Disclaimer: No, I do not own Naruto...
Hallways were nothing to fear by themselves. They were just dark when not properly lit... It was what lurks in them that were to be weary of...
Sasuke didn't understand why he cared. He question even his own actions as he carried Tsukiko down the dark corridors. Was she really anything to fawn over?
He eyed her form; it wasn't unlike any other female he'd seen. Sure, if you looked close, you could almost categories her as being malnourished, but not unhealthy. At least she still had muscle mass to her limbs, but her kimono hid her form nicely...
She always bore black, was it because she was always in mourning?
It was only now that he notice how long her hair really was, almost reaching her waist. And she had a lot of hair... It was the first time he saw her without it being pulled back into a braid. Her hair may not be combed back nicely, tossed every which way and covering her face, but she did look... different...
Is different good?
Sasuke further descended into the dark hallway until he reached her door. Lightly kicking it open with his knee, he found her room as poorly lit as the halls. He lied her on the small bed, as gently as he could, but his muscles still ached from the training.
He wondered if he should try and clean up the caked blood along her arms and legs, but decided against it. If she awoke during the process, it would only lead to embarrassment.
Before deciding to leave, Sasuke took a glance around the room. It was his first experience in this particular space. There wasn't much to it, Tsukiko did not have many possessions; but, the room was slightly larger than the others within the underground den. Of course, there was a shelf of jars containing live herbs with a few small chests, most likely containing dried ingredients.
There were no photographed memories on display, there were no memories that she really wanted to remember. A small bookshelf stood in the corner, the usual subjects about herbs and a few about physiology, but most books were title less. The room could be mistaken for anyone's.
Something close to the ceiling caught his eye. Raising an eyebrow, ever so slightly, he took a few steps closer to the object of interest.
'So, she really was a kid...'
He couldn't really believe that she would keep something so... out of place. A dirty, stuffed animal sat atop the bookshelf, almost out of sight. If the eyes of the kid's toy hadn't reflected the small light of the candle, Sasuke would have just passed over it all together.
He looked down to assure that Tsukiko was still passed out before picking the animal off the shelf. The fur of the fake animal was soft, he took it down with both hands. It was ratty and slightly resembled a rabbit. The color of the fur was supposed to be a pure white, with maybe a tinge of baby blue, and spots of filth here and there, it was worn, but not in the absolute worst condition. The eyes were black beads while the nose and mouth were stitched red string.
Yes, this was very out of place. It held sentimental value, why else would she keep something so... childish?
He looked the fake rabbit in the eyes, black staring at black. Something seemed to pry itself in Sasuke's mind. His eyes went blank as pictures played in his mind.
---
Sasuke stood in a small village, the farming town of the Sound village. Streams of lighted lanterns were hung from every building, venders and musicians beckoned passing villagers to see what they could show. It was a festival.
He looked around, people seemed to not notice his presence, they even passed right through him.
'What the-!?' He looked down at his hands, they were transparent. You could see the ground past his fingers. Did he turn into a ghost?
"Tsukiko!"
Sasuke, on instinct, turned to face the speaker. A man in a cat mask was looking off into the crowd. Sasuke turned his gaze to where the masked man was looking. Appearing from the mass of people, a small girl popped out. The man beckoned her over with his hand.
She obediently followed, staring that the strange sights around her.
"Now, what did I tell you about not holding my hand? You can't get lost. You don't want me to get in more trouble than we're already in, now, do you Tsukiko?" The man leaned down to the child's level, taking her shoulders in his palms. She just shook her head slowly. The man flipped his mask up, revealing a smile.
"Hey, don't be like that. This may be the first and last festival you're able to attend. Let's make it fun, ne?"
The small girl, again nodded, taking hold of the man's offered hand.
"I know what can cheer you up."
The pair began walking in Sasuke's direction. He looked down at the girl.
It seemed a worried expression was imprinted in her dark eyes. Her hair was contained in a stubby ponytail, barely enough hair to fir in the band. Her eyes matched her hair, in the same dark hue. Yet, she wore a white kimono along with wooden getas on her small feet. She couldn't be a year over the age of eight.
'That has to be Tsukiko... But am I in her past?'
He looked into her eyes as she passed, but his breath caught a hitch as she turned her head and seemed to meet his gaze. Could she... see him? Sasuke wondered...
The resemblance between the girl and Tsukiko, other than the name, was defiantly there. But, what was she doing here? Or, better yet, what was he doing here?
With no other thought, Sasuke followed the pair to a food booth. The man bought an odango stick for Tsukiko before having her wait by a street lamp. Her expression really didn't seem to change thought that time. So, she waited by the pole, nibbling at the odango once in a while, but it really didn't seem to interest her all too much.
She still looked out of place in the village. Everyone was so happy, celebrating; but the man couldn't get her to even smile. She was too worried about what would happen after it all... They had snuck out to come here, but it was unintentional by her part. She was just being dragged along.
Sasuke leaned on the pole beside her, nearly touching her small shoulder with his sleeve. At whatever age she was, she only reached his waist. The small girl had yet to notice him again after the first gaze. Or, maybe she was just ignoring him.
Either way, Sasuke kept asking himself what he was here for.
The man returned to Tsukiko, a new found smile on his features. Sasuke spotted him holding something behind his back. The man bent down to be level with the small girl.
'Is that...?'
Tukiko just tilted her head at the older man, who's smile hadn't flattered. "Guess what." She kept silent.
"Aww, not even curious?"
From behind his back, he pulled out a stuffed animal, a rabbit.
"Ta da! Here you go!" He held it out with both hands for her to take, a smile still evident.
She looked at the animal with curious eyes. Did she not know what it was? Her eyes looked the inanimate creature up and down, before she looked up at the man.
"Usagi?"
The man smiled wider, taking her free hand and winding it around the stuffed animal.
"Hai! Yes, it's a rabbit. Do you like it?"
Tsukiko's eyes turned from empty to having a good vibe. A smile slowly appeared on her brightened face as she stared longer at the toy. Her first toy...
Sasuke watched from behind, still leaning against the street pole. Her smile... would the older Tsukiko have the same brightness as the young girl before him? Could the girl he know smile?
The man bent down on his knees, a smile not unlike the child's own. "What do you say to someone after-"
"Domo arigatou gozoimasu," she bowed lowly, "Tou-San, kono usagi ga sukidesu."*
Sasuke stopped, the man in front of him was Tsukiko's father! It was only at that moment that he took in account of his features. The man had a mane of dirt brown hair, a long nose with an average body build. Tsukiko may have had his ears or smile, but she really didn't look much like her so-called father. Maybe she resembled her mother more?
The man grinned, not unlike a boy Sasuke once knew, a fox grin? He extended his hand to his daughter.
"We should head back before too much of a commotion begins, ne?"
The pair began walking down the lantern lit streets. Tsukiko's small hand clutched onto the older man's in an attempt to hold on and not loose him.
Out of the village and into the forest, the difference in lighting was almost too much to adjust to, but the moon allowed for the shadows to recede slightly, but not forever.
Something pulled Sasuke right along with them, even when he refused to walk to return, it wouldn't allow him to. On more than a few occasions, his eyes would wander back to the small girl. Sure, she looked content, with the rabbit stuffed under her arm, but under it all, the forbidding thoughts of what was to come never left her. Haunting her from within.
The roots of the forest trees around the Sanin's domain were past overgrown a century ago. The roots hung out for the ground with the tops uneven at the top, proving little shelter from the moon light.
Tsukiko, with short legs, tripped on a large root. She didn't seem to make an attempt at catching herself, but was still shocked at the sudden event.
"Wo there," the man caught her from the front, having her land unharmed in his grasp. A smile never leaving him. He held her tighter for a mere second.
"Careful, you don't know what's out here at night." The girl just stared up at him, it was true. He didn't know what was out at night, lurking...
The entrance appeared after a few more minutes of walking, and could be seen form the darkness, even when surrounded by shadows. But a figure could also be seen on guard un front.
"Oops, I suppose there's already a commotion on our absence." The man commented light heartedly. Truly unaware of what was to come.
Tsukiko looked upon the horizon with indifference, she could do nothing. Tsukiko's grip on the man's hand loosened, before being forced out all together. Sasuke watched in shock as the guard imprisoned Tsukiko's father in a stone prison. It wasn't even an identity misunderstanding.
"Hitotsuri!"
The man growled, his hands still clasped into the sign of the boar. He appeared in front of the imprisoned man. Another ninja, apparently working with the capturer, appeared behind Tsukiko and grasped her shoulder, pulling her at a distance away from the scene.
Sasuke saw Tsukiko's grip on the animal tighten to where an animated pet would have suffocated. "Tou-San..."
"You thought that just because you were a possible match to being her father, and treat the witch's child as your own, you have the nerve to think you have special privileges! Ha! I laugh at stupidity like yours!"
Tsukiko's head bowed. It was inevitable...
"I have no idea what you speak of-"
"I'll silence your infernal trap once for all. This is the only thing you receive for your gap!" It was far from neat, the stones around the imprisoned man began converging together, into a single point, before it was everywhere.
Blood...
"Gomen nasai, Tou-San..."
Something resembling tears might have trickled down her cheeks, but the veil of hair obscured Sasuke's view.
The man murder turned to the child, not such intentions evident. "Let's go, Orochimaru's been in a bad mood since that bastard took you for what? A god danmed festival?" The man snorted before signaling for her and the other ninja to follow into the shadowed domain.
The world slowly faded around Sasuke, what did he just see?
"Are you ready to return?"
---
His vision was far from impaired as he attempted to see his surroundings. Feeling the world spin around him. Where was he now?
Sasuke felt a light grip on his shoulder, seeming to pull him down to a stable ground. Gradually his senses became clearer.
"So you found him?"
Tsukiko's hand was still on his shoulder, while she seemed to stare at the stuffed animal with blank look. Was it even real?
Sasuke's eyes finally refocused to seeing. What had happened? Tsukiko moved to sit next to him on her bed, her hair still a mess and dry blood caked to her inner leg. The old rabbit placed lightly on her lap, it's head tilted to the side. How long has it been since she's lied eyes on such an old thing?
"So you saw what happened that night," her head tilted in the same direction as the rabbit, mirroring the empty look. "Sometimes, it doesn't even matter how hard you try to prevent the future." Her gaze turned to him, "It still happens..."
Something formed over her eyes, glossing them. So, that night so long ago, it was really tears. Tsukiko embraced the rabbit to her chest, the ears tickling her nose. Could she still smell his scent?
---
The eight year old walked back out into the shadows of the forest, the crushed corpse still half buried in the middle of a sea of red. It was still wet... She still embraced the rabbit in her small arms.
Tsukiko willed herself as close to the pool of blood as she could, stopping at the very edge. She bent down, allowing her hand to brush against the blood drenched grass. It was thicker than water, and smelled a great deal more.
She stared at her coated palm covered in red, it was shaking.
"Gomen nasai, Tou-San..."
Her hand closed upon the blood, was it still warm?
"Goodbye..."
---
Sasuke extended his hand around her shoulders, watching her expression. Tsukiko turned to him, did he understand? Without any words, she moved closer and leaned on him. He didn't shift a muscle, he almost didn't breath.
His arm still lay limp on her shoulders. The act was simple, but the comfort it gave was more than she felt in quite a long time.
"Thank you..."
*"I like this bunny, Father."
Thank you very much for reading! Special thank you to Princesa de la Luna, Skye Sasuke, livstar235, and catty173for their awsome reviews! I couldn't have done it without you guys! I hope this chapter was long enough, I found myself just ending it there and then staring at it for quite some time before deciding it was done.
If you have any questions, please send me a message. I will be happy to explain a few things.
I hope to hear from everyone!
-Sin
