Act I | My Immortal

[Kanna]

Act I

My Immortal

I’m so tired of being here…
Suppressed by all my childish fears…

Silence. Nothing but deafening silence along the empty white hallways. The lights that hung above beamed brightly down onto the well-worn linoleum floors with an eerie presence, and though there was not a sound and no living thing in sight, there was a significant feeling of uncomfortable anticipation for what may come from this scene.

From the silence, grew a sound. It grew louder with each passing second, though each second moved as if it were an hour and each hour an eternity with nothing but the slow, painfully loud sound to accompany it. The lights dimmed and flickered, keeping time with the rhythm. The rhythm of a beating heart.

She was running, but not for her own safety. No, there was something far more precious on the line: The life of another. She yelled commands to those who accompanied her, dressed in white as she was, though the only sound of the heart could be heard. In front of her she wheeled a gurney covered in white sheets, stained crimson from the limp body that lay on top. The fatally injured body of an eight year old boy.

The heartbeat changed its rhythm. It was dying.

And if you have to leave…
I wish that you would just leave…

The oxygen mask upon the child’s face held signs he was still breathing. The crimson liquid that oozed out of the deep wounds that covered his body foretold a grim future, however. Frantically, she wheeled the bed into the operating room, coming to an abrupt stop once they reached the middle of the room. Again she gave orders to her companions, managing to stay calm in the life-and-death situation, though the expression across her face was that of determined seriousness.

While two of the others and herself stripped the child of the sheets and his clothing the other two ran to fetch the tools needed for the delicate procedure before hooking the child’s vital signs up to machines. But they were slow; far, far too slow. Didn’t they know time was running out? The heartbeat struggled to win against the silence and the lights flickered; an ominous sign. No! She refused to lose him!

There was little chakra left in her body to perform the medical techniques needed to save he boy’s life. Her vision was already becoming blurred as she struggled to stand and perform the manual procedure. But it was already too late. The heartbeat died slowly, each beat taking longer than the last. Each worked as fast and accurate as they could, but time and fate were against them.

Ba-dum…

Ba-dum…

…

Where once there was a heartbeat now grew the shrill and unforgiving, steady cry of the heart monitor. They tried to resuscitate him, but to no avail. He was gone.

The lights flickered once more, and then there was darkness.

Because your presence still lingers here…
And it won’t leave me alone…

By the time Kanna opened her eyes, it was still dark, though not the foreboding darkness that hid in her dreams. A sense of comfort came over her knowing it was a nightmare, yet a very real one. Curiosity took her as she glanced to the clock, who graciously showed her the time of night -- or morning -- it was in bright red numbers.

2:36AM

Another night of sleep lost to nightmares. The same nightmare she had been having for a week straight. She was tired; her eyes screamed at her to shut them, but she knew better. She knew what was waiting for her if she did. Rolling on her back from the side position she had been laying in, she felt something wet and warm trickling down her right cheek. Lifting her hand to her face, she gently wiped underneath her eye and blinked once, finding that her eyes were wet as well. She had been crying in her sleep.

As she put her arm back down and placed her hands against the bed, she pushed herself up to sit cross-legged beneath the covers. She brought her hands to her head, burying her face within them as her arms were propped up on her knees and cried silently, her body shaking from both the nightmare and the waves of tears that wracked her slender frame.

It had been one week. One whole week since that time, and she could still not rid herself of the nightmarish thoughts that haunted her subconscious. One whole week since that boy died. One whole week... since she couldn't save a life.

These wounds won't seem to heal...
This pain is just too real...

Kanna wasn't able to save a child's life, even with the help of four other medics. She had failed. At least, in her mind. Of course it wasn't her fault she had nearly ran out of chakra and almost killed herself trying heal others. It wasn't her fault the child had arrived in such a fatal condition with little hope of saving him. It wasn't her fault the boy was attacked. Of course it wasn't. She just felt like it was.

She could have saved him if only she had just enough chakra to perform that jutsu. Even if it meant sacrificing her own life to save another. That was the duty of the medical ninja, after all. If only there hadn't been so many that needed healing that day, if only she had conserved her chakra. If only, if only.

... If only she had gone with Kotsu and Ikuzo. She could have saved them too. And Jin... and her parents. And God only knew where her brother was. Why did everyone she come close to die? Was she some kind of walking plague? She didn't even know this boy and he died because of her!

It was her fault... her fault...

There's just too much that time cannot erase...

[/size]

[Kanna]

♫ [ Song of Memories ] ♫

Pulling her hands away from her face, she glanced with broken eyes to the nightstand to the left of her, upon which sat three pictures; one of her and Jin before he had passed, one of Jikoku, Jin's old friend who had helped them numerous times, and one of her with her team. Carefully, she reached over the one closest to the bed and took the frame in her hand, pulling it to her and looking down upon the faces long past.

On the right was Ikuzo, standing with his back to turned slightly toward the other two, his arms crossed with a mischievous grin he most often wore back then. He definitely was the trouble maker of the group and loved to pull pranks on Kanna and Kotsu, and most often their sensei, who stood with his arms crossed in the back of the others, a proud grin across his face.

To the left, facing the camera with the caring smile he always wore and his hands in his pockets, was Kotsu. He was the more stable and talented of the group, and very kind. These features are what most likely attracted Kanna to him when they were young. Even now, she still felt a pain that he was gone and not coming back.

In the middle, with her usual smile, a younger Kanna stared into the eyes of her more mature self. Tilting the picture slightly, she blew the dust from it and gently dusted the glass with her right hand before again looking to it. There were so many things she would have done back then if she knew what she knew now. Like confessing to Kotsu before the last mission he and Ikuzo went on...

That night they left was the night he came to her...

¤ Four Years Ago ¤

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♫ [ Kanna's Theme ] ♫

"Kaaannaaa-chaaaannn~!" A husky, yet kind voice sang through the dojo and Kanna giggled. Sometimes she swore he was so loud, all of Konoha could hear him.

"Coomiiing~!" The blue-eyed girl ran the brush through her straight black hair once again before placing it back on her dresser and straightening her shirt, giving a quick nod in satisfaction before running out of her room and down the hallway. And in the kitchen stood well-built man in front of the stove with a frying pan in one hand, a spatula in the other and a white apron tied around his waist as he hummed, his long silver hair tied in a ponytail.

"W-what's for dinner, Papa-san?" She asked, stifling the urge to laugh from him being in 'mom-mode' once again as she sat, kneeling in front of the table with her hands in her lap, one over the other.

"Ah, Ka-chan!" He said with a loving grin as he shoveled the food from the frying pan to the plates and whirled around, placing them down on the table, one in front of her, which she blinked at. "Eggs, rice and fish, of course! Gotta keep my girl strong with a healthy meal!" Jin answered with a thumbs-up and a nice-guy pose. Kanna giggled.

"Looks great," she complimented, breaking her chopsticks apart, "Itadakimasu!"

Taking her chopsticks and grabbing a ball of sticky rice in them, she placed it in her mouth and started to chew when she noticed it was too quiet. Looking up from her plate, she noticed Jin sitting across from her, staring at her with a grin and proud eyes.

"Wha?" She asked, blinking as she swallowed what she was chewing.

Jin shook his head gently with a smile. "It never ceases to amaze me how much you look like Sayu. If we had a daughter, you would be the spitting image of her," he said as he looked over to a picture of a beautiful woman settled on the mantle. The one of his deceased wife, Sayuri.

"She would have been proud to have a daughter like you, even if adopted. Your personality is a lot like hers as well. If it weren't for her death only a few months before I found you, I would think you're her reincarnation..." He grew silent and his smile disappeared for a moment as he gazed at the photograph.

"Papa-san..." Kanna's hand drooped as she looked worriedly at her foster father. But, there was no need for worry. Jin's eyes closed for a moment and the smile returned, as if he were remembering a happy memory, before opening them once again and looking back to Kanna.

"No need to worry! Just an old fool getting sentimental. You know me," He grinned, then picked up his chopsticks and pulled them apart. "Itadakimasu," he said before bringing the dish up to his face and shoveling the food into his mouth, which he chewed and wolfed down. Before looking slyly up to Kanna, who had began eating again.

"So... Missions going well?"

"Mmhm."

"Training hard?"

"Mmm."

"Staying safe and healthy?"

"Yup."

"In love with Kotsu-kun?"

"Ye-- ughj!" Kanna coughed and nearly spit out her food, her cheeks turning a pinkish red tint as she glared at the man across from her.

Jin laughed, "Sorry, sorry. I'll let it be." Kanna swallowed the chunk in her throat and Jin chewed on another piece of food.

"... Sooo... can I expect any Inuzuka grandbabies?"

Again Kanna almost choked on her food, her face turning deep red this time. "P-Papa-san!" She whined between coughs. He let out a hardy laugh. "I'll take that as a 'maybe'." He said as he got up to answer a knock at the door.

Kanna was just composing herself and swallowing her food the right way when Jin walked back into the kitchen, Ikuzo following behind with his hands in his pockets, as usual. "It seems you have a visitor, Ka-chan." He said, then looked to Ikuzo. "Help yourself to fried fish, rice and eggs. I made enough for an army." Jin grinned proudly with his hands on his hips.

Ikuzo chuckled slightly and nodded. "I'll keep that in mind next time I come by. But my Ma already made me supper 'n stuff. Thanks, though." Jin crossed his arms with a pout and Ikuzo looked over to Kanna.

"Can I talk to ya for a sec?"

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[Kanna]

♫ [ Doomed ] ♫

With a nod, Kanna stood and walked out to the front of the house with Ikuzo, and turned to him with concern. "Something up?"

"Nah... well, more or less," he said, scratching the back of his head and looking to the side.

"What is it?"

He sighed and looked to her again. "You know about that mission we said we wouldn't take? The one where we gotta run to Kumo and get that thing?"

"Yeah?"

"Well... we took it."

"What?!" Kanna's expression changed to an angry, concerned one as her fist clenched. "That mission is a high A-rank! You guys could get killed!"

"I know... but there's no one else that wants it and it's important to get that document thing..." He scratched the back of his neck again with an obvious worried look on his face. "I'm sorry, Ka-tan. We were kinda planning on leaving tonight, but I figured I'd better come and tell you if you was wondering where we were n' stuff."

For a moment, Kanna's lips hung parted in speechlessness. She didn't know what hurt more; that there was a high chance of both of them being killed, or the fact that they just decided to tell her before they left... and where was Kotsu?

"Tch... man, I told him I'm not good with this kinda thing," he cursed under his breath, looking away for a moment before glancing back to Kanna, who had tears in her eyes. "Aw, man... d-don't cry, Ka-tan. It'll be fine. We just gotta run there and run back and we're done. We'll be careful... Man, I gotta run. But, uh... I'll see you soon, 'kay? Don't worry."

He placed his hand on her head and smiled slightly. "Oh, and uh... Kotsu said he'll be around tonight after he packs n' stuff." After a moment, she nodded sadly. "Please come home safe. Both of you." Ikuzo nodded and took his hand off her head before shoving both in his pockets and running off, most likely to say goodbye to his family.

His last goodbyes...

[Kanna]

CLICK

"Why...?"

The solemn sigh that escaped the girl's lips held the weight of fear and doubt as she leaned against the door she had shut. Hanging her head and tightly shutting her eyes didn't even help the ominous thoughts that lingered in her mind about her teammates and that mission. There was a reason it was so high-rank for only seemingly retrieving information from Kumo. There was something they weren't telling her.

Damnit! Why did they always hide this kind of thing from her!? They knew it was dangerous. They knew the risks involved. They knew there was a damn good chance of getting killed. And yet they accepted it? And just now decided to let her in on the big secret?!

"AGH! Stupid!"

"Kanna..." Her head shot up at the sound of her name to see Jin leaning against the entryway to the kitchen with his arms crossed. The look on his face... he knew. He knew about the mission. And about the conversation that she and Ikuzo had just had the misfortune of having.

"Why did they have to take it? ... Why couldn't they have told me sooner? I--"

"There's nothing you can do about it, sweetheart," he said in a gentle tone, at least trying to comfort her. But he knew this was something she would have to go through alone. There was no need to repeat the risks of being a shinobi to her; there was always a chance you couldn't make it back home. And she knew this.

Which killed her. "I know... I just--" What was she trying to say? She didn't even know. She wished they had clued her in sooner so she could at least come along as the medic. She wished they hadn't accepted the damned thing in the first place. But what could she do about it now? It was obvious they were hell-bent on going and she couldn't stop them.

There was a long, tension-filled pause after the words left her, a hurt look twisting her features as she hung her head again. Suddenly feeling a pair of arms wrap around her and knowing who it was, she clung to him as tears started to well in her eyes. She knew the dangers of being shinobi, but why did it have to come down to her teammates? The people she had become so used to and bonded with like family...

Letting go of the hug, Jin looked to his daughter with sadness in his platinum eyes. He wished there was something he could do to ease her worries. But, he knew this was one experience she had to go through on her own to really understand the life ninja led.

"Come. Finish dinner. It'll make you feel better."

"No, thank you... I think I'm going to call it a night. G'night Papa-san." Before waiting on an answer or looking to him, she ran off up the stairs to her room, Jin's sympathetic stare following her until she disappeared.

"Good night." He sighed.

______________________

A While Later
______________________

About a half hour had passed since Jin had stopped by to say goodnight before going to bed himself. Though the lights were out in her room, Kanna was still wide awake and sitting up in her bed. Leaning her back against the wall with her knees huddled to her chest and her arms wrapped around them, she stared out the open window into the night. The thoughts that churned around in her mind were frightening and ominous, often overpowering and shimmer of hope or optimism that managed to surface. Nothing but a sea of 'what if's.

"Stupid..." She sighed in aggravation toward both her thoughts and her two teammates. She didn't know whether to be sad they were leaving on a dangerous mission that was clearly above their level, or to remain pissed off at them for taking it without telling her.

"Jerks."

Yeah, she was pissed. They were a team, for God's sake-! Weren't they supposed to do things as a team, or had she missed that bright yellow Sticky-Note somewhere?! Another heated sigh left her lips as the cool night breeze came in from the window and caressed her skin.

"You know... you shouldn't leave the window open like this. A stranger can always sneak in."

Hearing a familiar male voice, Kanna jumped out of her thoughts as her head shot over to the direction of the window. The silhouette she saw in the moonlight had the same white chakra aura.

"K-Kotsu-kun--!"

"Hey, Kanna-chan." He grinned.

[Kanna]

| Will of the Heart |

Letting go of her knees and jumping out of bed before taking a few steps toward him, Kanna had complete forgotten that she was only wearing a tank top and cloth short-shorts. It was a good thing the room was completely dark, save for the moonlight that shown through the window.

"Kotsu-kun... Ikuzo-kun told me--"

"I know. I asked him to come since I couldn't earlier... Gomen ne, Kanna-chan." She couldn't see it, but the grin disappeared with a sad, apologetic look.

"I don't care about that... I just--" Tears were starting to become apparent through her voice. She was trying to hold back, but failing miserably. "--Why? Why did you take that mission?"

"..." Hearing the sadness in her shaky tone killed him. He didn't want it to end up like this, but he couldn't tell her the truth. He would be risking her life too, and he couldn't live with the fact that she'd be in danger. Still, she deserved to know at least a little bit.

"We didn't really choose to take it..." Was the only thing he said. It was the only truth he could say without involving her. Hearing the silence from her was like a dagger through his heart. "I'm sorry, Kanna-chan."

"I-I don't understand. You didn't get a choice?"

"No, not technically." Before she could ask another question and he broke down and told her everything, he added: "It's better you don't understand."

"But--"

"I promise: I'll tell you everything once we're done. Until then... please, stay out of it. If not for your own safety, then... for me."

"K-Kotsu-kun..."

She didn't know whether to be hurt or flattered. He was telling her to stay out of something she should have been a part of in the first place. A small pause of silence filled the night air before he sighed and turned to leave.

"Ikuzo was right... this was a bad idea. I shouldn't have came here." But he was only able to take a few steps before he felt her grab his shirt from behind to stop him.

"No! Please don't go..." Kanna pleaded with him, which he obliged and stood with his back toward her.

"Don't leave on that mission... please. I-" She paused, the grip on his shirt loosening for a moment before tightening again. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"..." Damnit. This was not what he expected. He had promised himself it was just going to be a quick goodbye before leaving. Now, he was on the verge of breaking that promise.

"Kanna-chan..." His tone softened as she let go of the grip on his shirt and he turned to face her. It was too dark to see the blush across her face, but he knew it was there. Along with the tears. Why did this have to be so hard?

Suddenly stepping close to her and wrapping an arm around her back, the other hand taking hers, he was close. Kanna let out a soft gasp at the abruptness and looked up to him in the darkness, unable to find any words for the moment. Luckily, they weren't needed as he leaned in, his lips nearly touching hers.

"I'm sorry..."

With that, he was gone and she was left alone once again, more confused than ever.

These were his last words to her.

[/blockquote]

[Kanna]

Days.

It had been a few days since that night when Ikuzo had showed up at her doorstep and told her of their impending mission to Kumo. A few days since he had said his farewells to his family and friends. A few days since Kotsu has appeared before the young woman and said his goodbyes, leaving her in the darkness and her own confusion. And there was no word from either.

It was supposed to be a short trip; go to Kumo, retrieve the information and come back home. So... where were they? Why hadn't they contacted the village on their status?

CLICK

"I'm home, Papa-san." Closing the door behind her and kicking off her shoes, Kanna started walking down the hallway somberly; the same way she had been since that night.

So many things were running through the poor girl's mind, it was hard to form coherent thoughts. More over, she was worried about her teammates. About her friends. She had begged Jin to take her to search for them, but he refused each time and piled more training activities on her to try and take her mind off of the situation. Even with the rigorous training, it didn't help. All she could think about... was their safety.

Wait. Something wasn't right. Usually Jin greeted her happily with a tray of food as soon as she walking in the door. But the house was unnervingly quiet.

"Papa-san?" She called, looking into the rooms along the hallway but finding nothing. Shrugging it off and figuring he must have gone out shopping, she climbed the stairs to the second floor and walked to her room.

Just as she placed her hand on the door knob, she picked up on quiet talking just down the hall near Jin's personal training room.

"--w did this--"

??

[/i]

Moving away from her door, the girl stealthily glided down the hall, hugging the wall as she approached the semi-open sliding door to the large room.

"They were caught... we don't know all the details."

"That voice..." Pressing her back against the door lightly and turning her head to peer inside, she caught a glimpse of a black-robed man in an ANBU mask talking to Jin, who leaned against a wooden beam in the middle of the room with his back facing the door.

Why was he talking to an ANBU?

"And their bodies?"

"Not recovered. We only found their headbands and blood."

Jin let out a heavy sigh, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose. "... She's not going to take this easily."

?[/i]

Kanna blinked and continued to listen. She? Take what easily?

"I'm sorry, my friend. You have my condolences... and we have a visitor." The ANBU looked up to the door and Kanna gasped and turned to face him as he Shunshin'd over and slid open the door.

"Gomen nasai!" Kanna bowed. "I didn't mean to interrupt. I just--"

"Ka-chan... sweetheart, please come in." Jin walked out from behind the wooden beam and looked sadly onto his daughter, who raised from the bow just in time to see that look on his face. Just what was going on? Obeying, Kanna bowed her head slightly to the ANBU, who watched as she walked in the room toward the silver-haired man.

"I'll leave this to you, Jin. I... have to return to my post... Nice seeing you too, Kanna-chan." The masked man bowed swiftly before disappearing from the doorway. Looking on for a moment, her gaze then went to Jin.

"Papa-san... what's going on?"

"..." Jin looked at his daughter with a sad expression, trying to find the right words to say. She deserved to know... but it would break her heart. With a sigh, he spoke.

"It's about your friends..."[/size][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Kanna]

| Sad Love Story |

Kanna lips suddenly parted and her eyes widened as tears started to well. Were they talking about her?! And then the bodies... Oh, no! Nonononono!! She didn't want to hear this!

"P-Papa-san..." Choking back tears as she looked up to him, a pained expression across his face told her it was true. "... No! NO!" She backed up a few steps, the tears overflowing now. All rational sense had gone out the window. She refused to believe it. Her teammates weren't dead! They couldn't be! They promised!

"Kanna, honey--" Before he could even say another word, she fell to the ground on her knees as if they had given out on her. Her entire body felt like it was numb as it shook with her sobs. She lifted her hands up to her face and buried herself within them as waves of emotions clashed inside of her.

She was hurt and angry and sad and confused... Why did they have to take it?! They knew it was dangerous! They knew!

"T-... They-- promised!!" She yelled between sobs. Dropping to his knees, Jin took her in his arms as she buried her self in his shoulder. Holding her as she trembled and shook, it ripped him apart to see her in such a state, where all he could do is hold her and be the shoulder to cry on. The life of a shinobi was never guaranteed. This was just the beginning of what she could potentially face.

These were her teammates; her best friends and the only people she ever bonded with aside from Jin and Jikoku. And now they were gone.

______________________

Present

______________________

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DRIP.

DRIP.

Tear drops fell on the glass frame as she looked down upon the picture of her best friends. They were long since gone, but the pain still nestled itself inside of her and managed to sting every once in a while. It was something she should have been used to by now, but the wound was freshly opened with the death of the young boy while in her care.

Wiping her eyes and the frame, she placed the picture back where it was on her nightstand and gazed at it for a few more moments before tearing her attention away from it. With a deep breath, she stood up from her bed and exhaled to calm her nerves and emotions. Walking over to the large window, the beautiful sunrise caught eye. Watching it, she crossed her arms over her chest.

What was the sunrise but another day? Life and light from the darkness? Look at her. Feeling sorry for herself over this mess. Those she loved would have scolded her by now; she was a kunoichi. An Iryōnin of Konoha. The lives of others came before her own. The boy... she couldn't help, but she could make a promise to become stronger. Not only for herself, but those who depended on her in the village.

The brisk morning breeze blew in through the window, caressing her skin and dancing with her hair, as if agreeing whole-heartedly. With a light smile, she closed her eyes and let the breeze hold her.

Today, she would move on with fond memories and strive to be the strong person Jin and her team always wanted her to be.

Today...

Was just the beginning.

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