Death's Angel {Naruto FanFic}

Chapter Four

My heart pounds a rhythm so ancient in its anger that I had nearly forgotten it. I want to beat Haru to his senses, but I also want to cradle him in my arms and whisper my apologies, choking him in my adoration for him. I do neither until the snake-man reaches for him. Then my mind explodes with fury. I dart forward, powered solely by a need to protect my brother from the likes of Orochimaru. I barely make it.

I cradle Haru to me, his face buried into my chest as I clutch him tightly. My wings wrap around him tightly and I hiss at Orochimaru with murderous intent. My hatred is complete. "I warned you..." I snarl, hugging a terrified Haru closer to me. "I told you not to touch my brother!" Orochimaru's snake-like grin widens with each passing moment.

"A-Ane-chan!" Haru cries into my wall of body. His hands wind around me. I growl threateningly.

"Haru, you should not have gone to this man. He will destroy you." I say soothingly, stroking his hair. "Why?"

"I need to beat you. This is the only way." I shake my head tightly.

"I learned by myself through training. You can do the same and recieve at least similar results." I respond, tightening my grip. "You don't have to do this." Haru pulls away from me, his eyes dark with grief.

"You gave yourself up to save the village for me." Haru says, intertwining our fingers. "I will do the same to save you." My face is a mask of utter horror.

"I'll come back, I'll go back to Konoha. Don't go with this man, Haru. You will never be the same again." My heart is breaking slowly, slowly. I cannot let Haru go. "You will be used, destoryed. Konoha will have no Tenshi clan members left!"

Haru shakes his head. His wings have been tattooed onto his back by his chakra's doing. While mine are black, the color of power, his are red, the color of ambition. My face threatens to crumple, but I arrange it properly again. "You will regret this." I say, glaring daggers at Orochimaru. "I will hunt you down. I will kill you." My voice is that of an animal's, low, gravelly, and deadly.

Orochimaru seems to be conflicted between scowling and smirking, and does a bit of both to compensate. My snarls turn feral. "Ane-chan," Haru says, chiding me gently. "This is my decision. Didn't you say that I should learn to make my own choices, and learn to deal with the consequences?" I laugh humorlessly.

"You should also learn the thin line between having ambition, and having a death wish. This is what you want. Fine. It is my job to stop you when you are making a terrible decision. I'm asking you now, as your sister, not to go. To go back to Konoha. If you refuse, I will not stop you again." I say, straightening myself upward.

Haru's face shows his deep sadness, but he lets my hand go and communicates countless thoughts with his eyes. I shake my head and step away from him. "This is the end." I say, turning around and walking away. "You're on your own." I can hear Haru's heart racing as if it were my own. I will always know if something terrible happens, and where he is when it does, because we are tied through our blood.

"Ane-chan!" I don't pause, I continue walking. "I love you." I freeze completely.I cannot handle those words.A scream rushes up my throat and I clamp my mouth shut. I run into the forest like my life depends on it. I swallow screams of outrage and sorrow, running and running until I can't see straight.

My vision is blurred with tears as I run, and I snarl at myself for my weakness.SHINOBI HAVE NO NEED FOR EMOTIONS!My hands shake as I stop and clutch my chest over my heart, wondering why this impacts me so much. I'd always killed my emotions, but when it came to Haru, I was an open book. I was emotional.I wasn't a shinobi.

My eyes are angry slits as Itachi materializes beside me in a murder of crows, but my face crumples fully and I slide down the trunk of the tree I hold on to.I can't do this anymore.My breathing is ragged and labored, and I have to force myself to breathe deeply to keep from gasping and crying out. I clamp a hand over my mouth a stiffle a sob.Why did you choose it, Haru? Why did you choose to go with Orochimaru? You will die!