Overlapping Miracles
~ Chapter 22 ~
~The outskirts of Fire Country ~ Approximately one hour till Izuna's salvation ~
"Relax yourself Uchiha." Ordered Daiki. "I understand your predicament, but this clenching around my neck isn't helping."
The duo have been traveling a few hours now and Madara's tense brooding over his younger brother's situation has given the Great Lord a headache.
Not hearing Daiki's words, Madara's thoughts remain occupied. ' Don't worry Little Brother, I'm on my way. Your message was brief, but those words...'
A jolt, the sudden impact of Daiki making an especially obnoxious leap yanks Madara from his morose thoughts. "Must you be so rough?"
"Oh sure, THAT gets your attention." said Daiki irritably. "It's nice to know you've so thoroughly ignored my helpful life advice. If you'd been paying attention, roughly seventy percent of all your life's trouble would be as good as resolved."
Recognizing the sights around them are becoming increasingly familiar, Madara relaxes slightly. "Is that right? With all due respect Lord Daiki, I don't understand why you care," he said pointedly.
"I don't Human. It's just... Well call me sentimental but my Ruki is getting to be that age and I wanted to practice for when he inevitably comes to me for advice.
"I figured if my words screw you up well that can be what's called a "teachable moment" for me. I'll learn from that and be sure NOT to give my son whatever advice got you killed," responded Daiki. His bluntness astounded Madara.
"I'll be sure to keep that in mind." Madara murmured under his breath. "Wonderful." ' At least he's honest, such transparency is- I recognize that too! Hang on Izuna, the parting river is near, it won't be long now.'
~
~ Oasis ~ The Grand Manor ~
Shiro Uzumaki, formerly White Zetsu is feeling... Irritated.
On the one hand, you could argue things are going better for him and his siblings than he dreamed possible... Still it's always the "little things" that make him wonder if this was a mistake.
' Too late now, I got us this far, all I can do is pray the irritant makes himself scarce.' Thought Shiro. Behind his gentle, accommodating grin, the annoyance he feels for this "Wagamaru" can't be overstated.
' Mother above, we get it already, Father practically raised him. A stand in for the extra children Kyou always wanted. I swear this... envy I feel for him is going to destroy everything Reiji and I have built. Not to mention Sakuya's contributions.'
Though his animosity for the audacious Wagamaru is getting ever harder to conceal, Shiro is proud of himself. ' Good job me. Here I've had so many opportunities to kill him and fought past each impulse. No would have even known.'
Assessing the conversation before him, Shiro realizes his sister is telling their guests about Lady Ryoko. ' Ah yes, the woman who introduced us to "Lord Raizen", our adopted father.'
' What a useful man he proved to be. I regret dismissing Ryoko, but how were Reiji and I to know the matron had such valuable connections? She didn't look particularly princessy... Still shame on me for not doing my due diligence.'
" I always adored her." Said Sakuya fondly. "Even before she brought us before Papa Raizen- Apologies, Father. I understand it wasn't your fault, but in your absence, Lord Raizen... He was a wonderful paternal figure."
"I don't hold it against you. Any of you. He kept you all safe and I'm forever grateful to him. I'm sure when Reiji gets back from his honeymoon he'll have... words for me, but I'll take it head-on." Assured Kyou.
"Thank you." Sakuya said carefully. "He was a good man, the best sort of noble. I only wish my fruit could have done more for him. Like Lady Ryoko. These days the matron is unrecognizable. So revitalized she could pass for her own daughter."
"That's not your fault Songbird," interjected Shiro.
Committed to his "role" as a supportive big brother, Shiro elaborates.
" The man was over ninety years old when he died, if anything the fruit your chakra birthed, bought him a good half-decade longer than he would have otherwise.
"Remember when Raizen signed the papers adopting me as his heir and Reiji as spare he thought he had a few months left at best."
" I remember perfectly Brother. We were a means to an end.
"We three were a trump card to keep his wealth from being absorbed by the reigning Daimyo." Sakuya replied solemnly.
"I know that. Yet despite everything, he never ceased to make us feel loved. Wanted."
"That's fair Songbird, Reiji and I agreed out of pragmatism, but we'll always respect his memory.
"Our work with Shinobi wasn't going as well as we hoped.
"Sure Reiji and I were doing perfectly fine, but our ally's numbers were shrinking too quickly for comfort.
"Master Ikuna our leader, make no mistake, she was doing everything "right". The problem was that with so much competition, our Ninja forces lacked real "ability" to remain relevant.
"Not as mercenaries who must consistently on the move.
"When he first made contact with us through Lady Ryoko...To say Father Raizen's protection and influence was "merely" miraculous would be a gross understatement."
"Right Brother, Security Corps...
"The police overhaul. Papa's titles allowed us to legitimize your "ideal system".
"Im not ungrateful, all in all it was a wonderful achievement.
It's no lie or exaggeration to say Oasis has never been safer.
"And I've sat in on many of her lessons, Lady Ikuna is a wonderful instructor for initates and beyond...
"Yes, herself and the remaining remants of your official Shinobi days have proven a genuine asset to our once overly simplistic police force.
And of course with our friend Negiro's recent ascension, things have only improved all the more..."
"But personally, I'd rather credit Lord Raizen's name and memory with the lake." Sakuya acknowledged.
"It feels less... transactional? More like a proper expression of family."
"Papa's encouragement... Lady Ryoko's opera lessons... I wanted nothing more than for Pa- for him to see it with his own two eyes."
Though the nostalgia in Sakuya's dew-drop voice catches Wagamaru's interest, it's the name Ryoko that truly piques his attention.
"This "Ryoko" whom you speak of, I assume you're referring to the matron of the Children's Shelter, from what you and your brother have said, she has paticularly strong ties to Wind nobility...
"Any relation to the Songstress who originated the role of the Firebird?"
"The very same! You're over twenty-five, that means-! Oh please pardon my rudeness but you seen her live?" Asked Sakuya excitedly.
Her delight and energetic enthusiasm at this shift in topic is palpable.
Wagamaru nodded eagerly. "I was a young teenager. Uncle here took me to her final performance for my birthday. She was magnificent!
"Dare I say it, she's the one "true" Firebird. None of her successors can seem to hold a candle to her legacy. It's really no surprise it didn't maintain an audience. "
Doing her very best to avoid Kyou's saddening eyes and unwarranted guilty expression, (for she knows now that the unfortunate situation was never his fault) Sakuya replies gently.
" What a beautiful memory that must be for you Wagamaru. Im sure you'll cherish it always."
"As to your comment, it makes sense! The role of the Firebird was written specifically for Lady Ryoko's enchanting voice...
"Quite frankly the Firebird is well and truly "hers".
The role of Princess Resea is more flexible of course and in that sense, "up for grabs" but in regards to the Firebird herself, well, no matter how talented they can never capture that same "aura" of legitimacy.
"It's probably not "fair" but I don't make the rules!"
Ah! Is there any greater compliment?"
"Obviously I already knew she retired from operatic performance.
"Only a few years before my brothers and I arrived at the shelter, but Lady Ryoko was always willing to sing for us.
"So willing to teach, she was practically a mentor to me." Sakuya said happily.
" Then she is- err, was related to this Lord Raizen?" confirmed Wagamaru.
"Oh yes, half-siblings. Lady Ryoko was always several decades younger than Papa Raizen.
"Like him, she came here to avoid the usual infighting between legitimate royal children and those born to concubines.
" I'm sure you can imagine, with all the infighting, it gets quite ugly." Sakuya shuddered.
"Life in Wind's imperial household is no joke."
"Ah yes, I suppose that brings us to the OTHER reason, Reiji and I accepted." Shiro said bluntly.
"Reiji and I weren't about to risk that sort of misery being Sakuya's fate.
"Now that we are "too closely" related, Sakuya is no longer a viable candidate. Apologies, but I'll never be sorry.
"Not even if that decision interferes with any political aspirations you may have for Wind." Shiro said cautiously.
"Not at all. I absolutely get it, Shiro. Believe me, you did the right thing. It's very much looked down upon in Uzushio too.
"Only the weakest-willed invite such strife and drama into their household.
"It's counterproductive to any harmonious enviorment, especially for the nobility who are intended to represent the best of humanity."
"Never apologize for protecting your sister from a vicious, unforgiving environment where competition is impossible to avoid. The short-term benefits aren't worth it.
"Not knowing that inevitably she'd be yanked into a petty, but surely lethal squabble over a hedonist incapable of loving any of them," Kyou said approvingly.
"I truly am proud of you, for thinking long-term."
"That is exactly how Reiji and I saw it, thank you for understanding." Shiro said shyly.
His father's sincere praise genuinely made him feel warm inside and our.
' Reiji will be pleased too. Our public "excuse" is far more popular and respectable than even we anticipated. ' thought Shiro.
"Well you saw things correctly. It's an easy trap to fall into, but thank goodness you didn't trip it."
Kyou wrapped his arm affectionately around Shiro's shoulder and firmly squeezed.
"You are a reliable eldest brother. I can't wait to meet Reiji proper." Kyou's inflection reflected his sincerity.
Noding attentively Shiro is assuring. "Reiji must have received my update by now. He has his honeymoon to focus on but I'm sure he is looking forward to it as well Father." His voice is soft, it took all Shiro's efforts not to lean too far into Kyou's embrace.
~