A/N: Thanks to those people who reviewed the special chapter. All of them want to see if Itachi will see Subaru. (Whew!) Well, we are now going back at the usual point of view, Subaru's point of view. Let's see if he gets to see the mistress of Ichikawa. Shall we?
CHAPTER 16:
REVERIE IN THE RAIN: A DAY OF CONFESSIONS
"Are you sure about that?" Naruto asked.
His voice was getting into my nerves. He kept on insisting that my decision was wrong and should just let Konoha do the job. I rolled my eyes as he kept on ranting about it.
"But, I think Naruto is right… Subaru-chan." Sakura suggested.
Her voice was gentle and sad. Sakura has always been gentle to me since I lived with her. She always assured that I'm fine and comfortable in all time. Her brilliant green eyes lost its luster while saying those words.
"I'll be fine, you'll see." I said.
I smiled brightly at Sakura. But, behind that sweet smile lies a bitter downfall of my heart. It was breaking my heart to see these teenagers so worried about me. And, myself… was covering them from the pain of losing. But, they were not kids anymore. There were now grown-ups and they clearly understand the risk of doing such thing. It was suicidal, I know. But there's nothing I can't do. It was the only way I know to save them…
… And save Konoha…
Konoha… the land where my family was furnished and faded. Just like the petals of a chrysanthemum, slowing dying and being carried by the wind. This was the place where I was born, and hopefully…
… Die…
But still, the lines from that old notebook from the graveyard puzzled me. My father knew this would happen. But, since when did he know this? I haven't finished my training about that jutsu. Luckily, the notebook contained the important things and also the steps on how to perform the reverse jutsu properly and perfectly. It was like; everything was planned according to my family.
I noticed Sasuke was been so quiet since Naruto and Sakura was been ranting about my decision. He never reacted nor gave Naruto a word. I was surprised that he was not giving any attention on Naruto's reactions. His eyes were deep… into a deep ravine of complexity. I knew that there were a lot of questions popping around his mind. But, when will Sasuke have the strength and confidence to ask those questions? I knew those questions were for me. Will he wait for me to die before asking those questions? Insensitive and typical Sasuke, I told myself.
"Neh… Subaru-chan…" Naruto said.
"Yes." I answered.
"Do you think you already found that person you spend your life?"
"Huh?"
"I mean… the one that was in the notebook…"
"Oh…"
I still remembered those words. I will perform the jutsu unless I found the love of my life… the one I will spend my life or should I say, two years. I think I found him, but it was too impossible.
"Subaru-chan, I'm also curious about that." Sakura said.
"Well, maybe… he's just around the corner." I answered.
"But, the note says that you will do that when you found the one you'll spend your life with!" Naruto insisted.
"Well… I can spend my next two years with the three of you…"
"You're trying to hide it, didn't you?" Sasuke blurted.
The question shut me up. He was right. I was trying to hide from the truth that Itachi was the one I want to spend my next two years. How could I tell to them that I found it? I found the contentment and happiness to the guy that almost kill them and threatening their lives!
"What are you trying to say, Sasuke?" Sakura asked.
"She's trying to hide the fact that she found the one she'll spend her life with." Sasuke answered forlornly.
"Well… and who do you think it is, Uchiha?" Naruto asked.
"Subaru can answer that." Sasuke said.
"Stupid! How can you tell that she already found the right guy for her, when you… yourself haven't found yours!" Naruto shouted.
"Look who's talking? You haven't found yours too." Sasuke said.
"I've found her, and I'll make sure she'll be with me." Naruto yelled.
"And, who is it?" Sasuke asked.
"You…" Naruto gritted.
I chuckled. These two 15-year old ninjas were challenging themselves to confess their feelings. I knew Naruto's girl. It was the naïve and innocent Hyuuga Hinata. He already confessed his feelings to the girl last night over a date. He told me how Hinata reacted on it. I was happy for Naruto. And, in Sasuke's case? I was getting a little bit nervous on the turnover of this argument. It might turn out that Sasuke will be the one telling a shocking truth than Naruto. But, I still wonder who can melt Sasuke's heart, since his brother's heart was already melting under the sunbeams.
"Then, you haven't found her. Or maybe you still didn't tell her your feelings didn't you?" Sasuke was being assertive. He knew that Naruto didn't have the confidence to tell to a girl what he really feels. Most of the time, Sasuke's deduction was always right. But, now… He was wrong!
"I have found her…" Naruto said. His cheeks were blushing. His hands were on his pockets.
"Then, why don't you tell us who?" Sasuke challenged Naruto.
"Hinata-chan!" Sakura yelled.
Sakura went to Hinata. But, Hinata ran to Naruto and greeted him with a very shy but sweet smile.
"Good mor-ning, Naruto-kun." Hinata said.
"Ah… Good morning too… Hinata-chan…" Naruto said shyly.
"What's going on?" Sakura asked.
"Well, why don't you ask Hinata?" I said.
I looked at them keenly while Hinata was telling what was going on. I was really into observing their reactions over the relationship that was developing over Hinata and Naruto. I really do believe that opposites really attracts, in certain aspects, I guess.
"WHAT?" Sakura yelled.
"So, she's your girl?" Sasuke asked, with eyes widened.
"Yeah…" Naruto said, while scratching his head.
Hinata put his arms around Naruto's arms. It was a sweet view. Naruto suddenly chuckled devilish. He knew that he won Sasuke's challenge.
"So, Sasuke… where's yours?" Naruto said.
"It's none of your business, stupid." Sasuke said.
But I looked at Sasuke with a very sincere thought that my guess was right. He loves Sakura, and care for her so much. Sasuke looked at Sakura with a very delightful smile. He knew his girl was around with him since the start. Lucky Sasuke, with a very sweet and thoughtful girl, Sakura, I thought to myself.
"It's like I win in the challenge. Huh? Sasuke." Naruto said.
"Wh-at chal-lenge, Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked.
"Ah… I'll tell you later, Hinata-chan."
"So, why are you here, Hinata?" I asked her.
"Well… Anko-sen-sei wa-nts to see you. Suba-ru-chan." She answered.
"Anko-sensei wants to see me?"
"Yes. She to-ld me whi-le we ar-e ha-ving our train-ing."
"So, where she is now?"
"She's at th-e Ko-no-ha brid-ge wai-ting for you. She al-so to-ld me th-at you ha-ve to bri-ng sna-cks." She told me.
"Thanks, Hinata. I think I better go now. I still have to go to the grocery to buy snacks. Darn that, Anko-sensei! When will she be the one to treat me?" I bid goodbye to them as I ran the streets of Konoha.
"Better be home before Sir Kakashi checks you up in my house!" Sakura yelled.
"I will!" I screamed.
----------+----------
"I don't know if that's the right decision, Subaru." Anko-sensei told me while she was munching the fish balls I bought from the food store.
"Why did you say so?" I asked.
"Well… as you have told me, there's a sacrifice on doing that. You are too young to die. You haven't experience what life has to offer you!"
"Anko-sensei… I know. But, I don't want to waste my life anymore lurking in guilt and self-pity."
"I do… understand what you feel." Her eyes suddenly lost its sparkle. Her voice became soften and gentle.
"What do you mean?"
"I haven't told you my past right? Maybe, its time you should know it. Besides, you're my first ever student. Unfortunately, unofficial."
"Yeah… unofficially." I smirked.
"I was a student of a legendary ninja. My teacher came from the legendary Sannins."
"Legendary Sannins? I'm sorry, but I don't know anything about legendary ninjas."
"Oh yeah! I almost forgot!" Anko-sensei smiled. She was scratching her head.
But after few seconds, Anko-sensei's smile faded. Her assertive attitude suddenly shifted into acquiescent demeanor. She bowed down. Her face was under the shadow of a painful regrets and thoughts. There was a sudden rush of curiosity flowing in my veins.
"Legendary Sannins are legendary ninjas. They were called legendary because they were warriors during the Ninja Wars. They saved Konoha from the invaders…"
"The Sannins were comprised of Tsunade-sama, Jiraiya-sama… and Orochimaru-sensei…" She continued. "Orochimaru was my sensei, and was very proud of me. Until…"
"Until?" I asked.
"Orochimaru-sensei turned his back to Konoha. He even gave me a curse seal to become his slave. I was angry to him… and at the same time, I was guilty over it. I love Konoha. But I still went to him because I want to save Konoha from myself. Since, I already have a curse seal… it will always remind me that I was under his authority."
"But where is the curse seal now?"
"That's the big question. The seal disappeared for an unknown reason."
"Ah… do you love Orochimaru?"
"Maybe the curse seal disappear that way…" She answered in undertone.
"Ah… Anko-sensei… I think the rain is starting to fall..." I said.
Anko-sensei suddenly stood up from the ground. She looked up in the sky. I felt a droplet of water fell in my lap. But she was feeling the rain slowly falling in her face. I realized how beautiful Anko-sensei is.
She was brash, and that's so common. Everyone knew that. She was the aggressive, very loud-mouthed and arrogant Anko. But, the Anko-sensei I saw a while ago was the soft side of the annoying teacher of mine. I was privileged to see how beautiful and fragile her soul is…
… How I wish my soul were beautiful as hers…
"Stand up! You got to go home before Kakashi check you out at Sakura's house."
I stood up and fixed everything. I stood up and saw two butterflies hovering over one beautiful rose. The first butterfly was white and the other one was black. I smiled, as I looked up to them in great awe and appreciation.
"Butterflies… look at them. They were sharing the same flower but with too much different colors…" Anko-sensei remarked.
"Yeah…" I said.
"Subaru…" She called.
"Yes?"
"I think you have found the reason to live. That's why you decide to save Konoha. You deserve better than this. But I'm still proud to meet you, and become your teacher. I know you'll become a great ninja… I know… Brave enough…"
I turned my back to Anko-sensei. I felt the pain from her words. I can't help but to cry silently while picking up the basket. My heart was breaking. I wanted to bring back my words and just decide to get away from this. But, this was my destiny. I knew it from my heart. I have to do this. I decided to sacrifice this because I love this people… and…
… Love can really hurt so much…
I wiped my tears and prepared a smile to face Anko-sensei bravely. I ran to her side. She suddenly put her arm around my shoulder and said.
"Hmm… I wonder who is the reason of your life?" She asked.
"Huh? Why "who"?" I said.
"Because, it's a girl instinct." She said.
"Hah!"
"I'm sorry that I can't walk you home today. I still have a meeting to make up with Ibiki-san. It's actually a date rather than a meeting."
"A date? That's nice!"
"Wah! I think so. So, I'll leave you here. I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Sure!"
----------+----------
"Darn! I forgot to bring my umbrella!" I said to myself as I ran to the nearest store to protect myself from the rushing fall of rain.
The air was getting colder, and the rain was getting harder than the usual expected. I suddenly heard a step away from me. It was very gentle but it was very much familiar.
I tried to warm myself by rubbing my hands. But, it was no use. I looked up in the sky and ranted.
"Why now? I promise to Sakura to be back before Kakashi check me up at their house! Now, what will I do?"
I felt a sudden different throb in my heart. I was surprised by my body's reaction. I looked at my right side and saw a figure. The rain was making the sight blurry.
"Who's there?" I yelled.
"Why you are all alone going home, Subaru?" the figure said.
There was a sudden rush of blood. There was a very different delight going through my whole body. The voice was familiar! I knew it was Itachi.
"Itachi?" I asked.
The figure came closer and the sight become clearer. It was really Itachi! My heart pounded in bliss. I saw the man who gave me the reason to survive… the one I know I'll spend my life with…
"You should have bring your umbrella." He said.
"I forgot." I said.
I can't stop myself from running to him. I put my arms around him and hugged him tightly. I missed him so much. He gently put his arms around my waist. I heard a chuckle from him.
"The rain is falling harder." He said.
"I must be dreaming…" I uttered.
"Huh?"
"Nothing. Just stay with me, please?"
A/N: Chapter 16 is already done! And, I need reviews to it! I kinda change my style and writing. I know that this chapter is a cliffhanger. (Screaming people at background.) You just have to see the next chapter to know what's next. And, people, thanks for reviewing my previous chapter. And, thank you again! Take care and God bless!
