ϟ—Chapter Eleven — Brimstone Triad—ϟ
The ash got thicker the closer they trekked to Yakedo. Kay expected it to be so… but it didn't make it any less hard to bear. Not physically, necessarily; she had been through much more grueling activities during her training. No, it was all… depressing.
She missed the sun, the brightness she brought—the warmth she gave. She hadn't seen the sun in weeks… and it was always kind of overcast in Kumo, anyway. The ash made it worse. There wasn't anything she could've done, anyway. The whole situation that caused it was out of her league. Wishing to have been stronger in order to do something was foolish. She was lucky to be alive… as was her entire team. Heaven forbid they were thrust into another scenario like that.
Well, they kind of were. Fighting creatures spawned from Hell in a world of ash and brimstone. Not exactly free from peril. It would've been a time like this where she'd look to the sun. Bask in her warmth, let her rays dance across her face… but she found herself looking toward something else—someone else.
He was something like the sun. Bright and warm without a doubt; literally just as much as figuratively. Like the sun, he was pure—life bringing. Whenever he was around, it was never dark. He didn't lie and deceive, not like she did. She appreciated him for it. Even in the deathly searing of Hell, his warmth calmed her.
Ka'rai was truly as if Amaterasu herself was given form. As an ANBU, she wasn't supposed to feel emotion like this—attached in any way. Ka'rai could die on this mission. But… she didn't care all that much. She wouldn't let him die; that was her mission, after all. One of a lifetime… This emotion would only help her do her job better, is all.
Kay allowed a small smile to cross her face. She placed an arm out, resting her hand on the cobalt blue sun next to her. "Thank you, Ka'rai."
He looked at her and grinned his signature sharp-toothed grin. "Of course! But… what for?"
"I just think you're a valuable ally, Ka'rai. Someone worthy of protecting," she answered, with not an ounce of truth spared in her words. The honesty made her feel warmer.
"I don't need protecting, y'know! I'm pretty sure I'm as strong as a Jonin!" he rebutted with a huff, pride obviously hurt.
"Everyone needs protecting Ka'rai," Arasei interjected. Her tone shivered as if it was frigid. Despite that, she sweat… she hadn't stopped since they left the village. "Even Lord Raikage walks around with guards all the time."
Ka'rai narrowed his green and yellow eyes on her. "You okay, mama?"
"Just a bit worried…"
'A bit,' Kay quoted; not that she didn't understand. Ka'rai was her son, after all. Just as he was her mission objective. And just like Kay, Arasei would use those natural emotions to empower her—
Arasei flashed in front of her son. Wings blocked Kay's view of Yakedo. Two tails burst from Ka'rai's cloak as he strained. Two tails already? "Don't push yourself too hard, Ka'rai!" she yelled, retrieving her mace.
"Why not?!" he screamed back, erupting with flame. Another Soul Eater pounced through the flame and tackled Ka'rai. Kay darted forward, but a phantom slash brought her to her knees. Instinct forced her to reach for her wound, but there was nothing there. Pain didn't stop radiating.
"Nibi says these things can attack your soul!" yelled Ka'rai, catching his breath as Arasei slaughtered the Soul Eater that attacked him. Kay's eyes narrowed. She barely ducked another strike for her soul. Its claw struck the ground—Kay was in the air, preparing hand seals while ignoring the pain of her bleeding soul.
This pain… She guarded with her arms—another slash and unimaginable agony. Her scream was barely held back. The call of her name, carried by Ka'rai's voice, sounded miles away. She looked into the pupil-less black eyes of the Oni in front of her. She allowed herself to fall limp and plummet.
Naturally, she was caught.
Held in the air by the claws digging into her essence.
None came to her aid… they were busy, she assumed.
As the grip dug deeper into her, the more it hurt. Parts of her deep inside that had never hurt before—that she never knew even existed. Through the pain… she basked in the awareness of it all.
She was hurting…
Everything hurt—it seemed to slow.
Everything which was once numb.
Everything felt something.
She felt her family, the discipline they instilled in her, the loyalty. The determination that no matter what, the mission will be completed. The mission she was on right now… to vanquish Hell, to protect Ka'rai, and to forever serve the Cessitsu Family.
Chakra burst from her as she strained against the grip— a clawed grip of both physical strength and spiritual potency. The deeper its claws sank into her being, the more powerful it seemed to grow. Her arms were clasped against her torso, but her dangling legs managed to throw a kick. The kick shot earthen shrapnel made with chakra. It pierced through the chest, head, and neck of the Soul Eater.
It screeched, instinctively letting go. Kay fell through the air, grabbing for her mace. With another devilish cry, the Soul Eater flew toward her. She struck it—the attack did nothing. A claw launched her into the ash below. If it hadn't been for the chakra guarding her body, her back would've shattered. With a few hand seals, chakra formed an earthen casing over the mace.
The Soul Eater darted toward her from above. She struck it in the skull. The beast's head imploded and it fell limp. Kay fell to her knees, barely seeing Ka'rai in front of her. Behind her, a blurred Arasei stood over the bodies of five Soul Eaters, golden adamantine chains flowing from her back.
"Kay!" he called.
She looked him in his dichromatic eyes, the cloak of blue obscuring the details of his skin, shrouding his expression. "Kay!" he distantly yelled.
"Can you… heal me?" she managed to ask.
Ka'rai glowed even bluer. The fire of Jinsei appeared in his hands. He set her alight with them. The ringing in her ears ceased and so did the ache in her back and body, but the agony of her essence didn't at all.
"What do you mean I can't heal her?!" screamed Ka'rai—to seemingly nobody.
"Ka'rai?" Kay asked. He was still blurry.
He growled, the faded blue of his figure brightened. "Nibi said I can't heal you with Jinsei because your soul is damaged."
Kay's crossed eyes widened. "Oh…" She forced herself to focus—Ka'rai's image became just a bit sharper. "How do I heal it?"
"You… can't," said Ka'rai, voice hollow. "That's what Nibi said, at least. Only these things called Yuurei Flames can. I can't use them yet."
"I see…" murmured Kay. She took a deep breath. It didn't hurt to breathe. She sat up. Nor to move. The agony was simply ambient… something to attune herself to. "I can still fight—"
"NO!" roared Ka'rai. "Just- uh…"
Kay stood. "You will not stop me. My rank is higher than yours, so you have no authority over me. I will fight, Ka'rai."
He growled, still crouched below her. "Arasei!" she called. "Is that all of them?"
"For now…" she said with a sigh, taking her hands out of the seal they were in. "I don't sense anymore coming our way."
Kay nodded. "Then let's keep moving."
⁑ —ϟ— ⁑
Candlelight. The Raikage faced him. By his side stood Dauri and Machia. The latter insisted on coming… surprisingly. The reserved leader of the Chinoike Clan rarely ever asked for things—let alone insist. He had no reason to decline.
The man in front of him grinned with serpentine fangs. His golden eyes shimmered with delight. Beside him, a silver-haired boy with glasses stood. It was only him.
"Orochimaru…" greeted the Raikage.
"Lord Raikage," the snake greeted in kind.
The Kage leaned forward, the darkness of the underground shrouding his cold and still expression. "You propose an alliance with me. What for?"
"Konoha has always been Kumo's greatest rival in the Shinobi world, has it not? Kumo was the second Hidden Village to be founded after Konoha. The Nidaime Raikage surpassed the Nidaime Hokage. The Sandaime Raikage and Hokage were true rivals—always neck and neck…
"Ever since the death of your predecessor, Konoha has taken the lead. The Yondaime Hokage utterly eclipsed you during the time he was alive…"
The Raikage twitched.
"It is true that you're likely stronger than the Sandaime Hokage in his current state… but do you think you can match his prime? Or your father's, for that matter…?"
A thunderous crack echoed as the Raikage slammed his fist onto the table. "What are you getting at?!"
"You've fallen off," Orochimaru said simply. "Now, I'm giving you the opportunity to regain the top spot—the spot you deserve. Suna is already allied with me, and I'm working on an alliance with Iwa as I am with you. Kumo and Iwa have been on good terms ever since the Second War. If I'm not mistaken…"
His black eyes glinted fiery in the candlelight. "Why should I trust a word you say?"
"Oh… It is logical that you would distrust me…" Orochimaru considered, before making eye contact with Machia. "So why not take it from one of the two people you're trusting your life with?"
His gaze darted onto Machia. Not a word needed to be spoken—his glare was enough. Machia hummed. "The Chinoike Clan has been allied with Orochimaru for quite a while."
"How long?"
"Since I asked you to kidnap the Heiress of the Hyuuga Clan. We wouldn't have had that opportunity without Orochimaru," she explained.
His fists clenched. "Why didn't you tell me?!"
"Because it was Chinoike Clan business, not Kumogakure business."
The Raikage growled. Meanwhile, Orochimaru snapped his fingers. From down a nearby corridor, a Chinoike Clan member walked over. He was tall, lanky with his arms full of scars—obviously self inflicted.
"This is Doku," introduced Machia. "He has been the bridge between us and Orochimaru for five years. We've traded information—"
"What kind?!" snapped the Raikage.
"Nothing that would endanger Kumo."
He scrutinized her, then Orochimaru, then Doku. He let out a sigh. "Darui."
"I don't like this anymore than you do, Lord Raikage," agreed Darui, his hand not moving from the hilt of his massive blade. "But… if there's a chance to weaken or even destroy Konoha, I believe we should take it."
"With so little information?" questioned the Raikage before he set his sights back on Orochimaru. "What's your plan?!"
"The Chunin Exams… we invade then. It'll be the perfect excuse to infiltrate Konoha, especially during the ever-present final tournament. Midway through… we'll strike. Suna's Jinchuriki will be participating in the exams, and is the crux of it all going to plan. I heard that your Nibi is of a similar age… why not him as well?"
The Raikage's eyes narrowed. "I see…" After a long beat of silence, he let out a sigh. "I will work with you, Orochimaru."
The Snake's eyes glinted with glee. "Perfect." The word slithered off his tongue as he outstretched his hand. The Kage shook it.
A deal of death, made with the devil, bargaining into ruin.
⁑ —ϟ— ⁑
On the ground, bloodied and bruised again. He couldn't stop coughing, which only made the ache of his chest worse. All he could hear aside from the lung he coughed up was Cirru's cackles.
"Think you've had enough, farm boy?!" he jeered, floating just above the ground—untouched.
Yowui didn't bother to respond. He just ran. He forced his raw and bleeding hands into signs—he was thrashed onto the floor by another gust. His head was the first thing to hit the floor. It felt as if his brain was dropped into Yakedo's eruption. He let out a pained hybrid of a scream and a growl as he clutched his head. Cirru only laughed harder.
"Okay, that's enough!" yelled Sami, walking between the two.
Cirru pouted, slowly returning to the ground. "Aw… I was having fun."
"I'm so sick of you!" she growled with a huff. Cirru shrugged nonchalantly, as if to say like I care. Not that Sami saw it. Her back was turned. She instead outstretched her hand to Yowui. With a sigh, he took it. She pulled him up with a small smile.
Yowui still held his head. "Thanks…"
"Rest up for a bit and then we'll continue!" declared Cee as he watched over the team. Clowui was… absent. Not that Yowui minded at all.
Sami frowned at her sensei. "But, he's hurt."
"...And? This is part of training. He specifically asked for this kind of training as well," Cee explained.
Yowui shrugged with a nod. "I guess so…"
"Do you regret your decision?" Cee asked with a raised brow. "If it's too much for you, I can change your regimen around."
He almost said yes without hesitation. Instead, he fell silent, forcing his aching head to think. It would make things easier…. more enjoyable… less humiliating. But did he truly want to give up again? No. no he didn't. It didn't feel right, not this time. He already dealt with it, he showed that he could.
All that was left was to keep doing it.
No matter how much it hurt. He'd never become stronger if he didn't.
Yowui forced a smile. "No, it's okay, sensei. Thanks, though."
"Of course," responded Cee with a nod. "If there's anything else you need, just tell me."
Yowui nodded in kind and went to walk with Sami to a conveniently benched-shaped rock. Yowui sat in the ache of his body with great displeasure. The many times he fell on his butt made it throb against the hard rock. He moved to the dirt ground below and stared at the sky.
It was much more comfortable.
"Why is Cirru like this?" asked Yowui.
Sami sighed. "I don't know any more than you do."
"His parents must've done a shit job raising him."
"Eh…? Y'know what, yeah, you're probably right."
Yowui laughed. "My parents would have him set straight in a week!"
"I'd like to see him last a day in the orphanage," Sami added with a chuckle.
"It's not right to talk about someone behind their back," Cee interjected as he walked over.
Yowui scoffed. "It's Cirru."
"I mean…" she agreed reluctantly.
"He's your teammate, Sami."
"He's also a total asshole."
Cee rubbed the bridge of his nose and sighed.
⁑ —ϟ— ⁑
I'll prove you wrong father, I swear I will, declared Cirru. With nobody near him, he felt fine. There wasn't anyone to see his pitifully bland outfit. Sami's attire looked better than his. Her tanned combat leggings matched the brown of her hair. The black of her jacket was prominent against her pale skin, with the amber-striped sleeves matching her eyes.
Here he was… looking like a monotone piece of wood.
It was pitiful.
Not even beating up the farm boy made him feel that excited. At least he was getting stronger. At least he was proving his father wrong. At least he was backing it all up. He could beat Sami and the farm boy easily, so they must've respected him, right? Right?!
It didn't seem so.
Footsteps coming from behind caught his attention. "I'm ready, Cirru."
He put on his usual haughty smirk. "Back for more, farm boy?"
He didn't respond, and simply turned his back. Cirru followed, preparing to beat him into the ground until he needed to give up again. Needless to say, that was what happened. That was what continued to happen until the sun set.
ϟ—Chapter End—ϟ