Warning: Spoilers for manga chapters 404 and 407.
Experimental, rough, and not quite what I wanted. (I can't seem to connect to Sasuke no matter how I try.)
Another Life
You know I love you, I really do.
But I can't fight anymore for you.
And I don't know, maybe we'll be together again
Sometime, in another life.
In Another Life, The Veronicas
His posture said he was proud, but his face betrayed no emotion.
Sasuke. . .
Sakura had not expected that Sasuke would be working with the same people who were after Naruto. Hadn't these also been the people who had been so closely connected with Itachi? Why would Sasuke trust them? But here he was, showing up in a battle Sakura hoped wasn't his.
From the way Naruto sucked in his breath at Sasuke's appearance, he hadn't expected to see Sasuke while fighting with Pain either. And judging from the hurt look on his face, the look that suggested Sasuke had just punched Naruto in the stomach, Naruto was hoping that this wasn't Sasuke's fight either. This fight was too important for Naruto, too tied up in honor and revenge and reverence for a man Naruto grieved fiercely for.
Why, Sasuke?
Pain took advantage of Naruto's momentary bewilderment, and Sakura forced herself to not look away from the blood gushing from the new wound in Naruto's side.
Sasuke remained expressionless, watching the fight as one watches the clouds, except that his eyes were the dark red that Sakura had come to associate with revenge, selfishness, and betrayal.
Because it felt like betrayal to watch Sasuke watch Naruto suffer, like betrayal because Sasuke did not interfere even though she was sure under that perfect shell he wore, Sasuke still felt something for Naruto. He must, she reasoned, because he hadn't killed Naruto even though he could have done so twice—some part of him must still think of Naruto as a brother. She hoped.
Please don't make me choose, Sasuke.
Sasuke did not move, no matter how hard she willed him to.
Naruto was stumbling, and Kakashi-sensei was moving to block Pain while Yamato-taicho pulled Naruto out of Pain's reach.
Sasuke watched, his red, red eyes unblinking.
Sakura turned away from him, fighting tears. How he could be so unfeeling? How could anyone Naruto fought so hard for not care?
She knew why: his life had shattered when he was so young, and for the life of him, Sasuke hadn't been able to put it back together. He was broken and confused and so full of hatred and hardness that Sakura wanted to help him, just like Naruto did.
But this was too much. Yes, she had loved Sasuke for a long time, much longer than she had felt anything for Naruto. But after all the things Naruto had put himself through for them—for her, for their team, for Sasuke—she didn't think she could forgive Sasuke for helping these people who thought of Naruto only in terms of what was sealed inside of him.
Is that how you see him now, Sasuke?
Sakura opened her eyes and let her tears fall.
This was the end, the moment when she had to decide how much of her she would give to someone who wouldn't give anything back. Saskue was selfish, he was bent on revenge, he was so lost he didn't even realize it.
I wanted so much for you, Sasuke, but I can't give you what you won't take, and Naruto needs me.
He needs me.
Sakura did not bother to wipe at her face. She would fight and cry at the same time because she couldn't do anything else.
What could we have been in another life, Sasuke?
She would never know.
