Scarlet Justice: Full Blossom – ep. 11
"Adagio"
[Kazekage Rescue Mission, Part 6]
"I think these markers should be visible enough."
I blow a puff of flame onto the last smoke canister to activate it, sending a stream of orange smoke into the sky. The other two are already alight, and should last long enough for the other teams to find this spot. I've also left some instructions for the incoming shinobi, as there is a possibility that the poison is absorbed through the skin, and not just by way of cuts.
"Time to go home, ladies. This time, we're in no hurry. I have a few snacks in case we're famished along the way."
"If I didn't see it, I wouldn't have believed it...I don't know if I believe it even now," Suketsune says as she shoulders her backpack. "The three of us alone would have died for sure, but Lili...you took him on and won, all by yourself. You beat the person who killed the strongest Kazekage."
"I bet that's not even your most powerful form," Aiko says.
"You would be right about that. Sasori was a dangerous fellow, but I had plenty of tools to counter his. That makes all the difference at the end of the day," I reply.
"And you're so casual about it, too. Pretty scary. I'm really glad you're on our side. Mostly, at least."
"Mm. If I have my way, you won't have to worry about seeing me in your nightmares, my love."
"Now, see...I know you're trying to be nice, but that just makes it even more ominous," Aiko says with a nervous smile. Suketsune nods in agreement.
"This one is far beyond any shinobi to ever exist. I doubt that even the Third Kazekage in his prime could come close," Chiyo finally says. "None of us can escape from that understanding...especially me, who doubted until the very end."
"..."
"Even Sasori came to understand the overwhelming power that this girl possessed. Not just in battle, but in spirit as well. A new soul filled with miraculous strength...someone to bring the old dynastic origins of shinobi to ruin, replacing them with something new. Something that will give hope to the people of this world. I couldn't believe it at first, but the futures of Sand and Leaf have changed substantially. Especially with that boy Gaara leading the way for our village now. I wonder if...he could forgive me for the life that I pressed upon him."
"You're not going to roll over and die now, are you...Chiyo," I say.
"Hahahaha! You really are an awful brat!"
"As I've heard many times before."
"You don't have to worry about such a thing. My soul, however aged it might be...is still enough to do a few things right in this age. I want to come out of retirement for good this time, and provide my services to the village. Ebizo would follow suit after some convincing."
"I see."
"You're really going to come back into service, Lady Chiyo?" Aiko asks.
"If the Kazekage accepts it. But there is something there that wasn't present before." She looks up at me. "It's this one's fault, in the end."
"A known troublemaker, isn't that what you're thinking?" I ask.
"Indeed. The power of cooperation is one thing, and the power of leadership is another. Your power lies beyond all of that. It is something that definitively opens the path to the future. I want to see where that path leads, just as Sasori does. I know that Sarutobi will have you installed as Hokage, one day, when you deem yourself ready. Until then, I will use the strength that I have accumulated over these terrible decades to help prepare the village for the future that you will bring forth."
"Then make me a promise."
"A promise, then. What might that be?"
"Until the day when the five become one...live well for your village, Chiyo. I want you to see the new age in all of its glory before you leave this world."
Her eyes widen. "Is that your ultimate goal? To do what that man could not..."
"Yes. 'Tis so."
She closes her eyes and chuckles heartily. "I see. Then let it be done, Lilith Kobayashi. Just try not to take too long. I want to be able to walk on my own to your inauguration, hahahaha!"
I smile. "You know the saying about the best laid plans...but rest assured, I will reach that goal before your bones completely turn to dust."
"Um...I can't really tell from here, but it sounds like you two are friends now!" Aiko says happily.
"Something like that. At the least, this old windbag knows now to show me the proper respect."
"Bah. You redheads are all the same, decade after decade. Little wonder the lot of you are either single or sleeping with other women," Chiyo says.
I roll my eyes at her. "You really are a miserable fossil."
"So. Which one of those are you, girl?"
"Oh, fuck off."
"I really don't understand girls sometimes...and I'm one of them," Aiko pouts.
Chiyo and I look at each other before bursting into laughter.
After a few hours of walking and sharing snacks, we start our jog towards the village entrance. Our approach slows as some Sand shinobi come out to meet us, and they seem much less anxious at the sight of Chiyo. Eventually, we meet with Baki and Kankuro at the entrance proper.
"I can hardly believe it...not only did you bring Lord Gaara back, but you killed Sasori of the Red Sand," Baki says.
"That's a holy shit moment if I've ever heard of one," Kankuro follows. He's back in his normal outfit, face paint and all, with a wrapped puppet at his back. "He kicked my ass like it was nothing. In any case, glad to see you're all back and uninjured. Aiko there looks like she needs some rest, though. You okay?"
"I'm fine, sir. Just had to go all out a bit to help the team."
He chuckles. "I figured."
"Lord Gaara!"
I look up to see Gaara floating towards us on a platform of sand. He's dressed plainly in black now, and seems to have recovered enough from his ordeal.
"Hey, buddy...Temari's gonna throttle me if you overextend at this point," Kankuro says with a frown. "You really should be in bed."
"I would find it remiss not to greet my saviour upon her return," he says as he drops to the ground. The boy is terribly sweet to me. I suppose I truly understand why Temari is so protective of him now. "And I should recognize the efforts of those who assisted in her fight. Might Guy and Makoto Hibana have returned. They are currently replenishing their energy stores at my behest. Aiko Mishoto, Suketsune Temko, Honoured Grandmother Chiyo...I welcome you home, and thank you greatly for your service to the village. It could not have been easy facing down an opponent such as Sasori, but you have returned victorious. Thank you for your irreplaceable service, and for your efforts." He bows and the girls return it graciously. "And for the woman with divine strength, known through the lands as the Scarlet Viper of legend...I offer this gesture to you."
"Lord Gaara-"
"Baki...allow him to do this."
Baki looks confused. "Lady Chiyo...are you really...?"
"I have finally cast off that shroud of indignation...time has moved forward, and I have decided to move along with it."
Gaara slowly gets to one knee and bows his head.
"Without a second thought, you came to me in my time of weakness. More than that, you allowed me my dignity, and showed great compassion to those of our village. You saved the life of my brother, and of many other soldiers. It was beyond anything that anyone needed to do. Thank you for all of that. And thank you for saving my life."
I step forward and help him up from the ground.
"Whenever you need me...I'm just a call away, Gaara. Always."
I smile and hug him gently. A second later, I feel him hug me back.
For a few peaceful moments, we stand together in the warmth of the sun.
"Please have the room sealed as you exit."
"Yes, my lord."
The shinobi bows before leaving, closing the door to the room behind him.
With the mission over, Chiyo thought it a good time to relay important discoveries to Gaara and parts of the upper brass – namely Baki and Kankuro. Temari would have to be filled in later once she arrived. Aiko is here as well, for obvious reasons. Or...maybe not so obvious ones, perhaps. Maybe Chiyo has something else to say aside from what we know.
"So what's this all about?" Kankuro asks as he takes a seat in one of the chairs. Baki gestures for us to sit, and we do so. Gaara sits across from Chiyo, and Aiko sits on the sofa next to me. She takes my hand, understandably nervous. This was communicated as a high level meeting, after all. Another person has joined us, Ebizo. He is the other half of the honoured sibling duo, and is a year younger than Chiyo. Thin, with wrinkles like his sister and wearing a similar outfit. He has his head wrapped and a pair of very long eyebrows that hang down over his face. Currently, he stands at Chiyo's side.
"It is about a great many things, young Kankuro. All of which are of great importance." Baki hands out the warm cups of tea to each person. "What must be established first is...the link between Gaara and Aiko."
"Link...between us." Gaara nods solemnly. "I see."
"No, you don't yet. It is not what you think...Sasori confirmed it earlier today, before his death." Chiyo takes a short sip of tea. "First, what we discovered. Sasori was the only known creator of human puppets, and he revealed two pieces of his collection to us. The first was Aiko's mother...Pakura Mishoto."
"Pakura?" Baki asks, shocked. "That can't be the case. Pakura was killed when..."
"It's true, sir," Aiko says. "That was my mom. She...or rather, the doll made from her body, could use Scorch Release and everything. Sasori killed her on that night over ten years ago now...when the village was in chaos because Shukaku came out." She looks over to Gaara. "I know now that it wasn't your fault, Lord Gaara. Even if I never said anything to you, I did feel anger towards you, just a bit. I'm sorry for that. I hope knowing this frees you from that burden. I would be proud of my mom either way, but I also don't want you to feel miserable about something that wasn't your fault at all."
"Aiko..."
"You don't have to carry that pain around anymore. Everything will be okay," she says with a smile.
"I...but I still lost control that night. If I hadn't...if it hadn't turned out that way, then your parents would still be in the village."
"I don't blame you. I refuse to."
"Was that what you meant by a link?" Kankuro asks. "I'm guessing that Sasori set up a fake so that he could take the real Pakura away and...transform her," he says carefully. "So what happened to the puppet, is it still there?"
"We incinerated it, Kankuro, sir."
He raises a brow. "Really? You burned it up?"
"Major Kobayashi and I did it together. I did think about bringing her back home, for a moment...but it wasn't a necessity. My mom's soul has always been with me, guiding me. Putting her body to rest, with the same gift that she gave to me...it felt right."
Kankuro nods. "I see. No worries, then. It was always your decision to make in the end. I'm glad you got the chance to choose, Aiko."
"Thank you, sir."
"..." Chiyo has been deep in thought, extra wrinkles creasing her face from the effort. "Gaara. I need to ask you a question about that night in particular."
"Please, go ahead."
"You did lose control of Shukaku, but it was not a random accident, was it? What happened? Do you remember what caused you to become so unstable back then?"
"..." Gaara takes a breath in to steady himself. "Uncle Yashamaru...he took a mission from my father to assassinate me. It was because he resented me for what happened to his sister...my mother. I was the monster that-"
"Stop. Yashamaru did what? What did he tell you?"
"That he tried to love me despite what I did to his sister. And that...he hated me for what happened. He always had."
Chiyo hisses out air and shakes her head.
"What? Did I say something...?"
"You were deceived, young Gaara," Ebizo says. "Yashamaru loved you greatly...he saw his sister in you, and wanted to protect you just as she did."
"H-huh? But...but I..." He puts one hand to his head.
"Don't burn yourself out, buddy. Take it easy," Kankuro says. He rubs Gaara's back gently to try and calm him down. "I know that this is a lot at once."
"It...makes sense," Baki says. "Yashamaru was one of the village's most elite soldiers, a member of the ANBU and right hand of the Fourth Kazekage. Even if you all were family, duty as a shinobi came first. If Lord Fourth gave out a direct order, then Yashamaru would not refuse it, no matter how cruel it might have been."
"That man made the choice to be your bodyguard, well above and beyond what he was ordered to do by Rasa," Chiyo continues. "His love for you was nearly as deep as Karura's."
"My mom? But she...he told me that she said...I was a curse..."
"I cannot know for certain what took place, but...the only person that Yashamaru would have cursed and resented is Rasa, for what he ordered me to do."
"Ordered?" Kankuro asks. Aiko and I already know, but most everyone else here is unaware.
"I was the one who sealed Shukaku into Gaara...while he was still in Karura's womb."
Okay. That's certainly a new wrinkle.
"Something like that would cause complications," I say. "I can only assume that this ill-advised process was what ultimately took Karura's life."
"Yes. Gaara was born prematurely. He was small and weak. She knew that she didn't have much time, so she asked to see him." She looks at Gaara. "You were such a slight existence...and that is why, with her final breaths, she promised to protect you for eternity. She died holding you...with joy on her face, and in her heart."
"Mom...she loved me? Those things were all a lie? I can't...I..." He hunches over, tears spilling down his face as he sobs. All of us sit quietly, never thinking to rush him out of it...this is something that he deserves. The time and space to remember his mother, to understand who she truly was. Something precious that I know I was grateful to have, without it being stolen from me. My mother's last moments...her warmth. The understanding of her pain.
For sixteen long years, that was taken away from this boy. Now he has it back again.
"So all of this was because of our old man, huh." Kankuro sighs and sits on the armrest next to Gaara, patting his back gently. "He really made a mess of so many things. Kept Temari and I away from Gaara, turned our uncle on him...and now, we know that he's the reason why Mom passed away."
"Um, I have a question for Lady Chiyo and Lord Ebizo," Aiko says. "If it's okay."
"It certainly is, child. What would you like to ask?" Chiyo replies.
"You both know about the previous Lords Kazekage, because of your long years of service, and um...it might be a silly question to ask, but did any one of them do the same things that Lord Gaara did with his sand?"
Ah, I see what she's getting at.
"I can't recall anything like that," Ebizo says. "What about you, nee-san?"
"Nothing. Rasa had his ability to use gold dust, which because of its weight over sand allowed him to stop Shukaku. But as far as I know...nothing like that. I only assumed that it was some new ability related to Gaara's bloodline, but nothing suggests that he knows Magnet Release. Shukaku has been well known for decades as a spirit of destruction, one far more suited to attack than defence."
"Mothers have strong wills," I say. "Those wills carry on beyond death. They give us strength in times of trouble. They allow us to do incredible things as long as we put our minds to it. The automatic defence that surrounds Gaara's form may not be an accident or simple mutation as we all assumed."
"What is it you mean to say?" Chiyo asks me.
I look over to Gaara as he wipes his eyes.
"I mean to say that the shield of sand is not the ability of a tailed beast. It's a mother's final gift."
"It was Lady Karura the entire time," Aiko says. "That was her promise...to protect you no matter what, Lord Gaara. And her strength in the sand is how she's keeping that promise."
"Hold on...you're saying that the automatic defence was...is Mom?" Kankuro asks.
"They're right."
Gaara sniffles and sits up.
"I've consulted with Shukaku many a time...and the power that he's given me has never resulted in anything similar to that defence. As long as I have chakra, it reacts to anything that might harm me, once my mind is tuned toward battle. And once I return to safety...it has never lashed out, only protected me from even minor things. I don't control it. I don't...consciously direct it. It has always just known, reacted as fast it could. I...understand now. I understand that in order to harden me into the perfect weapon, my father took everything from me. Family, connections, safety...love. And faced with all of that, I could only turn inward."
He puts a hand over his heart.
"Mother...protected me so that one day, I could get to this point. So that one day...I might learn the truth. That I truly was loved." He sighs. "And Uncle...I wounded him gravely without knowing, and then he killed himself after telling that lie. Why...why would Father send him on that mission?"
"To test your ability," Chiyo says. "I can only assume that was the case. He had Yashamaru lie to you, likely surmising that if you reacted badly to those painful words, you would not be suitable as a host for Shukaku. And that would be when those assassinations started in earnest, after that night of failure." She shakes her head. "Perhaps if I had refused to seal the beast inside of you, none of this would have happened. Aiko would have her parents, you would have your mother..."
"Maybe so. But...knowing what I know now, I would not turn back. What was a terrible burden before...it's not something that I would wish passed onto my brother and sister. I love them too much for that. If the fates saw fit to saddle me with this titanic power, then I will carry it faithfully into the future. I will grab hold of Shukaku, and the secrets of strength that lie inside tailed beast and jinchuuriki both."
Little wonder he has such a sizable fan club. I'm finding myself enraptured by him right now...he really is quite poised and stylish at the same time.
"There is another part to this loop," he continues. "And it again involves you, Aiko. Something dredged up from my memories..."
"If it's okay. I don't want to push you into anything, Lord Gaara."
"It is something you deserve to know. As you probably know already through village gossip...my father sent several assassins to test me. If I died, then I died...but after that night, I solidified my resolve and found a new reason to exist. I was able to rebuke all of the assassins that came for my head. All except for one. A man named Sozen."
Aiko's eyes widen. "Dad? He...tried to kill you?"
"I should have died that night. But he spared my life. And after that, it must have been when he deserted the village. For years, that memory would appear before me, briefly. I understood why he was sent by my father. I killed his wife, as far as he and everyone knew. It was a chance for revenge, for closure."
"..."
"He had me in his sights. I was helpless. For years, I could not understand...but now I do. Now I know why he let me go. It was because...of you."
"Me?" she asks.
"We're not that far apart in age...I believe only a year or two separates us. I was still a child, like you were. He must have seen you in my place, if only for a moment. It...was selfish of him, to leave you all alone. I won't justify something like that. But the immense guilt, the shame of having fallen so far...leaving the village was his way of giving you a new start, in his mind. He must have thought that you would be better off without him."
Aiko closes her eyes, letting the tears fall. I squeeze her hand gently to comfort her.
"Man...maybe Temari was right after all. Guys are kinda stupid," Kankuro says, rubbing the back of his head. "Every kid needs a parent, you know? Even if you just have one left."
"My dad...after we lost Mom, he turned into a drunk and neglected me. I guess it makes sense...the shame making him go away. It's still so painful, and it doesn't feel any better. Still...so selfish of him. But at least now, I understand that he was thinking of me. I know now that...as stupid as it was, he meant well." Aiko wipes away her tears. "It makes no sense in the end, maybe. But I get it now...that at least a little bit, my dad loved me. I guess he's wandering around somewhere now, but maybe we'll cross paths one day. I want to tell him how I feel." She sighs, and it seems like more weight is coming off her shoulders. "Lord Gaara...thank you so much. That memory has given me so much peace. And so has your compassion for me. I hope the weight comes off of you in the same way."
"Yes..."
"And now, maybe your mom can visit you in your dreams. Just like mine does."
"Dreams..." He looks at me curiously. "Is it the same for you?"
"Yes, 'tis so. My mother in all of her vibrant colour comes to visit me in times of trouble. When my father met his end...it was her embrace that helped me pick up the pieces."
"I see." Gaara muses on that for a moment before nodding. "Grandmother Chiyo, you implied there was another section to discuss earlier."
"Yes. It is in regards to the second human puppet that Sasori unleashed before his death. The Third Kazekage."
"What? You mean to say that Sasori was the one who...?"
"Yes, that is the case," Chiyo says to Baki. "Close to the time he took Pakura's body for himself, he expended some effort in killing and converting the Kazekage to one of his dolls. Like Pakura, it used the same techniques that it did in life."
"The Iron Sand," Ebizo concludes.
"Lord Third's Magnet Release was greatly feared...losing him was a blow that the village was ill-equipped to take. As such, they resorted to drastic measures," Gaara says. "The appointment of my father, who eventually settled on me as a jinchuuriki. It seems that Sasori was the root of all these dilemmas. But then...it goes back further than him. The customs that we adopt today in this village are barely removed from what was the standard long ago. Training ourselves to become more weapon than human, in order to gain strategic advantages. Under that sort of pressure, and with the loss of family...it is little wonder that Sasori turned out the way he did."
"It takes a remarkable spirit to rise out of that despair. The same as you have," I say to him.
"And it is the same with you."
"Yes...it must be so. But we cannot defeat the beast called loneliness on our own, can we?"
"I will work towards a future where no one should have to suffer that fate willingly. It is the responsibility of those with great strength."
I smile. "You really are a wonderful leader, Gaara. May your reign be long, and your people prosperous."
"As I have said before...I await your ascent to the gilded throne with bated breath," he says, smiling back. "Upon that day, I will bow with great reverence towards the queen of this shinobi world, the all-consuming Crimson Nightmare."
"Thank you, love."
"Is this flirting? This feels like flirting," Kankuro says.
"I have some familiarity with this type of talk...I believe it's called chuunibyou?" Baki muses.
"Whatever it is, I quite like it. Today's youth are spirited," Ebizo says with a smile.
"You're so lucky Lady Temari isn't here," Aiko says quietly. "She'd murder you..."
"She'd have to catch me first," I whisper back.
"You're so bad," she says, giggling.
"I believe that we have gone through all of the most important information at this time...and found closure for ourselves in the process. The remaining information can be disseminated later. For now, it is time to have a proper rest," Gaara says.
"Yeah. I'm sure it's been a hell of a time for you, Lili," Kankuro says. "You made it here in less than half a day, and then went out and killed an S-Class criminal...you must be feeling it by now."
"Just a little bit. I should be fine after a bath and a good sleep."
"We have made arrangements fitting for our great saviour."
"As expected of the Kazekage," I say. "I'll check in soon, then. If the teams from Leaf hurry, they should be around in about a day and a half...so waiting for them is fine enough."
I notice that Aiko has gone quiet, and turn my head to her. She's already fallen asleep.
"Long day for her, too," Kankuro says.
"I'll hand her off. We have a visitor beyond the door," I say while gently picking her up. "If nothing else comes up, I will see you fine folk tomorrow."
Baki unseals the door and gives me a nod before I step through. As I sensed, Makoto is waiting on the other side, leaned against the wall.
"Hey. You guys finally done?"
"Yes. Aiko can tell you about her part later...for now, it's time for you to take her home."
"Yeah." Makoto takes her girlfriend from me. "Gosh, she looks so peaceful..."
"Tomorrow is another day. We can go over everything together, if you'd like. I'll be at the hotel mid-town if you want to visit."
"Alright. See you later, Lili. And thanks for taking care of Aiko for me. I don't think she could have been safer out there..."
"You're quite welcome, darling. Take care."
Makoto nods and carries Aiko away. I shake out my hair and start in the opposite direction.
"A few more loose ends to tie up while I wait for my friends. But for now...it's time to rest after a job well done."