Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Kishimoto Masashi, contents of the following text only serve entertainment purposes.
AN: This came out later than I expected, but at least it's here now! Cheers people, thanks so much for having followed the story! There'll be one more chapter after this - but it won't be about SasuYuki. It's to properly wrap things up... I really do hope you've enjoyed reading this story. Thanks all.
Chapter: My Eyes Can Still See You
At the moment Tsunade and Jiraiya were by themselves, slowly trying to drink each other under the table. The events that had happened the past few weeks had taken their toll and now they finally got the chance to vent it all out this night.
"But you know, I can't believe they just left after that incident," Jiraiya was saying as he downed another shot.
"Maybe that was a good thing," Tsunade muttered. Her face was flushed and she was definitely feeling a little tipsy. "The Akatsuki really do consist of monsters." She was referring to the awesome displays she'd witnessed during the battles. ...Definitely like monsters. "It can't be helped anyway, Jiraiya - since we're not really part of their plans... Tch. Somehow I feel insulted at that."
"It can't be helped," Jiraiya repeated. He frowned at his next shot. "The Akatsuki played us for fools. I really thought that they wanted to destroy the village... Turned out that they were just making a ruckus so they could lure out Sasuke and Yuki to Itachi. ...We're lucky they didn't destroy too much of the town."
"Lucky," repeated Tsunade with an unladylike snort.
"But... I don't get it, Tsunade."
"Hm?"
"We went through all that trouble... -if we'd terminated that brat Uchiha Itachi earlier, none of this would've happened." Tsunade let down her glass with a loud thunk, making Jiraiya jerk his head up in surprise - it was a rather unexpected movement.
"Jiraiya," she began heavily. "We never had any reason to terminate Itachi in the first place..." She raised her head up and rubbed her neck as though it was painful. "The only reason I can think of for terminating him is for deserting the village. And then joining Akatsuki - both reasons too stupid beyond words for such a punishment. It would've been better if we could turn him back to be our ally."
"You're drunk," Jiraiya sneered playfully. "You're forgetting that incident..." The older woman cast a careful eye at him as he leaned back against the bench. "That massacre... your memory must be getting really bad if you can't even remember that, you old bag." Tsunade hissed at him good-naturedly, and then turned sullen.
"Uchiha Itachi... wasn't responsible for that massacre. He was framed... Although I can't deny that he did kill someone that night... It wasn't... All that time... At first... we thought that it was him who did it... but it wasn't..." Tsunade sunk her face down to her hands in her frustration.
"What are you talking about, old hag? Even Sasuke could testify that it was Itachi who-"
"Then why did the Third leave instructions to let him live?" Tsunade challenged. Jiraiya shut his mouth and watched her carefully. "Itachi... at that time... was innocent."
"Then why... all this time... why haven't I known of it?" Jiraiya demanded.
"The Third was the only one who knew this... he left his final notices behind the plaque of the Fourth on the wall of my office. Tch. It was sure lucky that I found it."
"So... if you know Itachi didn't commit genocide," Jiraiya began, lowering his voice. "Then who did?"
"It was... that man..." Tsunade said mysteriously. "We all thought he was already dead at that time."
"Jeez. You're not making any sense again," Jiraiya replied irritably.
"He came back," Tsunade continued, ignoring his comment. "One day he just came back. Killed of the Uchihas and made it look as if Itachi did it. The next time he appeared... he killed off all of them."
"What kind of grudge does he have against them?"
"Apparently he thought that the Uchihas had ordered to kill his child. He didn't know... that all this time she's been alive." The two went silent after that. Jiraiya was suddenly sporting the same sullen look that Tsunade had on her face.
"Assuming that I know whom you're talking about... then what happened to his wife?"
"Dead," she answered shortly. Tsunade sunk further into the table.
"And that man?"
"Itachi... disposed him, I suppose. We never found the body."
"Did Itachi know about... his daughter?"
"Why do you think he'd been after her?" Jiraiya downed another shot of sake and grumbled.
"And Sasuke?"
"It must hurt to have one of your most trusted think that badly of you," Tsunade said. Her eyes were glazed over. It was clear that she was beyond her senses right now. Jiraiya watched her carefully... the old woman could lie rather well, but when she was in this state she could answer any question truthfully... so he let his guard down and allowed himself to be soaked in the presence of the newly found knowledge. "Itachi... probably wanted Sasuke to grow up hating him enough to kill him. Itachi probably despised himself... remember when he was young? He was such a sensitive boy. He really looked up to that man. And then... after killing him with his own hands... he probably couldn't take it anymore."
"I don't get it," Jiraiya grumbled loudly. "This is too complicated." Tsunade smirked and then chuckled.
"I guess... like that stupid saying goes. Some things are better off unknown. Or unsaid, mind you, so you better not go off tattling," she warned. "Now that I've told you all I know it, lets go pay that girl a visit. It's been a while since."
"Sasuke should be there," Jiraiya said.
"He always is. That boy really should get some sleep once in a while."
"Who can blame him? After all that happened... and her eyes... Even if she does manage to get out of her coma, I doubt she could ever use her eyes again. Tch. Sacrificing her eyes... and her consciousness just to get the objective completed... That's definitely what that silly girl would do even if she'd been given a second choice." Tsunade bellowed in her frustration, making Jiraiya jump and nearly topple the table. "Hey, do you think they'll let us visit drunk?" she asked, looking up at him with a weird grin.
"Well, I'm not drunk you old hag," Jiraiya taunted.
"Take that back you old geezer," Tsunade said as she stood up as well and then leaned on Jiraiya for support. The alcohol was starting to get to her head. "Jiraiya... we're getting too old 'fer this."
It had been two years since. The local hospital couldn't keep her for too long so Sasuke had her brought to his home and then hired a nurse to assist him in looking after her body. She was alive. Yuki was alive, but she wasn't moving. It was enough for him to keep some hope that one day... one day, she'd come back.
"Good morning Yuki," he said to her still body as he replaced the wilted flowers on the window sill with fresh ones. It was an everyday ritual for him to greet her in the morning before he would begin with the day's missions. Every day. "It looks like rain today. The wind is bringing some dark clouds over. It's pretty cold out so I'll be shutting all the windows. I asked the nurse to put an extra blanket on you.
"I have some news... I'll be away for some time. The Hokage says it's about time I continue with long missions. ...But I really don't want to leave your side for long, Yuki." Sasuke bit his lip as he settled on the chair next to the bed. She was lying so still... Could she hear him even the slightest bit? ...He brought his head down to the bed and stared at her face from sideways. That sleeping, almost lifeless form... "Yuki, I've changed, haven't I? I... don't usually talk so much. I can't convey my feelings properly like most people can... but now..." He bit his lip harder as he tried to hold back the tears as it stung his eyes.
"Strange... isn't it? I can smile really well now; I even don't fight much with Naruto anymore. Kakashi-sensei's been a pain but he looks relieved whenever he sees me out of the house. It kind of reminds me of the time when my family was still alive... I know they're just worried about me," Sasuke mumbled into the bed cloth. "Sometimes... I can even remember how happy I used to be with my family..." He traced her hand gently up and down several times, finally covering it with his own. "Wake up soon okay?" he said abruptly when he couldn't take in anymore. Seeing Yuki everyday was a relief for him, but looking at her still figure for too long always drove him mad. "I'll be going now." He stopped at the doorway and made an about-face. He kissed her forehead whispered, "I'll miss you," in her ear. Sadness clearly written all over his face, he traced his fingers over the bandage that covered her eyes. Abruptly, he left the room.
The nurse, who was coincidently hovering near the doorway when he was talking to her, found the situation quite sad. According to Shizune - Tsunade's assistant who had personally briefed her - the Hokage herself didn't think that there was any chance she would wake. And even if she did... there'd be severe psychological damage done. Not to mention... well Tsunade wasn't exactly sure yet, but it looks as though that Yuki's eyes had gone all wrong. Even if she did wake up... there was no way she could get her eyes to function properly. Even if she could see.
The wind was blowing really hard outside. Sasuke's predictions looked to be coming true. The nurse swiveled her head around when she heard the front door slam shut. Sasuke must have left. Biting her lower lip, she continued with her duties and was about to get started with the patient's dose of physiotherapy (something Tsunade said to do) when an aggravated knocking started on the front door.
Who could that be?
Quickly she ran down to open the front door. To her surprise there was a huge amount of sand getting in through the cracks.
"Open." She head a soft mutter as she watched on, amazed, the sand climbing up the door and making its way to the handle. It opened with a loud bang - and she recognized the visitor.
"Kazekage-sama!"
"Where's her body?"
"This... is really amazing."
"Yeah... I'd been separated from my body long enough; it never occurred to me that I could ask the Fuyu Seishin to call you here. I can't move too far away from my body somehow - else I would've looked for you earlier. So for this thing... In theory I thought that this was possible... I mean, that's why we're called the Seishin right?"
"...Lucky for you that they haven't terminated your body yet."
"I have no worries about that. I asked Sasuke..."
"You're either really stupid or really brilliant, you know that?"
"Eh? Gaara, did you just compliment me?"
"Quit it. So what happened to the Fuyu Seishin?"
"I don't know... after keeping me company for so long... She disappeared right after telling me that you'd agreed to come."
"She?"
"Yeah. You didn't know that Seishin have genders too did you?"
"This... is really amazing."
"Um... yeah, you said that earlier. So... you're going to help me right?"
"What's in it for me?"
"Gaara!"
"Yeah, fine. Whatever. I need to do some research first."
"Hey, Gaara."
"What now?"
"Thanks."
"...No problem."
Sasuke... I'll be back soon.
He'd been away longer than intended. The eight long months passed even faster than he could blink - every day he'd work himself to the edges of his limits just so he could get a dreamless night's sleep. It was tough trying not to think of home. It was tough trying to carry out his duties as before. Because... unlike before... he now had a reason to return. He had someone to return to... even if. ...Just because she still hadn't woken up- anyway, he'd said that he'd wait after all.
That was why she asked him to wait... right?
She was definitely going to wake up one day... right?
Anguish tore his mind and body apart day by day. Every minute. Every second... It was hard to not think of her.
...There was something different about the air in the village now. Sasuke turned his head left and right, looking for any visible sign of that change, all the time keeping his face expressionless. Come to think of it... Tsunade-sama looked rather cheerful when he dropped his mission report. She had that cheeky, knowing grin on her face... Now that he noticed it- ... almost everyone had that... that look. That knowing look.
Sasuke felt slightly confused and knocked off balance.
Yes. Now that he'd noticed it... he actually had expected at least either Kakashi-sensei, Naruto or Sakura to meet up with him when he arrived. They were annoyingly predictable that way, but over the past year (before the long mission) he'd actually grown to appreciate their presence. So... just where were they now?
He kept walking on, wanting to get home as soon as possible, check up on Yuki, get some rest and then demand an explanation for this weird attitude towards him. Sasuke's pace quickened with each step he took, until he was practically jogging back. He wondered briefly if Naruto had something to do with this... oddity. But to have Tsunade-sama in on it too... He shook his head physically as if it could shake the increasing discomfort of his curiosity.
As he neared his house he heard some aggravated shouts mixed with laughter... annoyance... and some wails of pain. That had to be... that could only be Naruto! What was he doing there? Sakura and Kakashi-sensei had to be with him too- it could only be them. Feeling a nerve pop in his head, he stomped up the steps to his home feeling very annoyed that they'd barged in without giving him prior notice. Sure he'd definitely given them all the green light to stop by as they wished (even when he wasn't around) but- this atmosphere! It was like they were having a party!
"Ah! Sasuke-sama, you're back!" the nurse exclaimed as she opened to door for him. He gave her a curt nod and entered. "I'm so sorry for the noise- I really should have kept a stricter eye on them. Shall I ask them to leave...?"
"They can leave whenever they want," he answered. "Just tell them to keep quiet- I'm going to take a break."
"Ah, yes, of course, you must be tired," she murmured. She watched quietly as Sasuke took his shoes off grumpily and put on the house slippers. "Um... Sasuke-sama..."
"Yeah?"
"You're... happy aren't you?" she asked uncertainly. He looked at her, a little befuddled. "Ah, never mind. I'll just go and let them know that you're back."
"Don't." Sasuke advance two steps before he decided to stop and turn around. He frowned, a gesture to show that he was thinking deeply, as he looked back at the nurse. "Why would there be any need to?" It was the nurse's turn to look befuddled. Suddenly Sasuke thought that maybe she could reveal the mystery to him. ...Why was everyone acting so weird?
"Ah! Sasuke! You're finally back!" Naruto caught him in surprise by the shoulders and roughly shook him. "You jerk! Just how long were you planning to stay away, huh!"
"What are you talking about?" Sasuke snarled back automatically as he freed himself. Naruto looked speechless for a moment and then suddenly started on one of his typical Sasuke-you're-such-an-asshole tirades.
"Sasuke-kun!" A pink-haired person suddenly popped up in front of him - Sakura. "I thought you would've come by sooner! We've been waiting for you to come back for so long!" she exclaimed cheerfully. Sasuke sighed heavily and started moving his legs again. Right foot. Left foot. If he could just reach the stairs... maybe he could lose them by telling them that he wanted to rest a bit. ...And he really did want to have some rest.
"Oh? What's the occasion?" he responded dully. He saw Sakura stop in her tracks just as soon as the words came out of his mouth. He stopped walking and turned to them in exasperation. One. Two. Three. Three people were staring at him with equally confused looks on their faces.
"Um... Sasuke-sama... Did you know that... the Kazekage was here... until a few months ago?" asked the nurse's attention. Now that caught his attention.
"Oh? Was there anything he wanted?" Suddenly several nerves popped up in his temple. "Will you stop looking at me with that look and tell me whatever it is you seem to think I already know!"
"My my, what a temper," said the cool voice of his instructor. Sasuke turned on his heel to face him. "You really didn't know?" Sasuke glared at him suspiciously and nodded carefully. Kakashi looked over to the people who were behind him and sighed. "I can't believe this- ...maybe our messages got mixed up somehow." Kakashi looked at Sasuke carefully and then slowly nodded to himself. He looked over to the other three and said, "Maybe you guys could..." He didn't need to finish his sentence and the other three were already making their way out of the house.
"Why are they-?"
"Sasuke-kun," Kakashi said. The two looked at each other silently.
"Yeah?"
"The Kazekage was here a couple of months ago."
"So it seems." Kakashi grinned at him - well, it looked like a grin, and then took him by the shoulder and started pushing and pulling him, making him walk where he wanted him to.
"He said that he came because of the request of a spirit." A spirit? "The Fuyu Seishin? You remember that?"
"That... was the spirit that was sealed in Yuki's body. Come off it Kakashi-sensei, just say it, whatever it is."
"Nah. If you faint here-"
"I don't faint."
"If you get a heart attack-"
"Kakashi-sensei, if this is just another one of your-"
"He had to seal a Seishin in Yuki's body." That definitely grabbed his attention. Sasuke stopped walking so suddenly it nearly tripped them both over. "Watch it- Jeez..."
"What do you mean 'He had to seal a Seishin-" Sasuke growled as he turned around and grabbed his former instructor by the collar.
"Whoa- relax. It wasn't anything bad or anything... I mean-"
"Where is she?" he demanded. "How can you seal something like the Fuyu Seishin back into her body without-"
"Sasuke...?" All movement stopped at the whisper. Sasuke loosed his grip on Kakashi and whipped his head around - eyes wide in desperation. That voice... "Sasuke..." Yuki! That was definitely Yuki! Left- right... it sounded like it came from just around that corner. Without him consciously realizing it, his feet brought him to that corner in an instant.
And there she was...
"Hey..." He could hardly register what he was seeing into his mind. There she was, standing near the doorway of the living room, both hands firmly on the wall. Bandages around her eyes... God, why was it so hard to swallow? Was he even breathing? "Sasuke..." Yuki had a little smile on the corner of her lips as she pulled her hand away from the wall and extended it to the doorway. Sasuke watched on as she slowly made her way to him... She couldn't see. She couldn't see.
"Yuki-chan, Sasuke-kun," said Kakashi's gentle voice. "I'll leave you guys alone okay?"
"Sure," Yuki chirped, although the volume of her voice very low. "Thanks for coming to visit, Kakashi-niichan." The older brother shuffled off quietly, and Sasuke was still standing stock-still, almost like he was petrified.
"Sasuke?" Yuki asked, a little worried. One of her hands was holding on to the corner wall and the other outstretched - just of out reach from Sasuke's shoulder. "...Sasuke are you mad?" she asked unsurely. He just couldn't believe his eyes. He blinked several times and then found himself raising his own hand to meet with her. Their fingers touched slightly and Yuki took it as a cue and spun their finger together while letting go of the corner wall and then stepping closer to him. But she didn't go any further than that.
"You're... awake..." he said as he finally regained some of his vocal senses.
"Yeah," she said, giving him a brilliant smile. But it wasn't the same. It was not the same. Her eyes... Unconsciously, he lifted his other hand to trace the bandages. Yuki smiled again and put her other hand over it.
"...How...?"
"Gaara sealed me back into my body," she said. She said so simply - as if it was the most natural thing in the world, and nothing to get all worked up about, but Sasuke couldn't help but wince. "I know it's... really weird..." Slowly she guided their hands that were previously suspended in the air down to where the seal was - right above her left hip bone, around the appendix area. "Right there. I guess they were right in calling us 'Seishin', huh?" She giggled lightly. "When I unsealed the Fuyu Seishin over two years ago... I accidentally unsealed myself too... That's just stupid really, but... it saved my life." She smiled gently when she didn't receive any response from him. What could she have expected anyway?
Slowly she guided her arms around him and pulled herself into his warmth - holding him in a tight embrace, tucking her head just under his chin. She chuckled as she felt his arms awkwardly go around her as well. "I never left, Sasuke. I was always here... I remember everything you said to me... I remember you saying that you'd be gone for quite a while... but eight months, Sasuke."
"Sorry," he choked. "I'm sorry," he whispered, burying his face in her hair. Yuki could only smile gently and cling to him as they allowed themselves to linger in that special moment.
"Thanks for waiting for me."
The moon found them still clinging to each other in the middle of the night, hardly an inch from the spot where they were just that afternoon. The only change was that they were sitting side by side on the floor, exchanging little stories here and there, never letting go of that hand. Never a moment without each other's presence.
"Hey Sasuke," she said, shifting to his side suddenly. Her head was turned up to him, making him think that she could actually see him - but the only thing that he could lock on were the numerous layers of bandages over her eyes. It was too different. "Do you still want me?" Sasuke was so surprised that he nearly slipped to the floor.
"Wh-wha-?"
"I'm saying..." her voice trailed off as she rubbed her forehead with her free hand. "I'm the one that... your brother, Sasuke. Me. I mean- It was me that killed-" He bit his lip for a second and then pulled her closer on impulse.
"Yeah. I still want you," he said next to her ear. "Are you going to run away again?" he challenged half-heartedly.
"Nah," she said, her tone becoming light as she giggled. "And I'm thinking that I should give up my job. That alright with you?"
"You're asking me for permission?" he replied with a question of his own. Truth be told he was still feeling too ecstatic to deny her anything. Whatever she wanted to do... he'd let her. Because she was finally here. Because... he knew, for sure, that he'd finally won her heart. Because she came back. To him.
"I'm asking for your opinion," she pouted. "I mean, it's going to take me a long time to get used to this," she said, pointing to her eyes. Sasuke's own expression saddened instantly. "Don't look so distressed, Sasuke. That's not like you. Besides, giving up my sight was a small price to pay."
"I'm not distressed," he grumbled, looking away. Suddenly his eyes widened and both his eyes snapped to her face. She grinned impishly. "...Did you really lose your sight?"
"Yup," she said, suddenly solemnly nodding. Then- in a flash all the bandages that were around her head were taken off and Yuki was slowly opening her eyes. "I wanted to wait until you got to see it first before I told anyone else." Sasuke watched out, his eyes fixed on her own as she opened them. White. Her eyes were... white? "I can only imagine what it looks like to you - but since even you look... shocked... ahaha-"
"It's not funny," he said flatly. She shrugged and continued grinning. "So can you-?"
"Yeah. I can see you," she said cheerfully. Sasuke frowned and stared at those blank eyes in an abundance of disbelief. "It's... not like normal sight I guess. I mean, I can even see through my own eyelids, so it's definitely not normal. I can see energy fields basically. Did you know that your chakra is this absolutely thrilling shade of blue- Sasuke?" Her expression showed confusion. There were tear marks going down the sides of his face. Yuki brought one trembling finger in-line with it. "Why are you crying?"
"Why are you?" he asked back as he brought his own hand to cup her face. It was then when she realized that she had tears flowing down her face as well. When did that start?
"I guess... I'm happy," she said, trying her best to smile. But this time she found that she couldn't. The warmth of his hand was breaking through her senses and forcing more and more tears to come.
"Hey Yuki," she heard him say. She looked up to his face in anticipation. She could 'see' him moving closer and closer until she was sure she felt him barely an inch away from her face. "I'm happy too."
