XXXIII: Repercussions
Sweat dripped down my face as I gasped for air, wiping it off with the back of my hand.
I had removed my torn up haori along with my shoes, dipping my legs in the cool water.
My eyes were burning, head throbbing as I placed my water covered hand over them. Occasionally blood would escape from my eye, as a result of the use of my genjutsu.
Repercussions of using that jutsu ate away at my own health bit by bit.
I could feel Shiroryuu's power emitting from my hand as I focused my chakra on my eyes, which felt like cold air blowing on them.
"I've brought you some ramen from a nearby village." Jugo spoke from behind me.
"Thanks, Jugo." I said as I felt him sit beside me, the delicious smell of ramen filling my senses.
It reminded me of the time Naruto and I hung out and ate ramen together when we came across each others paths during my mission and his training.
I laid down on my back, keeping my hand over my eyes as I continued my gradual process of healing.
"Could you feed me, Jugo?" I asked.
"Yes." He replied instantly. I heard him shuffle closer to me.
I propped open my mouth as he dropped a few strands of the ramen in my mouth.
It was like that for about ten minutes, Jugo feeding me as I focused my chakra over my eyes.
It was relaxing to be able to take your guard down around someone you felt comfortable with. I haven't felt that way ever since Naruto.
I sat up after Jugo finished feeding me, removing my hand from over my eyes. I opened them slightly, the pain less irritable this time as sweat continued to roll down my skin.
The signs were popping up. My eyes would begin burning again, and since Father wasn't here anymore to treat my eyes, I had no clue what to do. And my temperature would also start rising, but that's something I could handle.. I think. I'd have to rely on Shiroryuu even more now to relieve me of this pain. Of course, there was that permanent poison Orochimaru had stuck in me so I wouldn't feel the after affects of the experiments he conducted on me. But that only applied to certain areas of my body.
"May I?" Jugo asked me. I turned to meet his worried eyes, nodding my head slightly.
His cold hand pressed against my forehead.
"If your temperature keeps rising.."
"Don't worry." I assured him.
But he removed his hand from my forehead as I watched him stand up.
"I'm going to go find you medicine. I'll be back."
"That's not necessary."
"Stay here."
I rolled my eyes as Jugo rushed away.
"You don't look too good, princess."
I narrowed my eyes at the water forming into a figure in front of me, Suigetsu's amused eyes glinting down at me.
"What do you want?"
"I was curious about something." He said as he sat himself down next to me.
"What?"
"Why did you throw your life away for Sasuke? From the way you reacted you didn't look too happy when-"
"I made a promise." I interrupted.
"A promise that nearly cost you your life?"
"I don't care. What pissed me off is that none of you assholes bothered to even go back for me." I snapped.
"Sorry for that. Sasuke figured that you'd be fine.. And the Leaf Shinobi would have gotten to you before we could. It would be too much trouble."
"Lucky for me, Kakashi showed up first, and he took pity on me and let me go."
"Kakashi?"
"An old friend." I said. I forgot he had no idea who Kakashi was.
"Hmm. So what exactly is this promise that caused you to nearly get yourself killed for someone else? No offense princess, but that doesn't sound like you at all."
"You're right. It doesn't. But I promised to protect that arrogant bastard. I'm the only one who can do it since apparently, I can't die." I said. That was partially true after all.
I took in a deep breath as I felt my temperature slowly rising by the second, scooting closer to the edge of the river's edge.
Not yet.
-
Third Person
Suigetsu watched her tense expression with curious eyes, as he moved down into the river and stood before her.
She met his gaze with narrowed eyes as she panted slightly.
"What's wrong?" He wondered.
"I used a forbidden jutsu that I've only ever used two other times in my life. This is me going through the repercussions of it."
"You look like you're dying." Suigetsu said, his tone coated with concern.
Miyako let out a light laugh, the beads of sweat growing more evident on her skin as they rolled down.
"Well, that is one of the consequences of using that jutsu."
Suigetsu ignored her comment, thinking she was being sarcastic when in truth, she wasn't.
He grabbed her waist as she allowed him to bring her down into the cool river water with him.
"This should help for now." Suigetsu said.
"I'm fine. You should go." Miyako said as she pulled away from Suigetsu's grip, leaning heavily on the edge of the river.
"Leaving you alone would not be wise." Suigetsu said as he placed his hands gently over her soaked shoulders. Miyako enjoyed this far less annoying side of him.
"She won't be alone."
Suigetsu turned his head to see Sasuke standing a few feet away from them, eyes narrowed as he watched them with an annoyed gaze.
Miyako totally ignored his presence, too indulged in the incredible feeling the cool lwater gave her.
"Eh? Sasuke? I thought you were going out with Karin somewhere?"
"I'm sending you to go with her instead."
"Ah! Why?! You know that psycho bitch hates me!"
Sasuke narrowed his eyes at Suigetsu.
Suigetsu sighed. "Fine, fine.." He turned his face back to Miyako, who leaned against the edge, face buried in her arms as the water lapped around her.
"We'll finish our conversation later, princess."
"What conversation?" Miyako lifted her head up to the side, watching Suigetsu with her glowing blue eyes. She gave him an amused smirk, causing his eyes to widen in shock. He then chuckled and shook his head before turning and disappearing into the water.
Miyako pushed herself off the edge, sweat trailing down her body as she dipped into the cool river.
She surfaced seconds later as Sasuke observed her intently.
"You shouldn't have interfered." Sasuke said, sitting down on the edge of the river as he continued to watch Miyako.
"You shouldn't have let me interfere then." Miyako snapped.
"Why did you?"
"It doesn't matter."
"If I remember correctly, you were attacked by something, and thus we were separated. I assume you handled that well?"
"I met the Leader of the Akatsuki."
Sasuke's eyes widened.
Miyako whipped around to face him, a challenging glint in her eyes.
"He's going to come back for me. I can feel it."
"Did you ask him where Itachi is?"
Miyako rolled her eyes in annoyance, pissed that he completely ignored what she just said. It was like he didn't care that he would come for her, like he purposefully ignored that part.
"I don't have to tell you anything."
"Then why are you here?"
She scowled at him. "What?"
"Suigetsu, Karin, and Jugo are here to serve under me."
"You basically forced me to come with you, idiot!" Miyako snapped.
"I did so in making sure Kabuto would not follow you. I had thought you would have left by now, a part of a reason why I left you."
Miyako, in anger, swung her arm up and shot droplets from the river that instantly formed into sharp little pieces of ice, shooting straight at Sasuke. He swiftly pulled out his snake sword, deflecting the shards as he stood up on the water's surface, watching Miyako with displeased eyes.
She ran her hand across her face, lathering it with the water before she also stood up upon the water's surface, water dripping from her soaked body.
Sasuke forced himself to stare at her face and only at her face as she rose up slowly to meet his gaze, trying to ignore the fact that her clothes were dangerously tight now around her body.
And then she turned around, flicking her wet hair in his face as she started to walk off.
"What do you think you are doing?"
"Isn't it obvious? I'm leaving."