Log: Complete

[silence-bringer.livejournal.com]

When; Dec. 28th, noonish
Rating; PG
Characters; Kazama Arashiyellow_flash, Tomoe Hotarusilence_bringer
Summary; The Yondaime, trying to get a handle on the situation, asks to meet with the girl his followers are so concerned over. Hotaru, seeing this as her chance to seek retribution from the one who hurt Itachi, agrees. But things never go exactly according to plan, do they?
Log;

Arashi had put some tea on and was straightening up for having Hotaru and Archer over. Ensuring that kunai were put away, that there were no exploding tags or other weapons around, he wanted to make sure the environment was utterly non-hostile. That finished, he lit a fire and then waited.

She stared up at the door, feeling very intimidated. Yet, at the same time there was a bit of a thrill that coursed through her veins. Kazama Arashi. She knew that name. It was the name of the man who, according to what she'd heard, had injured Itachi-sama's eyes so badly. The man who she would gladly like to make pay for the wounds. But she had to be cautious. Make certain that her suspicions weren't merely that. Fumbling for Archer's hand, she squeezed it comfortingly as she reached up to knock on the door.

He could feel them both outside before Hotaru knocked, but waited to open it until after. Greeting them with a smile, he opened the door and said, "You must be Hotaru and Archer. . er. . come inside?" And opened the door, ushering them in. "Would you like some tea? I put it on before you came." And closed the door behind them, leading them into the kitchen.

She looked around, taking everything in. The man himself didn't seem that imposing, Archer was taller. Hotaru nodded slightly as she waited for Archer to sit down. Though she normally would have taken a seat herself, she instead settled herself onto his lap, drawing her knees up underneath her, using his arms around her to keep her balance.

He found her sitting on him a bit . . odd and slightly embarrassing considering how young she was. However, he kept himself busy by setting out cups and pouring the tea, then sitting down. "I. . wanted to apologize again. I wouldn't let any of them hurt you. . they're just very worried over your safety as well as their own."

"They're not worried over my safety. They're worried that I'll aid a man they consider their enemy." She spoke with a precision that belied her physical appearance. Obviously, she wasn't quite as young as she looked. "And they consider it acceptable to use any means necessary to try and see that that doesn't happen." She couldn't help but notice the look he cast her way as she made herself comfortable in Archer's lap. It didn't quite make sense to her, as it was a perfectly normal thing for her to do. But perhaps things were different where this man came from.

"They are, they don't want to see anyone hurt, but . . they're frustrated. It took a lot to blind him, to take away the power to -" He thought back to the small amount of time he spent in Tsukuyomi and shuddered, "To hurt people with his illusions." Then took a sip of tea. It had all come from the same pot to prove to her it wasn't poisoned.

"I imagine it did. Itachi-sama is powerful. It was you, then? Who took his eyes?" Her question was phrased in a nonthreatening manner, head cocked slightly to the side.

"It was," He replied, though there was no pride in that, only a tiredness to his voice. This had all been for Naruto, of course.

In a single fluid motion, she was off of Archer's lap and on the ground, dropped into a fighting stance, the point of the Silence Glaive resting a mere inch from his throat, narrowed amethyst eyes glaring over the silvery metal. "And you think to try and convince me of your "noble intentions"? When you only prove that you are no better then any who you seek to condemn?"

He didn't blink at her moving, didn't try to block or defend himself. Merely sat there and looked at her. "My intentions are mostly selfish, for once." He replied, "My son, Naruto. . on the night he was born I died. I died putting a nine tailed demon fox of immeasureable power inside of his tiny body. I wanted him to be revered by the village, seen as a hero. . but he wasn't. He was hated and shunned. But now, he's made friends and a better life. And now, Itachi and his group want to take the demon fox out. That would kill him. I couldn't protect him from the hatred and misunderstanding when he was young, but I will protect his life now."

"Then he's lucky. His life got better as it went along." She wasn't quite sure what to think. She could kill him easily, despite Archer's protests. The man wasn't even trying to defend himself. She narrowed her eyes further, the point of the glaive pressing against his skin, black lightning beginning to crackle along the edges of the metal. THIS was the man who had hurt Itachi-sama. THIS was the one who had caused the terrible wounds she had healed. THIS was the leader. The source. But...he was also Naruto's father. Only family of the boy she couldn't help but feel kinship towards.

"I won't defend myself against you," Arashi replied. "You have a right to be angry and suspicious after the way you were treated. And I'm sorry for that. It sounds like maybe you know what he went through. His life got better because his friends knew that he was just Naruto, not the beast trapped inside of him. And maybe that's what Itachi seemed to offer for you. But what I know is, he murdered his family. He's hurt his younger brother. He killed his best friend in order to get those eyes." Arashi shook his head, "Maybe your friend can defeat him, I hope so if Itachi ever turns against you. But I won't quit trying to protect Naruto. He's like you, a good person. Trusting and willing to give a chance."

It didn't make any sense. Any normal person should have been fighting back, or at least trying to get her to back down. But...this man didn't. "Do you not know fear? Or are you simply a fool? You have no idea what I'm capable of, do you?" She ignored Archer's loud protests for her to stop this foolishness. She didn't believe what he said. Itachi-sama couldn't have, wouldn't have done those things. And he wouldn't turn on her. Yet she slowly lowered the glaive, stepping back and allowing Archer to wrap arms around her and drag her back.


"I'm already dead," Arashi replied. "You could kill me again, but it would not do much. I don't care how strong you are, I won't harm you. You're doing what you think is right and, I can't blame you for that. You haven't been given a reason to believe otherwise." As she stepped back and sat on Archer once more he half smiled at her, "Thank you." Then inclined his head, "I don't think there's much I could say to convince you of my intentions except this: there is nothing I want except my son to be happy and safe. In time you will see that what Itachi wants is the kyuubi- the demon jailed inside of Naruto. Taking it out would kill him. What I want won't harm anyone. What he wants is deadly."

"I don't care what he wants. Just like you love your son, I love him. It doesn't matter what he's done, all that matters to me is that he cares about ME." She glanced back behind her and squeezed Archer's hand. "Like Archer."

That reminded him of how Naruto spoke about the Sasuke of his time. It was. . sad in a way. "Then I hope he never betrays your love and that you find many more people in your life that you can share love and trust with. No one deserves to be alone."

She felt her anger towards the man begin to evaporate. Afterall, it was hard to stay angry at someone who refused to give you any fuel for your anger. Not to mention that she knew very well that she was safe with Archer. "I was always alone. It's bearable." She knew Archer could probably tell that she was bluffing, but she wanted to test this man, this..Hokage.

"Being alone is never bearable, and if it was, you wouldn't be seeking out company, would you?" He replied with a smile, "But you don't seem to be alone now." And looked to Archer.

"No. I'm not." She pulled Archer's arm tighter around herself, as if needing the reassurance.

He nodded to that, smiling, "I'm glad." And he meant it. She seemed like a good girl, just someone who had been hurt before and hungered for someone who understood and accepted her. "If you ever need anything, or there is anything I can do for you, just ask. I will speak to the others and ask them to back off. Just- just be careful, okay? Hope for the best, but be careful."

She nodded. "You...you said you're Naruto-san's father?"

"Yes," he replied, smiling. "Though, he mostly raised himself."

"Like me. He's...a lot like me, I guess." She placed her hand on the glaive, almost absently, and it faded away.

"It wasn't what I wanted for him, but the best I could do at the time was give him a future," Then paused, noting her glaive had disappeared. "I'm sure that's what your parents wanted for you, as well."

She sighed slightly, shifting closer to Archer for comfort. "Yeah...so much that Poppa sold his soul for it.."

"It sounds as though he loved you very much if he was willing to do that for you," Arashi replied.

Hotaru nodded. "He did. Until I killed him. Like I killed everyone else..."

"Death is only part of the cycle of rebirth," Arashi replied. "Without death, life would stagnate." Then blinked, "Who else did you kill?"

"Everyone." She stared at him with a level gaze, dark violet eyes meeting sky blue.

"That has to be a tough responsiblity to bear," He replied.

She didn't say much, just nodded slightly. It was difficult. But it seemed...that being able to tell someone made it better. "It's what I was made to do. I'm the bringer of ruin."

"And still a caring person, and obviously a good friend, judging by the way you've defended Itachi," Arashi replied. "It seems that who you are isn't defined by what it is your must do."

Shaking her head, she sipped her tea. "No. Your son is a caring person. He...he gave me a gift for the holidays, even though the rest of his friends consider me their enemy."

"Because he know what it's like to be alone," Arashi replies. "And to be hated and feared. He doesn't want anyone to feel badly."

Hotaru nodded slowly. "Why...why did you choose him? He's your son. I...if you had to put the demon somewhere, why condemn your own son to a life of being hated?"

"It had to be a child," Arashi replied. "And. . Naruto is the only one powerful enough to contain the kyuubi. As well as the only person I could trust not to misuse the power." Then ruefully smiled, "I wanted him to be thought of as a hero. Of the person keeping the kyuubi from harming anyone else. But, sometimes people can't seperate the power from the person."

"No, they can't. I....I was just a girl. Who happened to be born with a sleeping power inside. A power that they'd kept dormant for centuries. 'The soldier of Saturn must never be awakened, lest the world fall to ruin.' So they felt it suited their purposes to try and kill me. Even when I didn't even know why." She knew precisely what he was talking about. How the average person wouldn't seperate an innocent child from the power they unwillingly possessed.

"They would have been better off helping you learn how to contain and use your power," Arashi replied, the poor girl. Being targeted like that, it had to have been awful for her. No wonder she reacted to them in this way after the hostilities.

She shrugged noncommitally. Perhaps he was right. Not that it mattered now. "Maybe. Either way, they probably should have killed me. If they had, they'd still be alive. My world would still be alive."

"If you weren't meant to awaken, then you wouldn't have," Arashi replied. "There had to have been a reason for it. And . .how do you know your world is destroyed?"

"Because I destroyed it, when I brought down the Silence. That's...that's what my power is for. To bring down the Silence, to return everything to nothingness. And....that's what I did. So my world is dead. Nothing."

"And you were sent here afterwards?" He asked. "Maybe this is your chance to start over."

She raised an eyebrow. "What if that's what I'm doing? At least here, there's someone who cares. Someone who sees me as useful. He doesn't think I'm a monster. He thinks that I make everything fresh, so that new life can grow from it. But you and your kind are interfering."

"I want you to be happy," He replied, "And to have a good life here. Everyone and ever power has a purpose, without death, life would stagnate. I don't intend to actively harm Itachi," then added, "Especially with him blinded now and all," Just to keep the cover that they didn't know he had been healed. "And I won't let any of them harm you. But if he attacks my son again. . I'll defend Naruto. I just hope that doesn't happen."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Don't lie to me! I know you know perfectly well that his eyes are fine, that Shizune woman has accused ME of doing it enough times. Don't treat me like a child!" Her final word was punctuated by the sharp crack as the cup in her hand shattered. With a yelp, she dropped the broken shards, gritting her teeth at the bloody slashes in her palm.

Arashi jumped up and moved towards her, kneeling and taking her hand in his and ensuring there weren't any shards in the bleeding scratches, "We should put some disinfectant on that and bandage it," forgetting entirely she could heal herself.

She pulled her hand back and shook her head. "No need." As he watched, her hand glowed with a soft pale light, the wounds closing over and vanishing as seamlessly as if they'd never been there.

He sat back on his heels and blinked, putting together for a moment that yes, she had healed Itachi so that made sense. "Oh." So that was it. Itachi wanted an unlimited source of healing. And she could heal wounds that medi-nin could not. For all of Akatsuki. This was bad. But, there was nothing he could do about it. "I'm sorry I lied, I guess it was kind of stupid, I forgot Shizune went to speak with you." And gave a sheepish smile, "But I hadn't realized she'd been unkind. Normally, she's very sensible. . I think a lot of it is some of the personal issues she's going through herself."

Shaking her head, she sat back in Archer's lap. "It's alright. Most people forget." Though she wasn't about to mention that it was only recently she'd learned she could heal herself where it had once been limited to the healing of others. She sighed and nodded. "She's...pregnant, right? I...envy her, in a way. She'll have a family, someone to look up to her. And her child...will have something that I never had. A mother."

"But no father and Shizune will have to raise the child alone," He replied. There always seemed to be a negative to every positive. "What happened to your mother, if you don't mind my asking?"

"She died when I was a baby. Poppa never talked about her. I think it was too painful for him." She paused for a moment, as if considering her next question. "Did...did Naruto-san's mother die having him? Like..my mother did?"

"Yes," He replied. It was hard for him to talk about as well, but he did. "She had the choice of being saved or saving him. And she gave him her life." Arashi replied simply. "

Hotaru nodded. "She...she sounds like she was a good person."

He inclined his head, but smiled, "She was." Sixteen years being dead seemed like forever to him in that moment.

She fidgeted slightly on Archer's lap. While she didn't want to trust this man, part of her was curious. Her own father had been a sometimes-figure in her life, and the way Naruto had talked about his father made her curious as to the sort of man he was. If..if he was willing to do something so awful to someone else's eyes to remove what he was convinced was a threat to his son, then could he really be such a bad person? "I....I wanted to know something. You...you say Naruto-san is a lot like me. But...why does he trust people who shunned him? Who treated him like such a monster and made his life hell? I...I don't understand that."

Arashi smiled at that, "I couldn't tell you that for sure. But, I would guess because. . even after what they've done to him, they're still his fellow villagers. And people strike out like that when they're afraid. So he's showing them they don't have to fear."

"But...isn't he afraid that they're just going to betray him? That they'll just turn their backs on him and it'll all have been a cruel joke?" It didn't make sense, how he could be so trusting. But then...she supposed there had been a time when SHE was trusting like that. Before the world had changed her.

"No. He believes in the good in most people," Arashi replied. "I don't think them betraying him . . has even crossed his mind. But if they did, then they would be the monsters."

She nodded slowly. He'd given her much to think about. Standing up and sliding out of Archer's lap, she bowed to him. "Thank you for your time, Yondaime-san. And...thank you for what you did for me earlier. Naruto-san is lucky to have a father that cares for him as much as you do. We should be going now."

"You are very welcome," He replied, "And, thank you for coming to speak with me." Rising, he walked them to the door, holding it for them, "I'll try to make sure you aren't bothered anymore, and as I have said, if you ever need anything from me, just ask." In truth, he wanted to keep her. She seemed so sad.

She paused for a moment, as though considering something. Spinning, she threw her arms around his waist in a tight hug, cheek pressed against his chest. "You.....remind me of Poppa...."

"I. ." He drew arms around her and returned the hug, eyes watering slightly. "I wish I could do something more for you. . " He was turning into a softie.

She only stayed there for a moment before she wriggled out of his arms and darted out the door without another word. Archer simply sighed and bowed as if in apology before he followed after his tiny companion.

Closing the door, he remembered how complicated life often got. Though it was more welcome than the emptiness of death.