THE VALLEY OF THE END by Kiraya
Drabble VI: Omoide
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Even as you struggle against him, against those accursed eyes of his, as red as the kyuubi's seemingly bottomless chakra... those Sharingan you've come to hate flashing, eager for your blood...
Even now, after he finally acknowledges your strength... Even now, when there are no more words... Even now, seeing that... that thing Orochimaru's power has turned him into... Even now, while the kitsune's power sings its terrible, shrieking song all through your veins, making you feel almost as inhuman as Sasuke looks...
Even now, some part of your mind refuses to accept it.
You can remember shy smiles shared from a distance when you both were little, two loners with a delightful secret you hardly knew yourselves.
You can remember all the times you ever fought together, all the times you each watched the other's back, all those nights you trained together until the sun touched the horizon, both too stubborn to stop before the other...
You remember the stupid things, the little things.
You remember all the names he called you, all the times he hit and punched and shoved you, all the times he looked at you — with his night-black eyes, not the loathsome crimson ones that impassively follow you now — hell, even all the times he smiled that insufferably cocky smile of his, and heavens know that was a lot.
You remember that fight on the bridge, when you both thought he was dying, and you remember the feel of his needle-studded, blood-stained body in your arms.
Why...?
"I hated you..."
But why!? I never asked for your help!
"I don't know... My body just moved on its own..."
"Don't die..."
You remember that ridiculous, accidental kiss that wasn't really a kiss, and, strangely, wonder why neither of you pulled away sooner.
As Uchiha Sasuke runs at you, murder in his eyes and the Chidori keening in his hand, you can feel what little wholeness is left of your heart breaking.
Fiery, bitter tears well up in slit-pupiled eyes and run down whisker-marked cheeks as you call forth the Rasengan in answer, and move to meet your other half.
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Note: "Omoide" is Japanese for "memories."
owari.