A/N: Hey, hey! –laughs like Krusty the clown- :D Very unpunctual (I'm surprised that's a word) author here with a short chapter :P Many apologies for my super uber-late update! Hit a writer's block I did =] Haven't been able to get near a computer long enough to press a button on the keyboard -.-"EXTRA SPESHO THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! to all my reviewers for giving me inspiration!Disclaimer: I r not t3h owner for Naruto :( I only own the storyline, and the sentences/words for this story :D That goes for all the chapters of this story too! To steal from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research. Hehe...just joking =]
Warning: Yaoi and swearing! Viewer discretion is advised for the midgets...errr...I mean, children :D
"..." normal speech
'...' thoughts
Dobe = dead last
Baka = idiot
Bolded text – setting
Italics – emphasized thoughts or words; can also be flashbacks
Chapter 15 – Pierrot
Konoha – Sasuke's Apartment, Living room
There was no mistaking the slender, icy-green eyes that pierced the inky darkness that stared at him. In the flesh, was Gaara: the one person who he least expected to ever catch a glimpse of again. Naruto felt his blood run cold.
To be honest, the sand-nin didn't know where to go once he reached Konoha. But the captivating flash of blonde at a window and the presence of a familiar chakra guided him here. Lady luck was on his side today.
Something bit at Gaara's sense inside his head. It began as an incessant buzz, but the inkling feeling only evolved into a raging, caged animosity until Gaara could not ignore it any longer.
The Uchiha was near.
He could almost smell it: the accursed stench of Sasuke's blood. Gaara took a moment to decide his course of action. What to do first? Claim Naruto for his own or finally rid the world of the Uchiha lineage, where it will be swept away by the sands of time? Gaara could feel Shukaku's restlessness. Both the demon and his mother had been demanding blood, and he promised he would give it to them. Even his throat seemed parched, crying to be quenched with only the soothing essence of blood. But to a cause a commotion here and now would be unwise.
A faint rustling festered faintly. It was barely noticeable, but it was there, under the cover of night's sleepy silence. Gaara narrowed his eyes, glaring in the direction he suspected where the oblivious Sasuke lay. It would be so easy to dispatch him now and get it over with...so close to bringing final destruction. Gaara made to stand up again and bring death upon the Uchiha, but a sudden scraping noise stopped him.
Naruto had opened the window and was now gazing at him with thunderstruck eyes. The sand-nin stared back, trying to ignore the overwhelming desire to slaughter...even if it was Naruto.
With every shred of his will Gaara buried his bloodlust deep inside. But the feeling only went in a steady crescendo as Shukaku and his mother protested even more at the thought of being denied blood for even longer. Somehow, Gaara managed to cage it inside, but he doubted he could ignore it for much longer.
Before forcing Naruto out of the wretched home, Gaara decided to take a more civil way before doing things the method he was more familiar with. Even though his sanity was hanging on by a thread, he knew he couldn't falter now. Gaara was breathing louder than he normally did, seeing as he had travelled a day and a half's journey in just under a day's time. But nevertheless, Gaara found the energy to make one final gesture that would finish all: he offered his hand at the blonde at a standstill beneath him.
Naruto felt dazed, like he had just run a long distance and suddenly collapsed. Gaara was offering his hand to him. The voice of reason told Naruto that Gaara was trying to take Naruto away when he shouldn't, but his mind, body and soul told him otherwise.
Gaara was offering Naruto a new chance at life.
Naruto had been killed, engulfed by the biting flames of the villagers, and now, Gaara will help him rise from the ashes again, reborn and live to stay forevermore.
He would go away, away from all the villagers who hated him, away from a world he didn't belong in. The thought of finding a cure to his pain was too addictive to be passed by.
But wasn't Sasuke his intended 'prince charming'? The wintry Uchiha who had so generously offered him a helping hand through the busy, winding roads of his own amnesiac mind?
In a swirling kaleidoscope of memories, Naruto saw Sasuke's crazed expression as he continued to hit Naruto with everything he had during their sparring session. Naruto had witnessed another person that day. That feral, almost crazed Sasuke who had come within an inch of taking his life scared Naruto. And then there was the laughing Sasuke in his nightmare...
The Uchiha had been acting different lately. For the most part, he seemed normal, but there were these sudden moments of brilliance that would shine upon subtleties that Naruto had come to be sceptical of. There were times when Sasuke would descend into a state of black-filled nothingness, and during those moments, Sasuke didn't seem to hear Naruto speaking to him. He had also become distant, and left Naruto feeling like he had lost something dear to him, but for what reason he didn't know. When Naruto had come home some hours earlier, Sasuke didn't even seem fazed by what the store clerk had said. Naruto felt like smiling bitterly. He had lost something dear to him it seemed...
Without any more thought, Naruto took Gaara's hand tightly in his own. It was at that moment the blonde became aware of the strong odour of something coppery and foul. He looked closer, squinting his eyes to make out the blood branded on every inch of Gaara's form. Was that...blood?
Expression still barren, Gaara felt victorious as Naruto held his hand in his own. The feeling wavered for a second when he sensed Naruto hesitate for a second. His mood abruptly changed from cordial to poisonous. Wrenching Naruto's arm up, the blonde was roughly pulled up by his side.
'I win again...' Gaara thought, 'Uchiha Sasuke.'
Naruto half-expected Sasuke to burst out of the bedroom at this instant and stop him from leaving, but nothing happened. Before Naruto was able to gather his wits, he was already scrambling clumsily after Gaara as they made their way across Konoha for the last time.
Naruto went down in great, slightly awkward leaps he had been practising during training sessions, losing all thought of the hate that seemed to be a doomed shadow looming over him ever since he stepped foot into this village.
But the image of Sasuke reverberated through his mind in a slow, dull, idiot hum. Naruto couldn't bear leaving Sasuke so easily. But if he looked at it, there was nothing that could hold them together. The magic that had kept them together for so long would eventually melt away by the village's acidic odium. Whatever may come in the future was only filled with despair and despondency. There was nothing for him here. Naruto refused to listen to whatever reasons the desperate part of his mind tried to offer.
As he and Gaara landed on the roof of a tall building, Naruto risked a glance over his shoulder and his eyes widened at what he saw.
Then...darkness.
Konoha – Sasuke's Apartment, bedroom
Sasuke stirred in his sleep. Opening his eyes, he abruptly sat up, poised for battle. But only the quiet, still view of his room greeted him. Wait...quiet and still? Sasuke looked around wildly and saw idle sheets cast away on the bed.
He stood up immediately and shook his sleep-tousled hair. His mind was drowsy, but Sasuke was a light sleeper. Something must've woken him. Naruto causing havoc in the middle of the night, perhaps.
Slightly vexed, Sasuke walked out of the room and expected to find light pouring from the kitchen doorway, or even the bathroom perhaps. But there was darkness. There were only the lonely shadows of the furniture stretched across the floor. Sasuke's eyes narrowed dangerously.
'Where is he...?' the question hissed inside his head.
He heard something fluttering nearby. The room suddenly felt colder than it should've been. Looking around the corner, Sasuke felt surprise wash over him.
There was nothing out of place in the room, but the window was open with the drapes billowing out into the cover of the night. The idle pieces of fabric arched sharply in the wind's caress, but other than that, the whole place was deadly still.
Running to the open window, Sasuke gazed out at the village of Konoha. The world was on the pause button of the night, but there were two shadows in the distance below him that flashed in the moon's glow.
He didn't know it, but his eyes were flushed in a bright, red colour of his Sharingan. As Sasuke took a closer look, he could make out the bright yellow of Naruto's hair and...
Him.
Naruto was running away from Sasuke with Gaara of the Sand. And by the looks of it, Naruto didn't seem to be resisting. And at that point, Sasuke was convinced that he was a fool for not killing Naruto when he had the chance.
Naruto's presence was in his mind, vibrating stubbornly, repeating the call letters of Naruto's new personality over and over. An essence of Naruto, a gestalt. Muted now, not strident, not announcing itself with a clarion, but waxing and waning in steady oscillations.
He descended into a red, thrashing unconsciousness.
Konoha - Forest
Naruto had stopped and stared on the roof for a second before Gaara violently grabbed his arm and half-dragged him into the cover of the forest. But Naruto's mind was in a daze and panic. What had he done? Was this the right thing? Should he go back? So many questions but no answer came. As of now, his body was a puppet for Gaara to control.
Naruto jumped limply, hardly putting any effort or purpose in his steps. He just couldn't find the heart to decide anymore. It felt like he was split in two: a toy that two children were fighting over, each pulling on each arm until a Naruto ripped right down the middle. He was dazed and confused...he just didn't know what to do anymore. Naruto had lost himself in the sea of thoughts in his mind a long time ago, never mind trying to find his way in reality.
They fled across the deep ravines of the Forest, the closely cut shrubbery like velvet, lightly dusted with the dew of a foretold chilly morning. At least the laughter was behind Naruto...but for the slightest moment, he felt like the hate was not something new to him. It was almost...real. But just as soon as it came, it disappeared, like being pricked suddenly. Afterwards, Naruto's situation still remained the same. Nothing had changed: the village was still there, as was the Kyuubi.
If the village wanted Naruto gone, then the kitsune would be more than happy to give it to them. He will be gone by the brink of dawn.
It was settled. Naruto would flee, run from the hate, the glares, and the venomous words. Living a life of despair may be his fate, but Naruto would try his hardest to make it otherwise. No one, not even Sasuke, can bring him back. Naruto just couldn't go back there.
'Gone...'
The word repeated intoxicatingly in his mind.
But a fleeting, desperate tug of his heart made Naruto almost lose his footing as he leaped. What about Iruka, or Kakashi, or even the ramen cook...what about them? And Sasuke...the last hopeful shreds that Naruto had for Sasuke made their presence known. For a moment, Naruto didn't have the heart to leave their kindness unanswered and unreturned.
The blonde tried to push their smiling faces out of the way, but it was still in his mind, flickering and urgent. Then, with a flash that made Naruto's heart skip a beat, the kitsune saw the laughing and pointing Sasuke and everyone else he had seen in his nightmare. Could that nightmare have been a premonition...or even a glimpse at the truth? Did Sasuke truly think Naruto as the demon and burden that everyone thought Naruto was? It almost sounded like a plausible explanation for the Uchiha's recent behaviour. Once again, Naruto cast off all desire for Sasuke and was left exposed from them...but not without qualm.
Naruto convinced himself with the little steel in his obstinacy he had left that no one worth staying for was there. Animals. Let them burn, then. Let the whole place be filled with the stench of their sacrifice. Let this place be named Hell on Earth, Land of the real Demons, Death's Haven.
At last, Naruto was free. He was glad that no one was waiting up for him at 'home', wherever home may be in this godforsaken village.
The comforting form of Gaara loomed in front of him, not an arm's length away, and Naruto silently thanked Gaara in his mind...Gaara was his real saviour and blessing. Soon Naruto will be able to get by on his own. He'd make sure of it. Naruto will show himself that he had individuality, a notion of being...the knowledge that he was something real.
Once Naruto arrived at Gaara's home (where he was guessing they were going), he'll be able to find himself again and get back on his feet. Then he'll be able to face the world on his own and know no fear or hate.
Despite his iron determination to leave Konoha, Naruto's steps still abated. But every time Naruto showed signs of stopped, he was yanked forward sharply by Gaara, who was holding his arm so tightly it was beginning to hurt. His pace slowed, came close to a halt, and became aware that something had begun to happen. He travelled across a great and misty field, waiting for realization.
They had beaten him, bested him, once and for all time. It was over.
Konoha – Sasuke's Apartment, bedroom
Sasuke barely remembered to bring a weapon before he made to leap out the window and begin his pursuit. He ran as fast as he could inside his room, grabbed his kunai holster in his nightstand and wrenched his window open before tearing into the hours of darkness.
So Naruto had made his betrayal complete. Naruto had dared to disgrace him? With Gaara of the Sand, one of his archenemies, no less. He should've known better. Naruto had, once again, proved that he was nothing but a spineless, cheating, obnoxious mistake to the world. He thought he could get away with it, but Sasuke would make sure he didn't. Naruto was stupid as always, to think that he could best an Uchiha like that.
Sharingan eyes staring wildly at the reeling stars over his head, Sasuke increased his speed, eyes burning and adrenaline coursing through his veins. He would stop them both from trying to escape his clutches. He would make sure they wouldn't get away that easily.
Far ahead, Sasuke could make out the expression of dazed fear on Naruto's face before the obscurity of the trees engulfed it and they were no more.
His eyes took on a flat, deadly shine. With a cold blink of humour, Sasuke knew that Naruto would never change his stubborn ways that Sasuke had found so odd. His mind was filled with the huge knowledge of a power, and of an abyss.
The Uchiha increased his speed again, his whole mind bent on catching two certain Genins. He could hardly wait to fight both Gaara and Naruto...and he could hardly wait to beat them. Sasuke felt a smirk emerge through the thick waters of his anger: a smirk that foretold spilt blood and death.
Konoha – Hyuuga's Mansion, roof
Neji gazed at the Moon staring owlishly at him. The whole sky had become blessed twilight, and his face had taken almost a sickly, silvery shine to it in the Moon's glow. He had always treasured night's silent serenade, when all seemed to be washed away by the Moon's rays and the walls of his mind seemed to give way. It always waited like a predator about to pounce on something, savouring every single moment before it began its pursue of the Sun, but always missing it by the edge of dawn's sharp knife.
The Hyuuga's mind was about to empty itself of any thought before something caught his eyes. Two – no, three shadows were jumping frantically across the village in the distance. Who would be running into the forest this late at night?
Quickly doing the seals that his hands had long grown accustomed to, Neji felt the veins around his eyes bulge and he could clearly make out the form of Sasuke, Naruto, and – 'No, it can't be...' – Gaara of the Sand.
Something bad – very bad – was going to happen. He didn't know how he knew. It bore no relation to the little he knew of the three Genins. There were no pictures in his head, no great white flashes of revelation, only prosaic knowledge. Now the three shadows seemed to be harbourers of ill news.
Standing and brushing himself off, Neji grew curious as to what was going on. Gaara of the Sand, of all people, was in the Leaf village. Something like this should not go unnoticed. With that, Neji began his own pursuit just as the silhouettes of Gaara and Naruto disappeared under the trees.
Through the valuated caliginosity, four simulacrums fled silently into the forest, like an invasion from the graveyard. An even darker, unwanted shadow seemed to fall from the night sky over them. All four had come to witness. They will all eventually meet at one place and finally make destruction complete.
But no one knew that one of them had also come to die.
A/N: Apologies for crappy descriptive writing in this chapter :D Hope you liked the little (kind of random now that I think about it) Neji insertion there! Nothing much happened, but it'll have to do I guess ;---; Need to do some much-needed self-e-value-a-shun for this story :D
Review Responses:
ayame0: Hehe, no ass-kicking in this chapter ;--; but it will come soon...very soon –grins evilly- I don't think Gaara saw Naruto getting hugged by you, but you can never know when it comes to everyone's favourite homicidal panda-man :D –pats Gaara's head and almost gets her hand eaten- Not much to wait for in this chapter :( Gah, I just ruined the suspense XP Oh well, hope you liked anyway –looks hopeful-
Tipsy-Dragon: Haha, now that I think about it, my story sounds like a soap opera o.O;; But anything for reuniting Gaara with Naru-chan! XD Gaara can pwn Sasuke if he wanted to :D I agree, just hurting Sasuke isn't much fun :/ I say giving Sasuke a slow and painful death is the way to go :D It is kinda of sad of about Sasuke, but he grows up to be "I R BETTER DEN U!" so I won't be starting a donation thing for him anytime soon :D Hmm...seems like Seto needs some angst pills :D or maybe more confetti! –throws confetti everywhere- Well, this wasn't the fastest update, but hopefully it was OK-ish...right? :P
Little Leila: -evil cackle- Character-torture is so fun XD But I shall spare stupid Sasuke (-gives him a good kick-) some sympathy in later chapters I suppose :D If you'd like, you can have my Cluebat and try knocking some sense into him -hands Cluebat over- Well, it's coming close to...-DUN DUN DUN- The Decision! I still don't know who Naruto's going to be with :P So keep whispering and tell Sasuke he's an idiot...again :D It just doesn't seem to penetrate his thick skull in the anime ;/ And Sasuke's gonna get what's coming to him :] He better watch his back...Gaara's after him :D But it's fun to hurt Sasuke every now and then –kicks Sasuke again- It's very fun :D You should try it sometime XD Hah, since I don't know who Naruto gonna choose, I'm not too sure about the ending ;/ I'm a sucker for happy endings, but I'm also partial to sad endings...I really need to see my therapist o.O;;
tracy-kin: Haha XP That would've been fun to write, but unfortunately, my kissing scenes are worse than my action scenes o.O So I'm just gonna have to work with this!: -holds up a Gaara and Naruto plushie and mashes their faces together so it looks like they're kissing...err...kinda- Glad you liked the store-scene! Not much of a sad scene writer, but I'm very happy I managed to get some emotion in this fic of mine :P But you write them so much better! The way you write angst is just...-holy light shines upon the fic- Heh :P Yesh, Gaara is Naruto's soul mate!! All hail GaaNaru! Of course Sasuke doesn't deserve Naruto :] Poor guy needs to get his stupidity checked XD When I found out Gaara has a raccoon inside him I was all "A RACCOON!? PSSSHHH" What were they thinking!? That's just some fangirl rambling :P We'll have the whole world in the clutches of yaoi! –cackles evilly and runs off to do some brainwashing-
Saiera: -dies laughing at the comment- That would be THE best day of the year! It'll replace Christmas, my favourite day of the whole entire year :D I think it'll be appropriate to name Sasuke's birthday as the national screw-you-Sasuke day :D Seeing as I cursed the day he came into existence...but that could just be morbid thinking XD –holds up a "Go Gaara!" flag also- :D
Cookie6: Yees, stupid Sasuke doesn't deserve Naruto :] He's being the ass that everyone knows him for :D But he looks so adorable with Naru-chan XP Oh well...can't help but bash him once or twice :D
F.A. Star Hawk: I love Gaara too! :D Yay for Gaara! He can pwn Sasuke's evilness any day :D Not the fastest update, but hope you liked anyway :D
bffimagine: I absolutely despise Sasuke! –glares at Sasuke and holds up a meat cleaver- But I'll keep him alive since he looks so cute with Naruto :P But I have nothing against Sasuke-fans XD I found him rather cute when I first saw Naruto, but then I took a look at his ego and nearly got crushed by its enormity :P Ah, well. I shall spare Sasuke for now XD
Kutsu: Wah! –flies off chair- My story isn't all that much izzit? Aw shucks XD Now I feel spesho! In a good way! For the first time! –jumps around and throws candy everywhere- I love doing cliffhangers! Makes me feel powerful XP I try to keep the story interesting and I'm glad it's working! YES! –dances around some more- This chapter wasn't the most eventful I'm sorry to say, but hopefully you liked it anyway ;D
Kyuubi-chan: I used to be a player of bloody knuckles myself, but then someone told me about the flesh-eating disease and then I got paranoid :P Nah, it's not you're fault you didn't understand Sasuke's OOCness :P It's just me and my bad authoring ways! –kicks Sasuke- He needs to do some self-evaluation or something :/ He really needs to get back on his pills XD –glares at Sasuke- And his PMS pills don't count :[ I find it very interesting to see Sasuke go insane, seeing as his expression is always nothing :/ Tried to do something different with that for once and it ended in chaos XP Must remind myself to never let imagination get carried away :D Shikamaru LOOKS innocent with his lazy behaviour...but HE'S GOT EVIL SCHEMES TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD INSIDE! DON'T SUBDUE TO HIM! GAAAHHH!!! –brushes self off- Ahem...Yes, I say let the bloody knuckles game begin! –sets up Gaara and Sasuke plushie on either side of a toy table- Hehe :P
Kisu: -evil cackle- I love writing cliffhangers :P This chapter had nothing happening in it, so I guessed I ruined it didn't I? :P Sasuke doesn't deserve anything but more smacks in my humble opinion =] –gives Sasuke a good smack- If he didn't look so good with Naruto, he would've been dead a loooong time ago XP
kashisenshey: Heh last chapter was soo bad XP But Sasuke will get what's comin' to him in due time :] But until then, all I got is this boring chapter that took me forever to write XP
danna-chan: -holds up a "I love Gaara" sign- Yea!! Go Gaara! Woo! I say hurting Sasuke is enough to knock some sense into him :] I find that the Cluebat works wonders on stupid people like him :D Or we can try deflating his ego, which has about a 0.01% chance of success. But it never hurt to try can it? But for now...Naruto is hereby confiscated from the egocentric idiot known as Sasuke :D
Iceheart: Poor Naruto indeed =] He'll find peace soon...I think :/ Haven't planned that far ahead to be honest XD Sasuke is evil and now he shall pay the prices!! –kicks Sasuke repeatedly- I don't read the manga, but I'm sure Sasuke's giving everyone problems -.-"He needs to cut back on the angst pills in my humble opinion :P Now I just need to decide whether he lives or not to be paired with Naruto :)
PrinceRyu: I totally agree with you! Sasuke=bitch! –evil cackle- I'm on a secret mission to brainwash everyone into a Sasuke-hater. And then maybe I'll start a Naruto donation fund thingy :P But have no fear, Gaara is here! –super man theme comes on- Is there a Superman theme? I need to get out more -.-"
LazEbum: Hey, sorry bout the MSN thing! As of now I have to use my parent's computer cuz I kicked my own one too many times and now I gotta get it fixed. Seeing as my parents won't let me download stuff on their computer (heck, they won't even let me go on it :P), I can't do some instant messaging for a while :/ Anyways, you can borrow my Cluebat and tell Sasuke he's being an idiot :D Sasuke needs some help with his sanity methinks XD Wah, I didn't mean to make you sad XP I thought that scene was fun to write, but poorly written in my opinion :P And Gaara will save the day! Err...somehow...I still need to think about it :P
LilBlackNiteCat: Hehe, that line was a "childhood coming back to haunt me" kind of things :P I've read way too many fairy tales when I was a kid :P –smacks Sasuke's head also with great enthusiasm- Well, right now, I haven't decided who Naruto's going to end up with! I've killed many brain cells thinking about it, but I'm not getting anywhere :P Well, this wasn't the greatest or fastest update, but hope you liked!
Momochi Zabuza: Once again, Sasuke proves that he doesn't deserve Naruto :D I swear his ego-on-steroids is doing him more bad than good :D But maybe that's just me and my Sasuke-hating side talking =] GaaNaru forever!! Well, I still don't know what to do about the pairing...seeing as I am WAY too lazy to think nowadays. Almost school time again over here and I'm trying to salvage what little lazy-time I have left :P I'm happy you liked chapter 14! I had so many doubts about it. I always seem to catch a million mistakes after I upload it -.-"It's a nice surprise...really...okay, the optimism isn't helping :P
Kamikakushi: -cackles insanely and hugs teddy bear to death- Hee XD Yes, you really should get that streak of yours checked...might scare some kids away o.O Well, I guess you could say that's a good thing :D I hate kids -.-"Especially little cousins...Ohhh, they better kiss their toys goodbye cuz...err...getting a little off topic :P But yes, Sasuke and his angst is good...sometimes. He's a nice outlet for some angst-writing though :D –sceptical looks from viewers- Oh, I do so have an open mind! It's just...closed for repairs right now? Yes, Super Gaara t the rescue! –hugs Gaara plushie- I also, am quite sadistic, but people insist on calling it narcissism. Aw, shucks :P Thanks for your compliments on the nightmare-scene! I'm rather proud of my fairy-tale metaphor :P Took me forever to think of though! It's a relief to know my descriptive writing hasn't given up and ran off to find some other brain during the long lazy-hours of summer vacation :D Yes, Sasuke needs some pity, what with all his misery and angst...but I don't think anyone will mind if my hand accidentally slips and I stab him in the eye. We live in an age where pizza gets to your home before the police. Anyways, don't be embarrassed about the genius comment! Cuz it's the truth XD –hugs back- Now get updating on that ingenious fic of yours! –wears an 'Avid Kamikakushi Fan' shirt-
Crystal-Chan2: Aww, poor Sasuke...wait, what am I saying!? –head desk- Okay...I'm sane again. I can see that scene unfolding now...-dreamy eyes- And I will be there cheering Gaara on! The way you wrote that was just hilarious! Nearly fell off my chair, I did :D Especially the part where Gaara took a lot of pauses in his sentence...and we can't forget Sasuke's more-than-weirded maniacal laugh! But when you're tempted to fight fire with fire, just remember the Fire Department uses water, k? :P –runs off to grab camera for Kodak moments between Naruto and Gaara- Brilliant scene, Crystal-Chan2 :D I couldn't have written it any better! As for that picture, I got my whooole life ahead of me! My ambition is to live forever anyway...so far, so good! :D
C.M Aeris Queen of Insanity: -watches as Sasuke desperately tries to escape the great mallet- Wow...I wish I had one of those...-looks down at her Cluebat- And here I am using a Cluebat like a sucker :/ Oh well...GO CM! GET SASUKE! WOOO!!! –waves a "GO CM!" flag around-
The Birdfox Hybrid Productions: Hah, I probably ruined the suspense with this eventless chapter :P I hope my reviews got to your stories all right! hates me and keeps delaying them :( Anyways, I hope you liked the little Neji-snippet I added for you! It's not going to turn out to be GaaNeji I don't think, but I hope you liked it anyway XP Couldn't think of a better way to put Neji in at this point of the story :P
Super Monkey Chibi Girl: Naruto will have peace soon...I think :P Haven't planned that far yet :D But for now, smack Sasuke to your heart's content! –smacks Sasuke's head with a smile- It would the greatest thing to ever happen in history if Naruto and/or Gaara killed Sasuke :D Heck, I'd even buy tickets and bring a camera to see it! But since I haven't planned the ending yet, I really don't know about a twist ;) I'm gonna see if the ol' brain is up for any creative thinking :P But you don't have to wait no more for this chapter! Hope you liked it =]
animelvr4evr: Yes indeedy, Sasuke is insane! AND FOR THAT HE MUST DIE! –runs after Sasuke and tries to stab him with a spork-
aNiMePeRfEcT: Glad you liked that last chapter! :D And have no fear, Sasuke's going to suffer for hurting Naruto :] –starts planning evil schemes-
Polka Dot: I can imagine that right now! Like in those romance movies that always make me cry! Or...err...almost cry...But no sunset now, cuz Sasuke needs a fair chance to get Naruto back! NaruSasu is just too cute to be ignored! XD –turns into a flaming fangirl-
Aurum: Ah, who wouldn't want to strangle Sasuke!? But since he looks too cute with Naruto, I guess I'm going to have to spare him...for now. Gaara and Naruto aren't exactly innocent themselves, like you said XD I'm in a state of confusion myself! Looks like I'm gonna have to wait too...brain's not working, you see :D
Fallen Dragon: -huggles Naruto plushie- He'll be okayyy...But Gaara's here to save the day! Err...kinda. I hate Sasuke too! YES! SASUKE-HATERS, UNITE!!!!
Ria Sakazaki: Hee, why thank you! The last chapter was so...ughhhh –speechless- But hopefully this chapter was a little better, ne? Even though nothing happened...:P
Kyona Kopper: -does the happy dance- It's great to know I'm improving! I'm surprised my brain still functions :D Well, this wasn't exactly the greatest chapter I've ever, written, but hopefully it worked still right? :P As for Tsunade...I don't want to think of her right now :P I'm kinda of scared of her freakish power –looks around nervously- Even if I am just being paranoid...maybe she really is after me :S
ePuiChi/PCBY: Ahh, sorry XP I meant to reply to your e-mail a lot sooner, but I haven't been able to get within a 1 metre proximity to a computer! No worries about your review! I took no offence :D I understand completely! I'm still surprised I managed to pass Science this year! Anyway, replying was in the duty of an author! I really needed to elaborate on some stuff, don't I? I've taken your advice to heart and added in a little 'flashback' of Naruto's feeling of neglect :D You're absolutely right, the feeling shouldn't be completely forgotten XP –head desk- Since I've never had amnesia either, your explanation sounds a lot more logical than mine :D Someone who thinks logically is a nice contrast to the real world :) But Sasuke-gone-insane is hard to fix indeed :P But I'm trying! "If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried." I've heard there's some nice moments between Sasuke and Naruto in the manga chapters :D I'm sure there's an event that happens later that makes the Sasuke I have in my story very OOC :P –head desk- I'm forever indebted to you for your constructive criticism! So you didn't attack anything at all :D I, as an author, should've elaborated more :P As for my writing, I'm just happy there's grammar/spell check XD But artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity (a trait which I, unfortunately, specialize in)! You're never too old to learn something stupid, I always say! "Well, it's almost school-time again for me too :P But I hope my laziness won't get the better of me and I should be finished just as the first day back comes and haunts me :D Calendar dates are always closer than they appear ;--; –screams of bloody murder in the background at the mention of school starting again-
Kali Swifteye: -flies off chair- Wah, THANK YOU! My writing isn't all that much, in my opinion :P I'm happy that my brain hasn't completely shut down and I'm still able to write coherent sentences XP But yes, the greatest way to vent some conflicted emotion is to beat up Sasuke! –starts hitting Sasuke with her Cluebat with great enthusiasm-
A/N: Ah, and there you have it, folks! Once again, MANY THANKS FOR READING AND REVIEWING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well, it's getting close to the point of deciding the ending, and the final pairing! Just think of all the things I could do!!!!!...if I had all my brain cells, that is -.0;;
Tsuki
Copyright © 2004 by Tracey Li