"But the memories that hang heaviest are the easiest to recall. They hold in their creases the ability to change one's life, organically, forever. Even when you shake them out, they've left permanent wrinkles in the fabric of your soul."
-Julie Gregory

-

"I specifically told the two of you to not engage any shinobi, and what did you do?!"

"...It could have been worse. They could have found you. And probably would have killed you." He states, nonchalantly.

"Ahō! Don't speak to Madara-sama like that!"

"Hai, hai... Ouch! Why do you have to bring violence into this, Hotaru-chan?"

"It's Hotaru-senpai, ahō!!"

Both Kakashi and Hotaru scuffled and scowled at each other. Hotaru scolded and Kakashi just waved the manner off as it wasn't a big deal. If Madara were to compare the two of them, he would relate their relationship of a dog and cat.

"You two have gotten yourselves in danger. I could care less about your lives, I just need my plan to work. Your worthless asses are the ones that I need to supervise." Madara snipes at the two younger beings.

"H-Hai, Madara-sama..."

"Maa, whatever. It's you that wants to babysit, Madara."

"Ahō! You impolite bastard!"

Hotaru pinched Kakashi before knocking him to the ground, punching him repeatedly on the arms and stomach.

They had gotten obliviously closer to each other ever since Madara had found Kakashi.

From unfriendly scuffles, to acquaintances, to close friendship, both Hotaru and Kakashi are considered good comrades. So much had happened in the recent years.

Whether it was training or arguing, either two always spoke directly towards each other.

"Konoha knows that you're alive and well, Kakashi. Yet, you allow them to prepare for you?" Madara states, irritatingly,"The plan was going out well!"

"The plan is still going well, and it will continue to go well." Kakashi responds with his stare leveled with Madara, as he blocked the predictable punches from Hotaru.

The elder contemplated the Hatake with stern eyes before leaning back in his seat,"Fine. I trust you, kid." The Uchiha shut his eyes for a moment before reopening them,"It's only because I rely on your abilities. You are the prodigy of this generation, and you will be the one that will finish out my plan."

Kakashi gazes at the man with a peculiar kind of stare before gesturing to Hotaru,"I thought she was-"

"I'm not, ahō. Just because Madara-sama took me in first, doesn't mean I'm the special one." The girl flicks the tip of Kakashi's nose and walks off, into the training room.

The Hatake, besides his utter confusion, turns to Madara,"Isn't Hotaru your loyal apprentice? Why do you rely on me more than her? She's been with you much longer and respects you much more."

Madara sighs as he shifts in his seated position. He taps on the armrest of his seat several times before replying to an impatient Hatake,"...I understand she's loyal to me. I understand she has the amount of potential as you do, like her. But, the only downfall that she has, and you don't-"

The older male cuts himself off before bringing out the words in an established way.

"Hotaru cannot comprehend a heart of darkness."

Kakashi quizzically stares at the elder," Heart of darkness? How can you tell?" The younger male frowns at the elder.

"It's true that Hotaru has lived a life of tragedy as well as difficulty, but she can never thrive on vengeance like us." Madara folds his hands in his lap and continues, "I found her when she was only six years of age. Fragile, little thing."

"...Madara..." The silver-haired male hesitated before he takes a step closer,"...Do you mind telling me... About Hotaru's past?"

Kakashi knew that Hotaru had specifically told him straightforwardly, that she didn't like bringing up her past. But, ever since she had made that remark with him, he'd been curious and intrigued by the notion to find out one day.

"I'm only telling you because of the closeness that the two of you had gotten. And, I want you to look after her when you carry out the plan." Madara gazes sternly at the silver-haired male.

The elder cleared his throat before speaking out the taboo past; the past he wasn't suppose to mention at all, to anyone. "She was young. Naïve-"

-

Hotaru clenched her hands as she repeatedly punched the sack that hung on the ceiling. Beads of sweat had clung to her damp forehead and her cerulean eyes held fierceness as she struck the punching bag with quick attacks.

"I don't love those who are enemies of Konoha..."

"...Love can never be achieved in life..."

Hotaru's eyes squeezed shut, her concentration interrupted, and she let out a war cry before she knocked down the punching bag.

Sweat gleams across her back, her black strands of hair stuck to her forehead as she panted hard. Her knuckles slightly bruised by the constant punching.

Her memories... She hated them. She wanted to erase them. But, she never could. A few were precious, a few were upsetting. One of her memories, was the most painful one, yet, it was the one she remembered clearly.

Her eyes squeezed shut, hands curled into fists as the memory reoccurred in her head, like a recorder that could never be turned off...

-

"Mama, is this dress pretty?"

The small girl with sky, blue eyes and dark, black hair smiled at her mother and fluffed the frilly dress she had on. "Mama! Look at this!"

The six year old girl giggled and laughed as she danced and frolicked in the front yard of her own home.

The life was much different, further away from the village. It was more peaceful. It was less noisy. And above all, there was no interruptions. Nothing bad ever happened.

Her father was a shinobi that worked closely with the ninjas in Konoha. Her mother, was a stay-home-mom. And everything was lively, joyful.

Hotaru was happy. She had everything she ever wanted, already. The love from her family was all she had expected from, nothing else.

"It looks beautiful on you, child. Do not skip so much, or you will dirty it." Hotaru's mother scolded, fixing the flowerbed that was ruined by the rain.

"Hai, mama!"

Hotaru giggled and wrapped her arms around her mother before gazing up at the blue sky,"Mama, lemme go get water for you to drink!"

She had scurried to the river, far from her home about five minutes away.

Hotaru had never worried about anything. Her father would come home around this time, and her mother would fix a delicious dinner for all three of them to eat.

She had dipped her metal bucket in the river and hummed. Hotaru watched the fishes swim downstream and jump about. She giggled slightly at the sight before dragging the heavy bucket towards home.

To her surprise, her mother had left the garden tools outside. It seemed as if she wasn't finished, and usually her mother always cleaned up after working.

Slightly worried, Hotaru had dragged the bucket into her home, and pushed the door open.

"Mama...?"

There was loud crashes and sudden pleading followed right after.

"Please, don't... I have yet to-"

A loud explosion and crackle had soon submerged in the air. Hotaru been blown away at the sound. She had dropped the bucket from her hands, the liquid spilling out from its container. The black-haired girl blinked rapidly. Her fear overwhelmed her senses as she soon crawled to the explosion, the chaos.

'Mama...'

There, her mother lied on the floor, being burned to death. She thrashed about, within the fiery flames. Her mouth gaped open and terrible screams tore from her throat. Hotaru could only watch in horror as her own mother was burned alive.

No blood. No mess. Just fire. Just the smoky, ashy, redness and hot.

It was the most sane way to die, but utterly painful.

"Mama..." Her cries enveloped from her trembling lips. She could only watch as the life had died out from the one she grew up with.

The shinobi who had caused all of this, stepped in front of her, holding a kitchen knife in his hand.

Hotaru couldn't believe which was worse. To know, that her mother had been burned to death, in front of her...

...Or having a father that had killed his own love.

"P-P-Papa...?" The girl gaped at her father, the one that killed HER mother.

HIS wife.

"Wh-Why, papa...?" Hotaru's tears slipped down her cheeks as sobs wracked from her trembling form,"Why?"

"Hotaru..." Her father pensively gazed down at her, the gas mask he wore seemed oddly scary on him, as if he was a villain.

"... I'm doing all of this for the sake of Konoha..." He murmured, his voice gruff, and hoarse,"You just don't know it... Your mother, was a shinobi from Kiri. She worked for Kiri. She could have sent information back to the enemy village at any time..."

"But papa!!" Her cries had turned to screams,"You killed mama! You killed who I loved, who you loved!"

"...I don't love those who are enemies of Konoha..." Hotaru's father replies. "Besides, love can never be achieved in life."

She shuddered at the sight of her father, holding the knife in his hand, pointed directly at her.

"I never loved you, Hotaru. Maybe, I did love your mother, but never the creation of what she and I created..." His lips curved upwards, into a crazy, psychotic grin,"And for that, your punishment is a bloody death."

Hotaru gasped as her heart tightened in pain.

'Father, never loved me.'

Th-thump. Thump. Thump.

Her hands curled into tight fists as the last of her tears escaped from her eyes.

'Mama... She probably never loved me either...'

Her teeth grinds together as she glared up at her father, cerulean eyes staring icily at him, with intensity and hatred.

'I can never love anyone else... Not ever.'

In quick, flurry, and unpredictable movements, Hotaru had grabbed on to her father's leg, unbalancing the man as he stumbled.

Hotaru had quickly snatched the knife from her father, her hands tightening around the hilt of the blade before she stabbed his leg several times, blood breaking through the surface of his skin.

Her father let out a shout of anguished pain, pleading for her to stop, but she continued hurting her father.

The blade found its' way up to her father's stomach, and then to his chest, where his heart belonged.

She wanted her father to feel; to feel the pain she had felt in her own heart.

Die.

Die!

DIE!

The blade had dug deep into the flesh of her father. Crimson blood sprayed in every direction as she sliced open his chest.

An agonizingly painful scream tore from his throat as he laid limp, dead. He was nothing but a corpse, just like her own mother.

Her blue eyes gazed down at her father, dully. Stoic. She had no feelings for him. No grief. Nothing.

"I guess this is what you wanted, right, papa?"

Her thing lips curved upwards into a wicked, malicious grin.

"No one loves you. No one loves mama."

She held the bloody knife in her hand and dragged herself out of her own home.

'No one loves me.'

Hotaru did not find use to her home anymore. It would bring terrible memories for her to come. So, she left.

-

Hours of walking nonstop, she finally collapsed on her knees in a forested area, vomiting the excess that she had held in her stomach.

The killing. The stench of blood. The corpses. She was never used to it. She could practically smell the fume stinking on her clothes.

Wiping her mouth with her shirt sleeve, Hotaru glanced up at the sky that soon dimmed. The clouds had drifted off, the sky now an orange-purplish hue.

"The sky, is a beautiful mess..." She said, aloud. Her blue orbs flickered with relaxation, watching the sun set.

"Just like you. A beauty, overwhelmed by chaos," Some being vociferated," I would have never expected to see a child kill off her own villainous father like that. Without any shinobi skills... Impressive, indeed."

Hotaru turned towards the unfamiliar voice with fright. She wasn't used to being alone. She was usually with mama and papa-

Mama. Papa. Never. Loved. Her.

Her face darkens as her eyes take sight of an elderly man with slightly ruffled hair that stretched and billowed over his back.

His eyes seemed to frighten her, slightly. The crimson glower that was held in his stare, along with three swirling, comma shaped symbols that circled the tomoe of each pupil.

"Wh-Who are you? A-A-And how did you know I killed my papa...?" Her voice came out, shrill and squeaky.

"I watched. You could say I was bored, and I simply stalked you and your family. I saw a fire jutsu being set off, I wanted to see what had happened." The elder responded, simply. He held the cane in one hand, leaning with it.

Hotaru shuddered slightly at the elder's simple response? Stalk? Why did an old man just watch her kill off her own birth father?

"Wh-Who are you?" She stammered, backing up, only taking a few steps at a time. Who the hell was this freak?

"Why, me?" The older man smiled, coyly,"I am Uchiha Madara. And you're Hayashi Hotaru... Correct?"

The girl looked utterly bewildered. Her hands clamped together and her lower lip trembling slightly,"...H-How do you-"

"I have my ways with things, Hotaru..." The elder answered, gruffly,"...Let me take you in... I had been needing an assistant for a while."

Assistant?

"What makes you think I will come along with you? I barely even know you! Mama said never talk to strangers!" Hotaru exclaimed with narrowed eyes.

"Well, your mother isn't here now, is she? She's dead, killed by your own dear father." Madara pointed out, harshly, with a click of his tongue.

Hotaru's cerulean eyes brimmed with tears once more. The truth. It hurt. Everything hurt, and this man...wanted to take her pain away, right?

"...M-Madara-sama... Do you really think you will take care of me, better than my own parents?" She asked, almost quietly and nervously. Her fingers fidgeted with the braided lock of hair that fell from her shoulders.

"...Yes, child. I will take care of you." Madara lied through his teeth,"I will give you everything; everything of what your parents had never given to you."

The elder took the girl's hand, a malicious smile spreading his features, but Hotaru was distracted, not noticing at all.

"Reality is a beautiful lie, but death, is the painful truth..."

And until that day forward, Hotaru thought of the quote as a part of her soul.

Reality was a lie. Death was the truth.

She respected Madara for his words of wisdom, and she sold her own soul to the Uchiha for his own doing.

She respected him, for saving her from a living hell in a cruel world of reality.

But even so, she could never be able to be so unforgiving to her parents.

She still, truly loved them, deep within her scarred heart.

When she killed those who Madara instructed her to kill, she was sadistically enjoying it.

She tried to make each murder quick, painless. She never wanted to see another brutal killing, never.
-

"Hotaru-chan...? Hotaru-chan...?"

The girl'a blue eyes snapped opened. Confronted by the man she didn't want to see at the moment, Hotaru pushes Kakashi away and snaps,"Stop calling me that, ahō. You sound like a schoolboy."

She moved to wipe her perspiring skin with a towel, her eyes wandering, distracted.

Kakashi hesitated, not wanting to bring up the memories of her's. Of what Madara had explained to him.

"I was wondering, if you would like to spar. We hadn't done it today..." The silver-haired male asked, his brows furrowing slightly in a thoughtful expression.

"Hunh. Alright, Hatake. Show me what you got."

Hotaru raised up two fists and smirked, her lips curved slightly into a confident grin.

Her mind though, wandered, and she focused upon the male that stood, facing her.

Hatake Kakashi...

-

Author's Note:

A swift "gomen", to those who waited for this chapter to come out! It had taken me TWO MONTHS to finally be able to freaking update this piece of work!

I apologize for any other mistakes, this is another long chapter, so it's good for you guys...?

I'm not promising any crap anymore. I know I suck at updating. So, I guess I'll try to work harder on it?

But even so, school's starting again. I had my fun time during the summer. Yeah, I had a little vacationing and a break for myself, but I hadn't left this account...

I was busy with the other stories in my joined account, so if you're an avid reader of mines, I suggest you go check out » @animewriters ! And make sure to follow » @anni516 , she makes hella nice anime fanfics!

And also, I want to dedicate this chapter to my new reader of this fanfiction, » @MidnightRavenCrow , for having a positive influence and commenting (as well as voting)! Arigatō!

Thank you guys for hanging on for a while, and I'm sure I'll bring you the next chapter soon, so stay tune!

-Ryo