Yes. This one is short too. Really, I should've roped this together with the previous flashback, but I wasn't thinking that far ahead at the time.

Enjoy. :D

Promises Not Made are Promises Never Kept

Flashback Twenty-One – Rise

He fought bravely. Haku knew it and all of those mother-fuckers knew it too. He counted three that fell screaming as blood gushed from wounds in their throats, and he couldn't hear the ones fighting Haku but knew that they were falling silently. More seemed to crawl out of the darkness (two for every one they killed) and engulf them, blindsiding Sasuke and knocking him to the ground as pain erupted in his left palm.

A strangled grunt made his eyes snap open as Haku fell as well, and Sasuke's eyes widened.

Raising his eyes, he saw that a kunai had pierced his hand, pinning it solidly to the wall as the men beset Haku and temporarily forgot about him.

But he knew. He knew he was next.

Haku!

Before he could scream out his partner's name, another voice cut him off.

"Do you wish to save him?"

Turning his head, Sasuke gazed with wide eyes at the little girl in the pink dress who stood a few feet from him, hands behind her back. Her big black eyes were empty, all-consuming in their nothingness as she gazed at him.

"There is something great and horrifying within you, Sasuke…" she breathed as she looked at him, and he could only wonder how she knew his name. Everything seemed to die out around them- he knew those bastards were attacking Haku and he knew his hand was run through with one of their fucking blades – but he couldn't feel any of it. It all dulled down around him, turning into meaningless background noise. Her words echoed like thunder in his ears. "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."

Whatever strange power this little creature wielded, he was trapped within it.

What are you?

"I know you are afraid of it," the little girl continued, completely ignoring the violence happening beside them. It was if they had ceased to exist to the men as well. "I know how the past has changed you, maybe even if you don't. But you must accept yourself, just this once, if you are to save your friend."

Haku. Sasuke remembered, eyes widening as Haku's voice seemed to pierce the darkness around him. Oh my God I have to save him-

"It is only something to be ashamed of if you can't control it," she stated firmly, catching his attention again. "But in order to save the people you love, sometimes, you must be shameful. In order to save him, you must become one with yourself – if only this one time. You must overcome your fear. You must rise above it. Rise, Sasuke Terranova." Reaching out, she offered him her hand – such a tiny, pale thing it was. It was almost a silent command, and Sasuke felt something unspoken and powerful stir within him as he gazed into those eyes.

Rise, Sasuke.

"Rise."

Mesmerized, Haku's cries ringing in his ears; he reached out and took her tiny hand in his own.

End Flashback Twenty-One – Rise

Rise, chicken. Arise chicken.

Who knows where thaaaaaat is from? *pedoface*

I look forward to hearing from you!

Much love!

DDB