Chapter Text
The afternoon sun shone through the window, the rays lighting the kitchen bench. The smell of freshly brewed tea filled the room, an aroma of the jasmine blend mixed with the subtle notes of green tea. In her hand, Sena cradled a cup, warm from the heat of the tea. Opposite her stood Neji, pouring his own cup.
‘Kyou didn’t say anything else?’ Neji asked, his brow creased.
Sena sighed. ‘No, I didn’t get a chance to press him on it I’m afraid.’ She looked down at the steam rising from her cup. ‘Shikamaru, oddly enough, had poor timing giving me a mission.’
Neji placed the teapot back on the tray.
‘The timing is interesting.’ He admitted, lifting up his cup to blow on the liquid. ‘Coincidence you think?’
Sena laughed. ‘Kyou has an interesting past, what I can tell from the things he has actually shown me anyway but I doubt he has enough influence to sway the Hokage to send me away in order to get out of his hair.’ She frowned looking at something in the distance. ‘Although I do wonder about the complete cold shoulder after everything.’
Neji took a sip of tea and nodded thoughtfully.
‘Maybe in the time you are away he’ll have another change of heart and decide to tell you everything.’
Sena smiled. ‘Since when are you an optimist?’
‘Since you decided to become a pessimist.’ He returned her smile. ‘One of us has to keep the balance.’
She reached out and took his hand with a pout.
‘I know, I just feel so childish when it’s not me keeping the balance.’
‘That’s funny, I actually enjoy it this way.’ His smile grew. ‘For a change.’
Sena gave him a playful slap on the hand.
‘I guess some time away back into doing missions will be good for getting back into a routine.’
There was a pause, the mood heavier when Neji shot her a serious look.
‘Are you going to be alright?’ He asked. ‘This isn’t just a regular mission, it’s going back to find them.’ Sena didn’t miss the emphasis on the last word. Them meant him—Deidara.
‘I accepted the mission didn’t I?’
‘Sena, that’s not an answer.’
She sighed, playing with his hand, sliding her fingertips over his.
‘I’ll be okay.’ There was a pause. ‘I would like to get closure to one part of my life at least. Especially when I can’t get it from another.’
‘Sounds like you want to run away.’ His fingers intwined tightly in hers.
‘I see it as the opposite.’ She met his stare head on. ‘I want to run head on into all of this mess and tell it “I’m ready.”’
A small smile found his lips again.
‘In that case I won’t stop you.’
Sena took a sip of tea with her brows raised.
‘Oh and you think you could if you wanted to?’
His smile grew as he leant forward.
‘I’m positive I could.’
Sena smirked, grabbing him by the collar and pulling him forward.
‘Maybe I ought to refresh your memory and remind you how strong I really am.’
Neji chuckled. ‘Maybe you should.’
Then Sena pressed her lips against his into a long, drawn out kiss. He pressed himself a little closer, hands steadying himself on the bench as not to fall into the tea. And when Sena pulled away a mere inch, her nose still brushing his with every breath, she knew she had won.
‘Careful Neji, wouldn’t want to make a mess.’
Neji sighed and retreated, careful not to knock any of the cups in the process. When he sat back he picked up his tea and had a long sip. Sena did the same, savouring the sweetness mixed with the lightness of the blend. It was delicious.
‘I expect that I will be getting a mission again soon, outside of the village I mean.’
‘Probably leading your own squad too.’ Sena downed the last of her tea and moved to put the cup in the sink.
‘That means more missions away.’ Neji commented, taking another sip of tea.
‘Yes it does and believe me long missions are overrated.’ Sena walked around to his side of the counter. ‘So don’t go missing me too much.’
‘And will you miss me?’
‘Of course.’ Sena slid her hands up his arms and over his shoulders. ‘I miss you every moment we are apart.’
Neji’s hands came to her waist as he pulled her closer.
‘Then let’s not make a habit of being apart too long.’ He pressed a chaste kiss to her lips. ‘If I had it my way we would be doing these missions together.’
‘Should I have a stern word to the Hokage for you then?’ Sena teased, pressing her forehead against his.
‘Don’t be ridiculous.’ He laughed. ‘Let’s just hope things work out in our favour.’
‘Oh, I’ll make sure they do.’
‘That I have faith in.’ He pressed another kiss to her lips. ‘I will miss you.’
‘Good.’
They met halfway for another kiss, this one a little longer and with more feeling.
As good as Sena felt in that moment she couldn’t help but think about she had found out about her mother, her father and about Kyou and what they had kept from her. Then there was her mission tracking the Akatsuki. She couldn’t help but feel something bad was coming. Something she wasn’t prepared for.
‘What is it?’ Neji asked.
Sena looked up at him. ‘I don’t know, just a feeling I guess.’
‘About the mission?’
She shook her head. ‘No, it’s about what I saw in the genjutsu.’ She frowned looking for the right words. ‘I finally got to see my mother and she was so different to how I remembered her. So cold and calculative. It makes me wonder.’
‘About what?’
‘What secrets she kept from us.’ She clutched his shirt and looked up at him. ‘What she buried so deep it made her stop talking to her parents.’ She took a deep breath. ‘And I have a feeling Kyou is keeping it from me because he doesn’t want to destroy the image I have of my parents.’
Neji looked down at her, his brow creased and his grip on her tightening.
‘What?’ Sena asked.
‘Do you want to keep looking for answers?’ Neji asked, seriously. ‘Is that something you want, finding out your parents were different before you were born?’
Sena considered the question. ‘I already know they were different. I’ve already scratched the surface of this thing and I’m afraid I can’t go back now.’
‘Alright.’ Neji pressed a kiss to her forehead. ‘I guess it’ll have to wait until you return though.’
‘You’re right.’ Sena hugged him tight. ‘For now I’ll focus on my mission.’
.x
The few years following Kyou’s vengeance numbed him.
Ultimately Hitomi had been right and Kyou was paying for the consequences of his actions tenfold. The more missions he received, the further he fell into the darkness, becoming a shell of his former self. He became a shadow.
At every opportunity Kyou was sent out on S-rank missions that had a high chance of death. Each time he came back the elders were surprised to see him. Except the Hokage— Lord Third always seemed pleased. A part of Kyou always wondered if the elders chose those missions for him on purpose, hoping he would die. Once he figured that out he decided that he would live in spite of them. It wasn’t as if he had anything else to live for.
With the money he was given, Kyou left the Matsura residence and got himself his own apartment. It wasn’t to have a home it was so he didn’t have to see his father ever again. Well, until his death bed when he would be forced to take the seal. Osamu had tried to reason with him but he was too far gone.
Now that Kyou didn’t have vengeance to guide him, he had no path other than the one provided for him. He only ever had one request: he wanted to work alone. And to his surprise it was always granted.
That was until one fateful night there was banging on his apartment door.
Woken from his slumber, Kyou stomped across the threshold and threw open the door with a murderous look. Two shinobi no older than he was stood in front of him. Their expressions full of concern, unlike the usual stone faced errand boys.
‘The Hokage calls?’ He asked, bitterly. ‘Always did pick the best times.’
‘No.’ One of the shinobi him said. ‘We came to ask for your help on a mission.’ He had soft brown eyes and dark hair.
‘Didn’t they tell you? I don’t play well with others.’ Kyou went to shut the door but the man stopped him. ‘You’re testing my patience.’
‘We know you usually work alone,’ the other shinobi stepped in, ‘but we have no one else to ask. He said if you agreed we could take you.’ He looked a little older, more sure of himself.
Kyou groaned. ‘Banging on my door in the middle of the night is a pretty poor way to make friends, you ought to remember that in the future.’ He grabbed the man’s hand and pealed it off the door. ‘Now, if you don’t mind I will be going back to sleep because like I said before, I only work alone.’
Kyou slammed the door and locked it before returning to his bed.
He hoped he had said enough to scare them off. But the next morning there was more knocking on his door. In a rage he stormed across the threshold and threw the door open.
‘Why can’t you get it through your thick heads that—’ Kyou stopped once he saw Sayuri standing there. ‘Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.’ He went to slam the door shut when she slammed her palm against it and forced it open.
‘What do you think you are doing?’
Sayuri pushed by him and entered his apartment with a scowl on her face. With a grumble he turned toward her, waiting for whatever she had come to say.
‘Spit it out.’
‘We need your help.’ She said, folding her arms. ‘The men from last night, you told them no?’
‘As I will also tell you now.’ He gestured to the door, ‘If that’s all then you can leave.’ But she made no move to leave.
‘Kyou stop feeling sorry for yourself and accept that your actions had consequences.’
Kyou laughed, darkly. ‘I am well aware that I am paying the price for my actions. I take S-rank missions whenever they order it and stay here like a loyal ninkin waiting if they don’t.’ He took a step toward her. ‘So, if you would kindly leave me to my life.’
‘I’m not leaving until you agree to help us.’
‘Then you’ll be here forever. Guess that means I need to move.’ He took another few steps toward her. ‘Perhaps you should stop feeling sorry for yourself and accept the consequences of your actions.’ He spat the words back at her with added venom.
Kyou could see the sorrow in her eyes but he didn’t care. He knew how to hit her where it hurt most and it served as payback for her betrayal.
‘I told you that the time for making deals is done.’
‘Stop it.’ Sayuri uncrossed her arms. ‘Whether you admit it or not, you and I we still understand each other. Look out for yourself and you’ll never get hurt, right?.’
‘Worked out quite well for me.’
‘Yeah,’ she snapped, ‘you’re really living it up here alone.’ Her expression softened. ‘How many missions will it take until you slip up and get yourself killed? Without having someone there to back you up it’s only a matter if time.’
Kyou gave her a dark look. ‘If you’ll recall, the last time I accepted help from someone I was chained to a bedpost and left for dead.’
‘We both know you wouldn’t have died. Just like we both know I did that for your own good.’ She took a step closer. ‘So, trust me alright? There’s no ulterior motives I could have now we are on the same side.’
Kyou considered her words carefully before he turned to the door. ‘If you won’t leave then I will.’ And with that he headed out of the apartment and slammed the door shut behind him.
.x
It was in the early hours of the morning when Sena awoke to prepare for her mission. Despite his protests, Sena willed Neji to stay in bed and rest. He compromised but watching her from bed, watching her run around to make sure her pack had everything she needed. When she was done she climbed back onto the bed and gave him a kiss.
‘I can walk you to the gate.’ He said, pushing himself upright.
‘No, it’s alright.’ She pushed a hand on his chest and gave him another kiss. ‘Besides if you do that then I’ll want to take you with me.’
‘I wouldn’t object to that.’
‘No but village policy would and I know you’re a stickler for the rules.’
Neji smiled, caressing her cheek.
‘One of has to be.’
‘Yeah, I’m just glad this ones not on me.’ Sena chuckled and kissed him again. ‘You have no idea how badly I just want to stay in bed with you.’
‘Trust me when I say that I do.’ He sighed, letting his hand drop from her face. ‘You should go before you are late.’
Sena pouted before giving him one last kiss and climbing off the bed.
‘Miss me but not too much okay?’ She said, at the door.
‘I’ll try.’ He said giving one last goodbye.
Then Sena was out of the bedroom, out the front door and on her way to the village gates. The sun had begun to rise, allowing the first rays of light for the day shine as she followed the path. It was nostalgic, heading toward the gates so early with a mission with her old team. All but one—her sensei.
Something triggered in her mind at the thought of her sensei.
‘This isn’t the academy or some low rank mission, this is my world and you don’t have to like me or like it here but you do have to respect it. You have respect the system and follow orders.’
It was the speech she had seen in Kyou’s memories. The same speech he had given her squad the first day he met them. It had always shocked everyone when Hitomi came back to take on their team. He was supposed to have retired and he had always insisted that if he wasn’t such good friends with the Hokage he never would have done. Now, given everything she had learnt, she wondered if that was true.
Sena shook the thoughts from her mind when she arrived at the gate find Kira waving at her.
‘Morning!’ Kira called.
‘Good morning.’ Sena said with a smile. ‘And where is Jiro?’
Kira shrugged. ‘We are a little early, I’m sure he will turn up soon.’
‘He better, this is an important mission after all.’
Kira groaned. ‘I’m already nervous enough, I don’t need you adding to it!’
‘Hey! Don’t blame me, blame—’
‘Morning!’ Jiro called strolling toward them. ‘You two are early.’
‘And you aren’t late for once. I’m surprised.’ Sena teased.
‘Ha ha. We ready to head out?’ He asked, adjusting his pack.
‘Yeah, we should get a move on if we are going to get to the town at a decent time.’ Sena said, heading out first.
The others nodded and followed behind her. And as they continued to walk down the path, the trees hiding the village behind them, Sena couldn’t help but feel at ease with her team mates.
‘It’s a little weird right?’ Kira asked.
‘What, us being on a mission together again?’ Jiro asked.
Kira shook her head. ‘It’s weird being on a mission together without sensei.’
Sena swallowed, audibly then forced a smile. ‘Who is to say he’s not here?’ Then she reached for something in her pouch, grabbed it and threw it to Kira. ‘We have a small part of him here, at the very least.’
She watched as Kira looked down at the flask. Then she shot a dangerous look at Sena.
‘Please tell me you don’t use this!’
Sena threw her hands up defensively. ‘Are you kidding? If there was anyone to put me off drinking it was sensei.’ Sena chuckled. ‘No, it’s just a little keepsake.’
‘Oh.’ Kira looked down at it again, expression a little softer. ‘Here, then.’ She went to hand it back.
Sena shook her head. ‘No, keep it for a bit. We can take turns carrying him along.’
Kira nodded then tucked it safely away in her pouch.
‘Well, if I can say anything for the old man,’ Jiro began, ‘it’s that he made damn sure to drill into us not to make the same mistakes he did.’
‘Yeah.’ Sena agreed, her mind wandering back to the memories she had seen of him. He had been much younger and more sober back then. And then just like that death had changed him. Just like death had changed her family. Only now she wondered just how much?
‘Sena?’ Kira called pulling her from her thoughts. ‘I said is this the right way?’ She pointed to the forked path.
Sena blinked. ‘Oh yeah, we have to go this way.’ She set out on the path, leaving the others behind as they exchanged a look. ‘I can hear your thoughts from here, you know? I was just daydreaming!’
‘Whatever you say!’ Jiro called in a teasing manner. ‘Let’s just hurry up and get to the first town, I’m getting hungry.’
‘Already?’ Sena asked, feeling her own stomach gurgle.
‘Sounds like he isn’t the only one.’ Kira said with a laugh.
It really was nice being together again. Maybe this was exactly what Sena needed to find the answers she was looking for.