a/n: Note of recognition! This chapter features some returning original characters, courtesy of my friend megacookie. Aiko, Makoto, and Suketsune make their return in this arc. Thanks to him again for lending them to me.
Scarlet Justice: Full Blossom – ep. 07
"Legato"
[Kazekage Rescue Mission, Part 2]
"Sorry to cause a disturbance, but we have shinobi here from the Hidden Leaf as requested."
I watch Baki instantly rise from his chair, looking the same as the last time I saw him. He has a perplexed look on his face before shaking his head and composing himself.
"I'll divine that mystery later. Your arrival is much appreciated, Major Kobayashi. Not to sound insolent, but...why have you come here first? I would have met you elsewhere at the first opportunity."
"I wanted to clear up any confusion regarding my identity, but most importantly, I wanted a look at Kankuro here."
"Oh? Have you become a medical kunoichi?"
"No, but I have some knowledge of medical arts...and extensive knowledge on poisons in particular. From what I have been told, our friend is dealing with the latter issue."
"Yes."
Baki and I move together towards the bed Kankuro lies on, while Guy handles our packs.
"He hasn't been able to move or speak much at all...he's completely paralyzed," Baki explains. "It happened after he chased down the Akatsuki. The other person is skilled, a poison user. Someone well known to the Sand."
"Pray tell, who might this be?"
"A legend...Sasori of the Red Sand."
"The great craftsman of the puppet corps himself, then. A formidable opponent, no doubt. So he was Deidara's other partner, and with his information and geographical understanding, he would have had access to a sleeper agent in the village. Have you found that person yet?"
"Not yet." He sighs. "Kankuro doesn't have long...are there reinforcements coming?"
"They should make it under the limit...but we can't wait that long. Every hour counts, and as far as I'm concerned, it's game over for Gaara if they leave Wind Country. Three days is too long to hold out for them, and it would make Temari cry to see her brother in such pain."
"Can...you neutralize the poison?" he asks, cautiously.
"Yes, without a doubt. Within the next two hours, Kankuro should be out of the danger zone. The poison's effects should be lessened at the least, and you will have time to create a proper antidote if needed. I only ask that you trust me and follow my instructions."
"You've done well by us in the past. If that's all you need, then-"
"Giving away the farm like that so suddenly? No wonder the Hidden Sand has grown weak."
"..." Baki bows his head towards the new voice, and I turn. A small, old woman with grey hair tied up into a bun at the top, and an eggplant-coloured headband binding the rest of it. Her face is wrinkled and spotted, she has two dotted earrings of jade, and she wears a loose, dark outfit that also has an extra white garment on top of it, falling to her shoulders.
"Honoured Grandmother, welcome. I assumed you were still asleep," Baki says while moving to my side.
"Hard to sleep with all of the commotion going on. So who is this? A rookie medic brat sent from the Leaf? You should have expected as much, as proof of your so called friendship with them."
"Milady, if you could just-!"
I raise my hand to stop Baki.
"Your concern is noted, dear sir. Rest assured, I do not burn up as easily as I used to. All will be handled in time."
He relaxes at that. "Y-yes. Of course."
"Aside from that...it's not wise to put yourself between two feuding women so suddenly. It never ends well for you men." I step towards the old woman and look down on her.
"You have a mouth on you, I see. Don't think it will get you much further than this, little girl."
"Do you know who I am?" I ask calmly.
"Why should I care?"
"I see. You'll learn your place soon, then. Now...I take it you can't figure out this poison, even with your many decades of experience. I am not a medical shinobi, and I am certainly not a rookie, or anything less than first rate in all of my specialties. You, sir. Would you assist me for a spell?" I say to the medic wisely staying out of the way. Fresh-looking, with neat black hair and brown eyes. There's the shadow of a moustache on his face.
"With the permission of-"
"Assist her with whatever she needs," Baki says firmly. "You have my permission."
"Yes, sir. Major Kobayashi, ma'am. What can I do for you?"
"A few things, in sequence. I want you to draw out a good amount of blood from Kankuro's body as it is now. Then, be prepared to draw blood from me next."
"If I might intrude," Baki says.
"You may," I say while continuing to stare down the old woman.
"What is it that you're planning to do?"
"A very simple thing," I say as I turn away and take a seat in one of the chairs. "As part of my training with Ane-ue, I built up resistances to many types of poisons, with the difficulty increasing every two weeks or so. In this regard, there is very little in the natural world that can harm me in that manner. But it's not just mere tolerances...I have taken things a step further. As a result, my body can now swiftly decipher poisons and eliminate them from my system."
"So...you're planning to take the poison into yourself first. Then using your body's ability to neutralize the poison, you'll have your own blood drawn and placed into Kankuro's system."
"Correct. This amount should be enough to knock most of the poison out of his system and allow him to move again. I'll need someone a little more skilled to mix the antidote itself, though. As much as I've studied, I don't feel confident in my antidote creation skills just yet. This method, though crude to you folk, will have to do."
"If you believe it will work, it's more than enough."
"Ha!"
I look over calmly at the old woman.
"All of it is childish nonsense. Using your blood to create some sort of immunity? It's a good thing you're not a medical shinobi, or else you would have been kicked out of whatever course you signed up for! You don't even understand how blood works, despite your supposed ability to spill it so freely!"
Baki growls before composing himself. "Lady Chiyo is correct...incompatible blood types-"
"It's O negative," I reply.
"Pardon?"
"Ah, the universal donor type," Guy says. "Very rare, and the type most used in emergencies. It's because it is highly versatile!"
"The main issue with blood transfusions is that if the types are incompatible with each other, the recipient's antibodies will attack the red blood cells coming into their system, as an automatic defence," our medic explains. "Type O negative blood can be donated to any other person with less immediate risk, because of the simple fact that the antigens are in the plasma and not the red blood cells themselves. Without that knowledge, we would at least have had to test samples from both Major Kobayashi and Lord Kankuro before any procedure could take place."
"So you can essentially give blood to anyone without worry. No wonder you were so confident," Baki says. "Well, it's a blessing for us..."
"..." Chiyo looks at me quietly.
"However...there is a risk as a result," Guy adds.
"A risk? You mean from donating?" Baki asks.
"The risk is that she can only receive the same type of blood."
Baki looks to Chiyo.
"It is an irony of sorts...the universal donor cannot universally receive."
"I see...something like that only makes this more significant."
"Major Kobayashi, are you ready?" the medic asks me.
"I am. Have at it...and pardon my manners, by the way. I haven't asked for your name yet."
"Ma'am. Lieutenant Daru Tadano of the Hidden Sand, ma'am."
"Thank you for your service, my dear. Now...Guy, may I have my writing implements? Tadano, please bring the syringe with blood to me."
I get the notepad and a pen, while Tadano returns with the blood-filled syringe.
"I will only need a few drops. Into my palm, right there."
"Yes, ma'am." He does as told, and I lick the blood from my palm quickly. I tug a bit at my jacket sleeve and have it come up far enough to give Tadano access to my right arm.
"The rest can go into my arm. Thank you, love."
"Of course, ma'am." He blushes a bit but stays composed as he starts his routines, locating my vein before poking through the skin with his needle. I let the flavour of blood dance on my tongue, trying to tease out the components that put Kankuro in such a state.
Metal. I can taste a lot of it. Heavier metals in particular, like lead. Truly awful, and answers the question as to why our friend ended up this way so quickly. Those metals are toxic even in small quantities.
"How is she doing?" Chiyo asks.
"Steady, from what I can tell," Tadano says. He feels for my pulse before nodding. "Ma'am, how long did you say this would take?"
"Between thirty and forty five minutes. This one's quite vicious," I say while writing. "But...I think I have an idea of how to counter this. As said before, antidotes isn't my forte, but I have someone I trust on that end."
"They're coming as back up, I assume," Baki says.
"That too. I was more thinking of someone in this village, primarily. Is Suketsune Temko in, by chance?"
"Ah, I see...I think you should know that all three of them are currently in the village as we speak."
"Then a favour to cash in, since the Sand owes me quite a few by now. I would appreciate you fetching them so that they can be added to my fighting force. We can use the night for planning while I catch my breath from this poison flowing through me."
"Of course. If you'll excuse me then, Major, Honoured Grandmother."
Baki bows before leaving the room.
"What is your goal in doing this?" Chiyo asks. "You realize that this is a kindness easily taken advantage of, don't you?"
"I do, indeed. But there are two reasons I can do something like this so freely," I reply. "The first is that I place value on people like Gaara and Kankuro. This one and I haven't spoken too much, but as Gaara and Temari's brother...it would be terrible of me to let him fall into oblivion when I could do something to prevent it. This is something that I genuinely want to do. State boundaries and differing ideologies...I won't let that get in the way of doing the right thing."
"I see."
"Of course, the second reason is...much more in line with your model of me. No matter how many secrets of mine you steal...no matter how many advantages you think you have over me...you will realize, as you lay broken at my feet, that it was not enough. No matter what you do," I say with a cruel smile, "it will never be enough. With a breath from my lips, with a snap of my fingers, you will disappear into nothing. You will turn to dust, floating away in the wind."
She glares at me even now, with her old bones trembling.
"You haven't figured it out yet, have you? Not to worry, you'll have as much time as you need. Is there anything else?"
"In the end, you're just another monster wearing human skin. Any village fool enough to trust yours deserves to meet its end," she snarls.
"Lady Chiyo, I am afraid that I must object greatly to your assertions," Guy says. "Every generation and realm needs those who embrace their inner selves, and become the noble savages of legend. Those who allow their youth to fade could not understand the true goals and might of those called heavenly warriors."
"What are you saying..."
"It's a waste of time talking to this old woman, Guy. She has already rejected the glory of youth in her heart," I interrupt.
"Mm...a tragic thing to say, but it appears that you are right. Still, I hope that you can ignite the flame once again, Lady Chiyo. We will bring the Kazekage back to his rightful throne, and return the light to this village darkened by despair."
"Bah." Chiyo finally leaves us alone. Good fucking riddance.
"There is something strange about that woman..."
I nod. "Yes. Though we can worry about it later. Once we have our personnel assembled, and Kankuro looks a bit better...we can set out through the desert again. After eating, of course. I'll have Baki get us something once he comes back. Guy, go ahead and take a nap while you wait. I did say this would be a while."
"You're sure?"
"I'll wake you if anything comes up."
"Okay." He gives me a thumbs up and settles into one of the chairs.
"Perhaps you could do the same for a while, ma'am. After we finish up here, of course," Tadano says.
"Since I don't want to worry you too much, I'll take that advice. Thirty minutes should be enough for a refresh. Let's finish this list as well, so that Miss Temko doesn't have to wait too long..."
My eyes flutter open, and I carefully stretch my limbs while waking up. That poison was certainly heavy...no doubt that Sasori is a sadist at heart, making something that paralyzes almost immediately yet kills slowly.
"..."
Then again, I don't know if I'm exactly one to talk when it comes to sadism.
"Apologies for the wait, Major," Baki says.
"No trouble," I say as I stand up. "I just finished my nap. You've completed my request, and I thank you."
"Of course."
"Ladies, I apologize for having woken you up so suddenly. I desired your help above all others in this endeavour."
"We had to come running since it was you."
"Yep. No reason to hesitate once you made the call, Cap."
"That's right...since we haven't forgotten your kindness, paying you back like this is the least we could do."
My lovely friends from what seems like an age ago...they've all grown splendidly since the last time we travelled together.
"Teamwork will be key in this mission. We have knowledge of each other and can anticipate each others' movements, allowing us to work more efficiently in the field. Trust is also important, and working together in the past gives us that advantage too. The current darkness can be both a curse and a blessing...no doubt that traps and obstacles have been set up to impede us. There is also an agent of Akatsuki that can track us and relay our positions to the main group remotely. We will defeat their surveillance by choking off the escape of their membership with lightning speed and thunderous force." I take up my notepad. "The first thing we will do is employ countermeasures against this menace. Aiko, equipment checks."
"Yes, ma'am." She takes her teammates' bags and starts looking over them. Aiko has done some growing, and now I'm sure she looks just as Pakura did at this age. The same sort of outfit as before, a close-fitting black top with no back or sleeves on it. She has a white sash around her waist, and dark leggings. The new things are her black gloves and much longer hair, reaching down to her back in the form of pigtails, and going from black to dark green near the ends.
Curiously, she hasn't grown upwards as much as I assumed. But I think that just makes her cuter.
"Suketsune, I would like for you to check my work and match it against the mix ratio tables available," I say to her as I hand over the notepad. "Tadano, go with her to the greenhouse where you keep your herbs. Get her whatever she needs."
"Understood, ma'am." Suketsune focuses in and starts to study my notes. Her voice is still soft, but I can tell...she's become far more confident than the last time we spoke. The messy, light brown hair from before has become straight with a lovely sheen to it, formed into a neat princess cut for good measure. The red kimono she wears over her combat uniform looks even more elegant, with intricate patterns of gold and black woven into the fabric. Those very long sleeves still hide her hands, and the poison sprayers on her wrists that she must have improved over time.
"Guessing there's nothing much to do for me, eh."
"Not for now, Makoto. You can occupy yourself by studying the mission data that we have. Any insights you can come up with might be helpful," I say as I hand her a scroll.
"Got it." Makoto removes the kunai-style blades from her back, seats herself on the floor, and starts mumbling to herself while reading. Out of the three of them, she's definitely grown the most, physically speaking. Maybe mentally too, as despite her frequent glances at me, she hasn't started the usual banter. She's put on more muscle all around, her chest is bigger - evident from the strain on those wrappings underneath the flak jacket - and she's ditched the miniskirt from before, leaving her with the pair of snug black shorts. Looking very good, I must say.
Hmm. I hope Fio is home when I get back...she must look absolutely delicious herself by now...
"Captain...oh, sorry. Force of habit. Major Kobayashi," Aiko says. "I have a question."
"Of course. Remember that you can call me by name, or whatever you might like, if it makes you more comfortable. That goes for you too, Makoto."
"Got it, Cap."
"So, Aiko. Your question."
"I was wondering about what we were going to do next, since you said that heading out like this was a double edged sword."
"We want to wait for Kankuro to awaken first, so as to gather more relevant information. The attacker was supposedly Sasori of the Red Sand."
"Sasori...he was pretty famous in the village. Still is," Aiko says. "So he's with Akatsuki, and he poisoned Lord Kankuro...that's really heavy. Do you think we're enough to go after him?"
"More than enough."
She nods. "Okay. Then I'll give my all as soon as you say the word."
"Good. We'll need your bloodline limit to properly confront him. The plan for now is to leave as one group and head after Deidara and Sasori while they're still slow to move. I doubt they're heading towards the border at maximum speed during these early hours. When we get to them, we'll make an attempt to split them up."
"Sasori is a formidable opponent...yet we cannot have our best go after him, since it will further weaken the village," Baki says. "No offence meant, but if Kankuro was so easily crushed with all three of his puppets in play, what do you expect these girls to do?"
"I want them to stall until I return. Sasori is strong, but with the antidote in play, our next encounter need not be fatal. The plan is to pit him against four of us while I pursue Deidara. I have a jutsu that can take care of that menace."
"Mobius?" he asks.
"Something more arcane than that. It will allow me to control the sky in the same manner I do the earth."
"As always, you are full of surprises, Scarlet Viper."
"Heh. That's Cap for ya," Makoto says as she stands up. "Never a dull moment."
"The skill to challenge Sasori is not something you can conjure up on a whim, girl."
"..." I resist the urge to groan as Chiyo reenters the room.
"Honoured Grandmother Chiyo...we didn't realize you were here," Aiko says, bowing deeply.
Chiyo pauses while staring at Aiko. "You, girl...what is your name?"
"Aiko Mishoto, ma'am."
"Your mother...she was Pakura, wasn't she?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Hmph. I see. It was a tragedy, surely. Losing one of the Sand's finest warriors, and for what...nothing but misery and suffering. The worst sacrifices are the ones that carry no meaning."
"..." Aiko's hands tremble for a bit before she settles herself.
"It is admirable how you handle your frustration. But the truth is a bitter medicine."
"Fossil. Why have you appeared before me yet again?" I ask.
"L-Lili, that's-"
"An old fool who has yet to learn her place," I say to Aiko. "We've met, and she decided to lead off with hostility. This bitch is getting exactly what she asked for."
"Pleasantries aside...if you mean to take on Sasori, you will need my assistance."
"You're insistent on inserting yourself into this matter, despite your advanced age." My eyes narrow. "You have a relation to Sasori, don't you..."
"Further than that," Baki says.
"Boy..."
"We don't need to hide anything from her," he snaps back. "Sasori is Grandmother Chiyo's grandson by blood."
"Is that so..."
"What, not going to mock me?" Chiyo says.
"I have no reason to. You want to make up for what you perceive as your past sins...things that led Sasori down the path he currently walks now. Whether it's the truth or not, I have no reason to cause you grievance over it."
"..."
"Beyond that...those feelings are understood as well." I let out a breath. "Since you have already prepared, I will not stand in your way. We will simply change formation and use the new advantage given to us."
"I can give you a bit more to go on...before you head out..."
"Kankuro?" Baki rushes to his side and helps him sit up.
"Kankuro...are you quite sure one of the Akatsuki was Sasori?" Chiyo asks him.
"Whoa...Granny Chiyo? Though you were out fishing somewhere." He groans and adjusts himself. "Yeah...no doubt. He called himself Sasori of the Red Sand. Ripped through...all my puppets like nothing. Salamander, Ant, Crow...just pieces by the time he was done. Knew my moves inside out."
"Excuse us."
Suketsune reappears with a tray in her hands, Tadano following. Upon it sits a tea kettle, one tea cup, and three small vials of liquid.
"Lord Kankuro is awake...then we can have him drink this. It's quite bitter, so I apologize in advance. Here..."
"Bitter, huh...there's a joke in there, somewhere..."
Suketsune pours the tea and helps him drink it down.
"Ugh...that's the worst..."
"Sorry about that."
"Not your fault...thanks."
"It should take care of the rest of the numbness. Major Kobayashi did an amazing job on all fronts...that blood transfer has taken care of the majority of the poison in your body, and this mixture will eliminate the rest. As for an antidote, the mix ratios she figured out were spot on. Including the mixture that's in the tea, we've made four doses of antidote. The three vials allow for hypodermic, intramuscular injection providing a rapid response to the poison if it should enter the body."
"I knew I could count on you, Suketsune. You're amazing," I say with a smile.
"I always aim to please, ma'am," she says, smiling back. "And I couldn't have gotten anywhere without your help. In fact...the poison was so complex that I doubt even the creator had an antidote prepared themselves."
"That seems to track. It's a sadist's type of play in the first place."
"I see..."
"Kankuro, you said that you could render assistance. What do you mean by that?" I ask him.
"Guh...damn, that tea bites. Sorry. I made a move earlier to try and get something before the poison took me out...used Crow to get a piece of Sasori's clothing. You'll want to check one of the hands."
"Resourceful of you. That will make things nearly automatic when it comes to tracking."
"Glad you appreciate it," he says with a smile. "So...if you just got the antidote, how'd you get the rest of the poison out...?"
"Major Kobayashi took in some of your blood and circulated it through her system. The poison was neutralized there, and so we transferred her blood into you so that the poison would be neutralized in your body as well, using the existing antibodies," Tadano explains.
"That so? Heh, I'm not gonna turn into a snake, am I? Or get weird cravings for blood and junk..."
I pout at him playfully. "This is the thanks I get for saving your life? Prick."
"I'm gonna get Temari to run over to Leaf and kick your ass the moment I start hissing. Seriously, though...I really owe you, Lili. Thanks for saving me."
"Not a problem. No sense in letting comrades suffer needlessly, you know?"
"I know. And...with as much as you've done already..."
"No. Don't you worry about that. What is it?"
"I...need you to save my brother. Gaara's been through so much, and I...I couldn't protect him, even as much as I wanted to. What he did for this village, even as he was losing consciousness..."
"I saw Lord Kazekage bring up an incredible amount of sand into the sky to protect us from an explosion," Aiko says. "And after that, even though he could have let it fall on the village to conserve his strength...all of that sand was shoved back into the desert. He was thinking of us until the end..."
Gaara. That person I crushed so mercilessly years ago has grown into someone special. Someone loved.
That's why...
"I won't let it end here. I promise you, Kankuro. I will bring your little brother back home, where he belongs. On my name as the Scarlet Viper of legend, it shall come to pass."
"Yeah...I can believe it. I'll be good to go by the time you guys get back."
I give him a nod in response.
"The evidence will be gathered from Crow," Baki says. "I'll meet you near the village entrance. When Lady Temari returns, I'll have her on patrol and inform her of your mission to catch the kidnappers."
"Good. Alright, everyone," I announce. "If you don't have anything else you need to gather, head straight to our rendezvous point. From there, we will discuss our plan and formation in full."
At that, we start out of the hospital room.