Wrinkle In Space: Book 4 in the Shifting Series

Apology

Yamato was almost to the Academy when he spotted Ima Fuku making a beeline towards him. He was actually surprised to see her approaching as she had been one of the people in the village that had always made it clear that she found him to be a disgusting piece of the village. He had even heard her once say that he should not be allowed to remain in the village because he was unnatural. He had a suspicion that many of the villagers that had shunned him had been influenced by her. He started to turn in a different direction to avoid her when she called out suddenly to him.

"Mr. Tenzo! Please wait, I need to speak to you!"

He cringed inwardly before stopping to turn towards her. He didn't want to have any dealings with her but he was too polite to be an asshole. "How can I help you, Mrs. Fuku?"

She stopped closer to him than she had ever been. It was actually the same distance one would give a friend when they approached them to talk. She was wringing her hands in front of her and the expression on her face was one of... shame? What in the world was going on? As far as he knew, she had never been ashamed of anything in her life. She had always been a nasty piece of work. Privileged and entitled all her life, she was the definition of a rich bitch. He could still remember seeing her about the village when she had been a kid and even then, she had a nasty streak to her.

"I owe you an apology," she started with eyes filled with remorse. "I have been terrible towards you for many years now."

Yamato was shocked and couldn't speak. The words were mind blowing coming from her lips.

"Your wife and I had an encounter earlier today... I had said something rather terrible and she put me into a Genjutusu, forcing me to live the life you had lived as a child." Her eyes actually brimmed with tears, "I'm so sorry for what all you went through and even more sorry that I added to your misery all these years. I promise, I will go out of my way to correct all that I have done against you. I do hope you can forgive me."

Yamato's mind whirled at the words. He had to shake himself out of it before he could speak to her. "Thank you, Mrs. Fuku. I hold no ill will towards you."

She smiled for the first time, "Thank you. I now realize after living your life that I have been a terrible person most of mine and I will change. While her method was rather harsh... she did me a service. Please express my gratitude to her for waking me up."

Yamato gave her a nod of his head and watched as she bustled away. He was stunned that Klaudia had done what she had done. If Mrs. Fuku had not had a change of heart, she could have gotten in serious trouble for an abuse of her powers. One did not just put someone into a Genjutsu and torture someone. He had no doubt that it was torture because he had lived that life and knew. He could still remember watching the other children that had been part of Orochimaru's experiment to unlock Wood Style Jutsu die one by one until he was the very last. Never knowing if you were the next one, then being abandoned to die when he had fled.

He would have to caution her when he saw her but... he was rather pleased that she had defended him. He never would have thought, soft and caring Klaudia would have that kind of a streak in her. She was such a gentle woman and had such a heart for animals. She had spoken to him about why she refused to eat anything that came from an animal. She had almost cried when she spoke about it and he had decided then and there to join her. It was such a deep thing for her that he would forsake those things to respect how she felt.

As he reached the Academy, he was still a bit curious as to how he would be as a teacher. It was one thing to lead Shinobi, it was another thing to teach future Shinobi. A few minutes later he was outside Iruka's door and was about to turn the handle when he heard yelling from the opposite side.

"You punched Ima Fuku?! Are you out of your mind?! They've been looking for any reason to remove you from the Academy and you just handed it to them!" Iruka's voice came to him through the door.

Yamato's brows went up then he almost started laughing. Ima Fuku had quite the day, didn't she? Melissa punched her and Klaudia cast her into a Genjutsu. Karma had obviously reared it's head hard with the woman. Now that he thought about it, there had been some discoloration on her left cheek.

"That bitch-"

He knocked hard on the door and Melissa's comeback was abruptly cut in half. A moment passed before Iruka said, "Come in."

Yamato kept his face neutral when he came in but he almost started laughing. Melissa was on the opposite side of the room sending daggers Iruka's way and Iruka's normally jovial face was clouded with anger. He turned away from his wife and looked at Yamato.

"Oh, hi Yamato. I just got the message that you've accepted the position before my wife returned from hanging out with your wife," Iruka managed to say but he was obviously still upset.

"I heard what happened," Yamato told him then grinned. "I don't think you have to worry. Ima Fuku found me on the street not that long ago and apologized for being a real bitch all these years. I don't think she's going to take any action against either of them."

Melissa blinked as she looked at him, "Klaudia didn't do anything. She just sat there. I'm the one that punched that bitch."

Yamato's expression cracked before he started laughing, "According to Ima Fuku, Klaudia put her in a Genjutsu and forced her to experience my life as a child."

Melissa's eyes narrowed slightly before she started laughing. "Why that little sneak. She acted so innocent afterwards."

"Most likely knew she'd be in some hell of trouble if anyone knew what she did," Iruka responded the angry tone now out of his voice. "Plausible deniability."

Yamato had not thought about that. If no one had seen her, it really would have been Klaudia's word against Ima's word. She'd have gotten out of trouble if no one else had known. That was rather cleaver of her really. He almost grinned at the thought. She was crafty and he loved that.

Iruka stood up, "I'll show you around, Yamato, and we can even poke our head into the class you'll be taking over."

Melissa watched them leave the room and almost started laughing again. Klaudia, you little sneak. She never would have guessed had Yamato not told them. She had to admit, Klaudia's method was subtle and as Iruka said, she could have easily denied it even happened. Her friend was amazing.