Chapter 32: Hospital Visit
One day later. . .
"Huh, hearing about your parent's death is one thing . . . Seeing proof of it is an entirely different process."
Gaara couldn't help but agree with his sister's assessment as they stood side-by-side in one of the private rooms of Konoha General's mortuary wing. After learning about their father's death, Shizuka had immediately ushered the group out of their hiding spot and over to the main library, reasoning that Shikaku wouldn't waste any time in finding the siblings to alert them of the news.
She was proven right minutes later, with the Chief Advisor himself walking in to deliver the message. Temari had accepted the news as any reasonable Crown Princess should, with Gaara remaining silent by her side.
It wasn't like he was too caught up in his grief to respond, far from it in fact. The redhead had never enjoyed the closest relationship with his father, for various reasons. Gaara was never one for showing great bouts of emotions, and likely never will, not even for his dear old dad. In fact, all three siblings didn't have the best connection with their old man, but at the very least, they respected his power and strength as the king of their nation . . . A role that was now Temari's.
It had been more than 24 hours since Orochimaru's attack failed. Once they were given the all clear, Temari and Gaara were escorted to the village's main hospital to see their brother by some of the palace guards, but as soon as they learned that the scouting team that found the bodies of their father and his guards had arrived with them in tow, they diverted their attention to the mortuary wing, where they now stood.
They had been there for more than an hour, standing vigil.
"It's so odd seeing him like this," Temari mused as she looked down at their father's partially decomposed form. "The last time we saw him, like actually saw him, was when we left home for the Showcase. . . And this is what's left of him."
"Orochimaru must have attacked him as he was on his way here to watch us compete," Gaara added, crossing his arms across his chest. ". . . At least he didn't go out without a fight."
"He fought till the very end," Temari agreed as she started walking backward. "We'll have to let the council know what happened."
"They would have known by now if you had just allowed Lord Shikaku to send a message like he offered to yesterday." Gaara was quick to point out as the two exited the room.
"You know how some of those old coots on the council tend to act Gaara," Temari grumbled as they stepped into the hallway. "They would immediately be suspicious about Father's death if the message came from a Fire shinobi's hands, regardless if they were telling the truth or not. . . No, the message must come from my hand."
"Then again, those same old coots may think you were writing the letter under forced coercion."
"They'll think like that regardless," Temari mumbled, shaking her head. "Maybe I should get Baki to co-sign the message. That could possibly calm their nerves for a moment."
"Consider it done . . ."
The siblings exited the wing to see their slightly banged up sensei standing just off to the side. He had his arm in a sling and his uncovered cheek was covered by a thick white bandage, but other than that, he still looked relatively okay. . . Until he started walking, that's when the limp started to show.
"Shouldn't you be in bed resting?" Temari mused as the man fell in step with them.
"Technically, I should, but I'm allowed about an hour of exercise per day, and when I heard that you two had arrived . . ."
"You figured you'd spend that hour checking in on two of your young charges," Temari concluded as the three turned the corner. "And how exactly is your third charge faring?"
"If you follow me, you can ask him yourself."
The siblings quietly followed the man down the hallway, around the corner, and down another hallway that led to the garden in the back of the building. The area was quiet, with only a few patients milling about to enjoy the sunshine. The three attracted a few stares, but most ignored their presence as Baki led them to the very back. That's where they found Kankuro, sitting in a lounge chair as he looked off into the distance.
"I heard you two went to visit our dear old man." The puppeteer stated as he looked up at the three arrivals. "He's really dead, isn't he?"
"Him, and the guards that travelled with him," Temari admitted as she and Baki sat down in the two chairs on either side of him, leaving Gaara without one. He quickly rectified this by crafting one out of some of his sand. "They will be released into our custody once you and Baki are discharged from this place. . . The Fire Queen has even offered to spare some of her village's men to help carry the bodies."
"Hmm, that should help make the transport easier," He smirked, shaking his head. "So, sis, how does it feel to be queen?"
"It still hasn't set in for me . . . Ask me again after 24 hours," She advised as she leaned back in her seat. "For now, I'm just focusing on the meeting with the Fire King later today."
"You're meeting with King Minato later?"
"What? The visiting monarchs always meet with the hosting monarch at least one last time after the Showcase is concluded before returning to their respective realms. . . He'll just be meeting me instead of Father," Temari pointed out. "Oh, by the way, now that the Showcase has been called off, we're moving into the palace and staying there until we leave."
"Well, at least I know where to find you guys once I'm discharged," Kankuro mused. "So, how about you guys fill us in on what's been happening since I've been knocked out of commission. . . Intel has been slow coming within these walls."
"It would be nice to finally get some information," Baki added. "The staff here are well adept at medical care, but they make for poor company when they're so focused on keeping you alive."
"Keeping people alive is what medical ninja are trained to do."
"And so, the Quiet One finally speaks!" Kankuro announced as he turned to his unamused brother. "Look Gaara, I know you're already one of few words, but you've been eerily silent so far, even for you."
"He's been like that since yesterday," Temari mumbled, smirking as her brother scowled for once. "Apparently, Shukaku's been giving him the silent treatment."
"Um, isn't that supposed to be a good thing?"
"It's, at the very least, suspicious," Baki mused, his visible eye narrowing slightly. "Unlike most of the tailed beasts, Shukaku is known for being a talker. . . Any prolonged moments of silence on its part should be taken with a grain of salt."
"Don't worry, he's not planning anything nefarious, at least, not that I know of," The redhead mused as he crossed his arms. "Shukaku's just not talking to me because I'm considering taking Princess Shizuka up on her offer."
"Offer?!" Kankuro asked as Baki's eyes widened slightly. "What offer?"
"Apparently, there may be a way to keep Shukaku further at bay, to the point that I may be able to actually sleep without having to worry about him trying to mess with my mind," The redhead explained to the disbelieving pair. "We got to talk about it after learning about Father's passing . . . Apparently, the strength of the seal is the key to it all."
"Huh, that actually makes a fair amount of sense," Baki mused as he brought his uninjured hand to his chin. "Unfortunately, fūinjutsu has never been our kingdom's specialty, and the sealing of the One Tails has always been too high of a priority to trust to any fūinjutsu specialists from outside Wind."
"Which leads to shoddy sealings processes that leave the host more susceptible to Shukaku's influence?" Kankuro mumbled.
"For the most part, yes," Baki bluntly stated. "The process has come a long way since the first ichibi jinchuuriki, but it still has a way to go. In fact, the last host before you, your great granduncle, Bunpuku, managed to have an amicable relationship with Shukaku before he died."
"The thought of probably the most bloodthirsty of the tailed beasts being fine with his host being a peace loving monk is still a weird idea to me," Temari mused as Gaara looked on with wide eyes for once, not believing what he was hearing. He always knew that Shukaku's last host was his great uncle. . . Never knew he was a monk though, strangely enough. "How he achieved a good relationship with that tanuki is beyond me."
"The relationship didn't allow for him to use Shukaku's power as freely as Gaara can do if he chooses to, but many consider it one of the best in the bunch," Baki added, shaking his head. "So, what exactly does the offer entail?"
"What would you say to the idea of Queen Kushina taking a look at my seal?" Gaara asked in return.
"I would say that it's a risky move, but one that can certainly pay off." Baki answered in a measured tone.
"How so?" Kankuro asked, which earned him a slap from his sister, which nailed him right in the shoulder. "OW! Really sis?! I'm still injured!"
"Your body is injured, not your brain!" Temari reminded him as she pointed to his noggin. "Just think about it for a second alright. Queen Kushina may be the ruling consort, but she did have a past before arriving in this kingdom. . . Does the Uzumaki Clan ring any bells for you?"
"That's the ruling clan of the Whirlpool Kingdom," The puppeteer immediately answered, not wanting to give his sister more reasons to think him an idiot. "They're known for their red hair, longevity, and being . . . fūinjutsu specialists. Okay, now I see where you're going with this."
"The Uzumakis take great pride in their sealing skills, and with good reason. They've always been a troublesome opponent on the battlefield, to the point that they managed to repel a three-kingdom alliance that tried to wipe them out during the last war," Baki further explained. "As long-time allies, the Fire Kingdom of course assisted in the battle, but everyone agrees that most of the deaths were caused by the Whirlpool shinobi."
"Fire and Whirlpool have one of the closest relationships within all the kingdoms. Military, trade, marriage. . ." Temari added. "The first Fire King's wife was an Uzumaki, and Queen Kushina is from the same exact clan."
"And with the sealing knowledge she most likely learned from her family members, she would certainly know something about Gaara's seal. Hell, even if it's a seal that's totally unfamiliar to her, she'll likely figure something out," Kankuro mused as he turned to his brother. "Still, I'm sure that having the Fire Queen look at the seal will not sit well with the Wind Council."
"The Council answers to the ruling monarch, and that's me," Temari concluded. "If I give my approval, then they wouldn't have much to say, now would they?"
"Some may argue that you're not technically the Queen yet."
"Really Baki?! You're bringing up the Monarch isn't a monarch till their coronation! argument now?" The blonde growled, making her anger with the idea known.
"I'm not a fan of that argument either, Your Grace. . . However, some in the Council will be quick to use that argument to, at the very least, delay following any orders you may give," Baki warned her, shaking his head at their stupidity. "When it comes to ruling monarchs, some are . . . quite slow to accept a female queen ruling in her own right."
"Nothing like long held misogyny and traditional patriarchy to really ruin Temari's mood," Kankuro mumbled as he watched the blond simmer in her seat. Temari usually kept a solid lid on her emotions, but this time around, she let her anger show on her face.
The three males with her felt that she was justified to feel the way she did.
"If the Council members refuse to recognize Temari as their Queen, they would only prove themselves to be outright fools." Gaara mumbled, and though he wasn't usually the go-to for reassuring commentary, his words did manage to put a smirk on his sister's face.
"Gaara's right. The Council can't stay pat with their traditionalist ways forever," Kankuro added. "Besides, our kingdom follows absolute primogeniture. You come first, I'm second, and Gaara's third. That's how the law puts the order of succession, and that's how it must stay!"
"Are you only saying that to avoid the crown getting placed on your head Kankuro?"
Baki's sudden question immediately made the brunette snap his mouth shut and glare at the older man; his reaction being so funny that Temari broke out into a laughing fit. Gaara remained silent, but he was visibly amused by his brother's antics.
After all, Kankuro wasn't eager to take up the title of the Wind King. He always did say that he preferred to work on his puppets than actually rule the kingdom if given the choice.
"Okay, I needed that laugh!" Temari announced once she recovered from her giggle fit. "Look, I know I'll have to knock some heads together once we're back home, but let's just stay focused on what's going on here okay?"
"You two need to focus on your recovery!" She said, pointing at Baki and Kankuro.
"I need to focus on my meeting with King Minato later!" She continued pointing at herself.
"And you should take up Shizuka's offer and talk with her mother about your seal." Temari finished as she looked Gaara's way.
"You really think I should accept the offer?" Gaara asked, a little curious for his sister's reasoning.
"This will likely be your one best chance to get your sleep issues resolved once and for all," Temari reminded him. "I say take it."
"It's in your best interest to do so," Kankuro added. "After all, wouldn't you like to look into the mirror and not worry about your insomnia rings getting bigger every day?"
"I don't worry about stuff like that," Gaara was quick to remind him. "Still, I might as well give it a shot."
"That's all that you could really do for yourself at this point," Baki reasoned, seemingly agreeing with the others. "Now then, Temari, how well do you think you know King Minato?"
A/N: Please review!