Still Here (Itachi Oneshot)

Still Here.

“Musing through memories, losing my grip in the grey.”

 The moonlight streamed in through the dusty glass window illuminating the crying girl lying on the floor. She lay there curled up on the cold hardwood, tears streaming down her face. The only sounds in her dark apartment were her soft whimpers and incoherent whispers. Time was lost on how long she had actually been laying there, but she remembers on how she got to this point.

Her feet pounded as she ran through the forest to get to the secret meeting spot—their meeting spot. The puddles of water splashed around her, drenching in her in cold mud. She came to a clearing in the wood where it was dead; the ground was bare of all grass, and the trees were without leaves. Her heartbeat was so hectic she could hear it in her ears and it felt as if it would come out of her chest.

“Itachi?!” She yelled out into the clearing, hoping he would hear her over the relentless rain. She searched frantically around for him. No one was there; she was alone, just like always. She dropped to her knees and cried in frustration; clawing at her face. “Ita—”

“Michiko.” A deep voice called her name. Michiko jumped up frantically, startled by the sudden voice. She looked up to find Kisame towering over her with an emotionless face.

“Where is he? I saw the crow… t-that means to meet him here… this is our spot.” Kisame didn't say a word, he just watched as she broke down in front of him. “W-where is he, where is my Ita-kun?” He sighed and turned away from the distraught girl; he still hasn't gotten use to him being gone… “He isn't coming is he?” He looked at her again and shook his head.

“Never again.” Kisame deadpanned; he watched how she took the news carefully. Michiko stood there staring at the ground, as if the mud would suddenly bring him to her.

“How.” She asked softly.

“Sasuke.” Her head shot up.

“Where were you?”

“I wasn't there.” He said simply. Michiko balled up her fist a lunged at Kisame, throwing feeble punches at his chest.

“Why? You were his partner; you were supposed to be there for him bastard! You promised me you would watch over him. He needed you and you weren't there, you're a coward!” She yelled pounding his chest with each word. He let her take her anger out on him because he understood. With each punch, the impact dwindled; then came to a complete halt. Her fist stayed on Kisame’s chest as she cried into him. He looked down at her and slowly wrapped his arms around her.

“I’m sorry.” Kisame whispered; he wasn't sure what he was sorry for or who he was apologizing to. He looked up at the dark, rainy sky letting the raindrops embrace his face. He closed his eyes and whispered again: “I’m sorry.”

 Michiko huddled into further into a ball, sobbing into her knees.

“I’m sorry.” She whispered to the empty apartment. “I’m so sorry.”

“Numbing the senses, I feel you slipping away. Fighting to hold on, clinging to just one more day.”

 

Kisame made Michiko promise to not go after Sasuke; that this was all a part of his plan. He also made her promise not to do anything stupid; which she wasn't entirely sure she could keep that promise. Itachi’s death weighed down on her, and was too much suffering to endure.  She had no strength to go on, she found herself living day by day; not sure whether or not she was going to pull through or not.