Reconciliation [Yahiko]

[Apple]

Since the last time I'd seen him, a lot had changed. During that time in his home, as I'd professed to him that I was unable to do anything about the mysterious condition that had befallen him, I'd felt .. guilty, in a way. Ever since that day all those years ago, I'd promised to myself that I'd become great - that there would be nothing that I couldn't remedy. And although I'd reached that goal, it seemed as if, despite whatever skill that I had, I was unable to cure him of what had befallen him. However - despite the response I'd had - the feeling of anger which I'd sensed so clearly from him, I'd spent several days and nights researching in to what had happened and what I could do in order to alleviate it. However - as far as I could tell from much tiresome studies, it was a process that couldn't be reversed, and although I somehow felt responsible for what had happened, I also felt somewhat relieved that I'd done all that I could to look in to the subject. But, that day had been several months ago, and I'd only seen him a few times between that space. A flash of a familiar face in a crowd, his form hidden; or strange sounds coming from the shack that he'd called home. With the manor now fully renovated to accommodate people, I wanted to open up the possibility of him coming back. But given the response I'd received from him in regards to my connection to Kouketsu, I felt dubious of whether or not he even wanted to see me. However - I wasn't going to give up that easily. He was still my cousin, after all.

It was a dreary day, just like that time all those months ago wherein he'd punched a whole wall out of anger, and, moving quickly to shield myself from the rain that softly fell down, I moved myself towards the location of his home, before reaching the door. It was a fragile construction - and frankly, having lived out here for so long with little contact with other people, as it seemed, my concern for him was unrelenting. Having arrived, I then knocked on the door a total of three times; a number that he would recognize. Gazing up at the sky for a few moments, I then turned my attention back towards the door, and waited for him to open up. Whether or not he was going to allow me in was another question in itself, but with such little time left before the child was due to be born, I didn't want to allow such sour thoughts to preserve across time, nor did I want them to simmer and come to a boil later on in time. He was as much family to Akatome as he was to me; and I didn't want whatever negativity Akatome felt towards myself and Kouketsu to transfer on to him.

Knock, Knock. Knock

"..Akatome! -- Akatome, it's me."
"..Are you home?"

I asked, my tone of voice raised in some attempt to call upon the figure who I could only assume was home. The top of my head becoming steadily coated in a shimmering layer of raindrops, I kept waiting, a single hand protectively on my stomach, whilst the other pressed softly against the worn wooden door.

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[Arcadia]

"Well, Shodaime..." my words came from behind her.

"...to what do I owe this pleasure, hm?"

She would turn around, undoubtedly recognizing a familiar voice, but when she did she'd be met with a man who almost seemed like a stranger. The last time she'd seen me, I'd been frail, sick, lost - a mess of a shinobi. But on this day, however, I stood tall and steady. Retreating to the wilderness had done wonders for me and my little ailment - which I hardly thought about in a negative light anymore. It was more of a blessing, really. I approached her slowly, the ends of my cloak billowing gently in the breeze, and stopped only a couple of meters away from her.

I had gone over the inevitability of our next encounter countless times since she gave her village address regarding the presence of Uchiha Kouketsu in Kusagakure. I knew that my words, regardless of my attempt at cloaking myself in anonymity, would reach her and her alone. Unlike the norm, I called her 'Shodaime' instead of Blanche. I needed some convincing before I could speak to her informally like I used to, because as far as I could tell, this woman was not my cousin. I didn't know who or what this woman was.

[Apple]

"Well, Shodaime..."

"...to what do I owe this pleasure, hm?"

As his voice sounded to my ears, I automatically spun on my heel and turned to face the man before me. It seemed that I'd been incorrect - that he hadn't been within the home as I'd anticipated, but instead that he had surely been watching my each and every move since I'd come in to the general radius of the place. The home itself was simple - but it made me uncomfortable to see a member of my family living in such a squalid place. Being unable to see the other sides of the shack itself, I wasn't even sure if he'd fixed the damage done to his wall after that meeting all those months ago, but for his sake I hoped he had. Being a medic, his health was naturally important to me, and I didn't want him to live in this place if it meant his body would become a host to fleas, illness and deprivation. But despite my effort all of this time - all of these years to keep him safe, it meant nothing in the face of the news that he and the rest of the village had received a few months ago. I hadn't spoken to him since that day, and it was now the first time in quite a while that I'd seen him. Taking in his appearance, I came to realize that he looked.. different, in a way. He'd always been the meeker one out of myself and Ue, but since losing his ability to perform ninjutsu, his physical appearance had changed. He didn't seem as.. stringbean like as he had previously - a nickname that I'd adopted for him during the happy days of our youth. But he also seemed different on a whole other scale- despite the problems that were happening between himself and I, he seemed.. happier. Much happier than he'd been that day. Where I was concerned, I wasn't that much different bar from the fatigued expression on my face and the accompanying reason for that feeling which was perhaps all too obvious upon my thin frame.

"..Akatome.."

I murmured the words as I looked at him once more, his sandy colored hair similar to mine, but at the same time, different. Whilst both myself and my brother had inherited what many called the pure Kikkawa appearance, our cousin, whilst being able to blend in somewhat with us, was nonetheless different. But when people would point it out and ridicule him for it during his years in academy, I was always the first to show them the severity of their words and how severe I in turn was going to respond to them. Whilst I'd inherited the same eyes as my mother - blue with tiny, almost unnoticeable green flecks within them, his own were as swirling sea of emerald green. For a moment, then, I found myself submerged beneath the tides of memories, swimming to shore in order to regain the control I'd had over myself previously. The tone he'd used alone disturbed me, and the formality of it. Keeping my hand positioned upon my stomach, I locked my own eyes with his, preparing to answer his question as I watched the soft droplets of rain land on the hat that he wore.

"..I need to speak to you."

"..Please."

I implored for him to accept my simple request. Sleep was hard enough to come by lately but the matter at hand - his own reluctance to avoid me - had simply made matters worse, and I felt myself weighed down by the burden that his opposition created. I needed his support. Despite appearing healthy, dark circles softly trailed beneath my eyes as a sign of insomnia. I needed him to understand my reason for not only deciding to carry the child of whom he believed to be the devil, but also for accepting him as my other half. I had several things to tell him - too many things, if anything, and I was sure that through what I had to say things could one of two ways - either he'd decide to abolish me from his life forever, or become more aware of what was happening. I didn't want him to wave banners of support, and I didn't want him to proclaim his dedication in the streets. I wanted him back - as family. He was the only one I had left, and I needed his trust more than ever with the eve of the child's birth around the corner. With my serious tone having come to a close, I watched on intently at him, moving somewhat out of the way to allow him to pass through and allow the both of us in so that I could begin explaining to him everything. I merely hoped that he took it all the way that I'd hoped.

SPOILER: Click to show

1 Infuin stack gained.

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[Arcadia]

It was then, with a turn of her heel, that the weight of everything truly hit me.

My eyes immediately fell to the most obvious difference in my cousin's appearance. Her belly, rounded and protruding, harboring life in it's earliest stages became clear as day in my glossy, green eyes. I stared, for a moment, at the vessel that was my dear cousin, and her cargo - a could-be harbinger of death - nestled safely and out of sight within her. She spoke then, almost begging for an audience with me, and although I made showed no indication of hearing her, whether it be a verbal reply or even visual acknowledgement of her words, I had heard her. Every stoic fiber of my visage was frozen on the child that she carried, if it could even be considered a child. Analyses were running rampant in my mind, though none of them proved to be fruitful. I simply didn't know how to react to the sight of my soon-to-be nephew. Alas, with eyes still lingering on her belly, I spoke.

"A bit late for a sex-talk, Kusakage." I said dryly.

I choked a little. In that moment, I had unintentionally given the woman a glimpse of how we used to be - how I used to be. Smart, charming remarks had always been my forte, and it was how I spoke to her in days gone by - days gone by being the key point there. As of late, the both of us had gone through a number of great changes, mine being the loss of my ability to use most Ninjutsu and the emergence of my marrow-manipulative abilities, and hers being, well, getting knocked up by the most infamous war criminal in recent history. We weren't who we used to be anymore, and things would be different. But that begs the question: why had I been almost playful with her mere moments before?

"But I suppose there are other talks that we could have." I said as I approached her. As I passed her I caught a peripheral glimpse of her face from beneath the shade of my hat. She looked like hell, but it wasn't too surprising considering who she was with. I couldn't help but to let concern wash over my face, but by that time I had opened my door and passed her by into my home, even going so far as to lower my head to further shroud my face in the shade provided by my hat - all for good measure, of course. I didn't beckon for her to follow, since I assumed that she would, but instead I walked over to my sofa and stood next to it. It was moist with rain, as the hastily boarded-up hole in my wall did very little to keep the elements at bay.

[Apple]

All the while as I called upon him to allow me in to his life for a short while in order for me to try and make him understand, my eyes were sharply locked on his own, despite the shadows that his hat and the dreary weather created. And of course, naturally, because of this I was able to see exactly where his eyes were now held, and inquisitively I followed his line of sight despite knowing well where he was focusing his attention to. Silence followed on his part for a few minutes as he seemed.. unsure of what to say or do, although upon noticing that he was staring, I only shifted the positioning of my hand, allowing it to rest slightly more to the right of where it originally had been. Whilst it wasn't to say that his staring was making me nervous, given the stance that he'd taken during the meeting, it made me feel slightly uncomfortable, and in such times of emotional uncertainty, I usually found my hands moving to the same place in search of comfort from the unborn child that I couldn't help but feel overwhelmingly in love with. I'd told myself so many months ago not to become too attached should the worst happen again - but as time continued it soon became apparent to me that that mindframe was becoming harder and harder to keep control of. It was easy to say through the way that I portrayed myself now, such motherly tendencies coming to bloom, that I stopped caring about such thoughts.

And now came my cousin's wit - something that I hadn't heard for so many months since his withdrawal from society, and despite the context of what it was used in and the tone of his voice, I felt the corners of my lips curling in to what could only be described as an entertained smirk, although it was small. However - the severity of my mind at the moment, how badly I needed to talk to him, and how much sleep I'd lost because of such matters amounted to one thing, and I couldn't let simple jokes sway my mind. I wasn't even sure if he was truly making fun, of course, since I knew that his hate and opinion was very much real and not merely something to be used for the sake of mockery. But his eyes remained on my stomach as if fixated by it - or appalled by the child that I carried - disgusted, perhaps. I wasn't even sure as the expression on his face voiced to me no clear explanation of what he was feeling at the moment except for bittersweet apathy. My eyes, having shared the same gaze as he, soon turned back to look at him fully, watching as he seemed to shift. All through this, I'd been silent - as there hadn't been anything to say. I could feel the mist-like rain dropping down on myself, coating my form, and I wanted nothing more than solace from the rain, and solace from the distaste that my cousin had attained for not only I, but for innocent Yuuchiro, and his father. I understood his reasons for disliking Kouketsu given the things he'd done in the past, but - I wanted him to believe - to understand that he had changed. That we wanted nothing more than to fit in with society just as anyone else for the sake of allowing our child a healthy upbringing, and allowing him the closure he wanted.

However, it seemed that my words had reached him to some degree as he moved, opening the door to his home, to which I hastily followed in order to get myself out of the soft rain that was falling upon the village of Kusagakure as time stood. However, upon entering the place, all I could smell was damp, to which in response to my eyes quickly turned to the hole in the wall, which seemed to be shabbily repaired. Turning to look back at Akatome upon seeing this, I began to speak of my concern for his health; something which I'd always commented on from the day that I met him as a young child. Despite only being a few years younger than me, I could remember him being a toddler. I'd never wished for him to grow up from our childhood days running around Kusagakure like freed animals, but - here he was now, standing resolute before me as not a child, not a boy - but a man. "..I restored the manor" I informed him, gazing over at the hole in the wall, before looking back at Akatome. "..You're always welcome to come back, if you want to." I spoke. By coming back, I of course meant returning to not only the Kikkawa flock, despite there being an incredibly small number of us, but returning to the home in which he and I had been raised in. Of course, Kouketsu and I too were going to be living there to raise Yuuchiro - but anything was better than here. "..This place ... doesn't seem healthy." I spoke. I didn't want to seem as if I was insulting the place where he lived, but it truly did look squalid. Although cosy in some way, it posed several health risks which I wasn't ready to allow my cousin to go through. But - even the matter of him being a man now didn't stop me from being concerned about him. Even the possibility that he was disgusted by the baby who was peacefully sleeping within my uncomfortably distended stomach.

With the same soft ache in my lower back, I watched as he sat close to his sofa, but despite all instruction from my body to get me to sit down, I stood, my eyesight slightly below his given the lack of heels on my feet - they having been exchanged for flat shoes. Instead, I looked at the wall behind him, trying to verse my self in how exactly to explain to him what I had to say. It wasn't going to be easy - and I didn't expect him to understand or want to understand.

"..I had a child, Akatome."
"Several years ago, during the war."

And I began to speak, my words hesitant and painful as I began to explain my love for Momochi, the hulking brown-haired man with the gentle smile that he'd met several times in the past given his friendship with Ue, and how our family had resented my love for such a poor shinobi who bore no link to our village. How I had found out that I had been carrying his child, and how I knew just how severely my parents - his uncle and aunt, would respond to such news with. They had surely had their sights on a wealthy shinobi from another family in the village for my own marriage. I explained how I couldn't bear to tell them - couldn't bear to tell anyone, and how I hid such a physical change using a steadily-controlled henge from not only Akatome, but everybody. Another chapter rose in the tale that I repeated to him, about how Ue had arrived whilst I'd been working, explaining that he - Momochi, had died upon the bloody plains of Kusa no kuni, how I had been so hopeful of the future that we'd have together, the ring that was secretly stored within the pockets of my coat. Darkness prevailed and months passed wherein I'd lost contact with not only my cousin, but my entire family, opting to shut myself away as I tried to comprehend what was happening. I couldn't bear to kill it - kill him, and so I continued as I was, working to death within the Kusagakure shinobi hospital against my will in the heat of the war despite the heavy strain on my body.

And I spoke of how, on that fateful day wherein the only part of Momochi left to me was to be in my arms, I produced a child. Although - there had been so much blood. Too much. By the time I'd come to, my own life deathly fragile, I'd noticed that he wasn't breathing. And despite my attempts - despite my maddened tries at resuscitating my darling, it was of no use. He'd been dead long before he'd even revealed himself to this world, the soft chocolate mass of hair on his head painful to see although I couldn't bear pull away from his cold skin.

And the tale continued, with ample breaks between such chapters - the entire story that he and all whom I knew had missed out on as my eyes glazed over. She - the highly esteemed Kusakage trying to fight away pathetic tears that so freely began to flow from her eyes upon the mere vocalization of such a traumatic story. But next - of how I ran - I ran so far away after burying the child here in this village. How I'd spent so much time in shady places of the world in some attempt to dislocate myself from reality, and the anger that had overwhelmed me, the maddening feeling that had taken over me and that was still lingering now. How I'd found myself hallucinating as I felt myself breaking down. I'd become a shell - no longer the loving girl who'd cared for her cousin and her family, but the cold, resentful monster who had transformed in to what she wanted least in some attempt to break away from what had happened to her. As I opened myself up to Akatome, I found myself beginning to slide over to the nearest surface in order to allow myself to lean against it for support. I had only told few people this tale - and by now, the majority of them were surely dead.

And finally; I explained to him just how I'd met Kouketsu - how our child had merely been a business deal. I just wanted a child to raise, someone to love unconditionally, something to help change my life for the better. Despite how strong I'd stood as Kusakage, I felt my mind weakening with each and every day - I'd needed something that I could focus on, that I could cherish. He needed a heir - and explained, I begged Akatome to understand that I wouldn't dare have him grow up to be the man who Kouketsu had been during that fateful second shinobi war. That, even now I planned for him to be perfect; neither myself nor his father, but his own person, unburdened by our sins. I spoke that it hadn't even meant to evolve in to he relationship that we now shared, but how overwhelmed with pathetic love that the two of us had become, and how much of a family the three of us had already formed without meaning to, how very much consumed by the pure, unbridled hope I had for this child that it would change not only myself, but Kouketsu too, for the better. It had already changed so much - we were both completely different people, and even I could notice that within myself. I'd become much more mature - and calm, despite the context that my own relationship with Kouketsu was in.

And then, I allowed another pause, as my story came to a close, my eyes gazing softly at my middle, which I found my hand so lovingly caressing, before I turned my attention back to Akatome's now shaded emerald eyes.

"..I.." I paused, attempting to continue.

"..I need this."

"..I don't want you to distance yourself from me - I don't want this to break our family."

"..He's going to need your support when he's growing up."

Another pause, as I finally shifted my entire weight on to the tabletop that I was leaning against, practically sat upon it now as a familiar feeling of discomfort flooded my limbs.

"I don't expect you to forgive me."

"..But please.."

"..don't take out your disgust at us on our son."

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A final plea, as tired eyes finally closed, my ears awaiting his response.

I merely hoped that through explaining it all, he would understand.[/center]

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[Arcadia]

The news of our beloved childhood home being renovated would have, on any other occasion, warranted a rush of genuine happiness. On this day, however, the status of the old Manor meant very little to me, as did the current state of my home. I didn't care, not until --

"..I had a child, Akatome."
"Several years ago, during the war."

She'd drawn my gaze, and, somehow, my sympathy. Oh, I was still upset with her. However, those words alone, and everything I presumed them to convey even before she continued, were enough to breach the stoic wall of my visage, and cause my lips to press together and tremble only slightly. I listened to my cousin, reluctantly yet attentively. Reluctantly, because there was a part of me who thought not of the woman before me as my cousin, Blanche, but as something else. This part of me saw a woman hellbent on achieving her ends by any means necessary - even going so far as associating with the most notorious war criminal in recent history. This part of me even dared to consider the possibility that the Kusakage had not come here to speak to me on her own accord, but instead her being here was all a ploy orchestrated by Kouketsu, perhaps needing a body with his spouse's blood in it in order to perform some sort of demonic, Uchiha ritual or something. This doubtful, disgusted side of me, though seemingly prominent, did have opposition. For while the woman before me seemed almost like a stranger, she was a stranger who I knew very well.

This part of me saw Blanche, rather than the Kusakage or the Devil's wife. I knew of Blanche's heart and of her loyalties. These are things that you can't simply miss when you spend the entirety of your life knowing someone. This was the part of me that wanted to believe Blanche's words from her most recent village address. This was the part that wanted to believe that Blanche truly did have the village's best interests at heart. This was the part of me that dared to believe that people could change, even someone like Kouketsu. Both halves of me fought for the whole, but did so to no avail. I remained indecisive as I listened to Blanche's story, some of which I knew but most of which was not only fresh, but saddening as well. During such sad parts, in lieu of showing my sympathy, I allowed my head to drop and shroud my eyes. I wasn't quite ready to give into her plea just yet.

I remembered Momochi, however their child was new to me, and word of it's fleeting existence was enough to make my heart drop into my stomach. I felt overwhelming guilt at that point, for I understood, albeit partially, Blanche's feelings regarding what was brewing in her belly. I could only imagine how sharp my words must have felt when I shot them at her during her address. This monster that she supposedly became after the child's death was also new to me, although I during my travels years I occasionally overheard talk of a blonde-haired witch of a woman. The thought of it being Blanche never crossed my mind before, but now I wondered if she had been the witch that they'd spoken of. I'd always known Blanche to have something of a temper at times, but it was never anything in monster territory.

Eventually, Kouketsu was brought up. I had been waiting for this inevitable bit of the story, but by the time Blanche finished I was still having trouble wrapping my head around it. I felt so... overwhelmed by everything. The child was the spawn of Uchiha Kouketsu. An international criminal was inside our village. I felt like if Kusagakure didn't fall by his hands, it would fall by the hands of the other shinobi nations. Blanche wasn't stupid, though. She was the Kusakage and I knew that she cared deeply about our village. She was family. And... so was the child. And, by default, that did technically make Koukets -- I suppose the child is enough for now. After a long, decisive pause, I sighed.

"The boy..." I started, raising my head and taking her gaze with my own. "Have you named him yet?"

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[Apple]

The air remained tense as I awaited his response, my eyes attempting to pick up on whatever emotion that he currently felt in regards to the current situation and how I tried to explain why it had all amounted to this. It - this child was in no way a spontaneous decision. Nor was it an accident. I'd considered the idea for a while before professing my commitment to the plan itself, although I'd never expected for it to turn out like this. Had I told myself back then what was to become from myself and Kouketsu and the future that ourselves and our son would have to face, then I wouldn't have believed myself. It seemed too illegitimate a story to be believable, but then again - it made sense, in the strangest of ways. However, that didn't matter now, as I'd become too involved. I'd given too much of everything towards this, and I now lay happily entangled in the webs of my own creation along with the lovestruck prey that I'd ensnared. Perhaps back then, a few years ago, I'd have used it to my advantage but I sought to take nothing from him apart from the constant source of chakra that by now had become more of a dire necessity rather than a luxury. But I was happy.

"The boy..."

"Have you named him yet?"

[/right]
Although my mouth opened slightly to show sign that I almost uttered the name that I'd chosen, my heart sank considerably as the eyesight which had once been so firm in his own faltered, looking down towards the matte, somewhat broken-looking floorboards beneath our feet. I would have told him; but it came with so much else that I needed to tell him - that was overdue to be told by now. But he'd been so fragile - had I told him of the death of my brother, then I was scared about what he would say, what he would do. As he stood tall now, I was still concerned about his health, but it was the truth, and he needed to know. With my eyes moving from the floorboards and back towards my middle, I continued to caress it, my expression and face pallid against the information that I was preparing to part with him. Merely the thought of saying his name - saying that he had left us made me feel sick to my stomach, and reflecting this, my eyes rose again to meet with his, a strained expression on my face. But, despite this, I forced a soft smile on to my face, and although I was happy, I was glad that I was able to name him after his uncle, such a smile could only be described as bittersweet, the tragedy behind its appearance outweighing everything. Had it not been for my control, I'd have burst out in tears. But I couldn't tell him - not now. I promised that I would tell him soon after he was born - I didn't need the stress brought on by it, right now, although I felt horrid to deny him such important, yet tragic news.

"..He'll be called Yuuchiro."

I whispered softly as I gazed back down at him in his lovingly protected sphere - the connection to his name - Uekyuuchi, was unmistakable.

"..He'll ...He'll be normal, Akatome."

"..Not a demon, or a burden of bad luck - but a child."

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Finally I came to a silence once those words were spoken, the discomfort that slowly bit at me soon being alleviated as I made my way closer to my cousin, and lowered myself in to the couch that he was standing by, easing my way in to its plush, yet damp form, both of my hands again moving to rest against soothingly my disproportionate stomach.

Uekyuuchi had been a good man - he'd been the best that I'd known, a hero to me.

And hopefully, Yuuchiro too would become a hero, just like his uncle.[/center]

SPOILER: Click to show

2 Infuin stacks gained.

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[Arcadia]

"..."

Yuuchiro...

The inspiration for such a name was, I thought, blatantly clear. My eyes fell from hers once more, unable to keep steady beneath the weight of his face flooding into my thoughts. I didn't know how to feel about Yuuchiro now that he'd been named after my cousin, and Blanche's brother, Ue. Could I hate him now? Could I ever dare to label him a monster without inadvertently feeling like I was calling Ue a monster too? The unfairness of this all clawed at my insides. I yearned to grab Blanche and shake her and yell at her, but I didn't. I couldn't. Not because she was pregnant. Not because she was like a sister to me. Not even because of Kouketsu's lingering presence presumably somewhere close by. I couldn't because something in me wanted to believe in her. Something in me wanted to believe in Yuuchiro.

Something in me had hope.

But I still had to be realistic.

"Can you promise that, Blanche?" I asked, looking at her once more. "Not for my sake, but for the sake of your people, can you wholeheartedly vouch for the normality of your son, all things considered?"

I began to ask her if she could even vouch for Kouketsu's good behavior, but I stopped myself because I knew that she'd defend him, for she was the same way with Momochi. I also knew of the innocence of children. A child isn't born good or bad or anything. Only after the environment that a child is exposed to socializes the child's malleable psyche can the child be considered one or the other, or both. It's all dependent on the environment. However, that isn't to say that genes don't play a role. I believed that they played as much a role in a child's appearance as they did in a child's psyche. I could vouch for Blanche's genes providing the building blocks for a decent human being, but Kouketsu on the other hand...

[Apple]

"Can you promise that, Blanche?"

It was obvious as to what he meant. I was more than aware of Kouketsu and his reputation as having a cold-blooded killer. It seemed that the all of these people, my cousin included, believed that the child would follow in his footsteps given the identity of his father. Had it been anyone else, then everything would surely be fine, but it saddened me that such an innocent boy would already have some kind of expectancy of failure and destruction before he could even take his first breath. And he spoke - despite the toned-down way that he'd spoken them in, I understood what he was trying to get at completely, and felt almost verbally attacked by what he had to say. However, instead of retaliating violently, I instead chose to simply lean back in the scrappy excuse for a couch that he owned, and closed my eyes momentarily before replying to him, in order to gather what I was about to say together. Whether he liked it or not, he was going to be related to him by blood. But how could he, a direct relative to him, believe such low expectations? I emitted a soft sigh, before beginning to speak to him, opening my eyes to gaze up at Akatome as he stood closeby. My eyes remained fiercely locked on his; although not in any kind of intimidating way, but, instead suggested clearly the trust I had in the brightness of my son's future.

"..I haven't believed in anything as strongly as I do now in my entire life, Akatome."

Despite being hushed, my words were intensely spoken, emblazoned with determination.

I was his cousin, I was the controversial lover of one of the shinobi world's most wanted criminals, I was the kusakage, but most importantly - I was a mother. And what kind would I be if I allowed my child to tear himself apart by stepping in the heavy footsteps that his father had created? What kind of mother would I be if I allowed people to treat him in such a way and allow the entire situation to become a self fulfilling prophecy? "There are no things to consider." I spoke in the same tone of voice I'd used last time, although a small, equally silent laugh began to emit from my mouth, finding his words strangely entertaining. Perhaps it was merely that I was losing my mind from the endless, and equally pointless scrutiny we'd been receiving. But truth was; I'd lost my mind several years ago. "I understand that, chances are, he won't be accepted in to society as easily as other children his age." I began, the same hushed tone used. "..And I understand that people may have certain.. reservations in regards to what his future holds for him." By people, I regrettably had to lump Akatome in with the rest of them given his current stance. He seemed wavering - as if he was slowly warming up to the news, but such warmth was barely noticeable, and I wanted - no. I needed him on our side. It wasn't only I who needed his support at this time, but Yuuchiro, too. "..But all of these notions - all of these beliefs are channeled by the fears of people who fail to understand that he's an entirety different person, not merely an extension of Kouketsu -- or myself, at that." I could feel my tone becoming stronger with each passing moment, as I vented the frustrations that had been building up for so long as a result of the ignorance of not only Akatome himself, but the villagers who I served each and every day to assure their safety. Did they truly believe that I'd willingly carry a child if I assumed that it would become a ruthless killer? It just made me wonder what kind of person they believed me to be. I'd sacrificed so much of my time and energy to keep them safe and secure within the village, was I not allowed to have a family of my own, simply because of the evidently unfortunate decision that I'd made? Was I not allowed to mother a child and recite sweet lullabies at the first sight of dusk to my precious Yuuchiro without having each of my actions scrutinized by the public?

"..He'll have his own feelings, make his own decisions and shape his own path." He was to be unique -- whilst he may inherit my fiery temper or his father's suspicious eyes, he'd be different to us both, and I was sure of that. I'd make sure of that. "..Do you truly believe me to be as incompetent a mother as to allow my child - your nephew, to become a monster?" I asked, my tone just as irritable as it had moments ago, although upon noticing this, I closed my eyes, attempting to calm my mind in an attempt to prevent myself becoming too flustered with the entire situation. "And do you truly believe that I would doubt the well being of my son purely because of his paternity? --- That I'd give in to all of these vicious expectations that are placed upon him?" I couldn't help myself from continuing even further. Akatome had always been aware of my personality and how easy I was to be angered, as he'd been at the receiving end of my rage several times in the past. And naturally, this topic struck a nerve with me that he understood all too much about. With my child having been threatened, alike a lioness I rose to defend my cub at all costs. With my hands still in place, I moved back to attack his question. Perhaps he hadn't meant it all that severely, but I took it seriously. We weren't talking about an item, or even myself. We were talking about my son, and I was already protecting him before he even had the chance to make enemies by his own doing. Looking over at the blonde haired shinobi, my hands remained in place.

"The only way that he'll become the monster that people assume he'll become, is if his life is made so unbearable by the spiteful words of others that he starts to believe what they say."

"..And become the villain that they'd created.."

It was true, and I couldn't bear to have him twisted in to what they expected him to be.

"..He will be loved, Akatome, by Kouketsu and I, no matter what."

My expression darkened considerably, my eyes narrowing not on Akatome, but on nothing.



"..And I'll be damned if I'll allow anyone to ruin his life because of their own petty insecurities."

He'll be perfect.

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[Arcadia]

I'd known of Blanche's resolve for years, and I knew the tone she used when she put her heart and soul into something. As she spoke, I could almost feel the strength of her words weighing down on my like some unseen force. The world is riddled with magnificent wonders, and love is by far one of the most intense. I knew then, as watched her, studied her - analyzing her words, her movements, the unspoken language of her most subtle actions - that she was completely serious and certain about everything that was going on. Her child, her husband, the well-being of the village - everything. Whether or not this unyielding certainty was the work of delusion had yet to be determined, but by the time her rant had ended and her face, hard and stoic, stared off into nothing as though beckoning a response from me, one thing became blatantly clear:

I was not going to change her mind about anything.

Blanche wouldn't be swayed by me, or anyone else, really, save maybe Ue or Kouketsu at this point. I knew then that any reason-filled words that I could conjure up would prove to be useless and any anti-kouketsu tactics that I'd ever dare to deploy would be done to no avail. Blanche was with Kouketsu. She would deliver his child, cleverly named Yuuchiro, and they would raise him to be whatever it is the two of them saw fit. This thought, however, raised a question - a question that had, admittedly, been lingering in my mind since I saw Blanche on my doorstep - a question whose answer lied not with Blanche, or with Kouketsu, but with me.

"Yuuchiro will be his own man, Blanche, I don't question that." I said, glancing down at her. "How he's raised, however, will have a moderately-sized effect on who that man is. Kouketsu doesn't seem like the parenting type and frankly, I'm not too sold on your parenting skills either. I may not remember it, but Ue's told me of an instance wherein you dropped me on my head."

By that point, she was probably confused as to where I was going with this. I didn't like what I was planning to do, nor was I going to be entirely honest about it. Truthfully, their parenting skills weren't the only things that I wasn't sold on. There was Kouketsu's change of heart, obviously, and the normality of the child, but there was also Blanche's mental health. None of those things had me convinced, nor did they make me feel particularly safe. I had to keep an eye on them, all of them. I sighed and looked away, vaguely in the direction that Blanche had been looking, but not particularly focused on anything.

"...with that being said, I'll be moving back into the Manor, and once Yuuchiro is born I will assist you with his care."

[Apple]

It seemed as if my rant had been of some use, my eyes still flared with a clear, yet somehow ferocious sky blue. I'd spoken from the deepest recesses of my heart, as without a voice of his own, it was up to me to defend him from the stinging words of not just anyone - but his only remaining relative, apart from Kouketsu and myself. However, just as stubborn and determined I could be, Akatome was able to summon similar traits. And I knew, although I wished that it would be different, that he wasn't going to believe the heart wrenching case that I told him no matter how hard I tried to gain his support. Raising my right hand, starting to wind it around a delicate finger, I could only muse over how Akatome would treat Yuuchiro after he was born - would he swear never to be involved with him? To never even gaze at the child and acknowledge that it was family? It didn't look too promising at the moment given his current opposition, but for the sake of the boy I hoped that the chuunin had a change of heart. My expression then softened from the one of anger that had invaded my countenance, to one of blatant apathy; not towards the situation, but towards my cousin. I'd done my best at pleading to him that Kouketsu and myself would raise him well; to live an orderly and respectable life, and I was growing tired of everything. However heartless the people of Kusagakure could become in regards to the happiness that I desperately needed, I continued to stand as its leader. It made me wonder just how much they truly respected me. What I'd done was understandably controversial, but -- had I not been so dedicated to the village, then I'd have left the very moment that the uproar against my family had begun and left them to their own demise.

"..Kouketsu doesn't seem like the parenting type and frankly, ...

..I'm not too sold on your parenting skills either.."

"....."

[/center]

The corners of my lips twitched, almost as if I was trying to smirk, but miserably failed, teeth biting down on the soft flesh within the inside of my mouth. Perhaps he had been joking, given the context that it was placed in in regards to me dropping him as a child, but I couldn't help but delve deeper in to the matter. It wasn't long then until he revealed the second part to his decleration, saying that he'd come back to the manor, and aid in looking after Yuuchiro after his birth. I felt happy - happy to know that he was coming home, and that I'd at least managed to somehow bring him back. But - given what he'd just said about his concerns about Kouketsu and I and how we were to raise the child, was he simply.. patronizing us? Wanting to stay in close quarters to make sure that Yuuchiro wasn't raised to become the death-mongering tyrant that he was expected to become? Or that he truly didn't believe that I was capable of taking care of a child correctly? It saddened me - it really did, and for the slightest of moments, my expression seemed vulnerable. I wasn't angry at him - merely.. upset that he could claim such a thing. I'd waited my turn patiently - I'd waited so many years for this. I'd waited for something that so many other women would take for granted, and now I was having my own cousin become dubious of whether or not I'd be fit for the title of mother. I was capable of leading a village; I was capable of leading hundreds of people without expecting anything in return But, according to popular belief, aided by Akatome's voice, I wasn't capable of raising a child to follow a righteous path. My eyes cast downwards towards the floor as I listened to him speak, my mouth opened - but to say nothing. Pressing both hands to my side, I heaved myself from the couch that I'd become molded to, steadily allowing myself to stand tall once more, almost eye-level with my cousin. A few more seconds passed, before I finally spoke, my blue eyes looking at his own green.

"..Your room will be prepared for you by the morning."

Despite the happiness in my voice for hearing that he was to come back from the surely unhealthy place he was currently living, it was wrought with an underlying sadness in regards to what he'd just told me.

"..When can I expect you to be ready to move back in?"

"I'd help you move your belongings personally but given circumstances I don't think it would be wise. ..However - I can call upon some assistance to help you, if you'd like.

Although I aimed to repress it; I was clearly effected by his choice of words, to some degree. My form softly held upright by my hand which was hooked upon a nearby dresser, I looked over at him in his dank little home with my default tired expression.

Did he truly believe that little in me?

SPOILER: Click to show

3

[/color] Infuin stacks gained.[/spoiler]
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[Arcadia]

Very little slipped by my seasoned eyes when it came to Blanche. The sadness lying just beneath her words may have gone unnoticed had her voice fell upon the ears of another. I, however, had known Blanche far too long to be blind to such obvious feelings. I made no noticeable indication that I had picked up on these underlying feelings of hers, but I did take a moment to think over my attitude as of late. What I needed now was for things to go back to the way that they had been - I needed Blanche to trust me. Not necessarily for the sake of our relationship, but because I needed to keep an eye on her and her family without drawing suspicion.

"Today," I said. "I'll be returning today and I won't be requiring any assistance. I doubt that I'll be needing much of this stuff." I added, surveying the room in a single, visual sweep. Admittedly, I hadn't use for most of the things that lined the walls and littered the floors of my tiny shack. Much of what I had decided to fill my home with had been ruined by nature during my time away (I had only boarded up the hole in the wall a day earlier). While it was mostly knick-knacks and old food, there were a few things that I did plan to move into the manor. My books, for example, could be of some recreational and practical use; they ranged from detective stories to age-old forbidden jutsu. I also kept a violin, which I played to calm my nerves, but perhaps I would find more use for it in the weeks to come. Alas, I came to a point wherein I had to make my move to solidify my change of heart. "There's something that needs to be said," I started, turning to Blanche and removing my hat.

"I am deeply sorry for my attitude as of late, Blanche."

I used a tone of the utmost sincerity, and prayed that my apology would be accepted.

[Apple]

"..Today?"

I repeated his words, as if in slight disbelief.

He'd spoke of his intention to return to the manor, but due to the strong opinion that he'd previously shown in regards to Kouketsu, myself and the child, I wasn't too sure about what to think. His opinion hadn't changed that much; I knew that, and he seemed more than content staying in this sombre shack. However - there were several other reasons that I could think of as to why he'd want to move in, too. Whilst I was glad that Akatome could finally leave this place, for the sake of his health, despite all the things that he'd said, he was still my cousin, and nothing changed that - even if I was still effected by the words he'd said minutes ago in regards to the little parenting skills that he assumed that I had. Of course; with his promise to help out with raising Yuuchiro, I was thankful -- but I was torn on how to receive his offer. Was he volunteering himself merely for the sake of family, or was it because he still didn't trust Kouketsu and I as parents? That we'd raise him incorrectly? Such ideas about my own cousin stirred me, and I didn't want to venture further in to the matter today. Wiping away whatever thought process was currently in my mind, I focused back on him in my standing position, my form moving close to the partially rusted door that was meant to protect those within the home from the elements - had it not been for the poorly fixed hole in the room.

"..I'll.."

A pause.

"..I'll head over now and get some things ready for you.
I'll prepare you something to eat."


I spoke, getting ready for his return. I wasn't too sure just what his diet had been like for the past few months as he'd lived here, but I was sure that it wasn't exactly fantastic. Having fully moved in, the kitchen and pantry were stocked with various food items, so making him something to eat upon his return was the least that I could do to make him feel more at home. As he'd probably suspect the only form of assistance the home had was from ANBU guards lingering around the place in order to keep it secure, and a cleaning assistant, as the manor was, granted, quite large, and I was unable to actively clean it with my schedule. Given recent events, and with my home so out in the open now, the last thing that I wanted was for that it to become under attack by some thugs, and so the protection around the home was necessary - in my opinion, of course. I wasn't sure if Akatome thought otherwise, but he'd be able to make his own opinion up upon return to there. Using my free hand to run my fingers through my hair, I watched and waited for him to reply to my offer. Given that I'd become.. out of touch with Akatome, I felt wrong feeling so.. disconnected from him - he was family.


With my hand on the doorknob, my gaze was, however, lingering back on Akatome as I noticed his body began to move after a series of words -- his hat was then removed, revealing the crown of blonde hair that he bore, as he moved in to a deep bowing position. His apology came soon thereafter, and despite the tone that he'd used and how sincere he did seem about it all, I took it with a pinch of salt - although he wouldn't know that. It wasn't that I was truly suspecting him of anything, but even with having explained to him, his change of heart was surprising to say the least. With my fingers still wrapped around the aged handle of the door, I soon came to reply to his apology, a soft bow coming from my head in generous response.

"..It's alright.
"Don't worry about it, Akatome."

I spoke such words weakly (Yet still subtlety enthusiastic) despite believing some degree of his apology.

"I'll see you in a little while, then."

And then, pushing open the door before me, I allowed Akatome once last glance from my face, before I moved out in to the rain, and elsewhere in to the village. The last thing that he'd see was the ocean of blonde hair disappearing in to the gloomy mist that hung over the village.

EXIT!

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[Arcadia]

"Indeed you will, Blanche." I said as I returned to my feet and placed my hat back on my head. There was only the faintest hint of something sinister in my voice, but by the time I'd said the words my door had nearly closed and Blanche had been out of sight.

(exit)

[King]

Blanche 53
Yahiko 43