Songs For The Heartbroken: That's What You Get

Chapter 15

The room I'd just been in, vanished, and in its place the familiar layout of my backyard appeared before me. The night was silent and very much still, not even the sound of the spring breeze could be heard, which gave me an awful feeling of uneasiness. Everything seemed darker than it usually was, and if I tried focusing on the corners of the yard, a light fog settled into my line of vision. The place was too quiet, unnaturally so, but any lingering distrust disappeared when I felt a hand on top of my head.

"Now, now, Akane-chan. It's time for you to head inside or you will catch a cold." Said a voice I hadn't heard in years.

My grandmother was suddenly standing by my side, smiling warmly as ever as she waited for me to answer. She still had the same inviting smile that only a woman capable of great love could offer, and as she ushered me into the house I failed to notice just where I was. This wasn't the house I knew Shisui and I shared, no. This house had been a part of the original Uchiha compound, and had been destroyed during the attack of the Kyubi.

"But I'm not cold, Obaa-chan. I want to stay out and practice more shuriken jutsu like Nii-san."

My body felt considerably smaller and my voice sounded a pitch or two higher than I remembered. It was only when I realized I was wearing the navy blue kimono my grandmother had made me that everything clicked into place. Once again, I was four years old.

"Nonsense. Your mother has finished cooking and we will not keep her waiting." She said sternly, surprising me once again.

Mother? I had never met my mother; I only knew what she looked like from the pictures that had once decorated my grandparent's house. I rushed in, leaving my grandma behind as I ran through the yard and up the veranda, through the hallway and into the kitchen.

At the stove, a petite woman stood with her back to me. She had long black silky hair styled into a loose braid. I stood at the kitchen door panting, not knowing what to do or say. She looked frail, without a single muscle on what little of her body I could see, and no scars to speak of whatsoever. This woman was a civilian, and even though I had always known she had been, seeing just how frail her body was made me feel uncomfortable.

Once she seemed to notice me, she turned her head so I could see her smiling profile. She had a very sharp jaw line and lips that seemed a little too full to belong to an Uchiha, but it only complimented her thin nose and high cheekbones even more. She was beautiful. But it was none of these that caught my attention, no. It was her eyes I couldn't look away from. Those big, sharp, heavily lashed eyes were Shisui's eyes. They were my eyes.

"Oh! Akane-chan, could you please set the table? Dinner is almost ready and your father will be home soon." She said with a voice I had never heard before. It was low, soft and very much calming. It didn't suit her appearance either, but somehow it made her even more beautiful.

"Kaa-san?" I asked unable to believe my eyes still.

She was right there in front of me, living and breathing unlike the woman in the photographs. She was there, beautiful as I could have never imagined. She was there, living and breathing unlike the collection of memories I had that weren't even mine.

"Anya, we're back!" Said another voice I didn't recognize as the front door slid open.

No, it couldn't be.

"What's that marvelous smell?" A tall man in full shinobi attire came through the kitchen door followed by Shisui. Both had worn out smiles on their faces and looked and smelled like they had been travelling for the past two weeks.

"Anata, Shisui! You are just in time! Shisui, dear would you help your sister set the table?" she asked pointing at my brother with the wooden chopsticks she was using to prepare dinner.