[Thread] Dream a Little Dream of Me

[watanukichan]

Characters: AU!Watanuki, AU!Sasuke, and Mercury with Sasuke posting as the kids as written by Mako.
Where: The Dream World
When: Middle of the night
Summary: Sasuke attempts to make contact with his children via the Dream World, Ami comes along in order to attempt to diagnose what's wrong with Nami.
Warnings: None at the moment.

Comments

[waterfell]

Things were different. This was the first time Mercury had transformed since her recent sickness from the dark energy, not sure how it would react. But this time, she was transforming because she wanted to; not because she had to or because she was afraid. And, to her slight - but pleasant - surprise, there had been no ill effects. Good.

That cherry tree... It was the right season for it, too. She liked it immediately. It was very beautiful, perfect in its symbolism of transience, and the faint scent of its scattered blossoms reached the blue-haired girl.

It wasn't time to be distracted. She had come here because she had wanted to help someone. Because she had remembered that was why she had wanted to be a doctor - a pediatrician. Exactly what these children would need.

Mercury took measured steps towards the other two. Sasuke, she had come to know well lately and had drawn attention from others from worlds like his because of it. Kimi, she knew less well but had no negative associations with.

"Good evening," she greeted them both politely.

[watanukichan]

Kimi bowed to both politely (keeping her eyes on them) as they approached, telling them good evening and then looking between them, biting her lip a little due to nerves, but quashing it down as best she could. Now was not the time to freak out. Now was a time to be calm and to think. To be sure of what they were going to do.

"So . . . "

She didn't say anything about the spot on the tree Uchiha-san was touching. She had a feeling he'd figure it out for himself eventually.

"Where to? I . . . We need to concentrate on who we're looking for and then, if they have they're guard down, we go into their own dreamscape from here. At least, that's how Haruka-san explained it to me when I talked to her once."

[embalmment]

His hand dropped and fell to his hip. Mercury right behind him in just moments. She had transformed, he noted as his gaze shifted towards her. Feeling a little better, or pushing herself. Either way he believed Mercury wasn't dim enough to put herself in danger. His eyes returned to Kimi. Bow to the eyes or to the feet but never drop your head letting them out of your sight. Good.

"I can show you both where, and who we are looking for," he blinked shifting so both Mercury and Kimihiro were in his line of vision collectively.

It wasn't long after that all three at the back of the dank laboratory of the bases in Otogakure. It was a perfect replication of the vision Orochimaru gave Sasuke when the Sanin had arrived.

Upon the metallic gurney situated in the midst of the room a young girl sat; Izanami. Her legs were dangling off the edge; she had a blank expression on her face pale face, unnaturally pale. dark hair long and straight and soft to the touch as she stared at the figure prepping a syringe; once finished, he turned into the light - it was Kabuto.

"That is who we're looking for," he spoke quietly.

He wanted to see the other too, but if the other was as much like Sasuke as Orochimaru said than he would be, for lack of better words, a pain in the ass. She needed help immediately.

[waterfell]

Mercury did not know Sasuke's world at all. So while he and Kimi talked, she simply paid attention. Once they'd begun getting themselves organized, she followed suit in time to be within Sasuke's line of sight and receive the vision.

Irrelevant; her task was not finding the girl. However, if the way of finding the children was through all of them utilizing the images from that vision, she should pay attention - and did. The senshi of knowledge nodded slightly, committing the vision to memory.

Taking a few steps closer to her companions, Mercury closed the group so that physically they seemed to be a group rather than people randomly spaced.

What did she know already, then? These were Sasuke's children. The girl was very ill, a degenerative disease she had been able to narrow down to several possibilities but not pinpoint. A gurney in that vision, and someone with a needle, so she was already receiving treatment. They did not seem effective; that pallor seemed even different than the deathly white she was accustomed to from Sasuke himself.

Alright. A fair assessment of the situation. A twinge of pity had even compelled her to bring her healing water; although it wouldn't cure an illness like this one, it could help a great deal with the pain - at least for awhile.

"Are we ready, as long as we have it in mind?" she asked Kimi.

[watanukichan]

Kimi studied the little girl, biting her lip in sadness at someone being so sick and alone. She knew the girl had her brother, but it wasn't fair to subject children to this sort of thing. She knew the World itself wasn't fair, but that didn't mean she had to like it one bit.

"Yeah. This whole realm relies on the mind so we could wind up effecting the physical World if we think of it as the physical world," she answered, searching her mind for when she'd asked Haruka-san about this. There had been a further explanation of how they were both there and not there at the same time, but she hadn't really understood it at the time.

"So, we just need to focus on her and we'll be in her mind and able to affect her," she continued with a nod.

[embalmment]

Sasuke blinked softly studying her features. So similar to Orochimaru. Her skin was just as white as his own, and the Sanin as well. Only she had a touch of blue; a touch of yellow. She looked sick, and what her condition would be like when they found her he was not sure. What was time in Econtra? Was it now, or was it when Orochimaru was taken out, or was it whe Itachi was taken out, or did it matter?

This place and the principles behind it, it was much the work of genjutsu. What one believed to be real was real. So he believed. The time, the place, and everything that came with it. If it depended on their collective belief than this vision was probably the better starting point.

It would not take them long to actually find the girl. Standing right infront of a large wooden door in the torch lit hallways of the South base in Otogakure. He remembered these halls all too well. They had sense his departure gotten dingy and darker. He did not concentrate on that. Instead he opened the door.

There she was as if she was sitting on the mid edge of the bed. Her hands neatly folded in her lap and golden eyes staring right at him. She didn't say a word and nor did she move.

He stepped to the side almost speachless. No, he was. Words tried to form but... they didn't come out. This was his child. His child.

[waterfell]

The blue-haired girl, like Kimi, had found herself vaguely disturbed by that loneliness; a vestigial sense of sympathy and compassion for that state - her own state - that she had never been able to kill, that others had not even been able to kill, that she had finally accepted again.

A realm that relied on the mind was, from Mercury's experience at least, unstable. By doing this, then, they most likely ran a risk of being trapped in that mind. Was she prepared to accept that risk? She could agree or refuse; she had a choice. It was her choice. She turned her head slightly to get a look at more of her surroundings.

Sasuke's confidence in her had given Mercury much of her true confidence in herself she had acquired over the past month or so, as opposed to the bluster and arrogance she typically displayed. His belief that she could accomplish things, could achieve, could even lead others, had helped her to also think it might be true. And it had been. All of that had helped her. Of course she would do this.

The boy led them through this place - she had no familiarity with it, although the dark halls reminded her of her own world - until they came to the very place they'd just seen. Mercury's boots made her footsteps echo faintly. Then they were standing in front of the girl, and it happened so quickly Mercury hadn't realized it at first.

She, too, did not speak immediately. Her eyes slid towards Sasuke. A brief decision: To wait for him to take the lead, since he was the one who 'knew' the girl the most, or take charge herself since they had limited time and the situation was risky?

"Uchiha-san." There was a little quirk of the lips, something of a smile. It was directed at Sasuke, but was bound to get the girl's attention, too - and recall Sasuke to himself and why they were there. And yet it would still let him reveal what he thought best, break the news and convince her as he saw fit, introduce Mercury and Kimi.

[watanukichan]

He looked . . . stunned. A bit. At least, the closest she'd ever seen him as stunned. And who could blame him? How long had he even known he'd had children? So what did someone say when they were first meeting someone who didn't know you were their father.

She bowed to the little girl, laughing nervously before rising again to look her in the face with as kind a smile she could manage.

"This . . . must be very strange for you, huh?" she told the little girl at the same time Ami said Uchiha-san's name.

[OOC: Sorry it's short, also! Going to bed in a moment!]

[embalmment]

His child, who he was going to save. He had confidence in Kimihiro, and he had confidence in Mercury as well. He was also confident in his Genjutsu abilities, and therefore he was probably the most confident and comfortable with this situation in general; that of being inside one's mind.

At first, Sasuke had no idea what to do or what to say. There was just so much, and all at once it hit him. The anger that these two children had to suffer alone here. That they were born into such unsightly and grotesque circumstances and under such inhumane expectations. That they were born with no family and no concept of it and what it meant. That they had no chance to learn what most children would have. Grow as a human as well as a Shinobi. The first five crucial years of their life he was not there for. He wasn't there for them. And who was? A child didn't deserve to be born into a world in such a way. They deserved better, and he would do everything he could to make it better.

Sasuke blinked softly. It wasn't his fault, he knew, but the guilt and anger and termoil that twisted in his gut almost made him want to throw up.

Mercury was the first to speak, and with his name. A good choice of words. Kimihiro next. He swallowed his heart back down and stepped forward very slowly. Sasuke was still silent until he had reached the girls side. His knee's bent in to lower his body to her own height.

"Izanami," his voice was soft; likely softer than either of them had ever heard.

She knew who he was. He could tell, somehow that she knew. Sasuke wasn't entirely sure if she knew who he was, but he didn't dwell. Although he did take a moment to look over her. Soft long black hair and frail white features. And even if she looked just like Orochimaru it didn't register with him at all. His eyes softened and a smile, almost sad, came to his lips. The young man didn't know what he was feeling. His heart swelled and skipped beats and chest tightened around it. His lips parted and he breathed softly. She was beautiful.

----------

Nami's eyes flickered briefly to each of the women, a small frown marring her brow as Sasuke's namesake passed through Mercury's lips; otherwise, she seemed unresponsive. She shifted her attention back to Sasuke, looking at him expectantly.

"U-chi-ha," she said slowly, as if testing the word between her lips.

----------

He couldn't help but smile just a little.

"We're here to help you," he spoke up again looking back at Mercury, "will you trust me?"

Enough to let him help her. That was a start.

Sasuke blinked softly keeping to the side of the bed giving Mercury room to come over.

I'll make you better, I promise. No matter what I have to do I will find a way to make you better. These cuffs will not stop me. Econtra, Orochimaru, Itachi. Nothing, and no one will stop me.

[waterfell]

Mercury approached once Sasuke made room for her. Any display of emotion from him was tenfold, being so rare. She was not ignorant of his feelings. Nor was she ignorant of how little he would want them remarked on. She gave him a brief look instead that was not pity but perhaps comprehension, at least comprehension of that difficulty.

Izanami. That was her name, then?

"Izanami, he's asked me to help you," Mercury told the girl. "Can you tell me how you're feeling?" It was the quickest way to ascertain other symptoms as a starting point - as long as the girl could more or less tell her, making allowances for her young age of course.

[watanukichan]

Kimi stepped back, feeling a bit like she was intruding. She was just here to bring Mercury-san and Uchiha-san here. Nothing more and nothing less. So she kept her focus on Izanami in order to keep them here, but otherwise just watched.

She'd never seen Uchiha-san look like that, though. It was . . . amazing to see, really.

[embalmment]

Will you trust me?

Can you tell me how you're feeling?

Blue knew her name. She tilted her head, watching her mouth move as she posed the question, before sliding her eyes cautiously towards Sasuke - as if asking if this were alright. She had only seen other women or girls on the compound on very rare, infrequent occasions, and what she did not know or understand she did not trust.

"Uchiha," she repeated, reaching for her father's wrist and grasping it possessively, claiming it as her own as she settled it in her lap.

It seemed she wasn't interested in answering Blue's - Mercury's - question.

Instead, she looked past her at Kimihiro, and a small smile painted her lips. She picked up her Father's hand, folding his digits gently and leaving his index finger rigid in order to use it like a toy to point at her.

"Rain~bow," she said, pointing at one eye and then the next.

----------

Sasuke looked towards Mercury for a moment and than slid his eyes back towards Nami who was, by the looks of it, the mere age of six. He could feel himself melting into a puddle on the floor when she took his hand and claimed it. A smile rose over his lips and he found that he had absolutely no care in the world about anyone who would see him like this.

Not a single bit. Although he was glad that it was who it was who were with him, admitedly. Neither Mercury or Kimihiro would use such things against him or throw it in his face.

It was like . . . he couldn't put any words to it at all. An incredible feeling. A feeling. A real, true feeling. A feeling that wasn't mixed up and termoiled and confuesed. His gut felt tight and his head ended up dropping as Nami pronounced his name.

Sasuke breathed deeply with a small laugh. His eyes.. he felt.. he was quietly laughing as she continued to speak. He let his fingers be taken by her and bent and folded. There was no resistance, he was... he was crying. It wasn't extreme. The laugh was quiet and soft and the build up of tears in his eyes was barely enough to make the blanket his face was buried in moist; but it was there.

Sasuke didn't even know what to say. He just let what was going to happen, happen.

[waterfell]

It was still possible to examine the girl while Sasuke held her and, while she would not have interfered between them otherwise, time was limited.

Sasuke's tears changed that, slightly. Mercury glanced at him again, but he did not seem distraught, only understandably overwhelmed. She had a sudden urge to touch him lightly, but did not.

Instead, the blue-haired girl returned her focus to Izanami, attempting to begin her examination since the girl had added nothing. As long as she was not resisted, Mercury would have an excellent chance of diagnosing the illness.

Then an idea struck her, one that would let her do it even easier. A computer modified to monitor Tsukino-san's vital signs. Mercury glanced towards Kimi.

"Watanuki-san," she asked, "Is it possible to have something here that I didn't have with me at all in Econtra?"

That computer she'd rigged, or even... perhaps even that Mercury computer she had been told of, a product of Silver Millenium technology. She wasn't sure how this place worked exactly, but if it was a dream... if she could focus on it...

Better to let Kimi answer her, and not have her hopes raised until then. Meanwhile, she returned to her attempt to look over the girl, using basic implements to check ears, nose, and throat especially since there had been hints of respiratory problems, as long as she wasn't resisted.

[watanukichan]

Kimi turned a little red at being called "Rainbow" and her eyes being pointed out like that, though she did smile a little at the picture Uchiha-san made with the little girl. He was crying, really crying, and it made a pang rise in her chest as she remembered her own parents and what it was like to be held like that. And she somehow knew how much trust Uchiha-san was showing by willing to be this emotional in front of them. By allowing them to see this side of him.

She hoped they could help Izanami-chan.

Kimi was pulled out of her reverie by Mercury-san's question and she searched her memory for an answer.

"I don't know," she answered, shaking her head, "I've never . . . this is really the most I've ever done with this sort of thing."

[embalmment]

Nami was more than accustomed to going through the rituals of daily physical examinations, and endured it patiently, eyes shifting about the room and studying Blue's hair with unusual attentiveness. She apparently fancied it. Occasionally her gaze strayed towards Kimihiro - the idea of sheepishness was strange to her, and she didn't seem to know what to make of either woman.

When her attention once more returned to her father's face, she noticed that he seemed upset for the first time, and that in turn seemed to upset her - and had those around her known her better, they would've known this was extremely unusual. Nami did not like crying.

Her brow crinkled in concern and she laid her palms flat against his cheeks to wipe them away, sitting on her knees and looking tense, making quiet noises almost like coos in her throat - to placate him, perhaps. She didn't seem to understand he was happy.

- - - - - - - - - -

He noticed that twitch in Mercury's muscles from the corner of her eye. Sharingan picked up even the most miniscule movement. It was part of what made Sharingan users seem like they could predict the future so to speak. And with that he silently thanked her for not reaching out. Sparing his pride a little.

Sasuke exhaled softly lifting his head just in time to almost be poked in the eye. He couldn't help but softly snort at that and take his hand gently into hers. He didn't say anything but he didn't need to. The expression on his face said it for him. He was alright, and everything was okay. Certinly at this moment everything was okay.

The young man was overwhelmed. Never, never did he ever think this day would happen. That he would have kids. Whether the birth was natural or not it didn't matter. It was such a long forgotten dream. It was something he wanted to happen when he was thirteen. Realistically, he had no idea what any of it really meant or what all came with it. The concept of relationships, marriage, sex, children, love, and all of that which came with the whole 'family package' just kind of went beyond him. Still was, admitedly. He knew what it all was but he didn't understand it.

None of that mattered right now and after a few more moments his head cleared up enough.

Sasuke shifted his gaze towards Mercury, "what do you need?"

His voice had become more stable once again, "I know this place. I can guide us all towards the laboratory. Sense Kabuto is a medic nin a lot his practices are by hand via chakra manipulation but he is also a drug specialist and a man he had been required to treat and keep alive before Nami had severe illnesses which required much medical equiptment."

Even while he was speaking in a tone one much the same as usual there was a destinct stirr of life inside of him. Something that had been gone for so long.

[waterfell]

Kimi's words were absolutely music to Mercury's ears. It was all the more interesting to find out for herself whether it would be possible to bring what she wanted here.

"Then we'll try!" she said, and her lips quirked upwards. The blue-haired girl - who seemed quite content to let that hair and color amuse Izanami, knowing that even if she was accustomed to it, these routines would be boring - glanced at Sasuke on his interruption, almost surprised by the question; she had been thinking only of those computers and in a childish moment, had all but assumed the others would somehow know what she'd meant.

"We should go there, then," she decided - after all, even the Mercury computer itself would only help her in diagnosis and planning treatment, not in actually helping this girl, "I'll need that equipment, too. But what I meant won't exist here. It's a very powerful computer."

The group made their way to the laboratory, where they were quickly re-settled.

"If it's possible, what would it take?" she asked Kimi. How to try it?