Secrets of Avalon
Silver's Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. Well this chapter has a bit of everything in it. So we hope that you enjoy it.
Chapter 13
Sasuke watches the vine of flowers he's been singing to for the past half hour. What was once a barren vine was now covered in flower buds, slowly blooming and opening their petals to the sky. Magic kept him occupied these days, kept his mind off of…unpleasant things. It helped him to smile more, especially when he wasn't turning down any of Suigetsu's invitations to go drinking, or Itachi's invitations to sit down with him.
He would make the most of the time he had left with them, just as he would make the most of the time he had alone to master and refine the few branches of magic he had delved into over the past few months. Not only concealment magic, but the magic of growing things, of transformation from seed to plant. And the elemental magic that he had discovered by accident, the lightning that poured off of him in waves of sparks if he wasn't careful. There were also a few…covert magics that he had studied, ones that not even Itachi knew he had found.
Still, he studies the blooming flowers as the words fade in the air, his song coming to an end as the last of the blue and purple flowers blossom brightly along the vine circling the arch of the library window. It was his first completely successful attempt at growing something. Not from a seed, but at least a few seasons early. They were spring flowers, not autumn ones. "Hey Itachi, I did it."
Itachi smiles and nods approvingly. "Very impressive." His brother's magic abilities were growing by leaps and bounds. "I knew you would make a fine mage, once you put your mind to it."
"Because I'm a genius?" Sasuke smirks at his brother teasingly. "Do you think I'll ever be as good as you?"
"One day, you'll likely be better then me." He smiles at his foolish little brother slyly. "Though that day is not today."
Sasuke pouts at that. "So mean." He picks at the flowers sadly. "Do you think they'll burn when Hiashi's army comes?"
"They may." Itachi sighs and embraces him. "Hopefully, we'll beat them back before that happens or the peace agreement will work."
Yes, the agreement. Sasuke was well aware that in about a month's time, his father would be sending out negotiators to try and deal with Hiashi. Negotiators who would likely be slaughtered. Maybe not the two unicorns, but certainly the two old mages who had volunteered. They were powerful and wise, and they knew the risks involved not coming back. "So…if a bid for peace goes through and Hiashi accepts it, our clan will accept it too?"
"I imagine so." Itachi nods. "The terms would have to be rather ghastly for us to prefer a war over them." He smiles and messes up Sasuke's head. "We will find a way to protect our kingdom."
"You promise? If we can end this before it starts, we'll take it?" Sasuke had prepared for this moment for over a month, ever since he hatched his plan. He'd snuck up here in the dead of night, when even Itachi was asleep, studying a few scattered spells here and there, practicing weaving them together, like growing those flowers from the vine. He'd managed it, but only just, and still, he was anxious, and he let that anxiety bleed into his tone.
He sighs and holds him tightly. "In the end, that is mother's and father's decision to make more than mine, but I doubt they'd turn any chance for peace down." It worried him. To see Sasuke so distraught. He was so young, he shouldn't have to bare this weight on his shoulders. "This is not something that you or I should have to decide." He was an adult, but only just and well Sasuke, well with Sasuke it was complicated.
"Please…just…promise me…" Sasuke hugs Itachi tightly, burying his face in Itachi's shoulder. "Please…"
"Sasuke, what's wrong?" He was acting so strangely, even considering the war. "I promise you that if it's within my power, I'll do what I can to accept the peace terms." That was assuming they even agreed in first place.
Sasuke relaxes, breathing out softly. "I'm just…scared…" And that was true, but he could feel the tiny trickle of magic now. It worked. Maybe a little too well, considering that with his emotions jumping and that small flare of magic, sparks start shooting off his body.
Itachi sighs as he looks at him with sympathy. "We're all scared, Sasuke." He smiles though, trying to reassure him. "But remember, you aren't alone in this."
"I know…" Sasuke releases Itachi as more sparks leap from his skin. "Dammit!" It may have helped cover up the magic, but he was still too worked up to control the lightning properly. "Itachi! It's happening again!" This was hardly his first accident regarding lightning.
"Owe." Itachi winces. "You really don't know your own strength." He shakes his head. This was expected though. "Don't fret over it. This is normal when elves first begin to experiment with magic."
"Doesn't make it any less dangerous!" Sasuke edges away from the books, as well as Itachi as the sparks stop leaping from his skin to the floor, and make themselves content with only lighting up his skin with the blueish-white light. This always happened when Sasuke got too worked up.
He shakes his head. "Sasuke, calm yourself." Losing his composure would only make it worse. "Your magic is tied to your emotions."
Easier said than done. Sasuke wasn't sure he COULD be calm right now. "I'll…try." Deep breaths in and out…in and out… Cold lavender eyes came to mind, Hiashi's eyes. But…then they soften. Soft, warm lavender eyes. Hinata's eyes…calming, soothing, gentle. The sparks start to die down, mostly, with only a few stray continuing to flicker across his fingers. "I hate this part of learning magic." The accidents, the things that made it hard to get control of ANY of his magic.
"Well it just means you're gifted." Itachi smiles at him reassuringly. "If you have more magic than you can control, it indicates a large reserve." He nods at him approvingly. "Which is something people are either blessed with or they are not."
Not that it was going to help, but Sasuke digressed. "I'll work on getting control of it. Maybe I'll stop sparking you by accident by the end of the week."
He chuckles. "That would be greatly appreciated, but don't concern yourself with it too much." Itachi shakes his head. "Your progress is truly incredible."
"Doesn't mean I won't spark you with it on purpose." Sasuke smirks as a large spark leaps across the gap, singeing the sleeve of Itachi's gold-trimmed robes.
"Owe!" Itachi gives him a dirty look for that. "Gods and Goddesses, Sasuke! You can be sadistic sometimes!"
"But you still love me!" Sasuke bursts out laughing at the look on his brother's face. Itachi loved messing with him, so he took great joy in those few times that he could mess with Itachi right back.
He rolls his eyes. "Of course, I do." He pokes Sasuke's forehead again. "That doesn't negate the fact that you have sadistic tendencies."
Sasuke sort of wanted to spark Itachi's fingers for that, but he couldn't bring himself to. So, he just rubs the spot with false irritation. "Damn it, Itachi…why do you always do that?"
"Because it annoys you." Itachi chuckles. "And you're endearing when you're annoyed."
"And you're just straight up annoying." Sasuke grumbles quietly, even though despite how irritating his brother could be, he still loved Itachi with all his heart. Well, save for what was reserved only for Hinata.
"That is my job as your elder brother." He nods sagely. "It's in the rule book you know. Page three hundred and ninety-four."
Well, page three hundred and ninety four be damned. "Whatever." …Okay, maybe not. Itachi could annoy him all he liked, Sasuke's protests were feigned anyway.
Hinata needed something to take her mind off everything, there was just too much unpleasantness in the palace lately. Practicing her magic with Kurenai seemed as good a way to do that as any. "I did it!" She smiles as she watches a wildflower bloom.
"Well done." Kurenai nods approvingly at the sight of the little red flower. "You are improving more quickly than I thought. The growing of plants can take many moths to many years to master. You are off to an excellent start."
She smiles at the red flower. She wasn't sure why, but she associated it with Sasuke. "Thank you. I couldn't have done it without you though." Probably because it was the color of love and lust. Both of which she had gardens worth when it came to her forbidden love.
"You could have, it would simply have taken you longer to learn." Kurenai pats her cheek softly. "Is something the matter, child? Your minds seems far away." It wasn't an unpleasant look, but… "Are you perhaps…thinking of someone?" Hinata was rather young for such a thing, but perhaps it was the fleeting infatuation of a child. Such things did happen often enough.
"You're very kind." She smiles at her and then frowns at Kurenai's words. "I think of a lot of people." Sasuke the most of all though. It hurt her that he had deceived her in a way, but he hadn't lied and there was a good chance he was under orders. He might not even not have known what was inside that scroll.
"Perhaps…" Kurenai laughs softly. "But I think that you have someone rather specific in mind at the moment. A young man, perhaps?"
Hinata adored Kurenai, but giving away Sasuke's identity could be a death sentence. "I worry for Neji." Which was true. This way she wouldn't be lying to her teacher, but could keep Sasuke's existence a secret. "This war takes a heavy toll on him."
"Yes, as it does for us all." Kurenai sighs, backing away from her curiosity. "Though your cousin is not what I meant. However, if you do not wish to speak of whatever boy it is that has caught your attention, that is fine. I was not going to ask for his name."
"Thank you." Hinata smiles at her gratefully. "I know by elvish standards, I'm far too young for such things and father would never approve." That was also true, but she was going to leave out the part about Sasuke being from Thiral.
"But you do like this boy?" Kurenai smiles back at the girl. "Everyone deserves that light in their life, regardless of what standards their parents might have."
She sighs and shakes her head. "You're going to think that I'm foolish." She was only a child in Kurenai's eyes. "But I love him." She loved him and she couldn't be with him or at least it was highly unlikely, maybe after peace was won.
Such a sweet child. "I do not think you are foolish for loving someone." Kurenai laughs softly. "So long as you have not yet tried to be too intimate with him, I do not see an issue."
Well she had kissed him and rubbed his ears. "Really?" Which apparently for elves might be slightly similar to rubbing well...larger body parts. Hinata wasn't entirely sure yet. "Oh good." She sighs in relief.
"Does he treat you well, at least?" If the boy was not treating her student properly, well, Kurenai would have some words for him.
"He treats me very well." As well as he could given the situation. She smiles thinking of her knife and the lock of hair he had given her. "You don't need to worry about that." Though if worst came to worst, could she really fight him on the battle field?
Kurenai nods. "That is good. You must be sure to value yourself as much as you value your love for this boy." And that love would surely spur Hinata's magic into growing ever faster.
Hinata figured that was probably as close as elves got to The Talk. "I will." She smiles and turns her attention back to the flowers, causing some more to bloom.
"Excellent work." Kurenai passes Hinata a thick tome. "This should aid you in your studies, I once used it myself to learn how to heal. Perhaps you might learn to do the same." Healing seemed to be an art that would suit the princess' gentle demeanor.
"I"m flattered and I'll certainly read it." Though healing struck her as much more complex than growing flowers. "Thank you, Kurenai Sensei."
"You're welcome, my dear." Kurenai looks to the sun high in the sky. "I do believe that our lessons are over for today. Perhaps you should take this time to practice on your own."
Hinata nods. That sounded like a good idea. "Alright." Though she probably should learn some sort of magic she could use on the battlefield. The flowers were beautiful, but she doubted her enemy would be won over by them, if the peace talks failed.
Kurenai pauses, before leaning close to Hinata's ear. "The magical tomes in the royal library are kept in the eastern wing if you wish to study further on your own." It was likely best that no one know that she knew as much about that library. There were those who might assume things.
"Thank you.'" She smiles at her and heads off to the library. "I wonder if she can read minds." It was starting to seem like her Sensei could.
The royal library was a place out of a true fantasy, with towering bookshelves that reached up several stories. Scrolls lay in cubbies, and desks lay scattered through the room, while the middle of the library was graced by a large open space, the floor decorated with a map of Avalon. Everything was bright and clean, and exuded the scholarly air that Aladel prided itself on.
Hinata wasn't even sure where she should begin to start. She decides to check under O for offensive spells though. "It's as good a place as any." She smiles to herself.
However, she was dismayed to find that the books were not organized alphabetically, but by subject. The first tome she finds reads 'Oversights of Transformative Magic'. It was the section on changing and bending the world to one's will.
"Not exactly what I was looking for, but it might work." Hinata's eyes scan the pages curiously. "Bending the world to my will sounds like something that could come in handy."
Within the first ten pages of the book were sections listing topics such as the growing of plants, the bending of stone to aid in constructing cities, and various other sections dealing with the in depth mechanics of altering the terrain.
"Altering terrain is likely far above my ability." If she could bend stone, maybe she could hurl the stone at her those attacking her. "Though the stone thing might work."
The diagrams in that section of the book detailed gigantic masses of cliffs, plateaus, and mountains, delving deeply into the various forms of architecture found throughout Avalon, and how stone might we warped and bent through magic to provide massive foundations for cities. Accompanying the diagrams are long incantations and complex diagrams that combine many forms of magic.
Hinata sighs realizing that and tries B. Maybe that section was designed for Beginners? "I can't do that." That much was obvious. that sort of magic would take years to master.
'Black Magic of the Orcs: A Theoretical Study'. A thick, leather-bound book sitting beside many other such books, all worn and some slightly damaged by water or fire.
She frowns in frustration and sighs. "Forget the prince." She thinks to herself angrily. Whoever organized this library was the one who really had it coming to them. Hinata the urge to scream in frustration as she puts the book away and looks around for a librarian. Did they have librarians here?
There's a flutter of movement by one of the shelves further down towards the southern section. An elven man tending to the large, unrolled maps of the world.
"Excuse me, Sir?" She didn't really know how to address anyone who wasn't a Lord or a Lady in this place. "Could you please help me? I'm looking for beginning spells of the offensive variety."
The man begins to turn, a frown on his face. "My apologies, but those tomes are off limits to-" He freezes quite suddenly, before bowing his head in an instant. "My apologies, Your Highness, I did not expect you today." His frown melts into a look of confusion. "Is there…something more specific that you would like to see?"
"There's no need for apologies." Hinata smiles at him, trying to reassure the man. "You're just doing your job. Not exactly, just you know offensive." She sighs and shakes her head sadly. "I'm afraid that this war might be inevitable and if that happens, I want to be able to defend myself and others. It's just...I'm still learning magic. So I thought it best to start at the beginning."
The archivist nods slowly. "Then perhaps…you might start with defensive spells. They are far less dangerous to learn, less difficult than enchantments, and better for confined spaces and safe supervision than elemental magic. Some are also suited as both defensive and offensive magic, should you apply them creatively."
Hinata nods as she thinks this over. "Alright. Defensive spells sound like a good idea then." She smiles at him. "Where can I find them?"
"Defensive spells…" They had many such tomes, but for the princess… The archivist was forced to consider the matter carefully. "Ah, perhaps the Beleran Compendium of Defensive Magic. It comes from the northernmost city of Aladel, Belera, and constitutes the most comprehensive selection of defensive magic in the kingdom. You will find that on the third shelf of the fifth row in the eastern section, beneath the sigil of the golden sun. It is one of the largest tomes in the collection, and is adorned with re binding and golden script."
"Thank you." Wow that was specific. "I really do appreciate it." And with that, she follows his instructions until she finds the tome in question and begins reading.
The foot-thick book was filled to the brim with defensive magic. Barriers and repulsion spells of all kinds, some more effective against animals or orcs, or even the undead conjured by a necromancer. That was not all, however, for repulsion spells often involved elemental magic or light magic. Entire sections were dedicated to the harnessing of light as a defensive power, a defensive power with quite the impressive side-effects. Blindness, physical repulsion, the burning of skin, and its effectiveness against creatures of the darkness, to name but a few.
She blinks as she reads all of that. "Light magic seems the best for defense." Though she wasn't really sure how to wield the different branches, she continues reading and decides it was best to get started now. While there was still time.
The old, wizened, bitter king of the orcs cracks his first smile in over three years. That brat of an elf whose dormant power was dangerous to raise even his hackles was making his last mistake. At least, if his informant was any kind of competent. Contained within the latest letter were details of the Uchiha brat's latest plan, one that was designed to have him killed. The idiot child, behaving so recklessly for something that could be easily replaced. Kingdoms rose and fell, families came and went, but one's own life? No…that was something precious. All else was…expendable.
Sai watches as their King smiles. "Your Majesty? You seem rather pleased." He wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not though. "Pray tell, what is the good news?" It had been so long since he last smiled that this might actually an indication of insanity more than happiness. He'd have to read very carefully here.
Danzo tucks away the letter in cruel satisfaction. "The Seeker taken in by the Uchiha three years past is walking to his doom. He has offered his execution as a way to settle a blood feud and bring peace between the elven realms. He knows nothing of his power and the idiot child would give it up in an instant."
"That is indeed wondrous news." Seekers were extremely rare, and powerful to match. "He'll happily march off to his own death before he can become a threat to our way of life." Sai smiles.
"And the Uchiha will not have his power when we rise again. Not only that, but the sentimental fools will be crippled by the loss of their beloved son, swearing vengeance against their foes for his death." Nothing could have been better, lest he had planned it himself. "The elven king is poised to accept the 'bid for peace' and the boy will be dead within a month."
Sai's smile only grows. "Perhaps the best news that our people have heard in over a thousand years." He bows to his king. "Is there anything you wish of me, Your Majesty?"
"Yes…" Danzo's eyes flicker over the elf, one of the very few welcome in his kingdom, one he had raised himself from a tender age. "I will prepare a letter in response to our informant and stress that the king is encouraged to accept the bargain. The boy's death will signal the fall of his kingdom, and the rise of our own." Should it all proceed as it appeared, that is.
"Of course and I shall deliver it with all haste." Sai nods at him. "As is proper." As if he would dare to do anything less. Danzo was a strong king and not one to be defied.
"Good." Danzo's eyes follow the young elf out as his smile returns. It would soon be a very good day for the orcs. They would claim the vast swaths of land that the elves had taken for themselves. Gold, silver, food, knowledge, power, all would be their soon enough. And for that, any Seeker within their world would first have to die.
Sasuke sighs, opening the roll of parchment that contained his complex diagram of spells. A magical lock, able to be opened only with his power, a horrendously difficult spell that could work through bloodlines, a splotch of his and Itachi's blood from a particularly enthusiastic sparring session, and a spell to record and make permanent a magical oath. They were the ingredients for the spell he had devised to force the peace to be kept, no matter how his clan might feel about his method.
The parchment glows, new characters appearing in the rings of text that outlined the promise to be made, and the closing of any loopholes he could think of. The spell was set. And for that, Sasuke breathes a sigh of relief. His people would be safe with this, his father would not be able to act against his own wishes, there would be no revenge this time. All thanks to Itachi's vaguely worded promise, the entire bloodline would be made to keep it, unless his bid for peace failed completely.
Rolling the scroll back up and sealing it away beneath his bed, Sasuke makes for his door. He was determined to enjoy himself for a little while longer, at least.
Mikoto was waiting outside his door. "Are you sure that you want to learn how to do the water lasso?" His magic was powerful, but it seemed like lightning was what he was best at. Though water and lightning would be quite the potent combination.
Sasuke nods determinedly. "I figure that I might as well. It might help me figure out how to channel my lightning better, anyway." And if something bad happened, well, he'd likely only electrocute himself.
"Alright. Well given your talents, we should probably go to the courtyard." She smiles kindly at him as they walk off together side by side. "I suppose it should be easier for you to use than if you were more attuned to fire, but lightning...well at least this won't be boring."
"No it will not." Sasuke was actually kind of excited. For just a little while, he could forget about everything and just focus on the moment. "I doubt Itachi is ever bored when I'm practicing with my lightning."
Mikoto laughs softly. "He mentioned that you have a habit of sparking him." Seh smiles and leads him outside. "Well water is a rather versatile element. There are many things that you can do with it. Making a rope out of it should be impossible, but this is magic."
"And when magic is involved, all of the rules change." Sasuke smiles as they approach the natural spring in the middle of the leafy courtyard. "It's like bending the laws of physics. Thermodynamics, especially."
"Mhm." She nods as she conjures the water lasso with a few waves of her hand. "I've done this since I was a child, so it's easy for me." Mikoto sighs and looks at him. "It will be difficult for you. Almost impossible really, but I have faith that you'll eventually get it though." Just probably not today, she thinks to herself.
"Maybe…" Sasuke watches the display, summoning magical energy to the tips of his fingers. He was always more of a practical learner, so the best way to go was just…to try it out. Which turns out to be a very bad idea, his attempt only shooting lightning through the air, narrowly missing the fountain, but scorching the dirt just on the other side.
She rubs the back of her head sheepishly. "Well it was a good try." It seemed that Sasuke had two modes. ON and OFF. There wasn't much of a between. "Try to summon your magic, but less...energetically." She smiles at him. "Think of it as painting a canvas rather than swinging a sword." And if that didn't work, she'd be forced to resort to more...colorful metaphors.
Sasuke grimaces at the admonishment hidden behind his mother's smile. He overdid it, that much was painfully obvious. "Okay…" He summons only a little magic, focusing on the water. Like painting a canvas… Flashes of light spark at the ends of his fingers. He twitches as sparks dance between them, making his fingers tingle. That definitely wasn't water. "Damn it…" He was being gentle, but he was still only getting lightning.
"That was better." She smiles at him reassuringly and presses her forehead against his. "Lightning is your most instinctual connection to nature. It's natural it would spring forth before water or something else." Yes, she was going to have to take drastic measures. "Perhaps, painting was the wrong metaphor to choose."
Her son was likely going to blush and sputter, but by human standards he was an adult. "Instead of a brush, imagine it was a lover." She pauses as her own ears were turning a rosy shade of pink. "One gets further in most cases with a gentle caress than a grope. That and water is generally viewed as more sensual than lightning. Which is powerful and beautiful, but generally more associated with pain." Which was an asset on the battlefield. "Lightning is a great power for the battlefield of course and no element is better than the others, but they each have their own unique strengths and weaknesses.
Sasuke's cheeks and ears burn scarlet, and he lowers both his hand and his gaze, hiding his eyes behind his hair. "That…is not the kind of advice that I want to hear from my mother." Because it made him think very inappropriate things about Hinata.
"Well I surmised that." She could only hope that her own blush was starting to fade. "That's why I tried the paintbrush first." Whatever worked as humans said?
His face still sporting a furious blush, Sasuke lowers his hand and goes to sit on the ground next to the fountain. He dips his fingers into the water, feeling it against his skin, trying to maybe lower his body temperature that way. "Magic is…complicated."
"It depends on the magic and if you're trying to do something that you're naturally inclined towards or not." She nods. "But I can see why you would say that." Gods and goddesses knew that she didn't really understand some of the things he said about science.
"I suppose…" Still, that didn't make it any easier to grasp. His efforts change from trying to create a rope to trying to at least make the water adhere to his fingers. "I guess I'm just more suited to the dangerous, explosive spells than the gentle and intricate stuff." Though he managed intricate spellwork well enough, as long as he had time.
She nods in understanding. "We all have our strengths and weaknesses." Mikoto watches as he tries again. "There's nothing wrong with that."
"It's still frustrating." It wasn't often that he found something that was just…almost impossible for him to do. And the water just didn't want to stick at all. So he lays his head down as he plays with it a little more idly. After all, he seemed to have a lot of magical accidents, maybe he just needed an accident here as well.
"I didn't expect you to get it on your first try." She chuckles softly at him, remembering Fugaku's own disastrous attempts at expanding his magical repertoire. "It's alright. Your father can't even do this."
Well, that made him feel a little better. "Alright…" He keeps the magic flowing, trying to…change the current somehow as lightning keeps sparking from his fingers, even underwater. He sighs unhappily. "I guess it's just going to be grinding practice…"
"You'll get it eventually." She smiles, joining him by the fountain and resting her hand on his head. "You're even more stubborn than your father." Books should probably be written about her husband's stubbornness, something that her baby boy had definitely picked up on the last few years.
Sasuke sighs and turns his head, looking up at his mother with weary eyes. "Stubborn and proud of it." A small smirk curves his lips. "After all, the palace would be boring if I wasn't tossing lightning bolts and climbing through windows, right?"
"I think that we could probably manage without that." Mikoto laughs lightly as she kisses his forehead tenderly. "But you do have a way of bringing new life to it. I just hope that you don't accidentally destroy it one day." She shakes her head as if banishing the thought. "Though I suppose we can always rebuild."
Laughing softly, he rests his head in his mother's lap. "I'll try not to destroy anything too important." He felt the guilt rising as he closes his eye, his anxiety starting to return. "…Would you braid my hair." It was something his mother liked doing for some reason, weaving braids from his spiky locks, but it was also rather soothing to Sasuke's nerves, always had been.
She smiles at him. "Always. Though would you prefer to do that in your room?" Mikoto didn't want to embarrass him. Well at least not too much and she knew that it might be embarrassing for a man to have his hair braided by his mother in public.
"Here is fine." It's not like there was anyone in the courtyard, and it would hardly be the most embarrassing thing Sasuke's family had done to him. In fact, this wouldn't even make the top fifty list. Most of those spots, of course, were filled by Itachi's antics.
"Alright." Mikoto shifts slightly, moving herself into a more comfortable position, and gestures for him to sit in front of her. "It's been awhile since you last asked me to do this." She had thought maybe, he thought it was too childish for him anymore. "If it's about the war, we will find a way to keep our home safe." Once he was seated, she begins brushing his hair. The woman always carried a brush in one of her pockets. Apparently, it was just part of being a Queen. You were always expected to look your best.
Sasuke leans back against her knees, feeling her brush through the hair by his temples, just behind his bangs. It was usually the place she started, often braiding the strands towards the back of his head to keep them out of his eyes. "I am worried…I just don't want anything to happen to this place, to the people here…"
She smiles and brushes there rather thoroughly. "I know. You have a good heart Sasuke." After that, she proceeds to brush the longer, more unruly raven black locks at the back of his head. "I think that's one of the things that brought you to us." Mikoto didn't completely understand how the magic worked that brought him there, but she was very grateful it had.
"Yeah, it might be." Though Sasuke knew it was really because he wanted a family, and the book decided that this was the best place for him to find that. "I love you."
"I love you too." Mikoto continues brushing his hair. Gentle and slow strokes. "And I always will. Nothing is ever going to change that." She smiles and begins braiding. "Not even the war."
"Thank you." Sasuke smiles softly. "The last three years have been the happiest of my life. And it's all because of you…Father…Itachi…"
Why did that sound like a goodbye? "I'm glad to hear that." She frowns as she looks at him while tilting her head in confusion. "Is it just the war that is troubling you?"
"Yeah." Sasuke nods, closing his eyes. "I know, it's silly. I just…wanted you to know is all." He didn't like the idea of deceiving his mother, but he wasn't lying, at least. He'd never forgive himself for outright lying to her.
"Well I'm glad." She smiles as she continues braiding his hair. "Hmm. That's strange. One lock is a lot shorter than the others." Mikoto shakes her head. "Did someone give you an unintentional haircut during sword practice?" She laughs quietly at the very thought.
Sasuke opens his eyes, blinking as he forces away a blush. "Does it look weird?" He hadn't really bothered to stop and check the place where he'd cut off the long braid, so he wasn't sure if it was even or not. Well, obviously it wasn't even, after all it had been at least a foot longer before.
She shakes her head. "No. It's fine. I didn't even notice it until I was trying to braid it." Mikoto smiles reassuringly at him. "These types of things happen when you're playing with swords."
"Or daggers." Sasuke rolls his eyes, after all, it was a dagger, not a sword. "All it got was the braid, though, I'm fine."
"Yes, it's a good thing that it got your hair and not your face." She beams at him proudly. "Such a handsome boy."
Well, at least she wasn't calling him beautiful like Itachi had a habit of doing, the asshole. "Yeah, a good thing." Sasuke drinks in his mother's smile, her presence as her fingers run through his hair. It was nice, calming, and as much as it made his heart ache, it also gave him just a little more courage.