As the Pain Will Resurface
Again
and
Again
I Will Return
Again
and
Again
Save Me
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Summary: It began when he left...they noticed me...I took comfort in their words, their support, their...humor. It seemed that that was all I had. Naruto had gone in search of him...Kakashi was with me, but rarely. I was still the student of the Great Slug Sanin Tsunade, but...they helped me in more ways than anyone else could ever imagine. Till my last breath...in the end...I could only leave a little piece of me behind...I hope that's enough.
Anime: Naruto
Pairing: Kotetsu/Sakura/Izumo
Genre: Hurt/Comfort/Romance
Rated: M
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Tears
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The soft padding of footsteps kept her from moving...
The silence that followed when they stopped confirmed her fears...
His words made her tremble...
"It's the middle of the night. What are you hanging around here for?"
She let her head fall, "This is the only road...out of the village."
"You should go to bed."
She listened to each fall of his feet as he bypassed her with little remorse...if any. Tears slowly began there decent down her cheeks, "Why Sasuke, why won't you ever tell me anything?" He kept walking, her tears kept falling, "Why is it always silence with you? You've never shared a single thing with ─"
"Why should I have to tell you anything?" He stopped walking, his words cold. "Just keep your nose out of my business; it's none of your concern."
She stared a moment, then again, her head fell as she stared at the ground. Nights embrace did little to comfort her. "I know you hate me, even in the beginning you could never stand me." She looked up at him once more, "Remember? Back when we made Genin and we were assigned to our three man squads?" She gave a sad smile, knowing fully that these would be her parting words. "We were alone together, for the first time, right here at this very spot. You got so mad at me that day." She thought back to the painful memory, and even now, she wanted to cry at what she'd said about her friend and teammate.
He remained still for a moment, not speaking, and then he allowed a few words, "I don't remember that."
A tear hit the ground as she gave a pitiful laugh, trying to cover the hurt. "Yeah, sure. I mean, it was so long ago, right? But still, that's the day when it all began; it was the start of you and me...and Naruto, and Kakashi-Sensei..." Flashbacks of their time together formed in her mind, "The four of us started going on missions...it was rough back then...everyday was such a challenge. But, more than anything...it was so much fun. I know about your clan Sasuke...I do…but seeking revenge...that wont bring anybody happiness...nobody at all. Not you...and not me..."
"I knew it..."
"Huh?"
"I'm not the same as you are. I'm traveling a path the rest of you can't follow. I know that the four of us have worked together...and for a while I thought that I could take that road instead...but in the end...I've decided on revenge. That's always been my reason for living. I'll never be like you and Naruto."
Her heart contracted in pain and fear. "Don't do this Sasuke; you don't have to be alone! You told me that day how painful a thing solitude can be, I understand that pain now. I have family...and friends...but..." She took careful steps towards him, his back facing her, but he could hear her approach. "…if you were gone Sasuke, it would be the same thing to me...as being all alone." Her tears fell with reserves.
"This is a new beginning...each of us have a new path lying before us."
"Sasuke! I'm so in love with you I can't even stand it! If you would only be with me! I promise, I'd never let you regret it! Everyday will be a joy, I can give you happiness! I'll do anything for you Sasuke, so please, I'm begging you, don't walk away! I'll even help get your revenge! I'll do whatever it takes to make it happen, I swear! Stay here with me...and if you can't...then take me with you Sasuke."
He listened to her as she cried and smirked; tilting his head back he caught her attention. "You haven't changed, you're still annoying." He started walking away again.
"Don't leave me! If you go, I'll scream an─"
He disappeared before reappearing behind her, "Sakura...thank you for everything."
She knew what would happen next, her heart pounded in expectancy, at the same time, her mind shouted for her to move, side step, avoid...she couldn't. The sudden pain at the back of her neck, her world falling to shadows, crumbling around her...she could only get out one word...one name... "Sasuke~"
That had been the end of Sasuke...I had known that from the moment darkness had taken me.
I understood now...that no matter how much you love someone...if they didn't care about you, it didn't matter what you were willing to give up.
I would have given him everything had he let me...I know now just how foolish I was.
My world was breaking, falling apart...and all I could do was watch it shatter around me.
Was this something I could control? No...I don't believe so. I think things happened the way they did because that was how things were meant to be. I'm happy with the conclusion...even though my life is taken before the finale...I am pleased with the way...my story ends.
I hope...that even though we all went separate ways...we will one day meet again. Different time, a different place...who knows…maybe we will have different roles too.
For now…let me tell you my story; the second phase, after Sasuke's decision to leave...began when I woke the next morning.
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Pain
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Sakura could hear the gentle footsteps of nearby villagers, a whisper in her ear, 'Thank you...'
"Ah, Sasuke No!" She shot forward, and stared ahead...not aware of the curious eyes beside her.
"Hey, kid..."
Sakura turned slowly to her left, her eyes filled with tears as the two she only recognized as examiners, their names, Izumo and Kotetsu if she remembered correctly, sat two large stacks of books down and got on one knee before her.
"What happened?"
She couldn't speak, her heart hurt too much. She brought her hand up to it and breathed deeply a few times, "S-Sasuke...is gone."
She watched one take on a surprised look while the other gave one of concentration and thought.
"What happened?" The question was repeated.
"He left...to gain power...he left for revenge...and, he doesn't care about whom gets hurt in the process...that he leaves behind. He has...abandoned...Konoha."
Kotetsu took her hand in his with a frown. "You're cold; go home and rest. We will report to the Hokage."
She nodded and lifelessly she stood, her hand slipping from the gentle hold. "...it's funny...but...I always knew he would leave me...I just...didn't know how..." She left the two on their knees but chose not to go home. Instead, she made her way to her closest friend, despite differences they may have had at one point or another.
Walking down the road, her slow stride dragging as apposed to her normally cheery steps; she made her way to a flower shop and knocked three times on the door.
A while later and the door opened. "Hello dear, are you looking for Ino?" Sakura gave a slow, weak nod. The woman, Ino's mother, immediately took note that something was wrong. "You will find her at training ground ten."
Sakura gave a small thank you and left to the training grounds number ten. It was there she found Ino throwing punches at Shikamaru and Chouji leaning up against a tree watching. Ino, despite failing the exam, still went about her training with Shikamaru, and Sakura would have continued too had Sasuke stayed. Fresh tears began to fall again and Ino jumped at the sudden sound of soft crying. She turned and stared; it wasn't everyday she saw Sakura cry the way she was. Watching for a moment longer, she ran up to Sakura; her hands hovered in the air for a moment before she finally rested them on her shoulders.
"...Sakura?"
Sakura's shoulders shook and she gave into her anguish. Falling into her blonde friends embrace, she let herself cry as the two sunk to the ground.
"Sakura, what's wrong?" She was worried, scared, and frantic! Why was Sakura like this, she wondered, what happened? Who hurt her? WHY! "Sakura, please stop crying, tell me what happened! Tell me!" Tears began forming in her own eyes and she shook Sakura, "Please..."
"S-Sasuke..."
'Sasuke? Sasuke what?' She thought, "What did he do? Did he hurt you? Did he say something to you? What is it? I can't help you if you don't tell me!"
"..." She stopped crying. For a moment, Sakura just kept her head against Ino's heart, listening to the fear, the concern. "I'm sorry...I didn't mean to worry you. Sasuke...it's no big deal. He just...left..."
Ino's eyes widened, Shikamaru and Chouji stared shocked; her words mystified them.
"Yeah...he's gone, last night. I...I tried talking him out of it, and he...knocked me out, and laid me out on the bench. I woke up to Izumo and Kotetsu this morning...they're telling Tsunade-Shishou..."
Ino felt Sakura quiver in turmoil as she tried hard not to cry anymore. "...don't Sakura..." She said softly, "You can cry...let it out if it hurts." Ino held her friend close, Shikamaru and Chouji sat on either side of the girls, not touching them, just watching over them. Ino rocked the pinkette in slow motions, rubbing soothing circles on her back before Sakura finally drifted into a pain filled sleep.
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Me: I hope everyone enjoyed this first chapter. Please read and review! Sankyu! ^_^''
