Heart's Treasure
Chapter 12: Chaos
Finals week is coming up, so I might not publish next week. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Thanks for reading. Please leave a review I love hearing from you guys.
Perspectives: Snow and Hazel
Snow's Perspective
He's alive. My Kakuzu is alive. This is too much. My vision clouded and I fainted. I woke a few minutes later when Mari dumped a bucket of ice-cold water on me.
"What the fuck Mari!" I screamed.
"Don't yell at me. Its not your fault you fainted dumb ass", said Mari.
We both took a few seconds to calm down. Neither of us felt like fighting.
"What did he say?" asked Mari.
"He's alive", I said.
"Of course he's alive. Its almost impossible to kill him", said Mari.
"He wasn't talking about himself", I said.
"Than who was he talking about?" asked Mari.
"Kakuzu", I said.
Mari's gaze softened.
"That's impossible", said Mari.
"Why would he lie?" I asked.
"You are taking the words of sick man too seriously", said Mari.
"You're probably right", I said.
My heart told me she's wrong. Maybe that's because I'm a widow who hopes for the impossible. I looked at the clock it read 9:00pm. Shit, I'm late.
"I have to go Mari. I'll be back tomorrow morning", I said.
"I'll keep him secret and find you some clothes", said Mari.
I ran back to my house. Spike charge at me when saw me come. I gave him a quick pet and then my attention focused on Betty. She gave me an odd look, when she saw what I was wearing.
"I'm guessing you were with Mari. Do I want to know anymore than that?" asked Betty.
"You really don't. Sorry for being late", I said.
Betty laughed.
"You are only two minutes late Minori", said Betty.
I signed Betty a check and handed it to her.
"Thank you", said Betty.
"Were they good?" I asked.
"Rose and Kotaro were a bit fussy, but that's only because they missed you", said Betty.
"Do you think you could come by tomorrow morning same time?" I asked.
"Of course I can", said Betty.
"Thank you", I said.
"It's nice to see you getting back into the swing of the things", said Betty before leaving.
I collapsed on the couch and tried gathering myself. Kotaro's crying brought me to reality. I rushed to his nursery. I picked him up and held him closely to my chest. He calmed in my arms. Is it possible he might know his father? I shook my head it isn't possible. I placed him back in his crib. I sat down in the rocking chair. I need some sort of reassurance he's gone. I can't give my heart anymore false hope. Dart slithered down my sleeve.
"How can I help you my lady?" he asked.
"I want you to take a file from the Hidden Leaf", I said.
"There are many files, which ones do you want me to get?" asked Dart.
"Anything that has to do with Kakuzu", I said.
Dart speed off. It would be a few hours until he returned. I went to bookshelf in my bedroom and pulled down the scrapbook Kakuzu gave me for my birthday. I settled into bed with the book.
"Mommy?"
It was Saizo.
"What's wrong Saizo? Did you have an accident?" I asked.
Saizo's cheeks went pink with blush.
"No, I can't sleep. What are you looking at?" he asked.
"A scrapbook do you want to look at with me?" I asked.
He nodded his head and climbed into bed with me. I unsealed the scrapbook, so the images could be seen. I had reorganized it since the last time I looked at it. Saizo turned to a random page.
"Mommy what is this photo of?" asked Saizo.
I look down at the page and saw it was my earliest ultrasounds of Saizo and Hazel.
"That's you and your sister, while you were still in my tummy", I said.
Saizo looked confused, but continued flipping through the pages. He laughed when he saw one of my favorite photo of Kakuzu.
"When did you take this?" asked Saizo.
"I took it when your dad and I were celebrating the holidays", I said.
"I don't remember it", said Saizo.
"You weren't born yet", I said.
"I miss him", said Saizo.
"I miss him too honey", I said.
"Can I sleep with you tonight?" asked Saizo.
I nodded my head. I pulled him close and started running my fingers through his hair. He quickly fell asleep. Saizo is becoming more and more like his father every day. I only hope he won't follow a criminal path. I will try my best to make sure he doesn't follow that path. His father didn't have the choice and didn't have much of one either, but all my children do. I couldn't sleep. My mind was in chaos from what Manzo told me.
"Mommy",
I sat up and saw Hazel. She was crying. I got out of bed and picked her up.
"What's wrong sweetie?" I asked.
"Bad dream", said Hazel.
I put her in bed with her brother. My two youngest started crying for me. I put Kotaro his baby basket. I cradled Rose in my arms. Only one member of my family was missing from the bed. I placed Rose carefully besides me. I got out of bed and started pacing back and forth. Dart finally came back in the earliest hours of the morning. His breathing was heavy. I took the vanilla folder from his mouth.
"Thank you Dart",
When I opened the file shivered when saw the photo of Kakuzu. He was laying on a metal table with thread hanging from his mouth. His hair was in a mess of tangles. It wasn't right seeing him like this. What did they do with his body? I placed the file on my desk and started reading:
Name: Kakuzu
Village: Hidden Waterfall
Age: 98
Height: 6'0
Weight: 140 pounds
Report:
Entire body damaged to the cellular level from Rasenshuriken. Subject has five hearts that worked in perfect unison. Only one circulatory system connected to five cover subject's entire body giving him a rag doll appearance. Animal likes scars on right shoulder.
Whoever wrote this didn't think of Kakuzu as a person. And the report wasn't even a paragraph. I looked through the rest of the file, but couldn't find any information on where he was buried. They probably threw him in some unmarked grave or cremated him. I couldn't give my husband a proper funeral. Asuma's wife had a chance to give her husband a proper burial. I should have gotten that opportunity too. I was never able to truly say goodbye for the last time. The information in the file gave me heartache, but reassured me that Kakuzu is gone.
"Dart take these back", I said.
He nodded his head and took the folder in his mouth. He disappeared. I got into bed with family. I shut my eyes and hoped for sleep. I managed to get a few hours of sleep before I was pushed from my bed. I smiled when all my children spread out in my bed. I took out my camera and snapped a picture of them. I picked up Rose and Kotaro and put them in their playpen. I made breakfast. As soon as I set the plates on the table Saizo and Hazel came running out of my bedroom. They were both still in their pajamas. They finished breakfast and took their plates.
"You two go get dressed and brush your teeth", I said.
The two of them left the kitchen and went into their rooms. Hazel was the first to come out of her room. She was wearing a light blue romper and yellow converse.
"Mommy can you braid my hair?" asked Hazel.
She was holding two yellow ribbons in her hand. I quickly braid her hair.
"Where's your brother?" I asked.
"Probably fell back asleep", said Hazel.
I walked into Saizo's room. He asleep on his bed. At least he changed out of his pajamas. He was wearing jean shorts and white shirt with a giraffe on it. I gently shook him awake.
"Do I have to go to camp?" asked Saizo before yawning.
"I thought you were excited about going to the Mining Museum", I said.
"I was but right now I'm more excited about sleep", said Saizo.
I coaxed him from bed. The twins ran to camp with their uncle following behind him. Kotaro started crying for me. I let him nurse. A few minutes later Betty opened the door. She smiled at me. I got up and went to the nursery where I could have more privacy. I sat down in the rocking chair. I heard the front door of my house slam open. Mari came rushing into nursery.
"What's taking you so long?" asked Mari.
"Isn't it obvious", I said.
Mari turned away.
"Why do you have to do that?" asked Mari.
I couldn't help laughing.
"You are unflinching to almost everything, yet the sight of me nursing my son bothers you", I said.
"Yes, and will you hurry up?" asked Mari.
"This can't be rushed", I said.
Mari started pacing.
"You shouldn't have left him alone", I said.
"You shouldn't have been late. Beside he's still out", said Mari.
"Once I'm finished caring for Kotaro I have to pick up some things from the office. Go back and I will be there at two hours at the most", I said.
"And at the least?" asked Mari.
"Thirty minutes", I said.
She gave an annoyed huff and then left the nursery. Kotaro finished. I burped him and placed him in his crib where he quickly fell asleep. I fixed my shirt and went into the living room. I kissed Rose on the forehead and then went to office. I searched for the file I wanted. It was somewhere on the mess Eiji call a desk.
"Is there something I could do to help you?" asked Eiji.
"I'm looking for the file on the murder of those men whose flesh were stripped from their bones. I can't find it in this mess", I said.
He moved closer to me. My back end was pressed against desk edge as Eiji moved closer.
"I'm sorry for acting so strangely lately", he said.
I took a deep breath trying to relax.
"I forgive you", I said.
He kissed me on the forehead. Eiji tried to kiss, but I turned away. There was hurt in his eye. If what Manzo said was true I can't do this with a clean conscious. Eiji opened the side drawer and pulled out the file. I shouldn't be thinking he's alive it will only to lead to more hurt.
"Thank you", I said.
I took it from his hand. Eiji hadn't moved away from me. There was such sadness in his eyes. I couldn't resist hugging him. His strong arms wrapped around me. The moment was ruined when Kotori entered the room.
"Oh sorry I didn't mean to disrupt", said Kotori.
There was a light blush across his cheeks.
"There's no reason to blush. It was only a hug. You've seen worse", I said.
His went a dark shade of red.
"I'll leave you two", I said.
I started walking down the steps to the basement of the residence of the guardians. I could never live here. It didn't feel like a home to me. It lacked the thing that made home feel like home. The old photos of it from Eiji's time here with his wife and child showed that it once was. Now this place is only ghost of what a home. Eiji could never think of moving from this place. This is where he raised his child and slept beside his wife.
I finally reached the basement. My every step echoed through the room. It really was unique room. That has a reputation for making even the most powerful ninjas feel uneasy. It was giant room with white break walls and cobblestone floors. There were giant circular pillars through out it that supported the weight of the building. The ceiling was arched. Along the sides of the room were giant safe doors. They were only for decoration. The only things they stored were old books that didn't hold any information that could be detrimental to Hidden Diamond if discovered. I went to one of the large pillar. I did the hand sign and then pressed my hand against the pillar. The bricks started moving away revealing an entrance to a long stone spiral staircase. I stopped when I reached the last step I entered the Concealed Library.
"What brings you here lady Minori?" asked Eldrick.
Eldrick is protector of the Concealed Library. He's one of my relatives. Eldrick has the immortality trait of our family. His eyes were a light silver color his long hair was the same color. Eldrick's jaw was square and bearded. I couldn't help noticing the similar features he shared with Manzo.
"Eiji wanted me to look up some information on Manzo", I said.
"You say his name with no fear", said Eldrick.
"Should I?" I asked.
"You no others yes", said Eldrick.
"There's no reason to fear a name", I said.
He nodded his head.
"Follow me", said Eldrick.
We went through three large safe like doors before we reached a small room. Eldrick pulled down a rather large book from the shelf and place on the table.
"This book will tell you all you want to know about Manzo. Is there anything else you need?" asked Eldrick.
"Do you have anything about forbidden jutsu?" I asked.
"Yes, is there anything else I can get you?" asked Eldrick.
"If you have any suggest I will take them", I said.
He nodded his head. I settled in the seat near the table. No books are allowed to leave the library. Twenty minutes later Eldrick came back with a stack of books in his hand. He placed them in front of me than left. The first one I opened was about Manzo. On the first page the small photo of him. I skimmed the basic information. The amount of S ranked missions he competed was unbelievable. Its understandable considering he started missions at the age of ten. My attention refocused when I reached a page that only read two words at the center of the page:
The War
I turned the page and started reading:
The War is almost to an end and our chance of the survival is slim. Our enemies are all who call the Hidden Stone Village home. I'm tempted to release my youngest son on the bastards, but even they are undeserving of the punishment. He's only thirteen, but he far surpasses me. He's no child. My wife gave me a gift and a weapon. Now I have finally can use one that I never thought I would use. May God forgive me.
Guardian Diachi
Month 23
This page seemed be forcefully sewn into the book and wasn't even the same size as the other pages. Maybe its from Diachi's personal journal. How could send his own child against an army alone? I could never do that to my children.
All the victims were enemy shinboi. Two photos instantly drew my attention. One was of a teenage boy standing alone in a field of dead bodies. He was covered in blood. Even though he was so young his eyes were old. The second was of a young Manzo hugging his knees to his chest. A puddle of jeweled tears lay at his face. This was no monster this was a child doing as his father told. And the poor thing was scared out of his mind. I turned the page. Again it looked this page had been torn out of a different book. I started reading:
The War is won. Now every village fears us and pays us the respect the Hidden Diamond deserves. But they want Manzo punished for war crimes. He killed a temple sheltering children. The boy swears he didn't do it. What does it matter maybe I should let them put him down. It will be best for all of us.
By: Diachi
How could he treat his child so cruelly? I pushed the book away. I didn't want to read anymore. I opened the book about forbidden jutsu. I stopped when I reached paged titled:
Hidden Waterfall's Earth Grudge Fear
"An interesting technique"
I jumped, when heard Eldrick's voice. I accidentally knocked the books from the table. As picked up the book photos fell out. I picked up three of them. It was a wedding photo. It was of my mom and Manzo. He was hugging her close. She was resting her head against his chest. They both looked so happy. I moved to the next one in my hand. My mom was obviously pregnant in the photo. She was sitting on couch huddle closely to Manzo. His hand rested protectively over her stomach. The last photo was of two six year old boys. They were smiling as if they didn't have a care in the world. It was of Katashi and Manzo.
"You already know don't you?" asked Eldrick
"Yes, I know Manzo is my father. What are you to me Eldrick?" I asked.
"We are first cousins. My mother Naruki was Manzo's younger sister", said Eldrick.
"You say his name with no fear", I said.
"I met the man. I've never seen him as monster only a close man who greatly craved friendship and love. Eiji and Hiro are too young to understand. Manzo loves you and your mother more than his freedom more than life itself. No, true monster is capable that sort of love", said Eldrick.
I couldn't help smiling. That's true.
"He spent his entire life looking for you. Manzo only came back to this village to see you", said Eldrick.
"Why do you even have these photos?" I asked as started picking up more of them from the floor.
"Your mother would have wanted me to keep them safe", said Eldrick.
"You knew her?" I asked.
"Yes, your mother was nothing but kind to me. She loved spending time here even though she couldn't read. I was one of the few men Manzo trusted with her. I think she should would want you to have those", said Eldrick.
"Thanks, I should be going now Mari is expecting me", I said.
"Go I don't want that savage girl near my books", said Eldrick.
I ran back up the staircase and to Mari's house. I knocked on the door.
"What took you so fucking long?" asked Mari.
"I was reading", I said.
"Reading? That's what you were wasting your time on", said Mari.
"Reading isn't a waste of time", I said.
Mari rolled her eyes.
"Has he shown an signs of waking up?" I asked.
"Nope", said Mari.
"I'll watch him for awhile, but I want to go home to my children. I want to see them before they fall asleep", I said.
I walked up stairs to the bedroom where Manzo was staying. He was in a deep sleep. I sat at the desk and started looking through photos. My eyes lingered on my parent's wedding photo. I have no picture of my wedding with Kakuzu. Manzo groaned as he woke up and managed to sit up.
"Why didn't you tell me? Don't lie to me", I said.
"I didn't want you to be ashamed of who your father was. I could have done so much for you", said Manzo.
"Is", I said.
"What?" asked Manzo.
"You are my dad. I would rather have you as my dad than the father that was made up for me. I originally thought my father blamed me for mom's death and tried killing me with a pillow when I was an infant. Do-
"Her death isn't your fault never think that. Your mother would never want you thinking that Snow", said Dad.
"How do you know that name?!" I growled.
"I've been keeping an eye on you kitten", said Dad.
"You were my healer when I was a slave. You were the closest thing to parent I ever had", I said.
"I don't deserve the title of parent. Don't you hate me for not freeing you?" asked Dad.
"I understand your situation at the time. If you had taken me away from my master you wouldn't be able to truly protect me. That must been horrible for you to see me like that. Besides staying with master brought me some of the best things in my life", I said.
He had given me a lot to think over.
"How long have you been watching me?" I asked.
"I stopped watching you when I saw the way he looked at you. It was the same way I looked a your mother. She would be so proud of you Snow", said Dad.
"I think she would want you to have these", I said as I handed him the photos.
"Thank you", he said.
"Do you remember what you said to me before you passed out?" I asked.
"Its true", said Dad.
Before we could go further into the conversation loud explosion and than screams filled the air. Mari burst into the room.
"The museum has been bombed",
Saizo and Hazel were there for a camp field trip! I ran out of the to village.
Hazel's Perspective
"This is boring Saizo", I said.
"Shut it Hazel I'm trying to think!" growled Saizo.
He was staring at jar filled with pebbles. If you guessed the right amount you would win fifty dollars.
"Write down you answer and lets go? Lets play with the others", I said.
"I don't like your friends they all bug me. You don't have to wait for me", said Saizo.
There was a loud boom. The ground beneath us shook as the building collapsed. Everything went dark. Our diamond skin protected us from damage. But my ears were ringing.
"Saizo?"
"I'm fine", he said.
"I can't see anything. I don't like the dark", I said.
"It's okay. I promised daddy I would protect you. We will get out of this. Mommy or one of the other ninjas of the village will find us", said Saizo.
He held my hand.
"SAIZO HAZEL!"
"That's mommy", I said.
"Told she would find us", said Saizo.
"MOMMY WE ARE HERE!" we screamed.
The rubble started being moved away. Dust and pebbles fell on us. We started coughing from the dust.
"You aren't mommy", said Saizo.
Two men put rags over our mouths and nose. After a few breaths everything went dark.