A/N: Yes, first chapter of Retrogression. Sorry if this is short...I wanted it to end here because chapter 2 will have more details about what's going on and stuff :). I will probably update during this weekend because I am writing chapter 2 as soon as I upload this, but I won't guarantee it. Chapter 1 dedicated to Darkhope!
Did I create Naruto?
Nooo.
Did I create this fanfiction?
Yesss.
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Retrogression
By: dark dreamerx
--
Chapter 1(No title as of yet...)
Winter was lifeless.
Cold.
Quiet.
And white.
He didn't realize this season was the worst he'd ever experienced the past six
or seven years.
Because of what?
Rather, who?
Of course, Haruno Sakura.
His teammate once again; though team was no longer in her vocabulary.
And who was he?
Uchiha Sasuke.
A son, a teammate, a friend, a rival, a trader, an enemy, and a teammate
once more.
"Sasuke-teme!"
"Dobe."
Naruto.
"What'd you do to Sakura?!" The aforementioned was looking at him with dangerous eyes.
"Have you forgotten? She does not speak to me."
"I don't care! It doesn't mean you didn't do anything to her!"
"Baka."
"Shut up," the blonde ground out, adding, "you should be grateful any of us
even give you our time of day."
The prodigy walked away, no longer interested in listening to Naruto's
ridicule.
So what if Naruto hated him?
So what if Sakura hated him too?
He had never cared; why start now?
Stab.
His heart constricted.
It wasn't that he was physically hurt.
He never gave a damn about his body's health.
The damage it could take;
And couldn't take.
But this time, he didn't know how to deal with his mentality.
The heavy weight conflicting his beating heart.
After tireless training, bleeding, conscious strain, desire for power, betrayal, and completing his soul purpose to be an avenger, there was a void in his life.
Vacant.
Undecided.
Dull.
Empty.
What was life without meaning?
Sasuke pondered his perpetual thoughts to himself, the distance between him and the angry shinobi growing.
But his life had lost it's meaning since he was seven.
What difference did it make nine years later?
Sasuke scanned his environment aimlessly.
Nobody was outside.
Obviously; it's cold.
Pathetic.
He scowled as he clenched his fists.
Anger surged through him.
She didn't need to act this way!
Especially to him.
She adored him!
"I have a family and I have friends,
but if you're gone...
To me...
it'll be the same as being alone!
I...
I love you so much!"
Liar.
Liar.
How he savored those words in his mind as he left.
And,
how he believed them.
Believed her.
The sincerity in her voice.
The tears streaming down her cheeks.
Her indestructible determination.
Just to keep him.
With her.
And,
how they were all lies.
Just to satisfy herself.
That he was gullible.
Stupid.
Weak.
And he was.
For believing he could be happy again.
When he wouldn't.
For believing he could smile again.
When he could not.
Sasuke glared at the nearest tree, naked in his dark eyes.
"So...you're dead too," he whispered. "Dead to me...like I'm dead to her."
--
Green eyes.
They were empty, as far as Naruto could tell. He had been staring at them for quite some time.
"Sakura-chan...?"
Silence.
"Sakura-chan, you have to eat something. You haven't eaten all day."
Pink locks swayed delicately as she jerked her head sideways, disagreeing with him.
"You have to...you don't have a choice. Your body is already screaming at you."
She shook her head again.
Naruto sighed.
"...I'm sorry."
It was the first few words she'd spoke within the hour he had accompanied her.
"No, No, it's alright—I just want you to promise me you'll eat this ramen. At least take five bites; you don't have to eat all of it Sakura-chan. Please?"
Her eyes trailed to the bowl stationed in front of her, untouched.
She was tired.
And not hungry.
Naruto offered her a pair of chopsticks.
Hesitantly taking the utensils outstretched towards her, she placed the two sticks in her right hand.
She clasped the noodles slowly.
Brought them towards her mouth.
Let her nose fill with the aroma.
Then opened her mouth, capturing them in her lips with a small slurp.
Blue eyes fluttered with hope. "Just four more."
The roseate haired girl nodded.
Naruto watched as she took another painful bite.
The food was poison to her.
When did she become this ill?
She had been quiet and apathetic for two years thus far.
But to not even have an appetite anymore?
She was among the healthiest in their group of friends.
Now she was slowly becoming the opposite.
Why did that teme affect her so damn much?!
So what if they were supposed to be best friends?
He hated him.
"Naruto..."
Falter.
"H-Hai, Sakura-chan?"
"I finished."
The blonde looked down at her bowl.
As an expert, he concurred with her statement.
The bowl had the precise amount of ramen left after exactly four bites.
"That's my Sakura-chan."
No, Naruto didn't think his expertise was strange in the least.
Nope, not at all.
And It seemed his teammate only ate his favorite dish as well.
Though not very nutritious, at least she ate something.
And what not a better way to save wasted food from being thrown out.
He took his chopsticks and inhaled the rest of Sakura's dinner.
The kunoichi watched him in mild interest.
"Naruto...you're going to choke."
"Nuh oi whoant!"
Cough.
Gag.
Swallow.
"No I won't! And besides, I'm done!"
A small smile formed on her pale lips.
A rare smile.
He mirrored her action saying, "Maybe I should have listened to you all those years ago."
The curve in her lips increased.
"At least now you don't hit me."
He looked at her teasingly, "What would you have done if I died at your hands?"
Her smile weakened.
Silence again.
"...Saku-"
"I would have killed myself from the pain."
Blunt.
Naruto slumped his shoulders, putting the empty bowl on the counter.
"I won't leave your side."
"I know."
"I'll be here always."
"I know."
Pause.
"Smile for me again."
He noticed her rigid posture.
She didn't want to.
"It's okay. Next time," he said.
Naruto shifted his weight.
He felt uncomfortable.
"Ano...Sakura-chan...do you want me to walk you home?"
Silence.
Silence.
Then, she lifted herself from the chair and turned her back towards him.
She walked out slowly.
The kyuubi vessel smiled sadly at the owner of Ichiraku as he took money from his frog wallet.
"It's okay, it's okay," he mumbled to him, giving him a tired wave as he headed out after his teammate.
Sakura was waiting for him against a lamppost.
She looked at him.
Empty eyes.
Inwardly, he cringed.
Beautiful eyes without life.
He had gotten accustomed to her reactions.
Rather, lack of any.
But her eyes.
They bothered him into the depths of his soul.
Before this, she was always happy.
Expressive.
Violent.
He laughed to himself.
Oh, and his best friend.
She was no longer someone he could love without hurting inside.
Perhaps she wanted the world to feel how she had felt.
Everyone knew she loved Sasuke after he left.
Everyone knew after a year she still loved him.
And everyone knew he would never come back.
And she knew it too.
She just didn't believe it.
Never wanted to.
Never could.
And when he told her she had to move on.
That she was dwelling on something surreal.
She ran from him.
Left him in the dead of night.
Ironic almost.
Except he ran after her.
Caught her in his arms.
Embraced her tightly as she cried her eyes dry.
They stood there hugging for eternity.
Until she told him she'd be okay.
And he believed her.
Because her eyes were screaming at him.
Pain was evident, but a sense of understanding too.
And he let her walk home.
Alone.
She wanted it that way.
Though after that night she was different.
She didn't show her emotions as much.
And she showed little to no interest in things she used to care about deeply.
Her eyes grew cold.
Tired.
Lifeless.
"What's wrong," he'd asked.
She flashed him a smile. "Oh nothing, I just need time to feel better."
He nodded, returning the smile in acknowledgment.
But he didn't believe her anymore.
And after a long mission carried out near the Sound Village, she was no longer Haruno Sakura.
She was dead.
To him and everyone else that cared for her.
And as he eyed her indifference, his guilt increased.
Sasuke escaped his grasp four years ago.
If he had been stronger, she'd be okay.
She'd be the Sakura he loved.
Missions.
Memories.
Photos.
Living.
All forgotten.
Often he wondered to himself, is she alive?
Is she even breathing anymore?
"Naruto...?"
He shook his head and smiled sheepishly.
"Gomen Sakura-chan, I was just thinking about something. Let's go."
She waited for him to walk towards her.
She fell in step beside him, silent once again.
The blonde glanced at her.
She moved stiffly.
Like she was a puppet.
Her lips moved. "Naruto...is there something wrong?"
He looked startled. "W-What? Oh, no! Nothing is wrong...why?"
She shrugged half-heartedly.
"Sakura-chan..."
Dead pools of green met livid azure eyes.
"Why do you pretend...?"
His expression was serious. "Why do you pretend that you're not hurt? That you don't care?"
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
Her eyes left his, staring ahead.
"You told me you'd be okay. That was two years ago."
He took a struggled breath.
"You lied. Why are you doing this?"
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
They were in front of her house now.
They stopped.
Naruto looked at her in anticipating suspension.
Her back was toward him again, as she walked to her front door.
Tension was amid them.
He was demanding; curious.
And she was silent.
Again.
"...if I didn't..."
Pause.
"...you would have been at my funeral two years ago."
Her door opened when she turned the knob.
"Goodnight Naruto. Thank you."
Close.
He gaped at the door she'd just shut.
Stare.
He was speechless.
So was his mind.
Except for one repeating sentence:
She really would have killed herself?
--
He was watching her quietly.
She wasn't speaking to him.
It was awkward; uncomfortable.
Yet he just stood there.
His dark eyes drinking in her appearance.
Her clothes, hair, emotionless expression.
But what frightened him the most...
Cold, empty jade eyes.
Staring right through him.
"Sakura...?"
Eyes jerked open, sweat trickling down a face.
Breath.
A dream?
Sasuke sat up slowly, images of his dream flashing through his mind once again.
Though a dream, it was still real.
He remembered that meeting well.
The day he came back.
Just a few weeks prior.
And this nightmare, was reoccurring.
"Why do I keep having this dream?" he asked aloud.
Silence.
He looked towards his right, at the clock by his bedside.
1:32 A.M.
"Ughh," he drawled, laying his head back down.
He'd only slept an hour.
A blanket of thick lashes covered his eyes as he closed them.
For the millionth time that night.
Or so he felt.
Sigh.
He already knew he was to have no sleep tonight.
And most of his unease was due to someone he gritted his teeth thinking about.
He was angry, yes.
But to his dismay, disappointed and shocked too.
The way she acted was unnerving.
Was this how he had acted toward her all those years ago?
He must of deserved this treatment.
Avenging his clan seemed the better option to him at the time.
Though, to come back to this?
He was deeply bothered by her hate.
He took another deep breath of air.
If only she knew the truth.
His whereabouts.
What he'd been doing, and why.
He turned on his side, fisting the pillow, his lips set straight in a grim line.
She didn't care.
So he wasn't going to attempt to tell her...
yet.
Besides, he had to work on rebuilding his identity.
One that didn't involve hatred and power.
So he could eventually become a Chuunin.
And a Jounin.
That required the Hokage's approval.
And he would get it.
A/N: How'd you like this style? Review because it makes me happy )!
