Disclaimers: I do not and will never own Naruto, folks.
My Ramblings: …i missed you. like, a lot. I love youz. I DUN WANT TO LEAVE YOU ANYMORE. T_T oh, and i hope that my writing doesn't suck too much, 'cause, you know, i just stopped writing this for NaNoWriMo (50678 words, baby!) and that is quantity and so not quality. lawlz. =3 …btw, I really actually wanted a "happy" beginning to this chappie, but I was thinking about it and it did not seem to fit. juuust sayin'.
meow. *is reminded* oh, i just watched the latest shippuden episode and yeah. BUT WHEN ARE THE FRIGGING FILLERS GOING TO END? T_T real stuff, please.
Clay Hearts
Chapter Twenty-One:
Unity in Death
Why does it always rain on the days of funerals? Why does it seem to be like some ominous sign every time? Why does it have to make us even more sad than before? It was all just unfair and illogical, yet made sense completely all at the same time.
The rain lightly came down, matting everyone's hair and drowning out tears on faces. Some men lowered the coffin into the damp ground. After some minutes, dirt covered the coffin again and all eyes rested upon the tombstone that read: Kakashi Hatake. (Among other things.)
Some stood still, trying their best to be strong, some frowned, some prayed, and many cried—ninja or not. They gazed at the headstone, then most turned their heads to the giant monument that overlooked the honored graveyard.
I tried not to cry, to stay strong also, but I did anyways. Swiping a part of my now wet pink hair out of my face, I watched as a man stood up to speak. If the Hokage was not unconscious, then she would probably be the one speaking now. And even though I worried about the whole situation about my suspected murder, I could not completely focus on it. I guess that's a good thing… but the bad thing is that now I'm focusing on Kakashi-sensei's death. What's worse?
Deidara stood awkwardly behind me, leaning against the giant tree we were hiding in. With his arms crossed, a concerned and respectful look upon his face; he watched my actions. The blonde did not know what to do—whether to comfort my sad state or to just let me have my time of sorrow.
I suppose that I should feel lucky that I am even here for my former sensei's funeral. For some reason, Pein allowed it—as long as I had my partner with me. And honestly, I didn't mind Deidara being there as long as he respected my wishes and Kakashi's death. He did just that, I could tell even though I didn't dare look behind me again to meet his saddened face. Obviously, he wasn't sad because of my sensei's death—not to be rude to Kakashi—but he was upset over my own turmoil over the whole situation.
We can't always play ninja twenty-four-seven, my Inner whispered to me in my mind.
I agreed with her as I watched Naruto step forward to speak. You could tell, even in the rain, that he had been, and still is, crying. His hands were balled up into tight fists as he got up and he spoke.
-x-x-x-
"Kakashi-sensei was the best sensei I could ever have," he paused for a moment, but then continued. "That we could ever have." Naruto smiled to himself and looked to the ground for a while as he talked. "To us, Kakashi Hatake was more than just a sensei—he was a comrade. And nothing could ever change that." His small, sad grin grew as he looked out into the crowd of mourners (that consisted of only ninja, who knew about the Hokage situation), "He was one of the best shinobi in the whole entire freaking village and I am so glad that he's my sensei!"
Some people sniffled in agreement. "Kakashi-sensei's death will not be in vain!" he continued. "He was figuring something out about the whole Hokage thing and maybe that's why he was killed." He murmured the next part under his breath, "Something to help Sakura, maybe." He shook his head and raised his voice, "My sensei wa—is and amazing man and he will never be forgotten. Believe it!" he fist shot up into the air as his gaze rose into the trees and sky that held a full moon, as if perhaps he could catch a glimpse of heaven and his sensei.
In that moment that his eyes connected with the view of the trees, he could have sworn that he saw a flash of pink, Sakura, and a young man with raven hair opposite of her. Unknowingly to the blonde, his old teammates were unaware of each other. Naruto did a double take and found that he was probably imagining things, seeing that the "people" or images were gone now.
"Sakura…" he whispered, "Sasuke…"
-x-x-x-
NORMAL POV
I jumped backwards when I felt Naruto's sky blue eyes on me. I prayed that he thought he was only seeing things because of the horrible situation that he was in, at Kakashi's funeral.
I spun my body around to see what Deidara was up to, only to have his face inches away from mine. Viridian green eyes clashed with pale, icy blue ones and we stayed that way for a few seconds too long. Deidara came a bit closer, but I turned my head and went to watching my sensei's funeral.
My face flushed even though this moment, today, was supposed to be an angst day. My eyes followed Naruto as he walked back into the crowd, still in the very front, as the man from before began to speak about Kakashi. Even from here, I could see the blonde's fists clench tight.
The pink stuff that was my hair stuck to my face because of the rain. My clothes were in better shape because I was wearing the—my—Akatsuki cloak. I sighed. It so didn't feel right to be wearing this to be betraying them all while at Kakashi-sensei's funeral. And without a care of Deidara or the wetness pounding down on me, I stripped myself of the cursed cloak so I could stand in my normal clothes. Just me; just Sakura Haruno.
-x-x-x-
DEIDARA POV
Was I some sort of creeper-pedophile (I'm only a few years older than her!) to say that I wouldn't have minded if Sakura and I stayed close like a few minutes ago? Maybe. But I am male, too. So that's an excuse…?
A more gentleman-like side of me said in the back of my mind, "No, idiot. That's not an excuse."
And the other voice that lived in my head spoke up as well, "Dude. You fricking are falling in like or something with this girl. You continue this and you're gonna end up whipped." Insert cackling from that voice filling his brain.
But something interrupted it. Sakura's was unzipping her cloak (he swatted away dirty thoughts) and was placed in a heap on the large tree branch we were standing on. It took me a few moments to understand why she did that. When I caught her eye once, I saw the stubbornness and thoughts that hid behind those pretty green eyes. I also knew that she wasn't—she couldn't—quitting the organization. She was giving herself some freedom and respect (for herself and her Konoha friends) with the cloak off.
My eyes skittered to the funeral and some man, a friend of Hatake's, was speaking. Honestly, interments did nothing for me. Sure, I don't know the guy, but still. Death wasn't my thing unless it involved the art of clay and explosions or the art of being a ninja.
Yeah. Pretty much.
I shoved some blonde hair out of my eyes and moved said pale blue things to stare aimlessly out into trees that were on the opposite side of where Sakura and I were now. "What, hmm?" I muttered as I strained my eyes to see past the rain, trees, and darkness to see a figure hiding in the trees, but viewing the funeral. Glaring slightly, I wondered why the person was there and who he was. From here, the man looked like a younger, shorter haired version of Itachi.
Dark eyes met mine and I turned my head away.
From back in my throat, I growled at the thought of the stupid Uchiha. However, I knew that that was not actually the weasel and, anyways, there was no purpose of the arrogant jerk being here. My mind flashed to when I saw Sakura and Itachi on the roof days ago. (I don't remember when exactly. I just knew that it was in this month and not, like, forever ago.)
"You liiike her," the second voice continued in a sing-song voice.
Shut up. My hands clenched together as I stepped a bit closer to Sakura, then sat down on the large branch.
-x-x-x-
Both the blondes were correct. They did see someone. Deidara was correct because he did look like Itachi—related to him, in fact. And Naruto was right because it was Sasuke. Too bad Naruto thought he was simply just not thinking straight.
Sasuke leaned against the huge tree trunk, arms crossed and stoic features available as always. However, if you knew the young man well enough, you could tell that something was up. The one thing that was off was the look in his eyes. Instead of the blank stare (or glare), it had an edge of sadness laced into it.
He had heard of Kakashi's death from a Konoha shinobi who was talking about it to the other two in his team. He supposed that they were returning from a mission, seeing that they were in a country that was not their own, but that they were heading back to Fire and Konohagakure. He had merely "hn"'d thoughtfully and went on his way.
However, the thought kept in his mind and he figured that he should probably at least go to a viewing or funeral or something. Sasuke did not tell any of the members of Hebi where he was going, nor what he was doing. When Karin and Suigetsu had asked, he barely replied, having mumbled, "No where of your concern."
Now he was standing alone, watching his formal sensei's funeral. It struck a few things in his hardened heart, but he ignored the emotions (an Uchiha with emotions?—hah!) and kept his eyes trained on the hole in the ground. Then they flickered to Naruto. Dobe.
His little speech showed Sasuke that Naruto had barely changed. But as Sasuke's obsidian eyes narrowed musingly, he felt that, perhaps, in a way, the blonde boy that was in love with ramen did grow up. Even if a little bit. Memories were flung at him when, in Naruto's speech, he had used the word "we" and the word "us."
He closed his eyes for a moment as rain beat against him and the ground, trees, and things around him. Soon enough, the raven-haired boy began to think about the female of Team Seven: Sakura. Is she still the same, too? he is she still weak?
Sasuke looked around the crowd of mourners, starting with beside Naruto first, but found no girl with pink hair or that looked relatively like the young woman. Why wouldn't Sakura be here? She loved her sensei almost as much as Naruto. Heck, he thought, even I'm here. So where could she be?
Suddenly, he felt eyes on him, but not from someone from the ground (like when Naruto looked up and over before) but from someone who was on the same level as him. He twisted his neck to meet the stare… of a guy with pale eyes and hair. (He wasn't completely sure of the color since it was raining and growing darker and darker.)
But then his eyes caught sight of a girl by the man with hair in a long, drenched pony-tail. Even in this light (or lack of) he could tell the color of the woman's hair. Pink. Sakura…? His eyes glanced at the man again and he saw the cloak with red clouds on it.
A curious smirk came to Sasuke's lips. What's is she doing with an Akatsuki member? His eyes looked at the Jinchuuriki boy down below. Looking back at her, he thought, And not with Naruto? He gazed at her for a few moments before he returned his attention to the funeral. His face stoic with those hint of sadness eyes watching the whole event.
-x-x-x-
NORMAL POV
I felt eyes on me, and I turned to look at Deidara, thinking it was him. (False.) He gave me a small, encouraging grin and I gave one right back to him. Then my eyes returned to the interment going on below. But now my mind was in slow motion. So slow that I wished someone would either speed it up or hit pause.
I guess someone did because my mind went blank. It pretty much stayed that way for the rest of the funeral, except for the occasional prayers and thoughts of Kakashi and the few of Team Seven. Once it was over, people were leaving and giving their condolences to each other. Many came up to Naruto and spoke to him. I wish that I was one of those people. I wish I was giving him a reassuring hug right now, telling him that we'll get through this. But at the same time I really wish that he would do that for me.
After perhaps an extra half an hour, everyone was gone with the exception of Naruto and Jiraiya, who was patting the boy on the back, saying something and then walking away.
The rain had picked up by now and thunder was easily heard booming. I admit that I jumped a few times at first when hearing the thunder and seeing the far away lightning.
My legs were beginning to ache from standing in the same position almost the whole entire time of the funeral and I yearned to sit down. But I felt that that was disrespectful, even if the event was "officially" over.
Naruto was by Kakashi's grave, standing by the newly made and put tombstone. His back was turned to me so I could not make out what he was saying. I sighed and turned, deciding that it was time to leave. Due to my legs being sore and weak now, I slipped, eyes widening as I began to fall…
But was easily saved in Deidara's strong arms before I could ever be seen. "Thanks," I mumbled, not meeting his eyes as he let go of me.
He smirked, "Your welcome, Princess, hmm." I hit him, grinning a bit. "…Are you ready to leave? I mean, I'm not trying to force you or anything. This is for you, hmm," the pretty blonde man rambled.
I turned my head to look over at Naruto, seeing that he was kneeling now. I so did not want to leave. No, I wanted to stay and call the Village Hidden in the Leaves my home again. I wanted to hang out with my best friend, Naruto. I wanted Team Seven to be Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, and Kakashi-sensei again. However, things like that either were never going to happen or aren't going to be easily achieved.
I sighed. But a small, fake smile graced my lips, "Yeah," I murmured. He said something but I didn't hear it as we turned to leave. I watched as Naruto stood up and turn towards the sky, the moon, so that I could see his face. It was glistening with tears and a painful smile on his face. (Again, again… Déjà vu, I curse you.)
And so again I left a crying Naruto again. My hitai-ate suddenly felt a whole lot heavier… and so did my heart.
-x-x-x-
Sasuke had left before Sakura and Deidara had—and only Deidara noticed the figure leaving. But before he left Konohagakure for another time, he murmured a goodbye this time. Although they could not hear it, it did him some good knowing that he said it. (Even though he did say goodbye to Sakura all those years ago.)
With fists clenching and unclenching, he took off into the night, not knowing when—or if—he'd ever be back again. In the depths of his cold heart, he hoped he wouldn't have to. Because the only reason he'd come back right now is if one of the Team Seven members (not including Sai) has died. Or if in someway, somehow, Naruto did drag his butt back to Konoha. Or if Sasuke had killed Itachi. But even after then… he muttered a "che." Who would accept him then? And what the heck would he do with his life once his one, sole purpose was gone?
No. Sasuke did not want to return to Konohagakure for any reason. (If he had to come back, it would only be because something horrible happened, he thought.) He believed that they wouldn't want him back anyways. And Naruto and Sakura didn't count… much.
-x-x-x-
The blonde-and-spikey-and-drenched-headed boy with whiskers placed a flower he had bought from Ino's family's flower shop. It wasn't anything too girly, he supposed, but it was something that was still giving honor. It also had something more meaningful to it that was attached, hanging around the stem. He had it safely and securely right in front of the headstone.
"Thank you, Kakashi-sensei. For everything." Naruto began, rambling about what some would think would be useless, stupid, petty things, but what the old (and there were memories made with Sai, as well) Team Seven members would one hundred percent understand. "You know, sensei, what I really wish is that you could help me prove Sakura-chan is innocent. And then afterwards, you and her can see me bring the Teme back. I just want to see your faces when that happens." He kicked the soft dirt, more like mud, softly with his foot, "S'pose you won't be. But," he breathed a sigh, "I am going to get these things fixed and bring those two back! Sasuke and Sakura can come with me and we can talk to you still like the old days."
The old days… Memories and flashbacks passed through the fox-like boy's brain. "Kakashi-sensei," the blonde wailed, not bothering to wipe away tears that seemed to appear as he stood up. "I just don't know how it's all going to work out yet, ya know? There's so many things in my—all of our—way." Naruto wiped his runny nose with his sleeve and smiled through his tears, "But it is gonna work out. B-Beli-lieve it," he choked out his famous saying, his known mantra.
Naruto turned and faced the dark sky and illuminating moon, that sad smile appearing on his face, hurting someone without even his own knowledge. I guess I was wrong, he thought, I didn't get to see Sakura or Sasuke before the full moon.
Little did the blonde boy know was that he did. And it wouldn't be the last time.
A/N: (i read too much sasusaku now. sowwy. lawl!) asfhjkl! i didn't mean to make everything so angst-y, i swear! but, hey it is a funeral. (R.I.P. Kakashi—the one that lives/d in this story anyhow.) i apologize anyways, though. i wanted my "first, new" chapter to be exciting and happiness! (AND THIS HAD BARELY ANY EFFING DIALOGUE, TOO.) can you say fail? lawl. please love me. haha
and please review. (don't deny how much that Review button turns you on. press it, and begin the magic.)
*sparklesparkle*