I hate my life.
Who am I, you ask? Naruto Uzumaki. I am a 12 year old boy, living in the Hidden Leaf Village, and currently learning the ways of the ninja. However, I am no ordinary 12 year old, you see.
Within me lies a beast of immeasurable terrors.
And thus, I am shunned, I am hated, I am feared as if I were the beast itself.
I hate my life.
I glanced wearily out my window, at the stars. Stars were such wonderful things. Free and loved. I wish I could be like that. Maybe one day, when I die, I'll become a star, then I'll be loved. I'll be looked upon with smiles rather than frowns and disapproving glances.
"I need to take a walk," I said to no one in particular.
I stood up, unlatching my locked window, not even bothering to change from my pajamas. I stared down at the ground a moment, halfway out the window as a shiver passed up and down my spine. I had the disturbing feeling that someone was watching me.
I remained motionless for a few more seconds, only my eyes moved. Shrugging, I leapt from the window, landing gracefully below on the grass. I let my legs do the walking, my mind elsewhere.
Minutes, hours, I don't know how long I walked. But eventually I ended up at a cliff edge.
I walked to the edge of the cliff, staring downwards. My bare toes just barely poked off the edge of the ground. The abyss that lay before me seemed to never end. I began to think how horribly painful it would be to fall down there. "Suicide is a sin." I said to myself for no apparent reason. Was. . .was I thinking about suicide? It's not as if anyone would miss me. My toes curled briefly. I was thinking about suicide. I glanced briefly over the edge again, leaning forward slightly.
A loose pebble skittered from under my feet, alerting me that leaning was not the best of ideas.
"What the hell are you doing, dobe? Trying to get killed?"
For a moment it seemed I had only imagined these words. But I knew they were real, and their speaker was currently behind me. I knew who it was, and I knew they had followed me. It came to me in a rush of information the moment those dry, humorless words reached my ears.
I twirled around, an angry glint in my eyes. "Sasuk-"
One must know that one cannot and should not spin quickly around whilst standing on a cliff edge. I learned this lesson the hard way as I lost my footing and felt my feet leave the ground. I had only a few seconds to see Sasuke Uchiha, my rival, stare in shock before my view was obscured by the side of the cliff.
The wind was whipping around me as if I was falling through silk. My pajamas were flapping madly. The night air was so cold at this speed that it nearly hurt. But. . .I was happy; I was smiling. This was it. . .I belonged here. Falling. . .dying.
Luckily, or perhaps unluckily, as my hand dragged down the rock, I felt my fingers close quickly around the tiniest of niches. It was a reflex. I hung there for a moment, my body swaying ever so slightly from the momentum, regretting ever grabbing the tiny ledge.
Sasuke's dark head appeared over the edge, silhouetted against the moon and stars.
"You moron! What the hell were you thinking?!" He shouted. He was obviously furious; I felt a fleck of spittle hit my face.
I stared defiantly up at his raging face, my eyebrows drawn together rebelliously. Sighing, he stuck his hand down within reachable distance. "Moron." He muttered. I stared at his hand.
"Do you want to dangle there all night, dobe?! Take my hand!" His voice was full of venom and loathing as though he would regret our skin meeting for even an instant. I drew my gaze from his hand to his pale face.
"No."
His eyebrows shot up in surprise. He was so taken aback he even forgot to insult me when he spoke. "Naruto? What are you talking ab-"
"No, Sasuke. I am not taking your hand." I repeated firmly. He merely stared. "I do not belong in this world. I do not belong anywhere. If I take your hand I am sure I will regret it soon." I gave a cruel laugh.
When I got no response from Sasuke, I looked back at him. His eyes were half-lidded, lazy you might call it, and he was smirking. I was immediately confused.
"If you're going for sympathy, dead-last, you're not getting it from me."
A fury I had never known before bubbled up within me. Here I was, hanging from a cliff, certain death below me, and Sasuke still has it in him to call me names!
"Dammit, Uchiha, why are you such a cold-hearted bastard?!" I spat suddenly, baring my teeth like the fox demon within me. He smirked again.
Just take my hand before I leave you here." Sasuke droned. I glared loathe fully at him.
I took his hand, I would be pulling myself back into this living hell. I would be scolded, scalded, hated. I did not want that.
"No, Sasuke." I loosened my grip slightly, my white-knuckle grip becoming a peach-knuckle grip.
His raven brown lowered and his smirk disappeared. Sasuke had not expected that from me.
"Idiot! Don't! You'll die!" He looked angry at me. Then again, when was Sasuke not angry with me?
Why did he even care?
"I know, Sasuke." I caught a look of startlement flash over his face, as if he were shocked to know that I actually knew something. My fingers became looser and I felt myself slip slightly.
"What. . .?" He trailed off, staring at me. I noticed that the hand Sasuke had outstretched to me was now limp.
I looked into his eyes, forcing him to lock gazes with me. I searched for anything in those eyes of his. A reason to stay, to live. I did not know why.
"Goodbye, Sasuke." I whispered, never moving my gaze from his. I let go of the ledge completely. The bitter wind stung at me and numbed me. I saw Sasuke's form, still crouched over the ledge, shouting something, growing ever smaller. I felt tears flooding my eyes. Tears of joy that I could finally leave.
And then I hit the ground.
~*~
Author Note: What a beautiful place to end the story. But. . .no. I'll keep going, for your sake. *Smiles kindly*
~*~
Run, run, he must run. Breathing sharp, painful. Legs aching, muscles screaming, lungs burning. He must run, escape.
Legs could hold out no more. Breathing ragged, falling. Screaming, crying. It comes, it comes, fangs dripping, bloodied. Breath rancid, jaws tearing, flesh ripping.
Pain, blood, regret. Screams his last scream, breathes his last breath. Incoherent words escaping, trailing, dying.
Putrid lifeless corpse is thrown, thrown at the onlooker. Corpse head lolling, pouring blood.
Naruto stared at Sasuke's dead body, tears blinding his eyes. The fox demon, maw covered in Uchiha blood, laughed.
"NO!"
I sat up quickly, shrieking this word. Or, at least, I tried to sit up quickly. My arms and legs were heavy as lead. My heart fluttered wildly behind my ribs, like a caged bird. My breathing came in sharp stinging gasps. It surprised me that it hurt so much to inhale. Like someone pouring salt on an open wound.
With extreme effort, I swallowed. My throat seemed dry as a barren desert. A foul taste hovered in my mouth. I recognized it as the taste of bile. Energy flooded into me as I sat up quickly, leaning over the edge of my bed to vomit violently.
It was then I realized that this was not my bed.
The smell of the half-digested contents of my stomach stung at my nostrils, but I ignored it as my energy decided to leave me again. I flopped back on the foreign bed. Where was I? Was I in Heaven or something?
I stared up at the blindingly white tiles of the ceiling. It just didn't seem like this would be Heaven. Maybe I didn't even make it to Heaven.
I blanched mentally, seeing as I couldn't do it physically, at the thought of being condemned to hell.
Well, it would make sense.
I heaved a burning sigh, inhaling once again my regurgitated food, and, with effort that I had never known to possess, turned my head to the side.
Wearily I watched the fat snowflakes sliding lazily through the air. Something just. . .didn't seem right. I wondered vaguely if anyone missed me. Fat chance, I thought bitterly, watching one snowflake drift downwards slowly.
Wait. . .if I was in hell. . .why was it snowing?
My eyebrows creased in confusion as I literally heaved my head back upright. What was going on here. . .?
My baffled musings were cut short as I heard a scream pierce the silence. I would have jumped if I had the energy to. Instead, I settled for widening my eyes tenfold, and gasping in that horrid stink of my retch.
Turning my eyes to peer from the very corner, I squinted. A mane of strawberry pink hair resting on a slightly large forehead, with wide blue eyes was all I could see.
"Sa. . .Sakura. . .?" I questioned. What was she doing in. . .wherever I was?
I heard her shriek again, and she disappeared from sight. I could hear her yelling something excitedly from a distance, the distance being vast enough to slur her words, making them incoherent to me. Many footsteps echoed closer to me, like a herd of horses.
Next thing I knew, two familiar faces were leaning into my restricted view. I took in the faces before me, saying the names in turn.
"Kakashi. . .Iruka. . .?" I recognized them and yet. . .I did not. They were. . .different. They seemed aged, somehow.
I saw Iruka's altered face crease into a grin. His hoarse voice, I don't remember it being hoarse, said, "So it's true! Naruto. . .you're awake. . .you're back, thank God." He grinned and I saw his eyes glisten with unshed tears.
Okay. That's it. I'm supposed to be dead. So what the hell is going on here?!
Before my question could pass my lips, Kakashi's voice interrupted. His voice seemed somewhat. . .hollow.
"My God. . .my God. . .I. . .just my God . . ." He chanted. He sounded surprised.
I attempted to voice my question again as Sakura's head popped into view as well. She seemed so different. The difference with Iruka and Kakashi was only minor, by this change in Sakura was vast. She seemed so. . .mature.
"I threw up." I said lamely, the stench of bile tainting my lungs once again. I sounded like a child, having been caught eating too much candy and expelling it again on mother's carpet.
And yet I sounded far from being a child. My voice was nearly an octave deeper than I remembered.
They seemed to not hear me, either that or they ignored me.
I become suddenly aware that my rival was not present. As I opened my mouth to ask of his whereabouts, images of my hideous nightmare flooded my mind. A question did not leave my mouth; what was left in my stomach did.
Iruka hastened to clean me up, I felt helpless, like a child. My head lolled lifelessly towards the window as I watched the snow again.
My brain suddenly began working.
It was obvious I was still alive. Why I did not die, I do not know. However, I remember that it was during the late spring when that "incident" occurred.
If that was so, why was it snowing? Why was my body so heavy? Why was everyone so different? Why did my very bones ache, as if they were too big for my flesh?
"What is going on?" I demanded, in as harsh a tone as I could muster with my foreign, dry voice. All three of the people surrounding me, glanced at me then looked away.
I took a deep breath as Iruka slowly lowered me back onto the bed.
"Why is everything so different? What has happened to you all? What has happened to me?" I felt tears stinging at my eyes. I tried to suck them back, but a few managed to drip from the corners of my eyes.
"What is going on. . . ?" I whispered, voice quavering.
No one spoke for the longest time. Then, after what seemed like eons, Kakashi broke the silence.
"Naruto, you. . ." He began. I moved my eyes to look at him expectantly. His only visible eye looked so weary and tired. As he sighed, I nearly regretted asking him the question, guilty for making him any more tired than he seemed.
"Naruto." Kakishi stated. My unfocused eyes focused once again. He looked almost as if he was regretting what he had to say.
"What?" I whispered. My earlier inquiries had taken away the majority of what little energy I possessed. Sorrowfully and ruefully, he looked into my eyes.
"Naruto," he repeated for the third time. "You've been in a coma."
Oh. Was that it? Just a stupid coma? How long could a dumb coma last? There had to be more to it.
"For. . .how long?" I was straining to speak. Surely a coma couldn't have done this to me. . .?
"For the past six years."
~*~
TBC!
I apologize for any spelling or grammar mistakes I made. I'm just too lazy to go fix 'em.
You likes? Review!
Who am I, you ask? Naruto Uzumaki. I am a 12 year old boy, living in the Hidden Leaf Village, and currently learning the ways of the ninja. However, I am no ordinary 12 year old, you see.
Within me lies a beast of immeasurable terrors.
And thus, I am shunned, I am hated, I am feared as if I were the beast itself.
I hate my life.
I glanced wearily out my window, at the stars. Stars were such wonderful things. Free and loved. I wish I could be like that. Maybe one day, when I die, I'll become a star, then I'll be loved. I'll be looked upon with smiles rather than frowns and disapproving glances.
"I need to take a walk," I said to no one in particular.
I stood up, unlatching my locked window, not even bothering to change from my pajamas. I stared down at the ground a moment, halfway out the window as a shiver passed up and down my spine. I had the disturbing feeling that someone was watching me.
I remained motionless for a few more seconds, only my eyes moved. Shrugging, I leapt from the window, landing gracefully below on the grass. I let my legs do the walking, my mind elsewhere.
Minutes, hours, I don't know how long I walked. But eventually I ended up at a cliff edge.
I walked to the edge of the cliff, staring downwards. My bare toes just barely poked off the edge of the ground. The abyss that lay before me seemed to never end. I began to think how horribly painful it would be to fall down there. "Suicide is a sin." I said to myself for no apparent reason. Was. . .was I thinking about suicide? It's not as if anyone would miss me. My toes curled briefly. I was thinking about suicide. I glanced briefly over the edge again, leaning forward slightly.
A loose pebble skittered from under my feet, alerting me that leaning was not the best of ideas.
"What the hell are you doing, dobe? Trying to get killed?"
For a moment it seemed I had only imagined these words. But I knew they were real, and their speaker was currently behind me. I knew who it was, and I knew they had followed me. It came to me in a rush of information the moment those dry, humorless words reached my ears.
I twirled around, an angry glint in my eyes. "Sasuk-"
One must know that one cannot and should not spin quickly around whilst standing on a cliff edge. I learned this lesson the hard way as I lost my footing and felt my feet leave the ground. I had only a few seconds to see Sasuke Uchiha, my rival, stare in shock before my view was obscured by the side of the cliff.
The wind was whipping around me as if I was falling through silk. My pajamas were flapping madly. The night air was so cold at this speed that it nearly hurt. But. . .I was happy; I was smiling. This was it. . .I belonged here. Falling. . .dying.
Luckily, or perhaps unluckily, as my hand dragged down the rock, I felt my fingers close quickly around the tiniest of niches. It was a reflex. I hung there for a moment, my body swaying ever so slightly from the momentum, regretting ever grabbing the tiny ledge.
Sasuke's dark head appeared over the edge, silhouetted against the moon and stars.
"You moron! What the hell were you thinking?!" He shouted. He was obviously furious; I felt a fleck of spittle hit my face.
I stared defiantly up at his raging face, my eyebrows drawn together rebelliously. Sighing, he stuck his hand down within reachable distance. "Moron." He muttered. I stared at his hand.
"Do you want to dangle there all night, dobe?! Take my hand!" His voice was full of venom and loathing as though he would regret our skin meeting for even an instant. I drew my gaze from his hand to his pale face.
"No."
His eyebrows shot up in surprise. He was so taken aback he even forgot to insult me when he spoke. "Naruto? What are you talking ab-"
"No, Sasuke. I am not taking your hand." I repeated firmly. He merely stared. "I do not belong in this world. I do not belong anywhere. If I take your hand I am sure I will regret it soon." I gave a cruel laugh.
When I got no response from Sasuke, I looked back at him. His eyes were half-lidded, lazy you might call it, and he was smirking. I was immediately confused.
"If you're going for sympathy, dead-last, you're not getting it from me."
A fury I had never known before bubbled up within me. Here I was, hanging from a cliff, certain death below me, and Sasuke still has it in him to call me names!
"Dammit, Uchiha, why are you such a cold-hearted bastard?!" I spat suddenly, baring my teeth like the fox demon within me. He smirked again.
Just take my hand before I leave you here." Sasuke droned. I glared loathe fully at him.
I took his hand, I would be pulling myself back into this living hell. I would be scolded, scalded, hated. I did not want that.
"No, Sasuke." I loosened my grip slightly, my white-knuckle grip becoming a peach-knuckle grip.
His raven brown lowered and his smirk disappeared. Sasuke had not expected that from me.
"Idiot! Don't! You'll die!" He looked angry at me. Then again, when was Sasuke not angry with me?
Why did he even care?
"I know, Sasuke." I caught a look of startlement flash over his face, as if he were shocked to know that I actually knew something. My fingers became looser and I felt myself slip slightly.
"What. . .?" He trailed off, staring at me. I noticed that the hand Sasuke had outstretched to me was now limp.
I looked into his eyes, forcing him to lock gazes with me. I searched for anything in those eyes of his. A reason to stay, to live. I did not know why.
"Goodbye, Sasuke." I whispered, never moving my gaze from his. I let go of the ledge completely. The bitter wind stung at me and numbed me. I saw Sasuke's form, still crouched over the ledge, shouting something, growing ever smaller. I felt tears flooding my eyes. Tears of joy that I could finally leave.
And then I hit the ground.
~*~
Author Note: What a beautiful place to end the story. But. . .no. I'll keep going, for your sake. *Smiles kindly*
~*~
Run, run, he must run. Breathing sharp, painful. Legs aching, muscles screaming, lungs burning. He must run, escape.
Legs could hold out no more. Breathing ragged, falling. Screaming, crying. It comes, it comes, fangs dripping, bloodied. Breath rancid, jaws tearing, flesh ripping.
Pain, blood, regret. Screams his last scream, breathes his last breath. Incoherent words escaping, trailing, dying.
Putrid lifeless corpse is thrown, thrown at the onlooker. Corpse head lolling, pouring blood.
Naruto stared at Sasuke's dead body, tears blinding his eyes. The fox demon, maw covered in Uchiha blood, laughed.
"NO!"
I sat up quickly, shrieking this word. Or, at least, I tried to sit up quickly. My arms and legs were heavy as lead. My heart fluttered wildly behind my ribs, like a caged bird. My breathing came in sharp stinging gasps. It surprised me that it hurt so much to inhale. Like someone pouring salt on an open wound.
With extreme effort, I swallowed. My throat seemed dry as a barren desert. A foul taste hovered in my mouth. I recognized it as the taste of bile. Energy flooded into me as I sat up quickly, leaning over the edge of my bed to vomit violently.
It was then I realized that this was not my bed.
The smell of the half-digested contents of my stomach stung at my nostrils, but I ignored it as my energy decided to leave me again. I flopped back on the foreign bed. Where was I? Was I in Heaven or something?
I stared up at the blindingly white tiles of the ceiling. It just didn't seem like this would be Heaven. Maybe I didn't even make it to Heaven.
I blanched mentally, seeing as I couldn't do it physically, at the thought of being condemned to hell.
Well, it would make sense.
I heaved a burning sigh, inhaling once again my regurgitated food, and, with effort that I had never known to possess, turned my head to the side.
Wearily I watched the fat snowflakes sliding lazily through the air. Something just. . .didn't seem right. I wondered vaguely if anyone missed me. Fat chance, I thought bitterly, watching one snowflake drift downwards slowly.
Wait. . .if I was in hell. . .why was it snowing?
My eyebrows creased in confusion as I literally heaved my head back upright. What was going on here. . .?
My baffled musings were cut short as I heard a scream pierce the silence. I would have jumped if I had the energy to. Instead, I settled for widening my eyes tenfold, and gasping in that horrid stink of my retch.
Turning my eyes to peer from the very corner, I squinted. A mane of strawberry pink hair resting on a slightly large forehead, with wide blue eyes was all I could see.
"Sa. . .Sakura. . .?" I questioned. What was she doing in. . .wherever I was?
I heard her shriek again, and she disappeared from sight. I could hear her yelling something excitedly from a distance, the distance being vast enough to slur her words, making them incoherent to me. Many footsteps echoed closer to me, like a herd of horses.
Next thing I knew, two familiar faces were leaning into my restricted view. I took in the faces before me, saying the names in turn.
"Kakashi. . .Iruka. . .?" I recognized them and yet. . .I did not. They were. . .different. They seemed aged, somehow.
I saw Iruka's altered face crease into a grin. His hoarse voice, I don't remember it being hoarse, said, "So it's true! Naruto. . .you're awake. . .you're back, thank God." He grinned and I saw his eyes glisten with unshed tears.
Okay. That's it. I'm supposed to be dead. So what the hell is going on here?!
Before my question could pass my lips, Kakashi's voice interrupted. His voice seemed somewhat. . .hollow.
"My God. . .my God. . .I. . .just my God . . ." He chanted. He sounded surprised.
I attempted to voice my question again as Sakura's head popped into view as well. She seemed so different. The difference with Iruka and Kakashi was only minor, by this change in Sakura was vast. She seemed so. . .mature.
"I threw up." I said lamely, the stench of bile tainting my lungs once again. I sounded like a child, having been caught eating too much candy and expelling it again on mother's carpet.
And yet I sounded far from being a child. My voice was nearly an octave deeper than I remembered.
They seemed to not hear me, either that or they ignored me.
I become suddenly aware that my rival was not present. As I opened my mouth to ask of his whereabouts, images of my hideous nightmare flooded my mind. A question did not leave my mouth; what was left in my stomach did.
Iruka hastened to clean me up, I felt helpless, like a child. My head lolled lifelessly towards the window as I watched the snow again.
My brain suddenly began working.
It was obvious I was still alive. Why I did not die, I do not know. However, I remember that it was during the late spring when that "incident" occurred.
If that was so, why was it snowing? Why was my body so heavy? Why was everyone so different? Why did my very bones ache, as if they were too big for my flesh?
"What is going on?" I demanded, in as harsh a tone as I could muster with my foreign, dry voice. All three of the people surrounding me, glanced at me then looked away.
I took a deep breath as Iruka slowly lowered me back onto the bed.
"Why is everything so different? What has happened to you all? What has happened to me?" I felt tears stinging at my eyes. I tried to suck them back, but a few managed to drip from the corners of my eyes.
"What is going on. . . ?" I whispered, voice quavering.
No one spoke for the longest time. Then, after what seemed like eons, Kakashi broke the silence.
"Naruto, you. . ." He began. I moved my eyes to look at him expectantly. His only visible eye looked so weary and tired. As he sighed, I nearly regretted asking him the question, guilty for making him any more tired than he seemed.
"Naruto." Kakishi stated. My unfocused eyes focused once again. He looked almost as if he was regretting what he had to say.
"What?" I whispered. My earlier inquiries had taken away the majority of what little energy I possessed. Sorrowfully and ruefully, he looked into my eyes.
"Naruto," he repeated for the third time. "You've been in a coma."
Oh. Was that it? Just a stupid coma? How long could a dumb coma last? There had to be more to it.
"For. . .how long?" I was straining to speak. Surely a coma couldn't have done this to me. . .?
"For the past six years."
~*~
TBC!
I apologize for any spelling or grammar mistakes I made. I'm just too lazy to go fix 'em.
You likes? Review!