Disclaimer: Naruto does not belong to me. So don't sue 'cause I don't have any money...
Beta'd by my lovely Patty!
The Story of You and I
Chapter V: Sadness and Sorrow
Years may fly by and many hardships will greet me
but I won't relent to it
because you are the only thing I need
in this cold world of sadness and sorrow
He must have died and gone to heaven. That was the only reason he could come up with as to why the looming angelic figure continued to press the warm wet cloth on the cut to wipe away the dry blood. Wait, if he was in heaven, why did his body still feel like it had been thoroughly thrashed at. A halo of light illuminated her striking ginger hair making her appear even more saintly. "I've died and gone to heaven, haven't I?"
"Unfortunately, you're still alive. How are you feeling, Uzumaki-san?" She watched him with concerned eyes. Then again why would she be worried over a foreigner? He looked up to peer into her lilac eyes, and declared that her anxiety was sincere. So he wasn't dead and she wasn't an angel. The illusion of the halo had been created by the sunlight that filtered through the creaks of the wooden walls, and now that she had moved away from him, it flared heatedly upon his face.
"Crappy." He pushed himself onto his elbows and asked her a question, "You wouldn't happen to be Usagi Junko-niisan, would you?"
"That would be me." She replied quietly.
"I see."
"If you would excuse me, I have to deliver the water to Inari-san."
Naruto waited, still feeling a bit detached from the world, as though his brain had followed the young woman outside. His hand came up to touch a burning fore head. "Did she just call me Uzumaki-san?"
Pushing himself up, Naruto cursed as he felt a sudden pull on his body. Shaking his head lightly, he bounded from the floor and stomped over the broken door, all the while feeling as though he were burning alive. The morning air whisked passed him, calming the flame slightly.
Today was indeed a new day, and with each new day came a new beginning. The earth had been reborn from the destructive ashes of the day before. The raindrops gathered together to condense into small puddles, creating small colorful rainbows. Songbirds welcomed the clear blue skies with their harmonious melodies. There wasn't a better time to be alive.
He cocked his head to the side, flinching from the pain, but paid it no heed. Naruto saw his awaiting companions then. It was an aberrant sight indeed. With Sasuke watching Junko under eyes of heavy suspicion, Junko standing wordlessly by Inari and said boy attempting to pour sake upon the graves, he couldn't help but laugh.
"I have to go now, mama. Don't forget to watch over grand pop. You don't want him to get too drunk up there!"
"Umm… do they even have sake in heaven, Inari?"
"Do you think they went to heaven, Naruto-niichan?"
"Yep! Otherwise, where else would they've gone?"
Naruto turned his attention away from the gravestone to ponder his next actions. But the question facing him today was- with the Mist possibly on their trails, what were they going to do with Inari?
While the mission still remained their top objective, Naruto understood the inevitable complications, which had finally presented themselves. Suddenly the rank of their mission took on a new light. The dusty cogs on his brain set to action.
Only when Inari had left to retrieve his belongings, did Sasuke approach him. There were so many questions floating in his mind, not of which seemed to have a fitting answer. "The report didn't say anything about the Sound being involved." Naruto whispered as he clasped his hands together, eyelids completely shut to pray to the dead. "They might come after you too."
Sasuke silently agreed. "What could they want with her though?"
"I'm not sure. Half of the information on the mission seems to be completely false. It says that she's the daughter of a farmer in the Village of the Mist. Other than that, I don't remember anything else that really stood out." Naruto answered through hooded lids, bringing a hand up to shield the blaring sunbeams from his suddenly hot face.
So now what? Naruto glanced over to see Sasuke wearing a similar expression on his face. Should they just go ahead and escort her to the Hidden Sand Village? He had to find out her real motives before making any rash decision that was for sure. After reading over the files once more, he had realized that the details of the mission itself had been quite vague, stating only to deliver her to the Hidden Sand Village. It wasn't in his place to wonder, but there wasn't any specific location to actually leave her. All it requested for was for them to accompany her to the village.
"Are you going to give the mission up then?"
Naruto propped one eye open. "Why would I do that? I've been on worse missions and the Wave Country became victim to them. I'm not giving up on this mission."
"What do you plan to do if Inari gets endangered as well? This mission isn't as black and white, usuratonkachi! Use your brain for a change!" Naruto glared at the insult and retaliated childishly with an offensive gesture. Sasuke turned away to face the chipped headstone, ignoring the immature challenge from Naruto.
"I'm not sure if you're being a hero or an idiot, dobe."
"Maybe I'm a little bit of both?" Naruto answered, humming as he turned around to walk back to the two other people waiting for him, a tune familiar to them both. Realizing that it was one of his favorite childhood ditties, Sasuke sighed audible and quickly followed.
Little progress had been made since they left the village almost a week ago. Just as they were finally nearing Konoha once more, three unknown enemies attacked them. Sasuke and he had quickly eliminated them with ease, more so on the other youth's part. A moment's lapse in attention left him open to a needle, which only managed to nick the side of his cheek thanks to Sasuke deflecting the majority of them. The idea of receiving help from the stoic ninja had left a bitter after taste in his mouth. He chose to remain at the back of the group, making the excuse that it was better because he had the best senses out of all of them. Interestingly enough, Sasuke shrugged and resumed position as the front leader.
If Sasuke noticed any signs of peculiarity upon Naruto's part, he did an exceptional job of feinting negligence. Sasuke declared that he would be the one hunting that night. Inari had volunteered to accompany Sasuke, leaving Naruto behind with their client. He hadn't particularly wanted to hunt either, feeling sluggish from a hard day's walk. Over all, he wasn't in the mood to walk another step.
After the fire was set, they found a stream close by. The water was tempting to his aching feet, sore from tedious work and hard labor. Limping over, Naruto dipped his toes tentatively into the torrent, startling himself when he found it was just a little to algid for his taste but continued on until his ankles were submerged under the rivulet. He watched his reflection waver each time he moved, welcoming the wonderful sensations. He sat down, feet still dipped inside the gelid water, cooling his heated skin. He heard the footsteps behind him but made no move to turn around.
Naruto felt the brisk night breeze caress his feverish skin. He wanted to strip himself of his skin and jump into the enticing water that would no doubt provide some form of relief. Glancing to the girl at the corner of his eye made him think otherwise.
"May I sit next to you, Uzumaki-san?" He nodded in answer, and brought a hand down into the water to form a cup. "You should let me bandage that wound for you later. There is a chance our adversaries had used poisonous needles. It's my fault entirely for standing in the way of your duty."
"I'll heal…don't worry about me so don't worry about it. It's my job to protect you." Naruto shook his head, letting the water in his hand trickle slowly over the raw cut. She gave him a smile and offered him a white handkerchief, which he gladly accepted. Lowering the fiber into the stream, he closed his eyes in gratification, gliding the soaked fabric to wipe away what residue was left. His head lulled backwards, followed by his whole body as it fell back onto the tender earth, the lush grass cushioning his head. "The stars are really bright tonight, huh? Back in Konoha, it was always really hard to see the stars late at night because the street lights burn early brightly."
He didn't know where the conversation was going to lead them, and frankly he didn't care. Naruto was glad to have company other than that of Sasuke. While the taller youth was never much of a conversationalist, he always allowed him to ramble on much like falling rain. His best friend was his own container of troubles, collecting each drop of anxiety he had and washing it away. It had been that way since childhood. That wasn't to say that the other youth cared because he never showed sympathy towards him. When words ran out, they would sit in stillness. Very much in the same fashion Junko and he were doing then. Yet, this didn't feel forced. While Sasuke had been brought back, there was still a…something that was missing. There was no doubt that the years of separation had strained their relationship.
Strangely enough he found the atmosphere immensely serene, just laying there, basking in the sounds of summer cicadas and the rippling water. His senses were heightened for inexplicable reasons. The green meadow flattened as she sat down, drawing her long white shirt so that it spread delicately across her lengthy legs. There was something about her presence he couldn't pin down, but he welcomed it nonetheless.
"I'm curious, Junko-niisan. Why didn't you just go ahead and get a Sand-nin?" Now was the best time to address the questions which had left him baffled for a few days, "Not that I'm complaining or anything, you know."
"Well, I heard rumors that there was a really strong ninja in Konoha who had studied under Jiraiya-sama."
"The Sound-nins are coming after you." His voice had turned the question into a fact, merely needing her to confirm it.
"Yes."
"Why was the information that you've submitted falsified?"
"Would they have offered you as an option had I requested you with the Sound after me?"
Naruto rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "I guess not, huh? I have my hands full with Sasuke and everything." His eyes widened at the thought of Tsunade possibly making a stupid mistake upon her part of sending him out with the Sound on their trail.
Even knowing the reasons, he felt a desire to know everything he possibly could about this person who sat next to him. At first, he had wanted to speak to her merely for informative reasons. This was a type of person he was taught to be wary of; a person who held many secrets under a perfectly secreted mask. He was no stranger to that ability himself to begin with. Perhaps that's the reason why he was sitting next to her? So much for his original motives, Naruto thought. "Why do you need to go to the Hidden Sand Village, anyway? Shouldn't they send someone in your stead or even someone else? There are going to be plenty more enemies coming after us, Junko-niisan."
"I'm not worried because you are strong after all. I would not feel safer in another person's hands, Uzumaki-san."
He blushed and was instantly glad for the darkness, which their surroundings offered. "Of course I'm the best! Why would Tsunade-bachan choose me if I weren't the best. Who are you really then?"
Wrenching his eyes away from the eternal shimmering sea above, Naruto turned his complete attention to what the girl was to say next. Junko folded her petite hands into the small of her lap, then clutching onto the helm of her skirt before relenting the grip. Her gaze lowered which immediately sent a signal that something was bothering her.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, Junko-niisan." He brought a hand up and waved it hesitantly, no longer wishing to dig into anything that would hurt the girl.
"I don't have anyone."
Alone. She was alone too? His vulpine features softened, hands becoming lax once more as he sat back to stare at the sky, waiting and knowing that she would continue without his urging so. He felt her need to release…release something that was buried deep inside. The tension, which no doubt left her troubled, would continue to burden her even when her words were spoken.
"It must be nice to have someone to care for. People from whom you can draw unlimited strength from, faces whom you are willing to give your life up in order to protect them. Is that not the reason why you are so strong, Uzumaki-san?"
"People?" He blinked slowly, pulled his feet out of the water and sat up to face his reflection. An intense look of concentration crossed his face while his mind tried to piece the parts of his life together one by one. Naruto reached for a loose stone and threw it hard, watching it bounce across the surface of the rushing water before sinking deep into the bottomless depths. "I can't imagine them anywhere but near me. That's why I fight hard and push myself so I can become stronger. I don't want them to disappear from me, not even for a second."
"Because they are precious to you!" Naruto nodded in agreement with her soft but confident exclamation. Growing up had been hard on him in more ways than one, dealing with it in solitude. It was bitter. And yet none of it mattered now that the years had passed and there were those who cared enough to offer him a 'good morning' and a 'good night'. Scars could be healed over time, regardless of how deep it had been inflicted in the first place.
"My family…friends…clan…they were all massacred in the war two years ago." He groped for words of comfort, to somehow consolidate the broke voice. The young woman lowered her head; her face taking on an abrupt austerity. "My clan was the strongest of the Hidden Mist Village. We had every right to live so after fighting to claim our sovereignty from those that oppose us, almost indestructible and unrivaled in every way."
"And I watched them…get killed one by one." Junko's voice dropped steadily until it was barely heard over his haggard breathing. Naruto felt the blood rushing through his veins freeze at the chilliness of her tone. Junko's pale face shone with incomparable ethereal beauty; the moonlight kissed her skin with delicate shadows. But he saw the shadows there, one that he had often seen in the past from Sasuke and bit his tongue in nervousness. His heart sank further when he felt her shiver, from what he wasn't sure himself.
When Naruto felt a hand overlap his own hand, he felt his body want to flinch away from the cold hand but chose not to. A flutter of sadness pierced his heart when the butterfly touch quickly pulled away from his warmth.
One drop…followed by another…until it became a steady stream of sorrow.
He wanted to say something more, anything to stop the tears from falling down her pretty face, but found that his words did not wish to make it pass his dried lips. They remained so as dark shadowed clouds floated by, covering both the starts and the waning moon. He buried his head into the confines of Sasuke's white khakis, inhaling the mingling musk belonging to both him and his rival.
An ugly smile grew upon her lips when she whispered to herself, although loud enough for him to hear as well. "Run away and become stronger…"
His fair brows knitted together at the anger that had suddenly found itself in her timid voice. Where had he heard that before? "I had to run away, and this is what I've become." Naruto sharply twisted his neck to look at her. "It's become so dark…who can reach me now?"
"Running away won't make you stronger. It never does no matter how many times you are afraid. If you run away you'll lose all the strength you have ever gained." Because you'll become what Sasuke is now, his mind finished for him, a person unreachable by human touch and emotion.
As though reading his thoughts, Junko spoke with a break in her voice, "Is there hope for us all though?"
"If Sasuke was saved, even though he's still a jackass in every single way, you can be saved as well. I don't know what it's like to lose my closest people because I will always fight my hardest to protect them. But I will never run away…because it's my ninja way!" Naruto finished with passionate conviction, his voice louder, more like him than he had been since they had first started the conversation.
Countenance becoming lifeless, Junko moved closer until her head was lying on his shoulder. Naruto smirked roguishly, glad that the girl was no longer upset. He blushed once more when her sweet perfume tickled his nose, but it was a pleasant scent. "You don't enjoy his company?"
"Are you kidding me? If there were ever a person created for the sole reason of being a stick in the mud it would have to be Sasuke. Well, I lie, that description fits Neji too. Anyway, no I don't enjoy his company. He calls me 'dobe' and 'usuratonkachi'. I think he knows every single synonym for the word moron." His words trailed off when the girl removed her head and stared at him; the placid face across from his own broke into a hesitant smile, as though not sure how to properly wear such a sentiment.
"Hey, Sasuke does that same thing!"
Her chin came up in interest, "Excuse me?"
"When he wants to smile or laugh, his lip twitches although it's not as subtle or as elegant in comparison to when you do it." Naruto said brightly, rising slowly from the forest floor and brushing his palms of earthly debris.
"You seem to be really close to Uchiha-san."
There were times they were hell-bent on killing each other, sure. But then again, they had always been that way since their earlier years so that wasn't anything new to either of them. But those feelings were tangible, able to change at the drop of sand from an hourglass. Naruto looked thoughtful, then gave her a sunny smile in response, "You can say that, I guess."
As if on cue, Sasuke entered the clearing with Inari in step behind him, a dead rabbit in hand and a bloody kunai in the other. "Eat," was all Sasuke said, settling not too far from the space where Naruto and Junko had previously occupied.
"How lovely…"Naruto rolled his eyes, biting his tongue to resist the urge of forming words which would lead to another one of their usual bantering. While the group ate, his mind remained muddled, his food untouched.
"What's wrong with you, Naruto-niisan? You aren't eating?"
"I'm not really hungry," But Naruto pasted a cheerful smile and offered his portion to Inari. One glance from Sasuke indicated that the stoic Uchiha had saw a lapse of normality upon his part. He quickly pulled his food back from Inari's protesting hands, and stuffed himself. He silently prayed to everything in existence that his stomach would be able to hold down the meal.
The group ate in silence, with odd random pieces of conversation exchanged between Naruto and company while Sasuke chose to consume his meal alone far from the camp in the foliage of the forest, still keeping a close eye on the others. It was decided that Naruto would be the first to keep watch. Considering the fact that it was always easier to sleep straight through then be woken in mid-slumber.
Jumping onto a low branch, Naruto lowered his back and slumped against the tree trunk. He looked to the dark heavens, only to come crashing back down when footsteps from below alerted him of a new arrival. "There is something strange about her, Sasuke. Have you ever heard of the Usagi clan? And that's not just it, she requested for me specifically. I don't get it…so she obviously knows who I am but as to why the Sound are after her…" Naruto peered down to lock his gaze on the expressionless eyes below. "I never got to ask her, all thanks to you. You just have the worse timing in the world."
Sasuke grunted, his onyx eyes narrowing as he lifted his head to meet the swinging feet, which belonged to Naruto. "You're one to talk, dobe. What else did you get from her?"
"Nothing else." Shaking his head, Naruto pulled the blue shirt closer to his cold body, his breathing coming out in pants. Strange how it could be so cold at the end of July. He shifted over when the other boy decided to join him, however, Sasuke remained standing as he landed onto the branch.
Naruto glanced over at Sasuke, studying his inhuman beauty before jerking his flushed face away. Thankfully, the red glow upon his skin was covered up by the gray dimness. He thought back to Junko and her words. Had he really saved his friend? Or was this person in front him a mere casket of what remained from the past? Naruto found himself yearning to touch the other boy, wanting to confirm the fact that Sasuke was reality and not some figment of his own imagination. He visibly flinched under the other boy's inquiry when a short silence fell upon them.
"What's wrong?" Sasuke looked on at the blonde impassively, crossing his arms. Naruto had been unusually calm throughout the entire day, not calling him a bastard once and actually granting him permission to go off on his own. "You're sick…"
"There's nothing wrong with me…I'm fine. Just go back to the camp and go to bed. I'll wake you up when my time is up." Naruto muttered lowly, turning his face away to hide the flush covering him. There was something definitely wrong with him.
"Go rest. I'll take over for you." Sasuke stretched a hand out in assistance, knowing that Naruto would more then likely reject the gesture of help.
"I said I'm fine so stop telling me what to do, bastard." He wanted to bring a hand up to slap the offending limb away. It hurt even to move, so he resolved himself to just glaring at the other boy. "I'm fine, Sasuke…just a little bit tired. Since when did you start worrying about me anyway?"
Sasuke was on the point of telling him how worthless he would be if he became a burden on the group, but thought otherwise. Without another word, he descended to the ground and made his way back to the sleeping forms. "Do what you want."
"I will…" Naruto mumbled beneath his breath, turning his gaze onto the starry skies.
-You should have just gone back with him.-
There was that voice again, although in the haze of his mind, Naruto could almost place it with a face. "Is that you, Kyuubi? It is, isn't it? Damn it, I thought I've been going mad for the past few days. Since when could you speak to me while I'm awake."
-Your seal is weakening…so logically I'd have more freedom to your body.-
"You what?" Naruto practically screamed, wincing as his lungs constricted from the force of his yell. He launched forward, growling loud enough to threaten the demon inside of him. "I'm not letting you do anything."
He yelped when his breathing came in rapid intervals, relaxing when the pressure was released. Naruto wiped his hand over his eyes and shoved his wet hair back from his face. Three minutes later, the fox demon spoke, his voice coming out in soothing words. Naruto felt a tingle run up his spine, but found that the humming pulse did not repulse him whatsoever.
-I don't plan on doing anything to you…yet. There's no point in hurting vessel right now. As for the future, we'll see about it. Why didn't you take his help?-
"I don't need his help. You'll heal me sooner or later anyway so what's the point of relying on him?" Naruto asked, then lifted his legs for a more comfortable position.
-You can't rely on him but you can on me? Touch the wound on your face, brat. It's not going to heal as fast as it once did. Now that the seal is breaking, our entities will soon become two entirely separate beings.-
Naruto listened to the words, bring a hand to trace the cut he had received and jerked it away. "Whatever…you talk too much." His usually clear blue eyes darkened to a sapphire, feeling the fear race through him and knowing full well that the fox demon was enjoying his predicament.
Well damn, he finally got the stupid demon to shut up. Naruto smiled and eased himself back into the tree, only to drift off into a dreamless slumber when the stress on his body became too great not knowing that Sasuke had remained under the umbrage, having heard his every word.
Sakura tugged on the white sleeves, pulling them up slowly and examined the angry wound. She sighed softly, taking the roll of fabric on the silver tray and began cleaning the wound out. Her hands were careful to not further aggravate the cuts. "You should've been more careful Neji-san. You should've gotten more help from Lee-san. You should ask the other's to remove the debris instead of doing it yourself. I'm sure he would've helped you, had you asked. Give me your jacket so I can wash off the blood."
It had been close to two weeks since she and the rest of her teammates had arrived at the Hidden Sand Village. They had been allowed to stay within the borders of the Kazekage's home, where protection was highest. And yet there were still no signs of Naruto or Sasuke. Worry had consumed her constantly for the last few days, leaving her barely conscious through her duties. She dropped the stained coat into a nearby laundry bin and moved to adjust her apron, half listening to the men conversing outside of the clinic through the small creak of the window.
After the group had dispersed, one figure remained in his spot. Sakura closed the door behind her and smoothed her skirts out as she addressed him. "Are you off your duties now, Kazekage-sama?"
Gaara paused in his step to turn to the pink-haired girl, a questioning stare on his face. He wanted to ignore the question, but chose to speak to the girl instead. "No. I'm here to see to the wounded."
She nodded slowly, knowing that he wasn't about to start any conversations with her either. However, she couldn't give up…not when their safety was on her shoulders. Rather than circumventing the situation, Sakura moved straight to the point of her concerns, "Do you recall of there being any mission proposed here for Usagi Junko? Because Naruto was requested from Konoha and I can't see why he was chosen to begin with because your sand-nins are probably more than capable. They should have been here more than a few days ago."
The crimson-haired young man studied the girl in front of him, the pallor of her skin, the pink locks, which flowed in short waves over her eyes. "There wasn't any mission issued for us other than the ones inside our village. As of a person named Usagi Junko, I've never heard of her name before and there hasn't been any records of admittance for this so-called person."
With that he left her to ponder upon his words. Sakura swallowed thickly, stroking her arm and walking back into the clinic. Finding Neji where she had left him, Sakura immediately apologized for forgetting about him before tending to his wound. She cocked her head to the side and blew a light sigh. "I'm worried about them."
Just as Neji turned to leave, Sakura said, "I don't think this mission is right, Neji-san. Something feels wrong about it…I went over the files again and again to confirm that girl's identity. That clan was wiped out completely a few years back…by the works of the Sound. Should we go after them ourselves?"
She sniffled, and broke into a smile when the Branch member stood up to leave the bed, causing the white sheets to fall onto the ground. "I might just be worrying too much, don't you think? There's still our mission to accomplish. There are so many people to help in the Hidden Sand Village from the last Sound attack. Lee-san and you are putting forth so much effort to protect this village and I can do nothing other then wallow in fear. I'm sure Sasuke-kun won't be getting into any trouble. I mean…Tsunade-sensei personally chose Naruto and Sasuke-kun for the mission so they'll be fine, right?"
They were words of comfort upon her part, in reality, purely fictional. Neji gave her a look of distaste before shoving the door apart and exiting, leaving her in the painful silence of the room, only broken by the whirling fan overhead. She found no peace as her fears continued to consume her, but it wasn't in her place to worry. They were serving on the line of duty. They were Leaf Ninjas for god's sake. "You'll be fine…won't you, Sasuke-kun?"
To Be Continued
A/N: So Sorry! I've been crazy busy lately. I'm presently working on The Fragrance of Love and Wine as well as another Fic called Collide. Lol...I just want to thank all those that review last time and I can't leave any comments here right now...so next chapter! I promise! You know the drill! Read and Review, por favor!
