26. Parting Ways

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"That doesn't concern you."

"Actually, it does. Anything that concerns Nakao, concerns me."

There was a pause. The same voice spoke again.

"Is that…?"

Another pause.

"Give it to me. I'll tell her."

"I'll do it."

"Can't you let go of your ego for a damn second!" a frustrated huff. "She'll respond better if I tell her…"

"Your jealousy doesn't dictate her response."

An aggravated stutter. "You-You're-You…are such an ass!"

The voices infiltrated the fog in my mind. The voices sounded familiar.

"Sasuke…?" I mumbled.

Moving my lips took effort. I was suddenly aware of the fatigue pulling at the corners of my mind. I didn't know where I was, but I felt pain suddenly creep into my muscles. I wanted to go back to sleep but I struggled to stay lucid.

Slowly, I peeled my eyes open. My vision was blurry and I had to blink dry eyes for the world to swim into clarity. It took a long moment for me to realize the whiteness that filled my vision was actually a ceiling. I was on my back.

"Nakao?"

A familiar voice. I moved my head to peer to my left. My head was on a pillow. A room opened up to me. The walls were the same eggshell white as the ceiling. Electronic machines were scattered throughout the room; some were unused, others blinking lights, others with screens displaying digital numbers. Two people stood beside my bed.

"Kiba?" I asked softly. My voice felt dry and scratchy.

Kiba stared down at me, concern etched on his face. His skin looked pinched, shadows beneath his eyes, as though he hadn't slept well recently. I became acutely aware of the concern and fear taking over his brown eyes.

Alarm breaking through the haze of soreness and exhaustion, I searched his face. "What's going on?"

My eyes shifted to the second person in the room, who stood a few feet behind Kiba. His onyx eyes were focused on me, unreadable. My eyes flickered back to Kiba when he spoke again.

"You're in the hospital," Kiba said. "Do you remember what happened?"

I frowned, eyebrows drawn together in thought. I pushed away the diminishing fog, searching my memory.

I reached them in time. I quickly shouldered Sakura out of the way, sending her sprawling beside Sasuke with a gasp of surprise. But there was no time to pull a weapon. No time for handsigns. I heard the faint shout of my name before Gaara's claw wrapped around me.

I cried out as the pressure closed around me again, robbing me of my breath. Gaara let out a growl of anger, his eyes flashing at me. I was helpless as Gaara swung his arm, smashing me in a tree meters away from my teammates.

My head hit the trunk with a resounding crack

"Y-yeah," I murmured, glancing back to Kiba.

He seemed slightly relieved that my memory was intact. I glanced down to my body, covered in crisp, white sheets. Propping myself on my elbows, I attempted to sit up. My ribs were sore, and I winced as I pushed myself into a sitting position. Kiba placed hands on my back, helping to stabilize me.

Regaining my bearings, my eyes flickered to Sasuke again. His dark eyes remained on me, steady, unblinking. A few scratches marred his face, but he looked otherwise unharmed. One hand was stuck in his pocket, but the other was clutching something against his side, but I could not see what. But his presence here surprised and alarmed me. What was he doing here? Why was there such palpable tension in the air?

I glanced back and forth between the two boys. "What's going on…?"

Kiba glanced to Sasuke helplessly, though Sasuke kept his stare on me. I could feel anxiety beginning to creep in my chest and my stomach made nervous flips. Something was wrong here, something didn't seem right. Why were they looking at me like this? Why did they seem so apprehensive? What had happened?

"Nakao…" my eyes went to Kiba. He looked deeply troubled. He sighed. "Nakao…"

Sasuke cut in, taking a step towards me. His voice did not waver. "This belongs to you."

My eyes shifted to Sasuke as he drew closer to me, slowly holding out the object he'd been carrying. My eyes narrowed curiously at the object as I pushed back my sheets, moving to sit on the edge of the bed. Sasuke stood patiently, hand still offering the object it held.

The tiled floor was cold beneath my feet as I stood. The movement created a dizzy spell and I almost faltered. I placed a hand on the mattress, steadying myself, ignoring the concern that flooded off Kiba in palpable waves. I took a step forward, closing the gap between myself and my teammate.

In Sasuke's hand was a headband. I glanced at him, confused. Why was he handing me my headband? And why did his eyes look so troubled? But despite what his eyes betrayed, his face remained passive.

"They found this on a shinobi's body after the battle," he said softly.

My mouth went dry. Something hard and heavy dropped into my gut. I felt like my throat was closing up, but I still managed to choke out a sentence, voice small.

"Whose…?"

"They…couldn't identify the body by appearance…" Sasuke said reluctantly. "The remains were too charred…"

Kiba made a strangled noise in the back of his throat. I felt like I couldn't breathe. Sasuke gently turned the headband over in his palm so that the metal plate was facing downwards. The blue material of the sash was folded together on the underside. And stitched into the fabric were a pair of initials. K.M.

"Nakao…Keitaro's…"

He couldn't finish the sentence. But he didn't need to. He flipped the headband over once more, holding it out to me. I stared at it for a moment, feeling disconnected to the rest of my body as my hand reached out, gingerly taking the headband. The tips of my fingers curled over the cool metal of the plate. It gleamed in the florescent lighting, reflecting my distorted image back at me.

Suddenly, my knees gave out. I was falling to the ground, my vision obscured by tears. I hardly noticed that my knees did not hit the ground; that someone had wrapped their arms around me, anchoring me to their chest. I hardly noticed the familiar scent of early morning forest that filled my nostrils. I was numb to everything except the heavy weight of my heart in my chest as it constricted painfully. I felt hot tears running down my face.

Suddenly, I was sitting on the edge of the hospital bed. I was staring up at Sasuke, without really seeing him. I didn't see the frown on his face, the uncharacteristic remorse in his eyes. I just looked back down to the headband, secured so tightly in my hands. My hair fell around my face as the tears fell like raindrops.

Dressed in black, I stood between Sasuke and Sakura. Sakura and I were dressed identically in a black kimono top, black skirt and black sandals. I wore two headbands today. Mine still wrapped around my right arm, my brother's hanging from my neck. My fingers reached up to touch the metal, hoping to gain what little comfort I could from the item.

When I'd awoken three days ago and walked through the doors of the hospital, it was to find Konoha in ruins. The Sand Village had betrayed us, betrayed all the Villages. They'd been in league with Orochimaru, using the Chuunin Exams to infiltrate Konoha. During the Third Exam, the entire stadium had been put under a genjutsu; sending those without the ability to dispel it in a comatose state. While our shinobi fought off the intruders, Orochimaru had summoned his great snakes to knock down the Village wall, leaving us vulnerable to the Sand troops waiting outside our borders.

Orochimaru himself had disguised himself as the Kazekage, giving him an opportune position amongst the other Kages that spectated the Exam participants. The Hokage had given his life to take down Orochimaru while our Village fought, and myself and my teammates went after Sasuke and Gaara. Orochimaru had been thwarted in his attempt to completely infiltrate our country, but otherwise the Hokage's sacrifice had been in vain. Orochimaru escaped with his life, but our country was left to grieve.

A more unoriginal and stereotypical day could not have been chosen for the Hokage's funeral. The sky was blotted out with dark gray clouds that released fat drops of rain. Its only useful function was to disguise the tears of those who gathered in the area. But it plastered my bangs into my eyes and my clothes to my skin, raising goosebumps against my skin.

The ceremony was taking place in the least destroyed area of the village. Citizens and ninja alike stood in rows before long tables set side by side, white sheets adorning their surfaces. Dozens of pictures frames lined said tables, in memoriam to those who had perished in the attack. The middle table was dedicated solely to the Hokage. His photograph rested in an oak frame; his ever-present pipe and ceremonial hat rested beside the frame.

My eyes skimmed the other tables, the other photographs of those whom we'd lost. Pictures of loved ones; more than I cared to count. My vision came to rest on my brother's photograph.

His picture was only several years old, taken when he'd graduated to jounin. He'd not yet turned fifteen when he'd been promoted. Despite his age, Keitaro's face was serious, his lips set in a firm line as his eyes looked out at me, revealing no emotion. But his hair was still a shaggy mess, his headband the only cure to his untamable bangs.

I could not tear my eyes from the picture. Part of me could still not fathom he was gone. My brother was a prodigy; not as much as some, but one none the less. His strength was an unshakeable entity, as much of him as his shaggy hair and his brown eyes. In my eyes, he'd always been invincible.

But he was gone. He was now nothing more than a photograph in a black frame and a memory inside my head. These memories would not stop barraging the defenses I placed around my heart. They were not the happy memories, the carefree ones of our childhood, or our strong bond in the face of adversary. They were the memories of the last two months. The echoes of unease and betrayal, doubt and suspicions. Everything he kept from me, things he lied about or omitted…it all seemed so inconsequential now.

I didn't want to lament on the last two months I'd wasted being furious with him. I didn't want to think of things I'd thought he'd been hiding, or the dark thoughts about him that had plagued my sleep. I couldn't bring myself to stay angry over the doubt he'd seemed to have over my abilities. I felt guilty, instead, for the things I'd said in my frustration.

I tried to hide from it all, pushing away the thoughts anytime I let my mind wander. I hadn't even returned home. I couldn't face that empty house, the pictures and memories that resided there. I'd been staying with Kiba, side-stepping all of his attempts to get me to open up about my brother. I didn't even return home to gather clothes; I was currently borrowing my outfit from Kiba's older sister.

During the day, I spent my time helping to repair the village. It was what most people were doing now; both citizens and shinobi. Only high-ranking shinobi were off on missions now. But I reveled in the hard work that was repairing homes and businesses, enforcing curfews and rations, gathering materials and supplies. It kept my dark thoughts at bay, fought against the pain.

The honeyed words and kind eulogies ended and those amassed began to file into a line. One by one, we moved forward to pay our respects to the late Hokage. So many had come that it took quite some time for me to reach the front of the line. I stood in the pouring rain for so long that I began to feel suffocated by the grief that hung around all of us.

Finally, I stepped forward to the front, standing between Sasuke and Sakura. I stared down at the photograph of the Hokage. I took in the many wrinkles of his face, imagining them creasing around his eyes and lips as he smiled. But he was gone; just a photograph and a memory now.

"Haha, Sasuke-kun! I win!" I gloated, spinning around excitedly and spitting my tongue out at the boy.

Sasuke finally crossed the designated finished line and stopped before me. His chest heaved up and down, trying to catch his breath, but he still managed to puff out his cheeks in a pout. "You cheated!"

"Don't be a sore loser," I rolled my eyes, flicking him in the arm.

"I'm not!" Sasuke immediately protested, glaring at me.

"Are too."

"Are not!"

"Are too!"

"Are not!"

"Woah woah, what's going on over here?"

Both Sasuke and I raised our heads in the direction of approaching footsteps. The Hokage was the new arrival, the hem of his white robes sweeping against the grass. His pipe hung from his lips.

"Hoakge-sama," I immediately bowed at the waist. Reluctantly, Sasuke followed suit.

The old man stopped before us, smiling down at us. "What's the trouble over here?"

"Nothing!" I insisted, huffing, pointing a finger at Sasuke. "Sasuke-kun's a sore loser."

"She cheated!" Sasuke immediately countered, sending me another glare, which I copied.

The Hokage raised an eyebrow, focusing his wise eyes on me. "Nakao?"

I balked, squirming, but crossed my arms over my chest defiantly. "What?"

"What happened, Sasuke?" he turned his attention to the boy.

Sasuke maintained his glare on me but spoke. "She threw shuriken in front of me while we were racing! I had to jump to miss them!"

I tried not to look triumphant.

The Hokage raised a stern eyebrow in my direction. Smoke curled towards the air from his pipe. "Nakao?"

"Keitaro-oniisan said ninjas are supposed to use anything at their disposal!" I recited, hands gesturing wildly.

The Hokage sighed and seemingly mumbled to himself. "Keitaro…I shouldn't be surprised."

I watched him, confused.

Finally, the Hokage smiled, ever so slightly. He crouched down to my eye level. "Keitaro-san is right; a ninja must be ready for anything-"

I immediately rounded on Sasuke, opening my mouth, but the Hokage cut me off.

"-but, Sasuke is your friend. This is not a life or death situation. A friend isn't someone you need to truly compete with. A friend should be treasured, because you never know how long you will have them."

It was Sasuke's turn to look triumphant, and he turned to me with a gleam in his eyes. He stuck out his tongue. I huffed, crossing my arms tightly.

I glanced over to my teammate. His head was bent, black bangs framing his face. As though sensing my gaze, he peeked over at me and our eyes locked. His onyx orbs had a similar far-off look and I wondered if we were remembering the same memory.

Glancing back to the table, I lifted my hand, which held a white rose. A mass of identical roses was piled before the Hokage's picture, laid there by all the shinobi and citizens who came before me. Together with Sasuke and Sakura, we placed our roses with the others; Sakura's uncalloused hand to my right, Sasuke's larger hand to my left.

I closed my eyes, mind sifting through memories, standing before the Hokage's legacy, whittled down to his hat and his pipe, allowing myself these last few seconds to bask in his strength and wisdom. But he wasn't just strong and wise. He was compassionate and patient, beloved by the entire village. He'd made time for me when my parents had died, available for guidance and comfort.

It was hard to grapple with the fact I'd never see him again. I'd never stand before his giant oak desk to receive a mission, smoke curling towards the ceiling from his pipe. I would never again hear him lecture Naruto while I watched on, amused. I would never have the chance to thank him for everything he was to me and everyone who lived in this village.

I opened my eyes, heart aching. I glanced at my teammates, who glanced at me in turn. I did not nod, but we didn't need to communicate. In unison, we turned our backs on the table and moved back towards the crowd.

The crowd was beginning to slowly disperse. Teams wandered off together while villagers tearfully made their way home. There were others that stayed, who wandered to the other tables, approaching the other picture frames that dotted the surfaces. I slipped quietly away from my team, moving slowly past the rows of tables and grieving individuals. My eyes swept over them as I did so, taking in the tears, the raw grief on their faces.

I stepped up to my brother's picture frame. My eyes searched his face, as though looking for answers. Why had he perished? It didn't seem possible. He was always so strong. How was I standing here? What was I to do now? I had no family left. No one to love me. No one to go home to, no one to wrap me in a suffocating hug or ruffle my hair or laugh at my jokes.

I closed my eyes as the memories consumed me. They flashed before my eyelids like a slideshow. His smile, his obnoxious excitement on my birthday every year, the way he winked when he knew something I didn't. I was feeling suffocated, my breaths coming in ragged gasps as I fought the grief tearing at my heart.

Suddenly, I couldn't remember why I'd been so angry with my brother. In the face of this, why did a few secrets matter so much? If a week ago I'd known this is where I'd be standing, I would never had risen my voice to him; never have doubted him; never thrown accusations his way. I would have cherished my time with him. I wouldn't have this acidic burn of guilt and regret bubbling in my gut.

I had no idea how long I'd been standing there, the rain drenching my clothes, soaking my curly locks, until I felt a presence at my side. I needn't open my eyes to know my new company. I knew he was here to make sure I left, that I didn't succumb to pneumonia from standing here until they took the photos away. But I didn't want to leave. If I left, it was all real. And it was moving on, back to business, my brother only a distant memory that I had no time to dwell on.

"Nakao…"

"I can't leave," I blurted out and my chest tightened. I heard the wobble in my voice. "They'll take him away and he'll be gone."

I expected him to tell me that Keitaro was already gone. That he was just a corpse, already burned on a funeral pyre. He wasn't even a corpse anymore; just ashes. I expected him to tell me to stop being a baby, to man up and move on. That remaining here would only bring me illness, and inconvenience to my team.

But he didn't say any of those things.

"Nakao."

Finally, I glanced over. His clothes were equally drenched, his bangs plastered to his face.

"He's not really gone."

"Of course he is!" I snapped and my eyes began to burn. I couldn't stop them anymore; they broke through my cracking wall and leaked down my cheeks. "He's gone! He's dead!"

Sasuke's expression did not change, but he shook his head. He pointed to the headband around my neck.

"He's there." He pointed to my daggers. "And there." Next he pointed to my heart. "And there."

Tears continued to slip down my cheeks, but my mouth hung open slightly as I watched Sasuke. I almost couldn't believe it was him standing here talking to me. I'd not heard Sasuke speak like that in many years.

We held each other's gazes steadily. I couldn't say how long we stood there like that; it felt like forever. But I didn't mind. When we watched each other, I felt the tears stop falling. My chest eased up enough to breathe. I didn't want to leave this moment, this small moment of comfort. I wanted to stay here, hold onto this, soaked clothes, cold skin and all.

Tentatively, I took a step forward, closing the small gap that had rested between us. Sasuke did not move. I still held his gaze, unable, unwilling, to release it. I wanted to reach out, to touch him, to remind myself that he was here. Keitaro was not here, but he was; and it seemed to make all the difference. I started to lift my hand, lips parting to speak, when a voice cut me off.

"Nakao!"

I blinked, as though emerging from a trance. It felt like a jolt, breaking through the layers of comfort and peace Sasuke and I seemed to wrap ourselves within. Lips still poised to speak, I glanced over to find Kiba jogging in my direction. He came to a short stop beside me.

Kiba was dressed the same as Sasuke and all the other shinobi in attendance. His mop of shaggy brown hair was soaked from the rain, flattened against his skull. His bangs fell into his eyes now, as his headband had been moved to hang around his neck.

"Kiba…" I finally said softly. I felt as though he'd intruded on something private, though it was a ridiculous notion.

Kiba seemed oblivious to this. Visible concern took over his face as his eyes searched mine. Carefully, he reached up, moving some wet hair from my eyes.

"What are you doing here?" he asked gently, rubbing his hands up and down my upper arms. "It's freezing; you're going to get sick."

I tore my attention from Kiba and returned my gaze to Sasuke. But the Sasuke who'd been with me just moments ago was gone. His entire demeanor had changed; now he appeared distant, guarded and unapproachable. Still, his emotionless eyes rested on me.

"We need to get you inside," Kiba continued, still clueless, still attempting to rub warmth into my arms.

Wordlessly, Sasuke turned on his heel and began walking away. Inhibition gone, I pulled from Kiba's touch and took two steps towards Sasuke's retreating figure. "Sasuke…!"

But he didn't stop. He didn't even look back. I watched Sasuke move further away, the outline of his form become blurred as the rain came down heavier than ever. That moment of peace and security was gone and my heart was aching from grief and uncertainty. I felt a hand rest on my shoulder, but I didn't turn to look at Kiba. I only continued to watch the rain pelt the cobblestone road, which was completely devoid of life.

Author's Note:

Thank you all for your support.

To my lovely guest who is so generous with their reviews: I love you.

Stay safe, readers.