SASUINO DAY 2: "Will we ever meet again? "Maybe in another life." PROMPT
PAIRING: Orpheus! Sasuke x Eurydice! Ino
Sasuke found her while he was out on a mission with his friends to slay the sirens who lured sailors to their deaths.
He knew of the beauty of nymphs, but he was caught off guard when he came face-to-face with the loveliest of them all.
But it wasn't her beauty that drew him to her.
"What are you looking at?" she asked, looking down at him from her perch on the tree. "Were you not going to slay those sirens?"
He followed her gaze and saw two sirens hiding from intruders. He scoffed. "I do not need you to tell me how to do my mission."
Instead of being put out by his attitude, she was challenged.
It started there. She loves challenges, and so does he, and they challenge each other in ways other people cannot.
Sasuke married Ino on their second summer together, even though the prophecy said that the marriage would not last. He scoffed because he had been forging his own destiny since he was little. He has no need for prophecies and neither do you believe in them.
Sasuke feels the happiest he's been since the demise of his family.
Ino hands him a canteen of water after his sword practice, and he lightly places a kiss on her lips.
"Hmm..." she hums and opens her eyes. "How long is your mission this time?"
"3 days." He watches her face carefully for any signs of sadness.
His beloved never tried to stop him from doing anything, even at the cost of her sanity, and he tries not to upset her with his missions.
She breathes, standing up to embrace him. "Good. Teach me how to wield a sword when you come back."
He hugs her back. "You would not need to learn because I would be here to protect you, always."
Ino rolls her eyes, laughing, before sending him off with a smile and a wave.
Sasuke has a lot of regrets in his life. He wishes he could've shown his family that he mastered their signature sword style; he wishes he could have shown his brother his appreciation; and now he wishes he taught Ino how to wield a sword.
His belongings are left forgotten when he sees Ino's bloodied body lying on the dirt. He dashed towards her and cradled his body against him. He hears his friends surround him as they panic.
"Ino?" He gently taps her cheek. "Ino?"
Ino slowly opened her eyes, smiling gently at him. "Sasuke, welcome home."
Sasuke's eyes feel hot as he tries to smile. "I'm home."
"Let me heal her." Sakura catches his gaze. "Hurry, Sasuke."
"W-what happened, Ino? Who did this to you?"
"A God." she says. "Aristaeus. Don't worry, he won't be coming back."
His eyes darkened, but he forced himself to calm down when he saw Ino watching him with her tired and heavy eyes.
"I wonder if we'll ever meet again?"
His eyes widened at her words. "Don't talk like that."
"Shit."
"What happened, Sakura?" Naruto asked.
Sakura looked at Ino, then at him. "Her wounds are not closing. Something is stoppi-"
"He cursed me." Ino says this calmly for Sasuke's ears. As if she had already accepted this ending.
"I hope we meet each other again, Sasuke."
"Shh. Stop talking like that, Ino." he says, panicking.
"Sakura! What about Tsunade? She can heal the unhealable-"
"She can't heal curses given by the gods, Naruto."
Sasuke closes his eyes tightly. He doesn't accept this. He can't accept this outcome. Not Ino, gods, please. Not his Ino.
"Please-"
"Maybe we will." she smiles, her tears running down her face as she places a shaking hand on his left cheek. He opens his eyes and feels his tears. "Maybe in another life. Come find me. Promise me."
"Promise. I promise, Ino."
Sasuke screamed. He screamed while holding onto her body until he couldn't anymore. He screamed and sobbed like he had never done before. He felt Naruto trying to stop him from hurting himself; he felt Sakura trying to get Ino's body out of the way.
"Sasuke!"
"Don't take her away from me."
"Sasuke..."
"Please." he pleaded as he held onto her body tighter.
The days turn into nights as Sasuke luggishes away. He hunted the god who cursed his beloved and killed him by killing all his believers.
His friends found him bathing in their blood. They screamed, they tried to reason with him, but no, what is life without Ino? How can he live without her?
Kakashi closes his eyes tightly. If only he hadn't vowed to take care of Sasuke in place of Obito and Itachi, then he wouldn't be so torn, but looking at his pupil so devoid of life and purpose made him decide.
"Listen..." Kakashi swallowed, as if he was already regretting his decision to tell him. "There's a way. There's a way to bring her back."
For the first time since Ino died, Sasuke felt hope. He listened intently to Kakashi's words.
"But this could get you killed-"
"I'm already dead, Kakashi."
Despite his friends and his teacher's caution and worries, Sasuke set off to the underworld.
After countless obstacles, he was finally able to talk to the King and Queen of the Underworld and convince them to let Ino back into the world of the living. At their request, he performed a sword dance.
Sasuke couldn't hide his happiness even if he wanted to when they agreed to let Ino go on one condition.
He was not allowed to look back or turn around to see her as they made their way out of the Underworld.
"I miss you." he said while walking. This time, for sure, he would shower her with all the love and affection he felt for her. "I missed you so much, Ino."
Silence.
He was tempted to look back, but he stopped himself. Why isn't she answering?
"I-" he cleared his throat. "I love you."
Silence. Not even a single 'hmm' can be heard. He tightened his hold on his trusted sword. "Ino?"
He feels cold. She never ignored him, not this long. Is she okay? Why isn't she answering?!
"Ino?" Please say something, anything. "Ino, are you okay?"
Silence. Not even a footstep.
Did... did the King of the Underworld fool him?
He looked back before he could stop himself and saw Ino. His beloved Ino. She shook her head slightly. "It's okay, Sasu-"
Then they screamed when something dark dragged her back to the Underworld.
"Ino!"
Despite his best efforts, Sasuke was unable to return to the Underworld due to the condition he didn't follow.
With nothing left to lose, Sasuke decided to reunite with her in death.
There's nothing Sasuke hates more in the morning than noise and a hangover. This is all his stupid best friend's fault for challenging him to a drinking contest. He can't turn down a chance to make Naruto see that he's way better accepted the challenge.
But the hangover is worth it because he won.
If only there was no game today, then he would have celebrated his victory, but just his luck, he's playing against one of his least favorite rivals. They waited for their turn, and he saw his opponent. Neji Hyuga wore his fencing uniform with pride. Sasuke sees the insignia of the Hyuuga clan embroidered on his uniform and scoffs.
Sasuke fixes his uniform and smirks when Neji's eyes narrow when he sees the Uchiha clan's insignia imbrued on his uniform. May the best clan win then.
Beside him, Naruto whistles appreciatively. "I didn't know Hinata would be here."
"Who?" He raises his head and sees a group of girls heading towards the exit.
Naruto points at the group of girls. "Neji's cousin, Hinata. Oh, there's Ino! Hey! Hey!" He waves crazily.
"Naruto!" Sasuke swore the whole world stopped when one girl turned around to wave back crazily. Her long blonde hair sways. She's wearing the same uniform as the rest of the girls with her. "Goodluck with your game! Break a leg!"
"I hope you don't mean literally!" Naruto shouted back.
Sasuke swallowed. The girl laughed, shook her head, and said goodbye.
That golden hair looks familiar. He's hit with familiar yet unfamiliar emotions at the same time.
"Who's that?" he breathes. He didn't wait for Naruto to answer and just dashed out to catch up.
"Hey!" Naruto called out. "Where are you going?! The match is going to start soon!"
He ignores him.
Sasuke doesn't know why, but he needs to know that girl. He wants to know why his heart aches when he sees her and why he feels like he knows her. Unfortunately, he didn't catch up to her.
Still, he looked for her everywhere. He feels like a fool exerting this much effort for a girl he doesn't even know. Damn it! He stops when he's out of breath. If that damn dobe finds out that he's gone crazy for a girl, he'd never hear the end of it.
He gave the outdoor tennis courts a once over to see if the girl he was looking for was within sight and cursed when he didn't see a golden-haired girl.
Sasuke walks over to one of the faucets, drinks water, and wets his hair to cool his head. He wished he could see her again. His train of thought was broken when he saw someone handing him a towel and water bottle in his peripheral vision and he automatically turned the faucet off.
"Than-"
He stopped when he saw who it was. He can't believe what he's seeing! As if he wasn't going crazy trying to find her, but here she is! She was standing in front of him, her long golden hair in a high ponytail.
And when he looks into her eyes, he feels it again. There it was again. That aching feeling That uncontrollable urge to pull her to him. That urge to not let her go. He doesn't know why he's feeling this way about someone he doesn't know.
"Here. You look like you might need it." He stares at the items she's offering.
At some point, he probably lost his mind and so did his voice because all he could do was stare at her.
"Well?" she challenges playfully, one perfectly eyebrow raising. "Aren't you going to take it?"
He laughs, taking the towel and water she's offering.
"You're a long way from the gym." she says, eyeing his fencing uniform. "Isn't your match going to start soon?"
I feel like I've known you forever. I feel like I'm in love with you. He swallowed and instead said, "You could say that. I'm Sasuke." He offers his hand for a handshake. He feels warm and something inside him stirs when she accepts.
"I'm Ino. Nice meeting you, Sasuke." But what Ino wants to say is, I feel like I know you. I feel like I love you. "Do you know the way back to the gym?