It was a very pretty day. The sun was shining and it wasn't pleasantly warm. If you listened you could hear the cries of laughter from the little children playing outside the window.
It was a very pretty day but that didn't distract from the fact that he was dying. Hadn't he accepted this when he was sixteen? He knew that one day it would end. He hadn't expected to live this long actually. The life of a ninja was a painful one.
Sasuke has outlived almost everyone. His wife was gone and so was his brother and parents. His mentor had passed away a few years back. He had even outlived a grandchild. Few friends remained still, Naruto being one of them. But even that bastard would leave one day.
He had never suspected that he would go first. No matter how reckless he was, no matter what he did he just hadn't thought it through. In his mind Sakura, himself, and Naruto would be together until the very end. But it hadn't happened that way.
When she died he hadn't known what to do with himself. If he was honest he still hadn't known what to do even now. He still felt as if a piece of himself had gone with her.
"It really is a beautiful day." Even if he couldn't see it he could tell. He had lost his sight many years ago.
No one was there to watch him go. They wouldn't have known to come, he had never given any indication that he was leaving. His sickness was slow and not particularly painful. Sasuke hadn't let anyone in on his dying, he couldn't stand the pity.
It reminded him too much of a time where all he saw was the pitying faces of the villagers.
("Oh that poor boy!" "He just needs a nice home, if only-" "I can't believe his brother-" "Itachi-")
Decades later and their faces still haunted him.
Yes he had accepted death so long ago. Being faced with it now was daunting but he was ready. Taking one last shaky breath he gazed at the window dreaming for a moment what it must look like outside, before closing his eyes and passing.
Was this what the afterlife felt like? It was cold and wet. Perhaps this was hell, surely he deserved it for the many crimes he committed.
It was rather disorienting actually, very dark and cold. Had he mentioned how cold-
Oh. It was very warm now. It felt as if he was being hugged against something very soft and soothing. Slowly he opened his eyes and could only see the blurred figure of a person.
"-pirate princess!" He caught, followed by a loud rambunctious laugh. The volume hurt his ears. Strange he had been used to the loudness before. First Naruto, then having a child, then having multiple grandchildren. Really his hearing couldn't be sensitive anymore.
Maybe this wasn't hell. Perhaps this was just a cruel joke you get in the afterlife. If he waited patiently maybe he could see his wife. His heart clenched at the thought of Sakura.
The cry that fell from his lips shocked him. He could hardly believe his body betrayed him in such a way. Crying? Sasuke Uchiha? It simply didn't fit in his world view.
He could remember the last time he cried like this, he hated it.
He was being rocked now, it was actually rather soothing he decided. He could get used to this. Even if he would like to see her first if the afterlife was anything like this, he wouldn't complain.
He had almost lulled into a peaceful sleep before he realized something. He was being cradled, his hearing was sensitive, he could see blurry shapes and figures, and finally he was being lulled. Things were starting to add up and he simply didn't like the way they were going-
Sasuke realized with a suddenness that scared both his parents, that he was a baby. He had been reborn and he remembered exactly what happened in his past life. This time when he cried he allowed it. How could he keep it in? He was a baby, he remembered everything.
Soon Sakura I'll be with you.
He cried and cried and cried some more.
When he woke up it was considerably warmer. He couldn't move very well, but at least he was warm! 'Get it together Sasuke,' he silently reprimanded himself. He couldn't freak out now.
His eyesight was better actually. Though he still had no clue what most of what he was looking at was at least he could see something. His eyes watered, sight was such a precious thing you took for granted wasn't it?
'I've forgotten what it was like to know color. Was it always so pretty?' He thought. His eyes stung as he stared straight at the colorful ceiling. The thing he was in silently rocked along. He was sure he had been reborn now.
"-she was just put down so be quiet." The soft timber voice scared him. 'When was the last time I couldn't sense someone? Wait, do I have chakra?'
He reached and tried to feel. Just for a small amount, anything really to feel alive and whole and not so very-
He cried out. Tears were leaking from his eyes as he felt the smallest hint of chakra. Now the man was leaning over, he couldn't see his expression but he daughr the shape. It looked as if he was wearing a hat of some sorts.
"This is your fault you shouldn't have come in now look she's away!" The man picked him up, though his words were harsh he handled him gently. He was rocking her now. "It's okay go back to sleep, Papas got you. Shhhh," it was oddly comforting actually. The man obviously had no clue what he was doing but he was trying.
He allowed himself to be calmed down now. It was soothing to be taken care of in this way. Maybe he could get used to his new reality.
"She cries a lot." A new voice said. His eyes shot open as he for the first time realized what was being said. She? He was a she now?
Sasuke was a girl. He had been reborn as a girl. Was this some sort of cosmic joke? Apparently it was because no one corrected the new voice. Now that he thought about it they had all been referring to him as "she" hadn't they?
Wasn't this perfect.