Reborn in the Mist

The Estate was the same as ever, well groomed— the Yuki and Kaguya now more prolific with how they ran about its streets and corners. Few things had changed about the massive place, a neighbourhood really. Mei and I walked towards my home, the Mansion at the centre of all the luxury, of the ponds and pickled plants and the training grounds between.

We were barely more than a couple inches away and yet…it never felt more awkward between us. I spared myself by distractedly waving and smiling at the few Kaguya we came across, busy fetching fruit from Kushina’s gifted orchard in rotating rounds of baskets, one child so excited he ran over to share the fruit of their labours.

It was an apple. I tossed it between my hands, admired its verdant green and tried not to look at Mei in its sheen. I felt her beside me, squirming, rolling her apple in the hand behind her back, nervous tick.

Why is this so…strained? I asked myself the foolish question for what felt like the hundredth time and the answer came as quick as the other ninety-nine times— it could be anything, there were too many reasons why this was so…suffocating and painful.

The mission to the Land of Hot Water for one. The one Mei failed, the semi-royal client that had died under Kirigakure’s watch— that was not good press amongst other sinister hisses coming from the Water Daimyo’s court. Royal money was the best kind of money for Shinobi Villages and this…this was yet another scandalous act that could and would cost us more opportunities to receive it.

Lord Third would be livid. The Sandaime Mizukage was not a man of few or soft words despite his appearance. His rage would be felt— Bloody Mist after all. But while I was nothing like him and even more importantly— not under the control of a Sharingan— I still was the Yondaime Mizukage, Mei, my subordinate needed to be…cautioned.

But then, she knows I could never bring myself to do that. There was a solution to everything, even money troubles— we’d never be as worse off as Sunagakure and a single failed mission wouldn’t set us back massively. So, what was left was the very fact I sent her out on that mission at all, specifically without giving us a chance to date, excited as I was for that.

Yeah, it could be that, it must be actually. Either that or recent clan matters but this awkwardness predates—

Mei took a large and loud bite of her apple. I looked up at her for the first time since we started our slow but steady stroll back to the Mansion, the waning dusklight sent gleaming rays through her auburn hair, her face a deepened scowl as she chewed without remorse, munching like there wasn’t a sound to be heard.

She devoured another bite of it before she even swallowed the first and in such quick fashion the apple was gone within seconds, the pit tossed into a bush as she breathed quick, swallowed hard and coughed.

“Hey, take it easy there, will you?” I said, almost reaching out to place a hand on her back. I stopped myself before I did.

Her eyes flickered to me briefly as she let out a breath, shook her head and stood up straight, “Mizukage-sama!”

My eyes widened, she rarely ever called me that and even then, never without a tease in her voice.

Before I knew what was happening the spiky, scarlet locks I was admiring were in rapid descent as she bowed fast, straight and deep. A completely formal presentation in her rather informal attire, “I failed the mission! I failed the village! I failed you!”

This time I reached out to touch her but the bark in her voice shut me away, “I should have never believed myself better, stronger, enough to spare an enemy that threatened us. It was my false belief for peace, my assumptions of understanding with the enemy that brought about this outcome. I should have done as an Elite Jounin of Kirigakure and executed the enemy as well as any other obstructions to the mission without a second thought for further repercussions!”

I raised a finger, “Well, no the forethought was—”

“I should have trusted in you, my Lord Fourth, to resolve whatever fell out in the succession of my mission, of my service to the village. I should have never made that decision and I wish I could take it back. I cannot.”

She was still bowed but now she bent the knee. In her half-kneed posture she hung near my waist and I couldn’t say how happy it made me that she wasn’t obviously taller even in this position. Mei looked up at me, her greens welled up with unshed tears, her lips trembling, “Please, Mizukage-sama, punish me.”

I gulped, “Mei…this is. You know—”

“No, not Mei. Elite Jounin Mei Terumi, the one who got a client killed, sir. Please punish me.” She said, her voice finding steel once again even as my eyes met hers.

She’s serious…she wants me to punish her like an ordinary shinobi.

I had written out many pay docks, sentenced quite a handful of Chuunin to D-rank missions and Academy shifts, community service and security posts across our territories— unpaid of course. But those were soft punishments for insubordination, recklessness, and oftentimes being rude to the client.

In truth, I hadn’t needed to dish out a punishment for a mission failure this severe. The punishment would need to match and Mei…she wouldn’t accept anything less. I breathed in and felt the weight of the hat come upon me heavier than it had throughout this otherwise fine day.

“I hereby strip you of your rank as Elite Jounin, Mei Terumi. Effective immediately, you’ll serve unpaid for the span of one year. All privileges, missions, clearances, rank benefits, are suspended until your conduct and performance are reviewed. If there are no missions suited to your former station, you’ll report to any Division that requires hands. You will not be idle. You will not refuse.”

She blinked and let the tears fall, “Understood, sir!”

My mouth felt like a tar pit, “Mei, please.”

She sniffled and stood up to her feet, flashing a smile as she recomposed herself. “Thank you, Yagura-sama, I needed that.”

At least she’s using my name again.

We started to walk again, shaking off the stares and all too curious glances coming from those few Kaguya and Yuki lingering around the main Estate compound. I shook my head as I sighed, “Can we drop that now? I don’t enjoy how that made me feel.”

Mei smiled weakly, but then a twinkle of mischief sparkled in her emerald eyes, “A year in and you can’t separate your feelings from your…friends.”

“I don’t know who would.” My shoulders sagged, this was more stressful than it should be. I took a bite of my apple and found it sweet, its texture well balanced between crunch and juicy soft.

She nodded, “I’m sure I’d have some trouble punishing you too but…weren’t you already? Or…are you still?”

I chewed quickly and swallowed, we were fast approaching the Mansion, my heart didn’t want to go anywhere close so…soon but my feet moved on their own, following Mei along didn’t help either.

“What do you mean? I just said I couldn’t stand the way it makes me feel.”

Mei inhaled, looking away from me her eyes darted everywhere. The trees that lined my mansion's well cobbled path, the late evening birds tweeting away in the sky and over to the little pond where a pack of geese swam unperturbed. Her fingers tangled behind her back, her shoulders rolling uncomfortably in that manner that said she had something heavy on her chest, edging on the tip of her tongue.

What could be heavier than asking for a formal dressing down?

“Spit it out.” I demanded, whipping my finished apple pit across the property and into the pond, the geese startled but soon the little ones curious greed soon had them pecking and quacking at my remnants.

The main door loomed ahead, in front of it were a pair of maid and butler, Kaguya and Yuki working in tandem. They looked suspiciously expectant of my arrival and I wondered what else Uncle had machinated. “Mei, stop dawdling and spit it out, you didn’t have any—”

“How do you really feel about me?” She gasped out, the words nearly stuttering out as our slow approach became a halt. She bit her lip, hard enough I could see the question burned to say aloud.

“What?”

“Don’t do that.” She whipped her head away from me and walked off fast.

Blinking I cursed myself as I hurriedly caught up, the maid and butler already bowed in greeting and the doors swung open.

““Welcome home, Lord Fourth.”” the pair chimed in unison but their wide smiling greetings were where the least of my attention went as I hurried in after Mei.

She stood at the centre of the entrance, staring off at something. Very little had changed about my home and the nostalgic memories of my little time spent here slammed into me. Right alongside the heartskipping moment I began to envision what it would be like to see Mei stand right there, welcoming me home after each tedious day at work.

But her bewildered stare ruined the fantasy as quickly as the smoky scent of high cuisine wafting in my nostrils. She was staring right into the other room, the dining room where instead of the usual grand table and chairs was a single, modest four seater.

She looked at me, questions written all over her face. I whipped around looking for who to ask but the maid and butler that greeted us vanished, the door shut behind us and all natural light shunned away behind curtains— only the warm, orange glow of the candlelight dinner set in the other room illuminated the otherwise massive mansion and barely.

Like a moth to the flame Mei strolled in, not a word said as she left me behind. I searched around for the people I sensed moving about the house but there wasn’t time to seek answers, to begin with, it was obvious what was happening here.

Uncle, you…

I balled my fists, inhaled the sweet lavender scent and the excess of turkey, fish, cakes and other sweets and of course, Mei. He was right, she’s right. This was it, this is how we decide what we are and how I feel, truly feel.

“Goodluck, Yagura-kun.” Isobu said, breaking his long silence to wish me luck I’d desperately need if my pounding heart was any indication.

“Thank you, Isobu.”