This is the old version. The new version is much more accurate and understandable. It is titled "Ayumi."
CHAPTER 2 THE LAST GOSU
“Now, tell me again: how’d you manage to heal so quickly?” Itachi mused two weeks later.
“I’ve told you five times! I have a special ability called ‘Flames of Life.’ If I get hurt, all I have to do is be near fire for a second and I’ll start to heal instantly! Now, you tell me: how’s your hand?”
“Better. Still restricted to mild activity,” he shrugged. He turned around and leaned against the pier railing. Ayumi sighed and stared out over the bay. Ayumi felt beautiful in her cotton kimono of a raspberry hue. Beneath it was a silk tunic and a pair of khaki Capri. Her hair hung loose about her face, framing it delicately.
Itachi was wearing a simple, blue, long–sleeved shirt, loose fitting cargo pants, and a maroon sweater. As always, he kept his hair pulled back into a horsetail with his bangs hanging in his face. He had left his headband on his bed at Mrs. Takeda’s, who had been taking care of them since their teleported arrival.
For no absolute reason, Ayumi began to sing. Her voice started soft and low, but as she continued through the bridge into the chorus, it rose high and angelic. Before she realized it, a small crowd had gathered on the pier to listen to her.
She jumped sideways into Itachi when the applause rose at the finish. She blushed scarlet and hid her face in his shoulder, only looking up to laugh at her own embarrassment. When she looked among the friendly faces, she thought she saw a dark haired twin of her mother. Yet, when she looked again, the person had disappeared.
(Who was that?) Ayumi couldn’t keep his face out of her mind. She knew him from somewhere, but the name evaded her every time she tried to say it.
Itachi put his arms around her waist and a faint smirk crossed his lips. “You know what I feel like doing?”
Ayumi leaned into him, putting her hands behind his neck. “What?”
"I'll race you to the beach. Shall we run?"
Ayumi raised an eyebrow. “Just running? Like…around?”
“Of course. Shall we?”
Ayumi tore out of his arms and took off down the pier. She leapt off the steps and into the road, Itachi on her heels. Down the main road, dodging carts and livestock the entire time, Ayumi led the way to the beach. Itachi kept up with the girl, occasionally close enough to reach out and grab her
hand, which he did.
It only took them five minutes to run that mile from the pier, through downtown, and to the beach. Laughing and panting, they collapsed hand in hand on the beach. There they lay seemingly forever, dozing, even after Ayumi shifted so she could lay her head on his shoulder.
That’s when Ayumi saw the stranger again. He, or she, was watching them from the walkway, dark eyes gleaming caringly. Ayumi lay still, trying to ignore the spy, but his presence chilled her to the bone. Finally, when he turned to leave Ayumi acknowledged his presence by rousing Itachi.
“I’m following him. He’s too familiar!” she rose from the comfort of Itachi’s arms. She pat sand from her skirt as she made her way down the walkway the stranger had taken. Ayumi kept her distance, but she could still see him. Itachi caught up with her just as they pulled free of the crowded village. There, he walked with her, hands in his pockets.
Through the forest, into the hills, Ayumi wondered about everything. Where was Emi? Had “the ice” melted? Where was Haku? Who was this stranger? Where was he leading them?
Ayumi gasped when the road disappeared into an untouched clearing. She froze in her tracks, her gaze fixed on a single structure. It was a half collapsed shack. The door and windows had been torn out, and gaps lay between the boards of the walls and roof. Enormous holes allowed the sun’s rays to shine down on the mess of its interior. Ayumi bit her lip to keep from screaming, but Itachi felt her tense.
“Ayumi?" he whispered in her ear. “Are you all right?”
She gulped. “This is my home…”
Itachi was silent as Ayumi slowly moved toward two low mounds marked with branch crosses. The stranger was placing wild flowers on the graves. He continued to watch as Ayumi knelt beside the figure, and he stepped closer so as to hear their words. The stranger spoke first.
“You look just like her, except with shorter hair,” his voice was soft and feminine despite being a boy’s.
“You’re a darker version of Mother…” Ayumi responded.
“I’ve missed you…Ayumi.”
Ayumi looked up. “Haku?”
“I never thought I’d see you again, either.” He smiled warmly, smiling.
“Oh my gosh, Haku!” Ayumi embraced her long lost, only living relative. Her brother! He was alive! “Brother!”
Itachi smiled. He had never seen Ayumi so overjoyed.
Later that night, in the shelter of Mrs. Takeda’s living room, Haku and Ayumi caught up on each other’s adventures. Ayumi listened, mouth agape, as she heard of her brother’s life since the betrayal, as Ayumi thought of it.
He had been the one to send towers of ice through the house, thus killing Father. He had then been taken care of by the rogue Zabuza Mamochi, who trained him to be the Jounin he is now. In much the same manner, Haku listened very attentively as she, and occasionally Itachi, shared their story. Itachi never thought he’d learn so much about her past in one night.
“When I got home, I was terrified, “Ayumi began. “All I could see was the ice towering into the sky, the bodies of our parents and a few others frozen in it. I don’t know how long I stood there, but I could hear more of the men coming. I could hear them calling us demons and monsters, but I couldn’t move. Only when a katana split the doorframe did I move.
“I took off running, to where I didn’t know. All I knew was that those men were following me, intent on killing me. I ran and ran even after I was tired, and the entire time they were behind me.
“Only when I entered an obsidian cave did I stop. I stayed there for four days, and when I finally left, I got out of the country as fast as I could.”
Haku, the little girl Suri, her brother Yuma, and Itachi all stared at her. Itachi had known she left the island in a hurry, but he had never known why.
The next four months were like a dream. Spring came with warm weather, and Ayumi, Haku, and Itachi spent most of their time outside, along the beach, and in the meadows. They would run, laughing and joking, and wrestle in the fields of flowers. Ayumi felt ten years old again, being reunited with her dear brother. She smiled more and laughed sweeter, but Itachi felt alone.
One May morning, Ayumi went to the beach with Suri and a few other ten-year-old girls. She felt good about herself, for in the past three months she had worked enough to have the money for a red, bikini swimsuit. Now that she was wearing it, she felt proud of her slim but mature body. She swam as Yuma and Haku tossed a football on the beach and Itachi leaned on the pier railing.
At sunset, Itachi confronted Ayumi. “I never thought you'd be so attractive in a swimsuit." He looked away.
"What's wrong?" Ayumi approached him.
"It’s just…you’ve been spending a considerable amount of time with Haku lately. You're ignoring me, it seems.”
Ayumi scoffed. “I am not!”
“Yes, you are" - he sighed - "Never mind.” He turned to walk off, fully aware of the fact he was jealous.
Ayumi jumped at him, putting her arms around his shoulders and chest. “Well, I’m sorry, sweetie,” she said in a cute voice. “I don’t mean to.”
Itachi grabbed her wrists as he leaned over, picking her feet up off the ground. Ayumi squealed, holding onto Itachi tighter. He set her down when she started to kick and thrash. Linking his arm with hers, he walked with her back to the Takeda’s.
Ayumi had a bad night full of frightening dreams. Yet, all of them were about Haku. The first two only woke her slightly, but the last few scared her out of her wits. When she could bear then no longer at three in the morning, she slipped into a silk kimono and entered Itachi’s room.
“What’s wrong?” Itachi asked, sitting up.
“I’m scared. I keep having this same dream over and over again!” she answered, trembling.
Itachi shifted so Ayumi could sit beside him. He put a protective arm around her as she cuddled into him.
“I keep seeing Haku with some other ninja. He’s got on his headband, and he’s fighting. Fighting to the death! It’s been the same thing: he has a hole blown through him by some white haired man just to protect Zabuza!”
“Where are they?” Itachi held her closer.
“It’s always on a misty bridge in midday.”
“Hmm...I’ll keep an eye on him.”
Ayumi rested her head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat until she fell asleep. She didn’t hear a pair of soft, well placed footsteps leading out of the house.
Ayumi found a note on her bed that morning, and she felt her heart stop. Note in hand, she flew out of her room and to Itachi, trying not to panic. “Itachi! It’s Haku! He-he’s left!” she screamed, holding the note out for him to read. Itachi read it to himself, then aloud for the Takeda’s to hear:
Ayumi,
I’m sorry, but I must go my way now. There is something I must do for someone precious to me. If I don’t survive this mission, know that you’re the greatest sister anyone can have!
Haku
“We have to find him!” Ayumi cried when he finished.
“That was my intention. Get your uniform.” He returned to his room. Ayumi darted into her own, where she quickly changed into her battle uniform. It was a pair of black cargo pants, flat-soled black boots, and a black halter tank. The shirt was leather but lined with red silk that extended halfway down her arms. For a belt that also held her Kagekizu’s sheath, she wore a red sash. Her final garment was the Hidden Mist headband tied about her forehead.
Itachi joined her on the porch, decked out in the usual black cloak that only barely showed the black net–like tunic and black pants. His boots were identical to hers.
They searched for four days before they found him. He was making his way through the forest, dressed in a sweater, green shorts, blue kimono, and sandals. His hair was pinned up in a bun, and a Hunter Nin mask hung at his side. When Ayumi went to stop him from going any further, he attacked her.
She hated fighting Haku, thus she let him sling her into a tree. Itachi moved to aid Ayumi, but he too was knocked over by the fifteen-year-old boy, senbon driven into his side.
Haku turned his hard gaze on Ayumi. “You may be my sister, but anyone who tries to keep me from my dream is my enemy. This is my choice, and I’m going through with it whether you like it or not. Farewell, Ayumi.” With that he disappeared. Ayumi slid down the tree, put her head on her arms, and cried. She sobbed even after Itachi went to her and tried to console her. All she could think of was Haku and her dreams.
It was that day on the bridge that showed her those dreams were visions.
She heard the shouting first. It was faint, but steadily grew louder as she and Itachi got closer. In the distance, near the source of the sound, a thick mist shrouded a half built bridge extending across the sound to the main land.
Ayumi heard a boy cry out in pain, but it was Itachi who acted. He didn’t wait for her, and they ran up the slope and onto the bridge. They only followed it for a minute when they saw seven figures scattered across the bridge. Two boys, one who resembled Itachi and a blonde, were crouching in the center of an array of ice mirrors.
“I knew it! That’s Sasuke!” Itachi exclaimed.
“And Haku…that’s his Demon Ice Mirrors. He’s an original.”
“An ‘original?’”
“Yes. Fire is only a brand new variation that’s never been heard of before. That doesn’t mean it’s not as deadly.”
Itachi watched attentively as Haku used the jutsu against the boys, ruthlessly tearing into them with senbon. Ayumi knew the effects of that jutsu, so she didn’t bother to keep watching them. She looked into the mist, using her Byakuugan to find the two men; she was astounded to find a white haired Jounin clashing with Zabuza.
Suddenly, the air grew hot and thick as a bright red glow emanated from the mirrors. Looking again, Ayumi noticed that Sasuke was down, five senbon embedded in his chest. It was the blonde whose chakra had formed a dense, malevolent aura.
Ayumi watched, wide eyed with horror, as the boy tackled and tussled with Haku, even after being pelted with tens of senbon. Finally, the blonde threw a heavy punch that not only split Haku’s mask, but sent him flying through a mirror, shattering the jutsu altogether.
“No…” Ayumi whispered. “No!”
Itachi caught her arm to keep her from running into the battle.
“Let me go! Haku! Itachi, damn it, let me go!”
“Ayumi, they’ll kill you, too!”
“I have to help him!” She fought in vain against Itachi’s firm grip. She watched as Haku darted away from the blonde, who had calmed down, and in front of Zabuza. The white haired ninja, Kakashi Hatake, ran forward, a blue ball of lightning in his hand, and toward them, unaware of the boy that had leapt in the way.
Ayumi’s scream echoed across the bridge as a flash of blue light blinded everyone…She screamed again as she fell to her knees, her hand still in Itachi’s…Haku lay motionless between the two men, a river of blood pouring from a gap in the center of his chest.
Ayumi’s mind wandered; she couldn’t believe her eyes or ears. She didn’t hear Zabuza’s pained battle roars as he fought off a gang of swordsmen, finally collapsing beside where Haku had first lain. She didn’t see Kakashi go to him and carry him to his adopted son…nor did she hear his last words as snow began to fall in the middle of May.
Only when the bridge was deserted did Ayumi finally look up. She kept her gaze fixed on her brother’s lifeless body as she stumbled forward, knees buckling at the form’s side. She laid her head on Haku’s stomach, and silently cried into him. Now, she was alone…she was finally the last Gosu…
"I'm sorry," Itachi whispered. "There was not much we could've done."
Ayumi sniffled. "I know that...But I still failed, again!"
Itachi put a hand on her shoulder as her sobs began to echo.
Itachi stood with Ayumi, waiting for her. She seemed to have become a zombie, set in a trance so that she wouldn’t move, speak, or look anywhere but at the grave. It was as if her own will to live died with Haku.
When they finally returned to the house, Ayumi put her bag on the floor by the main entrance before removing her headband. She didn’t lay it down as she normally would, but she let it clatter to the floor. She ignored Suri altogether, and stalked into her room. Itachi stood on the threshold, his gaze distant and mournful as he watched Ayumi close the door behind her.
Yuma approached Itachi, gesturing to Ayumi’s door. “What’s wrong with her?”
Itachi stammered, then closed his eyes and let out a heavy sigh. “Haku…was killed in battle.”
Everyone within earshot froze and stare at Ayumi’s door. They had all grown to love the young man, and the thought of Ayumi losing her only relative was a heavy blow to them all.
For days Ayumi barely ate, and Itachi took note of it. She wouldn’t sing or laugh, and when Itachi tried to cuddle her, she would just stand there and stare out across the landscape. Her temper was extremely short, in turn. Itachi couldn’t believe his ears when Ayumi jumped all over a couple of boys when Suri came home crying. Itachi never thought he’d hear Ayumi cuss so much at one time.
One night, in late May, Ayumi slipped out of the house and went to the obsidian cave. Itachi, soon to be eighteen, had heard her wandering around outside. He knew where she had gone, so he was able to follow her through the moonlit night all the way to the back of the cave. There she stood with her back to the entrance, a kunai in her hand.
“Ayumi?” he asked softly, moving forward.
She whimpered. “Why me? Why does all this happen to me?” She gripped the kunai.
“Everyone has something happen to them, wonderful and dreadful. Either way it begins, it always works out.”
“But there’s been so much! It’s always me!” She began to sob. “I just feel like I want to die! I don’t want to live in this life any longer!” She fell to her knees as the sobs grew loud, the kunai falling across the stone as she rocked back and forth, crying. Itachi knelt beside her, putting an arm around her, and pulled her close. She buried her face in his chest, and she clung to him as if her life depended on him.
Itachi held her against him, whispering soft, loving reassurances to her. “Your brother chose to die a warriror's death, and through that he became a true ninja. It’s not your fault, Ayumi, but you've got every right to cry. Go on; cry all the pain out, because I hate seeing you suffer.”
Ayumi stayed there, by his side, until the sun rose that morning. Even then, she felt safe in his arms and regretted that the moment had passed so quickly. She had cried all her pain and sadness away, leaving her with only a blank gap where her blackening heart used to be, letting that natural, original white light fill it in again.
“How do you feel?” Itachi inquired after a while.
“Better. Much better,” was Ayumi’s confident reply.
Hearing that the girl was over her depression, Itachi squeezed her against him, planting a soft kiss on her forehead.
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