Those of the Light

The fallen and the Hive

I do not own Naruto or destiny.

Hinata watched her carefully; she knew what was wrong with the older woman. This was after all, the funeral of her twin held for the awoken who had come to say their farewells. Ashura's face was slightly stoic in a sense, which confused her to no end. "Ashura?" Hinata called softly and Loki glanced over at his sister, who was swaying on her feet now. Her skin looked better than it had in a while, but Hinata wasn't blind. This had occurred overnight it seemed. Hinata was about to reach out to Ashura but Sasuke grasped her shoulder gently and whispered in her ear.

"Go after her.... Make sure she's ok." He said softly and she nodded, running to catch up to the white haired woman. They hadn't even had to board a ship to find her; she was in the outer part of the tower where Petra stood to give assignments for the queen when she came over. She had seen Ashura, Prince Uldren, Krux, and Petra standing near the edge of the area. Her eyes softened as she watched the encounter between the few.

"What would you have to talk to me about, half breed?" He spat. Ashura grit her teeth as she looked up at Prince Uldren she wasn't sure how to react to what he had said, but it was rude the way he had spat those words. "Fine. I will leave then." She said and he tightly grasped her wrist with one of his hands. Petra stared at her with her one visible eye wide. "Your highness?" She managed and he shook his head, causing Ashura to look up at him. The glow of his usually smug and annoyed eyes had dimmed and she could see the pain that resided there.

"Ashura..." Hinata called to her and the silver eyed woman looked at her with confused eyes. "I'm so sorry for your loss." Hinata said approaching her. "I'd lost her so long ago... Please don't." Ashura whispered, but Petra's eyes softened and she whispered something to Hinata, who blinked. She nodded and followed Petra. "Forgive me." Uldren said and she looked up at him with furrowed brows. "There's nothing to forgive. You've done nothing wrong." She said and he frowned deeper. "I suppose in your mind you don't think I've done me wrong. I've belittled you because I wanted to have my partner back, but I knew she'd never return, so when you did..." He began but his older sister pulled his hands from Ashuras wrist and placed her fingers on Uldren's lips to silence him. "Words are ammunition to destroy you. I suppose you should keep better check on the words you speak when in an area where one could be heard."

Mara looked over Ashura with a weary glance, but an elegant smile crossed her lips. "You look just like her at a first glance, but you're so much more." Mara said as she sat in her throne. "How so?" Ashura asked, her tone had an edge to it that the queen did not appreciate. "Your sister blindly worshipped my brother and myself, but sought no respect. You worship no one... Not even yourself... You worship none but try to protect so many..." Mara stated and Uldren watched her.

"My dearest brother tried to kill you... He saw her image and felt betrayed." She said and Ashura frowned, reaching into her pocket to pull the picture. She handed it to Uldren, who stared at it in a slight surprise. It was a picture of Loki, Kira and Ashura. "Learn the difference." She bit out and walked out. Krux followed her down between the small rivers of water in the center of the room and out of the room. "Prince has odd ways, yes?" She asked, towering over Ashura. "Yeah." Ashura sighed and thought back to the image she had shoved in Uldren's face. Ashura grit her teeth and stared at her reflection in the shining metal plate of her gauntlet. Warmth started over her cheeks and splashed against the metal. Loki had held such a brilliant grin, and Kira had held such a lovely smile... But... She... She herself had forced her smile. She reached up and smeared her tears across her cheeks, revealing a familiar aura that was embedded deep within her skin.

Her eyes flashed and she pulled the bottle of concealer out to cover the inky black aura beneath her skin. A soft touch startled her and the glass jar shattered against the ground, causing Krux to eye her oddly. Hinata held a caring look which caused Ashura's lip to tremble. "You're going to be ok..." Hinata said, grasping her hand tightly. Ashura's face scrunched up and a sob escaped her. An angry, deprived sort of sob that caused a river of tears to flow freely down her cheeks. Hinata pulled a cloth from her pocket and she wiped the tears from the older woman's eyes, smearing the new make-up away as she did so.