Blood In The Sand

[PROLOGUE - THE BEGINNING]

END

"Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust. Our special game begins now."

"And so," A woman with a soft, gentle-spoken voice smiled, caressing the flowers of a cherry blossom delicately. "The Konoha Crush comes to an end. The Hidden Sand has failed. How shall they fare in their weakened state, I wonder? How will they face the Daimyo, who they have offended, and who shall the failure be blamed on?"

A pair of shears were all she held as she snipped off a branch, placing it in a vase. "The story is just beginning. Rena walks free, uncaptured, but the threat of her mother is looming- a tale she still has no knowledge of. Her memories of the Voice taken from her, how will she ever find out the truth now? Now that Gaara has finally proclaimed his love, how will she deal with her arranged marriage to Kankuro? Can Gaara repair the mistakes of the past…? Is Ikari's allegiance to Rena a lie? Is he true in his motivations?"

She laughed delicately, her shoulders shaking. Her white hair was strung loosely behind her shoulders as she placed the shears down, entering her small shack and setting a fire under her cooking-pot. "There's still so much left to your story, Rena Hikari. It's so entertaining to watch… forgive me for not intervening. I hope that… without my intervention, you can fix the misdeeds of a past far beyond you and in the process avoid the mistakes my brother and I have made…"

FIND OUT NEXT IN SEASON ONE...

[VOLUME ONE - THE YORU ATTACK.]

"I want to become… the Kazekage!"

Theme Of Season 1:

[Miku-tan] Egoselfish PV (English Cover) Check it out!

Gaara, Temari, Kankuro and Rena had successfully escaped the Hidden Leaf. There was nobody coming after them, which meant that either the Hidden Sand had been chased out, or it had been victorious. Temari doubted the latter enough that she didn't quite want to see the damage done when she got home and they were surely going to get a lecture from her father, but seeing Gaara smile as he did when he was a child… it was surely worth those losses.

It had seemed like they ventured far enough to take a rest, so they did so on a well-trodden path to the Hidden Sand. Surely, if they waited here, they'd run into someone returning from the Hidden Leaf and they'd know the results of the battle. Theirs wasn't exactly the best, but nobody had known it would turn out like this.

As Temari tended to Rena, her hands stopped, causing the girl to look at her as she drank from one of the group's waterskins. "What about Su, Tsukiyomi and Suno? How will we explain to Sansa about the switch?" It was true- they had just left them there, but there had been no time to think about it. They weren't a part of the Hidden Sand, not like Rena had been before. It wasn't like Su would be joining them, after all.

"I took care of that. I trust Ikari to get them out of the Hidden Leaf and return them to the Hidden Sand."

"You entrusted them to that guy!?" Kankuro chided as he stepped away from Gaara, who had recovered significantly faster than Rena did. "Come on, don't tell me you did something so ridiculously stupid!"

Rena looked down at the ground, struggling to stand as Temari helped her up. "I believe that Ikari will come through."

"He might share your last name, but he's totally shady! Anyone can see that!"

"Kankuro…" Gaara finally spoke up. There hadn't really been any discussion until now, but his voice reminded Kankuro of his brother telling Rena that he loved her. He wanted to shut it out, but it echoed in his mind. No… Rena was going to be his wife. It had already been decided, by Sansa and everything. He wouldn't just give that up because his brother thought he loved her. Even though being fickle was never a part of Gaara's personality in the first place, there was no guarantee he wouldn't just revert to the way he was before. "Don't bother her. She's hurt."

Rena took a glance at Gaara, slightly uncertain of how to approach him. That was the first time he spoke out in her defence… and in a caring way, as well. As their eyes met, he looked away, seemingly not wanting to catch her gaze. Really… how was she supposed to deal with this new Gaara? It was the smile of before, but he seemed to be quieter… calmer. His child self had always been upbeat and talkative, but gentle and reserved at the same time. She'd love him no matter what, but what if… she said something wrong…? What if he became who he was, ensnared in suffering, like before? It was new… terrifying… and exciting. Purple spread across her cheeks.

"Ah?! Do you have a fever?!" Kankuro rushed up to her, feeling her forehead. "No! You can't be sick or anything, right?!"

"Relax, Kankuro." Temari was reaching her limit with her brother. He was always so over the top. "You shoving your hand in her face doesn't help her." She slapped it away and he drew back, the expression on his face like that of a hurt puppy. Rena kind of felt bad for him- he tended to lack all of the luck in the world.

"It's alright, Kankuro, I'm not sick." A gentle smile crossed her face as she took his hand in hers, patting it. He blushed.

Gaara watched the exchange. She had always been kind, but feeding into Kankuro's affection for her would simply end in every other way; marriage. It still stung, even now. He just didn't want to admit it to himself back then, he didn't want to tell her he loved her and as a result, he lost her before anything even started. His declaration of love… would it last? He wasn't really experienced in love. He doubted he could compete against anyone, including Kankuro, despite his tendency to be a moron.

As the three recovered their energy for the last burst of the trip, they heard footsteps… and loud talking.

"You're a moron!"

"No, you're a moron!"

"No, you're both morons!" As the party of four came into view, Su turned around, finally having enough of Suno and Ikari's constant bickering. She turned, in a completely opposite direction to either of them, staring at a pair of trees and pointing. "You've been morons! You'll stay morons! Shut up!"

The party went silent, but Tsukiyomi leaned her head to the side, seemingly eager to participate. "No, I am a moron."

That was enough for everyone in the vicinity to burst out into laughter, save for Tsukiyomi and Gaara. Even Su simply giggled slightly.

"Says you, you can't even turn and look at us properly, you have to accuse the trees! No matter how many drugs you're on, Su… they've had to have worn off by now…! Unless you keep taking drugs as we go… where are you hiding them, Su?! You can't have an addiction!" As Suno snatched her bag, she did her best to retrieve it. Suno kept it away from her but as he did, Tsukiyomi's foot shot out, tripping him and causing him to fall on Su with an oof.

"Tsukiyomi!" Rena had never been gladder to see a friendly face as she rushed to hug her friend. Tsukiyomi's face, as Rena got closer to he, had an outstretched smile, a look of genuine, gentle admiration in her eyes. As they embraced one another, Rena let her head rest on Tsukiyomi's chest. "You're safe!"

"Hey! What about me?!" Suno snapped, sitting upright. "You're happy about me being safe too, right, Master?" The look of absolute contempt on Rena's face was enough to make him shrink back, tears forming in the corners of his eyes. "What did I do wrong…?"

She didn't reply, walking away from Suno. The party of four had become a party of eight. As everyone met up with one another, exchanging greetings and more, Temari was the first to speak. "So… is this where we part?"

A silence hung over the group. They really would be expected to split up and go their separate ways, wouldn't they? The mere implications left a heavy silence hanging over the group. "I don't have a village, nor do I have anywhere to go. I pledged myself to Rena. I follow her." Ikari spoke first, gaining Kankuro's ire.

"We can't guarantee you won't get bullied!" He snapped, waving his arms about like a crazy man.

"You can't guarantee I won't be the one doing the bullying, you mean?" Damn, of course he wouldn't get bullied… with his fight with Su, he was more than likely the one to be pushing others around. Kankuro had to be mindful of this guy…

"I cannot return to my village…" Su replied, her voice quiet, the slight melody of it carrying through the area. "I, too, shall follow Rena." Not to mention… although her face was blank, she couldn't deny Kankuro's kind voice. It sort of made her feel strangely bubbly inside and she didn't want to give that up just yet, either.

Temari sighed, rubbing her forehead with her palm. "I guess… it can't be helped, then, can it? Rena, do you pick up strays wherever you go?" Rena shrugged, giving Temari an honest apology smile. "You'll probably be interrogated ruthlessly by the Black Ops. Are you both prepared for that?"

"A little bit of torture can't scare me." Ikari rolled his eyes, walking past Temari. "I have nothing to hide."

"You'll probably be vilified for abandoning your villages. Are you prepared for Suna nobility to look down on you?"

"My…" Su began, but she abruptly cut off that thought. "I'm prepared." She settled on the next best thing, knowing that nobody's opinion would hold her back from following the one she considered precious to her. She still felt the burden of guilt from failing the Chuunin Exams, to which she felt the growing need to apologize for. She approached Rena, her expression one of sadness as she grabbed onto the girl's hand. "I'm… sorry for failing you ...!" She hoped that Rena would still allow her to follow in her footsteps.

A hand cupped her cheek. Rena stared at Su, before a smile broke across her voice, which was lighthearted and full of what Su could only assume what people attributed the sun to. What had the word been? That was right… sunshine. "It's alright! Although you didn't win, you still fought the hardest you can and I think giving it your all is much cooler than just succeeding. Sansa always said that challenge paved the path to improvement!"

"Damn straight I did." Sansa stepped out from behind a tree, not a scratch on her. Baki stepped away from the other side, crossing his arms, his face sullen. Temari and Kankuro stood up, fast, eagerly waiting for information about the Konoha Crush. Gaara listened in, his eyes moving in conjunction with an ant crawling across the ground. Seeing them listen for the results, Sansa sighed. "The Hidden Sand failed."

"What?!" Temari knew that it had been a gamble- but this? The blowback was going to hit the Hidden Sand, fast and hard. "But...how?"

"Orochimaru retreated due to an injury. The Konoha forces received powerful reinforcements beyond a mere Sand nin's capabilities to fight. The Hidden Sound followed him. There was no choice other than to give up on the desired outcome."

"Cut our losses and run, huh?" Kankuro's fists tightened. If only he'd been stronger...No, there was no time to regret the past. He'd have to get stronger now.

"If we had the support of those still in the academy…"

"Baki." Sansa's eyes narrowed as she shot a pointed glance at him. "Those students are part of the elite and those lucky enough for a recommendation from the Kazekage himself. They are Sunagakure's future. We couldn't have them die to something like this- some needed to stay behind. Besides, if a Jonin couldn't defeat them, what makes you think a Genin could?"

"The academy…?" Rena piped up, curiosity taking over her. A place to learn more techniques?

Sansa turned to her daughter, sighing, shaking her head. "You won't be allowed in, Rena. It's only for the nobility and those the Kazekage himself recognized."

"Then I'll just get the Kazekage to recognize me!"

The silence after that statement was unnerving as Sansa looked away. Temari took a step forward. "What…? What's wrong? I've never seen you go so silent…"

Kankuro was alarmed, as well. "Did something happen to our father?"

Sansa rubbed the back of her head, before taking the time to glance at Baki. He nodded. "Well… We thought your father had come to Konoha for the Chuunin Exams…"

"Thought? What do you mean, thought?"

"Orochimaru revealed himself as Lord Kazekage… Currently, even I don't know where Rasa is."

"Impossible!" Kankuro snarled, walking up to Sansa. "You have to know where our father is! You're the head of the Black Ops! You can't just-"

"Kankuro!" Baki said sharply as Kankuro had placed his hands on her shirt, pulling her closer as he glared at her. "That's enough. We're in the presence of outsiders." Baki placed a hand on Kankuro's shoulder as the boy loosened his grip on Sansa, the worry on his face apparent.

"Rena… and now my father… what are we going to do about-" Fear pierced through his body as Sansa's expression changed. He had almost made the mistake of revealing the secret Rena was not supposed to know and her face alone was giving him a warning. If he spoke another word, he'd regret it. It didn't matter if he was the eldest son of the Kazekage or not. "N-Nevermind." He backed away, but not before Sansa addressed him… and seemingly, the rest who knew the secrets Rena held.

"We'll speak about this later. For now, we need to get back to the Hidden Sand. We're still in the border of the Land of Fire, something I'm sure I don't have to tell you is dangerous. If they decide to come after us… we may lack the ability to fend them off."

Everyone took a moment to process this information. The loss was rather difficult and it would certainly reflect badly… but Temari knew a deeper truth, one she was sure Baki and Sansa would understand. Their failure would be attributed to Gaara not following the plan… and them for not enforcing it.

The party began to walk, but Sansa stopped, her eyes shifting to the Tsukiyomi and Su. "So, when are you planning on telling me that you switched the one you came with to another participant?"

Rena froze. "I-I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh, really?" She crossed her arms, pacing back and forth in front of Su and Tsukiyomi. "Tsukiyomi?"

"Yes?" Su and Tsukiyomi said at the same time, only for Su to look at Tsukiyomi, who had no knowledge of whether she was doing something wrong or not. Sansa took her time to turn to Rena, raising her eyebrows as if to say, 'Got an explanation for this, then?'

"Tsukiyomi got injured and Su…" Rena wasn't really sure what to say. "Well, she got injured saving Su." Temari and Kankuro hadn't heard this part before. "We didn't really mean for it to happen, but there was a squad of Genin in our path and they were being attacked by this much older man…"

"So you attacked the man?"

"Y-Yeah… at first, it looked like we were about to lose. He was really strong, but Tsukiyomi… she…"

"You're a fool." Sansa's sharp words bit into Rena; the girl winced before her enraged mother. "Letting a shinobi of another nation fight for the Hidden Sand?! Attacking someone whose business you don't know?! What if his village sanctioned that attack? What if you just started a war?"

"I'm sorry…"

"All I want is for you to think before you act! This world is a hard place, with harsh consequences! You can't just live in a dream, pretending like the rules don't apply to you!" She gestured to Tsukiyomi. "I was in the middle of getting her citizenship in Suna. Rena, our people were watching those exams! If I present Tsukiyomi to them, they're going to wonder why the hell Su was in her place!"

"But… her teammates were dying… I couldn't just let her be…!"

Sansa sighed, pinching her nose between her forefinger and her thumb. "No more words from you, do you understand me? No more trouble, either. Whatever I ask of you, no matter what it is, you will complete the task quietly. It doesn't matter if you don't like it or don't want it. You have to learn that even though I am harsh on you, it is simply because I care enough to be."

"Yes… Sansa."

"From now on, you are no longer a shinobi."

"What?!" Rena's eyes widened in despair. "But- you can't!"

"I can and I will. You will not be endangering yourself. You don't even have a proper education. You should focus more on honing the skills of a housewife; you'll be married to Kankuro in three months, as I'm sure you've been told. Your only duty to this village now is to produce an heir for the next Kazekage!"

Rena wanted to argue, but she couldn't. She knew her mother had more power than her. Even though she had done so well in the Chuunin Exams, even though she had fought her very best…! Still, Sansa didn't want her to become the shinobi she knew she could be! "I hate you, Sansa!" Rena snapped, turning around, rage in her eyes as she body flickered away. Kankuro reached out to her and Sansa nodded for him to go ahead along with her. As Gaara stood, Sansa glared at him.

"As for you… your contact with my daughter ends here. You are to be nothing more than an estranged brother-in-law. If you care about my daughter, if you've ever cared about her, you, more than anyone else, should know that being involved with you… will be the end of her." Her harsh words hurt, more than anything else, but he was realizing- such was true. If he got any more involved with her than he already was, his future was unsteady. Unstable. Kankuro was next in line for Kazekage, even though he wanted to become a pillar of his village. His path was going to be lined with pain, suffering and enduring the treatment the others in his village gave him. If Rena could have any kind of stability… if Rena could just live the rest of her life smiling… he'd never look at another. He'd simply do what he could to improve her life, even if that meant pairing her with someone else.

Even if it meant watching the person he loved from a distance.

His head turned to the direction she went in, sweet sorrow filling him, yearning and suffering being experienced all in one. This exquisite feeling… the one he had been shutting out… was one he had not missed. But he could not harm her the way he had during the Chuunin Exams. He'd never make her cry again.

Tsukiyomi, Suno, Su, and Ikari passed him by, all of them but Ikari looking rather sullen. Ikari was impossible to read, but Sansa slammed her hand on his shoulder. "And you… I promised you something, didn't I?"

It was like a flash as Ikari's blood burst from his side, forming a shield as the kunai Sansa had tried to impale him with failed to connect. She jumped back, making her hand signs as the others suddenly backed up, shocked. Even Baki didn't know what to do in this case. Ikari's blood circulated around him as he moved his arms, a delicate dance of black. "Attacking a mere Genin? How shameful of you. I've done nothing to antagonize you."

"Your presence antagonizes me."

"Is that a good enough reason to threaten my life?"

"Wait." Tsukiyomi stepped up, despite Suno trying to pull her back. She stepped in between the two. "I see no need for this conflict."

"Out of the way. If you think I won't cut down an outsider, you're wrong." It was true; there was nothing left of Sansa but killing intent now that Rena had left them. In fact, that might have been her true intention all along. Temari, on the other hand, was concerned. Sansa had the eye and semi-support of most of the council, even if she didn't agree with sending assassins after Gaara. Despite her lowborn outsider status previously, she had proved herself to the Hidden Sand. Not to mention, the place beside him Rasa had saved her and Baki. If Sansa wanted something to happen, it was sure to happen within reason.

"Please cease and desist. This Genin assisted us in escaping the Hidden Leaf."

"Why should I care about what a Genin does to help outsiders?"

"Because, although he could have cut his losses and not gotten involved… he did so, after pledging his services to our Master. Therefore, to me, he is an integral part in protecting her." Her eyelids came down, almost as if she looked bored. "And therefore… he is an asset. And a threatened asset isn't a good idea."

"Woah, Tsukiyomi, you're seriously not thinking of fighting her?!" Suno chimed in, only for Tsukiyomi to glance at him. "Nope. No way. I'm not joining in on this! Stop looking at me like that, I know our purpose…! Hey…! I told you to stop… ugh… fine." Suno begrudgingly stepped beside Tsukiyomi, rubbing the back of his head. "Hey, does this really have to happen? You sure you can't just come to an agreement or part ways or something?"

"Sansa." This time it was Baki who spoke up. "Although I understand your reservations, we have more important things to do in the Hidden Sand." Sansa tch'd, spinning her kunai as she dropped it back into her pouch, speed walking past them.

"As much as I hate to cut this interaction short, Baki is correct. There are more pressing matters… but don't think this is over." Her glare caused chills to run down Ikari's spine. Of course, she had served the Blood Empress. Someone so prone to violence and bloodshed… someone who would even kill a child simply because she felt antagonized by them… Sansa Hikari was definitely someone to be wary of. As she body flickered away, Gaara followed, with the rest slowly ebbing away into a rush back to the Hidden Sand.

As they approached the Hidden Sand, the group finally slowed down. Rena was charging ahead, her anger still seething. She slowed, however, when she saw a slew of ANBU and an old woman. She didn't recognize her in the slightest.

"Lady Merui, to what do we owe this pleasure of you meeting us at the gates?" Baki asked, as polite as could be. Sansa lacked respect so, around officials, he was usually the one doing the talking.

"ANBU business." The old woman curtly replied. "Are you Rena Hikari?" She asked, clearly trying to get to the point. Rena glanced around, but for some reason, she felt like this wasn't a good thing.

"I am… yeah."

"Detain her."

"Yes, Lady Merui!"

As the ANBU advanced, both Temari and Kankuro attempted to move to stop them.

"Stop!" Sansa snapped, causing the ANBU to pause. They looked between Merui and Sansa, but they didn't know who to obey.

"Are you halting ANBU operations, Sansa? No, more importantly, are you defying the absolute order of the Elder Council?" Merui looked as if she had stepped in something nasty as she addressed Sansa, despite their similar level of control over the ANBU.

"Absolute? As far as I know, you have no power unless there is no Kazekage." Sansa paused. "And as far as I know, we still have one."

"The report of the events in the Hidden Leaf has come to light. The Hidden Sand has declared a state of emergency. In this trying time, while we search for our beloved Kazekage, I am afraid that the Elder Council shall take his place to make sure Suna runs smoothly."

Bullshit. Sansa knew that wasn't the case. The Elder Council held many snakes, almost all of them bending to Merui's will. She was, after all, the wife of the head of the Hebidoku Family. The fact either of these fossils hadn't kicked the bucket yet made Sansa's life hard, especially when they were snakes out to conquer Suna for their own purposes. "On what charge are you detaining my daughter in the light of day using our Black Ops? Don't you think this is a little... public?"

"Rena Hikari is found suspicious of being involved in the disappearance of the Kazekage and complying with Orochimaru to conspire against the Hidden Sand. When we interrogate her and find her guilty, she will be… eliminated."

"That's impossible!" Kankuro yelled, stepping in front of Sansa. "You can't!"

"Esteemed oldest son of the Lord Kazekage, please understand. We are doing this for you, and by extension, the village's future."

"Our father would never allow this!" Temari pitched in, erecting a glare from the elder.

"Well, it's unfortunate that your father isn't here, then." It was an innocent statement to anyone but the people here now. She was essentially telling them that they could do nothing. As much as the Kazekage's children might wish it to be true, they have far less sway than a member of the Elder Council. As long as they remain respected, there are no issues. Tsukiyomi stepped up, more than ready to fight, but Suno pulled her back and whispered something to her. She went docile, staring off into the distance. "Take her away."

The ANBU body flickered, taking Rena with them. Merui's reign of terror wasn't over yet, though, as the party moved forward to rush into the Hidden Sand. "Stop." She rose her hand. "As of this moment, effective immediately, there are no outsiders to be entering or leaving the Hidden Sand while we investigate further. Elder Council's decree." Sansa wished she could punch that smug smirk off of Merui's face, but she had to bide her time.

"Baki, go and find out more details. Attempt to get her a fair trial." He nodded, vanishing into thin air. "I'll see what I can do on my side. Kids… stay out of trouble." As they walked forward, Sansa passed Temari. "It's been so long since you returned to the Hidden Sand, Temari. Why don't you explore the lily gardens by the outer eastern wall?" Temari wasn't really sure what Sansa meant by that, but surely she had an actual reason for saying so. She watched as Sansa body-flickered away, simply for Merui to turn around and walk into the Village.

Temari half-turned to the others as she watched Merui walk away. When she had finally disappeared beyond what they could see, she spoke up. "Let's go to the eastern outer wall."

"But, Rena's in danger! The hell are we doing looking at lilies?" Kankuro snapped.

"Although I hate to agree with Kankuro, I agree with Kankuro. We shouldn't be wasting our time on flowers." Ikari clearly had reservations about supporting a single thought that came from Kankuro as he bitterly reinforced that himself.

"Shut up and do what I say, Kankuro. Ikari, you can follow or not, but I intend on helping Rena with or without your help."

Who knew that they'd have prisons within the walls? Rena struggled against her restraints, trying to loosen them up from cutting off her circulation. They had been unnecessarily rough with her, to boot. This was so awful… to think, she had so many things in her head that needed to be addressed, including the fact she wasn't allowed to be a shinobi, and she was facing death. She heard footsteps as her head perked up; was it someone she knew?

No, it was a random man she had never seen before. As she stared at him, he spat in her face; she could feel it sliding down her cheek as she gave the man a glare, which he returned. "Betraying scum like you won't be protected by anyone."

"I didn't betray anyone," Rena replied, only for the man to shrug as he fastened gloves to his hands. "Aren't you supposed to be more partial to your own?"

"You've been an outsider for a long time. Who knows if you're actually you? That's what I've been told to find out. Anything you're hiding, anything you're keeping, I will find out eventually… so you may want to confess."

"Confess…? To what?!" Rena had no damn idea what was going on! Why couldn't the return to the Hidden Sand after such a loss be peaceful? Surely, the group… and especially Gaara… deserved that much. As the man picked up a relatively sharp object, facing her, a twisted grin spread across his face. Rena's face fell as her eyes widened, terror coursing through her veins.

S͏͎͖͙̪̗q҉͉̖ui̳͇̟̘̖̼ͅŕ͎̜̘̠̫m͔̀i̢̻͔̤̲̜̙̲n̫g͜ ͉̜̣͕ṯ̦̼̹̳h̘̦̭͕͡rou̝̙̺̫̳̯̕g̪h̼ͅ ͏̯̤͉t̬͍̜͙͔̹h̙̼̻̱̤̼͟e d̸͓̜i̵̪͙͍̬̺͎r͍̟̙̺͚͢t.

Her breathing grew rapid and heavy as he got closer, wanting to scream aggressively loud as he came closer. She knew what came next. But, without a doubt, her screams here would mean nothing just as they did there.

I ͖͚ͅc̝͙ͅa̝͈͇ṉ͓̯'͇͔̳̩̙t̞͙̖̝̝̲͉͠ ̨̣̬̬ͅs͚̩̹̯̲̞̦t҉͚ͅo̴͍p̱̰͖̭̣ ̥t̨͖̭̙̻͉̟͙h̻̙͉̦͉͞e͏͚̱͕̯̲͕ ̵b̖̦l̤͖̗̹̖è̦̭̮̫̙̞ͅe̠̮͎̫̪d̕i̗̩͚̩͖͞ͅn̵̪̥̹̘̳̟g͍̥.

It was like static noise in her head as she began to panic, struggling against her restraints with all she had. No! No, no, no, no, no! As the knife pressed into her arm, the cold steel of the blade ready to penetrate, gently poking into her and letting a drop of blood swell underneath the point of the blade, the door swung open with a clang as it hit the wall.

"Stop."

Owari walked through the hall, a seagull squawking as it flew by the open-pillar holes in the mountain. The ocean clashed against the rocks below, the sound only overtaken by the door rolling shut and the seals being reactivated as it disappeared. A young man walked across the length of the hallway, to which Owari stopped and waited for him, her usual smile painted on her face as she observed his rather robotic gait.

He kneeled before her, bowing his head. "Lady Owari. The Hikari Clan welcomes you upon your return and there are many things you need to address. Most of them are waiting in the Grand Hall." As she wrapped her nails around his chin, raising his head and turning it from side to side, he had no objections- nothing but a blank stare on his face. It was as if he didn't even acknowledge being touched.

"Taishō. How have you been, waiting for me to return?"

"Lady Owari. The Hikari Clan has long awaited your return. There are many things you must address. Please continue on to the Grand Hall and do so." He robotically repeated his previous sentence, the same blank stare remaining- it was as if he was an automatic message on repeat. She tapped his chin and he arose, blankly staring ahead.

"Lead the way, Taishō. You never change; even that is amusing. You're like a helpless dog, living merely for your purpose, leeching at the feet of your masters and clinging to something bigger than yourself. No- not even a dog, you couldn't be- you're a mere doll, a puppet at best. Could you truly be called a living creature?" Despite her belittling, Taishō didn't even blink. He showed no emotional or physical reaction as he continued walking on. Owari's smile widened.

"Taishō! Tasihō!"

"Have you prepared snacks for our return? Tell us you have or suffer punishment!"

"Torture! We'll torture you, we swear!"

"Nanimonai, Subete, Taishō has important things to do. He can't play with you today." The two turned to Owari, their eyes watering with tears as they began to cry.

"B-But Taishō is the only one who ever plays with us!"

"He never tells us no for needle torture!"

"That's because he's physically incapable of saying no to a member of the Hikari Clan." Owari's eyes moved to Taishō, watching as he moved, knowing he would do nothing and say nothing in his current situation. "He is both an object and a servant. Yet, in a way, he is the most important member of this clan, for reasons I'm sure you know."

Nanimonai tilted their head, before hopping and bouncing up to Taishō's side, trying to get his attention. "Oh, I know the answer! It's because Taishō is our library!"

"Correct!" Owari gestured to him, "Even though he is our library, no matter what one of us demands, whether it be to satisfy carnal lust, a punching bag for boiling rage, a companion to listen to all of your secrets… Taishō cannot deny any of us." Her eyes boiled with excitement, bursting through her. Her cheeks flushed, her breath was heavy. "But he can betray all of us! Isn't that exciting?! Even though any of us can be so intimate with him, even though he can't deny us, he can screw us all in the end! That's ..." She let out a laugh, tilting her head back. "That's the glamorous excitement of the base nature of humanity! That's the perfection of living this life! Hope… despair… both are two sides of the same coin and Taishō is a constant reminder that in the end, love, bonds, none of it matters…! We all run in circles simply to reach the same conclusion anyway!"

"Lady Owari, you're very excited!" Subete said, bouncing beside their kin as they watched her spin in circles, laughing about the hall.

"I am… I am so excited." She looked up, but her smile had become a look of discontent. "I'm so excited, I feel like my heart could explode. I feel like my production is ready to go through the roof! But… there's nobody I can challenge. There's nobody that will properly allow me to… satisfy my true desire for high-stakes combat!" Saliva dripped from her mouth as she ran her hands up the sides of her body, tugging at the binds of her kimono to try and alleviate the heat. "Nothing is so orgasmic in comparison to a true, proper fight…"

"We have reached the Great Hall," Taishō gestured to the grand door before him, bowing. Owari loosened up, slamming her palms on the door and shoving it open, to which it did at an astonishing speed. There was no resistance the door could show that she couldn't penetrate. Three figures turned to her, casting shadows across the long floor as torches flickered next to the grand throne sitting atop a raised platform. As she strutted across the ornate carpeting, the others got on one knee as she walked by, addressing her all the same as 'Lady Owari.'

As she sat on the chair, her eyes glinting in the dim light, she placed her head in her palm, leaning on the armrest of the throne. "And what is so important, I needed to come here before anything else?"

"Hey, hey, hey!" A guy stepped up, his hair slicked back. It was uncharacteristically short for a Hikari and light blonde. "That's all you have to say after being gone for three months, Lady Owari?! We got your damn message! We even sent Fuyuki to meet you! Where's she, huh?!" He had a seemingly explosive temper, but a bemused Owari simply laughed, as her response was to most things. "And are all of the details in the message true?!"

"I've sent Fuyuki on a little errand. She'll be gone for a few months, but I've returned… for now. As for the message… yes. It is."

"Lady Owari. Please forgive me, but isn't it of utmost importance that we retrieve Lady Rena immediately? It is heavily concerning that-" The woman paused, her eyebrows twitching as Owari stared off into the distance, purposely ignoring her. "Lady… Owari. At the very least, as the head of this clan, you should very well listen to your advisor! I understand how you may want to gauge Sansa's actions and see if you shouldn't bring her back as well, but Lady Rena is an unparalleled asset that we must retrieve!"

"Huh?" Owari popped out of her zone. "Did you say something, Ubami?" The woman seemed to turn deathly pale as she walked into a corner, bopping her head against the wall, again and again, whispering and muttering to herself darkly.

"You never do anything, Ubami. Why are you so inactive, Ubami? I desire people who act, Ubami. The other members are so diligent, Ubami, so why aren't you?" She let out a loud screech, the other clan members ignoring her predicament as the final clan member stepped up. He was lanky, quiet, his eyes seeming like they didn't really want to speak up. His face was covered by a black mask, seemingly secured in place by straps that went around his ears.

Unlike the others, such as Ubami, who had purple features as an aspect of purple blood coursing through her veins and the man, who had light yellow blood, this boy had red hair… reminiscent of normal-colored blood. Owari's head moved up as she stood, stepping down from the throne as she clearly took interest in him. His eyes watched her move as she walked right up to him.

"I've procured several orphans, as per your request. They will be built into sturdy warriors and servants. We have also found several homeless and elderly, to which we have given to Gōmon. Nobody will miss the absolute trash of society."

"Good…" Owari's eyes softened as her hand raised, running through the boy's thick hair. "You're such a good boy, Shinzō. You're deserving of praise. Just like your father… you're the correct judge of talent, so of course, you would know who to pick from the streets. Don't forget… you're in charge of training those insignificants and making something out of them." A scream rang out through the halls, agonized and frantic, repeating over and over again as whoever it belonged to begged for mercy. Owari's shoulders shook. "How I missed the sounds of home… it seems like Gōmon has already gotten started." She withdrew her hand, but there was still one other matter…

"Hey! I want to be assigned somewhere. I wanna do something, Lady Owari! I'm so sick of always bein' cooped up in this fuckin' place! Come on, let me kill someone or something! Someone that can really fight back!"

"Yuki." He quieted down the minute she addressed him, her eyes like daggers as her glare intensified. "When I say you'll be needed, you'll be needed. Right now, you're completely useless to me outside…! Do you think I'd send you when I have a need for a delicate hand?! Are you… a complete moron?!" He rushed back as she burst forward, grabbing him by his shirt and pulling him closer. "Do you need more training? Should I get Gōmon to give you the full starter course?! Do you need to be trained, like a child of the Hikari?"

Sweat rolled down his face as he gulped, his teeth grinding together as he shook. "N-No. I don't. I can be patient, Owari, I swear!"

Her grip loosened, a smile on her face as she gave him an honest response. "Good! That's what I like to hear!" But her eyes went back to dead as quick as they had brightened, her voice flat and final. "And don't you forget that, Yuki."

"Yes, Lady Owari…"

"As for everyone, your orders are simple. Prepare Kyūden. Make it fit for the Hikari; make sure those servants are trained and get a head-start on the internal gardens out on the cliff. Our fortress shall not fall in the coming days; we'll need to be sure that it can withstand assault for months on end."

"Yes, Lady Owari." The Hikari shinobi body-flickered away, all heading off for their respective tasks as Owari walked down the Grand Hall.

"Our game… Sansa, don't you know the stakes?" Her hair blew in a slight breeze running through from the external hallway. "You're betting with Rena's very sense of self, you know." Her smile twisted into a cruel one, her eyes filled with sadistic excitement. "But even that… is all right! As long as it doesn't cease to be entertaining, as long as there's a chance of it absolutely destroying the Hikari… let's risk it all together!" Her wild, untamed laughter echoed throughout the halls...