Note to the reader: Author's block neh? Maybe Angels will also have thirteen chaps. I dunno. (Wah.) I also placed a brief conversation of what happened in Sasuke's past (in Confessions) so the other readers wouldn't be confused.
Summary: Memories…memories.
CHAPTER X- Love for the Rose
"Sakura?" Sasuke opened the door leading to the garden and went out. He stepped on the grass barefooted and walked further to check the place. "Are you out there?" There was no response. I have a bad feeling about this. Sasuke halted and looked up at the sky for a moment. If only I had not gone there… He recalled why he went out of the house in the first place.
Sasuke had gone to the kitchen when everyone went to the sofa. He was drinking water when he saw something flutter past the window. He didn't mind it first but he noticed that the 'thing' got a human shape. So he crept out of the house and followed the winged creature to the nearby grove. When he got there, it vanished leaving white feathers on the ground.
"I was supposed to guard her… dammit." Sasuke told himself loudly. That is your fucking mission Uchiha. He was to walk back in when he noticed several feathers falling down from the sky. He caught one and examined it under the moonlight. White… tainted with black? His eyebrows furrowed and the feather was released from his hand. That color combination only meant two things: it belonged to a bird or an angel who was gradually becoming damned.
Sasuke had to be calm. Though he was already restless inside, he still managed to walk into the house without any change in his expression. (The others were busy laughing at the video Kiba had. He was dancing naked and drunk in the hot spring. "Stop iiiiiiiit!" Kiba yelled.) He spoke to no one and went directly into a room that was to be occupied by Sasuke and Sakura. Their bags and the rose were all situated there.
Now, he had to think. Black was the mark of treachery, violation or a bad intention. Sasuke shook his head. He was an angel once and he knew it was somewhat serious. He was to protect Sakura and now he blew it. Plus, he did not know where to search!
Wait. Sasuke fell back to a seat and slightly felt at ease. Gaara mentioned about Neji being jealous… could he be… no… but where…? Fuck shit. He closed his eyes for a moment and then something flashed in his mind.
In a meadow at night, two men stood. One had a gun while the other stood calm before the other. They were arguing and they stopped until the gunner pulled the trigger. No bullet came.
"I told you Uchiha Sasuke… I expected you to come for me." Said the man without the gun. He pulled out a gun from behind and aimed for the shooter.
…bang…
The man who spoke died. He killed himself using the other man's hand to pull the trigger. The living was Sasuke and the dead was Neji.
"I…I killed Neji? But why…?" Sasuke gripped his head as more shards of memory cut through his head like glass debris. "Not now… not—" He blinked and then the pain stopped. He got up from the seat and thought again. "If I killed Neji, he'll probably plan the same death for Sakura. He might bring her to a graveyard for a fast disposal." There were so many places to look but he had to take his chances.
Sasuke went out of the room and the house unnoticed and fortunately, he still caught a taxi driving slowly down the road. He told the driver to bring him to the graveyard.
"Sir," said the old driver, "could you specify a bit? There are three—"
"Then let's go to all of them." He demanded.
"Alright sir." The driver mumbled and drove.
The nearest graveyard was the oldest yet the smallest. With one look, Sasuke immediately knew that no one was there. The second was a bit farther and was shrouded by trees. He still had to go out of the cab and check the interior. Minutes after, he got back in the cab and slammed the door behind him. The last one was the largest and it consumed a lot of Sasuke's time. He checked every bit of the place until he was convinced that she was not there. Cursing inwardly, he hurried into the cab and slammed his palms to his face.
"Fuck! I can't find her!"
"Ah…sir…" the driver tried to be cautious with his words. "I think I know of another graveyard. Well, it's not exactly a graveyard—there are only two graves there—"
"Drive there! Now!" Sasuke was more of mad rather than grateful for the information. The poor driver obliged without another word. The Uchiha, however, became a lot anxious when he noticed that he was not feeling the chest pain he usually felt whenever Sakura was in trouble. The pain always led him to where she was and now, it was gone the very moment he needed it.
"Here—"
The driver did not finish his sentence for Sasuke had already leaped out of the cab. A meadow? He stopped and turned his head to check the place. From his spot he could see withered rose bushes at his far left and a gravestone a few feet from his right. He was to approach the grave when he heard voices from his left.
On the other hand, Sakura was thrown to the ground by Gaara. He watched her push herself up and she shook badly upon doing so. He crossed his arms and then commanded in a low pitch. "Look at it."
Sakura raised her head and she gasped right away. Inches before her, a gravestone with the name Sabaku no Gaara engraved on it stood.
"Do you know why I died Haruno Sakura?" Gaara's wings folded and completely turned black.
"N-no." She only knew that Gaara died in the battle field during the civil war in the Snow Country.
"I died to save Sasuke. And after all I did, this is what I'll see? Why did he love you and not me?"
His words were very similar to Neji. The loathing in his cold eyes was just the same as Neji's expression when he spoke to her in the manor. "I-I don't know!" Sakura bolted upright and was about to escape but the redhead grabbed her by the neck.
"I have tried to kill you twice before." He continued. "I was the one who blocked the road causing the car to go overboard."
Sakura's eyes rounded because of loss of oxygen and shock.
"In the manor, you were supposed to fall alone but I didn't expect that Sasuke would come back fast. It was not a miracle that I came there at the right time. I planned it." Gaara's cold blank expression did not change but his grip tightened. "I had no choice but to rescue you both."
He hauled Sakura to the side and then pulled out a dagger from inside his robe. "I know why Sasuke drank from the Fountain of Oblivion…it angered me. And to ease my pain, I will have to kill you." Gaara raised the dagger and stabbed the pink head but Sakura slightly avoided the attack causing her a deep cut at the thigh instead of instant death. He was to pursue her when a fist came in contact with his face. He was thrown back but his wings broke his fall. He hung in midair, massaging his face.
"I was wrong." It was Sasuke with his fists clenched. "I thought it was Neji."
Gaara's eyes were fixed on Sasuke. His feet touched the ground and then he bent to take the dagger that fell from his grasp. "I forgot that you could not hurt a mortal without a valid cause… but… I am immortal."
"Why do you want to kill her?" Sasuke yelled. He felt a weak hand hold onto the back of his shirt.
"You." Gaara's eyes turned to the blade. "You are the reason Sasuke."
"What?" It was confusing. Sasuke looked over his shoulder and saw Sakura twitching in pain though she tried to pressure the blood from flowing. He turned to her and then carried her when he saw the driver running to him.
"I heard shouting—"
"Bring her to a hospital quick!" Sasuke transferred Sakura to the man. "Thank you." The man immediately left.
"I thought you'd not leave her side."
"I would come to her after dealing with you!" Sasuke charged at the redhead but he easily evaded the attack.
Gaara went up in midair and shook his head. "I don't want to hurt you Sasuke. I only planned to kill her—your burden."
"You have to go past me first!" Sasuke jumped and crashed himself against Gaara. They fell back on the ground: Sasuke punching while Gaara defended.
Sasuke, I don't want to hurt you. The redhead ended Sasuke's assault by cleaving him at the arm. The Uchiha shouted and withdrew, gripping his bleeding arm. Gaara stood up with his blank eyes staring at those droplets of blood reaching the grass below. Beautiful. "Sasuke, don't you know that you're beautiful when you look so weak? Especially at night…"
"Gaara…shut the fuck up…" The Uchiha tore a piece of his shirt by his teeth and then tied it as a tourniquet around his arm. "I don't know what the hell you mean but you're ticking me off." He attacked the angel and once more they engaged in a close combat. Black feathers flew around making the scene breathtaking. The blood which escaped their cuts taints the surrounding with color. As the fight prolonged, the more they felt high.
Why not me…? Gaara slashed through the wind and the blood that had accumulated on the blade splattered on Sasuke's lips and cheeks. Why… Sasuke? Gaara halted and watched Sasuke fall to his knees. His body had cuts all over it. The red head approached the other and then said softly. "Everything I've done… isn't it enough?"
"I don't remember." The Uchiha replied.
"Of course…" Gaara knelt in front of him and placed his hands on Sasuke's cheeks. He closed his eyes and then pressed his lips against his, blood mingling in between them.
Sasuke didn't retaliate and instead, he closed his eyes. Those lips became very familiar to him. It reminded him of something in the past…
I am now in the past. Never to be with your present or your future… "Sasuke…" His lips brushed against the Uchiha's as he spoke. And before he could speak again, a long blade pierced through his flesh. Sasuke withdrew quickly and saw another angel with a sword in hand.
"Neji?"
The angel who stabbed Gaara was Neji. He pulled the sword and the other dropped to the ground unconscious. "He'll live again. That's the eternal life of an angel. When you're killed, you would wake up again like nothing happened. But you have to re-grow your wings painfully again."
Sasuke was dumbfounded.
"I understand Gaara. I also hate that Haruno if you know." His eyes drifted to the dark sky. "But I don't want to see you in a miserable state."
"I don't—"
"I want to kill her but if I do, you'll be submerged in anguish." Neji stabbed the sword to the ground. "Don't worry Sasuke, I'll be punished too because I killed him." Neji's wings darkened in color. "It was never written that angels are sinless. Mortals are the only ones who suspected as in that view."
"Why are these things happening?" Sasuke pounded on the ground.
"I have to kill him or else he'll kill her."
"But—"
"The only job you have here is to guard her and retrace your memory in the process." Neji's eyebrows furrowed. "Tell me Sasuke, why do you love her?"
The Uchiha thought for a moment and then asked himself. Why? I never have asked myself before. "I-I don't know…"
"Then that's real love." A simple smile crossed his face. "You can not love a person because she is beautiful, she's nice or she's unique. You can never explain." He paused and then continued. "I must accept that she's the one you'll ever love…even if that will take me years to do so."
"Neji…"
"Do not pity me Sasuke. Because you don't know how I feel."
"But… I don't remember what I felt for her so I don't exactly—"
"Love is not something you could remember, forget and remember again when needed. Lovers who are separated by time and distance only come together again because their love was not forgotten but simply hidden. If you forget love, you'll have to fall in love again."
Sasuke was silent.
"And since I think you have forgotten the love you felt about her, you are not recalling what you felt… you are falling for her again."
The skies slowly lightened in color and the from afar, the sun rays were slowly presenting itself.
"At the other side is your grave. You might want to take a look before you leave." The clouds parted leaving spaces for light to penetrate through. One of the rays landed on Neji and suddenly, his wings broke off, sending blood allover the spot where he stood. Gaara's body and Neji floated up while Sasuke watched them. Before they completely vanished from sight, he saw Neji smile… Thank you. Sasuke thought.
Sasuke limped towards the other side and he found the same grave he saw before he went to the left. He knelt before it and touched the name engraved on it: Uchiha Sasuke. His eyebrows furrowed. He didn't know his grave was there. He brushed his hand against the stone and then suddenly, flashes of memories appeared. He gripped his head and yelled until the pain subsided.
Sasuke reached the hospital right after the sun had completely risen. Before he could ask for Sakura's room number, he was taken by several nurses to the emergency room. He had countless stitches to close his cuts and he was bandaged up good. After that, he quickly asked for Sakura and he was guided to the room by an old man.
"Wait, you're the driver!" Sasuke exclaimed.
"Ah, yes, I am the driver sir." He replied with his cap in his hands.
"You stayed here?"
"For an hour or so, yes, but it's nothing—"
"Thank you." Sasuke shook the driver's hand. And pulled out bills from his pocket.
"N-no, there's no need sir!" the driver pushed the money away. "I understand why you were furious sir and I think you need that money more than I do." He nodded to the bandages Sasuke had.
Sasuke smiled slightly and followed the driver to Sakura's room. When they got there, the driver bid him good bye and walked off. The Uchiha knocked and then went in. He approached the bed and saw Sakura sitting upright with pillows propped up against her back. He brushed her bangs off her face and asked. "How are you?"
"My thigh is fine now." Sakura encircled his arms around his neck. "I couldn't sleep… what happened?"
"Long story." He sat at the edge of the bed and then sighed. "I remember everything."
"What?" Sakura was quite surprised by the revelation.
"I remember my past, Father Luis… I confess to him my sins every night… I was an army student and we were classmates in Anatomy class. I was also an entertainer at night. One morning, you saw us, Neji and I, kissing, and that was when I started annoying you… I also remember occupying your dorm room… I recall Itachi… I remember the prom. I asked you out and you accepted. But Neji abducted you when I had a Charlatan attack and had you… harassed." He paused. "After that I pursued him… and killed him."
"You killed Neji?"
"Yes." Sasuke confirmed. "I killed him because I thought he had you raped by his minions." His face showed that he was remembering something. "After that I asked you to stay with me for Valentine's Day. We stayed by the beach watching a meteor shower…"
Sakura smiled. "I remember that too."
Sasuke guided Sakura as she lied down and then he lied beside her. He held her cheek with one hand and then brushed her cheek with his thumb. "And the next morning, Itachi appeared. He told me that you were still a virgin and I was selected to go to the Snow Country."
"The civil war, yes." Sakura's eyes showed slight sadness.
"After that we went back to the dormitory but I was sick. And there was a moaning sound from outside. We checked it out but you disappeared instead." He smiled. "I found you some time after."
"And the next morning, we found out that it was Naruto." Sakura chuckled and buried her face in his chest.
"The next day I saw Orochimaru." Sasuke's face became serious.
"You saw him before?" Sakura looked up.
"I knew him since I was thirteen. He helped me live… but as an entertainer. The whole history is too long." He thought for a moment. "And that night, you discovered that I cut your picture to put it in the locket Father Luis gave me. I don't want to remember how hard you cried." Sasuke embraced her. "You discovered that I was going to the Snow Country."
"And the next days were sad." Sakura mumbled. "But Naruto began making me letters from someone he made up."
"Oh…that." Sasuke mumbled.
"After that you came back. You were clinically dead for minutes and when you got your heart beat back, you were rushed for a heart transplant."
"Gaara gave me his heart. In the civil war, he blocked the attack that was supposed to end my life. He died for me…" He stopped and recalled Gaara's words just hours before. Everything I've done… isn't it enough? "And then Kiba had a party, months after. I loved the drinking game against Shino."
"That was the time when Naruto discovered that the Shino he made up was real." Sakura sighed. "And then…"
"I heard that there was a murderer who was killing the victim's loved ones. I had a feeling it was Orochimaru… and I was right. I was to go home when I saw him. He was to kill you because he knew you were close to me. We fought in the alley and he injected me with Charlatan. I grabbed his gun, shot him and ran with policemen following me. The last thing I remember was when I reached the church where I confessed for the last time. I only remember bleeding in Father Luis' arms…"
"I missed you…" Sakura suddenly sobbed and embraced him. "I waited near the rose bushes… I always watched your grave—" She paused when Sasuke suddenly sat upright. Rose…
"I have something else to do. I will not be around for a while." He recalled Itachi say.
"This mission is personal and it's something not worth his attention." Personal?
"Remember that I'll always love you otouto and no one could take as much love from me as you do."
A certain fear enveloped him. Was Itachi speaking that was because he was going to… no… so what was about the rose? Wait… I get it… shit. Sasuke slid off the bed and was to rush to the door but he turned to Sakura and bit his lip. I can't leave her behind.
"Where are you going Sasuke?" Sakura sat up.
"I'm going to check on Itachi."
Sakura saw the anxiety in the Uchiha's eyes and then she smiled. "Go now."
"But I'm supposed to guard you."
"I'll be fine here. It's your turn to trust me Sasuke." Sakura smiled. "I have a cell phone. I could call anyone for help. Now go."
Sasuke nodded and rushed out of the hospital. He called for a taxi cab and he went to the Akatsuki headquarters. Itachi's words kept on repeating in his head for some reason. And that very moment, he understood why Itachi gave him the rose.
"First: You are to take care of it so never neglect the rose."
He meant that I must take care of Sakura…protect her at all cost and never forget my mission.
"Second: Do not cut its thorns. Keep it safe from damage but let it protect itself too."
Guard her but also learn to trust her.
"Third: Do not place it in a tightly closed container. It needs to breathe."
I must not be very possessive. She needs to be free.
"Fourth: It'll wither fast if you keep on tampering with the petals."
Fucking her every time is not a good idea.
"Fifth: You would think of it as a burden from time to time but that makes the errand a lot more fun."
Taking care of Sakura is a hard one but it'll be worth it all when I know she's safe.
"Sixth: A little conversation would not hurt."
In a relationship, communication is a must.
"A last reminder: The rose means a lot to me so it's you I trusted it to. I only trust you."
Itachi likes Sakura so much… and he entrusts her to me because he knows that I'm… in love… with…
Sasuke went out of the cab and harassed the door bell with several presses. The gate swung open and Sasuke banged on the front door until someone opened it. "Where is Itachi?" His voice was loud and anxious.
"We don't know." Another person replied coolly.
"That's impossible! Where is he?" He turned to Kisame who was silent himself.
"He's not here and he didn't tell anyone where he went." The fish guy spoke in a calm manner.
"How could you not care!" Sasuke yelled even louder.
"Shut up Uchiha! In Akatsuki, once you don't want others to get involved then that's your call." Deidara replied. "He went off without any clue then that's his problem. We may get worried but we must not interfere."
Sasuke growled and ran away. He leaped into the cab and thought for a moment. Where the hell are you? God dammit. He instructed the driver to drive to the outskirts to check. If there was any place to hide, Orochimaru would probably find somewhere far. When the cab reached the outskirts, it went slow. Sasuke carefully observed the surroundings to see if there was anyone suspicious. His keen eyes were surveying the abandoned houses when he saw someone, slightly hidden in between two closely built wooden houses, lying on the ground. He went out of the taxi and checked on the man. To his fear, it was Itachi.
Itachi's eyes were moving under their lids as he lied motionlessly on the bed. After some minutes, his hands clenched around the bed sheet. Someone noticed it since whoever it was checked on his arms. They were indeed painful for they bore gun shots. It was even a miracle that his arms were not torn off by bullets. Itachi opened his eyes and saw Sasuke standing right beside his bed.
The older Uchiha smiled.
"You fuckin' idiot." Sasuke's voice was obviously pure anxiety. "What happened to you?"
He still smiled.
"Orochimaru? You came after him again? To avenge our clan or to avenge Sakura?"
"So you remember?" Itachi said between deep breaths.
"Why did you go off alone!" He yelled, not caring if the one he was speaking to was not in the condition for scolding.
Itachi closed his eyes.
"You're a FUCKING idiot!" He shouted.
"Why are you so angry?" Itachi looked at him with his crimson eyes.
Sasuke didn't speak for a moment. "Since when did you care?"
"Now?"
"Fuck you."
"Are you going to curse me the whole morning?"
"I was afraid dammit!"
Itachi didn't speak.
"I was afraid that I might lose the only brother I have in the world." Sasuke's voice softened and his eyes grew sullen.
Silence.
"Aren't you going to shout 'April Fools' next?" Itachi smiled once more.
And you could still crack a lame joke? Sasuke bit his lip and rubbed his eyes.
"Ah… you dramatic whore…" Itachi shut his eyes.
"What the hell did you call me?" Sasuke glared at him.
"Nothing otouto. Now let me sleep… I'll do the explaining when I get up." The handsome smile that belonged to the Itachi that was in the picture crossed his face.
Sasuke went outside the room and closed the door behind him. He smiled to himself and sighed. I'm not kidding Oni-chan.
END
Hm… I wonder where I had gone wrong… I'm pretty lazy nowadays… and school is near! Thanks for the reviews!