A Hummingbird's Prey (TLU Book 2)

Chapter Thirty-Two: Mei vs Ingyo

Meilani never cared to learn medical ninjutsu outside of the basic requirements. And that was certainly biting her in the ass now. The most she's been able to do was ease Meiji's pain and heal the open wound on his lip. If it weren't for Kakashi having an upper hand in his own knowledge, Meiji would still have 3 broken ribs.
The group was half a day from the border of this land and the Land of Fire, and another day or two until they reached Konoha.

"Here, my Lord." Moriko lifted her water canteen to Meiji's lips. Holding it steady as he drank slowly. Meilani pulled out a small scroll and summoned a pack of onigiri her and Kakashi had prepped ahead of time. Handing one to each person except her father. Whom she intended to help.
"Take small bites," she reminded, offering it to his lips. Kakashi eyed her with a frown before continuing his watch on the south.
"Save it for yourself." He moved his head to the side.
"I have ration pills. You need your strength."
"No, Meilani." He answered sternly. "Give me the ration pills."

Meilani's furrowed brows matched her father's. Sayori watched with curiosity, covering her mouth to stifle a laugh when Meilani pulled off a piece and pressed it against his lips.
"Mmf-" Meiji stared at her, bewildered at how she pushed the rice into his mouth after he tried to speak. He chewed slowly before speaking. "Stubborn child."
"I'm not a child anymore," she detested his term. "Now, eat."
Meiji nabbed the onigiri, scoffing at his daughter's proud grin.
"No matter how much you age, you'll always be my child. I'm sure you'll understand that when Naruto is older."

Meilani pursed her lips, handing him her water canteen and walking to Kakashi.
"We've got some gum on our shoes." He murmured. Her eyes glossed along the opposite side of the field they rested in, and the trees in the distance. His words confirmed the reason for a chill in her spine.
"Do you think they'll attack soon?" She asked quietly, her head facing the genin.
"I doubt it. They're already outnumbered. I only smell one." He kept his eye on the field while using a kunai to slice his onigiri in half. Mei took one half begrudgingly. "They smell like tobacco, and cloves."
Her heartbeat quickened.

"It's him, Kash." She whispered against the food. "He's probably waiting for backup. We either need to move or stop him."
"All of his men at the hideout are gone." He reminded. "We can capture him now, and bring him in. Tsunade wants one prisoner, remember?"
"He's too dangerous to be a captive." She argued. "She said that when this was a lower-ranked mission. I think we can agree that the circumstances changed."
Kakashi broke away from his watch, his eyes lowering to her hardened expression.
"We have our own backup arriving soon. We'll probably meet with them by the end of the day."
She lowered the food, her chin tilting as she glowered.
"I'll handle this." He crossed his arms, his gaze moving forward once more. "When the time comes."
"Like hell, you are." She stood in front of him, her voice turning to ice. "He is my problem. After all that he's done, I am the one who's going to finish this."

"Finish what, exactly?" He asked, keeping his voice low. They both noticed the silence behind them, and realized that the rest of their party could be listening. "This mission isn't about vengeance."
"Is that what you think I'm after?" Her mouth let out a scoff. He looked at her again, his eyes softening due to the hurt in her eyes. "This is about making sure he can't escape again, about having him answer for his crimes. All of the atrocities he's committed. Not just to me, but to Isao. To my mother, and the Kingdom of Memory. To you."

"Even so, you don't get to make that call, Meilani. Our Hokage is the one who has the final decision."
Kakashi didn't understand why he wouldn't consider this earlier. Maybe he wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he was wrong, and she is considering the most logical standpoint. Still, there was a fine line between eliminating a threat like Ingyo for the sake of a mission, or for the sake of revenge.
"What answer do you truly expect from him? On second thought, how do you plan on completing this mission?"