Chapter Forty Two
"I wasn't going to do it, Sasuke... I wasn't" he whispers from in my arms. Cold aching fear pressed hard and heavy against my chest "I was just wondering what it would feel like. If it would help. If it would make it all go away. I just want this to stop."
I took his thin wrist in my hand, my fingers wrapping round it and the ends of them touching. The blades had not left a mark on his skin, but there was a big, terrifyingly dark stain on his soul.
"How could this help?" I hiss, and rest my chin on the top of his head. I heard the bed creak, and I realised I'd been rocking us both back and forward. I stopped. "Naruto..."
"I don't know." And he was sobbing again "I just wanted it to all go away... but I couldn't... I wouldn't do anything... I..." He buried his face in my collarbone and clung tightly, the rest of his words mumbled into the fabric of my t-shirt and lost forever.
"It's ok." and one of my hands was stroking his hair in a soothing pattern "It's all going to be ok, Naruto."
"I'm sorry, Sasuke. So, so, sorry..."
...
I tucked him into bed after he's fallen asleep, and grabbed a towel, pressing it to the ugly stain all over the carpet in the doorway. The fabric soaked up some of the liquid, but most of it had seeped in too far, and would show up awfully on the cream coloured carpet. I picked out chunks of china, and piled them carefully on the tray. A shard bit into my finger, drawing blood. I sigh, being careful not to be too loud, so as not to wake him, hand hold my finger to my mouth. The blood tastes metallic and bitter.
A small snuffle from his general direction, and I'm at his side again in an instant, stroking his hair. I worry he's having a nightmare, but he's sleeping peacefully. The drugs he's taking working their magic.
I rest my forehead on his cheek for just a moment, before forcing myself to get up and find some stain remover for that dam carpet. I think there's some in the kitchen cupboard – under the sink.
I pick the scissors up off the floor and stuff them in my pocket. I also pilfer his razors from his en-suite, and his pencil-sharpener – for good measure.
I cast a glance back at him, to reassure myself he's still sleeping peacefully, and I totter quietly downstairs.
Mum, Dad and Itachi are all sat around the kitchen table, talking in low, hushed voices.
"Sleeping" I tell them, then collect the remover from under the sink. Itachi sends me a questioning look "I dropped our tea" my stomach gives a loud rumble, and I grab a slice of bread. "He'll be hungry when he wakes up". I grab another, and then opt just to take the bread bin. "I'll be in his room."
"His room?" Itachi frowns. We'd not stayed in his room for his fear of people trying to...
"He was going to cut himself" I deadpan "I found him crying and holding a pair of scissors." Their faces are white and shocked in the weak light "I've confiscated them." And any other sharp, pointy objects. I add in my head.
I make my way back up to his room, and find he's still sleeping peacefully. I place the breadbox on his chest of drawers, and scrub at his floor as quietly as possible with the stain remover.
Eventually, the stain seems to have lifted a bit, and I give up.
I totter over to Naruto, who's curled up on his side, and I sit on the floor next to his bed. Exhaustion crashes over me like a wave of ice. My eyelids and limbs feel leaden and heavy. My head lolls back to rest on the edge of his bed, and pretty soon, I'm fast asleep.
"Naruto" His name flutters as a murmur from my lips.
...
About halfway through the night I think I hear a muffled yell in the dark, but then a sudden pain erupts in the side of my head. And I'm asleep again.
...
The morning arrives bright and clear, and I'm woken by a horrible, strong sunlight and a cold breeze against my cheek.
I prop myself up with a low groan. I'd been sprawled out on the floor all night. My back and shoulder ached terribly from the awful angle. My head, for some god-unknown reason, pounded and throbbed like I'd had too many to drink. With another groan, I looked up, cricking my neck, and blinking sleep out of my eyes, expecting to see the blond boy still fast asleep across on his bed.
But he's not there.
Sudden cold fear grips my chest.
"Naruto!" I yell, sitting bold upright. My head pounded, and the world span slightly. "Naruto!" I stare frantically around. The sheets are rucked up and tangled. The window is broken. Shards of glass digging into the carpet.
"Naruto!" I scream at the top of my lungs. My breathing in disarray, my eyes wide and wild.
There's a clamouring of feet on the stairs, and Itachi flings himself into the room. He'd hear me yelling.
"Sasuke, wha'...?" He trains off, wide eyed as he surveys the empty bed. His eyes widen further as they flick to me, staring at my head. I'm distantly aware there's dried blood crusting there amongst my dark hair. I must have been knocked out. My vision is blurring slightly. Pain blossoms in the side of my head, worsening with each desperate thought that enters my brain. Maybe he just went downstairs? But Itachi's eyes flick back to the bed.
"Where is he?" his hand shakes on the doorframe, gripping the wood tight enough to splinter. The fear evident in his voice. "Sasuke! Where is he?"
"I..." the world was spinning, tilting, wavering "... don't know." And then my knees gave under me, my eyes rolled up and I fell into blackness.
Naruto.
...
...
A/N:
CLIFFHANGERS! NOOOOOO!
*Runs in abject terror away from the angry readers with big pointy sticks screaming; 'not another cliffhanger you evil writer!'*
Nooo! Don't kill me! Please! You'll never know what happens if you do! I'll make it up to you by writing you another update if you like!
*Goes and checks her bedroom door for readers who may be sitting outside it and waiting*
:3
