Walls and Mercy
Chapter 002
Present…
Ino glared through the ANBU mask at the Uchiha boy she had met so long ago. Everything within her hymned in recognition of him, but the man standing before her was not the boy she had known. The man before her was cold, and his piercing Sharigan gaze expressionless. Nothing about him marked the innocence of the friend she once met as a six year old girl.
"Ino!" The scolding cry from Shikamaru jolted her. Realizing that she was stalling time, Ino hardened her features and concentrated on hitting the enemy with her jutsu. Forming the hand seal, she aimed at his unmoving figure.
"Why are you attacking the Kohona Village?" She wanted to know. The hunger to hear his voice almost made her weak in the knees.
Silent, he just watched her. Ino didn't understand why he didn't move. Her mind-control attack would consume him. Once she had control of his mind, she could make him commit suicide or better yet, become her puppet and kill his partner.
When he continued to stand in silence Ino activated her jutsu. The force of the jutsu flew through her hands and slammed into the enemy. Ino watched as he fell back a step and dropped his head in obedience.
Perfect. Quickly, Ino began to control the body. When she tried to raise her hand, it didn't move. What the-!
Her eyes stared horrified as her arms began to expand. Somehow she was trapped into a jutsu vortex that distorted all her ligaments and features like a kaleidoscope. Within seconds she was boxed inside a black darkness that blinded all sight and deafened all ability to hear. Trying to call out for help, her voice was gone and her ability to break out of the spell prohibited. [iHow was it possible?[/i
Suddenly, she screamed when the torture began. Sharp shards of black stabbed into her body as she remained immobile in the spell. Her psychological state went haywire as her body began to float boneless and the pieces of black cutting her deeply. Even though it was a genjustu, a mind control spell, she was unable to escape.
Somehow her own attack had backfired.
In the darkness she opened her eyes and stared into two large red eyes. It was him!
Unwilling to give up, Ino summoned her courage and with all her might called out the spell breaking words, "Kai!"
The enchantment dispersed as Ino fell back to her normal state. Her mind was in a chaotic upheaval as the brain nerves her shocked. Trying to stand, her limbs were trembling and she held back a cry as she felt several muscles pulls from the stress of the mind control.
Focusing her medical abilities into molds of healing charka, Ino tried to re-patch her wounded internal strains. All the while the enemy didn't move. It was beginning to piss her off that he stood there so calmly and collected. She hated him for all the things he had done to the village.
Now he was here to destroy it.
Ino's anger fueled her healing and before she could finish, she attacked him. The rage within her took over as she charged and swiped at him. Her punches missed and her kicks flew over his head as he ducked. He was unbelievably fast!
Then she gasped when a fist slammed into her mid-drift. The punch was so forceful and strong she heard a rib crack. Launching herself away, she leaned over to her left and grasped the injured side. Quickly, she tried to suppress the damage with her medical charka but the enemy rushed at her.
He was as graceful as a dancer as he threw his fists and kicked her from under with his leg. Mercilessly he took advantage of her pain and weakness as a gain to finish her off. When Ino tried to call out another jutsu, he stabbed her with his eyes and again she her limbs fell trapped. Her eyes could only close when his knuckles slammed into the side of her face. There was no way she could dodge it. Again, another slammed into her jaw and blood rushed out from her mouth. And finally, a side kick to her already broken mid section forced stars to spark behind her eyes.
Ino's body flew back several feet and swiveled a few more before stopping. Her blond hair had come undone and shielded her face. All around her was her ANBU mask smashed into smithereens. Barely conscious, Ino breathed raggedly as she tried to figure out a way to escape.
"Itachi!" The sound came from the partner of the Uchiha. "Kill the biitch and let's go."
Through the cracks of her eyes, Ino could see that both Shikamaru and Choji were badly beaten and lying on the ground. They were probably dead and so would she. Never had they assumed that the two enemies would be so strong and possess kills that would immobile all their attacks.
When a tall and long shadow pressed over her body, Ino could tell he was going to kill her. Her mind cried out against the onslaught and she groaned when a hard hand grabbed her shoulder and flipped her over on her back. The rocks beneath her back poked into her skin and she flinched.
Ino cracked her eyes open as her hair parted from her face and he came into view. The look of shock was a clear expression of his face as his hands gentled when reaching her again. At the touch of his fingers, her already bruised body reacted in protest as searing pain ripped from inside her.
"Kill her already!" The impatient voice spoke again.
No longer able to stay awake from the impact of the pain, Ino drifted into darkness just as whispering words sealed her fate.
"She comes with us."
Thirteen Years Ago…
A week after helping that ungrateful Uchiha kid, Ino was on strict grounds with her parents. Not only had she arrived home late, her flowers were no longer useable and she was a mess. Her mom and dad worried about her safety and refused her go out at night ever again. Despite that, Ino decided to sneak out tonight and take in some fresh air.
She crawled out her bedroom window and climbed down the long pipes of her house to the ground. Knowing that her parents would probably kill her, she stuffed her pillows to look like she was sleeping before heading out. Knowing that the green house would be beautiful at this time of night, she headed there.
Always, Ino loved it when night time came. The green house would shimmer like a fairy tale castle with all the pretty plants and gardens inside. Walking through the rows of flowers she felt like she was a princess in another world. Nothing was more breathtaking than the green house in the spring during the night time. It was also one of the best times to see the exotic flowers that only bloomed at night.
As she headed closer to the shelter an anxious feel settle in Ino. It had been so long since she crept out to watch the moon and flowers at night. It was like seeing her long-time friends again. Opening the door, she walked inside and looked around.
Everything was din and the glass windows soaked in the moonlit rays inside. All the plants seemed to sing in the darkness and sway in greeting as Ino neared them. This was her favorite place of all time.
"Hello there." She knelt beside her favorite rosebud. It was so tiny, and the last time she had seen it the tiny flower had had yet to bloom. At every chance, Ino shared her secrets with it in hope of encouraging it to adulthood. "You've a bit since I last saw you!" She was excited as the rose petals giggled in response to her up close breath.
Suddenly, a crash behind her caused Ino to jump. Her eyes scanned fast around the green house and she saw a black shadow dash. The thought of someone intruding on her secret place and messing with the flowers in the green house was unacceptable. She charged at the figure and chased it.
"Hold it!" Knowing the layout of the green house was to her advantage as she skipped over isles of flowers and crashed full body into the back of the shadowy figured. A painful grunt was heard as both their bodies tumbled to the ground rolling over pots and plants.
Their limbs were knotted and Ino was merciless as she pummeled the person under her. "How dare you!" She cried out. Her flimsy arms were snatched into a hard hold and she was pushed off.
Landing with a "oomph!" on her behind, Ino sneered as the face of the intruder came to view.
"You!" It was the Uchiha boy.
Angry eyes stared at her from black depths. His hair was rumpled and his features blemished with slight cuts from the fall. The clothes he wore were in disarray from the tumble and he looked nothing like the regal perfect kid everyone knew him to be.
Without further adieu, Ino burst out laughing. Her laughter deepened his frown and his jaw ticked in annoyance.
"You look so funny!" Little leaves of plants decorated his hair like a crown which added to her reaction. Smudges of dirt also colored his pale cheeks. "Like a f-f-fairy."
At the comment, the boy pulled back a sec and touched his hair. Shaking out the leaves and hiding his embarrassment he turned to leave. When he moved, the girl snaked around him and held out her arms to block his retreat.
Ino was serious now. "All right buddy, what are you doing here?" Obviously she wasn't going to back down from him. The last time they met she let him go and he ran. This time, if she had to, she would jump on him and force him to stay and answer her.
The Uchiha boy looked at her like an odd creature. Never had anyone spoken with such hardness and demand from him, much less someone who a pint-sized kid. Trying to move past the blond girl, he was surprised when she latched onto his arms in an unbreakable hold.
"Let-" His mutter was interrupted.
"No, you listen to me. You are intruding here. I'm not going to let you go until you answer me." Unbelievably, her hold on him tightened.
Itachi could swear that the blood circulation of his arm was at risk. Deciding to let her have her way, he pulled away from her with an obliging nod. "All right." He finally spoke.
Hearing the words from him, Ino relented. Surprisingly his voice was kind of melodic. He was at the peak of his childhood years, but it was obvious that when he spoke, he was in the stage of transcending to a teenage boy too. Ino was hoped someday her voice would be as smoothing sounding. Wait… probably not being that I screamed most of the time, she thought.
"I wanted a place to hide."
Ino arched a brow. Why would he want to hide? "From who?" she asked.
With a sad crestfallen look, the Uchiha boy looked down at the ground. His shoulders slumped as he muttered, "My father."
"Ah." Ino thought she could relate. "Yeah, my dad is kind of scary too. When he gets mad, this vein on his forehead twitches and looks like its going to bust open." The comment forced a small laugh from the boy and Ino smiled. He looked… pretty when he smiled. Encouraged to continue, she added on. "And, I hide from after that. I think I get it."
He simply stared at her. "My dad…" He paused unsure if to reveal. He chuckled when he saw her enthusiastic nod, "he's demanding." Itachi completed with a sigh.
For some odd reason, Itachi was beginning to talk in and reveal more than he had ever done. His words seemed to thirst for her attention and it was probably due to the girl's vivid and sincere interest in him. Never had he been so open with revelations before.
"Continue." She urged. Her eyes targeted his arm again.
Itachi was uncomfortable with such a setting. He didn't share much and she was a bit demanding. Moving his arms behind him, he tried to explain.
"My dad wants me to be perfect. I always try hard and he pushes harder. I just wanted a place to be alone for a little while."
Hearing the sadness of his tone melted the little girls hear. She placed a compassionate hand over his arm. When he glanced at her she smiled wide. Her comfort was foreign to Itachi and a small smiled tugged at the corner of his lips.
"I guess… I'll let you hang out with me." She teased him. "Come on. I'll show something."
Itachi rose with the girl when she pulled him along side her to a tiny little flower. Both crouched to watch the little plant and he stared at it in confusion. Before he could ask what they were doing, she answered him.
"My family owns this green house. I always come here alone too. I love watch the flowers dance and bloom." She beamed a smile at him. "It's like they are my friends." She laughed when she blinked. He didn't think plants could be friends. "Plants can be friends. They listen to you when you're sad, they bloom for you when they are happy," she looked at the tiny rosebud again. "And. – Oh! Look!"
Ino pointed to the tiny flower as it moved. Her gaze was remained riveted on the flower as it began to change. Slowly, the petals of the tiny rosebud danced open with invitation. Together, both of them watched the tiny flower push with all its might and ripple open into a bright new rose.
Watching the amazing transformation, Itachi had never paid attention to such minor details as a flower blooming. All his life he saw life as a hard and demanding feat. The gentleness sin such things as flowers never concerned him. Beside her, Itachi turned from the flow and looked at the blond girl.
He was taken aback at seeing her expression. Her innocence radiated like an infectious light he couldn't call anything less than ethereal. He was drawn to her look of captivation and watched her with studious eyes. How was it that she felt pleasure from the simplest things?
"Isn't that amazing!" The girl's loud cheer broke them from his thoughts. "You are now a full blown rose, my friend." The girl complimented the tiny plant and it seemed to giggle in her attention. Itachi was intrigued. "Ah! Someday, I hope to be as beautiful as they flowers when I grow up."
Itachi quirked up with a smile, her wish wasn't going to be hard feat.
Slowly she leaned over to the flower and listened as if the little rose was telling her a secret. She laughed and leaned back with a knowing smile when she looked at him. "Wanna know what my friend told me?" she asked him,
Itachi looked at her solemnly. The little demented girl was talking to flowers. Shaking his head, he didn't want to know and stood up. It was time to go home. Father would be looking for him.
"Are you leaving?" She called from behind. He nodded over his shoulder. He paused when she caught to him and stopped before him. She reached out a small hand and looked at him expectantly.
When Itachi didn't move, she reached over and grabbed his hand in her grasp. With bright eyes and easy smile, she introduced herself. "Well, I'm Ino from the Yamanato clan. You?"
Such an odd creature she was. "Uchiha Itachi." He grinned.
"Nice to meet you." She said. "Even if you didn't want to know, my friend said you can visit anytime. There are no bullies and your dad won't find you."
The suggestion shafted a feeling of calmness and acceptance through Itachi. He tightened his hand against hers and nodded. Without a glance back, he walked out the green house and headed home.
Behind, Ino was sure that he would come again. And when he did, she would make sure to be there for him to see his smile again.
YAY! I actually wrote chapter two. It's going to be fun from now on. Angsty angsty!