Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and never shall. The plot of this story and the characterization, however bad, is still mine though. ;;

Chapter 22: The Last Enemy

It was a while before he got to his feet. So consumed by his grief, he might have spent eternity sitting in total darkness if the thought of his sensei and remaining comrade had not struck his mind. He knew that he was not as alone as he felt for they, too, would suffer the same when they realized she was not coming back.

But first, they had to know. Despite the numbness reigning in his mind, he realized dimly that he wanted to tell them face to face, did not want them to experience the slow, blistering shock and horror that came with the passing of hours. They had probably had enough of that. He owed it to them to let them know that he had failed… and to take the consequences.

With utmost solemnity, he rose and proceeded to walk toward the shore, every bit the criminal walked to the scaffold.

He had to return. They deserved that, at least - to realize that their faith had been misplaced and to experience the righteous rage that would accompany that realization. Kakashi, and more so, Naruto. Maybe the blonde would hate him to the extent that the degree of pain would be slightly more bearable.

Maybe, maybe… almost, almost… Why had it turned out like this? WHY?!

He had been so damn close! …had seen her, heard her, touched her…

"Sasuke-kun…"

He froze, the serpentine quality of the voice conjuring up terrible memories.

"Don't tell me you're leaving empty-handed now."

He turned and there was the demon that had helped him along the path of sin that Itachi had set him on.

Orochimaru smirked, snake eyes revealing only the darkest of intents. In his hands, there laid two glass pieces.

"Forgetting something?" the dead Sannin said casually. He enjoyed the shocked hope and how the Uchiha was forced to fight for control of his emotions. When the beautiful face had melted back into calmness, there was still a touch of curiosity among the animosity. Perhaps Sasuke-kun was wondering how they had come into his possession.

"You were too busy crying over her to notice that she was still here," he decided to explain. They had laid only a few feet away from the mourning Uchiha, who was trapped in his silent sorrow and blinded from the truth no doubt by the river, pieces glistening innocently when he - lured by the presence of the boy he had lusted after - had discovered them, "I doubt, however, that the fragments will last long. Oh, look, they're beginning to grow lighter."

"I was not crying." The response was even, defensive. Trust the boy to lie about his feelings, Orochimaru chuckled, though his gaze remained cold. Some things would never change. Honesty among their kind was rare.

"Give them to me." A certain forcefulness was not.

"You are certainly demanding," the dead man leered, "Haven't you learned by now that there are certain prices to be paid in this Land?"

Disgust, "And what makes you think I'll pay yours?"

"Because even if I'm not alive, I can still break this glass. I trust you know what these shards are? What they contain and what will happen if they are shattered?"

The precious eyes that the Sannin had wanted so badly glared, "Give them to me."

"Only if you give me what I want," Orochimaru hissed in return, "Take me back with you."

"I don't know how and I wouldn't even if I did."

"I know you need my cooperation. You cannot let her die. You have never been able to completely shed your bonds, Sasuke-kun, despite how cold you make yourself to be. It is your weakness." Changing his tone to appear more amiable, he continued, "It's simple, really. There are many ways to do it. But easiest way is this: all I need is that Kyuubi boy. Bring him to me. Bring him into this land and down into this river. I will do the rest. Fortunately, I'm not as powerless as you would like to think, Sasuke-kun."

But the boy was already shaking his head, albeit looking quite torn.

Orochimaru scowled with displeasure, "Oh? The traitor not willing to commit the crime a second time? It's not so hard."

"Never again."

"Not even for the girl you love?" Orochimaru inquired, "Better yet, leave her. Your journey is pointless. Even if you do succeed, I do not know what you would expect to get for she won't remember it anyways. She can give you nothing. But I," the promise was as seductive as it was empty, "I will give you everything if you help me."

The Uchiha's head snapped up and he glared with all the force of his hate at the corpse before him, "Go to hell."

"That's quite funny, seeing as I'm already here," Orochimaru's lips tightened into a cruel smile, as he glanced pointedly at the prize in his hand, "However, you'll have to understand that I won't be the only one."

"Bastard," Sasuke growled and drew on his low chakra reserve, releasing the spin of his Sharingan. The strain was instantaneous. For the first time, he could feel his life shorten dramatically, the terrible weight in his heart and heavy fatigue being alarming indications. Ignoring both, he slid into an offensive stance.

"I'm glad you feel this way, Sasuke-kun," the dead ninja spoke grandly, before lowering his voice dangerously, "It saves me the trouble of negotiating when I can just steal your body."

They had never gotten a chance to finish this. Sasuke remember their last encounter, oddly fresh in his mind. It had been a stressful one, involving a bloody fight over the possession of his body. Too late had he discovered Orochimaru's true intentions for luring him out of Konoha. And with one broken arm and multiple damaged internal organs, he had been losing badly before Naruto, his Sannin-teacher in tow, appeared to take his place.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Come."

Sasuke obeyed and charged.

He knew it wasn't the smartest thing to do, but there were fewer and fewer options to choose from. Hopefully though, by taking this route, he had some advantage. By theory, the other, being lifeless, was prevented from using ninjutsu or Genjutsu. It would be a battle of taijutsu in his favor. Sasuke was counting on that, as well as the possibility of rescuing Sakura as a source of strength.

The latter proved more helpful.

After a few punches were exchanged, Orochimaru's foot aimed with terrible speed at his knee and struck it.

There was a cracking sound as the bone splintered under the force. Sasuke felt the pain all too keenly, restrained a scream (at the same time, he wondered, what was really breaking if it was not the bone of his real body that was here), and leapt back. He let the Sharingan disappear. It had not been of much use. His soul (or what he now considered formally if inaccurately his body since it felt physical pain like the real thing) was weaker now than when he had first come down into the Land of the Dead whereas the other's was not at all damaged or hindered.

Being in a state of death or life, as it were, conferred no advantage.

Moreover, he was unable to react fast enough to the movements that the Sharingan read and Orochimaru did not need ninjutsu or illusions to be a devastating opponent.

Biting his lips, the idea of retrieving the shards propelled him forward again.

Sakura…

Orochimaru's fist slammed into his abdomen. Flying backwards, he let out a gasp of blood and watched dizzily as the crimson mess was instantly sucked away by the dark water around him.

"What's happened to you, Sasuke-kun?" his foe said derisively, "I thought you, the prodigy of the Uchiha clan, would know better than to fight something you can't win again…"

She was still within his reach. He could still save her. All he had to do was defeat this man and they could finally go home again…

He struggled to get up, trying not to falter in his movements.

I won't fail you anymore…

"I'm surprised that you think it's so easy to defeat me," the Sannin walked closer and gracefully grabbed Sasuke around the throat, lifting him up. He murmured mockingly, "Sasuke-kun, you're bleeding, let me get that for you…"

A long tongue flickered out to touch the crimson flecks that had not been absorbed by the water.

"You've grown into a fine, young man. I can't wait to inhabit this body…" The tone had become excited, low and charged with perverse delight.

Sasuke, for his part, wondered how the man could speak so coherently when his tongue was hanging so openly out his mouth. Then, discarding that unsettling thought, he reached out with his uninjured hand, grabbed the slithering thing that was caressing him, and yanked without mercy,

"In your dreams, you sick bastard."

The hand around his neck released him and Orochimaru stumbled backwards. Sasuke used the second he had wisely, reaching out for the shard that his opponent had dropped.

He touched it and…

…drops of rain were suddenly descending upon his skni. He was with her again and she was alive in this memory.

Come, I'll take you home, his voice was gruff but her smile was not. It was the only bright thing in this gray day and she was timidly rising and reaching out her hand to his--

The right side of his face was on fire and to pay for his distraction, he was somehow falling again to the ground. The shards were gone, having fallen or gone to someplace else he did not know. He could not see them. There was only Orochimaru, who stood above him, fist clenched and face almost purple with rage.

It was the end. There was no way he would survive or return, not when he was in such shape, not when the enemy was out for his blood and body.

He saw Orochimaru's eyes focus and lock on his neck,

witnessed the hand descending for the knockout blow, though death would have been kinder,

and braced himself, remembering the precious shard that was Sakura, his reason for going into hell in the first place, his only reason for attempting to leave it.

The skilled hand flew down to him and stopped, millimeters away from his skin. Shock took over Orochimaru's face, the furious eyes darting toward the new presence that had made itself known. Breathing with effort, Sasuke unconsciously turned to look as well, caught a glimpse of yellow hair before being blinded by the light of a thousand suns.