Disclaimer: I do NOT own Naruto. I DO own Youshi Garukin (Yes, he's back! It's the prequel silly.) Ai Mizuri (now known as Kaori) is owned by xEMOtIoNaLLyCOnSTipaTEDx- Aya Kiriyama remains the sole property of Aya-Sama3000.
Chapter Twelve - Outcast
Six year Kaisuke sat in the corner of his closet, hiding. The past year had turned his life upside down. Going from happy, well happy (ish), to a living nightmare, a world filled with fear.
His father, a once caring, loving man had changed, almost overnight, into a monster far more terrifying than the one he once believed occupied the very closet he now sought shelter in.
Ever since that night, shortly after his fifth birthday, a night Kaisuke couldn't even remember properly, his father had turned vicious towards him.
Kaisuke would plead with his mother not to leave him, would break down in to uncontrollable tears once alone, but try as he might, he just couldn't tell her why. Each time his mother would beg him to tell her, he would just clam up. The threat from his father weighting heavily on him as he refused to answer.
You say one word about this to your mother, and she's next!
Kaisuke was in no doubt that his father meant that threat.
So now, Kaisuke spent most of his time either, right next to his mother, afraid to let her out of his sight, or, if she was away on another mission, as far away from his father as possible. Most weekends, when his mother was away, were spent at either Uncle Naruto's house or round at Uncle Neji's.
***
Kaori was just heading home, her patrol had been a boringly quiet one today. She found her mind drifting back to the days of dodging windows, and smiled at the memory of their shocked faces when she informed them that she knew.
She sighed heavily and shook her head, clearing the images. Sasuke, although everyone now knew he was still alive, was long gone. Not one single person knew where, or even how, he was. As for Sakura, Kaori sighed again, if it wasn't for Kaisuke, Sakura would probably still be a walking ghost.
Kaori wanted nothing more than to go find Sasuke, drag him back if necessary and make them fix things.
There just had to be a way to fix things. It was obvious to a blind, deaf idiot that Sakura had never stopped loving Sasuke, that her relationship with Youshi was a forced one. Kaori was sure that if someone could just get Sasuke back to Konoha, to just see Sakura, that he wouldn't leave her again, that he would fight for her. As soon as she was done with her mission here, that was exactly what Kaori intended to do.
Kaori was torn from her thoughts by a muffled scream. On high alert, she leapt on to a nearby roof and tracked the sound back to it's source. She was more than a little shocked when she realised where it was coming from. "Sakura's?!"
***
The creak of the floorboards warned Kaisuke of the impending danger. He huddled his body tighter in to the corner and prayed to Kami that his father wouldn't find him again. His bruised and beaten body protested at his movements but Kaisuke held back the groan. He couldn't risk being heard.
Tears welled up in his eyes as he gripped his arms tighter, the dislocated shoulder begging him to scream.
The door of the closet flew open, his father glaring down at him as he swayed unsteadily on his feet. "You… hic… pathetic little worm!" he slurred at him.
Kaisuke screamed out, a mixture of terror and agony, as his father dragged him, by his injured shoulder, from his hiding place. His small trembling legs were forced to match his father's drunken march as he was pushed down the corridor. Kaisuke feared for his life as they neared the stairs, his father had often threatened to end him there.
"Time to go… hic… brat!"
Kaisuke squealed out in terror and tried everything he could to get away from his father but the man's grip was too powerful. His father laughed evilly at him as he dangled Kaisuke toward the top of the staircase. "Can you fly?" he asked mockingly. "Let's find out, shall we?!"
Kaisuke screamed as the carpet fell away beneath him, as the air rushed past him face, as the ground raced up to meet him. His eyes flickered with sparks of red as he continued to fall, continued to scream.
***
"He's losing it!" screamed Karin as she fled from the training grounds.
Gaara, Suigetsu and Juugo raced over, desperate to calm their enraged leader before he tore the place apart again. This had been happening a lot recently. Over the last year, Sasuke had torn apart the old hut at the corner of the training field at least eight times.
While none of the inhabitants were strangers to Sasuke's temper tantrums, when he lost control like that, it scared even Gaara's demon.
Juugo was the first one to be sent flying, closely followed by Gaara and Suigetsu. They landed in a heap, slightly on top of each other. A pair of feet clad in dark green ninja sandals appeared beside their heads.
"Not again." came a deep sigh.
Suigetsu couldn't resist. He turned his head slightly, trying to peek up Aya's clothing. Even though he knew he wouldn't see anything but more clothes, it was still worth a try, right? A threatening growl right beside him reminded him to behave. Suigetsu was getting more convinced on a daily basis that Gaara had a thing going for the beautiful Aya. Not that he blamed him.
Aya stepped over the tangled mess of manhood and moved closer to her furious cousin. "Sasuke?" she tried. "Calm the fuck down! I don't wanna have to hurt you!"
No one single comment came from the growing crowd. No-one would dare mock Aya for that statement. While many would claim it, and be left bleeding and begging for mercy, Aya had proved that when she made a threat like that, she could back it up. She was still the only woman, hell person, alive that had beaten Sasuke.
"Fuck you, Aya!"
Aya took another step closer. Sasuke was on the verge of stage two curse form but, still, Aya seemed unphased. She ignored his outburst and tried again. "What's got you so bent out of shape? Why you trashing that hut again?"
Sasuke paused briefly, part of the door in his hands, and turned slightly to face her. "I don't know!"
"Okay." stated Aya as she made several rapid hands seals and dropped to one knee. "Time to calm you down then."
As Aya walked away, side stepping the three men who were now struggling to their feet.
"Leave him ten minutes, then cut him down." with that said, Aya glared at the watching crowd, sending them scurrying back to whatever they had been doing previously.
She chuckled slightly to herself and headed back to her home, leaving the three men gawking and Sasuke dangling by his ankles from several strong vines she had summoned to restrain him.
***
Kaori burst through the doors of the Garukin household just in time to see Kaisuke nearing the floor at the bottom of the stairs. She leapt forward and caught him with ease, setting him down on his feet gently. "Kaisuke?!" she gasped, seeing the extent of the boys injuries.
"What the… hic… fuck are… hic… you doing in my house?!"
Kaori turned toward the demanding drunken voice. Finding Youshi staggering at the top of the stairs, Kaori instantly realised what had happened. She turned back to Kaisuke. "He pushed you?!"
Kaisuke refused to answer but the terror was still clear in his eyes. Kaori was moving even before her brain could catch up. She took the stairs three at a time and, before Youshi knew what was coming, landed a powerful upper cut to his jaw, sending the man somersaulting backwards before landing in an undignified heap on the carpet.
She pounced on him the instant his body stopped rolling, punching every inch of his face she could find. His blood splashed up on to her fists and arms.
"Help me!" came a pleading voice, growing quieter by the second. "I… can't… breath!"
"You're going to regret this!" wheezed Youshi. Kaori chuckled mirthlessly and dropped the bloodied Youshi to the stained carpet. "You touch him again, I'll finish you!" she hissed at him, giving him a firm kick to the ribs before racing to Kaisuke, catching the boy before his now unconscious form could hit the floor, and ran to the hospital.
***
Sakura came home from her mission to an upside down world. It shouldn't have been too surprising, considering how messed up her life already was, but this was something she had not expected.
Both her husband and her son were in hospital and one of her closest friends was being held in a prison cell for not only trying to kill them but for betraying Konoha too.
After giving her mission report to Tsunade-sama, and checking on her family, Sakura made her way to the holding cells. She rounded the corner and gasped in horror. The guards were either unconscious or dead and the cell containing Kaori was burst open. Kaori was standing in the corridor being embraced by none other than Konan and Pein!
"What the…"
Sakura's words were instantly cut off by the pressure of a large sword at her throat. Her eyes glanced up to her right. Kisame stood there smirking at her, almost begging her to make a move, anything to give him the excuse to use that sword of his.
"Kisame!" snapped Kaori. "Leave her alone."
Kisame's face gave away his utter disappointment. "Aw! But Ai…"
"She told you to leave the girl alone!" barked Konan.
Kisame was about to argue but Pein had locked him with a threatening glare. His eyes telling him exactly what would happen if he dared go against Konan.
Kaori pulled away from Konan and Pein and slowly made her way over to where Sakura stood, still froze and held by Kisame. Kaori smiled sweetly at Kisame, causing the man to blush and Sakura to become even more confused as Kisame smile back before walking away.
"Sakura."
It took Sakura a few moments to realise she was being spoken to. When her mind snapped back into focus, so did her hand impact with Kaori's face. Kisame and Konan instantly tensed, ready to come to Kaori's aid, but Kaori merely nodded to Sakura.
"I deserved that, once."
Sakura's eyes blazed with true fury but Kaori's face was peaceful and calm. She bowed slightly to Sakura before straightening up again. Sakura was so angry at Kaori but strangely, she found herself allowing the woman to speak.
"You will hear many things about me over the next few weeks, Sakura. Many will be true. I have been betraying Konoha to the Akatsuki, but not to the extent they will make out. I was trying to keep peace. I told each side just enough to avoid those I care about from being hurt…"
Hurt. That word made Sakura find her voice again. "What about my family?!"
Kaori sighed and shook her head. "Youshi deserved every blow!"
"And my son?!" demanded Sakura. "Why Kaisuke? What did he ever do to you?!"
Kaori's eyes flashed with rage, her fingers flexed at her sides. "I never touched him! I saved him!"
Sakura scoffed and folded her arms across her chest. Kaori lost slight control of her temper and pinned Sakura to the wall behind her by the throat.
"Listen up, Sakura! Yes, I hurt Youshi. And if I ever see him again, I'm going to finish the job! But, I never hurt Kaisuke! Look closer to home for that culprit. In fact, you need to take a good, long hard look at what happens when you're not home! If you're not careful, you wont have a son next time you get back!"
Sakura scoffed again and glared at Kaori. "You're lying! You're nothing but a traitor!"
"I may be a lot of things, Sakura. But I've never lied to you! I may be the bad guy in this," she paused and glanced over her shoulder at Konan. "But that doesn't mean I like it. I'm leaving Konoha. I've made my choice and now I have to live with it." she sighed slightly as she released Sakura.
"You'd know all about that, wouldn't you. Being forced into a decision you never wanted to make. The only difference between us," Kaori motioned between them. "You still have the chance to change things."
Sakura stood still, shocked at Kaori's words, as she watched the woman she once thought of as a friend, walking away with the enemy. Kaori paused just before she disappeared. "Take care of yourself Sakura, and Kaisuke!"
***
"Just promise me!" demanded Sakura.
Naruto and Neji nodded quickly. They had no idea what had come over Sakura but they were more than willing to keep an eye on Kaisuke for her while she was away on missions.
For a long time now, they had all been growing concerned about the boys volume level. He had been growing steadily quieter and more withdrawn. At first, seeing the boy following their wives around, as though joined to them, Naruto and Neji had thought it a cute little quirk. That, of course, had died the second they saw that first flinch when Kakashi had patted Kaisuke on the back and asked his namesake how he was feeling that morning.
Naruto had been taken aside by Kakashi while Neji took Kaisuke home to his mother.
"Mind telling me what's going on with Kaisuke?" asked Kakashi, dropping all pleasantry.
Naruto shrugged but was deeply concerned also. "I don't know, but Sakura's asked us to check in on him at home whenever she goes on missions. I don't know what's going on there, but I don't like it!"
"Check in on him huh?" said Kakashi, rubbing his chin. "I think I'll be helping out with that too. Something's not right and I intend to find out what!"
***
Kakashi and Naruto nearly broke the door down, they crashed in to it that hard. They had heard screaming coming from the Garukin house and knew that Sakura was away on a three day mission.
They dashed into the living room, ready for battle. Kaisuke was curled up in the corner, huddled in to a tight ball while Youshi was catching a spider in a glass.
"It's alright now, Kaisuke. I've caught it." Youshi smirked to Naruto and Kakashi as he held up the captured beast. "Look Kaisuke, Uncle Naruto and Kakashi have come to save you from the big bad spider too." he chuckled to himself as he took the spider outside. "Honestly, you'd think a seven year old would be past these kinds of fears."
Kakashi and Naruto ignored Youshi and moved closer to Kaisuke. "Are you alright?"
Kaisuke didn't move from his spot in the corner. "Is it gone?" he asked, his voice shaky.
"Yes." stated Kakashi as he and Naruto moved slightly closer.
"There we go, all gone." announced Youshi, re-entering the room. He turned to Naruto and Kakashi as he dropped to a crouch next to Kaisuke. "Thanks for the rescue attempt guys, but he's fine now. Aren't you Kaisuke?" he said lightly.
"Yes." came Kaisuke's quiet response.
Youshi stood up and motioned for the two men to leave. "Thanks for trying to help but I need to get his dinner ready now."
Kakashi and Naruto nodded, said their goodbyes to Kaisuke and left.
Once the door was securely closed and locked, Youshi returned to the living room and glared at Kaisuke. "Go clean yourself up, then get some dinner started." he snapped. "And don't burn it this time!"
Kaisuke rose quietly from the corner and headed off to his bedroom to change out of his urine soaked clothes. He would need his medical kit today, his nose and cheek were still bleeding from his fathers punches. As always, inside his mind, the woman's voice he had come to depend on, calmed him, telling him that he was stronger than this, that Youshi wouldn't get away with what he was doing to him.
Kaisuke trusted that strange woman's voice as much as he trusted his mothers. He still had no idea who she was, but she was always there when he needed her. As he cleaned himself up, he, once again, had the urge to call her Grandma.
***
"Did you smell that?" asked Kakashi as he and Naruto made their way to Neji's house. It was time to talk over their monitoring strategies again. The ones in place clearly were not working.
Naruto nodded but didn't speak. He couldn't risk speaking yet, he needed to calm down first. The Nine Tailed Fox was growling furiously just beneath the surface, urging him to go back and tear Youshi apart.
***
Naruto was late. He cursed under his breath as he raced towards the Garukin house. He was meant to be there an hour ago. He cursed his alarm clock over and over again as he drew closer to his destination.
He rounded the corner just in time to see Kaisuke being thrust out of the front door.
"Get out!" Youshi spat at Kaisuke. "I want you out of this village by sunrise!"
Naruto's heart shattered as he watched Kaisuke, only days away from turning eight, bleeding and limping, struggle to pull on his jacket and stagger his way out the door.
The door slammed, hard, behind him, catching Kaisuke in his back and sending the boy flying forward, his body too weak to catch himself. Naruto dashed forward, catching Kaisuke safely in his arms mere seconds before the boy collided with the ground.
"It's okay, Kaisuke!" Naruto hurriedly whispered. "I've got you! I've got you!"
Kaisuke passed out from the pain of his injuries. He wasn't badly hurt, but he ached all over and was drained from enduring it all those years. As he slipped into unconsciousness, the woman's voice was back.
Sleep Kaisuke, you're safe now. Everything's going to change now, you'll see. There's a better life waiting for you. I promise.
Okay. Will you stay with me while I rest?
Of course, my boy. I'll always be with you.
The End
(Unless you jump over to Kaisuke, then it's only just begun.)
A/N: I'd just like to say, I'm REALLY sorry for taking so long to update. Also, there's another chapter waiting to be added to this story.
The SASUKE - ITACHI fight! But there's a catch, I wont add it until I have 5 reviews for this chapter, AND someone can correctly guess who the woman comforting Kaisuke was. (It's REALLY easy if you've read the chapter properly)