[OP: "Eurus"--The Oh Hellos]

After pausing to think about it, finally Momo resumed the conversation.

"I think...well, he stopped in Stone, and he did defend their integrity in a way, to us all..." Momo mused. "And he's been obedient, which is the biggest surprise, since he never was before, to anyone. You have to acknowledge how damaged his ability to care about people is because of what he's suffered and the evil choices he made and wounds he accumulated... Taking all that into account...I think, for him, that is being grateful. And do you think Shine just chose to see it that way? To see people and understand what they are trying to be? None of us are like her and Wally; we don't measure up to their standards of what's kind and helpful, but they take us all as we are and work with that. Isn't that all they ask us to do with each other?"

"Not many people could do that," Shoto said. "But then, I'm used to my father's perfectionism, so maybe I'm jaded."

"Perhaps I haven't helped," Momo sighed. "I can be judgmental and expect people to meet my standards, or I will look down on them... Just because I'm quiet about it doesn't mean I don't do it. And I think I pushed that on you also. I didn't take my own advice."

"But I think you should hold me to a standard," Shoto said. "I shouldn't just get to hurt your feelings or act in a way that makes you feel afraid and not be aware of it."

He was reminded of his father again and how little he noticed or cared about that.

"But there are times I don't need to make you feel worse," Momo said. "I wasn't always right about it before, you know...when we argued about Sasuke. I mean, going about it the right way. I should have said that before. I'm sorry."

"I don't even care," Shoto said. "I mean...now, anyway. I think we should just forget about it."

Momo smiled.

[It's sweet to see them maturing. That rough patch kind of sucked all around. Also I think they show a good balance in relationships. Yes, you should be able to be honest with your partner about issues you have, but you can't always expect them to be exactly like you and have the same idea of what's good behavior. Compromise is important, but some things cannot be compromised on, and the wisest people know the difference and have the best relationships.]

* * *

Day 66:

The morning before the party, Shine and Wally talked to the Sand Siblings again about their plans for it.

"There's something we haven't really discussed yet," Shine said. "But I thought it would be a good idea to make an address to the Village... I suppose we'll be leaving after this. I want to end on a high note."

"That's a good idea," Gaara said. "I'm sure Mirai will want to make one also if she can."

Shine nodded then added, "And I think it would be good to tell them all about our faith... The few people who've asked us why we came here seemed interested enough when we mentioned it, but we didn't have time to go into it in detail. Physical needs are not enough. Rain Village is spiritually empty, and there's the matter of that creepy house of Pain's... We've put that off this long, but we need to clear it out."

"I'll help you do that," Gaara said. "But I think you had better make an address if you're going to expand the faith again."

"Why?" Wally asked. "Isn't it better coming from you?"

"I don't trust myself to have the right words," Gaara said, looking somber. "Clearly, I have a lot to learn still about how to explain things to people. I might get us run out again."

"That wouldn't happen here," Shine insisted. Then she looked at him narrowly. "You spoke to Mirai."

"I felt I had to then, but, though she understood, I can't be sure everyone here would, and showing our hand to them like that, if it led to being attacked again, I don't know how I would face the team," Gaara said. "It was a big enough risk to come here at all, and they've gotten through all right. How much can you ask from one group of people to endure?"

"Everything they must endure to complete this mission," Shine said, warmly.

"Maybe we shouldn't force him..." Wally wasn't so sure they should push Gaara if it would make him upset--but then, he never wanted to push anyone if that would happen.

Shine didn't like it, but she'd do it, and he knew it.

Gaara did also by now.

"I know you have strong feelings about this," he said, "but please, I am not confident this time."

Temari looked pained again... She'd hoped that Gaara had healed from the blow of Stone Village because of their successes here so far, but she should have known it wouldn't be that simple. Success does not always blot out failure in people's minds, and often it takes more than one success to blot out even a single failure.

Kankuro was less surprised. He supposed that Gaara had been acting more subdued than before, even after they'd made headway here.

"I'm good at serving the people," Gaara went on. "Clearly that is where our works show, but when I've tried to teach them, things have fallen apart."

"One time," Wally pointed out, more light. "Every other time it went fine."

"I united them under a common cause, but I'm aware that my teaching just does not stick," Gaara said.

Shine frowned at him. "Gaara, son, listen, when you aren't received well, you shake the dust off your feet and go to the next place and try again. Practice will make it easier, but honestly, even a poor teacher will teach a willing student, and a great teacher may inspire a bad student, but when it's down to the wire, the student will still have to want to choose to learn finally. People are the same in groups as they are separately, usually. If they've been more receptive here, I see no reason to think you wouldn't do well. But I know for sure if you do not try, that fear will become stronger, not weaker, and soon you will fear speaking to your own people again. You must not let that happen. I know it's intimidating to try again after a failure, but it's the only way to make yourself immune to its effects."

"Well, there is something in that," Wally agreed. "Failure is rough on a guy, but you've gotta get back up again. Isn't there a passage about that...'7 times'?"

"'For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity'," Shine quoted. [Proverbs 24:26. You might want to keep that passage in mind for the end of this arc.]

"That one," Wally agreed.

"I just don't know," Gaara said.

Seeing him so doubtful hurt them nearly as much as his brother and sister.

Shine pursed her lips--then she had an idea.

"At least think about it," she said aloud.

Gaara sighed. "All right--but if I did decide to speak, you must do it with me. Then I would be more easy. You're much better at teaching."

"I'm not one of them; it means less," Shine said.

"What means more? A stranger caring for people who have nothing to give them in return?" Gaara said. "It meant more to us."

"Shine, it wouldn't hurt if you both spoke," Wally urged her. "I'd offer, but I'm better at charming repertoire than I am at making speeches, you know that. You're the natural. You can do it together. It won't hurt, and he might be right--it might mean a lot to them."

"Together," Shine agreed. "But I won't do it alone. Either both of us or neither of us, I guess."

"Then maybe I will, if I can think of anything to say," Gaara said.

Shine nodded.

After they adjourned the meeting, she told Wally, "I'll ask Matsuri to talk to him."

Matsuri was still there, somehow, as were Neji and Niji. The team had nearly forgotten they were only supposed to be visiting for a short time.

"That might help," Wally said. "But she's a kid."

"They're all kids."

"Still, would that be manipulation?" Wally asked. "I know, you kind of do that for a good cause, but, Gaara is more of an open book."

"In this case, I think it's okay," Shine said. "If anyone could convince him that he's not a bad teacher, I would think his first student of all could. Some things we have to hear from people we've tried to help, not those who've helped us, and since we're not having much influence on him, I think this is one of those times."

"Well, true," Wally said. "But hey, you should take what he said to heart. Clearly he feels more confident with you. You guys really have bonded a lot. Though he doesn't say much."

"Well, Gaara's not the type who needs to say much to connect with a person." Shine smiled. "I'm very proud of him. He reminds me of Oscar--you don't have to teach him, he'll do so much on his own."

"Maybe he's also like Oscar, though, in a way, where he doesn't always see it in himself," Wally said.

"Yes, but at least he had other friends to support him," Shine said. "Gaara has more influence, as he leads a whole country, not just this team... We seem to keep getting upgraded on the level of authority we're given in these missions."

"Band of rogue huntsmen, elite hero school, and now the government of a small country," Wally said. "Or mayor...whatever it would be. Yeah, I guess next we'll be sent to the president or king."

[Nope, but would world-saving superheroes count as an upgrade?--See X-Men story.]

"If Gaara is like Oscar," Shine mused, "then he needs a Ruby, and Matsuri is the most likely that that I can think of."

"I see your point," Wally said. "Okay, we should ask her... By the way, how's Sasuke doing? He seemed to be doing better, but then, he's been a little off since the other day... You talked to him about his brother, and then he just...shut down."

"Yes, he hasn't spoken to me since. And I don't dare try to start a conversation with him right now. He's in a delicate place... He's likely to push us away harder now if we try too hard. Still, this is killing me. We were doing so well, but it was bound to hit another snag. Things get worse before they get better, usually."

"He has to come around, right? All this effort couldn't go for nothing." Wally rubbed his head. "I hope, anyway... I wish I knew how to help, but I don't understand the kid at all. Other than he's miserable--I understand that part."

"He's blaming himself for all kinds of things, Wally," Shine said, soberly. "And he feels alone in that. The slightest hint that people care about him scares him because he thinks he'll be more alone than before once they're taken away too. Whatever he's come to like about us scares him more than when he hated us."

"I think I get that part," Wally said. "Because it's like Batman, or Supes, even. Always worried about that they'll lose...but that's no way to live. I'd rather have something for a short time and love the crap out of it than not have anything ever. Life is too short to waste your chances to value people."

Shine kissed him. "I love you...but unfortunately, I understand just how Sasuke feels. I was just the same, and sometimes I still think I am."

"No," Wally scoffed. "Maybe you feel that way, but you don't live that way. Don't be so hard on yourself... Go back to the kissing part, that was better."

"You're incorrigible."

"I know, it's one of my best qualities."

[Lol.]

* * *

Matsuri was more than willing to do what they asked her. She jumped at the chance to help "Gaara-sensei".

And she wasn't nearly as shy about it as they expected. Turns out she wasn't really the shy type. [I mean, she shouldn't be if she'd approached Gaara to begin with when she was 10 and he was the Terror of Sand Village. Not very shy behavior.]

She went right to find him, and he was standing out in the street--since it was a brief patch of sunlight.

Gaara noticed that since the land had gotten more sun, grass and wildflowers were popping up in the cracks of the street where dirt could be seen. Though normally that makes a village look messier, Rain Village was so flat and lifeless-looking that the sight of any growth in it made it look vastly better.

And beyond the streets, in the field by the lake, flowers and taller grass had sprung up in the sun. 

Maybe they were weeds, Ino had said, but, they were still pretty, and sometimes weeds were the only thing that would grow in a tough environment. [Not all weeds are so bad anyway. Dandelions can be eaten, so they aren't only a nuisance.]

Matsuri also startled Gaara by coming up to him and saying outright, "I heard you're thinking about talking to the whole Village at the party."

"Who told you that?" Gaara looked up.

"It doesn't matter." Matsuri shrugged. "But you're going to do it, right?"

Gaara didn't react the way to that how most people would if they found out they've been told on--he was too used to it.

"I don't know," he said. "The longer I look at it, the less sure I am that I know what to say. This Village must have been through so much they haven't told us about, because they just wouldn't. I'm sure I wouldn't know how to talk to them."

"I'm sure you can talk about yourself," Matsuri almost snorted. "Why don't you just tell them what you mean? Just like with me. That usually seems to do the trick."

"Matsuri, I don't think it's that simple," Gaara began. "I've come to realize that people don't always hear what you're saying the way you intend them to--"

"Of course not," Matsuri cut in. "No two people are the same, are they?"

"Well...no..." Gaara paused. "But I'm not sure what you mean."

"I mean that Stone Village isn't the same as Rain, is it?" Matsuri said. "That's different. And these people are different than the others. They have nothing--just like me once, with nothing much... I was weak and afraid." She put her hands together. "Did I ever tell you why I decided to go with you that first day of class?"

"No." Gaara had never asked her--it was not like him to ask people what they thought of him.

Matsuri nodded. "It wasn't anything too complex. But I thought to myself that Gaara-san was trying to tell me something, and I should listen. And then I thought that anyone who's that scary-looking but still tries to help out anyway, they can't be so bad."

Her bluntness didn't bother Gaara--he was used to that too.

"And then I got in trouble, and you came to help," Matsuri added. "So I knew I was right. I figured I had to fight after that, because it was the right thing to do, to be able to learn how to protect others that way. I'm nothing special as a shinobi, but, I do my best."

She smiled. "And maybe that's just where I get on a little better than you do now, Sensei."

"How do you mean?" Gaara asked.

"You think you're supposed to be so special," Matsuri said. "But you weren't like that before. Before you just talked to me plain and simple, like you saw it clearly and didn't really think about being usual, and that was what made it stick. I mean, it's nice to inspire people like in the War, but, most of the time, people just want to hear what's going to help them with the problem. Like me. And that's where you never had any trouble, so, I think it's just that simple. I learned that from you, to just do what I can and never mind whether it was special or not--it's just my duty. And I think that's the best quality a leader has anyway."

Gaara blinked at her.

He was someone who liked things put to him simply, and Matsuri was also, so in that way they understood each other very well.

Maybe she was right... Maybe he'd started to overthink things... Perhaps he'd tried to be too clever, in Stone...or maybe he'd just started to act as if what he had to say was too secret and too special to be harmless.

And he knew it wasn't harmless, exactly, and that the weapon he'd taught Matsuri to use wasn't harmless--but in the right hands it was a good thing to be dangerous.

He'd started off thinking the way, and he'd gotten lost on it somewhere along the line.

Since Gaara was a wise person, he could see this right away without it taking that much more than a nudge. Had he been more stubborn, he would have not accepted it right off--but he was smart enough to see that doubting what he believed was the problem.

"I see," he said aloud. "So that is where I've made my mistake. I stopped thinking of it as something that people just need in their lives and started to think of it as too controversial."

Matsuri didn't know if she needed to say anything; it sounded as if he'd pretty much gotten there.

"Though, it still may be controversial," Gaara said. "But, that is not my fault...it was Stone's...  Perhaps I only played into it by acting like it was after that... I got scared by their threats... That was it. I'm ashamed that I could still be so easily frightened."

"Everyone gets scared." Matsuri didn't like to hear Gaara down on himself any more than his other loyal friends or family did. "That's okay...just...don't let it get you, you know? I think...you can still do something. That's the most important thing. Even if it doesn't work, to still fight...to at least try, isn't that what you taught us? To fight and to be careful how we use our weapons? And what is all this but your weapon to change things?"

Gaara nodded. "You're wiser than your years, perhaps, Matsuri."

Matsuri almost got offended. "I'm only 2 years younger than you, and you're the Kage!" she said indignantly.

Gaara had forgotten how close they were in age, since he was often surrounded by adults who treated him as such. "Oh...apologies." He sounded like Shoto.

"It's okay...just...don't talk like I'm a little kid still," Matsuri huffed. "I'm a Chunin now, you know... Anyway, I was just trying to help."

"No, I understand," Gaara said. "I see what you're saying... Perhaps I'm neglecting my responsibility by hesitating... I suppose I was trying to play it safe again."

"I didn't mean to make you feel guilty." Matsuri shuffled. "I was trying to say that you're a good teacher. Maybe you don't say as much as that lady who's your teacher, and she's interesting and all, but sometimes less words is more too..."

[Being laconic is not one of Shine's many virtues, I must admit freely.]

"And the main thing is that people know where your heart is," Matsuri added, "to protect the people, and if the Village here can't see that, they're just stupid."

Matsuri had the Sand Village gift of being blunt about her opinions, even if she was a gentler person than Temari and Kankuro were. [I think it's the hot sun, you know? When I've been outside in the heat all day, I don't feel like I have the time or energy to be tactful.]

Gaara had to smile a little. But he did feel better now... His reservations weren't gone, but he felt he could face up to it--thought he still preferred it if Shine helped, but that compromise was okay with her.

* * *

The last bit of unpleasant business before the party was to clear out Pain's old house.

Most of the ninja wouldn't go near the place--it was too ominous and foreboding.

The heroes went with the DJs, and the Sand went with them... Shikamaru, Ino and Choji also did. Shikamaru had decided he wanted to learn more about how and why they did these things.

He was starting to feel more that he was going to have to take this new practice seriously. He'd come this far, and it seemed too late to turn back now--and all his reservation about it had been fading for a while. He still wondered if all this mystical stuff was for him--but giving it a fair chance now was the thing to do, he thought.

He thought that this was a change from how he'd started this mission. At first he'd never wanted to expose himself to anything unusual or uncanny, and he'd tried to stay in his lane and not let them stir him up too much--but too many things had changed that for him.

Temari didn't say anything to him to gloat or imply that he was finally coming to his senses--and she actually seemed a little on edge. Shikamaru suspected that she didn't really like doing these kinds of things, though she would if she had to.

The building was as dark and forlorn on the inside as it was on the outside. They entered at the bottom level, not sure where to begin.

The air gave them all chills and goosebumps.

Though you couldn't see anything, really. It just had a creepy vibe to it, as Camie said.

"Man, I wish I'd not come now," she mumbled.

"There's nothing here," Shoto said. 

"Not that you can see," Camie said. "But what if I can? I don't really wanna see the kinds of critters that Pain had hanging around his messed up lab."

"Me neither." Shine pulled out her sword and lit it up. "But nothing but to destroy it now. We're getting quite good at this."

"We should hire ourselves out to burn down labs and as destruction agents," Dabi joked. "I may have found my calling." He lit a blue flame in his hand but then put it out.

"It should be short work to destroy this time," Gaara said. "I hope it's not reinforced with anything strong."

"Usually that kind stuff is delicate, so let's hope not," Wally said.

"I miss my war paint," Kankuro muttered. "I feel less intimidating without it."

"Some devils wouldn't be scared of war paint," Dabi said.

"Don't say that word," Kankuro said. "This is a lab, all right? Don't be weird."

Dabi snorted but said nothing else about it.

"Please, you're going to creep yourselves out by talking that way," Shine said, bravely. "Let's do something to cheer ourselves up. How about a song?"

"I know it's you talking," Shikamaru said, "but is there really a song for this particular situation?"

"Oh, sure," Wally said. "Back home, Shine turned me on to this band Skillet that writes songs all about that. It's real good stuff. If you like rock."

"What is that?" Temari asked.

"Some of the songs I've played were like rock," Camie said. "Light rock."

"Indie Rock," Momo said. "Jiro says that's not real rock, but it appeals to the masses."

"Guess she's right," Camie said, instead of taking that personally.

"Jiro is your best friend in your world?" Temari asked her.

"Yes, though it took me a few days to warm up to her," Momo reflected. "I suppose it was the villain attack that did it. Though I was a bit short with her, but she was a brave fighter, so we earned each other's respect."

"Was that where she and Dunce Face started their thing too?" Bakugo asked.

"Maybe, but she didn't seem to like him that much at the time," Momo said. "She said he was a 'damsel in distress'."

"Ah, Jiro is such a roast master," Camie snorted. "Too bad she thinks I'm such a spaz, or we could hang out more."

Jiro did kind of think Camie was a ditz, though Momo wished she could deny it. They weren't the type of girls who really understood each other.

"Jiro and Kaminari are also acting as our watchmen for that world while we're here," Wally told the ninja. "That way we don't get caught. Aizawa would kill us if he knew we had his top students here during their vacation. Though we told him it would help them grow their skills."

"Can you picture Aizawa letting us do that 6 months ago?" Shine snorted. "He's learned to trust us a lot more as we saved them all those times. Though I suppose he knows we're up to something unusual, but not much he can do, since you guys talked your parents into it."

"I told my family it was a trip with friends to learn more about the practical aspects of hero work," Momo said. "While it's kind of the truth, I know they didn't expect this at all...but I can't tell them I was outside of the world for...months now."

"Weeks in our time," Bakugo reminded her. "My mom said I could stay gone as long as I wanted."

"Ouch," Camie winced. "Mine just said to have a good time and not come home pregnant."

"Camie!" Momo cried.

"What? That's what they said..." Camie said.

"I take it the lack of filter runs in her family," Shikamaru said, reddening.

"Let's just pretend we didn't hear that." Temari was also embarrassed.

"Maybe the singing idea wasn't so bad," Choji suggested.

"Yes, let's do that." Gaara was only too glad to agree with him. "How about one from that band you mentioned? What are they like?"

"Let's see..." Wally said. "For this situation...Shine?"

"You can pick."

"Don't do that to me. Come on, you know my mind goes blank under pressure. Give me a song."

"Suppose mine goes blank also?"

"Don't kid me."

"Freaking 'Ignite'," Bakugo said before Shine could pick something.

"Oh, that one's the bomb," Camie agreed.

"Wait, that was a song title?" Shikamaru said. "I thought he literally meant to ignite."

"I freaking do," Bakugo said, pointing at the stairs they were heading towards. "But it's a kicka-- song."

"Huh?" Choji was confused.

"It's past time," Shine just started singing instead of explaining. "The last time, I take control, I'm cutting wires."

"Fight or flight," Camie chipped in. "Dynamite. With just a spark, I come alive."

"I don't want to live in fear..."  Wally liked the song also. "I won't waste another year..."

"It's past time, the last time, never go back, I cross the line..." Dabi muttered, but didn't want to sing aloud.

"I defy it, I deny it, strike and light it," Shine resumed. 

Then all together:

"I ignite! All of the pain I take, 'cause I refuse to break, ooh. Get back when I ignite. 'Cause they cannot rule me. I know what I believe. Get back when I ignite. Setting the world on fire, sitting here burning brighter. Get back when I ignite! All of the pain I take, 'cause I refuse to break. Get back when I ignite!

"A Hostage, exhausted, I'm riding on a razor's edge. The countdown begins now. This fire inside ain't burning out.

"I don't want to live in fear, detonate and stand clear... I defy it, I deny it, strike and light it..."

https://youtu.be/QtUHumHAlwU

[AMV to "Ignite", Skillet by Douma grrr--AMV says it's for Bakugo, but really seems like it's for Dabi and him both. But that fits.]

"This song is very violent," Choji said to Ino and Shikamaru.

They shrugged.

"A lot of their songs are kind of strange," Ino said. "But I like them...at least usually."

"I think I prefer the quieter ones." Shikamaru rubbed his ears. "But...honestly, I do feel a little less tense. Hard to feel like something's sneaking up on us when they're belting that at the top of their lungs."

The others realized they also felt better.

In fact, when they walked up the stairs and found a room with a row of strange-looking machines in it that normally would have made them all cringe, they almost didn't notice, since they just kept on singing.

After that song ended they struck up another one, "Feel Invincible", which was Bakugo's other favorite Skillet song. [Bakugo would love Skillet. There's a bunch of AMVs for him for that band, so clearly I'm not the only one who thinks so.]

https://youtu.be/fIqE_xZblyg

[AMV to "Feel Invincible" (Skillet) by Dragon Soul, which is a really cool channel name.]

Shikamaru was never sure precisely what the machines in Pain's lair did; no one told him, and he felt it was better that way. They looked evil.

The others made short work of destroying them. Gaara and Temari chipped in, even. Kankuro's puppets didn't do much against it, but Momo was showing him how to use the right words.

There was an interesting smell in the place, and the feeling of darkness, but really the DJs moved so fast, there was no time to dwell on it.

And, almost before anyone was sure of it, it was over. Everything was broken into pieces, and Dabi and Shoto had burned up whatever seemed safe to with fire.

However, there was a fly in the ointment, because Choji, who had looked around the level for anyone else, found what appeared to be some kind of safe in the wall.

Shine sliced it open, as no one else could get it to budge, but they found that the lock had been recently picked.

Temari noticed it first, but the ninja knew enough of what it looked like to see she was right.

"But it was still locked," Ino said.

"No, it was locked again," Kankuro said, warily. "Who was here? Pain wouldn't have had to pick the lock."

"As I feared," Shine said. "Someone went through this place. No doubt they won't be pleased to know it's been destroyed now, but if they have blueprints of any of these hellish devices, this could start all over."

"Who could it be?" Wally asked. "I thought everyone was scared to come in here."

"I bet it was the Yoku guy," Bakugo said.

"Just because his name means 'greed' doesn't mean he's actually greedy," Momo said.

"Nah, but I don't think he liked the idea of us destroying the dump," Bakugo said. "And who else would have the stones to come in here but a Council member? And one of Pain's old lackeys, no doubt. Ten to one, it was him."

"Well," Shoto said, "I hate to say it, but that's a good point. Who but Pain's lackeys would dare?"

"Why do you always have to agree with me?" Bakugo grumbled.

Shoto just shook his head and didn't answer him.

"Bakugo might be right," Shine said. "And I won't rest anyway if we don't route out any trace of this if we can. Let's pay him a little visit...but better get Mirai to go with us. We can't just break into the guy's house."

"Yes," Gaara agreed.