Woot. Final update of probably the week.
Until next time!
Promises Not Made are Promises Never Kept
Chapter Twenty – Eliminations
After the rather unsettling fight with Haku and Gaara, Sasuke was ushered back up to the viewing platforms as the next round of names were called: Zaku and Shino.
"What was that, Sasuke?" Zabuza asked him softly, leaning against the wall next to the teen as his student glowered.
"I'm not entirely sure…" Sasuke breathed, almost inaudible in fear of someone might hear them. Inaré looked over at them in worry, but seeing them talk in secrecy made her change her mind about walking over, and she looked back down to the fight, Haku's parasol clenched in her hands even as Sakura tried to console her. "It's exactly what Naruto has inside him though…" he lifted his eyes to look at Zabuza. "I think it might be a Tailed-Beast."
Zabuza raised an eyebrow.
"Two Tailed-Beasts in the same Chunin Exam?" He asked quietly before looking back to the battle. "Well. This just got interesting."
Sasuke looked just about ready to snap something vicious at him, but changed his mind with a huff and turned back to the match.
The match ended with Shino as the winner, the Sound ninja screaming as he was chased around by creepy crawlies. Inaré found that she couldn't look directly at Shino without getting goosebumps up her arms.
"Next up, Sakura and Ino!"
Inaré heartily wished Sakura good luck with a hug, and despite what a horrible mood Sasuke was in, watching his old pink-haired partner fight so well and so viciously was impressive. It brought a small smile to his face to see how much she had improved, and he was even feeling better enough to walk over and slide beside Inaré, snuggling against her. His partner, relieved, accepted him with open arms and planted a kiss on his cheek.
Unfortunately, the match ended in a draw, and both Sakura and Ino managed to pull themselves back up to the viewing balconies, Ino's own beautiful gold locks chopped and forgotten on the floor. Naruto went over to Sakura and they actually hugged, the blonde exclaiming how amazing she had been.
Inaré, smiling at Sakura, opened up her other arm and allowed the pink-headed girl to slip beneath it after Naruto finished gushing. The Hidden Mist Genin gave the girl a strong hug.
"I'm so happy for you," Inaré told her, Sasuke watching from her other side. "You didn't win, but you did so great. The fact that you managed to take control back after she mind-transferred you was just so awesome!"
Sasuke nodded in agreement, smiling at Sakura.
"You did wonderfully," he told her. "I'm sure your sensei's very proud of you."
Sakura, well aware that this was the first time they had really interacted, beamed at him.
"Thanks," she replied. Then she blinked, surveying him from around Inaré. "You know, even though you two have the same name, you're nothing like my old teammate. He…" her eyes narrowed, and she looked away in sadness. "He would never… congratulate me like that."
Annoyance crossed over Sasuke's face, and he scowled, looking away and rolling his eyes.
"Yeah…" he almost snapped irritably, making Inaré wince beside him. "I seem to be getting that a lot lately."
Well, his good mood was officially ruined. Sulking, he walked away to be closer to Zabuza, a visible scowl on his face. Pursing her lips, Inaré turned back to Sakura, telling her that he was still upset about what Gaara had done to Haku.
As they continued talking, the next match was called: Rock Lee versus Yoroi, the last remaining member of Kabuto's team. It was a pretty one-sided match, seeing as how Yoroi's sole marketable skill was that he could suck the Chakra out of his enemies and, well… Lee didn't have any. Within only a few minutes, Yoroi was a bruised and bloody pulp in the middle of the arena, and Lee was declared the winner. Looking up at Sakura, he grinned at her and gave her a big thumbs-up, and she was in a good enough mood to actually giggle at him, making him swoon.
After Lee was shuffled off by the medics, the next names were called: Choji and Dosu. Choji, terrified, tried to back out but found himself swiftly kicked into the arena by Ino's impatient boot. Dosu, meeting him there, made a nasty crack about Choji's weight, and-
"I AM NOT FAT, YOU PRICK! ALL RIGHT, IT'S ON!"
For all his attempts though, Choji found himself unconscious and the loser of the third-to-last match.
Sasuke, his stomach still rolling in rage and guilt at what happened to Haku, looked over to his old teacher, unconsciously seeking guidance.
Kakashi, raising his eyes from the arena, locked gazes with Sasuke. He merely blinked, and after a moment, closed his eyes and tilted his head slightly to the right, his shoulders barely rising in a shrug. Then, nonchalantly, he lifted a hand and scratched an itch on his left shoulder.
As nondescript as it was, Sasuke understood perfectly.
"These things happen. He'll be fine. You, however, need to watch yourself."
Yes, the Curse Mark. Even now it stung and itched, like a fresh tattoo that he just knew wasn't going to heal. He had to control himself. Or be faced with his own demons.
"There is something great and horrifying within you, Sasuke. Like a star that brings life to all things actually ready to explode, destroying all that worship it and beyond. A supernova on earth. That is what you are."
His eyes narrowed as he thought, words from a strange creature from a long time ago still lingering in his mind, like a black cobweb he just couldn't get out of a dark corner of his thoughts.
"A terranova…" he breathed.
"You must be careful with yourself, Sasuke Terranova. If you do not, everything around you will burn.
"Again."
He swallowed, closing his eyes as a troubled look passed over his face. Tilting his head back, he leaned it against the wall and raised his chin upwards, trying to regulate his breathing.
I have to stay calm. He told himself. If she was right… if Kakashi was right… then… He pursed his lips. This mark could mean the death of me.
"I can't let that happen…" he breathed, lowering his head back down to rest his chin against his chest as he clenched his fists. "I can't!"
"Hey, Sasuke?"
At the voice, he raised his head and looked over to see Naruto gazing at him worriedly.
"You okay? You're not watching the matches."
Sasuke found that he couldn't answer with a lie without revealing the truth, so he simply pursed his lips and averted his eyes, staying silent. Naruto blinked at him for a moment before his eyes narrowed in understanding. Slowly, he took a few steps closer, giving Sasuke plenty of time to keep the distance. He didn't.
"I'm sorry about what that jerk did to Haku," the blonde breathed. Sasuke let out a disbelieving scoff at the words, shaking his head as he looked away even as Naruto continued. "But I know he's going to be okay."
Yeah, sure you are. You wouldn't be saying that if you knew who he really was.
Unfortunately, Naruto misinterpreted this, and scowled at him.
"Well, fine!" He snapped, turning away and storming off. "I hope he dies then! Sheesh!"
Strangely enough, in the mood Sasuke was in, this statement made him happier than the other one had.
At least it's closer to the truth.
"Second to last match! Inaré KriKo versus Kankuro!"
Sasuke felt his heart drop into his belly, and simultaneously Inaré and he looked at each other, silent words passing between them.
No. Another one of that team. No, what if he hurts you like he hurt HakuwhatifyouDIE-?!
Silently, he walked up to her, and Sakura moved away without a word as she recognized the look that passed between them. It wasn't something she could identify or put a name on (being so young), but she understood the sudden, quiet sadness that had taken over them both. As Kankuro jumped into the ring, Sasuke and Inaré's fingers interlaced and the boy lifted them up to his face, kissing Inaré's knuckles as they stood close together, their breaths intermingling.
"You're the only thing I'm sure of," he breathed to her – almost like a song – as she smiled at him, the fear in his heart making it hard to speak, "and it makes it all so hard. All the other things are broken…" he took a shaky breath, "…out of focus…"
"You can't die. You can't get hurt. I'll save you."
She beamed at him, tears forming at the corners of her eyes as he spoke to her.
"All I know is that I love you, here right now," she murmured to him, kissing his own knuckles as these words told them endlessly more than what the words actually meant. Like the words belonged to some memory they both held close to their hearts.
"I'll be fine. I promise."
For a moment, they stood there together, foreheads pressed against each other and hands clasped between them as if in prayer.
"Hey! Hurry your ass up!"
They opened their eyes, and Sasuke reluctantly released Inaré's hand, his own dropping to his side. Without another word to each other, Inaré turned and jumped down to the arena, Kaoru following her after bidding farewell to Dagina. The massive feline sat next to Sasuke near the railing, looking down as Sasuke did with a heavy heart. The boy pursed his lips.
"You can do it," he breathed as Sakura cheered a few feet away from him. Grinning, Inaré lifted a hand and waved at her from where she stood across from Kankuro. Sasuke's eyes narrowed, and Zabuza set a hand on his shoulder. "You have to."
With that, the match began.
End Chapter Twenty – Eliminations
If you just happen to see anything that could be considered a song lyric in here, I don't own it. I'm sure if there were any song lyrics in here, I would love to own them, but I can't, because they're not mine.
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Much love,
DDB
