Disclaimer:

If I owned Naruto, Sasuke would be acknowledged as the whiny, emo Princess Sassy-chan.

Alas, I don't. All hail Kishimoto Masashi, creator of our obsession!

Speech/Though Guide

"blahblahblah" normal speech

"BLAHBLAHBLAH" yelling

'blahblahblah' thought

"blahblahblah" flashback speech

"blahblahblah" Kyuubi/Inner Beings

Second Chances

Chapter 1: One More Day – Midnight Lament

He knows he's dying. With every passing second his heart slows a bit and the world gets a little darker. He hates this feeling, this helplessness – as a ninja he's used to being able to push his body to the limit and take the pain in stride. But there's no pain now, just tiredness, and that's what he hates the most, the total inability to take action. In the distance he can hear voices – friends hurrying to his side, friends he knows will not be able to save him.

The dogs are the first the break through the thick foliage, the first to find their way through the smoldering wreckage of smashed trees. They begin the desperate sprint towards him but stop hastily as the heavy scent of fresh blood sends them into sensory overload. Instead, the pack retreats to the edge of the clearing where they settle down on their haunches and tip their snouts towards the hazy sky, letting eerie cries of mourning emanate from their throats. The howling draws the others closer. He can feel the rain of footsteps through the ground before any of his companions become visible. This is the last sound he believes he will hear in this life, the soft yet constant sound of a rescue, and he is content to let it be, until a low whimpering catches his ear.

"S-sensei?"

It takes so much effort to force his neck to move, but the muscles final, if not sluggishly, obey his command. Once turned, he can just make out the fuzzy grey blob to his left. Kakashi… He wants to speak, wants to say something to consol one of the remaining member of his squad, but his tongue resists. Tears gather in his eyes as he struggles with his own body. Please, Kami-sama… Please give me the strength to do this…

But the exertion is pointless; as much as he pushes himself, he knows he's too far gone. This body is not his own anymore. It is a mere shell – a mere skin which confines him to the mortal realm. He should be thankful that Shinigami-dono permitted him these last few moments to look into the faces of his friends, but somehow, he cannot help but hate the deity for tempting him with these last seconds of life – these few minutes which past much too quickly.

He'd do anything now, anything to have just another day to correct his wrongs and say good bye.

Kashi-kun needs to know that he's sorry and Rirrin-chan too, more than anyone else.

He never did tell his sensei thanks, for everything…Neechan's going to be heart-broken if he goes this way.

Another kneels by his side, familiar hands hovering over his chest – shaking with effort.

Kami-sama… He's begging now… Begging for the strength, for the time, for anything more than death.

'Senpai…sorry your retirement was short lived, old man…'

'Teme… Good luck with the kids, friend…Won't wish anything less for my best friend…'

'Hotaru… Knowing you, the bird will fly once more… Don't give up hope…'

Coldness spreads from his heart, moving slowly outward, bit by bit overwhelming his body and the hands pull away reluctantly.

'Katsu… Watch out for Yuki-chan and the kid, will ya?'

Senses fade so that sound is little more than a hum in his ears, his sight taking in nothing more that the blurred difference between light and dark. Sluggishly his mind perceives a dull pain where his shoulders make contact with the harsh ground as someone shakes his weak frame.

'Yuki-chan…Please, don't cry, my love…'

'Ichiro… If only I had more time…'

The tears begin to fall freely, running down his cheeks and creating trails through the layers of grime covering his skin. To him, they seem a desperate attempt to cling to life but to those around him, those crystal drops seem noble.

'I'm sorry…'

Above him, the clouds break and begin to let their captive waters rain down upon his face, plastering his hair across his brow, and soaking through his robe. It aims to chill his bones, but there are some things that even nature has no control over.

'If only I had another chance…'

All goes black, and Konoha mourns for the fallen…