WARNING: This fiction will delve into different anime universes as it progresses into the future. Will include FairyTail, BlackButler, etc. You have been warned.
DISCLAIMER: We (mostly) know who owns which ;)
Prologue: Season's Reincarnation
She was wearing a very beautiful white kimono with silver linings crawling hypnotically upon it, a bouquet of flowers placed delicately in her hand (no doubt the product of Ino's careful hands). Her hair was left untied to manifest the unchanging change that discovered her, tresses curling gently around her face and brushing her neck lightly. Her pale, pale cheeks were dabbed with rosy rouge, making her look very much alive. She was, without doubt, one of the most beautiful ninjas to grace the lands.
Honored, respected- she achieved greatness without a clan behind her, without a demon within her.
Everyone had gathered specifically for her- to honor that greatness and also to bid her farewell—towards a life of happiness and contentment... to a life that will not bear anymore sadness and sorrow. The wind whispered lightly, the soft clouds languidly danced against the azure skies. A spell of cherry blossoms fluttered past. More than one person lifted their head to let the sun warm their faces.
It was very much spring. Everyone had come to celebrate its height- with the civilians gathered in large groups and the ninjas alone or in pairs hesitantly lingering in the sidelines. They had gathered where the Sakura trees are in full bloom, where people may appreciate the blossoming of new life, a renewal, the season's reincarnation. All this, Kakashi watched with one bottomless eye.
It was very much spring, and Kakashi closed his eyes, thinking it was all for her.
Suddenly, the scroll weighed heavily in his pouch, burning through his pants with dark blame and shame.
'It was all for her.'
Opening his eyes, he watched the platform where Sakura was. A sad smile graced his lips, and he was thankful for his mask for neutralizing his expression. He could not help it- it was always a melancholic to bid someone farewell... .
He turned to leave, deciding not to say goodbye. Sakura will not notice the absence of the old sensei who was never there for her, won't she? His smile curled into a wry smirk, but before he can vanish into thin air, he felt him. Eyes wide with disbelief, he turned just in time for him to materialize fully.
He was suddenly there, slinking gracefully from the shadows the darkness freed. Swiftly, he had lifted her tenderly in his arms with not even a whisper of complain from her mouth (How could she have?), stunning the throngs of people who had their head bowed. He was, after all, the fastest ninja of his generation.
They watched, entranced, as buried his face in her hair, a furrow deep in his forehead. They were graced with a solemn look from the young man as he looked up and closed his eyes firmly.
A tear escaped unexpectedly from the heavens. Once... twice- they felt it on their skin until it poured lightly with the warm sunlight.
Somber and vaguely thoughtful, he met Kakashi's even gaze before he vanished lavishly, a bolt of lightning shooting down unexpectedly from where he had stood. It was only after the civilian's panic was quelled and the perimeter was secured did they realized her place was empty.
'It was', Kakashi thought absentmindedly as he followed the path Pakkun laid in a forest bordering the fire country, 'a most romantic finale'. It was probably the reason why he gave Sasuke a very generous head start, despite firm orders of immediate retrieval (He feared not the other ANBUs dispatched to locate them first for he knew, above them all, how Sasuke would think- in theory). That, and Sakura deserved such a passionate gesture, even after all those years of chasing and failing—especially failing. He owed it her, even as he owed his entire lifetime to her.
One path in mind, he continued treading the dense forest. There was barely any light filtering from the closely hugging trees; Kakashi adjusted his eyesight well enough. Shadows danced menacingly as a disturbing draft stole into his bones as he progressed deeper into its heart.
Suddenly, Pakkun stopped on his track, a questioning look on his stance as a glacial tone started crawling upon the area. It spread vastly to the sides and grew substantial as it went further into the forest. The source might be near, or the user might be stronger than the distance.
Glancing ahead with his lone eye focused and calculating, he saw the start of frozen crystals creeping strappingly ahead. Using chakra to make his landings firm, he leapt from one icy branch to another, his breath releasing short clouds of breaths as the temperature rose.
Silly Sasuke, he thought, shaking his head as the trees began to open up. In one huge jump, he landed in an open area. He immediately drew back into the shadows as the blinding view of sun meeting pure crystals greeted his view. Adjusting, he saw a beautiful meadow frozen in time with the couple resting right in the middle.
Kakashi's eyes softened at the view: Sasuke crouched over Sakura's sleeping form, tucking her stray pink locks behind her ear.
He did not acknowledge Kakashi's presence, seemingly so bent in worshiping her face with the rough pads of his fingers, with the memorizing look in his crimson eyes. A fresh trail of blood and tears were bright against his pale face and Kakashi could not help but wonder how they would have fared if Sasuke listened to her then, or if she had gone with him like she had offered.
Probably, he thought wryly, not as heartbreaking as this.
"She needs to come home now." Kakashi announced as he took a few careful steps to them. Sasuke twitched, crimson eyes seeking his dark form from the shadows to glare at him menacingly. Then, as if compelled greatly, he replaced his gaze on her face, on the lovely lashes that grazed her cheeks and on the soft slope of her nose. He traced her lips gently, and then pressed his forefinger upon it.
"She's home." He murmured calmly. "She's where she belongs," He looked up again, a warning look firm on his face. Kakashi stopped in his tracks. "She's safe with me."
"The ice won't maintain her forever."
"It's closer than forever." Sasuke said in a half-cynical, half-wistful tone.
His former sensei gazed ponderingly at the short pink locks that surrounded her face like a halo, eyes crinkling affectionately. "Sakura is a strong woman, you know."
"Not strong enough to protect herself—" Sasuke harshly bit out, back stiffening as he glared at Kakashi. Kakashi pursed his lips. "-never to protect herself."
"Sakura would've punched you for that." He said in a firm tone, meeting fearlessly the eyes that were strained with Mangekyou Sharingan.
"Would've if she could've, and I would gladly welcome them." Sasuke growled out, fisting her long sleeves possessively. "You did not watch over her. You should've, but you didn't. Your priorities did not make her weigh heavily in your heart. You are worse than trash."
Sasuke couldn't have picked a better subject to speak lengthily upon, worse to slaughter him with. Kakashi did not speak for a while; he lifted his eyes to the darkened heavens and smiled bitterly. When has he ever chose correctly?
"We both know it was in her cost to save a village. We both chose it and suffered the consequences." Kakashi said, and he knows he was trying to run away from the guilt... Sasuke knew that very well and he hated the man more and more as he spoke.
His own female student—lost and cannot be found.
"You should've killed yourself instead." Sasuke said in a dark voice, lifting her limp body in his arms. Kakashi merely watched as his student turned his back on him, watched as the ice melted and seeped into the earth around them. All but the place where Sasuke's feet were. This was his fault- he made them turn their back to him so that all he could do is watch them grow up by themselves... This was all a product of wrong decisions and wrong consequences.
They were both cursed to be the one always left behind.
"I should've..." A single tear escaped, and he felt his heart clench so tightly in his chest. It had been him or her, and out of love to her father-figure, out of pure love to a family, she dashed without preamble whereas he hesitated long enough to get herself killed. He failed, just as he always did and he wondered if it was his curse to always fail in what matters the most. He stared at the strong back of his favorite student, the mirror of his youth and yet the stronger image of what he could have been if he had saved Rin, if he had saved Sakura.
They were departing, and he knew he had one last fate to offer. The scroll weighed heavily in his pouch. He clutched it tightly into his hand, afraid they'll disappear, before lifting them for Sasuke's view, the golden threads glittering.
"I have the Forbidden Scroll from the Temple of Heaven."
And it was all he could give- it was all that shall defy generations and generations... it shall defy the cycle of life as they knew it... all for this Sasuke. For Sakura...
End of Prologue
NEXT CHAPTER: NarutoxFairyTail