Beyond the Looking Glass

Chapter Three

-Not So Fond Farewell-

"I can't believe Hikari's leaving." Izayoi sighed as she and her two brothers walked down the streets of Konoha towards the gates of the village.

Kanamé nodded, crossing his arms over his chest. "I wonder how her mother died. It's odd that we didn't hear about it from dad. I mean, if it were a mission, he would have known."

"Well don't ask her about it." Noriaki huffed, walking ahead of the two. "I don't want you two making her sad. I would like to see her smile before she leaves for Kumo."

"True." The dark haired girl said, pushing some of her hair behind her ear. "I mean, she could be gone for years…or maybe even forever. I hope she comes back though. I'll miss her. Of course if we don't see her again, we'll always be connected in our hearts." She smiled.

Noriaki blinked, a frown coming to his face. "Forever?" he asked, mostly to himself.

Kanamé glanced over at his brother curiously. "Well yeah. She's moving to another country Noriaki. She might never come back. There are ninja who never go to certain places, like how mom has never and will never go to Kiri. That's just how life works, people move on."

"Move on?" he voiced once more, his pace slowing as the gates came into view. Hikari was leaving forever? The young Uchiha felt a painful tug on his heart and came to a full halt. She couldn't be gone forever, that wasn't fair. He had finally talked to her the way he wanted to from the beginning. Izayoi and Kanamé passed him, both telling him to hurry up so they could say goodbye, though they didn't wait.

But he didn't move. He looked up and saw her outline and her white hair in the distance. She was turned around and talking to the man she looked so much like. Noriaki lifted his hand and clenched the area over his heart. Why was she leaving now? Just when everything was starting to turn better for them in their friendship, and possibly something more. That's when he felt something wet on his face.

He moved his hand from his heart to his cheek and felt the tear that had escaped from his eyes unknowingly. This caused him to go wide eyed and flinch back. He lowered his hand and stared at the offending liquid. The dark haired boy looked up and fixated his gaze on her once more, feeling the swell hit hard. He couldn't see her. Not like this, not so weak. It was unworthy of an Uchiha to show such emotion and feebleness. Before he could think of anything more, his sand picked up and he disappeared, before anyone could see him.

Izayoi ran up to Hikari, hugging her from behind. "Hikari!"

Hikari gasped and pulled away from the girl, turning around with a bright smile on her face. "Izayoi!" she exclaimed, hugging her friend. "You came!"

"Of course I came! We all did!" she laughed, tightening her grip.

"I'm so glad." The pale haired girl squeezed back, and eventually the two parted. She looked at Kanamé and smiled, before it fell off her face. "Where's Noriaki?" she asked, looking around for the other triplet. "He promised he would come see me."

Izayoi blinked and looked back, searching around. "What are you talking about? He was right behind us."

Kanamé glanced back as well, searching with red eyes for any sign of his brother. "He was the one who woke us all up early so we wouldn't be late." He said softly, returning his gaze to Hikari, his red swirling back into his pale jade. "He really was just there."

"But he didn't stay…" Hikari said softly, her face falling.

Kai stepped forward and placed his hand on her shoulder. "It's okay Hikari. Maybe something came up, or he had to go use the bathroom, or…um…" his brow furrowed as he tried to come up with another excuse for the Uchiha so that his cousin wouldn't be upset anymore.

Kanamé stepped forward, looking down at Hikari with caring eyes. "Please don't be sad Hikari. Noriaki really wanted to come, I don't know why he just disappeared, but there must be a reason. Maybe if you can just wait a bit. Who knows, he might have forgotten something he was going to give you." he smiled, lifting his hand and cupping her cheek.

"Yeah! That has to be it!" Izayoi nodded, smiling as well.

Hikari's father cleared his throat then, getting everyone's attention. "We cannot wait any longer. If we don't leave now we won't reach the border by nightfall."

"Yes Papa." She sighed. "Thanks for coming to say goodbye to me." She said, giving Kanamé a small hug before embracing Izayoi once more. She pulled away and gave the two a small smile. "I hope to see you again someday."

"Of course." They both nodded.

"If not you coming here, we will definitely go see you there." Izayoi said happily. She looked over to the boy beside Hikari then. "Goodbye Kai. Thanks for staying for tea the other day, even though you didn't like it." she giggled.

Kanamé blinked, a look of surprise coming to his face. "Wait…what?"

"You guys have met before?" Hikari asked.

Kai's eyes widened. "How did you know I didn't like it? I drank everything in my cup, and I tried my best not to scrunch my nose."

"Every time you swallowed it was slightly strained and you drank it so loudly. Plus people who enjoy tea sip gingerly." She pointed out, laughing once more. "But don't worry. I can make you something different if you ever want to come again." Izayoi smiled.

He returned her smile. "That would be nice." He said. "And maybe then your grandfather won't try and kill me."

"Well you can come to my house next time if you want. There's a lot of people there, but my dad isn't as scary." Izayoi nodded, walking up to Kai, about to hug him before Kanamé was between them and keeping them at arm's length.

"Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Wait a second, why are you inviting this stranger to our home to be with him?"

The dark haired girl huffed. "He's not a stranger. Grandfather and I had tea with him yesterday. We're friends."

"Yeah." Kai said, a somewhat longing look on his face, since he had really wanted to hug the ebony haired girl.

"Come. It is time for us to go." Hikari's dad said, turning and beginning to walk off.

Hikari and Kai looked at the older man, before back at the Uchihas. "Bye guys." She said, turning and running to catch up with her father.

Kai sighed. "Well…I'll see you around Izayoi." He smiled, waving to her before he headed after his family members.

She waved after them, smiling brightly. "Come back soon! Don't stay there forever!" she called, as Kanamé waved as well.

And as the three walked towards Kumo, they couldn't help thinking about how their lives had changed in the course of a week, as well as excitement for when they would get to see the Uchihas again. Some feeling it more than others.