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]

[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.

[scarletfemme]

[She takes deep breaths, on her knees on the ground, hands shaking.

She's too confused to say anything, thoughts too scattered.

Itachi wouldn't have let this happen to himself.]

[deathsdoctorine]

Come on, Itachi. You know what is real. You need to remember.

[She's on her knees now, reaching out. This is hurting, like watching Itachi slowly lose each piece of himself hurt, and she pushes through it because what's more pain... and...]

Come back. Please come back.

[scarletfemme]

[Itachi reaches a hand out suddenly, grasping at Law's shirt, holding it tight as he stares blindly at the ground, wide-eyed.

This never should have happened.

Never.]

Law... Law, stop. Don't speak.

I just... Give me a moment.

[deathsdoctorine]

[Back. He's back. Thank the sea.

She slumps, spent, and stares at the dirt. Her yukata is pulled open and askew between Itachi's grip and the slump, revealing the bandaging keeping her breasts bound underneath.

All she does is breathe.

Just breathe.]

[scarletfemme]

I'm sorry.

[The words are muttered, and he's shaking his head.]

That... that was inexcusable.

[deathsdoctorine]

[Law lays a hesitant delicate hand on Itachi's shoulder. And then another.]

Don't.

[Tugs him forward into a loose embrace. Because she needs this.

And this is something you don't need to apologize for.]