DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto, Kishimoto does. I don't own Hikari Aino.

A/C: Constructive criticism is warmly welcomed and appreciated, as well as readers' suggestions/ideas (particularly when it comes to Lemons – I really suck at those! :S).

WARNING: Sasuke is a little bit OOC in this chapter.

WHEN EVERYTHING GOES PEAR-SHAPED

"Every act of rebellion expresses a nostalgia for innocence,
and an appeal to the essence of being."
~Albert Camus

~SASUKE P.O.V~

~Dream~

I stirred from my uncomfortable sleep and registered the stillness that was heavy all around me like a too humid summers day, as I sat up and groaned. It was night, as far as I could see with the limited light and it appeared as though the Dobe, Sakura and my Hikari had chosen to camp out for the night in what appeared to be darkened cave in the Forest of Death.

I just realised what I just thought…

MY Hikari? Where did that come from?

Confused, but just as quickly brushing that thought aside, I tried to figure out what was going on. The last thing I could remember before blacking out (god dammit, that is so un-Uchiha like!) was Orochimaru sneaking up behind me and restraining me in an unrelenting iron grip against his unusually cold chest that felt like I was almost being cut in half.

I remembered trying wildly to buck that creep off me so I could get free, and so I could beat him to a pulp.

"Don't try, Sasuke-kun you cannot escape me." he had murmured into my ear causing me to shudder with disgust.

Then I felt nothing except feeling searing pain as something sharp speared into my neck and then I felt a numbness as something that felt like a thousand kunai stabbing into my skin all at once, trickled through my bloodstream. I remembered seeing Hikari from where I was slumped on the ground on my knees, she was being snatched up by Orochimaru who had pinned her arms to her sides and restricting any movement.

He had a sinister, triumphant leer on his face that I so desperately wanted to rip off.

Don't you touch her…

Her horrified, frightened expression was the last thing I saw before I saw nothing but darkness. I must've passed out. Movement caught my attention out the corner of my eye and I instantly snapped my head towards it, frowning. It turned out to be the rest of my team who sleeping peacefully and unaware of what was happening around them.

My gaze lingered the longest on Hikari, who was lying next to me breathing steadily with her back facing towards me. I searched her for any serious injuries - but she looked unharmed where she was lying on her side with an arm bent underneath her head and using it like a pillow. Her short black hair had fallen into her eyes at some point in her sleep.

I smiled a little and I reached over, pulling her hair out of her face and smoothing it behind her ear, like I remembered my mother doing to me when I was younger. I sighed feeling both melancholy and relief, but I also felt that something was wrong about this.

I looked up and realised that nobody was keeping watch and my melancholy quickly turned to annoyance and frustration at my team's lack of organisation.

"Idiots…" I muttered underneath my breath as got to my feet and moved to make sure we weren't about to be attacked and to take the first watch…

I yawned deeply as I walked towards the mouth of the cave and unintentionally stepped into a crowded, but surprisingly not loud restaurant, bar and nightclub. I immediately stopped in my tracks and frowned suspiciously - I recognised this place as the nightclub that had just recently opened up in Konoha by an 'ambitious' villager who had lots of money and naïve determination.

It made clear up front by the Hokage (who thankfully was initially reluctant to allow this place to open) that this place was strictly reserved for Chunnin and Jounin level, so it was extremely weird that I had somehow made it in here without being barred at the door for being Genin. Not that I was likely to step foot in here even if I was Chuunin - I don't like people.

Never have.

The only people I can stand to be around was Hikari and Naruto (but in small doses).

"What the fuck?" I muttered under my breath.

Something was DEFINITELY wrong about this. I continued walking through the club and I scanned the many unfamiliar faces all around me. I saw the flirtatious glances of many of the female dancers lingering unbroken on the faces of their male dance partners, who were either staring back with seedy smiles on their faces which made me raise a disgusted eyebrow, or smiling back at their partner with a friendly, nonchalant smile as they danced together to the slow, but pulsing beat.

Others, both civilian and shinobi were standing around sipping on drinks or sitting at tables chatting and eating professionally made food. I shook my head feeling dazed and disoriented as I tried to make sense of why I was here.

Someone rudely shoved past me and nearly knocked me into the nearest couple - who barely even flinched at the contact.

"Watch it!" I snarled at the person who darted from view and I made to walk away without a second glance before I felt like I had the wind knocked out of me.

I recognised that person.

"Itachi?"

Frowning, I quickly moved to follow him before he got out of my sight. Seeing Itachi here meant only trouble - plus I couldn't pass up the opportunity to get back at the bastard for his treachery. Itachi moved like he was a shadow, weaving his way around the couples, and he had a driven, determined expression on his face .

What are you up to? I thought suspiciously.

Itachi was just as slippery as an eel, but I managed to track him until he disappeared through an open door.

Where the hell is he going?

I followed swiftly and I found myself standing in a thicket of lush, green trees that I recognised as the borders just outside the village boundaries that lead towards the training grounds. However, Itachi was no longer within my sights. I growled and punched a nearby tree in frustration.

"Dammit!" I yelled and grabbed fistfuls of my hair, trying to calm myself down before I could do something I could regret.

Sounds of fighting caught my attention and I looked towards the sound and followed it, curiosity becoming the best of me. I followed the sound until I got to the training grounds team seven usually occupied for their training. I saw the four stumps, the nearby pond and I saw Naruto, Sakura, Hikari and Kakashi training hard.

I grinned - this was my element, but I cut myself off as remembered why I was here.

"Wait a minute. I thought-" I cut myself off just as Naruto suddenly turned around noticed me, pulling that same mischievous, cocky grin that instantly made me frown.

"Hey teme! You coming?" he yelled.

I saw Itachi darting out of view behind some trees in the distance. He seemed to have somebody with him. I frowned.

"Oi!" Naruto's loud, obnoxious voice causes me to look at him in annoyance and did a double take.

Naruto's clothes had changed from his usual orange and blue jumpsuit with the puffy white collar and tassels to a similar outfit. He was still wearing orange, but instead of bright blue the dobe was wearing with orange, the more appropriate black had replaced it. Instead of navy-blue sandals, he was wearing black and the forehead protector he was wearing was black as well.

Even more strange was the fact that he looked older than before.

"What the fuck?" I blurted out, now feeling cautious.

The expression Naruto had on his tanned boyish face now stopped me from yelling at him to shut the hell up - it looked desperate…pleading, anguished - like somebody had died.

"You can't keep doing this, teme! Revenge isn't everything!"

What are you talking about?

I glanced over at the expressions on Sakura and Kakashi's faces and almost gasped in shock. Sakura also had changed her appearance but she looked desperate as well, not a trace of flirtation was evident on her pale-heart shaped face. Her hair was now a short, pink bob. She also looked like she was about to cry.

Why?

Kakashi's appearance hadn't changed either except that he looked a little older. He looked very stern, almost sober-like and extremely grave. Like I had done something wrong to him.

"You've gotta come back to us, Sasuke! Please!" Sakura begged me - her arms stretching out to me in a pleading way.

I didn't understand.

"Come back? I haven't gone anywhere." I answered extremely confused.

All three acted as though they hadn't heard me speak at all. Tears leaked out of both Sakura and Naruto's eyes.

"I'll bring you back, Sasuke! Even if I have to drag you back kicking and screaming, I'll do everything it takes to bring you back." promised Naruto seriously, furiously wiping away the frustrated tears.

I was about to ask them what the fuck they were going on about and why they were crying when I realised somebody important was missing.

"Wait! Where's Hikari?" I demanded of my team, but they instead turned and walked away from me in a dreamlike state.

I moved to follow them to make them explain themselves, use force if I have to to get that answer when I saw Itachi moving swiftly away from the training area, dragging somebody along with him. Whoever it was, was putting up a losing fight.

It then occurred to me.

"Hikari." I murmured as I moved to follow them.

But then a sharp pain suddenly ripped across my left shoulder and I shouted out in pain and clutched at it, shaking.

"Hurts doesn't it?" a silky, placid voice stated the obvious and I glanced up, breathing heavily trying to block out the unexpected pain. Standing in front of me was the very bastard who was responsible for this.

Orochimaru was smirking cruelly at me. I glared at him vengefully.

"You…!" I hissed angrily.

The smirk broadened and the pain intensified. I jerked forward almost face planting as I felt like I was being branded with a white hot poker. I panted like a dehydrated dog.

"What did you do to me?" I gasped wish that my glares could burn holes in his unnaturally pale skin. Orochimaru shrugged like nothing serious was happening.

"A little present. A reminder I guess - should you wish to find me again." He replied casually, and started walking around me with slow measured steps.

I watched him warily.

"And why would I want to do that?" I spat.

He smirked again.

"Why else? To gather the power to exact your revenge on your brother."

That caught my attention.

"How do you know that I was looking for my brother?" I demanded.

Orochimaru scratched his cheek with a long, slender finger.

"Just a wild guess. Isn't that him?" He asked pointing lazily off to one side, I followed his pointed finger and felt my eyes widen.

I was seeing a flashback - and not one I wished to relive either. I watched helplessly as Itachi mercilessly killed my parents in cold blood. I remembered how much it hurt to see that my older brother was the one who had cut short our parents' lives.

"What's your point?" I asked reluctantly.

Orochimaru came closer and grabbed a hold on my chin, pulling it around so I was looking him in his golden, snake-like eyes.

"My point my dear Sasuke-kun is that I can help you achieve your goal." He said caressing my cheek.

I slapped away his hand and fixed him with sceptical look.

"What's the catch?" I demanded, feeling the pain slowly fading.

"The catch, is that I train you to achieve your revenge….then your repayment is that body is mine."

My eyes narrowed immediately. My body?!

"No deal."

Orochimaru looked pissed for a split second before an evil smirk formed over his face as he licked his lips in anticipation.

"Are you sure?" He gestured away from us and I reluctantly followed.

I saw Hikari standing there the way I've always seen her - shy, but confident and smiling at me, looking as sweet as ever. I cocked an eyebrow. Then Orochimaru's voice was extremely close to my ear.

"Wouldn't you do anything to save her? Aside from avenging your family and the way they used to be, isn't she also important to you?" He questioned me whispering huskily - trying to tempt me.

I frowned not understanding what Hikari had to do with my revenge until suddenly, she gasps in pain as she doubles over when something made of steel, sharpened and highly polished impales through her abdomen before being yanked free once more.

"NO!" I screamed as I watched helplessly as Hikari clutches her bleeding abdomen and looks at me in agony with tears gathering in her pain-filled brown eyes.

A lump developed in my throat.

"Sasuke…?" she breathed before she falls forward and collapses to the ground, not moving.

I started shaking with grief, my eyes staring on in horror as I felt completely numb. I couldn't breathe - didn't want to. Tears started welling up in my eyes before they clapped onto the person who had killed her - then my anguish shifted to murderous rage.

An emotionless Itachi was standing there, staring unblinkingly at me with soulless, blood red eyes that were made by our family's kekkai genkai. Suddenly, he smirks as he pulls an old rag from his pocket and wipes his kunai free from Hikari's blood with slow, deliberate swipes.

"Hello, foolish little brother, enjoying the show?" he drawled innocently as he replaces his kunai back into his weapons pack.

"I'LL KILL YOU!" I promised.

Itachi doesn't say anything more, but merely snorted at me unimpressed before turning on his heel and walking away without a second glance. He and Hikari both disappeared from view. I knew that they weren't real - but it didn't mean that it didn't feel real and hurt like a bitch the moment I saw the girl I prized the most get slaughtered before my eyes…and by my brother of all people.

I turned my head and glared at Orochimaru who seemed to be enjoying my pain.

"You unimaginable bastard!" Orochimaru must've seen the rejection in my eyes behind the tears leaking from them, because he merely shrugged nonchalantly.

"Sticks and stones, Sasuke-kun" he said in a sing-song voice, and then like Itachi he turned and started walking away. Unlike Itachi however, he paused looking over his shoulder at me.

"If you change your mind my offer still stands."

He left and I succumbed to the darkness that surrounded me the moment I saw Hikari die and let the tears fall.

~End of Dream~

~HIKARI P.O.V~

The surprise appearance of Ino, Shikamaru and Chouji upped the scales in our favour big time as we stared down the barely wounded Sound Ninja group. Shikamaru gave them an expert appraisal.

"I knew that this was going to be troublesome." he muttered pulling out some kunai and moving into a fighting stance.

I looked at him incredulously.

"Since when is anything not troublesome in your eyes?" I retorted sarcastically.

Ino glared at me but I wasn't feeling in the mood for overprotective girlfriend bullshit. Chouji took one look at them and immediately decided that they were far too strong. He turned and started to run. The sound ninja started laughing cruelly.

"Yeah that's right. Better a live sheep, than a dead lion! Right FATSO?" the leader called out.

Ino and Shikamaru winced and looked at Chouji tentatively. Sakura and I frowned in confusion and looked over at the other members of Team Asuma questioningly.

"Say that again!" snarled Chouji.

The temperature all around us descended several degrees.

"Oh!" Sakura and I understanding and followed Ino and Shikamaru's example as we all took a united step backwards away from the obviously pissed off Chouji.

The leader scowled - obviously not sensing the hostility heavy in the air.

"Are you hard of hearing as well? I said: 'Better a live sheep, than a dead lion! FATSO!" he repeated knocking the last nail into his coffin - he was a goner.

Chouji's chubby face flushed a violent red and spittle flew from his mouth when he yelled.

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING FAT!?" He screamed and charged straight towards the sneering, brainless Sound shinobi.

However, the sneering expression on his face dropped dramatically as he realised that he had just royally pissed off Chouji and was now about to be clobbered into yesterday. Thinking about the best way to protect himself, he seemed to be scanning the available human shields he had available to him. He scanned Sakura, Shikamaru, Ino and I with calculating glances before making a choice and his eyes rested upon me.

I realised exactly what he was planning and moved to avoid him, but suddenly found myself standing in front of a charging Chouji who realised at the last minute that I was standing in his line of fire, but it was too late to put on the brakes.

"MOVE HIKARI!" Chouji begged me, but I was frozen in horror and I snapped my eyes closed waiting for the pain to arrive.

It didn't come.

Instead, I heard gasps and I opened my eyes and found myself staring at the back of Sasuke's spiky blue-black head. He was holding a surprised looking Chouji's wrist in his hand and sounded extremely confused when he finally spoke.

"What's going on here?" He asked sternly.

Everyone was gaping at Sasuke's face when expressions ranging from horrified to completely serious and shocked. Sakura stepped towards him, her hand was hovering near her mouth and her green eyes were huge.

"S-sasuke-kun?" she stuttered not getting closer.

Sasuke turned his head and looked at her. She flinched.

"Sakura?"

A pause - nobody dared to breathe.

"Who did that to you?" he asked indicating Sakura's butchered haircut.

Sakura absently and sadly raised a hand to her head and felt the crude spikes she had made when she hacked off her own hair. She answered with a question.

"Sasuke, what happened to you?" she asked quietly, just as the leader, who suddenly realised the danger he and his teammates were now in because of the murderous vibes he could sense coming off Sasuke in waves, started staring at each member of his team nervously.

Sakura's question was ignored.

"I'm fine. Just tell me what these people did to you."

His voice sounded protective and Sakura's face beamed momentarily at the obvious concern in his voice. Sasuke then turned his attention towards the leader and he scowled angrily, causing the leader to curse and shove me aside like I was nothing more than a sack of potatoes.

He ran for it like the dogs of hell were hot on his heels.

"Whoa!" I hollered as I sprawled to the ground landing on my already wounded arm and reopening the scabbed over wounds.

"Hey!?" I snarled at the cowardly ninja and got to my feet to chase after him.

However, I was beaten to the punch by Sasuke who immediately charged after the leader like a bull who had just seen red.

It was actually really amusing to see the leader suddenly squeal like a stuck pig when he saw Sasuke coming right at him, but what was not amusing was the way Sasuke dealt with him and his completely petrified team. It was cruel and inhumane - completely unlike Sasuke. Sakura and I watched with horror, particularly on the sadistic smirk on our raven-haired teammate's face.

Then I saw his face but couldn't help but let out an 'eep' at what I saw there.

Sasuke's face was covered with black tribal-like tattoos that covered ever part of the left side of his face. His left eye was almost demonic and glinted a wicked golden colour that made both Sakura and I shudder in fear.

"The curse mark…" I whispered in realisation and felt my eyes widen just as Sasuke pounced on the retreating Sound Ninjas.

Desperately, one of them swung a clumsy punch at Sasuke which was easily blocked and held in place, ensuing an audible gulp that was heard by everyone. There was a lengthy pause as the ninja struggled to free himself - then Sasuke grinned maliciously and sharply twisted the ninja's wrist in 360 degrees which snapped it cleanly.

The Sound-nin screamed, but Sasuke continued twisting causing tears of pain and fear to stream down his face as he begged for mercy.

Sakura, Ino, Chouji and I paled while Shikamaru immediately became alert.

"Sasuke, stop! That's enough!" he yelled.

Sasuke made no indication that he heard Shikamaru at all. He just started laughing insanely.

Sakura took it upon herself to pull Sasuke from his unusual behaviour by running at him and hugging him from behind. Immediately, Sasuke let go of the ninja's wrist allowing him and the others to 'retreat with their tails between their legs.'

The strange tattoo-like marks on Sasuke's alabaster skin faded away leaving him looking lost and scared.

"W-what happened?" he stammered.

We looked at him cautiously as Sasuke glared at us all in turn for an explanation before he zeroed in on me and the blood dripping down my arm, which was already clotting and showing a fairly gruesome residue of drying and crusting dark red blood. His eyes narrowed angrily and he immediately pushed Sakura aside and came over to me.

"Who did this to you?" He asked me, his eyes softening slightly with concern as he indicated my grazes.

I frowned at the tone in Sasuke's voice.

"The three clowns who were here earlier that you scared off." I replied.

He relaxed, but still looked pissed. Then suddenly, the hostile expression on his face faded and he pulled me into a very tight hug where he buried his face into my neck.

I froze, startled.

Where did that come from?

I reached up and wrapped my arms around his back returning his embrace. I felt something warm and wet falling on my neck and I realised that Sasuke was crying!

Figuring that he wouldn't entirely appreciate me asking him his problems in front of our Konoha teammates, I gently pulled away from him, but instantly felt Sasuke tighten his arms. I grunted in pain and flinched when I felt Sasuke kiss my neck in apology.

Sighing, I leant down and whispered in his ear.

"Let go for a second, Sasuke. I'll be back I promise."

Sasuke hesitated for a moment before reluctantly letting go and turning away, shutting out everyone else. Sakura's face filled up with hurt and concern.

"Be right back." I promised before grabbing Sasuke's hand and leading him away towards a nearby tree.

We jumped into it and retreated away a few feet so we could talk in private and find out what was bugging Sasuke enough for him to start crying into my neck. By the time we were by ourselves, Sasuke completely broke down in front of me and immediately trapped me in his arms again seeking comfort.

I rubbed soothing circles into his back, completely confused.

"Hey…hey." I smoothed back Sasuke's hair from his face and used soothing words to calm him down.

He looked up, his face wet with tears that rarely fell down his pale face. It was heartbreaking to see the completely defeated expression on his face as he looked up at me with scared little boy eyes.

"Tell me what's wrong." I asked.

This was usually something that Kakashi dealt with in situations like this, but since he obviously wasn't here it was up to his team/friends to help him. But because Naruto was still unconscious (we seriously need to wake him up) and Sakura will be of no help because she would be babying him and telling him everything was okay when it clearly wasn't-

"I thought I lost you…" came Sasuke's whispered reply.

That cut off my thoughts and I looked at him in surprise, I was not expecting that.

"Lost me? I don't understand, how could you lose me?" I questioned him in confusion.

Sasuke stared deeply into my eyes making me feel slightly uncomfortable and cupped one of my cheeks, caressing it with his thumb.

"I couldn't save you, and I felt useless." he continued his explanation as though I hadn't spoken.

He still didn't make any sense.

"Still need more information, sweetie." I said calmly and cupped his hand with mine, pulling it away and holding it in my hand.

Sasuke nodded and licked his lips before responding.

"I had dream while I was knocked out back there in that hollowed out root." he explained.

I nodded.

"I watched Itachi kill you right before my eyes and I couldn't save you."

I swallowed loudly when Sasuke suddenly got to his feet and started pacing, then punched the trunk of a nearby tree so hard that it splintered underneath his fist.

"I felt so powerless. I HATE THAT! I felt like that when my family was killed!" he snarled angrily and I felt momentarily afraid of him.

"Sasuke-"

He turned sharply causing me to take in a sharp breath and a hasty step back and fix him with a scared look. Sasuke immediately calmed down when he realised that I was scared of him and came over to me cautiously.

"I cannot lose you. You're the only family I have left." he confessed brokenly.

I nodded and smiled at him before walking toward him and hugging him. He relaxed into my hug. I angled my head towards his ear again.

"You won't lose me, Sasuke. Don't forget that, but not only that, you also have Naruto as well." I reminded him.

I heard Sasuke snort when I mentioned that Naruto was also his family - which made me grin and start laughing. I knew that his original personality would return. This vulnerable, defeated Sasuke was extremely freaky and I didn't want to see it on his face ever again.

A/C: I was not completely happy with this chapter. But if you disagree with me, please don't hesitate and tell me in your review. Or agree with me - I'm not fussed :)