A/N: Greeting readers, new and old! I hope you guys are enjoying how things are going! I am ECSTATIC to see so many people reading and rereading my little passion project as it becomes bigger and bigger.
I already outlined the rest of the 1st arch and I gotta say, Humiya is screwed.
HAHA! Just kidding!
… or am I?
Fun Fact: The name Humiya has both Japanese and Arabic origins. In Arabic, it means red and rosy cheeks. In Japanese, it means history and a healthy boy.
…Lets ignore the boy part. Humiya is a girl's name in both and I like it, gosh darn it!
Happy Reading and Happy 4th of July! ʕ•́ᴥ•̀ʔっ
To Change Fate
Chapter 3: Beginning Anew
Days began to blur as Humiya lay trapped in her dull white hospital room, constantly dealing with the prodding doctors and nurses. She slept most of the time, waking up during odd times of the day. The only thing that Humiya looked forward to was when Mikoto came to visit her. She basked in Mikoto's warmth and felt complete security in her arms.
But today felt different.
Humiya flinched as the doctor took the IV out of her arm.
"Isn't this great, Dr. Sato? Little Humiya is being discharged already,"
Dr. Sato hummed drearily as he wrote some notes on his clipboard.
"Yes, she has been stable for a week. Her mother and brother will be here in less than an hour. Make sure she is presentable, Akasuki," he said to the nurse before promptly leaving.
"Yes sir!" Akasuki cheered, hot pink eyes sparkling as she followed the doctor out.
That was quicker than usual. Thank goodness!
Humiya sighed with relief.
Sadly, her moment of solace was short-lived. A few moments later, the nurse came back with a basket of bathing supplies and clean clothes.
Humiya cringed at the fire in the nurse's eyes.
"I am going to make you look fabulous!" Akasuki cackled as she picked Humiya up from her crib and to the sink, handling her more like a doll than a baby.
She turned on the sink and filled it with warm water and soap before dunking Humiya into the warm soapy water.
Ugh! Shouldn't nurses handle babies gentler?
Humiya sneezed from the strong flowery smell coming from the soap, making Akasuki chuckle as she scrubbed. She blew strands of her dirty blond hair out her face as she cleaned her.
After the nurse cleaned Humiya, she clothed her in a pink dress and skillfully wrapped her in a thick pink blanket like a gift. Lastly, she tied a bright red bow on the top of her head, completing her present like image.
"There, perfection! Your mom is going to love this!" Akasuki gushed before placing the bound Humiya into a bright white sling.
This is horrible! It's as if I am tied up with rope.
Humiya struggled to get her hands out of the tightly bound blanket as the nurse walked out of the hospital room and down the long hallway. The moment she finally got her hands free, they arrived at their destination. Akasuki gave the door a jubilant knock.
"Come in!" the doctor called from the other side.
Humiya looked curiously around the office as the nurse entered with her, happy that her vision had become clearer.
The office was simple and plain; it had a desk, a few chairs, and a small bookshelf. The only thing that gave the room any color was the small wilted plant on the desk, pitifully curled inward with its brown spots.
Dr. Sato sat at his desk with a placid smile on his face while Mikoto and Itachi occupied the two chairs across from him.
Humiya and Itachi's eyes, making her heart drop.
The one who is going to kill me in a few years.
She continued to stare at him, noting how his eyes reminded her of a worried kitten, wide and teary. Humiya sighed.
He is what? Three? I have time. Maybe if I be his sweet little sister, he might spare me!
Mikoto elegantly got up from where she was sitting the moment she locked eyes with Humiya and walked over to the nurse. Akasuki excitedly handed Humiya to Mikoto who accepted the sling with a satisfied smile. Itachi silently watched his mom interact with his new sister, curious.
"It's time to go, Humiya!" Mikoto hummed before beckoning Itachi to hold her hand.
Humiya watched as little Itachi numbly placed his hand onto Mikoto's open palm.
"Remember to contact me if any problems occur and her prescription will soon be available soon," Dr. Sato said before giving them a bow.
Mikoto and Itachi hastily mirrored his bow before walking out the door.
The streets of Konoha bustled as the trio went down them, birds chirping in the afternoon sun and citizens chatting amongst themselves. The uniquely shaped buildings towered over them with their colorful roofs. Humiya watched the different types of people walk past them, some of them looked normal with their black or blond hair while others contrasted with hair colors that looked like they came from a rainbow.
Does hair dye exist in this world?
Humiya carelessly wondered as she was carried down the dusty dirt roads.
She watched in amazement as she saw ninjas in different uniforms jump through the village from rooftop to rooftop.
Itachi stared up at his mother and Humiya as they walked in silence, his dark eyes reflecting his mind going a mile a minute.
"Mom? Humiya will get better, right?" Itachi asked hesitantly.
Mikoto stopped abruptly at her son's innocent question, unconsciously clutching her new bundle of life and her son's hand, time seemingly coming to a standstill.
"Itachi...your sister was born early and has many...problems because of it. Humiya will have to live with them for the rest of her life," she stated before turning to her son and kneeling down to his eye level.
She put her hand on his shoulder and gave Itachi a strained smile.
"That is why we will all look after little Humiya and give her our support. It is going to take a little longer for her to understand things and many will look down on her because of it," Mikoto said as she caressed Humiya's cheek.
Humiya looked at Mikoto and Itachi when she felt her guardian's warm hand.
"Good big brothers take care of their siblings and are patient with them. You are a good big brother, right?" Mikoto asked kindly.
Itachi looked at Humiya as she gave a long yawn.
"Yes," he replied softly with a nod.
"Great!" Mikoto cooed before rubbing Itachi's head affectionately.
She then got up and continued towards the Uchiha District, holding Itachi's hand as she went.
Humiya dozed off while they walked, not minding the autumn air biting at her cheeks.
The Uchiha District was like a village within a village, crowds of clan members walking about. It was hard to tell them apart from afar with the little variation in their appearances. Many of them were civilians going about their day and making their products to sell to each other and to buy things from. The clan symbol littered the signs and buildings.
Hm. The Uchiha love their symbol as much as Americans love their flags.
Humiya mused after she woke up from her dozing.
She looked around the district in awe at how different it looked from the rest of the village. The many buildings were one or two stories with tile roofs that curved upward.
Mikoto and Itachi walked past the shops, giving the occasional wave to clansmen who gave passing greetings.
They stopped near a large traditional style house at the edge of the district. Humiya squinted her eyes when she saw a figure already standing in front of their house, twirling a red floral parasol.
"Grandmother?" Mikoto asked as she walked closer, surprised at the unexpected visit.
The woman turned around and smiled proudly at the trio, her eyes like a fox. She didn't look anything like a grandmother in her red kimono that was covered in elegant lotus designs and pastel pink obi that has the clan symbol on the back of it. The only thing signaling that she was an older woman was her graying hair. The white makeup she wore effortlessly covered the little wrinkles that she had and contrasted with her deep red lips and red lotus painted on her forehead.
Grandmother? She looks like Mikoto's older sister!
Humiya smiled a toothless smile at the thought.
This means that I have good genes!
"Hī Obāsan," Itachi light greeted with a bow.
Hī Obāsan chuckled at Itachi's formal greeting behind her sleeve. She then went and quickly pinched his cheek, nails painted red and immaculate.
"Little Itachi! You are the most respectful toddler I have ever met," Hī Obāsan cooed before letting go and looking up at Mikoto. "You taught your child well, Dearie,"
Itachi puffed out his cheek in a pout as he rubbed the spot where the older woman pinched it and hid behind Mikoto's plain black skirt.
Itachi's pouting face and antics were so expressive that Humiya couldn't help but start laughing; it felt like the first time in a lifetime. Mikoto beamed down at Humiya as she continued to laugh and motioned everyone inside.
"What kind of tea would you like, Grandmother?" Mikoto asked as she took her sandals off and put them away with Itachi hastily copying her before scurrying upstairs.
"Green tea is fine," Hī Obāsan replied as she gracefully slipped off her sandals and closed her parasol.
She sighed as she watched Itachi go.
"Little Itachi is always like this when he gets the chance. Running away from his poor old great grandmother! I still can't believe that I have lived to see the day. Two Great Shinobi Wars and I am still here,"
"That is because you are a priestess," Mikoto replied simply.
"Head Priestess and a Clan Elder now too. Not that it really means anything other than celebrating us being old and senile which I am far from, mind you. Very far from," Hī Obāsan retorted as she situated herself down at the table in the dining room in seiza position," And war touches everyone. Destruction in the hopes of prosperity. Peace is only the absence of war. I wouldn't be surprised if we are secretly preparing for another one. Especially with those who are in power now. Power-hungry swine, the lot of them! "
"Grandmother!"
"I am right. Now, hand me our new addition, so I can get a good look at her. I'm not getting any younger!" Hī Obāsan chirped, hands open and ready.
Mikoto handed Humiya to her great-grandmother with an exasperated sigh before beginning to prepare the tea. Hī Obāsan immediately unraveled her from her blanket to reveal the lotus-shaped birthmark on her left ankle.
Hey! Let go! Why are her hands so calloused?
Humiya wondered as Hī Obāsan rubbed the mark.
Her whole being screams pampered noblewoman!
Humiya kicked her leg from her great-grandmother's grasp with a frown when the constant rubbing became too much.
"I can assure you that Humiya's birthmark is real," Mikoto stated as she dug into her cabinet.
"I had to make sure!" Mikoto's grandmother huffed. "You haven't been the most honest child in the past. Remember when you poisoned your teammates with one of my husband's concoctions, Dearie?"
Mikoto sharply turned toward her grandmother, eyebrow twitching.
"Grandmother, I was only twelve. I mistook Grandfather's medicine with his lotus sake. It was not my fault that they downed it so quickly and got alcohol poisoning. We have been over this," She argued with a pout and a hand on her hip.
Humiya mirrored her pout as she watched Hī Obāsan let out a hardy laugh, revealing the gaps in her mouth from her missing teeth.
"And you were not able to take the Chunin Exams that year and those boys were too sick to care! Thank goodness I count them every day. Little rascals, the lot of you!" Hī Obāsan sighed, wiping a tear before she noticed Humiya's expression.
In response to Humiya's pout, Hī Obāsan pinched her cheek which made her cry out.
That was uncalled for!
She whimpered and tried to wrap her tiny fingers around Hī Obāsan's grip to pull her away from her throbbing cheek, making the old woman laugh some more.
"Well, would you look at that? Humiya has a temper! Even with her frail body, her sharp eyes tell me that she is going to go far in life," she resolved before she took her hand off of Humiya's cheek.
Humiya put her hand over her now red cheek and reached out for Mikoto with her other hand.
Get me out of this mean old hag's arms! I beg you!
"You should stop patronizing my children, Grandmother. There is a reason why most of the children avoid your hands," Mikoto muttered as she put the tea and a bowl of senbei crackers on the table before taking Humiya back into her arms.
Humiya signed with relief as Mikoto tucked her back into her pink blanket.
Safe at last.
"Ha! Children's cheeks are so soft that they are meant to be pinched! You will be doing it too when you are my age," Hī Obāsan teased, making a pinching motion with her hand.
Mikoto rolled her eyes with a small smile.
"Anyways, how is the shrine?" She asked.
This made Hī Obāsan smile fade into a frown.
"Still standing, if that is what you are wondering. Hardly anyone goes there to pray to Naka and give her offerings anymore. If I were her, I would slap some sense into them, but Naka wouldn't like it. The Will of Fire seems to be more important these days," Hī obāsan replied before taking a sip of her tea and putting her hand on her chin.
"It is what keeps the village going. It was what kept me going when I was a jonin," Mikoto supplied as she sipped her tea.
"But it isn't everything," Hī Obāsan insisted, leaning forward on the table before snatching a cracker from the bowl and taking a bite out of it.
"Mn, this village is small in the grand scheme of things, barely even a hundred years old. I was still training to be a shrine maiden when the village was being built. Love is important and so is family, but the village isn't our family. The clan is. If the village ever saw us like family, they wouldn't be keeping us at such a distance, "Hī Obāsan ranted before taking another bite.
Before she could continue her rigmaroles, Mikoto perked up at the sound of the front door opening, making Hī Obāsan look back. Humiya looked towards the door as well.
"I'm home," Fugaku called.
Hī Obāsan drank the rest of her tea and stink eyed the clock while Mikoto jumped up and scurried to the door.
"Welcome home!" she said brightly when Fugaku came into view.
Humiya looked up at Fugaku and noticed a small smile form on his face. He then frowned and looked around.
"Where is Itachi?"
"My grandmother is here," Mikoto told him.
"Ah," he replied. "Is she staying for dinner?"
"I was just leaving, "Hī Obāsan interjected, walking past the pair and towards the door. "It is time for me to return to the shrine. I can't keep it in the hands of the maidens for long. It was so nice talking to you, Dearie,"
Hī Obāsan said fondly with a bow before putting in her shoes and grabbing her parasol. Mikoto and Fugaku gave a respectful bow back.
"Remember to visit," she said offhandedly as she closed the door behind her.
Good riddance! Face pincher!
Humiya thought as she watched Hī Obāsan go with a pout. She turned to her Fugaku and noticed the small smile back on his face and watched as his rough hand scooped her up from Mikoto's arms and up into the air.
Humiya felt exhilaration stir within her as she was lifted up into the air, making her let out a squeal.
"I am so glad that Humiya is home," Fugaku stated as he brought the giggling Humiya to his chest.
Mikoto nodded, her face shifting from her usual placid smile to a slight frown.
"Yes, but she isn't better," she replied, crossing her arms over her torso.
Fugaku knit his brows before taking a step closer to his wife.
"Not better? Then why did they release her?"
Before Mikoto could answer, Humiya let out a whimper due to her stomach growling.
"Aw, she's hungry. I'll tell you more about it after I feed her and put her in her crib," she whispered.
Mikoto opened her arms and scooped Humiya from Fugaku's and laid Humiya's head on her shoulder while she walked up the stairs.
Humiya couldn't get Fugaku's concerned expression out of her head as she was carried away.