Chapter Nine
Waking up in a paper shroud and buried 6 feet under did not do a girl justice. Of course they wouldn't have buried me if I wasn't dead completely which made me slightly apprehensive about returning to my idiots. Honest mistake right? I didn't like the fact that I also had to die just to get that damn seal off me. I looked at my hand once more only to see it blank. No invading chakra making me feel mental or any pulses of addictive chakra flooded my system.
What was new was the way my body felt now. I rubbed my fingers against my hands on both sides feeling a new softness to my skin. I clenched my hands feeling my muscles draw tight. I felt different, everything felt different.
"You okay?" Karasu asked. I lifted my head feeling dirt and dust fly up. I coughed before answering.
"I feel fine." I kept rubbing my fingers against my skin. "It's just… weird."
"Yeah sometimes when your soul leaves your body and then returns everything feels weird. Your body has been reconstructed to 'alive' status and is now 'dead'. Good news, you don't need to sleep anymore and you won't age."
"I'm still able to die?" I asked looking up at him. He nodded.
"I'll explain more on that later but for now we should get you out of the dirt and into a shower. No doubt you also need to change clothes."
"No shit." I deadpanned. I got up easily, almost gracefully, until I took my first step when I wobbled and almost slipped on grass. "Dammit."
"You good?" Karasu chuckled. I sent him a dark glare. He continued snickering anyway. "It'll probably be easier for you to sneak back into the base and get some clothes from your room instead of us stealing some for you."
"They saw me die." I pointed out skeptically. "Won't that be suspicious?"
"You're part Reaper. I think that covers everything you need to discuss. And if not then just tell them it was a stasis jutsu that your kekkei genkei put you in while your body healed." I nodded. That was a half- assed excuse but it was all I could think of myself. A part of me wanted to see Itachi and Sasori but the other part of me wasn't so sure. I didn't like being so unsure.
At Karasu's insistence I walked until I found the entrance. Karasu shadowed me from behind not saying anything but watching over me. I stumbled into the opening door and hopped down, landing lightly on the floor below. There were no sounds as I walked down the hallway into the common room. It still looked the same with the same take-out boxes thrown everywhere. The sound of rustling had me tensing up in fear.
Konan entered the common room looking like she would kick my ass when she saw me and froze. Her eyes were wide in shock. My eyesight seemed to flicker as I caught sight of a light blue light surrounding Konan's figure. It kind of looked like her aura but there was little pictures inside it that moved, like a movie.
"You should say something." Karasu stated, nudging me forward. "She may think your checking her out." That snapped me out of it.
"You ass." I hissed at him before turning to Konan and spoke quickly and quietly. "I know I died a couple days back but can we talk about that after a shower? I have dirt and mud in places you wouldn't believe."
"Pein was right." She murmured.
"Eh?" I asked, trying to clean dirt out of my ears. "Did Leader-sama expect this? Because if so the burying me thing was so not needed and very traumatizing." Konan smiled at me while her eyes looked suspiciously watery.
"We hoped since you were part Reaper you would come back but we weren't sure." I nodded slowly.
"That still doesn't justify burying me." Konan laughed.
"You should shower. I will let Pein know you are back. He will want to talk to you."
"Of course." Slowly so as not to startle her I walked over and gave her a hug that she returned. She patted my head and smiled as dirt came out. I sneezed. "Yeah I'm going to shower. Where are the guys?" I asked before I could forget.
"They've been in their rooms for the past few days. They didn't take you death well." Konan answered. "Pein and I didn't tell them of there being a possibility of you coming back in case it wasn't true."
"I understand. I'll meet you guys in a few minutes."
The shower was nice and warm compared to the cold, chakra laced rain from outside. I was hesitant to get out but I needed to talk with Leader-sama about potentially leaving Akatsuki. I didn't want to but Tsukikage's last words kept ringing in my ears.
"Feel better?" Karasu asked when nI exited, fully dressed from the bathroom.
"No muddy clothes and dirt in my hair so that's a plus." I answered. "Why are you following me though?"
"Hey until we set foot in the Reaper Society I am you and Akira's guardian, guide and potential tutor. Besides, the last time I left you, you went and died on me." I rolled my eyes. Another question hit me.
"Can they see you?"
"Not unless I want them to. And I currently do not want to be seen by them."
"So I am essentially talking to no one?" Karasu gasped.
"I'll have you know I have feelings." Weirdo.
"Sorry." Karasu waved the apology away.
"No the damage has been done! I am only a figment of your brain." I rolled my eyes and started to leave. "Hey don't leave me here." I didn't answer him as we walked down the hall past the rooms of the other Akatsuki. Hard to believe they didn't know I was here, walking not ten feet outside their doors.
Leader-sama was in his office with Tobi and Konan waiting for me when I entered.
"Akana, it is good to see you alive."
"Yeah, waking up buried 6 feet under really makes it all better." Leader-sama rolled his eyes at my dramatics. I had to smile. "How long was I dead?"
"About 2 days."
"Most Reapers don't come back until they've been dead at least a week. You got off lucky." Karasu stated. I nodded.
"Tobi is glad Akana-chan is okay." Tobi stated. "Tobi has never heard of anyone coming back from the dead before."
"Thanks." I briefly had a flash of Tobi's aura. It was darker than the light blue of Konan's but nearer the skin was the blue that I was starting to think of as 'good intentions'. I may have been wrong but that was my impression. "Wow your aura is… um big?"
"Nice save kid." Karasu said in my ear. I frowned before looking at Leader-sama, ignoring Karasu for now.
"Are you well?" Leader-sama asked.
"I am fine but I have a request." He indicated me to go ahead. "I wish to leave Akatsuki, temporarily of course. I have some business I need to complete with my family members."
"I would like you to report on your last days in Konoha." He ordered. I nodded.
"Thanks to the seal that Orochimaru placed on me my mental and physical self was compromised with dark energy. I apologize for challenging you my lord." He nodded. "During the month while I awaited the last exam for the Chuunin Exams, I explored Konoha extensively as a tourist and even managed to explore the walls when I was able to escape from my ANBU tail. I can give you a detailed map of their defenses later. Orochimaru was in league with Suna to overthrow the Hokage, I doubt Suna knew that Orochimaru had slain the Kazekage prior to their invasion and as such Orochimaru was able to effectively isolate the Third Hokage and kill him. Due to the seal's effects I assisted in that murder and followed Orochimaru's commands effortlessly. The Third Hokage summoned a Reaper Lord using a forbidden jutsu and the Lord freed my from Orochimaru temporarily bringing sanity to me again. I left the scene before any Konoha shinobi was aware I was involved. I remained under the radar until I left Konoha."
"And the day you left? Why did you leave before Itachi and Kisame got there?" Leader-sama asked.
"I apologize about that my lord. I was expecting Kisame and Itachi a few days prior to my departure and when they failed to arrive I assumed they had been held up. It was my plan to meet at the back-up location to await them as my visa had expired. On the way to the back-up location I encountered Kabuto Yakushi. He had apparently held a grudge against me for making sarcastic and belittling comments against his 'Lord'. He hunted me down as I was not using any chakra due to the previous instance in case Orochimaru may have been hiding in wait to ambush my allegiance. Unfortunately he wounded me with a chakra scalpel he was able to form that did damage not onto to my physical self but to my chakra as well. I was unable to heal and slowly bled out. I believe I poisoned him but at that point I was very disoriented and confused. I have no memory of what transpired after this." Leader-sama nodded, absorbing all I had told him.
"The seal is gone." Konan stated. I held up my hand.
"When I died, the seal thankfully died as I did. When I returned it did not. So good things came out of my death."
"Itachi and Kisame found you and brought you back. Kisame stated he finished Kabuto off while Itachi was bandaging your wounds. When they brought you back you were near death and had to be resuscitated multiple times before finally dying. I was unsure about the scrolls I obtained from your families ruins and was unsure if you would come back. As such I allowed those who tried to save you to mourn before Konan and Kakuzu buried you."
"Still salty about that by the way." I took a deep breath. "One other thing, while I was in Konoha, I ran into another Reaper. He was very confused about my state of existence and my sisters and did not understand how the two of us were able to exist, let alone see him when most or all of Shinobi are unable to. He wasn't able to to come back to answer our questions as he was currently on an assignment but he did send another Reaper. His name is Karasu and he was advised," He snorted. "To tutor, guide and answer our questions. He was with me when I came back and he's still here. He's going to take me to where I need to go." All three of them looked around the room. "He doesn't like to be seen but he's here."
"And how long do you anticipate being gone?" Konan asked, no doubt unnerved that there was someone in the room that could potentially kill them at any moment. I appreciate her effort though.
"Maybe a year or two, depending on how you do with the training." Karasu answered. I nodded.
"Karasu anticipated 2 years, maybe less."
"Tobi, Konan will you leave us?" Leader-sama ordered.
"Of course." Konan answered already heading to the door.
"Yay Tobi can go talk to Deidera-senpai." Before Tobi left I turned.
"Tobi, I need to talk to you before I leave."
"Tobi will be waiting for Akana-chan in the hall." He answered before closing the door with a firm snap.
"Well this doesn't sound good." Karasu murmured. Leader-sama continued as if he hadn't heard my request from Tobi. I guess that was good.
"If your plan is to leave Akatsuki, I suggest we not tell the others that you are alive." Leader-sama's plan had me reeling.
"B-But wouldn't me being alive be a good thing for them to hear?" I asked.
"In normal circumstances, maybe. But you also have to think of this from a different angle Akana. You died under their care. They watched the life leave your body and sat with you for hours in despair. When Konan and Kakuzu took you away to bury you Itachi isolated himself to his room and Sasori attempted to restrain Konan. If they learned you were alive that would no doubt be a miracle to them yes, but if you tell them you want to leave for 2 years?"
"But they would know I was alive!" I argued. "If Itachi is isolating himself the guilt and heart ache-"
"He is a shinobi. He murdered his entire family in one night, he will get over your death. As will Sasori."
"Leader-sama I don't-"
"Those are the conditions for you to leave Akatsuki. You can leave but they will not know of your continued existence. When you return in two years then will know then." Leader-sama's voice was hard. I didn't want to argue or challenge him but I also didn't feel comfortable with this.
'You are a Reaper, embrace it.' That same damn voice had anger and helplessness rising in me. I hated the situation and I hated myself.
"Okay. They will not know I am alive. I will return in two years. I hope you know what you're doing Leader-sama." He nodded.
"You may leave Akana, daughter of Akatsuki." His added affection was like salt in the wound. I bowed and turned away. Once we were in the hall Karasu whistled.
"All things considered, that went better than planned."
"How in the world is that easier?" I asked as water started to fill my vision. I took a deep breath and rubbed my eyes. "Itachi is probably beating himself up for not saving me and Sasori, god if he saw me die after working to save me…" I stopped.
"They did try and save you." Karasu put a hand on my shoulder. "I watched them. But I also agree with your 'leader'. If you worked to save them but then told them you had to leave for two years, they would worry constantly. And the worrying would cost them a mistake."
"I hate it. I wish I hadn't died." Karasu sighed and nudged me on. We had to leave the base before the others became aware I was here.
"Think about the pros. You don't have that disgusting seal on you anymore. Your body is more durable to death. Not to mention you are faster and will no longer age."
"The cons outweigh the pros Karasu. I love them all. They may be villains to their respective villages, but to me, they're the only family I know."
"What about Akira?"
"We may be twins, but Akira and I aren't exactly close. We have differing ideals."
"Speaking of, how dare you inform him about my existence." Karasu stated. "Shinobi shouldn't be aware of our existence." I appreciated his topic change and responded in kind.
"I wasn't going to lie to them, especially if they see me arguing with myself when I'm really arguing with you. That kind of screams 'she's crazy'." I hissed. "I've already been feeling crazy with seeing the orbs and shadow people and hearing the whispers at night."
"Those orbs are souls waiting to be taken to the next plane. The shadow people you see are souls who refused to be taken to their afterlife, whether they were a good person or not, they chose to remain. And the whispering at night thing does seem kind of crazy." Karasu stated. I gave him a dull look. "What about him." I turned to see Tobi leaning against the wall.
"Hello Tobi." I greeted softly.
"Fake name." Karasu snorted. I frowned, narrowing my eyes at the aura around Tobi and seeing the pictures.
"That's not your real name is it, Obito?" I said aloud. When Tobi answered his voice was darker and more menacing.
"I see death gave you additional information."
"Among other things. I don't really care about that at the moment though. I have a favor to ask of you."
"What favor would you dare ask of me?" Tobi asked. KI was pressing on me from all sides but interestingly, it didn't seem to have an effect. I could feel it was there pressing on me but it was more like soft feathery touches. Guess that was Karasu's 'durability' at work there.
"Two things, I want you to keep my Reaper status a secret, meaning no one outside Akatsuki knows. Orochimaru knows somewhat but I'm pretty sure I'm useless to him now."
"And the other things?" He asked boredly.
"I want you to leave the hunting of the Jinchuuriki off until I get back in two years."
"You've got to be kidding me. What makes you think I would agree to that?" He asked.
"Other than Akatsuki not being ready yet?" I snorted before I fixed a glare at him. "I may not know why you're manipulating Leader-sama, but the Akatsuki is my family. Once we start to hunt the Jinchuuriki we move against all the five nations and risk their wrath. Especially once they start to get wind of the plans for the Jinchuuriki. Believe me, if anything happens to the Jinchuuriki before I come back I will be letting my sister know. And since she's friends with the one-tails Jinchuuriki, well I'm pretty sure you can see where that's going."
"You would dare to betray the Akatsuki all for the sake of the Jinchuuriki?" His lone Uchiha eye whirled at me dangerously.
"No." I let my eyes swirl with the Reaper Eyes. Genjutsu would not work on me, that much I knew. "I will not allow any harm to come to my family. Once we start to take the Jinchuuriki a giant target is on Akatsuki's back. No one will be safe."
"What if I just kill you here and now?"
"If he touches you I'm killing him." What a touching and suspicious sentiment.
"Considering I just came back from the dead?" I asked. I felt a coldness radiating from Karasu that caused frost to start to form in the hallway. "I still have a Reaper escort with me who would be very displeased and will not hesitate to add you to his list."
"Damn you to hell."
"Tsk, tsk, I'm already apart of it." Howling started as my own defenses kicked in. With all the ruckus I'd raised I heard doors opening down the hallways. "Remember my warning Obito." With that I seamlessly melted into the shadows with Karasu. The Akatsuki members we passed on the way to the entrance didn't notice us. I came out of the shadows once I reached my room and darted in to grab my travelling pack before I joined Karasu in the hall.
"Ready now?"
"Yeah. By the way, how did you know Tobi was a fake name?"
"You didn't think Karasu was my real name did you? All Reapers have aliases." I blinked.
"Interesting, what is your real name?"
"Not telling you. Now come on, we have to go get your sister." I stuck my tongue out at him before we ran down the entrance tunnel and hopped up into the rain of Ame country.
What I hadn't realized on my rush to grab my things, was that two certain Akatsuki members were still in their rooms and had heard my conversation with Karasu before we'd left.
GM NASAI: I struggled with this chapter for so long. I thought I was going to rip my hair out because I loved both of my ideas for how this could have turned out. Am I proud of it? I don't know, I just don't know.
Any guesses on who Karasu is yet? ;)