Scarlet Justice - ep. 45
"Refresh"

I open my eyes at the same time I usually do. It's early morning in the Leaf.

The dawn light shines in from the window next to my bed. Today is the day after the storm that overtook the village. I wonder how everyone is doing. From yesterday's tour, the village wasn't in terrible physical shape.

All of those quick and daring actions made a difference. It feels good to know that.

"..."

I look down at the band around my wrist, with a name written on it. 'Kobayashi, Lilith Caroline'. This will be my first full day in the Leaf Hospital. I press the button on the remote near my bed and wait.

"Good morning."

"Good morning," I say to the nurse who walks in. Her name is Ruki, and she works on and off at the hospital. She's also a priestess at the big shrine to the north, and she smells of flowers. Her hair is silver and worked into a long, thick braid that sits on her left shoulder, going all the way down to her waist. And her eyes are a lovely blue to match.

"We're up early today, aren't we?" she says with a smile.

"I usually go running around this time with my girlfriends," I say to her. "It's a routine we started a while ago, and people have taken notice. They'll probably understand if we're not around, though. Invasions and all."

"Yes, that much makes sense. I think we'll start drawing blood later on in the morning, when everyone else is checked in...let's see." She looks over the clipboard in her hands. "Quite a few tests to go through, which is why there are multiple samples. These people really are giving you the royal treatment, which I also understand. You're a jounin of the Leaf, and Lord Hokage did make more than a few requests..."

"How long will I be here?" I ask.

"About a week at the least, unfortunately. It seems excessive, but that's what has been asked of us. I'll be taking care of you from here on, so please call on me as needed. Did you want breakfast?"

"Yes. Whatever you might have available, and milk if you have it."

"Understood. I'll be back in a moment, Miss Kobayashi. We'll do our daily checks before you eat."

"Thank you, Ruki."

She smiles and tilts her head forward respectfully before leaving. The usual nurse's outfit looks good on her as I watch her go. A healthy, slender figure...mm. This week should be good for that alone.

I wait quietly in my bed before Ruki returns, checking my temperature, breathing, and heart rate. There are some lingering effects from the poison, which was indeed quite potent and would have taken a heavy toll if not for the quick administration of antidote. Midori really did do a good job, as the original version provided by Orochimaru worked at a slower rate, meaning I would have felt a lot worse when I woke up. My chakra, which had started to recover well enough yesterday, hit a very low point because of my exertion and poisoning. So one of the many reasons I'm here for a while is observation. A newly minted jounin and valuable member of the village would need to be monitored at the first sign of injury...so this is really the old man covering his bases and making sure that the shinobi council and other fossilized pols are satisfied when it comes to my progress.

"I didn't think I would see a jounin so young in my lifetime, though." Ruki gently sets a tray down in my lap, and I nod my thanks. A nice, simple meal of eggs and rice, with a lovely smelling sauce on the side. Fruit, crackers, juice, and milk. She even got me extra.

"Exceedingly rare these days, yes. The last of that type to get promoted so young was...that man, I think."

"Itachi Uchiha, it was. Though I hear he was in the Black Ops. I've heard the stories, especially from people who were around his age at the time. It's...very strange, I think. But that seems to be why there's such caution around you, Miss Kobayashi."

"Lili is fine, if you'd like."

"Lili, then...that sounds lovely. Alright," she says with her soft smile.

"Ruki, it seems like you have your own insights on the matter. I know we've only just met, but I can tell you that I don't have a habit of revealing information told in confidence. I'm also curious about Itachi...for many reasons."

"Hm." She studies me for a moment as I eat. "Then...if it's okay, Lili."

"It is."

"The stories I've heard from people who were alive at the time...Itachi was a different sort of person. You can't reliably predict who will and won't be a killer. But he never seemed the type to do any of that, according to everyone. He was fiercely loyal to the village and loved his family. People said that he and his little brother Sasuke were...quite close."

"I see."

"From that...I think that there was a deeper reasoning for what he did on that night. Something more than just killing others for the sake of it. Though...that might be too much to say."

"Is that what you feel?" I ask her.

"Yes. For some reason...I've always had that feeling. That there was more to what happened, and more to him as a person since he was always seen as quiet and humble. Going from loving the village so deeply to betraying it...if he ever truly did betray it."

I think on that a little while biting into slices of melon. "It seems that the heavens are saying something to you. It would be wise to meditate on it a bit more in your free time, I would say."

"I think so, too. Hm." She bows her head respectfully to me. "Thank you for humoring me, Lili."

"Of course. I couldn't leave such a pretty face alone, you know."

"Well, I think I do know." She winks at me before turning to leave. "I'll be back to check on you in a few minutes."

"Yes." She seems to be putting a bit more energy into her walk for my amusement. Saucy on her part, but being teased a bit is fine, too.

It soon hits mid-morning. The first of many blood samples to come are drawn by Ruki, who in addition to her good looks has a soft and talented touch. I've never been bothered by needles, but this is the most pleasant session I've ever had. A mouth swab, skin and nail samples, and some strands of hair. They're really going to run the board at this point, aren't they. She leaves to deliver the samples and I pull out a manga volume to read.

"Lili, you have a visitor. Seems people are eager to see you already."

Ruki returns with the samples still in her hands, and leads someone in to see me.

"Oh, thank goodness. You're awake. I was worried I would have to deliver a sad monologue and then hurry off to fix my makeup."

"Fortuitous for you, then."

"Indeed." It's the welcome, prideful look I remember from my stepmother. I expected her to come, but not to be the first to arrive so early in the morning. I can only assume that she was worried the entire time. Not worried enough to forego her usual silk numbers, but worried all the same. For that, I am grateful.

"You've worn normal looking pants this time, I see. Though the upper half is still as salacious as ever."

"I can't completely forego style, daughter of mine."

"You are a terrible show-off." I nod to Ruki. "This is my stepmother, Emi Kobayashi. As you can see, I lived a life of luxury at her feet before this."

"Ah, so you're looking after my genius stepdaughter. Very nice to meet you," Emi says as she takes Ruki's hand gently.

"The pleasure is mine. Though I would have guessed that you were Lili's birth mother at first. There's a definite resemblance."

"Yes, that much is true. The distinctive aura of a Kobayashi woman is unchanging from generation to generation. And the fact that she's a genius helps. Thank you for your service to us."

"You're very welcome. I'll leave you two alone for now, and deliver these samples to the lab. Lili, did you want anything special for lunch?"

"Nothing aside from the usual," I say. "Thank you, Ruki."

"Of course. Madam Kobayashi, anything for you?"

"Water, if you have it. Whatever kind is easiest to draw out, I don't want to impose...well, making it nice and cold would be helpful."

"I can easily accomodate you. I'll see you both in a bit."

Emi takes a seat in one of the chairs near my bed. She tosses back her hair and relaxes, setting her purse down. "It's been quite the ordeal. I didn't expect to be caught up in the middle of a war so suddenly."

"Yes, well...it was unexpected for all of us. Are you well?"

"Very much so. Midoriko and Luna made sure to bring me to a safe place, and then I suppose you were the one who called them away. I did get to see a glimpse of Luna's skill as she defended us. She's become a combat maid now," Emi says with amusement. "Did you know about this?"

"A little. I was surprised at her progression myself, though. She's very skilled, enough so that the Hokage wanted to recruit her."

"Interesting...hm. I suppose that I should secure her services while I still can. She'll have to get a substantial raise for her work...I can work that out once I make my way back home. What's more important is how you're doing, Lilith. I said that simple prayers and leaving it to you would be enough, but...hearing that you were in the hospital still made me worry a bit."

"That's only normal," I say to her. I lift the covers and move into a sitting position on the edge of my bed, feet dangling above the ground. The hospital is providing plain shirts and pants for me to wear during my stay. My slippers that I use to walk around are at the foot of the bed.

"It might be, yes. For a moment, I did...think the worst. Maybe I should apologize for that, losing faith in you."

"There's no need. Your feelings are valid."

"Thank you for that."

"I'm doing fine. I feel well enough," I say with a shrug. "But also a bit tired, I suppose. I went terribly low on chakra at one point, and they want to check my body for any abnormalities before letting me go. I might be back in the field quite soon. No news from the outside yet."

"I haven't paid much attention to goings on, other than the whole thing being declared over. I was stuck in a shelter with others...not a terrible experience, actually. It's been a long time since I mingled with the commoners."

"A novel experience," I say flatly.

"You jest, but it truly was. Although...there were some unpleasantries due to past actions of mine."

"Unpleasantries, you say."

"Mm." She puts her hands in her lap. "There were...are, rather...recordings of a lascivious nature in the public sphere. I did make sure to change my appearance, but there are some things you can't completely hide. Of course, I'm also tempting to the eye as it is, so..."

I blink. "You had sex on camera?"

"No! No, nothing like that. That's a little too raunchy, even for me. It was part of my modelling work."

"Ah, those sorts. So...were you unmasked?" I ask casually.

"Fortunately not. But I did get several comparisons and compliments. Suggestions that I should get into that line of work, etcetera. I politely declined, of course. Doing that sort of thing full-time would be taxing either way."

"It's a little much that we're talking about this."

"We don't exactly have a normal relationship, my dear. And you have restraint either way, don't you?"

"I might. But I still wonder about you, as my stepmother."

"Well, don't rely on me as your only source of influence."

I sigh.

"What? We've come a long way, but you know me by now."

"I suppose I do. Stepmother?"

"Yes, dear."

"Thank you for coming to see me. I love you dearly."

"I love you as well, Lilith. I'm happy to see that you're okay. And that your legend continues to grow. What's this I've been hearing about promotions?"

"I suppose you could call it a double promotion. I'm a jounin now, officially an elite shinobi of the village. The only real direction upwards after this would be...aside from being the Jounin Commander, it's the Hokage position itself."

"I see, I see. That's rather remarkable. Are you the youngest, by chance?"

I think for a moment, wiggling my toes. "Hmm...adjusting for everything, yes. I should be. Sharingan Kakashi was a year older than me when he achieved the same rank. He was made a chuunin at a much younger age."

"Much younger? You would mean something like ten years old?"

"Six."

"Goodness," she says with shock. "It really is a different sort of world. Six years old...but that's to say he took part in these sorts of things at five years old, then? I can't imagine it."

"My progression, though at a much older age, mirrored his. He graduated in a single year. It's interesting, because the Fourth did graduate at ten years old himself, and was supremely skilled to the point of surpassing even that sort of talent. The world is vast, stepmother. You can never figure out where the next great one might come from."

"Hm. I see that, now. A glimpse into that world...I'm aware it's not this sort of fighting and bloodshed all the time, but it was startling to see up close. My training, abbreviated as it was, took place in relative comfort and safety. Things like this were a new experience. I have a deeper respect for practitioners of these arts, savage as the arts themselves might be at times. Though you would wish for a world where it was no longer necessary to fight and kill. I don't know...I also don't want to let go of this lifestyle so easily."

"You think it selfish."

"A little. I don't want things to change so quickly, or to lose what I have now for the sake of others. Not a matter of what's deserved or earned...rather, what belongs to me. What I want and crave in life." She sighs. "It isn't the mark of an admirable person."

"It doesn't need to be," I say to her. "I have the same feelings. Nothing about saving the world or changing it...that much can be left to others, people who I can help through my own strength."

Emi places a hand on her cheek and thinks. "Maybe not the ideal society...I don't know what that would look like. But something good, something better perhaps. I can at least start at home."

"Do you mean to change yourself?"

"Slowly," she says. "Ever so slowly. I'll indulge myself and live freely, but that does not preclude being good to others. It might not be...direct, though. Those sorts of affections aren't my strong suit. Not even when it comes to sexual escapades." She looks at me. "On that note. If you can properly lead a man by his dick, things become a lot easier from there. Remember that for when you start dating. I'm sure there's someone who's caught your eye."

"Not yet," I say truthfully. I'm not interested in anyone in particular...it's mostly enjoyment of the female form these days, which satisfies me enough. "It will be a while longer. At that point, I'll let you know."

"See that you do. Also, speaking of such things...I should talk to Luna soon. I've discovered something about her recently."

"What might that be?" I ask.

"Well, it should have been obvious from before...she's a lesbian."

"I see. And how did you come to that conclusion?" I ask curiously.

"Hm? I said it should have been obvious for a reason. She has the lesbian aesthetic."

"..." I make sure I'm not hearing things. "The lesbian...aesthetic."

"Yes."

"I see." So do I not have it, somehow? What even is a lesbian aesthetic? Maybe it's something for women with big breasts and full hips like Midori and Luna. I don't know. I'm not sure I want to know, because that would involve peeking into Emi's head. At this point, I'm not ready for something like that. "So what will you do?"

"Do? What do you mean?" she asks me.

"About her being a lesbian. What did you think of it?"

"Oh. Nothing of it, really. Midoriko is her lover, right? And you're all connected, so it's fine," she says with a wave of her hand. "As far as the lesbian part goes, I shouldn't mind it at all. I might be a bit jealous, since she did capture Midoriko..."

"Jealous? So you're into women as well."

"I didn't mention it?"

I sigh. "No. Though I should have guessed from how you behave."

"Oh. I thought I did some time ago. Well, now you know. I'm bisexual. I suppose this has been an enlightening chat for us both."

"Enlightening is one way of putting it, yes." I look at her. "Though I'm glad we've come to the point where you can so casually confide in me that you've been fucking girls. So what was with the tension between you and Luna?"

"..." She's quiet for the first time, and after a moment I figure out why.

"You really are awful, you know. Letting jealousy rule you to that degree."

"Leave me alone. Her body is outrageous and I thought she was straight."

"And you had designs on Midori-nee, too."

"I have to keep her at a distance. I'm not into having my pride broken, and she seems ravenous enough that only someone built like Luna could satisfy her. Though...she likely already knows of my tendencies and is respecting my agency. I hope it's the case."

"This really is an unbelievable line of conversation. I'm supposed to be recovering," I say to Emi.

"They say amusement is the best medicine."

"It was laughter, they said."

"Amusement sounds more refined," she says with a smile. I shake my head and smile back at her.

Ruki returns with my lunch and a cool glass of water for Emi. I listen to my stepmother rant about things back at the mansion for the next while, as she has things she wants to get off her chest, but has nobody to really speak to candidly. She really is a strange woman at times, but...as I said, I do love her. And I'm happy that she's by my side at this time.

"Sorry to interrupt, but we'll need to run a few more tests with Lili," Ruki says.

"Of course. I suppose that it's time to take my leave, for now at least. I'll make arrangements to stay until you're cleared to leave this place, at the least," Emi says to me. "It was refreshing having someone to complain to."

"Very glad I could be of help, stepmother. Please stay safe, for the sake of your child as well." I pause and think of something. "I don't understand what you meant by arrangements. The apartment should be fine, no?"

"Oh, it's more than fine. But I can't stay there."

"Why not?"

"The last thing I want to do is get between them. You understand what I mean perfectly, Lilith."

"..." I nod and leave it at that. "Right. Until the next."

"Until the next," Emi repeats with a smile. "Ruki, lovely seeing you."

"You as well, Madam Kobayashi. Please take care."

Emi shakes out her hair and saunters off in her usual manner.

"Certainly one of a kind, your stepmother."

"To say the least," I reply. My mind flashes back to yesterday, when Midori and Luna could have set the whole village aflame with that kiss of theirs. I can't begin to imagine what's been happening in that apartment, so it's little wonder Emi decided to duck out. And of course there won't be a shred of evidence when I get back, because Luna really is good at her job. A little frightening to think about.

"Well, I think we should get these tests out of the way. Then you can go back to resting until tomorrow."

"That sounds good." I step into my slippers. "Please, lead the way."

"Well, since you asked nicely." Ruki smiles knowingly over her shoulder and leads me out.