"We will spare you. If you hand over the blade and girl."
The words echoes in Sasuke's mind, they whizzing round like angry hornets. Without realising his eyes wandered to the young heiress, her stature resembled a marble statue; her skin possessed no rosiness or sign of health instead she had a look of pure horror splashed across her features. Her gold orbs met his crimson ones. At first he did not understand her expression; she looked up at him from beneath her lashes whilst her cheeks had a tautness to them as if she was holding back her words.
Then he realised- she was waiting for him to make a decision.
If he had experienced this predicament months ago he wouldn't have hesitated in the slightest in giving the wild women what they wanted- within reason that was. Earlier on he would have handed Reina over to them and not lost a wink of sleep over the matter. However things were different this time around. Reina was now family to him. He had taken a step in the right direction the moment he encountered her in his room that night; if he were to give her up now then all of their, her efforts, would have been for nothing. Itachi would be alive, that is if the Shikome kept their word. But Sasuke knew that Itachi would not want to live a life without her. He could see the connection the pair had, regardless of the indenture that bound them.
They were meant for one another.
Itachi had given everything up for Sasuke, so for him to take away one of the only things that mattered to him was out of the question. He had turned over a new leaf and was determined to see that his brother had a shot of happiness. Shisui too stared at the young heiress, scrutinising her expression. If it came down to it he had a feeling she would hand herself over- a final act of selflessness. His eyes drifted between Reina and the younger Uchiha, it was obvious to him that Sasuke was deep in cogitation. As a child Sasuke was known for his short temper and acute impulsiveness; even now Shisui could see the cogs rotating in his mind as he planned his next move whilst his grip on the kusanagi sword tightened.
Shisui knew he was the only one whose fate was inescapable. His destiny was finite. The others on the other hand had a chance to escape the hellish land they momentarily resided in. In that very moment in time, Shisui was the hand that could tip the scale; once again his actions could have a significant impact on the forthcoming events – it was the butterfly effect. It's said that with a single flutter of a butterfly's wings a catalyst occurs, sometimes causing catastrophic damage. But this time around Shisui was going to make sure that a second tragedy didn't transpire, this time around he was going to make sure he made a difference, for his friends, for his family.
"Are you really going to let them go? They don't deserve to be spared!" Deidara roared, his single eye wide with anger. With clenched fists his entire body shook whilst everyone looked on in shock; they had not expected the young blonde to erupt as he did. Their very presence obviously antagonised him- he was livid. And Shisui planned to use it to their advantage.
"Please, we could be out of here in the blink of an eye whilst you would still be fiddling with your clay like the child you are." Shisui remarked slyly, a glint igniting in his scarlet orbs as his grip on the katana slackened mockingly. The group stared wide eyed at the sudden bravado the elder Uchiha was conducting; Deidara however was oblivious to the change in character, like the eyes of his enemies all Deidara could see was red. It was not the tsukuyomi technique, it was pure anger. Shisui smirked darkly- he had him exactly where he wanted him. Itachi stared at his friend, he knew what he was doing; once again his best friend, his brother was sacrificing himself.
And it killed him.
"You arrogant bastard!" Without a second thought Deidara thrust his hands into the pouches of explosive clay, his hands immediately setting to work on the malleable substance, moulding it until satisfied it would make a deadly impact. Before the clay had the chance to leave the pouch Deidara found himself face to face with Shisui, the elder Uchiha having appeared directly in front of him in the blink of an eye. Everyone was stunned, wide eyed at Shisui's inhuman speed; Itachi however was hot on his heels, his heart reeling as he fled towards his friend.
Everything moved in slow motion, with an outstretched hand Reina cried out in objection, pure horror etched onto her pallid face as Itachi darted from her side. The Shikome were wild once more, their narrow lips twisted into fierce snarls as they shrieked and flayed about as the disruptions around them escalated. From the corner of his eye Sasuke spotted the pale fabric of Itachi's kimono, it billowing with each step he took towards Shisui; he knew what he was about to do would wound his brother, but he had no other choice. Before the explosion rang through the air Sasuke grabbed Itachi's sleeve, the fabric bundled in an iron like grip; swiftly Sasuke manoeuvred his sword in hand and with one rapid movement thrust the hilt into Itachi's abdomen rendering him momentarily stunned as he doubled over from the sudden blow.
Itachi coughed, his breaths spluttered as any air that once inhabited his lungs was forcefully removed; in any other instance Sasuke would not have made contact with his brother, but this was not any other instance. This was Shisui. His best friend in the entire world. And he was about to lose him all over again.
Shisui smiled over at Itachi and Sasuke, the allure of his previous actions and attitude having dissipated as quickly as they came. The expression on his face was soft, yet his eyes held an emotion that was beyond words, but the group knew it was a farewell and that no words could dissuade him from his decision. Sasuke held onto his brother tightly, the resistance he once displayed replaced with an overwhelming feeling of defeat. Itachi could feel his heart wrench in is chest, once again he had failed to save his friend. Once again it was his friend who had saved him. And once again he felt useless and utterly powerless.
And once again Shisui disappeared with a smile still on his face.
The explosion was unlike anything they had ever seen before. Initially the light that ignited from Shisui and Deidara was bright white, so bright in fact it was blinding- pure white. The light itself was peaceful, it somewhat welcoming as it enveloped everything around it; but the tranquillity was short lived. After the initial glare subsided it was replaced with a darker colour as smoke and fire exploded aggressively knocking over anything and anyone that dared to be in the vicinity. The sheer intensity of the blast sent Sasuke and Itachi backwards, they flying through the air with a feeling of weightlessness overcoming their bodies.
But the feeling was short lived when they made impact with the floor.
The pair had been thrown a great distance, their bodies colliding and tumbling along the ground like a toy thrown by a child. The incessant ringing had invaded their ears for the countless time in such a short period; it was so disorientating, the high pitch of the tone rang about whilst their eyes attempted to adjust to the scene before them. Everything in the area was stained black, the remnants of the explosion having coated everything it could get its hands on. The occasional flame sizzled on the tips of branches whilst smoke still clouded the region; it was hard to breathe, every breath they took coated their throats and stung their eyes. Hastily Itachi pushed himself from the hard ground, his kimono torn and tarnished; he was frantic despite the hard look that occupied his face. Sasuke too stood up, his eyes still alight as his sharingan sort tirelessly for Shisui and Reina.
But when the smoke cleared and they were able to see the full extent of the damage. They knew that Shisui was indeed gone, Deidara having disappeared along with him. It was only then that they both realised something.
Reina was nowhere to be seen.
The Shikome however…
Everywhere was quiet almost verging on silent bar the soothing hush of the breeze that danced through the petals of nearby sakura trees. The petals once roused from their branchy home would flitter through the air gracefully, they resembling the first fall of snow in winter as they settled on the ground; which was peculiar as winter already had a firm grip on the world yet the petals still adorned the trees. Some of the petals did not land on the ground some found themselves delicately dancing on the lake water's edge reminiscent of the yata no kagami. The lake top, like that of the mythical mirror, reflected everything that surrounded it, from the clouds that lulled about languidly to the proud structure of the pavilion house that stood on the edge of the enticing waters.
Beneath the clear waters swam koi of every colour and size, their scales dotted with dark markings like ink bleeding on fabric. They would often swim together in groups, they gliding through the water effortlessly without disrupting the surface. It was only when the falling petals met the cool body of liquid that the still waters would ripple before returning to its former state as if nothing had happened. The majority of the koi housed themselves near the pavilion house, settling beneath the pavilion's engawa, the wooden walkway that ran along the entire perimeter of the building.
The pavilion itself was small and somewhat homely, the dark ebony floorboards were covered by an array of coloured cushions; the cushions themselves lay on top of a padded futon, the fabric soft and inviting. However Reina did not need an invitation to lie amongst the silk laden cushions, she was already amidst them sleeping soundly, completely unaware of her surroundings. Unlike in yomi her form had a healthy glow, her fears and anxieties having somehow melted away leaving her dreaming form peaceful and seemingly at ease. Her cheeks had a rosiness to them again, whilst her lips resembled the blossom petals that fell around her.
Her body didn't ache like she expected it to, she expected pain to hit her from every angle at any given moment: but nothing came. Instead all she felt was a sense of warmth and comfort as she nuzzled further into cushions and sighed softly. Yet something at the back of her mind stopped her from falling further into slumber as past events came creeping back to the forefront of her mind. It was then that her eyelids fluttered open only to close momentarily due to the sheer brightness of the light; it was not the same light that had first blinded her, this light had a warmth to it, it was not harsh or invasive like the latter.
Reina eased herself up from the comforts of the futon and cushions, shielding her eyes as they adjusted to light. The first thing that caught her attention was her attire. She no longer wore her usual wardrobe, instead she found herself dressed in an elaborate kimono, it incomparable to any she had seen in her life. The kimono itself was a junihitoe, a kimono so elegant and complex it was reserved only for those who attended the court of the emperor. The word itself meant 'twelve-layer robe', each individual layer more intricate and elaborate then the next. The overall colour scheme of the fabric consisted of rich reds and decadent damasks, the most outer layer embroidered with luxurious gilded silk that accentuated her golden orbs.
As expected her movements were laboured due to the sheer amount of fabric that covered her body; she felt like a puppet, each slight shift in weight stiff and wooden as she ushered herself forward towards the edge of the pavilion walkway. Holding onto the edge Reina leaned over, her eyes widening at the lively lake-life that lay beneath the cerulean waters. With her dark locks no longer woven in a braid they fell freely wherever they pleased, the occasional lock dancing in the breeze. Without thinking Reina reached out for the water, her fingertips briefly brushing over the water's surface before the residing koi nipped at her fingers playfully, they obviously expecting a feed. A smile had found its way onto her lips, the sense of ease enveloping her entire body before a voice shook her from her thoughts.
"I think I feed them too much – they're getting fat." Reina jumped as the voice resonated from beside her; instinctively she lashed out in defence, her actions easily subdued by the stranger. Wide eyed she gazed up at person who had snuck up on her without even the slightest indication and caught her wrist with such ease. It unnerved her. She expected the person to retaliate violently to her actions, but they did no such thing. The young man before her simply smiled, his eyes holding a playfulness that unsettled her already skittish stomach.
"Who are you? And how did I get here?" Reina probed, testing the waters with her newfound companion; she was in a strange place, it couldn't possibly be yomi. But then if not, where exactly was she? So many questions were flying through her mind all at once, it was disorientating to say the least. Yet the main question that was gnawing away at her was: was he friend or foe?
The young man's smile widened further upon hearing the words leave her lips; he released her hand gently, his hold on her having never exceeded placid. He was dressed immaculately. The darkness of his kimono juxtaposed the paleness of his skin however it was his eyes that immediately caught Reina's attention- they were as golden as hers. The young man appeared to be a few years her senior, the only wrinkles that seemingly graced his porcelain skin was that of the smile lines that resided either side of his lips. For what seemed the longest of moments he did not speak, he merely leaned against the end post of the pavilion, idly trailing his fingers long the water's edge.
"I am…someone who has been watching you closely all these years. And here? Here is somewhere very special, not many have been permitted here." He spoke frivolously his eyes trailing from the sloshing water back to Reina, his eyes twinkling with an unspoken joke. Reina furrowed her brows in confusion, the feeling in her stomach had not settled and his words offered her no comfort whatsoever. Noting her confusion the young man chuckled, the sound rumbling in his throat. He brought up his knee from its sitting position, swathing his arm across the joint in one swift and oddly elegant motion. There was something about this man that fired her curiosity; he spoke in riddles and retained an elegance that rivalled the most talented geishas.
"I'm sorry but I don't have time for ambiguity I need to get back to~"
"Back to who?" The gold orbed man interjected, his eyes alight. Reina's eyes widened in shock at his abruptness; she edged away as discretely as she could whilst he simply continued to stare at her. "Back to the Uchiha siblings?" He susurrated lowly, his tone rising in question along with a singular brow. Reina felt her stomach drop. How could he possibly know? Just who exactly was he? She felt her back graze against the opposite foundation post, her hands unable to grip the wooden floor as the clamminess continued to envelope her palms.
"Don't look so worried Reina, I mean neither you nor the Uchiha brothers any harm whatsoever. In fact it's quite the opposite really – I brought you here to keep you and your child safe." The playfulness of his past words had dissipated, they replaced with a softer more sincere tone. Reina felt a lump form at the back of her throat; her mouth became parched as she attempted to accumulate some sort of dialogue. But to her dismay nothing appeared. Seeing her already fragile form fall into a state of panic the young man raised his hand in a small wave motion, the sound of quiet thumps soon approaching in the distance.
As the dull thumps grew louder Reina found herself transfixed on the narrow hallway; it did not take long before a small white bundle came into view, its movements light and nimble despite the quiet thuds. It was only when the little bundle was perched directly in front of her that a light bulb turned on in her head. The little white bundle was a white rabbit. The Jade Rabbit to be exact.
"Tsuki no Usagi." Reina murmured absentmindedly, transfixed as the tiny white rabbit bowed before her courteously, its jade orbs standing out against its snowy fur. Returning to its hind legs the rabbit stood still before thumping one of its back legs, a cloud of pale smoke appearing suddenly with a quiet pop. Reina blinked in surprise as the smoke cleared it revealing a miniature pestle and mortar; taking the pestle between its paws the rabbit began grinding and mixing random items together that it had somehow accrued.
As the rabbit worked away the gold eyed male watched Reina quietly noting the inquisitiveness that had replaced the apprehension that previously resided there. He smiled to himself. She looked so much like her mother; bar the freckles that were splashed upon her skin and the honey hue that occupied her irises, Reina was the image of Natsuko. But it was the darkness of her hair against the paleness of her skin that accentuated her resemblance of her father Taimu. She had also inherited his smile, for it was kind and radiated a warmth that could reach the blackest of hearts.
Then again, despite the placidness that oozed from her aura he knew there was a fire inside her. It was this resolve that had kept her alive during this whole ordeal- but he could see the fire within her beginning to dwindle. It was not her determination for that was burning brighter than ever, it was the retainer of her fortitude that was beginning to falter.
And it worried him.
"Reina." The raven-haired male interjected breaking the silence between them; tearing her eyes away from the working rabbit Reina stared up at the unnamed man nothing the sombre look that had suddenly washed upon his features. "I want you to return home. I don't want you looking for the Uchiha Brother's again- do you understand?" His words although temperate held an underlying command to them, his brows knitted together in a stern expression. Reina parted her lips to speak, to object to his words yet nothing passed them. It took a few moments before Reina responded, her own expression equally as stern.
"Why should I? I'm sorry but you have no right or authority to tell me what to do regarding my choices. You're not my Father." Her last words made her sound like a rebellious child who has an issue with authority but it was far from the case. The gold orb male simply scoffed, murmuring a quiet 'thank you' to the white rabbit who handed him a cup containing the fruits of its labour. He inhaled the sweet aroma then took a dainty sip, savouring the flavours before replying.
"But I am the moon deity who is responsible for saving your life so I believe that gives me some precedence do you not think?"
"Excuse me?" The words had slipped from her mouth before she had a chance to process them.