke this. I'm posting it so soon because I figured I'd give a little New Year's treat to my readers- and my last update, he first since Nov., was a late Christmas one I suppose. Happy New Year everyone!!! Don't expect another new chapter for at least a full week though. I've decided I'd rather do regular updates, of either a week or two weeks, although I haven't decided which yet. I'll let you know next chapter.
This chapter is the end of fillers, and we are back into the main plot of the story. I needed the fillers to lead up to this gradually, unlike some noob stories that just jump right in to everything- but I need them no longer, so enjoy! And yes, the end of this chapter is a slight cliffhanger, but I'm sure you can figure out what's happening. I didn't make it confusing or anything..
Discliamer: I don't own Naruto or any of the characters in Naruto, including any members of Akatsuki. Masashi Kishimoto does. I do own a few rights to the Hoshikori family which I made up, however all concepts of chakra(which is Buddhist) and all other Naruto related themes in teh story are obviously not mine. And of course, if anyone should so choose, they can feel free to use Mai or any other characters for their own constructs- just please ask me first.
Dusk and Daybreak
Chapter
7 : The Conviction of Happiness
The Raikage almost couldn't contain his excitement as he read the old, water damaged scroll in his hands. He'd been searching for almost two months now for a way to get back at his old enemy Hoshikori Akio, and this was definitely it. "Heh, 'bout time, huh Hideki-san?"
"Of course, Raikage-sama…I wish you'd let me read the scroll though. You keep going on and on about it..," the Raikage's long-time friend Hideki replied.
"Yeah, yeah.. I told ya, when I'm good an' ready. After this is all settled, ya can read it all ya want. For now, I want ya to do me a favor. First thing in the morning, call Jounin squad 5. They're gonna have a mission to Kusagakure. Make sure none of our squads intercept 'em, and after they leave, you gotta deliver this to the leader of Kusagakure, pronto. Ya can read it on the way. Make sure nobody sees ya giving it to him either, 'cause we're supposed to be on the verge of a war here with 'em after all. I don't want people knowing it was all made up and that we're really trading illegal weapons and drugs with them and all, under the table. The people would go nuts if they knew they were dyin' for nothing.." The Raikage laughed, shoved the scroll into Hideki's hands, and opened a bottle of champagne as Hideki rushed out the door to prepare all the Raikage had ordered him to.
Mai walked confidently into ANBU Headquarters for her squad's next mission assignment. She counted herself rather lucky, even though she felt bad about the reason why. Taiki had taken half a week longer than expected to recover before he could be put back on active duty, and although another ANBU member could have been substituted in his place, the Raikage had instead refrained from ordering missions for Mai's squad. Mai had finally gotten the courage to apologize to Taiki, and he'd brushed it off like it was nothing and even taken her and Eiji out to dinner one night after he got out of the hospital and was supposed to be resting at home.
In the time being, Mai had also read and reread the directions on the scroll her father had given her, and gone back to practicing fanatically every day, much to his disdain. She received a stern lecture about not overtaxing herself, and how the scroll was meant to keep her from acting irrationally, but she still practiced the basics for learning that jutsu any chance she got. It was now almost three weeks after the mishap on the last mission, and although Mai still hadn't mastered that jutsu her father had told her about, after what happened two days before, she felt she must be getting close.
Mai sat there, exhausted after 4 hours of molding chakra and trying to focus it onto the shortest wavelength of light, gamma rays, which she'd thought was impossible. Focusing chakra into X-rays was so difficult to master, because of their high energy… But she couldn't give up, and so, shaking a little as she pulled herself up with help of one of the huge logs used for taijutsu training, she started molding chakra again. After about 10 minutes, she performed the handseals she had memorized from the scroll and focused on the nearby trees.
A weak beam of light shot out, as it had in all of her other attempts; yet just as with those other times, when the light proved to be only weak X-rays, nothing seemed to happen. Mai realized she was too tired to succeed that day, and promised her exhausted body that after one last attempt she would return home.
Yet as she began focusing her chakra, Mai noticed something strange about one of the trees in the center of the grouping before her. Some of its leaves looked brown and dead, which she confirmed upon walking closer. Pulling out her scroll, she read over the effects which the jutsu had on living tissue again, and realized that this was almost exactly the effect he jutsu was meant to create- although the leaves' cells were only injured and dead, not destroyed. Mai longed to continue training, but knew she was too tired for it to do much good, and so returned home.
The next day she had planned to train again, and hopefully get to the same point she had achieved the day before, but with it being Akeno's birthday, there wasn't a minute during the day when she could escape to the training grounds. The jutsu would have to wait.
This time was just a regular old spying mission- maybe they thought Taiki still needed to take it easy- or that because of what had happened, that Mai's squad couldn't handle themselves. She certainly hoped it wasn't the latter. At any rate, they had a mission to Kusagakure, right into the heart of the village, to obtain some military documents, so it wasn't the easiest mission one could be given. Incidentally, Yugito's team, squad 5, had a mission to Kusagakure as well, which had left earlier that morning. Yugito had loved the idea, thinking it hilarious that they might see each other in Kusagakure, but Mai was sensible enough to know that wouldn't happen. Hers was a spying and reconnaissance mission, while her sister would most likely not enter the village at all.
Needless to say, Mai's mission went without a hitch. It was mostly due to luck that it went so easily, but still the ANBU squad carried it out much more quickly than usual. Thank goodness for that genin team and their sensei who were on their way back to Kusagakure while the ANBU lie in the tall grass nearby, planning their entry into the village. The genin went down without a fight, and the jounin teacher with them was pretty pathetic too. After quickly making their way into the village, masking their chakra so the guards of the village gates wouldn't notice anything, they just waited until around midnight, and made their way to the military headquarters. At that hour, Kusagakure only had 3 guards posted for the entire place. Mai and Eiji went in, got the documents, and all four of them shunshined safely away.
"You know, thinking about it, it was almost too easy, don't you think?..", Taiki randomly spoke up, breaking the silence of their camp in the outskirts of The Land of Lightning. Isamu thought about it for a moment, then replied, "True Taiki-san, it was rather easier than expected to get in and back out. But you have to remember that it was probably due to the fact that as far as we know quite a few have been sent to Kirigakure. As we saw, the grasslands around Kusagakure, and the borders, were crawling with Grass-nin. And it was late, and they are obviously just too lax and sure of themselves, even in times of war." Taiki still looked a bit unsure, but nodded and laid down to sleep, Isamu taking first watch.
When Mai's squad returned to Kumogakure the next morning, they dropped off the scroll at the Raikage's office, and after returning to ANBU Headquarters to report on their mission, Isamu returned home. The three childhood friends though had other plans, and went first to see a play that was being shown in town, and then out for an early dinner.
"Dammit man, just ask her already! She isn't going to say no… I mean, you've been seeing her for how long now?.."
"Taiki, it's only been in secret, how many times do I have to remind you of that? So it doesn't count.. And damn, you better not have told anyone… Anyway, Mai's father hates me, and hates you too, and you know it. He'd kill either of us if we even suggested something like-"
"Fine, whatever Eiji. But man, you're passing up a golden opportunity. If she really wants to marry you, what's her father gonna do, send her to a nunnery?" Taiki laughed, walking back to the table, leaving Eiji to carry all three of the group's drinks, and nearly falling over himself in the process.
After they had finished eating and hanging out at the restaurant till almost Mai's 'bedtime', Taiki quickly left the other two and ran off, saying he'd forgotten something back at ANBU Headquarters and needed to go and get it before returning home. Eiji walked Mai towards home.
"Well Eiji, you'd better leave me here," Mai said, glancing down the block at her estate. "You know how my father gets when he sees me hanging around with you and Taiki outside of shinobi duties; thinks you're punks or something. But I'll see you tomorrow."
Mai quickly kissed Eiji goodnight and turned to leave, when he grabbed her arm. Mai turned and looked at Eiji confused. "Yeah Eiji?.." "I um… Well, I was talking with Taiki and.. no wait, that came out wrong. I.. I wanted to ask you something before you head home Mai, that's all…"
Eiji fumbled with his kunai pouch nervously with his free hand, not even realizing he still gripped Mai with the other. What he would give for Taiki to be there right now- after all, he'd been the one who had been so sure this wouldn't end in death. Finally he grasped what his hand had been searching for in his kunai pouch, and he fished it out, shoving it into Mai's hand. "Listen Mai, before I lose the nerve to say this.. I want you to marry me." His hands flew to his mouth, and he looked as though he'd just blurted out some terrible admission, like he was really a girl or something.
Mai stared at him for a moment, then at the small piece of cloth with ribbon tied around it lying in her hand. She opened it, revealing a fairly large ring. "I… I don't know what to say Eiji. I mean, you know what my father will say, and I can't disobey him, I need to honor my family; I'm the heir. I.. Oh, but you know how I wish I could."
Mai glared at the ring like she was trying to burn a hole through it, then handed it back to him. "No.. I can't.. You'll have to ask my father, but you know what he'll say. But I can't marry you unless he says yes. I'm sorry Eiji!.." Mai turned and ran off towards her home, leaving a stunned and depressed Eiji standing in the middle of the street.
The next morning, when Mai woke up and walked to the dining hall for breakfast, her mother pulled her aside. "Mai, I just thought you should know that about an hour ago, one of your friends, Eiji-san, came over and asked to speak with your father. They've been in his study since then, so maybe you'd better go see what's going on. …And, were you crying?.."
"Oh, no Okasama, I'm fine. And I'm sure whatever they're talking about, it won't matter anyway, so I'd rather eat first if that's alright." Mai said sitting down.
About halfway through the meal, a servant came in and told Mai that her father wanted to see her. She walked apprehensively into his study and sat down in the nearest chair. "Otousama, you asked to see me?.."
"Yes. Mai, it's come to my attention that this little punk here wants to marry you." Mai stared at her lap. "At any rate, I've had a long discussion with this boy, and your mother was in here for a while too. Seeing as how unlike most bloodlines, you don't have to marry someone from our family to pass our kekkai genkai on to your children, just like when I married your mother, you could marry anyone really… Of course, you realize that as heir, you should make a good match regardless Mai- and I've been in the process of arranging a betrothal for you with that young man from the Mitsuko clan."
Mai tried not to remind herself of that guy, from back in her days at the Academy way back when. The most impersonal, nerdiest, uncouth freak that ever walked the face of the earth was all she could recall. Images of the boy, who surely hadn't bathed in over a week, dressed in a checkered dress shirt and tortoise shell glasses, picking his nose while he sat at the front of class rambling on and on about the quantum mechanics of chakra control flooded her mind, and she shuddered before finally looking up to meet her father's eyes.
Akio continued though, and Mai needn't have worried. "However, as I said, I've had a long talk with your little punk friend here, and although I don't know where he got the sudden idea to ask for my permission to marry you… If he is able to support you in what I deem an adequate way, until the time when you will become the head of the Hoshikori family, then I will allow you to marry him. He's assured me that his pay from ANBU and working as a medic-nin will meet my requirements, and so I've okayed it. At any rate, I'm going to have some breakfast." Akio got up from behind his desk and walked out of the room, leaving Mai speechless.
Eiji however got up and ran over to Mai, catching her up in a huge hug, and handing her back her engagement ring, snapping her out of her shock, and resulting in a very long and passionate kiss.
Mai and Eiji probably would have remained there, basking in their success, and unable to let go of each other, if the alarmed voices of Mai's mother and father hadn't sounded from the hallway. If it wasn't one thing, it was something else in this household… Mai sighed and let go of Eiji, as the voices came closer and she was able to make out bits of what they were saying. "..don't understand Midori.. was just routine… all dead?!" "I don't… Oh Akio…"
The door to Otousama's study burst back open, and Mai thanked her stars that she'd already pulled away from Eiji. "Where's my coat? It's pouring rain outside!! Mai, have you seen my coat?!" He asked, turning frantically to Mai, then turning immediately back to searching the room, not even waiting for an answer. "Um, no, why Otousama?.. What's wrong?!.."
"Your sister. That damned mission the Raikage gave her- I'll bet he knew it was a suicide mission, the bastard! A Jounin just came to the door, gave a message to one of the servants. Your mother opened it and nearly collapsed. Yugito's entire team was killed by Grass-nin. She's in the hospital now, with some kind of burn to her stomach, a ruptured aorta, and severe head trauma! ANBU found her, but they don't think she's going to live through the hour. Now where is my damn coat!!!" Mai hurried to help her father find his damn coat, not even noticing when Eiji quickly left.
Meanwhile, Zetsu was silently returning to Akatsuki eadquarters. He truly couldn't understand why Hidan and Kakuzu had spent two weeks in the vicinity of Kumogakure, and had found no trace of the Nibi jinchuuriki, yet it had taken Zetsu roughly 10 minutes to find the jinchuuriki, and it wasn't even in Kumogakure. It was lying on the ground near Kusagakure, 3 other ninja dead around it. He would have taken that opportunity to capture it, but Kumogakure ANBU just happened to show up, and after all, it wasn't his assignment, so bringing unwarranted attention by killing all of those ANBU would not bode well with Leader-sama. "We could've gotten it though you know. After all, those two idiots couldn't even find it, so.." "Hey, go easy on them. You realize of course that the seal which had been placed on that jinchuuriki was just exceptionally strong. The Nibi's chakra shouldn't be so hard to detect anymore, and most likely, people will realize what that jinchuuriki really is and perhaps make Akatsuki's job a lot easier now." "You're still an idiot. It was laying right there. Like we couldn't take out 4 ANBU if we really needed to." Zetsu's two sides argued with each other
"Um, Zetsu-san?... Could you please stop fighting? I'm sure there will be other opportunities to capture the jinchuuriki you need, so you really shouldn't argue, it isn't nice." Tobi spoke up uncertainly, trying to be a good boy, since all good boys know it isn't good to fight. Zetsu turned and appraised him for a moment, then both sides replied, "Just shut up Tobi, unless you want to be tonight's dinner!" Tobi shut up, and the two returned to Headquarters in an uneasy silence. Zetsu had a lot to report to Leader-sama. The time to act on this jinchuuriki would be pretty soon.
And here are the rest of Mai's kekkai genkai jutsus, as promised. Oh, I realized I worded something wrong last time. I meant to say that she has 3 powerful jutsus, and only 2 that are really what I'd consider Akatsuki caliber. Then I said that none of those were them- meaning none of the genjutsu were the one's I'd consider Akatsuki level. But that Ultraviolet Genjutsu.. I would consider that one of her top 3 most powerful though. Just wanted to clear that up. Anyway, on to the jutsus...
Ninjutsu
Visible Light- Raiton: Mai no Hagane (Lighting Release: Brightness of the Sun) This jutsu is able to focus the visible light portion of the spectrum, thereby creating an area that is lit up with light 'as bright as the sun'. The rays can be focused or spread out, depending on the brightness desired, though even when spread out it is still enough to blind victims temporarily.
X-rays- Raiton: Toushi Seru Toukai Inmetsu (Lightning Release: X-ray Cell Hidden Destruction) Much like Mai's most powerful jutsu(see below), this jutsu causes damage to cells- but unlike that one doesn't destroy them or their atomic structure. It is unable to even pierce the cell walls of some types of body cells(muscle cells, neurons, etc.) This jutsu doesn't normally kill its victims, but does incapacitate them for a time, and render most victims unconscious- and can kill if Mai uses enough of chakra, even though she'll wind up just about unconscious from chakra depletion afterwards. Since it uses high energy, long wavelength X-rays, the jutsu also usually causes long term damage like cancer later in life, even from 1 attack. These sure aren't the X-rays you get at the hospital!! This attack has a wide range and therefore can be used on a large group at once, and from a sizable distance away.
Gamma Rays- Raiton: Kujo, Ranpu Ichidou no Kokushibyou (Lightning Release: Extermination, Light Ray of Black) This jutsu is so called because it doesn't use visible light, but hard to detect and invisible high energy, long gamma ray bursts. A powerful and focused attack, it sends the electromagnetic rays at a fixed target, and breaks down and destroys their cells, causing a quick and very painful death. This is Mai's most powerful jutsu, but can only be used on smaller targets, like three people or less, and only at close range; it can be used on much larger targets if Mai has a lot of chakra stored up, but she'll pass out and can die from doing so. Also, it understandably drains almost all of her chakra, so isn't used by her often.