Recap.....
Tears filled the eyes of Lady Shizune and many others in the room. Kakashi had closed his eyes in grief. He lost one more person he cared for. He was too late. Shikamaru gripped his shirt in horror. Even though he was known for his intelligence, he couldn't process what had happened. Lady Tsunade lost all hope she had and sighed in defeat.
"Pronounce the time of death."
Shizukana's P.O.V
"Dear! Wake up." A soft and gentle voice broke through the peaceful silence. I just kept my eyes shut not daring to open them. A few minutes pass by before the voice spoke again. "Thea, you'll get late, love."
Thea? I sat up with a jolt and looked around the room. It was very familiar and that's when it hit me. It was the room of my previous life.
Loud footsteps caught my attention as I jumped out of the bed and took a defensive stance.
"Thea, you better hurry up. Dad's already put on his shoes. Remember two months ago?" A young unmatured voice spoke causing me to abandon my stance and stand straight.
The door opened and a young boy with brown hair and brown eyes entered. He was very familiar. Too familiar. "Jamie?" I whispered.
Jamie's grin vanished and was overshadowed with a look of concern. "You okay?" He asked leaning against the door frame.
I couldn't process what was exactly happening. Unable to hold back the tears and emotions I felt, I sobbed into my palm and walked towards him.
He instantly walked forwards and hugged me. He hadn't grown an inch or changed since the last time I saw him. He still smelt the same and his hair was the same.
"What's wrong?" Jamie asked as I felt his hands wrap around my waist. "Thea? You're scaring me."
I instantaneously backed away with wide eyes. I didn't want to scare him in any way. "No, hmm. Sorry." I said wiping my eyes. "Bad dream?" I said as if questioning myself.
"Oh." was all he said. "Wha-"
He was interrupted when the door opened and a very angry lady stepped in. Mom. "Althea, you're gonna get late. Jamie, you wer-" She paused when she noticed the tears in my eyes and Jamie's expression.
"Bad dream," I said trying not to tear up more. "That's all."
Momma expression softened as she slowly walked towards me. She places her hand on my forehead before wincing. "You're not going to work then. Stay home. Your fathers on a half day so he'll be back for lunch." She said as she wiped some of my tears away.
I didn't say anything except nod.
"Now get changed. Breakfast is on the table." She said as she smiled and dragged a protestant Jamie out of the room.
The second the door closed, I let out a shaky breath before I found myself crying once again.
I didn't know how to explain this. It's like the Narutoverse never happened. I ran my hand through my hair before noticing that it was short.
I quickly ran to the bathroom and looked into the mirror. Instead of the usual white hair and yellow eyes, it was the Black hair and Grey eyes that haunted me.
Sasuke? Naruto? Chidori... I looked at my chest where the Chidori was impaled to find nothing. No blood or scar. Was it all just a dream? Or even a nightmare?
Using muscle memory, I walked it my closet and got dressed. My mind was filled with crazy possibilities and thoughts as I walked down the stairs and towards the kitchen where the smell of eggs filled the air.
"Sit down, dear. Your juice is on the table." My mother's voice rang as I snapped out of my reverie. I missed her sweet and melodic voice.
I obeyed and sat down on the table before looking around. They were the same. My eyes then wandered toward the picture frame which held a photograph of me and my colleagues and bosses. Did that happen? Was it just a dream?
".... To Thea. Earth to Thea?" I jerked out of my thoughts to find Jamie snapping his fingers in front of my face. "What's with you? You look like you've seen a ghost." He said tilting his head before grabbing my cup and taking a sip out of it. He then smiled cheekily.
"Don't you have school or something?" I asked him before he burst out in laughter. I narrowed my eyes.
"It's the summer holidays. What? Were you living under a rock?" He said flicking my forehead. "I told you this yesterday. Finally gone crazy?" He asked smiling like a maniac.
"James, don't provoke your sister." Mom said as she placed two plates on the table. "I mean it." She said with a stern look.
"Swowy." He apologized childishly before grabbing a fork and stuffing his face. He reminded me of Naruto.
"Thea, eat and you'll feel better." Mom said as she grabbed a chair next to me. I nodded before taking a bite. It was delicious. But it felt like I had eaten this yesterday.
"Mom, you know that there are different ways to prepare an egg," Jamie said stabbing his egg with his fork. "You make this every day."
"I'm sorry, wasn't this the same egg you were begging for three years ago?" She replied before taking a bite out of my plate. "Perfection."
After breakfast, I stood up and sat on the couch. The same place where I died. Or did that even happen? I stared at the place where dad's throat was slit.
Is this a dream? Did Sasuke kill me? Did this reincarnation thing happen or was it just a dream that seemed so long?
"Thea?" Jamie called from the kitchen. I walked towards him. "Dad's on the phone."
I nodded and took the phone. I brought the phone up to my ear. "Hello?" I spoke and the concerned yet neutral voice of my father reached my ears.
"Thea? You okay?" He asked.
"I'm okay. Wasn't feeling too well but I'm okay." I said nodding to myself.
"Alright. I'll be back in a few hours and then we'll talk. Love you!" Dad said as someone called his name from the background.
"Bye," I said as the call ended.
I brought the phone down and left it on the table. I then turned to face my mother who seemed to be deep in thought.
"Mom?" I spoke, bringing her out of her train of thoughts. "Are you okay?"
She put on a bright smile and nodded. "Of course, Thea." She then ruffled my hair before walking out of the kitchen.
When she ruffled my hair, a very strange feeling coursed through my body. Sensei. It felt so real. But was it?
Timeskip...
It was around noon and Dad was expected to be home. Mom had made some lunch and Jamie was in his room.
I didn't have anything to do except for sitting around. And that's what I did. I sat down on the couch and let my mind wander. It went from all the memories I had in what I suppose was the Naruto world. But as I was doing so, I couldn't help but feel peace. Like there was no danger. Like I was finally safe and could drop my guard.
But that still didn't stop the anxiety from taking over. It worsened when I noticed the date. 13th of June. The same day that I had "died." The same day my father was slaughtered in front of me. And the same day that my life turned upside down.
There was this small part in my mind telling me that it was just a dream but I couldn't help but feel cautious. There could be an accident out of nowhere.
There was the sound of footsteps but I didn't acknowledge them. I just kept thinking of ways that could calm the situation in my mind.
Third Person's P.O.V
"I'm home." Martin Smarts called out as he entered his house. He had just arrived from work. It was a half-day so he was quite relieved.
He was instantaneously met with the eyes of his wife, Emily Smarts.
Even though she tried to mask her feelings, Martin noticed her distress almost instantaneously.
Martins mind went on auto-pilot mode. "What's wrong?" He asked as concern and worry flooded his face.
"Uhmm. It's Thea. She doesn't feel right." Emily whispered as she quickly grabbed Martins wrist and pulled him inside the house and towards the living room.
There, James Smarts and Althea Smarts were seated on the couch. Jamie had a worried look on his face. Althea on the other hand seemed to be showing no emotion. Just staring out into the openness. Not responding to anything that James was saying.
Before Martin or Emily could reach their children, a loud bang resonated through the house.
Althea snapped out of her reverie with wide eyes. The Smarts family stared at the source of the odd noise to find their main door hanging by a thread on its hinges.
It was then that Althea realized that she was living a horrible nightmare.
Shizukana's P.O.V
I felt like my soul was being pulled out of my body and I watched what was happening from another point of view.
It was very clear what was happening. I was watching my worst nightmare but from a different point of view.
Five people wearing black masks entered the house holding all sorts of weapons. Knives, guns and battens.
I rushed forwards but couldn't get close. It was as if something was holding me back. That's when I heard it. A voice.
"It's inevitable. You know that right?" A rough yet calm voice cut through the air.
I turned around to face a man. It was a man with no distinguishing features. If I could describe him I would say that he looks like an average person. Nothing that will make you remember him.
"No! I can stop it." I said as I turned back to the chaos in front of me. But everything had paused. The horrified look on my mother and fathers expressions were stuck on their face. The coffee mug that was knocked off its spot on the table seemed to float in mid-air.
"Ah. The tranquillity before the chaos." The man said before chuckling. "I love this moment. The impending sense of doom. Nasty feeling." He said looking at me.
"What's happening?" I asked worried that the result would be something morbid.
The person looked at me with confusion on his face. He looked back at the scene before staring at my face once more. "It-its your life ending. Don't you remember this?" He said with a hint of amusement in his eyes
"Like it was yesterday," I answered feeling cautious that this person wasn't a friend. I took a few steps back.
"Ever so suspicious." He said. "This is what I love about you. You always see through the illusions. Not like other humans." He said giving me a sinister grin.
"Let's enjoy the show." He said as he snapped his finger. Like a video unpausing, the scene in front of me played.
It was horrible. The intruders went straight for my father. "Let's kill Daddy." They said. Their eyes were merciless as they grabbed my father who tried to fight them.
With no difficulty at all, they used a knife and dragged it across his throat. Screams filled the room as my father fell to the floor.
I couldn't tear my eyes away from the blood. It horrified me to the core. I wanted to help. To do something.
"Please. Stop." I said as I tried to stay strong. But who can stay strong when their father is being killed right in front of their very eyes. "Stop this."
But he ignored me.
The intruders then turned to my mother and brother. They used the battens to beat my mother. I watched as my mother desperately tried to reach Jamie and my past self.
I closed my eyes and covered my ears. I couldn't take it. I couldn't listen to the pleas and blood-curdling screams.
I opened my eyes when I felt a pair of cold hands on my wrists. It was the man. He was looking at me with pity. "Watch." He said as he brought my hands down.
I didn't know why I listened to him. It was like his tongue was made of silver. I did as I was told.
I watched as my past self grabbed the phone and contacted the police. I watched as the intruders raised their gun towards my brother. The picture was so clear. I knew exactly what was going to happen. And it did. It happened.
My past self jumped in front of the gun right as it went off. It was quick but it played in slow motion. And then it struck me. I didn't know what was going to happen next. I died before seeing if my mother and brother had survived.
Sure there were sirens outside but with what I just saw, life can be lost in a second with no time to react.
My mothers scream filled the air right after the bang of the gunshot. It was painful to hear. It was the last thing in the world I would want to hear.
Jamie struggled with all his might as he tried to get to my dying body. My heart ached as their crying and screams were the only things that I could hear.
I tried to hold back my tears but it was impossible. My entire body was shaking in fear and anger as I watched my past life draw the final breath.
I snapped my head towards the man who was enjoying this. "Who are you?" I asked. The last thing I remember is Sasuke's Chidori. So that means I'm dead. But why am I seeing this?
He clicked his tongue and looked at me. "You're supposed to be smart. Don't you have a tiny inkling of who I might be?" He said tilting his head. "I mean, you've been dodging me. Always brushing with death. Every single time you're this close to dying but you manage to escape." He said bringing his index and middle fingers close to each other. Leaving just a millimetre of a distance between them.
Death. "You... You're death?" I asked as my face turned an unhealthy shade of white.
He just burst out in laughter. "Correct. Ten points to the mortal who caused quite a ruckus. What happened to you was a mistake and was quite troublesome." He said. His eyes then turned devious. "Then again, I do love a chase."
Just after he said that the scene in front of me continued playing.
Right after the light left my past self's eyes, the sound of a megaphone filled the air that silenced the voices and screams.
"This is Manchester Police." Whoever was outside the house said through the megaphone. "You have been surrounded."
I watched as an inkling of hope filled Jamie and moms eyes. I took in a deep breath when I heard it. Maybe they survive. They have to make it out of there.
It wasn't what I expected. For all this time I thought that my mother and brother had survived. But my naive mind was so wrong.
My eyes widened in horror when one of the intruders aimed the gun at my mother and pulled the trigger.
"No!" Jamie's scream filled the air as the gunshot echoed through the house.
I watched helplessly as blood splattered on my brothers face as he watched my mother slump to the floor.
I couldn't move. It was as if time had frozen. A feeling I knew all too well. A feeling that was going to haunt me for the rest of my life. My eyes moved to my mother's dead body. Flashbacks of Kaa-San laying on the floor entered my mind.
My body tensed up when I felt a cold breeze touch my skin from behind. "Watch. See what happens next." Death whispered into my ear.
He was standing right behind me.
I did as said. I regret it. My eyes landed on my brother who collapsed to the floor. I knew he was shot but I couldn't seem to hear the gunshot. I watched as he bled out on the clean white tile.
I'm not quite sure why I'm surprised. I often had nightmares of this.
I let out a shaky breath as my legs buckled from the weight. Instead of falling to the ground. Two cold hands grabbed my shoulders and held me straight.
I couldn't breathe. I lost the will to live. There was a muffled voice saying something but I didn't care. I just wanted to get out.
"Hey. Hey. Don't go passing out on me." A voice said dragging me out of my thoughts. Death stared at me. He had no look of concern instead, he was emotionless.
I took a deep and shaky breath before removing his grip on me and stepping back. I wasn't in my house anymore. I was in some black void that didn't seem to end.
"What do you want?" I asked as I took a defensive stance.
"What I want? Well, I have no clue." He said narrowing his eyes. He then placed his hand on his chin and started tapping it. "I never really thought about it. I was so focused on meeting you that I didn't think next."
I didn't say anything. I scanned the surroundings carefully and kept my eye on him. I wiped my eyes before glaring at Death.
"People say that Death is dark and chaotic. That death comes in the form of a grim reaper." He said raising his hands to mimic a monster. "But in reality, this is how I look. Average. So simple that people forget me once they've seen me. So simple that I can appear at a person at their last moment and they can never remember me."
Why is he telling me this? Is he trying to stall and catch me off-guard? I watched as he smiled innocently at me. His eyes said something completely different.
"You must be wondering why I'm making small talk." He said walking towards me. I tried to create distance between him and me but I couldn't move. It was as if something was blocking my way. "My life was boring. After seeing so many people die, one gets used to the excitement. But then you came along."
I took deep breathes as I tried to calm myself. He just kept coming closer until he was an arm's length away.
"Althea Smarts." He said raising his hand and placing it on my chin. He lifted it so I was staring directly at his eyes. And for the first time, I noticed that his eyes were empty and were just a black dot of nothing. I could see my reflection. "Or Shizukana Tori. You are the one who brought colour into my life. I thank you for that."
I inhaled sharply when he leaned in and placed his chin on my shoulder. "There's nothing to be afraid of. I'll take care of you. No more suffering and no more pain." He said in a very reassuring tone.
Just as he said that I realized that I'm finally dead. No more reincarnations or living. On one side, I was happy. No more suffering. I could finally rest in peace.
But, there was a part of me that was grieving. I'm dead. No more living.
The grieving side won over my emotions as tears cascaded down my face and onto the floor. I wanted to go back.
I remembered the happy times. Shika's smile when he won a game of Shogi. Naruto's goofy laugh. Sensei's crappy excuses. Sasuke's almost hidden smile. Takada's kind expression. I will miss that.
"No!" Death whispered as he grabbed me and moved me to his back. "I won't let her go. Don't take her from me." He said as I faced his back.
I tried to see what was happening but I was attacked by a bright light. It was calming.
The next thing I knew, I was alone. No death or my previous life. Just me in the empty void.
The entire place was quiet and it gave me a peaceful feeling. That's when I heard it. It was a muffled voice. I couldn't recognize who's voice it was but the words were audible. They were asking me to come back. Almost pleading me to not let go.
It was coming from the left side of where ever I was. I wanted to listen and obey but there was something in my mind telling me that staying would be better.
Don't give up. Don't give up on them.
I bit my lip before deciding not to give up. I walked towards the muffled voice before being blinded by a bright light.
Third Persons P.O.V.
"How's she doing?" Sakura asked as she entered the viewing room. She was completely oblivious to the fact that Shizukana was flatlining.
"Pronounce the time of death." Lady Tsunade said. At that, Sakura glanced at the glass before freezing in horror.
"No!" Sakura said as she rushed to the edge of the glass. She placed her hand on the glass before looking at Kakashi and Shikamaru who were also in utter shock and disbelief.
"Sensei?" Sakura called out as Kakashi glanced at Sakura. "What-"
She was interrupted when Shikamaru ran and hit the glass with his hand. This gained everyone's attention in the operations room.
"Lady Hokage! Don't give up." He said as tears fell from his face. "Please. I beg you. Don't give up on her."
Lady Tsunade and Lady Shizune took in a deep breath. They didn't want to give up but it was too late.
"Pronounce the ti-" Lady Tsunade was interrupted when the heart monitor gave a small pulse. It was as if the entire world had silenced to hear the beeping of the monitor.
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
A steady beeping was heard and everyone was shocked. They were too shocked to think straight.
But as soon as the realization hit, the nurses and doctors rushed to work. Lady Tsunade and Lady Shizune followed suit.
Shikamaru stared at the heart monitor with wide eyes. Sakura and Kakashi did the same as they couldn't process what was happening.
Once they did, Sakura broke down crying but Shikamaru placed his hand on his heart and let out a deep exhale. Kakashi sighed in relief as he walked and placed his hand on Shikamaru's shoulder.
None of them said a word as they watched the doctors and nurses zig-zag through the room.
A/N. Hey guys. I'm back! The precious chapter was quite shocking. Swowy if I gave you a scare. :3
Anyways, I have closed the poll and settled on who Shizukana's live interest will be. I won't be telling you until you find out.
The thing Shizukana saw will be resolved in future chapters. And it was a pure coincidence that the previous chapter fell on April fools day. Pure coincidence.
Hope you liked my characterization of death. Everyone has different opinions and this is mine.
Death is so average that he appears as a human being whom everyone forgets about within an instant. If you are doomed to die shortly, then he follows you and somehow be near you at your final moments whether it be a doctor or nurse or even your murderer.
He will always be with you.
What do you guys think of death?
Hope you enjoyed it.
Ciao.....