I am soooooo sorry! Which you probably have noticed i havent been on wattpad in weeks and if i am then its only for a few minutes. I haven't been writing or even reading for a while and really need to catch up. December is my busiest month and hopefully i'll have more free time to write. I don't know if i will be able to upload Two Paths but i'll try if not then i'll upload it tomorrow.
Enjoy
Izuka led Yoichi to an opening where she set the wood down and made hand signs.
"Fire style: fire ball jutsu."
The fire was lit so they both sat down around the fire. Izuka held the owl in her arms starting to pluck the feathers off. Yoichi watched Izuka intrigued on how she gently plucked the feathers off. Once all the feathers were off she cut off some pieces of the owl putting them on a stick. She rolled up her sleeves revealing the scar that ran down her arm. Yoichi eyed the scar on her arm remembering her words about scars.
Izuka knew that he had seen the scar but she was glad that he didn't mention it. She inspected the meat judging that it was ready so she gave half to Yoichi which he gladly took and scarffed it down. She ate her meal slowly watching as Yoichi devoured his meal.
"When's the last time you ate?" Izuka questioned.
"A few days," Yoichi answered with his mouth full.
The wind started to blow making the air cold causing Yoichi to shiver. Izuka sighed and reached behind her pulling out a scroll. She made a hand sign making a puff of smoke appear. As it cleared there was an extra cloak folded neatly laying on the scroll. She picked it up then threw it towards Yoichi.
"Here, it'll keep you warm for tonight." She said as he caught it.
"Thanks, what about you?"
"I'll be fine,"
"How much longer until we get there?"
"Not long, we'll be there either tomorrow or the next day. Get some rest, you need it."
Yoichi laid down on the ground facing the fire closing his eyes. Izuka stared at the fire not feeling a bit tired. She watched Yoichi as he started to fall asleep. His breathing was steady and slowing down.
"Why did I come across Yoichi? What is the purpose? I was about to leave him but something made me save him." Izuka said to herself.
She laid on her back with her arms under her head and stared up at the stars in the night sky as she always does when sleeping out in the wilderness. She took in a deep breath while clearing her thoughts. She then began to wonder what was happening to the her friends who were fighting the Akatsuki. She felt bad for leaving them with those psychos but if she even showed mercy towards the Leaf her cover would have been blown. She knew though that they would be able to handle themselves and would win.
Out of the corner of her eye Izuka saw Yoichi stir. She recalled h what he had said about his scars saying that they shape who you are. She looked down at her own scars wondering how they shape her own life. The scar on her arm....from that she protected the ones that she loved, the one on her chest from Itachi....it made her an emotional wreck, the other scar she got from Orochimaru from attempting to save the one who kept her sane after the massacre. The scars from when she was tortured made her more tolerant to pain and can endure any torture imaginable.
The scars all did shape her into the person that she is now. Honestly she didn't like the person that she was now. Always having to fight and kill just to live. One dream that she had that no one ever knew was just to be normal. A normal citizen had it easy. They didn't risk their lives everyday protecting the ones that they loved. Izuka looked down at her arm moving the sleeve out of the way to get a better look at her scar.
She could feel it. She was weak right now as her emotions got the best of her. As much as she tried to, she can't completely get rid of them. Whenever she was completely alone feeling vulnerable she would have a break down. She tried to hold back the tears but it was useless; they were already streaming down her cheeks. She didn't want to cry right now of all places. She didn't like crying in front of someone let alone a stranger.
Yoichi during his sleep heard low sobs near him. He was half awake when he heard the sobs. He opened his eyes and looked for the source of the crying. His eyes landed on Izuka who had her eyes closed curled up into a ball. His eyes landed on the fresh tears sliding down her cheeks and her trembling lips. Cautiously he sat up trying not to make a sound as he continued to stare.
Silently he walked over to Izuka who still hadn't noticed his presence. Even though he sat right next to her she still hadn't noticed him. She was too wrapped up in her emotions to notice anything else around her. He gently placed a hand on Izuka shoulder making her jerk up in surprise. She looked panicked as she looked up at Yoichi who sent her a sad smile. Her eyes were bloodshot and held pain.
Izuka briskly wiped the tears away.
"It's okay to cry Izuka." Yoichi whispered.
"It's for the weak."
"No, you have stayed strong for so long that you deserve to cry." He said.
Izuka looked down avoiding his gaze.
"Why are you being so kind?" Izuka questioned.
"Because you saved my life and you seem like a nice person."
"But I'm in the Akatsuki."
"So? You're not like the rest of them. Looks can be deceiving you know. You never know, the true intentions of why people do things are a mystery. For instance, killing someone could be a crime to someone but justice for another. Depends on how you see it."
"Go back to sleep; we'll be moving in a few hours."
"You don't want to talk about your feelings?"
"No,"
"You have to talk about them to at least one person."
"That person is dead now," Izuka growled.
"You've experienced death a lot, haven't you?" Yoichi sighed.
Izuka looked down, not wishing to answer. Yoichi looked over at Izuka seeing her now laying down on her back staring up at the moon. He noticed how she struggled to lock up her emotions. Her face was emotionless while her eyes showed pain and how she was unconsciously clutching her heart. Yoichi reached down and held onto Izuka's hand which startled her.
"You can tell me you know." He said sincerely.
Izuka looked over to Yoichi seeing his face which showed a caring look. She didn't know why but she felt as if she could trust Yoichi. Why? She did not know. It angered and confused her why she is putting so much trust into a man that she had just met.
"My cousin.....he was the first death I had encountered." Izuka confessed. "He died on a mission when I was young."
"He was dear to you; I know there were more people."
"How can you read me like a book?"
"I just can, now let it all out."
"Next was my best friend, Yumi. Then my two temporary teammates, next my sensei and his wife."
"They were all dear to you....and you still blame yourself?"
"Everyday,"
"Death is all part of life; you can't blame yourself for what happened."
"Can't help it,"
"There are more people."
Izuka took in a deep breath.
"My family......all dead...in one night. Killed by my bo- no best friend. My parents, his parents, my friends, aunts, uncles, grandparents. Everyone. All dead. I couldn't stop him. That night.....I died too."
"What do you mean by you died?"
"My personality...I use to be happy and outgoing but ever since I woke up in the hospital I've been cold hearted wanting nothing but his blood on my blade. Not caring who got in my way."
"I see; who else died?"
"My teammate Rin, some other Jonin, some ANBU from my team....The Hokage. Seems like everyone I care about is dying."
"There's still one more,"
Izuka looked down with tears threatening to fall.
"My boyfriend...I guess ex...Kentaro."
"You loved him,"
"Still do,"
"But there's someone else."
"No there isn't," She said turning away.
"Don't lie to yourself Izuka,"
"There's another man in your life that you've loved since you were little,"
"No,"
"Yes,"
"There isn't!"
"There is and you know it."
"No there's not,"
"You're in denial."
"No I'm not!"
"Yes you are, admit it!"
"I don't know what you're talking about,"
"Admit that you love Itachi out loud!"
Izuka looked straight at Yoichi her eyes widened.
"H-How did you know? Who are you?"
"I'm you, Izuka."
"What? What are you saying?"
"All of this....I'm only a mere clone. You made me and those guys. Your mind created us because of this conflict that you're feeling."