A/N – SPOILERS for the manga and the ending.
Chapter 6
"I don't really need to tell you this since you're basically a mute and all, but keep your mouth shut, yeah," Deidara warned, though without the usual cold bite to his voice when speaking to her. "Leader-sama will already know you can't talk so probably won't ask you any open questions. All you need to do is be quiet and not interrupt anyone, got it?"
It was really serious, wasn't it? Were they in trouble at all? Was that perhaps why Deidara wasn't being so harsh with her, like he usually was?
Nerves threatened to get the best of her and Shizuku swallowed hard, following the blond obediently as he guided the way through the endless corridors. The journey affirmed her previous suspicions of never finding her way out alone, each corridor looking just like the last right down to the cracked tiles or bare, cement walls. And no matter where she went in the building, Shizuku could still hear that maddening drip, drip, dripping.
Given how big the place was, she would have thought that it housed a considerable number of people, maybe even a small army with all the doors they passed (assuming they were all bedrooms like Sasori and Deidara's, of course). But each time they turned another corner and Shizuku once more grew apprehensive of their finally crossing paths with someone, they were met by yet another empty space that seemed to double in length each time. It felt like no matter how far they walked, no matter how many flights of stairs they descended, they were forever stuck in that damp hallway, their twists and turns taking them right back to the beginning.
Quickening her pace to try and walk alongside Deidara, she tugged on the sleeve of his cloak, brows knitting together. "S-S-Sa… Sas…?"
"Sasori no Danna will likely meet us down there," he told her.
She was so incredibly grateful that Deidara was beginning to understand her a little better, even though part of Shizuku longed for him to have a tad more patience with her. How was she ever supposed to finally speak if he was constantly interrupting her efforts or talking down at her?
Finally, they turned onto a corridor that opened up to that huge space she'd briefly seen when first entering the building – the one with that strange plant person who had two separate voices. The space was huge with absolutely nothing to fill it other than herself and Deidara, and Shizuku couldn't help but glance around herself with wide eyes, unable to grasp how such a place existed, unless she was trapped in Uchiha's world once more?
Had her own world possessed such strange abilities? Or places that resembled where she was currently? Shizuku was saddened to admit she didn't know. The only similarities up until that moment was the dark haired woman attempting to teach her how to use chopsticks. Chopsticks were the only similarity that she knew of.
They headed in the direction of a large archway and Shizuku canted her head to the side after noticing movement, frowning at the sight of cloaks that matched Deidara's and Sasori's. From the angle she was at, Shizuku counted at least three and the sight of them caused her stomach to plummet, because did that mean Uchiha was there also?
Of course it did!
He was one of them.
How could she have forgotten?
Faltering wasn't an option, for Deidara gripped her arm without pause and dragged her alongside him, expression smoothing out and only working to spook Shizuku even more, since it was uncomfortably obvious he was guarding his emotions from his own comrades.
"No!"
It didn't even register that she'd so easily found her voice for a sharp tug had her whirling round to face the blond, his expression screaming at her to listen to him. Even though knowing there was no way to overpower superhumans like him and Sasori, Shizuku still tried to shy away, shrinking in on herself at the iciness in his gaze.
"What did I just tell you?" he hissed darkly, towering over her. "Keep your mouth shut, yeah."
Was there even any point in pleading with him for mercy? Shizuku tried anyway, staring imploringly into his eyes with the corners of her lips turning downwards, begging that he took notice, that he took her away from Uchiha before he could try to kill her again.
"I…" Swallowing hard at the struggle, she clutched at Deidara's cloak and inwardly cheered with relieved happiness at the indecisiveness that shone in his eyes. It spurred her on, daring her to step closer, to make him see that she wasn't just a monster who'd tried to eat him only a few days prior. She was a person too. "I don' wanna… d-die."
Although slurred and imperfect, it was speech and a vast improvement. It was the most she'd ever been able to say, and it was clear from the shock on his face that he hadn't expected it from her either.
Maybe he would finally stop interrupting her.
"With Sasori no Danna's fascination with you, I doubt they'll kill you," murmured Deidara and he scowled down at her, the grip on her arm growing lax. Still, much to her gratefulness, he didn't immediately step away or let go, rather allowing her to hold onto him until she managed to compose herself. "Like I was saying earlier, yeah. Don't talk back and don't interrupt them. If you go along with what Leader-sama asks of you, he'll be lenient."
But did that mean joining their organisation? The very same organisation that had that poor shop clerk quivering with fear and unable to leave her station until they were alone? Shizuku couldn't imagine ever making anyone feel such a way – just the notion made her heart seize in her chest and–
Her breath caught.
"–and that's how we made it to where we are today," her father told her quietly, resting comfortably by Shizuku's side during her favourite part of the bedtime routine – story time. "We rest easy now and are free of the titans because of his actions."
Shuffling closer to his wheelchair, Shizuku tilted her head to the side, asking childishly, "So he's the one Mama visits?"
"Yeah."
Her father had always been a seemingly stoic man, her mother always told her, but underneath that cool exterior was a man who simply didn't know how to manage his oftentimes overwhelming emotions. A man who'd been dragged all the way to hell on several occasions, but tore his way back out of it, leaving a bloodbath behind him each time in retribution.
The stories that followed his name were as terrifying as they were admirable (as were her mother's), and Shizuku often longed to question her father about his past. But other than the story of the war, on very brief snippets of Paradis' history, he was silent. She wondered if it was too hard for him to talk about.
"It was a battle that ran over the course of decades, with countless lives lost along the way," he continued solemnly, but warmed her heart when his hand fell to her head, scarred features twitching with his smile. "But our lost ones dedicated their hearts to playing a part in ensuring these peaceful times. It is why we must protect it at all costs."
Grinning widely, she nodded, promising with great enthusiasm, "Always, Papa!"
That man was…?
"What is it?" Deidara demanded.
Despite not fully remembering her past or her parents, that memory was solid. It was important. And how was she supposed to abandon that promise she'd made to her father of protecting the peace?
By joining such a heartless organisation that consisted of members who gladly terrorised and murdered others (even an entire village), didn't that mean she would be breaking that promise? What about the lives of the people her mother and father lost? Would she be demeaning all that'd happened by going along with whatever Deidara's leader said?
Shizuku shut her eyes, relaxing suddenly because no matter how badly she wanted to hold onto that single promise or those few memories she could recall, what choice did she have, really?
In their world, she was grossly outmatched. Wielding a power she didn't fully understand, one that was supposed to have been eradicated during the war, was surely setting herself up for failure when against people who worked with explosions or the ability to warp reality itself.
Stick to the original plan, Shizuku told herself while breathing deeply.
If she went along with whatever they were asking, surviving for as long as she could, then that possessed the potential of her growing stronger in the meantime, which in turn meant she might even be able to return to her world, to her parents.
One thing was bugging her relentlessly, however.
If that guy had freed her world of titans, then why did she exist? How did she come to be? What did that mean for her world? For her father who was clearly disabled, going off that memory? Was he safe?
"Let's go," Deidara muttered and pulled her along.
Those concerns were rudely interrupted by their entering of the meeting hall, which was huge enough for her transform (although only if she remained on her knees), should she need to, and made that entrance hall laughably small in comparison. It consisted of absolutely nothing, other than a huge statue that made her incredibly uncomfortable looking at, and many people wearing the exact same cloak as Deidara, staring at her expectantly.
"This is her?" someone asked.
The statue was giving off a weird vibe, Shizuku thought to herself, attention unable to fully come away from it. Not exactly evil per se, although certainly dangerous. How was that even possible, though? How was a statue dangerous?
Because it wasn't a statue, she realised as they further entered the room and she managed to get a better look at it.
No, it was a statue, but the appearance, the texture, was almost like skin–
"Her name's Shizuku," Deidara said in way of an introduction on her behalf.
Quickly looking back to the group, she startled at the number of them, for it wasn't just three as she'd been anticipating only moments prior. No, it was ten altogether and they were all of imposing builds, looming over her and making Shizuku's skin crawl. What made the intimidation more effective was their seemingly being made entirely of shadows – how did one even fight a shadow? And what abilities could shadows possess? Were they even shadows?
"Holograms," answered Sasori as he approached the pair of them, carelessly dragging a hand through one of the giant's figure and causing it to flicker warningly until it strengthened again. "It makes communication easier."
She didn't know what the hell a hologram was, so stored it away for after. That way she wouldn't look like a total idiot in front of the organisation.
"You cleaned up well," Sasori commented, then glanced to Deidara. "I assume there were no issues."
"No. She's picking everything up fast."
"That is because her memories are only out of reach due to psychological stress, not locked away purposely," came a familiar, chilling voice.
It was entirely instinctual that Shizuku shied away from Uchiha, stepping closer to Deidara. Like themselves, he was solid, meaning he was really there. Should he turn on her, would Sasori defend her again or would he bow to his leader's orders and allow her to die?
"Looks like you've made quite the impression on the girl, Itachi-san," said one of the giant shadows, his words tinged with amusement. Who it was aimed at, she was unsure. Herself? Him? The situation in general?
"Her presence is a risk."
"How so?" questioned a woman smoothly and even as a hologram, her gaze was lidded, boring into Uchiha's.
It felt as though she was on trial, especially with everyone staring at her. Refraining from frowning and recalling that single memory that told her of her parents' reputations, of their strength, Shizuku straightened up, demanding herself to be strong like they were. She would make them proud by surviving and returning to them, even if she happened to fall into step with a terrorist group to achieve it.
Ten people in total, although six of them were holograms – that fact did little to ease her apprehension of them all. Were they still capable of harming her as holograms? Even if they weren't, the leader (assuming he was also there as a hologram) was more than capable of ordering a real person to put her down, should he wish to and Uchiha would be more than happy to do the job.
"This woman is what is referred to as a Titan," Uchiha explained blandly, taking a half step back to face her. Instead of faltering at the sight of his blood red eyes that time, she stood taller, jaw setting, just like she imagined her parents would. Who would she look like more? Her mother? Her father? "Even in her own world, her kind is feared."
"What the fuck's a titan?" demanded one of the holograms.
"A Titan is a being that overpowers ordinary humans. In her world, they were the major cause for mankind to almost become extinct."
"Holy shit," the same guy responded, his purple eyes snapping to hers with a gleam that made her entirely uncomfortable.
They all stared at her with unreadable expressions, and Shizuku fought against the urge to swallow uneasily – both at the staring and the news of titans almost being the cause of the extinction of humans. While she'd wondered what her father meant by being free of titans and having an inkling what her power could do, it was all frightful guesses that were possibly (hopefully) wrong.
How much did Uchiha know?
"The one we are looking at is referred to as one of the nine titans – the female titan," Uchiha continued much to her gratefulness, because while none of what he was saying made any sense to her, simultaneously, it kind of did. Like it was knowledge stored at the back of her mind that simply needed nudging to the surface. "The most basic way to explain them is that similar to the tailed beasts, the nine come directly from the founder of the powers. However, unlike tailed beasts, there are others of their kind, albeit not as powerful. They don't even possess the ability to think."
There was that name again – tailed beasts. Sasori and Deidara had mentioned it briefly while capturing her although she hadn't thought much about it since. How would she compare? Were they creatures she should avoid at all costs?
"This power…" another man with purple eyes spoke up, his tone considerably milder to the other person. "Will it benefit our mission?"
"Seriously?" demanded the harsh one.
"Hidan–"
But he was unresponsive to the burly man by his side, seemingly lost in his own world as he muttered to himself with a sickening grin, "Holy fuck, it's happening. The reaping is upon us. Thank you, Jashin-sama!"
Undeterred by his comrade's plunge into madness, Uchiha focused on the other guy with purple eyes, saying, "This person is unable to use chakra and even in titan form, was defeated by Sasori-san and Deidara-san–"
"Have you met Jashin-sama?" questioned Hidan quickly, uncaring of the others. "No, no. Of course you fucking haven't, damn it. But He sent you here, didn't He?"
"Jashin is Hidan's deity," Deidara commented lowly.
Yeah, with his mutterings of a reaping, it was easy to put the pieces together, just as it was easy for Shizuku to understand that his deity was clearly some kind of God of Calamity, or perhaps even a God of Death.
"Add some respect to Jashin-sama's name, dickface," came Hidan's angered snarl and although he was merely a hologram, Shizuku couldn't deny being intimidated by the severity of his stare. That intimidation only increased by his following recital, arms spread out wide like he was summoning Jashin himself, by the increasing loudness of his voice, "He is the death of all living creatures, the end of existence, an evil without compare. He's one with death and darkness–"
What the hell was that guy–
"Enough, Hidan," warned the other purple eyed man, unknowingly filling her with a short-term relief. Shizuku wasn't sure how much of his madness she could stomach. Not when he was clearly expecting her to act on his God's… wishes, if that was what they were. "Continue, Itachi."
Uchiha languidly swept his gaze from Hidan's continued mutterings, the redness of his gaze unsettling when they found her once more, assessing her body language and no doubt easily reading her unease. Still, even though it was a pitiful lie, Shizuku clawed at her composure, chin tipping upwards to meet his gaze directly, defiantly.
She couldn't disappoint them.
She had to make it home to them!
"As she is in this moment, even in titan form, poses no threat to us or our cause," Uchiha continued and she felt a part of herself relax in response, despite gut instinct warning her not to. "However, once Shizuku-san has access to her memories, I believe she is more than capable of causing a problem for us."
Hidan's grin widened maliciously.
"How so?"
Sparing a glance to the other guy with purple eyes, she took in the assertiveness of his tone and stance – more importantly, the way he questioned the others and how they respected what he had to say. Even Hidan refrained from interrupting him too much, keeping his mad mutters that almost sounded like a prayer low enough for them all to talk over effortlessly.
He was undeniably the leader of the organisation.
"From what I gathered in her memories, the female titan is notorious for her combat skills and strategic thinking."
"That's not too bad," someone attempted to argue and vaguely, she recognised the voice as one of the two that belonged to the plant person.
Uchiha shook his head, eyes shutting with a sigh. "Perhaps not. However, the female titan also possesses a unique ability of influencing other titans through her screams, as well as the ability to harden parts of her body, nullifying attacks."
She… could do that?
Interest sparked in Deidara's eye, the blueness brightening somewhat as it met with hers. She wondered if he could see that she was also intrigued by the news, or whether he was now as wary and discomforted as Uchiha had been when he first learned of her hidden talents. After all, being able to nullify attacks such as his explosions would better her chances of escaping exponentially.
How did she awaken those abilities once more? Clearly the controlling other titans didn't apply to her in that moment – not unless others of her kind had joined her somehow and merely gone undiscovered just as she had for the longest time. But managing to harden parts of her body was detrimental in her plan to return home.
"Are there other titans in our world?"
"Considering the importance of the nine titans, it is a safe bet that they aren't far behind Shizuku-san. At the very least, they will want to reclaim her titan."
Really?
Excitement dug its merciless hooks into her heart, filling her with dangerous hope because more than anything, she wanted to meet others of her kind. She wanted to know the truth behind her being there because it would certainly help her return home. Why were her memories suppressed? Uchiha said it was due to trauma. What traumatised her so greatly to cause the temporary amnesia? How did she avoid going through that again?
"Having this girl on our side would be imperative, then," Sasori stated tonelessly, his calm assertion simmering her excitement. "Should other titans spawn in our world, then her ability to control said titans would prove useful."
It was with a just barely noticeable tsk under his breath that Deidara added a moment later, "Do we know anything about the other eight and what their reactions could be if we kill her now?"
"Kill her? Are you fucking stupid?" demanded Hidan in a shockingly screeching manner. Arm lashing out sideways agitatedly in the direction of a huge hologram, he muttered, "Don't make me abandon this bastard Kakuzu and make my way to Ame to protect Jashin-sama's–"
"Shut up already about your God, yeah," Deidara snapped in reply. So used to his outbursts and snappish nature by now, Shizuku was proud of herself for not being surprised or flinching as she previously had. "This isn't a reaping, idiot."
"Oh yeah? Then what do you call these titans almost wiping out mankind, huh? Do you think they just happened to fall out of the fucking sky one day?"
The blond took a step forward, upper lip curling. "Of course not! But there's several space travel ninjutsu out there that could be the cause of this."
There was no stopping her instinctive jump backwards when a humongous scythe slashed through the air without warning, Hidan's speed unparalleled in her mind as he instantly closed the distance between himself and Deidara. And although he and his weapon were merely a hologram, the threat still hung in the air around them, weighing her down without even trying.
"Nobody fucking touches her," he warned darkly with zero traces of his warped excitement present, the menacing glint in his purple eyes emphasising the insanity they'd briefly caught glimpses of when he'd been talking to himself. "This kid is Jashin-sama's gift to the world and I will sacrifice everyone in this room if I have to, to see his prophecy come true."
Was it the knowledge of him only being a hologram that had Deidara closing the distance between them even further? That had him staring up at the other man unfalteringly? The hologram flickered warningly when he stepped into the scythe, allowing it to pass through his neck without a care.
"So what's your plan, you crazy bastard?" came his muttered demand, upper lip curling. "Put her on a leash? Find some way of controlling her titan form?"
No–
"No, you braindead idiot," he snapped back. "This is Jashin-sama's sign – the starting of his reaping. Jashin-sama would want me beside her and wreaking havoc too."
Wreaking havoc…
"Shizuku!"
"You bastard…!"
"How the hell do those things even exist after all this time?"
"They should be powerless without the titans."
The world was disorientating and Shizuku stumbled, wholly unprepared for the quaking of the earth that accompanied her clumsy movement. How…? Why…? What was happening to her? What had that man done to her? What was in that injection?
Streaks of black flew in from her right, then her left, the pair showing that even after all their years of peace, they were perfectly capable of switching straight back into their soldier mindsets. Even her disabled father showed no signs of faltering or struggle as he swung around her neck–
Wait, why were they so small?
A foot planted onto her shoulder and vaguely, she recognised the scent of her mother's body wash.
"Calm yourself, Shizuku," she murmured to her and gripped her hair to remain balanced. Oddly enough, she didn't feel the pain that should have accompanied it. "I'm here with you."
Heart lurching when her father landed on her other shoulder with his weight entirely on one foot, Shizuku swallowed hard, the pieces slotting together with heart-breaking ease. The bedtime stories her father once told her surged to the forefront of her mind and she recalled the descriptions of the titans, of the fluids used to create more.
"Don't think about how any of this is possible right now," instructed her father. "We need to get out of here."
"There's no telling what the rest of the world will think of the return of the nine," her mother agreed, then glanced down, yelling, "Jean, Connie, cover us!"
They'd protected her without a moment of hesitation. Her parents and their friends.
The memory was pushed aside as Sasori came to stand before her, head tilting as he warned, "I have no intentions of killing this girl."
"Do you really believe you can control her?" questioned Uchiha smoothly, red eyes going between them.
"Regardless of being able to control her, it is clear that she doesn't pose a threat to our goal as of this moment," the leader interjected before Sasori could respond. She looked to him apprehensively, eyebrows knitting together in response to the purple eyes boring into her. Damn, she wished she could see their faces. Surely it would have helped her better read the situation? "However, I do question her usefulness. How would she benefit our goal, Sasori?"
She wouldn't. She refused to put any work into their terrorist organisation, she wanted to snap. However, Shizuku wasn't an idiot. Temporarily mute yes, suffering with amnesia yes, but not an idiot. Answering back (or attempting to, anyways) or showing her rejection of the notion was essentially the same as signing her death warrant, and she wasn't entirely sure how far Sasori, Deidara or even the crazy Hidan would go to protect her.
Forgive me, Mama… Papa…
"With her admirable regeneration skills, Shizuku-san will be a good distraction during ambushes. Deidara managed to sever entire limbs and they simply grew back after a few hours. She showed no signs of succumbing to her injuries."
Impressed silence swept over the hall, although the reaction she took most notice of was undeniably Hidan's, for it was impossible to overlook his exhilaration when he was cackling alarmingly, purple eyes widening.
"Similar to the Legendary Sannin, Tsunade?" questioned the woman beside the leader.
"I heard she once reattached a severed limb with the use of her secret technique, Sōzō Saisei, and returned to fighting immediately after," muttered the lighter voice of the plant person.
"And she rarely runs out of energy when using that seal," added the darker voice.
The one who had teased Uchiha in the beginning, the giant one, said, "That would make her handy in capturing tailed beasts."
Uchiha noticeably repressed a sigh.
Purple eyes assessed each of their reactions, seemingly listening in on their agreements of her joining them and Uchiha's reluctance, before looking straight through her to Sasori.
"Sasori, you possess extensive knowledge of Suna and its protocols due to your insider, making your squad the most competent of infiltrating," the leader began, then finally met her gaze, making her stomach plummet with his next words of, "We will test Shizuku-san's abilities by sending her with you to capture the Ichibi."
A/N - Hello and thank you to those of you who are reading! I just wanted to leave this here to explain the gaps in updates.
I've dropped to just one weekly update due to my mental health being shitty right now and not wanting to burn myself out with having twelve stories on-going. This is schedule:
Week 1: Ghost Inside My Chest (COMMISSION)
Week 2: Could Roses Bloom? (COMMISSION)
Week 3: The Shadows of Your Heart
Week 4: Dying Embers
Week 5: Then Our Hearts Combined
Week 6: So This is Love
Week 7: Unravelling Since I Found You (COMMISSION)
Week 8: But Still, I Rise (COMMISSION)
Week 9: Red String of Fate
Week 10: Mercy, Love & Other Useless Things (COMMISSION)
Week 11: Come Undone (COMMISSION)
Thanks again!