ϟ—Interlude One — Nii—ϟ
The same reason as you… answered Yugito. The storm quelled slightly and the pond reflected in reminiscence. Memories flashed against the black of Ka'rai's closed eyelids, like a dream.
The dream of a life passed.
⁑ —ϟ— ⁑
"This is Yugito Nii!" announced a man, the Sandaime Raikage. He towered over the girl at his side. She was no older than eight. "She is the third Jinchuriki of the mighty Nibi! She's inherited the power of my predecessor, and will serve you all as Kumo's greatest weapon!"
The crowd cheered. Yugito stepped back, an uncertain smile on her face. To think something like this was to precede her first day at the academy. With a breath, Yugito stepped forward into the limelight. "T-thank you all!" she managed. "I promise to serve Kumo well! I'll defend it with my life, my everything and I'll never let you down! I promise!"
Another roar of affirmation overtook the ground. Yugito's uncertain smile grew into a grin of pride. She was the Nibi Jinchuriki. When she first learned that, she didn't know what to think. The Demon of Death was sealed inside of her. But the Nidaime Raikage had that same demon. Lord Killer Bee had the Demon of Power inside of him, everyone loved him as well.
But now—but now… she saw. She was the pride of the village, the village she lived in her entire life. The feeling swelled in her chest as she took in every face she saw and committed it to memory. These were the faces of the people she'd be giving her life for.
Not a day would go by where she wouldn't think of them.
Yugito placed a hand on her stomach, where she was told the seal was. "Thank you, Nibi."
⁑ —ϟ— ⁑
Years passed and Yugito trembled on her knees. She was enveloped in steam—burning humidity flared into her nostrils. The boiling pond below popped at her legs, her hands, her face. She kept her eyes shut and pointed down. Even through her shut eyes, the cobalt blue glow persisted.
"Yugito," was all it said.
The girl gulped. "H-hello, Nibi!" She forced a breath out and looked into the cage in front with closed eyes. "I… I would like to use your power for the sake of my village!"
"What makes you think you're worth even a sliver of my chakra?" asked the Nibi. "You can't even look at me… and yet you are my jailer. It's pathetic. Death deserved to take you long ago."
Fear forged with anger, and Yugito's fists clenched over the shallow water. "I am your jailer! Which means you are under my jurisdiction! You are at my mercy and you need to act like it! I demand your power—!"
Cobalt Blue erupted from the cage and Yugito screamed—the fire burned her astral body all over. The flames hardened—densened and she could feel it breathe around her neck, her wrists. Chains of solid fire held her down and she was forced to look it in the eyes.
Discolored eyes of yellow and green, the very sight would've brought Yugito to her knees if she weren't there already. The fire around her neck squeezed and this time the girl couldn't even scream. Her skin popped and sizzled under the heat.
Despite the utter super-heated agony that enveloped her, the terror chilled her ached her and consumed her until it was frigid. As if death itself gripped her heart.
"Speak to me like that again and I will kill you," spat the Nibi with a chilling voice.
Yugito forced a nod through her constraints. The Nibi dropped them and glared at Yugito to "Leave."
Yugito didn't wait a second to comply.
⁑ —ϟ— ⁑
Additional years flashed and her finger pressed against Yugito's lips. "Shhhh~" she commanded with a sly smirk of her dark-skinned lips. Despite her comrade's command, she couldn't hold back her giggle—nor the blush that colored her face pink.
The night was at its peak, with the moon of midnight shimmering down on the two. It was just them, and that was all that mattered. "Amai—" Yugito started, but Amai's finger pressed harder against her lips.
"You don't need to say anything," assured Amai—her golden-red eyes sparkling. She drifted her finger off of Yugito's lips and her hand cupped her face. Yugito only blushed harder as Amai pulled her lips into hers. Both girls closed their eyes and absorbed themselves in the moment. Yugito wrapped her arms around Amai—and there wasn't a damned thing in the world that would make her let go.
She'd never let go.
⁑ —ϟ— ⁑
She never let go, even as Amai lay dying in her arms. Yugito screamed she cried she wailed for a response from her but got nothing. The burns were too extensive. Yugito could've survived them… but she couldn't have taken the hit for her. Because they came from Yugito herself.
A vile nausea overtook her at the notion—no, it wasn't her, it was that bastard Nibi. She could feel its contempt and vindication feed on her grief. One moment of lapsed judgment—one moment of trust.
It all ended up in this.
Yugito looked around in the blue inferno around her. The burning corpses of her comrades shrouded the area with smoke.
The only one who survived was the cause.
She was all that was left.
Yugito screamed.
⁑ —ϟ— ⁑
It was better for the village that nobody knew. They'd lose trust in their Jinchuriki, and her bad decision would tarnish the reputation of the next Nibi Jinchuriki after her. She would die before she'd allow that to happen. Even if the peace was an illusion, she'd still protect it.
The truth was too hard for many to bear. The lie gave them comfort. They deserved the peace… even if it wasn't real. The truth tore her apart with every second of her existence. Every fleeting moment was the equivalent to walking in hell.
Not a damned soul would join her in her suffering. Not as long as she was alive to keep it that way. Even still, some were suspicious, rightfully so. She kept up the peace, fought for the comfort of her people… her Kumo.
She had nobody else, after all. It killed them all.
All she had left was Kumo.
There would be nothing stopping her from defending her village with far beyond her all.
At that point, she wasn't even sure that death itself would stop her.
?￢ﾜ ? ~ Interlude End ~ ?￢ﾜ ?