Oh my god...you don't even know how happy I am.
You all have brought Insignia to more than 100 follows; that's absolutely amazing.
Disclaimer:I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING! NOT NARUTO, NOT THE CHARACTERS, NADA!
I can't thank you all enough! Thank you so so much! Because of this amazingness, you all will get a new story published along with the next chapter to this one. Don't forget to VOTE so I know which one you all want to read!
As always, review and enjoy and let me love you more than I already do.
P.S: This story has some form of injury I do not encourage. It is simply necessary for plot development.
Sasuke's eyes were a bit hazy and slow, but he looked at the man behind me. "I was just...helping him." I heard a scoff, something that never really came from Kakashi.
"Uh huh."
"He was..." I kept my back to him when I said this. Even though I couldn't see my guardian, I could tell that he was raising an eyebrow. "I was having an anxiety attack."
"Naruto, are you okay? What happened?"
"Well you know how these things work. I tried to tell myself that I was having one, that I needed to breathe; nothing I tried was working. Sasuke kissed me to help my breathe, and it worked, so I'm not complaining." I heard some shuffling and I felt a bit of tension, or warning, enter the air.
"On one note, I'm glad that you decided to kiss him, Sasuke. On another, I'm not. Kissing can help regulate a person's breathing and nerves, it could also go the exact opposite and make the situation ten times worse. Thankfully the latter wasn't the case, but it would've been very bad if it had happened and I hadn't come here in time." He stepped towards me.
"Naru, turn around." I did as I was told and was shocked when I felt his arms wrap around me. It took me a moment to mirror his action, but when I did I felt my body relax. "Okaeri."
"Kakashi Hatake...that's how you know my brother." I pulled away from said man and turned to look at the raven a few feet away. "Did you teach Naruto?"
He shook his head. "Although this is why I know your brother, I didn't teach him anything." They looked at each other and nodded understandingly, my own mind lost between their conversation.
What were they talking about?
"Uh guys, what're you-"
"I'm surprised you don't remember me," Kakashi cut me off.
"Um,"
"I don't know if you're exactly who I think you are, but if you are the man who helped my family's company then I have faint memories of you." Sasuke responded.
"Guys!" I yelled aggravatingly. It caught both if their attentions and they turned to me and asked what I wanted. Well, more like Kakashi did and Sasuke just stared. "What are you guys talking about?"
"Nothing nothing! Naruto, why don't you and Sasuke come back to my place for dinner? I'll cook!" He said excitedly with that weird smile expression he does with his eyes.
I just rolled my eyes in reply. "Whatever."
"You got all of that, right?" Kakashi handed me another plate to store away in his cabinet as he questioned me.
"Sure." I dried it and placed it on one if his shelves.
"Okay." I was handed yet another plate. How many plates were there? "Then repeat it all back to me." I couldn't answer as I dried this plate, a sigh coming from my elder. "I thought so." He wiped his hands and as soon as I finished placing the last plate in it's correct place I followed suit.
He turned around to look at me eye-to-eye, my mind finally trying to focus on what he was going to say. "Naruto, you have another collaboration to do. Tomorrow I'm going to take you a little further in town to a dance studio. I know the owner of the place very well, and I need you to so whatever she tells you to do. She is not our partner, but this collab is very, very important and she's going to help you become better as a dancer and help you prepare for the extremities of your partner."
"Who is his partner?" The deep, concentrated tone arose from the room to the left of my guardian and I, my eyes widening a bit from surprise as I forgot he was here.
Kakashi chuckled. "I guess we'll have to find out."
I really hope that it's not Gaara.
"Hn. I wasn't aware of a new collaboration."
"That's because this was arranged while you were sucking the face off of my son," Kakashi's eyes rose in an upside-down U and he smiled.
"Kakashi! I already told you that was not the case!" I groaned and tried to urge him away from the subject.
"It still doesn't change the fact that it happened." I could just tell that he was jumping through a field of dandelions and sunflowers in his mind from his win.
"Tch, whatever." I shrugged and turned my head the other way.
After the conversation settled down, there was some idle chit chat before I yawned and really didn't think I could stay any longer. I told Kakashi that I would be taking my leave, but he simply insisted that I sleep in the guest room because it was so late already. I sighed and agreed, plopping down onto the queen bed and letting my muscles adjust before stripping.
I really should take a shower...
I tried to keep my eyes open, but they kept closing and eventually stayed shut. I was in between sleep and wake, my brain lazy yet serious.
Sasuke and I kissed...he's my Mate...what the hell am I supposed to do?
I felt my arm rest on my forehead and over my eyes. Before I knew why it was happening, a gentle stream of my salty sorrows was flowing and the lump in my throat was choking my soft sobs.
Why did I have to be one of the people who actually found their soulmate? Why did I have to find him now? I'm better off alone, where no one tries to wonder or care about me. I'm fine dealing with everything on my own; I can take care of myself! I don't need someone else butting into my business! All they end up doing is stealing away a piece of me and then stepping on it and crushing it and leaving it to rot away. Why couldn't I just be alone?
I felt the burn of my Mark, and this time, I gripped my shoulder very harshly and dug my fingernails into my skin.
I hate this damned Mark! I hate it I hate it I hate it!
I ignored the pain and let some of my cries out, my mind flashing through old memories.
I gripped my sink and screamed, my throat burning from the obnoxious yells and the strain from my tears. My shoulders were shaking softly and I let my head drop between my arms.
'This damned Mark!' The said spot on my shoulder became very hot, as if it was protesting on its own. 'If it this damn thing wasn't here I wouldn't be here!' Nobody was home, and that fact alone was enough to make anyone stray away.
My eyes turned to the medicine cabinet on my left, my hands immediately digging through it and throwing the items I was looking for in the sink.
I frowned at the sight of all of the objects together, taking a little Dixie cup and filling it with water; I didn't care if it was from the tap by this point. Then I took my shirt off, tossing it to the side without a care and opening my box of BC powder*. I folded the packet nicely, holding my nose and letting it down my throat quickly. I waited a minute or so until I felt my headache and my worries drown out from the pain killer. I took the next object that had been thrown into the white porcelain bowl, biting my lip and struggling to choke down my sobs as I swiped my thumb across the lighter.
I looked at it the flame for a long time, the orange and yellow making me sweat.
'Time to get rid of this damn Mark.'
I lifted my right hand and angled the flame towards my shoulder, pressing the dangerous material to my skin and letting out a scream. After about ten seconds it became too great and my fingers let go, my knees collapsing and my body falling dumbly to the ground. The painkiller did help, however little it was, and my tears were now pooling on the floor next to my face. I was on my side at this point, my knees pulling in closer to my stomach and the feeling of a thick crimson running over my body enough to make me cry harder if possible.
"Naruto!" I heard a voice calling to me, but it was a noise that sounded so far and so faint that I ignored it and shakily reached for the plastic devil. "Naruto, where are you!?" The voice sounded a little closer, but as the lighter was getting closer to my already damaged skin everything else was blocked out but the loud beating of my heart.
I lit it, not even daring to look at the mischievous beauty of the flame as I brought it to my unwanted imperfection. I only heard half of the full volume of my scream, the noise so loud that my ears rang and my throat burned. It was broken by shaky sobs in between, the scream quieting after the lighter fell to the floor. Tears, sweat, and blood were puddled and mixed together, my eyes closing and my body shaking when the voice returned much louder.
"Oh my god…"
'Kakashi...That's his voice...what is he doing here?'
He shook my body, checking my neck through the sticky red substance and lifting me up. I was in his arms bridal style and being placed into the backseat of his car when I blacked out.
I went to wipe my eyes when I heard the door open, my body reacted quickly and placing my arm over my eyes and slowing my breathing down to act as if I was asleep. I heard it close quietly and then a soft patter of feet against the wood flooring. A light body slowly lied down on the other side of the bed, the corners of my mouth raising as I recognized Sasuke's scent. This accidently caused a last drop of water to fall from my closed eyes and I prayed the other in my bed didn't see it.
He was shifting around when I think he finally settled, my mind becoming slow and my breathing no longer forced. I let my body sink into the bed and fall limp as I realized how tired I was. I was on the verge of sleep when a cold finger touched my damp cheek and stroked it.
"I'm sorry…"
He turned away from me quickly, my heart clenching and my Mark screaming at me.
You can't just say that…
I let another tear fall before letting the dark of sleep take over and carry me away.
In the morning I rolled, quite literally, out of bed and groaned as I made impact with the floor. I rummaged through the doors in the dresser, finding a pair of sweats and hanging them over my shoulder as I almost crawled to the bathroom. Going through my morning duties, I somehow managed to stand up and put the cotton bottoms without falling over. I rubbed my eyes and yawned a 'Good morning' to Kakashi. He replied back with the same, a smile on his face as he placed some food on the bar for me. I sat on the stool and groaned begrudgingly at the nutrition.
"Aw Naruto, what's wrong? A little nutrition isn't going to hurt."
"Why are you feeding me?" Despite my slow and raspy voice due to the morning, I shoved a forkful of whatever was on the plate into my mouth.
"The answer to that, my little fox, is because you have a collaboration to fulfill."
I swallowed a second helping of the food. "What day of the week is it?"
"Monday."
"Oh darn, I missed church." We both broke into a calm laughter, my food coming down easier from the my daily vitamin of comedy.
"Kakashi, we must leave soon; it's almost nine." I blinked, not noticing the raven standing against the wall behind me.
"Ah, you're right! C'mon Naru, bring your food with you; we need to leave." I groaned and brought the plate with me into the car. After a bunch of yells and protest about my sloppiness, I was thrown a shirt and was told to put it on. I followed directions and sat back in my seat until we arrived at our destination.
Tsunade's Dance Studio…? Why does this sound familiar…
We walked inside, my eyes widening and my a whimper coming from me as I realized it was a ballet studio. We were standing around for a little while before a bust, blonde woman came out and greeted both Kakashi and Sasuke.
I swear this can't just be my weirdness….I know this lady somehow…
"Ah, and you must be Naruto!" She shook my hand. "I am Tsunade, and let me tell you that we are very excited to see the outcome of this project. Oh, here she comes! I'd like you all to meet-"
"S-Sakura?" I felt my stomach flip and a lump in my throat form as I laid eyes on the bubblegum-headed girl.
"N-Naruto?" She seemed to be feeling the same as we looked at each other, a silence stringing throughout the studio.
"Well, it would seem that you two already know each other…?" Sasuke's voice cut through the air like a knife through butter, and I felt my palm sweat.
"Y-Yeah; me and Naruto go way back." I covered my mouth and ran over to the trash can in the corner, spilling its contents from earlier into the poor bin.
"Naruto!" Kakashi ran over to me and placed his hand onto my back. His voice was brought down to a very soft whisper. "I'm so very sorry; I didn't know that she was going to be here. Are you okay?" I nodded. "I can go and cancel this. Your health is more important than just his one collaboration, and this can be re-done."
"No no no, don't do that; I'm fine."
"Naruto...are you sure?" I held the silence. "I don't want to come home, or get a call from Sasuke at your house, and have to take you to the hospital because of her again."
"Kakashi...that was such a long time ago…"
"But you still remember it, you still feel it, don't you? You wouldn't have thrown up if you hadn't; Sasuke being thrown into this mix doesn't make anything easier, either."
I wiped my mouth with a napkin I had from earlier's breakfast and threw that in the bin along with all of the other nasties. "I'm better now, Kakashi. If I wanted to get rid of my Mark, she would not be the cause of it again anyway. I hold no feelings for her that are strong enough to make me...experience that again." I stood up and turned around to face the rest of the people in the area.
"So, what's the plan?"
*= BC Powder is a stronger, more immediate type of painkiller that is taken like described. It's not bad or anything, it's just a strong and faster type of Advil or Aleeve and such. A lot of people have difficulty taking it due to it's strength and bitter taste, as to why Naruto holds his nose.
Please remember to review! I really love it when you do that! VOTE to make sure you help me chose which story to chose!
I love you all!
