Anemone

Between Heaven and Earth


The world is beautiful, a magnificent, ever-changing swirl of vibrant colours and movement, sometimes gentle as tiny waves lapping playfully at her feet, sometimes violent like a raging windstorm that threatens to knock her to the ground and blow her away into a cold, bitter, unrelenting night.

How oddly specific, a lilting whisper coos into her ear. She doesn't hear it, enraptured by the pink petals drifting down around her like snow. She spins, tiny body strangely coordinated, laughing in delight as the world spins with her. She breathes in and lets everything meld. Soft pink and white blend with the brilliant blue of the sky.

It reminds her of the kaleidoscopes she used to play with as a child.

Child? It's weird, she thinks. It doesn't quite make sense. She is a child, isn't she?

Are you really, though?

She falls gracelessly, tripping over her feet, thudding onto her stomach, dizzy and confused for all the wrong reasons. Her world, alive with light and colour and beauty, suddenly seems muted, more fragile, riddled with immeasurable cracks that allow the darkness to flood in like acrid smoke. Her nose hurts a little bit, but it's not what pushes tears to pool in the corners of her eyes. She stares at her small, chubby fingers, lost for words.

This is right, isn't it?

(This is wrong, isn't it?)

"Shizune!" her mother cries out, rushing to her side.

Shizune, Shizune, something dark, spiteful, and ugly slithering in the back of her mind whispers, taunting.

"Okaa-san," she acknowledges in a daze, going boneless as the tutting woman rights her. She can't help but smile widely at her mother's face, her kind green eyes.

"Don't cry, my sweet blossom. It's just a scratch."

Her mother giggles a little, wiping her eyes with a feathery light caress. The sound is soothing, and it's easier to forget. Okaa-san's fingertips glow a pretty green—medical chakra; Shizune's always been drawn to it—and the pain disappears, just like the haunting memories that dare act like vengeful spirits.

Okaa-san's slender hand ruffles her messy hair, and she laughs louder when a shower of petals come free.

Shizune grins, darting out of her mother's grasp. She drops to her knees to reach for a whole cherry blossom, to offer in thanks to her mother.

As she reaches down, pale, silvery blue tumbles over her shoulder. She freezes, heart clenching painfully in her chest.

"Shizune?"

Shizune.

Why… why isn't her hair dark?


"The anemone symbolizes dying hope and is the embodiment of those who are forsaken. Yet all is not lost as this beautiful flower can also be used to indicate anticipation."


A/N: Drabble fic for writing exercise! No, this does not mean I've given up or put my other fics on the backburner. I will attempt to update this every day. Massive thanks goes to BirdBoss and nora9gina for beta'ing, being there for me, and all around being freaking amazing friends! Ilu guys forever! Credit for helping me with the cover goes to SassySizzleMonster.