Ticking Sand Hour

Naruto fanfiction

Description:

They think they know the story of Uchiha Itachi, but they're wrong. I'd wanted to believe in him, I wanted to think that I knew him. Oh, how wrong I was...the last thing I saw was crimson red eyes and a flash of silver before everything went blank. It was at that moment when I wanted nothing more than to feel pity for him... [Itachi X OC X Kakashi]

Chapter 1: Prediction

The Beginning is the end, and the end is the beginning.

Well then, let us begin again.

And to each, their own tale. - Fuwa Aika from Zetsuen no Tempest

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Life comes as a fleeting chance to redeem ourselves from our past life or so I wanted to believe. It was better than to think that whatever little we've done in our current life has been for nothing...that everything in my life led us up to this point.

Was it predestined that I wasn't going to live longer twenty two?

Or did it happen due to the mistakes I've made?

Whatever the reason, it's not like anything could change.

After all...it's too late.

No one should know the horrors of a war, especially not children as young as four and five. The things we'd witness on the battlefield would be integrated deeply into our minds, staying with us until our last breath. And during that last moment of your life, of your existence - you'll be reminded of everything you've done or said, once more. Looking as if you were presenting some sort of document to the higher-ups. Instantly filling you with regrets.

Blood spurted from my mouth as Sasuke pierced his Kusanagi sword deeper into my stomach, instinctively my free hand moved to touch the blade but made no further movement to get the fuck away from the vengeful kid. And yet, at the same time, I couldn't help but to gaze deeper into his crimson red eyes and feel nothing more than pity. If there was anyone, who had the right to kill me it would be him.

"...Why?" Sasuke's voice was barely emotionless, he narrowed his Sharingan blazing eyes as he searched for something in mine. "Why didn't you dodge, Nora?!"

The sword was still pierced deep within me, pain shot through my nerves and limbs. I could feel my life force straining as I struggled to keep standing up. Slowly, I slumped against Sasuke's sword, breathing heavily and wondering. I tried to think of the kids back at Konoha, ones who wanted to bring Uchiha Sasuke back to their village. I tried to think of my former ANBU mentors and my husband but all I could think of was the one man, to whom I gave everything up.

Uchiha Itachi.

I can still imagine him walking by my side, looking at me with that emotionless expression I strived to decipher, and occasional hand in hands walk as we grew older. Every single moment in our lives spent together flashed through my eyes.

And I smiled.

The pain was forgotten.

As the rain poured down on us, effectively covering any traces of tears on our faces. With difficulty, I lifted my head to see Sasuke's face, to see Itachi's much beloved younger brother - one who was going to kill him after he was done with me. How has it all come down to this? How will Naruto react upon hearing his team-mate, his friend, had killed someone, who took him in and treated him like a family? In some ways, Naruto had adopted me into his family, more than what I ever did with him.

"Because it doesn't hurt," I whispered, fingers brushing against Sasuke's cold, rain-soaked cheek and he flinched. "Because I'll be at peace and the Uchiha name will carry on."

The last part was more of a whisper to the wind, a hope for Sasuke's future. Not for mine, that was gone by the minute I fell in love with Uchiha Itachi. The moment I watched Shisui throwing himself into the deadly Naka river, tearing out my still warm, beating heart.

"Because no matter what they say," my eyesight started to get blurry. The last bit of strength was leaving me and death was about to knock on my doors. "You're not a monster, Sasuke."

If someone were to ask me, do you regret anything? At first, I'd say no, then I'd take a moment to ponder about the question and say - yes. Not spending more time with my loved ones. Not telling Itachi just how much I loved him. Not thanking Sandaime for hiding my existence until I was discovered. Not telling Naruto just how much he's come to mean to me. Not telling Sasuke what exactly happened on the day of Uchiha Massacre. Not telling Kakashi what he's come to mean to me. Not telling...

I was leaving this world with too many regrets.

But in the end, it was my choice to die by the hands of Uchiha Sasuke, the man who would soon kill the man I love. I couldn't hear Sasuke's screams as I died in his hands, and nor did I know what happened next. However, I couldn't bring myself to care - after all, I was dead.

My time was up.

And it had gone exactly like Neko-baa had told me it would.

It was beautiful.