Side Stories - Akiyama

Rieka of Konohagakure

This is something requested heavily; what if Rieka never left Konoha? Well, this is what would have happened— granted it is a bit less realistic than it's canon counterpart but it's still fun to think about.

This continues on directly where chapter 48 of Breaking Faith left off.

::

Kakashi looked to her, frowning.

"Was it worth it?"

::

One night; a masked man appeared — and her life was changed forever.

There was no point to anything.

As Rieka stared down at the flowers beneath her, crumbling under the pressure of the rain, swaying in the breeze before bending to it's will — she realised there was no point to anything.

Peace didn't exist. Everything is pointless!

'Humans are such frail yet harmful creatures... so what's the point of them?'

Rieka didn't think there was a point to them.

She turned, looking up to the night sky. Green eyes fixated on the full moon shining down on her. She could hear the thump of her heart, the howls of the trees as the wind blew through and the cries of the owls up in the canopy.

Until, everything was silent.

'There is no point to anything...'

"Rieka!"

"...Kakashi?"

She swivelled round, coming face to face with her long time friend. Kakashi was grim, like her, still disturbed over the events they witnessed earlier.

But he looked happy, was it for her? He did things like that — no matter how much it hurt. Kakashi was weird like that.

"Come on," He smiled but she knew it was forced. "Let's go get something to eat."

Rieka frowned. "Kakashi... I think I want to be alone for now."

He hesitated, before nodding in understanding. "Alright, but at least tell me where you'll go... just to be safe."

She sighed, brushing back her fringe. "I'll just be by the Nara lake. I need time to think."

"Alright then."

In another life, perhaps Kakashi would have left it at that. But as Rieka turned to leave, she felt his hand on her wrist — and realised this Kakashi was different.

"Can I come with you?"

She couldn't bring herself to tell him no.

So they walked, side-by-side. Through the tall forest trees and to the lake once since beautiful. It was well overgrown, the grass standing so tall that one couldn't even see the water.

"I should clean this one day..." Rieka mused. "Restore it to how it used to be."

"I'll help."

She turned to him. "You don't have to do that."

"I want to." He replied without a beat of hesitation.

Rieka was silent for a moment, then she smiled. "I'm glad you came."

"So am I."

Another night, with another woman, maybe things would change — But no masked man would appear — And her life could begin anew.