Sasuke Uchiha

Why on earth did he agree to live with Ryan? Oh yah it was either that or risk Itachi dragging him back to his house and well he still wanted nothing to do with Itachi. If it hadn't been for Itachi he probably would of gotten to raise his kids. As it were he had kidnapped his son who just turned out to hate him even more.

Now to placate Ryan he was shoveling out horse shit because it was a job that 90% of the time it was only the horses he was dealing with. It was a job he suppose get him some money when it becamse a job, right now it was just stupid community Service. He had finished the last stall and was now wheeling the wheel barrel out to the manure pile.

Joni Burnhardt

Atroe City felt like a haunted town to Joni. After several years of chasing nothingness outside of the valley, a brief but nearly-fatal stint with addiction and her stay at a mental institute out East, Joni finally felt like she was getting a grasp on her life again. Returning to the tumult that is Atroe City was a bit of facing fears for the aging woman. Visiting the graves of her sister, and her late husband had somehow closed doors in her mind.

On a whim, Joni decided to visit the place where one of her horses from when she lived in the Valley had wound up. Pirate was his name. Her rental car rattles up the dirt road and finds a parking spot in the front of the stable yard. Joni slowly slips out of the car, jingling her keys in a hand as she heads towards the stable. She'd known the Anderson's for a while, and hadn't been a stranger to Clover Field Stable in the past. She's half way to the barn when Sasuke emerges. For a moment, Joni can't believe her eyes. She stumbles to a stop, her face paling. It couldn't be.

Sasuke

Sasuke never talked t anyone here, or atleast he tried to avoid every human being possible as he push's the wheel barrel out the door and comes to ahalt just outside the doors when his one eye lands on his aunt. He wanted to just turn and run but instead forced himself to move away with barrel down the path to empty it. Hish ands shook a little as he did so.

The last time he had seen her her dog Jackie had attacked him remembering what he had done. Joni hadn't known what he had done then just didn't understand her dogs behavior. He then just there his back to her.

Joni Burnhardt

For the moment, all Joni can do is stare. As Sasuke continues down the path, she manages to tear herself from the panicky trance she fell into. Her feet point towards the stables, but her mind already is racing back to her car. Yet, Joni remains in the same spot at the center of the grassy stable yard. The last time she saw Sasuke, she had laughed wondering why Jackie despised the man. Years later, Joni replays the scenario in her brain with horror. At least the dog had known the man's iniquities. But today, Joni knew. She'd fought for years over the problem.

Did she forgive?

Even right now, Joni wasn't sure. Her therapists and psychiatrists all tried to round her into some form of at least acceptance over the matter. She waits for him to return back to the stable, a welt forming in her throat. Had she forgiven? She didn't know. But she wanted to at least face Sasuke. She had helped raise him. He was the son of her older sister. And, at the end of this damned day, he was still family.

Sasuke

Sasuke hadn't been happy with what he did, but he never was because 9 out of 10 times when he killed someone it was because he lost all physical control of his anger. Jib had been being his wise sarcastic asshole self especially knowing that he and itachi had killed Joni's sister he felt even more at home making fun of him.

He finished dumping the wheel barrel as he took a deep breath. When he got home he would Tell ryan he couldn't work here. Not if Joni was gonna be coming here. He couldn't risk it. He turned back pulling hte wheel barrel behind him as he made to bring it back into the stables he didn't say a word to her he couldn't. The way she reacted made him fear she knew.

Joni Burnhardt

The shock ebbs away from Joni's senses. She's standing like a fool in the middle of the stable yard trying to get a grasp on her conscious. By the time she's mauled over the situation and convinced herself away from the edge of horror, Sasuke has slipped back into the safety of the stable. He doesn't acknowledge her. Joni wonders if she should tempt the idea of even talking to him, however casual and off-the-wall the conversation could be. She digs her fingernails into her palms and draws in an edgy inhale.

It's been ten years.

Boldly, she puts one foot in front of the other until she's reached the door of the barn. The familiar scents of horses, dust and hay sting her senses as she composes herself. Confidence replaces the fear that had consumed her moments ago. Ten years, but I've moved forward, Joni whispers to herself. A weak smile placates itself on her lips. Her voice is gentle and sweet, slightly teasing but friendly, "I don't remember you being much for stable chores."

Sasuke

He is putting the wheel barrel up as she enters and speaks. Not much to do when you agree to live with a cop to stay away from someone elsehe said as he turned to face her. He did not say anything about that incident. She already knew he had murdered her sister and that he was into drugs and gangs. So maybe her hesitation was because of that.

Joni Burnhardt

At his words, her smile twitches into a bit of a frown. She gazes at him levelly, before glancing away with a little sigh. Were there questions she wanted to ask? Definitely. But she couldn't find the strength to unearth them, and at the same time Joni wasn't sure she wanted to. By the sounds of it, both of them had been through their own dimensions of Hell. Joni didn't need to revisit the past, and neither did Sasuke. "Well..." she begins, catching her breath before her brown eyes turn to him, "I'm glad you're safe, then. At least the horses have been keeping you company, hmm?" Her eyes seek out down the aisle at the few heads popping over the stall doors. From a distance, she thinks she spots the horse she'd come to visit, but Joni remains gently planted at the mouth of the barn.

Sasuke

HE glances down the aisle.Their the only things that can safely keep me company you know thisHe said.

Joni Burnhardt

Nodding softly, Joni detaches herself from her post and slowly begins to maneuver down the aisle. She pauses briefly as she passes Sasuke, a grim smile forcing itself to her lips. "You probably didn't know, but you're among good company," she explains to him with a singular laugh. She scans the faces peering towards her, coming to a halt at the ebony and white patched face of, sure enough, Pirate. Joni lays a gentle hand upon the stallion's cheek. "This guy was one of my show horses a while back...I was just here to visit since I'm in town." He hadn't asked why she was here, but Joni feeds him the information anyway. Gazing into Pirate's face, an ease washes over her in the presence of the horses. A genuine smile befits her face this time as she glances back at Sasuke. She laughs bitterly, "I'm sure you never understood me, your crazy horse aunt."

Sasuke

He follows her down to the stallions stall.I've had horses my whole life, your not the only one in the family that loves there companyHe says calmly. He knew that Ryan still hadn't gotten fully into his files to know that he killed his own parents or jib.

Joni Burnhardt

Running her fingers down Pirate's neck, Joni tilts her head towards Sasuke. "Perhaps," she acknowledges with a nod. "You and Itachi just seemed like it was the worst task on earth when I had you do stable chores," she remembers with a chuckle, "Then again, what teen likes chores?" Brown eyes sparkling, she yields the burning sensation in her eyes and takes a sharp breath. Remembering was painful. Perhaps, it would always be. Muscling her emotions away again, Joni forces her attention back to the stallion. "Are you...are you truly safe?" She asks warily, his previous words still haunting the forefront of her brain. A heat creeps into her cheeks as she sighs, "I'm sorry if that's a bit personal seeing as we haven't talked in years..."

Sasuke

He laughed and just shrugged. Then she asked if he was truly safe. His one eye watching her and he laughed.Ill never truelly be safeHe sasid calmly.

Joni Burnhardt

Her eyes drop as he replies. She nods stoically, forcing her gaze to study Pirate rather than stare at him. She considers his words, a sinking feeling growing within her stomach. Sasuke had always been a firebrand and hard to reel in. Try as she did while she helped raise him, Joni could never rope him in and learned early it was futile to even try. Even after all these years, Joni had hoped and prayed he found peace in his life. But that wasn't the nature of Atroe City, and someone who'd been born and raised in this dog-eat-dog city should know as well as anybody else. Finally, she shifts her gaze to Sasuke and frowns. "Sasuke," she begins, gulping softly, "Just know...that you're safe with me. No matter what, you're my nephew and I've let you down in the past, and I don't know how the hell I can help you from here on out, but if you need me to, I'll drop everything for you." Her eyes are burning as she speaks, and there's a part of her that can't believe the flow of words coming from her mouth. But she says them, and she doesn't regret any part of them. The past is the past, and however atrocious the things of the past, Joni won't hold onto them with white knuckles. Instead, she decides to set them free. "We're family. Don't forget that."

Sasuke

He watched her with his one eye and then listened to her speak. I don't forget whose family, but... you have no reason to offer me anythinghe said.

Joni Burnhardt

She shrugs gently, shaking her head. "That's not for you to decide," She explains, reaching out to touch his arm. For a moment, she stands still before her hand gently descends back to her side. She sighs softly, glancing at Pirate. The encounter is emotionally tolling, and Joni doesn't want to admit it, but she overstaying her welcome here. "I'll be back in the city for...well, however long this time. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to look me up," Joni tells him, her voice firm and sure. While Sasuke may not believe in her reasoning, Joni has already decided the commitment to her nephew.

Sasuke

He watched her. if you say sohe sasid and then just nodded. Ryan would be here to pick him up soon anyways.