endless_scrolls (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
endless_scrolls) wrote2009-09-05 06:52 pm
endless_scrolls) wrote2009-09-05 06:52 pm
Thicker Than Water
Title: Thicker Than Water
Type: Definitely-NOT-So-Drabble
Fandom: Naruto
Theme: 091. Desert [Word count: 1445]
Character(s): Sarutobi Asuma, Sarutobi Hiruzen, OC: Sarutobi Mei; brief mentions of Tenten, Konohamaru, Chiriku, OC: Sarutobi Kozuki, Sarutobi Katsuro, Takeshi
Pairing(s): None.
Warning(s): Creative license of events and making use of unknown information in the Naruto timeline; OCs to fill in the gap that is Tenten's history
Disclaimer: I own nothing but these words.
Note: Short drabble meant to be part of a series started when my internet was out. Ironic, huh~? ;D Theme borrowed from![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
ficlets100.
Dedicated to: Asuma. Cuz he rocks my socks. ^^
Weaving and twisting like the path of a snake, the kunoichi walked the familiar corridors of the Hokage Tower. Pass the main offices where Chuunin and Jounin alike rushed about with their missions and daily duties. Beyond the private offices and rooms that housed the more secretive and private studies of those who worked there, towards the private living quarters that were reserved for the most powerful shinobi in the village and his family. It had been long years since she had walked those particular halls. Even longer since Mei had lived here, herself, under the protection of her father. Somedays, it seemed as if she was still under his protection.
But Mei was not there to see the head of the Sarutobi clan.
"So the rumors are true. You're back."
Leaning against the frame of the door, the kunoichi looked on in mild amusement at the sight of her youngest brother standing in his old room. Set on his bed were a number of packs and bags, filled to moderate capacity. He seemed to be in the process of finishing filling the last one when Asuma offered a glance in her direction. And then his attention was back on the task at hand.
"Not for long," he muttered.
"Oh?"
He seemed to hesitate here, as if nervous or scared to respond. But the pause only appeared to last a split second before he gave the last item one hard shove of determination. "I'm going to train with the monks at the Temple."
"Asuma..." Part of her had expected this, so the shock of the news was more likely less than he had expected. Still, it did not take away from the impact of what his words meant. He was her brother, after all. He was family. When their mother died trying to give birth to her fourth child, he had only been three years old. Too young to remember. Too young to have any lasting influence from the woman who had given him life. So it had been placed on Mei to raise him as well as Katsuro while their father was out protecting the village from enemies. And now it was as if he was turning his back on that family.
"Look, before you say anything - "
"It's been a year, Asuma. When are you and dad gonna - "
Quick as lightning, his head snapped up and his eyes fell sharply on her. "A society can't be ruled by Two Kings, Mei."
How ironic it was that he seemed to view their father as the enemy now, when they all had spent so many years following his leadership. His guidance. But because of his own personal belief on how the Land of Fire should be run -- how the chain of command could be structured to better the entire country -- Asuma viewed their father as one of the main figures to oppose. All because of who and what the Hokage represented. Mei understood that. She did not agree with it, but she could respect his view on it.
However, it did not make the situation any easier. For any of them.
"And if dad can't see that, then there's no reason for me to stay here," he added as an after thought, "Besides... the Monks - "
" - offered you a position with the Guardian Shinobi Twelve... Yeah, I know." It had not been her intention to implement a spy among Asuma's companions. But when what was supposed to be a three month investigation turned into six months, and then a year, Mei had gotten desperate with concern. And with things balancing on such a fine line between Asuma and their father, the kunoichi had seen no other alternatives. So, when the young man had refused to report in to his own family, she had enlisted help from one of the Monks in training. "Chiriku told me." -- She ignored the way his head snapped at attention at the name -- "And I'm proud of you for that, Asuma..."
"But?..."
"...But you're not just turning your back on Dad. You're turning your back on all of us -- Katsuro, me, the village -- everyone." Here, the kunoichi took a deep breath and exhaled in a quick huff before continuing. "And I raised you better than that."
It was a harsh thing to say, she knew. But Mei had felt it necessary to speak them. To try all that she could to get the young man to stay if only so that they could talk things over like they should have done months ago. But Asuma had been angry, and had accepted the assignment before the kunoichi could calm his explosive temperament. Not for his benefit, or for their father's. But for hers. She had lost so many already. They all had. And she would fight to keep what was left of their broken family.
He seemed to realize that, but could only turn his eyes as he passed by and headed down the hall.
"And what about Tenten?" she called after him, her voice only amplified by the walls that surrounded them. But to her utter shock, he stopped. Prompting Mei to continue. "And Takeshi, and Konohamaru? Are you gonna abandon them too?" Here, he pivotted to the side so that she had a good view of his profile. And at the sight of his bowed head, Mei's resolve softened just the tiniest fraction. He was still the little boy she had cared for. He was still her little brother. "What are we supposed to tell them when they ask about their Uncle Asuma?"
"I'm sorry you feel that way - and I'll make sure to come visit them when I can. But I'm not gonna apologize to Dad again. Not this time." Then, with a sharp snap of his head, Asuma shifted his gaze to her. "I thought, of all people, you'd understand."
"I do... but that doesn't make this any easier."
The young man scoffed at that, and made to continue his trek down the hall towards the exit and his freedom from the bonds of their legacy. But after a few quiet steps, Mei gave in to her impulses and rushed to wrap her arms around him in a tender hug. Possibly one of the last for a while if he decided to keep to his beliefs. Because there was no telling how long his training and service with the Guardian Twelve would last. Or if he would ever return home at all.
He was much taller than she remembered, towering over her like a great oak. The years had only added to his height and stature just as much as it had added to his reputation. He was a young man now, and far from being the little boy she had cared for like any mother would have. And he was leaving them. But no matter how old they got or how successful his career, to Mei, he would always be that little boy. He would always be her little brother. "Just be careful... ok?"
Asuma said nothing, although he could not hide the soft chuckle from escaping at her words. They exchanged a glance. A smile. Then he was gone, his figure fading into the shadows of the corridor. And she remained standing there, staring at the empty space for some time afterwards. Not until Mei felt an imposing presence come up behind her. One that she had been following for almost her entire life.
"Were you able to convince him?" came his gruff voice.
"No," she replied after a pause, "Asuma's as stubborn as any Sarutobi that's ever lived."
A short laugh was her response. And she almost smiled at the familiarity of it, and the memories that came with it. Her childhood as well as the early years of both Katsuro and Asuma's lives had been filled the same sort of laughter. Complimented only by one that had been equally as joyful, although more wispy and light. Mei could practically picture the fond smile on the man's face while her own eyes lowered to stare blankly at the floor. But those were days long gone from this world.And they were not the same people -- the same family -- they had been back then.
"...Let him go, dad."
No answer. Just as she had expected. But the whisper of cloth was telling enough.
"Forcing him to fight for a cause he doesn't even believe in is pointless," she continued on, "Besides, he'll go regardless of whether you let him or not. At least this way, he won't become a rogue."
"...Very well."
Type: Definitely-NOT-So-Drabble
Fandom: Naruto
Theme: 091. Desert [Word count: 1445]
Character(s): Sarutobi Asuma, Sarutobi Hiruzen, OC: Sarutobi Mei; brief mentions of Tenten, Konohamaru, Chiriku, OC: Sarutobi Kozuki, Sarutobi Katsuro, Takeshi
Pairing(s): None.
Warning(s): Creative license of events and making use of unknown information in the Naruto timeline; OCs to fill in the gap that is Tenten's history
Disclaimer: I own nothing but these words.
Note: Short drabble meant to be part of a series started when my internet was out. Ironic, huh~? ;D Theme borrowed from
ficlets100. Dedicated to: Asuma. Cuz he rocks my socks. ^^
Weaving and twisting like the path of a snake, the kunoichi walked the familiar corridors of the Hokage Tower. Pass the main offices where Chuunin and Jounin alike rushed about with their missions and daily duties. Beyond the private offices and rooms that housed the more secretive and private studies of those who worked there, towards the private living quarters that were reserved for the most powerful shinobi in the village and his family. It had been long years since she had walked those particular halls. Even longer since Mei had lived here, herself, under the protection of her father. Somedays, it seemed as if she was still under his protection.
But Mei was not there to see the head of the Sarutobi clan.
"So the rumors are true. You're back."
Leaning against the frame of the door, the kunoichi looked on in mild amusement at the sight of her youngest brother standing in his old room. Set on his bed were a number of packs and bags, filled to moderate capacity. He seemed to be in the process of finishing filling the last one when Asuma offered a glance in her direction. And then his attention was back on the task at hand.
"Not for long," he muttered.
"Oh?"
He seemed to hesitate here, as if nervous or scared to respond. But the pause only appeared to last a split second before he gave the last item one hard shove of determination. "I'm going to train with the monks at the Temple."
"Asuma..." Part of her had expected this, so the shock of the news was more likely less than he had expected. Still, it did not take away from the impact of what his words meant. He was her brother, after all. He was family. When their mother died trying to give birth to her fourth child, he had only been three years old. Too young to remember. Too young to have any lasting influence from the woman who had given him life. So it had been placed on Mei to raise him as well as Katsuro while their father was out protecting the village from enemies. And now it was as if he was turning his back on that family.
"Look, before you say anything - "
"It's been a year, Asuma. When are you and dad gonna - "
Quick as lightning, his head snapped up and his eyes fell sharply on her. "A society can't be ruled by Two Kings, Mei."
How ironic it was that he seemed to view their father as the enemy now, when they all had spent so many years following his leadership. His guidance. But because of his own personal belief on how the Land of Fire should be run -- how the chain of command could be structured to better the entire country -- Asuma viewed their father as one of the main figures to oppose. All because of who and what the Hokage represented. Mei understood that. She did not agree with it, but she could respect his view on it.
However, it did not make the situation any easier. For any of them.
"And if dad can't see that, then there's no reason for me to stay here," he added as an after thought, "Besides... the Monks - "
" - offered you a position with the Guardian Shinobi Twelve... Yeah, I know." It had not been her intention to implement a spy among Asuma's companions. But when what was supposed to be a three month investigation turned into six months, and then a year, Mei had gotten desperate with concern. And with things balancing on such a fine line between Asuma and their father, the kunoichi had seen no other alternatives. So, when the young man had refused to report in to his own family, she had enlisted help from one of the Monks in training. "Chiriku told me." -- She ignored the way his head snapped at attention at the name -- "And I'm proud of you for that, Asuma..."
"But?..."
"...But you're not just turning your back on Dad. You're turning your back on all of us -- Katsuro, me, the village -- everyone." Here, the kunoichi took a deep breath and exhaled in a quick huff before continuing. "And I raised you better than that."
It was a harsh thing to say, she knew. But Mei had felt it necessary to speak them. To try all that she could to get the young man to stay if only so that they could talk things over like they should have done months ago. But Asuma had been angry, and had accepted the assignment before the kunoichi could calm his explosive temperament. Not for his benefit, or for their father's. But for hers. She had lost so many already. They all had. And she would fight to keep what was left of their broken family.
He seemed to realize that, but could only turn his eyes as he passed by and headed down the hall.
"And what about Tenten?" she called after him, her voice only amplified by the walls that surrounded them. But to her utter shock, he stopped. Prompting Mei to continue. "And Takeshi, and Konohamaru? Are you gonna abandon them too?" Here, he pivotted to the side so that she had a good view of his profile. And at the sight of his bowed head, Mei's resolve softened just the tiniest fraction. He was still the little boy she had cared for. He was still her little brother. "What are we supposed to tell them when they ask about their Uncle Asuma?"
"I'm sorry you feel that way - and I'll make sure to come visit them when I can. But I'm not gonna apologize to Dad again. Not this time." Then, with a sharp snap of his head, Asuma shifted his gaze to her. "I thought, of all people, you'd understand."
"I do... but that doesn't make this any easier."
The young man scoffed at that, and made to continue his trek down the hall towards the exit and his freedom from the bonds of their legacy. But after a few quiet steps, Mei gave in to her impulses and rushed to wrap her arms around him in a tender hug. Possibly one of the last for a while if he decided to keep to his beliefs. Because there was no telling how long his training and service with the Guardian Twelve would last. Or if he would ever return home at all.
He was much taller than she remembered, towering over her like a great oak. The years had only added to his height and stature just as much as it had added to his reputation. He was a young man now, and far from being the little boy she had cared for like any mother would have. And he was leaving them. But no matter how old they got or how successful his career, to Mei, he would always be that little boy. He would always be her little brother. "Just be careful... ok?"
Asuma said nothing, although he could not hide the soft chuckle from escaping at her words. They exchanged a glance. A smile. Then he was gone, his figure fading into the shadows of the corridor. And she remained standing there, staring at the empty space for some time afterwards. Not until Mei felt an imposing presence come up behind her. One that she had been following for almost her entire life.
"Were you able to convince him?" came his gruff voice.
"No," she replied after a pause, "Asuma's as stubborn as any Sarutobi that's ever lived."
A short laugh was her response. And she almost smiled at the familiarity of it, and the memories that came with it. Her childhood as well as the early years of both Katsuro and Asuma's lives had been filled the same sort of laughter. Complimented only by one that had been equally as joyful, although more wispy and light. Mei could practically picture the fond smile on the man's face while her own eyes lowered to stare blankly at the floor. But those were days long gone from this world.And they were not the same people -- the same family -- they had been back then.
"...Let him go, dad."
No answer. Just as she had expected. But the whisper of cloth was telling enough.
"Forcing him to fight for a cause he doesn't even believe in is pointless," she continued on, "Besides, he'll go regardless of whether you let him or not. At least this way, he won't become a rogue."
"...Very well."