The next week. It was amazing how fast one week can pass when you're surrounded by people. This is what's its like not living alone.
After lunch Reiyana went to find Tina. She knocked on the door, and heard muffles of sounds. There was a man's voice. Tina finally opened the door, looking flushed. Reiyana peered in, and saw Deidara sitting on the bed, grinning sheepishly.
Reiyana frowned with a smirk. "You two having fun?"
Tina turned even redder, and Deidara's grin widened. Reiyana rolled her eyes. "Sorry to disturb. Hope I didn't ruin anything. Bye!"
Reiyana went down the hall to Itachi's room, hoping he could spar with her. Instead, he wasn't there. So, she turned left and went into the rec room hoping to find somebody. As soon as she opened the door, a group of whispers and laughter erupted from one corner of the room. The other side of the room remained silent.
Turns out Kisame and Hidan were huddled in the corner, reading a book. She looked to the other side of the room. Itachi, Sasori, and Zetsu were in a concentrated game of Clue.
Suddenly, Sasori's voice burst through the quiet. "I know it! It's Dr. Phil!"
Zetsu's eyebrow twitched.
"It's because," Sasori continued "Remember the time he went to the bathroom and came out with a suitcase, it must've held the gun!"
Itachi's face paled, and Zetsu's fist landed on the game board, scattering the game cards.
"Heyy" She said rather loudly. Every one looked up.
"Uh, I'm going to train. Anybody wanna come?"
Everybody raised their hand.
"Ok girly. Dare to spar with me?"
"You? Sure, just tell me one thing, are you a weed or a flower?"
Bursts of laughter came from the men. Zetsu growled.
Zetsu charged at her, an unwise move. As the two fought, the surrounding members stood in a semi-circle around them and laughed and commented.
"Yo Itachi" Kisame looked at him.
"What"
"You got a thing for the girl, neh"
Itachi narrowed his eyes on Kisame. "What makes you think that?"
"Uh, I dunno. You know, guy gets girl, girl likes guy, guy—"
"Yeah. Keep on dreaming Kisame"
Zetsu backed up. "Itachi!" he called.
"What's the matter with you?" Reiyana questioned, amused. "Can't beat me?"
Zetsu turned to her. "Of course I can beat you! I just don't want to use my energy, I got a mission tomorrow you know"
"Oh, do you're proving that you do need to use all energy to beat me. I get it. Itachi! Come over here! Your organic friend here 'doesn't want to use his full energy'.
Zetsu walked back to the semi-circle, and on the way stopped to confront Itachi. "You bastard! What kind of person did you bring back?"
Itachi just smirked and stepped up to face Reiyana. She smiled and relaxed, a perfect opening. Itachi threw a few kunai, each one of them hit the target. Reiyana fell to the floor, eyes wide and bleeding. Everybody waited for the 'POOF' to prove it was s substitution justu, but it never came.
"Itachi is not stronger than me!"
"Shut up flower."
Itachi just stood there. It was impossible for her to do this, but he didn't know any other jutsu that can do this. He racked his brain. Substitution jutsu usually use simple resources such as logs, and when killed would turn to its original resource.
She couldn't have…used her own body?
Something on that corpse moved, but it wasn't her physical body. Itachi felt a blow behind him, and the next second thrown in the air. He flipped, and landed on his feet, massaging his back. That hurt. He was going to get her back for that.
He heard a giggle like the rustle of trees or the flight of wind. It surrounded him.
"Itachi…do you know where I am?"
"No" He quietly said, but it was noticed by Deidara.
"Hey! Itachi's talking to himself!"
Kisame let out a loud laugh. He continued laughed until he was crying, and that's when every one heard something in the wind.
"Shut up you fishhh"
Kisame stopped so abruptly he choked on his own saliva.
Itachi heard it again.
"I'll give you a hint Uchiha…"
"…look at my shadow"
His eyes scanned his surroundings, but didn't see any signs. He needed to concentrate.
Reiyana was having fun. This was always one of her favorite techniques, because it was fun to tease the victim. Her fake body, Anna, lay there, still living but badly wounded. She remembered she got that body two three months ago…in Suna…from an old woman called Chiyo. She sculpted it for her, and now that half-living corpse is her fake body and extra weapon.
Was it just Deidara, or was it getting colder?
"Hey! Was it just me or is it getting colder? It's start of summer!"
The hairs on Reiyana's neck stood on end, as her spine sent shivers up and down. This was her opportunity to get Tseto and retrieve Yuketosa. She quickly relived her fake.
Its bloody body shot out the kunai like bullets, and then all the blood drained. She got up, and followed her master.
Reiyana stopped, stabbed Anna with her katana and let Anna slump against a tree. Reiyana jumped across the river and traveled the long way to Tseto's hideout.
Tseto noticed the Akatsuki scouting the grounds, probably looking for Reiyana. He had to get her faster than they. As he was jumping from tree top to tree top, he spotted a corpse lying on the ground, and went to see it.
As he neared he saw Reiyana, stabbed by one of his katana. He picked her up and was about to leave when he heard a familiar voice.
"Put her down"
Smirking, Tseto turned around to face Itachi. "Well well well. I was thinking I can just leave without a fight. But, it seems not."
Itachi knew Reiyana's intentions and he also knew that the Reiyana in Tseto's arms isn't the real.
As Anna lay on the ground, motionless, the two men fight.
"Looking for this?"
Reiyana turned around to see a man around twenty-five, arms folded and leaning against the wall with Yuketosa in front of him.
Reiyana made a grab for her sword, which he blocked with his hands.
"You know, we have a good time, if you want…"
She punched him and grabbed her sword. He gasped and laughed nervously.
"Ahahaha, take your sword and leave. You should really thank me for—"
A ghoulish scream, followed by many others.
"Anna!"
The sound of her master's voice awoke her, as she quickly pulled the kunai out of herself to get up.
Tseto's eyes widened when he saw the blood drain from Reiyana. Out of nowhere came a blade to his face, but he avoided it just in time.
He flipped, and spun around to see two Reiyanas and Itachi.
"What the fuck" He muttered underneath his breath.
He was outnumbered, he had to retreat.
Tseto created a series of hand jutsu, and a large amount of water formed into a tornado, which Tseto entered.
Just as he stepped into the current, he said, "Next time, Reiyana"
Anna has no emotion. She is just a clone made of flesh and blood. She did not have feelings. She knows that, because everyday she would convince herself.
She only serves her master. She only loves her master. Every time her master uses her Anna feels grateful she can be of use.
Her worst fear would be if no one wanted her. Nobody knows, but every blade that pierces her skin, it hurts. But she is used to that.
It hurts a lot.
"Village of the Mist?"
Itachi nodded. Reiyana looked down, and paused. Finally she said, "Ok."
"Something wrong?"
"No"
"…"
"Oh, and thanks…for backing me up"
"…"
SLAM
One week later
This was all faded memories, all unreal. Looking back at her hometown felt like a dream, as if all the edges are faded and the sounds around her are blocked.
As Reiyana walked around the village she couldn't help but recognize faces of her tormentors. And the Mizukage, he was a real wimp.
The group of Akatsuki dragged out until midnight, where they decided to attack. First target, Mizukage.
Zetsu and Kisame went, while the rest roamed the village looking for the living. Somewhere in the middle of the night, Konoha was informed and called to help.
Reiyana was in a daze, killing her former enemies in a blur. She stopped by a manor, and looked inside. It hit her that this was her home, the exact place where her father always sits, his father's study.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she walked slowly around. When she came to a room that used to be hers, she went in, looking in the closet and the drawers. That's when she noticed a shaft lying on her bed. In the dim moonlight, Reiyana picked it up and pulled the sword out. It was slightly smaller then Yuketosa, and a bit lighter. She ran her finger along the edge, and a drop of blood trickled down her hand.
On the shaft, blade, and handle, there carved a name: Sakarazuki. Her family name.
Reiyana quickly tore her eyes away. That was such a cold, distant name to her.
The sword was her father's, no doubt about it. Reiyana quickly let her hand loose of the handle, as if it would curse her. Images flooded in, dream the other night and from her childhood.
Still sitting on the edge of the bed, she lowered her head to her hands, and held them there. She started shaking, burning tears dropping as each memory haunted her, but she was not making a sound, she was silently letting the tears fall.
The day she went home after being rejected again, her father was dead. She entered his study to talk, and found him, on the ground, blood everywhere. Remembering the day of the empty house, the heartless atmosphere, the dead air. The feeling of dread, rejection, hurt, and loneliness urged her to run away from that place. She had been hiding from her past, but it found her and it is now tormenting her.
"Reiyana!" Tina ran in, shocked and anxious. She kneeled down, and shook Reiyana's shoulders.
"Reiyana! What happened?"
Tina lifted Reiyana's chin and revealed a pale and ghostly face with empty eyes and quivering lips.
"Oh dear"
Reiyana blinked, then wiped away her tears. "I'm ok, Tina. Really. Let's go."
"Are you sure?" Reiyana nodded and picked up Yuketosa. She took another look at her father's sword, and decided to take it with her too.
Outside, there seemed to be even more killing. Seems like Konoha got the message in time and they have sent…a few genin squads led by a few chuunin…and some Jounin. Funny.
Strapping Yuketosa to her back, she saw another name carved on the side of the handle of the other sword. Tsukanra. A beautiful name. One that meant fearless and brave, with a silent melody sweeter than the song of a nightingale.The name of her father's sword. Reiyana left Tina, and walked down the streets, dragging Tsukanra on the ground.
A blond kid. Running toward her. Probably one of those people with out common sense.
Naruto finally saw an enemy, so he rushed forward to challenge them into a fight. For a moment he almost stopped. As he looked into those eyes, he could see Sasuke's eyes, Neji's eyes, Gaara's eyes, Haku's eyes, his eyes.
Naruto created clones of himself and surrounded Reiyana.
As many of his clones came near Reiyana, she used Tsukanra to kill them in one swif, making the POOF sound every where. Finally only one Naruto was left. He charged his Rasengan.
Reiyana watched with curiosity. She opened her own hand, and concentrated her death seal chakra. It made a black energy current, but she was unsure. Naruto just charged foward, so Reiyana used her chakra in her hand to block. This blond kid with no commen sense may be an idiot, but he was strong.
Each energy current was even, the same power. Reiyana reached into Naruto's weapon pouch and took out a kunai, about to stab him. Naruto quickly withdrew his rasengan and flipped back.
"What is your name?"
At this the blond beamed. "I"m Uzamaki Naruto, the Future Hokage! Believe it!"
"Naruto..." This name sounded familiar..."...Gaara..."
"You know Gaara?"
"You met him at your chuunin exams, didn't you? I was there. He had asked me to come, but as soon as Orochimaru started his business I left. I don't want to kill you. I have heard from Gaara that you are someone special."
Reiyana walked past a stunned Naruto, until she turned around and called to him. "Uzamaki Naruto! If you're going to be Hokage, be a good one."
"Lee!"
"Yeah?"
Neji came closer. "Scout up ahead and if you spot any Akatsuki, we'll go ahead and fight, ok?"
"Yeah sure Neji. We're a team!"
Neji walked away, leaving Lee standing there in his good guy pose...ping.
Lee went ahead, as Neji followed, observing their surroundings. The village of the mist was small, and there was not much forest. Neji stopped to see an Akatsuki sitting against a tree from behind, studying a sword.
"Lee! Come over here!"
Neji activated his Byakugan, and narrowed his eyes at the enemy. A female...
Reiyana already sensed two ninja, standing on the tree top a tree away from her. She looked up, and saw two figures. In a second they jumped down, a few feet in front of her, in fighting stances.
She frowned, and tilted her head slightly. "...Hyuuga? I believe you are...Neji?"
Neji was taken aback. "What makes you think that I am who you say I am?"
A smirk crept up to her lips. "Well, because i recognize you. I was at the Chunnin Exams. So, are you going to fight me? Let's take you and this fuzzy brows beside you."
Reiyana got up, and brushed her self off. "Hm? What do you think I should do, Neji? I don't really want to kill you guys, I mean, you're young, you don't deserve to have your life ended so early."
Causiously,Neji quietly spoke. "Well, depends on how strong your allegiance to Akatsuki is"
Reiyana nodded."What about you, fuzzy brows?"
"WELL, I think that me and Neji here are youthful flowers in the spring, and we do not deserve to die so early. But, we would like to fight with someone like you, as you must be more powerful"
At this Reiyana dangeriously narrowed her eyes, causing Lee to slightly gasp. "I am NOT wasting my time fighting you weak imbeciles, as I have better things to do."
She turned around and headed the other way. From behind her Lee ran towards her. Reiyana waited until the last second to attack. She spun around just as Lee was millimeters away, and flung Lee to her right with her back arm.
"Heh. Pathetic."
"Itachi!"
Itachi turned around. "What is it?"
Tina, with a frightened face, went to find Itachi after she lost Reiyana. "S-something happened to Reiyana"
His features darkened. "...What happened?"
"I-I found her in the Sakarazuki estate, she w-was, crying, and holding this sword, and she looked like a ghost, I don't know what happened, then I took her out, and then when I turned around again she wasn't there, I, I don't know what happened to her"
-------
Reiyana, still shook, settled down, ready to hide in the shadows again. She knew this was the wrong way to solve the problem, but this was the only way her mind was operating. She was sweating but cold all over. It just...hurt...so much.
She heard a rustleling sound somewhere around her but she still kept her head low. I don't care...let them kill me...it's not like I want to live...
"What happened?"
"...Itachi?"
"Reiyana, tell me, what happened?" Itachi tilted her chin, and lower his eye lids, showing his eye lashes.
"I-I don't know...I found my father's sword, and..."
"...ok, get up. We're going. The Mizukage is dead, we've completed our mission"
Reiyana's arms snaked around Itachi's neck, and pulled him close. Itachi didn't make a sound, he just knelt there, not moving, letting Reiyana cry in his chest.
----
Works of fate in Tseto's favor. In a time like this it was perfect. When she is weak and vulnerable, all is easy to break and manipulate. Unfortunately Tseto knew of this, and atthis moment planning a sinister affair.
In the kitchen...
"That's four days Reiyana didn't eat anything!"
"I wonder what's wrong with her"
"Maybe she's going on a diet!"
"Maybe you should go on a diet!"
"I'm not fat!"
"Of course you're not fat. You're super-fat!"
"Shut up! I'm not the one who weighs 100 pounds more than the average sumo!"
As Zetsu and Kizame bickered, Itachi quietly ate his dinner, thinking about the past four days.
After dinner Itachi made his way to Reiyana's room again, after a visit two daysbefore and being thrown out. He gently knocked. No sound. He pushed on the door, and it swung open. On the bed lay Reiyana, eyes open and staring at the ceiling.
Itachi breathed out and walked towards the edge of her bed. Her face was emotionless, her eyes empty, her lips a unhealthy pale color, and her cheeks hollow. The only actions she did was breath slowly and blink. Reiyana wore a loose black silk robe, all ruffled up from lying there in her mess of sheets.
"Aren't you going to eat?...Or are you planning on dying like that?"
"...I...don't really have a reason to live anyways..."
"What about Sabaku no Gaara?"
She had finally looked at him. "...What about him?"
Itachi leaned against the wall. "He's your nephew isn't he?"
"How did you know?"
"I have a friend here who's from Suna. I may never find any files on you, but on your distant family."
"Gaara is my cousin's son. She was sacrificed."
"Well, if you die what about your nephew?"
"I'm hungry."
Itachi was slightly relieved she decided to live again, but he would never tell her or anybody in that case. Reiyana lifted herself up and grasped the edge of the bed with her bony hands.
"You're much thinner" Itachi commented. Her nails, intead of red polish, was now clear. Nothing.
When they got to the kitchen, everyone was gone. Reiyana sat down and Itachi got up to look in the fridge. He took out an apple and tossed it to Reiyana. Itachi sat down with another apple and two cuttiing knives. He passed one to Reiyana and took one to rid the apple of its skin.
Reiyana saw him do so, so she tried too. In a second she recieved a cut. Itachi was frowning and trying not to laugh. Reiyana, despite her depression, giggled shamelessly. "Oops..."
Itachi was desperatly forcing the corners of his mouth down and trying to smirk instead. "You'rea weilder of a big heavy sword and you can't even shave the skin of an apple"
The color was beginning to return to Reiyana's cheeks. Itachi finished shaving his and gave his apple to her. He took her apple.
"You know, Itachi, you're so sweet sometimes it hard to believe you killed your whole clan"
"..."