Chapter 10: Love of a parent
"You-you!"Asuma cried out - shaking like a leaf in the cold winter's wind. He shook his head a couple of times, stumbling on his way towards the cavern's wall. "Y-You!"
"I'm not here to hurt you, Asuma."Sasuke spoke, stretching out a hand to touch his son's face, however, Asuma slapped his hand, breathing heavily.
"I-just...Get away...I can't..."he mouthed, covering his face to hide the tears. Sasuke's eyes widened at the sight - he felt his heart sinking into the deep abyss with no end, darkness of his very soul. Uchiha fell to his knees,nails desperately digging the earth on a place where there were no stones.
"Asuma"he uttered, loud enough only for his son to hear. "Asuma, trust me - I never meant to leave..."
His son sobbed. Pale hands hurried to rest on his ears, to stop the calming velvet voice from reaching him. Sky-like eyes were shut while the boy shook, screaming.
"Asuma!"Sasuke fought, to out voice his sorrow. "I wanted to protect you, to give you a life you deserved! He...he murdered me. That man...that once used me and now wants to use you. It was never my intention, Asuma...I loved her...I adored you!"father's voice broke, as he held out his hand, hoping to at least touch his hand. Young Uchiha opened his eyes, gazing at the empty dark ones.
...Eyes of the Edo Tensei.
"I swore once..."Sasuke smiled with bitterness. "to her, while you were still in her belly...I swore...I would give you everything you wish. Everything...Even if you wanted it, I was ready to die for you, Asuma...All you needed to do was say the words - voice your hate for the murdered who loves you like he never loved anything in his life. And yet I died...I died before I even managed to tell you my reasons, and the amount of love I feel for you - and your mother. However, Asuma, I...I need to tell you, no matter if you listen or you choose to ignore, I love you. I have always loved you, my son - a part of me, my whole. I love you Asuma and I always will. I'm not asking you to forgive me or forget my sins, only to understand...that a man like me can love - and that he loved once, and loves still. I love you. And I want you to remember that, to never forget it. I love you. I always will."
"STOP!"Asuma screamed, crying like a soulless man. "Just stop...say no more..."he pleaded like a prey pleaded his slayer.
"But I love you."Sasuke repeated, louder than before. "You are my child, my blood. You are Ino's son...how can I not love you when I loved her more than my life?"
"I can't trust you!"child hissed, hugging his knees. "I can't!"
"You said it numerous times before, when you were still a child."man smiled. "Yet, you always smiled - and I knew you lied, because, every night you would whisper my name, praying for me to hear you, and I always would. Then, you would hold my hand, tight, so tight, like I was your everything, everything you had in life, your greatest toy - and you would ask me to sing for you. Your favorite song."
Asuma looked at him.
"Flower song. Do you remember it?"Sasuke asked.
"Ha-hai."boy snuffed. "Mother sang it to me every night - because I...I needed to hear it."
"Exactly."Sasuke half-laughed. "You were never able to fall asleep without hearing that song - one I wrote for you and Ino sang like an angel. Still, you loved to listen to me. Why? You said once that my voice sounds so soft, soft as the clouds above, clouds you loved to watch and laugh at the faces only you saw."
"I..."
Sasuke shook his head, telling Asuma not to interrupt him. "Not now - let me finish."
"I know...I am aware of everything I did, especially to those I loved. I murdered my brother because of my hatred, only to realize it was my mistake. Your uncle sacrificed everything he had to save his beloved village, Konohagakure, yet, he couldn't sacrifice me, his little brother. Itachi loved me, and yet I never realized it. Actually, when I did, it was too late - I killed him. I didn't want that to happen to you and me - so I committed my life to that sole purpose. I researched every technique ever, only to stop at Edo Tensei. I knew I was going to die, before or after, so the only way to continue protecting you was to reincarnate myself. And I failed. I failed even at it.
I failed at parenting - and I failed at protecting you. However, there was a woman who stumbled upon my body one day. She gave me life and will - she told me she knew you, but after that I saw her only one or two times. She is here today, you may meet her - but, Asuma, I am here. She came to me like a light in the darkness, a gift from Kami. And we are here my son - I am here to protect you, do what I wasn't able back then. But this time I will save you, Asuma. I will save you from him. I love you. Kami...if you only knew how much I love you."
Uchiha was about to retrieve his hand from it's position near Asuma - but pale hand that trembled in the darkness, grabbed his fingers, then enveloped his whole hand. Sasuke's eyes widened.
"Don't say that."he whispered. Sasuke looked at him.
"Say what?"
"That."Asuma answered, staring at their hands. Like Reika had said...hands of those that are meant to be, hands of family, are created to fit perfectly. "That you love me. Don't say that - I don't need to hear it."
"Whatever you want."Sasuke obeyed. He was about to remove his hand when Asuma held onto it even tighter, making Sasuke smile.
"I..."Asuma uttered. "Whoever you are and no matter how much I hate you...I...don't leave me. It may be selfish, but please...don't. I need answers - and somehow I believe you can give them to me. So..." Sky-blue met darkness. "Can you?"he pleaded.
Sasuke studied his face, before he nodded.
"Ask...and I will tell."he said to him.
Asuma wiped away his tears. "Sasuke. Who...Who am I?"
Uchiha frowned. "What do you mean, who you are?"
Boy shrugged. "Who am I? I don't know...I mean...I know who I am in the eyes of the society - son of a murderer. But, Sasuke...who am I? Is there a way for me to ever find out?"
Uchiha's other hand removed the hair that covered Asuma's face - and rested on his cheek. Young boy said nothing.
"You are Ino's son. Sky-blue in your eyes speaks of your soul - it is your mother's. And believe me, Asuma, I've never met a person as beautiful as her on inside and outside. You can't bear my hatred. Her ability to love forbids that to you - you are destined to do great things. Like your uncle...like Itachi."he whispered, caressing him.
"Was he...indeed a good man?"
Sasuke laughed, sounding so broken. "He was an angel - and you are so much like him."
Itachi...Asuma repeated the said name, like a prayer in an hour of darkness.
"Then...who is the man going after me? And why?"he asked, still not letting go of his father's hand. Sasuke smiled at the innocence of his eyes.
"His name is Orochimaru."he answered. "He was a man who took me under his wing - he promised me strength, might, to kill Itachi. Only later did I realize he wanted me for his own goals - to inhabit my soul and rule the world. We - Uchiha's - have something he wants. Sharingan."
"Sharingan?"
"Yes. Orochimaru believes you have one - because you are so powerful, very powerful for your age. If I remember correctly, she said you became jounin at thirteen. ANBU wanted you to join them, and yet you refused and joined Intelligence Department to serve under your mother. It is your power that interests Orochimaru - he wasn't able to possess me so he wants you. Throughout these seventeen years, he changed several bodies - bodies of Hokages. He lived in bodies of both Raikage and Tsuchikage, doing everything as he wishes. However, after he left A's body, Raikage's place did not stay empty - it was given to Killer Bee, much to everyone's surprise."
"That Jinchuuriki?"
"It is him."Uchiha nodded. "Nevertheless, Orochimaru succeeded in Iwagakure - currently there is no Tsuchikage for about month or two, maybe even more. There is a silent war going there - war for power. In the meantime, he possessed Mizukage. You may ask why he never possessed Gaara, but the answer is quiet clear. Kankuro and Temari. They would notice changes. However, I believe he wasn't able to adapt Kage's bodies as it suited him, other ways he would've been killed years ago. Somehow, Orochimaru's power had grown, yet still, it had lowered during these four years. Mizukage's soul seems to still be there - so Orochimaru needs a quick change. It will be three years in the following days and he will need a new body. You. Unless we kill him before that."
"But I am of no use."Asuma admitted. "I don't have Sharingan and I detest the powers of our clan. I...I don't want them."
"There is nothing wrong in them, if you use them for good."Sasuke said. "Up to my knowledge, Orochimaru proceeded to attack Konoha with his army of Edo Tensei, from Kumo, from everywhere. Those shinobi who killed me were only dressed as Kumogakure's shinobi...One of them, even though I am not so sure, was Raikage. And I believe that the woman that escaped me was Tsunade."
"She was in disguise."Asuma hissed. "Mum never saw her face."
"It doesn't matter. But still, Orochimaru may even manipulate them now - and make them battle Konoha."
"I can't allow that! Mother, Shikamaru-san...they are all there!"
"It is too late, already."another voice spoke, silencing Asuma. Boy froze upon hearing it.
Woman dressed in Konoha's ANBU uniform, and a mask of a cat, walked in the light.
"Army had already surrounded Konoha. Hokage had placed a line of defense - many will die."she finished.
"Y-you..."Asuma stammered.
Her hand enveloped the mask, and she slowly pulled it. Dirty-blonde hair fell down her back, past her waist. Sapphire eyes smiled when they met equal blue.
"It is nice to see you. Asuma."she spoke. His...Rukia.
"Ru-Rukia..."he gasped, not believing his own eyes. "What...how..."
"She is the one who reincarnated me, Asuma."Sasuke filled him in. "This young woman is ANBU leader."
Asuma's eyes widened while he stared at the blonde beauty. "In three years...?"
"It is Kakashi's fault."she said, pain speaking instead of her. Asuma felt a strange feeling forming in his chest when he noticed the way she addressed Kakashi-sensei without any title. And rumors of him dating a younger girl rang in his mind, every voice he ever heard say that, every reaction...every name.
But there she is - an ANBU captain. He...He had missed so much, just by leaving her behind. Rukia was a woman on her own, never needed him, yet, Reika wasn't. She needed him and was there constantly. Maybe that...that was a time when he had lost this woman...This woman Kakashi-sensei now had.
"The war is on the run."her voice woke him up from his trance. "You two need to go - and find Orochimaru."
Sasuke nodded. "Where is he, Rukia-san?"he asked.
"On the outskirts. Near the cottage you lived in."
"Bring her inside!"Yamanaka Ino screamed as two male shinobi carried another wounded woman. They placed her next to the one male healing-nin was healing. Blonde woman, covered in blood, tapped a shoulder of one of her subordinates, and pointed towards the newcomer. Black haired girl nodded, running towards the woman.
Ino ran past her, towards the source of the screams. Some women called for her, but Ino ignored, knowing this was more important.
"Yamanaka-san!"orange haired girl blocked her path, crying. "We tried everything we could! She...she died!"
Ino's eyes widened when the girl finished her sentence. She violently pulled her hand, and pushed everyone out of her way. Yamanaka didn't stop until she reached the table where bloody body rested.
Body of Uzumaki Kushina.
"Call Sakura!"she yelled, making them all look at her as if she was mad. Ino ignored their gazes, coming to stand in the level of girl's chest. So pale - Kushina was so pale, whilst the cloth under her was red, as red as the rose Cho bought her only days ago.
"Yamanaka-san"voice of Inuzuka Reika reached Ino's ears and woman turned to face her son's lover. "Kushina is dead. There is no way to save her."
Ino shook her head, fighting not to slap the girl. "There is a way."she spat, turning back to the dead body. "I only need Sakura...to tell her..."
"KUSHINA!"pink haired woman screamed, pushing past the line which surrounded her daughter's dead body. She surpressed a cry of desperation when she laid eyes on her. "Kushina...Why...?"
"Sakura"Ino called her, but she gave no response. She staggered towards the table, hugging the lifeless girl. "Sakura!"Ino yelled louder.
"NO!"pink haired woman snapped. "My girl...my baby...Leave me alone, Ino! GO! LEAVE! LEAVE ALL OF YOU! WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT!"
"Sakura!"Ino cried out, grabbing her friend's hand. Hokage's wife froze. "We...I can save her..."
Emerald eyes widened. "H-how?"
"One's own life reincarnation technique..."Ino swallowed, ignoring the tears that gathered. "I...I can do it."
Gasps of the present kunoichi and shinobi filled the air around the two women that held hands. Sakura silently stared at Ino, whilst the latter smiled.
"I just need you..."her voice cracked, but she fought to keep herself together. "I need you to tell Shikamaru I love him. And to tell Asuma..."she burst into tears. "To tell Asuma, if he ever comes back, his mother will always love her son. And tell...tell Inoshi, my little princess...mommy will...love her forever and always...even in...death!"
"Yamanaka-san..."orange haired girl sobbed from behind the blonde woman.
Ino let go of Sakura's hand and pulled up her sleeves. Over her shoulder, she looked at Reika.
"Move."she ordered. "Everyone move."
Two women placed their hands on Sakura's shoulders, pulling her away, but woman stood, as if stoned.
"No."she mouthed. Ino looked at her.
In a swift movement, Uzumaki Sakura slapped the woman across her. Ino fell - but Inuzuka's daughter caught her before she hit the floor. Eyes averted on Sakura.
"Idiot."woman smiled, pulling up her sleeves in the same manner Ino did just seconds ago. "Chiyo-san told me her secret before you ever learned it. Idiot." She placed her hands above her daughter's chest, smiling at her beautiful girl.
"Mum is coming, Kushina."she whispered. "Mum will save you."
Blue light shone from Sakura's hands.
"Sakura-san!"Reika gasped. "What are you doing, Sakura-san?"
"What mother needs to do."Sakura responded. "Now, stand back. Everyone stand back."
Crowd listened, however, Yamanaka didn't.
"Tell me."she ordered, with anger in her tone. "Tell me, before it consumes you."
Sakura nodded. "Tell Naruto I loved him - not in a way I loved Sasuke, never like him. But I loved him, I loved him dearly. And you...Ino-pig. You deserve to live."
"Billboard-brow..."Ino sobbed. "Sakura..."
"It is what mother...needs to do..."
Ino noticed how color returned to Kushina's cheeks - and Sakura grew weaker with every passing minute. Only seconds...only seconds were left.
Emerald eyes closed themselves, as Uzumaki woman felt dizzy, about to fall. Ino ran to her aid, to be there when she collapses. Sakura felt her presence, and smiled.
"Like always...pig."she whispered, as a single tear rolled down her cheek and she snuffed. "You were always there to catch me. You...and Naruto."
Uzumaki Sakura fell into Ino's arms, eyes-wide, as she fought for one last breath.
"Sa...Sakura..."Ino cried, holding her close.
"Tell...h-im..I love...him..."
Her grip on Ino's hand loosend, and Ino's eyes widened when realization hit her - like a slap in the face.
"Sakura..."she breathed, before it all sank in, making her jump and shake the lifeless body. "SAKURAAAAA!"
AN: Oh my God...I cannot believe I did this T.T Uhhh. I cried while writing this and I'm still crying, I don't know I just...hate killing characters but have to. T.T
Next chapter: Father and son
And oh, I almost forgot, I'll be making a poll for you to chose with whom Asuma should end up with - since some people PM me, saying they are disappointed with Reika and want him and Rukia, while others loved Reika. So, you are free to decide :)
Review responses
GustaveMoliere - Thank you :) I am glad you think it's interesting :) Thank you for saying there were errors, honestly, I was too busy with other stuff to notice them and even correct them, but I promise I will as soon as I find time :) Thank you once again, all reviews mean a lot to me, especially those that point out my mistakes :)
A huge thank you to everyone who read this story and this chapter - and I hope I didn't disappoint any of you. :)
THANK YOU :D