On vacation and finally had a hot minute to finish this chapter.
The Task
Roughly and with a firm grip, Hikaru took Aster's arm. Using her shoulder like a fulcrum, he twisted her towards the door. Aster stumbled in his hands and winced.
"Nii-sa-" He clamped a hand over her mouth. Her pounding heart thudded in her chest and her blood ran cold.
"Shush," he whispered. "You must be silent right now." Panicked, his eyes flashed as he glanced towards the door. "Don't say another word if you want to make it out."
A quiet whimper escaped her and fear welled tears in her eyes. She had pictured that he would come in the dead of the night, sweep her up, and they would run off. Suddenly it dawned on her that she would have to play a part in her own rescue.
His careful footsteps were light on the floor boards. Aster followed as best as she could. Hikaru opened the door slowly and they dashed down the hall silently. Terror made her shaky and as they began to descend the steps, Aster tripped.
There was a loud crash as she fell four steps before Hikaru managed to grab her. Her ankle twisted, he lifted her to his chest. Surprised and pained, she wriggled against his grip. Shoving her way from his arms, she landed on one knee, gripping the injured leg.
"Hikaru," she groaned softly, looking back at him from the landing of the staircase. "I don't know if I can-"
"Heh, heh…" The chuckle came from a dark corner of the living room.
The door was in sight, just feet away and there was a narrow shot for them if they moved quick. The tallest shape Aster had ever seen emerged from the shadow. His pointed teeth glinted in the shafts of moonlight from the windows. Blue tinted skin looked sickly and unearthly. The black cloak with its red clouds billowed around him in a non-existent breeze.
Aster held her breath. Hikaru pulled a kunai from his holster.
"So," the figure lifted a sword bigger than Aster, covered in black, sharpened scales. Bandages around it unravelled, showing it as something gargantuan and fearsome. "You think you can deceive Akatsuki?"
"Well," there was a dangerous understone in Hikaru's shaky voice. "Guess I'm not doing such a great job."
Faster than either Hikaru or Aster could follow, the figure flashed in front of them, blocking the most obvious escape route. "Don't worry, I'll take care of her anyway." Kisame lifted the sword high. "Then I'll deal with you, Yuki-san. You know too much."
"Like hell you will!" Hikaru brandished the kunai and rushed in.
Aster screamed. "Nii-san! No!"
Kisame's sword came down and crashed to Hikaru's left. Wood splinters and dust rose into the air. Aster stumbled backwards, coughing. Bringing the sword back, Kisame thrust for Aster's crumpled form, ignoring Hikaru. Panic overtook Hikaru and he dove in front of Aster. The sword pierced him and blood spattered over her crouching body.
Crying out again, Aster clutched the bottom of her skirt to her stomach. Hikaru's blood was hot and burned her bare skin. Grunting, Hikaru gasped the sword in his abdomen with two hands.
Blood spilled down his chin. "Aster- run!"
Choking on her horror, Aster's legs moved mechanically and she stood. Kisame struggled, trying to pull his weapon from Hikaru, but he held on steadfast.
"Didn't you fucking hear me?" he growled. "Run!"
Finally, spurred by her fear, Aster ran past them and burst out the front door. The grass crunched under shoes and the sound filled her ears. Her screams echoed, but she was deaf to them. No one came for her; no one followed her through the forest. Twigs broke under her feet and suddenly the crunch of grass was replaced by the tap of her heels on paved sidewalks. Lights from homes lining the streets spilled onto the concrete. A crowd began to gather, people emerging from their homes one by one.
I remembered running through the trees. The blood spattered on my skin burned and I could feel it etching trails down my arms, face, and chest. This wasn't the first time I had run this path, from the same place to a familiar destination. My reasons for doing so were disturbingly similar, but somehow completely different. I was weak and I couldn't escape that fact. No matter how fast I ran, eventually it would catch me. I realized that I was in the village now, and I was screaming. It was odd to be so detached from myself. I felt my body collapse. I wanted so badly to run forever and never look back, but I was too weak to go on. I lay on the ground, feeling foreign and separate from the world. I was alone now. Completely alone. I had no family or friends. That past life was at an end. For the second time, as people emerged from their homes, I fell unconscious on the pavement, covered in the blood of loved ones.
Sunlight broke through the drawn curtains and Aster rolled over, putting her back to the window. Someone had wiped the blood from her arms, legs, and face, but she still felt sticky and sweaty. The familiar scratch of the hospital blanket quieted her erratic heart. Clenching her teeth, she opened her eyes.
The chair next to her bed was occupied. The silver haired anbu was there, head in hands, still wearing his mask. Aster gasped and he turned his head to face her. Decisively, he stood. There was a long silence, broken only by the chirping of the birds outside.
"You…" she breathed. "You've been leaving me food…" she continued lamely.
He nodded.
Sitting up, fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. Embarrassed, she wiped them with her forearm. "Why… Why didn't you save us?" Hot anger flashed through her, surprising them both.
He was quiet, letting her cry softly. "My job was to apprehend Yuki Hikaru. He incapacitated our team. The mission was a failure, however, our target is still deceased."
The gravity of the situation rose in her chest. "I'm alone."
"The mission is over." Kakashi turned away and headed towards the door. His hand on the handle, he paused. "Good bye." There was a click as the mechanism unlatched and the door opened. Moving noiselessly, he left her cold in a pool of warm sunlight.
Weeks had passed in solitude. Aster spooned cold rice and meat out of a large bowl from the ice box. Her cooking left much to be desired, but it was better than starving. She couldn't remember the last time she had attended class. The looks on the faces of the children were too much to bear.
Summer was in full swing, but even the blazing heat of the sun didn't ease the chill in her bones. There was no one and nothing in her life. Aster stepped onto a less beaten path, taking the long way through the village to avoid running into civilians. Heat pounded on her skin and sweat dampened her back.
Finally, she reached her destination. The onyx memorial stone stood tall, pointed towards the sky and barely casting a shadow in the bright, high sunlight. She wouldn't find what she was looking for here. Passing it, she entered the graveyard. Carefully stepping over plaques in the grass, Aster made her way towards a familiar corner. There was a tree nearby, but the shade didn't reach the stones for which she was looking.
Three headstones lay flat against the grass, but she only mourned one. Kneeling down in front of the stone carved out with Idate's name, Aster folded her hands in her lap. This time she didn't cry; there were no tears left. Instead, she sat in a meditative silence. A breeze lifted her bangs and tousled her loose hairs.
"Look what you've done," Aster said softly. "If you had just stayed with me, everything would be different right now. Everything."
The chirp of birds interrupted her revery. Leaning in, she pressed her palm to the sweltering stone. Her fingers burned, but she didn't move. Suddenly, one of the doves swooped down from the trees. It circled her and then landed on her finger. Surprised, she froze.
The bird eyed her calmly. There was an understanding that she would not injure it. Carefully, she lifted the bird on the back of her open hand. It stayed, steady. Swallowing hard, she remembered the bird the anbu woman had killed.
"Did you lose someone dear too?" She asked in a low voice, choking on the question. "Well, we'll be okay, right? Things will work out… somehow."
The dove gave her a knowing look and spread its wings. As quickly as it had arrived, it took to the skies and disappeared.
Aster's first day back at the school was a full month after the latest calamity. The students side-eyed her and avoided her. Even Ichigo wasn't laughing anymore. As Aster had entered the halls, Ichigo passed her with a furtive glance. Pretending they hadn't seen each other, both girls created space between them as the walked with the crowd.
Making sure she sat in the front row, Aster kept her eyes forward dutifully through the entire class. She diligently took notes and listened to the questions other students had. The stares of her classmates burned against her back, but she stayed resolute. Iruka's lecture was over before Aster knew it. The day flew by, instead of the usual crawl she remembered.
Closing her notebook gingerly, she let the swarms of students make their way out. Iruka sat at his desk in front of the chalkboard, afternoon sunlight filtering over him. It was a few moments as the classroom emptied. Finally, the door swung shut behind the last child. Sighing to herself, Aster stacked her books and papers. Taking another deep breath, she stood. Stepping lightly, she made her way to Iruka's table.
Clutching her belongings to her chest, "Iruka-sensei…?"
Startled, he looked up. Surprise, and then a profound sadness took his face. "Yuki-san... yes?"
"Is there," she hesitated, glancing out the window, "Is there anything I can do to graduate?"
He frowned. "Well, the extra credit offer still stands. No one has taken it." Leaning across the desk, he laid a hand on her shoulder. "But… Are you sure you want this?"
Aster's mouth fell open, but no words came out. The burn of Idate's and then Hikaru's blood on her face had tingled.
"You could just drop out… Apprentice somewhere- make a good living for yourself here."
Gasping, she struggled. "N-no." Aster shook her head to clear it. "I have to become a shinobi. I haven't got a choice anymore."
"What do you mean?" Iruka withdrew from her, confused.
"I have a duty now." She stood taller. "I must avenge my brother. That man from Akatsuki must pay."
He sighed. "Aster, I respect your will power and heart, but it's dangerous out there and you've got a long way to go. You don't want to make a thousand mile journey with a heart heavy with hate." He looked out the window as the sun began to set and Aster followed his gaze. "Revenge will not bring you happiness. A quiet life might. You could put all this behind you and in time, you'll be happy here."
He turned his eyes back to her, but she didn't return his stare. "There is no happiness for me. The best I'll ever get is peace. And I'll never be peaceful until that man is dead."
"Hoshigaki Kisame is a terrible, terrible man." Iruka stood. "If your only goal is to remove his terror from this earth, then I've no choice but to help. I am your sensei; I cannot hand you a forehead protector. You will have to earn it."
Aster turned towards him, eyes wide.
"Do the after school lessons. Study hard. There is no more room for failure."
Pen in hand, Sasuke sat in his seat, eyes glued forward. There a commotion behind him as Naruto did something disruptive. Sasuke ignored it. The more he ignored it, the louder the snickers behind him got. Iruka was lecturing with his back to the class, busy drawing on the chalkboard.
Reaching on hand on his back, he grasped a piece of paper. It was trick older than all the children in the room combined. The note that had been taped to his back with the utmost stealth read "kick me". Crumpling it in one hand, Sasuke never let his gaze waiver from Iruka.
There was a collective rising of gasps and whispers as the students behind him wondered what Sasuke's retaliation would be. He decided to let them wait. Turning around an pummeling Naruto was a waste when he could be learning and improving.
The day flew by, shafts of sunlight warming small spots on the artificially cooled classroom. Another day of hard work, practice, and study was ending. Sasuke leaned in and pushed his crossed arms across the desk's top. All eyes in the room were glued to the clock above Iruka's door, Sasuke's included.
Knowing their attention was dwindling, Iruka rapped on the podium in front of him. Most of the pupils' eyes snapped to the front. Gripping the side of the wood harder than he intended, he hoped Aster would follow through on his offer. There was no turning back now.
"I have an announcement for you, and those of you struggling may want to pay close attention." He waited for a reaction, but was greeted by blank stares. "Starting next Monday, there will be afternoon sessions with an upperclassman every day. Those falling below expectations will be required to go. Those meeting standards have the option to go home."
Sasuke's stare dithered from the clock and his eyes widened. An afternoon class? His brother was supposed to be his afternoon class, but lately he'd been busier and busier. It was a chance to learn and to impress. He was sure his father would be pleased to hear Sasuke was working hard. Clenching his fists in his lap, he looked down. He wouldn't tell Itachi yet and sullenly he wondered if his brother would be around to notice his absence at home. However, once he was able to show Itach the prowess he was sure to gain, he would smile and put his hands on his hips, beaming with pride.
Poking the campfire with a slender twig, Itachi glanced up at Shisui through his bangs. His cousin was placid and unreadable as ever. He asked himself again what he could possibly be so focused on inside his head. Nothing easy came to mind. His thoughts drifted to his younger brother. Itachi's stomach rolled. It was the second full day they'd been apart. Lately there was less and less time for Sasuke. They were drifting apart. Itachi bit his lip and jabbed the fire again.
"Did you hear?" Shisui didn't meet his eyes with the question, but Itachi still felt his scrutiny.
Confused, he composed himself, slipping into the safety of a blank stare. "About?"
He shook his head, skewering the two fish he'd caught with bare hands. "Yuki Hikaru- your old sensei…" Now Shisui side eyed him, clearly curious.
Frowning, he replied, feeling his chest become tight. "No. I didn't."
"I'm surprised then," he paused. "He's dead. He tried to join Akatsuki and they killed him."
Itachi's mouth fell open and he pulled the stick into his lap. "No… That doesn't make sense. Why?"
"Not sure why he tried to join their ranks." Shisui put the fish over the small fire. "Something to do with protecting a younger sibling. He died, but whoever it was he wanted to protect lived."
Sighing heavily, he placed the stick on the ground next to his hip. "So, another orphan is wandering Konoha?"
"Yeah," he pursed his lips, carefully roasting the fish. "I'm surprised you hadn't heard until now. Yuki-san always seemed to have a soft spot for you. And I heard the mission of capturing and neutralizing him was left to anbu."
"You know we can't discuss our missions with anyone, not even amongst our fellows."
A bitter smile crossed his face. "You know people talk anyway. They always do." He met Itachi's eyes. "You seem to be handling the news of his death well."
Itachi shrugged. "What is there to handle? We weren't close. And he was a traitor to Konoha."
"You seem to have your mind made up then." Checking the fish, he turned them.
Confused, he frowned. "About what?"
"Yuki-san was evil."
"Well," Itachi struggled for a moment. It was a hard choice of words for Shisui. "Maybe not evil… possibly just misguided. You did say his motivation was protecting his family." His stomach churned again uncomfortably.
"Remember, the world is not as black and white as we would like." Shisui pulled the fish off the fire and handed one skewer to Itachi.
PlEaSe RR
"Care" by Dance Gavin Dance