Chapter Text
Jarou sighs to himself as he reaches his fishing spot. I sure hope that I made the right decision by sending the boy away. Jarou thinks to himself. Jarou’s thoughts wander back to Luna, his distant cousin.
What would you have done, Luna? Jarou inwardly asks himself. He sighs.
He knows that if Luna was still alive, she would have loved the boy. She would have showered him with love. Jarou slowly dips his fishing net into the water.
He knows that Luna would have been concerned for the boy’s safety. However, Jarou is unsure what Luna would have done to keep Nico safe. Jarou, knows that deep down, Luna would have been reluctant to let Nico leave. She would have wanted him to stay forever!
Nico needs to keep moving in order to avoid anyone that may come after him. Jarou thinks to himself. A moving target is very difficult to catch! It is in Nico’s best interest to be a nomad. However, I know that Luna would have been reluctant to send the boy away. She would have wanted him to stay with her!
Jarou sighs. He would think some more on the subject later. He needs to focus on catching dinner!
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Nico silently walks through the forest. His mind is a whirlwind of emotions.
Jarou seems to believe that I can be better that my grandfather. Nico thinks to himself. I just hope he is right. I don’t want to be like my grandfather either.
Nico soon reaches the road that Jarou told him about.
I found the road! Nico thinks to himself. He steps onto the road. The road appears to be new and has no cracks in it.
“At least this road looks like it may take me to civilization.” Nico says to himself.
He looks back at the forest. Nico’s sadness returns. He realizes that he may never see Jarou again. He had grown to like Jarou. Jarou had treated him so kindly. However, Nico quickly shakes his head trying to forget his sad thoughts.
Jarou told me that I had to stay on the move! Nico thinks to himself. I have to do this for Jarou!
Nico then turns to the right. He briskly walks down the road, just as Jarou told him too.
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The night sky is filled with stars. The moon is a crescent shape tonight. It gives off a very light glow. This makes the stars appear to be even brighter.
Jarou sits outside his cave. He has just eaten. During his dinner, all he could think about was Nico. Jarou sighs.
All I want is for the boy to be safe! Jarou thinks to himself. He looks up at the stars. He closes his eyes. He starts to whisper a plea from the heart, up to the heavens.
“If you can hear me, please hear me out,” Jarou whispers. “Luna, watch over your grandson. Guide his way through this world. He’s going to need it! Do it for your daughter...for Maria. Do it for your granddaughter...for Bianca.”
Jarou looks at the ground. He is unsure if any spirits in the afterlife can hear him. However, it wouldn’t hurt to try and plead with them to protect Nico. Jarou closes his eyes. After a moment of consideration he whispers another plea.
“If any Uchiha’s are listening, please hear me out,” Jarou says.
He opens his eyes. He then looks up at the stars.
“I know that most of you may hate Itachi Uchiha for what he has done,” Jarou says. “But please, hear me out! It is not the boy’s fault for what happened! He is innocent! He has done you no wrong! Please, don’t curse him just because of his connection to Itachi! Guide him through this dangerous world. Please, don’t turn your backs on him! He is your blood!”
Jarou’s voice trembles. A few tears fall from his eyes.
“It was long ago in his world. A...terrible...tragedy! Maria fell in love with a god. Hades, the god of the underworld! From that union Nico and his older sister, Bianca, were born. However...when the children were young…. a prophecy was made regarding the children born to the big three. The next child of the big three...who turned sixteen...would either save or destroy the world!”
Jarou pauses for a moment. His voice cracks as he speaks.
“Zeus,....... Hades brother was one of the big three. He...got...paranoid.”
Jarou erupts into sobs. He looks back up at the sky.
“Zeus...tried to….kill...Bianca and Nico!” Jarou says. “However….he….killed….Maria….instead!” Jarou sobs silently as he looks at the ground.
He then looks back up at the sky. He then cries about how Hades erased Bianca and Nico’s memories and placed them in the Lotus Casino for nearly 70 years. He also explains how they got out and how Bianca joined the Hunters of Artemis, and then was killed. Jarou’s body is wracked with sobs as he says every word. He lets his grief flow freely.
“Bianca is gone too!” Jarou cries. “I couldn’t do anything! All I could do was watch as she got crushed to death!”
Jarou continues to cry as he remembers how he watched Bianca die through his inter dimension viewing jutsu. It was actually with this same jutsu that Jarou witnessed the death of Maria long ago.
Oh, Maria….Bianca. Jarou thinks. I wish I could have done something to save both of you! The Fates are just too cruel….
Jarou looks up at the sky. “Nico is utterly alone now! He needs guidance! Please, he is nothing like that evil man! Itachi may have done evil things but Nico is nothing like him!”
Jarou looks at the ground. He sighs. “That’s all I have to say.”
Jarou wipes away his tears. He hopes that his plea has reached the afterlife. Jarou sighs. He enters his cave and shuts the door.
In the night sky a star lights up and glows brightly for several minutes. It’s glow slowly diminishes and returns to normal.
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The sun is starting to set when Nico reaches a clearing. The road continues in a straight line. The clearing lies to the left of the road. Forest lies on the right side of the road. However, Nico squints his eyes and looks in the distance. The forest seems to reemerge on the left side of the road. It’s almost as if the clearing is U-shaped.
The sun is about to set! Nico thinks to himself. I need to gather firewood and make a fire. I suppose that I can build my fire and sleep in this clearing tonight.
Nico looks at the surrounding forest.
“I better get to work!” Nico says to himself. He runs into the forest.
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Nico has an arm full of branches and twigs when he makes a discovery, not to far away the clearing. It is another clearing! However, it has a small stream running through it! There’s also another bonus! Standing within the clearing are a few pear trees!
Pears! Nico thinks excitedly. Forget that other clearing! I’m sleeping here tonight!
Nico quickly finds a suitable looking spot in the clearing. He sets down his arm load of wood and takes out his metal and flint. He sets the metal and flint down while he arranges the wood. Once he is satisfied that the firewood is arranged perfectly he grabs the metal and piece of flint. He rubs the two objects together. Tiny sparks land on the firewood. Within minutes Nico has a roaring fire.
Nico then goes over to a pear tree. The pear trees are not as tall as the apple trees that he encountered earlier. He is able to reach the fruit without any difficulty!
Yes! Nico thinks to himself. He devours the pear in his hands. After it is gone Nico grabs another one. He then goes and sits by the fire. The fire warms Nico as he munches on his pear.
This clearing is great! Nico thinks. He smiles to himself. Despite his situation, it appears that things may be looking up for him. For the moment at least.
After finishing off his second pear Nico throws the core away. He grabs his jacket and rolls it up. He lays his head down on it. Nico notices how bright the stars are.
The stars are very pretty tonight. Nico thinks. He then spots a star that appears to glow brighter than any of the other stars. As Nico looks at the star he suddenly gets a strange feeling. However, he can’t seem to put his finger on it!
What is this feeling? Nico thinks to himself. Something about that star makes him feel...well...uneasy.
However, his thoughts are interrupted by the need to yawn. Nico lets out a loud yawn.
Man, Nico thinks to himself. I am so tired! Nico yawns again. He soon falls asleep.
A ghostly shimmering silhouette stands close to Nico’s sleeping form. However, only the legs and feet of the shimmering silhouette can be seen as Nico lies on the ground. Ninja sandals adorn the silhouette’s feet. Pant’s cover the silhouette’s legs. However, this gives no clue as to the silhouettes identity. The ghostly silhouette just stands there as Nico sleeps peacefully.