"Sasuke, why?" Saizen asked as she moved away from the cave entrance. The cracked portion of the rock had broken up when they landed and sealed up the cave. The tunnels of this cave led into Orochimaru's lair and that's exactly where Sasuke was heading. "Sasuke…why?" she asked the retreating figure again. "Hn." was his reply.
"Hinata, go!" Saizen snapped at the indigo-haired Hyuga. "But Zen-chan," Hinata started. Saizen turned back, Sharingan fully activated. "I said go!" She pushed Hinata onto the platform, yanking the lever down before she could react. "Zen-chan!" Hinata screamed as she and the rest of the civilians hurtled to safety through the escape passages in the mountainside. The interior continued to fall in around her, but she pressed forward, looking for her brother. "Sasuke!" she called.
Sasuke was digging through the collection of ancient forbidden scrolls housed in the mountain. He met her eyes with an emotionless gaze. "Nee-sama, I told you to escape." Saizen shook her head fervently. "Not without you, nii-san."
"If you're going to come with me, I suggest you move a little faster." Sasuke's cold voice rang in the dark tunnel. Saizen huffed under her breath, but continued after the raven-haired rogue. She caught up with him and grabbed his arm. He glared at her for a moment, but conceded and held her hand. "This is how we used to be, Sasuke. Do you remember that? Do you remember us, Sasuke?" she whispered, mostly to herself, but Sasuke was listening. "Yes, I do. I remember." Sasuke thought, unconsciously squeezing her hand. "Nii-san, I never did thank you. So, thanks. I didn't know you still cared enough." She added the last part in a whisper, but it cut through Sasuke's heart like a blade.
"The whole mountain's coming down! We've got to get out of here!" Saizen screamed, grabbing Sasuke's arm. The twins narrowly avoided being crushed by another chunk of ceiling. Sasuke stuffed the scroll into his shirt and sprinted for the exit, Saizen on his heels. They melted the pieces of rock with fireballs as they raced through the collapsing passage. Sasuke suddenly pulled back as Saizen slid to a stop on an overhanging ledge, the remains of one of the escape hatches. It was crushed and very unstable now. Saizen looked around, noticing her brother was not next to her. "Sasuke, what are you doing? Get over here! We can use the curse seal!" she yelled. Sasuke hung back where the ledge met the rest of the floor. "No, there are still scrolls inside. Go without me." He said as he charged up a Chidori.
"Forget the damn scrolls! Sasuke!" Saizen called to him, reaching for him just as he sliced cleanly through the rock, causing it to fall. "I love you." Sasuke said quietly as he watched his twin fall to the earth.
"You didn't want the scrolls. You wanted me safe. Such a good brother, even if you're younger than me." Saizen smiled. "Itachi would be proud." Sasuke's eye twitched at the mention of the twins' older brother. The pain in Saizen's injured leg spiked, causing the onyx-eyed kunoichi to sink to her knees. She sat up against the cool stone wall. Sasuke dropped to his knees, concerned for his sister. Saizen brushed it off, a normal mannerism for the girl when she was in pain. Sasuke pushed up her pants leg and stared at the long, bloody gash that marred the skin so identical to his. He tore a fraction of his sleeve off and formed a makeshift bandage, watching as the white cloth reddened with her blood.
He met her gaze. "To answer your earlier question, I love you." "W-what?" asked a confused kunoichi. Sasuke took her hand again, laced their fingers, and leaned in to kiss her on the cheek. "I love you, nee-sama. Always have, always will."
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