The Winter Days

It was pitch black all around. The absence of matter in this dimension was oddly appealing, as it brought a silent serenity to the man's heart as he stood in it. Alone. One spectre surrounded by darkness. Though there seemed to be no ground or solid surface in this void, he walked in a straight line, slowly and calmly. Densetsu was in no hurry in this strange place; someone constantly involved in a steady line of high octane, adrenaline pumping missions would tend to appreciate every moment of calm that life tended to toss every now and then. He continued walking, as not even the sound of his footsteps were heard. Eventually, a small flash of light appeared, accentuated by the surrounding darkness. It grew larger and larger as it approached the Uchiha, who finally stopped walking, a hint of curiosity upon his visage. Densetsu straightened himself as the light eventually took a more humanoid silhouetted form, stopping ahead of him. While he could not recognise the spectre, he most certainly recognised the voice that came forth from it.

"Hello, Densetsu." The voice said, softly.

A sad smile crept onto Densetsu's face. It was a voice that he had held dear in his childhood, one of many that had been taken away from him. Taken away from him, but which had never left him. "It's been a while...Hiroki," Densetsu raised his face to look at the gleaming, white apparition. "It's always awkward speaking to somebody who's been dead for seven years, y'know."

A soft sound was emitted by the white creature, resembling a soft chuckle. "Death, eh? You bother yourself too much with physical definitions, old friend."

It was all a part of his mind, Densetsu knew it. His regrets, his feelings. All these parts of him that he wished he could let go, but would never be able to. Not until he joined all these voices in the afterlife, at least. This white spectre was merely one of many that Densetsu listened to, this particular one having been his childhood bestfriend; his first and most painful loss as well. Densetsu had to speak his mind, even though this spectre wasn't truly his deceased friend.

"It was my fault wasn't it, Hiroki?"

The spectre gleamed even brighter for a brief moment before submitting its reply.

"You truly do concern yourself too much with physical definitions. Whether or not you decide fault yourself, keep in mind that it was my action in the end that led to the result."

It let out a clear chuckle now as Densetsu's smile faded, his head slowly lowering as he gazed at the ground. Seven years he had heard this inner voice, the voice of his friend; as kind in counsel as the boy had been while he was alive. It was ironic that the mere memory of Hiroki meant so much to Densetsu, helping keep him sane, helping strengthen his moral resolve. Just a mere memory.

You truly do concern yourself too much with physical definitions.

The unmistakable sound of knocking brought Densetsu back to the real world, and out of his meditative void. Meditation helped Densetsu connect with his inner demons, his regrets, his guilt. A past so many considered glorious and 'heroic' came with such loss and suffering, each great exploit coming with equally great cost. It was a past Densetsu would gladly switch with any average joe, if it were an option. Sighing, he pressed his palms onto the mat he had been sitting on for the last 20 minutes, pushing himself up as the sound of knocking rang out again.

"Hold on please, I'm coming!" He called from down the corridor as he grabbed a sweater which was hanging nearby and put it on to stay warm; a mere singlet and treks would be suicidal to his warmth once the door was opened and the cold winter wind seeped into the house. He unhooked the locks and twisted the knob as the door swung open. Instantly the man waiting for him outside bowed low, a sign of respect; which made Densetsu jump back to avoid the man's sudden bow.

"Densetsu-sama, please forgive me for being a disturbance at your very own residences, I beg your pardon; I truly do!" The man earnestly apologised, drawing a shocked expression from Densetsu thanks to his extreme politeness.

"No, it's alright sir. Please address me normally, I have neither rank, experience nor age which would qualify me for such respectful treatment." Densetsu quickly shrugged, feeling that a mere 19 year old deserved no such extreme respect. "Anyway, what could I help you with, sir?" He enquired further, noting the man's frantic movements and somewhat panicky expression.