.Georgia, King County, XX,2010. 15:34 pm.
"So you are really a ninja, the real deal?"
"Yeah"
"Wow, so there are more like you? How did you train? Where?" Katniss wasn't usually one to be nosy, but seeing the way Sasuke moved and eliminated all the walkers? She became curious.
At first she just joked saying he looked like a ninja but who would've expected him to say that he really is.
And Sasuke who was ready for their last trip with the food just sighed at her curiousness.
He wasn't annoyed, he just didn't know how to explain things that aren't...real for this world.
He didn't want to seem like a liar if they found something untrue later on.
After all, those things are just true to him.
"It's a family thing, you know that some families kept to the traditions for hundreds of years, like the decision of keeping a clan"
"Was there still such a thing in Japan?"
"Yeah, ninja clan. they were somewhat close to a secret, not dangerous" even he didn't believe the last word.
" They just kept to thesmelves from the world. Always stating how we are a different breed" yet here he is, lying...he just didn't have another way to introduce himself, His difference.
Thus he mixed his life with both his previous worlds and this one.
The rogue special force from the world of the era of 2025, the rogue-nin from the shinobi world and this...mix of both in the apocalyptic one.
"Different? How?" Katniss asked as she took a seat beside him eating a cookie, she was tired after making two trips back and forth even tho he was the one who did most of the lifting.
Yet he didn't even seem to be tired as he talked about his life, and Katniss had to look away from his face otherwise she might creep him from her stares.
He was seriously too damn good-looking for his own good.
' thankfully he is strong ' well, she would be protecting him if he wasn't.
"Hmm, i don't know. They always told us about our ancestor, a legendary figure who was named Madara Uchiha. They talked about how he ascended and grasped at our bloodline's true strength and potential...reaching a new height of a human being. Supernatural"
"Haha seriously ? Wait...you believe that?" She looked at him and saw the look in his eyes, the guy didn't scoff or anything and his eyes held confidence as if that was the reality.
Something he believed is true and didn't care the least what others thought.
"Had you ever imagined that the dead would be rising at some point in your life?" Sasuke asked, because he knows at some point...he will do things no human could.
And he didn't want her to fear him.
"But this is different, that... Madara, history should have archived him if he was truly that legendary.
Yet i never heard anything about him in the internet, newspapers or anything like that. No one i know did."
" There was, in our clan's history and records, back to the warring states era when he lived. Well anyway, that's how our teaching in our clan was. You learn how to fight and train from young age"
"Have you...killed people?"
"Would you hate me if i say yes?" He hoped not but...it won't surprise him really.
Most wouldn't feel comfortable knowing the person sitting beside them was trained to kill from the age of 6.
""I, i don't know Sasuke, to me? You are just an amazingly strong and kind guy who saved me and my sister from this hell. Who gave us a chance, I'm curious about what you did and all but i know. Life shapes us all differently.
Just like i have my own secrets and issues, everyone must too."
He smiled, she saw him smiling many times but it always felt polite or relieved like when seeing Ciri laugh.
This? This felt different, he smiled because of her, maybe even happy.
And katniss loved it.
She felt like a little girl who heard a praise especially when he gave her a light pat to her head. Even though she would normally hate it.
"I appreciate that Katniss, really. I'm not a good guy...not really. I did many bad things, and sadly, probably would do in the future. This is just the world we live in. But know this. I would never harm or betray my people, good people.
I will always protect you. All i ask is, if...at some point in the future, my actions seem to be severe or wrong. Don't judge me fast and trust in me"
He patted her hand and stood again ready to leave back yet katniss somehow reached for his sleeve.
She stared at him and almost leaned over when the CB on his chest produced some noise before a voice sounded from it.
" ~zzz~ butcher here, you receiving boy? ~zzz~" taking it sasuke pressed to talk.
"Loud and clear Billy, what's the situation? ~zzz~"
"~zzz~ long story short, we got back to his home safe, but a man showed up around soon after, injured and wearing only a hospital gown. Morgan invited him and cleaned his wound that was stinky, a gunshot wound~zzz~"
Katniss and Sasuke turned to look at each other, the previous pink atmosphere gone. Another survivor.
"~zzz~ is he alone? Dangerous? What is the situation with him. Over~zzz~"
"~zzz~ guy reacted like he was living under a fucking rock when asked about the walkers, apparently he's a sheriff deputy who was in coma since before the outbreak and didn't know what is happening to the world~zzz~" Billy sipped some water then resumed.
"~zzz~ he woke up this noon and he came to this place from the hospital in a fucking bicycle. Lucky he didn't run into a walker before meeting us. Morgan is taking care of him, guy's still weak. And needs help. We may not return tonight. Over. ~zzz~"
"~zzz~ you need me to come?, We are on our last trip. Over. ~zzz~"
"~zzz~ no need man we are safe and place is extra secured, we still have food here. I've already told Jenny and Duan about the situation here and that i will return tomorrow morning. Please keep them and yourselves safe. ~zzz~" This time it was Morgan's voice coming through.
"~zzz~ sure, reach for me anytime alright? and i will be there in minutes. Just don't do it late, you see something wrong you tell me? Keep safe. And may i know his name? The injured man. ~zzz~"
"~zzz~ will do, he goes by Rick, Rick Grimes. See you later kid. Enjoy the solitude. ~zzz~"
With that sasuke put the CB back in his chest, his mind reeling.
He finally remembered who Morgan is, and when did he saw him.
A TV show.
A fucking TV show he watched ages ago with Yuri who was a fan of zombies.
The walking dead, and this Rick they talked about? He was the fucking protagonist.
It was many years ago, way before his life turned to shit since he watched the serie.
He still remembers some important points about it but that's all, so much happened after he joined the military, so much changed.
But that name, Rick Grimes. He still remembers that. The same way he didn't forget naruto he watched as a kid.
Yuri used to like the man, he was a big fan who respected his way of life, His evolution throughout the serie.
He always talked how it would be cool to live in there, just for the thrill of it, Yuri always hated it when good people died in that serie.
And now Sasuke felt his mind overheating as he tried to recall the scenes and plot of it.
The camp, the attack on it, many died and the-
"Sasuke hello~ you good?"
"Oh? Yeah, i was just thinking. Let's go" shaking his head Sasuke carried the bag and water gallons wired together while Katnis carried another one.
They exited through the back door and marched on the now familiar road back toward the building they reside in.
The road back became clear of walkers since they killed many in the area.
And all the way, Sasuke kept thinking, trying to recall the plot and the story.
' That's why i didn't know who his resemblance was to, his wife and later his son...died in that serie.
Thankfully we changed that, this time i will make sure to keep them safe, i will do my best to make that. Him, Billy...everyone '
"I hope he is okay, that man. Must be hard for someone to wake up from coma just to witness how the world turned to be.
Unaware of what happened to their loved ones...i can't imagine how hard it is for him now" Katniss spoke with pity, this Rick guy is really unfortunate to experience such a thing, thankfully he met the others.
Morgan and Billy aren't bad guys, they would help others just like Sasuke did to them.
Even in a world where helping someone else can turn out to be the greatest mistake in your life.
"Yeah, must feel like a nightmare, we'll help if he ever needs it."
"Um Sasuke...i never asked, but do you have someone? A family?" Katniss asked hesitatingly.
She knows that for him to be alone and not searching around meant only one thing.
But she asked, she really wants to know him better, To understand him. His life and burdens.
"I had, all gone" memories flashed back to him, deep buried memories, pain that came with being Sasuke Uchiha.
He didn't know his real parents back in his world, he just knows what it feel like to have a brother, a brother who took the role of a father even tho he never asked for it, Yuri was always there for him.
But as Sasuke...he buried those memories deep, he didn't want to recall the scenes of his parents, even though it didn't really affect his mentality, it was just...there.
A scene that was etched as a part of his mind.
The clan that got massacred, his parents. By a brother and another Uchiha.
A brother who unlike what the original Sasuke felt toward, he despised him, greatly.
That man, for all his reasons....killed his parents, old and young people from their clan.
No amount of bullshit village excuses made that acceptable to him.
He would never forget the scene of his mother and father lying in a pool of their blood, with Itachi standing behind them, emotionless.
Sword dripping with their blood as that accursed mangekyu spun in his eyes.
But it is all in the past, he wasn't the real Sasuke, he wasn't in the shinobi world, and Itachi was no more.
In the end, he just inherited his legacy.
Something he came to understand lately as a thing like being adopted, a son to Sasuke.
With his bloodline, expertise and memories as the only life lessons he can give, and the only needed.
Sasuke whose thoughts spiralled suddenly tensed before relaxing letting the soft body hug him from behind.
"I'm sorry...i didn't mean to make you remember your pain, i just wanted to know you. I'm really sorry Sasuke"
Katniss who saw a single tear drop from his left eye even as he kept walking in silence with his stoic expression didn't know what to do and just hugged him like their grandfather used to do when she and Ciri cried.
Just a hug that convert sher feelings.