From One Heart To Another
Tobirama:
Where was I? Upon opening my eyes, white was found to have drowned the world around me. No matter where I turned, north, south, east or west nothing but the color of snow reached my optic nerves. I called out, hoping for another person to hear my cries and respond. Only the sounds of my heavy breathing were picked up by my ears.
What was going on? My memory was fresh and accurate, remembering all that had occurred before my eyes closed and I entered this realm. Upon reflection I recalled peircing Sakura’s scent gland just as the last dregs of healing charaka were entering her physical form.
How was this even possiple? No record, oral or written could’ve prepared me for being automatically transferred to this alternative dimension. Was the clan under attack? Had the enemy transported me to get me out of the way? I was the second strongest in the clan, so taking me out would make sense. Hashirama was out of commission because of his physical and emotional state. Yet why just transfer someone when you could kill them? Why let me live? I knew I was breathing. There was no need to press fingers to my neck pulse to know my organs were operational. Unless, this was a genjustu. Fluxaiting my charkara to do my bidding I found, no allusions present.
Why was this happening? If it wasn’t an enemy attack which was proving more unlikely as the counted seconds ticked by then why? All I did was bite her scent gland, claiming her for my own. Sealing a bond handed down by fate. Was this punishment for abondoning her originally? If that was true, how long would I remain a prisoner? My logical mind couldn’t understand the situation, nothing was reasonable, not enough information was present.
Normally my mind functioned on logic alone. Everything was explainable if one used reason. Common sense. The works. Something that could easily suppress instincts. But here in this place, my instincts, one preprogrammed in me since the first time I breathed air outside my mother’s womb was leading me into a single direction. The pull was undeniable. At first my steps were one at a time, right then left, one in front of the other. A natural stride that turned into a rapid place. For the longest time all I heard was the thumping of my heartbeat and the stomping of my steps underfoot. Until the white lost control and the area plunged into darkness. It was if I was staring at some kind of boarder, one light, one dark.
Before I could begin to comprehend the reasoning of such of a mesmerizing contrast my instincts are driving me forward. Whereas the white territory was room temperature, this new areas is freezing. Like a bucket of ice cold water had been poured on me yet never ending. Where calm was the feeling given off by the white land, this new one is nearly drowning me in pain, emotional and physical. A knee is taken as I stare wide eyed at the ground. Shivers envelope me, both from the cold and the agony. Physical pain was a constant friend for any shinobi. It was a normal, every day occurrence for a person to have blood spilling from the mouth, bones breaking under the force of an adversarys attacks. But this was different. Overwhelmed I whimpered, like a person ready to beg for their lives, of a child scared by a nightmare and looking for comfort. The expirenced part of me, my shinobi half told me to get a grip, to not dispair. Only to focus and calm down. But the bigger part of me is scared beyond belief. Unable to shake the feeling that I’m about to die. Salvia pools in my mouth as I choke on panic. Hands over my head I crumble into the fatal position, one that should’ve provided me comfort yet didn’t do a thing.
Then I smell the fainted whiff, a mixture of wilting flowers and damp soil, without ever having smelled it before I know its Sakura. Immediately, nothing but my endangered omega mattered. Some fiend was harming her and here I was lying immobile as if acting like prey would make it all better. There is without a doubt in my mind that I can sit here no longer, she needs me. Uncurling doesn’t sit well with me but no choice was given. Rising just to my knees made me feel as if one hundred bricks had been placed on my back. All I wanted to do was curl back up. Sobs that were not my own pushed me to my feet. Arms still wrapped around me I made my way forward one step at a time. If it was possiple the darkness seemed to strengthen the farther one went in.
Under the blanket of bleak blackness there was no telling how much time had passed since I entered this alternative universe. With every passing second I felt as if my world was ending. I was about to die and never be found. Trembling, I was just about to give up when I found her. Before my very eyes was Sakura, curled in on her self in her own fatal position crying her beautiful green eyes out. The women didn’t bother it stiffle any sobs, letting it all out into the air around us. It didn’t appear that she knew I was behind her. All though I meekly called out to her, saying her name multiple times she didn’t startle until I had placed a single hand on her shoulder. My feet carrying me to her side as I was natural for an alpha to care for their omega. Pulling her dainty hands from her face two emerald orbs land on me. “No” she screams, hands flying to cover her ears. Eyes pinching shut. It breaks my heart to hear her cry out, to see her frightened of me. My hand draws back as if my single touch would burn her alive. Sakura’s scent sours further, the third individual scent strengthens ininstity. I know instantly I’ve smelled this before but my brain can’t place it.
What do I do? Things weren’t supposed to turn out this way. We were supposed to meet and instantly kick things off. Her eyes would enlighten as she regonized me as her mate, a big smile plastering on her face. I’d stumble over words when we conversed for the first time. Scared of scaring her off, yet only entertaining her as more time passed, putting the fools foot in the fools mouth. My face would burn hotter then the sun, no way of denying that I was embarrassed. Before we’d know it we’d be two peas in a pod, spending almost all our time together. We’d go on dates, celebrating milestones like successful battles, calander events, birthdays. She would move to the compound to live with me, cooking together and snuggling on cold nights. Sakura would see me off before each battle, weighing me down with lovey dovey words, kisses and hugs until I promised I’d return. One day we’d even have kids, rambunctious little terrors with her beauty. That was my dream. How’d foolish to toss aside the only thing I had ever wanted in life because she was there when I needed her the most. An occurrence that was out of her control. I had punished her simply because she existed in a time that I didn’t prefer, crossing paths at the most unprotune time. For the first time since the our life changing event, I let tears fall down my face. On my knees, my wrists arose from my side to press into my eyelids. “I’m sorry” I whine out. “I’m so sorry.”
Shaking wrists grab her upper arms and pull her tight against me. Ears capturing her yelp, finally a break in the never ending pattern of her wails. Pale Senju arms rise to wrap around her upper body, encasing the unexpecting women in a tight grip. Sakura barely squirms as she struggles to get free before going rampet straight when I press her back to my chest, my wet face to the back of her kneck. “I’m sorry. I’m here with you. I won’t let anything hurt you” the broken mantra leaves my lips, so long and so loud that I’m grasping for breath from my contuined yelling. Unknowing and uncaring that I am yelling directly in her ears. “Please forgive me” I gasp out, ignoring the burning in my lungs are they plead for a smigin of oxygen. “I’m so sorry.”
“Why?” She cried, looking over her shoulder hesitatly. Eyes flickering away quickly when my head lifted to meet her gaze. “What did I ever do to deserve this?! What did I do?” Nothing, the answer was simple, straightforward. She was innocent in all of this. She wasn’t responsible for the Uchiha’s ideology and obsession on having nothing but a pure blooded legacy. Nor was she deserving of my punishment. “Nothing” I responded, hearing her finally go silent. Not registering that she had lowered her hands.“You didn’t do anything wrong. None of it was your fault. I-“ A intake of breath and a deep gulp of air, “I’m an asshole who punished you wrongly. Because I’m selfish. Because I was mad you weren’t there when I needed you the most. When I was at my all time low. Feeling alone. I took out years of emotional weight out on you. I don’t deserve your forgiveness but-… I am truly sorry.”
The space elapsed into silence, though I would swear until the day I died that I could hear my omegas tears falling onto the hard ground beneath our prone forms. Not even our breathing could outshine her sobs, let alone the rapid beats of my throbbing heart. Until finally she speaks, “I’m sorry you suffered.” I hadn’t even realized my eyes had closed until red orbs flew open in shock, tears flowing faster when her sentence finally registers. “I-“ I swallow again, trying to come up with the correct thing to say. For nothing comes to mind to express how much her simple four words mean to me. So I settle on the simple, “thank you.”
“Please don’t leave” I murmor, begging pitifully for a person I didn’t deserve. For the person I was meant for not to leave me behind. As I had her. Part of me knew this was a turning point. What ever happended next would decide our fate. “I hurt so bad” she eventually let lose, tensing as the sentence reached the wide open air. As if just speaking the statement out loud would lead to disaster. “I’d take all your pain if I could. I’d spare you from it all.” I barley register the tension leaving her body. “I’m so tired” she speaks low enough that I can hardly catch what she says even as my ears focus on her. “I hurt and I’m so tired of hurting.”
“What can I do?” My pain is ignored in favor of caring for Sakura. My own exhaustion doesn’t even register as I push her to the forefront of my entire focus. The girl in my arms sinks down into the floor, as if it would swallow her whole. And right now it didn’t matter if it took me as well, as long as we were together. “Put me out of my misery.”
Sakura:
“Put me out of my misery” no longer was I weighed down the words that rickashade off the walls of my heart. Letting it all out, the solitude, the abondoment, the exhaustion, the physical pain to the world around me was…freeing. For so long I lived day to day. Looking up at the sun rise and the sunset. The sun, the moon and the stars. Hours after hours I spent looking up at the sky, wondering why me? What had I done to deserve the life I had been given? I had long since blocked out my childhood and early adult life before the Uchiha unable to handle what occurred. But the life afterwards wasn’t much better. At first I thought I had been saved, happy for a short time until I was fatally dooped. Then for the next twenty years I had lived on the break of death. Every day I had to forage and hunt for the basic necessities while struggling with emotional agony, trying to comprehend and pitifully heal from a painful departure. Betrayed and alone the only companionship I had was the gaurds, kind merchant man that brought me food and small gifts, wildlife and the forest. It didn’t take a psychiatrist to regonize I had grown cold and unapproachable. Uncomfortable with human company and suspicious of everyone I crossed paths with.
I found the Senju to be different. For the first time in my life I wasn’t ridiculed or taken advantage of for being the weaker sex. Omegas were looked down on, treated harshly, as property but not with the Senju. For the first time in my life someone smiled at me, truely smiled at me, not wanting something from me, not seeking to hurt me. I was told I was welcomed. I was told I was safe. First the clan leader, then the healers, then Hashirama. He made me smile, my lips pulling upwards in motions I thought long forgotten. I couldn’t even remember the last time I giggled.
Yet there was no turning back. A single moment of positivity was always whipped out, swiftly and without remorse. There was no room in my heart for anymore pain or disappointed. Hope might be a word used by the entire world but was not meant for me.
For the longest time I had debated just letting everything go. Maybe I’d stop eating? Not that I ate a lot on a day to day basis. That took too long. Strangulation? Sounded painful and drawn out. Slitting my throat was my preferred choice. There was a hunting knife, it was sharp enough to cut hides and animal bones. Surely it was a blade fit for slitting my own throat? But I was scared.
“No!” Tobirama’s immediate response shook me to my core. The alpha tightened his grip, if it had been unforgiving before it was unbreakable now. “Please its what I want.” This was the most I had ever spoke to the man, but every syllable seemed to upset him more than the last. “Your a shinobi. It’s nothing for you to kill a helpless omega…it would be easy.”
“No! I won’t hurt you. Never again” the man behind me screamed, hurting my ears and my head. Little doubt remained that he wouldn’t leave behind bruises. His tears wetting the back of my hair. “I know I fucked up. Messed up majorly. But I will not… Can not lose you.”
“I’m broken, unfixable-“ he was quick to cut me off, “you were laughing with Hashirama just moments ago. He can make you happy. Keep you safe too. The future is bright. No one will hurt you. You’ll be safe and well fed. Never having to work a day in your life.” His words blended together as he saught to get everything out in a rush. “If not for me, don’t do it to him. You are his sun, he will wither without you in his life.”
How dare he demand that of me. Anger didn’t even come close to what I was feeling. All I felt was numbness. Staring at the endless abyss in front of me. Staring at the void as if it would answer all my questions, provide endless peace and give me endless happyness. There was once a time, when I was younger, when I dreamed of my future with a husband and family. My destined mate would treat me like a queen reglardless of financial and social status. We’d be happy with many children that got under feet and into trouble. But we’d just laugh and be grateful for everything we had been given.
Pinching my eyes shut, I silently begged the universe to make it all end. To end the suffering. “I can’t be what he wants. He’s just sticking to me because I’m fated to him.”
“No. He’s smitten, your all he talks about, all he’s ever wanted….-“ he began to ramble. Something about falling quickly and loving hard. Compassion and dedication as if he was trying to sell me his older brother on a silver platter. But me all I wanted was to be left alone. There’d be no one waiting for me in the after life. I had no family, born and raised and orphan. I had friends who were more like sisters but as far as I knew they were still living. And that’s how I wanted it kept.
“I’ll disappear. I’ll leave-“ he contuined unaware that I wasn’t listening. “I’ll kill my self to atone!” Tobirama-San was beyond consoling at this point, rambling, saying anything he thought was acceptable. That would help his case. “I don’t want your life.” The heir to be didn’t understand. Here where we lay was the site of all passing. A few steps forward and the great abyss, the one calling to me, had been for a long time was promising a sincere welcoming home. Death was just out of reach. “I didn’t want this!”
“Life is cruel” I retort without any snark or sass, just plain truth. “It shouldn’t be this way but it is. Really makes you wonder why parents bring children into this world.”
“I didn’t know you went to say goodbye. I didn’t know father helped you or knew. I-“
“It’s the perfect excuse” I simply say, “you freed your self form me. From being cursed. You can go back to living your life as it was” I murmor knowing that soon eternal warmth, eternal safty, eternal peace would take my soul to the other side. “I don’t want that. I want you.”
“But I want to die. No more suffering. No more tears or sadness. No more burdening pain. Just nothing,” it was the harsh truth. Something I had dreamed of over and over. A thought no a dream that had never gotten old. “You’ll move on” I encouraged, sending a small smile over my shoulder even as I avoided his eyes. “Find someone whole. Someone better” those words tasted bitter on my tounge. What a damn hypocrite was I? I didn’t want to share any mates. I couldn’t stand to watch them cheat. Just the thought of it broke my heart, even as I was surprised there was anything left to shatter. “And if I don’t want that?”
Another glance back and this time our eyes locked. For the third time in my life Tobirama looked me straight in the eyes, really looking at me. Not with shock, disgust or a blank look but- No it wasn’t possible. No one in theirs right mind would be begging a poor, powerless omega. My only worth steamed from being born an omega, cursed to be mated to the four most powerful shinobi in the world. And all of his was the cruel joke of fate who willed it on a whim. As a means of entertainment. “Sakura….They hurt you?”
“They saved me from certain death years ago. How ironic that they have a hand in it now.” This is what I deserved for my nativity. For ignoring all the glare and backhanded comments from all walks of Uchiha life. How foolish I was to convince myself everything was perfect, alright. In the end life was always cruel just liked to play with heartstrings until wham, haha look at the victim standing there clueless and broken . “I won’t hurt you like them. Neither will Hashirama! It can be just the three of us. Us against the world. Even if I don’t deserve a second chance he didn’t do anything wrong.” A similar as he was to the Uchiha there was two distinct differences. Madara and Inzua cheated. Tobirama spoke the official rejection words. “I’m so tired-“ I begin, getting tired of explaining, wanting to grab on to the temptation, the outward hand reaching my way. Even as the unwavering weight behind me faught to keep me grounded, from joining the angles above. “We’ll go back to the compound, I have a lot of furs to keep you warm. You’ll never be cold again. And..and… well get your a soft mattress right next to a warm heater, like the one in the medical tent. Hashirama and I are rich, you’ll never want for anything. We’ll get your pretty dresses, lots of pillows, an unending collection of jewelry. Theres so much to live for. There’s plenty of clan mates I want you to meet. Never ending list of new places to visit.”
“All I ever wanted was to be warm and safe. Held tight by someone who loved me” when said out loud it made me sound like a sappy fool. Natively speaking my deepest wishes, like a child wishing on a star. “And if I say he loves you? That I can grow to?” A pause. The another and another. Something welled in my chest, a thing I assumed was lost many years ago. No not lost. Stomped on, shattered, burned to a crisp. With no chance of returning. But here I was, realizing the long lost feeling was hope.
“And if you can’t?” His answer came with no hesitation. Deceit not present. “I will faulter, I will fall, I will fail. But I’ll always get back up as long as you will have me. For you are my dream.” Green orbes looked away. Staring further into the dark depths in front of me. Hearing the nearly endless calls, the attractive stream of encouragement. But for the first time as I wavered, so did the noise. Not quiet drowned out. Certainty not non-exsistance. But not as loud… “He adores you, Hashirama. Your all he talks about. He was besides you fighting to save you. Your all he’s ever wanted. I may not know you, not even at all but I know you can make him happy. You do. Just seeing you, hearing your voice. You light up his face” he was back to rambling, and even as he made little sense the message was clear. “He never wants to part from you, when ever your not next to him is a time of sadness-” I cut him off my next inquiry. “And you?”
A single pale hand, gently on the skin of my chin turned my head so I looked him deep in the eyes. “Should you chose to go… I ask that you let me acompy you.”
Third person:
{back in the hospital}
Time moved slow as the rooms occupants eyes widened, watching in horror as the scene unfolded. A flash, a single moment in time and Tobirama was on the other side of the room, planting his sharp teeth in the naked scent gland of the unconscious omega. Watching on as he permently marked her for all the world to see, leaving behind a bloody mark that ringed his lips. The second in line son’s body slumped to the floor, in a similar state as the one he just bit, hitting the hard woods with a resonating thud. His mothers hands rushed to cover her gasping mouth unable to get out a sound. Her husband and sons just as stunned into silence. Unable to move as shock captured the room... Until reality hit.
As his father figure clutched his wailing heir to his chest, obviously torn on who to tend to, Hashirama was losing it, sobbing, clawing at his skin and that of his father as he screamed in emotional pain. Believing his mate dead. Repeating her name over and over again as he clutched the side of his head. “You killed her” Hashirama screamed feraly. Claws lengthened. Fangs elongated. Emotional agony blended perfectly with blind rage. “You killed her” that was all he would say, the dead manta tearing at the heart strings of those responsible. Until not even words could escape his lips, the flesh parting to escape only roars and snarls.
“Tobi!” The cousin rushed forward first, adding to the rooms caotic atmosphere. Falling to her knees besides her cousin, hands hesitantly reached out , shaky as she touched his body, finding the cold skin active and lively beneith her fingers. A small relief when no one could rouse him. Jaun ignored him, knowing who the true patient was, focusing on Sakura alone. Even the unshakable man faced a rare moment of surprise, shocked to find his patient alive and breathing all on her own.
For all their power Butsuma-Senju and Hina Hataka were no match for Hashirama’s pure might. The first born broke free from his fathers grip, beginning to rampage. The younger siblings still awake and aware, jumped on the ceiling, drawing on training to adhere, to avoid the havoc below. Understanding without communication Hina’s life mates encased the two medics, the female medic cowering in the corner and Jaun watching with great sadness next to her. His hands on her shoulders in hopes of comforting her enough to quiet her cries. Sakura’s bed had been pulled to their side, behind the barrier of fur and fang.
Hind sight was a blessing, the duo having evacuated the omega side of the hostipal. Ahead of time the few expected mothers and newly arrived infants and those with minor injuries requiring a medics careful touch had been moved to the alphas side of the building. Unable to withdraw everyone from the place of healing. Although no one had been formally warned, it was noticeable to all that they could lose their strongest at any moment. Whispers were all about, catering to the endless rumors surrounding her life, who she was, how she captured his heart, why she was sick, what she had done to deserve Tobirama’s betrayal. Now those vile whispers were silent. Ears told a different story, regonizable sound spurring people to think and feel differently. The compound went quiet as realization dawned. Sakura had passed away and the heir had turned feral.
Tobirama:
It was if I was rising from a deep slumber, my physical form was cold, sluggish and heavy. Even as two hands, 10 digits and palms were attempting to shake me too, I knew something was wrong. Toka who I could spot through bleary eyes was looming over me, shouting something incoherent. “Tobi-“
“Stop yelling” I murmur pushing her away. Red eyes catch the remains of a destroyed room even as every turn of the head makes my sore brain throb. Two other faces and tops of heads come into sight, I find Jaun cowering in the corner besides one of the nurses, whose name escapes my foggy mind. My mothers life mates are there, on the other side of a tipped over bed, standing straight against what ever adversary trashed the room. “You have to go after him!” my cousin is back to tearing at my arm, orbs frantic as she tries to make me understand the density of the situation. “Where is-?” I throw my self to my feet, heart beating against my ribs in an uncomfortable beat as it dawns on my Sakura is no where in sight. “Hashirama is tearing apart the compound. Sakura passed away and he’s lost to the grief.” What in fucks name was she talking about? “Where is she?” theres no way else to intercept my panic other than concern for Sakura’s wellbeing. Had she broken our pact? Toka looks mournfully to the corner where the three non fighters are huddled together for both comfort and safty. Kei and Shin part, watching me stumble on shaky weak legs to the edge of the bed. Jaun is clutching my mate to his. chest, looking up at me with obvious fright. With laser focus I press two fingers to Sakuras neck.
“Anjia!” Finding my older brother was an easy feat, following the wake of his destruction. My gang was slow, still groggy. My cousin followed close behind. Her concerned gaze burning into my back, obliviously worried for me for I was still out of it and for my Anji who rampaged around us. Screams entered and existed out my ears, saddening my heart. But Hashirama didn’t do what he did out of maliace. He was suffering and wasn’t able to handle what occurred. Already several buildings lay in ruins, two homes and several merchant stalls. Wooden vines threatened to bear down on those under in their shadows. Civilians ran every which way, not sure where safty lied. Shinobi battled fruitlessly, but under Hashirama’s might they stood no chance. No one but his Uchiha counterpart did.
My eyes caught father hitting the ground hard, his back taking the brunt of the attack as he attempted to rein in Hashirama. Ofcourse the progenitors were there. But even the twelve elite were not enough to tame the beast. Mother, at half strength was barely able to doge the attacks sent her way, shooting off several lighting bolts at Hashirama who didn’t even seem fazed. And why would he would the wood blocked the atttacks path? “Anjia!” I shouted, hoping to be heard over the commotion. “Stop you are hurting the clan. Your family.” Unsurprisingly he contuined forward, hell bent on killing his parental figures. I wasn’t sure where my younger siblings where, my sensing abilities like my body, not up to pare, slowly recovering from near death. All I could do at this point was to pull my elder sibling from the brink of no return and return him to Sakura’s side. “Please Hashirama” hand raised I protected my eyes from the glare of the sun above but most importantly my whole head from flying debris. “Sakura isn’t dead. She needs you to take care of her, to be there when she wakes up.”
Hashirama stood tall and opposing atop a large trunk of twisting and turning wood, leaving him looking like a god hovering mid air. I almost didn’t regonize the man who was always besides me, my rock, my support, my life long campaign. Chocolate orbs were overridden with madness, leaving behind two black holes. Kind smiles were of the past as sharp teeth barred themselves as us from above. A promise of pain and bloodshed. Hands sporting similarly sharp claws fit to tear flesh. I felt like he didn’t even look like my sibling. To know that I had caused everything, his grieving, Sakuras physical, mental, and emotional pain, my clans suffering… A deep breath, I told me self. Intake and exhale. Cold air flowed through me as I faught to think and not falter under the weight of guilt. With my eyes tightly closed, a novices mistake, Hashirama finds the perfect victim, labeling me as prey. Toka’s grabs me just before I’m peirced through the chest. A plan that’s what we need my mind screams when my eyes flash open. I’m given no time to gather supplies, no time to scope out the area or observe my opponet. This battlefield was on home tirf and not one I could afford to lose. Relying on my speed, I jump directly in his line of sight, in the line of fire to draw his attention. Allowing the injured to flee and for the rest of the shinobi to regroup and regather, to prepare but if my plan unfolds as calculated then there would be no need for their aid. Hashirama misses a single clone running in the opposite direction.
Though the telaportation Justu had been developed to kill Inzua it was used to avoid my mad brothers attacks, using it to dodge whipping vines and lashing wooden clones. My attention remains entirely on my brother. I can’t find my siblings, all I can do is pray they are unharmed. Not only would my heart be broken but I knew Hashirama in this life or the next would never forgive himself. He’d already never let go of the guilt of hurting those he vowed to protect and serve. He might fight against sitting at a desk or try to avoid meetings but deep down he lived and breathed for his clan. When he became bored of simply chasing me I hit him hard with four kuni knives tied down with exploding paper bombs to keep his attention.
When my clone finished the originals bidding he disappeared into thin air. His memories rushed forward, between that and my recovery I made an easy enough target. The blow to the chest came without warning. The battle axe like bark ripped apart my armor like it was paper between scissors. The pain was crippling. But my attention was on the wood burrowing into my chest, the shards digging deep into the open flesh. As blood poured from the wound and pain threatened to knock me out, I knew now was the time to pull my final move. The finishing blow was dogged by a mere hair folic of space, a small tilt to the side was just enough to ward off the sharp point. Utilizing my chakra I jumped to his side. Before he could react I threw him into a restricting hold, taking him with me to our final destination.
Hashirama always got disoriented when he traveled via transportation, utilizing this one advantage I threw the plan into phase two. The privacy and control having my own space provided me was sacraficed as I carried a thrashing Hashirama further inside the lab. On a normal day when we were both at normal strength and not at the mercy of our injuries or emotions I was no match for my older brother. With the madness encasing his heart and controlling all his movements he was still hard to rein in and control. Weakend by my numerious ordeals I knew it was a matter of time before he broke my hold, my arms tying his down against his sides. There were only moments to spare.
Hashirama was in full control, at full strength by the time we reached Sakura. The future Lady Senju laid on her back on the old mattress I kept in the lab for no other reason that to avoid scolding. Eventually even the most patient go tired of being nagged to the moon and back about the lack of proper self care. Her head was turned to perfectly view our approach. Two exhausted eyes reflected not tiredness but great horrified sadness. Tears flowed without remorse as she openly sobbed. It broke my heart when she murmored his name so quietly yet sweet. “Hashirama” immediately he stopped thrashing, freezing in his tracks. “Alphas” the world sent shivers up my spine, a instinctive drive to comfort and provide gripped me. Hashirama was an obvious threat, one that my alpha side yelled at me to extinguish. But reason and brotherly love won out. “She’s alive. She breaths. For you. For us. See her tears and hear her cries? It’s for you, she wants you back. So come back Hashirama. Please she needs her alpha and I need my Anjia.” My own tears were welling even as my blood dripped on the floor. My strength waned even as I faught for consciousness. Black formed around the edges of perferal vision. Shaking my head against the onslaught I tried to be there for the people who needed me most, to uphold my promises. “Please, alpha” she whined, “I need you.” Who she needed the most was Hashirama. “Please” I whispered, pointing the words at the gods and gooddesses above as the world went dark.
Hashirama:
Endless darkness. The whole world was encased in the color, everywhere I turned. The mounting depressive pressure kept my crouching in on my self, huddled inward looking for any smiggin of comfort to be found. I caught the sounds of agony, screams, pleas but it didn’t register on my brain. Splashes of an unknown substance hit my palms multiple times but nothing could be seen. Who was I to care?
I just wanted Sakura. I wanted my only form of happyness, comfort, love. But now she was dead. Unable to be with me. My eyes pinched tightly shut as if that would make the world a better place. Screams escaped my throat, making voice to my own grief. “Sakura!”
“Hashirama” for a moment I thought I had made up that sound, the sweat voice of my love. But the possibility of hearing it one last time was enough to shut up my cries, for my eyes to pop open. In front of me was a ball of light. The orb floated mid air without support. “Alphas” the same weakened voice said, the very sound coming from the floating circle of bright light. Freezing where I kneeled I listened as my brothers voice came through next, begging me to return. Love for the both of them helped me rise to my feet to take a step forward. Hope battled against logic, the latter trying to make me understand that the voices were nothing but hallucination. Our eyes watched her die the organs reminded me, watched as the live giving chakara was with drawn away. I cried out again, gripping my head in sarrow as I collapsed onto my knees again, only to hear her voice again. “Please alpha. I need you.” Heart and instincts warred against what my brain was telling me, begging me for a single chance to make things right.
Having nothing to lose, I pushed my palm forward into the center of the hovering mass. In a blink of an eye I was no longe alone. Sakura lay on a mattress in front of me, eyes bright and glossy with tears. “Omega” the whisper carried the weight of distrust and foolish hope. As my knees threatened to cave under the weight of all my ocean shaking emotions I pushed forward, flying forward to hold her tight. Wrapping my arms around her small, weakened form I cried as I never had before. “I love you!” I wailed, over and over again my throat repeated her name, unable to believe she was here and alright even as her warmth soaked into my skin, even as she hugged me back. “I’m here” she whispered for me ears alone, “I’m with you.”
Drawing back ever so slightly, my palms held her face gently, my eyes meeting hers. “Please don’t leave, I don’t want to live without you.” With a face equally wet she gave me a big smile, “I don’t want o live without you two either.” Unable to speak, to choked up, I kissed her forehead. Eyes closing in bliss, I knew that besides her where was where I was meant to be, that there was no where else I wanted to be.
Unfortunately the good times do not always last. I must’ve moved just right because as soon as she could she behind me she screamed in terror. “Tobirama!” Whipping around I finally acknowledged what my instincts, senses had been trying to tell me. Eyes widened in horror as they landed on my brother laying face down on the concrete floors of his lab. Blood had pooled around him, nor did he move. “Brother!” I cried out, rising to my feet I fled to his side, terrified to find the state he was in. Unresponsiveness was easily understood when one saw the wound on his chest. Gone was the muscles and honed flesh, torn away leaving behind deep gashes of open skin. Weakness had never stopped me from helping others. I couldn’t explain the minimal chakara in my system, something that had been building through recovery yet never activated mysteriously. As I began to close the wound I prayed that I had enough to save him. Bright green light encased my hands as the healing begun. Just as the bleeding stopped I came across the tell tale signs of his attacker, finding shards of a forbidden assignation Justu in his body. Horrified, I counted dozens of wooden splinters, watching the pieces burrow and slash away at his organs, viens and nerves. Moving on their own. No moving at the commander of their welder. I wanted to hide, to cry, to scream. Yet couldn’t, without permission no one else could enter the space, Sakura wasn’t strong enough to send for help, nor could I send a clone for medical aid because if I stopped even for a second, he would inrevertly die.
Swallowing all the internal emotional build up, I moved beyond first aid care and into formal healing. Manipulating the shrapnel using my wood style justu I evicted them, following up closely with healing touches. Watching to ensure all went as it should. “Sakura please don’t fret, he’ll be ok” I had to say something, she was crying behind me, calling out his name. “Hold on little brother” I whispered for his ears alone. Sakura is far enough away, only having gotten a quick look, enough that she knew he was hurt but not the density of his wounds. I wanted to keep it that way. She wasn’t well, she didn’t need his current condition added onto her own physical and emotional injuries. “Come on Outo” the words were low murmors. “Hang in there.”
The irony of the situation wasn’t lost to me. Tobirama’s terrible wounds, the gap in his chest that put his life at risk was caused by the very hands that worked to heal him. I wasn’t sure how long I kneeled at his side, glowing hands working tiredlessly. My bodies physical needs weighed heavy on me, I was exhausted, muscles full of tension and pain. Bruises and other minor wounds were distracting but nothing years of battlefields and training couldn’t handle. Pounding on the lab door echoed in the enclosed space. Shouts following close behind, pleas to open the door and let them in. Father seemed most panicked of the group. The words to reassure him and the rest of the clan caught in my throat, threatening to chock me up. Without hesitation, I reconnected the cut up veins, reigniting his natural circulation. “Hang in there just a little bit longer. I promise I won’t fail you again Outo” I whispered for our ears only. “I’ve already repaired your veins and stopped the bleeding. I’m working on your muscles and organs now.”
Bloodied hands laid my Outo down next to Sakura on the simple mattress. A shaking hand reached out for a simple touch, a gentle backhanded swipe to his cheek to reassure herself that the younger of her two mates was indeed breathing. “Thank god” she whispered, smiling weakly in happy sadness. In any other situation I might’ve made a stupid comment, effectivly putting my foot in my mouth by saying, “I’m the god of shinobi. Your welcome.” But now was not the time or place. As soon as my unconscious brother was covered up, sharing a blanket with Sakura to ward off the cold radiating off the wooden walls, I fell onto my butt. Panting deeply as I caught to catch my breath, trying to deal with all the overwhelming emotions ,relief, happyness, sarrow…There was a deep inch, one that had developed under the skin. Unshakable and unable to fully scratch away. One that orginated deep in the heart. A screaming torment that blamed me for everything that had happened today. Falling on my back, head hitting the natural floor I blacked out as my bodies needs finally took presidence.
Screams, words full of pleading reached my ears. The familiar noises pulling me out of unconsciousness. Awakening I stared straight ahead at the ceiling above. Groggy, both my body and head pounded in protest, even against breathing. A simple turn of the head reveled Sakura staring me dead on, going quiet as she came to realize I was once again awake. How long had I been out? The pounding against the wooden door made my head pound agains my skull. “Hashirama! Are you alright?”
“Everything hurts”what a pitiful truth that was. Well no one could fault me for being honest. “Alpha?”
“I’m fine my dear” a small smile was sent her way, eyes closing for no more than a moment lest I fall asleep on her again. “Whose banging on the door?”
“Your father and other Senju’s. They are really…they sound scared.” The words hung in the air as I had nothing good to say in return. “I’ve tried to reply but they don’t seem to hear me.”
“Doesn’t shock me. Tobi doesn’t know how to sleep, blowing things up in here at all hours of the day and night. He created sound proofing seals after creating an explosion in the middle of the night. Scared the daylights out of everyone. Awoke all the children” I chuckled at the memory. Even I who sleeped heavy awoke startled. Screaming fell on the ears as I tore out of my room and parents house. Father and mother were still in their night clothes. Most of the clan was. Some of the civilians were panicking, thinking we were under attack and the children were startled and upset. But as smoke broke through the darkness of the night, the shinobi tracked it to his lab. Senji eyes feasted there eyes own a half standing building and a swearing Tobi. The latter looking beyond embrassed when feasting eyes on the new arrivals. By the end of the night only a small portion of the lab was salvageable. Only a small potion of his notes and scrolls had survived the flames. Both would’ve pissed him off it he wasn’t already occupied. Mother had his ear in a death grip, yelling at the top of her lungs at him, for waking everyone up, for being irresponsible in blowing things up, for leaving him self open to the possibility of being blown up during his tests. Never again did anyone be rudely awaken during all hours of the night. Looking back at it his seals usually did have they’re own pros and cons. As nice as it was to have peace and quiet, the lack of sound reaching the outside was an unfortunate drawback. Father and mother were likely freaking out. Terrified out of their minds for their children. Not knowing if we were alright, bleeding out or already dead. I couldn’t even recall what got the better of me.
Well time to get up. ‘This was definitely the last time I was going to be getting to my feet’ I thought to my self, pitifully replying on the wall to hold me up. I couldn’t be seen crawling for help in front of Sakura whose emerald eyes bore directly into my back. “Hashirama?”
“It’s alright” I was at the door, about to collapse if it didn’t open in the next few seconds. But he click of a lock assured me the wood would give way. Legs giving in I hit the hard wood floors right as those waiting impatiently outside got a glimpse inside. “My pups!” Fathers shrill shout was the final thing I remembered before blacking out.
Awakening I find my self burried under old scratchy blankets, staring at an all too familiar ceiling. Father and mother rest against one another near the entry way, leaning against their partner as they fitfully sleep. How torturous this must for them, two of their children injured and on top of that not acting like themselves. Father gets esspically emotional when things do not go right in the family. Itma and Kamawara are no where in sight. All I can do as I lay in the hostipal bed is hope they are ok. As weak as I am I manage to turn my head enough to see Sakura sleeping in the bed on my left. As always, my brother is not far away, my right hand man on my right side. A small smile graces my lips, relieved to see the man breathing on his own, attached to two IV poles sporting two bags of fluid. Are Tobi and Sakura alright? How much time has passed? What happened while I was out?
My physical form throbs. I’m unable to draw on any strength, only trying not to fall back asleep. Jaun wonders in, enabling me to catch him off guards as he obviously doesn’t expect me to be awake. I watch half amused, half in pain as he freezes mid stride as soon as his head lifts from the clip board. “Lord Hashirama!” A step back, sharp intake of air as his hand pressing to his chest, going still. Then as soon as it starts, its over, his walk over recommences, “thank goodness you are back to normal. Or rather partly back to your usual self” a small smile accompies his word, showcasing his sincerity. “How are you feeling?”
“How are Sakura and Tobi? Where are my brothers?” Even I’m shocked I can still talk, given the scratchy dryness of my throat and voice box. My mouth no better off. Feels as if I haven’t had a decent drink in months. “Normally I’d be demanding you answer mine first but given the circumstances and knowing your track record I’ll give you what you want. Tobirama-sama has a terriable gash to the chest, honestly even I’m amazed he’s still up and kicking with how wounded he is. Especially given the damage to his upper bodies organs and systems. I assume you are to thanks for that?” He concludes with an eye life sent my way, no longer staring at my white haired brother, the very one sleeping peacefully in his own bed. “As for Sakura-Sama” another glance at the clip board, “shes recovering quiet nicely. Freaks out usually when she awakens, upset that the two of you are injured and what not. It is obvious she fails to understand entirely what is going on. But your parents, esspically his lordship have proven most helpful in settling her. Her appetite has returned though due to the lack of previous nutrition it will be a while before she eats three full meals a day. Little snack and meals are best for her right now. Putting more weight on her is a must. It will be a slow recovery as she contuines to heal from the abondoment.”
“Will she die?” He has to think on that for a moment, turning from looking at the patient in question before returning his gaze to my form, “even the most minuet scratches can lead to fatality. However, given the most recent developments, all positive mind you I believe optimism is in order.” Weight that I didn’t even know I was carrying leaves my chest and shoulders, my back figuratively cracking as it lets go of mountains of stress and worry. No, not worry. Down right fright.
“As for your siblings, I assure you there is nothing to worry about. Rather than being here underfoot and worrying, I sent them home. Itama-sama and Kawarma-sama have been helping your parents to lead the clan during this trying time. All four are exhausted. Although I was not able to send your parents for a rest I am at least glad they are sleeping now. You three have truly given us quiet a fright.“ I nod letting out a deep breath of air I wasn’t aware I was holding. A smile, and then the man knows he is thanked. Tobirama and him were similar in many ways, ostracized for their lack of social graces, blunt and preferring books to human contact but they both cared deeply for their people. What we would do with out either was truly terrifying. In fact, if I recalled correctly, Jaun was the one to teach Tobi healing ninjutsu. “No for my questions” anyone else would get snarky, titling they’re head to the side, hands folded over their chest as they speak but Jaun just stares me down, voice monotone as he lifts a single eye brow. “I hurt.”
“And?” His facial expressions don’t change as he comes to my bedside. “Pain medication please.” A small huff of half amusement, half amazement, “why am I not shocked that the god of shinobi has a poker face.” I chuckle. One that is quickly stomped down when I end up causing more pain than good at the movement. “Ow.”
“Don’t be a big baby. It’s just a little pinch.”
Father was sitting up, awake and alert speaking to Sakura when I came to next. A small turn of the head allowed me to focus more on their near silent conversation. The beautiful women with pink hair was sitting up, but not on her own, her posture was supported by four pillows behind her back. With knees pressed to her chest she sobbed almost with out noise. A femine hand pressed over her mouth helped to keep the sound down. Father had a gentle hand to her back, a move to provide comfort and care to one in time of need. “Everything will be ok.”
“I’m scared.” Scared of what? I may not be in any shape to be sitting up, let alone doing so on my own but I couldn’t sit idly by. Neither noticing I was awake or moving, father focused solely on Sakura. “I hurt and it won’t stop.”
“It will eventually” my father murmors lowly, almost as if he was reserving those words for her ears alone. “Sakura dear” he began, “its ok to take baby steps. Healing won’t be over night. But things will get better” her head was tucked into his shoulder as he sat by her side. “Senju don’t hurt omegas. You are safe here. No one will starve you, you will never be alone. We will become your family and home.” Now things were making a lot more sense, why she was upset. But at least it wasn’t a full blown panic attack. “I don’t want to go back” the whimpers broke my heart. “I can be good so please.”
“There there. Don’t cry now sweetheart. The Uchiha can’t hurt you now. No one can. We won’t let anyone lay a finger on you.”
“I just wanted to be loved, that’s all I ever wanted. But everyone just hurts me, they’re nice for a little while and then wham, I’m bleeding and hurting all over again.”
“A lot of people have tormented you. And I’m not going to sit here and tell you I understand because everyone has a different story and I’m not going to deminsh your demons by claiming otherwise. But I hope you know that I as a fellow omega and Senju swear I will not allow anyone to touch you again.” He’s rubbing the top of her head, as father used to do when my brothers and I we’re kids, a comforting gesture. One that seems to work. Or at least help slightly. “They died because of me. Your sons arn’t-“ shes swiftly closes off what ever she was about to say, “The Uchiha gaurds... I understand they protected you, cared for you in there own way, but to my clan, they are our enemy. It’s not fair for me to ask you to forget everything they have done but I hope that one day you would understand we did what we had to do. You were not the cause of their demise. As for my boys-“ his head is shaking as he pauses mid sentence. “It’s complicated, one day your will understand why.”
“Don’t you hate me? I ruined their relationship” Sakura’s looking up at him for answers. Emerald eyes begging for any source of comfort. Orbs pleading for any ray of hope. It was sometimes easy to forget that no one knew her exact past, just that she used to live in the Uchiha compound before being shipped off to the country side, left to die. I had witnessed the emotional and mental scars plaguing her every waking and sleeping moments. I’d also seen the physical scars, the ones on her arms and lower legs. Made me want to rip everything, every person who’d ever laid a hand on her to their knees at her feet, to let her watch them die. Slowly. Painfully. To know deep in her heart her attackers wouldn’t, couldn’t touch her.
“On the contrary, I think nothing of the sort.” Fathers head is held high as he stares off into space for a long moment. His small frown quickly was replaced by a light, airy smile, “you know something?” He looks back at her as he begins to speak. Holding up another tissue in offering, allowing her to blow her noise and dry her tears. “Hmm?” Sakura let the older man dab at her tears, the two still oblivious to my presence. “I think you will be very happy here.” Sakura might give him a light smile, a small one but still there. It would be up to the clan to welcome her and for Tobi and I to make her happy