The End of An Era
The Rokudaime Kzekage sat in his office at the heart of Sunagakure. With vibrant violet hair and deeper toned eyes he was a man of great physical beauty. Even in his old age the Sand leader was regal and dignified. Thin lines etched his sun kissed face, each crease a measure of wisdom and sorrow. At the present those clear ancient eyes settled on one of his guardians.
“We have apprehended Tanaki, Josei Lord Kazekage.” The ANBU’s voice was flat and level behind his monkey visage mask. Number 029 was one of the best trackers in ANBU but he was low in ranking and spent little time with their leader. He found it somewhat disturbing. An air of ancient wisdom and power hung over the Kage. The old man wore it as easily as he wore his robe. Even more disconcerting was the sense of energy in him. Though he was near ninety he did not feel old. He felt timeless.
“Very good 029.” Those three words had the ANBU shivering. Akakyo Al’akir possessed a legendary voice. Each word was carefully modulated to flow smoothly and melodically. If rumor were to be believed those dulcet tones could turn harsh and jagged at a moments notice. Could lure one into dark and terrible nightmares.
“Prepare the interrogation squad. I think I will conduct his questioning myself.”Suppressing the quiver of terror from that statement 029 brought his fist to his heart and vanished to do his Kage’s bidding. With his underling gone Akykyo waves an old hand. The room stills. The air reverberates before a dense silence seals the space.
“Your growing nostalgic Oni-san” The red haired tanned man who stepped from the shadows perched on the edge of the Kazekages desk. He was easily as old as Akykyo, though his movements would never tell.
“And your growing careless Cervantes.” Balthazar Al’akir was as fair as Cervantes was dark. With thin shoulder length silvery hair and mother of pearl skin he was Suna’s enigma. Like Akykyo he wore his advanced age with dignity and poise.
Cervantes simply waved his other away.
“We’ve been here to long, since you didn’t want your health to fail we’ve drawn to much suspicion. Our kids are grown and our wives dead. The village is as strong as ever. Its time we left.”Unsurprisingly Balthazar grunted in agreement. He was always the practical side of them. Though they were in essence, one being, one mind. The other two looked to Akykyo for confirmation. It was something they had dome since they were created, and is something they will always do. For that is how he made them.
Plucking his cane from its resting place Akykyo heaved himself to his feet. He had been playing his part for so long it was second nature now. Acting as if age affected him, as though time could atrophy his perfection. With care the Kazekage made his slow way to the plexiglass wall in his office. For an hour he stood contemplating the village. With that unnatural stillness that they could accomplish. The lack of breathing, twitches, blinking. The utter lack of motion of the living. The other two followed suit as his thoughts reviewed the files they had logged over the years.
At the end of their reverie Akakyo stirred and nodded.
“We will arrange our deaths, it is time we left Sunagakure, for the time being. We will return to youth.”
“Where are we going?” The red headed Cervantes asked.
Balthazar raises a silvery brow
“Another land of course.”“I know that you jerk, but which?”Again, out of Habit Akykyo’s lips twitch in a faint smile.
“Rain country gentlemen. Were going to stop by our laboratory.”Identical expressions of curiosity flicker over the other men’s faces as they inquire in unison.
“Were having another kid?”The wise old face of sunas greatest Kage to date broke into a warm smile.
“Yes boys, give or take fifty years. I want to make sure were prepared to continue what we begin.”Sire The Godling
The Trinity worked in perfect unison. Every action, every movement, perfectly choreographed. They moved as one unit, one being. As they should, fore they were. As was they were wont to do they took a place and meshed together seamlessly. The first, Akykyo took point. The left Cervantes was second, leaving Balthazar in third. The true beauty was that at any moment either of them could shift to lead. The power of the triumvirate. Unlimited adaptability.
“When we built Kyohaku we took the best traits of us all. Kyomi’s practicality and intellect, Our bloodlust.”
“Skill”“Ruthlessness”“Yes, and now, we do the same. But this boy will be sweet, a gentle creature. We will let the disparity of our home shape him, his soul will forge itself in the fires of strife.”
“And from those fires Sunas destruction and rebirth will be born.”“Hai.”“But why the girl, why this streetwalker in Ame.”Had he been in character he would have smirked. But now, devoid of any living soul to observe them Akykyo was as beautifully blank as his puppets.
“The girl had feelings for their Kage.”
“The defective Inka?”
“Hai, she is of the same clan. I made sure she fell on difficult times when she sought him.”“Pettiness is not one of our functions, why do it?”“Mmm, she will be the mother of our next child, her blood will blend with these enzymes and..”The twins tilt their head and nod. Like their features their voices are bereft of inflection or emotion.
“Ah, we see. Brilliant as usual.”“Indeed, we will move soon, within the next decade I think.”The Phoenix Pact
“You’ll pay me a Daimyo’s ransom and provide for me for a decade just for having your brats?” The prostitute was understandably wary of their offer. Before her stood three of the most gorgeous men she could possibly imagine. Flawless skin, perfect height, liquid expressive eyes, and most of all wealthy. Very, very, wealthy.
“For bearing our child.” Balthazar said with careful inflection. He was the dignified one of the three. The middle was the most regal and the youngest looking was more her type. Energetic and fun, and gullible.
“That is correct” The middle man stated. Tall, with sun kissed skin and lovely violet hair. If he hadn’t spoken she would have said his large luminous eyes were his best feature. As it was, his voice bordered on ecstasy. Each word tugged at her, it was surreal.
“Not that It isn’t a great offer but, that will take up some business time, and what do your buddies want?” Cervantes grinned.
“Same thing babe, think of it like a game, whoever knocks you up first wins, we all chip in the pot.” The prostitute was young and new to the business. Had she been a jaded, bitter, or even older hand at it she may have had more insight to refuse the offer based on the principle of the thing. As it is it looked like the break of a lifetime. No one became a whore by choice. She wanted to be a geisha. Maybe in a decade she wouldn’t be to old..maybe..
“Direct and to the point. All right, who am I to look a gift horse in the mouth, you rich noblemen wanna play then we’ll play. When do you want to do this and who first.”If she were to ever feel a hint of unease or unsettling thought the moment they all focused their beautiful eyes on her and answered in unison would have been it.
“Now, all of us.”The women, Ki Li could only blink as she was ushered off. Perhaps this wasn’t such a good idea after all.
Blood of My Blood
“Im going out Mother” Kanmuri Sousui rushed to slip his sandals on. Ki Li Sousui stood in her kitchen mixing up dough for the days bread.
At her overactive sons antics she paid no heed. He was nineteen now. A man in all rights. As always he paused to give her a goodbye kiss before heading out. Like every time it struck a pain of sorrow through her heart.
She was never quite sure if that was the last goodbye they’d have or If it were only temporary. Kanmuri told her he was visiting friends, or doing some odd job. But the ryo he brought home was always more than he should have, even with him hiding some away. His answers were always a little odd, though perfectly innocuous on the surface.
The old gal knew what was happening. His father was spending time with him, though they agreed long ago to never tell the boy. The secrets weighed on her soul. She had decided to keep the boy, though their agreement was only for the first ten years. Given thought she knew the boys father had anticipated her falling in love with her child.
Fortunately it did not disturb the man, he continue to provide for them and when Kanmuri hit the age of sixteen he took an active head in his life. He become like a brother to the boy. Though he was older he appeared no more than one or two years than Kanmuri. A fact that disturbed Ki Li.
She may bee a washed up prostitute turned housemother, but she was once of the noble Inka Clan. And though her gifts faded in age her knowledge of the world, both worlds did not. Her sons father was no mere human, of that she was certain, and if the depth of his love was not a surety with her she would have washed her hands of him long ago. As is she could only watch, as her son grew farther from her as he was shaped into the man he would be.
She could only pray it would be a good one.