Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters.
Chapter 17
A few minutes, my butt! Minoko grumbled internally as she wandered through the streets that dipped, rose, and curved at seemingly random intervals. She followed the directions that the kind guard gave her to the T and still almost managed to get lost!
She wiped a bead of sweat that dripped down her forehead and let out a huff of air. She had been walking for more than a kilometre already and it was almost entirely uphill! She tried to think positively in order to not think about the fact that she could practically swim in the air here.
First, she only had a short ways to go until she reached her final destination...hopefully. Second, she already endured the death trap that people called a boat, so this was nothing! Third, while the air here was definitely more humid than Hi no Kuni, it was at least a few degrees cooler. Plus, with all the mist surrounding the city, she didn't have to feel the constant heat of the sun. Fourth...fourth...?
Ok, so she couldn't think of a fourth reason at the moment, so she kept repeating those three 'positives' in her mind as much as she could while a film of perspiration decided to coat her body uncomfortably.
It didn't work well.
Where in the world is that inn!? she thought in frustration. She made sure to let none off her irritation show on her face, keeping the visage of an innocently curious child as she inwardly attempted not to curse. Just a couple turns, he said. Just up a flight of stairs, he said. He forgot to mention that there were well over two hundred steps!
Her internal grumbling came to a halt as she final reached the top and took in the busy stone-lined street. The buildings were older, but fairly well-maintained. The people that bustled around seemed to mind their own business and didn't really interact much with one another. In Suna, regular customers would stop to talk and gossip with vendors or catch up with an old friend that they ran into by chance. Here, she couldn't hear anyone talking. Even the vendors were relatively silent instead of calling out to potential customers to buy their wares.
It was kinda creepy.
Minoko took all of this in within a few seconds and quietly took a step forward, trying to regulate her breathing and not look like her lungs were screaming for air. For kami's sake! She was a kunoichi! She should not be struggling for breath after a leisurely one kilometre walk and an extra steep flight of stairs!
She mentally shook herself and looked along the right-hand side of the road for the Boiling River Inn. After a couple minutes, she spotted a door with a wooden sign hanging over it that sported a red, bubbling river with steam rising from it. It kinda reminded her of the lava that she read about one time out of boredom. She sped up a bit and gently pushed open the heavy door. She sighed in relief as the cool air from inside rushed over her.
The inside was decorated in warm colors. Dark wooden floors and furniture were splashed with oranges and reds in the forms of rugs and cushions. The entryway had a small area where guests could remove their shoes and trade them for comfortable slippers. The lobby had a few couches to the left surrounding an unlit fireplace that was probably really cozy in the winter. There was a counter to the right where a middle aged man was standing reading a magazine.
He looked up when he heard the door open and a pleasant smile brightened his features, "Hello there! How can I help you, child?"
Minoko made sure to jump a bit in feigned surprise, turning away from the painting of a volcano that she was inspecting near the entrance. She clumsily removed her shoes and slipped her feet into the too-large slippers. A large smile spread across her face as she stumbled over to the counter, "Hi! I'm Kimi! Miyu-obaa-san told me to come here and ask for someone named Takuto."
A brief flash of confusion crossed the man's face, "Miyu did? Watanabe Miyu?" At her enthusiastic nod, he tilted his head in mild suspicion, "I'm Watanabe Takuto. You got any proof she sent you, kid?"
Minoko's eyes widened as if she just remembered something of great importance. She hurriedly whipped her pack off her back and knelt down on the floor as she frantically dug through it, "Oh yeah! She told me to give you something. Hold on a sec please."
An amused smile settled on the older man's face as she triumphantly held a letter in the air with a whoop. He took it from her and scanned the contents before nodding, "Well, I'll be. I haven't heard from the old bat in years! It looks like Miyu's taken a liking to you squirt. She's calling in an old favor so you can stay here for a while."
Minoko puffed her cheeks out and crossed her arms, "I'm not a squirt! My name's Kimi. Ki-mi!"
A chuckle escaped him as he ruffled her hair. He ignored her grumbling about too many people messing up her hair and turned to look through a log book, "Well, squirt, it looks like I have a free room on the second floor. Room 207. That sound ok with you?"
After a glare that was more adorable than it was threatening, Minoko nodded her head, "How much?" she asked as she pulled out her change purse.
Takuto shook his head, "Nah, Miyu called in a favor, remember. It's on the house for as long as you need it."
Her eyes widened in genuine surprise, "Really?" she breathed out in disbelief.
His amused smile turned soft, "Yes, really. On two conditions though," he stated in a firm tone.
When he saw he had her full attention, he held up a finger, "First, you will always be home before it gets dark out. That usually happens at around 8 this time of year." She nodded. That sounded fair and doable. It would look suspicious for a five year old to wander around past that time anyways.
Takuto held up a second finger and a smile pulled at the corners of his mouth as he tried to stay serious, "And second, you will eat with me and my daughter every night. She's pretty busy during the day, so we eat just after 8 when she usually gets home from her duties." Minoko forced tears to her eyes as she ran around the counter to hug the man, "Thank you Takuto-oji-san!"
Another chuckle rumbled in his chest, "No problem, squirt."
She leaned back to glare at him again, "That's going to be a thing now, isn't it?"
The amused twinkle in his emerald green eyes was answer enough for her.
A few minutes later, she was opening the door to her room. It was a bit larger than the one she had back in Suna. When she walked in, she noticed that it had the same warm tones as the lobby did. The queen sized bed was situated along the right wall. It had burgundy sheets and brick orange colored pillows. The walls were a deep chocolate brown and the throw rug on the ground contained a mixture of the three colors. The thick curtains on the window on the wall opposite the door were striped with the orange and dark red as well. On the left wall was a dark wooden dresser, a floor length mirror, and another door that she assumed led to a bathroom. Overall, Minoko was pretty happy. And she didn't have to pay for it!
After inspecting her new room and getting situated, Minoko placed the seals that were given to her before she left Suna in hidden, hard to reach areas around her room. The seals would prevent people from sensing her chakra fluctuate, which would allow her to summon Shinji for her weekly reports without anyone being suspicious.
Maybe this whole mission wouldn't be a complete disaster. Sure she missed home and her daddy, but she could handle that. She was a bit worried about Gaara though. People in Suna weren't exactly nice to him, but she had to remind herself that he was tough.
He'll be fine.
...
Gaara panted heavily, his eyes wide in surprise and a bit of fear. His hand was outstretched as he stared in muted horror at the man he had pinned to the wall with his sand.
He had just wanted to buy a gift for Minoko...how did this happen?
A shooting pain blazed through his skull as Mother tried to take over; to squeeze every last drop of blood from the fool that thought it wise to attack them and paint the sands red. Gaara's other hand came up to press against his forehead to try and find some relief from the pain. He pushed Mother back, refusing to become the monster that the villagers claimed him as.
A muffled cry emerged from the cocooned assassin, redirecting the young boy's attention to the matter at hand.
What was he supposed to do?
The man had tried to kill him. He said that it was an order. He was from Suna. He wasn't supposed to hurt people from Suna. He tried to kill him. It was an order.
Panic filled him, causing his thoughts to become frantic and his breathing erratic. There was only one person that could order this. What did he do to make his father want him dead?
Tears welled up in sadness and anger. He hadn't done a thing! Why was this happening!? Why him!?
His hand started to close slowly against his will. A shriek of pain was heard clearly through the grains of shifting sand.
Yes, he heard Mother whisper in glee, Make him scream! Make him suffer for attacking us! Show the world what happens if they cross us! This is your purpose. This is why you were born. Kill him. Kill him!
Gaara cried out in anguish, his eyes shutting tightly in an effort to fight back. His arm that was held up was shaking with effort.
A flash of gentle crimson eyes and warm hugs appeared in his mind's eye.
The shaking abruptly stopped, the voice of Mother was muffled to a bearable level, and Gaara took a shuddering breath. He loosened his hold on the man that had passed out from pain and let him fall to the ground. He had several broken bones, but he would live.
Gaara turned and quickly shuffled away. He wouldn't be the monster the villagers thought he was. He was her friend. She wouldn't want him to hurt people.
Please. Please come back soon, Minoko.
...
She had taken a shower and changed before going back downstairs just before eight. Takuto and his daughter lived in a house attached to the side of the inn. The entrance was on the other side of the office that was though the door behind the counter. Takuto told her to just come on over when dinner time came around, so she went ahead and walked over. The smell of dinner hit her the moment she went through the door and her mouth started to water.
"Takuto-oji-san! I'm here!" she exclaimed enthusiastically as she entered the kitchen.
Takuto glanced over his shoulder from his place by the stove and smiled at her, "Right on time chibi-chan. I was just about to call for you."
Minoko's smile fell from her face as she let her head hang in defeat, "Squirt, chibi…I'm starting to see a pattern here."
With a resigned sigh, she moved to help him set the table, her overly exuberant personality coming back in full force. She chatted nonsensically about day-to-day life. How she came to Mizu by boat and the nice man that talked funny, her encounter with Miyu-obaa-san and the guards, about what her 'mama' was like before she 'died.' Takuto nodded indulgently as she prattled on, encouraging her to keep talking. Internally, Minoko wondered if she would have a voice left by the end of the night.
Just as they were sitting down, Minoko heard the front door open and a voice calling out 'Tadaima!' Minoko looked over her shoulder to stare at the entrance of the kitchen.
"Okairi firecracker," Takuto shouted back, "We have a guest."
Minoko thought she heard a muffled groan come from the direction of the beautifully feminine voice, "Tou-san, what have I said about your ridiculous nicknames. I'm a grown woman. You really need to-"
The voice cut itself off as a woman came into the dining area and spotted large crimson eyes staring at her from a tiny pixie face, "Well, hello there, dear," the woman smiled, "Who might you be?"
"Kimi," Minoko whispered in stunned awe, "You're really pretty."
The musical tinkling of the woman's laughter matched the grace that she exuded. Minoko hadn't been kidding. She was probably the prettiest woman she had ever seen! Her eyes were emerald green like her dad's, but unlike his light brown hair, hers was a striking shade of red that flowed down to her waist. Her dress was blue, which somehow contrasted nicely with her fiery hair and enhanced the natural paleness of her skin. Minoko's eyes were drawn to the metal plate that was attached to a sash around her waist like a belt. She was a kunoichi.
"Nice to meet you Kimi," she said with a smile tugging at her artfully painted lips, "My name is Terumi Mei."
A/N: Dun dun duuun! Did anyone see that coming? :D
Please leave a review! They have been sorely lacking as of late v.v On chapter 17 with only 7 reviews T.T
See you next week!
Tadaima: I'm home
Okairi: Welcome home