The Memory Keeper (Naruto Fanfic)

Chapter Nine- Goodnight, Aniki

Hey, Hi, Hello. There is some character development in this chapter, that of two people. So far, as I'm writing this author's note, I've realised something: this chapter is already at least 2,000 words long! So, yeah, I think you will enjoy it. It includes the very, very end of the big Zabuza/Haku part, some training and two decent sized memories. It's setting up for the chunin exams. So you'll definitely enjoy it. Comment and vote, please. By the way, I wasn't even planning on putting anything about the second fight with Zabuza until someone mentioned to me that it'll be dry if I don't put it and told me that I haven't developed Kimi enough. So that's the reason it's even in here, despite the fact it's briefly. Sorry if that part is lacking): There's some song lyrics too, added in with part of the story.

DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN NARUTO. If I did, it would be yaoi fangirl paradise and Akatsuki-centric.

 WARNING: Some OOC-ness and a surprise yaoi (boyxboy, two males together) pairing that I have recently fallen in love with, but the pairing is really only hinted at.

Anything in bold is important or with emphasis.

This is what memories look like.

This is what Kimi's thoughts look like.

'This is what song lyrics look like.' 

And so the chapter begins~~~

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   As Zabuza's body begins to fall to the ground, I feel the pinpricks of tears at the corners of my eyes. It didn't matter to me that Zabuza and Haku were trying to kill not only Kakashi-sensei and Tazuna, but Sasuke, Naruto and myself. What mattered was the love, albeit twisted, between them was destroyed with a thought. I can't let that be forgotten.

   I catch Zabuza's body before it hits the ground. I pull his heavy body to the side of Haku and put him stomach down. I sit next to their heads and watch their faces. Kakashi-sensei is by my side in a matter of minutes, after having cleared the other men away.

   "Kimi..." He trails off.

   "They...they loved each other. Even if they didn't admit it, they did. I could tell. Losing something like that...It's not good," I mumble, voice thick with tears.

   "Well...I wouldn't normally suggest it, but...perhaps you could do something?"

   I look at him, confusion in my eyes. What did he mean? Then, suddenly, something clicks in my brain. It would be very crude, but I remember Masao telling me something about how we could sometimes extract memories from the freshly dead. So that is what I planned on doing. I had absolutely no idea on how to properly do it, and I could end up hurting myself, but I wasn't really thinking clearly. It didn't matter if I hurt myself.

   With those thoughts in mind, I place my hands on their heads. Focusing chakra into my palms, I close my eyes and just sort of picture myself taking a memory and concentrate on doing just that. The imagery and concentration work, apparently. The best way I can describe accessing their memory is like this-there are layers. The first is their outer selves, the outermost part of their physical beings. The next is the internal pieces, where if I focus my chakra the right way I could map out their veins, organs, each individual cell. The third layer is their mind. This layer is divided into many different parts, each for a different part of their mind. The memory is one of those. The last part is their rawest pieces-the emotion.

   The way to move between the layers was the weirdest part for me. It was like slipping between them. Part of Zabuza's gave some resistance, but after a little effort and even more concentration, I was able to reach his memory.