"Mikoto..."
Inside the room, Wuye gently sat down by the bed and reached out, taking Uchiha Mikoto's hand into his palm.
Her little hand, usually soft and warm, was incomparably cold today.
"I'm sorry..."
He pressed Mikoto's hand to his cheek, as if hoping to pass some of his warmth on to her.
"Wu... ye..."
Mikoto finally stirred.
She slowly turned to look at him and said dully, "It's not your fault..."
Wuye tightened his hold on her hand and gently pressed it to his lips. "Everything will be all right... It will all be all right someday..."
"Wuye..."
Mikoto slowly spoke. "Shisui and I aren't the same... I was still young when I came to the clan. It was the care of so many clansmen that gave me a sense of belonging..."
"Uncle was good to me, but I rarely saw him. Only those clansmen who helped me and gave me warmth every day were always by my side..."
"Life passed by so peacefully and beautifully, day after day..."
"Later, even when the Great Elder wanted me to seduce you, I had no resentment..."
"Not only because you were Uncle's son, someone we all cared about, but also because the Great Elder and the others gave me the clan's protection..."
Tears slipped from the corners of her eyes. "Wuye, do you believe me? The Uchiha Clan treats its own the best..."
"I believe you."
Wuye nodded. "Because only extreme love can give birth to extreme power."
Mikoto closed her eyes, tears streaming down without end. "The clansmen always said I was rare, that I was the gentlest girl in the Uchiha Clan. They gave me far, far too much favoritism. They... were all my family..."
Wuye sighed softly. "And because you were valued and loved, the core clansmen had