Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, But that doesn't mean I can't have fun!
Rating: R
Mage: Kagayoku gets a visit from the person she can't stand, Naruto isn't getting any better, and everyone's nerves are on edge. In limbo, Naruto finds out that their may be a way to free Kyuubi after all, but not without sacrifice... And Sakura finds a way to make Sasuke hers for as long as she wants. This chapter may seem a little rushed, but I'm trying to get all the drama in place so I can get to the real journey.
Chapter 13: Goodbye
Three weeks later
Another three weeks had past, and still Naruto's health became on better. I fact it became worse, and they had almost lost him twice. A guilt striken Sakura had finally decided to come out of her room and see Naruto. She couldn't stand seeing him so sick. She felt this was all her fault, and wished that he had just let the damn dart hit her. But she knew he was protective of his friends. A quality she adored about him. She eased into the room and saw Sasuke sitting there, holding Naruto's hand. Quietly she made her way to his side and sat next to him.
He looked at her, "What are you doing here?"
"I..wanted to see Naruto," She felt she should at least see if he was any better. "You...you may not believe it, but I miss him. A lot." She lied.
"Now that he's about to die?" He said in a bitter, and cold tone.
She sighed, "Those things I said...I never meant them...any of them. I was just upset and angry and utterly stupid. He is my friend, and you aren't the only one in this world who loves him. You aren't the only one who's hurt." He said nothing. Her presence wasn't worth agonizing over. The only thing that mattered was Naruto. Thats all anyone worried about. Kagayoku had already sent attendants out to visit each land and explain why there presence was delayed. Of course by now, every Lord and Hokage of every land knew who and what Naruto was. That still didn't change the opions of some people in his village.
Both ninja sat there in silence, watching Naurto, when his breathing began to become more laboured.
"Is..is he okay?" Sakura asked, growing fearful. Sasuke ignored her and went to get Amadare, not knowing if the kitsune would stop breathing like he had done once before. He found her sitting in the library writing something from a big, ancient looking book.
"Whats the matter, Sasuke?" She asked, seeing the look on his face.
"It's Naruto! We think something might be wrong." She dropped the heavy book onto the floor and they ran out of the room. She hopped they didn't run into anyone else. She kept Naruto's wrosening condition a secret between herself, Sasuke and Kagayoku.
"How long as he been breathing like this?" She asked, once they were in his room. She was more than a little surprised to see Sakura sitting there, holding Naruto's hand. But there was no time to speculate the scene so she instantly grabbed her mediacal bag, which she kept in his room.
"Maybe - maybe a few minutes," Sakura answered. "He's going to be fine right?" She watched as Amadare grabbed a scalpel from the bag. "...Right?"
"It's the poison," She answered. "It's already made it way to his lungs. He'll no longer be able to breath on his own soon." She placed the blade hollow of his throat, right above his collar bone, and cut. Sakura whinced at the sight of blood spraying out of the hole, but continued to watch as Amadare inserted a small tube into the whole. "Hold this in place! Quickly! He's already stopped breathing!"
Without another thought, Sakura did as she was told, and Amadare tapped the tube in place, before attaching the other end to a ballon looking object. She squeezed the pump vigorously, until finally he began to breath again. All three sighed in relief. But Amadare knew the worst was yet to come. If the poison made it this far already it was only a matter of time before...
"I'll stay here with you guys," She said. "I'll have to leave the tube in, just in case. She dipped a soft cloth into a nearby bowl of warm water and gently wipped the blood away. 'There has to be some way to stop the poison. Maybe there's something I've overlooked.' She looked at Sakura, "Sakura? I need to ask a favor of you."
"Anything."
"I need you to go into the librabry, and collect any and all books even vaguely related to poison. One of the servants in there will be glad to help. Can you do that?"
She was already out the door, heading to the library.
The library was largest in the world, in Sakura's opinion. It had a retractable roof, that could let in sunlight or moonlight. The roof of the library was open this morning, letting in a warm breeze and the bright sunlight of early morning. She could see the a few tall tree's lingering above, rustling slightly in the wind. The book shelves were built into the wall of the room, leaving a lot of room for tables and chairs, though there was only one large cherry oak table and a large, cushinoned matching high back chair. A few servants bustled around, arranging books, dusting shelves and placing fresh stacks of paper, ink and quills on the table.
Shyly she walked up to one, "Excuse me." She said. "Could you show me which section is dedicated to poisons and cures?"
The man nodded, "Certainly. Follow me." He lead her to the northern most part of the library and stopped in front of the larget sections.
"All this?" She asked in disbelief.
"Yes. Would you like some help?"
"Oh, no..no, I'm sure I can handle it."
"If you would like something to drink or snack on, don't hesitiate to ask."
"Thank you. Thank you very much."
He left her to her work and she looked at the vast shelves. "I guess I'll start at the bottom and work my way up." She sat down and began scanning through the text of the first book. It had no tittle, but a weird picture of what looked like a demon decorated the cover. 'Now how creepy is that?' She thought. Flipping through the pages, she came across an interesting poison. Not neccarcerily a poison, but a drug. She read the contents of the page:
Fool's Poison
One of the most efficent drugs to ever be concocted. This drug tampers with the drinkers mind, placing them in a trance like state. Once a person has taken the drug, they will do everything and anything the maker says. The effects can last for a total of 17 hours, and once it wears off the victim has no idea what he or she has done. The drug is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. If given in large doses, or applied to often, the results can be fatal. Ingredients listed below:
1/2 dram cypress oil
3 dried rowan berries
1 teaspoon anise seeds
pinch of dried blessed thistle
pinch of dried asafetida
pinch of dried and powdered orris root
1 ounce dragon's blood
1/2 ounce juniper
Add the cypress, berries, and the seeds into the dragon's blood and let it boil in a cast iron pot. Then add the thistle, asafetida, and the root, before stirring for three minutes. When it turns a light blue, add the juniper, remove from heat and let stand for ten minutes. It should turn a clear water like color. . Add three drops into a drink or meal. Should be kept stored in a corked glass vial in a cool, dark place.
Inner Sakura jumped for joy. 'You know what you could do with this, don't you?' Sakura shook her head. She could never do that to Sasuke. She couldn'e imagine how hurt Naruto would be. Not to mention how angry Sasuke would be. No way. 'Come on!' Inner Sakura said. 'It says right there he won't even remember! No one else will know except for you! It'll be our little secret. Just do it one time, and you'll never have to wonder what it feels like to make love to Sasuke. You always said you would do anything for one night with him. All you have to do is get a few things and make a potion, then there! He's yours for a night.'
Sakura bit her lip. It would just be one night... She could sneak the potion in his tea, and then... She looked at the page. She knew where to get all the ingredients from. She had been to the village's market before. It was a beautiful exciting place, and Kagayoku took her there every other day to get ingredients for certain potions or brews since Amadare didn't trust the servants and attendants with such important things. And she also gave Sakura money to buy something she might want. Sakura never spent it, but instead save it up. Since her depression about Naruto started, she only left the house with Kagayoku to go to the market. The rest of the day she spent locked up in her room.
'It would just be one night.' Sakura thought to herself. 'And after that, I'd never do it again, Naruto will get better, and we'll all be friends again.' She convinced herself.
Kagayoku sat in a large room in the west wing of the palace, Sorting duties into catogories A through D. Sure, since she was the supreme Hokage she worked hard, but she knew no one worked as hard as Amadare. Between tending to Naruto, researching information on the other five spirit protectors, on top of doing her jos as the honoured wife, she barely had time to sleep. When Kagayoku awaoke every morning at six, Amadare was already awake, taking care of Naruto, and reassuring Sasuke.
She had a harder time comforting Iruka, who was so distraught, he'd go days without sleeping. She had to make a sleeping tonic for him almost every night. Hane and Hato became increasingly cranky about not having their playmate around anymore and wanted to know what was wrong. She stopped her work when a knock at the door broke her consentration. "Enter!" She said.
One of the older servants walked in, "My lord, you have a guest."
She cocked her head to the side, "Guest? Who is it?"
"Lady Amelia."
"What!" Kagayoku knew Amelia all to well. It was a long story, but here's the short version. Amelia was the one people thought she would end up marrying. Her father was a wealthy man and they lived in the next village of Eretria. She was attractive, intelligent, but a ruthless bitch none the less. And she still held out hope that she could win Kagayoku's heart, which is why she showed up unannouced often. She sighed, "Tell here to come."
"Of course." The servants left and returned minutes later followed by Amaelia and two of her own attendants.
"Hello my darling Kagayoku," She greeted. She had back length red hair, much longer than Kagayoku remembered, and emerald green eyes. Her hair was curled slightly at the ends and she raised the hem of her princess like blue dress and bowed respectfully. "How have you been?"
Kagayoku smiled, "Until now, I was doing great." She looked at the large clothing trunks both of her attendants carried and raised an eyebrow, "Exactly why are they carrying those?"
Her smiled broadend, "Didn't your mother tell you? Father sent me here so that you could escort me to the Land of the Clouds, to my mother."
"What! You...Wh...MOTHER!"
Daiya ran into the room franticly, "Oh! Amelia, you're here already? Didn't you get the letter we sent to your father? Naruto is ill, and we cannot leave until he is well again."
"I know. Iwas hoping to meet the foreigners and spend some time with you all."
"Oh how nice of you! Please allow one of the servants to take you to your room. If you like, you can bath and change and then return to speak with my daughter."
"I would like that." She smiled at Kagayoku. "Very much so."
Kagayoku forced a smile as Amelia walked out of the room and then turned to her mother when she was sure the woman was no longer within hearing range, "Mother...you know you are dear to me, and I love you. But I must know...WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING!"
Daiya smiled, "Sweetie, you know her mother is like a sister to me, so when she asked, I couldn't say no. The roads have been so dangerous lately, with bandits and other such evils running about, she was afraid something would happen to her."
"Mother, you know how much she dislikes Amadare and how much I dislike her!"
"I'm sure she's gotten over the fact that you didn't choose to marry her. Every knows you were head over heels in love with Amadare and I'm glade you didn't choose her, but can you try and get through it? For me?" She gave Kagayoku a sad look.
"Mother don't do that."
"Please?" Her eyes became big and watered.
"Alright! Iwill. But if she hurts Amadare or gets on my last nerves, thats it!"
She kissed her daughters cheek, "Oh, thank you! I raised such a kind and caring and loving little girl!"
Kagayoku frowned, "If the gods are listening, please let that woman drown in the tub. Pleeeeease."
Amadare left Naruto's room at the same time the servants were taking Amelia to her room.
"Amelia?" Amadare said in shock. "What are you doing here?"
"Weren't you told? As soon as the boy is well, you all will be escorting me to the Land of clouds, to my dear mother."
"Oh, really? How is she?"
"Fine. If you don't mind I have had a long journey and would like to freshen up. How is the boy?"
"He's...he's..doing better." She lied.
"Good. Then we should be on our way soon."
"Well..later."
Amelia huffed and continued on to her room. Amadare decided to see how Sakura was doing, and so walked down the hall to the library. She walked in and saw Sakura looking through a stack of books. "How's it going?" She asked.
Sakura looked up, "No luck. Most of the books don't even mention bloodroot poison and the others just explain how deadly it is."
She sighed, "Maybe he'll pull through on his own. He seems like the type who can beat the odds."
"I'll keep looking. You should rest, you look exaushted."
"Thank you. I'll be back soon." She left and walked the long distance to the west wing of the palace, and into Kagayoku's work room. "Hello." She said, plopping down on one of the large, silk cushions next to Kagayoku's.
She smiled as Amadare placed her head in her lap, "Well hello, koi. I have to tell you - "
"I saw Amelia, and from her tone of voice, she still hates me. Oh well."
"She doesn't matter. The only reason I put up the whore is because her and mother are best friends. Naruto isn't getting any better, is he."
"I don't want to talk about it."
"I know it pains you to think about it..but we have to think about what to do if - "
"Please, just don't talk about it."
Meanwhile, Naruto was enjoying his time in limbo with Kyuubi. He learned many things from the great fox, and he told Naruto stories of his adventures before his run in with Grendel and about the other spirit protectors.
"So, who's the spirit protector of my village?"
"Her name is Firaga. She's a spirit dragon. She has a human form as well, and a bad ass temper. I remember the first time I meet her."
"Really? What happened?"
"The moment she saw me, she attacked! I beat her and she wasn't happy about that, but she respected me more afterward. That's one crazy bitch I'l tell ya."
"Maybe she's crazy in love with!" Naruto teased.
"Please, kit. Don't scare me like that." They laughed. For a while they stayed silent until Naruto gave him a saddened look.
"I'm not getting any better, you know?"
"Don't worry. You'll be fine."
"For a time...I believed that. But each time I go back...I can feel how weak my body is getting. It gets weaker each time."
"Kit - "
"No, Kyuubi. Listen. If you know a way to break the seal...if you know a way to free yourself now...tell me."
"Kit, I have no idea how. If I did, I would have done it already."
"For some reason I don't believe that. I can feel that you're lying. Didn't you say that since we were one in the same, we could sense what the other felt."
"Yeah, but - "
"I can sense you're lying."
"Kit I...I. I really have no idea. I don't even have a clue."
"Please? Please tell me the truth?"
Kyuubi sighed, "...There is a way. But...you don't understand. If I break the seal to free myself...there's a big possibility..you'll be destroyed. I can't do that to you!"
"But don't you see? I'm dying now. I'm going to die anyway. You'll be free once I am, but I would prefer you do it now. I hate this waiting. I want to go now, there's no use holding me here any longer than needed."
"But...kit - "
"No buts. I want you to do it. Right now."
"No. I refuse."
"Look, it been almost a month. You were assigned a job to save the world and god damn it, you will get it done with or without me! I know it pains you, it pains me too. Do you really think I want to say goodbye to all my friends! Kakashi, Amadare...Sasuke? And the others! I don't, but I know it's the right thing to do. I know they are sitting there, hoping that I'll pull through. Can you imagine how bad it feels, watching the one you love die a slow death? Not knowing if you're going to wake up next to a corpse or not? Please Kyuubi. Please."
He laid on the ground and covered his face with his paws, whimpering, "I just..don't want to."
"You kow as well as I do..It's the right thing.."
"...A - Alright."
He wrapped his arms around Kyuubi's torso and smiled, "Thank you so much! Just one thing...I want to say goodbye to Sasuke. Is that possible."
"You could try. Just imagine yourself in your own body again. You have to imagine it, and you have to really want it."
"O.k. I'll try."
Sasuke sat in his usual spot beside Naruto. The hope of him ever waking up again waned each day, and Sasuke was sure he was at his lowest point. What he wouldn't give to be back in Konohagakure village, with Naruto, doing those boring missions and those few worth while ones. He didn't notice the hand he held squeeze his own lightly.
"...Sasuke.." Came Naruto's tiny voice. He looked down at the kitsune and his widdened.
"Naruto! You're...awake." Naruto's voice was an octave over a whisper, but Sasuke was surprised he could talk at all with the tube still in place.
"I know...but..I just thought...I just wanted to say goodbye to you."
"What! But you, I mean...I..." Naruto explained where he had been and about Kyuubi. Sasuke found it hard a bit to hard to believe, and didn't want to believe it at all.
"No Naruto. You can't," He squeezed Naruto's hand with both of his. "You can't just throw it all away. You can't just give up."
"I have to. It doesn't seem like it now, but I'm doing this to make you happy. I only want you to be happy. Always."
"And do you think leaving me will make me happy? Don't you understand? All this time...all these years I thought...I really had no real motive to live. No family, no friends...no one to love. And then I meet you and...it just changed. I don't know how to explain it, but..everything just seemed to make more sense. I never thought anyone could ever love me. People wanted and lusted after me, but no one truly loved me, until you did. I don't want to go back to being alone. I don't want you...to go."
Pendulum stops and falls away
Life sifted through like sand
Storms of summer rain
Flooding lifelines in our hands
Our skin of blood and bone
Pulls through the ground and so...
Unstoppable
For one of the few times in the Uchiha's life, tears rolled down his pale cheeks. Naruto gave him a small smile, "But you aren't alone, koi. You have Kakashi, Iruka and the others. And I'll make sure Kyuubi watches after you."
"No. I just can't lose you. I can't lose another one I love."
These feelings of loss
So unstoppable
Egging through the marrow of bones
Just let it go
Pain willing in your eyes
Just let me go
Dry those tears that fall
"I'll always be there for you." He touched the chain around Sasuke's neck, and then the one on his own. "As long as you don't ever forget me, but I'm Naruto, so I'm really hard to forget." He tried to get Sasuke to smile, but to no avail.
"It hurts." He whispred. "It hurts so much. We made so many wonderful plans and now..." He broke down in tears. "We'll never get to see those through."
"I know. It hurts me too. To know I'll never be able to hold you again. Comfrot you," He wiped away Sasuke's tears. "To know I'll never be able to dry your tears away, and let you know I'm there. But I'll always be there for you."
And remember
When evrything is typical
I'll be the wish upon a star
I've found a place so magical
Goodbye...
There were so many things he wanted to say to Naruto. So many things he wanted to explaina, but he just couldn't find the words. "You know...I used to believe that if you were a good person, you'd live a long and happy life. I thought...this could never happen to someone like you. All you ever wanted was to see others safe and happy...even if you were tormented on the inside. You risked your life to save someone who hated you. Then I thought that if I protected you I could keep things like this from happening. That I could keep you safe and...protect you...I guess I failed."
"No, you didn't. This isn't your fualt and has nothing to do with you. Don't blame yourself. And don't blame Sakura either."
See you another goodbye
I..See you another goodbye
See you another goodbye
See you another...
There wasn't much he could get out. He never really thought he'd go through this with Naruto. Maybe it was his personality, but Naruto just seemed like the invinceable type. Someone who could overcome any obstacle. "I've forgotten what's it like to be lonely." He confessed to Naruto, tearfully. "You've always been with me. All I'll have left are memories."
Peeling killers rise
Precious circle mended
Sense vertigo in you
So I'll be your halo
So unstoppable
My love for you
So unstoppable
Memories of you
"If I could change everything...I would want to go back and prevent all of this. I wish I could just zone out everyone and everything...so there'd just be me and you."
"I love you so very much...you know that right." Naurto smiled. He wanted to tell Sasuke that everything would be okay. That somehow everything would fix itself and this would just go away. "It's like a bad dream. You want to wake up, but you can't. Because it's real, and there's no escaping it."
Just remember
When everything is typical
I'll be the wish upon a star
I've found a place so magical
But still please...
He coulldn't find the words to explain to Sasuke that he would always be there for him, and he'd see him again someday. In a way he was scared himself, and he just wanted to freeze time, so that he could stay there in Sasule's arms and never leave.
Someone, help me, grab me, save me now,
Distrust, darkened, daylight, I've lost sight
He had promised Sasuke he'd never be alone again, but he hand't expected something like this to happen. He held the chain around his neck tightly, remembering when Sasuke gave it to him, and what it meant. Eternal love. Something that would never die. Even when he did. He would always be with Sasuke, and he'd remember every moment they'd ever shared, and treasure them. But still, the pain of losing the one you love was beyound measure. He hoped that he'd get wings once he went to heaven. He wanted horns to, be knew he'd probably get a halo, and some black wings would be cool. If he was really lucky, he'd get to be Sasuke's guardina angel, and make sure he lived the life he deserved.
Remember
That nothing is typical
I'll be the wish upon a star
I've lost something so magical
And gone so far
Just remember
When everything seems difficult
I'll be shinig from a far
When it feels like things have gone away
I'll see you again
Naruto took in a deep breath, and closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he was standing in front of Kyuubi. He licked Naruto's tear stained face, "You okay?"
"Yeah. Promise me you'll look after him?"
"Promise."
"And...can you tell him I love him? I didn't get the chance and..." He wiped his nose.
"I will, kit."
"And Iruka too. Tell I said thanks for bring such a good teacher, and for all the ramen he brought me. I enjoyed it. And Kakashi too. And apologize to Amadare for me. I wish we could hve done all the things we planned."
"I will."
"And...just that I'm sorry. And I won't ever forget them, and I'll always look after them, because they mean so much. And...goodbye."
I'll see you again, goodbye
I'll see you again, goodbye
I'll see you again, goodbye
I'll see you again, goodbye
I'll see you again, goodbye...
Mage: I know the death scence sucks, but I'm not down with killing off characters, but I tried my best. You should read the next chapter if you're pissed off Naruto's dead. I might bring him back in the next chapter...If you ask nicely. Or I might pair up Sasuke with Sakura! -Insert evil laugh here-