Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Working on my cosplay for October. See u all at . . . what's it called?...Bakuretsucon? Well it will be my first one so if you are going, I'll be the Yuna Gunner from Final Fantasy 10-2 and Yuna from Final Fantasy 10 the next day! WEEE!
Chapter 11
The car was silent about the whole ride. The closest cemetery to their home was almost an hour away. Sasuke listened to the radio as his parents conversed silently in the front seats. Sasuke reached for his right and ran his fingers over the small bouquet he had gotten from his mother's shop. He wasn't sure what flowers his mother had picked out, but he knew that they must have been beautiful. He felt the car stop, and his father turn off the engine. Unknown to Sasuke, both parents shared a glance before opening their car doors. Sasuke got out and breathed in the fresh air. He smelt salt and remembered that the cemetery was close to the ocean. He picked up the bouquet and looked up when he felt his father's strong hand take his own. They walked together up to the large gray steps to the rising cemetery on the hill.
"Do you remember the way?" his mother asked. Sasuke felt his father let go of his hand and tap his shoulder. Sasuke smiled and lead the way. He liked these moments of independence. It made him feel free and normal.
Sasuke started walking.
52 steps until the middle Isle . . .
Sasuke's parents stayed close behind him, watching in a little worry and slight fascination.
69 steps until I reach the stairs at the right and 43 steps up the stairs.
It had been a while since Sasuke had been here, but he never forgot. He walked the way to his brother's grave and reached a hand out. He remembered most of all that his brother was buried next to the statue of Gabrielle. He touched the stone angel's head and bent down slightly to the right of it.
"Brother," Sasuke whispered softly. Sasuke let his hand wander down and touch the smooth stone of the grave marker. He heard his parents come up behind him, and his mother handed him back his bouquet.
"It was a perfect day to come here," she said. Fugaku behind her grunted a bit in agreement. Sasuke silently let his fingers run over the stone while his parents conversed. He felt a tint of sadness enter his heart. He was young when his brother died, and so remembering him was a little difficult. Bits and pieces came back to him but nothing he could string together completely. He felt almost guilty for not remembering more clearly.
"Do you have any questions' Sasuke?" his mother asked.
Why do you avoid coming here? He wanted to ask but deep down, he already knew the answer. It must be hard to lose and child, probably even harder to be reminded of it.
"No, I'm okay," he whispered. They stayed there talking for a good half hour. When it was time to leave, he felt the air get a little chillier. He had set the flowers on the grave and felt his mother grab his hand.
"It's okay Sasuke; I miss him too," she said, leaning down and kissing his forehead. Sasuke closed his eyes.
"I don't remember a whole lot about him, but I know he loved me," he said. Mikoto gave a strained smile, and Fugaku seemed to be staring off into space beside them both.
"He had so much potential," the man whispered. Mikoto swallowed a lump in her throat and carefully pulled Sasuke back onto the path. They walked the way they came and Sasuke suddenly felt scared.
What is this feeling?
Sasuke blindly reached for his side and grasped his father's hand as well. He held it tightly as they made their way to the car.
Some ways behind them a man stepped out from behind a tall statue of the Virgin Mary. He walked quietly behind them until he reached the grave the family had visited. He narrowed his eyes to the name of the grave and growled beneath his breath. He reached down and scooped up the flowers resting there and angrily squeezed them.
"Idiots," he hissed. "This isn't fucking funny any more."
With that he turned and stomped away, still clutching the flowers in his grasp.
Upon returning home, Sasuke's week seemed to fly by. His summer vacation was almost coming to an end. His competition was now two weeks away, and he struggled to find the right music. He sat at his piano with his music book for hours on end, but nothing seemed to jump out at him. It was one day that he was home alone that his friend Gaara had stopped by. They had mostly been hanging out with both Naruto and Neji but hadn't been alone since Gaara confessed. The red head sat next to him and moved some hair away from his eyes. Sasuke hadn't meant to, but he leaned on Gaara and rested his head on the other's shoulder.
"I can't think of anything," the raven whispered. "Nothing inspires me like it should. I've never felt this trapped before." Gaara hummed in his throat and wrapped an arm around his waist.
"I'm sure it will hit you at last minute; things like that happen," he said. Sasuke felt Gaara run his hand across his hip, and he felt himself flush. Gaara's other hand came up to run across the side of his face, and Sasuke frowned.
"Gaara . . . " He said.
"Shh . . . I know," he said. Sasuke wasn't sure he did because a second later his lips were softly captured. Sasuke gave a short muffled sound before he felt his lip's mold with Gaara's. The red head tasted like mint, possibly chewing that gum he always liked. The raven breathed through his nose as Gaara pressed a little harder. Sasuke pulled back for a moment for breath, his mouth slightly open. Gaara took advantage and slipped his tongue into the blind boy's mouth. Sasuke's eyes flew open, and he flinched against Gaara. The angle was awkward from sitting on the bench so he had to spin his body to straddle it and slip his arms around the red head's neck. Gaara took advantage and crushed their bodies together. Sasuke had never kissed anyone, and it was a very different experience. They parted, and Sasuke panted while Gaara moved to kiss behind his left ear.
"Inspired yet?" he chuckled. Sasuke blushed and pouted.
"I'm playing music, not writing porn!" he scolded.
Gaara chuckled harder and moved to kiss down the boy's neck.
After Gaara had left, Sasuke was still at the piano. His parents had returned from work, and his mother started dinner. Fugaku had conversed with Sasuke while she cooked and tried to give him some ideas by reading the titles in his brail book. Surprisingly, it had been his father who had taught him to read brail. Before Fugaku had become an accountant, he had been a teacher. When it was time for dinner, all of them gathered around the table. Mikoto was putting the last plate on the table when the door bell rang. Sasuke just sat down while Fugaku grunted.
"Who could it be this time of night?" he said aloud. While he wandered to the door, Mikoto looked at Sasuke.
"What did you want to wear at the competition?" she asked him. "I think your sweater shirt from New York would look wonderful!" she said. Before Sasuke could comment, he heard his father growl in the hallway.
"What are you doing here?" he asked. Sasuke heard a chuckle, and Mikoto stiffened beside him. He felt his mother's arms wrap around his shoulders and pull him close to her chair. He didn't see it, but Mikoto's eyes narrowed and stared into the hallway. Sasuke felt the side of his face press into his mother's neck.
"Mom?" he asked.
"I'm not allowed to see family?" the man from the hall asked.
"It's late; you should have called," Fugaku said.
"If I had done that, then you wouldn't have been here when I arrived. I know how you are brother," the voice said.
"Shut it, what do you want? We went to your party; I've humored you. We agreed never to meet again," Fugaku said sternly.
"I haven't seen my nephew in years. I only got to see him at the party, aren't I entitled to a conversation?" the other voice asked.
"No, now leave or I'm calling the police!" Fugaku growled.
"You can be such a stubborn man Fugaku. I could use you back at my company you know; we lost many investors when you and your wife left," the voice said.
"Beat it," Fugaku yelled. Sasuke heard the slamming of a door before his father stomped down the hallway. His mother had not let go of him, and Sasuke felt himself pulled tighter into his mothers embrace. Fugaku walked back into the dining room and cleared his throat.
"My annoying brother has the worst timing," he said. He took a seat at the table while Mikoto slowly let go of Sasuke, she smoothed back his hair and smiled weakly at her husband.
"Had he called earlier he could have joined us for dinner," she said. Fugaku grunted, but Sasuke wasn't sure if it was a confirmation or not. Sasuke felt the tense atmosphere and wondered why his parents were pretending like this. He was right here; he heard the whole conversation. He decided that for the sake of his parents, he would play along.
"What is for dinner anyway?" he asked, trying to lighten the mood. His family returned to some normalcy after dinner. It was getting late and Sasuke was tired because of thinking all day long. He bade his parents a good night and headed for his room. He slipped on his pajamas and carefully climbed into his cool sheets. He decided to leave the window open, the sounds from the city reaching his sensitive ears. He closed his eyes and hoped that he would fall asleep soon.
TBC
