Blood splattered across the paper thin wall of the traditional styled house. The faint screams of the inhabitants sliced off one by one. The silence was eerie, not even the crickets where chirping in the night sky. The silence of an entire family that laid strewn across the floor in a pool of their own blood. The silence of an assailant who was now walking down the stone foot path, sword dripping blood on the white pebble garden. His pocket now heavy with gold.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Onee-chan, can you teach me to throw one of these?" Akio's voice cut through the air like the kunai he twirled on his finger.
"I thought you said you didn't want to be a ninja." I say dully as I navigate my way through the crowded street. "Only ninja get to use kunai and shuriken."
Glancing over my shoulder I can see his inner turmoil clearly. I know he wants to be a ninja but something is stopping him.
"Come on Akio, I know someone you should meet." I say as we walk out of the large crowd of civilians and down numerous side streets.
"Onee-chan, where are we going?" I hear him call but I just continue to simply lead the way. Soon we arrive at the clearing next to the river where the memorial stone stands. Closer to the lake was team seven doing taijutsu drills.
"Tsukiko? What the hell are you doing here? Are you going to train with use? Who's the little kid?" Naruto's voice rang through the open air like a giant church bell.
"Shut up Naruto and train. You're the reason we're doing drills instead of a mission." Sakura scolds the loud blond.
"Onee-chan who are they?" Akio asks as he instinctively grabs the side of my vest.
"Onee-chan?" Kakashi raised an eyebrow.
"Kakashi-sampai. Akio has questions about being a ninja but refuses to ask me." I state bluntly, ignoring everything else.
"It's not my fault you can be really scary, Onee-chan." Akio tries to defend himself.
"Well hello to you too, Tsukiko. I feel great, must be the weather. Thank you for introducing me to your friend Akio."
"He got you there, Onee-chan." Akio giggled.
"Sampai." There is a warning edge in my voice.
"No, I want a conversation for once. I've know you for six years and we have never had a proper conversation." He says leaning over me, hands on hips.
"How about I tell you about my new genjustu, or maybe you want front row seats in a demonstration." I state, glaring up at the tall shinobi.
"Alright. You win. What did you want to know?" Kakashi sighed in defeat.
"Is Onee-chan normal for a ninja?"
"You saw her in action, didn't you?" Kakashi states more than asks Akio. "What was the name I gave it?"
"Playing Shinigami." I remind him of his old name for my fighting style. I watch as Akio nervously nods.
"Ok little buddy, I'll put it simply. You remember that heavy feeling in your stomach when Tsukiko was, eh, 'playing'? That's normal for a Leaf Ninja. We tend to avoid killing where possible and your only chunin and up have the possibility of going of an assassination. Usually that's reserved for ANBU. Even ANBU get that weird feeling when they kill. That feeling lets you know you're still human, unless you Tsukiko. We'll just say she's a freak of nature and leave it at that."
"I heard that, Sampai."
"My question is why did you snap?" I instantly turn my head away but my eyes betray as the try to seek Akio. My actions cause a small laugh from the silver haired jounin.
"My, my. Not even thirteen and you're acting like a protective mother."
"I-it's not like that!" I snap before looking away again. "He just reminds me of a certain someone."
"Onee-chan?"
"Hey, what are you talking about over there? Why did Tsukiko sound human? You told us that she never does, Sensei!" Naruto shouts from the tree he had been walking up.
"Continue your training, Naruto!" Kakashi called back to the blond. "But he does have a point, Tsukiko. You are opening up more."
"I have other things to do." I say and start walking away.
"Not like you to avoid a subject."
"Not like you to remain on one." I say back as I continue to leave. Akio running after me to keep up.
Xxxxx
More blood spills at the will of the swordsman, combining in bitter clumps with the dirt road. As his blood stained path lengthens, his pockets grow heavy with gold. Enhancing his skill as he continues his journey, the destination unknown to all others. But he doesn't care. He never did care. And tonight when he annihilates an entire village, he will continue to never care. Leaving the trail of bodies and blood in his wake, not a single soul is spared.
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Konohamaru." My body freezes and chills run down my spine at that void voice. I try not to shove Mogi in front of me as a meat shield as I turn around. That face that haunts me, reminding me that I uncovered the Blood Wolf's true identity and that she could strike me down any time. I remember it vividly.
"Wolf."
"Hokage-sama." A cold voice replied as I listened through the door. Gramps is talking to the Blood Wolf! The legend is just on the other side of this door! Maybe I could get him to train me rather than the annoying Ebius-sensei.
I am brought out of my musings of training with the Blood Wolf as the door slides open and I am staring into the black holes of the ANBU's mask.
"GAHHHH!" I screech, arms flailing everywhere. My hand whacks the mask off the crouching figure in my attempts to get out of reach. But what's underneath the mask makes me pause and stare. The Legendary Blood Wolf of Konoha is a GIRL? When I say girl, I mean girl. She had to be only two years older than me. My eyes follow as she recovers her mask.
Girl or not, this is the Blood Wolf. "Train me or I will reveal who you are." I say with a sudden confidence boost.
"Konohamaru!" Gramps exclaims but Wolf cuts him off.
"It's ok," She starts while I smile thinking that I've won. "He can tell anyone he wants. But he just has to remember that it's S-class information he's leaking. A crime punished by death. A punishment I will gladly carry out."
My smile disappears in an instant and the blood drains from my cheeks as I stare in horror. "Y-y-you w-wouldn't. G-grandpa won't l-let y-you."
"I could always be ordered by Danzo or the elders if your grandfather doesn't."
"That's enough Wolf! Konohamaru, leave now and don't say a word." Gramps says sternly. Without a second's delay I rush out of Gramps' office, praying that she won't come after me.
"Konohamaru." The cold voice brings me back to the present. "I need a favour."
"Anything, j-just don't kill me." I stammer out as my arms shield my head.
"I need you to look after my friend while I'm on a mission."
"Friend? You have a friend?" I open my eyes in shock only to wince at her glare. "Okay, it's possible for an emotionless blood monster like you to have friends. They can hang with us, just don't kill me."
"Onee-chan, are you going on a mission?" A new voice asks. I open my eyes to see a boy my age standing next to the devil in all her glory.
"Hai, Akio. Konohamaru is going to take care of you while I'm gone. Maybe you can ask him how to through a kunai."
"Really?!" His face lit up like Christmas. "Does that mean-"
"No, I am not giving you one of mine to practice with." She replied before vanishing.
"Hi, I'm Akio."
Xxxxxxx
'Their screams, their blood curdling screams, their music of death.' The lone figure smiles manically as he repeatedly stabbed his victims. 'Scream for me more. Scream your song of death a little longer.'
Xxxxxxxxx
"Hi, I'm Akio." I hear from my secluded spot in the alleyway.
"So Tsukiko is your sister? But Gramps said she had no family." Konhomaru asks as they start to walk away.
"She's not really my sister, just the closest thing I have to one." I hear him laugh. "Though I have to say she is quite scary when she fights."
"You've seen her fight?! When, why, what –"
'I'm sorry Akio, but I can no longer play the role of you sister.' I think regrettably before disappearing out of the alley way without any indication of my presence. Slinking through the small streets like a ghost until I reach Hokage Tower.
Xxxxxxxxxx
I sigh and slouch back in my chair as I sign the last paper concerning the chunin exams. I close my eyes and muse over the selections. All three fresh genin teams participating, either they will survive or we will need nine new graves. I frown slightly as the breeze through the window is slightly disturbed.
"Why are you here Tsukiko? I haven't summoned you?" I say as I crack an eye open slightly. The small black and red haired girl kneeling on the floor in front of my desk, looking at the ground. 'No eye contact? Something's wrong.'
"I'm Sorry, Hokage-sama." She states actually sounding like a girl her age disappointed in themself. "I'm sorry."
'What's going on? No eye contact, apologising and repeating herself. This is not like Wolf at all.'
"I'm sorry Hokage-sama but I have come to request termination of my current mission."
"W-what?"
"I cannot fulfil this mission. Please reinstate me back into ANBU Black Ops." She says finally looking up at me. Eyes stone cold but that can't hide the shiny layer of water building up on them.
"What? B-but it's barely been three months." I start before I see her eyes start to glaze over and she starts to shake. Mumblings coming from her mouth clashing together so only a few were legible.
"No onii-san…. Aunty… nii-san…yoichi…die…papa…"
I watch in slight horror and the shaking form. 'She's still traumatised?!'
I slightly slip out of my and instantly spot the inseparable pair. "Izumo, Kotezu , please inform Inoichi Yamanaka and Ibiki Morino to be in interrogation room 753 immediately."
'I'm sorry Tsukiko, but it's time for your past to be revealed.' I think sorrowfully as I look at the still shaking girl.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Hokage-sama, Ibiki." I greet the two other men before we enter the interrogation room. I almost physically take a step backwards There in the capsule, shaking violently with glazed over eyes was the twelve year old girl who had been on several missions with my daughter. I swear Ibiki took a sharp breath at the sight of her.
"Hokage-sama, do you mind filling us in as to way we're reading the mind of my underling's sister and why she's shaking like as scared rat?" Ibiki's gruff voice broke through the background noise of mumbles from the small girl.
"It's time we found why she is traumatised since the age of five and why she can't handle genin but s-rank missions are no problem."
"S-rank?!" I say startled. That girl did s-rank missions. "But s-ranks are only for-"
"ANBU and Root." Ibiki finishes knowingly. "Inoichi, that girl there may look small and fragile but she is the ANBU referred to as Wolf."
"Wolf? Just what is going on?" I say startled once more.
"That can be explained afterwards. Just a warning, Inoichi, expect anything. Ibiki, remain here and alert for anything as well. " Hokage-sama states calmly, eyes remaining on the shaking figure.
"Hai, Hokage-sama."
Xxxxxx
I walk down the dark hallway of a traditional styled house. Light shining from the end in what would probably be the kitchen. As I step through the doorway I have to shield my eyes from the bright light until it suddenly becomes dim again. I look around to find myself in a large cave. But I'm no longer alone. In the centre curled into a ball and shaking violently is a five year old with black hair that reaches half way down her back. Well her hair is mostly black, except for her left bang being as white as the moon.
"Tsukiko?" I ask taking a step forward towards the shaking girl.
"Who wants to know?" I turn ad the dark voice to find the twelve year old version of Tsukiko staring at me blankly. I watch stunned as she moves to stand next to the five year old.
'This is unlike any mind I've been in.' I think as a four year old Tsukiko comes skipping in from the darkness acting as the rooms boundaries. A small smile on her mouth as twirls on her bare foot; broken overall strap trailing behind her.
"What is it you want with my mind, Yamanaka?"
"You know who I am?"
"Nope!" The four year old giggles slightly. "You remind her of that blonde chick that likes flowers."
"I'm Inoichi, Ino is my daughter."
"What is it that you want Inoichi?" The cold one asks again.
"My orders are to find out about your past."
"Which part? I can tell you about ANBU." She slightly smirks as the room is filled with corpses of both ANBU and S-Rank Criminals. Some decapitated, some transformed into porcupines with kunai, even ANBU with senbon through the eye holes.
"Can I tell him about nii-san and papa?" The four year old asks and the corpses disappear as suddenly as they appeared.
"But I believe the information you're looking for lies in her." The oldest gestured to the shaking girl while ignoring her youngest form. "But getting her to talk won't be easy. She hasn't left that state for seven years."
I stand opposite the three trying to work out how to go about it. Sweat starting to bead on my forehead in concentration.
"Tsukiko," I start and both perk up. "eh, older Tsukiko. Inform me about ABNU.
"Of cause." She smirks darkly. How is it a twelve year old can look so damn scary? I think as the room clouds in darkness and I start seeing her memories though her eyes.
…
I shake violently after another trip down memory lane.
"Shoosh, it's okay. It was just a nightmare. It's okay, calm down." The soothing voice comes from a women in a Sparrow mask who sounds a lot like Kurenai.
…
"So you also have someone you care about but it causes you pain as well?" My head nods as I look up at a 12 year old Itachi Uchiha in and ANBU uniform; mask on the side of his head.
"I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours." He smiles holding out his pinkie.
"Why?"
"Because you remind me of my special person slightly."
My hand extends out to link pinkies with the young Uchiha as the memory fades out.
…
"So you're Wolf, huh?" I nod cautiously. "I'm Monkey." She holds out her hand. I look at it carefully before shaking it. "So did I do a good job at kicking Rabbit's butt?"
Laughter fills me inside as I nod. I use my hands to re-enact the last kick, making her laugh. I watch her as she messes up my hair.
"I bet you wish you could fight like that, huh?" This time there was no hesitation. I nod as hard I could. "Have you had any training before?"
Sadness fills me as I shake my head. "Well I guess I will just have to teach you."
…
"Hokage-sama I have a request."
"Yes, what is it Wolf?"
"I wish to join ANBU Black Ops"
…
I watch as Crow falls in front of me with a sword through his chest, five kunai in his legs and senbon in his neck and eye holes before instantly lunging at his murderer with a kunai aimed at his throat.
…
I silently activate the body destruction jutsu on my fallen comrades before decapitating the target's corpse and seal his head in a scroll. I don't look back as I return to the village alone.
…
"I'm guessing he let you off too." Monkey says staring at the roof.
I nod as I hang up my ANBU cloak. "Apparently there is only so much blood a person can have."
"Well I guess you're lucky you're a wolf than." She jokes. I sigh and collapse into my chair. "So when are you let off?"
"Tomorrow."
"Really? The Hokage tends to give a larger warning than that."
"Not for missions."
"I thought you were being laid off?" She said sitting up. If it wasn't for her mask you would see 'confusion' written across her forehead.
"He knew I would refuse to take time off, so he gave me a mission that shouldn't contain much blood and last for at least a year or maybe more."
Monkey lets out a small laugh as she flopped back down on my bed. "That man sure does know you. So what's your 'mission'."
"Undercover as a genin."
…
"Squad 10 you are dismissed. Tsukiko, could you please remain."
After team 10 exits I turn to the Hokage. "Is there a mission for me Hokage-sama."
"Tsukiko, I have some news to inform you." I nod and sit down the large comfy chair. "I was told you were close to Nori Lee. You remember Monkey?"
I nod cautiously, eyes not leaving the Hokage.
"She tagged along on a mission a week before her final dismissal. I'm sorry to tell you, but Monkey is dead. I thought you would like to know."
My body instantly tenses as the words leave Hokage's mouth. My voice comes out dry as I bow. "Thank you, Hokage-sama."
…
My eyes stare at the name carved into the stone. 'Nori Lee'. Rain pelts down on my shoulders as another presence makes itself known.
"Tsukiko? I didn't know someone else visited this old rock." Kakashi's voice is slightly drowned out by rain.
"Dog,"
"I no longer have that title, remember."
"It doesn't mean I don't recognise you as Dog."
"Just call me Kakashi, Tsukiko."
"Kakashi-sampai?"
"Yes."
"Spar with me." I can sense him turn to look at me in with curiosity. "I need to forget so please spar with me."
"You're an odd one. What style?"
"Taijustsu," I say instantly before mumbling "Monkey's specialty."
We both jump apart into a fighting stances. Kicking up mud as we lunge forward, our limbs contacted in many clashes of speed and power. A strained wrist, numb leg, limp shoulder and many bruises later be bow to end the fight, huffing with exhaustion.
"So did you forget?" He wheezed out because of his three broken ribs.
"Forget what?" I ask before turning on heel. Just before I left the clearing I whisper to myself. "Goodbye Monkey."
…
The darkness clears and I'm back in the cave like room. I stare at the Tsukiko across from me, too many emotions spinning to stay or do anything.
"Recovered?" She asks with a slight tilt of her head.
"Is that seriously what ANBU is like?" I breathe out.
"You haven't seen anything yet."
"I don't think I want to." I stammer out.
"Your choice." She says as the other two versions fade into view.
"Did you want to question me next?" The four year old smiled up at me.
I turn to the older one. "What on earth happened for her to become to become you?"
"She knows. Though honestly I don't think I was ever happy to that extreme, at least not so openly." She replies while pointing at the still shaking one.
"I think I will report to Ibiki so far then I will return. Do you know how long your body will be in that shaking state?"
"No, it hasn't been this bad since I joined ANBU. Anko knows a way, but I don't want Anko to know. She worries too much and makes a huge fuss out of nothing."
"I wouldn't call your state nothing."
"I've been in worse. Are you going to continue to chat or are going to tell Ibiki I won't be paying for his wall."
"Alright I will go." I sigh as my surroundings return to the interrogation room.
"You're back?" Ibiki asks as my eyes open. "How did it go?"
"Let's just say, I never want to be in ANBU, or her for that matter."
"Mind explaining?"
Xxxxxxx
'Continue your death song. I want it to fill my ears all the time. I want it to flood my dreams like your blood floods this town.' The killer continues to add to his total victims as he zigzags around the small village. 'Let that beautiful metallic smelling liquid and those perfectly rotting bodies surround me as I lay down to sleep in the now vacant inn.'
Xxxxxx
"Your back? You took your time." She says coldly as I re-enter her mindscape.
"Hiya mister, you here to talk to me now?" The smaller one smiles. Before I can reply she bounds over and grabs my hand. "Let's go"
And the room fills with black ness once more
…
"Aunty, wait up!" A boy my height runs in front of me shouting at the women in the door way. "Please don't leave Aunty. Papa got furious last time you did."
The boy pleaded as my eyes seek the scar on her shoulder.
"It's okay Yoichi, I'll be home before his drunk ass." She smiled before looking past me and Yoichi. "Yuki, you look after your siblings until I return."
"Hai, Aunty. Come home soon."
…
"Aunty, what does my name mean?"
"Yoichi means sun, like the sun in the sky." She says as she prods a needle through a pair of torn pants.
"What about Tsukiko's?" He asks pointing at me.
"Tsukiko means child of the moon."
"Then from now on I will call you Moon." He smiles a huge goofy grin that causes him to squint.
"Then you'll be Sun." I say quietly and smile.
…
"Aunty, are ninja's real?"
"Yes, Yoichi. There are loads of them. Across the ocean there are countries full of them." She smiles at the small boy.
"I want to be a ninja so I can protect you and Moon from Papa!" He says jumping to his feet. "When I'm old enough I will catch the ship off this island and become a ninja!"
My Aunt laughs as Yoichi tries to kick the air only to fall on his butt.
…
CRASH! My head swivels to watch the door swinging on its hinges.
"Please Brother, just go rest."
"No you god forsaken women, now where are those ungrateful kids of mine!" Shouts a deep voice, words slightly slurred from liquor. My hand latches onto the boy's next to me.
"Yoichi, I'm scared. Papa is drunk again." I whimper to him.
"It's gonna be ok, Tsukiko." He smiles his closed eyed smile. "He's drunker than last time so he should collapse soon, right?"
I nod cautiously and hold his hand tighter. A scream and the smashing of plates cause us to look up at Aunty slumped, unmoving, against the smashed china cabinet.
"Look what you stupid brats caused to happen!" The drunken figure grabs my arm and to punch me as I try to squirm away.
"Papa, leave her alone!" Yoichi shouts standing in front of me to cop the next hit. Instead of switching target he throws the smaller boy at the cabinet next to my Aunt.
"Yoichi!" I scream before copping another hit to the gut.
"Don't like that? Well think about it next time you think of running to that fucking father of mine to complain about me!" The smell of sake is overwhelming in my nose as I try to free my arm.
…
I bite my swollen lip as Aunty puts disinfectant on my fresh cuts.
"I hate that man." Yoichi grumbles as Aunty starts to rap a bandage around my sprained ankle. "Wish he would go to the tavern and never come back."
"Yoichi!"
"I agree." I say softly.
"Tsukiko! Look you two, he may not be much of one but he is your father. You can't go around cursing him."
"But-" we both start but she shakes her head.
"No buts. Now both of you take a cookie out of the jar."
…
I looked out of the town under the golden cloak of the morning sun as the breeze chills me to the bone.
"One day, Moon, one day we will sail across the ocean and get far away from Papa." Yoichi smiles next to me. "Then I can become a ninja and come back for Aunty and Yuki-nii-san. We will live in one of those ninja villages Aunty spoke of. That way if Papa ever comes for us he won't get too far. He will be stopped before he gets within a mile of you and Aunty."
"When do we leave?"
"When I can sail a ship." He smiles. "I'll be the captain and you can be the first mate."
"Aye aye Captain." I salute, returning his goofy grin.
…
I'm surrounded with a fuzzy darkness as one word screeches out of my throat. "YOICHI!"
…
"You back yet mister?" The darkness clears and I'm face to face with the four year old Tsukiko.
"Moon?" I test the nickname only to be hit on my head.
"Only Sun can call me that, mister." She pouts.
"Tsukiko, how is it that you still smile with those as your memories?"
"Easy, my smile is one of the things I have that those two don't."
"Can you explain?"
"She means that we've lost the will to smile as well as other things." The oldest states coldly.
"What else did you lose?"
"Think about it, mister. Think about it." The smaller one states as they fade away leaving the shaking five year old.
"Can't you give me some kind of hint?" I ask more to myself.
"What does the moon need to shine?" I look up to see her no longer shaking but eyes still glazed over, in a distant place.
"The moon reflects sunlight." I say as I try to figure the point to the riddle.
"Then what would happen to the moon if there was no sunlight to reflect? It would stop shining, wouldn't it?"
"Not necessarily, the stars are suns as well. Their sunlight would still give the moon a faint glow. It won't shine as bright as before, but it won't stop shining because there is always a small amount of sunlight." I answer absentmindedly trying to wrap my head around it.
"I think your answer is correct."
"Huh?" I look back at her.
"I may not reflect my brother's light anymore, but I still find his light in others. The older me just avoids the light so she is no longer reminded that the loss of our sun is our fault."
"I still don't get it."
"You will, Inoichi." She says as the darkness clouds in once more.
…
I yelped in horror as a man slapped my aunt with enough force to send her through the door way.
"RUN!" Aunty screamed as she noticed the three of us. Before anything else could be said a man stepped into the room and drove a smashed liquor bottle into her throat.
"That should shut you up, dear sister." He spat with venom while the other three laughed.
"Come on. We have to go." Yuki grabbed at my hand and turned towards the back door.
"No. We have to help Aunty." I said, pulling free of his grip and rushing over to the body lying on the floor. I fell to her hands and knees in the pool of blood beside Auntie's neck.
"Oh look, the runt wants her aunt." One of the men jeered.
"It's too late pest, she's dead." Another spat.
"But we will happily let you join her." The third man added while raising a kitchen knife.
My eyes went wide with fear. I was frozen on the spot. Couldn't move. Couldn't scream. Couldn't think. All I could do was watch the man's eye light up with glee as the knife came at me.
The knife was almost at my chest when it impacted on something else. I gasped in surprise as Yoichi coughed blood onto my cheek. The point of the knife protruded from his chest.
"Moon." He croaked out and smiled reassuringly. His eyes fighting to not show the pain. He coughed up some more blood. Without warning his body went limp and he fell forward on top of me. Slowly I wriggled out from under him, cutting my arm on the blade.
"Yoishi!" I screamed out. Tears filled my eyes and my sobs shook my small fame. The back of my neck and the corner of my eye felt like they were on fire for a moment before all feelings subsided.
"It looks like a frightened mutt." Then men laughed. Something snapped inside me. The tears stopped. The shaking stopped. My vision cleared and I released a low growl. I lunged at the man, sinking my nails into his throat. Rage burned in my eyes as he stumbled backwards, snapping his neck on the open draw as he fell.
I grabbed two more knives from the kitchen bench and charged at the second drunk. The first knife piecing through his gut before the second drove up wards through his neck and into his head. A smashed liquor bottle scratched my cheek as the third drunk took a wild swing. I remove the first knife from the now dead drunk and lunge it into the third's chest. Not caring as the smashed bottle sliced open my forehead.
All that was left was Papa.
I take the smashed bottle and the knife and I lunge at his legs, causing several deep gashes so he can no longer stand. I reach into the draw next to me and pull out a fork while Papa pulled the knife out of his leg. I let the knife slice open my side as I sit on the fully grown man's chest. Fork covered in my blood before I force it into my father's throat. I felt the fork pierce deeper and watch the fear in his eye turn to endless pits of nothing. Void of life as the red liquid oozes out from around the fork's prongs. My rage and hatred finally subside as I puke next to his head.
…
"Now you know everything about my past." Her voice echoes in the darkness. "But what will you share? What will you keep to yourself? Do you even know that yourself? Goodbye for now Inoichi Yamanaka, father of Ino Yamanaka."
As her words finish with my daughter's name I am forced out her mind like a kunai launched at a target.
"What will you do?"
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I watch as Inoichi is forced out of my mind before turning to the five year old version of me.
"What was that remark about me 'avoiding the light'?"
"You avoid anything that reminds you of Yoichi because you feel guilty for his death." She replies plainly as she draws random lines on the dirty stone floor.
"You feel guilty about it too, and I don't avoid."
"You are no longer going to be around Akio. It has taken you seven years to become a little open to Anko. The genin are also impacting on you. So now you are trying to run away, back to ANBU where there is no emotion. But there is emotion there because of Monkey; hence you are considering joining Root instead. That's why I intervened. I showed the Hokage what you still experience every night when alone."
"I can't help that every time I grasp onto the slightest indication of Yoichi it gets torn away by harsh reality. I'm not avoiding the light; I'm preventing it from being torn away again. "
"If you say so."
"Just go back to shaking in the back of my mind!" I shout at the slowly fading figure. 'I always lose whatever light I find.'
Xxxxxxx
'Sing your screeching song in your rotting perfection. I want to hear it more. Oh Konoha, I'm coming to hear your sound.'