The Last Chapter Of
Nightmare Of My Dreams
(there is a surprise for all of you who enjoyed this story at the bottom)
Final Chapter: Tears Of The Blue Sky
"Ready. Set. Don't Go."
Sakura twisted around in her bed, her face now submerged in her pillow. It was about 11 o 'clock, and she had decided to sleep in. She wanted to spend today with Sasuke...but he had told her that he planned on being with Naruto. It was only fair that she share Sasuke, anyhow. After all, they were all pretty close. So she just wanted to pretend like today was any other day. Not like it was, though. Today, Sasuke would leave. Today, was the beginning of being all alone. Again.
But in reality, she really wasn't all alone. She had Naruto...and Kakashi...and Ino...and Lee...Tsunade...all those other people. And she had also heard that Sai was coming back to Konoha in a couple of weeks...and that she'd be busy with missions. She could keep herself preoccupied...giving herself less time to be lonely...and more time to multitask. Sounded good, right? Well...she was trying to convince herself it did...but really...
It didn't sound all that great. She'd miss Sasuke. She'd miss him like hell. And Naruto would miss him. And they'll end up talking about him...missing him together. Damn, it would be a long grieving process. And it would be annoying. And it was stupid. Because he had promised to come back...right?
Right...but the problem still remained that...what if he died in the fight with Itachi? She'd never see him again. Neither would Naruto. Nor anybody...and she'd really be alone then. And on top of that...he'd be going off into places she knew nothing about. With people she knew nothing about...and speaking of that...who the hell were those people she met last night? She faintly remembered Sasuke speaking about his other teammates in that past. That must have been them. Suigestu...and Karin. Suigetsu...well he was weird. And Karin? Well, she seemed totally clueless...obnoxious. And clingy. Sakura didn't like clingy. Not if somebody was clingy on her Sasuke.
She took a deep breath into her pillow and grunted. She could do nothing but count down the time. Count down the time until she would cry. Until she would say goodbye to him. To Sasuke.
But really...the goodbye wasn't forever. She told herself that over and over again. After all...sulking over his leave forever would only make her seem weak. Pathetic. And she wasn't that. She wouldn't let herself be that way. She was a strong kunoichi...who had grown and matured. Who had learned...loved...lost...lived...and endured. Never faltering. There was a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. She never doubted. So, why start now? She was strong enough to remember his promise. And it would keep her going. He would come back. And she would show him forever existed. That there was such thing as an eternity.
After a second or two, she pushed herself up and got out of the bed, stretching out her arms. She needed to get ready. Needed to look her best. Give Sasuke a smile as he left, knowing he'd return to her.
She stood up and walked to the shower, preparing for the day ahead of her.
"Hahaha! Yeah...and Kakashi and Jiraiya are too much alike. It's almost pathetic. I think when you hit a certain age all you think about is perverted stuff!"
"Hn. You're one to talk. You're just like him."
"Who...me? Like Jiraiya?"
"Yeah."
"Very funny, Sasuke...maybe in strength...but I'm not as perverted."
"So you think."
Naruto and Sasuke were laying on the hospital roof, watching the clouds go by. Being lazy. No surprise. After all, it was Naruto.
He told Sasuke he just wanted to hang out for a while, and he said the view from the hospital roof was amazing. So here they were...talking about Kakashi, Jiraiya, and Icha Icha. And as stupid as the conversation was...Sasuke was slightly amused.
A moment of silence passed and Naruto sighed heavily.
"I remember when we fought up here."
Silence again.
"Yeah." Sasuke's voice was low, bored. He remembered that fight all to well himself. He was so angry at the time.
"And...I remember...our fight at the Valley of the End." Naruto continued, earning himself a dissatisfied grunt from Sasuke.
"I also remember how Sakura ran in the middle of us up here."
Now Sasuke eyes widened. He remembered that too. How close they were to...
Naruto turned his head to look at Sasuke. "Speaking of that...how'd your date-"
But before Naruto could really even finish the sentence...and before Sasuke could think...
"Horrible." He spat out, causing Naruto to blink a couple times, a confused look coming onto his face.
"Why?" He asked quizzically. Sasuke sat up, rubbing his face.
"She kept asking me questions, and I couldn't answer them. And then...we went to my place and things just got out of control." He said, his voice aggravated.
Naruto's mouth twisted into a dirty grin. "Wow, Sasuke. Out of control? That's pretty dirty. I can't believe you." He sang out, snickering. Sasuke shot him a dirty look and he quieted down a bit.
"Not like that, loser."
"Don't lie to me."
"I'm not. We got caught up in the moment but before anything happened I accidentally said something I shouldn't have."
Naruto sat up and stared at Sasuke. "Caught up in the moment...so you were close to it, huh?"
Now Sasuke was really getting annoyed.
"That's not the point." Sasuke snapped, making Naruto's face turn into a frown. Sheesh...he was only asking.
"Alright, alright. Well, what did you say?" Naruto asked, his tone now serious.
Sasuke groaned. "Well...I kind of said I'd stay in Konoha. But..."
Naruto cut him off. "So you lied to her...what possessed you to say that?!" He asked, his voice rising. He turned his body to face Sasuke, a glare now on his face. Sasuke glanced at him, and then looked away.
"We were on my bed..." His voice trailed off...knowing that even saying that much was going to give Naruto really dirty thoughts...so he decided to think about his words. But it was too late.
"I don't want to know about you guys having sex! I just want to know why you said that!"
Sasuke shot him an evil, yet amused look. "We weren't having sex!"
Silence.
"Oh poor bastard. So you didn't get that far...and you were upset so you said that to her to get what you wanted?" Naruto said, now snickering. He was just messing with him now. Clearly avoiding the real situation.
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "You're a dumb ass, you know that?"
Naruto nodded. "I'm right, aren't I."
"No."
"Yes."
"Shut up, Naruto. She just caught me off guard, and it slipped. And I ended up making her cry." His face turned serious, his voice low and calm. He was having a hard time saying this...but he was holding his composure pretty well. Naruto just stared at him, now silent.
"I hate when I make her cry..." He continued, raising his hand to rest on his forehead. His voice became a little shaky. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Silence.
"You do it a lot." Naruto said, a thoughtful expression on his face.
Sasuke opened his eyes, rolled his eyes and scoffed at his remark. "Thanks."
Naruto laughed sincerely. "I'm just saying. She may not like to show it...but she's sensitive."
Sasuke nodded. He knew that already.
"I think I really upset her this time." He said, stiffly, running a hand through his hair.
After a moment of silence, he heard Naruto sigh beside him.
"In three words...I can sum up everything I've learned about life since you've left Sasuke..."
Sasuke turned to look at him.
"It goes on." Naruto said, a smile on his face. Sasuke's eyes widened. Yeah, life did go on. And besides...almost every problem was fixable. Somehow. Which, oddly...reminded him...
"How...How's Kalei?" Sasuke asked hesitantly. Slowly, Naruto's smile faded and he ran a hand through his hair. He wrinkled his nose.
"Not sure. She leaves tomorrow morning for the Sand village." He gave Sasuke a sympathetic look. "She's staying here until you leave. To make sure you set off okay."
Sasuke's chest started burning. He nodded and thought back to when he received that note and headband from her. He slowly reached into his pocket and pulled something out.
A confused look crowded Naruto's face as Sasuke pulled out his Konoha headband. Sasuke ran his eyes over it and then held it out to Naruto, who's eyes shot open wide instantaneously.
"Take it. Keep it until I return." Sasuke said, his face expressionless. Naruto glanced from Sasuke to the headband, and slowly took hold of it.
"Then I can become a shinobi here upon return." Sasuke finished, the corner of his lips raising slightly. Naruto blinked thrice.
"You don't want it?" He asked, bewildered.
Sasuke shook his head. "I could lose it. If I keep it here...I know I won't. I'll always have it to return to."
And Naruto understood. Sasuke could loose sight of his promise to return to Konoha. It was very possible. But he wanted to leave Naruto with a shred of hope that he would return. So it wasn't really for Sasuke...but for Naruto.
"And...I need to tell you..." Sasuke's voice trailed off, causing Naruto's eyebrows to raise.
"What is it, bastard?"
Sasuke sighed, looking into Naruto's eyes. "About Kalei...just...keep her safe. I..." Choose your words carefully... "Still care about her." He finished, exhaling a deep breath. He expected Naruto to get defensive or something...but instead, he just grinned and nodded.
"Yeah, I will. And I know."
He placed Sasuke's headband in his pocket.
"She'll always care about you too. She'll be waiting right here when you get back."
Sasuke's eyes widened.
"But...I don't think she'll be seeing you off." Naruto's eyes became distant. Sasuke looked at Naruto questioningly. "I think...she finds it too hard. It'd be a miracle if you see her again before you leave."
Sasuke's throat tightened. He didn't like hearing that. But he deserved it. And he knew well.
There was nothing he could do.
It was now 6 o'clock.
Time for Sasuke to leave.
Him and Naruto were walking toward the village gates in silence. Neither of them knew what to say. The whole walk had been slightly awkward...and completely depressing. Naruto didn't want Sasuke to go. But he didn't know what to say.
They had just got done making their rounds around the village, saying goodbye to everybody important...especially Kakashi. That was the hardest so far for Sasuke. He had yet to say goodbye to Sakura. And he was depending on her...to make this leave happen. She was suppose to talk to the Hokage for him. He had yet to know how that had went.
"So did you get everything you needed from your house?" Naruto broke the silence, startling Sasuke a bit. He nodded and they continued to walk in silence. Before they had started making their way to the village gates, Sasuke and Naruto had stopped by at the Uchiha estate. Sasuke said he needed to grab something important. And Naruto had never really bothered to ask what it was...
They reached the long stretch of road that led to the village gates. They were straight head now. Clearly visible.
And so was Sakura, standing alone with her head bent to the floor, eye's closed, and hands raised by her chest as if she were praying. Her hair was strangely and snarly, hanging down. Just the way Sasuke liked it.
And all of a sudden, he felt something hit his skin.
And another.
And another?
It was raindrops.
It was raining. And it started to pick up fast. But Sasuke had been too consumed with the whole day to realize the weather. What a surprise. And right away...Kalei popped into his head. And his chest started hurting again. Damn...he wanted to say goodbye to her so bad. But he could only deal with one thing at a time.
So he continued to walk up to Sakura with Naruto.
After they got a bit closer, she slowly lifted up her head and looked at them. Her eyes were sad...cold, dark...dull. Naruto waved and Sakura simply nodded her head. It was too hard to force a smile. She just couldn't do it. So she didn't even bother trying.
"Sakura...don't look so dreary." Naruto said, in a fake, cheery voice. But Sakura's eyes just moved to Sasuke's, and Naruto realized this wasn't a time for laughter.
Sasuke's eyes were cold. Distant. All too familiar.
"Did you talk to Tsunade?" He asked quietly.
Silence, and a small nod.
"She said it's okay. When you come back, you'll be able to become a shinobi here." Said her small, quivering voice. He nodded painfully, hearing her. It was slowly becoming too much to handle.
"That's good. So, it's all okay?" Naruto asked, earning a glance and nod from Sasuke. He slowly turned his eyes back to Sakura, as the rain washed over all three of them.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed...not angrily...just sadly. "Will you be okay?"
Silence.
His bands clung to his face, as hers did to her face.
She bit her lip, taking in deep quivering breaths.
She nodded.
Sasuke shook his head.
"You're not okay." He said, slowly bringing his hand up to brush away the strands of hair in her face. She bent her head down, not daring to look at him any longer. She didn't want to break down in front of him. Not again. But Sasuke only seen this as an opportunity.
"Sakura...look at me." He said softly, using his first two fingers to raise her head. He placed them under her chin and positioned her head up to look at him. "Everything will be okay." He whispered, making her bite her lip even harder. Noticing this, Sasuke used his thumb to gently tug on her lower lip, telling her to stop. And she did.
"I-I can't...I c-can't do this. If...if you go...I'll...be...l-lonely and..." Her eyes welled up with tears, and Sasuke clenched his jaw tightly. "Please don't go! I'm begging you! I love you so much...I...I..." The words just flew out of her mouth until Sasuke placed his hand over it. She blinked a couple of times, causing the tears to cascade down her cheeks. Not that you could tell. The rain was washing over her, making it hard to see her tears.
"Tell me that you'll love no one else." He demanded, removing his hand from her mouth.
A moment of silence.
"I'll love no one else." She said quietly, complying to his demand.
"And that no one else will ever kiss you."
"Nobody but you."
A sad smirk formed from his lips, making Sakura's heart beat faster.
"Tell me that you're only mine."
Her eyes widened. His words hurt her...but at the same time...made her happy.
"I'm only yours."
He stared into her eyes.
"And no guy will ever touch you..." He said, now adding a little sarcasm into his voice. Noticing this, Naruto placed his finger on Sakura's arm, just to pretend to be 'touching' her. Sasuke smirked at him, but Sakura only frowned. She found no amusement in this. Naruto removed his finger and sighed. Apparently, they needed some time alone. So he slowly took a couple steps back until he was a good distance away from the both of them.
He watched as more tears fell from her eyes. "Sakura...please stop crying. I...hate it."
She shook her head, eyes narrowing. "How hard must I cry before you hear me? I need you here with me, Sasuke." She mumbled, voice shaky.
"I told you this would happen. I told you...it would hurt." He whispered sadly.
Sakura tightened her jaw. "It hurts the most when you can actually feel your heart breaking." She hissed.
He ran a hand through his drenched hair, feeling the raindrops pelting his skin.
Sakura's shoulders started shaking and she attempted to control the sobs escaping her.
"Sakura..."
"I wish...I had the guts...to walk away and forget about what we had..." She said, her breath shuddering, face becoming flushed.
He closed his eyes tightly...trying to soften her words. Pretending they weren't true. But they were. He was making her cry again. And there was nothing he could do.
"But...I can't...because I know you won't come after me..." She continued, closing her eyes. Sasuke opened his, watching her every movement.
"...and I guess that's what hurts the most..." She finished, bringing her hands up to cover her face. And her sobs grew louder and violent. She was straight up bawling now.
Sasuke wrapped one arm around her shoulder and pulled her into him, feeling her trembling in his arms. And he was doing this to her. Damn, he was a bastard.
"You know why I'm leaving?" He bent his head down and whispered in her ear. "It's because of you."
Her eyes shot open. What did he mean?
A small, sad, laugh escaped his lips into her ear, making her shiver even more.
"I don't love the way you make me think of you constantly...I dislike the way your name always gets my attention...I'm not quite fond of how you make me feel, either." His lips gently caressed her ear as he spoke...and she listened intently to his every word...because they were close to being his last.
"I don't love the way I always make you cry...and I don't love how you make me want to, either. As a matter of fact...I don't love the way I feel about you at all."
She swallowed hard.
And he slowly pushed his lips as close to her ear as he could...and whispered as soft and quiet as he could manage...
"But I do love you."
Her breath caught in her throat. Funny how his words could do that do you. He always knew just what to say.
Suddenly, he took a step back, grabbed her hand and held it in front of her. His fingers pryed her hand open and with his other hand, he slowly placed something on her palm. Her eyes widened as he let go and she felt something cold resting in her hand. He brought his hand back to his chest and she seen she was holding a necklace. It was the Uchiha crest on a silver chain. The red was made of many small rubies, and the white, of many small diamonds.
She didn't know what to think. Actually...her mind was racing...but she just couldn't focus on any thought. Then his words broke into the air...
"I know you won't forget me. Because if I thought you would...I'd never leave." He muttered.
She gasped, feeling the cold air fill her lungs.
"That was my mothers. My father gave it to her when I was born. I want you to keep it until I return." He said, a small sad smile claiming its spot on his face.
She felt her body start shaking again, the sobs returning. Sasuke slowly grabbed her hand with the necklace, and laced his fingers with hers, so they were holding the crest between their hands. He stepped past her so his back was to her, their fingers still intertwined. There was now maybe about two feet between them. He couldn't do it. He couldn't see her cry anymore. But still...he could hear her sobs.
"I guess...I'm pretty lucky...so have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." He mumbled, his voice becoming shaky as well. He was close to crying himself.
She shook her head very softly, almost unnoticeably. I don't want to wake up tomorrow and realize what I was dreaming was right in front of my eyes.
A moment of silence passed, letting the rain drown out everything around them. Naruto just stood far off to the side, watching with sad eyes, through the rain, what was happening. He couldn't help Sakura in any way.
He could only stand and watch as her heart was broken...once again. And that broke his heart too.
There were so many times he wondered if Sasuke was the right guy for her. He always made her cry...but he could make her smile. He always made her sad...but he could make her happy.
Happy like nobody else could.
The kind of happy she wanted to be.
And as they stood, with their backs to each other...it truly was the saddest thing. It was almost as though the pain...sorrow...grief...regret...was all visible...simply circling around them. And neither of them could do anything. It was decided far before they ever had a choice. Pain.
Love was pain.
And was it worth it?
As he watched Sakura's tears slide down her face, her shoulders tremble...he didn't think so. And as he seen Sasuke's dark eyes staring at the ground...his clenched fist...he didn't think so.
The sound of the almost silent rain fell all around them, with Sakura's heavy breathing mingling in with the sound.
It was funny. Besides the rain...it was silence. A sad...dangerous silence.
Sasuke slowly ran his thumb over Sakura's, letting out a heavy sigh.
"I might be gone a while..." Were his words.
Soft.
Sad.
"But...please wait..."
And her heart beat faster.
"That promise...of forever?..."
And her heart completely shattered.
"Well...I'm holding you to it."
And as one more tear fell, she felt his fingers slowly pull away from hers...the warmth slowly escape her touch. Her everything...slip right through her fingers. Leaving her cold and empty.
"Thank you, Sakura."
His last words...as their touch died completely, and his footsteps faintly grew quieter. Her eyes widened slowly, as her hand fell limply by her side. She felt empty. Alone. And as his footsteps grew softer...she felt the void growing bigger. With only a few steps, they were growing farther apart. And she could say nothing. Her shoulders started trembling again...softly, but still defined.
Don't go. Please...don't leave me all alone.
She slowly turned her body to look at him, watching him as he approached the gates. He came to an abrupt stop, and turned his body a bit to look at her. Just one more time. One last time. And when their eyes met...she suddenly became very aware of what was happening.
He was leaving her.
All alone.
Like always.
There was so much she just wanted to scream to him...like 'stay with me'...or...'i'll make you happy'... But nothing came out. Nothing would change his mind. Nothing mattered.
As Sasuke looked back at her, his eyes widened slowly.
He seen something...someone he didn't expect to see.
In the background...behind Sakura a ways off...he seen a familiar figure...
...Standing in the rain.
It was Kalei.
Standing with her arms by her side...her head bent slightly down...hair clinging all over her body. Eyes sad. And filled with tears. Watching him leave.
And he couldn't believe it. She was here. Maybe not here, here...but she was there. And part of him was relieved. But it only made it hurt that much more. As he watched her carefully, he seen her nod her head...indicating him that the only step he could take now...was the one out the gates. On to accomplish what he needed to do. There was no turning back. Not anymore.
And Sasuke slowly nodded back...watching as Kalei slowly turned around and walked off...leaving him with an empty feeling in his gut.
It was clear that...like Sakura...she had made a place in his heart.
Just like the village he wanted so back to just walk away from.
He slowly focused his eyes on Sakura once more, noticing her cold shivering body, and red swollen eyes.
Her pain.
He looked over her quickly, and felt this stinging pain at the back of his eyes. It only took a second to realize...
He was crying.
So he turned his head, so Sakura wouldn't see.
He didn't want to hurt her anymore.
And he slowly started walking again. One step at a time. Walking away from his old home. His new home. His only home.
His friends. His past...and hopefully...
His future.
Sakura took a deep breath, and without realizing it, took a step forward...letting it just escape her lips.
"Sasuke!!!!!!!!" She screamed, dropping onto her knee's, shaking her head. A small spray of fallen raindrops kicked up from the ground her knee's had hit. Naruto rushed up behind her and rested his hand on her upper arm. But it did nothing. Her whole body was submerged in the strongest pain she had felt in a very long time. No...the strongest pain she had ever felt. This wasn't like the first time he had left her...because he had given her the promise to return...the only problem was. He could die.
And him returning to her...might not happen.
It hurt more because he had every chance to stay with her...had even wanted to stay with her.
But had simply chose not to.
Her sobs only grew louder...her tears, falling more rapidly. She clenched her fists tightly...all of a sudden feeling something hard in her palm.
She looked down, opening her hand...and it was Sasuke's necklace.
One of her tears fell on it, making the silver twinkle from the streetlight above. Her eyes widened, heart still racing. She looked up once more...and seen Sasuke's figure disappearing into the distance...the rain clouding her view. She glanced back down at the necklace and her bottom lip began quivering.
I wanted a perfect ending. But now...I've come to realize...the hard way...that some poems don't rhyme...some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle...or end. Life is about not knowing...having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it...without knowing what's going to happen.
She slowly undid the link on the necklace and placed it around her neck, holding the ends behind her, hinting to Naruto to clip it for her.
There's this place in me where your finger prints still rest...where your kisses linger longly...and your whispers echo softly...It's a place where a part of you will forever be a part of me.
He slowly did so, and she felt it rest on her neck. It was his way of giving her hope. And it was as if a little piece of him was with her.
Always.
She'd never forget.
She promised him forever. She'd keep that promise.
And it was possible...
Because he was the one that held eternity in his eyes.
That beautiful eternity
That eternity she so desired.
To be with him forever.
Her eyes watched him, until his figure completely disappeared. Naruto slowly lifted her onto her feet. And she took a deep breath, feeling the cold rain wash away the only sanity she possessed.
And just like that...her nightmare had become her dream...
And become her nightmare once again...
But that was okay. She understood what lied ahead. She would be strong. She would show him that forever existed...for her and him.
-
-
-
-
She'd wait...
For that one eternity...
The only eternity...
That Dangerous Eternity.
Sequel:
Dangerous Eternity
For those of you that enjoyed this story, I will be putting up a sequel soon. Also, I'll be putting up an authors note/ preview for my next story up on this story as soon as possible. And for those of you that plain enjoy my writing...I do plan on writing more stories in the future...so I'd be happy if you'd stop by my page sometime soon to check out my updates!
Thanks a bunch!
sammerzjean77