XXXVII: Into Thin Air
"PRINCESS MIYAKO!! You saved me!!"
I shoved him off me as he pushed himself onto me, his annoying voice already irritating my nerves.
"Shut up." I snapped. I tried to ignore the fact that he knew who I already was, probably being told from Pain. And the heavy feeling in my soul from Itachi and that silver haired man made me much more vulnerable and emotional than I should be. I had sat there, after Itachi left, for what seemed like hours upon hours, trying to keep myself together. I couldn't break down then, not when I had to honor his request. I had to be stable. Not only for my sake, but for Sasuke's.
Why, out of all the times he could have told me, did it have to be at that moment?
"Does that mean.. Does that mean you're on our side now?" Tobi asked in confusion.
"No, idiot. They were going to kill you."
"Hmm? Now that I think about it, aren't you supposed to be with Sasuke Uchiha right now?"
"He left me behind." I said. That technically wasn't a lie.
And after this, I knew I couldn't go to Itachi and Sasuke. I didn't want to go anymore, knowing that all I would see is Itachi's dead body.
"Aww! I'm so sorry!!"
"He sent me here to stop the Leaf Shinobi. And you just happened to be in the way.
Speaking of that, you're an Akatsuki. But why are you so weak?" I wondered.
He laughed gleefully in response.
"Shhh!" I may have used my transportation jutsu and enveloped us in my invisibility jutsu that hides our chakra and visible presence, but it didn't hide our noise. And we were only a mere 400 feet from them, and I know Kakashi, with his sharp hearing, would definitely hear us if we made any more noise.
"Oops! Sorry!" He apologized with no sincerity at all in his tone.
And then he disappeared from my sight.
That son of a bitch.
I rushed after him, smiling when I saw his back to me.
Just as I landed next to him and felt the shocked eyes of the Leaf Shinobi on me, a creature emerged from the ground from Tobi's other side.
If I do recall correctly, it was the same thing that interrupted mine and Pain's fight..
"How did it go?" Tobi asked him, ignoring my presence.
"Its over." The creature, Zetsu if I recall correctly, spoke.
No.
Even though I knew it was going to happen, I couldn't hold back my shock.
"We keep getting interference! Miyako!!" I heard Naruto call out.
"Sasuke Uchiha has won. Itachi Uchiha is dead."
I wasn't the only one in shock.
"What?! I don't believe it!!" Tobi gasped, putting his hands up.
"Miyako!!! Do you believe it?!"
My eyes were clasped shut as I tried to steady my breathing, forcing my tears back. I ground my teeth together in frustration, my hands trembling.
"Just kidding." Tobi said after.
"Its as I expected."
My eyes shot open when Tobi's tone shifted into one of seriousness. It was deeper and more masculine, different from the way he had acted before. And the energy around him now had shifted, and it made me more uncomfortable.
"Sasuke.. Killed Itachi?" I heard Sakura say in surprise.
"Sasuke's down too, but... I wonder how he is? He's in pretty bad shape."
I was about to take off towards Sasuke, trying to ignore the excruciating pain in my soul and the burning of my eyes before Tobi grabbed my wrist.
"Hey you there! Spiky aloe guy! Where is Sasuke now!" I heard Naruto scream.
"Aloe?!"
"Don't bother with him." Tobi said, his shift in the tone of his voice intimidating.
"I'll take you on another time."
I watched Kakashi's eyes widen in shock, as he stared at Tobi.
"Leave Miyako here. Please." He requested.
I turned my head to Kakashi, my blurred eyes meeting his. A single tear escaped at that point as he watched me with a worried expression.
I felt Tobi look between him and me before settling his attention on Kakashi.
"Nah. She's too important to us. Later."
I allowed him to pull me into his chest, lifting his arm up as we both gradually faded into space.
A different transportation jutsu from mine. But as equally impressive.
Now, I had to see Sasuke. Seeing Itachi's body would definitely break me even more.
But I felt a certain freedom now. Like I wasn't bound to the earth anymore.
My loyalty was in thin air. It was as if I could do as I please now.
But I couldn't betray Naruto's trust. It was like I was bound to him, connected through our minds.
-
My brief joy of freedom lasted for a second as I leapt to the ground, landing between Itachi's corpse and Sasuke's body.
It was then that I finally broke down, not bothering to hide back my tears as I crawled to Itachi, resting my hand on his face, my face falling onto his chest as I let out a pained scream.
I should have interfered. I shouldn't have let this happen. What's the point in doing this all for Sasuke if you only die in the end, Itachi?
"Miyako. This is Itachi Uchiha, and he will be coming a few times a week to take care of you for me."
"While you go and do old people stuff?" I asked, not looking up as I played with the fish in the water.
"Yes, while I go do old people stuff."
"Bye, grandfather!" I lifted my head up, giving him a small wave without looking away from the fish.
"Do you remember me, Miyako?"
I turned my head to see a boy looking down at me, a funny smile on his face.
"I don't remember anyone but grandfather. Who are you?" But it feels like I know this boy from somewhere. His face looks familiar, that's for sure!
He gave me a sad smile.
-
"Grandfather! Itachi taught me how to play with fire today!" I squealed in excitement as I ran towards him, allowing him to hug me.
The old man let out a nervous laugh. "How has she been this time, Itachi?"
"A little troublesome, but most of the time, she was good. She is growing well in her powers, Sir."
"Really now?"
"She created a little fire dragon jutsu. It was impressive."
"Can he be my teacher, Grandfather?! Pleaaasee?!!!" I pleaded.
"I'm afraid not, my child. He has a little brother to take care of on his own, and his schedule is already full."
"Aww." I pouted, crossing my arms.
Itachi approached me, pressing the two tips of his fingers against my forehead.
"Don't worry, little Miyako. I'll come and see you whenever I get the chance. Maybe I'll even bring my little brother and introduce you to him."
"Really?!" I shouted in excitement.
He grinned. "Really."
-
Why are you showing me this now?
Orochimaru has finally been destroyed by Itachi, so the wall of your memories has been torn down. Having all those memories flooding into you at once can destroy your mind, so I plan to do it a little at a time. I'm sorry, Miyako.
It was the rain that hid my overflowing tears as I sat up and pulled Itachi into my chest, sobbing quietly as I felt Tobi watch us from above.
Tobi began to speak, but I blocked out his words as I held the cold corpse of Itachi against me.
Sasuke never knew.
That was even more heart breaking.
-
I woke up, unsure of how I even lost consciousness in the first place, only to be met with darkness.
There was a damp cloth over my head, my hands tied behind my back as I tried to move.
Chains were wrapped all around me as I tried to wiggle around.
I even tried to focus my chakra on the outside of my body to break through these restraints. But nothing was working.
I gasped when I heard a loud scream.
It wasn't Sasuke; it sounded like Tobi.
"After my death, you must take Sasuke and flee. Do not ever go near Tobi again when you do."
I gritted my teeth together in annoyance.
I had to get out of here.
I bit down on my lower lip as I dislocated my wrist on purpose, sneaking my left hand through the tough layering of these chains.
After that, it was a piece of cake.
A few broken bones and bruises later, I was free of the chains as I removed the covering from my eyes. Surprisingly, my eyes were no longer burning like before. Tobi must have done something to them.
Blood dripped down my lip, and continued so as I located my wrist back into place, biting down even harder on my lip to hold back a scream.
Then I performed a few hand signs, disappearing in the darkness as I slowly felt my way to the exit of this room, following the presence of Sasuke's chakra.