Chapter 44
The sunless room left me in a state of disorientation. I could not tell how long I have been here or even how long it has been since I have slept. There were brief spaces in time that seemed as if they were merely a blink of an eye that I was alone. I had practically given up with my smart remarks after the first bit of time that felt like it had taken days. I was tired and my eyes kept tending to try and drift closed, but a part of me didn't want to even attempt sleep. If I fell asleep who knows what they would try to do to me. When my body had reached a state that only reminded me of the times when I would meditate for days on end they finally moved me from that metal chair. Only they moved me to a metal table that reminded me of shows that contained scenes from a coroner's office. This was leading me to identify it as an autopsy table. They had strapped me down to it and it hadn't taken long for them to show me that it tilts upwards as well as lay flat. There were times when they would leave me straight up as if I would have been standing with the straps keeping me in place held me up since my feet weren't touching the floor.
After an amount of time like that, I found out that the straps began digging into my skin threatening to bruise me or otherwise succeeding. The other times they let me lay flat which was a blessing. Such as like right now, without constant pain or pressure on my body I could almost fall asleep. After the Hokage had left, Ibiki gave up his hitting me like a punching bag for more sophisticated tools. I couldn't help but wonder from the silver caliper-type tool I had seen if this is what Misa had felt and wondered how she could have withstood so much pain for so long. After they had let me drink from my canister that one time I had only been allowed to stare at my pouch silently begging for another taste. The burn was coming back to my throat after I had thought from accepting my flames that it stopped. It seemed to be a different burn though. More body aching pain rather than feeling as if I had a ball of fire in my mouth. The more my body had to heal from their interrogation techniques the more prominent this ache was becoming. Even at times, it felt as if I could barely breathe which left my interrogators. No, my torturers, in a state of confusion. Especially from how my healing had slowed to a crawl. I guess without replenishing myself even I heal like a human.
"We are going to try something different today." I heard Ibiki's voice as he walked into the room with a few others like usual. Another blink of being alone and my tormentor is back. Yet his voice was showing exhaustion more than anger anymore. I can only think that every time they leave it's the end of a day. If that is true then I've been enduring this for… wow, two and a half weeks; nothing to drink? Nothing offered to save me from withering away? As if that were possible. They wanted answers not to kill me. "Today Inoichi will infiltrate your mind and retrieve the answers we are looking for. Do you understand?" Without even bothering to attempt a response I close my eyes. If he's going to get into my mind then I can kiss all of my secrets goodbye. Or maybe I could try something.
Nodding to his words as an afterthought I push everything out of my mind as I hear a chair being pulled up towards me. Slipping within myself as I reach the state of mind necessary I feel myself falling even though I knew I was still strapped to that table. I fall into myself until I am surrounded by darkness. Sitting up I look around me taking note that everything seemed to mold together in a mass of black. Not even what I was resting on could be made out into anything. The eeriest thing is this darkness reminded me of what I had seen while I was unconscious after having been marked by Orochimaru. Only a sense of safety and security wafts around me. As if a familial caress wanting to ease my nerves. Standing slowly I look down at myself unable to prevent the smile from forming on my lips as I see my crème colored overshirt left unbuttoned to my red bikini top and tight really short jean shorts. From the contours of my body, I very nearly squeal within my own mind. My wonderful grown body.
Spinning around in a circle my hair swings around behind me. Closing my eyes I finally laugh as my shirt lifts from my form in its attempts to keep up with my movements. "Where am I?" A male's voice echoes within the darkness causing me to stop as I come face to face with the blond who was now only a little taller than me.
"You are within me." I speak looking up into his green eyes. As I speak it was as if he only just saw me as his gaze lowers to meet my own shortly. Before I watch his eyes rake over my form taking in the sight of me.
"Kira Lake." He comments as if it had just registered who I was. "You look different."
"This is how I am supposed to look. Damen was able to make my body younger but he didn't touch my mentality." A look of skepticism passes his features as I stand there watching him. Wishing I could hear what was in his mind. "A person's body goes through changes as they grow. For example chemical imbalances. It is why once we are grown we no longer act like we do when we were kids. The chemicals in our bodies level out the closer to adulthood we get. Most mistake it for simply maturing from growing wisdom as we become more experienced in life. While that is a player in ways. It is mainly the imbalances that let's say, cause us to become upset over something minor."
I watch as he closes his eyes momentarily before he opens them wide and looks back to me as he takes in an unsteady breath. "Why can't I get to your memories?"
I tap my head with a slight smirk. "It's my mind. Out of everything, I have trained with my mind before I had even known about energy or chakra. You see what I wish for you to see." Glancing away from him I raise my right hand and tuck my hair behind my ear before slowly sitting back down. "Relax. If you spend long enough in here I may show you sections of my memories."
"Why are you so different?" He mutters to himself as he follows suit and sets before me in a matching pose to mine. His eyes were full of curiosity and confusion.
"My personality or for the fact I can control my mind even with your jutsu?" I tilt my head slightly never moving my gaze from him.
"Both, you seem so calm now. More..."
"Rational?"
"Yes."
"Even in the form you know, I am still rational in my thoughts for the most part. Yet as I had stated my physical body has chemical imbalances that I am continuously fighting."
"You're absolutely stunning." He breathes causing my cheeks to darken as I finally break eye contact with him.
"Thank you. I mean it. You've been the one trying to reason with Ibiki through all of this and had even given me a drink when I asked you for one. You are truly a genuine soul."
"Here I thought you would hate us for what we have done to you." He comments as he rests his hands on his knees.
"You are following orders. Why would I hate you?"
"And Lord Hokage?"
That is a bit trickier. I found my eyes closing momentarily before meeting his gaze again. "I may have my doubts but I have always known since I arrived in Konoha that he would not do anything he didn't deem necessary."
"You are very wise for your age."
"You should know. I hate being lied to and those who lie. So I make it a point to lie as little as possible." I nearly smile at those words yet I manage to keep a straight face. My younger form may not be matured enough for my –spell- to work but it seems like it is working here.
"That is a good philosophy to live by. There are times when lying is necessary."
"I agree. No matter how often I avoid lying there are times when I am given no other choice."
"Having said that, lying to the Hokage is never necessary and shouldn't be done." His eyes harden momentarily so I lean forward slightly causing my hair to fall over my shoulders.
"I have never lied to the Hokage."
"You just lied to me." He points out causing me to set straight again. I avert my eyes as I nip at my bottom lip.
"I did not. And for proof." I close my eyes and remember back to a night at the task force headquarters knowing the scene I decide upon will show around us. The one I envision is after I had woken up from taking damage in the trunk of Higuchi's car. I was setting in the chair Light usually sets in himself but he had moved out of the way so I may sit. Lucien had been questioning me as to if I was human.
-"I think that would be necessary yes." Aphrodite giggled before reaching out and touching my head. She then digs her thumb into the sore spot causing me to growl inhumanly and pull away.-
-"Ouch!" I say standing and glaring at her. It was then I heard gasps coming from all of them but Light. Looking to Ryuzaki's wide eyes. I had my answer. "Light... Are they..."-
-"Yes, they are."-
Opening my eyes I look towards Inoichi whose eyes had widened as he was still staring at the paused image just after I had asked Light if my eyes were glowing. "My eyes are not a Dojutsu. They are a natural reaction for my body. They glow at different times for different reasons."
"I don't believe it…" He breathes out astounded by what I was showing him before his eyes finally meet mine again. "You really aren't from the world as we know it are you?"
"No, I am not." Closing my eyes again I remember back to nearly eight years ago. Aphrodite and I were standing on the edge of my parent's mansion and I had frozen in place from my fear. This led to Aphrodite protecting me from the first beam of violet light.
-"Ummm... Aphrodite..." I whispered towards her causing her to turn around. She was level with my thighs. I could see her eyes widen as a gasp escapes from her before she finally looked up. A small five-year-old version of Aphrodite with her large blue eyes peering up at me. Nearly filled me with a fit of laughter.-
-"Now!" Damen yells causing me to tear my eyes away from the comical sight in front of me. Just in time to feel the heat of yet another bright violet light smack me in the face.-
-My vision vanished from the intensity of the light. I couldn't see anything but the blinding light in my eyes. Even as it began to fade that vision was replaced by shadows as my eyes attempt to adjust. "We need to go!" Aphrodite yells just before I feel her grab my hand and yank me off of the roof. Did I just…. Did the same thing that happened to my cousin just… No... Right? I try to wrap my mind around the possibility while trying to will it not to be true.-
-"You won't get away that easily!" Damen yells from the edge of the roof. "I will make it so no one ever finds you!" Were his last words until everything was engulfed in darkness.-
"That was the last time I had seen my home." I whisper more to myself as my hands curl into loose fists.
"If that was your home why didn't your parents intervene? And how could he do that without hand signs?"
"My parents are rarely ever home. Enough so it took them quite some time to figure out I had come up missing the first time. In my world, things work differently than they do here. I don't know how he did what he did, but I can guess it's a type of energy manipulation or as you call it. Chakra." He fell quiet prompting me to open my eyes and look at him as he just seems to be staring at me possibly trying to figure me out. "You said I have lied to the Hokage. As you can see, I have not."
Inoichi remained silent for a bit longer before his hands move from his knees to fold together in his lap. "I see now that you haven't. However, being a father I am having a difficult time believing your parents wouldn't notice you were missing for so long."
Glancing away from him I puff out my cheeks for a split second. "They are very important people in their line of work. My mother is a queen. My father when he isn't busy with his company should now be busy helping my mother. They do not have the time for me."
"From what I can see, you are a very kind and caring young woman. Who deserves all the love her family can give." As his words sink in about how I deserve to be loved a memory comes to view in my mind before I can prevent it. Looking up as the darkness changes showing an image that causes my eyes to widen. No, I didn't mean for this! I silently shout at myself.
-"Happy birthday." He says in between kisses before sadly he gets up. His touch fading from my skin leaving it tingling in the aftermath. Setting up I look to him about to pout with his sudden departure until I come face to face with a small white jewelry box with a light blue ribbon over the top of it. My eyes widening I look up into his encouraging face before taking it and pulling the ribbon free. Tucking the ribbon into my backpack before I trace the felt of the box with my fingers. Opening it my eyes widen as I see a moon pendant with a silverback. Picking it up I take notice of the lack of a chain for it and just turn the pendant in my fingers. It looked like a full moon from the front that would light up the sky and even force the darkest of shadows away. A moon, as his name is written. Feeling his breath on my ear again. My cheeks darken as I feel as if from all the warm feelings I have for him were going to burst. "Now, the world will know you are mine." His stake of claiming only touched me more as I put the pendent back into the box and closing it, before wrapping my arms around him again. Pressing my lips to his, wanting all of my feelings for him to show in this one touch. - Leaping to my feet I suck in a deep breath being unable to tear my eyes away from the scene around us. I could feel Inoichi stand as well.
Temporarily forgetting the man I had been speaking with I step up towards the image of Light and I. Tears rolling down my left cheek as the fingers on my right hand curl around the pendant on my neck. "Light…" I speak to myself as I am wracked with emotional pain. The pain of losing him, pain from knowing he isn't at my side, guilt from his death. Everything I had held dear was gone. Light was everything to me.
"Kira…" I heard Inoichi's voice but I just couldn't seem to pull my eyes away from the image before me. "Kira!" His voice grew louder more urgent than it had been forcing me to turn around in order to look upon the blond. His eyes were wide, lit with a sudden burst of realization it was then I understand. It was never his voice that had said my name so urgently. Inoichi's gaze falls on me just before fading from my subconsciousness. The image disappearing as well leaving me alone in the darkness. "Kira!"
Opening my eyes I look up at the same ceiling I have seen for over two weeks now. My left cheek was wet from tears as my right was now swollen. Moving my gaze towards my right I find Ibiki staring down at me with his eyes wide. What's wrong? Why did he hit me? Was it him that had been yelling my name? "She has been telling the truth." The blond Inoichi speaks as he comes into my view before grabbing a hold of Ibiki's shoulder when he doesn't respond. This isn't like Ibiki; nothing is supposed to get to that man.
"Right." Ibiki speaks as he seems to collect himself and looks towards his comrade. "Have the nurses come take care of her and we will report to Lord Hokage." Is it… finally over? Do I dare hope? I could be dreaming after all. It was then Inoichi looks down at me showing me a reassuring smile. It's over. Exhaling a shaky breath I let my eyes finally close this time allowing sleep to take me.
