Previously in Rozen no Jutsu, Chapter 2: Uchiha Mediums
The Sage warned his sons to destroy the two dolls made in Kaguya's image. Madara met Kirakishou. Suigintou and Itachi began to form their bond. Kirakishou devoured Rin. Team 7 was formed. Gaara defeated Ino and took her soul hostage.
Rozen no Jutsu
A Naruto/Rozen Maiden Crossover by
Nate Grey (xman0123-at-aol-dot-com)
Chapter 3: Resonance
Chapter Summary: Three Master Dolls find the current state of the world unacceptable, and join forces to restore the true natural order.
The Past
Kaguya's Tea Room was exactly what it sounded like. It was rumored to be the very first area of the N-field, but even if it wasn't, the Rozen Maidens all treated it with enough reverence that it might as well have been. There was never to be any fighting there. Nothing physical, at least, but Suigintou's verbal barbs were nearly impossible to silence at even the best of times. Even she would not dare to start a battle on such sacred ground, however.
The Rozen Maidens only met there when it was appropriate, and there were no private functions: they all attended when called. As for who did the calling, that was never clear. But the call was always answered. For that was the Sage's will.
They came to mourn the Sage's passing, or at least to acknowledge it. The mood was by no means happy, and the Rozen Maidens were also not happy, but the tea was excellent and the food delicious, as always.
There was only one oddity in the bunch: the small, three-tailed turtle seated on Kirakishou's head. Strictly speaking, the N-field existed on a deeper plane than even the Tailed Beast Plane. Tailed Beasts generally avoid the N-field, specifically because it was the domain of the Rozen Maidens, who were considerably more powerful than Tailed Beasts while within them. And while the two were not really enemies at all, Tailed Beasts generally did not like being at such a disadvantage. Generally, anyway, but there were exceptions. If a bond between a Tailed Beast and a Rozen Maiden was especially strong, for example, then there would be enough trust where "taming" the Tailed Beast would be wholly unnecessary.
Matatabi was the only other Tailed Beast that had ever entered Kaguya's Tea Room, and she had spent the entire time seated at Suigintou's feet. Isobu was also not moving much, though this was more because he was comfortable where he was. Kirakishou would occasionally break her cookies in half, and pass a piece up to him, which he swallowed whole.
Shinku tired of this very quickly, and especially when Kirakishou looked as if she would next try sharing her tea with him that way. "Sister, if you're going to share your tea with Isobu, at least put him down first, so you don't spill on your own head."
Kirakishou blinked, as if this hadn't occurred to her, and then transferred Isobu to her lap with a nod of thanks to Shinku for the idea. Isobu seemed fine with this, as well. Even more so, when Hinaichigo insisted on being given a turn to feed him.
The dynamic between the Sixth and Seventh had always been a concerning one. They could not help being who they were, which meant that eventually, Hinaichigo would suffer greatly at Kirakishou's hands, and no one could honestly say that there had not been any warning signs. But Hinaichigo was far from clueless, and also far from heartless. If Shinku had not taken a liking to her, things might have turned out very differently for Hinaichigo. And she felt much the same, whenever she looked at Kirakishou, who was almost always separate from the others. So if Hinaichigo insisted on paying extra attention to her little sister, or walking into her obvious traps, it could never be because Hinaichigo didn't know better, and only because she did.
And it wasn't as if Kirakishou didn't love her sisters. She did, very much so. But her understanding of love was very different from theirs, precisely because no one had succeeded in teaching her the difference. Hinaichigo had tried, was always trying, but she was no Shinku. And Kirakishou could see and feel the differences, which caused her to draw away from the others. She always appreciated Hinaichigo's efforts, especially knowing the others would not encourage those efforts, or might even actively block them. But how Kirakishou showed that appreciation was typically through mean-spirited teasing, or worse. And always, Hinaichigo either forgave her at once, or explained why the act was wrong, as best she could. And while it wasn't accurate to say that Hinaichigo was solely shaping Kirakishou's sense of morality, it was inaccurate to suggest that any other Master Doll had a greater impact upon Kirakishou.
They didn't visit her. Hinaichigo did, just because.
They didn't talk to her. Hinaichigo rarely ever stopped talking to her.
They didn't understand her bond with Isobu. Hinaichigo always said they were super cute together.
They always got angry when they fell into her traps. Hinaichigo only blamed herself, and said Kirakishou was so clever.
It was inevitable that Kirakishou would come to adore Hinaichigo above the other Rozen Maidens, but that adoration could never exactly appear healthy, or welcome. Shouldn't have, anyway. Which didn't stop Hinaichigo from welcoming it, or becoming unhealthy as a direct result.
Hinana was not the oldest or wisest among her clan, but from the moment she was born, the powerful blood ran stronger through her than with any other, and she was constantly recognized for it.
One day, her parents came to her and said, "The Elder has predicted his own death. He wishes to see you before it comes."
Hinana answered the summons without hesitation. To be called on by the Elder was the highest honor, doubly so if she would be the one to witness his final moments and relay his wishes to the clan.
The Elder was lying in his bed, attended by a single nurse. He sent her away, and asked Hinana to bring him water from a jug at his bedside. She did this, and noticed that his eyes, faded in color though they were, watched her closely, but not in a way that bothered her. He was examining her, surely because whatever he required of her, would take a considerable amount of power, and he needed to be sure she was capable. Though, if she was not, likely no one was.
Finally, he revealed his purpose. "My brother has passed on. I am also not long for this world. And so, I must speak with the Maidens one last time. That will require making contact with Earth."
Hinana paused. "Respectfully, Elder, I was under the impression you could do that with no assistance, even as you are now."
He smiled. "This is true. However, I will be borrowing the power of the N-field for this call."
She gasped, and her eyes went to the corner of the room, where a lone doll was seated in a chair. "You intend to use her?"
"I must use her. It will both prove my identity and ensure the stability of the connection. As you know, there are risks involved. That is why you are here: to limit those risks. Any hint of corruption or deceit, and you must break the connection. Or end my life, if it comes to that."
"Is there no other way, Elder? Perhaps if I attempted to make the connection-"
He shook his head. "Even if you can, they will not recognize your power. And they will be wary to begin with. No, it must be this way. And don't fear. I have already drawn up documents detailing my desires, and told my nurse where they are sealed. You will not be blamed, if you are forced to kill me. Please, perform this service for our clan, Hinana. You are the only one who can."
Hinana had not thought this would be what he asked of her, but she could not refuse. No one else on the entire Moon had the power that she did. It was why she'd been chosen. So, with great reluctance, she agreed to cooperate.
At first, there was no sign of trouble. Despite being asleep for so long, and still being asleep, Barasuishou's body made the connection to her Earthbound twin with perfection, and through her, the other Maidens. Hinana's breathing slowed as their faces appeared gradually in bubbles around Barasuishou's head. They were gorgeous, expertly made, and to see them moving and alive, when she had only been exposed to Barasuishou and lesser dolls made of moon materials... there was no comparison.
Hinaichigo was the first Maiden to fully appear, and became excited when she saw the Elder. "Oh, it's Uncle! Uncle's calling us! Hi, Uncle!"
The others offered their greetings, but none quite as eager. He would surely remind them of the Father that they had just lost, so the reunion could only be bittersweet at best.
"I am sorry to add to your burdens, my dear Maidens, but I will soon join my brother. I am sure he has left instructions for you, and that you will carry out his wishes. As for my part, the clan will continue to watch over Barasuishou. She remains in excellent condition, as you can see."
He paused to let the bubbles revolve around Barasuishou for inspection. Shinku's bubble, however, floated to Hinana.
"And is this the new clan leader, Uncle?" Shinku asked.
"That will depend on her performance today, but it is likely," the Elder agreed.
"And you are confident that she can contain Barasuishou?"
"I am confident that if she cannot, there is no one else here who can."
Shinku frowned. "That isn't what I asked, Uncle."
"Maybe because she isn't meant to be contained!"
All eyes turned to Kirakishou, who was trembling with emotion as her bubble hovered inches from Barasuishou's face.
"She's not supposed to be sitting here in this cold, dim place. She's supposed to be here with us! With me!" Kirakishou's bubble floated even closer. "Tell them, sweet twin! Wake up and tell them what you want! Please!"
There was no response from Barasuishou.
The Elder shook his head. "She cannot tell us anything, as of now. Her sleep is not something that can be broken so easily. And despite what you may believe, Kirakishou, neither my brother nor I were the ones who put her to sleep. Barasuishou herself fell asleep, and never woke up. We are not keeping her asleep. We are awaiting the dreaded day when she awakes."
Kirakishou glared at him. "And why would you fear that, unless you'd done something to warrant her anger? I do not fear her, and never will! She is my most cherished sister, and I will always look forward to her awakening!"
It happened so suddenly that none of them were prepared for it: in a lightning-fast motion, Barasuishou's left hand slashed out and grabbed Kirakishou's bubble, popping it instantly. There was such power and force in the movement that the room actually shook, and at the Elder's silent signal, Hinana broke the connection.
But it was too late: the droplets from the burst bubble had already been absorbed into Barasuishou's clenched fist. A soft sound began to fill the room, starting and stopping, slowly increasing in speed. The Elder was the first to recognize it.
"She is breathing."
And indeed, Hinana could see Barasuishou's chest rising and falling. Her eyes did not open, and she did not move again, but she was clearly breathing, when she had not even done that during her long slumber. It was anyone's guess if Kirakishou's feelings for her twin were mutual, but Kirakishou had been right about one thing: the day of Barasuishou's awakening was fast approaching.
Kurama had not always been engulfed in hatred, but he had never been known to hold his temper, either. Still, there had been a time when he would race to defend his siblings, and destroy anything that threatened them. But he had grown out of that. In part because as his siblings grew, they were able to defend themselves, but also to choose their own paths. And so many of them chose humanity. Not necessarily to forgive mankind, but to live among them, or at least where humans could gain access with some effort.
Kurama knew why. The Master Dolls were fashioned after humanity, after all. So perhaps there was some buried instinct or desire to trust humans. But it wasn't strong enough to change Kurama's mind. Or his hate. Humans had misused and corrupted his father's most precious gift, and used it to wage their pointless wars. There could be no forgiveness for such a disgusting crime.
Or so he thought. But he was alone in that. The Master Dolls were not meant solely to show humanity the light. They were also duty-bound to save the Tailed Beasts. And they wanted to. The Rozen Maidens considered the Sage their father just as much, if not more than, the Tailed Beasts did. They were all family. They could not abandon each other.
Kurama tried, he really did. It was not that he ever hated his siblings, but he knew they could fend for themselves, so their fates did not concern him. Even if they died, they would return. And if their own foolishness resulted in some great misfortune, then they would learn, wouldn't they?
As for the Master Dolls, Kurama had never really held any special fondness for any of them. In much the way an older brother tolerated his much younger sisters, but would resent being asked to look after them. And would resent even more their being asked to look after him. Shinku, at least, seemed to understand his perspective, and always treated him as an equal. She was the only one that could draw him into long, passionate debates on nearly any topic. And while she would never presume that they were close enough for her to sit on his head, if she fell asleep in his presence, he would carefully wrap one of his tails around her, and place her on one of his paws. It wouldn't be proper for a lady to sleep on the ground, as she would say.
"This is your last warning, you arrogant furball!" Suiseiseki shrieked, waving her fists angrily. "You fall in line right now, or I swear I'll have Hashirama build an orchard on your thick skull!"
Kurama merely stared at her: unimpressed, and surprisingly, not the least bit angry. She'd always had a short temper, this one, and while he generally had no patience for such things, he knew it was beyond her ability to change. Shinku had tried and failed, so it had to be impossible. But it was hard to believe that Suiseiseki had dragged her medium all the way to the Tailed Beast Plane with such an ineffective strategy in mind. Such a waste of her power, and Kurama's time.
"I've heard humans say that anger can make certain girls cuter. That... doesn't seem to be true at all with you."
Suiseiseki went very, very still, and even Kurama could tell he'd crossed a line. But he didn't care.
Not yet.
"Fine. I'm done with you, you stupid fox. But always remember, I gave you a chance. Now, we do things the hard way." She turned away. "He's all yours, Hina."
Kurama froze. "Wait, who?!"
But it was too late: Suiseiseki and Hashirama were gone, and in their place-
"Ah! It's Kura-chan!"
Kurama visibly recoiled at the sight of Hinaichigo, waving happily at him from her perch on the head of a red-haired woman. If Suiseiseki had resorted to this, he really had made her angry.
"I am told that negotiations have failed," the woman said calmly. "So, we will not be bothering with any of that. Hina-chan, please invite him to tea."
"Oh! Kura-chan, you just have to come!" Hinaichigo squealed excitedly. "They have these teeny biscuits that crumble when you-!"
"No." Kurama said it firmly, as a complete sentence. His meaning could not be mistaken.
And yet.
"You can't say no! There's teeny biscuits!" Hinaichigo shouted, as if personally wronged by his refusal to see the wonder that was her current favorite snack.
"I'm not going, Hinaichigo, so you can-"
The speed at which Hashirama could produce a full forest on command was a few seconds. Boosted by Suiseiseki's chakra, it was possible in an instant, arguably. But neither of them was driven by Hinaichigo's love of cute snack food, and she was always hungry.
So even though Kurama sensed and saw the multitude of strawberry vines bearing down on him from virtually everywhere, actually avoiding them all was another matter entirely. And, in truth, a very small part of him was distracted by the maddening thought:
"Just how good are those damn biscuits?!"
Well, perhaps the only good thing was, he didn't have to wait long to find out.
"And she... overwhelmed him?" Hashirama asked for the third time.
Mito shook her head patiently. "I told you, it wasn't like that. Trying to overpower the Nine-Tails... it's not a good strategy in general. How strong Hinaichigo is wasn't the deciding factor at all. How hungry she was, maybe..."
"That seems nearly impossible to accept." Hashirama nodded to where, a few feet away, Hinaichigo was happily sharing tea time with her guests: Suiseiseki, Shinku, Gyuki, and Kurama. And for no reason that anyone had explained to Hashirama's satisfaction, both Gyuki and Kurama had been drastically reduced in size, clearly not by their own desire, so that they were small enough to be cuddled by the Rozen Maidens. Which, for all intents and purposes, seemed to be the only real reason for it. Gyuki was less bothered by it so long as there was food, but Kurama was predictably sullen... although he did not try to escape, not even when Hinaichigo tied a huge, pink bow around his neck.
"She didn't defeat him. It wasn't a fight. He would have won a fight, because her goal was never to hurt him."
"If you're saying she reasoned with him-"
"No, though that would be what most people assumed. The Master Dolls are supposed to be able to calm the Tailed Beasts. And she did, in a way. But of course, he is the exception to every rule."
"Start over, Mito. You're losing me again."
Mito nodded agreeably enough. He didn't know it, but this was one of the many reasons she loved him. One of the many reasons many Uzumaki women would come to love their chosen men: because men were idiots, but so long as they could find someone to explain things to them repeatedly, they could be tolerated. And Mito liked explaining things to him. More precisely, she liked it when he listened closely to her, and adored that spark in his eyes when he finally realized what she'd been trying to get across to him. He was too cute sometimes.
"Part of what makes the Nine-Tails so difficult to handle, aside from the sheer amount and potency of his chakra, is the corrosive hatred entwined in it. Or rather, the hatred that was entwined in it." Mito paused, waiting for the spark.
Hashirama gaped at her. There it was, the spark.
"She... took away his hatred?"
"It's more accurate to say she purified his chakra. Drew the hatred out, and disposed of it safely. And as Master Dolls do, returned the chakra to him, supercharged. So he's even stronger now."
"Now I'm really lost."
"That's where the exception comes in. You might think that taking away his hatred would mean he wouldn't be angry anymore. But his grudge against humanity was never pointless. The hatred may have blinded him, but the anger was always justified. Righteous, even. Hinaichigo only gave him clarity. Which makes him even more dangerous. Now he has been reminded of exactly why he can't forgive humans. Even so, I think he is grateful to her. Barely."
"I still don't really get it," Hashirama admitted. "But, thanks to you and Hinaichigo, we can move forward with the plan. Our new reality is almost here, Mito."
Exactly how the Master Dolls manage to calm the Tailed Beasts is a topic of much debate.
Suigintou, for example, could rarely be considered as having a calming influence on anyone. And Suiseiseki's temper often resulted in needless arguments. Likewise, Hinaichigo was a bit much for anyone to deal with consistently, even those that claimed to love her.
But the signs were always there, for those who knew where to look for them, and how to read them.
Kirakishou was often likened to a spider, who drew her victims into her web. But she was also like a turtle, hidden away in her shell and observing the world from her invincible home. And even before the fateful incident that bound them eternally, Isobu had always been her favorite. Perhaps that was even why they were able to be bound. Any other Tailed Beast would have resisted violently, and if Isobu had done so, then surely, the process would have failed entirely. But the sealing hadn't failed, and Kirakishou had never since displayed any sign that Isobu was unhappy with the arrangement. Nor had his siblings heard any complaints from him. And they knew him well enough to guess his thoughts, anyway.
If, even for an instant, Isobu had thought the process would harm Kirakishou, or that she hadn't wanted it, he would have destroyed anyone and anything to save her. So his quiet acceptance spoke volumes. Especially considering how strongly he had resisted being captured in the first place. But now, not only could Isobu protect her, he could be certain that doing so was her will, as he would only come out when she called upon him.
Perhaps the greatest difference between the Tailed Beasts and the Rozen Maidens was what their Father had intended for them.
The Tailed Beasts were meant to go their separate ways, and while their eventual reunion was predicted, it was never implied that they were expected to rely on each other, or even to join forces. And really, it wasn't something they would choose to do, anyway. They were solitary in nature, or at least, had been since shortly after the Sage's passing.
Likewise, the Rozen Maidens were expected to find their own paths, and nothing in their nature specifically demanded them to be allies. In fact, their cherished dream, to become Alice, all but required them to fight each other... but in that, they were bound to each other, could not avoid one another for very long. And above all, they were sisters, and what sisters did not fight, only to make up later on? Sometimes the fighting was more brutal, and the making up less meaningful, but there was one key difference that they all noticed: no Rozen Maiden had ever been destroyed beyond repair, because the others had never allowed it. No matter what the rules of their Alice Game were supposed to be, the Sage's hand guided their wills, and the Rozen Maidens were meant to be a complete set. For how could one be Alice, unless her sisters all acknowledged her as their superior?
Once, there was a boy who was different from everyone else he knew. No one shared his interests, his fears, his desire to know. Not to the same extents. He had thought that he would always be alone, forever marching to the beat of his own drum.
And then he had finally met a girl, who appreciated his unique song for what it was, and was happy to blend it with the haunting melodies of her violin.
The boy's name was now Orochimaru. The girl's name was Kanaria. Since that first day, they had been inseparable. Both because they rather liked each other, and because Orochimaru had obtained the secrets of immortality. And while Kanaria as a Master Doll perhaps should have at least frowned on or discouraged his research, ultimately it meant that she didn't have to lose her best friend to death, or even to her Father's decree. For every time that the Sage revealed a new partner for Kanaria, Orochimaru would devour them, regardless of the condition of their body, and assume their identity, primarily for the sake of remaining Kanaria's medium.
She had long since forgotten his original name, and it didn't really matter. He loved playing dress-up as much as she did, and discarded or took on identities as easily as clothing.
Their eternal partnership had not escaped notice. But Kanaria herself was not breaking any of their Father's rules. And if Orochimaru was, even then, he was only bending them. Kanaria was certainly honoring her contract each time. If the Sage had a problem with how they operated, he would have simply stopped revealing the next medium to Orochimaru. But he never did.
The only thing that kept the other Master Dolls from doing the same was personal pride and morality. Kanaria was not ashamed of her choices, and she essentially crafted her own morality as she saw fit. It was part of the reason Orochimaru adored her so: no idea was too ridiculous, and her flights of whimsy amused him.
Humans had also noticed, however. And since Orochimaru's research was for sale under certain conditions, it was inevitable that they would arrive at this point: seeing the value in his amassed knowledge, and seeking to partake of it. Kanaria had been happy that her medium was now given the respect he deserved. But, she had also been curious as to which of her sisters would see the light first.
She was still amazed that it hadn't been Kirakishou or Suigintou.
The first time they saw Gaara slaughter innocents, it was the beginning of the end.
Souseiseki knew that she had to save him.
Suiseiseki knew that she had to get away from him. Someone with so little regard for life could never help anything healthy grow.
There was no argument, and no need to discuss their feelings. They had been twins so long that their thoughts were plainly visible to each other: in eyes, motions, stances. There was no point in starting a fight that they would never be able to end.
Suiseiseki turned her back on her twin, and started walking. She walked, even when her shoes fell in ruins from her feet, even when her feet were weighed down with filth and regret.
She walked until a man sprouted out of the ground in front of her, and without a word, extended his hand. She climbed onto his arm without hesitation, knowing at a glance that he was the perfect medium for her. He lifted her up to his face, where she gazed into his yellow eyes.
"Why do you cry?" he asked after a long moment.
"Because I hadn't found you yet," she whispered. She pressed a hand to the white half of his face, and then the black half. "We were made for each other. All three of us."
He froze, tensing slightly, then relaxed. "You can see us? Both of us?"
"How could I not? You are twins. You are perfect, and I will help you."
"You don't know what we mean to do."
Suiseiseki smiled and leaned forward. "You long for your parent, as I long for mine. We are destined, you and I. Will you let me walk with you?"
The man nodded. "No more reading my dreams without permission, though."
She smiled. "I promise." Then she giggled. "My sisters will be so jealous. I'm the only one with a real prince for a medium."
The black half of Zetsu's mouth twitched into a smile.
If he were being totally honest, the main reason Shukaku tended to give his hosts nightmares, was either sheer boredom, or simply because he could. He was not overly fond of humans, but he didn't actually hate them. And watching them suffer was sort of entertaining. It was better than him being bored, at least.
So it had been the usual that day: Gaara hadn't slept at all the previous night, because Shukaku kept feeding him nightmares that kept him awake, and Shukaku was trying to decide what nightmares would work best that night, when he noticed that he was no longer within the dark space that represented Gaara's mind (it was the closest to sleeping that Gaara got, so Shukaku didn't actually have any complaints about it). Instead, he found himself on what seemed to be an endless beach. It wasn't even close to being uncomfortable for him. In fact, he rather preferred it to the former dark space. So either Gaara's subconscious had finally granted him a more comfy living space, or someone had given Gaara the idea.
"Are you enjoying yourself, Shukaku?"
Shukaku froze. He knew that voice, as it only spoke to him when he was in big trouble. "Uh... hey, Souseiseki! It's been a while, huh? How are things with you?"
Souseiseki glared at him. "Much the same. As in I have no appreciation for needless torture, especially when directed at children."
"Oh, well, see, there's reasons for all of this-"
"I would be most interested to hear them."
Shukaku blinked. "You would? Uh, okay. Hang on, I'm sure there's one I'm forgetting-"
"Shukaku, I will make this easy for you. If you ever cause harm to this child's mind again, I will cause harm to your mind. Because unlike him, I know exactly what you're afraid of, and I will use it."
This was an excellent threat, given Souseiseki's experience in dealing with dreams... and nightmares. It far exceeded his own, and he was no slouch.
"H-Hey, what is this, Souseiseki? We find each other after so long, and you're threatening me? We're practically family!"
"If you mean that our Father would be quite ashamed of you, I cannot disagree. I will not let you continue this way. I will leave you here, to reflect on your actions, while I do my best to undo the damage you have inflicted. I might even remember to check on you, once in a while."
When she had gone, Shukaku stretched out on the sand, sighed, and went to sleep, doing absolutely no reflecting of any kind. If this was how she intended to punish him, she really had gone soft with time.
Less then five minutes later, he was rudely awakened as something poked him hard in the left eye.
"OW! WHAT THE HELL?!"
He fell silent as Lempicka hovered threateningly close to his uninjured eye. Because he suddenly realized that he was going to learn exactly how Gaara felt, never being able to fall asleep properly for long without disruption.
Kanaria's Concert Hall had changed very little since the last time Suiseiseki was invited to it. But then, it was less about the visual, and all about the audible, when it came to this place. And as the first few notes of the song in progress reached her ears, Suiseiseki felt all of her troubles melting away. Only Kanaria could do that for her sisters. It was truly a shame that she did it so rarely. Or maybe it was that they rarely devoted time to listening to her. Definitely more of the latter, she decided. Kanaria tended to run her mouth more than she actually played her violin, which was also a shame.
Suiseiseki was suddenly distracted by a deep voice in her ear.
"Hey, beautiful. What's a hot little number like you doing in a snazzy place like this without a gentleman escort?"
"Chomei!" Suiseiseki cried in delight, cupping her hands so that the beetle could land in them. "It's been ages, I've missed you so much!"
"Of course you have, sweetheart. The ladies all miss Lucky Seven when he's gone. But miss me no more: I'm here, and I'm all yours."
Suiseiseki transferred him to her head. "But if you're here, that means... Kanaria's medium is...?"
"Yeah, me and the O-ster have been through a lot of ups and downs, but he's a pretty chill guy, at least with me. Mind you, I had to mellow him out a ton. But, we can talk later. We're missing the show."
There was only one other guest: the aforementioned medium, and though his eyes were closed, Suiseiseki could tell that as great an impact as Kanaria's song had on her, it had to be tenfold on him. Even as she watched, a few tears slipped from his shut eyes. And when the song ended, he immediately stood up and applauded, loudly and forcefully.
Kanaria left the stage and joined them, glancing between her guests anxiously. "So, did you guys like it, maybe?"
The medium picked up Kanaria and held her at arm's length. "Kana-chan, it was beautiful. You never cease to amaze me."
She blushed. "Really? Thanks, O-chan."
"Yeah, if I ever need some mood music to impress a lady, you're the only one I'll call," Chomei added.
Kanaria giggled. "You're silly, Chomei, but thank you."
"How long have you three been together?" Suiseiseki asked. Because she was starting to get the feeling that the answer was longer than she first suspected.
"The answer to that question will require some explanation," the medium admitted. "Perhaps we can do so over dinner soon? Your prince is invited, if he likes. I am certain there is much we can learn from him. Unfortunately, we have an appointment we must keep today, and it cannot wait."
"Wait, O-chan," Kanaria said. "I know it's personal for you, but don't you think this is a great chance? We can show my sister what we're capable of when we work together."
The medium paused, considered, and nodded. "Very wise, Kana-chan. I can think of no better way to prove that some good can come of mankind's many mistakes."
Suiseiseki frowned, staring at him. "You almost sound like you don't consider yourself part of mankind."
"Oh, I unfortunately am a man. And I accept that it may be impossible for us to atone, in your eyes. So if it is up to us to redeem ourselves, then I will do all that I can. But if I can convince even one of Kana's sisters that we are not all without hope, perhaps there is still a chance."
"You are sounding even less like a typical man by the second," Suiseiseki noted, shaking her head in amusement. "But I suppose that's not a terrible thing. So what is it that you want to show me, human?"
"Nothing but the combined power of man, Tailed Beast, and Master Doll. In a way that I believe your Father might actually have given his blessing to, had he believed any man might find it. But we'll need to move to the Tailed Beast Plane first, where Chomei's power will be at its peak."
Chomei flew over and landed on Kanaria's head. "Because nobody beats Lucky Seven on his own stomping grounds, baby!"
Suiseiseki said nothing to this, but inwardly, she was concerned. Even if Chomei's willingness to bring the man to that place suggested the medium's worthiness. There was only one technique she could think of that Chomei would save for that area. "Wind Release: All Sevens Jutsu? And what is it that you're going to attempt, that you need your luck boosted to that extreme?"
Chomei wagged a wing at her in a teasing manner. "Peeking behind the curtain before the show is strictly forbidden, dollface. You'll just have to wait."
The Present
"Uchiha Itachi, on behalf of Akatsuki, agrees."
"Prince Zetsu, on behalf of the Royal Kaguya Alliance, agrees."
"Orochimaru, on behalf of the Hidden Sound Village, agrees."
Kirakishou clapped her hands, the sound echoing loudly through the chamber within her N-field. "Then we, and our mediums, are in agreement, my lovely big sisters! Let us go forward and-"
"Hold your tongue, Seventh!" Suiseiseki snapped. "You don't give the orders around here. We agreed to seniority, and that means you don't move unless Kana or I say so."
Kirakishou pouted cutely. "You're so mean to your baby sister, green onee-sama!"
"And don't you forget it!" Suiseiseki turned to Kanaria, who was watching them with an unusual amount of patience. "So what's the plan, Kana?"
"As we agreed, maybe," Kanaria stated. "We converge on the Leaf. Suiseiseki, you will deal with your twin. She stands with us, or she falls in battle. Kirakishou, you will deal with the other three as you see fit. Our armies will handle the ninja, and the Kages belong to O-chan."
"Don't we need a name?" Kirakishou asked. "Something to be known by? Only the Akatsuki-Sound-Kaguya Faction is a bit much."
Suiseiseki glared at her. "Don't think we didn't notice that yours came first, you little sneak!"
"Our name has already been decided on, maybe," Kanaria cut in. "We are Resonance. The ultimate power of humanity, Master Doll, and Tailed Beast, united under one banner. A trio of Rozen Maidens who have peered into this era's darkness and seen the one truth. We will return this world to its rightful state, with or without the consent of our sisters. Only then will Alice finally emerge."
Everything was proceeding roughly as planned. And that, more than anything, was what worried Temari the most.
From the very moment she had learned of the plan to betray the Leaf, she had feared it: both the possibility of success, and failure. Even if they succeeded, it would only draw more attention to the Sand, which still had not fully replenished its ranks from the last war, and would surely suffer more losses in this battle. But there was no going against the Kazekage once he set his mind on something, not even as one of his own children.
The only thing Temari felt certain about was that no matter what happened, Gaara would be safe. Souseiseki had sworn to protect him, and Temari trusted her before all others. The Master Doll had been the mother figure that they desperately needed when no one else could be. She had protected them with her boundless strength. She had even become a killer in Gaara's place, so that he would not have to spill any more blood. And she had sworn to never leave them, the one thing no mortal mother could ever have realistically promised. If it was really their time to die, Souseiseki would bury them, and always remember them. That was more than many shinobi ever got when they fell in battle.
The night before the chunin exam finals began, Souseiseki had looked at the three of them and made a solemn vow. "You are my children, and I will not allow anyone to take you from me."
Souseiseki had never failed to keep a promise to them before, so Temari would believe in her, now and always.
"The next match of the chunin exams shall now begin! Gaara of the Desert vs. Uchiha Sasuke!"
Gaara and Sasuke stared at each other for a long moment. Though each was eager to fight, neither wanted to waste time gauging strength.
"Bring out your Master Doll," Sasuke demanded. "It's pointless for us to fight without them. We are here to showcase the power of our villages, and no village has anything stronger."
"Agreed," Gaara murmured. He reached back and pressed the ring he wore against his gourd. "Summoning Jutsu: Souseiseki of the Sand."
At once, the gourd turned black and exploded, coating everything in the immediate area in sand the color of ashes, including Gaara himself. From the sand at Gaara's feet rose a brunette Master Doll with mismatched eyes, wielding a giant pair of golden garden shears.
Sasuke smirked. "Very dramatic entrance. I'm impressed."
Gaara frowned at him. "Impressing you is not my concern. Call out yours now."
"You made this so much easier," Sasuke sighed, holding up his ring. "I never have to summon my Master Doll, because she's always with me. That you couldn't tell that on your own, tells me this fight is already over."
"I couldn't agree more," Suigintou cooed as she abruptly appeared on Gaara's shoulder, holding a black sword to his neck. "Give up now and I promise not to hurt you too much, little boy."
Gaara never even bothered to look in her direction. "Genjutsu does not work on me. Rather, it does not work on Souseiseki's medium, due to her own ability to cut through illusions and expel foreign presences from the mind. You are boring us." His gaze shifted to his Master Doll. "Souseiseki. Harm them."
Souseiseki's lips curled into a cruel grin. "Yes, Gaara-sama." She opened the blades of her shears wide, and then slammed them shut.
From Sasuke's perspective, the entire world seemed to splinter in a spiderweb of cracks, and then he was shoved violently to the ground as something fast and white-hot flew just above his ear. The familiar weight of Suigintou on his back was the only thing that helped him keep his composure.
"No more genjutsu," Suigintou murmured in his ear. "She'll turn it into actual debris to use against us."
"She can do that?" Sasuke asked in awe.
"Only if we give her the ammo, which we won't anymore. And keep your distance. Those blades can reach farther than you think. So can the sand."
"Then we use long-range attacks."
"That won't be enough. That isn't normal sand. If I had to guess, I'd say it's made of shattered nightmares. If they're as old as I think they are, there's nothing you can do to destroy them, and you don't want to know what happens if they touch you."
"Then how do we win?!" Sasuke demanded. It was entirely unlike Suigintou to both not be in a position of power in a fight, and to seemingly be so calm about it.
"We may not have to. Something is coming."
The words were barely out of Suigintou's mouth when the ground immediately in front of Sasuke cracked and split open. A bright-eyed, brown-haired girl roughly about his age hopped out. "Hi, Sasuke-kun!" she chirped, waving at him.
Sasuke stared at her warily. "Please tell me you're not an extremely obsessed fangirl. Unless you're here to be a human shield, in which case-"
The girl laughed. "You've got the wrong idea, I think."
Suigintou frowned. "There's something off about you, girl."
The girl beamed at her with shining eyes. "Always so rude to your baby sister, black nee-sama."
Instantly, Suigintou launched herself at the girl, a sword of black in her hands, aiming for the girl's throat.
The girl neatly sidestepped the blow with unnatural speed, but that brought her directly into the path of the chirping beam of crackling death that pierced her back and tore through her chest. She blinked and glanced down. "Is that you, Kakashi?"
"Hello, Kirakishou," Kakashi said coldly as he appeared several feet behind her.
The girl batted her eyes at him. "You made your Chidori a ranged attack. For me?"
"Of course. And don't smile at me with Rin's face, you witch."
"Well, I couldn't show up as Itachi. That would have spoiled everything."
"Where is he?!" Sasuke roared. "What did you do to my brother, Kirakishou?!"
Rin pouted at him. "He's perfectly fine, Sasuke-kun. It's like you don't trust me! We're practically family, you and I."
"You were supposed to be my Master Doll, but after what you did..."
"That wasn't my fault. Please don't ever doubt that I wanted to be your doll, I really did. I didn't want to steal nee-sama's medium. But it's too late. I can't let go of Itachi now. We've bonded, you see. Anyway, you have nee-sama, so can't we leave things as they are? It's not how it was supposed to be, but it's better this way."
"How is it better?!"
Rin giggled. "Because you weren't ready to be mine, Sasuke-kun. You couldn't do the things I would demand of you. But Itachi is different. He understands me and my needs. He knows what man has turned me into. And he accepts that sometimes, you have to let the monsters out to play. Let me show you how far we've come in such a short time. Let me show you how hopelessly weak this whole village is, compared to my new power."
"Stop her, Sasuke!" Suigintou shouted. "You can't let her summon!"
Kakashi was faster, and the volley of kunai he launched at Rin would have killed her, had she indeed still been the Rin he had once known. Instead, she laughed as they passed through her body harmlessly.
"Have you completely forgotten who I am, Kakashi? Is my disguise so perfect? You can't kill what isn't alive. And as for preventing me from summoning, black nee-sama? You've lived among ninja for too long, if you're thinking that way. This reality is my canvas, and I never run out of paint." Rin swiped a hand through the air, and despite the total absence of a wound, blood was smeared on the air by her hand's passage. "Come to me, my bestest buddy! Summoning Jutsu: Triple Terrific Turtle, Isobu!"
A geyser of water erupted from beneath her feet, and Rin was catapulted high into the air, laughing madly. She landed gracefully on the back of the monstrous turtle that emerged from the water, its fearsome roar drowning out all other sound.
Kakashi was stunned, but only for a moment. He had long ago learned that no matter the surprises Kirakishou revealed, the end goal always had to be killing her. He could be shocked later, assuming he lived long enough to reflect. With no other thoughts in his head, he threw himself at the turtle, and began to scale the enormous beast with only a pair of kunai.
Isobu knew he was there, it had to, but both its shell and hide could not possibly receive any real damage from kunai, and in any case, it knew that Kirakishou wanted to play with Kakashi herself. It paid him no mind. Instead, it followed its given instructions: to destroy the village, and failing that, to cause as much damage to its surroundings as possible.
The emergence of Isobu produced the similar reactions in anyone not currently affiliated with Kirakishou: shock, horror, and disbelief.
Temari and Kankuro were among the number that recovered quickly, and only then because they and everyone else from the Sand had expected to see an entirely different tailed beast attacking the Leaf Village that day. So their first thought was not so much that Isobu being there was wrong, so much as it was that maybe the plan had been altered without their knowledge.
What convinced them otherwise was the swirling portal that opened beneath their feet, dropping them into what they immediately recognized as the endless beach that was Souseiseki's N-field. Gaara was already there, seated next to a half-finished sand castle that they knew he hadn't contributed to. On the other side of the castle, looking very grumpy about having him in her company, was the dimly glowing soul of one Yamanaka Ino. This was only surprising in that Ino did not look terrified. She was a hostage, after all.
"Why did Souseiseki bring us here?" Kankuro asked. "Has the plan changed?"
"She's only ever brought us here when it wasn't safe to be outside," Temari reminded him. "And with a Tailed Beast out there, it's not too surprising that she did. But I wasn't expecting that one."
"Neither was I," Souseiseki admitted as she appeared beside Gaara. "Which is why I brought you here. As far as I know, Kirakishou and Isobu aren't part of the plan, and there would have been no reason for the Kazekage to fail to mention including them. Which means they are surely aware of our plan and chose to attack at the same time, both to cause mass confusion and to target as many Master Dolls as possible."
"Is Kirakishou insane?" Temari asked.
"At least somewhat. But she's also largely fearless and extremely resourceful, which makes her very dangerous. All I know is she isn't an ally, or she would have come to me in private beforehand. She would never unleash Isobu in an area where my medium could be harmed, if she were on our side."
"Then what do we do? How do we fight her?"
Souseiseki frowned at Temari. "We don't. You stay here. I will fight."
Temari gaped at her. "Hey, you're not serious, right? You're not actually going to try and fight them alone?"
"My chances are better than you think. And I won't be alone."
Kankuro coughed, loudly and falsely. "If you're about to tell us that you're going to drag Shukaku out there to fight, then don't. We all know he only works with you extremely reluctantly, since you stopped him from tormenting Gaara."
"I was thinking about doing that, yes. Shukaku agrees that you three would be better off in here."
"What about you, though?" Temari asked. "I know you're trying to protect us, but who is going to protect you?! Shukaku is a bully and a coward! He'd run to save himself before he'd risk injury to protect you!"
"The thought of coming back to you three is all the protection I need."
Temari and Kankuro traded a very doubtful glance that did not go unnoticed.
"I saw that, you two. It's sweet that you're worried for me, but I do have a strategy in mind."
"Oh, so you have a way to beat a Tailed Beast that trumps Shukaku in every way? I was silly to worry, then!" Kankuro laughed.
"I don't appreciate your sarcasm."
Ino chose this moment to butt in. "They're scared for you because they love you so much, Souseiseki. I don't need to be a mind reader to know that. But I am. So it's really, really true if I'm saying it. Which I am."
"Why is she here?" Temari asked bitterly.
Souseiseki shook her head. "She's a prisoner of war. I had to put her somewhere safe."
"Why, though?"
"Several reasons, including..." Souseiseki sighed, and nodded to the blue sparkle currently flying around Ino's head. "Lempicka has taken a liking to her, for reasons I can't even guess at. So letting her die would be problematic."
"Which also means that killing me is out," Ino added helpfully. "Though I'm guessing only Souseiseki would even have a way to kill me as I am now. My clan will keep my body safe."
"They might have more pressing matters at the moment," Kankuro pointed out. "Unless you're also hiding a Tailed Beast in you."
Ino glanced at Lempicka. "Well... not in me, anyway. What if I told you this wasn't the first artificial spirit that I've talked to, and they tend to get really chatty when they find someone new who can understand them?"
Temari glared at her. "Just spit it out, we don't have time for guessing games!"
"I think you do, as I'm guessing that Souseiseki isn't worried because she's planning to team up with the Leaf's Master Dolls. And it's not even a guess, it's the obvious best strategy."
Temari and Kankuro stared at Souseiseki, who shrugged. "She's not wrong."
"She has to be!" Temari shouted. "These are the same Master Dolls you were talking about defeating yesterday!"
"Today, I'm more concerned with the one who would harm my children. Or did you want me to try reasoning with Kirakishou, after she showed no regard for your lives?"
"You know, if this wasn't part of your attack plan, and you were smart enough not to say so out loud, or act on it?" Ino cut in again. "Shouldn't be that hard to pretend you knew nothing about this, and simply actually honor the alliance you already have in place with the Leaf. Maybe pretending you're honest is hard for you, but it should be easier than trying to take down Kirakishou and Isobu."
"Would you kindly SHUT YOUR TRAP?!" Kankuro shouted. "This has nothing to do with you!"
Ino glared at him. "You come into my village as a supposed ally, but with a plan to wreck the place and kill everyone, and now you're butt hurt because somebody had a better plan than you. On top of that, you're actually mad that, yet again, someone has a better plan than you, and it might actually save your sorry hide? Then you can go kick rocks outside with Isobu and see how that works for you, but in here? You will show me some respect, you painted up freak. Because from where I'm sitting, if I'm brave enough to go into Gaara's head alone, nothing you've got is going to scare me one bit. And by the way, using Tailed Beasts as war weapons is exactly what the Master Dolls were intended to prevent, so all of these plans doing that royally suck to begin with! Did you even hear what Kirakishou called Isobu? They're friends! So maybe we're the bad guys in this, not them!"
Everyone stared at her in silence.
"She's actually not all that wrong," Souseiseki finally admitted. "Kirakishou and Isobu are friends. And if a Tailed Beast is unwilling, they should not be forced to fight. If for no other reason than the resulting damage potentially wouldn't be helpful to either side. Or because they would turn on the aggressors at the first available opportunity. And they'd have every right to."
"You're agreeing with her?" Temari demanded.
"Not fully, but I am starting to see why Lempicka likes her." Souseiseki turned to Ino. "This is very important. Which other artificial spirits have you been in contact with? And will they still listen to you?"
Ino smirked. "I'm guessing you want Lempicka to deliver a real alliance offer? I'm sure Berrybell, Holie, and Meimei will listen. Suigintou, not so much, but we can worry about her after the turtle. Maybe half the village being flooded by Isobu will make her more likely to cooperate."
"Not unless it's the half she lives in," Souseiseki murmured.
Continued in Chapter 4: Mothers Day
Orochimaru summons an army that the Leaf Village has no defense against. Shinku and Hinaichigo are reunited with their former mediums. Kirakishou reaches deeper into her endless bag of tricks. Suiseiseki confronts Souseiseki, forcing a fight that can no longer be avoided.