WARNING! Mention of suicide and insanity in the first part. And apologies for making you wait...

Chapter 4

The only thing that was breaking the deafening silence of the room was his whistling irregular breath, and that was even more annoying. As he looked at the white ceiling, Kisame wondered whether his consciousness would finally leave him to insanity since dying was not an option. He couldn't remember how many times he had tried to end his life, but one thing was sure, his mind had been blurred enough for him to not think too much. But then, something had changed. His mind was crystally clear, all the time, and for him it was soarer than any horrible death he had witnessed so far. He didn't know how long he had been imprisoned and he didn't even know if the war had started. But the longer he thought about it, the more pessimistic he was becoming. And some other details he would have preferred not to notice were making him think that something was about to happen. If he could only close his eyes to never open them again...

"Where is your aunt? Did she already leave for work?" Atsuko opened the cupboard to make some tea, but visibly her daughter had decided to make some new arrangements. Atsuko groaned under her breath and and took a glance at the table in case she had somehow missed it. The box was obviously waiting for her on the opposite corner of a table filled with food, around which her two grandchildren had already took seat.

"Yeah, she woke me up 'bout half an hour ago and left. Said she's got important things to do. Wait Na-chan, I'll heat it up." The boy took the plate from the little girl's hands and put the pancake on a pan under the amused look of their grand-mother.

"You're such a gentleman! If you keep being like this, you'll make a good husband dear," she asked as she put the water on the stove.

Kenzo dismissed her grandmother's comment with a hum and silence settle once more in the kitchen. There was no need to discuss the sudden tension that had been hanging the household for more than three weeks, and yet it was becoming unbearable for everyone and kids were far more intuitive than adults ever gave them credits for. After that night, Miru simply 'disappeared'. She was constantly 'too busy', and 'too tired' and avoided any question or demands coming from her.

"What a stubborn daughter..." She whispered under her breath. If only she let her finish what she wanted to tell her, perhaps she could start moving on in her life. Atsuko stopped her cup midway as a sharp pain coming her esophagus prevented her from drinking the last sip of the brown liquid. It seemed that there wasn't much time left. She regretfully put the cup down and stroke the boy's hair before leaving the kitchen. She had to make to the Mizukage's tower within an hour.

When she arrived in front of the office, the door was already half open. The floor that would generally be flooding with shinobis and guards was strangely empty, and for a moment she thought the worst.

"Ah, Sorai-sensei! Please come in!" The red haired woman welcomed her with a bright smile and motioned her to join her inside. Nothing seemed out of place and and the woman that was sitting in front of her acted very much like the Mei Terumi she had known for years.

"If you're asking yourself why there is nobody around, it's because most of them are sent on missions. The aftermaths of war... You know better than me how chaotic can be." Atsuko repressed an ironic smile. Most of the countries' resources had been used to finance the Shinobi army, and of course, as it had always been the case during Shinobi wars, the civilians were the forgotten ones - a golden opportunity for organized criminality. Sure, the Akatsuki had threatened the system on its basis, thus eradicating the organization was the top priority for the Five Great Lands. This was the main reason why the military leaders deemed it necessary to sacrifice parts of their nations, but at which costs?

"Mei-chan, you know why that man slaughtered five people last week next to the memorial? I am not saying it was justified. I'm telling you to think a little about it because that was only the start. There will be an increasing number of attacks and I don't think the recent policies will be of any help." The young woman looked pensively at her side, not wanting to cross eyes with her former teacher. She was discriminating her own people for the sake of a peace she wasn't sure of. On the other hand, she knew better than anyone the kind of violence in which they had floundered for generations. The recent terrorist attack didn't help them get a better opinion from the rest of the country, instead they pressured her to take more drastic decisions. Atsuko Sorai would certainly disagree with that, but deep down she needed to hear someone say that they were wrong, and that they could come up with another solution, although there was no chance it would ever take form in real life.

"The Sages and the Daimyo counselors keep telling me that to move forward we need to forget the past. And... there are some clans who keep clinging to the past as their own source of pride, and it's only logical to give the example so that new generations would turn their back to their shameful past."

Atsuko shook her head: "No dear, They got it wrong. You must look at that shameful past and accept it. That's funny that the same ones who ordered all those massacres are the ones who criticize who executed them. Ha! What a nerve. Anyway, let's get back to the essential. People who worked as shinobis are asked to gradually stop what they had been doing for generations. That also means lack of income. Which means increased poverty. Okay, I'm not teaching you anything new, but if you want to get those guys swallow their pride, I'm afraid to tell you that's not gonna happen anytime soon. Especially since one of them joined the greatest opposition force of the Shinobi world."

Mei let out a sighed and laid her back against the chair. She knew very well the other woman was mentioning the rumors regarding Kisame being alive, and it wouldn't have bothered her much if it wasn't such a sensitive topic.

"I don't even know how the rumor spread. It is meant to be a high security prison."

"Oh, you don't need to question yourself much. Brothels and taverns have been the top two leaking information centers of all times. Anyway, I don't think it's all bad - I mean the rumors, stop snickering! - because you can turn it to your advantage. Remember what I said earlier?"

Mei nodded, a bit skeptical. Sorai was definitely leading her reasoning to somewhere, but the destination was still blur. After reviewing the conversation in her mind, she turned to her interlocutor and said: "You said that some see Kisame as hero, but how could this be advantageous for us?"

"Think about it. What would happen if their hero changed sides?"

"You're not suggesting to give him amnesty?! That's impossible! We're talking about Kisame Hoshigaki, sensei. He would NEVER agree to that! Did you know that he tried to suicide thirteen times? Thirteen. No one would be so willing to die for a cause than him, and I know what I'm talking about." Realizing her mistake, Mei took in a couple of deep breath to lower her adrenaline, hiding her face with both her hands. She couldn't explain why it triggered her, and she didn't want to think about it. The Five Great lands were already organizing his trial and he would be judged guilty and condemned to death penalty end of the story. Everything will end with that trial; it was just a question of time before it would be made public. He would die and his soul would rest in peace and the world would start a new chapter of its history...

"Earth to Mei, you're drowning into your thoughts again. You're tired and overwhelmed, you don't have to overthink about a senile woman's strange thoughts. When you have a bit of free time, come home have some tea. The kids haven't seen you in a while and Miru is a bit down these days..."

"Wait", Mei interrupted her, "can you... can you close the door please?"

It was their third mission since the end of the war, and a mission of level C. At this rate, she would have to find a third job to make ends meet. Or simply quit the takoyaki stand and find a second job. That greedy witch always said that they didn't earn enough to pay her well. Life as a Hoshigaki was harsh... At least she had that pocket radio to distract her. Reika decided to simply chase away those thoughts and let her mind follow the flow of melodies.

"Watch out!" That was exasperating. Did the whole world team up against her?

"What a- Ouch!" Ah, a plot. Didn't see it.

"Hey, is everything alright?" A women in her thirties with golden hair to her shoulders stretched a hand to her. Reika blushed and took her hand before thanking her for the help.

"No worries, it happens. I hope it didn't hurt too much".

"Nah, it's okay. You know, when you're so tall it's difficult to see things around haha..." Please someone bury me in a hole. Why do I keep making ironic comments about my short height? How could I not see that big fat plot in front of me? Reika instinctively reached to the collar of her shirt to cover half of her face in shame. Seeing the teenager so embarrassed, the woman let out a chuckle.

"I think I have already seen you somewhere? Weren't you at the Mizukage's office two days ago?"

"Yes, I went to take a new mission. Do you work there?"

"Well, I work in the Tower, in the archives, so I happen to be around pretty often. My name is Miru, what's your name?"

"My name is Reika, nice to meet you," she said with a beam. Whoever this woman was, she made her forget for a moment all those prejudices that had haunted her from her birth. and although it the feeling latest for only a couple of seconds, she wanted to properly show her her gratitude. "Miru-san, I would like to offer you something, if you're not busy," she said enthusiastically.

"Why? I didn't do anything! You're still young, you should save your money. By the way, I was looking for a reason to not go home. Come with me, I know a good place in downtown, they do amazing cakes."

Reika braked in her walk and gave an apologetic smile to the woman: "Uh, I think it would be better if we find something around here, it's cheaper; And you know? My looks might make you prejudice; You see? I am..."

The blond didn't let her finish the sentence and grasped her hand pulling her forward.

"You are a Hoshigaki? So what? Did you do anything wrong? If someone dares to say something, I'm going to cut his or her tongue off figuratively."

The teenager burst into laughter and the two of them kept joking under the amused looks of passers-by as they headed to their destination.