AN: Welcome to my new story! This story actually has some history. When I was in the…uh, I cant remember the grade but I was in high school lol… soo when I was in high school I had written a book called, Shadows of You. I was very pleased with the book and felt quite accomplished, until my pendrive cracked and I lost all my work. I was very very sad. This story is based off that original, following most of the same basic ideas with some tweaks and obviously, it is now a yaoi and will contain more graphic scenes. Without further ado I bring you the technicalities of writing a fanfic:
WARNINGS: yaoi, lemon, swearing, character death, blood/gore
DISCLAIMER: I own the ideas of Shadows of You, I do not own the Naruto characters portrayed
Read on my lovelies, read on…
[Shadows dance across the room]
SHADOWS OF YOU
"Sasuke, darling, do wake up dear. You need to get to school."
Sasuke Uchiha groaned at the sound of his mother's voice. He stretched slowly and opened his black eyes, only to close them again quickly. "Mom, lights."
"Oh, oh, I'm sorry."
He waved his hand. "Don't worry," he mumbled, keeping his eyes closed.
His mother scurried across the room to dim the lights then spoke again. "The lights are dim, dear. Your medicines are beside your bed with some juice. Breakfast will be ready when you come downstairs. Do hurry, Sasuke. I don't want you to be late."
"Yes, Mom."
Once he heard his bedroom door close, Sasuke rolled onto his back and slung his arm over his eyes. He didn't want to get up. He didn't want to go to school. He just wanted to sleep.
Nonetheless, he had been out of school for a month and a half and it was time to go back. Opening his eyes cautiously he found that the light was more bearable and pushed back his blankets to roll out of bed. He paused for a moment to down his pills and juice then padded across the plush carpeted floor and entered his private bathroom.
He avoided his reflection as he grabbed his toothbrush.
You have to look sometime, he reminded himself.
Teeth brushed, he took a quick shower, then prepared for what he dreaded. He couldn't rightly do his hair without looking at his reflection. Taking a deep breath he lifted his eyes to the mirror. Instantly, he winced and averted his eyes. His once flawless face was scarred. He hated it.
Starting in his hairline was a jagged scar that ran down the left side of his face, ending near his mouth. He wasn't a particularly vain person—not to say he didn't realize that he was gorgeous—so his looks weren't what worried him with the scar. The problem with the scar was the memories tied to it.
Sasuke styled his hair quickly and rushed out of the bathroom. He dressed simply in a black v-neck tee, black skinnies, and a pair of plain (but expensive) black sneakers. As he was in the process of grabbing a light jacket and his school bag there was a soft knock on the door.
"Sasuke, Mrs. Uchiha said to please hurry down so you can eat breakfast before you leave for school," a gentle voice called through the door.
He pulled the door open and was greeted by his mother's personal maid, Nakomi. "Thanks, Nakomi. I'm on my way."
The girl smiled. "Good luck today, Sasuke. I'll have your favorite ready when you get home." She took his pale hand in her darker one and squeezed his fingers.
Nodding to her, he thanked her again and headed down the winding staircase that led to the lower level of the house. "Mom?"
"Hurry, Sasuke. I'm in the kitchen."
Sasuke entered the kitchen and groaned. "Mom… really?"
"What?" she asked innocently.
He waved his hand at the feast in front of him. "You know I don't eat this much in the morning… or ever."
"But sweetie—"
Snatching a grapefruit off the table he held it up. "This will suffice. Save the food for Dad and Itachi, they'll love it."
Mikoto shrugged. "I suppose."
"Thanks though, I'll eat the fruit at the bus stop."
"Are you sure you don't want someone to drive."
Sasuke gave the woman an exasperated look. "Bye, Mom."
Sighing, Mikoto moved forward and pulled Sasuke down to kiss his forehead. "I love you."
"Love you."
The seventeen-year-old boy slipped on his leather jacket, shouldered his bag, and headed out the door. The crisp, fall morning air nipped at his cheeks as he walked down the street, but he liked the refreshed feeling it gave him. He peeled his grapefruit easily and tossed the skins on the side of the road, knowing they were degradable.
He looked up and down the street at the sights he had seen for so many years. They were the same house, the same gates, the same trees and yet… everything was so different. Everything was muted to a dull gray in his eyes, not only metaphorically, but literally. He blinked, wishing to see color again and knowing the doctors had said his chances of a colorful world were slim to none. Still, it was better than nothing.
The roar of the schoolbus rumbling down the street drew Sasuke's attention. He took a deep breath, dreading his return to high school. Junior year had just started and he had missed most of the beginning of it. The bud rolled to a stop and the door creaked open. Sasuke froze, staring up into the bus. The bus driver stared back at him with a guarded gaze.
"Hey there, Sasuke," the man said. "Welcome back."
Sasuke forced himself to nod and take the first step onto the bus. The quiet chatter faded slightly as people noticed who was stepping onto the bus. He ignored their stares and whispers and took a seat on the first bench next to his long-time friend, Shikamaru.
The boy opened his eyes when the cushion shifted and glanced over at Sasuke. "Hi."
"Hey."
Shikamaru leaned forward with a tired groan and dug through his bag. Sasuke watched curiously as the boy dug out a small, unlabeled tube and held it up. "This is for you."
"What is it?"
"A new cream my dad has been working on. It's been tested, don't worry."
Sasuke took the small tube and turned it in his hands. Shikamaru's family owned the largest pharmacudical manufacturing company on the East coast so he trusted whatever it was his father had created. "And again, what is it?"
Shikamaru motioned toward Sasuke's face. "It's a scar cream. It'll greatly reduce, if not eliminate, your scar."
Holding the tube tightly in his hand, Sasuke inclined his head to Shikamaru. The other nodded in response, knowing his friend was grateful. Sasuke pocketed the tube, planning to apply the cream when he got to school. The thought of school once again filled him with dread. People would talk and stare all day and it would probably go on for weeks or until something more interesting happened.
The bus pulled up in front of the high school a half hour later. Sasuke gathered his bag and got off, followed closely by Shikamaru. The two boys headed toward the lockers. They had shared a locker since junior year, neither having many belongings at school and spending most of their time together anyway.
"Sasuke!" a feminine voice called out as they neared the locker. "Oh, Sasuke!"
Sasuke stumbled back, finding himself with an armful of pink-haired girl.
"'M so glad your back," she mumbled into his chest.
"Hi, Sakura," Sasuke replied evenly.
The girl pulled back and studied Sasuke with jade eyes. "How are you?"
He shrugged. "Dealing."
"Good. Come see me and Ino at lunch, we made something for you. You too, Shika. I'll see you guys later."
The boys waved but Sakura was already bounding down the hallway. Shikamaru turned to Sasuke and motioned down the hall toward their locker. "Are you ready?"
Sasuke gazed down the gray hall. "I guess."
Together, they continued to their locker. Sasuke breathed deeply. People were talking. People were staring. Sasuke kept breathing.
Breathe.
Breathe.
Breathe.
All of the air rushed from his lungs. He lied. He wasn't ready. He couldn't face this.
The locker two down from his was decorated with notes and balloons and pictures. On the floor in front of the locker were teddy bears, flowers, and unlit candles—all of them surrounding a photograph. In that photo a blonde haired boy smiled brightly, his blue eyes shining. To Sasuke, the photo appeared in black and white, but his mind held the image of the bright boy.
'NARUTO, YOU WILL BE MISSED!'
Sasuke tore the sign off the locker and threw it to the floor. His heart was pounding fiercely in his ears. His vision was swimming. Shaking his head, he backed away from the lockers. "N-Naruto," he stuttered softly.
He ran.
He ran from the photo of the smiling boy.
He ran from every memory that he had lost the bright colors of his life.
That day had taken away far more than his ability to see color. It had taken from him the only color he ever loved.
Naruto was gone and now—he had to remember.
[But you are just a memory]
"Hey, Sasuke! Thanks for picking me up!"
"Hn."
Naruto laughed and hugged his boyfriend's waist. "I'm really excited about tonight," he said into Sasuke's neck.
"Mm."
"Bastard," the blonde chuckled.
Sasuke turned his head, searching for the blonde's soft lips. "Kiss," he demanded.
"You are so one-wordy today," Naruto mumbled against the pale boy's lips. "'Sup with that?"
Ignoring the other, Sasuke pressed his lips insistently against Naruto's. The two shared a closed mouth kiss before Sasuke reached up to caress Naruto's cheek. Knowing what his boyfriend wanted, Naruto opened his mouth slightly and soon found Sasuke's tongue sliding into his mouth.
"Hey," Naruto said a moment later, pulling away.
Sasuke grunted. He just wanted to kiss Naruto some more.
Naruto stretched up a little and rubbed his nose against Sasuke's. "I love you, baby."
Capturing the blonde's lips once more, Sasuke kissed him hard and moved away. "Yeah, I know."
"Bastard!" Naruto screeched, launching himself at the taller boy.
Sasuke caught him and Naruto wrapped his legs around his waist. He looked up into deep blue eyes and smirked. "I love you, too."
"Stop crying, baby, oh stop crying, Sasuke," Mikoto sobbed, rocking her son gently. "Fugaku!"
Sasuke opened his eyes, hearing his mother's voice, but his vision was black. His breath came in shorts pants as panic set in.
"Breathe, son," he heard his father command.
"C-Can't—Can't see—ca-can't!"
"Focus, sweetie, focus. It's okay. Your eyes are okay."
Fugaku placed his large hand on Sasuke's forehead. "He's burning up. I told you, Mikoto. We shouldn't have sent him back! He should have a private tutor and stay home. Nakomi, fetch some water!"
"D-Dad," Sasuke stammered, hands scrabbling over his father's thick arm.
"What, son? I'm here."
"I can't see," he breathed, panicked. "Dad, I can't see."
"Remember what the doctor said, Sasuke? When you panic this is what happens. You have to relax."
Sasuke lowered himself back onto the bed and pressed his hands over his eyes. I'm so pathetic. There he was, seventeen-years-old and six foot two, crying like a baby and panicking over nothing. Mikoto placed a cool hand on his bare chest and rubbing soothing circles onto it.
"There, see," she murmured.
"Try opening your eyes, son."
Sasuke moved his hands and opened his eyes. His parents gray figures came into view in a few seconds. Nakomi entered the room then and held out a class of water. He sat up and accepted it, downing it in moments. The water cooled his burning throat. "Thank you," he mumbled. "I'm okay now."
His mother and father glanced at each other, speaking with their eyes.
"Why don't you stay home tomorrow?"
"But—"
"You have a fever," Mikoto reminded him.
Sasuke looked back and forth between his parents before nodding. "Can Shika come over?"
"Of course, dear. He came come right after school tomorrow."
"You sleep now, though," Fugaku added.
Sasuke nodded again and sank back into his pillows. "Sorry for the disturbance."
Fugaku waved him off and Mikoto smoothed his bangs away from his forehead, which was covered in sweat. "You just worry about getting better. Goodnight, Sasuke."
Once everyone had left his room, Sasuke pressed his eyes closed and conjured up an image of Naruto the way he chose to remember him.
Naruto was shorter than him, five foot ten, with a thin, lithe body. The boy had been all legs though; they seemed endless whenever he wore skinnies, and god how Sasuke loved them. He loved them wrapped around his waist or thrown over his shoulders where he could press kisses along them. They were one of his favorite parts of his boyfriend.
His face had once been chubby and angelic, but as they'd gotten older, Naruto's face had taken on a strong shape with soft but defined edges. His lips were always a delicious pink color and plump. Sasuke loved catching his teeth on the supple bottom lip and nibbling on it. Naruto made the most tantalizing sounds when he did that. His nose was straight and cute, perfect for his face. And above his nose were the most dazzling pair of blue eyes Sasuke had ever seen in his life. The brightest of blues to compliment the sunniest blonde hair. Sasuke would spend hours combing his fingers through Naruto's blonde spikes. It would put the boy to sleep, but he didn't mind. Having Naruto quiet was a rare commodity.
Imagining his boyfriend, Sasuke could almost hear Naruto whispering his name in his ear.
Sasuke.
Sasuke.
Sasuke.
It wasn't fair. Naruto shouldn't have had to die. That other driver… he should've died, but he walked away with a slap on the wrist while Sasuke almost lost his sight and Naruto lost his life. While Sasuke lost Naruto. It wasn't FAIR!
Naruto had his whole life ahead of him. He was barely seventeen. He wanted to marry Sasuke and adopt a little girl. His outlook on life was so positive and so full of fun, but it was all snatched away.
And he had suffered.
Oh, god, he had suffered in life and in death.
The blonde boy had a hard life, bouncing from foster home to foster home until being taken in by his aunt and uncle. By then, the damage had been done. He had suffered at the hands of his foster parents but he still smiled. He smiled and laughed and made others do the same. He was changing other people's lives.
Why did he have to die?
Sasuke wrapped his arms around himself and curled up. "Naruto," he whispered brokenly. "Naruto."
AN: woo, chapter one, down! Keep voting on the two side pairings in this story! Poll will probably close tomorrow night cuz I need to keep writing :) lemme know what you think!
THANKS!