Masks
Chapter Three: A fatal bird
A week had passed since team seven arrived in Tsuba, and they were continuously busy helping with the preparations for the festival and taking turns to escort and protect Danjo.
Through the week they found out that besides being the head priest of the village, Danjo was one of the members of the council, therefore, his vote had greater influence.
Sasuke was tired of having to deal with his teammates. He only put up with them because he was a professional, and someone had to be ethical in the group. But, oh, how he wished he could be far away from them.
From his point of view, their bonds were so severed that they were beyond repair. Those two had done something unforgivable and he would never forgive them. He shook his head, and tried to focus on the task at hand.
He was currently helping Danjo make the necessary arrangements for that night's blessing ceremony. Who knew such a simple ceremony took so damn long to prepare?
Thanks to his help, they finished sooner than expected, so he retired to his room before the priest could say anything. He really wasn't in the mood to talk, and that monk could detect whenever something was bothering him from miles away.
The first thing he noticed as he walked into his room was the royal blue yukata on top of his futon, a folded piece of paper on top of it. He opened it and read
Please wear this tonight to the festival. Meet us at the dining room at 7pm.
Danjo
He put the kimono on a side and plopped into the futon. He had enough time for a short nap before he had to go get ready.
Sakura slammed the sliding door of her room shut. She had had yet another fight with Naruto over Sasuke. The dumb blond was depressed because of Sasuke's cold treatment towards them.
She couldn't deny she was sad too, but at least she hoped that time and her love for the Uchiha would soften him up
-What love are you talking about? You say you love him, yet you sleep with me- Naruto had said. She huffed, cursing under her breath. The guy had literally called her a slut.
-Just let him be, Sakura-chan- Naruto's voice rang clear in her mind –He still blames me for her death…-
Those words made her even angrier, so she had punched the blonde square in the face and ran back to her room.
She couldn't help the jealousy she was feeling. Let her fucking rest in peace!, she yelled in her head. She couldn't believe how just one girl managed to snatch her place as Sasuke's closest friend. Now she was dead, and the Uchiha blamed not only Naruto, but her as well for the girl's death. They hadn't done anything to her, but if they hadn't done what they did that night, maybe she wouldn't have died in that fire.
She honestly couldn't care less about the dead girl, she had been just another weak chick that couldn't protect herself. Pathetic.
She scoffed and looked at the time, and quickly went into the bathroom for a shower. She had to get ready for the festival. She soon walked out and put on the pink and red kimono that Danjo had chosen for her.
At 7pm they met as agreed. Danjo looked at team seven, studying each of them and giving a nod of approval, but then looked at Naruto, who had made a messy knot with his black sash.
-Come with me, Naruto-san- he said as he motioned for a room. Naruto followed him curiously. He closed the door behind him and looked at Danjo –Your sash is not tied properly- the priest explained.
Naruto embarrassedly scratched the back of his neck –Heheheh… I'm sorry- he apologized –I've never worn anything like this before-
-I see- Danjo said as he quickly fixed the sash around Naruto's hips –All done!-
-Thank you, Danjo-san-
-Don't worry about it- the priest said –Now, why don't you guys go ahead? I'll join you at the shrine-
Naruto looked at him curiously. Weren't they supposed to leave together? –We can't do that! We are your bodyguards, and as such, we can't leave you alone!- Naruto explained.
Danjo closed his eyes and smiled –I see. Well, would you please wait for a bit?-
Naruto nodded and walked out of the room to meet with his teammates. What he found pissed him off. There was his supposed girlfriend, Sakura, trying to kiss Sasuke. Her yukata was open on her chest, revealing a reasonable amount of cleavage. The Uchiha was trying in vain to push her away, his eyes fixed on her face.
-Get away from me, Sakura- Sasuke threatened through clenched teeth.
-Yeah, get away from him, Sakura-chan- Naruto's voice rang through the room and Sakura moved away from the Uchiha, startled.
-N-Naruto!- Sakura quickly fixed her yukata as she walked to the blonde.
Naruto put a hand in front of him -Get away from me, please- he said, his gaze on the floor –You really disgust me sometimes- he muttered
Sakura's eyes widened and she felt rage boil on her veins –What is it with both of you?!- she yelled at the top of her lungs –Stop comparing me to some dead woman! Don't expect me to act like her just because she pretended to be all virginal and pure!- she pointed at Naruto –YOU! Stop comparing me to her all the fucking time!- Naruto opened his mouth to speak, but Sasuke beat him to it.
-Sakura…- he spoke in a normal volume, but is was more than enough to get her to stop talking –Shut up. This has nothing to do with her- he said as he glared at her –Your attitude is the problem here- he walked closer to her and the pink-haired girl's eyes widened in fear –Insult her memory one more time and I'll kill you- he threatened as his black eyes turned red, tomoe spinning wildly.
Sakura felt tears form in her eyes, and nodded without a word.
Team seven was so engrossed in their argument that they didn't see Danjo witness the entire thing. The priest quickly retired and walked into the bedroom adjacent to his.
A futon was neatly folded and backed against a wall of the wide room. The smell of incense burning caught his attention. He looked to one of the corners of the room, and found his daughter sitting in front of her little shrine, her long, dark hair covering her face.
-Oboro-chan! I see you are talking to him again- Danjo said as he bowed in front of the shrine before sitting down next to the girl.
-Otou-sama- was all the girl said before turning back to the shrine –I had to see him before I perform-
Danjo smiled at the girl –I'm sure he will love your performance- he saw his daughter smile, a rare occurrence.
-I hope so- she said as she looked at the picture in the shrine. A young man smiled back at her. She grabbed the picture tenderly between her hands and gently caressed it.
Danjo stood up and walked to the door, wanting to give his daughter some privacy –I will be going, then. I'll see you at your performance- he said and left the room.
She sat in silence for a long time, holding the picture, looking at it.
Stealing a quick glance at the clock, she realized she was a bit late. She delicately placed the picture back in its shrine and looked at it one last time before leaving.
-Wish me luck, nii-san-
The blessing ceremony was rather quick, Sasuke thought. He couldn't believe he spent a whole morning making preparations for a fifteen minute long ceremony. He was currently escorting Danjo to the stage that had been set up for the festival's opening ceremony, walking next to him. Naruto walked next to Danjo too, and Sakura covered their backs.
So far there had been no threats, and team seven hoped it stayed that way.
They sat down next to the priest in the front row and waited for the show to begin. The lights dimmed, signaling the start of the presentation.
Soon the curtains were drawn. The stage was set up to look like a dark lake surrounded by trees. A white, full moon illuminated the dark sky, giving the stage an ethereal glow. The small orchestra begun playing a soft melody.
A soft, soprano voice began singing, and a girl slowly walked into the stage.
Tanto tempo fa,
She wore a pure white furisode kimono, which contrasted with the dark background. It seemed to be made of the finest silk, and glowed as she walked. Her black hair was arranged in an ornate bun, decorated with dark feathers and silver pins. The girl kept her face covered with a black fan as she sang.
Un uccello fatale di nome Chromaggia
Naruto looked at the girl and felt a strange pang in his chest. He had heard that song before somewhere…
Incrociò in volo la freccia di un arciere lungo le coste di lava
Sakura's eyes widened and looked at Naruto, whose blue orbs were wide with surprise too. She wasn't imagining things, then. That voice reminded her of that girl.
Per anni, pensando di essere, inseguita scappò dalla freccia
Naruto turned to Danjo and desperately asked him –Oi! Danjo-san! Who is she?-
The priest turned to look at the boy –That is my daughter, Oboro-chan- he said –Now, hush. She practiced long and hard for this. The least we can do is listen to her- he said as he returned to watching his daughter.
Chromaggia, Chromaggia perché non affronti il pericolo?
The singing girl slowly closed her fan, and Naruto and Sakura stared intensely, wanting to see her face. Oboro's face though, was covered by an intricate black mask that resembled the face of a bird. The mask covered her eyes and all the way to her nose, leaving her red lips visible.
La freccia era legata all'ala e lei volva per liberarsene
Naruto and Sakura turned to look at Sasuke. The guy seemed to be in a trance, his eyes fixed upon the singing girl. That voice brought too many memories.
Tirando la freccia Altri son ferriti per mia colpa, mia colpa
The girl paused her singing and walked around the stage. Sasuke took the chance and studied every feature possible of Danjo's daughter. Everything about her reminded him of the friend he had lost. It hurt too much to watch her, yet he couldn't stop looking at her.
Giú! Verso la bocca del diavolo! La sua freccia, I miei occhi.
Sakura felt her heart grow heavy. That girl's voice came straight from heaven, or hell, she didn't know. She had a very beautiful voice, but it brought back memories that she wanted forgotten.
Chromaggia! Come take these eyes!
Oboro slowly opened her fan as she sung the final notes of the song.
I would rather be blind!
The singing girl covered her face again with the fan and the melody came to a close.
The crowd erupted in applause. People stood up, clapping vigorously, some yelling 'bravo!' The curtains closed.
The next shows passed by in a blur for team seven. They followed Danjo around after the shows, and guarded him after the official opening of the festival. No threats were detected, yet they desperately yearned for something to distract them from the singing voice that still plagued their minds, even if it was a threat.
They were back in Danjo's house now, the man had retired to his quarters, and had promised them that they would meet their daughter the next morning.
That night neither Naruto, Sasuke, nor Sakura were able to sleep properly, their dreams filled with memories they wanted gone.
One heart felt guilt.
Another heart felt rage and sadness.
Another heart was filled with envy and hate.
Hi everyone!
I'm back!
I'm not a big fan of using songs in my stories, but this one seemed to fit so well with what I want that I couldn't help it.
The song's name is Chromaggia, and is sung by Sarah Brightman. It is originally from a movie called Repo! The Genetic Opera. I would recommend listening to it so you get a feel of what I wanted to show. The song is in italian, but you can easily find the translation online.
I hope you enjoy this chapter, and I'm sure that by know you must know who Oboro is.
Please review!
Bye ;)