World #7570 - Tokyo
Gama slipped out of bed entirely silently, holding on to a scream.
Only having woken up in worse situations allowed him to do so. Like that time in the Hyūga compound.
Or that time in Kumo.
Except this was bad enough, still.
He didn't even dare look at her. He could picture it already. He had slept with a Sakura, back home already.
She had been about the same age, too. But so had he been. Gama barely held a curse back. He forced his mind away from the woman — teenage woman — in his bed. Gods, was this even legal in this world…? In this country…? Would Uchiha come to detain him?
Gods.
He could picture Sakura under the covers, entirely naked. Pale face, as always, shivering a little because he only had bothered to take thin covers — much too thin for a civilian — in his pockets. She'd be civilian-thin, and civilian-young.
She would be nothing like—
Gama felt repulsed.
Not by her, not really. Mostly by himself.
He was a degenerate, certainly, but… he had principles, still…? Hadn't he…?
He... he was a gentleman.
And… wasn't Nacchan in love with that one…?
For a short moment, Gama felt lower than an ant.
But he wasn't a bad person. Things… things just happened, sometimes.
Get out.
He needed to get out.
There was the taste of whisky at the back of his mouth, and ash too. Not necessarily because he knew he sometimes smoked while drunk.
He knew his eyes must have looked wild.
He needed to leave.
So he did, barely taking the time to pull some water and food out of his pockets for the sleeping teen…
The woman in the bed.
…
When Gama felt terrible, he fell back on his favorite coping mechanism.
Self-destruction.
So it was no surprise that Hebi found him in a bar at around ten in the morning. It was full of admittedly pitiful looking drunkards; men who dragged their weathered bodies to the bathroom, women with a haggard look in their eyes. Gama knew he fit right in, today.
Hebi likely thought the same, if the almost pitying way she shook her head was any indication. In any case, she ordered breakfast for two. Gama didn't feel like eating anything.
"You really aim to impress." Hebi said; her first words to him this morning. There was something biting in them, as usual. It felt rougher today, still. "Anytime I leave you alone, you manage to do worse."
"Shut up." He muttered. "Now's not the time."
"And Sakura, really…?"
"…How do you know?"
Hebi smiled mirthlessly. "If you think I'm not keeping an eye on you…"
"I'm not going to run away with the Eye." Gama said, almost grunting.
There was a pause.
"Oh, that's not what I'm worried about." Hebi grinned flatly. "No, I think you might actually want to stay."
Gama felt a cold shiver run down his back. Alcohol sweats…?
"After all…" She began, leaning back slightly. "Why else would you offer me a gift…? I believe you are trying to buy me out."
Her eyes became hard.
"...What the fuck are you talking about?" Gama muttered.
"I do not like being mocked." Hebi said sharply. "A gift…? Coming from you?" She almost laughed. "I know you better than you know yourself, already."
"It wasn't—" He began.
"I'm sure."
Gama shook his head.
"…You got a real problem, you know that? It's just a fucking gift."
Hebi smiled mirthlessly. "Oh please. I know you. There's only one reason for you to 'offer' something. You want something else."
Gama paused for a second.
Then he shook his head again, looking bemused.
"Yeah. Orochimaru really did a number on you." He said, taking a long sip of his drink.
Something hot and angry flashed across Hebi's eyes, and for a second, Gama thought he really shouldn't have said that — again.
Then it was gone, and Hebi was back to staring at him, cool and composed.
"In any case… Did you happen to use the Eye again, while I wasn't looking…?" There was an odd glint in her eyes.
"No."
Hebi relaxed and the tension broke. "Good." She simply said.
"Don't worry about it." He muttered bitterly.
Gama really didn't feel like dealing with that sort of thing, right now.
If only he could get some time to think...
No.
That was not it either.
The worst part was… it was nice not to be entirely alone, right now.
No matter how fucked up she seemed to be, sometimes. And he was happy to have something to keep him busy.
…
"Are you feeling bad, perhaps?"
Gama snorted. "Since when do you care?"
"I really don't." Hebi smiled.
He scoffed, somewhat amused. "…I'm fine. Just… need some time to think."
"If you say so." She said with a snort, as though the very idea was ludicrous.
"I also need some time to rest."
"…Is that why you're drinking?"
"No." He chuckled, a bit lamely. "That's for the hangover."
Hebi sighed. She ordered sake for herself and drank two mouthfuls of it. Gama blinked.
"…What."
"You look pathetic, drinking alone." She said. "Besides, what do you need liquid courage for…? Planning on telling Nacchan about his friend, perhaps?"
Gama laughed, this time. "Hell no. That guy's a hothead."
"Oh, I'm sure." Hebi said dryly. "That guy." She took a long sip of coffee, and ten seconds later, poured more of the sake down her throat.
"Better to avoid him, really."
"Perhaps we should leave this world, then." She said, evenly.
"Nice try."
Gama was starting to feel a bit better. He stopped wallowing in self-pity and ate something. Then a big omelet.
They sat here for a few hours, sipping alcohol and talking.
And that was the sort of scene Nacchan stumbled upon, at around lunch time.
Nacchan came bounding into the bar.
"You!" He spat, all of the anger and helpless frustration of the last few days bleeding into his voice.
It took Gama a little while to compose himself, and even then, he was not fully there. Hebi gave him a wry look. Both their cheeks seemed flushed by the alcohol.
"N-Nacchan?" Gama asked. "How're you doing?"
For a second, Nacchan thought he was having a stroke — or perhaps something inside him had just snapped. In any case, he snapped, as well.
His right hook took Gama by surprise.
The man was punched out of his stool with a surprised sound. Gama caught himself on his knees and Nacchan kicked him in the ribs. Some man grabbed Nacchan from behind and twisted his arm behind his back. Nacchan kicked Gama again. In the nose, this time.
(At first, Gama was surprised. Then…he felt that he perhaps deserved a little beating; and if it got Nacchan to calm down, too…)
Nacchan was huffing, puffing and growling. His hand and foot hurt. After a long moment, he was let go. The three of them were kicked out of the bar, mostly because the owner did not care enough to hear any of Gama's explanations.
They found themselves on the streets.
"You pack quite a nice punch, when you want to." Gama muttered, wiping his face. "Maybe I'll teach you a thing or two—"
"Shut up — Shut the fuck up!" Nacchan roared. "Do you have any fucking idea of how long I've been looking for you?!"
Gama shrugged. "A few hours… or a few days, I'd venture? You need a hobby, man."
Nacchan tried to punch him again. This time, he caught it easily. "Yeah, I think that was enough." Gama said. "I'm very sorry about Sakura, but—"
Nacchain's eyes tightened. "…Sakura? You saw her? What did you say to her?!"
"…"
Gama squinted.
Nacchan had the feeling he was missing some crucial information.
"What did you tell her?!" Nacchan repeated. "She told me you were in this area, just two hours ago — I've been running since! Did you speak with her?!"
Gama gave Hebi a surreptitious glance. 'What do I say?' He seemed to ask with only his eyes. She conveyed the feeling that it was not her problem.
Gama pursed his lips. "…No. I didn't speak with her this morning."
"Good." Nacchan said vindictively. "You would have made a mess out of things. In fact, stay away from her. You caused enough trouble for me at school!"
"Oh, don't worry." Gama muttered. "I'm staying far away from her, from now on."
"Good." Nacchan repeated. "We have exams soon. And we both want to get into the same uni. It will be hard enough without your shit!"
Gama paused.
"Did she say anything about me? Sakura, I mean. Anything at all?" He asked Nacchan, with a strange intensity.
Nacchan scoffed. "Of course not. She doesn't care about you."
Gama breathed out, looking relieved. Fucking weirdo.
"Gods." Hebi muttered. "I would say I hope you know what you're doing, but it's you."
"…Are you talking to me?" Nacchan asked. She didn't answer.
Gama just looked away.
"…What do you want from us, anyway?" He asked.
"You beat Shimura up, you dumbass!" Nacchan roared.
"…Who?" Gama frowned. The name rang a bell.
Nacchan sputtered something entirely too incoherent.
"These guys on the rooftop." Hebi said. "Unless you beat more people up since then."
"Oh!" Gama brightened up. "Yeah, that's right. I knew you'd be impressed—"
"I'm going to kill you!" Nacchan hissed.
Gama just chuckled. "Right. If you say so." He added dubiously. "If you're not able to beat someone in a straight fight, it's generally better not to announce your intentions. I'll teach you this, too."
Nacchan's heart was pounding.
"Anyway, aren't you supposed to be in school or something?"
"It's Sunday, you dumbass." Nacchan spat.
"I'm not sure what this has to do with anything, but thank you for the information." Gama nodded. "I wasn't quite sure about that—"
"He means there's no school on Sundays." Hebi said.
"Oooh." Gama realized. "That's funny. Strange, but funny. Anyway… You found us. Great job. Now what?"
Nacchan stared at him. He hadn't thought so far. He had thought that keeping an eye on them would be the safest solution, but in retrospect, it had just brought trouble his way. Their way, really.
"Don't…" He began. "Don't come back to school. Ever again."
"Okay!" Gama's eyes lit up, as though he had only been waiting for a reason to do so.
"…Wait, what." Nacchan muttered.
"I didn't like it that much. Right Hebi?"
"…Right." She said dryly.
"And…" Nacchan continued. Fuck. There really wasn't much he could do to stop them. "Stay… stay out of trouble."
"Of course, of course." Gama waved off. "I found myself an apartment already. I think I might be staying here for a little while."
"You… what?" Nacchan blinked. "How?!"
"Does it matter?" Hebi cut Gama off. "We do have access to some of your currency."
Nacchan felt conflicted. He knew someone should keep an eye on them. He just didn't want to be the one doing it. And he didn't want them around, either.
There was a tense silence.
"…Look, I—" Nacchan began.
"You want us to stay out of your way and not cause trouble, you said." Hebi said.
"Yes."
"But you also want to keep an eye on us."
"…Yes."
"You don't want to do it, though."
"That's right."
"Oh, it's easy, then." Hebi shrugged. "We won't cause any sort of trouble that can be linked to you."
"You — what?"
Nacchan stared at her.
"Isn't that what you wanted?"
"No!" He screamed. "I just want you not to cause trouble at all!"
Hebi shrugged. "Well I won't — not really. Or at least I will cover my tracks. This guy, on the other hand…" She said, pointing at Gama, who was currently trying to approach a woman passing by.
Nacchan stared.
"…I don't know how to handle this." He said, putting his face in his hands. "I really don't."
Hebi shrugged. "Perhaps if he had a phone… or something, he would calm down. And you could keep an eye on us, the same way your government would."
Nacchan felt like crying. And laughing hysterically, too.
"A phone, you still want a phone?" He asked, feeling as though he was approaching a nervous breakdown. "That's what you're after."
Gama heard the tail end of the conversation.
"Yeah, rub it in, you little dick." He said, once the new woman had left. "I know how hard it is to get one. And that's even without talking about the government spying on them."
"How did you even manage to pay for an apartment if—"
Gama stared at him. "Pay…?"
Nacchan let out a choked little sob.
"Oh come on…" Gama said hurriedly. "Don't cry, it's just sad, after thirteen—"
"I'm not fucking crying!"
"Oh."
"Don't look at me!" Nacchan growled. "…I have an old one I'm not using at home. A phone, I mean."
Gama's eyes could have brightened the sky, even if it had been night.
They went to Nacchan's home.
In less than an hour, they were standing in front of it.
Nacchan glared at them. "Not a word — And you stay right here."
There was an odd silence.
"Yeah." Gama muttered at last. "I don't think I wanted to come in anyway."
Hebi shook her head. "...Same goes for me. We'll wait for you to get the phone."
There were just too many conflicted feelings about possibly meeting a Kushina, even though she was not either's mother. Same went for Minato, of course.
Gama let out a long sigh and pulled a bottle of whisky out of his pocket.
"For fuck's sake." Nacchan exclaimed, giving him a disgusted look. He did not bother addressing how it was possible in the first place, as his grip on his sanity felt tenuous enough.
"What…?" Gama rolled his eyes. "I had a long night. Don't you drink…?"
"Not really." Nacchan almost spat. "Only when celebrating with my friends."
"Ah." Gama winced at the reminder of last night. "Yeah. I imagine."
"Don't drink on the fucking street." Nacchan insisted.
"Why not?"
"Gods!"
Nacchan gave a few glances around, and then decided to bring them down to the shared garage under their apartment building.
"If you do anything at all—" Nacchan warned, once more.
"Yeah, you'll try to beat us up and die in the process." Gama rolled his eyes. "Whatever."
Nacchan hissed angrily.
He left them here.
"…He is not going to be too happy about… the state of things." Hebi said.
Gama shrugged. "Nothing I can do about that."
Hebi shook her head. "You are a caveman, Gama. What you need is—"
He laughed. "A good drink and some time off. Want some, by the way?"
Hebi just grumbled and took a hearty swig of the bottle as well.
She was an asshole, but... Gama thought she was alright, in spite of her constant bitching. She felt very familiar, too, in a way that made him feel as though he had known her his entire life.
And he was feeling better, too. About the whole thing. Perhaps it was her presence, perhaps it was seeing Nacchan again and realizing — or hoping — he would be fine, no matter what. He was… what, seventeen, he had said?
There was something of Gama in him — not in the way there had been something of Gama in Sakura, the previous night. Nacchan was a young man, on the cusp of adulthood, one that was still so full of the ignorant confidence that made every obstacle, every misstep and every small victory seem so significant.
Gama… hadn't felt that way in a while. He was drifting aimlessly from place to place, and could not remember the last time he had felt a true sense of accomplishment. Oh gods, was he feeling… old?
Gama drank some more.
He wasn't a bad person. He wasn't.
The feeling abated, as the alcohol worked its magic.
Yes... Nacchan would be just fine.
…
Hebi was starting to feel the buzz of alcohol, Gama noticed.
It wasn't in anything she said, of course.
Rather, it was the fact that she was currently picking the old-fashioned lock right next to the Namikaze-Uzumaki nameplate. Gama gave her a dubious look.
"…You sure this is such a wise idea?" He asked.
"The fact that you're the one questioning it…" Hebi began, entirely focused on the task at hand. "…Makes me realize it is."
"Suit yourself." Gama shrugged. "In any case, I'll tell Nacchan who did it."
"I'm not going to steal anything. I just want to see what's behind that door."
"…There's a proverb about curiosity and dead toads."
"'The acquisition of knowledge, the desire to learn more about the world and find the answer to questions is what drives humans forward.'" Hebi quoted absentmindedly. "That's the one I know. Figures that you would have something against intellectual curiosity, though."
A vein throbbed on Gama's forehead. The lock clicked on Hebi smiled, pulling the strange vertical door up.
There was a strange fascination in her eyes.
"…What is this?" She asked, eyeing the strange metal vehicle.
"It's a bicycle." Gama answered.
"Like the ones in the city…? Isn't it too big to be called one…? Too large, too thick, too heavy? More like a hunk of metal." Hebi asked quietly.
Gama wisely didn't make any dick jokes.
"It must be another of these electricity-powered things." He shrugged. "They have plenty of them here — one of my dates told me."
"That is fascinating."
Gama didn't like her tone. It reminded him way too much of her father.
"What was the name, again…?"
"It's a bike." Gama said. "Nacchan told us the other morning."
After a long, last look, Hebi closed the door again.
She motioned for him to hand her the bottle again. They sipped on it, waited for Nacchan.
Five, perhaps ten minutes later, Nacchan came down the stairs.
There was something different about him, Gama realized.
As though he had suddenly become much more interesting. Oh, he still was very unremarkable at first glance, the type of face — although similar to his own — that blended in with the crowd. But when you looked closer, there was a certain aura of quiet confidence, perhaps intelligence even… something that made Nacchan stand out. Perhaps it was the way he carried himself, as he walked down the stairs. Gama was drawn to the young man.
Had Nacchan changed…?
Then he realized it was just the fact that he was holding the One thing Gama truly wanted.
He almost couldn't believe his eyes. The object in Nacchan's hand was the rare artifact that he had wanted so damn much.
It was one item of immense power; whoever held it would have the ability to change the world as they saw fit.
Gama felt his heart racing as his other self approached. "Can I see it?" he asked, trying to sound casual.
Nacchan looked at him, not entirely surprised by the sudden interest. He was glaring. "Sure." He still said.
Gama drew closer.
"On one condition." Nacchan hissed.
"Whatever you want." Gama beamed.
"No — more — trouble."
"Consider it done, little bro." Gama gave him a thumbs up.
"Don't." Nacchan hissed. "I want nothing to do with you. If I had a brother like you, I'd kill myself. I'd rather you leave entirely, but since I can't have that…"
Such vitriol. Gama almost felt a knot in his stomach. Well, that was on him, he guessed. He had used Nacchan… somewhat.
Hebi chuckled. "He has a point, I shudder thinking of anyone seeing you in a positive light. And calling him a brother...?" She scoffed. "We are alternate selves, which is... peculiar enough."
Nacchan wasn't entirely sure he understood what she meant, and he ignored the dread welling up in his stomach.
Gama ignored her entirely.
Nacchan held his hand out.
And then…
There was a shiny glass screen, although cracked.
It was the most beautiful thing Gama had ever laid his eyes on.
Gama took it in his hands and felt a rush of raw energy coursing through his veins, one that made the alcohol flowing with it seem like nothing at all. Gama could already feel the power it held, and he knew that this was only the beginning. He was determined to unlock its full potential, to use it for the greater good.
His own.
"Ah." Gama said with quiet reverence, his thumb brushing over the phone softly. "The future… it may be rough and winding… with driving wind and rain… and some days may be freezing cold, too. But…" Gama smiled. "…I know the sun will light the way. The future holds infinite possibilities. And it is bright."
"Shut up and take it."
"Of course."
As he looked up at Nacchan's frown, Gama realized that he wouldn't be able to do it alone. He would need help, and he was willing to do whatever it took to earn it.
"…What do you want?" Nacchan asked.
Gama ignored him. He turned to Hebi.
"We can do great things together." Gama said, holding out his hand to his other self. "Will you join me on this journey, Hebi?"
"…Do I have another option? You trapped me here." She glared at him. "For as long as it takes for you to decide to spit the Eye out, I'll wait."
…It was true. Whatever strange kinship there was between the two of us was very conditional, and perhaps it was nothing at all, in the end.
It… kinda hurt.
"Yes, yes… Once the Eye is ready." Gama nodded.
There was the same flash of violence in her eyes.
He gave her a beaming smile, ignoring the slight pang of… something he felt.
All was right in the world.
…
"Since I helped you get your hands on this thing… it's only fair that you help me." Hebi said, ten minutes later, once they had left Nacchan's family's apartment complex.
Nacchan had put his contact down — with only some hesitation —, and given them some explanations they had only half-listened to.
Half-listening… just like what Gama was currently doing. He was hunched over the phone, fumbling with it, undoubtedly trying to unlock the universe's secrets.
"I'm talking to you." Hebi spat.
Gama blinked and looked up. "Oh, sorry. I thought you were monologuing again. What's up?" He asked, grinning.
Hebi considered choking him, after all.
She drew closer to him. "You know what I want, don't you?" Hebi asked, a predatory gleam in her eyes.
Gama drew back, with a very worried expression. Hebi saw it and adjusted a few plans. "I—"
"That is right." Hebi said, with a sharp smile. "A bike. Help me get one."
"Oh." Gama breathed out, relieved. "For a second, I thought you were about to… really kill me."
"Don't count it out yet." Hebi said flatly. "Now… I am sure you can be a reasonable man. And that means you know what is going to happen to you if you don't help me."
"I actually don't."
A single look conveyed what she meant exactly.
"…I—I guess it's only fair." Gama muttered shakily.
…
Gama used his new, ill-acquired phone to locate a store.
He and Hebi walked into the motorcycle dealership, looking around at the rows of shiny, gleaming, high-tech vehicles.
Gama snorted. "This is so stupid — a glass wall, really? Anyone could steal one of these."
Hebi was currently ignoring him; her eyes, currently roaming over the machines.
"…I've never seen anything quite like this before." She said in amazement.
Gama seemed to pause at the true feeling in her voice. "…Yeah. I guess they look pretty cool. You want to buy one?"
She looked at the price tags, made a few conversions and winced.
A salesperson approached them with a friendly smile. "Hello, my name is Sai. Can I help you two?"
Hebi frowned at him. "Unless you can make it cheaper—"
Gama cut her off. "We're interested in buying one." He said, giving her a pointed look. "We don't know that much about technolog—… the new models, I mean."
The salesman didn't even blink. "No problem!"
Hebi had the feeling that he would have said something similar, no matter what sort of input they gave him.
"Let me show you some of our most popular models and we'll go from there!" He smiled benignly. "All right?"
Neither answered.
"All right?" He asked again.
Hebi squinted. This sounded like one of these persuasion tactics people used to make you more likely to agree with them, simply by getting you to nod and a—
"Yup." Gama didn't care.
The salesman began pointing out various features of the bikes. Both Hebi and Gama were entirely lost.
"I don't know what a fuel injection system is." Hebi interrupted him. "Nor a GPS."
"Ah." He said patiently. "Let me start from—"
"I just want something to go from point A to point B."
The salesman — Sai, she remembered — smiled sympathetically. "I understand. Let me show you some of our more basic models. Entirely automatic, without all the bells and whistles."
"Also, how do you ride one of these?" Hebi asked.
Sai's smile looked a bit more hesitant, this time.
Night fell.
The motorcycle roared through Tokyo's streets.
It was a terrible sound, the sound of this engine. And piloting it — driving, that was the word — was even more confusing than it had seemed at first glance. The man in the shop had told them something about automatic trans-mission, and many more words that seemed to have no particular relation at all with speeding down these long avenues.
In truth, Hebi had stopped paying attention midway during his speech. Which was something she would usually accuse Gama of doing.
There were metal vehicles, rolling down the streets, and it was easy enough to figure out there was some sort of sense to this chaos. Three different lanes on a wide curve, few other motorcycles, and lights, plenty of them. Red, green, orange and yellow too. And there was some sort of counter on this motorcycle, undoubtedly connected to the internet as well. It relayed the speed at which she was currently going. Interesting, but not particularly important.
112km/h… 117km/h. Then more, wailing through the ongoing chaos, bobbing and weaving through the metal automobiles called cars. She was probably nothing more than a blur to the people coming from the other direction. Bent forward with a rigid grip on the bars that steered the vehicle, the only sound that mattered was the rushing wind. She turned it all the way down, to see how far she could push it.
There was no fear there, only the thrill of it; the roaring wind, the burning engine. The road would stretch on, infinitely long, and would become infinitely steep at some point; all she needed to do was to gain speed.
Behind her, Gama was strangely calm.
He had been screaming in terror, at first. But right now… Hebi gave him a quick glance, through the near-useless looking glass above her hand.
There he sat, comfortably balanced on his seat, sticking to it with chakra, eyes glued to the night sky. There was a soft smile on his lips.
For the first time since she had met him, Gama seemed to be at peace. She almost…
Hebi's eyes were still bright from the ride.
It had been cut short, because they had crashed.
Not that it meant much, for either of them. They were simply too resilient for this sort of thing to matter.
Also, Hebi had caught them. Not that it mattered much, Gama felt. Still, golden arms had sprung from her and swooped to break their fall — for the most part. The motorcycle, on the other hand, was likely ruined.
Well, no matter. They could get another one, anyway.
They jumped from rooftop to rooftop, under the cover of the night, until they reached Gama's place.
Thinking of it, he had no idea where she usually slept. Shrugging, he entered his place, and she followed.
"You're bleeding." Hebi pointed out.
"Huh?" He blinked. "Where?"
"Your back."
"Ah, shit."
"Lemme see that."
Gama snorted. "Since when are you a healer?"
Still, he removed his shirt. And she had been right, it was covered in blood. Gama shrugged. As a Sage, this was the sort of thing he would sleep off, likely.
"Got gauze?" Hebi asked.
"Gods, how much whisky is there on your breath?" He laughed.
"Same as you."
He rummaged through his pockets, fishing for gauze. He then groaned. Perhaps he had injured himself, after all. His back stung. Hebi asked for rubbing alcohol, as well. Gama considered one of the other whisky bottles on his person, but realized it was smarter to just drink it.
He pulled both the rubbing alcohol and the regular alcohol out. Hebi poured most of the former on his back, and they poured some of the latter down their throats. Hebi dabbed him off.
"You good?" She asked.
She almost felt him blink. "Sure. Why do you ask, now?"
"Well, that would be my fault, wouldn't it?" She shrugged. "I was the one piloting."
"It's fine." He said dismissively. "Compared to the beating you gave me the other day, this is nothing."
Hebi chortled. "Indeed."
She began wrapping bandages around him, despite his insistence it wasn't needed.
Gama turned around. Hebi gave him a strange look. "…What is it?" he asked.
Hebi giggled.
"Don't laugh at me." He scowled and pulled out two glasses. He filled both of them to the rim. "I'm drunk, not dumb."
"Did I say anything?" She smiled, tilting her entire glass back. The moon was bright through the window, and Gama pushed his mind away from the thoughts on the forefront of his mind. He refilled his glass, as well as hers again.
The silence was almost complete when she clinked her glass to his.
"I had fun tonight." She said.
Gama blinked. He leaned on one elbow. "Well, I'm glad you did, I guess." He said carefully. That was very unlike her.
She looked at him intently.
"Still." She began. "I have to ask."
"…Yeah?"
"When are we leaving?"
Gama fell silent for a moment. "…I don't know." He replied.
She was silent for a while, too.
"How about you let me go, then?" Hebi asked.
Gama shrugged, feeling a bit thrown off. "…I'll do that, yeah. Once the Eye recharges."
Hebi stared at him, something in her eyes. "Once it's ready, then?"
Gama licked his lips. "Yes." He said.
"Very well." She smiled sharply. "If you say so. You wouldn't lie to me, would you…?"
"…I wouldn't." He muttered.
Hebi looked away and the tension broke.
"Would you mind terribly if I stayed here until then?" She asked.
"You— What." Gama blinked. "Don't you have—"
"I have no place to go." She said.
Gama felt a bit shitty. That was on him, too. Still, he said nothing for a long while.
Hebi kept staring at him with an expression that made him nervous. She refilled their glasses to the brim.
"Yeah." Gama said, voice thick. "That's… okay."
"Thank you." She smiled, clinking her glass to his again.
Gama bit the inside of his lip, so hard he thought it was bleeding. The alcohol felt as though it was burning him from the inside.
"Do you mind if I lie down?" She asked.
Gama closed his eyes wearily. "Sure." He muttered. The apartment was mostly empty, but he had stolen and sealed away a couch… and promptly forgotten about it. He pulled that one out for her, feeling her eyes on him when he tried to smooth a few wrinkles from the fabric.
What the hell was she doing…? He felt vaguely threatened. Was this about the Eye…? And how the hell was he supposed to bring anyone back, if she stayed here…?
Hebi stared at the window, and made no move to go lie down.
Gama felt like pulling at his hair. The whole day was starting to get to him. He had felt like shit. He had felt great. Right now, he felt entirely too unbalanced. Once more, he checked for a Genjutsu.
"There is none." Hebi said amusedly.
"Of course not." Gama just grunted back.
She smiled, and just like that, her strange mood was gone again. They drank and they were soon talking shit again. Gama felt as relieved as he was worried. Or close to it.
"You've had a strange past two days, haven't you?" Hebi asked.
Gama sighed. "Yeah. You too, then?"
"Somewhat." She acquiesced. "This place is…"
"Hard to get used to, in some ways." Gama nodded. And he assumed it was worse for her, likely. Because he at least talked to people from here, which helped a lot.
"It is." Hebi said. "I still find myself a bit… confused."
He nodded. "I think I get it. It's fine now, in my case—"
And suddenly, she looked right up at him.
"Oh…?" Hebi asked pointedly, with the same cruel smile. "Aren't you?"
Gama was guarded again. "…Aren't I… what?"
"Confused?" She asked.
"…Not really."
"Huh." Hebi laughed, with a pointed look. "That's funny. I could have sworn you were. Confused, I mean. About many things."
Gama felt his heart pounding in his chest. "…What do you mean…?"
Hebi shrugged. "Nothing. I must have imagined it."
Gama stared at her. His stomach felt knotted.
She just waved it away, and poured more alcohol for both of them. Her face was as flushed as his own was, and there was something weird in the air; something he wasn't willing to acknowledge. And he was starting to feel pretty weird about sitting here in just his pants, by now. Which was somewhat new to him.
"Well." Hebi said quietly. "It's getting kind of late, isn't it?"
It was.
Gama nodded.
"Would you mind terribly if I took a shower?" She asked easily.
"No shower for you." Gama rolled his eyes, chuckling a bit. Familiar territory was good. Very good. "Strictly forbidden to snakes."
"Of course, of course." Hebi smiled. "I'll be going in, then."
She did, and Gama heard her remove her clothes. "Heating seal works, it's the one to the right of the basin." He said. "Put it myself."
She didn't answer.
"…You okay?" He asked, as he began putting the glasses away. They really had had enough to drink.
Probably.
"I can't find it." Hebi called from the bathroom. "Can you come here?"
Gama froze.
"Uh." He muttered. Gama had stopped moving entirely. "Aren't you…?"
"I'm joking, you idiot." She said, some laughter in her voice. Gama could almost see her roll her eyes. "Of course I found it."
"Right." Gama whispered. "Of course."
He splashed some cold water on his face, wishing he had drunk less. It was messing with his brain.
A few minutes later, the bathroom door opened, followed by steam. Gama was worried for a short moment, but Hebi did not come out wearing only a towel, as he had feared. She was dressed in a loose shirt and loose pants, instead.
There was an odd silence.
Hebi chuckled. "What…? Did you expect anything else?"
Gama chuckled weakly. "No. Well, I think it's time to sleep—"
"Do you want to sleep?"
"…"
Gama's heart was thundering in his chest.
"Okay. Stop." He said tightly. "What the fuck are you playing at…?"
"Playing?" Hebi dismissed, sounding amused. "Did I ever seem like the type to play, to you…?"
No. No she hadn't.
Hebi motioned for him to scoot over. She sat next to him and stared at him intently.
Yeah. His brain was definitely scrambled. Still, no Genjutsu. There was something roaring in his brain, something telling him that this was not a road he wanted to take. It felt noisy, just as this terrible "lo-fi jazz" music had been. Noisy, hard to predict and terribly confusing. Hebi drew closer still, and then Gama was standing up again, pressed against the wall.
"What… What the fuck do you want?" He asked tightly.
Gama's brain was fighting a losing battle against the worst of his habits.
"The one thing you have to give, of course."
Gama knew she meant it.
And then there was the feeling of fine fingers along his back, hooked in his collar. There was a sweet voice, oh so very sweet, and soft lips brushed against his. His eyes opened wide. And it was like the last of his soul was gone, too.
"Oh, don't look so surprised." She smiled, in a very predatory way, eyes gleaming. Her fingers traced the colorful patterns of Gama's shirt. "You're not so bad looking after all, and I never was one to believe a civilian would be enough. Yes… I think you will do just fine."
Gama stared back in shock, unable to think.
"Let it all out." Hebi murmured, voice falsely soft.
Gama let out a weak noise. "What… What's gotten into you? What the hell—"
She let out a melodious chuckle.
"Don't tell me you didn't think about it." She continued, as tender as the velvety feeling of a dagger under your throat. "I saw the way your eyes roamed all over me."
"That was before—" He muttered.
"Before you knew who I was…" She murmured. "And after you knew…? How do you explain that? Mmmh...? It has been the same. Every day."
Gama didn't answer, mostly because he didn't know what would come out of his mouth if he did.
"Oh…? No quick insult, this time…?" Hebi smiled. "I must have imagined the obsessed looks you threw my way. Now... Tell me that you didn't think of me when you were with these weak civilian girls."
Gama didn't say anything.
"Tell me." She said. "And I will leave you alone."
Gama stayed silent, feeling bitter shame well up inside him.
"You are like me after all, aren't you…?" She asked throatily. "In spite of our… differences."
Gama checked himself for a Genjutsu yet again. There was none, the haze was all his. He felt her nails grazing his chest. And his heart was thundering, inside it.
"Weren't you asking around, ever so often…? So… jokingly." Hebi leaned in, breathed in his ear. "What's your definitive answer about clones…? Is it masturbation or incest…?"
Gama let out a strange whimper, a sound he didn't even know he could make.
"Please." He let out, unsure of what he was even asking for.
Hebi knew.
She laughed throatily.
He saw the hunger in her eyes, he felt the warmth of the body pressed against his. He felt their strange connection. He felt their hearts beat in sync.
"I thought so." She grinned.
A little while later. Close by.
"Nah, I promise you, man." Toru laughed. "Last time was just a stroke of bad luck."
Hanabi had managed to give them some indications, in the end. He and Sasuke had just arrived in this strange, crowded world. It felt stifling, feeling so many humans around, and Toru knew that both he and Sasuke would need some time to get used to it.
Well, if they stayed here, that was. Which there would be no need for, as they were simply here to pick up two stray animals and leave. He had locked on to Gama and Hebi's signatures easily.
Sasuke shrugged, not entirely convinced. "Well… I guess we'll see."
Toru had had trouble convincing him to come with him, but he had managed. Sasuke would see some fun worlds, he promised himself.
They approached the apartment, where they could feel the two chakra they were looking for. And they seemed… agitated, for some reason Toru ignored. It reminded him a bit of some nights he had stumbled upon scenes he would rather forget.
Both he and Sasuke leaped from balcony to balcony, silent as the night sky, climbing up floor after floor.
Toru froze.
Sasuke froze.
Their Sharingan burned the scene into their brains.
…They shared a look, checked for an illusion. There was none.
They checked again-
They leaped away into the night.
Silence stretched.
"So… Naruto… and Naruto, then." Sasuke said softly.
"Oh, gods." Toru muttered. He tasted bile. "Oh… gods. Fucking-"
Sasuke pursed his lips. Something felt damaged inside him.
"…I'm leaving, Toru." He said at last. "Please take me away from here."
"…Right."
There were discarded panties on the floor.
"So…?" She asked, low and hungry. "Isn't this what you wanted…?"
The air was thick and heady; warm too.
It was full of a symphony of moans; flesh hitting flesh and wet squelches. Then it stopped.
Gama had barely been able to think. His mind slowly came back to him.
'Ah.' Gama thought with an empty expression. 'I… guess that's what I deserve, don't I…? It's on me.'
He stared at the sky. A fitting end for a sinner. 'Isn't that right… Dad?'
Gama whimpered. In pleasure, likely.
"Hush." She murmured. "I told you. I know you more than anyone. Several times over."
His partner climbed back on top of him.
She was dripping on the bed sheets, leaving dark stains.
"Again." She slid him back into her, letting out a wanton moan as she did so.
He obliged when she kissed him. She tasted like he thought she would. Sin. Gama's eyes glossed over as she continued to ride him. Well, perhaps they were both sinners, then. Perhaps that was fine…?
Of course Hebi had to be the best lover he ever had. By far.
"I am you, in a twisted sort of way, after all." Hebi laughed.
She pressed her lips to his, and a traitorous part of him wished they never left.
…Oh, gods. Orochimaru was going to kill him.
Later.
Gama was staring out into the night.
He was sitting on top of his apartment building, hands fisting his hair.
The night sky didn't have the answers he so desperately needed. He was tempted to just leave this place altogether and pretend it had been a bad dream. He thought about it for a while, but decided against it. He had been running away too much, already.
…What was he supposed to make of this mess…?
It's weird.
What was she...? His half-sister...? Himself...?
It's really weird. She's him, isn't she…? He shouldn't want to fuck himself. Right?
He did, anyway.
But... she's also not him. So, was that okay…?
…No, probably not.
Jiraiya would have found the humor in this — would have admitted that he won this round. Well, the old him, anyway. The one Gama had always felt he had been running after. That remote and close figure.
Gama felt very small, in any case. He sat on the rooftop for what felt like hours, thinking and feeling melancholy.
Then came the return to reality, and the soft little lies he told himself withered away like a child's dreams.
Hebi was asleep, her long dark hair spooling around her on the pillow.
For a moment, he blamed her for the whole mess.
His anger came, burning hot—
And left just as quickly. That was stupid, even by his admittedly loose standards. Gama sighed.
Perhaps…
Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad.
Civilians were a nice way to pass time, but well… Building true understanding would be difficult, to say the least.
Hebi, though…
Well, he thought he understood her. Or at least before tonight. And she understood him.
He had feared intimacy.
No. He still did. But... This thing.
Maybe it was different. She understood him, when no one else besides Jiraiya seemed to.
It was… fucked up, still, but…
Perhaps.
Gama felt tentative hope. Maybe there was someone that could-
He slipped into his own bed, and waited to fall asleep. He felt someone slip into his bed, entirely too quietly. Gama stiffened. A warm arm wrapped around his shoulders tenderly, and before he even realized it, he was asleep.
…How strange, he thought, right before slumber took him.
He felt as though he belonged, for once.
"You played your part well, idiot."
These were the first few words that Gama heard. He opened his eyes blearily and wished he hadn't.
The moonlight still bathed Hebi in its glow, but it was much more sinister this time. Or perhaps it was just her flat smile.
In her hand…
Gama snapped awake. The Eye.
"Oh, fuck—"
Hebi's eyes were hard. "I knew you were lying the moment you said the words." She said. "I knew you had no intention of giving it to me, or letting me use it at all. And I was almost certain you were lying about the Eye needing more time to recharge."
Hebi's eyes drilled into his own, and she continued.
"I had only planned to take it from you and keep it safe until it did… but it has recharged already."
Unsure whether he was feeling angry or ashamed, Gama didn't bother answering. He thought she had been angry before, but it was nothing compared to now.
"And that means that you could have sent me back at any time." Hebi said, with terrible fury in her voice. "Yet you didn't. Were you afraid of feeling alone…?"
"I don't even know how!" Gama protested.
"Then you should have said so!" Hebi roared.
Taken aback by her sudden outburst, Gama stayed silent.
Hebi closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, she was composed once more.
"Did you think you could hide this in this pocket you probably call something stupid like Toad's Stomach forever…?" Hebi tutted. "I am a summoner, as well. It was only too easy to retrieve the Eye, once you were sleeping."
Gama was wearing the same clothes as yesterday; he looked as haggard and dirty as he felt. He stared with an almost empty expression. Possibly humiliation and shock, with something else in it — a very misplaced shade of amusement, something that almost looked like a lopsided smile.
"So… all that…? Just to get me to lower my guard…?" He asked, something strange in his eyes.
"Hush, now." Hebi interrupted him. "I am leaving. I'm going to find my way back. You're free to follow, or wait until that Other-Naruto comes for you — if he and his wife ever do. I do not care."
Gama chuckled lowly. It sounded more like a cough, really. He looked up at her.
"…I'm not coming." He growled, feeling resentful — no matter how ironic the entire situation was.
"I thought so." Hebi nodded once. "You are kinda predictable."
Gama bared his teeth. "…Why?"
"Why what?" Hebi tilted her head. "I do not wish to stay here, that is it."
"Everything that happened tonight!" Gama burst out.
She blinked. Then her eyes turned mocking.
"How is this different from what you do…?" Hebi asked pointedly. "You use them for sex. I used you for a way back."
Something clicked in Gama's brain. "Is this about what I said…? Or the gift…? You didn't like what I said—"
She chuckled. "Oh, please. You're just angry at having the tables turned on you. Sex means nothing. I thought you knew it."
Hebi laughed. Gama's stomach was a knot of nerves.
"I thought you'd be a nice little distraction before I left. And you were. Or perhaps… would you have preferred that I beat you up and forced the Eye out of you, after all…?" She asked slyly.
"…You're so fucked up." Gama said, voice cracking.
"Perhaps I am." She allowed. Hebi leaned in.
Gama felt cold, very cold. And his stomach felt as tight as one of the Myōboku Sacred Knots.
"Now… You're going to have all the time you want in this world." Hebi said idly.
"I'll make you regret this." Gama snarled. Anger was easier to admit than… this other thing. He spat.
"I doubt it." She laughed mockingly. "Here's your last chance to leave—"
"You're worse than your father."
Hebi's expression changed as well. It turned hard. "I'm sure."
She leaned back, putting herself together.
"So. Tell me." She purred. "How was it…? The taste of what you wanted…?"
Gama roared.
Hebi's snakes bound him. She turned to leave.
"Hebi!" He called, voice cracking. She turned to face him, slowly. "Why?!"
"I take what I want." Hebi just said. "That is something you understand well, don't you…?"
"…What did you do to me, you bitch?!"
Her smile glinted in the moonlight.
"Me…?" Hebi said, laughing. "I didn't ask for anything you weren't willing to give. You wanted this."
Gama collapsed. Something rolled down his cheeks, and for a second he thought he saw her hesitate.
Hebi gave Gama a long, last, conflicted look.
"Goodbye, frog-boy."
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