Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and Kudozaki Lucine. The rest belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.
| Kudozaki Lucine |
My face was blank as I watched him dazedly glare holes into the sheets on his lap. The new hokage, Tsunade, managed to heal his major wounds, but he still has to stay in the hospital. However, he hasn't spoken to me ever since we returned from the Tea Country mission. He wasn't even looking at me. Which means that something is terribly wrong, and I know what. I know what he is thinking about.
Ever since that damned fight with Itachi, he's been suffering. He feels weak, after the words Itachi uttered to him. The fact that Naruto was able to defeat Aoi while Sasuke couldn't made it worse. He feels inferior to Naruto, that must be it.
"Sasuke." I started, looking down at him. But he didn't make any move that indicated that he heard me. His gaze stayed on his lap. "Answer me, Sasuke." I repeated, but he remained as he was. This is bad. Sasuke never ignores me. There is something more to it... there is something else that is bothering him, other than the inferiority towards Naruto.
For the first time, I had no idea what the problem was, and what to do to fix it. It made me feel helpless. Sasuke is in pain, and he won't let me in. "Please Sasuke..." I murmured. Look at that, now I'm begging him.
He finally met my eyes, his expression void of emotion, "If even Naruto is stronger than me, how am I supposed to protect you, Lucine?"
I shook my head."I don't need to be protected, Sasuke."
His eyes narrowed at my words, as if what I said was complete rubbish. "Zabuza. Forest of Death. Gaara. Itachi. Tea Country." he listed all the places and people that had hurt me in the span of these eventful months.
"I'm a shinobi. Shinobi are bound to get hurt in battle." I scoffed. He's being foolish again.
Sasuke kept silent, only staring at me with his stoic eyes. He's never given me that look before. However, I was unable to say anything more about it because the door suddenly opened. Sakura walked in with a bag of red apples, Naruto walking next to her.
"I brought some apples, Sasuke-kun." Sakura said cheerfully, taking a seat next to Sasuke's bed, slightly blocking my view of him. I took a step back next to Naruto who wrapped his arm around my shoulders and grinned at me. I ignored the gesture, instead keeping my eyes on Sakura and Sasuke, the latter was glaring coldly at the former, and it somehow made me worry. "You like them right? Don't they look delicious?" she held up a round, red apple and a knife, about to peel it. She did the task quickly, "Done. All peeled and ready. Here, try one, Sasuke-kun."
In a split second, Sasuke raised his arm and slapped the plate and the peeled apple out of Sakura's hands so it fell on the floor and shattered. Sakura let out a small squeal while Naruto immediately stepped up, "What the hell are you doing, Sasuke?!"
| Uchiha Sasuke |
The wild thoughts in my mind were making my head hurt. Even so, I was unable focus my mind elsewhere. I'm weak. So weak that even Naruto is stronger than me. So weak that I've been unable to protect Lucine, not even once have I succeeded that one simple thing that I swore I would. So weak that Gaara had been harassing Lucine right under my nose, and I hadn't done a damn single thing. He touched her. The thought of that redhead even looking at her made my blood boil and my eyes see only red. He's still alive, walking freely around his village.
My hands gripped the sheets so tight that my nails were probably making holes in it. I could hear Lucine calling out my name next to her, but I ignored her. How could I look at her now? How could she look at me. I've failed her so many times now. She must be ashamed of me.
"Please Sasuke..." her soft beg made me finally look into her eyes. Looking into her honey colored eyes made my stomach twist and turn. All I want is to protect those eyes. Yet I can't even do that, how will I be able to kill Itachi when I'm weak like this?
"If even Naruto is stronger than me, how am I supposed to protect you, Lucine?" I asked her, watching as her eyes softened.
"I don't need to be protected, Sasuke."
My eyes narrowed at her foolish words. She's been hurt countless times. "Zabuza. Forest of Death. Gaara. Itachi. Tea Country." I listed all the times I failed her, all the times where she had been hurt.
She scoffed, "I'm a shinobi. Shinobi are bound to get hurt in battle."
No. Not you. Don't you understand? No one can hurt my Lucine. No one can touch my Lucine. I stared longingly at her, but quickly shifted it to apathy; giving her the stoic look I give everyone. Yet, you've been both hurt and touched. What is there that I need to do in order to get the power to protect you?