CCNote: All of the second years are preparing for exams this week so that means I've got more time on my hands than I know what to do with today. I have to at least pretend like I'm working on something or people start awkward small talk lol. Thanks so much for the reactions last chapter! I always love when a discussion pops up in the reviews. Your opinions are all valid to me and I love reading people's reactions to what I've written. Some of you are dead on with your analysis and it really makes me happy! Although I don't agree that the twins are 'bad babies' as one guest mentioned but that's only because as the author I am a) biased beyond belief and b) I know how they turn out in the end.
This chapter is unreasonably long for two reasons. First, the format of this story will not allow me to break it into parts. It's just not possible since the number of chapters is limited to the alphabet. You will be able to tell where I intended to break this in half though. Second, this just works the best. So, I do apologize for the length. Take a break halfway through or something if your eyes begin to cross.
This chapter, in particular, may raise some questions so don't be afraid to ask me anything in the reviews. I'll answer everything in the next CCNote if it's not something that will be directly/explicitly answered in subsequent chapters.
K is for Funerals
Friday, June 8, 2018, 5:20 pm
Tokai Mountains
….
The windy road up the mountain was silent save for the sound of the tires running over the gravel road. Outside the car, a light drizzle coated everything in a thin film of mist. The Tokai region was known for its...less than ideal weather. It was nothing like the bright sunshine of Makinohara. She wasn't quite sure where they were going but she hoped that it was somewhere dry with a warm fire. Hanabi sighed and pulled away from the dreary weather in her window. To her left, Itachi had fallen asleep almost as soon as they'd gotten into the car. He never went to sleep last night, instead, she could hear him vomiting well into the wee hours of the morning. Because of that, she hadn't been able to sleep either for fear that if she closed her eyes something horrible might happen to him.
Now that he was sleeping she could see the weariness on his face more clearly. The lines of fatigue on his face were deepening, bags under his eyes becoming darker. He really needed to see a doctor but who was she to recommend such a thing? She had no right to tell him what to do especially when she caused him so much stress. Absently she rubbed her right arm through her newly purchased down coat. She'd cleaned and bandaged her arm herself after her confrontation with Konohamaru. He hadn't meant to leave a mark, that much she knew for sure. He didn't know his own strength anymore but the damage was done. Blood had been drawn. The memory of his nails sinking into her skin sent an unwelcome shiver down her spine.
"We're here." The cab driver announced as he slowed the car down to a crawl.
Hanabi looked up through the foggy windshield to find that they were surrounded by thick evergreen trees in a small clearing. Directly in front of them was a three-story brick mansion, thick green ivy weaving it's way through the masonry. Light could be seen in all of the first-floor windows facing this side of the clearing but the second and third floors remained dark. Was this the right place? Hanabi shook Itachi's shoulder slightly to wake him up. Tired dark eyes looked back at her almost as if he were seeing her for the first time.
"Chi." She said softly and he blinked at the sound of his nickname. "We're here. At least I think we are."
"Mmmm." He mumbled, lifting up a hand to rub the rest of his sleep from his eyes.
It took a moment but soon Itachi gathered his wits about him and paid the cab driver a rather hefty fee for their long trek into the woods. The driver's face lit up at the sum and hastily got out of the car so that he could remove their luggage from the trunk. Itachi got out of the car at a much more leisurely pace and Hanabi slid out behind him. Drenched forest debris squished underneath her boots, mud instantly clinging to her shoes.
"Where are we?" Hanabi asked as they approached the front door.
"We are visiting a friend." He answered simply.
They climbed the up the concrete steps to the front door which was painted an eye-popping red. In the center of the door was a golden knocker in the shape of a lion with a heavy looking ring in its mouth. Itachi used the knocker against the door and then took a step back.
"So we are going to spend time with another one of your weird friends?" She asked teasingly, hoping to inject some kind of humor into the tense air between them.
Itachi smirked at the comment and shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket.
"You could say that..." He replied just as the front door creaked open.
At first, the door was only opened to a crack but a hurried voice inside of the house prompted the door to swing wide open. Standing before them were a man and woman dressed in all black with big smiles on their faces. The man had shockingly orange hair that stuck up in all directions and was a sharp contrast to the darkness of his environment. His face was covered in more piercing than she thought was possible to put on a human face but his bright smile made him less intimidating. He immediately pulled Itachi into a hug, much to the Uchiha's surprise, and didn't let go until his female companion told him to. The woman had bright blue hair and sharp golden eyes, unlike anything she'd ever seen before. Her smile wasn't as big as her fiery partner but it still gave off a calming aura. Outside of their piercings and penchant for dark colors they didn't seem as eccentric as Kisame or Deidra but if Hanabi had learned one thing this summer it was that looks can be deceiving.
"I'm glad that you were able to make it up here despite the rain." The woman said, her voice just as soft as the misty drizzle that surrounded the house. "It's a long journey up the mountain."
"I slept most of the way so it was not so bad." Itachi said with a reassuring smile that their journey had been no trouble at all. The Uchiha then turned his head slightly in her direction and placed a heavy hand on top of her head.
"This is-"
"Hanabi. I already know." the woman interrupted. "Deidra called us in a tizzy this morning because you had whisked away his store manager. He had a lot to say about her."
"All good things I hope." Itachi laughed along with the man and woman and pushed Hanabi closer to the door towards the two.
"I'm excited to have you here Hanabi. I was afraid I'd be the only girl."
"What am I chopped liver?" The orange haired man snorted but his partner waved him away.
"My name is Konan and this knucklehead is Yahiko." She said and moved to make space for the Uchiha and Hyuuga to enter the house. "Let's show you to your rooms. I'm sure you'll want to change into something more comfortable after traveling all day."
The inside of the mansion felt very cozy. The first floor was very open, the kitchen and living room flowed straight into one another with a large stone fireplace between the two. Hardwood paneling covered nearly every surface and red rugs and cream throw blankets were draped over the couches. Adjacent to the front door were the stairs that led up to the second story. Hanabi soaked everything in, relishing the warmth that radiated off of the fireplace. It wasn't the Hyuuga Winter Complex but it was head and shoulders above the places they had been staying.
The warmth didn't last for long though once they went upstairs. On the second floor, they were met with complete darkness until Yahiko felt around on the wall to find the light switch. Once lit, they could see a long hallway with several dark oak doors on either side. At the very end of the hall was another staircase that led up to what Hanabi could only assume was the third floor. Konan led their small group to the second door from the staircase and twisted the burnished bronze doorknob.
"If you wouldn't mind we are going to head up now." Itachi said before she could fully open the door.
"Of course." Konan said with a soft smile.
Hanabi looked at the three adults, perplexed at the silent understanding that passed between them. What was on the third floor? As Itachi and Yahiko stepped away, Hanabi wanted to follow them but something kept her remaining on the second floor. This mansion in the woods...these people...all of it was a new facet of Itachi's life she'd never expected. She bit her bottom lip as she watched their retreating backs climb the stairs. Would there ever be a day that she understood Itachi?
"Are you coming?" Konan asked from inside of the bedroom.
Hanabi blinked. She hadn't realized she'd been so lost in her own thoughts. Konan smiled at her before gesturing towards the contents of the room. It was a modest space with two full sized beds, thick patchwork quilts carefully folded at the foot. At the end of each bed were steamer trunks which the Hyuuga assumed was where she would have to put her clothing since the small room didn't have much space for storage. A westward facing window sat between the two beds and underneath it was a small bedside table. On the wall adjacent to the door was an empty fireplace that looked as though it'd rarely been used before.
'It's going to get a lot of use soon.' Hanabi thought with a shiver.
"It's not much but it will do for your stay." Konan said.
"I think it's perfect." Hanabi replied before plopping onto the bed nearest the fireplace. She couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief as her body sank into the soft mattress. It wasn't as luxurious as her bed back in the Hyuuga compound but it was close. "Oh god!"
Konan's smile grew a little wider at Hanabi's exclamation, satisfied that the room was to the teen's liking. She then moved over to the foot of the bed and opened the maroon steamer trunk. Hanabi sat up and peered over the edge of the bed to see what Konan was doing. She'd expected the trunk to be empty but instead, it was stuffed full of various articles of clothing. Oddly, all of them were either black or gray but they all appeared to be a far cry thicker than anything she'd packed in her suitcase. The older woman pulled out a cable knit grey sweater and a pair of black leggings. She handed the items to a perplexed Hanabi.
"The weather here is a far cry from Makinohara and this house is older than what I'm sure you're used to. It can be really drafty at times." She explained. "After Deidra called us I went into town and picked up a few things. Deidra didn't know your size but he said you were on the small side. I don't know what colors you like so I just got black or gray."
"You didn't have to do that!" Hanabi said, shocked that a stranger would spend so much money on her before they'd even met her.
The entire trunk was stuffed to the gills and she wasn't quite sure how long they were staying. There was no way she was going to be able to wear all of this! Konan only shook her head at the Hyuuga's protest. Her golden eyes were bright with amusement.
"I wanted to." She shrugged and took a seat on the other bed. "I'm usually the only girl so it will be nice to have a change of pace."
Hanabi bit her bottom lip. She didn't quite know what to say. She didn't really interact with older women outside of her sister's friends. They didn't really count either since Hinata's friends didn't come around the compound very often. This woman though...there was something about her that felt familiar. She felt safe.
"What do you do all the way out here in the woods?" Hanabi asked, compelled to know this mysterious woman.
"A little of this, a little of that." Konan replied vaguely. Hanabi scrunched up her nose.
"Doesn't it get boring being out here alone?"
Konan smirked and turned her eyes towards the window. Twilight was falling over the forest.
"The shower room is the first door by the stairs. You might want to get cleaned up a bit."
….
Friday, June 8, 2018, 9:10 pm
Tokai Mountains
….
At first, Hanabi wasn't quite sure what it was about Konan that drew her in like a magnet. The woman was definitely her polar opposite, soft-spoken and graceful. Her hands moved with a calculated purpose and it was interesting to watch her glide smoothly about the mansion. Hanabi followed behind her for most of the evening, studying the woman who didn't mind at all. Konan set her to work helping to fold up all of the down comforters and place them on the beds in the other empty rooms. So far it was only the four of them in this huge house so Hanabi could only assume that more people would be joining them soon.
Once the chores were done, she followed Konan into the kitchen and watched her prepare dinner. It was then, just as she was dicing up a few vegetables, that Hanabi realized what was so familiar about Konan. The golden-eyed woman reminded her of Hinata. She wasn't exactly like her older sister but she still had that same mothering air about her. The thought of Hinata reminded Hanabi that she hadn't been in contact with her family in over two weeks. Neji had likely died of a heart attack by now.
Luckily the mansion was able to get a signal even though it was far away from the main drag of the city. After dinner was finished she rushed back up to her bedroom, eager to talk to her family and to have a bit of privacy. She tried to call Hinata but she never answered her phone. That in itself wasn't too odd. Hinata was pregnant so it was likely that she was just sleeping and didn't hear her phone ringing. She tried to call Neji but his phone was off. Perhaps he actually had died of a heart attack. She should have tried calling her father as well but the thought of him left a sour taste in her mouth.
He reminded her of the price there was to success. Of the toes that needed to be stepped on and the people that were to be bartered in exchange. Konohamaru just didn't understand why she couldn't let her sister essentially get sold off to the highest bidder. He was an only child so maybe that was why didn't get her reluctance but she just couldn't do that to Hinata. Neji and Hinata had bent over backward all of her life to appease her, to watch out for her. They'd kept secrets to protect her. They'd deprived themselves to make sure she was content. She was their burden although they'd never admit it.
Hanabi hated that aspect of their relationship. They were only doing these things out of love but to Hanabi it was just too much. Neji was too overprotective. Hinata was too selfless. That left the youngest Hyuuga empty-handed with nothing to give back to them. All she seemed to do was hurt them. She'd been hurting people since the day she was born. Hanabi frowned and pulled the sweater she was wearing over her head.
No one thought she knew.
No one had explicitly told her.
She was the reason Hinata didn't have a mother. She was the reason Hiashi kept his eldest at arm's length because he reminded him too much of his deceased wife. No one would admit the fact that it was her fault Hikari Hyuuga was dead. Hanabi had been ignorant of her motherless existence for most of her early childhood since it was spent within the confines of the compound. It wasn't until she was exposed to the outside world that she realized she was different from other people. Other people had moms that picked them up from the park when the sun hung low in the sky. She only had Hinata. Other kids had fun lunch boxes with sandwiches cut up into cute little shapes that their mothers had made. Neji made her lunches and there were never any cute shapes.
Hanabi went on a mission to find out what happened. Why didn't she have a mother? Where was she? Did she not want to be her mother anymore? No one answered her questions, the branch members averted their eyes when she asked them. Hinata and Neji were teenagers but they had no idea how to explain death to a precocious eight-year-old properly so they didn't. She never dared to ask her father. Her only choice was to turn to the family registry. There she found her father's name listed first as the current head. The only marriage he'd taken had been to a woman named Hikari and together they'd had two daughters. The space for the date of death had been left empty next to her father's name but her mother's date had been filled in. The date the Hyuuga matriarch died was the same day her second daughter had been born.
At the time, it didn't make any sense. She was much too young to understand the connection but over time she was able to put the pieces together. Hikari Hyuuga was dead because of her. Hanabi frowned at the dark turn her mind had taken. Perhaps it was because of the gloomy aura of the forest that her thoughts had taken such a turn. With a shake of her head, she moved to rummage through her suitcase to find something to sleep in. Konan had stocked the steamer trunk full of flannel pajama sets but Hanabi found the flannel material to be a bit itchy. She preferred wearing one of Itachi's old shirts to bed anyway.
Itachi...
Hanabi paused midway through pulling out a dark blue t-shirt from her suitcase. She still felt guilty for the incident at the beach house, she should have never let it get that far. Seeing Itachi riled up like that was something she never wanted to see again. Absently her hand passed over the fresh band-aid she placed over her arm after she'd taken a shower. It wasn't necessary but she didn't want anyone to see the red marks Konohamaru's nails had left behind.
Sighing, Hanabi pulled Itachi's t-shirt over her head. The guilt that she felt just didn't sit right. She'd claimed that the Uchiha didn't care about her opinion. She'd called him a liar. After everything, he'd done for her this summer despite his condition she still threw it back in his face. Why did she keep hurting people? With a frown, she stared at the door to her room. She'd said hurtful, terrible things to Hinata and Neji when all they were trying to do was make her happy. Even if by doing that it meant giving up their own happiness. She still hadn't apologized because her unreasonable pride kept her from taking that next step. Tonight though, she couldn't allow the guilt to continue to fester.
Hanabi opened the door to her room, the hallway outside was dark and quiet since everyone had retired for the night. Itachi's room was right across from hers so it was easy to find even in the dark. She twisted the knob, relieved to find that it was unlocked, and entered his room. The inside of his room was the same as hers. Two beds, steamer trunks, and a small bedside table. The window faced the east though so it would be the first to be hit by the sunrise in the morning. The fireplace was burning brightly, lending a cozier atmosphere that was a stark difference to the gloomy room she'd just left. Itachi was sitting on the bed to the left side of the window, propped up with pillows and a book in his hand. When Hanabi entered the room, he looked up from his novel, slightly surprised to see her entering his room so late at night.
"I... I know I should have knocked but I didn't want to wake anyone up." Hanabi said hurriedly before Itachi had a chance to reprimand her for the intrusion.
He closed the book he was reading and placed it on the small bedside table under the window. Then he sat up a little straighter, the down comforter falling from his bare chest down to his waist. She took his continued silence as permission to speak but she wasn't quite sure what to say. She hadn't really thought that far ahead. So, throwing caution to the wind, she took a deep breath and blurted out the first thing that popped into her head.
"I'm sorry."
Itachi blinked at her, surprised by her sudden apology. His reaction only caused her to word vomit everywhere.
"I...I'm sorry about last night. I shouldn't have said you only wanted to boss me around. You are bossy but you're not that bad. I shouldn't have taken my anger out on you. This is your trip. You didn't have to bring me along but you did. I'm also sorry for calling you a liar. It's just...you never tell me anything." She said and once she started she couldn't stop talking.
"You don't tell me when you're too tired or when you're hurting. I know that you keep pushing yourself to your limits and I don't like it! You're hiding something and you won't tell me why. I know you have your reasons but it feels like you don't trust me. I know that you're sick and I might not know how to help you but you should let me at least try. I don't want to be a burden to you too."
When she had no more words left to say she stopped to catch her breath. Obsidian eyes stared at her curiously as though trying to process all of the things she'd just let tumble from her lips. Even though being under his gaze made her feel incredibly small she felt better for having gotten that off of her chest. Shifting her weight from one foot to the other she turned back towards the door.
"You think I don't trust you." Itachi stated calmly, causing the Hyuuga to pause.
She turned back to face him, a blush of embarrassment spread across her cheeks. He'd completely bypassed her shoddy apology.
"Yes." She said.
If he trusted her, why did he keep so many secrets? Why was it that he knew nearly everything about her but every day was a new discovery when it came to him? He kept himself so closed off that she was barely scratching the surface with the things she did know. Itachi let out a deep breath through his nose and folded his arms over his chest.
"What do you want to know?" He asked.
His question took her by surprise. All she had to do was ask this entire time? Now that she was put on the spot she wasn't sure where to start. The elephant in the room was his illness but she didn't feel it appropriate to jump right out and ask him about that. Itachi wasn't a very open person so baby steps were best. The fact that he was even willing to answer her questions was a step in the right direction.
"Well?" He asked again, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips.
Hanabi held back a snicker. Clearly, he found amusement in catching her off guard. Two could play that game.
"What is your favorite color?" She asked quickly, walking towards the bed. Itachi lifted the comforter and allowed her to crawl in.
"You can ask me anything and that's your first question?" He scoffed but then inhaled sharply when she pressed her cold toes against his shin in retaliation.
"Just answer the question."
"I don't have one."
Hanabi stopped adjusting the covers and looked up at him surprised. Everyone had a favorite color. Itachi sunk down into the bed and stared up at the ceiling.
"I like the way the sky looks when the sun rises in the morning."
"That's not a color." Hanabi huffed and Itachi chuckled.
"Hmm, I suppose it's not."
The Hyuuga brought the down comforter up to her chin, thinking all the while about what else to ask him.
"When is your birthday?" She asked and Itachi stiffened next to her.
"Actually...it's tomorrow." He admitted.
Hanabi sprang upright and stared down at the Uchiha, his eyes sheepishly looking back at her. Why the hell hadn't he mentioned that his birthday was tomorrow? She personally didn't like making a huge fuss out of her own birthday but she wasn't aware of any reason that Itachi would have the same avoidance.
"Your birthday is tomorrow."
"Technically it's in a few hours."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"It's not important-"
"It's important to me!"
Itachi stared at her, taken aback by the outburst. Hanabi was also surprised by her own admission but it was true. Itachi was an important person in her life. It was only natural that she cares about his birthday! A warm hand slid up her arm, past her neck, to rest gently on her cheek. His thumb caressed the flushed skin, calming her rising temper.
"I'm sorry." He said and just like that she deflated.
She sank back down onto the bed and buried her face into his chest. Warm arms pulled her closer, allowing her negative feelings to finally dissipate. All of the day's events finally caught up with her body, causing her to feel the fatigue that had been lurking all along. She didn't want to fall asleep though. There were still so many things she wanted to ask him, so much more that she wanted to know. She wanted to know the real Itachi. She yawned.
"Favorite season."
"Fall."
"Favorite food."
"Dango and cabbage."
"You're so weird! Favorite..."
….
Saturday, June 9, 2018, 7:10 am
Tokai Mountains
….
"What the fuck! Do you mother fuckers always try your best to insult me?" An angry voice yelled.
Their voice was muffled slightly by the thick wood of the bedroom door but they were still loud enough to wake the Hyuuga up from her slumber.
"I specifically asked for a West facing room! Is that too much to fucking accommodate?"
She was disoriented at first when she opened her eyes. She didn't even remember falling asleep last night and this room was unfamiliar. Where was Itachi? She sat up on the bed and looked around the room. It was a little chilly because the fire had died down a little bit but the sight of it brought back memories of last night.
"Keep your voice down." An old gruff voice shouted from far away.
"Don't tell me what the hell to do. I'm outraged! I can't complete my ceremonies in an Eastward room!"
"No one gives a damn about your ceremonies."
"You won't be saying that so lightly when I offer your corpse as a sacrifice to Jashin!"
Hanabi ran a frustrated hand through her messy hair. Who the hell was Jashin and why did he require sacrifices of dead bodies? Also, and arguably more important, where was Itachi? His side of the bed was cold which meant that he'd departed some time ago. Did he know that he'd brought her to a house where murders made human sacrifices? The man outside the door continued to curse over his disdain for an eastward facing room and although Hanabi was well rested she didn't appreciate all of this noise so early in the morning.
With a huff, she threw the comforter off of her body and padded over the cold hardwood floor to the other side of the room. She opened up the door to find one of the loudest men she'd ever seen causing a ruckus in the hall. He was too busy waving his arms around to notice her appearance which might have been for the best since he was so angry. He didn't have a bunch of piercings like Yahiko or Konan but his silver, almost white, hair was very striking. Did he dye it to get that color?
Hanabi shook her head at the thought. His haircare practices didn't matter at the moment. The most important thing was getting him to pipe down. With that in mind, she cleared her throat to get his attention. It worked better than she expected because he immediately whirled around on a dime, striking violet eyes trained on her intrusion. Hanabi shivered as his eyes looked her up as down. She crossed her arms over her chest but she didn't break eye contact with the older man. If she'd learned anything from fighting opponents twice her size it was that maintaining eye contact was important. Breaking it for even the briefest of moments was a sign of weakness.
"Well aren't you a cute little tart?" He smirked before turning his head towards the stairs. "Kakuzu come look at what Itachi's hiding in his fucking room!"
"Stop yelling dammit!"
Hanabi's right eye twitched with irritation. What the hell was a 'tart'? He certainly wasn't referring to pastries when he used that word. The silver-haired man shrugged his shoulders at what she could only guess had been Kakuzu's refusal to 'come see what Itachi was hiding'. He turned his attention back to her, leaning nonchalantly against the doorframe.
"You must be the girl Konan mentioned. You're a hell of a lot cuter than I thought you'd be." He leered causing Hanabi to grimace. "You are on the small side though. I prefer my women more well endowed."
He reached out to touch her but Hanabi quickly grabbed his wrist and bent it backward. Instead of crying out like most men would, this guy's smirk transformed into a wide smile. His violet eyes danced with amusement and fascination the more pressure she added.
"You're a fucking feisty one." He growled, appreciatively licking his lips. "I like it."
"Hidan." A deep voice called from the third-floor stairs.
Hanabi let the man she now knew to be named Hidan go and he took a step back from her. Itachi stood at the foot of the stairs, his dark eyes trained dangerously on the other man. Hidan cackled at the look Itachi was giving him and headed towards the steps that led to the third floor. He muttered something she couldn't hear into Itachi's ear which caused the Uchiha to look away. Even though she couldn't hear Hidan's statement she could deduce that it was something foul, the guy did have a potty mouth after all. Hanabi shook her head and went back to Itachi's room to try to sleep a bit more before she had to face any more of Itachi's weird friends.
….
Saturday, June 9, 2018, 8:35 pm
Tokai Mountains
….
"Cut the deck-wait- don't let her touch the cards!"
"What afraid to lose to a girl Sasori?"
"No, but I can smell a cheater!"
Hanabi rolled her eyes at the red head's comments, leaning back in her seat. She wasn't a cheater, she'd just learned how to play from the best. It was highly unlikely that she'd beat Itachi at this game but she knew enough to beat these guys. Sasori handed the deck of cards to Kakuzu who cut the deck and dealt the cards out to everyone at the table. The redhead kept his eyes trained on Hanabi just in case even though she hadn't touched her own cards or anyone else's for that matter. He'd even made her roll up her sleeves on the grounds that she had spare cards hidden in her sweater. Hanabi blinked innocently back at him and he narrowed his eyes.
"Ya know, I have a good feeling about this hand." Kisame said as he picked up his cards and scanned the contents.
"You say that about every hand." Deidra sighed, his own hand was rather lackluster this time around.
Hanabi picked up her own cards as well and suppressed the grin that was trying to bubble up to the surface. To keep from revealing her good fortune too soon she observed the men sitting around the large round table. Sitting on either side of her were Kisame and Deidra who had gotten to the house only a few hours ago. Hanabi never thought she would be happy to see Kisame again but she was. She'd never let him know that though, it would make his ego even bigger. She was also happy to see Deidra even though he tried to act upset at her for leaving him. No matter how much coaxing she tried to do, the blonde man felt 'abandoned' and alone. Woe was the plight of a shop owner. Hanabi had to keep herself from laughing at Deidra's theatrics but occasionally a snicker did slip.
On the other side of the table sat Sasori, Kakuzu, and Hidan. Those three men were new faces that she hadn't quite figured out yet. Outside of the fact that Hidan had a foul mouth, he was mostly harmless, especially around Kakuzu. The stoic green-eyed man was the only person Hidan respected which honestly wasn't saying much. Hidan was incredibly easy to rile up though and Hanabi took personal joy in tormenting the man. The Hyuuga eyed the pile of money in front of her, the corner of her lip twitching involuntarily. The only thing Hidan still had in his possession was his shirt and the man would likely barter that before he admitted defeat to a girl. While most of the money came from Hidan because he was such a reckless player, a good chunk of it previously belonged to Sasori who wasn't willing to give up without a fight. Her lip twitched again. She didn't mind if they kept playing until they were broke, that just meant more money for her.
"No." Sasori grumbled, his eyes still trained on Hanabi.
"What?" She asked innocently, rested her chin on top of her fist. "I haven't done anything yet."
"Your lip twitched...twice."
"So?"
"Show your cards."
Hanabi smirked and rolled her eyes as the men around the table watched her with bated breath. Lazily she flipped over her set of four to reveal straight aces. A red-faced Hidan jumped out of his seat, knocking the chair loudly to the floor in the process while everyone else threw their cards down on the table.
"You're a goddamn witch that's what you are!"
"Hidan sit down." Kakuzu grumbled as he begrudgingly added more money to Hanabi's pile.
"No! She's a fucking cheater! She-"
"Just pay up." Hanabi groaned and held out her hand palm side up.
Hidan gritted his teeth in thinly contained fury before he ripped his shirt off his head and threw it on the table. Kisame and Deidra laughed at his distress even though they also had to deposit money into the Hyuuga's growing coffers. Sasori was the last to give her money and when he did, Hanabi gathered up all of the bills into a neat stack. She left all of the loose coins scattered on the table though, she had no use for change and she wasn't so cruel as to take their last few dimes.
"Let's play again." Sasori said but Hanabi shook her head.
"Afraid you'll lose?" Hidan hissed.
"No, I just don't want to see you lose your pants too."
Hidan sputtered insults at her as she stood up from the table, fanning herself all the while with their money, and taking leave of the dining room. The dining room led straight into the living room which of course was a much calmer environment. There was a fire roaring in the large fireplace and Itachi, Konan, and Yahiko were all chatting in a much more civilized tone. The tea sitting on the coffee table had long since grown cold but the pile of ginger snap cookies were still plentiful so Hanabi took two from the top. She deposited half of the money on the coffee table next to Konan before plopping down on the couch beside Itachi.
"Are you finished terrorizing for the night?" Itachi asked.
"I'm not 'terrorizing'. Your friends are just sore losers." She said with a shrug and handed Itachi the other half of the money. "Happy Birthday old man."
Hanabi grinned widely as Yahiko and Konan laughed at the aghast look on Itachi's face. Hidan's muffled tirade continued through the door to the dining room only added to their amusement. Yahiko laughed and ran a hand through his vibrant orange locks.
"Hidan is a special brand of loser." He said. "You'd think he'd temper out with age but he just seems to get worse."
Hanabi cocked her head to the side as she watched the trio share a laugh at memories that only they understood.
"How long have you guys all known each other?" She asked.
"Too long. Much longer than any of us care to admit." Yahiko said, absently fiddling with one of the piercings in his ear.
"Yahiko and I have known each other since childhood but the rest we've met along the way." Konan explained.
"You're willingly friends with weird, crazy people?"
"Ha! I like you!" Yahiko snorted and slapped his knee.
Just then the door separating the living room and the dining room swung open violently. A shirtless Hidan marched out with a look of smug confidence in his eyes. The others spilled out of the room behind him and watched as the silver-haired man positioned himself in front of the fire.
"Itachi your ward is a fucking thief." He said confidently, crossing his arms over his chest and eyeing the money on the table. "I demand a rematch."
"Is that so?" Hanabi sighed. "I'll just beat you again."
"Hidan you really are a glutton for punishment." Yahiko snickered.
"I've been saying for years that he's a masochist." Kisame added and Hidan glared at him.
"She fucking cheated, you all saw it! I know-" Hidan yelled.
"Hidan." Konan said calmly. "What time is it?"
"Like nine why-"
"I suggest you tone down your voice at such a late hour or I will tone it down for you."
Hanabi was surprised to see the loud man's mouth snap shut, violet eyes glancing warily towards the stairs to the second floor. It wasn't even that late but Konan's threat seemed to do the trick. He plopped down in front of the fireplace and grabbed a handful of cookies to shove angrily into his mouth. The rest of the occupants of the dining room took up seats on the rest of the couches or on the floor and Hanabi observed them contently.
What was it like to have friends you've known all your life?
She'd never paid much attention to her sister's friends and Neji...well he was too busy chasing after her and working to foster meaningful relationships. At school, she had...acquaintances but no one that she would consider a friend. People treated her differently because of who her father was and how much money their company made. Nothing about the people she associated with in high school were genuine, there was always an ulterior motive to every interaction. It wasn't like she was the kindest person to work with either so that was also a factor to take into consideration. Even still, Konohamaru was the only person who'd managed to make it past her defenses. The only person who treated her like a girl and not a stepping stone.
She sighed and shook her head to get rid of thoughts of her ex. She and Konohamaru had been happy together but now…he had Moegi. She didn't know much about Moegi, nor would she try to dig into her background, but she knew that she was a girl that would satisfy Konohamaru's family. She was compliant and sweet and everything Hanabi wasn't. Everything that Hanabi could never be. The Hyuuga sighed and pulled her feet up onto the couch. This house was making her think too much.
….
Sunday, June 10, 2018, 2:00 pm
Tokai Mountains
….
"Konan!" Hanabi called as she scrambled up the back-porch steps towards. In the background, gunshots and breaking pottery pierced the usual peace of the forest. "Konan!"
Her initial calls received no reply. That wasn't too strange since the house was really big and she probably couldn't hear her that well. Quickly Hanabi removed her muddy boots and left them just outside the screen door, it wouldn't be very nice to track filth into Konan's spotless kitchen. She then opened the screen door and looked around the kitchen. It was surprisingly empty.
"Konan." She called again, walking through the kitchen towards the living room. "Konan."
The living room was also empty so she started to climb the stairs. Outside she could hear the faint sounds of whoops and gunshots and she looked back towards the kitchen. Stupid Itachi. He refused to teach her how to shoot a gun which she found to be highly unfair. He'd already taught her how to gut a fish, start a fire, and let her make explosives with Deidra. How was showing her how to use a gun any more dangerous than what she'd already learned? Hidan especially took joy in Itachi's refusal and made sure to rub it in.
"Stupid Itachi. Stupid Hidan." Hanabi mumbled under her breath. "Konan! Are you up here?"
Again she was met with only the sound of her own heavy footsteps against the hardwood. Huh. That was odd. Where was Konan? Hanabi knocked on every door down the hallway but of course, they were empty since all of the boys were having target practice outside. Hanabi's upper lip curled but she continued her search. When she'd knocked on the last door the only option she had left was to take the stairs up to the third floor. In the two days she and Itachi had been here, she'd never ventured up to the third floor. The other visitors floated in and out throughout the day but she usually followed Itachi or Konan around when they were on the first or second floor. She reached out and touched the cold dark wood banister and leaned forward.
"Konan?" She called tentatively. "Are you up there?"
She paused and strained her ears but received no response. Just as she was about to walk away she heard a muffled cough.
"Konan?" She called again, taking a few steps up the staircase.
The coughing got louder and so did a rather distinctive beeping. It was muffled but she could recognize the sound even in her sleep. Now unable to keep her curiosity at bay she climbed the rest of the stairs up to the third floor, the beeping growing louder the higher she climbed. She expected to find a similar set up as the second floor, rows of doors that led to rooms, but instead the entire space was clear of any walls. The entire westward and eastward walls were covered in floor to ceiling windows, the afternoon light of the forest giving the space an warm glow. The floor was littered with hundreds, possibly thousands, of multicolored origami figurines and even more hung in bunches from the ceiling. Her foot kicked one of the creations and she bent down to pick it up. The red paper was folded into a delicate crane with a skill she'd never seen before even among her elders who folded origami as a way to pass their afternoons. It was a beautiful piece of work.
"Hello." A weary voice rasped, snapping Hanabi from her admiration of the crane.
The voice belonged to a being sitting on the far side of the room. Long red hair hung down limply over their hunched shoulders as they were propped up in a massive bed. Wires and cords trailed from the person to the beeping machines that surrounded their bed. There were so many machines that the Hyuuga couldn't even imagine how they were able to hook up to one person. Even when she was being treated for hypothermia there were never this many machines...this many wires. Hanabi took a nervous step back.
"Hello?" The person called again.
"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean-" Hanabi stammered, embarrassed that she'd intruded upon this person's privacy.
"You must be..." the person paused to take a deep, shaky breath. " the girl everyone was...talking about..."
The voice trailed off as though trying to recall her name. Nervously she took a step forward and supplied the answer.
"Hanabi Hyuuga."
"Yes...Hanabi... Itachi's firecracker." The voice chuckled. " I have heard...a lot about you."
"Good things I hope." Hanabi laughed nervously.
"Sasori...Hidan...are convinced you are a witch."
Hanabi rolled her eyes at the insult. For full-grown men, they sure acted like a bunch of babies. The person on the bed appeared amused though. They tried to sit up properly in the bed but it looked like it took more effort than they possessed. Without thinking twice Hanabi crossed the room to help them sit up, nearly flinching when she felt how frail they were.
"Thank you." The person said, patting her hand that she was using to stabilize their elbow. "My name is...Nagato...by the way."
"Oh!" Hanabi squeaked in surprise. Where were her manners? Neji would certainly reprimand her for her absentmindedness if he were here to witness it. "Nice to meet you Nagato."
"You as well..."
Outside they could hear the faint sound of gunshots and the realization made her cringe. She'd been yelling for Konan this entire time and she'd been arrogantly thumping up the stairs as if she owned the place. If he could hear the activity outside so clearly, surely he must have heard her mucking around downstairs. Inwardly she groaned, this man probably thought she'd been raised in a barn.
"I...I'm sorry for the noise." She mumbled and Nagato only flashed her a weak smile.
"It's fine...I like noise...sometimes..."
Hanabi nodded and looked out towards the westward windows. Up here they had a perfect view of the forest and clearing down below. Currently, Kakuzu was handing Itachi a pair of bulky headphones and clear protective goggles, a fiercely competitive look on his face. Itachi put the items on before heading towards the table with a wide array of guns and ammunition, all of which he'd forbidden her to touch. Hanabi moodily turned away from the window.
"Stupid Itachi." She grumbled under her breath which caused Nagato to chuckle.
"I've...never heard...those two words...said together." He wheezed.
Hanabi turned back to the man meekly. She really wasn't leaving a good first impression on him was she?
"He's not that bad, just annoying at times." She blurted out and slapped a hand over her treacherous mouth. "Don't tell him I said that though!"
"I won't."
"Whew!" Hanabi said dramatically, wiping the imaginary sweat off of her forehead. Quickly she thought of something else to say to fill the silence. "Your view from up here is really nice though. I don't think I've seen anything like it."
"Hmmm...neither have I. This is my childhood home...Konan...Yahiko...we all grew up here." He sighed and his weary eyes took on a far-off quality.
"You're all siblings?" Hanabi asked curiously, that really didn't add up since they looked nothing alike. Nagato's chapped lips twitched with amusement.
"In a way."
Hanabi nodded, her eyes ever so often darting to the countless wires and tubes that were connected to Nagato's frail body. The redhead tried to push some of his hair out of his eyes but the limp locks fell back into place.
"Does my appearance...frighten you?" He asked and Hanabi furiously shook her head.
"No, it's just-"
"It's okay...I know what I must look like..."
The Hyuuga bit her bottom lip nervously even though he continued to smile at her. He didn't look that bad...well yes he did look terrible but he didn't frighten her. If anything she was filled with concern the moment she set eyes on him. What was he doing up here all alone in this drafty old house? He was clearly sick but he wasn't going to get any better being up here. The last she checked, no one currently residing in the mansion had any knowledge of medicine or what to do to help Nagato if he worsened. It seemed almost cruel to keep him cooped up here and only able to be an observer as life moved on just outside his window. As if he could read her mind, Nagato spoke up.
"You are wondering...why I am here..." He wheezed. "I'm not surprised Itachi...didn't tell you. He has a tendency to...shield others from...unpleasant realities."
Hanabi swallowed thickly. She shouldn't allow Nagato to talk this much. It was evident that doing so was sapping away at whatever reserves of energy he had left. The sick man took a deep breath and looked up at her, freezing her in place with soulful eyes that had seen too much. Eyes that knew more pain that she could ever fathom. Eyes that were strangely familiar.
"You're dying." She whispered and Nagato nodded his head solemnly.
"Yes."
"I'm sorry." Hanabi said thickly when all other words failed her.
What else was there to say to a dying man? The teen had been mostly shielded from death and dying as she grew up. She'd never attended any of the funerals of the branch members, somehow her family always kept her busy doing something else on those rare occasions. Sometimes Hinata would visit some of their family members when they were sick in the hospital but Hanabi never tagged along. Now she regretted her selfish behavior because she had no idea what to do in a situation like this. Nagato didn't seem to mind her lack of bedside manner. He patted her hand gently with cold thin fingers and looked out the window to where his visitors were starting to clean up the damage they'd done in the clearing.
Itachi turned away from the others, covering his mouth with the inside of his elbow. From the way his shoulders were hunched it wasn't a very strong cough but she could tell that he'd pushed himself too much for the day. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and luckily it came away clean. No blood...this time. Beside her, Nagato began to cough as well, the beeping of his machine picking up speed as the brief fit coursed through his weak body.
"Nagato." She said, placing her hands on his thin shoulders to keep him from falling too far forward.
When the coughing ended she pressed him back down against his pillows, worried that if he continued to sit upright it would only further irritate his condition. As Nagato gave her a weak smile of appreciation she noticed the small droplets of blood that had landed on his white bedsheets. Her eyes widened as she looked at the blood then back up to his worn face. The dots slowly began to connect together. Nagato winced slightly in pain but his smile stayed firm.
"You are...a strange girl." he teased weakly. "Most are...frightened by the sight of...blood."
Hanabi kept a stiff upper lip and folded her arms defiantly across her chest.
"It'll take more than that to scare me off." she said but the truth was that she was used to it. She'd seen more than her own fair share of blood over the last few years.
Nagato smirked and closed his eyes, sinking further into his pillows. He coughed a few more times but soon his body relaxed. The sound of the machines beeping lulled the man to sleep.
"I'm glad I got to meet you...Hanabi."
...
Sunday, June 10, 2018, 9:47 pm
Tokai Mountains
...
The light in the room faded as the hours ticked by. Konan had tried knocking on the door to coax her out for dinner a couple of hours ago. Hanabi told her she wasn't hungry. Hidan and Sasori had tried to entice her with another game of cards. Hanabi rejected their offer. Deidra had asked if she wished to help him set up in the backyard...that request had been the hardest to deny. Not because she wanted to help him but because she knew why he was setting up fireworks in the backyard. This would be the last time Nagato would ever see the night sky light up. In her heart, she knew that she should help yet her mouth had formed the words of rejection without her permission. She remained on Itachi's bed with her back against the wall, staring out at the increasing dark room. She could hear the sounds of the others walking up and down the hall earlier but there was nothing but silence now. The door to Itachi's room creaked open but there was no light that came in with the opening. Everything remained dark.
"Hanabi." Itachi said as he stood in the middle of the dark doorway.
"I met Nagato." She said, her voice barely above a whisper. "He's dying."
Itachi let out a slow deep breath but he remained in the doorway. His silence alone was enough to corroborate what she'd discovered earlier that afternoon.
"Why?" She asked.
Silence engulfed the pair as the Uchiha made his way over to the bed. He took a seat on the edge with his back to her.
"Nagato and I first met when I was around five and he was eight. I don't remember much from that time, I was mostly too heavily medicated." Itachi said, his deep voice cutting through the darkness. Hanabi hugged her knees to her chest and listened intently.
"I was born with a disorder that causes buildup in my lungs, liver, pancreas...I won't bore you with the details but it makes me more prone to infection. I underwent a lot of treatment when I was younger and I guess you could say that Nagato was my first friend and only friend during my time in the children's hospital. I got better. Sasuke was born and our parents worried that he would be dealt the same hand as I was. Luckily he was not and I was also able to live a relatively normal life. That is until I turned fifteen and had to be sent off again for more treatment."
"That must have been hard." Hanabi mumbled under her breath. To think that you were fine and then have it ripped away? That had to be difficult to deal with at such a young age. Itachi chuckled and shrugged his shoulders.
"For me not so much, for Sasuke...that was a different story. I still don't think that he's forgiven my sudden abandonment during his formative years. He was a sweet kid before I left but after I got back he was more of the prickly pear you like to bicker with."
"Your parents never told him?"
"Weakness is not something discussed within the Uchiha clan especially not when it comes to the heir. At that time there were factions vying to usurp my father and take the company in a different direction. They were pretty close to doing it too. If they knew that his line was even weaker than they'd initially thought it would have been even easier to oust him. Sasuke was too young to grasp my illness or clan politics. Right or wrong we all shielded him from it."
Itachi sighed and laid back on the bed. His eyes stared up at the dark ceiling.
"Will you tell him now?" She asked and the Uchiha took a deep breath.
"Old habits die hard little firecracker."
"The second round of intense treatments was similar to the first except I had to stay longer. Nagato was there as well, he remembered me still after all those years, and we got a bit closer this time. Konan and Yahiko would come to visit him at least three times a week and they kept me company as well when my parents were unable to visit. When I was well enough to leave the hospital Nagato was still too sick. We kept in touch though over the years and I actually met him again during university. Although this time without the context of us both being confined to hospital beds.
"I was doing much better by this point, I was even able to come off of most of my medication until about two years ago. This time when I went in for treatment there was nothing they could do. My body has become resistant to the old methods and the buildup in my organs is more persistent. Nagato's condition is much worse than mine. It always has been. His body has been destroying itself since the day he was born."
Hanabi's eyes widened in the dark. No. Itachi couldn't end up like Nagato.
"There has to be something you can do." She said meekly.
"There are options overseas. Clinical trials that are looking to test out new treatments. They could prove to be fruitful but I'm fairly skeptical of the efficacy." He sighed and sat up on the bed. "Enough of this talk. Deidra should be finished setting up by now without your help-"
"Chi." Hanabi interrupted, clutching the edge of his shirt to keep him from getting off of the bed. "Please don't die."
"Everyone dies Hanabi. In this world, it is the only thing that is a guarantee."
To be continued...
L is for N. K. C.
His father was scary when deprived of his wife.