Reborn in the Mist

I was startled awake by the sounds of activity in the early morning. I’d heard them through my sleep and felt, and knew there was no need to bother about the people moving about my house, or more accurately, mansion. I had Ao and his squad of ANBU protecting me, there wasn’t a place for the intense paranoia I awoke with.

Still, it surprised me to see the double door swung open and Junichi creeping closer like a being out of my nightmares. He smiled wide and broad at me as he hovered at my bed’s end, waiting for my first word and it was, “Why are you in my bedroom?”

He made an odd face and squatted to retrieve a folder, “You don’t remember? Last night you said-”

As soon as he’d begun speaking of it, the memory of my trashy order came roaring back. I held up my hand and nodded, pulled myself upright and sighed, “No, no, I do. Wake me up in the morning no matter how much I drink, damn it Uncle.”

Junichi nodded eagerly, “Fortunately I didn’t actually need to wake you up, merely opening the doors seemed to stir you from slumber, you’re a very light sleeper, Yagura-sama.”

I shook my head clear and rubbed my eyes free of gunk, “Water please.”

Junichi startled, set the folder down on the bed and hurried out to fetch me some water while I nursed the headache threatening to ruin my day before it’s begun. Yesterday was my last day with the bandages, I was full health, full strength presumably too. It also happened to be moving day for me as well.

I had interests to take care of now at the Mizukage Estate and while the Tower was the hub of administrative brouhaha, I could always have my work brought to me at the Mansion’s Office that’s already been set up or clock in for official sittings or document retrievals.

It didn’t matter where I ruled Kirigakure from, not anymore anyway, what mattered now was ensuring its people felt safe and secured. What better way to shut up all naysayers by taking charge of the accused Yūki and the sealed Kaguya?

I picked myself up from bed, felt my feet reacquaint with the cold, unfamiliar floorboards and sighed. Uncle sure knows how to throw a party.

Stepped out into the corridor I expected to see Ao by my door but he wasn’t there. He was somewhere close by but I couldn’t be bothered putting the effort into looking. The corridor was cleaned of all sign of Uncle’s housewarming party, almost like my mind was cleaned of most memories of what happened. Sake, a lot of meat, sencha just to tease me and…women?

Women…? There were women somewhere and as I reached the end of the corridor, almost getting drenched in my cup of water thanks to Junichi’s hurry, I heard the soft crackle of laughter emanating from within the house.

“Thank you, Junichi.” I gulped down the glass and pressed it back into his hand before walking on down the stairs. He ran back into the room and returned with his file folder.

“Breakfast is ready.”

“Hmm, I can smell it.” My stomach could nearly taste it too, I hurried down the steps out of hunger as much as curiosity, “You live here now…right?”

Junichi nodded, “Yes, as per your suggestion. It would be easier to aid you if I were closer.”

“Right…that makes sense.” At the bottom of the steps I caught the faint flicker of a dress as it disappeared into a room I recall playing darts with Uncle in. “Where is…where is the kitchen? Or the dining? Where’s my breakfast?”

I was up but I wasn’t making a lot of effort to stave the drowsiness off my eyes, the mansion was an unfamiliar necessity, learning to navigate it would take some time. Uncle said he’d help Harusame ward it, I suddenly remembered. It had its own securities from the First Mizukage’s era and a bit of the Second but they never bothered warding the home extensively.

Junichi ushered my way into a large dining room, the chandelier Uncle spun and spat senbon at hung delicately above a long table with numerous chairs. More chairs than I believed I needed but staring at them I felt my memory twist as I recalled that no, it wasn’t just Uncle and I partying away, my clansmen and women took part.

Clansmen… the word felt distant from what the attendees truly were— family. Cousins, adoptive Uncles and friendly aunts and would be sisters. Despite Uncle’s boisterous personality he couldn’t bridge to gap between I and them, it had been so since I was hailed as the Karatachi clan’s latest prodigy and now, I was their Mizukage.

I didn’t expect them to get all comfortable with me over a single party but…it was some progress to humanizing me in their eyes, letting them know that their Mizukage was…family. I expected this was fell into Uncle’s plans as well, I couldn’t ignore that fact that as clan head he’d leverage the fact that I’m Mizukage to his advantage but I really didn’t mind, the Karatachi were the backbone of my authority and if a party helped make them stronger, all the more.

I sat and waited with Junichi by my side, he stared expectantly at me and then at his folder, I sighed, “Go on with your report if you have one, Junichi.” I haven’t spent enough time around my Hoshigaki born aid, I could understand the young man’s awkwardness though as he’s suddenly moved into a mansion to do his job.

“Ah, yes.” He flipped through, “Well, I’ve recorded several meetings planned for the week and there are a few you can address today. Kisame wishes to broach a matter at the Seven Swordsmen Headquarters.”

The clatter of plates and cutlery amongst the scent of my encroaching breakfast had me growing impatient but I asked, “Do you know what he wants?”

Junichi squirmed a bit but straightened a second after, “He must…I couldn’t say, Yagura-sama.”

“Uh huh…” I’d gotten Junichi as part of a deal with his clan head that never actually went through to the end. Junko mentioned Kisame would come to request his enrolment into the Seven Swordsmen someday but I doubted that day would be this one.

He nodded and continued, “The council requests a meeting, well, a continuation of a meeting.”

At that I sighed, Junichi wouldn’t know the details of the meeting itself as I hadn’t let him get that close but it was getting repetitive with Lady Megumi begging for my forgiveness on behalf of Lord Funato and Uncle not caring one bit, eager to discuss village concerns like the rampant shinobi perpetuated crime and the lack of trade merchants, as well as the not so simple matter of Hanzo’s men still being alive and seeking help from Kirigakure to take back their village.

Junichi hesitated but went on to read, “A special request to meet you came in yesterday, though I didn’t get a chance to tell you. It’s from a high ranking official of the Daimyo’s court…Princess Hanako?”

Sleep banished from my eyes at her name. Hanako-hime, the Daimyo’s sister and official liaison to the capital for Kirigakure. According to Uncle she never did anything but when she did…

“Ugh, let’s start small then. We’ll meet Kisame after breakfast.” Said breakfast promptly arrives at my table, served up by two porcelain skin ladies of very different backgrounds.

I stared at the two, one clearly of my clan and the other, a branded Kaguya. Fuck, I really need to remember what happened yesterday.