Reflection

By LoveAnimeForever

A:reflection:is:your:soul:a:ghost:your:ghost:the:side:that:you:hide:that:you:fear:run:run:run…

He stares into the mirror, and he is sure – abosolutely:hundred:percent:sure:no:sdoubt:about:it:and:no:I:am:not:insane – that it is staring back. He's barely supporting himself, preferring to brace himself against the wall as his fingers run along the – slippery:smooth:mercury:silver:cold:burning:metal – surface of the mirror, tracing the ribbons down his body: the eyes – pinwheel:and:six:pointed:star:stop:haunting:me – and the hair – raven:midnight:long:spike:stop:mocking:me – and the blood – his:mine:stop:taunting:me – and –

It's:him:that:demon:I:loved:you:needed:you:and:you:just:killed:everyone:and:I:couldn't:do:anything:what:did:you:expect:me:to:think?

And then, because the guilt – crushing:fatal:despair:death:wave:of:blood:sea:of:tears:leave:me:alone is too strong to contain, he slides to the ground, laughing hysterically – maybe:in: the:end:I:am:crazy. And good riddance, because the mirror can't break him if he isn't looking at it… But the kunai beside him glints and the face appears again and he realizes there is no running – no:refuge:no:escape:no:relief:because:you:sinned:so:badly:so:evil:unforgivable – even though he can't think of anything but –

I'm:so:so:so:sorry:I:didn't:know:you:didn't:tell:me:you:should:have:known:I:wouldn't:understand:so:why:did:you:do:that?

A knock on the door and he is rescued. He doesn't know whether to be thankful or spiteful – go:away:help:me:my:sin:my:punishment:save:me:from:this:torture:go:away:help:me – so he settles for delay. A moment, he calls, just let me clear up a little. So he stumbles to the bathroom, tracking blood on the hardwood floor, turns on the tap, lets the water flow – clear:crystal:why:is:it:suddenly:so:dark:so:red:why:does:it:look:like:blood:oh:yes:it's:mine:alright:then:as:long:as:it's:not:yours – and cleans the gashes he bore home. He's about to wash his face, but the small ever-draining pool of water in his hands doesn't want to let him forget –

Water:cannot:wash:your:sins:away:I:killed:him:dead:it:was:my:fault:memories:slipped:away:in:hatred:I:wish:I:hadn't:but:it's:still:my:fault:so:why:bother:trying:to:clear:my:name?

But by now he's broken – so:weak:it:only:took:a:day:knowing:that:I:was:dead:and:you:are:sobbing:crying:dying:dead:without:me:I:meant:for:you:to:kill:him:before:joining:us:no:matter:foolish: dear:brother: – so he takes the scorn, the spite, praying for forgiveness – you're:right:so:right:so:perfect:always:were:I'm:so:sorry:is:that:your:voice:I:hear:we:could:have:killed:him:together: I'm:too:weak:on:my:own:won't:you:forgive:me:I'm:sorry – but the water running off him won't stay clear and he wonders if –

Oh:look:the:bleeding:won't:stop:hey:does:that:mean:you:forgive:me:can:I:come:see:you:and:everyone:now:and –

Team Seven had just succeeded in dragging him home from the fight, thank goodness, and they leaft him at home on his own for about an hour, let him gather his thoughts, ready his case, clean up, settle down… But when they returned, forced the door open after deciding he'd taken too long to open up… They found Uchiha Sasuke crumpled on the floor, bloody and broken, looking just a little too much like his brother for comfort.

…And:I'll:see:you:in:hell.