Title: Snake Eyes
Chapter: Past Sorrow
A/N: I haven't explained the story title yet. When gambling, snake eyes is the outcome when two dice roll two pip, looking like snake eyes. It means treachery or betrayal and since this is the lowest possible roll, the shooter is the loser.
Hmm…hahahaha…! Uh…you know the whole "it's not your fault" speech, the one usually given when something big happens? Well, it is my fault. It's not so complicated to explain, rather too embarrassing. During many times in my fault, I had been rational and equally calm, but this one moment wasn't one of 'em.
"Sedate him."
Ye—ah. Not really the best thing to say to someone who doesn't remember you. But hear me out. I was overwhelmed and confused, not to mention pissed off so I kinda didn't stop at that one sentence. After suggesting first degree murder, I also insulted him.
"Cut him up. I don't care, just fix it."
At the time I had been using the word 'it' to refer to the situation, but with my tone and finger pointing at Sasuke, he misunderstood. Then there was this really loooooong and awkward silence. Before I was "escorted" out.
Yah' know, things happen leading to other things and we're right about at another…thingy. Whatever.
"Uzumaki."
That voice. That tone…! Two months, people. It didn't even go past the third month. In two months of my dating life, Fugaku had Sasuke in the arrange marriage and me, somewhere far from any Uchiha blood. I have to wonder if the man knew his son is gay. I mean, he certainly does now, but I meant from before any event dealing with me. In Sasuke's memories, that is. Why else would his body tense like that? You usually stage shock when asked, "Are you gay?" It's the proper behavior and perfectly good for hiding that you truly are gay. Ah, some people get to be gay and some people get to be gay. Both are happy. I'm gay and extremely unhappy. What kind of messed up logic is that? Can I be unhappy and not gay? At least I wouldn't have to face him.
"Uzumaki-kun."
Ugh! Orhim.
"Father."
Is…I-Is this some kind of punishment for all the cherry bombs and missing fingers?
All three men of the Uchihas are here. Fugaku—Satan reincarnated, Itachi—Prince of Darkness, and little Sasuke—the death of me. All gathered in one room with an unhappy blonde. Just because my eyes are blue and cute, my hair touchable and spiky does not mean I want all seven of their eyes on me!
Oh, Kakashi's here too. He's hiding behind the door.
My friends had to pick this day for a field trip. Ok, some of them were signing up for college or doing some stupid research for something really important, but I text them. And text messages travel faster than the speed of light! So damnit where are they?! …whoa. Fugaku walk right past me without breathing. Do I smell or something? I'm pretty sure my financial issue isn't contagious. Well, we did have a deal. What was it? Two more weeks? Yeah, two weeks, three hours, fifty-five minutes, and eleven seconds.
I've been counting.
"How are you feeling, Sasuke?" asked Fugaku. Has anyone ever told him his tone could freeze Florida?
Sasuke didn't flinch or smile. No, he did something much worse. He bows his head. If he had his legs working, I think he would've knelt.
"I am better now, Father." Hmm, I was expecting a "Sir, yes, sir!"
Oh no. Kakashi just totally winked at me. Am I going to lose an arm or something? It almost did happen once. Also he winked at me on my first day of school. I was doomed from the start.
"Good," said Fugaku, but his attention wasn't on his son anymore. Better. It was on Kakashi. "Kakashi-san, may I ask why you are here?"
So that's what the wink was for. He needed help. …yes, I am secretly laughing and examining how many stuff I can steal from Kakashi's house before they all go to the government. Damn conscience. Kakashi did help me. Somewhat. I will never mention it.
Kakashi's eye wrinkle up into a smile, but the other eye remained unwrinkled. I took it as a sign of distrust and dislike. "I heard Sasuke-sama woke up and wanted to personally check up on him. Sasuke-sama is my star student."
His voice changed. I never knew it could be so conveniently hidden, if I had not heard it before. That is Kakashi's 'Cat Tone'. Kakashi hates cat. Which is ironic sine he acts like one, but don't ever tell him that. He gets really mad and girly.
"How kind of you, but it is easily misunderstood for those who do not know you."
Oh, that means its Kakashi's exit time.
"I see. I'm sorry if I've caused any inconvenient problems. I shall take my leave now." Kakashi bows once and calmly left. Poor guy. I hope Iruka is making fish tonight. Oji-san's out of town for a couple of days and I'm stuck with those two. I had knowledgeably asked for the rooms with the thickest walls. Safety first.
Fugaku acknowledged my presence with a glance as I sat down. I am not so easily moved like some people we know. He did not speak nor I. We merely exchange a battle of static shock from our intimidating eyes before going about our business. Unfortunately it was the moment our eyes separated did I remembered about the milk. The milk I promised to get for Iruka's new cat. It's to annoy Kakashi, but it turned into a double-edge sword. I have to go buy milk for the orange thing every week.
As I left, I distinctly feel Sasuke's smirk. The bastard thought I lost to his dad! Well, if he had woke up five days after his accident, he would've seen my victory
Damnit!
So anyway, I was waiting in the elevator—hate every elevator in the world—and suddenly this person comes running in. I didn't even get a chance to leave when he pushed the number 25. My floor is 1! Who was the guy anyway? I lean to the side, but not needed. I can smell him from here. "Oh my god, Kiba. You could've at least taken a shower first."
He turned around, a bright smile and specks of dirt everywhere. "Naruto!" he yelled before pouncing.
I duck and let his head begin to slowly peel itself off the wall…once it hit. I held my nose and push the 1 button again. Kiba hadn't change. It still talked. A lot.
"So Sasuke woke up, huh?!" Then he remembered about the amnesia. "Oh, sorry about that." Then he forgot. "But he still woke up!"
I had gotten use to Kiba's chattering a long time ago, but habits made my eyes roll. That hadn't meant most of what he said didn't hurt because most of them were about Sasuke. Since we were close to the first floor, I was hoping it would start to go down, but it continues moving up. And who should greet us when the door dings open?
Fugaku being Fugaku did not hold his noise like I did, but I was hoping his watery eyes were tears of pain. I got out and Kiba managed to follow, but his "scent" remained. Uchiha being Uchiha, both went in, enduring the whole painful ride down with stern faces.
I laughed and slap Kiba's shoulder in harmony. I immediately pulled away, realizing for the first time that the dirt on him might not be dirt after all. It would certainly explain the smell, but my brain always worked in weird ways.
"Kiba, I'm leaving. Why don't you go to see Sasuke by yourself? I'm sure he would be very surprise."
BAM! A sound resonated through the house to the outside, much like a 'bam'. I can think of many different scenarios to fit the 'bam' into it, but I figure what the hell. It's probably the rats again. We do have some pretty big-ass rats. They are large and definitely in charge.
THUD! That one shook the house, alerting the neighbors of a possible terrorist attack. But no neighbors came out, no naked ladies and certainly no air craft flying around, ready to set loose it's cannonballs; regardless of civilians. I shiver in my shoes as a distinct and familiar image of a woman reporting, "And this crater here used to be…"
SMASH! Either a glass or a bottle of my famous vodka. Man, that stuff isn't cheap. I pull out my cell phone and dial away. The line picked up and a man's heavy breathing came online. I wish I was ignorant so I didn't have to know what that heavy breathing was. "I bought the milk and I'm right at the door. But I forgot my key. Help?"
My distress call came in the forms of grunts, more crashes, and the pitter patter of huge feet coming towards the door. Iruka appeared, each inch of his body screaming discreetness; follow along by Kakashi, who flaunted his "activities" like my Health teacher, a man that doesn't remotely teach anything near Health. The happy couple did not appear to notice the absence of milk and they did not inquire it until later this evening.
I wince as someone screams and falls. I would, literally, go and help whoever it was that fell if it had been anything else but her dormant hormones erupting to the surface caused by Kakashi's face. The murderer in turn only apologizes idly before pulling up his mask; or an extremely long turtleneck. I haven't figured that one out yet. As I walk in and Iruka out, I tried not breathe. The dude could've at least sprayed himself with cooking oil or something. I may not have sex yet, but I know what it smells like.
But poor Iruka. Ever since Kakashi moved in, the sidewalk has always been bloody during the mornings. That's why I keep telling him to put on a robe. I'm not even sure why he covered his face. At first I thought it was some severe acne problem, but if he taken off the mask combined with the force of his morning routine….ah, I don't even want to think about it.
"Oh, where's the milk?" And it's evening.
I didn't answer right away, not that either of them minded. I finish pushing the carrots to one side; ironically the other vegetables were going to be eaten. "I'm not walking twenty blocks for a carton of milk."
"Weird," Kakashi said then he grinned. "The hospital is even further than that."
Yup. Now that Sasuke woke up, he felt more at ease when teasing me. Such an asshole, right? Here I am stranded in the middle of a crisis and all he can do is tease me? Has he no soul? …well, there's me…and I'm…yah' know… I made my grin match Kakashi, which usually isn't a very good thing. Iruka, on the sideline, watched with an intense eye. He seemed to always think a fight is going break out. "Ka-ka-shi, you know…chickens aren't supposed to be green."
Iruka's fork drop and he slowly lean his head to the side. A twinge of green peeked out under the chicken and dangerously winked at him. The brunette looked questionably at the white hair man. "Kakashi."
I stood up, preparing to leave and with the last moment, I said, "I wonder what you were doing…?"
And that everyone is a great manipulation trick resulting in a great many abstinence days for Kakashi because innocent Naruto could've actually remember to bring his house keys then his eyes would be forever tarnish.
Yeah, right.
Many days and many nights, I miss him. Pretty corny, huh? See, that's why I keep it in all my head, unlike Sasuke. Seriously, that love confession of his was really embarrassing and I've never even got a confession before, but I guess living in a prison-like-house with evil parents can make you a bit anti-social. If Sasuke would put in the extra mile, he could totally be the king of Emos. He has the looks and style. Now if only his parents were truly caring and his life were almost perfect. I have to talk to Sasuke about this. Because now that he is my boyfriend—or whenever he remembers—he has unlimited access to my help and my help would be somewhere around the section of fixing up his life.
I hadn't the time or the motivation while he was in his coma so I guess I can start the job. A job that doesn't pay too well, in fact it doesn't pay at all. There was the make-out session from time to time, but that ended abruptly. With his memories gone, I can say bye-bye to all the touching. Whooppee-do. There's that thing where I have to walk to school? No more cruising in any expensive car, no more eating expensive food. I'll tell you what there is: homework. I have to do my own homework from now on. Does that completely suck or what?
Oh, and I have a conscience.
I, from now on, completely understand women who are left behind by their cheating husband, not a scrap of money and five mouths to feed. I would be glad if Sasuke left me. That way I can go find his ass and kick it, but since this is entirely not his fault, I can't do that. My scheming days are not over, but severely limited. It had been before and still is now. I had always wondered why many of my most brilliant plans never work out. All because of those disgusting friends and Sasuke's naïve personality. When I say 'naïve', it is not in the sexual sense. Oddly, Sasuke is very well-taught in many areas. Anyway, love. I was talking about love, but I'm not one to talk.
What time is it? Three, fifty-nine. Seconds on countdown. Is it that late already? Or is it I'm early? If I'm late there's no use to it and if I'm early, why waste time and risk being late, right? So when the clock tick to exactly four, I decided tonight wasn't worth wasting away sleeping. I smile at the thought and continue my previous activity, which was staring at the ceiling and thinking of everything and whatever my mind dimmed important to think about.
It never occurred to me this was unhealthy. It never occurred to me I had stopped eating lunch. Again. These thoughts and feelings became nothing but a tingle, soon to pass.
Blood. Everywhere, there was blood. Did it come from me? Is it mine? No. Whose is it? Whose blood…? Everywhere. Every inch. Every corner. Blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. An arm? Whose arm? Whose…body?
No. S-Sasuke…?
My eyes open instantly and the first thing I registered was fear. I calm my breathing, when I realized I was panting harshly. It was the end of summer, was it not? My room, usually so warm, is cold. No, it is warm, hot even, but the sweat against my body made it cold. A nauseated feeling settle itself in the pits of my stomach and remained there until I dismissed it. How long had I been asleep? I check the clock again. A minute past seven then the one turned into a two. Did I fell asleep at four? Could have. Did I fell asleep sometime past that? Maybe. Properly a minute or even a second late of four. Time is such a precious thing, be best not to waste it. And this concludes thirteen days until the deal ends.
"Naruto, are you awake?"
I tried not to answer, or even breathe. The latter did not last long. A knock came rapping down on my skull. Or am I imagining it? Another knock, another headache.
"Naruto, I'm coming in."
I didn't even bother opening my eyes before darting across the room and slamming my full weight onto the about-to-be-open door. I heard a surprise grasp and almost felt bad, but I ignored it and open the door to a certain angle which showed a small degree of politeness, but also discreetness. "I'm awake. I'll be right there."
A moment lapse of something like suspicious, no doubt, disappeared before it can be acknowledged. Perhaps it had been acknowledged, but only suppress. Then Iruka smile. "Don't be too long."
I smile back and close the door as he left. With my back against the door and with open eyes, I took on the sight before me. It wasn't messy, no sign of a smuggled beer bottle, or bottles. There was nothing remotely out of place, but strangely I felt more…safe. What danger had there been? Lots. Lots and lots of danger. There lying on the unmade bed was two shirts.
Sasuke's black shirt. With bloodstains. Or used to be, but I washed it. Another one; blue. It had been here the longest, before we started dating. He left it, I think. He never asked about it and I didn't bothering returning it. The Sasuke now would remember it, if I brought it forth.
But it would have no meaning to him.
"Naruto!" Iruka's voice insisted.
"Be right down!" I said, moving to get ready. Since Sasuke left, I've asked myself a lot of questions, became more aware of time, more aware of loneliness, more aware of strength, more aware of myself, more aware of… My eyes glance at the shirts. Did leaving the shirts out mean something? If I put them away, did that mean I've given up all hope of Sasuke returning to me? If I give them back, even as a mean of returning things back to its original owner—way things should be—did that mean giving up?
Constantly and always berating myself with 'ifs' and 'why', trying to find an answer to this big puzzle I didn't quite understand. Of course, I would think next. It's a puzzle. If it could be solved easily I wouldn't be struggling. The point of my struggle is proof and possibly punishment. Proof I'm willing to fight. Proof I'm not giving up. Proof…no, and punishment…
Punishment for thinking of giving up.
"Good morning, Naruto!" bellowed Kiba, Neji beside him. Neji was in college now; sad for Gaara, but what they were doing here was beyond me? I ignored them. Not the best course of action, but the only one I've got. "Hey, wait! Don't you want a ride?"
Kiba is now on my favorite list. Not that I have a list, mind you.
Not five minutes into the ride and I started thinking about death. Not mine, Kiba's. A slow painful, yet quiet death. Having gotten use to his chattering doesn't really mean much to me and it was still irritable. Gaara wasn't riding shotgun, Kiba was. Oh my god, are we about to die or something?
"Naruto…about Sasuke…you…" said Shikamaru. Or asked. Shikamaru on the left, Gaara in the middle, and I on the left.
Suddenly it was really quiet. A looming silent, one that can only be broken by me. Such pressure. Well, not really. I knew my course of action and which is the best route. I was probably looking for a safe shortcut. Something something. I'm not really making much sense, but my decision… "I'm not going to see Sasuke anymore."
With their level of intelligent, I thought they had it all figure out by now, but Kiba still freak and well…mostly Kiba just freak. Gaara nodded. Yeah sure, he's…instinctive. He probably knows everything already. Shikamaru and Neji both needed some adjusting, but overall they're alright.
"What are you going to do now?" Ah, their voices are all the same to me. No point in figuring out who said what.
"Sasuke's going to come to me. Of his own free will. Like he did before." I didn't really see the point of making those three sentences fragments, but it did make everything more dramatic. "He comes then he comes."
"And if he doesn't?"
I hadn't thought of that, but an answer immediately formed in my head. "Then he doesn't."
"What's the point?" Gaara had always been accurate with many of his questions. I find no reason to avoid it.
"I'm gambling."
A/N: Yes, you have many many questions and they will be answer eventually, but till that time comes, please ponder some more. The update is late because of many things and well...yadda yadda. What exactly does emo mean anyway? I don't think its a person. Well, the right definition would be some sort of emotional trend in the musical industry, but emo as a noun...
