Endless Rain
By: Rixiel
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters. They belong
to the great Masashi Kishimoto. This is purely a fanwork and I gain no profits through this.
Endless Rain and Say Anything are awesome songs by X Japan. Translation is from http:www.x-japan.de/ Credits go to the translator.
Endless Rain: Chapter II
"When the rain stops, tears clean the scars of memories away."
X Japan – Say Anything
Blood, it was everywhere. Even on him. His hands, his clothes, his face and hair, it was all covered with blood. He was nauseous from the metallic smell of blood.
Everyone was gone, expect him. They were just lumps of cold, unmoving flesh.
No. No. No. He repeated to himself as he blindly ran. No. No. No. He could feel tears streaming down his face. He wondered if it was red.
He didn't even know why he ran, after all, there was nothing left for him.
He was tired. Every part of his body ached and his feet were raw from running. He couldn't even see where he was going beneath all his tears.
Maybe he should just stop. He had nothing. Nothing but memories of bodies bathed in blood, of screams of agony, and the smell of blood.
No. No. No. He repeated to himself, forcing the thoughts away to concentrate on running. No. No. No...
Kakashi awoke with a start. Where am I? How did I get here? Why is it dark? What is that sound? Willing himself to calm down he figured he was lying on his back on something soft and it was raining outside. There was something familiar about the place. But before he could figure where he was, something beside him shifted and in one fluid motion, he grabbed the figure and pinned it down with the weight of his own body.
There was a gasp of surprise and then a quiet voice. "Kakashi-senei?"
That voice sounded familiar. "Sasuke?" Oh, so he was home. It had been a dream... That dream. It had been ages since he had that dream. He remembered living that nightmare almost every night in the past. The dream always felt so real, that he could even smell the blood. Why did it come back now?
Sasuke nodded and his head bumped into Kakashi's chin. Sasuke felt himself blushing and hoped it was too dark for Kakashi sensei to notice. Why was he even blushing in the first place? Sasuke was awoken from his sleep by the rain falling on his face. He was closing the windows and he was about to close the window beside Kakashi's bed when Kakashi suddenly sat up and before he knew it, he found himself pinned beneath his body. Kakashi's body was radiating heat and Sasuke felt his skin tingled at his warmth. But it was far too warm, his body was burning.
"Kakashi sensei..."
The voice brought Kakashi back from his reverie and he looked down at his student. Although it was dark, the faint light outside was bright enough to bring out pale cheeks stained with a pink blush. "Ah, sorry." Kakashi apologised as he shifted his weight to release Sasuke.
"It's alright." Sasuke replied as he sat up. Raising a hand, he hesitantly reached for Kakashi's forehead. Seeing that Kakashi did not move away, he slowly pushed the protector gear up and placed his palm on the exposed skin. "Sensei, you're having a fever."
"Saa." Kakashi smiled sheepishly. He didn't know why, but his breath had caught when Sasuke reached for him. It must be the fever, he told himself. That's why he was feeling so strange.
"I think you better lie down sensei." Sasuke's voice floated up to him and Kakashi took that advice. His head was spinning and that dream...
Kakashi was distracted from his thoughts when he felt gentle movements of a cold towel on his face. Kakashi could feel his body burning and the gentle coldness felt good.
"Kakashi sensei... can I..." There was a slight quiver in Sasuke voice's as his fingers hovered above the mask. Kakashi nodded. He had been lethargic the whole day and when they reached home, he headed straight for the bed. He didn't even bother to change out of his clothes much less removed his mask.
He felt Sasuke slowly removing his mask and Kakashi was slightly amused at the way Sasuke was removing it. It was almost like worship and it was done so carefully that it made Kakashi feel sacred.
Sasuke was trembling as he removed the mask. He was curious to see what was beneath it. He remembered the team's failed attempts to catch their sensei unmasked. They gave up after discovering that it was impossible and it was too exhausting a task.
Kakashi felt Sasuke's stare on him when the mask was down and when he locked eyes with his student. There was awe in Sasuke's eyes and Sasuke's fingers were touching his face so softy and experimentally, it was like the flutter of a butterfly's wings.
"What is it?" Kakashi asked as he chuckled at Sasuke's expresson. Sasuke could only shake his head as he resumed wiping his Kakashi's face. Kakashi reached out and tipped Sasuke's chin up to face him and smiled at him questioning.
Sasuke hesitated before he spoke, "Gomen. It's just that... I have never seen you before..." Sasuke felt like kicking himself. What kind of retarded answer was that?
Kakashi laughed as he ruffled Sasuke's hair. He was adorable when he was embarrassed and Kakashi wondered if he was one of the few that could see him like that.
"Sensei...." Sasuke's voice was almost pleading and Kakashi had to refrained himself from teasing the boy further.
"Sorry. " Kakashi said with a smile. Letting out a yawn. he closed his eyes and he allowed the gentle touch of the towel lure him into a sleep.
Kakashi awoke the next morning to find Sasuke asleep by his bed. Kakashi smiled at the sight before him. Sasuke looked so innocent, his long eye lashes casting shadows on his cheeks and even in his sleep, he had the aristocratic aura about him. The sun shone down upon them, it had finally stopped raining. Sasuke muttered something as he tried to shield his face from the bright rays. Kakashi smoothed back a laugh, he didn't want to disturb the boy's rest. Gently, hepicked the boy up and placed him on the bed.
It wasn't long before the boy stirred and Kakashi watched from behind his book as Sasuke sat up and rubbed his eye sleepily. He stared blankly for awhile before stretching. Kakashi was trying his best to muffle his laughter, the boy was like a cat. "Good morning." He greeted his student.
"Morning." Sasuke muttered and he when he noticed where he was, he nearly fell off the bed. Sasuke frowned, "Why are you awake? You should be resting."
"Don't worry, I am fine. It's only a slight fever." Kakashi assured, but Sasuke was still staring at him. "What is it?"
"You don't have taroko lips or huge protruding teeth." Sasuke blurted out.
Kakashi couldn't help it, he burst out laughing and took a seat by Sasuke. "You were expecting that?!"
"No! No! It's just that... you keep wearing that mask... and Naruto said that you might have taroko lips or huge protruding teeth." Kakashi's laughter continued, those kids sure had an active imagination. Especially Naruto.
"... But you're ...perfect." Those words spoken so softly, caught Kakashi by surprise and his laughter faded. What am I saying?! Sasuke was bewildered. What was wrong with me these days?!
"Thank you, you're not too bad yourself." Not too bad was an understatement. The boy was gorgeous, with soft dark hair framing a porcelain face, sharp wide eyes yielding innocence and lips like cherry blossoms. Kakashi wondered what it was like to kiss them, would they be soft and sweet as the flower petals? Everything in him urged him to find out. They were so close, just a breath away....
And the phone rang.
They broke apart, startled and Kakashi answered the phone.
The person on the other line was saying something about a mission or something, but Kakashi wasn't listening. Oh gods. What was that? When he took the boy under his care in the beginning, he did it because he felt that were the same. He was also fond of the boy and he had great potential. But what was this now? If it had happened in Come Come Paradise, it would have been part of a love story. Love? But how do you love when you've sealed that part of you up for so long?
Maybe Sasuke was right, he should go lie down some more.
October 2004
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