Mirror, mirror.
Love is a cruel emotion.
It entices the heart of an unknowing person and can destroy the beating muscle without the slightest hesitation. There are said to be four types of love that exist in the world: the love of kinship or familiarity, the love of friendship, the love of sexual and romantic desire. And then there is the love of self-emptying or divine love, this being the most complex and sort after of the four strands. People can spend their entire lives searching for the one other person that completes them; some search the entire world some people are handed their other half on a silver platter.
Then some people don't realise that they have found their significant half, they merely dismiss the thought and put it down to the foolish fables that fill the heads of the gullible. It is those people in specific that need the ever effervescent sentiment in their lives.
For they are the lonely. The downtrodden and forsaken.
They are the ones that weep behind painted façades whilst their exteriors remain as blank as unscathed canvasses; their emotions bottled inside, some falter in their façade and the bottled emotions break free from their constraints. Yet when the supressed sentiments finally flee from their prison the individual can experience two things; on one hand their emotions can be reciprocated, they finding peace with their special someone.
But on the other hand? On the other hand their sentiments can be tossed aside like an unwanted book, the person becoming sour and scornful; yet some simply question their existence, their value and significance. They ask 'Why?' and question '"What if?' their minds perpetually turned on and questioning their past actions.
And Reina was one of these poor souls. Her head wouldn't silence, it was buzzing so loudly despite the silence that occupied the cave along with overwhelming tension. No words had passed their mouths since their affections had turned bitter, both ridden with hurt and unspoken apologies. Reina's cheeks were tear-stained the mud that laced her cheeks, streaked from the salty tears that had splashed down them; Itachi resented himself for hurting her, for pushing her away cruelly when it was the complete opposite of what he wanted for her.
The cave felt even darker and more forbidding, the woes of thousands compressed into such a small space. It was stifling yet the exit was nowhere to be seen, the tunnel was long and winding like the road of life itself. Itachi simply stared apathetically at Reina, watching her straggled form manoeuvre through the passageway, her grip on the bow unwavering and tense; every now and again he would hear the air hiss and pop, the familiar feeling of her distress bubbling in his stomach.
Itachi wished he could pull her close, tangle his fingers in her hair and whisper comforting words that would end the peril that continued to crash unforgivingly over her body. But he knew that would never happen, he would never get to tell her he was sorry for everything that had happened to her.
For what he had done to her.
And that was what felt like the final twist of the dagger. He hoped that one day she could find it in her heart to forgive his harsh words and that she would someday pray for his damned soul; he knew he didn't deserve such mercy, for it was wasted on him, like so many things. Then he sensed it, the pain and the anguish radiating in the air, it was suffocating and pressing down heavily on his chest heavily.
Reina turned sharply pulling the string of the bow back swiftly; her thumb grazing the corner of her lips as her arm extended in the air. Itachi's eyes widen slightly in awe, as she pulled back the tensioned string a thin strand of particles forming and taking the shape of an arrow, the arrow head glinting along with her eyes. As quickly as she turned back and drew the bow, she released the string, the particle infused bolt flying through the air it and past his cheek, missing it by mere millimetres. Itachi narrowed his eyes, the Sharingan flaring up wildly as he too turned pulling kunai from his pouch and flung them with perfect precision; the pair assumed a stance, their statures moulding instinctively despite their personal feelings.
The kunai and arrow shot through the air, slicing its target accurately; the target hissed and screeched wildly, long barbed strands of hair flailing wildly about the cave. Itachi glanced at Reina from the corner of his eyes silently questioning her yet she didn't look back at him, she didn't even speak to him; Reina merely drew back the string of the bow once more, the surrounding atoms beginning to join and take form once more.
Inwardly it pained Itachi not receiving even so much as a glance from the gold eyed kunoichi, but he knew she was in her own right to dismiss his presence; he stared into the darkness of the cave waiting for the shrieking being to come into view. Itachi heard Reina mutter under her breath, her chakra hitting crescendo as she drew the bow once more, this time further than the last two times; he could make out the muscles in her arms tense as she steadied the crafted weapon.
But this time it was different, he could feel the air begin to heat up, the temperature rising rapidly around the tattered kunoichi; Itachi stared inquisitively having never experienced her fight in battle before. Reina steadied the bow, aiming into the darkness from whence the evil aura was beginning to crawl from; the atoms started to bounce off one another hastily the friction creating the sudden heat as another arrow formed. Itachi jerked back slightly as the now growing flame nipped at his untied locks, the smell of burnt hair fizzing into the air; Reina released the arrow the flames lighting the passageway as it flew down the narrow tunnel, the shadows dancing fleetingly on the damp walls.
Reina turned swiftly once more, the bow lowered as she strode off into the dark, drowning out the wails of the shrieking maiden, her barbed locks igniting wildly as they devoured her haunted form. Itachi tore his gaze from Reina momentarily, watching in shock as the crying woman flung herself about the cave, howling curses and vile obscenities directed at the nowhere to be seen kunoichi.
Once out of sight Reina leaned against the cave wall, resting her head against the cool stone squeezing her eyes shut tightly trying to block of the shrieks as the stench of burnt flesh and hair began to creep along the narrow passageway. The stench of death was overwhelming, it dominated everything and she couldn't take it; she was tired, ever so tired yet the mission seemed never ending a perpetual world of hurt and torment.
And it didn't help that the main cause of her hurt was also her captor.
What were you thinking? Of course he wouldn't care for you. You're nothing but a prisoner.
She had let herself care come to for him, shared secrets that not even her Grandmother knew and even shared briefs moments of affections that she would never forget. She knew it was wrong, he was a felon, he had hurt her, but still she wished for him to take her close and feel his lips upon hers even if it was just one last time.
He was her guilty pleasure.
"What was that?" Itachi muttered from the shadows, appearing beside her; Reina simply stared at the adjacent wall, barely acknowledging his existence.
"A Harionago." Reina murmured quietly her tone curt and brief, as she pushed herself off the wall and walked off nonchalantly, yet she didn't get far as Itachi reached out and caught her arm, pulling her back and trapping her against the wall, he blocking any exit. Reina glared up defiantly, her gold eyes starting fiercely at his infamous Sharingan; Itachi's arms caged her ragged form, they residing either side of her head.
"What, no Tsukuyomi? Or am I not a worthy enough opponent?" Reina spat curtly, the hurt obvious in her eyes despite her attempts to conceal it; Itachi stared down at her unsure as to why he pulled her near, once again his body had acted on its own accord. She stared up at him, her freckled nose wrinkled as she awaited his answer; Itachi merely stared back a slight wave of uncertainty washed over his own dirt stained face. This girl would lead to his demise, not his actual demise for that was already meticulously planned.
No, she would lead to his emotional demise.
"Why are you doing this? You are making this harder than it has to be." Reina murmured quietly, feeling the woe in her stomach build, yet the woe was not hers, it was his. The Sharingan faded from his orbs, they ebbing back to their melted chocolate shade as his lips parted despite the lack of words that passed them. He could feel his strength wavering, his self-control begging to be unchained and unleashed; but on the other hand he could feel his throat tighten with restraint as his heart and head continued to fight out their forever long feud.
Reina frowned at his lack of response, her brows accentuating her confusion as they furrowed together; he was torn his inner battle displayed in his dark eyes on show for her to see. She couldn't fathom it, Uchiha Itachi the infamous killer of the Uchiha clan was beginning to crack before her eyes, his perfect façade chipping and fading.
"You need to stop torturing yourself Itachi-san. Whatever it is that is eating away at you won't simply disappear unless you make it disappear." Reina spoke softly, the curtness that once inhabited her words long gone, his pain now becoming hers as it continued to swell in their chests. Itachi's eyes widened a fraction, his dark eyes directed at her as her words swirled around his head rapidly and messily his usual categorised ideology absentminded and haphazard. Her words had such a strange effect on him, the rousing a side of him that he fought so hard to keep supressed and hidden from the world; it was the exact feeling that washed over him all them years ago.
The dread, the fear, the anxiety…the calm before the storm.
Itachi gulped silently feeling his body quiver as he fought off the urge; the katana that lay against his back begged for him to take it in his hands and wield it like he once did. Reina too could feel his desire yet she didn't move she waited patiently for him to make his decision; it was like a tense game of chess, the next move influencing their entire future.
"Do you wish to kill me Itachi-san?" Reina asked softly, her voice wasn't ladened with fear as it ought to be instead it was placid and almost inviting. She was past fearing death for it was inevitable, it would one day claim her so why should it matter if it was Itachi himself that ended her measly life. Itachi frowned unable to believe he had heard the words that had passed her rose tainted lips; but the urge in his stomach continued to edge him forward. He didn't need to answer her question, by the lax expression on her face she already knew the answer to which she had asked him.
Reina smiled weakly, her lips twisting in an expression of pure understanding, the epitome of self-sacrifice.
"I understand. It…it has been an honour knowing you Itachi-san. I wish that we could have had more time together under different circumstances. I would have liked to have gotten to know the real you, not the illusion you've portrayed. One day you'll let yourself look past your own genjutsu and when you do? You'll see the world with clearer eyes…and I'll be glad." Reina smiled truthfully, satisfied with her words knowing they would be her last; she knew she should of spoke of her Grandmother or her family but she didn't, they would understand if or when they ever found out.
She reached out, her grazed hand cupping his pallid cheek in reassurance as her thumb caressed his skin with her last moments of affection. Itachi grit his teeth together, that familiar feeling from all them years ago flooding his stomach as his parents came to mind and how they too had acted with understanding in their final moments.
Everything moved so fast he barely registered what had happened.
Reina gasped sharply, the air trapped in her throat as she tried to breathe; Itachi held her close one hand clutching her to him supporting her the best he could.
The other however…
The other hand gripped the hilt of the katana, her katana, the katana that was lodged in her already battered and bruised body. He could feel her jittered breathing as it danced over his exposed skin; Reina struggled to breathe, her gold eyes were wide as she clung to him feeling the life beginning to drain away from her.
"G-Gomenasai Reina, gomenasai." Itachi whispered, the torture evident in his breaking voice; he pulled on the hilt of blade a quiet cry barely passing her lips as the blade retreated from the wound, grazing past muscle and blood vessel after blood vessel. Reina winced, her gold eyes watering up before they spilled over, the salty tears rolling down her cheeks freely; Itachi discarded the blade allowing it to fall to the floor with a small thud, it echoing about the entire cave-way.
He slid to the floor cradling her in his arms as blood oozed from her wound, her already bandaged stomach staining dark crimson once more. But the pain in his chest didn't go like he predicted it to, no the pain in his chest worsened with each passing moment. Reina gasped for her breath still smiling despite her light dwindling to stay lit; Itachi stared down at her, his own orbs glossing over as he clutched her even closer.
"I-It's okay Itachi-san. It's o-okay." Reina stuttered, her once rose tainted lips now stained incarnadine; Itachi brushed the hair from her face, cradling her head as he leant his forehead against hers. She stifled a cough, closing her eyes she cupped the nape of his neck in reassurance; the end was close she could feel it, it was calling to her, to simply stop fighting and give in to the darkness.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Itachi whispered, leaning away gazing down at her with guilt ridden eyes. Reina opened her eyes knowing it would be the last time she would lay eyes on him; a frail smile managed to form on her lips.
"Please, stop torturing yourself." She whispered, her voice trailing off before the cave became silent.
She was gone.
Itachi allowed himself a moment, a single moment to allow his façade to crack. He hugged her close the warmth already slipping away from her body; this was supposed to bring him peace, to end the emotional warfare that engrossed him. But it didn't, it simply acted as a catalyst the hurt and anguish that clung to his chest multiplying rapidly and without mercy. He pondered for the briefest of moments whether Sasuke would mourn for him as he now mourned for Reina; he knew he didn't deserve his younger brother's condolences, as long as Sasuke lived his life to the fullest after his demise he would be content.
Then he would stop torturing himself.
Itachi closed his eyes, dwelling in the shadows where he belonged, the only shred of light that had willingly graced his miserable existence forced to join him prematurely amongst the darkness.
"You need to stop torturing yourself Itachi-san. Whatever it is that is eating away at you won't simply disappear unless you make it disappear."
Itachi's eyes shot open, they wide with shock as bright gold orbs stared back at him; Reina quirked a brow unsure of the expression that was plastered on his face. Itachi blinked, gazing about the dark cave in confusion before his eyes found their way back to her.
Yet there she stood, in all her battered but undefeated glory.
She was right.
Once he looked past his own genjutsu he saw the world with clearer eyes, this girl who stood before him was not the cause of his emotional demise, but the key to its release. It may not be in the conventional way, for neither of them were conventional people; he was not certain why their lives were intertwined the way they were but he was certain about one thing.
He would keep her safe from the monsters that lurked in the dark.
Even if he was one of the monsters.