19 Haku's Whereabouts (2)

I could see Mom's guard suddenly snap back into place, as if she were facing an enemy.

Meanwhile, a shadow flashed through the Kirihara's eyes.

"I... Can we go somewhere to talk?" He asked, glancing around at each of our faces.

Mom looked hesitant.

"Mom, he went through the same treatment as you. It's very unlikely that he's a mole. Let's hear him out at least." I suggested, earning me a grateful look from the Hozuki pair.

"Fine. Come."

Mom immediately jumped into the trees behind us, and moved a short distance away with the rest of us following.

We settled into a circular group in a nearby clearing.

Kirihara cleared his throat.

"Hai.... Where should I start.... Well, I'm sure you have all heard of the Second Mizukage. But what I doubt you've heard of, is younger brother... Me."

A trace of bitterness could be heard in his voice, complimenting our obvious surprise.

"Yes. Gengetsu Hozuki had a younger brother, a brother once hailed as a genius, but now faded from both mind and history. I was originally a candidate to succeed my brother as Mizukage, heh... now look at me. A prisoner escaping his own village.

All because of one man. The Third Mizukage. Yes, in order to become the Third Mizukage, he framed me, his opponent, for the murder of his own wife. He labelled me a missing-nin, and forced me to flee the village in disgrace with my newborn son, hunting me down relentlessly so that I would never get the chance to reveal the truth. I was chased like a dog for a power play I never wished to participate in! My wife was taken from because someone else wanted more power!

This is my son, Rintetsu. When I heard that Kiri's new mizukage was hunting down kekkei genkai clan shinobi that weren't subservient to the village, I didn't dare return even after hearing that that man was dead. I also didn't know how much power his faction still had. I didn't want my son to be there, where danger lurked around every corner.

So I stayed hidden. Until the Kiri shinobi captured us. Fortunately, they didn't recognize us, otherwise I would likely be dead already.

And then you rescued us Kaito. And this is why I want to help you - I owe you my life. This is not a favor of equal weight, but it is a start to repaying you."

At some point while he spoke, I could see Mom's eyes visibly soften. Perhaps it was because she too, now knew the pain of losing a spouse. And his story, tragic was it was, actually made sense.

"It would be my honor, to accompany the two of you along with my son while you search for these people - should you accept, princess of the Yuki clan."

Mom was still hesitant. But I could tell her opinion was now pliable at least.

"Mom, it makes the most sense this way. Even though they are following me right now, it is because you told them to. They still look to you, the famed princess of the Yuki clan, as a leader. They need you. More than they need me or Mio. But we need a Yuki clan member to go if we want to convince Nayumi and Haku to leave.

I'll be safe. Kirihara is obviously a capable shinobi. And Mio and I can hold our own in most situations."

Every gaze in the clearing focused on my mother.

"This.... Fine. They actually aren't that far from here. Perhaps a day's travel in either direction. But you will need a boat. They are on a different island. The most I can tell you is that Nayumi said she planned on settling in a farming village on the southern side of the island. It's small, so you should be able to find them within a day."

[Author: Just to clarify the geography a bit, all of the story up to now has occurred on the main island where Kirigakure is located. Kirigakure is located in the western central region, and Kaito's group is fleeing north. The village they are heading to is northwest, while the island where Haku lives is directly north. Kaito therefore has to travel north, and then west afterwards to meet up with the rest of the group that is traveling northwest already. The village they will depart from is almost level horizontally with the Land of Whirlpools.]

I was slightly hesitant. I didn't want to part with mom just after reuniting with her. But, I also needed to find Haku before his mother was killed. For all I knew, I might be too late already.

Sigh. It was truly one situation after another that pulled me away. Part of me wanted to just spend the rest of my life hiding somewhere with Mom and Mio, honestly. And give up on everything and everyone else.

But another part of me felt a responsibility, a moral burden to help everyone I had freed, to find Haku and other orphans and survivors of Kirigakure's violence and provide them with the small amount of light and warmth I was able to. Because I knew their pain. Their suffering. I had experienced it all myself, and didn't want anyone else to have to experience it.

And honestly, somewhere deep within me, some tiny part of me was excited. Excited because I felt that this marked the moment in which my situation turned around. A moment after which I could start a new life, a life that I was in control of. A life that was full of so much more than my previous one. Yes, it was full of pain, suffering and hardships that were only present in the darkest of nightmares in my previously cushy life. But the loneliness and loss had always been a part of me, I had been forced to grow accustomed to it when my parents died on Earth.

The difference was, back there, I was completely alone after that.

Here, however, I had already experienced so much beauty, love and emotion. Not just in the pure and untouched snow-covered forest and natural beauty of the land, but in the people around me. In mom. In dad. In Mio. I almost felt as if the joy and love I felt for these people was reinforced, even compounded by the difficulties we went through to make those emotions survive.

Maybe it was my lack of bonds and relationships in my previous life, but in this one, I felt a burning desire to form and strengthen bonds with as many people as I could. I was tired of being lonely - I wanted to feel love, affection, friendship, excitement, solidarity, everything that came with friends, family and loved ones.

And I wanted that bond with Haku. I would cherish every last inkling of the familial bonds I lost the chance to savor in my last life, and Haku was one of the few remaining relatives I had in this world.

So even though my entire being screamed at the thought of parting with Mom again, my entire being jumped at the thought of finding Haku. This just means, that I will have to find you as quickly as possible Haku! So I can return to Mom's side after, with you in tow! Whether you want to or not!