A/N: Just a little break between chapters of Heart of the Ocean on my shared account with the co-writer of that story over here at: /s/4369490/1/

Everything was dark around him. Pitch black. Unlike anything he'd ever known, he was sure. Frowning, he sat slowly down on the ground, shivering a little. He had no idea where he was or how long he'd been there mush less any idea on how he had gotten there in the first place. Only that it was always dark, always cold, and always, always alone. It was so much like time didn't even exist.

Really… he wasn't sure who he was anymore. All he could remember was a flash of light and then a sharp pain in his back. After that… all there was was… whatever this was.

A part of him was sure that he didn't want to remember- that it was too painful and that he'd been all alone there. The only thing he could really trust was what he did know; and that was that it didn't hurt here. He didn't want to hurt, not ever again.

Sighing, he crossed his arms, glancing in the direction he assumed was up. He was just waiting now. He supposed that something important was supposed to happen.

….Unless this was the end? No. It couldn't be the end. He was definitely sure that he was waiting for something. He just had to wait…

Closing his eyes, he tried to at least figure out what it was that he was waiting for.

Yes. There was something. Something that made him… made him ifeel/i in the emotionless place that he'd come to find calming.

A flash of orange and then hurt blue eyes flashed before his eyes, and he gasped, finally feeling something. But it hurt… it hurt and that wasn't what he wanted… not at all. Flinching a little, his eyes opened and he shivered, swallowing hard.

A gasp left him. There was definitely something there in the distance now. He could see it.



He glanced first towards the left. There was a bright light there. It felt… familiar. However… now… familiar was bad. Wasn't it? Familiar made him hurt.

He glanced towards the right next. There was something there now, too. It was dark. Unfamiliar. The sight of it made him swallow hard and hesitate a little. He had the feeling that it was certainly going to be the end if he went through that door. It really would be.

"Sasuke-kun…" a soft, feminine voice. She sounded… sad. Sad, but somehow relieved.

It made him shiver again.

"Sasuke…" a man's voice this time. Regretful, apologetic, almost like somehow… he'd failed.

"Sasuke…!" a boy's voice this time. This one was so sad, so angry, so… broken. It made him hurt the way he had before, and he lifted a hand to his chest, clutching at it painfully.

He glanced towards the door this time. Nothing. It was quiet. Almost peaceful. Yet… it still felt like something was waiting for him there, too, though. Rising, Sasuke glanced back and fourth. It felt like a tug of war inside of him and he shook his head.

Something was waiting for him regardless of which way he chose, and whichever he chose… there would be something left behind.

Swallowing hard, he took a step towards the light.

Shaking his head he stopped, his chest tightening, his eyes sliding shut. He was forgetting something so very, very important. He was sure of it.



"Otouto…" a voice that was so familiar. More familiar than anything else he'd ever known in the whole world.

Turning towards the sound of the voice, he stared at the door, something cracking inside of him.

"A-aniki…" he breathed, shaking his head slowly. "Aniki, I'm right here!"

Sasuke ran quickly towards the door, stopping just in front of it, his hand lingering on the doorknob a moment as he turned towards the light, his gaze downwards. "…I'm so sorry…" he whispered, pushing open the door and walking through it.

Aniki… I'm coming.