Chapter 10 Ice Over the Water

I knocked on Mizuko's door.

"Mizuko-san?"

No answer.

I knocked again.

"Mizuko-san? It's Karasu."

I was answered by silence. I raised my hand to knock again.

"What do you think you're doing?!" A low harsh voice hissed.

I turned to see Hiko glaring up at me, Ekima behind her.

"How could you think of bugging her at a time like this?!" Hiko continued.

"Not so loud, Hiko-chan, she might hear you." Ekima whispered. "Besides Karasu-chan doesn't know."

Hiko gave as exasperated sigh, grabbed my sleeve and led me away from Mizuko's room. I followed her until we reached what I guessed was her room. She shut the door behind us and crossed her arms as she turned to me.

"You really shouldn't bother Mizuko right now, this is a really, really bad day for her." She scorned.

"But, why?" I asked.

"Today is the day her father was killed!"

I felt my breath cease, lingering in the back of my throat. It wasn't so much as the news but the mention of a father and the image in conjured in my mind that caused my reaction.

"Mizuko's father was killed in the line of duty, the two were very, very close." Ekima explained.

"You have a father, right?" Hiko said sharply. "How would you react if this had happened to him."

A smile spread across my face and I felt laughter snake from my mouth, empty, cruel laughter. The idea and irony of what they had asked struck me as sickly funny. They really had no idea. From the looks they gave me, I guessed they thought me mad.

"My father could be dead for all I know." I said. "Not that it would matter to me, the only pity would be that he didn't die by my hand."

"How could you say that?!" Hiko screamed. "He's still your flesh and blood!"

"You should lecture him not me." I said passively.

"But surely you must somewhat care for him." Ekima said.

The cruel smile on my face faded and I recalled the few memories of my father before my mother's death, a faded smile flashed through my mind.

"Maybe I did." I whispered. "But, he took that from me."

Mizuko or Hiko didn't say a word. Suddenly, I was staring at the back of a women's head. Her hair was black, full and wavy. It bounced as she ran ahead of me. She turned to look at me but the top half of her face was deep in shadows. She mouthed some words, patted her knee and continued to run forward. Then she was gone and I was back in the dark room.

"What happened?" Ekima asked quietly.

A mocking sting of pain shivered down my back and I tried not to wince.

"I really don't want to talk about it right now." I muttered.

Hiko snorted. "Well, Mizuko will be back to her normal self tomorrow, just don't bother her today." She yanked the door open. "You can leave now."

As I left the room I got the strange feeling Hiko really didn't like me. She spoke harshly to me and almost never made eye contact. I made me a bit sad but I was used to people not liking me.

I headed back to my room feeling a bit tired. I hadn't quite mentally recovered from my battle with Juugo, my body wasn't used to the curse mark. I really hadn't planned on mastering it but I promised Kimimaro and I would have to learn to control it to keep that promise. I suddenly felt a cold hand touch my arm. I tensed and spun around. Mizuko looked back at me with puffy red eyes and I knew she had been crying; which she really didn't seem the type to do so.

"You okay?" I asked.

She said nothing.

"D-do you want some tea?"

Knowing she wouldn't answer I took her wrist and led her to my room. I was a big tea person and, after a while, made a habit of always keeping hot tea in my room. I seated her on the bed and poured her a cup. She took and held it in her hands. Not knowing what else to do I stood and watched her. But her eyes were distantly focused on the ground.

"He said he'd come back."

Mizuko's once strong, confident voice was now meek. I then realized I was staring at a completely different person.

"He'd come back and pick me up in his arms and toss me in the air." She continued.

I remained silent.

"Mom would make dumplings, pork buns and sushi." A small smile appeared on her lips at the fond memories. "He would tell us stories about what had happened as I rained outside. Maybe he'll bring a souvenir. An my older sisters would leave to attend to the other returning men, maybe I would go too."

I sat down next to her, placing a hand her arm.

"And he did come back." She said, her smile fading. "He came back in a body bag."

The cup slipped from her hands and shattered on the ground. Mizuko didn't even notice. She buried her face in her hands and cried. She cried herself to sleep. I left and went to the dojo to meditate but even I eventually succumbed to deep dreams of fond and painful memories.

I was tired. I was tired of running but if I stopped It would get me and pull me in. I pushed myself through the crowds of people, who weren't real. Just faceless manikins that watched me as I ran. It called out to me, sweet words and temptation but I knew It's lies and I refused to stop. Besides, something was getting farther away from me, something important. I didn't know what it was, but it was just beyond the faceless crowd and I couldn't risk losing it again. It didn't want me to get the what I wanted, It tried to keep me away but I refused to yield. All I knew is something important was just beyond the lifeless.

I sat up with a sharp intake of breath. My face and clothes were soaked in sweat and I slowly regained my steady pattern of breathing. A shiver crept down my spine and I spun around to see Yoshimitsu standing in the same corner of the dojo as yesterday but he hadn't been here when I had come in last night. He stared back at me with emotionless eyes. For the first time I noticed the strange mark on his chest. It matched Kimimaro's, the heaven seal.

"How long have you been there." I asked.

"A couple minutes."

"Are you stalking me of something?!" I demanded. "You were in here yesterday, you came in after the match!"

He shook his head. "I was in there before you even entered."

I was a bit shocked. If what he said was true, than I had overlooked his presence the entire time. I shifted uneasily.

"What do you want? Are you that bored?"

"I hold no interest in you if that is what you are implying." He said calmly. "This is just what I do."

"What do you mean?"

Before Yoshimitsu could answer the dojo door was flung open and an extremely energetic Mizuko bounded in.

"Hah! I found you!!" She said triumphantly.

"Mizuko-san?" Was all I could say. Suddenly it seemed strange to see her in her normal manner.

"Ah! What's up, Yoshi-chan?" Mizuko said teasingly.

Yoshimitsu made a face that told me he did not enjoy his nickname.

"That's great!" Mizuko continued even though the Hyuuga had not responded.

Mizuko grabbed the back of my collar and, rather forcibly, dragged me from the room.

"We're gonna go now, you take care!" She called as she slammed the door shut behind her.

For some strange reason Mizuko seemed even more hyper today that before.

Author's Notes: Yeah, it's a short chapter but there really wasn't much more to write. Lol, emo Mizuko-san!