Title: Bitter Like Me

Chapter: Three, Part Two


Italics - (Naruto's Dream)

He was three years old again. Young, helpless and weak. Around him, crowds of strangers gathered to sneer menacingly at him. He was confused, so confused. Tears blinded his big innocent blue eyes momentarily.

"Murderer!"

"Go to hell!"

The people had melted into a faceless mass, that closed about him tightly. He could not see where one body starts and where the other ends. It was as though those villagers were seamlessly sewn together into a cloth which bounded him motionless. He has nowhere to escape.

"Evil creature!"

"You don't deserve to live! Die!"

Those harsh words were thrown continuously at the poor boy. It was nothing like physical abuse, however, the hurt was still there. Raw and painful. Merciless comments that lodged themselves into his young heart. He flinched each time someone jeered. Why do they treat him thus? What were his 'sins'? He did not understand. At all.

"Help." he finally opened his mouth, and a whimper came forth. "Someone, help me."

For a moment, nothing changed. The faceless crowds around continued to darken until they were just ghostly apparitions which haunted him determindedly. Suddenly, the chatter died down to a soft drone and a clear path opened up amongst the villagers. Another boy, with dark ebony hair, cold ember eyes and pale, pale skin, sauntered over to him.

He knew that dark boy. Sasuke. That was the raven-haired boy's name. Sasuke. Sasuke. Sasuke. Sasuke.Sasuke. The name has such a comforting and beautiful ring to it, and he could not help but chant it mentally. Sasuke must be here to save him.

Smiling, a hopeful gleam shined in those cerulean eyes. Tilting his head upwards, he expectantly waited for Sasuke to come closer. To save him. To free him from this ring of humans.

Finally, the beautiful ember eyes stared down at him from directly above. Without hesitation, Sasuke reached out a pale hand and gently grasped his chin. He then brought their faces closer. Those pale lips parted to say...

"Bakemono. (Monster)"

The confused boy started at the curse, blue eyes widening in shock. No. No. No. Not Sasuke too.

"Bakemono." the raven-haired boy repeated again in monotone, fingers digging into his delicate flesh, gripping harder and harder by the minute.

"No," he tried to scream, but choked instead. He thrashed about, trying to breathe normally.

Naruto woke violently, struggling limbs all tangled up in the blanket. Wheezing badly, he felt reality washed over him in a quick, sharp rush, and then he knew immediately that was a nightmare. However, the realisation did nothing to calm the trembles which racked through his frail frame. Biting on his lips, the blonde worried the flesh with his teeth, bitterly trying to refrain from bursting into a fresh bout of tears again. He looked around, wanting hard to distract himself from further terrible thoughts. That was when he noticed the unbearable silence and the lack of visitors. There was no flowers in the vase, no get-well presents nor cards. The misleading scene was simply begging to be misunderstood. And the surprise came as none when Naruto took the assumption that nobody cares about him afterall, and leapt out of the hospital room through the window.

TBC...


A/N: No, Naruto did not commit suicide. He just escaped from the hospital room, ninja-style. Heh. And yes, nobody has yet offered to be my beta-reader, so minna-san, just bear with my grammer and spelling mistakes. It is too 'mendoukuse' to check over the whole chapter over again. (lazy) Next update, fastest, should be tomorrow. I really want to get BLM over and done with. Too many plot bunnies attacks lately. Those pink fluffy meanies are staging so many newfanfic ideasthat I swore I'm going loony.

P.S I got addicted to Saiyuki lately. Darn those bishies in the series. I absolutely love Goku. and Hakkai.


Momochi Zabuza: Heh, hai hai. Down with Sakura! (stage an anti-Sakura revolt) I really dislike how she mistreats poor Naru-chan. And well, I wish I could make Sasuke 'ahem' with Naruto soon, but I got to follow up with the initial plan I have for this twisted fic. So, ja ne for now. And sankyuu too.

Liliath: Another short, maybe a teeny bit longer than the previous chapter. And whoa, thanks for the support. I was kind of afraid that this might get too boring. Because someone once told me angsting all the way is just plain dull. T.T

Night-Owl123: Hope you enjoy this chappie too. Sankyuu. (huggles)

RuByMoOn17: whoa, I bet you're the only one who read across my request for a Beta-reader, because nobody else answered me about that matter. Lol. Oh never mind, I really shouldn't bother so much. So troublesome ;D

cheerful-pinkstar: hey, here's another update. Enjoy!

FadingStarlight: ahh, kawaii! (glomps) okay, okay, I promised to continue...(whisper the last few words) at least for a few more chappies only XD

Tamara2187: oh never mind. I'm glad you took time to finally review this. That's enough already. I can't be that selfish to demand a review for every single chappie right? then, I myself would be in for a hell because I got over 50 plus or minus fics I have to monitor and read. Imagine having to review every single chappie, I would be dead!

Yoru: I guess I'm too gloomy lately, therefore the terrible angst. However, good to see that you enjoy the angst instead of shooing it. Sankyuu.