The next morning, Rinn groggily woke up, hoping that yesterday's events were a hallucination, or some cruel genjutsu. The reality hit her as soon as she forced her eyes open, finding only the four harsh white walls of the hospital room glaring back at her.
Sasuke...
Rinn shot out of bed and raced down the corridor to who knows where, no thought given to her current bedraggled appearance as her bare feet pitter-patted from one doorway to the next, passage after passage until she finally looked through the right window.
It was there that she saw him; her best friend. Well what was left of him anyway – he looked awful. Thankfully, there was nobody else in Sasuke's room. No other patients, no nurses, no doctors. So, Rinn gently opened the door with a *CLICK*, something which Sasuke didn't even respond to, clearly lost in his thoughts.
In fact, Rinn managed to walk all the way to the young Uchiha's bedside without him even batting an eyelid. She gently touched his hand, merely to get his attention, but Sasuke flinched and nearly jump out of his skin. At last, his eyes turned to look at her, and softened.
"Rinn", he stated, as if simply saying her name brought him comfort. He placed his free hand over the top of the one which she placed on his, breaking eye contact with her and suddenly finding their hands deeply interesting. And that's when she felt it.
*Drip*
As Rinn looked up to find the source of the splash she realised that Sasuke was crying, his grip on her hand tightening.
"Sasuke..."
"I was too weak to save them Rinn! *sniff* I wasn't strong enough *sniff* I was... I was a coward!" Sasuke exclaimed, mentally chastising himself, "I've lost everything..." he mumbled, more to himself than anyone else.
Rinn didn't know what to do. What could she possibly say? How can you comfort someone who has lost so much? So, Rinn did the only thing she could think of to support and comfort her friend, and embraced him as tightly as she could.
And Sasuke, for the first time since the previous night, felt something other than sorrow, anger and pain. He felt love. And he clung onto her as if his little life depended on it, frightened to let go of her in case she disappeared like his family had. Rinn could almost feel the desperation radiating from his trembling body, and she very nearly began to speak when…
"I'm sorry Rinn... That was mean of me. I haven't lost everything. I still have you. And I'm so glad I do. You're my best friend and I don't know what I would do without you..."
Rinn felt a pang of guilt in her chest, her mind casting back to the conversation she had with the Hokage.
No... I need more time...
She continued to hold her friend as he let his emotions overcome him, unable to bring herself to say anything at all. Perhaps if she went to speak with the Hokage she could convince him to let her stay...
"Children...," a voice interrupted, pulling them out of their little bubble. It was Kurenai-sensei again, and Kakashi-sensei too.
Funny... I didn't even notice them come in... Rinn thought. The children quickly broke their embrace and sat facing the two Jonin.
"We've come to speak with you to discuss your new living... erm... situations" Kakashi began awkwardly. Rinn noticed Sasuke grip at his bedsheets at this remark. Too soon...
"The village will provide both of you with your own houses, and they will be next door to each other, so you will never be too far from one another..."
"It'll be great fun – almost like you are living together like real grown-ups!" Kurenai chimed in, trying to lighten the mood. Naturally, it fell on deaf ears.
"You can make new friends too," Kakashi continued, "In fact the Hokage said there is a young boy around your age living a couple of doors down, and we have heard he has quite the entertaining character.."
"We can help you bring your things from home, or we can leave you to bring it yourself, whichever you wish" Kurenai interjected, desperately trying to illicit a response from one of the youngsters.
Sasuke said nothing, although the hateful glare he gave the two adults spoke volumes.
Rinn was beginning to feel the atmosphere change for the worst, so quickly and quietly thanked the two Jonin for their trouble, asking if they would show her the location of their new quarters.
Sasuke however, was not impressed by this at all.
"I still have a home!" He protested, "You can't just turf me out to some random place just like that!"
Kurenai began to open her mouth, seemingly to try and talk him round, but Rinn beat her to it.
"OK Sasuke, you wait here and I'll go and check it out. I'm curious to see what it's like, and I'll tell you all about it when I get back, all right?"
She could tell by the expression on his face that he took this as a sign of betrayal, and looked almost wounded that she had sided with them.
But what choice did she have? She needed an opportunity to try and barter with the Hokage about her seemingly imminent departure, and she doubted she would get a chance like this in the future. Rinn still felt guilty about leaving her friend, particularly with the state he was in at the moment, so as she was about to step out of the door, she had a thought.
She quickly span around, jogged to Sasuke, and planted a quick peck on his unsuspecting cheek, instantly reducing his glare to a sad smile. She was gone again in a flash, running to catch up to the two Jonin and get her first look at their new home… and hopefully an audience with the Hokage.
Sasuke now lay alone in his hospital bed, not quite knowing what to do with himself. He would never admit it, but he actually liked having people around as it served as a brilliant distraction from the reality of what had happened. Especially Rinn - he wished he could spend every waking moment with his best friend, now that she was the only person he had left in the world.
He looked down to his wrist, at the friendship bracelet she had made for him only a month earlier. Rinn wore one much the same, that Sasuke had made for her. Sasuke felt the yarn of the bracelet tenderly with his fingertips, thoughtful about his future now that he and Rinn stood on this earth orphaned and completely alone.
Rinn... Please don't be long...
- X -
Rinn followed the Jonin to her new living quarters, keeping a few paces behind them. As they walked, she was already plotting how she could escape from Kakashi and Kurenai to pay the Hokage a surprise visit...
"Ah, here we are then Firinne." Kakashi lazily proclaimed as they approached a row of terraced houses, perfectly identical as far as the eye could see.
Rinn wrinkled her nose in response, as she eyed the buildings with disgust. No character at all, she thought. Trying to be positive, Rinn put on a brave smile and walked confidently to the door which Kakashi was gesturing to. He handed her the first set of keys from his trouser pocket, and allowed her to unlock the door to her new (temporary) home all by herself. Rinn appreciated this small act, as it made it feel more like it belonged to her, like it was her house.
Keen to look around, she wasted no time getting stuck in and quickly ran in and out of every room, getting a feel for the layout and facilities of the house. It was fully furnished already, with two bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs, and an open plan kitchen/diner and living room downstairs. Although plain, it was nice enough and Rinn began to come round to the idea of having the freedom of her own house and space. She knew how to look after herself reasonably well already, as she often helped Mikoto with the housework and cooking while living with the Uchihas...
Sasuke.
"Umm.. Kakashi-sensei?" Rinn began.
Kakashi looked up from the sofa, where he was sitting with Kurenai.
"Could we look at Sasuke's too please?" She asked, fumbling with her fingers.
The two Jonin smiled in response, nodding enthusiastically and quickly rising from the sofa to continue their explorations in the house next door. Rinn locked the door behind them and placed her new keys safely in the zip pocket of her jacket.
Kakashi once again pulled a set of keys from his pocket, unlocking the door of the house directly to the right of Rinn's; and once again, Rinn swiftly looked around the layout of the house only to find the rooms were completely identical save from the fact that Sasuke's was the mirror image of hers.
Nothing wrong with a bit of simplicity I guess... It could be good for us after all that's happened recently.
Kurenai mistook Rinn's sudden thoughtfulness for sadness, and quickly interrupted her inner monologue by suggesting:
"You know Firinne, Kakashi and I were thinking... We know you and Sasuke are used to living with one another, so we thought perhaps after you've settled in, we could ask if you might be able to have an extra door put in between yours and Sasuke's houses? That way, it's like you're still living together, but you still get to enjoy your own space!
Especially now that you're getting older, you'll both start to want to do different things and.."
"Thank you, Kurenai-sensei." Rinn interrupted, "But I don't think we will be needing that extra door," She began to feel nauseous again, as the reality of her impending departure clouded her mind once more.
Kurenai and Kakashi exchanged confused glances, Kakashi responding with a bemused shrug.
"Ok Firinne, we understand if you want your own privacy..." Kurenai said, breaking the awkward silence, "We had best get going soon, we still need to bring yours and Sasuke's belongings to your new houses."
"No! You can't!" Rinn snapped, so quickly that she even surprised herself. "Sasuke will go crazy, you can't move his things! He wants to get them himself, if you take them, he will be very angry!" She clenched her fists in frustration, feeling now that the Jonin, although helpful, were beginning to take over and things were moving much quicker than either she, or Sasuke for that matter, were comfortable with.
It's like they're trying to brush it under the carpet... as if the Uchiha never existed in the first place! How dare they...
"Firinne. You will need your belongings however you look at it, so we are getting them whether you like it or not. Sasuke will just have to deal with it. He shouldn't be going back to the Uchiha compound under any circumstances," Kakashi sternly stated.
Rinn glared at the man, seething at how matter-of-fact he was being about the whole situation.
"There are still dangers there, it's best not to go snooping," Kakashi said, and with that Rinn got the feeling their discussion, as well as their tour of the houses, was at an end. Kakashi ushered Rinn outside, after which Kurenai followed, locking Sasuke's door and presenting Rinn with the keys.
"Right, let's get you back to the hospital shall we..." Kurenai sang, patting Rinn on the shoulder.
"Actually Kurenai-sensei, I would like some time by myself please. I will see myself to the hospital when I'm finished, thank you."
Kakashi raised a sceptical eyebrow at her.
"If you're thinking of going to the Uchiha compound..." he began.
"No sensei. I don't want to go back there. I just want to be by myself," Rinn replied, putting on her most trustworthy-looking smile.
"OK... I'll trust you just this once, but don't disappoint me young lady. All right?" Kakashi reluctantly said, sighing. Kurenai merely rolled her eyes at the pair, taking it upon herself to physically drag Kakashi away mumbling about how he should "Leave the poor girl alone and stop being such a grumpy old man" or some such...
Rinn breathed a sigh of relief.
Peace at last. Now I need to get to the Hokage's office quickly, before they start wondering where I am again.
She started running, hurrying to the Hokage residence as fast as she could. The more time that passed, the more tortuous it was for Rinn, as there was so much riding on the Hokage's response. Going to look at the houses only heightened her worry, as for one sweet moment, Rinn's mind tricked her into thinking that they could both lead a simple life there - cooking together, watching films, sharing stories from their missions once they were all grown up...
Oh... I'm here already.
Rinn had been so lost in her own mind that her body had automatically gotten her to the Hokage's office without her brain even engaging with it. She took a few deep breaths, and knocked the door as proudly as she could muster with her small fists:
*BANG* BANG* BANG*
The door slid open, and, once again, revealed the smiling face of the Hokage.
"Ah... Firinne... I thought you'd come," He said, his face suddenly turning grave.
He's not alone.
Rinn followed the elderly man into his office, where she found five or six Anbu stood in front of the desk. Although she could not see their faces due to their regulation masks, she noticed their body language suddenly become tense as she entered the room. Rinn furrowed her brows in confusion, and proceeded to stand next to them across from the Hokage's desk, prepared to wait for her turn.
To her surprise, the Hokage dismissed the Anbu without saying a word, leaving the two of them alone to talk. However, now she was here, Rinn had lost her nerve. She couldn't bring herself to speak.
Being the kind old man that he was, the Hokage noticed this and tried to approach the subject he was sure she was so desperate to discuss.
"Firinne. I think I know why you have come, and I am sorry but I still cannot allow you to stay in the village until you have completed your training in the mountains," he said, guilt evident in his eyes.
Rinn's eyes also showed guilt, but not for herself; for Sasuke. They also showed many other things: frustration, sadness, helplessness... anger.
"I won't go Mr Hokage! I won't leave my friend and I won't leave the village! Why do I have to go?! None of the other children are going! It's so unfair! WHY CAN'T I STAY?" Rinn was getting more frustrated by the second, wondering how on Earth she could be wronged so much over the space of a few days.
"Firinne..."
"Sasuke's family have died! How can I accept that you want me to leave him on his own? How can you be so cruel?!" Blue crackles were beginning to form around Rinn's little body, gradually becoming more ferocious as it became spherical in shape.
"FIRINNE! This is not about Sasuke! This is about your safety, and the safety of the village!" The Hokage began to raise his voice, his own frustration now becoming evident, "LOOK. Look at your hands," he said, more softly this time, gesturing Rinn to look down at her now balled fists.
Shaking slightly with rage, she slowly glanced down at her hands, letting out a shocked yelp as she saw them. Around her hands, there was a glowing chakra not dissimilar to that which she often utilised to heal herself and Sasuke's wounds after friendly sparring matches; but there was one big difference.
This chakra was red.
It was not a bright red, but a deep, dark red, almost black; to someone standing at a distance from Rinn it almost looked like it was blood dripping from her fingertips.
"W-W-What... is this...?" Rinn stammered, eyes still glued to her hands, as if they were something completely alien to her.
The Hokage sighed sympathetically.
"Firinne, you are capable of many things. You have many talents and great power, much of which you are not yet aware. I do not hold all the answers, and I do not know how to unlock any hidden techniques lying dormant within you.
However I do know this: the power which you posses could be a great asset to you, and indeed to the village. You could become a strong ninja, but if you do not learn to control it soon, it could consume you, and you would undeniably be a danger to both yourself and everyone around you.
I must admit the timing of this is... unfortunate... But I promise you Firinne, I will see to it that Sasuke is looked after, and you can write to each other as often as you like.
After a few years, once you are ready, you may return and I'm sure it will be as if you never left. Think of it like a long holiday," the Hokage reasoned, trying to explain and persuade the young girl.
Suddenly she realised what she needed to do. She just hoped that Sasuke would forgive her for it.
"How long do I have?"
"2 weeks."
- Sasuke's hospital room, the next morning-
The previous night, when Rinn had finally returned from looking at their new accommodation, Sasuke was frantic. She had faced a horrendous interrogation from him upon her return about where she had been for so long, and what she had been doing (she was gone for a lot longer than she had originally hoped), something she really wasn't in the mood for after her talk with the Hokage. In fact, it ended up doing something to her that she was not familiar with – she was getting annoyed by Sasuke. The feeling went as quickly as it came, but the fact that it had even been there in the first place saddened her deeply.
Already, we are changed by the events at the Uchiha compound.
This did not go unnoticed by Sasuke, who was noticing the occasional sharp glare in his direction as he asked Rinn yet another question about why she was gone so long after they awoke the following morning.
"Sasuke, I already told you everything that happened. Will you stop with these stupid questions!" Rinn snapped.
Sasuke's faced looked hurt, just for a split second, before it turned into a matching glare.
"Well what do you expect me to do when you disappear for so long?! We need to look out for each other now Rinn! We're all we have left!"
"That doesn't mean we need to be attached to each other constantly!" Rinn retorted, her frustration rising again.
"You know that's not what I mean Rinn! I need to know you're safe, at all times! I can't lose you like I... what's happened to your hand?! It's bleeding?" Sasuke said, his eyes widening as he pointed at her dominant hand.
Rinn gasped, and, sure enough, there it was again. The strange chakra, dripping from her delicate little fingers; to Sasuke it must look like blood. Rinn breathed in and out deeply, trying to calm herself whilst acting as normally as she could muster, shaking her hand as if it were wet.
The Hokage was right
"Rinn? Shouldn't you ask one of those ladies to help you?! Your hand looks really bad!" Sasuke said, catching an unsuspecting Rinn off guard as he reached forward and grabbed her hand, seeking to try and fix it himself if she would do nothing.
Luckily for her, she had calmed herself enough that the chakra had subsided, and her hand now looked completely normal and unharmed.
"Your hand... Is OK?" Sasuke stated, clearly gobsmacked at what he saw; he looked at his friend, clearly trying to find answers, but Rinn could not meet his penetrating gaze. She averted her eyes to the floor in shame from the many secrets she was keeping from him.
In perfect timing, before Rinn was forced to answer any awkward questions about what had just happened, one of the Chunin from the academy appeared in the doorway of the hospital room, introducing himself and stating that he had arrived to escort them to their new homes.
Sasukes face quickly turned thunderous, glaring at the floor furiously whilst clenching his fists so hard that his knuckles turned white, his bangs covering his face. Rinn quickly got her things together, and stood up ready to go – she had realised early on that it was pointless to fight the adults on this, and in reality it probably was the best option for them. Sasuke however was not so easily convinced.
"No. I'm not going," Sasuke stated through gritted teeth.
"You cannot stay in the hospital for the rest of your life, Sasuke," The Chunin replied, "Now you can either come with me of your own volition we can make you. Obviously I, and your friend here, would rather you came of your own free will."
Sasuke looked at Rinn through his hair, searching for back up, support... anything...
Rinn sighed, walking over to Sasuke.
"He's right Sasuke... The hospital needs these rooms for the sick and the injured. Our new houses are really lovely, and I think we will get on well there. Come on..." Rinn said, holding out her hand to the sulking Uchiha.
Sasuke felt a pang in his chest - he felt betrayed.
*SLAP*
He whacked her hand out of the way with ferocity and glared at Rinn venomously. Begrudgingly, Sasuke threw what little possessions he had in the room into a rucksack and stormed past the two others without so much of a backwards glance.
Rinn was still stood in the same spot, saddened but not shocked about what had just happened. Bowing her head low, she too walked out of the room, but she followed quite a way behind as the Chunin ran ahead after Sasuke as he tore off into the distance. They stayed much the same until they arrived at their new front doors, at which point Sasuke roughly snatched his key from Rinn's extended hand once she eventually caught up, unlocking the door and slamming it behind him.
Rinn stood outside, slightly hurt by this but she understood. The Chunin looked at her sympathetically before making his apologies and leaving the two children to their own means. Rinn took a deep breath and slowly unlocked her own front door, stepping into her new living/dining area before sitting herself down on the floor in the middle of the floor, pulling her knees into her stomach.
How did it get to this?
Her eyes cast about the house, which now looked lonely and empty. She had imagined Sasuke would be sharing the space with her, but if things carried on the way they did she worried that would never happen; and then her eyes fell on…
"Oh no..." She said to herself, before she heard a loud and impatient *BANG *BANG*BANG on her front door.
Their belongings had already been brought into the house, and she hadn't had a chance to prewarn Sasuke.
Already nearly 100% sure who it would be, Rinn got up to her feet and opened the door to the loud intruder, who barged their way past her to the living room in a tiny fury.
"How did all of this get here," Sasuke said curtly, his back turned to his friend as he shook with anger.
"Sasuke..."
"No Rinn. I asked you a question. How did all of this get here," Sasuke repeated, still unable to turn around and face her.
"Kakashi-sensei... and Kurenai-sensei..." she began in response.
"So you knew. You knew they were going to do this. And you stood by and let them go into my family's home, and go through their things, and make decisions about what to keep and what to get rid of?!"
Rinn stared guiltily at the ground.
"What kind of a friend are you Firinne?" Sasuke seethed.
Rinn felt a tightness in her chest. Sasuke never used her full name. Her eyes began to water.
"Sasuke, the grown-ups already decided?! We can't tell the Jonin what to do! I didn't have any say in this either, what do you expect me to do?!" Rinn pleaded, getting flustered.
Sasuke turned around, his face contorted with anger.
"SOMETHING RINN! I expect you to do something! ... anything..."
Then Rinn noticed that he was holding a delicate trinket in his small hands. She recognised it as an Uchiha family heirloom; a vase on which generations of Uchiha had inscribed their names – including Sasuke and his parents. Seeing the pain on her best friend's face as he gazed at the vase tore Rinn apart, and it was obvious how special that it now was to the young boy.
"Sasuke... I'm sorry for anything I've done to upset you..." Rinn began.
Sasukes eyes darted to her from the vase, and they once again only held anger.
"You're just like the grown-ups. You're not listening to a thing I'm saying. It's not anything you've done, it's what you haven't done."
"I don't understand... What are you trying to say Sasuke?"
"I'm saying I was stupid to think I could count on you, and that you're a useless friend! I'm saying you might as well not even BE here AT ALL!" he yelled, his rage clearly getting the better of him.
Rinn couldn't hold it in anymore, and she burst into tears. She too had reached her limit.
"Well Sasuke you'll be getting your wish sooner than you think! I'm leaving two weeks from now for the mountains! Hokage's orders!" Rinn retaliated, she too raising her voice.
*SMASH*
Sasuke dropped the priceless vase onto the floor in shock and disbelief, his mouth agape and his eyes wide. And he didn't even give it a second glance. Now he was much more concerned with the girl in front of him: his best friend, his family... his world.
"W-What?"