We rested and recovered for a day or so, however when Karin became aware of the fact that a large mass of charka was heading directly towards us, we decided it was time to move on. It was Jugo who had found a few of the Akatsuki hideouts through speaking with birds and animals, something that I did not realise he could do. Like I had said before, he had a pure soul at heart, though his instincts to kill were still very strong and almost overcame him once or twice, but it was simple enough for either Itachi or myself to calm him down with our Sharingan.
Travelling of a cell brought back memories of how I used to travel with Itachi when we were on a team together, though it was never as lively as this. Karin and Suigetsu argued almost nonstop, providing us with most of the entertainment as we journeyed. It was nice that they had such strong feelings towards one another, even if they were a little heated and somewhat negative. Perhaps with familiarity, those strong feelings will become something more friendly. Experiencing life together does bring people closer, after all.
The first hideout we searched was empty, however the second one Sasuke found a clone of Itachi whom he fought and defeated very quickly, though only because Itachi was not trying at all. Not long now. Time was almost up. The closer we came to Sasuke's goal, the quieter and more reserved I became, my body a complicated mass of knotted feelings and tumbling thoughts which ricocheted within my mind until I could hardly even focus. "Yuki!" Sasuke grasped my arm suddenly and pulled me to the side, causing me to start in surprise. "You were about to fall, is everything alright?"
"Hm." Sasuke studied me for a moment, considering persisting a little further but decided against it. He let me go, though when he noticed how vacant my eyes were, his hand jumped back to my shoulder.
"You can't see at all anymore, can you?" I had hoped to hide it from him for at least a little while longer, but since I had lost concentration I had accidentally allowed my senses to slip so that I became unaware of my surroundings. "Yuki…"
"I'm fine."
"Fine? You're totally blind and can't see a thing unless you're using your Sharingan, which will only be a constant drain on your chakra. You're not fine!" Karin snapped at me a little haughtily, the sound of her shifting her glasses touching my ears. "Tsk, well I guess if you need to see, then you can use your Sharingan and if you use up too much chakra, I can replenish a little for you but only if I feel like it!" Blinking, I turned my head towards where I had heard Karin's voice and smiled a little, touched by her concern.
"Karin, you are a very caring person." I could almost feel her blush. It was then Jugo who stepped forwards and offered to carry me so that I did not have to worry about taking care of myself, and Suigetsu offered the same, jokingly saying that I might be safer with him rather than Jugo. "It is alright, I shall be fine. We should not waste time." Humming in agreement, Sasuke took off and I activated my Sharingan so that my world became filled with the flow of chakra. I could see the outlines of the trees, the network of chakra within everyone's bodies and variant colours as they each represented something different.
At least this way I could see depth and obstacles, so I simply continued to have my Sharingan activated since it did not require too much of my chakra to sustain. I knew that soon we would run into Kisame, who would block our path in order to ensure that only Sasuke went past him so that he could face his brother alone, so I dropped to the back of the group. Weaving the signs for a shadow doppelganger, I left my imitation with the main group and disappeared on my own, circling around Kisame when they faced him.
The old Uchiha hideout was the place Itachi had invited Sasuke to meet him, intending to end things once and for all. It was this moment in time where things for me became confusing. I had already seen what was to come with the great shinobi war, and how Sasuke will eventually redeem himself, however I could not understand why he did not go directly back to Konoha after his task here was accomplished. It puzzled me exceedingly, troubling me as I slowly approached the Uchiha hideout where Itachi and Sasuke had already met within.
Suddenly, a burst of life and colour allowed me to see again, however instead of my surroundings I saw Sasuke within a dark place lit by a single candle, with the form of Tobi emerging from the shadows. I witnessed as Tobi told Sasuke everything about Itachi's mission to destroy the Uchiha Clan before they could openly rebel against Konoha, that his very reason for accepting all the blame and dishonour of a rogue shinobi was to protect his little brother. Sasuke…he would learn everything, which meant that Itachi's sacrifice would be for nothing, because Sasuke would then turn against the very village that Itachi would die to protect.
Everything…was pointless. All this time things could have been different if I had only known what I did now. "Itachi…Sasuke!" Gasping sharply I darted forwards, increasing my speed in order to race to their side in order to stop them. Now I also know the reason I will die, for that eventuality was something I had also seen. I cannot give Sasuke and Itachi the life of happiness together that they deserved, but if I could stop them from fighting one another, stop Sasuke from despising his brother, then perhaps in Itachi's last moments they may reconcile, and that would be enough for me. Everything had now fallen into place, and I understood after all this time all that should have been, all that could have been and all that was not. I had truly awakened my inner eye finally, though now it was too late.
I could remember all that I have ever witnessed, every single moment from the time of my birth and I could see as far into the future as I desired. None of it mattered unless I could reach those two in time, the people I have loved all my life, the two brothers whom I was willing to die for. By the time I entered the compound, they had both finished feeling out the other's strength with genjutsu. Now they were battling in reality, and the flurry of endless shuriken flew between them with sharp clattering of metal against metal which scratched unpleasantly at my ears.
My breath came in ragged gasps, the two brothers so focused on one another that they did not even notice me, powering at one another in the same moment. Itachi drew a kunai knife whilst Sasuke drew his lightning imbued sword, their faces mirroring the other with a fierceness that would terrify even the most battle hardened ninja. "Stop!" Powering all of my chakra into my feet, I gave one final push and cast my body between them just as their weapons drove towards the other, naturally turning my body to face Sasuke.
Here it was, the final countdown to the end of my life.
Three seconds – I felt Sasuke's eyes widen in horror as he realised I had placed myself between him and Itachi, flickering into view so instantaneously that I could feel the tip of his blade against my chest.
Two seconds – the blade pierced through me, sending a powerful rush of lightning through my entire body as the cold metal cut through flesh, bone and sliced partially through my heart at the same moment Itachi's kunai drove through my back with such force I felt his hand follow.
One second – seizing both of their arms as they passed through my body, I used all of my strength even as I fought against the agonising sensation that was ripping through me, keeping them from driving their weapons through me and into one another as well.
Zero.
We all froze in place, everyone going perfectly still in horror at the realisation of what had happened. I could hear Sasuke make light, breathless sounds of anguish, tears rising to his eyes as I gripped onto his arm tightly to keep his blade from moving any further towards his brother. Behind me, I could sense Itachi's equal measure of shock, staring at me as my fingers curled around his wrist, his entire arm having passed through my shoulder and ruptured my lung. Everything was silent, and for a moment the pain was so much that I no longer felt it. Then time seemed to resume its pace and I felt the blood rush to my lungs, filling them until I could sustain it no longer and I coughed, a splatter of blood striking the floor and covering my feet. "Enough. It's enough now…please…"
"YUKI!" Never had I heard Sasuke scream before and it was enough to jar me upright as both he and Itachi tried to stay as still as possible. "No…no…KARIN! KARIN HELP US!" When Sasuke turned his head his arm had followed, causing me to wince and gasp as the blade cut further against my sporadic heart as it thundered erratically, struggling to continue going. I coughed up more blood as I pulled Sasuke's sword out from my chest and I heard it clatter to the ground as my knees buckled. Immediately Itachi pulled his arm free and also dropped his weapon, raising an arm to catch me before I could fall and guided me to the ground, Sasuke grasping at my arms. "Why? Why did you do that?! Stupid Miyuki, you weren't supposed to die too!"
"Sasuke-kun…" Utterly blind, I felt as if I were trapped in a world of darkness and pain. It was a lonely feeling, even with Itachi holding me in his arms.
"Let go of her, you have no right to touch her! Get your filthy, bloodied hands off her!" Sasuke was completely losing his control, insanity touching at his mind in his grief and despair at having hurt me. Killed me, even. It was just as I had seen, many years ago when I first witnessed my own death. Now I understood why.
"Hush…" Groping in the dark, I eventually found Sasuke's face and smoothed my palm against his cheek, feeling his own hand come to grasp hold of mine tightly as his sobs echoed through the shadows of my darkness. "Hush now…everything…will be alright." I did not have a lot of time, I could barely speak as it was, coughing up more blood as I continued to bleed inwardly and outwardly. "Sasuke-kun…Itachi…is not who you think."
"Miyuki!" Itachi warned me sharply, though his voice cracked with emotion as he held onto me for all he was worth.
"Itachi…he will know everything." Revealing to him the truth, my other trembling hand slowly lifted until I felt the brush of his hair against my fingertips, guiding me closer until I was touching his head also. "Someone will tell him…after we are gone. Please…tell him yourself. Let it come from you." Hacking again, I felt the last of my strength begin to leave me and my hands both dropped limply to the ground, though Sasuke was quick to catch the hand that had been resting against his cheek, clasping it tightly and pressing it to his brow. "Please…do not…die with…his hatred."
"Yuki, you're not going anywhere. Karin can save you, she's…she's a medic ninja…just hold on until I get her." Sasuke informed me but I did not let him pull away, shaking my head. It was possibly a cruel twist of fate's humour, but in the moment that I lay dying, I could not have felt happier for I was with both Sasuke and Itachi together for the first time in so many years. The happiness spread through me from my chest to the tips of my fingers and toes, filling me entirely with a warmth which finally banished away the last of my pain and brought light back to me.
For the first time in my entire life, I smiled a true smile. My lips drew themselves back as I laughed weakly, closing my eyes to fully immerse myself in the sensation of Itachi's arms and Sasuke's hands around mine, showing pale white teeth stained with crimson red, a striking contrast against my pale porcelain features. It was true, I was finally at the zenith of my peace and joy, so I smiled for the first and last time. "Sasuke-kun…Tachi…I love you both. Farewell…and…thank you…for everything…" Now completely unable to speak, I began to exhale as my heart slowly wilted in its pulsing, growing weaker and weaker.
"Yuki, Yuki!" Itachi shook me and I felt hot tears drip onto my own face as he hunched over me, strangling a cry as he began to sob openly. "You cannot die Yuki…you were never meant to die! I'm sorry…I'm sorry, I lied. I lied about what I said in the Tsykuyomi, I did want to marry you. I wanted you to be my wife, but I did not think I was worthy to touch you with these hands of mine…I'm sorry…please live Yuki…"
"Yuki onee-chan, Miyuki!" Both Sasuke and Itachi were calling out my name as my heart beat its last, though it was several moments later before my body shut down completely so I could still hear them even as I faded into the most perfect darkness. Death. It carried me away with the echoes of their mournful pleading still echoing in my mind, their tears conveying the fullness of their grief for my death. I felt no regrets, and as I felt myself fall into the eternal sleep, I was content in the knowledge that Itachi would soon follow me. Perhaps now I will finally know the answer to what happens to those who die, to whether or not there was an afterlife.
All I could hope was that, if there were, I will find Itachi there, and finally be together forever.
