Chapter 28: The World of Shallow Dreams

The overcast sky loomed overhead promising more rain. As the trio walked Juugo kept his distance from both Hibiki and Suigetsu. The two were at odds, and the tension was not good for Juugo's well-being. Everything was going fine until Hibiki tried to use her precognition, that's when things became tense. She was irritable and everything seemed to upset her.

Suigetsu walked next to Hibiki, his hand grasped her sleeve so he could gently guide her away from obstacles as they moved. He pulled her around without her even showing any sign of resistance,

She's thinking too much. Suigetsu thought, annoyed.

She was being stubborn and refused to be carried, but she was so absorbed in her own thoughts she was causing them more problems by walking. Suigetsu sighed, Hibiki could be a handful sometimes.

Hibiki had her arms crossed, tucked against her rib cage, her lips pursed, and her brow furrowed. Her blank stare even more distant than usual.

Hibiki's frustration only grew as they continued. Why couldn't she see? Even Naruto never screwed her vision like this. What could be going on? Her mind went in circles trying to decode her truly dark world. Not being able to see at all felt uncomfortable. She is in an odd place, and she didn't like feeling so…. Vulnerable, defenseless. Two things Hibiki promised herself she would never be.

Hibiki was dragged from her thoughts when she tripped and was suddenly on the ground. Her palms and knees stung from the impact.

"Hibiki!" Suigetsu exclaimed as he got her back on her feet. He took her hand in his and studied her palms, scratched and red.

"Hibiki will you pay attention? You're going to seriously injure yourself. If you can't concentrate on walking then I will carry you." Suigetsu scolded.

"I'm fine, I can walk on my own!" she snapped back.

"Not right now you can't. Use your weird stick thing or something, don't just blindly stumble around!" he argued.

"I'm not blindly walking so just mind your own damn business!" Hibiki yelled back, her temper rising with her frustration and irritation.

"Ugg we've barely made any ground! We need to get to Orochimaru's hideout and you're moving too damn slow! Would you stop being stubborn and let me carry you already!" Suigetsu ranted.

"If you're in such a hurry just go! I can get there by myself! I don't need you babysitting me all the time." she argued back.

"Like it or not Hibiki you can't find the hideout because you can't see where the fuck you're going! You have no idea where you are or which direction to go in! And you can't use your precognition to find your way right now!"

"Will you get off my ass Suigetsu and leave me alone!"

"AHHHHH, if Sasuke was here you would listen to him and we'd be there by now!"

"Sasuke would leave me the fuck alone! He knows I'm capable of doing things by myself! And He's not a coward who's terrified of fighting and is running to hide in Orochimaru's hideout! At least he can take care of his own ass while you just hide behind swords and other people!"

"Why are you being such a bitch!"

"Why can't you grow a pair?"

The tension and anger rolled off the now screaming pair. Knowing that everything would get worse if he let this argument continue, Juugo picked Hibiki up by the collar of her shirt and separated her from Suigetsu.

"Suigetsu go find a place we can stay tonight, Hibiki go get firewood," he ordered. In a huff, the two walked in separate directions. Juugo sighed in relief as the air around him grew light again. His deep violent urges inside him settled, for now. Why must he always be the mother?

The sky's clouded horizon grew dim as the sun set behind their thick curtain. The wind blew, bringing a symphony of chattering leaves. The rain set into a pour of pregnant droplets, soaking the land in seconds. The air chilled and a hazy mist covered the ground. A house cut in half sat deep in the woods about a mile off the road. It was a moldy and creaking structure that gave only a mostly dry place to rest. A small fire burned inside and gave some warmth to the three around the fire. Juugo had provided rabbit meat for food, and now as the dark consumed everything but the small glow of the fire, everything was still.

Hibiki was set up against a wall, she slept rigidly, and she shook a little from the cold. Suigetsu sighed loudly before giving in. He guided Hibiki to lay down, resting her head soundly in his lap, using his cloak to cover her. He brushed her hair out of her face and rested his hand atop of hers. She relaxed some falling into a deeper rest.

"That was an ugly fight today," Juugo whispered from the adjacent wall.

"I know she's frustrated and all but did she have to so damn mean?" Suigetsu whispered back.

"She did make a good point," Juugo chuckled.

"Shuddup."

Suigetsu turned to the fire and watched the flames dance in the breeze that came through the cracks of the building. His mind wandered to the fire Hibiki had run into.

"Has what I'm assuming happened happen?" Juugo cryptically asked.

"What the hell are you saying?" he answered annoyed.

"I'm saying you are getting more possessive of her. You definitely are being more open about touching her, so can I assume that's because you finally kissed her right?"

Suigetsu blushed and glared. "Why the hell should I tell you?"

Juugo chuckled, his question answered.

"You know she can do things on her own… I mean she did save us after all." Juugo went on.

"I know she can, but she's been acting weird all day. She's usually more attentive but today she's acting lost or something," Suigetsu sighed, "She's not used to being without her vision. She's scared."

"Let's just hope some rest will make her friendlier tomorrow" Juugo added as he leaned back and closed his eyes.

...

It was autumn, the dead leaves crunched under my feet as I walked around the yard. Everything felt coarser in the fall, the leaves beneath my feet, the dried-up plants in the garden, the bare sticks and twigs the wind had blown off the trees. The days growing colder as they passed. I don't like the cold, I like the sun, I loved summer when everything was green and alive and rain showers were short and fun to play in. autumn brought icy rain that killed the world.

"Hibiki," her voice calls from the gate. My smile grew as I turned to her sweet voice and ran to it.

"Mother!" I exclaimed as I ran to her arms getting a big hug from her.

"Hello dear, I brought some meat from auntie Kiki." she chuckled.

"Yummy!" I exclaimed as we walked to our home. "We can make stew tonight!" I declared. It had been a while since I had stew. Mother called stew a 'fall meal' for some reason.

Inside our creaky house mother stood in the kitchen and prepared dinner, I helped by chopping veggies at the table. When I was done, I had a few new cuts on my hands that stung in the cold air. Mother patted my head,

"Good job dear, always my big helper." I smiled at her.

Mother put the stew on the stove to let it cook. I heard her clean her hands on her apron.

"Doesn't the village have fall festivals? Can we go this year?" I asked as I got out of my seat and went to mothers' side. Mother was quiet, very quiet. She only got like this when she was thinking.

"Mother?" I asked tugging her skirt.

"Huh? Oh yes, the fall festival…maybe let's see how things go." She said absently.

"Mother, what's wrong?" I asked. I could feel her frown, her sadness.

"Hibiki let's go outside while the stew cooks, we have something to talk about."

"Ok," I agreed, she took my hand in her thin calloused one and led me out the door and into the cold wind.

The wind whipped my hair in all directions, making it knotty and messy. Mother usually pulled my hair back for me when this happened, but this time she didn't. I shivered a little as we walked. We went past the gate and into the forest, I knew where we were going.

Father's empty grave sat on a hill beyond the forest, we climbed up it and stood before it. Father wasn't really buried here, but this is where my mother chose to keep the memory of him. My ears hurt from the ever-growing cold air. It must be night.

`Together we stood for a long long time, just me and mother, quietly standing by the grave.

I began to shiver harder, and my skin grew icy.

"Can we go inside mom? I'm cold." I complained.

"Not yet dear," she said. I shivered next to her as she thought deeply, carefully choosing what to say.

"Your father died protecting us," she stated. Taking a long pause before continuing. "Hibiki when something dies it becomes a foundation for a new life. And if you disrupt that, it disrupts how things happen. Time is relative to its base. Without a firm base, everything changes. And time does not flow in the order it needs to." mother explained.

"I don't understand," I said.

"Dead things should always stay dead Hibiki"

"Why are you telling me this?" I asked.

"I just thought it was time to discuss it," she said

"But why?" I asked again.

Mother stayed silent; I knew something must have happened in the Village today.

"But don't you miss dad? If he could come back…" I tried to ask.

"Your father gave his life for us to live, never forget that Hibiki." She snaps. I pulled back, afraid of the firm voice she hardly used. "I loved your father, and there is so much of him in you, it's like I'm seeing him every day. I miss him but he is your foundation Hibiki. And so am I." she calmly explained, kneeling in front of me and taking my face in her hands.

"How come your so smart mother?"

"I read a lot dear," she told me.

"That's not fair I can't read!" I complained. I wanted to be smart like mother.

"Hahahaha. I wish I could teach you to read. But I'm not smart enough for that."

"Huh?"

"Nothing lets go inside and have stew," she said, taking my hand and guiding me back down the hill.

"Ok!"

That night after we ate, and mother put me to bed, she snuck away and went to the front porch. I could hear her, her soft silky voice that was so beautiful when she sang.

Irohanihoheto chiri nuru o

Waka yo tareso Tsune na ramu

U wi no o kuyama ke fukoete

Asakiyumemishi wehimosesu

Iro wa nioi e do Chirinuruwo

Waga yo dare tare zo tsune na ramu

Yūi u wi no okuyama kyō ke fu koete

Asaki yumemi ji yoi we himo sezu

Mother had such a good voice. I could listen to her forever. She didn't sing usually, and never did it when she thinks I'm listening. So, it was rare to hear her like this. I wanted to ask her to sing to me all the time but…. Mother only sang when she thought about dad.

…

Hibiki woke with a jolt. Her head had a dull ache, and the world felt as if it was moving beneath her. Hibiki slowly sat up, and a cloth fell off her. After a moment, she realized she had been sleeping in Suigetsu's lap, with his cloak covering her. She hears his snores and sighs. Taking the cloak and placing it back over Suigetsu. She then stands and walks away, not too far off from the building, she found a spot to sit, a dry place under a tree. She takes her seat at the base and hugs her knees to her chest. It was early morning, and the nocturnal animals went to bed while the birds and other animals of the day stirred awake.

It had been a while since she last dreamed of her mother. It was always weird to dream of her voice and soft touch. It always left a hole in her heart and a dull ache in her head.

Hibiki hears movement nearby and turns to the direction of the noise.

"Hibiki?" Suigetsu called.

"Here," Hibiki answered.

Suigetsu followed her voice and found her. He kneeled in front of her and caressed her face.

"What are you doing here?" he asked. Hibiki sighed and leaned into his hand.

"I had a weird dream last night. About my mom," she admitted.

"Really? What made it so weird?" he asked.

Hibiki told Suigetsu about her dream, and how oddly vivid it was. How the stew's taste lingered in her mouth, and how clear her mothers' voice was.

"It was like walking in a memory," she told him. "And this song, she never really sang so it's odd to remember her singing voice," she explains. Suigetsu pulls Hibiki into his lap as she tries to remember the lyrics.

Finally, when she began to sing it was in a very coarse voice, off-tune and awkward, but the lyrics were familiar so Suigetsu joined her.

Although its scent still lingers on;

the form of a flower has scattered away

For whom will the glory of this world remain unchanged?

Arriving today at the yonder side

of the deep mountains of evanescent existence

We shall never allow ourselves

to drift away intoxicated,

in the world of shallow dreams

When they finished singing, they sat under the tree for a while. Once the sun had come over the horizon, Suigetsu stood, pulling Hibiki with him.

"Juugo's probably up by now," he told her as they walked back to their campsite.

They found Juugo inside the destroyed house, he had started a fire and cooked some fish, each taking one.

"I wonder when we'll have real food again?" Suigetsu thought allowed as he finished his fish. Hibiki wondered the same thing. After they finished eating Suigetsu got Hibiki on his back with no protest and he and Juugo ran off.

Late that afternoon they arrived at the Eastern hideout. Hibiki was placed back on her feet as they stood outside. A light rain had begun to fall, as Suigetsu looks up at the entrance.

Designed to look like a snake with its mouth wide open, leading into darkness. When he was first captured he remembered seeing the entrance of the hideout for the first time. How the snake's mouth wide open, beaconing those into its depths. He remembered taking a last look at the sky, knowing he would not leave once he entered.

Suigetsu's thoughts drifted to Mangetsu, how he had always had a secret wish, a longing to see Mangetsu come into the lab and free him from his tank.

Hibiki turned her face toward him, sensing Suigetsu having hesitation.

"Are you ok? Going inside I mean?" she asked, concern on her face.

Silently taking her hand into his, he walks forward. The three walking into the snake's mouth.

As they walked in silence, the hall took a decline bringing them deeper under the earth. It grew colder as they walked. Stopping once while Juugo switched on the lights, Giving an eerie glow.

"It'd be great if Sasuke were here at this hideout," Juugo says, breaking the tension.

"This place is special, after all. Orochimaru's favorite spot." Suigetsu response. They walk deeper into the bowels of the snake, creeping through the halls. Their steps echoing slightly as they moved. The halls had the same smell like the other hideouts, moldy, stuffy, and a hint of decay.

"It's weird being in here after so long. I got used to the fresh air." Hibiki says mostly to herself.

"Hey, Sasuke are you here?" Suigetsu calls, the halls echo his voice. With no answer, they continue through the hideout. The moved on walking for about 10 minutes, Suigetsu growing more irritated.

"The size of this hideout is ridiculous." Suigetsu complains. As he says this Juugo pauses and covers his eyes with his hands, his head was beginning to ache.

"What's wrong?" Hibiki asked, not sensing Juugo by her side anymore.

"Nothing. My head just started hurting." Juugo said.

"Should we stop?" Hibiki asked.

"No just keep walking" he insisted.

After a few more steps the ache in Juugo's head becomes lighter. Once it went away Juugo looks at Suigetsu. Hibiki walked between them, with Suigetsu holding Hibiki's hand…

"Suigetsu" Juugo called.

"What is it?" Suigetsu replied.

"Something's always bothered me about you." Juugo begins to tell him.

"Oh yeah?! Well, I'm always concerned about you. You keep me on pins and needles." Suigetsu complained.

Continuing as if Suigetsu hadn't said anything, Juugo said "I'm here because I made a promise to Kimimaro. Why are you here? Are you in Team Taka just to cause trouble with Sasuke and Karin? Why?"

"You guys didn't talk about this the whole month you were together?" Hibiki asks as she raises her eyebrow at them.

"Nah," Suigetsu told her.

"I was just thinking, so why…" Juugo began to ask again.

"Why?" Suigetsu snapped "I would love to break those two losers up for good! I can't help it! I just want to break everything in two!" Suigetsu says his voice becoming menacing and dark.

"You're reprehensible, you know that?" Juugo frowned

"On that scale, Sasuke is the worst of all." Suigetsu spat back.

"What?" Juugo asked.

"Well, he beat Itachi, so I thought he had reached his goal already. But we ended up working with the Akatsuki? Next thing we know we're fighting the Kage. Thanks to him, we ended up as prisoners in the Land of Iron." Suigetsu pouts. "I hate all of you! I lead you idiots to water, and you just splash it on my face instead of drinking it. That's why…" he continued to rant.

But then Juugo's head suddenly burst. He had lost it, aiming for the closest living thing, Hibiki. He swung his arm back to demolish her, but just as he began his swing, Suigetsu threw Hibiki out of the way. She skids away hurting her back and elbows. Suigetsu turned into the water at the moment of impact of Juugo's fist. Barely making it.

Hibiki quickly gets up,

"He's on a rampage!" Suigetsu warned her. Hibiki knowing better stood back from the two. Thinking fast, Suigetsu liquefies himself and wraps around Juugo's head. Juugo struggled as he slowly drowned, once he passed out from the lack of oxygen Suigetsu let go.

"I hate you most of all!" Suigetsu yelled in frustration. Then the sudden sound of the wall crumbling apart startled Hibiki.

"What was that?" she asked.

"Huh?! This is...I've been here lots of times I never knew this existed." Suigetsu said amazed.

"What is it?" Hibiki asked walking closer.

"One of Orochimaru's secret rooms I think? Did you know this was here." Suigetsu asked.

"That man had a lot of secret rooms Suigetsu, I can't remember one hideout from another," Hibiki told him.

Suigetsu carefully examines the hole before carefully stepping in. Hibiki meanwhile found Juugo on the floor and sat him up. After a few minutes of rustling paper Suigetsu gasped.

"Huh? Huh? What? This is... Orochimaru planned all of this? If so, this intel could change the outcome of this entire war!" Suigetsu exclaimed.

"I thought you didn't want any part of the war?" Hibiki asked.

"I don't want to fight in it, but Sasuke might." Suigetsu told her.

Juugo coughed and opened his eyes.

"What are you doing? " Juugo asked as he came around.

"This might be a very nice present for Sasuke. We found something incredible by chance!" he told Juugo. Juugo coughs a little more eyeing Suigetsu while Hibiki helps him stand.

"Thanks," Juugo says stepping out of Hibiki's hands. His face looked a little guilty as he looked at the damage, and Hibiki, her elbows scratched up.

"Jugo that punch is water under the bridge" Suigetsu says, "Well maybe Hibiki should not stand so close anymore but," Suigetsu adds. Juugo looks even down, coughing the last of the water out. Suigetsu rolls his eyes.

"Snap out of it, Jugo. We've got to find Sasuke quick!" he called out. The back exit was closer so they hurried through the halls and out a trap door that leads outside. Suigetsu positioning himself between Juugo and Hibiki.

"The birds are uneasy," Juugo says as they greet him. "Over there." He points to where the birds are coming from. They were flying desperately away in unnaturally large groups.

"Let's go." Suigetsu smiles, getting Hibiki on his back again.

They set off, running at a faster pace, wanting to locate Sasuke as quickly as they could. Then a few miles down the road Hibiki groans.

"Suigetsu, can you put me down for a second?" she asked. Coming to a halt, he gently settles her on her feet and watches her with worry.

Hibiki felt like she was going to throw up any minute. Her head pounded in her head, and the world was spinning. Then she lost all feeling in her body, Suigetsu caught her before she fell. Hearing Suigetsu's worried voice fade, she opens her eyes to a white abyss,

"Hibiki," a voice says. She slowly turns, confused and startled to find herself standing in front of Itachi. Trying to find her words, she babbles a little.

"Itachi, what… How… where?"

Itachi smiles softly at her and she smiles back, confusion still apparent on her face. Trying to find her words again, Itachi hushed her and pets her head.

"Thank you," his voice echoed as he vanished. With a deep intake of air, Hibiki sits up, Suigetsu had lowered her to the ground, held in Suigetsu's arms.

"Hibiki are you ok?" he asks brushing some hair out of her face.

Nodding she turned to him and said: "I know where Sasuke is."