.3
"I'm not sure why I've decided to do this. I'm not any stronger than I was, and nothing else has changed. But all the same, this time I'm not going to run away. It's okay to feel weak sometimes. It's okay to be afraid. The important thing is that we face our fears. That's…that's what makes us strong." ~Fruits Basket
…
Family is the building block on which most societies are built upon. It is the cornerstone of community, and it was also the downfall. Humans, the decent ones would always put their family first. Above orders, above law, it was the inherent way of the world.
My brother and I had never known this. We were orphans, no family just each other. Surrounded by people who could do nothing but hate us for the tragedy of lost loved ones. It wasn't our fault, but they refused to see it that way.
It was just simply not a concept that we had grasp of. Sure they say that family doesn't have to end in blood but those kind of bonds would not come until much later for us. I think I was five when it finally clicked for me.
Your teammates could be your family, if you had the right kind of people. Because that is what it always boiled down to, people. I hated them. People were a terrible thing. One day I would learn. My brother had a love hate relationship with his team currently. Personally I thought they were all a bunch of brats. His sensei was familiar to me, for the fact that his former squad mate was my shishou.
My hands were leisurely place in my vest pockets as I watched them with an amused expression. The preteens were amusing. Finally there teacher looked up at me with his uncovered eye, his brow raised.
"Good morning Tomi-chan." I nodded my head in response before slipping off my perch and landing next to the jonin.
"Morning." He was still giving me a semi questioning look, I shrugged my shoulders at him in response. Unsure of what he expected from me.
I watched Team 7 as the ran D-ranks for a half hour before growing bored, feeling a tinge bad for their sensei who couldn't do anything other than that with them. He sighed but offered a half wave as I left. As per normal I wondered around the village out of the eyes of them and just kept to myself while observing.
People watching was an intriguing mental exercise. It was intriguing because seeing how they behaved when they assumed no one was looking was always great. The exercise part came in handy when you were trying to hone your intelligence gathering skills. Mine were pretty good. I had been observing for almost as long as I could see.
Families were the most interesting to observe. To see how parents treated their kids out in the public eye versus how to treat them when they thought no one could see. Or to see children searching for approving looks from their parents, to see their accomplishments. Children were the easiest and hardest to read.
I got some dango from a small stand before getting settled on a nice shady branch. It was a nice day. A good day for what I wanted to do. With shishou out on a month long mission there really weren't a lot of options for me. They had limited me to only being able to run a few mission outside of the village by myself and only ones of their choosing but I was too smart to be doing menial task around the village. To quote a Nara, it was a pain.
I observed for hours, watching people go about their lives. Nothing of interest was noted today. The villagers rarely changed or did something of interest to me. Maybe I should go back to team 7 watch at least that was amusing.
You probably thing I am some kind of narcissist. I do not blame you, honestly. To be honest you are more than likely right. But they hardly matters to me.
You probably would also like me to get back to the more interesting aspect of this tale. Which as we all know is my brother. He is the more entertaining of us, that much it true. But I think you need to understand things from my perspective as well even though it isn't nearly as entertaining.
The reason I observed was selfish, I wanted to see if they ever hurt as badly as there words and actions hurt my brother. I wanted them to pay for their sins against us. But those things would make him unhappy. He loved this terrible little village. Myself, well I hated it.
My brother would suffer so many hardships for this awful little village, he would sweat, bleed, and almost die for them many times over before they would recognize him as a human being. That didn't sit well with me, it more than likely never would.
"Yo Mitomi-chan!" My brow raised at the man nearly shishou's age talking around a senbon. What did he want? He waved his hand in a motion for me to come down. Sighing I jumped from the branch, landing almost cat-like next to him.
"What are you doing?" His tone curious, his eyes told a different story. I shrugged my shoulders at him like I had done to my brother's sensei earlier.
The man's brow raised at the shrug. Honestly what did they want from me? Everyone knew I didn't say much, what did he expect? Whatever it was, they weren't getting it from me.
"Your shishou still gone?" He questions after a minute of silence that passes between us. I nod my head, yes. The corner of his mouth quirks up, a smirk.
"So you really don't say a lot do you." It is not a question, and even if it was I was not going to dignify it with a verbal response. He shakes his head at me. Like it amuses him, or that the situation was funny somehow. Hell if I knew.
"Did you want something?" I was not feeling particularly polite right now, or for that matter today at all. It was bugging me. Today, not that fact that I wasn't being polite. With shishou not here to scold me about it I did not really see a point to do so.
He sighs. "Yes actually, I hear you are interested in learning to use the Fourth's Hiraishin technique." Finally something interesting, my eyes widen just a bit at his words. They were going to let me learn it? That meant I wouldn't have to do it unsupervised.
"You hear correctly." He actually chuckled at that, then did something unexpected and ruffled my hair. My eyes narrowed at him through my lashes. I was not fond of people touching my hair as long and obnoxious as it was.
"Great! We will start tomorrow morning." And then the man disappears in a swirl of leaves. What a jerk. How did he expect me to meet him if he didn't tell me where I was supposed to meet him at? Idiot.
I resume my wondering around after that until evening time when I stop in front of his favorite restaurant. The old man behind the counter greets me with a smile. "How are you today Mimi-chan?" His eyes do not hold any kind of hatred, they are kind and I appreciate it.
"I'm doing well, has my brother been by?" The man shakes his head, I accept the no for what it is.
"I will wait for him then." He smiles once again before returning to the small kitchen.
He is the first person to ever regard us as human beings, the man is kind. I think it is because we remind him of them. But he never says anything about it. I accept the silence for what it is and wait patiently for my brother. Knowing he will come.
It is a funny thing to me, that family is the base of all. Because family doesn't have to end in blood. The facts remain the same, they all still hate us. Even those few who do not mind or even offer kindness do not persuade my thoughts of them. Of this village as a whole.
We were not born to be hated, but we are.
Our family, those of blood, are long dead. I know the truth. A burden I bare alone.
I am a liar. Who knows nothing but the inherent truth.
I have accepted who I am, know my worth.
People need family, it is a fact of life.
I only need my brother, it is a simple truth.
"Mito you're here!" There is a cheer to his voice, a warmth in his smile. I nod my head.
"I promised, Naru." I don't break my promises, not on purpose, and not to my brother. He grins at me before ordering his ramen. As we wait he launches into an epic tale about their missions today, some of which I know is over glorified for our two witnesses. It makes me happy, he makes me smile.
He is a ray of sunshine. Shining into the darkness.
I will be fine. Perhaps it is not a lie.
Or maybe not, who knows? The person I lied to the most. That person had always been myself.
XOXOX
I give up. I just don't… This story is really coming out of nowhere. I'm not even sure. So just let me know what you think!
As always I own nothing.
Sincerely, La'Rae