Nikara pronounced Nee-ka-ra

No One's POV

Umiko sat on the hospital bed, hands folded and a emotionless face. Cotton was stuffed in both her ears, and she didn't hear a single thing. Her bandages from her eyes were off revealing nothing.

She felt the door open and someone walking in. She recognized their scents and faked a smile "Hello, Naru-kun, Bubble-chan, Ducky-chan."

Sasuke frowned for for the nickname but pitied Umiko, now that she can't see, or hear.

Sakura set a vase of roses on the table beside the bed. She took out a piece of paper and wrote on it.

She saw Umiko tracing her finger over the letters when they were taking the written exams in the first part of the Chuunin exams.

She put it on Umiko's lap. Umiko felt Sakura put something on her lap and traced it.

She looked up and faked another smile.

'Yeah. She's smiling. But don't let that fool you. Look into her eyes. She's dying inside'

She had 'read' that in a book in several villages and knew what it meant.

But now, she really felt like it.

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Once they were all gone, Umiko couldn't hold it in anymore. Cold, wet tears started to roll down her cheeks and drop onto the bed sheets.

She gripped the sheets with her fists and try not to sob. But she couldn't hold it in. She broke down into loud sobs that echoed in the room.

Her walls broke down.

Everything that she bottled up until now, she let it all out.

She haunched over her bed and laid her forehead against the sheets.

She couldn't stop the tears. They streamed down like a waterfall. She let it all out.

During this moment, she remembered a moment when Nikara was faking that she was mute.

A three-year old girl was playing outside with her little sister who was one year old, named Nikara.

"Nikara! Come on!" Umiko yelled at her sister.

Nikara smiled and followed her sister. Nikara couldn't say anything since she was mute. She 'told' Umi-nee chan with sign language.

This is when Umiko wasn't blind. She could still see before someone took her vision away.

They crossed a stream in the forest and stared at it.

Nikara tapped Umiko's shoulder. Umiko looked at her, still smiling.

"It's so pretty!" Nikara made the hand language.

Umiko made hand languages to "I know right!"

They stared at it a little longer and Nikara was about to tell Umi-nee chan but something caught her eye. Her smile slowly faded as she stared in horror at it.

There was a person, a few meters away from them, aiming a arrow...

Right at Umiko.

"Umi-nee chan!" Nikara yelled and pushed Umiko away at the same time the person shot.

And it landed...

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Right in Nikara's heart.

The person ran away.

"Nikara!" Umiko cried and rushed near Nikara's side who was on the ground, gasping for air.

Tears formed in Umiko's eyes "Nikara! Don't die!"

Nikara slowly turned her head to Umiko's side "U-Umi-nee chan..." She rasped.

"Why didn't you tell me you could talk?!" Umiko sobbed.

"M-Mother forbid m-me to speak...s-she told me I sound like a monster..." Blood came out her mouth.

Umiko clenched her teeth and shook her head "You don't sound like one! Don't listen to what she says, Nikara! Just please don't die!"

Umiko then gasped and smiled "I got it! I'll do healing mi-"

"No." Nikara stopped her. She grabbed Umiko's hand "Save it for the ones you care for."

"But I do care for you! I do-"

"Please Umi-nee chan...you are the last Mikami."

"What do you mean?!"

"That person...was my brother...father told him to kill all the Mikamis except for one. I come from 2 clans, Umi-nee chan. The Katsuka and Mikami. My brother was from the Katsuka's side..." She coughed up blood.

"Nikara!"

"I'm sorry...I couldn't spend more time with you." Her last breath escaped her mouth.

Umiko became silent "Nikara? Nikara! NIKARA!"