Akio's P.o.V.
"O-Onee-chan?" I asked, concerned. My sister had just randomly passed out- how am I supposed to react!? It was like a twilight zone moment. Everything was going forwards and backwards at the same time. So, basically, nothing really happened, but that's not the point, here! "People don't pass out for no reason. Not even you and you're pretty weird."
"How sweet of you to say, Onii-san." Ayame rolled her eyes at me. "I think I might just be tired from my training. I'll be fine, but can we take that ramen to-go?"
"Nani? That's unheard of!" Ayame- coworker Ayame- said. I nudged her with my elbow. "I mean, of course you can. but just this once, okay? Father wouldn't like not having his customers around..."
"It'll be our secret." Sasuke said as Ayame- sister Ayame- stroked Kage's head with this far-gone look in her eyes.
I nodded as I put the bowls of ramen in to-go cups. I also put a lid on Kage's water bowl. Sasuke, with such skill, grabbed all three cups and turned to go, signalling for Ayame to follow his lead.
"Onee-chan." I called before she left. She turned and I wagged my finger at her, telling her to come to me. She slowly walked over and I leaned over the counter. "You are going to tell me what happened. Right?" She nodded at my request. "Tonight. Come to my home and we can-"
"Akio." She stopped me. She wouldn't look me in the eyes. "Please. I'll tell you when I know enough. Okay? I know things are difficult for you, as they are for me, but trust me. Maybe after the exams, okay? If I'm still in one piece that is." I chuckled at that.
"Hey, I passed the Chunin Exams twice. You can definitely do it." Ayame raised an eyebrow as she finally looked me in the eyes.
"Twice?" Whoops.
"Uh, that's a story for another time." I said, nervously running my fingers through my hair. "Err, go on an finish up your meal before it gets too cold, already. I'll be seeing you, Onee-chan."
"Hai." She nodded before turning her back to me and walking away. I sighed heavily.
"Akio-kun?" Ayame called. I glanced up at her from my hunched-over position. She had a look of worry and I simply waved her off. I didn't feel like talking. "I'm going on break, okay? Watch after the place and I'll be back soon." She said with a comforting smile. I returned a small one as she hung up her apron. She went out the back door and I was alone.
I went into the kitchen and got a knife so I could chop up the vegetables. As I did so, memories began to surface. I thought about my father and all the lies he fed me. He had told me that Ayame ripped the family apart and that's why I could never be happy. The day he died, I made a promise to end the one that was responsible. It was hard to believe, now, that my main drive before was killing Ayame. I laughed now, but I never forget the seriousness of my potential actions.
I thought had loved my father, though. He was all I had left since Kitai had split, trying to protect Ayame. I still don't think I understand why she had to leave entirely. Did she forget about me? About whether or not I was safe from harm? I think she did because I have this painful memory of her crying right in front of me. A horrid memory, actually. I shuddered at the thought.
During my travel, being technically a rogue ninja without even having to kill anyone wasn't a loving experience. I had to change my name and history everywhere I went. I could hardly keep track of my own story and that was the part I hated the most. Not knowing who I was. That was all I had left, anyway. I went to several different ninja academies and learn various techniques, always trying to be the strongest. To be the best.
While taking my studies in the ninja art seriously, I was questioning if this was what I even actually wanted to do. To be a killer. I also found that I was good at reading people when my head was clear. It was still hard to trust, though. I mostly blame Haruko, winner of the "Worst Father Of The Year" award. He was a bastard, but I fell victim to his lies before I realized what a skill I had at knowing human behaviors.
I sighed at I looked at my work. I then realized that my eyes were pouring with tears from the onions I was chopping. I got a rag from my pocket and dabbed my eyes dry. I turned my back to that counter and looked up at the lights. I imagined what my life should be like. A loving mother and father with my little sister, trying to beat me at everything and pester me when I'm with my friends. That was the life I longed for.
"Excuse me?" A voice called from the front of the shop. "Are you open? Hello?"
"Hai, we're open for business." I called as I walked to the front. "How can I-" I stopped dead in my tracks. It was her. My Dark Queen. My Goddess of the Night. Yuki no Amegakure. I had to keep my pulse under control, but, Dear Merciful Kami! I haven't felt this way in a long time. But she seems underage! What a shame.
"Are you alright?" Yuki asked. "Do you need medical attention?" I shook my head and swallowed.
"N-No, I'm quite fine. I just thought I saw something, is all." I said lamely. "But I was graced with your presence instead." Sweet. I hope she's into crappy pick up lines. I got a blank stare in response. "Err, so what would you like, Miss? Your name is Yuki, correct?" She looked a tad startled before calming herself.
"And where did you hear that?" She asked, attempting at nonchalantly glancing around me, but I noticed.
"My sibling, Ayame. She said she knows you." I said, studying for a reaction. Yuki's muscles relaxed. Interesting.
"Oh, of course. Well, what do you recommend?" She asked. I smiled.
"Ayame usually orders miso is you'd like to give that a try, but we also have dipping noodles which are out of this world." I offered. She looked thoughtful.
"The latter sounds nice. May I have beef broth?"
"Beef dipping noodles, coming up!" I said before racing off to prepare it.
Ayame's P.o.V.
Kage, Sasuke and I were in a small clearing surrounded by a wooded area with a koi pond and a red bridge going over it. We were sitting on that bridge, quietly eating our food. I didn't know how to explain my experience to Sasuke or if I was going to at all. How on Earth did Sabaku no Gaara fit into my puzzle? There were questions that needed answering and the only way I was going to get these answers is by completing the vision. And I had less than an hour to do it.
I set my cup on the bridge and crossed my legs. I closed my eyes, put my hands on my knees, and inhaled deeply.
"Ayame-chan?" Sasuke said. I could tell that his mouth was full of noodles because his voice was muffled. "What are you-"
"Shh." I hushed him and inhaled. Exhaled. Inhaled. Exhaled.
I was doing that for sometime with no reaction. I bared my teeth and pounded my fist on the ground.
"Kuso!" I hissed.
I clutched my hair with my free hand and tried top calm myself down. I felt the curse mark starting to burn, so that was when I knew I needed to relax. I made an inference that the mark is fueled by emotions and this was why Iruka made me meditate all the time. When i asked about this, he had no choice but to tell me the truth about my little 'friend'. I'm not a Jinjuriki, however, I am a denomination of one. I'm not a demon, so that's good.
"Ayame-chan?" Sasuke asked again, mouth noodle-free. "Do you want to tell me what's going on?" I looked over at my Uchiha and sighed.
"No, but I suppose I have to."
"Don't if you don't want to." He offered and I laughed darkly.
"I have to, Sasuke-kun. Trust is key." I began and he made a soft smile. I began to tell him the details of my vision. From the beginning straight to the end. I didn't leave a single thing out. It was pretty predictable of Sasuke that the only thing he cared about was the simple fact that Gaara was there.
"Why was that guy there?" He asked immediately after I was finished. I sighed.
"If I knew that, it wouldn't be a problem, now would it?" I looked off to the horizon. "I need to finished that vision. The answers are buried there. I know it." I heard Sasuke sigh and I shifted my gaze to look at him.
"I don't want to suggest this," he sighed. "But maybe you should ask him?" I smiled. He was willing to help and that made me glad.
"That's a great idea, but Gaara doesn't exactly strike me as a conversationalist."
Sasuke chuckled once and we were quiet for a moment. He was looking down at the water, contemplating, as I was looking into the distance. I sudden;y felt uneasy. As if our conversation wasn't safe from curious ears. I closed my eyes and listened around. I slowly- so slowly not even Sasuke noticed- reached for a kunai as I strained to hear something. There was rustling to my left and I snapped the kunai there.
Sasuke was on his feet before I was, but we were both on alert. There was silence. Not even a wind. I didn't budge, neither did Sasuke. Kage didn't even move a muscle.
"Come on out." I finally called into space.
"We know you're out there." Sasuke followed.
There was no response. I used a technique I learned from a book to create an Earth Clone in the woods. I saw what it saw and no one was near it. I sighed and dismissed the clone.
"If there was someone out there, they aren't there anymore." I said.
"That was weird." Sasuke shook his head. "We need to start heading back. Our break time is almost over." I nodded and picked up my cup. Sasuke did the same and Kage followed us as we walked off the bridge and back to the training grounds.