Monday, July 23rd, 2012. Happy Birthday, Uchiha Sasuke!
Reposting: September 1st, 2012.
I deleted this story, then reposted it. But I thank the only 2 freaking people who reviewed the old one. I love you forever!
WARNING: I tried to underline all the song lyrics to show a difference between Sasuke's thoughts and the lyrics, but only a few would underline. I don't know why. So I hope you can see the difference.
Hey guys! I was planning on writing a one-shot of some memories Team 7 had between the Chuunin Exams and when Sasuke left, but it ended up becoming longer than I had hoped.
It's a 3-shot.
Since he's the birthday boy, our Sasuke-kun is going to do the disclaimer.
Sasuke: Who's going to make me? I have better things to do. Like go back to finding out the truth with Orochimaru, Suigetsu, and Juugo.
Me: I'm the author here. Your world is paused until the next chapter, which comes out in 2 days. You have time, man. And I could always make this a NaruSasu instead of a Team 7 thing with SasuSaku.
Sasuke: I noticed you put Naruto's name first.
Me: I didn't know you knew that much about couple names. (In couple names, usually in anime, the person who is put first is often the more dominant one in the relationship. If there isn't one, it doesn't matter what order. Guys are just put first because of dominance, or just because.) And yes, that makes you the Uke, SasUKE.
Sasuke: . . .Fine. EOC owns nothing but the plot. If she owned the songs, bands, people, or plot, she wouldn't be a teen an inch shorter than me (because she'd change my height) and I would have started to develop feelings for Sakura. Not quite in love yet, but getting there. *Phew* At least she's realistic and knows me better than others...
Thanks everyone! Now, scroll, read, and REVIEW!
Chapter 1: Of Weirdly Appropriate Songs, Inners, and More
This= song lyrics
This= thoughts
This=regular and speaking
Sasuke POV
…Every feeling that I get, but I haven't missed you yet…(1)
Group training had just ended with the team, and I decided to sit at the top of this hill that gives you a good view of the village. It's close to the Hokage Mountain. I found it one day, trying to search for some place where no one will find me.
It also has a very large Sakura tree. It looks…nice when it's blooming.
Every room gets kept awake, by every sigh and scream we make…
Itachi…
Only when I stop to think about it…
I. Hate. Everything about you. Why, do I, love you! (x2)
How can I still love you after everything you've done? I hate you! I train to kill you, but I still think of you as my big brother. Why?
FLASHBACK
"Nii-san, nii-san! Look, look!" I ran to my brother who had arrived through the door. I was 5, almost 6. "Mommy fixed up my dinosaur(2) from when I spilled my tomato juice on it and now it's as good as new! Can you play with us again?"
I held up my favorite green dinosaur at his face, and he bent down to me, pushing it out of the way gently.
"Tomorrow, Sasuke." My brother replied, poking my forehead like he always did. "I need to finish my homework, but we can play tomorrow since I don't have school and after training. Is that alright with you?"
I pouted at first, then smiled widely, nodding my head furiously. "Yes, yes! But…"
My brother looked confused. "But…" he prompted.
I held up my right pinkie, with a little pout. "Pinkie promise! The ultimate swear!"
He laughed a little and hooked his pinkie with mine. He smiled. "Pinkie promise."
Before he could go, I pulled his shirt to make him stop. "Wait! There's more!"
Now he was interested. He stood in front of me, waiting for what I was going to do.
I gave him my dinosaur. "Hold him right in front of your heart!"
He did. "Curve his arm so it's right in front of his heart! Like what those people on TV did to their flag!'
He smiled, amused and did so. "See, now both of your right hands are on your heart!" He looked down, seeing that through the dinosaur, his right hand really was over his heart.
I took the stance myself. "Now! Repeat after me! 'I, Itachi-nii-chan, swear'"
He chuckled, but copied. "I, Itachi-nii-chan swear,"
"'to play with my favorite person in the world, my awesome, epic, handsome, strong, brother Sasuke, and his fellow future ninja-dinosaur, Dino, tomorrow after my training. I swear!"
More chuckles. "to play with my favorite person in the world, my awesome, epic, handsome, strong, brother Sasuke, and his fellow future ninja-dinosaur, Dino, tomorrow after my training. I swear!"
"There! Now you have keep your promise!" I took my dino back and hugged my brother tightly.
He hugged me back. "Of course, little brother. Where'd you learn the word fellow and handsome anyway? Do you even know what they mean?"
I ignored the first comment. "Of course I do! I heard Father saying fellow and your teammate saying you were handsome. What's her name again? I just remember she has red markings on her face."
"Oh, Hana. She's an Inuzuka. It's a trait of theirs. Don't forget, she's my only teammate because of the class shortage and she graduated early with me."
"Do they all have dogs? And smell like them, too?"
Laughing. "Who knows?"
"By the way, some of the big kids were talking about you and her having babies together when you grow up. How are babies made again? I mean, I remember the storks bring them down from Heaven, but isn't there something you have to do before that? What is it?"
My brother looked a little nervous, and sick for once. I've never seen that face.
"Oh, Sasuke…"
END OF FLASHBACK
…I hate everything about you! Why, do I love you!
You hate everything about me! Why do you love me?
I, Hate. You. Hate. I. Hate. You - love me!
I hate everything about you! Why, do I love you!
I rubbed my face, feeling tears at my eyes. What happened, Brother?
I looked into the sky. There'd be a sunset soon.
I looked back into my memories with my team, offhandedly wondering what song would play next from my iPod Touch. Three Days Grace always seems to have the most weirdly appropriate songs. Like the one that just played.
…Every street, in this city, is the same to me
Everyone's got a place to be, but there's no room for me.
Am I to blame? With the guilt and the shame hang over me.
Like a dark cloud, that chases you down, in the pouring rain.
I was right. Three Days Grace again.
But do I have a place here? Konoha?
Of course I do! As much as I hate sounding sentimental, I have a team, the Rookie 9 plus Hyuga's team as friends more or less, the villagers know me, and my family's home is here. I feel at home here.
…I really do.
…Why is it so hard to find someone who cares about you?
When it's easy enough to find someone who looks down on you?
The Rookie 9 and Hyuga's team…we don't know each other all that well. I barely know Hyuga and Lee' s other teammate…JenJen? No. Tenten. Yeah, that.
Don't care.
Naruto…Kakashi…they care. I think. When Naruto and I aren't competing and he's not being stupid, I know he thinks of us of friends. Best friends. Maybe we are.
I sort of look up to Kakashi…like an uncle. Or father. Or something.
Sakura….speaking of which, here she comes. How come I didn't notice before? How long has she been there?
"Sasuke-kun…" she came out of the tree she was hiding behind walked up to me calmly. When she got to me, she sat down, next to me. Just looking at the sun.
I was confused. I mean, she may have stopped her obnoxious fangirling, and I respect her more now, but it's not like her to ignore me. She's the one who came up to me after all.
Suddenly, she turned to me, taking my face into her hands. "What are you doing?" I demanded.
That's when I noticed how dirty she looked. Her short hair was disheveled with dirt and her clothes had small rips and more dirt. She had some scrapes across her body.
I remembered she was holding my face when she swiped her thumb below my left eye.
She looked at my face, not my eyes, softly. "You were crying."
I immediately turned away. Her hands dropped. "No, I'm not."
…Why is it so hard to find someone who can keep it together when you've come un-done?
Why is it so hard to find someone who cares about you?
I let the song play, hoping it would scare her away. She doesn't look like the rock type, and to novices, the singer's voice might sound like screaming to them. It's not, but I hope it would be enough.
Instead, she scooted closer to me. I looked at her, alarmed.
She looked at me and answered my unspoken question. "That's not going to scare me away, Sasuke-kun."
I looked the opposite way, asking what's been swirling in my head for a while now.
"Why are you here?"
She answered calmly, but with a soft voice. Normally, I would shoo her away, but her presence and voice…it sounds….soothing somehow.
"After you guys left, I did some extra training on my own. Then, I felt like watching the sunset and was heading to the Hokage Mountain when I felt your chakra signature. I saw you and you looked like you can use someone.
"I don't need anyone." I was a little miffed. Who does she think she is? Has she been spending so much time with Naruto that he's rubbed off on her?
She laughed lightly. But I noticed it was a dark kind of laugh. "Uchiha or not, you're still human. Humans need other humans."
"I don't need it. Needing someone is a weakness."
"No it isn't Sasuke. It's a strength. We all have weaknesses. Mine are obvious, but I'm working hard to improve on those areas and make up for it. Naruto has weaknesses but he makes up for them. You have them, too. They're just harder to find."
I turned to her swiftly. "Oh, and those are?" I smirked. I have few weaknesses, and she wouldn't know them. She may be smart, but she's still a girl who likes me.
"You're arrogant, ignorant, power-hungry, have a problem with abandonment so you closed yourself off, can love very strongly, despite popular belief, can be childish at times, haughty, and sometimes socially awkward. Just to name a few." She gave me a smile. No, she's mocking me.
I thought to everything she said. I can't believe it. She's...kinda right. But...
"I can love strongly? What the hell does that mean?!"
"I mean familial, and even friendly-wise. You love your family very much, that much is obvious. Even Naruto's noticed it. You care about us, Team 7, whether you admit it or not. You wouldn't be so adamant to kill Itachi if you didn't love you family as much as you did. I bet, deep inside, you still love your brother."
I didn't look her in the eyes. I didn't want to know what I might see in her apple orbs. "I. Don't. Love my brother. I hate him and I will kill him."
I still looked down at the ground. I heard her soft voice (I'm sick of saying softly) say, "Yes, you hate him. But you love him deep down because after all that's happened, he's still you brother and you still share memories with him."
"He isn't my brother! What would you know about brothers, anyway! You're an only child!"
She paused for a moment. Then continued. "Team 7... I feel that you guys are my family. Kaka-sensei as the weird uncle or father figure, Naruto as the cute but sometimes stupid little brother, and you…as my brother sometimes…and…you know. You know I still like you."
I looked up at her face now, curious. "I thought you hated Naruto? Or used to? And what about your parents?"
In her eyes, I saw a flash of pain, but it left, leaving compassion. For me…
"I used to hate Naruto, but now the lug's growing on me. I hit him not only because he pisses me off and deserves it sometimes, but…"
She made a "come hither" motion with her fingers. I did, albeit skeptically. She whispered, "I sometimes hit him cuz I show my affection that way."
I gave her a weird look, pulling away.
"Yeah, women are weird." She replied, laughing.
But after, she scooting much closer to me, about a few inches from my side, and I didn't mind.
"And your parents?" I asked again, whispering. Why am I whispering?
"I was hoping never to tell you guys this, but my parents died. They were killed at the Invasion."
I was confused, and I whirled to face her, never noticing how close our faces were.
"What? But there were no casualties in the village for civilians." I remembered they were civilians. That can't be right! She looked fine after the Invasion of Konoha! Sure, she was a little sad, but it was a short while after the Old Man-I mean the 3rd's funeral! Everyone was sad! And now Naruto's rubbing off on me! Damn!
She nodded. "There weren't. But my parents were visiting friends just outside the village. I guess they were coming early to see me at the Exams -they hadn't known I didn't make it to the Finals- and they were killed by one of the large snakes by the entrance. Kotetsu and Izumo told me, just before Sarutobi-sama's funeral."
I was shocked. They were killed…and didn't know…
"Why didn't you tell us!" We're supposed to rely on each other right? Me, Naruto, Kakashi, Sakura-we're a team! But I guess I shouldn't be talking…
"I-I…" She looked down, ashamed. I had pulled away from her face so I wasn't so close -I just realized our proximity. "I didn't want to tell you because…I didn't want you to worry or baby me. And besides -after all you two, and even Kakashi-sensei had been through, what right do I have to talk? Until we became a team, I hadn't even appreciated them that much! And when I started to -when I wanted to show them a new me, a grown up me from the Exams and being with you all, they died! I just don't -I just don't feel…I was afraid to tell you all. So I led you on thinking they were still alive. I don't know if Kakashi-sensei knows, but Naruto-kun doesn't."
She was crying now, silently. I feel…like I should comfort her…am I getting soft?
On impulse, I pulled her into my arms, placing her head at the juncture between my neck and shoulder. When I did this, I wondered how much taller I am than her right now.
"Sasuke-kun…" She was shocked. She held onto me.
After a few moments of crying, she let go and dried her eyes and nose with tissues that seriously, honest to God, came out of nowhere. WHERE, did those come from?
"I'm not here for you to hold me. It's the other way around." Before I could ask what the hell she was talking about, she grabbed me, pulling the two of us against the large Sakura tree that I became so fond of, and held my head where I had held hers.
When my head stopped spinning from the sudden movement, I realized this was oddly…comfortable. She was sitting slightly on my lap, her arms wrapped around me, my head in the crook of her neck, but able to feel her heart beating very clearly, and her head resting on top of mine.
"It's a beautiful sunset, and I'm the only one here. You can let it out, Sasuke-kun. No one else will know." She whispered it.
"I don't need to cry if that's what you're saying Saku-" I hand, the one that wasn't around my back and softly caressing the nape of my neck, and wiped a tear of the few that I never knew were flowing.
I felt my throat choke up.
The sun has set, I close my eyes. I pretend everything's alright.
Drowning in anger, from all these lies; I can't pretend everything's alright.
Are you serious, Red? (3)Now, is when my iPod decides to play that band! Was it playing songs this whole time? I don't even have any ear-buds plugged in so how did I not hear them?
Please don't let me fall forever; can you tell me it's over now?
The tears didn't stop coming, and the pain in my chest didn't lessen. Sakura held me tighter and closer to her. It felt…nice. "Shh…" she soothed. "Let it all out…"
There's a hate inside of me like some kind of master!
I tried to save you but I can't find the answer.
I'm holding onto you, I'll never let go!
I need you with me as I enter the shadows.
What'd I tell you about weirdly appropriate songs! I guess it not just 3DG(4)!
"*sniff* Brother…mother…father….Cousin Shisui…" I choked out. I sniffled! Sniffled! What am I? A little kid?
Sakura swayed a little, humming along with the song, saying all the while, "I'm here…let it out…it's okay…"
In a few seconds, I was outright bawling, crying, sobbing, coating her clothes with my tears and using all her tissues, covering them with my…*gulp*…snot. It's not like her clothes weren't dirty in the first place…they can't get any dirtier now.
I felt some of her own tears falling on my head. Is she crying for me?
I snuck a look at her face. They were silent tears, but still tears. Yes. She is…I almost can't believe it…
Caught in the darkness, I go blind.
Can you help me find my way out?
Nobody hears me, I suffer the silence!
Can you tell me it's over now?
There's a hate inside of me like some kind of master
I tried to save you, but I can't find the answer
I'm holding onto you, I'll never let go!
I need you with me as I enter the shadows.
I'm holding onto you (x2)
There's a hate inside of me like some kind of master
I tried to save you but I can't find the answer
I'm holding onto you, I'll never let go!
I need you with me as I enter the shadows!
At the end of the song, Sakura reached for my iPod. Still…occupied, I nodded at her, answering her unspoken question of turning it off.
"I think I've had enough for today." I said…softly. I'm really starting to hate that word.
She turned it off for me, and went back to wrapping her arms around me, watching the last seconds of the sunset and the last of her tears falling. Soon, my tears stopped, too.
*20 minutes later*
Now, we were just sitting, holding each other and looking blankly at dark blue-black sky. Damn. That sounded like something from a romance novel. I'm getting soft.
I looked up at her, something suddenly occurring to me. "Why aren't you…"
She finished for me. "…fawning over you? I haven't done that for a while, Sasuke-kun. At least, not on a large scale."
"So you don't like me anymore?" I was confused. Does she still like me? She just said so earlier…geez, women are so complicated.
She giggled some, seeing my look. "Yes, I still really like you. But that doesn't mean I have to dote on you and fawn and stuff."
"So you've given up trying to make me like you?"
She nodded. "Yes. A little while ago, actually. It'll probably never happen, and I'll settle as friends. That's enough for me."
"So you'll move on to Naruto?" I don't know why, but my stomach twisted at the thought. Why?
"No! Never. I know Naruto likes me, but I don't think I can ever like him like that. Besides; I want to try getting him to like Hinata-chan more and notice her. (5)"
I was taken back. "The Hyuga girl still likes him?"
She nodded, a smile on her face. It was a fun, happy smile. I…like it. She kinda looks pretty like that. I don't know what it is about dirt, dried tears, scrapes, and bruises, coupled with a smile that makes someone pretty. Hey…I just cracked a joke! And it was good!...Holy crap Naruto really is rubbing off on me!
"I think she really cares for him…they'd be good together." She fell silent, and I knew she was thinking about what she feels for me. Do you think she…loves me? Nah…we're only 13. What would she know? Oh, well. I'll find out someday.
We sat in silence for a little longer.
I spoke up. "You won't tell anyone…right?" I blushed a little bit, pushing myself more into her shoulder.
She giggled, also pulling me closer. "You're so cute when you're tsundere(6), Sasuke-kun. And this will stay a secret between us. I swear."
Still blushing and…hiding myself, I mumbled. "I'm not cute. Uchiha's aren't cute." I am not tsundere.
"Yeah, you are sometimes. I guess Uchiha's are hot most of the time, though. *giggle* But I bet you were adorable as a child Sasuke-kun." She froze, and I guessed she was thinking she made a mistake.
"It's okay," I reassured. "Maybe I'll show you guys a picture someday. My mother, too." I unconsciously…snuggled myself into her. I'm getting too soft…but I guess I'm allowed to be like that once in a while…a long while.
"I'm sure she was beautiful, Sasuke-kun." I nodded.
"Yeah…she was. By the way…"
"Yeah?"
"Shouldn't you be getting home? It's already past dark."
"No, I'm fine. A night under the stars wouldn't hurt anyone. You're staying too, anyway, right?"
I reluctantly nodded. It's not like I have someone waiting…I live alone in an apartment.
She made herself comfortable, sitting herself more into my lap and this time putting her head between my neck and shoulder, since mine wasn't occupying hers anymore.
Normally, I would have pushed her off and would have been very uncomfortable. But she's so…her presence is comforting. She reminds me so much of…Mother this way. Maybe that's why I let her. I respect her more now. I think we just got…closer, bonded….I really am getting soft!
"G'night…Sasuke-kun." Sakura whispered as she fell asleep.
Hmm…I guess we're stuck like this.
I look down at her dirty, sleeping face. It was…pretty. Isn't she? Kind of like a…dirty angel. Wow, that sounded kinda wrong.
I froze. Where'd that come from? I'm not feeling a chakra presence.
I looked everywhere as much as I could, being stationary. Up? No. Down? Not feeling a thing. Left? Right? Behind? Forward? Zip, nada, zilch, nothing.
*laughs*I'm you, you idiot! I'm what's called your Inner! Sakura-chan has one, too! Except, her's was awakened as a child, so her's is much stronger than me.
…So you're me.
Yup.
You have your own mind?
Sorta. I'm like a part of you that you never reveal; like your inner thoughts and desires. Thus, I'm called an Inner.
...
Anyway, back to Sakura-chan.
What about her? I'm ignoring the "-chan", by the way.
I noticed. Anyway, she really likes you, right? From the display, she might even love you. Or will soon.
And?
And, you don't hate her right?
What? No!
She's one of your precious friends whom you must protect, right?
…Don't put it that way. It sounds sappy.
Whatever. The point is, you may not love her now but may later.
…What the hell, dude!
What? It's true! She's pretty, spunky, has great determination, she can grow to become powerful even if she isn't now, she's smart, may be violent but it's still her, and she GENUINELY CARES FOR YOU!
She can have Naruto. He likes her right?
I'm afraid he'll fall in love with her, honestly. But no, she can't have anyone but you. Only you. As for Naruto…we can help her set him up with Hinata. She's practically in love with the guy.
Itachi needs to die first.
I know, duh! After we kill him, since he's out of the way and won't be a threat anymore, we can go for Sakura-chan. Then, when we fall for her –she'll still love us, I don't doubt it- we'll eventually marry her and rebuild the Uchiha clan!
…Whoa. Geez, man; one step at a time. And how do you know we'll fall in love with her?
I'm going to make you fall in love if it kills me; you're not going to die loveless. And do you feel you'll ever fall for someone else? Ino? No, she's slowly getting over us and just NO. Hinata? She loves Naruto, we went over this. Tenten? You barely know her and I think she and Neji will develop a thing someday. I swear it! Temari? Too old for us, and I think she has her eyes on Shikamaru... or picks on him, same diff…and she's a little scary. And I don't want a blue-eyed (granted, it's teal but still) blonde. Naruto and Ino are enough. No, Naruto's enough. A random chick we'll meet in the future? Hell no. We care about Sakura (as a friend) and if we try, it could develop into true love.
…Neji with a girl? And who's Temari?
Oh! I forgot! Temari is the blonde that's Gaara's older sister. She's the eldest of the Sand Sibs.
How do you know that if I don't? Aren't you me? And the Sand Sibs? They've gotten a nickname now?
Because I was paying attention, Mr.-Power-is-everything. And yes, the Sand Sibs. It's actually the Sand Siblings, but Sibs for short. I don't know who came up with it though.
…
I think we should wrap up this chapter. EOC thinks it's getting too long and that she'll never finish it at this rate.
Chapter? EOC? Who? Finish what?
I'm going to sleep. Think about it, alright?
What? Sleep? Wait, answer my question!
I sighed. He's -I'm -It's gone.
I looked down at Sakura again, brushing her hair of her face gently. It was in her eyes and was bothering me. That's all.
Me and Sakura, huh? What was it that Kakashi called it? SasuSaku? Whatever.
I sighed again, resting my head on the pinkette's, closing my eyes. Maybe we can be together. Someday. *Yawn* I hope we don't have training in the morning. Oh, wait -we do. Oh, well. Oh wait, how are babies made, anyway?
And I fell asleep beneath the stars in my renewed favorite spot underneath the Sakura tree, with my "friend", Sakura.
Meanwhile, deep in Sasuke's mind.
Inner Sasuke POV
Can you feel the love, tonight?
The peace the evening brings?
The world for once, in perfect harmony,
With all its living things
"Hehe…I don't need an iPod to play music. I just need to know it. Or get Sasuke to find one on Youtube…See Mom, Brother? I didn't watch Lion King too many times. Just because we saw all 3 a million times means nothing."
I scratched my chin in thought. "Hm…hopefully, in a couple years, I can play 'I Won't Say I'm in Love' from Hercules. We all know how tsundere Outer is, so it'll apply. Maybe we can change a couple lyrics like 'get a grip girl' to 'get a grip dude'. Stuff like that. But who'll be the chorus?"
I took Shikamaru's thinking stance. Then the Thinking Statue or whatever-its-name-is stance. Then back to Shikamaru's. "This one is more comfy. So, Naruto, Neji, Shikamaru, Kakashi and….I'm sure we'll know somebody else by then. There are other guys we know, but I want a funny guy who likes pissing Outer off besides Naruto. I hope we'll meet him in a few years…(7)"
"And then there's the Curse Mark that pedophilic freak gave us…can Outer control it? I don't like thinking of depressing stuff…"
Suddenly a bulb went on over my head. No really. It's Sasuke's mind after all.
I snapped my fingers. "Hold Justin-Timberlake-performing-'Sexy Back'-in-my-honor! I need to find a way to meet Inner Sakura, first! I heard Inners can communicate! Now, to find out how…I'll be with you someday my love!"
*With Sasuke real quick*
"Achoo!" Sasuke just sneezed in his sleep, having a weird feeling, but not coming out of his slumber.
*With Inner Sakura*
Inner Sakura POV
"Achoo! Someone's talking about me! I hope it's Sasuke-kun's Inner! I have a feeling he's been awakened!"
I pumped my fist. "We'll be together someday, my love! And we will communicate some way!"
End of Chapter
(1): The song is "I Hate Everything About You" by Three Days Grace. I love that band.
(2): In the flashbacks, we saw Sasuke with an adorable, stuffed, dinosaur.
(3): The song that is playing at the time is "Shadows" by Red. So, Red is the band.
(4): 3DG=Three Days Grace. Get it?
(5): Let's say, in this universe, Sakura, Hinata, Ino, and Tenten are good friends.
(6): Here's a link to one of my fave sites with a great definition and anime examples: /Main/Tsundere. In short, it's a person who is obstinate and stubborn in showing affection. Usually, it applies when one is in love, but you don't have to be. Yandere is the complete opposite, where the person openly shows their affection, without hiding it. Like Naruto can search for the definition of Yandere on that site, too.
(7): If you didn't notice, I was talking about Suigetsu. Sai, too, but not as much, since in the series, Sasuke doesn't really know him.
Don't forget to review! I won't update DoOver if you don't~!
I hope you like the minor changes I made to it!
See you tomorrow!
