Cursed Woman

Chapter 11: Choices

*Will content Mature Content*

She screamed. Screamed so loud she could feel her ears bleed as she looked in front of her, her heart aching as the pain she thought was critical was nothing more than a simple annoyance, she heard the soft moaning and the groan of gently pain as she watched the two small children twist. She couldn't help herself as she felt her sobs echoing in the room. Her heaving as she watched the figures take advantage of them.

Feeling herself cry harder she struggled against the restraints, the sound of her own tearing flesh had been hidden over the sounds of her crying as she continued to struggle. Her throat sore from the dryness while her stomach twisted with pain, watching as one of the men grinned in amusement she watched as he stroked the whip in his hands, his teeth gleaming in the distance. She couldn't control her emotions she felt herself being torn apart as she looked behind the man.

"Mo-" The crack of the slap echoed in the air, "shut up. Piece of trash!" She could feel her blood boil as she watched him as he slowly unzipped his pants, "stop! Stop!" She shouted watching as the elder man pause his actions with a raised eyebrow as the two children strapped to the chairs, the looming man in front of her turned quietly and was dismissed to the side. The man stroked his beard and grinned widely, "now why would I?" His smile stretched to the corners of his face. The sound of her heartbeat becoming louder than the sound of her own fear.

Her breathing was heavy it had been the moment she had stepped into the room, her eyes glazed over to the two children tied to the metal tables. She was weak, but she knew she had chakra left, this had been her only fifth life and getting accustomed to the changes was strange and unusual for her. She looked down for a moment watching as the man pulled her hair up, "tell me." He breathed down to her licking his lips with a dark passion.

"I-I'll do anything for you-anything, just my children, please." She begged. Still feeling the tears in her eyes as she looked at her two children, battered and bruised but somehow stronger than she could ever be. Their eyes similar steel and were hard, her eldest, Renji shouted as he banged himself against the table, "m-mom! No!" He shouted as he struggled but was quickly hit again, again and again, until he was forced to keep himself quiet. His eyes gleaming with rolling tears as he stared at her, his face swollen and blood dripping from his lips.

She watched as the man pulled his pants down and the pungent smell forced their way into her senses, she bit her tongue and looked up to the man who nodded his head. He glanced back, "do it before I kill them." She didn't doubt his actions. She previously thought he would bluff but instead, the man had killed her own mother, and husband, and simply didn't care about any of it. So holding her pride and restraining herself from anything she complied, doing what he asked. She shut her eyes tight and managed to comply.

Hearing his moans of pleasures made her body crawl with disgust, especially when she felt his hand wrap into her curls. Her mind screamed in pain as she watched her two children cry even harder seeing as their very own mother was being violated in front of their eyes, her children so young and bright, she had often praised them for their great abilities and raised them well with her husband, well dead husband as she looked over into the dark corner his body completely still with the blood pouring from every hole.

Moments passed as the man pulled away satisfied, she was angry. Angry that she was in this situation, she didn't care anymore, she just needed her kids to be safe. She narrowed her eyes at him as the man pulled his belt up and turned over his shoulder, her eyes looked down to his shoes seeing the kunai tucked in his sock, she sucked in her breath, she knew she was weak. Weaker than any of her lives, and out of this form of weakness, she somehow for the strength for her dear children.

She hissed between her teeth from the pain and pulled the kunai from his sock and driving it deep into his leg, the strangled cry escaped his lips as she pulled the kunai out tasting the iron blood on her lips, and she bit the inside of her cheek as she pushed the kunai into his stomach looking eyes with him before driving it deep into his neck. Everything happened so quickly, she still had time to process as she watched his body fall.

Watching the other men react as they dashed towards throwing kunai's and shurikens at her, she sealed his lips as she managed to escape the flying projectiles, however, she had felt some accurately bury into her skin she rushed forward attempting to dodge them. She had to admit she was weak, so weak she could barely pass for a ninja and still only remained a genin. Though out of everything she had gotten one thing from it. Often told she was useless from others and not meant for the ninja life, she had begun to believe she was worthless.

Somehow, she found a purpose through her sensei and her husband and eventually her beautiful children. She had found it is strange how the impact an individual could face once they are faced with purpose, everything about them will change. They are more driven, more stubborn and will never give up. She wanted to be strong, she wanted to be admired but in this life it was impossible. However, all she needed was those close to her and she felt like she could run the entire world, a strange feeling but outstanding at the impacts of it.

Her sensei had praised her for having the abilities to master metal Jutsu's, she had only a small amount of learning from it but was excellent at it. She raised her hands together, "release!" She watched the shackles from her children's body's release as they quickly jump out, "mom!" Her daughter cried out, she ducked as the sword swung at her head and managed a weak kick sending the man back a few steps she rushed forward. Her young daughter's eyes becoming weary as she looked at her.

Seeing the eyes of her children as they held the door to escape, she felt the smile on her lips as she reached her hand out to them, she wasn't sure how long she had been there in this isolated room, how long she watched her husband being beaten to death and even being tortured in various ways. She watched their eyes shine with hope as the light covered their skin, the light was something all three of them had missed, something they had taken advantage of.

"Go I am right beh-" She felt her heart jumped as she felt the steel hand around her neck as she watched the horrified looks in their eyes, such beautiful eyes who only appeared to now have their lives ripped from them. Beginning of this life was terrible like many but she had found good in it once she had met her husband and soon found three reasons to continuing living, these children, and her husband became so important to her.

It happened quickly. The feeling of the cold metal against her neck and the slice along with it, as she choked on her own blood before falling to the ground. Helplessly watching as the two children cried even harder as they pulled each other to run, it was sad. The pain explored her body before it vanished and was soon in another one. She could just recall the amount of humiliation and terror she felt when she was forced to perform a handful of things.

She had quickly learned despite growing stronger, knowledgable, flexible, beautiful and even morally better there was one thing that could never change. Humiliation. She would feel it poison her bloodstream and her thoughts would circulate around it, with the pounding thoughts of people looking at her in a different light, she constantly wanted to be seen to be better than her last life and stronger, so whenever anything happened to her and was discovered this strong facade she built would crumble.

Somehow she couldn't convince herself why she wrapped herself around the Senju boy, feeling his warm body against her and the gentle stroke of his fingers in her hair as she cried into his neck. She didn't know why she couldn't stop herself. Was it because she trusted him? Her friend? She didn't know at all. But, she relished at the moment feeling his heart beating rapidly and the sound of his breathing gently echoing in her ear.

She needed someone to not judge her.

Kawarama, he was that person. His happy and go-lucky attitude made her slightly better, especially since he had easily comforted her. No questions asked. Though she thought she would only hear him whisper about her to calm down, she heard something else, "Uchiha." She could hear it in his voice, the amount of strain and the feeling of his arms around her. She gasped and pulled back knocking her head on his chin, she quickly leaned forward her fingers reaching up and touching his chin rubbing it in the process.

He gently touched in hands as he hissed out loud, "a-are you okay?" She asked as she looked up to him, seeing his dark eyes shaking, she stepped back from his grip and looked down. The silence easily floating as Kawarama averted his eyes, she was his enemy, someone who the Senju trained to kill for a living. What was he supposed to do? He stared at her, he was utterly shocked, he was supposed to kill her but made no move for his weapon.

She took a step back and gently pushed aside some hair, "I am sorry." She stared at him, "w-why?" He strangled his voice realizing it was shaking, she took a deep breath, "we don't choose who we are born as, whether Senju or Uchiha, we are born." She stared at him seeing as he scrunched his eyebrows, "you knew we were Senju, yet y-" She raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms over her chest at his words. The two standing at their usual meeting place hidden from the dark eyes of their clans.

"I still helped you." She paused, "the feud between our families is childish and stupid, where the lives of children and adults are constantly lost because of the pride of another clan. I helped you because your last name meant nothing, helping someone shouldn't be defined on where they come from or what they can do, but instead it should be determined by what they have done to you." Kawarama stared at her in shock. He gulped, he wasn't expecting her words at her, she had a form of pride and unbiased opinion of the world they lived in.

"Wait-what?" He blinked, "you think the feud is childish?" She nodded, "but your family killed by uncles, cousins and even clan members." She stared at him before sighing and looking over his shoulder, "but your family has also taken the same from me." She breathed out. She took another step back and looked down to the floor again, this time looking up with a longing look, she smiled softly as she rubbed her arm. The pitiful look crossing her delicate features, making the twist in his chest becomes painful.

She pushed the hair back again, "I-I should have told you. I-I had a feeling you wouldn't agree with it. It's just your different you never questioned my background and accepted me. I suppose it was stupid of me to think I could continue it any longer." She blinked back the tears but somehow it slipped through and instead rolled down her cheeks, she always used to hold her emotions back, what was so different from now? He had mattered to her? He wasn't just a simple boy to her, but instead someone important?

Kawarama was still as he was slowly taking everything in what she meant by "different", he watched as she bit the corner of her lip, "I will never see you again then." He watched as she stepped forward placing a delicate but warm kiss on his cheek. Then she was gone, as quick as she came she was gone. He fell to his bottom as he gripped his hair, what was he going to do? The handful of complexed and complicated emotions travelled throughout his entire body, what exactly was going on?

Akari sat in one of the trees it was away from everything, she stayed their cuddling with her new-found friend Gekkou, who listened to her troubles and provided her comfort. The small fox-being was interesting he had remained curled into her chest and was easily giving her comfort, he had offered her a few wise words but simply listened to the cry of her troubles. Gekkou was finding her interesting, from her talking to him, feeding him and even simply hugging him to sleep.

He was a beast made to kill yet here was being treated like some sort of teddy bear, he sighed, but he had to admit something. He was enjoying her, she didn't pressure him into anything and would often remain in silence if he was quiet, he wasn't forced to do anything. That was refreshing. He had learned to love her flaws and accept her perfections, though slowly he was learning about day-by-day, and was a form of support.

When she had cried to him about what happened from her father and "breaking-up?" with a Senju he could understand her pain, she was still so young and being burden by such things wasn't common during this era. This had been the first he had watched her cry, he could only waggle his tails and lick her tears as she continued to cry out to him. Though like many moments she leaned her head back onto the tree and stared at the sky, both of them. It seemed as words were never needed and instead the presence of each other had become more important to each other.

Together they stared to the beautiful night sky seeing the millions of stars shining with a bright gleam, "I-" He turned to her seeing as she stared at him, her eyes puffy from the constant howling crying he had gotten used to, though something had been different as she smiled brightly her eyes shining brighter than the stars itself. She rubbed his head, "I am going to change everything." He stared at her quiet waiting for her to expand on her point, his tails gently moving in response as he awaited her words.

"Aren't you going to ask?" She tilted her head, "what makes you say that?" He questioned her easily, she smiled widely, "change needs to happen, and I believe I can make it happen." The two continued to rest in each other's arms, their heartbeats as one as the stars remained witness to their own words. Gekkou stared at the beautiful girl, she was still young and filled with many ideas somehow he would question her intentions, however, through the swollen and red eyes he had determined that her ideas and mission would become a reality very soon.

Akari sighed as she watched Gekkou getting comfortable, she believed she would beginning to train with him. She yawned as she jumped off the branch and onto the floor as Gekkou jumped up and walked on the ground, she didn't question his actions and remained quiet as they both walked through the thick forest, however she stilled for a moment as she took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She could see the flickering flame in the distance, chakra?

There was a mass amount of them, with a bright red fire in the distance, "Akari!" She heard her name being called, she looked down to Gekkou who remained relaxed instantly and dismissed himself before disappearing into a cloud of smoke. She continued down the pathway seeing the fires coming closer and closer and the sound of her name echoing off the trees, she stopped at the light that covered her and revealed those around her.

It was a lot of people for starters, from clan members, civilians, and even her own brothers and father. She became still as she locked eyes with him, "Akari-" She watched as her father dropped the torch and wrapped his arms around her, she felt her eyes widened as he tightened his grip around her body. He breathed out, "I am so sorry." His voice was shaking, she couldn't help but feel herself wrap her fingers around him. Her breathing becoming heavier as she felt the incredible form of warmth from him, something she began to rely on.

She remained still. Then all of a sudden she burst out into tears shocking everyone, her father panicked his eyes shaking from side to side as he was uncertain how to deal with the outburst. Somehow solving it by gently humming to her and bouncing her on his hip as she cried into his neck. It was a sight to see. The head of the Uchiha clan humming a song and comforting his child would make his enemies laugh at him.

Everyone stared at him in shock, he was a man of few words and his actions could tell an entire story, but he had frequently left his children at the hands of a maid and or clan member and never took it upon himself to take care of them. Everyone only stared at the scene forever imprinting the scene in their heads, he looked to them completely shocked at his own actions and narrowed his eyes making everyone turning away.

It had been that Tajima had realized his mistake and set out on a mission to find his daughter, though her brothers had discovered this, then the maids, the civilians than the entire compound it was a true headache as he couldn't bring them all but struggled to convince some of them to stay in the compound as his daughter was described as the "child of light" in the civilians own words. He only grunted and agreed for some of them to come, but was shocked at all of them driven to find her.

She had become so important. Not only to him but to everyone.

When they arrived back at the compound Tajima couldn't separate himself from Akari as even her brothers attempted to pull her off, even her big brother Kanato couldn't get her off of him. So with the marvelled idea, he had a bed prepared and let his youngest daughter sleep with him for the rest of the night. Before closing his eyes he had watched her breathing become slow and her small body cuddle closer to him, he sighed as he brushed his hand through her long hair, he smiled softly recalling the thought of his wife. They looked so alike. Everything about them.

He sighed to himself, he had only wished that he would have been there for his children sooner than now. He was terrible. But, somehow he could tell that he was going to change everything and the source of that change had been Akari. The mighty head of Uchiha placed a kiss on the head of Akari as her fingers buried into his kimono, Taijima was startled at the sight of his daughter clinging to him in her sleep he could almost feel himself blushing with the simple action. He laughed softly to himself and wrapped his large arm around her pulling her closer feeling as she buried his face into his neck slightly tickling him.

He closed his eyes with a smile finding himself being invaded by sleep. Maybe it was a sign he needed more sleep/ because when he had awoken in the morning he had found himself feeling better compared to the night before.

The next morning in the Uchiha compound had been eventful as Taijima Uchiha had awoken to the sight of Akari wearing his war helmet. Opening his eyes he stared as she turned to him with a bright smile that had been suddenly with terror as she burst out the room clenching his helmet on her head. He could almost feel the shock off his lips and she let out a scream and dashed down the hall, "get back, here!" He shouted as he chased her completely forgetting about his attire. The sound of his heavy feet thumping throughout the halls easily gathering attention.

Akari passed various amounts of people most of them being maids and with some being clan members, they laughed at the sight of her being chased. However, Tajima was also a sight to be seen, he was still relatively young and still maintained his young looks, so when he rushed after his daughter down the halls not caring about his attire, the man who usual was always composed and completely covered, was now having his kimono falling off his shoulders.

Maids nearly collapsed at the sight, his long hair drifting down his back and his muscles flexing at any movement he did, even his abs. Women in the Uchiha household feasted on the clan head like the freshest pig on the market, they stared as he would run by in shock he was running at all than swoon. Akari laughed as she turned to corner, bumping into someone tackling them with great force. She struggled to lift the helmet up as she fell back onto the person before her lips crushed something.

She stilled as she pulled the helmet off and stared at her guard, Okita, his cheeks flushed completely as he stared at her. His dark eyes widened as he locked eyes with the beautiful bright blue eyes, her lips parted as she smiled lightly as she was eagerly plucked up off of him, he stared up at her as she dangled from a half-naked Taijima with a glowing glint of anger in his eyes. He gulped as he touched his lips for a moment before darting upwards.

That was his first kiss. Taken from none other than the lady of the house. But it had been nothing mere than a simple peak.

He looked over to her and watched as she was eagerly being scolded by her father as he plucked his helmet off of her resulting in the exposure of her wild and untamed morning hair, he gulped again as he turned away and fixed his posture. He remained to the side as he heard the scolding though was shocked when he had felt the hand of another, broad and toned, he looked up seeing as Ryuusuke Uchiha eyed him darkly.

"Watch it." He froze at the words, he had caught that he and Akari had kissed. That was it though. No more words, no hitting or telling his father, but he knew it was a simple warning. He shook his head from side to side as he looked over to the girl merely a few years younger, there was no way he could ever fall in love with her, right? She was still a child and making rash decisions.

Morning came quickly as it was another feast. The Uchiha siblings dined with one another as Akari sat in the middle of Madara's lap, startling him with the attention of her as she would feed him odd pieces of food. However, despite he being grumpy and shouting insults at her she laughed and sat on his lap, he crossed his arms and was fed like a king. Some onlookers seemed jealous for the attention the younger master was getting from Akari as it was uncommon since she would usually be in Kanato's lap, who didn't mind at all.

After finishing eating the siblings got to training again, the young Uchiha siblings got ready in their attire as Ryuusuke sat on the porch along with Kanato. Watching as the three siblings trained their swordsmanship. Ryuusuke lifted his cup his eyes grazing over the group of them, he took a deep breath inhaling the scent of the fresh green tea leaves that seemed to awaken all his senses, licking his lips he elegantly sipped the tea.

The feeling of the warm tea was soothing and reassuring as the feeling moved to his chest, "Kanato." His voice was light, "hm?" He looked over to the point who was still invested into calligraphy, he sighed and ran a hand through his hair for a moment before looking over to the children. Life was seeming too peaceful. He was sure he wasn't the only one to feel this, both the Senju's and the Uchiha's have been quiet, it was only time that the being of peace would be stopped and the usual warfare would continue.

"It's quiet." He breathed out gently placing the cup down as the other brother looked over to him, placing his brush down and looking to the open space in front of him, "you are right." He nodded, they both knew it, they had been briefed after breakfast about another mission, one that was informed to be ambushed by Senju's. They were getting prepared for leaving for that mission tonight, not knowing the full outcome of it they both watched on it silence as the three youngest siblings trained.

Akari had decided to take a breath sipping her water, watching as Gekkou appeared in the middle of nowhere she jumped five feet in the air, the creature stared at her blanky unsure of her reaction as she coughed and pounded on her chest. After a few minutes she sighed before casting him a glare as she tilted his head, she sighed again hopeless, "is everything okay?" She asked the fox was quiet for a few seconds then again he is always was quiet being.

His tails waggled as he jumped onto the porch beside her, his white fur skin underneath the sun. She stared at him, "tonight." She raised a brow, "tonight?" She repeated her words, "tonight, is the night Kawarama dies." Her eyes widened as she leaped from her seat and stands in front of him, he lifted his paw licking his fur an attempting of cleaning himself. Curling her fists she stared at him, her eyes looking for a hint of a joke.

However, his tails simply moved as he sat upright, "you're joking right?" He shook his head, "no." His voice was strict and cold, "h-how would you know?" She narrowed her eyes, that was true? How would he suddenly just know that Kawarama would die tonight? If she remembered correctly Kawarama's death wasn't specific enough and had mentioned he had died as a young child, but not the place nor date was stated, therefore she couldn't confirm if he was lying or not.

"I just know." She felt all the features on her face drop, she stared at him completely shocked at his words, "not going to answer me are you?" The fox simply rubbed his ear and curled up, "so? How will you deal with?" He questioned. She paced back and forth, "do you know where?" He popped open one eye staring at her for a few seconds, "maybe?" He closed his eyes again, never had she felt so frustrated by this being, did he know he was toying with a life!?

"Gek-" She was halted, "if I can get a hard boiled egg, maybe I can tell you?" She felt her eyebrow twitch as the fox remained comfortable, she huffed and puffed her chest out as she sealed her lips tightly and stomped towards the kitchen, "oh. Make that two." She turned around and glared at him, holding her fist to her chest as she tried to attempt to calm herself and made her way to the kitchen. Gekkou watched as she stomped away, smiling softly to himself as she had done so, he relaxed in the sun and took in the quietness.

When Akari was back she had seen that Gekkou was in the same position, so she quietly offered him the eggs in which he bit into it. She watched as he nibbled on it quietly, she sighed turning away and looking into the thick forest trees, "you know he will die, yet you will try to save him?" She curled her fingers together, she looked down to the entwined fingers and bit the inside of her cheek. It had become a common way of showing her way of uncertainty.

"Yes." Her voice may have been small but it was determined. She had promised herself to change. To change the fate of the village and the relationship between Harishima and Madara, both who had been the closest friends, then ended with the death of Madara. She had been determined. She had confirmed herself that maybe changing the past could affect the outcome of the future, how would the village be with Kawarama and Itama's existence still?

Gekkou nodded at her words, "okay." She watched as Gekkou jumped off the porch and in front of her, his eyes opened and alerted as he trained his eyes on her, "get ready for tonight." She felt her throat become dry as suddenly a mask appeared in her hands, it was shaped like a fox's face. With the sharp and distinct red features, her fingers traced the lining of the deep red strokes as one stroke of the red pain begun at the bottom of the fox ear and extended towards the eyes, before two in the middle merged and ended at the tip of the nose, while the remaining at the bottom curled on the cheeks and were slightly waving.

She scoffed to herself as she lifted it up to her face. It was a nostalgic feeling, somehow a part of one of her lives was brought back, she could remember being apart of the Anbu for the duration of her life before being killed for having information regarding her village. She had remembered that life well, every time she had left her house it had been in a mask one she would only take off within her household.

Lifting herself to her feet she clenched the mask in her hands and made her way towards her room, her eyes focused on trained on ahead of her. She had one mission. That was to protect Kawarama. She swallowed the air in her throat as she imagined having to hurt her own people, people who had laughed and cherished her dearly because she wanted to change the future. She stilled herself for a moment, she needed to do this. For herself, for the future and Madara.

Akari had managed to excuse herself for the rest of the afternoon as was hidden in her room as she gathered equipment and formulating a plan. She didn't spend time with Kanato which was offputting for many of those within the household, she was often found with him in his room or in the gardens, though her not appearing had made Kanato feel hurt. When he asked about her from one of the maids, he had watched the maid give him a gentle sad smile.

"She will be in her room, but she doesn't want anyone to disturb her." The maid placed the cup in front of him as he nodded feeling the pain in his chest as he picked the cup up, he wasn't sure what was going on with her, was it him? He sighed and shook his head and rested his forehead on his knee, feeling that the dark lights were his witness for his own words, "she's growing older. Of course." He breathed out.

He didn't want to believe them but he shook his head and kept his lips pinched together. Today seeing her giving unusual attention towards Madara had caught him off guard, especially since she always sat with him. He remembered the smile on her face and the way her bright eyes shined, she is so beautiful. He paused for a moment blushing slightly as he fisted a hand in his hair, who was he kidding all that matter was that she was with them. He rested his hand over his eyes, he was becoming jealous, he knew it, and he didn't favour the results of it at all.

Shaking his thoughts he sipped the tea lightly before disappearing to his chambers as he was seen to be holed up inside of it. Most people didn't notice it but everyone was changing one was losing themselves, another was rising, and beyond all of that, the world continued to spin throughout it all.

Akari adjusted the swords on her back as she stared into the small hand mirror, her eyes sparkling in her own reflection making her insides tingle. She took a deep breath as she brushed her hair back and secured it tightly around a string keeping her hair from her sight, she took another deep breath her head pounding and rushed with dozens of thoughts. However, she dwelled mainly on the idea if she could protect Kawarama? Would she be able too?

Would she be able to hurt her people? For his sake? If she did kill them she was sure rumours would spread that Senju's had been helped by someone, god could she really do this?

Bitting the corner of her lip she gently pulled the mask up and watched as it had covered her entire face, swallowing any form of revealing her delicate features to the wind. Closing her eyes she remained calm and attempted to calm nerves, giving the few passing seconds as she opened her eyes watching as the Sharingan mimicked her in the mirror, she was ready.

Gulping down any form of anxiety she stood to her feet and walked onto her porch as she closed the door behind herself. Facing the thick forest she could hear the gentle steps in the distance from the patrolling guards, she had already memorized their patrols, and their paths, she had practically mastered it entirely. She took her first step onto the ground feeling her heart beat gently against her chest. Licking her lips, she took another step, this one in the forest.

Her bright eyes appearing to be the only thing that glowed in the dark forest, she kept her lips pinched together as she took a deep breath. She could already feel her impulses jumping and the nerves pounding in her skin, she hoped that she could save him. However, she knew how he felt about her. How he found out something she had desperately tried to hide for so long, now she was going out of her way to say him?

Her theory didn't make sense. Though somehow she convinced herself this was the right decision and she was going to stick with it, regardless if it was good or not.

HEY GUYS! Another chapter eh! (I am Canadian if you didn't guess) .

Soooooo how did you like this chapter?

I was going to include Kawarama into more chapters, hope you guys don't mind of course.

As well I was thinking of some character names?