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The stars, in a way, were always a comfort for the majority of Sakumo's life.
He couldn't answer why, if someone asked. It just is. A fact etched in stone, never changing and constant in his schedule. He didn't mind; the moon and its stars were pretty to look at; pushing away the thoughts gnawing at him if only for a while. A reprieve of sorts.
His eyes opened, yet Sakumo could only feel nothing but unrest.
There was nothing here but darkness for miles on end, countless stars hanging above him; some of them just close enough to touch. A palpable heat caressed his skin, gentle and almost greeting him in a way. He stared at one of the stars floating nearby, the faint whooshing noise creeping up in his ears. He reached out, felt a searing heat on his fingertips. not hot enough to truly hurt, he realized. the star twinkled, and if Sakumo looked close enough, he could see a swirling motion in its center. It was mesmerizing, the way the gold and deep purple meshed into one.
He stood up, an action proven to be more difficult due to his legs not responding for the first five seconds. He managed, muttering a few words that would make his mother offended.
The floor beneath him was similar to glass in terms of appearance, transparent, and it made something close to paranoia build up in the very back of his head. The air here too felt off; lacking the smell of trees and of the soil back at home. Oxygen was a missing component as well, yet Sakumo can breathe just as easily. His lungs expanded in a fixed interval.
A gust of wind appeared out of nowhere, a whoosh in his ears.
Sakumo supposed it was a greeting of sorts.
A sigh escaped his lips, closing his eyes. Without any rational thought left in him, Sakumo walked forward. Following the convenient trail of stars that outshined the rest. There was no sound that accompanied him; only his breathing and the restless thrumming noise stuck in his head.
It was unnerving, if he was to be honest here. Sakumo was used to all sorts of noises; his occupation as a shinobi —and highly sought-out for that— required him to be exposed to all kinds of things. Even the ones where Sakumo wished to forget if anything else. Ever so slightly, his fingers twitched; a tic if anything else.
A ripple stretched itself far out into the distance, and Sakumo stopped. Eyeing the way the floor he was standing on temporarily turned into a fluid-like motion. Like a drop falling into still waters.
He raised an eyebrow and resumed walking, carefully threading along to make sure he didn't slip. The idea of falling down was not appealing.
Another gush of wind brushed by him, coming from his right.
Who is there?
Sakumo stopped. The air felt cold all of a sudden, reminding him of the harsh winters in the land of iron. Above him, the stars twinkled at him; their light not easing his nerves at all. He looked around him, yet there was no one else here but him and him alone.
A hand touched the back of his neck; chilling and eerie. He turned, ready to face whoever was there with him.
Her eyes were of pale lavender - byakugan, his mind registered. But she doesn't look like any hyuuga Sakumo had seen in his life. Her skin was pale, pale enough to rival a full moon's glow and her hair silvery and long enough to touch the ground. The most eye-catching thing about her was the red eye on the center of her forehead; adorned with rings and commas similar to that of an uchiha. Her clothes looked like something that a woman of regal status would wear, but Sakumo never saw anyone wearing this kind of clothing.
Whoever this woman is, she did not feel human.
The idea was absurd, yet Sakumo couldn't find any other option to go with. It was a vague thing; lightly poking at his bones yet strong in its echoes. She was staring at him with surprise and grief? He doesn't know how to address that one. Still, his shoulders remained tense and his hand reached for a weapon that was never there.
"Sakumo...?" Her voice was breathless. Her eyes widening just the slightest. He took a step back, taken aback. She remained where she was, staring at him like she saw a ghost.
Well in a literal sense, he kind of is.
Regardless. "How do you know my name?" He asked, eyes narrowing at her.
She didn't say anything, only somehow reappearing right in front of him in a blink of an eye. her hands cupped his face; invoking a sense of security that shouldn't be there.
"My love, is it you?" She murmured against the silence, her grip tight. her voice was calming, smooth like a river tamed. Despite the alarms going off in his head, Sakumo found himself unable to move. Transfixed and confused. Unnaturally long fingers scoured on his face, tracing his cheekbones and eyelids. The touch was gentle and barely felt. her fingernails lightly scratching at his skin.
"It is you," she said then, her eyes glinting. Her touch became more tentative then, an unknown weight in its intent. Sakumo blinked slowly at her, a soft tune in his ears, familiar yet not. He felt oddly at peace, something that he was sure one would not feel when a literal stranger holds them this close. "What are you wearing?"
"My uniform...?" He managed, sounding entirely confused. Never in his life Sakumo felt at peace, especially with a stranger. his worries atomized down to nothing.
It was worrying, but the lull in his head was stronger than that individual instinct.
She hummed, candescent, and leaned forward. her long hair a curtain from the place they were in; security and serenity. "Are you at ease?"
Yes, he wanted to say. The easy submission he's showing felt right. Natural. she seemed to read his mind, if the slight quirk of her lips was a sign. She smiled, planting a kiss on his left eyelid.
"Do you know who I am?" She left another kiss, this time on his right. Palpable.
Sakumo shook his head, felt the slight tension in her embrace. she didn't say anything though, simply leaving more kisses. Searing hot and pleasant.
"That's to be expected," the words were static, muffled. it raised a question, although. "The gods here rarely let anyone remember their past lives. it was vain of me to wish that you would be an exception."
He blinked, craned his head up. she was looking at him with pity in her eyes, her touch tightening just the slightest bit. "Past lives?" he questioned, his voice surprisingly steady despite the weakness in his limbs. He was still standing, his knees buckling but the way the stranger was looking at him kept his cognitive functions working, barely, but working.
She nodded, staying silent as her fingers mapped the expanse of his face. "Your first life was with me," she confirmed, a nostalgic glint in her eyes. "You were always a quite peculiar man."
Sakumo raised an eyebrow, "Are you implying you aren't human?" The words slipped out of his mouth before he could stop himself. She tilted her head, her gaze curious. A hum, and Sakumo felt drowsiness in his eyes.
"Up to your interpretation," she said instead, pulling him closer until his face was buried in her left shoulder. the silent glow of stars only coaxing him closer to unconsciousness. he blinked, an action that did not go unnoticed. "Are you tired?" Her voice was barely a whisper.
He didn't answer her this time, busy with the task to force himself awake.
She huffed, "stubborn as always," the words were heavily muffled by the tune in his ears. Blearily, he tilted his head. "Close your eyes, I'll be here."
And just like that, Sakumo slipped into unconsciousness.