Prologue: Guu’d Night Sweet Princess

[Guu]

It was a cheerful day in Mokugakure. Clear skies for miles, temperatures were perfect. For some, this was a day for recreation and fun, for others it was a time to get work done. Either way, it as a productive day.

And then there was Guu.

She kind of showed up at the front gate that day out of nowhere. No one saw her coming, she just kind of appeared, requesting to meet with Tsunade.

Guu was rarely a pleasant presence, but today it was almost like a dark cloud was hanging over her head. People who were empathetic enough would feel a shiver down their spines as she walked by.

With the front desk lady’s word, she traversed the long spiraling staircase, her mind too full of thoughts to process the magnificent view that unfolded just outside the tree. She briskly walked through the large ornate door that closed off the portal to Tsunade’s office.

The woman sat at her desk, etching a few last notes on a documents she was filling out. She looked just as Guu saw her last: blonde hair, brown eyes, a body way younger than her mind. It had been forever since she last stood in this office. As a woman also beyond in her years, Guu felt a sense camaraderie with the ninja leader the last time they met, but she wasn’t in the mood for friendship right now.

 The sophisticated seemingly young woman rested her pen in it’s perforation in the wood and tilted up to view the pink visitor.

“Hello again Guu!” She said pleasantly. “You’ve been missing for so long, I wasn’t sure if I had to arrange a search party, or possibly a hunting party!”

But as the enigma approached, the ninja leader’s smile faded. While Guu’s face always remained neutral, Tsunade could read so much emotion from those eyes, it was how she learned that Guu was older than she presented herself. However, this time, there was just, emptiness, and just a hint of despair behind those eyes. For the first time since they’ve first met, Guu managed to unsettle her a just little bit.

“Is something wrong?” She said, uncertain if she should be empathetic or freaked out by the situation.

Guu swiveled her cold dead eyes up to Tsunade and she felt a shiver down her spine. It was like the gaze of the ancient ones had landed upon her from whatever wicked cul de sac of the galaxy they occupied.

“Did you hear what happened?” Guu said, her voice as dead as ever. At least this was something that didn’t change from last time.

“Only rumors.” She said, trying desperately to keep eye contact with the thing occupying the space in front of her.

“Some of it’s true, some of it’s exaggerated.” She said. “I guess it doesn’t matter at this point.”

Guu suddenly plunged her entire hand down her throat. A second or two of feeling around and she pulls it out again. Clutched in her hand was the Yellow Star Piece. She plunked it gently on the desk in front of her.

“The Star Piece has always been yours.” She said robotically, as if she had been rehearsing the words all day. “It is no long safe with me. You’ll have to find someone else to guard it. I’m sorry. I hope this doesn’t hurt relations with Ambrosia.”

“Oh, well, it’s okay.” She said, after this conversation, this move comes off as an oddly wise decision considering Guu’s apparent state of mind.

With Tsunade’s assurance, the princess, without a single emotional cue, turned and started to head for the door.

“There’s something I need to do.” She said, her voice grim.

The ninja leader started to get a dark feeling. It was different from the shiver she received prior. This one had a bit more finality to it.

“Your people need you,” Tsunade said, uncertain of her words, “you do know that, right?”

Guu froze in place, her hand on the door nob.

She simply gave off a big sigh, and spoke one final time.

“They haven’t needed me in a long time.”

And with that, she swung open the door and made her way downstairs, leaving Tsunade with her thoughts.