Disclaimer: I know it, you know it, we all know it. I do not own Naruto or any character therein. Having to continue repeating this is like being wounded over and over again.
*eep* Sasuke death glare.
*bowing repeatedly* "Gomenasai, gomenasai, Sasuke. You know I love you."
Warning: Sasuke can be dangerous when provoked. (Hey, I think that's a fair warning.)
Author's notes: Thanks again for all who read and reviewed. Especially Naruke! *Dances for joy* I'm an inspiration?!? Who gets the huggles? Outer or Inner? Anyways, please stay with me, I'm only planning one more chapter after this one to complete this story.
Translation tips for the needy:
Gomenasai-I'm sorry (formal version)
Sakura-cherry blossoms
Baka-idiot
Onegai-please; I beg of you
Yamatte-stop
Soul Unsheathed
Chapter III: Unfettered
Sasuke's pitch black eyes watched as the kunai started to tremble. The blade seemed shamed by what it had done, but it had been unable to stop itself. The shivering blade was once again drawn irresistibly towards his arm. The edge brushed lightly against his skin, but it did not penetrate. It wavered between trying to wipe the blood off and drawing more. It continued to move lightly against his arm, a light red mark, almost pink, appeared.
Something stirred at the corner of his vision and Sasuke found his eyes drawn back to the shadow hiding in the deep red pool. He knew that it was important. If only I could see it clearly.
Ink turned into blood as his Sharingan came forth. The shadow continued to dance in the darkness. Sasuke focused more charka into his eyes trying to make the blurry image clear. Maybe there isn't enough.
The calm, dark pool was suddenly disturbed by a new touch. The blade's perseverance had paid off, it had finally broken through Sasuke's skin starting a fresh trail. Under his Sharigan enhanced eyes, Sasuke watched as small tears of blood fell from the new wound the kunai had started. Each drop seemed to float lightly in the air, like dark cherry blossoms. The lithe petals softly touched the stillness, but instead of causing more of a disturbance, they seemed to add to the shadow.
The petals were so much like the blood that had fallen earlier, yet somehow seemed lighter, softer.
So much like her. Sakura.
Sasuke had long ago gotten used to the girls in the village chasing him. They saw him as the best in his class. So dark and handsome, quiet and mysterious. Hn, what a joke. Those idiots don't know anything.
When that terrible event had occurred, the entire village had been immersed in the horror of it. Anbu and Jounin hunted the areas around the village looking for Itachi. Those who remained behind could talk of nothing else. During that time there was no sign of Sasuke.
Sasuke had no memory of this time. The horror of what happened had emotionally and physically exhausted him. When he had been brought back to the Hokage's house after that night spent in his own hell, he had been on fire. His small body consumed by fever. Unbeknownst to him, he had spent the next three days hovering on the knife's edge between life and death.
When he had finally appeared again outside the Hokage's house, the villagers had already come to an unspoken agreement. Whether out of respect or pity, they never spoke of the massacre again. Because of this, no one Sasuke's age actually knew why he was the last Uchiha. They all knew this fact, but didn't understand what it meant.
They are all blinded by what they think is love. None of them understand, none of them even try to.
Sasuke watched as the petals continued to drift down joining with the dark pool below.
Sakura was like that too, at first. Just one of the many. When did she change?
*flashback*
Sasuke was pissed off. He had let his guard down for a moment around that idiot Naruto, and wound up tied up. The ropes had not been a problem for him and he had been loose in moments. But those few moments had been enough to heat his blood. He was determined to find his new 'team mate' and deal with him.
He had tracked Naruto outside but didn't find him. The only person there was one of the annoying girls who kept chasing after him. Sakura, I think.
He scanned the area looking for the blond idiot. Sakura kept up a one-sided conversation about something, blithely unaware that Sasuke had not heard anything she said.
"Where's Naruto?"
Sasuke spared her only a momentary glance, enough to see that she was not going to answer him. Sakura tried to turn the conversation away from the annoying blonde team mate but Sasuke had stopped listening again. Just like all the others. She's too wrapped up in trying to hit on me to pay any attention to what I say.
"…hasn't had a normal childhood. He doesn't have any parents. "
That caught Sasuke's attention. He turned to glare at her, as if challenging her to continue. Sakura was still not paying attention to him. She didn't see it, she kept talking about how lucky Naruto was to be alone and to not have parents to discipline him.
"Loneliness, that's on a whole other level of sadness compared to being yelled at by parents."
Sakura was surprised at how Sasuke had reacted to her flippant remark. She had only been trying to change the subject away from Naruto. She didn't understand why he seemed so upset.
She's just like all the others. I shouldn't have said anything, she'll never understand.
"You're annoying."
And without another thought for her, Sasuke walked off.
*end flashback*
But somehow, no matter how many times I walked away from her…
Sometime during their training Sakura had stopped chasing him. She still had moments when she reverted to the school-girl crush persona, but Sasuke noticed the difference.
Sakura was always at his side. Whether she was talking with Kakashi or scolding Naruto she always stayed close to him. It was so different from how people usually treated him. Sasuke was used to girls chasing him and guys challenging him, but now someone seemed to just be there for him. I just got used to her, that's all.
Or was I the one that changed?
*flashback*
The mist ninjas recovered quickly from their failed attack on Naruto. Deciding that the dark haired boy in front of them was the most threatening opponent, the brothers split up. One immediately moved towards their main target, the old man would be an easy mark. The other turned his attention to the small blond that would already be dead, if not for the intervention of his team mate.
Sasuke looked up to see the mist ninja rapidly advancing on Sakura, who had stepped in front of their client to protect him. He knew from her stance that she was unprepared for the attack. In a blur of movement, Sasuke appeared in front of her, arms spread wide to block any attack. He had moved instinctively to protect her. He watched as the mist ninja closed the distance. Baka. Why did I do this? I wasn't prepared for the attack.
*end flashback*
Why did I do that. I promised I would not let myself get killed until… Why did I move? Why was it 'instinctive'? I wanted to protect her.
The kunai had continued its journey while he had been lost in thought. Somehow the new path had traveled along his forearm without crossing the others. It remained close, but always separate.
Sasuke watched as the gentle fall of dark petals became a rain of red tears. The blood from the three rivers mixing and falling together. The rain of blood added to the pool on the ground, expanding it. The formless shadow within seemed to take a more definitive shape.
*flashback*
Sasuke had woken to darkness. Not the darkness of the shadow-filled forest, but one that invaded his very soul. With the darkness came Power. And Sasuke reveled in it. This chakra, I know that I can defeat my brother with this
Something resembling a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as the darkness spread out. It invaded his body from his heart outward. His allies and rivals who had been fighting mere moments ago paused to watch as the inky form of Ochimaru's curse spread across the left side of his body.
Sakura huddled on the ground next to him, her face bruised, her long hair shorn. Sasuke demanded to know who had hurt her, after all…
"I am an avenger. I must obtain power no matter what, even if I must let the devil take hold of my body."
When the foolish sound ninja had revealed that he had done the damage, Sasuke had allowed his rage to rise. The darkness fed on it and slowly it moved to cover his entire face. Sasuke didn't care, he knew it would make him strong enough to beat the sound ninja. More quickly than the others could follow, he dodged the enemy's attack, moving himself and his team mates out of the way of the blast. Then launched into an attack of his own.
The sound ninja found it impossible to block all of Sasuke's attacks and was soon pinned by the dark ninja. Sasuke was laughing at how easy it had been to get through the defenses. Slowly he pulled back on the sound ninja's arms, relishing the pain he could see in the other's face. He could hear the distinct sound, feel the pop as he dislocated both his enemy's arms. He smiled at the cry of pain, and let the limp body fall from his grasp.
One down. "That leaves just you. You better entertain me better than him."
Sasuke walked slowly towards the last standing sound ninja, he was smiling at the thought of how easy it would be to defeat him. He felt the darkness claiming more and more of his soul, but he found he didn't care. …even if I must let the devil take hold of my body.
He was stopped abruptly when he felt someone grab him from behind. Turning quickly he found himself staring into the wet green eyes of his team mate. Sakura.
"Yamatte. Onegai, yamatte."
Sasuke saw her tears and knew they were for him. He felt her warm arms encircling him, fighting against the ice that had started to encase his heart. He closed his eyes, banishing his Sharingan, and allowed her clear tears wash over him helping him to push back the darkness from his soul.
*end flashback*
Somehow, I feel more at peace when she is next to me. But is that alright? I am an avenger, should I feel peace?
The black blade finished its path and let a few small drops fall into the pool below. Sasuke's eyes strained to make out the image. He thought he could finally see part of it. While who couldn't see whose silhouettes were there, he thought he could just make out…
…a tall figure standing over two still forms.
------------------ tbc
@_@ *dizzy* a lot of flashbacks, I know, but I felt they showed the trend of the relationship. At least the trend I wanted to show.
*growl* -_- (be quiet stomach)
No one guessed yet, so I don't get any cookies. Since I think there will only be one more chapter, you only have one more chance to guess my inspiration. I hope I can wrap this up okay, I think you'll understand when you see it.
I just want to clear up something for anyone reading. This is not a story that will have romance in it (unless you bring your own ^_~ ). This is a dark way of showing Sasuke's inner-most soul. What he thinks when no one is listening.
Here's an easy one. Can anyone guess who shows up for the next chapter? I bet you can ^_^
As always, thank you for reading my story!!! See you next chapter!!
