XXXVI: Parting
I froze the second I felt an icy touch on my shoulder.
The blood dropped in pools around me as I tore my gaze from Karin's, whipping around to see who had touched me.
I gasped as an image of a tall, silver haired man with red lines following his eyes down flashed through my mind, as he looked down at me with a heart warming smile.
I collapsed on my knees, feeling my heart ache in discomfort.
A single tear crawled down my cheek.
"Karin!! What the hell did ya do to the princess!"
Suigetsu's voice filled my ears as footsteps came closer.
"Nothing!! She was the one who tried to kill me!!!"
"Wait till Sasuke sees this. You sure will get-"
"Shut up, idiot! She collapsed for no apparent reason!!!" She screamed at him.
A gentle hand was placed on my shoulder as I lifted my head slowly to meet the concerned eyes of Jugo.
"Are you alright, Miyako?" He asked as Suigetsu and Karin continued to argue in the background.
"I don't know." I choked out, as another tear slipped from my eye.
I don't know why I was crying, I don't know why an image of that man flashed through my eyes. It's like he was standing before me, but he wasn't there.
Unless...
Shiroryuu.
I don't know who that man is.
Liar. Why the hell did you show me a random old man?!
I didn't.
I gritted my teeth together in frustration, as Jugo helped me up to my feet.
"You okay, Princess?" Suigetsu asked.
"Sasuke. Where is he?" I asked as I wiped away at the tear, my heart still twisting in discomfort.
"He ordered us to stay while he went to investigate a-"
"I'm going." I said.
"Wait." Karin snapped.
"What now?!"
"I sense a new chakra."
-
"Sasuke!" Suigetsu called out.
He turned his head as he watched us rush to him, stopping a few feet before him.
"I thought I ordered you not to come?"
"Karin sensed a different chakra."
He moved his gaze among us before landing on me, a frown forming on his face.
"You've been crying." He pointed out.
I scowled. "Was it Itachi?" I asked, wanting to change the subject.
Instead, he didn't say anything as he approached us.
"Let's go."
-
I still couldn't shake off the uncomfortable aching in my chest.
We were rushing to the place where Itachi was, but I had stopped on one of the branches, feeling my eyes burn once again. I blinked them rapidly in attempt to clear up my vision, but the burning only grew more irritating.
"Are you alright?" Sasuke spoke before me.
"Like you care."
I tilted my head up, leaning back against the tree. He bent down so we were now at eye level, looking intensely into my eyes with a level of uncertainty.
"I know what you plan to do, Miyako."
"You don't know anything."
"I know how you plan to betray me."
I shut my eyes in response.
"I need you to stay behind and keep the Leaf Shinobi off our tail." He continued on.
"I wasn't planning on betraying you. If you fight Itachi, you'll die."
"So you were going to stop me. How?"
"Knock you out for a few hours."
"Whatever you plan to do, I need you to stay out of the fight."
"That's like asking me not to breathe."
"This is a fight between myself and my brother only. I won't have someone with the likes of you interfere."
"And why not?"
"You'll only be a distraction."
I smiled in amusement. Hey, at least he told part of the truth.
"Fine. But the second I stop the Leaf Shinobi, I'm going straight to you."
"By the time you finish, I would have already taken care of Itachi."
"I'm up for that challenge."
"Good."
When I opened my eyes, he was gone.
I know I made a promise to Naruto. The promise made it seem like I had to save both Itachi and Sasuke. In order to protect Sasuke, I could kill Itachi. But I simply do not want to, and Sasuke is too stubborn for his own good. He'd probably go to extreme measures to achieve his revenge.
Which makes me question... I am the one thing in the way of his revenge, the one thing that is a threat for him to achieve it. So why didn't he subdue me?
Screw it all. I'm not following his orders.
"Hello, little Miyako."
I was up on my feet in an instant, my eyes quickly scanning the thick area of trees around me.
Nothing.
"Pain told us briefly about you."
I whipped around, only to be met by the sharp sharingan eyes.
I blinked a couple times, trying to adjust my blurred vision as my eyes were still burning.
At first, I thought it was Sasuke.
But Sasuke wasn't as tall as this man. And he didn't wear an Akatsuki cloak, nor a Leaf Shinobi head band.
This was Itachi.
And his eyes were more terrifying than Sasuke's.
"Itachi Uchiha." I spoke.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he seemed to be examining my soul.
"I see my little brother has abandoned you."
"What are you doing here?" I asked cautiously, ignoring his comment. I kept my walls up, my fingers bottled up into fists as I focused my chakra into that area.
"I am not your enemy." He stated simply, glancing down at my hands.
I blinked a few times as I just stared at him in silent.
"You expect me to believe that?" I rose an eyebrow.
But its funny. I actually do believe him.
As you should.
Shiroryuu? What are you talking about?
"One thing the rest of the Akatsuki don't know about you that I do is that you hold the spirit of Shiroryuu, the Mother of Beasts, inside of you."
As I told you before, Miyako. Itachi knows where his loyalty lies.
You expect me to understand that?
In due time, my child, you will. But there is something now you must know. At the time of your.. birth, Itachi was the one who carried me inside him, as a young boy. Even after the transfer from his soul to yours, he made the effort to check in on you whenever he got the chance.
My eyes widened in response.
Itachi was watching me curiously, as he took a step closer to me.
"Is she speaking to you right now?"
"What do you want from me, Itachi?" I felt my voice quiver and it annoyed me so much. I was still recovering from this ache in my heart, along with my burning eyes and the fact that I am slowly dying. And on top of that, Itachi is actually good?
"I remember the last time I saw you. You were barely eleven years old." He said, as his sharingan disappeared from his eyes. I relaxed my posture in response.
"What are you talking about?"
"Hmm. So Orochimaru really did erase your memories of your childhood."
"So you knew that-"
"Yes. I knew Orochimaru abducted you. Don't worry, I had no intention of telling the Akatsuki about you. Since, after all, I thought of you as a little sister then, and I still do now."
I took a nervous step back, my eyes furrowed in confusion.
What the hell is going on?
"You were isolated for your entire life. As part of the ANBU Black Ops, I was given orders to watch over you a few times."
I shook my head in disbelief, my head pounding.
If he tells you anymore, your mind will shatter.
"What are you really doing here? What do you want?"
"I'm going to die today, Miyako."
My frown deepened.
"Why would you tell me that?!" I snapped.
"Go to the Leaf Shinobi and stop them. You will come across Tobi, a fellow Akatsuki member, but you should be fine. He won't hurt you, I've made sure of that. After my death, you must take Sasuke and flee. Do not ever go near Tobi again when you do.
I can see the look of concern on your face. Don't worry, little Miyako. I've planned this for a while now."
"What the hell are you talking about?! Why are you telling me all this?"
"Do not come to Sasuke after you finish off with the Leaf Shinobi. My plan will only work with zero interference, and I cannot have you interfere since you will only be a distraction not only to myself, but to Sasuke."
I clenched my teeth, hard, as I felt my eyes burning harder than before.
"I wish there was more time to tell you the truth. But all I can tell you now is I have no intention in killing Sasuke, and that everything I have done up to this point was done for him; I plan to give him something that will protect you and him from the evil in this world. I also plan to truly end the existence of the one thing person has held you hostage for as long as you can remember. I will release you from his hold, as will I destroy the curse mark once and for all from my little brother. After my death, I hope Shiroryuu tells you who I really am.
You'll understand one day, Miyako. The burden of carrying a strong amount of power. It will only destroy you in the end."
I'm already understanding it.
A tear slipped down my cheek as he was suddenly in front of me, pulling me into his chest for a gentle hug.
"Forgive me for leaving you like this, Little Miyako. I'm sorry."
"You don't have to do this. Just tell Sasuke the truth. I'll help you. We can destroy the Ak-"
"Its much more complex than that. Goodbye, little princess. May we meet again."
My eyes widened as dozens of crows took form from Itachi's body. They flew around me before disappearing off into the sky.
I collapsed onto my knees, as I felt my soul crying.
Itachi..
You can't stop him from doing this, child.
But why would he tell me all this now?
Same reason why he hasn't told Sasuke the truth.
-
this was sad, i got emotional writing this:( but i hope you guys enjoyed! xoxo