theboywiththebook | 9th Tale: Losing Hope

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[A little over two months he's been dealing with this. The inability to read anything. While he's held onto the hope that he knew he'd get to read soon, he just had to see if he could do it on his own again. Maybe by some stroke of luck or miracle he could finally read the pages of his book.

But, instead of staying at home and reading, where Steve and Bucky are, he's in the village square. If Bucky and Steve saw him looking so upset while he read they'd only feel worse. They were there when he died and they blamed themselves for it. He doesn't need to give them that kind of stress or depression. They've dealt with that stuff enough.

Sitting by the fountain he stares down at his story book with a very focused look. He can do his. Henry can read it. But, he sits there for hours by the fountain continuing to look at the one page he's stuck on. No matter how hard he tries none of these words are recognizable. They may as well be chicken scratch.

It gets to the point where Henry can't stand it any longer. Slamming his book shut, he hurls it as hard as he can.

Does it hit someone passing by or land at their feet? Either way Henry folds his arms and just kicks the ground in front of where he's sitting.

Later, when night starts to come, Henry's sitting by the lake. It reminded him of Storybrooke, Maine. They were always close to the water and when he had his castle he would always retreat to it whenever he was feeling like this. Angry, upset, all of it. Watching the waves helped leech all those bad feelings away, and watching this lake had a similar effect.

He loses track of time, 8 PM, 9 PM, 10 PM. The hours tick on by as he just sits there. But, it gets to the point where he realizes it's probably time to get back.

He now wanders back to the apartment in silence.]

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There is not always war. When I was a child, Konoha was peaceful and prosperous. However, there will always be conflict, I fear. Misunderstandings and selfishness and pettiness can always be misconstrued to start a fight that quickly escalates. I am...not sure why the entire shinobi world is facing war once more, but it is the first time that all five of the Elemental Nations and the Hidden Villages are working together towards a common goal.

Hopefully, once the war is resolved, we can exist with peace for more than just twenty years. We deserve that.

Why'd the war even start though? The one where you're from? Were the bad guys trying to take revenge on all of you or something?

[That seemed like how most wars started and the reasons Hinata just gave him were also up there for war starters too.]

Maybe when it's over though the people that started it will get locked up.

[Or turn good. He's fine with either.]

It was declared by a group of people, one specifically, who were after very special people for things they possessed. The group wished to remodel our world in their vision of what was right and good. Other than that, I cannot answer. I do not know the specifics.

It is easier to say why I fought. I wish to protect those that I love, my village, our way of life and our right to autonomy. I also fight so that no one else will have to die.

[God, those words hurt, but she reminds herself that Neji is alive here and that tears will do no good in the middle of battle back home.]

That is a very naive way to think about the end of war, Henry-kun. Wars nearly always end with subjugation or death. That, unfortunately, is the way of most worlds, I have found.

[Now, that. sounded like a hero. Hinata definitely fitted the bill with just that explanation. But, here last words are not comforting or welcomed either.]

There's always a way to stop fighting without killing people. But, anyways...

You sound pretty brave. I dunno if I could ever do that kind of stuff again...fighting in a war I mean.

Edited 2013-07-28 01:45 (UTC)

I hope that what you say is true, but I have yet to find a way that did not end up with a lot of dead people. [She closes her eyes and looks away, trying very hard not to cry at the thought of her beloved cousin being pierced through by the Ten Tails to protect her and Naruto-kun back home. No, those thoughts would do no one any good.]

And...I am not that brave. I only do what I must to make sure that those I care for are safe. So that those who are unable to fight are not dragged into unnecessary situations.

[She looked over at him for a few moments.] Do you knot have anyone here to look after you like that?

I'm sure there is. I know it.

[At least, he'd like to fully believe that. But, Luceti has shaken that resolve just a bit.

Her comment only makes him raise a brow.]

But, that is brave. Someone else might have run off and let another handle it. You're at least trying to keep people safe. That seems brave to me.

[Hinata's question makes him nod.]

I do. I've got friends who'd keep me safe. It still doesn't mean I don't want to help.

[His words...make her feel embarrassed. She doesn't want to think that she's brave. She's only doing what is right, after all.]

If I had run away, someone I loved very much would have died and then the entire village, perhaps our world, would have been over. I...my actions, however, cost my cousin his life, Henry-kun. I...I do not think that that is brave.

[Now that is something he can kind of relate to. He remembers when he asked Emma to keep Regina safe, only for her to fall down some magic portal and possibly wind up dead. Hearing it does not help him feel better about any of this.]

Fighting to protect the people you is love a good thing though...but, I'm sorry about your cousin. I'm sure it wasn't your fault.

Th-thank you for your kind words, but I believe that there is nothing that anyone could have done to prevent this situation from happening. There were three of us there and one of use would have died. It was just a matter of if it was myself or my cousin. He did not allow me to make that decision again.

[She's about to choke on unshed tears now.]I...I would like to speak of something else, if you do not mind.

9th Tale: Losing Hope

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sorry that I took forever. Life stuff.

Don't worry about it, Chris! I like to backtag!

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