Years had passed since I last wrote…
What a hyperbole… no it just had been days or weeks…
Anyway, Naruto was back to reality… escaping Darling's dollhouse…
Was he out of his doll shell?
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto but a superdigressed sequel…
*****
'Now that I'm a child… now that I'm a doll no more…'
Chapter 13: A Child to the Truth
I was very confused about things that happened. All I knew was I jumped at Sasuke… then I saw my doll body. I stared at my hands… they were humanlike and childlike. I looked at Sasuke as she was looking at me. I turned to Kyouya and then he said, "Who are you? Where did you come from?"
"Princess!" a boy shouted from behind and I looked at them. I just noticed them when he cried. Sasuke stood up and dusted her dress, "You looked like Naruto." I blurted, standing up, "I AM Naruto! Sasuke, believe me!" then I heard Kyouya gasped. We turned to him and Sasuke said, "Oh yea. I forgot about you…" I grabbed Sasuke's arm, "No."
"But he tried to kill Shino, Nii-chan… and you, too. I'm not gonna let him off that easy." She protested and then I said, "Like the old times… he sleeps." Sasuke said without any emotion, "He knew about the dolls. Whether you like it or not… someone will come for him. It may not be me… or Christy… but it might be anyone of them." She pointed at the other canisters. I looked at him with brave eyes… "Then I'll do it." She smirked, "You? Breaking the rule?"
"Well… if I won't, you guys will do it brutally…" I just muttered and Sasuke said, "Have the floor, Naruto." She walked to the boys behind us and they cried like children that they were. Anyway, I turned to Kyouya. He crouched away but I went in front of him. I felt Sasuke's stare as well as the children's. I said, "No one should know about the Black Dolls. Don't worry, I won't hurt you." I walked and touched his forehead by my wee little hands like of a child's. He gasped and closed his eyes. He fell after and Sasuke said, "Killed him… that way…"
"More preferred than your head-whacking thing." I pouted then she hugged me from behind. I got surprised as she whispered, "I'm scared… that… I might…" I turned around and patted her head, "I won't leave you… remember our deal." She smiled and let go. We turned to the boys and Sasuke said, "How are going to deal with them?" I smiled, "Erase their memories!"
"What!?" they exclaimed and we both walked step-by-step to the boys. They were scared like hell and we both grinned maliciously.
*****
"I didn't think it would be morning…" I muttered as we walked out of the store. We burned every doll in the store as every one of them was haunted and their souls wanted to be freed. Sasuke was all silent and we were walking hand in hand. And about my appearance, I was also a five-year-old boy! My hair was how it supposed to be and my clothes were like a pair to Sasuke's. We decided to go to the hospital and visit Shino and her brother.
We were walking at the hospital reception area as I noticed two nurses glaring at Sasuke. They must be the nurses she humiliated, huh. She told everything that happened when I was out. I told him about the Doll House, too. We proceeded down the hallway and Shino's mother came to us, "Sasuke-kun… ahh…"
"Naruto…" I answered then she wondered. Sasuke stared at her then she started, "Shino's awake."
*****
"Shino! Nii-chan!" Sasuke unethically yelled as she opened the door. I whispered, "Don't shout." Shino was sitting up and Itachi had his eyes open. Sasuke rushed to her brother and he entertained her hug. I walked in and Shino said, "Naruto-kun?" I nodded and then he said, "Aren't you supposed to be a doll?"
"A lot had happened and here I was." I went to him and sat at the side of the bed, "How's your wound?" he smiled, "I'm okay now… I can't believe I'm not dead yet." Sasuke said in a serious tone, "Where's Hinata?" I was taken aback for a moment then waited for his reply. Shino was silenced and Sasuke would not want to wait. She began to glare then Itachi capped his hand at her head, "Are they in the city?"
"They're at Okinawa." Shino seemed to be hesitating but then I told him, "Please, Shino. I want to see her." he sighed in giving up, "At the Playing Gale resort. Naruto, Hinata's… she's in shock. After all that had happened to her…" shock? So that was the illness she was fighting off. I got very depressed and Sasuke said, "Naruto… let's go to Okinawa tonight." I almost fall off my seat and she smiled maniacally at me. I blurted, "Are you nuts? We don't have the money!"
"We're going to fly!" she stretched her hands horizontally and imitated flying bird's wings. Itachi giggled and then said, "I'm going with you…" she nodded and then Shino said, "Sasuke…" we turned to him, "How about my death? Aren't you planning to kill me?"
Sasuke turned away… she said, "They're at a hospital in town… look for them. Ino and the others…" she went down the bed and walked to the door. She waited for me and I went. I eyed at Shino before completely going out the room. He was worried and broken… I muttered at her, "Sasuke…"
"Yes?" she said without looking and then I said, "Are you serious? About Neji…" she stopped walking and then her voice started to break, "We'll cross the bridge when we get there…" she walked faster and eventually ran away… leaving me at the hallway. I can see her killing intent had already melted… but I don't want her to get hurt like this. Sasuke is a Black Doll but he himself is one tormented soul… and his tormentor is the past. He needs me… and I should save him. Sasuke…
*****
Night came and I was waiting for Sasuke at the porch of the house. I had explained everything to Itachi but he barely absorbed anything. Sasuke was as confused as I am but she was more focused on Neji… in Okinawa. She was starting to hesitate killing her friends… the friends that abandoned her. It was five years ago but the memories were still as lucid as if they just happened a moment ago. I still remember the times when Sasuke was haunting me back then. The Shadow that haunted me at my dad's house; Vanessa, the Singing Doll; the Ghost Dancer which was later revealed as Sasuke himself and the other Dancers; the baby ghost of one nurse at the hospital… and a lot more of happening back there. Sasuke's hauntings were like of a vengeful soul that he used to be. But now he started to go reversed. Realizations and the loss of her friends might give her some things that she should really think of. No matter how she denies it, Renge and Sara thought her things… as well as the feeling of hurting his old friends.
She went out the house and she was ready. She looked at me and I said, "I will meet her… no matter what." She sighed and Itachi patted her head, "Let's go…" Then she said, "Wait… I have to go somewhere first. I'll be here in a 15 minutes…" she flew away… in the midst of the night.
I looked at Itachi and he said, "I guess I have to say goodbye to the other people as well. Would you mind to go with me?" I shook my head and we ran to a place… a house of Itachi's dear friend.
*****
"Yea?" the blonde I once saw opened the door. He freaked out as Itachi greeted him. He blurted, "What the hell? Itachi? What are you doing here?" Itachi shrugged his shoulders and said, "I just wanted to say bye. I'm going to somewhere far and I thought I should tell you… so you won't wear your ass out looking for me."
"Wear my ass out? When did I?" he blushed a little as he pouted. Then he recalled it, "Where are you going? Is it far away?" Itachi smiled at him… and he said, "No way…"
"I guess it's time to really say goodbye. See you some time… maybe years later." Itachi made some last eye contact and started walking away. The blond was starting to look broken but he said, "Geez, Itachi… Why now?"
"My sister's calling. Bye…" he waved goodbye and then he walked away. He called, "Itachi… you're not going somewhere I couldn't see you again, are you? If you are, why don't you take Sasori with you? I just thought you know that beside from him, you're the only one I got. You're not supposed to leave me…" Itachi smiled at him, "Dei, Sasori would be enough for you… and besides, I shouldn't be existing by now in the first place. I just thought I had told you I will vanish someday…" I broke their silence, "He knew?"
"I told him about me… but not about her and you…" Itachi eyed at me when he answered then threw it back to the other guy, "And I'm certain he knows I'll be dead anytime, when Sasuke stops his revenge." He smiled one last time at his friend and then we proceeded walking home.
I looked back at the blond as he sighed. I heard him even from the distance, "I can't stop them from leaving…," And then my attention was taken by the image at the window at the second floor. It was a redhead doll looking out the window. From its gaze, I can tell it was also an unnamed Black Doll like what we used to be. The curse had spread through the world but their existence was a big secret. Not everyone would know of dolls that kill for their own sense of salvation of tormented souls…
I remembered about what Darling had said… all Black Dolls returned to her when they were still not needed. They don't die for suffering doesn't die. I just wondered if both Sasuke and I would reach that place after we find my former protectorate…
*****
We reached our house and Sasuke was there. She looked at Itachi like he was at fault… which was true, "Where did you go?" Itachi smiled and Sasuke closed her eyes, "We're leaving… now that most souls are in their deepest part of their slumber; now that they were dreaming of their loved ones… or struggling from the nightmares that they were in; now that they were experiencing comfort… or pain. We will leave this place to fulfill our heart's desires… and we shall leave this place to the other dolls who were watching over the tormented souls that lie within those who are forced to hide their vulnerability."
"Sasuke… sounds like you're not coming back…" I whispered and then she looked at me, "I can't promise that we will continue to be together. We bear different paths… and there is no certainty that we will meet at the end."
"We will… I won't break our promise…" I muttered, "You can't leave me now…" She patted my head and nodded at Itachi. He readied and she floated and held his waist. I fastened some things at my back and I floated as well. Things would get unraveled as we reached our final destination. The end would be waiting and we have to get ready for anything that will surprise us. I should get ready for all Hinata would say to me after I failed to protect her like I had always told her. I was not there at her darkest hours and here I am seeking forgiveness. I would like to see her angelic face and there she would be cursing me her entire life. Hinata would be finally within my reach… physically. I didn't know if her heart would still be mine and whether she would still want to spend eternity with me like how we promised each other that day I turned into a Doll that should be protecting my most precious one. I have turned her into a tormented soul and I shall save her from eternal damnation…
We looked at each other… and flew to where Okinawa would be…
*****
Gosh… the narration drained me out…
My brain would look like a prune right now…
If you can see it, that is.
Heheh, just kidding… anyway, thanks for reading…
I love you, guys…