Apprentice
Hello! Wow, this took me a while to write.... I had absolutely no inspiration for it whatsoever, and then, three nights ago, I was laying in bed at three a.m., and then, Inspiration hit me over the head with a bag of bricks and I ran upstairs and wrote this down!
This was a really hard chapter... It has a lot of little details and quirks and insaneness and complications that should not be typed at four a.m., but hey, what the heck.
Now, I full intended on taking a vacation from you beyotchs, like kie-san diagnosed, and I will... soon.... (Kenshin grin) Maybe sometime when I'm not in the middle of one of my best and favorite stories, I will, ne? Yes. Ok, enjoy!
Longest chapter yet, HELL YEAH!
Chapter Twenty-Four: Surrealism
Itachi was the first to wake up. His Sharingen-red eyes blinked in the sudden sunlight, but he quickly adjusted. Glancing around, his eyes fell on the sleeping face next to his. He smiled slightly, just barely, running a finger down her cheek. She'd cried herself to sleep in his arms, his promises and whispered assurances not enough. But she looked very peaceful when she slept, not like the night a few weeks ago when she discovered her friends had died. Now, she looked peaceful, and something else... He couldn't really put his finger on it, because he'd never seen it in her face before... Or he had, but hadn't noticed. It looked almost...
Happy.
He frowned slightly, brushing her hair out of her face. She shifted slightly, and he quickly moved away; as he predicted, she swept her arms up over her head, stretched cat-like, then relaxed and assumed the fetal position, her back to him. He sighed slightly, moving in again to lay next to her again, wondering what his dear, demented little brother would think if he knew the older of the two Uchihas was spending almost every morning of his life memorizing his girlfriend's sleeping habits.
Oh, who gave a shit?
Uchiha Itachi certainly didn't. His little brother was a dead-case with a tiny brain. Who cared what Sasuke thought about how Itachi spent his time?
Shizuka felt someone shake her gently, disturbing her from her dream. "No... stop... I'm sleeping..."
"I know that. This is your dream, now wake up so I can talk to you."
"No... I like sleep... Sleep good..." She rolled over.
"Yeah, I know, and you're dreaming, so technically, I'm not waking you up." Whoever it was shook her harder. "Come on, Shizuka-sama, I don't have all night!"
One of Shizuka's eyes fluttered open to find out who the hell was torturing her. Her eyes widened. "Sakkon?!"
Sakkon smiled at her, sitting back on his heels. "It's about time you woke up."
Shizuka practically threw herself at him, throwing her arms around his neck. "Sakkon!"
Sakkon faltered slightly, then put his arms around her gently. "I-It's good to see you, too."
Shizuka smiled slightly, sitting back. "Did you hear my prayer the other day?"
"Oh, yes. Thank you." He smiled.
Shizuka's smiled faded slightly as she looked at him; the edges of his form were shimmery, like he wasn't quite there. "You're a ghost, aren't you?"
Sakkon nodded. "Yeah. For some time now." He nodded at the bed behind Shizuka. "Who's that?"
Shizuka turned. Her eyes widened. "Oh... Um..." She gave Sakkon a cheesy look. "Yeah, that's Itachi."
"Why's he touching your face?" Sakkon pointed to where the still-awake Itachi was stroking Shizuka's sleeping body's cheek.
"He does that," Shizuka answered, not even looking. It was like a grey film was enveloping her and Sakkon, leaving Itachi and Shizuka's body on the outside.
Sakkon gave her a small, side-ways glance. "...Oh..."
The fastest man in the world
"What?" Shizuka raised an eyebrow at him. Realization slowly crept over her. "Oh--I'm... I'm sorry, I didn't-- It wasn't--"
Fast asleep at the wheel
Sakkon shook his head. "No, it's ok... I didn't really expect you to end up a spinster, Shizuka-sama." He smiled at her a little, even though it was an empty smile.
Nobody wants to be alone
"I hurt you," she said softly, leaning forward to push his hair out of his eyes.
"No, you didn't," he answered, ducking around the movement. "I saw everything happening. You didn't hurt me."
So how did I get
"But you said that you--" Shizuka's eyes widened and she blushed. "E-Everything?"
He nodded silently, his eyes followed the movement of Itachi's hand across her cheek.
Here?
"You pervert," she said with a scoff, trying to make a joke out of it... anything to disrupt the tension.
"Oh, yes." He nodded, smirking at her.
When I look at you, I see him staring through
Shizuka watched him for a few minutes, then said softly, "I did hurt you, didn't I?"
He scoffed. "You hurt me loads of times, Shizuka-sama, it doesn't matter anymore. I'm over it."
Awake and a smile, cuz he's been inside of you
Shizuka raised an eyebrow. "What loads of times? I don't remember any loads of times!"
Sakkon gave her a look. "I'm a ghost, genius. I can hear your thoughts."
Flashback
I thought Sakkon taught me all I needed to know about kissing... He told me he loved me and I believed him.
I even thought I started to like him back.
But there was the one issue that he lied to me my whole life.
It was a stupid thing... I knew it would never work out. I'm not even sure I wanted it to. I always wanted to explore my options first.
Well, now that I have, I don't really want to go back.
Sakkon never made me feel like Itachi does.
End flashback
Is he all the things you
Her jaw dropped. "You heard that
Sakkon scoffed. "Oh, yeah, I heard it."
Tried to change me into?
His face softened slightly when she looked away, almost ashamed. He reached out and touched her face ever so slightly. "But I didn't really give you friendly parting words, did I? Telling you that you were a spoiled brat who needed to grow up." He nodded towards Itachi. "I suppose he never says stuff like that to you?"
Is he everything to you?
Shizuka shook her head slightly. "No... He doesn't really talk that much."
"Do you love him?"
Shizuka's eyes widened. "Huh?"
Does he make you high? Make you real?
"Just pretend for a second that I'm not still in love with you; do you love him?"
Does he make you cry? Does he know the way you feel?
"Um..." Shizuka looked down. "...Yeah..."
Love is all around you
Sakkon's face fell ever so slightly. "Real love?"
Your universe is full
At her nod, he shook his head. "No." She looked up, confused. He gave her a small, understanding smile.
But in my world
"No one can love you as much as I do, Shizuka-sama," he said with a smile, brushing her hair out of her eyes.
There is only you
Her eyes widened, but she quickly looked away again. "I can't--"
"I know."
I can still find the smell
She looked up at him again. He shrugged. "I know. I know you don't love me."
On my clothes and skin
He gave her a small, half-hearted smile. "You didn't even like me for a while. But that doesn't change the fact that I love you
I can still see your face, when you're sleeping next to him
Shizuka looked down again. "Can we not talk about this?"
Is he all the things you
Sakkon shrugged. "I can't help it. All I've been doing for the past three months is watch you guys. The two of you are all I think about."
Tried to change me into?
He glanced over at her, watching her face grow pained, and moved so he was sitting next to her, his arm around her shoulders. "Listen, Shizuka... I love you, and I want you to be happy. And if you being happy means being with him, that's alright... But I don't trust him..."
Tell me does he…
Shizuka looked up at him, confused. "What's not to trust? You don't even know him."
Does he make you high? Does he make you real?
"No, I don't, but I still don't trust him... with you," he added.
Does he make you cry? Does he know the way you feel?
Itachi looked up from Shizuka's sleeping face; he sensed a trace of chakra somewhere in the room... one totally alien from his or Shizuka's... it didn't even feel natural, or even alive.
Love is all around you
"Hello, Uchiha Itachi," said a deep, cold voice.
Itachi's head snapped up, Sharingen flashing. They widened almost instantly. "Sakkon?!"
Your universe is full
The ghost of the Sound nin smiled slightly. "Yes. Hello."
But in my world
"Yours was the strange chakra?" Itachi asked, frowning. At Sakkon's nod, Itachi shook Shizuka gently. "Shizuka, wake up."
"She won't."
I've had enough of fears
Itachi looked up. "Won't what?"
"She won't wake up." Sakkon smiled.
You let them out
"Why not?" Itachi asked, raising an eyebrow.
"She's with me. Inside her head. She won't wake up until I wake her." Sakkon's smile widened.
Now I wrap myself around you
Itachi's eyes widened. "You trapped her?"
Sakkon nodded. "Oh, yes. And I'll never let her go."
Like a blanket full of doubt
Sakkon chuckled to himself almost happily. "She'll be with me forever. Just like it should have been. You'll never get her back."
Itachi's eyes widened.
I'll be your everything
Shizuka looked up when she heard a soft pounding in her head. "What's that?"
Sakkon gave her a smile. "What's what?"
Does he make you high? Does he make you real?
"That pounding..." She rubbed her temples.
Does he make you cry? Does he know the way you feel?
Sakkon looked around. "Che..."
Shizuka looked around as well. Her eyes widened. "Itachi?"
Love is all around you
Itachi jumped up, running at Sakkon's ghost, drawing a fist back, but barely got within five feet of him before he was repelled back against the bed. "What--"
"I'm sorry," Sakkon said, smiling. "But I can't let you have her."
Your universe is full
Itachi growled, Sharingen flashing, rushing forward again, only to be repelled again.
"I'm sorry," Sakkon repeated. "Your Sharingen won't be able to read that shield. It's not a Ninjutsu, or Genjutsu. You won't be able to break it, either."
But in my world
Itachi attempted at another rush, stopping a few inches away from where he'd been repelled again, and began pounding on it with his fists.
There is only you
Shizuka's eyes widened, and she moved to touch the grey film on which Itachi was slamming his fists against, but Sakkon grabbed her wrist. "Don't touch that," he ordered.
Her eyes widened. "What? But--"
"I don't like him, Shizuka-sama," Sakkon said coldly. "You shouldn't be with him."
You make me high!
Shizuka's eyes widened even more. "Why--"
"You can stay here with me," Sakkon said, looking excited. "You can stay here forever with me and you'll never have to leave and we'll be together forever and we'll be happy!"
You make me real!
"Sakkon, I can't stay asleep with you forever," Shizuka said in a would-be calm voice.
"Yes you can! It'll be the same as if you were alive! We'll go everywhere, and we'll see everything and you can see Kimimaru and Tayuya and the others! They're all waiting to see you!"
You make me cry!
"But--" Shizuka looked back at the spot near the wall where Itachi banged his fists unrelentingly, shouting mutely. "I don't want to..."
Now you know the way I feel
But Sakkon was unrelenting, and simply tried another method. "Shizuka-sama, you'll only grow old with him! You'll grow old and decrepit and grey and your energy will be gone! But if you stay here with me, you'll stay just as you are, for the rest of your life. Don't you want to stay the same forever?"
Love is all around you
Shizuka looked down at her hands in her lap; she knew for a fact that, in about thirty years or so, they would grow wrinkled, and be considered 'ugly'... She may even be considered ugly.
Your universe is full
"Sakkon," she began softly, "You're right, as usual... I will get old, eventually, and to be able to stay with you, here, and be immortal would be so awesome but..." She sighed and looked up at him. His face was stone. "I'd rather stay here, in the living world, and be able to experience life, and learn new things... I couldn't just stop at fifteen with the little bit that I know, could I?"
But in my world
She gave him a small smile. "When I do die, though, we can spend eternity together, but for now, I want to live... just live."
There is only you
Sakkon growled, tightening his hold on her wrist, which he hadn't let go. "I won't let you."
-Cue 'Streamline' guitar solo-
Shizuka gasped slightly as his grip slowly twisted the skin on her arm. "Sa–Let go, you're hurting me!"
Sakkon shook his head angrily. "I won't, just so you can wake up and stay with him for the rest of your life!"
I wasn't there for you
Shizuka starred at him confusedly for a few moments, then asked, "Why?"
I wasn't there for you
"Che." Sakkon looked away, not releasing her arm. "Why do you think?"
I know, weather's gonna be fine,
Itachi glared at Sakkon's ghost, who seemed intent on continually smiling at him while the Uchiha pounded on the shield.
But I can see you cross the streamline,
"You'll never break it," Sakkon said with that same almost Cheshire smile. "The great Uchiha Itachi won't ever break my barrier. I won't let him." Sakkon chuckled happily to himself. "Shizuka-sama and I will be together forever..."
My love waits for me in daytime,
His eyes snapped up to meet Itachi's again. "...And I won't let anyone change that."
But I can see you through the snowblind.
Sakkon's face turned almost maniac-like, his grip tightening even more so on Shizuka's wrist, causing her to yelp. "You weren't there for my funeral, Shizuka-sama," he said with a huge, scary grin.
You are gone, I wasn't there for
"But I'll make sure, you'll be there for everything else." His smile turned to a smirk as he chuckled low in his throat, pulling her closer by his grip on her wrist.
Goodbyes are long
Shizuka's eyes widened in fear as his face drew closer to hers. "Oh, yes, Shizuka-sama," he whispered, his voice almost a croon now. "You and I, together forever... Just like it should be."
I wasn't there for goodbye
She gulped, trying to pull away, but his grip on her arm was horrifically strong. W-What's going on? This... This isn't Sakkon... is it?
But I wasn't there for goodbye
Itachi stopped pounding in the barrier as Sakkon suddenly burst into laughter. "What?" Itachi snapped, growing thoroughly impatient. Not only was Shizuka's life at stake, but this guy was nuts!
I know, time reveals in hindsight
Sakkon continued laughing, but managed to gasp out between bouts of laughter, "I was just thinking... How nice it would be... for Shizuka-sama and I... to sit in the clouds... and watch you... get old and decrepit and... ugly right before our eyes!"
I can wrestle with the stormy night
Itachi's face furrowed into a snarl as Sakkon continued, through his laughter. "I can see why... Shizuka-sama would choose you..." Sakkon suddenly stopped laughing, looking at Itachi with an expressionless face. "You're exactly how she described her man to me, when we were little, but..." Sakkon's face grew jeering. "You look like a girl!"
Because your love lasts a lifetime
Itachi snarled. "Why are you here, Sakkon?" he said in a deadly whisper. "You said you're going to take Shizuka away from me. Are you really that selfish?"
But I can see you through the snowblind
Sakkon glared back. "I won't let anyone take her away from me anymore. They never let me see her unless it was for training. I'm dead now. They can't keep me from her. We'll spend eternity together, as it should have been."
I wasn't there for you, I wasn't there
"You'll kill her," Itachi said coldly. "Just for your own sick happiness. What makes you think she'll forget that?"
I wasn't there for you
Sakkon smirked. "I have no worries. Forever is a long time. I can make her fall in love with me by then. I was close enough before she ran away. She won't have a choice. She'll have to stay with me, no matter what..." Sakkon started chuckling again.
I wasn't there for you
Itachi's eyes widened. "Shizuka!" he shouted, banging on the barrier again. "Shizuka, answer me!"
You are gone, but I wasn't there for
Shizuka looked back to where Itachi was, once again, banging on the wall. It's was safe to say, Shizuka was scared. Very scared. And you would be, too, if your deceased best friend had come back as a ghost bent on taking away your soul.
Goodbyes are long
She began scanning for a means of escape; she had already registered that Itachi's banging and screaming of obscenities wasn't getting her anywhere. So, instead, she looked somewhere within the field of grey for assistance. And she found it.
I wasn't there for goodbye
"Sorry, Sakkon," she said softly, making a hand-seal, "but I can't die yet." And with that, she melted down, into her own shadow.
Goodbye
Sakkon's eyes widened, touching the floor where she'd sat, just a moment ago; he whirled around and saw, not to his immediate astonishment, Shizuka crawl back up out of Itachi's shadow on the floor, outside of the barrier.
Goodbye
Slowly, the barrier melted away, leaving the three of them alone. Sakkon starred at Itachi and Shizuka, Itachi starred at Shizuka, and Shizuka looked at the floor, not looking at either of them.
Finally, Itachi spoke. "What was that Jutsu?"
Shizuka remained silent, starring at the floor.
"It's nameless," Sakkon answered for her, looking at her, now, as well. "It uses shadows as transportation means, and as a means of offense and defense. She developed it herself."
Itachi continued to stare at Shizuka.
"So..." Sakkon spoke up again, speaking now to Shizuka. "This... is... You'd rather stay here with him?"
Shizuka nodded mutely, still looking at the floor.
Sakkon sighed sadly. "Alright... I knew you'd say no, anyway. But you can't blame me for trying, right?"
Itachi started to open his mouth to say that, actually, he really could blame Sakkon for trying, when the Sound Nin's ghost cut him off.
"You keep your promise, Uchiha," Sakkon ordered, as his colors started to fade. Slowly, he began to disappear, first by his feet, until, finally, only his upper-half remained. "I'll be watching," he added, as, then, his head disappeared, as well.
Itachi starred at the place where Sakkon had been, a moment ago, thoroughly confused (although it didn't show on his face) until he understood.
Flashback
He turned back to the graves and raised one hand before his face in a respectful manner. Don't worry, Sakkon... I'll take care of her.
End Flashback
Oh... That's what he meant, Itachi thought with a small smirk, which quickly disappeared as he knelt down next to Shizuka, who had not moved from where she had crawled out of his shadow on the floor. "Shizuka–"
"I'm sorry," she said swiftly, cutting him off, "but I don't think I can stay here anymore."
Itachi faltered, caught off guard, once again, then knelt down next to her. "We'll leave tomorrow. Is that alright?"
She nodded mutely, standing up and crawling under the covers again, her back to him.
Itachi looked at her for a long while, then moved to sit next to her on the bed, his back against the headboard, arms crossed. When she looked up at him in confusion, he stated, to her unasked question, "You think I could sleep after that?" He smirked, pulling her so she used his lap as a pillow. "Go to sleep."
SONG MATERIAL USED FOR THIS CHAPTER:
My World, by SR-71
Streamline, by System Of A Down
This chapter is dedicated to those among us who have been in complicated love-triangles. Much love.