Author's note:
Don't have anything else to say… Reviews are so good and I am happy because you guys appreciated me more than the people I know *sniff sniff* What a nice way to celebrate my birthday… Hahaha…
Enjoy reading:-)
Disclaimer:
I don't own anything except for my laptop, some OCs and a couple of ideas here, there and everywhere.
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"Talking"
"Thinking"
"Biju speaking or Jutsu"
["Talking" Mindscape]
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PETALS OF HOPE
CHAPTER 20
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"You and I are flesh and blood. I'm always going to be there for you, even if it's only as an obstacle for you to overcome. Even if you do hate me. That's what big brothers are for." – Uchiha Itachi to Sasuke
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Previously…
"I don't know why Lady Kagura sent you here. But please, try not to interfere… Let me handle these things on my own…" Itachi said to Kirara as he dispersed himself into a flock of crows.
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On with the story…
"Damn it. He never even let me heal his wounds." Tsunade muttered angrily.
The fox sighed as she changed back in her human form. "That's the way he is… A complete and total idiot…" Her ears twitched as she sensed the arrival of others. "Someone is coming to help you out. I hope you don't mind if I go ahead to follow Itachi. Have to make sure he didn't do anything stupid."
"Yeah, we're fine. We'll take care things from here." The Godaime replied. "Take care of yourself, gaki." Tsunade smiled. "And send my regards to Kagura."
"You too, baa-chan…" Dissolving herself into petals, Kirara wave her hand in farewell, totally oblivious to Tsunade's incredulous look. The fox grinned. "Before I forgot…" She took a pouch from her sleeve and tossed it at the blonde. "That old hag wanted you to have this… With that, you will be able to rebuild Konoha…" Kirara smiled. "Bye for now…"
Tsunade shook her head. "That woman…" Musing, she turns to see Hinata and the others. Shizune stands loyally by her side. "Lets clean up this mess. The sooner we finish, the better." Her firm resolved. "Its time to make Danzo realize who is the real boss."
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Amekagure
Sasuke stalked away from Tobi as they appeared inside a very unfamiliar place. It was dark and enormous. Turning back, he saw someone lying beside the masked Akatsuki's feet.
It was…
"Sakura?!" A woman wearing a cloak of black and red clouds hurriedly approached them; who accidentally collides with the Uchiha. Sasuke glared at her but she doesn't seem to notice him as she brushes him off.
"What did you do to her, you bastard?" Kagura growled at the masked Akatsuki, her eyes glowering murderously.
Tobi raised his hands in surrender. "I didn't do anything… yet…" He said in a no nonsense manner. Turning to face Sasuke, he winks at him. "I would like you to meet Kagura and her youngest sister, Sakura. They are the Children of the Rain. Kagura, I want you to meet…"
"I already know who he is…" Kagura said sharply. Carefully, she picked up her sister and carried the pink haired away. Before leaving, the rosette gave them an irritating look before allowing the shadows to hide their retreating form.
"A piece of advice…"
Sasuke turns to look at Tobi who was about to leave the room.
"…Try to stay away from that woman. She is very fond of your brother and if she learns that you were about to kill him and his girlfriend, which you already know who really is, she might eat you alive for dinner."
"What do you mean?" Sasuke asks.
Sighing, Tobi tossed a pink Konoha headband towards the Uchiha.
"How did you?"
"This belongs to that girl…" The masked Akatsuki said as he leaves him in his own thoughts.
Uchiha Sasuke was taken aback in surprise.
"Sakura is the lost child of Amekagure and Itachi is somewhat her guardian slash protector." Tobi chuckled under his breath. "Guess what happens after that…"
The Raven drops Sakura's hitai-ate that clang soundly around the room.
It can't be…
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Somewhere in the outskirts of Konoha's forests…
Itachi's knees gave up. Falling head first, he clenches his fists and tries to stand up but failed miserably. He is losing too much blood.
A pair of hand glowing with green healing chakra appears beside him. Kirara was silent as she started to heal the Uchiha's wound.
"You are being reckless, Itachi-kun. Try to be careful or you'll kill Sakura-chan with worry…"
"She is in danger because of me…" Itachi whispered. "I should have been stronger…" Gritting his teeth, the Uchiha condemns himself for the millionth time that all the girl could do was twitch her ears and roll her eyes. "I shouldn't have touched her…"
"Indulging yourself in self-pity doesn't change anything…" The fox said grimly. "Nothing is gonna change between the two of you… even if you avoided her, you will still fall in love with her, Itachi-kun…" Kirara sighed. "…And she will still fall in love with you." While Itachi is busy berating himself, the redhead put a seal on the fallen Uchiha. Giving herself a congratulatory nod, the fox helped her best friend get up. "Can you walk?"
The Uchiha glares at her for even asking as he started to walk away sluggishly. Shrugging her shoulders in a dismissive manner, Kirara followed casually behind. Seems like he is back to his old irritating self. Which literally means a bad thing according to her and Kisame-san's opinion.
Crossing her arms in exasperation, Kirara looks intently at Itachi's retreating back. Making no attempt to break the silence that is starting to annoy her, the fox made mental notes to slap this man later. If worst comes to worst, she will be forced to do necessary things to save him from himself.
"I really needed a break… You owe me this much, dear mother of mine…"
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Amekagure…
Kagura gently placed Sakura on her bed. Making sure that her sister is comfortable and the lights in the room are all turned on.
Aside from chakra exhaustion and some gashes on her arms, Sakura is unharmed. Cursing mentally, the rosette promised a very gruesome death to that old man. Itachi must be worried as hell. Knowing that Uchiha, Kagura could already guessed what he would do next. She hoped that the fox isn't slacking off.
Sensing the other one, Kagura crossed her arms and sighed in surrender. She waited for the teen to make his presence known. From where she is standing right now, Kagura could feel the boy's anger, his inner turmoil and his pain. Making no attempt to welcome Itachi's brother, the rosette stood and went to the other side of the room, to give the boy some space.
"Killing her would only cause you more pain, Sasuke…" Kagura said solemnly.
The raven revealed himself with a scowl on his face. "Do not interfere, woman."
Huffing, Kagura gave the youngster an irritating look. "Don't make me repeat myself, little boy…"
Sasuke snarled as he briskly entered the room. His hand covered with lightning. "Don't mess with my head." Gritting his teeth, the young Uchiha snaps at her.
Rolling her eyes, Kagura scratched her chin. "No I am not messing with your pitiful little mind… Technically, it is screaming at me…" The rosette mused.
"You're a mind reader?" The raven has his doubts. Sasuke held his ground and stares wretchedly at the woman.
"Sort of… But an empath would be an appropriate term." The woman answered earnestly. "Here, take a seat… I know how tired you are, literally."
"Don't tell me what to do." The raven growled.
The rosette pinched the bridge of her nose. "For the love of Kami, damn it boy, just sit…" Kagura screeched at the young Uchiha.
Though Sasuke has no plans to do whatever she wants, he was forced to sit by an unseen hand. The woman shifted from her angry expression to a cheerful one in a blink of an eye.
"Are you high or something?" Sasuke asks resentfully. Grinning, the rosette approached the boy with a mischievous gleam in her eyes and poked him in the forehead. Glaring at the woman, Sasuke clenches his hands.
"Aren't you tired of hating that man?" Kagura asks.
"I am an avenger… And hate is one of the many reasons why I am alive." Sasuke responds curtly.
Sighing, the rosette crouched to look at the boy's eyes. His Sharingan activated.
"If you know what's good for you, don't stare at them…" The raven stated blankly. "I have no quarrel with you… Despite your allegiance to that man."
"I am not afraid of your eyes, little Uchiha." Kagura said. "What I am afraid of, is how you would react if you learned the truth…"
"What do you mean? What truth?"
"There is more to your clans death… and your brother Itachi's betrayal…" Kagura' gaze softened.
"Don't you dare mention that bastard's name." Sasuke yelled furiously.
"What's the matter, Uchiha? Afraid to learn the truth about your clan, why your brother killed them all?" The rosette taunts the boy. Yes, Uchiha Sasuke is still a boy according to her dictionary. No wonder Itachi is so protective of his younger brother. This kid has a very fragile heart.
"Shut up!" Clutching his head, Sasuke gritted his teeth and stood up abruptly that his chair skids back hitting the wall.
"If you are ready to face the truth, come to me, and I will tell you everything you needed to know about that dreadful night. The real reason why the Uchihas fall to their demise." Kagura told Sasuke's retreating back that turns slightly to left her a murderous glare before slamming the door that miraculously survived the beating.
Itachi would be mad, but Kagura is already decided. His adoptive brother deserves to be thought a lesson. He is not the center of the universe after all. Well, she will not ask Sakura of her own personal opinion because she already knew what her little sister's answer might be. Chuckling darkly, the eldest Child of the Rain knew what needed to be done.
"They say that truth will set anyone free… I wonder if that's true…" Kagura muse to herself.
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Author's other note:
Special thanks to Toyroys (welcome back), shadow miko (update granted), Mango Marbles (end chapter already done… hehe…), Guest # 1 (no! don't kill tobi, he is a good boy *winks*), Guest # 2 (thanks, I am trying my hardest so do not worry), OokamiAkuma2297 (the winner? Hmmm… I wonder who will it be as well…) and Night elf (here you go…)
Thanks for reading and the reviews;-) Love them all… Mwuah mwuah!
Love and peace to you all^^
Ja ne!