Light filtered into the cave all soft and pale, tracing the curves of the jagged rocks around us as I lay against the cool stone wall, waiting. The soft crackle of the fire was the only sound breaking the silence of the cave. Warmth from the embers barely reached my skin as I sat with my back against the wall, watching over Yahiko and Konan as they slept. They had been through a lot, their small frames curled up tightly against the cold air, and I couldn't help but feel the weight of responsibility.
I glanced over at Yukino, who was still sitting beside me. Her expression was distant, but her eyes were alert. I could see the exhaustion from her injuries, the way her shoulders slumped, but I also knew she was holding herself together.
Yahiko slowly rose, rubbing his eyes. His face was still half-hidden behind his unkempt hair, but his gaze quickly found me. "You're still here, huh?" he muttered, clearly uncomfortable with me.
"Yeah."
He gave me a doubtful look before turning to Konan, who sat up beside him, rubbing her eyes as well. She was quieter than he was, more subdued, but there was a soft smile on her lips when she saw me.
"Good morning, Shirokumo," she said gently, her voice as soft as her smile. There was no hint of the distrust Yahiko carried in his gaze.
"Morning, Konan," I said with a nod, giving her a small smile in return. Her trust was reassuring, but Yahiko's caution was a reminder of how fragile the situation was.
The silence stretched between us for a moment, and then Yahiko shifted uncomfortably, his eyes scanning the cave, looking for something to focus on other than me. His gaze eventually flickered toward Yukino, who was still sitting beside me. His brow furrowed as he noticed she was awake, her eyes quietly observing the children as they started to move.
Konan, however, was quicker to notice. Her amber eyes lit up as she realized Yukino was awake, and she nearly bounced up to her feet, her usual softness replaced by an eager energy. "Oh! It's Yukino-san!" she said, her voice high with excitement. "You're awake!"
Yukino's lips twitched into a faint smile, though her exhaustion was evident in the way she moved. She looked up at Konan as the younger girl approached her with wide eyes. "Yeah... I'm awake," Yukino replied gently, her voice soft but strong. There was warmth in her gaze as she met Konan's gaze.
Konan knelt beside her, her hands reaching out as if she was unsure whether to touch her or not. "You... you were so hurt," Konan said, her voice full of concern. "But you're okay now?"
Yukino nodded, a faint, tired smile on her face. "I'm okay," she said, though the weariness in her voice spoke volumes. "It'll take some time, but I'll be fine. Thank you for your concern, you're a kind girl."
Konan giggled at that.
Yahiko, still a little withdrawn, glanced at the exchange but didn't approach. He folded his arms and gave a short, guarded comment. "It's good that you're awake," he said flatly, his tone not unkind but still cautious. He wasn't quite ready to show the same openness that Konan had. "But... you should rest. You looked pretty bad last night."
Yukino's gaze flickered briefly to Yahiko, acknowledging his words. "I know," she said softly, her eyes gentle. "But there's no time to rest. We need to talk about what comes next from here on."
"What do you mean by that?"
I spoke up. "We mean what exactly you two should be doing next. You can't stay in this hole."
Yahiko's fists clenched at his sides. Konan sat still, fingers tracing over the fabric of her cloak, her lips pressed together. Neither responded, as if they didn't know how.
"You can't stay here," Yukino reaffirmed, her voice steady but quiet. "The war isn't over. Not by a long shot, and it won't just pass you by."
Yahiko scoffed. "We've survived this long," he shot back. "We don't need you to come here and act like we're helpless."
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. I expected resistance, but seeing how tightly he held on to this place, I understood it might be a little hard.
"You're not helpless, completely," I said, meeting his glare. "but this isn't about how strong you are. It's about what happens when the war finds its way back here."
"It might not," Yahiko argued, his voice rising slightly. "The fighting moves around. It doesn't stay in one place forever."
Yukino frowned. "And when it moves back here?" she asked. "What then?"
Yahiko's mouth opened slightly, but no words came out. He looked away, frustration clear on his face.
Konan shifted beside him. She was quiet, but I could tell she was thinking.
I took a slow breath, trying to ease the tension in the air. "Look," I said, my voice even, "I know what it's like to not want to leave the place you grew up in. But this place… it's not safe. It never will be. I mean, it's a cave in the middle of nowhere."
Konan finally spoke, her voice softer than Yahiko's, but still uncertain. "... If we left, where would we even go?"
"To the Leaf," Yukino answered without hesitation. "With us."
Yahiko turned sharply to her, eyes narrowing. "You want us to go to a shinobi village?" He let out a bitter laugh. "That's even worse."
Konan's gaze flickered to him, but she didn't immediately agree. She was hesitating.
"You wouldn't be thrown into the system unless you wished for it yourself," I assured him. "There are many villagers who lead normal lives as citizens. You wouldn't be treated like enemies either, Yukino will see to that."
"Yeah." She nodded. "I might not look it, but there are certain strings I can pull."
"We're offering you a chance to be somewhere safe—somewhere you can actually live, not just survive. Think it through wisely."
Yahiko shook his head. "No. No way. That's not our home. This place… this is all we have left after our town was run over by you shinobi! It might just be a cave now, but at least we're still in our birth land! The Land of Rain!"
This guy always held a firm stance on nationality. This will be tough.
Yukino sighed. "I know," she said softly. "And I know it's not fair. I know it feels like we're asking you to abandon the only thing you have left of your past."
Konan lowered her head slightly, fingers tightening around the edge of her cloak.
"But this place won't let you have a future," Yukino continued. "The war can reach here at any moment, and when it does… you'll be caught in the crossfire. Again."
Yahiko flinched, his jaw tightening. "And if we leave, then what? Do we just forget our home? Our deceased family and country? Forget everything?"
"No," I said firmly. "Those will remain in your hearts. Always. But for the memory to live on, you need to as well. If you come with us, you'll get to live."
I don't want them to face the same fate as they originally did. I don't know where Nagato is now, but if I can at least save these two, it should bring about a significant change. Whether positive or negative will remain to be seen.
Silence stretched between us. Yahiko looked away, his hands still balled into fists.
Konan, after a long pause, turned to him. "Yahiko…" Her voice was careful, hesitant. "Maybe we should think about it."
His head snapped toward her, eyes wide. "Konan, you can't be serious!"
She swallowed, her expression conflicted. "I just… I don't want to die here."
Yahiko stared at her, hurt flashing across his face. He looked back at us, at me, at Yukino, then toward the cave's exit where the rain drizzled again. He looked like he wanted to keep arguing, to refuse outright. But Konan's words had shaken him.
"We're leaving soon, once Shiro and I recover a little bit more," Yukino said, giving them space to process it. "We won't force you to come. But this is your chance to get out of this hell for good."
Yahiko didn't answer. He just turned his back to us, his shoulders tense.
Konan, however, wasn't looking at him anymore. She was looking at Yukino. And in her eyes, I saw something I hadn't seen before.
Hope.
...