Chapter 58

Chapter Inspiration: Empty by The Click Five

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It was late before Mai returned home, the sun having set hours ago. She teleported once more onto the porch letting out a deep breath and opened the door to the quiet home. What the Be Fong needed was something to drink, mouth parched. After taking her anger and frustration out in the forest beyond the wall on the northwest side the young woman sat there under the shade of the trees in complete silence. It was completely isolated and none of the ninja patrolling the border bothered her. Not that any should if they sensed her spiked chakra levels. And thankfully none from that 'friendly' get together had sought her out either. Reaching for a glass in the cabinet, the young woman froze midway. At least... until now that was, hand closing around the item and pulling it free.

"What do you want, Kakashi?" Mai snapped, not turning from the counter. With the flick of a wrist a small ceramic container filled with water flew through the air into the free hand. "I'm not in the mood for company."

"I thought we were fairly open with each other in regards to training and personal growth since you rejoined society," he said. "Apparently I was wrong to assume that."

"Everyone has secrets, you of all people should know this."

"Teleportation Jutsus are not something to take lightly and use whenever you feel like it. You have to be careful–"

"Do you really think I'm that stupid? Just because Belva or you didn't teach me doesn't mean I would use such a technique so freely. I know the consequences of it if I mess up."

"We didn't teach it to you because we didn't think you needed to know, not because you're not capable."

But because the Be Fong could become too powerful. The more jutsus she learned the more enemies she'd make. Those that sought to be better than the rest could come looking to prove their strength, and he wasn't thinking about the serial killers beyond the wall. They had no idea what they were up against if crossing the young woman on a warpath. But that thought didn't sit any easier with him.

"Well, someone thought I needed to know and I didn't stop them."

"Who was it?"

"They are dead now." The Jounin knew not to press for a name any further. "Don't think it really matters anymore. What's done is done, and you can't take that jutsu from me now."

He wasn't getting anywhere with conversation as another matter needed to be addressed. "You slipped up on an ally in front of a group of friends."

"I'm only human. We make mistakes sometimes. And Kiba should know when to keep his damn mouth shut."

"He's terrified of you, Mai."

Even when the young man tried to hide it as they parted ways shortly after the Be Fong's disappearance Kakashi could easily see that his hands were trembling. His shoulders tense. As if the young woman in question would appear out of nowhere and attack him once more. Finish the job.

"Is that what you wanted?" the Jounin asked.

"If it'll make him stop annoying me, then yes," Mai said.

There was a pause as the Jounin examined her back with calculating eyes. "What's wrong, Mai?"

"It doesn't concern you in the slightest." He went to protest when she beat him to it, "Now if you don't mind, I would like to be left alone. Please leave."

Or else.

That threat lingered in the air even if unspoken and Kakashi knew not to push his luck. She'd literally throw him out of this house if she had the opportunity especially with the tension being exhibited.

"Very well."

On his way out, Kakashi noticed the markings on the walls. The missing furniture in the front of the home. Something was very wrong. The Chakra Strings closed the door behind him. Jounin stared at the surface deep in thought. No noise came from inside knowing that the Be Fong was watching his every move, sensing it to be sure he actually left.

He went to Belva. They talked for hours, the woman listening intently to his every word on what had transpired. He expressed his concern when relaying the attack against Kiba. None of this sat well with her either.

"Will you report her to the Hokage or Ibiki?" she finally voiced after a heavy moment of silence.

"They should know that she slipped, that the events in the last year may still be affecting her. I also saw some troubling signs inside her house... but I hardly doubt saying something would do any good," Kakashi answered truthfully. "We're talking about their best asset. The fact that for the last seven or so years she's managed to trick every doctor or psychologist who's had a chance to monitor her mental and physical health doesn't help our odds. It would only be another dead end."

He spoke the truth, the woman hated to admit. Belva stared out the kitchen window deep in thought. "What else?"

Kakashi's head picked up, brows furrowing as he stared at her profile in the dimly lit room. "What do you mean?"

"When you saw her in the kitchen hours after the altercation what did she look like? Body position? Posture? Tone of voice?" The young man wasn't sure why that was really important, thinking back on it. "Did you even try to follow her after what happened with Kiba?"

"Those who could sense chakra knew well enough to stay far away, even if she did manage to go a bit beyond the gates without permission. No one has a death wish, not after that..."

He sighed, eyes closing and pinching the bridge of his nose.

"She was tense, of course. Still on edge from everything that happened, and even more so when realizing I was there to confront her. Especially about the Teleportation Jutsu. My guess, she learned it from someone in No Face."

Yes. And the fact that her former pupil now possessed that kind of gift didn't sit well with her either.

"Her back was towards me the entire time, refusing to show her face. Mai was getting ready to pour herself a drink. It could've been sake, couldn't be sure, but it looked like the bottle it's normally in."

Now that was shocking. The Be Fong rarely drank, only when something was truly bothering her. For a ninja who went through half of the shit she dealt with out in the field and in her personal life, any normal person would have become an alcoholic to numb the pain. Mai wasn't like that though. But even she had a limit to where a drink could be considered a warm welcome.

"She's breaking..." Belva whispered.

"Yes," Kakashi said.

The woman gave a heavy sigh, turning to face him as both arms crossed over her chest, while leaning against the counter.

"There have been very few times when I've witnessed it, but all of the signs she was displaying... it's a pattern of hers I've come to realize. She doesn't look at you to try and keep her emotions in check. So no one can see how much something is bothering her when it's no longer possible to hide it to your face. Mai can confront you, but everyone slips up on that one rule as a ninja during one time or another. I wouldn't be surprised if after you shortly left that she started crying. Maybe even let forth a scream of frustration to try and get it all out."

With that news Kakashi wanted to do nothing more than return to the Be Fong's home and check on her.

"It wouldn't do you any good, and I would highly advise against it." Belva could read him like an open book. "Like I said, I've caught her on the rare chance and it's not something she does on a whim. It's not pleasant to watch someone like her suffer so much."

"We should be helping, not ignoring it by sitting here talking."

"She wouldn't give anyone the time of day even if you tried stepping in."

"Then we are to do nothing?"

Yes, because it was futile. Mai's stubbornness to let people in would be the death of her, Belva sometimes thought.

"People cry, not because they are weak," the woman said. "It's because they've been strong for too long."

That comment crushed Kakashi in a sense. To know, that someone as strong as her could be reduced to such emotional pain. Pain no one could help her alleviate.

"This especially pertains to people like Mai Be Fong." [song ends]