The heavens have darkened, granting the little diamond specks permission to materialise across an endless stretch of velvet sky. Along with its illuminating counterpart is the light of a remote half-moon, peeking out from amiable looking clouds.
Rin is standing by a waterfall, heavily mesmerised by the soft sound of falling water as she attempts to numb the events of today. Her thoughts have become so disorderly and so unpleasant, she half-wishes she could crawl into her muse and manually shut off all those overactive cells. But there is only so much she can manipulate with chakra.
Averting upwards, she stares to pinpoint the waterfall's origin, but a tuft of cloud fogs her vision a quarter way up, an indicator that the waterfall is immense in height.
And she removes her sandals so her feet can absorb the cool placid waters. She sits atop a rocky surface by the bank, staring out into the exuberant pool of aqua as the sweet gushing sounds fill the empty spaces of her mind.
I don't belong here. I was supposed to be dead. Remind me why I'm here again?
"Your memories," her conscience says.
Is this the sole reason for my existence?
But has her reason changed? If she had the opportunity to turn back time, would she refuse her master's deal? Would she give up everything she lived for in the past seventeen years? All her experiments, saving her master's devoted subjects, but more importantly, give up the opportunity to have met Tobi? Those worthwhile moments she had with him, moments of freedom, fondness and devotion, was it worth the heartache and emotional turmoil?
"Is this really what my life has whittled down to? A bunch of old memories and Tobi?" she mutters miserably, and she lets the water bury her calves.
It is a glorious sensation, like the water's mystique is drowning away her sorrows, her thoughts and all the heartache that has been building up inside her for so many long years.
Under the sky's illumination, she notices faint grey-black lines scattered across the surface of her water immersed legs. She has not seen them since the other night they transpired, but as she lifts her legs from the water, it slowly recedes into her skin. It does not return when she plunges her legs into the pool again.
"I knew I'd find you here," says a deep voice.
A moment's pause and her body freezes, her resemblance to a human statue is impeccable. Then she lets out a frightened squeak before jumping guardedly from her sitting position. When the realisation strikes that it is Tobi, she collapses to the ground in relief.
"What are you doing here?," she asks stiffly, and her eyes are narrowing in caution.
He comes to sit beside her, his arm lightly resting on his knee as he gazes at the smooth fall of water.
"Is it not obvious?" He answers lightly.
"How did you find me?"
Her tone is oddly high, as if there is an unconscious air of wariness that is attached to her question. Self-consciously she brings both knees to her chest before wrapping her arms around them.
"I have my sources," he replies evasively, and she shoots him a contemptuous glance before tightening the grip around her body.
"What do you want?" she asks dismissively.
There is a moment's silence as he seemingly contemplates her question.
"For someone who was supposed to aid us in the capture of the three tails, you did a sensational job," he says sarcastically.
"You captured it?" she asks, surprised.
"Yes."
She turns away, a surge of guilt permeating her insides. She wish she did not succumb to desire so easily, the weakness breaks her.
No, I cannot be here. I will not let him manipulate me. I will not allow these forbidden feelings to resurface!
Gritting her teeth and forcibly swallowing back the imminent danger that is desire, she stands to leave.
"Where are you going?" Tobi asks without looking at her.
"Away from you," she answers pointedly.
"Sit back down. You're not going anywhere," he says with a sudden low and dangerous tone.
"And if I refuse?"
"I'll kill you," he replies discordantly.
