Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto…I just own some stupid stuffed ferret. That is all.
Mine Alone
A Yang Production
" How could you!" He cried at me.
" I did it all for you!" My answer did little to please him.
" You killed them…you killed Sakura-chan…" His body shook with sobs. I ran to him and tried to hold him. His head protector clattered to the floor and his cloths drifted as I held only dust. The soft texture fell from my open hands swiftly and I desperately clawed the air in an attempt to gather it. Staring dumbfounded at my hands, a long ragged breath came from behind me. A chill ran up my spine as I shakily turned. My precious angel's eyes held an intense hatred and lust to kill. His face no longer that kind look, it was filled with sadness…and tears streamed steadily down his face.
" I could have loved you…" Hands reached out from behind him, bloody and mutilated arms…the heads and upper torso of the ones who I had killed…they stood before me, hate filled eyes…glaring at me. They held me down as I screamed to Naruto not to leave. His back to me, he left into the darkness still repeating, " I could have loved you." My anguished filled screams echoed as they set themselves upon me to deal out revenge…and I woke up. I was covered in cold sweat, my blankets and clothes soaked. My breath came in short gaps as I tried to steady my heart beat. Crap…I thought while clamping my twitching hands together in a failed attempt to stop them. I could still feel them moving as I placed them on my forehead.
" Just a dream…Just a fucked up dream." That was it, nothing more. The dead were buried and there was no way in hell that they could come back. Right?
In the other side of town, a pleasantly chubby shinobi shoved potato chips into his mouth. Stress made him hungry…well breathing made him hungry but that was beside the point. His cell mates were no longer with him and his sensei was off on the case. Most upper level Shinobi were called to investigate leaving few to help with cells and missions. His best friend had been killed a few weeks ago and the murderer was still loose on the village which stressed him out even more that he now was. The bag crinkled as he reached in to find a emptiness.
" No!" In frustration he threw the bag on the ground and walked to the nearest open vendor which happen to be where Naruto was eating his Ramen. Not saying a word, Choji slipped next to Naruto and ordered a reasonable amount of Ramen, 8 bowls to begin with. Warmth spread through out his body and he let out a sigh that he had not realized that he had been holding in for the longest time. Food was a comfort for him, one that he needed badly in such a dire situation. Now if only food was available every 3 feet then things would be go-
" CHOJI!" The voice made his jerk forward and spill a precious amount of his Ramen. Two blue orbs stared at him…Naruto.
" What?"
" You do know that you've been chewing the napkin and not the Ramen?"
Choji looked down and little scraps of paper were held between his chopsticks. No wonder the Ramen tasted so paperish.
" Thanks…"
" Choji…take it easy." Naruto ordered another bowl only to be turned down since Choji had order most of the Ramen available for that shop. Crestfallen, Naruto paid what he owed and whirled around in his stool. " Take it easy , the ramen isn't going any were. Well see ya around." Choji only nodded as he continued to eat. Through each bite flashes of memories crept up. There was Ino and Shikamaru arguing about a plan…there was Ino and Shikamaru arguing again about laziness…them arguing AGAIN about Choji's eating habits. He smiled at the memories. Even thought they argued most of the time, almost everyone could tell that they liked each other.
" Hey kid." The shop owner poked him snapping him out of his little happiness. " Um…as much as I like a good costumer, you gonna be able to pay all that?" The bill was pressed under his nose and Choji felt the heat rise in his cheek. It would take all his week's food money ( which is no small amount) just to pay all this. After paying his bill, he stood outside, penniless and foodless.
" WHAT DOES A SHINOBI NEED TO DO TO GET FOOD AROUND HERE!"
" Hey, Choji…Let me guess, you wasted all your week's food money eating your weight in whatever because you can't stop thinking about THEM."
His eyes scanned the area in front of him and I wished I had something big and blunt with me.
" Choji…behind you."
" It's you."
" The one and only. Hungry?" His stomach let out a small gurgle. I rummaged into my scroll bag and pulled out a bag of Chips. " Here. I was going to the river front to have a light lunch but I think I might have packed too much."
" Want some company?"
" Why not? Eating alone can become tiresome after a while."
I pushed along and reached the river that stood only a bit outside the village. It was tranquil, silent and untouched. Perfect.
" Choji, won't you help me eat this? I really made too much…sometimes I forget that I cook for one." I opened the containers and pushed them towards him. Not needing another clue, he started to eat. Watching him eat gave me a sense of satisfaction, knowing that someone was happy for what I did. Cooking has become harder, I can remember Kaa-san preparing breakfast for Oto-san and I. She'd smile and ask what I was going to learn at the Academy. Oto-san would shoot out random questions to see if I was ready for the exams. Then they both would walk with me to the Academy. (I was young then of course) On the way we would see Naruto. I glared at him like my parents had. I had no idea why they hated him and I began to hate him. Then I was alone and I found comfort in Naruto because he knew what it was like to be alone. We were perfect for each other.
" This is really good!" Choji exclaimed as he wolfed down the mushroom soup and picked up some fish that I had fried just that morning.
" I'm glad you like it Choji. It's a special meal. Kaa-san would make it sometimes." He nodded and I continued talking. " She'd go out and pick the mushrooms fresh form the garden and Oto-san would come back from the market with fresh fish. I would peel the carrots and hand them to Kaa-san. She knew how to prepare everything just right."
" Did you ever try?"
" Twice."
" Why twice?"
" The first time…I killed the family dog."
At this Choji stopped eating and he grew pale. His breathing became shallow and his hands trembled slightly.
" And the second time…well you should know Choji-san. You're eating the second batch. If you don't know what kind of mushrooms you need, you'll get the poison ones. Puffer fish need to be cut by someone who has a vast knowledge of the fish or you'll poison yourself. Hemlock can be mistaken for a whitish carrot and well…Ino must have explained to you at sometime what hemlock is." A smile graced my face as Choji crawled to the river.
" You…"
I nodded. Taking the back of his shirt, I pulled and tossed him against a tree. He landed with a thud on the ground. " Choji…did you enjoy your meal?" He didn't respond and picked himself up. " It's a shame that I had to finish my task like this." He made some sad gasping sound, like someone was choking him.
" Scarves are very hazardous…you never know if it might get tired around some tree and you'll hang…you'll try to get free and you'll fail." A shadow clone had finished wrapping the two ends of the white scarf around a thick and high tree branch. The white cloth bound Choji's chubby neck, closing an pathway for air to reach his lungs. He brought both hands to his neck, pulling…tugging to get free.
" The poison is to make sure that if you don't die from this, you'll die from that." Again came the gasping sound. His breathing was ragged now. His eyes growing dim but still glimmering with hope. They were like his eyes. My hands began to shake uncontrollably.
" Damn it! Not now!" I hissed. Without really thinking, I set the remains of the food on fire and dashed away leaving Choji's body to sway in the wind.
Tsunade had to put Naruto to sleep after what had happened. He had decided to walk along the river and turning a bend he saw Choji hanging from a tree with his scarf wrapped tightly around his neck. Naruto was at a loss for what to do, he sent on of his shadow clones to contact Tsunade. When she arrived, he was on the ground muttering something to himself, all color drained from his face. ANBU arrived and took the body, leaving Naruto under her care. When her hand made contact with his shoulder, Naruto snapped. He latched to her arm and cried that it was his fault. That everyone dieing was his fault. It would have been better if he died. He didn't want to see anyone else get hurt. It was his fault. It was his fault…his fault.
A knock at her door tore her eyes from the window.
" Come in."
" Hokage-sama. We did not find any note in the area. However this letter was delivered via Raven." The guard reported and held out a pale yellow letter. She dismissed him and proceed to read the letter. What sick little poem did they write this time? To her surprise, the whole sheet only contained three words.
I AM SORRY
The handwriting was jagged and smudged. There were long awkward lines…the beginning of words in the middle of the mess of ink and smudges. These were not the same bold straight lines that the murderer had used…they were shaky and uneven as if they had no control over their hand.
" You're beginning to crumble…and I'll be the one to topple you over." She placed the letter with the others and pulled out a new sheet of paper and began to write. Tsunade needed more help and she knew the three Shinobi's that would help her. Calling in the guard, she handed him the letter.
" Send this to the Kazekage."
" Yes Hokage-sama." And he did as he was told.
I lay huddled near my bed, my head nestled in the blanket. My hands lay trembling at my side. What the fuck is happening to me! Peering up, I say a note that had Sakura's scrawl on it. My hands twitched at the sight. Shifting, I turned to look at my nightstand. In a vase was a yellow Buttercup from Ino's flower shop. Both hands twitched more. Shaking my head, I sat straight up and stared at the wall in front of me. A picture of Shikamaru and I playing a game of Go before anything had happened. Almost immediately upon setting my eyes on the photo, my hands began to tremble.
"NO!" Getting to my feet I pulled open a drawer and rummaged inside to find something to keep my hand busy. A thick piece of paper rested at my fingertips. It was the Academy Report. Next to it was the small book that Kakashi had lent me. Slamming the drawer shut I paced around my room, wringing my hands until I set my eyes on a small scrap of paper. It was the recipe that Choji had given me to try so he could eat it. The wind blew leaves against my window and I jumped. There were whispers around me.
" SHUT UP!" I shouted. I took the scrap and tore it to shred. Opening the drawer, I pulled it from it's place and tossed it to the ground. The wood splintered sending the paper fluttering around. With my trembling hands I tossed everything off my nightstand, the vase shattering, spewing water everywhere. The ink from Sakura's note smeared and the writing was not longer visible against the wet paper. The picture of Shika was thrown among the other papers. Like a wild animal not used to a cage, I tore at the walls, leaving huge gaps in the walls, tearing off the wallpaper, shredding my blankets and pillow. My bed was the last thing that was ripped apart and thrown useless into the pile that was already at my feet. My room was no longer my room, it was hell. Grabbing my mask and cloak, I ran out from the house.
By the time I had reached my safe house dark clouds were overhead, thunder roared and rain was pouring heavily. Fumbling in the darkness, I realized that my key was gone. I must have dropped somewhere. Luckily no one knew about it. Thank goodness that I always keep a spare incase something like this happened. Reached underneath a rock I pulled a silver key out and unlocked the door. The rain made a soft pitter patter sound on the roof and it calmed me down a bit. Water dripped from my clothes and hair leaving a puddle on the floor. Collecting myself, I reached out and took the lead pipe that I had found outside a few days ago. It was heavy in my hand, but when I stood in front of that wall I knew what I had to do. Bits of clay struck my face as the wall came down. Five containers stood on the shelves. I had to end it now! The contents spilled to the ground as I tore down the secret compartment.
" I had to kill you! You betrayers! You filthy bitches! I hope you rot in hell!" Even when I had finished and the compartment lay in ruins I did not stop from raising the pipe and bringing it down on their parting gift that they had left me. Finally after many minutes of this, I stopped and let my self fall to the ground. Outside the thunder roared louder and lighting streaked across the sky. As I lay on the cold wet floor contemplating my dilemma the most unthinkable happened. Lighting struck my little house. The roof and the tree branches nearby quickly caught on fire. Tired, I wondered if I should just die right here and right now. Making my decision, I rolled out of the way of a flaming support that had fallen. The items I had thrown around were staring to blaze. Breaking a window to my left, I crawled out. My lungs were grateful for the fresh clean air. Looking back, my project and hobby went up in smoke. The trees crackled and snapped. My cloths and hair smelled like smoke. I fled from the scene, the ANBU would be there soon and so would be the Hokage. I can not let her get me. Never. I swear.
Yang-chan: So that's that! Please review! Arigato! (bow)