Sweet Dispositions

  -Chapter 31-
Multiple Hits

Present. August 21st. Morning.

Kaiya sat in her abused body, wondering why her life was like this. Her body ached and she had just gotten out of surgery again. She was disoriented and confused. The bewilderment led her to feel like the dangers consumed her, like a body with quicksand.

A fruity laugh was loud. It was deep and strong, in a pleasant way. It was modulated, honeyed and nice but she couldn't trust it.

"Akuma-oo-sama said they will heal in a matter of months," A dolce, silvery woman said. It sounded similar to a snake's hiss. "Rest assured, we will take care of all your needs,"

She felt padding over her eyes... and tight bandages around her face. Her face felt hot and swollen. Her limbs were gelatinous and she was weak. Everything is dark and she panicked, feeling her pulse speed up considerably. "Where am I? Who are you? Why is it so dark? Where am I?"

"So many questions," the laughing voice hummed.

Her heartbeat was hammering so loud, she could hear the blood rushing in her ears. She was strapped down.

The woman heard the hyperventilation begin but the woman caressed Kaiya's cheek. "Your eyes will heal and you shall be in the eternal night without the sannin. Akuma-oo-sama will prevail,"

Only one woman talked like that about Orochimaru. "Shigeko?" Kaiya asked.

"Yes, my companion in crime?" Shigeko purred, voice dripping affection.

"Get away from me, nutzoid,"

"Don't be the cold weather, babe. Remember us? Traveling 'round, like goddesses... Killing civilians and your clan-members alike? You were Orochimaru-sama's least favorite but your people-hunting skills were second to none. That is why Akuma-oo-sama used you for attracting pawns,"

"This is crazy," Kaiya said.

Shigeko laughed. "What happened to you? You've gotten a lot saner. You're no fun,"

Kaiya heard steps approach the cold surgical table she was on. "Ah... do you see the consequences of your mistakes?" A rumbling, throaty voice vibrated through her. "Now, you cannot see,"

Akuma-oo-sama. She immediately flinched away from the source of the slow, purposeful steps. He always moved in a lax, purposeful manner. He moved in that way when he tortured her for the past eight nights.

"You gave layers to Akuma-oo-sama's anger. You also gave doubts to Akuma-oo-sama. Whose side are you on? Who will you serve during the apocalypse?"

He slammed his fists against the medical examination table. She cringed, shuddering in fear. "Akuma-oo-sama's lenient to you. You are family after all. However, one's kindness can only get them this far. Your pain is beautiful and your cries are music but you are going to go numb. Pain won't comfort Akuma-oo-sama. It will surely, surely give Akuma-oo-sama satisfaction if you cannot see your state,

"There are those pawns who deserve rewards for their loyalty. Like Akuma-oo-sama's dear, dear Shigeko. You do not deserve the greatest dojutsu known to men. It gave you pain. Akuma-oo-sama wants to make your life as enjoyable as possible. So, we gave the sharingan to Shigeko,"

"What?!" Kaiya gasped.

-x-

A few hours later.

Shigeko's world was ultimately black with a few white spots here and between. Everything, her senses to her taste buds, received an upgrade. She could not see but her brain was constantly tricking her.

She reached out to the stone walls, hoping to find her way. For now, the small jagged rocks bit into her hand as she guided herself to the room. Kabuto's room.

It smelled like festering sewage in the hallways during the hot, hot summers.

She just got these sharingan eyes. She needed to see Kabuto. He will help her in this blindness. She couldn't see and her head had a killer migraine.

She visualized the sad room. It was cramped and had stacked dull grey rocks. Using muscle memory and sheer intellect, she made her way to his dark cell with her son in tow. She was vulnerable, yes but she needed to see Kabuto.

She found him and used the keys Akuma-oo-sama trusted her with. She unlocked the door and held her child close. She listened for any other guards and no one was there.

Mitsuki made a happy sound when he saw Kabuto. Her four-year-old boy was very talented. She imagined a bright future for him and Orochimaru. She just needed to get strong enough to use her sharingan eyes against Akuma-oo-sama.

Kabuto was in his cell, thank kami, and now, probably holding Mitsuki away from her. His bass voice sounded fearful. "What the hell did you do to yourself? That wasn't wise," he hissed.

"I could ask the same, asshole. You look like a snake," Shigeko said.

"Well, now you cannot see. Mitsuki is under my care for a couple of hours a day, yes... but you... you cannot watch Orochimaru-sama's child. That is dangerous for such a kin," Kabuto advised.

"I know how to protect him. Once the bandages come undone, I will be renewed. Akuma-oo-sama said so for I am in his debt," Shigeko said.

Kabuto scowled. At least she heard him scoff. "Akuma-oo-sama gave you a dojutsu that does not belong to you,"

"The sharingan? Kaiya's sharingan? It fits me quite well. Red is the color of energy, passion, and strength,"

Kabuto made a displeased sound. "It is also the color of strain, war, and aggression. The color of the sharingan will not bode well for your particular situation,"

"I think it looks quite nice on me. Power and grace are supposed to come to those who take it,"

"You do not take happiness," Kabuto sighed.

"You always take what is yours," Shigeko laughed. "One more wise-crack and I'll rat you out,"

Kabuto didn't believe her. She needed him. "You haven't heard my plan," he grumbled.

"I don't think you have a plan,"

"I do," Kabuto said stiffly. "Are you questioning my capabilities?"

"No... Kabuto-sama... I have changed my mind. I cannot leave. I have two reasons... In fact, I got the sharingan for two reasons. Orochimaru and the genjutsu,"

"Why Orochimaru?" Kabuto asked.

"It is Orochimaru's dream to possess the eyes of the Uchiha. They may not be Uchiha Sasuke's eyes but they are sharingan. I will give them to Orochimaru as a gift, a confession of my dedication to him,"

"You're willing to go blind again just so he could have them?" Kabuto sounded disappointed.

"Yes. He needs sight more than I do. He is very aware of what needs to transpire. He will rule all with the sharingan. If I could give him happiness, it is more rewarding and touching than sight," Shigeko said, holding her hand. She wished she was with him now, everytime the sun came up. She's wondering if he's wondering about her.

"I need genjutsu," Shigeko said. She knew she wasn't ready. It scared her.

"Genjutsu?" Kabuto demanded.

She nodded. "I could show Mitsuki what his father really looks like. He has no certain memories of Orochimaru. Once I am gone, I will replace all the memories of me and Mitsuki with his father,"

"You plan to die?" Kabuto said. He didn't sound sad or emotional. He just wanted the hard truth. He was probably thinking about Mitsuki's future. He didn't need her.

"Yes... in his honor," Shigeko confirmed. She wasn't even scared of death. "I have lived a full life. He needs it more,"

"Just like the love you have for Orochimaru, it borders on the one Jiraiya had for Tsunade. Distasteful and obsessed. Unsweet," Kabuto listed off a bunch of more reasons. If she could see, Kabuto would have gotten a mouthful of foot about now.

"It's not distasteful or obsession, it's love," Shigeko said. He didn't want to argue and he dismissed the conversation.

"Whatever the psychological case, you still wield the sharingan. Once you get strong enough, then we will break out of this place," Kabuto said.

Shigeko rose an eyebrow. "You do not know how to control or train one with the sharingan. You're not Orochimaru, you do not know how to do everything,"

"I was also there for the years of training Orochimaru did with Sasuke. I am qualified," Kabuto said.

It would be such a shame if Kaiya died because of the loss of her eyes. If torture doesn't, the heartache will kill Kaiya.

Kaiya was Shigeko's partner in crime, exterminating all the good together, having a good time. Then... she went and got married and had kids. Her life story was identical- lost clans, finding a great love and birthing wonderful kids.

Shigeko hasn't betrayed Akuma-oo-sama in a big way. At least, not yet.

-x-

August 28th. 8 o'clock.

A week passed and Hinata stayed in Karin's house during that time. Karin was readily happy to accept her and the kids. Sasuke hadn't returned. Suigetsu hasn't either.

Hiromitsu and Amarante got a minor cold. Benjiro was unconscious and Taiyo finally was fine. It was a pretty sad and stormy past two weeks for everyone. The cold and heavy rain flooded the grass around the house Hinata hasn't dared step foot on. The thunder shook the ground and lightning made a show. That was the unchanging weather these past days.

It was oddly calm and warm today on the back porch step. Everything was unmoving and everyone held their breath. Maybe the gods are thinking of the consequences of this action, also at a standstill.

Hinata went inside and found Mitsuyo with a morose disposition in the living room. Her suitcases were filled with cash and other artifacts of them beside her. She was winding a dark shawl around her shoulders to hide her saddened expression.

She still looked the same, maybe a bit worn down.

Her pink yukata flowed in the soft breezes of the night draft. She was a friend and she was walking away.

Mitsuyo paused, not looking back. "Ah..." she said softly. She didn't want Hinata to know about the regret and pain. She knew.

She cleared her throat, not once turning to look at her. "Hinata, dear. The house is for you. You're in my will," Mitsuyo said loudly and firmly, with no room for argument. "Alas, I'm going,"

"If you go. I go," Hinata said, assuming a fighting stance.

Mitsuyo sighed and kept going to the door.

Hinata took out blades and threw it at the door handle, nearly piercing Mitsuyo. "You're not leaving," Hinata said. Hesitance didn't still her limbs and she left no room for argument either.

She turned around. Her face was stern but a little softer around the edges. Her white hair danced around her face as a whisp. Maybe a little evidence of aging but mostly, she looked really beautiful.

"Stay back. Do not attempt to stop this," Mitsuyo ordered in her naturally authoritative voice.

She sent a perfectly scary death glare that would have made Hinata run for the hills four years ago. But it wasn't four years ago and she wasn't afraid to challenge Mitsuyo. Or anyone.

"I didn't want to come to this. I'm not fighting you, Hinata," Mitsuyo whispered.

"If it makes you stay- tell me what to do and I'll do it," Hinata whispered, determined.

Mitsuyo stayed silent because she's not turning back. Neither is Hinata.

Gathering her courage, Hinata stood up straighter. "Then we shall settle this the way shinobi do; bloody, tumultuous and rude,"

Mitsuyo drew a tired sigh. "Don't be a foolish child. You both matured into barely functioning adults, don't turn back the clock,"

Hinata did a series of hand signs and placed a seal around the house.

Mitsuyo rolled her eyes and shifted in place, amused. "I taught you that seal. I can disarm them in a snap-child," she snapped her fingers for emphasis.

She remembered that she taught Sasuke the mechanics of her seals, so he would know how to counter them.

"You haven't taught me everything I know," Hinata said. "I'm not a child anymore, Mitsuyo. Do not treat me like a nuance. I know what is happening. You're running again. You revealed your exit plan," Hinata said, getting her matching katana blades ready. Inazume and ikazuchi were ready, even to spill blood.

Mitsuyo's eyes flared up dangerously. "Do not accuse me of being the only bad guy when we do the same crimes. You're also running, Hyuuga. We're not strangers to the act of disappearing. We're not loyal to a fault,"

"I'm loyal to you. I'm on your side. I promised," Hinata whispered. "You know me, I never give up on those who I love. I never go back on my word because that is my nindo way,"

"Nindo ways... dreams... rainbows. You cannot touch them, there is nothing to hold onto. There is nothing here for me," Mitsuyo nodded, accepting her fate.

"We're here," Hinata whispered, feeling drained. "If you use me to fill the space, I don't mind. We all use each other,"

"I am at sea, riding this wave of life and hoping to drown in the shallow end. I want to get out of the black and into the blue. My life has been... what would that Bozu call it? A book of disappointments,"

"Don't read the last page and don't blank me out," Hinata begged.

"You love me but you do not trust me. Why stay when there is no one who believes you? It's the second loneliest place on earth. There is a time when everyone leaves and stays. This is my time that I sail off, leave the port and into a new life. My soul is as restless as the ocean. When I go, the hurts, the doubts, and the mistrust will leave. They say lots of things end with distance and they will. They will,"

"People lie and we're different," Hinata sighed. "Mitsuyo, if you leave... you'll confirm everything I was scared to think,"

"I'm the monster that people fear. I'm not a saint. I never was, I'll never be. Never look at me like I am one of the good ones," Mitsuyo yelled.

Why does she see herself like this? Why does Sasuke? It's sad. The person Mitsuyo hates the most is herself. "You are now. You changed. You evolved. I heard your heart speak. You are kind and nurturing," Hinata responded.

"I am a woman of instinct, there is what I do for genuine trust and others I do to survive," Mitsuyo raised her voice to a taller height.

This made Hinata angry. She's completely undermining the closeness they've gained over the years. Like they don't matter. "What were the last four years?! What were those? All Uchiha are dramatic. So, Uchiha Mitsuyo which arm?"

"Which one?"

"Which arm do you want to lose?" Hinata clarified.

"Hinata, grow a brain and find sense- I'm not fighting you. Hurting you is the last thing I ever wanted. It's something akin to a crime in mine and Sasuke's book,"

"Then what else would make you stay?! If you go, the wave of losing another person will drown me," Hinata yelled.

Mitsuyo huffed angrily and channeled chakra to her eyes. Hinata steadied herself. "Don't you dare put me under a genjutsu and hike off into oblivion," Hinata said.

They stared each other down.

She heard the back door open at first. That brought her an immediate sense of calm then burning questions.

Sasuke entered the scene, half-drunken and half-angry. He passed Mitsuyo, staring at Mitsuyo, cold eyes. Cold face. Cold stare. Cold, frozen body. He just sat on the couch as if nothing were wrong. As if this wasn't the most painful thing in the universe to him. His eyes, as expressionless as he tried to make it seem, showed her the world of hurt and turmoil.

He swiped a thumb over his scabbed knuckles.

"The kids?" Hinata asked simply.

"They're alright. Karin's taking them in for the night," Sasuke said, so unusually quiet, it hurt.

Sasuke looked dead at Mitsuyo, eyes magma-red and shining with malice and hate. All the bad stuff. She saw it. He was deciding whether to kick her butt or ask questions.

Mitsuyo just got tense, she could hear the minutes tick by while they all stood there, wide-eyed like in a crime scene.

Instead, he marched over to the kitchen. Mitsuyo, surprisingly, followed him. Sasuke leaned onto the kitchen counter near to the sink. Mitsuyo remained at the table, seated and statuesque.

Sasuke poured doburoku and Sake for him and Mitsuyo. Mitsuyo got a glass and Sasuke kept his own but they returned to their defensive positions.

Mitsuyo didn't touch the doburoku and Sasuke didn't sip, he drank. The full bottle was almost gone by the time someone spoke. His tolerance had stayed about the same because his tone wasn't slurred and he sounded just as hostile sober.

"We were supposed to bury strangers together," Sasuke said, breaking the silence, taking swigs between words. "At the funeral. You should have paid your respects properly,"

"How does one pay respects if you and I had none to give?" Mitsuyo reminded him harshly.

Sasuke crushed the glass he used in his hand. The glass shards fell. The alcohol numbed his rage but also intensified his hurt. Mitsuyo waited on his every move.

He chuckled darkly. "You said, "The pain comes with the name. That is why Uchiha's eyes bleed red, it's from the scars that the village put in them,"... No one can understand the magnitude of truth the statement exhibits except for a goddamn Uchiha," Sasuke laughed. "Everyone, everyone sent me looks of distrust and hate like I was a burden, not a noble schmuck's heir to the Uchiha clan,"

"That is not my fault," Mitsuyo denied it.

Sasuke shook his head. "Hell yeah, it is. You left your clan for a Konohagakure extremist who exterminated Uchiha right and left. After placing an attempt on your eyes, he stole and implanted countless sharingan in his arm,"

"He's a monster but his lover's carving never disappeared from my heart's wall. I remember it every second,"

Sasuke regarded Mitsuyo as no less than the dirt under his shoes. "Is that why Danzo got secrets about the Uchiha? Is that why the Sandaime Hokage knew so much about my clan- you were an informant. A rat who told them everything,"

Mitsuyo's shoulders fell and she breathed heavily. "I met... Danzo, a lovely paranoid, pragmatic cynic, when I was fourteen. I was young, dumb and easy. He brainwashed me much like Orochimaru brainwashed you into a sightless killer," she gave Sasuke a knowing look. "It runs in your family,"

"What the hell are you implying?"

Mitsuyo rolled her black eyes. "Itachi is the one who lifted the blade but your father's the one that planned the coup and every one of us, our clan followed through. You're out of your god damn head,"

"Don't blame the massacre on my father," Sasuke yelled and he smashed the glass bottle of alcohol on the hardwood floor.

"You don't?!" Mitsuyo bellowed.

"You do?!"

"Call it denial or stupidity but you should. All of us were the victims of the persecution complex and we had the ninety percent chance of going insane when someone we loved died. We have books on what's wrong with us in the Konoha's public library. But your father... If he hadn't set his clouded gaze on vengeance, the rest of us would have been alive. If the Uchiha hadn't been so nearsighted to what is to come during the future,"

His voice took a lower tone. "Why didn't you stay in Konoha? You could have, you could have made things right for me-"

"Could have, should have, would have are all words for the weak and forsaken," Mitsuyo murmured. They should have stayed and cared but they both didn't.

"You abandoned me. You didn't care,"

Mitsuyo weaved her fingers together, nervous under his scrutinizing glare. She lowered her gaze and looked vulnerable. "I did fight to take you back," Mitsuyo told him quietly.

"What?" Sasuke asked in disbelief.

She dodged his gaze and stared at the spreading pool of glass and liquid sadness. "I wished... for you to be here. The Sandaime Hokage and the Raikage ruled me as unfit... I did check up on you every two, three years. I watched and cared. I cared a lot, you bastard. I didn't want to abandon you. Life's good but life's not fair,"

Sasuke's exterior changed. "You fought for me?" Sasuke asked, voice so shocked and hopeful that it was childlike.

"Yes... I did,"

"Why didn't you ever break me out?"

"You weren't allowed outside of Konoha, Bozu. For good reason, you dangerous prick," Mitsuyo slammed her hands on the table. "After the nine-tails attack, the council counted on you to destroy Konoha by using your awaken sharingan. They nurtured you into a spineless being because of how they feared you,"

"You failed me," Sasuke concluded.

"Yes. It wasn't all my fault," Mitsuyo said.

They sat in a pregnant silence, thoughtful and wondering. Sasuke leaned even more heavily on the counter and Mitsuyo stared at her cuticles.

Sasuke shook his head. "I don't trust anyone but Hinata, Scar, and Kakashi but you somehow made the cut. Why did you allow Hinata in your house? Why heal me? You could've been arrested. I could've killed you yet you healed me when I asked for death. Why risk your life for me?!"

Mitsuyo didn't respond with aggression. "I am in your debt. You wanted a future for the Uchiha. I wanted you to continue on as one of the strongest shinobi in the world. You couldn't die. I watered a stone for months but now you're lively and happy, smiling. A flower that unfurled and reached out for the Sundance here," Mitsuyo smiled and it was tired and grateful. "Ultimately... you killed Shimura Danzo and anything you ask, I'll do,"

"Hn,"

She nodded to herself. "You fought tooth and nail for the Uchiha's legacy... When I simply wanted it to cease to exist. I am in your debt and the guilt of knowing I could have done more... broke me. Konoha broke me,"

"Why didn't you do more?" Sasuke asked.

"I was scared to and my distrust for the Uchiha led me to Orochimaru, who prayed on my doubts. Prior to graduating the academy at ten years old, Danzo offered me a spot in Root. I refused but Orochimaru prepared me for the war,

"My drunk parents failed to notice my success. I took advantage. I said I was at the academy but I practiced jutsu with Orochimaru in his hideouts for ages. He gave me insights and knowledge about everything I know. He used me for his experiments on children... that's why I take care of children, to... apologize,

"I apologized to you by taking care of Hinata, which is what you needed in your time of absence. I couldn't give you anything more or less. Before you made that deal with the idiot Hychu Taichirou, I fought off the pansies who infiltrated my, I thought, unbreakable barriers and seals," she turned to Hinata. "You are a very hot topic, missy. One to kill and die for,"

"What? Me? I have a bounty on my head?" Hinata asked, voice high and pitchy.

Mitsuyo laughed. "You don't believe how dangerous you are? Sad. While I left on that trip when you found Benjiro, it was really to kill the man who put the price on your head. I've had to do that many times,"

"Oh... thank you," Hinata said. "I'm still angry,"

"I apologize but... I used my sharingan to trick you into thinking that you didn't catch me using my sharingan for petty things. You both do not remember certain things and giving you pleasant dreams,"

Sasuke scoffed. "Pleasant dreams?"

"Yes. You both have quite the nightmares, so I soothed you both,"

Sasuke got angry once again. "Why didn't you tell us you had the sharingan? Why didn't you tell me that I had clan members? I know it wasn't my fault but it was my responsibility to restore the clan. I was burdened with it,"

"No one aside from you had broader shoulders, Bozu. If you knew about Kaito and Kokoro being able to produce children, would you have had those darling sundances? Would you have taken care of Benjiro and now, Taiyo?"

Sasuke glared at her then answered. "No,"

Mitsuyo sighed. "If I told you then, you would have let yourself die off drinking rum or at the hands of the Raikage like you selfishly intended,"

"It would have been nice to know that I wasn't alone all those years ago. You could have changed stuff," Sasuke admitted.

"You aren't alone now. You've got Hinata, Taiyo- who has the sharingan, Amarante, and Hiromitsu and you even have me in that gnarled clan of ours. You're even stuck with me and my two kids. I'm sorry-"

Sasuke held a hand up and briskly walked out of the kitchen. "Don't,"

Hinata sat across from Mitsuyo and sighed.

"I'm sorry," Mitsuyo said.

"Me too," Hinata replied. "Your eyes are very pretty,"

"That's the first thing Danzo ever said to me but I know you mean it for truths," Mitsuyo said. "Your eyes are beautiful, too. It's a shame you never use your Byakugan,"

Hinata shrugged. There are things that will eat away at her until she is gone. Her heart was once like Sasuke's- broken. She suffered so much from hoping and holding on but she released it. Hinata sighed... when will she meet her parent? Her hurt?

-x-

Hinata found him, twenty minutes later. He was in their bedroom, peering out the window.

The dimness of the blocked light allowed her to find him and make out the basics of the room.

Moonlight streamed in, washing him in ethereal waves, his whorls of hair catching some of its glow. He'd certainly look angelic if he weren't clenching his teeth, wound up like a coil. Just by the profile of his face and the twitch of his fingers, she could already tell where his heart was. She stared, knowing he's been broken, she could tell.

This is delicate. She slowly inched across their large bedroom. "Hey," she said softly. She stood abreast to him, sliding closer till their sides pressed against each other. Even his presence brings her calm.

He offered no greeting or response. He peered out of the window. He filled the room with his voice. "They're alive in this hellish vale. No one believed me. Not even you," he scoffed.

Hinata shifted in place, hoping that this didn't end in a fight. "It seemed impossible but nothing's impossible now, isn't it? It's a lot to process," Hinata said nervously.

Pause.

"How are you feeling?" she asked. She wanted to help him but she didn't know how to.

He tightened his jaw. "There are other sharingan users," Sasuke said.

"That's not a mood, anata," Hinata laughed awkwardly, feeling this distance between them deepen.

"I'm processing. What do you want?" Sasuke asked sharply.

"An answer- a promise," Hinata responded neutrally, trying not to snap.

"I don't do promises," Sasuke grumbled.

She shrugged. "Do me a favor then. Stop beating yourself over this,"

He turned to her. "Do me a favor and shut up,"

She gasped. Shut up? This ass-

"Then kiss me,"

And his lips crashed into hers. She let him wind his fingers around her waist and hold tight. She was moving with him, away from the window. He gently pushed her back slightly, deeper into the shadows. Her back lightly touched the cool wall and she kissed him back with fervor. She felt this edge of desperation from him she didn't expect. Like she was oxygen he needed to breathe and the money he needed to spend.

His hand traveled towards the valley of her breasts and she knew when the shirts ripped off and thighs met thighs... This isn't loving at the moment- just lust. He was angry and tired and confused. He needed some way to expend that energy. That led to him to be rough and quick. Not meticulous and sweet.

Despite that, she still sat beside him and draped her arm across his sweat-sheened shoulders. She allowed him to think and grieve.

He was tense and his muscles were taught. An aura of angry and hurt radiated off of him like a cloak that couldn't be taken off. She traced patterns in his cut, rough skin and was quiet. She got a silk bath robe to cover her nakedness.

Eventually, after she promised and kissed and soothed, she moved away and leaned against their headboard. . Rigidly he sat, on the corner edge of the bed, all milky and glaring in boxers. He stared resolutely at one spot of their decorated bedroom wall.

She decided to speak up after a minute or two. "It's fun to be as loud as we want but angry sex doesn't solve problems,"

She struck a nerve. She could tell when he said, "Che. You didn't mind my method of coping just a few minutes ago,"

Hinata pursed her lips a bit. Prickly, much? "I know what you're doing, anata. Dismissal is one of the most divine forms of avoidance. Don't become king of that,"

"That's funny. You're the queen of it too," he said coldly.

"Ouch,"

Sasuke didn't even bat an eye. "Sex doesn't solve the issues but it does put them off and clears my mind,"

"Then why do you look so confused?" Hinata challenged.

"Confused... no... angry- yes," he said.

"Sasuke... if you have your clan... I think... I think we should look for them. Give them a chance before writing them off,"

"Hn,"

"If we write them off... it won't benefit us. And you... you really wanted a family again that could fill out the Uchiha district,"

"I don't want to fill out the Uchiha district... not like this,"

"Then how?" Hinata asked. "If we don't let anyone in, then who will be there? Except for us then who?"

Sasuke stiffened and kept his eyes forward. "I don't want to talk about it,"

"I-"

He gave Hinata a scathing look. "Hinata, just stop. You're bothering me," he said rudely.

Hinata closed her mouth with a snap. "Fine. Have it your way,"

He lowered his tone. It felt like a dull blade instead of a sharp sword. "Can we just not talk about it?"

She nodded and said, "I guess I should give you alone time," she murmured softly. "I should go,"

In seconds, she had her fist curled on the bronze door handle.

"Stay,"

Hinata's fingers sprung apart. "Hmph. Now you want me? If you wouldn't be a rude teme then maybe I would stay,"

"I know but don't let me go tonight. You put up with a lot from me and..." he faltered. He gave her two quick looks, shy. "I'm sorry for that,"

Hinata's eyes widened.

He just apologized. With the words. She thought that was a once in a lifetime thing. He apologized to Benjiro for being away a lot. She also heard he apologized to Sakura for everything. Which- made her jealous.

She gave it a minute before she released the handle and looked back at him. She paused and reverted to her original position, eyeing him, reproachful. "Fine,"

She relaxed and slouched in her spot at the headboard and him at the other end of the bed.

"I feel empty," he said.

Hinata didn't respond. The pain of hearing that was equivalent to touching a hot pan on the stove.

He eventually got up, seeking comfort. He paused when he got to the edge of her space. He laid his head on her chest and listened to her heartbeat. He was tense but to a lesser extent. The weight was sort of uncomfortable but he released a long exhale that he seemed to hold in. Their skin was sticky but he relaxed.

She curled her fingers through his hair and stroked his neck, giving small massages, rolling out the kinks. He seemed to enjoy the attention but was miserable and lost.

He smelled amazing. It attracted her like a magnet. He smells like warm cooked rice, smokey wood fires and rain. She likes inhaling the scent of his sea breeze-smelling skin. It was spiced with campfires but tender like a kiss when he smells like humid piles of leaves and chilled copper, which she adored.

He smells like home.

"We have a clan," he said quietly. "We have people in our corner. People who would fight for us. They don't want to speak to us and that's killing me,"

He released a long sigh and she didn't mind being a pillow.

"If they come to us, we're grateful. If they do not, then they will build a legacy elsewhere," she shrugged, still drawing lines on the nape of his neck. "You are still a heroic clan leader, anata. They will seek your aid or... they'll keep on seeing the world as an expressionist painting. Too... scattered, no focus or beauty,"

"I'm really nothing to hang up on the wall,"

"It was a privilege to earn a place in your life. I'd wait a million years for a chance at your smile or for you to haunt me,"

He shifted. "You have to say that, you're my girlfriend," he stated and his peculiar rinnegan eye glowed. "I need a hobby or to get outta your sight. I'm emotional and sad. It must drive you crazy,"

She shook her head. "No... stay. You care. You care a lot. I'm lucky to be amongst those things..."

Sasuke shook his head. She felt it vibrate through her. "It's the other way around. The good people probably wonder what the hell you're doing with a man like me,"

"Well. I'm here for the long run, even when you're mean. Do me a favor. Don't enjoy my happiness, find sources of happiness. Will you do that for me?"

"I have... you and this. That's good. I'm not alone anymore,"

"It's kind of a funny feeling to get used to, isn't it?" Hinata murmured. "You learned to be that way,"

He rolled away, off of her chest. His head landed on the pillow and he checked her expression. "It's... different but pleasant. A little burn during sunrise. You're a good teacher," he got serious. "I just noticed something else. It's been four years. You're my girlfriend of three years,"

"Wow. Sasuke- I never knew that," she said, poking his collarbone. "We're dating- the sky is blue, salt is salty. It's just common truth, love,"

He shrugged. "You can have claws and you cry at all the films we watch- even if it's happy,"

"I can cry if I am happy. It's legal, Sasuke," Hinata said. "You have no emotions,"

"You have too many. You worry. You eat orange peels and you like releasing the fish I catch back into the water. There are millions of hair pins everywhere. You also always shrink the laundry and drink rainwater but-"

"Is this list every pet peeve about Hinata day?" Hinata asked.

"No. Be quiet- I'm trying to be meaningful, idiot," Sasuke said. "Every day is a day of happiness. We sip bubbly and fight and you got that list of fundamentals. Lots of people don't know a thing and you know almost everything but you're still here and you're still perfect and damn annoying,"

She laughed. "You do have pet peeves about me, no? As I have them for you," she smiled. "To me, you're perfect and annoying as well,"

"You do get crazy. Like the 'hot' in psychotic,"

She shoved him. "Leave me alone,"

He lazily kissed her forehead and collapsed back down. He stared at the ceiling, a listless expression on his face. "When I said I felt empty... it was... the good emptiness. No pain. No happiness. No anxiety. Just calm,"

"Wanna be even calmer?" Hinata asked. "I have the perfect remedy,"

He sat up slightly and ran a trail of kisses from her collarbone to the edge of her lips. "Wanna go again?" Sasuke asked, running a hand over her smooth thigh.

"No- let's make tea!"

He removed his hand and pulled back, scowling a bit. "You chose tea over me," Sasuke huffed. "Unbelievable,"

"Don't get jealous. I am proud of you and you make me happy but tea. Hmmm. Sencha... matcha, genmaicha, and bancha- to choose, it must be so hard,"

"No- it's not, but I still am," Sasuke said and she rolled her eyes. His mouth contorted in a smirk. "For the rest of us without hundreds of recipes in our heads, eh. It's quite easy,"

Hinata waved her hand. "You all are missing out. Who chooses one flavor and stays with it?"

"Everyone," Sasuke said in a matter-of-fact tone that was tired. He poked her forehead then brushed the hair away from her eyes. "You cute ocha addict,"

She batted his fingers away. "I'm not addicted to tea!"

"Sure and I'm not a weapons hoarder," Sasuke drawled, teasing.

"I'm serious,"

"Sure, ocha," Sasuke said, still amused.

Hinata gasped, feeling her cheeks redden. "Don't make that a thing. If you make that a thing, everyone will know," she whined.

"Hn. Addicted to tea like an adult but you whine like a child. I could just pinch your cheeks and ti-"

"Sasuke- don't you dare tickle me," Hinata ordered, unable to keep a straight face.

"I like to hear you laugh," Sasuke said with a yawn. "Your laugh... juvenile, like a child's but modest and subtle like tea's aroma. Hey... can I call you ochako? A child of tea. It's fitting," he murmured. "Nah. Just ocha... just that,"

She stayed quiet. He... gave her a nickname! She felt triumphant. He hates honorifics and it took months for him to accept her calling him 'Anata,'.

Sometimes she thinks he loves her so much. He left her roses from the garden by the stairs the other day when he left. She didn't want to scare him away.

"No, it is not. Sasuke- uh, can I call you something else? Something... intimate? Can I call you someone who loves me?" Hinata asked.

She was so scared to tell him.

Silence.

"You're asleep," she said, gasping. He was asleep. She guesses she'll wait another time.

She left a barrier seal she learned that blocked Sasuke off from hearing outside sounds. It protected him. She kissed his temple and walked out, ready to speak to Mitsuyo about Akuma-oo-sama and Miyana.

-x-

Midnight.

She found Mitsuyo leaving again. Hinata almost didn't recognize the vixen in the kitchen.

Near the sink, a supple and willowy Mitsuyo ran her long fingers across the clean counter, a wistful look in her eye. There was a leather book she stared at, unsure and concerned. This time, her hair was slightly damp and licorice-black. She snapped and her luggage retreated back into a void Hinata knew nothing about.

"I thought you both were asleep," Mitsuyo said composedly without looking back. Her voice was even and unemotional... "Midnight a perfect time to say goodbye isn't it?"

Hinata rapidly tightened her white yukata. "What are you doing?"

Mitsuyo turned back to Hinata and she put on a face. A screenshot of a face after consuming a bag of green apples. "I was your best friend. Your doctor, your therapist and medicine. Now it's time to be your stranger," she smiled but it reminded her of a snake's smile. Something fake enveloped that tone. Hinata didn't know what.

"Hinata, I'm going," Mitsuyo said cooly.

Before Hinata could say a single word, Mitsuyo spun around and was onto her.

Mitsuyo charged at Hinata, kicking her stomach. Hinata crashed into the table that cracked in half upon impact. Splinters and kitchen appliances shuttled when the drawers stopped her. She released a tortured cough and held her aching abdomen.

"Why'd you do that?!" Hinata hacked as the dust settled.

Mitsuyo dropped her foot and grimaced. "You were going to fight me- to stay. We both know you wouldn't throw the first shot," Mitsuyo announced. "You would never throw the first shot,"

Mitsuyo activated her cerise sharingan and exposed her glowing hands. Orange... and steaming.

"Stay," Hinata implored, hoping to communicate her love.

"You'll have to kill me for I won't stay," Mitsuyo reported.

Hinata stood up gradually, finding her ground. "You'll have to change your mind before that," Hinata answered.

Mitsuyo opened her fist where a blaze grew. She shot it at Hinata's face, which she dodged. The wall behind her shoulder was burnt.

They wrestled for what it seemed centenaries, going back and forth with powerful attacks that demolished the kitchen circling them. Hinata applied all the procedures Mitsuyo taught her and channeled all her energy into making her stay.

Hinata smashed a cupboard door on Mitsuyo's head and struck her stomach with her gentle fist technique. Mitsuyo used a snake summon to wrap around Hinata's shoulder to dislocate it. All the metal appliances in the room floated in the air as if waiting for her command.

A vociferous outcry mingled with new rage led the silverware to aim themselves at Mitsuyo.

Mitsuyo, who Hinata knows has proficient reflexes, resigned herself to a spiked fate. Death.

Hinata pushed Mitsuyo out of the way and quickly used the leg of a broken chair to block all the lethal forks and spoons.

Mitsuyo crept towards the door but Hinata hit the back of her head with the knife-embedded chair leg. Hinata kicked a pot under her mentor to break Mitsuyo's fall.

Mitsuyo didn't drop. She swung around and swept her elegant long legs under Hinata's, making her trip.

They were both on the kitchen floor, breathing heavy because they both lost and won in a way.

Her arms were colored by bruises and blood. "Why'd you have to fight me?" Mitsuyo panted, black eye and all.

"I love you, that's why..." Hinata coughed.

Neither of them made an attempt to move.

They lingered there. "Why couldn't you love me less?" Mitsuyo hissed.

"Impossible," Hinata groaned. Mitsuyo fussed and shifted.

They remained on the kitchen floor until they fought again, landing on the beryl-green grass of the backyard. Hinata drew a hard breath because her head was spinning. She was upset and she rested, listening to Mitsuyo's labored pants. Through the searing pain, Hinata crawled to Mitsuyo.

There was destruction around them like chaos visited as a friend. The grass was a green carpet around them but it was stained with small crumbs of fire. Her head hurt and she was sure some of her fingers were ground into a fine powder in her tendons but it was pretty out here, inhaling potent flowers, witnessing the pollen circumnavigate with the breeze. It smelled like oncoming rain, which added to its attraction. It was not a starless night, which was beautiful. It looked like an expressionist painting.

"You both always push me to the point of exasperation! Why should I stay?" Mitsuyo asked, destroyed and prostrated.

"Time and running and angry sex makes it worst. We might as well confront our demons," Hinata told her frankly, tasting unrefined copper in her saliva.

"I'm bringing you pain," Mitsuyo declared.

"Yes, but who doesn't? There's no dignity in begging... and why restart if you've already started something so lovely and intertwined?"

"I am a disaster area. I'm the demon. The real monster I told Sasuke about,"

"I'm not mad. Sasuke is but he's always angry about one thing or another. He's right- you shouldn't have not told us but we all make mistakes, right?"

"Because of Miyana. She... hates Uchiha, enough to kill me and I made this worse for you all,"

"Don't go before we figure this out, please? Don't let us go tonight,"

Mitsuyo sighed. "I need to go... find myself again. Maybe visit my children. They can't be too far,"

"Fine. Leave. Leave like everyone else," Hinata hissed.

"I've been lying too long," Mitsuyo laughed. "And I've lied that my sister isn't a psychopath who doesn't care about anyone but profit,"

Hinata's ribs felt wretched and her legs were bruised. She didn't want to think of the colors her limbs were. Mitsuyo didn't look too hot, either. Mitsuyo was silent until she looked at the cotton ball clouds. "I didn't send the letters," Mitsuyo admitted with a sorry sigh.

"What?" Hinata asked.

"To Konoha... I didn't send them. You've been writing to Hanabi or whatever and I didn't want to... end up giving you fake hope," Mitsuyo palpitated. She didn't sound as hurt as Hinata thought she was.

If she could move, she have would have smacked Mitsuyo. Hinata wheezed through gritted teeth. "It wouldn't have been fake had you sent them," Hinata said.

"Hinata- understand me, you would have lost everything if I sent the letter because... they would have shown up, stripped down everything we've worked for and drain our ocean... full of life and fluidity and love... I didn't want you to lose what I've never had; a family,"

"Kami, I should have but... Just... I couldn't bring myself to put you through pain. That's the last thing on my laundry list,"

Mitsuyo's black eye... was merely a mauvish color... was fading. "I didn't send the letters but... here is a book," Mitsuyo said, fishing out a the same leather book from her torn yukata.

"I don't want it,"

"You're getting it anyway. I need you to investigate it. It belonged to Miyana or Kaiya... she wrote down so many random names that I lost count over the past ten years," Mitsuyo said. "I found it in Miyana's shed of a house-"

Mitsuyo liked calling Miyana's house a 'shed,' because it... was quite small. Taiyo's things were cleaned out of the small apartment a while ago since he spent so much time sleeping in the Natsukawa house. The house was moderately unkept and needed renovations. Sasuke got nervous when Taiyo slept in the 'shed,'. But a book... it doesn't matter.

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Hush it. You never used to interrupt. Anyway, I found it under a floorboard,"

Oh.

Mitsuyo continued. "It was just a diary, I thought until I saw that it was mostly comprised of names and numbers... It was an alphabet soup of random Japanese characters and bloodstains. Like a puzzle,"

Hinata bit her lip from cussing at the pain when she reached for the journal.

She looked at it carefully. The pages weren't neglected... Almost like a criminal's tattooed body, every centimeter was filled with designs and... random words. The quantity made her eyes swim and her head pound with the flood of information. All the pages were quite the same. Was it just her... or everything was blurry? Everything melded together, mixing in her sight.

"What is it?"

"I dunno. I leave it to you..." Mitsuyo said. "And... I lied about another thing- my name is actually Kozakura... I prefer Mitsuyo... because I wanted to be the new generation of light that my clan obviously wasn't... Since Mitsuyo means... generation of light," Mitsuyo admitted.

"And-" Mitsuyo started thoughtfully. She looked over and saw Hinata slowly nodding off... and said, "Bah... that is for another time..."

For the first time in forever, she really saw Mitsuyo smile. She'd usually have her pink lips twisted into a mocking smirk or an engraved grimace. "Take care, will you?" Mitsuyo asked. She sat up and wasn't wincing... Her black eye vanished, just a memory in Hinata's distant, fatigued mind.

Hinata felt... the odd sensation of being... healed. The cooling, low temperature of her calming chakra wafted through her system. "Wha... What are you doing?"

"I used to spend all my time with Tsunade after... her beloved Dan died. She made it a point for me to heal Jiraiya after... all those times she struck him. I've become quite good,"

"Why-... why heal me?" Hinata asked.

"Shhh, hush... That shouldn't be a question," Mitsuyo hummed a song she distantly remembers her own mother crooning. It was emotional and it felt like a goodbye.

The next morning, Hinata was gone and completely healed and bandaged. She suspects that was just the caring part of Mitsuyo... shining through.