"If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain;" -Emily Dickinson
Disclaimer: I, Nene-chan, have no right to own Naruto
Zekuro is an OC of my partner, KuroAmaterasu
Dedicated to: Whoever is still reading this
-First Person Perspective-
I didn't bother to turn my head. I was pretty much blind, anyway. My ears picked up the soft, little footsteps of Asura. Indra was ten now, and was beginning his chakra training, so I saw him less and less. As for myself, I was almost done with my basic training, and was told that I would be given "special" training next year.
"Nee-san! Nee-san! Have you seen aniki? I haven't seen him anywhere!" The little boy cried, running up to me, while I bent down to be eye level with the five year old child, and patted his head.
"You shouldn't bother your brother, Asura-chan. He has lessons today," I answered calmly.
"B-but-" Asura began to stutter out, tears rolling down his cheeks.
"I miss Indra-chan as well, but it can't be helped, the first two years of training are always busy," I interrupted, wiping away his tears.
My calm voice and comforting words didn't work, and Asura continued to cry out for his brother. I didn't pity the child, I only felt responsible since I was his "older sister". Jean would have felt the same way as me, but unlike me, her comforting skills are terrible, and she would have made the situation worse. Zekuro wouldn't be the best person for this situation either, since he was always terrible at saying the right words and socializing. The only person I could think of who would help with the predicament I'm in, would be Shiro. However she's unavailable because, I quote from Kuro, "The pacifistic bastard is sleeping,"
"Hey, I've got an idea! How about, in two days, I'll request I dra to be released from his studies so that we can all have a picnic together!" I suggested, hoping, praying to whatever god that was out there, that the boy would stop crying.
"R-really? Do you promise? You have to pinky promise and swear on your honor!" Asura exclaimed, jumping up and down as he held out his pinky.
Sighing a breath of relief, I brought my pinky and intertwined it with the child's. "I swear on my honor," I quietly replied, picking Asura up from the ground and placing him on my shoulders.
"Come on, we have to prepare for the picnic!" I said, walking to the kitchen with the bubbly toddler on top of me.
The next day, I knocked quietly on the intimidating doors of Indra's tutor's room. I slowly pushed open the doors, after breathing out a long sigh as I heard the reply of "Come in,"
"Ah, it's the girl. What do you want?" The stern man said, not paying any attention to me.
"I'm here to request that Indra take a break from his studies tomorrow," I said firmly, keeping on my most neutral face.
"And why is that? It has only been three weeks since he began his studies," The tutor replied, finally setting down whatever he was doing and paying attention to me.
"Indra hasn't had a break in those three weeks of study. A little vacation will benefit him well," I told him, trying my best to follow the rules of conversations and arguements that I had been taught four years ago, "When I began my basic studying four years ago, I was given a day off every four weeks, but that was only because I began my studies late. Since Indra has one more year than I do, his training does not have to be as pressured, so he should be allowed more breaks than I was. Furthermore, he is not the first child, so he does not carry as heavy as a responsibility,"
"That is where you are wrong, girl. You are only an adopted child, as well as the child who took his pride and honor. The reason why he is studying so much is so that he can recover some of the pride you stole from him when you were adopted into the clan. I'll let him go on a break, but only so you can see just how much you've hurt him," the man said smugly, handing me a paper with what I presumed to be a notice to Indra that he was to take a break tomorrow. Gritting my teeth, I exited the room, seething with anger.
"Oh, it's you, May-san, don't tell me that you're still angry that I destroyed those clothes you loved wearing so much?" A quiet voice said, and I whipped my head around to come face to face with pale violet eyes.
"Oh cousin, I'm still very angry at you for doing that. But as of right now, my hatred is being pointed towards someone else," I said, walking away from the tutor's room.
"I heard from Asura-san that you three were having a picnic. Don't tell me you were planning to do so without me?" My cousin asked nonchalantly, matching my pace as I headed for my room.
"As much as I'd love to, I don't want you and Indra-chan to start another fight like last time and ruin the picnic that Asura-chan and I prepared," I told him, hiding behind my bedroom door as I slowly closed it.
"Understandable. But at least allow me to get Indra-san for you," the Hyuuga ancestor answered, keeping his hand on the door to prevent it from closing.
"Is annoying Indra-chan at every chance you get your hobby or something? Whatever, just make sure he gets to Asura-chan and I alive," I said, shoving the paper in my cousin's face before I slammed the door on him.
I jumped into action the moment it happened. We had found a nice clearing in the woods, and while I set up the picnic, Asura went to go play with Indra who was sulking behind.
I don't know how, but I could feel it happening. Even though I knew that Indra would only feel resentment towards his brother until it was time to choose an heir, I felt something would happen.
Asura was "pestering" Indra to play is what I could tell. And out of annoyance, Indra rasied his hand to smack him away. The slap never came however, because I was right inbetween the brothers, holding Indra's wrist to prevent anything from happening.
While I fixated my blurry vision on the Uchiha ancestor, I motioned with my other hand for our cousin, who had been following us the entire time, to clean up the picnic and get Asura out of here. The Hyuuga ancestor did so as fast as he could, and was gone before a minute ticked by.
For a long time, Indra and I stood there, staring at each other. My blurry blue eyes staring back at his sharp Sharingan.
"It wasn't my intention to hurt Asura," Indra said, breaking the silence.
Again, it was silent, my blank stare looking into his emotion filled eyes.
"If you're going to hate me, don't direct it toward others," was the only and last thing I said to the boy, before disappearing from his sight.
Nene: Sorry the update was late, thought the chapter is short, it was kind of hard to write.
Kurohime: You're the leader! You're not allowed to make excuses!
Shirohime: I don't know, sometimes it's the other way around.
Emerald: Don't mind them. Please review if you can. Your opinions are greatly valued.
