An Unexpected Friend (Book 1 of the Unexpected Series)

Ch. 11 - Time to Wave Part 2

"I'm not sure, but it's a possibility," they said. "Tell me: Who is your mom?"

"I don't know who my mom is, but I know she's from the Land of Water."

"Kirigakure?"

"I don't think so. Dad said he met her in one of the smaller villages."

The person hummed and observed Kokoro intently. Their eyes roamed her face and stopped from time to time on specific facial features. A small sliver of recognition entered their eyes and a tiny smile formed on their face. "You look like her," they mused.

"Like who?"

"My mother."

"W-what? Are you saying that we're -?"

"Not quite," they said. Gracefully, they fell to the ground and sat cross-legged. They patted the spot next to them and Kokoro sat down as fast as she could. "My mother was very open with me and she held no relations with anyone besides my father. Our jutsu is feared throughout the nations. For this reason, our clan was hunted down and slaughtered. Those who were able to escape scattered to live regular lives. Our grandparents, along with our mothers, were very fortunate in escaping.

Our grandmother wanted to marry off our mothers. She said it would protect them and ensure them safe lives. My mother had already met my father and had fallen in love, and before she knew it, she was pregnant with me. That left only your mother. Our grandmother set up a marriage between my aunt - your mother - and a wealthy man. The man only agreed because of the affiliations your mother had."

"What do you mean?" Kokoro interrupted. "Was she involved in something dangerous?"

"No," they denied. "Grandmother had some business in a village outside of Kumogakure. On her way home, her caravan was intercepted by local bandits and she was beaten badly before she was raped and left for dead. Thankfully, one of the clan members went in search of her and the others escorting her. She gave birth to your mother nine months later. Technically, your mother was of Kumo and Kiri descent. She was resented within the clan for her foreign blood, but her betrothed thought it was a good political move."

"That must have been horrible," Kokoro sympathized. "To be hated by your clan for something you couldn't control." She couldn't help but think of Naruto and Gaara - both born into circumstances they couldn't control.

"Before your mother married, she became pregnant," they continued. "Your mother had to go to the Land of Tea to collect something for her upcoming marriage and had relations with a man. Our grandparents were outraged and made your mother keep her pregnancy a secret. They moved back the wedding and used illness as an excuse. When you were born, I was already two years of age. I was able to see you once before you were sent to live with your father. Your mother was given a month to recuperate before she was sent off. My mother and I never saw her again," they finished. Kokoro remained quiet as she listened to them recount what had happened. She had no idea her ice release was feared. Was that why her father was the only person who knew of it? Is that why her father told her to never practice it in front of others?

"What clan were we from?" she asked quietly.

"The Yuki clan."

"So, we're cousins?"

"Yes."

"What's your name?" Kokoro asked.

"Haku. And you are Kokoro."

"How?"

"I was too young to remember you, but my mother often spoke of you and your mother. She often wondered what the two of you were up to and if you were happy. Before she died, she told me to reunite with you one day," Haku said with a fond smile.

"She died?" Kokoro asked in shock.

"Yes. The village we hid in was destroyed. I was the only survivor."

Kokoro encompassed Haku in a hug and held them for a few seconds before she let go.

"I'm sorry that happened to you. I can't imagine losing my dad."

"It's okay," Haku said softly. "I've found someone."

"I'm glad," Kokoro said. Abruptly, she stood up and held out a hand to Haku. She pulled them up and smiled widely at them. "So, can you help me out? With my ice release?" she asked.

"Like I said earlier, you're missing a hand sign," Haku reminded her as they stood up. Kokoro mirrored their actions and got ready to perform the jutsu. They showed her how to do it and had Kokoro practice it until she got it right. After her tenth attempt, she threw her hands up in frustration and pouted.

"I don't understand!" she shouted. "I'm doing all the right signs, but it's not working!"

"You're focusing too much on the hand signs. You have to think about how dense you want them to be, how sharp, how tall, how many. Part of the jutsu is control. You can't just throw out hand signs and perfectly complete a jutsu."

"How am I supposed to do that?!" Kokoro shouted.

"Practice," Haku said, stressing the word. "Go again."

They practiced together until the sky started to darken and Kokoro's dad was shouting her name looking for her. The cousins looked in the direction of the voice. Kokoro's chest inflated and deflated at a fast tempo, indicating the intense training she had.

"You want to meet my dad?" Kokoro asked. "I'm sure he'd be happy to meet you, and the people we're staying with probably wouldn't mind if you tagged along for dinner."

"Maybe another time," Haku said. They started walking off but stopped when Kokoro called out to them.

"Will I see you again?" she asked with sadness. Haku smiled and told her he would not be far. She sighed in relief before a look of urgency overtook her face. "I have one more question!" she yelled quickly. Haku looked back at her. "Um, well, are you a girl or a boy, or maybe both? I've read about instances where people are born with both masculine and feminine biological features, so I don't want to imply that. . ." she rambled off shyly. "I don't mean to offend you, but I just don't know how to address you."

Haku laughed and said, "I'm a boy."

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Dear Gaara,

I met some of my long lost family. I never thought I'd meet any of my mother's family. I met my cousin. He's such a soft person compared to me. He's less pushy and tends to keep his opinions to himself. Thinking about meeting my family makes me think about my mom. I wonder where she is and if she is as happy as I am. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to meet her. It also makes me think about you and your family.

I hope your relationship with your sister and brother is okay. I know they were mean when you were little, but family is family. Hopefully, they understand that now. Just forgive them when the time comes. I don't know if I could right away, but eventually, I'd be able to.

Kokoro

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"Who were you talking to earlier, Koko?" Kakashi asked. They'd just finished eating dinner and the two of them were sitting in a room together.

"Just someone passing through," she said. She wanted to tell him that she met her cousin, but Haku didn't want to meet her father. He had to have some reason for not wanting to.

"Don't lie to me," Kakashi said sternly.

"It's no one important."

"If you're in danger-"

"I'm not, dad," she said forcefully. "I promise"

"Just be safe. I can't be around you 24/7 during this mission and with Zabuza still alive....."

"We all agreed he wouldn't be attacking for a few days. Besides, tomorrow I'm on Tazuna duty."

"Just be ready. I'm almost healed, and I have no doubt he is too."