The human soul is a peculiar phenomenon, one arguably the most debated occurrences throughout the course of history. For whom other than the dead have experienced such things? Some claim to have claimed to encountered human souls, some lost and unable to understand why they have departed so prematurely; meanwhile others are vengeful and envious of the living and their residual existence.
Those who have left before their time may linger in sentimental spaces, clinging to the fraying threads that keep them anchored there; some watch over their loved ones, encouraging their every move. Whereas others condemn the living as they go about their day to day chores; they haunt and instil them with pure fear that the living almost walk among the dead.
It has been rumoured that the wandering spirits of the ikiryō have the ability to come and go as they please, leaving their earthly retainers behind to meander freely. For the ikiryō to walk about is called 'akugaru' and this has been considered by some to be the origin of the word 'akogareru', which means to admire or yearn for. But this is because for someone to have such strong feelings of admiration for someone that it's as if their mind is not there, just as if their spirit has left their body and gone towards the person in their mind, this is described by 'akogareru'.
But for Reina this was not the case.
Yes her love was driving her towards Itachi, but it was not the reason she was left in such a permeable state. The indenture was proving more and more curious, whilst her battered and bloodied body laid still her soul was free to travel and at such protracted lengths she deemed simply possible by the Yondaime Hokage himself. However travelling extreme distances was not the only trick she had found her newly acquired state could perform; though translucent Reina could choose as and when the living around her could actually see her ghostly state.
And Sasuke was the first.
At first he thought it was pure exhaustion, his beyond tired eyes playing an odd genjutsu on his already fatigued mind; but upon feeling her phantom hand press icily against his own tepid skin, he knew it was reality and not mere fantasy. It wasn't exactly the ghost of his past that he imagined to haunt him but he was both intrigued and slightly startled at the same time. He was not one to believe in 'scary' bedtime stories as he had witnessed such trauma in his life that he was living in a constant nightmare. But to see something that neither his talented orbs nor other shinobi had conjured baffled him to an extent; however what she had proposed of him, confounded him even more.
"You're going to help me bring your brother back." She had said. So bluntly and to the point it was obvious she was by no means jesting; Reina was on a mission it was evident by the pure determination in her golden orbs. Once more her golden hued eyes were alit with a fortitude he had only seen in Naruto; despite his scepticism he had a feeling that 'no' was not an optional answer in this situation.
"Do you really think you'll be able to bring him back Reina? He is dead. You don't come back from that." Sasuke muttered, despite the harshness of his word, a soft sentimentally lingered about them as if he wished to disbelieve his own words. "Look at you, you're half dead yourself. You can't help yourself so how do you expect to help him?" He continued allowing his hand to drop from hers noting her eyes darken ever so slightly something he had never seen before.
"I may be stuck in this state but at least I'm trying to do something, unlike you. You're too busy feeling sorry for yourself rather than trying to help the brother who gave up everything for you!" Reina spat back, the dingy electric lights that inhabited the room flickering on and off as her temper flared then calmed once more. Sasuke narrowed his now crimson orbs, a warning for her not to overstep the mark that she was nearing with each word that left her mouth. "What? No smart remark now?" Reina clicked her tongue watching the now antagonised raven haired male remarking how the blood had left his hands, they clenched so tightly she thought they might snap.
"You know nothing of what happened. So don't you dare preach to me!" Sasuke roared suddenly spearing off to tackle the unfazed Hitori heiress his chidori alit in his clenched hand; but instead allowing him to phase through him, Reina swiftly turned, catching his wrist and sweeping him to the floor, he now face first in the lumpy futon whilst his chidori began to fizzle out.
"I know everything that happened Sasuke, down to the look of pure pride and adoration your Mother and Father had on their faces when we met them in Yomi. As of now? I'm the only sort of family you have left and I'll be damned if I let you go on living like you are without someone but yourself backing your corner." Reina murmured, her tone now soft like a mother soothing a distressed child. Sasuke first attempted to fight back and throw her off, but as each of her words sunk in, the reality of his situation finally appeared.
Reina Hitori was the only person he had left who somewhat resembled family.
They may not be bound by blood or genetics, but at that very moment time she was only one willing to bet on him, to fight alongside him- was willing to get his brother back. He had learned the truth about Itachi, the masked crusader in the night had told him everything; at first he didn't believe it, he didn't want to believe it. How could it be true? How could the village that had supported him throughout the entire ordeal be behind everything? The passing smiles and kind words, were they all false? A mere token of guilt and fabricated condolences?
But Reina. Reina and her family had welcomed him with open arms prior to him moving on to his own apartment; it wasn't that he wasn't grateful for their hospitality, in fact it was quite the opposite. The truth was he couldn't bear to be around such love and adoration when his heart was eating away at itself with pain and anger; from then on he had cared for no one but himself, driven by the foretold death of his brother. And now his brother's death had left him cold and empty once more, his heart now heavy with a different kind of pain, one far worse than anger: regret.
"What if we fail Reina? What if we can't get him back?" Sasuke whispered, his voice barely gracing her ears, gently Reina released her hold on the young raven, moving so she was sat beside him, his face turned away from her. It was in that very moment she realised just how vulnerable Sasuke Uchiha actually was; how much of a lost child he resembled. She knew how powerful he was, he radiated power and ability; but even the most powerful have their moments of weakness.
Before answering Reina thought about her response, the truth was she hadn't thought about failing; she was driven by sheer will power, like adrenaline was blocking any negative thoughts. The reality was that she didn't know what she would do if she failed, in her head everything was going to work and she dared not think about what they would do if the inevitable happened. Yet at that moment in time she couldn't think about herself and her own selfish needs; beside her was a broken child, their perception of their dearest family member shattered and distorted by the people who supposedly had his best interest at heart.
"If we fail…and we can't bring him back? Then…" Reina paused, laying a gentle hand upon the back of his head and murmuring softly. "Then we do what your brother would want us to do…we live. He wouldn't want us to act in revenge against Konoha for its crimes; he would want us to be happy and live." Reina spoke tenderly, her own heart crumbling at the thought of having to carry on without Itachi beside her. However she couldn't think of her own sentiments of heartache; if fate should not permit Itachi to return to them then she would do what Itachi would want.
Ensure that Sasuke was no longer alone.
"You expect me to forgive the city that had my entire family murdered and made a villain of my brother? The only way in which I will return to Konoha is when it lies in ashes." Sasuke muttered, turning his head to face Reina, his ruby orbs glowing amongst the shadows; Reina sighed softly removing her hand from his onyx locks, leaning against the wall. Sasuke sat up, he too taking the residing space against the wall, ignoring the pain that radiated from his battered body.
"Look at where revenge has left you Sasuke. Vengeance is a bottomless pit of despair and anguish that fools you with brief glimmers of hope and concord, but they are nothing but cruel tricks. But not all revenge is that of blood and death…" Sasuke raised a brow at her words, glancing at her in motion for her to continue; Reina inhaled briefly before continuing, staring him dead in the eye. "If you were to return to Konoha, then I swear that I will help you seek retribution; you may seek blood, an eye for an eye, but it will simply lead you further into darkness. Yet, if you play by the rules in which those who took everything from you, then to them that is a punishment far worse than death."
Sasuke stared at the young Hitori heiress with a look of awe reflected in his rubicund eyes; to him no one knew what pain or loss was, only he knew what true agony felt like. The same could be said for revenge, the feeling that had driven and overwhelmed him his entire life, he disregarded everyone else's desire for revenge as it was nothing to that of his own. And yet here was Reina Hitori, the epitome of kind heartedness preaching of retaliation; could she possibly feel what he was feeling?
"What could you possibly know of revenge? You, who has always stood on the greener side of the fence?" Sasuke asked, a tone of curiosity lingering in his words; Reina leaned her head back against the wall and closed her eyes, murmuring quietly.
"The fence in which divides us also hides the weeds that wish to snare and entangle us. But please take into consideration that each fence that divides you from the rest of the world also hides the flowers that wish to bloom and flourish around you." Tilting her head to the side Reina opened her eyes, the moonlight casting a dewy glow on her pale skin making her golden hued orbs sparkle; but they did not sparkle without purpose they also sparkled with a truth.
For years Sasuke had ensured that the fence that surrounded him grew higher, they more resilient than the tangible wooden ones of his past. He knew that those around him not involved with the massacre wished to penetrate his walls despite never fully knowing what lay behind them. They wished to see his true colours and a part of him wished to oblige them and allow them a sneak peek behind his perfected façade; he wondered would they run in terror, scarred by what truly lay behind the painted mask.
And yet here was Reina Hitori. She wasn't running away in fear or screaming in horror. She was inviting him to tear down the walls he had endeavoured fervidly to fortify and allow the world to see through the well plastered cracks. She was asking him to let her in, to allow her to stand by his side and support him through the dark and weathered times; but most of all she was willing to travel into the utmost darkness to bring his beloved brother back.
Sasuke allowed her words to sink in, his next response would be the deciding factor in his life; would he continue to walk in the shadows or would he finally walk in the sunshine like his brother would want him to. Reaching into his pocket Sasuke retrieved a small item, it small enough to fit into the palm of his hand snugly; Reina watched him closely, eyeing whatever trinket he held.
"When we bring him back, what then?" Sasuke asked nonchalantly, her final words would prove to be the determining influence; Reina's lips twisted upwards as her eyes finally came to rest upon the small trinket.
"Then we bring those who have wronged you to their makers in ways that they wish for death rather than live with the shame that they have brought upon themselves." Reina replied lowly, her eyes transfixed on the metal tomato that inhabited his hand; slowly the metal orb lifted from his palm it gradually glowing red, then orange before finally a bright white as its molecules once again shifted and transformed. Sasuke watched in awe of her kekkai genkai, inwardly impressed she still had such command despite her permeable state; once the molecules had decided on their final form the colours shifted as the heat it rendered faded away.
"What is it?" Sasuke asked, inspecting the shiny amulet closely; Reina smiled as a chain now linked to amulet dangled to and fro in the air. The light that crept into the room cast a sheen onto the shiny metal, it illuminating the intricate design; a small staff with what would appear to be a skull attached hung from the chain.
"It is a protection amulet, the dokurojō. It conquers demons and demonic influences; it symbolises the impermanence of life. A simile for people who are free from discriminating thoughts. You'll need it in the near future." Reina murmured gently grasping the now adorned necklace that occupied his hand and inspecting her handy work fondly. Sasuke intrigued by her knowledge leaned forward to take a closer look; Reina smiled a quiet smile before draping the chained amulet around his neck, the dark metal contrasting against his own snowy skin.
"The evil that belongs to this world is mere child's play to that of the dead Sasuke. They wish nothing more than to corrupt you and ensure your soul suffers for all eternity in the depths of hell. But tonight we will walk amongst demons like they were our kin and they will lead us to Yomi none the wiser." Reina stated, her eyes connecting with his now obsidian ones; Sasuke nodded, the decision had been made. They were to travel to Yomi and retrieve his brother's soul whilst trying to maintain their own souls in the process.
The demons of his past were nothing to the demons of his future.
Witching hour enveloped the land, the moon now glowing at its highest point in the sky whilst the rest of the cerulean heavens were studded with an array shining stars. But the stars were not the only thing to glow in the night; amidst the darkness various orbs of light bobbed about in an almost regimental form they resembling fireflies in a jar. With winter having rooted itself firmly upon the landscape a thick blanket of snow covered the land, the occasional flitter of evergreen poking through the natural fabric.
Perched on the opposing side of the ice laced riverbank Sasuke and Reina gazed at the sight before them; across the river a parade of oni holding lanterns paraded along the winding watercourse they walking to the pace of beating drums. The Hyakki Yagyō or 'the night parade of a hundred demons' was a common occurrence at this time of night, those were unfortunate enough to come across this sighting would find themselves in an ill-fated affair. Unless protected by an amulet or an onmyojiscrollthen the unfortunate traveller would find themselves greeted by an awaiting shinigami.
The prancing oni formed a surprisingly orderly queue at the riverbank, they filing into narrow wooden boats, the boats bobbing in the sloshing water as the demons took to their seats. One by one each boat began to move and sail along the river and towards an arched bridge; as each individual demon filled boat passed beneath the bridge an ethereal cloak enveloped them, they disappearing as the shield eerily devoured them. Sasuke watched inwardly in awe at the spectacle before him, he never dreamed that the stuff of fairy tales he had learned about in his younger years were merely hiding in the shadows only creeping into plain sight at the dead of night.
Before long the once crowded riverbank was empty apart from a single, lonely boat that inhabited the murky water; giving the 'go-ahead' Sasuke handed Reina a cucumber, he initially perplexed by the request. The pair crept to water's edge they carefully stepping into the waddling vessel; Sasuke watched stony-faced as Reina stood at the bow of the boat bowing lowly with her hands extending the cucumber in front of her. It puzzled him as to what she was doing, most demons sought for the quenching taste of human blood, not seasonal greens.
Yet whilst stooped in her formalities the water beneath the boat began to ripple, sloshing the boat about slightly; emerging from the misty waters a scale covered entity arose, the murky waters rolling over its green scales like water off of a duck's back. Upon its head lay a flat hairless region peeking out from underneath a large lily pad that was filled to the brim with water.
"Reina…what is that?" Sasuke muttered, his hand lingering over the hilt of his sword whilst his eyes bled red; the unidentified entity narrowed its beady eyes that once lay upon Reina to stare at Sasuke.
"What am I? Pfft, puny human I am a Kawatarō, a water deity. Be careful to whom you speak." The frog like humanoid responded, its voice bellowing in the night causing the river to rustle and splash about once more. Sasuke grabbed the hilt of his sword stealthily but did not draw the blade, instead he looked to Reina who shook her head before clearing her throat quietly.
"Kawatarō-sama, please forgive Sasuke-san he meant no disrespect, he simply has not had the honour of being in the presence of a deity before now." Reina interjected softly, a polite smile gracing her ghostly features; the Kawatarō's eyes shifted back to Reina, the place in which its eyebrows would be raising in curiosity.
"Why do you, an ikiryō defend a lowly human? Especially one as arrogant as he? Reina smiled allowing a quiet chuckle to pass her lips; Sasuke narrowed his orbs they alternating from Reina to the Kawatarō.
"That lowly human is my brother Kawatarō-sama, but he is not arrogant, in fact as of recently he views the world with new eyes." Reina spoke delicately, a fond smile playing on her lips as her eyes met with Sasuke's. The Kawatarō bellowed loudly, it leaning on the front of the boat causing it to jolt forward, held himself in place, his chakra immediately flowing and grasping onto the wood of the boat. Reina in her spectral state was left unaffected by the Kawatarō's actions, instead she stared at blankly at the deity with an almost blank look upon her freckled features.
"You believe that because of the fate that binds you that he is your brother? He may not know of us but we know of his kind; with eyes as cold as his he knows only one world and that is a world of pain and death. Do not hold such faith him Ikiryo-san, for he will only inflict pain onto the world as the world has done to him." The Kawatarō spoke with a sudden serious tone noting the dark depths of pain that inhabited Sasuke's eyes; Sasuke stared back with an impassive gaze feeling his stomach churn with an uneasiness as if the Kawatarō was peering directly into his soul.
"We wish to enter Yomi Kawatarō-sama, a world far more painful than that of ours; it is Sasuke-san's pain and perception of this world that will aid him in his survival in yours. So please?" Reina murmured quietly her golden orbs meeting the Kawatarō's dingy ones as she held out the momentarily forgotten cucumber. The Kawatarō stared at Sasuke for a few more moments, it seeming like an eternity before its webbed hand took the cucumber silently; Sasuke continued to glare at the Kawatarō, one hand on the side of the boat whilst the other unknowingly clung to his blade, it crackling lowly reflecting his anger.
"As you wish Ikiryo-san, but you have been warned. I will take you to Yomi, but you will have to find your own way back."
"Arigatou Kawatarō-sama."
Taking one last look at Sasuke the Kawatarō leaned off of the boat, it sloshing back into the river; the Kawatarō placed the cucumber on the lily pad before rapping the rope tied to the front of the boat around its wrist. Sasuke no longer suspending himself upon the boat sat down once more, his hand no longer resting on his sword; Reina too sat beside him, she casting a silent glace his way. Sasuke momentarily met Reina's gaze before settling his gaze at the approaching bridge.
She had defended his integrity when a deity questioned, he was beginning to believe that Reina Hitori was in fact one to honour her promises. Despite his past tribulations and blind hatred he was determined to turn over a new leaf, be that for the honour and love of his brother, or merely to prove his own honour to the Hitori heiress.
Either way he first needed to survive whatever the gods and demons had planned for him.
And he had an eerie feeling it was not going to be easy.