The Curse Of Hatred ~Book 2~

Chapter 6: Gravestone

When Yuzuki next awoke the sun was still out. She remembered closing her eyes, but she didn't know for how long. She eased herself onto her elbows and opened her robe to see the bandages replaced. She didn't remember that happening.

Sliding out of bed, Yuzuki found a bathroom where she washed the cold sweat from her face. She was pale and sickly looking. Her hair was greasy and knotted. She looked like a corpse.

Yuzuki trailed back into the main part of the house where her grandmother was sitting and she rose to her feet "How are you feeling?"

"Better." she said groggy.

"The doctor gave you some light medication to help ease the pain. You slept all night and all morning."

"I slept that long?"

"And you deserve it. Being a ninja is hard. The doctor was surprised you were even alive!"

Yuzuki smiled. "Yeah."

"He's handsome isn't he?" her grandmother chuckled lightly. Only, Yuzuki doesn't remember seeing the doctor. "Yeah." She gripped the counter for support.

"Are you hungry, love? I'll fix you something."

"That would be nice."

"You look terrible." her grandmother stated. "Go and have a bath while I fix you something."

Without arguing, Yuzuki did as told. She sunk herself into warm water with her feet hanging over the edges and her head craned over the edge. She groaned feeling delighted to be clean again. Her skin washed away of blemishes, dirt, blood and sweat. Her hair soft and brushed again.

She traced her fingers over the stitches in her stomach feeling an icky uneasiness. She looked herself in the mirror. The area was raw red. She turned to see the exit wound in her lower back looking the same condition.

Deciding she didn't want to look at it anymore, she wrapped the bandages around herself again. Yuzuki trailed out of the bathroom with wet hair and clean skin. On the table was waiting sandwiches and drinks. She immediately dug in knowing how hungry she was. This may have been the best sandwich she's had.

Her grandmother watched with a smile. "You say your father killed your mother." she asked suddenly and Yuzuki swallowed the lump in her throat. "Why?"

"It's complicated."

"Try me."

Yuzuki placed down the half eaten sandwich. "My father and the clan had a diabolical plan from the moment I was born. They were going to use me to destroy the Leaf. My mother, who didn't agree, tried to warn the Hibiki Elders. So he killed her before she could."

The old lady hummed sadly and tapped her fingernails along the table. "What did the Hibiki have to do with it?"

"They..." she wasn't sure if she would tell that kind of information. "It's classified. I can't say, I'm forbidden to talk about it outside of the Village."

"Oh... that's understandable." her grandmother then rose to her feet. "Come with me, I'll take you to see your mother now."

Anticipated, Yuzuki followed the old lady along the sandy dirt path running through the village. It was a slow walk, having being old and injured, and having everyones eyes on you as you passed by. Eventually they came to a canopy of trees where the path continued. It led them up a small slope until they came to a sight sitting on top of a small hill with the view of the vast ocean.

The sound of waves crashing against the cliff side added to the nostalgia. Gravestones littered the ground. Here, some where collapsed or sinking into the dirt. Yuzuki searched each one until she found her mothers name on a gravestone to the far row facing the water. She knelt before the headstone. Ayame Uchiha. Beloved mother and devoted wife.

"Why did it have to come to this?" she spoke to the sinking headstone, cracked and overrun with growing weeds. "Why was she buried here and not the Leaf?"

Her grandmother shuffled behind her. "She wanted to be buried here, at home." Yuzuki knelt before her mothers headstone feeling a sudden wave of sadness. "You look like her."

"I get that all the time." her head perked up sensing chakra moving threw the trees. But it wasn't hostile, it was familiar chakra. And now she dreaded seeing his face.

A white haired boy came through the trees in a mask and his headband to cover his left eye. Yuzuki sighed watching him stroll towards her with his hands in his pockets. "We've been looking for you." he said standing behind the headstone.

"I know."

Kakashi rounded the headstone to see her mothers name carved into the broken stone. He still hadn't made eye contact with her. He was upset and hurt, she could see that. "I'm sorry, Kakashi." she cried. "I'm so sorry."

He finally met her eyes. "For what?"

"For everything. For pushing you away, for not telling the truth, for leaving the village-"

"You don't have to be." he said sitting beside her. "None of it is your fault. You were dead for crying out loud! As far as anyone is concerned your delusional."

Yuzuki chuckled. "Delusional? I'm cursed with hatred, Kakashi, it's the same thing. I'll never let go of it. I will one day kill Danzo, you know that?"

"I know. I won't stop you either."

She furrowed her eyebrows confused. "Why?"

"He's the reason why I lost you. I'd kill him myself."

A smile came to her face. "You still owe me a date."

He smiled behind his mask. "Only if you come back."

"Do I have a choice?"

Kakashi reached into his pouch and took a kunai attached with a paper bomb. "Not really." He threw it high into the air and it exploded to tell the others he had found her. The old lady gasped in fright and Kakashi turned to acknowledge her. "Sorry." he said.

"Who are you?" she questioned.

"Kakashi Hatake. Who are you?"

"Her grandmother. Are you the boyfriend?"

Warmth filled Yuzuki's cheeks and Kakashi remained silent. His eye open in surprise. They glanced to each other for a moment. Kakashi turned his eyes to the dying grass before looking back up to the old lady and nodded, "Yeah, I guess I am."

Yuzuki lifted her eyes to stare at the side of his face and turned away when he looked back. She was sure her cheeks were burning bright red. They felt bright red.

The old lady giggled like a little girl and shook Yuzuki's shoulder with exited shaky hands. "Ohh!" she whispered like Kakashi couldn't hear. "He's handsome too." she laughed only making Yuzuki dip her head in embarrassment hoping her hair would shield her face. "Are you here to take her back? She's injured very badly."

"I know." he replied. "That's why I'm here." he rose to his feet. "The others will be here soon. The Hibiki Elders are also demanding to see you."

"They're in the village?"

Kakashi nodded extending his hand. Yuzuki slid her hand into his and he easily pulled her to her feet and into his chest. "I left my sword in the house." she informed.

"Katsuko will get it."

"She's here?"

"Everyone is." he wrapped his arm around her body and hooked the other under her knees to hoist her into his chest. "Thanks, granny." he said to the old before walking away with Yuzuki in his arms. She just smiled after them.