Broken Typography Chapter 4: Mesmerize, a naruto fanfic

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And…I can't answer questions regarding the future of the story because…well, that'd just ruin the whole story. -cough- So gomen, guys!

Music: "My Immortal" by Evanescence.

B r o k e n T y p o g r a p h y

Chapter 4 - Mesmerize

He loved her.

He loved her.

He loved her.

He loved her.

Silence.

His heart was pounding.

Always pounding.

Thump.

Pounding so hard, it nearly choked his life out.

He loved her.

Was it that shocking to realize?

Thump.

Yes.

It was.

He loved her.

Silence.

He could feel his hands clenching involuntarily.

He loved her.

Pause.

His eyes were squeezed shut.

He loved her.

Silence.

Thump.

Pounding. Always pounding.

Thud.

He willed himself to stop thinking those three words.

He loved her.

No. Stop. Stop.

But he couldn't.

It was in his head.

Engraved.

Chiseled in his memory.

He loved her.

Silence.

Thump.

He was gradually aware of the sounds around him, once again.

Thud.

He heard her growl.

Thump.

Someone yelling.

Pause.

"Get off me!"

It was a male's voice.

He could hear her loud, ragged breathing. Magnified ten times by his pain.

Then, a body hitting the ground. Again. Again. Again.

Thud.

Like a hypnotic beat.

Thud.

Thump.

That turned into his heart. Pounding. Always pounding.

Thump.

He had to see what was going on.

Was she hurt?

Was it her body that was slamming onto the ground repeatedly?

Pause.

He heard her cry out in pain.

Thud.

Silence.

He forced his eyes open slightly and saw her, lying, battered and bruised.

His heart sped up.

Thump.

…how dare they.

Injure her like that.

How. Dare. They.

He could feel his anger.

Bile rising in his throat.

Images of her, beaten and broken.

They rushed through his mind like wildfire.

Silence.

Unbidden hatred raging through him at her attackers.

How dare they.

Pause.

He heard new voices.

…what?

More people had arrived?

Smile.

He knew that she was lucky.

To have saviors come to her when she was in need.

Scowl.

When he was unable to protect her.

Silence.

Thump.

Thud.

He could hear scuffles and biting remarks being said by rather familiar voices.

Silence.

Thud.

Then…

"No…"

Pause.

It was her voice.

"Heh. We got 'cha now. Don't even think of escaping, you little twits."

A male.

That meant…

Thump.

She was in trouble.

In trouble.

Trouble.

That single word alone made his heart speed up painfully.

Always so painfully.

Her cries echoed in his head.

"Sasuke-kun. Sasuke-kun. Sasuke…"

Her voice.

Her image.

Her…broken.

Dying.

With him, unable to save her.

No.

He had to save her.

He couldn't let her die.

If she died…

Thump.

"Save me…Sasuke-kun…"

Thump.

Silence.

That was it.

Thump.

He could feel energy coursing through him.

Giving his life.

His muscles, suddenly strengthened.

His head, light.

Feeling, coming into his senses.

He could feel.

See.

Hear.

Move.

Thump.

Silence.

He stood up.

And opened his eyes.

Singing

In darkness

I watch as she smiles

Mouth open

Singing that song

Images of blood come

Rushing in the wind

Death…or fear

Smiling in tainted delight

My sins

Her lullabies

Innocent looks of happiness

Shattered by us.

He saw her staring at him.

She was staring at him.

Silence.

"…S-Sasuke…kun…?"

Smile.

"Hello, Sakura."

He watched her start, looking shocked.

"…y-you're…alright?"

Smile.

He walked towards her.

"Of course."

She was staring at him, tears in her eyes.

He bent down next to her and murmured into her ear.

"Don't cry."

Pause.

"I'm here for you."

Silence.

He saw her gulp, and nod.

"Now…who did this to you?"

He watched as her eyes widened.

"…"

"I did!"

Thud.

He turned around.

A guy with wild hair was scowling at him.

"Yeah, Uchiha? I did! What're ya gonna do!"

Stop.

Silence.

Smirk.

He approached the other guy.

Smile.

"What the-!"

He was behind the sound nin in a flash, holding the enemy's arms tightly.

Thump.

"You seem to be…very proud of these…arms of yours."

He twisted the sound nin's arms behind his back.

He smiled as the nin roared in pain.

"Z-Zaku!"

The girl that had been torturing her previously.

He would get that kunoichi later.

But now…

Silence.

Pause.

"W-what're you d-doing!"

It was a satisfactory pleasure.

Hearing this ninja in such pain.

For hurting her.

"I…don't know. Maybe…I'll break them."

He heard her gasp.

Smirk.

He twisted the arms harder.

The shinobi yelled out in agony.

"S-Sasuke-kun!"

It was her.

She was calling him.

"Mm?"

Smile.

He twisted the arms even further.

"Sasuke-kun! Stop!"

Silence.

He paused.

Why was she telling him to stop?

Why should he stop?

He was doing this for her.

This sound nin had hurt her.

Why was she telling him to stop?

Silence.

Pause.

Thud.

Suddenly, another ninja attacked him.

He let go of Zaku and dodged swiftly.

Thump.

He looked at his attacker.

It was another sound shinobi.

"Please…we can see that we're not up to your level yet. Take our scroll, and let us leave."

He caught the scroll tossed at him.

"I promise that we won't retreat next time."

Silence.

Pause.

Smile.

"Now, why would I let you go that easily?"

He took a step towards them.

"No!"

Stop.

Silence.

Shock.

She was hugging him.

Thump.

His heart pounded furiously.

Thump.

Her arms had closed around him.

He could feel her tears against his neck.

Her soft hair was brushing his bare skin.

"Sasuke-kun…please…"

Silence.

"Please…stop."

"Please…go back to normal."

"Please…please…please turn back to yourself!"

Silence.

Shock.

It was pounding.

Against his ribs.

Against her arms.

He could only see her.

Shining, like a vision from heaven.

Her tattered clothes. Dirty skin. Uneven hair.

Nothing registered to him.

Only her.

Pure.

Like an angel.

Thump.

Silence.

He could feel something retreating.

The sudden, great amount of energy and power.

Fading away.

Pause.

But that didn't matter.

She was embracing him.

Thump.

He loved her.

This beat

Makes me cry

In pain, and delight

Seeing my sings unveiled

By her sickly sweet song

Her wonderful smile

Her radiant face

Compels me to sing

Along with her

An angel's cry

Sways the tune

Simply making it

More beautiful

My lullaby.

He watched her.

She was sitting, with that blonde girl, Ino, brushing her hair.

Somehow, she didn't look anything like his previous vision of her.

But that didn't matter.

Her feelings were evident.

And he was glad that she was alright.

Pause.

He looked down at his hands.

Silence.

What had he been doing?

Stop.

Pleasure…

Pleasure from torturing that sound nin…

Her horrified expression hadn't helped.

Thump.

The beating of his heart had slowed down.

It wasn't thudding painfully against his ribs.

Unlike before.

Silence.

"Ano…Sasuke-kun?"

He looked up.

She was standing over him, looking hesitant and worried.

"Are you…alright?"

Pause.

"Hn."

He saw her smile.

"I'm glad."

Silence.

"Eeto…we have both the scrolls…so…are we just going to go to the tower?"

Shift.

"Aa."

There were some noises, and he knew that the dobe had woken up.

"Aaaaahhh…my head hurts! Owww…Sakura-chan, what happened?"

He scoffed inwardly. Dobe.

He could feel her turn towards the blonde idiot.

"You just slept through a whole battle. I'll fill you in on the details later, but just feel lucky that you're alive."

"Er…okay then, Sakura-chan."

Silence.

He snorted.

"What was that for, Sasuke-teme!"

"Hn."

"Arrgh, stop it!"

"Hn."

"Bastard!"

"Hn."

"Grr, say something!"

"…hn."

"Arrrrgh!"

"Naruto no baka, shut up!"

Pause.

"Sakura-chaaaaaaaan…"

"Ugh, you're so annoying."

"Aww…why me…"

He smiled slightly.

Well, everyone was alright. They were back to normal.

For now.

Silence.

"Well, we'll be going then, forehead-chan."

It was that blonde girl speaking. Yamanaka Ino.

"Aa, pig-chan."

"What was that, big forehead girl!"

"What did you say, you fat pig!"

He heard snickers and laughter all around the clearing.

Turn.

He watched her smile and shake hands with Ino.

"Well, I'll see you at the tower, Ino-chan."

"Aa, Sakura-chan. Ja!"

He saw her wave as the Ino Shika Chou team departed.

Pause.

"Lee-san, how're you going to find your team?"

He heard bushy eyebrows laugh.

"Oh, Sakura-san, they're right there."

Stop.

Silence.

He turned swiftly around.

Indeed, the Hyuuga and another girl that he recognized to be Lee's teammate were standing at the edge of the clearing, watching them.

When had they gotten there?

He heard her gasp in surprise.

"Whoa, that was scary!"

That blond-haired baka.

"Come on Lee, let's go."

The girl was speaking.

"Hai, Tenten-chan!"

He watched Lee salute, for some strange reason, to her.

"I am greatly sorry that I had not kept my vow this time, but I will in the future! Until next time, my beautiful cherry blossom!"

He felt his eye twitch in annoyance.

"Just get going."

Bushy eyebrows stared at him. In fact, everyone was staring at him.

"…er…hai!"

Lee left with the Hyuuga and that Tenten girl.

Silence.

Then…

"Let's go."

He began walking.

Step.

He heard her following.

Step.

"Eh…n-ne, wait up, Sakura-chan and teme!"

Smirk.

Things weren't that bad after all.

Her eyes

Gazing at me

Sleepily

While singing

Her beautiful voice

Lulling me to sleep

And yet

I know

If I do,

I'll join her in

The netherworld

But that's okay

For…

One song

This one song

Will have me longing forever

To hear her voice.

She was ragged and dirty.

Panting and tired.

Angry and determined.

He wondered why he loved her.

"I won't give up!"

Maybe it was because of her unwavering stature.

"I'll win this!"

Maybe it was because of her caring towards him.

"Get ready!"

Or maybe…just maybe…he hadn't found the answer yet.

Silence.

Pause.

He watched her.

Battling Ino.

After the sealing of that, Kakashi had let him come back here.

To watch her in all her glory.

Snort.

Not much glory.

Still…

She was beautiful. Despite her ragged appearance.

What is on the inside is what counts the most.

"Sasuke-kun."

Silence.

He watched her fight.

Move after move.

Pound after pound.

Justu after justu.

Until…

"Ha, I've got you now."

Silence.

Pause.

He frowned.

That Ino…had possessed her with the Shintenshin no Justu.

Silence.

Thump.

He watched her hand rise slowly into the air.

"I…"

His heart clenched and began thumping harder.

Pause.

"Give…"

He gritted his teeth and stared intensely at her.

"…u-"

"Sakura!"

Silence.

Shock.

He didn't know why he had shouted her name.

It was so unlike him.

He wondered why he did that.

Thump.

Silence.

Pause.

Step.

"Arigatou…Sasuke-kun."

Shock.

His head snapped up.

He saw her back in control, panting, and smiling at him.

"…hn."

"Why'd you shout Sakura-chan's name, teme?"

He didn't answer that dobe's question.

He watched as she and Ino continued beating each other senseless.

Until they both dropped down, fainting at the same time.

Silence.

"This battle is a tie."

Smirk.

So, she hadn't lost.

But she hadn't won, either.

Well, he hadn't been expecting her to actually proceed onto the final round of the exams.

Step.

Thump.

Thud.

He turned around as Kakashi brought her back up and laid her down on the ground.

He watched her breathing.

In.

Out.

She lay there, sleeping peacefully.

She didn't have to battle anymore.

He was glad.

Silence.

Thump.

She stirred slightly.

"Sasuke…kun?"

He looked at her.

"Ohayo."

He watched her giggle.

"It's evening Sasuke-kun."

"Hardly."

He smiled slightly.

He heard her gasp, seeing his rare smile.

"You alright?"

"A-aa."

"Hn."

He felt her smile again.

"Ne, Sasuke-kun…arigatou."

"…"

"If you hadn't called me, back then…I would've lost for sure."

Silence.

"Aa."

He helped her up.

He could practically feel everyone's eyes on them, so he quickly withdrew his hand.

He could tell that she was surprised and a little hurt at his sudden want for isolation.

Silence.

Pause.

He didn't say anything.

He could feel her turn away from him, back to the next match below.

That didn't matter.

He didn't feel a thing.

Melodies of sorrow

Float through the air

Enrapturing me

In her web

Seeing

All my past grievances

Unraveling before me

That death

Her angst

And yet

I do not care

For as long as I

Can hear her sing

These tunes of pain

I know

That I'm here

With her

Forever

He was to take the final Exams next month.

The final part of the Chuunin Exams.

Pause.

He didn't know if he was excited or disappointed.

Or simply emotionless.

She was smiling delightedly at him.

"Congratulations Sasuke-kun! You'll become a chuunin!"

"Hn. Not yet."

He felt her frown at him.

"Of course you will. I have faith in you."

Those last words struck him.

Like a lightning bolt.

Right into his heart.

"I have faith in you."

He was silent.

She was one of the only people to say that to him.

Silence.

Pause.

Thump.

"Ne, Sasuke-kun? Are you okay?"

He came back to reality abruptly.

"…"

He felt her looking at him curiously.

"Sasuke-kun?"

"I'm fine."

He turned away and began walking out of the tower.

Step.

"Sasuke-kun! Wait up!"

He slowed down just enough for her to catch up.

"…where's the dobe?"

He saw her looking confused for a moment.

"Oh, you mean Naruto? He went off to Ichiraku's with Iruka-sensei."

He sighed inwardly. Good.

That dobe wouldn't be here to bother them.

"Hm."

Pause.

Step.

"So, Sasuke-kun…"

Silence.

"Are you really okay?"

Stop.

He turned to look at her.

"What do you mean?"

He watched as she gazed silently at the ground.

"…that mark on your neck."

Shock.

Stop.

Silence.

He froze.

"…"

"…are you really okay?"

Silence.

Thump.

He didn't answer.

"Orochimaru…"

He stiffened at the name.

"Don't mention him."

He felt her flinch slightly at his brusque tone.

"But…"

"I'm fine."

Silence.

"Don't say that."

Stop.

Pause.

"Don't just say that."

He looked at her slowly.

She was staring at him, a serious look in her eyes.

"You always say that when you don't want to talk about something."

Silence.

"Normally, I wouldn't bother you if you really don't want to talk, but this is serious."

Silence.

"You can't just keep on saying that your fine and try to find a solution to everything yourself! You nearly died back there. What if…that thing is dangerous? Really dangerous?"

He was silent.

She was right.

He didn't like that fact.

"You don't have to tell me what happened between you and Kakashi-sensei, Sasuke-kun. But…please, don't overdo yourself."

He glanced at her. She had a sad expression on her face.

"Aa."

He saw her look up in surprise.

"…y-yeah."

Step.

They continued walking on, down a path.

He didn't want to think about his feelings now.

But they kept nagging at him.

Step.

Silence.

"Are you alright?"

Pause.

He could feel her looking at him in confusion.

"Huh? Of course I am."

Pause.

"I meant after that ordeal with…"

He didn't finish that sentence.

He saw her face dawn in understanding.

"Oh! Eeto…well…"

Silence.

"Tell the truth."

He was being blunt.

But he need to be blunt to her.

Or else she wouldn't get it.

"…not really…"

Thud.

He turned sharply.

"What do you mean?"

He watched her. She was silent, seemingly thinking.

"…it was scary. Sasuke-kun…seemed so afraid."

Stop.

He froze.

Silence.

"Afraid of that man…and I was scared too."

Pause.

"I thought that we would all die."

Silence.

He could see tears beginning to well up in her eyes.

Damn it, why did she cry so easily?

"Don't cry."

Step.

"We're fine now, so there's nothing to cry about."

Step.

"Why do you cry so easily?"

Silence.

He watched her look up at him.

"…gomen ne."

Sigh.

"It's fine."

He turned away.

Step.

"A-ano…well, I have to go now, Sasuke-kun."

He watched her smile at him.

"Aa. Ja."

"Ja ne…"

Silence.

"Sakura…"

Step.

Stop.

"Hai?"

"…meet me here tomorrow morning."

He could feel her surprise.

"…eeto…h-hai."

"Ja ne."

He left.

Singing

In melodic tunes

This music

Achingly beautiful

Rips my heart out

She has me

In her possession

Her sweet possession

That beautiful voice

That brilliant smile

She knows

What makes me fall

Lulling me to sleep

My eyes close

She smiles

Continuing

To sing

Her sinful lullabies.

Another chapter completed! This one faster than the others. Sorry if there wasn't a lot of drama in this one. But I hope that everyone enjoyed it anyway.

The lyrics in this chapter are from a song of mine called Sinful Lullabies.

-glances at review button- Hint hint. Please review! Never feel shy or something to review; I love to see all your comments/questions/etc. Erm…think of it as something that will encourage the author to update faster! Well, actually, it does…