Thanks for the reviews! This is a SasuTen request by naash. Joy to the crazy person happy- angst.
Breathless
He remembered those nights. Those days when he would hold her and kiss her senseless, and she would let him and kiss him back. The times when he knew that, if he turned around, he would find auburn hair and hazel eyes beckoning to him. The days had brightened with each passing moment, until all past mistakes had withered under the caring gaze of Konoha's resident weapons' mistress.
He remembered when Naruto and Kakashi had dragged his sorry ass back from Orochimaru. He remembered her reaction. She had not welcomed him back, not like Sakura. Actually, TenTen had taken it upon herself to beat him to a bloody pulp for the pain his actions had caused her teammates. Unfortunately for him, he had still been injured when the girl (woman) had confronted him…
flashback
A bloody heap littered the floor, barely conscious. Weapons lay scattered, indicating what had caused the deep gashes in his flesh. Precious life- giving liquid was leaving his body to mingle with dirt. His spiky raven hair was dirty, matted against his face and head by sweat and blood.
Breath would not come easily, and the shattered bones in his arms and abdomen did not work in his favor.
Above him, stood a woman. Her silky hair was dulled and dirty, in chaos around her head. Despite her posture, it was obvious that she would collapse any minute, seeing as her condition was barely better than his own.
Sending the Uchiha one last glare, she turned and shuffled away. It took a lot of energy to move, but, despite the pain in her left leg, she refused to let him see her limp.
end flashback
The years following that had been… interesting… to say the least. Sakura was still a fangirl. Ino and Choji had gotten together, as well as Shikamaru and Temari, Gaara and Hinata ( for –my-name-is-E-, 'cause I just can't bring myself to write a GaaHina…I've read a few, I just can't write it.. SORRY!), and a few others.
The weeks eventually turned to months, and, after a year and a half, Sasuke had been mostly forgiven. Except by her. TenTen had been so stubborn it was nearly comical.
Though, that's what drew him to her. It was intriguing how this girl, the same one who had miserably failed the first chunin exams, could not only hospitalize him (no matter if he had already been injured from his fight with Naruto), but refuse to be civil twardshim.
Needless to say, it amused him to no end.
Two Years Later
He had just turned 19. She was 20. She had finally forgiven him, and the two had become friends.
Cliché'? Oh yeah.
Cheesy? Hell yeah.
Despite their friendship, there had been a village wide shock when they had started going out. Everyone had simply assumed that he would end up with Sakura. The looks on their friends' faces had been priceless. Though, priceless is a word that can be used to describe many things.
Priceless, is a word that he would use to describe the following years with her.
It wasn't poetic, but it was right.
He could recall so many things. Their first date… He remembered it had made him happy. Though, Lee had stalked them the whole time. The poor fool had only been looking out for his teammate. Which is why Sasuke had decided that he had to kiss the girl right in front of him. The look on Lee's face was akin to that on Team 7's when they had first seen Gai. It was half to tell Lee off, but that first time he kissed her had taken his breath away.
But nothing lasts forever.
Eventually, a war had broken out against the Sound. He rarely saw her, and when he did, they were both too tired to do much more than sleep.
It was during those times that he would curse himself for leaving Konoha, because, surely the information he had given Orochimaru had given the snake an advantage, and the means to wage this war.
For three years, he prayed for her safety. It's why, when he found that she had died, he had broken. It's because he loved her, that he now stood by the memorial, gazing at her name, when the village needed so desperately to be rebuilt.
Not for the first time, he wondered if she would wait for him. TenTen had never been patient. He wondered, if he followed now, if he would go straight to hell. Was his life worth keeping if he knew that her life was on his hands? However indirectly, he had assisted Orochimaru in waging this war. The one that had needlessly taken so many lives. The one that had taken her life.
Kami- sama, when had he become so numb? The sky was clear, the sun bare of all clouds; yet he couldn't feel the warmth of the light, the heat of crystal tears streaming down his cheeks. He was deaf to the world around him. His ears would not acknowledge the quiet sob that betrayed his lips. His eyes twisted the world into an ongoing spiral where colors and forms twisted and meshed and molded into his pain and agony. His mind disfigured by the onslaught of emotions.
For the first time since the couple had gotten together, Sasuke felt like he was being crushed. All the pain and grief and lost happiness were caving in on him. Everywhere he looked, he saw her smiling. Slowly, it was driving him insane. And… slowly…he regained control. The creases in his face became neutral, as all glimmer of emotion was thrown to the sea, leaving salty trails on pale flesh as the only indication that there had ever been any. Not for the first time… he wondered if living was worth the pain.
Their first date had made him happy…
Their first kiss had taken his breath away…
Her death had left him breathless…
And she took his mind and heart to her grave.
Okay, the story turned out way different typed than when I wrote it out in my journal. I like this version better though. I'm very sorry, but I just couldn't bring myself to write a GaaHina or GaaSaku… Anyway, please review!