AN: Hey guys I know it's been forever. So much has happened since my last update that you don't even know. It's been a regular fucking soap opera. And to top it off I could not for the life of me type out a satisfactory chapter 12. This is as close as it's gonna get. I accept that. One of my friends told me that if I didn't update soon she'd travel halfway across the US just to smash my face into the keyboard. I believe quite firmly that she meant every word. So Merry Christmas, Happy New Year! I'll try to update again before Valentines Day but don't hold your breath on that okay.
From Last Time: Um, I just wanted to thank you guys, Your support really meant a lot to me. Jacob was a good friend of mine. And his death effected a lot of people. He was going through a lot of shit, I know that now. I'm so sorry. But I will never forgive him for what he did. Not him and not James. Cuz there's no excuse. I know that I will never do it, too many people need me. And I hope to god that none of you reading this ever do. I've seen the place where people commit suicide. It's dark and lonely and painful. But the right person can pull you out of it if given the chance.
Title: yeah, Someone contacted me and said they'd delete my story because the title was 'inappropriate.' Tch. So after much swearing and disbelief I just took out the U. now that little fucker can't complain can they. (sticks out tongue.) Bite me bitch. ;)
Declaimer: Fuck it.
Chapter 12
Strangers With Candy
(I am exhumed, just a little less human and a lot more bitter and cold…)
I'm a relatively reasonable person and Kai had done nothing to piss me off. Except flaunt his infuriating perfection at my Yukari. He made her laugh like that and it royally ticked me off. Every time his voice came out just like that, that black velvet tone with those hooded violet eyes, I felt as though tiny bugs were crawling all over my skin.
And I hated bugs.
Yukasha Kai's very presence made me paranoid and sick and yet somehow he had wheedled his way into accompanying us to the boat.
I knew I was not the only one who felt this way about Kai; for although Sakura had become quite smitten with him it was very clear that the Uchiha survivor would like nothing more then to send Kai's merry little tooshie right through a wood chipper. I did not know why Sasuke felt this way and frankly I didn't really care. It was for this very reason that I decided here and now that I rather liked Uchiha Sasuke and that we should be the best of friends.
Yukari on the other hand treated Kai like any normal person would treat an old friend. There were two things very wrong with this scenario. One, Yukari was by no means a normal person and Two, Kai was certainly NOT an old friend.
Couldn't Yukari feel it? Sense it like I had? Couldn't she tell that trusting this boy was nothing less then a perfect disaster?
'Apparently not.' I thought bitterly glancing to where his hand had settled on her waste.
'Back off." I wanted to snap. 'Yukari doesn't like being touched!' which was perfectly true. So why hadn't she said it yet? Twisted his hand like she would have done Tanner's. Why was her guard down? Why had she relaxed, for him of all people? It felt so wrong and it made me want to scream at the pair of them, because something warned me that he was tainted and not to be trusted. My little red flag was giving me a migraine that made me irritable and I shook with a barely controlled rage.
Summers Strom minded. He had been reluctant the let the boy close to his master at all. But he had, which was unfortunate for me because Kami knows how much easier it would have made my life if he had prevented it. Instead he stuck closely to the child Yuzu's side and it made me wonder about him. I wondered how scary Storm could really be. How viciously he would protect Yukari. If perhaps he'd chosen the girl so that he might tear her apart at Kai's first threat to his master.
But that was preposterous, he was probably by Yuzu because it was as close as he could get. With Kai on Yukari's right and the little girl holding her left hand it was relatively impossible to get too close without walking directly in front or behind them. But wouldn't it be strange if I was right? Maybe even alarming.
I kept my distance from all of them feeling that if I got too close to Kai I might not be able to stop myself from hitting him. I knew very well that unlike Yukari I did not have that perfect control over myself and before now I had never particularly wanted it. I had always thought that bottling things up was very unhealthy but I needed it now, I needed it to protect Yukari from Kai and maybe even, though it made me sick to think it, Yuzu.
Upon first meeting little Yuzu I thought that surely this was the reason Yukari trusted Kai so thoroughly so soon. Yuzu looked like Maya had the first day I'd met her. They smiled the same, and I recognized those smiles for the ignorance that lingered there. Despite what I thought of Kai, I had liked his sister on sight. But it soon became apparent to me that Yukari had trusted Kai, I mean really trusted him, in a way that had nothing to do with the little girl.
And that made it worse…
"Thank you. Because of you we were able to complete the bridge." Tazuna started.
I twitched slightly but found that the mans words were incredibly welcomed right now. Because that meant we'd reached the boat. And that meant no more Kai! Ah silver lining I knew you were out there somewhere!
I shot Kai a triumphant look and he smiled in my direction. He knew I didn't like him and I knew he didn't care. My stomach heaved.
"Don't worry! We'll come to visit!" Naruto announced to the grief stricken boy.
"You better.'" He answered weakly. "I'm not going to cry!" The boy suddenly shouted. "B-but Naruto, it's okay if you wanna cry."
"Inari, It's okay to cry. You're sad right?" Naruto was saying and I smiled at the pair of them. Because they were cute. Because Kai wasn't coming with.
"Time to go." Kakashi announced
Yukari bent down a hugged little Yuzu. "Yukari-nee," the little girl sobbed, 'Don't leave, you just got here…"
"It's not like you'll never see me again," Yukari responded with the softest smile I'd seen her wear in months and the exact words she'd said to Maya once upon a happier time. "Till next time ne, Yuzu-chan?"
Yuzu nodded and vigorously wiped away her tears on the sleeve of her little purple kimono.
"I suppose you have to leave, ne?" Kai pouted and I squirmed because I could not get away from him fast enough.
"Yes, I do have to go home after all." Yukari responded.
"Well then," he moved in and pecked her on the cheek…
My eyes sprang open and adrenaline shot through my blood.
HOW DARE HE!?!
I wanted to slap him. No I wanted Yukari to slap him, cuz even Tanner couldn't get away with something like that. Yukari playfully swatted him away as though this were nothing new and I knew I must be shaking in raw unadulterated fury.
The sooner we got away the better. And if I NEVER saw Yukasha Kai again, it would still be too soon.
------------------------------------------- ---- Kanoke ---- ------------------------------------
"Yukari!" I called snatching up her wrist. I was not going to keep this from her. She was in danger and I wanted her to see how wrong her trust for Kai really was. I wanted to protect her like she protected me. "Why did you let him do that to you!?" I demanded desperately.
Her head lifted in mild surprise and I realized how waspish I probably sounded.
"Do what?" She asked. But no, my Yukari was not stupid. I threw her a look she could not have missed and understanding entered her gaze. "That harmless little peck on the cheek?"
'No!' I thought desperately. 'Don't say it that way. Don't pretend it wasn't something. Can't you see how close he's getting!?'
"What are you talking about? You nearly twisted Tanner's arm off the first time he did that!" I accused and I knew my voice must have been raising. Finally, finally her face shifted. She frowned and was serious like I needed her to be.
"Yeah well that was Tanner." She explained as she scratched at the band aid on her cheek.
"What's the difference between Tanner and Kai?" I demanded.
"Kai's Kai." She said. And there was that answer again. That one that had the hidden 'I trust him' at the end. I let my hand fall as if burned.
It wasn't natural. The Yukari I knew was paranoid. The Yukari I knew didn't trust people. She just didn't. And the Yukari I knew did NOT like being touched. What had happened? What had changed? My Yukari…
Kai had changed something in my Yukari, I was right. Something about him screamed it's sheer wrongness.
"I don't trust him." I said and I heard my voice crack but unlike Yukari I was not ashamed.
"I know." Yukari replied and her answer was expected, almost comforting. "I'm sorry." And she was.
I felt as if I could burst and I flung my arms around her and pulled her to me tightly, 'Stupid Stupid Kanoke,' I told myself. I could never protect Yukari when she was the one protecting me. And it hurt that I couldn't help. It hurt that I couldn't keep her away from Kai's darkness because it would have been wrong to try. Yukari could protect herself, it had always been so. Nothing had changed.
'Nothing has changed.' I told myself. It would be the first lie of many.
I could only hope we'd never see Kai again, but this hope too was tainted by his darkness. A fools hope, doomed from before it sprang.
"Be safe." I whispered, and I felt her grip on me tighten, for already our roles had switched and I felt as if her arms would protect me from the world.
'Nothing has changed…'
------------------------------------- --------- Yukari ------------ ---------------------------------
Despite Kanoke's disturbing accusations I knew one thing for certain. I was dearly going to miss Kai. He was warm and he smelled like peacebloom and withered parsley. I had never let myself trust someone as I was suddenly trusting Kai. I loved the new feeling. I felt so much less alone now.
I sighed pressing my forehead against the cool bar that lined the boats edge. I was certain that I'd never been this tried in my entire life. I had slept a great deal but the walk had been uncomfortably arduous. My anemia had left me weak.
I spat into the water feeling disgusted with myself. Surely Sasuke wasn't feeling this pathetic and I knew he'd bled more than I.
I twisted to get a good look at the sulking Uchiha. Perhaps he really did feel as weak as me, he certainly looked pissed off enough for that to be the cause. I smiled at him. I owed Sasuke quite a bit didn't I? Yes, that boy had put up with quite a bit of my shit and I had used him more than once for my own gain. He was just so, so, useful.
I cringed. That sounded horrible of me. It wasn't like I had hurt him in any way or betrayed his trust or something. I was quite certain he didn't trust me anyway. He didn't even like me. Not once had Sasuke visited me on either occasion when I had been injured.
But he had been injured also and I had made sure to visit him when he had been sound asleep. It would have been really awkward otherwise. What was I supposed to do? Sakura had it easy. She could just walk in there throw herself on him and cry. But doing that would have been both impossible and extremely uncharacteristic. I had gone in when his breathing was slow and his eyes closed and had a quite conversation with an unconscious body.
Wow, I sounded like a freak. So I was hardly one to judge.
I sighed again.
I had made a mistake somewhere with Haku. I had planned to heroically save him from his fate and instead I had waited too long and suddenly the matter was out of my hands. If it had ever been in my hands in the first place.
I wasn't sure what had happened. A new variable had entered the scene in the form of fire and ecstasy. Whatever it had been it had left me drained, it had shut me down, and it had better not happen again. I couldn't risk going into flaming lockdown every now and then. I had things to do, people to see, places to NOT die. Whatever had happened with Haku, I hoped dearly it had been a one time thing. A mistake that had cost me his life.
I would not make that mistake with Sasuke. Not when Naruto loved him so dearly. Not when I could change it. There would be no mistakes this time. And if there were I would have a backup, like ten per action or something. There were millions of things I could do to change it and I had time. I would do every fucking one of them if I had to. If I could stop Sasuke from ever meeting that bastard… well, that might have been too much to hope for, but if I could be there when it happened…
I lifted my head and let it fall painfully back against the railing.
Fuck my stomach hurt like a bitch.
----------------------------------------------- Sasuke --------------------------------------------
If I were one to categorize my days I would have to say that today would fall under shittist day of the month. And that was including my birthday which Sakura had somehow found out about.
The root of today's rain started with Yukasha Kai, and ended with Irenara Yukari. I should not have had to go through breakfast sitting next to him and his gay jokes about my intentions with Naruto. I'm better than that. I should not have had to go through walking here with him and his complete infatuation with Yukari. It was annoying and he needed to keep it to himself. Honestly hadn't anyone taught him self control? For gods sake, I was the Uchiha Survivor. I shouldn't have to deal with shit like this.
But the real kicker was the goodbye kiss Yukari had received.
To say public displays of affection had never really appealed to me would be an understatement. I was the Uchiha heir and such behavior was completely unheard of in strong clan leaders. I knew my father had never done it… Itachi had never done it…
I scratched at the band aid on my cheek in irritation. Sure Kakashi may have gotten a good laugh out of the stupid matching band aids on my and Yukari's cheeks, but I swear on all that is holy I am THIS close to ripping mine off and throwing it into the water.
'Damn it, Yukari' I thought.
It was like Yukari had betrayed me. No not me, the team. Like she had betrayed the team by doing something so incredibly… weak.
I shook my head, still finding it difficult to connect her with the word. Even injured and sleeping after the fight with Haku I had seen her as something strong. Someone who had almost died because they had been foolish enough to try and get me out of that dome. She had even gone so far as drag herself out of bed to visit me.
Flashback
I kept my eyes tightly shut when I heard my door open. If Sakura had come to visit me again she might decide to leave if she thought me unconscious. I didn't need her hovering over me asking me again and again if I was alright. I needed to be brooding on everything that had happened. I had lost to Haku and Kimi knows how much stronger Itachi was than Haku. It was infuriating how weak I still was compared to him.
The person in my room let out a loud sigh and I thought for sure that it was Sakura and this was her disappointment.
Then she spoke.
"You're a bit of a moron aren't you?"
The difference between Sakura's voice and Yukari's was something I hadn't taken into account before now. Sakura's voice had something shrill to it and generally lacked confidence and self worth. But Yukari's voice drawled with the patient experience of someone who knew with perfect clarity what they were capable of. Neither was more pleasant to listen to then the other but Yukari's voice sent a draft down my spine. It appeared that there was one more thing she had in common with my brother.
"You could have gotten yourself killed by protecting Orangeman. And then were would we be? Sakura would cry for the next year, Konoha would weep for the loss of their little Uchiha. And you, as Kit's first friend would have someone that would morn your death for the rest of his life. You could have caused a lot of problems by what you did." she berated.
I wondered if she knew I was awake. Otherwise what was the purpose of this conversation?
"Thank you." She whispered out, and the shift in her voice was startling. Was she crying, I wondered. "I should have been the one to jump in front of Naruto. Or I should have jumped in front of you. And believe me I would have if I could have. I messed up and you paid the price in blood. I meant for everyone to come out alive. And that's a mission I should not have failed… This team needs you Uchiha, but it doesn't need me."
End Flashback
My eyes shot toward her on reflex more than anything else and I frowned. Yukari was already asleep, using her little pet like a pillow. This was nothing new. She didn't bond, didn't even try. She didn't force conversation upon me as Sakura did and she didn't actually 'girl bond' with Sakura. But she wasn't exactly chumming up to Naruto either, in fact the only people I'd seen her actually hang out with was that weird Hinata girl and Shikamaru.
I, personally, had nothing against either of them. Hinata wasn't a fan girl, which I appreciated, and Shikamaru wasn't annoying, which was a rare godsend.
But we were her team. Did she really think us so horrible? A sneer crawled over my face. And these people, Tanner, Kanoke, Kai. Who the hell where they that she said their names as if it were normal? While for her it certainly was not. What did we know about her? Where did she come from? Who where her family? Where did she live? It wasn't adding up.
My knuckles turned white as they gripped the boat railing and I felt anger flush into my system. Anger at myself. Irenara Yukari was dangerous, she was hiding something. Scars that didn't heal, grief she didn't show, hate that didn't die, and creepy allies from other villages.
How the hell had she known Haku anyway?
I silently berated myself for being so worried about her. For actually checking up on her. She looked like a Uchiha and seeing her so close to death had been too much of a flashback. Surely that was all it had been that had caused me to worry about the girl with my brothers eyes.
'Damn it, Yukari.' I thought again.
I peeled the band aid off my cheek and without a second thought let it fall into the dark water below.
------------------------------------------------ Yukari---------------------------------------------------
The trip seemed significantly shorter this time. But then I did sleep through well over half of it. I could not for the life of me think of why we hadn't gone this far on boat the first time. I mean, for Christ's sake it was just so much faster. I did however have a theory. I had asked Kakashi this very question and he had just smiled and said, 'walking is such a hassle.'
If he was doing this for me and Sasuke I was forever grateful. Also slightly embarrassed that he'd probably noticed how the short walk to the boat had effected me so strongly. God I was pathetic.
"Yukari-chan." Kakashi called. "We're going to go and introduce the Hokage to our new resident." He said cheerfully. "I'd like it you and Sasuke could go to the hospital in the meantime."
That sounded reasonable to me.
I shot a look at Kanoke and she smiled and nodded which was as good as consent.
"That's fine." I said and Sasuke just grunted what we all assumed to be a yes since you couldn't really tell with the limited Uchiha vocabulary.
"Hey, Angel." Naruto greeted. "Good to be home ne?" he said grinning cheekily.
I gave him a surprisingly sincere smile. "And here you were all excited to get out of this place." I teased.
He took on a shyer look that was perfectly adorable on him. "Yeah well, no place like home I guess…"
"Hmm." I hummed thoughtfully as we passed through the gates. Naruto was surprisingly quite today which I just could not understand. I wondered if he were sad that there would be no one here to greet him back.
"I'm glad you didn't die Angel-chan." Naruto said quietly. "Back there on that field I thought both you and Sasuke… I though you guys had…" He choked and I smiled softly and put my arm around his shoulders like I had never done before. And then with all the sensitivity in the world I did what I do best in awkward situations.
I changed the subject.
"So Kit, I have a friend who can do the most interesting thing with her chakra." I smirked. "She can walk on water." Naruto turned to me with wide blue eyes, Hinata was going simply going to die when she found out what I had done.
------------------------------------------ ---------------------------- ------------------------------------
There are some people you like when you first meet them. There are other's you just wanna slap for being so goddamn annoying. This is a simple fact of life that I usually appreciated because it really did pertain to everyone.
Here's a fun fact: Uchiha Sasuke has fan girls… lots of fan girls. Fan girls who definitely appreciated the return of their obsession.
Another fun fact: I wanted to beat them all into the ground. Massacre actually, with lots blood and little fan girl parts leading a happy trail all the way to the Hokage Tower. The idea was becoming increasingly appealing actually.
"Uchiha." I shot between gritted teeth. "Isn't there something you can do about you're damn fan girls? I'm about to loose it and tear all their fucking heads off."
"Hn, be my guest." Sasuke replied. I rolled you eyes. I would have left his sorry ass way behind me if I had known where the hospital was. Sadly I didn't and I was secretly following Sasuke so that I didn't look like a total moron. Sasuke tensed beside me and I wondered if his fans were on the move again.
"Sasuke-kun!"
'Apparently so.' I twitched.
"I'm so glad you're back!" This one had brown hair worn in pigtails and blue eyes filled with creepy obsession that I was quite certain she'd mistaken for love. She was actually rather pretty. It was a pity she'd chosen to focus her attention on a walking popsicle. "I can't believe that mean old Hokage would make you go out of the village the week of your birthday! And I had such a wonderful evening planned!"
I choked, half way between laughing at the way she'd said 'mean old Hokage' and halfway between gasping that I'd forgotten Sasuke's birthday. Woopsy. I considered birthdays rather important, I would have to remedy this!
What could I get for Sasuke? This was a useful distraction that helped me ignore the tragic waste of female walking beside us. I suppose if all else failed I could by him a new stick to shove up his ass. A shiny one… with little jewels and his name engraved on it in silver. Hmmm…
"Anyway who is this girl you're with?" Something dark shot my way and I felt a shiver ripple up my spine that drew me out of my lovely fantasy. "Who are you?" She asked directly.
I seriously considered for a moment telling her that I was Sasuke's new girlfriend just for the hell of it, but after briefly playing the scenario out in my head I determined that the result would probably be different from that of a fan fiction. And instead of breaking her heart and saving us from future fans, I would probably be tied up and shipped off to Grass Country this very day.
"Fuck off." I settled for and her eyes widened in horror.
"Sasuke-kun! You really shouldn't be with people who have such fowl language! I hate to think what a horrible influence she'd be on our children!" She gasped.
I twitched. "Subtle as a flying brick." I muttered. Then a slow cruel smile crawled over my face.
'Sasuke I'm gonna do both you and me a huge favor.'
"Oh dear! Well children are another matter!" I started dramatically. "He didn't tell me he finally settled down. So you'll be the one then?" I asked. She looked at me in confusion which rapidly changed to fury as I looped my arm through Sasuke's. He tensed but seemed determined to ignore whatever the hell I was doing. What Sasuke would soon learn was that I only hated it when people touched me. What I touched them it was just funny. "Sasu-chan, you tease!" I pouted. "You're supposed to tell me about my in-laws and the cute little nieces and nephews they're gonna bring my way!"
Sasuke would have fallen flat on his face if I hadn't been attached to him. Which it was a good thing I was because this particular act didn't not involve him busting me.
"W-What are you talking about!?" The girl shrieked and I Xelloss smiled just for her.
"Why Sasu-chan and I," I paused because I could feel Sasuke shake when I came so close to his name. I wondered if he was angry with me. "we're family you see." I leaned my head on his shoulder and fluttered my lashes. I didn't know when we had stopped walking, but I was glad we had, because Sasuke surely would have tripped again.
"F-family?!" She stuttered.
I nodded. "I'm Yukari but the way."
"U-Uchiha Yukari!?" She stressed and I gave her a smile, perhaps a bit more evil then necessary. Her eyes widened farther in response.
"Kinda just rolls off your tongue doesn't it?" I said.
And suddenly her hands had clasped around mine and she had a sort of desperate look in her eyes.
"I-I'm Tsuki Ame and it's a pleasure to meet one of Sasuke-kuns relatives!" She laughed and the fakeness there made me drop my smile. She was a fool for not knowing that Sasuke had no relatives. She was a fool who did not care for the boy in the orange jumpsuit who suffered so tragically. Who did not care for the boy that I loved. She could not love Sasuke. I would protect my boys from her. "Let's be friends, you and I, ne?"
"Are you a ninja?" I asked.
"U-Um I'm in the academy still, I passed last exam but my team failed-" I deepened the frown and suddenly the girl looked worried.
"Weak." I spat, not caring that she'd heard me or that Sasuke too seemed shocked by the blunt admission. "I do hope you're training adamantly, I will not tolerate weakness in my family."
"O-Of course Yukari-chan."
"Too informal, we are not friends just yet." I informed. 'Never.' I thought.
"Gomen Yukari-san!" She bowed and I let the Xellos smile return, because it was a beautifully faked masterpiece that I had perfected over the years. A mask that would not soon be broken.
"You must work extra hard." I said patting her on the head. "I do not approve of you just yet, I'll expect you to have changed for the better when next we meet." She nodded fervently and I felt Sasuke squeeze my arm in his and knew it would only be a matter of time before he could put thought into words. "If you'll excuse me number 37,"
"Number 37?" she asked look dazed.
"Oh yes you're the 37th candidate for my Sasu-chan," He tensed again. "I will say your name when you have impressed me, till then we have somewhere to be." I tugged Sasuke's arm and he came without much resistance.
"R-Right! Goodbye Sasuke-kun, Yukari-san!"
"Good day number 37." I called behind us.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Sasuke shot my way but he did not separate from me, which was good because Ame could still see us.
"Well you see, I was considering making out with you in the middle of the street but I figured that in the long run it would probably get me into a lot of trouble." Sasuke nearly tripped again. He wasn't very good at walking today, but he was silent so I continued. "Buuut it's like some sort of unwritten law during courtship to try and gain the families approval. So if she wants to get to you she'll be ridiculously nice to me and if she wants my approval that girl sure as hell won't hang on your arm when I'm there. In fact I think I may have just aspired that girl to be a better konichi. Everyone wins!" I explained enthusiastically. He still hadn't said anything and I was getting worried.
"Er, did you want her hanging all over you? I guess I should have asked, but I just assumed."
"No." He said simply.
"Alright then, I don't see a problem here."
"You think this is all just a game don't you?" He spat like something far too sweet for his taste. "You lied just to satisfy your messed up sense of humor-"
"Now now, I didn't lie Sasu-chan." He tensed again. "We are kind of a family you know." I said in a very matter of fact way. Sasuke froze completely and I tugged on his arm again to make him walk with me. "That's what it means to be part of a team. You're a part of team seven now, and we are your family." I said smiling as we turned the corner.
"Like hell. I have no family."
Something in that one sentence really ticked me off. Something about the blunt rejection of me and those I now held dear, infuriated me to a new height.
He will betray you. Something whispered to me. A voice far too sinister to be my other half.
'Oh hell no! I can change it!'
This is out of your hands. It has been destiny since the moment he chose revenge. Everything in this world sets itself no matter what you do. You will change nothing here and you know it.
"Look," I started in a softer tone and we stopped with Ame no longer in sight. Sasuke's face was hidden by his hair and I worried about what he might be remembering under those ebony locks. "I don't pretend we could ever be what they were. But we are something. Don't turn us away."
"Tch," a muscle in his jaw jumped and I knew what would come next would not be pleasant. "Stupid." He scoffed. I still could not see his eyes.
'How dare he!?' I thought, my chakra spiking
"Don't be a prick about this Uchiha!" I snarled. "Some of us would just kill to have a family so don't turn away from this offer. We ARE your family. I KNOW Kit and you have bonded, Pinky has potential if she can get over her damn infatuation with you, and years from now we'll still tack sensei on the end of Scarecrows name. Why are you the only one denying this!?"
"Well aren't you just the hypocrite." Sasuke bit back quietly, I still could not see his eyes. "How the hell do you expect us to trust you when you so clearly don't trust any of us."
"What are you talking about?" I asked. He leaned in and smirked but it was empty and it scared me because he shouldn't have that look, not until years after he left Konoha.
"Say our names. I want to hear it. Naruto, Sakura, Kakashi. Say our names Irenara." It was spoken like a mocking dare and I withdrew my hand as though burned and backed away from him and his terrifying smirk. He could not possibly know the magnitude of what he had asked of me.
"I- I can't."
And he was angry. "You are such a liar Yukari, and the thought of you and I being part of the same family is enough to make me sick."
I was quite for a moment. Still, shocked. But I knew before I tried that I would not, could not say Sasuke's name. And now I was angry. Angry that he had even asked it of me. How dare he.
"You have no idea." I hissed. "If you only fucking knew."
"Another secret Yukari?" He snarled and my pupils contracted in fury.
You're going to loose him.
'You lie.'
You're window is closing and you're the one shutting it.
'Liar!'
Everything is falling apart.
"Shut up!" I shouted closing my eyes tight. Power surged in me, hot and raw and there was a moment of ecstasy where I opened my eyes and I knew that Sasuke could not have missed it. Then pain, a small burst of agony. My eyes widened and I crumpled into myself while still standing, and hacked violently. When I opened my eyes again it was to see blood on my palm. My vision blurred. I had to leave.
I turned to flee but Sasuke caught me by the wrist. I would not turn to face him.
"I won't let it happen Uchiha. You're trying so hard to loose everything but damned if I let you break his heart!" There was a new strain in my voice and I hated myself for it. "You're in too deep. Whether you like it or not. If you left now… Naruto and Sakura would follow you to the ends of the earth." And it was true.
"And you?" He asked his voice quite. I wanted to look at him, but knew if I did I would tell him of the danger that was coming and beg him not to leave us so that I was here to pick up the pieces of a tragic little team.
I felt him tilt my hand but I drew back sharply, hoping that he had not seen the blood. And then I ran.
He did not follow.
Everything will fall apart…
-------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------
I stumbled my way to my Sakura tree. I had virtually no idea where the hospital was but for all my horrible healing abilities I was getting rather good at dealing with blood loss. I just needed to rest and think. Just for a little while.
It had happened again. Shorter and far less dramatic but I was curtain that it was the same. The power high, the ecstasy, and painpainpain. I frowned. This was going to become a problem if it continued. I could already feel the after effects running through my system like a drug. It was something I could easily become addicted to. I already felt weak without it. I already desperately wanted it again.
Don't let it swallow you.
I shivered at the very thought. Being consumed by it was a terrifying prospect. I needed to go to the hospital. But first I needed to rest. I would go when I could move and think coherently. Then I would find whatever room Uchiha Sasuke was in and I would beat him with a pogo stick because somehow this had to be his fault.
I hadn't realized how suspicious he was of me till just now and this could not have been something new. What was I going to do? What could I possibly tell him? Fuck. Could this have come at a worse time? I scoffed.
My eyes widened and I stopped in my tracks. I felt like I could cry. I had reached my Sakura tree… and all my blossoms were gone. Their time had passed. I wanted to scream. It was irrational and stupid that something so natural had set me over the edge. But this was my place, my special, special place. And death had graced it in my absence.
'I didn't even get to say goodbye…' I stumbled forward with my hand outstretched and begged the tears to fall. My beautiful sakura tree…I let out a choked sob a collapsed at its base wishing with all my being that I had just made it to the fucking hospital with Sasuke. If I hadn't done that stupid little trick with that fan girl none of this would have happened. Besides she was bound to find out sooner or later that I wasn't actually Sasuke's sister. And then I'd be in for a hell'va migraine.
Already my head was pounding.
I should have just kissed the damn boy and gotten over with it. How bad could Grass Country be?
It was a mark of how out of it I was that I didn't register the presence of another even after they were three feet in front of me. It was an even greater mark that I still could not make out the blurred form for who they were. They were male. I decided groggily.
Focus your eyes. The voice said urgently
'If you think you can do a better job you focus my eyes fucker.'
"This is it then," The person said lazily and I recognized that voice. He bent down towards me and still I could not see him clearly but neither did I tense. How unnatural.
"What happened to her?" Another voice came and now I did tense, though I was unsure of both their identities, this person alone made me tense. I tried harder to focus.
"I'm sure that's a long and very personal story. But if her condition bothers you, you don't have to take her. This is completely up to you." The first person said jovially.
'Taken? They're going to take me somewhere?' I thought and the urgency of the situation was dulled by how tired I was getting.
"It's fine." He grunted.
I heard immediate growling on my right. Storm. My beautiful, wonderful Summer's Storm was here. He was here to protect me.
"A dog?"
"I'm afraid so." The first person said though his happy tone had still not changed. "If she goes he goes."
There was a silence in which I almost fell asleep and then some form of consent was given and for some reason I could not fathom, Storm let the man in front of me pick me up.
You're going to bleed out at this rate.
'You just shut up for a while.' I growled.
I did not like this new voice that I had somehow contracted. The bubbly other me -while annoying and possibly gay- had somehow made my emotional state, whatever it was at the time, much better.
But this voice was…
How to describe it?
Oh to hell with being articulate.
It Was Fucking Creepy. I decided, closing my eyes and relaxing completely against Kakashi's warm torso.
You'll come to love me with time.
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I learned a very valuable lesson today.
Don't trust the nurses.
They waltz into your room all bubbly and fucking white just like the walls and the sheets. They put you on enough morphine to see shit crawling on your ceiling and smile and pretend it's all just shits and giggles and fucking Rainbow Bright.
They open your drapes so you can be blinded by the fucking sun like they expect their patient to be a vampire and are just bloodthirstily waiting for you to go up flames like they're auditioning on Buffy or something.
Then they hand you a cup that looks like grape juice. Probably the first not annoying thing you'd see in a hospital so you decide, 'sure, I'll drink it.' And trust me when I say that nine out of ten times, THERE'S NO FUCKING WAY IT'S GRAPE JUICE.
So suddenly steam is coming out of your ears and the dancing strawberries in your dinner bento are begging you not to eat them. So you don't cuz you just know that if you do you'll have nightmares. And then you're just fucking hungry.
God I hate hospitals.
They put me in the same room as the fucking Uchiha prick so all I really want to do is throw shit but he's sleeping and your nurse thinks he's adorable so she threatens you with a cheerful smile to put you in leather restraints. Fucking a.
But who knows? It could be the drugs talking.
They couldn't get an actual healer to look at me yet and I knew I'd been here for hours. Something about fucking priority. Fuck that. I don't know what held priority over me getting to beat on Sasuke but it had better be fucking important.
I don't know how I got here.
I don't know how long I'll be here.
Dogs can't come in cuz they're unsanitary and someone might be allergic. I'm willing to take that risk but when I told them that they just frowned and shook their heads. Assholes.
Apparently Naruto had been in to visit while I was asleep and if he decided to pop in again I was considering asking him to sneak Storm in in a fruit basket or something. He was good at shit like that so I had complete faith in him.
My door opened and I brightened up instantly.
'Summers Storm you'll be with mommy soon!'
There's something wrong with you.
'Fuck you, you creepy fuck stain.'
You're intoxicated.
'Don't be a fucktard Georgy! Look we have visitors!' I announced as Hinata stepped quietly into the room.
"Aweeee." I started loudly, hoping with all my being that my voice might disturb the precious Uchiha bastard from his beauty sleep. "You came to visit me Hina-chan! I feel so loved!"
Hinata's eyes went wide and I snickered, because it was funny. That's why people snicker isn't it? Well now it is.
You're scaring her.
'Nu-uh! Don't talk about matters that don't concern you fufu.'
Fufu.
'BUNNY FUFU!'
"H-how are you f-feeling, Yukari-chan?" Hinata spoke quietly and I grinned.
"Pssst. Hina… heeeey Hina, y-you know what we should do? We should break me outta here." Here eyes went wide again and I cackled uncharacteristically. "Hospitals are boooring!" I wined. "All I really wanna do is beat Sasuke with a pogo stick but they won't leeeet me."
Seven feet away Sasuke rolled right off his bed and I knew that if he wasn't awake before there was no way he wasn't now.
"Hey, Hey look!" I cackled again. "He fell out of bed!"
"A-are you f-feeling alright Yukari-chan?" Hinata squeaked.
"I am just dandy, thank you for asking Hina-chan." I smiled warmly at her. "Hey faggot!" I called to Sasuke. "Did you bruise your pretty face falling out of bed. Awe poor baby." I mocked jumping out of bed so quickly I stumbled and had to use his bed to steady myself. Sasuke was only just getting and I wondered if he was a groggy as I was.
I tackled him with a Cheshire cat smile.
And kissed his forehead.
I thought for a moment that he might faint. "There!" I said standing triumphantly. "I kiss it and make it all better."
'Now what am I forgetting…'
"Eh Hinata-chan do you even have pogo sticks in Konoha?" I asked. If they didn't I was going to fucking invent them. No child should have to grow up without a pogo stick it was like a fucking sin.
You're loosing it.
'Nu-uh, I lost it a while ago fucker you were just too far up your ass to notice.'
"W-what happened to you Yukari-chan!" Hinata asked urgently and I tilted my head faaar to the left so that I was seeing her stand like I normally did.
"Ne-Ne, Hina-chan. How are you doing that horizontal floating thingy. Is it a chakra exercise?!" I asked.
'I wanna learn!!!!!!!!!!!!'
"It's alright Hinata." A familiar cheerful voice announced stepping through my door. I recognized Kakashi instantly. "They put Yukari on a few drugs to reduce the pain but it's only temporary."
"Sensei!" I shouted and latched my arms and legs around his middle. He sweat dropped. "You came to visit me too! I had no idea! I feel so loved! Do they have pogo sticks in Konoha!?"
Kakashi shifted and walked me back to my bed were he attempted to dispose of me. But I wasn't that easy to get rid of!
"Nu-uh!" I said gleefully and keeping my arms tightly attached to him. "I am a Koala and I have chosen my resting place!!!!"
"W-what is a Koala, Kakashi-sensei." Hinata asked quietly.
I jumped off of Kakashi excitedly. "Koala's are little bear like animals that climb trees and eat bamboo and latch on to their mommy bells when they're young!" I explained giggling the whole way through.
"Well your new resting place is The Hyuga Compound Yukari-chan." Without my noticing kakashi had somehow made it all the way to the door. "Haishi has generously offered you a place to stay since you are Hinata's training partner."
I blinked stupidly for a moment. And then, "ROOMY!" I yelled jumping onto a terrified Hinata.
------------------------------- ------------------------------ --------------------------------------
Yukari under the influence was a scary albeit slightly hilarious thing.
Haishi, was going to have fun greeting his new resident.
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Once upon a time, in Isa Japan The Irenara's had been happy. They were a quiet little family, three children and content loving parents.
Once upon a time, in Isa Japan, the Hanram's had been happy. They were a quiet little family, one child, and the sweetest parents one could ever dream of.
Once upon a time, in Toba Japan, The Saga's had been happy. They were a quiet little family, two children and caring parents
Once upon a happier time…
And then the clouds came…
For the Irenara's it was slow. They crumbled away in agony like stone beneath harsh waves. Alcoholic episodes gone arye, not knowing the difference between having nothing to live for and wanting to die, Family, blood, tearstearstears.
For the Hanram's it was quick. They toppled down like a sad little house of cards. Fire raging, roaring, raising, screaming, building collapsing. Lost, alone, fearfearfear.
For the Saga's it was subtle. The shift of dulling eyes as all the soul escaped. A touch missed here, a thought longed for there. Alienation, revulsion, denialdenialdenial
Once upon a tragedy
And then they found each other
Saga met Irenara first. The day he saved her, helped her escape. She breathed life back into him; being with her was like living again and in return he'd see her cry and gain her trust and watch her morph, become truly jaded.
Irenara met Hanram next. The accident that revealed a savior, a little less pure, a little more dark, a protector she'd be indebted to forever.
Hanram met Saga last. And the chaos that ensued was greater than Irenara knew, could ever have guessed. Neither willing to retreat and through similarities they found a compromise.
Once upon an Illusion
The prince was never coming, and maybe sleeping beauty was dead
Sad little patchwork quilts
Whom found an impossible happiness, not quite real, but not fake either. Like an illusion of sweet honey that cloaked their sad little world.
And they danced to sweet sweet misery
While all around them their world was burning
Inseparable.
Irenara, Hanram, and Saga
Yukari, Kanoke, and Tanner
And they left him behind…
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AN: Finally finished. The hospital scene was my favorite since I juuuust wrote it. It was sooo much fun to write. I know this chapter was choppy and dramatic and still somehow boring but I hope the hospital scene makes up for it cuz this is the best version of chapter twelve there was and I am personally ready to move on thanks!
ALEX: I have no way to reach you. Did you know that? I'm not trying to be rude and I love your Tourettes Guy quotes but I can't respond cuz you don't review under an account. Anywho, you're reviews have really helped me get this done, cuz I felt bad. Every time a got a review and I was all like, 'Gahhh must update.' So for anyone else whose reading this. You owe Alex. Haha ^-^
Next Time On, F ck, I Think My TV's Broken: Settling in, avoiding Sasuke, terrifying fan girls, the Hyuga Compound, a couple healthy fillers, here come the Chunin Exams and then! Drum roll please. PANDA-CHAN! Next Time in Chapter 13: Knife Called Lust. Please review!