| [Jul. 12th, 2016|10:11 pm] |
Rai,
This isn’t goodbye forever. Just for now. When someone like Ueno Kasa says he wants a specific ANBU agent to serve as his head of security, ANBU listens to him. Even if that ANBU agent would have liked at least the semblance of a say in her enforced retirement.
The reason why my father removed me from ANBU, however, I can’t argue with. My little brother, Makoto, he... well, I’ve already told the lieutenant all the details. It’s not something I really want written down on paper. Suffice to say what’s happening to him is enough to make my parents and I get off our dysfunctional asses and try to reconcile after years of silence.
I’ve been appointed to guard my father during his assignment in Earth Country as he negotiates new treaties in the wake of recent political upheaval. My mother, who was supposed to be a retired samurai, has apparently been keeping her skills in shape enough to be counted as another (unofficial) bodyguard. It’s amazing how many swords that woman can conceal in her fancy kimono.
Makoto… what he’s going through would turn anyone bitter. But he’s still the same sweet kid as always; all he wants is for his family to be together and happy again. I’ve failed him so often. Swallowing my pride and making amends with my parents is the least I can do. Especially when I look into my mother’s and father’s eyes and see the same regrets mirrored back at me.
We never got the chance to talk after the last mission we had together, Rai. But know this: my faith in you as my captain has never wavered. Ever. This is neither blind optimism nor naivete. So pick yourself back up, taichou, because the team needs you to lead them.
I’m sorry for not saying farewell in person. I’m sorry for a lot of things, but I’m running out of paper and I’m running out of time. So, for now, I’ll leave you with this:
Thank you. Thank you for being there for me when I had no one else, and thank you for being the big brother I so desperately needed. I made the decision to go command track in part because I want to inspire and lead people like you do. I want to have a team at my back that trusts me to make the hard decisions. And hey, there’s nothing saying I can’t rejoin ANBU once this thing in Earth Country wraps up. I’ve been placed in charge of a platoon of jounin for this mission; I’ll start practicing this whole leadership thing on them. From the files they’ve given me on these guys, every single one of them is used to giving orders and not taking them.
Guess I’ll have to fix that.
Take care of yourself, Rai. I’d say take care of the team, but I know you’ve already got that covered.
Love you, big bro.
Let’s go out for a drink when I come back,
Katsuko
Raidou had burned his tears out a week ago on regret and guilt. He'd thought he was done, but Katsuko's scrawling signature blurred before he re-folded the letter. He rubbed a hand over his eyes, inhaled, and steadied. His fingertips were wet, but his face stayed dry.
He'd never lost his family. He couldn't begrudge Katsuko trying to reforge hers.
And she was right, about so many things but especially one in particular: there was nothing to stop her coming back.
He pocketed the letter and glanced up at Genma, digging up a smile that felt real. “They’re giving her a jounin team to command. She’s going to have so much fun.” |
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