Stay With Me
~Chapter 10 – Just a Game~
~~~*~~~
The sun streamed in through the glass walls, making the cream-coloured blankets look golden. The clear azure sky could be seen from every direction, as well as the vast ocean that seemed to connect with it. The blue canvas surrounded me on all sides as I sat up from the cushiony bed, stretching from a long and peaceful sleep.
I hadn't slept that well in many, many months.
Standing up from the bed, I glided over to the glass doors that led to the balcony and slid them open, letting a cool ocean breeze sweep past my pyjama-clad body. I stepped onto the large wooden deck and let the chilled boards numb the soles of my feet as I walked to the railing, staring down into the murky cerulean water.
So... this was it. This was my home now. My life.
It had only been about a week since Itachi and I had come to this place, this strange and secret village.
And it was that same day that Itachi told me, about how long ago, he helped build this village.
It was back when he first made Chuunin, when he was only nine years old. He and a few other members of the Uchiha clan went to assist the construction workers in building the walls surrounding this village. It had been a C-rank mission. Since then, of course, the other few members of that mission had died, and now Itachi was the only one from the Hidden Leaf village who knew where this village was.
And he had come here many times over the past few years. He had acquainted himself with the villagers, and especially with their mayor, Yorikujo-san, who in return for his occasional services, let Itachi build a house on the cliff side.
And by services, I mean that Itachi would assist the village with any rough physical labour that they needed done, such as helping repair walls at a high elevation, or picking up the remnants from old, collapsed houses. Common things; things that he didn't need to waste his time doing, nonetheless he always helped out when he was walking through.
So to show her thanks for Itachi's generosity, mayor Yorikujo-san officially gave Itachi citizenship into this village, and his own home to go with it. The villagers came to see Itachi as one of their own, and thus Itachi came to live here when he wasn't busy with Akatsuki. It was his home, and now it was my home, too.
And this home that Itachi had designed himself; was like a shimmering jewel on the sandy beach, with clear glass walls that reflected the sun and glittered as bright as the ocean surface. The furniture was neither modern nor outdated – as most of it was hand-fashioned by the village craftsmen, and was built from sturdy wood and carved to be a beautiful work of art all on their own.
I liked it here, it was peaceful; soothing. The entire place was laidback and calming, and tranquil, but still... it was missing something.
I missed my teammates.
I missed Sakura, and the way she would look up at me with those big green eyes and smile, and greet me in the mornings. I missed the shrill and angry sound of her voice when she would scold Naruto, or the scowl on her face every time Kakashi-sensei showed up late for early morning training.
I missed Kakashi-sensei, and his constant indifferent attitude. I missed seeing him propped up against a tree trunk, orange book in hand, completely oblivious to Naruto and Sakura's empty threats for being lazy. I missed the way he would keep us waiting for hours first thing in the morning, only to arrive five hours later with some pathetic excuse.
But most of all, I missed Naruto.
I missed his loud, obnoxious voice. I missed the way he always promised to someday defeat me, or the way he would shout in frustration every time I showed him up, or the way he was always struggling and pushing himself to best me. I missed the childish antics and annoying pranks he always pulled to get attention, or the way he would always seem to get into trouble. I missed hearing him rant constantly about ramen, or being Hokage. I missed seeing the look in his eyes whenever he saw the great stone faces, or whenever Sakura smiled at him.
I missed them, all of them.
Even though now, I had Itachi. I had my brother back. My dream had been realized... and yet I felt like I had lost something more important than a dream.
My life was so different now. My days consisted of taking care of the house, or helping Taoroku-san and his mother take care of their hobby farm while Itachi takes Taoroku-san's place helping his father with work. In the evenings Itachi and I spend time alone, training or doing... other things... and then we have dinner and go to bed.
I felt like we were playing House, pretending we were newlyweds on our honeymoon.
Just playing pretend.
Just a game.
And still something's missing.
When I had lived in Konoha, I had missed Itachi. But life was simpler without him. He's always complicating things; twisting them into being more than what they really are; confusing them and me until I don't know what do with myself.
He breaks me into little pieces, and then picks them up and puts them back together with his own hands.
As the smell of salt and fish invaded my nostrils, I heard the sound of seagulls bellowing high up in the air, and the bustling of busy sailor and fishermen down below in the harbour, snapping me from my daze. Glancing out at the clear blue ocean again, I swore I could hear Naruto's irritating voice; laughing in his obnoxious way, and Sakura's angry reprimanding tone, rebuking him for being too loud in the early morning.
And then I realized, that maybe, just maybe, my mind was playing tricks on me; forcing me to hear their voices again to rub it in my face that I actually missed them.
Letting a bitter smirk cross my face, I sighed and stretched, ready to go back inside and start my day. Itachi had been gone all morning, and would probably be home soon. I wanted to be ready for him when he returned.
Sighing once more, I cast a last longing glance down at the rocky shore, and then, my breath hitched.
My heart stopped.
Time stopped.
Standing out amidst the several bustling boatmen and seamen, was the unmistakable and undeniable profile of a certain blonde idiot, dressed in a gaudy orange jumpsuit that only he would wear. And standing on either side of him; stood a red-clad pink-haired kunoichi, and a tall, vest-wearing Jounin with a silver mane.
They were here. It wasn't an illusion. It hadn't been my mind's evil tricks – they were here.
And they were heading this way.
As quickly and stealthily as I could manage, I ducked down below the railing, cursing Itachi for building this entire house practically out of glass. Scurrying towards the doors, I bolted into our bedroom and began to hastily dress myself, mindlessly grabbing my wallet and running out the door, not bothering to lock it.
I ran past the road and fled into the forest, leaping on tree branches as I hastily sped towards town. I had to find Itachi. I had to find Itachi before they did.
Even if I wanted to see them.
Even if I missed them.
I would not be separated from my brother again. Not ever.
So I ran.
XXX
Sasuke's little hand was cold in mine, as I wrapped my larger and warmer fingers around his tiny frozen ones. He smiled up at me and pulled me further through the busy snowy streets, nearly crashing into several eager civilians.
This was a good time of year, Sasuke loved the snow.
Sasuke liked the snow because it meant hot chocolate and cuddling under thick, warm blankets. And of course, because of the endless cheerful mood that only came once a year. I, on the other hand, preferred autumn over winter. It wasn't as cold, and the leaves always seemed to turn a brighter shade of auburn in Konoha than anywhere else.
But I liked winter, too.
Because Sasuke smiled the most in winter.
We darted through large quantities of people until finally Sasuke found the special tea shop he had been looking for. Excitedly, he didn't hesitate to pull me through the doorway and find a booth in the back to sit.
Taking a seat next to him, I helped Sasuke remove his coat while a waitress came and took our order. We ordered hot beverages and dumplings, sharing a plate of them between the two of us. I made Sasuke promise not to tell mom that I let him have sweets before dinner, and he, of course, agreed to secrecy.
"Nii-san?"
"Hmm?" I inquired, taking a bite of the steaming-hot dumpling.
"Nii-san... is it scary to go on missions?"
His voice was quiet; embarrassed. He wasn't looking at me, he was staring at the steaming cup in his hands – at the hot tea which he had barely sipped.
Thoughtfully, I waited a moment and mulled over his question before replying,
"Yeah, it can be pretty scary sometimes. Especially when you don't know where you're going, or when you'll be able to come home. But when you're in the midst of battle, the adrenaline sort of makes you forget about how scared you are."
I didn't bother to explain to him about the scare of being near-death, he was too young to understand.
Besides, that's not something that a child's mind should have to contemplate.
He was looking at me – puzzled, deep in thought. "Nii-san, even you get scared on missions?" he asked.
I smiled at him then and took to staring at my own tea, mimicking his pose. "Yes, Sasuke. Even I get scared on missions. Being a shinobi isn't easy, and you're life is always on the line, with every battle you face. Being a shinobi means fighting countless battles, which means you're always in danger, and in return, you're always frightened."
His brows furrowed together in deep thought, as he nervously looked down at his hands.
He was so cute.
"Will I...will I ever be a great shinobi like you? One who isn't afraid of anything? One who can't be defeated by anyone? I want to be a great shinobi, too, and make father proud like you did. I don't care how many battles I have to fight!"
That look of burning determination that I adored was glowing in his eyes, setting them aflame. I smiled at him and ruffled his hair, encouraging him to follow his dream and never give up.
Though honestly, as we paid our tab and left the restaurant, and his small hand was encased in mine again, a single thought was running through my head,
'I hope he never regrets those words.'
So we walked back to the Uchiha complex, hand-in-hand, until at last we saw the foreboding gates and Sasuke let go of my hand, running toward the Omni-benevolent gateway without a care or worry in his pretty little head.
And I found myself wondering, what would the future hold for the two of us? What will happen to Sasuke when the revolt begins? This pure, innocent, wonderful little child...
And then the thought struck me, like a bolt of lightning, it pierced my mind and broke my heart.
This might be my last winter with Sasuke.
XXX
I have to find him. I have to find him quickly. No, I have to find him, now.
Panicked, and with my anxiety rapidly increasing, I rushed through the forest trees as easily as normal running – as transporting this way was second nature to me now.
If I didn't find Itachi before they did, all would be lost. Or worse, if they found me before I found Itachi.
No doubt that they came here to find me. It's been over a month. Sakura must have been worried sick, even Naruto. But wouldn't the ANBU trailing us have told the Elders I was dead? Didn't they label me a traitor? In that case, were they here to find my corpse? But that made no sense either – that was ANBU work. They wouldn't send two genin and one Jounin this far out to do that. Especially not when we knew each other so well. They wouldn't risk letting personal feelings get involved.
None of it made sense.
At last I reached the outskirts of the shopping metropolis, pausing to scan the area to be sure that nothing was suspicious. Satisfied that all was clear, I jumped onto the nearest roof and began examining the crowds of people in the busy streets, searching for Itachi.
When the street turned out to be Itachi-less, I moved on to the next one, leaping from roof to roof, inspecting each avenue as I dashed through them. Finding this search to be fruitless, I changed direction, heading for Shichiro-san's house, hoping that maybe Itachi would be there.
When my feet touched the dirt in front of their house, I began frantically knocking on the hard wooden door. In a matter of seconds, Taoroku-san opened the door and looked down at me, surprised.
"Sasuke-kun? What brings you here all of the sudden?" he asked, his voice monotone and bored.
"Have you seen Itachi? Was he here? I can't find him and I need to speak to him as soon as possible," I panted out, my voice was a bit raspy and breathless.
He seemed to contemplate my question for a moment, but his face was blank. Then he blinked and replied,
"Well he was here earlier this morning, but he said he was going straight home. Did he not show up?"
I was quiet for a moment, thinking that Itachi must have come home... right as Kakashi and the others made it to our door.
Fuck.
"He... might have. Thanks, I'll go see if he's there." I said quietly, turning on my heal and dashing away. I heard him call something after me, but I couldn't distinguish what it was, nor did I go back and ask for clarification.
Opting to take the road this time instead of going through the forest, I skimmed through a sea of people, manoeuvring through them with a skilful and graceful footing. When it seemed that it was taking too long, I leapt onto the nearest roof and began hopping on shingle-covered ceilings again.
When our home came into view, I slowed my pace to almost a jog, peering around cautiously for signs of my old team. There was no one in sight, save for the busy seamen down in the pier.
I sauntered to the door and pulled it open, hoping that Itachi would be there waiting for me. But Itachi was not there, and neither was anyone else. I ran through the large, glass building, calling out my brother's name several times, but was never met with a response. Flustered, I exited the structure and found myself at a loss once again.
If I waited here, there was a chance that Itachi would show up. That was a 'best case' scenario. But at the same time, they could show up in Itachi's stead, and I would be damned. If I went looking for Itachi again, the possibilities of finding him were slim. But they were better than Team 7's chances of finding him, for I knew this village better than they.
Then there's the alternative: they could have already encountered Itachi. They might have fought him, and if that were the case, then I might very well be too late.
What would I do if my friends killed my brother?
My lover.
Or what if it were the other way around? If Itachi took the lives of my comrades, even in self-defence, could I forgive him?
I willed myself to stop thinking about it, and without any other choice, I ran back in the direction of town.
Where the hell was Itachi?!
"Sasuke!"
Upon hearing my name being shouted, I halted mid-dash, and spun around, facing none other than an out-of-breath Taoroku-san.
"What is it?" I asked, more impatiently than I had intended.
He looked at me for a moment, hesitant, and then turned his gaze to the ground. Before I could open my mouth he said,
"It's just... my Dad said that, some people arrived in town this morning. They were looking for their lost teammate. And they said that his name was... Sasuke,"
"Yes, they're looking for me. I already know that they're here," I said, a bit irritable.
"O-Oh?" He responded, startled, but then continued, "My Dad came home and told us right away, Itachi was there when he gave the news. Right away Itachi said that he was going home to see you, and he left. But Dad didn't get the chance to tell him that... he told them where you guys were living."
"They came by this morning. Luckily I was able to sneak out before they could spot me," I replied, steadily rising in anxiousness.
"And..." Taoroku began, but his voice trailed off.
"And...?" I repeated, lifting an eyebrow suspiciously. "And what?"
He sighed, frustrated, and then met my equally frustrated gaze. "The guys who're looking for you, they say that Itachi is a criminal – that he kidnapped you, and that he's a traitorous murderer! If the village finds out, there'll be mayhem!"
"It's not true," I said, almost in a whisper, "And the villagers would never believe it,"
"I know that," he said, "what I'm saying is, if the villagers hear these bias accusations, they'll go on a manhunt looking for your teammates! I just came here to warn you, you shouldn't get involved with this. Come home with me and hide out till it's over," he suggested, seemingly frantic.
"Thanks for the offer," I replied, "But I can't do that. I have to find Itachi, and I can't let any harm come to my teammates either."
"If the villagers find out that you're protecting a bunch of good-for-nothing, lying shinobi, they won't forgive you either." He warned.
I smiled then turned my back to him and said, before running off again, "I know."
Taking Taoroku's less-than-pleasant advice, I chose to take the forest 'trail' again instead of the road. It'd be better to avoid the villagers right now – who knows how much these rumours could have spread.
Bounding across tree branches, I launched myself towards a large oak tree but my leap was interrupted; a horde of shuriken was aimed to cut me off. Not to hit me – either the aim was poor or my attacker meant only to unbalance me – but it did deter me from making a safe landing on the nearest branch. Instead I fell, hurtling towards the ground, just barely managing to land on my feet with a bit of grace.
The bundle of nine sharpened shuriken stuck out of the ground, and as I looked up in the direction they had come from, my eyes widened – for only a millisecond.
"I finally found you," he said, his orange-covered arms folded impishly over his flat chest. Naruto met my gaze; his heated blue eyes against my fiery obsidian ones. I stood from my kneeling position, straightening my back, and letting a slightly bitter smirk stretch across my face.
"Sasuke..."
~~~*~~~
Author's Note: I'm sooorryyy! I've been really sick these last few weeks. I meant for this chapter to be up much sooner, so that I could meet my hope of finishing this story before December, but it doesn't look like that will happen now. Anyways, there are only two more chapters left after this one, and maybe a short epilogue. Maybe. Thank you for reading. :)