-1The Day our eyes Met
Kakashi x Megumi
Characters
Kakashi Hatake (26)- Jounin ranked Ninja, hired to protect Megumi
Megumi Mikato (26)- Highly wanted Geisha, holder of Light spirit
Ritsuko Mikato (26) - Megumi's twin and prostitute, (not by choice), holder of Shadow spirit
Sir Hirosho Minaki (44)- Megumi's owner/lover (not by choice), carries around a samurai sword
Master Hitacha (39)- Brothel owner where Ritsuko works, carries around a chained scythe
Iruka (25)- An old friend of Kakashi's, a Chuunin
Kurenai Yuuhi (27)- Megumi's "sister" and dear friend, plans to retire, because she's 3 month pregnant and plans to settle down
Asuma Sarutobi (28)- Kurenai's lover, is an ANBU
Tsunade- (50 looks 29)- Geisha mother, loathes Minaki because she believes he had something to with her fiancée's death
Shizune- (26)- A fellow sister, adopted niece of Tsunade, a bit naïve for her age
Anko- (24)- Another sister, she's a bit annoying at times, a gossip
Nami- (13) - A maiko under Megumi's training, she's very spunky and dedicated to Megumi
Chapter One
" Momma, momma where are you!?" The small child's voice echoed through the house as she ran, gripping the hand of her sister's tight.
" Megumi, your going too fast, slow down!"
" We have to keep going, Ritsuko. We have to find mama!" Pulling her sister forward, the girl known as Megumi surged forward . Something was terribly wrong. Loud voices and the sounds of screaming could be heard from outside the house. Megumi suddenly stopped, causing Ritsuko to bump hard into her back. She put a small finger to her lips and the other girl nodded. Sliding the door open a fraction, she peered out.
Smoke and fire covered her vision, making her draw back slightly. Moving closer, she watched confused as villagers ran and children cried. Bloody bodies lay limp on the ground, eyes blank stared straight through her. Screams reverberated through the flames and then she saw him. A tall slender man appeared from the blaze. He wore the robes of the Yamikage, long and white, they bellowed in the fogged winds. His hat was missing, the breeze making his long jet black hair swirl. Narrow onyx eyes stared daggers, at who, Megumi didn't know. All she knew was this man was scared, an emotion she'd never seen come from him before.
" What's going on? Move, I want to see too." Impatiently Ritsuko squeezed herself between Megumi and the door. Seeing the man she gasped, wide eyed. " PAPA-"
Smacking a harsh hand over her sister's mouth, Megumi hissed threateningly through her teeth. Looking through the door she saw the Yamikage, Shuhan Mikato, their father, slant his eyes in their direction. He shook his head. She nodded. Something was undeniably wrong.
Suddenly a flow of unimaginable energy swelled forward, crashing into their father. Gasping she squeezed her eyes shut. ' he's ok, papa's ok. He just has to be.' Opening her eyes she exhaled, relieved to see that he was, indeed, ok. But badly wounded. He stood, slumped, holding his damaged arm, his teeth gritted in pain.
That's when she heard it, the cold, hard laugh of her village's slaughterer. Angling her eyes to the left, she saw him. He stood tall, his appearance much like her father's, but at the same time completely different. His eyes black as coal, stared icy and cruel, his smooth lips curved in a devilish smile. His long black coat fluttered behind him like monstrous demon wings. She knew this man.
" Tenma-sensei?" Feeling Ritsuko tremble, she lowered her gaze. The young girl stared, shocked, large tears rolled down her paled cheeks. Tenma was Ritsuko's sensei, and past student of their father's. Tenma was a gentle man, much like her sensei and his younger sister Segi. Something had changed in him. And it had happened quickly.
Feeling her sister's sorrow wash over her, she tried hard to hold back her own sobs. She had to do something and fast. She couldn't just stand there and let this happen. Moving to push her sister away and rush ahead and help, she was stopped by a gentle hand on her shoulder. Gazing behind her she saw the warm eyes of her mother peer into her own.
" Mama?!"
"Mama?!" Twisting out Megumi's lap she leapt into her mother's arms.
" Mama, oh mama, papa's fighting Tenma-sensei! Why, mama why?"
Eyes that matched their father's so much, Iano Mikato looked firmly into Megumi's." Tenma-sensei isn't himself darling."
" It's the Darkness isn't mama, the Darkness has taken over hasn't it?"
Hesitantly she nodded. The land of Light and Shadow was inhabited by two types of ninja; shadow holders and light holders. At the age of five a child was sent to the caves of Between Worlds. There, a child was gifted with either the spirit of Light or of Shadow. With these spirits came great power, ones that the holder must be able to contain. All though both are equally feared amongst other Villages, the holder of a Shadow is feared the most. Many shadow holders are able to hold the power and work as equals with the forces that dwelled inside. But rarely, if the holder made a choice of using his powers cruelly upon others or is overwhelmed by dark thoughts, he forfeits himself to Darkness. It's also very rare to get them back to who they once were once they give in to this horrific power. Tenma was now one of those rare few.
How this had happened, she didn't know and something she desperately dreaded. Looking back through the door, she watched as her father and Tenma battled, fists clashing, large vapors of smoke emitting from their hands. As strong as Shuhan was, there was no way he was going to defeat Tenma. Even though he was a fellow Shadow, he hadn't given into the Darkness, leaving Tenma with a great advantage. Megumi watched with horror as he, unable to dodge a oncoming blow, reeled backwards. He tumbled hard to the ground, a low moan seeped from his lips. Smirking Tenma lifted the weak Shadow off his feet. "It's a shame really, the student surpassing his teacher. But I suppose that's expected."
" Tenma…you must stop this. Look what you've done, to your home, to your people."
" This place is no longer my home, these are no longer my people," He looked around the burning village he once called his home. " That all ended the day they marked me as a monster."
" That was so long ago and we got through it… together. Destroying this village is only proving them right."
" Then so be it!" He tightened his grip around the Yamikage's throat. " This is going to be rather pleasurable, especially with your family as my audience." He looked at them then, eyes like the devil, tore through Megumi's soul. Setting her jaw, she pulled open the sliding door and rushed out.
" MEGUMI!"
" SISTER!?"
" MEGUMI STOP WHERE YOU ARE!"
Deaf to the voices that begged for her retreat, she charged forward. " YOU TOUCH HIM, I'LL KILL YOU!"
Doing a quick set of hand signs a large white orb appeared between her fingers. Screaming at the top of her lungs and blurry eyed with tears, she lunged.
Ritsuko blinked back her own tears and in that moment heard Megumi gasp. Tenma held Megumi's hand, fingers entwined. His dark smirk widened, his fingers twisting hers till she shrieked in pain. Her cries were quickly silenced as a hard foot smashed into her gut. She grunted, flew backwards, and crashed hard into the wall of the house. The impact was so strong her crumpled body had splintered the once smooth wood.
" Megumi, oh my darling." Leaving Ritsuko, the raven haired Shadow bent over her daughter's form. She helped Megumi to her knees.
" I…I… have to stop him. He'll kill papa."
" Enough now! Your not strong enough!"
" But I have to do something!" She moved to get to her feet but was stopped by her mother's firm grip.
" I said enough!"
"PAPA!" Lifting their gazes, they saw why Ritsuko had screamed. A large smoky crimson sphere had formed in Tenma's free hand.
" Hell's Flame." Looking into her mother's eyes she saw the terror that lurked in the inky gaze. Hell's Flame was a very dangerous and powerful jutsu, one no one's ever survived. " NO!" Held fast by her mothers grip she tried urgently to break free." Mama! Stop it, please let me go to him, please!"
" I'm sorry Megumi, but I cant. As your mother I must protect you."
Tenma laughed. " The child has fight in her. The holder of Light with a soul of a Shadow," He looked away from the struggling child, his attention turning back to their father." Any last words before I annihilate you." Furious eyes left his former student's to gently peer into the eyes of his family.
" Iano-"
" I know, Shuhan, I know." She smiled softly, warm tears rolled freely now down her face.
" Ritsuko, my darling Ristuko, be strong for daddy."
A murmured reply pushed through her tears and she dropped her head into her lap.
" Megumi," She didn't look at him, " Megumi, sweetheart, look at me." Hesitantly she raised her head. The tears wouldn't stop even though she willed them to. She wanted to be strong, she had to.
" My dearest Megumi, never doubt the strength that resides inside you. When you find yourself wavering, remember who you are and where you came from. Never forget that. And never let your sister forget it."
"Papa…"
He smiled sadly. " I love you all."
As his words faltered, Tenma smiled, tightened his grip and heaved the large orb into Shuhan's abdomen. Gritting his teeth to stop from screaming, the Yamikage's entire body was engulfed in flames.
"PAPA, NO PAPA!!!" The children's cries echoed through the dead village. Ritsuko crumpled, her entire body convulsing. Long aching screams erupted from her throat. Megumi sat wide eyed, a low gurgling noise formed in her throat. Feeling sick she doubled over, but instead of the contents of her stomach, a low growl burst forth, followed by hard sobs. Iano sat, head lowered her long hair covering her blank expression. She didn't bother soothing her daughters pain, there was nothing that could take this torment away, no jutsu, no herb. Rising to her feet, she stumbled forward.
Megumi feeling their mother's presence leave them, lifted her head, sobs still consuming her small frame.
" Mama…mama what are you doing?"
Without looking at her, she smirked. " Take care of your sister Megumi-"
" Mama no-"
" And never forget-"
" Mama please -"
" How much I love you both."
" Mama please, please don't leave us!"
She looked back at them, her face sad, oblivious to the tears that still rolled down her cheeks. " No…my love, I'll never leave you. I'll always be with you. We'll all always be with you both. Now hold on to your sister and don't let her go."
Reluctantly obeying she grabbed her sister pulling her securely in her lap.
" Is it your turn now, dear Iano." Dropping their father's flaming corpse he turned to face the trembling woman in front of him. Looking back a final time, Iano sobbed " Don't ever forget…"
In a quick sweep of hand motions the world around Megumi grew black. Overwhelmed by darkness, her mother's form was the last thing she saw before giving in completely.
"Megumi…Megumi wake up."
Dazed, she opened her heavy lids to peer into Ritsuko's tear-stained face. Drawing herself up on her elbows she rubbed her throbbing temple.
" Oh thank God, I thought you were dead."
" Ritsuko? What happened?"
Forcing back sobs, she rubbed away the flowing tears. " It was mama."
" Mama? MAMA!" Getting to her feet, she fought the sudden rush of nausea.
" Megumi-"
" Where, where is she?"
" Megumi she-"
Looking about the ruins of their once flourishing village, Megumi's heart broke. How? How could he do this? Tears ran subconsciously down ashen cheeks. What would drive a man to do this to his people, his home? What kind of hatred lurked in his heart?
Questions swam through her empty mind, her eyes continuing to take in the flames that still secreted from rubble. They suddenly stopped to spot a long piece of violet silk that was wedged between a charred plank of wood. The soft material fluttered through the breeze, making it look like a trapped bird struggling for freedom.
She knew that ribbon, it had been a piece of an obi once. She remembered how it had wrapped nicely around the woman's waist, how it smelled of lavenders. It had once belonged to their mother.
Not able to hold back any longer, she dropped to her knees and screamed. Her loud roar rang through the sky, filled the air with her grief and pain. Rage and sorrow filled her slender body as she pounded her fists into the ground. Over and over again, till her knuckles bleed, her fingers turned numb. Tears burned her throat, wracked her body. She cried furiously. For her village. For her mother. For her father. For Ritsuko. But most of all she cried for herself. She had been weak. Acted as a terrified child. She was a Mikato, a name legendary to her village. They had been known for their unquestionable strength. And she had let them down, damn right disgraced them.
She raised her hands to beat them again against the battered earth, when a strong grip stopped her. Gasping, she whirled around, twisting her fisted hand from the intruder. Pulling out a kunai, she grabbed for Ritsuko and drew the equally surprised child behind her.
" No need for such hostility."
" Who the hell are you?" Wiping her eyes free from the tears, she stared furiously at the trespasser.
The man smiled, his slanted brown eyes gentle. " Why don't you put that down." When she didn't move he chuckled. " I suppose it's expected. Fine then, I'll introduce myself. I'm Minaki Hirosho. And you are?"