A/N: And so we continue on, pressing forward till the end. :)

Enjoy.

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Chapter Twenty-Four: Embracing the Future

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Endless rivers of tears.

He had clung to her like it was the end.

And it would've been, if she had not been there.

He had wanted something, needed something to remind him that he was alive, that he was breathing, and that tomorrow would still come despite everything.

But he hadn't believe that source excised. So he pushed Karin away, letting himself fall back into that dark pit of what was left of his soul. And he made up his mind that he would stay there until he died. Until the world evaporated around him.

But then she was there.

He remembered cringing away from the sight of her, the determination on her face. He wanted nothing and yet everything to do with it.

Save me.

Leave me to die.

Through his sobs he was able to speak. "Don't touch me."

He tried to sound menacing, but she stayed, their eyes locked in an unbreakable hold. He watched the sadness flow from her eyes and he knew then, she wasn't going to back down.

He tried pleading with her. "J-Just go away." His voice cracked. "Please just leave me alone."

He knew, a deep and warm feeling that grew in his stomach, that if she touched him, they were in this together, no backing out. She would be sucked in with him and he would have no urge, no strength to pull away.

If she touched him, even only a small caress of the hand, all of the pain would come rushing back and he would have to live.

He would have to live.

If she touched him, he wouldn't be able to shut himself away, he would have to face the next day and the next, and he would have to face the emotion that came along to ruin him.

But hardest of all, he would have to face himself.

He never did like mirrors.

He kept telling himself that he didn't want her to touch him. If she didn't, he would stay forever in suspension of his fall, and he would learn to hate more and think only of himself. He would somehow get by.

It doesn't have to be that way.

Save me.

For he could not save himself.

He was too weak.

When fresh tears sprouted from his eyes the warmth rushed over him so fast he had no time to think anymore. The pain was back.

Life was back.

It's going to be hard.

"No, you bitch!" He yelled, unable to believe how his world was spinning in so many directions at once. "Get away from me!"

But he knew she wouldn't.

And in a way, he was glad.

Her fingers were soft as they ran their way through his tangled hair. "It's okay. I'm here." She spoke.

He knew it. That's what scared him. She was here. He was here.

No longer in the darkness.

He pressed his face into her shoulder and screamed, releasing everything that he had held pent up inside of him for what seemed like forever. He realized, to his horror, to his happiness, he needed her.

So, slowly, he brought his arms around her and pulled her closer, making sure his grip around her was strong. He dug his nails into the back of her shirt and she only squeezed him tighter.

"You will be okay." She whispered. He could tell that she was trying to stop herself from crying as well. She would suck in a quick breath and shudder as it came out; she was trying to calm herself. "Everything will be okay." She promised.

He could only pray that she was telling him the truth.

Everything in his life had been based on lies, he needed something solid. Something true.

She was both and so much more.

"I am not going to leave you."

If she left him now he'd be done for sure. He knew it. Her words gave him hope; her words made him cry only harder.

Why did he deserve this?

Why didn't she just leave him?

He had done so much shit. To Sakura, to Naruto. To everyone. His life was a mess; a total wreck of mistakes and suffering.

Did she really believe that he could start over? After everything?

"I forgive you, Sasuke."

And it seemed as if those were the exact words he needed to hear.

---

Suigetsu had finally caught up to her. He never knew she could run that fast.

She had fallen to the ground, whimpering like a child, unmoving except for the occasional shake of her shoulders as she cried.

"Karin," he said sternly. "Stand up."

Get off of the ground. You're more than this.

She shook her head weakly. "G-G-Go away."

"STAND UP!"

She flinched at his sudden tone, but made no move to rise.

He growled and ripped her up from her position on the ground, ignoring her cries and protests as he did so.

What he could not ignore, was when she reeled back and slapped him, knocking half of his face off in the process.

"Dammit!" He cursed, keeping a firm hold on her wrists so she could not do the painful action again.

"What do you want?!" She shrieked trying to pull away from him.

"What is wrong with you?!" He yelled back with just as much force. She grit her teeth and he couldn't help but notice the spare tears that continue to fall.

"He doesn't want me!" She screamed, shaking her head in disbelief.

He could feel it. It was coming up like vomit.

"Sasuke doesn't love me!"

And then he opened his mouth and it all came spewing out before he could stop it.

"Fuck, Karin! I love you!"

She gasped and stared blankly at him.

"I love you." He repeated, more softly. He had always loved her. And now he was finally able to say it out loud, to her face.

She was silent.

"I don't know why," He said chuckling lightly. "I mean, your a noisy, loud, annoying bitch. But-" He released her wrist so that he could brush back a stray piece of her hair. "It's like I can't help it."

Loving you.

It comes so naturally.

She averted her eyes quickly, her cheeks flushing from the intimate gesture. "I'm a mess."

He shook his head. "I don't care."

She sighed and stepped forward into his arms. His heart pumped faster when he felt her snuggle into his grasp. He closed his arms around her. "I'm a wreck." She whispered.

"It doesn't matter." He stated.

There is always tomorrow.

There will always be a new day.

---

He walked in and she was reading to him, like a mother would do before bed time to a child. Her hand was placed gently in his own as she slowly flipped through the pages, totally oblivious to his presence in the room.

But how could he blame her for being so kind? Neji was her cousin, and his recovery was still in progress.

"Naruto!" She brightened up with excitment once she saw him in the open doorway.

He grinned and waved. "Hey, there."

She sighed and patted Neji's hand before standing and meeting him at the door.

"Any news?" She whispered.

He knew she was referring to Sakura. And he silently thanked her with his eyes for not mentioning it in front of Neji. The Hyuuga still had no idea about the soon-to-be arrival of his ex and his worst enemy. They had both agreed not to tell them considering the heath conditions he was in. They didn't want to get him too worked up.

Again.

Naruto shook his head solemnly and could see Neji glaring at him from his hospital bed. He knew something was up.

"No. That's what really gets me, you know? She should have been here." He said angrily.

"Uzumaki." The voice cut through the air. Naruto cringed and reluctantly met the gaze of Neji, who was narrowing his eyes in suspicion.

"I do not quite like the idea of you two talking behind my back." He spoke sternly.

Naruto scowled. "Yeah, well, it's none of your-"

"Naruto, stop it." Hinata ordered in a firm voice, cutting him off. She smiled, gave him a peck on the lips and turned on her heels back to her annoying cousin.

Sometimes he just wanted to punch that guy.

Hinata picked up the book and sat back down in the seat by Neji's side. "Shall we finish the story, Neji-kun?"

Neji grumbled something along the lines of, "I'm not ten anymore, Hinata." but did no further arguing once she took hold of his hand and began to read in her soft and soothing voice.

Naruto smiled at the picture of the two of them, ignoring it when Neji flicked him off. He only smirked and returned the gesture, dashing out of the room when Hinata turned and saw.

"Naruto!" She yelled in annoyance as he raced down the hall; but he could clearly picture the small smile on her face, the laughter in her tone.

He wished that he could paint a picture of his own, and what saddened him was that the two people he wanted to be in it were no where to be found.

---

She didn't know how long they had stayed like that; in each others arms, clutching one another tightly.

Jugo had left, saying something about finding Suigetsu and Karin, but she didn't care. At the moment the only thing that mattered to her was Sasuke.

"What's...wrong with me?" She heard him mumble. Those were the first words he had spoke since the breakdown.

She thought about it for a moment and then shrugged. "I don't think that there is anything wrong with you."

"No?" He asked softly.

She shook her head and pressed her cheek against his own, trying to forget about the tears that shamelessly stained it. "No."

He breathed in deeply, and she enjoyed the feel of the rise and fall of his chest. The atmosphere had changed drastically since minutes before. It was quiet and serene except for the soft chirping of the birds around them, mixed in with the swift blow of the wind that tousled their damp hair.

Earlier, all hell had broke loose.

But was it really the end?

To Sakura, it still seemed like this perfect moment was only the calm before the storm.

---

"What do you want to do now, Sasuke-kun?"

His old name rolled off her tongue like she had such ease doing it.

His mind was running with the sound over her voice but his body was still unmoving, his arms unwilling to let go of the angel in them.

"I don't know."

He was telling the truth.

He had no idea what to do anymore. He was having trouble calculating when he should suck in a breath or release one. So how could he decide anything else?

He felt like a vegetable.

"I have a suggestion." She murmured.

Deep breath.

"Tell me."

Release.

"We should...bury your brother..."

Deep breath.

"All right."

Release.

---

It had taken most of the day to bury Itachi. Suigetsu, Karin and Jugo were still no where to be found when Sakura had placed the last rose on the grave.

It wasn't anything special really; they had buried him in the center of the field, where small yellow wild flowers were growing. When the sun had risen to the highest spot, the little flowers reflected like gold in the light. It was a saddening beauty.

Sasuke had carved his brother's name on a stone using his chidori to make perfect letters that could be read easily.

They hadn't wanted to make a show about it, so they made sure the tomb stone was small and the grave invisible to anyone who was far away. It was the grave of Itachi Uchiha after all, and both of them doubted it would receive any respect if found.

If only they knew.

Itachi Uchiha,

"I just...don't understand..." Sasuke whimpered, before covering his face with his hands.

Loving brother-

Sakura grabbed his hands away from him and held them tightly to her chest. He grit his teeth and turned his face downward.

and remarkable man.

"Look at me." She begged.

He was brave-

Sasuke opened his eyes and she sighed with relief.

"Everything is going to be alright." She slowly spoke the promise again.

and caring.

He bit his lip and nodded, pulling her towards him.

Twenty three years of age.

She looked up and then their closeness suddenly made her heart beat strangely. He lifted his hand from hers to reach up and stroke her cheek.

May he rest in peace.

She held it there, wishing that his warm touch never moved from that spot again, and she didn't notice his face steadily growing closer to her own.

She opened her mouth though she didn't know what she was going to say. Their top lips brushed and Sasuke halted, his hot breath sweetly caressing her cheeks and mouth.

Her heart was pounding but she didn't move and inch. If Sasuke was going to kiss her, than it should be from his own decision; she would not force herself on him.

She continued to gaze at those tormenting lips that were so close, all she would have to do would be to gently lean forward an inch, and then she could taste them.

His hand tightened on hers and he closed the gap, allowing their souls to finally be meshed together. Unlike all of the other kisses that were either lust or spur of the moment, this one was smooth, real. It was soft and slow, the way every little girl always imagines and prays her first kiss would be like. It was like they were finally connected.

And may he fly once again.

---

"Do you think they're ever coming back?" Naruto whispered to Hinata as she snuggled closer to him in their medium sized bed.

She pressed a quick kiss to his bare chest and let her head rest there, enjoying the warmth his body gave out.

"I do think that they will return, Naruto-kun. But we must be patient." She spoke from her heart, though the bitter feelings for Sakura still stayed stuck in her gut, unwilling to disappear.

She truly hated herself for it.

Naruto made a huffing sound, the one he always did when he didn't get his way about something.

Hinata chuckled. Some old habits never die.

"Well, they better get here soon, or they might miss the huge event." He proclaimed.

Hinata lifted her head up and stared at him. "What event?"

Naruto cracked a smile.

---

She was beautiful.

Her skin, a pale shade of wonder; it was flawless and as soft as silk beneath his fingertips. He wanted to have it all, touch it all.

And he would.

In this moment of bliss he wished he had never left the village. He wondered what his life would have been like if he had just stayed and listened.

And loved.

So now he had to make up for every second he left Sakura alone. But how could he do that when every move she made caused the air to leave his chest?

He pressed his lips to her neck and explored, taking in every sound she made with new confidence to continue, a new feeling still teetering at the edge of his heart.

What was this?

Her touch was like fire. Paralyzing and graceful. A shudder erupted from deep within him as he watched her perfect hands ghost over his chest. The glow in her eyes as she stared at him gave him chills and he pondered: Was that shimmer in her eyes the same feeling that was making his heart pound?

He captured her mouth in his once again, gasping at the sensation. The feel of both of their tongues fighting for dominance, the taste, the nonexistent breath, and the fact that neither of them cared about anything else in the world.

There was nothing else in the world.

It was just her; Sakura, her pink hair wild and flowing over both shoulders like an abundant waterfall, her emerald jewels that gave way to her deepest thoughts and desires, and bore into his own eyes with a mission to discover him as well. There were her lips, swollen and yet begging for more of his kisses, refusing to be unattended to. There was her body with its gracious curves and petite stature, that called out to him and made his body hotter than he ever thought possible.

But last, there was her soul, and all of herself as a person.

Which she willingly gave and gave without once ever halting to think that maybe he couldn't give her that much.

But he surrendered the thing that he had always kept locked up tight. He let go of the one thing that he had never wanted to share for fear that if he did, a familiar strange feeling would begin to grow in it once again.

The stone slowly began to shed.

His heart.

He gave her his heart.

His broken, scared, deformed heart.

And he could only hope that she would help him recover the pieces, and begin to find his purpose, to finally step into the light.

His head fell forward and he moaned as overwhelming pleasure surrounded him and took him to a place he had never been before. And in that place he realized that this was more than just pleasure, this was something else, something he could not think the word for.

They had fit together like the most amazing puzzle.

And through all of the sadness and pain they were able to create a masterpiece, one that brought him an ache of joy. One that he had never been able to feel before.

He was reborn, even though he was nearly consumed by death.

And strangely enough, he had never felt more alive.

---

Hinata sat up in bed, wondering what the hell was going on when Naruto strode across his room and began digging through his top drawer.

She had always been somewhat disgusted by his top drawer, since that was where he would shove old food and dirty clothes when unexpected visitors ever came over. She had opened it once in her life, saw a cockroach, and never went within two feet of that thing again.

"Naruto-kun?" She questioned as he said nothing and plopped back down in bed.

As if leading her to build up her curiosity, he took his time curling up next to her and beckoned calmly her to come back into his arms.

She did so, still looking up at him quizzically.

"What event were you talking about? Are we throwing Sakura a party, or something?" She asked.

He sighed and planted a kiss to her lips, before quickly pulling back, leaving her stunned by his fast but kind gesture. "Do you love me Hinata-chan?"

She gasped. "Of course I love you! What kind of silly question is that?"

He grinned and ran his fingers through her hair. She looked down to the feel of something smooth at her fingertips.

"Well then, this is for you." He said opening her hands to place in what she had felt a moment ago; it was a box.

She giggled. "You bought me a present?"

He shrugged and rubbed the back of his head. "Sort of."

She laughed again, giving him a peck on the cheek before turning away from him to turn on the lamp at their bedside so that she could see her surprise.

It was a medium sized box, wrapped delicately in her favorite color; a sky blue. She shook it slightly, making a face when she heard no indication that there was anything inside. Naruto chuckled behind her, his quiet laughter making the bed rumble.

She frowned and peeled away the wrapping, resisting the urge to use her Byakkugan to see through the unfriendly box.

When the wrapping was all over the floor, she thanked heaven and everything that was holy that Naruto didn't put tape on the box to make the adventure, "more exciting" as he usually said.

Slowly she ran her finger underneath the flap and flipped it up; her heart was beating fast for some reason. What called for this sudden gift?

When her eyes met tissue paper she inwardly sighed before tearing it away from the shell of the box like a little child would do for Christmas.

Her breath was coming out in rasps before she ripped the last piece away...and saw nothing. She was about to kill Naruto for getting her hopes up for the invisible gift, when she heard a tiny thump as something hit the floor by her foot.

Her gaze shot down and she saw it: A ring. Small, just as her finger was. The light bounced off of a heart shaped diamond that was planted securely on the top of the silver brace. The outside of the brace was encrusted with the more diamonds, though minuscule compared to the main on.

Her heart stopped.

Naruto was laughing. "You dropped it."

At the sound of his words she lurched forward and grabbed it, noticing as she brought it closer to her face that something was engraved on the inside.

~Forever~

She stared at it, tears welling up in her eyes. It was beautiful.

It was perfect.

She had no idea what to say and for a moment was scared because she forgot how to breathe.

Fortunately, when she felt Naruto's hands clasp down gently on her shoulders, she remembered. She gasped, but at least it was something.

She could feel him lean forward, and she closed her eyes when his mouth pressed against her neck. He kissed it, and smiled against her skin.

"Hinata Hyuuga," He began, and the crying had already started.

"I love you more than life itself," He said aloud, sounding the happiest she had ever heard him in her whole lifetime of knowing him. "I want to share this life with you. And when this life is over, I want the next, and the next. I want you forever."

She put turned towards him, grasping the ring firmly. She knew what was coming next.

"Will you marry me?"

She looked from the ring to her love, smiled and placed it in his hand. She lifted her left hand towards him.

"Of course I will, you big dummy. Do you even have to ask?" She cried as she tried to wipe the tears away.

A look of relief washed over him as he slipped the ring on her finger, staring at it proudly.

"Naruto, I love you!" She squealed and leaped into his arms.

He laughed and rolled over so that she was on top of him. He kept gazing into her eyes, so she leaned in and kissed him, trying to convey to him the tremendous feelings of love that were spouting out of her.

"You know," He said when she released his mouth from her captivity. "You're new name is going to be Hinata Uzumaki."

She put a finger to her mouth and pretended like she was thinking about it. Naruto's face scrunched up with worry.

But then she placed her hand on his and smiled. "I love the sound of it."

---

A/N: Well only ONE MORE CHAPTER LEFT!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!! READ AND REVIEW AND TELL ME IF YOU LIKE WHERE THIS IS GOING!! AFTER THE LAST CHAPTER IS UP, THERE WILL BE NO MORE BREATHE!! Boohoo.... :(

REVIEW!!!!!