CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: Truth

"When you killed for the first time, how did it feel?"

"Necessary?" Erebus parroted the questioning tone with a cheerful smile, shoving the blunt end of his wooden sword into my shoulder and successfully pushing me off balance.

We'd been at this for nearly three months; six hours a day and then an hour to mediate on the loss. I'd grown accustomed to the weight of the naginata and Erebus had taught me how to roll and dodge effectively. After I was slightly more proficient with my chosen weapon, he'd consider teaching me how to handle other weapons and build up my self-defense. I was good, not great, and anyone I would likely face likely had ten times the training and ten times the mental stamina.

I stumbled back a few steps, glaring down at my naginata and lifting it up waist height. I could easily angle it to block attacks to my face and legs but I was more concerned about my throat and chest at the moment. Erebus nodded at the familiar stance and in an instant, knew how to break through. He leaned back and then lunged forward with the sword raised high above his head. His wooden sword snapped against the petrified wood of my weapon, but I blinked at the impact. He grabbed the staff and pulled me behind him, his foot poking me soundly in the back.

"You keep blinking." He said, unimpressed obviousness.

"Because I'm scared you're going to hit me." I growled, avoiding his gaze entirely. Oh, big mistake. His hands wrapped around my ankles and he pulled me along the floor, any exposed skin squealing against the ground. He practically threw my legs down and stalked towards the table, picking up a very real sword and small dagger.

When did I let go of my weapon?

I scrambled to my feet, awkwardly rolling under his arms and grabbing for it. I swung around, blinking as the sword crashed against the pole and the dagger made a swipe at my face. I forced myself to roll backwards, staggering backwards into the wall. Erebus had the blankest face I'd ever seen as he threw the dagger, it lodged itself in the wall next to my face and I gasped, dropping to the ground and covering my eyes.

"Nope, nope, stop." I bit out quickly. "I can't do this."

"Thalia." He dropped the sword with a noticeable clang, kneeling beside me and clasping my shoulders. "Sorry, that was mean of me."

"Yes, it was. But if I was half as good as you, it would be fine."

Erebus sighed and sat down beside me, keeping enough space between us as I relaxed. I was good, not great, and my fear was holding me back. I thought working through it would be easy, if the meditation helped with the nightmares then fighting would help with everything else. If I could fight against someone with killing intent, I could do anything…right? And Erebus wasn't trying to kill me, so I should've been able to get a few hits even in three months but again and again, I failed.

"You didn't really answer the question, you know." I mumbled, getting up and grabbing my naginata with a glare. It was meant as a defensive weapon and offensive but in my hands, it was utterly useless.

"It felt…necessary. I knew what was going to happen and how it was going to happen. I killed him quickly and painlessly."

"How do you know?"

"Because everyone before me who ever killed assumed it was painless."

"Did he deserve it?" I flinched at the look in his crimson eyes.

"I don't ask those questions." He pushed off the wall and plucked his knife from the wall, picking his sword up and placed both on the table he'd gotten them from. I pushed the sheath over the blade on my naginata and leaned it against the wall beside the pack I'd prepared for the trip.

"Why am I even going?" I whispered, hoping he wouldn't hear me.

"Because you need to. I don't know what Snake Eyes expects of you or Hawk or anyone, but you need to make a serious choice about your future."

"And what's that?" I asked, turning around and stiffening as his towered over me.

"Are you a killer?"

I was running for Snake Eyes as Storm Shadow booked it for the Red Ninja by the stairs. I didn't look to see what the Arashikage ninja had done but judging from the painful screaming of his victim, it was probably best that I didn't see anything. I dropped down in front of Snake Eyes and grabbed his shoulders, both of his hands were clasped around his neck as the shuriken jutted out awkwardly from the side of his throat. It didn't seem like the standard edition, too many points and each point had tiny little teeth for extra damage and staying power; if I removed it, he'd only bleed out faster.

"Erebus!" I screamed, faintly aware of Jinx hovering behind Snake Eyes. Nightshade was with Storm Shadow, trying to pull him off the body of the –

Don't look over there, you won't like it.

Erebus was running up the stairs, using the momentum and speed to vault over Storm Shadow and the – don't look – so when he got up on the platform he appeared slightly breathless. He pulled his mask down and bent down beside Snake Eyes, probing the wound with an unreadable expression. He started tearing strips of his shirt off and tied them carefully around the ninja's neck, devoting extra time to wrap up the pointy ends of the shuriken less one of us accidently cut ourselves. Once he was done, he gently wiggled the shuriken around and when it didn't move a bunch, he let out a relieved sigh and turned to me.

"Think he can run?"

"He can barely stand, Jinx said he was drugged but he's remarkably lucid."

Erebus moved a hand over his face and groaned. "Fuck it, I'm carrying him. Get him up."

I gave Snake Eyes an apologetic look and hooked my arms around his waist, pulling him onto his feet with a grunt. Erebus spared a quick glance around the room and grimaced, pulling off Snake Eyes's mask. The ninja let out a choked noise and he staggered backwards into me, I held him in place as Erebus wrapped a bandana around the lower half of his face.

"Helping you breathe, Shizu." Erebus soothed, turning around and bending low enough for Snake Eyes to drunkenly climb on. "You're lighter than I remember, we'll have to fix that."

"More are coming," Storm Shadow pointed out, Nightshade had a hand around his wrist and he didn't shake her off. "We must move, quickly."

"I know that. Nightshade, take Jinx and Storm Shadow and start going, we'll be along shortly."

Erebus winked at me and Nightshade nodded uncertainly, Storm Shadow lifted a glaring Jinx into his arms and the three of them descended the stairs. With a grunt, Erebus directed me to a roll of rope hanging off his side and instructed me to tie Snake Eyes's hands and legs around him in case unconsciousness set in during our escape.

"Not too tight though, we've save the kinkier stuff for later." He added cheekily and Snake Eyes let out an unimpressed snort.

"You are not helping me right now."

"I'm diffusing tension, kouhai." Erebus reached out and ruffled my hair. "You're going to have to lead us out of here, I can't do much with this sack of potatoes."

Another unimpressed noise came from Snake Eyes and I nodded warily. I stared at the wide opening to the chamber and then unenthusiastically at the floor littered with bodies. There was no avoiding it, I'd have to step on a few people to get out. Two Iga ninja waited and with some gentle prodding from Erebus, we started moving. A few times, we heard sounds and I stabbed whatever shouldn't be moving or speaking, painfully aware of the two pairs of critical eyes on my back. I wished Snake Eyes was asleep.

We travelled back up the corridors in dead silence with only Snake Eyes laboured breathing provided the soundtrack to our escape. Considering the size of the hill, I would've figured this place filled to the brim with enemies. I fell in step with Erebus, watching the ninja in front melt into the shadows.

"I guess Hattori-san got most of the bad guys?" I whispered, eyeing Snake Eyes worriedly.

"Probably," he answered shortly.

We arrived at our entrance point where the two Iga ninja rigged up a rope system that would carry Erebus and Snake Eyes down, we'd be the last ones to leave the building. As they lowered the pair down, I had my back to the opening so I could see all the other passageways. The faint din of battle was echoing up from a lighted hallway, I kept glancing up at the ceiling in case someone was sneaking towards us.

"Go."

One of them pulled my arm and I squinted in the low light for Erebus. The other ninja directed me to place my feet on a thin strand of rope while holding onto another one stretched horizontally over my head, fastened with pegs to the ground and rock face. I threw my naginata over the side of the cliff, hearing it thump into the snow and then allowed myself to be lowered. I stared at the rock in front of me, heights were never a big deal for me but looking down wouldn't make the trip faster. Looking up made little sense as well.

We didn't wait for everyone else, following in the footsteps of our allies as we made a slow trek back to safety.

"She's not very responsive to me."

"That isn't my problem. I need to know where Snake Eyes is hiding, the President is not aware of his location which means due process isn't happening."

"I don't see why you're so antsy about this, regardless if you find him or not, the plan still happens. And if you want info so badly, why don't you have a go with her?"

The Faceless Master nudged me with his boot, flipping me onto my back and smiling. I didn't move, didn't breathe. Maybe he'd leave me alone. Storm Shadow loomed over me, a halo of fireflies dancing above his head. He plucked one from the air and bent down, pressing the lighted end into my neck. I didn't want to make a sound, if I didn't say anything I wasn't here. I was somewhere else. Somewhere else…

"Where did he go?"

"Don'tknowdon'tknowdon'tknow."

"I didn't catch that," he lifted the firefly off, brushing a thumb against the newly burned skin. "You spent precious time destroying something back at your quaint little cabin. Something vital. Can you tell me what it was?"

"No." You idiot, stop talking. You aren't here. Aren't here. Here…

"You are lying, again."

He shoved the firefly into an area over my collar bone, I swung around to kick him but he pinned my legs down. Why are you moving? You aren't here. He sat on my knees and dragged the lightened edge over my shoulder, a knot of nausea worked its way up my throat and I turned my head to side, retching and twitching like a sick animal. Storm Shadow rose, grabbed me by the hair and grabbed me towards the wall where the sink was. He sprayed me down with warm water, agitating the burns more and more.

Stop thinking about it. It's not real. Wake up, stupid.

"I can see you're tired, we'll pause for the day."

I bolted upwards, my forehead colliding with someone else's as I scrambled out of the bed and threw myself out the door. I raced down one hallway and turned out into the courtyard outside, dashing towards an empty fountain and sitting behind it. My hands found that burn easily and I shuddered at how cold I was. The sky was burnt orange with dark purple clouds roving over the bright sun, I could see a few people peering out of the compound at me. I pushed myself further behind the fountain and hissed at the bits of rock biting into my feet. I grabbed a handful of snow and shoved it down my shirt, closing my eyes and whimpering pathetically. Someone was walking towards me.

"Thalia?"

"Morning," I gasped, peering at him with a fake smile. It was Yoshida Hattori, his warm brown eyes filled with concern.

"Indeed, would you like breakfast?" He asked softly, bending down to my level. "Or maybe you'd like to visit Snake Eyes?"

"He's awake? Is he alright?"

I was standing moments later, a wave of vertigo hitting me. Hattori put a cautious hand on my shoulder and nodded, smiling serenely. I wondered if I'd seen him fight last night, I wondered if I would've been scared.

"Yes. But maybe you should get dressed, hm? I'll send someone to get a bath ready."

"But I –"

He stared at me. It reminded me so strongly of the look Erebus would give me but while his was outwardly threatening…Hattori just looked nice. Too nice. It was the weird smile that involved closing your eyes and tilting your head to one side. I felt unnerved.

"That would be lovely. Thank you, Hattori-san." I bowed my head respectfully and Hattori placed an arm behind my shoulders, leading me back into the compound. We passed by the room where Nightshade stuck her head out and flashed me a sorry smile before she left the room, giving Hattori a peculiar look. I made to go inside but Hattori tugged me forward, and we went out another set of doors and walked around the snowy courtyard.

"I'll have something sent for you, please take as much time as you need." He left me standing in front of two separate doors where two flags hung over each. One was blue and the other was red, a woman quietly directed me into the red flag room. She didn't stay long, waiting patiently outside for me to disrobe and drop my clothes into a bin as I grabbed a short white towel and tiptoed out into a closed off hot spring.

"No way…" I let go of the towel and eased myself into the hot water, wincing as a familiar stinging sensation rode up my entire body. Back when I lived in Calgary with my mother, we made yearly trips up to the Banff hot springs during the summer before school started; the water was enriched with natural minerals that supposedly sped up the healing process.

It would probably take a few months in this water for all the burns to heal and I knew we weren't staying here long. Or maybe I could. As I started washing my hair, I couldn't help but wonder if there was any real threat for me now. With Storm Shadow's assistance, the Joes would have intimate knowledge of Cobra's plans, and with the large forces of Joes mobilizing for an attack I couldn't be that much of an asset.

I guess I'll be going home soon.

I sunk deeper into the water, glaring at the small white towel lying in a pathetic heap on the floor.

That's what I want, right? To go home.

A dark blue kimono with embroidered orange blossoms was folded neatly on one of the benches along with a long orange sash. A figure hovered patiently just outside the door and once I pulled the kimono on, the woman from before swept into the room and tied a neat little bow behind my back. She gestured for me to follow her and then we strode back around the courtyard, standing opposite the guest rooms. We padded into the main building at the centre of all the labyrinthine hallways were sunlight poured through a pair of open doors, a cool breeze disturbed the paper screens. The woman gently retreated with a bow and I stepped into the room where both Erebus and Snake Eyes were sitting.

Erebus was sitting against one wall attempting an expression of relaxation but his eyes were staring fixedly at Snake Eyes's throat. He had tied the sleeves of his hakama around his waist so his bare chest was exposed and wrapped in a few rolls of bandages. Someone had taken precious time in fixing his long black locks into an intricate braid that had been twisted into a neat bun on top of his head, stuck in place with glass chopsticks. His face turned towards me and he uttered a noise of greeting but he kept his gaze on the mask less Snake Eyes.

Snake Eyes looked…resigned. He sat in a wide futon, bandages covered most of his chest and his arms, a few band aids were taped to his face. He was wearing a loose pale green shirt rimmed with white, a wide band was tied carefully around his neck. Thinking back to our first meeting, he had grown thinner and paler but his eyes were bright as ever; he patted the seat next to him with a wan smile.

"You look terrible." I said bluntly, pausing awkwardly before sitting down. "I think I meant to say that gentler."

"I'm sure he doesn't mind," Erebus said peevishly, folding his arms over his chest.

"If it means anything, you look nice."

"Arigato, nee-chan." He sneered with a grin.

I looked back at Snake Eyes and raised an eyebrow at the pitiful ponytail at the base of his neck, the ninja immediately pointed at Erebus who shrugged with a toothy grin. I gingered touched the roll of bandages around Snake's neck with a frown.

"So…you're not dead." I bit back a smile as Snake Eyes's shoulders shook. "What's the prognoses?"

"I can't speak."

He looked so tired. As if all the fight had just been drained from him and he was hanging on finely spun threads. A look at Erebus saw the muscles on his arms tighten as his face darkened and twisted into a smouldering scowl. Snake Eyes leaned back into the wall, dropping his bandaged hands onto the blankets and shrugged. Where was the anger? Where was the yelling or the attempt to yell? I searched his face for emotion, for anger, for sorrow…Wasn't the vow of silence something that gnawed at him? He would speak again when the murderer of his master was brought to justice, and if Storm Shadow wasn't the culprit, then he knew the truth. Provided that the last twenty-fours could be rewritten and we could edit out the shuriken, Snake Eyes could realistically be speaking again, soon. So why wasn't he angry?

"Don't bother, Thalia. I've been annoying as shit and he's been nothing but cordial." Erebus growled as he stood up. "You look after him, I need to inform the others about the situation." He marched out of the room without another word and shut the doors behind him.

Snake Eyes smiled weakly, jerking his head at one corner of the room where my naginata was propped against the wall. When we'd returned to the stronghold, I kind of remembered passing the naginata to Erebus as I helped Snake Eyes off his back. And then the ninja took Snake Eyes and I wandered back to the rooms.

"I'm not that good with it, really."

"You seemed to handle it well enough," he signed slowly. "You need to give yourself more credit."

"Yeah, well, I don't need the pep talk from you."

"Thalia – "

I grabbed both his hands. Snake's eyes widened and he covered up his surprise with a fake smile, trying to yank his arms free. I kept holding his hands together, knowing too much movement might hurt him, waiting for him to realize my intentions. Anxiety marked his face, I swallowed the growing lump in my throat.

"You aren't OK with this, are you? The silence?"

His mouth opened for a retort. He made a conservative effort to avoid staring at me directly. I forced our joined hands down, pushing my forehead against his.

"And that's fine. You don't need to be OK with it but, but keeping it to yourself won't help. You have every right to be angry."

Where have I heard that before?

He snorted derisively and feeling his hands shake, I let go and leaned away. Snake Eyes huffed, glaring down at his hands as his fingers flexed and curled into his palms. He threw his head to the side and stared out the window, his lips twisting into a wolfish snarl. The energy in the room was so suddenly threatening despite the sunshine shooting into the room. I sat back on my bum, sticking my legs out and staring at the faint scars on my feet, prodding his side with my toes childishly. He eyed me dangerously, the snarl curving into a smile both inviting and terrifying.

"That's really something coming from you."

"Monkey see, monkey do, Hayabusa."

Later that day (after a tense breakfast, and quiet lunch) a group of us gathered in the lantern-lit courtyard with a dozen or so Arashikage ninja. The Iga ninja hovered menacing on rooftops with longbows in case the armed ninja with katana failed in executing Storm Shadow. The Arashikage, all dressed in white, stood in a semi-circle around Storm Shadow who was standing stock still with his arms bound behind his back. Nightshade was slouching beside him, her sword stuck in the ground but well within reach – I wasn't sure if it was to kill him or to defend him. Jinx, still very much purple and blue, stood beside a dark-skinned man with incredibly bright sightless eyes. One could tell he was blind by the way he stared vaguely out over the crowd, but as the thought crossed my mind, he looked over in my direction with an odd expression.

I was standing behind both Snake Eyes and Erebus as they took up the space a few feet behind Storm Shadow. Both had pulled on identical black skin-tight suits, something Nightshade had brought with her, and they both had their weapons drawn.

"Who is he?" I whispered at Erebus.

"The Blind Master, interim leader of the Arashikage clan." He answered quickly.

The Blind Master, sensing the level of restlessness in the assembly of witnesses raised the short staff he was holding off the ground and stomped it into the ground. A wave of silence washed over everyone and he turned and stared at Storm Shadow.

"Storm Shadow," he began. "Our once beloved Tomisaburo Arashikage, and heir to the clan you once hailed from before your fall. You stand before us as the accused murderer of the Hard Master, your uncle, and countless others under the authority of Cobra Commander. Do you deny these charges?"

"I do." An audible gasp rippled through the crowd and Erebus cautiously stepped forward.

"Then allow me to present the evidence of your crimes." From within his robes, the Blind Master pulled out a long black katana and stabbed it into the ground. It wobbled slightly at the sheer force of impact, dried blood still caked the edge.

"This is the sword, your sword –"

"It is not – "

"That took the life of our beloved Hard Master – "

"It is a lie!" In the blink of an eye, Storm Shadow jumped through his bound arms and spun around. He lunged at Snake Eyes and snatched one of his blades. Nightshade staggered forward, ready to cut him down but Storm Shadow stopped her with a look.

"That is not my sword." Still staring at Nightshade, he swung Snake's sword and shattered the black blade.

Jinx looked mortified, Snake Eyes froze up, and Erebus was caught between looking impressed and shocked.

"Arashikage steel does not break so easily." He continued, facing the Blind Master. "I have done many things while serving under Cobra but my true goal was to find the one who killed my master, who framed me, and made me an outsider and traitor."

He slowly walked in a circle as he spoke, meeting everyone's eyes with no trace of blame or pity, just anger. Controlled, refined anger. It was like he could explode at any moment and it was a fight to keep the fire contained. He paced around until he faced the three of us.

"I cannot ask for forgiveness for what I have done because I do not deserve it. For a time, I was under Cobra Commander's control but I earned his trust by breaking him out of prison," he stared at me. "And by attempting to extract information on the whereabouts of G I Joe operatives."

"And you did this alone, without contacting help." Blind Master said, his voice as steady as a river.

"No one would help me, so I took the burden upon myself."

It was difficult to judge the crowd of masked faces but a few visibly sagged with the truth of Storm Shadow's words. Snake Eyes was resolute, I think he'd managed to forgive Storm Shadow already.

"So, who did it then?" Erebus deadpanned. Jinx sent him a reproachful glare but the Blind Master merely nodded his head, agreeing with the question.

Storm Shadow pivoted slightly in Erebus's direction.

"I do not know his true name, he introduced himself as Zartan. And he has assumed the American President's identify."

Erebus seemed to recognize the name, and a grin worked onto his face. He turned towards the Blind Master and bowed, requesting permission to leave. There was a giddiness in him that I hadn't seen since we started training together, and as he bounded away towards Hattori – speaking rapidly in Japanese – I felt like he had stumbled upon some great info that would make this conflict so much easier to end.

"He plans to unleash a powerful weapon on the world at UN summit in Fort Sumter, three days from now."

But I could be wrong.