Oh gosh, all this waiting for submitting updates is killing me. I barely have time to write around a paragraph a day. writing a story is hard work. But I would like to thank all of you guys for reading and patiently waiting on me. (: I'm hoping updating will definitely get faster.
Oh it has already been a month since I began writing this story! Happy monthaversary!
EternallyFaithful correctly guessed chapter 13 and her amazing character will appear next chapter, I promise (:
Chapters 6,7,9,10,11,12, and this one are still up for the contest!
Contest in place: If you have noticed that my story title and chapter names are songs, then try and guess the artist.
If correct, I will either make you a character in my story or write a story about your character or write a one-shot or any request similar to those. Or you can just guess for the hell of it.
The sun shone brightly, blistering my skin. The day was too bright in contrast with my mood. Annoyed, frustrated, sore, and guilty. I tried walking straight, my head held high, but I always found myself staring determinedly at the ground. Kids ran past me, shouting and playing games. I stopped, turned and watched them longingly.
I ached for that time again. The time where you can run around and play without a worry in the world. Too bad worry seemed to follow me everywhere I went.
Sweat dripped down my back, wetting the bandages around my chest and left shoulder. It was irritating. I continued walking, grumbling. What the hell was I thinking, "Promise me, you won't forget me." I mean, I sounded like I was in a dramatic chick flick. I rolled my shoulders, grunting in slight pain. With all these injuries, I feel like an old hag.
I sighed, greeting Emi as she fell in step beside me. Looking in her eyes, I saw sympathy and guilt. She felt terrible for what went wrong on the mission and wished she went.
She opened her mouth, face set in a concerned expression, "I.."
I waved a hand, brushing it off. "I'm alive, aren't I?"
Emi nodded, recognizing my forgiveness and thankful it didn't need to be expressed verbally. "That is the only mission you will ever go on without me." She confirmed with me, expressing both of our future fears.
I sent her a small grin, extending my arm forward gesturing for her to go through the office door first.
She led me down familiar hallways and stopped short at the Hokage's office. Her eyes met mine, full of worry. "Are you ready?" She took my hand in hers and squeezed at my nod. With a sigh, she knocked and entered, me in tow.
With my first step in, I immediately felt uncomfortable. Squads of ANBU members were grouped strategically around the room. Their masked faces glared down at me, harshly carven. I looked for a familiar face, finding comfort in Emi, the Hokage, and my father. Instantaneously, Kakashi was by my side, murmuring words of comfort, petting my hair. Just a father expressing his worry.
However, my comfort was not for long.
"We need those memories Roran." The Hokage spoke slowly, stressing the importance of Shigeo's memories.
I agreed. These memories haunted me and kept appearing before my vision, as though they wanted to tell me something. One flashed before my eyes, revealing a young Itachi. The way I remembered him before he left. I inhaled suddenly, alerting the ANBU of reluctance. One member crossed his arms, shifting his weight on one of his legs. I realized then that the memories needed to be viewed by me instead of my abilities be used completely for another's own gain.
Changing the topic, I untied my headband from my neck, accidentally knocking of my beanie. Kakashi swooped down, picking it up and placed it back on my head. Holding my headband up, I pointed to a small insignia that randomly appeared after my mission.
The Hokage bowed his head in recognition, no question to answer what I wanted to ask. "The Mirror of Matsuyama." He spoke gravely.
"This is your clan's symbol for many reasons. You do know the folklore, correct?"
I nodded, remembering the tale. A mirror that steps through the realm of death to view loved departed ones.
"The mirror was taken as the symbol because you can view destroyed memories from dead targets. The mirror only appears after you first destroy a human's most sacred being: their mind and memory. With each more you destroy, the mirror will become more filled out. You have had one, signifying the mirror's faint outlines. Eventually it will become darker until you reach a certain number, which is only known to the clan."
I brushed my bangs out my face, clearing my vision from red wisps to the kind old man's face. "So, it's like a rite of passage within my clan?"
He nodded, closing his eyes. Smoke from his pipe wafted through the air. The annoyed ANBU from earlier leaned down and whispered in his ear.
I don't like that guy. He knows I'm biding my time here.
Proving my thoughts correct, the Hokage cleared his throat. "Now, little Rory-chan, these memories." I smiled at the mention of my nickname but grimaced at his request.
Shakingly, I asked, "Can I have a moment?" I tried to portray an image of myself. One that is afraid, shaken up, and terrified, felling the mission's aftershock.
It worked. The Hokage smiled, encouragingly, accepting my condition.
Quickly, I immersed myself in Shigeo's memories. I saw his beginning, middle, and end. Despite seeing myself murder him, a middle memory put me in shock.
It was years before now, an ANBU group was positioned alongside the town elders. I found myself in the same room my original body was in. Itachi stood, emotionless, dressed in his uniform. His eyes passively swept across the room. "You understand what this means, correct?" Itachi nodded slightly, wisps of black hair flying in his vision. The Hokage sighed very deeply, "Itachi, I am very.." He was cut off abruptly by the cold reply of the teen. "Business is business. If this I what I must do for my village, then so be it." Itachi's voice grew softer suddenly. "Just not Sasuke…"
I was thrown out of the memory by a touch on my shoulder. I recognized the touch as Kakashi's. But it was too late, I had seen everything I once ached to know.
Fear squeezed my gut as I slowly registered the truth. I trudged forward to the Hokage's desk. I gripped the edges, my knuckles slowly turning white from the pressure. I tilted my head looking up at the wise, kind old man. Or so I had thought.
Noticing an open window behind him, I spoke faintly, "Is this all we are to you? To the village? Mere tools?" I pushed all of Shigeo's memories out of my head, filling up the space of the office. Collective gasps were heard as the memories began to override each individual. I glanced back, seeing the mental struggles of consciousness versus memories. My strength equipped with the memories allowed the Uchiha incident memory to be shown without interruption.
I ran over to the window, leaping on the sill. "People should always know the truth."
My feet landed softly, my body crouched low. I pushed forward, exploding into a sprint, aware I might have chasers in a few moments.
People blurred around me, different faces, different stories. At the moment, I only cared to see one person: Sasuke.