Chapter 42: Angel's Falling

When Shikara had said that she was going home...Itachi thought she meant the cottage. She was heading straight to Konohagakure. His eyes narrowed at her small figure. He had followed her all this way and the second night was approaching. If she kept going at this pace, barely resting for more than five minutes at a time, she would be in the village in an hour.

Don't do it...

Itachi was getting ready to put a stop to her route but she suddenly started to change her course. She seemed to be moving in a large circle around to the south-east part of Konoha, keeping a good three miles from the perimeter as she went. Itachi's cold expression softened, realizing that Shikara was actually going to their spot... the camping spot.

Her pace slowed as she neared the tree line of the weeping willows. Her confident posture changed as she reached the waters edge. She almost seemed to droop a little before falling to her knees in exhaustion. Her dedication to get here in a short time left Itachi struggling to keep his own energy as well. He crouched down and remained hidden as he watched.

...

I couldn't move anymore. My body finally had it and I fell to my knees. As I took the time to catch my breath I watched the thousands of fireflies dance across the waters and into the sky. A small smile came over my lips. I couldn't help it. This place was filled with memories. It was my favorite place in the world, despite having been all over to find answers. This place was the only place where I could let myself go and clear my mind and find the answers I craved for.

The demon mentioned something to me about looking all over the world for said answers, without ever looking inside. The reason why I was here was to take a good long look into myself and face what I've been avoiding all this time.

I took in a deep breath, closing my eyes as I did. When I reopened them, they were filled with determination. I shakily stood and each step I took on top of the water brought memory after memory. Memories of growing up in the clan, learning how to be a good shinobi, mentored by Itachi, then Shisui, too. I recalled Shisui believing in me so much that he had brought me with him during the breach to capture the enemies... I had only just become Genin. Then the memories of loosing Nakia and Kata nearly drown my thoughts... but then I remembered being blessed enough to have those boys at my side during that hardship and I pressed forward.

I found myself spinning into all of my past memories. Each memory had a rise and fall, a twist and a turn, a rhythm and a flow. I felt myself expressing this through the fluent movement of my body, my core, my mind and spirit. The elements around me started to respond to my movements. First the wind, then the water.

I let out a small sigh as I thought about the first kiss from Itachi when his lips lightly touched my forehead and the vow we made to shoulder our burdens together. I didn't want him to face those burdens alone... without me, he had no one to help relieve the weight of the world. I couldn't leave him behind...

I continued to move across the water. If I could just reach my inner self, the part of me that I had put to rest since Shisui's death...maybe I could find another way. A way that wouldn't require my death - by anyone's hand. A small smile spread over my lips again, thinking of Shisui's illusion. I had cursed it and held it close to my heart all at once this whole time. Just then, I felt my heart ache. Right after seeing the illusion that we had wanted to be true, the image in my mind of Shisui's passing nearly took my breath away.

This was the part I had been avoiding all these years. Itachi was like the darker side who knew how to keep calm and collected in the worst situations. He is my guardian, the gentle protector. Shisui was the lighter side, the peacekeeper, the dreamer who made the most complicated of things make sense. I had needed them both to feel the wholeness that my inner self craved for and putting Shisui from my mind had disrupted my own power's balance. I breathed in an air of strength before touching my thumbs and fingers together to make an 'O' shape with my hands over my navel.

I felt all the dark energy inside me ball up, then leave my body.

"What is it that you want?"

Said the demon as it made it's way out of my body.

I knelt down on top of the waters surface and gave the demon a light smile. "Someone hasn't been all that honest...have you?"

The demon's natural grin widened.

"

You have it all figured out, do you?"

"I've figured out that you're the demon who destroyed my clan."

It's horrible laughter echoed throughout the area.

"And what do you plan to do about it? Especially in such a sad state

?"

I smirked as I stood again. "Tell me...what would happen if the one I loved or my greatest enemy didn't kill me - and instead I took my own life?"

For the first time the demon's grin faded and became a sinister glare.

"I'll kill you if you try."

I chuckled as I slowly approached the demon. "Oh...? But the truth is... you can't kill me, can you? Because if you tried...you would only bring death upon yourself...am I correct?"

The demon stayed a distance from me by moving back. "

How do you know this?"

I chuckled. "Because...you're not much different from the tailed beasts of this world. You're just another dark soul who was sealed away at the cost of an entire clan." I stopped walking when the demon paused and allowed me to be just feet from him. I stared into its evil eyes and smiled gently. "You needed me to experience massive amounts of pain before dying, in order for your ritual to be complete...correct?"

The demon gave a nod.

"You're a demon under Lord Jashin...aren't you...?"

The grin returned to the demon's face. "

You are surprisingly intelligent..."

"I wasn't able to find anything on my situation with you... however one thing that I kept seeing over and over again was literature about Jashin and his followers. I thought it was all a bunch of bullshit until I fought Hidan... that's when things started to make some sense." One of my eyebrows raised. "He's a follower, right?"

"How will this information help

you...?"

I had my answer. "You possessed my body, thinking that you could control me... because you fear me... don't you? That was the power the Tenshi clan had and that's why you destroyed them."

The demon charged me to attempt to startle me but I didn't bat an eye. "

You think

you

can take me, little girl!? The one who killed

all

of your kind!?"

The demons voice boomed fearcely.

I grinned. "This is why my mother bonded us. You said it yourself, I was a princess of sorts who had unusual power... but the truth is... I have the ability to send you back to the hell you came from. Don't I?"

The demon let out an angry roar before forcing its way back into my body. I gasped and fell into the water, sinking below the surface.

...

Itachi bolted forwards as the demon appeared to go in for the attack and instead reentered it's vessel... his angel. When Shikara fell below the surface he was able to reach down and take hold of her wrist and brought her back up. She was out cold and he carefully carried her back to shore.

Shikara appeared to be breathing normally as Itachi examined her. His eyelids drooped as he thought about what he had just witnessed. Shikara had intended to kill herself if she couldn't find a way to destroy the demon. She had intended to do all of this alone. Her bravery as she faced the darkness inside her was uncomfortably reckless. The answers he wanted from her were answered but left one more question...was she going to leave him the same as Shisui had?

Itachi closed his eyes. He couldn't imagine a world without his last light of hope, his final form of redemption, his angel. She kept the better side of him alive and gave him hope that he could find peace even with the torment of his own past.

His eyes opened again and he moved the hair away from her face, brushing it back with his fingertips. He would help her destroy the demon and not let her fall... and if she did fall anyways he knew that he wouldn't be far behind.

...

As my consciousness slowly regained itself, I could feel my body aches grow from a dull pain to excruciating agony. As my eyes slowly opened, I felt myself gritting my teeth. I must have torn every muscle in my body, forcing myself to reach the camping spot as fast as I had, then facing the demon.

I'm an idiot...

I realized that I was home. In my own bed... and Itachi was resting his head in his arms at the side of my bed. He must have been there for some time, waiting for me to come to.

"I-Itachi..." I couldn't coat my voice from all the pain I felt and his head jolted up to look at me. My calm, cool and collected guardian was full of anxiety. I tried to smile at him but it came out as a wince and I sighed. "Are you okay, Itachi-sama?" I whispered.

...

Itachi's eyebrows creased. Am 'I' okay!? Itachi sat up from the side of the bed and stared at Shikara. "You faced a demon and you're asking me if I'm okay?" He sounded harsh and he had to catch himself before he raised his voice. He took a moment to collect himself and refocused on Shikara who was clearly in a lot of pain. "The question is... are you okay?" Itachi couldn't help but to still have a scolding tone when he spoke.

Shikara stared up at the ceiling for a moment. "I'm not sure." She then peered at him with tears in her eyes. "I knew you were there the whole time... so we can cut to the chase."

Itachi's eyes widened. "You knew the whole time...?"

She gave a slight, pained nod.

Itachi closed his eyes to remind himself to stay focused and calm. "We will talk later..." He stood and left the room and returned shortly after with some water and helped her rehydrate. He could tell that she had a fever and her small form was trembling. She was in such bad shape that he couldn't be upset with her...for now. "Shikara... when you've recovered enough... I must meet with Kisame."

"Okay." She whispered.

"You must promise to stay here until I've returned."

Her eyebrows creased as she stared at him. "Ita-"

"That's an order... Shikara..."

...

I eyed him for a moment. I didn't want to make any promises that I couldn't keep. Itachi was eyeing me in a way that told me that he could read me like a fine piece of literature and he sighed, lightly taking my hand.

"When I return we will face this...together."

I blinked the tears away. "I can't let you do that..."

His eyes narrowed. "I told you a long time ago... that I would not let you fall."

I gave him a look. "The demon can't harm me without inflicting damage to itself...you, however should stay away until I've had this thing under control." My voice returned and it also sounded like a demand. I couldn't bare to imagine Itachi at the demon's mercy. I felt my body trembling again and I sighed at the pain. "Please...don't make this harder...Itachi."

He sat back on his heels in thought. "Doesn't the demon need me to kill you for it's ritual?"

My eyes widened in surprise and then narrowed again, a small smile appeared on my lips. "Yes..."

Itachi blinked, he knew he had me. "Then it can't harm me, either."

Itachi has always been a genius. He never missed a single detail and this time I couldn't come up with anything further to convince him to stay away. He had every intention to aid me in any way he could.

I closed my eyes in defeat and gave him another slight nod before looking him in the eyes. "I promise to wait for you to return."

He put out a pinky and my lips twisted into a strange half smile. I had seen him and Shisui cross pinky's before. I weakly took his with mine.

"You can't break your promise." He said.

"I won't. I'll be here until you've returned."

Itachi gave an approving nod before releasing our pinky's and left the room again. I tried to sit up but a severe pain shot through my whole body. I sighed and laid there, helpless. It didn't take long before I smelled a delicious breakfasty aroma and Itachi returned to the room soon after with a large breakfast. He was back at my side with a light smile and took some egg and offered it to me.

I blushed. "Thank you...Itachi-sama...I think I can eat on my own, though." I painfully chuckled and he gave me a look. He patiently waited for me to realize that I couldn't lift my arms and I blushed deeper. I gave him a sad, defeated expression and he smirked.

"Ready to swallow your pride?"

"Not yet...let me sulk." I replied.