XXXXI: Recollection
"There are two things in the world that define us. What do you think they are?"
"The people you choose to spend your time with. They influence who you are."
"You're very bright for a nine year old."
"I'm seven, Itachi!" Miyako whined, shooting more of her water jutsu in his direction.
He chuckled, easily deflecting her skilled attacks. Every few seconds she would send a little water serpent his way, as he either dodged them or eliminated them with a slight swing of his kunai.
"But your answer is incorrect, little Miyako."
Miyako sighed, slumping down on her butt as she crossed her arms. She wore a dramatic pout on her lips, arms crossed in irritation.
"I don't want to hear your lecture! You're supposed to be helping me train!!" Miyako complained.
"There will be people you come across when you achieve your freedom, wanting to take advantage of you for your powers."
"Grandfather said-"
"Your grandfather does not define who you are. You define yourself, little Miyako. Create your own path, and don't let anyone lead you astray. Because the second they take advantage over you, it's the end."
-
If only I had recalled that memory years ago.
I brushed my damp hair back as I surfaced from the bottom of a spring I had formed in a crater, filling the bottom underneath the thin layer of rock with lava as it heated the water above.
Sasuke had kept Jugo close on my tail to make sure I didn't try to leave or do anything stupid. Karin had been tied around his hip as we slowly but surely made our way to the eight tails' location.
"Are you alright, Lady Miyako?" Jugo finally asked from behind a boulder.
"Do you want the truth?"
"Well, you have been in there for over an hour.."
"I feel like I've made the wrong decision."
It was silent for a few moments as I heard shuffling from Jugo.
"How so, my lady?"
"Seriously Jugo, just call me Miyako. And what do you mean how so? What Sasuke has done and is doing goes against what I am. I can't do it."
"Then why don't you leave?"
"Its not that simple." I sighed.
"Well, of course it is, my lady."
"I've made a promise to someone special to me, and I still intend to keep that promise even if it takes me months, even years to fulfill. And I know if I try to leave, Sasuke would just drag me right back here."
"He just worries about you, Lady Miyako. He cares for you."
"I don't think its that at all, Jugo. If the Akatsuki, when the Akatsuki betray us in the near future, he wants to use me as a tool to destroy them."
"Has he told you that?"
"No."
"Then its not true."
I rolled my eyes, leaning back into the water as I floated on my back.
"Sasuke has clearly shown that he does care for you, Lady-"
"Stop talking to me so formally." I interrupted him.
"You know its true, though. I feel that you just keep denying it."
I flailed in the water, not from what he said, but from the image of the silver haired man flashing through my eyes.
I sat up in the spring, hearing Jugo rush behind me in the water to make sure I was alright.
Miyako?
Master Jiraiya.
I remember.
He was the first face I saw when I came to this world, a proud grin on his face.
Could it be.. that he is dead?
Is that why I felt that icy touch on my shoulder days ago? Why I felt my heart shatter as if it had just been through a battle?
Jiraiya.. Is dead?
Why would I see flash images of someone I barely knew though?
"Miyako?"
I hadn't realized Jugo was keeping me up by my armpits until he shook me slightly.
I moved away from him, making my way out of the water, well aware I was stark naked.
I could feel Jugo's eyes, being the respectful person he is, turn away from my form as I made my way behind another large boulder, where my clothing lied.
I grabbed my towel instead, wrapping it around my wet body as I ran my hand through my face, which was still frozen in shock.
"Are you alright, Lady Miyako?" I heard Jugo ask from the other side.
"Fine. Just shooken up."
"Would you like me to fetch Sasuke for you?"
"No." I said in annoyance.
The feeling of being asleep suddenly swept through me as my vision clouded.
I groggily performed a few hand signs, water shooting out from the spring as it enveloped me in its warmth.
-
"Let her go."
An amused smirk formed on Orochimaru's face as he slowly turned around.
"Jiraiya, hmm? Who know we'd come across each other under these circumstances?"
"If you don't put her down-"
"You can't kill me, Jiraiya." Orochimaru challenged, holding the unconscious and injured girl closer to his chest.
"Maybe. But I can."
Orochimaru's eyes widened as he turned around slowly, meeting the striking sharingan glare of Itachi Uchiha. He stood there, calmness emitting off of him, covered in the Akatsuki cloak.
"Hmm. What do we have here?"
"I don't want to hurt you, Orochimaru. Just let Miyako go." Jiraiya warned.
"Fine." Orochimaru said, a devilish smirk on his lips, his eyes holding a wicked glint.
He placed a blood covered Miyako on the ground, as she stirred awake slowly.
Jiraiya approached her cautiously as Itachi Uchiha stood behind them, watching Orochimaru with rage filled eyes.
Just as Jiraiya was about to reach her, Miyako flung out her hand, a huge bolt of lightning erupting from her fingertips, sailing straight to him.
Orochimaru chuckled in amusement as Itachi shot forward and grabbed Jiraiya before he could get hit.
"Thanks, Itachi."
"I'll handle this."
Itachi shot forward to Orochimaru, but froze in his tracks when Miyako stood up shakily in front of him, blood dripping down her face.
There was an uneasy and worried glint in Itachi's eyes as Miyako raised her head, blood streaming from her golden eyes. It was like she was crying, but instead of tears, blood poured down.
Jiraiya grabbed Itachi's arm, preventing him from going to Orochimaru and ripping his throat out. Anger radiated off of Itachi, tears threatening to escape his eyes at the sight of Miyako.
"You should go back to the Akatsuki before they notice you're gone." Jiraiya said.
"I'm not leaving her." Itachi snapped.
"You'll have to." Jiraiya said in a worried tone. He knew how much this was going to hurt Itachi.
"Do me a favor, Itachi, and don't tell your fellow Akatsuki that I have this little princess. You'll know what they do to her when they find out about her, hmm?" Orochimaru taunted.
"Leave, Itachi. I won't say it again." Jiraiya told him more sternly.
Itachi gave a last lingering look to the crippled form of Miyako, a single tear trailing down his cheek, before he disappeared from their sight.
Jiraiya clasped his hands together, about to perform a jutsu before Miyako disappeared from his sight as well.
He leapt into the air when he felt her appear behind him, just as lightning pierced through the ground in which he had stood.
"You won't take her from me." Jiraiya threatened.
"I didn't know she was yours to take from." Orochimaru sneered from behind her.
Jiraiya's frown deepened.
"You know what I mean."
"No, actually, I don't. Where were you all her life? Oh, right. Getting drunk and screwing-"
"You knew we could not be around her, and that rule still applies to this day. It's too risky." Jiraiya warned.
"Hmm? So you did know that that new, mysterious genius ninja was me, eh?" Orochimaru wondered with a smirk.
"Just give her back to me-"
"No."
"I won't warn you again." Jiraiya said in anger, his frustration showing on his face.
"She obviously doesn't want to go back with you."
"You brainwashed her."
"Originally my plan was to draw out the tailed beast inside her, but that stubborn thing loves it in your little Miyako."
"I'll kill you. I swear." Jiraiya managed to restrain himself from lunging at Orochimaru knowing Miyako would interfere.
"Now, I think I'll just take your daughter instead. She'll make a nice little pet. Perhaps I'll even call her my own daughter."
"She is not yours, nor is she mine." Jiraiya snapped.
"Oh, right. Tsunade and your child died, and this is what you created from her corpse." Orochimaru taunted.
"Do not-"
"Father."
Miyako's voice caused Jiraiya to freeze in his form.
He looked down at his daughter, grief crossing his eyes.
"Hmm? So the pet can move freely." Orochimaru looked down at her with a displeased frown.
He reached his hand out to her, but she caught it, causing Orochimaru to scream as she burned his wrist.
Miyako's eyes were different this time. They were an intense crystal blue, glinting with power as she looked up at her Father.
Her true Father.
"Miyako?"
"Let me go with him, Father."
Jiraiya shook his head, tears forming in his eyes.
"How do you-"
"Its alright, Jiraiya."
Miyako's voice was different this time, holding a hint of dominance and maturity.
"Who are-"
"I'll protect your daughter. If you try and get her back right now, you will only die. Let us go, and I promise I will treasure your daughter's life."
Jiraiya watched her intently, his eyes swirling with emotion.
And then he pulled back, disappearing from their sight.
Miyako collapsed to the ground in a heap, white chakra leaking off her in bubbles.
Orochimaru, in anger, grabbed her body and held her at his hip.
He was determined to make sure the beast never came out again.
-
sorry no sasuke on this one!