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“What the hell was that all about?”

“Why were they in our village?”

“They better not have wrecked anything.”

“Where’s the door to the Howard house?”

The homunculi were confused what was going on. They return home from a trip to Hidden Cloud only to find their village had been visited by outsiders. The current information gatherer, Psyche, runs around examining things and touching things before he returns to the group. “What did you find,” asks Mystic as two dogs motion to her side.

“Apparently the Akatsuki were here.”

“How do you know?”

“I touched the plants in this area and was informed of a trail taken by two females. They met in an abandoned building and it was there that the mention of Akatsuki was established. Gami, Hoshiko mentioned being a part of the Akatsuki and was recruiting people.”

“So it wasn’t an attack?”

“No, just recruitment.”

“Then we will not worry ourselves over it. The Akatsuki has nothing to do with us.” Psyche nods to Mystic as the other homunculi fan out. “Was there anything else?”

“The door to the Howard home was removed.”

“What? Where is it?”

“Naomi has it.” Mystic’s gorgeous features crumble as she glares at the space behind Psyche. “It seems she simply stole the door. Nothing was disturbed and there was no sign of her rambling where she wasn’t wanted.”

“That is good. I want you to watch over the others. I’m going to send Angel and Chemic to scout the area. I will send Crane and Hound your way and will be stationed at the docks if you need me.” Psyche nods and Mystic begins walking. From the tree above her a figure flashes to the ground. It flickers away as Psyche turns around and begins looking over the area.

“So what am I supposed to be doing?” Psyche sighs as he turns his head slightly to look at Crane out of the corner of his eye.

“You, Hound, and I are going to scout the area so we can see if anyone is still here.” Crane nods and Hound howls as the three flash out of sight.

Reina arrives with a large bell clutched in her hands. She needed a favor and figured she’d wait for Ella and her homunculi to return. Little did Reina know that some homunculi were there. “Reina,” gasps a voice and Reina looks around. Mystic motions from the dense brush along the side of the path leading to and from the docks with Kill Joy right beside her, the blur, as Reina looks at them. She purrs a moment before reverting her form into that of a young girl.

“I would have thought Ella would have taken you with her.”

“She was going for simplicity. What are you doing here? Did you find Akou?”

Reina smiles timidly at the mention of Akou. “Sort of. Is there an Ichazuki available?”

“Funny question. Yeah, Psyche is scouting around.”

“I’ll go and find him then.”

“Why’d you return?” Reina sets her sight on Kill Joy who finally spoke in a growl. Reina shifts a bell around in her hands and they all grow silent.

“Why would she give you that bell?”

“I don’t know. I also received a note that read “Read Me” so I came here to see what information I could get from it.”

“I don’t see why you came thinking it would be a quick thing. How long are you staying?” It seemed Mystic was back to being the speaker as Kill Joy falls silent again.

“Not long. I shouldn’t really be here but… Ella isn’t around, is she?”

“No she isn’t. Look, you need to come back Reina. Things aren’t the best they can be with you gone. And, someone’s after Ella.”

“Someone’s always after Ella,” Reina reminds her. Mystic sighs and returns to the brush as does Kill Joy. Apparently she wasn’t going to try convincing Reina. Reina took that as her cue to enter the village. She walks around a bit before she sniffs the air. She follows the scent around and around before she finds Psyche, or he finds her actually. He had read a plant and knew someone was coming.

“State your business,” states Psyche as Hound simply stares at her. Crane shrugs and walks towards the tiny girl and places a hand on her head.

“That’s demeaning if you know who I am.”

“I don’t know exactly who you are but Hound and I sense no danger from you despite your high charka surge.”

“Psyche, I need you to read this bell that Naomi gave me. It may link me to information on Akou.”

“Reina,” thinks Psyche as do Hound and Crane. Psyche looks at the tiny girl and realizes she is in hiding still. “I shouldn’t be doing this unless you are returning.”

“Will you not help me?”

“I never said that.”

“Then read the bell.”

“Reina you need to return. A lot of things are happening and if you return they can all be dealt with without harm coming to people.”

“I talked to Ella already.” Psyche was surprised by this. “It is fine. I will return soon. I just… I need you to read this bell.” So Reina knew about what was going on with Ella. She was trying to hurry and get things done for Akou so she could help Ella? Surely Psyche would agree.

“Sure,” replies Psyche reaching out a hand. Reina raises both of her arms to hand Psyche the large bell she carried. He touches it and instantly is informed of any and everything there was to know from it.

Saosin stands at the docks with Akou cradled in her arms. “Don’t be a fool, Reina. If you attack me then I’ll kill him.” Reina fumes as Saosin turns to face Reina. “I want you to place that special genjutsu you have over this place. I want you to do something for me.”

Naomi was planning to test how far Reina would go for Akou. She wondered if Reina would kill innocent people simply so she could save Akou.

Saosin couldn’t help but laugh. Saosin, out of no where, takes a long braid from behind her. “I’d been growing and cutting my hair in preparation for a battle I had been planning. Now wasn’t when I planned the fight to be but it’s a suitable time. With this hair that I grew and cut it can link Akou to me. If you so much as linger for too long while fighting I will kill him as well as kill myself. Then, your revenge would never truly be so sweet because I will not return but puppet my children will. They will destroy this world for me. Can you kill Sai, Tybalt, and Rafael?” “That was your plan? That’s how you plan to keep from being destroyed?” “You would have to kill Nimen to kill Tybalt as well as Pixie and Gent. You would have to completely destroy Ella and Shaneko to kill Sai. You would have to kill Angelle to kill Rafael which you won’t be able to do with that Orochi inside you. I am safe from harm. If you kill me then you’re just saving me. In the end, you will all end up surrendering to me. You can’t win.” Reina wanted to scream her head off but she couldn’t. Could she fight for Akou? Certainly. Who would she kill just to save Akou? Anyone. Reina performs a number of hands signs and nothing seems to happen from what could be seen in the memory. “Take a few kunai and attach them to some wire. Run around the border of the village and place them into the ground. Once you are done then I want you to give me the wires and I will attach them to Akou. Those who are weak I want you to allow entry into your genjutsu and I will allow them entry through the Affliction Barrier. Those of medium strength who cannot pierce your illusion will be infected with a viral disease from the barrier. Those strong enough to see pass your genjutsu will receive an illness and then your genjutsu should no longer allow them entry into the genjutsu and then make it real. I want you to kill the weak and innocent. If no one comes then this village will be completely destroyed. Hmph. It’s too bad you will be killed after this. No one will allow you to live once you’ve done this. They will search for you and kill you but not Akou. He will be safe. It’s too bad... you were a good Magikage.” Tears stream down Reina’s face as she disappears. She reappears in the area and hands a wire to Saosin who ties it to Akou. “It is time,” states Saosin as she places her mask upon her face from its place tied to her sides along with her other two masks that clung to her sides.

Psyche watched everything unfold and paid close attention to the ending. He read more and more as the memories of the bell revealed many things. Psyche couldn’t imagine that side of Reina He couldn’t imagine Reina killing the Joker boy. He couldn’t imagine her looking so helpless. As he watched her search it on made him angry. He could see the various things Naomi and even Akou did to keep her from finding them. Now Naomi gave her this bell to torture her more. Psyche hated Naomi and was close to hating Akou. Then he remembered how manipulative Naomi could be and the thought dropped about Akou. He WAS a child after all. How was he to know? The only information Reina saw was what she hadn’t witnessed herself.

“Fight me for real. I’m done chasing you and all that crap… fight me and bleed. I want your blood.” The creatures wail loudly as Saosin examines the area closely. She wondered who was near enough to stop the monstrous Tes. She could easily form a tie however thin with someone in the village, anyone. But all she could see was forest. Saosin finally pays attention to Tes only for her to fling the blade of her scythe into Saosin’s left leg. That was it. Saosin flies back against a tree before falling to the ground. The creatures swiftly leapt into the air to attack her when they land just in front of her. Their eyes were ruby red but they stopped themselves as did Tes. Angelle looks around at the group and shakes her head. “What if Ella were here? What have you done? Report to Hidden Cloud, now.” With that Angelle disperses which showed that that was just a fake Angelle. She was projecting herself. Tes’ eyes were fierce on Saosin’s blood but she, nor her creatures, made an attempt at drinking it. They knew better than to test Ella. Angelle didn’t really scare Tes though it should. Ella was who Tes would stop in mid fight for because Tes felt fear towards her just like Reina. They knew how to make her and they could stop her. Tes held no loyalties, however, she has yet to meet someone she’d pledge true loyalty to. Tes wasn’t bad but she wasn’t good either. She just could care less about either side of a battle. She did what was right for her and what she was told by her creators. She pondered on it. Was it fear that made her loyal to them or because they were her creators? Tes sneezes and with it goes her thoughts. “I’m done playing games with you, child. Seek me out when you can take me on again. I hope that wound isn’t too bad,” Tes lies as she turns away from Saosin, her body reverting back to normal. Her creatures eyes revert back and then run after Tes who takes off at top speed for town. Saosin sits on the ground a while before climbing to her feet. She clings to branches and rocks before collapsing on the ground. Soon a woman finds her and examines her, believing her to be dead, before lifting her into her arms.

Reina liked how the memory started and towards the end but when Naomi was saved Reina wasn’t interested any longer. Reina waited until the memory about how Naomi stole away Akou would come instead of the sick memories of how she killed people of Hidden Moon before departing.

Saosin awakens in the forest to see a woman gazing down at her. "I'm so glad you're all rig-" Before the woman could finish she is stabbed through the stomach. Saosin climbs to her feet as she flings the female away from her. "Damn you Tes. Fight and then leave. My leg is no good now," mutters Saosin as she begins limping away. Meanwhile, Akou had left the castle out of boredom. He decided against throwing a tantrum because he didn't want Reina to be angry with him. Akou crawls along the forest floor when he sets eyes on a limping woman. A giggle emerges from his chest as the woman sets red eyes on him. Akou gazes at her for a moment before she motions towards him with a bloody kunai. Akou figured she was a Greek since they used blood in their fighting and training. Akou crawls towards her and places a hand on her wounded leg. Saosin raises the blade then lowers it. Akou was healing her wound despite him knowing exactly who Saosin was. A smirk slides across her face as she lifts Akou into her arms. "Good baby," she murmurs rocking him back and forth. Akou's eyes begins to droop as his hearing and eyesight is cut off. That was how he slept. He removes his eyesight and hearing so he can rest easily. Saosin laughs loud and dark before flickering out of the area.

Reina was angry. She so easily killed the woman that saved her. And then she was sad at how easily Akou had allowed himself to be captured by her. But Akou was a baby and knew no better. Reina had taken away all the bad memories. That included the things involving Naomi. He had no recollection that Naomi was bad and Reina didn’t talk about her to him. She only warned him that she was dangerous. He could have been killed so easily then. Reina wondered why Naomi didn’t kill Akou. She figured it was in order to have control over her.

Saosin watched the fighting before she heard Crius voice fill her ears. "It's only because he's Reina's," she snorts turning to face him. "I wish you hadn't come. Reina won't stop until she's killed eight people. Her thoughts are of the number eight. Eight people and I'm done. The number is down to four now... and me. That's all that's really running through her head." Saosin touches the Mask of Truth upon her hip as she peers at Crius with her Oni mask. For the first time since Saosin had arrived in this world, she found someone she actually thought of as more than some human. He was someone familiar to her. "Are you here to speculate or are you here to be the hero?" Saosin couldn't fight back her laugh. Crius was like her only less evil. He was a villain like her. Thing about him was he was a villain when it suited him. He could play the nice guy or he could play the villain. He wasn't some neutral party but he wasn't truly good or bad. He was one of those villains that would only be bad when they felt the need, the want. "So where's my friend?" She was referring to Maeva. Saosin wasn't sure who the male was that had accompanied him or if he accompanied him as something other than a puppet. Her mask was reading him as she pulls Akou closer to her only to find Crius and the male gone. They were all gone. Saosin was left in the village while Reina had her fun. She was a bit sore she wouldn't get to watch the fighting but it didn't phase her much. Saosin removes the hair from Akou and smirks. If only Reina knew something about Yamanaka's or at least that Saosin were a Yamanaka then she wouldn't be killing those ninja. She'd be killing Saosin. Akou tightens his grip on the wire as the Affliction barrier increases in strength. "There, there. Don't be afraid little one," she coos soothing Akou. Akou was oblivious to the fact that he was using the Affliction Barrier. He wasn't being forced, he was fast asleep. He dreamt he was fighting and that if he released the wires then monsters would get to him and kill him while Reina fought to protect him. He could see Saosin holding him and pushing him to go on. Akou was naive to the fact that Saosin wasn't good and dreamt she was his friend.

Anger sprang from Reina but she continued receiving the memories though she shook slightly from anger. All along Akou wasn’t in any danger. But why? Why not have controlled him? Probably to torture her more. Reina hated Naomi so much. Reina watched as Naomi planted fake clues to her location and she foolishly followed them. How idiotic. As Akou grew older more and more lies were told to him. Soon he came to have nothing good to see about Reina and her friends. He hated them all, even her.

Apparently Tes had found Naomi and Akou herself nearly two years ago and confronted them only for Akou to defend Naomi.

“… Leave me and Naomi alone or I’ll destroy you!”

Tes glares at Akou and hisses as a creature leaps onto Akou’s head. It hits its fist against him only for nothing to happen. Akou flings up a fist and the creature screeches loudly. It leaps away from Akou and cries, a huge gash in its face. Tes lunges for Akou only for vapors to emit from Akou’s mouth. Tes covers her nose as her eyes droop and hisses before she flickers out of the area followed by three creatures. Akou turns around to see Naomi’s face covered in blood. Without being asked, Akou places both hands upon Naomi’s hands and commences healing her wounds. Naomi moves her hands from her face as the wounds slowly heal up. After a few minutes Naomi pushes Akou away from her, him falling right on his butt, and bolts to her feet. “Where is she? I’ll ******** kill her!”

“Naomi-”

“Don’t say anything! You embarrassed me back there! I can fight for myself!”

“I didn’t mean to. I thought she’d hurt you. I couldn’t stop myself.”

“I swear! If I were anything like Reina then I’d hit you!”

Akou falls silent. “She hit me?”

“Of course she has. Why do you think your defense is so great? Natural Selection or Evolution as some call it. Every time you died you revived with stronger and more durable skin. She’s killed you a few times. She wiped your memory of that though.”

Tears stream down Akou’s face as Naomi controls her anger. She motions over to Akou and kneels beside him as he winces away. Her eyes had blood covering them but she could see a little. “I won’t hurt you. I’m nothing like Reina. Even someone as bad as me wouldn’t hurt a child; especially someone like you, Akou. I would never hurt you.” Akou gazes at Naomi as more tears come.

“I’m sowwy,” he murmurs. Naomi strokes his head before lifting him into her arms. He clings to her as she leaps onto the Ram.

“Take us somewhere safe, Giant Ram,” states Naomi as they all disappear in a blur.

Psyche was no doubt confused so he unleashed the feelings of the memory as much as he could revealing hidden feelings. Naomi never would have guessed but, despite the lying and the yelling and things, Naomi actually cared about Akou. With time and each reason of them together Reina could see it. Naomi didn’t exactly need to use Akou for protection. She had the ability to control Sai, Tybalt, and Rafael. She was also a member of the Akatsuki now. A flicker of images, emotions, and sounds before Naomi’s voice enters Reina’s head alone. “He’s my son now.” Then came another memory.

Akou was rustling through some Christmas presents in the forest when he found a small mask in one of the boxes. It was pearl white and it shined eerily in the light of the moon. He flings it into a tree and it shatters. As soon as he saw the mask he saw Reina’s face. She smiled at him a moment before a crazed grin slips across her face. “I’ll kill you again for thinking you could escape me, Akou.” Naomi heard him speaking and motioned into the area with a raised eyebrow.

“What?”

“That’s what that woman would say, isn’t it? Why can’t she and her mutt friends pets leave us alone? I’m sick of Tes coming out of no where; I’m sick of always having to leave a village; and I’m game sick of not being able to be around regular people with you! I hate Reina and her group!”

“Watch your mouth.”

“Sorry Naomi-sempai. I just want us to be able to live our lives without always having to look out behind us.”

“That won’t change, you know that. I’m a Missing-Nin. As long as you travel with me danger will follow. Do you wish to leave?” Akou shuffles to his feet.

“No! Of course not! I won’t run away like some coward! I won’t let you travel around alone! Me and the Giant Ram will follow you to the ends of the Earth! Don’t ask me that again!” Naomi was happy a moment before he gave her an order and overstepped his bounds.

“You’re pushing it.”

“Sorry.” Akou was four and almost five now. He had found the Giant Ram one day and had defended Naomi against his attack on her. After Akou fought on level ground with the beast it lowered its head in acknowledgment and Akou became his summoner.

Reina didn’t know how to react. Psyche didn’t either. He knew that Akou was protecting Naomi but not that it was of his own free will. There was no more revenge for Reina… no anger left in her… no happiness that sprouted. She was optimistic that maybe one day he would remember her but it was a tiny speck of optimism. Naomi stole Akou from her for good. That’s the phrase that rang through her head. Naomi stole Akou from her for good. Reina clutches the bell as she pulls it closer to her. Psyche removes his hands from hers and the bell as Crane and Hound watch in confusion. “What’s happening?” No one responds to Crane. Reina brings down the bell and clutches it to her chest. Reina remembered it all. She remembered when she first met Akou. He thought he was some sort of freak but she never thought that. She remembered when she would train with him how he would light up. She remembered how he watched her walk in fascination. She remembered how, despite he being Ella’s first, Akou would cheer Reina on when she sparred with Ella. Reina remembered how Akou was always by her side. Through thick and then, he was there. Reina loved him more than anyone and when ever he lost his life she would give herself a short amount of time before she would end her life if he didn’t return. He always returned. Her Akou. Now Naomi was who he saw as the most wonderful woman in the world. Now Naomi was the one who could see him everyday. Now Naomi was the one he loved. Why did she have to take Akou away? Why did she have to steal the one thing in her life that was a certainty? Reina knew what she would do if Akou seized to exist. She knew what she would do if Akou was hurt. She knew what she would do if someone kidnapped Akou. She would massacre the village of the person who did it. She would kill the person that hurt him. She would torture the person who stole him away. What was she to do when Akou wanted to be away from her? What would she do now that Akou wanted Naomi to have him? She could force him to remember her. She could force him to want to be with her instead. She could even force him to hate Naomi. Would she? Her hatred for Naomi was great but not as great as her love for Akou. Naomi played her cards right, Reina would admit, but why would she do something so cruel?

“I hate Reina…” Akou’s words echoed in her head. It caused her so much pain hearing those words. She would never speak those words about Akou. It was all thanks to Naomi’s lies. But Reina couldn’t hate her… she couldn’t envy her… she didn’t have it in her. All she had in her was pain and sorrow.

“You know, if you had been a little more social. You may have been able to track him, with the assistance of Drago and his team.” Crius words rang through her mind too. She wanted to find Akou on her own. She didn’t want to burden Drago. She thought if she just kept going, kept on moving, she would have Akou back in her arms again. She was wrong. Maybe with Drago and his intense speed he could have found Akou. Or maybe he could have traveled where she couldn’t. He could be in one place and she in another. Maybe if she had recruited her team and Drago his then Akou would have been found before this. It was all her fault. She fell right into Naomi’s hands. She did this to herself. Naomi was evil but she wasn’t to blame. Reina should have known better.

Nimen walked in a little after Loki only to find that two sets of crimson eyes were on her and the God that entered. “Why have you come here,” asks a voice from the brush in a snarl as all eyes settle on Loki. The homunculi were informed of this Loki character. He arrived after the death of the God Ares. They would not allow this being to take this land for himself. Nimen would motion backwards towards the docks only to bump into a ravenous looking female.

“Do not run away Nimen. Please, assist us in defeating this evil being.”

“Who are you?”

“Call me Kill Joy and your ally.” With that Kill Joy shifts over to Nimen’s side much like a cat slips around a corner. A woman leaps from the brush and lands in front of Nimen.

“You may call me Mystic and your defense should you decide to help.”

Nimen looks at the two and shrugs. “I guess I can fight with you all.” Nimen was beautiful but after her battle in the exams she had tiny scars here and there upon her body. She had been out of the exams for a while but found her self lost. She didn’t know how to get back to her home of Hidden Void and found herself in Hidden Alchemy. Hopefully Tybalt would come and return her home.