Scarlet Justice - ep. 99
"Ascent"

It's not terribly long before I find the building that I was looking for.

A sturdy looking design, composed of brick and mortar. Rustic red with a large window at the front of the shop to display some of the wares within. Weapons of all kinds are precisely positioned to catch the light, coming from many different places in this world. There are the longswords near the katanas, the strange chakrams next to crossbows, leather whips and metal flails. Plate armour, chain mail, metal chains for combat, helmets, gauntlets and greaves.

Certainly impressive, and a quick display of the owner's skill and expertise. But I already knew that much, which is why I hired him in the first place.

"So...this is it, then." I open the door next to the window and step in to the sounds of gently singing chimes. There are more displays within the shop, racks of clothing and weapons spread out in individual sections with the most expensive equipment placed along the walls. The counter is towards the back half of the shop, and I walk towards it while waiting for someone to assist me. Emerging from the back room is a woman with long black hair, her stomach bulging slightly beneath a blouse and worn overalls. Her smile is warm and familiar.

"It's very nice to see you again, Lili. Welcome," she says in her soft, airy tone.

"Lovely to see you again as well, Airi," I say with a small bow. "You're with child, congratulations."

"Thank you. Zen will be here with your request as soon as I get him. Was there anything else that you wanted?"

"No, no. Thank you, regardless."

"Understood. A moment, please." She disappears into the back room again.

"Oi, don't go moving around too much," a voice calls out. "I appreciate your help, but there's no need to act tough, Airi. Eh? Oh, she's here! Alright, gimme a minute or two to grab her kit. I have it stashed somewhere safe."

Airi reemerges and nods. "He will be out in a moment."

"Please, take your time. Are you alright to move around so much?"

"Very much so...as I remind Zen so often, I still have my pride as a working woman to consider. When our child is closer to entering this world, perhaps I can rest a little often."

I smile at that. "I see. It only makes sense that you're as stubborn as that man is. You really are perfect for each other."

She giggles behind her hand as Zen arrives.

"Alright, got it. Nice to see you again, kid." He's still the same bald and muscular man that I remembered, but one thing has changed: he now has a thick beard of dark brown hair. As usual his shirts can barely contain his physique, and there's a heavy apron on his person that is no doubt used for metal working. He sets the metal box in his hands down on the counter. "Heck of an outfit you've got on."

"It's actually quite comfortable and durable. More than a few missions have been carried out wearing this."

"Interesting...well, that and all the flare you've got on it suits you from what I remember. Anyways, here's the gear you requested all that time ago. I was wondering if you were gonna come up here for it, or I'd have to ship it over to you. It's good that you're here, since I can show off the functions to you in person. I'll show you in the back, so step right up."

Airi unclicks a lock and flips up one section of the counter to let me through. The three of us travel through the small office that's directly behind the counter, and into a workshop.

"This is where I fiddle with things before putting them out or giving them to customers. The real deal workspace is a few doors down...but we'll have a look at this one in here, since it's nothing too flashy or dangerous." He sets the box down on a metal table in the middle of the room and opens it, revealing my order at last. "Hope you like it."

"Very hard not to...it looks very well done." It's a pair of metal gloves, made from that rare commodity Red Iron and crafted to be extremely flexible with detailed and articulated joints. They have a glow to them in the room's lights. Complementing them is a pair of sandals that look like they're from another world, somewhat. They're made from the same material and look just as flexible as the gloves, with cushioning on the insides.

"So, I'll explain how it all works. That way you can answer a few questions if your lady friend has any questions for you. First thing I'm gonna show you is this." He picks up one of the gloves and puts it over his hand. It seems to fit snugly, and that makes me raise a brow in confusion. Fio's hands are not that big, so...

"Wild, huh? Go ahead and try it yourself, you'll see what's going on."

I nod and pick up the weighty glove, putting it over my right hand. To my surprise, the fit is just about perfect. Whatever material is inside moulds itself to fit my fingers perfectly, and I have a great response when I move my fingers around. "Oh...that's certainly something..."

"Instead of making something to custom fit, we used the data we had to go with something more adjustable," Zen says. "Airi suggested it, actually. To sum it up, the material on the inside of the glove moulds itself around the user's hand, no matter the size. When you're ready to go, you just close your hands and flex your chakra a bit through the gloves themselves. Then they get nice and taut, like a boxer's hand wraps. All of the main features on the glove respond directly to chakra output. But this feature is handy because it means that you don't have to worry too much about wear on the inner lining, or having to order a new pair every year because of a growth spurt. I know you like throwing business my way, but it's better to take care of your customers properly the first time."

"I very much appreciate that. This feels quite comfortable and secure," I say as I swing my hand through the air a few times. "Yes, this definitely works. There was a reason I left this to a genius like you."

"Ha."

"And of course, Airi's brilliance cannot be understated. You make a wonderful team."

Airi smiles and curtsies for me.

"There's more stuff here. I followed your notes as closely as I could, and put in a few features that your friend will like." Zen makes a half seal with his gloved hand, and I see a few holes open up on the glove's cuff. When he makes a different type of seal with the same hand, holes on the knuckles open. He makes yet another seal, and all the openings close. "Your partner there uses Boil Release, of the type made famous by Han from the Hidden Rock. But that makes sense, since he was her old master after all. I used that bit of knowledge to work on integrating that into the glove, and it worked out just fine. When she creates steam, she can use it to further regulate the pressure against the hands if they like, sort of like an air cushion. There's also some hollow space inside of the gloves themselves, so that she can store and release high pressure steam. It took a bit of testing, but I managed to get it down so that the completed glove won't rupture or explode from the high pressure being exerted on it. Because of that, you can put different kinds of chakra in there too and make use of it."

"Did you use chakra to open those vents just now?" I ask.

"Yep. Same as you do to activate the glove get it primed. You use some specific hand gestures, which are pretty much the same as the handseals you shinobi use. I asked some local shinobi to help me out with that part, and then I made different parts of the glove respond to different levels of chakra input. The amount isn't very much, so even an old man like me can operate these things. You just flex your chakra a bit using different gestures in different position, and certain vents are opened and closed. Really easy for seasoned shinobi like you guys."

"Ah, I see. So there are sequences we can learn, or perhaps program into the gloves themselves. And from there, it will come down to muscle memory. Well, she's very good when it comes to that, so she will definitely be happy with this system."

"Good to hear. If you look at the valves, they're all individually adjustable, so you can mess with the opening and closing speeds, the air flow, the amount of pressure, all of that. There are a lot of ways that she can use these things if she feels like it, and I included a set of instructions so that she can get a hold of the basics and figure out what fits her the best. Oh, and see here..." Zen takes off the glove and points at the inside of the cuffs. "I put in space for those wrist things you mentioned. If she ever takes those off, I included a similar set of discs so that she can seal the gloves that way if she wants."

"Very thoughtful of you, and supremely helpful," I say as I continue to inspect the glove. Truly remarkable craftsmanship on his part...I couldn't have imagined something so complex, even with all of the detail I left in those notes. My eyes move to the sandals as I set the glove down. "Do these work in the same way?"

"Pretty much. I went back to your notes and included some extra ventilation for the feet. They're made from Red Iron too, so they're heavier than the average set of footwear, but durable as anything you can think of." Zen holds up one of the sandals. "Airi came through with another suggestion. I made them able to transform, so you can use them if you want a more every day type of shoe. So the default setting is what you see here. There's a little button on the outside of each foot, you press it and at the same time output a little chakra while moving your finger...then you can adjust the heel and have it pop out to the height you like. Maybe you like a casual heel, maybe you like a taller one, whatever works. The slope there changes and the soles and cushions in there keep your feet comfy."

"Hm." I press the button and nothing happens. Then I push a bit of chakra into it while sliding my finger downwards, and the sandal responds. A short heel emerges from the bottom, sturdy and unmoving. I repeat the button press and slide my finger upwards, and the heel retracts, leaving a normal bottom again. "I see. It's very nice...Fio should like it for outings. Being able to switch from heels to flats in an instant is every girl's dream."

"That's what Airi told me," Zen says with a chuckle. "That feature sounds like it'll come in handy, then. Like I said, you've gotta put chakra into those spots manually to transform, so it won't be triggered in the middle of a fight, or by climbing trees and walking across water, or anything like that. The gloves operate on the same principle, they won't do anything unless you ask 'em to. I included two extra pairs of rings with inscriptions on them, they're kind of like training wheels just in case there's any trouble or you want to give them a spin yourself for a while. They help to coordinate power for the gloves, but as a result everything operates at reduced strength. So when you're ready to use the gloves for real, you'll want to take those off. But your friend there sounds like a vet, so she shouldn't have any trouble."

"You said that instructions were included, yes?"

"All in the box. Airi and I wrote them together. We made sure to keep the main parts simple in a quick guide, but the real meat of the instruction manual is a lot denser than that. All sorts of advanced technical knowledge to dig through if you're hungry for it. If you've got a question, we made sure that it's got an answer somewhere in there."

"Yes, I see." I inspect the items one last time. Fearfully made, these...exceeding my expectations in many ways. Fio will certainly love them. "Thank you very much. These new tools will certainly be appreciated by their future recipient."

"I should be thanking you for making the order in the first place," Zen says with a smile. "Seriously, I haven't had this much fun in a long time. I like making normal weapons, but a challenge like this is always welcome. If you think up something else crazy, go ahead and give us a call."

"I very well might do that. There are more friends of mine who would appreciate some unique tools."

"We appreciate your patronage very much," Airi says.

"Very good. I'm happy to know that I've brought some joy into your lives. It's a fleeting thing in these times."

"Oh, right. Turns out we've got another connection aside from being old work buddies. Heard you met my niece a while back," Zen says. She's getting married to some hippie who used to work for the Hidden Frost Village. Kid's a handful sometimes, but...I guess that's why she likes you so much."

"It must be so. Has she been well lately?" I ask.

"Yeah, she's doing okay." Zen starts to put the items back into the box neatly. "You know how Rei is, a good kid with a few quirks here and there. She and her new boyfriend are making a way for themselves. Ah...I call him a hippie, but he's far from just some common treehugger. Guy's got a real eye for weapons. I told him that if he wanted some freelance work, I'd be happy to have him onboard. No questions asked."

"That's nice of you."

Zen shrugs. "Nothing to it. It's the right thing to do, he and Rei are family. Where she's concerned, I'd do a lot for her sake."

Airi hands me a scroll and I use it to seal away the box. The scroll goes into my backpack as I set it down. "Thank you both for your hard work, I am quite grateful to you. I will leave you to continue business as usual, so please take care. I will see you and our darling Reiko soon." I reach into a compartment on the side of my pack and pull out a small envelope. "The promised payment for your services. You will be the first number I call if I have anything that needs to be crafted."

"Got it." Zen takes the envelope and looks inside. His eyes widen. "Hey, this is way too-"

"I won't hear it."

He goes to argue but stifles his protest, sighing instead. Airi gasps as she takes a look inside herself.

"You know, you're a stubborn one. Listen, you make sure that you show up for the wedding now..."

"We will be sure to attend, as promised."

"Good stuff. And one more thing, there's a formula on the bottom of the box for transport, if your lady friend Fio should need it. That's our lifetime warranty at work, and we mean lifetime when we say that. The box will be reverse summoned back here whenever she wants, and she can call or mail us if she needs something smaller like an extra part. Instructions are in the manual too. It's the least we could do for an important order like this."

"Incredibly generous of you. I'll let her know everything you've just told me."

"Be well, Lilith. Bless you," Airi says with a smile.

"Thank you. Good health and prosperity to you both, and your child. Until the next."

I bow politely for them both, and Airi lets me out past the counter before I leave the shop altogether. The warm air of the village greets me once more. Everything has gone better than I could have hoped...the tools for Fio are impeccably made, and I can't wait to see her smile when I deliver this gift into her hands. Speaking of her...I still have a ways to go before I reach my final destination. Frost Country still has to be crossed, and it's far from an easy adventure in the winter months. Fire Country might as well be a tropical paradise in comparison. My clothing is far from inappropriate, but still...I am not particularly excited to cross that sort of terrain.

"..."

I should give myself time to breathe instead of rushing. I did say I was interested in resting a while, so I can stand to be a tourist for a while longer. I don't feel tired or anything, but something is telling me to take this opportunity while I still can. I walk through the village and have a look around at the various rest stops, trying to see what suits my mood best.

"Mm...lots to choose from, but nothing suitable quite yet. Ah, perhaps I spoke too soon."

I cross the wide street and pass a shaved ice stand, spotting a small inn. It looks to have been converted from a residential home with two levels to it, and there is steam escaping from a few chimneys on the roof.

"Let's see what's inside."

I enter through the front door and step into a cozy space, with a reception desk that is crafted from polished wood. The receptionist politely explains their services, and I pay them upfront for everything to get it out of the way. I overhear from some other patrons that it's a bit pricier than the other places in the area. I'll learn the reason for it soon enough, good or bad.

"Thank you, ma'am. Please enjoy your stay here."

And as I soon learn, the quality of service is more than worth the higher than average prices. An expert masseuse undoes my knots with her deft hands, there is plenty of high-quality food to eat, and I am practically waited on hand and foot for the evening. Likely owing to the exclusive feel of the establishment, there are not too many people wandering around, and those that are tend to be of middle-age or older than that.

"Here you are, ma'am."

"Thank you." The outdoor pools are lovely around these times of year. I take the bottle of strawberry milk from my helpful hostess, and she bows before retreating indoors once more. I put up my hair and make sure that my towel is secure before stepping into the warm pool, sinking down until it reaches my neck. This feeling is extremely pleasant, and I settle in with my back against one of the walls. The silence is welcome - I am alone again, and thus free to think without distraction.

"..."

Those nightmares again. The ones that continue to plague me without end. I even find myself thinking about them during the day. But...I did say that I wanted to confront them properly, and this is the best way to go about doing so. I am not yet freed of those chains, but one day I will be. The scene from that day is vivid. I find myself standing in the burned out mansion again...my father's body lying on the floor, blood spreading out around him. A piece of me did break once I fired that final shot. I can't simply move on all of a sudden. I did hate him...I did kill him on that day. But he was still my father. And it's for that reason that I cannot so easily escape those feelings.

For some, the pain is far too much to bear. They start to disassociate, desperately trying to find a reliable way to deal with the pain inside of their heads. For others, it is only the pain that remains inside, torturing them as an unshakable phantom at their backs. For me, it is...quiet. Sorrowful. The darkness contains a lonely place where I look at my reflections in gilded mirrors. The girl who lusts for blood in one, the girl who ruthlessly eliminates targets in another, and the girl with shining wings of light in the last. Not different people, or different personalities to swap with in stressful times. Each of them is who I am as well.

"Cold and shattered dreams...those things that I had long tried to forget."

I take a sip of milk and look into the evening sky.

The nightmare comes again as I sleep. It fills my head with darkness and leaves me filthy again, as much as I try to tell myself otherwise.

I roll out of bed and take a warm shower, though it doesn't help much with the lethargy I feel from being awakened so suddenly. Sleep will not come again tonight. After my shower I dress lightly and look through my bag for a certain item. It seems I've forgotten it this time, which is unfortunate. Finishing that strange novel where I ended up as the lead character somehow was something I wanted to get done. But perhaps that's a sign as well. I shake my head and walk over to the phone, dialing room service. There's a drink I want to try, since I'm already awake.

"Here you are, ma'am."

"Thank you very much. A pleasant morning to you."

The gentleman gives me a bow before closing the door again. I've made sure to order a sizable breakfast, since I am a growing young lady, and something from the west that's called an 'espresso'. Ibiki was talking about it some time ago, and my curiosity has gotten the better of me. I grab the nearby remote and sit at the table with my tray of food, then turn on the television.

"Winter league baseball is on, then. Mm..." I flip through a few channels before spotting something interesting. I've seen this before...it's called football, but there's a lot of passing with the hands. They call actual football 'soccer' over there. Strange. What I finally settle on is one of those winter sports that uses a stick and rubber disk. 'Hockey' is what it's called. You need a lot of strength and balance, along with the ability to skate well. I don't know anyone who plays...maybe that could be a sport that could become popular here, in the future? They're played in those indoor arenas after all, so the ice has to be kept cold by some means.

This 'espresso' tastes quite odd, but not unpleasant. I already feel more awake than before as I watch the athletes on the television screen.

As dawn arrives, I do my normal stretching, gather my things, and check out of the inn, after leaving a small gift as usual. My milk supply is reloaded, and I am far more relaxed than when I came in. It was a very good excursion, to say the least. Making this small stop was the correct choice in the end. Now, I think I am ready to take on the world again.

"Or at least that terrible frost-ridden corridor..."

I sigh and make sure my scarf is pulled tight. Exercise is good for the mind and body...I might be tempted to fatten myself up while coasting on a boat to Lightning Country. The cold will be good for character, or some nonsense that Kakashi would dole out from time to time.

Alright. Frost Country, here I come.