I LUV u ppl u are SO totally amazing!!!!!!!
Hehe!! I got over a hundred reviews!! *smile*
I'm so very proud of myself&^_^
That's why I had this one out in less than a week?? Am I not brilliant??
Mwah.
Oh Yes^_______^;;I realize that this chapter is amazingly boring:P
Well… you really wouldn't know because you haven't read this yet… since I EXPECT most people would read this part before the story *stares suspiciously at everyone*
Or… not…
I've been too tired lately….. not enough sleep…
So I wasn't thinking a lot for this chapter, though I've just about wrapped up the story… No, it doesn't mean it's almost the end u retards…
Actually!! Cheer cheer everyone:p This is just about the middle of the story… well if u don't count the epilogue of course…
*laughs* Well who really DOES count the epilogue??????????
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! *laughs outrageously for no reason*
ANYways…
Please excuse the lameness of this chapter and be kind enough to review….
It's nice to give feedback… so I can write better, more interesting chapters for u to enjoy^___^
*mutters* enjoy… HAH!
This is dedicated to Nora D and Wusai for helping me!!!!!!!! U guys RULE!!
And of course to my beta Koganei, because she is totally the coolest person in the world.
Oh yes, and my wonderful friend Mikie, my inspiration, *cough*NOT*cough* and *smile* Aragorn from the Lord of the Rings… because I luv him so^^ (Yes!! NOT legolas u elf-loving freaks!!)
Umm… and I'd like to make a point of telling Sloth that I LUV UR WORK!!! HAH!! Did you know I luv to draw too!!!!!
Yep^_____^ I actually drew a pic for this story and I wanted to put it on the web… but my scanner is on vacation_
So When I DO scan it in, I can send it to u guys!!!!!!!!!
Oh yes… *speaks in a bored tone of voice*
Naruto obviously does not belong to me and Ivory isn't either… though I have a bar of it at home.
Also…. There is yaoi and shounen-ai in this story… which means two GUYS together…
Yes… steady your hearts…
Also, rape and weirdness and the author rambling about things she really shouldn't be talking about…
FEEEEEEEEEAR ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Read on ^^; O yes… I apologize as well for the longness of this note^^ There's just too much to say:P
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Chapter 6
Sasuke sighed tiredly and dropped down heavily onto the wooden bench. It was a hot day; in fact, it's been unnaturally warm ever since he had come back to the village. He had just been training only minutes ago near his home in the safe covering of trees and bushes in the forest, it was not a day to be gawked at like a plate of meat by girls. It's mostly been a busy slow week, each never-ending day passing by was like it was put onto slow-motion, like a piece of rubber that's been stretched thin. Sasuke lifted a slender hand to wipe the beads of sweat that rolled down from his hairline onto his forehead and laid back.
A nice breeze swept across the park and the calming rustling of the leaves set a slow serene smile on Sasuke's face. His dark eyes darted around quickly and found that there was no one there. Sasuke suddenly remembered that there was a show in downtown that many have been dying to see; some sort of professional travelling shinobi group who perfected their skills to degrading circus tricks. Sasuke frowned distastefully, but also a little thankful at the fact that he may be allowed some peace for once.
Sasuke lifted and arm back to push his hair out of his eyes and closed them, his black eyelashes only fluttering hesitantly for a second before he sat there slightly vulnerable and relaxed.
It was very pleasant, Sasuke could hardly remember the day before when he would actually just lie there and relish in the majestic power of Nature. He believed even when he was younger that he had some sort of connection with the trees and the running rivers and even the blades of grass. It was as though he could almost hear them speak.
Sasuke found that his sensitive hearing was even more heightened when he closed his eyes. He sat still and listened to the wind and the trees.
" Tsk tsk Sasuke, aren't you being a little careless just sitting out here like that in the open?"
That irritating voice sounded all too familiar. Sasuke's eyelids shot open immediately and his black eyes narrowed under the bright glare of the sun. Naruto stood in front of him; a silly grin that resembled one of a clown's was set firmly on his face.
" Naruto??" Sasuke said in plain shock, his eyes widening and not even remembering to hide his surprise in the unexpected coming of his partner. Naruto shrugged.
" The one and only."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed again suspiciously and lifted himself up stiffly.
" Are you here to go crazy on me again?? Dead-last?" Sasuke grumbled, hoping to make Naruto see he was still a little angry about what had happened before. Naruto stared at him disbelievingly for a minute before he burst out laughing. Sasuke stared at him.
" I would think that you of all people would not dwell on things that have passed, much less whine about them." Naruto laughed.
Sasuke stared at him, aghast both at Naruto and himself. Mostly at himself for not noticing how much Naruto has changed in the past few days. Sasuke remembered how Naruto before would probably shoot back some immature response to his insult. Sasuke couldn't really decide yet on whether or not he liked the old-Naruto better. The change was startling and Sasuke couldn't bring himself to believe that the annoying immature brat is probably gone forever.
" Besides, don't call me dead-last anymore you bastard. I bet I can knock you down with my Sexy no Jutsu!" Naruto said with a guffaw. Sasuke couldn't resist a smile, which he hid immediately with a smirk. Naruto… would always be Naruto.
But… Sasuke frowned.
Naruto stopped laughing when he noticed Sasuke's serious expression. After pausing for a second, he plopped himself down beside the other boy.
" I just wanted to uh… thank you for yesterday… how you helped me and stuff." He stuttered under his breath.
" It's alright. Anyone would have offered you what I did." Sasuke said coolly.
" And uh…" Naruto trailed off, shifting uncomfortably. Sasuke stared at him seriously, expression intense.
" Yes?" Sasuke pressed.
" Whathappenedbeforeweshouldjustforgetaboutitit'sbestthatway." Naruto said quickly in one breath. Sasuke took a moment to think.
Naruto didn't want to bring it up because he feared the subject, he'd been thinking so much about what had happened before and the smartest thing to do in his opinion was to ignore it completely. But that dream he had a night ago had him chilled, he had a feeling it had something to do with the strange occurrences the past few weeks.
Sasuke didn't speak as well because he didn't want to spark another tantrum in the other boy. It shouldn't be called a tantrum, but Sasuke liked to refer what had happened on their trip as one. It kept things simpler, especially now that Naruto seems to have gone back to normal. Sasuke's really avoiding the issue and he knew that, but it was a difficult thing to acknowledge.
So Sasuke nodded rather than to blurt of the many questions that had gathered into his head ever since he had been contemplating Naruto's outburst.
" Tomorrow's the ceremony for our year, I heard there would be a dance." Naruto said slowly, as both their eyes avoided each other as they avoided the subject and looked at the scenery around them instead.
" Yes…" Sasuke answered, hating the tension.
Naruto finally took in a deep breath and turned around to smile brightly at one of the first people who had ever acknowledged him, even though he didn't realize it at first. Naruto's breath hitched at the sight of him, several strands of the ebony hair fluttered in the wind as Sasuke's piercing dark eyes swept across the park, studying and knowing everything with just one glance. Naruto suddenly remembered the night he had wandered into Sasuke's room and did the unimaginable. The thought reddened his cheeks slightly and Naruto quickly shook it off.
" You taking Sakura-chan to the dance?" Naruto asked casually. Sasuke crooked his head around to gaze at him and shook his head mutely, his dark eyes scanning and reading the other boy like a book. Naruto squirmed under Sasuke's intense gaze.
" Why not?"
" She's not my type…" Sasuke answered quickly, it was obvious that he didn't want to talk about it. Naruto began to lose himself in Sasuke intense watch and quickly turned away, his blond hair whipping around his face.
" Well, there are a whole lot of girls who are madly in love with you, so you've got your pick." Naruto chuckled, the words nearly choking him. To his mad surprise, Sasuke actually laughed. A sweet-sounding noise that sounded so foreign to Naruto's ears he nearly fell of the bench.
" Like they'd actually like me." Sasuke said lightly. Naruto eyed him carefully before his face broke to a full feral Naruto-grin.
" HAH!! Of course!! They'd go for me first before they'd actually go for you!!" Naruto said loudly before jumping up to glare playfully at Sasuke. " Stop humbling yourself just to make yourself more perfect than you already are!!"
Sasuke stood as well, pulling his arms above him in a relaxing stretch. Naruto stopped himself to stare hungrily at the inch of flesh that had been carelessly exposed in front of him under the hem of Sasuke's shirt.
" Would that be a compliment?" Sasuke said with a rare smile after he took his arms down. Naruto was about to stick his tongue at him before he froze nervously and smiled instead.
" You wish!!!"
Sasuke gave an easy smile and Naruto realized just how different the boy looked when he did. If he was dazzling enough before, his smile positively glowed with such a radiance Naruto was stunned for a split second.
Naruto had his eyes locked on Sasuke's smile before a twinkling bell roused him from the trance and he blushed quickly, realizing he had been staring. Sasuke turned around to see a man driving an ice-cream cart around on a bike, hopeless of getting any customers since everyone was gone.
Sasuke glanced back, smile still on his face. Naruto couldn't help but feel pleasantly happy inside from the fact that he knew Sasuke wouldn't smile for anyone but ones who should stand an important place in his heart.
" Want an ice-cream?"
Naruto jumped from having such a question directed towards him from Sasuke of all people. His mouth dropped slightly as he nodded a quickly and followed Sasuke to the ice-cream. He finally got over his initial shock and joked easily.
" Would this be a date?" He said laughing softly. Sasuke didn't look back when he answered, still taking long swift strides.
" Would you like it to be?" A quick question came forth. Naruto was lost for words for a minute, his mouth opening and closing as though he was about to speak.
" er- a-ano… and I mean… uh-" Naruto stuttered nervously, his eyes darting back and forth from the ground to the back of Sasuke's head.
Sasuke seemed to hesitate a bit before he tilted his head to the side just the slightest to catch Naruto's eye. Naruto's cheeks coloured yet again. He was slightly relieved and disappointed at the same time to see Sasuke chuckling.
" I was only joking idiot!" Sasuke said clearly before he sprinted the last few steps to the man and quickly pulled out a couple of bills. The orange-clad ninja ran after him after a brief pause and eagerly took the cone that Sasuke held out towards him.
Naruto's excited face dampened a bit when he saw the cone though, and Sasuke noticed so as he took several licks off his chocolate ice-cream. They began to walk back to where they were previously sitting.
" Bleh!" Naruto made a face. " Vanilla!! I HATE vanilla!!" Naruto stared down sadly at his dripping cone, he hadn't not taken one solitary lick. Sasuke looked at him as would a mother look at an ungrateful child.
" Is that what you tell a person who just bought you food?" Sasuke said lowly, shaking his head.
He stared at his cone for a minute before he pushed his cone out to Naruto and snatched up the other boy's.
He took a few amused licks from the vanilla cone and continued to hold his chocolate cone out. Naruto stared at the cone and then at Sasuke. He made a disgusted face.
" Nyah Sasuke!! You already licked it!! Why did you take my cone!!" Naruto said, folding his arms onto his chest. Sasuke gazed at him disbelievingly.
" I offered you my cone. So take it or leave it, it isn't vanilla.' Sasuke said coolly. When a drop of chocolate dribbled down the cone onto his hand, he quickly lifted a finger to lick it off. Naruto watched entranced as the pink tongue darted out instantly to swipe on the ice-cream.
Catching himself again, Naruto grabbed the ice-cream cone out of Sasuke's hand and began to lick it gingerly. Author: HAHA!! Indirect kiss^_______^
" You like Vanilla??" Naruto said, eyeing Sasuke carefully. Sasuke made a disgusted face that looked so comical Naruto snorted into his ice-cream.
" Ugh, disgusting." Sasuke muttered and they reached the bench to sit, it was cool and shady under the trees. Naruto widened his eyes in surprise as they both bent down to lean back onto the wooden bench, delightfully out of the blazing sun.
" Why did you trade with me then??"
Sasuke stared at him as though he expected Naruto to know the answer already.
" You didn't like it as well, and I don't have that huge of a problem with it anyways. Besides, I don't really enjoy ice-cream in the summer." Sasuke explained slowly. Naruto raised a delicate brow.
" When else would you eat ice-cream??"
" I'd rather eat it in the winter, when you can enjoy and savour your ice-cream slowly without worrying about it melting and making a mess." Sasuke said, taking a few tentative licks out of his cone and not looking at Naruto at all.
" That's weird. I'd rather it be in the summer when it could run coldly down your throat, a nice contrast to the scorching heat. Also, I like the feeling of sweet stick globs of ice-cream dripping off your cone and onto your hands. It's fun." Naruto laughed at his words, knowing how corny it sounded.
Sasuke turned his head to watch him, laughter dancing in his eyes.
" There are still many things to learn about you Naruto."
Naruto grinned devishly as he finished his cone and threw the last bit into his mouth.
" Ne! I can imagine, you probably thought I was some easy to win brat whose eyes light up at the sight of ramen or something!"
Sasuke paused thoughfully.
" Too bad, Ramen would have been nice." Sasuke said quickly before he jumped up and took a couple of steps opposite from the direction of where the ramen shop was.
It took a second for the fact that Sasuke was about to treat him to his favourite meal to register in Naruto's head. He jumped up gleefully before he grabbed the normally stoic boy's arm and began to tug him towards his favourite restaurant.
" I was just jokin'!"
It was nice to know that things have gotten back to normal, and perhaps their relationship was even friendlier than before. But Sasuke couldn't help but notice it was a little strained, and at how Naruto blanched just before he did his customary face where he would stick out his tongue and grin viciously. And Naruto couldn't help but notice as well how Sasuke always seemed a little uncomfortable talking to him and how he as well found it hard sometimes to speak to the boy.
Perhaps it would take time for things to turn back to normal, but both believed they had all the time in the world.
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Naruto stared up at the plain white ceiling above him, traces of a smile still upon his lips. He had a lot of fun with Sasuke, Naruto had made the choice of acting normally again. But Sasuke… Naruto was still uncomfortable about the fact that Sasuke acted as though he had forgotten all about what he had done on their trip.
Not that it was much though, Naruto frowned to himself, it could have been just a joke. Naruto felt a little queasy at the thought of Sasuke laughing after him for taking everything so seriously.
Naruto flopped over to his side and stared out the window, he had opened it to let the cool night breeze sweep into the room. He never really liked his window open, but he still can't afford a damn air conditioner.
The stars were twinkling quite brightly, though Naruto didn't like the look of them that night. Their twinkling seemed to chuckle at him mischievously… /we know something you don't…/ They ranted and chanted in a song-song voice.
Stars mocking him, Naruto forced a grin on his face, I really must be losing it.
He suddenly shivered and looked away from the window.
I'll definitely sleep this time, Naruto shut his eyes tightly. But they shot open immediately and Naruto sighed to himself, he knew he wouldn't be able to fall asleep. Whenever he closed his eyes into that dark world where anything could happen, he had a feeling that whatever caused him so much pain the other night would come back again. Naruto felt a sudden flow of fear run through his veins and felt his hairs prickle up. That 'thing' was not very nice at all…
No, not at all.
That 'thing' was very evil… oh it is… It was watching him always… Naruto desperately wanted to back away from his thoughts…
That 'thing' wanted to eat him… devour him and tear him to shreds of human flesh…
Naruto shut his eyes tightly and willed himself to sleep, free from the clutches of his own terrifying mind. He clutched his night shirt and shivered uncontrollably…
Sleep damn it! Sleep!
"Hummmmmmm…"
Out of nowhere came forth a low hum… a serene tranquil song that danced into the room and calmed Naruto almost immediately.
"Hummm…. Hum hum hum… huuuum…."
Naruto sighed peacefully and began to doze off, the melody was so dreamlike and alluring. He felt every single lovely note like a whisper in his ears, blowing as gently as the kiss of the wind…
" Huuumm…. Huuummm…" It died off slowly and quietly…
But at a point where Naruto would not know that it was gone… So that it wouldn't disturb him…
And let him sleep…
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Naruto ran around, though it was as though his body really wasn't his at all. His legs were moving more quickly as they ever had before, but Naruto didn't signal his body to run… it just did. Naruto didn't feel any fatique either, which was strange because he had been running for the past 5000 years in circles…
He just wasn't there then.
Naruto concentrated on where he was rather than what he was doing. He was in a flat landscape ful of white nothingness. Everything was a pure snow white, not even an atom of dirt was on the ground… of there was one.
Naruto began to think thoughts, like how he could know there wasn't an atom of dirt of the ground when he can't even see one, or what kind of detergent the cleaner used.
It took him a while before he figured out there wasn't one, perhaps he was the first one to step onto this virgin area. Naruto felt a sudden urge to clean himself, he was so dirty compared to the environment.
Then he thought about what kind of soap he could use that would scub of every microbe of dirt… Maybe Ivory… like his surroundings…
Naruto was thinking not very sensible thoughts… perhaps… He pondered… where am I?? He asked himself finally.
But where should I be??
Naruto shrugged to himself, though he didn't really shrug physically because he couldn't control his body at all… so he imagined himself shrugging and that was really enough.
Maybe he was supposed to be here… Naruto began to get used to the running, though he found himself getting dizzy running the small circles…
He almost felt like a dog chasing its tail.
There was suddenly a strange melody floating towards him over all the whiteness, entering him and binding him with it's long sustaining notes…
Naruto found his mind clear of it's fogginess and was able to stop himself from running. Which he did.
He was exhausted though, so tired he could fall to the ground dead asleep.
5000 years running could do that to a person.
The music was still there, he realized with a slight raise of his brow. Yes, he can do that know. Raise his brows. Naruto tried smiling and could feel his face muscle tightning.
That meant he was smiling.
Such sweet delightful music, Naruto felt like smiling some more because of it. But no… the music was telling him not to. It was telling him to go somewhere.
Naruto didn't mind. He liked the music. A lot.
The enchanting music flowed like threads tying themselves around his body and playing him forward to whatever his destination was. Naruto felt a brief stun of panic and alarm, but the music soothed him once again as a mother would a fretting child.
Naruto glided along with the music, feeling delightfully like he was part of it.
Then he stopped all of a sudden when something came into view. It was a dark haired boy, sitting in front of a piano and playing that wonderful music he loved so much.
Naruto watched the hands in an awed silence, they were so nimble and quick as they danced gracefully over the keys. Pressing here and pressing there, producing those lovely twinkling sounds that was just so fasinating to him.
The boy stopped playing then, his back still facing Naruto.
Then as though silence was the key, Naruto suddenly was startled awake. As though he had been pushed under water and suffocated until he could breath once again.
" What the hell???" Naruto yelled, looking around him wildly. Where the heck is he?? Naruto remembered himself watching the stars and trying to fall asleep. He looked at his pure white surroundings and tried to think clearly. He was dreaming, Naruto reassured himself, sighing in relief as he realized the most reasonable answer.
Naruto pulled his gaze towards the only other object in this entire world of nothingness and held his breath. There was a boy just sitting there at the piano, facing the other direction so that Naruto couldn't see his face at all.
" Oi!! Dream guy person!!" Naruto called to him, speaking much more loudly than what was required of 10 feet of space.
The boy didn't answer, only sat perfectly still at his piano and staring down at his fingers, which were still barely skimming the piano's surface.
Naruto frowned at him and stalked forward. When he stood almost right next to the boy and the grand piano, perfectly polished to gleam proudly in the white light, Naruto's frown lifted itself to a sneer.
" Who are you???" Naruto said slowly as though he was speaking to a child, he stuffed his hands into the pockets of his orange pants.
The boy didn't answer, nor did he move an inch.
Naruto fumed at him, his eyes flaring with anger as he pushed forward to grab the boy's shoulders tightly and pull him around so that he faced him.
Naruto was just about to yell his head off when he saw the boy's slightly different by definitely recognizable features.
" S-Sasuke???" Naruto stuttered, stepping back.
A much younger Sasuke smiled sweetly at him, but didn't say a word.
Naruto was taken back, of all things, he didn't expect to find Sasuke there. His bangs were shorting though the dark hair at the back of his head grew to the nape of his neck, his features were softer than before and his pink lips were slightly puckered as though he was pouting. It was not a very Sasuke-like expression at all, but Naruto could recognize him anywhere at any age.
Dark eyes that were much larger than before peered up to him innocently. Naruto was about to demand Sasuke to tell him where he was when he remembered again that it was a dream. So with little hesitance, he smiled back uneasily at the little boy. He was so much like and unlike Sasuke at the same time, but no longer were his eyes etched with pain and burdened with dark memories and responsibility.
The boy giggled, something Naruto would never expect Sasuke even as a child would do and held a hand up to him. Naruto peered at the small delicate hand, instantly comparing it to Sasuke's own large hand and finding them extremely different. But he took it, flashing the child a grin.
Naruto noted that the boy's small hand was very soft, his skin pearly white and as smooth as satin. He couldn't resist to run a thumb over the palm before the boy pulled him down to the black chair he was sitting on.
Naruto stared at him in question, but once again, little Sasuke smiled at him reassuringly. The boy guided his hand towards the keys slowly, tugging for it to sit on the notes. Naruto frowned at him, he knew it was a dream but he still felt a little anxious for some reason.
Feeling a sudden wave of familiar nausea, Naruto quickly snatched his hand back and got up to back away, he didn't care about the tearful eyes that faced him once again. It was way too strange.
The younger Sasuke sighed in slight aspiration at him, before he dared a tiny sly smile that crawled up his lips and almost seemed to tease him. Sasuke giggled, a high-pitched sound that sounded more like a witch's cackle than an innocent child's and held out his hand again, beckoning Naruto to join him.
" Sasuke?" Naruto asked uneasily.
A giggle.
" Come… come…" The boy whispered, still giggling. His voice was soft and high, like a girl's.
Entranced in those happy teasing dark eyes, Naruto nearly nodded in spite of himself. But he shook his head quickly and gaped at the child.
" This is a dream." Naruto stated to himself, somehow saying the words aloud made him feel better.
Little Sasuke's sweet smile didn't seem so sweet anymore, soon his adorable face turned ugly as he glared hotly at Naruto. Demanding him to come.
Naruto backed a few steps, shaking his head.
Little Sasuke snarled, a frown wrinkling up his pretty small face and Naruto shivered at such a hateful expression on a child.
But unexpected Sasuke's face brightened as though he realized something that would help him. Bouncing happily on his seat to face the piano, he grinned triumphantly at Naruto as he began to place his hands onto the piano.
Naruto realized what he was doing like a shot in his head, he told himself to cover his ears but decided to run instead.
Run!!!! He mind called to him.
So he began to run away.
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Naruto woke up with a start, finding himself drenched with sweat again. He swore to himself loudly and tightened his already fisted hands.
" Damn. Another dream." Naruto peered at his fists sadly, it wasn't painful this time. Not physically anyways, but it had hurt in another way that made his heart muscles tighten.
Naruto pushed himself up with his elbows and didn't look out the window this time, he knew by the light in the room it was morning already. Flipping over so that his feet were touching the ground, he slipped on his slippers and got up quickly.
He didn't remember his dream again, though he knew it was important.
Maybe he should talk to Sasuke.
TBC………..
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AWWWWWWWWWWW… *waves for everyone to join*
AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!
Well… this chapter wasn't cute at all but I felt like saying that:P
He wants to talk to Sasuke for no reason??????
HAH!! Plot device!!!! ~.~
Well not really… but I felt like yelling that out.
OK!!!!!!!!! ANOTHER problem????
Why the hell does Naruto and Sasuke keep on changing… like one minute they're moody bastards going through male PMS or something…. Then they get all nice and fun-loving?????
You must all be saying…… dude… is there something wrong with the author????
The answer is…. Yes… there IS something wrong with the author^___^
I just can't control myself, because I'm in different moods everytime I write a different chapter, that seems to have an effect on my story as well…
*sigh*
So sad…. Tear tear…….
To xing@fanfiction.net (heh^^ I luv ur name)
Umm… I definitely realize that Shikimau was acting very much out of character in my last chapter…
That would be because I don't know much about him and stuff… and… umm… yes^^ that's a bad excuse_
I'm sorry to anyone who also found him mucho OOC!!!!! And the misspelling of his name too!!
And I.am.Lee
Yes^^ My grammer really really sucks… that may explain why I have horrible marks in writing:P
I'll try harder to keep everything in one tense now!! Although I really just go with the flow of my writing!!
Must I repeat myself?? I think I DO!!!!!!
There will be DARK themes presented in this story… as in RAPE!!! YES!! RAPE!!!
*laughs hysterically*
I will not go beyond that……
Do not proceed forward if your heart is not stable enough to take this…
I do NOT want a lawsuit after me!!!!!!!
