Scarlet Justice: Full Blossom - ep. 95
"Hortus in Urbe"
The time of preparation has come to an end. Now, we are ready to begin the most important mission of our lives.
In some ways, it feels understated. Something a bit sudden, placed between a lull in the fighting and its aftermath. There's no telling how much this weighs now, or how it will weigh later. No real sense of the gravity of everything. We won't know anything until it's all over. Maybe not even then, not in its entirety. There's no pomp to it. It's a quiet, organized thing. We've spent the last few weeks living as we always have, holding meetings every few days to check our status, looking into new details and information as safely as we could.
Our parents and guardians are the ones with the most information. The totality of the mission is known only to the four of us. The Hokage knows where we're going and what we mean to do, but not all of the details. Hiashi and Inoichi, clan heads and fathers, know about our travel but nothing further than that. The alternates we had on standby have been notified that they are now in the clear, able to resume their lives in full. We decided on how we would leave, whittling things down from a web of missions, resupply points, and falsified reports to our current, simplified plan of leaving under cover of night with cloaks and masks. It was made possible with the cooperation of our guardians and some good fortune with scheduling.
We have everything we need. Equipment, backup equipment, various caches along our route, and secure lines back to the village. We have an idea of what we want to do and how to do it. We have secured permission and understanding from our loved ones. All that's left are the final steps before we physically leave.
"I called Rose the other day. She wished me good luck...it made me guilty that I couldn't see her face."
It's been a while since I could come to this place. Amaguriama, one of the village's most popular shops for sweets and tea. A perfect place for older sisters with a sweet tooth, or thirty-two.
"At least you were blessed with her voice before you left. That must have filled you with energy, surely."
"It did. And it will for a while yet."
I got Midori a box of ichigo daifuku earlier, and she's already halfway through it. But I was counting on that, so I'll make sure she gets another box or two to go. As always, her voluptuous form is wrapped in a decadent looking kimono, this one with lighter fabric and shorter sleeves. It's blue with an illustration of a mountain range on the fabric. While I'm sure at least one person is interested in the exquisite artwork adorning my sister's body, I highly suspect the rest were observing other prominent features as they passed.
"It's good that they make these year round, ufufu. Delicious~."
"You're somehow worse than me when it comes to this stuff."
"I want to try the ones with mochi ice cream next time."
"They have coffee and Mont Blanc now, you know."
"Ooh, do they? We're researching new flavours for our own shops, so I need to try those too. Next time, though. Luna will get upset if I come back with too many goodies at once. She's prideful, you know."
"With cooking like hers, who wouldn't be? I'm glad she's gotten so confident."
"I am, too. Especially at night~."
"Yes, of course." I shake my head. "Well, I'm always happy to have you next to me, Midori-nee. I know that we're all busy, so..."
"It's hardly a hassle making time for my most wonderful imouto. You make me terrible happy each time I see you." She reaches over to rub my cheek. "And you're growing into an especially beautiful woman, just like I dreamed."
"Thank you."
"Do you remember when we first started training together? You were so jealous of me and Luna."
"Could you blame me?" I say. "I was already that age and hadn't really started growing. You know how us girls get."
"You were worried for nothing! And now, look at you. Still with some more growing to do, too. We'll look like twins in a few years."
"We won't. Stop that," I say with a blush.
"I'll be sure to remind you of how foolish you were when the time comes. Speaking of womanhood...well?"
"Well what?"
"You and Fio. You know what I mean."
"We haven't gone that far just yet. Close, I guess...just doesn't seem like the time. It will probably be sudden and on a strange day." I sip some of my tea. "But...in my heart, I already know it will be one of the most beautiful moments of my life."
"That's good. I didn't ask so as to rush you...just curious, is all."
"I know. Thank you for that. Although, um...there's something else to it, if I had to admit anything."
"Mm? Not like you to be so bashful. What is it, Lili?"
"I think there might be...a second awakening. Possibly. Maybe there might be other flavours I want to try. Fio and I talked about it some, and she definitely approves if I want to go that route with our relationship. But I don't want to get ahead of myself."
"Oh, I see. There's nothing wrong with that, as long as everyone is okay with it. Do you have anyone in mind?"
I nod.
"It's good that you're considering everything like that, Lili. It shows a lot of maturity that most people don't have. You know? I think that you'll find the right answer for you when the time comes, and that all of the ones you love will appreciate you for it. That said, I can add some assurances of my own."
"Really?"
"In the early days of our courting, Luna and I would entertain guests from time to time. Discreetly, of course." She chews a bit on another daifuku. "Mm. It was fun. We got to meet lots of different people with different tastes. It is a bit different from having an established circle like you do, though."
"Do you still...?"
"We don't go outside our regular contacts anymore, if at all. Maybe twice or three times since we've said our vows. Luna and I...have other thrills that we get the most out of by ourselves." She blushes lightly. "She's probably told you that I get out of hand sometimes, but she's also an awful tease. That part, she never admits to."
"That sounds like Luna."
"Wonderful and thrilling sex aside, she has a way of making me feel like I'm floating on air. At a moment's notice, too. I'm not exactly sure how she does it, and I might spend all of time itself trying to figure it out. But it makes me happy."
"That's how I feel with Fio," I say. "Like she knows how to make me melt at the best times."
"Yes, exactly."
"I thought a lot about taking her with me. And the possibility of not seeing her again, or...even being away for a long time."
"Are you worried about the Rinnegan?" she asks.
"Worry...I don't know if it's the right word. I don't know what the word is, really. But it feels like an itch in a place that I can't reach. Persistent...occupying. Feels like a lot more trouble than I could ever plan for."
"You'll be more than fine," Midori says. "And you'll know what to do when the time comes. What do you seek with that sort of power, Lili?"
I sigh. "In my mind's eye...I can't see anything at all. Just blank space. Even talking to my senpai within the cosmos didn't help. I had to assure her that she wasn't failing me, even with all that was at her disposal."
"I see."
"Is that it? Could that be really all there is to it?"
"It must be so." I look into her golden eyes, clear and pure as ever. The answer is looking back at me from within them.
This, more than anything, was why I wanted to see her. To have the purity and assurances of my sister, the goddess of her own world.
"Words that give me understanding, even now. Yes...it must be so," I say. "Ane-ue, thank you."
"As you need me." She smiles. "I'm never more than a call way for my Lili."
"And it means the world to me. I suppose that I am as ready as I will ever be. The fate of the world, in my hands." I look up at the evening sky.
"Strange to arrive here, you're thinking?"
"Something like that."
"That was about how I felt a few years ago. I didn't expect everything to turn out like it did. Orochimaru, and Manda...those decisions could have been something else entirely. I always will have you to thank, but...just a few inches this and that way, and one of the most important days of my life gets moved somewhere else."
"Hm."
"The most crucial thing, always, is to be ready. And you're very good at doing that, Lili. You've planned down to the details, even the unthinkable things. Death and disorder both. I can stay my hand as you asked, of course."
"I appreciate that. Especially since I might have to ask you again in the future."
"It helps that you're a reasonable soul. And one of my favourites, hmhmhm."
"Always useful."
"You shouldn't worry about not feeling the weight just yet. It will come, and you will have to figure out how to deal with it then. For now...there's nothing to fear. You're in control, as you always have been. It's just another ancient pair of eyes, and you've dealt with those before."
"Did you have any suggestions?" I ask.
"Mm, there's nothing complicated about it, I would say." She shrugs and tilts her head. "A human who would threaten me with that type of power...well, killing them is the easiest and most correct choice. How much is there to think about, really?"
"I don't disagree."
"With that said...for the sake of everyone here, I'm hoping that you don't see things the way I do."
"Not exactly. There's a lot I still have to do in this world. Wouldn't be prudent to get rid of everything just yet."
I feel Midori rub my head.
"That's why humanity is in good hands. I'll ask the Supreme God to look after you before bed tonight."
"I appreciate that. They will have many such petitions before the mission begins in earnest. Be safe yourself, Midori-nee. For Luna's sake, at least."
"Of course, ufufu~."
"Most importantly, thank you for the love you've given me. It's why I've grown so beautiful and strong, enough so that I can challenge the world and the fates themselves. I love you, forever and always."
"Forever and always, Lili. I love you, too." She gives me that bright, happy, sharp-toothed smile that lives in my memory. I want to her be even more proud of me.
Bringing this madness to an end will be a start.
"So like, he actually walked up to my table and asked me about my nails in front of all the girls. The ones that acted a little too scandalized, I made a note of them."
Ino is chatting away as she always does, during our team dinner tonight. The mission is three nights away, counting this one, and so I wanted us to gather to check on each other. Thankfully, it wasn't needed. Everyone is in good spirits, looking confident, and nearly packed.
"We're not in a totally regressive backwater town or whatever, but there are still people who act weird about that sort of thing," Ino continues. We're sipping drinks while waiting for our main course. "Which is unfortunate, but you know. But! I told him about the nail polish I love to use, and a few of my stylists, and also to stay away from those brands that claim to be, like, military rated and junk."
"Are they no good?" Hina asks.
"They're a little too good, if you're asking my esteemed opinion. Stuff doesn't come off unless you soak your fingers in gallons of remover and take a hammer to them. If you're worried about showing off, or an easy life, those aren't for you. You're either in centre of the earth deep cover, or you're a hardcore OL. Hon, the stuff will last you half a year without even chipping if you're doing work."
She frowns. "That sounds like a little much."
"Right? And there's all sorts of enhanced and hardened junk beyond that, and...ugh. Too much, too much. And the stuff's expensive to boot! Even Lili got all bug eyed at the prices the other day when we were prowling the town."
"And yet, there's a thriving market for it," I say. "I'm guessing it's the network of hardcore office ladies carrying them."
"Hardcore office ladies?" Hina asks, confused. "Is that...truly a thing?"
"They have recently set up their own BBS," Erika says. "Tamaki and Imari are on it, and so is Tomo. Though they still operate the normal mailing lists, and have updated the zine."
"Really easy to buy in as a group, especially with the money they make," I say. "Which they're also extremely good with managing, because that sort of thing comes with the territory."
"What'd they do to update the zine?" Ino asks Erika.
"They're properly bound now, and have more colour pages."
"Wow. Moving on up, then. Speaking of pages, a certain Madam Emi Kobayashi is twisting heads whenever she deigns to show up on a magazine cover these days. Do we see that in our future?" Ino asks me.
"Well, we still have to do our spicy mother and daughter shoot in a little while. After that...hm. I might do a few more shoots on occasion. Maybe you ladies could join me."
"I wouldn't say no to that."
"It would depend on certain conditions," Hina says with a look towards me. "Some of us can't afford to be scandalized in the public eye, you understand."
"Mm." Hopefully the other girls get her on board.
"I think it could be intriguing," Erika says. "And it would be curious to find out how I was seen by various sections of the populace."
"Listen, we'll make sure Lili doesn't put together anything too racy," Ino says to Hina. "We couldn't have a fancy girl photo shoot without you!"
She puts a finger to her lips in thought. "I suppose if you properly restrain this beast here, and prevent her from choosing my outfits..."
"Rude," I pout.
"...I would certainly join you when the time comes," she says with a smile. Success! Now the planning begins. A few saucy numbers for my personal benefit won't hurt, hmhm.
Ino claps happily. "Yay! Thank you, Hina~. Then it's all decided. We'll get ourselves into some cute outfits, splash around at the beach, and become the objects of desire for growing young men and women everywhere!"
"And those of various other identities," Erika adds.
"Yes, definitely. Thank you for correcting me, sweetheart."
"I am always at your service, my beloved."
"Ah, wonderful timing. Now that we have finalized our plans to corrupt the youth of this world, we will be rewarded with wonderful cuts of beef, cooked to our liking," Hina says.
"Well said. It all smells incredible," I say while sniffing the air. Impeccably cooked meat and veggies in generous portions, nothing like the bougie little places we see far too often. And freshly baked bread, touched with a layer of garlic butter.
Ino takes the first bite for us, as is tradition. She chews daintily before Erika dabs at her mouth with a napkin.
"The verdict?" I ask.
"Absolute banger. Ladies, go nuts."
"Mm, that is wonderful. I concur with Ino's assessment," Hina says.
"We have yet to be led astray," Erika says before taking another bite.
"That's right." I chew on a piece of meat and close my eyes. "Yes. Banger was the correct description. Marvellous flavours."
"Thank you as always for your faith in me, girls. Oh, and not to be too dramatic today...but I finally figured it out. The name for our group!"
"Did you? Then don't hold us in too much suspense, tell us what you've come up with," I say eagerly.
"Something simple, yet eloquent. Lovely, lofty, and sophisticated. We are now officially the honoured, beautiful, and upstanding founders of the Starlight Garden," Ino replies. "A gathering of illuminated, heavenly blossoms. Each of us will have appropriate names. I shall bless you with them now, so please set down your utensils, and take your glasses in hand."
We do as she asks, and she clears her throat.
"Hinata, I bestow upon you the name of Camellia. For your kindness, love, and radiance towards us all. For the constant faith you have in us, and the purity that helps guide us. You are a loyal sister to us, beautiful and strong, ever present and a beacon of excellence. At every turn, you've proven yourself a queen, and the best of us in this world. Thank you, Hina. We love you so much."
"Ino, thank you. I love you all dearly, and I accept this name with pride."
"Erika, I bestow upon you the name of Iris. You are eloquent and skilled, a source of light in the darkest depths. You shower us with wisdom, patience, and understanding. The passion you show us is always true, and you are always faithful to us. You love each of us purely and deeply, which we appreciate more than words can express."
"Thank you, Ino. I accept this name with pride, and look forward to deepening my bond with each of you."
"Lili, I bestow upon you the name of Magnolia. You are the woman who brought us all together, and lifted us up when we needed it the most. Your soul of steel has always made a way for us, even when we thought that there was no way forward. You shower us with love, and provide us the same strength and dignity that you hold to every day, in order to navigate this world."
"Thank you for blessing me with this name, Ino. I will carry it with pride, and I promise that I will be here for you all, even if time itself should come to an end. You only need but call for me, and I will run to you as quickly as the heavens will allow."
"And finally, I bestow upon myself the title of Violet. Lovingly thematic, but symbolizes even more. Faith, dreams, and a promise to be there for the ones she loves, no matter what. Sincerity in times of happiness and trouble, and earnest prayers for every goal that we want to reach. I humbly ask for your blessings."
"You have my blessing, Ino," I say.
"And mine," Hina follows.
"And mine as well," Erika says.
"Thank you. So it will be done, according to the wisdom bestowed upon us from the great beyond. It's been said many times before, that names in this world carry a great strength. These are the first to be given, but not the last. First loving ourselves, then each other...until this garden of ours, watered by the dew of heaven itself, comes to cover the earth itself in peace and joy. It will be a long road, but one that we will see the end of within these lives of ours. Together."
Ino raises her glass, and we all follow suit.
"Here's to us. The flowers who will make this world the most beautiful it has ever been."
"To us."
"To us."
"To us."
We tap our glasses together and drink.
"I really thought you were going to pick something like Clover for your name," I say.
"Right? It was right there, but I thought that something else would be way more fitting for this group we have here. And we've all got a bunch of names to keep track of already, so it made a bit more sense to me. Oh, we absolutely have to do something like a toast each time as a tradition. I have names for everyone else close to us, when they're ready."
"Even Shino?" Hina asks.
"Yes! I couldn't leave Mister Reliable out, no way. And no spoilers!" she says, crossing her arms in front of her. "You'll get to hear what it is along with him. The founding members of Starlight Garden must be present at each induction, unless there's an emergency of some kind."
"That sounds like a great policy. We'll follow your lead, Lady Violet," I say.
"Thank you kindly, Lady Magnolia. We don't have to use the names all the time, maybe if we're outside and want to be a little intolerable."
"Have our long awaited club jackets arrived?" Erika asks.
"They have~! And they're all customized, too. The next time we're free after this big mission, we can show them off together!"
"That should be exciting," I say. "And Ino here was getting worried that she wouldn't come up with anything, how silly. I was definitely right to leave things to you."
"You were," she says with a smile. "Thank you for believing in me, as you always have."
"And not to ruin this wonderful moment, but...I think we should get to eating, before this wonderful food gets far too cool to enjoy."
"Oh, good call!"
"The new bites are just as good as the earlier ones," Hina says. "I would say that it's another point in this establishment's favour."
"Are you thinking of giving this place an endorsement?" I ask.
"Definitely. A few of our clan sisters have work doing reviews, and have formed a thriving business for that purpose. I'll mention this place to them, and they can deliver an official assessment within a few days."
"A good Hyuuga review or two, and your place will be instantly swimming in cash," Ino says.
"Speaking of reviews. I would like to bring up an incident that took place recently," Erika says. "It involved our friend, Madam Ichika."
"The sweetheart who runs the theatre troupe downtown, yes. A flighty soul, but lovely all the same," I say. "Is she alright?"
"She came to me a few days ago, quite upset. It was one night that she went to an establishment with one of her partners, and the owner, incensed by their closeness and joy, accosted and abused them without warning. In full view of other customers as well."
"Goodness," Hina says. "How awful."
"Yes. It was a horrifying experience, one such that they were forced to leave their barely eaten meals, distraught and scandalized. The Madam's companion has not left her apartment since. It is my demand that this injustice be corrected, forthwith."
"You don't have to ask us twice," Ino says. "We'll ruin the bastards before they know what hit 'em. You just tell us where and when to start torching."
"Potentially satisfying, but unwise in this instance. This particular establishment is popular with a nearby firefighting brigade, due to its convenient location. There are also two laundromats and a water pumping station in the vicinity."
"I know exactly the place you speak of," I say. "Hina, love...did you not mention the other day that the post office was searching for a new depot location in the western part of the village?"
She sips at her drink before nodding. "I did hear that, yes. I also might know of some aspiring business owners who would love nothing more than to help valiant members of the community, such as our local firefighters..."
"How convenient for us. Rika, darling...we should be able to solve this little problem by the end of tomorrow. Inform our friend as soon as you can. We don't want her to miss the show," I say with a cruel smile.
She smiles back and raises her glass. "Not for the world. Thank you, ladies."
"Imagine that. Nearly ready to run headfirst into danger, and yet we still find time to help friends in need. And wreak havoc on the local populace. You would scold me if I forgot about that part, Lili."
"I would, indeed. Such an essential part of our day to day life."
Our delicious dinner comes to an end. With our sisterhood formally established, and Ino eager to bring ruin to a narrow-minded restaurant owner, we part ways with all of our plans set in motion. Tomorrow afternoon will have an hour or two set aside to sip chilled drinks and watch a grown man cry. Hina asked me to walk home with her, and of course I would say yes to that. It's been a while since we could do something like this, what with our clashing schedules. Hopefully that changes in a few years.
"Does this bring back any memories?" she asks as we walk. Night time is as beautiful as ever here, the stars twinkling in the sky against distant backgrounds of glowing gases and plasma.
"Too many to count. A few years ago, we used to have time to walk around together as we pleased. Now, it almost seems prudent to have chosen a hotel as my home base. I'm hardly in."
"You are trying to change a very stubborn and violent world. I imagine you would have more time to yourself if that weren't the case. And what time you do have, you spend brilliantly on your loved ones. It would be awful of me to be upset with you."
"Hmhm. I noticed you have yet to blame me for your busy schedule."
"It's something that I've wanted for a while, hard as it is to believe. That, and I have lots of eager people to put to work. I've been taking those lessons to heart."
"Good to hear. It would be a shame to have the Leaf's most radiant daughter burn herself out."
"The most radiant? Isn't that your title?" she asks.
"I'm the most dynamic one, as the old man loves to say."
"Ah, I remember now," she says with a giggle. "A very creative form of address."
"Oh, indeed."
"We've come so far since that first day at the Academy. All of this was something beyond me, a long time ago," she says. "And now, we're going to fight for the fate of the world itself. I can't even bring myself to worry about what might come next, even if it ends up being difficult. I know that we will make it through. And of course, you're the reason why."
"One of them, at least."
"Believe it or not, I never have a problem praising you like this. It comes naturally. I think it's because...I learned so much about love from you. What it is, what it can be, how to express it to others. That's just one of the gifts you've given me."
"As long as you don't overheat too often when I praise you, it's fine," I say. "You've given me many good things, too. Even while you were struggling to find yourself. I think that's even more admirable."
"Thank you, Lili."
"It takes a lot to become truly strong. One of those things is other people. Some might be able to get by on their own, like Madara did. The second founder of Leaf. But...then again, he wasn't alone either, not really. Even if it was with powers born of darkness, he still carried the hearts and feelings of those who were next to him."
"Is that not how the Uchiha grow in darkness? Feelings from so many severed bonds..."
"Yes. The existence of others is needed for growth, in some form. Love and hatred exist opposite of each other, one able to transform seamlessly into the next. Severed bonds also created that man, who walks the earth using Madara Uchiha's shell. In the same way, I gained something from my descent into darkness. But I'm a different sort of person. I have to believe it, but I also believe it sincerely."
"Yes."
"What matters is what we make of our experiences. We were both helped by one person's kindness, and that in turn allowed us to traverse this distance. Still, as harsh as it is to say...that kindness will not be enough for this world. We will have to walk down a lonely path eventually."
"You don't believe that there will be a moment when we can come together, as human beings?" Hina asks.
"No, I don't think that moment will come on its own. In fact, I highly suspect that the world will inch closer and closer to an all consuming conflict, as long as I continue to exist on this plane. They wouldn't allow me to reach the summit so easily, not when it threatens their continued existence and prosperity. A world locked in desperate struggle and conflict is what they need for comfort, and for stability. And then..."
"And then?" she asks.
"It's...very far in the future. But the land of my birth contains dark titans as well." I shake my head. "Forward thinking is encouraged, but only in a responsible manner. We will ponder the new world order at a later time."
"Of course. Taking care of matters at home first is for the best."
"That's right. Thank you for being as reliable as you are, Hina. I've always said that I can't change the world alone, but the quality of people by one's side makes all the difference."
"You have only yourself to thank for my diligence," she says with a smile. "From the moment you took my hand, I've wanted nothing but to be next to you. And I'm very glad that I could keep up as I wanted to. It looks like we've made it home."
"It seems so. I wish tonight's walk was a bit longer," I say as we stop outside of the front gate. "Don't worry about inviting me in, we'll be up all night talking at this rate."
"I was thinking the same thing, lovely as it would be."
"Then this is good night. Rest well, Hina."
"As long as you do the same, Lili."
We hug each other tightly, not wanting to let go but forcing ourselves to after a minute or three. Hina looks at me lovingly, and I soak in her warmth before kissing her gently on the lips.
"I love you, Hina. Thank you for being with me."
"Thank you, Lili. And I love you even more."
She rubs my cheek gently before leaving, the gate already open for her to walk through. I acknowledge the two guards and return their bows before heading home.
"Hey, Lili. Good night."
"Good night, love. Heading out?"
I make it back to my room, and Fio is pulling on a running shirt. She has a pair of those compressed shorts on as well.
"Yeah. Lee and Master Guy wanted to knock off a few laps around the village tonight. Since I didn't have any plans, I thought it'd be okay."
"That's just fine with me. I'll be deep into my dreams by the time you get back," I say while taking off my sandals. "Don't worry about anything, I'll wake you in time tomorrow. We're going out to watch some stupid prick lose his restaurant, and Ino will let us know when to show up."
"Sounds deserved."
"An understatement. I'll tell you the story tomorrow. Also, we're going to have a toast to you. Since you're part of our group by default, and all."
"Ooh, did Ino finally come up with something?"
"We are now officially known as the Starlight Garden. And I am the esteemed and glorious Lady Magnolia."
"Wow...that's so neat! I love it! So what's the toast to me about, then?"
"You're going to get your title. Ino will be bestowing it to you, as is her job, and she won't reveal what it is until the moment arrives. Everyone we know is going to get one, including the boys."
"That's really cool! I can't wait. I'll make sure not to stay out too late, then...heh, gonna be a busy day tomorrow. And you're supposed to be getting ready to beat up some guy with fancy eyes!"
"I know, I know."
"Well, you'll still have some time to rest, and I can make sure you do that properly! That's part of my wifely duties, right?"
"Something like that."
She laughs and gives me a hug. "I'm glad you and the girls had fun. Now get yourself a shower and into bed. I wanna see you sprawled out under those covers by the time I get back, missy."
"I do not sprawl." I pause. "I'm sure I don't, at least."
"Who can say~."
"Fio..."
She kisses me before taking off. "Nighty-night, Lili."
"Brat." I smile and smack her on the butt as she leaves. "She's right, though...as she usually is. Time to get ready for bed. I can sneak in some study time, too..."
I yawn and head to the bathroom.