With the Tide

He hadn't expected the handseal to work. Really, he'd tried it without really thinking about it, an act of futility that nonetheless required no real energy. To his surprise, the seal worked perfectly, and he saw the water of the oceanic storm circle parting. He stood there over the water, and, with a look of mild disbelief, dropped his arms to his sides. This was his last chance to turn back. He knew he wouldn't be leaving any time soon if he stepped through.

No, it was too late to turn back. He had to return. He had already been gone too long. He had heard no call for his arrest, and he'd taken great pains in checking to make sure he'd be allowed to return. It seemed Xyxer wanted him to come back. How touching. Whether this was a trap or not, he knew he had to carry on. With a sigh, Haru stopped suppressing his chakra. Now, he was sure, any nearby ninja would detect him, and as he was rather well known, recognize him.

Stepping across the water, Haru passed through the storm circle, greeted by two guards, who Haru nodded to wordlessly. Around his neck, his Kirigakure headband was tied, for the first time in quite some time. As he continued walking, the other two followed, looking uneasy. Haru just sighed. It seemed Xyxer planned for him to return, and it was clear he didn't trust Haru, all the same. 

He found it rather ironic, but said nothing, allowing the guards to escort him home. They didn't talk much, and he got the impression they were expecting him to attack. They'd be proven incorrect, at least for the moment. There was only one thing Haru was here for. 

As he stepped up the stairs to his old apartment, the guards stood at attention on either side of the door, and Haru nodded respectfully. Catching his reflection, he noticed what he looked like now. His face was grizzled, a stubble that was starting to overtake it dominating his face. His hair, which had turned prematurely grey long ago, was long and unruly, nearly reaching his shoulders. He still wore his armor, which was neat as ever, due to its construction, and his white cloak around it, concealing most of his body. He looked much older, in fact, his body had aged considerably. This was due to his experimentation with the Creation Rebirth technique, and the results were that he looked to be a few years older then he had when he left the village. Still, Haru's face was there, relaxed and serious as ever, staring back to him through his reflection in the window. 

Reaching into his pocket slowly, he drew his old house key, another ceremony that he hadn't expected to work, but in light of recent events, he doubted heavily that the locks to his apartment had been changed. Indeed, the lock gave in with a satisfying click, and Haru turned the doornob slowly. He feared that Aryll would not even be there, that he'd open the door and find an empty home, but still, he held onto hope.

A transmission had been relayed to the leader of Kirigakure while he was preoccupied, although it was a welcomed interference to his activity. In fact, you could say the timing for what was imminent was impeccable. Hardly able to control the sardonic smirk that was ever present on his face, Xyxer looked around the confines of the kitchen he was currently in, allowing a faint laugh to come from his person. In fact, he even had the urge to say 'All according to keikaku' (And as a note, keikaku means plan in case you got lost there) yet he felt like that'd be too weeaboo, even for a shinobi. Placing a clove of garlic into a simple press, he'd lightly apply a pressure to the machinery so that the garlic would be minced without anything breaking, as an overuse of his strength would likely result in him destroying the machine, and quite frankly, spoiling his appetite. He transferred the minced garlic into the pan he was currently in, using this small break in time to relay a message to the guards that were going to wait for Haru, "Take him to his old home, I'm sure he'll appreciate what he finds." As the cooking started to reach it's climax, so did Atlas' anticipation. How would Haru react to this display?

"Aryll!" Xyxer called from within the kitchen, preparing the final touches to the simple meal he'd cooked up. A young female soon propped her head around the corner of the doorway, her hands on the door frame so as to keep herself standing at such an angle, "Yeah, Xy?" He started to move the portions from the pan into four separate plates, adding a little garnish here and there to make his creation truly seem amusing when compared to the destruction he was so known for, "Prepare the table, oh, and we'll be having a surprise guest." The girl's left eyebrow perked up in response to the news, somewhat curious as to who would be coming around. It wasn't usual for Xyxer to invite guests around to this home, so it was out of character for how long the girl had known the Mizukage. "Who?" Aryll asked inquisitively, walking into the kitchen so that she could collect the two plates that Xyxer was currently holding out towards her. Once they were safely in her hand, and she was walking back towards the front room, Xyxer would follow behind her with the other two plates, simply responding by saying, "That'd spoil the surprise." Once the plates were set down at the table, Xyxer picked up Samehada and placed him onto what was, effectively, two chairs placed next to one another with a slight elevation so that he could eat like a regular human. Demon swords have rights in Xyxer's mind, because he's not prejudice. With that done, Xyxer and Aryll both took their seats, awaiting their guest as Samehada tucked into his meal with lazy flicks of his tongue. Xyxer did not yet bother to eat, instead watching the door for his guest, with Aryll taking this as a cue to not eat herself, yet she found the sword's antics amusing and stifled a laugh herself. Soon, a click was heard in the door, and Haru would step through into the room to see the family-esque picture. "Please, have a seat." He waved his hand towards the seat on the opposite end of the square table to him, grinning, "I'm sure you'll enjoy the meal, Haru! Just how mum made it. I call it, 'Mum's Spaghetti'." During this mild tease, and the shocked, yet smoldering facial expression of Aryll, Xyxer decided to dig his fork into the spaghetti and taste it. Mm, it tastes delicious. Perfection. Michelin star worthy.

As he pushed the door forward, Haru wondered what would greet him on the other side. His greatest hope was that Aryll would be there, just as he left her, untouched by the Mizukage’s vengeful hand. He felt immense guilt at leaving her, but she had refused to come with him. Maybe she was braver by far then he.

While using the byakugan was not out of the question, he didn’t really see the point to it; Xyxer had enough honor to reveal his intentions before, and he didn’t doubt the same would happen again, if it came to it. Besides, the guards might take it as an act of aggression if Haru used his dojutsu, which was quite distinctive due to the freaky veins popping out of his face.

As the door slowly swung open, the scene that greeted Haru made him question whether he was trapped in a genjutsu. The smell of garlic hung over the room, as Aryll sat, thankfully unharmed, along with Xyxer himself, blade in tow, actually sitting down and eating what appeared to be noodles covered in some kind of red paste. Oddly, the sight reminded Haru of his late mother, whom he had never met.

His house was nearly just as he had left it. Pictures of family adorned the walls, and even a few early pictures of Haru and Aryll stood. His eyes briefly caught a glimpse of a picture of a younger Haru cosplaying as L wearing a white sweatshirt, his training bag over his shoulder, as he had many years ago in Tengakure. Untouched. Was Xyxer playing with him?

The old Haru might have let his anger control him right then and there. Outraged and confused, he would have flown at Xyxer with blades drawn, out for blood. He would have done his damndest to rip him in two and impale him with his own blade. He would not stand for Xyxer’s games, and he wouldn’t allow him in this house.

Instead, Haru hung his cloak at the door.

”...Awfully short notice, for you to have set this up, Xyxer.” he said, bowing politely in typical Hyuuga fashion, which looked a bit odd given Haru’s current state. ”You’ll forgive me, I would have cleaned up a bit if I knew I’d be having guests so soon.” Haru said, pulling up a chair. He hadn’t the slightest clue what they were eating, something called “Spaghetti,” which didn’t sound Japanese at all. He wondered briefly if the food was poisonous, but his keen sense of smell told Haru that the only thing that might be considered poison was the abundance of garlic. Though he hadn’t had a mother to fact check, he was certain that this is not how she would have made it.

Now sitting between Xyxer and Aryll, across from Samehada, whom Haru was surprised to learn had a mouth and was enjoying its dinner already. Glancing along the table, he caught Aryll’s eye, who seemed quite shocked at his arrival, and was not saying a word. It seemed as though she expected a fight to break out. He smiled at her in spite of this.

As Aryll had dug in, Haru conceded to take a bite, twirling the fork experimentally. ”Quite the welcome you’ve arranged for me, Xyxer. I hadn’t expected you to prepare dinner for me. I didn’t even know you cooked.” Haru said, looking across the table at the Mizukage.

The look on Haru's face was extremely satisfying. It was as if Xyxer could see the multitude of thoughts coursing through his eyes, and perhaps even the hint of veins bulging from his face.. yet nothing came of it. He entertained Xyxer's peaceful dinner, and so Xyxer would reply to him, "Aryll and I have become relatively close since you left, Haru. Hell, I even cook for her most days. That's probably why my food is tolerable now." He twirled a small ring of spaghetti around his fork and dug into the mince, eating the food while listening to what was being said next. "I'd say you're our guest, really. After all, you've been gone for so long, and poor Aryll's been living here alone, so really, we're probably both her guests if we go through it like that. Anywho, what brings you back home?"

Xyxer looked annoyingly smug and satisfied with Haru’s reaction, something that Haru found irritating beyond belief, though he didn’t show it. He’d learned in his time away not to sweat the small stuff, something he was sure he’d not have learned in his entire life, had he stayed the course.

Tolerable…, yes, that was a good word for this food. Haru wasn’t too fond of this meal, though he continued eating, partially because he was actually quite hungry, and partially because the head of the Hyuuga clan ought to display some manners at the table, at the very least.

”Is that so…?” Haru said questioningly as Xyxer revealed he’d been cooking for her regularly, glancing over at Aryll. The idea of them being so close was one that sickened Haru, and also one he had a hard time believing. Though he had not told her of the true cause of their grandparent’s deaths, for fear she would get herself killed on a revenge mission, he hadn’t expected Xyxer to be the type of person that Aryll would want to associate with. ”You have my gratitude for caring for my family during my absence, Xyxer.” Haru said, nodding courteously to Xyxer and twirling another forkfull of this “Mum’s spaghetti” stuff.

He was about to argue with Xyxer when he presented the statement that he was a guest in his own home, until he conceded that, really, it was Aryll’s home. This, Haru did not argue. That may have been one of the very few things the two agreed upon. This had been Aryll’s home.

Ah, but now they were getting to the part he’d hoped he could avoid. Not because he didn’t want to come clean and explain himself, but because he really didn’t know what had caused him to leave. It was something he’d never have even considered in the past. In the heat of the moment, whatever moment it had been, Haru had decided to leave, and managed to do so without detection. It had all been a blur, but his absence had been a productive one. Haru was far more powerful than he had been when he left.

Mercifully, the question wasn’t about why he’d left, but about why he’d returned. The emphasis on the word “Home” felt alien and unwelcoming to Haru, who had never considered this place home.

”Good question.” Haru said, wiping his face with a napkin, as this sauce seemed to get everywhere. ”I won’t lie, I’ve missed my sister, and as she is intent on staying here, I would like to offer you my services once again, if you’d have me.” He explained.

Aryll actually looked a little annoyed at Haru when he said this. She said little, but the level of aggression she displayed towards her dinner was bordering on passive aggressive.

There was a slight bow of the head when Haru mentioned gratitude for the protection of his sister, after all, it had hardly been too much of a problem for Atlas to cover. Perhaps, under the veil of compassion, he knew that this was the only reason the male would return to the village, and if he was able to sneak in without his knowledge, he'd likely beeline straight for his sister. Perhaps it was all an amusing plot that eventually ended up with roping in Haru to his scheme once more, or maybe that was just a comforting lie he'd tell himself to pretend he wasn't losing his bestial nature.

A twitch of Xyxer's eyebrow sent it crooked above his eye, and he gazed towards Haru for a second. He'd continue to chew on the food currently in his mouth, only beginning to speak after he'd swallowed that mouthful, "Perhaps she's changed her mind once in my company. It's rather rude of you to not ask if she's had a change of heart since the last time you asked." He scolded the male lightly, half in jest, half in an attempt to see how far he could push the Hyuuga.

Haru was moderately surprised when Xyxer respectfully bowed his head back to Haru. Haru knew that the majority of this dialogue was a formality, and that Xyxer knew full well that Aryll was the only thing that would force him to return to Kiri. Even Altar did not command such sway over Haru, especially in recent months, since his betrayal. Still, this display of compassion was one that Haru did not understand. If Xyxer had wanted to lure him back to a trap, he would have killed her, and if he wanted to force his service, he would have imprisoned her, or brainwashed her. The Aryll sitting before him was not that different, he could tell from her cold expression as Xyxer spoke.

Haru almost rolled his eyes at Xyxer’s words. These formalities were growing tiresome, and he was becoming a tired old man.
”To be honest, Xyxer, neither of us have a choice.” He said, as if it were obvious. ”I will not allow my sister be shamed and exiled as a missing ninja, and you will not permit me to leave with her.” Haru said. He knew he was being rather hypocritical, but he had never been prepared for the title he’d received. Aryll, he knew, could handle it, if and when it was passed on to her.

He turned to Aryll now, ignoring Xyxer for a moment. ”Aryll, it was wrong of me to leave you. I knew that the moment I left. It was selfish, and I am truly sorry. And while I know you may have your own opinions on this, it is best that we st-” Haru said apologetically, before being cut off by Aryll herself.

”I can speak for myself, Haru!” She shouted over him. ”I don’t want to leave, and I don’t want you to continue treating me like a pet!”

Haru looked shocked and ashamed, though he said nothing. The silence at the table was palpable, and Haru couldn’t quite believe what he had heard. He couldn’t believe that the one she was siding with was that monster across the table. How could she, when that monster had murdered the remains of their family? If he’d only told her.
”I-”

”I’m staying right here. I don’t give a damn if you stay or go, I can take care of myself.” She said coldly, rising from her chair and disappearing into her room.

Haru sighed, sitting back in his chair and clearing his thoughts for a moment. He was quiet for awhile after that.
”...Why did you care for her like that, Xyxer?” He asked, breaking the silence. ”You could have easily gotten someone else to do it, or left her alone. I don’t understand.” He didn’t seem angry anymore, just genuinely confused.

Noticing that Aryll hadn't eaten her spaghetti, he was rather vexed. He was sure the quality of this spaghetti was top tier, as after all, it was if a mother had cooked it. Running his hand through his hair, he simply finished his plate and continued to listen to what Haru had to say, and it was at this point that perhaps the form of Xyxer would become more dominant throughout the conversation, "We don't want Aryll to develop abandonment issues, do we? First, her parents abandon her, then her grandparents also leave without a bye.. and then, to top it all off, her bastion of a brother, Haru Hyuuga, abandons her in a village with a man he loathes. I don't think that reinforces much positive behaviour, does it? I don't know, you're the man who's interested in the medical side of things. Behaviours, patterns, psychology.. that's close enough to medicine." Xyxer shrugged his shoulders limply, as if the weight of the words he just said didn't truly register to him. "After all, with all the closest ones to her gone.. she didn't have much of a reason to live until I decided to step in and control your mistake of abandonment." He'd never been one to sugarcoat words, and even with the talk of potential suicide on someone he'd started to care about, he remained stoic, the only resulting flinch being another shrug.

Xyxer’s words cut deep. Haru knew he had been irresponsible. He did not need to sit here and be lectured by Xyxer of all people about “Reinforcing positive behavior.”

”You’ve no room to speak of such things, Xyxer.” He said coldly. ”Does she know?” He asked him. The tension in the air was palpable. ”Does she know what you did to our family? Because while I may have spared her the information, I will not forget.” He continued, his eyes meeting those of the psychopath at the other end of the table.

”I know I made a mistake. I should have never left her here alone. I was selfish. I will not make that mistake again.” He said, becoming more introspective, as if he were talking to himself more than Xyxer. ”So, once again, I offer you my services. Take it or leave it, I will stay with Aryll.” He said once more.

”Upon my hippocratic oath, I will serve this village faithfully as I did before. You know this to be true. Whatever grudge I hold against you, Kirigakure will enjoy the full benefits of my service once again.” He said, wanting to skip formalities. They both knew Haru was true to his word. ”All I ask is that you never lay a hand on Aryll. I will endure whatever resentment she has for me, so long as I know she is safe.”

Xyxer himself was rather surprised that Haru had not lashed out at him. Perhaps he was smarter than the common swine he often compared him to, and didn't want to endanger the life of Aryll with the prospect of a brawl in the house. Standing up from the empty plate before him, Xyxer started to wrap the loose bandaging back around samehada after the meal, hoisting the behemoth up onto his back before tightening the sash around him. "It's not my privilege to share such a burden of knowledge, if you deem it fit, do as you will." Once the weapon was strapped, Xyxer folded his arms over his torso while gazing down towards the seated Haru, "You know that's not how we grovel in Kirigakure. Kneel before your prospective kage, and perhaps I will gift you with a place back in the fold. Or you can simply leave and we won't inhibit you, we prefer a chase after all."