The Day Ame Cried (Sequel to The Rain-Dancer's Last Dance)

Willow's Letters & An (Slightly) Frightening Discovery

Kori’s POV:

I saw two small rubber-banded of maybe two or three letters. They were from Yasu and Hana. I read those first. They were mostly just birthday letters, and quick little letters tell about what’s happening in their lives. After that I took out a thicker rubber-banded collection of letters in the envelope. I read a couple of letters, catching up on what had happened to Willow.

According to Willow, she was attacked by her own shinobi force, and was fatally wounded, left to die in a forest near the battlegrounds. But this Mist ninja found her unconscious body and took her to the Mist’s headquarters. Willow wrote that she awoke in the medical ward. She was extremely humbled by the kindness actions the ninja had done for her. So, from that day on, she swore her loyalty to the Mist. She told them everything she knew, and in return, they allowed her to join their shinobi forces.

I skimmed to another letter that told me about the man whom she married.

‘His name is Nohara Chi. He was the man who saved my life. He has a mixture of purple and brown eyes, light brown hair, and the sweetest smile you will ever see. I’m forever grateful to him. We got married this past April 18th. It’s a shame you were sick, and couldn’t come...’

A couple letters later, Willow had written a letter saying that she was pregnant. But it was more complicated than that. They wanted to seal a tailed demon into her child.

Since she was accepted into their village, she had to comply. She owed them that much for allowing her to live in their village. At least that’s what she wrote. I guess that was her belief.

The last two letters in the rubber-banded bunch, had different handwriting. I also took note that the date at the top of the page said that is was written 5 years after the previous letter.

This is the second to last letter.

‘Dear Miho Kori,

This is Nohara Chi, Willow's husband. I’m sorry that I haven’t told you earlier, but Willow...

Well.... Willow died in childbirth. It was because of the Tailed-Beast they sealed into our child. I still cannot believe she didn’t argue to the fact that the Mizukage was to seal a Tailed-Demon into our child. She said that is was the only way she could repay the village for taking her in when she was fatally injured.

Willow said that she wanted you to be the child’s godmother. Speaking of the child, it was a girl. Willow got to name her before she passed on.

The child’s name is Rin. Nohara Rin.

She’s turning five-years-old in the next couple of weeks. On November 15th, to be exact. When that day comes, though... They’re going to take her away from me to train her for a very secret mission. They’re going to take away the only thing the Willow left with me! They’re going to take away my sweet little Rin...

They said that it’s very unlikely that I’ll ever see her again, considering the condition of my health. Ever since Willow passed on... My health has steadily declined. I fear... that I wont have much longer to live.

Rin is all I have left to live for. I have no other family. They were all killed in the Shinobi War.

I need something to live for, Kori. Do you understand where I’m coming from?

I need something to help encourage me to push on. Don’t you need something to live for, too?

Well, my ‘something to live for’ is Rin. Without Rin… I’m nothing. Without Rin, I won’t have anything to live for. I’ll die without Rin in my life.

Yet the Mizukage doesn’t seem to care.

Enclosed is a picture of Rin. Just so you know what she looks like. Who knows... maybe someday you’ll meet her.

And so, with that, I end this letter. For there is nothing left for me to say.

May kami protect you, Miho Kori.

May kami protect us all.

Sincerely,

-Nohara Chi

The last letter had two pink papers in it. It stated in bold letters this:

‘We regret to inform you that Nohara Chi on the date of November 29th has passed away.’

The other one stated this:

‘We regret to inform you that Nohara Rin on the date of [DATA EXPUNGED] has been Killed In Action.’

I saw a picture flutter to the floor. It must’ve been stuck between the last two letters. I bent down and picked up the picture. It had landed face down.

I turned it over and looked at the face.My face turned as white as a sheet.

“Oh... my... kami...” I said, mouth forming into an ‘o’ shape.

Because I HAD SEEN THIS GIRL BEFORE.

This was RIN.

The Rin that Obito had loved.

The Rin that I had danced for in my First Awakening.

I was filled with a sense of dread.

'What had Willow gone through...? What pain and sorrow must've caused this?' I thought. I thought this because I KNEW my sister Willow.... Would've never left her daughter alone.

So why DIDN'TWillow decline to having a Tailed-Beast sealed into her child? What had happen to cause this? Why did Willow change?

'...I ask too many questions...' I thought to myself.

I put the letters away, and the picture. I placed them back into my pouch.

I blew out the cande and left the room.

I was about to enter the living room, but I heard something. Well, more like somebodies. It was two people, arguing.

I thought it was Kakuzu and Hidan arguing, but then I remembered- the Zombie Twins were out on a mission.

I stepped closer to the doorway to hear more clearly.

"So you're an artist? Well obviously you're not a good artist, because true artis an explosion, un!" Deidara exclaimed.

"Were you dropped on your head as a child, brat? Art is eternal. Art is everlasting. You call those explosions fine art? Fine art is something wonderful that's left long into the future… True art is eternal beauty." I heard Sasori respond, irritated at Deidara's remarks against his art.

"Pssh, you're crazy, un! True are is fleeting, it lasts only a second!" Deidara shot back.

Sasori's eyes narrowed slightly. He was getting pissed..... That's not good. That's not good at all.

Sasori + Irritated + Somebody Claiming Their Art Is Better Than His = NOT GOING TO END WELL

...Yeah.

I'm just going to hide in Itachi's room.

Yup.