[ Anko remembers cages and needles and the smell of blood that lingers, salty and thick, in the air even under the cloying disinfectant. She remembers the eyes of children and adults alike; empty eyes, bloodshot eyes, eyes panicked to the point that their sanity is past preserving, eyes brimming with fanatic loyalty only because every other memory and emotion has been burned and scrubbed out of them, eyes invisible under bandaging or boiled in tears or stained with blood.
She remembers screams. Some of them had been hers. ]
[He's staring at the Hitomi, wide eyed with a hand clamped firmly to his mouth. He doesn't know what to think, what to say, except, maybe he could relate.
He knows what it feels like to be in that age and to witness someone die in a brutal fashion. Sometimes, when he's tired and his mind goes astray, he could also hear the screams. Sometimes he even dreams of those people - that night - and even years later, it's enough to shake him to the core.
[And that very sob along with the tears is what makes Iruka fret a bit on the inside. At the same time, the child is with the enemy. A prisoner? Hostage? He didn't know. But not child would refer to their parents with a -san, right?]
... well, are they nice to you? Pain-san and Konan-san?
Comments 22
She remembers screams. Some of them had been hers. ]
Sometimes the world is really scary.
Reply
M--mmhmm.
Reply
So, scare it right back! Like this--Grr!
[ She makes a pretend scary face. ]
Reply
Reply
He knows what it feels like to be in that age and to witness someone die in a brutal fashion. Sometimes, when he's tired and his mind goes astray, he could also hear the screams. Sometimes he even dreams of those people - that night - and even years later, it's enough to shake him to the core.
This little girl ... he could only imagine.]
Hey ...
[He says, slowly, softly.]
Are you alone right now?
Reply
Reply
... well, are they nice to you? Pain-san and Konan-san?
Reply
They've helped me.
Reply
Well, as long as you're here, no harm will come to you.
Reply
Reply
Thank you.
Reply
You're safe with us. And I agree with your friend from Konoha.
[There is no need to upset this child further, she speaks as if Iruka were just a neighbor rather than an enemy.]
I'll come and find you. This is not a good time for you to be alone.
Reply
Thank you.
[She doesn't want to be alone right now, so she appreciates potential company.]
Reply
Leave a comment