Guess what? I finished this chapter earlier than expected! Why? Because a "friend" on Quizilla -cough cough- forced me to finish it; she actually threatened me.
Grr...
Phoenix does not take well to threats.
But, I finished it anway.
And now, I'd like to thank those people who reviewed!
NoCareChakara: Yes, gasp indeed! Thank you for reviewing!
Hibiki-chan: I love killing off my characters! In fact... -evil grin- ...Forget I said anything. That would ruin the surprise!
"me"(anonymous): -tears in eyes- Oh my god! That's so nice of you! -cries- Reading reviews like this is what makes me grit my teeth and force myself to update (well, that and threatening messages...but that's a different matter...)! Thank you!
duckichan87: Ah, but who said he killed the emperor? It could be Kenji, or Aimi, or even Naruto!
Naruto: Wha?
Phoenix: ...-shoves him in closet-
Rynx- Too- Genki: Another compassionate, understanding review. This made me so happy!
Yes, Miss Anonymous really does seem quite sad, doesn't she? True fan? Puh-leez.
And now, read on!
Inner Destruction: Chapter Eleven
Time seemed to stand still. All Izanami felt was the piercing cold, forcing its way into her skin and through her bones.
She lay huddled in the corner of the dungeon, hugging her knees for warmth. The silk kimono was not meant for the chill of a prison cell, especially now that it was torn and ripped.
Strangely enough, she didn't cry. She felt an odd numbness that was foreign to her – it was like her usual ambiance, but amplified so that it became a great, deadening force pressed upon her.
Izanami rested her head on the stone wall and closed her eyes. It was all over. She was here, imprisoned, and was bound to be executed for a crime she hadn't committed.
Flashback
Two guards immediately seized her, gripping her arms so tightly they seemed to throb with pain.
Her teammates immediately rose with cries of protest.
"Stop! What are you doing? It wasn't her!"
"Izanami didn't do anything!"
"Gai-sensei, do something!"
"Release that youthful, innocent girl!"
And Neji stared at her with a fierce look in his eyes. It wasn't the usual intense dislike or arrogance, either.
"She was with us the whole night! She couldn't have –"
"Why would Izanami want to kill the emperor?"
"You're making a terrible mistake!"
End Flashback
Kenji had tried to stop the furious courtiers and his brother. Even Aimi had vouched for Izanami.
But it was no use. It was their word against Takeshi's. And the kingdom believed Takeshi.
She hated this dungeon, hated this palace, hated everything about this place.
And now that she was here, alone, she couldn't stop thinking. Thoughts and memories that had remained in the back of her head were now pushing their way to the front.
Flashback
"Hey, Neji!"
The little boy turned around. A smile spread across his face when he saw his best friend, Fushigi Izanami.
((Reader: -le gasp- No!))
((Phoenix: -le gasp- Shut up and read the rest of the story!))
((Reader: TT Why do you have to be so mean?))
((Phoenix: It all started thirteen and a quarter years ago, when I was born…))
((Reader: So you're naturally mean and evil and cruel and violent and aggressive?))
((Phoenix: And much, much more.))
((Phoenix: Isn't it annoying that you have to read this when you really want to get back to the story?))
((Phoenix: Which is why I'll keep on going on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and – ))
((Reader: Stop it!))
((Phoenix: – and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and – oh, am I boring you?))
((Reader: No! After all, I just LOVE reading useless junk like your ramblings!))
((Phoenix: All right then. deep breath And on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on – ))
((Reader: Never mind! Never mind! I AM bored! Stop it!))
((Phoenix: .))
cough Back to the story.
The little boy turned around. A smile spread across his face when he saw his best friend, Fushigi Izanami.
The two had known each other ever since they were both three years old and had run into each other in the park. Since then, their friendship had blossomed and they became almost inseparable.
"Where've you been?" Neji demanded. "I've been waiting for more than fifteen minutes!"
"Sorry," Izanami replied, pouting a little. "Mommy made me help clean up the mess I made in the courtyard after the new wind jutsu I tried blew everything around."
"Well, now that you're here, come on!" Neji grabbed Izanami's hand and pulled her along behind him, talking nonstop all the while.
They reached the top of a hill with a rocky cliff edge where a man was waiting: Hyuuga Hizaishi, Neji's father.
There was a camera next to him, and he watched two birds fly across the sky until his son and Izanami came into view. Then he turned around and smiled at them.
"Ready?"
"Neji, what are we doing?" asked Izanami, confused.
"We're having our pictures taken so we can always remember each other!" Neji replied earnestly.
"I won't ever forget you!"
"But this is just something extra! Come on, it'll be fun!"
"I don't know…" Izanami said reluctantly. "I don't really like having my picture taken…"
"Please!" Neji tugged on her sleeve and smiled brightly. "I like it! And since we're best friends, we should do everything together!"
Sensing his enthusiasm, Izanami smiled timidly and followed Neji in front of the camera.
"One, two, three!"
The light bulb flashed and that moment was captured – both children radiating with happiness, Neji's arm wrapped protectively around Izanami's waist.
Several shots later, Hizaishi left, promising to get the film developed soon and to make copies for each of them.
The two lay down in the tall grass, basking in the sunlight and affection for each other.
"That was kind of fun…" came Izanami's voice after a period of comfortable silence.
"Mmm-hmm…" Neji said drowsily.
"We'll stay like this forever, won't we?"
"Like what?"
"Like this. Best friends."
Neji propped himself up on his elbow and looked inquiringly down at Izanami's face.
"Will we?" she persisted.
A small smile graced his features and he leaned down to place an innocent kiss on her cheek.
"Of course we will."
"Forever?"
"Forever."
x.X.x
His pale lavender eyes stung with tears as he watched Izanami with her father, hand-in-hand, walking and laughing.
She didn't know how much he envied her.
Suddenly, her head turned and she spotted Neji in the shadows.
Her face lit up with happiness and her childish, yet delicate features grew relaxed and somewhat dreamy.
He was really a good shinobi, even for one so young, not to mention he was the smartest person she knew.
She was proud to be his best friend.
Izanami tugged on her father's sleeve, said a quick "see you later" and joined Neji in his solitary spot.
She greeted him as usual, with a cheerful hello and smile.
He didn't say anything back, and she knew something was wrong.
"Neji?"
The boy half turned away; Izanami caught a glimpse of the tears shimmering in his eyes.
"Is something wrong?"
When no answer came, she tried again, timidly, "Um, how's everything?"
Nothing.
"How…how's Hinata been?"
She thought she saw a flicker in his eyes, and took this as a sign of encouragement.
"What about Hizaishi-san?"
Wrong thing to say.
Neji's hand balled into fists and his lip quivered. His shoulders shook slightly and angry tears fell from his eyes.
Izanami leaned forward and gently touched his shoulder. "Neji?"
"Stop it," he said in a low voice.
"W…What?"
"Leave me alone!" he suddenly yelled, and pushed Izanami away. She stumbled and fell against a tree, hitting her head.
She rose from the ground, trembling and with hurt in her eyes, but persisted. "Do you want to come over? Otou-san (Daddy/Father/whatever) said he'll teach us a new wind jutsu, if you want."
The tension built up inside him, and he cracked.
"DO YOU KNOW HOW LUCKY YOU ARE?"
"W-What?"
A few tears escaped from Neji's eyes and rolled down his flushed cheeks, sparkling like diamonds. "My otou-san is dead; he's gone forever! They sent him to die, just because he's a Branch House member and Hiashi-san" – he spat out his uncle's name with a look of deepest loathing on his still-childish face – "is part of the stupid Main House!"
"I-I'm sorry –"
"You don't have to be sorry! Because you still have a father, don't you? And I – I d-don't…" Neji suddenly dropped to the ground; he was breathing heavily and a lone teardrop glistened in his eye.
"I'm sorry!" Izanami cried out, a few tears of her own threatening to fall. "I didn't – I mean – I know –"
"You don't know," Neji said quietly. He stood up and with his back to her, said, "I want you to leave me alone."
Izanami's face hardened. "And what if I don't want to leave you alone?" she said harshly.
"Don't you get it?" Neji's voice was still quiet, and unnaturally calm. "I don't want to see you anymore, Izanami. I want you to leave me alone."
There was silence; Izanami hadn't moved.
"I don't want to be friends anymore."
The force of his words hit her like a ton of bricks. She stood there, stunned, for a moment, before bursting out furiously, "Fine! I don't want to be friends either!"
"Fine!"
There was silence, and then both burst out, "FINE!"
Izanami's tears flowed freely now. She sent Neji a fierce look, and then shouted, "I HATE YOU, HYUUGA NEJI!" before stomping away angrily.
"WELL, I HATE YOU TOO, FUSHIGI IZANAMI!"
((Phoenix: Ah, childish hate. It's so amusing, isn't it?))
((Reader: LET ME FINISH, DAMMIT!))
((Phoenix: evil look Fine! I HATE YOU, READER!))
((Reader: WELL, I HATE YOU TOO, PHOENIX!))
((Phoenix: Sorry, I had to put that there. It makes this thing even more amusing! To me, anyways.))
((Read on…))
And there was without a doubt, that hate for the other filled the two children to the brim.
x.X.x
Her energy was running out quickly. She wouldn't be able to keep it up.
Izanami thought of her family: her mom, dad, and older brother.
She couldn't do this any longer. Her chakra wouldn't allow her to.
There was nothing to live for, then, was there? No point in holding on?
She let her let head fall into the pool of blood – her own blood – on the floor and closed her eyes.
End Flashback
She had been stupid then, oh so very stupid.
She must've been out of her mind – who on earth would ever do something like that?
And the answer was: "I would."
The situations were basically the same. Except there was no one to save her this time. There was no way out of this.
She had heard the guards, as they were escorting her down to the dungeons, whisper that her execution was to take place tomorrow at sunset. When the sky was mottled blood red, her death would come.
She didn't really care. She had given up a long time ago. Nothing mattered.
Suddenly, the cell door burst open and dim light flooded the dungeon.
Izanami squinted, and her mouth dropped in disbelief as she made out Tenten's grinning face.
"Hey, Izanami. We've come to bust you out."
You know, I hated the flashbacks. They were all so...ugh. Little Izanami really did seem like a Mary Sue. T.T
Know how to get me to write the next chappie? Review!
