Wow guys... been forever.... I'M NOT DEAD YET!!!! For once it wasn't just me this chapter was waiting on. I actually finished it like two or three weeks ago and Toast was being... well... lazy... for once, at least when it comes to editing, but it's here! YAY!!!!!!

Any ways! DISCLAIMER!!! Come on guys, you know the drill....

Cry Me a Sea of Stars

Chapter Ten: Dead Men Tell No Tales

"Wild animals never kill for sport. Man is the only one to whom the torture and death of his fellow creatures is amusing in itself."

James Anthony Froude

"The death of democracy is not likely to be an assassination from ambush. It will be a slow extinction from apathy, indifference, and undernourishment."

Robert M. Hutchins

Dead men tell no tales. That's how the saying goes. But I just don't see how that could be true... It didn't make sense, none what so ever. You could learn a lot about a person and their life just by looking over the things they'd collected over the years. You don't need them there to explain the objects to you... you can do that yourself.

Death... what is it about that word that scares people? Is it because it sounds so final? Or is it the meaning of the word? Lifeless? That doesn't sound any better....no longer animate? No... too cold. Deceased? I've heard it too many times. But what is it about the word death that's so scary?

I shook my head and continued to pack up the books in Shikamaru's old room. For a man that was lazy, he read... a lot. Slipping it into the box, I cringed a little as Naruto dropped something on the metal tiling.

"ACK! SHIKA'S SHOUGI SET!!!" the blond cried, diving to gather it. I looked up and Sasuke walked over to Naruto.

"You should try and be more careful..." he stated softly, helping the blond up and setting the shougi set aside. Naruto offered a sheepish smile and laughed, rubbing the back of his head with a shaking hand.

"Sorry... S-so... I had the weirdest dream last night....It was where I was a magical princess and baa-chan was my evil son who wanted to murder me! Sasuke was her accomplice who was riding a giant Sakura, wearing Ino booties, and her conjoined twin, Gaara. Since things weren't going well we offered Pervy Sage as a sacrifice! But then my magical husband, Shika-" Naruto's voice cut off in the middle of his rant, his face paling to an almost sickly color. He stuttered before turning and running from the room, Sasuke and I looking after him.

"He's not taking this well at all..." I muttered, going back to what I was doing.

"He never will.... I'm amazed he even managed to help sort through some of Shika's things..."

"He's tougher than he looks..."

"And what about you, Gaara?"

I paused and looked at Sasuke, confused. "What do you mean?"

"Are you as tough as you look or are you as fragile as Naruto?" Sasuke asked, lifting a paper weight in his hands and quirking a brow. "Wow... never took him for someone that would use these...."

"He wasn't... he got that as a gift and never got the motivation to get rid of it." I stated, taking it from him and packing it away. Sasuke's gaze followed me.

"You haven't answered my question, Gaara..."

I shrugged. "And I'm not going to." I muttered, listening as Sasuke sighed and walked over to me. I set down the books in my hands as his arms snaked around my waist.

"If I know you, Gaara... you can only take so much...." he whispered into my ear, hips pressed against me as he swayed them slowly side to side, forcing me to follow his movements. "When are you going to give in?"

His voice had dropped in tone, his lips brushing against the shell of my ear. A shiver ran up my spine, Sasuke's hands loosening around my waist and moving to my hips. He leaned down a little farther, tongue darting out along the shell of my ear, gaining a gasp from me in response.

"What's wrong, Gaara? Not gonna answer me?" His hands were working lower, as I struggled to form words. Thinking had suddenly gotten harder and my mind wasn't working as fast as I wished it would.

"Answer me, Gaara... and I might just take care of this..." He pressed his palm down and I hissed, sucking in air through my clenched teeth.

"Ngh.... Sasuke..."

"What is it, Gaara?" he purred, tongue darting out again, teeth following it.

"Please..."

"Please, what?"

"Sasu..."

Within seconds I was pinned against a dresser, the taller keeping me in place. I gasped, my mind still trying to catch up with me. He was already working at my belt, lips against my neck.

"Sasu... ke..." I gasped out, something finally managing to come to mind. "Not... h-here..."

His hands stilled and I gasped for air, taking the moment to recover. He knew what I was getting at. Nodding, he pulled me away from the dresser and we left the room, entering his. With the click of his door behind us, we were alone.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-

I cracked open my eyes as I felt the bed beside me shift, Sasuke moving in his sleep, I guessed. With a groan, I moved so I was lying on my side, angled to look up at him. He was sitting up, a cigarette hanging loosely from a hand as he exhaled. With a sigh I reached out and nudged him.

"Didn't you quit?" I asked, voice still hoarse. Sasuke glanced at me and took another drag on the cancer stick before putting it out in a nearby ash tray.

"I started again..."

"I noticed..."

Sasuke shifted and motioned to his lap. I sat up, light pain shooting through my hips and lower back. I ignored it and moved over, straddling his hips.

"You going to answer my question?" he asked, placing a chaste kiss on my lips and pulling back.

"No."

"Figured as much." Sasuke chuckled, seemingly amused by my answer. I frowned and began to pull back. He tightened his grip around my waist and forced me to stay in place. "Talk to me, Gaara... what's running through that head of yours?... hm?" he lowered his head, lips brushing against my cheek as he talked. He buried his nose in my hair, sighing.

"What do you want to know?" I asked, wrapping my arms around his neck.

"How about recent incidents?"

I flinched. "Sasuke... I'm no-"

"Yeah... you are, Gaara. You've got that look in your eyes. Hell, you submitted completely during sex, Gaara." he paused, pulling back to look me in the eye. "You never do that..." I flinched and curled against him, my face buried in his neck.

"I know... I just..."

"Guilt." Sasuke stated, cutting me off. I flinched.

"N-no... why-"

"Gaara... I know you better than that." Sasuke stated, eyes narrowing. I shook my head, pulling back.

"No! Sasuke it isn't-" he cut me off by flipping our positions. I hadn't been ready for it and whimpered slightly as my back was pressed into the mattress. He was leaning over me, eyes locked on mine.

"Gaara! You gotta stop doing this to yourself, damn it! You keep doing this and you're gonna snap!"

Sasuke paused and took a shaky breath. "You do and you won't be around anymore, Gaara. I've seen the scars...and.... I don't think I could take it if you..." he choked back a sob, crying. "I don't think I could take it if you left, too."

I'd been waiting for his breakdown. I knew it was coming and I knew I would be the only one to see it. Shifting slightly, I sat up, pulling Sasuke into my lap, arms around him. It was rare that Sasuke would ever get like this. He never had the privilege as a child, trying to please his father.

"I'm not going anywhere, Sasuke..." I promised, pressing a kiss to his neck.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Pluto was a cold planet... a very cold planet. This was noted as we stepped off the ship and into chest high snow...

"Sir... are you sure we're on the right side of the planet?" I asked, tone flat. It had been a total of two days since Shikamaru's death and things were... relatively normal. Sasuke merely shrugged.

"I guess we'll find out..." he muttered before stepping off the edge of the walkway and disappearing into a seven foot snow bank. "IT ATE ME!!!!"

"It didn't eat you, Sir... you just fell in..."

"Well then...." his voice was muffled by the snow, but still audible as he sighed. "A little help here?"

I rolled my eyes and nodded to Jiraiya and Orochimaru, the two going over and lifting him from the hole he'd been trapped in. He brushed the snow from his coat. He took a moment longer than usual before looking over at the rest of us.

"Gaara, Naruto... you two are with me... the rest of you wait here... this is something the three of us have to do alone..."

-0-0-0-0-0-0-

The Nara household was a quaint one. Simple in it's design and... homey, to say the least. The place was still, calm as always with the ever classic lazy aura Shikamaru had always had. It was nearly impossible to stand there on the steps... at least... I think we were on the steps. It was hard to tell through all the snow.

"SHIKAKU NARA!!! HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO GET YOUR LAZY ASS MOVING IN ONE DAY?!" The screech of a woman from within sparked a memory, something about Shikamaru complaining about his mother. I shook the thought from my head as Sasuke made his way towards the door. He raised his fist to knock, pausing as he glanced back at Naruto and I where we stood beside Shikamaru's casket. I locked gazes with him and nodded. With a seconds hesitation more, he turned back to the door and knocked.

The door opened to reveal a tired looking woman, her face aged with stress as she frowned back at us. Brown eyes narrowed behind a few lose brunette strands of hair as she set her hands on her hips.

"Yoshino Nara?" Sasuke asked, politely tilting his head and offering a soft but weak smile. Her frown deepened.

"Yeah... what do you want? If you're selling something, we don't want any...."

"We're not selling anything..." Sasuke paused and fidgeted. "My name is Sasuke Uchiha...your son, his name is Shikamaru Nara, correct?"

Yoshino blinked, her frown disappearing as curiosity and hope slipped into place. "Yes... Yes he is. Do you know where he is!? Have you seen him!? How is he!?! Is he well!? Please! Tell me you know where my baby is!" she basically threw herself at Sasuke's feet, grabbing hold of his jacket and begging him for information on her son.

"Yoshino, honey what's...." a man appeared in the door, looking like a much older version of Shikamaru. Best guess was that this was Shikaku. He was scarred, but it was still easy to find the resemblance. He looked the three of us over and frowned. "Who are you?"

Sasuke visibly flinched as he silently pleaded for Yoshino to stand up again. I sighed and took a step forward. "We're co workers of Shikamaru's...." And just like that, I watched those same hopeful emotions play across the man's face.

It really is amazing how easily words can affect a person. With just a few words I'd been able to change their moods from un-trusting to begging. People really are predictable and pathetic beings... which brings me to ask, why I pity them so much... when they do it to themselves...

"And? Is he alive?" Shikaku was a lot calmer compared to his wife as he gently lifted her back onto her feet, holding her close. I looked to Sasuke and the Uchiha sighed heavily.

"Your son...." his voice caught in his throat as he choked on the air needed. "Your son is... Shikamaru is dead...."

Silence fell over the five of us as Naruto shifted weight from foot to foot, readying for the reaction of Nara's parents. Yoshino stiffened her gaze hardening just as Shikaku glared at us.

"You're lying..." She whispered, leaning closer to her husband. Sasuke flinched and hung his head.

"I wish I was... he died in the line of fire... saving one of his comrades..."

"I don't believe you...."

"Your son died a hero, Yoshino Nara. I beg of you to respect him in that fact if not for the fact that he tried to live life as honestly as he could." Sasuke straightened up and lifted his gaze to the two. "At the age of 18, Shikamaru left home and joined my crew. And as my final act as his captain it is my duty to return him home... so he can finally rest with the ones he loves."

Naruto and I lifted the casket and brought it as far forward as we could, Sasuke stepping aside to allow the other two to see it. Naruto forced a sad smile, tracing his fingers along the casket once more. With a sniffle, he pulled his hand away.

"You're home buddy... you can sleep all you want now... and no one will ever tell you not to."

The sorrow of a mother is the truest heartbreak there is. Nothing can ever compare to the feeling of losing a child... at least, that's what I've heard. But watching as Yoshino collapsed onto Shikamaru's casket, crying out, I couldn't take my eyes away. Her entire soul, it seemed, was crying out for her son.

"Come... they have a lot to catch up on..." Sasuke whispered, setting a hand on my shoulder and gently turning me. I nodded and followed, Naruto close behind.

The walk away from the Nara household was cold and lonely despite the company of my captain and pilot. People were staring at us as we walked by. Some of the faces were angry, others... sad. I didn't know what to make of them... until the rock struck Naruto. I stopped dead as did Sasuke, Naruto bent over slightly and clutching the side of his head. He pulled his hand away, blood coating it in a small pool. His eyes widened and he stepped closer to Sasuke and I.

"Who threw it..." Sasuke asked, gaze darting around. All eyes glared back, Sasuke's cold stare not being dampened a bit. No one spoke up. "Who threw it, damn it!?"

There was silence a bit longer before a woman stepped forward. She looked about our age with a look that could kill.

"I did."

Sauske's glare snapped to her. "And what, exactly, would your reasoning be?" he growled.

"You killed Shikamaru! You killed my husband!" she cried, pointing an accusing finger at the three of us. I blinked. Wait...

"Husband?"

"YES! We were to be married as soon as he returned home!"

I glanced at Sasuke and he looked at me, Naruto even silent in shock. Oh... Shit. It hit us... like a rock falling from a five story window.

We didn't have much time to think, however, as another rock was thrown. This one struck Sasuke, knocking him forward a few steps. Others followed soon after, pelting us unrelentingly. I flinched as the sting of a particularly sharp rock sliced open the skin above my brow. We didn't retaliate... we just took it. We didn't attack civilians if we could get away without it... and this was one of those times we never raised a hand even in self defense.

"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE!?!" A man shouted, the rain of rock stopping in seconds. I looked up towards the speaker only to find none other than Shikaku Nara. The towns people all took a few steps back in what looked like fear. "WELL!?!"

The woman from before snarled and glared at Shikaku. "These bastards killed your son and you're willing to just let them walk away!?"

"We didn't kill him!" Naruto sobbed, still on his knees where he'd fallen. She turned her glare back to us and Sasuke even took a step back.

"LIARS! It's because of you that he's dead! If he hadn't have gone off with you, he wouldn't have been there! YOU'RE THE REASON SHIKAMARU'S DAED!!"

"We didn't pull the fucking trigger!" I snapped back, shoving my way forward. "If you so badly want some one to blame for Shikamaru's death then blame your fucking government! THEY pulled the trigger! They gunned him down all because he stood for something they're afraid of! They shot him because he refused to believe their lies! He was a threat and they knew it! So god damn it! Don't you dare put the blame on us!"

"Gaara...." Sasuke whispered from beside me, gently setting a hand on my shoulder and pulling me back ever so slightly. "Gaara, that's enough... you've made your point..."

I let my gaze linger for a moment until the woman turned away. Finally, I stepped back, going over to help Naruto up. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Shikaku step closer to us. He glanced around and

the dispersing towns people and sighed.

"What did you mean by a threat?" he asked, voice soft. Sasuke blinked and looked at him, head cocked to the side in slight confusion.

"What?"

Shikaku turned to face Sasuke, a look of sadness and loss filling his eyes mixed with something that might have been likened to fondness. "What was my son up to... in the last five years of his life?"

Sasuke flinched slightly and looked down. I could see him thinking his words through as a pained smile stretched across his features. He finally lifted his gaze once more. "I don't want to tarnish your outlook on your son... so you'll just have to trust me when I tell you that he was a hero..."

"But why... why would you think I'd see him any different than I already do... My son's a stranger to me now... I don't know who he was... who he became..."

"He was a good man, Shikaku Nara... lazy... but a good man... and a good friend." Sasuke stated, offering a little less pained smile.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

"Welcome back..." Sakura greeted, a smile in place as the three of us stepped onto the ship once more. I glanced at her before walking right passed her and into the kitchen of the ship. Jiraiya and Orochimaru looked up from their game of cards, frowning ever so slightly.

"How'd it go?"

"It went..." Sasuke muttered, stepping in behind me. I glanced at him, noting the blood that had begun to dry from the wounds caused by flying rocks. I didn't doubt that I had a few as well, but for the time being, I didn't care. Tsunade soon entered, a look of curiosity in her eyes. I could guess at what she was about to ask.

"What happened to you?"

"Nothing.... absolutely nothing...."