A/N: WOAH! Back for the last one. (sniffs) I can't believe this is coming to an end already! (sniffs again)
Okay, before I'm letting you see the finalle… Thank you so much for all those reviews you left for the previous chappy – they were AGAIN so many! (HUUUGS) I can't even describe how happy you've made me. (grins) As usual responses to anonymous reviews can be found from underneath the chappy.
Awkay, because I can just feel how badly you want to see how this'll all end… Let's roll! I REALLY hope you'll enjoy this final chapter. (gulps nervously)
DISCLAIMER: The lyrics in this chappy are from 'Stop crying your heart out' by Oasis, which I – unfortunately – can't say I own at all. (sniffs) Oh well, it's still a great song (in my opinion), and I think it fits well to this story. (grins)
VERSE 10: Epilogue – Of Last Looks
'Here I am - where I'm gonna stay'
Nine Months Later
/ Hold on! Hold on!
Don't be scared
You'll never change what's been and gone
May your smile (May your smile)
Shine on (Shine on)
Don't be scared (Don't be scared)
Your destiny may keep you warm
'Cause all of the stars
Are fading away
Just try not to worry
You'll see them some day
Take what you need
And be on your way
And stop crying your heart out /
Sasuke was feeling beyond exhausted while packing up the last of his things to a small cardboard box. As soon as he was done he stood in his already empty room, listening to its silence.
After being discharged from the hospital, he'd spent eight months in a recovery center Tsunade ran to get his head back on track. It'd been a long, hard road, and it wasn't once or twice he'd thought about simply quitting. But Naruto, Kakashi and even Tsunade had been persistent, and as little as he liked to admit having been depended on someone it was thanks to them he'd eventually made it through.
He was by no means 'alright' yet, but at least he was at a good start.
He shivered a little – with pleasure, he discovered – when a hand was laid to his shoulder. "So…" Naruto had probably never sounded as happy and content as the boy did then, and for some reason it put a warm feeling to his stomach. The blond's arms wrapped tenderly around his still far too thin body, and he leaned backwards without noticing it. "Are you ready to go?"
He nodded after thinking about it for a moment, brushing the room's wall with one hand. "Yeah. I am."
It was a month ago the three of them had decided the move to another town. They all needed a fresh start to recover – this was the best way to get one.
"Then let's get going." Naruto placed a tiny kiss to his lips and brushed his face with a warm hand. "Kakashi's already waiting for us. The moving truck comes in five minutes."
He nodded, coming to a conclusion that no words were necessary, and took the final box with one hand.
As they made it to the room's doorway, with Naruto never letting go of his hand, he surprised himself with turning around and allowing his unseeing gaze linger in the room.
The room held many memories, but he'd need to get past them if he wanted to make new ones.
"Sasuke?" There was a hint of worry in Naruto's voice. "Are you okay?"
Was that… a smile he felt on his face? "Yeah." His voice was atypically soft. "Let's go. We've already wasted enough time."
With that they left the room, closing the door soundlessly behind them. Neither wanted to look back on the past they were leaving behind.
/ Get up (Get up)
Come on (Come on)
Why're you scared? (I'm not scared)
You'll never change what's been and gone
'Cause all of the stars
Are fading away
Just try not to worry
You'll see them some day
Take what you need
And be on your way
And stop crying your heart out /
Thirteen Years Later
Hastings, England (1)
Although he was already old, there were only few things Jiraiya didn't like. Cemeteries and traveling were amongst those. That's why he wasn't exactly ecstatic when after a long and exhausting journey Naruto asked him to come and meet the blond at the cemetery. His heart, however, quickly melted at the sight he found.
Only steps away, Naruto whispered something, lit a candle and placed it to a statue amongst other candles that had been placed to remind of people who were buried far away. For several moments there was an expression of anguish on the blond's face, before the younger man obviously felt someone looking and glanced his way, grinning a bit and waving when recognizing him. "Hey! I was beginning to think you wouldn't show up."
As Naruto walked towards him, he found himself observing the man he hadn't seen for months. For the first time he realized that he was in fact looking at an adult. Naruto had grown a lot taller during the years passed, and although those blue eyes still shimmered mischievously sometimes, the man's face also seemed mature. Years and several operations had also helped a little with the man's leg and back. The blond still limped pretty badly when walking towards him, and he knew that the man was sometimes forced to take harsh medication to stand the pain. The facial scars and missing fingers also betrayed the secret easily. But Naruto could walk almost properly and most of the time without pain, and the blond was obviously happy with both himself and his life. As far as he was concerned, all else was nothing but details.
Forcing his thoughts elsewhere, he quirked an eyebrow. "I thought we made a deal that you won't hang on to the past anymore."
There was something sad behind Naruto's feeble grin. "This… is a tradition. I always bring a candle to Iruka when a new art exhibition is opened. I just…" The blond shrugged, obviously fighting hard against emotions. "I just like to think that he's also with me these days, that he's still watching over me."
He gave the man a tiny, sad smile while ruffling the blond locks. "I understand, kiddo." He then looked around with a frown. "Where's Sasuke?"
"Still at work. I'm supposed to go and pick him up right about now." This time Naruto's smile was a genuinely happy one. "You won't believe where he works."
His eyebrow immediately bounced up with curiosity.
-
About fifteen minutes Jiraiya he couldn't help blinking when discovering where they'd come. "This… is a school", he pointed out the obvious.
Naruto grinned, apparently enjoying his confusion. "Yup." The blond spoke again when they'd left the car and started to make their way towards the bright-green grass-area surrounding the huge building. "I never told you he became a teacher, did I?"
His eyes widened. "What?!"
"At first they weren't about to accept him because of his past and disability, but then…" It wasn't until the blond nodded towards something with a smile he noticed they'd stopped. "… appeared a group that needs him very much."
Curious, he turned his gaze – and blinked at the surreal sigh unfolding.
Amongst huge, old trees was Sasuke, along with a very young man and six children. There seemed to be a recess, because the Uchiha was merely observing the gang, his unseeing eyes surprisingly soft, and grunting out occasional commands as three of the children fooled around. The younger man was laughing while running around with them. One of the kids – a about five-years-old girl with a lot of scars – was watching the hassle from the sidelines with a mixture of fear and curiosity, carefully staying away from the others. Another girl, a couple of years older and very pretty, was stood right beside Sasuke, holding his hand. Her green eyes shone with childlike admiration as she sneaked secret glances towards her teacher.
"The school couldn't find any teacher more appropriate for that group. Those children all have horrible pasts and they've been through a lot, two of them are also blind – Sasuke's never been more specific. That aide of Sasuke's, Yūkimaru, has also had it very rough. Now he helps Sasuke with everything necessary." There was a gentle look in Naruto's eyes. "I'm not sure which party has helped which more."
He looked towards Sasuke once more, and finally realized what Naruto had talked about. The Uchiha was still very thin, but at least didn't look starved or sickly anymore. The man's pale skin also had a new, healthy glow to it. What got to him the most, however, were Sasuke's unseeing eyes. The man had never seemed as serene and content before.
Very slowly his expression softened. "You two have come a long way."
Naruto's blue eyes were thoughtful for a moment. "He still has those episodes of depression sometimes, and during those days I have to make sure he eats and goes to work. And sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night when he calls me to get him from whichever place he's wandered off to – once he'd walked over twenty kilometers. He never tells me why he leaves, or what he does, but… As long as he calls and comes back I'm happy – I know he'd never do anything I wouldn't approve. He's also still terrified of crowds. And me…" The blond grinned somewhat sheepishly, reminding him of the teen the Uzumaki had once been. "Meh, I still need him sometimes to get the courage to go out in the public, and Tsunade keeps telling me I've got self-esteem issues. But we make it through together, one day at a time." The man looked at him with a childlike bright smile. "That's all that counts in the end, right?"
He couldn't help returning the smile while nodding. It was amazing how much the blond before him had grown up.
Just then they both looked to side when hearing approaching steps. He wasn't sure if Sasuke relied more on scent or hearing when walking stunningly accurately to Naruto and giving the blond a heated kiss that left nothing to be questioned. "You're late."
Naruto grinned sheepishly while wounding his arms affectionally around the raven and pulling the man close. Did the blond just… pinch the Uchiha's behind? "'Sorry. I just… needed to do something."
Sasuke nodded, obviously understanding.
When the two got lost into another kiss, Jiraiya finally cleared his throat to remind them of his presence. He spoke once getting their attention. "So… Are we going?"
Naruto's heartbeat was far too fast and he was trembling while sitting in a car right outside an art gallery. His eyes were almost frantic when he looked at all the people gathered outside, waiting for him. "I really hate this", he whined.
Sasuke rolled his eyes, although the raven didn't appear any more comfortable than he did. "You're an artist, Naruto – the hottest new name right now. People show up to see your paintings, especially during art exhibition openings." The man squeezed his hand. "This is no big deal."
He only smiled faintly and squeezed back, not managing to get another word through his throat. With that they reluctantly abandoned the safety of the car.
At first Naruto had had no idea of what he'd become once he'd 'grow up', and he'd studied several subjects from psychology to biology for a little while. It was six years earlier he'd made his first official painting, after Tsunade had suggested he should try art-therapy. The results had been dramatic; a man named Sasori – who owned several galleries – had seen his rather graphic artwork and fallen for it. One painting had turned into ten, ten to something a lot more, and now a couple of them had even been seen abroad. For the past six months Naruto Uzumaki – a poor unloved and disfigured man who'd made his way from a backward village and his painful past to something amazing – had been someone everyone wanted to know and meet. Quite a change from how he'd once been abandoned and discriminated; during the most bitter days he wondered what all those people would've thought of him back then. During events like the one today he felt more like a circus-freak than an artist. Now he and Sasuke were going to ceremony in which a gallery that'd also taken a couple of his works would be opened – and he would've rather been anywhere else.
Clearing his head, Naruto focused firmly on leading an obviously nervous Sasuke on while they made their way through the crowd. All the while he was careful not to let his boyfriend get lost amongst all these strangers. People all but flocked around him, asking questions and shaking his hand, and it took his all to remain polite under their attack.
Couldn't they tell that he and Sasuke needed some space?!
In a small car out of everyone's sight a young man sat, watching how Naruto entered, holding Sasuke's hand as though both two's life had depended on it.
Sai's eyes darkened like a flame dying out.
It was the first time in almost fourteen years he saw the blond, faced those absolutely serene, love-filled eyes he'd failed to read for such a long time. Once again he was reminded of everything he'd never have and it hurt, far more than he could've ever expected.
And here he'd thought the pain would go away if he'd just wait long enough…
For a couple of fleeting seconds his hand rested on the handle of his car-door, his skin almost burning with the temptation to open the door that separated him from the life he so desperately yearned. But then, just as fast as it'd grabbed, his hand withdrew, and his eyes gained a pained, almost haunted look.
It was time to grow up and stop dreaming.
So deep in thought he was, that the voice speaking startled him. "Hey, did you fall asleep, hmm?" Turning his gaze, he found the face of his newest boyfriend Deidara. It wasn't until then he remembered that just like Naruto, this blond was an artist and his paintings were in the gallery; they were supposed to go in. "Are you coming?"
He opened his mouth, but in the end the words he'd first had in mind disappeared. He looked towards the gallery once more. Naruto had disappeared. "You know…" He grit his teeth before managing to look towards the older male. "I've got a crushing headache. I'll see you at the hotel, okay?"
Deidara shrugged, then gave him a chaste, harsh kiss – the kisses, he discovered, were one of the things that separated the man from Naruto. "See you later, hmm."
After Deidara had left, he spent several moments on the very edge of following the man and his deepest urges. In the end, however, he started the car and accelerated, although it was the hardest thing he'd ever done.
He didn't look back.
To Naruto the journey inside seemed to take ages. Once the doors closed he and Sasuke heard a familiar voice. "Dad, they're finally here!"
Looking to side, he smiled widely when seeing Rika – who'd grown up to look like a very attractive mixture of Shizune and Kakashi – running towards them. Before he could blink the young woman had enclosed them both to a tight hug. "Damn it, you two – it's been ages from the last time I saw you!"
He chuckled while hugging her back. "Sorry. I guess we've been a bit busy lately."
"Rika, let them breathe." Kakashi voice and eyes were filled with amusement while the man walked up to them, followed closely by Tsunade. "I should've known that the once I'm early you two are late."
After that they spent as much time together as the crowd allowed them to – or well, did until Jiraiya and Tsunade pulled up a disappearance stunt, followed closely by Rika.
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Those two are too obvious." The boy's voice was uncharacteristically soft.
Kakashi nodded with an amused smile, clearly having forgotten that the Uchiha couldn't see.
Naruto cast a somewhat apologetic look towards the two. "I've gotta go to the bathroom."
Sasuke cast a rather dry, nearly amused look his way. "I think we'll make it without you for a couple of minutes."
This time he rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, I know." He gave the man's hand a squeeze – kisses weren't allowed in these events. "I'll be back in a bit, 'k?"
-
Once they were left alone, Kakashi took a good look towards Sasuke and could barely hold back a tiny smile.
So many things had changed during the past years. Thanks to Sasuke's testimony and clear evidence of drug-dealing, Kabuto was still in jail and would be for a long time to come. Sai had also remained gone from their lives. Finally, after all those dark days, shadows of past only lingered in his foster son's occasional nightmares.
All of a sudden Sasuke looked towards him with a quirked eyebrow. "What's wrong?"
This time he couldn't hold back the smile. "Nothing", he stated in a strangely soft tone. "Nothing whatsoever." And he was glad beyond any belief about it.
-
As soon as he made it to the hallway in which the bathrooms were located, Naruto blinked and frowned when seeing a very nauseated looking Rika leaning against the wall. "Hey, what's wrong?"
He could actually hear her gulp while she looked towards him with wide, shocked eyes. "Promise me you won't tell dad. Please."
He blinked again, even further confused. "Okay. I won't."
Rika took a deep breath, and couldn't look his way while she all but whispered, one hand placed to her stomach. "I… I'm pregnant."
When leaving the party after about three hours, Kakashi blinked once with surprise when finding Yamato – whom Naruto had also invited – waiting for a cab. "I thought you left an hour ago."
The brunet shrugged, not looking his way. "I decided to stick around a bit longer, after all."
He nodded and stood beside the man, not knowing what to say.
They'd never really talked things through after Iruka's death – silence was still awkward and heavy around them.
Was, until Yamato spoke. "Look, Kakashi…" The man sighed rather heavily, appearing tired. "It's been thirteen years, and… I think it's high time to let the past go." The man looked at him directly to eyes. "I think Iruka would've wanted us to let go. Right?"
At first he could only stare at the man. Then, very slowly, he managed to nod as something that felt like a smile found its way his face. "Yeah", he murmured.
For the first time in over a decade he saw Yamato smile as well.
Just then a cab appeared. Yamato glanced towards him once more. "Wanna share a ride?"
He nodded a bit more eagerly than he'd been supposed to. "Sure."
As they slid next to each other – only a small distance away – they both realized that they were standing on the edge of something new. Neither knew exactly where they were going, but they were both eager to find out.
In a rather dark room soft, surprisingly warm wind blew through open balcony door as silent moans disturbed the silence of the night. Shadows danced on the walls when one lover's back arched while the other managed to find the exactly right spot on his neck. Busy hands traveled on naked skin as though it'd been a land that needed to be explored.
Something between a sigh and a moan erupted from Sasuke's lips when he felt Naruto pull away, leaving heat to his recently kissed neck.
"'Suke, stop that", Naruto murmured in between amusement and a plea, either too tired or affectionate to use his full name. Two kisses found his face and he shivered although he felt much warmer than before. These kisses were comforting and conciliatory, not an invitation. "We're both too tired for this." "Besides, I don't want you to be sore in the morning."
He wasn't sure if it was a grin that appeared to his face while he played with Naruto's soft hair. "What difference would it make? With the moves you just made I'll be sore anyway."
He could actually feel Naruto's blush. "Meanie."
This time, he was sure he grinned, albeit just a little bit. "Tease." Some years ago, a conversation like this might've been something he wasn't comfortable with or even capable of. But now…
Honestly, he was too damn tired to follow that trail of thought. Besides, it was very hard to dwell on the past with the way Naruto was holding him.
He was almost dozing off when Naruto's murmur-light voice brought him back full awareness after almost an hour of comfortable silence. "Hey, Sasuke?" A warm, tender kiss to which he gladly responded was placed to his lips. "Thank you, for being with me today."
"Hmm." Deciding to follow his urges, he turned so that he could press his forehead against the blond's. "Where else would I have been?" That was the closest to saying 'I love you' he could ever get, and he hoped dearly his boyfriend saw the hidden meaning.
Apparently there was no reason to worry. He could actually feel Naruto's smile while the blond wrapped a pair of arms around him and held him close. They were silent for a long time before the man spoke. "It's late. Do you want to go to sleep?"
Usually he might've said 'no', but tonight he felt perfectly comfortable with simply allowing himself to snuggle slightly closer to the other man's warmth while closing his eyes. "You better not snore again – I'm blind, not deaf."
Naruto most likely attempted to swat his head, but it came out as a caress. "I don't snore." A one more kiss was planted to his nose. "'G'night."
"Hmm", was all he managed.
While falling asleep to Naruto's familiar scent and touch, he knew that he'd sleep peacefully through the night.
-
About half an hour later Naruto smiled as he looked at his sleeping boyfriend.
Their path certainly hadn't been the easiest possible one, and they still had a ton of mess to sort out. But during calm evenings like this, he couldn't help but be hopeful. How could he not have been hopeful when he had something like this?
Just as he was about to fall asleep, his eyes strayed towards the still open balcony door, then to the space behind it. His heart skipped a beat when for just a couple of seconds he could've sworn he saw the ghosts of Iruka and Itachi watching them with smiles on their faces. Then a cool breeze appeared, and once he'd closed his eyes for a second the sight was gone.
He'd expected something like that to bring tears to his eyes. Instead, however, he realized that for the first time he could think about Iruka without the pain almost breaking his heart.
There was a slight smile on his face as he pulled a sleeping Sasuke closer still, whispering a soundless 'Goodnight' to the ghosts of the past.
From thereon, his dreams weren't of the past anymore.
/ We're all of us stars
We're fading away
Just try not to worry
You'll see us some day
Just take what you need
And be on your way
And stop crying your heart out
Stop crying your heart out /
Owari.
1) This is the first actually existing place mentioned in this story. (grins)
A/N: So… Now the story's over. Man, I can't believe this! (starts bawling) I'm going to miss this story, and I hope I'm not the only one. (keeps sniffling)
Awkay… At this point I've gotta thank you from the very bottom of my heart; for reading and listing this story, and especially for all those incredible reviews! This is officially my most popular ficcy ever, and you guys can't even imagine how happy you've made me. (sniffs from movement, beams and HUGS) This was most likely no easy read, and at time this was also a difficult and a bit personal one to write (I've NEVER put this much heart and soul to anything I've written), so I'm very happy you decided to stick around. (grins, and showers all kinds of treats) So, in short, you guys are the greatest!
Before I stop babbling and tune out… PLEASE, leave a review to let me know if this ending was sufficient and worth the wait! It'd mean a lot to hear what ya guys think, you know?
Once more, THANK YOU! I really hope I'll see a lot of ya around.
Peace out!
My Isolated Soul: Yosh, I'm VERY happy to hear you liked the chapter! (grins from ear to ear)
(blushes) GOSH, thank you so much for those amazing words!
HUGE thank yous for the review!
C ya next time, I hope.
-
Aachen: Awww, now of course Naruto heard you! He's an observant little thing deep down, now isn't he? (grins) And SASUKE LIVES (emotionally scarred and messed up, but still)! (dances around happily) Though he's a meanie-face for making Naruto cry so much. (pouts, and swat's the teme's thick skull)
And DEFINITELY, go Kakashi! You can't even imagine how satisfying it was to write that scene between him and Sai. (sighs happily)
And Sai's gone! (smirks wickedly) WOAAH!
Gigantic thank yous for the review!
C ya with the epilogue, no?
-
dkjhgdfg: WOAH! (blushes, then HUGS) Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the compliment!
(winces) It sure took longer than 24 hours, but I hope this wasn't TOO slow. (grins sheepishly)
Monumental thank yous for the review!
I really hope you'll join in for the last one.