The Changeling.
Onyx and Ivory
In the dim candlelight, the figure set down his teacup on the small table next to him. A knock on the shoji doors ahead of him had his uncovered brown eye cutting over to them, "Enter." He spoke calmly, his voice heavy.
The door slid open, and his eye widened a fraction as he watched the person enter his room. They were clad in ANBU armor, their mask clipped to their belt as she flicked a long strand of ebony hair over her shoulder. The man smiled, "What brings you here?" He inquired.
Her gaze was narrowed into slits as she walked further into the room, coming to a stop at the foot of his chair, she titled her head back to stare up at the cunning man, "I want to know everything."
His smile widened, he made a noise of approval in the back of his throat as Danzo nodded, "Welcome to Root, Hoshiko."
24 Hours Earlier.
Hoshiko dodged out of the way, avoiding the barrage of kunai heading for her as she took out her Wakizashi and deflected a few away from her, she heard them fall to the ground as she skidded across the grass and brought up her defense again.
Kakashi appeared in front of her, wielding his own Wakizashi as their swords met, sparks flying and the gritty sound of the metal slicing against each other as they fought against one another. Hoshiko flipped over Kakashi, parrying his attacks, as the silver haired man kept attacking her, not relenting his assault on her. Hoshiko dodged and weaved around him, she finally saw an opening as she ducked down and swung her leg out, intending to trip him over as Kakashi saw through it. He back flipped away from her as Hoshiko chased after him, suddenly putting Kakashi on the offensive as he started to block and parry her sword strikes.
Kakashi took out three shuriken and launched them at her, making Hoshiko use her blade to deflect them as suddenly Kakashi launched himself at her, she didn't have time to react as his sword sliced across her shoulder.
Hoshiko didn't cry out in pain, instead she disappeared in a puff of smoke, a large log in her place. Kakashi swore in his head as he scanned the area, trying to pinpoint her location. He knew it would be very simple to locate her if he used his Sharingan but he had promised her that he wouldn't, it seemed that she didn't want anything to do with his gift at the moment.
He heard it a split second before she made herself known, the familiar chirping of one thousand birds in his ears as Kakashi spun around.
"Raikiri!" Hoshiko cried out, leaping through the air with her Raikiri in her hand. Her speed rivaled his own as he lunged out of the way. He was backed up against a tree as he cursed himself for forgetting his surroundings so suddenly. His dark eye snapped back to her as he jerked his head to the side to avoid getting hit by the Raikiri in her hand.
Wood splinters went flying as he heard Hoshiko screech in frustration, "Goddammit!"
Kakashi ducked away from her as he assessed the damage done, Hoshiko was furiously pulling at her hand, which had been lodged inside the thick tree. She released her Raikiri and turned her head to look over her shoulder, "I thought I said no Sharingan!" She cried out in outrage.
Kakashi rubbed the back of his head as he pulled down his headband back over his crimson eye, "Maa, well you see, if I hadn't I probably would've been skewered by your Raikiri. Take it as a compliment," Kakashi chuckled. Hoshiko gritted her teeth and planted her feet on the trunk, now horizontal as she pulled against her wrist.
"Stupid tree!" She hissed in annoyance. Kakashi watched the comical display as he sighed and rolled his one eye at her. "I'll destroy this tree and all tree's within a five mile radius!" She continued on.
With a sigh Kakashi approached the tree as he took his stance and made the correct seals, "Raikiri!" He hollered as his hand suddenly illuminated with electric blue light. Hoshiko's eyes widened as she realized what the older man was about to do.
"Wait, Kakashi-senpai!"
Kakashi thrust his hand into the tree as it exploded, causing Hoshiko to hit the floor on her back and the tree to fall to the side and crash to the ground. Hoshiko shot him a dark glare as she straightened up and brushed herself down.
"What's with the sudden aversion to the Sharingan?" Kakashi enquired as Hoshiko walked over to her canteen and drunk from it.
"Nothing," she replied after drinking. "I just wanted to spar with someone and actually have a chance at winning." She muttered grumpily.
"I think the tree won there," Kakashi stated with a smirk, hidden behind his mask. Hoshiko shot him another dark look. The older man looked away quickly, pulling out his Icha Icha book and burrowing his nose into the pages.
"How can you read that stuff?" Hoshiko asked him, walking up to him as Kakashi glanced at her over the book but then averted his gaze back to the pages.
"It's informative."
"Yeah, whatever."
"A child of your age wouldn't understand the in depth concept of the story."
Hoshiko's jaw dropped as her face flushed red, "I'm not a child! And I know what it's about, it's written by some pervert!"
"He's a brilliant mastermind," Kakashi argued. Hoshiko pulled a face at Kakashi as she looked back at the destroyed tree. "So what was the real reason for you asking me to spar?" Kakashi enquired, his dark gaze not moving from his book.
Hoshiko jumped at the question, "W-what? What are you talking about?"
Kakashi sighed as he snapped the book shut, holding it in his hand as he met her gaze, "When the three of you are in the village it's hard to separate you all. Did something happen?"
"What makes you think that? I could just be wanting the pleasure of your company." Hoshiko bit back with her arms folded. A stern look from Kakashi had her resolve breaking as she sighed, "Fine. I think they're avoiding me; well, Itachi anyway."
"You think?" Kakashi quirked his eyebrow.
"I know he is."
"Did you mess up his hair?"
"No!" Hoshiko exclaimed in irritation. She rubbed her face and sighed, "I don't know what happened. The other day I was at his home eating dango with him and Sasuke, and then…"
"Oi!"
Hoshiko lunged for Itachi who was smirking at her with the dango stick in his hand. The taller Uchiha swiftly dodged out of the way as Hoshiko spun around on her heel and lunged for him again, missing him as Itachi ate the sweets quickly.
"There is no hope you in ANBU if you can't reclaim your lost dango." Itachi teased her as Hoshiko felt her face flush red in embarrassment.
"You're such a baka," she said with an eye roll.
Itachi's smirk was ghosting on a full smile, something that Hoshiko hadn't seen in a while when suddenly his expression dropped. His onyx eyes locked on something over Hoshiko's shoulder as the girl furrowed her brow, wondering what could have possible caused him to change so drastically. Hoshiko looked over her shoulder, feeling her insides freeze at the presence of Uchiha Fugaku.
Fugaku was a man who rarely showed emotion in public, and Hoshiko had noticed that the man always seemed to scowl deeper when she was around, so she always tried to make herself scarce, but this time she had been caught out. His intense Uchiha gaze bore into her own as she felt scrutinized under his stare, it was like he knew all of her secrets and was waiting for the perfect time to out them. His angular jaw was set, his mouth turned down slightly as his gaze moved over to Sasuke who was still playing with his shuriken.
Once his gaze was off her Hoshiko felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders, but she still wanted to run away from him, only one other man made her feel like this; Danzo.
"Sasuke!" Fugaku called roughly. The little boy stopped playing immediately and turned to acknowledge his father. "Come inside. I want to hear what you learnt at the academy today."
"Hai, Otou-san!" Sasuke replied happily. Pocketing his shuriken and running over to the porch.
Fugaku turned his attention to Itachi and Hoshiko who were both still standing completely still; Hoshiko couldn't remember the last time she had taken a breath.
"Itachi, say goodbye to your friend; we have matters to discuss." Fugaku ordered, turning on his heel.
"Hai, Otou-san." Itachi replied stiffly as Fugaku disappeared into the house. Sasuke followed, calling out to his father to look at the new set of shuriken that Itachi had bought him.
Now that Fugaku was gone Hoshiko sucked in a deep breath, she turned her body to face Itachi, she jumped slightly when the boy was already storming passed her.
"Itachi…" Hoshiko said in a small voice, she was still recovering from the presence of Fugaku.
"You should go home." Itachi instructed, turning slightly to face her, his face was emotionless and Hoshiko wondered what Fugaku and Itachi would be discussing that would cause him to act this way.
"Is everything ok?" Hoshiko asked him, fidgeting with her fingers. She was remembering the last time Fugaku had wanted to talk to Itachi; it had been when she was perched on the branch outside his bedroom. Itachi had changed back then also. Her silver eyes were downcast, staring at the wooden flooring at her feet when suddenly Itachi was in front of her; she was surprised, as she hadn't heard him come closer. Her eyes, so like the reflection of the moon, widened as she watched Itachi raise his hand, his index and middle finger reaching out as he jabbed her lightly in the middle of her forehead. Hoshiko winced, her eyes shutting for a second in shock, when she opened them; Itachi had a kind smile on his face.
"You still worry too much." Itachi withdrew his hand.
Hoshiko furrowed her brow, "Why do you do that?" She asked, rubbing her forehead where he had poked her.
"I'll tell you next time," he said, turning on his heel and disappearing into the house. Hoshiko stood quietly for a few seconds, contemplating what it could possibly mean when she remembered that Fugaku had wanted her gone. With a shudder she jumped off the porch, leaping over the wall and away from the Uchiha compound.
Itachi had told her he would explain next time, but Hoshiko had a strange feeling that things were about to change.
"That was four days ago." Hoshiko finished with a sigh. She had omitted the details about the forehead poke and how Fugaku had wanted to discuss matters with Itachi, thinking that it was something she should just keep to herself.
"I see," Kakashi mumbled, running his hand over his masked chin. "I'm sure he's just been busy, he is the Uchiha heir after all."
"He's never been like that though, he's never cared about running the clan or anything like that!" Hoshiko argued.
Kakashi sighed, "He may not like it, but it is his duty to his clan."
Hoshiko faced away from Kakashi, frowning, she wanted to tell him that Itachi didn't think like that, but she held herself back, it wouldn't be good for her to start rumors about him.
"Why don't you go and talk to him about it?" Kakashi offered.
"What?" Hoshiko gasped, "And risk seeing Fugaku again? No thank you!"
"Then do nothing." Kakashi said firmly.
Hoshiko pursed her lips in defeat. She crossed her arms and thought back on what Itachi had told her, he had poked her forehead and told her not to worry, telling her that he would explain next time.
"Oi, Kakashi!" A new voice shouted from close by. Hoshiko and Kakashi both turned as a figure leapt into the clearing, clad in a striking emerald green suit. Kakashi raised his hand in greeting.
"Yo."
Hoshiko stared at Might Guy with apprehension, she had heard about the crazy lunatic, he was exceptionally skilled in Taijutsu but was insane, he was also Kakashi's self declared rival. Hoshiko balked at the thought that she and Guy were similar in that aspect.
"You're a hard man to find, my eternal rival! Oh," Guy suddenly realized that Hoshiko was standing there. "You must be the new ANBU protégé, Kakashi has spoken about you."
"He has?" Hoshiko asked curiously, her spirits lifting.
Guy nodded, giving her thumbs up and a large toothy smile, "He says that you're a brilliant ANBU, coming from him," Guy jabbed a finger in Kakashi's direction, "That's a great compliment! You must be filled with the shining light of youth!" Guy continued on as Hoshiko, although touched at the compliment, grimaced at Guy's choice of words.
"Thanks." Hoshiko muttered.
Kakashi sent her a look, "Don't let it get to your head." Hoshiko smirked up at the older man, a faint blush on her cheeks.
"Hurry, Kakashi! We must go now where we shall indulge in the glorious food of youth!" Guy shouted.
"We're eating ramen."
"Youth!" Guy beamed at the less than impressed Kakashi; the silver haired ANBU rolled his uncovered eye at him. Guy turned his dark gaze over to Hoshiko who was staring at Guy in confusion, she was wondering just how in the world Kakashi was friends with someone who was the complete polar opposite of him. "You should come join us, Hoshiko-chan!" Guy exclaimed.
Hoshiko froze upon the request, she looked from Guy to Kakashi, the latter didn't seem too fazed about Guy's offer. The first thing that Hoshiko thought was that she couldn't believe she had been invited to go and have ramen with Kakashi and Guy, if the fan girls could see her now they'd have her head. The second thing was that after talking to Kakashi about the whole Itachi thing she felt the need to go and talk to him and see if he was ok, something was obviously wrong as she hadn't seen or heard from him in four days.
The girl smiled politely at them both, "Thank you, but there's something I have to do."
Guy looked a little disappointed that Hoshiko had turned down the offer as Kakashi narrowed his eyes at her slightly, "Hoshiko, are you sure—"
"It's ok, Kakashi-senpai," Hoshiko cut him off. "You two have fun!" She called cheerfully, leaping up into the trees and away from Kakashi and Guy.
Guy, not really understanding the situation, turned to his long time friend, "Kakashi! Let's race to Ichiraku's!"
Kakashi sighed heavily, "Fine, Guy."
"On our hands only!"
Kakashi sighed again but proceeded to flip over and begin racing with Might Guy.
Hoshiko entered the Uchiha compound, she ran quickly through the streets, ignoring the stares she received from the other Uchiha as she soon found herself in front of the Uchiha mansion, the large home for the clan leader and his family; Itachi's home.
Hoshiko expanded her chakra senses, relief flooding through her when she felt only Itachi and Sasuke's chakra from inside the home. Hoshiko wouldn't have been able to do this had Itachi's parents been home.
Her heart was racing as she stared at the sliding door, it was ten feet away from her, but it felt miles away. Her palms began to sweat as she wiped them hastily on her black trousers; she flattened out her shirt out of habit as she approached the home. The noises from the Uchiha market had died away, leaving the sound of Hoshiko's heart thumping in her eardrums the only thing she was able to hear. She wanted to slap herself, she was overreacting; she had been to this house hundreds of times, there was nothing wrong. When she told Itachi about everything she had been thinking he was probably going to laugh at her and tell her that she was being stupid, she felt stupid.
Her shoes clicked against the stone pathway as she stopped inches from the door; her fist rose to rap against the screen.
The door was violently opened from the other side as Hoshiko flinched and stumbled backwards a step.
Itachi stood before her, his onyx eyes hardening at her presence and his mouth set in a firm line, his brows knitted together. Hoshiko knew that Itachi had sensed her and had obviously come to meet her before she could knock on the door.
"What are you doing here?" He said accusingly.
Hoshiko winced slightly from his tone of voice, "I—I came to see how you were." She said nervously.
"It was not required," Itachi replied in the same tone of voice. Hoshiko felt a pain stab right through her heart at his words.
"What's wrong with you?" She asked him, frowning at his attitude and behavior, this was not like Itachi. What was wrong with him? He had been fine with her the other day!
"You need to leave." Itachi ordered, glaring at her.
"Did something happen?" Hoshiko asked hesitantly. "Is it your Otou-san?"
"It's none of your concern." He replied with a hostile tone.
Hoshiko stepped towards him, her hand shooting out and gripping onto his wrist, "I'm your friend, Itachi!" Hoshiko shouted in frustration.
Itachi ripped his arm out of her grip violently, the motion caused a painful expression to come over Hoshiko's face as she realized Itachi didn't want her anywhere near him.
"Have I done something wrong?" Hoshiko cried, vulnerably. "What have I done to you to make you act this way?"
"Leave here, you are not welcome in the Uchiha compound anymore." Itachi stated monotonously.
Hoshiko felt her jaw drop slightly, she felt a lump in her throat as a nauseous feeling overcame her, she wasn't going to cry, this was just a misunderstanding—she couldn't believe the words coming out of his mouth right now.
"What is wrong with you? This isn't you!" Hoshiko said weakly.
Itachi remained impassive, he began to turn away from her; Hoshiko saw this and wasn't about to let him disappear without an explanation to why he was acting this way yet. She grabbed onto his collar, pulling him to her as her eyes blazed with infuriation, "You don't get to walk away from this, Itachi! What the hell is wrong with you?" Hoshiko yelled angrily.
In one fluid motion Itachi had slapped her hand off his shirt, Hoshiko's eyes widened as Itachi's Sharingan suddenly blazed to life, his crimson irises boring into her own, "I don't need to explain myself to such an insignificant weak nuisance. I have realized that you can only drag me down. I will one day be the leader of the Uchiha clan, I cannot associate myself with an outcast and a weakling like you, it would bring shame on the Uchiha name for someone like me to continue being friends with you."
Hoshiko's eyes burned with tears and betrayal, her throat began to tighten as she took a step back from him. His eyes were distant but he was still glaring at her. Hoshiko blinked away her tears; she would not show him her tears. She felt empty inside, like Itachi had just reached in and taken all of her insides out, leaving her in nothing but an empty shell. Most of all she felt abandoned, the one person she could count on to always be there, to help her through anything, was now sending her away.
"You can't mean that…" Hoshiko whispered, her voice breaking as one lone tear escaped from her eye and ran down her cheek, dropping off her chin.
Itachi's glare hardened even more so, and for a split second, Hoshiko thought that he was about to attack her. The loathsome look in his eyes had her stumbling back again.
"I do not want to repeat myself again after this. Leave. You are not welcome here, there is only so much patience I can have with this, and I am nearing my limit. If you do not leave I will have the Police Force come and detain you."
Hoshiko wiped her face, removing any trace of the tear that had escaped. She ignored the searing pain in her heart as she balled her hands up by her side, her eyes hardening as she glared at Itachi with all the hate she could muster.
"Fine," she said numbly. "If that is how you really feel about me, I'll go. You'll never have to be around me ever again."
"We have an understanding then." Itachi replied indignantly.
Hoshiko didn't let him show how much that statement hurt her; she turned away from him, walking a few steps before she halted and squeezed her eyes shut, willing the tears to go away.
"You stupid bastard." She hissed, fighting back her tears. Without turning back Hoshiko took off at a sprint.
Hoshiko lay on her bed, her stormy eyes staring up at a small mark on her ceiling. Her hands were folded on her stomach as she listened to the sounds of the busy market outside and the sounds of her mother cooking dinner. She had ran straight home after her argument with Itachi, she had managed to hold off her tears, something she was proud of, she vowed to herself that she wouldn't shed tears for Uchiha Itachi. He was dead in her eyes now, there was no going back from this, this wasn't like any of their usual arguments. This was the end of Hoshiko and Itachi's friendship.
Hiroka had seen the depressed and fragile look on Hoshiko's face when she had gotten home but Hoshiko hadn't confided in her, instead choosing to quietly march to her bedroom and ask to not be disturbed until dinner before shutting herself away and curling up on her bed, not moving and wallowing in her own grief.
Hoshiko rolled over onto her side, tucking her hand under her cheek as she exhaled a shaky sigh and wiped at her eyes and nose again. Even though she would deny about crying, one or two tears had escaped every so often that she would wipe away.
Hoshiko felt alone. It had been a long time since she had felt this way, back when she was a small child, starting at the academy.
She was trying to make sense of Itachi; she wanted to figure out what could have possibly happened to make him detest her so.
Her thoughts drifted to her Mizukiri, was it because she was a liability? Had he had enough of her and her abilities? Did he not want to be the one to have to talk some sense into her every time she lost control? He was right, it seemed. She couldn't control it, her ability controlled her; he had called her weak, and she was. She couldn't control the one thing that made her—her.
Itachi was never wrong.
"Hoshiko?" Hiroka called through the closed door. "Darling? I know you said you wanted to be left alone…" Hiroka continued as Hoshiko heard the door open. She kept her back facing her mother. "You have a visitor." Hiroka stated.
Hoshiko sighed, "I'm not seeing anyone. Tell them to leave."
"I told them that, but they insisted. You know how the Uchiha are," Hiroka said, a quiet chuckle.
Hoshiko felt her insides freeze. An Uchiha was at her door? She sat up on her bed, turning to face Hiroka; her first thought was that I was Itachi coming to apologise to her. She abolished the thought; it wouldn't be Itachi, not after their argument.
Shisui! Hoshiko thought happily as she jumped off the bed and sailed passed her mother.
It had to be Shisui! He had obviously heard about what had transpired between her and Itachi and had come to see her. Hopefully he could shine some light on this shitty situation and explain to her why Itachi was acting like a complete asshole.
Hoshiko raced to the door, not bothering to put her shoes on as she wrenched the door aside, her grin wide as she greeted the Uchiha.
It dropped immediately.
It wasn't Shisui.
And it certainly wasn't Itachi.
Sasuke stood before her, all four foot five of him. His onyx eyes, exactly like his older brother's narrowed up at her.
Hoshiko's first thought was to punt the little shit across the street, and then her second thought was why the hell Sasuke was at her house in the first place? How did he even know where she lives?
"Sasuke. What are you doing here?" She asked him bitterly. The youngest Uchiha brother folded his arms.
"You totally forgot. You said the other day you would show me a neat jutsu that no one else knew. Not even Nii-san."
Hoshiko cursed inside her head. She remembered telling him that. It was the day Sasuke had received his gift off Itachi. Hoshiko had been boasting about the Raikiri to Itachi and Sasuke, the young Uchiha asked to see it to prove it and Hoshiko had agreed.
"I'm not feeling up to it, sorry, Sasuke," Hoshiko apologized. She thought back on Itachi's words earlier in the day, if he didn't want her around him then she guessed that would apply to his little brother also.
"Did you and Nii-san get into a fight?" He asked suddenly, the previous subject forgotten. Sasuke's eyes were wide and curious.
"What makes you say that?" Hoshiko asked.
"I heard you shouting outside the house."
"What did you hear?" Hoshiko asked him, her eyes narrowing as the little boy waved his hands.
"N-nothing! I asked Nii-san about it but he just told me to go and play, and to not bother you anymore."
Hoshiko gave Sasuke a deadpan look, "And so you decided to do the exact opposite of what he said."
Sasuke's face flushed in embarrassment, "I wont tell him if you don't."
Hoshiko scoffed at him, "I thought you didn't like me, usuratonkachi."
"Hey!" Sasuke cried out in offense. Hoshiko noticed that Sasuke didn't confirm nor deny her previous statement, causing her to crack a small smile. She sighed and rubbed her forehead.
"Look, I know I said I would show you that thing, but I can't right now. Maybe another time," Hoshiko said with false positivity as Sasuke pouted at her.
"Now who's the usuratonkachi?" He grumbled under his breath.
Hoshiko gritted her teeth at his words as she stepped towards him and proceeded to bonk him hard on the head.
"Itai!" Sasuke cried painfully, rubbing his head.
"That's my word, kusogaki."
"You can't own a word!" Sasuke retorted with a hateful tear filled glare. Maybe she had hit him too hard.
"Well I am now!" Hoshiko said defiantly, placing her hands on her hips. "Now get lost before I decide to really hit you." She said threateningly as Sasuke balked, still rubbing his head.
With a curt wave Sasuke said goodbye and hurried away from the house. Hoshiko watched him go with a long sigh, wishing that things could be different between them, but she knew she had to get Sasuke to leave her alone somehow, physical violence always seemed to work on him, she just hoped Sasuke would stay away from her.
Hoshiko sat in the darkness of her room, her legs over the side of her bed, her fingers clasped under her chin as she stared a the picture across from her on her dresser. It was a picture of her and her mother after being inaugurated into ANBU, and after her release from the hospital. Hoshiko was clad in usual dark clothes, her forehead protector fastened to her head and her hair coming over one shoulder in waves. Her silver stare, like a stormy sky stared straight ahead at the camera, her expression was somber. Behind her slightly, her mother stood, her hands on her shoulders and a proud smile on her kind features. Hiroka's brown hair was braided over her shoulder as she wore her special occasion dress. Her murky brown eyes were crinkled in a smile.
Hoshiko saw the similarities her and her mother shared, the shape of their eyes were the same, and the shape of their noses and mouths. Her hair colour, her face shape and her eye colour all came from her father, her dead father.
Hoshiko looked away from the picture, "Tch." She hissed. Even if she resembled her mother, she would always take after her father, she didn't have a choice in the matter; she had been given the Mizukiri.
I cannot associate myself with an outcast and a weakling like you.
Itachi thought she was weak. Hoshiko tried to tell herself that she wasn't, she was strong; but even she could see his point. Even though she had accepted the Mizukiri as a part of herself, it didn't change the fact that she couldn't control it. When she used it she was powerful; but yet still weak.
Even though she was ANBU, another young protégé, she was weak in his eyes. She had tried, for years to reach his level; she thought she was finally there but Itachi just reaffirmed how out of reach he was. He had been the one to stop her using her Mizukiri.
Itachi was so strong, and she was weak.
I don't need to explain myself to such an insignificant weak nuisance.
Hoshiko clenched her fist against her thigh. She would show him! She would get stronger; she would learn to control her Mizukiri.
Her gaze settled on a picture of her father, it was a picture she looked at everyday of him. His short black hair, piercing silver eyes, tall frame and angular features.
"Maybe this could have been avoided had you just told me the truth," Hoshiko whispered to the photo quietly. A part of her wanted the photo to talk back to her, how she wished to be able to talk to her father once more.
Ginyoru Kisho had indeed made a mistake by keeping all information about her Mizukiri a secret from her.
Hoshiko rose from her bed, walking to her wardrobe and opening it up, finding her spare set of armor in case of emergencies, her cat mask placed neatly on top as she pulled them out and did them up on her body.
She clasped her chest plate on and clipped her mask onto her belt; she didn't feel the need to wear it but still wanted it close to her. She strapped her Wakizashi onto her back and stared at herself in her thin mirror.
She noticed a change in her eyes, they weren't the same shining silver they always were, now they were narrowed and a dark stormy grey. Her pink lips pressed into a firm line as she clamped her eyes shut and closed the wardrobe.
She passed by her dresser, stopping for a second to look down at the picture of her father again, "I hope, even after all of this. I can still make you proud, Otou-san."
With a determined look Hoshiko walked to her window, sliding the pane up as she climbed through it, leaving it open as she gracefully darted onto the roof opposite her home.
The streetlights were still on, it had probably only gone passed midnight now, the village was quiet and peaceful, unaware of the impending storm brewing inside Hoshiko's mind and heart. Her gaze was drawn to the edge of the village, where from her vantage point, she could make out the large Uchiha compound. Her mood darkened as she turned away from it, blocking all thoughts of stupid Itachi out of her mind as she quickly and quietly made her way to the ANBU HQ. She had no idea where she would find him, but someone at HQ would point her in the right direction.
In the dim candlelight, the figure set down his teacup on the small table next to him. A knock on the shoji doors ahead of him had his uncovered brown eye cutting over to in, "Enter." He spoke calmly, his voice heavy.
The door slid open, and his eye widened a fraction as he watched the person enter his room. They were clad in ANBU armor, their mask clipped to their belt as she flicked a long strand of ebony hair over her shoulder. The man smiled, "What brings you here?" He inquired.
Her gaze was narrowed into slits as she walked further into the room, coming to a stop at the foot of his chair, she titled her head back to stare up at the cunning man, "I want to know everything."
His smile widened, he made a noise of approval in the back of his throat as Danzo nodded, "Welcome to Root, Hoshiko."
Welp, now the story starts to really pick up now! I told you that the happiness was coming to an end, and here it is. Hoshiko has gone to Danzo. Dun dun duuuuun. Things start to go more canon now as i'll be following more of the storyline than my own original content, but it'll still have original moments with Hoshiko still in the picture, and things could be changing with her around, but just what the hell as Itachi done! Silly boy! Let me know what you guy's think of the story, i'd love to hear what you all thought about this chapter!
REPLIES
Davina - I know, it kills me deeply knowing whats happening soon. I did say that it was all coming to an end and here's the start of it, after fifteen chapters xD Honestly I never expected to be writing so much pre-massacre xD Be prepared to shed some tears soon! And I know this chapter must have been a lil angsty for you!
Dark Rose Charm - You went on a roll with your reviews! Thank you so much and I'm glad you're enjoying it!
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!