A/N: Feel free to kill me for posting something new instead of updating. (Ever stop and seriously think about how many people would actually care to show up are your funeral? That brings me to tears every time) Anyways, I had this damn plot bunny hopping around my head after I saw a presentation on the Columbine shooting. (My heart goes out to all those who lost someone in that tragic event)
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
For once Sakura was glad to hear the annoying beep of her alarm clock. She couldn't fully recall what she had been dreaming of, but she remembered bits and pieces of it. She remembered a gun and lots of screaming along with all of her friends sobbing. She shook off the fear that lingered from her dream and started her day with her regular morning routine. She crawled out of bed and walked over to her dresser, pulling out a pair of skinny jeans and her favorite black t-shirt that had TWLOHA written on it in neon blue, green, and pink. She then picked up underwear and socks before going into the bathroom attached to her room and locking the door behind her.
She stripped off her clothes, turning on the water. She let it warm up for a minute before stepping under the spray of water as she fought off thoughts of her dream. Usually her dreams were bizarre, but never scary. Sure, she'd dreamed of her father chugging martinis and giant teddy bears chasing her through a paintball course trying to kill her, (I've actually dreamt about both those things in one dream) but never had she woken up in the same panic she had today. After washing her hair and face she got out and dressed, running a brush through her pink locks which reached her mid-back.
She then gathered her book bag, yelled a goodbye to the empty house, and ran off to school. Halfway to school she met up with her female best friends, Hinata, Ino, and TenTen. She waved to them and they slowed down so she could catch up. She glanced around for a moment before asking, "Where's Sasuke?"
Ino was the first to answer and told Sakura, "I don't know, when we stopped by his house this morning his mom said he had already left. Why? Grumpy that you get ten less minutes with your oh-so-perfect boyfriend?" Ino teased and Sakura blushed, mumbling something along the lines of blondes really being dumb. After several minutes of talking pointlessly about homework and obnoxious teachers they arrived at the school's gates.
"Can we head up to the library? I need to copy someone's English homework." The girls agreed and they headed up to the library, cutting through hallways to get there. Once there they all settled into one of the few empty tables and began working away. TenTen ended up giving Sakura her English homework, a response on Lord of the Flies, which she finished copying just as the bell rang.
Sakura handed TenTen back her paper, thank her for the help, and separated from her friends. She headed to her first class, math, and was looking forward to seeing Sasuke in it. They only shared first, fourth, and sixth period, so she enjoyed the times she saw him. Once she arrived she sat down in her seat and, after noticing Sasuke wasn't in his seat beside her, began to watch the door. The minutes dragged by and the bell rang with no sign of Sasuke. How, if his mother had said he had left early, was he late? She brainstormed reasons for his lateness all class, coming up with things as stupid as he caught a cold on the way to school and went home.
After first period she passed and went to second period, English with TenTen and Hinata, they discussed how weird the situation was. Though it felt nice to know others shared her concern, she didn't feel any better about Sasuke being missing.
When third period rolled around with Ino for P.E., Sakura's worry was growing into a strong sense of anxiety. Where the hell was Sasuke? After getting changed and talking to Ino about the situation they went out into the gym for a game of dodge ball. Several times Ino had to cal out to Sakura, pulling her out of her daze in time to dodge one of the rubber balls being whipped in their directions. Some people took dodge ball way too seriously.
After showering and changing back into her clothes Sakura walked out with Ino, planning on meeting the girls in the lunch room as always, when her phone let out the Jaws theme. She pulled it out and after reading the caller ID turned to glare at Ino. "Why were you in my phone messing with my personal ringtones? And why is Sasuke's Jaws?" Not giving her friend time to reply Sakura opened the text from Sasuke.
'Go with the girls to Pizza Hut for lunch off campus. Take anyone you like with you.' The text read. She stared at it with a confused expression for several moments before she replied, 'Where r you? And why should we skip?' She continued on her way to the lunch room, the whole five minute walk getting no reply from Sasuke. If he can't give me any reasons I'm not skipping. Is he trying to get me killed by my parents? She thought to herself. When her and Ino spotted TenTen and Hinata over at their usual table with everyone else a smile spread across Sakura's face.
Naruto had and arm loosely wrapped around Hinata's shoulders, oblivious of the bright red color her cheeks were and the way she was dangerously swaying in her seat. Neji was seated beside TenTen, an interested look on his face as TenTen described one of her more recently learned fighting moves to him. Chouji was seated beside Naruto, chomping down on his monstrous lunch while chatting with Shino who was beside him. Across from Chouji say Shikamaru, the lazy genius dozing through the lunchtime. Next to him was Lee who was explaining to no one in particular about his love of youth. Lastly, Kiba was on Shikamaru's right, trying to stealthily sneak Akamaru food; though it was obvious to everyone the dog was there.
Ino rushed forward and sat beside Kiba, starting a conversation about how Akamaru would look much better if he went to a groomers. Sakura hung back for a moment, a sudden feeling of warmth overwhelming her as she looked at all of her friends.
That was when she heard, and also felt, a giant BOOM from behind her. She was thrown to the floor, her body landing in an almost plank position with her knees brushing the ground.
She coughed, her arms and legs aching from being thrown to the ground. She raised her head to look behind her and watched the smoke clear. When things were somewhat settled, she saw a sight that made all the color drain from her face. Several students who had been behind her, sitting or standing closer to the cafeteria entrance, were now laying bloody on the floor. Some were screaming while others were disturbingly still. Chunks of the doorframe were embedded in some, where the, what seemed to be, explosion had originated from. As she continued to stare blankly at the Smokey area she saw a figure moving through the haze. When the person emerged from the cloud, she immediately noticed the spiky dark hair and onyx eyes. S-Sasuke?
He stormed through the bodies on the floor, ignoring their pleas for help as he moved as though he had a plan. That was when she noticed he had an automatic in one hand and a bag on his back that was slightly open revealing ammunition. Oh...my...oh my god... He looked around the lunch room, as if searching for something, before a smirk spread across his face and he stormed towards whatever he saw. It was then that students reacted, those who were close to exits sprinting out and those who weren't running for cover behind the lunch counter or underneath tables.
It was then that Sakura saw that Sasuke was moving towards his brother, Itachi. Itachi, unlike the other students, was holding his ground and staring down Sasuke. "Don't do this, brother. You will regret harming those who care for you." Itachi told him, no fear in his voice, simply persuasion.
Sasuke let out a strangled laugh, raising the gun to point it in-between Itachi's eyes. "Begging will not save you." Then the shot rang out through the room and Itachi fell back, blood pouring from his forehead. Sakura had snapped out of her daze when she saw the, fighting off nausea as she pushed herself to stand. She struggled to get her legs to stop shaking and watched in horror as Sasuke moved to another table, squatting beside it. "Well, nice to see you fellows again. You remember me? C'mon! You used to beat me up in elementary school because I apparently 'Stole your girls'? No? Don't remember? Well, I do." Then several more gunshots rang out, mixing in with the screams of the wounded. Sakura saw blood pooling outward from under the table and fought down vomit. She began pushing harder to get her body under control and to listen to her.
Sasuke then turned and made his way over to their table. She saw Sasuke go to their table and then kneel before it, motioning for everyone to get out from under it. "I was hoping Sakura would leave a couple of you here so I could get my revenge, but she spoils me." He cackled, the gun shaking slightly in his hand.
That was when Sakura started moving, quickly sprinting across the room to where the gun was currently being pointed at Naruto. "Dear, dear Naruto. You're better than me, so eventually Sakura would have left me behind for you. I'm sorry, but I can't let that happen." Sasuke's actions froze when he heard a familiar voice call to him.
"Sasuke! Stop it! Please! Stop it, Sasuke!" She kept screaming at him as she ran towards him, her legs shaking as if they'd buckle any minute. When she reached him she slowly and carefully stepped between the frozen Sasuke and her friends, lifting her arms as if to form a barrier with her arms.
He stared at her with a horrified expression for several moments before her whispered, "You're not supposed to be here." Then, he was saying it. "You're not supposed to be here." And then, worst of all, he started shouting it. "YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HERE!"
She stared at him before saying, "Stop it, you're hurting people." With those words the gun stopped shaking and his expression hardened.
"That is the point." He then settled a glare on him, his face devoid of any emotion except for overflowing anger. "Get. Out. Of. My. Way." He snarled his voice cold. Sakura looked back at her friends, Naruto shielding Hinata in his arms, Neji protectively standing in front of TenTen with a stern expression, Kiba holding Ino behind him, Chouji looking terrified out of his wits, Shikamaru looking at Sasuke with disgust, and Lee standing there without so much as a cheerful smile.
She turned back to Sasuke with tears streaming down her cheeks and sobbed, "I won't." Sasuke continued to look at her with a cold expression, slowly raising his hand and cupping her cheek with it. "I won't," She repeated then lunged at Sasuke, trying to get the gun out of his grasp. In an attempt to put all her body weight against his one armed pull on the gun she pulled it downwards towards her thigh. In once last frantic attempt to bring the gun back in his control Sasuke jerked his arm back, effectively pulling on the parts of the gun in his hand. The grip and the trigger. The loud gunshot filled the room and Sakura's grip on the gun went limp. She fell back, the bullet wound in her right thigh already flowing a crimson river. Before she hit the floor Shikamaru dove forwards and caught her. He then quickly pulled off his shirt and pressed it to Sakura's thigh to try and stop the already strong bleeding.
Sasuke stumbled back looking stricken. He stared at Sakura on the ground, bleeding in Shikamaru's arms because of himself. She lifted her head and looked at him, forcing a weak smile as she whispered through the pain, "Stop...hur-t-ting...pe-eople."
Sasuke stood frozen for several moments after that, just staring at the person who he loved most that he had just shot. His face then gained a look of resolution as he raised the gun; put it in his mouth, ignoring the raspy protests from his pink haired lover. "Goodbye," he whispered before pulling the trigger.
Sakura screamed as he fell, screamed as his blood sprayed on her, and screamed as she realized he was gone.
A/N: As always feedback is appreciated.