A/N: An update at last! The title has two meanings, btw. Enjoy and know that I'm always open to comments, criticism, reviews!

The Fall

Stepping into the boat, Sasuke pondered his conflicting feelings. On the one hand, there was something uplifting about being so close to home. On the other, there was a dread that made him restless, a small fear that there was more to suffer, more to pay.

Is it over?

If it wasn't, at least they were finishing the last stretch. The three days were almost up and now, the only thing between them and home was a quick boat ride.

He tried to see the shore but across the waters, there was nothing except darkness.

He was about to attempt and activate his Sharingan when his attention was distracted by the weight of someone's gaze. She was looking at him.

"What?"

She hesitated, her face marked with uncertainty and timid hopes, "You risk so much for me. Am I… that important to you?"

He let his eyes drop, Sharingan forgotten in the unsureness of what to answer. The truth seemed too bold of a thing to say and whenever he did consider saying it, it felt as if his whole face was being baked by the sun, as if his stomach had just been reduced to light fluttering and his knees were no longer there…

"Something like that," he muttered.

"Sasuke-kun—"

"Don't ask any more questions," he interrupted flatly, hiding his nervousness. A part of him wondered since when did he become this way, so easily disturbed by the glow in her eyes. He swallowed and said, "You'll get your memories back once we return. Just wait until then."

"Oh… right," she replied, mustering up a weak smile. And they spent the next few minutes, looking everywhere else but at each other, until his need to compensate for his harshness and her desire to thank him heartily and earnestly overwhelmed them and they both opened their mouths and paused, seeing something endearing on the other's face…

"You can't take her!"

Someone burst out into the clearing and ran straight at them. Blue eyes shined with fury as the figure reached the end of the shore at which point, it gave a powerful leap. He soared.

The distance between the person and the boat was neither too far nor too close for only a short time had passed before they had pushed off from the shore. Breaking out of their eye contact, Sakura gasped, wondering if he would make it or if he would fail and fall into the murky river below. Beside her, Sasuke's mouth became tight and his expression cold as he prepared for a last and final confrontation.

Knew it wouldn't end this easy.

"The other boy…" the boatman murmured and the boat rocked ominously as 'Naruto' landed.

A smirk too familiar for comfort, one that hid loathing and almost crazed hatred. "Sasuke…" the shadow, enemy hidden behind the visage of a friend, said, "Don't tell me you were thinking of leaving without me?"

"Hn. I was rather hoping you wouldn't make it. It would have been nice watching you drown."

"Sasuke-kun… what's going on?" Sakura ventured, puzzled and upset by the hostility. She peered at the newcomer with interest, her heart fluttering sweetly in her chest though he was not as handsome as Sasuke. He looked obnoxious, but she felt drawn anyways.

Then, the only sound was that of rowing. 'Naruto' looked at the source, face lighting up with mock friendliness as he advanced, "Ne, old man, you must be tired of all that movement… Let me help…"

"Your aid is not necess—" began the boatman but the oar was seized vehemently from his taut, bone-like hands.

"I insist, old man. I'll show you the proper way to use this thing."

There was a splash as the ancient creature was knocked mercilessly into the waters.

That bastard!

Sasuke was on his feet immediately, lips pressed tightly together to keep himself from cursing the shadow. The thing before him would only be more pleased if he exhibited fury so he kept his cool instead. Behind him, Sakura had shrank back in sudden terror at the display of violence.

"What do you want?" Sasuke finally said. He didn't want to kill in front of Sakura but if it came down to it, he would gladly strangle the being before him with his bare hands, "I thought you wanted to stay on the other side. You could have spent forever in the field."

"What's the point of forever… if there's noone to spend it with?" 'Naruto's' gaze flickered toward the trembling girl, "Everything was perfect before you came..."

His opponent responded with a threatening growl, "You can't have her."

"Oh? Is she your property now? You're quite the sexist, Sasuke-kun…"

"And you're quite the idiot if you think that I'm going to let you take her without a fight."

As smooth as liquid water, the shadow slid into an offensive stance. The mockery slipped off its face and it hissed, before running forward, "Then I guess I'm not the idiot you think I am."

He can't beat me. Sasuke ducked, effectively avoiding a kick to the head. What ensued next was more careful dodging as his enemy continued a furious onslaught. Yet, none of the blows landed. Even if the shadow had inherited Naruto's face, it had not inherited the blonde's power or speed.

A single punch to the gut left 'Naruto' bent over and gasping.

Sasuke smirked, "What's the matter? Stopping for breath?"

The shadow glared as with effort, it straightened, "You'll regret underestimating me, Sasuke…"

The words sounded too much like the real Naruto that the black-haired boy actually felt a tinge of nervousness. He shook it away. Tch, what can he do…

The shadow raced forward and leapt into the air with a leg seemingly aimed at his head. Sasuke put up his arms appropriately, cycling whatever chakra he had in store to those limbs so that the impact would be less painful.

It never came.

In mid-air, the shadow maneuvered itself so that it landed behind Sasuke. Its feet thunked confidently on the bottom of the wooden boat, tipping it significantly in one direction. Sasuke heard Sakura's gasp of fear as the vessel sank so low that the black water threatened to spill in.

But that wasn't the worst of it. Sasuke felt his body become airborne, which was no doubt the intended effect of his enemy. The force by which he had been thrown up had caused him to rise feet first. He was about to right himself to ensure a proper landing when his eyes caught sight of what awaited him.

'Naruto' was smiling. Sakura was staring up at him, standing, with a look of trauma.

But it was the river itself that caught and held his attention. The water was churning, its ebony waves moving furiously as it sensed his descent. Unreasonable panic flared as he stared. The echoes of the memories that been given to him by his brother resurfaced, once again instilling an innate heaviness. He heard the sound of crashing waves as they hit the boat's side and it grew louder and louder. The water beat relentlessly, greedily. It wanted him, to devour, to drown, to destroy.

In the back of his mind, he thought vaguely that he had better move. If he hit the ship, the collision might very well cause an irreparable hole.

Landing should have been easy for an experienced shinobi like himself.

Yet, his whole being was filled with fear and he remained frozen, just like the time in the water when the monster had pulled on him. But this time, he was really falling, falling, falling…

"Sasuke-kun!" Below him, Sakura snapped out of her daze and before 'Naruto' could stop her, she had raced forward, arms outstretched.

She caught him within the safety of her embrace. The force with which he landed made her sink to her knees. The boat, too, dipped. But the impact had been successfully minimized.

"Sasuke-kun, are you okay?" she asked anxiously, brushing the hair out of her face.

The beautiful boy gazed at her, eyes unreadable, but hand slipping to up to her face to…

He didn't know what he wanted to do. Just… to touch her, he supposed. To feel that she was real. As to exactly what he was feeling at the moment, he didn't know that either. Only that her presence was perhaps the key, that she had saved him yet again without reason to.

She clutched his hand, pressing it against her cheek and asked again if he was okay. The terror faded, along with his moment of peace.

"…I'm fine."

"Enough!" someone growled angrily.

Pulling away, Sasuke rose to his feet instantly, turning to face the shadow. "I'm going to kill you," he said, moving forward.

'Naruto', growling, lashed out with a punch. Catching his opponent's fist, Sasuke concentrated his strength in his hand and broke the other's fingers. There was a gruesome crunch noise and 'Naruto' pulled away, howling.

"Damn you… You… son of a bitch!" it screamed.

Sasuke brought the shadow to its knees with a swift kick. Then, grabbing its head in his hands, he slammed 'Naruto's face against the bottom of the boat. The being didn't bleed, but it groaned at the pounding.

Sasuke paused as something burned on his skin. It lasted for an instant and he returned to smashing his enemy's head against the hard wood. He had to destroy this… this thing before it stopped him… before it got in his way again… make it suffer the way he had suffered…

The violence was greatly pleasing. The sight of pain made him giddy and his muscles thrilled as they pulled and pushed, 'Naruto's face rising and falling, battered, oh why wouldn't he bleed…

"Stop…"

The blood was rushing in his veins. His heart raced, all noises dimming until he heard only the sound of his enemy's skull hitting the boat. He was brimming with power, more than alive in this realm of the dead. This… destruction…he lived for it…

"Please stop…"

So caught up in his own bloodthirsty actions, Sasuke didn't hear the timid, frightened voice until it finally screamed,

"SASUKE, STOP!!"

He halted, struck by the high-pitched hysteria in her voice.

"Sasuke-kun… what's h-happening to you…"

He looked at his arm, covered with black marks. Oh. How funny. The curse seal had come out. The first time in years and he had not felt a thing. The burning sensation had gone, replaced by a nauseous… pleasure. A pity that the thing in his hands did not bleed.

Slowly, he turned to look back at her. The fear in her eyes both excited and agitated him. 'Naruto' groaned and Sasuke reacted by banging its head one last time against the bottom of the boat. The sound of impact made the seal spread so that his face was completely painted with marks. The uneasiness went away, leaving him only with dark desires. He let go of the shadow and rose to look at her.

He wanted to… press her body to his… feel her squirm and make her scream… see her blood drip, delicious, beautiful…oh, scream for me, sweet girl, so I can slit your throat…

He moved unconsciously toward her and perhaps she saw what was in his mind for she grabbed the fallen oar in defense and half-stammered, half-commanded, "Don't… don't get come any closer…"

Tears slid silently down her face, but her hands didn't shake. There was a question in her accusing eyes that made him pause, one that asked 'Is this what I get for saving you'…

Sasuke tilted his head at the sight of weeping, suddenly struck with remorse. The curse seal retreated slightly and he, regaining some of his wits and consequently horrified, stuttered, "S-sakura…"

She wilted visibly. The oar dropped as she let it go to cover her face with both hands, trembling horribly.

"Sakura… I…"

Don't cry. Her tears bothered him. He felt suddenly dizzy. The last time the curse seal had turned him against a friend had been ages ago. It was the water. It was playing with his emotions, seducing him with violence, unbalancing him until he let his darkness consume him. She… she was his only anchor.

"We… we need to… get out of here," he croaked.

She looked up as if to say something. But before her lips opened, her eyes darted to behind him and widened in alarm.

Reacting, he sidestepped, effectively avoiding a charging 'Naruto'. As the shadow ran by him, too caught up in its own momentum to stop, he delivered a hard blow to his back that caused his enemy to lose balance.

The shadow stumbled toward the other end of the boat and then to the edge. What happened next was chilling to watch. 'Naruto's' face contorted with horror as its head moved against its will toward the water, pulled by some unnatural gravity. Sasuke watched, girl forgotten, curse seal seizing control once more. He was mesmerized and filled with a sick satisfaction at the grim scene.

The shadow flailed… trying futilely to regain its stability… reaching out and grabbing wildly at air until it found something that was not air...

She could not bear to watch it topple to doom. It was not in her nature to enjoy another's suffering. The grin on Sasuke-kun's face, the one he didn't even know he wore, made her sick.

Before she realized what she was doing, she had offered a hand and it had been grabbed so tightly that she almost cried out.

Then her heart stopped when she realized that what was clutching her was not a human hand, but fingers composed of nothing but black. It was the shadow from before. She looked up, frozen.

"Come with me," the thing said, blue eyes fading to black as its disguise gave away.

…at last, falling and pulling with it a companion into the pitch-black depths….

"Sasuke-kun!" she screamed once.

And then, the curse seal was gone, vanished as swiftly as it had come, and he was on the boat alone.