twenty-three crows (朱) video

[yourhatred]

[There is a feminine face in view right now, and those who've run into her already will recognize this as Itachi in his currently female state.

However, something seems to be a little... off with Itachi today. For one thing, she's smiling quite brightly at the viewer, something the ninja never does. The feeling of not-rightness is worsened when she waves a hand in a friendly greeting.]

Excuse me, everyone, but I was wondering if you could tell me if you've seen my youngest son? I haven't heard from him all day and I'm getting a little worried.

His name is Sasuke and he's only seven - dark hair and dark eyes like mine. I'm sure he's just out with his brother somewhere, but you know how a mother frets.




((ooc: Itachi hasn't been affected by anything but the genderswap. However he looks an awful lot like his mother, and it's started to mess with him psychologically.

Replies will come from scarletfemme.))

Comments

[scarletfemme]

[The voice is familiar, but she can't immediately place where. She glances up, thinking perhaps one of her sons had returned while her mind was elsewhere, but sees no one but the approaching woman.]

I believe Itachi is out training. Are you... from the academy?

[deathsdoctorine]

No, I'm not. Don't you recognize me?

[Much worse than she thought. Much worse.]

[scarletfemme]

[Itachi stares at her, blinking.]

I'm... sure I've seen you around. But... I can't place a name. Sorry.

[deathsdoctorine]

It's... Law. Trafalgar Law. Remember?

[It hurts. Like it would hurt if Itachi went home and then returned and forgot all about her and what they shared.

But she had been braced for that possibility. And being forgotten in a shift? She's prepared for that too.

... this? Is something else.

It hurts.

But that doesn't help anything, so she pushes past it to concentrate on bringing him back.]

[scarletfemme]

Law...

[She says the name as if it might strike a memory, but isn't certain. The cheerfulness fades from her features as she just continues to stare at the pirate.]

[deathsdoctorine]

That's right. Law.

[She steps forward to brush her fingers against Itachi's in a chaste gesture. Touch is such a primal thing... maybe it can spark something. Especially this gesture. Law's typical discreet gesture of affection.

Please...]

You know me very well.

[scarletfemme]

[Itachi watches his hand, slowly frowning.]

You're... being very informal, Law. I am a married woman.

[deathsdoctorine]

[The hand jerks back if burned.]

Married?

[She really can't help it. Or the look of pain. Then she recenters. Push it aside, Law. Push it aside.]

... do you even know where you are?

[It comes out as a hoarse whisper.]

[scarletfemme]

This is... not the village, I know.

It's somewhere we're all given wings... Little ones.

Ah... Luceti, isn't it?

[Did that make things more or less confusing for her? She couldn't say.]

[deathsdoctorine]

Yes, this is Luceti. And we all are given wings. And experimented on.

[Still hoarse.]

... there's one going on right now...

[scarletfemme]

An experiment?

[Still frowning.]

That's awful. What kind?

[deathsdoctorine]

A recycling of every previous experiment ever imposed on the villagers. Many people aren't even who they are supposed to be right now.

[It's not the case here. But anything to get his mind moving.]

[scarletfemme]

I... see.

Are you someone you shouldn't be?

[deathsdoctorine]

Only in body.

[That yukata she's wearing? That is a man's obi right there.]

[scarletfemme]

Oh. I hope it hasn't been too difficult.

[She raises a hand to her forehead, as a headache has started to form.]

[deathsdoctorine]

It's been okay. I don't mind being a woman.

[No, it hasn't. And yes, she minds. It's not helping you recognize me.

She sees that. Hopes it means what she hopes.]

Do you remember who you are?

[scarletfemme]

I am... Uchiha Mikoto.

[More frowning.]

You were a man?

[deathsdoctorine]

I am a man. Despite appearances. So are you. Despite appearances and what you think.

...

You are Uchiha Itachi. The most precious person to me here.

[scarletfemme]

[That gets a bit of a laugh out of her.]

Don't be silly... Itachi is my son.

[deathsdoctorine]

[The expression is like being slapped. She jerks slightly, reaches out, and then drops her hand.

What am I doing wrong?]

[scarletfemme]

[That reaction brings a concerned look to Itachi's face.]

Law...?

1/2

[deathsdoctorine]

[I...

I am a doctor. I cannot...



There's that pause where she cannot answer. Her voice is gone, she has been hollowed and scraped to the bone, and she has nothing left to draw on except little shards of pain.]

2/2

[deathsdoctorine]

[... but she cannot allow herself that luxury so the moment passes.]

I know this hard to believe. I know you don't want to believe it. That this is nice and not painful - a safe refuge, I know.

But this is an illusion. That's all. An illusion. You are Uchiha Itachi, genjutsu master, and one of the finest shinobi Konohagure has ever seen. Your life has been a hard one and your sacrifices unspeakably great.

You are the man who loves his brother and his village more than anything in the world.

...

...

... you are the man I love. And I would do anything to bring you back.

[scarletfemme]

No, you're mistaken. I'm...

I'm...

[There's that headache again. She covers her eyes completely with one hand, curling in on herself.]

I-I can't see...

[She couldn't, hardly, and she'd been functioning anyway.]

[deathsdoctorine]

I know, Itachi. Overuse of the Mangekyou Sharingan brings blindness to the user. That's why you can't see.

...

No, I'm not wrong. And you know it. Search deep inside yourself. You know the truth. The real truth.

Break this illusion, Itachi.