Introvertedraccoon: First Itachi story! :D
Itachi: Oh, no...
Introvertedraccoon: Hey! You should be excited! I've made the OC interesting enough for you...
Itachi: By interesting you mean a crazy, idiotic stalker with a fetish for my brother...
Introvertedraccoon: It's a match made in heaven!
Itachi: *sigh* Raccoon doesn't own Naruto, Naruto Shippuden or me. Or her sanity for that matter.
Introvertedraccoon: Hey! T3T
"Oh, he's so dreamy!"
"His beautiful ebony eyes seem to pierce into my soul!"
"I think I'm in love…"
These were the usual remarks made, when any being of the feminine sex crossed the path of one, Uchiha Sasuke. His muscular figure, his unusually attractive spiked up hair, his smoldering eyes which regularly gazed off into the distance; they were all qualities of which the boys admired, and the girls fantasized about. His personality was rather cold and off-putting, but I'm sure that he would change it for the woman he loved. Namely, me.
Okay, so we talked only once. And I'm sure that he hasn't figured out his love for me quite yet. So what if I'm three years his senior? That was a lie. I'm four years his senior. But still, it's destiny. We are meant for each other. It is a knowledge that has come with experience of every passing day. I know that, when I look at him, I would gladly eat a plate of slimy horrible cooked octopus for him. I know that, when I glance at his perfectly shaped stature, I would quit being a ninja and work as a…I dunno…a prostitute, for him. I know that, when I stare into his endless dark orbs, I would die for him. If he left, I would follow. This is the strength of my love.
"Hey, hey, did you hear? Sasuke prefers girls with longer hair!"
"Really? Thank god my mom had to cancel my hair appointment!"
"You're so lucky! There's no way that Sasuke will even look at me with my perfectly short hair…"
Amused (and relieved) by this certain revelation, I smirked and twirled my long golden-brown hair around my fingers.
'Ahhh, fangirls…When will they ever learn that Sasuke only likes long hair because of one, certain woman.'
And so it was. My hair was so long that the longest strands reached my waist. Even when tied back! Of course, my hair had a certain charm to it. It was messily cute as the hair was cut in all directions (did I mention that I go mental when given scissors?) and the shortest strands stuck up from my hair tie. Okay, so it's weird. Big whoop… At least my hair isn't pink.
"Oh look, there he is!"
And in the place of the hand that was pointing towards the collection of trees near where I stood, Sasuke Uchiha was strolling carefully past the position where the fan girls and I stood. He glanced up, before walking on again – but not before when our eyes caught. His mysterious black eyes, gazing into my golden ones. Which were unfortunately hidden behind my mess of a fringe. Damn you fringe! How dare you spoil my one on one with my lover! Don't make me get the scissors out!
And before I knew it, he was gone. But that hadn't stopped the rapid beating of my heart, the red blush across my cheeks, and-
"Squeeeeeeee!"
And the annoying batch of fan girls from squealing into my ears.
Before the loud and obnoxious conversations could start with these beasts, I ran and took cover. And by 'take cover' I mean 'get some food'. I was starving! Maybe the dieting-to-get-an-awesome-and-sexy-body-for-Sasuke plan was a bad idea. I'd been pretty much starving myself for days, and I only felt heavier. Or was that the love for my future husband that was weighing me down? Either way, I need a bowl of ramen. Now!
So I slithered into one of seats at the Ichiraku ramen stand, where I was shortly joined by a group of jounin friends that I worked with. And my bowl of beef ramen.
"Hey, kiddo! How have you been?" questioned my friend, Daichi, with a cheesy grin and a friendly ruffle of my hair.
"Stalking your crush, again kiddo?" joked Taiyo as a sly smirk made it's way across his face.
These two were my first friends and my team mates during my time as a genin. They are like siblings to me, caring for me yet constantly teasing me. They are nice people, but they obviously don't truly understand the connection that me and Sasuke share. I am not a stalker. I am his lover.
"Bleh, you two! Get out of my face!" I reply sulkily, a small pout pushed out onto my lips.
"Jeez, give the girl some space!" exclaimed Reiko, my only female friend. Out of everyone, she was the only true person I could confide my feelings about Sasuke to. Mainly because she used to love Sasuke too. But now she has a boyfriend, so she's okay.
"H-how was your t-t-trip?" stuttered my final friend, Keichi, his face adorning a slight blush. He was Reiko's team mate in the past, the only team mate she could get on with. He was a shyer, more timid, version of Daichi; owing to the fact that the two were twins. He always held a stutter in his voice, and a blush on his face; which is funny as Daichi and Reiko always claim he is a more confident person. Well, not around me. I wonder why… Oh well.
"Good, good. The mission was easy. A bit too easy. I wish the hokage would start giving me more important missions…"
"Why? So you can impress your beloved Sasuke?" teased Taiyo.
I blushed.
"Hey, hey, you're being too critical of the situation! I only want to become a better ninja – don't judge me!" I retaliated in a flustered manner. To be honest, Taiyo was right. I did want to impress Sasuke…
"She's right you know!" argued Reiko "If she was thinking about Sasuke, she would keep to the easier missions to return earlier and spend more time with him."
…I hadn't thought of that…
And then I visibly paled. To the amusement of my friends, of course.
"I don't like him," murmured Keichi, his words lingering in the wind, silencing my friends' laughter and creating an awkward silence. The silence went on.
"Ditto," Daichi broke in, before continuing his statement "That Uchiha is way too arrogant for his own good. You should stop, kiddo, and maybe try…someone else…"
He directed a wink behind me, sending me into a moment of confusing thoughtfulness. I was less concerned about what he was implying or the person he was winking to and more concerned about his disagreement on the matter.
Sasuke was perfect. He had no flaws. So why were both Keichi and Daichi so wholeheartedly against my being with him? (They have said similar things before – why do they insist?) It's not like he is an evil person, or a selfish person, or even a vengeful person, so why don't they like or admire him like everyone else? He wouldn't leave or betray us; he is very loyal, so why can't Daichi accept him? Why can't Keichi believe he is a good person? And why, though I stuff it deep down within myself, do I find that I believe them slightly?
I think this through whilst I pay for my beef ramen and finish my conversation with my friends, walking back home through the darkened evening. Is Sasuke as cruel and as self-satisfying as Daichi makes him out to be? Would he betray us? Betray me?
I try and push the thoughts out of my mind and instead concentrate on my surroundings.
I am on one of the main roads in Konoha. This is the route that passes the shops, and leads me the main housing district. The path is surrounded by a plentiful supply of oak trees, spreading their seeds and branches along the ground and giving the area an earthy sort of smell. It was late spring so the plant life reeked of pollen. Branches rose up above the path, sheltering me from any possible rainfall; though the sky was clear. It was so clear, in fact, that I could see the stars through the gaps in the curtain of leaves. The night was fine.
"Don't…"
A small whimper echoed in the night air. It came from a road nearby. The road that led out of Konoha.
Sobbing was heard. It came from a girl's voice; perhaps twelve or thirteen years old.
I crept forward, attempting to go to the girl and comfort her. I may sometimes be self-obsessed, but I'm not completely heartless.
However the crying stopped. A gust of wind blew. And I began to wonder if it was all in my imagination. I closed my eyes, and sighed. Never noticing the shadow that slipped past my vision. Never realizing what I could have done to sort out the situation. Never seeing my own fate slip by and stick, like a tangled ribbon, onto the body of the shadow that was speeding by.
I returned to my home and slept; peaceful and content, peaches and cream. Dreaming a naïve dream about the so-called love of my life. Unaware that my adventure had only just begun. (A/N: Dun dun duuuuuuuuunnn!)
The next morning was the epitome of tranquility and harmony. I woke up to the knowing gold of the rising sun, resting warmly in the sky. The rest of the morning involved bathing, treating wounds and relaxing.
After lunch, I ventured out at midday to lay down in the field. I did this relatively often, to escape from all the business of Konoha's main streets. The fields were a lively green colour and the grass felt soft against the skin (provided that you didn't lay in a pile of nettles). The sky remained a vivid blue, thanks to the climate given to the Konoha area, and marshmallowed collections of clouds shifted through this vividness. The soft sky creatures were of the brightest white and enjoyed shifting into amusing shapes. I often spotted an image of ramen, an image of the konoha leaf, and an image of Lady Tsunade strangling a certain orange jumpsuit wearing ninja.
I was not always alone in my cloud viewing hobby. A boy, slightly younger than me, with spiky brown hair and a displeased expression came here often also. His name was Shikamaru and he was bothered by a lot of things. What didn't bother him, however, was what irritated me the most. And that involved teasing me. If he makes another joke about the size of my brain, I will stick a pineapple on his head and make him dance around the village (with said pineapple on). And he will be known as pineapple-head. See, I am ingenious. He just doesn't know it.
Today I was alone.
I spent midday and early afternoon lazing about in my spot, until the sun grew angry hot in the sky and red grass marks stained my skin. My peace was disturbed.
"…mi…"
A voice yelled in the distance, barely recognizable.
"Hmm? Is that a voice?"
"…tomi…"
It came again.
"It's a familiar voice. Maybe there's someone else on the field?"
But there was no one.
"…itomi…"
"Wait? Is that-"
"Hitomi Akiyama!"
It was an urgent cry, shocking me to my feet.
"Yes, that's my name!" I exclaimed brightly, as if it was a fact I had just figured out.
"Hitomi! There you are!"
It was Reiko, and she seemed upset. Shocked, even.
"What is it Reiko? What's the matter?" I questioned as panic grew inside my chest like cold water. Her eyes delivered a look of sadness and even…sympathy?
"You don't kn-kno- H-hurry b-ba- N-no one t-to- I'm so sorry!"
Here words came out in a rush of panic and pity for her friend. I saw then what the real fear was in her eyes. She didn't want to see me in pain. She didn't want to see me cry.
Before I could speculate as to why she was behaving this way, she grabbed me by the hand and together we rushed back to Konoha.
Even before we returned, there was talk.
"I can't believe that…"
"Why did he…"
"…for all we know…"
"…that's true."
I only caught snippets of conversations as we raced towards where the rest of my friends were stationed. They glanced upwards towards me, and then looked away guiltily. Pityingly.
I looked around. The village was it's usual self, at least from an outsider's perspective. The villagers worked hard in their respective businesses, tourists toured through the streets, and ninjas relaxed from a hard days work. Nothing looked totally abnormal. Except a dark gloom hung in the air. The atmosphere told me that something was missing, a gap in Konoha's mouth.
I noticed that this gloom hung mainly on the females in the village. Young, once lively, females were in tears, slouched and depressed. They were the ones that were hit the hardest with…whatever it was.
Looking closely, I recognized the girls. They were Sasuke's fan girls.
I turned towards my friends, prepared for the worst, knowing that it'd hurt anyway. With a questioning glance, and a group hesitation, Daichi filled me in.
"He's left," he began bluntly, knowing that there was no softer way to put it.
"He's gone? You don't mean…" I questioned bleakly, hoping it was a joke. One big silly prank. I half expected everyone to jump out and say "Ha! Got you!".
But one nod of the head disproved that theory.
My heart sank. It sank so deep that it carried my lungs, stomach and intestines with it. It sank so deep that I could feel it seeping through a hole in my sock. It sank so deep it could put the Titanic to shame. My breathing became uneven and rapid; it was like my lungs couldn't pick up oxygen. I wanted to break down and cry. I was going to faint. But the look in Taiyo's eyes told me there was more. And I didn't like it.
"A group has been sent out to bring him back to the village," began Taiyo as hope started to well up inside me.
The next statement shot it back down. A statement so brutal that it made me slightly resentful and bitter towards the hokage, the elite, and even my own friends. It made me fear for him. Knowing that I could lose him, I feared for him.
"If the group fails to bring him back, well…" Taiyo looked nervously at the others for support. They nodded guiltily.
"Me and Daichi, well we've…we've been ordered to take him out…"
The pain I felt next was horrible. It coursed through my body: through my shaking knees ready to collapse, through my neurotically fidgeting arms, and through my bulging eyes which were starting to water.
My first love. My chosen one. My destined man. He was lost from me. Our perfect future together, my perfect future, was gone. The dream ripped up into tiny shreds like a piece of paper. What was I to do now?
My friends fidgeted nervously; pained. I didn't want them to know how I was feeling. It was not their fault; they shouldn't feel anymore pain than they do now. It's unfair that they have to go against their friend's wishes. They don't want to harm him anymore than I do.
With that, I turned around, closed my eyes and willed my tears to go. I stopped shaking my arms and my legs, and forced my mouth to stop trembling. I even put on a little faux smile. It's time for the actress to act.
I turned around and showed off my smile, to my friends' confusion. And with that, I began my lie.
"Well, I can't say that I'm not sad, or that I'm too pleased. But good wives wait for their husbands often whilst they go on their travels. Sasuke's probably on a mission of his own, I'd be too overbearing if I said no. So I'll wait here. I'm sure he'll return. If not, there are plenty of other fish in the sea anyway!"
I ended my rant. The boys looked at me in an amused sort of way; half relieved half pleased. Reiko had tears streaming down her face. She was proud of me. Pleased I had let him go. She came running forward and surrounded me with a hug.
"Hitomi, don't worry, your right. Plenty of fish in the sea…plenty of fish in the sea…"
The boys soon surrounded me also, and we ended up in one big group hug.
A white lie in the wake of a horrible truth. I couldn't stay here. My future had died here. If I stayed here any longer, I'd go mad with frustration and longing. I had to leave. Even if that meant leaving behind the best and most loyal companions I had ever known. I couldn't stay.
And with that, I said goodbye to my friends. Though they did not know it, it was the final goodbye. The goodbye you give to someone when you not only leave the location, but their lives as well.
I packed my belongings and left my home behind. I was at the gates of Konoha, looking out back at my homeland, only now letting my tears down my face. I chose Sasuke over them. I was being selfish, I know, but it was the best choice I thought of in my selfish state of mind. Leaving or suicide. My friends would never be able to live with themselves if I chose the latter. I had to go.
It was the final goodbye. Not just to my friends, but to my comrades, my colleagues, my enemies, my neighbours. Goodbye to the shops, the hokage's office, the areas of woods, the big stone statue, the academy, and the training grounds. Goodbye to my house. Goodbye to my home. Goodbye to my memories.
"Goodbye Konoha," I whispered in the night air, my voice blown away into every crevice of the village I had once called my home.
Goodbye to my old life.
Hello to my new.
Introvertedraccoon: Well...what did you think?
Itachi: ...
Introvertedraccoon: Come on, you must have some opinion on it?
Sasuke: Well, I think that girl's description of me is very close to the truth.
Introvertedraccoon: Perfect? Loyal? Not at all vengeful? That poor girl couldn't be farther from the truth!
Sasuke: Lies!
Itachi: Oh the irony.
Introvertedraccoon: What are you doing in the talk box anyway? Get your own story! *Kicks Sasuke out*
Itachi: ...I'll at least pretend to like your story if you do that to him again...
...
Introvertedraccoon: Good enough for me.