Hello everyone! I'm back! It was a great week long trip, I really recommend it to everyone. The hotel is called Ocean: Blue and Sand in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. But anyways, here is the new chapter which involves the lyrics of three songs which I will tell their titles at the end of the chapter. Now without furder ado, let the reading begin!

Chapter Twenty: With Eyes Wide Shut

"I miss you,

Baby, close your eyes.

Let's meet in our dreams

Tonight."
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I know I'm not there to hold you…

The last thing I saw was her eyes full of tears for me. But in my mind, I saw her smile, her beautiful smile just for me. I was so in peace at last, I never thought death would be this way. But at the same time, I felt so sad, so regretful. Not because I jumped in the way to save her because I would've done it again if I had to, but because now, I wouldn't be able to see her again, I wouldn't be able to hold her in my arms and tell her how much I love her; how much I love Ari. She was in pain, in so much pain and there was nothing I could do right now.

Look up, see the sky that I do…

Ever since I died, I was able to watch everyone from a distance. If I wanted to see the dobe, I just thought about it and there I was, like a person in a movie theater watching the movie play. There was nothing else I could do but watch. Though of course, the person I watched most was my purple eyed girl.

The day I got killed, after it happened, Madara had retreated along with the bastard of the Orochimaru wanna be. My friends were devastated of course, but none like Naruto, Sakura, my brother and of course, Ari. I wish I could tell her it was okay, that I was alright and that I was always going to be there for her, but I couldn't. All I caused her feel was pain and sorrow when she made me feel so much more…

You make me the happiest of men…

Kakashi had offered himself to carry my body back to the village but my brother had denied his offer, saying it was his duty to do so. Itachi… That was the second time I watched him cry and this time, he cried for me. That was the other thing I regretted of my life, not being able to spend more time with him, with my big brother. If only I would've known a little sooner… But it was too late now, it made no sense to think about 'if' because there was nothing to do. Brother… there were still so many things I wanted to learn from you, to tell you, to share with you…

And if God takes me before you, I just want you to know: I love you…

One week had passed since I died and five days since my funeral and since I was buried. I got my name scribed down on the memorial stone, which was really a great honor. Kakashi now had another reason to visit the stone every morning. I wondered how he felt now though… He had lost one of his students. He had certainly lost comrades but not a student because we were the only students he had, after all. But this time, he wasn't alone. Naruto always came with him as well and Sakura when she had a chance out of the hospital. The dobe and the cherry blossom had both been trying to keep themselves as busy as they could, probably trying not to think about me much. I was glad for them though… I wish Ari would do the same.

Itachi kept on to his promise, he was taking care of her. But I saw he was getting desperate. Ari wasn't eating well, wasn't even talking and Sakura had come to check on her several times, worried for her health. Everyone knew she was in a pretty bad depression but it didn't affect anyone else as much as it affected Itachi.

I just wished Ari was able to feel what I felt for her, how happy I was to do what I did, to save her life so she could live on for the both of us. But I admired my brother right now. I wouldn't have been to handle both the grief of losing my brother and the grief of watching and dealing with Ari's depression. I knew why he was able to do that, the same reason why I jumped in the way to save her: love. His love for Ari made him so strong. I knew she would be alright as long as Itachi was next to her, my brother really loves her and it makes me smile to know that he will be able to have a life next to her… If she accepts him.

And you make me the strongest of all men… I am the happiest of men.

I watched her every night. I watched how she cried silently in her sleep, how she called out my name along with words of longing and love. I heard her relive the moments we shared together and few times, I saw her smile in her sleep. I knew then that she would be alright soon, that she would know I was there for her but it was all a matter of time.

Once, I was able to get inside her dreams. I was able to touch her, even if it wasn't real, I saw her beautiful purple eyes looking back at me and I made her smile. I told her I was always with her and I told her it was time to let me go, to move on for the sake of herself and I asked her to move on for me. I told her how much it pains me to see her suffering and that I didn't saved her so she would be all depressed but so she could live and experience all kinds of wonderful things. Even if those things weren't with me, I would be watching her smile and that was all I asked of her; to smile like she always did.

She had told me she misses me and that she's scared of letting go, of somehow forgetting me. To that, I smiled and rubbed her cheek and told her that would never happen because we would always see each other… every time she dreams.

I miss you… Baby, close your eyes. Let's meet in our dreams tonight…
_

All the nights I've prayed
Must this all be untrue
I am not prepared to be strong
I just can't believe
I am losing you
Unprepared to carry on
I can't see you walk away
So cold, so alone

He wanted to visit his brother's grave since he was buried but he couldn't dare to leave Ari alone, not in her condition. It was dawn now and he hasn't been able to sleep exactly because closing your eyes but still being well aware of your surroundings, isn't called sleeping. After knowing he wouldn't be able to sleep, Itachi stood from the bed and headed to the bathroom for a morning shower.

When he was finished, the onyx eyed dried his hair with the towel and then placed it around his hips, standing in front of the mirror that was blurred with the vapor from the shower. Raising his hand to clear it, he saw his reflection and had to look away for a moment. He barely recognized himself now. The lines under his eyes were now even more profound than they have ever been and his eyes were even red and dilated, probably due to the absence of sleep. Suddenly Itachi felt the need to cough and couldn't stop them when they came, so he just raised a hand to his mouth and waited for the episode to pass.

The Uchiha thought he had it under control. The occasional coughs he had suffered before coming to Konoha were gone until this week. Tsunade had been taking care of his sickness with a few treatment sessions but it has been full ten days since the last sessions she had given him. Ari had been tending to his eyes as well before but… the present circumstances do not allow for that to continue. It is not entirely necessary anyways because she had almost completely healed my partial blindness and the use of the Mangekyou last week hadn't done too much damage.

Exiting the bathroom and entering his bedroom once more, the Uchia got fully dressed and headed downstairs to the kitchen to prepare some breakfast before going to Ari's room to evaluate her condition today. Ever since the death of Sasuke, Itachi has been suffering under constant stress and concern for her because after crying none stop for the whole day of the death and half of the other two days that followed with the funeral and burial, Ari hasn't eaten much. She drank water occasionally and swallowed in few spoons of miso soup or ramen he prepared but nothing else. When he made more chewable food, she didn't ate at all, just drank water and then she would retire to the living room and sit alone in the middle of one of the sofas there. He had tried to start conversation with her but she just kept silent, her gaze always staring into nothing.

Going up the stairs to the brunette's room, he took in a deep breath and sighed before knocking twice and opening the door slowly. She had already bathed and was now wearing a loose dark shirt and loose shorts of a lighter gray. Carefully, he walked closer and watched her face as he did so. There was something oddly different about her this morning in her gaze; it was actually more focused now, not lost in the nothing. Then he actually stopped and held his breath as she turned her head and looked at him, directly in the eyes. His chest tightened for a second as their eyes met and he saw all the emotion there.

Her eyes revealed so much of her thoughts and emotions that Itachi felt like he could read her completely. She was confused, definitely lost in her thoughts and there was that hint of analysis, like she was thinking about what she should do now, how she should talk or move. This brought much easiness on the Uchiha but at the same time, he became nervous. What was happening with her? How did she all of a sudden changed from her mechanical movements to actually thinking and willing herself on what she should do? Just yesterday, she was like a robot. She didn't looked at anything specific or thought about to do, she just moved without even thinking and did the same things every day. It was like her mind had finally connected to her body and Itachi dared to call her name and see what happened.

"…Ari?" His voice was soft and gentle, carefully slow. The female looked down at her hands first and then back to him, her lips in a thin line. He walked closer now and crouched right in front of her slowly, never moving his gaze from her form, watching her every reaction.

"I made breakfast, do you wish to eat now?" He asked just as slowly and even as he called her name. Her lips gave the slightest of twitch, as if she was going to talk but she just nodded her head once slowly.

"Alright, I will prepare the table for you to come down." Itachi said and he slowly stood up and walked to the door, taking one more glance at her form before exiting the room.

What happened? She asked to herself as she watched Itachi exit her room. Standing up slowly, she headed to the mirror and looked at her reflection, recalling the dream she had. It was Sasuke, it didn't feel like a dream at all, it felt like Sasuke had actually talked with her and been with her. He had told her the words she wanted to hear the most; that he would always be there with her but he had also said that she must let him go. Ari shook her head once, remembering how she had said that she didn't wanted to let go because she was afraid of forgetting all they had together if she did.

Her gaze turned to the ring on her left hand finger. Why does Sasuke want to her to let go of all this? After a few seconds of deep thought, she realized Sasuke wasn't actually asking for her to let go of the memories, he was asking her to let go of him. He wasn't there anymore and she was holding on to someone that was already gone. That's why it hurt so much, she held on to nothing. While on the other hand, the memories would never go away; those memories are the ones that keep him close to her always and if she cherished those memories; they would never leave her.

All she had to do was live with the memories because that was all she had.

It was really complicated the logic she was trying to understand but it all made sense. All she needed was to see him once again and hear it from Sasuke himself because deep down inside, she always knew.

Ari started walking slowly to the door of her room and headed downstairs. For the first time in the last week, she was conscious of the actions she did, no longer letting her body move as it wished. This time, she was the one willing her body to move and it felt really good to be like that once again. Turning to the right after she was down the stairs, she entered the dining room where Itachi had a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon ready for her along with a glass of orange juice. She has always loved this simple breakfast. Moving closer to the table, she looked around for Itachi who was serving a plate for himself so she sat down on her chair and waited for him to join her.

The Uchiha heir kept on watching her closely as she started to slowly chew a bite of her food. He still was at a loss of words at the sudden transformation she had today, he didn't know what he should say or do. Noticing she was staring at him, he remembered to start eating his own food. For the rest of the time until Itachi finished eating, they were in a relative comfortable silence. Itachi felt at ease now because he could feel Ari in her own body now, even though she was in silence, he felt how she watched him from time to time. He stood up with his plate and headed to the sink to wash his dishes.

"Itachi." His name was called in a low voice, a little hesitantly but it was enough to make him forget about the dishes and turn his complete attention to her.

"Yes?" He asked with the same low and hesitant voice. After several seconds of Ari thinking on what to say or how to say it, she talked in a low voice.

"I talked to him." She said and there was no need to say who was him. Itachi walked closer, pulling with him a chair and sitting down next to the female.

"And what did he say?" He asked, not being entirely sure if her talking to Sasuke was an illusion created by her mind or if she really talked to Sasuke. Though he was not a man of faith, he believed in the afterlife and in spirits.

"…He said that he will always be with me… but that I have to let him go…" She looked down at the table where her hands were, trying her best not to cry. That sentence she said had caught him a little by surprise; he didn't know what he should tell her so he remained silent until the question came.

"Did you let him go, Itachi?" His eyes widened slightly for a second as he thought about what she had just asked. It was not the first time he lost someone close and dear to him but only this time, he wasn't the one to kill them. Sasuke had been killed right in front of him, he had watched him die.

The Uchiha heir, now that he thought about it, hasn't really had much time to mourn his younger brother because he has been taking care of Ari. And it still hurt, he still felt his heart sinking in his chest and still felt like a piece of him was gone and knew that nothing would ever be the same; but he also knew there was nothing he could do to change it. Sasuke would always be his little brother, that sweet, caring and innocent little boy who grew up into a great shinobi and gave his life for his love without any regrets.

"…Letting go is not about forgetting him or stop hurting or missing him. It's about accepting he is not here and that all we can hold on to is the memories of the times he was." He looked at her before continuing.

"So yes Ari, I have accepted his death… I have let him go." He answered truthfully and she looked down to the floor, wondering on what to say now.

So he really had let him go? And what he said before was similar to what Sasuke had tried to tell her. 'To let go is not about forgetting, it's about accepting and living with the memories.' Looking down at the ring on her finger, she asked herself: But how can I let go? I don't know how to let go… I don't know how to accept he's gone… As if reading her thoughts, Itachi talked before standing up and continuing washing the dishes.

"The pain never goes away, you just learn to live with it." Her eyes widened a little at his words. Learn to live with it? How can I learn? She wondered but a voice in her head answered. By trying. You could never learn if you don't try.

"I have to try to learn…" She whispered to herself but Itachi's ears caught it, though he didn't say or do anything, knowing she was talking to herself and her thoughts. Then there was a knock in the door and both looked back towards the direction of the entrance.

"It's Haruno-san, she must be here to see you." He said and Ari nodded once, watching Itachi as he went to greet the cherry blossom.

"Good Morning, Uchiha-san." Sakura bowed lightly and Itachi nodded once in greeting.

"Good morning, Haruno-san." He opened the door more so she could go through.

"How is Ari-chan today?" She asked immediately, just like every time she came. Itachi threw a glance at the kitchen before moving closer to Sakura and talking in a low voice.

"It appears she has finally gotten out of her depression." He whispers and Saskura smiles instantly.

"But how? What happened? Did she do something or said something?" The emerald eyed whispered back and the Uchiha nods once.

"Her gaze was different this morning, she looked at me. And she has talked and told me she has seen Sasuke and talked to him, that he said for her to let him go." The cherry blossoms eyes widened at the words of Itachi but before she could ask anything more, the steps coming behind her made her turn back to see Ari actually looking back at her. She froze for a moment but then offered a genuine smile at the brunette.

"Ari-chan, good morning!" She said cheerfully and purple eyed girl's lips twitched a little in a fleeting small smile before nodding back.

"Sakura." She said but gasped when in the next second, she was embraced by her medic nin friend and she was frozen. It took her several seconds for her to actually raise her arms around the pink haired in a somewhat awkward way.

"I'm so glad you're better, Ari-chan. Naruto and I and Kakashi-sensei… we were all so worried about you…!" She sobbed lightly and the brunette could feel Sakura's tears though her now wet shirt on her shoulder. They were all worried for me…? She asked herself and she started to feel a sudden warmth she haven't felt in a long time, growing in the center of her chest and the long missed sensation made her eyes water as she now hugged Sakura tightly and fully. This was what she needed; this was the answer she was searching for…

"Thank you…" She whispered and Saskura sighed happily. Itachi watched the scene with amazed eyes and a smile reached his lips for the first time in one week. The girls stopped their embrace but still held on to each other by the shoulders, Sakura beaming like sunshine.

"I'll tell Naruto-kun and Kakashi-sensei to come and see today...! Is that alright?" She hesitated at the end, looking back to both Itachi and Ari who nodded slowly. Sakura smiled once again and released the purple eyed, heading to the door.

"I have to go now, have lots of patients at the hospital but I'll come along later this afternoon with the boys. Anyone else you'd like for me to bring?" She asked and Ari tilted her head a little before talking.

"Everyone else, I'd like to see them too." She said and Sakura nodded enthusiastically.

"Then see you two this afternoon!" And with that she closed the door and left. Itachi locked the door and turned back to the brunette who had the hint of a small smile on her.

"You are alright with everyone coming this evening?" He asked her and she nodded, turning a little serious once more.

"Itachi… Would you take me to his tomb?" She asked the Uchiha and took him a little by surprise with the question. Not once during the last week had she asked or showed any sign of wanting to go visit Sasuke's tomb.

"Of course, when do you wish to go?" She looked down at herself and then back at him.

"After I change to more appropriate clothes." He smirked a little at her answer and nodded, adding after her.

"Then I will also do the same." The both of them walked upstairs to their rooms and after ten minutes, they were both ready to leave. Ari had changed to a knee white sundress and white sandals while Itachi wore a long sleeved black shirt with a little more lighter loose pants along with his ninja sandals. The Uchiha heir looked at the female with wide onyx eyes due to the choice of clothing she had decided to wear to visit Sasuke's tomb. She smiled a little at his reaction and looked down at herself before talking.

"I don't want to say goodbye looking all dark… I want to look my best." She said and Itachi's eyes widened even more. This was suddenly a little too much, she had been for a whole week crying over his brother, not letting him go and now al of a sudden, she's going to say goodbye?

"Hn." Was all he said as he motioned for her to come with him. After Itachi locked the door, Ari walked closer next to him and placed her arm around his own, surprising the heir but none the less, he didn't showed any reaction and continued walking normally towards the tomb. From the corner of his eye, the Uchiha watched the female next to him as they got closer to Sasuke's tomb until they were right in front of it.

The tomb was next to a wall with a compartment for depositing things and had a plaque with the Uchiha clan symbol right in the middle and it was a bronze color with black details. Surrounding the plaque, there were different flowers of different colors that everyone had brought him like crimson roses, white daisys, yellow sunflowers, purple lavender flowers and others. He saw how she contemplated them, her eyes softening to the sight of the flowers and letters that Sasuke's friends had left for him. Slowly, she let go of Itachi's arm and walked closer to the plaque, kneeling down and touching the flowers and later, the Uchiha symbol that had Sasuke's name engraved on it.

"Everyone brought you something to go by…" She whispered. The Uchiha heir standing behind her watched the look in her eyes and he thought about how unfair it was all this, how it should've been him to die, not Sasuke. His brother had a whole life ahead of him, a beautiful life next to a beautiful woman that loves him with all her heart. He was pretty much of a pacifist and hated almost nothing but he sometimes really despised the unjustice of life and how some people have things they don't deserve, that others need. He would gladly change places with Sasuke now, in an instant if he could. He was ready to die, he was ready to give his life for his brother until Ari came and his plans started to change when he saw his brother was able to be happy with her. But now this happened…

"I miss you very much, Sasuke… But you are right…" Her broke a little but she swallowed once and brethed in before continuing talking.

"You wouldn't want me to be crying all over you… You don't like to see me cry." She opened the compartment on the wall over the tomb and sighed, looking down at the flowers again before looking at her left hand.

"This is the only thing I have to give you… It represents our love, right? Forever… But… Now I can't have it because… you're not here to share it with me." With her other hand, she touched her ring and slowly started slip it out of her finger. Itachi's eyes widened, understanding what she was about to do.

"I have my memories with me and I want to give this to you the same way you gave it to me… As a symbol that our love will last forever... That I will always love you, Sasuke…" She raised the ring to her lips and kissed it once before slowly placing it inside the red little box and into the compartment on the wall.

"Thank you, Sasuke… for everything… I promise I will go on, no matter what." Her voice broke in the end this time and she couldn't help it when standing up, she sobbed while whispering:

"Goodbye, Sasuke…" She broke down right on the spot, sobbing loudly though she tried to stop. Itachi walked up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder but Ari turned around abruptly and buried her face in his chest, crying into his shirt. The Uchiha closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around her, a sole tear running down his eyes.

"No, I want to open the door." She said, stretching the wrinkles of her gray shirt and white skirt before opening up the door to the house. She smiled lightly at her friends waiting on the other side though they smiled a little later, after recovering from the shock of seeing her opening the door and smiling at them. Ari saw their hesitation and voiced out her invitation.

"C'mon, guys. Get in. Itachi and I prepared a little dinner for you all." Now they were even more shocked but Naruto was the one to smile widely at the word 'dinner' and stepped inside.

"Ari-chan! You're all better now!" He said enthusiastically and the purple eyed smiled back at him.

"Yeah, sorry for getting all of you guys worried." She said and Ino spoke now.

"What matters is that you're better now!"

"It's great to have the real you back." Jack added as he got closer to her and hugged her briefly, placing a small kiss on her cheek. Then Hinata entered followed by Darts and Natas who also greeted her the same way. They all sat in the living room and told how glad they were that Ari was finally better and told them what things they had done in the last week. Naruto made her giggle as he told her about his anecdotes and Sakura told her about some special cases she had in the hospital. Itachi later emerged from the kitchen saying that the dinner was served and they all sat at the dining room to eat. Afterwards, they started to leave but Jack asked for Ari to talk to him for a little, which she accepted and Itachi lft to the kitchen to wash the dishes.

"What is you want to talk about?" She asked him, sitting beside him on the sofa.

"Well, just wanted to say that we all really suffered a lot but… no one has suffered more than Itachi. We have come to visit you and we all noticed it. Like always, he tries to hide but it's been hard on the guy because he lost his brother and then he has to see you suffering as well everyday, with nothing that he could do to help you." He placed a hand on her shoulder before continuing.

"I know you haven't noticed it but, he's really happy. We can see the difference of how he was for the last week and how he is now."

"I see… I'm very sure he really suffered." Jack smiled a little and rubbed her cheek lightly.

"I'm telling you this because… I know how it is to see the one you love suffering." And with that, he stood up said a small goodbye and left, leaving Ari to her thoughts. The Uchiha heir heard the door close and knew Jack had left so he went to the living room with Ari.

"You alright?" He asked and she looked at him and nodded, smiling and motioning for him to sit down next to her. He raised an eyebrow but sat down none the less. Ari moved closer to him, looking him in the eye for several seconds and Itachi just looked back, not knowing what do to and feeling rather weak at her purple eyes looking straight at him. Then she smiled softly and snuggled into the Uchiha's chest. The action made Itachi stiffen but didn't moved away from her.

"Thank you, Ita-kun… for taking care of me. I'm so sorry for being like I was…" She said and his gaze softened, a small smile reaching his lips and he placed an arm around her back, bringing her closer in a tender hug. He didn't say anything else for the rest of the night, just held her close as she slept safe and soundly in his arms.

In my arms, you'll be fine.
I'll never let go.
All you lost will come again,
just stay with me.
Stay with me.

Done! Hope you guys liked it! Personally, I liked more Sasuke's point of view :P Anyways, the first song is called With Eyes Wide Shut (which is the title of the chapter because it really fit) by Blessthefall; the second one is a part of the song Losing You by Dead By April and the last one is a part of In My Arms also by Dead By April. Yeah, I like Dead by April, they're a great band and their lyrics are awesome! Now, hope to update as soon as I can, remember to review! See ya!