YUKI POV

Where am I?

Who am I?

What happened?

Is everyone ok?

...

Am I?

In the darkness where she awoke, Yuki Hazukashii found little comfort. In fact, fear played a tune on her heart. As much as she tried to move, her body refused to move. The air around her was cold and dank. It felt devoid of life and warmth. She wasn't afraid, but confused about how she had arrived in such a place.

YUKI...I'M SORRY FOR WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. I BROUGHT YOU HERE FOR A REASON. IT IS OUT OF MY HANDS. I LOVE YOU.

The thought was spoken in a familiar voice, yet was not of her own volition. In fact, the idea had formulated itself out of thin air. Rather than contemplate the mysterious words,she blinked numerous times, hoping to adjust her eyes to the shadows. No matter how much she focused there was no luck...they continued to obscure her vision. Yet she continued, waiting, before with great effort she was able to make out shapes in the murkiness. Sighing, as she realized that it was her mind playing tricks on her, she closed her eyes, sifting through the hazy feelings which clouded her judgment.

What happened? The last thing I remember was...was...

Her gut sank at the brokenhearted state she had left the kitsune in. She had cast the most precious thing in her life away, without provocation or solid reason.

No. There was a reason...I just don't want to think of it.

MAYBE YOU WERE AFRAID. OR YOU'D RATHER NOT THINK OF IT.

The new thought entered, and like a thorn stuck itself in the uncertainty which shook her chest.

"WHOSE THERE?" she tried to scream, her voice silenced by the void.

I AM WHAT YOU FEAR. I AM WHAT YOU DESIRE. I AM EVERYTHING YOU ARE, WERE AND WILL BE.

I AM DEATH.

I can't...

I can't...

I CAN'T BE DEAD!

Panic lead to rage, which led back to hysteria in a never-ending circle. She wanted to reach for herself, but was unable to. Instead, she fought with her own feelings of guilt. She tried to deny the obvious facts. The reality of her current predicament sunk in slowly but surely. Within moments of the revelation, she found that she cared less and less about returning to the world above. She had thrown away one of the most meaningful bonds she had ever had.

I don't care. I guess I deserve this.

OH...WELL NOW. EVERY PERSON WHO COMES HERE LIES TO THEMSELVES ABOUT ONE THING OR ANOTHER, BUT I KNOW THE TRUTH. I CAN SEE THROUGH THE DELUSIONS YOU HUMANS THINK PROTECT YOU FROM THE TRUTH. I KNOW ALL ABOUT YOU YUKI HAZUKASHII. I KNOW ALL ABOUT YOUR SO CALLED LOVE.

Her eyes widened at the statement, her gaze shifting left and right with frantic abandon.

You don't know anything. In fact, just shut up.

YOU ARE WRONG. I KNOW ALL ABOUT WHO YOU THINK YOU ARE, YUKI HAZUKASHII. I KNOW ALL ABOUT AKIRA, AND NARUTO UZUMAKI. ABOUT THE RING OF FRIENDS WHO YOU CONVINCE YOURSELF CARE ABOUT YOU. I KNOW THAT YOU SLEPT WITH AN ANIMAL, JUST TO STRIKE BACK AT THE LOVER WHO DENIED YOU ONCE. OH...I KNOW ALL ABOUT YOU. EVERY LITTLE SIN YOU'VE COMMITED AND HOW DIRTY YOU REALLY ARE.

You know nothing!

It sickened her that she was arguing with a voice in her head, about things that it and she knew weren't true.

BUT THEY ARE TRUE. THERE IS NO DENYING THAT.

As she opened her eyes, she met a ghoul, that sent a wave of despair and fear through her body. Two yellow eyes stared into her two green ones. A large smile formed on the demon who stood inches away from her. Her fear grew increasingly larger and larger, as she stared into those two eyes.

You know nothing...no..nothing about me! I'm not perfect, but who is?

YOU'RE WRONG. I DO KNOW YOU. I'LL PROVE IT TO YOU.

Yuki started to question his meaning, when feelings of pleasure coursed through her soul, as his hand snuck towards her core. She fought to ignore the feelings of bliss which consumed her and drug her under. Her eyes widened, her tongue lolling out of her mouth. Her moans filled her head, as the demon played with her, before releasing. Her climax shook her before her senses returned her to the present. Revulsion filled her as she reflected on the event that had just occured. It only sickened her worse when she realized that this thing, had satisfied her in ways she never thought possible.

LIKE I SAID. I KNOW YOU.

Yuki felt rage surge up in her chest and indignation at how she was being treated.

Fuck you! If you think...

Before she could finish her thoughts, a surge of pain shot through her, erasing all thought, save the agony. As it faded from her body, she stared at the being, whose smile grew wider.

WATCH YOUR TONGUE CHILD. I HAVE TORTURED MORE SOULS THAN YOU HAVE SECONDS YOU HAVE HAD IN YOUR PATHETIC LIFE.

If that's the case, then why am I here?

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW...YOUR MOTHER BROUGHT YOU HERE.

Mom? You're lying!

HAVE I LIED TO YOU YET?

But why? There's no reason for it. I haven't done anything to her, to deserve this.

THAT'S ENOUGH QUESTIONING FOR RIGHT NOW. ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW IS THAT YOU ARE MY PLAY THING FOR AS LONG AS I DEEM FIT.

Fear struck her hard, her head snapping back as realization hit her like fist to the gut.

You're..gonna torture me? No! WHY? I've done nothing wrong! I'm not perfect but I'm sorry.

When there was no response, she feared for the worse and braced herself for the pain, closing her eyes tight. She waited for forever, before she opened them to being alone.

What? Why? Was this just a dream?

And from the shadows her friends and family emerged. Her heart soared with happiness and relief. She knew that she hadn't died, and they were coming to take her to safety, and away from this place.

"Akira. Naruto-kun! Kakashi-sama! Mom! Nii-chan! Thank god! I was having a terrible dream," she spoke, her voice echoing off the walls.

"Is that so, little bitch?" came the harsh response from her sister.

"Nii...nii-chan?"

"Come now. You don't honestly think we care about your useless feelings?" Akira taunted.

Yuki glanced around, noticing the rage which hung on every person's face.

She reached out to touch her Father, who pulled away, and smacked her.

"I'm disappointed in you. You're such a waste of talent and space. You're nothing compared to me. I thought I raised a daughter, but instead I raised a whore."

"Dad?"

The words that they spoke tore at her, cutting deeper than the physical blow. She backed away, pain exposed clearly on her face.

"Guys? What's going on?"

"It's simple, Yuki-chan."

"Naruto-kun?"

"We have finally woken up and realized how pathetic and useless you truly are. You couldn't even protect Tenshi. Wasn't he your friend?"

Yuki felt her heart crack, before shattering as everyone turned on her like a pack of wolves.

"I tried...I-"

"Didn't. You sat by and let him die. You. Can't. Save. ANYONE. You're too weak. Too needy, and clingy. Just a hinderance," Naruto stated circling her. She collapsed to her knees, and clutched her head. The words struck a chord in her, and she shook her head.

"Stop it. Please guys! This isn't funny!" Yuki shouted, her eyes tearing up. The void seemed to close in on her.

"Just like how you broke up with me?" Akira jeered, her face inches from her own.

"I had my reasons..." she replied, the water spilling down her face.

"Sure you do," the demon scoffed. "Like how you had reasons for sleeping with a dog?"

"STOP! JUST STOP IT! ENOUGH!"

The void continued to drift on for what seemed forever, and so did the torture. Before long, Yuki couldn't tell the difference between reality and fantasy. She shivered, mentally worn to nothing. She didn't care anymore. She just wanted. to die, and never exist anymore.

WELL, WELL, WELL. LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE DONE. DO YOU WANT TO DIE THAT BAD?

I don't care. I'm dead anyways. What does it matter?

I HAVEN'T HAD MY FUN YET THOUGH! YOU AND I BOTH KNOW YOU DESERVE THIS. YOU LEFT AKIRA ALONE, AND HURT HER DEEPER THAN WORDS. WHY? FOR WHAT REASON DID YOU LEAVE HER? JUSTIFY IT!

Time stretched on forever, as the girl searched her soul for why she would ever torture the person who she loved most. In fact, it didn't add up. The demon had told her to stay away, but then she had come back and begged her to love her. So why...why had she chosen to walk away from t he most meaningful thing in her life?

Because I wasn't good enough. Because I was too weak. I couldn't protect her. I didn't have the power and no matter how much I wanted to, I was a human. Worthless and unfitting to court her. To show her the feelings I had. I...was afraid. Afraid that she would later regret loving me. You want to know the truth... I loved her for everything she had, that I didn't. No. I was too weak and selfish to be worth anything. Yet I teased her with the hope that she might have me someday. I deserve everything that happens and more.

AND YOU THINK THIS CLEANS AWAY YOUR GUILT? YOUR SIN?

No. Nothing could do that. So...Whatever you want to do to me, I accept it.

And so the torture changed, from mental to physical as the Shinigami wrung every fiber that lay in her. She tried to block it out, but it broke her. Mentally, and spiritually, she gave in and she gave up. As time ceased to matter, Yuki fell into a deeper ignorance of the happenings around her. All that existed was the pain which swallowed her whole and held her in the stomach of the beast. Even when the darkness faded, and light replaced the darkness, she remained motionless, like a discarded toy. Her blank stare at the world, revealed the broken state she sat in.

A mirror formed in front of her face, and footsteps echoed off the walls, as someone approached the younger girl.

"Yuki. Hey...look at me."

NAGISA POV

She had gone through this state before, and could see the loss on the girl's face. It was not easy to come to terms with your faults. Much less so when the ones you hurt, were the ones to force to you face those flaws. Reaching with a gentle touch, she forced the girl to look into her eyes.

"Yuki."

Before she could react, a fist slapped her hand away, and drove itself into her gut. She winced, and blocked the next attack, her spiritual energy redirecting the attack into the ground.

"You're not real! Get away from me!" she screamed.

Nagisa stared at the girl, whose eyes were wide and blank.

"GO AWAY!"

Nagisa grit her teeth together. The girl's psyche was unstable and right now if she tried to approach her, she risked the chance of losing her daughter for good. She considered her unstable mental state, and the pain she had inflicted. She didn't have much time to fight and argue with the girl. She needed to get her attention as fast as possible.

"Yuki...I'm gonna have to hurt you a little. Forgive me," she muttered under her breath, stepping forward. The girl grew defensive and raised her hand to fight. Nagisa smiled, and dashed forward, sliding through her guard, and pulling the girl to her, she kissed her lips deeply, forcing her tongue into the girls. She felt the woman stiffen under her touch, before relaxing. Pulling away, she was rewarded with a smack that sent her reeling back.

"Yuki. Are you okay?" she asked, stepping forward, her very essence concerned for her well-being.

"I...I don't know. Are you-"

"Yes," the mother replied, her concern dropping. "I'm really here and well...dead like you."

"You brought me here. WHY? WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO YOUR OWN DAUGHTER?"

The question hit a chord inside of her. She wanted to state that it was easy. That she needed to pass a gift onto the girl. But the real reason why, was far more scary in the sense that she didn't understand it herself.

"I know that you are hurt, and that it might seem like I'm a carefree woman. For the most part that's true. Yet, my family is the most important thing and I needed to be sure of something. Kazuyo was not available and I had to see for myself."

She watched puzzlement fill the girl's face as she spoke.

"I needed to see if my girls were strong. This was your test. I had to ensure that if you went to war with Madara that you could handle it. You needed this, and you failed. Miserably."

She watched the girl's gaze turn down, and her soul pitied her daughter.

"But listen-"

"I knew I was weak. Every fight I've ever gotten into, I've had to rely on my comrades for support and strength. So, its no surprise that I would fail."

"I knew you might think that I'm talking about physical tenacity. Strength is not always physical."

She smiled and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I failed the first time I came to this place. This is my fourth time meeting the Shinigami and I was not prepared again."

"Fourth?"

"Yes. I've met the Reaper four times. I've died twice, but I've also had to come in order to set up a gift for my daughter. Now then. Remember I took your eye with me?"

She watched the girl nod rapidly.

"Okay. Well I'm going to return your sight. But you will get power beyond what you thought capable. You will return to the battlefield, once we are done here."

"WHAT? NO!" the girl screamed, her eyes widening.

Her reaction took the older woman aback.

"Why? What are you afraid of?" Nagisa stared, trying to infer the answer from what she saw in the girl's essence.

"I can't go back. I'll lose the bonds that I worked so hard to create. And not only that, but what happens to you?"

Nagisa glanced away, placing a hand on her hip.

"The Shinigami will go back to torturing me. That was part of our arrangement. Don't worry. I can take it. You need to go back. With the knowledge of your flaws, you can fix whatever rifts you have caused above. I know your afraid to lose those close to you, but forget about them. You need to forgive yourself."

She knew the girl was astonished by her insight into her life. It made no sense, that she would know these things.

"So then. what do you say? Shall you return?"

Uncertainty filled the younger Hazukashii's face for moments, before she nodded her affirmation.

"Good. Well then, let's get you set up with some more power. After all, Madara Uchiha is no slouch."

"I'm not leaving without you," her daughter retorted.

Nagisa stared at the young girl, and let out a harsh laugh.

"You think the Shinigami will want anything you have to offer?"she stated, a cold feeling descending down her neck.

"Yes. My soul."

Her instincts should have warned her of this, and yet even as the last word turned her entire being colder than death itself.

"No! I won't allow it."

"You've been gone all my life. Kazuyo and I have wanted to spend time with our mother forever, and now that I'm given that opportunity, you're going to fight me? No. I won't let you stand in my way."

Nagisa stared at the woman in front of her, surprised how much she reminded her of who she was. The traits she had passed down were very obvious.

Well now, Yasuo. We really made some outstanding shinobi.

She sighed reluctantly and acquiesced to her daughter's demands. Within seconds, the Shinigami and Yuki had reached a concession which both were readily happy to agree to. For Yuki, she would return to his care, when she died. In return, Nagisa would get to live for thirty years, in an Edo Tensei like state. Her body wouldn't wither or die, and she would be returned to life at the prime of her capabilities. Her chakra would be unlimited, and she would be able to take fatal blows and return to the living. Her personality would not be suppressed.

"I accept," Yuki replied. A scroll formed in the light, and a circle formed in the center of it.

"Yuki. As your mother...I'm asking. Please reconsider," Nagisa asked. Her being refused to watch her only daughter give away her soul for her own.

"I want this Mom. I'm sure," Yuki replied.

And with that both Mother and Daughter left the realm of the death and back into the world of the living.

YUKI POV

Warmth?

Am..I alive?

Her eyes opened and she was rewarded with a spasm, as her chest heaved and she inhaled air. For several minutes she coughed, her vitality restoring her body to full working condition. As she regained her senses, one by one, she sat up slowly. She winced as the sun blinded her, before blinking the light away. Kneeling several feet away, was her Hazukashii mother, watching her awaken from her 'slumber'.

"You okay?"

A small burst of energy surged through her, alerting her to a sixth sense which she had never felt before. She reached out, and felt her chakra react to the foreign feeling which hung behind her eyes. Strength surged even more in her body, and a wall outside of her flexed at her command.

"I see you have found your new gift?"

She nodded.

"I have to figure it out now. I won't have time to do so on the battlefield. Let's see..."

Focusing her chakra, she reached into the ether. From it she yanked a black cloth which was made to her specifications. She ran her fingers through the silky material and smiled broadly, as she pulled it on. The cloak covered her entire body and met in the center. It hung just short of her feet, and was extremely cool to the touch.

This is amazing. I imagine it and it comes into existence.

Her chakra levels didn't even plummet the slightest at the materialization, which made her smile even broader.

"So that's...wow?"

Yuki turned her attention to her mother whose jaw had dropped. She seemed stunned by something in the middle of the air.

"Those are some really...uhm...weird fantasies."

Yuki's eyes widened, before she closed her eyes.

So she can see into my dreams? Well let's try...

Focusing back on this wall, she flexed it, and within milliseconds of thinking of another cloak, her mother was wrapped in it. She let the power fade, and then redressed herself in a pair of shorts and long sleeve white shirt.

This power is amazing! I never had the power to bring others into my world.

"Shall we be going?"

Yuki nodded, closing her eyes, and stood up.

"Come here, Mom."

When the woman was within a foot of her, she grasped her shoulder.

Flex. Flex...

The barrier formed around the two, and Yuki opened her eyes.

"Where to now?" her mother asked, her gaze fixated on her face.

"Nii-chan."