HIIIIII! :D
Well, keeping things short, I'm on a road trip, and I rarely get internet, so that gives me time to update everything! :D
I hope you like this, you guys!
Four Ways to Look At:
Love
One: As Redemption
"I love him, Tsunade."
The Hokage sighed.
"That makes no difference," she replied tiredly, sadly. "You are a rogue Ninja, he is training to become Hokage. You can't go see him and he can't see you. Look at the condition you're in!"
The tired eyes narrowed.
"I have no power left, Tsunade." A sleepy response. "I used it all to save him."
She shook her head. Those eyes were so full of haunting… so full of agony.
"All right then. Maybe I can do something. Just tell me what happened one more time…"
----
"You're going to die, you idiot!"
"I don't care! Shut up, Sasuke!"
"No, you fool! I won't let this happen!"
Their opponent had swelled to a massive size – any second now he was going to burst and completely obliterate everything in sight.
"Why do you care?! Goddammit, why do you care?!"
Pale arms wrapped around a struggling, bloody tan body.
"BECAUSE I-!"
Suddenly an explosion tore through the earth, and everything grew silent as the fire ripped through the land, disintegrating trees and animals and everything for miles.
Slowly, the smoke dissipated, and the flames went out with nothing to feed on anymore. No one could have survived.
And yet there were two figures at the center of the blank space of charred earth, one smoldering, the other completely still – as if shocked into paralysis.
Then, slowly, the first one released his grip, and fell to the dusty ground at the other's feet. Letting out a small gasp, the other kneeled down next to him.
"Sasuke…" he breathed in awe, in fear. "Sasuke, are you all right? Sasuke – answer me!"
A soft cough, and black eyes – now a shocking gray – opened.
"Hey…" he breathed. "Are you all right, idiot? I told you…" he sucked in a breath of pain, but continued. "I wouldn't let… anything happen to you."
The other couldn't understand as he pushed the other up into a sitting position, supporting the other's upper body.
"But I don't understand it!" He exclaimed. "I don't understand it at all! You nearly killed me once, you told me you hated me – why did you just save my life?!"
The one being held smiled tiredly.
"Because…" his hand twitched, rose. "I might not ever be able to redeem myself for what I've done, but at least I could do this. Why?"
He touched Naruto's face softly.
"Because I love y-"
Utter darkness descended.
----
Tsunade sighed as the monitor flat-lined, and she moved from the bed to walk out the door, not looking back. A blonde leaped up at her approach.
"Is he okay, Grandma?" He asked her. "Is he okay? Will he live?"
She sighed.
"He's gone, Naruto," she stated simply. "Gone. And he's not coming back this time."
She walked past Naruto, leaving him to take that however he wanted.
Whatever the others think, I KNOW you've done it. She thought, her eyes narrowed. You redeemed yourself.
She could feel him in the air.
Sasuke Uchiha.
Two: As A Lifestyle
"You wouldn't have done that to anyone else."
"I know."
"You wouldn't have let anyone else touch you like that."
"I know."
"You wouldn't let anyone else hold you like that."
"I know."
"You wouldn't have let him yell at you like that."
"I know."
"You wouldn't have let anyone else leave unscathed like that."
"I know."
"You wouldn't have let anyone else treat you like that."
"I know."
"You wouldn't let anyone else kiss you like that."
"I know."
"You wouldn't let anyone else push you like that."
"I know."
"You wouldn't have let anyone else fuck you like that."
"I know."
"You wouldn't say those things to anyone else."
"I know."
"You would regret it if you had done it with anyone else."
"I know."
"So why do you let him?"
"SASUKE!"
He paused in his conversation with the ghosts of his past and turned to look over his shoulder. A bright smile met his eyes.
"C'mon Sasuke – how long are you gonna stand there just staring up at the sky like that? We've got things to do! C'mon!"
Sasuke smiled a little.
"So why do you let him get so close?"
"Well, I don't know…" he breathed inaudibly as he walked forward, allowing the other to interlace their fingers and step close, snuggling his blonde head into Sasuke's neck and making the raven laugh.
I guess loving him is just a way of life.
Three: As A Shield
Darkness always tried to claim him – it taunted him, mocked him, beckoned for him to return.
Sometimes he wondered what would happen if he allowed himself to be swept into it again.
But then soft lips would descend upon his skin, gentle eyes would meet his, and all thoughts of return would be swept away with caresses of twilight and the warmth of the sun.
"You know it's always there."
He's always wondered if he should tell him – tell him of his constant thoughts about the shadows. He wondered if it would make the other leave him.
He didn't think he'd be able to stand it.
So he kept silent.
"Hey."
Arms took him around the shoulders from behind.
"Are you all right?"
Sleepy eyes gazed at nothing in particular.
"Yes, I'm fine." He sighed. "Just tired."
A chuckle from behind him. The warmth at his back was almost unbearable.
"Well then, come to bed. What's stopping you?"
He smiled a little at he gazed up at him.
"Nothing at all, I think."
"Okay then – let's go."
Big warm hands took his in their gentle grasp, pulled him up out of his chair by the window, and led him to the darkness of the bedroom.
He swallowed.
"Um… Naruto?"
The other turned, gazed at him.
"Hm?"
He blushed a little, looked away in nervousness.
"Naruto…" He held the blonde's hand childishly. "If I… ever left you again… would you hate me?"
Naruto gazed at him for a long moment.
"No."
Then he drew closer, eying him.
"Why? Are you planning on leaving again…?"
He could feel the shadows clawing at his heart, at his chest, digging into his shoulder-
"Sasuke?"
He gazed up at the blonde for a moment, then smiled a little.
He shook his head.
"No," he replied simply.
I'm not leaving you.
Satisfied, Naruto returned the smile and – with renewed vigor – tugged the other into the bedroom.
Hours later, as the moon shone down on their shared bed, he looked over at the blonde, gazing at the sleeping face from where he rested, limbs entwined.
Raising a hand, his fingers gently traced the whisker lines on the other's cheeks, touched the scar on the other's chest.
He smiled.
Leaning forward a little, he planted a soft kiss right next to the other's eye.
"Thank you…"
Thank you for shielding me.
"Naruto…"
Thank you for saving me.
Four: As Absolution
"It's time to strip of you of your power, nine-tailed fox. And thus, you will die, and the power of the demon will become ours!"
"Stop!"
"Sasuke-!"
The only thing he could make sense of was smoke, fire, explosions and ridiculous amounts of Chakra. From where he hung, pinned to a wooden altar, he couldn't do anything.
He could only watch.
"Sasuke…"
After what seemed like forever, the dust cleared.
Stepping over the limp, mangled bodies, a figure slowly made its way towards Naruto.
The blonde swallowed.
"Sasuke…"
The raven smiled a little, gazing at him.
"Hey Naruto. Well, isn't this familiar?" He chuckled. "When will there ever be a day when you save ME, and not the other way around? After all these years, nothing's changed."
Naruto glared at him.
"Bastard, shut up!" He spat. "It's not my fault! I didn't ASK you to save me!"
"No…" Sasuke breathed softly, gazing down at Naruto's stomach, where the seal – bright and glowing – lay in plain sight. Raising a finger, he outlined the seal with his nail. His voice was quiet. "You never do, do you?"
He set his hand on Naruto's belly, letting his fingers trail upwards.
"It's okay though." Raising his eyes, he locked gazes with the blonde. "Because I'll do it anyway."
"Why…?" Naruto breathed. "Why? After all this time, after so many years? Why now? Why show up now? Why save me now?"
"Because," Sasuke replied, never breaking eye contact. "I love you."
Naruto's eyes went wide.
Stuttering, stammering, he began to laugh.
"Oh, come now, Sasuke!" He replied, chuckling weakly. "Stop being such a joker! There's no way you could-!"
"Why?"
Sasuke's question stopped Naruto in his tracks.
"Why? Why might it be so hard to believe that I have feelings for you?" A hand rose, ran through Naruto's hair. "A little tough love, and look where you are now. Strongest ninja alive in Konoha – in the running to become a forth Sannin – look at you." He smiled a little. "Look how much abandonment has strengthened you."
Naruto could feel the age-old hurt rising up at his words.
"You asshole!" He cried. "You planned this?! You planned on leaving me and saving me and coming back at the last instant just to tell me you LOVE me?!"
"Yes," Sasuke replied, a little amused. "In hopes that upon return you could forgive me, I suppose. And I've also come to steal your heart again. Tell me…" he got closer, his thumb on Naruto's cheek, never breaking eye contact. "Is it working?"
Naruto swallowed, not knowing how to answer. Sasuke smiled a little, already knowing what was going through the blonde's head.
"I'll take that as a yes." Lowering his head, he kissed Naruto's bare throat, making the other wince and whimper as his skin was adored.
"So am I forgiven?" He breathed into the other's ear, nibbling at it. "Do you forgive me?"
Naruto swallowed, panted.
"Yes…" he breathed. "Yes, yes I do…"
Softly, Sasuke spoke into the blonde's skin, though his voice carried a hint of malice now.
"None of them will have you…" he breathed. "The Akatsuki, Konoha… no…" he sighed. "No one… I have to protect you." Raising his head, he gazed at Naruto again. "So I've been forgiven… after so many sins I have finally found my absolution. But I fear I'll have to stain it again…" Raising a hand, he caressed Naruto's face, gazing at him. "But you shouldn't worry. It's for the best. It's the best thing for you."
Naruto blinked.
"Sasuke, what're you-?"
Then he suddenly found himself unable to breath as a sword pierced through his left lung.
Coughing, his eyes widened as he choked up blood.
"Sasuke…" he gasped in disbelief, gazing at the other. "Sasuke, what-?"
"It's for the best," he breathed reassuringly. "As long as you are alive with that fox inside of you, you will keep being hunted and you will keep suffering. But this way, you can rest in peace, and I can go to hell in your place. So forgive me, okay? It's okay, Naruto…"
The sword dragged itself upwards, circled around Naruto's heart, isolating it, slicing through all of the major arteries. Death would come in seconds.
"It's okay."
Blood bubbled up from deep inside Naruto's throat.
"Sa… Sasuke…" He breathed raggedly, eyes wide and glazing over. "Sasu…ke…"
Then he could only manage to gurgle as blood blocked his airways and spilled out between his lips, dripping onto Sasuke's clothes and the floor, seeping to gloss his own chest.
Leaning forward, Sasuke kissed him.
"I love you, Naruto."
Then he reached up, and softly closed Naruto's glassy, unseeing eyes.
He took a step back, yanked his sword out of the bloody chest. Then, reaching in, he gripped the still, warm muscle, and pulled it out, holding it almost gently in his hand.
"I need to, Naruto," he told the lifeless body, his eyes shining and a tiny smile on his face. "They'd be able to get to the demon inside you if your heart's still in your chest. That's why I'm taking it for safe-keeping. I'll take good care of it, I swear. And, I know it's a little selfish, but…" he ran his fingers through the blonde locks. "I just really wanted it for myself, too. I don't think I'd be able to stand the idea of someone else having it, so I'm taking it. See? It's good for both of us. Konoha and the other countries are saved, and I get your heart to keep forever. I'll treasure it, so you don't have to worry about a thing. So please sleep well, okay?"
He smiled widely at the body, holding the blonde's bloody, dripping heart in his hand.
"I know it'll be hard for you, but…"
He kissed the other one last time.
"Forgive me, Naruto."
Then he turned and left, closing the doors behind him, and leaving the body in blackness.
"I love you…"
To be lost in darkness forever.
"Naruto…"
End Four Ways:
Love
So another Four Ways. I do enjoy this one.
Favorite: THE LAST ONE. DUH.
Though it kinda hurt me to write it. :(
I don't know if they're all going to be NaruSasu, but these last two installments were.
The pairings will probably vary though.
It'll give me a chance to try to work outside of my box! :D
Hoped you liked it! If you're mad at me, I understand.
Ja ne!
DDB