Dark Reminiscence

Once I spoke the language of the flowers,

Once I understood each word the caterpillar said,

Once I smiled in secret at the gossip of the starlings,

And shared a conversation with the housefly in my bed.

---

Chapter 8: Forgotten Language

"Naruto, answer the question, or were you not paying attention?" Mizuki smirked maliciously glaring at the beautifully composed blonde who sat sedately in his desk taking notes.

Naruto glanced away from his vile instructor and debated on whether or not he should answer. On the other hand if expected to realistically graduate as genin with everyone stacked against him he would have to demonstrate some skill and being intelligent seemed safer than being strong shinobi-wise. They should not view him as a threat. If they saw him as a studious but clumsy bookworm so much the better.

"The political divide that separated Mist and Waterfall during the Meji Restoration Era came about from merchant infractions and tariffs that had been miscalculated among those belonging to Mist. Due to these unforeseen circumstances and a massacre caused by a powerful bloodline user Waterfall completely separated itself from the ninja realm and is only involved with commerce and trade contemporaneously although they still maintain stilted relations with Mist." Naruto replied wondering if he sounded too well informed. He wanted to come off as intelligent not a prodigy in the making.

"Hmpf!" snorted Mizuki belligerently completely dismissing what Naruto had said and moving on with the lesson although not disproving what he had said.

Thank Inari that no one was kicking up a fuss over it. Naruto had many skills; he was an excellent thief, slut, cook, gardener, and housemaid. In fact he'd probably pass the konoichi class with little effort if they tested him on Seduction. He was grateful that Shinobi did not go through that, at least he thought they didn't. He really needed to work on his chakra control if he intended to make three passable bunshins. He had already played around with the seals needed to form a powerful henge and he noticed that using more chakra on a seal helped him successfully complete the transformation because it balanced his overwhelming chakra. He had never been able to contact the Kyuubi, this made him wonder if he had been sealed with his unfathomable power or if when he matured he would be in contact with the fearsome fox. Either way Naruto still had a lot to learn and to develop if he wanted to change his substandard of living to a better one.

Too escape.

"Wake up dobe." Sasuke hissed in his ear with rising discontentment.

Naruto turned around to face the annoying brat and was startled to meet black assessing eyes that looked him over like a vulture would carrion. Disgustingly intriguing. Exactly the situation he would like to avoid. He turned away and paid attention to Mizuki's boring droning voice on chakra paths.

"Don't ignore me dobe." It was said in a whispered undertone nevertheless Naruto heard it just fine and felt the rough lips slide tauntingly from nipping his ear to demanding licking his neck.

Unfortunately, this had been a common occurrence since the Uchiha turned twelve. Although he was only eleven, that didn't seem to matter to the Uchiha. Or anyone, really.

Back to the present, he felt Sasuke's demanding mouth on him, repulsing. This was not acceptable. He had to get away, fast, before the situation escalated anymore. Pretending to drop his pencil he practically threw it as far away as he could and sat beside the kowaii bug boy everyone feared and stayed away from. Maybe they'd stay away from him too. Carefully he picked up his pencil and sat beside the only seat left and hoped that the boy wouldn't get too offended by his presence.

He was greatly relieved to find that the boy only gave him a fleeting look and an indifferent "Hn," before turning away.

Divine intervention or what? Now with the Uchichatard taken care of he was allowed to relax until he felt a Monarch butterfly land on his nose and flutter there.

It was beautiful with bright orange wings it shown like fireflies on esper and to him they symbolized freedom. They could fly on ginger-sooted wings and escape when they wanted. It was the color of the rising sun, filled with hope and Esperance.

It was everything he was not.

Still, tentatively he allowed his hand to reach out and was startled when it calmly perched there. Happiness bloomed in his heart, oh how he wished he could be this butterfly.

Free, ever so free.

---

Once I heard and answered all the questions of the crickets,

And joined the crying of each falling dying flake of snow,

Once I spoke the language of the flowers. . . .

How did it go?

How did it go?

 

 

Kowaii: scary

Poem by Shel Silverstein