Reaching the Other Side ✔

Chapter 16: Thank You

Yoshima's P.O.V

"They'll be back, calm down." Madara said staring me in my eyes.

I ripped myself out of his grip.

"I don't care! I'm going over there!" I started to run, but Shizuko stood in front of me.  Madara also made it to my side.
"Get out of my way..." I lowered my head as a shadow covered my face. I don't care if this is a Reanimation Jutsu. It's painful to see them get hurt like that. I need to help them.
"No." Shizuko said crossing her arms. "I can tell you want to kill me again. I make your blood boil. You don't regret anything you've done to hurt me at all. It's how Shinobi work. You are just a pathetic Shinobi that walks in the shadows of her brothers. Stop trying to poison me with your words. You were no good for Madara. You are just a big burden to everyone!" She said and I looked up at her giving her a sincere look.

"I am pathetic, stupid, disgraceful and so much more. I know that. I hurt Madara a hell lot both physically and emotionally." I said and Madara cleared his voice. "You've never hurt me physically... *cough* I'm stronger than you *cough*" he said smirking. "It doesn't matter! I've hurt you a lot! I know I'm a burden to everyone then and now because everyone feels the need to protect me.  But don't you dare say I walk in the shadows of my brothers." I said in a growl with tears falling from my eyes.

"But it's true. I remember when battling you. You'd always hide, you couldn't fight back, or a brother would come to the rescue." Shizuko sighed with a fake smile. "It was true. I did walk in the shadows of my brothers, but I went through hell and stepped up. I fought Itama so I could take his place in the war, but I lost because I was weak, I would cry all the time because I was weak, I would make myself suffer because I was weak. Now, I'm different and you can see that." I yelled out and the attention turned to me.

"Madara and I fell in love and you didn't give a damn about your brother's feelings! When you thought about me, you thought of me dead at your feet. How do you think that made him feel? You hurt him emotionally too."

Shizuko looked at me and furrowed her eyebrows.

"I just wanted the best for my brother. You weren't the best." She said in a low tone.
"In his eyes, I am the best. You can't decide who he wants.  You have to accept the fact that Madara and I got married and had children too. You can't just shun your eyes from that. We'd visit your grave a lot back then, and place beautiful flowers. Yuki would always tell me she loves you even though you have never met, and Kuro always said he'd like to meet you. They loved you and they didn't even meet you. You made my blood boil and you still do, but if I could've changed things, I would wish you lived to walk by my side as my sister and not an enemy.  Shizuko, you might not realize it, but we are the same."  I stood in front of her watching her stare at me with a sad surprised look from my speech.

I watched her lip tremble and she started to glow.

She walked towards me with a soft smile, "Maybe we could've been that way..."

She started to disintegrate.

"Shizuko..." Madara said in a whisper.  I stared up at him to see him close his eyes and sigh, accepting her fate.

"I just really was doing what was best for our family then.  I never thought about how our future family would be."  Shizuko stopped in front of Madara and I.

"Now I can see Madara married a great woman.  I finally understand why he loves you."  Shizuko smiled.

A real smile.

That was the first and probably last time I've seen her smile at me.

"I'm happy you two got married..  Thank you."  Shizuko hugged both of us and she disappeared.

"I'm sorry."  I softly said feeling the guilt of killing her.