Naruto Fan Fiction!
Adventure! SI-OC!
(Title)
"A Song for Them"
A/N: Damn it all! This was suppose to be much longer -twice as long- but Sasuke was being an absolute ass and wouldn't cooperate with me! I've been spending the last week trying to figure out how he feels and lemme tell 'ya. Even Sasuke doesn't know what Sasuke feels. So, after spending the entire day bashing a keyboard against my head I finally called it quits and chopped it in half.
I'm unsatisfied because I wanted to close the book on this Arc this chapter but I guess we have to wait one more chapter. Feel free to blame Sasuke, that's what I'm doing. But still, I do rather like this one even if it isn't how I wanted it exactly. Enjoy.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own 'Naruto' or any of the cannon characters! No witty comment to add this time. I know, I should be ashamed.
WARNING! RATED M! Language. Blood, violence and 'It' has a very warped but convincing thought process. Moral grey areas? An overall intense chapter with some angst, you've been warned.
Exam I Arc,
Chapter Thirty-Three: "Dark Temptations"
"Unexpressed emotions will never die. They are buried alive and will come forth later in uglier ways." -Sigmund Freud
Terra narrowed her eyes at the pond.
She huffed as she gave a glance around the nearby space. She'd rather be on the sand right now instead of standing in the middle of the grass field, standing in front of a pond. It was an average sized pond, not big enough for a boat to sit in yet big enough for a swim. It's waters were fairly dark, indicating it's depths were deep. Overall it looked entirely ordinary.
Except for the fact there didn't used to be a pond here.
Neither Terra nor Sora had put this new piece of scenery here, so that begs the question of where exactly it came from? It held no significance unlike the House of Memories to The Box of Very Bad and Dark Things, this wasn't even part of the scenery Terra had so painstakingly constructed over the course of several years-The creepy arse pond was throwing the whole thing off! It upset the Woman deeply and on a number of levels.
She was well aware of the ever distressing fact that they had two new additions to their consciousness, but what she didn't know is that either of the interlopers had any power to alter their mindscape, their sanctuary. If they could manipulate their mind. So no matter how much she'd rather be doing something else, they needed to find out what it was and deal with it accordingly.
"...fudging bullwiki." she cursed in her own way. Still bitter that she had to be the one to do this while the Girl was playing with leaves. "Why do I have'ta be the one to deal with this crap? Sky-girl is much better at cleaning out the junk." the Woman continued to grumble bitterly to herself as she warily edged her way towards the pond. Someone had to investigate it and the Girl was a bit preoccupied with a leaf at the moment.
Coming up to the edge where the grass floor just drops and turns into a water-filled pit, standing on the tips of her toes she couldn't see the bottom. She held her breath as she inched closer to the edge, warily expecting some kind of creature to rear it's ugly head the moment she let her guard down. Slowly, she crept along the grass as-"What are you-" "AHHHHHHH!"
Terra screamed, spinning on her heel to see the white-skinned man giving her an unamused look from the other side of the pond. The Woman's face twisted into a snarl as she realized that there really was a monster that appeared, though admittedly not the one she was expecting.
"DON'T DO THAT!" she screeched, glaring darkly at the overly pale man. He made no visible reaction but they could both feel his annoyance with the Woman. "What are you even doing out this far? I thought I told you to stay on the beach!"
A thin brow raised as he looked at her passively, "Do you think that I am some kind of child to order around?" an unkind smile twisted his lips. "How amusing."
"No! But you are a guest and guests shouldn't try to give their hosts a heart attack!" she yelled, hand over her -non-existent- heart as she tried to calm her breathing.
Orochimaru didn't sigh per se, but he did exhale long enough to give that effect. He decided to pursue his earlier question, "What do you find so interesting about this pond that has you so anxious. Your nervous flitting is beginning to wear my patience."
Terra grimaced and was freshly repulsed at the reminder that that man could tell what they were feeling so easily, unsettling doesn't BEGIN to describe how she feels about it. Her only condolence is that he was harmless. Physically, of course, but he could still bad ideas whisper in their ear. The trick was to not listen to him whatsoever. Here, he was the Snake and this Eve wasn't buying it any of what he's selling.
"MAYBE, you should stop goin'round and sticking bits of your soul into teens then!" she quipped, confidence boosted immeasurably by the knowledge that he couldn't do anything to her. "For your information, I'm trying not to live out a scene from a horror movie, thankyouverymuch. And failing while I'm at it. Your face and creepy-arse eyes watching my every move doesn't help much either!"
Orochimaru was disaffected my her remarks, having heard much worse exchanged between Tsunade and that idiot Jiraiya. Feelings of nostalgia washed up and the Woman shuddered, shooting a glare at the male. His feelings were unwelcome here, he could keep them all in his itty-bit of soul and leave them there.
"Where is your primary? I have matters I'd like to discuss with someone capable of coherent speech for an extended period of time.." he drawled in a condescending tone, folding his hands into the long sleeves of the dark yukata. Terra returned his mocking tone with a sneer. She really didn't like him, it was apparent that he felt very much the same about her. Terra continued to glare at him a moment longer before turning from him and resuming her self-appointed mission, walking towards the mysteriously appearing pond.
She could feel the temperature drop as she got closer, that feeling of wrong rose up instead. Craning her neck she couldn't see a bottom, only a dark depth. Then she saw a reflection in the water. Now, when one looks onto a reflective surface one expects to see themselves in said reflection, correct?
When Terra looked into the water she saw someone that was her, yet, was decidedly not. What should have been shiny and volumous honey-brown hair was instead a stringy faded brown, it was knotted and unkept giving off the appearance of a rat's nest. Chapped, blue-tinted lips on a pale face, dark circles under dull eyes that did not due her sapphire hues justice. But what really caught the Woman's attention was the angry, red, tear across the neck.
The one that was only visible on their physical body.
The twisted image seemed to... smile? Succeeding wonderfully in creeping the Woman the fudge out. "What the everlovin' heck are you?" she grumbled, leaning in closer to the mirrored surface. It's smile widened to an unnerving extent the closer the Woman's face came.
"What do you see?" she heard the Snake murmur in question, sounding much closer than he was previously. She glanced up to see he was practically standing over her shoulder now as he tried to peer into the waters as well. It was as she looked back down that she noticed it. In rapid succession her head snapped between looking up at him and looking down at the reflection of the water. The problem was, he didn't have one and the twisted reflection's smile was encroaching on 'Joker' level of creepy wide smile, successfully setting off all the Woman's alarm bells.
This was as the Woman would call it, a Very Serious Situation.
The water then seemed to shimmer, distorting the already twisted image and fear rose up in the Woman as the eyes changed. The iris turned in a colorless black while the whites of it's eyes turned a bright shade of glowing red as the pupils slit horizontally. Before Terra could even have time to react, a pale hand shot out of the water.
Terra's shrill scream echoed throughout the mindscape, followed by hoarse, cracks of laughter.
I focused. Carefully channeling my chakra through my palm, gently adding more. Slowly, the leaf began to suspend an inch off my hand with the pressure of the expelling chakra.
Both the boys were fast asleep and have been for an hour now. Sasuke had glared at me for a half and hour in an attempt of trying to convince me to sleep but I had just pulled out my Icha-Icha and ignored him, I had immensely enjoyed the small frustrated noise that escaped his throat when he saw the orange cover. The book really does make a world of difference. Well, Kakashi is the master of avoidance after all. Duckie had wrote me off after that and just went to sleep, sending a wary look at an already nervous Karin and making sure to sleep as far from her as reasonable, even going so far as to sleep next to Naruto! Sasuke chose to sleep next to Naruto. That alone should tell you how he feels about our new traveling companion.
Sweat trickled down my temple as I kept my breathing steady, I haven't focused so hard on my chakra control since we first learned the basic three back in the Academy. Still, I need to test the limits of my chakra usage to see when the Mark is going to act up. I stared hard at the leaf hovering above my palm, sticking it to myself was simple but keeping it suspended like this was significantly harder. So far it seems I'll be able to use a few explosive tags and resume tree climbing the easy way and-
THOSE MOTHERFUDGING, JELLY-FILLED DONUT HOLES! Came Terra's screech from absolutely nowhere, completely disrupting my concentration and as a result the leaf fell back into my palm as it began smoldering from the burst of chakra that burned through me in surprise and when my arm began to tingle and I felt a distinct tug I cut off all my chakra, pulling it back into my core.
'What the heck!' I snapped while hurriedly smothering the tiny embers in my hands before I inadvertently start a forest fire. Terra's seething words were soon accompanied by hoarse, cackling laughter and I had a sudden idea what had happened. I didn't get to find out the details however because that was also the moment little Karin's head popped up from where she was lying to look in my direction with wide eyes.
"Wha…?" she mumbled, alarm spiking high in her emotions. "How-How did you do that? I can't... I can't feel you anymore." I tried to focus on the girl as the voices in my head began to bicker about sick jokes and something being too good to pass up. I'd deal with that later... probably.
'Feel me', what does she-Ohhh! She's a sensor, right? I remember Before Sasuke saying something like she was the best he'd ever met. So she sensed when I suppressed my chakra, that's good because I can usual sneak through the Hyuuga compound with my chakra suppressed as long as no one is actively looking for me with their All-seeing eyes, I wonder just how good she really is, is she as sensitive as I am?
I released my hold on my chakra and her shoulders unwound with the tension I didn't notice was previously there. I lifted a hand and waved her over, hesitantly she crawled closer while I reached for my storage book. I had an idea that I've been viewing on for a while now and I'd probably get into trouble for this if anyone else found out. Anyone responsible at least, Scarecrow would probably let it slide because he secretly has a gooey center but Neko would give me that pouty disappointed look that I never get, before convincing him that I'm in the right any way.
I flipped open the book to the first page, sparing a glance at the pictures and various important reminders when Karin's hand shot out, landing on the page. I looked up in surprise to see Karin's rosy eyes look over the page of my book intently, finger tracing over one of my tokens. "What... where did you get this flower?" she asked, sounding strangely breathless.
Glancing back down at the page I watched as her finger tentatively brushed against the white petal. It was a white Hamanasu, it was from the first bouquet I bought from Inoichi-san for my Kaa-chan's birthday anniversary, I'd pressed one of the flowers in my storage book to save it as a memory and keep it with me along with my few photos. Karin actually recognizes it?
Setting the storage book down I reached for my notepad, "It's a Hamanasu. It typically grows on the coast of the ocean but there's a flower shop in the Village that grows them."
After quickly reading she looked up at me and the for the first time I saw the red-haired girl really smile, lips pulling back to show a toothy, albeit small grin. "It really is a Hamanasu?" I nodded and she continued in a hushed voice, sounding a bit awed. "I never thought I'd get to actually see one in person! My Hahaue used to talk about those all the time, how they used to be scattered across the Village where she grew up... whenever she would draw pictures of Uzushio, they'd always have Hamanasu in them."
A painful longing rose through her chakra and I had the overwhelming compulsion to wrap my arms around her and hold her until it went away. But seeing as how I couldn't... I gingerly placed my bandaged hand over hers. There's no skin contact, I reminded myself. Her eyes snapped up to mine and I could see how shiny her rosy eyes had become with water. I squeezed her hand gentle and she broke our eye contact when she lowered her head.
I didn't know much about Karin's past except that it was 'bad'? That's pretty much all I remember though. I don't know what happened to her except that she had chosen to follow Orochimaru, how bad her life at Kusa is that she'd choose a man like him rather than what she has now. I know that she turned out to be quite the hardass under Orochimaru's lead, not even showing any kind of remorse for killing her prisoners. I just didn't know much about her.
But even with what I knew... at the moment I just couldn't reconcile that woman from Before with the girl in front of me now.
I held her hand for another few minutes until her entire body went stiff, rosy eyes staring intently at our hands. I was put on alert and scanned the surrounding area with my sensing in case she had felt something I didn't and was confused when I found nothing. That is until a very red face whipped up as little Karin suddenly began to stutter incoherently, to my further surprise, she snatched her hand back from my grasp and pressed it to her chest, mumbling about personal space, I think. I felt a bemused smile grow as I looked at the strangely flustered young girl. She was simply adorable.
Remembering what I was doing only moments before, flipped through the little black book and placed my hand on the correct page, sparing a bit of chakra there was a small 'poof!' and another book appeared, this one was thicker with bold Katagana on the front.
Konohagakure's Shinobi Academy Basic Learning Manual, A Student's Guide To Becoming A Genin
I chewed the inside of my cheek as I looked over my old textbook. I could get into a lot of trouble for this. This could technically be considered traitorous on a very basic level if you squint and tilt your head. I glanced over to the girl beside me to see her eyes curiously peeking over to see what I was up to. I could get into trouble but... what if this can help her? I mean, really help her? It wouldn't teach her anything fancy, it was the bare bones basics. It teaches basic chakra control, some standard Taijustu forms, how to throw kunai, etc..
I held it out for her.
Karin blinked rapidly, staring at the book. I pushed it into her lap and she obediently took it, holding it in her hands. She adjusted her glasses as she looked up at me, "...what's this?"
"A gift." I wrote simply. I smiled, really smiled, at her and her cheeks tinted pink before she lowered her head as she clutched the book to her chest, causing her red hair to obscure her face from my view. She tried to hide it but I managed to see the tiny smile on her lips.
I decided I was finished with testing my chakra limits and reached into the front of my shirt to return to reading my current chapter of Icha-Icha. As time passed I pretended not to notice how little Karin would cautiously scoot an inch closer to me when she thought I wasn't paying attention. She was, and I repeat: Adorable. Soon we were sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with a hair's breadth of space between us. I was reclining lazily against a log as I read and she was hugging her knees to her chest.
The moon was waxing crescent and giving off the least amount of moonlight to cast shadows over the stones on the river, before eating dinner we had moved our little camp up the river a half a mile to a more secure spot with great sightlines so no one can attempt to surprise us. I had scouted it this morning after finding nobody but us were camping along the river for miles and heading into the forest. It was a strangely tranquil spot to be in this Forest of Death. The only sounds were the summer cicada singing their songs and the soft murmuring of the river with the occasional interruption by Naruto's sleepy snoring until Sasuke in his unconscious state, kicked out a foot to jostle the blonde into being quiet for a while.
It was... peaceful.
It was at that point when I finally was able to relax that a chakra signature appeared suddenly on the other side of the river of us. But of course, because why should I get a night off? I sighed irritably as Karin gasped beside me. Whatever. At least I've been expecting this development, it was about time he showed up after all. A Numb and Sterile chakra was sitting in the shadows of the tree line. A grimace pulled on my face as Karin's head whipped towards the dark forest.
"Sora-san," Little Karin whispered, eyes trying and failing to spot his presence in the shadows. "...there's somebody out there." He stilled where he was hidden in the foliage on the other side of the river, obviously in hearing range.
Consider me impressed, she could still sense him even though he was suppressing right now. I would've had a hard time finding him if I hadn't been waiting for hours. I shut my book and shoved it back down my shirt, tucking it under my mesh before I stood. I held my head high as I glared into the darkness where I could feel him.
I felt amusement in his chakra.
It caused me to scowl as I rooted around in my tools bag until I found a small spool of ninja wire littered with explosive notes. I'd made it just in case Orochi-teme came back. I pulled out the Big-Fudging-Bomb and made sure he could see just what is was, politely ignoring Karin's alarm when she saw what I had.
Another pause on his side. I glared harder if possible, tightening my grip on the wire.
I will blow you up.
If he thought that I was in any mood to deal with his crap after he knows that we had been put through the ringer by his master, then he's got another thing coming. It was a standoff and after five minutes when he still didn't move, I stuffed the BFB back into my bag and turned, briskly walking down the riverside and away from the others. I heard Karin softly call after me and I waved my hand over my shoulder, signaling her to stay put.
This was between me and him.
I felt like I was on auto-pilot as my fingers deftly worked to unwrap the bandages around my arms. I shot a look over my shoulder in his direction and felt his curiosity rise before he finally began to move away from the others. I had no idea what I was doing, my body was moving on it's own. There was no plan. Just an impulse that my body was reacting to. I couldn't-wouldn't let him get near the others if I somehow get separated from them later. I want him gone as soon as possible, don't want him near them if I can help it. As I walked I kept careful track of my breathing and heart-rate. I wouldn't lose control of myself in front of him like last time, I couldn't afford to. Kabuto didn't scare me. I faced the Snake bastard himself, Kabuto is small compared to him. I can control myself. I have to.
There was a fallen log over the river that allowed me to cross with a few careful jumps, being mindful of the slippery surface. I'd look really lame if I slipped into the river after calling him out. I stepped lightly across the large river stones to where he was waiting, heart beginning to pound against my conscious effort to keep it calm.
"I honestly thought that you knew better than to wander around by yourself at night." his voice rang out. I looked toward the source and found him leaning casually against a tree, hands in his pockets. His glasses were reflecting the sparse moonlight. "Evening, Sora-kun."
I was overcome with the strong urge to punch his face right then. His first reaction was to taunt me. Really? When I didn't rise to his bait the side of his face pulled up into a smirk as he tilted his head to the side.
"Ahh, such a scary look, Sora-kun. It doesn't suit you at all." he shook his head in faux disapproval. I know he didn't actually care. "A big draw of your character is how approachable you seem, friendly and pure. Always ready to lend a hand." he said casually, almost like he hadn't been mocking me.
I narrowed my eyes at him, choosing to ignore his comments and raising my hands to sign in Standard. He may be an enemy now but he was Konoha first. 'Objective' I asked/demanded. He raised a hand from out of his pocket and pushed up his glasses, I could see his dark eyes now. They were cold.
"You tell me. You were the one that initiated this, Sora-kun." he responded calmly, pushing off the trunk and taking a step forward. I cursed myself as my body tensed on instinct. Intent raised ever-so-slightly in his chakra and I prepared myself for what he was going to say next. "I like what you did with your hair by the way. Having it down like that takes away from your round cheeks and makes you look older, more responsible."
I don't give a damn that he's nettling me on purpose, I am tying my hair back up the second he's gone.
He continued in a unaffected way, ignoring my dark look. "I was surprised to stumble across your team on my way to the Tower and even more so when it seemed like you wanted to talk, but all you've done so far is glare and give me dirty looks." he smiled a rueful smile, "...I suppose some things never change, ne?"
I huffed, unamused and not letting up my glare one bit. 'Mission Objective' I clarified. I knew he wouldn't give me the real answer but I needed to hear whatever BS excuse he came up with so I can get this over with and he leaves. There was no way in hell that he could convince me it was a good idea to bring him along. He stopped near us, I sensed him, I demand an answer of why he's here, he gives it and I'm guessing he'll try and somehow wheedle a way to stay closer until I refute him and demand he leave. He'll have no choice but to follow his own script like the good little actor he was unless he wanted to give himself away.
"I'm really not supposed to say anything." he hummed under his breath, placing his chin in his hand as he pretended to give it deep consideration. "Buuuut… since it is Sora-kun, I guess it wouldn't hurt to share a little bit." his smile disappeared and his chakra twisted in that way that indicated someone was about to lie. Predicable. It always did come a bit too naturally for him. His face was all-in-all Very Serious as he spoke, "I'm here to keep an eye on your teammate, Uchiha Sasuke."
What the hell?!
The look of shock on my face must've been funny because the corner of his mouth twitched up in amusement before he smoothed it out and continued. "More specifically, I'm on an undercover mission to keep a close eye on Sasuke-kun. With all the foreign shinobi in the Village now it's possible someone might make an attempt to make the Last Uchiha their own. I'm here to make sure that doesn't happen."
What the absolute hell.
I hadn't thought it was possible, but he's actually gotten better at lying. It was a sort of twisted mistruth that I could maybe actually believe it if I didn't know any better. The best lies are wrapped in truth, and damn if that isn't as close to it as he is physically capable of getting. There were a few blanks left, -who he was undercover for- but that was... worryingly honest.
He smiled cheerfully, eyes closing with the pressure of his rising cheeks. "So don't worry, I'm on your side."
My eyebrow began to twitch. He had the gall-
This Is Our Chance. It whispered, I stiffened in response. This wasn't good, no, no, no good at all. There was only one thing that it could want right now.
It wanted to kill him.
'No, I don't even care that it's him we're talking about. Taking a life is never the right answer.' I said firmly. 'There is always a better way.'
To my surprise it didn't snap or begin to cuss at me, instead it's voice remained very calm, almost sweet even. But Wouldn't It Be The Right Thing To Do? If He Dies Tonight To Save Thousands And Save His Soul? Without Him There Is No Edo Tensei, No Madara.
What.
That was... no Madara? That's... my mind began running and I couldn't stop it. No Madara means no Kaguya, right? No world tree, no Eternal Tsukiyomi, no end of the world. That would be... Obito only could really start the War because of Kabuto's support, right? The Zetsu are just mindless drones, the real threat were all the near immortal and highly skilled Edo Tensei shinobi. In a way... the Fourth War starts with Kabuto.
It Could All End With Kabuto.
That's... huh. I swallowed thickly. That is... tempting.
One Touch, It whispered softly, I felt it's excitement slowly rising along with my anxiety. I felt it because it was my own. A Single Drop Of His Blood And All His Sins Will Be Erased. It Would Be Quick And Nearly Painless, If That Is What Is Holding You Back. We Would Make It Last Only The Briefest Of Seconds And We Could Rid The Snake Of His Best Tool And Spare The Spy The Responsibility Of Taking Thousands Of Lives.
My heart was pounding against my chest and my head felt light.
It whispered, softly than I'd heard it speak so far...
You Could End The War Before It Ever Starts.
My fingers twitched.
Only a touch?
I...
For a moment... she wondered. Wasn't this the right thing to do? Even the Spy would be spared the pain he caused himself in the search of his identity. It was a mercy, she knew that much. She doesn't know how she feels about the Spy, whether she wanted to help him find peace-he caused her pain, she pitied the boy who was losing himself, he tried to heal her wounds, she wanted him to hurt but he had already been in so much pain. Sometimes she could feel it, in those quiet moments. Feel the loneliness that always clung to him like a familiar shadow.
He wasn't always so good at putting on the mask.
She knew he was going to continue to hurt others, including himself. Now what would be best for him? To suffer years more in the darkness committing unspeakable acts or to embrace a new life with new eyes and a freshly cleaned soul. She knew the despair of living in the darkness intimately, craving some sort of light desperately like a thirst that could not be sated. Asura happily fills her without even realizing it. The Spy was alone in his darkness so maybe it was best to help free him of it? It was not as if everyone ended up with a broken reincarnation after all, not like her.
Though a small part of her wonders if it hadn't been some cosmic mistake but by a certain man's design instead. Perhaps one who is obsessed with souls and the transference of consciousness?
She supposes it is irrelevant now. She has Indra and Asura now, how she came to be with them did not matter in the least. She had not expected Indra to be as fulfilling as the light that is her Asura had been but after the Clan Slayer had finally gained his title, seeing the raven-haired boy so broken and lifeless as she had once been had drawn her to him, unknowingly binding him in her heart. She wanted to love and help him just as her Mother once did for her. Forgiving his understandable outburst the other night, she likes to think that she has.
But now she realizes she is getting side-tracked, though she is mostly certain on her course of action now. She felt a smile grow, stretching and curling her lips. His eyes narrowed.
He tilted his head at her, expression still set into that bland smile as the meager moonlight cast his face in shadows. It was the mask he favored most, she remembers it well. Her fists clenched, a ghost of old pain flashing through her body. Memories of days spent under dim fluorescent lights coming to the front of their mind. Nights spent lying on a mattress that felt like cardboard and wishing she was home, with the Them or with Asura wrapped in her arms, she hadn't had a preference back then. Anything had been better than living in that hole. Wishing she could at least feel the warmth of the sun on her face once more.
The was a burning behind her eyes, a buzz in the back of the skull. She could feel the chakra running through the scantly used pathways, flooding it. She held it. She would not give away her advantage to the Spy yet. Her feet moved on their own, taking five slow paces before she found she was standing in front of him, looking up into his face. She could see the cogs running in his head now as he scrutinized her, trying to figure out what on earth she was doing.
Slowly, her hand lifted towards his face. His dark eyes held nothing but unabashed curiosity behind glinting frames as he watched her movements. No malice, just simple curiosity. It would be stupid and naïve to compare it to that of a child's curiosity. It was far more detached than that. He was looking at her like she was a thing. An experiment to be observed and prodded to see what kind of reactions she would make for him as exampled by his inflammatory comments minutes ago.
He honestly believed she posed no threat to him.
She absently watched her hand move on it's own, as if it had a mind of it's own. She didn't know what came over her as her bare fingers hovered of the curve of his jaw, not touching, just... ghosting over the skin. His breaths were steady, measured and even. She could feel the heat radiating off of his body from this close. Odd, for some inexplicable reason she had expected him to be cold. Like a reptile.
"Something is... different about you." he said quietly, barely a whisper above the sounds of the forest's nocturnal wildlife. She felt his breath fan over her face, also warm in the already humid air. The air was warm but she felt somewhat cold.
His smile was gone now, dark eyes were looking over her expression more intently than before. It's only now that he realizes something is off? When he is within her grasp? Did he truly think that she was incapable of harming him? Something inside her wanted to spite him for that arrogance, she had begrudgingly expected better from him.
The expression of surprise on his face as the mask fell away would be priceless, she thinks. One drop of his blood and so much pain can be prevented. For him. For his victims. She always considered her compassion to be her greatest strength. A smile curled her lips. She wonders what kind of Song he would sing for her...? Softly, she spread her palm against his cheek, skin-against-skin, his eyes widened yet he did not pull away or retaliate. Did he know what she was planning? Did he want to die or did he simply want to know what she would do?
She would never understand someone like him, she decided.
Chakra moved up from her core, flooding through her chest and-HEY! Terra's worried voice came through the fog she didn't realize was there before.
Her chakra stilled in response.
She snarled, hand still in place. Stay Out Of This, You Parasite. We Are Doing Only What Needs To Be Done!
YOU can shove it, you crazy, murder junkie! I don't want to hear crap from you! It growled, displeased with the interruption. Sky-girl? You're still there right? A flicker of recognition. The Woman seized it. Sora! Sora, you have to remember!
He-He was-He's not a monster. I remember that he's not. I remember an awkward-looking teen just hitting the first stages of puberty. Now he's an experienced killer with little empathy for human life. I remember a strained smile and lonely eyes. Now his smile is hollow and his eyes are empty. I remember the blows against my small body, the extra time he spent holding his glowing hands over me, easing the aches. Now he helps Orochimaru with his experiments. Cuts into them and turns them inside out. I could still feel the ache of longing he felt inside, the pain and loneliness. I remember the little boy with glasses that made a deal with the devil because he missed his mother.
Lonely, unloved, orphan.
What was happening?
Oh, thank god. she sighed. I frowned. I didn't-My eyes widened in horror as my hand began to burn and I snatched it away, clutching it against my chest. I was touching him! What the hell just came over me? Was I really about to-
"Sora-kun?" his voice was closeclose-TOO-close! I stumbled back a few steps, barely managing to keep my feet under me as I did. He had a puzzled expression on his face as he watched me in silence.
It's voice raged in my head as my heart pounded while my blood roared, Don't Fucking Cower Away! This Is The Best Chance We Will Get To Kill Him! He Is A Monster That Needs To Be Stopped Now.
I took steadying breaths while ignoring the man in front of me, the one carefully watching me teeter on the brink of falling apart. Facts. Follow the logic of the problem. The facts are that Obito only declared war to draw out the last two Jinchuuriki, he did it at the summit the Raikage called after Sasuke 'kidnapped' Killer B, Sasuke only did that because he wanted to kill everyone in Konoha and it backtracks a long list of events that have changed as of two days ago. Everything has changed, hasn't it?
So what he did Before, what Kabuto's supposed to do one day doesn't matter. It doesn't matter because I'm not going to lose Sasuke and Sasuke won't start the chain. I wasn't going to let him get himself lost. Therefore nulling the chain of events. The logic fits. Right?
In... and out.
Breath.
Deep breaths.
In...
…and out.
My heart calmed and my mind quieted.
I was okay-I was in control.
I suddenly felt very old and very tired. Sometimes I really hate what this life has done to me. With too much effort I raised my hands, letting my head hang down. 'Leave'
There was a moment of quiet from him before I heard him sigh softly, "Haah. You sure are acting strangely tonight, Sora-kun. I told you that I'm only here to help... you may not believe me right now but I am looking out for you." he lied as easily as he breathed.
I couldn't stop the derisive scoff from leaving my lips. I clenched my jaw, feeling a hot anger welling up inside my chest. The fire in my core wanted release and it hurt. What was wrong with me? 'Here to help' he said, and 'on your side.' he said.
Liar.
The humming in the back of my skull was back again in full force as the skin on my arm began to crawl and burn. I reached up and started scratching at it to make the feeling go away, I didn't want it there. I felt as Kabuto's chakra spiked suddenly and my eyes snapped up to his face. His mouth was open ever so slightly and his eyes were wide as he stared at my arm.
Hah. Surprise.
Even the veteran spy couldn't hide his complete surprise at this plot twist, I almost felt like smirking at the bewildered look in his eyes if I had any energy left to enjoy the moment. It was too soon as the genuine emotion was washed away and replaced with the mask once more. There was no smile as he looked at me.
'Leave' I signed again.
He stared after me with those cold eyes until he gave a curt nod, apparently with a new course of action in mind. His voice was deceptively pleasant as he spoke, "This was interesting. I'll look forward to the next time we speak, Sora-kun."
Then he shunshined away and I focused all my senses on keeping track of him -headed north-east, towards the tower at near 32mph. He's in a hurry- until I couldn't anymore.
I collapsed to my knees, feeling all the energy drain from my limbs as the last five minutes hit me like a sack of bricks. She... it had taken over so easily. I gave just a little-I had considered it for a heartbeat and it took control! It wasn't even like flipping a switch like it is with Terra, it just-A chill ran through me and I shuddered violently, wrapping my arms around my body. I was cold. The air was still warm, I was sweating but I felt so cold.
I think I'm in shock. 'Cause I-I-
This time I only stopped short because I knew him but what about the next time? What if next time it some nameless stranger like the other day? I couldn't control it. I couldn't control myself. What if I can't control it and it's someone I know? Someone I love? Naruto and Sasuke were safe, yes but what about everyone else? Tenzō, Kakashi, Hinata, Shikamaru, Chōji and everyone else?
I didn't hear it's voice but I already knew the answer.
Not as much.
My body started shaking and I couldn't stop, my chest was so full of emotions I felt like I was going to burst. I felt like I wanted to cry. I was angry, frustrated, scared. None of this was supposed to happen. I wasn't supposed to have been bitten, to have bleeding eyes and be able to hurt people with a touch, to find out Kaa-chan loved that man of all people, like some kind of sick joke! I'm in my worst fight with Naruto yet, I'm hurting him when it's the last thing I want to do in this world-I wasn't supposed to have all this anger!
I never asked for any of this.
What if I can't stop it the next time it happens? I tightened my arms around my chest as a terrifying thought rose, my eyes began to burn. I was still shaking.
What if I don't come back the next time?
Exam I Arc,
Chapter Thirty-Three: "Dark Temptations"
END
A/N: Well? You finally got to see what Sora's 'It' can really do. So is it just me or did that scene with Kabuto end up feeling weirdly more intimate than anyone was expecting? Yeah, me too. I have mixed feelings about that. Also scary considering we got to see what was going through her head at the time. Kabuto was confused as hell though. How did you guys feel about it?
What else happened, mmm? We got a peek at the inside of Sora's mind without her directly present. I wonder what that's all about... There was some of bonding and fluff between Sora/Karin. That was cute. Sigh. There was supposed to be so much more but I really need to learn when to put a limit on things, I have a bad habit of going overboard sometimes. Still...
Hehehe! Sorry I took so long this time around guys! The good news is that a good portion of the next chapter -what was supposed to go here- is already written! Forgoing anything Very Serious coming up in my life, I hope to get it done quicker this time! Yosh! And I promise to bring back the warm fuzzies! And the laughs, those are important too.
You're guys' responses to the last question was great. Some unexpectedly good ones too. Not 'unexpectedly good' as I hadn't been anticipating how witty you guys are, no. All the responses put a smile on my face. But 'unexpectedly good' as in good, non-violent means. You guys make me happy.
Author Question!
"Alright, because I'm at the end of my rope here and I'm sleep deprived, tell me... what do you think of when I say the word 'cabbage'?"
What is wrong with me? Shhh… sleep. Need that. Soon? Mm...Cabbage. I think of corned beef oddly enough. Maybe I'm hungry too. Feel free to totally ignore this part, I've apparently lost my mind in the last hour or so.
I wuv yew all... 'till next time.
-Nanami