Chapter 178
Another Voice in Unison with Theirs: Precious Memories and Promises
A reddish-orange stream of fire, blazing in bright contrast against the silhouette of the palace, suddenly ascended from behind the inky horizon of trees.
Standing on his balcony, Yuchi Muto recoiled slightly, surprised by the invasion of their natural skyline. Startled by its ferocious resemblance to a dragon. It snaked into the sky with intensity, power, and freedom flickering brighter than the radiant neon flares blinking and flashing in town, as though the dragon flame had spent centuries imprisoned and enslaved beneath the earth, and now, exhilarated by freedom, it took flight once more.
Quite the strange and curious sight, Yuchi judged as he watched the flames ascend higher and higher from his balcony. Like witnessing a joyful festival firework rise above a royal funeral, callously celebrating the death of a beloved king to spite a grieving Nation.
He hadn't anticipated any fiery displays. In fact, he had believed the guards had already eliminated the last of King Kakeru's forces, he had believed they would complete their task without disturbing the populace any further, given their greater numbers. Yet, curiously, it appeared some of the King's forces had chosen a last ditch suicide run.
Perhaps that was the cause of the circus folk leaving the woods.
Well, it was no matter. Like the now descending dragon flame, set to vanish once more beneath the ink-covered canopies obstructing the horizon, the final flames of ideological civil war had finally burned out. Shabadaba's shinobi clearly saw to that; they were the only ones capable of such immense power on their island.
As expected, Yuchi thought, hands clasped behind his back, Shabadaba has claimed the throne. The wind was blowing in his favor from the very beginning. He is our golden goose now, devil or not.
It was an unfortunate affair, this coup business. He had held no ill will to the deposed King. Kakeru was a decent man, a man faithful to their Land and its people.
Unfortunate though it was, the affair had occurred. Yuchi would not waste a moment longer lamenting it. What sense was there for weeping over the fall of one King when another always took their place? None. None whatsoever. This was the nature of monarchies. This is was the unrest they agreed to, the fine print at the bottom of the contract they'd signed when they chose to live within the Kingdom.
Lamenting King Kakeru's unfortunate fall from grace, protesting it, wouldn't change their new reality. It wouldn't bring the man—gods rest his soul—back from the dead. They had to look at their predicament with clear eyes. Focus on the present and future, not the past. Shabadaba sat upon the throne now, he already made his clutches on the title felt beyond the palace walls. Before this wasteful suicide run.
Unlike those foolishly protesting, Yuchi had held his tongue. He was not swept up by popular opinion. He kept calm, bided his time. He observed the trends and the direction of the wind, unlike those who had met their gods at the end of a rope.
Now his businesses were properly positioned to benefit the most from the change of regime. By holding his tongue through this regime change, regardless of his personal feelings for Shabadaba, he now stood to gain the most. Monetarily, of course. And in influence—a priceless commodity.
After all, earning favors from the winners was how one stayed ahead of the curve. It was just good business. Nothing more.
Turning away from the palace, Yuchi abandoned the balcony to return to his nightly routine, heart feeling a bit lighter, relieved the domestic conflict was properly over. It was all such nasty business, but at least the right man had won.
He stepped through the well-lit halls to enter his bathroom. He applied toothpaste to his toothbrush and began to scrub away, working the bristles along the top row of his teeth first. He shut his eyes as he did, focusing on the movements, moving to his bottom row after an adequate time. Finally, once he was certain they were all clean, he bent over and spat the toothpaste out.
As the businessman rose, already scrubbing his teeth again, his heart skipped, tightened, and stopped. His arm froze. In the reflection of the mirror, standing in the door of his bathroom, was a small girl of blue hair. She stood utterly motionless, almost without breathing, hand resting on the doorframe. Weapons associated with shinobi were strapped to her leg and to a harness on her chest. Crimson burned in one eye, hardened lavender stabbed him. Streaks of blood stained her face and attire.
Yuchi didn't breathe. He didn't even blink. He couldn't move a single muscle.
She looked terrifying.
For an intangible moment that lasted an eternity he merely stared into the mirror, mind tangled by the foreign presence which shouldn't have been in his home. She stared at him in silence. Also without blinking. She stared with rage and disgust burning brighter, hotter, than a summer sun at noon.
His heart suddenly picked up in tempo, an oppressive heatwave flushed through his body. Then, as his mind suddenly freed itself and swept control of his body once more, he whirled around.
The doorway was empty.
Heart slamming against his chest, perspiration beginning to form on his skin, Yuchi quickly turned around to the mirror again. Nothing. His own reflection stared back at him, wide-eyed, toothbrush held between his lips, pale and frightened. He was breathing heavily, he noticed, shoulders and chest heaving. He was warm. Uncomfortably hot.
He spat out the liquid in his mouth, set his toothbrush down and cautiously approached the doorway.
He leaned out and looked left first. He saw nothing. He looked right. Nothing again.
What on earth—
Darkness subsumed the hallway. Instantly.
Yuchi sucked in a breath, stepped back into the light of the bathroom, quickly slamming the door shut and locking it. He took another step back, breathing in and out of his mouth.
Someone was in his home. Someone had invaded his property. A child? A shinobi child? But how? Why?
He hadn't moved against Shabadaba. In fact, he'd—
"Locking the door is an interesting plan."
Horror, like a chain whip, lashed Yuchi. He went rigid.
The voice, cold and pitiless, was right behind him!
A river of sweat was pouring down his back. Hesitantly, fearfully, he turned his head left, glancing to the mirror. His wide eyes could not widen any further. The sight of the blue-haired child sitting on the edge of his corner soaking bathtub, left foot braced on the lip, propping up her left arm as she glared at his reflection stole his breath.
"Futile, but interesting," she added in that cold, pitiless voice, crimson fire and lavender gleaming with sadistic satisfaction. "I'm not surprised. Rats always try to scurry away at the first sign of trouble. How ever do you plan to escape now?"
His heart struck his ribcage with the force of thunder. The world heaving tremble of an high magnitude earthquake shuddered through his whole frame. Yuchi quickly turned to face the child. He stumbled backwards into the bathroom counter, his hands fumbling to brace his weak, trembling and uncoordinated frame, knocking the hair brush clean off the counter, the toothbrush and toothpaste into the sink. The hairbrush clattered noisily on the floor, stabbing his ears.
The child merely watched him. Silent. Almost as still as a statue.
"How did you…" Guided by instinct he slowly slunk towards the door. "I'm on your side," he said breathlessly, chest feeling constricted by an invisible fist.
"Are we allies?" she wondered, watching him shuffle slowly, very slowly, to the door. His whole body felt weighed down by leaden chains. "I would be quite surprised if we were. But, please, do explain yourself."
"You're one of Shabadaba's shinobi, yes? There aren't any other shinobi on this island, so you must be."
"Mm," she hummed. "Go on."
"I reported the location of the rebels to Shabadaba's guards," he continued, still anxiously shuffling closer to the door. "I assume you are here because of that, correct?"
"True," she nodded once. "I am here because of your report."
"So you see, we're on the same side. We both seek to uphold Shabadaba's reign. He understands the needs of this Land's prominent citizens."
"And you understood how you might gain favors from Shabadaba, at the price of the rightful heirs," she spoke in that unrelenting cold and pitiless tone.
He flinched, lashed again by an intangible chain whip.
Her eyes never left him. They tracked every step, every quivering muscle, every movement of his Adam's apple as he swallowed roughly. She observed his behavior the way a stalking lioness observes its unwitting prey, slowly inching in for the kill. He swore he felt a rough, beastly exhale of air brush across his neck.
"After all," she added, "it's just good business." Her lips twisted into an insidious mockery of a smile. "Right?"
Yuchi's blood ran cold. He'd been thinking exactly that. Word for word. Had she…read his mind?
The door was inches from his hand. Or, rather, it should've been. It felt miles away, somehow in proximity at all times but always out of reach.
"Ex- excuse me?"
"What's wrong, Yuchi Muto?" His chest grew tighter, somehow, as her voice changed to a calm, innocent tone. "You're trembling. Why are you so afraid? We're on the same side, aren't we?"
"You… You are not Shabadaba's shinobi, are you?"
"Give the rat a prize. He reached the obvious conclusion."
"The blood on your clothes…"
He reached his trembling hand slowly for the door handle. She smiled again. It was another insidious mockery of a smile.
"It's definitely not my blood."
"You… You murderer!"
"Murderer?" she repeated with a laugh that shook her shoulders.
Her laughter was void of humor. Of joy. Of all that which makes laughter contagious. It was the mocking laughter of a demon come to claim a kindred black soul—a soul which still believed it was innocent of sin.
"Oh no, they're not dead. Death would've been a reprieve. I've let them linger as punishment."
Yuchi grimaced, pale as his richly woven bed sheets, and soaked in a cold sweat.
Gently, gracefully, she lowered her foot from the bathtub lip to the floor and rose to her full height. She was small, and yet her shadow climbed the cramped bathroom walls, transforming her into a towering giant.
"But calling me a murderer is rich coming from you. You sent Shabadaba's guards to kill the rightful heirs of this kingdom, but I'm the murderer?"
"The battle is over," Yuchi claimed suddenly, hand resting upon the door handle. "Shabadaba's shinobi have already defeated the rebel forces."
"Is that so? Hmhm," her shoulders shook again with that awful humorless laugh. Skittering spiders seemed to be crawling all over his skin. Snakes writhed in his stomach.
With the grace and power of a stalking lioness she stepped towards him.
"Assuming you were right, do you think a murderer would care if the battle was over or not?" she wondered.
The handle jiggled in his trembling hand. She took another powerful step, gaze like a flaming arrowhead piercing straight through his fragile flesh to the soul beneath.
"Do you think I'd waste my time breaking into your home just to, what? Scare you? Lecture you on facilitating the hypothetical murder of a child, and then I'd just leave you alone?"
"Killing me would damage your Village's reputation," he scrambled to reason with the demon as his trembling fingers tried to blindly unlock the door.
She scoffed at his attempt. "They'd never know it was me."
The dreadful certainty in her voice caused his vocal cords to tighten. The snakes writhed and wriggled and threatened to explode out of his stomach. The spiders and their hatchlings skittered quicker from the top of his head to the tips of his toes; even his mouth seemed to be full of them, tickling his gums and tongue.
"Your arrogance will be your Village's undoing!"
"Hmph. Look around you, Yuchi, at the Land you claim to love. A tyrannical regime is murdering civilians left and right." She shrugged nonchalantly despite her voice and gaze reflecting a swirling inferno. "You'll be just another unfortunate casualty to their reign. Just another nameless businessman who earned the ire of Shabadaba. No one will ever connect the dots.
"Oh, look at how pale you're getting," she mocked. "I bet it's a tough pill to swallow, watching all of your ambitions crumble before you. It's almost funny, you thought you could dip your toes into the nastiness of regime changes and shinobi and walk away without a drop of blood on your hands. You thought you'd pledge your loyalty to Shabadaba in secret, offer silent aid here and there, sellout those plotting against him, and then you'd get to walk over the corpses left behind to a bright, new future with pockets filled with gold and jewels."
"Ho- how could you possibly know that?"
This child wasn't a native of their kingdom. She couldn't know of their meetings. It was impossible!
"You were so bold, Yuchi Muto! So ambitious! You've put on quite the show, feigning to be a neutral party. You've even convinced yourself of your innocence, that you've done this all in the name of this Nation and its future. Such a performance. I feel like I should give you a round of applause."
The demon clapped her hands slowly, the sound lanced his ears, left him wincing with every echo. She clapped her hands one last time, then kept her hands folded together.
"You even threaten me with tarnishing my Village's reputation, because you thought you held power here. Hmhm," she chuckled cruelly. "Poor fool. Don't you see? I'm the one in control now. I could take everything from you, just as you would have taken it all from Michiru and Hikaru, just as your aid took it from innocent protesters and Captain Korega's men.
"And you know what, the world won't even blink. It'll keep on spinning, with or without you."
"I didn't- I didn't do anything!"
"Take responsibility for your actions like an adult," she scolded. "You helped facilitate the deaths of King Kakeru's loyal guards. You would've facilitated the murder of his son and grandson. You betrayed your countrymen to gain favors and wealth, and as they died at the end of a rope, you sat in the comfort of your home, pretending your hands were clean. You convince yourself even now that it was all for the greater good of this Nation, when you only sought to expand your wealth and your influence.
"Your hands aren't clean, Yuchi," she shook her head. "No. No, they're down in the mud and guts with mine now. That makes you fair game."
"No! Stay away! I'll—"
"Scream? Wail for the guards? Fight me?" she wondered with an amused and cruel laugh. "Go ahead. I'd love to see you try. Go on. Scream. Wail!" she prompted, fiery hatred sweeping control of her voice. "Don't you see, that's precisely what I want you to do. I want you to beg. I want you to feel the same fear the people you helped kill felt in their final moments. I want you to cry the same tears Hikaru has cried because of the trauma you forced him to face!"
Yuchi spun around and fought with the door handle. He couldn't get his trembling fingers to twist the little lock. Her sandals clapped against the tile at a slow, methodical pace. Her shadow, now on the door, grew longer, taller, inching its way up the door with every step closer.
"Men like you think status and wealth is all that matters. You callously cause the deaths of innocent people and pretend your hands are clean. You take and take and take! Hungry for more—for more riches, more power, more influence. More and more and more and more! You can't stop yourselves. It's not enough until its all yours. Even when you have more than enough, even when you have generational wealth, its just not enough for gluttonous cretins like you!
"People like you could use a fraction of your wealth to help lift the least fortunate up, to set up better systems so that everyone can live with decency, and you'd still have enough money to afford your extravagant lifestyle. But you never do! You hoard it all. You kick them while they're down, set up systems which punish them for their unfortunate circumstances. You keep them beneath your oppressive thumbs because you think that's where they deserve to be."
She was nearly in arms reach.
The damn lock wasn't budging. He couldn't get a grip on it!
"You tell them, 'just pull yourselves up!' 'Work harder!' Go to hell! They're fighting to see tomorrow! What the hell would you know about something like that?" she hissed.
"To hell with people like you. You don't even try to reach out. You kick down, you stamp on the fingers of those who try to pull themselves out of the gutter, all because you think you're so damn special. You play gatekeeper to society's 'upper crust' so normal folk don't dirty up your ostentatious ballrooms, just like Miss Kari said.
"But want to know the interesting thing about our cruel and beautiful world: Whether you're an orphan or a King, death comes for us all equally." He heard a blade leave its sheathe. "And today I get to play the reaper."
The lock opened!
Yuchi ripped the door open, threw himself out into the black hallway. As he crashed against the floor, he rolled over and, eyes wide, saw a blade of fire cut through the wooden door with ease. He heard the wood splinter, saw the black wood where the fire had already seared it.
The red and lavender eyes glared at him from the doorway. Her fierce expression broke for another insidious smile.
"Go on. Run. I want to see how far you go!"
Scrambling to his feet, Yuchi sprinted into the darkness for the stairs, illuminated somewhat at the end of the hall by a light downstairs. He ran, and ran, and ran, heart crashing against his chest like a mallet, but the stairs never seemed to get any closer.
What's going on?! He panicked, arms pumping at his sides. Why is it sill so far away?! I've walked this hall hundreds of times, I know its distance, and yet… And yet…
"And yet," the girl suddenly appeared ahead of him, climbing up the stairs without any hurry, "it's like I'm running on a treadmill," she parroted his own thoughts to him.
Yuchi jerked to a halt.
"But why did you ever think the stairs would save you?" she wondered in that cruel, calm, innocent voice. "They're so far away."
He stepped backwards, breathing heavily, as she turned to face him. Then he whirled around.
Yuchi sucked in a sharp breath—the staircase, lit by a light downstairs, filled his view. The girl stood at the end of the hall. She tilted her head, insidious smile on her lips.
"Going somewhere?"
He turned towards the hallways walls, where a bedroom door should have been. The staircase and the girl were ahead of him again.
"The window wouldn't have been a better idea," she said. Her sandal clapped against the wood as she stepped forward. "You may have broken your legs, and then how would you run away?"
"Wha- what are you? What do you want?!" he wailed, stepping back.
"I already told you what I am and what I want."
"Helppppp! Hellllppppppp!" he screamed at the top of his lungs.
Her shoulders shook with a sadistic chuckle. "Scream all you like. We'll see if they can hear you."
Clap-clap-clap.
Yuchi tried to back away, tried to keep his distance, screaming for help until his voice went hoarse.
"I don't think they heard you," she taunted.
Clap.
"Want to try again?"
Clap.
Yuchi stumbled and fell to his buttocks. He began to scoot backwards.
"Stop! Stoppppp! You little—"
Clap.
"Just stop!"
Clap.
"Sto- Stop!"
"Stop what?"
Clap.
"I said stop, damn you!"
Clap.
"There you go again. You keep begging me to stop."
Clap.
"You're not even using your manners, by the way."
Clap.
"And I haven't even done anything."
Clap.
"Not yet, at least."
Sweating, on the verge of hyperventilating, Yuchi felt the weight of a horse pressing down his chest. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't…
"I'll give you whatever you want!" he declared. "Is it money you're after? I have it. Just tell me how much you want! It's yours!"
"Mm," she hummed, shaking her head once. "I don't think money is going to solve this one, Yuchi Muto. So sorry about that."
As he scooted and kicked himself backwards on the floor, Yuchi's hand slapped into something wet. It was warm. An inch deep.
Frightened by the new sensation, but unable to see anything in the darkness save the crimson orb burning like a flame, he continued to scoot backwards, feeling the liquid soak into his pants and cover his hands.
Suddenly his back pressed against a wall. The light at the end of the stairs went out, and the red eye vanished. Despite that he heard the approaching clap-clap-clap splash against the liquid. Yuchi inhaled and exhaled laboriously.
"You were so convinced you'd get away with it, hands clean of blood, with all the influence you could ever dream of at your fingertips," the devil spoke from the darkness.
"You can't do this! You can't!"
"Hmhm. Hmhmhmhm!" He could almost see her shoulders shaking with her laughter. "Do I look like someone who cares what you think I can or can't do?"
The wet slapping grew closer.
"Everything you did was a cold calculated business decision. Even when lives were at stake. You could call me inspired."
"Please, stop! I'm begging you! Spare me!"
"No." The answer was cold and simple. "Do you know why I hold so much contempt for you? It isn't because you fell in line when the tyrant swept control of the Land. In your shoes, as a civilian, I can hardly blame you for holding your tongue. I can't hate you or anyone else for not protesting harder.
"In the end, you're not a fighter. You're not a warrior. You were up against an entire royal guard, who made no qualms about hanging anyone who protested. Even if it meant children. I'd be terrified, too. As a civilian, without the training I received as a shinobi, I'd be frightened to protest. Because I'd know, like you knew, I would die.
"Those few brave souls who did protest in spite of that fear, they showed courage some shinobi don't even possess. But they're the exception to the rule. They stand out because they were completely out of the ordinary. So I don't blame anyone here who ducked their heads and tried to keep a low profile. They were just trying to survive, they were trying to protect their families.
"Had you only kept your head down, your mouth shut, and simply fell in line, I wouldn't feel anything for you. Not contempt, not disgust, not anger—nothing at all. I wouldn't be here right now. You would have been totally ordinary. I would have seen you as I see all the others—as a frightened populous caught beneath a tyrants thumb.
"But you, you took it a step further. You went out of your way to gain favors from Shabadaba. You rat. You sold away the lives of innocent people for profit. You would have had Michiru and Hikaru hung at the end of a rope, shrugged your shoulders, and claimed your hands were clean, all so you can make more money. All in the name of 'good business,' you worthless scumbag."
The darkness went still and silent. Yuchi's chest heaved. His eyes darted about, trying to probe the darkness for any sight of the demon.
Flames suddenly ignited in a half circle around him. In the orange glow the girl became visible once more—she was crouching right beside him. The liquid was crimson in color.
He felt his heart stop. He looked at his hands and his pants, dripping in the liquid.
Blood. He was sitting in a pool of blood!
"Now you're in the mud and guts with me," she said again, coldly. "That makes you fair game."
Yuchi Muto screamed.
Although Shabadaba's shinobi were defeated and the ministers involved in the coup arrested, their work in securing the island was far from finished.
There remained guards within the town, as well as supporters of Shabadaba, like Yuchi Muto, whose willful, calculated, and callous aid to the tyrant could not be excused by mere fear of reprisal.
It was likely, at least among Shabadaba's supporters in the guard, they would attempt to revolt against the fractured forces of King Michiru when they inevitably learned of their leader's fall. Thus it was imperative to stamp out the embers before they could spark a flame.
Amari's Shadow Clones, sent as decoys to Hoshino's and Hikaru's pursuers, had already begun gathering Intel from their pursuers through genjutsu interrogations, learning of fervent supporters and guardsmen who fully aligned with Shabadaba. They'd also begun stamping out some of the embers. Like the business magnate Yuchi Muto, whose wails sent birds in nearby trees flying from their nests.
Yuchi would live, as would the guards. It was in Captain Korega's and King Michiru's hands to decide their fates, not hers, Amari knew; this was their Kingdom, their Land, they had their own customs and applications of justice.
All the same, she showed them no mercy within her genjutsu.
Aided by the Crows of the Leaf and Kakashi's ninja hounds, the shinobi and Captain Korega would work throughout the night, into the morning and over the course of the following day to locate and arrest the extreme elements within the guard.
Those who merely fell in line in fear, given their inability to fight against Shabadaba's shinobi, were given reprimands, demotions and further punished with intense drills to slowly earn their place among the royal guard.
In the future, long after the honorable shinobi departed, Captain Korega, then promoted to Commander Korega, and his second-in-command Captain Hoshino would lead a tightly knit, loyal regimen of guards, who would not be swayed by riches or so easily cave in fear of shinobi. They would be trained to face such threats. Shabadaba's betrayal and the strength of shinobi were hard lessons, but lessons taken to heart by the survivors of the tyrants short reign.
Should a day come where shinobi invaded their peaceful Nation, they would be prepared, utilizing later advancements in research of Chakra Armor to deflect ninjutsu and genjutsu.
Such technology would give them, simple soldiers, a fighting chance to defend themselves and their Kingdom against the far superior shadow warriors known as shinobi. And they, like the Queen of the Land of Snow, would keep its secrets well-hidden, hopeful they might prevent greater bloodshed in the reignited Third Great Ninja War.
Eventually the Leaf and Mist shinobi would have an opportunity to rest. They would finally find a chance to sleep, eat, and bathe. In that order. Then they would begin again, maintaining a protection detail around the King and Prince, while simultaneously helping clean-up some of the mess Shabadaba caused.
They would respectfully cut down the unfortunate souls hung in town and around the palace, helping return even a mild sense of security and normalcy to the general public. They would help spread the word of the end of the tyrant's reign with King Michiru's and Captain Korega's aid.
Slowly, very slowly, over the course of the days that followed as they ensured the Nation would be secure and their client's safety assured in their absence, the people would slowly return to their normal lives.
Yet nothing would ever truly be the same. For their peaceful utopia had seen the face of evil, they had been clutched beneath its iron grip, they had lost loved ones, friends, family, co-workers to it.
And those scars would never be forgotten.
Feet in the wet sand, lukewarm waves lapping over the tops of his feet, Hikaru gazed at the far off horizon in quiet rapture and reflection; never before had the sky seemed so blue.
So…beautiful.
The expanse of crystal clear sea stretched farther than his eyes could see, beyond the boundaries he'd known his whole life. It stretched out seemingly forever. To worlds end, one could say, although he knew there was no such end or edge; the planetary body they inhabited was spherical in nature, so if one were to set sail and never meet land, they would merely travel in circles forever.
Yet here on land, on the secluded beach nearest to the palace, looking out at the infinite horizon of sea and sky, glistening silver with sunlight, the world seemed so much larger than before.
Everything felt so immense now, so vast it was impossible to hold onto, as deep as the greatest depths of the ocean, as infinite as the universe their planet called home, full of unsolved mysteries and unexplored lands. And he felt…insignificantly small by comparison. Like a grain of sand on a beach.
Where was his place in something so vast?
What was his purpose for even being here?
Why him? Why was he alive and not the others?
"What's on your mind, Hikaru?"
He wasn't startled by Amaririsu's voice. He couldn't say he was surprised, either, that she noticed him gazing off at the horizon; she always had a knack for noticing any shift in his behavior, and it was his idea to look for shells together while they waited for the others to join them, which he had stopped doing.
Turning his head left, he saw Amaririsu regarding him with both eyes, her bandana now tying her hair up in a high-ponytail. She attired herself in a navy long sleeve and mid-thigh length board shorts.
"I…"
He looked back out at the horizon. He pursed his lips, listening to the lapping waves as they gently rushed up the shore, feeling his feet submerge briefly beneath the lukewarm wave, breaking along his ankles, before it returned to sea again. The timid breeze brushed against his white shirt and colorful swim trunks.
It was a truly beautiful day. More beautiful than he ever remembered days like these being.
"I guess I'm realizing how big the world is," Hikaru began after a moment. "And how small I am compared to it."
"Mm. The world is a big place," Amaririsu agreed, slowly stepping closer. "Somewhere across the sea in that direction is another continent, believe it or not."
"Really?"
"Mmhm. A precious friend of mine is somewhere over there. Knowing there's an entire undiscovered continent out there, it makes me wonder what lays beyond the known Shinobi World. It's a big place, after all. And yet, at the same time, it is also a speck in the grander universe we inhabit.
"Thinking of it that way, in the grander view of an ever-expanding universe, we all feel rather small and insignificant, huh?" she asked with a faint smile. "Like a single speck of sand on a planet-sized desert."
Hikaru nodded quietly.
"I just…I don't know where I fit in to all of this now," he admitted.
"How so?"
"Before, I saw our Kingdom as the center of the world. Sort of," he glanced away. "I…I suppose I saw myself as the center of the world. Thinking about mother and father—I wanted to fix it. I was worried it was my fault."
"What happened between your parents, it was never your fault, Hikaru," Amaririsu reassured, gently placing her hand on his shoulder. "They both love you dearly. Even if they weren't great at showing or communicating it."
He nodded. He knew, kind of. Or he knew that better now. His father had changed so much in the last few days. So had he. It was impossible not to change after…everything.
"Why are we here, Amaririsu?" Hikaru asked suddenly, looking away from the horizon to her. "I mean, not here," he gestured to the beach. "I know I asked if we could all hang out here. But…"
He had wanted to get out of the palace. The last few days, it felt like he was stuck, trapped within a dark cage that was steadily closing in, squeezing the life out of him. He needed to get out. To breathe fresh air and get away from the palace which felt tainted by reminders of his grandfather…and the battles and death that had taken place there.
He wanted to spend time with his friends, he didn't just want to be under guard by them, kept safely at arms distance as they secured the Nation. Hikaru knew it was important. He knew they were doing everything they could to protect them and their future, but…
He wanted to escape his awful dreams and anxieties and just be…normal.
He wanted to be normal again. A normal boy without dreams of death, dying, and bloodshed.
"Why are we here?" he repeated in a soft voice.
"Why are we alive, you mean? Why us and not the others?" she asked knowingly.
"…Yes."
She was one of the few people he felt he could ask. He wasn't sure he could ever ask his mother these sorts of questions; she might blame his father and he didn't want them to be angry at each other. Not over something so out of their control. His father was searching for answers, too, the young Prince felt. But Amaririsu…
Amaririsu was…
She was like Princess Gale, his favorite movie character, and Queen Koyuki, who resembled her character in so many ways—warm and wise, sincere and thoughtful. The Leaf kunoichi was…like another maternal figure, he supposed. Or maybe like a big sister he felt safe enough to ask these sort of questions to.
He felt the same about Haku, too. Natsumi and Hinata, though, they were friends he felt a…different sort of feeling for. One he wasn't sure how to describe without embarrassing himself.
"The world is a cruel and chaotic place, Hikaru," Amaririsu began softly. "There are systems in place, people in positions of power, who keep it this way. Who maintain this purposeless cruelty to further their prosperity. War, unfortunately, has proven itself very profitable in our militaristic society. There are many people out there like Shabadaba and Ishidate, whose greed for more power, more money, or even immortality, causes indiscriminate pain. It leads to pointless death.
"I know it isn't fair. I know you might even prefer if there was some point to it. Some grander plan that was set in place—whether created by a god above, or some form of destiny, perhaps—so all this suffering would lead to something good. That the suffering and death of so many innocent people—men, women, and children—was designed to achieve a greater good for this world and all its inhabitants. And you wouldn't be alone in that feeling. But…"
"…There really isn't any point to it, is there?"
Amaririsu's expression softened at his weak voice. He knew the answer before it left her mouth.
"No, not to this pointless cruelty and death, at least," she answered honestly, and it was clear it pained her to say it. "However, you've discovered what truly matters to you, right?"
He nodded quietly.
"Don't lose sight of that," she implored. "I've seen glimpses of our vast universe—it's limitless. Full of infinite worlds and infinite possibilities. Full of unsolved mysteries. Looking at it from that grand view, it can make our lives and our actions feel small and insignificant.
"However, we do not exist in a bird's eye view of the universe. We are here on this planet living together," Amaririsu said. "Our lives are here, grounded in precious moments of existence we share with those we love. With strangers and friends who also share in this precious existence with us. And those moments, these feelings we share, are significant. They are what make life worth living. They're what connect us all to this universe, and this universe to us.
"It's true the cruelty is pointless, but it is also true we can stand against it. We can embody hope, compassion, light, and love to combat the selfish, the greedy, and the callous. We can reach our hands out to those lost in darkness, to save their worlds, because every life we save is a whole world saved.
"We can do all of this because it wasn't gods or destiny that made this world the way it is. We did. People created this world."
Gently, she turned him so they were facing each other fully, then she placed both hands on his shoulders. "And if our hands created the current world, then that means our hands possess the power to change it. To create a world without this pointless cruelty. A world of love. Every single person has that power within them."
"…Do you really think so?"
"I do. You see this universe as the ocean appears before us," she gestured gently with her left hand to the sea, "without an end, so vast that the mind can barely comprehend it. This planet of ours is but a small village, a quaint rest stop in a ever-expanding universe of infinite possibilities. You worry that because of this vastness you are small and insignificant.
"But no matter how small and insignificant we may feel we are, even the smallest butterfly fluttering its wings can alter the fabric of the world."
"How?" he asked. "How can I…do anything like changing the world? I'm not strong or amazing like you or the others. I'm just…me. And I don't think that's enough for something like this," Hikaru shook his head.
"You are enough, Hikaru," she said it with such certainty. Such confidence. He wanted to believe it. "Everyone has room to grow, even adults. There may be times when you feel weak and powerless. I do, too.
"But you, the person you are in here," she pressed her finger against his heart, "will always be enough. That person is already worthy of love. That person is so strong, stronger than you yourself know. And don't say you aren't amazing. You were frightened, and yet you pushed that aside and took a leap of faith. You saved your father, Hikaru."
"That's different," he tried to brush it aside. "You say everyone has the power to change the world. But if there are more men like Shabadaba and Ishidate out there, if they are using these…systems—that's what you called them, right? If they're using that, then how do we change the world? How do we make sure all this pointless death never happens again?" he asked desperately.
"By standing against them and their ilk at every turn," Amaririsu replied. "You're beginning to question why the world is the way it is, you're questioning the reasons for the cruelty and pain you've witnessed and endured. And that's a good thing, even if it doesn't feel like that right now.
"But you have to understand that this fight, this war to change the world, won't resolve itself quickly. It won't end overnight or in a year. In the end, we may only move this world forward by inches in our combined lifetime.
"Even so, we have to keep pushing forward. We have to reach out to everyone we can, wherever we can. We have to stand up, again and again. As many times as it takes. Even if we fail. Even if nothing ever seems to change. Because the only way this world will ever change, the only way we'll create a world where children like us do not exist, is to keep fighting against this pointless cruelty."
"Is that what you're doing?"
"Mmhm. But not just me. My comrades, peers, teachers and friends, too. Even the friend I mentioned across the sea—Temujin is out there trying to change the world, too."
Her eyes drifted away, looking off to the horizon and beyond. "His continent is also ravaged by war and pointless cruelty. Yet in spite of all he experienced, and all he lost, he's still out there searching for an answer to peace. Searching for a way to help his people reach a utopia. He's not alone, either. He has precious friends helping him along the way, just like me.
"And I… I made a promise to him that as long as he kept moving forward, I'd be moving right beside him. I'd be there in spirit whenever he needed me, until the day we meet again. I even promised we'd somehow find a way to make the impossible possible together."
She smiled faintly. "I hope more than anything to live up to my promise to him. I hope more than anything that someday, before my final day in this world, that we meet in person and smile and laugh together one last time. Even if we're only laughing at how bold and ambitious our dreams were as kids," she added with a light giggle.
"And," Amaririsu looked at him again with her smile and all her warmth, "my promise to him is also the promise I'll make you. When the day comes that we leave this island, I'll be there whenever you need me. In spirit and just a thought away. Whatever path you take, you'll never walk it alone. That's a promise."
Hikaru felt his lips tremble, his eyes stung. Amaririsu…
The young Prince stepped into the girl and wrapped his arms around her mid-section.
"I'm… I'm going to help you all," he declared boldly, emotionally, and into her belly. "I don't want people to have to die like this ever again. So I'll…I'll stand up, too. I'll spread my wings like you said and help all of you."
With one arm wrapped around him, Amaririsu gently rubbed the top of his head. He could feel her smile in her voice when she spoke.
"And you said you weren't amazing. At your age I was still afraid of my own shadow. Here you are threatening the world with the flutter of your wings. I can't tell if I'm a good influence or a troublesome one."
He flushed at the compliment, but smiled all the same.
"Anyway, that's enough talk about changing the world for one day. We're here to have fun, so let's create some memories." Her hands cupped him beneath his arms. Then he was moving through the air. "Come on."
"Wha- Hey! Amaririsu!"
"No whining, Your Highness," she teased, setting him on her shoulders. "It's very unbecoming of royalty."
He struggled to regain his bearings and balance, hands fumbling on top of her head and eventually her cheeks as she started walking on top of the sea.
"What are you doing? Where are we going?"
"I want to see how the sea looks out here, it's crystal clear. So don't be a drag by squirming too much."
From her shoulders he peered down at the crystal clear water, at first awkwardly as he tried to adjust without hurting Amaririsu. Then in amazement at the fish swimming beneath them and the colorful coral reefs reflecting light in shades of red, green, and blue that they witnessed as she sauntered farther from the shore.
Little by little, with Amaririsu's help, he smiled and giggled and awed with her as they discovered the living habitat beneath them. Along the way he would ask if they could go snorkeling when the others arrived so they could see it all up close. Amaririsu agreed.
As she walked along the sea, and as he awed at the beauty of the sea, the fishes, the coral reefs, and even the sky, which had never seemed so clear and blue before, Hikaru felt a somber realization wash over him.
He would never be the same boy he was before meeting the shinobi. Never. There was no returning to "normal" or that naïve life he'd existed in before. This trauma, this pain, this grief—this was all apart of his new normal, apart of him, and it would never go away.
Everything had changed, irreversibly. It changed in ways he couldn't fully grasp at times, but he felt it in his core. He felt the fresh stitches sewn into his being. He felt the world he'd always known crumble like a sand castle smashed beneath a tsunami wave.
Yet, despite its destruction, new life had been born. A new world had taken shape. A world so different from the one he knew, like the habitat of the sea below their feet, and yet somehow just as beautiful. Just as meaningful. Perhaps even more meaningful than he'd ever realized.
"There's so much here," Hikaru awed. "So much I've never seen before. It's amazing!"
"Mmhm," Amaririsu hummed. "It's easy to lose sight of it all. It's always there, though. This precious world of ours, it's diverse and beautiful, and yes, even cruel at times. Yet if you never allow your vision to become jaded, you will see it is full of wonder, joyful discoveries, curiosities, and breathtaking beauty. It's full of love. That we are apart of it, even for a little while, is a gift."
"Yes, you're right. It really is."
He'd never seen any of this new world before. Yet now it was as though he could see it all, even if in his heart he knew it was single grain of sand in a larger world. In a greater universe. But it felt like so much more. And he was…he was connected to it, just like Amaririsu said.
Is this how it feels to grow up, even if only a little bit? Hikaru wondered.
Was this new vigor he felt in knowing he was connected to—apart of—this world how it felt to be alive?
Because he felt like he could actually help them. He felt like he could one day be someone they could rely on to help change their world.
Amaririsu had armed him with knowledge. All the shinobi had, in some way, whether through words or actions, reprimands or comfort. Amaririsu in particular, though… She had been reaching a hand to him from the beginning, he felt.
From the very start she had treated and spoke to him as she would any friend, or perhaps as she might a student or her own child. She went out of her way to widen his perspective of the world, as she was now from her shoulders, beyond the small, insignificant and self-centered world he once inhabited.
She was providing him the tools and knowledge to stand beside them, in his own way. Perhaps not on a true battlefield of war, as they would face, but as an ally, a friend, in their war to change the world.
I see now, he thought, why you said you wouldn't run away from the war you face. Or I think I do. If everyone keeps running away, things like what happened here will keep occurring. And you… You're trying your hardest to put an end to it.
"Amaririsu?"
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry for how I acted before."
"And I'm sorry for not speaking plainly. I was trying to lead you to the answers, but I didn't take into account how you felt or what you were experiencing. Guess boys aren't the only troublesome ones, huh?"
"Guess so," he giggled.
"Looks like the others are finally here," she noted.
Looking to the shore, he saw Haku, Natsumi, and Hinata, Kakashi, and his father all moving through the sand, dressed for the beach. Hinata was the closest of the group, attired in a loose lavender unzipped sweater, shorts, and a blue and white one piece swimsuit.
Even at a distance he felt his heart leap into his throat.
"Ready to head back?" Amaririsu asked, startling him a little. He quickly looked back to her, and flushed at the knowing smile on her lips. "We'll go snorkeling with whoever wants to join us and see what this all looks like up close."
"Yeah, let's go."
In the immediate aftermath of the violence and death they witnessed it was difficult to see clearly, to grasp the full depth of the lessons Amaririsu had imparted onto him, but Hikaru would be grateful for them in the future. He was already grateful for her openness to teach him, to educate him as an equal instead of ignoring him like a brat.
It was why he admired her so much.
It was why, someday…
Someday I hope I can be just like you, Amaririsu. But for now…
For now, today, they were here, living in this moment together.
Today they were making precious memories that would last a lifetime.
The joyful giggles of Hikaru, Amari, and Hinata was a soothing noise, Haku felt. Often the result of Hikaru's excited retelling of what they had seen when they resurfaced from snorkeling.
From the sandy shore, attired in a teal shirt and board shorts, the Mist shinobi watched and listened, smiling softly at their interactions, longing to join them. In time he would. But someone else needed him, presently.
"Are you feeling all right?" Haku asked as he approached Natsumi's side.
His comrade, crimson hair tied up in a loose bun, attired in a black crop top and matching knee-length sarong, beneath which she wore a red bikini, stood in ankle deep water, hand on her hip, observing the trio. She glanced over her shoulder at him.
"Didn't I tell you? I was meant to be born a fish, but the gods forgot to equip me with fins and gills. Now I'm stuck living alongside boring surface-dwellers. Woe is me," she deadpanned.
"Mmhm," he hummed, coming to stand beside her. "I am certain it would be quite bothersome, if that was truly what troubled you."
"Saying I'm a liar?"
"No. But you are evading."
"Heh. I've never intimidated you, have I?" she asked, looking at him from the corner of her eye with a sharp grin.
"Of course not. You are my comrade," he smiled. "More than that, I feel it is safe to say we are friends. It would be strange if I were intimidated by someone who has shed blood with me, who has fought to protect my life, as I protect yours, in our pursuit of rebuilding and reforming our Nation, would it not?"
Natsumi's face contorted in such a way one might think an octopus had sprayed inked over her.
"Ugh. Stop it. When you say things like that it makes me sound all soft, gooey and gross. Our enemies will never take me seriously."
"You are still evading."
"Yeah, yeah. Don't push me."
Haku heeded her warning and waited quietly. He turned his gaze to the horizon. The trio were paddling around, the tubes of their snorkels pointed to the sky.
"I've been standing here, watching and listening to them," Natsumi began after a long pause, "and you know what I realized? I have no clue how to be a kid. I don't know how to just…be like those little gremlins. Watching them smile, listening to them laugh, I feel like an old cantankerous woman. A chaperon."
"I admit, this is unfamiliar territory for me as well. I've never had recreation time like this."
"Yeah." Natsumi hugged her arms around her abdomen. "The Kekkei Genkai Purges, the fear, the poverty, the Fourth Mizukage and whoever was controlling him, it's stolen so many childhoods. Going back beyond us. Being here now, makes me wonder inconvenient things."
"Like what might have been?" Haku posed the question, looking to his comrade.
"You really don't beat around the bush, do you?"
"It would annoy you if I did."
"Heh. You know me so well," Natsumi smirked.
"Of course. You're a friend," he smiled.
"Stop it already," she shoved his shoulder lightly.
After a soft chuckle and settling his balance, Haku said, "It isn't wrong to wonder what may have been. Although the past cannot be changed, looking at where our lives went awry, and why they did, can help us change the course of the future. It is what we are doing to change the Mist."
"Mm, good point." The trio surfaced farther to their left. "By the way, the scar on Amaririsu's back, is that from the Lightning Blade? It's hard to see from here."
Although the distance did make it difficult to see, Haku already knew the answer. He also knew Natsumi was changing the subject, so he let her. For now.
His gaze fell upon his kindred spirit's toned back, exposed by the purple bikini top she wore. The scar led a mild diagonal from the top of her right shoulder down to her lower back.
"No," he answered, "it was not the result of the Lightning Blade. That scar is new."
"Know your girlfriend's body pretty well, huh?" Natsumi teased.
Haku rolled his eyes. "I helped her re-bandage her wounds from the Lightning Blade, so I am aware of the extent of its damage. I believe that scar is the result of a sword."
"Hm. Think it was that kid she told us about? Her traitorous brother, Hashirama Senju's ancestor—Kasai, yeah?"
"I believe so, yes. Rather, in all the letters we have exchanged, he seems the most likely to have dealt such a blow. But I can only speculate." He looked back to his comrade. "We should join them. Hikaru did ask us to."
Natsumi cocked her scarred eyebrow. "You don't need me to swim with your girlfriend. Go on. Enjoy the view. I'm sure she'll enjoy the view as well. You take good care of yourself."
"Natsumi," he chided. "You're evading again."
"What part of, 'I don't know how to be a kid' didn't break through the ice lodged in your ears," she wondered in exasperation. "I get that Hikaru wants us all around. I appreciate what you're trying to do. But if I go I'll just be a boring adult. It'll bring the whole mood down."
"You may not know 'how to be a kid' as you say," Haku said, stepping forward and diagonally not through the water, but on top of it. Half-turning, he smiled an innocent smile at the kunoichi. "But it is never too late to learn."
He then sank one foot down and splashed water over his comrade.
"Hey!" Natsumi raised her arms to block, to ill-effect. Once the water fell, a scathing turquoise glare fell upon him. "Think you're real funny, yeah?"
Ankles already sunk, the water she kicked up was greater in volume than his, but he was prepared, gliding out of the way. Only a few droplets struck him. As he glided, Haku lowered himself, smiling, cupped some water in his hand, and splashed her again.
"Haku, I swear I'll…" she hissed, raising her arms again.
"I am also certain," he added, a hint of cheek in his voice, "Hinata would enjoy your company as well. And you, hers."
Lowering her arms, wet with seawater, something dangerous flashed in Natsumi's eyes. As anticipated.
In general it was ill-advised, Haku believed, to entice his comrade's temper. Fuugetsu learned that lesson with his surprises. However, finally, after months of teasing about his kindred spirit, the scales of battle had been evened by his keen observations.
He would not let such an opportunity go to waste so easily, especially if it meant dragging the self-declared "boring adult" into a childish game.
"You're a dead man," she declared.
"We shall see."
The kunoichi bounded onto the surface of the water, previous inconvenient thoughts forgotten, and their chase began in earnest. She was quick with her retaliations of water, but he was quicker still and in his element.
When Natsumi finally splashed a large volume of water over him, soaking him from head to toe, she grinned like a triumphant child.
"Heh, got you that time."
Haku smiled, pleased by the sight. She was slowly letting go. Slowly returning to a natural state of innocence where fun always existed for all people, no matter the age. He also smiled because he had made another observation before settling into position. An intriguing one.
"True. However…"
Out of the water behind the Mist kunoichi sprang Amari. Natsumi half spun and struck the Shadow Clone, dispersing it before it could grab ahold of her.
"Nice try," she drawled. "I'm a Sensory Type, rememb—"
Natsumi's body went stiff.
"I did remember, actually," Amari said from behind him. She had signaled her plan to him moments before when Natsumi's back was turned to her. "I just needed to distract you for a moment to use the shadows beneath the water to catch you."
"I'll give you three seconds to let go of me."
"Three whole seconds? Oh, that's far too late. For you, at least."
Hikaru, riding on Hinata's back, emerged from the water in front of Natsumi. Hikaru was grinning. Hinata smiled innocently.
"Sorry about this," she apologized, raising a single finger.
"You little grem—"
The Mizukage's assistant was felled by two quick pokes to the tops of her feet, altering the flow of chakra, and plunging her beneath the surface of the water.
Natsumi didn't waste time surfacing or altering her attacks for Hinata and Hikaru, demanding penance for their crimes. The Leaf kunoichi and Prince giggled as they fled.
At the same time, Amari waded through the water to his side. She looked up at him with a smile. A smile which set his heart at ease and made his body feel warm.
"Natsumi will have her hands full for a bit. Guess that means its your turn."
"It appears so," Haku smiled.
He lowered into a crouch and halted the flow of chakra to his feet, sinking himself beneath the surface of the water.
When he resurfaced, Haku shared a smile with his kindred spirit.
"This is a new experience for Natsumi and I, so, if it is not too much to ask, please be patient with us."
"Don't worry," she smiled. "We'll figure it out together."
He looked forward to it.
The children waged their war of water, giggling and yelling joyfully as they chased and fled from each other, splashing water through the air; the droplets sparkled and glistened in the sun like mercury.
Eventually, after calming down and swimming peacefully together, the children returned to the sandy shore, patted themselves dry with towels, then took a moment to reapply sunscreen and rest.
Michiru savored every smile, every giggle, and even the embarrassed flushes of his son when teased by the shinobi. He savored their happiness. He was grateful they were so welcoming to Hikaru, treating him as though they'd all known each other for years. It'd been far too long since he'd seen his son be so animated, bursting at the seams with more joy than a full bounce house of laughing children.
And as he savored it Michiru swore to never take these moments for granted again.
After much discussion over everything and nothing, which Kakashi and Michiru joined in, the children, now rested, rose to play a game of volleyball with the old net he, Amayo, and their friends once used. Hikaru only ever had few chances to rally with his parents, so the idea of playing with his friends left him beaming.
It was decided the match would be Leaf against Mist after some friendly teasing between Natsumi and Amaririsu; Hikaru would alternate sides between sets after several practice rounds—none of the shinobi had ever played the game, so it was left to Michiru and Hikaru to explain the rules and show them how to serve, block, set, and attack the ball.
Kakashi and Michiru refereed the practice rounds. There were plenty of stumbles. Plenty of dives and chasing when the shinobi used too much of their strength to strike the ball. Several times the ball merely struck the net, much to their embarrassment. The smiles and laughter didn't end, however, even in moments of personal frustration.
Slowly but surely, though, as Michiru had come to expect, the shinobi adapted to the game and there was less chasing, less strikes to the net, and more rallies. Once they had the hang of it, and after Kakashi set additional rules—no use of chakra, ninjutsu, genjutsu, or taijutsu—the match began in earnest.
For a few points Michiru watched the children play. He watched them smile, tease, cheer when they scored, and savored the delight on his son's face, who was beaming brighter than the sun and warming the King's heart.
In that moment he swore to never forget what truly mattered, for he had lost sight of it some time ago. Before Amayo had left him. Perhaps it was more truthful to admit he had never truly understood it. He thought he had understood love. He did love his son and Amayo with all his heart, and yet he'd also caused them both so much heartache with his behavior.
In the midst of the game Michiru excused himself. Although he would have loved nothing more than to stay and watch on the sidelines, now that he was King, especially in such a tumultuous time, he had too few personal hours in his days to stop at the gym. Exercising, losing weight, eating healthier; this was all apart of his personal journey, he felt. He needed to change. This time for the better. For his son and for his Kingdom.
Fortunately, they had an exercise room installed long ago on the beach; he and Amayo used to enjoy the view of the beach when he ran on the treadmill. Perhaps someday they could have moments like those again.
Kakashi joined him, insistent on maintaining a protection detail for the remainder of their time on the island. Michiru appreciated it.
After a handful of strength training exercises, Michiru stepped onto the treadmill and began to walk, sweating bullets and red in the face despite the towel he kept wrapped around the back of his neck to wipe it dry.
From the treadmill, through the glass windows, he had a clear view of the volleyball net and the game still afoot. Kakashi, attired in a button-up shirt, swim trunks, but still donning his mask and headband, stood to the side of the King, watching the game as well.
Hikaru was on the Mist shinobi's side of the net, but the ball was flying at high speeds towards the Leaf's side, spiked by Natsumi.
Amaririsu barely reached it in time, diving into the sand to block it into the air. Hinata tracked it, aligning herself beneath it. Scrambling onto her feet, Amaririsu rushed across the sand just as her teammate set it, springing it into the air to spike it. Or so it seemed. She feinted a heavy strike, but lightly struck it over the net, dropping it on the other side within a foot or two of the net.
It hit the sand, scoring a point for the Leaf. Amaririsu hopped and cheered, turning to her teammate and high-fiving her with both hands, then embracing her tightly. They were both beaming despite being half covered in sand.
Hikaru was beaming, too, despite losing the point. It kept Michiru's heart light, warm, and determined.
"This whole incident with Shabadaba," Michiru began suddenly, out of breath as he spoke, "it's made me realize something, Kakashi."
Kakashi turned to face him. "What's that, Your Majesty?"
"I never truly understood what my father was trying to do. Rather, I never tried to understand what my father's dreams or goals were for this Nation of ours. I never tried to understand Amayo's point of view, either. I never understood what really mattered. Even though it was right in front of me."
Kakashi hummed, glancing off to the children. "Unfortunately, it's an understanding few of us grasp without tragedy."
Michiru dabbed away more sweat. "Have you lost someone dear to you as well, Kakashi?"
"There aren't many shinobi my age who haven't lost someone precious."
In his voice Michiru sensed the pain burdening his bodyguard, a bramble which wrapped itself around his being and buried its thorns into him—pain he had never even noticed before. Yet it seemed so clear now. How could he miss it?
"In fact, there isn't anyone in this unit of ours who hasn't lost their family or friends," Kakashi continued. "Haku, Natsumi, Amari, and Hinata—from an early age this world of ours, the world of shinobi, inflicted great pains onto them. As it has now with Hikaru as well."
"And with the war they will suffer more, won't they?" Michiru asked solemnly through heavy breaths.
Kakashi nodded once, grimly. "That's the unfortunate reality of war. No soldier ever escapes unscathed."
"I see."
"For now all I can do is train hard and learn all I can of this world—its joys, its beauty, its failings, and its darkness."
Michiru pursed his lips. He had thought Amaririsu so bold when they first met, and yet the war and her dreams, to his eyes, were something separate from him. A world that didn't necessarily effect his life. Matters of the mainland which wouldn't touch the Land of the Moon.
He was quite foolish. However, now he hoped to learn all he could of their world, too. Just like Amaririsu.
"Amaririsu said the war has only reinforced her determination to change the world," Michiru recalled. Kakashi looked at him again. "I remember what she said so clearly, it's strange. I had understood so little then, and yet her words have lingered in my mind ever since the incident ended.
"They've given me solace, a sense of peace and…oneness I've only felt when I believed I would die… 'On a long enough timeline, a world without war will be born. We can create a world where people can live in peace, harmony, free of oppression and free of fear, where they can smile and laugh, and love without restraint with everyone, regardless of Nation of origin.' "
"Papa felt the same way, I think," Michiru said after dabbing away the sweat and drinking some water. "But Amaririsu, she aims to change more than a single Nation. She seeks to change this world, doesn't she? In more than just simple words."
"She does," Kakashi agreed.
"Mm."
"It'll take time—generations. But it can be achieved." She said it with such certainty, he wanted to believe it. Or perhaps he already did. "So I'll keep trying to reach out to anyone I can. I'll keep trying to inspire others to walk together, united by our shared humanity, instead of walking in pockets of isolation. I'll keep trying to break this cycle of war and change this world, if only so the children of the future don't have to suffer the same pains of those who came before us, and those who live now."
"Reaching out to whoever we can…" Michiru pondered.
"When we give up," he recalled Queen Koyuki's words again, "the dreams we dream and everything else that truly matters to us, they slip through our fingers. Forever. That's why we must protect our dreams. We must always believe in the future. As long as we believe, spring will come to this world of ours.
"So although winter has fallen upon these Lands with the Stone Village's declaration of war, it is my hope and dream to find a way to help usher in the coming spring. I seek to find a means to bring peace between these warring Nations and end this needless suffering. It is a dream I will fight for however I can, even if all I can do is raise my voice in unison with theirs. I must. Those of us who have suffered must keep fighting for justice and peace so the future generations do not suffer as we have."
Michiru stopped the treadmill. He took a moment to catch his breath, to wipe away the sweat, and to hydrate as he watched the volleyball game.
"When Queen Koyuki and Amaririsu told me of their dreams," Michiru began when he had his breath, "and even when Papa told me his, I was inspired by them and by their passion, but I didn't quite understand what it was they meant. I think I do now. Or rather I think I'm beginning to understand.
"There is still so much I must learn about what it means to be King. There is even more I must learn of our world. I must if I am to protect Hikaru's dreams and his future. I want to embody what I've learned from the Queen, Amaririsu, and Papa, I want to be the kind of King who helps create a world where we no longer send children to war. A world like the one Amaririsu described, a world that resembles the peaceful place Papa dreamed of. Where spring never ends, and winters like this one never occur again.
"Although there is no guarantee I will be any good at being King," he admitted with a self-deprecating laugh. "But I'll keep trying, just like Amaririsu. Like all of you do. I'll try my very best at it.
"I'm not certain what I can do yet to help you in this fight. Even so," he looked Kakashi in the eye, "I'd like to raise my voice in unison with all of yours. As long as you'll have me, that is."
Kakashi eye smiled. "Of course."
Later that day, when the sun was a few hours from setting, they would all return to the secluded beach after fulfilling necessary duties throughout the afternoon. The sands were cool and the air more crisp.
Amari hummed softly to herself as she worked behind the grill station, freshly caught salmon already prepped and sizzling. Heat wafted off the grill, caressing her face. Kakashi worked in conjunction with her to prepare everyone's dinner, which included rice and veggies.
Their party had increased by two this evening. Chamū and Kiki, fresh from the circus's gallant tent and packed opening show, followed Hikaru wherever he went, even down to the sea to hunt for shells with his father, proving that not all cats were afraid of water. At least big ones.
Kiki, however, was less inclined to get even a little wet. He rode on the sabertooth or upon Hikaru's shoulder at all times. Natsumi hovered several strides behind them; she didn't want to interrupt the King's and Prince's time together, but they were still here to do a job even if things had calmed down.
Nearby Haku and Hinata were sitting together. The soft-spoken pair were involved in deep discussion on the cultivation of healing ointments and medicines, as well as Hinata's knowledge of Medical Ninjutsu and the poisons she had thus far studied; apparently Ishidate's female comrade had utilized a poison on Natsumi to slow her reaction times, and Hinata had acquired the spare paper bombs she used as their deploying mechanism for studying.
It was nice. The whole day had been, truthfully. With everything that had happened on the mission, and everything else going on in the world, Amari was grateful for a calm day. She was grateful to have a chance to play as kids were meant to, and in the process strengthen their bonds as comrades and friends.
Snorkeling, swimming and playing around in the sea, volleyball, it had been a day of new experiences. A day of selfish fun where they'd all been able to forget the events of the battles, and what came next, at least for a few moments. A few hours where they could just be children. Free and happy.
Precious moments and memories like these, they're part of what makes life wonderful, don't you think, Shisui?
She knew he would've agreed.
It wouldn't be long after that Hikaru, Michiru, Natsumi, Chamū and Kiki meandered back over, settling in around their little encampment as they waited for dinner to be served. The salmon was nearly finished cooking.
"So, Amaririsu," Natsumi approached the grilling station, "what's this nonsense about 'every world and timeline' you mentioned before."
Amari blinked. That was out of the blue. She'd forgotten she even referenced The Beyond around the Mist kunoichi, it felt like weeks had passed since then.
I suppose I'm not surprised she remembered it. Someone like Natsumi doesn't forget important questions like that.
"Well, it does definitely sound like nonsense, despite how real it was," Amari said. "Out of curiosity, do I sound a bit crazy when I say those things?" she asked to anyone willing to answer. "It all seems so normal to me now, I never really consider how it sounds to others."
"I wouldn't say you sound crazy," Kakashi offered. "Then again, you and I have already talked about space-time accidents and other worlds in the past, so The Beyond and The Power weren't too far of a jump from there. If anything, I'd say you sound well-travelled."
"Well-travelled in a good way, right? Not like I'm a crazy old hermit sage disguising myself as a young girl?"
Kakashi eye smiled. "Sure!"
The kunoichi slouched. Yep. She totally sounded like a crazy old hermit sage pretending to be a young girl. How lovely. She was going to end up a lonely, bird whispering witch in a cabin lost somewhere in the middle of nowhere, wasn't she? Far from the dreams of being an enchantress.
How much worse could it get?
"You sound like a preachy monk to me," Natsumi said.
Amari's shoulders sagged in despair. Despite the clear sky and sunset, lightning struck above the kunoichi and rain opened up over her.
I think I'll go find my cabin now, she despaired. I'll give up on being an enchantress and become the crazy hermit witch I sound like. It's better this way. No one will ever want to be with a bird whispering crone like me.
"Amari, if you keep moping you'll burn the fish," Kakashi reminded cheerfully.
The Nara snapped awake in a panic. "Ah, right! Sorry!"
Sharingan and Byakugan activated, she scanned the filets. The salmon was all but grilled to perfection, if she waited any longer they'd totally burn and ruin dinner.
Equipping tongs in one hand like her tantō and a plate in the other, Amari began to free the salmon of the grill with precision and deftness she saved for high intensity situations.
"I, um, I've got this! I won't burn everyone's dinner, I promise!"
"You're doing fine, Amari," Haku chuckled softly as everyone approached the grilling station.
"It smells delicious," Hinata agreed, smiling at her flustered expense.
"I- I hope so. Kakashi-sensei sort of had to guide me through it; I've never really grilled anything before. So if its awful, I'm really sorry and it's all my fault."
Kakashi exhaled a short laugh as he pat her head. "It won't be awful. Relax."
"Heh," Natsumi placed a hand on her hip, smirking at the young girl. "You're a strange one, Amaririsu."
Amari slouched again. "I'm…sorry."
"Uh-huh. Anyway, so every world and timeline?" prompted the Mist kunoichi.
Upon hearing the words, Hikaru's eyes went wide. "Oh yeah, that's right. I wanted to ask you something like that, too. You mentioned that you've seen glimpses of our universe before. You said it is full of infinite worlds and possibilities. I was wondering, what did you mean by that?"
"I suspect this is a reference to the incident with Temujin and the foreigners who invaded our Lands not so long ago," Haku said.
"Something tied to that turquoise stone?" Natsumi wondered. "Also, what's this 'Beyond' and 'Power' Kakashi mentioned."
"Ah, of course. I'd almost forgotten the foreigners invaded your Land as well," Hinata said.
"Foreigners?" Michiru asked, tilting his head.
"Um, they were people from a distant continent who appeared by ship, attacking the Land's of Water, Wind, and Fire in search of a relic. Amari can tell you more; I wasn't actually involved in the incident, so I only know of what occurred second-hand."
Amari let her despair at being a strange, preachy, bird whispering sage fall off her shoulders. As she and Kakashi worked together to put together everyone's plates, she said,
"It's quite the tale, honestly. I'm not sure you'll believe me, but it's all true. Every strange bit of it."
"Well, go on," Natsumi said. "Don't make us pry it out of you."
Amari couldn't help but smirk. "Are you sure you're ready to have your minds blown?"
Natsumi snorted and grinned. "Try me."
"Okay."
Retelling the tale would take Amari until nearly sunset to complete. Context was often needed, and, ultimately, that context was important so the depth of what she had seen, what she had learned, was not lost in misunderstandings or preconceived notions.
Details, such as Sasuke's fall to darkness and Haku's death, would go unmentioned. She would squash any hope The Power could be returned to their world by explaining how the other Haya had sealed it away.
As for the Book, it was long gone now, she would say. And it was the truth. The Book was, in fact, long gone. It was far out of reach and likely would never be found again, considering it was in the hands of Kahiko and the Nomads. She merely neglected to mention its new whereabouts.
Some secrets were better never spoken of again. Forgotten to time. Because even those with pure intentions, like Temujin, like her, could be corrupted by the draw of immense power in the name of a better world.
After all, in a world of infinite possibilities, there were some where she was the one who fell to darkness. Where she was the one set on burning the world to the ground.
There was a world where Kasai was the one who returned to the Leaf after she betrayed her brothers, there was a world where the Masked Man reached her first.
There was a world where she was in Temujin's boots, and he was the one trying to save her.
There would be many questions to answer. Michiru would wonder if the sensation he felt, so close to death, was connected to The Beyond. Natsumi would digest every detail like a sponge. Hikaru would be in awe of all she spoke of. Haku would silently recall the aurora he had seen, and the sensation of peace it had given him, and he would wonder—and know—that it was his kindred spirit reaching out to soothe his soul.
For no matter what world they were in, they would always be kindred spirits.
Hinata and Kakashi would also be struck by the awe of it all again, despite having heard the story before. It was quite the tale, Amari knew. Strange. Full of loss and sacrifice—sacrifice which she, in another world, had made for their world.
A sacrifice they both knew she'd also make, if it were necessary.
Yet it was also a tale of hope. A reminder of why they all continued to push forward in spite of the losses they sustained, in spite of the trauma they endured. Why the sacrifices of those who came before them were not to be forgotten, nor were they pointless.
Because they were still here. Those sacrifices brought them here, to this moment, and the future—a better future was waiting to be grasped. They could still change this world of theirs. She had seen it. She had seen the potential of humanity, even if only a glimpse.
She couldn't let it go to waste. The search for an answer to peace, she couldn't give up on it. Even if at the end of the journey she found herself empty handed, she had to try. And fortunately she wasn't alone.
They made no bold promises to one another out loud. However, in each of their minds they all promised to search for that answer. They promised themselves to keep pushing forward, to help lay the bricks on this long, arduous path towards peace.
Together they would raise their voices in unison against those who upheld the painful status quo they had inherited.
And together, perhaps, they would be able to find the answer to peace.